| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08321439B2 |
Quick filename lookup using name hash
File system methods and systems enabling efficient detection that a filename exists, by executing a hash function on the file name to reduce the overall computational complexity of determining that a directory entry might match the target filename, prior to performing the string comparison to determine the entry does match the target filename. A cross-device extensible means of providing a conversion function, such as uppercasing the filename, occurs prior to the hash. Methods of creating, deleting, and modifying the directory entries is further provided, as well as details of an embodiment of the file system described. |
| US08321437B2 |
Detecting behavioral patterns and anomalies using activity profiles
Activity data is analyzed or evaluated to detect behavioral patterns and anomalies. When a particular pattern or anomaly is detected, a system may send a notification or perform a particular task. This activity data may be collected in an information management system, which may be policy based. Notification may be by way e-mail, report, pop-up message, or system message. Some tasks to perform upon detection may include implementing a policy in the information management system, disallowing a user from connecting to the system, and restricting a user from being allowed to perform certain actions. To detect a pattern, activity data may be compared to a previously defined or generated activity profile. |
| US08321435B2 |
Quick find for data fields
Methods, program products, and systems for automatically searching data in multiple data fields are described. A user can view data retrieved from a database and formatted based on a layout. While viewing the data, the user can perform a search using one or more search terms. A system can automatically examine the database and identify on which tables and on which data fields of the tables to perform the search. The system can identify searchable tables and data fields by analyzing the database schema as well as characteristics of the tables and data fields. |
| US08321434B1 |
Two tiered architecture of named entity recognition engine
A system (and a method) is disclosed to extract entity values from texts. The system receives, at a first tier entity recognition engine, an input data string having a plurality of entities. The first tier entity recognition engine marks entities of the plurality of entities that are regular expression and transmits the input data stream with the marked entities to a second tier entity recognition engine. The second tier entity recognition engine receives the input data stream and identifies unmarked entities in the input data stream received at the second tier entity recognition engine. The second tier entity recognition engine determines whether the unmarked entities comprise a predetermined data format, and if so, outputs those unmarked entities of the plurality of entities that comprise the predetermined data format. |
| US08321432B2 |
System and method for filtering electronic messages using business heuristics
Disclosed are systems and methods for use in filtering electronic messages using business heuristics. In one aspect, a method includes determining whether the electronic message is associated with a desirable business, and adjusting the likelihood of delivering the electronic message to an intended recipient of the message if the electronic message is determined to be associated with the desirable business. In a more specific embodiment, the method further includes assigning a spam-score to the electronic message based on a likelihood that the electronic message is not unwanted by the intended recipient, blocking delivery of the electronic message to the intended recipient when the spam-score does not cross an overall threshold, and delivering the electronic message to the intended recipient based on the adjusted likelihood when the electronic message is determined to be associated with the desirable business. |
| US08321430B2 |
Resource efficient handling change notifications in graph structures
A method and apparatus for handling a data structure in a computerized system, the data structure comprising a first object having content and a second object having content, and interdependencies between the first object and the second object, the method comprising: receiving a description of the data structure; creating a graph structure indicating the interdependencies between the objects, the graph structure comprising at least a first vertex and a second vertex, the first vertex and the second vertex connected by an edge; and associating the first vertex with content of the first object and the second vertex with content of the second object, wherein the first vertex and the second vertex do not contain the content of the first object or the second object.In some embodiments, an application executed by computing platforms in a cluster comprising symmetrical nodes, statically registers relevant filters with every node in the cluster, and registers to the filter upon loading. When an event occurs in a node, only if the event passes any of the filters it is transferred to the other nodes in the cluster. In each of the other nodes, components are invalidated by traversing the dependency graph. |
| US08321427B2 |
Method and apparatus for generation and augmentation of search terms from external and internal sources
A method and apparatus to identify names, personalities, titles, and topics that are present in a repository, and place them into a grammar, and to identify names, personalities, titles, and topics that are not present in the repository, and place them into a grammar, uses information from external data sources, notably the text used in non-speech, text-based searches, to expand the search terms entered into the ASR grammars. The expansion takes place in two forms: (1) finding plausible linguistic variants of existing search terms that are already comprehended in the repository, but that are present under slightly different names; and (2) expanding the existing search term list with items that should be there by virtue of their currency in popular culture, but which for whatever reason have not yet been reflected with content items in the repository. |
| US08321420B1 |
Partition elimination on indexed row IDs
A method, computer program, and database system for performing a request on a table associated with an index are disclosed. A database contains a table, an index, and a partition elimination list and accepts a query. A table has one or more rows stored in one or more partitions. The index contains index entries, each of which references a row in a partition, where the row is in the table. The query has a first and a second condition. The partition elimination list is populated with partitions based on the first condition of the query. Only index entries that are identified by the request because of the second condition and that reference partitions that are not eliminated by the partition elimination list are read. |
| US08321412B2 |
Digital data processing method for personalized information retrieval and computer readable storage medium and information retrieval system thereof
A digital data processing method for information retrieval and an information retrieval system thereof are provided. In an embodiment, the information retrieval system trains a personalized model according to a user's feedback perceptions of at least one information piece. With respect to information pieces and different users, the information retrieval system performs estimation, based on two different stages with a generalized model and the trained personalized model. |
| US08321410B1 |
Identification of semantic units from within a search query
A search engine for searching a corpus improves the relevancy of the results by classifying multiple terms in a search query as a single semantic unit. A semantic unit locator of the search engine generates a subset of documents that are generally relevant to the query based on the individual terms within the query. Combinations of search terms that define potential semantic units from the query are then evaluated against the subset of documents to determine which combinations of search terms should be classified as a semantic unit. The resultant semantic units are used to refine the results of the search. |
| US08321409B1 |
Document ranking using word relationships
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for scoring documents. A plurality of documents with an initial ordering is received. Local term relationships between terms in the plurality of documents are identified, each local term relationship being a relationship between a pair of terms in a respective document. Relationships among the documents in the plurality of documents are determined based on the local term relationships and on the initial order of the documents. A respective score is determined for each document in the plurality of documents based on the document relationships. |
| US08321404B1 |
Dynamic query suggestion
A query prefix is received from a user device. A user identifier is determined based on the user device. A user category is determined based on the user identifier. A node representing the query prefix is located in a query graph. Descendent nodes of the located node that represent queries are located. Each node has one or more user category specific frequency measures and each user category specific frequency measure is associated with a user category. The queries represented by the located nodes are ranked based on the associated user category specific frequency measure associated with the identified user category. The ranked queries are sent to the user device. |
| US08321401B2 |
User interface with available multimedia content from multiple multimedia websites
Automatically and repeatedly crawling multiple multimedia websites to identify and collect information about the multimedia content that is available for delivery over the Internet to a client device for playback on a media player operating on the client device. In one embodiment, the method normalizes the collected information by converting the different formats of the collected information into a common format and converting the different nomenclatures of the collected information into a common nomenclature. The method updates an index with the normalized information, and sends a data feed to the client device to populate the user interface on the client device with the normalized information of the index. The user interface allows the user to navigate and select the multimedia content that is available for delivery over the Internet for playback on the media player. |
| US08321397B2 |
Storage medium including metadata and reproduction apparatus and method therefor
A storage medium including metadata, which provide an extended search function using a variety of search keywords on audio-visual data, and a reproduction apparatus and a reproduction method of reproducing the storage medium. The storage medium includes: audio-visual data; and metadata to provide an extended search function on the audio-visual data, wherein the metadata include a predefined search keyword and a search keyword which may be additionally defined by an author. Accordingly, by using a variety of search keywords additionally defined by an author as well as predefined search keywords, providing an extended search function is possible. In addition, by recording only portions of the metadata relative directly to supporting multiple languages in an additional text-based file, providing an extended search function using a plurality of languages is also possible. |
| US08321392B2 |
Pending state management for mobile business objects
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for invoking an operation to change a current data row of a table in a local database. As a result, a pending change data row is inserted in the table, distinguished by a primary key comprising a common key value and a pending change indicator. The pending change is then submitted for synchronization. |
| US08321391B2 |
Conditional commit for data in a database
A database comprises a database interface and a database updater. The database interface enables a reading of a first set of information from the database. The database updater updates a second set of information in the database based at least in part on one or more conditions. The one or more conditions limit changes allowable to the first set of information from the database that occurred after the reading of the first set of information from the database. |
| US08321388B1 |
Systems and methods for backing up multimedia data
Systems and methods described herein may separate one or more enhancement layers of a multimedia file from a base layer of the multimedia file and treat the base layer and the enhancement layer differently when backing up and/or archiving the multimedia file (e.g., by giving the enhancement layer a lower priority than the base layer). By separating enhancement layers from multimedia files and treating the enhancement layers with a lower priority, these systems and methods may reduce the strain that large multimedia files put on data repositories and associated computing resources (e.g., storage space, network bandwidth, etc.) while still preserving and protecting enough of the multimedia file to keep important information that the multimedia file may contain intact. |
| US08321383B2 |
System and method for automatic weight generation for probabilistic matching
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method of automatically generating weights for matching data records. Each field of a record may be compared by an exact match and/or close matches and each comparison can result in a mathematical score which is the sum of the field comparisons. To sum up the field scores accurately, the automatic weight generation process comprises an iterative process. In one embodiment, initial weights are computed based upon unmatched-set probabilities and default discrepancy weights associated with attributes in the comparison algorithm. A bulk cross-match is performed across the records using the initial weights and a candidate matched set is computed for updating the discrepancy probabilities. New weights are computed based upon the unmatched probabilities and the updated discrepancy probabilities. Test for convergence between the new weights and the old weights. Repeat with the new weight table until the weights converge to their final value. |
| US08321382B2 |
Validating aggregate documents
Embodiments described herein are directed to validating an aggregate document. An instance signature can be generated for a first instance of a data page retrieved for inclusion in the aggregate document and can be compared to a baseline signature associated with a second instance of the data page. A similarity value can be calculated in response to the comparison. The similarity value indicates a degree of similarity between the first instance and the second instance of the data page. Based on the similarity value it can be determined whether to delete or bypass the data page in the aggregate document. |
| US08321376B2 |
Address resolving database
A system for resolving addresses in an internet protocol based network. The system includes an address resolving master database and a plurality of slave databases. A plurality of transfer agents are each allocated to different ones of the plurality of slave databases for reading data from the master database and writing it to the slave databases. Each slave database receives and stores either ENUM data or DNS data, but not both. A plurality of applications have read access to at least one of the plurality of slave databases. |
| US08321371B2 |
Enhanced artificial intelligence language
A method of determining an appropriate response to an input includes linking a plurality of attributes to a plurality of response templates using a plurality of Boolean expressions. Each attribute is associated with a set of patterns. Each pattern within the set of patterns is equivalent. The method also includes determining an appropriate response template from the plurality of response templates based on the input. |
| US08321370B2 |
Method and system for translating logical constraints to linear constraints
A system and method is provided for translating one or more logical expressions E is TRUE, or statements of the form IF E1 is TRUE THEN E2 is TRUE, to a set of linear constraints. Examples in accordance with the present invention contribute to systems and methods for solving optimization problems that include constraints in the form of arbitrarily complex logical relationships between binary variables. Examples are also applicable to solving general optimization problems that have arbitrarily complex relationships between sets of linear constraints. The systems and methods combine simplification and ordering of logical expressions, factorization, direct translations of expressions, substitution of auxiliary variables, and substitution of auxiliary variables for phrases that would otherwise lead to an unacceptable number of linear constraints. The systems and methods also include mechanisms that reduce the number of required auxiliary variables by use of simplification, consolidation, Boolean identities, and auxiliary variable reuse. |
| US08321369B2 |
Anti-intrusion method and system for a communication network
There is disclosed an anti-intrusion method for a communication network comprising a plurality of network elements. The method comprising the following steps: a) providing a passive monitoring component, a decision making component, and an action making component cooperating with the communication network; b) at the passive monitoring component, detecting management information indicative of an attack against at least one network element, processing the management information thus generating infection data and transmitting the infection data to the decision making component; c) at the decision making component, receiving the infection data, making a decision about an action to be carried out to block the attack, and transmitting the decision to the action making component; and d) at the action making component, based on the decision, instructing the at least one network element to perform the action. |
| US08321367B2 |
Data processing apparatus, method, and computer program product for user objective prediction
A data processing apparatus includes an input unit that receives input data, a calculating unit that calculates a feature vector, a selection receiving unit that presents processing options to a user and receives a user selection, a storing unit stores processing history information, and a predictor constructing unit that constructs a predictor for an identifying algorithm that predicts optimal processing for input data based on processing history information stored in a history database. An optimal function predicting unit predicts optimal processing based on a feature vector calculated for new data by using the predictor and an evaluating unit evaluates work efficiency for the predicted optimal processing, wherein the evaluating unit is configured to evaluate work efficiency for the optimal processing based on a prediction accuracy of the predictor and a user specific working time that is required for each user to select one of the processing options with the selection receiving unit. Finally, a presenting unit presents the optimal processing to a user when an evaluation result obtained by the evaluating unit is equal to or greater than a threshold. |
| US08321361B1 |
Featured items of distributed discussion collaboration
In an embodiment, a method for distributed discussion collaboration is provided. The computer-implemented method includes selecting a featured discussion item for each of one or more collaborators based on information associated with each respective collaborator. The method also includes providing selected featured discussion items for display to respective one or more collaborators. The method further includes receiving voting information for the featured discussion items displayed to the respective one or more collaborators. In another embodiment, a system for distributed discussion collaboration includes a selection module configured to select a featured discussion item for each of one or more collaborators based on information associated with each respective collaborator. The system also includes a view controller and a voting module. |
| US08321360B2 |
Method and system for weighting transactions in a fraud detection system
A method of computing a similarity between a first transaction having a set of properties and a second transaction having the set of properties includes computing an initial weight for each of the properties of the set of properties and computing a similarity between each of the properties of the first transaction and the properties of the second transaction. The method also includes adjusting the initial weight for each of the properties based on a measure of the commonness of each of the properties of the set of properties, normalizing the adjusted weights, and computing the similarity by summing the products of the normalized adjusted weights and the computed similarities. |
| US08321356B2 |
System and method for calculating real-time costing information
Real-time costing information is provided by a central knowledge base in communication with a database. The central knowledge base provides an application programming interface (API) through which queries are run on the content in the database. The database content includes a harmonized system (HS) module holding an HS tree unified across multiple countries, a tariffs module holding tariffs applicable to goods classified in the unified HS tree, and a freight rates module holding rules and data for calculating freight rates for a shipment of goods. A knowledge workbench includes a catalog harmonizer that enables goods in a catalog to be harmonized according to one or more countries' HS trees and the results to be stored in the database. An applications server provides applications for generating queries for costing information, such as landed cost estimates, analyzing the results. |
| US08321355B2 |
Adaptive rating system and method
The present invention is embodied in adaptive rating methods and systems. The adaptive rating method includes receiving a first rating for a first product from a user, receiving a second rating for a second product from the user, identifying a conflict with a processor by comparing the first rating and the second rating, soliciting feedback from the user to remedy the conflict, and adjusting at least one of the first or second ratings with the processor responsive to feedback from the user. The steps of the method may be embodied in computer executable instructions stored on a non-transient machine readable medium that cause a processor to perform the method when executed by the processor. The system includes a processor configured to perform the steps of the method. |
| US08321353B2 |
Method of providing transactions employing advertising based verification
A method of improving electronic security establishes a secure trusted path between a user and an institution seeking an electronic signature to verify a transaction before any request for signature and completing electronic transaction activities occurs. The secure trusted path providing the user with a first predetermined portion of a branded watermark, for instance an advertisement, provided from the institution in conjunction with the request, and a second predetermined portion of the branded watermark being provided upon a personalized device that cannot be intercepted or manipulated by malware, allowing the user to verify that the request as displayed upon the user's primary computing device is valid. |
| US08321351B2 |
Device management in a wireless network
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatus, and system configurations for device management in a wireless communication network. A method includes determining, by a server of a communication network, that one or more updates are designated for a mobile station, initiating a re-authentication of the mobile station based on the determining to trigger the mobile station to establish communication with the server of the communication network to receive the one or more updates, and sending the one or more updates to the mobile station. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08321348B2 |
Computer-based method and system for aiding transactions
A method for providing a warranty relating to a transaction between two parties, each party being a client of at least one respective institution which provides services to the respective party, the method including: transmitting a request for a warranty from one party to the transaction which is a client of the respective institution to a respective location associated with the respective institution, which request includes information identifying the other party to the transaction and information about the nature of the transaction; conducting an exchange of information between the respective location and a location associated with a institution of which the other party is a client; and transmitting a response to the request from the respective location to the one party. |
| US08321347B2 |
Integrated technology money transfer system
Money transfer system authorizing an escrow agent computer electronically by touch-tone telephone, computer modem, P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal, live operators, to send cash transfers from a sender's account such as their credit, debit, bank, or ATM card, or a bank account, to a recipient who accesses the money at any remote ATM type location or P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal by using cards such as a specialized magnetic cards, credit cards, debit cards, and automated teller machine (ATM) card, at anytime and anywhere. Senders can authorize the transfer by touch-tone and PIN (personal identification number) secure codes. The system can operate without pre-existing relationships, and monitor transactions and take surcharges based on transfer amounts, and use a cards tethered to ATM machines and be used with double magnetic sided cards. |
| US08321343B2 |
Managing transaction accounts
A transaction account verification system and method are provided. A user computing device transmits an account registration request that includes a selection of an account verification technique. A service provider obtains the request and initiates a set of transactions with an identified financial service provider. The service provider generates at least one verification token reflective of the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The user computing device generates at least one user verification token from user input regarding the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The service provider can verify the transaction account and set transaction thresholds based upon matching verification tokens. |
| US08321342B2 |
Method and system to accept and settle transaction payments for an unbanked consumer
A system and method is provided to accept and settle transaction payments for an unbanked consumer. A consumer initiates a transaction with a merchant, and the merchant may transmit transaction information to a central processing unit using an initiating processing unit. The central processing unit may generate a unique transaction identifier or the merchant may generate the unique transaction identifier which complies with the systems rules and notifies the central processing unit of the transaction information and unique transaction identifier. The system may provide the merchant and consumer the nearest payment processing unit. At the payment processing unit, the consumer presents the unique transaction identifier, which is transmitted to the central processing unit for validation. The consumer may also validate the transaction information. The consumer makes payment at the payment processing unit, and the payment information is transmitted to the central processing unit. The system may generate a confirmation receipt for the consumer, and the central processing unit notifies the merchant of payment by the consumer. The merchant may then fulfill the transaction. The system remits the payment to the merchant. |
| US08321340B2 |
Adjustable mounting apparatus for a peripheral device of a self-service retail item checkout station
A self-service retail item checkout station comprises a peripheral device for interacting with a customer while the customer is conducting a self-service retail item checkout transaction at the station. The self-service retail item checkout station further comprises a non-swiveling mounting mechanism including (i) a slidable mounting portion on which the peripheral device is mounted, and (ii) a fixed mounting portion on which the slidable mounting portion is supported for sliding movement between a retracted position in which a customer in a standing position at the station can more easily interact with the peripheral device an extended position in which a customer in a seated position at the station can more easily interact with the peripheral device. |
| US08321336B2 |
Systems and methods related to lifetime mortgages
The present invention relates to a mortgage having a forward portion and a reverse portion. In the forward portion, the borrower receives a loan from a lender in order to purchase a property, such as a home. In the reverse portion, the property has accumulated sufficient equity to enable the lender to disburse funds back to the borrower. The present disclosure describes various computer systems and computer-implemented methods that assist in planning for this type of mortgage. Various factors may be considered, such as, the initial loan principal, ages of one or more borrowers, and a desired mortgage interest rate, and calculates. Different scenarios for conversion from the forward portion to the reverse portion of the mortgage may then be calculated and presented. For example, one or more forward mortgage payment schedules may be calculated and future reverse mortgage capacity may be presented. In some embodiments, the reverse mortgage capacity is used to pay some or all of the forward mortgage portion. |
| US08321334B1 |
Credit score simulation
Systems and methods are described that simulate a credit score. The system enables a user to modify a credit data element in order to determine its effect on a credit score. The user can modify the element directly or simulate an action that, if performed, would modify the element. Since the number of possible modifications and actions can be overwhelming, in one embodiment, the system suggests modifications and actions to be simulated. These suggestions can be tailored to a user's goal, such as increasing a credit score by a particular number of points or allocating a particular sum of money in order to maximize a credit score. In one embodiment, the system obtains credit data from multiple credit bureaus and can determine credit scores using different algorithms, such as the different algorithms used by the different credit bureaus. |
| US08321332B2 |
System and method for selectively displaying market information related to a plurality of tradeable objects
A graphical interface and method are provided for selectively displaying market information corresponding to a plurality of tradeable objects. According to one example method, a scanning feature is provided in relation to a number of tradeable object indicators. Upon detecting a predefined movement of a user input device in relation to the plurality of indicators, a graphical interface dynamically displays market information corresponding to the tradeable objects as a predefined movement of the user input device is detected in relation to the tradeable object indicators. |
| US08321329B1 |
Apparatus, article, and method for a specified event bond
A method, machine, article for a specified event bond. The method can include: storing in memory terms of a bond indenture for a bond, the indenture including a contingent liability obligation whereby an issuer of the bond is obligated to pay to an investor in the bond if a specified event occurs; determining, by a computer accessing the memory and receiving market data, an amount of contingent liability corresponding to the obligation; and outputting, by the computer, the determined amount of the contingent liability. |
| US08321328B2 |
Electronic credit default futures market
Systems and methods are provided for providing a credit default futures market. A system providing the credit default futures market includes a processor, memory and an interface. The interface is configured to display credit default futures contracts that subscribe to a set of standard terms and conditions. The processor is configured to settle certain credit futures contracts in kind and other in cash, depending on, at least in part, the maturity date of the futures contract. A method is presented for electronically clearing and settling probability of default futures contracts. |
| US08321326B2 |
Method and system for enhancing the efficiency of a digitally communicated data exchange
The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the efficiency of digitally communicated data exchanges and to a computer system that implements such a method. The invention particularly concerns the use of adaptive custom compression techniques, binary integers (“bits”), massively parallel processing, database optimization techniques and/or calculation optimization techniques to achieve such enhanced efficiency. The invention is applicable to any digitally communicated data exchange, but is particularly applicable to exchanges of financial information such as financial market buy/sell orders, market making, etc. |
| US08321325B2 |
Systems and methods for compression of trade-related records
In certain embodiments, a computer system and process for use in a trading system are provided that allow trading entities to compress trade records while simplifying the reconciliation process. Advantageously, compressed trade records are processed by a custodian firm, while uncompressed reconciliation data are processed by a central counterparty. In some embodiments, a computer system and process are provided that allows trading entities to compress trade records across markets. Advantageously, compression across markets provides a larger pool of eligible trade records for compression, increasing the number of compressible trades, and thus reducing fees paid by the trading firm and the amount of data transmitted. |
| US08321324B2 |
Managing outlying trading orders
A determination is made as to whether a trading order that has been placed on a trading exchange is an outlying trading order. If it is determined that the trading order is an outlying trading order, a restrictive action is taken regarding the outlying trading order, and/or a restrictive action is taken regarding a subsequent trading order that may trade with the outlying trading order. |
| US08321322B2 |
Method and system for creating a spot price tracker index
A method and system for creating a spot price tracker index is disclosed. The method includes obtaining values of first and second derivatives at a time t and calculating an index value by linear extrapolation from the first and second futures contracts. The index value may be displayed at a trading facility and quotes based on the index value may be transmitted by the trading facility to a market participant. |
| US08321321B2 |
Online marketplace system and method
A computerized online marketplace that facilitates the acquisition of funding and services for the development and operation of an online business. It provides a variety of investment opportunities for investors and facilitates an entrepreneur's acquisition of capital as well as skills and services needed to start an online business. Possible investment channels for potential investors comprise: money; skills; and services. Investors are awarded investment points for monetary and non-monetary investments and are compensated according to their points. Monetary compensation is awarded periodically to investors according to their rank in relation to the respective investor base of a given business entity. Businesses are hosted at the online marketplace and all aspects of investment and operations are managed through the marketplace thereby facilitating interactions between all parties involved in business initiation, development and operation, including customers. |
| US08321320B1 |
Portfolio management analysis system and method
An analysis system and method are provided in which out-of-bound accounts can be easily identified and rebalanced. |
| US08321318B2 |
System and method for facilitating the funding and administration of a long term investement or retirement trust
The funding and administration of a long term investment and/or retirement trust for a minor child or minor children are facilitated by the present invention. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method for the real-time, interactive, dynamic modeling and goal-solving for the pre-funding of a retirement benefit account specific to a minor child. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method for the input of user variables specific to the requirements necessary for the real-time production of trust documents necessary and specific to the purpose of establishing a funded pre-retirement trust for a minor child. |
| US08321316B1 |
Income analysis tools for wealth management
Enhanced processes, methods, tools, strategies, and techniques are provided for more effectively and efficiently processing, managing, analyzing, and communicating wealth related data and other financial information within a computing environment. In various embodiments, the analysis tools provided herein have been designed to correspond visually with a mental model employed by many clients in managing their wealth. |
| US08321314B2 |
Negotiable instrument electronic clearance monitoring systems and methods
Methods, devices, and systems for analyzing negotiated negotiable instruments are described. A computer system, including a computer readable storage device and a processor may be provided. A plurality of electronic files may be received. Each of these electronic files of the plurality of electronic files may include an electronic image of at least a portion of a negotiable instrument and include a plurality of data fields. The plurality of electronic files may be divided into subsets based on whether data is available in particular data fields of the electronic files. Based upon the subset an electronic file is made a member of, various selection criteria may be applied to determine if the electronic file is a candidate for suspicious and/or illegal activity. Statistics may be calculated about the analysis process to determine the quality and effectiveness of various analysis methods. |
| US08321312B2 |
Method and system for organizing tax information and providing tax advice
A method includes providing to a user a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user's electronic device, generate a user interface displayable on a display device coupled to the user's electronic device, presenting to the user via the user interface a plurality of solicitations for a set of personal information describing characteristics of the user, receiving via the user interface the personal information set, and, based on the personal information set, generating to the user interface a checklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by the user. |
| US08321309B1 |
Method and system for streamlined payroll set up and compliant paycheck generation
A method and system for streamlined payroll set up and compliant paycheck generation whereby a computing system implemented payroll system is provided that maintains a payroll record for each employee. In one embodiment, data indicating the minimum information required by the law to generate a compliant paycheck is obtained. When a user begins the process of generating a paycheck for a given employee, the given employee's payroll record data is analyzed and compared with the data indicating the minimum information to determine if the given employee's payroll record data includes all of the minimum information. If the given employee's payroll record data includes the minimum information, then the given employee's payroll record is marked as having the compliant paycheck data and the requested paycheck is generated. If the given employee's payroll record data does not include the minimum information, then the user is asked to provide at least enough missing data to extrapolate the minimum information and when the missing data is obtained, the given employee's payroll record is marked as having the compliant paycheck data and the requested paycheck is generated. |
| US08321308B2 |
Architectural design for manual invoicing application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing manual invoicing. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Customer Invoice Processing process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an Accounting process component, a Project Processing process component, and a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component. |
| US08321305B2 |
Managing assemblies with uncertain demands containing common parts
A system and method for planning common-use parts in such a way that operating inventory levels are reduced without introducing more risk of parts outages. One embodiment comprises determining use of at least one common component in a plurality of product models, receiving a forecast for the plurality of product models that use the common component, computing a demand correction factor for each of the forecasts, and determining inventory requirements for the at least one common component based at least in part on the respective forecasts and demand correction factors. |
| US08321297B2 |
Community management for electronic peer to peer business to business transactions
Systems, methods, and devices for the automated, community-based exchange of procurement documents. In some embodiments, there may be different sets of rules for each of a number of different communities of trading partners. Each set of rules may be made up of rules data for direct peer-to-peer exchange and/or transformation of procurement documents in respective communities. By way of example, a host trading partner may select the rules for exchange of procurement documents for a community. Invited trading partners may register for the community, and rules for the community may then be distributed to the registered trading partners. |
| US08321295B1 |
Fact checking method and system
A fact checking system verifies the correctness of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information. |
| US08321289B2 |
Method for making use of site activity index and a system thereof
Provided are a method and a system for applying site activity indexes by a site activity index applying system connected to a plurality of user terminals through the Internet. In one embodiment, the method includes checking whether a user who is connected to a web site through the Internet desires to buy a game item, checking whether to use the user's site activity indexes so as to buy the game item, checking whether the user possesses site activity indexes, and exchanging the site activity indexes with game items when the user possesses the site activity indexes. With the method and system for applying site activity indexes user loyalty and game participation may be increased. |
| US08321287B2 |
Receipt printer, receipt printer control method, and program
A receipt printer, a control method for a receipt printer, and a program whereby producing counterfeit printout is not possible. A receipt printer 20 has a storage unit 61 that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information, a specific information acquisition unit 62 that acquires specific information from a POS terminal 10, a comparison unit 63 that compares the specific information with the registered information decrypted from the encrypted information, a printing permission unit 64 the permits printing when the comparison unit 63 confirms a data match, and a printing unit 65 that prints when printing is permitted by the printing permission unit 64. |
| US08321283B2 |
Systems and methods for alerting pharmacies of formulary alternatives
Methods, systems and computer program products alert pharmacies of formulary alternatives. A claim generated by a provider and including at least one drug is received, where the claim is directed to a payer recipient. The claim is reviewed to identify the at least one drug. The at least one drug is then compared to a pre-established formulary alternative table, which may be created or managed, at least in part, by the payer recipient. A preferred drug alternative may then be forwarded to the provider when the at least one drug has a match in the pre-established formulary alternative table. |
| US08321281B2 |
Automated sales tax payment system
A computer-implemented transaction processing system includes a card reader and a plurality of modules each comprising code that executes in the processor. The card reader transfers credit card data from a credit card of a customer to a memory of the computer. A check presentation module is operative to calculate a sales tax associated with a price of a product sold to the customer. An approval module is operative to obtain an approval against the credit card data in the memory for at least the price of the product and the sales tax and thereby define an approved sale transaction. A revenue settlement module and a tax settlement module are operative to settle respective portions of the sales transaction(s) to different accounts, such that a revenue portion goes to a first account free of any sales tax, and a sales tax portion goes to the other account. |
| US08321275B2 |
Advertiser reporting system and method in a networked database search system
A system and method provide advertisement campaign information about an advertisement campaign to an advertiser. The system includes means for organizing advertisement campaign information into one or more ad groups and a web interface to receive advertiser inputs and provide a visual report including the advertisement campaign information to the advertiser. The system further includes a campaign data store configured to store advertisement campaign account data and a reporting system to produce the visual report about performance of the advertisement campaign. The visual report is based on the organization of the advertisement campaign information into the one or more ad groups. |
| US08321274B2 |
Advertiser alerting system and method in a networked database search system
A system and method provide advertisement campaign information about an advertisement campaign to an advertiser. The system includes means for organizing advertisement campaign information into one or more ad groups and a web interface to receive advertiser inputs and provide system alerts about the advertisement campaign information to the advertiser. The system further includes a campaign data store configured to store advertisement campaign account data and an alerting system to produce the system alerts about performance of the advertisement campaign. |
| US08321273B2 |
Cross-media campaigns with bias adjustment and attribution modeling
A method for determining advertising effectiveness of cross-media campaigns provided. The effectiveness of the combined campaign is plotted, and the effects of different media are isolated. Examining complementary effects and synergies are examined, and a dollar-for-dollar comparison for each of the media is performed. This dollar-for-dollar comparison may include a return on marketing objective calculation. If applicable, budget re-allocations are recommended. Optionally, post effectiveness, efficiency, and allocation analysis are performed. Such analysis may include providing descriptive advertising and media suggestions on each media independently. |
| US08321270B2 |
System and method for a multiple merchant stored value card
The loyalty system allows a consumer to accumulate general loyalty points from one or more merchants, and convert any desired subset of general points to loyalty dollars associated with a specific merchant. The system stores, for each consumer, the merchant loyalty dollars (or monetary equivalent) by merchant within a remotely-accessible host database or within a smart card database. Upon conducting a purchase at a particular merchant, the consumer may utilize a code key to facilitate access to the consumer's own loyalty dollars for the particular merchant. The loyalty dollars are then applied to the purchase transaction as a discount or rebate. The consumer may also re-load the merchant loyalty dollar accounts. |
| US08321261B2 |
Integrated gourmet item data collection, recommender and vending system and method
Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc. |
| US08321254B2 |
Notification of employees via pass code accessed web pages
Disclosed is an Internet-based database system and method (ASP), that enables school districts and temporary employment agencies to automate the dispatching (24/7) of pre-qualified substitute/temporary personnel to specified school/work site locations for specific absent employees/job openings. The system includes a profile database of permanent and substitute (temporary) employees, positions, skills, working dates/shifts, rates of pay, work sites, lesson plans/comments, reasons for absence and corresponding budget codes. Approved substitute/temporary employees may access the database using a multi-level access and secure logon code through their Internet-based browser device. The software filters job/position information to match specific job openings to the skills, qualifications (certification), preferences and availability of the substitute/temporary employee/s. As job openings (absences) are entered into the system by employees, the school district or employment agency, job details are immediately available through Internet “distributed technology” to all appropriate substitute/temporary employees through their web browser device. |
| US08321251B2 |
Evolutionary process system
A method for implementing a closed-loop business process management lifecycle. The method comprising producing at least one to-be process model during a process analysis phase. Storing a copy of the at least one to-be process model. Automating the at least one to-be process model during a process automation phase. Producing data logs by applications implementing the automated to-be process models. Data mining the produced data logs during a process monitoring phase, to produce emerging to-be process models and updated to-be process models of automated to-be process models. Storing the emerging to-be process models and the updated to-be process models; and selecting ones of the stored emerging and updated to-be process models to provide to a new process analysis phase. |
| US08321249B2 |
Determining a demographic attribute value of an online document visited by users
A demographic attribute value of a sink online document may be determined by (a) accepting a value(s) of the demographic attribute of a source online document, (b) accepting, for each of the source online documents having an accepted demographic attribute value, a probability that a user will visit or has visited the sink online document if the user visited the source online document, and (c) determining the demographic attribute value of the sink online document using the demographic attribute value of each of the source online documents and the probabilities. A demographic attribute value of the sink online document may also be determined using the above information and using the demographic attribute value of each of the source online documents and the probabilities that a user will visit or has visited the sink online document if the user visited the other online document. |
| US08321248B2 |
Method, system and program product for rendering state diagrams for a multi-dimensional enterprise architecture
The present provides a method, system, and program product for rendering state diagrams for a multi-dimensional enterprise architecture. The rendered state diagrams illustrate the actual or planned use, assignment, retirement, interdependence, etc., of enterprise elements in a multi-dimensional enterprise architecture within a user-specified time frame, from a user selected frame of reference, for a user-specified business scope. The method comprises: defining a plurality of objects, wherein each of the objects represents an element of the enterprise architecture; defining a plurality of relationships, wherein each of the relationships is between one of the plurality of objects and another of the plurality of objects; and rendering the at least one state diagram based upon the plurality of objects, the plurality of relationships, and a frame of reference. |
| US08321247B2 |
Business level metric for information technology
A method, system, and computer program product for determining a business level metric for assessing the impact of performance degradation of IT components upon the revenue stream of an entity is provided. In one embodiment, the business level metric is determined by determining business functions that comprises a revenue stream for a line of business. Weights are then assigned to each business function, wherein the weights indicate the relative importance of each business function in relation to the other business functions. For each business function, the business processes that enable the completion of a specific business function are determined and weights. For each business process, critical service points for measuring the performance of supporting information technology components for the business process are determined and weights are assigned. The critical service points are then monitored and a partial business level metric raw score is determined. |
| US08321243B1 |
Systems and methods for the intelligent coordination of benefits in healthcare transactions
Systems and methods are provided for the coordination of benefits. The systems and methods may include receiving a healthcare claim request from a healthcare provider computer; determining, based at least in part from patient information in the healthcare transaction claim request, that the patient is associated with at least a first payer and a second payer; generating a primary claim request based upon the identified product and the patient associated with the healthcare claim request, the primary claim associated with the first payer; and generating a coordination of benefits (COB) claim request based at least in part on the received first adjudicated reply associated with the primary claim request, the COB claim request, the COB claim request associated with a second payer. |
| US08321242B1 |
Personalized time release messaging
Media devices containing instructions which can allow patients to enroll and participate in time release messaging programs can be provided to patients by doctors who record personalized messages which are played when the devices are used. These media devices (or instructions from those devices stored on a user computer) can communicate with external systems to receive updates, both in terms of content and timing of information. |
| US08321241B1 |
Electronic patient record documentation with push and pull of data to and from database
A medical records software apparatus and method is described that allows a clinician, e.g., nurse or doctor, to combine entry of new patient orders, prescriptions, flowsheet observations, etc. into the documentation process or workflow. A documentation user interface is provided that pulls patient data from a database into the display. The user can select on the user interface a category of a patient record, e.g., Significant Events or Orders, view or edit prior entries in the database in these categories, and add additional documentation for that category. The documentation is written or pushed to two areas of the database, one devoted to patient documentation and a second area corresponding to the selected category, e.g., Orders. The method and apparatus improves workflow efficiency and promotes a smooth transition from the thought process of the clinician to the ordering or prescription process, without the need for changing venues or screen displays to both enter documentation and enter the order or new prescription. |
| US08321235B2 |
Validating an electronic transaction
An electronic transaction may be processed by receiving an order to execute a transaction electronically, identifying a format for the order, identifying a version of the format, retrieving a metasyntax with a rule related to the identified format and the identified version, the rule defining one or more acceptable arrangements of one or more elements in the transaction, relating the order to the metasyntax, determining whether the order conforms to the metasyntax, and forwarding the order for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax. |
| US08321231B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing customized souvenir images
A method and system that captures and delivers customized souvenir images to a plurality of attendees at a sporting event, music concert, and the like. Individuals wanting to receive a copy of these images provide location information, such as their assigned seat number. The present invention uses this information to identify the proper image and deliver it to the customer. Embodiments of the present invention may be adapted for use in a kiosk and to deliver the picture over a computer network, such as the Internet. |
| US08321230B2 |
Method and device for the hierarchical coding of a source audio signal and corresponding decoding method and device, programs and signals
Hierarchical coding of a source audio signal in the form of a data stream including a base level and at least two hierarchical enhancement levels, each of the levels being organized in successive frames. At least one frame of at least one enhancement level has a duration less than the duration of at least one frame of the base level. At least one indication representative of an order used for a set of enhancement level frames corresponding to the duration of at least one frame of the base level is inserted into the data stream. |
| US08321226B2 |
Generating speech-enabled user interfaces
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for automatically creating a speech-based user interface involve identifying a software service definition that includes service inputs, service outputs, and context data and accessing a standard user interface incorporating the service input and output. The standard user interface defines a set of valid inputs for the service input and a set of available outputs, at least one of which based on the context data. Audio data is associated with at least some of the inputs in the set of valid inputs to define a set of valid speech inputs. A speech-based user interface is automatically generated from the standard user interface and the set of valid speech inputs. |
| US08321225B1 |
Generating prosodic contours for synthesized speech
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method including receiving text to be synthesized as a spoken utterance. The method includes analyzing the received text to determine attributes of the received text and selecting one or more utterances from a database based on a comparison between the attributes of the received text and attributes of text representing the stored utterances. The method includes determining, for each utterance, a distance between a contour of the utterance and a hypothetical contour of the spoken utterance, the determination based on a model that relates distances between pairs of contours of the utterances to relationships between attributes of text for the pairs. The method includes selecting a final utterance having a contour with a closest distance to the hypothetical contour and generating a contour for the received text based on the contour of the final utterance. |
| US08321216B2 |
Time-warping of audio signals for packet loss concealment avoiding audible artifacts
Packet loss concealment (PLC) systems and methods are described that use time-warping to merge a concealment signal generated to replace one or more bad frames of an audio signal with a received signal representing one or more subsequent good frames of the audio signal in a manner that avoids signal discontinuity and audible artifacts resulting therefrom. Prediction-based PLC systems and methods are also described that use time-warping to conceal the loss of one or more frames containing a transition region in a manner that will not result in an audible artifact. |
| US08321215B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving intelligibility of audible speech represented by a speech signal
The perceived quality of a speech signal is improved by estimating the average power of first and second signal components and applying a first gain factor to the second signal components to generate adjusted second signal components. The first gain factor is selected such that on application of the first gain factor to the second signal components, the ratio of the average power of the first signal components to the average power of the adjusted second signal components would be a first predetermined value, the first predetermined value being such as to inhibit perceptual distortion of the improved speech signal. |
| US08321214B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for multichannel signal amplitude balancing
A method for processing a multichannel audio signal may be configured to control the amplitude of one channel of the signal relative to another based on the levels of the two channels. One such example uses a bias factor, which is based on a standard orientation of an audio sensing device relative to a directional acoustic information source, for amplitude control of information segments of the signal. |
| US08321211B2 |
System and method for multi-channel pitch detection
A method and system for multi-channel detection of pitch may comprise one or more of the following steps and/or means therefore: (a) sampling an audio input stream including at least a first channel and a second channel; (b) setting a search frequency for each of the first channel and the second channel; and (c) detecting a pitch of the first channel and a pitch of the second channel. |
| US08321209B2 |
System and method for low overhead frequency domain voice authentication
A system and method are provided to authenticate a voice in a frequency domain. A voice in the time domain is transformed to a signal in the frequency domain. The first harmonic is set to a predetermined frequency and the other harmonic components are equalized. Similarly, the amplitude of the first harmonic is set to a predetermined amplitude, and the harmonic components are also equalized. The voice signal is then filtered. The amplitudes of each of the harmonic components are then digitized into bits to form at least part of a voice ID. In another system and method, a voice is authenticated in a time domain. The initial rise time, initial fall time, second rise time, second fall time and final oscillation time are digitized into bits to form at least part of a voice ID. The voice IDs are used to authenticate a user's voice. |
| US08321207B2 |
Device and method for postprocessing spectral values and encoder and decoder for audio signals
For postprocessing spectral values which are based on a first transformation algorithm for converting the audio signal into a spectral representation, first a sequence of blocks of the spectral values representing a sequence of blocks of samples of the audio signal are provided. Hereupon, a weighted addition of spectral values of the sequence of blocks of spectral values is performed in order to obtain a sequence of blocks of postprocessed spectral values, wherein the combination is performed such that for calculating a postprocessed spectral value for a frequency band and a time duration a spectral value of the sequence of blocks for the frequency band and the time duration and a spectral value for another frequency band or another time duration are used, wherein the combination is further performed such that such weighting factors are used that the postprocessed spectral values are an approximation to the spectral values as they are obtained by converting the audio signal into a spectral representation using a second transformation algorithm which is different from the first transformation algorithm. The postprocessed spectral values are in particular used for a difference formation within a scalable encoder or for an addition within a scalable decoder, respectively. |
| US08321205B2 |
Definitional method to increase precision and clarity of information
In order to know precisely and clearly what words mean, the DMTIPCI definitional method implements by use of a first algorithm steps for iteratively deconstructing all usage predicate words of all words in any language to their primary words, creating the DMTIPCI First Subject Word Dictionary. Primary words as herein defined are words that have no non-tautological words in their predicate(s). The second algorithm creates a list of all primary words and the third algorithm gives meanings to the primary words by citing examples of said primary words. All words are arranged under their primary words by a fourth algorithm creating a DMTIPCI Primary Word Dictionary. A fifth algorithm measures the accuracy of search engines. |
| US08321202B2 |
Method and system for candidate matching
A method and system for candidate matching, such as used in match-making services, assesses narrative responses to measure candidate qualities. A candidate database includes self-assessment data and narrative data. Narrative data concerning a defined topic is analyzed to determine candidate qualities separate from topical information. Candidate qualities thus determined are included in candidate profiles and used to identify desirable candidates. |
| US08321195B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving word alignment quality in a multilingual corpus
A method for improving word alignment quality in a multilingual corpus including a plurality of corresponding sentence pairs between any two languages among a first language, a second language and at least one other language and word alignment information between each of the plurality of corresponding sentence pairs, the method includes inducing word alignment between a first sentence of the first language and a second sentence of the second language by using the word alignment information between the first sentence of the first language and a third sentence of the other language corresponding to the first and second sentences and the word alignment information between the second sentence of the second language and the third sentence of the other language, and combining induced word alignment and the word alignment information between the first sentence of the first language and the second sentence of the second language in the multilingual corpus. |
| US08321186B2 |
Synthetic air traffic management fast-time environment
Techniques for providing synthetic air traffic management in a fast-time environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing a closed-loop air traffic management simulation gateway between a decision support tool (DST) and an airspace modeler includes receiving airspace simulation data from an airspace modeler. The airspace simulation may be converted to emulated radar signals at an update interval. The emulated radar signals may be transmitted to a decision support tool for analysis. A recommendation may be received from the decision support tool based on the emulated radar signals, which may be used to generate a synthetic actor response based on the recommendation. The synthetic actor may provide the response to the airspace modeler to enable updating the airspace simulation data. In this manner the design of more efficient airspace routes, arrival and departure routes and procedures may be more quickly achieved. |
| US08321185B2 |
Program for outputting stress-strain equation and its device
There is provided a model that can evaluate properties of viscoelasticity and also rubber elasticity of an elastic material. A correlation equation between stress and strain that is calculated from: a correlation equation between stress, strain, elastic modulus and relaxation time, calculated based on a Maxwell model in which an elastic element and a viscous element are placed in series; and a correlation equation between strain and elastic modulus, including different moduli depending on properties, the correlation equation between stress and strain including different moduli depending on said properties as parameters is output as a stress-strain curve formula. There is one feature in finding a correlation between the strain and the elastic modulus, and this allows a large deformation behavior of an elastic material having properties of both rubber elasticity and viscoelasticity to be expressed with high quantitative characteristics on simulation. |
| US08321183B2 |
Multi-variable control-based optimization to achieve target goal
In a computer-implemented method of designing at least one system to achieve a target goal, an inventory of a plurality of variables that affect the design of the at least one system is created, where the inventory includes a feasibility range for each of the plurality of variables contained in the inventory is created. In addition, initial values are assigned for the plurality of variables in the inventory and a model of input to output correlations of the plurality of variables is created by commissioning the plurality of variables from the initial values. Moreover, a design of the at least one system to achieve the target goal is optimized by manipulating one or more of the plurality of variables through application of the model. |
| US08321181B2 |
Computer-implemented land planning system and method
A computer-implemented land planning system is designed to generate at least one conceptual fit solution to a user-defined land development problem. The system electronically creates at least one candidate solution to the land development problem. The candidate solution incorporates a number of engineering measurements applicable in development of an undeveloped land site. A fitness function quantitatively evaluates the candidate solution based on its fitness. A heuristic problem-solving strategy manipulates the engineering measurements of the candidate solution to achieve a more quantitatively fit solution to the land development problem. A computer output device outputs to a user documentation illustrating the fit solution to the land development problem. |
| US08321180B2 |
Method and apparatus for composite part data extraction
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for providing ply lay-up data for a composite part. A designation of a location is received for the composite part in a three dimensional object from a requester. A three dimensional model is opened in which the composite part is located. The ply lay-up data is extracted for a section within the composite part within the three dimensional model to form extracted ply lay-up data for the section. An output file is created containing a two dimensional drawing for the section with the ply lay-up data identifying a ply stacking sequence, an orientation of each ply in the ply stacking sequence, and a material for the each ply in the ply stacking sequence. The output file is returned to the requester. |
| US08321179B2 |
Multiple axes scanning system and method for measuring radiation from a radiation source
A three dimensional radiation measurement scanning system includes a circular drive operable with horizontal and vertical drives for moving a radiation detector through first, second and third orthogonal axes in a three dimensional scanning of the detector in a water tank. Motor are coupled to the drives and activated by a controller for providing the movement of the radiation detector which providing radiation field sensing signals for locations of the detector throughout the tank. A reference detector is fixed for comparing its radiation field measurements with those of the scanned radiation detector. An offset mount carries the radiation detector allowing it to be extended beyond the circular ring gear during horizontal movement of the radiation detector and thus position the radiation detector at wall surfaces of the water tank. |
| US08321174B1 |
System and method to measure capacitance of capacitive sensor array
A system and method for measuring capacitance of a capacitive sensor array is disclosed. Upon measuring the capacitance, position information with respect to the sensor array may be determined. A column, a first row, and a second row of a capacitive sensor array may be selected. The first row and the second row intersect with the column of the capacitive sensor array. A differential capacitance between the first row and the second row may be measured. The differential capacitance may be utilized in determining a location of an object proximate to the capacitive sensor array. |
| US08321167B2 |
Surveying instrument and surveying compensation method
The present invention provides a surveying instrument, which comprises rotating units operated rotatably, supporting units to support the rotating units, a reflection mirror portion provided on one of the supporting unit or the rotating unit, tilt sensors arranged on the other of the supporting unit and the rotating unit and for projecting a detecting light and for detecting a relative tilting of the reflection surface of the reflection mirror portion with respect to the supporting unit by receiving the detecting light reflected by the reflection mirror portion, and a control unit for calculating an unsteadiness of rotation of the rotating unit based on a signal from the tilt sensor. |
| US08321163B2 |
Monitoring power-related parameters in a power distribution unit
A power distribution unit (PDU) disposable in an electrical equipment rack. The PDU has a housing, a power input penetrating the housing, outlets in the housing, a processor disposed in the housing, voltage and current sensors, and a voltage calculation procedure communicable with the processor. The processor samples voltage and current waveforms and calculates RMS values and other power parameters. A method of managing electrical loads each drawing electrical power from a PDU includes repeatedly sampling voltage across and current flowing through each of the loads, calculating raw RMS values of voltage and current, and scaling the raw RMS values to obtain corrected RMS voltage and current values and other power parameters. |
| US08321162B2 |
Minimizing circulating current using time-aligned data
A power system may comprise two or more transformers operating in parallel. A voltage differential may exist between the transformers, which may create a circulating current in the power system. The system voltage of the power system may be modified by performing a tap change operation on one or more of the transformers. The tap change operation may be configured to minimize the circulating current. The circulating current may be minimized by determining the bias between the transformers using an angular difference between the transformer currents. The angular difference may be calculated using time-aligned measurement data. A tap change operation configured to modify the system voltage, while minimizing circulating current, may be determined using the transformer bias. |
| US08321160B2 |
Remotely reconfigurable system for mapping subsurface geological anomalies
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode. |
| US08321155B2 |
Field device comprising two processors
A field device for measuring the filling level, the pressure or the density of a medium in a container is described. The field device comprises two processors that are separate from each other. The first processor corresponds to a lower safety standard while the second processor corresponds to a higher safety standard. Functions of the field device that are directed towards safety are carried out in the second processor. Functions that are less critical to safety are carried out in the first processor. Data exchange between the two processors is controlled by way of an operating system. |
| US08321154B2 |
Methods for detecting coronary artery disease
Markers are provided for detecting coronary artery disease. Levels of these markers are indicative of a patient being at risk of having or developing coronary artery disease. |
| US08321153B2 |
Method for determining isotopic clusters and monoisotopic masses of polypeptides on mass spectra of complex polypeptide mixtures and computer-readable medium thereof
Disclosed herein is a method of finding an isotopic cluster in a polypeptide and determining the monoisotopic mass of the cluster. The method comprises an algorithm for finding an isotopic cluster based on a probabilistic model, defined by each of peaks in the isotopic cluster, and determining the monoisotopic mass of the isotopic cluster. The probabilistic model of the isotopic cluster includes characteristic functions for mass, that is, a function of the ratio of two peak intensities, and a function of the product of two ratios obtained from three peaks. These characteristic functions for mass define the shape of peaks acceptable in an actual isotopic cluster for the mass of any isotopic cluster. The algorithm of finding the isotopic cluster based on the functions uses the characteristics to score the degree of the approximation of any isotopic cluster to the spectral shape of a theoretical cluster. |
| US08321149B2 |
Transcutaneous analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host. |
| US08321145B2 |
Predictor of when to harvest cells grown in a bioreactor
This invention relates to a cell expansion system and to a method of determining when to harvest cells from the cell expansion system. |
| US08321143B2 |
Synthetic active peptide fragments
The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using peptide fragments. |
| US08321142B2 |
Analyzer, analysis method and computer program product
An analyzer includes a determining unit that determines whether an analysis result of a sample corresponding to a controlled specimen having a known value is normal or not based on an analysis result of the controlled specimen. The analyzer also includes a generating unit that generates analysis information in which a determination result by the determining unit is associated with each analysis result of samples; and an output unit that outputs the analysis information generated by the generating unit. |
| US08321139B2 |
Methods and apparatus for modulus measurement
Methods and system/apparatus as can be used to determine a material mechanical modulus on length scales as can be of biological cell dimension. |
| US08321137B2 |
Knowledge-based storage of diagnostic models
Methods, computer systems, and computer readable medium for testing a plurality of models in order to classify a biological specimen. A determination is made as to whether a model precondition associated with a model in the plurality of models has been satisfied. The model is skipped when the model precondition has not been satisfied. When the model precondition has been satisfied, the first model is tested by selecting a calculation from the first model. The selected calculation is computed using cellular constituent abundance values from the biological specimen in accordance with a calculation algorithm set forth in the selected model. This selecting and computing is repeated for one or more calculations in the selected model. Then, each of these calculations is aggregated in accordance with an aggregation algorithm associated with the selected model. These steps are repeated for at least one other model in the plurality of models. A computer medium comprising a classifier for classifying a biological specimen into a biological sample class that includes one or more models. Each of the one or more models comprises (i) an optional model precondition, (ii) a calculation algorithm, (iii) a plurality of calculations, and (iv) a calculation aggregation algorithm. |
| US08321136B2 |
Method and system for classifying slides using scatter plot distribution
The present invention relates to a method and system for classifying biological specimen. A number of objects of interest are identified in a biological specimen. The nuclear area and nuclear integrated optical density for each object of interest in the specimen are measured and used for generating a scatter plot. The specimen is classified as normal or suspicious based on the distribution of points within the scatter plot. |
| US08321132B2 |
Combining LWD measurements from different azimuths
Apparatus, methods for forming the apparatus, and methods for operating the apparatus provide a value for a formation property or a borehole property from measurements obtained in a well. The value may be generated from determining a weighted average of the value for the formation property or the borehole property using both values corresponding to different azimuths and weights corresponding to different azimuths. |
| US08321125B2 |
System and method for providing route guidance to a requesting vehicle
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a recommended route, based, in part, on fuel consumption, to a requesting vehicle using data collected from other vehicles. The system includes, but is not limited, to a communication system that is configured to receive vehicle data from a plurality of vehicles. A data storage system is in communication with the communication system and is configured to store the vehicle data as compiled vehicle data. A processor is in communication with the data storage system and the communication system. The processor is configured to utilize the compiled vehicle data to calculate a recommended route that is based, in part, on fuel consumption. The communication system is further configured to transmit the recommended route to the requesting vehicle. |
| US08321123B2 |
System and method for traffic condition communications
A system and method for communicating with traffic detectors. A location of a vehicle is determined. A search is performed continuously for any of a number of traffic detectors in a wireless environment. A communication session is established with one of the number of traffic detectors in response to entering a range of one of the number of traffic detectors. A message associated with the one of the number of traffic detectors is communicated to the vehicle while the vehicle is within the range of one or more traffic detectors. |
| US08321121B2 |
Engine fuel injection control apparatus
A fuel injection control apparatus is provided with a supply control section, a stop control section, a timing estimating section and a torque recovery control section. The supply control section controls fuel supplied to an engine based on a detected prescribed vehicle running state. The stop control section stops supplying fuel upon detecting a first prescribed vehicle running state. The timing estimating section estimates a timing at which a drive train transmitting a drive force from the engine to a wheel will change from a non-drive state in which the engine rotates due to a force from the wheel to a drive state in which the wheel rotates due to a drive force of the engine. The torque recovery control section resumes supplying fuel upon detecting a second prescribed vehicle running state and stops resumption of fuel being supplied for a prescribed amount of time based on the timing. |
| US08321117B2 |
Vehicle control system
A vehicle control system includes: an inter-vehicle distance control section configured to perform a follow-up control to a preceding vehicle by automatically accelerating or decelerating a host vehicle, or a constant speed running control section configured to perform a constant speed running to converge to a set speed; a brake operating state sensing device; and a control unit including; a deceleration control section configured to perform a deceleration in accordance with the brake operating state of the driver when the brake operating state sensing device senses the brake operation of the driver during the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed running control; and an acceleration control limit section configured to cancel a control in the acceleration direction which is performed by the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed control when the brake operating state sensing device senses an end of the brake operation of the driver. |
| US08321113B2 |
Vehicle control device and vehicle mounted with the device
A vehicle control device has a control device 10 mounted on a vehicle including an accelerator opening detecting sensor 2, a vehicle speed sensor 3, and braking means 7 capable of adjusting deceleration of the vehicle. The control device stores a plurality of deceleration tables 12 in which the deceleration is set according to a predetermined parameter. If the detected vehicle speed is equal to or less than a preset vehicle speed V1 and the detected accelerator opening is equal to or less than a preset accelerator opening when a target deceleration is selected by the deceleration selecting means 4 and 5, the selection of the deceleration is validated, a deceleration table 12 corresponding to the deceleration selected by the deceleration selecting means is read, and the braking means is actuated on the basis of braking parameters specified in the table, thereby executing deceleration control to provide the selected deceleration. |
| US08321105B2 |
Propulsion system with a continuously variable transmission
One disclosed embodiment relates to a propulsion system for a machine. The propulsion system may include a prime mover operatively connected through a continuously variable transmission to a propulsion device. The propulsion system may also include propulsion-system controls that control an operating parameter of the continuously variable transmission, which may include adjusting the operating parameter based on operator input. Controlling the operating parameter may also include determining an adjustment limit for the operating parameter based on one or more operating conditions and applying the adjustment limit to the operating parameter to modify at least one of acceleration and jerk of the machine based on the one or more operating conditions. |
| US08321097B2 |
Automatic transmissions and methods therefor
Systems and methods for controlling transmissions and associated vehicles, machines, equipment, etc., are disclosed. In one case, a transmission control system includes a control unit configured to use a sensed vehicle speed and a commanded, target constant input speed to maintain an input speed substantially constant. The system includes one or more maps that associate a speed ratio of a transmission with a vehicle speed. In one embodiment, one such map associates an encoder position with a vehicle speed. Regarding a specific application, an automatic bicycle transmission shifting system is contemplated. An exemplary automatic bicycle includes a control unit, a shift actuator, various sensors, and a user interface. The control unit is configured to cooperate with a logic module and an actuator controller to control the cadence of a rider. In one embodiment, a memory of, or in communication with, the control unit includes one or more constant cadence maps that associate transmission speed ratios with bicycle speeds. |
| US08321095B2 |
Control device for hybrid construction machine
The amount of assist for a sub-pump (SP) is reduced when a rotating motor (RM) is singly operated, and the amount of assist for the sub-pump (SP) is increased except when the rotating motor (RM) is singly operated. A controller (C) has a function which, when a signal representing single operation of a rotating motor is inputted in the controller from a single operation detecting means and, at the same time, when a single indicating that assist is required is inputted from an assist controlling input means (A1) in the controller, controls either or both of the speed of an electric motor (MG) and the tilt angle of the sub-pump (SP) based on a low-output set value lower than a value for normal operation of the rotating motor, which is operation other than when the rotating motor is singly operated. |
| US08321091B2 |
Backward motion control method for a car connected to at least one trailer
Provided is a backward motion control technology for a car. The car comprises a backward-motion control terminal, a control signal converter, and a backward-motion controller. The backward-motion control terminal outputs a first backward-motion control signal corresponding to a backward velocity and a backward direction of the last trailer according to a user's operation. The control signal converter converts the first backward-motion control signal to a second backward-motion control signal which corresponds to a backward velocity and a backward direction of the car. The backward-motion controller controls the car based on the second backward-motion control signal so that the last trailer moves backward by the backward velocity and the backward direction corresponding to the first backward-motion controlling signal. |
| US08321085B2 |
Working vehicle, vehicle speed control method of working vehicle, and vehicle speed controller of working vehicle
A working vehicle of the present invention achieves more stabilized constant speed traveling. A vehicle speed control section 20A of a controller 2 calculates a target drive force required for constant speed traveling on the basis of a preset standard traveling resistance (S1). And, on the basis of an output rotational speed (S2) and the target drive force (S1) of a torque converter 14, the vehicle speed control section 20A determines a target input rotational speed (S3) to be inputted to the torque converter 14, and sets a clutch pressure (S5) so as to eliminate a difference between the target input rotational speed and an actual input rotational speed (S4). A standard traveling resistance correction section 20B corrects a standard traveling resistance according to state of a road surface, long term change of components, and so on. Due to this, it is possible to perform stabilized constant speed traveling. |
| US08321084B2 |
Control device, control method, control device of vehicle, and control system of vehicle
Provided is a control device including: a storage portion for storing binary data transmitted from outside and received successively; and a control portion for carrying out processing including: production processing of producing a frame where of the stored binary data, pieces of data expressing events occurring in a predetermined period are placed into a group among which pieces of data expressing events each having a small degree of variation are arranged so as to be close to each other; difference computing processing of arranging the frames produced at intervals of the predetermined time in a predetermined order and of computing a difference between two adjacent frames; compression processing of compressing a result of the computation by a run length method; and recording processing of recording, to a recording portion, a first frame in the difference computing processing, a number of difference computations, and the compressed data. |
| US08321082B2 |
Hybrid vehicle
In a hybrid vehicle, control is executed to operate an engine with fuel injection being performed, when an unexecuted percentage of catalyst degradation suppression control is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the unexecuted percentage, when a power storage percentage of a battery is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the power storage percentage and the battery is charging, and also when a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the vehicle speed and a cumulative air amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the cumulative air amount, when a catalyst temperature is less than a first threshold temperature and equal to or greater than a second threshold temperature, when the catalyst temperature is equal to or greater than the first threshold temperature, when there is a braking request while the engine is operating. |
| US08321079B2 |
Anti-collision control system for a vehicle
An anti-collision control system for one or more vehicles fitted with an onboard automatic pilot (self-guiding) allowing for bi-directional movements on a single track under the control of a ground-based automated traffic control unit of the CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) type. The system includes: a signaling control unit of the AWS (Auxiliary Wayside System) type for controlling ground signals on a section of a single-direction circulation lane; a first default control means based on which the signaling control unit imposes a single-direction movement to the vehicle running on the section of a single-direction circulation lane in order to avoid any collision with another vehicle controlled solely by the signaling control unit of the AWS type, i.e. independently from the ground-based automated traffic control unit. |
| US08321077B1 |
Attitude determination with three-axis accelerometer for emergency atmospheric entry
Two algorithms are disclosed that, with the use of a 3-axis accelerometer, will be able to determine the angles of attack, sideslip and roll of a capsule-type spacecraft prior to entry (at very high altitudes, where the atmospheric density is still very low) and during entry. The invention relates to emergency situations in which no reliable attitude and attitude rate are available. Provided that the spacecraft would not attempt a guided entry without reliable attitude information, the objective of the entry system in such case would be to attempt a safe ballistic entry. A ballistic entry requires three controlled phases to be executed in sequence: First, cancel initial rates in case the spacecraft is tumbling; second, maneuver the capsule to a heat-shield-forward attitude, preferably to the trim attitude, to counteract the heat rate and heat load build up; and third, impart a ballistic bank or roll rate to null the average lift vector in order to prevent prolonged lift down situations. Being able to know the attitude, hence the attitude rate, will allow the control system (nominal or backup, automatic or manual) to cancel any initial angular rates. Also, since a heat-shield forward attitude and the trim attitude can be specified in terms of the angles of attack and sideslip, being able to determine the current attitude in terms of these angles will allow the control system to maneuver the vehicle to the desired attitude. Finally, being able to determine the roll angle will allow for the control of the roll ballistic rate during entry. |
| US08321075B2 |
Mitigating effects of biodynamic feedthrough on an electronic control device
Biodynamic feedthrough in a master control system can be mitigated. An accelerometer is used to measure the acceleration of an environment. In one embodiment, mitigation damping forces can then be determined based on the velocity of an effector of a haptic manipulator and the measured accelerations. The haptic manipulator applies the mitigation damping forces as force feedback. In another embodiment, biodynamic feedthrough can be filtered from the input signal. Parameters for a model can be accessed based on the position of the effector, and the model can be used to predict biodynamic feedthrough from the measured accelerations. |
| US08321072B2 |
Method for determining the quantity of fuel taken on board an aircraft making it possible to maintain a time requirement of the RTA type
A method for determining the quantity of fuel in an aircraft and an optimization criterion such as a cost index, notably used in an FMS, making it possible to maintain a time requirement of the RTA type, comprising a first step of computing the optimization criterion CIi as a function of the aircraft weight GWi-1 via a method of the RTA type and a second step of computing the weight of the aircraft GWi as a function of the optimization criterion Ci-1 computed in the first computation step and the aircraft weight GWi-1, executed by successive iterations, until the estimated flight time resulting from the computed parameters after the second computation step makes it possible to observe the time requirement to within a determined criterion δt, a last step determining the pair of values of aircraft weight GWi and of performance criterion CIi-1 allowing an optimal fuel payload and the maintenance of the RTA. |
| US08321068B2 |
Method of plotting a portion of trajectory of an aircraft comprising a circular arc of constant radius
A method is disclosed for plotting a trajectory portion (6, 6″), using flight management means of an aircraft, and linking a known position (7) of the aircraft to a point in space (4), denoted the “exit point”. A circular arc is defined, the coordinates of whose centre (1) are known, comprising two ends (3, 4) of known coordinates, one end of which is the exit point (4). The position of a transition point (5) is determined which is situated on the arc. The trajectory (6, 6″) by the flight management means of the aircraft is automatically plotted. The trajectory is successively linking the known position (7) of the aircraft, and the transition point (5) and the exit point (4). |
| US08321067B1 |
Transitioning a mixed-mode vehicle to autonomous mode
Disclosed are methods and devices for transitioning a mixed-mode autonomous vehicle from a human driven mode to an autonomously driven mode. Transitioning may include stopping a vehicle on a predefined landing strip and detecting a reference indicator. Based on the reference indicator, the vehicle may be able to know its exact position. Additionally, the vehicle may use the reference indictor to obtain an autonomous vehicle instruction via a URL. After the vehicle knows its precise location and has an autonomous vehicle instruction, it can operate in autonomous mode. |
| US08321064B2 |
Grid interconnection device, grid interconnection system, and power control system
A grid interconnection device 100 for interconnecting a power storage device to a power distribution system to which alternating current power is distributed, the grid interconnection device comprises a receiver 101 and a controller 104. The receiver 101 receives a second adjustment instruction transmitted before a first adjustment instruction. The controller 104 controls the power storage amount on the basis of the second adjustment instruction. |
| US08321062B2 |
Systems and method for operating a wind turbine having active flow control
A method of operating a wind turbine that includes a flow control system includes operating the wind turbine in a first mode, operating the wind turbine in a second mode that is different than the first mode, acquiring operational data of the wind turbine during at least the second mode, determining an effectiveness of the flow control system using the acquired operational data, and performing an action based on the effectiveness of the flow control system. |
| US08321058B2 |
HVAC control system having integrated CPH cycling control and deadband staging
A method of controlling an HVAC system including programming a thermostat of the HVAC system to define a temperature set point, a temperature differential around the temperature set point, and a number of cycles per hour for a temperature control source of the HVAC system. The method also includes sensing a temperature, executing a cycling control algorithm that includes the temperature, the temperature set point, and the number of cycles per hour as inputs to determine a duty cycle, and running the temperature control source according to the duty cycle when the temperature is within the temperature differential. The method further includes executing a deadband algorithm to turn on the temperature control source when the temperature is outside of the temperature differential at one extreme and to turn off the temperature control source when the temperature is outside the temperature differential at the opposite extreme. |
| US08321056B2 |
Power plant with CO2 capture and compression
A power plant frequency response characteristic is implemented by controlling the power consumption of a CO2 capture and compression system. A power reserve is provided for under-frequency events without deloading the plant to part load, by an operating method, in which the power consumption of the CO2 capture system is used to control the net output of the plant. |
| US08321054B2 |
Industrial robot and a method for adjusting a robot program
A method for adjusting a program including program instructions for controlling an industrial robot to carry out work at a plurality of target points on a work object. The robot includes a tool having two arms adapted to clamp the work object and at least one of the arms is arranged movable relative the other arm in an opening and a closing direction, a manipulator adapted to hold the tool or the work object, and a controller controlling the movements of the manipulator and the tool arm and configured to switch between a normal control mode and a compliant control mode in which the manipulator has a reduced stiffness in at least one direction. The method includes moving the manipulator and the tool according to the program instructions until one of the target points is reached. |
| US08321050B2 |
Device for selectively presenting objects
An assembly for selectively presenting objects includes: a frame; a carousel rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation about a generally vertical axis of rotation, the carousel including a plurality of object compartments arranged about the axis of rotation; a servomotor operably connected with the carousel, the servomotor being configured to rotate the carousel about the axis of rotation; and a controller. The controller is configured to actuate the servomotor to rotate the carousel when torque applied to the servomotor exceeds a predetermined magnitude. Such an assembly can serve as a presentation device that enables an operator to remove objects therefrom at his/her convenience. |
| US08321048B1 |
Associating data with workpieces and correlating the data with yield data
A method and apparatus is provided for associating operational data with workpieces and correlating the operational data with yield data. The method comprises processing a workpiece using a processing tool, associating the operational data with the workpiece during the processing of the workpiece and measuring the yield data associated with the processed workpiece. The method further comprises correlating the operational data with the yield data to make one or more determinations. |
| US08321046B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus including a controller connected to a plurality of sub-controllers for controlling a substrate processing, and an operating section having a display unit for showing an operation screen displaying a daily check data for checking utility equipment relating to each part and having a daily check initial parameter file defined in a client type, a presence of an item and unit conversion. The controller is configured to receive the daily check data from a sub-controller, to convert a unit of the received daily check data, and then to transfer the unit-converted daily check data to the operating section, and the operating section is configured to refer to the daily check initial parameter file and to display the daily check data transferred from the controller on the operation screen. |
| US08321043B2 |
Simulation apparatus and program
In a simulation apparatus, a difference data generation part compares a simulation result of an existing sound generator with a simulation result of a virtual sound generator, and generates difference data representing a difference between the simulation result of the existing sound generator and the simulation result of the virtual sound generator. A characteristic correction part corrects a measurement result of the existing sound generator based on the difference data, and generates virtual sound generator prediction data representing the sound generation characteristic of the virtual sound generator according to the corrected measurement result of the existing sound generator. |
| US08321036B2 |
Cardiac rhythm management device
A medical device is disclosed for implantation on an epicardial surface of the heart. The device has a transmural member providing optimal electrode locations for various therapies. The hemodynamically optimal therapy is guided by sensed left ventricular pressure and electrical activity. The device may be used alone or with a companion implanted cardiac rhythm management device. |
| US08321034B2 |
Stimulation electrode lead
An implantable stimulation electrode lead for medical purposes includes a coaxial lead structure with an inner supply lead and an outer supply lead electrically insulated from the inner supply lead, and first and second electrodes which are provided at or near the distal end of the lead structure. The outer supply lead is guided to the first electrode, which is at the tip of the lead structure, and the inner supply lead is guided to the second electrode, which is proximal to the first electrode, such that the electrical connections cross over along the radius of the device. |
| US08321033B2 |
Implantable medical lead having passive lock mechanical body terminations
Disclosed herein is an implantable medical lead configured to receive a stylet. The lead may include a tubular body and a structure. The tubular body may include a distal end and a proximal end. The body may be configured to receive the stylet. The structure longitudinally may extend through the body between the distal end and the proximal end. The structure may be anchored within the body such that a tensile force arising within the body by the stylet being extended through the body causes the tensile force to be substantially carried by the structure. |
| US08321030B2 |
Esophageal activity modulated obesity therapy
Methods and devices for delivering electrical stimulation to the sympathetic nervous system in response to the onset of eating. In some methods, swallowing is detected which then initiates a dose of stimulation which can vary in intensity, frequency, or both over the dose length. In some methods, the dose length is between about one quarter hour and one hour. The dose frequency may increase, hold steady, then decrease over the dose duration so as to mimic the response of the gut stretch and nutrient receptors to receiving food. The dose can drive biomarkers indicative of eating, for example glucagon, glucose, FFA or glycerol to at least about half of their normal post eating levels and then stop so as to retain stimulation effectiveness for subsequent doses and to prolong battery life. |
| US08321027B2 |
Transcutaneous power supply with optimal positioning for use with active implantable devices
The transcutaneous power supply and/or recharger device of the present invention enables a precise centering of the device with a receiver coil in an implant. In one embodiment, the power supply device includes a plurality of satellite sensors or coils disposed around the transmitter coil. A voltage value detected in the receiver coil is transmitted to the power supply or recharger device via a telemetric channel and indicates the amount of power being transferred, and, therefore, the accuracy of the reciprocal positioning of the power supply terminal with the receiver coil. |
| US08321025B2 |
Lead and methods for brain monitoring and modulation
An apparatus, a system and methods for modulating and monitoring tissue have an elongate member with proximal and distal ends and a plurality of annular stimulating electrodes axially arranged along the elongate member. The stimulating electrodes are disposed near the distal end and are adapted to pass current into tissue. At least one of the annular stimulating electrodes has at least three independent stimulation points on the electrode. The apparatus also includes a plurality of recording electrodes that are adapted to measure local tissue potentials and a plurality of conductors are coupled with the recording and stimulating electrodes. An optional multiple contact connecting terminal may be coupled with the conductors and is disposed near the proximal end of the elongate member. |
| US08321024B2 |
Devices and methods for treatment of heart failure and associated conditions
Devices and methods of use identification, treatment, and/or management of heart failure and/or associated conditions. Methods may include providing a baroreflex therapy system including a blood pressure sensor and a heart rate sensor, providing an implantable measurement device proximate a blood vessel of a patient, the implantable measurement device including an electrode, providing a control system coupled to the baroreflex therapy system and the implantable measurement device, the control system programmed to automatically determine an impedance of the blood vessel with the implantable measurement device over a time period of at least one cardiac cycle, determine arterial stiffness of the blood vessel based on the impedance, determine blood pressure and heart rate, and activate, deactivate or otherwise modulate the baroreflex therapy system to deliver a baroreflex therapy based on the blood pressure, heart rate and arterial stiffness. |
| US08321022B2 |
Adaptive therapy for disordered breathing
An approach to providing disordered breathing therapy includes detecting disordered breathing and adapting a therapy to mitigate the disordered breathing. The therapy may be adapted to enhance therapy effectiveness, to provide therapy that reduces an impact of the therapy on the patient, or to achieve other therapeutic goals. Cardiac electrical therapy to mitigate the disordered breathing may include various cardiac pacing regimens and/or delivery of non-excitatory electrical stimulation to the heart. |
| US08321020B1 |
System and method for detecting and correcting atrial undersensing
A method for operating an implantable medical device includes delivering a plurality of pacing pulses to an atria of a patient's heart and monitoring intrinsic atrial activity to detect intrinsic atrial contractions between one or more of the plurality of pacing pulses. The method further includes detecting atrial undersensing as a function of the detection of intrinsic atrial contractions. |
| US08321019B2 |
Apparatus and method for ensuring safe operation of a thermal treatment catheter
A working end of a catheter includes at least one therapeutic element, such as a resistive heating element, usable to deliver energy for ligating, or reducing the diameter of, a hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, the catheter includes a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery. In certain embodiments, a balloon is inflated to place resistive element(s) into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure and to occlude the structure. Indexing devices and methods are also disclosed for successively treating portions of the hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, marks along the catheter shaft provide visual verification to the physician of the relative position of the therapeutic element of the catheter. Embodiments of indexing devices may include pairs of rings and/or hinged arms that move a catheter a desired indexed position between successive treatments. |
| US08321017B2 |
Electromechanical delay (EMD) monitoring devices, systems and methods
Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, enable the monitoring of a patient's electromechanical delay (EMD) and arterial blood pressure. Paced cardiac events are caused by delivering sufficient pacing stimulation to cause capture. A cardiogenic impedance (CI) signal, indicative of cardiac contractile activity in response to the pacing stimulation being delivered, is obtained. One or more predetermined features of the CI signal are detected, and a value indicative of the patient's EMD is determined by determining a time between a delivered pacing stimulation and at least one of the detected one or more features of the CI signal. The value indicative of EMD can be used to more accurately determine metrics indicative of pulse arrival time (PAT), which can be used to estimate arterial blood pressure. |
| US08321014B2 |
Dynamic cardiac resynchronization therapy by tracking intrinsic conduction
Systems and methods for pacing the heart using resynchronization pacing delays that achieve improvement of cardiac function are described. An early activation pacing interval is calculated based on an optimal AV delay and an atrial to early ventricular activation interval between an atrial event and early activation of a ventricular depolarization. The early activation pacing interval for the ventricle is calculated by subtracting the measured AVEA from the calculated optimal AV delay. The early activation pacing interval is initiated responsive to sensing early activation of the ventricle and pacing is delivered relative to expiration of the early activation pacing interval. |
| US08321012B2 |
Device, method, and system for neural modulation as vaccine adjuvant in a vertebrate subject
A method for enhancing an immune response in a vertebrate subject is described. The method includes providing at least one energy stimulus configured to modulate one or more nervous system components of the vertebrate subject, and administering one or more immunogen to the vertebrate subject, wherein the at least one energy stimulus and the one or more immunogen are provided in a combination and in a temporal sequence sufficient to enhance an immune response in the vertebrate subject. |
| US08321010B2 |
Method for determining the condition of a biological object and device for making same
The invention relates to the field of instrumentation and can be used for diagnosing the condition of a biological object. The technical result consists in an increased measurement precision. In order to achieve this result, the invention comprises determining the condition of a biological object on the basis of fixation and comparison of the structures of gas-discharge light emission around the reference object and the biological object under study in an electromagnetic field. The light emissions around the reference object and the biological object under study are converted into digital code. The invention comprises determining the quantitative parameters of the light emission and the characteristics thereof. The invention also comprises determining corresponding spatial points of specified parameters for the reference object and the biological object under study. The invention further comprises determining the deviation of quantitative parameters that characterize the condition of the biological object under study by means of the distance between said points. The reference object is implemented as a non-biological material. The invention also comprises carrying out the fixation of the structure of gas-discharge light emission around the reference object and determining the relative deviation thereof from an average value. |
| US08321002B2 |
Arrhythmia discrimination using ECG's sensed from multiple implanted electrodes
Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems provide for monitoring, diagnosing, defibrillation and pacing therapies, or a combination of these capabilities, including cardiac systems incorporating or cooperating with neuro-stimulating devices, drug pumps, or other therapies. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to implantable medical devices employing automated cardiac activation sequence monitoring and/or tracking for arrhythmia discrimination. Embodiments of the invention are directed to devices and methods involving sensing a plurality of composite cardiac signals using a plurality of implantable electrodes. A source separation is performed using the sensed plurality of composite cardiac signals and the separation produces one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with one or more cardiac activation sequences that is indicative of ischemia. A change of the one or more cardiac signal vectors is detected using the one or more cardiac signal vectors. Cardiac arrhythmias are discriminated using the one or more cardiac signal vectors. |
| US08321001B2 |
Implantable P-wave dispersion detector
An electromedical implant, having a far-field electrocardiogram capturing unit for recording a far-field electrocardiogram signal, which is connected or can be connected to at least two electrodes for recording electric signals reflecting the curve of the far-field electrocardiogram of the right and left atria, a detection unit, which is designed to detect signal features characterizing atrial cardiac actions in an electrocardiogram signal, an averaging unit, which is connected to the recording unit and the detection unit and designed to generate an averaged P-wave signal in that the averaging unit averages a plurality of signal sections of the electrocardiogram signal associated with a particular detected atrial cardiac action, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the averaging unit and designed to determine the duration of an averaged P-wave in the particular averaged P-wave signal. |
| US08320993B2 |
Subcutaneous cavity marking device
These are subcutaneous cavity marking devices and methods. More particularly, upon insertion into a body, the cavity marking device and method enable one to determine the center, orientation, and periphery of the cavity by radiographic, mammographic, echogenic, or other non-invasive imaging techniques. Also, the device contains a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker. The device may be combined with various substances enhancing the radiopaque, mammographic, or echogenic characteristics of the marker or the body allowing it to be observed by any non-invasive imaging techniques. This is further a method of marking a subcutaneous cavity using a bioabsorbable material and a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker in conjunction with the material. The method also may combine any of the features as described with the device. |
| US08320992B2 |
Method and system for superimposing three dimensional medical information on a three dimensional image
A system for video based registration between images during a skeletal medical procedure includes a stereoscopic camera, a two dimensional image detector and a registration processor. The camera is associated with a stereoscopic coordinate system, the camera acquires a stereoscopic image pair of fiducial marks fixed onto a skeletal structure. Fiducial representations of the fiducial marks appear on the stereoscopic image pair, and a skeletal representation of the skeletal structure appears on two different 2D images. The registration processor registers a stereoscopic coordinate system with a 3D coordinate system associated with a volumetric image detector, and superimposes 3D information on at least one volumetric image. The registration processor registers the stereoscopic coordinate system with the 3D coordinate system by registering the stereoscopic coordinate system with the 2D coordinate system and by registering the 2D coordinate system with the 3D coordinate system. |
| US08320991B2 |
Portable electromagnetic navigation system
A portable system can be provided that works with a surgical navigation system. The portable system can control a localizer to assist in the tracking of a tracking device. The portable system can be provided to be substantially carried by a single user form one location to another. Further, various digital control components can be provided to assist in miniaturization, robustness, and the like. |
| US08320989B2 |
Region of interest methods and systems for ultrasound imaging
A region of interest is identified by user selection of a single point. Multiple regions of interest may be identified by selection of multiple points. Region growing is then used to define the boundary of the region of interest. |
| US08320988B2 |
Multi-electrode strung on a common connector
A medical electrode includes a moderately conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side with a plurality of highly conductive patterns disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side in a spaced apart relationship. A moderately highly conductive layer disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side and covering the conductive patterns, for adhering the electrode to a patient's skin. A connector is provided for establishing electrical contact with an external apparatus. The connector includes a leadwire having conductive portions in electrical communication with the conductive patterns and non-conductive portions between the conductive patterns. Control over conductivity between the leadwire conductive portion and the conductive pattern is provided. |
| US08320987B2 |
Electric potential mapping and electrode attachment device with continuous electric signal monitoring and method
Electric potential mapping and electrode attachment device comprises: a main cylinder; a center piece having a center piece passage for receiving a catheter with its electrode running from a center piece inlet to a center piece outlet; a cylinder cap for closing main cylinder; a second cylinder which fits inside of and is allowed to rotate relative to main cylinder; and at least two electromechanical connections used to connect the device to at least two connectors on an electrode lead, where the device facilitates rotation and movement of each connector relative to the other while retaining continuous electrical connection with heart tissue or other body cavity tissue. The device offers continuous recording of electrical potentials of a body cavity during full rotation of collars, connectors, or connections on a laparoscopic device during HIS bundle mapping, pacemaker electrode anchoring, post anchoring, pacemaker programming, and afterwards. |
| US08320985B2 |
Touch screen interfaces with pulse oximetry
Examples of touch screen interfaces with pulse oximetry are generally described, along with examples of methods of determining pulse rate, blood oxygen level, or both, with a touch screen interface. |
| US08320984B2 |
Optical sensor for medical device
An optical sensor for a medical device includes a fixed lens spacing between emit and receive modules to achieve target sensor sensitivity, while varying other sensor parameters in order to increase signal amplitude without increasing power demand. The size of at least one of emit and receive module lenses of an optical sensor, and the offset between the opto-electronic component and the respective lens of at least one of emit and receive modules is decreased to increase amplitude of the signal received by the receive module from the emit module. |
| US08320983B2 |
Controlling transfer of objects affecting optical characteristics
An implantable product such as an article, device, or system can include analyte and non-analyte containers in parts that can be operated as optical cavities. The product can also include fluidic components such as filter assemblies that control transfer of objects that affect or shift spectrum features or characteristics such as by shifting transmission mode peaks or reflection mode valleys, shifting phase, reducing maxima or contrast, or increasing intermediate intensity width such as full width half maximum (FWHM). Analyte, e.g. glucose molecules, can be predominantly included in a set of objects that transfer more rapidly into the analyte container than other objects, and can have a negligible or zero rate of transfer into the non-analyte container; objects that transfer more rapidly into the non-analyte container can include objects smaller than the analyte or molecules of a set of selected types, including, e.g., sodium chloride. Output light from the containers accordingly includes information about analyte. |
| US08320982B2 |
Multi-wavelength optical devices and methods of using same
Multi-wavelength optical apparatus includes an optical emitter, and an energy transition layer positioned adjacent to the optical emitter. The energy transition layer generates multi-wavelength electromagnetic radiation when monochromatic light from the optical emitter passes therethrough. The energy transition layer includes a plurality of luminescent films, and each film is configured to luminesce at a respective different wavelength range when monochromatic light from the optical emitter passes therethrough. The plurality of luminescent films may be arranged in contacting face-to-face relationship or may be arranged in an array. The luminescent films may include rare-earth doped oxides, phosphors, metal-doped oxides, rare-earth doped nitrides, nanostructures, and/or nanostructured films, etc. The optical emitter may be a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode (LD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a resonant cavity light emitting diode (RCLED), and/or an edge-emitting diode (EELED). |
| US08320979B2 |
Water-shielding type mobile terminal apparatus
The mobile terminal apparatus of the present invention includes a housing having an opening section in which an accommodated object is fitted; a lid covering the opening section, the lid having a protrusion which surrounds the opening section and shields the accommodated object from water, on a surface facing the accommodated object; and a cover covering the lid, the cover being attached to the housing to press the lid onto the housing. When the cover is attached to the housing, the protrusion of the lid surrounds the opening section and is pressed onto the housing by the cover, so that the accommodated object can be reliably shielded from water. |
| US08320977B2 |
Uplink power control in aggregated spectrum systems
A method for communication includes modulating data in a wireless communication terminal to produce an aggregated-spectrum signal, which includes at least first and second signals in respective first and second spectral bands. The modulated data is transmitted in the first and second signals at respective first and second power levels. The second power level is adjusted separately from the first power level. In some embodiments, one or more instructions to set the first power level are received at the wireless communication terminal, and the first power level is set separately from setting the second power level based on the instructions. |
| US08320974B2 |
Decisions on ambient noise suppression in a mobile communications handset device
A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08320972B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method of connecting call thereof
A mobile communication terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to receive a call; a touch screen display configured to display indication information that the call is being received and to display a first soft touch item and a second soft touch item on the touch screen display when the call is being received; and a control unit configured to connect the call being received if the first soft touch item is selected, and to control the touch screen display to continue to display the indication information indicating that the call is being received if the second soft touch item is selected. |
| US08320970B2 |
Mobile device display management
The display of a mobile device is managed during a voice communication session using a proximity sensor and an accelerometer. In one example, the display of a mobile device is turned off during a phone call on the mobile device when a proximity sensor detects an object is proximate the device and an accelerometer determines the device is in a first orientation. |
| US08320969B2 |
Communication device, communication control method and communication system
There is provided a communication device including: a first radio communication unit capable of radio communication in accordance with a first communication method; and a second radio communication unit capable of radio communication in accordance with a second communication method using a higher frequency band than the first communication method, wherein the first radio communication unit transmits an instruction signal instructing to learn a beam directionality to another communication device, and the second radio communication unit transmits a beam reference signal used for learning a beam directionality to said another communication device after completion of transmission of the instruction signal by the first radio communication unit and before reception of a response signal to the instruction signal. |
| US08320967B2 |
User location based switching between diversity and multiplexing
Multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver increase the capacity in a wireless communication system. Received signal quality can be enhanced through diversity by transmitting the same symbol on multiple antennas. Data rate can be increased through multiplexing by transmitting different symbols on the transmitting antennas. Operating in one particular mode only is generally not suitable. Choosing diversity or multiplexing by taking into account the location of a user can enhance both throughput and reliability. |
| US08320965B2 |
Apparatus and method for saving power of femto base station in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for transiting an operation mode of a femto base station in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes, in a sleep mode, confirming whether operation transition request information is received from at least one terminal; and when receiving the operation transition request information from the terminal, entering an active mode. Thus, the power consumption of the femto base station can be reduced and the interference caused by the operation of the femto base station can be mitigated. |
| US08320963B2 |
Subscriber identity module card and terminal device having the same
A subscriber identity module (SIM) card to be mounted to a terminal device that includes a SIM interface unit, the SIM card including: a first terminal to output a control signal indicating that the SIM card is mounted to the terminal device when the SIM card is mounted to the terminal device; and a second terminal to receive the control signal from the first terminal, and to transmit, to the SIM interface unit, the control signal when the SIM card is mounted to the terminal device. |
| US08320960B2 |
Docking station and computer system using the docking station
A docking station includes a casing, a socket and a plurality of peripheral interface devices. The casing includes a base and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotingly disposed on the base, openably and coverably, to form an appearance of a notebook computer. The socket is formed in a surface of the base for receiving a mobile communication device, and a high speed transmission interface is formed in a bottom of the socket. The plurality of peripheral interface devices is disposed on the casing and electrically connected with the high speed transmission interface. When the mobile communication device is placed in the socket, the mobile communication device is electrically connected with the high speed transmission interface and transmits signals with the plurality of peripheral interface devices. Basing on the structure, the present invention can ensure that mobile communication devices are convenient for operation. |
| US08320956B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing manual selection of a communication network for a mobile station
Methods and apparatus for providing manual selection of a communication network for a mobile station are described. A plurality of communication networks are identified by scanning a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating. A plurality of network identifiers corresponding to the plurality of communication networks are then retrieved from memory of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in accordance with an Enhanced Operator Name String (EONS) protocol. Preferably, each network identifier is retrieved based on a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), and a Location Area Code (LAC). The plurality of network identifiers are visually displayed for user selection, and at least two of the network identifiers may be substantially the same. The user selected communication network is registered with and the network identifier associated with this network is visually displayed. |
| US08320946B2 |
Mobile user terminal, mobile communication system, base station, and communication method
A mobile user terminal includes a receiver which receives a signal, and a processor which measures downlink channel quality based on the signal and does not transmit downlink channel quality information and an uplink pilot signal simultaneously at a period which the mobile user terminal is a state of transmission off in an intermittent fashion. |
| US08320941B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for displaying data added location information
A mobile terminal has a current-location information acquisition unit configured to acquire current-location information indicating a current location of the mobile terminal, a direction information acquisition unit configured to acquire direction information indicating a direction of orientation of the mobile terminal, a storage unit configured to store data added location information, a search unit configured to search for at least one of the data having the location information that is located in the direction from the current location of the mobile terminal and that falls within a predetermined range around the direction based on the current-location information and the direction information, and a display control unit configured to cause the retrieved data to be displayed. |
| US08320934B2 |
Dynamic location almanac for wireless base stations
A system and method of dynamically updating an almanac of base stations with wireless phones that are controlled by end users. First, second, and third location information are received respectfully from a first, second, and third wireless phones. A position of each wireless device is known. The distance between each wireless device an uncooperative base station is determined while accounting for an uncertainty factor. A location of the uncooperative base station is calculated using the first, second, and third location information and the distances. The almanac is updated with the location. |
| US08320932B2 |
Method and system of utilizing a context vector and method and system of utilizing a context vector and database for location applications
A system (100) and method (300) of using a context vector and database (202) for location applications can include a transceiver (104), a plurality of environmental sensors (114, 116, 118, 120, 121) including at least two location technology devices (110, 112), and a processor (102) coupled to the transceiver and the plurality of environmental sensors. The processor can be programmed to sense (302) an environmental condition for a given location, define (310) a context vector for the given location, detect (312) a context transition corresponding to a change in the environmental condition, and modify (314) an operation of the at least two location technology devices based on the context transition detected. The processor can be further programmed to form (320) a new context vector based on the context transition and attempt to match the new context vector with a pre-stored context vector. |
| US08320930B2 |
Systems and methods for intelligent discard in a communication network
Systems and methods for optimizing system performance of capacity and spectrum constrained, multiple-access communication systems by selectively discarding packets are provided. The systems and methods provided herein can drive changes in the communication system using control responses. One such control responses includes the optimal discard (also referred to herein as “intelligent discard”) of network packets under capacity constrained conditions. Some embodiments provide an interactive response by selectively discarding packets to enhance perceived and actual system throughput, other embodiments provide a reactive response by selectively discarding data packets based on their relative impact to service quality to mitigate oversubscription, others provide a proactive response by discarding packets based on predicted oversubscription, and others provide a combination thereof. |
| US08320926B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system that enable the allocation of resources to UEs based on measurements of their antenna polarization, in order to suppress the interference between different UEs at a very low overhead cost. This is achieved by a solution where the scheduling unit retrieves information about the polarization of the UE antenna configurations, and based on this information allocates radio resources to the different UEs, with the aim to minimize the interference. The scheduling unit may retrieve the information from the RBSs or from the UEs. The RBS and the UE will determine the polarization and transmit information regarding this polarization to the scheduling unit. The scheduling unit coordinates the allocation of resources with other scheduling units if necessary. |
| US08320917B2 |
Mobile terminal, communication system including communication server base station, communication method in the communication system and base station
A communication method in a communication system, wherein the communication system includes a mobile terminal, a communication server that distributes data to the mobile terminal, and plural base stations that are capable of relaying the data, and one of the base stations among the plural base stations is responsible for relaying the data. The communication method includes transmitting, to the communication server, restriction instruction information to restrict a data transmission rate, by a first base station that is responsible for relaying the data among the plural base stations, and hand-overing, by the first base station, causing a second base station different from the first base station to take over the responsibility of relaying. |
| US08320916B2 |
Method and apparatus for pre-fetching data in a mobile network environment using edge data storage
A method and apparatus in which a mobile network advantageously communicates data requests to neighboring data stores so that they may pre-fetch the data. In particular, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol is advantageously established whereby a local data store in a mobile network notifies neighboring data stores of data requests, and whereby the neighboring data stores advantageously pre-fetch the data that may be required, thereby advantageously avoiding cascading cache misses. Such notifications may advantageously reduce the number of cache misses, which in turn may advantageously reduce the latency to download data as the user moves around within the mobile network and changes data sources. Specifically, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol for communicating data requests between local storage centers in a network supporting mobile users is provided. |
| US08320914B2 |
Voice channel data connection retry strategy
A system and method for making vehicle originated calls to a telematics service provider or other call center. The method includes identifying a call type associated with a desired wireless communication of speech or data to the call center, and then carrying out one of a number of different call connection processes depending on the call type. For voice channel cellular connections, an in-band modem cellular connection is preferably established in most instances using a connection retry strategy that includes primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary connection attempts. The system and method can be carried out in connection with various cellular system technologies, but is especially suited for use with GSM systems. |
| US08320899B2 |
Installation notification method, installation notification system, and installation notification server
A mobile terminal is notified of information indicating that an operator pack or the like is downloadable, without need for a user of the mobile terminal to perform any active operation and without need for the mobile terminal to be preliminarily equipped with an extra function for automatic installation. An installation notification system 10 of the present invention includes a mobile terminal 50 and an installation notification server 60 and is provided with an operator pack presence determining unit 15 configured to determine whether an operator pack is present in the mobile terminal 50, based on originating data sent from the mobile terminal 50, and an installation notifying unit 18 configured to notify the mobile terminal 50 of installable information indicating that the operator pack is installable, when the operator pack presence determining unit 15 determines that the operator pack is absent. |
| US08320894B1 |
Employing multiple mobile devices with varying functional capabilities
Communications over a network are selectively routed to one of multiple mobile devices identified by the same mobile device number. In one example, a method includes identifying a first mobile phone associated with a first activation priority by a phone number and identifying a second mobile phone associated with a second activation priority by the same phone number. The activation priority indicates a priority with which the first and the second mobile phones are activated for communications on a network. Communications associated with the phone number are selectively routed to one of the first mobile phone or the second mobile phone having a highest activation priority. The phone number defines an address at which the communications are routed to the one of the first mobile phone or the second mobile phone having the highest activation priority without being routed to an intervening address defined by another device number. |
| US08320893B2 |
Method and system for conference calling with vehicle occupant
The disclosed system and method provide a mechanism for facilitating a conference call between a telematics subscriber and third parties through a call center. In one aspect, vehicle data may be uploaded data from the telematics unit while maintaining the conference call. The uploaded data may contain GPS location of the vehicle to assist a requester in locating and assisting the vehicle occupant. |
| US08320890B2 |
Interrupting and resuming a media player
In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes playing a content file with a media player on a cellular telephone. Also, the method includes receiving an interrupt event. Moreover, the method includes saving state of the media player on the cellular telephone in the media player. |
| US08320888B2 |
Method and system for delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber using cellular phone network
A method and system of the present invention delivers a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in the subscriber mailbox. The voice mail system cellular phone network. The voice mail notification typically includes the calling party number and the name of the calling party if available, and an index. This is forwarded through the cellular phone network to the subscriber to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox. Subscribers can retrieve a specific message from the Voice Mail System. |
| US08320887B2 |
Mobile communication apparatus and method for alerting users by light sources with time-varying illuminative effects
An apparatus, including: a light source; a controller configured, in response to the occurrence of a first event involving the apparatus, to control the light source to produce a first, time-varying, illuminative effect that varies between maxima and minima of illumination intensity over a period of time following the occurrence of the first event, wherein the variation in the first illuminative effect is indicative to a user that the first event has occurred; and the controller being further configured, in response to the occurrence of a second event involving the apparatus, to control the light source to produce a second, time-varying, illuminative effect that varies between maxima and minima of illumination intensity over a period of time following the occurrence of the second event, wherein the variation in the second illuminative effect is indicative to a user that the second event has occurred. |
| US08320885B2 |
Methods that communicate via transferjet and NFC transmitter and receiver pairing
An electronic communication device includes a high-rate RF wireless transmitter circuit (e.g., a TransferJet transmitter circuit) and a low-rate magnetically coupled receiver circuit (e.g., a Near Field Communication receiver circuit). The high-rate RF wireless transmitter circuit transmits a block of data to another proximately located communication device via RF signals using a first RF communication protocol. The low-rate magnetically coupled receiver circuit receives a communication control signal from the other proximately located communication device via magnetic coupling thereto using a second protocol that is different from the first RF communication protocol, and responds to the communication control signal by selectively triggering the high-rate RF wireless transmitter circuit to transmit another block of data when available for transmission. |
| US08320883B2 |
Method to dynamically authenticate and control mobile devices
The present invention provides a secure, dynamic and customizable system and method for authenticating a mobile device in a wireless network, in accordance with the security policies associated with the wireless network. The system and method involve a trusted authentication and device management application stored on the SIM card of the mobile device in a memory space that is protected and only accessible by the network operator. Moreover, authentication is based, at least in part, on information that relates to the environment of the mobile device, the information being available to the authentication application through the operating system of the mobile device. |
| US08320882B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing obfuscated mobile device user identities
A mobile device identifier (such as an MSISDN) that typically accompanies a mobile device request is replaced with an “enriched” identifier that exposes the mobile device user's home operator but obfuscates the mobile device's (and, thus, the device user's) identity. In one embodiment, the identifier comprises a first part, and a second part. The first part comprises a data string that identifies (either directly or through a database lookup) the mobile device user's home operator. The second part, however, is an opaque data string, such as a one-time-use unique identifier (UID) or a value that is otherwise derived as a function of the MSISDN (or the like). The opaque data string encodes the mobile device's identity in a manner that preferably can be recovered only by the user's home operator. The present invention describes a method and apparatus for use in a home network to manage the generation, storage and use of the unique identifiers. |
| US08320881B2 |
Proximity based security protocol for processor-based systems
A security protocol may be implemented on a processor-based system by providing a wireless signal to a handheld device normally carried by the user. If a response is not received, it may be determined that the user is not sufficiently proximate to the device being accessed and that, therefore, the person accessing the device is not authorized. An appropriate security protocol may be implemented as a result. |
| US08320878B2 |
Charging system for a communication system
A communication system comprises network elements (103, 105, 107, 109) and user equipments (101), at least some of which comprise a charging proxy (205). The system further comprises a charging server (111) which includes a topic controller (305) for initializing charging topics where each charging topic is associable with charging data. The charging server (111) furthermore comprises functionality for registering proxies as subscribing proxies or publishing proxies (or both) for the different charging topics. A receiver (301, 311) receives charging data messages from charging proxies and validates a first set of charging data belonging to a first charging topic in response to a first set of charging proxies registered as publishing proxies for the first charging topic. A charging data transmitter (313) transmits the first set of charging data to a second set of charging proxies registered as subscribing proxies for the first charging topic. |
| US08320877B2 |
Method and system for 60 GHz location determination and coordination of WLAN/WPAN/GPS multimode devices
Within a local region, information may be communicated between two or more wireless multimode communication devices (WMCD) comprising 60 GHz band and lower frequency band wireless interfaces. Spatial relationships between devices may vary. The 60 GHz interface may handle location determination operations and data transfers. The lower frequency band may support WPAN, WLAN and may handle coordination of communications and data transfers. The WMCDs may be coupled with a network. Antennas may be directional. Moreover, the spatial orientation of the antennas may be dynamically modified or swept across a specified angle. Furthermore, intelligent and/or adaptive antenna systems may be utilized. The WMCDs may utilize a position and/or time reference system to aid in location determination operations. |
| US08320873B2 |
System and method for the definition and scope of commercial mobile alerts
An emergency alert gateway configured for receiving an emergency alert message wherein the alert message includes a text message and one of an audio message, a video message, an audio-video message and a multi-media message; storing an audio, video or multimedia portion of the alert message to form a first stored portion and for determining a subscriber base to receive the alert message. There is a database in communication with the alert gateway and an emergency alert server configured to broadcast the alert message to the subscriber base, and if the first stored portion of the alert message is not available, then broadcasting only the text message as the alert message. |
| US08320871B2 |
Emergency data message router database
A system and method for providing information associated with public safety answering points may include storing a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record may include (i) an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications, (ii) at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites in which the associated PSAP services, and (iii) at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types. In response to receiving a request, a PSAP local to a wireless communications device of a user who sent an emergency data message may be identified, and a network address associated with the identified local PSAP may be provided. |
| US08320865B2 |
WCDMA AGC receiver SNR adjustment and signalling
The present invention relates to a method, an Automatic Gain Control control unit and a receiver for Noise change output signalling. It also relates to an Adjustment Unit, a receiver and a base band detector for adjustment of an Automatic Gain Control output signal on the basis of the Noise change output signalling. In a first step a receiver receives a communication input signal. In a second step at least one Automatic Gain Control attenuator or amplifier in the receiver attenuates the communication input signal. In a third step the receiver produces at least one AGC output signal. In a fourth step at least one AGC control unit in the receiver initiates a changed gain setting on the receiver, when the level of an AGC control unit input signal received by the unit has been below a first threshold level or above a second threshold level during a detection interval. |
| US08320863B2 |
Rotating harmonic rejection mixer
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a mixer circuit to receive and generate a mixed signal from a radio frequency (RF) signal and a master clock signal, a switch stage coupled to an output of the mixer circuit to rotatingly switch the mixed signal to multiple gain stages coupled to the switch stage, and a combiner to combine an output of the gain stages. |
| US08320860B1 |
Clean spot detection for FM transmission
Methods and apparatuses for quiet spot detection for radio frequency transmission thereon. According to various embodiments, a device may include a local receiver configured to evaluate one or more frequencies of a frequency band to determine a quiet spot frequency, the device further including a local transmitter configured to transmit signals at the quiet spot frequency. |
| US08320859B2 |
Method of controlling a plurality of internal antennas in a mobile communication device
In one embodiment, a mobile communication device comprises a plurality of antennas, the antennas operable in at least one frequency band, is operable to automatically optimize the best antenna or antenna combination in reaction to the mobile communication device's immediate environment. The antennas are disposed substantially coplanar and have varying degrees of polarity. The mobile communication device further comprises logic structure for determining which of the antennas are optimal for operation of the mobile communication device and logic structure for selecting the optimal antenna for operation of the mobile communication device. |
| US08320858B2 |
Apparatus for receiving multiple independent RF signals simultaneously and method thereof
An apparatus and method for receiving and processing multiple independent, uncorrelated RF signals is presented. The apparatus includes a Hybrid-Direct Conversion Receiver incorporating front end branches, protocol-specific digital processing branches, an interference detector, a correlator, and an offset control for controlling oscillator sources. The front end branches each contain a preselector that filters received signals and a mixer that down converts the received signal to an IF offset from a reference frequency by a unique offset. The bandwidth of an IF processor is partitioned into sub-channels corresponding to the different offsets and is wider than the combination of the sub-channels. The interference detector and correlator determine whether a particular desired signal is degraded by interference signals and select a new sub-channel. This information is provided to the offset control, which adjusts a LO source coupled to the corresponding down mixer accordingly. |
| US08320854B2 |
Semiconductor device for signal amplification
A semiconductor device for transmitting-signal amplification which has a fine resolution, a high dynamic range, a small occupied area, and low power consumption, is realized. An input signal amplitude is reduced every one half by a ladder network, and a transconductance amplifier stage is arranged corresponding to each node of the ladder network. An output of the transconductance amplifier stage is coupled to an output signal line in common. According to a control word WC<21:0>, the transconductance amplifier stage is enabled selectively, and the output current which appears in the output signal line is added. |
| US08320852B2 |
Method and apparatus to transmit signals in a communication system
A method is provided to transmit a signal by a transmitter in a communication system. The method includes predicting a receiver noise signal received from a receiver, and increasing an intelligibility of a transmitter signal using the receiver noise signal. The transmitter signal includes a transmitter noise signal and a transmitter speech signal. The transmitter cancels the transmitter noise signal from the transmitter signal and intensifies the transmitter speech signal in consideration of the receiver noise signal. |
| US08320848B2 |
Method and system for diversity processing including using dedicated pilot method for open loop
Methods and systems for diversity processing including using dedicated pilot method for open loop may include combining a plurality of received WCDMA/HSDPA multipath signals for each diversity transmit antenna to at least one processed diversity signal. The received WCDMA/HSDPA multipath signals may originate from diversity transmit antennas at a base station that may be transmitting information via a closed loop or open loop diversity transmission mode. Open loop symbols may be estimated using information from at least one common pilot channel. At least a portion of the at least one processed diversity signal may be despread from the at least one common pilot channel. |
| US08320845B2 |
Radio transmitter
A radio transmitter includes a transmitter circuit which produces a signal at a first frequency, and has digital divider circuitry, for dividing the first frequency to produce a signal at a second frequency. The noise performance of the digital divider is adjusted, depending upon the transmitter output power. Specifically, the digital divider is operated with a relatively good noise performance when the gain of the power amplifier is high, and is operated with a worse noise performance at low output powers. This can ensure that a specified noise requirement is met, without excessively increasing the power consumption or the size of the device. |
| US08320842B2 |
Apparatus method and computer program for radio-frequency path selection and tuning
An apparatus includes a tunable diplexer; first, second and third radio nodes; and path selection circuitry. The tunable diplexer includes a dedicated port, at least a first signal port and a second signal port, and control inputs configured to change at least one of frequency characteristics and phase characteristics of the tunable diplexer. The path selection circuitry is configurable to select between a first signal pathway between the third radio node and the first signal port and a second signal pathway between the third radio node and the second signal port. The tunable diplexer may have control signals inputs to select between the first and second signal pathways based on an expected interference scenario between radio signals at the first and second signal ports, and the control signals may change frequency characteristics and/or phase characteristics of at least one of the signal ports based on an operational condition of the apparatus. |
| US08320841B2 |
Active power meter
An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefore include circuitry for generating and power amplifying an outgoing RF signal to produce a power amplified outgoing signal, conducting the power amplified outgoing signal down a transmission path that is disposed substantially parallel to a directional coupler formed on a metallization layer of the integrated circuit, producing a sensed signal level sensed in the directional coupler to a power detector and determining the forward output power based upon the sensed signal level. |
| US08320840B2 |
Method and system for diversity using orthogonal frequency/division multiplexing
A method and system for achieving a link budget improvement in a diverse OFDM radio system by addressing the timing misalignment issue that can occur due to the differences in propagation time in signals between mobile stations and Radio Access Nodes. Timing misalignment is shared or split between the primary path to a primary Radio Access Node and a diverse path to a diverse Radio Access Node. The relative timing offsets between mobile stations are adjusted, the mobile stations are grouped into zones using a variety of different grouping techniques, and the transmission for each mobile station is scheduled, using one or more of a variety of scheduling techniques. |
| US08320836B2 |
Radio communications system and radio communications method
A radio communications system including a network connecting radio station and a counterparty radio station is disclosed, the network connecting radio station being a radio station connected to a network and the counterparty radio station being in radio communications with the network connecting radio station. In the system, the network connecting radio station includes an information obtaining unit; an information reporting unit; and a radio resource parameter determining unit. The counterparty radio station includes a waveform information extracting unit which calculates a measured value, for each of one or more waveform feature amounts reported from the network connecting radio station; and a received status reporting unit which reports, to the network connecting radio station, the measured value of the waveform feature amount calculated at the waveform information extracting unit. |
| US08320835B2 |
Method and device for determining channel feedback information in LTE system
A method and a device for determining channel feedback information in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system are provided. The method includes: obtaining an (N−1)th layer interference-plus-noise matrix in an LTE system, and obtaining an Nth layer interference-plus-noise matrix according to the (N−1)th layer interference-plus-noise matrix; and then, calculating a Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) corresponding to the Nth layer interference-plus-noise matrix according to the Nth layer interference-plus-noise matrix, and determining channel feedback information according to the SINR. It can be seen that, in the embodiments of the present invention, in a processing manner, a current layer interference-plus-noise matrix is calculated according to an obtained previous layer interference-plus-noise matrix through calculation in a calculation process of the channel feedback information, thus effectively reducing the calculation amount in the calculation process of the channel feedback information. |
| US08320832B2 |
Wireless audio output device, wireless audio output system including the same and control method thereof
A wireless audio output device, a wireless audio output system including the same and a control method thereof are disclosed. When a user approaches the output device, while listening to music on a portable device, the output device automatically connects the wireless audio output system to the portable device, to reproduce the music of the portable device. The control method includes detecting the user, detecting the portable device if the user is sensed, and outputting an audio file being reproduced by the portable device using the wireless audio output system, if the portable device is detected. |
| US08320822B2 |
Method and system for single chip satellite set-top box system
A system for processing signals includes a single integrated circuit chip that includes one or more circuits, the one or more circuits including a first receiver demodulator and a second receiver demodulator. The one or more circuits are operable to: control access to information received by one or both of the first demodulator and/or the second receiver demodulator utilizing at least one secure key stored in on-chip memory within the single integrated circuit chip; and generate an audio stream and a video stream based on one or both of the information received by the first receiver demodulator and/or the information received by the second receiver demodulator. The one or more circuits include one or more video decoders, one or more video and graphics display engines coupled to the one or more video decoders; and one or more video encoders coupled to the one or more video and graphics display engines. |
| US08320821B2 |
Receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus discriminates RDS data containing traffic information corresponding to the vehicle's own position from RDS data of broadcasting stations searched for by frequency sweeping by a sub tuner front end 7; stores step by step into a pool memory 16 frequencies of alternative stations identified by each PI code of the RDS data and the number of the alternative stations; determines the PI code with the greatest number of the alternative stations by comparing the numbers of the alternative stations for individual PI codes stored in the pool memory 16 in a frequency sweeping range; and receives the traffic information from the station with the highest received electric field strength among all the alternative stations identified by the PI code determined. |
| US08320819B2 |
Mobile TV channel and service access filtering
Provided are apparatuses and methods for transmitting and receiving ESG fragments containing identification information. In one example, the identification identifies a mobile operator. For example, the identification information may include a Mobile Network Code (MNC), Mobile Country Code (MCC), or name corresponding to the mobile operator. In another example, the identification information may also contain a web address corresponding to a web page associated with the mobile operator. For example, the identification information received in the ESG fragment may be compared to stored identification information at a receiver. Based on the identification information in the ESG fragment and stored identification information, a corresponding web page may be provided. Also, a program or service corresponding to the ESG fragment may be filtered based on the identification information in the ESG fragment and stored identification information. |
| US08320817B2 |
Charge removal from a sheet
A method of removing charge from a charged sheet prior to stacking the charged sheet is disclosed. The method includes moving the charged sheet through a set of nipped rollers while a first roller has an AC voltage applied thereto so that a first side of the charged sheet is in contact with the first roller and has its charge substantially dissipated, whereby charge substantially remains on a second side of the charged sheet in contact with a second roller. The method further includes using at least one non-contact charge removal device to remove charge from the second side of the charged sheet, and stacking the discharged sheet. |
| US08320815B2 |
Image forming device configured to control a carrying speed of a recording medium
An image forming device includes a plurality of medium feed units configured to feed a recording medium on respective carrying routes, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium fed from one of the plurality of medium feed units, a first roller provided on a common route of the carrying routes, the first roller being configured to rotate at a first circumferential velocity and carry, to the image forming unit, the recording medium fed from one of the plurality of medium feed units, and a control unit configured to control the first circumferential velocity of the first roller depending on from which of the plurality of medium feed units the recording medium is fed. |
| US08320810B2 |
Belt fuser having a protuberance for an imaging device
A fuser has a protuberance extruding lengthwise from the surface of a heater opposite the interior surface of an endless belt and is positioned in transverse relationship to the interior surface of the endless belt. A pressure roller defines a nip with the endless belt wherein the nip has an entrance side and an exit side and wherein the position of the protuberance adjacent to the nip creates pressure upon the endless belt. The print media sheet is driven through the nip in reaction to the pressure applied by the pressure roller to the belt. The position of the protuberance and the pressure created upon the endless belt directs the lubricant from the endless belt surface to the nip. |
| US08320809B2 |
Cleaning apparatus using web sheet
A cleaning apparatus using a web sheet includes: a send-out roller that is wound with the web sheet; a take-up roller that is connected to an end of the web sheet; and a rotation-regulating and canceling portion that regulates rotation of the send-out roller and cancels the regulation according to tension of the web sheet between the send-out roller and the take-up roller; wherein the web sheet is sent out from the send-out roller and taken up by the take-up roller, the web sheet is brought into contact with another roller during the sending out and taking up operation, and extraneous matters that have adhered to the other roller are removed. |
| US08320806B2 |
Image forming apparatus with cleaning member
An elastic layer and a top layer of an intermediate transfer belt are configured such that an elastic modulus in a sub-scanning direction is larger than an elastic modulus in a main-scanning direction. Accordingly, when a toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, a pressure applied to and affect on a toner is reduced as well as deformation at a sliding-contact portion between the intermediate transfer belt and a cleaning blade can be suppressed. |
| US08320805B2 |
Image forming apparatus having transfer member supported by rotatable supporting member
An image forming apparatus includes a movable belt; a transfer member opposed to the image bearing member with the belt therebetween; wherein the transfer member has a contact surface substantially parallel with a surface of the belt and contacted to the belt, and wherein when the belt is moving, the belt rubs the contact surface, and a toner image is transferred from such a part of image bearing member as is opposed to the contact surface; and a supporting member for supporting the transfer member, the supporting member being swingable. |
| US08320800B2 |
Image forming device, developing device and toner cartridge
An image forming device has: a developing cartridge for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying member and a toner cartridge. The developing cartridge contains a developing roller and a single auger. The toner cartridge is detachably attached to the developing cartridge and containing toner. The toner cartridge has an agitation mechanism that agitates the toner, a conveyance mechanism that conveys the toner to the agitation mechanism, and two ports, the two ports being aligned in the axial direction and communicated with the developing cartridge, respectively. The toner cartridge and the developing cartridge are arrayed side by side in a horizontal direction. The toner cartridge has a shape having a vertical cross section in which a horizontal length is greater than a vertical length. |
| US08320799B2 |
Recycling image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a first image formation unit that forms a black toner image, and a detachable second image formation unit that forms a color toner image. A first toner supply unit is provided to supply the black toner to the first image formation unit. A second toner supply unit is provided to supply one of a black and component color toner to the first and second image formation units in accordance with a color mode. A first conveyance path is provided to convey the black toner to the first image formation unit. A second conveyance path is also provided to convey the component color toner stored in the second toner container section to the second image formation unit. The second toner supply unit is selectively connected to one of the first and second conveyance paths in accordance with the color mode. |
| US08320798B2 |
Sheet conveying device and image forming apparatus
A conveying device conveys a sheet of non-blank recording medium recorded with an image formed in an image forming unit, and includes a container that is detachable and contains a sheet of blank recording medium, a feeding unit that feeds the blank recording medium from the container, and a recirculating path that leads the non-blank recording medium to the feeding unit. The recirculating path is disposed lateral to the image forming unit. A part of the recirculating path is integrated into the container and forms a reversing path that leads to the feeding unit. At least one of surfaces of the reversing path can be exposed. |
| US08320794B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer member, includes a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus which is provided with a transfer member for transferring a developer image onto the transfer member; a supporting member movable between an inside position which is for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which the developer image is to be formed and which is inside the main assembly, and an outside position which is outside the main assembly; and a contacting and spacing member movable between a first position for spacing the electrophotographic photosensitive member from the transfer member in the state that the supporting member is in the inside position, and a second position for contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the transfer member, the contacting and spacing member being provided in the supporting member. |
| US08320793B2 |
Development device and printer having the same
A development device has a casing configured with a first frame and a second frame. The first frame includes attachment surfaces to which a regulating member is attached. A facing surface of the second frame is disposed between the attachment surfaces, in a predetermined plane including the attachment surfaces, and configured to face a portion of the regulating member between the attachment surfaces. A seal member is disposed between the regulating member and opposite surfaces including the attachment surfaces and the facing surface, and configured to seal first gaps each of which is formed between the facing surface and one of the attachment surfaces, in a first direction parallel to a rotational axis of a developing member rotatably supported by the casing. |
| US08320792B2 |
Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a casing including an opening facing the rotary member, a cleaning member disposed at the opening to contact the rotary member to remove a substance adhering thereto, an entrance seal disposed at the opening to prevent leakage of the removed substance through a gap between the opening and the rotary member, a pair of lateral end seals respectively disposed both end portions of the cleaning member as well as the entrance seal in an axial direction of the rotary member, and a compressing member. A first face of each lateral end seal is attached to the casing. The compressing member compresses each lateral end seal by pressing a second face thereof opposite the first face-and presses a third face of the lateral end seal against the casing in a direction in which the lateral end seal is expanded by the compression. |
| US08320791B2 |
Intermediate transfer belt, a conveyance belt member, and an image forming apparatus comprising the same
An image forming apparatus includes a first drive member located downstream of an image bearing member and upstream of a transfer portion and a second drive member located downstream of the transfer portion with respect to a direction of conveying a recording material on a conveyance belt member and configured to apply a driving force to the conveyance belt member. |
| US08320789B2 |
Cooling apparatus and image formation apparatus
In an image formation state, to cool a recording sheet on a route from a fixer to a paper ejection roller, a blast fan assumes a first position restrained by a first fixture. Also, in another state, to cool a recording sheet on the catch tray, the blast fan assumes a second position restrained by a second fixture. To transition from the image formation state to another state, the blast fan sends a strong blast in a reverse direction from the normal blast direction. A bias is generated on the blast fan due to the resulting reactive force, the blast fan becomes free from the restraint of the first fixture, and shifts from the first position to the second position. Conversely, to transition from another state to the image formation state, a strong blast is sent in the same direction as the normal blast direction, and the blast fan shifts from the second position to the first position. |
| US08320788B2 |
Image forming apparatus, return processing method, and program
An image forming apparatus, which has a plurality of operation modes with different power supply conditions, includes an electric-energy accumulating unit for calculating electric energy consumption in a current operation mode; a return-time calculating unit for calculating a return time taken for the image forming apparatus to return from an energy reduction mode, which is the operation mode in which part of the image forming apparatus is supplied with electric power, to a normal mode, which is the operation mode in which the whole image forming apparatus is supplied with electric power, on the basis of the calculated electric energy consumption and an upper limit of electric energy, which is predetermined as maximum electric energy consumption in a certain period of time; and a mode control unit for making the image forming apparatus return from the energy reduction mode to the normal mode on the basis of the calculated return time. |
| US08320781B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing apparatus control method
An image processing apparatus is provided in which the accuracy of measurement of an amount of toner adhesion is improved by forming a toner image pattern according to a detection scheme for the amount of toner adhesion. In the image processing apparatus, a toner image pattern control unit 215 determines a detection scheme for the amount of toner adhesion of a toner image based on attribute information of the toner image, decides a toner image pattern according to the results of that determination, and forms that decided toner image pattern. A toner adhesion amount calculation unit 605 measures the amount of toner adhesion for the toner image pattern formed by the toner image pattern control unit 215. |
| US08320777B2 |
Temperature controlled interferometer for phase demodulation
An interferometer includes an optical beam splitter that splits an input optical signal into a first optical signal propagating in a first optical path comprising free space and a second optical signal propagating in a second optical path comprising a dielectric medium. A differential delay delays the second optical signal relative to the first optical signal by a differential delay time that is proportional to at least one of a temperature and a refractive index of the dielectric medium. A temperature controller in thermal contact with the dielectric medium changes the temperature of the dielectric medium to control at least one of thermal expansion/contraction and a temperature dependent change in the refractive index of the dielectric medium, thereby changing the differential phase delay. An optical beam splitter/combiner optically coupled to the first and second optical paths generates a first and second interferometric optical signal having an amplitude and phase that is related to the differential delay. |
| US08320772B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus
An optical transmission apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of optical modulating sections serially connected to each other via optical fibers; driving sections corresponding to the optical modulating sections; delay amount varying sections that provide variable delay amounts for modulating signals to be input to the driving sections, to adjust timing between drive signals to be provided for the optical modulating sections; temperature monitoring sections that monitor the temperature of each of the optical fibers and the like; and a delay amount control section that controls the delay amount in each of the delay amount varying sections based on the monitored temperatures. |
| US08320771B2 |
Optical transmission system and repeater
A repeater includes a variable optical attenuating unit that collectively attenuates WDM optical signal input, an optical-attenuation adjusting unit that adjusts attenuation in the variable optical attenuating unit, and an optical amplifying unit that collectively amplifies and outputs the WDM optical signal collectively attenuated, to a downstream side. An optical-attenuation adjusting unit includes an input level detector; an output level detector; an output-level transmitting unit that receives information of a signal level of WDM optical signal output by a repeater at an upstream side and transmits information of a signal level of the WDM optical signal detected by the output level detector to a repeater at a downstream side; and an attenuation amount controller that controls the variable optical attenuating unit by calculating an attenuation amount thereof based on information of a signal level detected by the input level detector and a signal level received by the output-level transmitting unit. |
| US08320768B2 |
Communication link apparatus and method for maintaining visibility in visible light communication
A system and method for continuing a communication link while maintaining visibility in visible light communication. A frame is transmitted by a sender for establishing a communication link before data transmission to a receiver by a sender. A receiver sends a response frame that reports on establishment of the communication link prior to data transmission by the sender. A data frame containing information is transmitted by the sender to the receiver. An acknowledgment frame is transmitted to the sender in response to the data frame. A disconnect frame is transmitted by the sender which is acknowledged by the receiver. A visible sequence is transmitted during a time period when the sender and the receiver do not transmit respective frames for communication to maintain visibility between two devices that may be communicating otherwise by, for example, infrared communication. |
| US08320767B2 |
Free-space photonic connection using wavelength division multiplexing and optical antenna
An interconnect system has an optical transmitter mounted on a first circuit board and an optical receiver mounted on a second circuit board. The optical receiver can be nominally aligned to receive an optical signal through free space from the optical transmitter. Further, the optical receiver includes one or more light detectors, and an optical antenna coupled to direct incident light into the one or more light detectors. |
| US08320766B2 |
Inline optoelectronic converter and associated methods
An inline optoelectronic converter configured to convert electrical signals to optical signals and to convert optical signals to electrical signals. The converter is external to the avionic computer and connected to the avionic computer at a location spaced apart from the avionic computer. The converter is configured to be integrated into an existing wiring bundle of the avionic computer. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting an avionic computer by connecting an optoelectronic converter to the computer. The method comprises connecting the converter to an existing wiring bundle of the avionic computer at a location spaced apart from the avionic computer. |
| US08320763B2 |
Planar lightwave circuit (PLC) device wavelength tunable light source comprising the same device and wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network (WDM-PON) using the same light source
In the manufacture and application of a PLC-ECL type wavelength tunable light source, provided is a wavelength tunable mechanism with improved performance and stability, a light source with improved packaging performance and mass productivity, and a light source applied to a WDM-PON with initialization and stabilization functions. The wavelength tunable light source having a PLC (planar lightwave circuit)-ECL (external cavity laser) structure includes a first housing in which a semiconductor optical gain medium is mounted, a second housing in which a PLC device is mounted, and a third housing in which an optical fiber is mounted. The first, second, and third housings make an optical axis alignment through an optical coupling lens and combined in a laser welding method. |
| US08320761B2 |
Broadband and wavelength-selective bidirectional 3-way optical splitter
Embodiments of a bidirectional 3-way optical splitter are described. This bidirectional 3-way optical splitter includes an optical splitter having: a first external node, a second external node, a third external node, and a fourth external node. In one mode of operation, the optical splitter may be configured to receive an external input optical signal on the first external node and to provide external output optical signals on the other external nodes. Moreover, in another mode of operation, the optical splitter may be configured to receive the external input optical signal on the third external node and to provide the external output optical signals on the other external nodes. |
| US08320757B2 |
Method and device for starting up an optical transmission link
Schemes are provided for starting up optical transmission links where, after a link interruption, endpoints switch into a startup mode original detection state, and a query-transmit pulse goes out at both end points at given time intervals. In a “TRANSMITTED” handshake mode, in a loop to be passed through n times, and at least once, after the transmission of a transmit pulse, it is detected whether a received pulse is received within a given time span. If no received pulse is received, then the mode is ended and the system is returned to the original detection state. If a received pulse is received, it is answered with another transmit pulse. After the last transmit pulse, if another received pulse occurs within a given time span, the link is activated. If not, the “TRANSMITTED” handshake mode ends and the system enters the original detection state. |
| US08320753B2 |
Handshake correction apparatus
A handshake correction apparatus for correcting shake of a camera includes Hall sensors that detect current position of a correction lens. The Hall sensors include a pair disposed along a virtual extension line crossing a correction lens. The apparatus also includes an actuator that drives the correction lens in response to a control signal calculated according to the current position and a target position of the correction lens. |
| US08320749B1 |
Method and system for DVD smooth search transitions
Methods, systems and computer-readable medium for changing video playback speed are disclosed. Video playback speed may be changed by determining a first frame rate and a second frame rate for which a frame rate transition is to be made. An instantaneous frame rate is calculated to produce a calculated instantaneous frame rate, wherein the calculated instantaneous frame rate is between the first frame rate and the second frame rate. A timestamp of a frame is adjusted based on the calculated instantaneous frame rate to produce an adjusted timestamp. Graphical data for the frame is provided in accordance with the adjusted timestamp to enable display of the frame. Thereafter, the frame may be displayed in accordance with the adjusted timestamp. |
| US08320741B1 |
Media capture system, method, and computer program product for assessing processing capabilities
A media capture system, method, and computer program product are provided for assessing processing capabilities. In use, media data is captured from a system. Additionally, the media data is stored in memory separate from the system. Further, the media data is fed back to the system for assessing media processing capabilities of the system in real-time or non-real-time. |
| US08320739B2 |
Recording and playback apparatus
A recording and playback apparatus includes a recording unit configured to download a content stored in a server and to record the content in a recording medium, an instruction receiver configured to receive a stop instruction for stopping download of the content done by the recording unit, and a controller configured to control the recording unit. The controller controls the recording unit so as to stop the download of the content when the instruction receiver receives the stop instruction for stopping download of the content, and to restart the download of the content when a predetermined time elapses in which the recording unit is in a stop state of the download. |
| US08320730B2 |
Input/output device and input/output management system
The present invention relates to an I/O device capable of collectively managing and easily editing AV data recorded by a plurality of video cameras with transfer bit rate between devices kept constant, and an I/O management system. The I/O management system according to the present invention comprises: a storage device having a non-linear accessible recording medium; a control unit for controlling output of externally supplied data with respect to the storage device, or input of data from the storage device; and one or more I/O device having a record information management unit for managing, through a file system, record information acquired at the time when data is recorded onto the recording medium, and controls input of data from the storage device on the basis of the record information managed by a file system at the time of reproduction. |
| US08320728B2 |
Film thin waveguides, methods of fabrication thereof, and detection systems
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure, among others, include solid state, thin film waveguides, detection systems including waveguides, and methods of detecting target compounds. |
| US08320727B1 |
Composite structures with ordered three-dimensional (3D) continuous interpenetrating phases
A three-dimensional (3D) composite structure and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the 3D composite structure includes a 3D ordered microstructure and a second continuous material. The 3D ordered microstructure includes first truss elements defined by first self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a first direction, second truss elements defined by second self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a second direction, and third truss elements defined by third self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a third direction. The first, second, and third truss elements interpenetrate each other at nodes to form a first continuous material with the three-dimensional ordered microstructure. In addition, the second continuous material has different physical properties than the first continuous material and shares an interface with the three-dimensional ordered microstructure, and wherein the interface is everywhere continuous. |
| US08320726B2 |
Methods of making single mode optical fibers with reduced bend sensitivity and catastrophic bend loss
Described are multi-tube fabrication techniques for making an optical fiber that is relatively insensitive to bend loss and alleviates the problem of catastrophic bend loss comprises a core region and a cladding region configured to support and guide the propagation of light in a fundamental transverse mode. The cladding region includes (i) an outer cladding region, (ii) an annular pedestal (or ring) region, (iii) an annular inner trench region, and (iv) an annular outer trench region. The pedestal region and the outer cladding region each have a refractive index relatively close to that of the outer cladding region. In order to suppress HOMs the pedestal region is configured to resonantly couple at least one (unwanted) transverse mode of the core region (other than the fundamental mode) to at least one transverse mode of the pedestal region. |
| US08320723B2 |
Optical imaging probe connector
This document discusses, among other things, a connector for an optical imaging probe that includes one or more optical fibers communicating light along the catheter. The device may use multiple sections for simpler manufacturing and ease of assembly during a medical procedure. Light energy to and from a distal minimally-invasive portion of the probe is coupled by the connector to external diagnostic or analytical instrumentation through an external instrumentation lead. Certain examples provide a self-aligning two-section optical catheter with beveled ends, which is formed by separating an optical cable assembly. Techniques for improving light coupling include using a lens between instrumentation lead and probe portions. Techniques for improving the mechanical alignment of a multi-optical fiber catheter include using a stop or a guide. |
| US08320719B2 |
Method for manufacturing a fiber optic current sensor with inherent temperature compensation of the faraday effect
A method is provided for tuning the fiber optic retarder of a fiber optic current sensor towards a desired temperature dependence, the sensing fiber is exposed to a magnetic field or corresponding electric current and the sensor signal as well as the signal's dependence on the retarder temperature are measured. From this initial sensor signal and its temperature dependence, a target sensor signal can be determined, at which the dependence on the retarder temperature equals a desired value. Then, the retarder is thermally treated until the sensor signal reaches the target value. The method obviates the need for repetitively measuring the temperature dependence during the tuning process. |
| US08320715B2 |
Device and method for interpolating image, and image scanner
An image interpolation device comprises a data storage unit (2) for storing the data in the neighborhood of a missing pixel, a filter interpolation unit (3) for performing a multiply-add computation on the data output from the data storage unit, a limiter processing unit (4) for limiting the data output from the filter interpolation unit to within the range of the data output from the data storage unit, and an interpolation data insertion unit (5) for interpolating the data output from the limiter processing unit into a position corresponding to the missing pixel in the data output from the data storage unit. The image interpolation device is capable of increasing the interpolation accuracy of missing pixels, especially in the interpolation of scanned document data including periodic data. |
| US08320713B2 |
Image processing enabling decoding of encoded information embedded in source document
An image processing apparatus that receives an image from a scanner capable of optical scaling is provided by the present invention. It has an image scaling unit for performing digital scaling of a received image, and an information detecting unit for detecting encoded information from the received image. Unless the scaling factor is that suitable for optical scaling, the received image undergoes the digital scaling instead of the optical scaling. Before the received image undergoes the digital scaling, the information detecting unit detects the encoded information from the received image. The scaling using the image reading device capable of optical scaling enables more accurate analysis of the encoded information embedded in a source document. |
| US08320712B2 |
Satellite image fusion method and system
Satellite image fusion method and system are provided. The satellite image fusion method includes matching sizes of a panchromatic image and a multispectral image captured from a satellite image; dividing the panchromatic image and the multispectral image into a plurality of blocks; calculating coefficients to acquire Intensity (I) component image data using pixel values of each block of the multispectral image; and generating fused multispectral image data by applying the acquired I component image data to a fusion algorithm. In the multispectral image fusion, the distortion of the color information can be minimized and the multispectral image data of the high resolution can be attained. In addition, the present invention is applicable to not only the IKONOS images but also other satellite images, and the present image fusion can be carried out fast. |
| US08320707B2 |
System and method for use of images with recognition analysis
An index is provided that holds information about each image content item in a collection of items, For each image content item, a first information item identifying the image content item and its location on a network, and at least one of (i) a second information item identifying a signature value of an object in the image content, or (ii) identification of a recognized object in the image content. |
| US08320706B2 |
Method for geotagging of pictures and apparatus thereof
Provided are a method and an apparatus for tagging a photograph with information. The method of tagging a photograph with information, which calculates a shooting position of an input image from reference images having shooting position information to tag the shooting position information, includes: selecting a plurality of reference images; calculating a relative shooting position of the input image to the shooting positions of the reference images; calculating the shooting position of the input image on the basis of the calculation result of the calculating; and storing the shooting position and shooting direction information on the input image in an exchangeable image file format (EXIF) tag of the input image. |
| US08320704B2 |
Method for creating reference images in electron microscopes
Methods for creating reference images of fiber optic sensor plates for use in electron microscopes. The methods include taking of reference images of stripe or dot patterns. The spatial frequency of the stripe or dot patterns is such that image artifacts of the fiber optic stacks is recorded. The reference images can then be used to correct for these artifacts. |
| US08320702B2 |
System and method for reducing specular reflection
An imaging unit programmed to reduce specular reflection in a captured image and improve the interpretation of decodable information within the image. The imaging unit is programmed to scan a predetermined region within the image that is susceptible to specular reflection, evaluate the pixel values within the region against a threshold value that is representative of specular reflection, and then replace the pixel value found to represent specular reflection with replacement pixel values that do not corrupt interpretation of the decodable information in the predetermined region. The threshold value and replacement values may be determined on an ad hoc basis and stored in local memory, or calculated for each captured image. |
| US08320697B2 |
Image processing filter, image processing method of image processing filter, and image processing circuit of image processing apparatus having image processing filter
An image processing filter for correcting a pixel value of an image includes a flatness calculation unit 40 for calculating a flatness of distribution of pixel values of surrounding pixels positioned on the periphery of a target pixel to be filtered, and a pixel value composition unit 50 for blending the pixel value of the target pixel and the pixel value of the surrounding pixels, on the basis of a blend ratio corresponding to the flatness calculated by the flatness calculation unit 40, and generating a composite pixel value by combining the pixel value of the target pixel and the pixel value of the surrounding pixels. |
| US08320696B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
In order to reduce wasteful operation processes by operation units, a data supply unit reads out a plurality of pieces of pixel data from an image memory and temporarily stores the pixel data in registers, and outputs the pixel data while shifting the pixel data in one direction; product-sum operators concurrently perform operation processes based on multiple pieces of pixel data outputted from the data supply unit and filter coefficients in a filter kernel. At this time, a selector within the data supply unit selects the pixel data stored in each register in accordance with the type of the filter operation process, and outputs the selected pixel data to the product-sum operators. |
| US08320695B2 |
Method, terminal and computer-readable recording medium for deblurring barcode image
The present invention relates to a method for deblurring a barcode image. The method includes the steps of: acquiring the terminal's n OTFs calculated by varying focal lengths for a subject; if a barcode image is inputted through the mobile terminal, fixing a specific value among NSRs as a value to be applied to an error metric of Wiener filtering, applying n PSFs calculated from the n OTFs to the error metric by a binary search algorithm and determining whether the result of the application to the error metric is not exceeding the pre-set threshold or not; and selecting a PSF value and an NSR value as values of Wiener filtering if the result of the application to the error metric is not exceeding the pre-set threshold and then performing the Wiener filtering to the inputted barcode image by using the selected PSF value and the selected NSR value. |
| US08320690B2 |
System, data structure, and method for simultaneously retrieving multi-dimensional data with zero contention
A system, processor, and method for processing multiple dimension data. A single rectangular data array having a single data port may store a set of data elements representing a multi-dimensional pixel array. A load/store unit may receive the set of data elements and store them divided among a plurality of individually addressable data arrays each having separate address ports. Each individually addressable data array may include at most a single row that stores data elements from a sub-set of the set of data elements representing a multi-dimensional sub-array of the pixel array. A processor may simultaneously access the single row of each of the plurality of individually addressable data arrays by accessing the corresponding respective address ports for each individually addressable data array to retrieve the complete sub-set of data elements in a single computational cycle. An execution unit may execute instruction(s) on the sub-set of data elements. |
| US08320687B2 |
Universal lossy compression methods
The present invention provides methods for universal lossy compression that provide performance at or near the rate-distortion limit and that are based on universal, implementable lossy source coding algorithms. |
| US08320684B2 |
Image compressing apparatus, image compressing method and program
An image compressing apparatus carrying out code amount control upon JPEG2000 coding, in which the number of coding passes and a code amount for each code block generated by a MQ (arithmetic) coder are input, and the number of coding passes and the code amount are determined based on a first code amount control standard and a second code amount control standard given for each code block. For a specific code block, the second code amount control standard is used to determine the number of coding passes and the code amount, while, for the other code blocks, the first code amount control standard is used to determine the number of coding passes and the code amount. |
| US08320683B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus
When a reference image to which a document image is judged as being similar for the first time is not the first document sheet of the document type which contains this reference image, error occurrence is concluded so that the page number indicated by a counter is set to be an error occurrence position. In case that the reference image to which the document image is similar is the last document sheet of the document type, when the number of document images having been counted up by the time when this document image is judged as being similar to the reference image does not correspond with the number of reference images contained in the document type, error occurrence is concluded so that the page number indicated by a counter is set to be an error occurrence position. |
| US08320674B2 |
Text localization for image and video OCR
In accord with embodiments consistent with the present invention, a first action in recognizing text from image and video is to locate accurately the position of the text in image and video. After that, the located and possibly low resolution text can be extracted, enhanced and binarized. Finally existing OCR technology can be applied to the binarized text for recognition. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08320670B1 |
Hough transform method for linear ribbon and circular ring detection in the gradient domain
A method for converting a portion of an image from a first domain to a second domain. The method may apply a Hough transform on the converted portion of the image, including calculating a range of angles for each tested pixel q relative to a center pixel p, quantizing the range of angles into a plurality of bins, voting each tested pixel q using a range of bins using a weighted voting schema; and detecting one or more features in the portion of the image. The methods may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs. |
| US08320669B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, image data compression device, and computer program
In image processing in which each small area included in color image data, which is represented by C, M, Y, and K, is expressed by a predetermined number of representative colors, values of color parameters are obtained for a small area from the values of the color parameters for C, M, Y, and K for each pixel in the small area, so that the values of the color parameters have degrees of variation being compensated to become smaller in the group as the value for black becomes larger. One color parameter to be targeted is selected (#104) based on the degree of variation in the values of individual color parameters in the group. A reference value to be used for grouping the pixels is obtained based on the relationship between the values of the color parameter to be targeted in the group and the quantities of pixels in the group. Based on the reference value, the pixels are divided into groups (#106), and a representative color for each group is obtained (#109). |
| US08320668B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Noise does not occur even if an image of an object region extracted from an input image and a background image are stored separately, and then displayed or printed, at a boundary portion of the object region. A boundary region is set at the inner side of the object region of the input image, and a pixel value of an adjacent pixel at the outer side of the boundary of the object region is written to a corresponding pixel in the boundary region. Even if a difference occurs between the background image and the object image, when a document file is displayed or printed, since the pixel value of the pixel at the outer side of the object region is assigned to the pixel in the boundary region, noise due to average color does not occur. |
| US08320662B2 |
Distinguishing colors of illuminated objects using machine vision
System and method for distinguishing colors of illuminated objects using machine vision. A color-balanced image that includes at least one lit area is received, as well as an indication of a region of interest that includes one of the one or more lit areas. A mask image is generated based on the region of interest. A color-balanced image of the region of interest is generated by masking the color-balanced image with the mask image, and a plurality of image attributes for the region of interest is determined by analyzing the color-balanced image of the region of interest. A color is determined based on the plurality of image attributes using a trained classifier, and the determined color stored, e.g., in a memory medium. |
| US08320660B2 |
Image processing system, 3-dimensional shape estimation system, object position/posture estimation system and image generation system
An object of the present invention is to process an image without a need to previously find out the initial value of a parameter representing an illumination condition and without a need for a user to manually input the illumination parameter. An image processing system includes a generalized illumination basis model generation means 300, a position/posture initial value input means 102, a face model generation means 103, an illumination basis model calculation means 301, a perspective transformation means 202, an illumination correction means 203, and a parameter update means 204. The generalized illumination basis model generation means 300 previously calculates a generalized illumination basis model. The face model generation means 103 generates an individual 3-dimensional shape and texture from the generalized 3-dimensional face model. The illumination basis model calculation means 301 generates an individual illumination basis from the generalized illumination basis model using the same parameter. The parameter update means 204 searches for a parameter of a shape, texture, and position/posture to minimize the error when the input image is reproduced. |
| US08320656B1 |
Automatic creation of after-the-fact payroll journal
A method for creating an after-the-fact (ATF) payroll journal, including identifying a payroll check cashed at a financial institution, where the payroll check is issued to an employee during a payroll period for payment via a financial institution, obtaining, using a processor of a computer system, an electronic image associated with the payroll check, extracting, using the processor, payroll check information from the electronic image, validating, using the processor, the payroll check information based on a pre-determined criterion, where the payroll check information includes a payee name, a check date, and a check amount, and generating, using the processor, an entry of the ATF payroll journal from the payroll check information based on a pre-determined payroll rule, where the entry includes an amount of tax withholding of the employee for the payroll period. |
| US08320655B2 |
Process and system for analyzing the expression of biomarkers in cells
The invention relates generally to a process of analyzing and visualizing the expression of biomarkers in individual cells wherein the cells are examined to develop patterns of expression by using a grouping algorithm, and a system to perform and display the analysis. |
| US08320654B2 |
Bone mineral density evaluation device and bone mineral density evaluation method
To evaluate an exact bone mineral density, whena reference bar region in an X-ray picture of a mandible and a reference bar disposed beside the mandible is selected, the mean value and deviation of the brightness of this region are displayed by means of letter groups. When an evaluation object region is selected, the brightness of this region is corrected according to the mean value and deviation of the brightness of the reference bar region and standard mean value and deviation, or, in other words, according to a fixed reference. The corrected brightness is displayed in the form of histogram. Furthermore, the mean value and deviation of the corrected brightness are determined, and they are displayed by means of letter groups. The bone mineral density is quantitatively evaluated from the histogram and the mean value and deviation of the corrected brightness. |
| US08320652B2 |
Method, a system and a computer program for segmenting a structure in a Dataset
A suitable database, including a temporal series of images is acquired (3) and subjected to a suitable binary segmentation (4) to create temporally sequenced binary coded images large portions corresponding to blood are labeled as unity, the rest is set to zero. A preceding binary coded image (8a) corresponding to a phase (t) from the temporal sequence is subtracted from a subsequent binary coded image (8b) corresponding to a phase (t+1) yielding a multi-dimensional temporal feature map (8c). A pre-defined deformable shape model is deformed (14) to fit the temporal feature map. The segmentation results are displayed (18) using suitable display (47). The segmented surface is overlaid on the original data using a two-, three- or four-dimensional visualization technique and can be presented as a color-code in a suitable transparency mode. |
| US08320651B2 |
Image reporting method and system
A method and system are provided to report the findings of an expert's analysis of image data. The method and system are based on a reporting system that forms the basis of an image management system that can efficiently and systematically generate image reports, facilitate data entry into searchable databases for data mining, and expedite billing and collections for the expert's services. The expert identifies a significant finding on an image and attaches a location:description code to the location of that finding in order to create a significant finding and an entry into a database. Further descriptions of that finding, such as dimensional measurements, may be automatically appended to the finding as secondary attributes. After the evaluation, the system sorts the findings in the database and presents the findings by prioritized categories. The expert edits and approves a multimedia report which may be delivered by electronic means to an end-user. |
| US08320650B2 |
In vivo spectral micro-imaging of tissue
In vivo endoscopic methods an apparatuses for implementation of fluorescence and autofluorescence microscopy, with and without the use of exogenous agents, effectively (with resolution sufficient to image nuclei) visualize and categorize various abnormal tissue forms. |
| US08320646B2 |
MRI acquisition using 2D sense and partial fourier pace sampling
An MRI system produces a three-dimensional image by acquiring NMR signals that fully sample a central region of k-space and partially sample peripheral k-space as a set of asymmetric radial sectors. The NMR signals are acquired with a plurality of receive channels and coils. An image is reconstructed using a homodyne reconstruction combined with SENSE processing. |
| US08320644B2 |
Object detection metadata
A perimeter around a detected object in a frame of image data can be generated in a first coordinate system. The perimeter can be converted from the first coordinate system into a second coordinate system having the same aspect ratio as the first coordinate system. A first metadata entry can include dimensions of image data in the second coordinate system. A second metadata entry can provide a location and dimensions of the converted perimeter in the second coordinate space. Additional metadata can indicate matching objects between frames, position of an object relative to other objects in a frame, a probability that an object is correctly detected, and a total number of objects detected across multiple frames of image data. |
| US08320638B2 |
Anonymous association system utilizing biometrics
Various exemplary embodiments are a device and a related method for interaction with an anonymous database system, the device including: a biometric input; a communicator configured to retrieve a key stored in a first enrollment process, retrieve an institution identifier and a user identifier stored in a second enrollment process, and retrieve user data from an institution database corresponding to the institution identifier; and a display that displays the retrieved user data. Furthermore, various exemplary embodiments are a system and related method including: a plurality of biometric nodes in communication with one another, each of the plurality of biometric nodes comprising a biometric input; at least one central database in communication with the plurality of biometric nodes; and a plurality of institution databases in communication with the plurality of biometric nodes. |
| US08320636B2 |
Detecting image detail level
One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a method for detecting a detail level of an image including receiving an original image, transforming the original image to generate one or more blurred images, deriving image differences corresponding to ranges of detail frequency of the original image based, at least in part, on the one or more blurred images and the original image, determining, based on the image differences, a detail level value corresponding to the original image, and providing the detail level value to an image management application. |
| US08320634B2 |
System and method for monitoring protective garments
The wearing of required medical garments by caregivers and other persons is detected through the use of a digital imaging system and methods that employ digital imaging. The medical garments include colors, symbols or other features that allow them to be identified by the system. A moving object within an isolation room or other area requiring the wearing of medical garments is detected. Various stages of processing confirm that the moving object is indeed a person and that the person is wearing the required medical garments. In order to enhance the digital imaging procedure, the person may be instructed to move to a selected position. |
| US08320633B2 |
System and method for identifying produce
An apparatus, method and system are presented for identifying produce. Multiple images of a produce item captured using five different types of illumination. The captured images are processed to determine parameters of the produce item and those parameters are compared to parameters of known produce to identify the produce item. |
| US08320631B2 |
Movement detection apparatus and movement detection method
According to one embodiment, a movement detection apparatus includes an arithmetic module, an edge-storing filter, a determination module, and a control module. The arithmetic module calculates a difference signal between an input image signal and an image signal of the previous frame. The filter performs smoothing processing for a signal falling within a level range provided as threshold value, among difference signals calculated by the arithmetic module. The determination module determines levels of a movement component and a noise component of the signal output from the filter. The control module controls a level range supplied as threshold value to the filter in accordance with an amplitude level of the noise component overlying the input image signal. |
| US08320630B2 |
Measuring turbulence and winds aloft using solar and lunar observable features
Presented is a system and method for detecting turbulence in the atmosphere comprising an image capturing device for capturing a plurality of images of a visual feature of a celestial object such as the sun, combined with a lens having focal length adapted to focus an image onto image capturing device such that the combination of the lens and the image capturing device are adapted to resolve a distortion caused by a turbule of turbulent air, and an image processor adapted to compare said plurality of images of said visual feature to detect the transit of a turbule of turbulent air in between said image capturing device and said celestial object, and compute a measurement of the angular velocity of the turbule. A second plurality of images is used to triangulate the distance to the turbule and the velocity of the turbule. |
| US08320629B2 |
Multi-level neural network based characters identification method and system
A system and method, which enable precise and automatic identification of characters, perform and calibrate data verification to ensure data reliability. The system can process these identified characters, such as override adverse conditions, adjusting and correcting unclear characters and their images. |
| US08320621B2 |
Depth projector system with integrated VCSEL array
A projector is disclosed for use in a 3-D imaging device. The projector includes a light source formed of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, or VCSEL array. The VCSEL array provides a light source for illuminating a capture area. Light from the VCSEL array is reflected off of objects in the capture area and received within a sensing device such as a 3-D camera. The projector may further include a collimating lens array for focusing the light emitted from each VCSEL in the array, as well as a DOE for patterning the light from the collimating lens array to enable the sensing device to generate a 3-D image of the objects in the capture area. |
| US08320615B2 |
Systems and methods for recognizing a target from a moving platform
Systems and methods for recognizing a location of a target are provided. One system includes a camera configured to generate first data representing an object resembling the target, a memory storing second data representing a template of the target, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive the first data and the second data, and determine that the object is the target if the object matches the template within a predetermined percentage error. A method includes receiving first data representing an object resembling the target, receiving second data representing a template of the target, and determining that the object is the target if the object matches the template within a predetermined percentage error. Also provided are computer-readable mediums including processor instructions for executing the above method. |
| US08320613B2 |
Detecting and tracking targets in images based on estimated target geometry
A system for detecting and tracking targets captured in images, such as people and object targets that are captured in video images from a surveillance network. Targets can be detected by an efficient, geometry-driven approach that determines likely target configuration of the foreground imagery based on estimated geometric information of possible targets. The detected targets can be tracked using a centralized tracking system. |
| US08320609B2 |
Device and method for attaching additional information
An image analyzing section acquires information on a type of a subject as an image attribute using an image analysis technique, and if the subject is a human, information on clothes of the human as the image attribute. In an additional information DB, there are provided plural pieces of candidate additional information which possibly become additional information, plural reference attributes for each piece of the candidate additional information, and individual compatibility degrees for the respective reference attributes. For every piece of the candidate additional information, a sum of the individual compatibility degrees of the reference attributes which are correlated with the image attributes acquired from the image are calculated as a total compatibility degree. The candidate additional information having the total compatibility degree equal to or higher than a certain value is selected as additional information. A tag having this additional information is attached to an image file. |
| US08320607B2 |
Image processing method and image processing device for embedding invisible sub information into main images
An electronic watermarking embedding-processing section acquires layout information which specifies an embedding area of first sub information and an embedding area of second sub information in main image information. The electronic watermarking embedding-processing section performs overlapping processing for invisibly embedding the first sub information in the embedding area of the first sub information in the main image information which is specified by the layout information. The electronic watermarking embedding-processing section performs overlapping processing for invisibly embedding the second sub information in the embedding area of the second sub information in the main image information which is specified by the layout information. The electronic watermarking embedding-processing section creates composite image information by composing image information in which the first sub information is invisibly embedded in the main image information and image information in which the second sub information is invisibly embedded in the main image information. |
| US08320605B2 |
Electro-acoustic transducer
An electro-acoustic transducer with a front part having an acoustically radiating surface, a supporting part that supports the front part and that extends from a peripheral region of the front part in a direction away from the acoustically radiating surface, and a reinforcing part that provides rigidity to the transducer. The reinforcing part extends from the supporting part to the front part such that a portion of the reinforcing part is spaced from the front part and/or the supporting part. |
| US08320599B2 |
Resonator system for a speaker of an electronic device
A resonator for a transducer of an electronic device is provided. The resonator comprises: a first enclosure having a first opening to receive a back end of the transducer and a second opening; and a port connected to the first enclosure through the second opening of the enclosure, the port having a first end, a second end, an interior channel spanning from the first end to the second end. When the transducer is mounted into the first enclosure, a first volume between the transducer and the enclosure is formed which is in communication with air surrounding the second end of the port through the interior channel of the port. A second enclosure to cover a front portion of the transducer may be provided. |
| US08320597B2 |
Acoustic dock for portable electronic device
An accessory for a portable electronic device having a speaker uses an acoustic wave guide to passively amplify and direct the output of the device's speaker. The accessory has a housing with a docking cavity formed therein. The docking cavity has supportive sidewalls that are adapted to receive and support the portable electronic device in an upright position. A cable access channel is formed in the docking cavity that allows a connector and cable to be coupled to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is mounted in the docking cavity. An acoustic waveguide having a spiral shaped acoustic chamber is positioned in the housing such that an entrance to the acoustic waveguide corresponds to a hole in the docking cavity that is positioned to correspond to the location of the speaker of the device when the device is mounted in the docking chamber. The exit of the acoustic chamber corresponds to an exterior opening in a sidewall of the housing and the hole in the docking cavity. The housing can be provided with charging circuitry to charge the device when the device is mounted in the dock. |
| US08320593B2 |
Method and hearing apparatus for adjusting a hearing aid with data recorded in an external unit
A hearing apparatus for adjusting a hearing aid and an associated method. The apparatus includes at least one hearing aid and at least one external unit which can exchange data with the hearing aid. It further includes a first memory unit in the external unit which stores a point in time and a hearing situation at which at least one predeterminable algorithm for signal processing is activated, an output unit in the external unit which outputs the stored points in time and hearing situations, an input unit in the external unit for entering a measure of evaluation which expresses the satisfaction of a hearing aid wearer with the activated algorithm, and a modification unit in the hearing aid for changing at least one parameter of the algorithm as a function of the measure of evaluation. The hearing aid user is able to evaluate and change the setting of their hearing aid retrospectively for specific hearing situations. |
| US08320592B2 |
Apparatus and method of reproducing virtual sound of two channels based on listener's position
An apparatus and method of reproducing a virtual sound of two channels which adaptively reproduces a 2-channel stereo sound signal reproduced through a recording medium such as DVD, CD, or MP3 player etc., based on a listener's position. The method includes sensing a listener's position and recognizing distance and angle information about the listener's position, determining output gain values and delay values of two speakers based on the distance and angle information about the sensed listener's position and selecting localization filter coefficients in a predetermined table, and updating filter coefficients of a localization filter based on the selected localization filter coefficients and adjusting output levels and time delays of the two speakers from the determined gain values and delay values. |
| US08320589B2 |
Electret condenser
An electret condenser includes a fixed film 110 including a conductive film 118 to be an upper electrode, a vibrating film 112 including a lower electrode 104 and a silicon oxide film 105 to be an electret film, and a silicon oxide film 108 provided between the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 and including an air gap 109. Respective parts of the fixed film 110 and the vibrating film 112 exposed in the air gap 109 are formed of silicon nitride films 106 and 114. |
| US08320585B2 |
Radio with dual sided audio
A dual-sided radio (100) for enhancing a user's experience is provided. The radio includes a primary transducer (110) on an audio-side of the radio that projects a primary sound, a secondary transducer (120) on a data-side of the radio that projects a mid-high frequency sound, a processor (160) that equalizes (200) audio to the primary transducer and the secondary transducer, and a communication module (130) that receives and transmits communication signals containing the audio. The secondary transducer supplements the primary sound with a mid-high frequency sound (404) to compensate for mid-high frequency loss of the primary sound due to diffraction (300). |
| US08320584B2 |
Method and system for performing audio signal processing
A method and system for performing audio signal processing is provided. A phase of a signal may be shifted between 0° and 360° for all frequencies of the signal, without any significant delay distortion. The phase shift can be accomplished through the use of two signal outputs (which are each shifted in phase by 90° relative to the other), inverters and an analog summing circuit. Selective use of the inverter on one or both of the 90° phase shifted outputs, and their linear combinations, allows the phase of the audio signal outputs to be shifted between about 0° and about 360° by a recording engineer, for example. |
| US08320582B2 |
Interference signal removing apparatus and RF receiver using the same
An interference signal removing apparatus of a radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a low noise amplification unit which performs low noise amplification, a feedback processing unit which removes a necessary signal in a desired band from a signal output from the low noise amplification unit, and performs feedback of the signal from which the necessary signal is removed, and a signal processing unit which transmits a processed RF signal by synthesizing an input RF signal and the feedback signal to the noise amplification unit. |
| US08320581B2 |
Vehicle engine sound enhancement
A vehicle engine harmonic enhancement system. A method for operating the system includes providing a first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal and equalizing the first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal separately for each of the plurality of loudspeakers to provide individually equalized loudspeaker engine harmonic enhancement audio signals. A vehicle audio system includes a plurality of loudspeakers, an entertainment audio system, and an engine harmonic enhancement system. A method includes equalizing an entertainment audio signal to provide an equalized entertainment audio signal; providing an engine harmonic enhancement audio signal; equalizing the engine harmonic enhancement audio signal separately from the entertainment audio signal to provide an equalized engine harmonic enhancement audio signal; and combining the equalized entertainment audio signal with the equalized engine harmonic enhancement audio signal. |
| US08320580B2 |
System and method for directional sound transmission with a linear array of exponentially spaced loudspeakers
A system and method for the directional transmission of sound is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an audio source configured to generate an audio signal, a control module configured to receive the audio signal and generate a driving signal, based at least in part on the audio signal, and an array comprising a plurality of loudspeakers, wherein the loudspeakers are linearly arranged such that the spacing between two adjacent loudspeakers increases along the array. In a particularly, embodiment, the spacing increases exponentially, and broadband dipole loudspeakers are used. |
| US08320576B1 |
Piezo element stethoscope
A passive stethoscope chest piece has a chest piece housing containing a passive piezoelectric (piezo) element mounted within a metal housing. The piezo element converts body signals to an electrical representation. A pair of electrical connections attached to the metal plate and the piezoelectric layer of the piezo element pass the electrical representation outside the housing for processing by external circuitry. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08320575B2 |
Efficient audio signal processing in the sub-band regime
A signal processing system enhances an audio signal. The audio signal is divided into audio sub-band signals. Some audio sub-band signals are excised. Other audio sub-band signals are processed to obtain enhanced audio sub-band signals. At least a portion of the excised audio sub-band signals are reconstructed. The reconstructed audio sub-band signals are synthesized with the enhanced audio sub-band signals to form an enhanced audio signal. |
| US08320573B2 |
Adaptive hearing device and method for providing a hearing aid
A hearing device having an input unit for converting an acoustic input to a first signal, an output unit for converting a second signal to an acoustic output and a signal processing unit for generating said second signal from said first signal based on a setting indicating a characteristic of a user's ear, said signal processing unit coupling said input unit and said output unit, to a corresponding method for providing a hearing aid and a corresponding computer program. In order to provide an adaptive hearing device and a method for providing a hearing aid which allow for a compensation for the change in a characteristic of a user's ear, in particular for the change to the ear of a child during growth and which are of a low complexity and do not need additional sensors. |
| US08320571B2 |
Method for generating downlink frame, and method for searching cell
The present invention relates to a method of generating a downlink frame. The method of generating the downlink frame includes: generating a first short sequence and a second short sequence indicating cell group information; generating a first scrambling sequence and a second scrambling sequence determined by the primary synchronization signal; generating a third scrambling sequence determined by the first short sequence and a fourth scrambling sequence determined by the second short sequence; scrambling the first short sequence with the first scrambling sequence and scrambling the second short sequence with the second scrambling sequence and the third scrambling sequence; scrambling the second short sequence with the first scrambling sequence and scrambling the first short sequence with the second scrambling sequence and the fourth scrambling sequence; and mapping the secondary synchronization signal that includes the first short sequence scrambled with the first scrambling sequence, the second short sequence scrambled with the second scrambling sequence and the third scrambling sequence, the second short sequence scrambled with the first scrambling sequence and the first short sequence scrambled by the second scrambling sequence and the fourth scrambling sequence to a frequency domain. |
| US08320570B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating secret key
An apparatus for generating a secret key generates the secret key by using information of a mobile RFID terminal, transmits the generated secret key to an RFID tag attached on an article, and decrypts a unique item identifier of the article encrypted by using the generated secret key after receiving the unique item identifier of the article encrypted by using the secret key from the RFID tag. By this configuration, it is possible to protect user's personal privacy of the mobile RFID terminal in a state where user's intervention is minimized. |
| US08320565B2 |
Method for generating downlink frame, and method for searching cell
The present invention relates to a method of generating a downlink frame. The method of generating the downlink frame includes: generating a first short sequence and a second short sequence indicating cell group information; generating a first scrambling sequence and a second scrambling sequence determined by the primary synchronization signal; generating a third scrambling sequence determined by the first short sequence; scrambling the first short sequence with the first scrambling sequence and scrambling the second short sequence with the second scrambling sequence and the third scrambling sequence; and mapping the secondary synchronization signal that includes the scrambled first short sequence and the scrambled second short sequence to a frequency domain. |
| US08320564B2 |
Encrypted signal detection circuit and video device using the same
A video device includes a video signal generation circuit, an encrypted signal detection circuit and a central processing unit (CPU). The encrypted signal detection circuit detects encrypted messages in video signals output from the video signal generation circuit and outputs stable trigger control signals to the CPU, which includes an amplifier circuit, a separation circuit, a reverse circuit, a delay circuit and a trigger circuit. The video signals are amplified via the amplifier circuit and negative phase pulse signals are extracted from the video signals via the separation circuit. The reverse circuit converts the negative phase pulse signals to positive phase pulse signals that are delayed via the delay circuit. The trigger circuit outputs the stable trigger control signals based on the delayed positive phase pulse circuit. |
| US08320562B2 |
Methods for creating secret keys based upon one or more shared characteristics and systems thereof
A method and system for generating one or more keys includes obtaining at two or more devices data based on movement of at least one of the devices with the respect to the other device. At least one key is generated based on the obtained data at each of the devices for use in securing communications between the devices. The key at each of the devices is substantially the same. |
| US08320560B2 |
Secure data parser method and system
A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing and communicating data. The secure data parser parses data and then splits the data into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security. The secure data parser may be used to protect data in motion by splitting original data into portions of data, that may be communicated using multiple communications paths. |
| US08320558B1 |
Encryption of synchronization information
A computer-implemented method for synchronizing encryption of information is disclosed according to one aspect of the subject technology. The method comprises receiving a selection of one or more types of information by a user, wherein the one or more types of information are synchronized across a plurality of computing devices. The method also comprises generating an encryption status indicating that the one or more types of information selected by the user are to be encrypted, and sending the encryption status from a first one of the computing devices to a server, wherein the server distributes the encryption status to each of the other computing devices. |
| US08320556B1 |
Method to allow cryptographic processing of messages without sanitizing the cryptographic processor between messages
An improved architecture is disclosed of a crypto engine, such as a Janus Crypto Engine (JCE) having a Programmable Cryptographic Channel (PCC) using a Programmable Cryptographic Processor (PCP). The architecture of the crypto engine does not require zeroizing between messages received by the PCC. Consequently, using the new architecture of the present invention, the crypto engine can allocate PCC resources based on throughput and algorithm needs, reducing latency, and employing fewer PCCs. |
| US08320555B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a change in network-generated crosstalk levels caused by a multi-line phone
An embodiment of a method and apparatus for determining a change in network-generated crosstalk levels caused by a multi-line phone includes determining a first crosstalk level between a first line pair and a second line pair of a multi-line phone caused by the multi-line phone, and determining a second crosstalk level between each of the first line pair and the second line pair of the multi-line phone. The second crosstalk level is determined when the first line pair and the second line pair are coupled to a first predetermined length of network line pair cable. The method further includes determining a change of network generated crosstalk levels caused by the multi-line phone by subtracting the first crosstalk level from the second crosstalk level. |
| US08320554B1 |
Acoustic echo canceller clock compensation
A conferencing endpoint uses acoustic echo cancellation with clock compensation. Receiving far-end audio to be output by a local loudspeaker, the endpoint performs acoustic echo cancellation so that the near-end audio capture by a microphone will lack echo of the far-end audio output from the loudspeaker. The converters for the local microphone and loudspeaker may have different clocks so that their sample rates differ. To assist the echo cancellation, the endpoint uses a clock compensator that cross-correlates an echo estimate of the far-end audio and the near-end audio and adjusts a sample rate conversion factor to be used for the far-end audio analyzed for echo cancellation. |
| US08320553B2 |
Enhanced echo cancellation
The present invention provides for echo cancellation circuitry and variable rate encoding circuitry to cooperate with one another to effectively provide comfort noise in an effective and efficient manner. The echo cancellation circuitry will use far-end signals to generate estimated echo signals, which correspond to the actual echo signals appearing in near-end signals. The estimated echo signals are essentially subtracted from the near-end signals in an effort to remove the actual echo signals from the near-end signals. The echo cancellation circuitry will monitor any residual echo signals in the resulting processed near-end signals and provide residual echo control signals that are indicative of whether the residual echo signals should be replaced with comfort noise. The residual echo control signals are used at least in part by the variable rate encoding circuitry to determine the encoding rate to use for encoding different portions of the processed near-end signals. |
| US08320552B2 |
Delay estimator
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for finding an estimate of the delay of a signal travelling between two points. A quantity is evaluated from the signal at a final number of time instants, at both a reference point and a reception point. The values are quantized by comparison with a threshold adapted to a typical magnitude of the quantity. If the quantized values from the reception point are shifted back by the true delay with respect to the quantized values from the reference point, then certain co-occurrences of quantized values have very low probability. Hence, the best delay estimate is that shift which yields the least number of low-probability co-occurrences. |
| US08320549B2 |
Advanced call routing using linked identities
Architecture for enabling user identities of callers to be collected from data sources and aggregated into respective meta-identities for each caller. Alternate user identities are searched, collected and associated with the meta-identity that can be a user name. A routing rule applied to the meta-identity is then applied across the alternate identities. The user identities can include a name of the caller, a phone number of the caller, or caller information collected from an external source. The phone numbers can include a partial phone number that is normalized into a full phone number format. The user identities can be mapped to the meta-identity and stored according to a hierarchy of confidence ratings. The user identities can be tagged with corresponding data source identifiers that designate respective data sources of the user identities. Conflict resolution is provided for selecting a suitable call routing path between callers having similar meta-identities. |
| US08320543B2 |
System for effecting a telephone call over a computer network without alphanumeric keypad operation
A system for effecting a telephone call between telephonic devices is operative to use a computer network, without manual use of the alphanumeric keypads. A third party call control (3PCC) application program interface (API) provides the capability for users to use a web browser or other Internet capable software to place a call, rather than using the telephone keypad. A third party call control application program interface includes a uniform resource locator operable over the Internet to cause a call between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device to be completed. The uniform resource locator includes identification of the first telephonic device and identification of the second telephonic device. |
| US08320539B2 |
Advanced payment for telephone services
A method of providing telephone services includes receiving an advanced payment. The advanced payment corresponds to a fixed time interval of telephone service spanning at least one day. The method also includes activating service to a mobile device for the fixed time interval and collecting a plurality of call data. |
| US08320536B2 |
Method and system for centralized recording in a distributed environment
A system and method for central recording of telephone calls are provided. The method may include transferring a telephone call from a session border controller (SBC) to a contact center and to a central recording unit, transferring of CTI information from the contact center to the central recording unit, associating the CTI information to the telephone call and determining by the central recording unit whether to record the call. |
| US08320530B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for realizing a multimedia call
A method for realizing a multimedia call includes the following steps. A call request initiated by a calling terminal is received. An indication of the multimedia negotiation capability of the calling terminal is acquired, in which the indication of the multimedia negotiation capability identifies whether the terminal has the capability of supporting multiple multimedia negotiations or not. It is determined, according to the indication of the multimedia negotiation capability, whether the calling terminal has the capability of supporting multiple multimedia negotiations or not. A multimedia call connection is performed according to the multimedia negotiation capability of the calling terminal. It is determined, according to the factor whether the calling terminal has the capability of supporting multiple multimedia negotiations or not, how to perform the multimedia call connection, so as to flexibly realize the multimedia call connection accordingly. |
| US08320528B2 |
System and method for electronic message notification
A system and method are disclosed for facilitating enhanced call awareness. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include an interface that receives a signal associated with a call to a telephone number. A call information engine may be coupled to the interface and may recognize that a party to the call subscribes to an enhanced call activity service. In some cases, the party may be a called party or a calling party, and the activity may include an incoming call to the telephone number, an outgoing call, a missed call, or a waiting voicemail message. A memory may maintain a data network address for the party, and a messaging engine may initiate sending of a message containing call information to the data network address. The message may be sent in response to a trigger signal output by a notification engine without consideration for whether or not a telephone line associated with the telephone number is busy. |
| US08320527B2 |
Crossover faults detection in two-wires network
A system and method for detecting crossover faults in a telecommunications access network having a plurality of access lines. Each access line includes a pair of wires for connection to a user terminal, e.g. a telephone handset. The system includes a monitor for monitoring each of the access lines to detect the presence of an off-hook state; a current sensor for each of the access lines for determining a fault condition on an access line for which an off-hook state has been detected when a imbalance is detected between currents in the wires of the access line; a controller for generating a report of each fault condition determined on an access line, in which each report comprises a time record relating to the time of generation of the report; and a crossover fault detector for recording a possible crossover fault involving two access lines upon the reporting within a set time period of one or more fault condition on each of the two access lines. |
| US08320526B2 |
Method, equipment and digital subscriber line system for spectrum optimization
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a spectrum optimization method and device and digital subscriber line system, the method comprising: calculating according to acquired information of each of respective subcarriers on the DSL line to be optimized to obtain optimized transmission power of a subcarrier to be optimized in a DSL line to be optimized; calculating a transmission rate of the DSL line to be optimized according to the optimized transmission power; and comparing the transmission rate with a target rate of the DSL line to be optimized, and if the transmission rate is less than the target rate, updating the information of an optimized subcarrier, and performing a recalculation. The embodiments of the present invention can overcome the problem of the conventional art that it is difficult to converge the rate weighted coefficient, and improve the rate of a given subscriber line while reduce power loss caused by the given subscriber line to other subscriber lines in the same bundle of cables. |
| US08320524B2 |
Orthovoltage radiotherapy
A radiosurgery system is described that delivers a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, ocular structures are placed in a global coordinate system, based on ocular imaging, which leads to direction of an automated positioning system. In some embodiments, the position of an ocular structure is tracked and related to a radiosurgery system. In some embodiments, a treatment plan is utilized for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. In some embodiments, a fiducial aids in positioning the system. In some embodiments, a reflection off the eye is used to aid in positioning. In some embodiments, radiodynamic therapy is described in which radiosurgery is used in combination with other treatments and can be delivered concomitant with, prior to, or following other treatments. |
| US08320523B2 |
Method and device for inspection of liquid articles
Disclosed are a method and a device for security-inspection of liquid articles with dual-energy CT imaging. The method comprises the steps of obtaining one or more CT images including physical attributes of liquid article to be inspected by CT scanning and a dual-energy reconstruction method; acquiring the physical attributes of each liquid article from the CT image; and determining whether the inspected liquid article is dangerous based on the physical attributes. The CT scanning can be implemented by a normal CT scanning technique, or a spiral CT scanning technique. In the normal CT scanning technique, the scan position can be preset, or set by the operator with a DR image, or set by automatic analysis of the DR image. |
| US08320522B2 |
Method for creating a tomographic image
A method for creating a tomographic image in the manner of a dental X-ray panoramic tomographic image from a digital 3D volume exhibiting X-ray absorption values, comprising transradiating the 3D volume forming an object to be scanned virtually using a virtual X-ray source, recording the virtually produced image by a virtual detector, and moving the virtual source of X-rays and virtual detector virtually past the object to be scanned with formation of a sharp layer having a blurred area. |
| US08320517B2 |
X-ray system and method for the generation of a scan path
A method for generation of a scan path for an x-ray source and/or an x-ray detector of an x-ray system is provided. CT-type imaging on the x-ray system is enabled by traversing the scan path upon simultaneous acquisition of a series of x-ray images. An original scan path of the x-ray source and/or of the x-ray detector is provided, where the scan path is defined by a series of original acquisition points. A viewing axis from the x-ray source to the object and/or the detector is identified for at least one acquisition point on the scan path. A modified scan path is generated by displacement of the at least one acquisition point at least partially along the viewing axis so that the scanning movement upon traversing the modified scan path can be reproduced as in the original scan path. |
| US08320516B2 |
Pulse signal output circuit and shift register
An object of the present invention is to provide a pulse signal output circuit capable of operating stably and a shift register including the pulse signal output circuit. In an embodiment of the pulse signal output circuit, a transistor has a source terminal or a drain terminal connected to a gate electrode of another transistor having a source terminal or a drain terminal forming an output terminal of the pulse signal output circuit, the channel length of the transistor being longer than the channel length of the other transistor. Thereby, the amount of a leakage current modifying the gate potential of the other transistor can be reduced, and a malfunction of the pulse signal output circuit can be prevented. |
| US08320515B2 |
Water reactor fuel cladding tube
A water reactor fuel cladding tube (4) is described. The tube (4) comprises an outer layer (6) of a first zirconium based alloy and has metallurgically bonded thereto an inner layer (7) of a second zirconium based alloy. The inner layer protects (7) the cladding tube (4) against stress corrosion cracking. The second zirconium based alloy comprises tin as an alloying material, and each one of the zirconium based alloys comprises at least 96 percent by weight zirconium. The first zirconium based alloy comprises at least 0.1 percent by weight niobium. A method of manufacturing the cladding tube (4) is also described and comprises the step of co-extruding two tubes of different zirconium based alloys to produce the cladding tube (4). |
| US08320514B2 |
Nuclear power plant, method of forming corrosion-resistant coating therefor, and method of operating nuclear power plant
In a nuclear power plant, a corrosion-resistant oxide film on a surface of the metal component of a reactor structure is exposed to a high-temperature water, the corrosion-resistant oxide film containing an oxide having a property of a P-type semiconductor, and a catalytic substance having a property of an N-type semiconductor is deposited on the oxide film. The oxide film maintains the property of the P-type semiconductor. |
| US08320511B2 |
Cycle slip detection for timing recovery
A method and an arrangement for cycle slip detection for timing recovery of a received analog signal including asynchronously sampled digital data are implemented with a timing recovery control loop using a technique known as interpolated timing recovery and improved cycle slip detection as well as improved cycle slip correction based on said cycle slip detection. The method includes using an output signal of the loop filter in the control loop for timing recovery, generating averaged timing error values from said filtered timing error signal and accumulating changes of the averaged timing error values in adjacent blocks of samples which exceed a first threshold. Accumulated averaged timing error changes of adjacent blocks which exceed a second threshold are then declared as cycle slip and the number of cycle slips is determined by a third threshold being a tolerance threshold. |
| US08320505B2 |
Apparatus and method for receiver in multiple antenna system
Detection apparatus and method for achieving performance close to a Maximum Likelihood (ML) detection having optimal performance and reducing computational complexity in a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system including a plurality of transmit antennas and receive antennas are provided. The apparatus includes a hard decision part for confirming an initial hard decision value of a receive symbol vector; a candidate symbol selector for selecting candidate symbols restricted to neighbor values of the initial hard decision value; and an interference canceller for canceling interference in the selected candidate symbols and selecting a final candidate symbol from the received symbols using a result of the interference cancellation. |
| US08320503B2 |
Receiver
A receiver that receives a train of a plurality of symbols representing digital data, includes: an isolated pulse detector that detects whether the digital data includes an isolated pulse in the symbol train, respectively; a phase detector that detects a timing at which the level of the symbols changes; a symbol value converter that converts the symbols into logical values on the basis of the timing detected by the phase detector; and a data selector that selects a logical value of the isolated pulse instead of the logical value converted by the symbol value converter when the isolated pulse detector detects the digital data containing the isolated pulse. |
| US08320502B2 |
Digital demodulating apparatus, digital receiver, controlling method of the apparatus, computer program product, and recording medium recording thereon the product
A digital demodulating apparatus comprises circuit components constituting a tuner that applies channel select processing to a received signal, and a demodulator that demodulates the signal to which the tuner has applied channel select processing; a power supply unit that supplies power to each circuit component; a reception condition detecting unit that detects a reception condition when the tuner receives the signal; a power adjusting unit that adjusts the power to be supplied to each circuit component by the power supply unit, on the basis of a result of the detection by the reception condition detecting unit; a fading environment estimating unit that estimates a fading environment when the tuner receives the signal; and a power controlling unit that controls the power adjusting unit on the basis of a result of the estimation by the fading environment estimating unit so that the number of times of adjustments of the power by the power adjusting unit per unit time changes in accordance with the variability of the reception condition. |
| US08320500B2 |
Clustered OFDM with channel estimation
An improved OFDM receiver is realized by employing a simplified delay function for the transmissions channel. The simplified delay function yields a simplified frequency-domain correlation that is applied to develop an Eigen matrix U that is used in developing estimates of the channels. Those channel estimates are used in the receiver to develop the output signals. |
| US08320494B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating reference voltage to adjust for attenuation
A system and method are shown for generation of at least one reference voltage level in a bus system. A reference voltage generator on a current driver includes at least one reference voltage level, at least one control signal, and an active device. The active device is coupled to the at least one control signal, such as a current control signal, and a selected reference voltage of the at least one reference voltage level. The active device is arranged to shift the at least one reference voltage level based on the at least one current control signal such as an equalization signal, a crosstalk signal, or the combination thereof, employed on the current driver. |
| US08320492B2 |
Closed form singular value decomposition
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus for determining a singular value decomposition, providing feedback from a client station to a base station, and closed loop operation of a wireless system implementing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). The method may include determining one or more singular vectors using a closed form singular value decomposition. The one or more determined singular vectors may be provided to a precoder at the base station as feedback. The method may include aligning a phase of one or more singular vectors. The method may also include determining, at a client station, a plurality of singular vectors for channels used in a MIMO transmission from a base station to a client station. The client station may provide an indication to the base station regarding whether to use a singular value decomposition or a uniform channel decomposition. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. |
| US08320489B2 |
Determining channel coefficients in a multipath channel
A device, method, and computer-readable medium are provided. The device includes, but is not limited to, an antenna configured to receive a multipath signal and a processor operably coupled to the antenna to receive the multipath signal. The processor is configured to determine a training signal transmitted from a second device to create the received multipath signal; sample the received multipath signal; and determine channel coefficients based on the sampled multipath signal and the determined training signal using a mixed-norm convex optimization process, wherein the channel coefficients characterize a channel associated with the multipath signal. |
| US08320486B2 |
Retransmission method for HARQ in MIMO systems
In a closed-loop wireless communication system (200), a codeword retransmission scheme is provided which allows retransmission of a single codeword using a higher order transmission rank, which may or may not be the same as the higher order transmission rank used to originally transmit the codeword. When one of a plurality of codewords (CW1, CW2) being transmitted over two codeword pipes to a receiver (201.i) fails the transmission, codeword retransmission is enabled by duplicating the failed codeword at the base station (210) and then retransmitting the duplicated codewords over both codeword pipes using the same transmission layers or “rank” as the original transmission. |
| US08320484B2 |
1K mode interleaver in a digital video broadcasting (DVB) standard
A data processor maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM sub-carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM sub-carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, the order being determined from a set of addresses, with the effect that the data symbols are interleaved on to the sub-carrier signals. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator which comprises a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit. |
| US08320479B2 |
Ranking and grouping of transmissions in communication system
Improved ranking and grouping techniques are disclosed for communication systems such as a multiple input multiple output system. For instance, techniques are disclosed for ranking and grouping users that are eligible for single-user and/or multiple-user transmissions. In one case, ranking and grouping are performed independently and, in another case, ranking and grouping are performed jointly. |
| US08320476B2 |
Communication control system, radio communication terminal and communication control method
A communication control system according to the present invention transmits and receives multiple data flows having different priorities to and from a radio communication terminal by a multicarrier using multiple carriers. The communication control system is provided with a carrier transmitter configured to transmit the multiple carriers to the radio communication terminal 2; and a carrier assignment unit configured to assign a data flow of a priority, which is different from that of a different data flow, a carrier different from that of the different data flow on the basis of the priorities of the respective data flows. |
| US08320474B2 |
Digital frequency hopping in multi-band OFDM
A transmitter configured for generating a frequency-hopped OFDM signal comprises a digital Fourier transform circuit, a variable bandpass filter, and a frequency-hopping controller. The digital Fourier transform circuit comprises a plurality of input frequency bins and is configured to modulate complex data symbols onto a plurality of OFDM subcarriers. The variable bandpass filter selects sets of the plurality of input frequency bins for frequency hopping the OFDM subcarriers over a plurality of subbands. The frequency-hopping controller controls the variable bandpass filter with respect to at least one predetermined frequency-hopping pattern. A receiver configured for processing a received frequency-hopped OFDM signal comprises a digital Fourier transform circuit configured to convert a received digital baseband signal into a frequency-domain signal comprising a plurality of OFDM symbols, a variable bandpass filter configured to select sets of the OFDM symbols with respect to predetermined subbands, and a frequency-hopping controller configured to control the variable bandpass filter with respect to a predetermined frequency-hopping pattern. |
| US08320473B1 |
Data communication system utilizing optimized code table signaling
A data communication method is disclosed. The method may include obtaining a data vector to be communicated; selecting a code table configured for facilitating the data communication; selecting a vector of real numbers representative of the data vector using the code table; and transmitting the vector of real numbers, wherein the vector of real numbers is transformed, upon reception, into a best corresponding vector by utilizing the code table. |
| US08320471B2 |
Transmission device for differential communication
In a transmission device for differential communication, a first cathode-side element part is coupled between a first communication line and a cathode-side power supply line, a second cathode-side element part is coupled between a second communication line and the cathode-side power supply line, a first anode-side element part is coupled between the first communication line and an anode-side power supply line, and a second anode-side element part is coupled between the second communication line and the anode-side power supply line. A driving portion drives the element parts based on transmission data input from an outside. A target potential generating portion generates target potentials of the element parts based on potentials of the first communication line and the second communication line. |
| US08320468B2 |
Apparatus for encoding and decoding header data in picture signal transmission
A picture decoding method and apparatus for encoding a video signal. The method includes performing an encoding process on the video signal to generate a bit stream compatible with MPEG 1 moving picture video standard. The method further includes controlling the encoding process so as to generate the bit stream which includes, in a previous picture header, an extension start code indicating the beginning of extension data added when a picture header includes control data that is newly added in MPEG 2 standard format and the extension data, and does not include, in a current picture header, the extension start code and the extension data. |
| US08320467B2 |
Coding device and method, decoding device and method, recording medium, and program
An encoding apparatus and an encoding method, a decoding apparatus and a decoding method, a recording medium, and a program suitable for encoding image signals with a higher compression ratio for transmission or accumulation. In an arithmetic coding section, from among the syntax elements of input image compression information, the frame/field flag is first encoded by a frame/field flag context model. When the macroblock to be processed is subjected to frame-based encoding, a frame-based context model, specified in the current H.26L standard, is applied. On the other hand, when the macroblock to be processed is subjected to field-based encoding, a field-based context model is applied for the syntax elements described below. The present invention is applied to an encoder for encoding image information and a decoder for decoding image information. |
| US08320464B2 |
Method and apparatus to construct bi-directional predicted frames for temporal scalability
A method, apparatus and system for decoding a bi-directional picture predicted from two reference frames with a motion compensation codec that is capable of locating reference frame portions from only one reference frame at a time. Including locating a first reference frame portion from a first frame in a first pass, storing the first reference frame portion in memory; locating a second reference frame portion from a second frame in a second pass, and combining the first reference frame portion and the second reference frame portion to form a bi-directionally predicted portion. Also, a method and apparatus for restricting the encoding of a bi-directional picture predicted from two reference frames to be decoded by a motion compensation codec that is capable of locating reference frame portions from only one reference frame at a time and is capable of decoding a limited number of partitions for each macroblock. |
| US08320463B2 |
Reference data buffer for intra-prediction of digital video
Encoding or decoding digital video frames in intra-prediction mode by selecting column reference data locations for blocks adjacent a current block from a column reference data buffer storing column reference data samples for no more than two macro blocks of the frame. In some cases, the column reference data buffer may include a storage size for samples of a first column of data of blocks of one macro block of luminance samples. Encoding and decoding may also include selecting row reference data locations for blocks adjacent a current block from a row reference data buffer storing row reference data samples for at least one row of macro blocks of the frame. In some cases, the row reference data buffer may include storage for samples of a first row of data of fourteen successive blocks spanning two rows. The concept can be applied to various video processing components and standards. |
| US08320457B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
A display device with improved display quality and a method of driving the display device set at least one static area in each of a previous frame and a current frame by comparing edge areas of the previous frame and edge areas of the current frame, and create an interpolated frame for display between the previous and current frames. At least one static area of the previous frame is used in an unmodified state as a static area of the interpolated frame. |
| US08320455B2 |
System and method to process motion vectors of video data
Systems and methods to process motion vectors of video data are disclosed. According to an embodiment, an intra-block in a video frame of the video data is identified. At least a first set and a second set of inter-blocks that neighbor the identified intra-block are identified, where each inter-block in a set of inter-blocks has a motion vector associated therewith. Data of the first and second set of inter-blocks is evaluated to determine an error associated with each of the first and second sets. A motion vector associated with motion vectors of the inter-blocks of the set with the least error is determined. The determined motion vector may be associated with the identified intra-block. |
| US08320453B2 |
Method for modeling coding information of a video signal to compress/decompress the information
A method for context modeling of coding information of a video signal for compressing or decompressing the coding information is provided. An initial value of a function for probability coding of coding information of a video signal of an enhanced layer is determined based on coding information of a corresponding video signal of a base layer. |
| US08320451B2 |
Replacement of frame data in a video stream signal
An apparatus processes a video stream signal. The video stream signal represents a succession of frames, comprising a plurality of dependent frames that each provide for prediction of visual content using selectable ones of a preceding and following anchor frame that precede and follow the plurality of frames respectively. When a shortage of transmission bandwidth occurs, the apparatus generates a processed version of the video stream signal wherein a bit-rate alteration is performed starting from one of the dependent frames before an end of said plurality. Said alteration is executed by substituting a standard prediction from the following anchor frame at least for data in the video stream signal that encodes a region in said one of the dependent frames. The bit rate alteration is accompanied by a switch to a mode in which the processing circuit substitutes a standard prediction from the following anchor frame in all following dependent frames that follow said one of the dependent frames until the following anchor frame, for data in the video stream signal that encodes the region in said following dependent frames. In an embodiment interlacing is killed for the replaced regions. |
| US08320446B2 |
System for transmission of synchronous video with compression through channels with varying transmission delay
The present invention overcomes limitations of conventional synchronous signal transmission systems. The present invention provides apparent low latency synchronous signal transmission between devices, even if the transmission channel has impairments, and, allows for asynchronous transmission of signals between a transmitters and receivers that are located between the devices. Compression is preferably used for reducing the bandwidth of the transmitted data which results in asynchronous transmission of signals between a transmitter and a receiver. |
| US08320441B2 |
Efficient high performance demodulation of low BT value gaussian minimum shift keying incorporating turbo equalization
Systems (600) and methods (100) for demodulating a Gaussian Filtered Minimum Shift Keyed (GMSK) signal. The GMSK signal is defined in a transmitted symbol domain where each symbol is given by a product of a current data bit and a previous data bit. The GMSK signal is converted from the transmitted symbol domain to a data symbol domain. The conversion is achieved by approximating filtered complex output signals that would be produced by matched filters having filter shapes corresponding to pulses used in terms of a Laurent expansion. Subsequent to the convention of the GMSK signal, a trellis equalization of the GMSK signal is performed exclusively in the data symbol domain based on the terms of the Laurent expansion. |
| US08320434B2 |
Encoding uplink acknowledgments to downlink transmissions
A portable device, such as a mobile terminal or user equipment, for encoding uplink acknowledgments to downlink transmissions. The portable device includes a receiver configured to receive a plurality of data blocks, such that each of the data blocks include an associated cyclic redundancy check (CRC), and a processor configured to determine received status for each of the data blocks by checking the CRC of each of the data blocks. The portable device further includes a transmitter for transmitting a response sequence which indicates the received status of all of the data blocks. |
| US08320433B2 |
Compression of baseband signals in base transceiver system interfaces
A signal compression method and apparatus for a base transceiver system (BTS) in a wireless communication network provides efficient transfer of compressed signal samples over serial data links in the system. For the uplink, an RF unit of the BTS compresses baseband signal samples resulting from analog to digital conversion of a received analog signal followed by digital downconversion. The compressed signal samples are transferred over the serial data link to the baseband processor then decompressed prior to normal signal processing. For the downlink, the baseband processor compresses baseband signal samples and transfers the compressed signal samples to the RF unit. The RF unit decompresses the compressed samples prior to digital upconversion and digital to analog conversion to form an analog signal for transmission over an antenna. Compression and decompression can be incorporated into operations of conventional base stations and distributed antenna systems, including OBSAI or CPRI compliant systems. |
| US08320431B2 |
Differential channel quality reporting
Various example embodiments are disclosed herein. According to one example embodiment, a method may include obtaining a first channel quality measurement for a wireless node such as a mobile station or relay station in a wireless network. The method may further include sending, from the wireless node, a full channel quality indicator (CQI) to a base station based on the first channel quality measurement. The method may further include obtaining a second channel quality measurement for the wireless node. The method may further include sending a differential CQI to the base station based on comparing the second channel quality measurement to the first channel quality measurement. The differential CQI may occupy less channel resources than the full CQI. |
| US08320429B2 |
Receiver and method for receiving data in human body communication system using multiple receivers
There are provided a receiver in human body communication system using multiple receivers reducing an error rate of receiver signals by applying a space diversity acquisition-related SIMO technology to a plurality of received data using multiple receivers or receiver electrodes in a human body communication system using a human body as a medium, and of stably transmitting the data for the interference of signals generated by other users or from different electronic devices, and a method for receiving data in the human body communication system. The receiver and the method for receiving data in a human body communication system may be useful to stably transmit/receive data without any reduction of its transmission rate by reducing the distortion in channels and the signal noise which are caused in the use of one receiver. |
| US08320428B1 |
Spread spectrum clock generator with controlled delay elements
A programmable spread spectrum clock generator (SSCG) reduces electromagnetic interference by spreading the frequency bandwidth of an output signal. The rate at which the frequency of the output signal changes, as well as other aspects of the output signal, are software programmable. The programmable SSCG receives a periodic signal whose cycles have substantially identical periods and outputs the output signal whose cycles have periods that vary smoothly over a plurality of cycles of the periodic signal. The programmable SSCG generates a control signal using the periodic signal. The programmable SSCG includes a variable delay element that generates the output signal by delaying the periods of the periodic signal based on the magnitude of the control signal. The output signal is generated without using a phase locked loop. Moreover, successive cycles of the output signal rarely have identical periods. |
| US08320427B2 |
Cold walled induction guide tube
The introduction of spray formed metals into critical applications in the aircraft engine and power generation industries has been hampered by the possibility of erosion of oxide particles from a crucible lining or pouring nozzle in conventional spray forming equipment. These oxide particles may become inclusions that limit low-cycle fatigue life of parts. Use of a cold-walled induction guide (CIG) with an electrical insulation layer between copper CIG elements and the liquid metal offers a means of delivering ceramic-free alloys to a spray system with improved efficiency. CIG design options facilitated by a new oven-brazed fabrication technique resolve induction coil environmental isolation issues, correct thermal strain tolerance problems, facilitate dual frequency induction designs, allow improved electrical coupling efficiency and thermal efficiency, result in improved melt flow initiation, and facilitate disassembly without damage from the solidified melt. |
| US08320424B2 |
Optical component cleanliness and debris management in laser micromachining applications
Preferred embodiments of a purge gas port, laser beam attenuating input window, and laser shutter constitute subsystems of a UV laser optical system in which a laser beam is completely enclosed to reduce contamination of the optical system components. Purge gas is injected through multiple locations in a beam tube assembly to ensure that the optical component surfaces sensitive to contamination are in the flow path of the purge gas. The input window functions as a fixed level attenuator to limit photopolymerization of airborne molecules and particles. Periodically rotating optical elements asymmetrically in their holders reduces burn damage to the optics. |
| US08320420B2 |
Polarity independent laser monitor diode current sensing circuit for optical modules
A laser bias control and monitoring circuit receives a monitor diode current on an input node and generate a bias current for a laser diode on an output node where the monitor diode current flows into (positive polarity) or out of (negative polarity) the input node. The laser bias control and monitoring circuit includes a polarity independent current sensing circuit configured to receive the monitor diode current in either positive or negative polarity and to generate a normalized output current having a magnitude proportional to a magnitude of the monitor diode current. In this manner, the laser bias control and monitoring circuit can be used with laser diode and monitor diode combination in either the common anode or the common cathode configuration, or with the monitor diode current being provided from the anode or cathode of the monitor diode. No reprogramming or reconfiguration of the circuit is required. |
| US08320416B2 |
Laser irradiation system
A laser irradiation system includes a laser configured to irradiate light, a laser transfer unit configured to transfer the laser along a target irradiation area, the target irradiation area being divided into a plurality of sections, a laser transfer controller configured to control a speed of the laser in each of the plurality of sections of the target irradiation area, a laser output controller configured to control an output level of the laser in each of the plurality of sections of the target irradiation area, and a main controller configured to control the laser output controller and the laser transfer controller. |
| US08320414B2 |
Formation and rearrangement of lender devices that perform multiplexing functions
A method comprises establishing an ad-hoc network between a borrower and at least two lenders of bandwidth and establishing one lender of the at least two lenders as a multiplexer to manage data flow over the ad-hoc network between the borrower and lenders of the at least two lenders of bandwidth. The method may include providing a computer infrastructure to perform the steps of the invention. A system is also provided which includes a server having a database containing data associated with one or more lenders and a borrower in an ad-hoc network and at least one hardware and/or software component. The system may further includes computer usable medium having readable program code embodied in the medium to perform processes of the invention. |
| US08320410B2 |
Synchronization of media data streams with separate sinks using a relay
Relay devices and sink devices that provide synchronized audio and/or video outputs are described. A relay device receives a first communication packet from a source device. The first communication packet includes a data frame. A timestamp is generated. The timestamp is an estimate of a time at which content defined by the data frame will be “played.” A second communication packet is generated that includes the data frame and the generated timestamp. The second communication packet is transmitted from the relay device. In one implementation, the generated timestamp is received by a plurality of sink devices, and is used to synchronize output signals (e.g., sound and/or video images) of the sink devices. In another implementation, the generated timestamp is received by a sink device, and is used to synchronize an output signal of the sink device with an output signal of the relay device. |
| US08320401B2 |
System and method to access and address high-speed interface converter devices
High-speed transceiver devices, such as GBIC-type transceivers, are accessed and addressed. Identification information (including manufacturer name, model, compliance codes) is placed in data fields of the transceivers. An algorithm checks each port in each module of a host system to determine if a transceiver is present. If a particular transceiver is present, then algorithms store the port address of the transceiver in memory and enable the transceiver to be read from or written to. Reading from the transceiver includes reading the identification information, and writing to the transceiver includes writing the identification information. If a transceiver is initially determined not to be present or if the reading/writing/enabling processes fail, then a recovery process determines if the transceiver was present the last time it was checked. If it was present the last time, then the process continues to try to recover the transceiver data—otherwise, the port is marked as empty. |
| US08320395B2 |
Reduced interference channel allocation based on subband grouping by modulation, coding, and power
A radio resource control in an Uplink Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) system is provided. The control procedure includes: dividing the common frequency band into more than one frequency band sub-block; allocating at least one user terminal to each frequency band sub-block on the basis of the modulation and coding schemes used by the user terminals; and controlling transmission power of the user terminals on the basis of the modulation and coding schemes used by the user terminals. |
| US08320394B2 |
Radio communication system, terminal and packet
A radio communication system includes a plurality of radio communication terminals, in which a first radio communication terminal stores, in a first field contained in a header of a radio communication packet, address information indicating at least one radio communication terminal to which the radio communication packet is directly transmitted, and a second terminal relays the radio communication packet with reference to the address information stored in the first field. The header of the radio communication packet includes a second field which stores address information indicating a final destination terminal and a third field which stores address information indicating the first terminal as a sending source. |
| US08320392B1 |
Method and apparatus for programmable buffer with dynamic allocation to optimize system throughput with deadlock avoidance on switches
A method and apparatus for programmable buffer with dynamic allocation to optimize system throughput with deadlock avoidance on switches have been disclosed where a buffer availability is based on a programmable reservation size for dynamic allocation. |
| US08320385B1 |
Wireless scheduler bandwidth estimation for quick start
A method, wireless system, and medium are provided for estimating capacity for a new communication session initiated by a wireless device. The wireless system includes a base station and wireless devices that wirelessly connect to the base station. The base station executes a wireless scheduler that coordinates wireless transmission over wireless networks. The base station also executes a bandwidth estimation component to estimate available bandwidth for a new communication session. The estimated available bandwidth is used in a quick configuration message communicated from the base station to a wireless device to notify the wireless device of the capacity available at the base station and of a transmission rate for the wireless device. |
| US08320383B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing call admission control for VoIP over wireless local area networks using a transparent proxy agent
The invention includes a method and apparatus providing call admission control for a wireless local area network (WLAN). A method includes extracting call signaling information from call signaling messages exchanged between a first user terminal and a second user terminal for establishing a voice call, where the second user terminal is being served by a wireless access point, and propagating a quality-of-service request toward the wireless access point which may be used by the wireless access point for determining whether or not to accept the voice call. The quality-of-service request includes at least one quality-of-service parameter determined using the extracted call signaling information. The at least one quality-of-service parameter is adapted for use by the wireless access point for determining whether or not to accept the voice call. The wireless access point then provides an indication as to whether it has accepted the voice call (in which case the voice call is completed) or whether it has rejected the voice call (in which case some other call handling may be applied to the voice call). |
| US08320377B2 |
Connectivity plane routing
A method and device for routing a connectivity plane message to a mobile terminal that can be reached via two or more network nodes of a first type are described. The method includes receiving positional information indicating the geographical location of the mobile terminal, receiving routing information being associated with a network node of a second type to which the mobile terminal is attached, determining, based on the positional information, the network node of the first type via which the connectivity plane message is to be routed to the mobile terminal, and routing the connectivity plane message to the mobile terminal via the selected network node of the first type. |
| US08320376B2 |
Method and system for out-of-band messaging
Method and system for Out-Of-Band (OOB) massaging with Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) configured to receive OOB messaging signals from a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). The method and system include determining whether a DCD message identifying data tunnels includes a DCD message identifier matching with a CPE identifier such that the data tunnels identified in the matching DCD message are tuned to by the CPE. |
| US08320375B2 |
Method and device for distributing data segment of data stream to group of users
A status message is sent by each node a group of nodes in a network to other nodes in the group using a multicast and/or broadcast channel of the network to identify the nodes in the group. The status message includes a piece of information about a data segment to be received by the nodes in the group via the multicast and/or broadcast channel. At least one of the nodes in the group requests the data segment via a point-to-point transmission channel from a source node. The data segment is sent to the other node(s) in the group via the multicast and/or broadcast channel. |
| US08320372B2 |
Processing of packet fragments
In one embodiment, the present invention is a technique for processing fragments received at a node (e.g., a router) in a datagram-based communication system in order to provide a wide range of protection against potential fragment-based attacks. Received fragments are examined as they are received to verify that they do not overlap one another and that the fragment sequence does not exploit common weaknesses in IP packet-reassembly algorithms. Valid fragment sequences that represent potential threats to the receiver can be reordered and/or fully or partially re-assembled and re-fragmented into a fragment sequence that eliminates or reduces the threat to the receiver. Fragmented sequences that represent a likely attack are blocked, as are subsequent fragments of the associated packet. |
| US08320368B2 |
Systems and methods to provide communication references based on recommendations to connect people for real time communications
Methods and apparatuses to selectively present communication references based on recommendations from related entities to connect people for real time communications. One embodiment includes: receiving from a user a selection of a first listing, including a reference to be used to request a connection for real time communications between the user and a first entity; responsive to the selection of the first listing, determining one or more entities related to the first listing; selecting a second listing based at least in part on data representing one or more recommendations from the one or more entities; and presenting to the user the second listing, the including a reference for the user to request a connection with a second entity for real time communications. In one embodiment, the first and second entities provide services over connections established via the references included in the first and second listings for real time communications. |
| US08320364B2 |
Control of bit-rate and packet duplication in a real-time media stream
A method for controlling a real-time media stream between a sender and a receiver. The method includes streaming, from the sender, media packets over a network at a bit-rate, determining at the sender a loss-rate for the streamed media packets not received at the receiver. The sender optionally generates duplicate packets for a selected number of media packets and streams the duplicate packets over the network when the loss-rate is above a first loss-rate threshold, or varies the bit-rate of streaming the media packets over the network when the loss-rate is above a second loss-rate threshold. |
| US08320362B2 |
Telecommunications system and method of initiating file transfers from voice endpoints
A communications system and method of transferring data over the communications system. The system includes audio communications devices (telephones and/or, soft phones) connected to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) endpoints with multiple line capabilities and a unique Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) associated with audio communications that has the form x@y.z. A file transfer agent system running a File Transfer Application Agent (FTAA) application is also connected at each of SIP endpoints, and has a unique URI that has the form ft.x@y.z. Parties conducting a phone conversation at SIP endpoints can initiate file transfers between the file transfer agent system from respective audio communications devices without otherwise accessing the file transfer agent system. |
| US08320359B2 |
Synchronization channel scheme for super 3G
An apparatus and method operable to enable the use of synchronization (SCH) and broadcast channel (BCH) signals with a bandwidth (BW) equal to the minimum possible BW for the system, for example 1.25 MHz. The present invention increases the speed of the initial cell search. In addition, the repetition of signals in the frequency domain makes it possible to perform a faster cell detection in the event a system/mobile terminal/UE is using a larger BW. When the present invention is used in a high BW system, a mobile terminal/UE is operable to determine whether to perform a cell search on a low or high BW to get sufficient cell detection performance. |
| US08320357B2 |
Wireless telecommunications system with improved transmission capacity
A wireless telecommunications system for stationary or semi-stationary equipment includes a main node and a first plurality of terminals belonging to the same access subset and arranged to receive from and transmit to the main node. The main node transmits in at least one beam and receives in at least two beams, and the system indicates to the terminals that they may or may not transmit to the central node. Based upon certain criteria, two or more terminals located in different receive beams of the main node may be given permission to transmit to the central node simultaneously. Suitably, two or more terminals which are given permission to transmit simultaneously do so using the same frequency, or the same code, or the same time slot. |
| US08320355B1 |
Voice data integrated multiaccess by self-reservation and contention algorithm
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method for providing multiple access to a communication channel, the method comprising: sending a reservation request of a first type into a first selected minislot of a selected frame of an uplink channel when information of a first type is to be sent, the uplink channel having a plurality of frames, each frame having a first selectable number of minislots and a second selectable number of slots, the reservation request of the first type requesting an assignment of at least one slot for transmitting information of the first type in at least one frame that is subsequent to the selected frame. |
| US08320354B2 |
Robust transmission scheme for wireless networks
Systems and methods are described that facilitate assigning a predefined manner in which interfering transmissions may be fully or partially orthogonalized, as well as transmission time periods during which the orthogonalization protocol(s) may be employed. Depending on interference conditions, flexible resource reuse may be implemented to mitigate interference without unduly taxing resources. The subject of the innovation may be employed in, for instance, an ad hoc or unplanned/semi-planned wireless communication environment. |
| US08320353B2 |
Method and system for estimating adaptive combined channel in CDMA system based on time division duplex system
Disclosed is a method and system for estimating an adaptive joint channel in a CDMA system based on TDD. The method includes the steps of a) receiving activity information of a mobile terminal; b) parsing the activity information, and transmitting a midamble sequence to the mobile terminal when a result of the parsing shows that the mobile terminal is in an ON state; c) conducting adaptive joint channel estimation by using the midamble sequence in the mobile terminal; and d) conducting adaptive joint detection by using a channel impulse response of the mobile terminal, obtained as a result of conducting the adaptive joint channel estimation. The method and system decreases the complexity in channel estimation and additionally increases the accuracy of channel estimation by reducing transmission power consumption and eliminating unnecessary interference. |
| US08320350B2 |
Method, system and a data frame for communication in a wireless communication system
A means for determining a channel for communication in a wireless communication system is provided. A method includes receiving one or more sub-frames of a beacon signal on a beaconing channel until a legitimacy condition of the beacon signal is met. The beacon signal is transmitted by a beaconing device. The method further includes determining a suitability of the channel for communication in the wireless communication system based on the legitimacy condition. |
| US08320347B2 |
Wireless communication device and computer usable medium therefor
A wireless communication device is provided. The wireless communication device includes a first obtainer configured to obtain an identifier of a wireless network to which a first external device belongs, the identifier of the wireless network being detected based on radio waves transmitted from the first external device, a second obtainer configured to obtain an identifier of a wireless network to which a second external device belongs, the identifier of the wireless network being obtained from the second external device through an IP network to which the wireless communication device has been connected, and an output controller configured to output a first identifier obtained commonly by the first obtainer and the second obtainer to an output unit so that the first identifier is presented to be distinguishable from other identifiers obtained by solely one of the first obtainer and the second obtainer. |
| US08320346B2 |
Apparatus and methods for universal services interface networking
Embodiments of systems and methods for Universal System Interface (USI) networking are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a USI request may be received by a station configured for heterogeneous wireless communication from an application service provider (ASP) over a first access network. The USI request may include a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of a USI system for services provided by a network service provider (NSP) over a second access network. The station may then determine the USI system address based on the FQDN Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08320343B2 |
Radio cell station apparatus, reference signal allocation method and reference signal allocation program
A CS searches in advance for information about unique words used by neighboring CSs to hold the information in a storage unit. When an LCH establishment request is made by a PS in the cell of the CS, it is confirmed whether or not there is an empty traffic slot. Further, with reference to the unique word information of the neighboring CSs of the same frequency and the same slot as the empty slot to be allocated, an unused unique word pattern is allocated. |
| US08320338B2 |
Transmission/reception apparatus and method for supporting MIMO technology in a forward link of a high rate packet data system
Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving data in a communication system with a plurality of antennas. Data and a first pilot are generated. The first pilot is transmitted at a first position in a frequency domain that corresponds to a position of the generated data in the frequency domain and at a first position in a time domain that is with the generated data, in every transmission time interval of the data. A second pilot is generated. The second pilot is transmitted at predetermined second positions in the time domain and the frequency domain, in a transmission time interval that is predefined by a transmitter and a receiver. |
| US08320337B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting ACK/NACK
A technology enabling a base station to transmit acknowledgement (ACK)/negative ACK (NACK) information about data received from a terminal is provided. A cyclic shift value difference of each terminal may be maximized and a radio resource for transmitting the ACK/NACK information may be assigned without collision. |
| US08320336B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving control channel with additional information
A method for transmitting and receiving a control channel with additional information is disclosed. To this end, a mobile station acquires information of at least one control channel, which supports additional information transmission through phase rotation, and phase rotation value information for representing the additional information, and transmits control information through any one of the control channels and the additional information through phase rotation of the control information. A base station provides information of at least one control channel, which supports additional information transmission through phase rotation, and phase rotation value information for representing the additional information, and simultaneously receives specific control information and additional information from the mobile station based on the control channel information and the phase rotation value information. |
| US08320331B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating a position of an access point in a wireless communications network
The present invention describes a method for estimating a position of an Access Point in a wireless communications network. The Access Point, used for connecting wireless networks to a core network, is being equipped with a User Equipment module, UE module. The UE module is used for scanning, for example upon a triggering event, a surrounding environment of the Access Point to identify neighbor Radio Base Stations. The Access Point then creates a neighbor list including information relating to neighbor Radio Base Stations. The Access Point forwards the neighbor list to the Network Control Node, wherein the Network Control Node uses the information in the neighbor list to estimate a position of the Access Point. |
| US08320330B2 |
Service zone switching method based on load considering inter-cell interference in 802.16/WIBRO systems
There is provided a method of switching a zone through which services are provided to subscriber stations (SS) in an environment using an FRF-1 zone and an FRF-3 zone based on traffic load of each zone in order to reduce the inter-cell interference in 802.16/WiBro systems. The service zone switching method based on load considering inter-cell interference in 802.16/WiBro systems may be useful to minimize the inter-cell interference, enhance the capacity of cells and improve users' transmission quality in the cells by determining whether the services are provided through one out of an FRF-1 zone (a zone where users in 3 sectors of one cell can use all subchannels) and an FRF-3 zone (a zone where users in each of 3 sectors of one cell can use one third of all subchannels; 3 sectors of one cell use 3 channel group, respectively), which are present in one frame, based on the distribution and traffic load of subscriber stations (SS) present in one cell, which consists of 3 sector units, under the environment of the 802.16/WiBro systems, and providing services through the selected zone. |
| US08320326B2 |
Method and system for inter-technology active handoff of a hybrid communication device
A communication system provides for a handoff of a hybrid mobile station (MS) between a legacy network implementing a non-high rate packet data (non-HRPD) communication technology and a network implementing a high rate packet data (HRPD) communication technology. In one embodiment, the legacy network receives a handoff trigger and redirects the MS to the HRPD network. In other embodiments, the legacy network (or HRPD network) receives a handoff trigger, obtains an allocation of HRPD network (or non-HRPD network) resources from the HRPD network (or non-HRPD network), and informs the MS of the allocated HRPD network (or non-HRPD network) resources. Subsequent to the establishment by the HRPD network (or non-HRPD network) of a traffic channel with the MS, the non-HRPD network (or HRPD network) releases non-HRPD network (or HRPD network) RF resources associated with the MS. In still other embodiments, the handoffs may be controlled by a Mobile Switching Center. |
| US08320318B2 |
Power ramping for RACH
The present invention relates to a method for requesting access to a resource, said method comprising a secondary station transmitting an access preamble to a primary station, upon failure of correct transmission of the access preamble, the secondary station starting a first power ramping scheme for transmitting the access preamble, upon failure of correct transmission of the access preamble with the first power ramping scheme, the secondary station transmitting a second access preamble with a second power ramping scheme being different from the first power ramping scheme. |
| US08320314B2 |
Method for efficiently performing initial access in a multi-carrier broadband wireless access system
A method for efficiently performing an initial access in an MS in a multi-carrier broadband wireless access system is disclosed. The method includes scanning a plurality of carriers supported by a BS, and selecting one of the scanned carriers as a first carrier and receiving an SFH of the first carrier. The SFH of the first carrier includes at least one of a field indicating load status of the first carrier and recommended network entry carrier information including information about a second carrier in good load status. |
| US08320311B2 |
Method and system for establishing high-speed downlink shared channel
A method and system for establishing high-speed downlink shared channel, wherein the method comprises the following steps: RNC indicates Node B to establish high-speed downlink shared channel between the Node B and terminal; in response to the indication of the RNC, the Node B establishes high-speed downlink shared channel between the Node B and the terminal by using the preset high-speed downlink shared channel physical layer category; the terminal establishes radio resource control connection between the terminal and the RNC and returns information on the actual high-speed downlink shared channel physical layer category of the terminal to the RNC; and the RNC judges whether the actual high-speed downlink shared channel physical layer category of the terminal is identical with the preset high-speed downlink shared channel physical layer category, and if not, the RNC indicates the Node B to reestablish high-speed downlink shared channel between the Node B and the terminal by using the actual high-speed downlink shared channel physical layer category of the terminal. |
| US08320310B2 |
SDMA communication system for feeding back channel state information and method supporting the same
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for feeding back Channel State Information (CSI) by a Base Station (BS) in a communication system using Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA). The CSI feedback method includes grouping Mobile Stations (MSs) into at least two groups; allocating a second feedback channel over which CSI is to be fed back, to semi-orthogonal MSs having a semi-orthogonal relationship with MSs included in a first group which is one of the at least two groups, among MSs included in a second group which is one of the at least two groups and is different from the first group; receiving CSIs being fed back from the semi-orthogonal MSs through the second feedback channel; and selecting at least one MS satisfying a semi-orthogonal criterion to the MSs included in the first group from among the semi-orthogonal MSs that feed back CSIs through the second feedback channel. |
| US08320309B2 |
IP mobility within a communication system
A method and gateway node for routing IP traffic to and from a mobile terminal able to connect to the Internet via two or more gateway nodes. A multi-addressing multi-homing protocol is implemented at each gateway node on behalf of the mobile terminal. The gateway nodes share protocol state information to enable gateway nodes to update state information at the corresponding node when the mobile terminal changes gateway nodes. |
| US08320307B2 |
Communication method, mobile station, and communication system
Conventionally, there is a problem that a state transition of E-TFC changes according to QoS for descriptions of data to be transmitted, and therefore a mobile station's operation is not decided uniquely. To solve this problem, a transmission control method includes a step of selecting transmission control information according to a combination of user data transmitted, via a transport channel, from an upper layer, and a step of transmitting the transmission control information, as well as a physical channel into which two or more transport channels are multiplexed, to a fixed station, the transmission control information including at least transmit power information. |
| US08320305B2 |
Random access burst transmission scheme
An apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in a wireless telecommunication system and to a method for transmitting random access bursts in such an apparatus. The apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting random access bursts, a receiver for receiving acknowledgement information confirming a successful transmission of a random access burst, a decision unit for deciding if acknowledgement information has been received, and a control unit for randomly choosing a time point for an attempt to retransmit said random access burst from an interval if no acknowledgement information has been received after a random access burst had been transmitted. |
| US08320303B2 |
Wimax network, wimax network element, and method of handling QoS requirements therein
A method of handling QoS requirements in a wireless communication network (1), wherein a QoS request message (A) associated with said QoS requirements is sent from a core network (2) to an access network (3.1, 3.2) responsible for resource allocation to an end terminal (4, 4′) requiring a particular service to a wireless access gateway (9) The proposed method comprises the step of allocating a wireless access gateway (9) at initial authentication of the end terminal (4, 4′) while the latter is still connected to the network. |
| US08320302B2 |
Over the air microcontroller flash memory updates
Techniques for over the air (OTA) microcontroller flash memory updates using a wireless network are disclosed herein. A control node first transmits the microcontroller flash memory update to all devices that can receive the message. Each packet of the message is relayed through multiple communication levels until all devices receive the packet. This starts with communications from the control node to each device node that has a direct communication path to the control node, which are referred to herein as “first level” device nodes. The first level device nodes then relay each communication to each other device node that has a direct communication path to the first level device nodes, which are referred to herein as “second level” device nodes. This process is repeated at each level of the wireless network until each of the plurality of device nodes has received the microcontroller flash memory update. |
| US08320296B2 |
Mobile satellite communication
Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for adaptive coding, spreading, and modulating over a satellite communication channel. In some embodiments, a method of adaptive coding, sampling, and modulating over a satellite communication channel may include providing multiple data frames. At least one modcode partition may be provided for each data frame. The modcode partitions may represent modulation, coding, spreading, and/or frame size information for respective data frames. Each data frame and the respective modcode partition may be combined to form a modcode data unit. Multiple superframes may be formed. Each superframe may include a first known sequence and multiple subframes. Each subframe for a respective superframe may include a portion of a respective modcode data unit. Multiple superframes may be transmitted across a wireless channel. |
| US08320295B2 |
Mobile IP control system, mobile IP control method, and mobile IP control program
To suppress communication delay and data loss caused by the radio type of a mobile terminal and the radio communication band when a communication packet is sent to the mobile terminal in a mobile IP system. A mobile IP control system includes: a radio base station (40A) which provides a radio connection link to a mobile terminal (50); a home agent (20) which transfers a communication packet transmitted from a partner terminal (60), to the mobile terminal (50); and a foreign agent (30A) which relays mutual communication between the foreign agent (30A) and the radio base station (40A). The foreign agent (30A) notifies the home agent (20) of the communication band of the radio communication performed between the radio base station (40A) and the mobile terminal (50). The home agent (20) performs band control for packet transmission to the mobile terminal (50) in accordance with the notified communication band. |
| US08320294B2 |
Method for communicating in a network comprising wire and wireless nodes
The inventive method makes it possible to communicate in a network comprising wireless nodes provided with communications means enabling to communicate through a wireless channel and wire nodes provided with communication means enabling to communicate through a wire channel. Said method is characterised in that the wire node repeats a message received exclusively through a wireless channel if a signal acknowledging the message reception is not received, wherein the transmission of said acknowledgement signal is generated in a first time slot upon the reception of the signal though a wire channel. |
| US08320293B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling uplink multicast service
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the transmission of uplink multicast service data in communication network. According to the invention, a user equipment sends request to a multicast controlling device for the permission of providing uplink multicast data stream; once the uplink multicast controlling device has verified and accepted the request, it will assign multicast address, bandwidth, valid time for it and update the uplink multicast forwarding table at the access device to establish an uplink multicast dedicated VLAN. After that, the access device will forward multicast data from the UE according to the uplink multicast forwarding table configured by the uplink multicast controlling device, to be specific, allowed multicast packets to be forwarded into the uplink multicast dedicated VLAN, and get to the multicast router via the uplink multicast dedicated VLAN. Finally, the multicast router will take the responsibility of multicast distributing of the uplink multicast service data. Based on the present invention, the access of uplink multicast and the data transmission can be well controlled, the multicast routers provide multicast service to the network in a centralized manner. Also, this is compatible with the existing multicast and unicast services. |
| US08320292B2 |
Method to control a multimedia broadcast multicast service(MBMS) mode of a MBMS session in a communication system
A method to control a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) mode of a MBMS session in a communication system is provided herein. In operation, a first network element that is located outside a radio access network determines to use one of a single frequency network MBMS mode and a single cell MBMS mode for the MBMS session based on a property of the MBMS session. The first network element then transmits a session control signaling message to a second network element that is located inside the radio access network. The session control signaling message instructs the second network element that user plane data for the MBMS session shall be transmitted using the determined MBMS mode. The base stations then transmit the user plane data to one or user equipments in a target service area according to the determined MBMS mode. |
| US08320290B2 |
Evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service access gateway, base station and methods thereof
The present invention provides an Evolved Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (EMBMS) access gateway supporting network multicast, comprising: receiving/responding means for receiving a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) Session Start message from a Broadcast/Multicast-Service Center (BM-SC) and for returning a response message to the BM-SC after receiving the MBMS Session Start message; storage means for storing a mapping relationship between respective MBMS service areas (SAs) and respective base stations; determining means for determining base station(s) associated with the MBMS based on the stored mapping relationship when the receiving/responding means receives the MBMS Session Start message; and transmitting means for transmitting the MBMS Session Start message to the determined bases station(s). |
| US08320283B2 |
Method and system for utilizing givens rotation expressions for asymmetric beamforming matrices in explicit feedback information
Aspects of a method and system for utilizing Givens rotation expressions for asymmetric beamforming matrices in explicit feedback information are presented. In one aspect of the invention, Givens matrices may be utilized to reduce a quantity of information communicated in explicit feedback information via an uplink RF channel. The explicit feedback information may include specifications for a feedback beamforming matrix that may be utilized when transmitting signals via a corresponding downlink RF channel. The feedback beamforming matrix may represent a rotated version of an un-rotated matrix. The Givens matrices may be utilized to apply one or more Givens rotations to un-rotated matrix. The feedback beamforming matrix may be computed based on a matrix product of a plurality of Givens matrices. The feedback beamforming matrix may be encoded utilizing fewer bits than may be required to encode the un-rotated matrix. |
| US08320279B2 |
Managing and provisioning virtual routers
Methods and systems are provided for provisioning and managing network-based virtual private networks (VPNs). According to one embodiment, a routing configuration for each of multiple network-based customer VPNs is generated for multiple customers based on (i) site reachability information for multiple service processing switches and (ii) a global customer routing profile for a network-based customer VPN of the plurality of network-based customer VPNs. Multiple virtual routers (VRs) distributed among the service processing switches are provisioned to support the network-based customer VPNs based on the routing configurations. A custom routing profile, identifying one or more routing protocols to be used for one or more segments of the network-based customer VPN profile, is received for the network-based customer VPN. The network-based customer VPN is automatically reconfigured by programmatically generating appropriate routing configurations for VRs partitioned to the network-based customer VPN based on the site reachability information and the custom routing profile. |
| US08320276B1 |
Multicarrier communication support
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with multicarrier communication support, such as non-adjacent multicarrier support for a contiguous-bandwidth receiver. One embodiment includes receiving one or more carriers in a configurable contiguous bandwidth, calculating an imbalance metric representing a receiving imbalance over a set of carriers, said imbalance metric representing a difference between a first value based on received signal strength indication on each of one or more carriers and a second value based on received signal strength indication on each of one or more carriers, verifying, based on the calculated imbalance metric, whether a threshold condition relating to a current mode of an adjacent carrier mode and non-adjacent carrier mode is satisfied, and reporting an event for triggering reconfiguration of said configurable contiguous bandwidth to switch the current mode between said adjacent and non-adjacent carrier modes, if the threshold condition is satisfied. |
| US08320267B2 |
Reference signal sounding for uplink pilot time slot in wireless communication system
A wireless terminal operating in TDD mode transmits a plurality of sounding reference signals using an assigned maximum sounding reference signal (SRS) bandwidth (BW) size. At least one of the sounding reference signals is transmitted in a corresponding uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS) region of a special sub-frame of a radio frame wherein, in the frequency dimension, an uplink BW center is misaligned with a BW center of the SRS in the UpPTS region, a maximum SRS BW size in the UpPTS region is an even number of resource blocks with prime factors from a set of {2, 3, 5}, and the maximum SRS BW having a size in number of resource blocks less than or equal to (NRBUL−6·NRA) where NRA is a number of Random Access Channel (RACH) opportunities in the UpPTS region. |
| US08320265B2 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining an attenuation factor
The present invention discloses a method for obtaining an attenuation factor. The method is adapted to process the synthesized signal in packet loss concealment, and includes: obtaining a change trend of a signal; obtaining an attenuation factor, according to the change trend of the signal. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for obtaining an attenuation factor. A self-adaptive attenuation factor is adjusted dynamically by using the latest change trend of a history signal by using the present invention. The smooth transition from the history data to the data last received is realized so that the attenuation speed is kept consistent between the compensated signal and the original signal as much as possible for adapting to the characteristic of various human voices. |
| US08320264B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining path loss by active signal detection
In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for determining a path loss value of a signal transmitted from a wireless device and received by a receiver, where the wireless device and the receiver operate within a wireless communication system having at least one cell having at least one sector operating on at least one frequency channel. The method includes: (i) identifying a geographic area where the path loss value is to be determined; (ii) identifying a first cell, a first sector, and a first frequency channel associated with the geographic area wherein said wireless device is actively communicating with said receiver using said first frequency channel; (iii) receiving at said receiver the signal transmitted from said wireless device on said first frequency channel; (iv) receiving at said receiver an indication of transmission signal strength of said signal; (v) measuring at said receiver the received signal strength of said signal; and (vi) determining the path loss value of said first frequency channel as a function of the indication of transmission signal strength and the received signal strength. |
| US08320262B2 |
Bus system and method and device for transmitting communications on a bus system
A method and device for transmitting communications on a bus system, as well as a bus system, is provided, in which the communications are transmitted in communication frames and the communication frames and the communications contain a security sequence. In the bus system, communications of various lengths can be transmitted, and for all of the communications to be transmitted in the bus system, a maximum length of a communication is provided. A first code is contained in the communication frame, by means of which the maximum length of the respective communication to be transmitted can be specified. |
| US08320252B2 |
System and method for data communications using a sliding window protocol with selective retransmission
A system and method for data communications involves receiving a data frame in a receiver using a sliding receive window protocol, where a sliding receive window of the sliding receive window protocol is identified by sliding receive window information, and determining whether the data frame is a retransmitted data frame using the sliding receive window information. |
| US08320247B2 |
Dynamic queue management
A method may include receiving a data unit and identifying a state of a memory storing data units. The method may include selecting a threshold value having a first threshold unit or a second threshold unit based on the state of the memory. The method may include comparing the threshold value to a queue state using the first threshold unit if the memory is in a first state. The method may include comparing the threshold value to the queue state using the second threshold unit if the memory is in a second state. |
| US08320245B2 |
Policy enforcement points
A policy enforcement point (PEP) attaches to the edge of a network to manage loading when the network nears or exceeds its capacity due to changes in the network, e.g., component failures or incremental growth. Autonomous PEP's at the network's edges provide short-term, application-aware controls on their own that are applied to the corresponding network ingress traffic. Path tables are used to calculate whether particular PEP's can admit more traffic, or should they shed sessions/calls to keep service up for the existing application traffic. Long-term controls are periodically downloaded as admission tables from a session/call admission controller to the PEP's. |
| US08320243B2 |
Method of classifying data and transmitting data in a PLC network and apparatus therefor
A method of transmitting data more effectively, and more particularly, a method of classifying service traffic, transmitting data according to the classifications of the service traffic, and performing a contention free slot (CFS) allocation in order to transmit data in a power line communication (PLC) network, and an apparatus to do the same. The data transmission method includes determining transmission priority of data according to service traffic characteristics, and transmitting data according to the determined transmission priority, thereby providing differentiated quality of service (QoS) according to service traffic characteristics. |
| US08320242B2 |
Active response communications network tap
An active response network tap for use in monitoring a network comprises a first device interface terminal, a second device interface terminal, a first monitor interface terminal, and a second monitor interface terminal. A tap structure is coupled to the first device interface terminal, second device interface terminal, first monitor interface terminal and second monitor interface terminal. A memory is coupled to the tap structure and configured to store data. In one aspect, the tap structure is configured to communicate full-duplex traffic between the tap structure and a monitor device coupled to a monitor interface terminal. In another aspect, the tap structure is configured to insert data from a monitor coupled to the first monitor interface into the traffic between the first device and the second device. Advantages of the invention include the ability to provide monitor access to a network while also supporting communication with other network devices. |
| US08320240B2 |
Rate limiting and minimum and maximum shaping in a network device
A network device for scheduling packets in a plurality of queues includes a plurality of leaky bucket modules, each of the plurality of leaky bucket mechanisms being associated with one of a plurality of queues and configured to process information based on a predefined bandwidth, a scheduler configured to schedule services of the plurality of queues and a metering module for tracking whether or not the plurality of queues has exceeded a predefined threshold through the leaky bucket modules. If the plurality of queues has exceeded the predefined threshold, the metering module is configured to compute a new bandwidth allocation for each of the plurality of queues, the new bandwidth allocation replacing the predefined bandwidth and being proportional to the predefined bandwidth for each of the plurality of queues. |
| US08320233B2 |
Transmitter and method for applying multi-tone OFDM based communications within a lower frequency range
According to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit comprises an encoding module, a modulation module and a spectral shaped module. The encoding module includes an interleaver that adapted to operate in a plurality of modes including a first mode, a second mod and a third mode. The interleaver performs repetitive encoding when placed in the second mode and even greater repetitive encoding when placed in the third mode. |
| US08320232B1 |
Patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium with multiple magnetic layers and interlayers
A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium has discrete data islands that have first and second ferromagnetic layers (MAG1 and MAG2) with first and second nonmagnetic interlayers (IL1 and IL2) between MAG1 and MAG2. MAG1 and MAG2 may be similar CoPtCr alloys with similar thicknesses, with thicknesses of IL1 and IL2 that assure that MAG1 and MAG2 are strongly exchange coupled. Alternatively, MAG2 may be a “write assist” layer, for example a high-saturation magnetization, magnetically soft material in an exchange-spring structure, with IL1 being very thin so that IL2 functions as the coupling layer between MAG1 and the write-assist MAG2 layer. In an application for thermally-assisted recording (TAR), MAG2 may be the chemically-ordered equiatomic binary alloy FePt or CoPt based on the L10 phase, with high magneto-crystalline anisotropy (Ku). |
| US08320231B2 |
Recording apparatus and recording method
A recording apparatus that performs recording of data on a disc-shaped recording medium including a recording area, which is capable of recording user data therein, and a replacement area, which is replaced by a defect area included in the recording area, includes a setting section configured to replace a portion of the recording area by the replacement area, and set the portion of the recording area as an area for adjustment, and an adjustment section configured to perform adjustment by using the area for adjustment. |
| US08320222B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and disk recording and reproducing drive using the same
The present invention enables a comprehensive evaluation from both of data read from a disk and a servo signal of a servo controller. The present invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit mountable to a disk recording and reproducing drive, which comprises a signal processor of an RF signal read from a pickup, a servo controller responsive to a servo error signal read from the pickup, a memory controller, and an external interface. The memory controller is supplied with read data and a servo signal and stores the read data and the servo signal in a buffer memory according to a time division process. The read data and the servo signal stored in the buffer memory can be transferred to an external device via the external interface by the memory controller. |
| US08320218B2 |
Hidden ultrasonic transducer with beam angle control for non-contact target detection systems
An ultrasonic transducer utilizes a unique forward acoustic transmission line comprised of a composite structure partially consisting of a portion of a continuous smooth sheet of material, such as an automobile bumper, from which the acoustic beam is emitted. This makes it invisible to sight, thus allowing for an improved object detection system in which the sensors cannot be seen, so that they do not interfere with the smooth lines that were designed into the surface of the object or vehicle onto which they are mounted. This is a significant improvement for applications where the look and style of the surface of the platform is important, such as in automotive park assist systems. |
| US08320214B1 |
Device for reducing target strength of an underwater object
A device for deflecting acoustic waves for an object in a liquid environment includes a heating grid and a cooling grid. The heating grid is positioned about the object and increases the temperature in the liquid environment. The cooling grid is positioned about the object to cool the liquid environment outside the heating grid. Jointly, these grids establish a temperature gradient in the liquid environment that is capable of bending acoustic waves in the environment. The cooling grid and heating grid can be established through mechanical, electrical or chemical methods. Alternatively, the required temperature gradient can be established by a heating grid alone in a moving vehicle wherein the heating grid is continuously in contact with undisturbed water at the ambient temperature. |
| US08320211B1 |
Current-sense amplifier with low-offset adjustment and method of low-offset adjustment thereof
A current-sense amplifier with low-offset adjustment and a low-offset adjustment method thereof are disclosed. The current-sense amplifier includes a sensing unit, an equalizing unit and a bias compensation unit. The sensing unit includes a sense amplifier, a latch circuit, a first precharged bit line, and a second precharged bit line. The equalizing unit is electrically connected to the first and the second precharged bit line for regulating a voltage of the first precharged bit line and a voltage of the second precharged bit line to the same electric potential. The bias compensation unit is electrically connected to the sense amplifier for compensating an input offset voltage of the current-sense amplifier. |
| US08320209B2 |
Sense amplifier using reference signal through standard MOS and DRAM capacitor
A memory circuit includes a first memory cell node capacitor, a first memory cell node transistor, a second memory cell node having a second memory cell node capacitor and a second memory cell node transistor, and a pre-charging circuit for pre-charging the first and second memory cell nodes to first and second voltage levels, respectively. The circuit includes a reference memory cell having first and second reference cell transistors with an equalizing transistor between, and a sense amplifier that detects a potential difference between reference bit lines from the reference memory cell and the first or second memory cell node, respectively. The reference cell transistors and equalizing transistor perform a first voltage equalization of the memory cell nodes at a predetermined voltage and a second voltage equalization of the memory cell nodes based on first or second reference signals respectively input to the first or second reference cell transistor. |
| US08320205B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, semiconductor system including the semiconductor memory device, and method for operating the semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a first data input/output unit configured to receive a normal training data, whose data window is scanned based on an edge of a source clock, in response to a training input command, and output a data in a state where an edge of the data window is synchronized with the edge of the source clock in response to a training output command, and a second data input/output unit configured to receive a recovery information training data, whose data window is scanned based on the edge of the source clock, in response to the training input command, and output a data in a state where an edge of a data window is synchronized with the edge of the source clock in response to the training output command. |
| US08320197B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device having read and write operations includes a discrimination signal generating unit for generating a discrimination signal during the write operation and a selective delay unit for receiving and selectively delaying a command-group signal in response to the discrimination signal. |
| US08320195B2 |
Memory circuit and method of writing data to and reading data from memory circuit
A disclosed memory circuit includes first and second latch circuits, each writing a write data at a timing of a clock signal and retaining the write data, the write data having been input in each of the first and second latch circuits, a data input circuit supplying the write data to each of the first and second latch circuits when a write enable signal indicates a state allowing the write data to be written, a write back circuit supplying the write data retained in the second latch circuit to the first latch circuit when the write enable signal indicates a state preventing the write data from being written, wherein a robustness against noise in the second latch circuit is more improved than that in the first latch circuit. |
| US08320192B2 |
Memory cell, a memory array and a method of programming a memory cell
A method of programming a memory cell (100), the method comprising applying a first electric potential to a first electric terminal (101) of the memory cell (100) to accelerate first charge carriers of a first type of conductivity to thereby generate second charge carriers of a second type of conductivity by impact ionisation of the accelerated first charge carriers, and applying a second electric potential to a second electric terminal (102) of the memory cell (100) to accelerate the second charge carriers to thereby inject the second charge carriers in a charge trapping structure (103) of the memory cell (100). |
| US08320191B2 |
Memory cell arrangement, method for controlling a memory cell, memory array and electronic device
In an embodiment of the invention, a memory cell arrangement includes a substrate and at least one memory cell including a charge storing memory cell structure and a select structure. The memory cell arrangement further includes a first doping well, a second doping well and a third doping well arranged within the substrate, wherein the charge storing memory cell structure is arranged in or above the first doping well, the first doping well is arranged within the second doping well, and the second doping well is arranged within the third doping well. The memory cell arrangement further includes a control circuit coupled with the memory cell and configured to control the memory cell such that the charge storing memory cell structure is programmed or erased by charging or discharging the charge storing memory cell structure via at least the first doping well. |
| US08320188B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and method for transferring control voltage
A semiconductor apparatus includes a control voltage transfer unit configured to transfer a control voltage transmitted through first transmission lines, to second transmission lines in response to a select signal transmitted through a select signal transmission line; a select signal driving unit configured to drive the select signal to the select signal transmission line; and a voltage boosting control unit configured to float the select signal transmission line when a voltage level of the select signal transmission line increase to or above a target level. |
| US08320186B2 |
Method of operating nonvolatile memory device
Provided is a method of operating a nonvolatile memory device to perform a programming operation or an erase operation. The method includes applying a composite pulse including a direct current (DC) pulse and an AC perturbation pulse to the nonvolatile memory device to perform the programming operation or the erase operation. |
| US08320182B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory unit; and a control unit. The memory unit includes: first and second memory strings including first and second memory transistors with first and second select gates, respectively; and first and second wirings connected thereto. In a selective erase operation of a selected cell transistor of the first memory transistors, the control unit applies V1 voltage to the first wiring, applies V2 voltage lower than V1 to a selected cell gate of the selected cell transistor, applies V3 voltage not higher than V1 and higher than V2 to a non-selected cell gate of the first memory transistors, applies V1 or V4 voltage not higher than V1 and not lower than V3 to the first select gate, and applies V2 or V4 voltage higher than V2 and not higher than V3 to the second wiring or sets the second wiring in a floating state. |
| US08320176B2 |
EEPROM charge retention circuit for time measurement
An electronic charge retention circuit for time measurement, implanted in an array of EEPROM memory cells, each including a selection transistor in series with a floating-gate transistor, the circuit including, on any one row of memory cells: a first subassembly of at least a first cell, the thickness of the dielectric of the tunnel window of the floating-gate transistor of which is less than that of the other cells; a second subassembly of at least a second cell, the drain and source of the floating-gate transistor of which are interconnected; a third subassembly of at least a third cell; and a fourth subassembly of at least a fourth cell, the tunnel window of which is omitted, the respective floating gates of the transistors of the cells of the four subassemblies being interconnected. |
| US08320173B2 |
Methods of forming programmed memory cells
In some embodiments, a memory cell includes a transistor gate spaced from a channel region by gate dielectric; a source region on one side of the channel region; and a drain region on an opposing side of the channel region from the source region. The channel region has phase change material adjacent the drain region. In some embodiments, the phase change material may be adjacent both the source region and the drain region. Some embodiments include methods of programming a memory cell that has phase change material adjacent a drain region. An inversion layer is formed within the channel region adjacent the gate dielectric, with the inversion layer having a pinch-off region within the phase change material adjacent the drain region. Hot carriers (for instance, electrons) within the pinch-off region are utilized to change a phase within the phase change material. |
| US08320172B2 |
Write operation for phase change memory
Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to controlling a discharge of a capacitive element coupled to a phase change memory cell to produce a specified state in the phase change memory cell. |
| US08320171B2 |
Phase change memory devices and memory systems including the same
A phase change memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of phase change memory cells, a read bias generating circuit, a clamping circuit and a clamping control signal generating circuit (CCSGC). The read bias generating circuit provides a sensing node with a read bias for reading a resistance level of a selected phase change memory cell. The clamping circuit controls an amount of clamping current flowing into a bit line connected with the selected phase change memory cell. The CCSGC provides the clamping control signal to the clamping circuit and adjusts a level of the clamping control signal. |
| US08320165B1 |
SRAM strap row substrate contact
An integrated circuit containing an SRAM array having a strap row. The strap row has a substrate contact structure that includes a substrate contact plug and a tap layer. |
| US08320161B2 |
Conductive metal oxide structures in non volatile re writable memory devices
A memory cell including a memory element comprising an electrolytic insulator in contact with a conductive metal oxide (CMO) is disclosed. The CMO includes a crystalline structure and can comprise a pyrochlore oxide, a conductive binary oxide, a multiple B-site perovskite, and a Ruddlesden-Popper structure. The CMO includes mobile ions that can be transported to/from the electrolytic insulator in response to an electric field of appropriate magnitude and direction generated by a write voltage applied across the electrolytic insulator and CMO. The memory cell can include a non-ohmic device (NOD) that is electrically in series with the memory element. The memory cell can be positioned between a cross-point of conductive array lines in a two-terminal cross-point memory array in a single layer of memory or multiple vertically stacked layers of memory that are fabricated over a substrate that includes active circuitry for data operations on the array layer(s). |
| US08320159B2 |
Resistance variable nonvolatile memory device
Each of memory cells (MC) includes one transistor and one resistance variable element. The transistor includes a first main terminal, a second main terminal and a control terminal. The resistance variable element includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a resistance variable layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first main terminal of one of two adjacent memory cells is connected to a second main terminal of the other memory cell, to form a series path (SP) sequentially connecting main terminals of the plurality of memory cells in series. Each of the memory cells is configured such that the control terminal is a part of a first wire (WL) associated with the memory cell or is connected to the first wire associated with the memory cell, the second electrode is a part of a second wire (SL) associated with the memory cell or is connected to the second wire associated with the memory cell; and the first electrode is a part of a series path (SP) associated with the memory cell or is connected to the series path associated with the memory cell. |
| US08320158B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device of an embodiment includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of first and second lines intersecting each other and plural memory cells provided at intersections of the first and second lines and having data written and erased upon application of voltages of the same polarity; and a writing circuit configured to select first and second lines and supply a set or reset pulse to the memory cell through the selected first and second lines. In an erase operation, the writing circuit repeatedly supplies the reset pulse to a selected memory cell until data is erased, by increasing or decreasing voltage level and voltage application time of the reset pulse within a reset region. The reset region, or an aggregate of combinations of voltage level and voltage application time of the reset pulse, is a region where voltage level and voltage application time are negatively correlated. |
| US08320157B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of first wirings, a plurality of second wirings intersecting the plurality of first wirings, and a plurality of memory cells provided at the intersections of the plurality of first and second wirings and each including a non-ohmic element and a variable resistance element connected in series. The control circuit selects one of the plurality of memory cells, generates an erasing pulse for erasing data from the selected memory cell, and supplies the erasing pulse to the selected memory cell. The control circuit executes data erase by applying a voltage of the erasing pulse to the non-ohmic element in the reverse bias direction. |
| US08320148B1 |
PMC-based non-volatile CAM
Methods and circuits for CAM cells using PMCs are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a BCAM cell can include: (i) a first PMC coupled to a first access transistor and a bit node, where the first access transistor is coupled to a true bit line; (ii) a second PMC cell coupled to a second access transistor and the bit node, where the second access transistor is coupled to a complement bit line, and the first and second access transistors are controllable by a word line; (iii) a program enable transistor coupled to the bit node, and configured to couple a program control voltage to the bit node when enabled; and (iv) a match indication transistor configured to discharge a match line in response to states of the true and complement bit lines relative to the bit node. |
| US08320144B2 |
Power factor correction circuit for reducing distortion of input current
The present invention relates to a power factor correction circuit that can reduce distortion of input current in a switching mode power supply. The power factor correction circuit provided in the present invention basically comprises a first inductor which is electrically connected at a first end thereof to an input terminal, a second coil that is coupled to the first inductor to form an induced voltage, a switch electrically connected to the a second terminal of the first inductor, and a switching control unit for controlling turn-on and turn-off of the switch. In such a power factor correction circuit of the present invention, the switching control unit is configured to differently set a turn-on period of the switch depending on the input voltage by generating a signal for controlling the turn-off of the switch using a second coil voltage induced at the secondary coil of the inductor by input voltage or a directly sensed input voltage. Accordingly, distortion of input current can be effectively corrected. |
| US08320140B2 |
Optimizing operation of DC-to-AC power converter
In one embodiment, a power converter system includes an input terminal for receiving a DC input voltage. The power converter system delivers AC power to a load at an output terminal. A transformer is coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The transformer has a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. The output terminal is coupled to the second winding. A half-bridge circuit, coupled between the input terminal and the first winding of the transformer, includes a first switch and a second switch coupled at a common node. The first and second switches are operable to be turned on and off for causing current to flow in the transformer during operation of the power converter system. Circuitry is close coupled to the first winding of the transformer. The circuitry is operable to provide a current path for transformer magnetizing current and reflected load current when both the first and second switches of the half-bridge circuit are turned off, thereby preventing energy from being fed back to the half-bridge circuit. |
| US08320137B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes a high-speed differential signal control chip, first to eighth coupling capacitor pads, first to fourth connector pads, a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a third transmission line, a fourth transmission line, first to eighth transmission lines, two ninth transmission lines, first and second vias, and first to fourth sharing pads. The printed circuit board is operable to selectively support multiple connectors. |
| US08320136B2 |
Stackable electronic component
An embodiment of an electronic component includes a circuit element disposed within a package, which includes a surface and at least one standoff protruding from the surface. For example, where the circuit element is an inductor in a power supply, the standoff may allow one to mount the inductor component over another component, such as a transistor component. Therefore, the layout area of such a power supply may be smaller than the layout area of a power supply in which the inductor and transistor components are mounted side by side. |
| US08320132B2 |
Computer motherboard
A computer motherboard includes a display controller, a digital visual interface integrated (DVI-I) connector, and a switching unit. The switching unit includes four first terminals, two second terminals, and a control terminal. Two of the first terminals are respectively connected to clock and data pins of a first display data channel (DDC) of the display controller, the other two first terminals are respectively connected to clock and data pins of a second DDC of the display controller, and the second terminals are respectively connected to DDC clock and DDC data pins of the DVI-I connector. The control terminal is connected to a hot plug detect pin of the DVI-I connector to detect a voltage and correspondingly control the second terminals to be respectively connected to the two first terminals connected to the clock and data pins of the first DDC or the second DDC. |
| US08320130B2 |
Heat dissipation device with bracket
An exemplary heat dissipation device includes a base plate, a bracket engaged with the base plate, and a heat radiator mounted on the base plate and the bracket. The bracket includes two parallel arms. The bracket defines an opening between the arms. Each of the arms extends downwardly two clasps. Each clasp of each arm comprises a blocking part and a connecting part connecting the blocking part. The base plate is received into the opening of the bracket and sandwiched and secured by the blocking parts of the clasps and the arms of the bracket. |
| US08320123B2 |
Electronic device with biaxial pivoting mechanism
An electronic device includes a first housing, a first pivoting mechanism disposed on a side of the first housing, a second housing, a second pivoting mechanism disposed on a side of the second housing, and a bridging component. A first end and a second end of the bridging component are respectively pivoted on the first pivoting mechanism and the second pivoting mechanism. The bridging component includes a first contacting portion for contacting against the side of the first housing when the first pivoting mechanism pivots on the first end so that the first housing rotates around the second housing at a first angle, and a second contacting portion for contacting against the side of the second housing when the second end pivots on the second pivoting mechanism so that the first housing rotates around the second housing at a second angle greater than the first angle. |
| US08320122B2 |
Latching device and electronic device using the same
A latching device applied in an electronic device includes a battery cover and a main body. The latching device includes an elastic member mounted on the battery cover facing the main body and a latching member slidably connected to the battery cover. The latching member includes an operation portion and at least one hook portion. The operation portion is exposed to users for sliding the latching member, and the hook portion is for hooking the main body when the battery cover covers the main body. When the battery cover is pressed to cover the main body, the operation portion is pushed to slide the latching member until the latching member resists the elastic member, and when the battery cover covers the main body, the push of the operation portion is removed, thus the elastic member resumes its natural state, and the at least one hook portion hooks the main body. |
| US08320121B2 |
Cooling high performance computer systems
A computer system may include a chassis defining a front and a rear. The chassis may include a vertically oriented midplane disposed therein, the midplane including a plurality of front module slots for receiving front electronic modules from the front of the chassis, and a plurality of rear module slots for receiving rear electronic modules from the rear of the chassis. A cooling system may be provided within the chassis and may generate an upwardly-directed front air flow within the chassis directed at selected ones of the front electronic modules and an upwardly-directed rear air flow within the chassis directed at selected ones of the rear electronic modules. The front air flow is separate from and independent of the rear air flow. The selected front and rear electronic modules may be disposed in the chassis so as to separate the front air flow into a plurality of substantially equal front air streams and the rear air flow into a plurality of substantially equal rear air streams, respectively. |
| US08320109B2 |
Television and electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, a television comprises a first panel, a second panel, and a cover. The first panel comprises a display surface. The second panel is laid over the first panel to cover the display surface. The cover comprises a receiver. A holding member is fixed to the edge of the second panel. The holding member comprises a protrusion protruding to the periphery of the second panel. The protrusion is butted against the receiver of the cover so that the second panel is tilted in a posture that slants the protrusion relative to the first panel. The second panel is rotated toward the first panel on the end of the protrusion butted against the receiver. As a result of this rotation, the second panel is stacked on the first panel to cover the display surface. |
| US08320107B2 |
Modular power distribution system and methods
A modular power distribution system comprises a chassis and a backplane including a power input, and a plurality of module connection locations. A plurality of modules are mounted in the chassis, each module mounted to one of the module connection locations. Each module includes: (i) a circuit protection device; and (ii) a power output connection location. Bus bars connect front power inputs to the backplane. |
| US08320096B2 |
Soft start clutch controller
A clutch actuator for an electromechanical clutch having a solenoid actuating coil initially provides power to the solenoid at a high rate by using a high duty cycle pulse with a modulated controller. When the initial engagement of the clutch elements is sensed by a decrease in current, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulator is reduced and thereafter increased in a controlled fashion to accomplish a soft start. |
| US08320094B2 |
Surge protection module
A surge protection module comprises a base, a plurality of first pins extending from the base to connect electrically to an upstream circuit, a plurality of second pins extending from the base to connect electrically to a downstream circuit, a fuse device acting between each first pin and a respective one of the second pins, at least one analog arrestor upstream of the fuse devices that is electrically connected across the first pins and in electrical connection to a ground terminal extending from the base, and a low capacitance solid state arrestor arrangement electrically connected to each second pin downstream of the fuse devices and to the ground terminal. |
| US08320091B2 |
Apparatus and method for electronic circuit protection
Apparatus and methods for electronic circuit protection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an actively-controlled protection circuit includes a detector, a timer, a current source and a latch. The detector is configured to generate a detection signal when the detector determines that a transient signal satisfies a first signaling condition. The timer is configured to receive the detection signal, and to generate a current control signal. The current control signal is provided to a current source, which produces a trigger current at least partly in response to the control signal. The trigger current is provided to a node of the latch, thereby enhancing the conductivity modulation of the latch and selectively controlling the activation voltage of the latch. |
| US08320090B2 |
SSPC for parallel arc fault detection in DC power system
A solid state power controller (SSPC) for detecting a parallel arc fault in a direct current (DC) power distribution system includes an input, the input being connected to a DC power source; a power switch connected to the input; an output connected to the power switch, the output being connected to a DC motor controller and associated capacitive load; an output current sensor; an output voltage sensor; and an SSPC controller, the SSPC controller being configured to determine the presence of a parallel arc fault in the DC power distribution system and control the power switch via a gate drive based on inputs from the output current sensor and the output voltage sensor. |
| US08320085B2 |
Disk drive including a latch configured to lock an actuator in response to an external force
A disk drive. The disk drive includes: a head for accessing a data recording area of a disk; an actuator for pivoting to move the head; a voice coil motor; and, a latch configured to lock the actuator from pivoting toward the data recording area in response to an external force. The voice-coil motor includes a voice coil, a magnet, and a yoke. The latch is positioned at a closed position when the actuator is positioned at a stand-by position, and is configured to pivot by application of a magnetic bias force with pivoting of the actuator from the stand-by position into proximity with the data recording area such that the latch is configured to stop at an open position. The yoke includes a protrusion which protrudes toward the magnetic body at the open position. |
| US08320082B2 |
Head with guide groove in center rail and ribs extending along air intake groove and disk device with the same
According to one embodiment, a head includes a slider and a head section on the slider. A supporting surface of the slider includes a leading step in an inflow side of airflow, a leading pad on the leading step, a negative-pressure cavity in a downstream side of the leading pad, a trailing step in an outflow end side of the airflow, a center rail extending from the leading step to the trailing step, a guide groove in the center rail, configured to guide the airflow to the trailing step, and an intake groove formed in the leading pad, extending in a direction transverse to the airflow, communicating with the guide groove, and includes two end parts in its longitudinal direction, the two end parts extending in a direction of the airflow and forming openings open to the inflow side of the leading pad. |
| US08320079B2 |
Magnetic head assembly and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
It is made possible to reduce the write magnetic field generated from the main magnetic pole toward the spin torque oscillator, so as to reduce the variation in the oscillation characteristics of the spin torque oscillator, and reduce the current required for oscillation. The magnetic head assembly includes: a recording magnetic pole; a spin torque oscillator that has first and second magnetic layers, and an intermediate layer interposed between the first and second magnetic layers, the spin torque oscillator generating a high-frequency magnetic field by applying a current between the first and second magnetic layers; and a third magnetic layer that is placed adjacent to at least part of a side face of the second magnetic layer. |
| US08320075B2 |
Biasing structure for write element domain control in a magnetic writer
A magnetic writer includes a write element having a first domain pattern when in a quiescent state and a second domain pattern when in an active state. A biasing structure is configured to induce the write element into the first domain pattern when the magnetic writer is in the quiescent state. |
| US08320074B2 |
Magnetic head and card reader equipped with the magnetic head
A magnetic head which includes a core, a coil wound on the core, terminals to which ends of the coil are connected. The magnetic head also includes a substrate on which mounted are a demodulating electronic component for demodulating an analog output signal output from the terminals to create a digital demodulated signal, and an encrypting electronic component for encrypting the demodulated signal to create an encrypted signal. A cable electrically connects the demodulating electronic component and the terminals. A case body stores the core, the coil, the terminals, and the cable. The demodulating electronic component is mounted on one side of the substrate, and the encrypting electronic component is mounted on the other side of the substrate. The substrate is fixed to the case body so that the demodulating electronic component is placed inside the case body while the encrypting electronic component is placed outside the case body. |
| US08320072B2 |
Sealing an enclosure for a disk drive form factor
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to sealing an enclosure for a disk drive form factor. According to one embodiment, material is removed from a base casting for the disk drive form factor to enable insertion of a component. The removal of the material results in a portion of the base casting being thin enough to potentially cause an inadvertent hole in the base casting. A hole is purpose created in the base casting to avoid development of the inadvertent hole. A seal is used to cover the created hole in a manner that allows for insertion of the component. |
| US08320071B2 |
Tape cartridge tray transmission device apparatus with rack and pinion gear arrangement
A transmission apparatus for transmitting tapes within a tape library is disclosed. The transmission apparatus comprises a tray for transmitting a tape cartridge. A plurality of pinion gears is provided. The pinion gears are operably connected to each other and are rotatably attached to the tray. A plurality of vertically disposed racks is provided for engagement by the plurality of pinion gears for rotational movement therealong. |
| US08320068B1 |
Recording medium and recording apparatus for using test data recorded in a blank zone to refine data recording
In some implementations, a recording medium includes a plurality of data areas, a plurality of data area separating sections, and one or more blank zones. Each data area is configured to store data. Each data area separating section is disposed between the data areas and extends in parallel with respect to the data areas. Each data area separating section is configured to prevent data from being written into the data area separating section. Each blank zone extends in a direction perpendicular to the data areas and is configured to record written data. |
| US08320067B1 |
Refresh operations using write/read commands
Systems and methods for performing refresh operations using write/read commands are provided. In one embodiment, a disk drive comprises a disk partitioned into a plurality of refresh zones, a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an access command, to read data from at least one of the refresh zones using the head in response to the access command, to check a condition of the read data, and to determine whether to refresh the at least one refresh zone based on the condition of the read data, wherein the read data includes data from a portion of the at least one refresh zone not being accessed by the access command. |
| US08320066B2 |
Storage device and read/write processing method therefor
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes: a control circuit configured to perform a write retry when data writing fails, wherein the control circuit recognizes that read commands are issued at regular intervals for reproducing continuous pieces of data, and upon detecting an error requiring the write retry to be performed in the data writing by a write command received during the reproduction, the control circuit interrupts the data writing, perform data reading to store the data in the buffer memory after allocating a storage area for the data in the buffer memory, and then resumes the data writing. |
| US08320065B2 |
Lens driving device
An lens driving device is disclosed. The lens driving device includes a base, a lens holder mounted on the base, a movable cover opposite to the a lens holder, a elastic supporting portion received into the lens holder and engaged with the movable cover, a coil and a permanent magnet respectively attached on the lens holder. The permanent magnet interacts with the coil for generating a magnetic force for driving the lens holder to move toward the base along a central axis of the lens holder. The elastic supporting portion defines an elastic force which is more than a weight of the movable cover but not more than the resultant of the weight of the movable cover and the magnetic force. While assembled, the lens driving device further defines a movable distance between an upper surface of the supporting elements and a first surface of the movable cover. |
| US08320064B2 |
Lens barrel and optical device including the same
A lens barrel includes a first frame configured to hold a first optical element, be movable in an optical-axis direction, and hold a position of the optical element in the optical-axis direction in a nonenergized state; a second frame configured to hold a second optical element, be movable in the optical-axis direction, and not hold a position of the optical element in the optical-axis direction in the nonenergized state; and a shock-absorbing portion provided at least one of the first and second frames. In the nonenergized state, the first frame is positioned within a range of the second frame. |
| US08320059B2 |
Lens module
A lens module includes a lens barrel, a first lens, an opaque plate, and a second lens. The first lens includes an imaging portion and a non-imaging portion surrounding the imaging portion. The non-imaging portion defines an annular conic surface. The opaque plate is annular conic shaped and contacts with the annular conic surface. The second lens includes an imaging portion and a non-imaging portion surrounding the imaging portion. The object-side surface of the non-imaging portion of the second lens is step-like shaped and includes at least two step surfaces. A junction of two adjacent step surfaces abuts against the opaque plate. |
| US08320058B2 |
Lens assembly
A lens assembly includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens includes a first optically active part, a first optically inactive part surrounding the first optically active part, and a first annular protrusion formed on the first optically inactive part. The first annular protrusion defines an accommodating room. The second lens includes a second optically active part, a second optically inactive part surrounding the second optically active part, a second annular protrusion formed on the second optically inactive part, and a light blocking layer formed on a surface of the second annular protrusion facing the first lens. The second lens is coupled to the first lens in such a manner that the second annular protrusion is received in the accommodating room. |
| US08320055B2 |
Lens barrel and optical apparatus
A lens barrel showing a satisfactory property in assembly and a high dust-proof and drip-proof performance includes: a first member; a lens holding frame configured to hold lens units moving in an optical axis direction to either zoom or focus the lens units; and an elastic member held between respective optical-axis-orthogonal surfaces of the first member and the lens holding frame, wherein the elastic member can be compressed in the optical axis direction during a zooming or focusing operation. |
| US08320053B2 |
Zoom lens
A zoom lens including, in a sequence from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, and a succeeding lens group having an overall positive refractive power, and having a high zoom magnification and a compact size. |
| US08320048B2 |
Projection lens and projection-type display apparatus using the lens
A projection lens includes a first lens having at least an aspheric surface, a second lens having a concave surface facing the reduction side of the projection lens, and having negative refractive power, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens having a convex surface facing the reduction side, and having positive refractive power, and the like, which are sequentially arranged from the magnification side of the projection lens. Further, the following formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied: 3.5 |
| US08320046B2 |
Optical device
An optical device (10) for providing a synthetic integral image includes a polymer foil stack (111). The polymer foil stack (111) includes at least one polymer foil (11). A first interface (17) of the polymer foil stack (111) includes optically distinguishable image data bearer structures (116). The first interface (17) has a general shape defined by a first array (115) of curved interface portions (117), on which the image data bearer structures (116) are superimposed. Preferably, the optical device (10) includes a second interface (12) of the polymer foil stack (111), which has a second array (13) of microlenses (14). The second interface (12) is provided at a distance from the first interface (17), which distance is close to a focal length of the microlenses (14). The second array (13) is in registry with the first array (115). |
| US08320044B2 |
Optical element and production method of the same
Disclosed is an optical element for use in an optical apparatus having a light source which emits a light flux with a wavelength λ (350 nm≦λ≦450 nm), the optical element containing: a molded portion formed by molding a resin; and one or a plurality of anti-reflection layers formed on the molded portion, wherein at least one of the anti-reflection layers is made of SixOy; and an elemental ratio r (r=y/x) designating an ratio of O to Si in the molecule of SixOy satisfies a requirement represented by Formula (1): 1.40≦r≦1.80. |
| US08320042B2 |
Polarizing film, optical film laminate comprising polarizing film, and stretched laminate for manufacturing the same
A polarizing film includes a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) type resin having a dichroic material impregnated therein. The polarizing film is formed by stretching the PVA type resin, such that the thickness of the polarizing film is decreased to 10 μm or less, and. The polarizing film has optical properties which satisfy conditions represented by formulae: P>−(100.929T-42.4−1)×100 (where T<42.3); and P≧99.9 (where T≧42.3) where T represents a single layer transmittance and P a polarization rate. The polarizing film can be made by providing a laminate comprising a PVA type resin layer formed on a non-crystallizable ester type thermoplastic resin substrate. |
| US08320040B2 |
Multi-wavelength light amplifier
A multi-wavelength light amplifier includes a first-stage light amplifier which has a first light amplifying optical fiber amplifying a light input, a second stage light amplifier which has a second light amplifying optical fiber amplifying a first light output from the first-stage light amplifier, and an optical system which maintains a second light output of the second-stage light amplifier at a constant power level. The first-stage and second-stage light amplifiers have different gain vs wavelength characteristics so that the multi-wavelength light amplifier has no wavelength-dependence of a gain thereof. |
| US08320038B2 |
Method of fabricating an integrated device
A method of fabricating an integrated device including a MicroElectroMechanical system (MEMS) and an associated microcircuit is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises: forming a high temperature capable contact through a dielectric layer to an underlying element of a microcircuit formed adjacent to a MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS) structure on a substrate; and depositing a layer of conducting material over the dielectric layer, and patterning the layer of conducting material to form a local interconnect (LI) for the microcircuit overlying and electrically coupled to the contact and a bottom electrode for the adjacent MEMS structure. Other embodiments are also provided. |
| US08320036B2 |
Normally emitting pixel architecture for frustrated total internal reflection displays
The present invention provides an apparatus that includes a waveguide and one or more pixels deployed adjacent the top surface of the waveguide which contains TIR light therein. Each pixel includes a deformable active layer having a first conductor and a driver electronics layer having a second conductor. The driver electronics layer is deployed in spaced-apart relation to the active layer and opposite the waveguide. In a quiescent state of a pixel, the active layer is in contact or near contact with the top surface of the waveguide so as to optically couple light out via FTIR (i.e., pixel's ON state). To actuate the pixel, the electronics layer is configured to selectively apply an electrical potential difference to the second conductor thereby causing the active layer to move away from the top surface so as to prevent the optical coupling of light out of the waveguide (i.e., pixel's OFF state). |
| US08320035B2 |
Micro-movable device
A micro-movable device includes a frame, a movable section including a body section, and a torsion coupling section for coupling the frame with the movable section to define an axis of oscillation of the movable section, wherein the frame includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion that are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the axis and extend along the body section, and oppose the body section via a gap. |
| US08320034B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning apparatus that scans a light beam from a light source includes: a movable portion and a fixed portion. The movable portion includes: a rotating member, which is capable of rotating about a rotation axis being parallel with an optical axis of the light beam, has an open hole through which the light beam passes, and is provided with a first coil; and a mirror that is provided to the rotating member, electrically connected with the first coil, and reflects the light beam that passes through the open hole of the rotating member in a variable angle with respect to the optical axis of the light beam. The fixed portion includes: a magnetic member; and a second coil capable of supplying an electromagnetic field to the first coil. One of a part and a whole of the magnetic member is made of a magnetic material and the magnetic member serves as a magnetic core of the second coil. |
| US08320033B2 |
Actuator, optical scanner, and image forming device
An actuator includes: a first oscillatory system including a frame-shaped driving member and a pair of first axial members holding the driving member from both ends so as to allow the driving member to rotate around an X-axis; a second oscillatory system including a movable plate provided inside the driving member and a pair of second axial members holding the movable plate to the driving member from both ends so as to allow the movable plate to rotate around a Y-axis perpendicular to the X axis; and a driving unit including a permanent magnet provided on the driving member, a coil provided so as to face the permanent magnet, a voltage applying unit applying a voltage to the coil, and the permanent magnet has a relief section to avoid making contact with the movable plate. |
| US08320032B2 |
Diffractive beam expander and a virtual display based on a diffractive beam expander
A diffractive beam expander (50) comprises a substantially planar waveguiding substrate, an input grating (10) to provide an in-coupled beam (B1) propagating within said substrate, and an output grating (30) to provide an out-coupled beam. The expander (50) comprises also four or more further grating portions to expand the height of the in-coupled beam (B1). A part of the in-coupled light is diffracted by a first deflecting grating portion (21a) to provide a first deflected beam. A part of the in-coupled light is diffracted by a second deflecting grating portion (22a) to provide a second deflected beam. The first deflected beam propagates downwards and the second deflected beam propagates upwards with respect to the in-coupled beam (B1). The first deflected beam impinges on a first direction-restoring grating portion (21b) and the second deflected beam impinges on a second direction-restoring grating portion (22b). The first restoring grating portion (21b) provides a first restored beam (V1) and the second restoring grating portion (22b) provides a second restored beam (V2), which both have the same direction as the in-coupled beam (B1). Out-coupling provides an output beam which is parallel to the input beam, and has a greater vertical dimension than said input beam. |
| US08320026B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus with a control device for adjusting a white reference member to a set position according to shading correction or image reading operation
An image reading apparatus including: an image sensor unit having a light source that irradiates light onto an original document transferred to a predetermined image reading position, and a light receiving element that receives reflected light of the light; a white reference member for shading correction, provided so as to oppose the image sensor unit across a transferring path for the original document; an actuator that adjusts a position or an angle of the white reference member; and a control device that sets a position or angle of the white reference member and controls the actuator so as to adjust the white reference member to the set position or to the set angle, so that light reflected from the white reference member is received on the light receiving element when correcting shading, and so that the reflected light is not received on the light receiving element when reading an image. |
| US08320025B2 |
Providing multiple payment schedules for storing images and utilizing the stored images
A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously stored by a user in a memory location of a service provider and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images includes establishing a service account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services, receiving and storing a plurality of images along with a designated date in the memory location, and displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user. The method also includes the user selecting at least one image to be utilized after viewing the displayed images, and selecting a service, receiving payment for the selected service for the selected image based upon a payment schedule that depends upon the designated date associated with the selected image, and providing the selected service using the selected image. |
| US08320024B2 |
Method and apparatus for image forming and computer program product
An image forming apparatus capable of minimizing degradation in density correction as a part of skew correction includes a noise-occurrence determining unit, a correction-target-pixel selecting unit, a density correcting unit, and a phase correcting unit. When the noise-occurrence determining unit determines that noise would appear, the density correcting unit performs density correction on a correction target pixel that is determined by the correction-target-pixel selecting unit. The phase correcting unit corrects an output point in time of image data of the density-corrected correction target pixel in a pixel period during which the image data can be output so as to output the image data at a position displaced away from a shift position or toward a shift position. |
| US08320019B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program thereof
There are cases in which an effective search index cannot be provided to an image data only by extracting character codes from a character object in PDL data. An image processing apparatus of the present invention obtains image data by rendering PDL data, and extracts a character object from the image data. The image processing apparatus performs character recognition processing on the extracted character object to obtain character code information, and provides metadata including the character code information to the image data. |
| US08320015B2 |
Maintenance processing control for image forming job
According to an image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a user with the intention of having a processing completed in a short time inputs execution of an image forming job involving the intention, this operation information is acquired by an operation information acquisition section. In response to that, an invalidation determining section determines to invalidate processing for maintenance, based on the operation information. Responding to that, an invalidation control section invalidates the processing for maintenance on image forming during execution of the image forming job regardless of predetermined rules. By this means, the processing for maintenance on image forming cannot be executed during the image forming job in the case of a user with the intention of having a processing completed in a short time. |
| US08320014B2 |
Printing condition changing method, program, storage medium, printing method, printer and printing system
The present invention prevents necessary image data from deviating from a print medium and thereby executes a good printing operation without a loss of necessary image data. For this purpose, when performing a so-called marginless printing, in which ink is applied also to an area overrunning from the print medium to form an image without leaving a blank margin at edges of the print medium, the overrunning widths of the area are made adjustable. |
| US08320009B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for predicting a data amount for image data prior to reading the image data
A disclosed image formation apparatus includes: an operation unit allowing input of reading conditions of image data; an input unit reading the image data in accordance with the reading conditions input via the operation unit; a first storage unit storing the image data read by the input unit; a second storage unit storing correspondence relation between the reading conditions and predicted data amount of the image data to be stored in the first storage unit; a data amount prediction unit predicting data amount of the image data to be read based on the reading conditions and the correspondence relation stored in the second storage unit; and a judgment unit judging whether to perform reading of the image data based on the predicted data amount and an available capacity of the first storage unit. |
| US08320005B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method, image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus and recording medium
An image processing system includes an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus transmits to the image processing apparatus, a job and storage location information indicating a storage location of base data of data included in the job, collectively. Receiving the job and the storage location information, the image processing apparatus records the job and the storage location information in a memory, with interconnections between them. |
| US08320004B2 |
Image forming apparatus and computer-readable medium storing operation control program
An image forming apparatus includes: a display unit that displays an image; a web browser that causes the display unit to display thereon a web page; and an operation setting unit that receives from a user and stores an input of operation settings relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus, and of web page display settings relating to web page display control by the web browser. Upon launching of the web browser, the operation setting unit outputs the web page display settings to the web browser. The web browser displays the web page on the display unit according to the web page display settings. |
| US08320003B2 |
Systems and methods for printer configuration management
Systems and methods consistent with disclosed embodiments provide a method for managing a printer configuration menu comprising a plurality of menu options, by associating a menu configuration change field with each menu options, assigning a value to the menu configuration change field, and displaying the menu option as part of printer configuration menu during printer configuration based on the value of the menu configuration change field associated with the at least one menu option. |
| US08320001B2 |
Information processing method and apparatus for banner printing
When a setting corresponding to a setting item for generating a banner sheet for banner printing by the printer driver of the printer is made, print setting information including information representing that a banner sheet is to be generated is generated in accordance with the setting. Based on the generated print setting information, banner data for generating a banner sheet is generated. Information for using the generated banner data as banner data for print data, printing of which is designated by the application, is additionally described in the print setting information. |