| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08301645B1 |
Aggregated web analytics request systems and methods
Provided is a method that includes receiving a file from a network site, wherein the file defines display information for one or more content items, parsing the file to display the one or more content items. Parsing includes encountering, in the file, a request to transmit analytics data to a remote analytics site, delaying transmission of the analytics data to wait for encountering of subsequent requests in the file, encountering, in the file, one or more subsequent requests to transmit other analytics data to the remote analytics site, aggregating the analytics data and the other analytics data into an analytics request for the remote analytics site, and sending the analytics request to the remote analytics site, such that the remote analytics site receives the analytics data and the other analytics via the same analytics request. |
| US08301643B2 |
Creation of highly available pseudo-clone standby servers for rapid failover provisioning
Near clones for a set of targeted computing systems are provided by determining a highest common denominator set of components among the computing systems, producing a pseudo-clone configuration definition, and realizing one or more pseudo-clone computing systems as partially configured backups for the targeted computing systems. Upon a planned failover, actual failure, or quarantine action on a targeted computing system, a difference configuration is determined to complete the provisioning of the pseudo-clone system to serve as a replacement system for the failed or quarantined system. Failure predictions can be used to implement the pseudo-clone just prior to an expected first failure of any of the targeted systems. The system can also interface to an on-demand provisioning management system to effect automated workflows to realize pseudo-clones and replacement systems automatically, as needed. |
| US08301639B1 |
Location based query suggestion
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for suggesting search queries based on location. One of the methods includes determining a current location of the user. A selection of the user's past search queries is generated, where each past search query in the selection is associated with a query location related to the query. A respective score is assigned to each past search query in the selection. The score for each query is based at least in part on the proximity of the current location to the query location of the query. One or more of the past search queries in the selection are provided for presentation to the user on the user's electronic device based on the assigned scores. |
| US08301637B2 |
File search system, file search device and file search method
A file search system includes : a file analyze device including: a character string identifying unit; a first calculating unit; a second calculating unit; an analyzing unit; an output unit; and a file search device including a first obtaining unit; a second obtaining unit; an index storage unit; a file identifying unit; a ranking unit; and a notifying unit. |
| US08301631B2 |
Methods and systems for annotation of digital information
Methods and system for performing annotation of digital information are provided. One method includes searching for items of interest using a search engine. Once the URIs associated with the item of interest are identified, a plurality of attributes are provided that may be associated with each URI. A user may provide the values for the attributes or the system may suggest values for the attributes based on information associated with each URI. Once the attributes and values are assigned, the annotated URI along with the attributes and values is stored. Another method provides for sharing of the annotated information. A user may communicate annotated information to an external storage system for sharing with other users having access to the external storage system. Another method provides for automatic updates of the annotation entries by periodically fetching the digital information associated with each URI and updating the values associated with each attribute. |
| US08301630B2 |
Handling, management and creation of ice contacts
A method includes receiving input at a user equipment that designates a particular entity recorded in a user equipment contacts database as being an entity to be contacted in case of an emergency and setting an indication in a first field of a corresponding contacts database entry, where the first field is separate from a second field of the contacts database entry that stores a name of the entity. |
| US08301629B2 |
Community-driven approach for solving the tag space littering problem
In order to provide an improved tagging-based search method, the method includes one-click actions for searching as well as an “one view” indicator telling the user which search would be the most effective or most important search—by displaying a “search cloud”, called search bag. |
| US08301627B2 |
Automatic determination of selective message caching to support rules in a trading partner collaboration management environment
Systems and methods are provided for selectively cache trading partner transaction messages in a trading partner collaboration environment. At least one trading partner transaction message is received. A determination is made as to whether at least one trading partner business rule requires data from the transaction message. If at least one trading partner business rule requires data from the transaction message, at least a portion of the transaction message in a transaction history cache is selectively cached. Another determination is made as to whether the transaction message is associated with a trading partner business rule. If the transaction message is associated with a trading partner business rule the transaction message is processed based on the associated trading partner business rule and previous transaction message data residing in the transaction history cache. |
| US08301625B2 |
Information processing device, method and server for determining type of electric appliance
A device, a method and a server for performing device identification of electric appliances connected to a network are provided. An information processing device 50, to which electric appliances 20 are communicably connected via a network 2, receives a packet (a response packet or a passive packet) for determining a type of an electric appliance 20, from the electric appliances 20. The information processing device 50 stores definition files defined for each electric appliance 20 in advance, compares the received packet with the definition files for the each electric appliance, scores the packet, extracts a definition file with a high score, and determines electric appliance information of the extracted definition file as electric appliance information of the electric appliance 20. |
| US08301624B2 |
Determining user preference of items based on user ratings and user features
A set of item-item affinities for a plurality of items is determined based on collaborative-filtering techniques. A set of an item's nearest neighbor items based on the set of item-item affinities is determined. A set of user feature-item affinities for the plurality of items and a set of user features is determined based on least squared regression. A set of a user feature's nearest neighbor items is determined based in part on the set of user feature-item affinities. Compatible affinity weights for nearest neighbor items of each item and each user feature are determined and stored. Based on user features of a particular user and items a particular user has consumed, a set of nearest neighbor items comprising nearest neighbor items for user features of the user and items the user has consumed are identified as a set of candidate items, and affinity scores of candidate items are determined. Based at least in part on the affinity scores, a candidate item from the set of candidate items is recommended to the user. |
| US08301622B2 |
Identity analysis and correlation
An identity analysis and correlation service system can include a summary manager service for generating identity correlation summaries pertaining to a persona, wherein the generated identity correlation summaries are based on discovered content corresponding to the persona and analyzed content corresponding to the discovered content. The system can include a content search manager service for generating the discovered content based on search criteria and a semantic analysis service for generating the analyzed content. The system can also include a data store for storing the generated identity correlation summaries and a notification service for providing a notification based on the generated identity correlation summaries. |
| US08301621B2 |
Topic map for navigational control
Included are embodiments for providing a topic map. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a plurality of web pages, the web pages including metadata, extracting at least a portion of the metadata from the web pages, and creating at least one topic associated with the web pages, the at least one topic corresponding to at least a portion of the metadata. |
| US08301616B2 |
Search equalizer
A method for processing query data is described that includes receiving a query portion from a client over a network. For each of multiple search contexts, a relevance score is determined, based on the query portion. Each search context corresponds to a different set of information against which queries can be executed. Indication of the relevance scores is provided to the client over the network. Determining the relevance score and providing indication are performed prior to an input indicating a complete query or in response thereto. The method may also include associating shortcuts with search contexts, selecting a set of shortcuts based, at least in part, on the relevance scores for the search contexts and the association between the shortcuts and search contexts, and sending the set of shortcuts to the client. The shortcuts include links for accessing a content location associated with the shortcut. |
| US08301614B2 |
User interfaces for search systems using in-line contextual queries
Systems and methods, including user interfaces, are provided for implementing searches using contextual information associated with a Web page (or other document) that a user is viewing when a query is entered. The page includes a contextual search interface that has an associated context vector representing content of the page. When the user submits a search query via the contextual search interface, the query and the context vector are both provided to the query processor and used in responding to the query. |
| US08301613B2 |
System and method for incident processing through a correlation model
Disclosed is a method, system and a computer program for correlating an incident service ticket with an incident resource ticket. The method includes, in response to a creation of an incident service ticket in a certain service category; searching with a data processor for open incident resource tickets of the same or similar category; searching with the data processor based on a set of similarity rules for corresponding critical configuration items defined in business service configuration items and, if both searches succeed, searching with the data processor found incident resource tickets ordered by time using found critical configuration items and, if a match is found, declaring the incident service ticket to be correlated with the matching incident resource ticket. The exemplary embodiments further provide that, if both searches do not succeed, or if a match is not found, obtaining input from a dependency tree for the business service configuration items and if no related service configuration items for the service category are identified then concluding the performance of the method, otherwise searching with the data processor found incident resource tickets ordered by time using found related service configuration items. If no associated resource tickets are available then the method performs constraint adaptive probing of resources determined from the dependency tree to attempt to generate at least one corresponding resource ticket, and to search on any corresponding resource tickets that are generated for related configuration items. |
| US08301610B2 |
Optimizing search for insert-only databases and write-once data storage
A search of an insert-only database is performed using a search string in a non-key field to obtain a result set having both valid and invalid entries. Each entry includes a primary key field and the primary key field is subsequently scanned for entries in the result set to determine which entries are valid. Thereafter, invalid entries are removed from the result set to result in a modified result set. Such removal can be based, for example, on the timestamp of the respective entries. In some implementations, a secondary persistence is utilized. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08301608B1 |
Real-time access of opportunistically locked files without breaking opportunistic locks
Opportunistically locked files are accessed in real-time from a kernel mode file system filter driver without breaking opportunistic locks. A file system is monitored, and the granting of an opportunistic lock to a specific file object referring to a specific underlying file is detected. The granting of the detected opportunistic lock results in both the file object and the underlying file being opportunistically locked. A reference to the opportunistically locked file object is cached. The file system filter driver filters a request to access the opportunistically locked file via a second file object which is not opportunistically locked. The kernel mode file system filter driver uses the cached reference to access the opportunistically locked underlying file. This enables access of the opportunistically locked file from the kernel mode file system filter driver without breaking the opportunistic lock. |
| US08301606B2 |
Data management method and apparatus
In a data management method using a hierarchical folder structure where an item such as data or a folder can be registered in multiple folders, attribute information is appended to each relational data piece that represents a pair of a child item that is either data or a folder registered in a folder and a parent folder in which the child item has been registered. This attribute information is referred to when a single child item has been registered in multiple parent folders, in order to select one of the multiple parent folders. By selecting a relational data piece based on the attribute information so that each child item can be registered in a single parent folder, at least part of the hierarchical folder structure is converted into a tree structure where a single child item belongs to a single folder. |
| US08301601B2 |
Log consolidation device, log consolidation method, and computer-readable medium
A log consolidation device includes: a selection unit that selects at least part of fields included in multiple logs stored in a storage unit and chronologically representing processes executed by one or multiple processing units, each log including information representing content of a process and a count value relating to the process, the information being divided into multiple fields; a deletion unit that deletes, from at least part of the multiple logs stored in the storage unit, items of information in the fields selected by the selection unit; and an integration unit that integrates into a single log two or more of the multiple logs having identical items of information in fields that were not deleted by the deletion unit by summing up the count values of the two or more of the multiple logs. |
| US08301598B2 |
Methods and apparatus for content based notification using hierarchical groups
Methods and apparatus for content based notification using hierarchical groups. In an aspect, a method is provided that operates to provide an event notification. The method includes maintaining an event description dictionary comprising one or more event descriptors, and associating content with a selected event descriptor. The method also includes compressing the selected event descriptor to generate a compressed event descriptor, and transmitting the compressed event descriptor on a notification channel. |
| US08301594B2 |
Context providing method, system, and apparatus
A context providing method includes the collection step of collecting context information representing a situation of a target via a network, the generation step of applying a predetermined rule to the collected context information and information associated with a context entity which generates/utilizes the context information, thereby generating new context information, and the step of transmitting the generated context information to a context requester via the network. A context providing system and apparatus are also disclosed. |
| US08301592B2 |
Synchronizing business transaction records from asynchronous messages received out of sequence
A method for processing business transaction orders received asynchronously. The method includes receiving a first message for a business object, the business object comprising an order between a first party and a second party, and storing the business object including a first entity within a data store. The method further includes receiving a second message for the business object including a second entity, and storing the second entity with the business object. Respective chronological indicators for the first entity and the second entity are examined. Based on the chronological indicators, object attribute metadata describing a current status of the business object is updated, and the business object is processed in accordance with the updated object attribute metadata. |
| US08301589B2 |
System and method for assignment of unique identifiers in a distributed environment
System and method for assignment of unique identifiers in a distributed environment. In a distributed system having a plurality of nodes, a method for allocating identifiers comprises steps of: allocating a pool of identifiers for use; maintaining lists of free identifiers in the pool at participating nodes; obtaining at a first node permission to update the lists of free identifiers; upon receiving permission to update the lists, allocating for the first node a set of identifiers from the lists; updating the lists of free identifiers to reflect allocation of the set of identifiers for the first node; sending the updated lists from the first node to other participating nodes; upon receiving the updated lists of free identifiers at each other participating node, updating each other participating node's respective copy of the lists of free identifiers; and relinquishing the first node's permission to update the lists of free identifiers. |
| US08301584B2 |
System and method for adaptive pruning
Disclosed in a method and structure for searching data in databases using an ensemble of models. First the invention performs training. This training orders models within the ensemble in order of prediction accuracy and joins different numbers of models together to form sub-ensembles. The models are joined together in the sub-ensemble in the order of prediction accuracy. Next in the training process, the invention calculates confidence values of each of the sub-ensembles. The confidence is a measure of how closely results form the sub-ensemble will match results from the ensemble. The size of each of the sub-ensembles is variable depending upon the level of confidence, while, to the contrary, the size of the ensemble is fixed. After the training, the invention can make a prediction. First, the invention selects a sub-ensemble that meets a given level of confidence. As the level of confidence is raised, a sub-ensemble that has more models will be selected and as the level of confidence is lowered, a sub-ensemble that has fewer models will be selected. Finally, the invention applies the selected sub-ensemble, in place of the ensemble, to an example to make a prediction. |
| US08301582B2 |
Dynamic constraint satisfaction problem solver with sub-problem placeholder
A dynamic constraint solver for solving a constraint satisfaction problem network that includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of constraints determines a cardinality for a set of sub-problems. The cardinality is a numeric domain that represents the minimum number of instances in a port. The solver determines if a number of identifiable instances of sub-problems is less than the minimum number of instances. The solver then causes a user interface to display the identifiable instances and a placeholder for each instance that is below the minimum number of instances and is not identifiable. |
| US08301563B2 |
Emerging trends lifecycle management
A process (and corresponding system) that defines sequential steps for the introduction, validation, and testing of business applications of emerging technologies, for example mobile banking services, is provided. The innovation provides a definable model and process for rapid innovation with a quality emphasis through efficient pipeline management and performance measurements. For example, the innovation can adhere to an enterprise's e-commerce requirements for a formalized and measurable structure to efficiently and diligently manage new ideas that have the potential to become new products and services that positively impact business. |
| US08301561B2 |
Method and system for using reward points to liquidate products
A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment. |
| US08301560B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for facilitating the exchange of reciprocal deposits
A control center receives, from the first bank, a first request with a first set of requirements for placement of reciprocal deposits. A second request with a second set of requirements is received from a second bank. The control center determines whether the first set of requirements matches the second set of requirements, which include maturity and interest rate. In response to a match, the control center performs an exchange of on-balance sheet deposits meeting the first set of requirements from the first bank to off-balance sheet deposits to the second bank. The first bank receives reciprocal deposits meeting the second set of requirements as new on-balance sheet deposits. |
| US08301558B2 |
Loan management tool
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for implementing, in connection with a HELOC account, a loan management tool. In some embodiments, the method includes: storing information relating to a loan account associated with a borrower, segmenting the loan account into one or more spend categories, and allocating purchases and payments, or portions thereof, made by the borrower to at least one of the one or more spend categories. In addition, the method may further include receiving from the borrower an input and calculating, based on the input, an output, wherein the output comprises at least one of the anticipated payoff date, the monthly payment amount, and the total saved interest. |
| US08301557B1 |
System, program product, and method to authorized draw for retailer optimization
A line of credit optimized for a retailer and attached to a customer account at a financial institution is established for a customer of the retailer. A financial institution computer determines whether to advance funds through the line of credit for a transaction, then advances funds in one or more preselected loan increments to the customer account, up to a total available line of credit for the customer. The financial institution computer decrements the total available line of credit by the amount provided for the customer transaction and by a predetermined customer fee for each of the loan increments. The computer determines a value of a retailer foe to be paid by the retailer, involving a predetermined amount for each of the loan increments. The customer fee amount can be zero or discounted for customer transactions with the retailer. The retailer fee can be a rebate to the customer. |
| US08301556B2 |
Method for transmitting a code
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a code to a user in which the user transmits his or her financial account identifier information to a code allocation unit 3, the code allocation unit 3 transfers an amount of money to the financial institution 5 specified by the user and/or transfers an amount of money from the financial institution 5 specified by the user, thereby submitting the account identifier information and the code to be transmitted as additional information with this transfer and/or this debit, and the financial institution 5 forwards a receipt for the transfer and/or debit together with the additional information to the user. |
| US08301549B2 |
System and method for improved distribution of market information
A data distribution system and method are described herein to improve the distribution of market information to subscribing client devices. Market information updates are provided to subscribing devices over a communication link every time a change in the market occurs. If a bandwidth limitation is reached on the communication link, the preferred embodiments switch to a second mode of transmission such that the market information updates are provided only at predetermined intervals. The preferred embodiment monitors the bandwidth consumption to determine what mode of transmission to apply, and in response, it can dynamically change between modes of transmission. By dynamically adjusting the mode of transmission to comport with the current network bandwidth, the preferred embodiments may provide a network friendly, data intensive, and fast response market information feed. |
| US08301542B2 |
Reprice-to-block order
A reprice-to-block order and related market center and process are disclosed which automatically reprice a posted limit order to the price of a block trade executed at an inferior price on a market away from the market center that posted the limit order. |
| US08301541B1 |
System and method for improved order entry using market depth
Market depth information pertaining to the hedging side is utilized to intelligently break a non-hedging order into multiple orders, such that the orders rest at cascading price levels. This way, the trader can benefit from sweeps in the book and still properly account for the market depth on the hedging side. Further, there is a greater probability of receiving “partials” on the spread order. In addition, hedge orders may be sent at multiple price levels, or sent to the market in pieces over time. By applying a more intelligent process to hedge orders (as opposed to “fire and forget”) an alternative beyond limit orders that can be leged or market orders is provided. |
| US08301536B2 |
Computerized methods and apparatuses for guiding a user through a transaction to change a contribution configuration in a defined contribution plan
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for guiding a user through a transaction to change a contribution configuration in a defined contribution plan. A request is received by an application from a client device. The application processes the request and plan data associated with a user is retrieved. User interface data is generated by the application and the data is transmitted to the client device. A user interface is displayed which initiates, reviews and executes a transaction to change a current contribution configuration to a suggested contribution configuration without requiring the user to enter any additional information. |
| US08301534B2 |
Method for managing buyer transactions and settlements using communication network between computers, and method for relaying information following buyer consumption trends to the buyer
Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes a unique identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the unique identification code. |
| US08301533B1 |
Automated fulfilling of currency exchange requests over a computer network
A computer program product is provided for automatically fulfilling currency exchange requests received at a processor for a plurality of different currencies that are received from a plurality of different customers. Each request is a request to exchange an amount of funds of a source currency for funds of a target currency, or a request to receive an amount of funds of a target currency by exchanging source currency. At least some of the requests are fulfilled by automatically matching requests of one or more customers with requests of one or more other customers who have requested an exchange of the converse target and source currencies in an amount of currency sufficient to match a first portion of the requests, and by using amounts of currency in different currency types that are not received from the customers to fulfill a second portion of the requests. |
| US08301532B2 |
System and method for preventing cross trading
Information regarding the current state in the market is used to prevent orders from crossing. In an example provided herein, when an order is entered into a market, information regarding current positions in the market is taken into account to determine whether the order will cross with other orders. If the orders would cross, appropriate action is taken to prevent the crossing of orders in a way suitable for the person or persons trading. The teachings described herein may be used for any reason to prevent orders from crossing. Moreover, they may be used in other areas of trading to assist the trader in obeying any other rule or regulation that might involve analyzing current positions in the market before taking action. |
| US08301526B2 |
Method for maximizing retirement income using financial bridge products and deferred social security income
The present invention provides a method for maximizing retirement income using bridge annuities and deferred Social Security income. Financial information about a client is gathered, in addition to financial information about the client's spouse, if applicable. A variety of income scenarios are modeled using the financial information and a plurality of income models, each model including income from a bridge product and deferred Social Security income. Alternate funding approaches are projected using the financial information, and the modeled scenarios are compared to the alternate funding approaches to determine the optimal scenario for maximizing retirement income. The client can then purchase a bridge product in accordance with the optimal scenario. |
| US08301525B2 |
Method and system for managing communication of information
A method and system of managing communication of information to a destination utilizes computer hardware and software and a client-server architecture. The system receives information in file form, such as ASCII file form, via a file transfer service and/or in message-based form, such as SWIFT and/or ISITC messages, via a message network. The information that is received in message-based form is converted to file form by a message to file converter and translated by a message format library to an intermediary file format, and the information that is received in file form is also translated to the intermediary format by a message format library. The intermediary file format information can be aggregated and sorted, and is then translated to a preferred file format of the destination and sent to the destination. |
| US08301523B1 |
System, method and computer readable medium for providing notifications
The invention provides a method, system and computer readable medium for providing a notification to a recipient. The method, system and computer readable medium relate to a notification sent via a processing device, the method including determining, for a recipient, a first notification method and a second notification method, generating a notification, and providing the notification to the recipient in accordance with the first notification method or, upon a failure of the first notification method, providing the notification to the recipient in accordance with the second notification method. |
| US08301520B1 |
Tax return signature systems and methods
The present invention is integrated tax return preparation systems and methods that provide a taxpayer with options related to review and signing of a tax return by a tax professional. The integrated systems and methods are computer-based and web-based online tax return preparation systems and tax software used by taxpayers to prepare their own electronic tax returns. Communications with a tax professional and various forms of automated electronic communications are supported so that taxpayers that prepare their own tax returns using a self-preparation tax product may have them reviewed and signed by a tax professional. Signature and review service options that are available from a retail tax preparation service and typically available to only customers of the tax preparation service are also provided to taxpayers who prepare their own tax returns using an online tax preparation system or tax software. |
| US08301518B1 |
System and method for inventory management and distribution
A system and method for inventory management is provided. An indication of a removal of a first resource at a first location is received, and a risk value associated with the first resource at the location is calculated. A determination is made if the risk value is less than a predetermined threshold, and a request to transfer a second resource from a second location to the first location is generated. |
| US08301512B2 |
Product identification using multiple services
A method and a system to determine a product identification of an item for sale in an online publication system is shown and described. For example, the method may be initiated when an input identifying an item is received from a user. An input type (e.g., image, text, audio recording, etc.) may be determined and one or more identification services may be selected based on the input type. At least a portion of the input is transmit to the selected one or more identification services. A product identification is received from each of the one or more identification services. Based on the received product identifications, a recommended product identification is determined. The recommended product identification is transmitted to the user. |
| US08301506B2 |
Method and system for managing categories of an electronic commerce website
Managing categories in an electronic commerce system, includes obtaining transaction information pertaining to a set of back-end categories, the transaction information includes user information of users in the system who completed transactions in the set of back-end categories during a preset period, determining, based on the user information, a set of front-end categories that were selected by users in the system during the preset period, determining number of times a front-end category in the set of front-end categories was selected by the users in the system during the preset period, and adjusting the front-end category according to the transaction information and the number of times the front-end category was selected during the preset period. |
| US08301502B2 |
Methods and systems for account management of group accounts
Account management methods and systems are presented for managing and administering group accounts. A group may establish a financial group account using a novel group account management system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The novel group account management system can provide financial transaction-related controls, privileges, tracking, and/or reporting for one or more users, members, and/or sub-group within the group account. A concept of user-specific, member-specific, and/or sub-group-specific privileges is integrated into the novel group account management system to assign a particular user, member, and/or sub-group to an account management level within the group account. Furthermore, a novel concept of user-managed group account-related rules is also integrated into the novel group account management system to empower, restrict, and/or control certain transaction-related actions for at least some users, members, and/or sub-groups. |
| US08301496B2 |
System and method for increasing traffic to websites
The present document describes a system and method for changing volume of traffic to a website. The system comprises: a user database and a promotional server in communication with each other. The user database comprises user accounts. Each account is associated with a user identification and is also for keeping track of benefits. The promotional server is configured to perform the steps of: detecting an access request to the website by a user from a Web browser; consulting a user database to identify the user from the access request; identifying a method of calling the website from a value of a field or a value of a variable in the access request; from at least one of the identity of the user and the method of calling the website, establishing, by consulting a promotions database, a determined amount; increasing a value of the points field associated to the user in the user database by the determined amount; sending instructions to the Web browser to display one of: information indicative of at least one of an increase in, and the possibility to increase, the points field associated to the user in the user database, the points field being representative of a benefit to the user; and information indicative of the possibility for the user to register in the user database. |
| US08301492B2 |
Method and appartus for personalized consumer to business matchmaking
A personalized consumer to business matchmaking apparatus and its related method correlate and quantify a personalized match between a business offering products or services to a searching consumer looking for the reviewed products or services. In one embodiment of the invention, the personalized consumer to business matchmaking is based on requirements, traits, and profiles of the business, the searching consumer, and business evaluators who have reviewed the business. Whereas conventional consumer reviews such as star-ratings merely give an average rating based on inputs from the business evaluators, the personalized consumer to business matchmaking apparatus and its related method generate a personalized match score based on individual traits, requirements, and profiles of the business, the searching consumer, and the business evaluators. |
| US08301491B2 |
Item reservation
Items can be reserved in advance of a future spot market sale. A reservation price can be determined for the item based on an expected spot market price required to obtain the item in the future sport market sale, a time until the spot market sale, and/or market signals. The reservation price can converge to the expected spot market price as the time of the future spot market approaches. |
| US08301489B2 |
Change management
A method and system of generating an analytical tool for use in assessing a state of an entity is described. The method comprises retrieving source data relating to a state of a community of which the entity forms a part, the source data resulting from a data collecting and analysis mechanism and the source data relating to at least one variable and the, or each, variable comprising a plurality of drivers; performing cluster analysis on the source data to produce an array of reference data; and organizing the array of reference data into a form to be used in analyzing data collected from the community. An analytical tool for use in assessing the state of an entity is also described and comprises an array of cells, each cell containing a subset of reference data which provides a measure of each driver related to the state of a community of which the entity forms a part, and the positioning of the cells relative to one another being governed by the inter-relationship of the reference data contained in the cells. |
| US08301487B2 |
System and methods for calibrating pricing power and risk scores
A power and risk score calibrator is provided, which receives quantitative power and risk scores for each quantitative segment, and receives qualitative power and risk scores for each qualitative segment. The qualitative segment and the qualitative power and risk scores are defined by a user. The system generates consolidated segments. Then consolidated power and risk scores for each of the consolidated segments are generated, respectively. The gaps between the qualitative power and risk scores and the consolidated power and risk scores are reconciled. From these reconciliations, adjustment factors are generated, which are applied by pricing power and risk value calibrators. The system may also perform a drill down to explain the gap between the qualitative scores and the consolidated scores. |
| US08301484B1 |
Generating item recommendations
Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer readable mediums for generating item purchase recommendations. To provide such a recommendation, first data is accessed using a server, the first data comprising an interaction history of an entity with respect to at least one network site. Also, second data is accessed using the server, the second data comprising a record of use of media by the entity on at least one media device remote to the server. An item recommendation is generated in the server for the entity based on the first and second data. |
| US08301483B2 |
Modeling system and method to predict consumer response to a new or modified product
Systems and methods for determining a consumer response. At least two attributes are obtained for a sample product, the at least two attributes are associated with a feeding experience of an animal are determined. A regression analysis is performed on one or more factor scores for the sample product derived from the at least two attributes. A consumer response of the feeding experience as a function of the at least two attributes is determined independently of the consumer. The at least two attributes are determined based on an assessment of a plurality of technical measures associated with the feeding experience of an animal. The technical measures may be selected from the group consisting of analytical components (AN), daily feeding patterns based on automatic feeding station (AFS), chemical sensory headspace aroma compounds (CHEM), human sensory descriptive panel (HUMAN), monadic feeding patterns (VIDEO), and preference assessment (PREF). |
| US08301481B2 |
Multiple layer manufacturing line rejection management system
A data processing system for analyzing rejection rejections in a manufacturing process having more than one level of manufacture stores test results from an nth-level test for review by an OEM and, subject to consent of the nth level vendor, for review by a vendor on a lower level. The data for rejection analysis is linked to data in a manufacturing floor control system. |
| US08301479B2 |
System and method for web-based sports event scheduling
A system and methods are provided for communication between entities that need to coordinate on scheduling events. Communication between schedulers, such as coaches, athletic administrators or organization administrators who may be in charge of a multiplicity of sports or activities at institutions, such as colleges or universities, who need to connect and communicate on a particular task. These tasks may include scheduling of events such as sports competitions or other events or activities in which there may be shared or common interests or a shared network of users, players or participants. Search by criteria to find matching potential opponents for scheduling events is also provided. Automatic schedule updates are maintained, typically in a logically centralized database, facilitated by a messaging system to facilitate ease of scheduling. |
| US08301476B2 |
Determining a possible lot size
The invention provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for of determining a possible lot size of units with respect to a fixed date for a chain of at least two process steps, each process step requiring a respective assigned resource, and consuming a respective time per unit for being performed by the respective assigned resource, where the process steps are sequentially dependent on each other. This is achieved by the following: (a) determining, for each resource, a respective time interval of availability during which the respective resource is continuously available, each time interval being limited by the fixed date, (b) calculating, for each determined time interval of availability, a respective largest possible number of times the respective process step can be performed by the respective resource, and (c) selecting the lot size of units to the minimum of the largest possible numbers. |
| US08301473B2 |
Stowage and center of gravity verification and assessment tool
A stowage and center of gravity verification and assessment tool which assists users in locating items within an environment, determining the center of gravity of the environment, and calculating item location changes that facilitate altering the center of gravity. Each item to be tracked within the environment is equipped with one or more remotely pollable identifiers, such as, without limitation, barcodes, or RFID or ultrasonic tags, and the system stores the mass of each item. As items are moved in the environment, the system tracks the impact of such movement on the environment's center of gravity and recommends item location changes. The system can also assist users in locating items within the environment, provide access to detailed information about individual items, and assist with task scheduling. |
| US08301471B2 |
Methods and systems for managing an inventory of telephone numbers
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include storing telephone number inventory data using a database associated with a network, receiving, from a user system, a request for telephone number forecast data, forecasting future telephone number usage based on at least a history of telephone number inventory data, and providing, to the user system, telephone number forecast data based on at least the forecast of future telephone number usage. |
| US08301468B2 |
System and method of drug disease matching
A computer implemented system and method for matching drugs and diseases and generating a weighted relationship between the matched drugs and diseases. The system stores a quantity of patient medical history billing records identifiable as patient prescription claim records and medical claim records. The system also stores a grouping of drug codes and groupings of diagnosis codes. The system is configured to match drugs identified in a specific patient's prescription claim records with diseases identified in the patient's medical claims. The system generates a weighted relationship between the matched drugs and diseases by calculating a link weight in accordance with a preprogrammed formula for each occurrence of the diagnosis codes identified in the patient's medical claims that is identified as associated with the disease identified and the drug upon which the query is being processed. The link weight provides a statistical match association value to each of the matched diseases. |
| US08301466B2 |
Method and system for providing online records
A method for providing a user with the ability to access and collect records associated with the user in a secure and private manner includes associating access information with the user for the user to use to access a server storing files comprising records associated with the user in a computer readable storage medium, providing the user with a user interface on a computing device to remotely access the records stored on the server, receiving at the server the files comprising records associated with the user from a service provider associated with the user, receiving at the server a request from the user made through the user interface of the computing device for access to the files, wherein the access information is associated with the request, and sending the user a file containing the records associated with user from the server to the computing device in response to the request. |
| US08301464B1 |
Method and system for producing statistical analysis of medical care information
A method and system for producing statistical analysis of medical care information comprises: aggregating medical care providers to a peer group level; aggregating medical care information at the peer group level and at the medical care provider level; computing a statistical analysis, such as performing Pearson's correlation analysis; and generating peer group level and medical care provider level results utilizing the computed statistical analysis. Also, a method for producing statistical analysis of medical care information for a medical care provider efficiency measurement comprises: applying minimum unit of analysis criteria for medical care providers to be used in statistical analysis; calculating an overall weighted average medical care information measure for each medical care provider; calculating a medical condition-specific medical care information measure for each medical care provider; removing outlier medical care providers from statistical analysis at medical care information level; calculating a statistical analysis to medical care provider efficiency measurement at each medical care information level using a statistical calculation; and selecting statistically related medical care information to identify medical care providers meeting a desired practice pattern. |
| US08301461B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a radiologist quality assurance scorecard
The present invention provides a quality assurance system and method that generates a quality assurance (QA) scorecard for radiologists that use digital devices in a radiological-based medical imaging study. According to one embodiment, client computers, servers, imaging devices, databases, and/or other components may be coupled to provided a unified data collection system. According to one embodiment, systems and methods are provided that analyze various parameters that are derived from the unified data collection system to calculate a QA score for the radiologist. The QA score provides a combined subjective and objective feedback system that includes performance evaluations from other users, including clinicians and patients. According to one embodiment, the feedback may be provided in real-time. |
| US08301460B2 |
Information presentation system, computer program, and computer software product
Associated information is prepared and stored in a support information DB, the information being such that elements belonging to a plurality of element items respectively forming medical information on at least one patient are associated with each other between the items. Then, on a medical-support-information presenting screen displayed at a display unit, a selecting condition selecting one or more elements and an output target item are specified and input in response to user control. As a result, with respect to information that satisfies the selecting condition out of the associated information, the display unit visibly outputs statistical information about the output target item. |
| US08301457B2 |
Method for selecting program and apparatus thereof
A program selection method and a display apparatus thereof are provided. The program selection method includes generating a program list including at least one program title, determining whether there is a voice input for a program selection; searching for a desired program title corresponding to the voice input for the program selection among the at least one program title in the program list, and selecting a program corresponding to the desired program title based on the searching for the desired program title. |
| US08301451B2 |
Speech synthesis with dynamic constraints
A method is disclosed for providing speech parameters to be used for synthesis of a speech utterance. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving an input time series of first speech parameter vectors, preparing at least one input time series of second speech parameter vectors consisting of dynamic speech parameters, extracting from the input time series of first and second speech parameter vectors partial time series of first speech parameter vectors and corresponding partial time series of second speech parameter vectors, converting the corresponding partial time series of first and second speech parameter vectors into partial time series of third speech parameter vectors, wherein the conversion is done independently for each set of partial time series and can be started as soon as the vectors of the input time series of the first speech parameter vectors have been received. The speech parameter vectors of the partial time series of third speech parameter vectors are combined to form a time series of output speech parameter vectors to be used for synthesis of the speech utterance. At least one embodiment of the method allows a continuous providing of speech parameter vectors for synthesis of the speech utterance. The latency and the memory requirements for the synthesis of a speech utterance are reduced. |
| US08301443B2 |
Identifying and generating audio cohorts based on audio data input
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating audio cohorts. An audio analysis engine receives audio data from a set of audio input devices. The audio data is associated with a plurality of objects. The audio data comprises a set of audio patterns. The audio data is processed to identify attributes of the audio data to form digital audio data. The digital audio data comprises metadata describing the attributes of the audio data. A set of audio cohorts is generated using the digital audio data and cohort criteria. Each audio cohort in the set of audio cohorts comprises a set of objects from the plurality of objects that share at least one audio attribute in common. |
| US08301442B2 |
Method for synchronization between a voice recognition processing operation and an action triggering said processing
A method of synchronizing an operation for processing, by an automatic speech recognition system of a device, a voice sequence uttered by a speaker and an action of the speaker intended to trigger the processing by the device. The processing operation is effected by the device from a given time preceding the action of the speaker. A time interval between the given time and the action of the speaker corresponds to a given interval. |
| US08301437B2 |
Tokenization platform
A tokenization platform and method is described for accurately tokenizing character strings, including but not limited to non-delimited character strings of the type commonly used in Internet domain names and computer filenames, to accurately identify words and phrases occurring therein. In one embodiment, a phased tokenization approach is used in which the final phase is a lexical analysis-based tokenization using a dictionary. The dictionary may be advantageously created and updated based upon one or more query logs associated with respective information retrieval systems, thereby ensuring that the dictionary accurately reflects currently-used terminology and captures alternative spellings and presentations of words and phrases submitted by users. |
| US08301427B2 |
Fracture network characterization method
A method of representing and using fractures in a model of a subterranean reservoir is described including the partitioning the fracture network into a discretely modeled part and a remaining statistically described part from a statistical description of all fractures, the determination of the correlation effects caused by fractures with dimensions exceeding dimension of the local grid cells and the determination of petrophysical properties while allowing for arbitrary distribution of fracture orientations, with all three aspects being combinable to improve the modeling of fractures and the simulation of fractured reservoirs. |
| US08301420B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating a representation of a product or process
A product lifecycle management system cannot interact with 3D models and data representing a product or process that lacks information for creating a three-dimensional model in a seamless and uniform manner. Such incompatible data includes legacy and conceptual data. Accordingly, a method and corresponding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are provided to create from such data, an intermediary representation that is compatible with the three-dimensional model domain but differs from a three-dimensional model that has real-world geometry of the product or process. The intermediary structure is formed in a manner that enables the product lifecycle management system to interact with the intermediary representation and three-dimensional models in a seamless and uniform manner, and is capable of being updated with real-world geometry of the product or process. |
| US08301419B1 |
Managing information for generating models of parts
A method and apparatus are present for managing information for parts. Information for a part is identified. The information comprises a plurality of features for the part, a number of levels of details for each of the plurality of features, and a history associated with the plurality of features. The plurality of features for the part, the number of levels of detail for each of the plurality of features, and the history associated with the plurality of features are associated with each other to form a plurality of associations. The information and the plurality of associations are stored in a repository. |
| US08301418B2 |
Process for designing rugged pattern on golf ball surface
A golf ball 2 has a large number of craters 8. A rugged pattern is formed on the golf ball 2 by the craters 8. A process for designing the rugged pattern includes the steps of: assuming a plurality of states; assuming a large number of cells on a spherical surface; assigning any one of the plurality of states to each cell; assigning, as an attribute, any one of INSIDE, OUTSIDE and BOUNDARY to the each cell based on the state of the each cell and states of a plurality of cells located adjacent to the each cell; assuming craters based on the attributes of the large number of cells; and updating the attribute of the each cell so as to enlarge the areas of the craters, based on the attribute of said each cell and the attributes of the plurality of cells located adjacent to the each cell. |
| US08301417B2 |
Method for identifying the analytical transitional cross-sections of a rigid transport element
According to a preferred embodiment, a method for identifying the analytical transitional cross-sections of a rigid transport element is disclosed. The method includes providing a 3D model of a rigid transport element, a list of total edges from the 3D model, a list of total faces from the 3D model, and a list of connecting edges from the 3D model, identifying all edges from said list of total edges which have connectivity with any edge in the list of connecting edges and are part of a cross-section, placing the identified edges into a list of cross-section edges, and identifying the analytical cross-section that lies on the plane defined by the edges in said list of cross-section edges. |
| US08301411B2 |
Electronic device, host apparatus, communication system, and recording medium
Provided is a communication system comprising a host apparatus and an electronic device that is implemented in an apparatus that communicates with the host apparatus via a network. The electronic device includes an operation circuit that operates when the electronic device is implemented; a diagnostic circuit that tests the operation circuit; and a result transmitting section that transmits a test result obtained by the diagnostic circuit to the host apparatus via the network. The host apparatus includes a test information storage section that stores in advance test information indicating test content to be performed by the diagnostic circuit; and a test information transmitting section that, when the test information is requested by the electronic device, transmits the test information to the electronic device. |
| US08301407B2 |
Stabilized solid-state gyrolaser
Solid-state gyrolaser having a device for stabilizing the intensities making it possible to maintain equilibrium of the two counter-propagating modes having at least a means for calculating a rotation measurement (Ω, IΩ) of the gyrolaser on the basis of the counter-propagating modes having a frequency difference (Δνmes) between them, by assuming that the frequency difference (Δνmes) between the two counter-propagating modes is induced only by the rotation of the cavity. The gyrolaser also includes a means for measuring the control command (Co), a means for storing a behavior model (Mo) of a frequency bias (Δνb) induced by the device for stabilizing the intensities, as a function of the control command, a means for calculating the frequency bias (Δνb) induced by the device for stabilizing the intensities, on the basis of the value of the control command (Co) and the model (Mo), a means for calculating the bias (ΔΩb, ΔIΩb) in the rotation measurement (Ω, IΩ), induced by the frequency bias (Δνb), and a means for compensating for the bias (ΔΩb, ΔIΩb) in the rotation measurement (Ω, IΩ). |
| US08301405B2 |
System and method for measuring pin voltages of electronic components
A system and method uses a measurement control device and a measurement machine to measure pin voltages of electronic components installed in an electronic device. The measurement control device controls a mechanical arm of the measurement machine to move to the pins of the electronic components according to coordinates of the pins. A voltage probe installed on the end of the mechanical arm can measure voltages of the pins automatically. |
| US08301403B2 |
Hand held refrigeration gauge
The present invention is a hand held gauge for use with refrigeration systems. The gauge includes a service port connector, a display screen, and user interfacing buttons. The gauge also includes electronic storage of the pressure-to-saturation temperature data for different refrigerants. The gauge allows for the measuring of temperature and pressure of refrigeration systems. After a user inputs a refrigerant type, the gauge uses the pressure and the saturation data to determine the saturation temperature. The saturation temperature is compared to the measured temperature to get the superheat or subcooling. These results may all be displayed on the display screen. |
| US08301394B2 |
System and method for correcting primer extension errors in nucleic acid sequence data
An embodiment of method for correcting an error associated with phasic synchrony of sequence data generated from a population of substantially identical copies of a template molecule is described that comprises (a) detecting a signal generated in response to an incorporation of one or more nucleotides in a sequencing reaction; (b) generating a value for the signal; and (c) correcting the value for the phasic synchrony error using a first parameter and a second carry forward parameter. |
| US08301393B2 |
Methods and systems for genome-scale kinetic modeling
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the construction, analysis, and characterization of dynamical states of biological networks at the cellular level. Methods are provided for analyzing the dynamical states by constructing matrices using high-throughput data types, such as fluxomic, metabolomic, and proteomic data. Some embodiments relate to an individual, while others relate to a plurality of individuals. |
| US08301391B2 |
Identifying components of a network having high importance for network integrity
A computer system (2) is provided which is arranged to receive network data (1) identifying nodes and links between nodes. The computer system (2) processes the input network data (1) to utilize the network topology to identify nodes and links having high importance for network integrity. A report (4) identify the critical components can then be output. |
| US08301389B2 |
System and method for plant selection
Processes, systems and databases are provided for plant selection. The processes may include providing a database of plant species and eliminating a portion of the plant species based on at least two search criteria including a user's desired climate zone or location plant cultivation, plant size, plant type, plant leaf type/shape, plant form/habit, plant primary attributes, parcel growing conditions, and desired characteristics. At least one image of the plant species meeting the search criteria may be displayed wherein the image has sufficient resolution to distinguish among different plant species. |
| US08301386B1 |
Classification and web-based presentation of oil and gas SCADA data
Disclosed are techniques for acquiring, processing and presenting data produced by one or more devices and meters in the field. One or more servers, such as Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) servers, gather and store data from one or more field devices. Remote polling interfaces (RPI) provide a secure transport from the SCADA servers to processing and storage elements of the present embodiments. Data gathered from a plurality of heterogeneous SCADA servers are normalized and consolidated into one or more databases for subsequent processing and presentation, thereby collecting and unifying data from a plurality of heterogeneous sources into a device-agnostic and unified presentation for user viewing and interaction. |
| US08301385B2 |
Shot gather data beamer and debeamer
Beamed data can be obtained from shot gather data, and debeamed data can be obtained from beamed data. Shot gather data for a geophysical volume of interest in a first domain and/or beamed data in a third domain may be received. The first domain has a component relating to seismic wave propagation time and a spatial component relating to lateral spacing. The third domain has a component relating to local plane wave arrival time at a beam center surface location and a component relating to plane wave arrival directions. Data may be transformed between the first domain and a second domain. The second domain has a frequency component and a spatial component corresponding to the spatial component of the first domain. A forward or reverse transform may be applied to transform shot gather data in the first domain to/from beamed data in the third domain. |
| US08301384B2 |
Wellbore logging performance verification method and apparatus
A method for correcting a measurement of a property of a subsurface material includes: selecting an instrument that includes a test circuit and a separate sensor, the test circuit configured for providing a standard for referencing to generate correction information, the sensor configured for: transmitting an electric signal into the subsurface material; and receiving a data signal from the subsurface material; wherein the test circuit and the sensor are switchably coupled to an electronics unit of the instrument; receiving the electric signal from the test circuit in the electronics unit; using the electronics unit, measuring at least one output characteristic of the instrument; and applying the correction information to the data signal according to the measured output characteristic. |
| US08301383B2 |
Estimating in situ mechanical properties of sediments containing gas hydrates
A method for constructing elastoplastic property correlations in multicomponent particulate systems. The method includes obtaining parameters from geophysical data of a sediment-hydrate system, where the parameters include shyd and pc, and where shyd is a hydrate saturation and pc is a confining pressure. The method further includes determining a Young's modulus (E) of the sediment-hydrate system using the parameters and a correlation, where the correlation is E p c = 90.58 + 78.90 α 0.5831 + 800.4 s hyd 1.371 α 1.022 , and where α=pc/c and c is a scaling variable with dimensions of pressure. The method further includes adjusting a field operation based on the Young's modulus of the sediment-hydrate system. |
| US08301381B2 |
Method for the characterization of geological formations
A method for determining the water saturation of an underground formation traversed by a borehole, the method composing: determining a first parameter (μ) that is representative of the critical exponent of the electrical conductivity of the formation: determining a second parameter (Wc or Sc or φc) that is representative of the formation percolation threshold; measuring a first set of formation properties; and combining, said first set of formation properties, first and second parameters in order to determine the water saturation (Sw) of said underground formation. |
| US08301380B2 |
Systems and methods for generating electronic records of locate and marking operations
Systems and methods for generating electronic records of locate operations and marking operations are described. Exemplary systems and methods include marking devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of marking information, locate devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of locate information, and locate devices and marking devices that communicate with each other (and optionally with other devices or systems) to share/exchange locate information and/or marking information. An exemplary method for analyzing and processing locate information and marking information includes a computer-implemented method for visually rendering (e.g., in a display field of a display device) various aspects of locate and marking operations. |
| US08301379B2 |
Method of interpolation between a plurality of observed tensors
A method of interpolation between a plurality of field gradient tensors including the steps of: accessing a plurality of field gradient data; formatting said plurality of field gradient data into 3-dimensional tensors of rank 2; determining a rotational matrix and a structural matrix for each tensor; interpolating said structural matrices; detecting errors in the raw data only apparent using the rotational component. interpolating said rotational matrices as quaternions on the surface of a unit 4-sphere; reconstructing said structural matrices and said rotational matrices to yield field gradient tensors at the interpolation points, wherein the interpolation is between two said field gradient tensors, the field gradient tensors being expressed as 3×3 matrices of values, each resolved into a rotational matrix and a structural matrix with three diagonal components. |
| US08301374B2 |
Position estimation for ground vehicle navigation based on landmark identification/yaw rate and perception of landmarks
A landmark-based method of estimating the position of an AGV (autonomous ground vehicle) or conventional vehicle, which has an onboard database of landmarks and their locations coordinates. During travel, the AGV looks for and identifies landmarks. It navigates according to position estimations that are based on measured yaw rate and speed. When a landmark s encountered and recognized, its true location coordinates are looked up from the database. These true coordinates are then used to enhance position estimation accuracy between landmarks. |
| US08301368B1 |
Electronic kit bag
The Electronic Kit Bag (EKB) is a computerized, portable pilot “kit bag” that accepts input data, manipulates said data, and outputs solutions. The EKB has standard and state-of-the-art computer parts and peripherals, interfaced for maximum utility. The central operating program of the device assesses the relationships of input data through logic based, three-dimensional decision-making algorithm. Data output is utilized either directly by the user, by the user through an aircraft system, or directly from the EKB to an aircraft system or autopilot. |
| US08301364B2 |
Method of operating a navigation system to provide geographic location information
A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide geographic location information is provided. The method comprises receiving a query text string representing a query for a geographic location from a user and obtaining data records that represent a plurality of candidate geographic locations. The method computes a text matching score that indicates how much of the query text string matches a record text string of the candidate geographic location and applies a usage pattern weight to the text matching score to obtain an overall score value for the candidate geographic location. The candidate geographic locations are ranked based on the overall score values. |
| US08301362B2 |
Method and system for generating a diagnostic signal of an engine component using an in-cylinder pressure sensor
A method and a control module for diagnosing an engine component function includes a comparison module comparing an in-cylinder pressure signal to a threshold and a fault indication module generating a diagnostic signal for an engine component in response to comparing. |
| US08301358B2 |
Method of engine starting
An engine starting method is disclosed. In one example, engine operation is adjusted to reduce catalyst light off time. Exhaust temperatures may be increased until a threshold engine temperature is reached. |
| US08301357B2 |
Variable operation angle mechanism and apparatus for and method of controlling engine
The present invention relates to a variable operation angle mechanism that can improve engine performance at transient operation by optimally setting a ratio between change amounts of opening and closing timings accompanying a variation in valve operation angle of intake valve, and relates to an apparatus for and a method of controlling an engine including the variable operation angle mechanism. In the variable operation angle mechanism, ratio RIVO of change amount of opening timing IVO of intake valve to change amount of valve operation angle is set to be 20% or more and 40% or less, and preferably, to be 30%. In engine including a variable valve timing mechanism varying a rotating phase of intake camshaft relative to crankshaft and the variable operation angle mechanism, a target phase change amount varied by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected for phase change amount accompanying the variation in the valve operation angle. |
| US08301353B2 |
Vehicle motion control device and control method
A vehicle motion control device and method computes a size of a using friction circle in each of wheels by multiplying a size of an each wheel friction circle indicating a maximum generating force in each of the wheel tires by a previously computed each wheel using percentage, computes the each wheel tire generating force and the each wheel using percentage indicating a rate with respect to an upper limit value of a μ-using efficiency in each of the wheels, and controls a vehicle motion in such a manner that the computed each wheel tire generating force is obtained on the basis of the computed each wheel tire generating force, thereby minimizing an upper limit of the μ-using efficiency in each of the wheels. |
| US08301352B2 |
Transmission power control parameter calculation method and device
A cubic metric calculator performs a calculation of a time average of power of the amplitude of a transmission signal when a cubic metric value is calculated as a product-sum operation between a transmission power-dependent term including an amplitude value depending on the transmission power of a transmission signal and a time average term including only a modulation parameter not depending on the transmission power of the transmission signal. When the transmission signal is transmitted, the operator inputs the amplitude value to calculate the transmission power-dependent term, reads the value of the time average term from coefficient memory, and performs the product-sum operation using an operation result of the transmission power-dependent term and the read value of the time average term, thereby calculating a time average of the power of the amplitude of the transmission signal. |
| US08301351B2 |
Gear shift system for vehicle, control method and control device for automatic transmission
A parameter α(OUT) having an accelerator pedal position, a vehicle speed and a drive force as components is set according to information representing a driver's operation and information representing running environment of a vehicle. A gear is set according to the parameter α(OUT) and a map determining the gear based on the accelerator pedal position, the vehicle speed and the drive force. A gear shift line is defined such that a rate of increase of the drive force with respect to the vehicle speed is zero or more. A down-shift line is defined such that the drive force decreases with increase in accelerator pedal position. Down-shift after up-shift as well as the up-shift after the down-shift are inhibited when both a condition that an amount of change of the accelerator pedal position after last gear shift is larger than a threshold and a condition that an amount of change of the drive force after the last gear shift is larger than the threshold are satisfied. |
| US08301346B2 |
Traveling system for construction equipment
A traveling system for construction equipment is provided, which can secure an initial traveling manipulability regardless of a low-speed traveling or a high-speed traveling. If the high-speed traveling is selected and the traveling is manipulated, the inclination angle of a swash plate of a hydraulic pump is variably controlled, so that the discharge flow rate of the hydraulic pump exceeds a predetermined flow rate in comparison to the low-speed traveling. |
| US08301343B2 |
Vehicle behavior control device
A vehicle including a vehicle behavior control device in an ECU. The vehicle behavior control device obtains a line of sight direction of the driver of the vehicle by a line of sight detecting sensor for detecting the line of sight of the driver from an eye movement of the driver. The vehicle behavior control device decides a targeted traveling direction of the vehicle based on the obtained line of sight direction of the driver. Then, the vehicle behavior control device controls a rear wheel steering device such that a front-rear direction of the vehicle faces the targeted traveling direction of the vehicle. |
| US08301342B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus
In an electric power steering apparatus including a charge-discharge circuit 16 that selectively configures a first output mode in which only a main power supply including a battery 9 is used to supply an electric power to a motor 4 or a second output mode in which the main power supply and an auxiliary power supply 14 are used to supply the electric power to the motor 4, and a control circuit 6 that selects the output mode of the charge-discharge circuit 16 according to the electric power required for steering assist, the control circuit 6 selects the second output mode when the electric power required for steering assist in the first output mode becomes equal to or higher than an upward threshold value P1 or selects the first output mode when the electric power required for steering assist in the second output mode becomes equal to or lower than a downward threshold value P2 that is lower than the upward threshold value P1. |
| US08301337B2 |
Analog/digital conversion circuit, semiconductor device, and electric power steering controlling unit
The present invention provides a method in which a counting source is provided in data after analog/digital conversion to lessen a load placed when new and old data after the conversion are compared to each other. A log function is prepared in an A/D conversion controlling circuit. The log function latches the output of a counter in a 12-bit digital/analog converter at the timing of outputting a pulse from a comparator to determine data written into a data register group. In the case where a setting item related to log output in an ADCR is set at 1, not only the output of the 12-bit digital/analog converter, but also the output of a timer counter of an MTU is latched as a log. |
| US08301331B2 |
Method and device for the calibration or diagnosis of a motor vehicle brake system having a cyclically operated pump
A method for the calibration or diagnosis of a motor vehicle brake system having a cyclically operated pump. At least one parameter (URPOff), representing the electromotor force of the reference pump, is repeatedly ascertained during operation of a reference pump under defined guidelines. A statistical characteristic variable (URPOff) is derived from the values of parameter (URPOff) ascertained for the reference pump. Parameter (UBPOff) is ascertained under a corresponding guideline during operation of an operating pump. Corresponding statistical characteristic variable (UBPOff) is derived from the values of parameter (UBPOff) ascertained for the operating pump. At least one ratio number is calculated as a measure of the deviation of the operating behavior of the operating pump from the operating behavior of the reference pump from the characteristic variable (URPOff) calculated for the reference pump and the characteristic variable (UBPOff) calculated for the operating pump. |
| US08301330B2 |
Method and system for providing supplemental services to telematics systems
The embodiments of the present innovation provide a method and system for providing supplemental services to telematics systems. The method and system receives data from a telematics provider in a non-proprietary format, parses the data, stores the data, provides the data to a third party application, obtains an output from the third party application, and transmits the output to a customer. The method and system may also receive data from any portable device, parse the data, store the data, provide the data to a third party application, obtain an output from the third party application, and transmit the output to a customer. |
| US08301324B2 |
Wobble compensation of an encoder speed signal for an electric motor
A vehicle includes a traction motor, a transmission, a speed encoder for the motor, and a control system. The control system compensates for angular wobble in an encoder signal. The control system receives, via a hybrid control processor (HCP), the encoder signal from the speed encoder, and determines a set of wobble characteristics of the encoder signal below a threshold motor speed. The control system also calculates a wobble-compensated speed value via the HCP using the wobble characteristics, and uses the wobble-compensated speed value as at least part of the input signals when controlling the motor. A lookup table tabulates a learned wobble value relative to the angular position value, and a learned wobble value is subtracted from a current angular wobble value to generate an error-adjusted wobble value. A method compensates for wobble in the encoder signal using the above control system. |
| US08301322B2 |
Apparatus and method for activating system of vehicle
Until a vehicle system is activated, a switching circuit outputs a pilot signal to an OR circuit. As a result, lowering of the potential of the pilot signal caused by a resistance circuit is avoided, and the pilot signal is provided in a non-pulsed manner. A power supply CPU is activated in accordance with any one of a connector signal and the non-pulsed pilot signal. When the vehicle system is activated, the switching circuit switches an output destination of the pilot signal to the resistance circuit. |
| US08301321B2 |
Control apparatus
A control device corrects the alignment of wheels of a vehicle during travel to improve fuel consumption performance. Operating conditions of a suspension device (alignment adjustment device) are controlled by alignment control while the vehicle is traveling, and when the alignment of the wheels is adjusted, travel resistance of the vehicle increases or decreases. The control device detects the travel resistance of the vehicle based on the value of an electric current supplied to a wheel drive device (electric motor), and the alignment of the wheels is adjusted so that the travel resistance of the vehicle decreases. As a result, the alignment of the wheels during travel is adjusted to a correct state to improve fuel consumption performance. |
| US08301318B2 |
Robotic vehicle remote control system having a virtual operator environment
A control system for a remotely operated vehicle is disclosed. The control system includes a sensor tracking system configured to sense the remotely operated vehicle. The control system is coupled to the sensor tracking system and is configured to remotely control the remotely operated vehicle. The control system includes a synthetic view generator configured to construct a virtual model of the remotely operated vehicle and its surrounding environment based upon an input from the sensor tracking system. The control system also includes a graphical user interface configured to display a synthetic view of the virtual model. In addition, the control system includes a synthetic viewer control configured to manipulate an orientation of the synthetic view. |
| US08301314B2 |
System and method for providing voltage regulation in a power distribution network
A system, device and method for regulating the voltage at a customer premises that is supplied power via a first medium voltage power line is provided. In one embodiment, the method of using a computer system comprises determining medium voltage (MV) data comprising data of the voltage supplied to the first medium voltage power line at a plurality of times, storing the MV data for each of the plurality of times in a memory, determining current data comprising data of a current supplied to the medium voltage power line at the plurality of times, storing the current data at each of the plurality of times in memory in association with the voltage data of the same time. In addition, the method includes receiving low voltage data comprising data of a voltage measurement of a low voltage power line conductor at the customer premises at a plurality of times, storing at least some of the low voltage data in memory in association with MV data that corresponds to the voltage supplied to the first medium voltage power line during the voltage measurement of the low voltage power line conductor, and determining a supply voltage to be supplied to the first medium voltage power line based on the current data stored in memory, MV data stored in memory, and the low voltage data stored in memory. |
| US08301306B1 |
Control system for machine that cleans drums of ready mixed concrete trucks
A control apparatus for an apparatus that cleans the drum of a ready mixed concrete truck includes a CAN-bus control system that includes a nozzle lance position encoder, a boom position encoder, a human-machine interface, a programmable logic controller, and monitors for an engine, hydraulic valves, and pressure sensors. The nozzle lance position encoder includes a rotary encoder, a bi-directional motor, a nozzle lance including a nozzle adapted to discharge water under high pressure, and a swivel assembly to which the nozzle lance is mounted for reciprocating motion. The programmable logic controller enables an operator to control the range of oscillation of the nozzle lance by inputting a desired range of oscillation into the programmable logic controller. An operator can also control extension and retraction of an elongate boom by inputting a desired rate of extension and retraction into the programmable logic controller. |
| US08301304B2 |
Detecting apparatus and method of robot cleaner
A detecting apparatus and method of a robot cleaner is disclosed. The apparatus includes a detecting unit provided with a transmitting unit for sending a signal to detect the floor and a receiving unit for receiving a signal sent from the transmitting unit to be reflected on the floors an optic angle adjusting unit disposed at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit and configured to adjust optic angles of the signals, and a light shielding unit configured to partially shield a signal sent through the optic angle adjusting unit in order to reduce a deviation of each signal of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit. Accordingly, a measurement deviation with respect to color and feel of the floor can be reduced. Also, an amount of light received at the receiving unit can be obtained as much as required, which allows an accurate detection of the detecting apparatus. In addition, even if there are both drop-off and bump on the floor, the robot cleaner can smoothly operate. |
| US08301300B2 |
System and method for smart card personalization
A smart card personalization system maintains a database containing card issuer data format templates, card applications, card operating system commands, and personalization equipment specifications and provides a centralized interface of inputs and outputs to a card issuing process which dynamically adjusts to changes in the issuing process to easily permit a card issuer to change data formats, card applications, card operating systems and/or personalization equipment in a card issuing process. The system interfaces to any card issuer management system, manages the transfer of cardholder data and card applications to the particular personalization equipment used, and maintains statistics for real-time and off-line inquiries to support critical management and reporting functions. Furthermore, the system works with a variety of security methodologies to prevent fraud. |
| US08301298B2 |
System and method for parcel singulation based on collision detection
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for detecting collisions of parcels on a moving conveyor belt, including the steps of representing each belt with a rectangular cell mesh of columns and rows, for each parcel on the belt system, identifying those cells on a belt where each parcel contacts the belt, marking a parcel's new cell position after a predetermined time frame in a direction parallel to the motion, for each marked cell, incrementing a corresponding collision detector counter in a collision detection table, marking a parcel's new cell position after the predetermined time frame in a direction perpendicular to the motion, for each marked cell, incrementing a corresponding collision detector counter in the collision detection table, and checking the collision detector counter value in each cell, where a value greater than or equal to 3 indicates a parcel collision. |
| US08301295B2 |
Method and arrangement of devices for processing mail items addressed to post office box systems within a postal transportation and mail distribution system
A system and method for processing mailpieces within a mail transportation and distribution system includes first and second distribution centers, and an electronic parcel compartment facility located near the second center. Data, about the mailpiece and recipient, is acquired from the mailpiece. Destination information for a compartment facility is associated with the mailpiece. The information is compared with a registered customer database. A re-routing instruction is ascertained from the customer data. The second center is ascertained. The mailpiece is sorted in the first center based on the destination. Data about the mailpiece and destination is transmitted to a second data processor of the second center. The mailpiece is transported to the second center. Information identifying the mailpiece is acquired with a reading device. The destination is determined based on information identifying the mailpiece, which is sorted based on the destination. The information is transmitted to a mobile device. |
| US08301294B1 |
Method and apparatus for sensing correct item placement for multi-destination picking
Method and apparatus for multi-destination pick using motes. In embodiments, each receptacle may be assigned to a destination and may have a sensor that detects when an item is placed in the receptacle to deactivate the indicator and/or to verify that the item was placed in the correct receptacle. The sensor may be coupled via a wired or wireless connection to a mote that may include a communication interface for communicating with a control system and with other motes in an ad-hoc network. In some embodiments, each mote may also include an indicator that may be activated by a control system to indicate to the agent that the receptacle is the destination receptacle for a picked item. The agent may then place the item in the indicated destination receptacle. In one embodiment, the mote on the destination receptacle may be activated when the picked item is scanned by the agent. |
| US08301293B2 |
Process integration determining system and method
A machined shape determining step of determining a machined shape machined by a basic tooling or basic tooling template of each machining efficiency group from a material shape (S19), a tooling determining step of determining an optimal tooling comprising a combination of a tool, a holder and a tool projection length on the basis of information of the tools and the holders, stored in a tool holder information storage unit, the combination having a maximum machining efficiency and being able to form the material shape into a corresponding one of the machined shapes without interfering with the machined shape (S20), a process candidate determining step of determining an optimal process candidate using the optimal tooling of each machining efficiency group (S21), and a process determining step of determining an optimal process on the basis of the optimal process candidate of each machining efficiency group (S10), are executed. |
| US08301292B2 |
Sewing machine and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing sewing machine control program
A sewing machine that includes a body, an embroidery frame moving mechanism, an image capture device, a specifying device, a determining device, a setting device, a positioning device, and an acquiring device. The image capture device is provided with a function to capture a plurality of images of the sewing object under a plurality of image capture conditions, respectively. The plurality of the image capture conditions correspond to different effective image capture ranges. The specifying device specifies, as a specific range, a range on the sewing object. The determining device determines a combination of a specific image capture condition and a positioning condition. The setting device sets the specific image capture condition as an actual image capture condition. The positioning device positions the embroidery frame in accordance with the positioning condition. The acquiring device acquires image data that corresponds to a specific effective image capture range. |
| US08301290B2 |
System and method for correcting systematic parametric variations on integrated circuit chips in order to minimize circuit limited yield loss
Disclosed are a system and a method of correcting systematic, design-based, parametric variations on integrated circuit chips to minimize circuit limited yield loss. Processing information and a map of a chip are stored. The processing information can indicate an impact, on a given device parameter, of changes in a value for a specification associated with a given process step. The map can indicate regional variations in the device parameter (e.g., threshold voltage). Based on the processing information and using the map as a guide, different values for the specification are determined, each to be applied in a different region of the integrated circuit chip during the process step in order to offset the mapped regional parametric variations. A process tool can then be selectively controlled to ensure that during chip manufacturing the process step is performed accordingly and, thereby to ensure that the regional parametric variations are minimized. |
| US08301289B2 |
Defect detection method of display device and defect detection apparatus of display device
A defect detecting method of a display device includes a defect counting process that measuring a feature amount for each partial region of a display device (P32), and counting regions which is determined as a defective portion based on the measured feature amount of the region (P36), a process that stopping a manufacturing line of the display device when a number of defects counted at the defect counting process is greater than a first threshold value (P38, P42), a defect density calculating process that calculating a defect density in a predetermined area when the number of defects counted at the defect counting process is smaller than the first threshold value (P38), and a process that stopping the manufacturing line of the display device when the defect density calculated at the defect density calculating process is higher than a second threshold value (P40, P42). |
| US08301286B2 |
Remote high-performance computing material joining and material forming modeling system and method
A remote high-performance computing material joining and material forming modeling system (100) enables a remote user (10) using a user input device (20) to use high speed computing capabilities to model materials joining and material forming processes. The modeling system (100) includes an interface module (200), an application module (300), a computing module (400), and a scheduling module (500). The interface module (200) is in operative communication with the user input device (20), as well as the application module (300), the computing module (400), and the scheduling module (500). The application module (300) is in operative communication with the interface module (200) and the computing module (400). The scheduling module (500) is in operative communication with the interface module (200) and the computing module (400). Lastly, the computing module (400) is in operative communication with the interface module (200), the application module (300), and the scheduling module (500). |
| US08301280B2 |
Audio signal processing system
In an audio signal processing device having a plurality of tracks recording an audio signal supplied from any of a plurality of buses, when a track is selected in accordance with an operation by a user, a bus supplying the audio signal to the track is searched, and when an appropriate bus is found and it is judged affirmative that a signal input device having an indicator whose display contents can be controlled by the audio signal processing device supplies the audio signal to the found bus, control data for making an indicator corresponding to a transmission port supplying the audio signal to the found bus perform a display indicating that the transmission port is connected to the selected track. |
| US08301277B2 |
Dynamic display of a game spread
A display for conveying game information includes a bar graph and a coded legend. The bar graph has a first axis corresponding to spread values and a second axis corresponding to game time. Individual bars are plotted on the bar graph to indicate a spread between two scores at associated game times for a given game. The coded legend defining a first legend code indicating that a selected group of one or more players is active and a second legend code indicating that the selected group of one or more players is inactive. The individual bars plotted on the bar graph are coded according to the coded legend to associate the spread with activity and inactivity of the selected group of one or more players in the game. |
| US08301276B2 |
Control device for the position control of a hydraulic cylinder unit comprising a linearization unit
A control device for the position control of a hydraulic cylinder unit has a controller which receives a set and an actual piston position and determines a preliminary manipulated variable based on the difference of the set and actual positions. A linearization unit multiplies the variable with a linearization factor and outputs it to the valve control unit so that the piston is adjusted at an adjustment speed. The linearization unit determines the factor dynamically as a function of the actual piston position and of working pressures that prevail at both piston sides. The linearization factor is determined such that a ratio of the adjustment speed to the difference of the set and actual positions is independent of the actual position and the working pressures. In the specific case where the controller is configured as a P controller, the order of the controller and the linearization unit can be reversed. |
| US08301275B2 |
Modified proportional integral derivative controller
A method and device for controlling a process variable based upon a set point is disclosed. A process variable is measured, and a proportional term is assigned to a manipulated variable that is based upon a product of a proportional gain coefficient and an error magnitude between the process variable and the set point. An integral term is added to the manipulated variable under a first set of conditions, and a derivative term is added to the manipulated variable under a second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions. The sum of the proportional term, the integral term, and the derivative term is output, resulting in the process variable being responsively adjusted thereto. |
| US08301274B2 |
Method for managing product segments of product production rules
An effective method for managing product segments of product production rules within a manufacturing execution system adapted for providing a final product includes the following steps: a) each one of a plurality of sets of product segments are associated within one of a set of product production rules which are stored in a database under a reference standard product production rule (like a simple “manufacture of a car”); b) a command (e.g. from an operator) is inputted to the database for performing one of following selectable operations: i) add a new product segment; ii) remove one of previous product segment; iii) replace a previous product segment by a new one; c) a further set of new product production rules comprising previous product segments and a further product segment (related to the selectable operation and automatically detected in each product production rule) are introduced in the database; d) an indicator related to the selected operation (i, ii, iii) is inserted in said new product production rule. Finally, e) an algebraic operation is performed on all product segments of both the reference standard product production rule and the new product production rules (for example it performs an addition of the product segments), so that the algebraic operation delivers a final standard product production rule resulting from one of the selected operations of adding i), removing ii), replacing iii). |
| US08301272B2 |
Active materials-based compliant mechanisms
A compliant mechanism includes a body that is configured to generate a mechanical output in response to a mechanical input. The body has at least one region formed by an active material. The compliant mechanism also includes at least one activation device configured to selectively apply an activation signal to the at least one region. The active material is configured to undergo a change in modulus in response to the activation signal such that the output is characterized by a first magnitude or direction when the activation device applies the activation signal and a second magnitude or direction when the activation device does not apply the activation signal. |
| US08301269B2 |
Implantable carrier member having a non-communicative lumen
A non-communicative lumen for electrode assemblies of medical implants, in particular prosthetic hearing implants, is provided by the present invention. The non-communicative lumen prevents the lumen within the cochlea from being able to transport fluids, cells, bacteria, tissue, etc., with the lumen outside the cochlea, and vis versa through the incision or cochleostomy. The lumen may have a cavity or slit that receives a stylet during insertion of the electrode assembly. |
| US08301265B2 |
Selective depth electrode deployment for electrical stimulation
The invention is directed toward stimulation of a selected tissue layer. A device is attached to a target tissue by applying vacuum pressure to a vacuum cavity of the device and advancing a needle into tissue within the vacuum cavity. The depth on the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment at the selected tissue layer. In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward an implantable medical device comprising a device housing defining a vacuum cavity, and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity, an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the device housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity, and a lead comprising at least one conductor coupled to the electrode. |
| US08301263B2 |
Therapy module crosstalk mitigation
A first implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a patient may communicate with a second IMD implanted within the patient by encoding information in an electrical stimulation signal. The delivery of the electrical stimulation signal may provide therapeutic benefits to the patient. The second IMD may sense the electrical stimulation signal, which may be presented as an artifact in a sensed cardiac signal, and process the sensed signal to retrieve the encoded information. The second IMD may modify its operation based on the received therapy information. Crosstalk between the first and second IMDs may be reduced using various techniques described herein. For example, the first IMD may generate the electrical stimulation signal to include a spread spectrum energy distribution or a predetermined signal signature. The second IMD may effectively remove a least some of the signal artifact in a sensed cardiac signal based on the predetermined signal signature. |
| US08301259B2 |
Using a genetic algorithm to fit a cochlear implant system to a patient
Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a cochlear implant system to a patient is described, comprising: executing a genetic algorithm to select values for a subset of one or more parameters selected from a plurality of parameters for which values are to be selected to fit the implant, wherein said genetic algorithm is operable to generate one or more successive generations of values for said parameter subset; and determining, based on patient feedback, said values of said values for said parameter subset in each of said one or more successive generations. |
| US08301250B2 |
Intelligent control system for adaptive cardiac resynchronization therapy device
An adaptive CRT control system that achieves optimal AV delay and VV pacing intervals associated with temporal patterns of stroke volumes that represent internally the heart conditions is disclosed. The adaptive CRT control system includes: (a) at least two implanted electrodes in patient heart and at least additional one hemodynamic sensor able to indicate the stroke volume heartbeat after heartbeat; (b) an input pre processing stage synchronizer priority classifier that synchronize on the sensed atrial event, classify heart conditions and associate the learned optimal pacing intervals according to prioritized operational modes and learning schemes; (c) a learning module that with the input stage synchronizer priority classifier processes the inputs of the implanted electrodes and hemodynamic sensor and using a reinforcement learning scheme learns to achieve and to associate optimal pacing intervals at each heart condition with temporal patterns of stroke volumes; (d) an algorithmic micro-controller module that supervises the learning module and control a pulse generator module, and (f) a pulse generator that delivers therapeutic stimulation to the patient heart. |
| US08301249B2 |
Systems and methods for exploiting the tip or ring conductor of an implantable medical device lead during an MRI to reduce lead heating and the risks of MRI-induced stimulation
Systems and methods are provided for reducing heating within pacing/sensing leads of a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator that occurs due to induced radio frequency (RF) currents during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure, or in the presence of other sources of strong RF fields. For example, bipolar coaxial leads are described wherein the ring conductor of the lead is disconnected from the ring electrode via a switch in response to detection of MRI fields to convert the ring conductor into an RF shield for shielding the inner tip conductor of the lead so as to reduce the strength of RF currents induced therein and hence reduce tip heating. Other exemplary leads are described wherein a band stop filter is instead used to block RF signals to likewise convert the ring conductor into an RF shield. The switches and band stop filters also help to prevent MRI-induced stimulation. |
| US08301248B1 |
Sequenced and simultaneous stimulation for treating congestive heart failure
A patient's ejection fraction is maximized through simultaneous sensing and stimulating across multiple electrodes. In one exemplary embodiment, a catheter or lead having multiple electrodes connected to a pulse generator is used. The pulse generator provides individual current control of the stimulus applied to each electrode, and further includes the ability to sense intrinsic and evoked depolarization through multiple electrodes. In another exemplary embodiment, a multiplicity of individual implantable microstimulators, each having its own current source and/or sensor and electrodes, cooperate in concert to provide multi-site stimulation and sensing. |
| US08301245B2 |
Energy delivery apparatus and method
There is provided an energy delivery device comprising a storage device, a discharge circuit and a disarm circuit. The discharge circuit comprises a switch electrically connected to the storage device, and is selectively operable to deliver energy from the storage device to a load, e.g., a patient needing defibrillation, preferably in a multiphasic waveform. The disarm circuit comprises the switch. Preferably, the discharge circuit comprises an H-bridge circuit. There are also provided delivery devices: which comprise a shoot-through elimination circuit; which include housing elements which, when assembled, cause electrical connection between respective components; which include a housing having a small volume and an energy storage device having a large capacitance; which comprise a shunt circuit which, when activated, prevents switching of a switch. There are also provided methods of assembly and disassembly of an energy delivery unit and methods of delivering energy to a load. |
| US08301242B2 |
Method and apparatus for a small power source for an implantable device
One example includes a battery that includes a stack of at least one substantially planar anode and at least one substantially planar cathode, wherein the stack defines a contoured exterior, and a battery housing enclosing the stack, the battery housing defining a battery housing exterior, wherein the contoured exterior of the stack is shaped to conform to a contoured interior of the battery housing that approximately conforms to the battery housing exterior, the battery produced by the process of modeling, using fluid dynamics, an exterior of a biocompatible housing and shaping the battery housing to conform to at least some of the exterior of the biocompatible housing. |
| US08301237B2 |
Biofeedback system and display device
A biofeedback system and a display device for the use in the biofeedback system. Also disclosed is a method for a biofeedback treatment of a person or an animal. Biofeedback is a therapy method which is used in rehabilitation facilities, for example in the neurological rehabilitation. A neural signal magnitude below a certain threshold does not result in a muscle response, for example, because the provided stimulus is insufficient to trigger the muscle. In order to provide a patient with an intuitive feedback of the sub-threshold neural signal nevertheless, the signal is detected and made recognizable to the patient. |
| US08301233B2 |
Detecting a condition of a patient using a probability-correlation based model
Techniques are described for detecting a condition of a patient using a probability-correlation based model that integrates a plurality of parameters associated with the condition. A medical device that operates in accordance with the techniques obtains a plurality of parameters associated with the condition of the patient. The medical device obtains probabilities that the condition of the patient exists based on each single parameter separately and correlations between each of the parameters and the other ones of the parameters. After obtaining the probabilities and correlations associated with each of the parameters, the medical device determines whether the condition of the patient exists based on the determined probabilities and correlations. Such techniques may be particularly effective for use in distinguishing whether a rhythm of a patient is treatable, e.g., VT or VF, or non-treatable, e.g., SVT. |
| US08301232B2 |
Wireless, ultrasonic personal health monitoring system
A personal monitoring device has a sensor assembly configured to sense physiological signals upon contact with a user's skin. The sensor assembly produces electrical signals representing the sensed physiological signals. A converter assembly, integrated with, and electrically connected to the sensor assembly, converts the electrical signals generated by the sensor assembly to a frequency modulated inaudible ultrasonic sound signal. The ultrasonic signal is demodulated from an aliased signal produced by undersampling. |
| US08301230B2 |
Method for reducing baseline drift in a biological signal
A computer-based method for reducing or eliminating baseline drift from a biological (bio) signal includes the steps of dividing the bio signal into a plurality of shorter signals having fixed time intervals, fitting a corresponding portion of a baseline function to a baseline of a respective one of each of the shorter signals, and subtracting the baseline function from the bio signal, resulting in a bio signal with a flat baseline. |
| US08301220B2 |
Medical system comprising a detection device for detecting an object and comprising a storage device and method thereof
The invention relates to a medical system comprising a detection device for detecting an object in at least two dimensions by x-rays. The detection device is constructed to detect the object and to produce data comprising a 2D data record or a sequence of 2D data records over time representing the object in a projection through the object in two dimensions and to output the data. The medical system comprises at least one storage device with a data input actively connected to the detection device and which is constructed to receive the data at the input side and to write on a storage medium, in particular a portable storage medium, in such a way that the storage medium represents the data so it can be read out again. The medical system is constructed to digitally transmit the data from the detection device through to the storage device. |
| US08301219B2 |
Patient monitoring systems and methods
Various systems and methods are provided for monitoring patient physiological data without the need for adhesives or wires to be connected to a patient. The system is also fully functional without the need for manipulation or intervention by a care provider or medical personnel. In particular, the system can include a pad having a plurality of electrical contacts or electrodes formed thereon in a predetermined pattern. The electrodes can be configured to sense electrical signals produced by a patient's body. A controller in communication with the electrodes can be configured to select and process signals from the electrodes and send the information derived from the electrical signals to an output device for displaying resulting physiological data so that the patient can be monitored. |
| US08301217B2 |
Multiple wavelength sensor emitters
A physiological sensor is adapted to removably attach an emitter assembly and a detector assembly to a fingertip. The emitter assembly is adapted to transmit optical radiation having multiple wavelengths into fingertip tissue. The detector assembly is adapted to receive the optical radiation after attenuation by the fingertip tissue. The sensor has a first shell and a second shell hinged to the first shell. A spring is disposed between the shells and urges the shells together. |
| US08301215B2 |
Biosignal measurement apparatus
A biosignal measurement apparatus including: a bracelet membrane to wear around a user's wrist; a fixing supporter to install in a first side portion of the bracelet membrane and to support a first side portion of the wrist; a moving supporter to install in a second side portion of the bracelet membrane, to move towards the fixing supporter, and closely to attach to a second side portion of the wrist; and an information control unit to calculate a distance between the first side portion of the wrist and the second side portion of the wrist by detecting a movement distance of the moving supporter, and to calculate a displacement of the radial artery of the wrist by using a predetermined constant and the calculated distance between the first side portion of the wrist and the second side portion of the wrist. |
| US08301214B1 |
System and method for providing multi-conductive layer metallic interconnects for superconducting integrated circuits
Superconducting integrated circuits require several wiring layers to distribute bias and signals across the circuit, which must cross each other both with and without contacts. All wiring lines and contacts must be fully superconducting, and in the prior art each wiring layer comprises a single metallic thin film. An alternative wiring layer is disclosed that comprises sequential layers of two or more different metals. Such a multi-metallic wiring layer may offer improved resistance to impurity diffusion, better surface passivation, and/or reduction of stress, beyond that which is attainable with a single-metallic wiring layer. The resulting process leads to improved margin and yield in an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions. Several preferred embodiments are disclosed, for both planarized and non-planarized processes. These preferred and other methods may be applied to digital circuits based on Rapid Single Flux Quantum logic, and to quantum computing using Josephson junction qubits. |
| US08301206B2 |
In-vehicle apparatus with handsfree function
An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus establishes concurrent connection between a BT interface device and a cellular phone with respect to a handsfree profile (HFP) for realizing a handsfree phone call, a message access profile (MAP) for realizing a mail transfer, and an audio video profile (AVP) for realizing an audio data transfer. During a duration of the concurrent connection being established, a disconnection request of HFP or MAP occurs. In such a case, MAP is disconnected in conjunction with having disconnected HFP, or HFP is disconnected in conjunction with having disconnected MAP. |
| US08301202B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal including a user input unit configured to receive user-inputs, a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal, at least one camera configured to capture images, a touchscreen configured to display a camera preview image captured by the camera, a position-location processor configured to obtain information on a current position of the mobile terminal, and a controller configured to display textual object information on the touchscreen identifying objects included within the preview image based on the obtained current position of the mobile terminal. |
| US08301200B1 |
Inputting data into a mobile device using a dynamically configured number pad
Systems, products, and methods are disclosed for facilitating a method of receiving data from a keypad of the mobile communications device. One embodiment of the method includes receiving input by way of a given key of the keypad and then dynamically configuring that given key to be a “5” key. In this way, input received by way of this given key will be received as the Arabic numeral “5” regardless of a prior configuration associated with that key. A final illustrative step includes dynamically mapping numerical values to the eight surrounding keys that surround the newly configured “5” key. |
| US08301198B2 |
Transmission method and related base station
The invention relates to transmission from a base station to a receiver, the base station comprising first radiating means arranged for transmitting according to an antenna pattern with respect to the receiver and further comprising second radiating means arranged for transmitting according to the same antenna pattern as the first radiating means with respect to the receiver, the transmissions of the first and second radiating means being time shifted by a determined duration. |
| US08301197B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing contacts stored on smart card with contacts stored in an internal memory
A mobile handset includes a processor configured with software to automatically synchronize the phone book records stored on a smart card and internally in memory. The synchronization process determines if duplicate contact records exist in the target phone book, and whether the synchronization copies records from the smart card to internal memory, or vice versa, before copying contact records. If a duplicate contact record exists, then the copying process is cancelled. The synchronization process may be automatically initiated any time the contact records in the internal memory and the smart card differ. |
| US08301196B2 |
Reconfigurable wireless modem adapter including diversity/MIMO modems
A reconfigurable wireless modem adapter is provided. The reconfigurable wireless modem adapter includes a control board and a radio frequency switch. The control board includes at least two user-data interfaces for respective at least two modems, the modems including at least one diversity/multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) modem. The control board is configured to communicatively couple to at least one onboard system in a vehicle and to activate one of the at least one diversity/MIMO modem interfaced to one of the at least two user-data interfaces. The radio frequency switch is communicatively coupled to the control board via a modem-select interface and the selected one of the at least one diversity/MIMO modem. The radio frequency switch communicatively couples one of at least one diversity/MIMO antenna on the vehicle to the selected one of the at least one diversity/MIMO modem based on a control signal. |
| US08301195B2 |
Systems and methods for mobile data storage and acquisition
Various data acquisition, storage and/or distribution systems and devices are described herein. As one example, a mobile data acquisition and distribution device is described. The device includes a non-volatile storage medium, a wireless interface, and a processor. The non-volatile storage medium includes instructions executable by the processor to: receive a user data set, and to store the user data set to the non-volatile storage medium. The instructions are further executable by the processor to receive a request initiated through a remote user interface via the wireless interface. Where the request is to provide the user data set to a recipient device, the instructions are further executable by the processor to provide the user data set to the recipient device via the wireless interface. |
| US08301193B1 |
Differential planes for video I/O in a hearing impaired application
A mobile communications device, method, and medium are provided for enhanced video communications for hearing-impaired users. A hearing-impaired call mode can be selected by a user, causing the device to establish a hearing-impaired call mode configuration. Establishing a hearing-impaired call mode configuration can include disabling a microphone and speakers and enabling an adjustable camera. The adjustable camera can tilt, pan, change focus, and the like to maintain a region of interest within a viewing angle of the camera. |
| US08301191B2 |
Method and apparatus for integrated communication services provisioning for health care community
A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing an integrated communication services (ICS) network that permits wireless and wireline data subscribers to share information on a hospital campus using wireless or wireline local area networks, or to seamlessly tap into the facility's central database while in transit away from the hospital. Users interface with the ICS network through the use of a point of care terminal that resembles a clipboard and accepts data entry from a stylus on an touch screen. The central database, referred to as the integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) is adapted to store a communication profile for every network server on the ICS network. The ICC also maintains a Global Patient Profile (GPP), consisting of a patient profile for every patient ever added to the network. The GPP provides the ICC with the capability of providing aggregated data and demographic information (with or without patient identification), creating “live” public health statistics through a single query to a central server. To access the ICS, a user at a point of care terminal can utilize several paths in order to deliver data to its destination. This may include existing off-the-shelf PCMCIA based peripherals such as: wireless LANS, standard wired Ethernet LAN, a land line Modem, or wireless wide area networks. The wireless wide area networks may also include several data paths such as a circuit switched cellular, or packet based Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). The actual selection of a particular channel will be service-dependent and a function of the user whereabouts, the desired quality of the connection, and the costs of the connection. |
| US08301190B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting a multi-band access point to associate with a multi-band mobile station
A method and apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of multi-band access points (APs) to associate with a multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. The multi-band APs broadcast frequency band information regarding multiple frequency bands on which the multi-band AP is configured to operate. The multi-band WTRU selects a particular multi-band AP to associate with and a frequency band to use to communicate with the selected multi-band AP based on the frequency band information. If the multi-band WTRU receives frequency band information from the selected multi-band AP which indicates that a characteristic, (e.g., throughput, path loss, load, capacity, backhaul), of the selected frequency band is unacceptable, the multi-band WTRU determines whether to disassociate with the selected multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the selected multi-band AP via a different frequency band. |
| US08301189B1 |
Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a multimode terminal when performing IP communications
An apparatus for reducing power consumption in an IP (Internet Protocol) communications device. The apparatus may include a high-power consumption main application processor and a low-power consumption application processor to share processor functions. The high-power consumption application processor may carry out functions related to the user interface of the device, signaling and control path. The low-power consumption application processor may implement IP processing, voice signal processing and video signal processing. |
| US08301186B2 |
Enhanced sensitivity radio frequency front end circuit
An enhanced sensitivity radio frequency (RF) front end circuit includes a transformer configured to convert a balanced transmit signal to an unbalanced transmit signal and to convert a second filtered receive signal to a balanced receive signal. A switch in a first state receives the unbalanced transmit signal from the transformer and transfers the unbalanced transmit signal to an amplifier circuit and receives an amplified transmit signal from the amplifier circuit and transfers the amplified transmit signal to a filter. In a second state, the switch receives a first filtered receive signal from the filter and transfers the first filtered receive signal to the amplifier circuit and receives a second filtered receive signal from the amplifier circuit and transfers the second filtered receive signal to the transformer. In a first state, the amplifier circuit receives the unbalanced transmit signal from the switch and amplifies the unbalanced transmit signal to generate the amplified transmit signal, and in a second state, the amplifier circuit receives the first filtered receive signal from the switch and attenuates selected first frequencies to generate the second filtered receive signal. |
| US08301177B2 |
Efficient paging operation for femtocell deployment
Efficient paging operation for femtocell deployment is generally presented. In this regard, a paging controller is introduced including a wired backbone interface to communicate with a plurality of macro base stations and a plurality of femto base stations, and control logic, the control logic to generate a page for a mobile station, and the control logic to transmit the page over the wired backbone interface to a select subset of all base stations, wherein the select subset of all base stations includes base stations that the mobile station is authorized to access. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08301176B1 |
Increasing the stand-by time of wireless devices
The present disclosure describes a wireless user equipment (UE) device that can receive a communication signal that may be transmitted along a wireless channel. The wireless user equipment device can include a sleep deactivator that periodically activates wireless user equipment from a sleep mode periodically in advance of a periodically transmitted message, such as a paging indicator or a control message that is expected to be received within a slot of time. The wireless user equipment device can also include an element that can extract the message during multiple sub-intervals, a signal quality assessor that can a) assess the quality of the indicator in the sub-intervals and b) assign a signal quality metric for the sub-intervals. The wireless UE device can also include a channel estimator that can estimate a physical channel over which the communication signal is transmitted. The wireless UE device can also assign a quality metric to the extracted message at each sub-interval to select a sub-interval that is most consistent with timing of the paging indicator or control message. |
| US08301175B2 |
Method and telecommunications system for controlling paging flow in a network for cellular communications
A method of controlling paging flow in a network for cellular communications is described, which comprises the steps of: at a control node, receiving a request for paging a mobile station; determining a location area in which the paging shall be performed; checking whether the number of paging transactions which are ongoing for the location area is lower than at least one maximum number of ongoing paging transactions allowed for the location area; after a determination that the number of ongoing paging transactions is lower than the maximum number, updating the number of ongoing paging transactions for the location area and processing the paging request. Preferably, if the number of ongoing paging transactions is not lower than the maximum number, it is checked whether the paging request is a particular LCS transaction and, if so, the request is placed in a buffer and served with priority as soon as the number of ongoing paging transactions returns to be lower than the maximum number. |
| US08301172B2 |
Mobile communication system and method for estimating moving speed of mobile terminal
A radio channel estimation result which is an estimation result of a state of a propagation path to a mobile terminal that is a communication target, is generated. Whether a correction operation for correcting a frequency drift of a radio frequency used in radio communication between a radio base station and the mobile terminal has converged or not is determined. Then, a moving speed of the mobile terminal is estimated using only the radio channel estimation result at the time when the correction operation has converged. |
| US08301171B2 |
Method of finding a physical location of a mobile telephone at a given time
A subscriber database, in at least one embodiment, stores RF level and timing advance information associated with all mobile telephones on a network. A location parameters database stores location data that associates different physical locations with RF levels/timing advance data that have been measured or inferred for those locations. The subscriber database is then interpreted for the purpose of establishing the location of a specific mobile telephone at a given time by matching the RF level/timing advance data for that specific mobile telephone against the location parameters database. This generates the location of the mobile telephone. The interpretation or querying of the subscriber database only occurs, however, when there is a request to establish the location of a specific mobile telephone, and not as an automated process applied to all mobile telephones on a network. |
| US08301165B2 |
Method, device and system for obtaining user equipment location information
The invention provides a method, device, and system for obtaining user equipment (UE) location information. The method includes: an interworking entity (IWF) receives UE location information reported by a mobility management entity (MME); the IWF determines trusted UE location information according to the UE location information reported by the MME; and the IWF interacts with a UE or a mobile switching center (MSC) according to the trusted UE location information. With the method, device, and system, it is ensured that the MSC can obtain trusted and accurate UE location information in a circuit switched over packet switched (CSoPS) architecture. |
| US08301164B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing media on mobile devices
Techniques and mechanisms are provided for sending targeted content and data to mobile devices. Location information associated with a device is determined. In some instances, the location information is manually entered. In other instances, the location information is determined automatically from characteristics associated with the device. Location information can be obtained from global positioning system (GPS) data, cell-site triangulation, Internet Protocol (IP) address detection, etc. Content and advertising can be provided in a location relevant manner to the mobile device. |
| US08301162B2 |
Tag frequency control
A communication system comprising one or more transceiver units of a first type and one or more transceiver units of a second type capable of communicating with the transceiver units of the first type; each transceiver unit of the first type comprising: a frequency comparison unit for comparing the frequency of a signal received from a transceiver unit of the second type with a reference frequency; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal dependent on the result of that comparison; and a transmitter for transmitting that signal to the transceiver unit of the second type; and each transceiver unit of the second type comprising: a local frequency reference unit on which the frequency of signals transmitted by it are dependent; and a frequency adjustment unit for receiving the feedback signal and adjusting the local frequency reference unit in dependence on the feedback signal. |
| US08301161B2 |
Method, device, and system for obtaining a mobile computing device location
One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of determining a mobile computing device location. The method may comprise emitting at least one audio signal from at least one audio signal emitter and determining a sending time of the at least one audio signal. The method further comprises receiving the at least one audio signal at the mobile computing device and determining a receiving time of the at least one audio signal. A difference between the receiving time and the sending time is calculated and this difference is used to determine a distance from the at least one audio signal emitter to the mobile computing device. The distance is then used to obtain a location of the mobile computing device. |
| US08301154B2 |
Method for transmitting data in a radio communication network
In a radio communication system, a common channel is provided which is allocated to a plurality of subscribers at the same time for data transmission between a base station and a subscriber station. Measurements regarding the transmission quality are carried out on the common channel and their results are available in the base station. If the transmission quality does not meet a defined criterion, the base station transmits a first message to a controlling radio network controller associated therewith, the first message containing information about the transmission quality and about subscriber stations for which a bad transmission quality was measured. The controlling radio network controller sends a second message which informs serving radio network controllers, associated with the subscriber stations having bad transmission quality and responsible for the configuration of the subscriber stations, about the bad transmission quality. |
| US08301152B2 |
Mobile station, base station, and area shaping method performed by specified base station
A disclosed base station includes a communication unit configured to receive from a mobile station a first report signal including base station specification information specifying a base station, reception quality information indicating reception quality of a signal received from the specified base station, and change request information requesting to change communication quality between the mobile station and the specified base station; and an automatic area control unit configured to determine whether the base station is specified by the base station specification information, to obtain location information indicating the location of the mobile station if the base station is specified by the base station specification information, and to change at least one base station parameter based on the reception quality information and the location information to change the reception quality at the location of the mobile station. |
| US08301151B2 |
Network controller and small base station
A small base station may report to a network controller about whether a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted from a macro base station is sensed. The network controller may control an operational mode of the small base station depending on whether the RF signal is sensed. Accordingly, the small base station may not transmit the RF signal at all times, and thus, it is possible to reduce an interference between a small cell and a macro cell or interference between the small cell and another small cell. |
| US08301149B2 |
Call quality and coverage improvement in mobile wireless communication networks
Technologies are described herein for improving call quality and coverage of cells within a mobile wireless communication network. Such improvements can be accomplished by adjusting various radio access network parameters. The adjustments may be made at the cell level or at the neighbor level. An iterative process can periodically collect key performance indicator (KPI) statistics from the mobile wireless network. System improvements may derive from one or more rules applied in parallel. Each rule can have a unique combination of minimum or maximum KPI thresholds. System issues may be identified when a cell correlates with one or more of the rules which may then suggest one or more parameter changes to reduce the identified system issue. System capacity policies may be provided as limits to the coverage and call quality triggers. |
| US08301146B2 |
Mobile communication system, user apparatus and method
A disclosed user apparatus is for use in a mobile communication system including a macrocell and a closed cell wherein unspecified users are allowed to access the macrocell and specified users are allowed to access the closed cell. The user apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure quality of a signal provided from a camped cell in an idle state at a predefined cycle, a cell search unit configured to measure quality of a signal provided from a neighbor cell at a predefined cell search cycle, and a cell reselection unit configured to reselect a cell depending on the cell search result. A frequency of the macrocell is at least partially identical to a frequency of the closed cell. If the user apparatus resides in the macrocell and a predefined reselection criterion is satisfied, the closed cell adjacent to the camped cell is reselected as a standby cell. The predefined reselection criterion corresponds to a state where the quality of the signal provided from the closed cell has been higher than or equal to the quality of the signal provided from the camped cell by a predefined threshold for more than a predefined reselection duration. |
| US08301145B2 |
Fast cell selection in a mobile wireless device
A method and apparatus for fast cell selection by a mobile wireless device. The mobile wireless device detects when a first wireless cell fails a set of stored suitability criteria and searches for and locates a set of candidate wireless cells to associate with. The mobile wireless device measures at least one received signal metric for each candidate wireless cell in the set of candidate wireless cells. When a candidate cell in the set of candidate wireless cells is identically the first wireless cell, the mobile wireless device evaluates the suitability of the candidate wireless cell using the stored set of suitability criteria for the first wireless cell and the measured at least one received signal metric for the candidate wireless cell. The mobile wireless communication device associates with the candidate wireless cell when the candidate wireless cell meets the stored set of suitability criteria. |
| US08301140B2 |
System and method for automatic registration notification for over-the-air activation
A method and system automatically activates a mobile station in a wireless communications network. The system includes an over the air activation function (OTAF) processor in the network that initiates an activation process in response to receiving a registration message from a mobile switching center serving the mobile station requesting the activation. Each mobile station has a unit of information stored into it at the time of its manufacture to enable it to request over the air activation. That unit of information is either the network routing address of the OTAF processor, or alternately, it is a value that is translatable into that address, either an OTAF ID number that is the same value for every mobile station or it is a sequentially serialized dummy value for the mobile identification number (a dummy MIN). When the mobile station is turned on for the first time in the network, it requests activation over the air by transmitting to the local mobile switching center a registration order. The registration order will include one of the three alternative forms of the information unit described above, either the routing address of the OTAF processor, or the OTAF ID number, or a dummy MIN. |
| US08301138B2 |
Cell search method and apparatus in wireless communication system
A cell search method and apparatus in an asynchronous wireless communication system for outputting a cell search result by comparing energy ratios of detected candidate cells with a reference threshold ratio are provided. The method includes determining energy values of correlations between different phases of signals received from neighbor cells, detecting at least one candidate cell in descending order of energy values, and outputting cell search results by determining an energy ratio of the at least one candidate cell and comparing the energy ratio with a reference threshold ratio. |
| US08301137B1 |
Method and apparatus for wireless router multicast
A technique for transmitting messages in a wireless communication network to a multicast group using a single wireless channel. A base station processor having a plurality of wireless channels is in communication with a plurality of subscriber access units in a wireless communication network. Multicast messages received by the base station processor are sent to a plurality of the subscriber access units, denoted as a multicast group, in the wireless communication network via a wireless channel dedicated to transmitting multicast messages. |
| US08301130B1 |
Detect and connect wireless phone services and local phone networks
An electronic device, referred to as a beacon gateway, capable of communicating an incoming call on one phone to a second phone operating on a different telecommunications network is described herein. A landline phone, voice-over-Internet-protocol phone (VOIP phone), cable phone, and mobile phone may be connected to the beacon gateway. When one of the phones receives an incoming call, the beacon gateway rings the other phones with ring tones indicative of the receiving phone. Additionally, a user can elect to make a phone call across one network (e.g., wireless) from a phone that communicates calls across a different network (e.g., landline). Moreover, a thin client operating in a mobile device is configured to handle communicating inbound calls and outgoing calls on mobile device to other phones connected to the beacon gateway. |
| US08301129B2 |
Communication management features
A method for answering a communication includes the steps of receiving an incoming communication sent by a sender and intended for a communication device of a recipient and answering the communication with an injected audio, video, text, and/or graphic message. The injected message indicates to the sender, in effect, that the recipient is presently unable to respond to the communication but is or will be made aware of the communication. The method further includes the step of providing a promise fulfillment feature that alerts the recipient to the communication and any promise to follow-up with the sender made in the injected message. |
| US08301125B2 |
Mobile dynamic advertisement creation and placement
A system for targeted delivery of advertising including the steps of: (i) receiving a navigation request from a mobile communication facility including a user selection of a first advertisement displayed on the mobile communication facility; (ii) receiving an indicator input including (a) a geographical location and (b) queries or accesses to content associated with a plurality of other mobile communication facilities within the geographical location; (iii) dynamically creating second and third advertisements configured to be displayed on the mobile communication facility based on the navigation request and/or the indicator input, and a rendering capability of the mobile communication facility; (iv) transmitting the second advertisement to the mobile communication facility; (v) caching the third advertisement until a determination is made that the user is situated in a different geographical location; and (vi) transmitting the third advertisement to the mobile communication facility. |
| US08301118B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for locking information
A method, system, and apparatus are described for locking information. Specifically, a server sends a lock message carrying lock object information to a mobile terminal; the mobile terminal locks a lock object according to the lock message, the lock object corresponding to the lock object information. With the solutions provided in the embodiments of the invention, a server may lock information for a mobile terminal, so as to prevent other servers from manipulating the information. |
| US08301117B2 |
Authenticating voice calls from mobile devices
Aspects relate to authorizing mobile devices for PBX-based voice services. A mobile device calls a PBX over a voice channel, and phone number identifier information is obtained and matched to identifier information for devices that known (authorizeable) to use the PBX. If there is one incoming call that matches to a given device, and an authentication token provided over a data channel matches an authentication token associated with that device, then the device is authorized for voice services. Where there are multiple matching calls, those devices are instructed to provide authentication tokens over their voice channels. The devices can detect absence of a data channel and provide authentication tokens over the voice channels; the devices also can wait to receive a call connected response and in the absence of such provide their authentication tokens over the voice channel. Tokens can be requested and downloaded for storage at the devices. |
| US08301111B2 |
Method of and system for setting up a telephone call
A system with a mobile switching center (MSC), a service control point (SCP) and an emergency center (EC). The mobile switching center (MSC) sets up a call between a mobile station (2(i)) and the emergency center (EC), sends first data including raw location data as to where the mobile station (2(i)) is located to the emergency center (EC), and sends a service invocation to the service control point (SCP) to invoke an Intelligent Network service to start searching for second data relating to the mobile station, including more accurate location data as to where the mobile station is located. The service control point (SCP) receives the service invocation, starts the Intelligent Network service to search for the second data and sends the second data to the emergency center (EC) once said second data becomes available. |
| US08301107B2 |
Method of connecting to network in broadband wireless access system
The primitives between an upper management layer and the MAC layer within a mobile station and a base station are defined in order to specify and clarify the operations within the protocol stack layers in a broadband wireless access system to allow a mobile station to perform a method of connecting to the network. Media Independent Handover (MIH) procedures can be achieved because the NCMS and MIH layer can communicate through use of these primitives. |
| US08301106B2 |
Stacked CMOS power amplifier and RF coupler devices and related methods
Stacked CMOS power amplifier (PA) and radio frequency (RF) coupler devices and related methods are disclosed. The stacked device includes a CMOS PA die configured to receive a transmit input signal and to output an amplified transmit signal, and a RF coupler device configured to receive the amplified transmit signal, to output an antenna transmit signal, and to output an RF signal proportional to the antenna transmit signal. The CMOS PA die and the RF coupler device are stacked on top of and electrically coupled to each other, and the CMOS PA die and the RF coupler device are combined within a single semiconductor package. In some embodiments, the RF coupler device is positioned on top of the CMOS PA die, and in other embodiments the CMOS PA die is positioned on top of the RF coupler device. |
| US08301105B2 |
Receiver front end
A low-power receiver front-end includes a transconductance amplifier that produces a single-ended current signal in response to a single-ended voltage signal. An output of the transconductance amplifier is provided to an LC tuned circuit. At resonance, the LC tuned circuit generates a differential current signal in response to the single-ended current signal. Single-ended current signals corresponding to the resonant frequency of the LC tuned circuit are converted into differential signals. Further, the LC tuned circuit amplifies the differential current signals by an associated quality factor. Further, a mixer is coupled to an output of the LC tuned circuit. The mixer generates IF signals in response to the differential current signals. |
| US08301094B2 |
Mobile terminal having multiple antennas and antenna information display method thereof
A mobile terminal having multiple antennas and an antenna information display method of the mobile terminal are disclosed. Downlink signals are received through the multiple antennas, a channel state of each antenna is measured, and whether or not each antenna needs to be adjusted or an actual channel measurement value are displayed based on the measured channel state information and an antenna setting mode. Thus, a user can check an antenna with a poor reception performance by using the antenna adjustment information or the actual channel measurement value for antenna adjustment, and easily adjust the direction of the antennas. |
| US08301090B2 |
Distributed mobile communication network
A digital pre-distortion system which can provide the flexibility to model the highly non-linear distortion associated with High Efficiency RF Power Amplifiers while through a novel implementation of a least squares estimation process allows an implementation well suited for an FPGA application where limited resources and in particular memory resources are available. |
| US08301083B2 |
Method and arrangement for noise floor estimation
In a method of complexity reduced noise floor estimation in a wireless communications system, determining, for a respective of at least a subset of a plurality of power grid points /c, a product of complementary cumulative distribution functions, each such function corresponding to a respective of a plurality j of provided wideband power measure estimates Ln a sliding window, and determining, for each of said at least subset of power grid points, a probability distribution function of a minimum of said plurality of wideband power measure estimates based on said determined product. |
| US08301080B2 |
Adaptive inductive power supply with communication
An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast. |
| US08301076B2 |
System and method for distributed audio recording and collaborative mixing
Two or more wireless devices can be independently controlled by their respective users, a mixer component, or a leader wireless device to perform audio recording, convert the recorded audio into a standard or proprietary audio stream format, and transmit the audio stream to a server. The real-time clocks of two or more participating wireless devices can be synchronized. A wireless device can insert timestamps into the audio stream to facilitate the mixing operation. Mixing of the two or more audio streams recorded by wireless devices can be performed by a mixer component either in real time (contemporaneously with the recording) or asynchronously with respect to the recording. The mixing can be performed in a fully automated mode, and/or in an operator-assisted mode. |
| US08301074B2 |
Sheet conveying apparatus with auxiliary guide which accommodates conveyance mechanisms operating at different relative speeds
A sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a decurling mechanism to correct a curl formed on a sheet; a pair of guides including a first guide member and a second guide member arranged to oppose to the first guide member, the pair of guides constituting a conveyance passage to guide a sheet discharged from the decurling mechanism toward the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction; and an auxiliary guide arranged to protrude obliquely in the sheet conveying direction from the side of the first guide member toward the second guide member to a predetermined position in the conveyance passage. |
| US08301072B2 |
Guide roller unit, guiding device, and image forming apparatus
A guiding roller unit has a holder to be mounted on a mount, and a guiding roller rotatably supported by the holder. The holder includes a base, two bearings and widening preventing plates attached respectively to the bearing. The base, the bearings and the widening preventing parts are integral to each other. The base is mounted on the mount. The bearings stand from opposite ends of the base and rotatably support the roller. The widening preventing plates extend in directions opposite to facing directions of the bearings. The holder enables the roller to be attached and detached with leading ends of the bearings elastically widened with respect to base ends thereof connected with the base while being detached from the mount, whereas it prohibits widening of the leading ends of the bearings by contacting the mount in response to forces acting in widening directions while being mounted on the mount. |
| US08301071B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for controlling the log-off of user
An image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit for acquiring information for identifying a user, a log-in unit for allowing the user to log in the image forming apparatus when the acquisition unit acquires the information for identifying the user, a log-off unit for causing the logged-in user to log off from the image forming apparatus after a first predetermined time period elapses, a determination unit for determining whether a secure printing job to be performed based on the acquired information for identifying the user is present in the image forming apparatus, and a control unit for controlling the log-off unit to cause the user to log off from the image forming apparatus within a second predetermined time period which is shorter than the first predetermined period time, when the determination unit determines that the secure printing job is present in the image forming apparatus. |
| US08301062B2 |
Electrophotographically produced barrier images
Systems and methods of producing image products using printing are provided. The printed image products can include stereoscopic and/or color shifting images. These images can be formed by a sequential application of a base image, a clear toner layer and a barrier image layer in a single pass through a printer. The barrier image layer can include opaque barriers (for stereoscopic or color shifting images) or can include translucent or transparent barriers (for color shifting images). |
| US08301057B2 |
Roller separation cam with automatic engagement
A printer cartridge is provided that allows a charge roller to be separated from a photoconductive drum when the printer cartridge is not used within an image forming device. The printer cartridge includes the photoconductive drum, the charge roller, and a separating member having a resilient member disposed thereon with the separating member being disposed on the charge roller. The separating member engages and disengages the photoconductive drum in a first position and in a second position. The first position provides a spaced relationship between the charge roller and the photoconductive drum and the second position provides an engaged relationship between the charge roller and the photoconductive drum. The printer cartridge also includes the photoconductive drum disposed adjacent to the charge roller in an offset orientation that includes a centerline of a charge roller shaft offset by a predetermined distance from a centerline of a photoconductive drum shaft. |
| US08301055B2 |
Image forming apparatus with air cooling of sheets through multiple ducts
A first air blowing portion including an upper duct and a first fan blows air along a first surface of a sheet passing through a sheet conveying path in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, and a second air blowing portion including a lower duct and a second fan blows air along a second surface opposed to the first surface of the sheet passing through the sheet conveying path in a direction reverse to the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction of the first air blowing portion, so that both surfaces of the sheet are cooled. |
| US08301052B2 |
Image forming apparatus with user contact prevention
An image forming apparatus includes plural image holders that hold an image; plural development devices that produce an image on the plural image holders; an intermediate transfer body supported by plural support members; plural first transfer devices that transfer images that are present on the plural image holders to the intermediate transfer body; a second transfer device that transfers a composite image from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the composite image onto the recording medium; an ejection device that ejects the recording medium having the composite image transferred thereto out of the image forming apparatus main body; and a recording medium stacking part where ejected recording media are stacked. |
| US08301049B2 |
Characterization of toner patch sensor in an image forming device
A characterization procedure for the a detector in a toner patch sensor of an electrophotographic image forming device is performed with the toner patch sensor operatively connected to the image forming device's power supply. During the characterization procedure, a gain setting is determined that produces a predetermined target output from the toner patch sensor based on electromagnetic radiation reflected from a reference reflectivity sample. Subsequently, a toner patch is generated by the image forming device and a reflectance of the toner patch is measured based on the gain setting, with the toner patch sensor operatively connected to the power supply. The measurement(s) may then be used to adjust at least one electrophotographic image forming parameter. More than one reference reflectivity sample may be used, with corresponding gain settings stored in the image forming device. |
| US08301048B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling the registration of sheets
The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling the circumferential register in a digital multi-color printing machine for printing sheets during a printing process, whereby, for each sheet, at least one register mark per color printing unit of the multi-color printing machine is produced, assigned to said sheet and defined with respect to its position, and whereby, based on the determination of the position of the register marks of a sheet, the circumferential register of at least one sheet, which follows the sheet associated with said determined register marks downstream of the printing process, is controlled. In duplex printing a sheet by recto and verso printing with the invention, register marks are applied for each side and, in order to control recto and verso printing of at least one subsequent sheet, said register marks are analyzed. |
| US08301046B2 |
Image forming apparatus with condition setting for manual duplex mode
Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming section forming images on image forming faces of a recording medium, a condition setting section individually setting an operating condition of the image forming section for forming the image on a first image forming face of a recording medium and another operating condition of the image forming section for forming the image on a second image forming face of the recording medium opposite to the first image forming face in the manual duplex mode, and a control section controlling the image forming section on the basis of each operating condition set by the condition setting section. |
| US08301044B2 |
Image forming devices including electrification control units
An image forming device includes plural electrostatic latent image holding bodies that hold, on surfaces thereof, electrostatic latent images to be developed with developers of multiple colors, respectively, plural electrification control units that face the electrostatic latent image holding bodies and charge or discharge the surfaces of the electrostatic latent image holding bodies, respectively, a current controller that controls electric currents, each of which is supplied between the electrostatic latent image holding body and the electrification control unit for a corresponding one of the multiple colors, to be a constant target current, a maximum voltage output unit that outputs a maximum voltage among voltages each of which is applied between the electrostatic latent image holding body and the electrification control unit for a corresponding one of the multiple colors, and a detector that detects malfunction of the electrification control units when the maximum voltage exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US08301043B2 |
Liquid-level detection device, image forming device, and liquid containing device
A liquid-level detection device detects the liquid level in the developer storing container for storing liquid developer, and includes a first water wheel, a first rotation detection mechanism, and first liquid-level detection device. The first water wheel is disposed in the interior of the developer storing container, and is configured to be rotated by liquid developer to be supplied to the developer storing container. The first rotation detection mechanism is configured to detect a rotation state of the first water wheel. The first liquid-level detection device detects the liquid level of liquid developer based on a result detected by the rotation detection mechanism. |
| US08301032B2 |
Wide field-of-view amplified fiber-retro for secure high data rate communications and remote data transfer
An optical system for remotely optical communications at a high data rate between a base station and a remote station under atmospheric turbulence conditions is disclosed. The remote station includes an entirely different type of retroreflector that does not use the conventional type of retroreflection, but instead consists of two sets of lenslets coupled with single-mode fiber array, called fiber “retro”. Amplified retromodulation is achieved requiring only one single optical amplifier and one single modulator. A transmitter located at the base station sends an interrogating optical beam to the fiber “retro” which modulates the optical beam according to the input signal/data, and redirects the modulated optical beam to the base station for detection by a receiver. The present invention includes the capabilities of providing Identification of Friend-or-Foe (IFF), secure communication, and a means of achieving a wide field-of-view (FOV) with a fiber-coupled lenselet array. |
| US08301025B2 |
Method for determining the optical signal-to-noise ratio and receiver device for an optical transmission system
An optical noise signal is added to an optical data signal on the receiver side, and a signal quality of the data signal is determined. The magnitude of the added noise signal is varied, and a function of the signal quality of the data signal is determined in dependence on the added noise signal. Subsequently, a first straight line is approximated to the previously determined function for smaller values of the added noise signal, and a second straight line for larger values of the added noise signal. The optical signal-to-noise ratio is read from the intersecting point of the first straight line with the second straight line. Thus, the ASE present is derived from the controlled addition of additional ASEs, and the optical signal-to-noise ratio is determined. The process is particularly suited for DWDM systems because it works even with very narrow channel separations, or with narrowband optical filtration along the separation. |
| US08301024B2 |
Camera flash, a camera, and a method of generating a flash
A camera flash comprises a light guide arranged to extract light at least through one surface; and one or more light sources arranged, in use, to emit light into the lightguide. Each light source is an LED or a laser diode. The camera flash is connectable, in use, to drive circuitry, the drive circuitry being for driving the light source(s) to emit a pulse of light. The waveguide spreads out the light from the light source(s), so that a flash of light from the camera flash does not present a safety risk, while minimizing loss of the light from the light source(s). The camera flash can thus provide a high overall optical output, spread over an extended area (as defined by the waveguide). The lightguide may for example be disposed around a camera module of a mobile telephone camera. |
| US08301023B2 |
Lens apparatus
The lens apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a focus lens which is driven for bringing a desired subject into focus; a zoom lens which is driven for changing a focal length; and a diaphragm having an aperture diameter which is changed for adjusting an amount of photography light, and the lens apparatus is configured to adjust a position of the focus lens, to thereby perform flange back distance adjustment. In such a lens apparatus, the aperture diameter of the diaphragm is changed at a time of mode transition between a photography mode in which a normal photographing operation is possible and an adjustment mode in which the flange back distance adjustment is possible. Accordingly, the user can instantly know whether or not the lens apparatus is in the flange back distance adjustment mode, only by checking a video picture photographed by a television camera. |
| US08301019B2 |
Fragrance emanation system
The fragrance emanation system includes a container for holding preferably a fragranced liquid or gel, a housing for holding the container, and a wick. The housing contains a socket for attaching to the container, a cavity for receiving the container and a door for enclosing the container. One end of the wick protrudes from the container. An electrical circuit is included having a heater for heating the protruding end of the wick and electrical connectors coupled to the circuit to receive current from a power source to provide the current to the heater. The heater heats and evaporates the liquid within the wick, thereby accelerating the emission of vapors from the evaporated liquid. The door includes a window, a bottom and a mechanism for holding the door closed to assist in holding the container in engagement with the socket. |
| US08301018B2 |
Audio/video synchronous playback device
An audio/video synchronous playback device includes a first synchronization section for repeating or skipping a first video data sequence in units of a video frame interval thereof to synchronize the first video data sequence with an audio data sequence, and a second synchronization section for repeating or skipping a second video data sequence in units of a video frame or video field interval thereof to synchronize the second video data sequence with the audio data sequence. A first video data sequence output and a second video data sequence output having different frame frequencies are separately synchronized with one channel of audio data sequence output with their respective precisions. |
| US08301009B2 |
Detailed information providing method and apparatus of personal video recorder
Provided are a detailed information providing method and apparatus in content storage apparatus that automatically provide a user with desired broadcast information in synchronization with the Internet. The detailed information providing method includes: when a recording operation that records content to the content storage apparatus starts, requesting an information search of a web server based on information on a broadcast currently being recorded and simultaneously extracting broadcast related detailed information from a broadcast signal of the broadcast currently being recorded; and when the recording operation stops, creating a user interface of a recording list based on an Internet-based broadcast related detailed information searched by the web server and the broadcast related detailed information extracted from the broadcast signal. |
| US08301004B2 |
Fiber optic cable assemblies employing a furcation body having anti-rotation feature
A fiber optic cable assembly including a fiber optic cable and a furcation body is disclosed. An attachment feature can be provided to mount the furcation body to a mounting surface of fiber optic equipment for securing a portion of the fiber optic cable assembly to the fiber optic equipment. The attachment feature may include an integrated anti-rotation feature to inhibit rotation of the furcation body with respect to a mounting surface. The anti-rotation feature is provided by one or more generally planar surfaces of the furcation body for abutting with at least one complementary planar mounting surface. |
| US08301001B2 |
Optical cable and optical transmission system
An optical fiber that has a small bending loss can be securely prevented from being fractured due to accidental bending during installation or other operations. The optical fiber includes a core, a first cladding, a second cladding, and a third cladding. The relative refractive index difference Δ1 of the core is in the range of 0.3% to 0.38%, the relative refractive index difference Δ2 of the first cladding is equal to or smaller than 0%, and the relative refractive index difference Δ3 of the second cladding is in the range of −1.8% to −0.5%. The inner radius r2 and the outer radius r3 of the second cladding satisfy the expression “0.4r2+10.5 |
| US08301000B2 |
Single-mode optical fiber
A single-mode optical fiber possesses, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, an effective area greater than about 90 pm2 without degradation of the optical fiber's other optical parameters. The single-mode optical fiber includes a central core, a first intermediate cladding, a second intermediate cladding, and an outer cladding. The optical fiber also has a cable cut-off wavelength of less than 1260 nanometers. Additionally, at a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, the optical fiber possesses a mode field diameter of between about 8.6 microns and 9.5 microns. Furthermore, the optical fiber possesses a zero chromatic dispersion wavelength of between about 1300 nanometers and 1324 nanometers and, at the zero chromatic dispersion wavelength, a dispersion slope of less than 0.092 ps/(nm2″km). |
| US08300998B2 |
Optical fiber connector
An optical fiber connector includes a main body and a cover mechanically coupled to the main body. The main body includes a coupling portion and a light guide portion extending from the coupling portion. The light guide portion includes a light incident surface and a light output surface arranged at opposite sides thereof. The coupling portion includes a first groove formed at a top surface thereof, facing the light incident surface and terminating at opposite sides of the coupling portion, and a plurality of recesses. The cover includes a second groove formed at bottom surface thereof, terminating at opposite sides of the cover, and a plurality of protrusions. The first groove and the second groove cooperatively form a receiving channel for receiving an optical fiber therein and allowing the optical fiber to be optically connected to the light guide portion. |
| US08300997B2 |
Wavelength interleaver
The present invention provides a wavelength interleaver comprising a first interleaving unit, a second interleaving unit and an adapting waveguide coupled between the first interleaving unit and the second interleaving unit; both the first interleaving unit and the second interleaving unit including an input waveguide, an output waveguide and a filter coupled between the input waveguide and the output waveguide. The present invention sets up the gap between the input waveguide and the filter, and the filter and the output waveguide for extending components usage specification of the signal transmission system. Therefore, there is no need to add unnecessary components in design, the size is smaller and the cost of the signal transmission system is reduced. |
| US08300996B2 |
Optical bus for optical signal broadcasting
An optical bus is described for optical signal broadcasting. The optical bus can include a substrate and input optical waveguides formed on the substrate. First and second sets of output optical waveguides can also be formed on the substrate. Optical power splitters on the substrate can have an input and multiple outputs. The optical power splitters can be optically coupled to an input optical waveguide and can split an input optical beam into multiple output optical beams. The optical bus can include a waveguide shuffle network formed on the substrate. The waveguide shuffle network can include intersecting optical waveguides and can optically couple outputs from each of the optical power splitters to the first set of output optical waveguides and optically couple different outputs from each of the optical power splitters to the second set of output optical waveguides. |
| US08300991B2 |
Waveguide-type semiconductor optical modulator and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a traveling-wave type semiconductor optical phase modulator capable of high speed and low voltage operation by improving an n-SI-i-n-type layered structure. A first exemplary aspect of the present invention is a waveguide-type semiconductor optical modulator including: a semiconductor substrate (101); a first n-type cladding layer (103) and a second n-type cladding layer (108) formed on the semiconductor substrate (101); an undoped optical waveguide core layer (104) and an electron trapping layer (107) formed between the first n-type cladding layer (103) and the second n-type cladding layer (108); and a hole supplying layer (106) formed between the undoped optical waveguide core layer (104) and the electron trapping layer (107). |
| US08300990B2 |
Slotted optical waveguide with electro-optic material
An optical waveguide is described. This optical waveguide may be defined in a semiconductor layer, and may include a vertical slot that includes an electro-optic material having an electric-field-dependent index of refraction, and the electro-optic material may be other than a semiconductor in the semiconductor layer. Alternatively, the optical waveguide may include a vertical stack with two semiconductor layers that surround and partially overlap an intermediate layer, which includes the electro-optic material. |
| US08300981B1 |
System and method for analyzing multiple thermal images
A graphical user interface for analyzing multiple thermal images is provided. The interface can be used to identify the temperatures at multiple points defined on multiple images. In some embodiments, the interface can simultaneously display temperature cursors overlaid on multiple images and provide simultaneous numerical identification of the temperatures corresponding to the area under the temperature cursors. |
| US08300979B2 |
Method and system for robust universal denoising of noisy data sets
Embodiments of the present invention provide context-class-based universal denoising of noisy images and other noise-corrupted data sets. Prediction-error statistics for each prediction class, relative to a prefiltered image, are collected to estimate a bias for each prediction class, and prediction-error statistics for each conditioning class, relative to a prefiltered image, are accumulated based on the difference between predicted values and corresponding prefiltered-image symbols. The prediction-error statistics are accumulated using computed prediction-error-statistics vectors, with inversion of a prediction-error vector generated from each prediction prior to accumulation in a prediction-error-statistics vector. Conditional probability distributions are computed for individual contexts, which allow for computing a clean-image-estimated, value for each noisy-image value by minimizing a computed distortion over a range of possible estimated-clean-image symbols. |
| US08300975B2 |
Piecewise smooth Mumford-Shah on an arbitrary graph
A method for recovering a contour using combinatorial optimization includes receiving an input image, initializing functions for gradient f, smooth background g, and contour r, determining an optimum of the gradient f of a region R in the input image, extending the optimum of the gradient f of region R to a complement of R, determining an optimum of the smooth background function g for a region Q corresponding to the complement of R, extending the optimum of the smooth background function g of region Q to a complement of Q, and determining an optimum contour r according to the optimum of the gradient f and the optimum of the smooth background function g. |
| US08300960B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video data, method and apparatus for decoding video data, and program recording medium
A method and apparatus for encoding video data, a method and apparatus for decoding video data, and a program recording medium are provided. The apparatus for encoding video data includes an encoding processor generating encoded raw image data by encoding raw image data that is output from an image pickup device in frame units; an encoding information generator generating encoding information that is required to decode the encoded raw image data; an image pickup device information generator generating information about an image pickup device and which is required to develop the encoded raw image data; and a data generator generating video data including the encoded raw image data, the encoding information, and the image pickup device information. |
| US08300949B2 |
Edge detection technique having improved feature visibility
A method for determining edge features of an image comprising filtering at least a portion of the image to attenuate high frequency signals of the image to an extent greater than low frequency signals of the image. Performing a one-dimensional search in a two different horizontal directions relative to a particular pixel of the image to determine horizontal direction local maximums. Calculating a horizontal gradient based upon the horizontal direction local maximums. Performing a one-dimensional search in a two vertical horizontal directions relative to a particular pixel of the image to determine vertical direction local maximums. Calculating a vertical gradient based upon the vertical direction local maximums. Calculating a gradient for the particular pixel based upon the horizontal gradient and the vertical gradient. |
| US08300941B2 |
Method and apparatus for reading a surface coded pattern
A method of determining a regular grid pattern from a surface coded pattern that comprises the regular grid pattern interleaved with a further data carrying pattern wherein the surface coded pattern is subject to perspective distortion, the method comprising: extracting a set of straight line hypotheses from the coded surface pattern; clustering the straight line hypotheses by orientation; for each cluster, extracting a set of line pencil hypotheses; generating a set of regular grid hypotheses from pairs of the line pencil hypotheses; and determining the best regular grid hypothesis. |
| US08300937B2 |
Image segmentation method and system based on region features of pixels
A pixel region-based image segmentation method is disclosed. When an input image is retrieved, pixels thereof are sequentially scanned row by row. Signs of unmarked pixels of the input image are determined according to region features of neighboring pixels of each pixel and pixel update information is recorded to generate a region sign update data table and a region sign feature data table. The pixels of the input frame are further scanned row by row to retrieve signs of the pixels and region signs of the pixels are determined and updated according to the region sign update data table. |
| US08300936B2 |
System and method for improving display of tuned multi-scaled regions of an image with local and global control
A system for improved display of tuned multi-scaled regions of an image with local and global control and methods for making and using same. To assist the novice user of image processing tool, less input parameters should be required. Further, it will assist the user if results are diplayed in a shorter period of time. Utilizing a hierarchical bottom-up approach provides for the advantage of being able to utilize intermediate results to gather more details. The systems and methods disclosed provide for the grouping of contiguous pixels which have similar properties. Further, the disclosed embodiments provide for the user the ability to see all levels of detail of segmentation either globally or locally. The scale-space is tuned to the information in the image. |
| US08300934B2 |
Image processing device and image correction device
An image processing device includes a dividing unit which divides a brightness histogram of an input image into a plurality of value regions according to gradation, a ratio computing unit which computes the number of pixels of each value region divided by the dividing unit and the number of pixels of the input image, respectively, and computes a ratio or a magnitude relation of the number of pixels of each value region with respect to the number of pixels of the input image, and a control-point computing unit which computes a control point, which specifies a shape of a correction curve for image correction according to a feature of the input image, based on the ratio or the magnitude relation of each value region computed by the ratio computing unit. |
| US08300926B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A cut point detection unit segments a frame sequence including successive frames into one or more subframe sequences. A face discrimination unit identifies an image group in which an object registered in advance appears, of images of respective frames that form one subframe sequence, and a representative frame candidate extraction unit selects one image from the identified image group as a selection image. A representative frame display control unit controls a display unit to display selection images for respective subframe sequences as representative images of the frame sequence. |
| US08300922B1 |
Hand-held programmable inspection system with a display
Methods are provided for using a programmable hand-held inspection system to direct an inspection process. Methods typically involve loading a survey template application software routine into the programmable hand-held inspection system where the survey template application software routine describes at least one aspect of the inspection process. Some embodiments involve wirelessly uploading at least a portion of the survey template application software routine. Generally an image representation of an area is provided on a display. The system may be used to guide an operator through at least one aspect of the inspection process or to perform steps in a survey. A location within the vicinity of the area may be identified using a global positioning system. A record may of the survey may be created. |
| US08300918B2 |
Defect inspection apparatus, defect inspection program, recording medium storing defect inspection program, figure drawing apparatus and figure drawing system
Input CAD data and run-length data obtained by performing a RIP process on the input CAD data are acquired. A predetermined conversion process is performed on at least one of the input CAD data and the run-length data to make the data formats of both data comparable and then both data are compared with each other to detect an area having a difference as a defect area in the run-length data. This provides a technique to detect a defect in the run-length data to be used for drawing of a figure before the execution of drawing with a simple structure. |
| US08300916B2 |
Banknote validator
Apparatus for checking the validity of a banknote wherein a light source illuminates a banknote through a slit as it is transported along a note path, the emitted light being detected at different wavelengths to generate a plurality of images such that a three dimensional matrix can be created, for comparison against matrices of authentic banknotes. |
| US08300910B2 |
Pathology indicating measure related to cartilage structure and automatic quantification thereof
A method for the analysis of three dimensional scan data representing an articular cartilage is provided to extract a quantitative parameter indicative of joint pathology. A measure representative of cartilage homogeneity is derived from this three dimensional image data. The measured value is compared with similar measured values previously established in respect of healthy joints and/or joints characterised by a pathology. |
| US08300908B2 |
Device and method for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms
A device for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms. Said device comprises means for detecting a contour line that surrounds an object area of the mammogram, which is defined by an object. The device also comprises a means for positioning and scaling the mammogram. The device is configured to determine the contour line of the object area of the mammogram and to automatically position and scale the mammogram based on the contour line. A method for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms is also disclosed. The disclosed device and method make it easier for a doctor to comparatively analyze and diagnose mammograms. |
| US08300901B2 |
Similarity analyzing device, image display device, image display program storage medium, and image display method
A similarity analyzing device includes: an image acquisition section which acquires picked-up images with which image pick-up dates and/or times are associated; and an image registration section which registers a face image showing a picked-up face and with which an image pick-up date and/or time is associated. The device further includes: a degree of similarity calculation section which detects a face in each of picked-up images acquired by the image acquisition section and calculates the degree of similarity between the detected face and the face in the face image registered in the image registration section; and a degree of similarity reduction section in which the larger the difference between the image pick-up date and/or time associated with the picked-up image and that associated with the face image is, the more the degree of similarity of the face calculated by the degree of similarity calculation section is reduced. |
| US08300900B2 |
Face recognition by fusing similarity probability
The invention discloses a face recognition method that reconstructs a 3D face model from a single face image, synthesizes a set of face images under different conditions (such as pose, light . . . ) via the 3D face model, feeds the set of face images under different conditions to the face recognition classifier for training, and making intermediate decisions whether to-be identified individual from a series of video frames is a legal system user by the face recognition classifier. Moreover, the method not only recognizes legal system users, but also rejects imposters, a function inspired by the idea of LLE. Finally, better reliability can be achieved by fusing temporal intermediate decisions. |
| US08300895B2 |
Virtual white lines for delimiting planned excavation sites
Method and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the image including at least one indicator to delimit the dig area, is electronically processed by converting the at least one indicator to a plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area. Information relating to a locate request ticket identifying the dig area to be excavated is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored, wherein the locate request ticket includes image data and non-image data associated with the dig area. The image data includes the at least one marked-up digital image of the geographic area surrounding the dig area, and the non-image data includes the plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area. |
| US08300893B2 |
Methods and apparatus to specify regions of interest in video frames
Methods and apparatus to specify regions of interest in video frames are disclosed. An example disclosed method comprises determining an initial template region to represent a region of interest whose location is based on a first point selected in a graphical presentation, determining a first modification to perform on the initial template region in response to a second point selected in the graphical presentation, detecting the second selected point in the graphical presentation, and reshaping the initial template region toward the second selected point, the reshaping corresponding to the first modification, the reshaping being performed in response to detecting the second selected point without also requiring the user to select any point substantially on the boundary defining the initial template region to initiate the reshaping. |
| US08300891B2 |
Facial image recognition system for a driver of a vehicle
A facial image recognition system for a driver of a vehicle includes an image capturing unit, an image processing unit, and a warning unit. The image capturing unit is used for capturing facial images of the driver. The image processing unit is electrically coupled to the image capturing unit, has installed therein a facial frame selecting and position correcting method and an identification comparison algorithm, and receives the facial images of the driver from the image capturing unit. The warning unit is electrically coupled to the image processing unit, and emits a warning signal when the image processing unit determines that an identification of the driver has changed. |
| US08300889B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting target parking position by using two reference points, and parking assist system using the same
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for detecting a target parking position by using two reference points, and a parking assist system using the same. The apparatus includes: a first unit for receiving an input image obtained by photographing a parking space and the two reference points in the input image; a second unit for detecting a target pattern of parking slot markings by using each of the two reference points; and a third unit for detecting the target parking position by using the detected target patterns. |
| US08300887B2 |
Object detection apparatus, object detection method and object detection program
An object detection apparatus and method for accurately detecting a movable object in a region around a vehicle from a time series of images obtained through a camera mounted on the vehicle by eliminating the influence of the movement of the camera through simple processing, and a program for making a computer execute processing in the apparatus. The object detection apparatus has a feature point extraction unit which extracts a feature point contained in a feature region of each image in the time series of images obtained through a camera mounted on the vehicle, a correspondence degree computation unit which computes the degree of correspondence for each pair of the feature points, wherein one of the feature points in the each pair is each of one or more of the feature points extracted by the feature point extraction unit from one of two images taken by the camera at different times, and another of the feature points in the each pair is each of a plurality of the feature points extracted by the feature point extraction unit from another of the two images, and a detection unit which detects the movable object on the basis of the degree of correspondence computed by the correspondence degree computation unit. |
| US08300883B2 |
Sketch generating system and method for generating sketch based on image
A sketch generating system and a method for generating a sketch based on an image are provided. The system includes: a sketch database and a generating subsystem. The sketch database stores local image samples and corresponding local sketch units in different categories. The generating subsystem extracts geometrical features from an input image, retrieves local image units from the input image according to the geometrical features; as to each local image unit retrieved, searches the sketch database for a local sketch unit corresponding to a local image sample having a largest similarity value with the local image unit, and combines all local sketch units found to form one sketch. |
| US08300881B2 |
Method and system for watermarking 3D content
A video transmitter identifies regions in pictures in a compressed three-dimensional (3D) video comprising a base view video and an enhancement view video. The identified regions are not referenced by other pictures in the compressed 3D video. The identified regions are watermarked. Pictures such as a high layer picture in the base view video and the enhancement view video are identified for watermarking. The identified regions in the base view and/or enhancement view videos are watermarked and multiplexed into a transport stream for transmission. An intended video receiver extracts the base view video, the enhancement view video and corresponding watermark data from the received transport stream. The corresponding extracted watermark data are synchronized with the extracted base view video and the extracted enhancement view video, respectively, for watermark insertion. The resulting base view and enhancement view videos are decoded into a left view video and a right view video, respectively. |
| US08300872B2 |
Method and device for detecting a displacement and movement of a sound producing unit of a woofer
A system for adjusting a response of a loudspeaker system. The system includes a woofer installed in a housing. The woofer includes a woofer cone. A transmitter for transmitting an ultrasonic audio signal towards the woofer cone. A receiver for receiving the ultrasonic audio signal. A detection unit for determining the position of the woofer cone on the basis of a difference between the phase of the reflected ultrasonic audio signal with respect to the ultrasonic audio signal transmitted from the transmitter. A control unit for adjusting a spring constant of the membrane of the loudspeaker system on the basis of the determined position. A method for adjusting a response of a loudspeaker system, to a module to be used in the system. A computer program product including computer code for adjusting a response of the loudspeaker system. |
| US08300871B2 |
Earphone for wideband communication
An earphone device capable of achieving sound bandwidths beyond the 150-7000 Hz wideband range, and configured for supra-concha or supra-aural placement. The earphone comprises at least two frequency range receivers positioned within a housing. In at least one embodiment, the earphone is capable of achieving a super-wideband range by physically combining a low frequency range receiver and a high frequency range receiver in a space-efficient and acoustically advantageous manner. |
| US08300869B2 |
Lighting and audio communication system
A lighting and communication system with a horn enclosure for recessed ceiling panel or wall mounting, including a speaker with a horn expansion area to direct sound waves from the speaker to a horn enclosure front, at least one light enclosure located within the horn enclosure, the light enclosure defining a light cavity which is separated from said horn expansion area, with a light source inside the light cavity. The light source can be an LED array, which is capable of displaying text, colors or patterns in response to a control system signal. |
| US08300866B2 |
Audio/video device having a volume control function for an external audio reproduction unit by using volume control buttons of a remote controller and volume control method therefor
An audio/video (A/V) device having a volume control function for external audio reproduction units by using volume control buttons of a remote controller is provided. The A/V device includes speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting an audio signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing and amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio signal to the speakers or the audio output port, a memory unit for storing volume control values, and a control unit for applying to the audio signal processing unit any of the volume control values stored in the memory based on whether the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. The control unit controls the audio signal processing unit to adjust the volume control values for the audio output port by the volume control buttons when the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. |
| US08300860B2 |
Electret transducer with solar power
The present invention provides an electret transducer with solar power. The provided electrets transducer includes a solar power supply device, an amplifier circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the solar power supply device and a second input terminal coupled to an audio signal input terminal, and an electret loudspeaker coupled to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit receives a first voltage level via the first input terminal and boosts the first voltage level to a second voltage level, and receives a first audio signal via the second input terminal and amplifies the first audio signal to a second audio signal. The electret loudspeaker coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier circuit receives the second audio signal and outputs a sound corresponding to the second audio signal. |
| US08300859B2 |
Speaker devices and methods of making the same
A speaker device including a transparent speaker and a light source module is provided. The transparent speaker is thin, soft, and has a low driving voltage. Light is emitted from a front side of the speaker panel, and transmitted in the same direction as the sound. Thus, the light is emitted along with the sound. The speaker device can be used as an indoor wall-painting or as a large advertisement poster for more visual effects to the viewer. |
| US08300855B2 |
Thermoacoustic module, thermoacoustic device, and method for making the same
A thermoacoustic module includes a substrate, a sound wave generator, at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode. The substrate has a top surface, and the top surface defines at least one recess. The sound wave generator is located on the top surface of the substrate and includes at least one first region suspended above the at least one recess and at least one second region being in contact with the top surface of the substrate. The at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode are coupled to the sound wave generator. |
| US08300853B2 |
Audio mixing console capable of adjusting brightness of LED operator, and method of operating the same
An audio mixing console includes a brightness adjusting mode selection button and an adjustment subject specification button. A user operates the brightness adjusting mode selection button to set up a brightness adjusting mode, and operates the adjustment subject specification button to specify any color LED of RGB or all colors as an adjustment subject. When an LED button is operated, brightness of an LED of a color of an adjustment subject in a multicolor LED unit incorporated in the LED button is increased one step by one step. In another example, in response to an operation of a button, brightness of an LED of a color of the adjustment subject in the multicolor LED unit incorporated in a plurality of LED buttons other than this button is increased one step by one step. This work is carried out for every LED and LED button. |
| US08300851B2 |
Method of managing sound source and apparatus therefor
A method of managing a sound source in a digital AV device and an apparatus thereof are provided. The method of managing a sound source in a digital AV device includes: extracting at least one sound source from sound being reproduced through the digital AV device; mapping an image to the extracted sound source; and managing the sound sources by using the mapped image. In addition, preferably, the extracted sound source is registered, changed, deleted, selectively reproduced, or selectively deleted by using the image. Accordingly, sound being output can be visually managed by handling the sound sources separately, a desired sound source can be selectively reproduced or removed such that utilization of the digital AV device can be enhanced. |
| US08300850B2 |
Read-out circuit with high input impedance
Provided is a read-out circuit that is connected to a microphone and configured to linearly amplify a current signal generated by the microphone and output the amplified current signal. The read-out circuit includes an amplification unit and a feedback resistor. The amplification unit has an amplification gain between 0 and 1. The feedback resistor is connected between input and output terminals of the amplification unit. As the amplification gain of the amplification unit becomes closer to 1, an input impedance becomes higher. A preamp of the read-out circuit can have a high input impedance due to the amplification gain, and the read-out circuit can be manufactured using a CMOS process. |
| US08300845B2 |
Electronic apparatus having microphones with controllable front-side gain and rear-side gain
An electronic apparatus is provided that has a rear-side and a front-side, a first microphone that generates a first signal, and a second microphone that generates a second signal. An automated balance controller generates a balancing signal based on an imaging signal. A processor processes the first and second signals to generate at least one beamformed audio signal, where an audio level difference between a front-side gain and a rear-side gain of the beamformed audio signal is controlled during processing based on the balancing signal. |
| US08300843B2 |
Sound effect circuit and processing method
A sound effect circuit and processing method are disclosed. An input audio signal is input to a digital sound effect unit, an output signal is generated and output with a sound effect in accordance with an effect amount of a certain value from the input audio signal using the digital sound effect unit, the input audio signal is also input to a silence state detection unit, a silence detect signal is generated and output when detecting that the current state of the input audio signal is a silence state using the silence state detection unit, the output signal is input to a sound effect amount control unit, and an output audio signal is output using the sound effect amount control unit, wherein the sound effect amount control unit changes the effect amount to be smaller than the certain value when the silence detect signal is generated. |
| US08300842B2 |
Robust system for sound enhancement from a single engine sensor
A noise enhancement system for an automobile utilizes a single input of engine speed to derive a control signal used to drive a speaker. The speaker generates sounds that enhance or replicate the desired sounds from the engine. The output from the speaker is crafted dependent on the vehicle operating conditions. Instead of multiple transducers and inputs the noise enhancement system of this invention utilizes the single input of engine RPM engine speed. By utilizing only engine speed, the noise enhancement system is cost effective and significantly less complex. |
| US08300835B2 |
Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, audio signal processing program, and computer-readable recording medium
An audio signal processing apparatus includes a cutout unit, a correlation calculating unit, a spectrum calculating unit, a coefficient calculating unit, and an assigning unit. The cutout unit cuts out audio signals of plural channels by a time frame. The correlation calculating unit calculates a correlation value between respective signals of the plural channels included in a predetermined time frame cut out by the cutout unit. The spectrum calculating unit calculates spectrum information indicative of spectral characteristics concerning a signal of a given channel cut out by the cutout unit. The coefficient calculating unit calculates a coefficient to be multiplied by the signal of the given channel, based on the correlation value and the spectrum information. The assigning unit multiplies the coefficient by the signal of the given channel and assigns the multiplied signal to channels other than the given channel. |
| US08300833B2 |
Multichannel spectral mapping audio apparatus and method with dynamically varying mapping coefficients
A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio. |
| US08300832B2 |
System and method for copy protection for digital signals
Embodiments of the present invention provide for the copy protection of distributed material after conditional access is applied, regardless of where the material is distributed. The solutions described provide the advantage of being sufficiently simple in implementation to qualify as “curb high” solutions. “Curb high” solutions provide a range of security from minimal security to a high level of security while requiring relatively fewer system resources to implement than prior approaches. |
| US08300828B2 |
System and method for a derivation function for key per page
Disclosed herein are systems, methods and computer-readable media to perform data encryption and decryption using a derivation function to obtain a key per page of data in a white-box environment. The method includes sharing a master key with the sender and receiver, splitting the input data into blocks and sub-blocks, and utilizing a set of keys and a master key to derive a page key. In another aspect of this disclosure, the key validation and shuffling operations are included. This method allows for the derivation of a key instead of storing a predetermined key, thus maintaining system security in a white-box environment. |
| US08300825B2 |
Data encryption and/or decryption by integrated circuit
In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided that may include an integrated circuit to be removably communicatively coupled to at least one storage device. The integrated circuit of this embodiment may be capable of encrypting and/or and decrypting, based at least in part upon a first key, data to be, in at least in part, stored in and/or retrieved from, respectively, at least one region of the at least one storage device. The at least one region and a second key may be associated with at least one access privilege authorized, at least in part, by an administrator. The second key may be stored, at least in part, externally to the at least one storage device. The first key may be obtainable, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon at least one operation involving the second key. Of course, many alternatives, modifications, and variations are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US08300824B1 |
System and method for encrypting data using a cipher text in a communications environment
Data is encrypted by receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and compressing at least a portion of the bits in order to produce a plurality of sub-frames. The sub-frames may be assembled into a superframe and a stream cipher may be applied to the superframe in order to generate an encrypted packet. |
| US08300822B2 |
System for secure packet communication
A system for processing a communication data item. The communication data item is divided into at least two unencrypted packets to be encrypted. Each encrypted packet is generated from a corresponding unencrypted packet. Each unencrypted packet has a packet header and plaintext data. The packet header has an identifier field that includes a packet identifier that is identical for all unencrypted packets. Generating an encrypted packet for each unencrypted packet includes: determining a vector identifier from the identical packet identifier, wherein the vector identifier is associated with the identical packet identifier; ascertaining an initial vector from the vector identifier; and forming an encrypted packet header by inserting the vector identifier into a first portion of the packet header and encrypting a second portion of the packet header through use of the initial vector. The encrypted packets are subsequently decrypted and combined to reconstruct the communication data item. |
| US08300821B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are disclosed. The control method includes receiving a broadcast signal into which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, extracting TPC signaling information and FIC signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble, using the extracted FIC signaling information, the ensemble being a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, detecting a conditional access descriptor indicating whether the mobile service data was encrypted, using the acquired program table, and controlling such that the encrypted mobile service data is decrypted, using information of the detected conditional access descriptor. |
| US08300817B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program
An information processing apparatus for receiving broadcast data and outputting the received data to a client connected to a network includes a broadcast receiving unit that receives broadcast data; an encryption processor that performs encryption processing on the broadcast data received by the broadcast receiving unit; a data accumulation unit that accumulates encrypted data generated by the encryption processor; a data transmission unit that generates a communication packet in which encrypted data accumulated in the data accumulation unit is stored and outputs the generated communication packet; and a transmission data controller that monitors a retained state of the encrypted data in the data accumulation unit and removes, if a state different from a predetermined allowable retained state is detected, at least part of the encrypted data accumulated in the data accumulation unit from transmission data. |
| US08300816B2 |
Information processing unit, terminal unit, information processing method, key generation method and program
It relates to an information processing unit, a terminal unit, an information processing method, a key generation method and a program that enable reduction of the number of keys to be held by users and aims at providing an information processing unit capable of generating a directed-graph representing an encryption key generation logic to derive a set-key for encrypting a content or a content-key. The technique relates to a scheme that divides a set of user terminals into some subsets, allocates a set-key and an intermediate-key to each subset, and upon input of an intermediate-key correlated with a subset, outputs the set-key corresponding to the subset and the intermediate-key of the subset associated by the directed-edge. Further, it relates to a technique of replacing the directed-edge in the directed-graph with a shorter directed-edge. The effect of reducing the number of intermediate-keys held by each user is expected from the technique. |
| US08300815B2 |
Process to secure a personal portable object
The invention relates to a process to make secure a personal portable object comprising a body of the personal portable object, a microchip, a printed image and a device to enable said personal portable object to communicate with an entity external to the device. The process includes using an image file and an insertion algorithm to generate an image feature vector Vsi(num), storing the image feature vector Vsi(num) in the microchip, using the printed image obtained by a scanning device to generate an image feature vector Vsi(dig), and using a read-back algorithm to match the image feature vector Vsi(num) and the image feature vector Vsi(dig). |
| US08300804B2 |
Communication instrument mounting apparatus
The present invention provides a communication instrument mounting apparatus comprising a mounting bracket having one or more mounting members shaped to engage the rear portion of a communication instrument. The mounting bracket of the present invention provides mounting sleeves for receiving mounting members. Such sleeves may be utilized to releasably attach the mounting bracket of the present invention directly to a mounting surface and/or a conventional input junction box. The mounting member of the present invention provides walls defining at least one cavity through which input cables may be inserted. In one embodiment, the cavity of the present invention has a generally rectangular configuration and is positioned upon the mounting bracket so as to be adjacent to one or more attachment ports of the instrument. The relative positioning of the cavity allows cables to be connected and/or disconnected in a convenient manner. |
| US08300802B2 |
Adaptive filter for use in echo reduction
Methods and corresponding systems in an adaptive filter include calculating a signal estimator output using filter coefficients, and calculating an error signal. Next, a coefficient threshold is determined. Thereafter, for each filter coefficient, a first step size is assigned to filter coefficients with a magnitude less than the coefficient threshold, and a second step size is assigned to filter coefficients with a magnitude greater than or equal to the coefficient threshold. Finally, the filter coefficients are updated using the first and second step sizes and the error signal. The coefficient threshold can be selected as the average of the magnitudes of the filter coefficients. Alternatively, the coefficient threshold can be selected as the Mth largest of the filter coefficients ranked in order of magnitude. In one embodiment, the first step size can be less than one and the second step size can be greater than one. |
| US08300799B2 |
Campaign manager
A process identifies multiple campaign activation points associated with a voice-based menu hierarchy such that the voice-based menu hierarchy is accessed by multiple callers. The process continues by identifying a campaign associated with the voice-based menu hierarchy and determining a campaign value associated with the campaign. Additionally, the process determines an opt-in rate associated with the campaign and determines a likelihood that callers will reach each campaign activation point. A score associated with the campaign is then calculated for each campaign activation point. |
| US08300796B2 |
Method and system for enhanced call notification and treatment
An application server that provides RBT treatment to a caller and simultaneously notifies the called party, as subscriber of the service facilitated by the present invention, of an incoming call, whereby the called party is able to select a treatment for the call to be presented to the caller based on input collected from the called party on a real-time basis. |
| US08300791B2 |
Inhibition of telephony based phishing
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to telephonic phishing and provide a method, system and computer program product for preventing telephonic phishing. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for preventing telephonic phishing can be provided. The method can include receiving in a third-party validation service a request by an enterprise caller to establish a telephone call with a customer, validating the enterprise caller in the third-party validation service, and notifying the customer of whether or not the enterprise caller is legitimate or illegitimate. |
| US08300788B2 |
Registry of modular services and a method for automatically selecting an appropriate service to provide particular logical guarantees
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for selecting a service to provide a service operation. |
| US08300781B1 |
Method and apparatus for retrieving all voicemail messages at the same time
A method and apparatus for retrieving all voicemail messages at the same time on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, the customer subscribes to a voicemail service where a plurality of voicemails can be retrieved and listened to at the same time. Specifically, when the customer accesses the voicemail service, the application server engages the media server to play the audio files from each of the voicemail messages at the same time, i.e., in a continuous or consecutive manner via a single input. Namely, the audio files are played consecutively without requiring another input from the customer, unless the customer wishes to execute a voicemail function. |
| US08300780B1 |
Smart capture for populating an address book with entries
One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method that includes automatically identifying a telephone number associated with an incoming or outgoing telephone call. The telephone call is associated with a telephone system account. A name is automatically determined that corresponds to the telephone number. The name and the telephone number are automatically stored in association with an electronic address book. |
| US08300775B2 |
Resolving calling line identification information
A computing device includes a processing unit and a system memory. The processing unit creates a normalization module programmed to modify a plurality of telephone numbers so that the telephone numbers conform to a specified format, creates a calling line manipulation module programmed to manipulate a calling line identification number to form a number for querying one or more databases including contact information, and creates a resource query module programmed to query the databases including the contacting information using the number, receive one or more query results from the databases, and select one of the query results for inclusion in a notification of a telephonic message. |
| US08300767B1 |
Wavelength-classifying type X-ray diffraction device
A wavelength-classifying type X-ray diffraction device bombards a sample with characteristic X-rays generated from an X-ray generation source, and detects characteristic X-rays diffracted by the sample using an X-ray detector. The X-ray generation source is composed of several metals of different atomic number, respective metals generating several characteristic X-rays of different wavelengths. An X-ray detector is composed of several pixels for receiving X-rays and outputting pulse signals corresponding to X-ray wavelengths. Pixels are respectively furnished with classification circuits. The classification circuits classify and output pixel output signals based on each of characteristic X-ray wavelengths. X-ray intensity is detected on a per-wavelength basis in individual pixels 12. Measurement data based on different wavelength X-rays are acquired simultaneously in just one measurement. Data of diffracted X-rays of different wavelengths are acquired using the entire region of the receiving surface of a two-dimensional detector. |
| US08300765B2 |
Interventional imaging and data processing
An imaging system includes a radiation source (110) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region. A controller (116) activates the radiation source (110) to emit radiation and deactivates the radiation source (110) to stop radiation emission. The controller (116) selectively activates the radiation source (110) to emit radiation at one or more pre-determined angles. In another embodiment, the imaging system includes a data processing component (124) that generates a virtual three dimensional image of an object of interest of the scanned subject based on the image data. In another embodiment, the imaging system is in a communication with a data manipulation and packaging component (128) that generates at least a two dimensional or a three dimensional data set based on the volumetric image data and packages the data set in an object provided to a remote system (132) that manipulates and navigates through the data set. |
| US08300763B2 |
Spatial sequenced backscatter portal
Systems and methods for scanning an object in an inspection space are disclosed. The systems and methods generally incorporate spatially separated and sequenced Compton x-ray backscatter imaging techniques in a plurality of perspective planes. Such processes as time-gating detectors, weighting scintillation detections, and preferentially accepting signals that originate from a point that is substantially orthogonal to a radiation detector and at least partially shielding out signals that do not originate from a point substantially orthogonal to the detector may be used to enhance the data acquisition process. |
| US08300761B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit is provided that can decrease a power consumption caused by a clock signal and can achieve a high driving capacity. A unit shift register has a first transistor that activates an output signal when a power supply potential is provided to an output terminal. A pull-up driving circuit for driving the first transistor has a second transistor for providing a clock signal to a node connected to the gate of the first transistor and a boosting circuit for the node. When an output signal of a preceding stage is activated, the second transistor turns on. Thereafter, when the clock signal is activated, and the node is charged, the second transistor turns off. The boosting circuit increases the potential at the node when the second transistor turns off. Therefore, the first transistor can operate in non-saturation region and activate the output signal. |
| US08300760B2 |
Compressed powder composite neutron absorber material
A compressed powder composite (CPC) material for absorbing neutrons emitted from spent nuclear fuel thereby preventing the initiation of a chain reaction. The CPC material is typically provided as a substantially insoluble cylindrical pellet that is highly resistant to corrosion and is not subject to the failure modes associated with the alloy materials typically used in neutron absorption materials. The pellet preferably includes a dendritic nickel powder substantially uniformly mixed with a neutron absorber powder material, preferably boron carbide. Tubes filled with CPC materials, such tubes for replacing control roads so that a spent nuclear fuel assembly may be disposed of substantially indefinitely. |
| US08300758B2 |
Adaptive filter using shifted reverse interpolation
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an adaptive filter, a timing recovery unit, and a reverse interpolation filter. The adaptive filter has adaptive filter coefficients that are adjusted based on a first error signal at a first sample rate and filters a first signal at the first sample rate to obtain a second signal at the first sample rate. The timing recovery unit interpolates the second signal at the first sample rate to obtain a third signal at a second sample rate; and estimates a partial response signal at the second sample rate corresponding to the third signal. The a reverse interpolation filter interpolates a second error signal at the first sample rate, which is a difference between the third signal and the partial response signal, to obtain the first error signal at the first sample rate for feeding back to the adaptive filter. |
| US08300751B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a timing correction message in a wireless communication system
A method for transmitting a timing correction message in a wireless communication system, the method comprising, Generating the timing correction message comprising a 8-bit MessageID field and a 2-bit NumSectors field wherein, the NumSectors field indicates the number of sector records in the message and a 16 bit TimingCorrection field wherein, the TimingCorrection indicates the timing correction on the sector and last 15 bits indicate the magnitude of timing correction in units of 1/8 chips and transmitting the timing correction message over a communication link. |
| US08300747B2 |
Method and system for an adaptive VBLAST receiver for wireless multiple input multiple outout (MIMO) detection
Various aspects of a system for an adaptive VBLAST receiver for wireless MIMO detection may comprise utilizing log likelihood ratios (LLR) to selectively cancel interference in a received signal when information contained in one or more layers is encoded. Following the selective cancellation of interference, further computations may be performed on the residual received signal. Various aspects of the invention may comprise a linear detector with improved performance in comparison to some conventional VBLAST receivers. Performance may be measured by, for example, a packet error rate (PER) for a given signal to noise ratio (SNR) associated with the received signal. |
| US08300745B2 |
Iterative interference cancellation using mixed feedback weights and stabilizing step sizes
A receiver is configured for canceling intra-cell and inter-cell interference in coded, multiple-access, spread-spectrum transmissions that propagate through frequency-selective communication channels. The receiver employs iterative symbol-estimate weighting, subtractive cancellation with a stabilizing step-size, and mixed-decision symbol estimate. Receiver embodiments may be implemented explicitly in software of programmed hardware, or implicitly in standard Rake-based hardware either within the Rake (i.e., at the finger level) or outside the Rake (i.e., at the user of subchannel symbol level). |
| US08300735B2 |
Wireless signal receiving method and receiver for in-phase to quadrature (I/Q) mismatch calibration
A receiver receiving a Radio Frequency (RF) signal and generating a baseband signal is provided. An RF module receives the RF signal and down convert the RF signal according to a first oscillation frequency to generate an Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal. An IF module is coupled to the RF module and arranged to receive the IF signal and down convert the IF signal according to a second oscillation frequency to generate the baseband signal. A calibration module is coupled to the RF module and arranged to calculate the IF signal according to a third oscillation frequency to detect an I/Q mismatch, and generate an adjustment signal, accordingly, to calibrate the I/O mismatch. |
| US08300734B2 |
Frequency converting system
In a frequency converting system, an input signal x(t) is supplied to a signal branching section for dividing a predetermined frequency domain into M bands, extracting signal components of the respective divided bands. The respective signal components and local signals each including a frequency difference corresponding to a predetermined intermediate frequency with respect to a center frequency of each band are input to a frequency converting part. The signals of the respective divided bands are converted into signals of intermediate frequency bands each including the predetermined intermediate frequency as the center frequency, the conversion outputs are sampled by using a common clock signal, whereby the conversion outputs are converted into digital signals. Further, after being subjected to phase correction processing, the digital signals are subjected to frequency conversion and combination processing by a signal regeneration part. |
| US08300728B1 |
Complex envelope elimination and restoration transmitter
The invention is a method of transmitting a radio signal using a complex envelope elimination and restoration technique. The method includes receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal. Further, the method includes separating the RF signal into an in-phase baseband signal (I) and a quadrature baseband signal (Q). Still further, the method includes decomposing the (I) signal into a in-phase magnitude component and a in-phase phase component while decomposing the Q signal into a quadrature magnitude component and a quadrature phase component. Alternatively, the source signal could be digital baseband information. Digital signal processing could generate the phase and magnitude reference signals for the system. |
| US08300718B2 |
Demodulating circuit, demodulating method, and receiving system
A demodulating circuit includes: a fast Fourier transform circuit which fast Fourier transforms a received signal and outputs a plurality of carrier signals; an output selecting circuit which selects at least two signals from the plurality of carrier signals, the at least two signals including a first signal modulated in accordance with a first modulation method and a second signal modulated in accordance with a second modulation method; an inverse fast Fourier transform circuit which inverse Fourier transforms transmission path characteristic values including a first transmission path characteristic value obtained based on the first signal and a second transmission path characteristic value obtained based on the second signal; and an FFT window control circuit which controls a position of an FFT window based on the inverse Fourier transformed transmission path characteristic values. |
| US08300716B1 |
Link adaptation for OFDM systems
A method of adaptively selecting a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of a communication link includes obtaining a first parameter corresponding to a Quality of Service (QoS) requirement of the communication link, obtaining a second parameter indicative of a physical condition of the communication link, selecting an MCS based on at least the first parameter and the second parameter. |
| US08300715B2 |
Method and apparatus for reuse of WAN infrastructure resources in a wireless peer-to-peer (P2P) network
To make efficient use of a frequency spectrum, a peer-to-peer network shares a wide area network (WAN) frequency spectrum as well as a time-frequency structure of the WAN, where the time-frequency structure includes a set of tones and symbols. A first wireless terminal monitors the time-frequency structure of the WAN to determine which subsets of tone-symbols are unused for WAN and/or other peer-to-peer connections. Then, the first wireless terminal selects and uses an unused subset of tone-symbols within the time-frequency structure for its peer-to-peer connection with a second wireless terminal. |
| US08300713B2 |
Preamble sequence detection and integral carrier frequency offset estimation method for OFDM/OFDMA wireless communication system
A preamble sequence detection and integral carrier frequency offset estimation method for OFDM/OFDMA wireless communication systems by formulating integral carrier frequency offset estimation and preamble sequence detection as a signal detection problem in multi-channel interference, obtaining the theoretically optimal solution, and deriving simplified, approximately optimal solutions, in which frequency-domain filtering is employed to calculate the required correlation values, which can drastically reduce the high computational complexity of the original theoretically optimal solution but result in little impact on precision. In addition, several further simplified algorithms are provided, some of which can even eliminate the use of multipliers. The using of frequency-domain filtering has high extensibility in application to related signal sequence detection problems. |
| US08300712B2 |
Equalization for zero prefix OFDM systems
The system, apparatus, and method (300) of the present invention provide sub-optimal channel equalization techniques for zero-prefixed orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM) systems that retain the performance of least-squares equalization but are not as complex. The technique of the present invention improves equalization performance with less complexity than required by minimum-mean-squared-error (MMSE) equalization as well. The channel matrix is rendered circulant and then truncated where the eigenvalues are small. |
| US08300700B2 |
Image encoding method and image decoding method, image encoder and image decoder, and image encoded bit stream and recording medium
The present invention makes it possible to include, when encoding processing is applied to three color components using a 4:0:0 format, data for one picture in one access unit and makes it possible to set the same time information or the same set encoding modes among the respective color components. In an image encoding system for applying compression processing to an input image signal including a plurality of color components, encoded data obtained by independently subjecting an input image signal of each of the color components to encoding processing and a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to are multiplexed with a bit stream. In an image decoding system for inputting a bit stream in which an image signal including a plurality of color components is compressed to perform decoding processing, decoding processing of the encoded data of each of the color components is performed using a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to. |
| US08300697B2 |
Dynamic motion vector analysis method
The proposed Dynamic Motion Vector Analysis method applies to the motion compensation module of a video decoder system. The method analyzes the motion-vectors of a given region of picture frame and outputs a set of regions to be fetched from the reference frames stored in the external memory. The size and number of regions are decided by a hierarchical method that uses a set of user-defined input thresholds. Pre-processing of the motion vectors associated with the given region allows the method to handle reference data to be fetched from multiple reference frames in the same framework. A complementary dynamic batch (region of operation) size strategy that works along with MV-analysis is also proposed to help utilize the on-chip memory resources more efficiently. |
| US08300694B2 |
Image encoding method and image decoding method, image encoder and image decoder, and image encoded bit stream and recording medium
The present invention makes it possible to include, when encoding processing is applied to three color components using a 4:0:0 format, data for one picture in one access unit and makes it possible to set the same time information or the same set encoding modes among the respective color components. In an image encoding system for applying compression processing to an input image signal including a plurality of color components, encoded data obtained by independently subjecting an input image signal of each of the color components to encoding processing and a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to are multiplexed with a bit stream. In an image decoding system for inputting a bit stream in which an image signal including a plurality of color components is compressed to perform decoding processing, decoding processing of the encoded data of each of the color components is performed using a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to. |
| US08300693B2 |
Image transform for video coding
A method is disclosed for decomposing a set of even and odd pictures into low-band and high-band pictures respectively in a image decomposing unit, in which the even picture is used by at least two prediction motion compensators on which the output signal of each prediction motion compensator is scaled according to the number of prediction motion compensators. The method includes calculating the high-band picture by subtracting from the odd picture the scaled motion-compensated signals and using the high-band picture in the at least two update motion compensators, the output signal of each update motion compensator being scaled according to the number of update motion compensators. Finally, the low-band picture is calculated by adding the scaled update motion-compensated signals to the even picture. |
| US08300692B2 |
Moving picture coding method, moving picture decoding method, moving picture coding device, and moving picture decoding device
A moving picture coding method, a moving picture decoding method, a moving picture coding device, and a moving picture decoding device perform skipped display even in a moving picture decoding device having insufficient processing capability and while suppressing an increase in an amount of coded data. A plurality of combined pictures are generated each of which is generated by combining a plurality of pictures into a combined picture having the plurality of pictures as regions. The plurality of the combined pictures is coded and a slice boundary between the regions is set in the combined picture. For each of the plurality of combined pictures, when the combined picture has one or more to-be-displayed region except at least one not-to-be-displayed region, the to-be-displayed region is coded with reference to only a to-be-displayed region of another combined picture. The one or more to-be-displayed region is displayed for skipped reproduction. |
| US08300691B2 |
Video encoding method and apparatus and video decoding method and apparatus using residual resizing
A video encoding method and apparatus and a video decoding method and apparatus are provided. The video encoding method encodes residual values included in a residual block of a current block after sub-sampling or down-sampling the residual values, thereby encoding and decoding the current block using a small number of residual values and thus improving the compression rate of video encoding. |
| US08300689B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding image containing gray alpha channel image
An apparatus and a method for encoding and/or decoding an image containing a gray alpha channel image. The apparatus for encoding an image includes a block data reception unit receiving image data of a block currently being input to the apparatus and classifies the current block either as a foreground image portion or as a background image portion according to values of gray alpha components in the current block; a foreground image encoding unit sequentially encoding the gray alpha components and brightness and hue components of the current block if the current block is classified as the foreground image portion; and a background image encoding unit encoding the gray alpha components of the current block if the current block is classified as the background image portion. The apparatus for decoding an image includes a bitstream interpretation unit interpreting the bitstream in units of predetermined blocks and classifies a current block obtained as one of the interpretation results either as a foreground image portion or as a background image portion; a foreground image decoding unit generating a restored gray alpha channel image and a restored brightness and hue image by sequentially decoding gray alpha components and brightness and hue components of the current block if the current block is classified as the foreground image portion; and a background image decoding unit generating a restored gray alpha channel image by decoding the gray alpha components of the current block if the current block is classified as the background image portion. |
| US08300684B2 |
Real-time eye monitor for statistical filter parameter calibration
In described embodiments, filter parameters for a filter applied to a signal in, for example, a Serializer/De-serializer (SerDes) receiver and/or transmitter are generated based on real-time monitoring of a data eye. The real-time eye monitor monitors data eye characteristics of the signal present in a data path, the data path applying the filter to the signal. The eye monitor generates eye statistics from the monitored data eye characteristics and an adaptive controller generates a set of parameters for the filter of the data path for statistical calibration of the data eye, wherein the eye monitor continuously monitors the data eye and the adaptive controller continuously generates the set of parameters based on the eye statistics. |
| US08300675B2 |
Spreading code acquisition for direct sequence spread spectrum signals
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for acquiring a complex spreading code of a direct sequence spread spectrum signal (DSSS) by acquiring a state of a spreading code generator capable of generating the complex spreading code. A sequence of bipolar differential product values, which sign is independent on data transmitted by the DSSS signal, is obtained by combining in-phase and quadrature samples of the DSSS signal for adjacent chip intervals. This sequence is provided to a linear block decoder for obtaining a codeword of a linear block code, which is defined by a structure of the spreading generator and the differential product operation. The codeword is used to compute the state of the spreading code generator. |
| US08300665B2 |
Method for transmitting control signals in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting control signals includes configuring a multiplexing indicator indicating that a plurality of control signals are multiplexed on a control channel, generating a multiplexed control signal by multiplexing a first control signal and a second control signal according to the multiplexing indicator and transmitting the multiplexed control signal on the control channel. Overhead due to control signaling can be reduced by transmitting a multiplexed control signal on a control channel. |
| US08300662B2 |
System and method for communicating using an in-vehicle system
A system and method for communicating wirelessly from a mobile device to a remote receiver station is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a status of the mobile device and, upon an initiation event, initiate a data transfer process to wirelessly communicate data to the remote receiver station. The system also includes a voice-band modem that, upon initiation of the data transfer process is configured to receive data for transfer to the remote receiver station, divide the source data into a collection source packets, and encode the data using a fountain code encoding protocol to form a series of encoded packets. The voice band modem is also configured to transmit the series of encoded packets to the remote receiver station as a burst including all of the source data and repeatedly transmit the encoded packets until receiving an indication that the series of packets including all of the source data has been received at the receiving station. |
| US08300660B2 |
Transmitting apparatus
A transmitting apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects deviation and balance relative to a specified bit rate of a frame signal input at a constant bit rate; a dividing unit that reads at constant intervals from a buffer storing the frame signal and outputs a signal divided into a plurality of segments having a predetermined data length; and a correcting unit that, based on the deviation and balance detected by the detecting unit, corrects the data length for the division by the dividing unit. |
| US08300659B2 |
Method and a system for transporting of data with integrated protocol mapping function
The invention relates to a network comprising at least one host device having an interface card connected to a backplane of said host device, wherein said interface card comprises at least one cage for receiving a pluggable module which performs a traffic management of data transported via at least one optical fiber connected to said pluggable module. |
| US08300658B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for multi-antenna channel quality data acquisition in a broadcast/multicast service network using a multicast symbol
Various methods and apparatuses provide unicast channel data acquisition, such as antenna information, from MBMS subframes. A method of operating a wireless communications network infrastructure entity is disclosed comprising defining a subframe (400) comprising a unicast symbol (401) in a predetermined first symbol position within said subframe (400), said unicast symbol (401) comprising at least a first unicast antenna reference symbol; defining a second symbol position (403) within said subframe (400) for containing at least a second unicast antenna reference symbol, said second symbol position (403) being a multicast symbol position for transmitting a multicast symbol; and transmitting said subframe (400) wherein said unicast symbol (401) comprises said at least first unicast antenna reference symbol and wherein said multicast symbol (403) comprises said at least second unicast antenna reference symbol. |
| US08300651B1 |
Channel estimation with co-channel pilots suppression
A method for a user equipment device includes receiving a reference signal from a desired transmitter and obtaining information about other, interfering transmitters whose signals are receivable by the user equipment. The information includes a reference signal sequence of reference signals transmitted by the other transmitters. The method also includes modeling interference caused by the reference signals of the other transmitters on the received reference signal when determining a channel estimate for a channel between the user equipment device and the desired transmitter. |
| US08300649B2 |
Mobility management method for mobile terminals in a cellular wireless communication system, and equipment for implementing the method
The present invention relates to a mobility management method for mobile terminals in a cellular wireless communication system. The system comprises a core network and an access network comprising at least one controller, each controller controlling a group of base stations each defining at least one cell, and sets of cells form respective location areas. In the method the cells defined by the base stations controlled by each controller of the access network form a predetermined number of location areas and the belonging of each of the cells to one of the predetermined number of location areas is independent of its geographical location. |
| US08300645B2 |
Method and device for exchanging diagnostic data for the simulation of aircraft computer networks
A method and a device for exchanging diagnostic data for simulation of computer networks of aircraft are disclosed. Diagnostic data exchange is achieved in a network between a network node and a diagnostic terminal connected to the network. The network node is capable of receiving simulation commands in real time and diagnostic commands. According to the invention, the network node is capable of receiving simulation commands according to at least one predetermined time period, time-based segregation being achieved for emission of diagnostic data relative to processing of simulation commands. |
| US08300638B2 |
Multimodal multilevel precedence and preemption
A device comprising a network resource controller to preempt at least one multiple-user session over a primary modality of communication according to a precedence-level associated with users of the multiple-user session and to switch the multiple-user session to an alternate modality of communication without disconnection of the multiple-user session. |
| US08300633B2 |
Network quality monitoring device and method for internet services involving signaling
A network quality monitoring device includes a packet receiving unit that receives packets used by a signaling protocol server device that is a server device for processing the signaling protocol, a signaling protocol packet extracting unit that extracts signaling protocol packets for controlling the signaling protocol from packets received by the packet receiving unit, a session management table storing unit that stores the session management tables, a signaling protocol quality analyzing unit that collects quality information regarding the network quality from a session management table corresponding to sessions that have transitioned to a predetermined communication state among the session management tables stored in the session management table storing unit and, based on the collection result, analyzes statistical information regarding the network quality. |
| US08300631B2 |
Method for realizing mobile IP management and the network system thereof
A method for realizing mobile IP management includes: a mobile node (MN) sends a mobility registration signal to a mobility control (MC) entity in a control function entity of the transmission layer of the network; a home mobility control entity of the mobile node registers the mobile node, returns a registration response to the mobile node and transmits a control signal to a mobility forwarding (MF) entity in the transmission layer; the mobility control entity controls the mobility forwarding entity to provide communication services for the mobile node after it receives a request signal from the registered mobile node. A method for realizing mobile IP management in NGN network and a network system for realizing mobile IP management are also disclosed. |
| US08300630B2 |
UPD-based soft phone state monitoring for CTI applications
A supervisor computer directly communicates, via User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets, with a call control application software in a soft phone. The UDP packets provide real-time information, from a desktop of the soft phone, describing call activity and usage status of the soft phone. The supervisor computer is able to remotely control usage of the soft phone according to information provided by the UDP packets. |
| US08300626B2 |
Path shortening in a wireless mesh network
In one embodiment, a method includes a mesh point receiving mesh advertisement messages from advertising mesh points of a wireless mesh network having a mesh portal with a wired connection to a wired network. Each mesh advertisement message specifies a corresponding metric for reaching the mesh portal and has a corresponding signal strength indicator. An ordered group of parent access points, ordered based on the respective metrics, is generated from among the advertising mesh points, starting with a first parent access point having a corresponding optimum metric for reaching the mesh portal and independent of the corresponding signal strength indicator. A registration message is sent to each of the parent access points identifying a corresponding specified priority based on a corresponding position in the ordered group, for use by the corresponding parent access point in selecting a minimum interframe spacing for forwarding a wireless packet received from the mesh point. |
| US08300624B2 |
Signaling allocation method and apparatus thereof
The invention provides a signalling method in a first base station of a mobile communications system adapted for synchronized multimedia broadcast/multicast transmissions, the first base station transmitting to a wireless terminal, the mobile communication system further comprising a set of base stations neighboring the first base station, the method comprising: transmitting a signal describing the set of base stations over a broadcast channel by the first base station to at least a wireless terminal. Further, a first bit of the signal indicates if a first subframe allocation pattern of synchronized subframes per radio frame in the first base station equals a second subframe allocation pattern of synchronized subframes per radio frame for all base stations of the set of base stations. The set of base stations neighboring the first base station are candidates for starting a transmission to the wireless terminal. |
| US08300622B2 |
Systems and methods for tandem free operation signal transmission
Systems and methods are provided for reducing signal distortion during tandem free operation signal transmission from a first mobile station to a second mobile station over a network; the systems and methods reduce the signal distortion in tandem free operation mobile to mobile communications that occurs when there is a loss of synchronicity between a plurality of transcoder rate adapter units that is caused by oscillation of the transcoder rate adapter units between different functional states during signal transmission. The systems and methods of the invention reduce the time gaps that are associated with these oscillations, resulting in reduced signal distortion and improved signal transmission. |
| US08300620B1 |
Dynamically tuning a timer mechanism according to radio frequency conditions
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for adjusting a timer mechanism based on radio frequency (RF) conditions of a network connecting source and destination devices are provided. Initially, data packets transmitted by the source device are assigned an ordering. This ordering is compared to an actual order in which the data packets are received at the destination device to ascertain whether any data packets were missing due to RF conditions. A negative response indicating missing, or lost, data packets may be returned, thereby invoking the source device to retransmit the data packets identified as missing. The device(s) may compute a probability of packet-loss (utilizing a recorded history of the transmitted packets in conjunction with the data packets actually received) and utilize the packet-loss probability to dynamically tune a time-interval of the timer mechanism. Upon expiration of the time-interval, the timer mechanism instructs the source device to retransmit the initial data packets. |
| US08300619B2 |
System and method for providing scheduled data communications in a communication system
A system and method for enabling scheduled data messages to be transmitted within a communication system on a controlled access packet data channel. When a scheduled data message is to be transmitted, a mobile device generates the data message, appends a predetermined type of header to the data message, and passes the data message to a communication unit. The header comprises an hour field, a minute field, and a slot field indicative of a specific time when the data message is to be transmitted on the controlled access packet data channel. After receiving a data message from the mobile device, the communication unit parses the received data message to determine whether the received data message should be processed as a scheduled data message on the controlled access packet data channel, and transmits the data message to a fixed network at a specific time based on the hour, minute, and slot fields in the header. |
| US08300618B2 |
User priority based preemption techniques in a time division multiple access multi-hop ad hoc network
When a source node (SN) seeks to transmit a first communication stream (FCS) to a destination node (DN), a method is provided for allowing the SN to preempt a lower priority communication stream (LPCS). User priorities are supported during slot scheduling based on stream-identifiers (IDs) and stream priority values exchanged by each of the nodes. A scout request message (SRM), which includes a stream ID and a user priority value of the SN, is transmitted to a next-hop node along a route towards the DN. A node along the route determines if free time slots are available along the route to meet QoS requirements of the FCS, and if not, the node determines whether there is a LPCS in the neighborhood, and if so, the node frees the particular time slots currently being used by the LPCS, and allocates the particular time slots for the FCS. |
| US08300616B2 |
System and method for wireless communications
A system and method for wireless communications is provided. A method for operating in a communications network includes receiving a codebook, the codebook includes a plurality of codewords, and determining if the codebook satisfies a constant modulus property. The method also includes in response to determining that the codebook does not satisfy the constant modulus property, converting the codebook into a codebook satisfying the constant modulus property, and storing the codebook satisfying the constant modulus property. The method further includes storing the codebook in response to determining that the codebook does satisfy the constant modulus property, and causing to transmit a transmission to a communications device, wherein the transmission is encoded using a codeword in the stored codebook. |
| US08300614B2 |
Preventing packet loops in unified networks
Unified mobility switches often define a virtual LAN (VLAN), including a combination of mobility tunnels and access tunnels, via which packets are transported to a mobile device over a combination of physical connections and wireless links. A unified switch may have multiple ports available to route a packet to a particular destination, since the unified switches identify routing paths for both physical connections and VLANs. A particular unified switch may therefore have multiple routes to a common destination, which can lead to a routing loop across a network of switches supporting both physical and virtual connections. A unified mobility switch provides loop detection and prevention through a set of rules for qualifying connections as virtual tunnels or physical connections, and defining a single path where multiple potential paths exist. |
| US08300613B2 |
Techniques for detecting beacons on wireless channels
A wireless local access network (WLAN) radio listens for a beacon for a listening duration on each of multiple channels. Periodically, the WLAN radio changes the channel on which the WLAN radio listens for a beacon. The WLAN radio rotates through all channels until an entire beacon period is listened to. The number of iterations is chosen to minimize the overlap of successive listening durations. The WLAN radio can detect a beacon by detecting an incomplete portion of a beacon. |
| US08300608B2 |
Faint connectivity session setup
A method for communicating is provided. The method comprises communicating regarding transmission time interval (TTI) bundling related to one or more random access (RA) messages. |
| US08300605B2 |
General access network controller bypass to facilitate use of standard cellular handsets with a general access network
Enabling a standard cellular handset to be used to access a core mobile network via a generic access network is disclosed. A communication between a generic access network element and the core mobile network is intercepted. A modified version of the communication is generated. The modified communication is forwarded. |
| US08300604B2 |
Radio communication system and radio communication method
A radio communication system includes an EPC 100, a 3G network 200 and a mobile station 10 connectable to an external network 300 via any one of the EPC 100 and the 3G network 200. The communication system includes: a handover function unit configured to control a handover from the EPC 100 to the 3G network 200. The number of EPS bearers allowed to be set up with the mobile station 10 and the EPC 100 is larger than the number of PDP contexts allowed to be set up with the mobile station 10 and the 3G network 200. The handover function unit controls the handover in accordance with the number of the EPS beaters already set up with the mobile station 10 and the EPC 100 and the number of the PDP contexts to be newly set up with the mobile station 10 and the 3G network 200. |
| US08300603B2 |
Location reporting in wireless networks
Location reporting in long term evolution (LTE) wireless networks is provided. Systems and methods are disclosed to provide support of location reporting and messaging at a mobility management entity (MME) to allow location updates to serving gateways (SGWs) and packet data network gateways (PGWs), and for the SGWs and PGWs to activate and de-activate location reporting. The MME also supports detection and communication with the LTE radio access network to provide location reporting back to the communication network. The MME and the accompanying messaging can provide location reporting including enhanced cell global identity (ECGI) and tracking area identity (TAI) information. |
| US08300596B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product providing extended measurement control signal for handoff measurement under interference coordination
In one non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, a method includes: receiving radio resource control signaling with a user equipment, wherein the radio resource control signaling is indicative of at least one frequency sub-band to be measured by the user equipment for a particular cell in a manner transparent to at least one of an interference control scheme and a handover scheme implemented for the cell; performing at least one measurement of the at least one frequency sub-band; and reporting information descriptive of the at least one measurement. |
| US08300593B2 |
Frequency layer convergence method for MBMS
A method to control cell selection and/or re-selection in a communication system comprising a plurality of cells with which terminal devices may communicate, the method including the steps of: determining that a terminal device is to start a session for a certain service, the service using a reception frequency; based on that determination, changing at least one cell selection and/or re-selection parameter in respect of the terminal device with the effect that a subsequent cell selection and/or re-selection performed by the device would favor cells that use the reception frequency used in the service session over other cells. |
| US08300592B2 |
Signal transmission method and device
A signal transmission method, which includes: each data symbol needing to be transmitted is weighted and repeatedly extended to obtain the extended data symbol of each data symbol; the extended data symbol of each data symbol and the pilot frequency symbol are modulated and mapped to the specified time-frequency locations of each corresponding block repeat resource block to obtain each corresponding repeat data unit block; each repeat data unit block is transmitted. A signal transmission device is also disclosed in the present invention. |
| US08300589B2 |
Method for acquiring resource region information for PHICH and method of receiving PDCCH
A method of acquiring information on a resource region for transmitting PHICH and a method of receiving PDCCH using the same are disclosed. The resource region for transmitting the PHICH can be specified by first information corresponding to the per-subframe PHICH number and second information corresponding to a duration of the PHICH within the subframe. The first information can be specified into a form resulting from multiplying a predetermined basic number by a specific constant. And, the specific constant can be transmitted via PBCH. Moreover, the second information can be acquired from the PBCH as well. |
| US08300587B2 |
Initialization of reference signal scrambling
A scrambling sequence is initialized using at least a cell identifier and an offset, and a physical downlink control information DCI is sent to a user equipment which indicates the offset. In more particular embodiments a user equipment-specific reference signal UE-RS is scrambled using the initialized scrambling sequence, and the scrambled UE-RS is sent to the UE for demodulating a downlink shared channel (PDSCH). In another exemplary embodiment the generated UE-RS is sent in a pilot part of a subframe transmission associated with the PDSCH and is for demodulating at least a data part of that subframe transmission. In a specific embodiment from the UE side, the UE receives the UE-RS and the DCI which indicates the offset, descrambles the UE-RS using a scrambling sequence that is initialized using a cell identifier and the indicated offset; and demodulates the PDSCH using the de-scrambled UE-RS. |
| US08300583B2 |
Method for transmitting control information in a mobile communication system
A method for transmitting and receiving control information between AM RLC entities in a mobile communication system is provided. Especially, when a receiving-side AM RLC entity is connected to one or more logical channels, the receiving-side AM RLC entity sends control information through a specific one of the logical channels according to the contents of the control information to allow the transmitting side to quickly perform retransmission, thereby increasing the data transmitting rate. |
| US08300578B2 |
System, apparatus and method for seamless roaming through the use of routing update messages
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing seamless roaming of a wireless node of a plurality of nodes forming a wireless network comprises detecting, recovering and transmitting operations. The detecting operation involves detecting receipt of a Disassociation message from the wireless node by a first node of the plurality of nodes. The wireless node is roaming and seeking to establish a new communication with a second node of the plurality of nodes. The recovering operation involves addressing information from the Disassociation message by the first node, where the addressing information identifies the second node of the plurality of nodes. The transmitting operation involves transmitting a Route Update message to at least the second node of the plurality of nodes. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08300576B2 |
Radio communication apparatus
A base unit of a radio communication apparatus of the present invention includes a controller that discriminates whether or not company identifying information transmitted from a cordless handset is specific information in connecting a line in a Bluetooth (BT) communication mode, performs communication in another radio communication standard (company's own mode) on determining that the company identifying information is the specific information, and performs the communication in a BT standard on determining that the company identifying information is not the specific information, and a registering unit for registering an ID peculiar to the apparatus. This simple structure allows long-distance communication at higher sound quality with the other apparatus capable of performing CDL communication in the company's own mode using an error handling function, and sound communication at usual sound quality in a BT data format allowing short-distance communication even when the company identifying information is not the specific information. |
| US08300575B2 |
Priority bearers in a mobile telecommunication network
Method for switching a packet to a bearer in a mobile telecommunication network, by setting up multiple parallel bearers for bearing the packet across a radio interface; associating the bearers with a bearer priority level of traffic handling; determining a priority level of the packet; mapping the packet priority level to the bearer priority level; switching the packet to one of the bearers based on the mapping; using the bearer priority level to prioritize the access to the radio resources. A further method for switching a packet by setting up multiple parallel bearers without resource reservation; associating each of the bearers with a bearer priority level; mapping a flow of packets to one of the bearer priority levels, when a service is started; switching each packet to one of the multiple bearers based on the mapping; using the bearer priority level to prioritize the access to the radio resources. |
| US08300569B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A method of processing broadcast data in a broadcast transmitter includes performing, by a Reed-Solomon (RS) encoder, RS encoding and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) encoding on mobile service data and building at least primary RS frames belonging to a primary ensemble or secondary RS frames belonging to a secondary ensemble depending on RS frame mode information that indicates a single frame mode or a dual frame mode; mapping each of the built at least primary or secondary RS frames into groups, wherein each of the groups includes known data sequences, a fast information channel (FIC) segment, and transmission parameter channel (TPC) data; and transmitting a transmission frame containing the groups. |
| US08300564B2 |
Opportunistic data transfer between vehicles
A system and method for optimizing wireless vehicle to vehicle communications is configured to maximize the amount of data that can be transferred from one vehicle to another during a transient encounter by adaptively adjusting the message packet size and data modulation rate during an inter-vehicle communication session. |
| US08300559B2 |
System and method for monitoring call flow in heterogeneous environments
The call states of all devices in a call are monitored and reported even when the devices belong to networks that use different types of call identifiers. A first device and a second device are different types of devices selected from a group of types comprising: a legacy device type, a SIP basic device type, and a SIP advanced device type. In response to a request from an application to monitor the first device and a request to establish a call between the first device and the second device, a Universal Call Identifier (UCID) is generated for the call and the call is established. A request to monitor the second device is sent using the UCID. When a change in the call state of the second device is detected, the change of the call state is reported to the application based on the UCID. |
| US08300558B2 |
Feature interaction detection in multi-party calls and calls with bridged appearances
A method is disclosed for detecting feature interactions in multi-party calls (i.e., calls involving more than two endpoints), and in calls with bridged appearances. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a set of rules is applied to the specifications of two features in order to detect interactions between the features. The rules specify conditions for, or relationships among, the original connections for the features, the resulting connections for the features, the triggering party for the features, and the originating and terminating parties of connections. A rule is considered matched for a multi-party call when any of the original and resulting connections for the call match the conditions of the rule. Similarly, a rule is considered matched for a call with one or more bridged appearances when any of the original and resulting connections for the call, including those of bridged appearances, match the conditions of the rule. |
| US08300555B2 |
Management of wireless relay nodes using identifiers
A set of wireless relay nodes are managed to facilitate inter-node routing of packets in the set. In some aspects, unique identifiers are defined for the wireless relay nodes to facilitate routing packets within the set. In some aspect a routing table is provided to each of the wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table identifies each wireless relay node in the set and a next-hop entity for each of these wireless relay nodes. Each of the wireless relay nodes may then define a forwarding table based on the routing table. |
| US08300549B2 |
Gateway configuration updating
The configuration of a gateway in a communications network may be updated. Provisioning data may be extracted from a gateway management server. The extracted provisioning data may be filtered against a list of target gateways. Upon determining an equipping status of endpoints associated with the target gateways in the list, the configuration of one or more target gateways may be updated utilizing existing endpoint provisioning associated with the one or more target gateways. |
| US08300542B2 |
VoIP performance optimization for E-DCH power limitation
User equipment in a wireless communication system monitors scheduling information and locally detects a change in link data rate of the uplink channel based on the monitored scheduling information. In this way, a change in link data rate can be detected directly without significant delay. This direct or early detection of a rate change is then combined with an appropriate system reaction. The information of the detected change in link data rate is preferably utilized for adapting the application data rate of an IP application running in the user equipment. As an alternative, or as a complement, data packets are classified based on relative importance and selected for transfer of information over the uplink channel based on the classification of data packets and in dependence on the detected change in link data rate. |
| US08300540B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic network channel modification
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for establishment and modification of network allocation parameters. |
| US08300536B2 |
System and method for providing real time indicator of voice transmission quality
A method for providing real time indicator of voice transmission quality in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network is disclosed. The method allows to receive, at regular time interval during a call, a digital signature from a source call device. The received signature is compared to a referential signature stored on the destination devices, and in case the received signature falls out of the referential signature, a quality indication message is transmitted back to the source call device. |
| US08300535B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method thereof, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of modules connected in a ring shape via a bus, and each module processes a packet flowing in a single direction on the ring in a predetermined order. The module includes a communication unit for transmitting a packet received from a first direction in the ring via the bus to a second direction, a discrimination unit for discriminating a packet from among the packets received from the first direction as a processing packet to be processed by the module, and a processing unit which is connected with the communication unit one by one and configured to process the processing packet. The communication unit transmits the packet processed by the processing unit at an interval equivalent to processing time or more for a processing packet processed by a module in a latter stage in the predetermined order among packets transmitted by the communication unit to the second direction. |
| US08300531B2 |
Methods and apparatus for overload control of prioritized message flows in a state machine execution environment
Methods and apparatus are provided for overload control of prioritized message flows in a state machine execution environment. A state machine employs a flow graph associated with a system. The flow graph provides a flow control mechanism that defines a plurality of states and one or more transitions between the states. Tokens circulate within the flow graph and execute functions during the transitions between the states. The state machine parses one of the tokens to extract one or more predefined information elements; assigns a priority to the token based on the extracted information elements and a state occupancy of the token, wherein the assigned priority controls an order in which the token is processed; assesses an overload status of the system and selectively discards one or more of the tokens based on the assigned priority and assessed overload status. One or more tokens can be selectively discarded based on the assessed overload status and a closeness measure indicating how close a given token is to placing the system in a quiescent state. |
| US08300523B2 |
Multi-chasis ethernet link aggregation
In one embodiment a method is provided for forwarding traffic through a standby device in the event of an uplink connection failure. The method generally includes forwarding traffic received on a first downlink connection with a dual-homed device to an uplink connection with a network core, detecting a failure on the uplink connection with the network core, and in response to detecting the failure, notifying a standby device of the failure and sending a message to the dual-homed device to trigger the dual-homed device to begin forwarding traffic to the network core via a second downlink connection between the standby device and the dual-homed device. |
| US08300522B2 |
OFDM signal transmission apparatus and method
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal transmission apparatus and a method thereof are disclosed. The OFDM signal transmission apparatus includes an inverse Fourier transform (IFT) unit for transforming a frequency domain OFDM signal to a time domain OFDM signal according to one of transmission modes of 4K, 16K, and 32K; a guard interval inserting unit for inserting a guard interval into the transformed time domain OFDM signal according to a predetermined guard interval inserting rate; and a transmitting unit for transmitting the OFDM signal having the guard interval. Therefore, the data transmission rate is enhanced. |
| US08300516B2 |
Information recording medium with prepit and recording/reproducing apparatus and method using the same
An information recording medium that can be rapidly finalized, and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method using the same are provided. In the information recording medium, a prepit is pre-formed in a finalization area. Since the portion that has to be filled with data in finalizing the information recording medium is previously formed as the prepits series in manufacturing the information recording medium, the time necessary to finalize the information recording medium can be shortened, thereby achieving the rapid finalization of the medium. |
| US08300505B2 |
Writing repeating patterns of features to a substrate
Method and apparatus for writing repeating patterns of features to a substrate, such as a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a multi-dimensional pattern of discrete features of different sizes to be written to a substrate is divided into a plurality of contiguous regions. A unique set of compensation values is assigned to each region. A write beam of a write system is used to write the features to the substrate responsive to said unique sets of compensation values so that all of the features having a common size in at least one region are written using the same compensation values from the associated set. |
| US08300502B2 |
Method and system for acoustic imaging using a plurality of transmitting arrays on a circumferential surface
The invention relates to an imaging method and system for providing acoustic images of a surface and more particularly, but not exclusively, to acoustic imaging of a surface within a confined space. Also described are an acoustic probe and a transmit/receive sensor array configuration to implement the imaging method and system. The probe has an array of acoustic transmitters arranged in juxtaposed or spaced relationship around at least a portion of the circumferential surface of the probe, and an array of acoustic receivers also disposed around at least a portion of its circumferential surface. A beam-former is used for focussing and steering the acoustic beams from the acoustic transmitter array onto portions of the structure to be examined and for focussing and steering the receive beams onto said surface portions, said beam-former adapted to cause the acoustic transmit beams to be focussed in a plane orthogonal to the plane used to focus the receive beams. High resolution in the near field can be achieved by focussing the transmit and receive beams onto a surface at a focus region, the focus region being narrow in both the orthogonal planes. |
| US08300501B2 |
Supercavitating projectile tracking system and method
A system for three-dimensional tracking of high speed undersea projectiles may utilize a distributed field of randomly positioned passive acoustic sensors. The system measures variables related to the pressure field generated by a supercavitating projectile in flight wherein the amplitude of the pressure generated at a point in space is related to the projectile dimensions, velocity, and trajectory. The system iteratively processes data from the sensors to measure launch velocity, flight direction (trajectory), ballistic coefficient (drag), and/or maximum range. |
| US08300500B2 |
Underwater detection device
This disclosure provides a detection device, which includes a transceiving module for periodically transmitting a detection pulse signal toward a space and receiving a reflection wave from a target object as a reception signal, a signal loading module for generating a distance section row by dividing a given detection distance range into a plurality of distance sections, obtaining reception data by sequentially sampling the reception signal for every distance section, and storing the reception signal in a memory, and an interference processing module for sequentially performing interference removal processing for the reception data of each of the distance sections stored in the memory. The interference processing module includes an interference wave determination module for determining for every distance section whether the reception data of the distance section row including a target distance section is resulting from an interference wave, a signal generating module, if the reception data is determined to be resulting from the interference wave for generating data to be displayed based on one or more reception data other than the reception data in proximity to the reception data at least either in a distance direction or a transmission cycle direction, and if the reception data is determined to be resulting from the reflection wave, for using the reception data as the data to be displayed, and a display module for displaying the data to be displayed. |
| US08300494B2 |
Sub volt flash memory system
Various circuits include MOS transistors that have a bulk voltage terminal for receiving a bulk voltage that is different from a supply voltage and ground. The bulk voltage may be selectively set so that some MOS transistors have a bulk voltage set to the supply voltage or ground and other MOS transistors have a bulk voltage that is different. The bulk voltage may be set to forward or reverse bias pn junctions in the MOS transistor. The various circuits include comparators, operational amplifiers, sensing circuits, decoding circuits and the other circuits. The circuits may be included in a memory system. |
| US08300493B2 |
Encoded read-only memory (ROM) decoder
Decoder circuits capable of decoding encoded ROM memory are provided. Embodiments provide several improvements over prior solutions which rely primarily on CMOS logic (e.g., inverters). For example, embodiments provide faster decoding by limiting the number of decoding stages to a single stage. Further, embodiments allow the use of partial swing (as opposed to full swing) on the bit lines, which results in significant power reduction. This, in turn, results in reduced amounts of capacitor discharges when reading the data. |
| US08300492B2 |
Memory
A memory including a memory cell array, a word line decoder, a first and a second reference bit line generators are provided. The memory cell array has first and last bit lines respectively disposed at two sides of the memory cell array. The word line decoder generates a pre-word line signal. The first and the second reference bit line generators respectively detect voltage level variations of the first and last bit lines according to the pre-word line signal, so as to generate a first and a second cut-back signals. The first reference bit line generator transmits the first cut-back signal to the second reference bit line generator, the second reference bit line generator transmits the first and the second cut-back signals to the word line decoder, and the word line decoder generates a word line signal according to the first and the second cut-back signals and the pre-word line signal. |
| US08300487B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises a plurality of terminals, a plurality of drive units corresponding to the plurality of terminals, and a data control unit. The data control unit outputs parallel data applied to the plurality of terminals to the plurality of drive unit in a normal operation mode, and converts serial data applied to a particular terminal, which is one of the plurality of terminals, to parallel data, and outputs the parallel data to which the serial data applied to the particular terminal is converted to the plurality of drive units in a test mode. |
| US08300485B2 |
Sense amplifier and semiconductor apparatus including the same
A sense amplifier is configured to transfer data on a first data I/O line to a second data I/O line or to transfer data on the second data I/O line to the first data I/O line. The first data I/O line is substantially continuously coupled to the second data I/O line during an active operation. |
| US08300483B2 |
Timing adjustment circuit, timing adjustment method, and correction value computing method
A timing adjustment circuit includes a determination unit for outputting delay information corresponding to a period of a first input signal, a storing unit for storing a plurality of correction values based on a circuit included in the determination unit, a correction unit for correcting the delay information based on a correction value selected from the plurality of the correction values, based on the delay information, and a first delay line for delaying a second input signal corresponding to the first input signal, based on the delay information corrected by the correction unit. |
| US08300480B2 |
Semiconductor device having sense amplifiers supplied with an over-drive voltage in a normal mode and supplied with a step-down voltage in a refresh mode
A semiconductor device which has a sense amplifier and is supplied with an external power supply voltage includes a drive signal line connected to the sense amplifier, a step up circuit generating a first voltage from the external power supply voltage, the first voltage being higher than the external power supply voltage, and a step down circuit lowering the external power supply voltage into a second voltage. For enabling the sense amplifier to perform sensing operation in a normal mode involving external access, the first voltage is applied to the drive signal line in an initial stage of the sensing operation, and thereafter the second voltage is applied to the drive signal line. In a refresh mode not involving external access, the step up circuit is shut down, and the second voltage is applied to the drive signal line from the initial stage of the sensing operation. |
| US08300476B2 |
Method for erasing/programming/correcting memory
A memory operating method includes the following steps. First, a memory with a charge storage structure is provided. Next, the memory is biased to a first threshold voltage. Then, the memory is biased to a second threshold voltage. Next, the memory is biased to a third threshold voltage. The first threshold voltage is higher than a first level. The second threshold voltage is lower than a second level. The third threshold voltage is approximating or equal to the second level. |
| US08300474B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to repeat an application of a write pulse and a verify read operation to a selected word line, perform a read operation from a selected memory cell after storing of program data is judged to be completed by a verify circuit, and output a status information indicating that a program operation has passed to a external controller when data read by a read operation and a program data match and the status information indicating that the program operation has failed to the external controller when both do not match. A data latch circuit continues to latch the program data even after the storing of the program data is judged to be completed by the verify circuit. |
| US08300461B2 |
Area saving electrically-erasable-programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) array
An area saving electrically-erasable-programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) array, having: a plurality of parallel bit lines, a plurality of parallel word lines, and a plurality of parallel common source lines. The bit lines are classified into a plurality of bit line groups, containing a first group bit line and a second group bit line; the word line includes a first word line; and the common source lines include a first common source line. In addition, a plurality of sub-memory arrays are provided. Each sub-memory array contains a first, second, third, and fourth memory cells. Wherein, the first and second memory cells are symmetrically arranged, and the third and fourth memory cells are symmetrically arranged; also, the first and second memory cells, and the third and fourth memory cells are symmetrically arranged with the first common source line as a symmetric axis. |
| US08300459B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method for power-saving multi-pass sensing
A non-volatile memory device and power-saving techniques capable of reading and writing a large number of memory cells with multiple read/write circuits in parallel has features to reduce power consumption during sensing, which is included in read, and program/verify operations. A sensing verify operation includes one or more sensing cycles relative to one or more demarcation threshold voltages to determine a memory state. In one aspect, coupling of the memory cells to their bit lines are delayed during a precharge operation in order to reduce the cells' currents working against the precharge. In another aspect, a power-consuming precharge period is minimized by preemptively starting the sensing in a multi-pass sensing operation. High current cells not detected as a result of the premature sensing will be detected in a subsequent pass. |
| US08300455B2 |
Scalable nonvolatile memory
Various magnetoresistive memory cells and architectures are described which enable nonvolatile memories having high information density. |
| US08300454B2 |
Spin torque transfer memory cell structures and methods
Spin Torque Transfer (STT) memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more STT memory cell structures include a tunneling barrier material positioned between a ferromagnetic storage material and a pinned ferromagnetic material in contact with an antiferromagnetic material. The tunneling barrier material is a multiferroic material and the antiferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic storage material, and the pinned ferromagnetic material are positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode. |
| US08300448B2 |
Semiconductor storage device, memory cell array, and a fabrication method and drive method of a semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device is provided for solving the problem of the inability to simultaneously realize high reliability and decreased cell area. A selection electrode (106) is formed to sandwich an insulating film (105) with a p-type semiconductor region (102). A first n-type semiconductor region (103) and a second n-type semiconductor region (104) are formed in the p-type semiconductor region (102) at two sides of the selection electrode (106). A first resistance-changing layer (107) is connected to the first n-type semiconductor region (103), and a second resistance-changing layer (109) is connected to the second n-type semiconductor region (104). In addition, a first wiring layer (108) is connected to the second resistance-changing layer (109), and a second wiring layer (110) is connected to the second resistance-changing layer (109). |
| US08300442B2 |
Power adaptation device and power supply management method
A power adaptation device and a power supply management method thereof are provided. The power adaptation device includes a terminal seat, a detection structure, a detection unit, an electric power modulation unit, an electric power modulation unit, and a control unit. The power supply management method includes the following steps. A detection result of the detection structure is read by the detection unit to judge whether the power terminal is electrically connected to the electronic device. The detection unit notifies the control unit that the power terminal is not connected to the electronic device when judging that the power terminal is not connected to the electronic device. The control unit controls the electric power modulation unit to stop supplying power to the electric power modulation unit to reduce a total power consumption of the electric power modulation unit. |
| US08300440B2 |
AC-DC converter and AC-DC conversion method
The present invention provides an AC-DC converter and AC-DC conversion method for converting an AC input provided by a power transfer winding. The AC-DC converter includes a rectifying means for rectifying the AC input into a rectified output, and a control means for controlling the rectifying means based on a comparison between a reference signal and a voltage feedback signal, the voltage feedback signal being based on the rectified output. |
| US08300437B2 |
Multi-output DC-to-DC conversion apparatus with voltage-stabilizing function
A multi-output DC-to-DC conversion apparatus with a voltage-stabilizing function includes a center-tapped main transformer, a semiconductor component group, and a triggering controller. The DC-to-DC conversion apparatus provides at least two output voltages which are a main output voltage and an auxiliary output voltage, respectively. The auxiliary output voltage is functioned as an input voltage of a buck converter; and, as a result, the auxiliary output voltage can be adjusted to obtain a lower variable DC voltage. The triggering controller is used to stabilize the main output voltage and the auxiliary output voltage. Therefore, the main transformer provides one or two secondary windings to step down the auxiliary output voltage so as to increase efficiency of the buck converter. |
| US08300435B2 |
Transmission system and a method for control thereof
An HVDC transmission system including a rectifier station and an inverter station each having a series connection of at least two converters. A by-pass DC breaker is connected in parallel with each converter. A control device is adapted to deblock a blocked converter by starting to control the converter at high delay angle and gradually decreasing the delay angle until substantially all DC current flows through the converter and to then control the by-pass breaker to open at substantially zero current, and to stop the operation of a converter by controlling the converter at gradually increasing delay angle until the voltage across the converter is substantially zero and to then control the converter to be blocked by firing a by-pass pair thereof and to then control the by-pass breaker to close for taking over all the DC current when the voltage between a neutral bus and a pole of a transmission line between the stations is to be increased and reduced, respectively. |
| US08300431B2 |
Constant-current control module using inverter filter multiplier for off-line current-mode primary-side sense isolated flyback converter
A fly-back AC-DC power converter has a constant-current control loop that senses the primary output current in a transformer to control the secondary output without an expensive opto-isolator. A primary-side control circuit can use either a Quasi-Resonant (QR) or a Pulse-Width-Modulation (PWM) control loop to switch primary current through the transformer on and off. A feedback voltage is compared to a primary-side voltage sensed from the primary current loop to turn the switch on and off. A multiplier loop generates the feedback voltage using a multiplier. A level-shift inverter and a low-pass filter act as the multiplier by multiplying an off duty cycle of the switch by the feedback voltage to generate a filtered voltage. A high-gain error amp compares the filtered voltage to a reference voltage to generate the feedback voltage. The multiplier produces a simple relationship between the secondary current and the reference voltage, yielding simplified current control. |
| US08300427B2 |
Power conversion apparatus and over current protection method thereof
A power conversion apparatus and an over current protection (OCP) method thereof are provided. The OCP method includes generating a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal according to a loading status of an electronic device, so as to switch a power switch in the power conversion apparatus and thus making the power conversion apparatus providing an output voltage to the electronic device; generating an OCP reference signal with variable slope according to a feedback signal related to the loading status of the electronic device and a system operation voltage of a PWM controller chip in the power conversion apparatus that is used for generating the PWM signal; and comparing a sensing voltage corresponding to a current following through the power switch on a resistor, and the OCP reference signal with variable slope to determine whether to activate an OCP mechanism to control the PWM controller chip whether to generate the PWM signal. |
| US08300425B2 |
Electronic assemblies without solder having overlapping components
An apparatus is disclosed that improves density of electrical components in a circuit assembly. Electrical components 202, 204 are stacked so that they overlap each other and are encapsulated in an electronic insulating material 104. The resulting subassembly may be integrated onto a printed circuit board or into a reverse-interconnection process assembly. |
| US08300424B2 |
Mounting bracket for use with a computer and method of assembling a computer
A mounting bracket for securing a mezzanine card in a stacked single board computer includes a main body that includes a first end, an opposite second end, a first side surface, and an opposite second side surface. The main body is sized to be positioned along a side surface of the mezzanine card, wherein the first side surface or the second side surface contacts the side surface of the mezzanine card to facilitate securing the side surface of the mezzanine card with respect to a top PCB. The mounting bracket also includes a first arm formed at the first end of the main body, a second arm formed at the second end of the main body, and at least one top rail coupled to the main body, wherein the top rail is configured to secure a top surface of the mezzanine card with respect to a top PCB. |
| US08300423B1 |
Stackable treated via package and method
A method of forming a stackable treated via package includes coupling interconnection balls to terminals. The interconnection balls are encapsulated in a package body. Via apertures are formed in the package body to expose the interconnection balls. The interconnection balls are treated to form treated interconnection balls comprising treated surfaces. The treated interconnection balls of the stackable treated via package enhance bonding with interconnection balls of a stacked electronic component package thus maximizing yield. |
| US08300421B2 |
Electronic component and method of manufacturing electronic component
An electronic component and a method of manufacturing an electronic component including a first surface mount device and a second surface mount device are provided. The first surface mount device and the second surface mount device are joined to a substrate via joint materials such that either or both of the first and second surface mount devices are shifted from the locations corresponding to land electrodes located on the substrate so as to be aligned with each other and are subjected to a reflow process. The outer land electrodes are formed at locations shifted inwardly from the locations corresponding to a virtual arrangement state in which the first surface mount device and the second surface mount device are arranged in series such that an end surface of the first surface mount device is in contact with an end surface of the second surface mount device. |
| US08300419B2 |
Electronic circuit device and method of making the same
A method of making an electronic circuit device includes expelling air from a gap between a circuit board and an electronic element mounted on only a first side of the circuit board by filling the gap with a filling member, placing the circuit board in a mold cavity such that a second side of the circuit board is held in close contact with an inner surface of the cavity. The method further includes encapsulating the circuit board with a resin material by injecting the resin material into the cavity. |
| US08300414B2 |
Connection of a system module to an electronic device
A system is provided that is securable to an electronic device. The system includes a module with a connection port that is configured to connect with a corresponding connection port of the electronic device. A securing structure is securable to portions of first ends of the module and electronic device to facilitate attachment of the module alongside the electronic device. When the module is attached to the electronic device with the securing structure, a side surface of the module engages with a corresponding side surface of the electronic device and the connection port of the module connects with the corresponding connection port of the connection device to establish an electrical connection between the module and the electronic device. |
| US08300407B2 |
Drawer and electronic device using the same
A drawer received in an electronic device includes a drawer assembly, two locking assemblies, and a drawer cover. The drawer assembly is for carrying a component of the electronic device, and is operable to move in and out of the electronic device via an opening of the electronic device. The two locking assemblies are fixed on the electronic device. The opening is located between the two locking assemblies. The drawer cover is rotatable connected to the two locking assemblies, and is for covering the opening to block the drawer assembly from inadvertently being detached out of the electronic device. |
| US08300406B2 |
Support foot apparatus and methods
Support foot apparatus that include a support foot structure that employs flexible flap members disposed on opposing sides of a central foot member, and that are configured for insertion into corresponding openings of a support foot location defined in an exterior surface of the chassis of an information handling system or other device or structure. Each of the flexible flap members may be provided with one or more securing apertures configured for placement over corresponding securing posts provided on an interior surface of the chassis to secure the flexible flap members of the support foot apparatus within the interior of the chassis at a support foot location to hold the central support body against an exterior surface of the chassis. |
| US08300403B2 |
Computer system and heat sink
A computer system includes an enclosure having an air intake, a heat sink and an electronic element. The heat sink includes a first heat dissipating portion, a second heat dissipating portion, and a third heat dissipating portion interconnecting the first and second heat dissipating portions. Each of the first heat dissipating portion, second heat dissipating portion, and third heat dissipating portion includes a number of fins and passages formed between each two adjacent fins. The passages of the first heat dissipating portion face toward the air intake. A space is maintained between the first heat dissipating portion and the second heat dissipating portion, and the electronic element is mounted in the space. |
| US08300397B2 |
Electronic device with access structure for hard disc drive
An electronic device includes a main body, two positioning members, a cover, at least one positioning post, and at least one latching member. The main body includes a first casing, a second casing, and a HDD. The second casing defines an opening, from which the HDD is capable of being placed into and removed from the electronic device. The positioning members protrude from the first casing. The cover is rotatably connected to the positioning members. When the cover is rotatable to be received in the opening, the cover and the positioning members cooperatively define a receiving space to receive the HDD. Each of the at least one positioning post perpendicular extends from one of the positioning members. Each of the at least one latching member is rotatably connected to the cover and includes a hook capable of engaging with at least one of the positioning post to latch the cover. |
| US08300395B2 |
Housing and electronic device using same
A housing includes a screen guard defining a transparent section, and a main body molded to the screen guard. The screen guard and the main body cooperatively define a cavity for accommodating electronic components of the electronic device. |
| US08300391B2 |
Rotation angle limitation device and portable electronic device having the same
A rotation angle limitation device used for a portable electronic device includes a base including a placed portion and at least one positioning portion. A driven element connected to the placed portion is capable of being rotated relative to the base. The driven element has a first position and a second position and is secured by the positioning portion when the driven element is in the second position. An elastic element is disposed between the placed portion and the driven element. A first rotation shaft is pivotally connected to the placed portion and is capable of rotating along a first direction. The first rotation shaft and the driven element move simultaneously. A second rotation shaft is pivotally connected to the first rotation shaft and is capable of rotating along a second direction. At least one cam is connected to the second rotation shaft, and the at least one cam and the second rotation shaft move simultaneously. Each cam includes a first protruding portion and a concave arc adjacent to the first protruding portion. |
| US08300390B2 |
Chassis
A chassis includes a main body having a backplane, a top cover plate, a bottom cover plate and left and right side plates connected with each other. An upper slide rail and a lower slide rail for securing single boards are provided in the main body, a fan is arranged at the upper position of the main body and a power distribution unit is arranged at the lower position of the main body, and a coupling element for coupling the fan with the power distribution unit is provided in the chassis. The coupling element may be a groove extending from the upper position to the lower position for accommodating cables and formed in the inner side of the side plate of the chassis, or may be two openings for passage of cables respectively provided at an upper position and a lower position of the side plate of the chassis. |
| US08300388B2 |
Accessory strap securing mechanism
An accessory strap securing mechanism is positioned on a portable electronic device to assemble an accessory strap thereon. The portable electronic device defines an assembling slot. The accessory strap securing mechanism includes a securing member and a holder. The securing member is received in the assembling slot. The securing member defines a space and includes a stopper portion and a latching portion. The latching portion defines two pin holes. The holder rotatably engages in the pin holes and is received in the space, and the holder has a position abutting the stopper portion. |
| US08300385B2 |
Composite carbon electrodes useful in electric double layer capacitors and capacitive deionization and methods of making the same
Composite carbon electrodes for use in, for example, Capacitive Deionization (CDI) of a fluid stream or, for example, an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) are described. Methods of making the composite carbon electrodes are also described. The composite carbon electrode comprises an electrically conductive porous matrix comprising carbon; and an electric double layer capacitor, comprising an activated carbonized material, dispersed throughout the pore volume of the electrically conductive porous matrix. |
| US08300380B2 |
Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable
An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable. The apparatus includes at least one relay, at least one voltage source, and at least one voltage increasing unit. The relay, the voltage source and the voltage increasing unit as embodied, are matched to one another, and are connected with one another in such a manner that, when the voltage source supplies the relay with voltage for pull-in of the relay, the voltage increasing unit causes such an increase of the voltage applied to the relay, that the applied voltage corresponds at least to the pull-in voltage of the relay. |
| US08300375B2 |
Monitoring method, circuit, and system
Systems, circuits, and methods are described for providing efficient, monitoring capabilities for providing output reactive to monitored conditions. According to the disclosed methods, steps are included for providing a floating gate monitoring circuit in association with a monitored circuit and programming the floating gate to a selected charge level. The programmed floating gate charge level is then compared with a signal level in a monitored circuit. In an additional step, selected comparison criteria are used for selectably activating output. Exemplary embodiments of methods and associated circuits and systems employing the methods are also disclosed, in which protection for a monitored circuit is provided in the event of undervoltage, undercurrent, overvoltage, or undervoltage. Configurations of preferred embodiments of circuits, systems, and methods using the principles of the invention are disclosed in which ultra-low power is consumed by operation in an “ON” state, and little or no significant power is consumed when operating in an “OFF” state. |
| US08300374B2 |
Method for limiting current and circuit therefor
A semiconductor component that includes a current limit circuit and a method for limiting current in the semiconductor component. An input/output pin is connected to the gate of a transistor and a control resistor is connected between the gate of the transistor and its source. One terminal of the control resistor is connected to the input/output pin and the other terminal is connected to another input/output pin. A current source is connected to the input/output pin. A reference voltage is generated between the two input/output pins and compared with a drain-source voltage that is between one of the two input/output pins and another input/output pin. A control voltage is set in accordance with the comparison. The control voltage then controls the voltage on another of the pins that is not common to the reference voltage and to the drain-source voltage. |
| US08300373B2 |
Voltage triggered transient blocking unit
A transient blocking unit (TBU) is an arrangement of two or more transistors connected to each other in series such that they automatically switch off when a TBU current passing through these transistors exceeds a predetermined threshold. Voltage turnoff capability is provided for a TBU by adding a voltage comparison circuit to the TBU. The voltage comparison circuit provides gate voltages to one or more of the TBU transistors that tend to turn off the TBU transistors, if the voltage at the TBU output (i.e., the protected device output voltage) falls outside a predetermined range. The voltage provided by the voltage comparison circuit adds constructively to the gate voltages provided by normal TBU operation. Accordingly, TBU switch off can be driven by an over-current condition (TBU current out of range) and/or by an over-voltage condition (TBU output voltage out of range). |
| US08300364B2 |
Head suspension having a jumper configured with an escape recess for protecting an insulating cover layer of the jumper from being abraded by an edge of a base plate
A head suspension including a base plate, a load beam, an actuator element to be deformed to move the load beam relative to the base plate, and a jumper having a first end electrically connected to the actuator element, an intermediate part extending over a base plate edge of the base plate, and a second end electrically connected to a flexure, to supply power from the flexure to the actuator element. The jumper is composed of an insulating cover layer, a conductor layer, an insulating layer, and a metal layer that are laid one on another. The conductor layer is diverged in a direction in which the layers of the jumper are laid one on another, to form an escape recess to avoid an edge of the base plate edge to protect the insulating cover layer of the jumper from being abraded by an edge of the base plate. |
| US08300363B2 |
Wiring structure of flexure
A wiring structure of a flexure includes wiring that includes a trace of first polarity and a trace of second polarity and transmits signals to and from a head that is supported with the flexure and writes and reads data to and from a recording medium and an interleaved section formed at least partly in the wiring where the traces are each divided into sub-traces, the sub-traces being alternated in a width direction of the wiring, the sub-traces of each trace being connected to each other on each side of the interleaved section, an outer one of the sub-traces of each trace being narrower than an inner one of the same. The wiring structure reduces partial dips in the frequency characteristic of signal transmission loss (loss-to-frequency characteristic) of the wiring at the interleaved section. |
| US08300361B2 |
Fly capable slider test socket
The present application is directed to a slider supporting apparatus for flying a slider of a hard disk drive in the manufacturing process to provide electrical performance characteristics. The present invention discloses an integrated design including the electrical interconnect, the gimballing mechanism, the preload mechanism and the slider supporting mechanism integrated into a single supporting structure. |
| US08300357B1 |
Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording having a main pole and a shield
A magnetic head includes first and second coils, a main pole, a first shield, and first and second return path sections. The first shield and the first return path section are located forward of the main pole in the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first return path section connects the main pole and the first shield so that a first space is defined. The second return path section is located backward of the main pole in the direction of travel of the recording medium so that a second space is defined. The first coil includes at least one first coil element passing through the first space. The second coil includes a plurality of second coil elements passing through the second space. The at least one first coil element is smaller in number than the second coil elements. |
| US08300355B2 |
Fluid dynamic bearing, spindle motor having the fluid dynamic bearing, and storage apparatus having the spindle motor
A fluid dynamic bearing includes an auxiliary bearing portion, a first radial bearing portion and a second radial bearing portion arranged along an axial direction of the fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the auxiliary groove formed in the auxiliary bearing portion is shallower in depth than the radial dynamic pressure groove formed in the first radial bearing portion, and wherein a gap size in the auxiliary bearing portion is set to be equal to or larger than a gap size in the radial bearing portions. |
| US08300354B2 |
Hard disk drives using a bi-product of manufacturing a ZTMD lubricant to trap sub-micrometer particles
A magnetic disk drive having a layer of ZTMD raffinate coated within a housing of the disk drive to trap debris in order to prevent contamination related failure of the disk drive. The ZTMD raffinate can be applied to the inside of the housing of the disk drive, such as to side walls of the housing and or the cover of the housing. The ZTMD raffinate can also be applied to a filter structure within the housing in order improve the performance of the filter structure and prevent contamination collected thereon from becoming dislodged. |
| US08300353B2 |
Disk drive device having function of discharging static electricity
A bearing unit includes a shaft and a hub as a conductive rotating body that supports a recording disk. Also, the bearing unit includes a conductive resin housing configured to surround at least part of the shaft to support the shaft and to be able to conduct electricity to the recording disk via the shaft. The conductive resin housing includes a conductive adhesive to be applied to secure conduction with the base housing. The conductive resin housing has an exposed portion where the inner layer of the conductive resin housing is exposed, at a position to which the conductive adhesive is applied. |
| US08300348B1 |
Disk drive detecting disk boundaries using microactuator
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, an actuator arm, a head coupled to a distal end of the actuator arm, a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to actuate the head over the disk in coarse movements by rotating the actuator arm about a pivot, and a microactuator operable to actuate the head over the disk in fine movements. A disk boundary condition is detected by moving the actuator arm toward one of an outer diameter of the disk and an inner diameter of the disk, and monitoring an induced voltage generated by the microactuator. The disk boundary condition is detected when the induced voltage exceeds a threshold. |
| US08300347B2 |
Magnetic data eraser
A magnetic data eraser includes a holding drawer means for holding a magnetic recording medium which means has a mounting tray for mounting the magnetic recording medium, wherein the mounting tray is inclined a predetermined value of degrees of angle. The magnetic data eraser further includes a magnetizing means for magnetizing the magnetic recording medium, wherein the magnetizing means is covered by a magnetizing coil and has a hollow body portion. The holding drawer means being accommodated in the hollow body portion, and the magnetic recording medium being placed on the mounting tray of the holding drawer means. |
| US08300346B2 |
Microwave assisted magnetic head
A gap between a main pole and auxiliary pole composing a thin film magnetic head having a microwave assisted function of the present invention is filled with a nonmagnetic dielectric layer to embed a microwave radiator. The nonmagnetic dielectric layer has an inclined surface at a end on a side of an opposing medium surface by which the microwave radiated from the microwave radiator to be bent toward the main pole, whereby the microwave magnetic field generated from the microwave generator can be gathered immediately below the main pole, further improving the microwave assisted effect. |
| US08300344B1 |
Data synchronization for bit insertion or deletion
In an implementation, a media drive includes bit patterned magnetic media and a module. The module is to cause data encoded by one or more error correction codes to be written on the bit patterned magnetic media with a constraint that is configured to be used to synchronize the data if a bit insertion or deletion occurs. |
| US08300343B2 |
Magnetic bit-patterned disk and disk drive
According to one embodiment, a disk drive having a magnetic disk of the bit pattern media type is provided. The disk drive has a reproduction module configured to reproduce a signal from a measurement area provided on the magnetic disk and holding groups of phase-shift measuring bits, a measurement module configured to measure a phase shift that a write clock signal has with respect to data recording bits held in a data record area provided on the magnetic disk, when the signal reproduced by the reproduction module is indefinite, and a recording module configured to record data that corresponds to the data recording bits, by using the write clock signal adjusted by the phase shift. |
| US08300342B2 |
Multi-bit phase alignment for synchronization mark pattern matching
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the detection of synchronization marks in data storage and retrieval. To detect a synchronization mark, embodiments of the present invention require both pattern matching and proper phase alignment, following a repeating synchronization field. According to one particular embodiment, proper phase alignment following a repeated four bit synchronization field, is utilized in conjunction with pattern matching, to identify a synchronization mark. By allowing a synchronization mark to be identified only with proper phase alignment at the earliest possible occurrence of the synchronization mark, accuracy of synchronization mark detection may be improved. |
| US08300339B1 |
Method and system for compensating for adjacent tracks during reading of data
A storage controller includes a device controller and a read data channel. The read data channel includes a decoder for decoding output of a detector, where the detector is for reading data requested from a storage medium by the device controller, and the storage medium has a plurality of tracks of data thereon. When the device controller requests data from a current track of data on the storage device, the detector reads an adjacent track of data, the decoder decodes data from the adjacent track of data, the detector reads data from the current track, and the decoder decodes the data read from the current track, based on the decoded and stored data from the adjacent track of data. A storage system includes a storage medium having a plurality of tracks of data thereon and a storage controller as described above. |
| US08300338B1 |
Disk drive correlating different fly height measurements to verify disk warpage
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk surface, and a head actuated over the disk surface. A first fly height measurement is generated for the head over the disk surface by measuring a first metric, and a second fly height measurement is generated for the head over the disk surface by measuring a second metric different from the first metric. The first fly height measurement is verified by detecting a positive correlation in the first and second fly height measurements. |
| US08300337B2 |
Disk drive and method for measuring clearance change in the disk drive
A method for measuring change of clearance between a head and a disk. The method includes reading a preliminarily written data string for clearance measurement on a disk to obtain a first measured value corresponding to a clearance, and writing a new data string for deterioration check onto the disk and reading the data string for deterioration check to obtain a second measured value corresponding to the clearance. The method also includes determining a deterioration of the data string for clearance measurement from a difference between the first measured value and the second measured value, measuring a clearance change using the data string for clearance measurement by a normal operation if the determination is that the data string for clearance measurement has not deteriorated, and measuring a clearance change by an operation different from the normal operation if the determination is that the data string for clearance measurement has deteriorated. |
| US08300336B2 |
Magnetic transfer device
A magnetic transfer device enables precise positioning of both disks while preventing generation of dust by sliding of a holder, and also secures a space for transfer magnet arrangement. A master disk on which is formed a magnetic signal pattern and a magnetic disk which is to receive transfer are accommodated and brought into close contact in opposition to each other within an interior space formed by a male-side holder which moves to approach and withdraw and a female-side holder. A plurality of positioning pins are brought into contact with the outer face of the male-side holder to position the male-side holder, and by installing the positioning pins at positions lower than both the master disk and the magnetic disk, dust generated by sliding of the positioning pins does not fall onto the face of the master disk or the magnetic disk. |
| US08300334B2 |
Variable power lens
A variable power lens, having first and second lens groups, includes first and second lens group support frames, a linear guide ring, first and second lens group drive rings which rotate to move the first and second lens group support rings in the optical axis direction relative to the linear guide ring, a drive ring coupler which couples the first and second lens group drive rings with each other to prevent relative rotation therebetween while allowing relative movement therebetween in the optical axis direction; and a drive-ring movement controller which integrally rotates the first and second lens group drive rings via the drive ring coupler without relatively moving in the optical axis direction when a power-variation operating member is operated, and moves one of the first and the second lens group drive rings in the optical axis direction without rotating when a focus operating member is operated. |
| US08300331B2 |
Lens unit and lens driving apparatus
A lens unit and a lens driving apparatus are provided. First to third guide members have first to third axis lines, and the first to third axis lines are arranged in parallel with each other. A first lens holder has a first lens held by a first lens holding portion with a first main sliding portion guided by sliding on the first guide member, and a first sub sliding portion guided by sliding on the third guide member. A second lens holder has a second lens held coaxially with the first lens by a second lens holding portion with a second main sliding portion guided by sliding on the second guide member, and a second sub sliding portion guided by the third guide member. |
| US08300330B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. |
| US08300329B2 |
Optical element assembly and method of manufacturing optical unit
Disclosed are an optical element assembly comprising a base member in which occurrence of cracks in the base member upon cutting can be prevented and a method of manufacturing an optical unit. The optical element assembly comprises a base member and a plurality of lens members, wherein at least the base member of the optical element assembly is composed of an acryl resin having an alicyclic structure which is a polymer of a monomer represented by the following formula (1) in which linkage groups R2 and R3 lie between an atomic group A and R1OCO and between an atomic group A and OCOCR2, respectively. H2C═CR1COO—(R2)m-A-(R3)n—OCOCR4═CH2 (1) |
| US08300325B2 |
Objective lens and endoscope using the same
Provided is a simple-structured endoscope objective lens suitable for a compact, high-resolution image acquisition element. Provided is an objective lens constituted of a first negative lens, a second positive lens, an aperture stop, a third positive lens, and a joined lens arranged in that order from an object side, the joined lens being formed of a fourth positive lens and a fifth negative lens and satisfying the expressions (1) and (2), and the objective lens satisfies the expression (3): nn≧2.0 (1) 12<(νp−νn)<34 (2) 1.52<(f23/fl)<1.75 (3) where nn, νp, νn, f23 and fl denote a refractive index at d-line of the fifth lens, an Abbe number of the fourth lens, an Abbe number of the fifth lens, a combined focal length of the second lens and the third lens, and a focal length of the entire, respectively. |
| US08300321B2 |
Zoom lens system
A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group. The second lens group includes a positive lens element, and two negative lens elements. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 2.0<|VD1t−VD1w|/(ft/fw)<3.4 (1), and 0.89<|m2w/m3w| (2), wherein VD1t and VD1w designate the distances, at the long and short focal length extremities, from the image-side surface of the lens element provided closest to the image side within the first lens group to the object-side surface of the positive lens element provided closest to the object side within the second lens group; ft and fw designate the entire focal length of the zoom lens system at the long and short focal length extremities; and m2w and m3w designate the lateral magnification of the second and third lens groups at the short focal length extremity when focused on an object at infinity. |
| US08300319B2 |
Zoom lens system
A zoom lens system includes, in the order from the object side to the image side thereof, a first lens group of positive refraction power, a second lens group of negative refraction power, a third lens group of positive refraction power, a fourth lens of positive refraction power, and an imaging plane. The first lens group and the third lens group are immovably mounted. The second lens group and the fourth lens group are movably mounted. The zoom lens system satisfies the formulae: 5 |
| US08300317B2 |
Varifocal lens
Varifocal lens for camera module incorporated in wireless mobile communication device is provided. The varifocal lens includes: a membrane; a frame which is fixed to the membrane and has a receiving hole formed in the middle; a transparent substrate which is fixed to the frame to seal optical fluid received in the receiving hole; one or more actuators to change a curvature of a fluid lens part by bending the circumference of the fluid lens part formed around a central portion of the receiving hole; and a restriction lessening member which is adapted to lessen a restrictive force of an edge of the fluid lens part, is made of a transparent material, has with an area smaller than the fluid lens part to correspond to an inner side of the fluid lens part except the edge of the fluid lens part, and has a larger Young's modulus than the membrane. |
| US08300316B2 |
Molecular film for coating optical lenses and a manufacture method thereof
A molecular film for coating optical lenses comprises Octadecyltrichlorosilane; and a germicide, wherein the weight ratio between the germicide and the Octadecyltrichlorosilane is 3 to 13. Furthermore, a manufacture method of a molecular film for coating optical lenses comprises a step of “preparation”, by preparing a substrate, Octadecyltrichlorosilane solution and a germicide; a step of “cleaning”, by removing olein and contamination from surfaces of the substrate and washing the substrate; and a step of “soaking”, by soaking the substrate in a mixture of the germicide and Octadecyltrichlorosilane solution to generating a molecular film on the surfaces of the substrate. |
| US08300312B2 |
Optical element
An optical element that has a flat plate shape and includes a light entering surface and a light exiting surface substantially parallel with the light entering surface, the element includes a plurality of translucent members, a plurality of optical multilayer films, a plurality of phase plates, and a plurality of plasma polymerized films. The translucent members, the optical multilayer films, the phase plates, and the plasma polymerized films are provided along the light entering surface and the light exiting surface. The translucent members include a plurality of oblique surfaces oblique to the light entering surface and the light exiting surface. Each of the optical multilayer films is formed on some of the oblique surfaces. The optical multilayer film is either one of a polarization separating film and a reflecting film. Each of the plasma polymerized films is formed on at least one of a surface of each of the oblique surfaces, a surface of the optical multilayer film, and a surface of each of the phase plates. At least one of each of the translucent members adjacent to the optical multilayer film and the optical multilayer film, the translucent member adjacent to the phase plate and the phase plate, and the phase plate adjacent to the optical multilayer film and the optical multilayer film is molecular-bonded with the plasma polymerized film. |
| US08300311B2 |
Rear projection system, method for production and application
The invention concerns a rear projection system in the form of a table consisting of at least one glass panel which has a diffusion coating containing hollow glass balls, whereas the hollow glass balls are arranged in a transparent or translucent binder matrix on the lower or upper surface of the glass panel and is illuminated from below with at least one projector having a projection field and that at least one projection image can be viewed by an observer at an observation angle of at least 176 degrees.The second embodiment involves a rear projection system in the form of a curved, two-dimensionally shaped glass panel having a diffusion coating containing hollow glass balls. |
| US08300310B2 |
Method for FCS measurements
A method for conducting FCS measurements includes providing a sample volume, emitting a target light having a first wavelength from a target light source, and marking an FCS volume in the sample volume with the target light by directing the target light onto the sample volume. An illuminating light having a second wavelength is emitted from an illuminating light source, the second wavelength being different than the first wavelength, and the illuminating light is directed onto the sample volume. |
| US08300305B2 |
Use of undoped crystals of the yttrium/aluminum/borate family for creating non-linear effects
Crystals of the yttrium/aluminium/borate family are used for producing UV light. To produce UV light with the described crystal family a crystal of the family AxM1-xX3(BO3)4, wherein both A and also M stand for an element from the group Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, A≠M and X is selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Sc and 0≦x≦1, is used as a non-linear optical element to produce light of a wavelength of less than 0.450 μm. |
| US08300304B2 |
Integrated front light diffuser for reflective displays
A reflective electronic display includes a front light assembly with a diffuser for enlarging the viewing cone of the display. The front light may include a substrate, a plurality of optical turning features, and a diffuser formed therebetween. The haze of the diffuser may be spatially non-uniform and switchable between two or more levels. |
| US08300302B2 |
Electronically controlled stage lighting system
A lighting system operating using a digital mirror as its operative device. The digital mirror is used to shape the light which is a passed through advanced optical devices in order to produce an output. |
| US08300300B2 |
Particle for display, particle dispersion liquid for display, display medium, and display device
A particle for a display includes a colored particle containing a colorant and a polymer having a chargeable group; and a polymer gel layer that covers a surface of the colored particle and contains a polymer gel. |
| US08300297B2 |
Electrochromic device and method of fabricating the same
An electrochromic device includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a first electrode disposed on the first substrate, a carbon nano-structured electrode layer disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the second substrate, an electrochromic layer disposed on the second electrode, and an electrolyte layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08300296B2 |
Electrochromic formulation and organic electrochromic switchable electronic component
An electrochemical formulation has an active dye. An organic electrochromic switchable electronic component of high switching speed is made using the dye. The component is used to make electrochromic displays. The dye has substituents limiting or preventing a π-merisation of the aromatic moieties. |
| US08300292B2 |
Optical scanner, image display apparatus having optical scanner and driving method of optical scanner
An optical scanner including a base body, a drive unit, a deflection status detector and a controller is provided. The base body has a non-linear frequency characteristic and has a first resonance frequency and a second resonance frequency. The controller includes a first upsweep unit which upsweeps a drive frequency from a frequency lower than the first resonance frequency; a dropping phenomenon detector which detects the dropping phenomenon; a target drive frequency determination unit which determines a frequency lower than a frequency at which the dropping phenomenon is detected, as a target drive frequency; a second upsweep unit which upsweeps the drive frequency toward the target drive frequency from a frequency lower than the first resonance frequency; and an adjustment unit which adjusts the drive frequency of the drive signal to keep the deflection status at the target drive frequency after the operation of the second upsweep unit. |
| US08300287B2 |
System, method and device for multi-page feed for keyboard scanner
A device, system and method for incorporating a multipage feeder into a keyboard scanner to allow continuous and sequential feeding of more than one page into a scanner housed in a computer keyboard. A multipage feeder may be for example integrated into or attachable to and detachable from a single page feeder also included in the keyboard housing. |
| US08300279B2 |
Image reading devices
The invention describes an image reading device having a housing, a transparent panel, an image sensor, a carriage, and an electric cable. The housing has a first, second, and third surface. The transparent panel defines a portion of the first surface. The image sensor extends in a first direction, and is mounted to the carriage and optically reads a document through the transparent panel while the carriage reciprocates in a second direction. The electric cable is electrically connected to the image sensor, and includes a band surface portion having a band surface and extending in a third direction intersecting the first and second direction. The electric cable also has a first end portion attached to the carriage; and a second end portion attached to the second surface. At least a portion of the electric cable is twisted such that the band surface and the third surface are not parallel. |
| US08300278B2 |
Original reader, optical module, and optical reading method
A module 1 movable over the original surface 110 of the original reader 100 has a metal sheet frame 4 disposed in the vicinity of its gravitational center and having a substantially channel-like shape. A first and a second optical systems 2 and 3 and a drive source 6 assembled to be integral with a flat part 40 of the metal sheet frame 4. Thus, a reduced-size, improved quality and improved-accuracy original reader to be used for facsimile devices and image scanners is obtained. |
| US08300276B2 |
Compensating for misalignment in an image scanner
In certain embodiments, compensating for misalignment comprises receiving, at a detector array, electromagnetic (E-M) radiation from a target object. The detector array comprises time delay and integration (TDI) detectors organized into segments. Each segment comprises one or more rows of detectors perpendicular to a designed scan axis, and comprises columns of detectors parallel to the designed scan axis. The detector array moves in a relative scan direction relative to the target object. The following is performed for each segment and for each column of each segment. If there is misalignment at a segment, a signal is passed to a correcting next column of a next segment in the direction of the misalignment, where the signal accumulates scan data of a portion of the target object. Otherwise, the signal is passed to a designed next column of the next segment in the direction of the designed scan axis. |
| US08300272B2 |
Image generating device, image generating method and printing device
An image generating device, for generating an image including a gradation (in which a color value specifying color changes from the center of the gradation through annular areas) according to an image drawing instruction, comprises an extraction unit that extracts gradation pattern parameters specifying a gradation pattern of the gradation from the image drawing instruction, an area determination unit that determines the annular areas, each having a prescribed width, to be drawn in one color with a uniform color value, based on the gradation pattern parameters extracted by the extraction unit, and a drawing unit that draws the annular areas such that each annular area is drawn in one color and the colors in annular areas are different from each other. |
| US08300266B2 |
System and method for adjusting operation of printheads in an ink printing device
A method evaluates image quality in an ink printing system and generates data values for altering the operation of the ink printing system. The method includes generating an ink image on an ink image receiving member that corresponds to a digital image stored in the ink printing system, generating a scanned image signal corresponding to the ink image, generating firing signal waveform adjustments and image data adjustments with reference to the scanned image signal corresponding to the ink image, and operating a printhead in an ink imaging system with reference to the firing signal waveform adjustments and the image data adjustments. |
| US08300265B2 |
Data processing apparatus capable of calibrating print data to reduce ink consumption
An ink reduction rate is set in accordance with the type of image and the type of recording medium. For example, when a photograph is to be printed on a glossy paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 10%. When a photograph is to be printed on a plain paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 25%. When a document is to be printed with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 50%, irrespective of the type of recording paper. |
| US08300263B2 |
Forming images with minimum feature sizes
A method for forming an image on recording media includes providing a support adapted to receive the recording apparatus; providing a controller programmed for controlling a print head to form the image on the recording media in accordance with image data corresponding to the image; determining a minimum feature size; and operating the print head to form the image on the recording media, wherein the image comprises a feature having a size that is restricted to be at least equal to the minimum feature size. |
| US08300258B2 |
Method for the operation of a data bus, and data bus system
For operation of a data bus to which multiple bus participants each with a respective serial number are connected, a new bus participant is connected. A request bus message is generated by the new bus participant containing a preliminary participant identification number. The request bus message is arbitrated in the data bus by means of the identification number. A final participant identification number is assigned for the new bus participant having fewer digits than the serial number of the new participant. The final participant identification number is used for further bus messages by the new bus participant. During an initialization bus messages are used with an identifier in which a complete serial number is entered as the identifier. After the initialization a different type of bus message is used that has a shorter identifier. |
| US08300257B2 |
Method of placing an order for photographic printing
In an image network system used for network print service which receives an order for printing or the like by using a communication network such as the Internet, there are provided a center server capable of providing service which is different depending upon points given to a customer according to an order track record, at a time of using the system, capable of suitably setting a storage capacity and a storage period of an image for a user without placing a burden on the user while importance is placed on an operational efficiency of the system, capable of allowing a user to upload images as many as possible in an album, and useful for prompting an order, and an image network system including the center server. |
| US08300255B2 |
Printing apparatus, printing system, and method of deleting invalid printing data from storage
In a printing apparatus on a DHCP network, printing data accumulated in the printing apparatus is deleted without troubling a user and shortage of storage capacity is prevented. The printing apparatus is connected through a network to a DHCP server apparatus that stores IP address assignment information including an IP address of each DHCP client. The printing apparatus includes a printing data storage portion that accumulates printing data transmitted from each DHCP client along with the IP address of each DHCP client, and a CPU that determines whether or not each DHCP client is invalid based on IP address lease information stored in the DHCP server and deletes the printing data of the DHCP client which is determined to be invalid from the printing data storage portion. |
| US08300254B2 |
Printer
A printer, which is configured to be connected communicably with a storage device, includes a printing unit configured to print one or more pages with images formed thereon, based on print data, a thumbnail creating unit configured to create thumbnail image data corresponding to each of the pages to be printed by the printing unit, a storage controller configured to store, into the storage device, the thumbnail image data created by the thumbnail creating unit, and a print controller configured to, responsive to the thumbnail image data being successfully stored into the storage device, control the printing unit to print a page corresponding to the thumbnail image data successfully stored. |
| US08300246B2 |
Image forming apparatus and host terminal apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a storing section, an interface an abnormality-detecting section, and an information-outputting section. The storing section stores a first item of information on a print job that has been processed in accordance with data received in the image forming apparatus. The interface provides the first item of information stored in the storing section to an external apparatus. The abnormality-detecting section determines whether an abnormality has occurred in the external apparatus. The abnormality is detected based on a manner in which communication is performed between the image forming section and the external apparatus. The information-outputting section outputs a second item of information based on detection of abnormality performed by the abnormality-detecting section. |
| US08300244B2 |
Automatic discovery of networked raster image processing engines
Systems and methods for automatic discovery of a networked raster image process (RIP) engine are described. In one aspect, a device determines that an entity is searching for one or more RIP engines. Responsive to such determining, the device notifies the entity of its RIP engine status. |
| US08300243B2 |
Print system and method of controlling operation of same
When an image to be printed is specified in a print system for printing images, a telephone number or e-mail address is entered as a contact destination to be contacted when printing ends. At the conclusion of printing, the entered contact destination is so notified. Upon being so notified of end of printing, the user returns to the location at which the print system has been installed. Since the user will thus know when printing ends, the user can make effective utilization of time until printing ends. |
| US08300242B2 |
Image forming apparatus and pulse generating method
An image forming apparatus records an image on a transported recording medium. The apparatus includes a transportation unit that transports the recording medium and a recording unit that records the image on the recording medium. An encoder outputs an encoder signal including pulses according to a position of the transportation unit. A measurement unit measures a pulse period of the encoder signal, and the measured pulse period is stored by a storage unit. A detection unit detects pulse omission of the encoder signal on the basis of the value measured by the measurement unit. A pulse generation unit generates a recording timing pulse on the basis of the pulse period when the pulse omission is not detected and generates the recording timing pulse on the basis of the pulse period stored in the storage unit and measured before the pulse omission when the pulse omission is detected. |
| US08300240B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling changes to print settings
An image processing apparatus receives a job, analyzes the received job, generates a saved job that includes an image and output settings information and saves the generated saved job in a storage unit. The saved job that has been saved in the storage unit is output in response to a prescribed output operation. The image processing apparatus acquires a restriction on processing at the time of output and incorporates restriction information, which is indicative of the acquired restriction, in the output settings information. Processing for outputting such a saved job is restricted based upon the restriction information contained in the output settings information. |
| US08300239B2 |
Print processing system, printer and recording medium
A recording medium having recorded therein a program for an information processing apparatus that exchanges information with a printing apparatus and causes the printing apparatus to execute printing, the program causes the information processing apparatus to execute a first print-setting generating and storing step of generating and storing at least one first print setting, a second print-setting acquiring step of acquiring at least one second print setting from the printing apparatus, a third print-setting selecting step of urging a user to select at least one third print setting out of the first print setting and the second print setting, a print-data converting step of converting a print command group issued by application software into respective print data in accordance with the respective third print settings, and a print-data transmitting step of transmitting the respective print data to the printing apparatus and causing the printing apparatus to print the print data. |
| US08300238B2 |
Print control device and method
According to the present invention, internal print settings of a document are handed over to hot folder settings. A hot folder manager 200 stores handover settings in the XPS performance settings 216 and stores print settings in PT data 217 and JDF data 218. On receipt of an input XPS document, the hot folder manager consults the handover settings, reads values of specified items from the internal print settings recorded in a print ticket of the XPS document, and merges the specified items with external print settings stored in the PT data 217 or the JDF data 218. The new print settings resulting from the merge are appended to document data in a specified output format, and transmitted to a print device 103. |
| US08300237B2 |
Information processing apparatus, rule file outputting apparatus, program, and method of determining exclusive relationship between parameters
The propriety of combining received parameters is determined based on a property as a characteristic resulting from the content of processing executed in accordance with each of the parameters. Thus, if the relationship between the parameters incapable of being simultaneously used is defined in terms of the “property,” it is not necessary to define an exclusive relationship between the parameters. As a result, it is possible to easily manage the relationship between parameters added and deleted by a customization operation and existing parameters. |
| US08300232B2 |
Method of measuring coating thickness using infrared light
A method of measuring a thickness of a coating on a substrate material. A first pulse of monochromatic light having a predetermined first wavelength is emitted toward the coating and substrate material. A second pulse of monochromatic light having a predetermined second wavelength is emitted toward the coating and substrate material, the second wavelength being different than the first wavelength. A first elapsed time is measured from emission of the first pulse of light to reception of a reflection of the first pulse of light from a surface of the substrate material at an interface with the coating. A second elapsed time is measured from emission of the second pulse of light to reception of a reflection of the second pulse of light from an outer surface of the coating. A thickness of the coating is determined as a function of a difference between the first and second elapsed times. |
| US08300229B2 |
Chemical sensing with coherent detection of optical signal
This invention relates generally to the systems and methods for standoff trace chemicals detection such as explosives residue and others, and particularly to optical devices and the methods of their use based on sensing of gases and residue materials. This sensing includes detection and measurement of optical absorption spectra and relative concentration of the chemical followed by the chemical identification based on these spectral data. The sensing is based on photothermal interferometry method improved by implementation of coherent optical detection. The coherent optical detection is performed by an integrated polarization-diversity coherent receiver with an electro-optic phase modulator for a local oscillator optical beam. The implementation of pulsed probe sensing and local oscillator optical beams in the coherent detection improves the device with better eye safety performance. The hybrid calibration via a phase-modulated local oscillator optical beam allows optimizing the signal reception and reduces complexity of the probe subsystem. |
| US08300227B2 |
Method and apparatus of z-scan photoreflectance characterization
A method of z-scan photo-reflectance characterization of semiconductor structures and apparatus for same has been developed. The method and apparatus provides the ability to independently measure electro-refractive and electro-absorptive nonlinearities that occur in conventional photo-reflectance signals. By performing a series of photo-reflectance measurements, each containing photo-modulated nonlinear optical signals, with the sample at a multiplicity of positions along the focal length of the probe light column, and with an aperture fixtured in the reflected probe path, precision characterization of both electro-refractive and electro-absorptive nonlinearities is attained. The Z-scan photo-reflectance method and apparatus characterizes spatial distortions of a coherent photo-reflectance probe light beam due to electro-refractive and electro-absorptive effects. |
| US08300215B2 |
Optical sensor operating on the transit time principle
The present invention relates to an optical sensor based on the transit time principle. The sensor includes a light source for the emission of emergent light pulses into an observed region, comprising a rotating device for rotating a beam direction of the emergent light pulses about a rotation axis orientated at right angles to the beam direction, comprising a detector for the detection of light pulses reflected by objects in the observed region, and comprising a control and evaluation unit for controlling the light source, for evaluating the light pulses detected by the detector, and for determining a distance away of an object on the basis of a measured transit time of the light pulses. The optical sensor is characterized in that the rotating device has a rotor and a stator and that the light source, the detector, and an electronic assembly forming part of the control and evaluating unit are disposed for joint rotation on the rotor. |
| US08300213B2 |
Illumination optics apparatus, exposure method, exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing electronic device
An illumination optical apparatus which constantly controls a plurality of polarization states with high accuracy. An illumination optical system, which illuminates a pattern surface of a mask with illumination light, includes a polarization optical system and a depolarizer. The polarization optical system includes a half wavelength plate and PBS, which varies a polarization state of the illumination light to form a linear polarization state having a predetermined polarization direction. The depolarizer is arranged toward the mask from the polarization optical system and varies the polarization state of the illumination light emitted from the polarization optical system. |
| US08300212B2 |
Device manufacturing method and lithographic apparatus
A mask can be used to print a pattern. Due to mask pattern surface topography, an image error may occur, such as an intensity imbalance between adjacent bright lines in the projected pattern. To help alleviate or eliminate the problem of intensity imbalance, the projection system may include an optical phase adjuster constructed and arranged to adjust a phase of an electric field of optical beams of radiation beam traversing the adjuster. A reduction of intensity imbalance is achieved by suitably adjusting the phases of the zeroth, plus first and minus first-order diffracted radiation emanating from the mask pattern. By adjusting the phase differently for different portions of the illumination, the method can be applied such that no decrease of depth of focus due, for example, the 0th order is occurring. |
| US08300210B2 |
Optical projection system
An optical projection unit comprising a first optical element module and at least one second optical element module is provided. The first optical element module comprises a first housing unit and at least a first optical element, the first optical element being received within the first housing unit and having an optically used first region defining a first optical axis. The at least one second optical element module is located adjacent to the first optical element module and comprises at least one second optical element, the second optical element defining a second optical axis of the optical projection unit. The first housing unit has a central first housing axis and an outer wall extending in a circumferential direction about the first housing axis. The first optical axis is at least one of laterally offset and inclined with respect to the first housing axis. Furthermore, the first housing axis is substantially collinear with the second optical axis. |
| US08300206B2 |
Electro-optic unit having electro-optic material layer with variable refractive index, driving method of the electro-optic unit, and display apparatus having the same
The present invention provides an electro-optic unit. A lens unit disposed at an upper portion of a display panel has a plurality of lens part. An electro-optic unit is disposed between a display panel and a lens unit, and includes an electro-optic material layer formed as a graded refractive index lens in an electric field. A display device shows a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional image according to a mode of the electro-optic unit. A driving part may form the graded refractive index lens to have the same pitch as the pitch of the lens part. The graded refractive index lens may be formed as a convex lens or a Fresnel lens. The electro-optic unit is displayed to form the Fresnel lens. A driving method enhancing mode conversion velocity of the electro-optic unit is displayed. |
| US08300204B2 |
System and method for dispensing liquid crystal material and method for fabricating liquid crystal display device using the same
A liquid crystal dispensing system in which dispensing of a liquid crystal material is paused when an earthquake or the like occurs, while restarting the dispensing of the liquid crystal material when the earthquake stops, the liquid crystal dispensing system comprising a liquid crystal dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid crystal material onto a substrate, a detecting unit for detecting an abnormal dispensing, and a controller for controlling the liquid crystal dispensing apparatus to pause dispensing of the liquid crystal material when an abnormal dispensing of liquid crystal material is detected. |
| US08300202B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display panel (50a) includes a pair of substrates arranged, facing each other, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates, and a frame-like sealing member (25) configured to bond the pair of substrates with each other and enclose the liquid crystal layer. A cavity forming wall (18ba) is provided on one of the pair of substrates between the liquid crystal layer and the sealing member (25) and is configured to form a cavity region (C) therein by an upper end of the cavity forming wall contacting the other of the pair of substrates. The cavity region (C) is configured so that, when an excessive amount of a liquid crystal material which foims the liquid crystal layer is enclosed, the cavity forming wall is destroyed to cause a portion of the liquid crystal material to flow into the cavity region (C). |
| US08300200B2 |
Fan-out circuit and display panel
A fan-out circuit including a plurality of fan-out wires is provided, where the fan-out wires are not electrically connected to each other. Each of the fan-out wires includes a first detouring portion, an extending portion, and a second detouring portion. The first detouring portion has a chip bonding terminal and a first connecting terminal. A pitch of any two adjacent chip bonding terminals is P1. The second detouring portion has a second connecting terminal and a signal-line connecting terminal. The second connecting terminal is connected with the first connecting terminal through the extending portion. A pitch of any two adjacent signal-line connecting terminals is P2, and P2>P1. Among the fan-out wires, a part of the first detouring portions has a ladder shaped pattern. |
| US08300194B2 |
Liquid crystal display having composite tape for preventing electrostatic discharge damage
A liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight module and a composite tape. The composite tape is assembled to the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight module, wherein the composite tape comprises an insulating layer, a first adhesive layer and an electrically conductive layer. The first adhesive layer is formed at one side of the insulating layer. The electrically conductive layer is formed at another side of the insulating layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer is in touch with an electrically conductive element of the liquid crystal display apparatus to be connected to ground. |
| US08300186B2 |
Liquid crystal display device comprising a reflection region having tilted first and second recesses and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device, which can be a transflective-type or a reflection-type, includes a reflection section arranged to reflect incident light toward a display surface, wherein the reflection section includes a reflective layer provided on a substrate, and includes a first recess formed in a surface of the reflective layer and a second recess formed in the surface of the reflective layer in the first recess. The first recess corresponds to an aperture of a Cs metal layer, and the second recess corresponds to an aperture of a semiconductor layer. The transflective-type or reflection-type liquid crystal display device has a high image quality at low cost. |
| US08300182B2 |
Depolarizing film, process for producing the same, and liquid-crystal display
Disclosed herein is a depolarizing film which is excellent in productivity and can have a large area. The depolarizing film is obtained by using birefringent very short fibers instead of inorganic birefringent crystals, such as calcite, for use in conventional depolarizing elements. |
| US08300180B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method includes providing a panel including a first substrate having scan lines, data lines, an active device electrically connecting the scan and data lines, and a pixel electrode electrically connecting the active device, a second substrate having an opposite electrode, and a liquid crystal (LC) layer disposed between the first and the second substrates and having a monomer material. A first curing voltage and a second curing voltage are applied to the scan and data lines, respectively. The second curing voltage is thus transmitted to the pixel electrode. The first curing voltage is higher than an absolute value of the second curing voltage. The monomer material is polymerized to form a first polymer stabilized alignment (PSA) layer between the LC layer and the first substrate and a second PSA layer between the LC layer and the second substrate. The electrical field is then removed. |
| US08300176B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having first and second reflective type polarizers and a retarder having retarding and non-retarding regions and backlight module thereof
A backlight module includes a reflection sheet and a film structure disposed above the reflection sheet with a gap therebetween. A light source is disposed in the gap between the reflection sheet and the film structure so as to provide light. The film structure includes a first region for reflecting light incident thereupon from the light source and the reflection sheet, and a plurality of second regions for transmitting at least partially light incident thereupon from the light source and the reflection sheet. |
| US08300175B2 |
Lighting device having reflecting parts and liquid crystal display device using the same
A lighting device has a light source, a light guiding plate having first and second opposite main surfaces, and a reflector confronting the second main surface of the light guiding plate. The light guiding plate has a light entrance part that introduces light from the light source into the light guiding plate and reflecting parts formed on one of the first and second main surfaces for reflecting light introduced into the light guiding plate toward the first main surface. The reflecting parts are arranged on respective sets of arcs of concentric circles with each concentric circle having the light entrance part as its center. Each of the reflecting parts has a long axis extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to a line connected between a center of the corresponding reflecting part and the center of the light entrance part. |
| US08300174B2 |
Optical member, lighting device for display device, display device and television receiver
An optical member 15 of the present invention includes a lens sheet 28, a light diffusing sheet 27 and light reflecting members 24. The lens sheet 28 has a plurality of convex lenses 29 on an inner surface thereof. The light diffusing sheet 27 is disposed so as to face the lens sheet 28 and diffuses light. The light reflecting members 24 are selectively arranged in boundary areas of the plurality of convex lenses 29 between the lens sheet 28 and the light diffusing sheet 27. The lens sheet 28 has a surface having a light guiding direction and a non-light-guiding direction that crosses the light guiding direction because the convex lenses 29 have anisotropy for collecting light. The light diffusing sheet 27 has diffuseness larger in the light guiding direction of the lens sheet 28 than in the non-light-guiding direction of the lens sheet 28. |
| US08300172B2 |
White reflective film
To improve luminance of a backlight, a white reflective film having a coating layer containing spherical particles on at least one side of a white film, in which an absolute value of refractive index difference between the spherical particles and a binder resin forming the coating layer is 0.10 or less, and the spherical particles are nonporous is provided. |
| US08300170B2 |
Electro-optical device, electronic apparatus, and transistor
An electro-optical device includes a substrate, a data line, and a transistor formed on the substrate and including (i) a semiconductor film having a channel region having a channel length according to one direction, first and second source/drain regions which are formed with the channel region interposed therebetween, and first and second junction regions respectively formed between the first and second source/drain region and the channel region, and (ii) a gate electrode overlapping with the channel region, wherein at least one of the first and second junction regions is formed such that the width thereof is at least partially larger than that of the channel region. |
| US08300169B2 |
TFT substrate, LCD device using same and method for manufacturing TFT substrate
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of TFTs and a photosensitive capacitor formed on the transparent substrate. A capacitance of the photosensitive capacitor is variable on the condition of environment brightness. A method for manufacturing the TFT substrate and an LCD using the TFT substrate are also provided. |
| US08300163B2 |
Display panel, display device, and television receiver
A liquid crystal panel (11) includes, on an element substrate (20); a source wire (24); a gate wire (25) intersecting with the source wire (24); a TFT (27) arranged in the vicinity of the intersection of the source wire (24) and the gate wire (25); a pixel electrode (28) connected to the TFT (27); a capacitance wire (26) arranged in parallel with the gate wire (25) so as to form a capacitance between the capacitance wire (26) and the pixel electrode (28); a branch wire (36) branching off from the capacitance wire (26) and arranged parallel to the source wire (24) so as to overlap at least partially the source wire (24) through a gate insulating film (31); and an auxiliary wire (39) disposed between the branch wire (36) and the gate wire (25) and arranged in parallel with the source wire (24) so as to overlap at least partially the source wire (24) through the gate insulating film (31). |
| US08300159B2 |
Structure of pico projector
A pico projector includes a light-emitting diode module, collimators, a lens array, magnification lenses, a reflection mirror, a polarizing beam splitter, an LCoS (light crystal on silicon) panel, and an image lens module, wherein the light-emitting diode module emits red, green, and blue lights. The collimators convert light from the light-emitting diode module into collimated light. The lens array homogenizes the collimated light. The magnification lenses magnify the homogenized light from the lens array with a predetermined ratio to be projected onto the LCoS panel. The reflection mirror changes direction of the light path. The polarizing beam splitter allows for transmission of a horizontal polarization light component and reflects a vertical polarization light component. The LCoS panel reflects and modulates the light to form an optic signal. The image lens module includes, in sequence, positive, positive, negative, positive, and positive lenses to project the optical signal to a screen. |
| US08300156B2 |
Remote control device with integrated display screen for controlling a digital video recorder
A remote control for a digital video recorder includes an integrated display screen configured to display a recording list including programs scheduled to be recorded. |
| US08300155B2 |
Broadcast receiving device and program selecting method
A tuner receives broadcast data on specified channels. A channel search unit controls the tuner to search for available channels, and creates a channel map representing the available channels and a selection order thereof. A channel order setting unit changes setting about enabling/disabling of the selection and/or the selection order of the channels in the channel map. An operation input unit accepts a channel selecting operation of a user. When the user performs an operation for channel forward selection or channel reverse selection through the operation input unit, a channel switching unit changes the selection of the channel according to the channel map and causes the tuner to receive the broadcast data on the selected channel. |
| US08300151B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
Disclosed are a display apparatus and a control method thereof preventing boring and a trouble misunderstanding due to a mute screen supplied in changing an image signal, the display apparatus, including: a display unit which displays an image; an image processing unit which processes an input image signal to be displayed in the display unit, and displays a mute image in the display unit during a mute time when changing the input image signal; and a control unit which controls the image processing unit to gradually convert the total screen of the display unit displaying the input image signal to the mute image before displaying the mute image if a change signal for changing the input image signal is input. |
| US08300149B2 |
Selectively applying spotlight and other effects using video layering
A video layer effects processing system which receives normal video and special effects information on separate layers has been presented. The system selectively mixes various video layers to transmit a composite video signal for a video display such as a television, or a virtual reality system. Special effects include spotlights, zooming, etc. Additional special effects such as shaping of objects and ghost effects are created by masking and superimposing selected video layers. The selective mixing, for example, to enable or disable, strengthen or weaken, or otherwise arrange special effects, can be directed from a remote source or locally by a user through real-time control or prior setup. The video layer effects processing system can also be incorporated into a set-top-box or a local consumer box. |
| US08300148B2 |
Video processing device
A video processing device includes a processor, a voltage conversion circuit, and a Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs (SCART) chip. The processor is operable to process video signals, and control a GPIO (general purpose input output) pin to output different mode controlling signals according to different video signal formats. The voltage conversion circuit connected to the GPIO pin is operable to receive the mode controlling signals, and output different voltage signals according to the different format controlling signals. The SCART chip connected to the voltage conversion circuit is operable to receive the video signals and the voltage signals, and process the video signals according to the corresponding voltage signals. |
| US08300145B2 |
Apparatus and method of frame rate up-conversion with dynamic quality control
A frame rate up-conversion apparatus comprises a motion vector detecting circuit, a dynamic quality control circuit, a motion compensation circuit and a pull-down recovery circuit. According to quality of motion vectors, a corresponding image output mode is determined dynamically. A visual impact due to incorrect motion vectors is reduced and the visual experience is also improved. |
| US08300140B2 |
Wide dynamic range electronic image recording and reproducing system
The electronic camera has an imaging device that images a subject with subject reflectance R (%) with a dynamic range wider than that at displaying or printing to acquire image data and a recording device that converts the image data acquired by the imaging device with a predetermined function and records the converted image data and the information on the function as digital values (digit). Therefore, a printed image with an automatically or manually corrected density can be obtained at the displaying or the printing. |
| US08300135B2 |
Digital image processing apparatus and method of controlling the same
A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. When the composition of a subject displayed on a display of the apparatus is changed during application of a first shutter-release signal, a current auto-focus (AF) region moves along with the subject and displayed on the display at the same time as the subject. The apparatus can further display an initial AF region on the display in a manner distinguishable from the current AF region. After the composition of the subject is changed, while the current AF region moving along with the subject is being displayed on the display, when the application of the first shutter-release signal is interrupted, an AF region is reset as the initial AF region. Also, an image file can be generated and stored after application of a second-shutter release signal which occurs after application of the first shutter-release signal. |
| US08300132B2 |
Driving method of solid-state imaging device, solid-state imaging system, and camera system
A driving method of a solid-state imaging device vertically transfers a signal charge obtained by photoelectric conversion and horizontally transfers the signal charge vertically transferred to output an imaging signal corresponding to the signal charge. For every charge packet unit for transferring the signal charge, the charge packet unit being formed of columns of transfer channels used in the vertical transfer, a backward transfer channel behind the charge packet in a vertical transfer direction is turned off substantially simultaneously with turning on of a forward transfer channel ahead of the charge packet. |
| US08300130B2 |
Method of driving solid-state imaging device
The present invention has an object of providing a method of driving a solid-state imaging device which can reduce reading voltage even when transfer electrodes adjacent to reading electrodes are smaller than the reading electrodes as a result of miniaturization of pixels. The solid-state imaging device includes photodiodes and vertical CCDs each including transfer electrodes. The method includes: reading signal charges from the photodiodes by setting the electric potential of a predetermined transfer electrode among the reading electrodes to the electric potential VH; transferring the read signal charges in a column direction by applying driving pulses having electric potentials VM and VL to the transfer electrodes. Each of the reading electrodes has a larger area than the adjacent transfer electrodes. In reading the signal charges, while the electric potential VH is being applied, the electric potential of one of the transfer electrodes adjacent to the predetermined reading electrode is set to the electric potential VM, and the electric potentials of the other one of the transfer electrodes adjacent to the predetermined reading electrode and a reading electrode other than the predetermined electrode are changed. |
| US08300126B2 |
Staggered reset in CMOS digital sensor device
Systems and methods are provided that facilitate staggering resets of rows of pixels in a CMOS imaging iSoC sensor. Reset signals and select signals can be provided to pixels in a pixel array in a coordinated manner when employing full frame integration or sub-frame integration. Further, reset signals and select signals can be transferred to a first row of pixels, while reset signals can be transferred to a second row of pixels during a unique readout time interval when utilizing sub-frame integration. Within the unique readout time interval, reset signals can be transferred to the first row of pixels during a first time period, while reset signals can be transferred to the second row of pixels during a second time period, where the first and second time periods are non-overlapping. Accordingly, cross-talk between rows of pixels during reset can be mitigated, which leads to enhanced uniformity. |
| US08300124B2 |
Image sensor module and camera module package having the same
An image sensor module comprises an image sensor including a pixel region picking up an image from light incident from the outside and a signal processing region having bumps formed in the outer portion of the image sensor so as to process an electrical signal with respect to the image picked up by the pixel region; and a board attached to the image sensor by a liquid adhesive and provided with a window such that the pixel region of the image sensor receives light, the board including: a first dummy pattern formed on at least a portion around the window; a circuit pattern formed in a position spaced in a predetermined distance outward from the first dummy pattern; and board-side pads electrically connected to the circuit pattern so as to come in contact with the bumps formed in the image sensor. |
| US08300123B2 |
Imager column-level amplifier with pixel-wise automatic gain selection
An imager architecture that utilizes column sampling circuitry that can support pixel-wise automatic gain selection (AGS). The column sampling circuitry samples the pixel output signals directly (e.g., with unity gain) or after amplification in a column level amplifier while supporting correlated double sampling (CDS) in both situations. |
| US08300122B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, camera system, and signal reading method
A solid-state imaging device comprises a pixel unit, an exposure control unit, a first read-out path, and a second read-out path. In the pixel unit, a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, in which the amount of accumulated electric charges changes in accordance with incident light, are disposed two-dimensionally. The exposure control unit controls the pixel unit such that the start and end of accumulation of electric charges are performed at the same time in the photoelectric conversion devices which belong to a plurality of rows included in the pixel unit. The first read-out path reads out captured image signals of the photoelectric conversion devices in units of one row during a unit read-out period. The second read-out path reads out reset signals of the photoelectric conversion devices which belong to the same row as the row in which the captured image signals are read out during the unit read-out period. |
| US08300120B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method of processing image for reducing noise of the image
An image processing apparatus calculates a smoothed value obtained by smoothing signal levels of a plurality of pixels including a processing target pixel in a local area of an input image and a feature amount representing an edge degree of the processing target pixel using a pre-noise reduction image obtained by reducing an impulse noise of the input image. The image processing apparatus weighted-adds a signal level of the processing target pixel and the smoothed value at a ratio corresponding to the feature amount and outputs the weighted-addition result as a signal level after noise reduction processing. |
| US08300118B2 |
Imaging method and imaging apparatus
An imaging method includes a step of setting, when a digital zoom operation mode for enlarging an image imaged by a imaging part of an X-Y address type is selected, a zoom magnification and enlarging the image at the zoom magnification set. The imaging method includes the steps of: setting an imaging range in a vertical direction of the imaging part according to the zoom magnification set in the digital zoom step; outputting a driving signal for scanning the shutter signal and the readout signal to perform exposure in the imaging range set in the imaging range setting step and driving the imaging part; and discarding, when the zoom magnification is changed in the digital zoom step, images imaged by the imaging part before and after the change of the zoom magnification to prevent the images from being used. |
| US08300115B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes a generation unit for generating a plurality of different values for one parameter of a processing applied on an image, a presentation unit for presenting a plurality of processing images obtained by performing a processing on the image with the plurality of different values for the parameter, and a selection unit for selecting an optimal one of the plurality of presented processing images, in which a final value for the parameter is decided by repeatedly performing such a procedure that the generation unit further generates different values for the parameter on the basis of a value for the parameter corresponding to the selected processing image, the presentation unit presents processing images obtained by performing a processing on the image with the generated different values for the parameter, and the selection unit selects an optimal one of the presented processing images. |
| US08300113B2 |
Hadamard multimode optical imaging transceiver
Disclosed is a method and system for simultaneously acquiring and producing results for multiple image modes using a common sensor without optical filtering, scanning, or other moving parts. The system and method utilize the Walsh-Hadamard correlation detection process (e.g., functions/matrix) to provide an all-binary structure that permits seamless bridging between analog and digital domains. An embodiment may capture an incoming optical signal at an optical aperture, convert the optical signal to an electrical signal, pass the electrical signal through a Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) to create an LNA signal, pass the LNA signal through one or more correlators where each correlator has a corresponding Walsh-Hadamard (WH) binary basis function, calculate a correlation output coefficient for each correlator as a function of the corresponding WH binary basis function in accordance with Walsh-Hadamard mathematical principles, digitize each of the correlation output coefficient by passing each correlation output coefficient through an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and performing image mode processing on the digitized correlation output coefficients as desired to produce one or more image modes. Some, but not all, potential image modes include: multi-channel access, temporal, range, three-dimensional, and synthetic aperture. |
| US08300111B2 |
Highlight suppression image pickup apparatus
A highlight suppression image pickup apparatus includes a camera part provided with a lens optical system, an active filter part which is disposed in the vicinity of a focal plane of the camera part and which can control the amount of transmitted light, a light sensing device which senses a light transmission amount of the active filter part, and highlight suppression signal producing parts which produce a highlight suppression signal which controls the light transmission amount of the active filter part such that the amount of light sensed by the light sensing device becomes a predetermined reference value. The highlight suppression signal which controls the light transmission amount of the active filter part is output an image signal. |
| US08300107B2 |
Self-contained wireless camera device, wireless camera system and method
A self-contained wireless camera (10) and a wireless camera system (25) having such a device and a base station (20). Video processing (e.g. video compression) circuitry (200, 210) of the camera device receives video signals from a camera (130) and provides processed video signals. These are transmitted over a shared radio channel. A radio receiver (101) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals from the base station or another camera device. Images from the camera or the base station are displayed in a selected manner on a display or monitor (140). The base station device (20) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals, stores them and retransmits them. A command signal is received by the radio receiver to modify operation in such a manner as to control bandwidth usage. Wireless camera devices can adjust their operation to accommodate other wireless camera devices. Different transport protocol modules 230 and 240 can be selected according to the application that the user selects for operation. |
| US08300105B2 |
Shake correction module for photographing apparatus and photographing apparatus including the same
A shake correction module for a photographing apparatus is provided. The shake correction module includes: a base plate; a slider member disposed on the base plate so as to be able to move in a first axis direction and a second axis direction crossing the first axis direction, and accommodating an imaging element; and first and second drive members that are disposed between the base plate and the slider member, wherein the first and second drive members are arranged to be symmetric with a centroid of the slider member, and move the slider member in the first axis direction and the second axis direction. |
| US08300104B2 |
Event announcing system and operating method thereof
The invention discloses an event announcing system. The event announcing system comprises a portable electrical apparatus, a network, and a server. The portable electrical apparatus comprises an image capturing module, a positioning module, a time module, and a processing module. When the image capturing module captures an image information related to an event, the positioning module receives a positioning information and the time module receives a time information. The processing module is used for generating an announcing signal according to the image information, the positioning information, and the time information. When the server receives the announcing signal via the network, the server validates the announcing signal according to a validating rule and selectively generates an event report according to the announcing signal. |
| US08300099B2 |
Four-sided photography camera
The present invention relates to a camera device for outdoor photography and a method to capture wildlife photographs. The camera device comprises: a four sided block; a solar panel on the top side of the block, where the solar panel supplies power to the camera device; a camera lens on each side of the block; a sensor on each side of the block, where the sensor detects motion and activates the camera lens associated with said sensor; and a programming panel on each side of the block, where the programming panel may program the functionality of each camera and sensor. The camera device also includes adequate memory and a processor, where the memory stores photographs taken by each camera and the processor executes commands related to the functionality of each camera and sensor of the camera device. |
| US08300097B2 |
Monitor device for displaying work conditions
A screen display section and a control section are formed as separate units, enabling the sections to be separated from each other and integrally assembled together through a rigid bracket. Further, the screen display section and the control section respectively independently have connector receiving spaces. By this construction, the screen display section and the control section can be separated from each other and integrated with each other when required, and even in bad weather, water drops do not enter into the insides of the screen display section and the control section and into the connector receiving spaces, which enables safe and easy separation operation and integration operation. |
| US08300095B2 |
Image acquisition apparatus, method for controlling image acquisition apparatus, and microscope system
A pixel shifting unit moves the relative position between the luminous flux entering an image pickup device and the device to a plurality of predetermined positions in a predetermined order. A control unit controls the device, and allows the image of a subject image formed by the luminous flux on the photoreception surface of the device when the relative position is in any of the plurality of predetermined positions. A combination unit combines the plurality of obtained images to generate a high-resolution image. A prediction unit predicts a shooting environment when the device hereafter shoots an image of the subject image on the basis of a change of at least two images. A setting control unit controls a setting of a shooting condition when the image of the subject image is shot on the basis of a result of the prediction of the shooting environment. |
| US08300091B2 |
Multiple capsule camera apparatus and methods for using the same
A multiple capsule camera apparatus is disclosed to enhance the rate of detection and/or extend the overall imaging period. The multiple capsule camera apparatus coordinates the operations of the camera according to a schedule so that one camera may enter an active mode when the other camera is anticipated to have a low battery level. The capsule cameras may also coordinate their operations by communication with each other through a wireless link. A base station may also be used to coordinate the capsule camera operations with a wireless link established between the base station and each capsule camera. |
| US08300089B2 |
Stereoscopic depth mapping
Provided is a method and apparatus for linear depth mapping. Linear depth mapping includes using algorithms to correct the distorted depth mapping of stereoscopic capture and display systems. |
| US08300088B2 |
Three dimensional image sensor
A three-dimensional (3D) image sensor includes a plurality of color pixels, and a plurality of distance measuring pixels. Where the plurality of color pixels and the plurality of distance measuring pixels are arranged in an array, and a group of distance measuring pixels, from among the plurality of distance measuring pixels, are disposed so that a corner of each distance measuring pixel in the group of distance-measuring pixels is adjacent to a corner of an adjacent distance-measuring pixel in the group of distance-measuring pixels. The group of distance measuring pixels is capable of jointly outputting one distance measurement signal. |
| US08300085B2 |
Occlusion handling in stereo imaging
The handling of occlusions in stereo imaging is disclosed. In one implementation, an association between a discontinuity in one stereo image and an occlusion in a second stereo image is utilized. In such an implementation, the first and second stereo images are segmented. A mapping of a discontinuity within the second stereo image is used to form at least part of a boundary of an occlusion in the first stereo image. The mapped discontinuity is found at a boundary between two segments in the second stereo image, and once mapped, divides a segment in the first stereo image into two patches. An energy calculation is made in an iterative manner, alternating with changes to a solution with the disparities and occlusions of the patches. Upon minimization, disparities and occlusions at the patch and pixel level are available. |
| US08300081B1 |
Blending video feeds for visual collaboration
Blending of a video feed with a primary feed is described which allows a viewer to focus on a shared computer desktop space represented by a primary feed while also observing the video feed. Primary subject matter is generated from the raw feeds of both the video feed, resulting in a camera feed, and the primary feed to reduce unnecessary portions of the video feed and/or the primary feed. A transparency value of at least one of the camera feed or primary feed is adjusted before the two feeds are blended together in a composite view. By adjusting the transparency level, a more effective visual presentation and user experience is created. |
| US08300080B2 |
Techniques for detecting a display device
Techniques to detect a display device are described. An apparatus may include a video camera operative to receive video information for an image, and a microphone operative to receive audio information for an image. The apparatus may further include a monitor detection module communicatively coupled to the video camera and the microphone, where the monitor detection module is operative to detect a temporal watermark signal displayed by the monitor within the image, and determine a location for the monitor within the image based on the detection. The apparatus may also include an active speaker detector module communicatively coupled to the monitor detection module, where the active speaker detector module is operative to exclude false positives caused by the monitor. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08300079B2 |
Apparatus and method for transferring video
The present invention discloses a terminal for transferring video, comprising an audio-video splitting/assembling unit for assembling locally acquired video stream and audio stream, or splitting an audio-video assembly sent from a counter-terminal into video stream and audio stream; a device discovering unit responsible for searching for a first device with video capturing and displaying functions; wherein the audio-video splitting/assembling unit is adapted to receive a video stream of images captured by the first device after the device discovering unit has found the first device, and then to use the video stream for the local audio-video assembly, or the audio-video splitting/assembling unit is adapted to send the split video stream to the first device for video display. Obviously, since the counter-party's picture is transferred to the first device with a larger screen, the display effect is improved, and it is possible to bring the user a better visual experience without the limitation of the size of the video terminal screen. The present invention further provides a method for transferring video. |
| US08300077B2 |
Enhanced video telephony through augmented reality
A method for enhancing video telephony that includes initiating a video telephone call from a first device to a second device, displaying a live video view by the first device, transferring video from the second device to the first device during the video telephone call, and overlaying the transferred video over the live video view displayed at the first device. The first device and the second device may be mobile devices. A portion of the transferred video may be selected and the selected portion displayed over the displayed live video view at the first device. The transferred video may be video taken from a camera on the second device. The transferred video may also be displayed over the live video view on a third device attached to the first device. |