| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08256711B2 |
Landing gear casing with reduced space requirement
The invention relates to a landing gear casing that comprises a longitudinal box with walls defining an inner housing (24) open at the bottom and enabling the stowage of the landing gear (20) inside the housing and the deployment thereof outside the housing, the walls of the casing separating the non-pressurised inner housing from a surrounding pressurised area (18) of the aircraft, characterised in that the casing includes a primary inner frame including: several primary transverse reinforcement arcs (26, 28) inside the housing; at least one longitudinal central reinforcement arc (30a, 30b) inside the housing; wherein the walls of the casing and the reinforcement being adapted to conform to the shapes of the landing gear (20) and the stowage/expansion mechanism (22) thereof. |
| US08256708B2 |
Device for attaching an aircraft engine comprising a thrust force take-up device with a compact design
An aircraft engine attachment device including a rigid structure and a mechanism attaching the engine on the rigid structure, the attachment mechanism including a rear engine attachment and a device for taking-up thrust forces generated by the engine. The rear engine attachment is attached to the rigid structure by two lateral fittings attached to the rigid structure. The force take-up device includes two connecting rods mechanically connected to a spreader beam by a mechanical connection, a connection fitting attached to the rear engine attachment and mechanically connected to the rigid structure by a thrust pin, the lateral fittings including a stop mechanism to limit pivoting of the spreader beam if a connecting rod breaks and ensuring transmission of thrust forces to the rigid structure. |
| US08256705B2 |
Torque production vehicle and method
A torque production vehicle includes a plenum body having a wall with a central port and a radial port formed within the wall, an impeller disposed within the plenum body to move air through the central port, an engine coupled to the impeller to rotate the impeller about an axis, at least one arm coupled to the plenum body, and a plurality of foils disposed in the radial port to direct air about the plenum body to provide a torque force about the plenum body. |
| US08256700B2 |
Continuous feed material dispenser with adjustable brake
A braking assembly used in a dispenser that dispenses a continuous supply of material such as paper. The braking assembly includes a support structure. A first fixed gear is rotatably connected to the support structure. A movable chassis is also connected to the support structure. A second movable gear is held by the chassis and moves with the chassis. Teeth of the first gear and teeth of the second gear intermesh with each other and allow the paper to pass therethrough. The chassis maintains the teeth of the first and second gears in contact with each other while enabling a distance between gears to be adjustable. The assembly further includes a braking mechanism that varies an amount of force required to rotate the gears. |
| US08256698B2 |
Jaw assembly for a jaw crusher
A jaw assembly for a jaw crusher is disclosed where the assembly comprises a jaw stock (12), a wear plate (16), and a fastening device in the form of a bolt (34) with a square head (42) at one end and a washer (56) and fastening nut (52) positioned at an end opposite to the one end. The bolt (34) extends between the jaw stock (12) and the wear plate (16). The fastening device (34, 42, 56, 52) is operative to adopt a clamped configuration where the device provides a clamping force along a fastening axis to clamp the wear plate (16) at the jaw stock (12), and a released configuration where the fastening device does not prevent the wear plate (16) from being separated from the jaw stock (12). The fastening device (34, 42, 56, 52) is accessible from a direction that is transverse to that fastening axis, to enable the device (34, 42, 56, 52) to be changed from its clamped configuration to its released configuration. |
| US08256694B2 |
Spray-gun line-connecting device
A spray-gun line-connecting device is provided for the connection of a plurality of lines between a robotic arm and a spray device. The spray-gun line-connecting device may provide a plurality of cylindrical connection joints at an interface between mating surfaces. For example, the lines may include enlarged cylindrical heads, which fit within cylindrical receptacles in a first mating surface. A second mating surface may extend over the first mating surface, and include passages aligned with the lines. |
| US08256691B2 |
Nozzle module for an injection valve and injection valve
A nozzle module for an injection valve has a nozzle body with a nozzle body opening extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis, and which can be hydraulically coupled to a fluid feed; a nozzle needle which is movable axially in the nozzle body opening and which in a closed position prevents a flow of fluid through at least one injection opening and otherwise releases the fluid flow; and an induction-heated heating element disposed between the nozzle body and the nozzle needle. The heating element is at least partially spaced a distance away from the nozzle body and from the nozzle needle, and during operation of the injection valve the fluid can flow against a side of the heating element facing the nozzle body and a side of the heating element facing the nozzle needle. |
| US08256690B2 |
Radiant heating and cooling panel
A radiant panel for use in radiant heating and cooling systems that provides numerous benefits over conventional panels currently in use. The radiant panel comprises an offset hydronic radiant tube channel in which is nested a hydronic radiant tube that obviates the need to thread the hydronic tubes through the joists in a ceiling installation or the studs in a wall installation. In an alternative embodiment, specific emissivity coatings on each side of the radiant panel further promote the efficient transfer of heat. The system provides increased sound isolation and is robust enough to withstand the crushing forces associated with a floor installation. |
| US08256689B2 |
Air conditioner and indoor humidity control method
An air conditioner has an automatic operation mode or other regular mode, and a rest operation mode. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit, an outdoor air-conditioning unit, an air supply/humidification unit, and a humidity control unit. The indoor unit, the outdoor air-conditioning unit, and the air supply/humidification unit humidify or dehumidify air and supply the air into a room. The humidity control unit controls the devices in the indoor unit, the outdoor air-conditioning unit, and the air supply/humidification unit during the regular mode so that the indoor humidity reaches a first target humidity. The humidity control unit also controls the devices in the indoor unit, the outdoor air-conditioning unit, and the air supply/humidification unit during the rest operation mode so that the indoor humidity reaches a second target humidity, which is lower than the first target humidity. |
| US08256688B2 |
Method for certifying and subsequently authenticating original, paper or digital documents for evidences
The present invention relates to a method for certifying and subsequently authenticating original physical or digital documents. The concept of the evidence lies in the dual nature of a physical information item and a digital information item, one being the reference for the other that cannot lie amended at the risk of the evidence being lost. For a physical original document associated with a bubble seal there is a corresponding time-and-date-stamped, proprietary paperless reference counterpart. For a time-and-date-stamped, proprietary digital original document there is a corresponding reference counterpart in the form of a bubble seal. |
| US08256681B2 |
Data collection device having dynamic access to multiple wireless networks
There is described a data collection device that can incorporate an encoded information reading unit that can operate within a system including an access point that is wireline connected to a server. The encoded information reading unit can include at least one of a bar code reading unit, an RFID tag reading unit and a credit/debit card reading unit. Further incorporated in the data collection device can be dynamic access module. The dynamic access communication module enables the data collection device to participate in a self organized network that supports multi-hop data packet transmissions between data collection devices and which further enables the device to transmit data received from a peer device to the system access point. |
| US08256678B2 |
Indicia reading terminal having image sensor and variable lens assembly
There is described an image sensor based indicia reading terminal comprising a variable setting imaging lens having a first setting at which the terminal has a first plane of optimum focus and a second setting at which the terminal has a second plane of optimum focus. According to one embodiment, a first predetermined picture size where picture size is determined according to a number of pixels subject to read out, can be associated to the first lens setting and a second picture size can be associated to the second lens setting such that the terminal with the lens setting set to the first setting reads out a frame of a first picture size and with the lens setting set to a second setting reads out a frame of a second picture size. In addition to or in place of the picture size operational parameters, different operational parameters can be associated to the respective first and second lens settings. Additionally or alternatively, different processes for determining an operational parameter and/or different algorithms for determining an operational parameter can be associated to each of the first and second lens settings. |
| US08256677B2 |
Enabling holographic media backwards compatibility with dual-use media card connector
A holographic read only memory card which can be coupled to and read by a card reader to which electronic read only memory cards can also be coupled to and read by the card reader is disclosed. The holographic read only memory card comprises: a housing having a compartment for receiving a holographic storage medium; a holographic storage medium having stored thereon holographic data; and optionally a an electronics panel member having an electronic memory component which can be read by the card reader when the holographic read only memory card is coupled to the electronic card reader. The housing comprises one or more card locating members to thereby repeatedly position the holographic read only memory card each time the holographic read only memory card is coupled to the electronic card reader so that the holographic data can be read. |
| US08256673B1 |
Time-varying barcode in an active display
Embodiments of the present invention provide time-varying barcodes in an active display for information exchange. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for communicating information between electronic devices via a barcode image sequence. In a typical embodiment, a barcode image sequence is displayed on the display screen of a first electronic device. A second electronic device reads and decodes the barcode image sequence. The second electronic device displays an acknowledgement on the display screen of the second electronic device. The acknowledgement is read by the first electronic device. |
| US08256670B1 |
System and method for granting access to a restricted access area using an approved list
A system and method for granting access to a restricted access area using an approved list is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the system may include a card reader that receives a card number from the access card; a card verifier comprising an approved list of card numbers; a card presented list of presented card numbers; and a processor that compares the card number to the approved list and compares the card number to the card presented list; and an access device. The access device grants access to the area if one of (1) the card number is on the approved list and (2) the card number is not on the presented list; and denies access to the area if the card number is not on the approved list and the card number is on the presented list. |
| US08256668B2 |
Online purchasing system supporting lenders with affordability screening
An online system uses, in various embodiments of the invention, credit report information, loan affordability screening and credit approval and management functionality to facilitate the purchase and finance of products online. The online system may include both sellers of products and lenders that offer financing to buyers seeking to purchase the products. The system may automatically obtain a buyer's credit report information and use that information to determine if the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to obtain financing for a particular product or products. The system also enables use of buyer credit information to identify only those of a seller's products for which the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to finance using one or more loans. The system then enables selection of an identified product or products for purchase, and selection of a loan, for example, for financing of the selected product or products. Credit approval (or pre-approval) may be performed automatically, and along with credit processing, may be performed completely online. |
| US08256665B2 |
Methods and systems for interacting with physical objects
A camera, of a handheld computing device, is used to capture a picture of an object. At least some image data corresponding to the captured picture is provided to a processor, which returns processed information corresponding to the object. By reference to this processed information, the system automatically identifies a particular one of plural different software application programs—a program that is particularly relevant to the object, rather than being generally relevant to all objects. Output information is then produced using the identified software application program, which is then presented to the user, e.g., on a screen of the handheld computing device. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08256663B2 |
Instrument parameter setting method
An instrument parameter setting device and an instrument parameter setting method are provided. The instrument parameter setting device has a parameter-setting card combined with a biological detection instrument. The parameter-setting card includes a strip area and a first set of block areas. Each block area in the first set of block areas is connected to the strip area respectively. The instrument detects data represented by a logical change of the block areas, so as to set parameters. In addition, it is convenient to input the data into the instrument through an external setting of the instrument. Accordingly, the characteristic parameters of a detection specimen are conveniently input into the instrument, thereby increasing the yield of specimen production, establishing a self-owned technology, and reducing the cost. |
| US08256658B2 |
Wire bonding apparatus comprising rotary positioning stage
A wire bonding apparatus, comprising a bonding tool mounted on a bondhead body which is in turn mounted on a positioning table, is provided for bonding electronic devices. The positioning table has first and second motors coupled to it that are operative to drive the bondhead body to positions along respective first and second orthogonal axes. The bondhead body is connected to the positioning table through a pivot such that the bondhead body is rotatable relative to the positioning table about a third axis which is substantially orthogonal to the first and second axes. Further, a third motor drives the bondhead body to rotate about the third axis. |
| US08256656B2 |
Surgical stapling apparatus
A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly. The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit. A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body. A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device. |
| US08256646B2 |
Device and method for storing, mixing and dispensing components
A device for storing, mixing, and dispensing components that has at least one container and a transferor configured to transfer a first, liquid component into a second, powdery component, a dispensing piston configured to dispense mixed materials, a valve assembly arranged between the first, liquid component and the second, powdery component, and a closure element. The first, liquid component and the second, powdery component are located in the at least one container, and the transfer device arranged between the first, liquid component and the second, powdery component is designed as a sealing passage piston. Such a multicomponent syringe has a significantly reduced volume as compared to the multicomponent syringes of the prior art but nevertheless offers a simple and safe handling besides the required safety with regard to separate storage and hygiene. |
| US08256642B2 |
Sippy cup assembly
A sippy cup assembly including a valve insert having a sheath and a stabilizing core is disclosed. The sippy cup assembly generally includes a container, a lid releasably coupled to and enclosing the container, and an annular seal for preventing liquid from leaking out of the container. The valve insert maintains form while permitting repeated removal and insertion, in addition to washing and long-term use, by providing that the stabilizing core has a rigidity greater than that of the sheath formed over the stabilizing core. The valve insert may be installed in the lid to correspond with a spout and air exchange aperture to permit egress of liquid and ingress of air upon application of suction by a user. When no suction is applied to the spout, the valve insert prevents leakage of liquid from the container. |
| US08256635B2 |
Collapsible cargo container assembly
A collapsible cargo container assembly includes a collapsible skeleton framework defining a front, rear and opposite sides of the container assembly and includes a plurality of generally parallel ribs spaced from and generally planar to each other when the container assembly is in an open condition. A plurality of articulated braces are connected to and extend between the ribs to hold the ribs in spaced relationship in the open condition of the container assembly. The articulated braces are foldable to position the ribs in juxtaposition alongside each other in a collapsed condition of the container assembly. A flexible cover is positioned substantially about the collapsible framework and is fixed thereto for folding therewith as the framework moves back-and-forth between the open and collapsed conditions thereof. |
| US08256633B2 |
Multipurpose plastic bottle made in one piece
The present invention refers to a multipurpose plastic bottle made in one reusable piece which is provided with the means for conversion to objects which may be kept by the user. It comprises an upper belt and a lower belt formed by pairs of circular rings connected round the whole profile of the bottle with the connection of both pairs of rings defined by a cutting guide for separating the bottle in an upper section, a mid section and a lower section. The multipurpose plastic bottle which is the object of the invention belongs to the technical sector of plastics, specifically to the plastic industry relating to manufacture of bottles designed to hold liquids for mass distribution and consumption. The products to be bottled are soft drinks, sodas, drinking water, cooking oils and domestic cleaning products. |
| US08256630B2 |
Foldable and portable storage shelf
A frame structure includes two side frames and a foldable frame coupled with the side frames to fold between an unfolded position and a folded position. The foldable frame includes a transmission link supported between the side frames, a sliding joint slidably coupling with the transmission link, and two folding arms coupling the transmission link to the side frames respectively. Each of the folding arms has an upper end pivotally coupling with the sliding joint and a lower end pivotally coupling with the respective side frame. At the unfolded position, the sliding joint is upwardly slid to an upper end of the transmission link to move the side frames away from each other. At the folded position, the sliding joint is downwardly slid away from the upper end of said transmission link to move the side frames towards each other for folding the side frames side-by-side. |
| US08256626B2 |
Composite membrane for the separation of water and method for manufacturing same
A composite membrane is provided for the separation of water with at least one separation layer of cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol, with the separation layer being subjected in a separate process step to a post-crosslinking operation with an acid or an acid-releasing compound and at least one dialdehyde. |
| US08256624B2 |
Money handling apparatus and dispensing method thereof
A money handling apparatus includes a storage and feed unit that stores or feeds moneys, a transport unit that transports the moneys to the storage and feed unit or to outside of the apparatus, a deposit reject port that ejects a deposit reject money recognized as an improper money at the time of deposit processing so that it can be taken out from outside of the apparatus, and a transport control unit that controls the transport unit so that the moneys fed out by the storage and feed unit at the time of dispensing processing to the deposit reject port. |
| US08256621B2 |
Load tray and method for unitizing a palletized load
A new load tray especially well suited for use under loads on pallets is disclosed. The tray has a central load supporting base and as many as four flaps hingedly connected to the base. The tray includes flap supports for supporting the flaps and releasably maintaining them at a 90 to 135 degree angle relative to the base. The tray is designed so that it may be positioned on a pallet and have a load placed on it so that the flaps remain in an upstanding position so that when the load is wrapped, the flaps are held captive against the load. |
| US08256619B2 |
Convertible container for electronic devices
A container for an electronic device has pivotally coupled first and second portions. The first portion is configured to house the electronic device and has an opening for receiving the electronic device and for displaying the electronic device when the container is configured in a first configuration. The second portion is configured to act as a mount for mounting the container on a surface when the container is configured in the first configuration and the first portion is displaying the electronic device. The second portion is further configured to cover the opening in the first portion, and thus the electronic device, when the container is configured in a second configuration. |
| US08256616B2 |
Pack for containing hygiene products
A pack (1) for containing at least two hygiene products (100), in particular at least two uncompressed toilet paper rolls, kitchen paper rolls, household towels, individual packs of handkerchiefs or other tissue paper products. The pack includes a packaging (2) for containing the hygiene products (100), the packaging (2) being folded over and joined in an overlap (264) in a bottom wall (26) of the packaging (2); a side wall (22) extending substantially in an angle, preferably by 90° or 60°, with respect to the bottom wall (26) of the packaging (2); a single line of weakness (3) extending in a portion of the side wall (22), a portion of the bottom wall (26) and a portion of the overlap (264). |
| US08256614B1 |
Interconnected and on-site severable deck clips with cooperating installation tool for joining two adjacent decking planks to an underlying support structure
Interconnected and on-site severable deck clips with cooperating installation tool for joining two adjacent decking planks to an underlying support structure. The deck clips are interconnected and on-site severable, are attached to the underlying support structure, and engage the two adjacent decking planks so as to fasten the two adjacent decking planks to the underlying support structure without a need for nails or screws to pass through the two adjacent decking planks. The installation tool is hand-held, removably receives a number of the deck clips, and feeds the deck clips one at a time to fasten to the underlying support structure, and when a deck clip is fastened to the underlying support structure, the deck clip is severed from the other deck clips in the installation tool and a next deck clip is feed by way of the installation tool and attached to the underlying support structure to engage the two adjacent decking planks. |
| US08256607B2 |
Sensor system for a conveyor belt
A monitoring system is provided for a moving conveyor belt having a plurality of embedded reinforcing cords and identification tags. A tag reader detects and identifies the identification tags passing by the tag reader while a belt monitor scans the cords to detect a plurality of magnetic reference points and a damage event of at least one cord. A control unit in communication with the belt monitor and the tag reader analyzes the belt monitor to identify the plurality of magnetic reference points and the damage event. The control unit also acquires a belt location on the moving conveyor belt from a belt map based on the detected and identified identification tag and a magnetic reference point from the plurality of magnetic reference points. When a damage event is identified, a location of the damage event is determined by the control unit based on the acquired belt location. |
| US08256602B2 |
Roller conveyor
Roller conveyors of an aircraft cargo deck, including rollers for transporting freight packages, particularly containers, and a channel with side walls and a base for the installation of locking bar elements to hold the freight packages, are provided. The side walls have reinforcing sections with recesses in which the rollers are installed, whereby axles on which the rollers are rotatably mounted are fixed in each of the side walls. This results in an extremely sturdy but nevertheless lightweight construction. |
| US08256599B2 |
Wave spring holding structure and frictional engagement apparatus
A wave spring holding structure includes a wave spring that includes crest portions and recessed portions that are alternately formed in a circumferential direction thereof, and a first gap; a circular member provided to be rotatable around an axis; and an arc-shaped snap ring that includes a second gap, and that restricts movement of the circular member in a direction of the axis. The wave spring and the snap ring share the axis with the circular member. The wave spring and the snap ring are rotatable with respect to each other. The wave spring is disposed and held between the circular member and the snap ring so that the crest portions protrude toward the circular member, and the recessed portions protrude toward the snap ring. The first gap is formed in one of the crest portions. |
| US08256597B2 |
Friction clutch and vehicle equipped with the same
A cam face 81 and a cam face 181 are formed in such a manner that an angular velocity ω represented by the following equation increases when a parameter R increases and the angular velocity ω decreases when the parameter R decreases, ω2=(1/m)·[F(tan α+tan β)/R], where the mass of the centrifugal weight (41) is m, the revolution radius that is the distance from the rotation center (0) of the centrifugal weight (41) to the center of gravity of the centrifugal weight (41) is R, the angle formed by a radial line (L0) and a tangent line (L1) of a point of the cam face (81) being in contact with the centrifugal weight (41) is α, the angle formed by a radial line (L0) and a tangent line (L2) of a point in the cam face (181) being in contact with the centrifugal weight (41) is β, and the urging force of a Belleville spring that urges a roller retainer (78) is F. |
| US08256595B2 |
Multiple disc clutch
A multiple disc clutch includes a pressing member that can be axially moved and that is turned together with an output shaft so as to compress driving friction plates and driven friction plates, a ringed set plate is provided on a side of the pressing member so as to receive a load by a clutch spring that axially presses the pressing member and a cam plate fixed to the pressing member so as to enable increasing or reducing frictional fitting force of the driving friction plates and the driven friction plates. The area for receiving the set plate is extended using a minimum number of parts, preventing a shape of the pressing member from being intricate and strength for supporting the set plate is enhanced. A part of the set plate axially touches the cam plate. |
| US08256593B2 |
Driving force transmitting device
A driving force transmitting devices is able to engage a main clutch with a small amount of hydraulic pressure. The driving force transmitting device includes an input shaft and an output shaft, and a main clutch. The device is formed of a primary clutch that intermittently transmits the driving force transmitted from the input shaft, a hydraulic pump that generates a hydraulic pressure, a piston that presses the primary clutch with the hydraulic pressure by the hydraulic pump, and a cam mechanism that presses the main clutch with a press-contact force which is amplified to be larger than the press-contact force of the piston by utilizing the driving force from the input shaft through the primary clutch, so as to engage the main clutch. |
| US08256584B2 |
Parking brake assembly for railway vehicle brake system
A parking brake assembly for a railway car includes a ratchet mounted for rotation on a threaded piston rod of a brake actuator and a holding pawl engageable with the ratchet for maintaining a push rod of the parking brake assembly to apply braking force when the air pressure is lost in the brake pipe and releasing the push rod to accordingly release the braking force when the supply of air pressure in the brake pipe is restored. An operating lever and a cylinder connected thereto are provided for selectively rotating the holding pawl. Valve is provided for supplying air pressure to and evacuating it from the cylinder. Release mechanism is provided for manually releasing the braking force. The parking brake assembly is employed with either truck-mounted or carbody-mounted braking system. |
| US08256579B2 |
Elevator car brake
The present invention relates to a braking apparatus and an elevator system comprising the braking apparatus for grasping or gripping a hoisting rope of the elevator. The system comprises a pair of brake shoes, a motorized rotatable camshaft with at least one cam surface for pressing against a push plate to compress a spring means and keep the shoes apart or when the motor is disengaged cause the cam shaft to not push on the push plate such that the springs expand cause the brake shoes to come together and grip the hoisting rope. |
| US08256575B2 |
Methods and systems for sealing rotating machines
Methods and systems for reducing a flow of ambient air into a bearing lubricating oil system are provided. The system includes a lubricating oil bearing cover that is stationary with respect to the bearing wherein the bearing is configured to support a portion of a rotatable machine shaft. The cover includes a first end cap extending radially inwardly towards the shaft such that a cavity surrounding the bearing is formed by the cover and the first end cap and a set of seal rings positioned substantially concentric with the shaft and forming a seal against lubricating oil flow. The seal rings include a plurality of wire bristles extending radially inwardly from the end cap wherein the wire bristles are configured to extend to a surface of the shaft when assembled and the bristles are configured to present a tortuous flow path to gas infiltrating the cavity. |
| US08256571B1 |
Frequency-modifying muffler
A muffler for raising the audible pitch of an internal combustion engine's exhaust note that includes an enclosed case having an inlet and an outlet, and a plurality of flow-directing components which are adapted to subdivide an inlet flow into a plurality of interior flows, including a first interior flow providing the shortest flow length through the muffler between the inlet and the outlet, a second interior flow having a flow length at least about twice the length of the first interior flow, and one or more intermediate flows following by-pass passages to split off from the second interior flow between the inlet and the outlet and having flow lengths between the flow lengths of the first and second flows. |
| US08256569B1 |
Exhaust sound attenuation device and method of use
A sound muffler combines a resonator chamber with a dissipative layer surrounding a through pipe. The muffler provides sound attenuation over a wide range of sound frequencies while maintaining unimpeded flow of gases through the pipe. This attenuation is achieved by combining dissipation with a frusto-conical resonant chamber. The dissipation is achieved by encircling the through passage with a layer of low density material such as metallic or ceramic foam or loosely packed fibers of a heat resistant material. The low density material attenuates the high frequency waves while permitting the passage of low frequency sound waves into the frusto-conical resonant chamber. |
| US08256557B2 |
Canister mounting structure for a saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same
A saddle-type vehicle includes a canister mounting structure. The vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, an engine fastened to the vehicle body frame, an exhaust pipe connected to the engine, a fuel tank mounted on the vehicle body frame, a canister for storing gasoline vapors form the fuel tank and a purge control valve for controlling purge of the canister. The canister mounting structure includes a canister holder having a first mounting portion for mounting the canister, and a second mounting portion for mounting the purge control valve therein. The canister holder is disposed adjacent the exhaust pipe. The canister holder is formed so as to cover sides of the canister and a side of the canister adjacent the exhaust pipe. Such configuration of the canister mounting structure provides heat-shielding measures for the canister, and achieves a desired ease of assembly. |
| US08256552B2 |
Car battery array having a plurality of connected batteries
A car battery array is provided with battery blocks (2) having a plurality of connected batteries (1), a first load-bearing plate (3) on top of which the battery blocks are mounted, a second load-bearing plate (4) attached on both sides to the first load-bearing plate and covering the tops of the battery blocks, and a reinforcing rod (5) that connects with the second load-bearing plate and the battery blocks to attach the second load-bearing plate to the battery blocks. The battery blocks are disposed in a battery compartment (6) established inside the first and second load-bearing plates, which are joined together on both sides. The battery blocks are mounted on top of the first load-bearing plate and connected to the second load-bearing plate via the reinforcing rod to support the battery block load with the first load-bearing plate and the second load-bearing plate. |
| US08256551B2 |
Agricultural vehicle cooling assembly fan shroud with seals for pass-through cooling and exhaust tubes
A self-propelled, low-emission vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a vehicle cooling assembly, and an engine exhaust assembly disposed within an engine compartment. The vehicle cooling assembly includes an enclosure and a powered fan to vent the enclosure by drawing a stream of cooling air therethrough. The engine exhaust assembly carries exhaust gas through exhaust lines from the engine, which is disposed outside of the enclosure, through an exhaust treatment device, which is disposed inside of the enclosure, and out to the environment. A fan shroud assembly defines an outlet margin of the enclosure and includes a shroud body defining a pair of passageways through which the exhaust lines pass. The fan shroud assembly includes an insulated connection assembly disposed adjacent each passageway to provide sealing connection between the respective exhaust line and the shroud body while prohibiting direct contact between the respective exhaust line and the shroud body. |
| US08256544B2 |
Electric system for providing electrical power for a vehicle and an implement
The invention relates to a device for supplying electricity to an agricultural utility vehicle (10) and/or an attachment (26) which can be coupled to the utility vehicle (10). The utility vehicle (10) comprises a generator (16) and an attachment interface (24). Electrical energy can be generated by means of the generator (16). At the attachment interface (24) an attachment (26) can be reversibly coupled to the utility vehicle (10). The attachment (26) has at least one electrical load by means of which an agricultural working function can be carried out. So that the attachment (26) can be controlled more flexibly or better when it is operating, the device according to the invention is defined by a transmission device and at least one transformer (40). By means of the transmission device the electrical energy which is generated by the generator (16) of the utility vehicle (10) can be transmitted in the form of alternating voltage to the attachment (26). The transformer (40) is provided on the attachment (26). By means of the transformer (40) the transmitted alternating voltage can be converted in order to be made available to the electrical load. |
| US08256541B2 |
Transferring device using aero-levitation style
A transferring system using aero-levitation style and a transferring device using aero-levitation style are provided. The transferring device using aero-levitation style includes one or more pairs of caterpillars each of which moves while drawing a track; a plurality of air bearings disposed inside of the caterpillars and levitated from an inner bottom surfaces of the caterpillars by repulsive force of air; and a loading unit coupled to the air bearings onto which a portage is loaded, wherein the loading unit is levitated and moved together with the caterpillars by the movement of the caterpillars. |
| US08256532B2 |
System, program products, and methods for controlling drilling fluid parameters
Embodiments of systems, program product, and methods for controlling drilling fluid pressures are provided. These embodiments, for example, can provide dynamic density control with highly adaptive, real-time, process-control and are scalable to any rig, large or small, on land or water. Combined static and dynamic stresses and displacements can be determined continuously at strategic locations in and around the wellbore of a well so that insitu and operational induced pressure window limitations at specific weak-points or other locations of interest are controlled. |
| US08256530B2 |
Method of processing rock with laser and apparatus for the same
An object is to provide a method capable of boring a borehole even when quartz glass or silicon dioxide is deposited as molten dross by laser irradiation. A laser irradiation position of a workpiece is irradiated with a laser having wavelength of 1.2 μm or longer and a high factor of absorption into liquid, for example, a CO2 laser, from a laser oscillator through liquid. By high pressure generated in an advancing microbubble flow occurring in the liquid, molten dross is scattered. Thus, the processing, such as boring, of the rock is performed. |
| US08256528B2 |
Vibration-damped holder for additional handle
A damper for mounting between a power tool, having an axis of vibration, and a handle. The damper includes a damping arrangement for damping impacts and a spacer. The spacer is dimensioned so that, when the damper is mounted to the power tool, a ratio of a first distance between the axis of vibration and the handle to a second distance between the axis of vibration and the damping arrangement is at least 2:1. Further, a handle having such a damper for a power tool, as well as the corresponding power tool having such a handle, are described. |
| US08256525B2 |
Inerting method for reducing the risk of fire outbreak in an enclosed space and device therefor
The present invention relates to an inerting method for reducing a risk of fire outbreak in an enclosed space as well as a device therefor. A continuous inerting of the enclosed space to spatially-separated zones of the enclosed space is performed as necessary without needing structural separations. At least one inert gas having a gas density (ρGas) which differs from the mean gas density (ρGas) of the ambient atmosphere of the space is introduced into the enclosed space such that a gas stratification including a first gas layer (A) and a second gas layer (B) forms in the enclosed space, wherein the oxygen content in the first gas layer (A) corresponds substantially to the oxygen content of the ambient atmosphere, and wherein the oxygen content in the second gas layer (B) corresponds to a specific, definable oxygen content which is lower than the oxygen content of the ambient atmosphere. |
| US08256523B2 |
Wellbore plug and method
A wellbore plug and method for retrieving two or more wellbore plugs simultaneously from the wellbore. The wellbore plug can be actuated to an open position and released from engagement in the wellbore. The plug can be locked in an open position, and remain in an open position without regard to weight or tension applied to the plug. The released and locked open plug can be lowered to next plug to be retrieved. Prior to connecting to the next plug, reverse and/or normal fluid circulation can be utilized to clean the next plug. Upon connecting the first plug to the second plug, the second plug can be locked open and released in by applying tension in the same manner as the first plug. The process can continue to retrieve multiple plugs. |
| US08256521B2 |
Consumable downhole tools
A downhole tool having a body or structural component comprises a material that is at least partially consumed when exposed to heat and a source of oxygen. The material may comprise a metal, such as magnesium, which is converted to magnesium oxide when exposed to heat and a source of oxygen. The downhole tool may further comprise a torch with a fuel load that produces the heat and source of oxygen when burned. The fuel load may comprise a flammable, non-explosive solid, such as thermite. |
| US08256518B2 |
Fail as is mechanism and method
A technique enables failsafe control over actuators used to actuate downhole tools. The technique may utilize a well system having a tool with an adjustable member. An actuation mechanism serves as a fail-as-is mechanism and works in cooperation with the adjustable member. The actuation member is shiftable upon receiving a predetermined input; however the actuation member does not move the adjustable member upon each shift. Once the actuation member has been shifted the requisite number of times to move the adjustable member to another position, at least one subsequent shift of the actuation member is not able to cause movement of the adjustable member. The result is a fail-as-is technique for ensuring the tool is not inadvertently actuated to another operational position. |
| US08256516B2 |
System and method for providing a downhole mechanical energy absorber
A system and a method provide a downhole mechanical energy absorber that protects downhole tools from impact loads and shock loads that occur during run-in contacts, tool drops, perforating blasts, and other impact events. A continuous localized inelastic deformation of a tube is a primary energy absorber in a load limiting design of the downhole mechanical energy absorber. |
| US08256515B2 |
Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball
An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members. |
| US08256514B2 |
Down-hole actuation device storage apparatus and method for launching
An apparatus for holding and launching down-hole actuation devices that has a body, a bottom end, a top end and a long bore between the ends. Moveable and protruding into the long bore are retainers upon which down-hole actuation devices may rest. Retainers are moved by a lockable hydraulic drive system. Additionally, a method for loading the apparatus with down-hole actuation devices and for launching said devices into a well bore is provided. |
| US08256513B2 |
Apparatus for depositing a slurry in a well
A wireline apparatus for depositing slurry in a well. The apparatus includes a container for holding slurry to be deposited in the well. The container is operatively associated with and disassociated from a packer. The apparatus also includes a displacement valve actuated by a predetermined pressure and a cross-over tool operatively associated with the displacement valve. Actuation of the displacement valve causes the slurry to enter and pass through the cross-over tool and into the well. A method of gravel packing a well with the wireline deployed apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08256505B1 |
Sealed well cellar
A well cellar system includes a substantially planar base plate, the base defining an aperture sized to receive a conductor pipe. The planar base plate is an integral structural member which, in conjunction with the seal between the base plate and the wall and the riser and the conductor, are sufficiently robust to support the weight of the conductor pipe and its auxiliary equipment. The sealed well cellar is afforded with a laterally extending flange which serves as an anti-buoyancy anchor. A anti-buoyancy port allows the upward floatation pressure to be balanced out by water pressure within the cellar during placement to avoid floatation. A sacrificial anode housing is provided with a removable lid and holes for allowing passage of electrolyte. Although the preferred embodiments of sealed well cellars are metal and plastic, a cementaceous embodiment is also envisioned. |
| US08256503B2 |
Plastic heat exchanger with extruded shell
A plastic heat exchanger has a shell with tanks disposed side-by-side. First and last distribution tanks straddle heat transfer tanks. The shell has a plurality of flow gaps, to allow coolant to flow between adjacent tanks. Spacers hold the flow gaps open.Upper and lower flanges are adhesively attached to the shell. Flange holes align with the tanks. Each flange hole has an annular wall encircling one of the tanks to preclude the shell from expanding.Upper and lower manifolds are adjacent the flanges, and have chambers disposed side-by-side for each heat transfer tank. Baffles are adapted to be removably received between the chambers to selectively block flow.A plurality of tubes extends between upper and lower tube headers, comprising a tube bundle, removably received within each of the heat transfer tanks.A header O-ring is between each header and flange. A seal plate is disposed against each flange. Each seal plate has seal plate holes in alignment with the flange holes, defining a hole pair. Each hole pair has a groove to receive the header O-ring. Each manifold and seal plate has a manifold seal.The shell, the manifolds, the headers, and the flanges, are constructed of a polymer. The tubes are constructed of metal materials having efficient heat transfer properties. |
| US08256502B2 |
Heat exchange member and heat exchange apparatus
A heat exchange member comprising a liquid layer and a solid layer capable of conducting a heat exchange reaction with the liquid layer upon their solid-liquid contact at an interface between the solid layer and the solid layer, wherein the solid layer further comprises on a surface thereof which is contacted with the liquid layer a surface coating layer capable of reducing a difference of the vibration between a thermal vibration of the solid and a thermal vibration of the liquid, and the surface coating layer comprises a plurality of fibrous structures arranged on a surface of the solid layer, and a heat exchange apparatus using the heat exchange member. |
| US08256493B2 |
Casting mold surface treatment method and casting mold using said method
A surface treatment method includes covering a surface of a casting mold with a carbon film containing at least one type of nanocarbon selected from the group of carbon nanocoils, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofilaments, and further applying fullerenes to that surface. With this surface treatment method being performed on a surface (a cavity surface, etc. of a casting mold) making contact with a molten casting material such as aluminum, etc., sticking of the molten casting material to the mold is inhibited, release resistance of the product is reduced, and release effectiveness is improved. The release effectiveness lasts longer than in the case of a conventional carbon film. |
| US08256492B2 |
Frame-mounted sunshade device
A sunshade device for a vehicle includes a sunshade cloth that has two opposite lateral ends inserted respectively into two track rails, a fixed end fixed to a winding shaft assembly, and a pull end interconnecting the lateral ends oppositely of the fixed end. A cross bar is attached to the pull end and extends between the track rails. A tensioning unit includes a spring disposed within the cross bar, a buffer sleeve disposed around the spring, and two tension cords each having an intermediate section attached to one of two lateral ends of the sunshade cloth, a first end section connected to one end of the spring, and a second end section connected to the winding shaft assembly. The tension cords prevent the sunshade cloth from becoming slack. |
| US08256487B2 |
Portable curtain retraction device and system
A portable barrier retraction device and system for retracting and deploying barriers, such as theatrical curtains. The device includes a first drum, a rotatable shaft in selective rotational communication with the first drum, and a clutch configured to disengage the first drum from the rotatable shaft. The device further includes a detachable rotatable second drum in rotational communication with the first drum. The rotatable shaft selectively imparts rotation to the second drum by selectively imparting rotation to the first drum. The second drum includes at least one spool configured to retract or deploy at least one line in response to rotation of the second drum. |
| US08256482B2 |
Apparatus for covering and grouping wires and method thereof
There is provided an apparatus for applying tape on a plurality of wire to form a harness thereof, the apparatus comprising a casing defining a fixed portion adapted to rotatably receive a moveable portion rotatable about a moveable portion axis, the moveable portion being adapted to secure a roll of tape thereon such that the roll of tape revolves with the moveable portion in a fashion allowing unwinding of the tape on the plurality of wires, the fixed portion and the moveable portion defining cooperating indentations encompassing the moveable portion axis, the indentation in the moveable portion being adapted to be selectively aligned with the indentation of the fixed portion to receive and allow positioning of the plurality of wires about the moveable portion axis such that the tape on the rotating moveable portion being unwounded on the plurality of wires to secure the plurality of wires in a harness. |
| US08256477B2 |
Portable work bench
An improved portable work bench includes a beam, legs for supporting the beam, and at least one bracket having first and second surfaces for contacting respective first and second sides of the beam, wherein the second surface is movable between a first position contacting the second side of the beam, and a second position not contacting the second side of the beam. A spring biases the second surface towards the first position. |
| US08256473B2 |
Supporting and weighing device for containers
A container supplied to a carousel type filling unit is directed onto a supporting and weighing device (1) that presents a hollow body (12) attached to the carousel and housing a load cell. The hollow body (12) is equipped with a pedestal (19) presenting a platform (20) on which to stand the container, and a connecting element (21) of which a first end (21a) is coupled with the load cell internally of the hollow body (12) and a second end (21b), opposite to the first end (21a), is secured to the platform (20). To advantage, the first end (21a) of the connecting element (21) is seated in a through opening (13) afforded by the underside of the hollow body (12). |
| US08256467B1 |
Plug with pressure release valve
A plug having a pressure release valve for releasing excess pressure within a bladder of the plug. The release valve has a valve core with a pressure release passage therethrough with an inlet in fluid communication with an interior void of the bladder and an outlet in fluid communication with the external environment outside the bladder. An elastomeric seal under hoop stress about a portion of the valve core seals the outlet until overinflation of the bladder causes the seal to become elastically deflected and unseal the outlet, thereby allowing excess pressure to be released. When the overinflation no longer exists because of the pressure release, the hoop stress of the seal causes resealing of the outlet. An inflation valve may also be provided to inflate the bladder, and with the inlet opening into an inflation passageway into the bladder's interior. |
| US08256465B2 |
Microfluidic valve structure
A microfluidic valve structure is provided. The valve structure includes a valve body having a fluid flow passage formed therein for allowing fluid to flow therethrough. A valve boss is configured to move relative to a valve seat to open and close the fluid flow passage. A plurality of flexible support arms extend between a wall of the valve body and the valve boss for supporting the valve boss relative to the valve body such that the valve boss engages and disengages the valve seat to close and open the passage. |
| US08256464B2 |
Check valve flap for fluid injector
A backflow-prevention system that substantially prevents contaminant backflow at a treatment site. The system includes a fluid ejector tube for insertion into the patient's mouth and a backflow prevention device that receives fluid from the fluid ejector tube. The backflow prevention device includes an internally positioned valve member. The valve member limits contaminant backflow. The valve member is movable between open and closed positions based on a vacuum pressure condition in the system. |
| US08256463B2 |
Faucet with adjustable height spout
A faucet spout having an adjustable height relative to a stationary base or surface to which it may be mounted. A spout tube is slideably engaged within a spout body in which a support member is housed. The support member is received within the spout tube and provides a positive stop at a lowest position. A ratchet assembly within the support member engages the end of the spout tube at any one of a series of ratchet teeth providing a variety of additional stops/heights at which the spout tube may be retained for operation. A release button withdraws the ratchet arm and permits the spout tube to return to the first stop at its lowest point. |
| US08256461B1 |
Distribution valve and cam mechanism
An improved multi-port water distribution valve is disclosed together with the improved cam mechanism that significantly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the valve when used to distribute water to multiple sets of pop-up cleaning heads incorporated into the in-floor cleaning system of a swimming pool. Two forms of prior art distribution valves are disclosed as is the improved cam mechanism that, when used to replace the prior art cam in these devices, significantly improves their performance. Comparative data is provided demonstrating the results achieved with two different prior art valves operated with and without the improved cam. Embodiments of the invention suitable for use in existing six-port and five-port distribution valves are disclosed. |
| US08256460B2 |
Device for controlled operation of a surgical or dental drive unit
A device for controlled operation of a surgical or dental drive unit driven by a compressed fluid source p available in the operating room and comprising A) a control valve attachable to the drive unit for controlling a flow rate of a compressed fluid flowing from a compressed fluid source p to a drive unit; B) a first control means by means of which the control valve is operable; and C) a second control means by means of which a flow rate of compressed fluid may be controlled. The device further comprises D) a control switch which is attached to the control valve and allowing to select between at least three positions (A;B;C): in position A the control valve is locked and closed; in position B the control valve is unlocked and a flow rate of the compressed fluid is controllable by means of the first control means; and in position C the control valve is unlocked and open permitting the control of a flow rate by means of the second control means. |
| US08256458B2 |
Device for the prevention of high oil tank pressures under negative G conditions
An aircraft gas-turbine oil tank has a breather outlet tube 2 branching off from an upper area of the oil tank 1 and connecting to a breather and a connecting tube 6 joining to a bottom area of the oil tank 1. An air guide tube which is open at both ends is arranged in the upper area of the oil tank 1, with the air guide tube 3 protruding into the breather outlet tube 2 and extending into a middle area of the oil tank 1. |
| US08256456B2 |
Modular electrical bus system with built-in ground circuit
A modular electrical bus system has a grounding circuit through a plurality of modular units with each unit being both electrically and mechanically connectable together via a bridge member connecting adjacent units and the main communication module. The bridge member and modular units are grounded together with a ground circuit that extends within both components. |
| US08256455B1 |
Alarm and method
A valve and method allows efficient closure for a pipe containing liquid. The valve in the preferred form is operated by a float in a sump pit should the sump pump fail to operate. The float is lifted by rising water and an arm attached to the float is supported on rollers when the valve is normally open turns to disengage from the rollers to close the valve. A shaft positioned in the conduit is attached to a cap which reacts to the expansion of a spring to thus close the end of the conduit and prevent further liquid flow therethrough. An audible alarm system sounds as the rising liquid level reaches a water sensor on the valve to warn a homeowner or building occupant. The alarm also sounds when a manual test switch is closed or if the smoke sensor is activated. |
| US08256453B2 |
Vacuum regulator having selectable adjustment ranges
A vacuum regulator has a vacuum range controller and a manifold including an inlet opening, a vacuum source connection, and a bleed orifice. The vacuum range controller includes a regulator stem having a metering tip, a stem body, and an adjustment rod. The metering tip is selectively positioned against the bleed orifice. The vacuum range controller further includes a vacuum adjuster having an adjustment collar and a resilient member which are coaxially disposed on a portion of the regulator stem. An adjustment knob engages the adjustment rod for concurrent rotational movement therewith. |
| US08256451B2 |
Valve device for filling containers, in particular containers intended to contain liquefied gases
A valve device for filling containers, particularly containers intended to contain liquefied gases, includes a valve body in which a gas duct is defined at the inlet of the container, the gas duct extending predominantly in an axial direction. A closure is axially movable in the valve body away from and towards a valve seat in order, respectively, to open and shut off the gas duct. A float type actuator, capable of exerting a thrust on a second end of the closure, is provided. A deflector cover is disposed transversely to the gas pipe and is integral with the valve body. The deflector includes a guide cavity in which a first end of the closure is slidably engaged. |
| US08256450B2 |
Butterfly valves with undulating sealing surface
A butterfly valve with an undulating sealing surface, which has an inflatable annular seal mounted in a housing. A disk is pivotally mounted in the housing and has an edge with an undulating sealing surface and a peripheral sealing edge. The undulating sealing surface of the disk and a sealing face of the annular seal have non-mating profiles when the valve is in an unsealed condition. Pressure in a chamber proximate the annular seal causes the face of the annular seal to expand and deform and the face forms a high-pressure seal between the sealing ridge and the annular seal. Also includes a method for stopping delivery of a conduit transportable material through a butterfly valve. |
| US08256448B2 |
High temperature butterfly valves
A butterfly valve for handling materials where the temperature of the materials flowing through the butterfly valve can exceed the breakdown temperature of the sealing member with the butterfly valve inhibiting contact of hot transportable materials with the sealing member to isolate the hot transportable materials from the sealing member. Cooling conduits maintain at least portions of the valve that contacts the sealing member at a temperature below the breakdown temperature of the sealing member to prevent seal failure. |
| US08256444B2 |
Check ball valve assembly with check ball guide
A check ball valve assembly is used to regulate fluid flow from two separate fluid sources to a single fluid outlet. The assembly utilizes a single check ball alternating between two check ball seats in two separate fluid passages. A check ball guide is installed at the intersection of the separate fluid passages and deflects the check ball from the pressurized passage to the non-pressurized passage to prevent backflow into the fluid source. |
| US08256441B2 |
Method for cleaning optical element of EUV light source device and optical element cleaning device
A method for cleaning an optical element of an extreme ultraviolet light source device for removing, from the optical element in a chamber, scattered matter generated together with extreme ultraviolet light by plasma formed through laser beam excitation of a target in the chamber, the method which comprises: making the scattered matter generated by the plasma no larger than nanosize by using solid tin as the target and using a CO2 laser as an excitation source of the solid tin; and imparting, to the scattered matter no larger than the nanosize adhered to the optical element, an effect of overcoming the adherence of the scattered matter. |
| US08256438B2 |
Hair holder, open/close device for hair-holding member, and hair holder for hair treatment
A hair holder includes a tube formed of a sheet in such a design as to allow a hair bundle to be inserted from a one-end opening at one end of the tube toward an other-end opening at the other end thereof. The tube includes an integration mechanism in the vicinity of the one-end opening. The integration mechanism is for a clip-type fixing member having a pair of pinchers. The one-end opening is openable and closable by operating the clip-type fixing member having been integrated with the tube. |
| US08256437B2 |
Mascara brush including bristles of various diameters
An applicator for applying a composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator having a brush with a twisted core and including at least two segments. Each segment includes a plurality of bristles having a common diameter associated with the segment, the bristles being held by the twisted core. The common diameter associated with each of the at least two segments increases for each segment towards a distal end of the twisted core. |
| US08256432B2 |
Unit and a method for wrapping tobacco products
Tobacco products are wrapped by a unit equipped with a rotating drum carrying a set of holder mechanisms around the periphery, each rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the drum, by which single products are supported and carried through an assembly station together with leaves of wrapping material received from a vacuum roller turning on an axis parallel to the axis of the drum; the vacuum roller revolves tangentially to the drum at the assembly station and comprises a system by which each leaf is transferred to a gripper associated with the support mechanism. The transfer system is timed to operate in a situation of substantially zero relative peripheral velocity between the support mechanism and the vacuum roller. |
| US08256431B2 |
Methods for treating hyperopia and presbyopia via laser tunneling
A method for treating presbyopia utilizes an Erbium based, pulsed laser to sever sub-conjunctival strictures located within the scleral matrix of the eye. Introduction of treatment energy into the scleral matrix increases or facilitates an increase in accommodation, thereby mitigating the effects of presbyopia. The treatment energy can be directed into the scleral matrix to form tunnel ablations in and through the strictures of the scleral matrix. The tunnel ablations can enhance the accommodation of the patient's eye, enabling the eye to refocus at near distances while not losing its ability to focus at a distance. |
| US08256427B2 |
Endotracheal tube holder
An endotracheal tube holder is provided. The endotracheal tube holder includes an adjustable securing clamp, an adjusting unit, a bite block, and a securing strap. The adjustable securing clamp includes a first clamping unit having a first clamping portion, and a second clamping unit having a second clamping portion. The first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are oppositely and correspondingly aligned for holding an endotracheal tube. The adjusting unit includes an elastic member, coupled between the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit. The bite block is configured at one side of the first clamping portion and includes an endotracheal tube accommodation portion. The endotracheal tube accommodation portion covers over the endotracheal tube for providing a protection to the endotracheal tube. The securing strap includes two ends respectively coupled to two lateral sides of the first clamping unit. |
| US08256423B2 |
Condom
A condom may include pouch having a wall and a frame. The pouch may have an open end and a closed end and the frame may be positioned proximate the open end. An anchoring device may be secured to the pouch proximate the closed end. Further, a harness or accessory attachment may be provided to assist in securing the condom to a user. At least one condom accessory, for stimulating at least one of the five senses, may also be positioned on or in at least one of the pouch, frame, anchor or harness using a variety of attachment methods. |
| US08256419B2 |
Method and device using myoelectrical activity for optimizing a patient's ventilatory assist
The present invention relates to a method and device for determining a level of ventilatory assist to a ventilator-dependent patient, in which a critical threshold of a respiration-related feature is calculated. Fatigue of a respiratory muscle of the ventilator-dependent patient develops when the critical threshold is reached by the respiration-related feature. The level of ventilatory assist to the ventilator-dependent patient is controlled in relation to the critical threshold of the respiration-related feature so as to prevent fatigue of the patient's respiratory muscle. |
| US08256416B2 |
Dispensing device
A device for dispensing individual doses of powder from respective pockets of a disc-shaped carrier by outwardly rupturing a lidding foil by means of pressure on an opposite side surface, the device providing individual respective deaggregation flow paths for each pocket, split airstreams allowing improved entrainment of powder, a cam mechanism for outwardly rupturing the pockets, an indexing mechanism linked to the cam mechanism and a dose counter. |
| US08256415B2 |
Portable liquid oxygen delivery system
A portable liquid oxygen medical delivery system including a portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus and a portable liquid oxygen recharger. The portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus contains an initial quantity of liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen delivery apparatus is sufficiently lightweight for portability by an ambulatory patient and has a fill port for receiving liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen recharger stores a supplemental quantity of liquid oxygen and is also sufficiently lightweight for portability by an ambulatory individual. The liquid oxygen recharger has an interface for interfacing the liquid oxygen recharger with the portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus for delivering the supplemental quantity of liquid oxygen to the portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus. |
| US08256411B2 |
Thermal bottle sock and associated methods
A bottle warmer includes a flexible tubular sleeve having a closed lower end and an open upper end. The open upper end is to receive a bottle therethough, and the closed lower end is to receive a bottom of the bottle thereagainst. An elastic band is carried by a medial portion of the flexible tubular sleeve to secure the medial portion to an adjacent portion of the bottle, and permit the open upper end to be folded back adjacent the closed lower end to define a pocket. A chemical heat source element is to be received by the pocket for warming the bottle. |
| US08256410B2 |
Barbecue grill
A barbecue grill for cooking an object. The barbecue grill includes a first resistive element subassembly energizable for generating heat to cook the object, and a second resistive element subassembly energizable for generating heat to cook the object. |
| US08256408B2 |
Mounting plate for a wire sawing device, wire sawing device comprising the same, and wire sawing process carried out by the device
The device (1) for wire sawing of a piece (10) to be sawed that is mounted on a support table (20) comprises fastening means (15, 26, 40) for fastening said piece (10) to be sawed to a carriage (18) apt to cooperate with a guide rail of said support table (20), said fastening means (15, 26, 40) consisting of a mounting plate (15) apt to be manufactured to which said piece (10) to be sawed is bonded, and of anchoring means (26, 40) for anchoring said mounting plate (15) directly on said carriage (18). |
| US08256406B1 |
Systems and methods for regulating pneumatic gas propulsion
Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for regulating pneumatic gas propulsion. More specifically, some embodiments include a first spring that exerts a spring force, where the spring set point increases as the first spring is compressed. Similarly, some embodiments include a piston that is in physical communication with the first spring and a valve. The valve mechanism may receive the gas, where upon the gas being received by the valve mechanism at a pressure that meets the spring set point, the gas causes the piston to move in the longitudinal direction. Further, movement of the piston creates a cylinder space between the piston and the valve mechanism, where a volume of the cylinder space is defined by a position of the piston. The pressure causes the piston to compress the first spring until an equilibrium exists between the gas force and the spring force. |
| US08256403B2 |
Engine and supercharger
An internal combustion engine is coupled to a supercharger operable to supply varying amounts of air to the engine responsive to the load on the engine. The supercharger has a pair of screw rotors driven by the engine to move air to the engine and a control apparatus for varying the mass and pressure of air supplied to the engine. |
| US08256398B2 |
Fuel supply apparatus and fuel supply method of an internal combustion engine
A high-pressure pump (50) is provided which is drivingly connected to an engine output shaft (1) and delivers fuel to an injector (4) through a delivery pipe (5) based on the rotation of the output shaft (1). The high-pressure pump (50) includes an electromagnetic valve (50b) that adjusts, based on the engine operating state, a fuel delivery amount within an adjustable range that changes according to a rotation speed of the engine output shaft (1). When an abnormality is detected in the electromagnetic valve (50b), the rotation speed of the engine output shaft (1) is restricted to equal to or less than a reference engine speed (NT). |
| US08256395B2 |
Engine cover having a retainer to secure an engine accessory
A cover has an aperture through which an accessory gains access to the interior side of the cover and a cavity. The accessory may be any kind of sensor or actuator. To secure the accessory to the cover, an adapter coupled to the cover is provided. In one example, the adapter has a cylindrical connection section that is spin welded into place in the cavity. In another example, the adapter has self-tapping threads that engage with the surface surrounding the cavity. The adapter also has tabs extending outwardly from the cover, the tabs having a proximate section and an engagement section. The accessory has a retaining orifice that couples with the tabs in a snap-fit relationship to secure the accessory to the cover. |
| US08256392B2 |
Method for actuating an electromagnetic switching valve
A method for actuating an electromagnetic switching valve (2) which is part of a fluid system s which has different operating states and which has a solenoid (17) and an armature group (19) which can be moved between a first switched position, which enables a flow of fluid, and a second switched position which blocks the flow of fluid, and has a valve-closing body (22) and a magnet armature (20) which is connected to the valve-closing body (22) in a tensile force-free frictional connection. In this context, in at least one operating state of the fluid system, intermediate excitation (30) in order to damp overshooting of the magnet armature (20) is performed between two coil excitations which move the armature group (19). |
| US08256391B2 |
Valve control system with malfunction detection
The invention relates to a valve control system for an engine including at least one cylinder (1, 2, 3, 4) with valves (5, 6), wherein said system comprises valve electromagnetic actuation members (7, 9, 10) associated with a management unit (11, 15) that controls the actuation members, said system comprising a member (11, 12, 13) for detecting a malfunction of the actuation members and a member (11, 12, 13) for electrically insulating the faulty actuation member. |
| US08256385B2 |
Dual retractable pet leash with ability to stop pets individually
A twin pet leash prevents tangling by permitting the reel portion to rotate relative to the handle portion, and features individually controllable leash stop mechanisms. Even while an individual leash is stopped, the reel portion can rotate relative to the handle portion so that tangling of the pet leashes is avoided. The leash handle portion has two triggers which are color coded to match the color of the leash, so that a user can readily identify which of the two leashes are to be stopped. Either or both of the leashes can be stopped or released, without interfering with the operation of the other one of the leashes. |
| US08256383B2 |
Collapsible practice barrels for equine barrel racing
A collapsible barrel is provided for use in training for equine barrel racing. The collapsible barrel is configured and sized to approximate the dimensions of a conventional barrel used in the sport of equine barrel racing, but is constructed of sturdy, lightweight materials that enable the barrel to be transformed between a fully deployed state and a collapsed state. The collapsible barrel of the present invention is sufficiently lightweight and dimensioned, when in a collapsed state, to be easily transported, deployed for training and later stored. The flexibility of the collapsible barrel makes training ideal because it eliminates injury to the legs of the rider and the body of the horse. |
| US08256374B2 |
Apparatus and methods for profile wrapping laminates
Apparatus and methods for applying a coating of adhesive to laminate cover material in a profile wrapping operation. The apparatus can include a slot nozzle, a pressure roller, and a drive roller. The drive roller and pressure roller are movable to first positions in which the drive roller and pressure roller are spaced from the laminate, and second positions in which the drive roller and pressure roller contact the laminate to feed the veneer over the slot nozzle. The apparatus may be used to apply adhesive to raw veneer provided in strip form and to laminates provided in roll form. |
| US08256372B2 |
Apparatus for applying deglossing paint on peripheral inactive portion including a slidable holder and elastically disposed carrier
An exemplary apparatus for applying deglossing paint on a peripheral inactive portion of a lens is provided. The apparatus includes a platform, a holder and a printing device. The platform includes a worktable, and a supporting member extending from the worktable and having a cantilever portion suspending above the worktable. The holder is mounted on the worktable, and is configured for holding one or more lenses thereon. The printing device is supported by the cantilever portion, and includes a stamper facing toward the lens. The stamper is capable of having the deglossing paint stained thereon and applying the deglossing paint on the peripheral inactive portion by bringing the deglossing paint into contact with the peripheral inactive portion. |
| US08256369B2 |
Collapsible construction barrier
A collapsible barrier has at least three integrally-formed wall sections with a plurality of contiguous living hinges, as a series, joining each adjacent pair of wall sections, the at least three wall sections including two endmost wall sections joinable to form an upright structure. A collapsible barrier may include a plurality of interconnected wall sections each having a top-facing side, where one of the top-facing sides has a pocket adapted for securely holding a light. A thermoformed unitary plastic object may include at least two wall sections, at least one hinge member connecting adjacent interior ones of the wall sections' longitudinal sides, the hinge member comprising a plurality of interconnected living hinges, where a nominal thickness of the at least one hinge members of the thermoformed unitary plastic object approximates 0.100 inch. |
| US08256368B2 |
Reinforcement of kiss-off in rotationally molded watercraft
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the efficient reinforcement of molded kiss-offs in a kayak. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a personal self-propelled watercraft comprising a unitary molded plastic body comprising a hull and a seat, a kiss-off connecting two proximate surfaces of the self-propelled watercraft, and a plastic reinforcing structure welded within an interior of the kiss-off. |
| US08256364B2 |
Methods and devices for controlling the tension of yarn in a tufting machine
A tufting machine for forming tufted carpet having means for inserting loops of at least two different yarns into a backing material moving through the tufting machine and means for controlling the deviation of the ratio of different yarns projecting from a top surface of the backing material. It is contemplated that the tufting machine can be used to maintain the color of the tufted carpet at a desired color during the operation of the tufting machine. |
| US08256360B2 |
Massage table with secure lock legs
A massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage includes a table top assembly and a leg assembly. The table top assembly supports the person. The leg assembly is secured to the table top assembly and supports the table top assembly above the surface. The leg assembly includes a plurality of legs. At least at least one of the legs includes (i) a first leg section that is attached to the table top assembly, (ii) a second leg section that is movable relative to the first leg section to adjust the position of the table top assembly relative to the support, and (iii) a section attacher that selectively attaches the first leg section to the second leg section. In one embodiment, the section attacher includes a section stop and a section clamp. The section stop inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section. The section clamp also selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section. With this design, in certain embodiments, the leg is designed to inhibit relative movement between the leg sections to insure quiet use of the massage table. |
| US08256359B1 |
Height adjustable table
A height adjustable table is disclosed wherein all horizontal supports that span between legs have been eliminated to increase storage space and knee space in the area under the table work surface. A unique telescoping leg arrangement is disclosed. |
| US08256355B2 |
Cover system for open top rail cars
An improved rail car is pulled by an engine for transporting coal or other porous dust bearing materials. The car has opposing long sidewalls and opposing shorter end walls, which together define an initially open interior, a bottom and an open top. The open top of the car is covered by at least one pair of main doors in the form of opposing hinged A-frame sections which are pivotable between a closed, transport position and an open loading position which exposes the rail car interior for loading. The A-frame sections also have longitudinally spaced edges which are spaced apart to form a discharge door opening. A discharge door is located in each of the discharge door opening and is pivotally hinged within the respective door opening so that it opens under the influence of gravity in a rotary dumping operation. The discharge doors, together with the A-frame sections, form a door-within-a-door operating configuration. |
| US08256353B1 |
System and method for processing and distributing freight containers
A system and method for optimally managing the inventory of railroad freight cars and for transporting and processing the unladen cars to reloading points. The system provides a means for returning unladen cars at one or more strategically located yards or aggregation facilities where the cars are cleaned, inspected, repaired/maintained, stored and blocked for ultimate delivery. After such processes the cars may be treated as generic, and used for the transport of any materials within the constraints of the car type, rather than being dedicated to specific products and returned to a specific production facilities as in current practice. As well, the method provides a means by which multiple car operators may pool their collective rail car assets to further optimize the rail car supply chain. The method provides a means to determine candidate locations for such aggregation facilities/processing yards, and for optimal inventory control, sorting by next destination, and transit scheduling to deliver unladen cars to their next reloading points. The system and method are particularly useful in transporting specific polymer resins to a manufacturing region and returning the rail car through the aggregation/processing facility such that the cleaned, repaired, inspected, stored and blocked car may be used at any resin production facility. |
| US08256352B2 |
Jacketed bullet with bonded core
A jacketed bullet comprising a dense core of a first material substantially surrounded by and bonded to a jacket of a second material, wherein the thickness of the jacket varies. |
| US08256351B1 |
Non-lethal variable distance electronic timed payload projectile ammunitions
A non-lethal projectile used to immobilize, impair, disorient, or distract a live target. The non-lethal projectile can also be used as a signaling device. In one embodiment, a non-lethal payload carrying projectile that is detonated at a set distance determined and, set by the operator. The distance is electronically controlled and can be set in the field seconds before the projectile is fired. |
| US08256346B2 |
Plateless lithographic printing
Embodiments of the present invention dispense with the need for lithographic printing plates, instead facilitating direct transfer of ink from a permanent cylinder to a recording medium. Accordingly, instead of being permanently modified to exhibit oleophilic and oleophobic (or hydrophilic) regions, the cylinder is effectively “programmed” with the image prior to each transfer of ink. |
| US08256345B2 |
Printing press, methods for using the printing press, and methods for handling a web guided through a printing press
A printing press has at least one first printing tower with at least one first printing unit that has several offset printing couples which are usable to print on one or on both sides of a first web which runs through the first printing unit substantially from the bottom to the top. The web is printed in multiple colors in the first printing tower. A dryer is arranged downstream of the first printing unit and along the conveying path of the first web. A former structure, with at least one former through which the web runs, is located downstream of the dryer. At least one nipping roller is located downstream of the dryer and upstream of the former. A spreading device is provided between the dryer and the at least one nipping roller that is located upstream of the former and along the conveying path of the first web. |
| US08256343B2 |
Coffee maker comprising means for generating a rotation in a flow of beverage
A pad holder of a coffee maker for making coffee with a foam layer on top includes a stud plate having studs for supporting a coffee pad containing ground coffee beans and an outlet opening for delivering coffee extract. Studs in the direct vicinity of the outlet opening are arranged in a circle, where surfaces of the studs form a circular directing surface. During operation of the coffee maker, a flow of coffee extract enters a space encompassed by the studs via channels between the studs, and is put into rotation as a result of interaction with the directing surface. Consequently, the coffee flow enters the outlet opening in a rotating condition, causing the outlet opening to deliver the coffee as a spray of fine droplets, from which the foam is created. |
| US08256342B2 |
Extraction module with linear closure for the pressurized preparation of a drink from a capsule
The invention relates to an extraction module with linear closure for the pressurized preparation of a drink from a capsule, containing a substance for extraction, comprising means for extraction with a first extraction sub-assembly and a second mobile extraction sub-assembly closing against the first sub-assembly such as to form an extraction chamber in the closed position and to provide sufficient space between the two sub-assemblies for introduction of a capsule between the sub-assemblies in the open position and comprising a means for fixing and positioning the capsule between the two sub-assemblies. Said means for fixing and positioning may be displaced in a coaxial manner with relation to the linear displacement of the mobile extraction sub-assembly and is capable of being displaced linearly by the second mobile sub-assembly in to a displaced position such as to permit a closing of the two sub-assemblies around the capsule. |
| US08256341B2 |
Air brake diaphragms
An air-operated diaphragm brake, more particularly a brake actuator assembly containing a diaphragm with a rib or ring design for centering and maintaining the location of a piston or push plate and for reducing debris build up in the brake actuator assembly. The diaphragm includes a projecting rim for engaging a housing containing a piston, a bottom wall having an interior surface for engaging the piston, a sidewall connecting the projecting rim with the bottom wall; and a plurality of ribs or a ring disposed on the interior surface of the bottom wall. The ribs or ring structure extends in a direction away from the intersection between the sidewall and the bottom wall, toward the center of the interior surface, and revolving around the center point of the interior surface. |
| US08256336B2 |
System for disabling small water craft
A system and method for disabling a small boat comprises at least two hulls and an entanglement device disposed therebetween. In the illustrative embodiment, each hull is an unmanned underwater vehicle. The system is launched from a vessel to intercept the small boat. When close to the small boat, the separating distance between the two hulls is increased, thereby deploying the entanglement device and causing it to become entangled with the small boat (e.g., the small boat's propulsion system, etc.). |
| US08256335B1 |
Bi-directional chainsaw chain
A saw chain which is reversible having adjacent chain sections each having a pair of cutting links with cutting teeth disposed on opposite sides of the chain having flanged cutting teeth extending over the chain. The cutting edge on the pairs of cutting teeth on adjacent sections are oppositely disposed so that when the chain becomes dulled it can be reversed on the chain saw bar to reverse the chain sections to place sharp teeth in the cutting position and the previously used teeth are in a non-cutting position. |
| US08256333B2 |
Window covering sizing method and apparatus
An apparatus for cutting a window covering comprises a lateral support surface and a saw for cutting the window covering positioned at an end of the lateral support surface. An engagement member locates the center of the window covering that is retractably mounted on the lateral support surface. A clamp assembly comprises a clamping jaw that is movable to a first position where the clamping jaw presses the window covering against the lateral support surface. The clamp assembly is movable relative to the first saw and the second saw. A controller for moves the clamp assembly to automatically position a first end of the window covering relative to the first saw and a second end of the window covering relative to the second saw. Methods of cutting a window covering are also provided. |
| US08256327B2 |
Coaxial gear set
A coaxial gear set, in particular a hollow shaft gear set for industrial drive technology, having high power density, comprising a drive element (7), an element (3), and an output element, with a gear ratio and a transmission of a drive torque occurring between the drive element (7) and the output element via a plurality of radially movable tooth segments (5), an outer tooth flank contour (11.1, 11.2) of the tooth contour (6) of the tooth segments (5) and/or a flank contour (12.1, 12.2) of a gearing (13) of an inner gearing (15) of an internal wheel (1), relative to a gear axis (M), a tooth contour that allows surface contact in the engagement area comprising a logarithmic spiral. |
| US08256325B1 |
Wheel for rolling stock handbrake
A wheel is for use in manually turning a shaft on rolling stock, such as for a handbrake. The wheel has a hub and a rim. The hub is made of a first material and has an opening that is structured and arranged to receive the shaft. The opening has a rotational axis. The hub has an exterior around the rotational axis, with the hub having drive surfaces relative to the rotational axis. The rim is coupled to the hub so as to engage the drive surfaces. The drive surfaces include flat surfaces and corners of a tube portion of the hub, a radially extending plate with holes therethrough and teeth in an outer edge and gussets coupled between the tube portion and the plate. The rim has an outer periphery structured and arranged to be gripped by a human hand for rotating the wheel. The rim is made of a second material that is softer than the first material. |
| US08256323B2 |
Control device with thumb trigger
A manual control device including a handle configured to be grasped by a hand with a thumb, and a trigger configured to be subjected to a pressure from the distal phalanx of the thumb. The trigger is placed relative to the handle so as to be able to be subjected to a pressure from the distal phalanx while the proximal phalanx from the thumb is resting along the handle. |
| US08256322B2 |
Steering apparatus
A steering apparatus includes a fixed bracket, an outer column, an arm unit, an inner column, a steering shaft, and a tightening tool. The outer column includes a main holding body portion, a divided portion, and a tightening portion. The arm unit includes by a bifurcated arm portion that extends axially outward in a substantially bifurcated shape at the axial front side of the main holding body portion and a linking portion formed between the arms of the bifurcated arm portion. The inner column is held by the outer column. The steering shaft is pivotally supported by the linking portion. Two tightening plate pieces of the tightening portion are disposed inside two fixed side portions of the fixed bracket and tightenably connected by the tightening tool. |
| US08256319B2 |
Offset remote center manipulator for robotic surgery
Medical, surgical, and/or robotic devices and systems often including offset remote center parallelogram manipulator linkage assemblies which constrains a position of a surgical instrument during minimally invasive robotic surgery are disclosed. The improved remote center manipulator linkage assembly advantageously enhances the range of instrument motion while at the same time reduces the overall complexity, size, and physical weight of the robotic surgical system. |
| US08256318B2 |
System for gearing
A system for gearing, the system comprising a toothed wheel mounted on a shaft, the wheel being pierced by channels fed with lubricant, each channel opening out to the toothed periphery of the wheel. Said wheel is mounted on an end portion of the shaft, so as to be capable of being rotated by said shaft, said end portion being hollow so as to present an inside chamber, said chamber opening out to the end of the shaft via an orifice. Said channels communicate with said chamber. The system includes an injector for injecting lubricant into the chamber, the injector being situated outside the chamber and facing said orifice in such a manner as to inject the lubricant through said orifice, the lubricant penetrating into and flowing along the channels to the toothed periphery of the wheel under the effect of centrifugal force associated with rotation of the shaft. |
| US08256317B2 |
Transmission device and power seat slide device for vehicle
A transmission device that transmits rotation of a drive cable to a screw shaft is provided. The transmission device includes a worm gear attached to the drive cable, a helical gear attached to the screw shaft, a gear case, a pair of first bearing wall portions, and a pair of second bearing wall portions. The gear case has an opening on one side so as to accommodate the worm gear and the helical gear. The first bearing wall portions are integrally formed with the gear case so as to face each other along the axial direction of the drive cable, and rotatably support both ends of the worm gear. The second bearing wall portions are integrally formed with the gear case so as to face each other along the axial direction of the screw shaft, and rotatably support both ends of the helical gear. |
| US08256316B2 |
Linear bearing assembly with spherical rollers
A linear bearing employs spherical roller bodies which are contained in a roller nut body with two drive helixes and two return helixes which form a continuous loop in the nut body. The return helixes are offset from the drive helixes and have a pressure relief cutout to allow for movement of the spherical roller bodies through the return helix region. |
| US08256313B2 |
Actuator with linearly movable drive screw
An actuator and vehicle system including a drive gear with an integral drive nut in meshing engagement with a drive screw. The drive screw is prevented from rotating such that rotation of the drive gear causes linear motion of the drive screw. |
| US08256306B1 |
High-capacity low-profile load cell for measuring compression force
A high-capacity low-profile load cell for measuring compression force. The load cell comprises a support ring, a diaphragm supported by the support ring, and first and second pluralities of strain gages arranged under the diaphragm for detecting strain produced by application of a load from above. The diaphragm comprises a slug portion and a plate portion that surrounds and supports the slug portion. The slug portion has a height greater than a thickness of the plate portion. The first plurality of strain gages is disposed on a bottom surface of the slug portion, while the second plurality of strain gages is disposed on a bottom surface of the plate portion. These strain gages are electrically connected to form a Wheatstone bridge. |
| US08256305B2 |
System and method for air containment zone pressure differential detection
An air pressure differential sensing system includes a conduit defining an air passage through which air flows upon application of an air pressure differential across different regions of the air passage, a flap pivotally connected to the conduit, and a sensing device mounted proximate to the air passage and separate from the flap. The flap is configured to move about a pivotal axis in response to the air flowing through the air passage. The sensing device is configured to sense an angular position of the flap about the pivotal axis, the angular position of the flap being a function of the air pressure differential. |
| US08256300B2 |
Pressure sensor
A pressure sensor includes a sense element port, a support ring and a plurality of interference fit slits to provide a flexible interference fit between the sense element port and the support ring to form a substantially flush lap joint. The sensor also includes an electronics board inside the support ring and attached to planar mounting tabs which provide a stable mounting. Gel flow barriers protect electronics board features from unwanted non-conductive gel. Double-ended symmetrical, tapered contact springs provide manufacturing cost savings and contribute to improved alignment of an interface connector of the sensor. |
| US08256298B2 |
MEMS pressure sensor
A MEMS pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in a sealed cavity of a MEMS device, comprises a resonant MEMS device having a pressure sensor resonator element which comprises an array of openings. The resonant frequency of the resonant MEMS device is a function of the pressure in the cavity, with resonant frequency increasing with pressure. Over the pressure range 0 to 0.1 kPa, the average change in frequency is at least 10−6/Pa. The invention is based on the recognition that for fast oscillation, the elastic force causes the resonance frequency to shift. Therefore, it is possible to sense the pressure by a device with resonance frequency that is sensitive to the pressure. |
| US08256291B1 |
MEMS switch triggered by shock and/or acceleration
An acceleration-triggered or shock-triggered, smart, tunable MEMS switch that may function as both a classic accelerometer and an acceleration threshold detector. A parallel element MEMS device has a stationary and a movable element forming a capacitor. Varying acceleration moves the movable member with respect to the stationary member, thereby changing the capacitance of the device. The capacitance varying may be used, in cooperation with appropriate circuitry, to provide a signal representative of instantaneous acceleration. By applying a biasing voltage, the movable element may be positioned in a predetermined fashion such that acceleration of a predetermined magnitude causes the movable element to pull in (snap down). The movable and stationary elements may function as a switch such that when the predetermined acceleration or shock level occurs, electrodes close, a current flows between the elements so that an external device such as an air bag may be activated. |
| US08256289B2 |
Angular rate sensor
An angular rate sensor comprises a piezoelectric film having a first and a second surfaces forming an x-y plane and utilizes a perturbation mass coherently vibrating elastic acoustic waves on which a Coriolis force acts when the angular rate sensor undergoes a rotary motion about an x-direction. A first elastic acoustic wave is excited in the piezoelectric film by a driving transducer and a second elastic acoustic wave generated by the Coriolis force proportional to an angular rate of the rotary motion of the angular rate sensor itself is detected by the detecting transducer. The angular rate sensor further comprises at least a first electrode disposed on the first surface of the piezoelectric film for discharging a surface charge caused due to piezoelectric effect at the lower surface of the film in which the first elastic acoustic wave is excited. |
| US08256286B2 |
System and method for detecting and measuring ethyl alcohol in the blood of a motorized vehicle driver transdermally and non-invasively in the presence of interferents
This invention relates to a system and method that can quickly and accurately detect and measure ethyl alcohol in the blood of a motorized vehicle driver transdermally and non-invasively within minutes of ethanol consumption and in the presence of interferents. The system includes an array of sensors embedded into the steering mechanism of a motorized vehicle, a data base of patterns produced through empirical testing of various analytes in various combinations and concentrations, neural net based pattern recognition algorithms to ascertain the driver's transdermal alcohol concentration and a database derived from human testing, correlating the driver's transdermal alcohol concentration with the driver's blood alcohol concentration. The detection system is integrated with a motor vehicle decision module which can prevent the operation of a motorized vehicle by a driver whose BAC exceeds a preset limit. |
| US08256282B2 |
In situ determination of critical desorption pressures
The critical desorption pressure is determined by pumping out an area within a well bore. As the pressure in that area is decreased, formation fluid from the surrounding rock matrix is drawn into the area. As the local pressure is decreased further, gaseous bubbles within the formation fluid will begin to form. The formation fluid is observed, and the formation of the gaseous bubbles is detected. The critical desorption pressure is determined based upon the presence of gas within the formation fluid. The concentration of gas within the formation fluid can then be determined based on the determination of the critical desorption pressure. |
| US08256281B2 |
Fuel property determination apparatus for internal combustion engine
An object of the present invention is to determine individually and accurately an ignitability index value and an evaporativity index value of a fuel.A fuel injection valve (12) for which a fuel injection direction is set such that fuel is directed toward a cylinder wall surface (54) is included. An air-fuel ratio (a first air-fuel ratio) of an exhaust gas and a crank angular velocity (a first crank angular velocity) during combustion associated with fuel injection at a first after injection timing T1 are acquired. An air-fuel ratio (a second air-fuel ratio) of the exhaust gas and a crank angular velocity (a second crank angular velocity) during combustion associated with fuel injection at a second after injection timing T2 that is retarded from the first after injection timing T1 are acquired. A cetane number and a distillation property are determined based on Δ A/F that is an amount of change between the first air-fuel ratio and the second air-fuel ratio, Δ crank angular velocity that is an amount of change between the first crank angular velocity and the second crank angular velocity, and predetermined determination basic information. |
| US08256280B2 |
Arrangement structure for sensor to be mounted to engine of vehicle
Disclosed is an arrangement structure for a sensor to be mounted to an engine of a vehicle, wherein the engine is arranged in an engine compartment 2 of the vehicle in a posture allowing a crankshaft 8 of the engine to be oriented in a widthwise direction of the vehicle. The arrangement structure comprises a driveshaft 50 arranged along a vehicle-rearward lateral surface of the engine 1 facing in a rearward direction of the vehicle, to rotatably drive a front wheel, and a flange section 28a provided as a joining section between two members (12, 15) constituting the engine 1, to protrude in the rearward direction of the vehicle and at a height position below that of the driveshaft 50, wherein the sensor 42 is mounted to the vehicle-rearward lateral surface of the engine 1 at a height position located above the flange section 28a and in overlapping relation with the driveshaft 50 when viewed from a rear side of the vehicle. The arrangement structure of the present invention is capable of more reliably protecting the sensor mounted to the engine against foreign objects, such as water and a pebble, to adequately maintain performance of the sensor on a long-term basis. |
| US08256277B2 |
Gas turbine engine debris monitoring arrangement
An example method of controlling gas turbine engine debris monitoring sensors includes detecting debris carried by air moving through an engine using at least first and second debris sensors, and processing signals from both the first and second debris sensors using a common signal conditioning unit. Another example method of monitoring gas turbine engine debris includes configuring at least one first debris sensor to detect debris carried by airflow moving through a first portion of an engine and configuring at least one second debris sensor to detect debris carried by airflow moving though a second portion of the engine. The method alternates between using the first debris sensor to detect debris and using the second debris sensor to detect debris. |
| US08256276B2 |
Ball movement path measuring method
A ball movement path measuring method includes the steps of: preparing an operating unit and a measurement unit, mounting the triaxial accelerometer in the object to be measured for enabling the triaxial accelerometer to define XYZ triaxial space coordinates, obtaining the data of a initial position of the XYZ axes at a first measuring time and the data of a reference position of the XYZ axes at a second measuring time and transmitting the obtained data to the operating unit, and comparing the reference position to the initial position and calculating the XYZ acceleration data, XYZ vector components of force and torsion force relative to each of XYZ axes after receipt of force subject to the contained angle between the coordinates data of the reference position and the coordinate data of the initial position and then using the XYZ acceleration data and the data of the weight and size of the object to calculate the force experienced by the object, initial velocity, flight duration, flight height, flight distance and/or rotation speed. |
| US08256272B1 |
UV adhesive viscosity adjustment apparatus and method
Examples of an apparatus and method for adjusting a viscosity of an adhesive are disclosed. An apparatus may comprise a motor including a spindle. A tooling bit may be disposed spaced from and axially aligned with the spindle extending into a first end of a syringe to contact an adhesive in the syringe while the syringe is detachably mounted for rotation to the spindle. A lamp may selectively shine a curing light on the adhesive. A meter may be coupled to the motor to measure a torque on the motor. The method may include detachably mounting the syringe containing the adhesive to the motor. The motor may be operated to stir the adhesive at a first voltage for a predetermined time. A torque on the motor may be measured and compared to a reference range of values. |
| US08256270B2 |
Pipeline pressure tool
An apparatus and method for pressure testing one or more sections of a pipeline are provided. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first high pressure seal and a second high pressure seal adapted to isolate a test volume located within a section of the pipeline between the first and second high pressure seals. The apparatus also includes at least one flexible member connecting the first high pressure seal to the second high pressure seal, the at least one flexible member adapted to permit movement of the first high pressure seal relative to the second high pressure seal, allowing the apparatus to travel through a curvature in the pipeline. |
| US08256269B2 |
Aqueous chemical leak detection cable
Disclosed are aqueous chemical leak detection cables that provide protection to sensor wires by using a conductive polymer coating that is resistant to corrosion by aqueous chemicals. In addition, non-conductive, liquid pervious layers may surround one or more of the sensor wires to assist in preventing false detection of a aqueous chemical leak as a result of various non-liquid contaminants. The non-conductive, liquid pervious layer may comprise braided, non-hydroscopic, non-conductive fibers, or a continuous, non-conductive pervious coating. |
| US08256268B2 |
System and method for measuring porosity of high strength and high performance concrete using a vacuum-pressure saturation method
The method for measuring porosity of concrete is a vacuum pressure saturation-based method for calculating a porosity value of a sample of concrete. The method includes the steps of first drying a concrete sample and then making a first weight measurement of the concrete sample. Following the first weight measurement, the concrete sample is placed in a vacuum pressure vessel, where the sample is subjected to vacuum. The vacuum pressure vessel and a pressure cell are next filled with water. Water in the pressure cell and vacuum pressure vessel is pressurized, and the sample remains within the pressurized water for twenty-four hours. The sample remains submerged in the vacuum pressure vessel for another twenty-four hour period to achieve equilibrium. A second weight is then taken in the water, and a third weight measurement is taken in air. The porosity is calculated based upon the first, second and third weight measurements. |
| US08256257B2 |
Method of operating an apparatus for decelerating and temporarily accumulating hot rolled long products
A method for operating an apparatus for decelerating and temporarily accumulating a hot rolled long product. The product is deposited on a rotating drum in the form of a helix, and is simultaneously unwound from the drum to a receiving guide movable incrementally along a path parallel to the rotational axis of the drum. Immediately upon entry of the product front end into the receiving guide, the incremental movement of the receiving guide is preceded by an initial rapid shifting through a distance adequate to prevent subsequent product convolutions of the helix from buckling and overlapping. |
| US08256255B2 |
Finishing station of variable structure for a machine for the formation of pipes
A finishing station of variable structure includes two plates, joined integrally to each other and able to slide along two vertical shoulders which support a plurality of forming rollers mounted on shoes able to slide in radial guides formed in the plates. The shoes that support the forming rollers are moved by levers hinged to the plates and connected to each other by connecting rods, two of which are hinged to levers hinged to the plates and secured to the ground. A further forming roller, situated in the lower part of the plates, is preferably secured to the ground. In the inner part of the two forming rollers situated in the upper part of the finishing station a disc blade is formed to control the position of the edges of the bent strip of sheet metal during the finishing operation. |
| US08256252B2 |
Steering lock device
A steering lock device includes a lock member that is slidable between a lock position and an unlock position, and a slider that is disposed slidably in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the lock member. A sloped portion that is linearly sloped toward the steering shaft along a slide direction of the slider is provided on at least one of the lock member and the slider. The lock member is shifted between the lock position and the unlock position by the sloped portion in response to sliding of the slider. According to the steering lock device, downsizing can be brought due to its short height along a stroke direction of the lock member and cost reduction by commoditization of its main components can be achieved. |
| US08256251B2 |
Mortise deadbolt lock cam engagement device
A stop arrangement for precluding disengagement of a mortise deadbolt lock element by a cam which is employed to extend and retract the element. The arrangement employs first and second stop arms angularly spaced from a cam, which are rotatable, along with the cam, and which engage the lock element to preclude over-rotation. |
| US08256249B2 |
Laundry machine
The present invention relates to laundry machines, and, more particularly, to a safe laundry machine which enables a user to open/close a door easily, and can prevent an accident caused by opening/closing of the door from taking place.The laundry machine includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet, a door having a latch for being opened/closed selectively to expose an inside of the drum to an outside of the laundry machine, and a door switch assembly provided for enabling opening/closing of the door, wherein the door switch assembly includes a switch unit for making selective connection to the latch, and an opening operation unit spaced from the switch unit for the user to enable to disconnect the connection between the latch and the switch unit. |
| US08256245B2 |
Method for melting a composition of raw materials with an arched burner
The invention concerns a method for melting a composition of raw materials including introducing the composition in an oven to form a layer (2) at the surface of the molten pool (4). An oxycombustion burner (10) is arranged above the pool and directed towards the composition layer (2) to produce a melting front (3). Parameters of the burner are adjusted to produce a large covering flame (12) causing an essentially radiation-based thermal transfer. Additionally, a plane containing a longitudinal section of the flame (Z-Z) and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of the oven (X-X) intersects the melting front (3) at a height (h) included ranging between one third and half of the thickness of the composition (e). Such a method provides for a stable operation of the oven and is particularly adapted to a large-capacity oven. |
| US08256242B1 |
Cooler with multiple compartments
An insulated cooler with two (2) separate independent storage compartments and lids allowing for compartmentalized transportation and storage of items is herein disclosed. The separate compartments eliminate possible cross-contamination as well as provide different thermal conditioning of the contents. The compartments are completely independent of each other having an interior divider wall extending completely through the body of the cooler and continuing into a lid area, thereby sealing independent compartments. Additionally, each compartment is also provided with a draining means. |
| US08256241B2 |
Air conditioner
A centrifugal fan mounted in an air conditioner has the following relationship: outer diameter of a side plate of the centrifugal fan > outer diameter of the blade rear-edge part on side-plate side > diameter of the blade rear-edge part on main plate side ≧ outer diameter of the main plate. In the centrifugal fan, the blade rear-edge part is positioned inside from a straight line connecting the connection point between the blade rear-edge part and the main plate, to the connection point between the blade rear-edge part and the side plate, as viewed from the rotation axis. The blade rear-edge part has a shape such that the distance from the rotation axis becomes larger from the main plate toward the side plate. |
| US08256238B2 |
Control system for a variable-capacity compressor in air conditioner
An air conditioning system for a vehicle has a refrigerant cycle device which has an evaporator and a compressor and in which refrigerant is discharged from the compressor to be evaporated in the evaporator so that air passing the evaporator is cooled to be blown into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The control unit drives the compressor at a control value which is determined based on at least one of a pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle device and an outside-air temperature outside the passenger compartment, when the control unit actuates the compressor. |
| US08256235B2 |
Apparatus and method for transferring heat
A heat transfer apparatus and method comprises first and second heat transfer units. A heat exchanger has a first portion thereof arranged between the first and second units, and a second portion that is thermally connected to the first portion and not arranged between the first and second units. Each heat transfer unit comprises one or more modules, and each module comprises a chamber having a first part which contains a first gas adsorbent material and a second part which contains a second gas adsorbent material. These parts are connected so as to allow gaseous communication therebetween whilst being relatively thermally isolated from each other. |
| US08256234B2 |
Method and apparatus for coolant control within refrigerators
A method for cooling an icemaker is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold body having a channel for transport of coolant and a plurality of ice cavities. The method includes the steps of injecting a coolant into the channel, adding water to the ice cavities, forming ice cubes in the ice cavities, removing coolant from the channel, heating the ice mold body, and ejecting the ice cubes from the ice mold body. The removal step is performed by reversing direction of a coolant pump. |
| US08256233B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for making or administering frozen particles
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one substrate. |
| US08256230B2 |
Operating system of liquefied natural gas ship for subcooling and liquefying boil-off gas
A method for reliquefying boil-off gas generated in a cargo tank of a liquefied natural gas ship generally includes the steps of compressing boil-off gas generated in the cargo tank with a compressor, sub-cooling the compressed boil-off gas in a heat exchanger, feeding the liquefied gas to a gas phase separator, venting flash gas generated in the gas phase separator through a first pipe, feeding the vented flash gas from the gas phase separator to a gas combustion unit of the ship via the first pipe, oxidizing the vented flash gas in the gas combustion unit, diverting a portion of the compressed boil-off gas from the compressor through a second pipe, feeding the diverted portion of compressed boil-off gas from the compressor to an upper region of the gas-phase separator and returning liquefied gas from the gas-phase separator to the cargo tank. |
| US08256229B2 |
Rear hub cooling for high pressure compressor
In one exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine includes a turbine and a high pressure compressor. The high pressure compressor includes a last stage having a last stage compressor blade and a last stage vane. The gas turbine engine includes a first flow path through which bleed air flows to the turbine and a second flow path through which air from the last stage of the high pressure compressor flows. The bleed air in the first flow path exchanges heat with a portion of the air in the second flow path in a heat exchanger to cool the air in the second flow path. The cooled air in the second flow path is returned to the high pressure compressor to cool the high pressure compressor. |
| US08256227B2 |
Ultra efficient engine
An engine comprises a combustion chamber, an expansion cylinder with a piston adapted for reciprocating motion in the expansion cylinder via combustion products combusted in the combustion chamber, and a transmission associated with the expansion cylinder. The transmission has a guide frame with a first drive wheel rotatably mounted at one end of the guide frame and a second drive wheel rotatably mounted at an opposite longitudinal end of the guide frame. Each of the drive wheels is driven by an inextensible continuous loop. The guide frame has a crank head adapted to reciprocatingly translate along the guide frame. The crank head has a drive connection pivotally connecting the crank head to the loop. The crank head is operatively connected to the piston such that reciprocating motion of the piston results in corresponding reciprocating motion of the crank head, movement of the loop, and corresponding rotation of the drive wheels. |
| US08256225B2 |
Gas turbine engine with a variable exit area fan nozzle, nacelle assembly of such a engine, and corresponding operating method
A turbofan engine includes a fan variable area nozzle having a multiple of vents through a fan nacelle and a sleeve system movable relative to the vents by an actuator system. The fan variable area nozzle changes the effective area of the fan nozzle exit area to permit efficient operation at predefined pressure ratios. The vents include a grid structure which directs and smoothes the airflow therethrough as well as to reduce noise generation. |
| US08256220B2 |
Exhaust gas bypass valve control for thermoelectric generator
A method of controlling engine exhaust flow through at least one of an exhaust bypass and a thermoelectric device via a bypass valve is provided. The method includes: determining a mass flow of exhaust exiting an engine; determining a desired exhaust pressure based on the mass flow of exhaust; comparing the desired exhaust pressure to a determined exhaust pressure; and determining a bypass valve control value based on the comparing, wherein the bypass valve control value is used to control the bypass valve. |
| US08256211B2 |
Aqueous urea solution feed device of an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine wherein when an aqueous urea solution should be fed from an aqueous urea solution feed valve (8), a feed pump (9) is operated forward and aqueous urea solution in an aqueous urea solution tank (4) is fed through an aqueous urea solution feed passage (10) into the aqueous urea solution feed valve (8). When ceasing the feed of aqueous urea solution from the aqueous urea solution feed valve (8), the feed pump (9) is operated in reverse whereby the ammonia gas generated in the aqueous urea solution tank (4) is drawn through a ammonia gas feed pipe (11) into the aqueous urea solution feed passage (10). Next, when the feed pump (9) is operated forward, the ammonia gas drawn into the aqueous urea solution feed path (10) is ejected from the aqueous urea solution feed valve (8). |
| US08256209B2 |
Device and method for regenerating a particulate filter
The invention relates to a device for the regeneration, temperature loading and/or thermal management of a component, which is assigned to an exhaust gas system, of an internal combustion engine preferably of a vehicle, having at least one injection valve, which operates preferably in a chatter mode as a function of the pressure of supplied fuel, for injecting fuel for the purpose of regeneration, temperature loading and/or thermal management into the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. The invention is distinguished by at least one pressure control valve which is arranged upstream of the injection valve and dampens or eliminates pressure fluctuations. The invention also relates to a corresponding method. |
| US08256200B2 |
High-security cable
A high-security cable is provided, wherein the high-security cable is capable of achieving a smoothing of a work-to-break energy curve. The high-security cable is manufactured of a mixture of plastic yarns or of plastic yarns and metal wires, wherein the cable comprises a first constituent part of untwisted or twisted yarns, or untwisted or twisted yarns and metal wires, a second constituent part of doubled yarn, the doubled yarn manufactured of plastic yarns or of plastic yarns and metal wires, and a third constituent part of cord manufactured from the doubled yarns, wherein the doubled yarn is manufactured from plastic yarns or of plastic yarns and metal wires. The high-security cable can be used as a safety arrester cable, and can also be used to form a netting to serve as safety arrester netting or falling-rock protection netting. |
| US08256199B2 |
Method for operating a spindle of a two-for-one twister or cabling machine
A two-for-one twister or cabling machine and a method for operation thereof, wherein a yarn (5, 25) is withdrawn from a supply bobbin (7, 21) and fed to a guide device below a twisted yarn plate (8, 24) of the spindle (2, 22) and from which the yarn (5, 25) exits virtually perpendicular to the axis of the spindle (2, 22) and is deflected to the outer edge of the twisted yarn plate (8, 24) and runs along the spindle (2, 22) as a free yarn balloon (B) encompassing the spindle (2, 22), until the yarn (5, 25) is fed into the twist or cabling point of a yarn guide device (9, 27) above the spindle (2, 22). The supply speed of the yarn (5, 25) is adjusted to achieve a yarn tension which minimizes the yarn balloon diameter as a function of the spindle geometry. |
| US08256194B2 |
Simulated commercial envelopes and methods of making the same
Simulated commercial envelopes and methods of making the same are disclosed. An example envelope includes a first envelope portion having a front panel including a top edge and a bottom edge parallel to the top edge, connected by a pair of side edges. A top flap is integrally formed with the top edge of the front panel about a first fold line and a bottom flap is integrally formed with the bottom edge of the front panel about a second fold line. A second envelope portion having a rear panel is adapted to be secured to the front panel to form a pocket for a mailer insert. The bottom flap foldable about the second fold line and is secured to the rear panel on a side opposite the formed pocket, and the top flap is foldable about the first fold line and is also secured to the rear panel or the bottom flap on the side opposite the formed pocket to form the example envelope. |
| US08256191B2 |
Automated methods of packaging objects using a clipper
Methods of automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting include: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material. |
| US08256189B2 |
Hot punch assembly for providing an opening in packaging material
A punch assembly is provided in a form, fill, and seal machine that provides a package that includes a sealed end portion and contains an article. The punch assembly includes a housing, and a heat sink provided in and retained by the housing, where the heat sink includes a punch tip that is to provide an opening in the sealed end portion of the package. The punch assembly also includes a coil heater contacting the heat sink to provide heat to the heat sink and the punch tip, where one or more air gaps are provided between the housing and the heat sink to prevent heat transfer from the heat sink to a seal jaw assembly of the form, fill, and seal machine. |
| US08256184B2 |
Protective covering for wooden utility poles and method of installation
A protective cover for a wooden utility pole comprises a polymer envelope in which the bottom of the pole is placed. The envelope is sufficiently dimensioned to cover about 10 feet of the bottom of the pole. The envelope body is wrapped around the bottom portion of the pole and PVC tape is used to secure the body to the pole. A hermetic seal is placed over the mouth of the envelope which is located above the grade level of the excavation in which the pole sits thereby sealing the envelope to the pole. A metallic band is placed around the seal to protect it. |
| US08256181B2 |
Internal structural mullion for standing seam panel system
Provided is an internal structural mullion for a standing seam panel system. A two-piece assembly includes a man extrusion having one hooked portion and a secondary extrusion having an opposing hooked portion. A cavity is defined on the main extrusion, and the secondary extrusion includes a foot wherein upon insertion of the foot into the cavity, the foot forms a fulcrum about which the secondary extrusion can bend away from the main extrusion and be tightened or loosened by the tightening or loosing of a screw, as a result forming a clamp for engaging panels of the panel system with variable pressure. Further, when clamped a continuous gasket seal occurs at a level just inside the panels so as to form a barrier against the intrusion of water. |
| US08256179B2 |
Concrete veneer panel with air entrained concrete core
A multi-layered veneer panel that includes a foamed core, a concrete surface layer, and a mounting device. The concrete surface layer forms a front surface and an edge perimeter region of the veneer panel. The front surface approximates a desired topography of a simulated wall. The foamed core forms a back surface of the veneer panel and is disposed adjacent the concrete surface layer. The mounting device is cast into at least one of the concrete surface layer and the foamed core and extends from the edge perimeter region. A method of making a multi-layered veneer panel is also disclosed. |
| US08256175B2 |
Stud
A stud for enabling a construction surface to be raised with respect to the ground, said stud comprising at least a first and second element, said first element comprising a first body mounted on a base intended to be placed on said ground, said second element comprising a second body, each of the bodies being provided with a screw thread for mutually engaging one in the other, thus forming an internal body and an external body, said external body being provided with an orifice giving access to the screw thread of the internal body, said stud also comprising a locking member arranged to lock the movement of the first body with respect to the second body in a plurality of positions, the locking member comprising first and second segments, said first segment being designed to pass through said orifice and be inserted between two successive grooves of the screw thread on the internal body, said second segment being designed to pass through said orifice and be interposed in a space provided in an internal wall of the external body. |
| US08256174B2 |
Tower construction
The invention relates to a tower construction with an annular cross section, comprising one or more component tubes arranged concentrically one on top of the other, wherein at least one component tube is composed of at least 3 tube segments, the tube segments of at least one component tube are pretensioned relative to one another by means of tensioning devices, hereinafter referred to as segment tensioning devices, and the component tubes have tensioning devices, hereinafter referred to as component tube tensioning devices, which act at least in the axial direction and extend over at least one horizontal joint, the tube segments and the component tubes composed therefrom form, at their butting edges, joints having gaps, the gaps of the joints are filled at least partially with a joint-filling material, and the joints between the tube segments of the same component tube allow a certain, substantially constraint-free rotation of the adjoining tube segments about the joint axis. |
| US08256168B2 |
Structure comprising hexagonal tubes and rhomboid inserts
A structure comprising a plurality of regular hexagonal tubes and a plurality of rhomboid inserts is disclosed. At least one of the tubes can be placed end-to-end relative to another of the tubes in a configuration where the central axes of the tubes are parallel. These central axes can be either collinear or not collinear depending upon the overall configuration of the structure chosen. Each rhomboid insert fits inside at least one section of a hexagonal tube. Those rhomboid inserts that fit into more than one hexagonal tube provide a means for interlocking the tubes. |
| US08256165B2 |
Single ply roofing system
A roofing system for application on a roofing substrate wherein flexible supports alleviate fatiguing of the roofing sheeting which typically occurs due to thermal expansion and contraction, thus enabling thicker roofing sheeting to be used and thus extending the usable life of the roofing sheeting. |
| US08256162B2 |
Double hung window with improved water management system
A water management system for a double hung window prevents leakage between the lower sash and the frame of the window in a blowing rainstorm. The water management system comprises interior pressure-drop seals disposed between the vertical stiles of the lower sash and the jambs of the window frame and an interior pressure drop seal disposed along an interior edge of the bottom rail of the lower sash and the sill of the frame. Exterior shingling seals are disposed at least between outside edges of the sash and the jamb and the exterior shingling seals and the interior pressure-drop seals at least partially bound vertical channels. A vent communicates between the vertical channels and the outside environment to maintain the pressure in the vertical channels substantially the same as that of the outside environment. This prevents rainwater in a blowing rainstorm from violently breaching the exterior shingling seals and splashing onto the interior pressure-drop seals, which, in turn, prevents leaks into a home. |
| US08256161B2 |
Automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle
An automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle including a detected subject and a detection sensor for detecting rotation of an output shaft is downsized. A worm gear mechanism decelerating a rotation speed of an electric motor to output it from the output shaft is accommodated in a gear case, and a drum is fixed to a tip portion of the output shaft projecting from the gear case to the outside, whereby motive power of the output shaft is transmitted from this drum to a sliding door. A concave portion centering at an axial center and recessed in an axial direction is formed in a worm wheel constituting the worm gear mechanism, a magnet unit constituting a rotation sensor is disposed inside the concave portion of the worm wheel, and a magnetic sensor for detecting rotation of the magnet unit is fixed to an inner surface of the gear case. |
| US08256157B1 |
Fumigation apparatus for buildings
A fumigation apparatus for decontamination or disinfection of a building having a fumigation pollution source, a fog generator, a hose for conveying fog to a building to be fumigated and a nozzle on the outer end of said hose that includes a body portion and a radially extending flange that has at least one slot so that when said apparatus is pumping fog into said building air is drawn through the slots to improve the flow of fog into the building. |
| US08256154B2 |
Laser gunsight system for a firearm trigger guard
The present invention provides a sighting device for a firearm having a trigger guard, a frame with an underside portion forward of the trigger guard, and a handgrip with a front strap. The sighting device has a body having a first portion including an illumination device. The body defines an engagement feature operable term the bubbly connectivity for portion of the trigger guard. The body has an elongated extension portion that extends from the first portion. The extension portion is shaped to underlie a lower portion of the trigger guard from the first portion to the front strap. The extension portion has a free end including a switch, and the extension portion includes a conductor operably connecting the switch to the illumination device. |
| US08256146B2 |
Infant shoes
An infant shoe includes a shoe outsole defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The outsole defines a substantially arcuate shape along both the longitudinal and transverse axes. A shoe upper is secured to the shoe outsole. The shoe upper and the shoe outsole together define curved side surfaces. |
| US08256142B2 |
Anatomically correct flexible contoured footbed insole
Disclosed herein is a flexible contoured footbed insole for footwear for providing an anatomically correct foot support to a wearer of the footwear. The flexible contoured footbed insole comprises a heel section and a support system extending anteriorly from the heel section. The heel section comprises a cup shaped structure for accommodating a heel of a foot of the wearer. The support system comprises an inner longitudinal arch support, an outer longitudinal arch support, a transverse arch support, a metatarsal arch support, and a toe support for supporting an inner longitudinal arch, an outer longitudinal arch, a transverse arch, a metatarsal arch, and toes of the foot of the wearer respectively. The flexible contoured footbed insole may further comprise a flexible structure disposed within the support system. The flexible structure provides flexibility and freedom of movement to the foot of the wearer. |
| US08256141B2 |
Article of footwear having an adjustable ride
An article of footwear has an upper and a sole. The sole has an upper sole member, a lower sole member, and at least one inflatable bladder disposed between the upper sole member and the lower sole member. The at least one inflatable bladder has an inflated state and a deflated state. A distance between the upper sole member and the lower sole member is greater in the inflated state than the deflated state. Varying the inflation of the inflatable bladder varies the amount of cushioning in the sole and the thickness of the sole so that the shoe can serve as a multipurpose shoe for activities requiring different amounts of cushioning. |
| US08256137B2 |
Determining clog steam generator tank filter laundry drier, and apparatus
A home laundry drier (1) having a revolving drum (5) for housing the laundry to be dried, a hot-air generator (7) for circulating a stream of hot air inside the drum (5), and a steam generator (17) for feeding steam into the drum (5); the steam generator (17) having an electric boiler (18) designed to receive a given quantity of water and immediately convert it into a stream of low-pressure steam to be fed into the drum (5), a demineralized-water reservoir (20) located over and communicating with the electric boiler (18), and a lint filter (23) located upstream from the water reservoir (20); the water reservoir (20) receiving distilled water from the water canister (12) of the heat exchanger (10) of the hot-air generator (7) via a water drain circuit (13); and the laundry drier (1) also having a liquid level sensor (26) for determining when the water in the water reservoir (20) is below a given minimum level, and a central control unit (24) for determining whether the water reservoir (20) is in a given low-water-level condition at both the start and end of a user-selected drying cycle not including activation of the steam generator (17). |
| US08256135B2 |
Method for removing or treating harmful biological and chemical substances within structures and enclosures
A process for removing or treating harmful biological and chemical substances from an enclosure, such as a building or vehicle by using heated air. The method of the present invention is non-toxic and can be performed in a relatively short amount of time while effectively killing and removing a large proportion of dead organisms and substantially reducing volatile organic compounds. |
| US08256133B2 |
Dryer exhaust duct alarm
A dryer exhaust duct alarm detects the presence of lint or other obstructions in an exhaust duct or vent. A thin lever is suspended within the duct and is slightly cupped in shape to more effectively capture air flow. In the presence of uninhibited air flow, the lever is substantially displaced from its initial substantially-vertical position toward a substantially horizontal position. But when airflow is inhibited, the lever is not sufficiently displaced. A detector detects operation of the dryer. If the dryer operates for a determined period of time but the lever is not sufficiently displaced, the user is alerted of the problem. Other data may also be presented to the user, including real-time data over a communication medium. |
| US08256132B2 |
Silencer for drying appliance and silent hair dryer
A silent hair dryer and a silencer for a hair dryer includes at least one casing with an inlet end and an outlet end and enclosing at least one turbine sucking in air via at least one admission orifice upstream of the turbine and expelling it downstream via at least one outlet orifice. The silent hair dryer includes at least one chamber upstream of the admission orifice and an inlet orifice for aspiration of air upstream of the chamber; the diameter of the chamber being greater than the diameter of the admission orifice and the diameter of the inlet orifice, the length and the diameter of the chamber being of such a size so as to define a volume turned as a function of the sound frequencies to be attenuated by the silencer. |
| US08256129B2 |
Test indicator
A plurality of types of body cases, a movement unit housed inside each of the body cases, and a dial unit are provided. The movement unit is configured to include a gauge head swingably supported by a movement frame; a crown gear rotatably supported by the movement frame; and a magnifying transmission mechanism magnifying and transmitting a swing amount of the gauge head to a rotation amount of the crown gear. The dial unit is configured to include an indicating needle rotatably provided in a dial frame; a scale plate provided along a rotation area of the indicating needle; and a pinion transmitting rotation of the crown gear to the indicating needle. |
| US08256123B2 |
Displacement sensing using a flexible substrate
Angular displacement of a flexible substrate is determined based on an electrical change of a mm-wave circuit associated with the flexible substrate. This electrical change may relate to, for example, one or more of a phase shift, an amplitude shift, a frequency shift, or a pulse shift. In some implementations the flexible substrate may include conductors on multiple layers whereby an angular displacement of the flexible substrate causes a relative displacement between conductors of different layers, thereby inducing the electrical change of the mm-wave circuit. |
| US08256122B2 |
Magnetic two part scraping tool
A two part scraper for scraping glass and other substrates, wherein a scraping part may be located on one side of the substrate and a handle member may be located on the other side. The two parts are magnetically coupled and move in tandem when the handle part is pulled by the user. A cutting blade may be received within a blade holder which may be mounted to the scraping part by screws and coil springs. The blade holder may be mounted at an angle such as a forty-five degree angle to the surface being scraped. The scraping part may comprise hook and loop material as a scrubbing surface and may have a suction cup located on that surface contacting the substrate. The handle part may have a soft felt lining for contacting the substrate. |
| US08256119B2 |
Method and plant for manufacturing forks for lift trucks
A method of manufacturing forks for lift trucks comprises the steps of: providing a straight metal bar designed to make the fork, heating the bar at a segment thereof where the fork knee is to be formed, bending the bar at the heated segment in order to form the knee by carrying out bending in a closed-die press provided with containment walls that, when bending has been completed, enclose the knee so as to define the surface contours of the latter. |
| US08256114B2 |
Method of manufacturing a cooling jacket of a cylinder head
A cooling jacket casting core for the production of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The cooling jacket casting core has a slot running at least in part substantially in the direction of a crankshaft longitudinal axis and separating the cooling jacket casting core in at least one section. The slot can run at least in part in an impression of the cooling jacket and can have at least one elevation arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cooling jacket casting core. |
| US08256108B2 |
Bonding method
A bonding method uses a bonding apparatus, which includes a frame, a first feeding mechanism, a second feeding mechanism, and a bonding mechanism. The first feeding mechanism is mounted on the frame and includes a turntable capable of rotating relative to the frame. A plurality of workpiece seats are arranged on the turntable. Each workpiece seat defines a plurality of air holes. The second feeding mechanism is mounted on the frame and includes a first carrier and a second carrier. The first carrier includes a plurality of holding seats and the second carrier including a plurality of temporary holding seats. The first carrier is capable of rotating to stack on the second carrier. The bonding mechanism is movably mounted on the frame to correspond to the workpiece seats or the second carrier. |
| US08256107B2 |
Method of manufacturing electronic-parts package
An electronic-parts package includes a base member, a conductive member extending through the base member, the conductive member having the insulating substance on the surface removed by polishing, electronic parts disposed on one surface of the conductive member through a connection portion, an exterior electrode disposed through a metal film on the opposite surface of the surface of the base member on which the electronic parts is disposed, and a cap member that protects the electronic parts on the base member. |
| US08256106B2 |
Method for fabricating circuit board structure with capacitors embedded therein
A circuit board structure with capacitors embedded therein and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The structure comprises at least two core layers individually comprising a dielectric layer having two opposite surfaces, circuit layers disposed on the outsides of the two opposite surfaces of the dielectric layer, and at least two capacitors embedded respectively on the insides of the two opposite surfaces of the dielectric layer and individually electrically connecting with the circuit layer at the same side; at least one adhesive layer disposed between the core layers to combine the core layers as a core structure; and at least one conductive through hole penetrating the core layers and the adhesive layer, and electrically connecting the circuit layers of the core layers. Accordingly, the present invention can improve the flexibility of circuit layout, and realize parallel connection between the capacitors to provide more capacitance. |
| US08256105B2 |
Electrical connector devices and methods for employing same
An apparatus and method are disclosed that may include a contact pin; and a plurality of loops of conductive wire, coated with insulation material, disposed in proximity to the contact pin, wherein along at least one portion of the conductive wire, at least one edge of the contact pin extends through the insulation material and thereby forms conductive electrical contact with the conductive wire. |
| US08256104B2 |
Fastener installation system
A blind fastener installation tool comprises a structural housing which features a mechanism for securing a fastener installation assembly in position relative to the structural housing during the blind installation of a fastener; and a mechanism for reciprocating the fastener installation assembly relative to the structural housing at the conclusion of blind installation. The blind fastener installation tool also comprises a fastener installation assembly. This assembly comprises (1) a pull rod assembly comprising a mechanism for pulling a first portion of a fastener; (2) an annular, piston-actuated, piston-decoupled pull rod actuation assembly to translate the pull rod assembly; and (3) a nose assembly comprising a fastener receptacle for securing the position of a fastener; and one or more optional pull rod translation dampening assemblies to smoothly and effectually dampen the sudden translation of said pull rod assembly after pintail break. |
| US08256101B2 |
Apparatus for attaching substrates of flat display panel
An apparatus for attaching first and second substrates of a flat display panel together includes a frame; an upper chamber fixed to an upper part of the frame and to which a first substrate can be attached and a lower chamber disposed under the upper chamber and to which a second substrate can be attached. A lifter acts to lift the lower chamber while controlling a gap between the upper chamber and the lower chamber. A position control stage interposed between the lower chamber and the lifter is used to adjust a position of the lower chamber relative to the upper chamber. |
| US08256100B2 |
Stator manufacturing apparatus
An stator manufacturing apparatus including an substantially cylindrically-shaped insertion jig from which the rectangular wire is axially detachable, and having protrusions respectively provided at positions aligned with the slots on an outer peripheral surface thereof to protrude radially, and one end-side restricting members respectively provided at positions offset from the protrusions formed in the circumferential direction on an inner diameter side of an inscribed circle of teeth each located between adjacent ones of the slots so as to protrude toward one axial end side. With the linear portions and the slots being aligned with each other, the insertion jig is inserted into the stator core from the one end side of the insertion jig, and is removed from the stator core toward the other end side, so as to respectively dispose the linear portions at predetermined positions in the slots. |
| US08256097B2 |
Method for manufacturing a coil device
A method for manufacturing a coil device comprises a first step of twisting a tip end part of the conductive wire by approximately 90 degrees with respect to a conductive wire portion arranged rearward continuously from the tip end part to form a twist part, and winding the tip end part of the conductive wire around the outer peripheral surface of the core in a lying posture on the outer peripheral surface; a second step of winding the conductive wire arranged rearward continuously from the twist part around the outer periphery surface of the core in a standing posture on the outer peripheral surface; and a third step of transforming the conductive wire on a tip end side with respect to the twist part in a direction apart from the outer periphery surface of the core to form one lead part extending substantially linearly. |
| US08256093B2 |
Method of manufacturing an acoustic mirror
An acoustic mirror of alternately arranged layers of high and low acoustic impedances is manufactured in that a basic material having a first layer of the layer sequence is initially provided, on which a second layer of the layer sequence is created on the first layer such that the second layer of the layer sequence partially covers the first layer. Subsequently, a planarization layer is applied onto the layer sequence, and the planarization layer is removed in an area which in the common layer plane projects laterally beyond the second layer so as to result in a residual planarization layer. Finally, a termination layer is applied onto the layer sequence and the residual planarization layer. |
| US08256092B1 |
Method for helical boring
A tool may be used to form an engine cylinder bore in a compacted graphite iron workpiece using helical interpolation. The tool may be rotated about a first axis while orbiting about a second axis that is parallel to the first axis. While rotating and orbiting, the tool may be advanced into the workpiece. This helical interpolation may be used to successively engage cutting or honing elements of the tool with the workpiece. The elements may thereby be permitted to cool between each successive engagement, which may reduce wear on the tool. Various operating parameters associated with the process may have certain relationships that may be exploited in certain ways to obtain ideal results. For instance, a helical interpolation process may be used to perform an act of rough cutting on the workpiece and finish honing on the workpiece, without having to perform an intermediary step of semi-finish boring. |
| US08256090B2 |
Fastening system head, fastening system, and method for feeding and fastening elements
A fastening system head for attachment to a movable frame, in particular to a robot, has a carrier to which a fastening tool is attached which is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The fastening tool has a holding device for an element fastenable to a component, and has a fastening drive device to move the holding device along a fastening direction for fastening. The axis of rotation is oriented crosswise to the fastening direction. A feed mechanism is included to feed elements to the fastening tool. At least one additional feed mechanism is provided on the fastening system head, for feeding elements to the fastening tool. |
| US08256089B2 |
Method of covering inside surface of steel connection part
A method of covering the inside surface of a steel connection part having an empty inside volume defined by the inside surface, with a liner constituted by a layer of substantially uniform thickness of a thermoplastic material. The connection part including at least two open tubular ends suitable for being connected respectively to at least two steel pipe elements, each including the same internal liner. A rotary molding method is implemented in which the connection part acts as a mold. A connection part obtained by the rotary lining method is provided, and methods of assembling a connection part, as obtained by rotary lining, with a likewise lined pipe element. |
| US08256088B2 |
Joining mechanism with stem tension and interlocked compression ring
A stem (34) extends from a second part (30) through a hole (28) in a first part (22). A groove (38) around the stem provides a non-threaded contact surface (42) for a ring element (44) around the stem. The ring element exerts an inward force against the non-threaded contact surface at an angle that creates axial tension (T) in the stem, pulling the second part against the first part. The ring element is formed of a material that shrinks relative to the stem by sintering. The ring element may include a split collet (44C) that fits partly into the groove, and a compression ring (44E) around the collet. The non-threaded contact surface and a mating distal surface (48) of the ring element may have conic geometries (64). After shrinkage, the ring element is locked onto the stem. |
| US08256084B1 |
Metal stencil coin repair method
During the manufacture of printed circuit boards, metal stencils are used as a mask over which a blade is used to squeegee solder through stencil holes onto conducting pads of the circuit board. A typical stencil is both expensive and delicate. Even minor dents, creases, or impressions (commonly referred to as “coins”) in the stencil can result in circuit board defects. Manufacturers frequently suffer significant losses scrapping their coined stencils and idling manufacturing lines while waiting for replacement stencils to be fabricated, shipped, and installed. An apparatus and method is provided for repairing metal stencil coins. |
| US08256083B2 |
Device for assembling and disassembling a bicycle chain
A device for assembling and disassembling a bicycle chain comprises a mounting seat, an actuating member, an assembling member, a rod member, a spring, and a pulling member. The rod member, the pulling member and the spring are connected to one another to guide a positioning member to be assembled into the assembling holes in a balance manner, so that the device for assembling and disassembling a bicycle chain makes the assembly of the chain more convenient and simple. |
| US08256075B2 |
Grid for a battery plate, method of producing the same, and battery using the same
A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it. |
| US08256074B2 |
Grid for battery plate, method of producing the same, and battery using the same
A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it. |
| US08256072B2 |
Buckle
A two-part buckle includes a male buckle component received in a female buckle component. Lock surfaces between the male and female buckle components are provided inwardly of flexible segments of the lock arms and axially between the flexible portion of the lock arm and accessible ends of the lock arms depressed for unlatching the buckle. The lock surfaces angle toward the disengaged positions in the direction of arm movement for unlatching. |
| US08256071B2 |
Main body holder for portable apparatus and portable apparatus including main body holder
A main body holder has a base wall with a through-hole, a holding portion, and a pivotally attached clip piece. A stopper member is movably disposed within the base wall through-hole for movement between a restricting position and a releasing position. In the restricting position, the stopper member projects from the base wall and is configured to engage and securely hold the main body of a portable apparatus on the holding portion so that the apparatus main body is only partially disposed over the base wall through-hole in a state in which the apparatus main body is fully received by the holding portion. In the releasing position, the stopper member extends into the through-hole and does not project from the base wall so that the apparatus main body is allowed to be slid relative to the holding portion. An urging member urges the clip piece into contact with the holding portion and urges the stopper member to the restricting position. |
| US08256069B2 |
Link type clamp device
A left end portion of a clamp arm is vertically swingably connected to an upper portion of a rod vertically movably inserted into a housing, and an annular supported member is attached to a support member rotatably around an axis, the support member being provided to an outer periphery of an upper portion of the housing. A pivot portion provided to the supported member and a non-edge portion in a longitudinal direction of the clamp arm are connected by a link member. The support member and the supported member are provided with an element for receiving an upward force acting from the link member on the pivot portion during a clamping operation. The supported member is fixed to the support member at a desired rotation angle position by a lock element. |
| US08256067B2 |
Buckle, and an assembly comprising a belt and a buckle
A buckle for a belt is provided including a fixation device to fix the buckle to a first end of the belt, and a guiding member configured to guide a belt part along the first belt end during use, for example to form a loop wherein the guiding member includes an operable clamping device having a releasing position to release the belt, and an engagement position to clamp a belt part to the guiding member, wherein the clamping device is configured such that when the clamping device is in the engagement position, the clamping device can be brought to its releasing position by pressing on a belt part. |
| US08256064B2 |
Refrigerator and/or freezer with hinge
The present invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer with a door or flap for closing the appliance interior, with a hinge, by means of which the door or flap can be swivelled relative to the body of the appliance, wherein the hinge includes means for producing a closing force acting in closing direction of the door or flap, and with a damper which at least over a part of the closing movement of the door or flap applies a force directed against the closing movement of the door or flap, wherein the means for producing a closing force include an eccentric and means which exert a force that acts on the eccentric and is dependent on the opening angle of the door or flap. |
| US08256058B2 |
Dual sided cosmetics brush
One embodiment of a cosmetic applicator brush comprises a handle and a brush head. The head is in two halves made of different bristles. |
| US08256052B2 |
Boom of a laying mechanism and method of moving the boom into a vehicle transport position
Boom of a laying mechanism of a bridge laying vehicle, the laying mechanism being composed of a placement arm and the boom. The boom includes a base member that can be fixedly secured to the vehicle by at least one securement device. A jib, especially with locking elements for locking a bridge element in place, is moveable relative to the base member. A pivot member is pivotably disposed on the base member, and the jib is pivotably disposed on the pivot member. Pursuant to the method for moving the boom into a vehicle transport position, the jib is pivoted about a pivot axis in the forward direction of travel by raising the pivot axis of the jib. |
| US08256047B2 |
Combination treatment device and an anterior support device
A combination of a treatment device and an anterior support device is disclosed. The combination includes a treatment device having an edge and an attachment member movably secured thereto and an anterior support device having an elongated member which interacts with the attachment member. The anterior support device has first and second pivotable connectors, one being secured to the elongated member and the other to a padded rest. The anterior support device also includes first and second movable rods secured to the first and second pivotable connectors. A second end of the first movable rod is rotatably connected to a second end of the second movable rod and an actuating mechanism is connected to both of the second ends of the rods. The actuating mechanism enables the first and second rods to be locked in a set position to maintain the padded rest in a desired orientation relative to the treatment device. |
| US08256046B2 |
Sanitary product
The present invention relates to a sanitary product in the form of a disposable sheet or the like, consisting of a web-shaped material comprising a top comfort layer and a bottom barrier layer that are joined together by gluing or embossing without any intermediate layer, wherein the barrier layer is a breathable barrier layer, and said comfort layer is formed from a non-woven material, the basis weight of the comfort layer being equal to or greater than the basis weight of the barrier layer. |
| US08256042B2 |
Collapsible bed frame including cross units and method for constructing collapsible bed frame
A collapsible bed frame includes a first cross unit including a first link member pivotally coupled to a second link member at a first pivot point, and a support unit operatively coupled to the first cross unit. The support unit includes a first slider that is slidably coupled to the first link member. A first support member has a first end that is pivotally coupled to the second link member and an opposing second end that is pivotally coupled to the first slider. A second slider is slidably coupled to the first support member. A second support member has a first end that is pivotally coupled to at least one of the second link member and a connector operatively coupled to the second link member, and an opposing second end that is pivotally coupled to the second slider. |
| US08256038B2 |
Water-conserving urinal block and holder
A urinal block for use in a conventional water-based urinal where the water has been shut off, the block includes a first block portion that makes up about forty percent to sixty percent of the urinal block and has a first portion composition substantially similar to a conventional, non-paradichlorobenzene block used in water-based urinals for deodorizing during each flush, a second block portion that makes up about forty to sixty percent of the urinal block and has a second portion composition of a blended mixture of a non-paradichlorobenzene block portion, an odor counteractant gel, and a bacterial culture gel, and a liquid-pervious and liquid-insoluble layer covering at least the second block portion. |
| US08256034B2 |
Article of apparel with inner and outer layer and an insert element in between
An apparel system may include an article of apparel and at least one insert element. The apparel has an inner layer and an outer layer positioned adjacent to the inner layer such that a surface of the inner layer contacts a surface of the outer layer. The insert elements is locatable between the inner layer and the outer layer. In some configurations, the outer layer stretches at least thirty percent prior to tensile failure. In order to secure the insert element within the apparel, a coefficient of static friction between the insert element and the apparel may be at least 0.70. In some configurations, a surface of the inner layer contacts and is unsecured to a surface of the outer layer in at least thirty percent of the apparel. |
| US08256030B2 |
Windproof waterproof breathable seamed articles
The present invention provides waterproof, breathable non-textile seamed articles which exhibit high levels of durability and allow wearers a high level of flexibility and article strength. This invention is of particular interest for use in dexterous hand coverings and conformable foot coverings. |
| US08256022B2 |
Knee-mounted air deflector for motorcyclist
An air deflector is mounted to the area of the knee of a motorcyclist to prevent a stream of air from striking the motorcyclist's face. In one embodiment, the deflector comprises a deflector plate and a mounting plate connected by a hinge mechanism. When the motorcycle is in motion, the air flow impacts the deflector plate, forcing the deflector to extend upward until a support web restrains the deflector plate. |
| US08256020B2 |
Protective garment having a quick release system
A protective garment, such as a body armor vest, equipped with a quick-release system comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of connectors for releasably attaching the front portion to the rear portion. Each connector includes a ring and a releasable hook, wherein the ring can be releasably clasped by the releasable hook. The protective garment further includes a pull cord, which can be attached to and capable of disengaging, at least two of the plurality of connectors to allow detachment of the front portion from the rear portion. |
| US08261365B2 |
Method for the authentication of applications
Authentication method of at least one application using resources stored in a security module associated to an equipment connected to a control server via a network. The control server receives via the network, analyses and verifies identification data comprising at least an identifier of the equipment and an identifier of the security module, generates a cryptogram comprising a digest of the application, the identification data and instructions intended for the security module and transmits the cryptogram, via the network and the equipment, to the security module. The latter verifies the application by comparing the digest extracted from the cryptogram with a calculated digest, wherein, during at least one of initialization and activation of the application, the security module executes the instructions extracted from the cryptogram and either releases or blocks access to certain resources of said security module according to a result of the verification of the application. |
| US08261361B2 |
Enabling sharing of mobile communication device
Various exemplary user interfaces, methods and computer program products describe enabling sharing of mobile communication devices. This process utilizes a shared mode for an owner of the mobile communication device to create a virtual environment for a borrower of the mobile communication device, which allows content information (e.g., certain applications and files) to be accessible and visual to the borrower. The process allows an owner of the mobile communication device to track and to manage data created or changed by the borrower. The owner may accept or reject the changes made in the content information. Furthermore, the process conceals non-shared resources to the borrower. |
| US08261359B2 |
Systems and methods for preventing unauthorized use of digital content
Theft, distribution, and piracy of digital content (software, video, audio, e-books, any content of any kind that is digitally stored and distributed) is generally accomplished by copying it, if possible, or, if it is protected from being copied in any fashion, such piracy is based upon a number of reverse engineering techniques. Aside from the straightforward copying of unprotected content, all of these other methods require first an understanding of the protective mechanism(s) guarding the content, and finally an unauthorized modification of that protection in order to disable or subvert it. Methods that prevent a skilled individual from using reverse engineering tools and techniques to attain that level of understanding and/or prevent anyone from performing such modifications can offer significant advantages to content creators who wish to protect their products. |
| US08261356B2 |
Tool pack structure and contents execution device
A tool pack structure includes: a signature value for guaranteeing authenticity of a tool pack; a tool pack identifier for identifying the tool pack; each unit tool pack provided according to a hardware platform; and tool pack data containing initial values assigned when each unit tool pack is used. Each tool pack includes platform information indicating information about hardware in which the tool pack may be used; a tool agent that is a program activated for content execution; and a tool group including at least one tool program activated by the tool pack agent for processing content according to a predetermined rule. A tool agent leaves operation of a protection tool group used by a specific service provider entirely to a tool agent (execution code) provided together with the tool group by service providers. Accordingly, information about the used tools does not have to be disclosed to the public. Since a user terminal simply calls each tool agent, it can support interoperability with other DRM techniques. |
| US08261349B2 |
Router for preventing port scans and method utilizing the same
A router and method for preventing port scans using a router includes receiving a datagram from a remote computer, transferring the datagram to a local computer, and receiving a response datagram from the local computer. The router and method further includes dropping the response datagram if the response datagram is an Internet Control Messages Protocol (ICMP) port unreachable datagram and the ICMP port unreachable datagram is abnormal, and recording a port scan event of the remote computer into the log system. |
| US08261342B2 |
Payment card industry (PCI) compliant architecture and associated methodology of managing a service infrastructure
A system to ensure compliance with data security standards for merchants that store, process, and transmit secure data, includes a security appliance having a global unit to monitor the functions of the security appliance, a logging unit to log data from network devices at the merchant's site and from other security appliance units, an integrity unit to construct maps of file systems of the network devices and to compare the constructed maps with previously constructed maps to detect differences between them, and a scanning unit to periodically scan the network to detect unrecognized devices on the network. The system further includes a display unit to provide compliance information on a secure basis, a back-end unit to automate and manage compliance-related tasks and data security events, and a control unit to monitor compliance performance in real-time and to implement required procedures to ensure compliance with data security standards. |
| US08261340B2 |
Using statistical analysis to generate exception rules that allow legitimate messages to pass through application proxies and gateways
A security gateway receives messages rejected by a message filter based on a set of rules. The security gateway also receives attributes of the rejected messages that triggered the rules. The security gateway maintains frequencies with which the messages with a particular attribute were rejected by the rules. The security gateway finds rejected messages or attributes having a high frequency of occurrence. Since messages or attributes having a high frequency of occurrences are more likely to represent legitimate requests rather than malicious attacks, the security gateway generates exception rules, which would allow messages that have similar attributes to pass through the gateway. |
| US08261336B2 |
System and method for making accessible a set of services to users
A system and method authenticates a user if the user is associated with a certificate on a device the user is using to communicate, even if other users are also associated with the same certificate and/or the user is associated with other certificates on other devices. |
| US08261335B2 |
Method and system for online image security
An online application enables an end user to navigate to a web site, upload digital images, and to combine those images with words in a stylized template to create a user-generated story. A story is a web page, typically a collection of photos and words that are brought together by a stylized template that can be customized by the end user. Preferably, a given story is available from the site at a given location (at a URL) that may be private or public. A given story may be shared with other end users, published to other web sites or web logs, or maintained solely for one's own use. The invention also provides for multiple end users to collaborate to create a “shared” story. |
| US08261333B2 |
Biometrics authentication method and biometrics authentication system
A biometrics authentication system using biometrics media simplifies the process, and reduces the costs, of issuing a portable communication terminal having biometrics functions. A biometrics application program is downloaded from a server to a portable communication terminal, an area for authenticated biometrics information is caused to be created, and biometrics information on an individual card of the user is stored in a common area of the portable communication terminal. Thus, the portable communication terminal has the functions of an individual card storing biometrics information, and the portable communication terminal can be used as an individual card for biometrics authentication. |
| US08261332B2 |
Establishing a trust relationship between computing entities
A first computing entity provides evidence to a second computing entity to demonstrate that the first computing entity has a trusted configuration specification that is one of a set of such specifications agreed between the computing entities. This evidence comprises a computed commitment, made using (but not revealing) the configuration specification of the first computing entity, and a ring signature generated using a plurality of keys where each such key is generated using the commitment and one of the trusted configuration specifications. The second computing entity verifies the ring signature in order to convince itself that the configuration specification of the first computing entity is in the set. |
| US08261327B2 |
Device-specific authorization at distributed locations
With the proliferation of wireless devices, seamless authentication of devices at distributed locations (e.g., so-called Wi-Fi hotspots) may be essential for convenient use of various devices at these locations. Previous methods for authentication relied on an account-based method using a username and a password inputted from a user. This method may be awkward for mass-distribution of devices. Various embodiments disclosed may provide an authorization client that communicates with one or more servers that relies on client software and message authentication codes for authorization of network access. |
| US08261324B2 |
Identification and verification of peripheral devices accessing a secure network
A system and method for identifying and verifying a client to access a secure network. Timing characteristics are acquired from the client, such as a peripheral device, and further verified and identified via a policy enforcement points and a policy decision points, or a measurer device in the secure network. |
| US08261323B2 |
Managing logical sockets
Network attacks, such as a denial of service (DoS) attack, attempt to exhaust server resources and can cause a network to be unavailable for significant periods of time. Although a firewall can be utilized to defend a system from network attacks, the number of incoming connections created can be controlled to defend the system against network attacks. An operating system creates connections, known as sockets, on one or more logical ports. Incoming connections are connections whose creation requests originate from a source outside the operating system. Functionality to control socket creation can be implemented within the operating system, thus allowing a system to be placed directly on a network without a firewall. Implementing defense against network attacks within an operating system reduces the additional cost of having firewall products, and can lead to more efficient network configurations. |
| US08261322B2 |
Home networking web-based service portal
A web-based service portal provides a user interface to configure and/or access device(s) of a home network. The service portal can communicate with device(s) through application program interfaces (APIs). The service portal can provide a standardized user interface for specific feature(s) of a device.The service portal can further provide user authentication, device provisioning, and/or a user interface used to interact with device(s) in a home network. The service portal can established a trusted communication link between the portal and the device. The service portal can include a home control user interface component for providing a graphical representation of the home network and receiving user input and a device provisioning component that can discover and configure the device. The service portal can, optionally, include an authentication component that can authenticate a particular user's right to configure and/or access device(s) of a particular home network. |
| US08261320B1 |
Systems and methods for securely managing access to data
A computer-implemented method for securely managing access to data may comprise identifying a request to access data that is encrypted, the request being made within an insecure platform. The method may: determine that a requestor has a right to access the data, decrypt the data to provide decrypted data, and permit a secure platform to access the decrypted data. A computer-implemented method for securely managing access to data may comprise identifying a request to access data that is encrypted, the request being made within an insecure platform. They method may: submit the request to a policy server, receive permission from the policy server to access the data, decrypt the data to provide decrypted data, and permit a secure platform to access the decrypted data. A system for securely managing access to data may comprise: an authorization platform, an authentication module, a policy-enforcement module, and a cryptography module. |
| US08261313B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method of transmitting broadcast viewing information thereof
A mobile communication terminal and method of transmitting broadcast viewing information thereof are disclosed. The mobile communication terminal includes a broadcast module configured to receive a broadcast program, an information collecting unit configured to collect and manage the broadcast viewing information for the received broadcast program, a transmitting unit configured to transmit the broadcast viewing information to a broadcast managing server according to a transmission cycle, a receiving unit configured to receive a change request message for the transmission cycle from the broadcast managing server, and a control unit configured to change the transmission cycle according to the change request message, and control the transmitting unit to transmit the broadcast viewing information to the broadcast managing server in the changed transmission cycle. |
| US08261312B2 |
Linear hint video streaming
A streaming file is constructed with a file header section that includes a file header object, a media data file descriptor, and an index descriptor. A hinting index section includes a first level hinting index with a linear organization corresponding to timing tick key values. A second level hinting index has a non-sequential organization corresponding to such timing tick key values. A special mark in the second level hinting index indicates that the first level hinting index must be consulted for a next timing tick key value. Such mark is positioned in the last of a sequential run of timing tick key values associated with its entries. A data section that can be put in a separate file, and it accepts media data blocks associated in sequential runs of timing tick key values as its entries. Thus hinting is provided for a non-sequential media data file. |
| US08261308B2 |
Mapping of network information between data link and physical layer
Aspects of the invention are directed to a cell-frequency-link descriptor configured to map network-specific parameters with time frequency slicing (TFS) information in a digital video broadcast system. The cell-frequency-link descriptor may include fields that provide a mapping between a cell identifier, a TFS group identifier, a bandwidth, a guard interval, a transmission mode, and a frequency. The fields may provide a mapping between cells, frequencies, TFS groups, related guard intervals, bandwidths, and transmission modes for multiple cells within the digital video broadcast system. The fields may include: a cell identifier field, a TFS-group identifier field, a bandwidth field, a guard interval field, a transmission mode field, a frequency field, a cell identifier extension field, and a transposer frequency field. |
| US08261306B2 |
System for and method of shopping through television
A system and method for providing information to television viewers in order to assist them in shopping from an apparently conventional media, such as a television program, as well as making better and more educated shopping decisions are provided. The user selects the product of interest, and if desired, indicates the price, quantity and time frame within which he/she wants to buy the product. The system then acts as an agent on the user's behalf to get the best product under best price and shortest time frame as may be desired. When a user sees a product he wants while watching television, he simply can press a point on the screen, talk, or press a button on a remote control or similar keypad and the system shows the current price and availability. If the user wants the product, he can buy it instantly. If the user determines it to be too expensive, he can add the product to his wish-list with a price he would be willing to pay. |
| US08261305B2 |
System and method for scrolling through TV video icons by category
In a TV displaying thumbnails of videos grouped by genre, genre labels are shown so that a user can conveniently move genre to genre with a single click on a remote control device. |
| US08261304B2 |
Digital television and channel editing method thereof
A method and display device are discussed. In an embodiment, there is a method for displaying images using a display device including at least one tuner, a display screen, and a controller for controlling the at least one tuner and the display screen, the method comprising: tuning, by the at least one tuner, to a plurality of different broadcast channels; receiving a user's input indicating if the broadcast channels to be displayed are favorite channels or all available channels; and displaying, by the display screen, a multi-window including a plurality of sub-windows according to the received user's input, each of the sub-windows displaying images from a different one of the plurality of broadcast channels according to the tuning by the at least one tuner, the displaying step including selectively displaying either the favorite channels or the all available channels in the sub-windows according to the received user's input. |
| US08261296B2 |
Invocation channel
Creating interoperability between a calling entity and an external service includes configuring an invocation channel using codeless process, designating the external service, passing source data from the calling entity to the invocation channel, the invocation channel formatting the data, invoking a connection to the external service, and passing the data over the connection to the external service. |
| US08261295B1 |
High-level language for specifying configurations of cloud-based deployments
A high-level object-oriented specification language allows configurable components of a cloud-based deployment to be modeled by a class definition that includes a group of configurable class parameters. The object-oriented specification language supports extension of an existing base class definition to create new class definitions, and supports inheritance of class parameters from the existing base class definition by the new class definitions. A cloud-based deployment can be customized based on class definitions used in configuring one or more generic deployments, such as by modifying class parameter values of the class definitions, varying interrelationships between the classes, and supplementing existing class parameters with new class parameters. The high-level object-oriented specification language supports class definitions that model hardware and virtual resources as well as software roles and service roles served by software applications and services in a cloud-based deployment. Syntax for specifying dependency and connectivity between classes is also provided. |
| US08261288B2 |
Application platform
An object is to provide an application platform in which, before a screen of an application is displayed, another application can display any screen by an optional determination standard. When the screen of a first application is to be displayed, if a second application exists monitoring a function of an image forming apparatus included in the first application, the second application is notified of the function information before the screen of the first application is displayed. Then, for realizing the above, the use function of the image forming apparatus is registered for each of the first applications, and the monitor function is registered for each of the second applications. |
| US08261287B2 |
Activity monitoring without accessing a process object
Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and program product that allows for monitoring of the progress of process without alterations to the existing application. There are provided a mapping logic generating unit 14 that refers to a mapping definition stored in a mapping definition storage unit 11 for mapping an object flow event to a control flow event, generates a mapping logic for identifying a control flow event mapped to an object flow event, and stores the mapping logic in a mapping logic storage unit 16; a log logic generator unit 15 that refers to a process definition stored in a process definition storage unit 12 for mapping a control flow event to monitoring log information, generates a log logic for providing a monitoring log of control flow events, and stores the log logic in a log logic storage unit 17; and a logic skeleton composer unit 18 that embeds a mapping logic and a log logic into a skeleton stored in a skeleton storage unit 13. |
| US08261280B2 |
Prevention of deadlock in a distributed computing environment
A method for preventing deadlock in a distributed computing system includes the steps of: receiving as input a sorted set of containers defining a unique global sequence of containers for servicing process requests; populating at least one table based at least in part on off-line analysis of call graphs defining corresponding transactions for a given order of the containers in the sorted set; storing within each container at least a portion of the table; and allocating one or more threads in a given container according to at least a portion of the table stored within the given container. |
| US08261277B2 |
System and method for dynamic allocation of resources in a computing grid
A system for dynamically allocating resources in a computing grid is provided. The system comprises a resource management component, a service level agreement (SLA) management component and a job scheduling component. The resource management component is configured to determine availability of a set of resources in a computing grid, for executing job requests submitted by users of the computing grid. The SLA management component is configured to manage service level agreements (SLAs) corresponding to the users and perform a negotiation of resources for the users submitting the job requests, in real-time, based on a resource steerability attribute associated with the job requests. The job-scheduling component is configured to schedule the job requests for the users, based on the resource steerability attribute associated with the job requests. The job requests comprise at least one of a job having batch characteristics and a job having interactive characteristics. The computing grid is configured to process the job based on the resource steerability attribute associated with the job request. |
| US08261275B2 |
Method and system for heuristics-based task scheduling
A computer readable storage medium including executable instructions for heuristics-based task scheduling. Instructions include receiving a first event notification associated with a first event, where the first event is determined from the first event notification. Instructions further include determining whether a predicate for an action is satisfied by the first event, where the action predicate, the action, and an action parameter are associated with a task object in a task pool. Instructions further include obtaining the action parameter when the action predicate is satisfied by the first event, where a priority is assigned using a heuristics policy to the task object based on the action parameter. Instructions further include inserting the task object into a task queue using the assigned priority. The action associated with the task object is performed by an execution thread. The performance of the action is a second event associated with a second event notification. |
| US08261274B2 |
Method and system for managing a task
A computer readable storage medium including executable instructions for managing a task. Instructions include receiving a request. Instructions further include determining a task corresponding with the request using a request-to-task mapping. Instructions include obtaining a task entry corresponding with the task from a task store, where the task entry associates the task with an action and a predicate for performing the action. Instructions further include creating a task object in a task pool using the task entry. Instructions further include receiving an event notification at the task engine, where the event notification is associated with an event. Instructions further include determining whether the predicate for performing the action is satisfied by the event. Instructions further placing the task object in a task queue when the predicate for performing the action is satisfied by the event. |
| US08261272B2 |
Method and system for multithreaded request dispatching
A method and a system are described that involve processing a request in multiple threads and dispatching the request to a set of applications. The method includes receiving the request, wherein the request contains application context and session data, creating a request context object and associating it with the application context and the session data, storing an identifier of a first thread that processes the request in the request context object associated with the thread, creating a set of threads from the first thread to process the request in parallel threads, each thread in the set having a unique identifier and inheriting the request context object from the first thread, and invoking a request dispatcher on each thread in the set to forward the request to the set of applications. |
| US08261269B2 |
System and method for synchronizing transient resource usage between virtual machines in a hypervisor environment
A system and method for synchronizing transient resource usage between virtual machines, e.g. Java Virtual Machines (JVMs), running within a hypervisor. In accordance with an embodiment, the system allows for synchronizing garbage collection and code optimization to reduce transient processor (cpu) and memory usage. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a computer; a hypervisor for executing virtual servers running JVMs; a communication channel between the virtual servers; wherein each virtual server further comprises non-transient and transient memory and a synchronization module. In accordance with an embodiment the synchronization modules schedule garbage collects and code optimizations to minimize overlaps, thereby reducing the peak transient memory and cpu usage and the resulting volatility of transient resource usage within a computer. In accordance with another embodiment, a cloud manager can move virtual servers between computers to optimize computer volatility within a cloud. |
| US08261267B2 |
Virtual machine monitor having mapping data generator for mapping virtual page of the virtual memory to a physical memory
A mapping data generator determines a virtual page number of a virtual page where an executable code in an object file is mapped. A virtual page manager manages a virtual page record containing the virtual page number, a first object ID corresponding to the virtual page number, and a detection flag indicative of existence of another virtual page record containing a second object ID identical with the first object ID. A machine page manager manages a machine page record containing the first object ID, and a machine page number to which the virtual page number is mapped. A sharable page detector determines whether a detection flag indicates existence of another virtual page record containing the first object ID and determines whether a machine page number has been set. A page mapper maps a set machine page number to the virtual page number of the access page. |
| US08261265B2 |
Transparent VMM-assisted user-mode execution control transfer
A virtual-machine-based system provides a control-transfer mechanism to invoke a user-mode application handler from existing virtual hardware directly, without going through an operating system kernel running in the virtual machine. A virtual machine monitor calls directly to the guest user-mode handler and the handler transfers control back to the virtual machine monitor, without involving the guest operating system. |
| US08261263B2 |
JVM system scope initializer
In an embodiment of the present invention the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) System Scope Initializer works on the premise of generating one JVM instance to be used by all processes system wide. An advantage in the present invention is that all processes that would normally otherwise have to instantiate a JVM, which can be on the order of millions of instructions (per process) can in large part be avoided realizing instead a tremendous system resource savings system wide. Another advantage can be that all processes that would normally otherwise have to instantiate a JVM, which can have a memory footprint on the order of megabytes (per process), can share the same memory view again realizing tremendous system resource savings system wide. |
| US08261262B2 |
Method, system, terminal and device management server for installing software components
A method, system, and apparatus for installing software components are provided. The method includes a terminal which receives a software component package delivered by a Device Management (DM) server directly or a download address of the component package and a command instructing to download delivered by the DM server, where the software component package contains more than one software component; if the terminal receives the download address and the command instructing to download, the terminal downloads the software component package from the download address; the terminal installs the obtained software component package locally and generates management nodes and subnodes of the management nodes corresponding to the software components under a Deployed subtree of the Software Component Management Object (SCOMO) of the terminal. |
| US08261257B1 |
Method and apparatus for transferring firmware between an operating system and a device in a host
A host system includes an operating system having a user space and a kernel space with a memory. A device driver performs download cycles to download a firmware file from the user space to the memory. The download cycles are performed based on blocks of data remaining in the user space and not downloaded from the user space. The device driver: transfers a first block of data to a first segment of the memory; transfers a second block of data from the user space to a second segment of the memory; copies the first block into the second segment; and appends the first block to the second block to form a combined block. The first block is transferred from the user space to the first segment during a first download cycle. The first block is transferred from a second segment to the first segment during a second download cycle. |
| US08261255B1 |
Method, system, and computer program product for maintaining software on a computer system with automatic dependency resolution
Software is maintained on a computer system. A software recording application having data on maintenance items already installed on the computer system is started in a host session. A database application is started in a second host session. The database application has a database of maintenance items which can be applied. Each item in the database includes prerequisite and corequisite items. A maintenance application is activated on the computer system and a list of maintenance items to be installed on the computer system is entered. The database is searched for prerequisite and corequisite items for each item on the entered list and those items are added to the list. Items on the list which have already been received are determined from the software recording application and those items not received are added to an order list. Items on the order list are ordered, received, and applied to the computer system. |
| US08261252B2 |
Method and system for automated code conversion
A method and system for converting application code into optimized application code or into execution code suitable for execution on a computation engine with an architecture comprising at least a first and a second level of data memory units are disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises obtaining application code, the application code comprising data transfer operations between the levels of memory units. The method further comprises converting at least a part of the application code. The converting of application code comprises scheduling of data transfer operations from a first level of memory units to a second level of memory units such that accesses of data accessed multiple times are brought closer together in time than in the original code. The converting of application code further comprises, after the scheduling of the data transfer operations, deciding on layout of the data in the second level of memory units to improve the data layout locality such that data which is accessed closer together in time is also brought closer together in the layout than in the original code. |
| US08261251B2 |
Modification of array access checking in AIX
An error handling operation for checking of an array access in program code is modified during compilation thereof. A sequentially arranged null checking operation and array bounds checking operation for the array access are located. The array bounds checking operation has a corresponding error handling operation operable for setting an array bounds error. The located sequentially arranged null checking operation is removed. The corresponding error handling operation for the located sequentially arranged array bounds checking operation is modified to perform the removed null checking operation during execution of the program code. |
| US08261250B2 |
Single-chip multiprocessor with clock cycle-precise program scheduling of parallel execution
A single-chip multiprocessor system and operation method of this system based on a static macro-scheduling of parallel streams for multiprocessor parallel execution. The single-chip multiprocessor system has buses for direct exchange between the processor register files and access to their store addresses and data. Each explicit parallelism architecture processor of this system has an interprocessor interface providing the synchronization signals exchange, data exchange at the register file level and access to store addresses and data of other processors. The single-chip multiprocessor system uses ILP to increase the performance. Synchronization of the streams parallel execution is ensured using special operations setting a sequence of streams and stream fragments execution prescribed by the program algorithm. |
| US08261248B2 |
System and method of executing a dynamic program in a structured environment
In one embodiment the present invention includes a first virtual machine that executes a non-dynamic program, that implements a second virtual machine that executes a dynamic program. The dynamic program operates in the structured environment of the non-dynamic programming language via various allowed interaction pathways. In this manner, dynamic programs may be executed in a robust business applications environment. |
| US08261247B2 |
Method of modifying code of a running computer program based on symbol values discovered from comparison of running code to corresponding object code
In a method of modifying code of a running computer program so as to modify the running computer program without having to restart the running computer program for changes to the running computer program to take effect, the improvement is disclosed of: (a) comparing differences in the running program's running binary code versus object code produced by compiling the running program's source code and (b) using the results of step (a), determining what values to use for symbols in said changes to the program. The compiling may be performed using either the compiler originally used to compile the running program or a different compiler. A data storage medium having instructions stored therein for a computer to perform the improved method is also disclosed. |
| US08261246B1 |
Method and system for dynamically populating groups in a developer environment
Improved techniques for automatic (or dynamic) updating (or maintaining) of file groups in a developer environment that stores and executes files are disclosed. The automatic update to file groups can occur when additional files are added to or removed from the developer environment. The automatic update to file groups can also occur when previously stored files are otherwise altered. |
| US08261240B2 |
Debugging lazily evaluated program components
A system and method for facilitating debugging of a computer program is provided. Mechanisms of the present invention facilitate presenting information and enable a developer to interact with a lazily evaluated program component. A debugging system may display data associated with a lazily evaluated program component, and may enable the programmer to control evaluation and viewing of elements of the lazily evaluated program component. In response to a user command, a debugging system may evaluate elements of the program component and display associated data. A user interface enables a user to view, interact with, and debug lazily evaluated program components as well as a program containing such components. |
| US08261237B2 |
Software tool for detecting plagiarism in computer source code
A method and system for detecting plagiarism of software source code. In one embodiment, a first set of arrays and a second set of arrays are created for a first program source code file and a second program source code file respectively. Each pair of arrays in the first and second sets has entries corresponding to program elements of a distinct program element type such as functional program code, program comments, or program code identifiers. Next, each pair of arrays from the first and second sets is compared to find similar entries, and an intermediate match score is calculated for each pair of arrays based on the similar entries. Further, the resulting intermediate match scores are combined to produce a combined match score, which is then used to provide an indication of copying with respect to the first program source code file and the second program source code file. |
| US08261235B2 |
System for generating a tutorial application
The invention relates to the field of source code development and in particular a method and system for generating a tutorial application from one or more selected source code elements. The invention provides for a user to select one or source code elements and one or more data elements to be tagged to one or more source code elements. The selected source code elements are tagged using a mark-up language and a tutorial application is generated displaying the tagged selected source code elements and the data elements. |
| US08261233B2 |
System and method for synchronized workflow management
A system may identify a workflow associated with a graphical model and execute the workflow in a number of stages. The system may display a number of components of the graphical model and identify which of the displayed components are associated with or affected by execution of a current one of the stages of the workflow. |
| US08261230B2 |
System and method for optimizing current overload protection circuit
A system for optimizing a current overload protection circuit includes an input device, a data storage device, a central processing device, and a display. The central processing device includes a storage module, a control module, and a calculation module. The storage module stores a VI application therein. The control module receives instructions from the input device and selects virtual electronic components of the current overload protection circuit from the data storage device and connection of the selected electronic components. The current overload protection circuit is completed and run in the VI application; electronic components significantly affecting the maximum protection current are labeled. The calculation module calculates normal distribution samples of the current overload protection circuit based on the labeled electronic components. The display shows whether the current overload protection circuit meets a process capability standard. |
| US08261227B2 |
Circuit design approximation
A circuit design, responsive the input signals, may be obtained and processed. The circuit design may define connections between combinational elements, memory elements, and input signals. Identification of cut-off points may be performed with respect to predetermined combinational logic input signals. The cut-off points may be connections whose values are not dependant on the value of the predetermined combinational logic input signals. An approximated circuit design may be synthesized by relaxing the logic associated with the cut-off points. Based on the approximated circuit design, processing may be performed. In some exemplary embodiments, a clock gating function of a memory element may be determined by approximating the circuit design with respect to the output signal of the memory element. The clock gating function may be determined based on the approximated circuit design and introduced to the circuit design, with or without additional refinement. |
| US08261220B2 |
Path preserving design partitioning with redundancy
Partitioning of a design allows static timing analysis (STA), signal integrity, and noise analysis to be performed in parallel on multiple, less demanding, and more available hardware resources. Therefore, runtime and throughput of the analysis can be significantly shortened. Notably, the partitioning can include redundancy. That is, partitions are allowed to share objects in order to preserve the timing path completeness and design structural integrity. Due to this redundancy, these partitions can account for many constraints specifically imposed by STA and ensure minimal inter-partition data dependency during the analysis. Once these partitions are populated, analysis can be performed on those partitions in parallel to generate the same timing results as if the design had been analyzed flat as a single unit. Therefore, the performance of the analysis can be optimized without compromising the accuracy and quality of results. |
| US08261219B2 |
System on chip development with reconfigurable multi-project wafer technology
A method is disclosed for designing a semiconductor circuit on a multi-project wafer (MPW). One or more standard modules designed by one or more vendors with verified functions are first identified. Some of the standard modules are charged based on usage. At least one reconfigurable module of the MPW is programmed by making one or more connections through one or more connection layers. The standard modules are further connected with the programmed reconfigurable module according to the predetermined design of the circuit. The completed circuit is then verified for final uses. |
| US08261214B2 |
Pattern layout creation method, program product, and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A graph in which patterns are each regarded as nodes and nodes of patterns adjacent to each other at a first distance are connected with each other by an edge is produced, each of the patterns is classified into two types so that the two patterns corresponding to the nodes at both ends of the edge are types different to each other, a classification result is corrected by grouping the patterns in each node cluster connected by the edge or each node cluster connected via the node by the edge, and by inverting each of types of a pattern belonging to a same group as that of one pattern, out of a pair of patterns that are classified into a same type and that belong to respectively different groups adjacent to each other at a second distance, and a pattern layout diagram is created based on the corrected classification result. |
| US08261212B2 |
Displaying GUI elements on natural user interfaces
A computing system for displaying a GUI element on a natural user interface is described herein. The computing system includes a display configured to display a natural user interface of a program executed on the computing system, and a gesture sensor configured to detect a gesture input directed at the natural user interface by a user. The computing system also includes a processor configured to execute a gesture-recognizing module for recognizing a registration phase, an operation phase, and a termination phase of the gesture input, and a gesture assist module configured to first display a GUI element overlaid upon the natural user interface in response to recognition of the registration phase. The GUI element includes a visual or audio operation cue to prompt the user to carry out the operation phase of the gesture input, and a selector manipulatable by the user via the operation phase of the gesture. |
| US08261209B2 |
Updating content display based on cursor position
A computer-implemented method can include displaying a display region, on a display device associated with a computer system, corresponding to a container at a remote location operatively coupled to the computer system over a network, wherein the container includes at least two content items, dividing the display region into at least two portions, wherein each portion corresponds to one of the at least two items, and upon detecting a positioning of a cursor in a first portion of the at least two portions, transmitting a request to the remote location for a first content item, of the at least two content items, receiving the first content item, and displaying the first content item in the display region. |
| US08261208B2 |
Method and system speeding up data input to a communication system
User equipment and/or devices equipped to engage in textual communication sessions also interface to a server. The server maintains a thesaurus bank that includes a variety of different thesauri. When engaging in a textual communication or editing session, the user or the user equipment can request or may automatically receive a relevant thesaurus. As the user enters characters to create a textual entry, the selected thesaurus is searched to identify candidate completions. The user can then select one of several displayed candidate completions. In addition, the user input can also be delivered to the server and used to update the content of the thesauri. |
| US08261207B2 |
Navigating through menus of a handheld computer
A technique to navigate through one or more menus of a handheld computer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique uses a handheld device having a first button to cause a cursor to navigate through a plurality of menu items and to highlight a desired menu item. The device also has a second button to cause the cursor to navigate through a plurality of menus when the cursor is highlighting one of the menus or a first menu item, and to cause the cursor to highlight a previous menu item when the cursor is highlighting a menu item other than the first menu item. |
| US08261205B2 |
User interface for presenting a list of thumbnail items associated with media items
A user interface allows a user to access media items by selecting from a list of thumbnail items associated with the media items. Various techniques are used to reduce the latency times when displaying the list of thumbnail items in the user interface. When the list is initially displayed, for example, the thumbnail items may be loaded into memory according to how far they are from a currently displayed portion of the list, rather than always starting from the top of the list. In addition, if not all of the thumbnail items can be loaded at one time, when the list window is scrolled, the thumbnail items relatively far from a current scroll position of the list are purged so that the items closer to the current scroll position may be loaded. |
| US08261203B2 |
Flexible system monitoring using SNMP
A method and apparatus for generating and managing simple network management protocol (SNMP) reports that support the retrieval and processing of tabular data. An SNMP management station or similar program provides a user with an interface for viewing and managing data and resources through SNMP. The data and resources are identified by object identifiers (OID). However, some data referenced by the OIDs is tabular data. The management station provides an interface and set of functions for the configuration of methods for processing and displaying the tabular data. The SNMP management station provides a set of functions including: summation, maximums, minimums, averaging, threshold checks, value comparisons and similar functions that can be applied to the tabular data and used to generate a result or indicator in a management report. |
| US08261202B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a common time manipulation service to desktop applications
A method (700) for providing master time control (MTC) services to historian applications (HAs). Each HA (4142, . . . , 414N) is configured to display content (560, 562) having a time of focus and a local lime control (LTC) user interface (532) when in an LTC mode. The method involves changing a time control mode (TCM) of a first and second HA from the LTC mode to an MTC mode. The method also involves synchronizing times of focus for the first and second HAs to an MTC time of focus. This synchronization is performed in response to the TCM changes. The method further involves displaying first and second content. Each content includes time-stamped historical data (210) obtained during a period of elapsed time defined by the time of focus for said respective first or second HA. |
| US08261200B2 |
Increasing retrieval performance of images by providing relevance feedback on word images contained in the images
An interactive system provides for increasing retrieval performance of images depicting text by allowing users to provide relevance feedback on words contained in the images. The system includes a user interface through which the user queries the system with query terms for images contained in the system. Word image suggestions are displayed to the user through the user interface, where each word image suggestion contains the same or slightly variant text as recognized from the word image by the system than the particular query terms. Word image suggestions can be included in the system by the user to increase system recall of images for the one or more query terms and can be excluded from the system by the user to increase precision of image retrieval results for particular query terms. |
| US08261196B2 |
Method for displaying usage metrics as part of search results
A method is provided for enabling a user to search for documents that the user has previously viewed on its local machine. The method includes maintaining, on a workstation of a user, an index that includes one or more entries for only one or more documents the user has previously accessed; receiving from the user a request to search the index; and presenting a user interface providing a search results listing and one or more graphical visualizations characterizing the search results. In response to an input from the user, usage metrics for a selected documents are displayed. |
| US08261195B2 |
Method for customizing cover for electronic device
A method and system for customizing a cover for an electronic device is provided. A plurality of templates associated with a plurality of electronic devices are provided. A client may select a template. The client may create and edit images on the template associated with a model of an electronic device. The method including printing or manufacturing the customized cover using the template. |
| US08261194B2 |
Method and device for graphical interfacing
A method and device for graphical interfacing between a user and an information system. The method includes introducing a user request in a client station, transmitting the request to a server, processing the request and generating an answer and transmitting the answer to the client station. The generated answer includes instruction data and displayable data, instruction data determining a useable visualization model is interpreted in the client station, the visualization model is formed in the client station by associating locally available construction elements and the displayable data together with the visualization model are merged in order to display a merging result. The method is used for producing a graphical user interface. |
| US08261191B2 |
Multi-point representation
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method that presents a preview of a set of images in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a device. To generate the preview, the method initially selects a subset of images that includes several images in the set but not all the images in the set. After selecting the subset of images, the method concurrently displays the images in the selected subset as the preview of the set of images. |
| US08261190B2 |
Displaying help sensitive areas of a computer application
A window of a computer application on a display device is controlled through associating a pop-up window with the screen window of the computer application, wherein the computer application provides more than one screen window and a pop-up window is associated with each screen window of the computer application, and at least one mouse-sensitive area is defined for each screen window of the computer application, such that a mouse click on a mouse-sensitive area causes the appropriate pop-up window to be displayed on the display device. |
| US08261185B2 |
Constructing linear representation of a content based network
Described herein are systems and methods for constructing linear representations of content based networks. The methods comprise receiving a sub-network of a content based network comprising a plurality of fragments connected by one or more links, calculating fragment weight for at least some of the plurality of fragments, calculating link weight for at least one of the one or more links, creating a hierarchical structure from the sub-network, based on at least some of the calculated fragment weights and at least some of the calculated link weights, and converting the hierarchical structure to a linear representation. The linear representation may be augmented by additional overview information such as table of contents and index, which may be automatically generated. |
| US08261184B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding and displaying documents
A method for encoding and displaying documents includes identifying multiple characteristics, such as characters, and scenery, about text of a document, creating a key for correlating the characteristics with multiple unique indicia such as color, and placing corresponding indicia to the characteristics present in a line of text in columns adjacent the line of text on the basis of the key. A system for encoding and displaying documents includes a memory containing multiple characteristics about text of a document, the document, a key for correlating the characteristics with each unique indicia, and a display showing at least some of the unique indicia adjacent at least some lines of text in the document, the unique indicia placed adjacent the line of text corresponding to the characteristics in the line of text based on the key. An encoded document has various lines of text with multiple characteristics, multiple unique indicia in a margin adjacent at least some lines of text, and the unique indicia in the margin corresponds to the multiple characteristics in the associated line of text. |
| US08261180B2 |
Automatic forms processing systems and methods
Systems and methods analyze the physical structure of text rows in a document image, including the positions of one or more alignments of one or more character blocks in one or more text rows of the document image. The systems and methods determine one or more groups of text rows that are placed into a class based on the structures of the text rows, such as the positions of the one or more alignments of the one or more character blocks in each text row. |
| US08261178B2 |
Audio data distribution system and method for generating a photo slideshow which automatically selects music
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method, system, or program that automatically associates background music with an image slideshow. The embodiment can receive a selected image collection, extract metadata from the image collection, and associate audio files with the image collection based on the metadata. The embodiment will then prompt concurrent playing of the audio file while the image collection is displayed. The metadata identifies a theme for the image collection which can form the basis for associating the audio file with the image collection. |
| US08261176B2 |
Polynomial division
Systems and methods to perform polynomial division are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a codeword and storing a portion of the received codeword at a register. The portion of the received codeword has a first number of terms. A divisor having a second number of terms is also received. During at least one stage of a multi-stage polynomial division operation using the portion of the codeword and the divisor, the portion of the received codeword to be divided by the divisor is adjusted based on a result of a comparison of the first number to the second number. |
| US08261173B2 |
Calibration method and circuit for an add-compare-select loop
One embodiment of the invention features a programmable gain stage in analog update circuitry to overcome the accuracy limitation of the circuit gain and the maintenance of small finite number of possible sequence estimates. |
| US08261171B2 |
Systems and methods for diversity combined data detection
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide data processing circuits including a pattern detection circuit having at least two data detector circuits each operable to receive the same series of data samples and to provide a first detected data output and a second detected data output, respectively. In addition, the data pattern detection circuit includes a result combining circuit that is operable to assert a pattern found output based at least in part on the first detected data output and the second detected data output. |
| US08261170B2 |
Multi-stage decoder for error-correcting codes
A multi-stage decoder decodes a block of symbols, received via a noisy channel, to a codeword. The decoder includes multiple sub-decoders connected sequentially, and wherein a next sub-decoder has a slower processing time and better word error rate than a previous sub-decoder, and wherein the next sub-decoder is only executed if the previous decoder fails to decode the block sequence of symbols, and a last sub-decoder is executed until a termination condition is reached. |
| US08261159B1 |
Data scrambling schemes for memory devices
A method for data storage includes defining a set of scrambling sequences, each sequence including bits in respective bit positions having bit values, such that a distribution of the bit values in any give bit position satisfies a predefined statistical criterion. Each data word is scrambled using a respective scrambling sequence selected from the set. The scrambled data words are stored in the memory device. |
| US08261157B2 |
Method of error correction in MBC flash memory
A plurality of logical pages is stored in a MBC flash memory along with corresponding ECC bits, with at least one of the MBC cells storing bits from more than one logical page, and with at least one of the ECC bits applying to two or more of the logical pages. When the pages are read from the memory, the data bits as read are corrected using the ECC bits as read. Alternatively, a joint, systematic or non-systematic ECC codeword is computed for two or more of the logical pages and is stored instead of those logical pages. When the joint codeword is read, the logical bits are recovered from the codeword as read. The scope of the invention also includes corresponding memory devices, the controllers of such memory devices, and also computer-readable storage media bearing computer-readable code for implementing the methods. |
| US08261154B2 |
Continuous redundancy check method and apparatus
A continuous redundancy check method and apparatus receives (110) at least one data bit of a block's payload, calculates (120) a partial redundancy check value using the at least one data bit, compares (130) the partial redundancy check value with a reference value, and stores (134, 138) in an index an indication of whether the calculated redundancy check value matched the reference value. Meanwhile, the at least one data bit is also stored (140) in a data memory. As additional data bits of the payload are received, cumulative partial redundancy check values are calculated and compared to the reference value. When the complete payload has been stored (140), the index is analyzed (160, 165) to determine if a block error has been detected by the redundancy check functions. This continuous redundancy check method and apparatus allows a receiver to quickly determine whether a block error has occurred, especially when there may be padding (or dummy) bits in the block's payload. |
| US08261150B2 |
Multi-antenna transmitting apparatus, multi-antenna receiving apparatus, and data re-transmitting method
In a multi-antenna communication system using LDPC codes, a simple method is used to effectively improve the received quality by performing a retransmittal of less data without restricting applicable LDPC codes. In a case of a non-retransmittal, a multi-antenna transmitting apparatus (100) transmits, from two antennas (114A, 114B) , LDPC encoded data formed by LDPC encoding blocks (102A, 102B). In a case of a retransmittal, the multi-antenna transmitting apparatus (100) uses a transmission method, in which the diversity gain is higher than in the previous transmission, to transmit only a part of the LDPC encoded data as previously transmitted. For example, the only the part of the LDPC encoded data to be re-transmitted is transmitted from the single antenna (114A). |
| US08261148B2 |
Internet protocol multicast with internet protocol unicast/multicast error correction
A method of delivering digital information includes joining a multicast group, and receiving a segment from a server directed to the multicast group. Further, the method further includes determining a transmission error has occurred resulting in an incomplete segment, and sending an error notification to the server requesting retransmission of at least a portion of the incomplete segment. Additionally, the method includes receiving a retransmission of the at least a portion of the incomplete segment. The at least a portion of the incomplete segment may be received through an IP unicast connection or as a multicast retransmission. |
| US08261147B2 |
Data transmission method and data transmission apparatus
A data transmission apparatus including a receiving unit for receiving transmitted packets; a priority decision unit; a retransmission packet storage unit; a retransmission instruction receiving unit for receiving a retransmission request from a terminal at the receiving end; a retransmission decision unit; a transmission queue management unit; and a transmission unit. |
| US08261146B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data, and a communication system
A communication system employs discontinuous transmission to create gaps in transmission during which a transmitting device (200) can receive. When the transmission of a data block coincides with a transmission gap such that a portion of the data block is not transmitted, the block is retransmitted later. Prior to the retransmission, the data in the data block is reordered. The reordering may be predetermined, or may be selected to ensure that the same portion of data does not coincide with a transmission gap in the retransmission. |
| US08261143B2 |
Select signal and component override signal controlling multiplexing TDI/TDO
A system comprises a plurality of components, scan chain selection logic coupled to the components, and override selection logic coupled to the scan chain selection logic. The scan chain selection logic selects various of the components to be members of a scan chain under the direction of a host computer. The override selection logic detects a change in the scan chain and, as a result, blocks the entire scan chain from progressing. |
| US08261141B1 |
Real time feedback compensation of programmable logic memory
Memory performance in programmable logic is significantly increased by adjusting circuitry operation to adjust for variations in process, voltage, or temperature. A calibration circuit adjusts control signal timing, dynamically and automatically, to compensate real time to process, voltage, and temperature variation. A feedback system using a control block and a dummy mimicking concept are provided. |
| US08261139B2 |
Clear instruction information to indicate whether memory test failure information is valid
A test apparatus includes a fail memory (AFM) for storing therein fail information in association with each of the addresses of a memory under test and a mark memory (CMM) for storing therein, in association with each of the addresses of the memory under test, validity information indicating whether the fail information stored in the AFM is valid. When the validity information read from the CMM in association with an address under test indicates that the fail information that has been stored in the AFM is invalid, the test apparatus overwrites the fail information stored in the AFM with the fail information that is newly generated by a current test. On the other hand, when the validity information read from the CMM indicates that the fail information is valid, the test apparatus updates the fail information stored in the AFM with the new fail information and writes the updated fail information back into the AFM. When overwriting the fail information that has been stored in the AFM with the new fail information, the test apparatus writes into the CMM the validity information that indicates that the new fail information is valid. Initialization of the AFM is performed in such a manner that, before and after the initialization, different validity information indicates validity of the fail information. |
| US08261136B2 |
Method and device for selectively refreshing a region of a memory of a data storage device
A method and device for selectively refreshing a region of a non-volatile memory of a data storage device is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes comparing a time stamp received from a host device to a first time stamp retrieved from a data storage device for a first region of a non-volatile memory, the first region including a least recently accessed region of a memory array within the data storage device. The method also includes selectively refreshing the first region based on a comparison of a difference between the time stamp received from the host device and the first time stamp as compared to a threshold, where the threshold is adjusted based on a first error count corresponding to a number of errors detected by an error correction code (ECC) engine with respect to data retrieved from the first region. |
| US08261133B1 |
Protection and recovery of non-redundant information stored in a memory
The present invention is a method, computer-readable medium and an apparatus for protection and recovery of non-redundant computer-readable information stored in a memory having multiple segments that features replacing computer-readable information stored in one of the multiple segments based upon a determination that computer-readable information stored in one of the remaining segments of the multiples segments is in a desired state. To that end, the memory device operates synergistically with a shelf manager, which maintains a state of computer-readable information in the differing address ranges of the memory device, so that any computer-readable information replaced in memory device may be achieved by executing uncorrupted computer-readable information stored in the memory device. |
| US08261131B2 |
Recovery from HDD failure and technical support through WWAN
A user of a user computer whose hard disk drive (HDD) is “fried” can press a special key to cause BIOS to automatically gather location information about the computer from its GPS receiver and gather information about the HDD, activate a WWAN transceiver, and automatically send the location and HDD information over the WWAN to a service computer, which may return a location of a nearest service center to the user computer and any other advice including recovery advice for the HDD that the service center might be able to divine from the information sent to it by the user computer. |
| US08261130B2 |
Program code trace signature
A processor generates a signature value indicating a sequence of executed instructions, and the signature value is compared to signature values calculated for two or more possible sequences of executed instructions to determine which instruction sequence was executed. The signature is generated via a signature generator during program execution, and is provided external to the processor via a signature message. |
| US08261129B2 |
Flexible bus architecture for monitoring and control of battery pack
A method for diagnosing a control system for a stacked battery is disclosed. The control system comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit (control unit). The method comprises sending a diagnostic information from the central unit to a top processor of the plurality of processors, transmitting a return information from the top processor of the plurality of processors to the central unit, comparing the diagnostic information sent from the central unit with the return information received by the central unit, and indicating a communication problem if the diagnostic information sent from the central unit is different from the return information received by the central unit. The steps are repeated by eliminating the top processor from a previous cycle and assigning a new top processor if there is no problem with the reconfigurable communication system. |
| US08261127B2 |
Summarizing system status in complex models
A system and method of characterizing the status of a complex system provide for determining a combined status level of a pair of related objects in an architecture, wherein one of the pair of related objects is a destination object and another of the pair of related objects is a source object. The combined status level determination can be cascaded through the architecture toward a front-end object corresponding to the pair of related objects to obtain a set of combined status levels. A status output may also be generated based on the set of combined status levels. |
| US08261124B2 |
System and method for optimized error correction in flash memory arrays
Systems and/or methods that facilitate that facilitate error correction of data stored in memory components, such as flash memory devices are presented. An optimized correction component can be used to break data into two or more data blocks. The optimized correction component can facilitated creating one or two redundancy blocks that can be associated with the data blocks, wherein data blocks and the redundancy blocks can be assembled into a data stripe that can be stored in three or more of the memory components. Upon retrieval of the data stripe, the optimal correction component, an error correction code (ECC) component or a combination thereof can correct data blocks that contain errors wherein the decision whether the optimized correction component or the error correction code (ECC) component corrects the errors can be based in part on a predetermined criteria. |
| US08261123B2 |
Information processing apparatus and display control method
An information processing apparatus which manages a document file to be stored includes a creating unit for creating an output job which is output to an image forming apparatus according to an instruction to an icon of the document file displayed on a display unit, a job management unit for managing the output job by relating a job ID for identifying the output job to a file ID of the document file when the output job is created by the creating unit, an acquirement unit for acquiring from the image forming apparatus the job ID of the output job in which processing ends in error, and a first display control unit for changing an icon display state of an a document file including a file ID specified by the job ID acquired by the acquirement unit and the job ID managed by the management unit, from a normal display state to an error display state. |
| US08261116B2 |
Distribution of network communications based on server power consumption
A network device is described that load-balances network traffic among a set of network servers based on electrical power consumption of the network servers. The network device may measure electrical power consumption in a variety of ways, and may generate and maintain a power consumption profile for each of the network server. The power consumption profile may describe the respective server power consumption in increasing granularity. For instance, each power consumption profile may specify electrical power consumption according to watts consumed by a server per average transaction, watts consumed per transaction for a specific type of software application, watts consumed per transaction for a software application for individual network resources, and so on. Furthermore, the profiles may be maintained for individual servers or aggregated for groups or sequences of servers. |
| US08261111B2 |
Device having a normal working state and a standby state and computer readable storage medium for controlling same
There is provided a terminal automatically executing access processing to a URL registered in advance on a network in response to the cancellation operation of the power saving mode. This enables to execute accessing the predetermined URL on the network only by the cancellation operation of the power saving mode without need of an extra operation for the processing. Also, in a terminal having a folding mechanism, predetermined processing is automatically executed in response to the open motion from the closed condition. This enables to execute the predetermined processing only by the open motion without need of an extra operation for the processing. Thus operability of the terminal is improve, and as a result, convenience for the user is improved. |
| US08261102B2 |
Power management system capable of saving power and optimizing operating efficiency of power supplies for providing power with back-up or redundancy to plural loads
The present invention relates to a power management system comprising at least one power management subsystem. Each power management subsystem comprises a first power module coupled to a first load and comprising at least one first power supply for supplying power to the first load; a second power module coupled to a second load and comprising at least one second power supply, wherein at least one second power supply is retractably installed in the second power module and selectively coupled to the second load; and a pass-through module comprising at least one pass-through unit retractably installed in the second power module to replace with the at least one second power supply and selectively connecting the first power module to the second load for allowing the first power module to supply power to the second load. |
| US08261101B1 |
Self power down integrated circuit
A suspend mode is provided that can be asserted using an Internal Configuration Access Port (ICAP) of an integrated circuit such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), as supposed to a dedicated external suspend pin typically accessed by a device external to the FPGA. The ICAP is designed to assert the suspend mode through a configuration block to maintain the state of the configuration memory array while lowering power, in a similar manner to when an external suspend pin is accessed. Internal circuits can, thus, be used to assert a suspend mode through the ICAP. |
| US08261100B2 |
Power adapter capable of communicating digitally with electronic devices using packet-based protocol
A power adapter capable of communicating digitally with a device or a legacy adapter associated with a device is described. The power adapter includes an input port to receive power from a power source, a regulator to convert the received power from the power source, an output port configured to deliver power from the regulator to a device, and a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a communication module associated with the device to determine the power requirements of the device. The regulator converts the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device. A related method of adapting power to a device is also described. |
| US08261099B1 |
Method and system for securing network data
Method and system for storing data in a storage device accessible through a storage area network is provided. The method includes receiving data from a host system; generating a first encryption key for encrypting data information that describes the received data; generating a second encryption key that encrypts the first encryption key and the encrypted data information; generating an encryption packet that includes the second encryption key, the first encryption key and the data information; storing the encryption packet at one or more memory locations; and periodically refreshing the encryption packet without periodically encrypting the received data for securely storing the received data. |
| US08261098B2 |
Method and apparatus for encrypting and processing data in flash translation layer
A method for preventing a user from interpreting optional stored data information even when the user extracts the optional stored data, and an apparatus thereof. The apparatus for encrypting and processing data in a flash translation layer includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash translation layer searches at least one page of the flash memory storing the data when a write of optional data is requested from the controller, generates, corresponding to respective searched pages, a page key according to a predetermined encrypting function when the searched page supports an encryption, and encrypts and stores the data by the page key in the respective searched pages. |
| US08261092B2 |
Image retrieval system and method
An image retrieval system that provides secured image data in response to a query specified by a user. The system includes a data retrieval unit, an encryption unit, and an output unit. The data retrieval unit is configured to retrieve image data relevant to the specified query from a collection of image data. The encryption unit is configured to encrypt at least a portion of the retrieved image data according to the specified query. The output unit is configured to output the at least partially encrypted image data to the user. The image data represents an image formed of one or more regions each having a keyword associated therewith. The encrypted portion is decryptable by the user only when the user is authorized to view the entire image. |
| US08261090B1 |
Login to a computing device based on facial recognition
A method of logging a first user in to an computing device includes receiving a an image of the first user via a camera operably coupled with the computing device and determining an identity of the first user based on the received image. If the determined identity matches a predetermined identity, then, based at least on the identity of the first user matching the predetermined identity, the first user is logged in to the computing device. |
| US08261089B2 |
Method and system for authenticating a user by means of a mobile device
There is provided a method for authenticating a mobile device user against an authenticating system connected to a client computer accessible to said user. The authenticating system uses a communication channel to send to the client computer a logon screen. This logon screen contains a 2D-code embedding, a URL of the authenticating system and a challenge generated by the authenticating system. With a 2D-code reader in the user's mobile device the URL and the challenge are decoded. The user then inputs a password and a response to the challenge is computed. The response is sent together with the user ID to the authenticating system. The authenticating system is able to ascertain that the response to the challenge necessarily comes from the user thereby verifying his identity. Once the user is authenticated, the authenticating system pushes to the client computer (identified by the challenge) a welcome screen. |
| US08261087B2 |
Digipass for web-functional description
The DigiPass for the Web provides security for internet communication greater than that achieved by the use of a static password without requiring the user to install any software or to possess or use dedicated hardware of any kind. The user merely access an appropriate website which downloads an applet to the user's browser. This is a conventional function which is handled by the browser and does not require any expertise on the part of the user. The browser relies on a password known only to the user for authenticating the user to the browser/applet. The browser/applet interacts with the server to create an authentication key which is then stored on the user's computer. The user can invoke the authentication key dependent on the user's presentation to the browser/applet of the password. Since the password is not used outside the user-browser/applet interaction it is not subject to attacks by hackers. The authentication key is also protected from attacks by encryption although the user need not memorize any information other than the password. |
| US08261086B2 |
Computer and method for sending security information for authentication
The present invention provides a computer and a method of sending security information for authentication, which relate to transmission of data information in computers. The present invention solves the vulnerability of information when a user conducts network transaction activities by a terminal. The computer of the present invention comprises: a virtual system platform; a first guest operating system installed on the virtual system platform, which is for installing a service application module, wherein the service application module generates a security information input interface when it is being executed; a second guest operating system installed on the virtual system platform; the second guest operating system comprises: a dynamic password generation module for generating security information, the security information is input into the security information input interface and is sent to a network server for authentication. The security of network activities conducted by users can be enhanced. |
| US08261081B2 |
Method for governing the ability of computing devices to communicate
A method is provided to perform network access control. A computing device utilizing Online Certificate Status Protocol responder functionality determines whether attempted communication should be allowed between other computing devices appropriately configured with Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), digital certificates and OCSP client software. This determination is based on a set of rules considering the role or roles of the computing devices attempting to communicate, and whether the computing devices attempting to communicate have previously exhibited suspicious or undesirable behavior. |
| US08261080B2 |
System and method for managing digital certificates on a remote device
A system and method for managing a digital certificate associated with a remote device is provided. The method includes providing a Web Service Application Programming Interface (API) and communicating digitally between the Web Service API and a remote device, including one of requesting the remote device to perform a task associated with managing digital certificates, and responding to a request from the remote device for performing a task associated with managing digital certificates. |
| US08261079B2 |
Establishing shared information in a network
A method for establishing shared information is described. The method includes estimating characteristics of a communication channel between two nodes based on signals transmitted between the nodes. The method also includes transmitting a signal from the first node to the second node, the signal being modulated with a first data sequence according to a first estimated characteristic, and transmitting a signal from the second node to the first node, the signal being modulated with a second data sequence according to a second estimated characteristic. Shared information is formed at each of the first and second nodes based on at least a portion of the first data sequence and at least a portion of the second data sequence. |
| US08261072B2 |
Method and system for secure external TPM password generation and use
Aspects of the present invention include a method and system for generating a secure access code at a remote device in communication with a computer system having a secure storage device; conveying the secure access code to the system secure storage device; receiving the secure access code at the system secure storage device with unique data characteristics associated with remote device; and, securely providing content to the remote device. |
| US08261071B2 |
Stateless human detection for real-time messaging systems
Stateless human detection for real-time systems allows a real-time message system to challenge incoming messages suspected of being generated by an automated application. When a suspect message is detected, a challenge is presented to a sender of the message. The challenge is designed to require human intervention to provide a correct answer to the challenge. A challenge packet is sent with the challenge and includes a challenge answer and, possibly, a server identifier, a challenge identifier and/or a time stamp that can be used to prevent attacks on the challenge. The challenge packet is encrypted so that the sender cannot access the contents thereof. When the sender provides a response to the challenge, the sender returns the challenge packet. The challenge packet is decrypted and the challenge answer is compared to a sender answer. If the answers match, the sender is allowed subsequent access to the messaging system. |
| US08261069B2 |
Privacy-enhanced searches using encryption
Encryption with keys that form an Abelian group are used in combination with a semi-trusted party that converts queries that are encrypted with the key of a querier to queries that are encrypted with the key of the encrypted database, without knowing the actual keys. In an illustrative embodiment, encryption is done with Bloom filters that employ Pohlig-Hellman encryption. Since the querier's key is not divulged, neither the semi-trusted party nor the publisher of the database can see the original queries. Provision can be made for fourth party “warrant servers”, as well as “censorship sets” that limit the data to be shared. |
| US08261068B1 |
Systems and methods for selective encryption of operating system metadata for host-based encryption of data at rest on a logical unit
A method is provided for providing an operating system (OS) independent input/output (I/O) filter driver capable of encrypting at least a portion of a logical unit (LUN), the method comprising the unordered steps of: providing an I/O filter driver component to an I/O stack for a host in communication with the LUN; determining, based at least in part on at least one of OS requirements and an arrangement of data on the LUN, at least one region in the LUN that contains data that is used below the I/O filter driver in an I/O stack on the host; and performing at least one of a read and a write of the one or more regions while keeping the one or more regions in plaintext, while permitting other regions of the LUN to be at least one of encrypted and decrypted. |
| US08261067B2 |
Devices, methods, and systems for sending and receiving case study files
The present disclosure includes devices, methods, and systems for creating a case study file that includes an image file from an imaging modality, executing a hash algorithm on the case study file to produce a hash key, compressing the case study file, bundling the hash key with the compressed file, encrypting the bundled file, and moving the encrypted bundled file through an Internet connection to a storage computing system, among other embodiments. |
| US08261065B2 |
Protecting caller function from undesired access by callee function
Disclosed is a method for restricting access of a first code of a plurality of codes and data of a first function from a second function. Thee method comprises calling the second function by the first function, addresses of the plurality of data may be stored in a stack page and colored in a first color (102). The method comprises performing access control check in a transition page for verifying whether the first function has permission to call the second function (104). Further the method comprises protecting the first code from the second function by coloring the data and/or addresses in a second color (106). Furthermore, the method comprises executing the second function by pushing addresses of the second function on the stack page, the addresses of the second function colored in a third color (108) and unprotecting the first code by coloring the addresses of the first code in the first color (110). |
| US08261062B2 |
Non-cryptographic addressing
To allow down-level devices to participate in a network controlled by a protocol including CGAS or ECGAs, the CGA or ECGA authentication may be made optional to allow the down-level devices to execute non-CGA or non-ECGA versions of network protocols, while at the same time allowing the use of CGA- and/or ECGA-authenticated versions of the same protocols. To identify non-cryptographic addresses (e.g., non-CGA and non-ECGA), the address bits of a non-CGA or non-ECGA such that the address cannot be or is probably not an encoding of the hash of a public key. In this manner, a receiving node may properly identify the capabilities of the sending node, perform an appropriate authentication of the message containing the non-cryptographic address, and/or prioritize processing of information contained in the message with the non-cryptographic address. |
| US08261061B2 |
Methods and systems for encouraging secure communications
Embodiments of the present invention enable a user to engage in secure communications using digital certificates and other cryptographic technologies in an easy way with a minimum of distracting interaction. In some embodiments of the present invention, webmail is enabled to allow users to obtain and use S/MIME certificates to secure his or her e-mails. Embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented to other forms of messaging, such as text messages, instant messages, etc. |
| US08261056B2 |
Digital data recording apparatus, digital data recording method, and computer-readable recording medium
A data communication unit receives encrypted digital data via a network and records the digital data on a primary recording medium. The digital data, having been encrypted indifferent encryption methods according to the distributors, include attribute information indicating the encryption methods. The encryption method of the digital data is determined and the encrypted data is decrypted by an appropriate decryption unit. Identification information of a secondary recording medium or a playback apparatus is obtained according to whether the secondary recording medium is removable from the playback apparatus. A controller selects an encryption unit among a plurality of encryption units according to the obtained identification information. The selected encryption unit creates an encryption key according to the identification information and re-encrypts the digital data. A recording unit records the digital data on the secondary recording medium. An accounting unit charges according to accounting information in the attribute information. |
| US08261052B2 |
Method for storing boot time
A method for storing boot time is performed by a computer product having a programmable read-only memory with a basic/input output system resident therein. The method includes the steps of: (A) while the computer product is in a process of booting, determining whether a command is received; and (B) storing system time information of the computer product as boot time information in the programmable read-only memory of the computer product when it is determined in step (A) that no command is received. This invention takes advantage of the tendency of consumers to not boot the computer product in the event of malfunction. When the malfunctioning computer product is sent to a service center, the repairperson can determine whether the computer product broke down within a warranty period based on latest boot time information stored therein, rather than based on the claims of the consumer. |
| US08261051B2 |
Computer, booting software product and computer booting method
A computer includes an application system, a storage device and a basic input output system (BIOS). The application system can be respectively coupled to the storage device and the BIOS, set at least a multimedia file as a preset playing file according to an input instruction and store the preset playing file into the storage device. The application system can further generate a log file according to the input instruction and the storage position of the preset playing file, wherein the log file is sent to the BIOS. The BIOS has a file access module, so that the BIOS can acquire the preset playing file from the storage device according to the log file for playing during booting the computer. |
| US08261050B2 |
Vital product data collection during pre-standby and system initial program load
Selectively recollecting vital product data during an initial program load at data processing system power on is provided. In response to receiving an input to power on a data processing system, a resource location code array table is accessed within a set of selected tables for the data processing system based on machine type. The selected set of tables is located in firmware within a service processor. An entry for a resource in the resource location code array table is read to determine whether the entry includes a no recollect tag. Then, in response to determining that the entry for the resource in the resource location code array table does include a no recollect tag, vital product data for the resource is not recollected during the initial program load. |
| US08261042B2 |
Reconfigurable multi-processing coarse-grain array
A signal processing device is adapted for simultaneous processing of at least two process threads in a multi-processing manner. The device comprises a plurality of functional units capable of executing word- or subword-level operations on data. The device further comprises means for interconnecting the plurality of functional units, the means for interconnecting supporting a plurality of dynamically switchable interconnect arrangements, and at least one of the interconnect arrangements interconnects the plurality of functional units into at least two non-overlapping processing units each with a pre-determined topology. The device further comprises at least two control modules each assigned to one of the processing units. |
| US08261037B2 |
Storage self-healing and capacity planning system and method
The storage self-healing/capacity planning system and method enables SAN resources to be reserved by allowing one or more policies to be set up for the resources. A conformance check is made, for example, upon receiving an event associated with the one or more resources, to ensure that the event occurring is in conformance with the one or more reserved policies. When violation is detected, one or more enforcement rules may be invoked automatically. |
| US08261031B2 |
Device and method to manage migration volume selection
A management device and management method capable of improving usability of a storage system is proposed. The management device and the management method for managing data migration between volumes in a storage system in which normal volumes to which fixed storage areas are allocated in advance and virtual volumes to which storage areas are dynamically allocated according to use status coexist as types of volumes for reading and writing data is arranged so that information regarding each volume is collected, and based on the collected information, at least a total logical capacity that is a summation of logical capacities determined in advance for the respective volume is separately displayed for normal volumes and virtual volumes. |
| US08261029B1 |
Dynamic balancing of writes between multiple storage devices
A system for dynamic balancing of writes between multiple storage devices in which Remote Data Facility (RDF) groups may be assigned weights according to a dynamic priority parameter. The dynamic priority parameter provides the ability to control the weight of an asynchronous RDF group compared to that of a synchronous RDF group. Thus, when the same RDF adapter includes a mix of asynchronous RDF groups and synchronous RDF groups, a dynamic balance of the write priorities between the two group types may be obtained. |
| US08261026B2 |
Application cache population from peer application
Improved approaches to manage cache data for applications operating in a data center environment are disclosed. Data requests incoming over a network are able to be responded to by an application in a consistent and rapid manner through intelligent management of cache data. When like applications are being concurrently operated, such as at a data center, cache data established by one application can be made available for use by another like application. As a result, cache data available to a given application is more likely to be useful to the application, particularly when the application has just been started (or restarted). |
| US08261020B2 |
Cache enumeration and indexing
In response to a request including a state object, which can indicate a state of an enumeration of a cache, the enumeration can be continued by using the state object to identify and send cache data. Also, an enumeration of cache units can be performed by traversing a data structure that includes object nodes, which correspond to cache units, and internal nodes. An enumeration state stack can indicate a current state of the enumeration, and can include state nodes that correspond to internal nodes in the data structure. Additionally, a cache index data structure can include a higher level table and a lower level table. The higher level table can have a leaf node pointing to the lower level table, and the lower level table can have a leaf node pointing to one of the cache units. Moreover, the lower level table can be associated with a tag. |
| US08261017B2 |
Method and system for distributed RAID implementation
Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed provide a distributed RAID system comprising a set of data banks. More particularly, in certain embodiments of a distributed RAID system each data bank has a set of associated storage media and executes a similar distributed RAID application. The distributed RAID applications on each of the data banks coordinate among themselves to distribute and control data flow associated with implementing a level of RAID in conjunction with data stored on the associated storage media of the data banks. |
| US08261015B2 |
Utilizing more capacity of a physical disk through multiple logical drives on the physical disk
A first physical capacity of a first physical storage device is determined. A second physical capacity of a second physical storage device that has a physical capacity greater than the first physical capacity is determined. A storage space pool comprising at least a first logical drive, a second logical drive, and a third logical drive is created. The first logical drive corresponds to the first storage device and has the same capacity as the first physical capacity. The second logical drive corresponds to a first portion of the second storage device. The third logical drive corresponds to a second portion of the second storage device. The first portion and the second portion having at least the first physical capacity. Thus, two portions having at least the first physical capacity are utilized on the second physical drive instead of just one portion. |
| US08261013B2 |
Method for even utilization of a plurality of flash memory chips
A method for addressing a memory having a plurality of flash memory chips organized in erasable blocks, which in turn contain writable sectors, and where an erase counter is associated with each memory block. The overwriting of the sectors occurs by way of alternative memory blocks searched in the same chip for low erase counter values, as long as a threshold value of the erase counter is not exceeded. The copying operations are conducted efficiently using a copy command internal to the memory chip. As soon as the threshold value is exceeded, alternative memory blocks are searched in other memory chips as well. |
| US08261008B2 |
NAND flash controller and data exchange method between NAND flash memory and NAND flash controller
The invention discloses a NAND flash controller, including a command and address data transmission channel adapted to connect the bus timing interface with the channel selector and transmit command and address data, a data buffer region adapted to receive message data from the bus timing interface through system bus, a control register adapted to receive an operation parameter configured through system bus via the bus timing interface, a logic controller adapted to write the data information into or read the data information from the data buffer region according to the operation parameter, a channel selector adapted to connect the DMA data transmission channel or the command and address data transmission channel according to the operation parameter for transmitting data. The invention also discloses a date exchange method between NAND flash controller and NAND flash memory. The invention improves the data transmission efficiency and is compatible with various NAND flash memories. |
| US08261005B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for managing data in a storage device with an empty data token directive
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing data with an empty data segment directive at the storage device. The apparatus, system, and method for managing data include a write request receiver module and a data segment token storage module. The write request receiver module receives a storage request from a requesting device. The storage request includes a request to store a data segment in a storage device. The data segment includes a series of repeated, identical characters or a series of repeated, identical character strings. The data segment token storage module stores a data segment token in the storage device. The data segment token includes at least a data segment identifier and a data segment length. The data segment token is substantially free of data from the data segment. |
| US08261003B2 |
Apparatus and methods for managing expanded capacity of virtual volumes in a storage system
Methods and apparatus for expanded capacity virtual volumes in a virtualized storage system. A storage controller of the storage system parses a SCSI command block as it is received to generate a tag value indicating a segment of a virtual volume to which the command block is directed. The tag value is used to select one of a plurality of mapping segment objects stored in a memory of the controller. Each mapping segment objects maps logical block addresses of a corresponding segment of a corresponding virtual volume to physical storage addresses on the physical storage devices that comprise the virtual volume. An I/O processing circuit of the controller then processes the SCSI command block in accordance with the mapping information in the selected mapping segment object. In one exemplary embodiment, each segment of a virtual volume comprises 2 terabytes of storage capacity of the virtual volume. |
| US08260999B2 |
Wireless communication with a dock
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, system and program products. A mobile computing device determines that the mobile computing device has physically paired with a docking system. Wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system is automatically established in response to said determining that the mobile computing device has physically paired with the docking system. Data that encodes an audio signal is transmitted, by the mobile computing device and to the docking system as part of the wireless communication, so as to cause speakers of the docking system to audibly output the audio signal from the mobile computing device. |
| US08260988B2 |
PS/2 to USB keyboard adaptor supporting N-key rollover
A USB converter circuit for converting electrical signals from a key scan circuit (in PS/2 or other formats) into USB signals for a computer while supporting N-key rollover (NKRO) functions. The converter circuit can be implemented as a stand-alone PS/2 to USB keyboard converter or as an integral component of a USB keyboard or KVM switch. The converter circuit includes a converter module that generates keyboard data packets in the USB format having a 16-byte, 64-byte, etc. format representing key press information for up to 8 modifier keys and 14, 62, etc. non-modifier keys, respectively. The converter circuit also includes a USB device controller module which transmits the 16-byte etc. USB keyboard data as one or multiple USB data packets to the host computer. When multiple USB data packets are needed to transmit each keyboard data packet (depending on the USB speed), they are transmitted in consecutive polling periods. |
| US08260986B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing virtual ports and logical units on storage systems
A storage system configured to associate a virtual port 810 to a plurality of physical ports 800. In response to commands from computers, the storage system 100 manages relation between physical ports and virtual ports and relation between virtual port and volumes by performing processes such as creating a virtual port, assigning LUs to a virtual port, moving a virtual port between physical ports and deleting a virtual port. The storage system also maintains/calculates statistics information for ports and displays the information for each virtual port. |
| US08260980B2 |
Simultaneous intermediate proxy direct memory access
Disclosed is a method that simultaneously transfers DMA data from a peripheral device to a hardware assist function and processor memory. A first DMA transfer is configured to transfer data from the peripheral to a peripheral DMA engine. While receiving the data, the DMA engine simultaneously transfers this data to processor memory. The DMA engine also transfers a copy of the data to a hardware assist function. The DMA engine may also simultaneously transfer data from processor memory to a peripheral device while transferring a copy to a hardware assist function. |
| US08260978B1 |
Installation of a device driver
A service device that comprises a storage drive, where the storage drive includes an installer program, a device driver, and a mass storage interface. The mass storage interface is configured to enumerate the storage drive to a client device when the service device is coupled to the client device for a first time. The client device auto-launches the installer program in response to the service device being enumerated to the client device for the first time. The installer program installs the device driver in the client device in response to being auto-launched. |
| US08260976B1 |
Multiple frequency state detection for serial I/O interfaces
Technologies are described herein for assigning multiple frequency states within a serial I/O interface. Bits within the serial I/O stream may be placed in frequency states in addition to high and low logic states. Placing a serial I/O bit into a frequency state where the bit may be transitioned according to a set of allowed frequencies can extend the information represented by each bit slot of a cyclical data I/O bit stream beyond the typical two states of logic high and logic low. A transition counter may be provided for each bit slot of a serialized stream. Each transition counter may be incremented in response to the respective bit slot changing its state from its previous sampled state. A frequency state may be assigned to a bit slot in response to a respective transition counter range associated with that bit slot. |
| US08260974B1 |
Techniques for accelerating the processing of enclosures in SAS disk storage arrays
In a disk processor, a method includes receiving, by a first storage processor of the disk processor, an instruction to assign each enclosure of the set of disk drive enclosures an identifier, the first storage processor being disposed in electrical communication with the set of disk drive enclosures to define at least one bus, each identifier providing a distinct identity to each enclosure in the data storage system. The method includes evaluating, by the first storage processor and as part of a first batch process, the set of enclosures relative to a set of identification rules. The method includes assigning, by the first storage processor and as part of the first batch process, an identifier to each enclosure that complies with the set of identification rules. The method includes generating a fault notification for each enclosure that does not comply with at least one identification rule of the set of identification rules. |
| US08260971B2 |
Techniques to exchange information for multiple modems
Techniques are disclosed involving the exchange of information with multiple modems. For instance, an apparatus includes a host device, a plurality of modems, and a serial connection to transfer information between the host device and the plurality of modems. The information may include data associated with one or more user applications and commands for the plurality of modems. The serial connection may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. |
| US08260962B1 |
Donor/borrower incident notification for daemons
A device may include a donor to maintain a pool of addresses; a group of borrowers to obtain addresses from the donor; a daemon that has registered an interest in one or more borrowers in the group of borrowers; and a library to maintain first relationships between donors and borrowers that have obtained addresses from the donors, maintain second relationships between daemons and borrowers in which the daemons have registered an interest, receive a notification regarding an incident associated with the donor, identify, in response to the notification, the group of borrowers based on the first relationships, determine that the daemon has registered an interest in the one or more borrowers in the group of borrowers based on the second relationships, and output, to the daemon, a notification regarding the incident associated with the donor. |
| US08260957B2 |
Group access to IP multimedia subsystem service
A method of facilitating access to services of an IP Multimedia Subsystem, by users groups that require alternative handling in relation to the standard handling of IP Multimedia Subsystem users. Functioning instructions are added to the user groups subscription maintained in the IP Multimedia Subsystem, instructing nodes in the IP Multimedia Subsystem to adapt their standard functioning for this specific group of users. The instructions in a subscription of a specific user group, provide a node of the IP Multimedia Subsystem that does no longer need to be specific for certain types of users, but has a standard way of operation, that is modified by instructions for dedicated operation for only that specific user group. In further aspect embodiments are disclosed providing improved solutions for known problems of IP Multimedia Subsystems making use of functioning instructions included in the subscription. |
| US08260955B2 |
Interface circuit for transmitting and receiving digital signals between devices
A video signal and an audio signal are TMDS transmitted from a source device to a sink device. Through a reserved line and a HPD line provided separately from a TMDS transmission line, an Ethernet™ signal is bidirectionally transmitted, and also, a SPDIF signal is transmitted from the sink device to the source device. The Ethernet™ signal bidirectionally transmitted between Ethernet™ transmitter/receiver circuits is differentially transmitted by an amplifier and is received by the amplifier. The SPDIF signal from a SPDIF transmitter circuit is common-mode transmitted from an adder and is received by the adder to be supplied to the SPDIF receiver circuit. |
| US08260954B2 |
Process for communication between a device running a mobile device platform and a server over the air, as well as related system
Process of communication via HTTP or HTTPS between a device running Java ME® and a server over the air, said server receiving and transmitting SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) messages from/to an operator on a host over a network and being capable of exchanging SOAP messages under Application Protocol Data Unit (APDU) data form/with the device, characterized in that the SOAP messages are translated from/to binary messages according to a protocol in the server, said binary messages being exchanged with the device, the binary messages being binary request messages or binary response messages. |
| US08260952B2 |
Multi-rate peer-assisted data streaming
The described implementations relate to distributed network management and more particularly to enhancing distributed network utility. One technique selects multiple trees to distribute content to multiple receivers in a session where individual receivers can receive the distributed content at one of a plurality of rates. The technique further adjustably allocates content distribution across the multiple trees to increase a sum of utilities of the multiple receivers. |
| US08260949B2 |
Method and system for providing multimedia information on demand over wide area networks
Systems and methods for delivering streaming data content to a client device over a data communication network in response to a request for the data content from the client device. The client request is received by a server or a controller device that is typically located on a network switch device. If received by a server, the server sends a request to the controller device to control the transfer of the requested data to the client. The controller device includes the processing capability required for retrieving the streaming data and delivering the streaming data directly to the client device without involving the server system. In some cases, the controller device mirrors the data request to another controller device to handle the data processing and delivery functions. In other cases, the controller device coordinates the delivery of the requested data using one or more other similar controller devices in a pipelined fashion. |
| US08260948B2 |
Enhanced controller utilizing RFID technology
A radio frequency identification (RFID) component receives a data stream from at least one RFID tag. A controller can integrate and/or embed at least one of the following, 1) middleware that filters the data stream associated with the RFID component, 2) RFID software that provides RFID component software functionality, and 3) a smart component that connects to the RFID component. |
| US08260942B2 |
Cluster view performance
A system and method of constructing cluster views may involve determining that a process such as an application server process having an IP address is stopped. Another IP address may be assigned to the process in response to determining that the process is stopped, wherein the other IP address is dedicated to processes that are stopped. If a connection request for the process is received at the other IP address, the connection request may be actively refused. The active refusal may significantly reduce the amount of time required to generate cluster views. |
| US08260937B1 |
Cross-domain communications with a shared worker application
Techniques are described herein that provide for inter-domain communications with one or more shared worker applications. A parent web application associated with a first domain may create a child web application associated with a second domain different than the first domain. The child web application may determine whether a shared worker associated with the second domain is operating. The shared worker acquires information associated with the second domain in response to one or more requests, and stores acquired information associated with the second domain in a memory of the local computing device. The parent web application may request, via the child web application, information associated with the second domain from the shared worker. In response to the request, the parent web application may receive, from the shared worker, information associated with the second domain stored in the memory of the local computing device. |
| US08260933B2 |
Multimedia content redirection method
A multimedia content redirection method is provided. The multimedia content redirection method reproduces media content at a sink node employing enhanced media reproduction performance by redirecting a current media content being reproduced to the sink node when the sink node, such as audio device or media player, capable of reproducing multimedia contents is discovered in a network while a source node such as mobile terminal is reproducing the media content in an ad-hoc network. |
| US08260932B2 |
Using broadcast domains to manage virtual local area networks
In an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of managing virtual local area networks (VLANs) using abstract broadcast domains. First, a first broadcast domain having a first VLAN is established. Next, a second broadcast domain having a second VLAN is established. A third broadcast domain is then established, replacing both the first broadcast domain and the second broadcast domain. Thus, the first VLAN and the second VLAN are included in the third broadcast domain without having to physically manipulate switches or otherwise manipulate the logical connection between data processing systems. After aggregation, the first VLAN directly communicates with the second VLAN. |
| US08260931B2 |
Secure provisioning of resources in cloud infrastructure
Provisioning resources in public cloud infrastructure to perform at least part of electronic design automation (EDA) tasks on the public cloud infrastructure. The provisioning of resources is handled by a cloud provisioning system that is generally operated and maintained by an EDA tool developer using a provisioning credential. After the resources are provisioned, the cloud provisioning system places user key on the provisioned resources. Once the user key is placed on the provisioned resources, the cloud provisioning system has only limited access or no access to the provisioned resources. Instead, a user client device takes over the control of the provisioned resources by using a user's access credential. The provisioning credential is retained by the EDA tool developer and is not released to the user. Similarly, the access credential is retained by the user and not released to the EDA tool developer. In this way, the EDA tool developer can retain control of the resources deployed for the EDA tasks while ensuring that the user's information associated with the EDA tasks is secure. |
| US08260926B2 |
Systems and methods for GSLB site persistence
The present invention provides systems and methods for maintaining site persistence in a hierarchical Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB) deployment. Via configuration of GSLB services locally and remotely on each of the GSLB appliances and LB appliances at a site, a site appliance identifies and associates requests from the GSLB with the site. Furthermore, the site appliance may receive a GSLB cookie with the client request and confirms the request is from the expected GSLB in the site hierarchy. When the load balancers receives a response from a server, the appliance may include the GSLB cookie with the response back to the client. The appliance may also include an LB cookie to identify the server selected by the LB. When the client sends another request, the request may include the GSLB and LB cookie. With this information, the GSLB and LB appliance may maintain site persistence for the client as well as server persistence at the site. |
| US08260916B2 |
Network server and method of discovery of a network node
A network node in a computer network is discovered in response to a network node being reconnected to the network. The discovery procedure is initiated by an access request of the network node, such as a log on request or an IP address request. |
| US08260915B1 |
Using eBook reading data from different clients to generate time-based information
Reading data from an eBook is used to generate time-based information. Timing reports are received from a plurality of clients. The timing reports describe reading time intervals for reading portions of an eBook on the clients. Timing reports from different clients describe reading time intervals for different overlapping portions of the eBook. The overlapping portions are analyzed to generate timing information. The timing information describes reading speeds for granular portions of the book that are smaller than the portions described in the reading time intervals. The timing information is stored. Timing information is provided to a client enabling the client to provide advanced features. The features include estimating a user's current reading position and providing an estimate of the time required by the user to finished reading a portion of the eBook. |
| US08260910B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a data stream to detect a pattern of data elements using bloom filters
A system that determines whether a pattern of data elements was observed in a stream of data. During operation, the system receives a query which seeks to determine whether the pattern of data elements was observed in the stream of data. In response to the query, the system performs a number of lookups in an enhanced Bloom filter to determine whether the pattern of data elements was observed in the stream of data, wherein the enhanced Bloom filter includes multiple instances of a Bloom filter, and wherein each instance of the Bloom filter is associated with a different time interval. If so, the system generates a notification that the pattern of data elements was observed. |
| US08260904B2 |
Virtual machine migration
A source virtual machine (VM) hosted on a source server is migrated to a destination VM on a destination server without first powering down the source VM. After optional pre-copying of the source VM's memory to the destination VM, the source VM is suspended and its non-memory state is transferred to the destination VM; the destination VM is then resumed from the transferred state. The source VM memory is either paged in to the destination VM on demand, or is transferred asynchronously by pre-copying and write-protecting the source VM memory, and then later transferring only the modified pages after the destination VM is resumed. The source and destination servers preferably share common storage, in which the source VM's virtual disk is stored; this avoids the need to transfer the virtual disk contents. Network connectivity is preferably also made transparent to the user by arranging the servers on a common subnet, with virtual network connection addresses generated from a common name space of physical addresses. |
| US08260903B2 |
System and method for assessing the usability and accessibility of Web 2.0 features and functionalities of websites
A system and method for accessing the usability and accessibility of a website includes generating a checklist of accommodations corresponding to an accessibility metric of the website, selecting one or more profiles of the website, and selecting Web 2.0 features of the website. The method may further include investigating tradeoffs of accommodations of different sets of Web 2.0 features and determining one or more accommodations necessary for a particular group of users. |
| US08260896B2 |
Monitoring business machines using a mesh network on field nodes
Methods, systems, devices, and software are described for data transmission to and from a monitored device via a mesh network. Monitoring devices report usage, status, location, and other pertinent data via a mesh network, and perhaps other networks as well. Novel data collection, transmission, and aggregation techniques are described. Data transfer may be bi-directional in order to manage and update device status and operation. The monitored device location may be tracked with the reported information. |
| US08260895B2 |
Computer and main circuit board thereof
A computer system and a main circuit board thereof are provided. The computer system includes a main circuit board. The main circuit board includes a main system chip module, a south bridge chip module, a HUB chip module, a first LAN port and a second LAN port. The main system chip module, the south bridge chip module, the HUB chip module, the first LAN port and the Internet are connected to form a first signal path. The main system chip module, the south bridge chip module, the HUB chip module, the second LAN port and an outside computer are connected to form a second signal path. The outside computer, the second LAN port, the HUB chip module, the first LAN port and the Internet are connected to form a third signal path. |
| US08260880B1 |
Content management system for integrated display substrates
A system is provided that includes a content management system, a controller, and an electronic display. The electronic display is integrated into an object, such as the packaging of a consumer product. The content management system sends instructions to the controller for determining content to display. The instructions depend in part on status information obtained by the controller from an external source. At least one instruction pertains to extended periods when the controller is unable to communicate with the content management system. |
| US08260879B2 |
Continuous application execution between multiple devices
In one example, a device includes a display, an interface configured to exchange data with external devices, a control unit configured to execute an application to cause the display to display a current visual representation of the application, determine a current application state of the application, wherein the current application state includes at least a portion of the current visual representation of the application, and means for sending, without user intervention, an indication of the determined current application state from the device to a second, different device via the interface, wherein the indication of the determined current application state comprises information for recreating at least the portion of the current visual representation of the application, wherein the control unit is configured to prevent subsequent indications of the current application state from being sent to the second device in response to an indication that a third device is executing the application. |
| US08260876B2 |
System and method for reducing startup cost of a software application
A computing device has one or more processors and memory storing programs executed by the one or more processors. The computing device initializes a main application on a first thread. The main application has a first synchronous connection with a target application. After the main application performs one or more operations at the target application through the first synchronous connection, the computing device initializes an assistant process on a second thread. The assistant process has a second synchronous connection with the target application and an asynchronous connection with the main application. After receiving a request from the main application through the asynchronous connection, the assistant process performs one or more operations at the target application through the second synchronous connection. |
| US08260872B1 |
Modbus simulation system and associated transfer methods
A data transmission system may include a master node and a slave node. Both the master node and the slave node may comprise modbus simulators. The master node may initialize by receiving register data into its status repository from a status repository on the slave modbus simulator. After initialization, historical events may be transmitted from a historical repository of the slave modbus simulator to a historical repository of the master modbus simulator. |
| US08260869B2 |
Dividing e-mails between two users with the aid of a server
A method for operating a communication connection between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal including a coupling to a data processing system and communication system that may implement such a method include a first computing unit interacting with said first communication terminal and displaying a first document. At least one first piece of user-identifying address information is assigned to the first document and a second piece of user-identifying address information is assigned to a second computing unit interacting with said second communication terminal. A second is displayed on said second computing unit if the first piece of user-identifying address information corresponds with said second piece of user-identifying address information. |
| US08260868B2 |
Managing a unified communication storage server from an end user email reader
An efficient article and method for automating the process of changing the status of a voicemail (or other multimedia message or object) that is stored in a multimedia server (such as a voicemail server), when the voicemail has been associated with an email, and the email has been opened by the intended recipient. |
| US08260867B2 |
Data management system for an analyzing apparatus
When an analysis is finished in the GC/MS 11, which is an analyzing apparatus, and a file including the data obtained by the analysis is created by the analysis data file creator 13, the file transfer processor 14 sends the file to the web server 2 by way of the intranet 4. The file transfer processor 22 converts the data received into a format capable of being posted on a web page and stores it in the memory 21, and simultaneously notifies the analysis unit 1 of a link address for reading it out. The e-mail creation processor 15 creates an e-mail with the link address in the body and sends it to a predetermined mail address. The user receives and opens the e-mail on the mailer 31 of the client terminal 3 and clicks a link address corresponding to the desired analysis data. In response to this operation, the web server 2 sends the corresponding data to the terminal 3, which allows the analysis data to be viewed by the web browser 32. |
| US08260865B2 |
System and method for processing instant messages
Various aspects relate to using structured messages within systems that implement instant messaging function in a distributed computing environment. In particular, structured information may be encoded and embedded in unstructured instant messages and communicated among one or more computer systems, networks, applications or other entities. In one aspect, instant messaging may be leveraged as middleware for application integration. Other aspects relate to using structured message information to perform functions in a distributed instant messaging system. For example, structured message information may be used to control the display of instant message information to a user, or may be used to control how the instant message information is distributed, processed, or otherwise handled by a receiving system, application or process. Other aspects relate to an interface for displaying information relating to a number of instant messaging conversations to a user. Further, aspects relate to using instant messaging in a trading environment. |
| US08260862B2 |
System and method for authenticating users of online services
A method and system for verifying authenticity of an online usage of a user may include sending a message in an electronic communication to an electronic message address of a user, interactively communicating with the user a request for a response including at least a portion of the message sent to the user, and determining if a response to the request from the user matches at least a portion of the message sent to the user. The message may include a personal identification number used for verification. A certification link or authentication code may be provided to the user for posting on a website or within an email. The certification link or authentication code, optionally displaying an indicia, may enable other users to have confidence that the user whose website other users access or whose emails other users receive are authentic and not someone impersonating the user. |
| US08260860B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth control
Data transfer over a computer network relating to a data object of a multiple user network application, from a network user who owns the data object to an updating user, is achieved by transfer of a subset of data fields that define the data object, such that the subset of data fields is specified by the updating user and is less than a full update transfer comprising updated values for all the data fields that define the data object. Each data object is defined by multiple data fields, such that the transfer of a subset of the data object data fields ensures that the network bandwidth utilized for data updates will be reduced from the situation in which all the defining data fields for an object being updated are transferred over the network. |
| US08260859B2 |
Role-based tag management for collaborative services integrated within a service oriented architecture
A tag management system for a user of a client-side portal application providing access to a set of services that include provisions for collaborative tagging of content comprises one or more data repositories configured to maintain one or more separate sets of tags, a messaging intermediary configured to provide access to the one or more data repositories and to provide for communication with the set of services, and a client-side agent configured to communicate with the set of services and access the one or more data repositories through the message intermediary to act on instructions provided by the user in one or more user roles. A set of tags corresponds to each service in each user role and specifies an available vocabulary for tagging content at that service. The agent is configured to access the one or more data repositories to load a first set of tags corresponding a user-specified service and a user-specified role, display the first set of tags to the user, and to communicate with the user-specified service to post tags selected by the user from the first set of tags to content at the user-specified service. |
| US08260858B2 |
Hosting massively multiplayer online gaming via mobile devices
Systems and methods of organizing a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) via mobile units are provided. Features of mobile units such as messaging and location based services are incorporated into the game to enhance the user experience. The MMOG provides social networking opportunities to players by associating players based on similarities such as shared interests and activities. These shared interests and activities can be determined based on associations of the players in other situations, such as disparate online games or websites. In addition, advertising content can be provided to players based on similar factors. In an example implementation, the MMOG comprises a game similar to the offline game of tag, wherein players can “tag” each other through in-game interactions via the mobile units. These interactions can be triggered based on players being a fixed predetermined distance from each other. |
| US08260856B2 |
Automated web conference system for generating higher quality of presentation slide by client and submitting to server
A web conference client device determines that it is configured to generate a higher-quality rendered output than a quality of a web conference presentation slide received from a server. A slide presentation file associated with the web conference presentation slide is received from the server. Rendered output of the slide presentation file is generated. The rendered output of the slide presentation file is sent to the server. |
| US08260851B2 |
System and method for maintaining on a handheld electronic device information that is substantially current and is readily available to a user
An improved system and method for managing data on a handheld electronic device includes a server that periodically pushes data to a particular handheld electronic device, with the data being stored on the handheld electronic device by way of a routine running in the background whereby such reception and storage is generally transparent to a user. The data can be any type of data and may be data that is desired by the user or that fits a profile or preference of the user. The profile can, for instance, be predetermined and/or can be customized by the user and/or can reflect a preference of the user. The data pushed to the handheld electronic device can also be related in some fashion to a geographic disposition of the handheld electronic device. Such pushing of data and storage is managed by a routine running in the background of the handheld electronic device. The routine enables current data to be maintained on the handheld electronic device for ready access by a user. |
| US08260850B2 |
Thin-client and distributed development using data programming
A system and method of data programming includes declarative rule-based programming in which a distributed program for computers on a network is defined through tabular structures. The tabular structures can store logic, including data (e.g., primitive variables and dynamic data structures) and code (e.g., arguments and functions) that govern operation of the distributed program. |
| US08260849B2 |
Synchronous interface to asynchronous processes
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for selectively accessing one or more web services from a client machine, the one or more web services and the client machine being accessible over a network. A request for information is received from a client machine with a conversion engine. The request is received over a synchronous interface. The request is processed in the conversion engine. The processed request is transmitted over an asynchronous interface from the conversion engine to at least one web service. Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for converting a web service description language file for a synchronous web service into a web service description language file for an asynchronous client machine are also described. |
| US08260848B2 |
Re-headerer system and method
A re-headerer media packaging and serving system and method are provided herein. |
| US08260844B2 |
Information messaging and collaboration system
An information messaging and collaboration system is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for interactive content retrieval and display, the method comprises steps of: providing a plurality of portlets for retrieval of content for display in a user interface; mapping a message action to a first portlet to create a messaging portlet for sending a message in response to user interaction with the messaging portlet; creating a listener portlet by registering a second portlet to receive messages from the messaging portlet; and in response to user interaction with the messaging portlet, retrieving particular content for display in the user interface based on the message received by the listener portlet from the messaging portlet. |
| US08260842B1 |
Device-agnostic content management, playback and status monitoring system
A system is provided that includes a software agent, an electronic device, a display, and a content management system. The electronic device accesses the software agent and interprets it with a software application, such as a web browser. Embedded within the software agent is a playback system, which dictates content to be shown, and a monitoring system, which collects logging and status data. At least some of the content is stored on the electronic device prior to display, and at least some of the logging and status data is stored on the electronic device prior to being transferred to the content management system. |
| US08260838B2 |
Extracting web services from resources using a web services resource programming model
A programming model allows application programmers to extract Web services from various types of resources. The programming model defines relationships between various resource types and methods for each resource type to extract a Web service or another linked resource. The programming model also provides caching capability to store previously extract resources for future requests. |
| US08260837B2 |
Handling denormal floating point operands when result must be normalized
A system for handling denormal floating point operands when the result must be normalized. A leading zero counter (lzc) on the operand B (opB) is used to limit alignment shifts when opB is denormal but is much greater than the product of operands A and C, i.e. AC. By limiting the additional shift of B during normalization, by the number of leading zeros in opB, no increase is needed in the output bus of the alignment shifter. Furthermore, the additional shift may be done either in the alignment shifter, or postponed to a later stage in the pipeline, where the result is normalized. |
| US08260833B2 |
Naming scheme for media storage
A method allowing for fast mapping between a content identifier (ID) for a media content file and the file path of said media content file includes: dividing a plurality of characters making up the contend ID into a plurality of ordered subsections separated by a separator character, correlating at least one of the subsections with a directory in an electronic file system, and correlating the last of the subsections with a name of the media content file, the media content file being located within a directory correlated with a preceding subsection. |
| US08260831B2 |
System and method for implementing a flexible storage manager with threshold control
A system and method for implementing storage management with threshold control is provided. A flexible storage manager associates storage devices having a similar performance characteristic into logical constructs called storage groups. Storage groups having the same performance characteristic from a plurality of storage systems are organized into storage pools. The flexible storage manager automatically provisions storage on a storage pool basis. Should a low threshold utilization be exceeded, the flexible storage manager performs a set of management policies to lower the utilization of a storage pool to the low threshold. |
| US08260829B2 |
Block-based differencing algorithm
A system and method for a block based differencing algorithm which includes the ability to limit memory requirements regardless of source file sizes by splitting the source file into optimally sized blocks. The invention allows the blocks to be processed in any order allowing in-place operation. Further, the present invention allows a second stage compressor to match the compressor blocks to those used by the differencing algorithm to optimize compressor and decompressor performance. |
| US08260827B2 |
Album generating apparatus, album generating method and program
There is provided an album generating apparatus for generating an album whose pages are adequately allocated in accordance to image capturing position and time. The album generating apparatus has an image storing section for storing images by correlating with the image capturing time and position of the images, a importance judging section for judging importance of the image capturing time and image capturing position in the plurality of images stored in the image storing section, an image capturing time sorting section for sorting the plurality of images stored in the image storing section per page in the album based on the image capturing time stored in the image storing section when the importance judging section judges that the importance of the image capturing time is greater than that of the image capturing position, an image capturing position sorting section for sorting the plurality of images stored in the image storing section per page of the album based on the image capturing position stored in the image storing section when the importance judging section judges that the importance of the image capturing position is greater than that of the image capturing time and a layout determining section for laying out the images sorted per page by the image capturing time sorting section or the image capturing position sorting section to each page of the album. |
| US08260826B2 |
Data processing system and method
A system and method for processing data are described. The method quantizes a portion of data processed at a first node within a distributed database processing system to generate one or more quantization tuples, aggregates the tuples at the node to create a plurality of aggregated tuples, and transmits the aggregated tuples to a second node within the distributed database processing system. |
| US08260824B2 |
Object-relational based data access for nested relational and hierarchical databases
Mechanisms are provided for mapping objects and object-relationships in an object-oriented programming language to a nested relational database. Entity metadata constructs for an object relational mapping framework are obtained, the entity metadata constructs mapping fields in entities of an object model to fields in a data table of the nested relational database and identifying relationships between entities in the object model. A nested relational data model of the nested relational database is obtained, the nested relational data model specifying tables and sub-tables of the nested relational database. Tables and sub-tables of the nested relational database are mapped to a plurality of separate entities of the object model. Data in the nested relational database is accessed using the plurality of separate entities. The mapping is performed without normalizing the data of the tables and sub-tables of the nested relational database to a non-nested representation. |
| US08260821B2 |
Global, dynamic, remote and central system for database driver configuration
A system, method and computer program product for database driver for the global, dynamic, remote and centralized configuration of database drivers. In an embodiment of the invention the system includes a remote controller host and a central controller disposed in the remote controller host. A plurality of application hosts and a plurality of applications are disposed in each of the application hosts. A single attachment agent is disposed in each of the application hosts, the single attachment agent being coupled to each of the plurality of applications in the application hosts. The central controller provides each of the attachment agents with information regarding how to connect the database driver to the central controller. |
| US08260819B2 |
Information storage device for storing description information of multimedia content in the form of tree structure wherein the description information is generated using a keyword and ID information representative of the keyword as new leaves of the tree structure
There are provided a storage device and a computer-readable medium capable of efficiently storing keywords contained in description information and efficiently retrieving the keyword. A list producing portion (6) extracts the keywords from the description information and produces a keyword list correlating the keywords with the scene information containing the keywords. A description information converter (8) converts the keywords contained in the keyword list received from the list producing portion (6) among the keywords contained in the externally received description information into reference information for specifying the keywords in the keyword list received from the list producing portion (6). A storage (10) stores the converted description information provided from the description information converter (8) and the keyword list provided from the list producing portion (6). |
| US08260818B1 |
Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for space-efficient storage of variables in a non-volatile computer memory
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for storing variables in a non-volatile computer memory are provided. The computer-readable medium has a data structure stored thereon that includes a first data field for storing a variable record including a header and variable information. The data structure also includes a second data field for storing a GUID for the variable. The variable record may comprise a full record or a data only record. A full record contains all of the identifying information for the record and the variable value. A data only record includes only an updated value for the variable. When a request is received to retrieve the variable value, the data structure is searched to locate the most recently created record for the variable. The value stored in this record is then returned in response to the request. Periodically, a garbage collection process may be performed to reduce the records stored for each variable to a single full record. |
| US08260816B1 |
Providing limited access to a file system on shared storage
Read-only access to data in a file system on shared storage is obtained. The data may be in a file in the file system and the file may be protected by a lock, so that the lock must be acquired to enable read/write access to the file. A host may be allowed to open the file for non-exclusive read only access by establishing a limited lease on the file, without acquiring the lock for the file. In some embodiments, the files for which such a limited lease may be obtained may be restricted based on one or more criteria, such as the type of file and/or the length of the file. In some embodiments, such limited leases may only be retained for a certain period of time, which may be referred to as a timeout period. In some embodiments, a limited lease may be extended beyond the timeout period if one or more conditions are met. In some embodiments, there is a state machine for enabling the limited lease on the file. |
| US08260815B2 |
System and method for accessing non-compatible content repositories
Systems and methods access non-compatible content repositories that are not natively accessible to a content management system. A metadata registry maintains metadata about content stored in both compatible and non-compatible repositories. For content in a non-compatible repository, the metadata indicates a repository interface capable of accessing the non-compatible repository. The content manager communicates with the repository interfaces to access the content in non-compatible repositories. The content manager may receive a request for content in a non-compatible repository, refer to the metadata registry to select a repository interface to employ, transmit a request for the requested content to the selected repository interface, and receive the requested content from the repository interface. A repository interface registry maintains information about available repository interfaces. Entries may be added to either the metadata registry and the repository interface registry, thus allowing the systems and methods to be extended to be able to access additional non-compatible repositories. |
| US08260814B2 |
Method and an arrangement for concurrency control of temporal data
The method is for granting access to data of a first object that has at least one temporally access controlled public attribute and a clock capable of measuring time independently of the clocks of other objects. A request to access a value of the public attribute of the first object is received. The value of the clock of the first object is compared with the value of the clock of at least one second object. If necessary, the clock values of the first and the second objects are synchronized. Access to the value of the attribute of the first object is granted. Also an arrangement and a computer program product are disclosed. |
| US08260813B2 |
Flexible data archival using a model-driven approach
The present invention provides a system and methods for flexible data archival using a model-driven approach. The data archive system and method of the present invention provides the operation of moving data from original data repository into archive data repository. Users can specify archive conditions describing which portions of the data will be moved. The method may have steps such as analyzing application content, defining an archive model, transforming the model by generating an archive specification based upon the modeling result and building an application based upon the archive model and deploying the new model and archive application. |
| US08260812B2 |
System management by component usage switches
Systems and methods for managing multiple systems in an enterprise resource planning system are provided. In an embodiment, data identifying modules and entities using modules or systems may be collected from each system in enterprise resource planning system. The collected data may then be organized to show a usage landscape of entire enterprise resource planning system. In an embodiment, the collected data may also be merged with other organizational data, such as organizational chart data, to present the usage landscape in an intuitive manner using the organizational structure data from the organizational chart. The collected data may also be used to identify potential data inconsistencies across different systems or may be used to limit connectivity to only authorized systems or modules. In some embodiments, attributes such as attributes identifying modules and entities may be inputted into a system which then distributes the attributes to other systems. |
| US08260810B2 |
Case image registration apparatus, method and recording medium, and case image search apparatus, method, recording medium and system
Case images are registered so as not to cause bias (or partiality or imbalance) in amounts of feature of the case images included in a database of a similar image search system for image diagnosis. Since registration of the case images to the database is controlled according to degrees of similarity of the amounts of feature, it is possible to prevent a lot of similar case images from being included in the search result. Thus, it is possible to reduce possibility of representing a similar search result which may interfere with an accurate diagnosis by a diagnostician. |
| US08260808B2 |
One stop shopping system and method
A system and method are disclosed for one-stop shopping for health-care services and related needs. The one-stop shopping system and method provide objective information for the system enrollee to assess and decide on health-care insurance and services. The system and method provide this objective information in a way that is easily accessible by system enrollees in an economical and rapid manner. |
| US08260801B2 |
Method and system for parallel flow-awared pattern matching
A system for parallel flow-awared pattern matching and a method thereof for performing distributed detection for incoming flows are provided. The system includes a pattern-set-partitioner for partitioning a pattern set for pattern matching into a number of pattern subsets in advance, a plurality of pattern matching engines, and a scheduler. The pattern matching engines each perform pattern matching for the incoming flows. The scheduler selects a number of pattern matching engines equal to the number of the partitioned pattern subsets from all the pattern matching engines and allocates pattern matching tasks, each performing flow matching against one pattern subset, to the selected pattern matching engines. With the system and method of the present invention, distributed detection can be performed by partitioning rules/pattern set to realize load-balancing parallel flow-awared pattern matching. |
| US08260798B2 |
Method and system for partial shadow migration
A method for migrating files including receiving, from a client, a first FS operation request for a target FS, making a first determination that migration for a source FS is not complete and making a second determination that the first FS operation request specifies a directory and that a directory level attribute for the directory on the target FS specifies that the directory on the target FS is un-migrated. In response to the first and second determination obtaining, from the source FS, meta-data for content in the directory and creating, using the meta-data, a directory entry for a file in the directory on the target FS. The method further includes creating an on-disk space map for the file, creating an in-memory space map for the file, and servicing, after creating the on-disk space map and in-memory space map, the first FS operation request using the target FS. |
| US08260794B2 |
Creating playback definitions indicating segments of media content from multiple content files to render
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for creating playback definitions indicating segments of media content from multiple content files to render. User input is received indicating a plurality of segments of media content from a plurality of media files and an ordering of the segments. The media content comprises at least one of audio and video content. A playback definition is generated in a computer readable medium indicating the plurality of segments in the user input and the ordering of the segments. The playback definition is processed to render the media content of the indicated segments in the indicated ordering. |
| US08260793B2 |
Method and system for data class update
A method for updating data includes, in a processor, receiving a data field update associated with an existing data object of a data class, modifying a data field of an updater data object of the data class based upon the data field update, traversing the updater data object to identify the modified data field, and modifying a data field of the existing data object based upon the identified data field of the updater data object. |
| US08260792B1 |
System and method for committing data objects to be immutable
Techniques for committing data objects to be immutable are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a request received through an interface of a storage system, the request being associated with a data object stored in the storage system, it is determined whether the data object should be committed to be immutable. The data object is committed to be immutable if it is determined that the data object should be committed to be immutable. Thereafter, an action associated with the request is performed, where the action is performed dependent upon whether the data object is immutable. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08260791B1 |
Heterogeneous array system
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented technique for accessing heterogeneous objects in an array is discussed. The method determines a greatest common base class hierarchically common to elements populating a heterogeneous array. A common subset of methods that is available for use with the elements is identified. The common subset of methods belongs to the greatest common base class. A method supported by the common subset of methods is called with the array as a parameter. The method operates on the array as an array consisting of greatest common base class objects. |
| US08260786B2 |
Method and apparatus for categorizing and presenting documents of a distributed database
A method for providing search results to a user is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first set of information associated with a plurality of web pages. A second set of information associated with a user preference, determining a commercial score for each web page is also received. A subset of the first set of information is determined based on the second set of information. A visual indicator for the subset of the first set of information is generated in accordance with a commercial score, and the subset and the visual indicator are displayed on a display. |
| US08260785B2 |
Automatic object reference identification and linking in a browseable fact repository
Links between facts associated with objects are automatically created and maintained in a fact repository. Names of objects are automatically identified in the facts, and collected into a list of names. The facts are then processed to identifying such names in the facts. Identified names are used as anchor text for search links. A search link includes a search query for a service engine which search the fact repository for facts associated with objects having the same name. |
| US08260784B2 |
Indexing and searching JSON objects
Disclosed is a method of encoding JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) documents in an inverted index, wherein a tree representation of a JSON document is first generated, and, next, the JSON document is shredded into a list of |
| US08260781B2 |
Representative document selection for sets of duplicate documents in a web crawler system
Duplicate documents are detected in a web crawler system. Upon receiving a newly crawled document, a set of documents, if any, sharing the same content as the newly crawled document is identified. Information identifying the newly crawled document and the selected set of documents is merged into information identifying a new set of documents. Duplicate documents are included and excluded from the new set of documents based on a query independent metric for each such document. A single representative document for the new set of documents is identified in accordance with a set of predefined conditions. |
| US08260779B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for automated mapping and integrated workflow of a controlled medical vocabulary
Systems, methods, and apparatus provide clinical terminology services including a controlled medical vocabulary supplemented by local clinical content. An example method includes accessing an initial controlled medical vocabulary including at least one external terminology via a vocabulary management server; processing local clinical content including unstructured local clinical content provided via an importer framework; analyzing and extracting the unstructured local clinical content using a text analyzer and extraction tool to generate one or more proposed terms; identifying one or more synonyms for the one or more proposed terms and placing the one or more synonyms into a queue to be added to the controlled medical vocabulary; reviewing the one or more synonyms; and adding one or more synonyms to the controlled medical vocabulary with placement and relationship based on analyzing unstructured local clinical content to automatically map between the at least one external terminology and the local clinical content. |
| US08260776B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for dynamic registry of books and for modeling real-time market demand for books within academic sectors
A system provides a connection between education administration, particularly as such administration assigns or selects books, and the marketing and use of those books. Such marketing and use of those books and information related to those books can include, without limitation, consumer product information, the publishing industry and specifically book publishing, and market analysis, analysis of data, markets, demand and supply chain and inventory management. |
| US08260773B2 |
Method for extracting signature from problem records through unstructured and structured text mapping, classification and ranking
The structure attributes and unstructured attributes of a ticket are used to generate a problem signature. For structured attributes, correlation between field values is determined and fields with the highest weight are identified. For unstructured attributes, data mining techniques are applied to generate a plurality of keywords with a ranking for each ticket by identifying keywords, and commonly used acronyms and corpus variances. The set of structured attributes and the plurality of keywords from unstructured attributes form the signature of a given problem ticket. |
| US08260772B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying documents relevant to the content of a website
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to identify a user of a website, retrieve one or more keywords describing content on the website, and search for reports corresponding to the one or more keywords. The reports are filtered based on data access permissions associated with the user. A highly ranked report is displayed on the website. |
| US08260770B2 |
Systems and methods for an extensible business application framework
Method and systems for editing data from a query result include requesting a query result using a unique collection identifier for a collection of individual files and a unique identifier for a configuration file that specifies a data structure for the query result. A query result is generated that contains a plurality of fields as specified by the configuration file, by combining each of the individual files associated with a unique identifier for a collection of individual files. The query result data is displayed with a plurality of labels as specified in the configuration file. Edits can be performed by querying a collection of individual files using the configuration file, editing a portion of the query result, and transmitting only the edited information for storage back into a data repository. |
| US08260769B1 |
Coordinating different search queries using a translated query cursor
A search server system having one or more processors and memory receives, from a client, a current search query including a query cursor corresponding to a prior search query. The query cursor corresponds to a location in a first set of index portions used to perform the prior search query. In response to the current search query, the server decomposes the query cursor into a plurality of components and generates a translated query cursor corresponding to the received search query using one or more of the components. The server subsequently identifies a location in a second set of index portions to start performing the current search query based the translated query cursor. The server generates a set of search results corresponding to the current search query by searching in the second set of index portions starting at the identified location and sends search results to the client. |
| US08260767B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic data buffer
A dynamic data buffer method, includes providing a system for accessing a database having a plurality of fields of data potentially used by applications, analyzing an application's structure to identify at least one field of data from the plurality of fields of data in the database used by the application, performing a field-wise select for selecting only the identified at least one field of data and creating a dynamic data buffer for storing only the identified at least one field of data. |
| US08260761B2 |
Detecting performance degrading design and algorithm issues in database applications
Systems, methods and computer program products for detecting potential architecture and interfacing issues in database applications are described herein. In an embodiment, the invention operates by accessing trace information. The trace information includes database-related information pertaining to interactions of a database application with a production database. The invention detects potential architecture and interfacing issues in the database application by analyzing the trace information. Such architecture and interfacing issues include, but are not limited to, multiple connections simultaneously blocking on the same row of a table, and client-side joins. |
| US08260760B2 |
Content providing apparatus, content providing system, web site changing apparatus, web site changing system, content providing method, and web site changing method
Apparatus in which, with respect to a vague search request, content, such as a musical piece matching a user's mood at that time, can easily be searched for with a simple operation. A content providing apparatus includes a content storage section in which a plurality of pieces of content are grouped and stored. In a state in which content read from the content storage section is provided to the user, when a user input detection device detects a specific input by the user, desired content other than the provided content among the content belonging to the same group as the content being provided belongs or the content belonging to a group differing from the group to which the content being provided belongs is selected from a plurality of pieces of content stored in the content storage section, and the content is provided to the user. |
| US08260759B2 |
Method for maintaining a production installation
In a method for maintaining a production installation having a plurality of field devices F1, F2, F3 connected partly, or completely, over a data bus D with a control system L, the field devices F1, F2, F3 are registered in a manufacturer data base HG-DB with a manufacturer-specific identification and manufacturer-specific information relevant for maintenance, and in a customer database IB-DB with a customer-specific identification and customer-specific information. An electronic database query on the basis of maintenance criteria is performed in both of the databases HG-DB and IB-DB. In this way, both manufacturer information and customer information can be considered in the maintenance process. |
| US08260753B2 |
Backup information management
In one embodiment, a method for information management comprises monitoring output from an application, wherein the output is monitored substantially continuously; determining if the output is associated with a predetermined type of version; and saving data associated with the output if the output is associated with the predetermined type of version. |
| US08260751B2 |
Log file time sequence stamping
In certain embodiments, a method for log file time sequence stamping is provided. The method includes connecting to a console port of one or more data sources and receiving data from the data sources. The data may be logged with both an independent time stamp and a sequence indicator. The independent time stamp provides a consistent time stamp of when the data was received at the system and the time sequence indicator represents an order in which the data was received at the system. |
| US08260750B1 |
Intelligent backup escalation system
This disclosure describes systems and methods for programmatically determining whether to perform full or partial backups. In some implementations, functionality is provided for intelligently escalating to a full backup based on one or more user-supplied escalation parameters. The escalation parameters can include a threshold of data change between backup files, which if exceeded, can result in escalation to a full backup. The escalation parameters can also include time parameters, computing resource consumption parameters, and other features that can govern full backup escalation. Additional features of the systems and methods described herein can include automatic adjustment of escalation parameters, multi-leveled backup set validation, and intelligent backup file cleanup. |
| US08260746B2 |
Computer system for hierarchically managing a journal and method therefor
A computer system having a first storage system which includes a first logical volume and a second logical volume, wherein the second logical volume stores a first differential data item representing a differential between data that was stored in the first logical volume at a first time instant and data that was stored in the first logical volume at a second time instant being later than the first time instant, and a second storage system which includes a third logical volume. The first storage system transmits the first differential data item to the second storage system, the second storage system stores the first differential data item into the third logical volume, the first storage system deletes the first differential data item from the second logical volume, and the computer system retains management information set for associating the first logical volume with the third logical volume storing therein the first differential data item. |
| US08260745B2 |
Method and system for managing multiple instance subscriber records in unified messaging systems
A method and system for automatically managing changes to organizational data in a unified messaging (UM) platform are disclosed. A database snapshot is retrieved from a client human resources database. Added user information associated with a user is detected in the database snapshot, and an existing mailbox associated with the user in the UM platform is detected. Organizational data in the UM platform is automatically modified to combine the added user information and the existing mailbox in the UM platform. When the existing mailbox is detected in the UM platform for the user, it is possible for the UM platform to automatically compose and send a message to at least one user associated with the added user information including potential modifications of the organization data. The organizational data in the UM platform can then be modified in response to receiving approval of the potential modifications of the organizational data from at least one user associated with the added user information. |
| US08260743B2 |
Method for the delivery of area related messages in a mobile communication system
The invention relates to a method for the delivery of messages to a specified geographical area in a communication system. In the method is specified for an application server a geographical area and a message for delivery. The geographical area is translated to a first set comprising at least one cell set. Each the cell set comprising at least one cell. A search is performed in the database server using at least the first set as search criterion. A search request is sent specifying a second set comprising at least one cell set to at least one serving node. A search is performed in a database comprised in the at least one serving node with the second set as a criterion. From the at least one serving node is provided in response a list comprising information on the subscribers in the area of the second set. Finally, the message is sent from the application server to the subscribers. |
| US08260742B2 |
Data synchronization and consistency across distributed repositories
Data associated with the services in a service oriented architecture are stored in a primary repository and replicated across secondary repositories. Functionality can be implemented to efficiently synchronize data across the primary repository and the secondary repositories. Data synchronization can comprise calculating and comparing hash values of one or more nodes, based in part on concatenated hash values of child nodes and data that comprise the one or more nodes, of a tree structure representing data stored in the repositories. |
| US08260739B1 |
Method and apparatus for layering software agents in a distributed computing system
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for layering agents in a distributed computing system. In one embodiment, a system for monitoring and controlling a distributed computer network including a plurality of components (e.g., devices) includes a plurality of cells, each of the cells being deployed to directly monitor and control one of the components of the network. The system also includes at least one federation, where the federation is made up of cells that cooperate to solve common problems, and at least one supercell, where the supercell provides supplemental decision making capabilities to the cells and federations. In this manner, problems detected by a cell that cannot be resolved by the cell may be forwarded to the cell's associated federations or supercells for resolution. |
| US08260737B2 |
Dynamic service selections using enhanced ontologies
Embodiments may include a system for generating an enhancement of an ontology. The system may have a memory unit and a processing unit. The memory unit may be configured to provide the ontology and to store the ontology with the enhancement. The processing unit may be configured to identify a service specification, such as a service product or a contract, that may be represented by a class of the ontology. The service specification may describe a capability of a service. The processing unit may be further configured to compute a set of instances that are specified by the service specification and by a requirement specification and to enhance the ontology with a generated class representing the set of instances in case that the set of instances has one or more instances. |
| US08260733B2 |
Neural network system and method for controlling information output based on user feedback
A system and method for controlling information output based on user feedback about the information is provided. At least one neural network module selects one or more of a plurality of objects to receive information from a plurality of information sources based at least in part on a plurality of inputs and a plurality of weight values during an epoch. The information sources may include electronic mail providers, chat participants, or page links. Recipients of the objects provide feedback about the information during an epoch. At the conclusion of an epoch, the neural network takes the feedback and generates a rating value for each of the plurality of objects. Based on the rating value and the selections made, the neural network redetermines the weight values within the network. The neural network then selects the objects to receive information during a subsequent epoch using the redetermined weight values and the inputs for that subsequent epoch. |
| US08260731B2 |
Information classification system, information processing apparatus, information classification method and program
An information classification system includes a server that includes a knowledge base that receives classification information to be classified, conducts language analysis of the classification information to acquire a plurality of keywords and classify the plurality of keywords into elements made up of a classification target word and a related word that modifies the classification target word, and conduct a search with the related word being for a judgment condition for decision of the classification while separating the classification target word from the related word, so as to assign a classification identification value to the information; a classification candidate extraction section that extracts the classification identification value that the knowledge base assigns to generate an automatic classification result; and a classification update section that receives the automatic classification result, displays a GUI for classification confirmation allowing confirmation of correctness of the automatic classification result, and corrects registered items in the knowledge base with a correction value received through the GUI for classification confirmation while referring to log data that is a processing history about automatic classification for the language analysis and the element classification. |
| US08260725B2 |
Method of conducting operations for a social network application including notification list generation with offer hyperlinks according to notification rules
In one embodiment, a method of conducting operations for a social network application, comprises: generating a notification list of recent activities of users of the social network application, wherein the notification list includes (1) at least one activity within the social network application of a first user and (2) at least one hyperlink to an offer involving an activity that is directly related to at least one activity of the first user, wherein an account of the first user defines at least one notification rule for controlling visibility of the at least one activity to other users of the social network application; and providing the notification list to a second user, that is a friend of the first user within the social network application, according to the at least one notification rule of the first user. |
| US08260717B2 |
System and method for authenticating an end user
A method for authenticating an end user. The method starts by generating a first pattern in response to receiving an authentication request from the end user. Next, the method continues by generating a second pattern in response to receiving confirmation that the end user received the first pattern; the second pattern comprising multiple colored nodes. Then the method determines the authenticity status of the end user by comparing data sent by the end user with the second pattern. The end user having generated the data by overlaying a transparent credit card on top of the second pattern and selecting at least one node which displays a color other than black. Finally, the method sends the determined authenticity status to the end user via an output device. |
| US08260716B2 |
System and method for processing tokenless biometric electronic transmissions using an electronic rule module clearinghouse
Herein is described a tokenless biometric method for processing electronic transmissions, using at least one user biometric sample, an electronic identicator and an electronic rule module clearinghouse. The steps for processing of the electronic transmissions comprise of a user registration step, wherein a user registers with an electronic identicator at least one registration biometric sample taken directly from the person of the user. A formation of a rule module customized to the user in a rule module clearinghouse, wherein at least one pattern data of a user is associated with at least one execution command of the user. A user identification step, wherein the electronic identicator compares a bid biometric sample taken directly from the person of the user with at least one previously registered biometric sample for producing either a successful or failed identification of the user. In a command execution step, upon successful identification of the user, at least one previously designated rule module of the user is invoked to execute at least one electronic transmission. The above-mentioned steps are conducted in a manner wherein a biometrically authorized electronic transmission is conducted without the user presenting any personalized man-made memory tokens such as smartcards, or magnetic swipe cards. |
| US08260714B2 |
Terminal apparatus and system thereof
A terminal apparatus is provided which guarantees operation of a use condition bytecode while securing a degree of freedom for a service provider generating the use condition bytecode. A terminal apparatus (300), in which a license (1200) includes a use condition determining logic code (1204) and a version number (1202), includes a license obtainment unit (304) obtaining the license (1200), a use condition verification unit (302) determining, based on the version number (1202), whether or not an operation of the use condition determining logic code (1204) has been confirmed, a use condition bytecode execution unit (303) executing the use condition determining logic code (1204) when the operation of the use condition determining logic code (1204) has been determined to have been confirmed, and a content playback unit (306) playing back content based on the use condition determining logic code (1204). |
| US08260712B2 |
Multimedia-type contents reproduction device and reproduction method, and recording medium having stored thereon data used for the same
Providing a data structure appropriate for performing rights management for multimedia-type contents, and further providing a recording medium containing data with the data structure, and a reproduction device and a reproduction method for reproducing the data. The present invention is a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon license data for permitting a computer to use contents data comprising a plurality of resources, the license data including a resource-based use condition configuration structure, in which a use condition is set for the computer with respect to each of resources. |
| US08260706B2 |
System and method for syndicated transactions
A Web server hosted by a first enterprise has a first mechanism receiving a request for information or services to be provided to an end user, and a second mechanism determining whether the request comes directly from the end user, or from a server hosted by a second enterprise. If the request is determined by the second mechanism to come from the server hosted by the second enterprise, any information or service provided to the end user by the first enterprise is identified as coming from the second enterprise. |
| US08260700B2 |
Pass through liquidity in a multi-tiered trading system and method
The present invention generally relates to brokerage systems and methods, and more particularly, to a multi-tiered trading system and corresponding methods which allow multiple customers and multiple dealers to transact on a single platform while maintaining the distinction of an inter-dealer system and a dealer-customer relationship. |
| US08260699B2 |
Method and system for managing spending through account allocation
A method and apparatus are disclosed that provide for automated financial resource allocation and accountability among various groups of budgeted accounts, which are overlaid on at least one actual account. The method provides for the user to establish the accounts to be budgeted. The user then establishes a preset spending allocation amount for each account. Each time the user makes a spending allocation for that particular account, the account reflects the amount spent and notifies the user of the remaining amount allocated for that account during a given period. Thus, the user has a more accurate accounting of an established budget with respect to the established accounts, the resources allocated to each account, and the funds actually spent from each account. |
| US08260697B1 |
Systems and methods for money fund banking with flexible interest allocation
This invention provides system and methods for managing accounts of clients at customer financial entities so that deposits of up to $100,000 or greater are insured, so that interest income earned on a portion of all of the account balances may be flexibly allocated according to customer instructions, and so that withdrawals are not limited. These objects are satisfied by holding client funds at interest-earning money market deposit accounts at one or more banks or savings institutions. More particularly, this invention provides methods for receiving client transaction information, determining a net transfer of funds into or out of each client account from transaction information, causing transfer of funds from the insured, interest-bearing deposit accounts to match the net transfer of funds into or out of each client account, and allocating interest earned by the deposit accounts to clients according to customer instructions. This invention also provides systems and software products implementing these methods. |
| US08260696B1 |
Method and system for providing aggregation of trading on multiple alternative trading systems
A method for performing financial trading amongst a plurality of alternative trading systems using a common financial computer platform. The method including the steps of receiving at the common financial computer platform a buy-order for a prescribed number shares at a prescribed price. Electronic communication is then established between the common financial computer platform and each of the plurality of alternative trading systems. At least a portion of the buy-order is then submitted from the common financial computer platform to each of the plurality of alternative trading systems. The common financial common platform then monitors each of the plurality of alternative trading systems to determine if at least a portion of the buy-order was executed by one of the plurality of alternative trading systems. And if yes, then that indicated execution for one of the plurality of alternative trading systems is automatically accepted and automatically canceled are the remaining buy orders that were submitted to the other alternative trading system which were not yet executed. |
| US08260693B2 |
Visual cues for identifying financial accounts
Visual cues for identifying financial accounts. A distinctive visual cue, such as a specific color, is applied to an account from among a plurality of accounts, such as associated joint and individual checking accounts. The designation can be applied to statements, and optionally also checks, check/ATM cards, and other materials can be identified at a glance. Additionally confidential flag can be applied to an account as part of the designation, to provide extra notice to both personnel and various systems that an individual account is confidential within the associated accounts. A system for assigning distinctive visual cues to accounts can include a customer or account information database for storing plurality of possible distinctive visual cues, and one or more fulfillment subsystems for providing bank statements, checks, deposit slips, check cards, and the like. |
| US08260691B2 |
Method for determining optimal inventory lot sizes
A novel method of optimizing an inventory lot size at least includes: a) determining fixed and variable costs associated with a given lot size; b) determining a sale price associated with the given lot size; c) determining a profit margin (PM) based on the results in a) and b); d) determining an average inventory level (AIL); e) determining a cost of carrying inventory (CCI) associated with the given lot size; f) determining a net present value (NPV) based on a predetermined mathematical relationship between the determined PM, AIL and CCI; g) determining NPV changes (ΔNPV) with incremental changes in lot size; and h) determining an optimal lot size based on the results in g). |
| US08260690B2 |
System and method for capturing test subject feedback
Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus used to present a participant with a virtual reality simulation of a shopping environment. For example, the system of the present invention may be used to simulate the environment of a retail store where consumer goods are purchased. In one embodiment, a virtual reality station may include a number of functional systems that collectively provide an apparatus for capturing test subject feedback. The systems may include a participant interface and/or simulation control system, a support structure interconnection system, and a computer system configured to generate and present an immersive virtual reality environment on one or more display screens connected to the support structure. |
| US08260688B2 |
Method and system for facilitating placement of an order using an ordering application via a cellular serving node
A purchasing capability is provided for supporting purchasing by a customer from an establishment, which may include functions such as placement of orders, processing of orders, and like functions. An order is placed from a mobile node (MN) of the customer to an application server (AS) of the establishment to which the order is placed. The AS may process the order for determining whether or not to accept the order and, where accepted, for completing the order. A payment commitment verification process may be used for verifying the commitment of the customer to pay for the order. The placement and processing of the order may be performed using an ordering application supported by the MN and the AS. The communication in support of the purchasing capability may be facilitated using a cellular serving node (CSN) configured for communicating with both the MN and the AS wirelessly. The communication between the MS and AS for the purchasing capability may be via an always-on connection established between the MN and the AS. |
| US08260686B2 |
Method and system for creating a customer specific custom catalog on a website
A method and system for creating and ordering from a Custom Catalog via an Internet catalog website is disclosed. A customer who is interested in only certain products included in a company's Internet product catalog can create a Custom Catalog that includes information about only those products in which the customer is interested. The customer provides certain identifying information, including the customer's e-mail address and a password that is linked to the e-mail address. Once the Custom Catalog is created, the customer can browse the company products displayed at the website and add them to his Custom Catalog. The purchaser can select products in the Custom Catalog and view detailed images of the selected products that include pricing and purchasing information for the products. The customer can also delete from his Custom Catalog those products no longer of interest. |
| US08260684B2 |
System and method for coordinating and evaluating apparel
A computer implemented method and system for coordinating and evaluating apparel/accessory items. The system comprises a processor based client device and a processor based server. The client device receives information about an apparel/accessory item for coordination from a user. The server receives the information about the apparel/accessory item from the client device over a communications network. The server calculates a coordination score of the apparel/accessory item by applying a plurality of predetermined rules to determine if the apparel/accessory item coordinates with one or more apparel/accessory items in the virtual wardrobe. The server transmits a recommendation of one or more apparel/accessory items in said virtual wardrobe based on the coordination score. The virtual wardrobe can be user's apparels/accessories or a retailer's stock of apparels/accessories for sale. |
| US08260682B2 |
Systems and methods for online selection of service providers and management of service accounts
An interchange party computer system (IPCS) having means for presenting user interfaces to consumer computer systems and capturing data input through the user interfaces, the IPCS being associated with at least one database holding data representing a plurality of consumer profiles, the profiles including consumer profiles expressing service selection attributes for a plurality of service sectors, and at least one database holding data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers, the IPCS including (a) a Service Comparison/Selection; (b) a Automatic Bill Payment Module; (c) an Automated Services Monitoring Module; (d) an Automated Best Services Selection Module; (e) a Services Search Module; (f) an Incentive Program Module; (g) a Data Mining Module; and/or (h) a Pooling Module. |
| US08260678B2 |
Machine, methods, and program product for electronic order entry
Systems, methods, and program product for facilitating electronic ordering of goods, services, or goods and services, or other products, through messaging over a financial services electronic payment network, are provided. A customer provides electronic order registration activation information for an electronic order transaction card. The customer is provided an electronic order card having a unique electronic payment network compatible electronic order card identifier including a non-financial transaction IIN and a customer number, and is provided a catalogue or list including product order codes each associated with a different product, to enable electronic ordering over the financial services electronic payment network. An electronic order card configured to interface with a conventional point-of-sale terminal can be used to facilitate the electronic ordering over the existing financial services electronic payment network when presented to the point-of-sale terminal with a product order code identifying a selected product. |
| US08260677B1 |
System and method for pre-approving, regulating, and executing secure transactions
A system and method for regulating a proposed transaction between a first party and a seller is provided. The method includes providing a transaction intermediary machine (TIM) on a network that is associated with a transactional limitations database storing in relation to each of a plurality of unique identifiers at least one criterion that has been established by a second party, and concerning one or more transactional limitations imposed by the second party on the first party. A request for approval (RFA) is received from the seller at the TIM having a unique identifier provided by the first party and details concerning the proposed transaction between the first party and the seller. Then, the RFA is compared with the criteria, completion of the proposed transaction is approved and a payment to the seller is also approved, and personal identification information is provided from the TIM to the seller. |
| US08260672B2 |
Multi-party, multi-tier system for managing paper purchase and distribution
A system, including apparatuses and methods, for paper production and distribution in a communication network environment with multi-party and multi-level production and distribution relationships. The system receives, from one or more communicatively connected paper purchaser computers, parameters representative of the total surface area and physical characteristics of paper products required for printing tasks. The system determines an estimated quantity of the paper products to order based at least in part on the received parameters. Then, the system displays the estimated quantity of the paper to order and communicates orders to production facilities for obtaining such quantity. |
| US08260671B2 |
Financial transaction approval system and method
A method of sale including processing a plurality of purchases to be sold to a consumer, identifying a consumer financial account held by a financial institution, receiving authorization from the financial institution to enable payment for the plurality of purchases from the consumer financial account, and providing the consumer with an option to approve the payment from the consumer financial account. The option is provided during processing of the plurality of purchases. Transaction approval systems provide additional advantages. |
| US08260664B2 |
Semantic advertising selection from lateral concepts and topics
Advertisements are selected for presentation on search result pages and web pages based on phrases generated from lateral concepts and topics identified for the search result pages and web pages. A search query or an indication of a web page is received for which advertisements are to be provided. Lateral concepts and topics are identified based on the search query or content of the web page. The lateral concepts and topics are used as phrases for selecting advertisements from an advertisement inventory. Selected advertisements are provided for presentation on a search results page in response to a search query or on a web page initially identified. |
| US08260663B1 |
Method, algorithm, and computer program for targeting messages including advertisements in an interactive measurable medium
Method, procedure, algorithm, system, and computer program and computer program product for improving and optimizing or attempting to optimize performance of messaging campaigns, particularly to marketing campaigns in which advertisements or other messages are distributed over an interactive measurable medium such as the Internet. When message is an advertisement, campaign involves a list of ad alternatives and a target customer population. Goal of message manager or marketing manager is to allocate ad alternatives to customer population to optimize business objectives such as maximizing the number of positive responses received. This is achieved at least in part by segmenting customer population into segments and then finding best allocation of ad alternatives for each segment. The number of segments and grouping of a customer population changes at different stages of the campaign. When the message is other than an advertisement, goal is to allocate messages to optimize analogous business or campaign objectives, typically measured by the number of successes or successful responses. |
| US08260659B1 |
Workload management for printing and inserting mail
A system provides workload management for printing and inserting mail. A management component receives data that identifies available machines at multiple sites, identifies a work capacity for each machine, identifies available staff to operate the machines, and identifies an amount of pieces of mail for each cycle in a month. The management component estimates a work completion time for printing and inserting the pieces of mail into enclosures for each cycle based on the data, and compares the work completion time for each cycle to a service level agreement. The management component allocates the pieces of mail for each cycle to the machines and the staff based on the comparison, schedules downtime for the machines and the staff based on the allocation, and outputs the allocation and the downtime to a user interface to enable a management team to take a management action based on the allocation and/or the scheduled downtime. |
| US08260658B2 |
Method for visual presentation of key performance indicators of a business utilizing a squarified tree map
Data representing key performance indicators of a business enterprise are displayed by computer as a squarified tree map having major nodes each of which represents a profit center of the enterprise and minor nodes each of which represents a project associated with a particular profit center. Size, color and position of each of the minor nodes within a major node and size and position of each the major nodes within the squarified tree map is specified so as to produce a visual display which is highly appealing to the visually perceptive/intuitive processes of the human mind therefore enables rapid managerial response to visually perceived, intuitively sensed deviations from selected performance criteria. |
| US08260657B1 |
Dynamic pricing of electronic content
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for dynamically pricing electronic content. In one aspect, a method includes determining a likelihood that a group of users will repurchase an item of electronic content, determining that a particular user is more or less likely to repurchase the item of electronic content than the users of the group, in response to determining that the particular user is more or less likely to repurchase the item of electronic content than the users of the group, adjusting a base price associated with repurchasing the item of electronic content, and providing the particular user with an offer to repurchase the item of electronic content at the adjusted price. |
| US08260652B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining and utilizing a time-expanded decision network
A method, apparatus and computer program for determining and utilizing a time-expanded decision network is presented. A set of potential system configurations is defined. Next, switching costs are quantified to create a “static network” that captures the difficulty of switching among these configurations. A time-expanded decision network is provided by expanding the static network in time, including chance and decision nodes. Minimum cost paths through the network are evaluated under plausible operating scenarios. The set of initial design configurations are iteratively modified to exploit high-leverage switches and the process is repeated to convergence. Time-expanded decision networks are applicable, but not limited to, the design of systems, products, services and contracts. |
| US08260650B2 |
Transportation scheduling system
Methods for scheduling a transportation operation such as the operation of an airline. The method desirably selects a demand (100) for transportation specifying an origin, destination, and time of arrival or departure, and selects resources from a database of available resources such as aircraft (508), crew, and departure gates. The resource selection desirably is conducted so as to optimize a result function such as contribution to margin or other financial result from the particular operation specified in the demand. Upon developing a schedule fragment (108), the specified resources are committed, and the database of available resources is modified (110) to indicate that the resources are no longer available at the relevant times. The system then treats another demand and repeats the process so as to develop a full schedule. The system can develop a feasible schedule, even for a complex transportation operation in a brief time, typically in minutes or less. Schedules can be developed using alternative strategies and assumptions, and tested against one another. |
| US08260649B2 |
Resource planning to handle contact volume across a plurality of contact channels
Various embodiments of a system and method for determining staffing requirements or other resource requirements for a plurality of contact channels are disclosed. A contact volume forecast may be performed at a beginning of a season. The contact volume forecast may predict variability in contact volume over a plurality of time periods in the season for each of the contact channels. A resource plan may be determined based on the contact volume forecast. The resource plan may indicate an amount of resources required for each contact channel for each of the plurality of time periods in the season. For at least one time period, the resource plan may specify that resources are to be shifted into a first contact channel from one or more other contact channels. |
| US08260647B2 |
Delivery operations information system and methods of use
The present invention provides a system for managing information related to a delivery service provider and systems of using such a system. The system and systems provided herein allow a delivery service provider to coordinate with efficiency the volume of mail or packages to be delivered with the carrier resources available to deliver them. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the delivery operation information system tracks quantities of articles, schedules their distribution, and schedules and tracks the work force that distributes the articles. |
| US08260644B2 |
Automated rotation tool
Various embodiments provide a scheduling system structured for generating at least one posting to fill a vacant post on a schedule. In an embodiment, the scheduling system includes a scheduling database and an automated rotation tool. The scheduling database includes a personnel roster and a schedule. The schedule includes a vacant post. The scheduling database transmits the schedule and the personnel roster to the automated rotation tool. The automated rotation tool includes a computer system, and receives the personnel roster and the vacant post beginning within the vacancy window from the scheduling database, and also receives a rule, a parameter, and a vacancy window. The automated rotation tool generates a posting assigning a person from the personnel roster to the vacant post according to the rule and the parameter, and transmits the posting to the scheduling database. |
| US08260640B2 |
Systems and methods for providing context-based movie information
Systems and methods are provided for generating context-based movie information. For example, a movie application on an electronic device can obtain show times of a movie from multiple movie theaters. In some embodiments, the movie application can combine one or more show times into a single time slot in order to condense the number of show times that are displayed. Furthermore, the movie application can provide slot labels corresponding to each time slot based on one or more context-sensitive factors (e.g., current time of day, current location, one or more upcoming calendar events, and the like). As a result, the movie application can provide a user with a condensed view of the most accessible show times based on current context. |
| US08260636B2 |
Method and system for prioritizing communication of a health risk
System and methods are provided for prioritizing communication of a health risk. The method may include obtaining health information for individuals and determining, based on the health information, a risk of each individual contracting each of plurality of diseases. The method may also include calculating, based on the risks, an average risk of each individual contracting the diseases and selecting a subset of the individuals based on the average risks. Further, the method may include calculating an improved risk by making lifestyle changes for the subset of the individuals and communicating the health risks and the lifestyle changes to individuals in the subset based on the amount of improved risk. |
| US08260632B2 |
System and software of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long-term care facilities and related methods
A system, software and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long term care facilities are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmacological operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities, a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication therewith, a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, and a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility and in communication with the remote pharmacy group server or the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server. |
| US08260623B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting flour
Flour may be treated to denature the proteins and modify starches. The invention includes methods and systems for determining whether to use treated flour or untreated flour. The invention also includes methods and systems for determining whether to treat flour or not. |
| US08260618B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote control of devices through a wireless headset using voice activation
Methods and systems for remotely controlling a device through a wireless headset of a cellular phone are provided. In one implementation, the method includes storing a lookup table in a memory, in which the lookup table includes a digitized voice input and a corresponding control signal for the device. The method further includes receiving a voice input through a microphone, converting the voice input into a corresponding digital signal using an analog-to-digital converter, a voice recognition circuit recognizing the digital signal including matching the digital signal to the digitized voice input stored in the memory, and responsive to the digital signal matching the digitized voice input stored in the memory, a processor transmitting the corresponding control signal through the transceiver to the device. |
| US08260612B2 |
Robust noise estimation
An enhancement system improves the estimate of noise from a received signal. The system includes a spectrum monitor that divides a portion of the signal at more than one frequency resolution. Adaptation logic derives a noise adaptation factor of the received signal. A plurality of devices tracks the characteristics of an estimated noise in the received signal and modifies multiple noise adaptation rates. Weighting logic applies the modified noise adaptation rates derived from the signal divided at a first frequency resolution to the signal divided at a second frequency resolution. |
| US08260611B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for highband excitation generation
In one embodiment, a method of generating a highband excitation signal includes harmonically extending the spectrum of a signal that is based on a lowband excitation signal; calculating a time-domain envelope of a signal that is based on the lowband excitation signal; and modulating a noise signal according to the time-domain envelope. The method also includes combining (A) a harmonically extended signal based on a result of the harmonically extending and (B) a modulated noise signal based on a result of the modulating. In this method, the highband excitation signal is based on a result of the combining. |
| US08260605B2 |
Word sense disambiguation
A machine-readable storage medium includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive as input a target sentence comprising a target word and retrieve a gloss of the target word. The processor is further caused to parse the target sentence and the gloss. The processor is further caused to assign a score to the gloss based on the gloss's coherence to the target sentence. |
| US08260603B2 |
Scaling a prediction model of resource usage of an application in a virtual environment
Described herein is a method for scaling a prediction model of resource usage of an application in a virtual environment, comprising: providing a predetermined set of benchmarks, wherein the predetermined set of benchmarks includes at least one of: a computation-intensive workload, a network-intensive workload, and a disk-intensive workload; executing the predetermined set of benchmarks in a first native hardware system in which the application natively resides; executing the predetermined set of benchmarks in the virtual environment; generating at least one first prediction model that predicts a resource usage of the application running in the virtual environment based on the executions of the predetermined set of benchmarks in the first native hardware system and the virtual environment; determining a resource usage of the application running in a second native hardware system in which the application also natively resides; generating at least one second prediction model based on a scaling of the at least one first prediction model by a predetermined constant; and predicting a resource usage of the application running in the virtual environment based on the resource usage of the application running in the second native hardware system and the at least one second prediction model. |
| US08260601B2 |
Generating and delaying function calls in a discrete event modeling environment
A mechanism to dynamically vary the amount of delay for an event-generated function call is discussed. The event causing the generation of the function call may be a signal-based event, function call event or some other type of event. A function call generating delay component is inserted into a DES model and dynamically adjusts the amount of delay to apply prior to generating and transmitting the function call to an intended target component. The function call generating component reads a value from an input port in determining the amount of delay. The identified value at the input port may be a signal value or an attribute associated with an event entity received at the port. |
| US08260600B1 |
Circuit simulator
Method and system are disclosed for simulating a circuit. The method includes representing a circuit using a matrix that represents a set of linear equations to be solved, identifying a delta matrix, which is a subset of the matrix that changed states from a previous time step to a current time step, computing an update of the delta matrix using a matrix decomposition approach, generating a current state of the matrix using a previous state of the matrix and the update of the delta matrix, and storing the current state of the matrix in a memory device. |
| US08260599B1 |
Method of assembling overlapping functions with optimized properties and use in design/construction/simulation of structures
A method for constructing relatively independent overlapping functions that optimize a desired property is disclosed. This method allows the production of groups of functions, each group on a region. These regions may overlap. This allows the production of sources that have optimized properties, especially when those properties are enhanced by smoothness and/or by a larger size. A possible optimization method is also disclosed. These sources have many uses in numerical simulations of physical devices, such as valves, pipes, antennas, electronic circuits, and vehicles (air borne, land, and water). These simulations are useful in the design and construction of such devices. They are also useful in the testing of device properties, as they may provide an adjunct to testing physical mock ups of proposed designs. |
| US08260598B2 |
Size vector sharing in code generated for variable-sized signals
A method and apparatus to generate code to represent a graphical model formed of multiple graphical modeling components and at least one variable-sized signal is presented. Each variable-sized signal is represented using a size-vector in the generated code. The generated code is optimized by representing multiple variable-sized signals with the same size-vector such that at least two variable-sized signals share a size-vector in the generated code. The size of the variable-sized signal is capable of changing during the execution of the graphical model. The method and apparatus also identifies the owners of the variable-sized signals. |
| US08260595B2 |
Intelligent completion design for a reservoir
The invention relates to a method of performing intelligent completion design for a reservoir within a field having at least one wellsite with a steam injection well penetrating a subterranean formation of the field for extracting fluid from the reservoir therein. The method involves obtaining measurement data of the subterranean formation associated with the steam injection well, generating, using a processor of a computer, a reservoir model based on the measurement data, determining, using the processor, a geological profile adjacent to the steam injection well using the reservoir model, identifying, using the processor, a location along the steam injection well based on the geological profile according to a pre-determined criteria, and defining and storing, using the processor, a steam injection configuration based on the location. |
| US08260594B2 |
Method and system for predicting the apparent flow conductivity of a heterogeneous medium
The invention concerns a method and a system for predicting the apparent flow conductivity of a heterogeneous medium. According to the invention, the following steps are implemented:—choosing a flow conductivity element type with a given set of characteristic parameters;—determining equations for said flow in said element type;—determining a network statistics for said given set of characteristic parameters; and—performing a stochastic homogenisation of said equations, for said network statistics. The invention applies more particularly to the predicting of the apparent viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids in a heterogeneous porous medium. |
| US08260591B2 |
Dynamically specifying a view
Systems and methods to provide a UI includes providing a program with a dynamic content to specify a view; and rendering the view based on the dynamic content. |
| US08260586B2 |
Method of and a system for adapting a geometric model using multiple partial transformations
The invention relates to a method (100) of adapting a geometric model to an image data comprising determining a first partial transformation for mapping a first part of the geometric model into the image data and a second partial transformation for mapping a second part of the geometric model into the image data. By determining the first partial transformation of the first part of the geometric model and the second partial transformation of the second part of the geometric model, the geometric model can assume more shapes and therefore can be more accurately adapted to an object comprised in the image data. |