| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08316970B1 |
Hydraulic-based spherical robot
A system includes a plurality of fluid chambers uniformly distributed about and in fluidic connection with a fluid reservoir, each fluid chamber having a valve and pressure sensor adjacent thereto, the valve configured to allow fluid flow between the fluid reservoir and the fluid chamber and the pressure sensor configured to determine the amount of fluid within the respective fluid chamber; means, adjacent to the fluid reservoir, for pumping fluid between the fluid reservoir and each of the fluid chambers; and a controller configured to control the means for pumping fluid and the valves using data from the pressure sensors. The means for pumping fluid, the valves, the pressure sensors, and the controller are contained within an inner housing and the plurality of fluid chambers are contained within an outer housing, which may be spherical in shape, and are external to the inner housing. |
| US08316967B2 |
Earth-boring tools with primary and secondary blades, methods of forming and designing such earth-boring tools
Earth-boring tools comprise a body including a face at a leading end thereof and a shank at a trailing end. At least one primary blade may extend radially outward over the face and may comprise a plurality of cutting elements disposed thereon. At least one secondary blade may also extend radially outward over a portion of the face and the at least one secondary blade may comprise a plurality of cutting elements disposed thereon only over at least a portion of an area of greatest work rate per cutting element. Methods of forming earth-boring tools and methods of designing earth-boring tools are also disclosed. |
| US08316966B2 |
Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface and tools therefor
According to one embodiment, a system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes a well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, and a well bore pattern connected to the junction and operable to drain fluid from a region of the subterranean zone to the junction. |
| US08316965B2 |
Drilling tool with fluid cleaner
Drilling tool (1) for drilling a well downhole where fluid is surrounding the tool and where the tool has a housing (15) and is connected to an electrical conducting means, such as a wireline. The drilling tool has a drilling head (2) and a fluid cleaner (3) for removal of elements, such as debris and formation pieces, from the fluid while drilling downhole. The fluid cleaner has a chamber (4) and a filter (5) within the chamber for separation of the elements from the fluid. The tool further comprises a pump (8) for pumping the fluid into the chamber through an inlet (11) in the drilling head (2) and through the filter before entering the well again. Furthermore, the tool comprises a driving unit for driving the pump and the drilling head. |
| US08316962B2 |
Impact tool
It is an object of the invention to reduce noise caused by run-out of a tool bit in an impact tool. The representative impact tool according to the invention includes a tool holder 137 that houses a tool bit 119 in such a manner that the tool bit can linearly move in its axial direction, and a barrel 108 that is integrally connected to the tool holder 137 The impact tool further includes an elastic element 155 that is disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the tool holder 137 and an outer circumferential surface of the tool bit 119 in an end region of the tool bit 119 on the barrel side and connected in close contact with the tool holder 137 and the tool bit 119 over a predetermined length of the tool bit 119 in the axial direction. The elastic element 155 applies a biasing force to prevent a run-out of the tool bit 119 in a direction transverse to the axial direction. Further, an intermediate element 145 comes in point contact with the tool bit 119 on its axial center line. |
| US08316955B2 |
Carbon dioxide-based geothermal energy generation systems and methods related thereto
A geothermal energy generation system comprises one or more injection wells for accessing one or more reservoirs having a first temperature, wherein the reservoirs are located below one or more caprocks and are accessible without using large-scale hydrofracturing. Each of the injection wells has an injection well reservoir opening, and one or more production wells each having a production well reservoir opening. A non-water based working fluid can be provided to the injection wells at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. Exposure of the working fluid to the first temperature can produce heated working fluid capable of entering one or more production wells. An energy converting apparatus is connected to each of the one or more injection wells and the one or more productions wells and thermal energy contained in the heated working fluid can be converted to electricity, heat, or combinations thereof, in the energy converting apparatus. |
| US08316953B2 |
Valve
A well tubing valve including a substantially tubular body connected in a tubular string and a rotational valve member having at least one aperture. The valve member is a sleeve having a part spherical surface, is rotationally moveable relative to the body to align and misalign the at least one aperture in the valve member with a port in the body. The valve member is actuable to rotate relative to the body in a single direction, and moves from the open position to a closed position and back by rotation in the same sense. The valve also includes a sealing arrangement adapted to provide a metal seal that is biased to seal against the part spherical surface. |
| US08316948B2 |
Actuation assembly for riser connection dog
A box and pin coupling for a drilling riser having an actuator assembly with an attached dog. The actuator assembly includes an actuation rod having an end affixed to the dog. A portion of the rod is circumscribed by an annular sleeve, where the outer surface of the sleeve is threadingly attached to one of the box or pin. A shoulder is formed on the rod outer circumference between the sleeve and the end of the rod attached to the dog. A retainer cap is provided on the end of the rod opposite where it attaches to the dog. The sleeve abuts the rod on one end, and the retainer cap on the other, so that rotating the sleeve axially moves the actuation rod, that in turn moves the attached dog into or out of engagement with a profile on the other of the box or pin. |
| US08316944B2 |
System for pulse-injecting fluid into a borehole
Applying pulses to liquid being injected into wells makes the ground/liquid formation more homogenous, and more penetrative. A system for automatically creating the pulses is described, in which a piston is acted upon by the pressure differential (PDAF) between the supplied accumulator pressure and the formation pressure. The changing levels of the PDAF as the pulse-valve opens (and the PDAF falls) and as the pulse-valve closes (and the PDAF rises) are harnessed to actuate an inhibitor that restrain movement of the valve-piston, and delays opening and/or closing of the pulse-valve. The pulse-valve is engineered to open explosively, and thus create penetrative porosity-waves in the formation. The system includes a pressurized-gas accumulator, and injection-check-valve which can maintain pulsing even when the ground is not saturated, and the static injector, which allows non-pulsed injection only when the ground is non-saturated. |
| US08316941B2 |
Method for single-stage treatment of siliceous subterranean formations
In a method of treating a sandstone-containing formation penetrated by a wellbore, a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid containing a Bronsted acid, a hydrogen fluoride source and an organic acid or salt thereof that is substantially soluble in the aqueous fluid is formed. The treatment fluid contains less than about 2% of fluoride (F−) by weight of the fluid and from 2% or less of sodium (Na+) by weight of the fluid. The treatment fluid is introduced into the formation through the wellbore as a single-stage without introducing an acid-containing fluid preflush into the formation prior to introducing the treatment fluid. |
| US08316939B2 |
Method of installing sand control screens in wellbores containing synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids
A method of installing a sand control screen assembly in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is carried out in a wellbore having a cased section and an uncased section. The wellbore contains synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids containing drilled solids. A first water-based displacement fluid that contains a shale inhibitor is introduced into the wellbore to displace the synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A second water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. The sand control screen assembly is then run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore to facilitate a gravel packing operation. |
| US08316936B2 |
Use of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in well treatments
A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing a wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in the wellbore, placing a plurality of acoustic sensors in the wellbore, obtaining data from the MEMS sensors and data from the acoustic sensors using a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore, and transmitting the data obtained from the MEMS sensors and the acoustic sensors from an interior of the wellbore to an exterior of the wellbore. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing a wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors in the wellbore, and obtaining data from the MEMS sensors using a plurality of data interrogation units spaced along a length of the wellbore, wherein one or more of the data interrogation units is powered by a turbo generator or a thermoelectric generator located in the wellbore. |
| US08316929B2 |
Tubular guiding and gripping apparatus and method
A method and an apparatus to guide a tubular member include the apparatus having a bore with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and configured to support the tubular member, with the apparatus including a first opening formed at a first side thereof, a second opening formed at a second side thereof, and an inner wall extending from the first opening to the second opening. The apparatus further includes a first guiding member disposed adjacent to the first opening of the bowl and a second guiding member disposed adjacent to the second opening of the bowl. |
| US08316928B2 |
Drive means
A drive means for downhole use comprises an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft being coupled to a means of rotation, the input shaft and the output shaft being torsionally coupled, the output shaft being coupled to the rotor of the progressive cavity pump, the input shaft lies in a first axis and the output shaft lies in a second axis, the second axis being parallel to the first axis but spaced from it so that the output shaft rotates about its axis while describing a circular path. |
| US08316926B2 |
Arrangement and method for automatically determined time constant for a control device
An arrangement for use in connection with an air handling unit includes a controller and a processing circuit. The controller is configured to control a device within an air handler unit, which includes at least a first coil. The processing circuit is configured to receive first information representative of a maximum liquid flow rate through the first coil and second information representative of a maximum air flow rate of the first coil. The processing circuit is further configured to generate a time constant estimate, based on the first information and second information, for use in the controller in performing control of the device. |
| US08316925B2 |
Heat exchanger arrangement
A heat exchanger arrangement comprising a charge cooler and a housing. The charge cooler comprises a charge cooler core, a header plate, a coolant entry duct and a coolant exit duct. Specifically, the charge cooler core comprises hallow heat-transfer elements through which a coolant can flow. The housing is in the form of a chamber with a single aperture for receiving the cooler core and comprises an air entry duct, an air exit duct and a flange. The cooler core is fixed inside the housing by fixing the header plate of the charge cooler to the flange of the housing. Additionally, the header plate of the charge cooler closes the single aperture for receiving the cooler core. |
| US08316924B2 |
Heat exchanger having powder coated elements
Powder coated heat exchange elements for a heat exchanger. Powder coating provides improved protective coating on surfaces of heat exchange elements. In many applications, the heat exchange elements are subjected to harsh operating conditions that promote corrosion. Traditional enamel coating tends to fracture when subjected to mechanical stresses thereby allowing corrosion inducing agents to penetrate and corrode the underlying surfaces. Powder coating reduces breaches in the protective layer. Powder coating may be adapted to withstand high temperatures so as to make them suitable for use in harsh operating environments. One such environment can be found in the processing of flue gas from fossil burning power generators, where the flue gas has a relatively high temperature and high sulfur content. |
| US08316923B2 |
Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink, a plurality of fasteners extending through the heat sink, a fan holder mounted on the heat sink and a fan secured on the fan holder. The heat sink includes multiple claws to retain the fasteners therein. The fan holder includes a hoop surrounding the heat sink and a bracket supporting the fan. A plurality of sleeves are formed on the hoop and aligned with the claws of the heat sink, to thereby guide a tool to manipulate the fasteners to secure the heat sink to a printed circuit board. |
| US08316922B2 |
Thermal postcombustion device and method for operating the same
A thermal postcombustion device includes, in a conventional manner per se, a housing, having an inlet for the exhaust air that is to be purified and an outlet for clean air. A combustion chamber is located inside the housing, and inside this combustion chamber, a heating device generates a temperature at which the pollutants carried by the exhaust air burn. In order to reduce the energy requirement, a heat exchanger is provided over which the exhaust air coming from the inlet is guided to the combustion chamber, and the clean air coming from the combustion chamber is guided to the outlet. In order to also be able to process exhaust air, which is loaded with adherent residues, for example, pitch vapors, a device is provided with which, during a purification mode, at least a portion of the clean air can be optionally fed past a section of the heat exchanger located closer to the combustion chamber and into another section of the heat exchanger located further from the combustion chamber. Deposits, which have formed in the vicinity of the cold end of the heat exchanger, can be removed in this manner, particularly oxidized. |
| US08316915B2 |
High speed door assembly
The present invention is directed to an industrial high-speed door assembly having a reduced door panel width and having guides for guiding the door which extend into a passageway but are resilient, tough, or resiliently collapsible, to either withstand impacts from vehicle collisions or moveable during opening of the door to avoid collisions while returning for guidance upon closing the door. |
| US08316912B2 |
Screen device
In a screen device, a pair of vertical rails 24 arranged on the front and back sides of a screen 8 so as to oppose to each other are connected by connecting members 30 and are fixed between a pair of sliding guide frames 10a and 10b with the intermediary of the screen. The connected vertical rails are integrally slidable in the direction parallel to the direction of sliding movement of a screen mounting frame, so that the screen is restrained from being deflected even when it receives a wind pressure in the closed state when the width in the opening and closing direction is large. |
| US08316911B2 |
Child safety lift cord system for window coverings
A lift cord safety system for use with a Roman shade type window covering having a head rail, a bottom rail and a shade movable between a raised and a lowered position. At least one lift cord vertically extends down from the head rail toward the bottom rail. A flexible sleeve is associated with and substantially surrounds each lift cord. A set of vertically spaced guides are also associated with each lift cord and are attached to the shade. The sleeve and the lift cord are disposed within each guide of the associated set of vertically spaced guides. A zip tie affixes the sleeve to each guide of the associated set of vertically spaced guides. |
| US08316909B2 |
Automatic bead seater assembly
An automatic bead seating assembly to automatically move a bead seating assembly or manifold into contact with a wheel or tire assembly and cause the bead to be seated. The assembly comprises an extendable and retractable seater arm attached at one end to a base, with a bead seater or manifold assembly attached or mounted at the other end. The bead seater or manifold assembly may comprises a reservoir filled with compressed air or other gas, and a hose or pipe for movement of the air or gas from the reservoir to a nozzle of an appropriate size and shape to fit a particular wheel or tire. The seater arm extends forward until the bead seater or manifold assembly comes into contact with the wheel or tire assembly, whereupon air or gas from the manifold reservoir is released, causing the tire bead to be seated. The seater arm then retracts. |
| US08316908B2 |
Method and device for preliminarily bonding laminated glass using curved roll
[Object] When press-bonding superposed curved glass plates together by a plurality of curved rolls, even if curvature of the curved glass changes, a preliminary bonding method and device of a laminated glass can cope with a variety of curvatures of the curved glass plate by an easy adjustment.[Means to solve] The preliminary bonding device of the laminated glass has a pair of arcuately-curved rigid fixed shafts, each of which has an arc shape at a middle portion thereof and a linear shape at both ends thereof, a pair of curved rolls, each of which is formed from a covering roll member of a flexible resin layer that covers whole outermost circumferential surfaces of a plurality of short rigid cylindrical members that are provided at an outer circumference of the fixed shaft and are able to rotate through bearings, a roll driving means which drives and rotates the covering roll member of the curved roll, a curvature direction adjusting means that can adjust an angle of a direction of a curved convex portion of the arcuate fixed shaft, and a roll pressing means which sandwiches and presses the glass plates between the curved rolls. By adjusting rotation of the fixed shafts of the pair of upper and lower curved rolls by means of the curvature direction adjusting means, the preliminary bonding device can bond the glass plates of the laminated glass plate from a flat glass plate to a curved glass plate by sandwiching and pressing the glass plates. |
| US08316906B2 |
Impregnation of a filament roving
The invention relates to a device and a method for impregnating filaments, wherein the filaments form a roving. The device comprises a barrel (10) having at least one groove (12) formed in circumferential direction of the barrel, an inner space formed along the center axis of the barrel, and at least one recess (16) which forms a connection between the inner space and the groove. The recess includes a cylindrical section (16a), a conical section (16b) and a pocket section (16c). By means of said device and according to the method, a polymer material can be pressed successively from the inner space through at least the cylindrical section and the conical section into the groove to impregnate the filaments of the roving which is drawn through the groove. |
| US08316897B2 |
Water gun assembly
A toy water gun assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a water gun and a filling station. The filling station connects to a water source such as a hose. The gun connects to the filling station such that, when connected, the trigger is secured in a locked stated, preventing the user from discharging the gun while mounted on the station. In operation, the gun is connected to the filling station until the water reservoir on the gun is filled. The gun is then released from the filling station by engaging a release lever or button. The gun is fully charged, with the water being pressurized during the filling process. |
| US08316895B2 |
Metal tie tool with rotary gripper and ball setting device
A tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The tool includes a tension mechanism and a ball set and cut-off mechanism. The tension mechanism tensions the metal locking tie wrapped around a bundle. The ball set and cut-off mechanism includes a guide block and a shear block that engages the guide block. Once the tool tensions the metal locking tie, a ball set and cut-off handle is manually activated to push the guide block and the shear block forward in the tool thereby setting a ball in a metal locking tie head and shearing a portion of the tensioned metal locking tie. |
| US08316894B2 |
Modular adjustable frame hand loom
An adjustable knitting and weaving hand loom includes differently shaped elongate sections. Tabs and channels connect the sections to form a closed frame by connecting adjoining sections in end-to-end abutment. The tabs and mating channels form sliding joints between adjoining sections. Each of the sections is provided with a series of substantially uniformly spaced holes or bores. End-most holes through the tabs and the channels are aligned when the axial tabs are fully slidably mated within associated axial channels. Pegs are dimensioned to be received both within aligned end-most holes at each slip joint and intermediate holes. The pegs are inserted into aligned end-most bores or holes function both to secure yarn during knitting and to lock the axial tabs from inadvertently separating from mating axial channels by movements along the direction of insertion. |
| US08316891B2 |
Hydraulic pressure apparatus and brake pressure control apparatus using the same
An open port is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore of the reservoir apparatus and the port is exposed to the exterior of the reservoir apparatus. A hollow portion is formed concentrically with the port on a reservoir body. An annular thin portion is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore and the hollow portion surrounding the port in a radial direction. The thin portion is outwardly deflected and deformed by being pushed outwardly in a radial direction centering on the port in a range narrower than the inner diameter of the hollow portion. Thus, the opening of the port is outwardly sunk from the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore thereby to form a curved surface at a root portion of the thin portion on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore. |
| US08316888B2 |
Fluid-biased hydraulic control valve
A hydraulic control valve is provided having a solenoid body, an energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. A valve stem extends from the armature. The coil is energizable to move the armature and the valve stem from a first position to a second position. The valve body, the armature and the valve stem are configured so that the armature and the valve stem are biased to the first position by pressurized fluid, allowing the armature to operate without a biasing spring. |
| US08316886B2 |
Near boiler piping apparatus with open drain
A near-boiler piping loop apparatus is provided including a primary/secondary piping loop interface apparatus having a unitary construction including a secondary loop shut-off valve, drain valve and drain port in each branch of a secondary loop for connection to a boiler. Supply branch piping and return branch piping connects the interface apparatus to the boiler and provides attachment points for auxiliary plumbing equipment. The apparatus is adapted to connect to pump in variable orientations using rotatable flanges on the interface apparatus and on a wye strainer in the secondary loop supply branch and includes a union fitting attached to the interface apparatus. The union fitting provides a mounting hole for a temperature or pressure gauge. |
| US08316885B2 |
Fluid supply system, especially for delivering liquid hydrocarbon to a fuel-operated vehicle heater or to a reformer
A fluid supply system is provided, especially for delivering liquid hydrocarbon to a fuel-operated vehicle heater or to a reformer. The system includes a fluid reservoir (12), a first fluid line (28) from the fluid reservoir (12) to an on-off valve (30), a second fluid line (32) from the on-off valve (30) to a first system area (14) to be fed with fluid, and a third fluid line (34) from the on-off valve (30) to the reservoir (12). The on-off valve (30) establishes a connection between the first fluid line (28) and the second fluid line (32) in a first valve position and establishes a connection between the second fluid line (32) and the third fluid line (34) in a second valve position. A first fluid delivery arrangement (26) is provided for delivering fluid from the reservoir (12) into the second fluid line (12). A second fluid delivery arrangement (20, 24) is provided for delivering fluid from the third fluid line (34) into the reservoir (12). |
| US08316881B2 |
Fuel tank check valve
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel tank check valve including: a main tubular body attached on a fuel filler pipe; a valve element; a first tube that is disposed between the main tubular body and the fuel filler pipe and that has a first locking portion to engage with the fuel filler pipe; an annular seal member; and a second tube that is disposed to sandwich the annular seal member with the first tube and that has a second locking portion to engage with the main tubular body, wherein the fuel filler pipe is disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the first tube, wherein the first locking portion projects in an inside diameter direction, and wherein the first locking portion engages with an engagement hole in the fuel filler pipe from an outside. |
| US08316880B2 |
Oil filter bypass valve assembly for a generator
A bypass valve assembly for a generator includes a spring cover with a flange which extends in a radial direction from a spring cover body. The spring cover body defines an overall length dimension, the overall length dimension to an end of the spring cover body to the flange dimension defines a ratio between 1.6:1-1.2:1. The bypass valve assembly also includes a valve sleeve with a multiple of windows. Each of the multiple of windows includes a longitudinal edge which defines a longitudinal edge radius and corner radius. |
| US08316879B2 |
Method and device for controlling pressure of vacuum container
A method in which a pressure in an imaginary vacuum container is determined by calculation based on a gas flow rate difference between an estimated discharge gas amount determined from the actual opening degree of a vacuum valve provided on the discharge conduit of a vacuum container and an estimated inflow gas amount determined in the preceding operation period, an estimated inflow gas amount at the present time is determined based on a difference between the calculated pressure and a pressure measured in an actual vacuum container by a pressure meter, a set discharge gas amount is determined by adding, to the estimated inflow gas amount, a correction gas amount obtained based on a pressure deviation between a set pressure and the measured pressure, and the degree of opening of the vacuum valve is controlled such that a discharge gas amount reaches the set discharge gas amount. |
| US08316876B2 |
Flushing device with removable drain ring for potable water systems
A drain ring adapted for use in a device for flushing a dead-end of an underground municipal water distribution system includes a pair of annular seals and a channel between the seals, an outlet passage extending from inside the ring to the channel, and a flapper adapted to close the outlet passage under the influence of at least one of pressure and flow. The drain ring is removably positioned between a shut-off valve and an outlet of the device. |
| US08316873B2 |
Single use valve
A single use valve (10) comprises a plate (12) having an internal filter structure (28). A sealing substance (20) covers an inlet (14) to the filter structure (28). A heater arrangement (16) is arranged at the plate (12) in the vicinity of the sealing substance (20) for converting electrical current into heat and thereby melting or evaporating the sealing substance (20). The heater arrangement (16) conducts at least a part of the current, and preferably the entire current, along a conduction path not including the sealing substance (20). The melting of the sealing substance (20) thereby becomes independent on the existence of a complete electrical connection through the sealing substance (20). The heater arrangement (16) has therefore preferably its main heat emission in an area surrounding the sealing substance (20). The sealing substance (20) can be of any non-porous material. |
| US08316872B1 |
Blowout preventer using a plate propelled by an explosive charge
A blowout preventer with a block having a channel and one or more plates to close the channel. The block is placed over a pipe through which oil or other fluid is escaping, so that the pipe is in the channel. Alongside the channel are one or more circular plates, having diameters somewhat larger than the diameter of the channel. Explosive charges propel the plates into the channel to seal it off and stop the leak. The explosive charges may be ignited by radio, electric or sonic signals or other suitable means. There are passages for the plates that are orthogonal to the cylindrical channel, that allow the plates to move into place to block the channel, while preventing them from moving too far and overshooting the channel. Ratchets keep the plates from moving back after they have blocked the channel. Vents allow gas from the explosive charges to escape. |
| US08316870B2 |
Crutch decoration
The present invention provides crutch decorations that when applied to a crutch form a substantially flat surface between two opposing crutch columns. The flat surface is optimally used for placing printed advertising, designs, pictures, and the like, on the crutch. |
| US08316869B2 |
Acoustic energy system, method and apparatus for processing flat articles
A system, apparatus and method for processing flat articles with acoustical energy. The inventive system, apparatus and method can remove particles from both sides of a wafer more efficiently and effectively. In one aspect, the invention is a system and/or method for processing flat articles wherein a liquid is applied to both major surfaces of the flat article. A first transducer assembly is positioned adjacent to a first of the major surfaces of the flat article and a second member is positioned adjacent to a second of the major surfaces. The first transducer assembly generates and transmits acoustical energy to the first major surface of the flat article while the second member either: (1) reflects the acoustical energy generated by the first transducer assembly back to the second major surface of the flat article; and/or (2) generates and transmits acoustical energy to the second major surface of the flat article. |
| US08316866B2 |
Method and apparatus for cleaning a semiconductor substrate
A method for cleaning a substrate is provided. The method initiates with applying an activation solution to a surface of the substrate. The activation solution and the surface of the substrate are contacted with a surface of a solid cleaning surface. The activation solution is absorbed into a portion of the solid cleaning element and then the substrate or the solid cleaning surface is moved relative to each other to clean the surface of the substrate. A method for cleaning the surface of the substrate with a solid cleaning element that experiences plastic deformation is also provided. Corresponding cleaning apparatuses are also provided. |
| US08316863B2 |
Applicator nozzle and applicator assembly incorporating such a nozzle
An applicator nozzle may comprise an attachment portion configured to attach the nozzle to a receptacle configured to contain a product and an arrangement of at least two teeth disposed so as to form at least one row comprising first and second end teeth. At least one of the teeth of the arrangement may define a channel configured to be placed in flow communication with product contained in the receptacle. The channel may open on an exterior of the at least one tooth via at least one outlet aperture facing substantially in a direction of at least one adjacent tooth. The nozzle may further define at least one groove and the outlet aperture may open into the groove. The groove may extend from the outlet aperture substantially to a free extremity of the at least one tooth. The arrangement may be formed by a single molded piece and may be configured so as to present an obstacle to product flowing from the at least one outlet aperture beyond the first and second end teeth. |
| US08316861B2 |
System and method for guiding a medical instrument with magnetic force control
A magnetic force control system for guiding a medical instrument within a body includes: a controlled magnet coupled to the medical instrument; a controller magnet that exerts a magnetic force on the controlled magnet; a magnetically permeable shield, placed between the controlled magnet and the controller magnet, that selectively modulates the magnetic force by rerouting magnetic field lines; and a control system. A method for guiding a medical instrument within a body with magnetic force control includes: providing a controlled magnet coupled to the medical instrument, inserting the controlled magnet and medical instrument into the body, providing a controller magnet outside the body, placing a magnetically permeable shield between the controlled magnet and the controller magnet, applying magnetic force, and selectively modulating the magnetic force with the shield to vary at least one of amplitude and orientation of the magnetic force, thereby guiding the controlled magnet within the body. |
| US08316853B2 |
Method and devices for conduit occlusion
The present invention comprises systems, methods and devices for the delivery of compositions for occluding or of means for opening conduits. The implantable occlusive material may be delivered pre-formed or in situ cured and, may be a resorbable material that supports tissue ingrowth that eventually replaces the material leaving little or no original material in place. The delivery system is positioned to allow for placement of the occlusive material into the body conduit. Use of delivery systems, methods and devices for re-opening an occluded body conduit are also included. |
| US08316852B2 |
Device for extracting particles from exhaled breath
Device for extracting particles from exhaled breath, comprising a cooling system (16) for creating droplets by condensation of the water vapor contained in the exhaled breath; a droplet recovery unit (7) provided with a side wall (2) having a grid form and converging towards an outlet opening (9), allowing the droplets attracted towards said side wall (2) to flow along the latter towards the outlet opening (9); and a discharge electrode (1) mounted inside the droplet recovery unit (7), said side wall (2) of said droplet recovery unit (7) defining a counter electrode to said discharge electrode (1) in order to attract droplet-collecting particles carried by exhaled breath towards said side wall (2). |
| US08316849B2 |
Integrated ventilator with calibration
An integrated respiratory ventilation system and method for its calibration is described. The system includes a ventilator having air conduits, transducers adapted to emit signals proportional to the level of air pressure or air flow within the air conduits, and inspiration, expiration and exhaust ports. A processor-controlled calibrator is in communication with one or more of the air conduits. A preferred calibrator includes a water-filled outer column and a vertically aligned inner column extending into the outer column, the inner column having an upper end in communication with at least one of the ports. A processor controls the opening and closing of the ports and the level of air pressure in, and air flow from, the inner column to measure the level of transducer signals at two known pressures and two known flows. The processor uses the measured transducer signals to calibrate the transducer. |
| US08316848B2 |
CPAP systems
A CPAP system includes a flow generator, a patient interface, an air delivery conduit that interconnects the flow generator and the patient interface, and a packaging arrangement including at least one storage facilitating member to allow storage of the air delivery conduit. The at least one storage facilitating member may be provided to the flow generator, a cradle, and/or the air delivery conduit. |
| US08316845B2 |
Device for releasing breathing gas
A device for releasing breathing gas establishes constant flow conditions for the breathing gas being discharged. An annular connection element (6) is provided between an outer part (2) and an inner part (4), and a discharge gap (7) is formed between the connection element (6) and the outer part (2). |
| US08316841B2 |
Energy transmitting panel, for invisible incorporation into a building and a cassette comprising such panel
An energy transmitting solar panel (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62) intended for invisible incorporation into a building, a part or component thereof, behind and in thermal contact with a climate shield (12, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61) on said building, a part or component thereof, is made of a heat-conducting material and has a substantial heat transmitting surface area and at least one through-going fluid impervious channel or duct (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65) embedded in or integrally connected with said panel for the flow of an energy carrying-capable fluid therein. The solar panel is mounted below and close up to a climate shield of a building so that good thermal contact is established there between providing excellent transmission of converted sun radiation to an energy carrying-capable fluid in the fluid impervious channel or duct. |
| US08316838B2 |
Burner and cooking device
A cooking device is provided. The cooking device includes a cavity and a burner. The cavity provides a cooking chamber. The burner is at the cooking chamber in the cavity and heats food in the cooking chamber. The burner includes a supply part and a combustion unit. A gaseous fuel mixed with air flows in the supply part. The combustion unit is connected to the supply part to receive the mixed gaseous fuel and to burn the received mixed gaseous fuel flowing within the combustion unit. The combustion unit has a single loop shape. |
| US08316836B2 |
Grill handle with heat shield
Two main embodiments of a heat shield for a barbecue grill are disclosed herein. Both are designed to reduce the transfer of heat from the heated volume of the cooking chamber to the handle of the barbecue grill. The first embodiment mounts to the exterior of the cooking chamber and is disposed between the cooking chamber and the handle. The first embodiment is contoured to interrupt the convective flow of heated air away from the handle. The second embodiment mounts to the interior of the cooking chamber opposite the handle. The second embodiment rests adjacent the inside surface of the cooking chamber to form a partially or substantially closed volume that serves as an insulating barrier for the handle. |
| US08316830B2 |
Valve module for a combustion engine breathing system
A valve module for a combustion engine breathing system, and products and systems using the same. |
| US08316826B2 |
Reducing variations in close coupled post injections in a fuel injector and fuel system using same
An electrically controlled fuel injector includes an armature that is movable between a first armature position and a second armature position inside an armature cavity containing fuel. By reducing the size of the armature cavity to a squish film drag gap, the armature experiences a squish film drag phenomenon when the armature moves from the first armature position to the second armature position reducing the armature travel speed but also reducing the settling time of the armature after an injection event. By reducing the armature travel speed, the armature experiences a reduction in magnitude of armature bounce allowing the armature to settle down quicker and produce minimum controllable injection events with shorter dwell times than predecessor fuel injectors, especially for close coupled post injection events. |
| US08316822B2 |
Speed limiter system
A vehicle speed limiter is described, for use with, and for example fitted to, a vehicle throttle system (1) comprising a mechanically actuatable throttle member (3), an engine (10) speed controller (7), and a throttle signal unit in data communication with an engine speed controller and operably coupled to the throttle member so as to generate an electronic throttle signal in functional response to the degree of actuation of the throttle member, and to transmit a throttle signal to the engine speed controller whereby the engine speed is controlled. The speed limiter has a vehicle speed sensor (15) to obtain a signal indicative of vehicle speed; a limit speed data register to include a data store (17) for a data item indicative of at least a first predetermined limit speed; a comparator to compare the speed sensor output with the limit speed data item stored in the limit speed register; a throttle signal modifier unit acting on the output of a throttle signal unit in use when fitted in conjunction with a vehicle throttle system to modify a generated throttle signal so that a transmitted throttle signal is produced such as to tend to limit the vehicle to the applied limit speed. A method of fitment is also described. |
| US08316820B1 |
Throttle providing unobstructed air flow path when fully open and vortex generating configuration when partly open
A throttle includes a throttle body having a generally tubular throttle body side wall with a throttle body side wall interior surface defining a throttle body interior for containing an air flow path for delivering air into at least one cylinder of an engine; and a flow regulating mechanism including an diaphragm valve secured to the throttle body and extending diametrically across the throttle body interior for progressively reducing and progressively increasing the diameter of an air flow passing valve opening defined within the diaphragm valve, and thereby regulating air flow through the throttle body. |
| US08316813B2 |
Engine assembly having variable intake air tuning device and tuning method
An engine intake air tuning assembly may include a housing assembly and an air flow control member. The housing assembly may include an air inlet, an air outlet, and a body portion extending therebetween. The body portion may define an air flow passage and a tuning chamber. The air flow passage may provide fluid communication between the air inlet and outlet. The air flow control member may be located within the body portion and may be displaced between first and second positions relative to the air flow passage. The air flow control member may provide a first communication path from the air flow passage to the tuning chamber when in the first position and a second communication path from the air flow passage to the tuning chamber when in the second position. The second communication path may define a greater number of openings than the first communication path. |
| US08316811B1 |
Method and apparatus for priming various components of a diesel engine
A fuel priming device comprising: means for establishing releasable fluid communication with an interior volume of a fuel conveying system of an engine; a first conduit affixed to the releasable communication means for conveying diesel fuel from an engine; a pressurizable reservoir in fluid communication with the fuel conveying conduit, the device located external to the automotive vehicle associated and at least on pneumatic system controlling the removal of fuel from the diesel fuel filter. |
| US08316810B2 |
Method and device for stopping and starting the engine of hybrid vehicles
In a method and a device for engine stop/engine start of hybrid vehicles, which includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine which is coupled to the internal combustion engine and is selectively able to be operated regeneratively or motively, the engine speed can be detected and compared to a limit speed to initiate the stopping of the engine in a hybrid vehicle using an automatic start/stop mechanism, and if the engine speed drops to the threshold speed, the engine is stopped, the electric machine being switched over into the motive or the regenerative operation when the limit speed is reached; the electric machine assuming the limit speed, whereas the fuel supply of the internal combustion engine is shut down or remains shut down and the electric machine initiates the stopping of the internal combustion engine. |
| US08316808B2 |
Control time adjusting device
A control time adjusting device which adjusts the phase position of a camshaft with respect to an upstream drivetrain that drives the camshaft. The device has a hub element and a bell element which is coupled to the hub element in a variably adjustable manner with regard to the rotary phase position. The adjusting angle range is defined by stop structures. Additionally, adjusting cells, which are separated by radial webs and vane elements, are situated in an intermediate space between the hub element and bell element. The position and the peripheral length of the device, which is definitive for the pivoting travel of the adjusting cells and the arrangement of the vane elements with respect to one another, are adapted such that at least two different-sized adjusting angle ranges can be defined as a function of the assignment of the vane elements to the adjusting cells. |
| US08316806B2 |
Arrangement for cooling of oil in a gearbox for a vehicle
An arrangement for cooling oil in a gearbox in a vehicle which is powered by a combustion engine, the arrangement including an oil cooler, an oil system configured to circulate oil between the gearbox and the oil cooler, and a coolant circuit configured and operable to lead coolant to the oil cooler. The coolant circuit includes a radiator element for cooling the coolant and a line to lead the cooled coolant from the radiator element to the oil cooler. The coolant circuit has a flow-regulator to regulate the coolant flow through the radiator element for imparting to the coolant a temperature which makes possible a desired cooling of the oil in the oil cooler. |
| US08316802B2 |
Reusable water line grommet and disposable cage box
An animal cage box has a grommet for passing a watering conduit through a box side wall. The grommet is removably attachable at an opening through the side wall, using a non-round configuration by which the grommet is aligned for insertion into a non-round opening, and turned to hold the grommet in place. A flange on the grommet body rests against one face of the side wall. The non-round configuration includes one or more tabs that can be cut from the flange and are displaced axially by a distance equal to the side wall thickness. A hinge flap that can be grasped in the fingers helps to hold, align, insert or remove and twist the grommet relative to the side wall. The disclosed arrangement further minimized the cost of using inexpensive disposable cage boxes because relatively expensive grommets, for example of stainless steel, can be cleaned and reused. |
| US08316797B2 |
Microwave plasma reactors
New and improved microwave plasma assisted reactors, for example chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) reactors, are disclosed. The disclosed microwave plasma assisted reactors operate at pressures ranging from about 10 Torr to about 760 Torr. The disclosed microwave plasma assisted reactors include a movable lower sliding short and/or a reduced diameter conductive stage in a coaxial cavity of a plasma chamber. For a particular application, the lower sliding short position and/or the conductive stage diameter can be variably selected such that, relative to conventional reactors, the reactors can be tuned to operate over larger substrate areas, operate at higher pressures, and discharge absorbed power densities with increased diamond synthesis rates (carats per hour) and increased deposition uniformity. |
| US08316794B2 |
System and device for self-tanning
The present invention concerns a system and device for self-tanning of the type comprising a booth (2) in which two lateral walls (5) have one or more lamps (52) protected by gratings (51) arranged to warm the area inside the booth and to radiate the skin of a person in the booth. The booth is provided with a spraying device (11) for nebulizing a tanning substance. The device comprises a Second control panel (6) connected to a means of management envisaged for activating and governing the diverse functions of the device under the control of an operator or of a user. The system comprises a series of operative phases which envisage, for a person who undergoes a self-tanning session: entering the booth; pressing start on the control panel; the lamps switching on for a preset time and switching off; a tanning solution being sprayed, followed by the lamps being switched on a second time to dry the tanning solution; the lamps being switched off; the person leaving the booth. |
| US08316788B2 |
Collapsible kayak
A collapsible watercraft is comprised of a single high-strength foldable panel to fold into the form of a kayak with integrally defined keel, hull, sides, and deck. Using a single sheet of high strength panel creased in a predetermined pattern to form living hinges, the panel may be folded and transformed from self-defined compact knocked down package, into a rigid three dimensional tubular manifold in a kayak form that is optimized for performance in the water. Other removable rigid structural members, primarily a cockpit rim, rib, and floorboards help maintain the shape and integrity of the shell. |
| US08316784B2 |
Oxy/fuel combustion system with minimized flue gas recirculation
This disclosure includes a system and method of controlling fuel combustion including providing a system, measuring a property, and providing oxygen and fuel in response to the property. The system includes a furnace arranged and disposed to receive fuel and oxygen and combust the fuel and the oxygen to form a combustion fluid, a plurality of heat exchanger sections arranged and disposed to receive heat from the combustion fluid, and a plurality of oxygen injectors arranged and disposed to controllably provide oxygen to the combustion fluid to adjust composition of the combustion fluid and temperature of the combustion fluid. The property measured is selected from the group consisting of temperature of the combustion fluid, composition of the combustion fluid, temperature of the heat exchanger sections, and combinations thereof and is performed in close proximity to the oxygen injectors. |
| US08316782B2 |
Indirect heating system with upgrading of ultra-fine fuel particles
The invention relates to an indirect heating system in which a solid fuel circulates in the form of particles. The inventive system comprises a grinding station, a furnace (7), at least one intermediate silo, a separator, at least one cyclone and, optionally, a gas recirculation fan. The invention is characterized in that a dust extractor (10) captures the finest particles which are subsequently introduced into the furnace (7) by means of at least one specific conduit (52) and burnt by at least one specific burner (71). The aforementioned ultra-fine particles are then stored in a specific silo (10), dosed into a feeding device (61), mixed in well defined proportions with hot air and conveyed to the specific burner (71) through the specific conduit (52). |
| US08316779B2 |
Collapsible pallet system and methods
Formable pallets that are easy to construct into a generally stably product receiving state and easy to collapse into a storage/transport state. The pallet includes one or more display elements which may be integrated with the supporting platform to achieve point of purchase objectives. The display element may be a separate component that is removeable from the pallet or the display element may be configurable from the pallet such as by unfolding and/or folding portions of the supporting platform. |
| US08316777B1 |
Overbed table with arm supports
An overbed table wherein a pedestal is attached to one end of a single support member and the other end of the support member is connected to a table assembly that includes a table surface. The center axis of the support member is located closer to a first edge of the table surface than the oppositely disposed edge of the table surface and arm supports connected to the table assembly are extendable past the first edge of the table assembly. |
| US08316776B2 |
Rotary bearing, rotary table device and table diameter determining method
A rotary table device includes a hollow motor drive source, a table rotated thereby, and a rotary bearing supporting the table. The rotary bearing is provided an outer race having an inner surface to which a rolling surface is formed, an inner race having an outer peripheral surface to which a rolling surface opposing to the rolling surface of the outer race is formed, and a plurality of rolling members disposed in a rolling passage formed by the rolling surface of the outer race and the rolling surface of the inner race, and a cooling medium passage (α, β) is formed so as to be adjacent to either one of the inner race and outer race constituting a rotational driving side. According to the structure mentioned above, a rotary bearing and a rotary table device capable of achieving suitable cooling effect can be provided. |
| US08316775B2 |
Monorail bogie having a traction/pitching control assembly
A traction/pitching control assembly for attachment to a body portion of a monorail bogie. The monorail bogie is operative for supporting a monorail car over a monorail track that has a running surface and two side surfaces. The traction/pitching control assembly comprises a first traction link, a second traction link and a linking member that has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first traction link is attached to the first end portion of the linking member, and the second traction link is attached to the second end portion of the linking member. The traction/pitching assembly further comprises a third traction link and a cross link. The cross link joins the third traction link to the first traction link and the linking member. The first traction link and the second traction link are attached to one of the body portion of the monorail bogie and the monorail car, and the linking member is connected to the other one of the body portion of the monorail bogie and the monorail car. |
| US08316774B1 |
Auxiliary drive system for a high-rail vehicle
An auxiliary drive system for a high-rail vehicle comprises a high-rail vehicle having a first prime mover, a disengaged transmission, a chassis, a first set of on-road wheel assemblies and a second set of rail wheels, a cab for controlling the high-rail vehicle on road, a remote cab spaced from the primary cab, the remote cab allowing for control of the high-rail vehicle on railroad tracks, a secondary drive assembly comprising one of a hydraulic motor or an electric motor, a friction roller engaging one of the first set of on road wheel assemblies, the friction roller drivably engaging at least one of the first set of on road wheel assemblies and, the secondary drive assembly operable from the remote cab to move the friction roller and move the high-rail vehicle along the railroad tracks. |
| US08316771B2 |
Cartridge case and a round comprising such a cartridge case
A cartridge case intended for explosive materials. A releasable base plate is provided in a bottom section of the cartridge case. A base plate locking device includes a temperature dependent shape memory material. The shape memory material of the base plate locking device is provided to exert a crushing force on the cartridge case at a temperature increase passing a temperature such that the shape memory material in question struggles to resume a former shape in order to break up the connection between the base plate and the bottom section of the cartridge case and release the base plate from the bottom section of the cartridge case. A round of ammunition includes the cartridge case. |
| US08316769B2 |
Single piece non-lethal projectile
A reloadable training munition having a reusable shell base having a propulsion system reload inserted into a hollow cavity of the shell base and a reusable single piece projectile inserted into the shell base, the projectile having a hollow body portion, a driving band adjacent the body portion, and a nose portion adjacent the driving band having void spaces for controlling both density and mass properties of the nose portion. |
| US08316762B2 |
Juice extractors
A juice extractor comprises a body, a filtering apparatus, and a shattering apparatus. The body has an inner space. The filtering apparatus is disposed within the body and divides the inner space into a shattering chamber and a collecting chamber. The shattering apparatus is disposed within the shattering chamber and comprises at least a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade configured to shatter a comestible. The comestibles shattered by the first cutting blade can reach the second cutting blade and be shattered by the second cutting blade. |
| US08316761B2 |
Apparatus for producing so-called soft ice cream and process for feeding a relative mixture
Apparatus for producing so-called soft ice cream comprising a refrigerated feeding tank (12) for a liquid mixture (11) suitable for the preparation of soft ice cream, a group for pasteurising the mixture and a whipping cylinder (50). According to the invention, said group for pasteurising the mixture comprises a heating device (20) for an amount of mixture equal to at least one portion of product, a pre-cooling device (30, 30′) for said amount of heated mixture and a storage tank (40, 40′) for storing the pasteurised mixture at a constant temperature. |
| US08316758B2 |
Pneumatic actuator
A pneumatic actuator is provided for an active hood and includes, but is not limited to a cylinder and a piston, which is movable in the cylinder between a lower terminal position, in which the volume of a chamber delimited by piston and cylinder, which may be impinged using compressed gas, is minimal, and an upper terminal position, in which the volume of the chamber is maximal. The piston is lockable in the lower terminal position by a detent body engaging in first recesses of the cylinder and the piston. A slider is displaceable by impingement using the compressed gas out of an idle position, in which it fixes the detent body in the first recesses, into a triggering position, in which a second recess of the slider overlaps with one of the first recesses and is capable, together with a single one of the first recesses of accommodating the detent body. |
| US08316756B1 |
Upper receiver gas control for direct impingement firearms
A gas control mounted in an upper receiver of a weapon. A valve communicates with a gas tube of the weapon to receive gas under pressure from the barrel of the weapon. The valve has a first orifice and a second orifice. The position of the valve is selectable between the first orifice and the second orifice by rotation of a knob positioned on an exterior surface of the upper receiver of the weapon. The orifices are of different sizes to allow regulation of the volume of gas flow to the receiver of the weapon. |
| US08316753B2 |
Explosive round countermeasure system
An explosive round countermeasure system incorporates a plurality of linear shaped charges with standoffs for holding the linear shaped charges in parallel spaced relation distal from the structure to be protected, each shaped charge creating a substantially planar jet when detonated. Means for sensing an incoming explosive round having a nose mounted fuse structure is provided and means for detonating at least one of the charges in the array responsive to the sensing means such that the detonation is timed for placement of the fuse structure adjacent the at least one charge. |
| US08316750B2 |
Apparatus and method for launching incendiary projectiles
An apparatus and method for launching incendiary projectiles is provided. The apparatus includes a support adapted to being mounted to a vehicle, a pneumatic launcher connected to the support and operable to launch a projectile that has been delivered to the launcher, a gas delivery system operable to deliver a volume of pressurized gas to the launcher for launching the projectile, a projectile delivery system operable to deliver projectiles to the launcher, an injector cooperating operable to receive projectiles from the projectile delivery system and to inject the projectiles with an amount of reactant suitable to produce a delayed exothermic reaction with the incendiary material to prime the projectile, and thereafter convey the primed projectile to the launcher; and a controller operable to operable to regulate the launching of the projectiles. |
| US08316747B2 |
Table saw riving knife
A power tool in one embodiment is a table saw which includes a swing arm assembly movable along a swing path, an actuator configured to force the swing arm assembly away from a first swing arm position and toward a second swing arm position, and a riving knife positioned outwardly of the swing arm assembly when the swing arm assembly is in the first swing arm position, the riving knife including a channel with a first end portion and a second end portion, a first curved channel portion with a first center of curvature and located between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a second curved channel portion with a second center of curvature and located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first center of curvature is not coincident with the second center of curvature. |
| US08316745B2 |
Semiconductor wafer pre-process annealing and gettering method and system for solar cell formation
Techniques are here disclosed for a solar cell pre-processing method and system for annealing and gettering a solar cell semiconductor wafer having an undesirably high dispersion of transition metals, impurities and other defects. The process forms a surface contaminant layer on the solar cell semiconductor (e.g., silicon) wafer. A surface of the semiconductor wafer receives and holds impurities, as does the surface contaminant layer. The lower-quality semiconductor wafer includes dispersed defects that in an annealing process getter from the semiconductor bulk to form impurity cluster toward the surface contaminant layer. The impurity clusters form within the surface contaminant layer while increasing the purity level in wafer regions from which the dispersed defects gettered. Cooling follows annealing for retaining the impurity clusters and, thereby, maintaining the increased purity level of the semiconductor wafer in regions from which the impurities gettered. Multicrystalline semiconductor wafers having grain boundaries with impurities may also undergo the annealing and gettering of dispersed defects to the grain boundaries, further increasing the semiconductor substrate purity levels. |
| US08316744B2 |
Dicing method, program for the dicing method, and storage medium for the dicing method
A dicing method includes the step of cutting a substrate with a blade along a scribe line free from metal before an inclination of the blade surface reaches a predetermined critical value. The blade surface becomes inclined when the blade cuts into a scribe line having metal thereon. The critical value is determined on the basis of the inclination of the blade surface which leads to a breakage of the blade. |
| US08316737B2 |
Electric clamping device for an adjustable motor vehicle steering column
An adjustable steering column adjustable includes a steering shaft mounted in a body tube arranged in a movable support member and immobilized on a fixed support member by an electric clamping system. The clamping system is mounted in a casing supporting an electric actuator and includes a transmission mechanism, an immobilizing assembly and a clamping rod passing through the fixed support member. The immobilizing assembly includes a fixed cam rotationally fixed with respect to the clamping rod, and a rotationally movable cam, the cams having rolling paths for balls. Each rolling path has the shape of a spiral with an escape slope for a ball, in order to initiate clamping or unclamping depending on the rotation direction of the movable cam relative to the fixed cam. |
| US08316733B2 |
Rotational coupling device
In an image printing device, such as a laser printer or ink jet printer, a coupling device for creating a coupling between a rotatable shaft and an interface component, such as a gear. The coupling device is an elongated modified c-shaped body having a portion for receiving the rotatable shaft, and includes integrated hinges that facilitate the coupling device to be spread apart and to receive and interface with the rotatable shaft. The integrated hinges function to compress between the rotatable shaft and interface component substantially inhibiting relative longitudinal movement and wherein a flat on the exterior of the rotatable shaft engages with a flat on the interior the interface component, to additionally inhibit relative rotational movement between the interface component and the shaft. The shaft further includes a plurality of ribs that extend from the rotatable shaft into the coupling device providing additional reduction in rotational movement between the shaft and the interface component. Retainers extending from the coupling device into the interface component provide another method of inhibiting relative rotational movement and/or provide a stop for press fit of the interface component onto the shaft. |
| US08316732B2 |
Roller screw structure
A roller screw structure comprises a nut, a screw and a rolling assembly. The rolling assembly is movably disposed between the nut and the screw and includes at least one rolling cone. The slantwise rolling surface of the rolling cone contacts the spiral groove surfaces of the nut and the screw in a line-to-line manner, and the angle between the rolling surface and the self-rotation axis of the rolling cone is from 0 degree to 6.3 degrees. Thereby, making the distance between the self-rotation axis and the rolling surface of the rolling cone of the rolling assembly different can prevent the occurrence of speed difference caused at different rolling paths of the rolling assembly. |
| US08316725B2 |
Force sensor
A force sensor is disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, the force sensor may include a sensing die mounted to a substrate and an actuation assembly for transmitting an external force to the sensing die. The sensing die may include a diaphragm and one or more sensing elements (e.g. piezoresistive elements) positioned on the diaphragm. The actuation assembly may include a spherical member or object (e.g. ball bearing) in contact with the diaphragm, a pin member having a first end coupled to the spherical object and a second end coupled to a button member. The actuator assembly may transmit a force applied to the button member to the diaphragm via the pin member and spherical member. In some cases, the front side of the sensing die may be mounted to the substrate with an adhesive, such as a pattern of conductive adhesive and nonconductive adhesive to electrically connect one or more bond pads of the sensing die to one or more bond pads of the substrate without the need for wire bonds. The force sensor may also include signal conditioning circuitry. |
| US08316719B2 |
Stretchable two-dimensional pressure sensor
A pressure sensor for measuring the location and intensity of an applied pressure, including an elastomeric sheet; and a plurality of micro-channels embedded in the elastomeric sheet. |
| US08316717B2 |
Wireless self-powered monolithic integrated capacitive sensor and method of manufacture
Disclosed is a wireless self-powered monolithic integrated capacitive sensor, as well as methods of manufacturing same. A single monolithic chip may include various technologies, including RF MEMS, CMOS devices and related circuitry, and physical sensor MEMS. An example pressure sensor is disclosed, including a sensing capacitor and a reference capacitor that together allow the system to provide steady output in various environmental conditions. In one embodiment a pre-fabricated circuit wafer is fusion bonded to a pre-fabricated diaphragm wafer. Doped silicon may form the monolithic structure to provide the voltage necessary to run the system. |
| US08316716B2 |
Method for inspecting at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine and inspection system for at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine
A method for inspecting at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine for damage, such as subsurface blade cracks, includes the steps of: attaching at least one acoustic emission sensor to a surface of a rotor blade to be inspected, exciting oscillations in the rotor blade for a time period, measuring activity signals of the oscillations in the rotor blade with the at least one acoustic emission sensor, and detaching the at least one acoustic emission sensor from the surface of the rotor blade after the inspection. An inspection system for a rotor blade of a wind turbine is also contemplated. |
| US08316715B2 |
Vibration sensor
The invention is a vibration sensor with a carrying element capable of being set into vibration; a conversion device having a field coil to set and/or tap the carrying element into vibration; an anchor mounted in the field coil; and, a vibration element to transmit the vibrations from the carrying element into/from a surrounding space. The anchor is designed as two parts, having a permanent magnet and a coil core connected to the field coil, with an air gap arranged therebetween and lying in the area of the axial extension of the field coil. The permanent magnet is connected to the carrying element to transmit vibrations; and, the field coil and the permanent magnet are arranged to interact in such a way that any vibration of the permanent magnet induces current flow in the field coil and/or induces vibration of the permanent magnet in the field coil. |
| US08316712B2 |
Quantitative acoustic emission non-destructive inspection for revealing, typifying and assessing fracture hazards
Inspecting for fracture hazards by detecting a presence of at least one flaw development process in an equipment under inspection, the flaw development process being corrosion product nucleation and development, pitting, plastic deformation development, and/or micro-cracking. Detecting the presence of the flaw development process includes (a) determining at least one characteristic acoustic emission (AE) signature associated with a respective flaw development process, and (b) measuring an AE from each of a plurality of locations within the equipment. Presence of the respective flaw development process is identified only when the measured AE conforms to the characteristic AE signature within a predetermined tolerance. A fracture hazard is determined to exist only when (a) a quantity of the identified flaw development processes exceeds a first predetermined threshold and/or (b) a magnitude of at least one of the identified flaw development processes exceeds a second predetermined threshold. |
| US08316711B2 |
Apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium
An apparatus including: a mechanically oscillatable unit; an exciting/receiving unit; and an electronics unit having an input amplifier and an output amplifier. The amplification factors of the output amplifier and the input amplifier are tunable. The control unit tunes the amplification factor of the output amplifier as a function of damping of the mechanically oscillatable unit in such a manner that the amplitude of the electrical, input signal lies within an amplitude band and that the amplification factor of the output amplifier decreases in the case of lessened damping by the medium and increases in the case of greater damping by the medium, and the control unit tunes the amplification factor of the output amplifier and the amplification factor of the input amplifier in such a manner that the total amplification factor of the electronics unit equals a predeterminable value. |
| US08316708B2 |
Illuminated sight glass
A sight assembly may include a body portion configured to couple between a first fluid transport segment and a second fluid transport segment. The body portion may define an aperture configured for fluid flow through an interior of the body portion. The sight assembly may also include a light source disposed within the body portion. The light source may be configured to provide illumination of the interior of the sight assembly. The light source may be disposed within the body portion approximately between an outer edge of the body portion forming the aperture and an external surface of the body portion. |
| US08316705B2 |
Monitoring the structural health of components
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the health of mechanical and structure components of a machine. For example, the present invention is capable of monitoring the operational integrity of critical components of critical components of an aircraft such as the gearbox of a helicopter. The present invention is based on the principle of detecting a traceable substance when the substance is released from the component being monitored in the event of predetermined condition being satisfied, such as exceeding the operational temperature of the component, or a fault in the component occurring, such as a crack being formed. |
| US08316703B2 |
Flexible coupling for well logging instruments
A flexible coupling for well logging instruments includes a housing coupled at one longitudinal end to one end of a second housing. Each of the housings defines a sealed interior chamber. The housings are coupled to enable angular deflection between respective longitudinal axes thereof. A conduit extends between the housings. The conduit is sealingly engaged to each housing such that longitudinal ends of the conduit are substantially positionally fixed with respect to each housing. The conduit is formed from material and has dimensions selected to withstand at least a same hydrostatic pressure as each of the housings. The conduit includes a bending strain distribution feature configured such that at a maximum angular deflection between housings a bending strain in the conduit is at most equal to an elastic limit of the conduit. |
| US08316700B2 |
Method and system for determining operating parameters of a tyre during running of a vehicle
An oscillating structure is coupled to a crown portion of a tire. The oscillating structure includes a housing and a piezoelectric element coupled to the housing. The piezoelectric element is able to oscillate in an oscillation direction, which could match either a longitudinal or a radial direction of the tire. An electrical signal generated by the piezoelectric element is processed so as to determine at least one operating parameter of the tire. The processing includes determining whether a rotation speed of the tire is greater than a threshold speed; and, in the negative, extracting information for determining the at least one operating parameter of the tire from a low-pass filtered signal. Such low-pass filtered signal is obtained by removing at least frequency components of the electrical signal having a frequency higher than or equal to a resonance peak frequency of the oscillating structure. |
| US08316698B2 |
Determining a repairing form of a defect at or close to an edge of a substrate of a photo mask
Determining a repairing form of a defect at or close to an edge of a substrate. The defect may be scanned with a scanning probe microscope to determine a three-dimensional contour of the defect. The defect may be scanned with a scanning particle microscope to determine the shape of the at least one edge of the substrate. The repairing form of the defect may be determined from a combination of the three-dimensional contour and the shape of the at least one edge. |
| US08316697B1 |
Fixture to hermetically isolate a capped opening on a container for gas transmission testing
An analytical instrument and associated method for ascertaining gas transmission rates of a target-analyte through a capped mouth of a bottle. The instrument employs a unique fixture that includes (1) a selectively openable and closeable enclosure defining a chamber, and (2) a mounting post extending into the chamber. The post is configured and arranged to sealingly engage an inner surface of a capped bottle neck, wherein mounting of a capped bottle neck onto the post sealingly separates the chamber into a first compartment inside the mounted capped bottle neck and a second compartment outside the mounted capped bottle neck. The fixture is configured and arranged with passageways for introducing a pressurized target-analyte-containing fluid into the first compartment of the chamber and flushing the second compartment of the chamber with a target-analyte-free fluid. |
| US08316696B2 |
Sensor for detecting surface cracks in a component or structure
A sensor for detecting surface cracks in a component or structure. A preferred embodiment of the device comprises a flat body portion with a central hole through which a main structural bolt passes. The body portion has a throughway providing fluid communication between an exterior port and a substantially hermetically-sealed area on the structural surface being monitored. A crack which develops in the monitored area surrounding the bolt hole will cause venting of the hermetically-sealed area, in turn causing a change in fluid pressure that can be detected and/or measured to warn of the presence of the crack. |
| US08316695B2 |
Line leak detector and method of using same
An apparatus for detecting a leak in a conduit line includes a housing in fluid communication with the line, a valve including a valve seat and a valve element movable relative to the seat between opened and closed positions, a bypass line around the valve, a flow detector coupled to the bypass line for detecting fluid flow therethrough, and a first mechanism configured to urge the valve element toward the closed position. The apparatus may further include a second mechanism separate from the first mechanism for maintaining the valve element in the closed position until a threshold pressure drop is reached. The first mechanism may operate on the principle of buoyancy and the second mechanism may operate on the principle of magnetism. |
| US08316693B2 |
Surface analysis and measurement method based on flow resistance of fluid and atomic force microscope using the method
Provided is a surface analysis and measurement method based on the flow resistance of a fluid. The method comprises: spraying a fluid on the surface of a sample; identifying and determining if a flow resistance value of the fluid colliding with the sample surface is optimal for the measurement of the surface topography of the sample; setting the determined optimal flow resistance value to a reference value and moving the sample in the X-Y axes to allow the entire surface of the sample to be scanned; varying the position of the sample in the Z axis together with the X-Y axis movement to adjust varying flow resistance values of the fluid along the irregular surface topography of the sample to the set flow resistance value during scanning; and expressing the movement ranges of the sample in the X, Y and Z axes as numerical values and representing the numerical values as brightness values on a computer screen to display the surface topography of the sample. Further provided is an atomic force microscope using the method. |
| US08316690B1 |
Hypervelocity impact and time of arrival detection method and system
A method and system for detecting hypervelocity impacts on a detection surface utilizes multiple sensors that directly measure electrical pulse radio frequency (RF) emissions generated by hypervelocity impacts on a detection surface and time of arrival (TOA) position measurements for determining the precise impact location on the detection surface. The detection surface material is compressed differentially in such a way that the inherent equalization of the compressed electron density in one area of the impact is directed to the uncompressed area of the material causing an electrical current that flows until the redistribution of the electrical charge has been completed and the rapid redistribution of charge and inherent current that results emits the radio frequency pulse that is induced into the detection surface. |
| US08316684B2 |
Clamp and repair tool
A tool for use on a generally tubular workpiece includes a clamp base having an opening, a first jaw coupled to the clamp base with a first linkage and a second jaw coupled to the clamp base with a second linkage, a translation mechanism disposed on or within the clamp base operatively coupled to the first and second jaws via one or more adjusting links, whereby the first and second jaws are adapted to move, under a force communicated by the adjusting links and the linkages, within the opening between an open position in which the respective bottom ends of the first and second jaws are spaced apart to a closed position in which the respective bottom ends of the first and second jaws are abutting. |
| US08316680B2 |
Method of making a seamless hollow body from steel
The invention relates to an apparatus for making a seamless hollow body (10) from a solid round block (7) of steel with a diameter <95% of the diameter of the solid round block by means of a two-roll cross-rolling mill with a piercing mandrel (3) held between the inclined roll (1) and including a piercer (5) and at least one smoothing part (4) using pass-closing guides, or by means of a three-roll cross rolling mill with a piercing mandrel held between the inclined rolls and including a piercer and at least one smoothing part, wherein the distance of the rolls is adjusted in a particular manner at the narrowest cross-section (2) in relation to the diameter of the used round block, and the position of the piercing mandrel is adjusted in relation to the narrowest cross-section of the rollers. |
| US08316678B2 |
Method and an apparatus for prestressing components
A method of pre-stressing a component comprises providing an electrically conducting sheet adjacent to a component within a medium. An electrical discharge is supplied from an electrical discharge circuit to the electrically conducting sheet to produce vaporization of the electrically conducting sheet. The vaporization of the electrically conducting sheet produces a planar pressure pulse in the medium adjacent to the component. The planar pressure pulse impacts on a surface of the component to produce a region of residual compressive stress within the component. |
| US08316676B2 |
Re-keyable cylinder lock
A re-keyable cylinder lock has a control member to permit or restrict transverse movement of a re-keying unit. The control member is movable axially between first and second positions and transversely to a third position from the second position. In the third position, the re-keying unit moves transversely and disengages from first tumbler pieces. A limit member is provided to prevent the control member from moving axially when no right key is inserted into a plug. A security arm is connected to the control member and is breakable so that destructive forces cannot reach the control member. |
| US08316673B2 |
Apparatus of supplying and discharging fluid and method of operating the same
The present invention relates to n apparatus of supplying and discharging a fluid, comprising: an inner tub; a fluid inflow passage connected to the inner tub; and a fluid outflow passage connected to the inner tub, wherein at least one of the inner tub, the inflow passage and the outflow passage has undergone at least one of the Kimchi lactic acid bacteria culture treatment and the Kimchi lactic acid bacteria culture exposure treatment. |
| US08316671B2 |
Method for producing a hollow cylinder of synthetic quartz glass, and thickwalled hollow cylinder obtained according to the method
A known method for producing a hollow cylinder of synthetic quartz glass comprises the steps of: (a) providing an inner tube of synthetic quartz glass having an inner bore defined by an inner wall, (b) cladding the inner tube (3′) with an SiO2 soot layer (4′), and (c) sintering the SiO2 soot layer with formation of the hollow cylinder. Starting therefrom, to indicate a method in which on the one hand the sintering process is completed before the hollow cylinder is further processed together with the core rod, and in which on the other hand a complicated machining of the inner bore of the hollow cylinder of quartz glass is not required, the invention suggests that during sintering the surface temperature of the inner wall of the inner tube should be kept below the softening temperature. |
| US08316670B2 |
Glassware mold cooling air supply
A glassware forming machine includes a machine section box having a cooling air outlet opening, at least one mold-carrying arm disposed above the section box and movable between mold-open and mold-closed positions, and means for delivering cooling air from the outlet opening to the mold arms. The machine in accordance with this aspect of the disclosure is characterized in that the means for delivering cooling air includes a valve plate mounted on the section box to pivot around an axis and having a valve plate opening that registers with the outlet opening in the section box. A pressure plate is mounted on the mold-carrying arm overlying the valve plate and has a pressure plate opening that registers with the valve plate opening. A coupling between the valve plate and the pressure plate pivots the valve plate on the section box as a function of motion of the mold-carrying arm between the mold-open and mold-closed positions such that cooling air is continuously fed to the mold-carrying arm through the valve plate and the pressure plate. The coupling preferably is a lost motion coupling such that motion of the mold arm is not imparted to the valve plate during initial motion in either the opening or the closing direction. |
| US08316669B2 |
Glassware forming machine molds opening/closing device
A mold of a glassware forming machine has a longitudinal plane of symmetry, and two half-molds movable between a closed position and an open extraction position by a powered mold opening/closing device, which has a fixed fastening and supporting structure, two mold-holders, and, for each mold-holder, a respective supporting and actuating arm hinged to the relative mold-holder to rotate about a movable hinge axis, and to the fixed structure to rotate about a fixed hinge axis; the fixed hinge axes being located on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry, and at such a distance from the plane of symmetry that, when the half-molds are in the closed position, the line intersecting the fixed axis and movable axis of each arm extends substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry. |
| US08316667B2 |
Gemstone setting including a gem faceted to display a plurality of images from an outer focal region
A method of manufacturing gemstone settings including a primary gem capable of displaying a plurality of images corresponding to one or more objects placed within in a focal region outside of the primary gem. The plurality of images is displayed by flattening the bottom of the primary gem and faceting the crown to specifications that allow light to pass through the gem and not substantially reflect against a faceted pavilion. |
| US08316666B2 |
Jewelry article with changeable setting
A frame member has two spaced apart parallel rings that are fixed to one another only at a first location. At a second location diametrically opposed to the first location each of the spaced apart parallel rings has a pedestal with a notch therein at an edge of the pedestal adjacent a space separating the parallel rings. The pedestals and notches are circumferentially aligned to cooperate with one another to provide a seat for seating an ornamental article therein. The securing member secures the ornamental article to the frame member. The securing member is a ring inserted in the space between the parallel rings of the frame member in a movable manner and is provided with a means for securing the ornamental article seated in the pedestals and notches of the frame member when the means for securing is aligned with the pedestals and notches of the frame member. The securing member may be moved with respect to the frame member to allow the ornamental article to be removed and replaced by another ornamental article, and then moved back to its original position with respect to the frame member to secure replacement ornamental article in place. |
| US08316660B2 |
Defrost bypass dehumidifier
A defrost bypass dehumidifier includes an air flow path with first, second and third segments in series from upstream to downstream and passing ambient air respectively to an evaporator coil then to a condenser coil and then discharging same. The air flow path has a bypass segment passing ambient air to the evaporator coil in parallel with the noted first air flow path segment. |
| US08316658B2 |
Refrigeration system energy monitoring and diagnostics
A management center is configured to communicate with a controller for an energy consuming system at a remote location, to receive ambient temperature data corresponding to an ambient temperature at the remote location, to calculate a projected energy consumption value for at least one component of the energy consuming system based on the ambient temperature data, to receive an actual energy consumption value for the at least one component from the controller, to compare the actual energy consumption value with the projected energy consumption value, and to generate an output based on the comparison. |
| US08316657B2 |
Refrigerant system and control method
A refrigerant system is configured to alternatingly run in an economized mode and a standard mode. A control system shifts the refrigerant system between the economized mode and standard mode responsive to a determined efficiency reflecting a combination of at least two of: compressor isentropic efficiency; condenser efficiency; evaporator efficiency; efficiency of hardware mechanically powering the compressor; and a mode-associated cycling efficiency. In a bypass mode, a bypass refrigerant flow from an intermediate port may return to the suction port. Shifting into the bypass mode may be similarly controlled based upon the determined efficiency. |
| US08316652B2 |
System and method for whole-body cryotherapy
The present invention relates to a system, and to a method for installation of the system, for whole-body cryotherapy applicable to humans or animals at a temperature of the order of −110° C. According to the invention, the treatment chamber and the refrigerating elements, or at least one of these two elements, are mounted on at least one mobile or transportable self-supporting structure, in a way that permits use from the self-supporting structure. It also relates to a whole-body cryotherapy system equipped with pre-chambers at intermediate temperatures, defining a modifiable or removable two-way path between the treatment chamber and the outside, and including elements for local cryotherapy. It also relates to such a system divided into several separable modules. |
| US08316636B2 |
Exhaust gas purifier of construction machine
[PROBLEM] To provide an exhaust gas purification system suitable for a construction machine provided with a hydraulic pump driven by an engine.[SOLUTION] An exhaust gas purification system is arranged on a hydraulic excavator; and includes an exhaust gas control means for performing treatment to purify nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas emitted from an engine, a urea aqueous solution reservoir for storing urea aqueous solution to be fed to the exhaust gas control means, a remaining amount detection means for detecting a remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution stored in the urea aqueous solution reservoir, a warning lamp capable of turning on when the remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution has decreased to a predetermined amount A, and a pump absorption torque limiting means or engine revolution speed limiting means disposed in a controller to perform a control of an element relating to the operation of the hydraulic actuator, for example, a control to decrease a pump absorption torque or a maximum revolution speed to a predetermined value in a range that an operation of a hydraulic actuator included in a hydraulic drive circuit becomes feasible, as the remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution becomes smaller from the first predetermined amount A. |
| US08316633B2 |
Passive NOx and PM aftertreatment for diesel engine
A method of reducing emissions by operating a diesel engine in a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio mode. To achieve an optimal stoichiometric mode, intake throttling, boost air intake control, fuel injection adjustments, and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) are used. This mode of operation permits an aftertreatment system that has only an oxidation catalyst and a particulate filter. |
| US08316622B2 |
Child-resistant cap
A child resistant cap assembly for a bottle is disclosed comprising an inner cap and outer cap. When an external pressure is applied to the outer cap, the teeth on the outer cap engage with the inner cap. While engaged, the cap assembly is rotated in a counter clockwise direction to unfasten or unscrew the cap assembly from the bottle. |
| US08316621B2 |
Cold formed roof and columns building structure system
An improved roof structure formed of metal sheet s. The structure comprises a plurality of cold formed columns supported by a concrete foundation, a plurality of cold formed girders supported by the plurality of columns, a plurality of cold formed beams supported by the plurality of girders, a plurality of cold formed open web joists supported by the plurality of beams, and a plurality of polystyrene roof boards supported by the plurality of joists. |
| US08316617B2 |
Roof object support device
A roof object is supported on a weatherproofing roof membrane of a building roof structure using a support device including a mounting block and a coupling sheet. The mounting block is a resilient block of material for damping vibrations mechanical roof objects. The coupling sheet is mechanically connected to the mounting block using threaded fasteners which clamp a portion of the coupling sheet to the bottom of the mounting block. The remainder of the coupling sheet spans the bottom side of the block to protect the roof membrane from wear resulting from relative movement between the block and the roof membrane. The coupling sheet is also formed of a bond compatible material with the roof membrane so that the block can be held down onto the roof structure even when the block is not bond compatible with the roof membrane by instead bonding the coupling sheet to the roof membrane. |
| US08316616B2 |
Methods and devices for constructing a wall with brick facade
A method for forming a brick façade positioning assembly includes positioning a plurality of bricks in a specified wall pattern. A film is placed over the bricks, and the film is molded over the bricks to form a custom brick film tray. The custom brick film tray includes brick shaped tray recesses in the specified wall pattern. The plurality of bricks are positioned within the brick shaped tray recesses. Optionally, a liquid setting material is poured on the custom brick film tray and the plurality of bricks to form a brick façade wall. The brick façade wall includes the bricks in the specified wall pattern provided by the custom brick film tray. |
| US08316615B2 |
Modular tower and methods of assembling same
A tower assembly for use with a modular tower is provided. The tower assembly includes a plurality of assembly panels each including a pair of opposing circumferential edges, and, a plurality of connectors for use in coupling adjacent assembly panels of the plurality of assembly panels to one another, each connector of the plurality of connectors including an outer flange, an inner flange, and a spacer extending therebetween, the outer flange is spaced a distance from the inner flange such that a first slot and a second slot are defined between the outer and inner flanges, each of the first and the second slots is sized to receive one of the assembly panel circumferential edges therein to enable the adjacent assembly panels to be coupled to one another. |
| US08316609B2 |
Modular panel units for constructional purposes
A panel unit (2) for constructional purposes has at least two joining flanges (10, 12) on opposite surfaces (4, 4′) located at, or adjacent to, a common edge of the panel unit, and projecting in mutually opposite directions. Two such panel units (2) may be juxtaposed end to end and secured by a two-part connector (17) having a base portion (18) that is adapted for attaching to a fixed structural element (20) and for anchoring to the flanges (12) on a first surface (4′) of the panel units 2, and a cap (19) adapted for anchoring to the flanges (10) on an opposite surface (4) of the panel units (2) and for anchoring to the base portion. |
| US08316608B2 |
Enhanced multi-layered shingle
A multi-layered roofing shingle is described. The layers of the shingle are connected via a mechanical fastener. A method for manufacturing a multi-layered shingle is also described. The method includes aligning the layers of the shingle, and connecting the layers via at least one mechanical fastener. Further described is a multi-layered shingle having layers that are mechanically fastened by deforming one of the layers into one of the other layers. |
| US08316603B2 |
Insulating panel made of two panel portions
An insulated panel includes a first panel portion and a second panel portion which are identical. Each panel portion includes an outer profiled sheet and an inner backing tray with a foam core therebetween. The panel portions each have external sheet overlap parts and backing sheet overlap parts. The corresponding overlap parts of adjacent panel portions are bonded together at the overlap. The bonding may be by an adhesive. |
| US08316598B2 |
Translucent panel
A translucent wall panel includes a single body of translucent polycarbonate material having skin walls and a multiwall support extending between the skin walls. The skin walls include an outer weather wall, an inner liner wall, a longitudinally extending first side and a longitudinally extending second side opposite to the first side. The first side has outer projecting and recess parts and the second side has outer projecting and recess parts. The projecting and recess parts of the first side are of mating form with corresponding recess and projecting parts respectively of the second side for engagement between the first side of one panel and the second side of another like panel. The sides have additional spacer recesses which are aligned so that when two similar panels are aligned adjacent to one another a spacer element bridges a gap between the panels and a support frame element such as a purlin. |
| US08316597B2 |
Method of removing moisture from a wall assembly
A method removes moisture from a wall assembly including a supporting wall, an interior finishing layer attached to an interior side of the supporting wall, and an exterior layer disposed opposite the interior finishing layer. The supporting wall supports the interior finishing layer and exterior layer. The method includes sealing, with a moisture seal located between a base of the wall assembly and the supporting wall erected on the base, and providing a water separation plane disposed within the supporting wall so that the water separation plane is located between the interior finishing layer and the exterior layer. The water separation plane provides a substantial barrier to moisture vapor and bulk water. The method includes transporting moisture along an interior side and an opposing exterior side of the water separation plane to a moisture collection area outside of the wall assembly, and removing the moisture from the moisture collection area. |
| US08316592B2 |
Protective covering for roof mounted systems
A protective covering helps to prevent fastener leaks from roof installed fasteners, which are used to mount roofing systems, such as a solar panel installation system, to roofs with a mounting bracket attached to the roof. The protective covering is a portion of flat, malleable waterproof material molded to form a cover, forming a triangular-shaped structure when viewed from the side. The triangular shaped structure includes a base and a hypotenuse portion where the line of the roof acts as a side which is covered by at least the hypotenuse portion. The hypotenuse portion meets the roof at an angle. The covering is adapted for insertion under portions of a roof shingle, and extends back in a slight rise (downwardly with respect to the roof) to cover the fastener and L-shaped bracket, which the fastener fastens to the roof. |
| US08316585B2 |
Flexible gutter shield
A gutter cover having a foraminous central portion with a first side structure and a second side structure, the first side structure having an upwardly extending wall portion, a downwardly extending wall portion merging with the upwardly extending wall portion, and a flange portion extending outwardly from the downwardly extending wall portion, the second side structure having an upwardly extending portion and a flange arrangement associated with the second side structure, the foraminous central portion being formed of a flexible material to permit the central portion to bend to permit placement of the gutter cover in position. |
| US08316584B2 |
Fireproofing element for a door or window leaf
The invention relates to a fireproofing element comprising a fireproof glazed element (1) which forms a window or door leaf (8). A bulkhead frame (3) is arranged around the door leaf (8), inserted in the building (2). A deformable component (28) is built in between the bulkhead frame (3) and the building (2). At least one telescopic element (15) is arranged between a lateral edge (10) of the door leaf (8) and the bulkhead frame (3). Said telescopic element (15) is displaceable relative to the bulkhead frame (3) in the direction of the arrows (20). The telescopic element (15) can compensate for changes in the joint (50) between the door leaf (8) and the bulkhead frame (3) and/or also seal said joint (50). Changes in length as a result of heating of the components during a fire can thus be accommodated and the door leaf (8) and fireproofing glazed element (1) hence not destroyed. |
| US08316582B2 |
Plant management device and method
A small and compact, easy-to-use soil moisture management device is disclosed that is economical to produce, efficient to use, has a scientific measurement system and is easy for the user to read the moisture needs of a plant in a hanging container. The device includes a housing that is attached at one end to hardware for supporting the device and a hanging basket that contains a plant in soil and moisture in varying amounts in the soil. The device also includes a moving member that is biased by a spring against the gravitational pull on the hanging basket, plant, soil and moisture. The spring and a portion of the moving member is contained in the housing. The moving member also contains visual indicators of the position of the moving member against the bias provided by the spring to indicate the amount of moisture in the soil. In the method, an eyebolt that supports the hanging basket, soil, plant and moisture is capable of moving against a bias against the gravitational pull on the hanging basket, soil, plant and variable amount of moisture and, by the movement of the eyebolt, visually indicating the position of the eyebolt against the bias so that a first amount of moisture in the soil produces a first position of the eyebolt and a second amount of moisture produces a second position of the eyebolt. |
| US08316581B2 |
Compressed growing medium
A growing medium includes a bulking agent and a water-retentive polymer blended together and compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1, being substantially free of a water-soluble binder material. |
| US08316570B2 |
Bipod device for use with a firearm
Bipods and mounting devices for attaching to and supporting firearms, more specifically, bipods which allow independent tension-adjustable movement around two axes. For example, the bipod assembly can be tension-adjusted with a first cam lock for cant movement and can be tension-adjusted with a second cam lock for pivotal movement. Accordingly, independently tension-adjustable and lockable pivot and cam adjustments are provided by this bipod assembly. |
| US08316565B2 |
Sound generating pull-out greeting cards with removable panels
An interactive sound generating greeting card having two separate and distinct components, one being an outer greeting card which serves as a pocket or cavity with a slot located thereon providing access to the pocket or cavity and the other being an inner greeting card which is sized to partially fit into the cavity in the outer greeting card. A sound module is contained and concealed within the outer greeting card cavity, including a switch mechanism. The inner greeting card and switch mechanism work in combination to control the playback of a digital audio file stored on the sound module such that when the inner greeting card is contained within the cavity of the outer greeting card, playback of the digital audio file is deactivated and when the inner greeting card is removed from the cavity of the outer greeting card, playback of the digital audio file is activated. |
| US08316559B2 |
Shoe, in particular sports shoe
The invention relates to a shoe comprising an upper part and a sole, a support and inner part of an intermediate sole and an outer sole. The intermediate sole contains a damping element which comprises a plurality of first elements which are arranged adjacent to each other and which are embodied as a hollow body defining a receiving area in which an associated second element having a smaller cross-section than the first element can at least partially penetrate. The elements are coaxial. At least one part of the second elements have a prism or cylindrical form and are embodied at least partially as a massive part. Both of the elements, which are associated with each other, are connected together by means of an elastic connection section which only extends between the first element and the second element and the first element, the connecting section and the second element are embodied as a single piece. |
| US08316557B2 |
Reclamation of components of wellbore cuttings material
A screen assembly for a shale shaker comprising a panel (500) and a support structure (600), the panel (500) having an area provided with a multiplicity of apertures and at least one layer of screening material arranged over the multiplicity of apertures, wherein said panel (500) is removable from said support structure (600). |
| US08316554B2 |
Measuring gauge and method for determining the diameter or cross-sectional area of an object whose cross-sectional shape is adjustable
The invention relates to a measuring gauge and a method for determining the diameter or cross-sectional area of an object whose cross-sectional shape is adjustable such as, for example, a litz conductor. A first measuring disc comprising a helical slot running around the center of the measurement disc and tapering down is connected in a rotatable fashion by a central axial connection to a second measurement disc comprising a slot running steadily from the vicinity of the center to the edge, the slot tapering in the same direction as the slot of the first measuring disc. A material measure for reading the detected measurement is provided on one of the two measurement discs. When the measurement discs are counter-rotated to one another, the overlapping sections of the slots form an opening into which the object to be measured is inserted, and the size of the opening is altered by counter-rotating the measurement discs to one another. The diameter or the cross-sectional surface of the remaining opening may be read from the material measure. |
| US08316553B2 |
Coordinate measuring machine
A coordinate measuring machine has a coordinate measuring machine body and a controller. The coordinate measuring machine body has a probe having a measurement piece and a drive mechanism for driving the probe. The probe has a drive unit for driving the measurement piece. The controller includes a first measuring unit and a second measuring unit. The first measuring unit measures a displacement of the measurement piece driven by the drive unit. The second measuring unit measures a displacement of the probe. The measurement accuracy of the second measuring unit is lower than the measurement accuracy of the first measuring unit. |
| US08316550B2 |
Induction hardened blade
A utility knife blade comprises a cutting edge portion and a remaining portion. The remaining portion is tempered martensite and has a first hardness. The cutting edge portion comprises a region that has been locally re-heat treated so that the microstructure in the cutting edge portion is untempered martensite having a hardness greater than the first hardness. |
| US08316547B2 |
Protection device for a hand-held power tool
A hand-held power tool protective device (10a-d) for a hand-held power tool (12a-d) with a drive unit and a tool (26a-d) includes an operating element (14a-d, 16a-d) which can actuate an electrical switch for activating the drive unit and a shut-off unit (18a-d) have a shut-off mechanism (24a-d). The shut-off unit (18a-d) brings about a shut-off during a deactivation of the operating element (14a-d, 16a-d) and therefore, a deactivation of the drive unit via the at least one shut-off means (24a-d). An emergency shut-off unit (28a-d) enables an emergency shut-off of an operation of the tool (26a-d) when the operating element (14a-d, 16a-d) is activated. The shut-off unit (18a-d) and the emergency shut-off unit (28a-d) are at least partially formed integrally. |
| US08316539B2 |
Method of crimping a terminal to an electric wire
The present invention is to provide an apparatus for crimping a terminal to an electrical wire, which have respective part numbers, and allows miniaturization of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a base, a drive portion, a plurality of applicators, a plurality of connection/disconnection portions and a control device. The drive portion drives the associated applicator to crimp the terminal to the electrical wire. The connection/disconnection portions each are disposed in one-to-one relation ship against the respective applicators. The each connection/disconnection portion is positionable at a connection and a disconnection position, where a driving force is transmitted to or released from the associated applicator. The control device controls the associated connection/disconnection portion so that the applicator corresponding to the part numbers of the electrical wire and the terminal can achieve crimping with the driving force from the drive portion. |
| US08316536B1 |
Multi-level circuit substrate fabrication method
A method of making a semiconductor package substrate includes laser-ablating channels in the substrate. After the channels are ablated in the substrate, conductive material is added to fill the channels and cover the surface of the substrate. Then a photomask etching process simultaneously forms a circuit pattern above the surface of the substrate and removes excess metal above the channels, by removing metal above the surface only in patterned regions. The result is a two-level circuit pattern having conductors within and above the substrate. |
| US08316532B2 |
Method of producing a wired circuit board
A producing method of a wired circuit board includes the steps of preparing the wired circuit board, placing the wired circuit board on a support table, and applying light from above the wired circuit board toward the wired circuit board, and sensing pattern reflected light, table reflected light and foreign-matter reflected light to inspect the conductive pattern and the foreign matter based on a contrast therebetween. In the step of inspecting the conductive pattern and the foreign matter, a reflectance of the table reflected light is in a range of 25 to 55%, and a reflectance of the foreign-matter reflected light is in a range of not more than 10%. |
| US08316531B2 |
Semiconductor device fabrication process
A clamping apparatus capable of clamping various semiconductor substrates is provided. The clamping apparatus includes includes a main body, and a support plate partially coupled to the main body. The support plate is movable vertically. In addition, the clamping apparatus further includes a fixed gripper coupled and fixed onto the main body and a movable gripper disposed on the main body. The movable gripper is movable horizontally. |
| US08316530B2 |
Systems for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut
A system for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member and a press mechanism. The attaching member is releasably connected to the shaft. The press member is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes an aligning arm configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft. A lock nut is engageable with the shaft and has a plurality of engaging teeth configured to engage a plurality of keeper teeth of a keeper. The nut includes an outer surface having a plurality of markings corresponding to a plurality of roots of the plurality of engaging teeth to allow a user to selectively rotate the nut relative to the aligning arm to an engaging position such that a radially inner side of the keeper engages a slot of the shaft when the keeper teeth engage the engaging teeth of the nut. |
| US08316525B2 |
Method of attaching two large structural members
A method of attaching a first structural member to a second structural member, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a plurality of spaced apart female pieces to the first structural member, pivotally attaching a plurality of spaced apart male pieces to the second structural member, the positions of the male pieces corresponding to the positions of the female pieces, inserting the male pieces into the female pieces, and connecting the male pieces and respective female pieces together. |
| US08316522B2 |
Method for supplying sliders
A slider having an outer guide that closes a zipper by sliding movement of the slider and an inner guide that opens the zipper by the sliding movement and is formed revolvable on the outer guide. A method for supplying sliders provides sliders that are not entangled with each other and are not clogged when supplied with the inner guide revolved to the outside. The slider has a groove formed by the inner guide protruding upwards from the upper surface of a slider body. A flat guide plate disposed between a slider supplying machine and a slider assembling machine engages with the groove so that the upper surface directs in a vertical direction and, at the same time, side surfaces of adjacent sliders support the slider facing each other in a hanging down condition, and align and guide them in a line in a fixed direction. |
| US08316521B2 |
Device for producing break-scheduled line for vehicle upholstery member
A device for producing a break-scheduled line for a vehicle upholstery member having an air bag door equipped with a fabricated skin. The device for producing the vehicle upholstery member having such air bag door comprises a support base for substantially flatly mounting the skin thereon, a cutting blade for forming the break-scheduled line in the skin, and measuring means for measuring the depth of the break-scheduled line or the thickness of the remaining portion. The support base includes a protrusion having a shape corresponding to that of the break-scheduled line formed in the skin on an upper surface of the support base. |
| US08316520B2 |
System of forming a protective covering for a wire harness
A motion-powered liquid sprayer that can increase the number of rotations of the pump relative to each rotation of the wheel or axle is provided. The sprayer can include a gearing assembly that employs gears to increase the number of pump revolutions as a function of the wheel or axle rotation. The sprayer can also include a gear pump that employs an over-capacity or enhanced gullet together with blow-by spacing to control consistent liquid flow relative to variable motional velocities. Further, the sprayer can include a vertically adjustable nozzle as well as a free reverse rotation wheel hub. |
| US08316518B2 |
Methods for manufacturing ultrasound transducers and other components
Methods for the manufacture of electrical components, such as ultrasound transducers, are illustrated and described. In particular, several embodiments of the methods can include patterning electrodes, such as for the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit. The methods also can include depositing metal on surfaces and making an integrated matching layer for an ultrasound transducer. Ultrasound transducers produced by these methods also are illustrated and described. |
| US08316516B2 |
Mounting device having a metallic base plate with multiple hook-like projections obtained by stamping or laser cutting and bending
The present invention relates to a mounting device having a metallic base plate, from which multiple projections project, and a method for manufacturing this mounting device. The mounting device may be obtained by cutting multiple hook preforms into the surface of the base plate while leaving at least one bending edge per hook preform. Furthermore, hook-like projections are manufactured by bending the hook preforms out of the base plate around the bending edge and possibly lateral protrusions are manufactured on the projections or these are twisted. |
| US08316513B2 |
Device for attaching two add-on parts to a carrier part
The invention relates to a device for attaching two add-on parts (36, 37) to a carrier part (35), said device having an outer clamp (1) and an inner clamp (11) that arrests any movement of the outer clamp (1), said clamps being insertable, in an interlocked arrangement, into a single insertion opening configured in the carrier part (35) so as to hold not only an add-on part (37) that is movable relative to the carrier part (35), but also the additional add-on part (36), on the carrier part (35) with a high extraction force for each. |
| US08316508B2 |
Removable track system and method for tent sidewalls
The removable track and hanger system is mounted on horizontal tent frame members. The tent frame includes horizontal and vertical frames for supporting the overlaid tent fabric. The track and hanger system includes a track bar removably hung from a horizontal frame member by a complementary shaped inverted J-shaped hangers. The track bar includes a track bar channel, an open mouth and an interior cavity. A eyelet hangers protrude from the track bar because a capture element (roller wheel, ball or glide element) is located in the cavity and a downward eyelet extender has an eyelet hole into which is clipped a clip hook from the tent sidewall. When clipped onto the hanger track, the tent sidewall can move horizontally along the track. The throw or horizontal movement of the tent sidewall is limited by stops at one or more predetermined stop locations. |
| US08316506B1 |
Surface debris removal apparatus
An apparatus for directing airflow for moving debris across a surface is provided. The apparatus includes a shaft, and a golf club head coupled to the shaft at an end opposite the grip. The club head includes a blower assembly within the club head, the blower selectively operable to direct airflow through the club head along a central axis from the club head heel out the club head toe, to move debris to a desired location. Optional embodiments provide varied club head shapes and attachments, and a flashlight removably disposed within the grip, with automatic operation upon removal of the grip from the shaft. |
| US08316505B2 |
Steam cleaner
A steam cleaner capable of automatically absorbing dust includes a main body; a handle arranged at an upper end of the main body; and a cleaning towel arranged at a bottom of the main body. The main body is provided with a shell, an inner cavity of the shell is provided with a steam generating device, and the inner cavity of the shell is further provided with a dust absorbing device, and wherein the dust absorbing device includes a telescopic dust absorbing head, and the shell or the handle is provided with a switch for controlling the dust absorbing head to be telescopic and absorb the dust. The shell of the steam cleaner is internally provided with the dust absorbing device with the telescopic dust absorbing head; and the switch controls the dust absorbing head to be telescopic and absorb the dust. A user only needs to press or rotate the switch, so that the dust absorbing head can be automatically outwards extended to absorb the dust on the ground; and after cleaning, the user only needs to press or rotate the switch, so that the dust absorbing head can be inwards retracted, and the steam cleaning function is recovered, therefore, the steam cleaner is very convenient to be used. |
| US08316503B2 |
Cleaner head
Agitating apparatus for a surface treating appliance includes a rotatable body having a plurality of grooves formed therein, an agitating member located within each groove so that at least one side edge of the agitating member protrudes outwardly from the body, and a connecting member located within each groove for connecting the agitating member to the body. |
| US08316501B1 |
Tubular cleaning device
One or more tubular cleaning devices and methods for cleaning a tubular are provided herein. The tubular cleaning device can include an inner tubular member having an inner tubular member inner bore formed therethrough. The inner tubular member can include a housing formed on a first portion thereof, a first connection end adjacent the housing, and a second connection end opposite the first connection end. |
| US08316500B2 |
Bidirectional bristle pig with sliding collar
A bidirectional bristle pig provides a means for collapsing or restraining the bristles so that the pig may be used in a reciprocating manner or, when the pig becomes stuck, the pig may be easily retrieved in a direction opposite that of the initial direction of travel. The bristle pig has at least one set of outwardly projecting cleaning wires or bristles located toward one end of the pig body and a sliding collar. The sliding collar moves between a first position and a second position to restrain the bristles at the desired leading end of the pig and forces the bristles downward and away from the inner wall surface of the pipeline. In the restrained state, the bristles no longer interfere with the movement of the pig in the desired direction. The sliding collar may move in response to pipeline pressure or may include a tether line. |
| US08316494B2 |
Washing machine and method for controlling the same
A washing machine in which the poor heat-resistant laundry is sufficiently wet so that a plurality of water curtain layers are formed at the laundry, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. According to the present invention, cold water is supplied simultaneously with injection of the steam so that the real temperature of the steam contacting the surfaces of the laundry is lowered, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. |
| US08316493B2 |
Bag closure
Systems and methods are provided herein that provide for bag cutting and closure. |
| US08316492B2 |
Apparatus having one or more removable tools
An apparatus includes a frame having an opening, a gate mechanism partially bounding the opening, at least one tool receiving section, and a power source. The apparatus includes at least one electronic device configured to be received in the at least one tool receiving section. The frame is configured to provide electrical power to the electronic device via the power source when the electronic device is received in the at least one tool receiving section, and the gate mechanism comprises a gate coupled to the frame, the gate being movable relative to the frame to permit access to the opening. |
| US08316489B1 |
Orthopaedic pillow frame
An orthopedic pillow frame effective for facilitating the ideal position of the human head on a pillow while the body is at a resting position comprising in some embodiments primary and complimentary arcs, primary and complimentary inverted arcs, primary and complimentary side bars, a bottom platform, and where the various components are oriented around a first plane and a second plane. |
| US08316485B2 |
Edge attachment for a mattress supporting system
A folding mattress support system replaces both a conventional box spring and the bed frame with rails. The mattress support system is lighter, quieter and easier to transport, and also provides more storage space beneath the mattress. The mattress support system includes bed frame assemblies, central connecting bars, edge attachments and a bed skirt. Leg brackets fold out from the bed frame assemblies, which themselves unfold in the middle. Central connecting bars connect inner side edges of the bed frame assemblies. Plastic edge attachments are attached at outer corners of the bed frame assemblies and hold a bed skirt taught around the frame assemblies when the frame assemblies are standing on the extended leg brackets. A mattress is then placed on top of the assembled mattress support system. Optionally, metal edge attachments at the head corners of the mattress support system both hold the bed skirt and support a headboard. |
| US08316484B2 |
Dual layer mattress for truck bed
An inflatable mattress for use on a truck bed is disclosed and claimed. The inflatable mattress includes a lower mattress layer with left and right recessions dimensioned to substantially surround the wheel well sides. The inflatable mattress includes an upper mattress layer dimensioned to substantially cover the lower mattress layer and the wheel well tops. |
| US08316482B1 |
Sleeping enclosure for an infant
The sleeping enclosure for an infant is comprised of a sleeping cushion and a dome-shaped net that rests atop. The sleeping enclosure is a soft pillow-like structure that is further defined by retaining walls such that an infant rests within and is incapable of rolling out of the sleeping cushion. The sleeping cushion rests and secures atop a mattress via at least one adjustable strap, which in conjunction with the sleeping cushion encircles said mattress. The dome shaped net rests atop the retaining walls and prevents objects from falling upon an infant contained within the enclosure. |
| US08316477B2 |
Cartridge assembly for a self-contained emergency eyewash station
A cartridge for an emergency eyewash stations is disclosed. The cartridge assembly includes a housing having a front section and a back section that couple together. The front section has a surface defining an opening into the housing. A sealed, fluid-containing bladder having a dispensing port is contained within the housing. A bracket is configured and arranged to couple to the opening on the front section of the housing such that the dispensing port is captured in a fixed position between the bracket and the surface on the front section defining the opening. |
| US08316476B2 |
Hot tub and straddle chair apparatus
A hot tub including a straddle chair that allows a user to comfortably sit within the hot tub in a variety of positions while receiving a water massage to various parts of the user's body. The tub includes a floor, an interior, a sidewall projecting upward relative to the floor, an upper rim around the upper perimeter of the tub, a plurality of seats along the sidewall of the tub, the straddle chair, and a hydrotherapy system for applying a water massage to users sitting in the straddle chair and the plurality of seats. The straddle chair has a back support and a straddle seat. The back support protrudes outward from the sidewall to create space between the straddle seat and the sidewall and between the straddle seat and the other seats in the tub, which allows the user to sit in the straddle chair in a wide range of positions and receive a water massage without contacting other seats or users in the tub. |
| US08316465B1 |
Apparel system
An overall has upper, lower and intermediate sections. The upper section includes a bib front with utility pockets and V-shaped upper edges terminating with front buttons which allows the upper section of the overall to disappear when wearing a vest. The upper section has a back with V-shaped upper edges. The upper section has straps positionable between the front and back extending over shoulders of a wearer. The straps include slide buckles and are formed with narrow widths as extensions of the back rearwardly and with hooks forwardly adapted to separably couple with the front buttons for forming lateral arm openings for arms of a wearer and for facilitating the donning and removal of the overall. The lateral arm openings include selectively engageable side buttons with associated button holes for facilitating the donning and removal of the overall. The overall includes a generally horizontal plane between the intermediate section and the arm openings with the bight of the overall being closer to the horizontal plane than to the upper edge of the back. |
| US08316463B2 |
Protective device
A protective device is disclosed that may have the configuration of a leg protector, for example. As a leg protector, the protective device includes a knee portion, a first thigh portion, and a second thigh portion. The first thigh portion is positioned adjacent the knee portion and has an elastic member. The second thigh portion is positioned adjacent the first thigh portion and opposite the knee portion. The knee portion, the first thigh portion, and the second thigh portion are secured relative to each other with at least one flexible strap that is attached to the knee portion, attached to the elastic member of the first thigh portion, and attached to the second thigh portion. The strap is unattached to the first thigh portion. In some embodiments, the first thigh portion does not include a restraint for securing the leg protector to the leg. |
| US08321957B2 |
Controlling access to content and/or services
The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices. |
| US08321952B2 |
Method and system for monitoring online computer network behavior and creating online behavior profiles
A method and system for monitoring users on one or more computer networks, disassociating personally identifiable information from the collected data, and storing it in a database so that the privacy of the users is protected. In one embodiment, the system generates an anonymized identifier and associates that anonymized identifier with collected network data. An embodiment of the system may further anonymize data such as resource location identifiers, by identifying and removing personal information. |
| US08321951B2 |
License information management apparatus, method, and program
A license management shared module, which is shared by a plurality of software, carries out use management of software by obtaining licenses from a license server. A deletion module determines whether or not this software is using licenses when the software is to be deleted, and returns the license to the license server based on the result of the determination. In addition, a deletion module determines whether or not software other than the software to be deleted is subject to use management, and in the case in which it has been determined that software other than the software to be deleted is not subject to use management, deletes the license management shared module. |
| US08321949B1 |
Managing software run in a computing system
In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a system that includes a network-based information server system; and a computer operable to interact with a user interface device and operable to perform operations including: receiving from the network-based information server system status information corresponding to software applications, the status information including black-list information and phoenix-list information; updating a local cache, retained by the computer, with the status information received from the network-based information server system; generating an identifier for a software application, using a digital certificate and a hash value, when the software application is launched on the computer; checking the identifier for the software application against the status information; and notifying a user of the computer when a match is found during the checking. |
| US08321948B2 |
Flexible appliance hosting with coordination of deployment, licensing and configuration
Operating parameters of one or more software appliances may be set at a configuration manager. Compliance of the one or more software appliances with license terms may be maintained at a license manager. Communications may be executed between the license manager and the configuration manager to maintain compliance of the operating parameters with the license terms. A user interface may be provided for administration of the one or more software appliances therewith, the administration including deployment of the one or more software appliances, the license manager, the configuration manager, and a deployment manager within a system landscape. Communication may be executed between the license manager and the deployment manager to maintain compliance of the administration of the one or more software appliances with the license terms. Communication may be executed between the deployment manager and the configuration manager to manage the deployment relative to the operating parameters. |
| US08321946B2 |
Method and system for preventing identity theft in electronic communications
Preventing identity theft in electronic communications sequences (180) involves generating a consumer identifier (126) for an individual (92) from a trusted service (82), including a primary key (128), a unique identifier (130), and a consumer-defined sequence (132). The consumer-defined sequence (132) allows the individual (92) to control use of the consumer identifier (126) by third parties, such as business entities (112). The method and system further allows business entities (114) to verify use of the consumer identifier (126) by first initiating a verification process (196) via a secure connection (110). Verification includes comparing (200) the consumer identifier (126) with a pre-determined set of database records (86, 88, and 90). If the requesting business (108) has registered with the trusted service (82), the invention presents a positive or negative confirmation (208) to the requesting business (108) according to the inquiry (204). Then, the invention permits confirming (210) the requested information relating to the individual (92) via the secure connection (98, 102, 106), conditioned upon the requested information having previously been authorized by the individual for presenting to the requesting business (108). |
| US08321944B1 |
Adaptive risk analysis methods and apparatus
A computer system method includes receiving a network topology and associated configuration data, wherein the network topology indicates a host location and a threat location, determining a vulnerability associated with the host location, determining a security exposure for the host location with respect to the threat location from the configuration data, the network topology, and to incomplete configuration data for the host location, determining a first vulnerability certainty for the host location with respect the vulnerability in response to incomplete configuration data, thereafter receiving updated network data selected from a group consisting of: updated configuration data, updated network topology, determining an updated security exposure for the host location with respect to the threat location from the updated network data, and to the incomplete configuration data, and displaying a difference between of the first security exposure and the second security exposure on the display. |
| US08321942B1 |
Selecting malware signatures based on malware diversity
A candidate signature for a known malware entity is selected for analysis. A set of malware entities that contain the candidate signature is identified. A diversity measurement for the candidate signature is determined. The diversity measurement describes the diversity of the set of malware entities that contain the candidate signature. A determination is made whether to use the candidate signature to identify the known malware entity based at least in part on the diversity measurement. Responsive to the determination, the candidate malware signature is stored as a signature for the known malware entity. |
| US08321941B2 |
Malware modeling detection system and method for mobile platforms
A system and method for detecting malware by modeling the behavior of malware and comparing a suspect executable with the model. The system and method extracts feature elements from malware-infected applications, groups the feature elements into feature sets, and develops rules describing a malicious probability relationship between the feature elements. Using malware-free and malware-infected applications as training data, the system and method heuristically trains the rules and creates a probability model for identifying malware. To detect malware, the system and method scans the suspect executable for feature sets and applies the results to the probability model to determine the probability that the suspect executable is malware-infected. |
| US08321933B2 |
Securing electronic control unit code
Methods and systems are provided for securing electronic control unit code. In one implementation, a method is provided. According to the method, an order for the program code may be transmitted to a developer. The order may include specifications and an authentication key. The method may further include receiving the program code and the authentication certification from the developer and verifying the authentication certificate to determine whether the developer was an authorized source of the program code. The method may generate metadata identifying the authorized source of the program code and embed the metadata in the program code. |
| US08321929B2 |
System and method for implementing a one time password at an information handling system
A system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for generating an OTP at an information handling system. An OTP is generated at an information handling system hardware or firmware layer upon detection of a predetermined input trigger, such as a key combination. The OTP is provided for authentication independent of an operating system or applications running on the information handling system. |
| US08321924B2 |
Method for protecting software accessible over a network using a key device
The present invention provides a method for protecting software based on network, which combines a client program that communicates with a server in C/S (or B/S) architecture with a key device, the client program authenticates a user using the key device for protecting software, the method includes the steps of: running the client program; authenticating the user using the key device by the client program; and continuing to run the client program with a server if the user has passed the authentication. In the prior art, the username and password are easy to intercept in transmission as plain text over network. In the method, the client program is combined with a key device. In addition, the complete client program cannot be executed without involving the server. Therefore, the strength of software protection is increased. |
| US08321923B2 |
Secure sharing of resources between applications in independent execution environments in a retrievable token (e.g. smart card)
The invention relates to an authentication and/or rights containing retrievable token such as an IC card comprising at least one physical channel of communication to at least one apparatus and at least two logical channels of communication with said at least one apparatus wherein each logical channel of communication is associated with a different execution environment. |
| US08321918B2 |
Apparatus and method for sharing user control enhanced digital identity
The present invention provides an apparatus for sharing a user control enhanced digital identity that allows a user to have all controls and control the flow of identity sharing on the user basis when the user shares user's personal information. According to the present invention, a user can decrease infringement of personal information due to illegal usage of the personal information by allowing a user to control usage of user's personal information and prevent the user's personal information from being carelessly used. Further, a provider that provides the services can efficiently associate the services between providers. |
| US08321915B1 |
Control of access to mass storage system
Disclosed are various systems, methods, and other embodiments for the control of access to a mass storage system. In one example, a plurality of buckets are maintained in mass storage system, each of the buckets being employed to store at least one data file. In a server, a use of the buckets by a plurality of entities that use a plurality of clients is facilitated for the storage of a plurality of files over a public network. The use of one of the buckets by the one of the entities is restricted to a namespace. |
| US08321913B2 |
Location based authentication
The present invention relates to authenticating a mobile device using logical location information associated with the device which provides an indication of the proximity of the device to other devices. The present invention provides a mechanism for authenticating a mobile device based on location related information or a “logical location”, but without requiring an actual location. The mobile user device identifies or discovers other devices, using direct wireless communication, within its vicinity and forwards this information to the authenticating authority. If this information matches previous or otherwise predetermined information, then the device is authenticated. |
| US08321911B2 |
Secure game download
A method for gaming terminals, gaming kiosks and lottery terminals to ensure that the code-signing verification process of downloaded game software can be trusted. Drivers independently developed from the operating system supplier are embedded within the operating system kernel to verify that the micro-coded hardware components, the BIOS, the operating system components and the downloaded game software can be trusted. |
| US08321902B2 |
Multilevel bandwidth check
A subscription system for providing content by subscription using an Internet connection is disclosed. The subscription system includes a content object store and an interface. The content object store stores a plurality of content objects. The interface is configured to receive a request to initiate a subscription with a first address for a particular account using the Internet. The subscription allows use of the plurality of content objects by the particular account without individually charging for the plurality of content objects. It is verified that a first connection speed is greater than a first threshold value before allowing the subscription, where the first connection speed is over the Internet with the first address. A request to access the subscription of the particular account is received from a second address with the Internet. It is verified that a second connection speed is greater than a second threshold value. The second connection speed is over the Internet with the second address. The second threshold value is associated with at least one of a product or a level of service for the subscription. |
| US08321899B2 |
System and method for delivering video products to a subscriber unit
A system for delivering video products to a subscriber unit includes: (a) at least one subscriber unit equipped for processing video signals; (b) a telecommunication network coupled with the at least one subscriber unit; and (c) at least one video provider station coupled with the telecommunication network. Each respective video provider station is responsive to a predetermined call code for providing a predetermined video product to a particular subscriber unit via the telecommunication network. |
| US08321897B2 |
Transmission method and transmitter
A system and method for controlling the transmission of contents among a plurality of audio/video (AV) devices by using a general purpose network In case of transmitting the contents held in a first device (source) to a second device (sink) by way of a designated transmission path, information relating to the transfer protocol for transmitting the contents is added to each content when the contents information held in the first device is disclosed to a controller on the network. Transmission management is performed based on the information on the transfer protocol added to each content when starting transmission of the contents between the first device and the second device. |
| US08321896B2 |
Systems and methods for capturing and storing a product-related video frame
In one embodiment, the present invention is a t-commerce platform, which is linked to the content from a video signal that the user is currently watching. At some point during the broadcast of the content, a close-up of the product is shown. Simultaneous with this, a VBI-based trigger is added to the video signal of the broadcast. This trigger causes the television, a set-top box, or a similar device to capture in a memory, a “freeze-frame” of the image being shown. This action is transparent to the user while the video being displayed on the television is continuing normally. If the user chooses to perform an interactive “buy” transaction the saved image data is used as part of the interactive screen display. |
| US08321890B2 |
Device and terminal for inserting commercial image data in distribution content and method thereof
A content distribution device includes a first receiver which receives, from the broadcasting station, the program content having the commercial image data and electronic program information; an commercial extractor which extracts the commercial image data and creates commercial metadata based on the electronic program information; a first storage which stores the commercial image data and the commercial metadata that are associated with each other; a second storage which stores distribution contents; a content selector which selects the distribution content according to a request from the view terminal from the second storage; a third receiver which receives, from the viewer terminal, viewing history information of program contents; an commercial inserter which selects the commercial metadata from the first storage based on the viewing history information and inserts the commercial image data corresponding to the selected commercial metadata in the distribution content; and a distribution unit which distributes the distribution content to the viewer terminal. |
| US08321888B2 |
TV tutorial widget
In certain implementations, a television tutorial Widget method involves providing a tutorial Widget running on a television processor to produce video images rendered as a video overlay that overlays the picture on a television display. The tutorial Widget: loading upon receipt of a command to run the tutorial Widget; identifying an operating state of the television set; retrieving and presenting a list of available tutorial videos associated with the operating state of the television set in the video overlay; identifying a tutorial video selected by a user; and retrieving and playing the tutorial video selected by the user in the video overlay. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08321885B2 |
In-home system monitoring method and system
A system, method and device for providing communications with an in-home system at a residence of a user are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving digital television programming content from a television service provider, receiving a first user input of a selected digital television programming content, in response to receiving the first user input, causing the selected digital television programming content to be displayed on a television, receiving a message from an in-home system, in response to receiving the message, causing a notification to be displayed on the television as an overlay over the displayed television programming content, receiving a first user command, determining a first control message to transmit to the in-home system in response to receiving the first user command, transmitting the first control message to the in-home system, wherein the in-home system may comprise a video camera, an entry way security system, an HVAC system, a lighting system, an alarm system, or other in-home system. User inputs may be received via a remote control to a set top box or from a computing device at a remote computer system through the internet and/or a mobile telephone network. |
| US08321884B2 |
Clamp for disk rotation driving device and method of manufacturing clamp
A clamp 1 for a disk rotation driving device 3 has a centering hole 18 and a contact portion 17. The centering hole 18 is fitted to an outer circumference of a centering projection 19 of a hub 7 of the disk rotation driving device 3. A clamping screw 21 is screwed into an axial center of the hub 7 so that a fastening head 23 of the clamping screw 21 fastens the clamp 1 to the hub 7 and so that the contact portion 17 of the clamp 1 comes in contact with an information recordable magnetic disk 5 attached to the hub 7 and applies pressing load onto the disk 5 in a rotation axis direction. The clamp 1 includes a centering cylinder 13 bent in an axial direction. The centering cylinder 13 has a circumferential inner surface. The inner surface defines the centering hole 18. The rounded section 29 is provided along an edge of the centering hole 18 and has a radius smaller than the thickness of the centering cylinder 13. The fastening surface 25 is continuous to the rounded section 29. |
| US08321882B2 |
Disk device
A disk device configured in such a manner that, in addition to tilt adjustment, the adjustment of the distance between a disk and an optical pickup can be easily performed. The disk device is provided with a stepping motor (23) for moving the optical pickup (5), a base chassis (2) to which a spindle motor (3) for rotating a turntable on which a disk (1) is affixed is mounted so as to be adjustable in position, a guide shaft (6) provided to the base chassis (2) so as to extend in the radial direction of the disk and guiding the movement of the optical pickup (5) by being in contact with a portion of the optical pickup (5), a sub guide shaft (7) provided to the base chassis (2) and guiding the movement of the optical pickup (5), a tilt adjusting section (300) for adjusting the relative distance between the sub guide shaft (7) and the base chassis (2), and a turntable adjusting section (200) for adjusting the radial angle, the tangential angle, and the height of the spindle motor (3) relative to the base chassis (2). |
| US08321880B2 |
Disc changer
A disc changer includes a disc cartridge having an insertion hole, a case body into which the disc cartridge is inserted, having first and second shells which can be separated in which a plurality of disc-shaped recording media are storable by being arrayed in the axial direction of the center axis, and a lock lever for locking the shells in a connected state; and a disc holder to hold the inserted disc cartridge, including an unlocking piece which unlocks locking between the shells by being inserted into the insertion hole when the disc cartridge is inserted into the disc holder to press the lock lever, and a restricting lever supported by the unlocking piece, including a restricting portion engaged with the case body when the unlocking piece is inserted into the insertion hole, so that locking between the shells is unlocked, the restricting lever restricting movement in the extracting direction. |
| US08321879B2 |
Method and system for creating and providing a multi-tier networked service using separated function and presentation components
A multi-tier application for interaction with a user interface. The application comprises a presentation tier (e.g. a web server with a JSP/servlet engine) and a business logic tier (e.g. an application server) to manipulate data for subsequent presentation on the user interface. A direction module, such as a requested resource definition, has a plurality presentation and function definitions for accessing a presentation component defined externally to the requested resource definition and the function definition for identifying a function component also defined externally to the requested resource definition. The direction module can have a plurality of coupled directions, including a function direction to direct a corresponding functional component to perform a data processing function and provide a data processing output, and a presentation direction to direct a corresponding presentation component to incorporate the data processing output, when applicable, into a presentation template to produce a presentation element for the user interface. |
| US08321877B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image processing apparatus capable of previously checking a setting mistake when a macro button is generated and preventing a macro using a reserved word from being inappropriately executed. A macro acquisition unit obtains the macro. A user information acquisition unit obtains user information associated with a user of the image processing apparatus. A replacing unit, when the macro obtained by the macro acquisition unit is a macro including a reserved word that is to be replaced with a portion of the user information, replaces the reserved word with the portion of the user information obtained by the user information acquisition unit. A check unit checks whether the macro replaced by the replacing unit can be normally executed. A notification unit notifies a check result of the check unit to a previously defined user. |
| US08321876B2 |
System and method of dynamically loading and executing module devices using inter-core-communication channel in multicore system environment
Provided are a system and method for allocating a specific job or application to a specific slave core by using an inter-core-communication (ICC) channel and executing the job or application in a multicore system environment including the master core and a plurality of slave cores. The method of a master core, includes: initializing message transmission times; generating an event for processing a instruction received from an application program and generating a channel event message from the event; checking a process for transmitting the generated channel event message, and if a channel event message queue corresponding to an event transmitting request is not “FULL” of a previously-stored channel event message, transmitting the channel event message to a specific slave core to request for storing the channel event message; and returning a response of processing status to the request for storing the channel event message to the application program. |
| US08321870B2 |
Method and system for distributed computation having sub-task processing and sub-solution redistribution
A system for processing a computational task is presented. The system includes a plurality of nodes operationally coupled to one another via one or more networks. The plurality of nodes includes a base node including a processing subsystem configured to receive the computational task, select a subset of available nodes from the plurality of nodes based upon a present status, processing capability, distance, network throughput, range, resources, features, or combinations thereof of the plurality of nodes, divide the computational task into a plurality of sub-tasks, distribute the plurality of sub-tasks among the subset of available nodes based upon a number of nodes in the subset of available nodes, completion time period allowed for the plurality of sub-tasks, a distribution criteria, level of security required for the completion of the plurality of sub-tasks, resources available with the subset of available nodes, processing capability of the subset of available nodes, range of the subset of available nodes, features in the subset of available nodes, reliability of the subset of available nodes, trust in the subset of available nodes, the current load on the subset of available nodes, domain of the plurality of sub-tasks, or combinations thereof, receive sub-solutions corresponding to the plurality of sub-tasks from the subset of available nodes in a desired time period, and reassemble the sub-solutions to determine a solution corresponding to the computational task. |
| US08321869B1 |
Synchronization using agent-based semaphores
The present specification describes techniques and apparatus that enable synchronization using agent-based semaphores. In one or more implementations, a semaphore is used for a first agent to notify a second agent that the first agent has completed a particular task of a set of tasks and has completed using a shared resource for the particular task. |
| US08321867B1 |
Request processing for stateless conformance engine
A method and an apparatus to increase conformance of a storage implementation of a data set to a storage policy are presented. In one embodiment, the method includes performing a conformance check of a data set state and an associated data management policy. The method includes identifying a set of tasks that can be performed to increase conformance of the data set state to the associated policy, and generating a task list using tasks from the set of tasks. The method further includes outputting an indication of the task list to a user and accepting from the user an approval of the task list before generating and executing a second task list. |
| US08321858B1 |
Systems and methods for providing software updates
The present invention comprises systems and methods, and computer readable media comprising the methods, for updating software applications. The systems and methods of the present invention provide automation and flexibility to the updating process. Processor usage and network usage are monitored and software updates are initiated and/or continued during periods where processor and/or network usage are low. The update process may be halted when the processor and/or network connection are called upon for other uses. Processor and/or network usage may also be throttled, for example limiting the bandwidth available for the download to maintain sufficient processor share and/or bandwidth for other tasks. Adverse impact on a computer user is minimized. |
| US08321856B2 |
Supplying software updates synchronously
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing software updates. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include receiving software objects associated with a software update. Moreover, a container may be provided. The container may include the received software objects and attributes. The attributes may describe the software objects to configure transport to different applications. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. |
| US08321855B2 |
Patch application apparatus and program
A patch application method restores a file not to be authorized to change by applying a patch to an original state after applying the patch. A patch application program applies a patch to a part of patch application target files in a system extracts information about the target files from a patch, copies and stores the files as patch pseudo application files, applies the patch to the pseudo files, compares the target files with the pseudo files to which the patch has been applied and obtains a difference, selects a file not to be authorized to change by the patch from among the target files based on the difference, copies and stores the files as post-application change files, applies the patch to the target files, and replaces the files prevented from being changed in the target files changed by the patch application with the post-application change files. |
| US08321854B1 |
Client with flexible grammar-base syntax
Described are techniques for obtaining grammar updates. A grammar service receives a notification regarding a grammar update applied to a target. The grammar update is an update to a command syntax used by said target. The grammar service sends an update request to said target to obtain said grammar update. The target sends to the grammar service an update response including said grammar update. Also described are techniques for processing a command line. One of a plurality of rule sets is selected. The command line is parsed at said client using said selected rule set. If parsing did not result in a syntax error, a command request is sent from said client to said target. In response, the client receives a command response including information regarding a version of syntax rules currently used on said target. |
| US08321851B2 |
Determining compiler efficiency
There is provided a computer implemented method for determining the efficiency of a runtime compiler. A set of execution times representing the time taken for program code to perform a set task after two or more runtime compilations is recorded. A first metric as the difference between the first execution time and the last execution time of the set of execution times, a second metric as the average throughput improvement from the set of execution times, and a third metric as the time taken for the compiler to achieve the maximum throughput from the set of execution times is calculated. Finally, an efficiency metric is calculated using the first, second and third metrics to determine the efficiency of the compiler. |
| US08321845B2 |
Extensible markup language (XML) path (XPATH) debugging framework
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to XPATH expression debugging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for an XPATH expression debugging framework. In an embodiment of the invention, an XPATH expression debugging method can include receiving an XPATH input expression, parsing the XPATH input expression to produce a group of sub-expressions, and ordering the sub-expressions in a model for the XPATH input expression. Thereafter, in response to a selection of one of the sub-expressions in the model, a result set can be produced for the sub-expression. |
| US08321840B2 |
Software flow tracking using multiple threads
Methods, systems and machine readable media are disclosed for performing dynamic information flow tracking. One method includes executing operations of a program with a main thread, and tracking the main thread's execution of the operations of the program with a tracking thread. The method further includes updating, with the tracking thread, a taint value associated with the value of the main thread to reflect whether the value is tainted, and determining, with the tracking thread based upon the taint value, whether use of the value by the main thread violates a specific security policy. |
| US08321839B2 |
Abstracting test cases from application program interfaces
Various embodiments provide a testing infrastructure that abstracts test cases from APIs in a manner that allows for round tripping between production and consumption and APIs. |
| US08321838B2 |
Techniques for debugging computer programs involving multiple computing machines
Techniques for debugging a computer program that includes multiple modules executing on multiple machines include receiving, at a unifying component, first data from a first machine. The first data indicates debugging information generated by the first machine. Second data is also received at the unifying component from a second machine. The second data indicates debugging information generated by the second machine. Based on the first data and the second data, third data is formed indicating a single integrated representation of debugging information for the computer program. The unifying component allows debugging information from several machines to be integrated and then presented to a user through a single debugger client. |
| US08321832B2 |
Composite application modeling
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to realize a software model are described. A user-centric modeling component is defined, the user-centric modeling component modeling an interactive software system and including a plurality of process steps, the plurality of process steps defining a business scenario. For each process step in the plurality of process steps one or more service requirements are identified, where a service requirement represents functionality necessary to accomplish a step. For each service requirement a process component capable of providing the service requirement is identified, the process component modeling software implementing a business process and defining a service operation for providing the service requirement and for interacting with other process components. |
| US08321829B2 |
Interconnection design method, recording medium containing program and manufacturing method of interconnection substrate
An interconnection design method for a multiplayer interconnection substrate having a power supply layer or a ground layer, interconnection layers having interconnections, vias connecting the interconnection layers mutually, and an opening surrounding a via in the power supply layer or the ground layer, the method including: specifying an interconnection for a specific signal as a specific signal interconnection; determining an approximate arrangement of vias; changing positions of the vias and obtaining approximate interconnection routes in respective approximate arrangement of the vias, and evaluating respective interconnectivity for an evaluation region; and obtaining a detailed interconnection route based on a result of the evaluation of the interconnectivity; the specific signal interconnection including one adjacent to a via, and the evaluating respective interconnectivity includes setting a position of one end of the evaluation region into a position associated with an outside end face of the opening. |
| US08321825B2 |
Method and system for synthesizing relative timing constraints on an integrated circuit design to facilitate timing verification
A method for synthesizing relative timing (RT) constraints on an integrated circuit design is disclosed. Initially, multiple trace status tables are received, each containing a trace error identified by a formal verification engine that was utilized to perform a RT verification on an integrated circuit design. An error causing signal is then recognized for each of the trace errors. For each of error causing signals, two associating signals are identified, and the two associating signals are then utilized to locate a common point of convergence (POC). The POC is further utilized to locate a common point of divergence (POD), and an RT constraint can be generated based on the identified POC and POD. All the generated RT constraints are applied to constrain the integrated circuit design such that the integrated circuit design is able to pass RT verifications in the future without any timing violations. |
| US08321821B2 |
Method for designing two-dimensional array overlay targets and method and system for measuring overlay errors using the same
A method for designing a two-dimensional array overlay target comprises the steps of: selecting a plurality of two dimensional array overlay targets having different overlay errors; calculating a deviation of a simulated diffraction spectrum for each two-dimensional array overlay target; selecting an error-independent overlay target by taking the deviations of the simulated diffraction spectra into consideration; and designing a two dimensional array overlay target based on structural parameters of the error-independent overlay target. |
| US08321812B2 |
Interactive user interface with tabs
A method and apparatus for an interactive catalog includes presenting a portion of a database. The method includes presenting a first tier of selectable graphics images. Each selectable graphics image in the first tier of selectable graphics images represents a first collection of data structures corresponding thereto. The method also includes presenting a second tier of selectable graphics images, in response to a selecting of a selectable graphics image of the first tier to produce a first tier selected graphics image. Each selectable graphics image in the second tier of selectable graphics images represents a second collection of data structures. Each data structure in the second tier also belongs to the first collection of data structures corresponding to the first tier selected graphics image. |
| US08321811B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling multi-tasking operation for terminal device provided with touch screen
A method of controlling a terminal device, and which includes executing a first function on the terminal device, displaying at least one function icon for executing at least one second function that is different than the first function being executed, and selectively executing the second function simultaneously with the first function when said at least one function icon is selected. |
| US08321809B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying variable-sized, grouped display information on touch screen
A method and apparatus for displaying grouped display information by variable sizevariable-sized, grouped display information on a touch screen are provided. The apparatus includes an input unit that receives input from a user on a touch screen on which several pieces of display information are grouped and displayed in a predetermined number of groups, a determination unit that determines which group was input by calculating a location on the touch screen with respect to the user's input, and a display unit that displays the several pieces of display information in groups, and changes a size of the group region input as a result of the determination and the size of the other groups corresponding to the input group region size. |
| US08321803B2 |
Aggregating service components
Methods, systems, and computer program products for aggregating service components in a data processing system according to predefined aggregation rules. The method includes providing a plurality of visual elements, each visual element representing a corresponding service component; selecting a new visual element for addition to an aggregation structure; determining a set of eligible visual elements of eligible service components among the instantiated service components; associating a visual cue with the eligible visual elements; and aggregating the new service component to a selected eligible service component in the aggregation structure. The new service component is compatible for aggregation with each eligible service component according to the aggregation rules. The aggregation structure includes an aggregation of instantiated visual elements of instantiated service components to define an aggregated service according to the aggregation of the instantiated service components. |
| US08321799B1 |
Tabular data sorting and display
A method and apparatus, including a computer program product, implementing techniques for displaying a table of data including a set of markers associated with rows or columns of the table, the table having one or more sort keys having a sort key order including a most significant sort key, each sort key being a row or column of the table; receiving a user input gesture selecting a marker; establishing the row or column associated with the user-selected marker as the most significant sort key, and maintaining the positions of the remaining sort keys in the sort key order; sorting the data using the sort key order; and displaying the sorted data. The techniques also include representing visually a sort key order for a table of data by displaying on a graphical user interface display one or more markers with a pattern of distinct visual properties. |
| US08321795B2 |
Method of offering a promotional product
A method of offering a promotional product to a user at a digital imaging device having a display. The method comprises the steps of: receiving an order from the user at the digital imaging device for an imaging service or product; and simultaneously processing the order for the imaging service or product at the display and displaying, on the display, a motion image comprising the promotional product, wherein the promotional product is different than the imaging service or product. In a preferred embodiment, the promotional product displayed on the display comprises a user-supplied image. |
| US08321790B2 |
System management user interface providing user access to status information for process control system equipment including a search function
A system management human-machine interface application for use in a process control system is described herein that enables users to view/monitor information regarding system status and performance and to initiate changes to the operation of system equipment, checkpoint control stations and execute diagnostics. A system management graphical user interface includes a number of features that enhance the accessibility of system status information to users. Such enhancements include rendering selectable diagnostic information (e.g., online/offline status) on a system component navigation view. The GUI also provides access to a variety of system information including: alarms, messages, watched system management parameters, and a legend for symbols displayed in a system management navigation tree. Other enhancements include: a search function for quickly locating a device in the system to render detailed information, a navigation tree that displays equipment status via icons, and propagating fault statuses up to a highest level of the navigation tree. |
| US08321789B2 |
Image browsing apparatus and image browsing method
An image browsing apparatus has: a display unit for displaying image data; a reproducing unit for reproducing audio data; a detector for detecting a feature of the audio data reproduced by the reproducing unit; and a controller for, when predetermined audio data is reproduced by the reproducing unit, controlling an updating interval of the image data displayed to the display unit on the basis of the feature of the predetermined audio data detected by the detector. |
| US08321788B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An information processing apparatus includes a pattern extraction unit, a rule extraction unit, and a reflection information generation unit. The pattern extraction unit is configured to extract an operation pattern of each of users from operation history information obtained from a plurality of devices to be operated, the operation history information at least including information regarding operation histories of the users and device states. The rule extraction unit is configured to extract incorrect operation patterns from the operation patterns extracted by the pattern extraction unit, the incorrect operation patterns being operation patterns caused by incorrect operations performed by the users. The reflection information generation unit is configured to identify a cause of the incorrect operations from types of the incorrect operation patterns and generate, based on the cause of the incorrect operations, reflection information configured to be reflected in functions of the devices to be operated. |
| US08321772B1 |
SOVA sharing during LDPC global iteration
A technique for decoding information, including a Viterbi decoder configured to decode (1) Front-end processed ADC data and (2) an output of an iterative error correction decoder in the event error correction decoding fails. The iterative error correction decoder is configured to decode Viterbi decoded data generated by the Viterbi decoder. |
| US08321769B1 |
Multi-parity tensor-product code for data channel
Encoder and decoder apparatus and methods derive a plurality of parity bits from a single codeword. Encoder apparatus may include a receive module receiving a data stream, a parity generation module generating a plurality of parity bits based on the data stream and a word of a tensor-product code, and a parity insertion module combining the plurality of parity bits and the data stream to generate encoded bits. Decoder apparatus may include a detector receiving and outputting encoded data, a first decoder generating first log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) from the encoded data, an error recovery module generating second LLRs from the encoded data, a second decoder that derives syndrome data from the first and second LLRs, a post-processor that combines data from the first decoder with error events from the error recovery module to generate corrected data, the post-processor further identifying a plurality of parity bits in the corrected data. |
| US08321768B2 |
Method and system for calculating CRC
In a method and system for calculating CRC, a Partial CRC is first calculated directly according to a segment of a message. Then, a First Code including the Partial CRC appended with a plurality of zero-bytes is generated. Finally, the Adjusted CRC is calculated according to the First Code. Therefore, an Adjusted CRC can be derived directly from each segment of a message. After all segments of a message are received, all the derived Adjusted CRCs are merged to obtain a Final CRC of the message. The method and system can be quickly prototyped and implemented to various systems due to its simplicity. |
| US08321762B2 |
Method for creating an error correction coding scheme
The present invention relates to a method for reducing data loss comprising a first computing step for computing an intermediate result for each redundancy information entity of a redundancy set by processing respectively associated data information entities of a given data set on at least two main diagonals of a parity check matrix representing an error correction coding scheme. The method further comprises a second computing step for computing the information content of the respective redundancy information entity dependent on the respective intermediate result. |
| US08321756B2 |
Error detection code memory module
An error detection code (EDC) memory module coupled via a bus to a data memory module. In response to a request for data words from a specified memory address within the data memory module, the data memory module provides a predetermined number of data words and the EDC memory module provides a corresponding EDC word. |
| US08321755B2 |
Systems and methods for efficient data storage
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for preparing and accessing super sector data sets. As an example, a data storage system including a storage medium is disclosed. The storage medium includes a first servo data region and a second servo data region separated by a user data region. The user data region includes at least a portion of a first codeword and a portion of a second codeword that are together associated with a common header data. |
| US08321753B2 |
Optimization of packet buffer memory utilization
A method performed by an I/O unit connected to another I/O unit in a network device. The method includes receiving a packet; segmenting the packet into a group of data blocks; storing the group of data blocks in a data memory; generating data protection information for a data block of the group of data blocks; creating a control block for the data block; storing, in a control memory, a group of data items for the control block, the group of data items including information associated with a location, of the data block, within the data memory and the data protection information for the data block; performing a data integrity check on the data block, using the data protection information, to determine whether the data block contains a data error; and outputting the data block when the data integrity check indicates that the data block does not contain a data error. |
| US08321749B1 |
System and method for decoding correlated data
A system includes a first channel detection module configured to receive a first channel estimate including a plurality of correlated data bits from a communication channel. The correlated data bits include statistical relationships between different data bits based on the statistical relationships, group together the plurality of correlated data bits, and generate a first probability vector based on the correlated data bits as grouped together. The first probability vector includes probabilities that each of the correlated data bits has a respective value. A computation module is configured to generate bit estimations based on the first probability vector. A decoding module is configured to, based on the bit estimations, selectively generate an output signal corresponding to the bit estimations, and selectively generate a feedback signal. The computation module is further configured to generate the bit estimations based on the feedback signal. |
| US08321747B2 |
QC-LDPC code decoder and corresponding decoding method
An efficient general QC-LDPC code decoder includes a general-purpose processor for distributing the storage storage space of the data memory block, and establishing an index for data addressing; a data memory block for storing the information used during decoding; a hardware accelerator for conducting part or all of the information processing operations including parity check, check node updating and variable node updating. A corresponding QC-LDPC code decoding method includes initializing the variable node information and performing parity check on the check matrix row block by row block; updating the check node row block by row block and updating the variable node column block by column block if any check equation is not met. |
| US08321741B2 |
System and apparatus for providing an adaptive control mechanism for wireless communications
A system for providing an adaptive control mechanism may include a mobile station within a multicast broadcast service group and a base station in communication with the mobile station. The base station may be configured to control provision of data to the mobile station, receive feedback with respect to receipt of at least a portion of the data provided, and determine a configuration of the base station for future transmissions based on the feedback received. The mobile station may be configured to determine a status with respect to receipt of data expected to be received from the base station, generate the feedback indicative of the status determined, and provide for communication of the feedback generated to the base station. |
| US08321740B2 |
Method and apparatus of handling TTI bundling
A method for handling a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) bundling mode in a user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes steps of switching an operation status of the TTI bundling mode; and flushing all uplink Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffers in the UE when the operation status of the TTI bundling mode is switched. |
| US08321736B2 |
Transmission system, transmission method and communication device
A transmission method for transmitting information between a transmission device and a reception device, the method includes determining whether or not an error is detected in information from the transmission device, requesting the transmission device to re-transmit the error-detected information when an error is detected, re-transmitting information corresponding to a re-transmission request as re-transmission information from the transmission device when the re-transmission request is detected, registering the re-transmission information as a test pattern, transmitting the registered test pattern to the reception device, registering the re-transmission data received from the transmission device as a collation pattern, reading out the collation pattern corresponding to the received test pattern, and collating the test pattern and the collation pattern when a test pattern is received from the transmission device, and adjusting and setting a parameter of the reception device on the basis of a pattern collation result. |
| US08321733B2 |
Optimization of SERDES sampling parameters
One or more modules configured to cause a network diagnostic component to perform the following: an act of selecting first specific sampling parameters at which the SERDES is to receive network traffic; an act of determining a number of errors included in a signal output by the SERDES at the selected first specific sampling parameters; an act of repeating for a specified number of the remaining sampling parameters the acts of selecting specific sampling parameters and determining the number of errors in a signal output by the SERDES at the selected specific sampling parameter; an act of recording the number of errors for each selected specific sampling parameter in an output record, and an act of applying an optimization solution on the output record to thereby determine the specific sampling parameters that will cause the SERDES to output a signal with the lowest value of errors. |
| US08321726B2 |
Repairing memory arrays
A memory array comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each row comprising at least one addressable word. The memory array comprises at least one redundant row and at least one redundant column. Error detection circuitry analyzes the memory array by addressing words and detecting errors within the addressed words. Error repair circuitry selects for a detected error either a redundant row or a redundant column to replace one of the row or column containing the error. It is determined for the detected error whether the error is a single error bit in the addressed word or whether it is one of a plurality of error bits within the word. If the error is the latter, then the error repair circuitry preferentially selects a redundant row rather than a redundant column to repair the error. |
| US08321724B2 |
Document error inference processing program, processing device and processing method
A device includes a taxonomy schema; a display link base; a calculation link base; an XBRL document memory unit which stores an instance; an error inference unit which compares a calculated value of an input value of the instance corresponding to an item element of the calculation value in accordance with the calculation link base with the input value of the instance corresponding to the calculated value based on the display link base, detects a discrepancy between the calculation value and the input value, specifies a calculation tree structure of the calculation link base including the item element in which the discrepancy is detected and a display tree structure of the display link base including the item element in which the discrepancy is detected, and infers that a state of too many or too few item elements is regarded as a discrepancy error in the case that such an item element is set only in either one of the trees and that the item element has an input that is consistent with an absolute value of the difference between the input value and the calculated value; and an inference result display processing unit which outputs the error inferred result. |
| US08321713B2 |
Fast data access mode in a memory device
A fast data access circuit that has both a standard clock mode and a fast data access mode. The mode is selectable through a mode/configuration register. A configuration word loaded into the register has bits to indicate the desired mode and the input clock frequency. In the fast data access mode, a clock delay circuit uses the clock frequency setting bits to select a delay to be added to the input clock. The higher the clock frequency, the less the added delay. The delayed clock generates FIFO control signals to control a data FIFO register. During the fast data access mode, the data is output from the data FIFO register at a faster rate than in the standard clock mode. |
| US08321712B2 |
System and method for reducing power requirements of microprocessors through dynamic allocation of datapath resources
There is provided a system and methods for segmenting datapath resources such as reorder buffers, physical registers, instruction queues and load-store queues, etc. in a microprocessor so that their size may be dynamically expanded and contracted. This is accomplished by allocating and deallocating individual resource units to each resource based on sampled estimates of the instantaneous resource needs of the program running on the microprocessor. By keeping unused datapath resources to a minimum, power and energy savings are achieved by shutting off resource units that are not needed for sustaining the performance requirements of the running program. Leakage energy and switching energy and power are reduced using the described methods. |
| US08321710B2 |
Device, method and computer program product for causing an input device to enter a low power state and sending a command that disables display of a graphical user interface
An input device includes an operation unit, a sending unit, and a power control unit. The operation unit is configured to be held by a user and to be operated in a three-dimensional free space so as to remotely operate an information processing apparatus. The sending unit is configured to send a command that disables display of a graphical user interface of the information processing apparatus when the operation unit is placed, and to send a command that enables display of the graphical user interface of the information processing apparatus when a button of the operation unit is operated. The power control unit is configured to cause the input device to enter a low power consumption state when the operation unit is placed. |
| US08321706B2 |
USB self-idling techniques
USB self-idling techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device comprises one or more modules to communicate via USB and self-idle by presenting an idle mode to a USB host and entering a suspend mode while the USB host is presented with the idle mode. |
| US08321705B2 |
Dynamic table look-up based voltage regulator control
A technique for dynamically controlling microprocessor power plane voltage levels includes storing in a memory on a voltage regulator voltage control identifiers in a table accessible according to performance state. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method includes transitioning a voltage output of a voltage regulator to a next voltage level associated with a next performance state of a processor coupled to the voltage regulator based on a performance state indicator received from the processor and a corresponding entry of a performance state table. In at least one embodiment, the method includes loading performance state table entries into a storage device on the voltage regulator circuit. |
| US08321704B2 |
Managing electric power consumption by configuring elements of a distributed computing system
A method and system for managing electric power consumption by elements of a distributed computing system comprises: determining one or more system metrics that relate to electric power usage as consumed by elements of a configured distributed environment; determining a system value in response to the one or more system metrics, the value determined according to one or more value criteria; and, while in-progress applications are being run in the computing environment, evaluating one or more potential changes in the distributed computing environment and determining an alternate system value based on the changes; and, re-configuring elements of the distributed computing environment dynamically while the computing environment is operating, in accordance with a determined alternate system value. The re-configuring elements step is in accordance with a potential change operative to alter electric power consumption. |
| US08321702B2 |
Information processing apparatus and power-saving setting method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus having a power-saving function includes a monitoring module and a power-saving setting presenting module. The monitoring module monitors a usage pattern of the information processing apparatus, and stores log information indicative of the usage pattern in a storage device. The power-saving setting presenting module determines recommended values of power-saving parameters for specifying content of the power-saving function, based on the stored log information, and to display the determined recommended values. |
| US08321701B2 |
Adaptive flushing of storage data
Methods and a processing device are provided for monitoring a level of power in a power supply of a processing device and changing a data flushing policy, with respect to data to be written to a non-volatile storage device, based on a predicted amount of time until power loss. When the predicted amount of time until power loss is higher than a threshold, as defined by a flushing policy, requests from applications for data flushes of data to a non-volatile storage device may be discarded. When the predicted amount of time remaining until power loss drops below the threshold, the requests from the applications for data flushes of the data to the non-volatile storage device may be honored and the data may be flushed to the non-volatile storage device. In some embodiments, the flushing policy may define additional thresholds. |
| US08321696B2 |
Method to support switchable graphics with one voltage regulator
A voltage regulator for use with switchable graphics processors. The voltage regulator includes a graphics processor mode selection control input. By providing the graphics processor mode selection control input it is possible to save pins for a parallel voltage identification (PVID) input (e.g., a 2-bit PVID input). The voltage regulator further includes a PVID input to allow the voltage regulator to switch a detection input to either a SVID type input or a PVID type input. The voltage regulator further includes voltage shifter for a PVID detection circuit. |
| US08321695B2 |
System and method for physical layer device enabled power over ethernet processing
A system and method for physical layer device enabled power over Ethernet (PoE) processing. A digital PoE control module is included within a physical layer device and is designed to complement an analog PoE control module within a power sourcing equipment. The inclusion of the digital PoE control within the physical layer device reduces the complexity of the power sourcing equipment without sacrificing PoE control features. |
| US08321694B2 |
Power supply circuit for south bridge chip
A power supply circuit for south bridge chip includes a voltage conversion chip, a control circuit, and a voltage increasing circuit coupled electrically to the voltage conversion chip and the control circuit. The voltage conversion chip is configured for outputting a driving signal. The control circuit is configured for receiving the driving signal and a first voltage, and converting the first voltage to a second voltage according to the driving signal. The voltage increasing circuit is configured for increasing voltage level of the second voltage, wherein the second voltage is supplied to the south bridge chip via the voltage increasing circuit. |
| US08321692B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus control method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of storage units, a mirroring control unit configured to execute mirroring processing, which includes writing processing for writing same data on each of the plurality of storage units and reading processing for reading data from either one of the plurality of storage units, and a power control unit configured to independently control supply of power to the plurality of storage units. If the supply of power to the plurality of storage units is reduced, if the mirroring control unit starts the writing processing, the information processing apparatus resumes the power supply to the plurality of storage units, and if the mirroring control unit starts the reading processing, the information processing apparatus resumes the power supply to a specific storage unit from which the data is read, and configured to execute control not to resume the power supply to the other storage unit(s). |
| US08321691B2 |
EMA protection of a calculation by an electronic circuit
A method for masking a digital quantity used by a calculation executed by an electronic circuit and including several iterations, each including at least one operation which is a function of at least one value depending on the digital quantity, the method including at least one first step of displacement of at least one operand of the operation in a storage element selected independently from the value. |
| US08321687B2 |
High speed cryptographic system with modular architecture
A cryptographic system with a modular architecture. Memory modules make it possible to store information concerning authentication keys, data and commands, including a secure memory module for containing the keys with integrity checking and an emergency erase function. Various types of algorithm modules perform cryptographic functions of the cryptographic system by executing the commands stored in at least one memory module. External interface modules are utilized that make it possible to produce the link between the cryptographic system and external devices, through a standard or proprietary input/output bus. A control unit is responsible for the supervision of the various algorithm modules and the management of the keys, and a central interconnect module assures handling of secure exchanges between blocks. |
| US08321683B2 |
Electronic control device and method for operating an electric roller shutter
An electronic control device and method for operating an electric roller shutter include establishing a wireless connection between the electronic control device and an electronic device if a preset login password is input. The electronic control device provides an operation interface to the electronic device, and receives a function instruction from the electronic device if a function key on the operation interface is pressed. The electric roller shutter is operated by the electronic control device according to the received function instruction. |
| US08321675B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating efficient authenticated encryption
A shared-key encryption scheme that uses identically keyed block-cipher calls, low additional overhead, supports the encryption of arbitrary-length strings, produces a minimal-length-ciphertext, and is fully parallelizable. In one embodiment, “OCB”, a key shared between communicating parties is mapped to a key variant using the block cipher. The key variant is mapped into a sequence of basis offsets using shifts and conditional xors. To encrypt a message using a nonce, a nonce-dependent base offset is formed, and then a sequence of offsets is constructed by starting with the base offset and then xoring, for each offset, an appropriate basis offset. The message is partitioned into message blocks of the same length as the block length of the block cipher, along with a message fragment that may be shorter. Each message block is combined with a corresponding offset, enciphered, and then combined again with the offset, yielding a ciphertext block. The message fragment is xored with an appropriately computed pad to give a ciphertext fragment. A checksum is formed using the message blocks, the message fragment, and the pad. The checksum is combined with an offset and enciphered to yield a tag. The encrypted message includes the ciphertext blocks, the ciphertext fragment, and the tag. |
| US08321674B2 |
Information processing device, computer program, and information processing system
An information processing device includes: a receiving unit that receives a first random number from another information processing device; a generating unit that generates a second random number; a time-variant-key generating unit that generates a time variant key for encryption according to the second random number; an encrypting unit that encrypts the first random number with the time variant key; and a transmitting unit that transmits the first random number encrypted by the time variant key and the second random number to the other information processing device. |
| US08321673B2 |
Method and terminal for authenticating between DRM agents for moving RO
A digital Rights Management (DRM), and particularly an apparatus and method of authentication between DRM agents for moving Rights Object (RO) is provided, whereby RO and contents can be moved between DRM agents after a simple authentication therebetween using specific authentication information received from a Rights Issuer (RI), in case where the RO is moved in a user domain or among a plurality of DRM agents. |
| US08321669B2 |
Electronic data communication system
There is described an electronic data communication system in which encrypted mail messages for a recipient are sent in two parts: message data encrypted by a symmetric encryption algorithm using a session key and session key data encrypted by an asymmetric encryption algorithm using a public key associated with the recipient. If the recipient uses a webmail service to access the encrypted electronic mail message, the encrypted session key data is sent to a trusted third party server which has access to the private key of the user. The trusted third party server decrypts the encrypted session key using the private key of the user, and then sends the decrypted session key to a remote network device for decryption of the encrypted message. In this way, although the trusted third party has access to the private key of the user, the trusted third party does not have access to any decrypted message. In another aspect, in order to digitally sign a message, the sender applies a hash function to the message to generate a hash value, and then sends the hash value to the trusted third party server where it is encrypted using the private key associated with the sender in order to generate the digital signature, which is then returned to the sender. |
| US08321668B2 |
Control of data access by dynamically verifying legal references
The inventive method for controlling access to data which is used by reference in a program execution system (including processes and aims) during the program execution consists in memorising by the system the totality of references obtainable by said program with the aid of means considered legal, before any operation which can be prohibited if it relates to values which are not legal references, in verifying by the system whether said values are amongst the legal references memorized for the program and in accepting or rejecting the operation, respectively. |
| US08321667B2 |
Security model for common multiplexed transactional logs
A security model is provided in a transactional logging infrastructure that is arranged as a protected subsystem built on an underlying secure file system. Files in the underlying file system used by virtual log streams are protected from direct user writes, and are written-to only through the protected subsystem that is brokered by a machine-wide principal so that virtual log files sharing the same multiplexed physical log are kept secure from each other. Log file handles and user- and kernel-mode objects are exposed to log clients through interfaces using consistent security semantics for both dedicated and virtual logs. Log clients are agnostic of the underlying secure file system and can only manipulate file system containers—abstract objects that implement the physical log and used to virtualize the file system by normalizing input/output operations—by using the interfaces brokered by the principal in the protected subsystem. |
| US08321666B2 |
Implementations of secure computation protocols
A system according to an example embodiment may include an identifier unit and a modifier unit. The identifier unit may be configured to identify an assignment type of an assignment of a variable in a part of a program code. The assignment type of the assignment may be different from an assignment type of a further assignment of the variable in a further part of the program code. The modifier unit may be configured to add to the further part of the program code an assignment of a dummy variable having the assignment type of the assignment of the variable. |
| US08321663B2 |
Enhanced authorization process using digital signatures
A method is provided for enhancing security of a communication session between first and second endpoints which employs a key management protocol. The method includes sending a first message to a first end point over a communications network requesting a secure communication session therewith. The message includes an identity of a second end point requesting the authenticated communication session. A digital certificate is received from the first endpoint over the communications network. The digital certificate is issued by a certifying source verifying information contained in the digital certificate. The digital certificate includes a plurality of fields, one or more of which are transformed in accordance with a transformation algorithm. A reverse transform is applied to the one or more transformed fields to obtain the one or more fields. The digital certificate is validated and a second message is sent to the first endpoint indicating that validation is complete. |
| US08321660B2 |
Method and devices for reproducing encrypted content and approving reproduction
A reproduction method capable of immediately revoking a leaked device key by dividing the device key into a first partial key and a second partial key is provided. The reproduction method includes the operations of receiving encrypted content to be reproduced, requesting a token for decrypting the received content from an external device containing a first partial key of a device via a network, receiving the requested token from the external device, and decrypting the received token by using a second partial key contained in the device, thereby preventing content encrypted and distributed before revocation of an illegally copied device from being reproduced, and minimizing damage due to key leakage. |
| US08321658B2 |
Method and system for iSCSI boot in which an iSCSI client loads boot code from a host bus adapter and/or network interface card
Certain aspects of a method for iSCSI boot may include loading boot BIOS code from a host bus adapter or a network interface controller (NIC) by an iSCSI client device. A connection may be established to an iSCSI target by the iSCSI client device after loading the boot BIOS code. The boot BIOS code may be chained to at least one interrupt handler over iSCSI protocol. An operating system may be remotely booted from the iSCSI target by the iSCSI client device based on chaining the interrupt handler. An Internet protocol (IP) address and/or location of the iSCSI target may be received. At least one iSCSI connection may be initiated to the iSCSI target based on chaining at least one interrupt handler. The iSCSI target may be booted in real mode if at least one master boot record is located in the memory. |
| US08321653B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for assigning a PLC module address
Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system, which can comprise a module communicatively coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC). The module can comprise a transmission circuit and/or a receiving circuit. The module can be adapted to communicate with the PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames. A frame of the 8B/10B encoded frames can comprise a plurality of ordered fields. |
| US08321647B2 |
Multipage preparation commands for non-volatile memory systems
Multipage preparation commands for non-volatile memory systems are disclosed. The multipage preparation commands supply data that can be used to prepare a non-volatile memory device for forthcoming multipage program operations. A host controller can use the commands ahead of a multipage program operation to optimize usage of a multipage program command. The non-volatile memory device can use the commands to configure the non-volatile memory in preparation for a subsequent operation, such as changing a command order or using the most optimized command set for the subsequent operation. |
| US08321645B2 |
Mechanisms for moving data in a hybrid aggregate
At least certain embodiments include a method, system and apparatus for relocating data between tiers of storage media in a hybrid storage aggregate encompassing multiple tiers of heterogeneous physical storage media including a file system to automatically relocate the data between tiers. The hybrid storage aggregate includes one or more volumes, each volume including a volume block number space spanning at least a first-tier of storage media and a second tier of storage media of the multiple tiers of heterogeneous physical storage media and the hybrid storage aggregate further includes a control module to cooperatively manage the tiers of the multiple tiers of heterogeneous physical storage media and a file system coupled with the control module, the file system including a policy module configured to make policy decisions based on a set of one or more policies and configured to automatically relocate data between different tiers of the multiple tiers of heterogeneous physical storage media based on the set of policies. |
| US08321634B2 |
System and method for performing memory operations in a computing system
A processor may operate in one of a plurality of operating states. In a Normal operating state, the processor is not involved with a memory transaction. Upon receipt of a transaction instruction to access a memory location, the processor transitions to a Transaction operating state. In the Transaction operating state, the processor performs changes to a cache line and data associated with the memory location. While in the Transaction operating state, any changes to the data and the cache line is not visible to other processors in the computing system. These changes become visible upon the processor entering a Commit operating state in response to receipt of a commit instruction. After changes become visible, the processor returns to the Normal operating state. If an abort event occurs prior to receipt of the commit instruction, the processor transitions to an Abort operating state where any changes to the data and cache line are discarded. |
| US08321632B2 |
System and method for supporting mutable object handling
A computer-implemented method and system can support mutable object handling. The system comprises a cache space that is capable of storing one or more mutable cache objects, and one or more cached object graphs. Each said mutable cache object is reachable via one or more retrieval paths in the one or more cached object graph. The system further comprises a mutable-handling decorator that maintains an internal instance map that transparently translates between the one or more cached object graphs and the one or more mutable cache objects stored in the cache space. |
| US08321621B2 |
Video graphics array interface switch apparatus
A video graphics array (VGA) interface switch apparatus includes first to third VGA interfaces, a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch, a switch control chip, and first to sixth electronic switches. The first VGA interface is connected to the second and third VGA interfaces through the switch control chip and the electronic switches. The SPDT switch is used to control the first VGA interface to be selectively connected to the second or third VGA interface. |
| US08321619B2 |
Combination power memory device
A portable power and/or memory device is disclosed, which device includes integrated management circuitry enabling on-board management of energy storage, power management, and memory management. In a preferred embodiment, the device of the present invention can store and make available both memory and power, and provides an on-board means for displaying the various memory and/or power parameters associated with the device, using a USB interface to receive power for storage and to communicate between onboard memory and a device to which the portable power and/or memory device is connected. |
| US08321618B1 |
Managing conflicts on shared L2 bus
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a mechanism to schedule read data transmissions and write data transmissions to/from a cache to frame buffer logic on the L2 bus. When processing a read or a write command, a scheduling arbiter examines a bus schedule to determine that a read-read conflict, a read-write conflict or a write-read exists, and allocates an available memory space in a read buffer to store the read data causing the conflict until the read return data transmission can be scheduled. In the case of a write command, the scheduling arbiter then transmits a write request to a request buffer. When processing a write request, the request arbiter examines the request buffers to determine whether a write-write conflict. If so, then the request arbiter allocates a memory space in a request buffer to store the write request until the write data transmission can be scheduled. |
| US08321611B2 |
System and method for accessing a personal computer device onboard an aircraft and aircraft equipped with such system
The invention generally pertains to onboard systems for passengers such as In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) Systems. The invention more particularly relates to a system and a method for accessing a personal computer device (3) onboard an aircraft and to an aircraft including such a system. The system includes an onboard network (12) to which is connected at least one interface (4) at a passenger's seat (si) and connection means. The system is arranged so that said interface and said personal computer device interact via the transmission of data on said onboard network. |
| US08321609B2 |
Power-saving control circuit and method
A power-saving control circuit and method suitable for circuits including a first-in-first-out (FIFO) register is provided. In the present invention, a logic circuit is disposed between two circuit modules with data transmitted in between. When there is data input into the FIFO register, the logic circuit activates a clock signal of the circuit module in the receiving end for reading the data. When all the data stored in the FIFO register is read, the clock signal is turned off so that the power consumed by the clock signal is reduced without affecting the data transmitting efficiency and the purpose of power-saving is achieved. |
| US08321606B2 |
Systems and methods for managing memory using multi-state buffer representations
Disclosed herein are techniques to manage access to a memory using a buffer construct that includes state information associated with a region of the memory. The disclosed techniques facilitate access to the region of memory through a direct memory access operation while the state information of the buffer construct is in a first state. The state information can be transitioned to a second state in response to a first instruction. The disclosed techniques also facilitate access to the region of memory through a cache operation while the state information of the buffer construct is in the second state is disclosed. The state information can be transitioned to the first state in response to a second instruction. |
| US08321604B2 |
Real-time USB class level decoding
Real-time USB class level decoding is disclosed. In some embodiments, a first packet associated with a USB class level operation and a second packet generated by a USB analyzer are received. It is determined based at least in part on a first time associated with the first packet and a second time associated with the second packet that the class level operation has timed out. In some embodiments, an enumeration record is copied from a buffer configured to store USB data associated with a target USB device to a storage location not in the buffer, based at least in part on an indication that the enumeration record as stored in the buffer may be overwritten. In some embodiments, USB data is displayed for analysis at least in part by grouping packets not likely to be of interest differently depending on whether class level decoding is enabled. |
| US08321602B2 |
Device management apparatus, device management method and device management program
A device management apparatus may include, but is not limited to, a device controller that controls a device, a communication controller, a management unit, and a monitoring unit. The communication controller controls a communication between the device and the device controller. The management unit manages the device controller and the communication controller. The monitoring unit is disposed between the device controller and the communication controller. The monitoring unit formats data that is transmitted between the device controller and the communication controller so as to create formatted data. The monitoring unit supplies the formatted data to the management unit. |
| US08321601B2 |
Audio status information for a portable electronic device
Improved techniques for providing status information associated with an electronic device to its user in an audible manner are disclosed. The status information can pertain to one or more conditions of the electronic device. The conditions can vary depending on the nature of the electronic device. As an example, where the electronic device is battery powered, one condition of the electronic device that can be monitored is a battery charge level. |
| US08321600B2 |
Asymmetrical universal serial bus communications
In some embodiments a Universal Serial Bus cable includes a first differential pair to transmit bus signals, and a second differential pair to transmit bus signals in a same direction as the bus signals transmitted by the first differential pair. In this manner, a bandwidth of the Universal Serial Bus cable is doubled in that same direction. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08321597B2 |
Flash-memory device with RAID-type controller
A smart flash drive has one or more levels of smart storage switches and a lower level of single-chip flash devices (SCFD's). A SCFD contains flash memory and controllers that perform low-level bad-block mapping and wear-leveling and logical-to-physical block mapping. The SCFD report their capacity, arrangement, and maximum wear-level count (WLC) and bad block number (BBN) to the upstream smart storage switch, which stores this information in a structure register. The smart storage switch selects the SCFD with the maximum BBN as the target and the SCFD with the lowest maximum WLC as the source of a swap for wear leveling when a WLC exceeds a threshold that rises over time. A top-level smart storage switch receives consolidated capacity, arrangement, WLC, and BBN information from lower-level smart storage switch. Data is striped and optionally scrambled by Redundant Array of Individual Disks (RAID) controllers in all levels of smart storage switches. |
| US08321596B2 |
SAS paired subtractive routing
An input port is assigned to a SAS expander device. An output port is assigned to the SAS expander device. The output port and the input port are defined to be paired with each other as a primary subtractive port. Only a SAS initiator address is programmed in the route table of the SAS expander. An OPEN command is sent out the output port upon receiving the OPEN command into the input port if the DEST of the OPEN command is not a direct attached device of the SAS expander device and the DEST is not in the route table of the SAS expander device. An OPEN command is sent out the input port upon receiving the OPEN command into the output port if the DEST of the OPEN command is not a direct attached device of the SAS expander device and the DEST is not in the route table of the SAS expander device. |
| US08321595B2 |
Application identification
A method may include receiving a communication from a client device and identifying a port number, a protocol and a destination associated with the communication. The method may also include identifying a first application being executed by the first client device based on the port number, the protocol and the destination associated with the first communication. |
| US08321594B2 |
Achieving low latencies on network events in a non-real time platform
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing low-latency handling of events and/or requesting actions of external resources in a real time environment while utilizing non-real time components. According to one embodiment, a system for providing low-latency handling of events in a real time environment while utilizing non-real time components can comprise an external resource and a resource adapter communicatively coupled with the external resource. The resource adapter can be adapted to detect events of the external resource and/or request actions of the external resource. The system can also include at least one local application communicatively coupled with the resource adapter. The local application can have a local interface and the local application can interact with the resource adapter via the local interface. |
| US08321592B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating and using statelessly reversible representations of session initiation protocol (SIP) information by SIP cluster entities
The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating and using statelessly reversible representations of SIP information by SIP cluster entities. One method includes, at a first SIP cluster entity, receiving a first SIP message including SIP information. The method further includes generating a second SIP message including a statelessly reversible representation of the SIP information. The method further includes transmitting, to a SIP entity that is not a member of the cluster to which the first SIP entity belongs, the second SIP message with the statelessly reversible representation and information for reaching the cluster. |
| US08321591B2 |
Directory structure in distributed data driven architecture environment
The invention employs systems and methods to provide addressing for appropriate access to data in automation devices. Data attributes can be related to a number of various factors in a data driven architecture such as the source of the data, the data subscriber and/or the path employed to convey the data from the source to the subscriber. In addition, data attributes can refer to the format, scale, units, length, visualization and transactional capabilities of the data. The subject invention can point to the appropriate address of the requested data wherein the data can have desired attributes associated therewith. In this manner, data can be selected based on the requirements of the requestor and/or the loading demands of network communication. |
| US08321590B2 |
Application network communication
Techniques are provided to discover and integrate applications in an application router framework. The discovery operation includes receiving a registration notification for an application on a network, adding information describing the application to a repository into a data structure and publishing the data structure onto an application router. Association operations include querying one or more application routers on an application network for meta-data and other information on applications, exchanging the meta-data and other information between the application routers and associating the applications together automatically using their respective application protocols. Routing operations include receiving application information in an application protocol format, converting the application information in the application protocol format into a neutral protocol format and forwarding the application information in the neutral protocol format along with state information to other application routers on the network. |
| US08321585B2 |
Communication network system of bus network structure and message routing method using the system
A method for processing a message routing in a communication network system having a bus network structure includes connecting a plurality of brokers in a mesh topology; connecting each of the service terminal nodes to one of the brokers via a connector; allocating a network address to each of the connected service terminal nodes; maintaining at least some of the allocated network addresses and socket addresses of the connected brokers in a routing table; and routing a message between the service terminal nodes by using information contained in the routing table. A network communication system having a bus network structure includes service terminal nodes; at least one connector connected to at least one of the service terminal nodes; and a plurality of brokers, each of the brokers having a routing table. |
| US08321582B2 |
Communication application for conducting conversations including multiple media types in either a real-time mode or a time-shifted mode
A communication application configured to support a conversation among participants over a communication network. The communication application is configured to (i) support one or more media types within the context of the conversation, (ii) interleave the one or more media types in a time-indexed order within the context of the conversation, (iii) enable the participants to render the conversation including the interleaved one or more media types in either a real-time rendering mode or time-shifted rendering mode, and (iv) seamlessly transition the conversation between the two modes so that the conversation may take place substantially live when in the real-time rendering mode or asynchronously when in the time-shifted rendering mode. |
| US08321580B2 |
Transaction accelerator for client-server communication systems
In a network having transaction acceleration, for an accelerated transaction, a client directs a request to a client-side transaction handler that forwards the request to a server-side transaction handler, which in turn provides the request, or a representation thereof, to a server for responding to the request. The server sends the response to the server-side transaction handler, which forwards the response to the client-side transaction handler, which in turn provides the response to the client. |
| US08321570B2 |
Personal access and control of media peripherals on a media exchange network
Methods are disclosed for indirectly monitoring and controlling at least one media peripheral device in a media exchange network by accessing a media management system (MMS) via a first media peripheral (MP) device (e.g., a TV screen) using a user control device (e.g., a remote control). An operation corresponding to a second media peripheral (MP) device (e.g., a digital camera) may be selected via the MMS using the first MP device and the user control device. The operation is then carried out (i.e., performed) by the second MP device. A status of the second MP device may be selected via the MMS using the first MP device and the user control device. The selected status is then displayed on the first MP device. |
| US08321566B2 |
System and method to control application to application communication over a network
A method is provided to control communication between applications that communicate over a network comprising: designating a different respective application identifier (AppID) for each of a multiplicity of A2A enabled applications suitable to run on endpoint devices coupled to a network suitable for delivery of multimedia information; providing in non-transitory media a registry that indicates authorized AppIDs; receiving over the network a request originating from a first endpoint device for authorization for a media connection; wherein the authorization request includes an AppID; in response to the authorization request, determining whether the AppID within the authorization request matches an authorized AppID indicated within the registry; rejecting the authorization request in response to a determination that the AppID does not match an authorized AppID indicated within the registry. |
| US08321565B2 |
Network usage throttling systems and methods
Systems and methods for throttling network usage are disclosed. An exemplary method includes at least one network device monitoring usage of a wide area network, selecting a throttling command based on the monitored usage of the wide area network, and broadcasting the throttling command to a plurality of access devices connected to the wide area network. The throttling command is configured for interpretation and use by each access device within the plurality of access devices to conform at least one operation to a network usage throttling level in accordance with the interpretation of the throttling command. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08321561B2 |
Information sharing method between neighboring nodes, node and information sharing program
A load caused by an information sharing message in an upper layer is reduced. A node, which shares information by exchanging a message between neighboring nodes in a lower layer and an upper layer of a network, includes a unit for determining whether or not to transmit a message for information sharing in the upper layer according to the contents of a state change in the neighboring nodes detected when a state change in the neighboring nodes in the lower layer is detected. |
| US08321557B2 |
Web feeds over SIP
A method may include issuing a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to a Web feed server to receive a Web feed, and receiving from the Web feed server the Web feed. |
| US08321553B2 |
Method and apparatus for calling virtual machine across processes
Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a method and apparatus for calling virtual machine across processes. In one embodiment, it is determined whether a virtual machine is running in the same process. If a virtual machine is running in the same process, that virtual machine is used. If a virtual machine is running in another process, the application sends commands for the virtual machine to an intermediary application in the same process. The intermediary application passes the commands on to another intermediary application in the process where the virtual machine is running, and that intermediary application sends the commands to the virtual machine. Communication from the virtual machine to the application are performed in the reverse order. |
| US08321551B2 |
Using aggregated DNS information originating from multiple sources to detect anomalous DNS name resolutions
A DNS security system collects and uses aggregated DNS information originating from a plurality of client computers to detect anomalous DNS name resolutions. A server DNS security component receives multiple transmissions of DNS information from a plurality of client computers, each transmission of DNS information concerning a specific instance of a resolution of a specific DNS name. The server component aggregates the DNS information from the multiple client computers. The server component compares DNS information received from a specific client computer concerning a specific DNS name to aggregated DNS information received from multiple client computers concerning the same DNS name to identify anomalous DNS name resolutions. Where an anomaly concerning received DNS information is identified, a warning can be transmitted to the specific client computer from which the anomalous DNS information was received. |
| US08321543B2 |
System and method for determining weak membership in set of computer nodes
A system and method for solving the weak membership problem in a system of nodes that might include redundancies. Each node is given the same random seed. Each node uses a link state protocol to determine the current system topography, and then an optimization such as simulated annealing is run on the topography at each node, independently of the other nodes, to determine the optimum weak membership for use thereof in subsequent system operations. Since each node starts with the same random seed, the nodes all arrive at the same solution without having to communicate a common solution between nodes. |
| US08321542B1 |
Wireless channel allocation in a base station processor
A system and method are provided for allocating wireless channels in a base station processor to messages sent between a subscriber and the base station processor in a wireless network. A latency period is determined corresponding to a return message to be received from a responsive node in response to an outgoing message sent from a sender via the base station processor. A latency manager in the base station processor computes the latency period and stores the latency period in an allocation table. A scheduler schedules a channel to be available at the end of the latency period indicated in the allocation table. At the end of the latency period, the return message is received and the scheduler allocates a channel as defined in the allocation table. The scheduled channel is used to transmit the message to or from the corresponding subscriber. |
| US08321537B1 |
Methods and system for sharing gadgets between users
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates sharing gadgets. The system allows a sender to specify a gadget to share with a recipient and how a set of configuration parameters are to be shared with the recipient. The system further receives an identifier for the recipient. The system also communicates the gadget to the recipient, thereby allowing the recipient to use the gadget in accordance with the configuration parameters. |
| US08321535B2 |
Web services integration systems and methods
Methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums are disclosed to integrate web services with applications. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed which comprises determining an operation provided by a web service, determining an more input parameter associated with the operation, mapping the input parameter to an application input data parameter associated with an application, and storing the mapping in setup information used to invoke the operation. In another embodiment, a method comprises obtaining setup information for an operation associated with a web service, using the setup information to determine mappings between one or more input parameters associated with the operation and application input data parameters, obtaining a value associated with an application input data parameter for each of the application input data parameters mapped to one of the input parameters, and invoking the web service using the obtained values. |
| US08321534B1 |
System and method for synchronization based on preferences
In some embodiments, techniques for synchronization comprise connecting to a second data device; determining that a first item of multimedia content is more desired than a second item of multimedia content, based at least in part by determining that the first and second items of multimedia content are similar to a third item of multimedia content, and an explicit rating of the third item of multimedia content; determining a set of multimedia data to be synchronized from the second data device to a first data device, wherein the first item of multimedia content is included in the set of multimedia data and the second item of multimedia content is not included in the set of multimedia data; and synchronizing the set of multimedia data from the second data device to a first data device. |
| US08321532B2 |
Information processing system, information processing terminal, and computer readable medium
An information processing system includes: an external device; and information processing terminals. The information processing terminal includes: a storage unit configured to store identification information unique to the information processing terminal; an obtaining unit configured to obtain media information from the external device, the media information relating to a recording medium attached to the external device; a detecting unit configured to detect notification destination identification information from the media information, the notification destination identification information indicating a notification destination of information relating to the recording medium; a first determining unit configured to determine whether the notification destination identification information matches the identification information; and a notification executing unit configured to execute a notification relating to the recording medium attached to the external device, if the first determining unit determines that the notification destination identification information matches the identification information. |
| US08321529B2 |
Accessing deep web information associated with transportation services using a search engine
Methods, apparatuses, and articles for receiving a search request associated with a transportation service from a client device, the search request including a plurality of search criteria, are described herein. Additionally, the methods, apparatuses, and articles further return to the client device an answer page having a plurality of answers potentially associated with the transportation service, the plurality of answers identifying a plurality of information locations having information potentially associated with at least a one of the plurality of search criteria, where at least one of the answers includes at least one input field of a query answer page for entry of at least one feature of the transportation service, the query answer page to be dynamically generated by one of the information locations in response to a query. |
| US08321524B2 |
Method for obtaining electronic vehicle identification number (VIN)
A method for obtaining an electronic Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from a vehicle. According to one embodiment, an electronic VIN request is generated at the vehicle through a vehicle user interface, such as a visual display, a microphone, a speaker, a keypad, or an electronic control or button. According to another embodiment, the electronic VIN request is generated at an entity, such as a remote call center, that is remotely located from the vehicle. In either case, the electronic VIN request causes the vehicle hardware to query one or more vehicle electronic module(s) for electronic VIN(s) stored therein, so that output related to the electronic VIN(s) can be provided. |
| US08321523B1 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically and incrementally modifying NIS maps
A method of maintaining Network Information Service (NIS) maps where modifying information about any of the network entities described by the NIS maps requires only incremental update of the NIS maps instead of full NIS map regeneration. A further method of detecting when network entity records on a network directory server change so that NIS map updates are necessary. |
| US08321522B2 |
System and method for management of remotely shared data
Systems and methods for reducing latency on a remotely-booted information handling system are disclosed. A method for access and management of remote data may include receiving from a host a standard input-output instruction including a persistent image update (PIU) parameter indicating a request by the host to access a shared computer-readable medium storing an image shared by the host and one or more other hosts. The method may further include determining a value of the PIU parameter and determining whether to allow the host to access the shared computer readable medium based at least on the value of the PIU parameter. |
| US08321517B2 |
Method and system for processing emails
The present invention provides a method and system for processing emails. The method comprising: receiving a correction request including an identifier of an original email and an incorrect recipient; in response to the correction request, creating a correction record including the identifier of the original email and the incorrect recipient; in response to receiving relevant emails of the original email, determining whether recipients of the relevant emails include the incorrect recipient; and in response to determining that recipients of the relevant emails include the incorrect recipient, processing the relevant emails based on the correction record. |
| US08321505B1 |
Generating preview bundles corresponding to content pages
Disclosed are various embodiments for generating and/or processing a preview bundle. Embodiments include receiving a request from a client to generate a preview network page that corresponds to a production network page generated in a production environment. Embodiments further include specifying at least a portion of the preview network page as a user developed portion. Embodiments also include generating the preview network page that is based at least upon the production network page and by replacing source elements of the production network page associated with the user developed portion with at least one data structure element that contains the data elements referenced by the source elements of the corresponding production network page. |
| US08321504B2 |
Method and system for subscriber base monitoring in IP data networks
The present method and system relate to monitoring a subscriber base in an IP data network. The method and system receive at a subscriber base system information extracted from collected data of IP data sessions. The extracted information comprises at least a unique identifier and a timestamp. The subscriber base system queries a subscriber database with the extracted information to correlate with a corresponding subscriber record. If the extracted information is correlated to the corresponding subscriber record, the extracted information is used to update the subscriber database. If the extracted information cannot be correlated to an existing subscriber record, the extracted information is used to create a new subscriber record in the subscriber database. |
| US08321502B2 |
Method for optimizing a web content proxy server and devices thereof
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus that optimizes a web content proxy server includes obtaining at a proxy server a web page with an original server cookie from one of one or more web content servers in response to a request from one of one or more client devices. A web optimized client cookie based on the original server cookie is generated at the proxy server. The obtained web page with the generated web optimized client cookie is providing by the proxy server to the requesting one of one or more client devices. |
| US08321499B2 |
Method for distributing content to a user station
A method for controlling a user station configured for communications with a multiplicity of independently-operated data sources via a non-proprietary network includes steps for providing a user interface to enable a user at the user station to select multiple ones of the multiplicity of independently-operated data object sources to be polled; automatically polling each of the selected data object sources in order to determine availability of desired data at each of the selected data object sources; and automatically transporting desired data determined to be available from each of the selected data object sources to the user station. Software and a user station for implementing the method are also described. |
| US08321498B2 |
Policy interface description framework
Methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums are disclosed for providing resource interface descriptions with policy parameters. In one embodiment, a method comprises intercepting, at a framework, a request for a resource interface description. The resource interface description is obtained at the framework and at least one policy associated with the resource is determined. For each of the determined policies, one or more policy parameters associated with the policy are determined. |
| US08321491B2 |
System and method for detecting a weak signal in a noisy environment
Systems and methods are disclosed for computing a power spectral density of a signal. One such method computes a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of a first signal segment and an FFT of a second signal segment. The first and second segments are adjacent and non-overlapping in time, and the second segment follows the first. The first FFT is multiplied by a complex conjugate of the second FFT. A first complex value is computed from this first product. An FFT of a third signal segment is computed. The second and third segments are adjacent and non-overlapping in time. The third segment follows the second segment. The second FFT is multiplied by a complex conjugate of the third FFT. A second complex value is computed from this second product. The first and second complex values are added, and the power spectral density of the sum is computed. |
| US08321490B2 |
Instruction-based parallel median filtering
An instruction-based parallel median filtering processor and method sorts in parallel each combination of pairs of inputs into greater and lesser values; determines from that sorting the minimum, maximum and median filter values of the inputs; processes one of those values and provides the processed value as an input; and applies an instruction for providing one of the values to the processing step, and at least one other instruction for enabling indication of at least one of the maximum, minimum, median filter values. |
| US08321489B2 |
Software reconfigurable digital phase lock loop architecture
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of software based phase locked loop (PLL). The software based PLL incorporates a reconfigurable calculation unit (RCU) that is optimized and programmed to sequentially perform all the atomic operations of a PLL or any other desired task in a time sharing manner. An application specific instruction-set processor (ASIP) incorporating the RCU includes an instruction set whose instructions are optimized to perform the atomic operations of a PLL. The RCU is clocked at a fast enough processor clock rate to insure that all PLL atomic operations are performed within a single PLL reference clock cycle. |
| US08321486B2 |
Method and system for configuring a supplemental directory
According to one embodiment of the invention a method of updating schema in a directory system having a reference layer adapted to provide directory functionality and an intermediate layer adapted to provide supplemental directory functionality is provided. The intermediate layer is provided between the reference layer and the client is provided. The method includes determining that a new attribute type is not defined in a schema associated with the system, and in response, registering the new attribute type in the schema. |
| US08321484B2 |
Minimizing bandwidth in file path-centric protocol message
Instead of sending each item separately to a service for processing, items are communicated to the service as one or more groups. Common portions of a file path for files within the group are transmitted once to the service. For example, a root portion of the file paths for the files within the group may be common to each of the files. The unique portions of the file path for each file are transmitted to the service without including the common portions. The size of the groups may be configured differently depending on needs of the specific instance of the protocol (i.e. smaller sized groups for more bandwidth-constrained situations). The size for the group may be determined in many different ways. For example, the size of the groups may be automatically determined based on a configuration and/or a user input. |
| US08321483B2 |
Method and system for seamlessly accessing remotely stored files
A system and method by which users via programs on one computer may seamlessly access files remotely stored on other computers that run a well known file access protocol. An operating system extension and an application level network access program are provided. The operating system extension receives file system requests for remote files from the operating system that were issued according to a well known application program interface. The operating system extension forwards the remote file system request to the network access program. The network access program reformats the request according to a well known application level network protocol extension and sends it over a network to a remote computer system. |
| US08321480B2 |
Full-function to high availability large database conversion
Systems, methods and computer readable medium for migrating Information Management System (IMS) Full-Function databases to IMS High Availability Large Databases (HALDBs) are described. Full Function database conversion operations in accordance with this disclosure assign a unique identifier to each segment having a physically paired logically related child segment. These unique identifiers may then be used during HALDB load operations to identify a segment's physically paired logically related segment. Use of the disclosed unique identifiers permit Full Function database conversion operations to avoid the input-output (I/O) and compare operations needed by prior art unload techniques to completely identify physically paired logically related segments. |
| US08321479B2 |
Efficient processing of time series data
A system receiving time series data will store the data in a first format suited for quick writing. That data will subsequently be converted from the first format to a second format better suited than the first format for compact storage and queries. Over time, the data in the second format can be aggregated and/or down sampled. In one embodiment, the first format includes a set of blocks of information, with each block of information storing data for a set of metrics during a time period. The second format includes a header, a set of blocks of data and a footer. Each bock of data in the second format stores information for a metric over multiple time periods. The footer includes pointers to each block of data. |
| US08321477B2 |
Systems and methods for organizing data sets
A method is provided for organizing data sets. In use, an automatic decision system is created or updated for determining whether data elements fit a predefined organization or not, where the decision system is based on a set of preorganized data elements. A plurality of data elements is organized using the decision system. At least one organized data element is selected for output to a user based on a score or confidence from the decision system for the at least one organized data element. Additionally, at least a portion of the at least one organized data element is output to the user. A response is received from the user comprising at least one of a confirmation, modification, and a negation of the organization of the at least one organized data element. The automatic decision system is recreated or updated based on the user response. Other embodiments are also presented. |
| US08321472B1 |
Systems and methods for creating geographic connection matrices
ZIP code connection matrices are created for use in insurance ratemaking by identifying common borders of geographically defined regions. ZIP codes and associated cartographic boundaries are read from a database. Pairs of coordinates for the boundaries are stored in a matrix and values are calculated that represent each pair of coordinates in the matrix. The calculated values are stored in an encoded coordinates matrix and used to determine common segments. A connection matrix is formed representing connections among ZIP codes. A neighborhood matrix is then calculated, which stores values that represent an indication of closeness of each ZIP code in the neighborhood matrix to a target ZIP code. |
| US08321467B2 |
System and method for communicating between an application and a database
A method for communicating between an application and a database by using a lightweight stored procedure data-binding framework for applications written in object oriented programming languages such as JAVA, significantly reduces the coding effort required to communicate with a relational database. Once the developer specifies the needed tabular data, the inventive framework generates all needed data objects and stored procedures to accomplish the interaction with that database data. The automatically generated code is then used by the application via a run-time component. This means the developer need only make simple calls in a few lines of code for database interaction. The encapsulated data model deals only with persistence and retrieval issues and is therefore de-coupled from the business model. |
| US08321462B2 |
Custodian based content identification
A custodian profile, e.g., a user profile, associated with a first content item, e.g., an associated web page in a social network, can be identified as a first content item. The first content item can be utilized to identify one or more second content items, e.g., advertisements, that are displayed when the first content item is presented, e.g., viewed by another user of the social network. |
| US08321455B2 |
Method for clustering automation and classification techniques
A method and system for use in an information retrieval system that provides related informational items that can be automatically classified and summarized in a hierarchical manner. The system comprises the steps and means for the presentation and analysis of mined data through the application of four distinct processes, namely, feature selection, clustering, classification and summarization. The implementation of each of these techniques is a single process without regard to order. Individual informational items are analyzed, and relevant features extracted. Individual groups of informational items, otherwise known as clusters, are identified, and rules are determined to allow the assignment of informational items to the previously mentioned groups. Descriptive and meaningful titles are then identified for the groups. Various methods of presenting searched information to an end user are also provided. A method of adaptive clustering is also provided. |
| US08321452B2 |
Information processing system, apparatus and method for information processing, and recording medium
An information processing system includes a plurality of first information processing apparatuses, each of the plurality of first information processing apparatuses being configured to add search information and post content, and a second information processing apparatus for holding the search information matching the content posted from at least one of the plurality of first information processing apparatuses. Upon receipt of a request to provide the content which is previously retrieved from one of the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus performs another search based on a search condition stored at a last search by the second information processing apparatus itself or by the one of the first information processing apparatuses, and provides the content which is newly retrieved to the one of the first information processing apparatus in response to the request. |
| US08321451B2 |
Automatic web service discovery and information retrieval via data abstraction model
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a selection of a particular logical field via a database query interface. The method includes querying a discovery registry associated with a data abstraction model of a database to discover one or more web services that are resolvable based on the particular logical field. The data abstraction model includes a plurality of logical fields, where each logical field corresponds to a particular data structure of the database. A web service input and a web service output of a particular discovered web service are associated with particular logical fields of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry. The method further includes automatically initiating execution of the discovered web services and displaying one or more values resulting from execution of the discovered web services. |
| US08321450B2 |
Standardized database connectivity support for an event processing server in an embedded context
Techniques for facilitating communication between one or more client applications and an event processing server. In one set of embodiments, a framework is provided that enables a client application to communicate with an event processing server via a standard database connectivity API, such as Java Database Connectivity (JDBC). |
| US08321447B2 |
Adaptive query throttling system and method
An adaptive query throttling system and method are provided herein. |
| US08321446B2 |
Method and system to combine keyword results and natural language search results
A search query is received from a single input field of a user interface. A keyword search is performed based on the search query to generate keyword search results. A natural language search is performed of a frequently-asked question (FAQ) database based on the search query to generate FAQ search results. The keyword search results and the FAQ search results are combined in a display page. |
| US08321442B2 |
Searching and matching of data
Described herein is a technology for facilitating searching and matching of data. In some implementations, an input data string, including one or more ideographic elements, is received and converted to a Latin-based input data string. One or more input keys may be generated based on the Latin-based input data string. A reference database may be searched for one or more candidate records indexed by at least one of the one or more input keys. If the one or more candidate records are found, a match score is determined for the one or more candidate records. |
| US08321436B2 |
Method to raise accuracy of targeting the segmentation for sample distribution
To enhance the targeting accuracy in providing services such as provision of samples for members by performing management of member information and authentication while securing personal anonymity. There is provided a center server and a store terminal. The center server gives a unique ID to a member application, sends it to a particular mobile information terminal and manages it as authentication information about a member who is the user of the mobile information terminal. In response to purchases of a particular article by the member, the store terminal inputs the ID from the mobile information terminal and inputs purchase information about the article the member purchases. The center server then acquires attribute information about a member identified by the ID. Then, by checking the purchase information, the attribute information and service information set in association with attribute information about the member and kinds of articles and stored in particular storage means, information about a service to be provided for the member is identified. |
| US08321433B1 |
Systems and methods for business process logging
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for filtering business process logging information at runtime. One process includes receiving a set of logging information associated with execution of at least one entity, the at least one entity associated with a business process model defining a set of business process entities for performing a defined business process, identifying a process log filter rule associated with the entity, applying the identified process log filter rule to the received set of logging information to generate a filtered set of logging information associated with execution of the entity, and storing the filtered set of logging information in a process log associated with the execution of the entity. Identifying a process log filter rule associated with the entity can include identifying an entity property and determining at least one process log filter rule corresponding to the identified entity property. |
| US08321429B2 |
Accelerating queries using secondary semantic column enumeration
A system, method, and computer program product for processing a database query are presented. Steps for creating a secondary enumeration when necessary and utilizing the secondary enumeration to improve query operations by processing enumeration values of the secondary enumeration instead of data represented by the enumeration values are disclosed. |
| US08321428B1 |
System and method for navigating documents
Embodiments of this invention allow a user to navigate through previously viewed documents. These documents may be associated with a key, e.g. a search or a document. In response to re-entering the search or detecting subsequent interaction with the document, the navigation may be provided. In certain embodiments, the navigation is provided through a button on a toolbar or through a menu listing. |
| US08321424B2 |
Bipartite graph reinforcement modeling to annotate web images
Systems and methods for bipartite graph reinforcement modeling to annotate web images are described. In one aspect the systems and methods implement bipartite graph reinforcement modeling operations to identify a set of annotations that are relevant to a Web image. The systems and methods annotate the Web image with the identified annotations. The systems and methods then index the annotated Web image. Responsive to receiving an image search query from a user, wherein the image search query comprises information relevant to at least a subset of the identified annotations, the image search engine service presents the annotated Web image to the user. |
| US08321422B1 |
Fast covariance matrix generation
A covariance matrix associated for a set of spatial and/or temporal sub-portions of a media object is populated based on a lookup table of relative displacements and sums of covariance values generated from pairs of data elements in the media object. The lookup table is generated in linear time, providing an efficient method of generating the covariance matrix. |
| US08321419B1 |
Delegated authority to evaluate content
The invention provides an evaluation system for reliably evaluating large amounts of content. The evaluation system is managed by a primary authority that designates one or more contributing authorities by delegating to each a specific quantity of authority. Each contributing authority may in turn designate and delegate authority to one or more additional contributing authorities, subject to the restriction that the total quantity of authority delegated does not exceed the quantity of authority the contributing authority was itself delegated. Each contributing authority, and optionally the primary authority itself, may evaluate one or more portions of content by associating a rating with each evaluated portion of content. A composite rating for a particular portion of content may then be determined based upon the ratings associated with the portion of content. |
| US08321418B2 |
Information processor, method of processing information, and program
An information processor carrying out statistical natural language processing for a document, the information processor includes a characteristic amount extraction unit configured to detect context information including a proper noun pair from the document and extract a characteristic amount of the detected context information; a characteristic amount analysis unit configured to, by analyzing the characteristic amount of the extracted context information using a probability model in which a document topic meaning an entire topic of the document and a context topic meaning a local topic of the document are considered, estimate a potential variable and a context topic ratio in the probability model; and a clustering unit configured to cluster the proper noun pair included in the context information based on the context topic ratio estimated regarding the characteristic amount of the respective context information. |
| US08321416B2 |
Modeling recurring events in a data store
Time-related properties may be modeled independent of a base object. Rather than storing time properties with the object, they may be stored independently. A given object may be stored once, even if it has a recurrent time property. The description of a “meeting,” for example, may be stored once. Each occurrence of that object over time may be stored in a “timeslot” (object |
| US08321415B2 |
Server apparatus, method of inspecting logs for the same, and storage medium
An inspection server receives a search condition for print logs accumulated in a print log database from an inspection client PC, and an associated log setting for associating print jobs searched based on the search condition with logs managed by a log management server. The inspection server obtains a search result for a search request from an archive server, and further obtains a number of hits for the search request for associated logs based on an associated log setting from a log collection server. Based on the search result and the number of hits, the inspection server controls a display mode of print logs contained in the search result. |
| US08321414B2 |
Hybrid audio-visual categorization system and method
Meta-data (tags) for an audiovisual file can be generated by prompting a user to input certain tags (meta-data) descriptive of the audiovisual file, to serve as an initial estimate of the tags, and then revising the initial estimate (notably to expand it and/or render it more precise) based on the assumption that the relationships which hold between the different tags for a set of manually-tagged training examples will also hold for the tags of the input file now being tagged. |
| US08321408B1 |
Quick access to hierarchical data via an ordered flat file
Access to hierarchical data stored in a database is facilitated by using an ordered flat file that maintains the hierarchical organization of the data. Queries against the hierarchical data are processed by accessing the ordered flat file rather than the underlying database. The speed of accessing the ordered flat file is increased by using memory mapping the ordered flat file. Changes to the data in the underlying database are reflected in real-time without regenerating the ordered flat file by employing an overflow area for storing changes to elements that cannot be made within the ordered flat file. |
| US08321406B2 |
Media object query submission and response
Methods and systems for submitting media object queries and receiving suggested answers for the media object queries. In one aspect, a method includes receiving from a first user a first media object and a first query relating to content in the first media object, presenting the first media object and the first query to multiple second users, receiving a suggested answer to the first query from each of two or more second users of the multiple second users, where at least two of the suggested answers are distinct, ranking the suggested answers, and presenting one or more of the ranked suggested answers to the first user. |
| US08321405B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for optimizing a multi-tenant database system
More efficient querying of a multi-tenant database using dynamic tuning of database indices. A layer of meta-data associates data items with tenants, e.g., via tags, and the meta-data is used to optimize searches by channeling processing resources during a query to only those pieces of data bearing the relevant tenant's unique tag. |
| US08321403B1 |
Web search refinement
Similar queries are identified so that suggested search queries may be provided to a user. A first search query having at least one term associated with a semantic weight is received. A second query having at least one term associated with a semantic weight is received. A first vector is generated based on the first query and the at least one semantic weight of the first query, and a second vector is generated based on the second query and the at least one semantic weight of the second query. A similarity measurement between the first and second search queries is made based at least in part on a comparison of the first vector to the second vector. |
| US08321399B2 |
Method and system for searching data
A method and system for searching data is provided. An index of a search engine is accessed. Distribution data is extracted from the index of the search engine. A value index is generated from the distribution data. A search request is received from a client. A query is generated based on the search request and the value index. The query is forwarded to the search engine for execution. |
| US08321398B2 |
Method and system for determining relevance of terms in text documents
The present invention provides a corpus-independent method for determining relevancy of terms to content of text appearing in a document by analyzing the document itself. Conventional information extraction, or other methods, may be applied to a document to generate a list of terms. The invention analyzes the document using relevancy scoring algorithms to determine a term relevancy score representing the term's relevance to the text contained in the document. The scores, including an aggregate score, may be normalized in the process. Based on relevancy scoring, terms are then ranked and further processed. In this manner relevancy is determined based on the subject document itself and by analyzing the occurrences and locations of the terms within the document. Additional techniques may be applied to relate the relevancy scores generated by the present invention to a corpus or collection of documents. |
| US08321395B2 |
Associating digital images with waypoints
Methods and systems are disclosed for identifying waypoints. In one aspect, a method performed by an application executing on a computer system, includes receiving at least two sets of digital images including a first set of digital images for which image acquisition times are known and a second set of digital images for which image acquisition times and image acquisition locations are known. The method further includes overlaying waypoint identifiers over a map image. The waypoint identifiers correspond to geographical coordinates and to time acquisitions of one or more of the second set of images. Furthermore, the method includes receiving from a user associated with the application a waypoint selection of the overlaid waypoint identifiers and one or more image selections of the first set of images. In response to receiving the selections, the method includes associating the selected ones of the first set of images with the selected waypoint, and generating a trip-descriptor including the first set of images associated with the overlaid waypoint identifiers. |
| US08321390B2 |
Methods and apparatus for organizing data in a database
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for organizing data in a database in a set-oriented manner. Data is organized by linking data in the form of key-value pairs stored in storage media of the database to corresponding key-value pair identifiers. A set having a corresponding set identifier is then associated with one or more of the key-value pair identifiers where the set includes the stored key-value pairs linked to the key-value pair identifiers. |
| US08321389B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for maintaining file system client directory caches with parallel directory writes
A cached version of a file system directory is synchronized with a server version of the directory in a distributed file system. Both a server and a client specify version numbers for their directory versions. On receiving a request from the client specifying a directory update, the server updates its version, increments its version number, and transmits a reply to the client containing a change log with the incremented version number. Upon receiving the reply, the client compares the received version number with that of its cached version. If the version number matches that of the next expected update, the client applies the updates to its cached version and increments its version number. Otherwise, it adds the received change log to a change log queue for the directory without incrementing the last applied version. Mechanisms are provided for handling parallel read and update requests without awaiting replies from the server. |
| US08321386B1 |
System and method for estimating a compressibility of data in a storage device
A system and method are provided for estimating compressibility of data in a storage device. This is accomplished by actually running a compression algorithm on at least one data element in a storage device, without necessarily storing the compressed data. By this feature, the results of the compression may be compared with the original data element, to gauge an extent to which a compression algorithm is effective in compressing data in the storage device. To this end, in various embodiments, a user may be better able to estimate compression algorithm effectiveness before actually implementing the same. |
| US08321381B2 |
Facilitating a sender of email communications to specify policies with which the email communication are to be managed as a record
Specifying the policies with which (portion of) an email communication is to be stored as a record, within the content of the email communication. In an embodiment, an attachment file specifies such policies in the form of XML tags. As a result, a user may merely need to attach a file specifying the desired policies, and send the email communication. In one implementation, the user specifies a pre-specified email address as a recipient to cause the email communication to be saved as a record. |
| US08321380B1 |
Unordered idempotent replication operations
At least certain embodiments disclose a method and apparatus for replicating a file system at the logical block level in an unordered stream of individual data units. In at least certain embodiments, the replication operations include creating a snapshot of a file system of a source storage system, identifying changes in the file system since a previous replication operation by comparing the snapshot with a previous snapshot created during the earlier replication operation, and asynchronously transferring the identified changes to a destination storage system in an unordered stream of individual data units. |
| US08321377B2 |
Creating host-level application-consistent backups of virtual machines
A host server hosting one or more virtual machines can back up host volumes and the one or more virtual machines installed thereon in an application-consistent manner. In one implementation, a host-level requestor instructs a host-level writer to identify which virtual machines qualify for application-consistent backups. The host-level requestor then instructs the host-level writer to initiate virtual machine backups through guest-level requesters in each appropriately-configured virtual machine, wherein the virtual machines create application-consistent backups within the virtual machine volumes. The host-level requester then initiates snapshots of the server volumes on the host-level. The virtual machine-level snapshots can thus be retrieved from within the host-level snapshots of the server volumes. |
| US08321368B2 |
Identification device, identification method, and identification processing program
There are provided an identification device, an identification method and an identification processing program, which are capable of significantly reducing a processing burden. An identification device 1 can judge the magnitude relation between an occurrence probability value of a class 0 and an occurrence probability value of a class 1 from the magnitude relation between gkupper and gklower. Hence, it can be identified which one of the classes 0 and 1 is applicable to observed data D1 with a simple arithmetic processing. Accordingly, a complicated and heavy-burden arithmetic processing of an exponential function can be avoided for obtaining the occurrence probability values of the classes 0 and 1, enabling the processing burden to be significantly reduced. |
| US08321366B2 |
Systems and methods for automatically resolving interaction between programmable parameters
This document discusses, among other things, a system capable of resolving interactions between programmable parameters for operation of a medical device. Programming these devices is a difficult task when many parameters are involved. The disclosed systems and methods attempt to reduce and minimize constraint violations between interdependent parameters using an initial set of parameter values supplied by user (typically a physician) input or calculated automatically, and constraint violations describing invalid parameter values. If possible, a set of parameter values with less egregious constraint violations is generated and may be displayed to the user. A user is prompted to accept the set of parameter values and program the medical device. |
| US08321357B2 |
Method and system for extraction
A system and method for extracting information from at least one document in at least one set of documents, the method comprising: generating, using at least one ranking and/or matching processor, at least one ranked possible match list comprising at least one possible match for at least one target entry on the at least one document, the at least one ranked possible match list based on at least one attribute score and at least one localization score. |
| US08321354B2 |
System, computer-implemented method, and software for vessel scheduling for product distribution
A system, computer-implemented method, and software for automatically planning and scheduling ocean-going vessels for oil distribution is provided. The scheduling of the vessels is based on a filtered beam search and greedy heuristic. A server can be used for receiving a schedule request and one or more constraints for scheduling one or more vessels from one or more users. An optimization engine can be used for generating a schedule based at least in part on the one or more constraints using a beam search algorithm. |
| US08321352B1 |
Fingerprinting for software license inventory management
Various techniques for software license inventory and asset management are disclosed. A fingerprint may be generated and associated with various copies of software applications installed on a software licensee's computer systems. Upon generation, each fingerprint may be stored in a license information database system along with relevant license information for that copy of the software application. A software inventory tool may then be used to collect fingerprints on installed copies of software applications and provide these fingerprints to the license information database system to obtain the corresponding license information. The output of the software inventory tool may be used by a licensee to comply with software license agreements and/or efficiently allocate information technology resources. Methods and systems that provide and process secured, dynamic and persistent tagging of software deployments and usage are also disclosed. |
| US08321350B2 |
Uniquely linking security elements in identification documents
We provide techniques for uniquely linking security elements in identification documents. In one implementation we provide a digital watermark embedded on, and a smartcard chip embedded in, an identification document. The smart card chip includes a hash or a reduced-bit representation of the digital watermark, while the digital watermark includes a hash of information stored on the smartcard chip. In another implementation we cross-correlate encryption keys carried by various machine-readable features on an identification document. In still another implementation, we embed biometric information, which is stored in smartcard electronic circuitry, with a digital watermark. In one case the watermark is reversible, so that it can be removed to yield unmarked biometric information. In another case the watermark is fragile, to reveal whether the biometric information has been subjected to a transformation. In yet another implementation, we provide a jurisdictional indicator on an identification document. The jurisdictional indicator helps in decoding a digital watermark on the identification document. |
| US08321346B2 |
Automated teller machine for use with computing devices
Using a portable device, a method of conducting commerce can include executing within the portable device an application configured to communicate with an automated teller machine by displaying graphic symbols. A user input specifying transaction information which can include at least a personal identification code for a transaction can be received. The method further can include generating a graphic symbol specifying the transaction information and displaying the graphic symbol upon a display screen of the portable device. Accordingly, a graphic symbol reader of an automated teller machine can read the graphic symbol and process the transaction. |
| US08321345B2 |
Trusted internal interface
An interface and device architecture for a payment device. An interface between a payment application installed in a payment device and one or more value-add applications (such as loyalty programs, transit applications, etc.) that are also installed in the payment device. The API or interface design permits communications and data transfer between the payment application and one or more value-add applications. This reduces (and in some cases may prevent) the need for back-end server processing of data that may be relevant to both a payment transaction and to a function of the value-add application. Similarly, the same or another API or interface may enable communications and data transfer between a value-add application and the payment application. |
| US08321344B2 |
Self-service terminal
A self-service terminal (12) for connection to a network (30) is described. The terminal (12) has means for receiving payment from a user (58), such as a check deposit module and/or a cash receiving module. The terminal (12) also includes an electronic payment mechanism (82) for creating an electronic financial instrument for paying for an item purchased via the network (30). The electronic financial instrument created is independent of the payment from the user. The terminal (12) may use a credit card for the electronic financial instrument, and the terminal may have a credit card number associated with it, so that the terminal uses this credit card number as part of the electronic financial instrument. The terminal may be an ATM. |
| US08321339B2 |
System and method for resolving transactions with variable offer parameter selection capabilities
A system and method for the online settling of a transaction is provided. The system includes a server configured to determine a set of curves or planes defining acceptable settlement conditions for the financial transaction, enabling the user to select an acceptable settlement condition using interactive controls or computer implemented controls engageable by the user, such as sliding selectors or rotatable dials or the like, or controls enabling placement of points on a curve or curves. In certain instances, movement or engagement of one control may result in movement or alteration of another control, reflecting interaction between the parameters being controlled as dictated by rules established on behalf of the party to the transaction. The result, once the computer implemented controls present an acceptable settlement condition for the user, is a settlement condition wherein both user and the party to the transaction resolve the transaction on jointly acceptable terms. |
| US08321330B2 |
Precious metal bullion arbitrage retail kiosk and associated methods of use and manufacture
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a bullion arbitrage kiosk portal device that enables a customer to buy and/or sell precious metal bullion. A price for the bullion is dynamically determined based at least in part on a plurality of real-time market quotes, an operational markup, and an inventory determination of bullion at a single or multiple number of kiosk portal device(s). The kiosk portal device is further configured such that bullion purchased by the kiosk portal device may be resold by the same kiosk portal device, thereby integrating the buy/sell of bullion, even by the same customer. The kiosk portal device further enables a customer to exchange bullion for differing configurations and/or amounts of other bullion, as well as other forms of payment, such as cash, credit, or alternative denominations of bullion. |
| US08321323B2 |
Interprogram communication using messages related to order cancellation
A trading platform and trading method that allows access to additional pools of liquidity is described. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08321317B2 |
System and method for managing and evaluating network commodities purchasing
One or more price metrics are generated by retrieving, from a database, one or more price data sets representing a specified time period. Each of the retrieved price data sets includes at least a parameter value, a quoted cost, and a selling unit of measure for at least one item, and is responsive to a product specification data set that includes at least one parameter value and a unit of measure for each of one or more items. In at least one embodiment, a combined item price total is divided by a combined item unit total to generate a metric price per unit for each item in the product specification data set. In another embodiment, a summed individual metric price per unit is divided by the number of individual metric prices to generate an overall metric price per unit for each item in the product specification data set. |
| US08321307B2 |
Methods for processing and transferring shipping documentation data from a vehicle
The present invention automates the process of receiving transportation documentation and producing advance loading manifests therefrom to optimize load planning and dynamic product shipment and delivery control. Methods provide for receipt of the transportation documentation, initial preparation, and transmission of the documentation from on board a vehicle or while the vehicle is in transit. |
| US08321306B2 |
Architectural design for selling project-based services application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing the selling of project-based services are disclosed. 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 Project Processing process component that supports the management of projects, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component that manages supplier invoices, an Accounting process component that records relevant business transactions, a Customer Invoice Processing process component that manages customer invoices, and a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component that receives a confirmation from an employee of goods received or services rendered. |
| US08321303B1 |
Retail product out-of-stock detection and dynamic scripting
The invention includes a method of detecting out-of-stock conditions for retail products, and for dynamically updating associated replenishment plans, sales forecasts, and event scripts for product stocking events such as turn stock products, promotional products, new product introductions and modular resets. The invention accesses RFID data associated with product stocking events for identifying product movements in a retail supply chain and within a retail store. The invention optionally accesses point-of-sale and perpetual inventory data for detecting out-of-stock conditions. The invention also includes a method for dynamically improving product layout and optimized planograms based on out-of-stock velocity detection. |
| US08321302B2 |
Inventory management system
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with certain aspects related to the present invention collect item information from RFID tags attached to items in an inventory, and uses the collected item information to perform various inventory management processes. In one aspect, the inventory management processes may include determining, reporting, and/or providing corrective actions for one or more events associated with at least one of depletions of items in the inventory, changes in the design of items in the inventory, defects with one or more items, misplaced items, the movement of an unusual umber of items within a short period of time (i.e., shrinkage), and malfunctions of one or more components included in the environment. |
| US08321301B2 |
Method and system for clothing shopping using an image of a shopper
A shopper inputs a 3D image of himself to a computer which normalizes the image to a standard. The shopper can select an article of clothing from a web site and the image of the article is normalized to the shopper's image using the same normalization standard and superimposed onto the shopper's image. The manufacturer's size corresponding to the correct article size may also be displayed. |
| US08321300B1 |
Method and system for distribution of user generated content
Systems and methods for distributing user-generated content are disclosed. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention may allow content to be generated by a user at a manufacturer's site with respect to a corresponding product and this content distributed to one or more retailers who sell that product such that the user-generated content may be incorporated into the retailer's site or brick and mortar location in conjunction with that product to allow consumers shopping at that retailer to access or view such user-generated content. |
| US08321298B2 |
Real-time, localized and mobile matching method and system for proxy purchase
A real-time, localized and mobile matching method for proxy purchase includes the following steps: position information of several default purchasing agents is received. At least one purchase request is received from at least one client. The purchase request includes information of at least one product to be purchased and location of at least one vendor of the product to be purchased. Candidate purchasing agents, position information of which corresponds to the location of the vendor of the product to be purchased, are filtered from the default purchasing agents. The information of the candidate purchasing agents is transmitted to the client, such that a selection signal, which includes information of a selected purchasing agent selected from the candidate purchasing agents, is received from the client. The purchase request is transmitted to the selected purchasing agent through a wireless communication network. |
| US08321296B2 |
Methods and systems for distributing solar energy charging capacity to a plurality of electric vehicles
A method of distributing charge capacity to electric vehicles in a charging system that includes a solar charge capacity generated locally. The method may include: determining a requested charge for the plurality of electric vehicles, calculating a requested charge time, the solar charge capacity comprising the total charging capacity of the charging system via solar generated energy; calculating a charge time capacity, the charge time capacity comprising the available charge time of the charging system; comparing the requested charge to the solar charge capacity; comparing the requested charge time to the charge time capacity; and if it is determined that either the requested charge is greater than the solar charge capacity or the requested charge time is greater than the charge time capacity, auctioning the solar charge capacity to operators of the plurality of electric vehicles. |
| US08321294B2 |
Store affiliation system
Techniques for improved interaction between online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers that provide patron-accessible networks are disclosed. The location and/or the fact that any given purchase was made from a particular retailer's patron-accessible network can be tracked for various purposes. The invention can facilitate partnering between online retailers (i.e., online stores) and traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ business establishments. As an example, the invention can be used to track and give credit for online purchases at an online retailer that are facilitated by a brick-and-mortar retailer. |
| US08321293B2 |
Systems and methods for marketplace listings using a camera enabled mobile device
Computer-implemented systems and methods for generating marketplace listings using a camera enabled mobile device are described in which a request is received via a camera enabled mobile device to list one or more sale items. An image taken by the camera enable mobile device and depicting the one or more sale items is received. Image recognition is performed on the received image to identify the one or more sale items. Based on the identification of the one or more sale items depicted in the image, a set of descriptive data is automatically generated. The one or more sale items are listed on a marketplace using the image and the automatically generated set of descriptive data. |
| US08321292B2 |
System and method for exhibiting at least visual content in one or more physical retail stores
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for exhibiting at least visual content in one or more physical retail stores. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for exhibiting at least visual content in one or more physical retail stores. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a programmed computer for exhibiting at least visual content in one or more physical retail stores. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a computer readable medium for exhibiting at least visual content in one or more physical retail stores. In one example, the visual content may comprise advertising and/or operating specifications and/or performance specifications and/or dimensions and/or price displayed on a television, a computer monitor, a laptop computer display, a notebook computer display and/or a netbook computer display. |
| US08321290B2 |
Business process and apparatus for online purchases using a rule-based transferable shopping basket
An online shopping basket is acquired by a buyer from an online store and is customized according to rules specified by the buyer. The buyer places zero or more items in the online shopping basket(s) before they are given to at least one shopper by the online store. The shopper(s) may further customize the online shopping basket(s) with rules that do not conflict with those specified by the buyer. The shopper(s) then place zero or more items in the online shopping basket(s) and return the basket(s) to the online store. Multiple online shopping baskets are merged into a single basket, and the buyer reviews the items in the merged online shopping basket and adds or removes items as necessary. The buyer then purchases the remaining items from the online store. |
| US08321288B1 |
Media asset management system
An asset management system is described that tracks in real-time any metric that a carrier requires pertaining to media assets within a network. In addition to tracking per-asset information relating to usage and air time, the system tracks information pertaining to individual object types (e.g., document, digital image, audio file, streaming media, or the like) as well as specific objects themselves (e.g., individual documents, photos, and the like, on a per-file or named basis). This information can be tracked against the various users and their individual devices (used to access a network). In this manner, the system can provide metrics relating to not only data size and air time, but also metrics about object types (e.g., digital image type) and specific objects (e.g., specific file transferred) that have passed through the network. Based on these various metrics that the asset management system can track, the system generates reports that are transmitted back in real-time to carriers and their e-commerce partners for implementing the various pricing schemes required for supporting their business or revenue models. |
| US08321286B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring revenue performance for a lodging establishment
Methods and apparatuses for calculating an optimal revenue total yield for both sleeping and function space in a hospitality establishment for a set of demand that includes both group and transient demands. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the revenue optimization problem is characterized as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem and solved using MILP techniques. Preferably, a small value is assigned to the “cost” of a room upgrade and the cost of room upgrades are included in the revenue function to be optimized. In some embodiments of the invention, the actual revenue yield is compared to the optimum revenue yield. |
| US08321285B1 |
Method and system for routing transactions to a mobile-commerce platform
A method and system for routing transactions to a mobile-commerce platform is described. One illustrative embodiment receives, via a network, a purchase request from a user's mobile communication device; authenticates the user to the mobile-commerce platform; generates a one-time-use perishable transaction code associated with the purchase request; prefixes to the transaction code an Issuer Identification Number (IIN) corresponding to the mobile-commerce platform to form a combined number; returns the combined number to the user's mobile communication device via the network to enable the user to provide the combined number to a merchant's point-of-sale system in connection with a transaction corresponding to the purchase request; and receives, via a payment network in communication with the merchant's point-of-sale system, the transaction code and transaction details associated with the transaction, the IIN informing the payment network to route the one-time-use perishable transaction code and the transaction details to the mobile-commerce platform. |
| US08321284B2 |
System, method, and program product for delivering medical services from a remote location
A system, program product, and methods related to enhanced medical services delivery to geographically distributed patient populations by remotely located physicians are provided. An embodiment of the system includes a remote medical services server, a plurality of patient electronic medical records stored in the memory of the remote medical services server, and a remote medical services program product stored in the memory of the remote medical services server adapted to access the plurality of patient electronic medical records to thereby allow display of and data entry in a selected patient electronic medical record. A patient medical service delivery station captures patient video images and displays remote physician video images. A remote physician medical service delivery suite in communication with the patient medical service delivery station through the communications network captures remote physician video images and displays patient video images and patient electronic medical records, to allow the remote physician to perform remote patient medical service delivery. |
| US08321282B2 |
Article sales data processing apparatus and control method for the same
According to one embodiment, an article sales data processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a selection acceptance unit, a confirmation unit, and a payment processing unit. The storage unit stores, for each article sold, sales data and information indicating a payment method prohibited for that article, of plural payment methods. The selection acceptance unit accepts selection of payment method. The confirmation unit refers to the information stored in the storage unit and confirms whether articles sold include an article for which payment by the payment method with its selection accepted by the selection acceptance unit is prohibited. If it is confirmed that the articles sold include an article for which payment is prohibited, the payment processing unit notifies that the articles sold include an article for which payment is prohibited, and executes payment for articles for which the same payment method is not prohibited, by the same payment method. |
| US08321278B2 |
Targeted advertisements based on user profiles and page profile
Targeted advertisements are provided to an advertisement consumer based on a user profile, a page profile, or a combination thereof. In embodiment where a user of a search engine is an advertisement consumer, the user utilizes a search engine to obtain search results relevant to a search query. A user profile of the user's interests is used to select advertisements for inclusion with search results. The user profile is evaluated by an advertisement server which determines which advertiser(s) offers a highest price for the user profile. Advertisements from these advertisers are then selected. In another embodiment, where the user is accessing a page on a third party website, the page may include a request for advertisements. A page profile is evaluated by an advertisement server that determines which advertiser(s) offers a highest price for the page profile. Advertisements from these advertisers are then selected, and provided to the user, where they are included in the retrieved page. |
| US08321268B2 |
Method for providing targeted advertising while maintaining privacy of personal information of recipients
A method by which a services vendor, such as, without limitation, a health insurance company or a pharmaceutical company, among others, can provide targeted advertising to recipients based on the recipients' private personal information while still maintaining the confidentiality of such information. |
| US08321266B2 |
Advertisement providing system and an advertisement providing method
The present invention relates to an advertisement information providing system and an advertisement information providing method. According to the present invention, when a data addresser transmits data to a data addressee through a data transmitting server of a network service medium or when the data addressee receives data from the data addresser through a data receiving server of the network service medium, an advertisement matched with the field of interests of which the data addresser and the data addressee are the most interested is generated in real-time and the generated advertisement is transmitted to the data addresser or the data addressee. |
| US08321264B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying toll charging parameters
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for displaying toll charging parameters of vehicles by means of a roadside display. In one embodiment, parameters are sent from an onboard-unit of the vehicle to the roadside display. In an alternative embodiment, parameters are registered under a vehicle identification in a database and retrieved therefrom for displaying on the roadside display by a detection of the identification of the vehicle. |
| US08321262B1 |
Method and system for generating pricing recommendations
Systems and methods for optimizing marketing strategies. Various embodiments implement methods which can include generating a plurality of candidate solutions which satisfy pricing rationality constraints. The candidate solutions can be generated when processing resources are available for performing a Monte Carlo algorithm. The candidate solutions can be stored and a master and trade off metric can be selected. Values for these selected metrics can be evaluated (at the candidate solutions) and then input into the approximate efficient frontier algorithm. The algorithm can output an approximate efficient frontier. Users can select any of the efficient solutions on the frontier to obtain associated pricing recommendations by mousing over the efficient frontier. Various metrics associated with the efficient frontier may be updated at about the same time as the master and trade off metrics are selected. |
| US08321250B2 |
Architectural design for sell from stock application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing sell from stock software useful to process quotations, capture orders, process delivery and invoice. 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 an Accounting process component; a Financial Accounting Master Data Management process component; an Outbound Delivery Processing process component; a Site Logistics Processing process component; an Inventory Processing process component; a Customer Requirement Processing process component; a Supply and Demand Matching process component; a Logistics Execution Control process component; a Due Item Processing process component; a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component; a Payment Processing process component; a Customer Invoice Processing process component; a Customer Quote Processing process component; and a Sales Order Processing process component. |
| US08321246B1 |
Location check-in via short range communication
In general, techniques and systems for updating a user status with check-in information in a user account are described. In one example, a method includes obtaining, with a computing device, location information from a target device using near field communication (NFC), retrieving check-in information based on the location information obtained from the target device, wherein the check-in information comprises greater detail about a destination associated with the target device than the location information, and updating a user status in a user account with the check-in information. In some examples, the location information may instruct the computing device to retrieve check-in information from at least one information source different from the target device. |
| US08321240B2 |
Method and system for providing online medical records
A method is provided for providing a user with the ability to access and collect records associated with the user in a secure and private manner. The method includes assigning a phone number to the user for private fax and voice communications from service providers, associating access information with the user for the user to use to access a web site, receiving a private fax communication comprising a record associated with the user for which the user has requested and given permission to the service provider to send to the phone number, converting the private fax communications into an image file format, storing the record encoded in the image file format, and providing the user with access to the web site using the access information and providing on the web site an interface to the records of the user for the user to access the record. |
| US08321236B2 |
Method and apparatus for prescription processing
A method and an apparatus for processing a prescription order are described herein. A prescription label for the prescription order may be generated in response to receipt of the prescription order. The prescription label being generated in a priority order based on a plurality of pharmacy factors. The prescription order may be filled according to the priority order based on the plurality of pharmacy factors. Based on the prescription label, a plurality of graphic displays may be generated to verify the prescription order. The patient may be notified of the status of the prescription associated with the prescription order based on the plurality of graphic displays. |
| US08321234B2 |
System and method for estimating CO2 emissions
Estimations of carbon dioxide (“C02”) emission of an entity upon the condition of incomplete or missing data uses one or more algorithms implemented in a machine having a processor and a memory and data concerning the entity. The data is applied to an algorithm implemented as code executable in the processor. The algorithm produces a result that comprises an estimate of the C02 emission of the entity. The C02 emission estimate can be output to a user, and the underlying formula and data can inspected and optionally modified by users with suitable permissions. The C02 emission estimate can be applied as a factor in a formula to compute a rating for the entity which can be output from the machine. Error estimates associated with the data used by the algorithm can be generated to provide improved estimates. |
| US08321233B2 |
Template development based on reported aspects of a plurality of source users
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: providing a plurality of relevant reported aspects associated with a plurality of source users that are relevant to achieving one or more target outcomes, the providing of the plurality of relevant reported aspects being based, at least in part, on relevancy of the plurality of relevant reported aspects with respect to the one or more target outcomes; and developing a template designed to facilitate one or more end users to achieve the one or more target outcomes when one or more emulatable aspects included in the template are emulated, the development of the template being based, at least in part, on the providing of the plurality of relevant reported aspects associated with the plurality of source users In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08321232B2 |
Screening electronic service requests
A facility for screening service requests for requesting assistance is described. The facility receives from a user a service request that requests assistance with solving a problem associated with a system accessible to the user and includes information related to the system. The facility searches a collection of system status information for at least one entry that corresponds with the received information related to the system. Where a corresponding entry is found, the facility provides to the user an indication of the correspondence and an opportunity to cancel the service request. |
| US08321229B2 |
Apparatus, medium and method to encode and decode high frequency signal
A method and apparatus to encoding or decoding an audio signal is provided. In the method and apparatus, a noise-floor level to use in encoding or decoding a high frequency signal is updated according to the degree of a voiced or unvoiced sound included in the signal. |
| US08321228B2 |
Audio interface unit for supporting network services
Techniques for providing network services at an audio interface unit include determining, based on spoken sounds of a user of an apparatus received at a microphone of the apparatus, whether to present audio data received from a different apparatus. If it is determined to present the received audio data, then presentation of the received audio data at a speaker of the apparatus is initiated. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a data communications bus; and logic encoded in one or more tangible media configured to performs the above steps. In some embodiments, the apparatus does not include a visual display and does not include a keypad of multiple buttons. |
| US08321227B2 |
Methods and devices for appending an address list and determining a communication profile
Disclosed are methods and electronic communication devices, such as an in-car speaker device, that can receive via a downloading process, a communication address list from another device to the memory of the electronic communication device and can append a predetermined communication address to the communication address list. The predetermined communication address, which can be to an automated voice recognition based service, can be annunciated first. Also disclosed are methods and electronic communication devices for determining that a communication is with an automated voice recognition based service and then switching from a first call profile to a second call profile. Such a second profile can include different features such as a change of the frequency response of the audio signal of the electronic communication device, and/or reduction or elimination of the echo control, and/or a change in the noise control of the digital signal process. |
| US08321224B2 |
Text-to-speech method and system, computer program product therefor
A text-to-speech system adapted to operate on text in a first language including sections in a second language, includes a grapheme/phoneme transcriptor for converting the sections in the second language into phonemes of the second language; a mapping module configured for mapping at least part of the phonemes of the second language onto sets of phonemes of the first language; and a speech-synthesis module adapted to be fed with a resulting stream of phonemes including the sets of phonemes of the first language resulting from mapping and the stream of phonemes of the first language representative of the text, and to generate a speech signal from the resulting stream of phonemes. |
| US08321223B2 |
Method and system for speech synthesis using dynamically updated acoustic unit sets
A method for performing speech synthesis on textual content at a client. The method includes the steps of: performing speech synthesis on the textual content based on a current acoustical unit set Scurrent in a corpus at the client; analyzing the textual content and generating a list of target units with corresponding context features, selecting multiple acoustical unit candidates for each target unit according to the context features based on an acoustical unit set Stotal that is more plentiful than the current acoustical unit set Scurrent in the corpus at the client, and determining acoustical units suitable for speech synthesis for the textual content according to the multiple unit candidates; and updating the current acoustical unit set Scurrent in the corpus at the client based on the determined acoustical units. |
| US08321221B2 |
Speech communication system and method, and robot apparatus
This invention realizes a speech communication system and method, and a robot apparatus capable of significantly improving entertainment property. A speech communication system with a function to make conversation with a conversation partner is provided with a speech recognition means for recognizing speech of the conversation partner, a conversation control means for controlling conversation with the conversation partner based on the recognition result of the speech recognition means, an image recognition means for recognizing the face of the conversation partner, and a tracking control means for tracing the existence of the conversation partner based on one or both of the recognition result of the image recognition means and the recognition result of the speech recognition means. The conversation control means controls conversation so as to continue depending on tracking of the tracking control means. |
| US08321219B2 |
Systems and methods of performing speech recognition using gestures
Embodiments of the present invention improve methods of performing speech recognition using human gestures. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a speech recognition method comprising detecting a gesture, selecting a first recognition set based on the gesture, receiving a speech input signal, and recognizing the speech input signal in the context of the first recognition set. |
| US08321213B2 |
Acoustic voice activity detection (AVAD) for electronic systems
Acoustic Voice Activity Detection (AVAD) methods and systems are described. The AVAD methods and systems, including corresponding algorithms or programs, use microphones to generate virtual directional microphones which have very similar noise responses and very dissimilar speech responses. The ratio of the energies of the virtual microphones is then calculated over a given window size and the ratio can then be used with a variety of methods to generate a VAD signal. The virtual microphones can be constructed using either an adaptive or a fixed filter. |
| US08321212B2 |
Terminal and method for supporting multi-language
A device, computer program product and method for supporting multi-language of a mobile terminal comprising: receiving broadcast data; checking whether a selected broadcast channel supports multi-language based on additional information of the received broadcast data; and outputting an indication message when the broadcast channel supports the multi-language, whereby a user can flexibly set a broadcast language of his desired channel during or before broadcasting outputted, and also a use interface environment can be improved so as to facilitate the setup or change of the broadcast language. |
| US08321210B2 |
Audio encoding/decoding scheme having a switchable bypass
An apparatus for encoding includes a first domain converter, a switchable bypass, a second domain converter, a first processor and a second processor to obtain an encoded audio signal having different signal portions represented by coded data in different domains, which have been coded by different coding algorithms. Corresponding decoding stages in the decoder together with a bypass for bypassing a domain converter allow the generation of a decoded audio signal with high quality and low bit rate. |
| US08321208B2 |
Speech processing and speech synthesis using a linear combination of bases at peak frequencies for spectral envelope information
An information extraction unit extracts spectral envelope information of L-dimension from each frame of speech data by discrete Fourier transform. The spectral envelope information is represented by L points. A basis storage unit stores N bases (L>N>1). Each basis is differently a frequency band having a maximum as a peak frequency in a spectral domain having L-dimension. A value corresponding to a frequency outside the frequency band along a frequency axis of the spectral domain is zero. Two frequency bands of which two peak frequencies are adjacent along the frequency axis partially overlap. A parameter calculation unit minimizes a distortion between the spectral envelope information and a linear combination of each basis with a coefficient for each of L points of the spectral envelope information by changing the coefficient, and sets the coefficient of each basis from which the distortion is minimized to a spectral envelope parameter of the spectral envelope information. |
| US08321206B2 |
Transient detection and modification in audio signals
A system and method are disclosed for transient detection and modification in audio signals. Digital signal processing techniques are used to detect transients and modify an audio signal to enhance or suppress such transients, as desired. A transient audio event is detected in a first portion of the audio signal. A graded response to the detected transient audio event is determined. The first portion of the audio signal is modified in accordance with the graded response. The extent of enhancement or suppression (as applicable) may be determined at least in part by a measure of the significance or magnitude of the transient. |
| US08321203B2 |
Apparatus and method of generating information on relationship between characters in content
A method of generating information on relationships between characters of a content includes dividing a text extracted from the content into one or more predetermined units, determining one or more dominant relationships between characters of the content by comparing the divided units with relationship keyword information in which keywords contained in categories are defined, wherein the categories represent one or more relationships between the characters, and generating information on the relationships between the characters in accordance with the determined dominant relationships.The dominant relationships are determined by matching the divided units of text to the categories with reference to the relationship keyword information, counting the number of divided units of text corresponding to each of the categories, and determining the relationship represented by the category measured by the highest number of divided units of text. |
| US08321200B2 |
Solving constraint satisfaction problems for user interface and search engine
A method for interpreting a Natural Language by an artificial construct using constraint satisfaction problem solving, comprises a) providing a plurality of ways suitable to define at least a grammar for at least a Natural Language, b) providing a plurality of constraint satisfaction problem instructions c) providing a plurality of values for solving a plurality of constraints, d) converting said plurality of constraints to at least one constraint satisfaction problem pattern, e) receiving a Natural Language construct, f) unifying said plurality of constraints through said at least one constraint satisfaction problem pattern at execution runtime by the artificial construct to solve the constraint satisfaction problem, g) interpreting said Natural Language construct according to a plurality of constraint satisfaction problem instructions, and h) answering to a Natural Language construct by a Natural Language construct. |
| US08321199B2 |
Verification of extracted data
Facts are extracted from speech and recorded in a document using codings. Each coding represents an extracted fact and includes a code and a datum. The code may represent a type of the extracted fact and the datum may represent a value of the extracted fact. The datum in a coding is rendered based on a specified feature of the coding. For example, the datum may be rendered as boldface text to indicate that the coding has been designated as an “allergy.” In this way, the specified feature of the coding (e.g., “allergy”-ness) is used to modify the manner in which the datum is rendered. A user inspects the rendering and provides, based on the rendering, an indication of whether the coding was accurately designated as having the specified feature. A record of the user's indication may be stored, such as within the coding itself. |
| US08321198B2 |
Data extraction system, terminal, server, programs, and media for extracting data via a morphological analysis
This invention provides a terminal searching for web pages on the web and extracting the prescribed data from the web pages and a server verifying and accumulating the extracted data. The prescribed data can be extracted from the web pages on the web in a manner that the process relating to the data extraction is distributed between the terminal and the server. Therefore, necessary processes up to the data extraction are distributed, and the burden placed on each apparatus can be lessened. Further, new data not formerly found in the web pages can be found out and extracted from the web pages that has been updated or newly made. |
| US08321197B2 |
Method and process for performing category-based analysis, evaluation, and prescriptive practice creation upon stenographically written and voice-written text files
System and method for electronically identifying and analyzing the type and frequency of errors and mismatches in a stenographically or voice written text against a stored master file and dynamically creating personalized user feedback, drills, and practice based on identified errors and mismatches from within the context of the stored master file. The system provides the user with a plurality of methods to enter a text file for error identification and analysis including both realtime and non-realtime input. The text input is then compared to a stored master file through a word-by-word iterative process which produces a comparison of writing input and stored master wherein errors and mismatches are identified and grouped in a plurality of pre-defined and user-selected categories, each of which is color-coded to facilitate pattern recognition of type and frequency of errors and mismatches in the submitted writing. |
| US08321194B2 |
Real time microgrid power analytics portal for mission critical power systems
Systems and method for providing a microgrid power analytics portal for mission critical power systems are provided. The techniques disclosed herein provides for real-time modeling, evaluation, and commodity market pricing and optimization for an electrical network that includes microgrids using data collected from virtually any digital data source. The portal is platform independent and can be configured to collect and aggregate real-time data from sensors interfaced with components of the electrical network regardless of proprietary architectures or vendor-specific limitations imposed by the sensors or data collection software. |
| US08321192B2 |
Computer Method and system for promoting health, wellness, and fitness with multiple sponsors
Disclosed is an improved automated system and corresponding computer method of promoting and maintaining health, wellness, and fitness. Multiple sponsors per member participant are enabled. Each sponsor defines respective qualifying healthy behavior (activities, purchases, other) and reward rate for each such activity and purchase. A rewards engine operates on member accounts adding units per member completion of qualifying healthy activities or purchases, thereby encouraging members to adopt healthy habits. This, in turn, leads to better health, wellness, and fitness for the subject members. The combination of different and multiple sponsors having different qualifying activities/purchases provides increased member incentive. |
| US08321189B1 |
Decoupling of linear dynamical systems
A method and apparatus is disclosed for improving analysis and design of physical structures whose dynamic behavior can be modeled as a linear dynamical system. The method and apparatus is operative to decouple the equations of motion of any linear dynamical systems therewith by processing the equations of motion of any linear dynamical system using a decoupling unit. |
| US08321184B1 |
Method for characterizing lenses
Methods for describing the shape of a lens are disclosed comprising mathematically dividing said shape into substantially two halves and providing at least one mathematical function comprising mathematically linear combinations of polynomials, wherein at least one half is described by said mathematical function, and wherein said method is applicable to a surface of at least one half selected from the group consisting of rotationally symmetric surfaces and non-rotationally symmetric surfaces. |
| US08321176B2 |
Method for determining a twist angle
A method for determining an angle between a first shaft section and a second shaft section is provided. The 0° position of the first shaft section is determined by a first shaft signal, and the 0° position of the second shaft section is determined by a second shaft signal. The first shaft signal and the second shaft signal are subsequently each decomposed using Fourier analysis into frequency components of harmonic oscillations, wherein frequencies are calculated for the first shaft signal, and frequencies are calculated for the second shaft signal. The frequencies are each calculated as complex pointers from absolute value and phase of the order thereof wherein each pointer describes the angular velocity of the particular frequency. For each frequency, the particular angle of the complex number is then divided by the order, wherein standardized complex pointers are calculated. The standardized complex pointers are added complexly. |
| US08321175B2 |
Resilience and displacement measuring device and method
A resilience and displacement measuring device is configured with a shaft having a displacement detection module and a force detection module disposed respectively at the two ends thereof. When the shaft is moved for driving a probe of the force detection module to press on a tested press-key, a reflective panel in the displacement detection module will be caused to displace along with the moving of the shaft for allowing a light sensor to measure the displacement of the shaft, and at the same time the pressing of the probe on the press-key will force a detection film to deform for allowing a strain gauge to measure a resilience. The device is capable of dividing a measurement range into a plurality of sub-ranges while designing calculation models specifically for the sub-ranges, by that a precise distance can be obtained from the measured distance information of the calculation models. |
| US08321173B2 |
System and method for using magnetic sensors to track the position of an object
A method is provided for tracking an object's position. One or more semiconductor-based sensors obtain measurements of an energy field associated with the object. A processor applies an algorithm to the measurements to generate one or more values representing a position of the object in a coordinate system. The energy field may comprise a magnetic field, for example. The object may comprise a magnet, for example. |
| US08321172B2 |
Method for real time capability simulation of an air system model of an internal combustion engine
A method for determining at least one air system variable in an air supply system of an internal combustion engine in successive, discrete calculation steps, a differential equation being provided with respect to the air system variable based on measured and/or modeled variables, which describe conditions in the air supply system, a difference equation being formed for the quantization of the differential equation according to an implicit method, and the difference equation being solved in each discrete calculation step, in order to obtain the air system variable. |
| US08321171B2 |
Sensor network including spatially distributed sensor nodes in an area for detection of mobile entities in the area
A system includes a plurality of networked nodes spatially distributed within a monitored area and adapted to interact with a mobile entity entering and moving through the area, the plurality of nodes including at least one area entrance node adapted to detect the mobile entity upon entering the monitored area, and a transaction node for accomplishing a transaction with the mobile entity; a transaction processing center in communication relationship with the nodes for processing data required for the transaction and for providing the data to the transaction node. A node selection unit is adapted to dynamically select the transaction node among the plurality of nodes based on an estimation of the speed of movement of the mobile entity. |
| US08321170B2 |
Offset error automatic calibration integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes a transducer and transducer circuitry and additional elements useful in testing the transducer and transducer circuitry. A first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal are for being directly connected to an external power supply terminal. A power bus is connected to the first power supply terminal. A logic function is for determining if the second power supply terminal is receiving power and if an automatic calibration test of the transducer and transducer circuitry has been run. An automatic calibration is for running an automatic calibration test on the transducer and transducer circuitry if the logic means determines that the second power supply terminal is receiving power and the automatic calibration test of the transducer and transducer circuitry has not been run. |
| US08321169B2 |
Method and system for compensating temperature readings from a temperature sensing crystal integrated circuit
Aspects of a method and system for compensating temperature readings from a temperature sensing crystal integrated circuit are provided. An electronic device may digitize a temperature indication received from a temperature sensing circuit, digitize one or more calibration voltages received from said temperature sensing circuit, and calculate a compensated temperature indication utilizing the digitized calibration voltage(s), and the digitized temperature indication, and data from a table that characterizes behavior of the temperature sensing circuit as a function of temperature. One or more circuits in the electronic device may be controlled based on the compensated temperature indication. The compensated temperature indication may compensate for a gain error and/or offset error of a digital to analog converter that digitizes the temperature indication and the calibration voltage(s). There may be two calibration voltages. |
| US08321166B2 |
Methods and systems for wireless platform attitude determination
Wireless platform attitude information such as pitch, roll and heading are disclosed. Attitude estimates can be made by using orthogonally mounted gyroscopes. Attitude estimates can be also made by determining the direction of arrival of signals and comparing the direction of arrival of the signals with the position of the transmitters and the position of the receiver. The attitude estimates can be then combined to determine “real time” attitude information. |
| US08321165B2 |
Information processing apparatus, voltage acceptance test system, and voltage acceptance test method
An information processing apparatus including: a test program 2 that acquires a first voltage value which is a voltage value at which a target apparatus operates, allows the target apparatus to operate at the first voltage value, and determines an operating state of the target apparatus; a voltage change controller 12 that changes, in the case where a result of the determination is abnormal state, a voltage value difference which is a difference between a voltage value at the next stage and the first voltage value or a time difference so as to reduce the change rate obtained by dividing the voltage value difference by the time difference and outputs, when a time obtained by adding the time difference to the current time has come, a second voltage value obtained by adding or subtracting to/from the first voltage value to the test program 2 as the first voltage value. |
| US08321164B2 |
Method and system for determining a state of charge of a battery based on a transient response
Methods and systems for determining a state of charge of a battery exhibiting a transient response are provided. At least one property of the battery is measured. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the at least one measured property and a transient response of the battery. |
| US08321158B2 |
Method and system for monitoring freshness of fuel in vehicles
A method for monitoring fuel freshness in a vehicle includes the steps of determining a measure of time that the fuel has been in the vehicle and initiating a remedy if the measure of time is greater than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08321156B2 |
Odor inspection system
Readings of odorous air concentration or strength are taken at various locations in the vicinity of a site being monitored for odorous air and are entered into an electronic database and electronically combined with a map of the vicinity of the site to produce a visual pattern of the odorous air with respect to the site. Readings may further include meteorological data, odor descriptors, time and date, and the like and some of the readings may be transformed into symbolic form for visual display on the map. Preferably the map is an Internet accessible on-line map. |
| US08321152B2 |
Method and system for determination of molecular interaction parameters
A method of determining kinetic parameters for a reversible molecular interaction between a ligand immobilized to a solid support surface and a binding partner to the ligand in solution, comprises sequentially, without intermediate regeneration or renewal of the immobilized ligand, flowing a plurality of fluid volumes containing different known concentrations of the binding partner over the solid support surface, monitoring the momentary amount of binding partner bound to the solid support surface related to time and solution concentration of binding partner and collecting the binding data, and determining the kinetic parameters by globally fitting a predetermined kinetic model for the interaction between the binding partner and the immobilized ligand to the collected binding data, which model allows for mass transport limitation at the solid support surface. An analytical system for carrying out the method, a computer program, a computer program product and a computer system for performing the method are also disclosed. |
| US08321150B2 |
Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient. The portion of the anatomical structure may include at least a portion of the patient's aorta and at least a portion of a plurality of coronary arteries emanating from the portion of the aorta. The at least one computer system may also be configured to create a three-dimensional model representing the portion of the anatomical structure based on the patient-specific data, create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic within the portion of the anatomical structure, and determine a fractional flow reserve within the portion of the anatomical structure based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model. |
| US08321147B2 |
Statistical approach for optimal use of genetic information collected on historical pedigrees, genotyped with dense marker maps, into routine pedigree analysis of active maize breeding populations
This invention provides a novel means of predicting plant phenotypes that incorporates previously unusable dense marker data derived from historical pedigrees. The method operates by collecting information from a population pertaining to one or more loci, which is used to build one or more matrices by calculating, for the alleles present at the measured loci, the probability that the alleles are identical by descent. These matrices are then used to develop a second set of one or more matrices in which each value represents the probability that a certain individual in the population descended from a certain ancestral (founder) genotype. This set of second matrices can then be used as part of a breeding program for selecting and breeding individuals from the population or can be used to better classify the individuals in the population, leading to improved plant phenotypes. |
| US08321146B2 |
Gene classifying method, gene classifying program, and gene classifying device
A gene classifying method is provided and includes acquiring expression levels of a plurality of genes at a plurality of observation points, generating a binary string by taking a positive or negative difference in expression level in a temporal passage direction of the observation points for each gene, and classifying the genes on the basis of all plus and minus patterns that the binary strings can have and the generated binary strings. |
| US08321144B2 |
Non-contiguous regions processing
Non-contiguous regions of interest as well as contiguous regions of interest are similarly processed. After an isotope peak detector has identified isotope peaks on LC/MS images, a microaligner microaligns bounding areas of identified isotope peaks and redefines the bounding areas to help subsequent scoring process. Forms of isotope peaks influence formation of a peak association matrix and a mass/charge association map which creates association in the mass/charge dimension. A correlation scorer produces reproducibility scores as well as quality scores to help aid scientists to discover biological features of interest. |
| US08321141B2 |
Food content detector
A system may include utensil means for portioning a foodstuff into a first portion and a second portion, a means for detecting a first portion size for the first portion with the utensil means, a means for detecting a second portion size for the second portion with the utensil means, and a means for determining a cumulative amount of portioned foodstuff based upon the first portion size and the second portion size. |
| US08321140B2 |
Quantification of nucleic acid molecules using multiplex PCR
Described are novel quantification methods and systems that permit, within the context of multiplex PCR, the quantification of all targets within a single reaction tube. The methods employ quantitation algorithms applied to the amplification profiles of internal calibration controls or standards utilizing a plurality of nucleic acid templates that are amplified within the same reaction tube as the nucleic acid target(s) interrogated. |
| US08321138B2 |
Method of characterizing quality of hybridized CGH arrays
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for determining the quality of a CGH array, including calculating a spread of the derivative of log ratio value differences between consecutive probes representing consecutive positions along a chromosome, wherein ratio values are calculated from probe signals from a CGH array. |
| US08321135B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting soybean seed resistance based on near-infrared spectroscopy
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for predicting the resistance of soybean seed samples to infection by soybean cyst nematode parasites using near-infrared spectroscopy and discriminant analysis. |
| US08321134B2 |
Seismic image filtering machine to generate a filtered seismic image, program products, and related methods
Seismic image filtering machines, systems, program products, and computer implemented methods are provided to generate a filtered seismic image responsive to filtered seismic image data generated by attenuating coherent seismic noise from surface waves of an unfiltered wavefield constructed from unfiltered seismic image data through a single downward extrapolation of the unfiltered wavefield using a plurality of nonstationary convolution operators to perform localized filtering at each of a plurality of spatial locations of the unfiltered wavefield. Various embodiments, for example, can beneficially handle strong lateral velocity variations thus making various embodiments effective tools to remove complicated coherent seismic noise which is typically in the form of exponentially decaying evanescent waves. Embodiments of the present invention, for example, can use, as a part of the filtering mechanism, specially designed nonstationary convolution operators that are implemented in the space-frequency domain as nonstationary filters. |
| US08321131B2 |
Radial density information from a Betatron density sonde
An apparatus and a method for determining characteristics of earth formations traversed by a borehole that compensates the mudcake and standoff effects with fewer than usual detectors. The apparatus includes an radiation source effective to generate first and, spatially as well as temporally separate, second X-rays for irradiating earth formations from first and second entrance angles, one or more X-ray detectors capable of generating a first and a second signal indicative of the intensity of the first and second X-rays returned from earth formations to the detectors and a housing accommodating the radiation source and the detectors. |
| US08321130B2 |
Selecting and annotating well logs
Well logs are selected, annotated and correlated. In one example, a display of a well log showing logged information and well depths corresponding to the information is presented. Data related to the well log is searched to find a named formation near a selected depth and a name of a formation near the named formation is selected. The selected adjacent formation name is then presented on the display of the well log in association with the displayed depth. |
| US08321129B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically optimizing and setting a GPS reception period and map contents
A method and apparatus for Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation is configured to automatically set an optimal GPS reception period and optimal map contents according to a moving speed of a user in a navigation system using a GPS terminal. When the moving speed of the user is considered, power efficiency is increased by optimizing a GPS reception period in terms of hardware and system load is decreased by reducing an unnecessary system operation in terms of software. User convenience is maximized by optimizing map contents requested by the user according to a moving speed in real time and displaying the optimized map contents. |
| US08321128B2 |
Method for correcting map matching and navigation system implementing the method
A method of correcting a map matching and a navigation system for implementing the method are provided. The method includes: determining whether a vehicle turns by using an acceleration sensor; and performing a map matching correction by using the determination of whether the vehicle turns and Global Positioning System (GPS) information. |
| US08321124B2 |
Security and tracking system
A security and tracking apparatus includes at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein the apparatus is adapted for transmitting the location of each signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance. A method to locate a person, animal, or object, includes providing in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal, or the object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein each respective signaling unit is adapted for identifying the location of the signaling units and for transmitting the location of the signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; and activating the signaling units to transmit the location of the signaling units. |
| US08321118B2 |
Operations support systems and methods with power assurance
An operations support system for an engine includes an engine prediction unit configured to receive an engine rating condition and scalars associated with the engine, and to generate condition indicators based on the engine rating condition and the scalars; and a power assurance algorithm unit coupled to the engine prediction unit and configured to generate health indicators based on the condition indicators. The health indicators include a power assurance number. |
| US08321114B2 |
Work vehicle and work vehicle control method
A control unit is configured to calculate a target absorption torque of a hydraulic pump at which the engine output torque and the absorption torque of the hydraulic pump match a target matching rotation speed of the engine. The control unit is configured to refer to command data, calculate a command current value corresponding to the target absorption torque, and output a command signal of the calculated value to a pump control device. The control unit is configured to calculate the absorption torque at calibration points at which there is an equilibrium state in which the output horsepower of the engine and the absorption horsepower of the hydraulic pump are matched. The control unit is configured to acquire calibration information including the calculated absorption torque and the command current value output to the pump control device in the equilibrium state, and calibrate the command data based on the calibration information. |
| US08321112B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting downshift points in vehicle transmissions
A method for adjusting downshift points of a vehicle transmission to assist vehicle braking in a vehicle having a brake system with a brake master cylinder and a brake pedal for actuating the brake system may comprise determining if the brake pedal is pressed. When the brake pedal is pressed, an intended brake effort may be determined and the actual deceleration of the vehicle may be calculated. A threshold deceleration for the intended brake effort may then be determined and compared to the vehicle deceleration. When the vehicle deceleration is less than the threshold deceleration for the intended braking effort a downshift point of the transmission may be adjusted. Thereafter the transmission may be downshifted using the adjusted downshift point. |
| US08321111B2 |
Pedal system and vehicle system with the pedal system
A pedal system to realize an intended vehicle output in response to pedal depression is provided. The pedal system provides hysteresis in the relationship between the pedal effort and the vehicle output, taking into account a pedal effort in a depressing motion or in a releasing motion, employing a relationship including a straight line or a folded line. A vehicle output command may be delivered by changing the vehicle output relative to the pedal effort depending on the vehicle speed. An appropriate vehicle output command may be delivered by providing a maintaining motion in addition to the depressing motion and the releasing motion with a different pedal effort and vehicle output command relationship, and by changing the sensitivity of the vehicle output command relative to the pedal effort in the maintaining motion depending on the pedal effort-increasing/decreasing direction, vehicle information, and the vehicle output command or the pedal effort. |
| US08321109B2 |
Method and device for controlling a clutch by clutch way point coordinate system
A method and a device for controlling a clutch, for example an automatic friction clutch forming part of a drive train of a motor vehicle, for a torque transfer between an engine and a transmission, with the clutch having significant clutch way points assigned to it. For achieving the operational readiness of the clutch over the shortest possible time period, whereby an accurate clutch adjustment is still guaranteed, a clutch way point coordinate system is monitored by checking the point of engagement of the clutch, established through a learning process and having at least a relevant clutch way point for the starting procedure. In case of any recognized change(s), the clutch way point is suitably corrected or otherwise used as is. |
| US08321106B2 |
Determining an engine torque error during an engine torque intervention
A method for determining an error in engine torque, wherein at least before and after a predetermined change in the engine torque the change in engine speed is registered, and this is compared with the engine torque before and after the change in the engine torque. |
| US08321104B2 |
Control system
A control system provides an aggregate driven quantity demand signal for controlling an actuatable component. The system has a summing junction which generates the aggregate driven quantity demand signal by summing a first output signal, which converges on a steady state driven quantity requirement value, and a change in driven quantity demand signal. The system further has a feedback loop which generates the first output signal in response to the aggregate driven quantity demand signal. The system also has a first variable gain which tunes the change in driven quantity demand signal in response to a reference demand signal. The feedback loop includes a second variable gain which tunes the rate at which the first output signal converges on the steady state driven quantity requirement value. Typically, the reference demand signal corresponds to a desired value or desired change in value of a parameter which is itself varied or controlled by actuation of the actuatable component. |
| US08321102B2 |
Method for controlling a drive train of a motor vehicle
A method for controlling a drive train of a motor vehicle comprising a drive engine, an automated transmission, and an automated clutch arranged in the force flow between the drive engine and the transmission. In order to achieve low component wear, a comfortable coasting operation mode and a spontaneous transition into the traction mode, it is provided that additional coast downshifts are prevented as soon as the driving speed (vF) of the motor vehicle has reached or dropped below a previously defined threshold speed (vGr) for coast downshifts (vF<=vGr), or the currently engaged gear (Gi) corresponds to a previously defined limit gear (GGr) for coast downshifts (Gi=GGr) and, after dropping below the threshold speed (vGr) or after engaging the limit gear (GGr), a transition into the traction mode is prepared by determining a current target gear (GZ) and an associated shifting speed (nS) of an adaptive shift for the transition into the traction mode as a function of the driving speed (vF) of the motor vehicle and/or the engine speed (nM) of the drive engine. |
| US08321100B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic output torque limiting for a hybrid powertrain system
A powertrain system includes a hybrid transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of operating range states. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device. A method for operating the powertrain system includes determining a permissible range of input operating points to the input member, determining ranges of motor torques for the torque machines, determining an available power range from the energy storage device, selecting a candidate input operating point within the permissible range of input operating points, and determining maximum and minimum achievable output torques transferable to the output member for the candidate engine operating point within the ranges of motor torques for the torque machines and within the available power range from the energy storage device in a candidate operating range state. |
| US08321096B2 |
Concept for using software/electronics to calibrate the control system for an automatic transmission
A software calibration strategy for calibrating solenoid controlled valves and valve systems in an automatic transmission. The strategy includes identifying a characteristic equation for the valve or valve system that is a mathematical relationship between a current applied to the solenoid and the pressure at the output of the valve or valve system. The valve or valve system is coupled to a test stand that depicts the operation of the valve or valve system in the transmission. Current signals are applied to the valve or valve system, and the output pressures are measured to determine coefficients in the equation using a curve fitting function. The coefficients are then stored in a control unit. |
| US08321094B2 |
Engine control system for construction machine
To provide an engine control system for a construction machine, which can decrease a consumption of energy to be required for the reduction of an engine lag-down that occurs upon a sudden increase in load, such as upon quick manipulation of a control device, is provided with a load condition detecting unit, a charge amount detecting unit, a boost pressure sensor, and a determination processing unit. The load condition detecting unit includes a manipulation stroke detector for detecting that a control device has been fully manipulated, and also, a first computation unit of a controller. The charge amount detecting unit can detect an amount of charge in a capacitor. The determination processing unit includes a determination processing unit of the controller. The determination processing unit performs processing to feed electric power from the capacitor to an electric motor if, when it has been detected in concomitance with manipulation of the control device by the load condition detecting means that a torque to be absorbed by a pump would exceed an output torque of an engine, a boost pressure detected by the boost pressure sensor is determined to be lower than a predetermined pressure, and moreover, an amount of charge in the capacitor as detected by the charge amount detecting unit is determined to be an amount of charge that can drive the electric motor for a predetermined time. |
| US08321092B2 |
Pre-collision assessment of potential collision severity for road vehicles
A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal. |
| US08321090B2 |
Steering mechanism control system
A steering mechanism control system is provided with a steering angle ratio varying device, a steering angle determining section, a steering state determining section, a steering reaction force control device and a characteristic setting section. The steering angle ratio varying device controls a ratio of a steered angle of a steerable wheel with respect to a steering input angle in accordance with a steering angle characteristic. The steering angle determining section determines the steering input angle resulting from a steering operation. The steering state determining section determines a steering state based on the steering input angle. The steering reaction force control device controls a steering reaction force in accordance with a reaction force characteristic. The characteristic setting section selectively sets the steering angle characteristic and the reaction force characteristic based on the steering state determined by the steering state determining section. |
| US08321089B2 |
Vehicle motion control device
The vehicle motion control device obtains a physical quantity representing a state of a motion of a vehicle in a direction of a lateral overturn. When the obtained physical quantity is larger than or equal to a motion state threshold and the vehicle motion control device is thereby in an anti-lateral overturn, the vehicle motion control device determines the target slip ratio at a present calculation period based on a largest value of the slip ratio corresponding, according to the predetermined relation between the physical quantity and the slip ratio, to the physical quantity obtained during a time range between the present calculation period and a past time instance when the vehicle motion control device enters the anti-lateral overturn mode. |
| US08321088B2 |
Integrated control system for stability control of yaw, roll and lateral motion of a driving vehicle using an integrated sensing system to determine lateral velocity
A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining a lateral tire force, a front lateral tire force, a rear lateral tire force, and determining a linear sideslip angle from the front lateral tire force and the rear lateral tire force. The method further includes determining a linear lateral velocity in response to the linear sideslip angle and controlling the vehicle in response to the linear sideslip angle. |
| US08321081B2 |
Plug-in vehicle management system
A plug-in vehicle management system enables charging of a plug-in vehicle from a power supply station through an electric power line and power line communication between the power supply station and the vehicle. When a vehicle-side connector and a station-side connector are connected to enable the power-line communication between a vehicle-side power line communication section and a station-side power line communication section, a vehicle-side security control section and a station-side security control section cooperate so that one of a vehicle-side input/output section and a station-side input/output section receives an input signal and transmits it to the other of the vehicle-side input/output section and the station-side input/output section. |
| US08321078B2 |
Method and device for assisting in the control of the on-board systems in a aircraft
The object of the invention is in particular a method and a device for aiding in the control of systems installed on board an aircraft comprising at least one display device capable of displaying configuration parameters of the said aircraft and at least one associated acquisition device. After the state of the said aircraft has been determined (900), a plurality of elements to be displayed on the said at least one display device is selected (905), according to the said state of the said aircraft, in a predetermined set of elements comprising at least one parameter for configuration of the avionics, at least one parameter for configuration of support subsystems and at least one activatable representation of least one command of support subsystems of the said aircraft. The said plurality of elements is displayed on the said display device. |
| US08321071B2 |
Method and system for vertical navigation using time-of-arrival control
A method and systems for controlling a speed of a vehicle are provided. The control system includes an input device configured to receive a required time of arrival (RTA) at a waypoint and a processor communicatively coupled to said input device, said processor programmed to automatically determine a dynamically adjustable range for an autothrottle control using an RTA error and a speed control tolerance, the RTA error representing a difference between an estimated time of arrival (ETA) and the RTA, the speed control tolerance representing a tolerance range about the vehicle speed profile. The control system also includes an output device communicatively coupled to said processor, said output device is configured to transmit at least one of a thrust control signal and a drag control signal to a speed control system of the vehicle. |
| US08321069B2 |
Methods and systems for reviewing datalink clearances
Provided are methods and systems for the automatic assessment and presentation of data on a display device that describes the operational impact on mission critical parameters resulting from a change in a vehicle's mission plan. The change in mission plan may be inputted manually by the vehicle operator but may also be received electronically and automatically over a data up link from an outside authority. |
| US08321065B2 |
Method for controlling/regulating at least one task
A method is provided for the control/regulation of at least one task with the aid of a control program that monitors a runtime of the at least one task, the control program terminating the at least one task if the runtime of the at least one task exceeds a predefined period of time. |
| US08321060B2 |
Method and system of on-tool and on-site MFC optimization providing consistent response
One method of obtaining an initial adjusted mass flow controller valve start position comprises obtaining a mass flow controller delay period and setting a mass flow controller valve to an initial valve opening position that is less than an expected optimal valve opening position. An initial desired flow rate and initial operating conditions are input into a control system that is in communication with the valve, and the control system is initiated. The control system is adapted to adjust the valve opening position to achieve the initial desired flow rate, while taking into account flow rate and valve position feedback to the control system. During operation of the MFC and control system, the valve position and the flow rate are recorded in one embodiment and a flow rate that one of meets and exceeds a threshold is detected. An initial-flow time-period extending from the time of control system initiation to detection of the threshold being one of met and exceeded is determined and the mass flow controller delay period from the initial flow time period is subtracted from the initial-flow time-period to obtain an adjusted start time. The valve opening position at the adjusted start time is set as the initial adjusted mass flow controller valve start position. |
| US08321059B2 |
Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture to calibrate valve-mounted instruments
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to calibrate valve-mounted instruments, such as a position controllers and/or a position transmitter, are described. A disclosed example apparatus to calibrate a valve assembly including a valve, an actuator and a position sensor includes an interface to receive a valve position value and to receive a position sensor sensitivity value, and an endpoint estimator to compute a first estimated value corresponding to an expected fully-open position of the valve based on the position sensor signal and the first and second values, and to compute a second estimated value corresponding to an expected fully-closed position of the valve based on the position sensor signal and the first and second received values, wherein the first and second estimated values are computed without repositioning the valve between computation of the first and second estimated values. |
| US08321055B2 |
System and method for multiple view machine vision target location
A machine vision system for controlling the alignment of an arm in a robotic handling system. The machine vision system includes an optical imager aligned to simultaneously capture an image that contains a view of the side of an object, such as a test tube, along with a view of the top of the object provided by a mirror appropriately positioned on the robotic arm. The machine vision system further includes a microcontroller or similar device for interpreting both portions of the image. For example, the microcontroller may be programmed to determine the location of the object in the reflected portion of the image and transpose that information into the location of the object relative to the robotic arm. The microcontroller may also be programmed to decode information positioned on the object by interpreting visual information contained in the other portion of the captured image. |
| US08321052B2 |
Self-service kiosk with multiple secure service areas
A self-service kiosk apparatus is presented that has a plurality of secure service areas. Access to the plurality of secure service areas and the components of the kiosk system contained within each area is controlled. Authorization to access each secure service area is based on a person's level of training and security level. |
| US08321051B2 |
Workpiece pickup apparatus and workpiece pickup method
A workpiece pickup apparatus is provided. The workpiece pickup apparatus includes: a gripping unit which sucks a workpiece so as to lift up the workpiece; a lowering unit which lowers the gripping unit from a waiting position towards the workpiece; a detecting unit which detects a physical amount which corresponds to a force with which the gripping unit presses the workpiece; a comparison unit which compares the detected physical amount with a reference physical amount; and a controller which controls a movement of the gripping unit based on a comparison result of the detected physical amount and the reference physical amount. |
| US08321045B2 |
Validating information within production event messages for recording non-trending production data and events
A production information reporting/recording system is disclosed herein including a number of features to ensure efficient, flexible and reliable recording of production data in a manufacturing system. Such features include validating the content of event messages to ensure compliance of event report information with a standard. The system also supports caching IDs associated with particular aspects of an event message (e.g., a production request, a process segment) as well as a unique ID corresponding to the ID assigned by the production event database to reduce the need to access the database when assigning unique database IDs to received events. The production event messaging system also supports both asynchronous and synchronous transactional messaging between the sources of events and the production database service. Furthermore, the system supports including extensions to a base production message schema through the inclusion of metadata that designates a particular production server to parse and apply/store the extension information. |
| US08321041B2 |
Playlist-based content assembly
A method of and apparatus for content assembly is provided by which an automation playlist of media events is created, a relationship is defined between the media events, the media events are merged into a composite media event and published. |
| US08321039B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for managing wastewater treatment installation
Apparatus for managing a residential wastewater treatment system includes an in situ control unit that monitors an individual system. The control unit provides local control and alarms, and also sends status reports and/or alarms to a remote monitoring center via a telemetry device. The remote monitoring center makes information concerning the individual system available through a website. |
| US08321037B2 |
PLC distributed control system
A station address displayed in a display field W5 coincides with a station address of the PLC to which this personal computer is connected. Further, bit addresses of respective output variables are displayed in a display field W1. For example, a corresponding bit corresponding to a check box whose address of the output variable is 00L1E and whose station address of the destination PLC is 2 is an output schedule definition bit Rb1E in an output schedule definition frame RF02 stored in a first storing unit TBL1. Therefore, a value of the output schedule definition bit Rb0E is defined as 0 (output is not scheduled). When an OK button W4 is clicked, respective output schedule definition frames are transferred to a PLC 10 and then are stored in the first storing unit TBL1 respectively. |
| US08321032B2 |
RFID-enabled AIMD programmer system for identifying MRI compatibility of implanted leads
An RFID tag is associated with an implantable lead, its sensing or therapy delivery electrode, or a patient, for identifying the MRI compatibility of the implantable lead and/or the presence of a bandstop filter and its attendant characteristics. An RFID-enabled AIMD external telemetry programmer transmits an electromagnetic signal to establish a communication link with the RFID tag. |
| US08321031B1 |
Radio-frequency treatment of skin tissue with temperature sensing
A radio-frequency electrode and handpiece that is specially configured to provide a reasonably uniform electric field distribution at the skin surface of a patient being treated to improve the skin appearance. Harmful burning is avoided by sensing and displaying skin and electrode temperature. Continuous electrode contact and electrode motion relative to the skin is achieved by providing a rolling cap over a dome-shaped electrode, and by spring biasing the electrode for up and down motion, and by providing side-to side motion of the electrode manually or by motor. |
| US08321023B2 |
Baroreflex modulation to gradually decrease blood pressure
An aspect of the present subject matter relates to a baroreflex stimulator. An embodiment of the stimulator includes a pulse generator to provide a baroreflex stimulation signal through an electrode, and a modulator. The modulator modulates the baroreflex stimulation signal to increase the baroreflex stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure. Other aspects are provided herein. |
| US08321021B2 |
Stimulation system, in particular a cardiac pacemaker
A stimulation system, an implantable electrode device and a method for operating an implantable electrode device are proposed. A simplified implantation, a simple construction and reliable control are made possible by the electrode device being supplied with energy, and controlled, in an exclusively wireless manner via a time-variable magnetic field. The magnetic field is generated by an implanted control device. |
| US08321016B2 |
Implantable medical device and a method comprising means for detecting and classifying ventricular tachyarrhythmias
In a method and implantable medical device for ventricular tachyarrhythmia detection and classification, upon detection of a ventricular tachyarrhythmia based on an electrocardiogram signal, cardiogenic impedance data representative of ventricular volume dynamics are collected and used for classifying the detected tachyarrhythmia as stable or unstable. In the latter case but typically not in the former case, defibrillation shocks or other forms of therapy are applied to combat the unstable ventricular tachyarrhythmia. |
| US08321015B2 |
Method and implantable device for selective heart pacing
An implantable medical device measures an AV delay in connection with measurement of N physiological patient parameters. The parameters are used for identifying a sub-space of an N-dimensional parameter space. An expected AV delay is assigned to the identified sub-space based on the measured AV delay, where the parameter space with expected AV delays constitute decision support information to be used by the device for performing a selective heart pacing. This selective pacing is performed based on a priori probability determined using the support information and a measured set of N parameters. The a priori probability represents the probability of successful AV conduction at a current patient condition determined based on the measured parameters. |
| US08321008B2 |
Combination cartridge and device for electrokinetic delivery of medicament to a treatment site
A device for electrokinetic delivery of medicament to a treatment site includes a cartridge having an active electrode and a membrane overlying the active electrode and a medicament or a medicament and an electrically conductive carrier therefor, carried by the membrane in electrical contact with the electrode. The electrode opens through a surface of the cartridge remote from the membrane for connection with an electrical connector carried by the device. An locking element releasably couples the cartridge to the housing. |
| US08321007B2 |
Apparatus and method to determine functional lung characteristics
An apparatus for determining functional lung characteristics of a patient includes an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) imaging device adapted to record the impedance distribution within a plane of the thorax of the patient. The EIT imaging device includes a control and analysis unit for performing the impedance measurement and deriving the impedance distribution within the plane of the thorax. The control and analysis unit automatically performs steps including determining a global impedance change, defined as the impedance change with respect to an earlier measured reference impedance distribution integrated over the electrode plane, and recording the global impedance change curve as a function of time, performing breath detection in order to identify a breathing cycle, subdividing each breathing cycle to define a plurality of intratidal intervals, subdividing an EIT image from each interval into a plurality of regions of interest and calculating for each region of interest the ratio of the integrated impedance change within this region of interest to the global impedance change of this EIT image, for each intratidal interval presenting indications of the ratios determined for the regions of interest to provide an intratidal gas distribution representation for each interval. |
| US08321005B2 |
System for continuous cardiac pathology detection and characterization
A system determines fractal values, a nonlinear fractal ratio and fractal data patterns in a heart and maps determined fractal values to medical conditions. A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface for receiving sampled data representing an electrical signal indicating electrical activity of a patient heart over at least one heart beat cycle. A signal processor calculates, a first signal characteristic value comprising a first fractal dimension value derived from the sampled data over at least a portion of a heart beat cycle, a second signal characteristic value representing a computed derivative of the first fractal dimension value and a ratio of the first and second signal characteristic values. A comparator compares the calculated ratio with a threshold value to provide a comparison indicator. A patient monitor, in response to the comparison indicator indicating the calculated signal characteristic value exceeds the threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the threshold. |
| US08321000B2 |
Method for detecting pathologies using cardiac activity data
The invention relates to a method for determining a pathology in a subject, said method comprising: a) correlating N-N intervals with rate dependent fluctuations of electrocardiographic parameters derived from an electrocardiogram (ECG) of said subject or other recordings reflecting cardiac activity of said subject to derive electrocardiographic parameters correlation values, wherein said pathology is determined based on said correlation values. |
| US08320999B2 |
Leak detector for detecting leak of liquid injected into blood vessel using pulse signal
A leak detector sequentially emits pulse signals toward a human body at a position at which a needle is inserted, detects pulse signals reflected inside of the human body, and measures a time interval between the emission and the detection for each of the pulse signals. The leak detector then calculates the difference between the measured interval and a predetermined time interval, and generates a leak warning for notification when the difference exceeds an acceptable range. Since a swelling on the surface of the human body causes a path of the pulse signal to extend, the leak detector can detect, based on the extended signal path, that the needle has come off a blood vessel. |
| US08320996B2 |
Medical hyperspectral imaging for evaluation of tissue and tumor
Apparatus and methods for hyperspectral imaging analysis that assists in real and near-real time assessment of biological tissue condition, viability, and type, and monitoring the above over time. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful in surgery, clinical procedures, tissue assessment, diagnostic procedures, health monitoring, and medical evaluations, especially in the detection and treatment of cancer. |
| US08320994B2 |
Biopsy cavity marking device and method
These are biopsy 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 biopsy cavity by radiographic, mammographic, echogenic, or other non-invasive imaging techniques. Also, the device contains a detectable 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 biopsy cavity using a bioabsorbable material and a detectable marker in conjunction with the material. The method also may combine any of the features as described with the device. |
| US08320990B2 |
Intrabody MRI stacked flat loop antennas and related systems
Elongate intrabody MRI-antenna probes include opposing distal and proximal portions. The distal portion includes at least one multi-turn conductor arranged as a stack of substantially flat loops, each with a substantially rectangular elongate shape. A flat loop can reside on each of a plurality of adjacent vertically stacked substantially planar layers, the flat loops cooperate to define a MRI receive antenna. |
| US08320980B2 |
Antenna assembly of mobile terminal
An antenna assembly of a mobile terminal is provided. The antenna assembly of a mobile terminal includes: a main antenna disposed at a side of the mobile terminal; a first coupling antenna coupled to the main antenna in a first mechanical state of the mobile terminal; and a second coupling antenna coupled to the main antenna in a second mechanical state according to a mechanical operation of the mobile terminal. |
| US08320976B2 |
Apparatus and communications system for extending life of a battery for a mobile terminal
To provide a mobile terminal apparatus capable of suppressing exhaustion of the battery while securing convenience of switching to a communication system corresponding to an existing area, and a control method and communication system for the apparatus, a mobile terminal apparatus 20 is driven by power supply from a battery, capable of communicating with each of a plurality of communication systems, monitors a communication environment with each of the communication systems, and has a detecting section that detects a battery remaining amount of the battery, and a control section 21 that limits targets to monitor when the battery remaining amount falls below a first threshold. |
| US08320971B2 |
System and method for video conferencing and projection utilizing a hand held device
A system, method, and hand held device configured for video conferencing. The hand held device includes display logic operable to determine that a communication includes displayable content. The hand held device further includes a projector in communication with the display logic. The projector is operable to project the displayable content onto a surface. The hand held device further includes a camera in communication with the display logic. The camera is operable to capture an image of the user. The displayable content and the image are utilized for a video communication. |
| US08320968B2 |
System and method for providing secure communication between network nodes
A network, network device and method is disclosed. A network of network nodes is disclosed in which the network nodes securely transmit communication signals using one or more spatial parameters unique to the network nodes. A dad positioning device capable of operating as a node in a network of the present invention is also disclosed. |
| US08320966B2 |
Reducing power consumption of indoor base stations
System, method and indoor antenna for reducing power consumption of base stations providing indoor coverage. The system comprises a base station (1), at least one indoor antenna (2) connected to the base station (1) providing coverage in an indoor coverage area and means for detecting human presence in a detection area. The base station (1) is configured to: receive (40) the information provided by the means for detecting human presence; check (42), according to said information, if human presence has been detected in the detection area, and in that case switch on (44) the base station (1); if human presence has not been detected in the detection area: check (45) if there is no traffic in the base station (1) during a predetermined period of time, and in that case switch off (46) the base station (1). |
| US08320964B2 |
Mobile station
To conceal AC of a mobile station UE from an MMTEL/IMS layer function, and at the same time, perform SSAC barring in the MMTEL/IMS layer function. In the mobile station UE according to the present invention, an AS layer function 10 includes a broadcast information reception unit 11 configured to receive broadcast information, an adjustment unit 13 configured to generate second barring information (ac-BarringFactor and ac-BarringTime) based on first barring information (ac-BarringFactor and ac-BarringTime) included in the AC of the mobile station UE and the broadcast information, and a notification unit 14 configured to notify the MMTEL/IMS layer function 30 of the second barring information, and the MMTEL/IMS layer function 30 includes a determination unit 24 configured to determine whether or not it is possible to perform a call request process based on the second barring information. |
| US08320961B2 |
Apparatus for a tangible interface
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a cradle comprising: a housing configured to receive a mobile device; wherein the housing configured to receive a mobile device having at least two positions; a detecting element configured to detect a state of the mobile device and; a mechanism configured to change position of the housing in response to detecting a change in the state of the mobile device. |
| US08320959B2 |
Handheld electronic device and associated method employing a multiple-axis input device and providing a learning function in a text disambiguation environment
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided. |
| US08320958B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communicating implementer, a camera image displaying implementer, a calculating implementer, a bold font displaying implementer, a start up software implementer, a stereo audio data output implementer, a device vibration implementer, a photo quality setting implementer, a multiple language implementer, a caller's information displaying implementer, an icon displaying implementer, a software updating implementer, and an OCR implementer. |
| US08320957B2 |
Method and system for real time control of an active antenna over a distributed antenna system
A method and system suitable for supporting wireless medical telemetry services (WMTS) on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). A DAS can provide wireless services including voice and data services using the same equipment. WMTS systems can include one or more active antenna units controlled by the MTS access point. The DAS includes control channels for transferring the MTS control and status information between the MTS access point and the antenna. The control channels can be transferred over a separate cable, or transferred using one or more intermediate frequency signals transferred over existing cables DAS between the MTS access point and the antenna. The control channels can be used to configure and control and receive status from the managed components of the DAS including active antennas, control the amplifiers used to process TDD signals, and control the switching of the diversity antenna systems. |
| US08320955B2 |
RFIC with cellular and RFID functionality
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a baseband processing module and a radio frequency (RF) section. The baseband processing module is coupled to convert outbound data into amplitude modulation information and phase modulation information when the IC is in a cellular data mode and to convert an outbound radio frequency identification (RFID) signal into RFID amplitude modulation information when the IC is in an RFID mode. The RF section is coupled to generate an outbound RF data signal in accordance with the amplitude modulation information and the phase modulation information when the IC is in the cellular data mode and to generate an outbound RF RFID signal in accordance with the RFID amplitude information when the IC is in the RFID mode. |