| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08316828B2 |
Exhaust gas recirculation diagnostic for coordinated torque control systems
A control system includes a throttle control module, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module, and a diagnostic control module. The throttle control module selectively maintains a desired throttle area when a vehicle is in a coastdown mode. The EGR control module opens an EGR valve when the desired throttle area is maintained. The diagnostic control module selectively diagnoses an error of an EGR system based on a pressure increase measured in an intake manifold of the vehicle when the EGR valve is open. |
| US08316827B2 |
Engine intake quantity control apparatus
An engine intake air quantity control apparatus is provided with a throttle valve, a supercharger, a variable intake valve operating device and an intake air control device. The throttle valve varies an intake air flow passage area of an intake passage. The supercharger supercharges intake air. The variable intake valve operating device changes an intake valve timing of an intake valve in accordance with an engine operating state. The intake air control device increases an opening degree of the throttle valve in accordance with a detected increase of an accelerator pedal depression amount, and increases an intake air quantity by starting to supercharge the intake air with the supercharger upon a prescribed throttle valve opening degree having been reached. The intake air control device changes the prescribed throttle valve opening degree in accordance with the intake valve timing of the intake valve. |
| US08316821B2 |
Method and system for enabling cylinder balancing at low idle speed using crankshaft speed sensor
A method and control system for controlling the idle speed of an engine includes an engine speed module that generates an engine speed signal. The control system also includes an actuator control module that regulates an engine speed based on a desired idle speed when an engine idle mode is enabled and a balancing module that balances torque produced by cylinders of an engine based on the engine speed signal when the engine idle mode is enabled. The control module also includes an idle speed reduction module that determines an idle speed reduction based on the actual torques produced by the cylinders after the balancing module balances the torque and that decreases the desired idle speed based on the idle speed reduction. |
| US08316819B2 |
Control of spark ignited internal combustion engine
There is provided, in one aspect of the present description, a method of controlling a spark ignited internal combustion engine having a fuel injector which injects fuel directly into its combustion chamber. The method comprises stopping the fuel injection if a desired torque for the engine is a predetermined torque or less and a speed of the engine is a predetermined speed or greater. The method comprises resuming the fuel injection by injecting a first amount of fuel directly into the combustion chamber during a negative pressure period and injecting a second amount of the fuel into the combustion chamber during an intake period. The method further includes resuming the fuel injection by injecting a third amount of the fuel directly into the combustion chamber during the negative pressure period and injecting a fourth amount of the fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake period. |
| US08316818B2 |
HCCI mode switching control system and method
A control system and method for operating an engine includes a transition module that commands engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode. The control system also includes a fuel delivery module that operates the engine in a stratified charge operation mode after commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode and discontinues the stratified charge operation thereafter. |
| US08316814B2 |
Toploading internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine includes a carrier base having a lower portion configured as a crankcase and an upper portion having a number of upwardly directed assembly provisions such as a crankshaft bay and at least one cylinder deck, with the crankshaft bay and cylinder deck being arranged so that the engine may be assembled from a position above the engine, without the necessity of attaching connecting rods or crankshaft main bearing bolts from underneath the engine. |
| US08316812B2 |
Dual output flow control actuator
Disclosed herein is an actuator for regulating the flow of fluids in first and second flow paths of an internal combustion engine. The actuator includes a motor having a rotatable drive shaft, a gear assembly driven by the drive shaft of the motor, and first and second output shafts rotated in opposite directions by the gear assembly. The first and second output shafts are operatively linked to valves in the first and second flow paths, respectively, to regulate the flow of fluids in the first and second flow paths. |
| US08316807B2 |
Engine valve system with variable lift and duration
An improvement is disclosed for an engine valve system with variable lift and duration of the type that includes two cams mounted coaxially, a summation rocker coupled to cam followers in contact with both cams and movable in proportion to the instantaneous sum of the lifts of the respective cams, and a valve actuating rocker pivotably coupled to the summation rocker and serving to open an engine valve in dependence upon the movement of the summation rocker. In the invention, at least one of the couplings of the summation rocker with the cam followers and with the valve actuating rocker incorporates an adjustable eccentric which is rotatable to enable the clearance within the valve system to be set. |
| US08316805B2 |
Cooling arrangement for air or gas input in a vehicle engine
The present invention relates to a cooler arrangement in a vehicle powered by a combustion engine. The cooler arrangement comprises a first cooling element for cooling a first medium in the form of a circulating coolant, and a radiator fan adapted to generating an air flow through the first cooling element for cooling the coolant when it circulates through the first cooling element. The cooler arrangement comprises also a tubular casing adapted to serving as a flow passage for the air which passes through the first cooling element and at least one further cooling element for cooling a second medium, which further cooling element is arranged in the flow passage at a position downstream of the first cooling element with respect to the intended direction of flow of the cooling air through the flow passage. |
| US08316798B2 |
Individually mixed pet feed supply system
It used to be difficult to automatically mix—together with ordinary pet foods—nutrients and medications as additives based on a prescription from an animal hospital according to the condition of a pet. Also, it was not easy to submit from a personal computer or a mobile phone an order for custom-mixed pet food. This system easily receives, via the Internet from a personal computer 1 or a mobile phone 2, an order for custom-mixed pet food based on a prescription sent to a custom-mixed-pet-food prescription control computer system 4 that electronically controls a mixing device 5 that automatically produces custom-mixed pet food according to mixing data specified by an pet owner's order and prescription from an animal hospital. The system comprises a pet-owner-user's personal computer 1, a mobile phone 2, the Internet 9, a custom-mixed-pet-food prescription control computer system 4, a computer 3 of an animal hospital, a Web server 4a, an application server 4b, a database server 4c, a stored data input/output processing management terminal 4d, an interface circuit 4e, and a mixing device 5. |
| US08316796B2 |
Film coating system and isolating device thereof
A film coating system for coating an object includes a working station and an isolating device. The object is disposed on the working station, and the isolating device is utilized to isolate the object. The isolating device includes a body generating a first power, a first working fluid, a second working fluid, a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion. The first guiding portion guides the first working fluid to pass through the body, thereby forming a first working region to coat the object thereon. The second guiding portion guides the second working fluid excited by the first power of the body to pass through the body, thereby forming a second working region to separate the first working region from the object. |
| US08316795B2 |
Liquid processing apparatus and liquid processing method
Provided is a liquid processing apparatus (method) that forms a coating film by supplying and pouring a coating solution from a coating solution nozzle onto a surface of a substrate held substantially horizontally by a substrate holder. In the liquid processing apparatus (method), a unit for photographing a leading end portion of a coating solution nozzle 10 is provided. When performing a process for anti-drying of the coating solution for a long period of time in advance, a position of the coating solution and a position of an anti-drying liquid are set by using a soft scale 121a displayed on a screen where the photographed image is displayed. Therefore, a dispense control is performed based on a set value without depending on the naked eyes and a control for suppressing the drying of the coating solution in the leading end portion of the coating solution nozzle is performed. |
| US08316792B2 |
Apparatus for making working electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell
An apparatus for making a working electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell is provided. The apparatus includes a columnar body, a rotatable mechanism rotatably received in the columnar body, and a cover enclosing the columnar body. Accommodating grooves are formed in the columnar body configured to accommodate substrates. The rotatable mechanism includes a containing chamber, rollers, and nozzles. The nozzles are configured for jetting the slurry from the containing chamber to the accommodating grooves. The rollers are independently rotatable and configured for rolling the slurry on the substrates. The cover has feeding tubes and exporting tubes extending therethrough. The feeding tubes are in communication with the containing chamber and configured for feeding the slurry to the containing chamber. The exporting tubes are in communication with the columnar body and configured for evacuating excess slurry from the columnar body. |
| US08316790B2 |
Medical task status checklist and manufacturing method therefore
A durable medical task status indicator comprises a panel having a front face and a rear face, at least an indicium disposed on one or more lines on the panel, at least one two-status indicator disposed to the left or right of the at least one indicium which corresponds to the indicator, the indicator comprises a first elongated slot formed in the front face of the panel, a second elongated slot formed in the rear face of the panel, two status labels, an elongated tab having a centrally disposed finger hold, an elongated backing plate is configured to slide within the second elongated slot, wherein the elongated backing plate is fixedly attached to the elongated tab such that the movement of the elongated backing plate is coordinated with the movement of the elongated tab and the elongated tab substantially covers the first elongated slot to avoid dirt collection and facilitate cleaning. |
| US08316786B2 |
Lift system for an elevator
A lift assembly is provided for a platform such as used on a ship. The platform can have four spaced apart hitch points. In one embodiment, the lift assembly includes four trolley drive assemblies, each trolley drive assembly including a trolley guidable along a guide rail, and a drive configured to displace the trolley along the guide rails, each trolley being coupled to at least one hitch point. In a second embodiment, a tension leveling assembly is provided in a trolley drive assembly and is configured to couple each of the wire ropes to the trolley and maintain substantially the same amount of tension in each wire rope. In a third embodiment, the lift assembly can be provided on a ship that also includes a vessel for holding water. The lift assembly includes an electric drive that operates as generator and generates current during lowering of the platform, A resistive device is disposed in the vessel and connected to the drive to receive current, the resistive device being configured to dissipate heat into the vessel. |
| US08316785B2 |
Flat seam construction for automotive upholstery
A flat seam construction made up of a number of sequentially formed stitches and formed on a portion of one or more stitchable materials is disclosed. Each stitch has two outer threads, formed into first and second outer thread loops, and at least one inner thread, formed into at least one inner thread loop. Each of the inner and outer thread loops transversely penetrate the one or more stitchable materials. Each of the inner and outer thread loops have a bight portion engaging a bottom surface of the one or more stitchable materials. At least one looper thread is formed on the bottom surface, and arranged such that, the at least one looper thread passes between the bottom surface and at least one of the bight portions. At least one decorative thread is visible on a top surface of the seam construction. |
| US08316783B2 |
Separator construction of a fluidized bed boiler
A separator construction, connectable to a fluidized bed boiler having a furnace, for circulating bed material and returning the material to the furnace. The separator construction includes walls, a ceiling, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit in flow communication with a flue gas channel located above the separator, and a suspending device connecting the separator to a supporting structure in a building housing the boiler. The suspending device is formed of a frame arranged between the flue gas channel and the separator in connection with an upper circumference of the wall of the separator, and hanger rods or wires connecting the frame directly to the supporting structure. |
| US08316781B1 |
Method and apparatus for modular furniture
Method and apparatus discloses a modular furniture construction having interlocking connections which are formed by upright standing legs having vertical grooves therein for receiving interlocking connecting members therein disposed on the ends of cross members. The cross members can be arranged in many different arrays so that a table top support or legs and/or other configurations, e.g., forts and houses, can be constructed. The cross members are designed so that a table top or tray can be placed thereon for receiving various items therein and/or a cup can be placed thereon for receiving containers holding liquid therein. |
| US08316778B2 |
Table with stowaway umbrella
A table including a collapsible umbrella and a hollow main body is provided. The hollow main body is adapted to receive the umbrella when the umbrella is in a collapsed position. The collapsible umbrella may include a pole coupled to a plurality of hinged ribs supporting a canopy. Each of the ribs may include a first hinge coupled to the pole that facilitates a downward folding of the umbrella, and a second hinge disposed between a first end of the rib and a second end of the rib that facilitates an upward folding of a portion of the umbrella. A method for storing the umbrella of the table is also provided. |
| US08316767B2 |
Transport system for providing printing formes to a printing unit
A transport system is used to provide printing forms to a printing press. Several printing forms may be transported in the same cassette. A transport vehicle is provided, and several cassettes can be transported simultaneously with the transport vehicle. A conveyor device is provided in the printing press and is used to convey printing forms that have been stored in cassettes, that have been transported by the transport vehicle. The printing forms are conveyed, by the conveyor device, to a form cylinder of the printing press and are arranged on the form cylinder. |
| US08316764B1 |
Apparatus and method for adding a registered image on a sheeted substrate
An apparatus and method for preparing a sheeted substrate with a registered structured image in which a resin coated sheeted substrate is provided in the form of a series of spaced sheets with leading or trailing edges acting as reference positions along with a master web with structured images and registration marks. Reference positions of the series of spaced sheets are aligned with the registration mark on the master web and the master web is nipped to the coated sheeted substrate after which curing energy is applied through the master web to the resin coat while the master web and sheeted substrate are in contact. Then the master web is separated from the sheeted substrate to leave a structured image on the sheeted substrate. Registration between the sheeted substrate and the master web may be maintained by varying the relative speed of the master web and the sheeted substrate through stretching of the master web. |
| US08316763B2 |
Disabling device for a pressing tool
A pressing tool includes a tool body having a working end, an actuator held by the tool body and operated during a pressing operation, and a disabling device operable to stop the hydraulic actuator during the pressing operation, wherein the actuator is disabled and locked in a disabled position after the disabling device is operated. Optionally, the disabling device may be configured to be reset to a normal operation position by a key. |
| US08316754B2 |
Short recoil fire-arm
The present invention relates to a short recoil firearm (1) comprising a main body (2); a barrel (7) slidingly mounted on the main body (2) and movable between a forward percussion position and a backward recoil position; a slider (17) slidingly mounted on the main body (2) and movable between a forward position of closure of the barrel (7) and a backward stop position. The firearm (1) further comprises a plurality of cylindrical rollers (22) operatively connected to a spirally wound tape spring (26). The cylindrical rollers are movable between a first configuration, in which they lie mutually side by side between the slider (17) and the barrel (7), to prevent the relative movement thereof and to allow the integral displacement of same, and a second configuration, in which they lie in a recovery chamber (27). During passage from the first configuration towards the second configuration, the displacement of the barrel (7) opens an access (27a) for entrance of the cylindrical rollers (22) into the recovery chamber (27), causing disengagement between the barrel (7) and the slider (17). During passage from the second configuration towards the first configuration, the tape spring (26) brings the pushing elements (22) back to the first configuration through said access (27a). |
| US08316751B2 |
Barrel clamp safety retainer
A minigun having a plurality of barrels. At least one barrel has a lug. A barrel clamp is attached to the barrels. The barrel clamp has a rear portion with apertures to receive the barrels. The barrel clamp has a front portion with apertures to receive the free end of the barrels. A clamp collar captures both the rear portion of the barrel clamp and at least one lug. The clamp collar may have two parts that are hingedly attached at one end and releasably pinned at the other end. Each of the two parts may have two flanges. The two flanges may be spaced apart by a distance defined by the barrel clamp's length. Each of the flanges may include a plurality of scallops. The clamp collar and the barrel clamp may each include a plurality of apertures that are aligned when the clamp collar is closed. |
| US08316746B2 |
Method and device for trimming print products
A trimming apparatus comprises a conveying device, a movable upper knife, an immovable lower knife, a movable press crosshead, a first drive, and a control unit. The print product is pressed down with the press crosshead. The pressed down print product is trimmed with the upper and lower knives. The press crosshead is lifted following the step of trimming operation. Subsequent to lifting the press crosshead, the upper knife is lifted. The trimmed print product is conveyed with the conveying device. |
| US08316743B2 |
Quick change tool holder
A quick change tool holder having a base member, a body, a quick change head member, and a cutting tool cartridge. The base member includes an upper surface, bottom surface, and mating surface and is adapted to removably mount to an associated cutting machine carriage. The body includes an end wall and an inner surface, where the end wall includes a dovetail portion. The body is adapted to engage the base member in an interlocking fashion. The quick change head includes a top surface, a bottom surface, an interface wall having a channel disposed therein, and an outer wall having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, wherein said channel is adapted to receive said dovetail portion. The cutting tool cartridge is adapted to engage the longitudinal grooves of the quick change head. |
| US08316741B2 |
Power tool and a method for use of the power tool
A power tool includes an electric motor including a rotor and a stator, a torque sensor for measuring the torque value during tightening of rotatable fastening elements, and an operation control unit, integrated in or in communication with the power tool. The power tool has a device for preventing rotation of the rotor. A method for tightening rotatable fastening elements by use of the power tool is also disclosed. |
| US08316738B2 |
Compact transfer case with beveloid gearset
A power transmission device for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a power source and first and second drivelines includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by the power source. A first output shaft is rotatable about a first axis and adapted to transmit torque to the first driveline. A second output shaft is adapted to transmit torque to the second driveline and is rotatable about a second axis. The first and second axes do not extend parallel to each other. A transfer unit includes a first cylindrically-shaped gear rotatably supported on the first output shaft and a second conically-shaped gear fixed for rotation with the second output shaft. The first and second gears are in constant meshed engagement with each other. |
| US08316735B2 |
Industrial robot and control method
An industrial robot includes a hollow chamber rotatably supported by a base, an arm rotatably supported by the hollow chamber, and drive devices provided in the hollow chamber and configured to drive the arm. |
| US08316734B2 |
Operating device with a locking assembly
An operating device for selecting gear ratios of a transmission. The operating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between at least three gear selection positions and a locking device for limiting the range of motion of the selector lever. The locking device has a cantilever assembly with a plurality of locking contours that are connected to the selector lever. Each locking contour is assigned to a selector lever position and can be engaged with locking element to form a motion stop for the selector lever. It is thus possible to implement even complex locking tasks in a structurally simple manner such that jams, that occur during actuation, or undefined operating states in the locking device can be prevented. The range of motion of the selector lever is largely freely controlled using an actuator control, and the device is relatively silent and has short shifting times. |
| US08316730B2 |
Multistage transmission
A multistage transmission includes a swing claw member having a pin-receiving portion adapted to receive a pin member and an engaging claw portion on respective sides opposite to each other with respect to swing center, and swung by the advancement and retraction of the pin member to allow the engaging claw portion to establish engagement and release the engagement; and biasing means for biasing the swing claw member in a swing direction of bringing the engaging claw portion into engagement. The biasing means is a compression spring interposed between the inner surface of the engaging claw portion of the swing claw member and the opposing surface of the gear shaft. The multistage transmission uses multiple swing claw members of the same kind, instead of swing claw members of different kinds. |
| US08316729B2 |
Linear unit
A linear unit, having a drive unit which is mounted in a guide tube (1) and supports a guide carriage (5) for holding a workpiece, a tool or the like, composed of a threaded spindle (2) and a spindle nut (4), wherein the guide carriage (5) or the spindle nut (4) is guided in a longitudinal groove (3) of the guide tube (1) in a rotationally fixed and axially movable manner, is embodied in such a way that the guide tube (1) is composed of a sheet metal strip which is curved around an imaginary longitudinal axis. |
| US08316726B2 |
Biaxial stress management
A method of measuring biaxial stress in an object of a ferromagnetic material in which material in a region (10) in the vicinity of a surface of the object is subjected to a conditioning method by application of a conditioning magnetic field that is at least initially at a high field strength. Values of biaxial stress within the said region are measured with an electromagnetic measuring probe (14) in at least two different orientations, the electromagnetic measuring probe (14) using an alternating measuring magnetic field that is at a field strength well below saturation. The conditioning may subject the region (10) to a low frequency alternating magnetic field (38, 58) initially at a high field strength, and gradually reducing the strength to zero over a decay time period at least equal to the time for many cycles of the low frequency magnetic field. Conditioning the material enables the stress to then be measured more accurately, and enables ambiguities in biaxial stress to be resolved. |
| US08316722B2 |
Measuring system for media flowing in a pipeline
The measuring system comprises: a measuring transducer, through which medium flows during operation and which serves for producing oscillatory signals dependent on a viscosity of the flowing medium and/or a Reynolds number of the flowing medium; transmitter electronics for driven the measuring transducer and for evaluating oscillatory signals delivered by the measuring transducer. The measuring transducer includes: an inlet-side flow divider; an outlet-side flow divider; at least two, mutually parallel, straight, measuring tubes, connected to the flow dividers; as well as an electromechanical exciter mechanism for exciting and maintaining mechanical oscillations of the at least two measuring tubes. Each of the at least two measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side measuring tube end into a flow opening and with an outlet-side. The transmitter electronics feeds, by means of an electrical driver signal supplied to the exciter mechanism, electrical excitation power into the exciter mechanism, while the exciter mechanism converts electrical excitation power at least partially into opposite-equal torsional oscillations of the at least two measuring tubes. |
| US08316718B2 |
MEMS pressure sensor device and method of fabricating same
A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor device (20, 62) includes a substrate structure (22, 64) having a cavity (32, 68) formed therein and a substrate structure (24) having a reference element (36) formed therein. A sense element (44) is interposed between the substrate structures (22, 24) and is spaced apart from the reference element (36). The sense element (44) is exposed to an external environment (48) via one of the cavity (68) and a plurality of openings (38) formed in the reference element (36). The sense element (44) is movable relative to the reference element (36) in response to a pressure stimulus (54) from the environment (48). Fabrication methodology (76) entails forming (78) the substrate structure (22, 64) having the cavity (32, 68), fabricating (84) the substrate structure (24) including the sense element (44), coupling (92) the substrate structures, and subsequently forming (96) the reference element (36) in the substrate structure (24). |
| US08316709B2 |
Method and device for measuring force, torque and output on an ergometer or bicycle
A method and device for measuring force, torque and output on an ergometer or bicycle. When the ergometer or bicycle is used as intended, a torque is transmitted via a shaft onto a flexible drive and further onto the flywheel of an ergometer or the rear wheel of the bicycle by two pedal cranks. The flexible drive has a pulley or a sprocket wheel which is non-rotatably connected to the shaft in at least one direction of rotation. Elastic torsions of the shaft that result independently from the torque transmission are detected at both sides of the pulley or of the sprocket wheel as a measure of the forces applied to the shaft to determine the torque and output both of the left and right leg of the user of the ergometer or bicycle. Corresponding electrical sensor signals are generated and supplied to a memory and/or evaluation unit for further processing. |
| US08316704B2 |
Downhole annular measurement system and method
A downhole measurement system may comprise an optional fluid inlet section configured to accommodate fluid flow between a well and a zone surrounding the well. The system may further comprise a flow conditioning section configured to receive the fluid from the fluid inlet section. The flow conditioning section may be configured to produce a substantially homogenized fluid flow. In addition, a measuring section may be provided and configured to measure at least a portion of the fluid flow from the flow conditioning section. The measuring section characterizes a parameter of the fluid flow. In other embodiments, there may be a method for characterizing a parameter of a fluid flow comprising the steps of directing the fluid flow to a flow conditioning section. Other steps may be conditioning the fluid flow to a substantially homogeneous state and measuring a parameter for at least a portion of the fluid flow. |
| US08316702B2 |
Apparatus and method to determine the adhesive strength of materials
An apparatus (10) for determining the adhesive strength of materials has a test rig (12) with a base plate (14). A compression plate (20) is provided above a support (18). The compression plate (20) is urged into engagement with the support (18) by means of springs (22). The compression plate (20) has a recess (30) which receives a mould (32). The support (18) contains a substrate (34) which engages with material to be tested contained in the mould (32).The application also relates to a method which involves measuring the force required to remove the mould (32) from the substrate (34). |
| US08316701B2 |
Aerodynamic testing method and apparatus
An aerodynamic testing apparatus includes a test object carrier that carries a test object along an orbital test path through a fluid test medium. The apparatus may be configured to carry a test object along a generally spiraling orbital test path through the fluid test medium. |
| US08316692B2 |
Particle monitor and method using an analysis chamber and heated purge gas
A particle monitor (1) including a module (3) for measuring a particle content of a sample, the module including an analysis chamber (4) for receipt of the sample and a heating unit (24) for maintaining an operating temperature of the chamber (4) and for heating the air used for purging the sample from the chamber (4). The invention also relates to a particle monitor (1) with a vibrator assembly (6) and to a particle monitor (1) with a valve assembly (8) for effecting a fast purge mode, for clearing a sample tube (5), and a slow purge mode. |
| US08316689B2 |
Quantitative evaluation of scratch-induced damages on polymeric and coating materials
Provided is a method for quantitative evaluation of mar- and scratch-induced surface damage on polymeric and coating materials. The method for quantitative evaluation of scratch-induced damage on polymeric and coating materials includes: preparing a test specimen of polymeric and coating materials; inducing a scratch damage on the surface of the test specimen; representing the scratch damage formed on the test specimen as corresponding color coordinates; and calculating a quantitated scratch damage index from a combination of a load applied to the surface of the test specimen and the color coordinates corresponding to the scratch damage. |
| US08316688B2 |
Method for carrying out a self-test for a micromechanical sensor device, and corresponding micromechanical sensor device
A method for carrying out a self-test for a micromechanical sensor device, and a corresponding micromechanical sensor device. The method has the following steps: exciting the sensor device using a first excitation signal variation in a first self-test; storing a corresponding first response signal variation of the sensor device; exciting the sensor device using a second excitation signal variation in a second self-test; storing a corresponding second response signal variation of the sensor device; analyzing the first and second response signal variations with regard to at least one predefined criterion; and preparing a self-test result based on the analytical result of the first and second response signal variations. |
| US08316687B2 |
Method for making a tool used to manufacture composite parts
A method is provided for making a composite part layup tool. A surface of a base is shaped and used as a tool to incrementally form a metal sheet. The formed metal sheet is friction plug welded to the shaped surface on the base to form a metal tool surface of the layup tool. |
| US08316685B2 |
Roller holding unit
A pressing tool having a drive unit, a piston-cylinder unit with a fork-like receiver and an actual clamping pincer. The clamping pincer has a T-shaped mounting which, with a retaining bolt and a retaining bolt receiver, is connected to a fork-like receiver. In the fork-like receiver, a roller holder with two rollers is located. The fork-like receiver is part of the piston-cylinder unit. On actuation of the pressing tool, the piston-cylinder unit is pulled back and thus the roller holder with the rollers is moved forward relative thereto in an axial direction towards the clamping pincer. Thus, the rollers roll on roll flanks of the clamping jaws of the clamping pincer. The clamping pincer is pressed together by the rollers pressing apart the clamping jaws at the rear. Thus, the rollers are supported on a bearing block with sliding bearing surfaces. In the region between contact surfaces of the rollers with the sliding bearing surfaces and the contact line of the two rollers, there is a dirt collection chamber. |
| US08316682B2 |
Ironing apparatus
A second press 10 irons a plate-like steel plate W. This second press 10 comprises a base block 22 for supporting the lower surface of the steel plate W, a rod 11 disposed on the upper surface of the steel plate W, an upper die 30 including a guide rail 24, a first cam 25 and a second cam 34 and a lifting mechanism 40 for moving the rod 11 along the surface of the steel plate W. The base block 22 regulates the movement of the rod 11 in a thickness direction of the steel plate W by contacting the upper surface of the rod 11 over the movement range of the ironing member in the surface direction of the steel plate W. |
| US08316681B2 |
Rolling mill
A rolling mill, including: a casting device that casts molten metal to form a slab with a predetermined width; a pair of finishing milling rolls that shape the slab by rolling; and a movement device capable of moving the finishing milling rolls along respective axis directions thereof, in which a contour of a peripheral surface of each of the finishing milling rolls has a shape in which a first contour and a second contour are overlapped, the first contour including: edge regions with a shape in accordance with an average value of thickness variation in edge portions so as to make uniform a rolling reduction in a width direction for the slab with an edge thickness equal to the average value; and a central region that is interposed between the edge regions, and the second contour including edge regions which have an inclination angle steeper with respect to the axis direction than a central region so that the distance between facing edge portions of one of the pair of finishing milling rolls and the other of the pair of finishing milling rolls changes when the finishing milling rolls are moved by the movement device in opposite directions. |
| US08316674B2 |
Lock
A lock (10) which includes a body and an actuator (36) which is pivotally displaceable between a rest position and a displaced position. The lock further includes a first member (64) which is longitudinally displaceable by the actuator (36) and a second 5 member (66) which is longitudinally in register with the first member (64) and longitudinally displaceable relative to the body and the first member (64). The lock includes bias means (90) biasing the first and second members (64, 66) away from one another. The lock further includes retaining means (98) which is displaceable from a locked position, in which it inhibits displacement of the second member (66) and a 10 released position in which it permits displacement of the second member (66). |
| US08316668B1 |
Composite magnetic recording medium
A method for manufacturing glass hard disk substrates comprises annealing and then tempering previously formed glass hard disk substrates. The annealed and tempered glass hard disk substrates have improved strength and stress resistance without chemical treatments. |
| US08316663B2 |
Expander-compressor unit and refrigeration cycle apparatus having the same
An expander-compressor unit (30) includes: a closed casing (1) holding an oil at a bottom portion thereof; a motor (2) provided in the closed casing (1); a compression mechanism (3) for compressing a refrigerant and discharging it into the closed casing (1), the compression mechanism (3) being disposed below the motor (2) in the closed casing (1); an expansion mechanism (4) disposed below the compression mechanism (3) in the closed casing (1); and a coupling mechanism (50) for coupling a compression mechanism side shaft (5) to an expansion mechanism side shaft (6). An oil supply passage (53) for supplying the oil to the compression mechanism (3) is formed in the compression mechanism side shaft (5). An oil suction port (53A) is provided in a portion of the compression mechanism side shaft (5), the portion being above the expansion mechanism (4). |
| US08316662B2 |
Thermal packaging system
The present invention is an apparatus, method and system to thermally package an item having at least one container (100) substantially filled with an alcohol, wherein said alcohol undergoes a phase change. |
| US08316661B2 |
Ice making device for refrigerator
The present invention provides an ice making device for a refrigerator, which is installed in a storage space of the refrigerator to make ice by cold air circulating through the storage space. The ice making device comprises a water tank which is installed within an ice making space provided in a receiving box installed to be introduced into and taken out from the storage space, and has a water-storing space for storing water to be used in making ice and at least one water-supplying hole for use in supplying the water stored in the water-storing space; and at least one ice tray installed in the ice making space and provided with at least one ice making recess for use in making ice by receiving the water stored in the water-storing space. The water stored in the water tank is supplied to the ice tray when the water tank is mounted in the storage space. |
| US08316659B2 |
Thermal energy management device for a vehicle
The invention relates to a thermal energy management device for a vehicle, namely a vehicle equipped with an electric generator associating and fuel cell and hydrogen reformer, comprising at least one primary circuit circulating a first heat-conducting fluid, such circuit enabling calories to be collected from a thermal source and transported to at least one thermal exchanger wherein said device comprises at least one thermal exchanger constituted by a sorption exchanger, enabling the thermal energy management of vehicles, and namely, armored vehicles. |
| US08316655B2 |
Method for converting thermal energy at a low temperature into thermal energy at a relatively high temperature by means of mechanical energy, and vice versa
Method for converting thermal energy at a low temperature into thermal energy at a relatively high temperature by means of mechanical energy, and vice versa, with a working medium which runs through a closed thermodynamic circulation process, wherein the circulation process has the following working steps: —reversible adiabatic compression of the working medium, —isobaric conduction away of heat from the working medium, —reversible adiabatic relaxing of the working medium, —isobaric supply of heat to the working medium, and wherein the increase or decrease in pressure of the working medium is produced during the compression or relaxing, increasing or decreasing the centrifugal force acting on the working medium, with the result that the flow energy of the working medium is essentially retained during the compression or relaxing process. |
| US08316654B2 |
Refrigerating system and method for refrigerating
A Refrigerating system (2) comprises a refrigerating circuit (4) having, in flowing direction, a compressor (8), a gas cooler (10), a first expansion device (12), an intermediate pressure container (14), a second expansion device (16), an evaporator (18) and refrigerant conduits (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) circulating a refrigerant therethrough. The first expansion device (12) expands the refrigerant to an intermediate pressure level. A first refrigerant conduit (22) of the refrigerant conduits (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) connects the compressor (8) and the gas cooler (10), and a second refrigerant conduit (24) of the refrigerant conduits (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) connects the gas cooler (10) and the first expansion device (12), the first refrigerant conduit (22), the gas cooler (10), and the second refrigerant conduit (24) forming a transcritical portion of the refrigerating circuit (4). The refrigerating system (2) further comprises a desuperheating unit (6), being in a heat exchange relationship with at least a part of the second refrigerant conduit (24), thereby desuperheating the refrigerant. |
| US08316653B2 |
Inspection port
A manifold gauge set has at least one sight glass window for viewing contents of a refrigeration system or an air conditioning system being serviced. The window may be non-planar to achieve an appearance that varies with the presence or absence of liquid. Such a non-planar window may be in the form of a dome, prism, or a fresnel lens. The gauge set may have a second light transmissive window to allow light to illuminate system contents being viewed. A light source may be provided to illuminate system contents being viewed. The light source may provide light through the same window that is used for viewing contents. A diffuser may be provided with a second window to achieve an illuminated background for viewing system contents. Similar configurations may be used in standalone sight glasses, vacuum pumps, and recovery machines. |
| US08316650B2 |
System and method for heating and cooling a vehicle
A system for heating and cooling a vehicle includes a solar panel disposed on a surface of a vehicle and a thermoelectric unit i) disposed on or in an internal surface disposed in a cabin area of the vehicle, and ii) operatively connected to the solar panel. The thermoelectric unit is configured to heat and/or cool the internal surface in response to electric current applied thereto from the solar panel. The system further includes a control unit operatively associated with the thermoelectric unit. The control unit is configured to determine the amount and direction of the electric current to be applied to the thermoelectric unit based on i) a measured ambient temperature, ii) a measured temperature of the internal surface, and iii) a user-preferred reference temperature. |
| US08316649B2 |
Thermal controlled pillow
A thermal pillow apparatus comprising a pillow element, a heat exchanger, a thermal liquid, a fluid pump and a controller is disclosed. The thermal liquid circulates between the heat exchanger and the pillow element in a closed loop, transferring thermal energy between the heat exchanger and the pillow element. A fluid pump is disposed in the closed loop to aid in circulating the thermal liquid within the closed loop. A Peltier device is the typical heat pump element used in the heat exchanger. The controller coordinates the operation of the thermal pillow apparatus, for example monitoring the temperature of the thermal liquid, and activating the heat exchanger and the fluid pump. |
| US08316647B2 |
System and method employing catalytic reactor coatings
Methods and apparatuses are provided for protecting a catalyst within a combustor. In one embodiment, a catalytic reactor includes a protective coating that may be chemically removed or mechanically removed while the catalytic reactor is disposed in a combustor. |
| US08316643B2 |
Method of driving and drive mechanism utilizing surface tension difference convection generated in two fluids having an interface
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving a micromachine and a drive mechanism whereby the required drive force can be obtained and that avoid excessive load to the machine, the mechanism not being of large size and not being troublesome in terms of energy supply. In a micromachine rotary drive mechanism according to the present invention, a micro-turbine is floated on the liquid surface of Fluorinert, silicone oil is attached onto faces respectively directed in the same direction of this micro-turbine, thereby drive force of the micro-turbine is obtained from the surface tension difference convection generated at the two-fluid interface. Also, in a unidirectional drive mechanism of a micromachine according to the present invention, a minute thin sheet is floated on a Fluorinert liquid surface, silicone oil is attached to one end of this minute thin sheet, thereby drive force of this minute thin sheet is obtained from the surface tension difference convection generated at the two-fluid interface. |
| US08316641B2 |
Feed circuit for supplying a supercharged engine with at least one fluid and method for supplying such an engine with at least one fluid
A circuit for feeding at least one fluid to an internal-combustion engine, notably of Diesel type, includes a circuit (20) for supercharging air to the engine intake, including a supercharging pipe (36), a supercharging device (28) with a compression stage (26) and a compressed air cooling radiator (38), as well as a circuit (22) for recirculating the exhaust gas to the engine intake, including an exhaust gas recirculation pipe (40) and an exhaust gas cooler (46). The feed circuit includes a connecting pipe (50) allowing to connect, upstream from cooler (46), air supercharging circuit (20) and exhaust gas recirculation circuit (22). |
| US08316639B2 |
Internal combustion engine, vehicle, marine vessel, and exhaust gas cleaning method for internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine capable of improving cleaning efficiency by preventing an increase in the temperature of the exhaust gas to lessen the deterioration of the catalyst. The internal combustion engine includes a convergent section, a divergent section, and a branch section. The branch section branches a shock wave, propagating in a downstream direction at a higher velocity than exhaust gas flowing into an exhaust path from a combustion chamber when an exhaust valve is opened, from a portion of the exhaust path which is upstream with respect to the divergent section, and propagates the shock wave back to the exhaust path. The exhaust gas is caused to pass the convergent section and to collide against the shock wave between the branch section and the divergent section, so as to increase the pressure of the exhaust gas in the convergent section. Such exhaust gas is caused to pass the divergent section to generate a new shock wave and to decrease the temperature of the exhaust gas. A catalyst of an exhaust cleaning device is provided in a portion of the exhaust path which is downstream with respect to the divergent section. |
| US08316635B2 |
Methods of increasing accuracy of soot load estimates
A method for improving the effectiveness of filters by increasing accuracy of an estimate of particulate matter loading remaining in the filter after cleaning. In one embodiment, the disclosed method includes removing soot from the DPF by cleaning, and measuring parameters for a set of predetermined criteria. The amount of soot present in the DPF is then estimated based on delta pressure. The resulting estimated soot load value accounts for the noise factors such as ash loading after extended operation. The value is then used to adjust for future measurements of soot loading in the DPF after subsequent regeneration treatments and/or used to diagnose the effectiveness of the cleaning. The method can also be applied to diagnostics of the DPF. When discrepancies between DPSLE and model-based soot load estimate are observed in healthy regenerations, failure modes such as plugged filter, extreme ash loading or substrate melting can be detected. |
| US08316632B2 |
Thrust reverser configuration for a short fan duct
A thrust reverser comprises a translating sleeve, a torque beam, a plurality of cascades, a plurality of blocker doors, and a plurality of actuators. The translating sleeve is positioned at the rear of an aircraft nacelle and is translated rearward during thrust reverser deployment. The torque beam is positioned within the nacelle and configured to prevent airflow into the nacelle during thrust reverser deployment. The plurality of cascades are positioned around the circumference of the torque beam during thrust reverser stowage and are translated rearward during thrust reverser deployment. The plurality of blocker doors are positioned in alignment with the plurality of cascades and direct airflow through the plurality of cascades during thrust reverser deployment. The plurality of actuators are coupled to the forward edge of the sleeve and configured to translate the sleeve rearward during thrust reverser deployment. |
| US08316631B2 |
Exhaust plume heat effect reducing method and apparatus
An apparatus for reducing heating effects of an exhaust plume of a jet engine on an impinged surface includes fluid injectors disposed adjacent and aimed into an exhaust plume zone that's to be occupied by an exhaust plume when the engine is running. A flow generator transmits fluid flow into such an exhaust plume through the injectors. Each injector emits fluid in at least two divergent directions to increase the cross-sectional area of the exhaust plume by forming fluidic lobes in the exhaust plume. |
| US08316629B2 |
Polytetrafluoroethylene real twist yarn and method of producing the same
The PTFE real twist yarn of the present invention is a PTFE real twist yarn obtained by twisting a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) multi-filament slit yarn. The yarn has a circular cross-section with a circularity in the range of 10/8 to 10/10, where the circularity is expressed by the ratio between the major axis width and the minor axis width, the average fineness of filaments is in the range of 1.5 to 200 dtex, a fineness D is in the range of 50 to 6000 dtex, and a twist coefficient K expressed by Formula (1) is in the range of 10000 to 35000: twist coefficient K=number of twists T×(the fineness D of the PTFE real twist yarn)1/2 (1) where the number of twists T denotes the number of twists per meter and the fineness D is a total fineness. |
| US08316628B2 |
Grass treatment unit with adjustable hood and grass treatment insert
A grass treatment unit with an adjustable hood for use with various grass treatment inserts of different diameter for verticutting, scarifying, etc. An open topped bearing socket is provided for mounting the grass treatment insert for rotation. A hood is mounted on a slide for spacing the hood in a selected position with respect to the grass treatment insert. The grass treatment insert has a shaft with ball bearings on opposite ends which are housed within a bearing housing. A handle is provided on the bearing housing for lifting the grass treatment insert. |
| US08316627B1 |
Weed cutter
A weed cutter that may be pulled behind a tractor is provided. The weed cutter has plurality of cutting blades that rotate when acted upon by planetary gears rotating around a central sun gear. A planetary gearbox assembly with a cloverleaf shape rotates partially around fence posts and other objects to cut weeds growing around the objects. |
| US08316625B2 |
Enhancements to a substantially closed system for safely disposing hazardous material
A disposal unit can include a substantially air tight chamber, an insertion component, an air tight region of the air tight chamber containing a disposal container, an air holding region, an air extraction unit, an air sanitation component, a container sealant mechanism, and/or combinations thereof. The air holding region can be distinct from the air tight region and the remaining region of the substantially air tight chamber. The air extraction unit can be configured to capture air from the remaining region and place the captured air in the air holding region. Air can be optionally redirected from the air holding region into an airtight disposal container, which is thereafter sealed. The air sanitation component can be configured to sanitize the captured air to a predetermined air quality level. Harmful byproducts of the waste (e.g., toxic vapors) inserted in the disposal unit can be reduced and/or neutralized through sanitation and/or containment. |
| US08316623B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming a sealed seam between a tear-off film and a packaging member
A method of forming a sealed seam between a tear-off film (12), that is provided with a tear-off strip, and a packaging member (14), the method including at least one sealing step, in which the packaging member (14) and the film 12 are compressed between a lower die (20) supporting the packaging member (14) and an upper die (22) such that an annular sealed seam (28) is formed in the peripheral portions of the film (12) and the packaging member (14), in which wherein, during a sealing step or in a subsequent non-sealing step, the sealing seam (28) is partly destroyed or weakened at is internal peripheral edge (30) in the vicinity of the tear-off strip. |
| US08316614B2 |
Method for establishing a wind turbine on a site
Method for establishing a wind turbine (1) on a foundation (7) where at least a part of the wind turbine rotor (4) is attached to a wind turbine tower (2). Further, the method comprises the steps of positioning the wind turbine tower including the attached wind turbine rotor on the foundation, elevating a wind turbine nacelle (3) to a use position on the tower, and directly or indirectly connecting the nacelle to the attached wind turbine rotor. The invention also relates to transport of a wind turbine tower, and a vessel (10) suitable for transporting a wind turbine tower. |
| US08316612B2 |
Pre-insulated structural building panels
An apparatus and method for constructing pre-insulated structural panels is disclosed that has a tongue and groove assembly arrangement. Each panel may include one or more c-channels or profiles embedded in expandable polystyrene (EPS) foam to provide structural integrity to the panels, and resulting wall. The panels may be covered with siding, stucco, or similar materials. A chase may be formed horizontally in the panels to provide a wiring conduit through the panel. The panel may also provide when assembled, a vertical chase formed between the mated panels along the length of the panel for wiring. Acoustical properties may be formed in the surface of the EPS portions to provided added acoustical damping measures. |
| US08316611B2 |
Portable safety skylight replacement assembly
A portable skylight replacement safety assembly that includes a first and second support frames releasably connected to each other and having a plurality of support handles and support members which extend substantially perpendicularly from the first support frame for supporting the first support frame on and/or over the skylight on a working surface at a predetermined distance. |
| US08316604B2 |
Floor panel and method for manufacturing such floor panel
Floor panel, said floor panel (1) comprising a decor (2), as well as a top layer (8) based on synthetic material (9), and wherein the decor (2) represents a pattern with several wood parts (3) per floor panel (1), characterized in that in the upper surface (14) of the floor panel (1) one or more height differences are present in that the upper surface (14), at the location of one of more of the wood parts (3), shows an individualized global surface level (16). |
| US08316602B2 |
Portable table construction and method for making the same
Disclosed herein is a portable table having numerous favorable characteristics. The table comprises a tabletop, a column connection, and a column. The tabletop includes a core, a thickness, a perimeter section, and a bottom surface. The column connection is positioned within the thickness of the core and within the tabletop, and includes a flange and a cylindrical sleeve having a first fastener. The column includes an insertion end that includes a second fastener shaped to removably engage the first fastener and secure the column to the column connection. The insertion end is shaped to removably fit within the cylindrical sleeve of the column connection. |
| US08316599B2 |
Wall panel system with snap-on clip
A wall panel system includes at least one wall panel, each edge of the panel having a flange. At least one flange, and preferably two opposing flanges, have at least one slot therein. Each slot is mated with a clip having two extensions laterally spaced from one another, one of said extensions having a latch member protruding in a direction toward the other of said extensions, such that the clip is secured to the flange by virtue of the latch member mating with the slot. The clip may then be attached to a building surface or intermediary mounting apparatus by a fastener to secure the wall panel thereto. |
| US08316595B2 |
Collapsible staircase
Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to a collapsible staircase comprising a plurality of tread assemblies. Each tread assembly is disposed adjacent to at least one of another of the tread assemblies and includes a tread plate and a first and a second telescoping support member attached to a rear surface of the tread plate. The first and second telescoping support members of each tread assembly are operable to slideably engage the telescoping support members of the adjacent tread assemblies for adjusting a height of the staircase and for defining a substantially fixed angle between the tread plates of each of the tread assemblies. |
| US08316593B2 |
Solar roofing system
An apparatus and method for connecting solar panels to a roof system surface. The solar panels can be formed flexible or non-flexible solar panels that are at least partially attached to a roofing surface by use of a fastener. |
| US08316589B2 |
Dual-core self-centering energy dissipation brace apparatus
A dual-core self-centering brace apparatus is mounted to a building, and includes a first core member, at least one second core member, an outer sleeve disposed around the first and second core members, two inner abutment plates abutting respectively against two ends of the first core member, two outer abutment plates abutting respectively against two ends of the second core member, a plurality of tensioning members, and an energy-dissipating unit for retarding relative movement of the first core member and the outer sleeve. When subjected to an external force, the length of each of the tensioning elements is increased by an elongation amount, and the total length of the first core member and the outer sleeve is increased by an amount that is two times the elongation amount. |
| US08316588B2 |
Rig for drilling or maintaining oil wells
A Rig (1) for drilling or maintaining oil wells includes a base structure (2) which is provided with a support platform (3) on the ground and a raised work platform (5). A deck (6) is co-planar to and integral with the support platform (3) and is suitable for housing a trailer (7). A telescopic antenna (8) is provided with two fixing eyelets (9) which are arranged at the lower end of the telescopic antenna (8) in order to be hinged to the work platform (5). A lifting device (10) is suitable for lifting the telescopic antenna (8) from a transport position, in which it reposes on a transporter (7) with the two fixing eyelets (9) at a lower level than the level of the work platform (5), to a working position, in which it is vertically arranged on the work platform (5) with the fixing eyelets (9) hinged to the work platform (5). The lifting device (10) is provided with a moving articulated parallelogram structure provided with at least two rocker arms (11) hinged to the telescopic antenna (8) and which are hingeable to the deck (6), and with at least one linear actuator (12) with a variable thrust head which may be interposed between the telescopic antenna (8) and the deck (6) to activate the moving structure (10′) and lift the telescopic antenna (8). |
| US08316578B2 |
Bedbug trap
An device for attracting and capturing an insect is provided. The device includes a housing which defines an interior space and a plurality of entrances in open communication with the interior space, a downwardly sloping panel coupled to and disposed within the housing, and an adhesive attached to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the downwardly sloping panel. The downwardly sloping panel and the housing together define a tapering passageway which leads to a crevice opposite at least one of the plurality of entrances, and the adhesive attached to the bottom surface of the panel is adapted to capture the insect. |
| US08316576B1 |
Diving rattle lure
A fishing lure for producing a desired sound as the lure sinks in a fluid has a proximal end and a distal end, a first side wall and a second side wall between the proximal end and the distal end, and an upper surface and a lower surface between the proximal end and the distal end. A central chamber is positioned in the body between the lower surface and the upper surface and intermediate the front end and the rear end of the body. A rib is positioned in the central chamber proximate the lower surface. An upper weight and a lower weight are housed in the central chamber, with the lower weight detachably lodged proximate the rib in the central chamber. The upper weight pivots about the lower central weight as the lure sinks in the fluid to generate the desired sound vibrations. |
| US08316571B1 |
Rifle scope installation fixture and method of use
A method of installing a rifle scope to a rifle such that when the rifle is transversely level, the vertical line of the scope reticle is aligned with the direction of bullet drop. The method uses a mounting facilitating fixture having a rifle vice and a rifle vice transverse orientation adjustment device. First, the rifle is clamped into the rifle vice and the rifle vice transverse orientation adjustment device is adjusted until the rifle is transversely level. Then, while the rifle is still held in a transversely level position in the rifle vice, a scope having a vertical line in the reticle is connected to the rifle so that the vertical line is plumb in relation to the Earth. Because both the direction of bullet drop and the vertical line of the scope reticle are aligned with gravity, they are aligned with each other. |
| US08316569B1 |
Shotgun mounting system
A shotgun mounting system includes a shotgun having a receiver provided with a firing chamber adapted to receive and eject shotgun cartridges therefrom, a shell mounted on and at least partially covering the receiver and a rail arrangement located on the shell and adapted to mount a shotgun accessory to the shell in an adjustable position on the rail arrangement. |
| US08316567B2 |
Easy loading magazine
Described herein are embodiments of a firearm cartridge clip including a housing that forms a chamber. The firearm cartridge clip has first and second slots laterally disposed on first and second sides of the housing, respectively. First and second tracks are laterally disposed on inner-sides of the first and second sides of the housing respectively. Each of the tracks have a slot that corresponds to either the first slot or the second slot. A platform is disposed on a central axis of the housing and is slideably coupled to the first track and the second track. A grip mechanism is coupled the platform and configured to enable an individual to laterally slide the platform along the first track and the second track. A locking mechanism is coupled to the grip mechanism and is configured to be inserted into a locking mechanism receiver disposed on a distal end of the housing, which holds the platform in place prior to loading the magazine. |
| US08316563B2 |
Shoe and interchangeable shoe cover systems
Disclosed is a shoe and an interchangeable shoe cover system. The system includes a shoe having an upper with a bottom surface, a sole having an upper surface. One or more slots are defined between the bottom surface of the upper and the upper surface of the sole. The system also includes a shoe cover having at least one rigidly flexible frame member configured to engage with the one or more slots. The shoe cover also includes a cover material portion securely attached to the frame member and that is configured to be extendible into the upper portion of the shoe to secure the cover, as well as pull it taught or tension it over the outer surface of the shoe. |
| US08316558B2 |
Shoe
The present invention provides a shoe having a multi-layer, multi-density midsole where the surfaces between midsole layers have one or more convexities and one or more concavities which collectively contribute to simulating the effect, and imparting the fitness benefits, of walking on a sandy beach or on a giving or uneven surface regardless of the actual hardness of the surface. |
| US08316549B2 |
Compound leverage hand tool with interchangeable tool head
A compound leverage hand tool with an interchangeable tool head. The tool includes a pair of pivotably interconnected handles and a tool head defined by a pair of pivotably interconnected blade members. Each blade member terminates at one end in a mounting dowel that is pivotably mounted in a pair of retention slots in one of the handles. Tool head latches are pivotably mounted to the handles and include locking fingers that extend over the retention slots. The tool head latches can be pivoted relative to the handles between a locked position, wherein the locking fingers prevent the mounting dowels from being removed from the handles, and an unlocked position, wherein the mounting dowels can be removed from the handles. A spring biases the tool head latches toward the locked position. To unlock the tool head latches and remove the tool head, a user engages a tool head latch and pulls the handles apart. |
| US08316546B2 |
Insert type blade assembly of rotation drum type electric razor
A rotation drum type electric razor which includes a blade assembly (40) including a rotational shaft (100) which extends in a lengthwise direction; a plurality of rotational blade members (200) which are respectively formed into a cylindrical waterwheel shape having a plurality of blades (220) coupled to the rotational shaft (100) and in which a coupling protrusion (230) is formed at each end of the blades (220), and the blades (220) are fitted in turn to the rotational shaft (100) in the form of a zigzag shape. |
| US08316545B2 |
Hair removing apparatus
A hair removing apparatus has a hair removing device for at least partially removing hair projecting from a skin, a liquid channel leading to a liquid outlet, a pump for causing liquid displacement through the liquid channel to the liquid outlet, a motor coupled to the hair removing device; a transmission coupled to the motor and to the pump; and a control structure operable between at least a first and a second operating condition for dispensing liquid at different rates. The control structure is arranged for controlling amounts of movement transmitted by the transmission to the pump such that, in the first and second operating conditions, different amounts of movement are transmitted by the transmission to the pump. |
| US08316544B2 |
Expandable precured joint filler
A method of manufacturing an aircraft having adjacent spaced apart surface panels using a hollow filler within the gap between the spaced apart surface panels. |
| US08316543B2 |
Method for reconditioning a used grinding roller
The invention relates to a method for reconditioning a used grinding roller of a material bed roller mill having profile-members which are embedded, with a portion of the length thereof, in holes of the roller body and, with the remainder of the length thereof, project above the surface of the roller body. For the reconditioning operation, after the worn profile-members are removed, the worn surface of the roller body is turned, and a material layer is applied in a welding operation and is provided with holes for receiving new profile-members. Such a method allows particularly cost-effective reconditioning. |
| US08316542B2 |
Method of manufacturing total heat exchange element and total heat exchange element
A total heat exchange element includes a sheet-like partitioning member and space holding members on both sides of the partitioning member to form air paths and performs a heat exchange via the partitioning member between an air flow flowing through an air path formed on one side of the partitioning member and an air flow flowing through an air path formed on other side of the partitioning member. The partitioning member and the space holding members are bonded by a water-solvent adhesive in which a water-soluble moisture-absorbing agent is dissolved. |
| US08316541B2 |
Combustor heat shield with integrated louver and method of manufacturing the same
A combustor dome heat shield and a louver are separately metal injection molded and then fused together to form a one-piece combustor heat shield. |
| US08316540B2 |
Method of producing a land grid array (LGA) interposer structure
A method of producing a land grid array (LGA) interposer structure, including an electrically insulating carrier plane, and mounting at least one interposer on a first surface of said carrier plane. The interposer possesses a hemi-toroidal configuration in transverse cross-section and is constituted of a dielectric elastomeric material. At least one sidewall of the interposer is slitted to facilitate the venting of gases and pressure therethrough. The method includes arranging a plurality of electrically-conductive elements about the surface of the at least one hemi-toroidal interposer and extending them radically inwardly and downwardly from an uppermost end thereof into electrical contact with at least one component located on an opposite side of the electrically insulating carrier plane. |
| US08316538B2 |
Method for adapting an electronic component for surface mounting
The invention relates to a method for adapting an electronic component with leads that are not suited to surface mounting on an electrical circuit. The method includes a step of bending said leads. The bending step shapes the leads of said component so that they are suitable for mounting on the surface of the electrical circuit. In particular, the invention applies to electronic components such as radio frequency and microwave power transistors, marketed notably in a straight-lead version. |
| US08316537B2 |
Method of forming a lead
An implantable, substantially isodiametric, low resistance implantable lead having at least one electrode positioned in a stimulation/sensing portion of the lead as well as a method of manufacturing the same. At least the stimulation/sensing portion is unitized through partially surrounding and supporting insulation and conductive element(s) of the stimulation/sensing portion with a fused matrix of material having mechanical properties consistent with a body of the lead. |
| US08316535B2 |
Electronic device comprising a visible electronic element connected to an internal module and manufacturing process of such a device
A method for manufacturing an electronic device and a device manufactured according to this method including an assembly of at least two insulating sheets, at least one electronic element, a first insulating sheet including at least one window in which the electronic element is at least partially lodged. One face of the electronic element flushes with the external surface of said first insulating sheet. The device may further include an internal module located between the two insulating sheets, a layer of filling material, an adhesive protection film extending over a region covering at least the outline of the window, said protection film being situated between the first insulating sheet and the layer of filling material covering the protection film and the internal module, conductive connection areas electrically linked to the internal module through an opening of the protection film and positioned on an internal face opposite to the external face of the electronic element. The adhesive protection film prevents the appearance of undesirable residues of filling material on the external face of the device in the vicinity of the electronic element. |
| US08316528B2 |
Method for making electrical windings for transformers and electrical apparatus
A method of manufacturing electrical windings for transformers and electrical apparatus is disclosed. This method comprises the following steps: manufacturing a metal mandrel defining the internal shape of the winding; installation of an internal insulation and support; installation of side rings; pouring impregnation compound on horizontally turning mandrel for obtaining a thin layer on the operational area of the mandrel and side surface of the side rings; optionally curing this layer; fixation of the first end wire using one of side rings; manufacturing winding with simultaneous pouring of compound onto the mandrel; possibly introducing intermediate insulation and/or reinforcing layers of preimpregnated reinforced plastics; optionally inserting premade sleeves around section of the winding; fixation of the second end wire using one of side rings; possibly introducing external insulation or reinforcing layers of preimpregnated reinforced plastics; possibly manufacturing secondary windings on top of the wound winding; curing the winding; extraction of the cured winding or a set of cured windings from the mandrel. |
| US08316523B2 |
Method for centering engine structures
A method for centering an engine structure such as a bearing housing is provided which may be used, for example, during assembly of a mid turbine frame or other engine case structure. In one aspect, the method includes using spacers with respective radial spokes which connect inner and outer portions of the case. In another aspect, centring may be provided by machining selected contacting surfaces of selected components. |
| US08316519B2 |
Method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element
A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element that includes a piezoelectric ceramic body containing an internal electrode. The piezoelectric ceramic body is mainly made of a perovskite complex oxide containing an alkali metal niobate-based compound containing at least one element selected from among K, Li, and Na. The internal electrode is made of a base metal material, such as Ni or Cu. The piezoelectric element is produced by co-sintering the internal electrode and the piezoelectric ceramic body in a reducing atmosphere. |
| US08316515B2 |
Magnetic hook and loop interface system
An interface system for hook and loop engagement structures comprises a first interface patch and a second interface patch. The first interface patch has a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface thereof. Hook engagement structures extend from the first major surface of the first interface patch. A first magnetic element is embedded within the first interface patch between said first and second major surfaces thereof. The second interface patch has a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface thereof. Loop engagement structures extend from the first major surface of the second interface patch. A second magnetic element is embedded within the second interface patch between said first and second major surfaces thereof. |
| US08316514B2 |
Trim clip for trim for curtain side air bag
A trim clip includes a tether, a main clip body, and a pin. In the assembled condition, a body securing part and a trim securing part of the main clip body are directly connected. The trim securing part has a leg formed as a hollow tubular member. Flexible first latching pawls are formed in the leg and protrude radially outward from the leg. When the pin is inserted into the leg of the body securing part, then second latching pawls on the inside of the leg engage a latching shoulder on the pin, and pulling up on the pin is limited and inward movement of the first latching pawls is prevented, thus securing of the body securing part to a body panel is strengthened. |
| US08316511B2 |
Apparatus for tightening two belts
A belt-tightening apparatus includes a frame, a handle, a shaft, two ratchet wheels, two spring-biased detents and a connector. The shaft is used to rotationally connect the handle to the frame and wind a first belt. The ratchet wheels are connected to the shaft. The first spring-biased detent is movably connected to the handle for engagement with the ratchet wheels. The second spring-biased detent is movably connected to the frame for engagement with the ratchet wheels. The connector includes a tube and a reinforcement strip. The tube is connected to the frame on one hand and connected to the second belt on the other hand. The reinforcement strip is inserted in the tube for reinforcing the tube. |
| US08316498B2 |
Dusting equipment
A dusting equipment (1) for dusting a substantially parallelepiped-shaped or prism-shaped item (9), in particular a book. The equipment comprises a dusting station (6), a carriage (4) and motive means (44, 51, 55) adapted to move the carriage (4) with a reciprocating motion along a moving path between a first position for receiving the item (9) and a second end-of-stroke position. The carriage (4) is adapted to move the item (9) through the dusting station (6) during a motion between the first receiving position and the second end-of-stroke position, and vice versa. |
| US08316496B2 |
Dental hygiene device
A toothbrush for brushing the bite surface and two sides of a tooth simultaneously including a handle and three brush head connected to the handle. The head assembly includes three brushes that are rotated about 3 parallel vertical axis while the assembly itself is rotatable about an angle of at least 180° so that a single brush cleans/polishes the inner surface of the teeth in the individual's mouth as the assembly is moved from one side of the individual's mouth to the other side. |
| US08316488B2 |
Contoured body support pillow
There is disclosed a support pillow. The support pillow includes a body with a head rest and a neck rest along with a pair of arms extending outward and forward from the body to thereby surround the sides of the head and neck of a user. The support pillow may also incorporate a storage bag for compressing and storing the body and arms of the support pillow. |
| US08316487B2 |
Evacuation mattress
An evacuation mattress comprises an integral mattress including a mattress interior, a mattress top face sheet, four mattress side face sheets, and a bottom sheet. The bottom sheet forms both the mattress bottom face sheet and an evacuation bottom sheet. The integral evacuation mattress also includes a top evacuation sheet configured to be deployed over a patient who is disposed above the mattress top face sheet. The integral evacuation mattress further includes securing structure configured to secure the top evacuation sheet to the patient and the integral mattress. Transport structure is also included in the integral evacuation mattress and is configured for a person to drag the secured patient and integral mattress from a hospital. |
| US08316483B2 |
Foldable and portable playard assemblies with a storage compartment and methods of use thereof
Foldable and portable playard assemblies with a storage compartment and methods of use thereof are disclosed. An example playard includes a lower frame having a collapsed position and an erected position, an upper frame having a collapsed position and an erected position and a plurality of corner posts coupling the lower frame and the upper frame. The example playard also includes an upper extension member coupled to and extending from the upper frame and a lower extension member coupled to extending from the lower frame. The upper extension member, the lower extension and two of the plurality of corner posts form a storage compartment frame. In addition, the storage compartment frame remains in an extended position when the lower frame is in the collapsed position and the upper frame is in the collapsed position. |
| US08316479B2 |
Convertible furniture unit
A convertible furniture unit constituted by a sofa having an exposed wall and that can be converted into a folding double bed or into two mutually separate single beds. The conversion from double bed to two single beds occurs in the day version, with the beds arranged vertically, by virtue of the sliding movement on a rail (6) of the two portions (2, 3). The spring-based balancing system, the levers (18) and the fulcrums (22) of rotation are inside the supporting structure. The shoulders (8, 9) of the piece of furniture that embed the sprung bases in the day position are fixed to the sprung bases themselves and, by rotation, become the side boards of the bed in the night position; in this manner, the unit does not have, in the night version, the appearance of exposed wall-mounted furniture. The unit also allows, in the day version, to join without gaps the two seats into a sofa and, in the night version, to join the two single beds to form a double sprung base. |
| US08316475B2 |
High performance toilet capable of operation at reduced flush volumes
A siphonic, gravity-powered toilet is provided that includes a toilet bowl assembly having a toilet bowl. The toilet bowl has a rim channel provided along an upper periphery thereof and a direct-fed jet channel that allows fluid, such as water, to flow from the inlet of the toilet bowl assembly to the direct-fed jet outlet port into the interior of the toilet bowl, in the sump of the bowl. The rim channel includes at least one rim channel outlet port. In this toilet, the cross-sectional areas of the toilet bowl assembly inlet, the inlet port to the rim channel, and the outlet port to the direct-fed jet channel are configured so as to be optimized to provide greatly improved hydraulic function at low flush volumes (no greater than about 6.0 liters per flush). The hydraulic function is improved in terms of bulk removal of waste and cleansing of the bowl. |
| US08316474B2 |
Drainage apparatus for a sink
The present invention relates to a drainage apparatus for a sink, in which it is possible to drain wash water rapidly without having residue substances such as foreign substances and the like caught thereon, and prevent leakage of malodor in advance, thereby achieving excellent cleanliness, facilitating an operation and maintenance of the drainage apparatus due to its simple configuration and structure. Thus, according to the drainage apparatus for a sink of the invention, residue substances, foreign substances and the like are not caught on the drainage apparatus, the female screw-shaped grooves induce vortex of wash water, thereby rapidly draining the wash water, and the float ball made of positive buoyancy material is insertingly mounted inside of the tubular drainage body so as to ascend or descend by means of the wash water, thereby preventing leakage of malodor in advance, achieving excellent cleanliness, and facilitating an assembling operation and maintenance/repair of the drainage apparatus due to its simple configuration and structure. |
| US08316473B2 |
Toilet seat cover
The present invention relates to a toilet seat cover for covering and sanitizing a toilet seat comprising: a top edge; a bottom edge; two side edges, where the side edges include two curved portions on each side; and two seat ridge edges above the curved portions, where seat cover includes an antibacterial agent or a disinfectant that allows a user to wipe the seat prior to use. The toilet seat cover according to the present invention may be used to cover a portion of the toilet seat, where the seat cover drapes over a portion of the toilet seat while the bottom end lies within the toilet bowl. The toilet seat cover may be made of a biodegradable material and suitable for flushing into a sewage system. |
| US08316469B2 |
Garment for aiding in walking of pet
A garment that includes a garment structure, a plurality of loop members, and first, second and third pocket assemblies. Each loop member is coupled to a waist portion of the garment structure and remains attached thereto in response to the application of a leash force of 37 lbf thereto. The first pocket assembly is configured to hold a plurality of disposable plastic bags and defines an opening through which the disposable plastic bags can be dispensed. The second pocket assembly is configured to receive one or more of the disposable plastic bags that have been filled with pet excrement. Each third pocket assembly is coupled to the lower portion of the garment structure and is configured to hold a tennis ball therein. |
| US08316468B2 |
Hockey pant with removable outer shell
A protective pant comprising an inner pant including at least one first protective member, and an outer pant independent from the inner pant, the outer pant including at least one second protective member and a retaining element for retaining the out pant in place around the inner pant, the first and second protective members cooperating to protect at least one body portion of a wearer. |
| US08316464B2 |
Convertible swimwear
Convertible swimwear comprising a top piece and extendable bottom piece; the top piece having a plurality of fasteners along the lower portion thereof and the extendable bottom piece having a plurality of corresponding fasteners along the upper edge thereof to be releasably secured to the fasteners on the lower portion of the top piece. The position of the fasteners may be reversed. The bottom piece further includes a string component secured on the upper edge of the bottom piece, where upon releasing of the respective fasteners the string component is pulled away from the lower edge of the bottom piece bringing the upper edge of the bottom piece substantially close to said lower edge of the bottom piece and thereby rolling, folding or scrunching the upper edge of the bottom piece to effectively convert a one piece to two piece style bathing suit. |
| US08316462B2 |
Tip-to-work distance communication system for a welding mask
A system enables transmitting a torch angle and/or a torch-to-workpiece distance error to a welding operator when these parameters are outside of a preset optimal range via real time audio cues. Weld characteristics are communicated via audio signals, which indicate to the welding operator the direction and severity of the torch angle error. Audio cues, such as pulsed or continuous tones, are used to communicate torch-to-workpiece distance to the welding operator. |
| US08321961B2 |
Production scale fabrication method for high resolution AFM tips
A method of fabricating high resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips including a single semiconductor nanowire grown at an apex of a semiconductor pyramid of each AFM tip is provided. The semiconductor nanowire that is grown has a controllable diameter and a high aspect ratio, without significant tapering from the tip of the semiconductor nanowire to its base. The method includes providing an AFM probe including a semiconductor cantilever having a semiconductor pyramid extending upward from a surface of said semiconductor cantilever. The semiconductor pyramid has an apex. A patterned oxide layer is formed on the AFM probe. The patterned oxide layer has an opening that exposes the apex of the semiconductor pyramid. A single semiconductor nanowire is grown on the exposed apex of the semiconductor pyramid utilizing a non-oxidized Al seed material as a catalyst for nanowire growth. |
| US08321958B1 |
Detecting presence of a subject string in a target string and security event qualification based on prior behavior by an end user of a computer system
A software-based security agent that hooks into the operating system of a computer device in order to continuously audit the behavior and conduct of the end user of the computer device. The detected actions of the end user can be stored in a queue or log file that can be continuously monitored to detect patterns of behavior that may constitute a policy violation and/or security risk. When a pattern of behavior that may constitute a policy violation and/or security risk is detected, an event may be triggered. A frequency vector string matching algorithm also is disclosed. The frequency vector string matching algorithm may be used to detect the presence or partial presence of subject strings within a target string of alphanumeric characters. The frequency vector string matching algorithm could be used to detect typos in stored computer records or to search for records based on partial information. In addition, the frequency vector string matching algorithm could be used to search communications for sensitive information that has been manipulated, obscured, or partially elided. In addition, an anomaly analysis is disclosed for comparing behavior patterns of one user against the behavior patterns of other users to detect anomalous behaviors. |
| US08321956B2 |
Remote access control of storage devices
An access control device can be communicationally coupled to a storage device and can control access thereto. The access control device can comprise information, such as identities of authorized entities, to enable the access control device to independently determine whether to provide access to an associated storage device. Alternatively, the access control device can comprise information to establish a secure connection to an authorization computing device and the access control device can implement the decisions of the authorization computing device. The access control device can control access by instructing a storage device to execute specific firmware instructions to prevent meaningful responses to data storage related requests. The access control device can also comprise storage-related cryptographic information utilized by the storage device to encrypt and decrypt data. In such a case, the access control device can control access by not releasing the storage-related cryptographic information to the storage device. |
| US08321955B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting against denial of service attacks
Systems and methods utilizing the network layer and/or application layer to provide security in distributed computing systems in order to thwart denial of service attacks. The systems and methods of the present invention utilize puzzles placed at the network layer level and/or application layer level to protect against denial of service attacks. Further, the systems and methods of the present invention advantageously provide a robust and flexible solution to support puzzle issuance at arbitrary points in the network, including end hosts, firewalls, and routers and thereby a defense against denial of service attacks. |
| US08321954B2 |
Informing recipient device of message content properties
According to an aspect of the invention, a content class of a data set for a message to be transmitted to the recipient device is defined. A network element transferring messages to the recipient device specifies at least one information element in a message to the recipient terminal such that the information element comprises an indication of the content class. The message is transmitted to the recipient device. |
| US08321947B2 |
Method and system for dynamically generating a watermarked document during a printing or display operation
A dynamic watermarking capability is implemented in an enterprise rights management (ERM) or similar system that comprises a central server to which end user client machines are connectable. The central server has a database in which watermark definitions created by authorized entities are centrally stored. An end user client machine is provided with a client component that typically includes wrapper code, and watermarking rendering code. The wrapper and rendering code are instantiated when a given calling application is started, or when the application initiates a given rendering function such as a print or display operation. When the calling application begins the rendering operation, the wrapper code intercepts a given rendering function call, connects to the central server and then retrieves a watermark definition. Alternatively, the watermark definition is retrieved when a document to be rendered is first accessed on the client machine. The watermark definition is then applied by the watermark rendering code, preferably using local rendering resources. |
| US08321939B1 |
Method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payloads analysis
A method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payload analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data packets, each of the plurality of data packets containing a portion of a data pattern, determining whether each of the plurality of data packets is out of order, and making and storing a local copy of the corresponding data packet if the corresponding data packet is out of order. Other embodiments have been claimed and described. |
| US08321938B2 |
Multi-tiered scalable network monitoring
A network analysis architecture provides a suite of complementary logic operable at different temporal and spatial timescales. The distinct temporal and spatial scales define different tiers, each analyzing network events according to predetermined temporal and spatial scales of progressive magnitude. Particular event detection logic may be operable on an immediate temporal scale, while other logic identifies trends over a longer time period. Similarly, different spatial scales are appropriate to different algorithms, as in logic that examines only headers or length of packets, or inspects an entire payload or transferred file. Deployment of logic that is focused on different timing and scope of data allows timely action in the case of readily apparent deviations, and permits longer term analysis for identifying trends that emerge over time. By selecting a suite of complementary logic directed at different deviant behavior, the focus of a single logic scheme is not charged with producing absolute screening of all traffic. |
| US08321937B2 |
Methods and system for determining performance of filters in a computer intrusion prevention detection system
An intrusion prevention/detection system filter (IPS filter) performance evaluation is provided. The performance evaluation is performed at both the security center and at the customer sites to derive a base confidence score and local confidence scores. Existence of new vulnerability is disclosed and its attributes are used in the generation of new IPS filter or updates. The generated IPS filter is first tested to determine its base confidence score from test confidence attributes prior to deploying it to a customer site. A deep security manager and deep security agent, at the customer site, collect local confidence attributes that are used for determining the local confidence score. The local confidence score and the base confidence score are aggregated to form a global confidence score. The local and global confidence scores are then compared to deployment thresholds to determine whether the IPS filter should be deployed in prevention or detection mode or sent back to the security center for improvement. |
| US08321935B1 |
Identifying originators of malware
A malware analysis component receives information concerning malware infections on a large plurality of client computers, as detected by an anti-malware product or submitted directly by users. The malware analysis component analyzes this wide array of information, and identifies suspicious malware detection and submission activity associated with specific sources. Where identified suspicious patterns of malware detection and submission activity associated with a specific source meet a given threshold over time, the malware analysis component determines that the source is an originator of malware. |
| US08321932B2 |
Program-based authorization
Techniques which allow definition and enforcement of program-based action authorization policies. On a computer, an action or execution attempt is intercepted in real-time. The subject process, the program file of the subject process, the attempted action and the object of the attempted action are determined. An authorization policy considering the program file indicates whether the attempted action is authorized or not. In a tracking mode, the attempted action and its authorization are logged and the attempted action is allowed to proceed. In an enforcement mode, unauthorized attempts are blocked and logged, thereby enforcing the authorization policy. |
| US08321930B1 |
Keyboard input coordinate-based login system
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for granting access to a component of a computing device. In particular, embodiments provide methods of presenting a plurality of images on a screen of the computing device. Keyboard-based inputs are received, where the inputs are based on relationships between the images. Based on the accuracy of the inputs received, access is granted to the component of the computing device. |
| US08321921B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing authentication and encryption services by a software as a service platform
An extensible servicing hosting platform is provided that supports the design, build and concurrent deployment of multiple web accessible services on a services hosting platform. The services hosting platform comprises a services hosting framework capable of hosting multiple service applications, each of which may be shared by multiple tenants that each customize their use of a particular application service by extending the application service to exploit run time platform services within a service execution pipeline. The services hosting framework may easily be leveraged by applications to decrease the time associated with developing, deploying and maintaining high quality services in a cost effective manner. |
| US08321920B2 |
Image forming system and image forming apparatus
An image forming system comprising: a server device including user information, for performing a user authentication via a computer network and for receiving and adding up count data on a user basis; and an image forming apparatus including: a storage unit to which a data area for storing therein the count data including a count value of an occurrence of a predetermined event can be allocated; a login processing unit for determining whether or not to permit a user to log in; a count unit for updating, when the predetermined event occurs based on an operation performed by the user permitted to log in, the count data for the user; and a transmission unit for transmitting, when the user logs out, the count data for the user to the server device. |
| US08321919B2 |
Framework for delegating roles in human resources ERP systems
Embodiments presented herein provide transaction delegation systems and methods that allow a delegator to select any user to act as a proxy on that manager's behalf with respect to certain transactions. In embodiments, a manager is able to select different users to manage different transactions. A user can accept a proxy request and obtain the necessary security access when the delegation is active. Thus, the proxy user is able to approve and/or initiate the selected transactions even if the security for those transactions is higher than what the proxy user would normally have. In embodiments, an administrator is able to configure the delegations and can ensure that the delegated authority is revoked when the delegated authority expires. |
| US08321917B2 |
Connection authentication system, terminal apparatus, connection authentication server, connection authentication method, and program
The first terminal apparatus includes a key information acquiring unit that acquires key information from a connection authentication server, a key information notifying unit that notifies the first user of the key information, and a connection information acquiring unit that acquires connection information from the connection authentication server. The second terminal apparatus includes a key information input unit that receives the key information transmitted to the second user and an information providing unit that provides the key information and the connection information to the connection authentication server. The connection authentication server includes a key information providing unit that provides the key information to the first terminal apparatus, an information acquiring unit that acquires the key information and connection information of the second terminal apparatus from the second terminal apparatus, and a connection information providing unit that provides the connection information to the first terminal apparatus. |
| US08321912B2 |
Centralized identity authentication for electronic communication networks
A method of centralized identity authentication for use in connection with a communications network includes registering users of the communications network such that each registered user's identity is uniquely defined and determinable, and registering a plurality of vendors having a presence on the communications network. The registered vendors selectively transact with registered users, wherein the transactions include: (i) the registered vendor selling goods and/or services to the registered user; (ii) the registered vendor granting the registered user access to personal records maintained by the registered vendor; and/or (iii) the registered vendor communicating to the registered user personal information maintained by the registered vendor. The method also includes each user's identity being authenticated over the communications network prior to completion of transactions between registered vendors and registered users. |
| US08321909B2 |
Identity mediation in enterprise service bus
A system, and computer usable program product for identity mediation in an enterprise service bus are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A security information is received at the enterprise service bus from a first application executing in a first data processing system. The security information is a part of a request for service from a second application executing in a second data processing system. A part of the security information is identified to be transformed such that the part upon transformation is usable for handling the request by the second application. A security policy applicable to the identified part is selected and the identified part is transformed according to the security policy. The transforming results in a transformed security information. The transformed security information is sent to the second application. |
| US08321903B2 |
External services allocation in closed on-demand systems
Integrating external on-demand services is performed through embedding a pseudo on-demand video-title for each new on-demand external service, which is activated by an original session manager (SM) once a particular set-top converter box (STB), which belongs to a particular group_id, initiates a request for the external service. An STB application intercepts SM tuning information on the selected transport_id and service_id of the pseudo service and recovers the address of the selected edge device and QAM in the original system, associated with the intercepted transport_id, through the inverse mapping the couple (group_id, transport_id) to the edge and QAM IP and UDP port addresses which map is set by external management system. The STB application initiates the external on-demand service with same edge and QAM but with a different unique external_service_id , through streaming of the external service to the recovered edge IP address and to a new UDP port number where the new UDP port number encodes the original QAM address with the new unique external_service_id number of the external service, and tunes to the new external_service_id. |
| US08321898B2 |
Content display-playback system, content display-playback method, and recording medium and operation control apparatus used therewith
A content display-playback system includes a content providing apparatus, a content display-playback apparatus, and an operation control apparatus for controlling the apparatuses. On the basis of operation control by the control apparatus, content is transmitted from the providing apparatus to the display-playback apparatus for display and playback through a network. The control apparatus includes an input operation receiving unit for receiving an operation input, a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal for transmitting and receiving the content among the providing, display-playback, and control apparatuses in response to the operation input, and a storage unit for storing selection-history information. When the receiving unit receives an operation input for transmitting the content from the providing apparatus to the display-playback apparatus, the generating unit generates a control signal for selecting a display-playback apparatus on the basis of the selection-history information and transmitting the content to the selected display-playback apparatus. |
| US08321895B2 |
Selecting program items depending on a period of time in which the program items are to be stored
The invention relates to an apparatus for selecting at least one program item to be stored on the basis of user preferences. The apparatus comprises a receiver (110) for obtaining program schedule data related to at least one program item, and a timer (150) arranged to ascertain a period of time in which at least one program item is to be stored, a user preference module (130) arranged to obtain user preferences for at least one program item to be stored in the ascertained period of time, and a selection unit (140) arranged to select, using the program schedule data and the user preferences, at least one program item to be stored over a long period of time which is substantially longer than regular periods of nonusage of the apparatus. The invention takes into consideration that the user preferences for storing the program items may depend on the period of time in which the program items are to be selected. |
| US08321894B2 |
Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus
A transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus have improved characteristics such as entertainment and convenience for a user who receives content received by a digital satellite broadcast receiver. A broadcasting side, along with a first content (video/audio content), broadcasts content (second content) as data for forming a GUI related to a broadcast content as the video/audio signal. A reception apparatus side receiving the content executes a process for outputting a GUI together with a picture of the first content in accordance with the description in a script of the second content. Further, a process is executed to generate use history information in accordance with the user's use of the first content in the reception apparatus and to change the content of a service provided on the GUI based on the use history information. According to this structure, the service content provided on the GUI varies in accordance with the operation and behavior of the user in response to a screen picture/audio of the first content. |
| US08321893B2 |
Apparatus and method for discovering ESG bootstrap entry point in CBMS system
A method of providing discovery information of an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) bootstrap entry point is provided. The method includes listing at least one piece of ESG bootstrap characteristic information for an ESG bootstrap proper for a status of a terminal, creating a Management Object (MO), which connects the ESG bootstrap entry point with said at least one piece of ESG bootstrap characteristic information and transmitting the created MO to the terminal through an interactive channel. |
| US08321891B2 |
Method and system for assigning categories to channels in a subscriber television system
In a subscriber television system, assigning categories to a channel as an entity reduces the searching requirements associated with searching a database of thousands of individual program records, identifying the channel on which an identified program will be displayed, and then sorting the resultant information. The channel information is searched for the assigned category information and the associated program information for just those channels is retrieved. This reduces the processor requirements for searching the thousands of records in the program records database. With the reduced processor requirements and the increased efficiency of information organization for searching, a single machine state change is possible between viewing full screen video and a browse banner or between viewing full screen program information and video with a browse banner. |
| US08321886B2 |
Method of providing controlled-access information and video receiving apparatus to use the same
In a controlled access broadcast system, a method of providing controlled-access information to a user includes determining whether a selected channel is a controlled-access channel, determining whether a smart card mounted in a smart card mounting part is configured to access the selected channel, if the selected channel is determined to be a controlled-access channel, and displaying indicia that indicates the configuration of the mounted smart card with respect to access to the selected channel. Therefore, a user can mount a smart card to access the controlled-access channel, thus increasing user convenience. |
| US08321883B2 |
Disk drive with encoder holder indentation
A disk drive is disclosed. The disk drive can include includes a spindle motor, which can rotate a disk; an encoder, which can detect the rotational speed of the disk; an encoder holder, which secures the encoder; and a base plate, which supports the spindle motor, and in which a holder indentation is formed for inserting the encoder holder in. Certain embodiments of the invention allow easy height adjustments for the encoder holder, so that the encoder may maintain a particular distance from the disk, and also allow the encoder to be fitted onto the base plate, even in cases where the base plate has a limited mounting area. |
| US08321881B2 |
Media processing device and control method for a media processing device
A media processing device does not execute a media transportation process if the height of media stacked in a media storage unit is at an over capacity level, and reliably prevents problems such as damage to the media transportation mechanism caused by collision with the stacked media. If in the media processing device 200 the height of media stacked in a media storage unit 121, 122 is at a full stack level or over capacity level (step S33 returns yes or step S35 returns yes), an appropriate warning is output (step S34 or step S36) and collision accidents of the media transportation mechanism 131 can be prevented. |
| US08321875B2 |
Selectively updating web pages on a mobile client
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for enabling the selective updating of web pages provided to a mobile client using, for example, AJAX technology. The system, method, and computer program product are optionally further extended to harmonize synchronization of data retrieved by other methods with data updated using AJAX. The use of AJAX technology is disclosed within the context of additional technology suites which may be substituted to achieve the same function. Additionally, the use of queuing AJAX updates is discussed. |
| US08321873B2 |
System and method for offline data generation for online system analysis
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and/or method offline data generation for online system analysis. |
| US08321872B2 |
Reusable, operating system aware hardware mutex
Hardware resources sharing for a computer system running software tasks. A controller stores records including a mutex ID tag and a waiter flag in a cache. Lock and unlock registers are readable by the controller and loadable by the tasks with a mutex ID specifying a hardware resource. The controller monitors whether the lock register for loading with a mutex ID, and then determines whether it corresponds with the tag of a record in the cache. If so, it sets the record's waiter flag. If not, it adds a record having a tag corresponding with the mutex ID. The controller also monitors whether the unlock register for loading with a mutex ID, and then determines whether it corresponds with the tag of a record in the cache. If so, it determines whether that record's waiter flag is set and, if so, it clears that record from the cache. |
| US08321866B2 |
System and method for data synchronization for a computer architecture for broadband networks
A computer architecture and programming model for high speed processing over broadband networks are provided. The architecture employs a consistent modular structure, a common computing module and uniform software cells. The common computing module includes a control processor, a plurality of processing units, a plurality of local memories from which the processing units process programs, a direct memory access controller and a shared main memory. A synchronized system and method for the coordinated reading and writing of data to and from the shared main memory by the processing units also are provided. A processing system for processing computer tasks is also provided. A first processor is of a first processor type and a number of second processors are of a second processor type. One of the second processors manages process scheduling of computing tasks by providing tasks to at least one of the first and second processors. |
| US08321865B2 |
Processing of streaming data with a keyed delay
A keyed delay is used in the processing of streaming data to decrease the processing performed and the output provided. A first event, within a particular window, having a particular key starts a delay condition. Arriving events with the same key replace the previous arrival for that key until the delay condition is satisfied. In response thereto, the latest event with that key is output. |
| US08321863B2 |
Security management device and method
In a case where a master virtual machine, which is constructed on the basis of master information for configuring either part or all of a virtual machine, and an individual virtual machine, which is constructed on the basis of individual information that is configured partially or entirely in accordance with the master information, exist as the types of virtual machines that a physical client provides to a user terminal, a security check of a plurality of virtual machines is selectively executed, with respect to each check item, for a virtual machine of the type corresponding to the contents of the check item. |
| US08321860B2 |
Local collector
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for remotely collecting data from the local storage of a machines. For example, embodiments of the method involve deploying a collection tool to the machine via a network, automatically installing the collection tool on the machine, generating a snapshot of the data, storing the snapshot in a storage area on the machine, and transmitting the data from the storage area to a remote collection server. Because the data is transmitted from the snapshot stored in the storage area rather than from the original data stored on the local storage of the machine, the data may be transmitted to the remote collection server without substantially affecting a user's ability to use the machine and interact with the data stored on the machine. |
| US08321859B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispensing on a data-storage medium customized content comprising selected assets
An apparatus and method for obtaining a storage medium with a deeply customizable set of installed content. Soft assets (e.g., programs, songs, videos, etc.) that form the content are selected from among a much larger set of preinstalled soft assets previously stored on storage media, such as disk drives. In some embodiments, based on a user's selections, the non-selected assets are permanently erased from a storage medium, while the remaining assets are available as installed (wherein substantially no further processing is required to install them). In some embodiments, a new device uses the storage medium to provide its user with a fully functional device without the need to separately install the soft assets from a plurality of sources (e.g., from program-distribution CDROMS and the like). Some embodiments include the storage medium having the soft assets installed, and including a program that elicits selections from a user and erases non-selected assets. |
| US08321857B1 |
Automated generation of application data for application distribution
An application registration module executes on a client, extracting metadata from a local application designed for an operating system of the client, formulating installation instructions, and providing the application, metadata, and installation instructions to a distribution server. The distribution server can then be used to facilitate installation of the application on other clients having the same operating system as the source client. |
| US08321853B2 |
Type and property definition support for software
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to type and property definition support for software. In aspects, new types can be added to an application model after the software has been created without changing the software. After software is created and embodied in computer code, a new type definition may be received by a user type service. The user type service may then place the new type definition in a data store in which other types native to the software are located. The software may then use the new type definitions and properties associated therewith in queries and in user interfaces provided by the software. |
| US08321852B2 |
System and method for extending a component-based application platform with custom services
A system and method for dynamically associating an application with an extension service to generate an extended, dynamically linked version of the application. The application is configurable for deployment on an electronic device and for subsequent interaction with the extension service during execution through communication messages defined in a structured definition language. The system and method include a parser module configured for analyzing a set of service metadata descriptors to identify a communication interface associated with the extension service, such that the service metadata descriptors describe the communication interface including structure and type of parameters expected by the extension service for use in manipulation of the communication messages. The system and method also include a linking module coupled to the parser module for using the communication interface and a reference to the extension service in the code of the application to build a runtime dynamic link between the extension service and the application to produce the executable application. |
| US08321850B2 |
Sharing and persisting code caches
Computer code from an application program comprising a plurality of modules that each comprise a separately loadable file is code cached in a shared and persistent caching system. A shared code caching engine receives native code comprising at least a portion of a single module of the application program, and stores runtime data corresponding to the native code in a cache data file in the non-volatile memory. The engine then converts cache data file into a code cache file and enables the code cache file to be pre-loaded as a runtime code cache. These steps are repeated to store a plurality of separate code cache files at different locations in non-volatile memory. |
| US08321849B2 |
Virtual architecture and instruction set for parallel thread computing
A virtual architecture and instruction set support explicit parallel-thread computing. The virtual architecture defines a virtual processor that supports concurrent execution of multiple virtual threads with multiple levels of data sharing and coordination (e.g., synchronization) between different virtual threads, as well as a virtual execution driver that controls the virtual processor. A virtual instruction set architecture for the virtual processor is used to define behavior of a virtual thread and includes instructions related to parallel thread behavior, e.g., data sharing and synchronization. Using the virtual platform, programmers can develop application programs in which virtual threads execute concurrently to process data; virtual translators and drivers adapt the application code to particular hardware on which it is to execute, transparently to the programmer. |
| US08321847B1 |
Dynamic function wizard
A device receives selection of a function category associated with a dynamically-type programming language, receives selection of a function associated with the selected function category, dynamically generates one or more function signatures associated with the selected function, and stores at least a subset of the one or more function signatures in a memory or displays at least a subset of the one or more function signatures to a user. |
| US08321844B2 |
Providing registration of a communication
A computer-implemented method for providing registration of a communication includes locating a reference in metadata for an object-processing framework. The reference identifies a portion of logic that performs a specific service. The method includes storing at least part of the located reference in a trace object. The method includes replacing the located reference in the metadata with a reference to the trace object. |
| US08321841B2 |
Validation framework for service oriented architecture (SOA) application adoption
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to business process model validation and provide a method, system and computer program product for validating a service oriented architecture (SOA) oriented application. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for validating an SOA oriented application can be provided. The method can include transforming a business process model for an SOA oriented application into a directed and connected, acyclic graph, further transforming service groupings for the business process model into corresponding directed and connected, acyclic graphs, computing all paths from root node to leaf node in the graph for the business process model, and validating the business process model by ensuring no loops or cycles in the graph for the business process model, and further validating the business process model by ensuring no shared vertices amongst the graphs for the service groupings. |
| US08321837B2 |
Techniques for minimum permissions detection and verification
Techniques are provided for determining a minimum set of permissions for a software component. A first set of minimum permissions is determined for proper execution of the software component. The first set designates one or more permissions. Determining the first set includes performing iterative testing to determine whether one or more user permissions are included in the first set by only disabling one of the user permissions on an iteration. Verification processing may be performed in which a second set of minimum permissions is determined and the first set may be compared to the second set to determine whether the first set is equivalent to the second set. |
| US08321831B2 |
Architectural design for internal projects application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing an internal projects application useful for planning and executing internal projects and measures, including network scheduling, resource staffing, cost estimation and management, time confirmation, and progress monitoring. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Costing process component that maintains project cost estimates; an Accounting process component that records relevant business transactions; a Project Processing process component that structures, plans and executes simple, short-term measures and complex projects; and a Time and Labor Management process component that supports the definition of employees' planned working times as well as the recording of the actual working times and absences and their evaluation. |
| US08321830B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing timing information while designing a multi-cell circuit
A method and apparatus are described for providing timing information to a view placement interactive (VPI) tool user designing a multi-cell circuit. A circuit design comprising a plurality of cells is displayed to the user. Each cell includes a pre-characterized circuit structure. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be used to request a cell placement change, a design connectivity change or a cell type change. The circuit design is modified to implement the requested change, an incremental static timing analysis is performed, and the resulting timing information associated with the requested change is presented on the displayed circuit design. Timing information may be displayed directly on a cell that receives an output from the particular cell, and/or may be displayed adjacent to the particular cell. The timing information may include current and previous frequency slack information associated with each input and output pin of the particular cell. |
| US08321828B2 |
Dummy fill to reduce shallow trench isolation (STI) stress variation on transistor performance
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure on a chip includes extracting an active layer from a design of the integrated circuit structure, forming a guard band conforming to the shape of the active layer, the guard band surrounds the active layer, and the guard band is spaced from the active layer at a first spacing in the X-axis direction and at a second spacing in the Y-axis direction, removing any part of the guard band that violates design rules, removing convex corners of the guard band, and adding dummy diffusion patterns into the remaining space of the chip outside the guard band. The first and second spacing can be specified as the same spacings in a Spice model characterization of the integrated circuit structure. The dummy diffusion patterns with different granularities can be added so that the diffusion density is substantially uniform over the chip. |
| US08321827B2 |
Power supply design
In one embodiment, there is provided a method for a computer aiding a design of a power supply that includes extracting data of one of a plurality of power supplies of an apparatus from product data about the apparatus, extracting data of a power supply system from power supply system data, the one of the plurality power supplies system is not allocated to any of the plurality of power supplies of the apparatus and associating the extracted data of the power supply with the extracted data of the power supply system in power supply allocation result data. |
| US08321826B2 |
Method and apparatus of core timing prediction of core logic in the chip-level implementation process through an over-core window on a chip-level routing layer
A method and/or an apparatus of core timing prediction is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include generating a core timing model of a core logic that is accurately transferable to any chip-level integration process. The method may reduce performance degradation and/or performance variation of the core logic caused by a number of interactions between core logic components and chip-level components in the chip-level integration process. In addition, the core timing model of the core logic may be generated by filling un-wired tracks with metal in any of an outermost layer of the core logic after a core logic routing and constructing a layer at least an area of and adjacent to any of the outermost layer of the core logic with grounded metal that is orthogonal to those of the metal used in the outermost layer of the core logic. |
| US08321824B2 |
Multiple-power-domain static timing analysis
Embodiments of a computer system, a method, an integrated circuit and a computer-program product (i.e., software) for use with the computer system are described. These devices and techniques may be used to perform STA for circuits that include multiple power domains. Power-domain crossing information and optionally the delay in each power domain can be propagated during the full circuit graph-based STA to accurately perform STA without enumerating all paths. Some embodiments can use a tag-based engine to track power-domain crossing(s) during graph-based STA. If a power-domain is crossed in a path, pessimism may be added to the cumulative delay at the end point of the path. For those paths that do not cross a power domain, pessimism may be removed from the cumulative delay at their end points. In some embodiments, pessimism may be removed from the cumulative delay at end points for paths that cross power domains. |
| US08321822B2 |
Method and computer-readable medium of optical proximity correction
A method optical proximity correction includes the following steps. First, a layout of an integrated circuit with an exposure intensity specification is provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of patterns and each pattern has an exposure intensity distribution. Second, a quadratic polynomial equation of each exposure intensity distribution is approximated. Third, a local extreme intensity of each exposure intensity distribution is computed by fitting the quadratic polynomial equation. Fourth, the local extreme intensity is determined whether violating the exposure intensity specification or not. Then, the layout is corrected when the local extreme intensity violates the exposure intensity specification. |
| US08321820B2 |
Method to compensate optical proximity correction
A method to compensate optical proximity correction adapted for a photolithography process includes providing an integrated circuit (IC) layout. The IC layout includes active regions, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region and ion implant regions overlapped with a part of the STI region and at least a part of the active regions. Subsequently, at least a photoresist line width compensation region disposed in the STI region is acquired in a photoresist covering region outside the ion implant regions according to the IC layout. Afterwards, the IC layout is corrected according to a width of the photoresist line width compensation region, a length of a side of the active region facing a side of the photoresist line width compensation region and a distance from the side of the photoresist line width compensation region to the active region facing the side. Then, the corrected IC layout is transferred to a photomask. |
| US08321818B2 |
Model-based retargeting of layout patterns for sub-wavelength photolithography
Mechanism are provided for model-based retargeting of photolithographic layouts. An optical proximity correction is performed on a set of target patterns for a predetermined number of iterations until a counter value exceeds a maximum predetermined number of iterations in order to produce a set of optical proximity correction mask shapes. A set of lithographic contours is generated for each of the set of optical proximity correction mask shapes in response to the counter value exceeding the maximum predetermined number of iterations. A normalized image log slope (NILS) extraction is performed on the set of target shapes and use the set of lithographic contours to produce NILS values. The set of target patterns is modified based on the NILS values in response to the NILS values failing to be within a predetermined limit. The steps are repeated until the NILS values are within the predetermined limit. |
| US08321817B2 |
Model-based fill
Various aspects of this disclosure relate to increasing pattern density in a circuit layout design of a circuit layer so as to control the thickness of material in a manufactured integrated circuit. For example, a layer in circuit design may be divided into separate areas, and a target thickness range may be established for all of the tiles in the integrated circuit design. Each area may be analyzed to determine if it has a sufficient pattern density for a thickness estimation model to accurately estimate its expected material thickness upon manufacture. Each tile may be analyzed to determine if the expected thickness for that tile is within the target thickness range. |
| US08321814B2 |
Integrated handheld computing and telephony system and services
Disclosed is an integrated handheld computer and telephony system. Integration of the handheld computer and telephony system is at the physical and operational level. For example, the integrated handheld computer and telephony system physically integrates a handheld computer with a mobile (e.g., cellular) telephone. In addition, the handheld computer is distinct from telephony system in that they are logically separable. However, they are also operationally integrated, for example, the telephony system executes a telephone application on the processor of the handheld computer. Likewise, the handheld computer can execute applications, for example, a phone book, that can be used to launch the telephony application. |
| US08321813B2 |
Pointing device operation modification program
An apparatus and method for modifying and improving pointing device operation. The apparatus comprises a signal detector, a signal modifier, and a signal transmitter. The apparatus intercepts pointing device signals before application programs receive them. The signal detector continuously listens for signals generated by a pointing device, or a pointing device program. Responsive to the signal detector detecting a pointing device signal, the signal modifier determines what type of GUI element is located at the current pointer location. Based upon the identified GUI element, the signal modifier modifies the pointing device signal appropriately. The signal transmitter then relays the modified signal to any other programs that would have received the original signal if not for the action of the apparatus. |
| US08321810B2 |
Configuring an adaptive input device with selected graphical images
One exemplary system for configuring an adaptive input device includes a display and an adaptive input device having a plurality of depressible buttons. The system also includes a computing device operatively coupled to the display and the adaptive input device. The computing device includes a menu module to display a plurality of graphical images on the display, each graphical image associated with a computing function. The computing device also includes a detection module to detect a selected graphical image, from the plurality of graphical images, for display on a depressible button of the adaptive input device. The computing device also includes a presentation module to visually present the selected graphical image on the depressible button. |
| US08321806B2 |
Visualization of process control data
Graphical representations of operational process control data associated with monitored processes is displayed within the context of the geographical locations at which the processes operate, and in a manner as to model individual components of the processes. |
| US08321805B2 |
Service architecture based metric views
Scorecard associated content is provided to limited user interfaces of desktop visualization applications on a user's computing device (e.g. a mobile computing device, an ultra-mobile computing device, a personal digital assistant, an in-car computing system, and a tablet computing device) for delivery of personalized and scalable metrics. Users are enabled to set up personalized metric views based on predefined or user-defined desktop visualization applications employing indicators, partial report views, audio, video, and the like. Data delivery attributes from local or remote data sources can be set for deployment of the desktop visualization applications in a service based architecture. Computing device visualization applications may also be used to activate local or remote applications for various scorecard operations. |
| US08321800B2 |
Methods for creating dynamic lists from selected areas of a power system of a utility company
Methods are provided for creating dynamic lists from selected areas of a power system of a utility company. The utility company has an energy management system with a control panel. The energy management system is used to access one or more source displays of a site. Rubber-banding or lassoing is used to create selected areas from at least a portion of the source displays. Lists are dynamically created. Operator defined information is displayed for each element type in a list of network elements from the selected areas that have been rubber-banded or lassoed. |
| US08321798B2 |
Containing and accessing multiple web browsers
A container browser or a super browser stores browsers and enables a user to launch any stored web browser and display a designated web page from a preferred browser. This container browser can track and bookmark the browsers such that the browsers could be easily selected and initiated. The container browser could present the content in tabbed form, meaning that a tab that the user can click on will represent every open window. Once the user has designated a particular browser to display particular web page, then this information is stored in the container browser. Further accesses to that web site would be displayed using the designated web browser. Other designated web pages would be displayed on other designated web browsers. |
| US08321797B2 |
Immersive visualization center for creating and designing a “total design simulation” and for improved relationship management and market research
Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating and using virtual reality simulations to conduct market research and related activities. An immersive visualization center may be used to manage relationships with customers, choosers, shoppers, and users. The visualization center may allow customers (or other relevant parties) to interact with virtual representations of products or solutions in a virtual reality environment appropriate for the product. The immersive visualization center may also include a physical mock-up of the environment and or products simulated by the virtual reality simulation. |
| US08321796B2 |
Dynamic meeting agenda generation based on presenter availability
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to C&S e-meeting scheduling and provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic agenda updating in a C&S system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic agenda updating based upon presenter participation in an e-meeting can be provided. The method can include creating a new e-meeting in a collaborative computing environment for attendees and presenters selected from amongst the attendees. The method also can include generating an invite with an agenda for the new e-meeting including a time block and time slots for presentations by different ones of the presenters. Finally, the method can include dynamically changing a view to the agenda for viewing ones of the attendees to reflect changes in the time slots resulting from replies to the invite received by individual ones of the presenters. |
| US08321794B2 |
Rich conference invitations with context
Systems and methods that enable conference attendee(s) to invite others to the conference and provide a rich set of contextual information about the conference upfront to the invitee(s). A communicator component enables document related to the conference to be automatically shared and can further supply the name of the document and the location of the document. Hence, an invitee can make an informed decision about joining the conference and evaluate relevance of the conference up front (e.g., prior to joining). |
| US08321792B1 |
Method and system for capturing and using mashup data for trend analysis
A computer system includes a display interface, a user input device interface, and a processor cooperatively operable with the display interface and the user input device interface. The processor is configured to facilitate displaying, via the display interface, a mashup or service; interacting with the user to input, via the user input device interface, an indication to take a snapshot of the mashup or service being currently displayed via the display interface; and storing a snapshot artifact of live data from the mashup or service at the instant the snapshot is taken. |
| US08321791B2 |
Indicating website reputations during website manipulation of user information
An aspect of the present invention relates to methods and systems involving receiving an indicator of an attempted interaction of a client computing facility with an item of content associated with a website and presenting an indicator of reputation to a client computing facility attempting to interact with the web content. The indicator of reputation may be based at least in part upon whether an entity associated with the web content seeks to manipulate a user in order to obtain information from the user. |
| US08321787B2 |
Managing multiple virtual world accounts from a single virtual lobby interface
A virtual lobby client automatically interfaces with multiple virtual world instances, each provided by a separate virtual world provider from among multiple virtual world providers, each interfaced with to access a separate virtual world account, to retrieve a separate selection of inventory items from each virtual world account. The virtual lobby client renders an inventory directory index of each separate selection of inventory items within a single lobby interface with at least one selectable option for managing each of the items in the inventory directory from the single lobby interface. The virtual lobby client renders, within the single lobby interface, a separate graphical portal for each virtual account, wherein entry of each of the separate graphical portals triggers the virtual lobby client to automatically open a virtual world specific interface window into a particular virtual world instance provided under the particular virtual world account associated with the entered graphical portal. |
| US08321784B1 |
Reviewing objects
Reviewing Objects. An example method includes generating a plurality of sections corresponding to an object. The plurality of sections includes a suggestion section and a support section. An input is received for at least one section of the plurality of sections. Further, one or more functions associated with the suggestion section are performed. |
| US08321783B2 |
Visualizing content positioning within a document using layers
It can be difficult to predict what the layout of a document will be if the document contains several content elements, some of which are associated with different positioning schemes. In one embodiment, elements are shown in different layers based on their positioning schemes. For example, a first layer includes elements that are associated with non-overlapping positioning schemes, and a second layer includes elements that are associated with overlapping positioning schemes. When the document is viewed from above, the layers “collapse” onto each other, and the document appears to have a conventional (two-dimensional) page rendering. However, when the document is viewed from an angle, the layers appear separately in three-dimensional space, similar to an exploded view. The separate layers reveal the positioning schemes of the various elements and the layout interactions between those elements. This visualization technique helps a user understand how various elements are positioned within the document. |
| US08321778B2 |
Efficient in-band reliability with separate cyclic redundancy code frames
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for efficient in-band reliability with separate cyclic redundancy code (CRC) frames. In some embodiments, a memory system uses data frames to transfer data between a host and a memory device. The system also uses a separate frame (e.g., a CRC frame) to transfer a CRC checksum that covers the data frames. |
| US08321777B2 |
Cyclic redundancy check code generating circuit, semiconductor memory device, and method of driving semiconductor memory device
Disclosed are a semiconductor memory device, and a method of driving the same, and a cyclic redundancy check code generating circuit capable of performing cyclic redundancy check. A semiconductor memory device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a memory cell array, a data processing unit receiving data that is read from the memory cell array and selectively outputting at least some of the data according to ordering information, bit structure information, and burst length information, and a check code generating unit generating a cyclic redundancy check code to detect an error in the data being output, the check code generating unit generating and outputting the cyclic redundancy check code by using the read data, the ordering information, the bit structure information, and the burst length information. |
| US08321773B1 |
Hardware true random number generator in integrated circuit with tamper detection
Circuits and methods to generate a True Random Number Generator (TRNG) with tamper-detection are presented. In one embodiment, the circuit includes two identical TRNG circuits and logic circuitry that combines and correlates the outputs of the two TRNG circuits. The two identical TRNG circuits are located in close proximity to each other inside an Integrated Circuit (IC). The logic circuitry analyzes the outputs of the two TRNG circuits and the historical values of the relation between the outputs of the two TRNG circuits to determine if the outputs are correlated. If the outputs are not correlated, the logic circuitry outputs a true random number sequence based on the combination of the two TRNG circuits. As a result, circuit tampering, such as changes in temperature or voltage supplies, is detected in the IC. |
| US08321767B2 |
Packet processing apparatus and method capable of generating modified packets by modifying payloads of specific packets identified from received packets
A packet processing apparatus includes a packet identifying unit and a packet modifying unit. The packet identifying unit is utilized for receiving a plurality of packets and checking identification information derived from the received packets to identify first packets from the received packets. The packet modifying unit is coupled to the packet identifying unit, and is utilized for checking payloads of the first packets to identify second packets from the first packets, where each of the second packets has specific data included in a payload thereof, and for modifying at least the payload of each of the second packets. |
| US08321766B2 |
IP-data transmitting apparatus and IP-data transmitting method
An IP-data transmitting apparatus performs an error correction coding by classifying data into a layer indicative of the priority order of the data based on importance and vulnerability of information included in the data, and combining a plurality of data components into combination patterns. The number of the combination patterns is specified with respect to each layer with predetermined priority order. |
| US08321765B2 |
Method of reading data in non-volatile memory device
In a method of reading data from a non-volatile memory device, read data is generated based on a word line voltage. The read data includes data read from a plurality of sectors included in the non-volatile memory device. Bad sector data is transferred data based on read data and bad sector information. The bad sector data corresponds to data read from at least one bad sector included in the plurality of sectors. The bad sector information is updated by checking error bits of the bad sector data. The word line voltage is generated based on the updated bad sector information. |
| US08321761B1 |
ECC bits used as additional register file storage
A memory module includes a plurality of register files. Each register file is associated with a set of error-correcting code (ECC) bits and ECC check/correct logic that can provide error-correcting functionality, if required. When error-correcting functionality is not required, ECC bits are grouped together to form additional register files, thereby providing additional storage space. |
| US08321759B2 |
Method and apparatus for error correction on a mobile device
A method and apparatus for distributing dynamically reconfigurable content to a mobile device is provided. One embodiment of a method for encoding a data stream to enable error correction by a receiver of the data stream includes storing a block of the data stream in a first memory array, processing the first memory array to produce a second memory array, inverting the second memory array, and storing the second memory array, as inverted, as a third memory array. |
| US08321758B2 |
Data error correction device and methods thereof
A method of accessing a memory includes accessing multiple ECC words via a single memory channel. Portions of each ECC word are retrieved from different memory ranks, so that a failure in a memory device at one memory rank is less likely to result in uncorrectable errors in the data segment. By accessing the data segments via a single memory channel, rather than multiple memory channels, the single memory channel can be accessed independently, providing for lower cost memory modules, higher memory bandwidth, and lower power dissipation. |
| US08321757B2 |
Method and apparatus for error correction
Methods, apparatus and computer readable medium for handling error correction in a memory are disclosed. In some embodiments, after an attempt is made to write original data to a ‘target’ memory, data is read back from the target memory in a ‘first read operation’, thereby generating first read data. After the first read operation, the first read data is compared to the original data and/or an indication of a difference between the original data and the first data is determined. The information obtained by effecting the data-comparison and/or information related to the difference indication is used when correcting errors in data read back from the target memory in a ‘second read operation.’. The presently-disclosed teachings are applicable to any kind of memory including (i) non-volatile memories such as flash memory, magnetic memory and optical storage and (ii) volatile memory such as SRAM or DRAM. |
| US08321754B2 |
Method for transmitting multimedia data in ad hoc communication networks
A method for transmitting multimedia data in an ad hoc network including receiving a packet on a radio interface, and if the node is not its destination, is copied into a local buffer Q while awaiting the verification of the packet, the packet is also uploaded to the top layers for on the one hand verification of its possible corruption and on the other hand optional storage in a local stack P of long duration with additional information about the data fragment. In the case where the transmission on the last hop before the current node has corrupted the packet, it is verified that the headers are intact so as to be able to route the packet appropriately, after having verified whether the stack P is present and whether it contains an intact version of the packet, in which case it is the intact payload which will be substituted for the erroneous payload in the buffer Q. If the stack P is not present or does not contain the packet, then the method will nevertheless propagate the packet when only the payload has been corrupted since a robust multimedia decoder might be able to use this packet correctly. |
| US08321752B1 |
Integrated 2-level low density parity check (LDPC) codes
An encoding system includes a first low density parity check (LDPC) module and a second LDPC module. The first LDPC module is configured to generate a first encoded codeword by encoding a first codeword using a first LDPC code. The second LDPC module is configured to generate a second encoded codeword by encoding a second codeword using a second LDPC code. Signals based on the first encoded codeword and signals based on the second encoded codeword are transmitted over a communications channel. The first LDPC code is defined by a first parity check matrix and the second LDPC code is defined by a second parity check matrix. The second parity check matrix includes the first parity check matrix, a zero matrix, and a supplementary matrix. |
| US08321751B2 |
Configurable parallel computation of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes
An apparatus (1) for implementing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error detection methodology to compute a CRC error detection code for data according to the methodology, comprising computation means (2) which uses parallel computation (4) to compute the CRC error detection code, and configurator means (3) which uses the CRC error detection methodology to determine a configuration of the computation means required to compute the CRC error detection code, and configures (25) the computation means accordingly, wherein the configurator means is able to use each of a plurality of CRC error detection methodologies to determine a configuration of the computation means required for parallel computation of a CRC error detection code according to each of the methodologies, and the computation means is configurable to allow configuration thereof for parallel computation of each CRC error detection code. |
| US08321745B2 |
Apparatus and method for channel encoding and decoding in communication system using low-density parity-check codes
An apparatus and a method for channel encoding/decoding in a communication system are provided. The apparatus and the method generate LDPC-encoded blocks with various lengths from an LDPC code with fixed length in a communication system using a Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code. The apparatus and the method perform shortening using a predetermined number of shortened bits and perform LDPC encoding. The apparatus and the method apply predetermined rules according to the predetermined number of shortened bits and determine the number of bits to be punctured, and perform puncturing based on the determined number of punctured bits. |
| US08321743B2 |
Information storage medium and information storage medium processing apparatus
An information storage medium according to one embodiment of the invention includes a card main body embedded with a module, in which the module includes a communication control unit for interpreting received data, and selectively executing normal processing for returning response data to a transmission source of the received data based on a determination result indicating that the received data is correct data complying with a predetermined communication protocol, and error processing for returning an error to the transmission source of the received data based on a determination result indicating that the received data is error data. |
| US08321742B2 |
Adaptive automatic repeat-request apparatus and method for a multiple input multiple output system
The present invention relates to an adaptive automatic repeat-request apparatus and method for an MIMO system including a transmitter and a receiver. The apparatus comprises an adaptive retransmission component located at the transmitter. The adaptive retransmission component uses a special frame structure that divides the transmission data in a frame into several sections according to the number of transmission antennas, and adds an individual error detecting code within each section. The transmission data are sent to the receiver through the several antennas. The receiver responds to the adaptive retransmission component with feedback information of an acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement signal, and detected signal strength of data for each transmission antenna. After receiving the signal strength of transmission data, the retransmission signal vector for error data is determined. |
| US08321737B2 |
Data transfer apparatus and data transfer control method
A data transfer apparatus in which, in a failure state such that an error packet is received at a reception end, the error packet is returned and is recorded in the transmission end, the error packet is analyzed and an error bit is identified at the transmission end, and data transmission/reception units are initialized and restarted in order to recover from the failure state. |
| US08321735B2 |
Joint channel code for data non-associated control signalling type
A length Nd≧2 of a vector is determined, the vector indicating a type of data non-associated control signaling (e.g., CQI+ACK, CQI+NACK, or CQI-only). The length Nd may be sent individually to UEs or broadcast in the cell. The network decodes a received message using a sub-code word from its memory having the determined length Nd. From the sub-code word the network determines what type of data non-associated control signaling is in the received message, and may jointly decode CQI and the ACK/NACK. Varying the length Nd achieves an error performance: longer Nd deteriorates CQI performance and increases ACK/NACK performance. The UE receives the indication of the length Nd, determines a channel quality vector and also a type-vector from its memory having the length Nd, and multiplexes and jointly encodes the vector of length Nd with the channel quality vector. |
| US08321734B2 |
Method and apparatus to transmit and/or receive data via wireless network and wireless device
A method of and an apparatus to improve stability and efficiency during data transmission performed over a wireless network includes transmitting a first data frame containing a plurality of data units to a receiving device, receiving from the receiving device a receipt of confirmation for each data unit received by the receiving device, and transmitting a second data frame containing at least one of the plurality of data units that have not been transmitted or received, according to the receipt of confirmation for each data unit received by the receiving device. |
| US08321730B2 |
Scan architecture and design methodology yielding significant reduction in scan area and power overhead
A scan architecture and design methodology yielding significant reduction in scan area and power overhead is generally presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced comprising a plurality of combinatorial logic clouds, scan cells coupled with the combinatorial logic clouds, the scan cells to load test vectors, wherein the scan cells comprise a plurality of first type scan cells and second type scan cells sequentially coupled with separate combinatorial logic cloud outputs, and a first scan clock and a second scan clock, wherein the first scan clock controls the first type scan cells and the second scan clock controls the second type scan cells. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08321729B2 |
Divided scan path segments maintaining test pattern of stimulus/response connections
Scan architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present invention describes a method of adapting conventional scan architectures into a low power scan architecture. The low power scan architecture maintains the test time of conventional scan architectures, while requiring significantly less operational power than conventional scan architectures. The low power scan architecture is advantageous to IC/die manufacturers since it allows a larger number of circuits (such as DSP or CPU core circuits) embedded in an IC/die to be tested in parallel without consuming too much power within the IC/die. Since the low power scan architecture reduces test power consumption, it is possible to simultaneously test more die on a wafer than previously possible using conventional scan architectures. This allows wafer test times to be reduced which reduces the manufacturing cost of each die on the wafer. |
| US08321727B2 |
System and method responsive to a rate of change of a performance parameter of a memory
Systems and methods are disclosed that are responsive to a rate of change of a performance parameter of a memory. In a particular embodiment, a rate of change of a performance parameter of a non-volatile memory is determined. The rate of change is compared to a threshold, and an action is performed in response to determining that the rate of change satisfies the threshold. |
| US08321718B2 |
Clock control
The present invention provides a processor comprising: an execution unit arranged to execute a plurality of program threads, clock generating means for generating first and second clock signals, and storage means for storing at least one thread-specific clock-control bit. The execution unit is configured to execute a first one of the threads in dependence on the first clock signal and to execute a second one of the threads in dependence on the second clock signal. The clock generating means is operable to generate the second clock signal with the second frequency selectively differing from the first frequency in dependence on the at least one clock-control bit. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided. |
| US08321717B2 |
Dynamic frequency adjustment for interoperability of differential clock recovery methods
A system and method for dynamic frequency adjustment for interoperability of differential clock recovery, including one or more of the following: a frequency generator for receiving a frequency reference clock signal and generating a plurality of frequency signals by operating on the frequency reference clock signal, the plurality of frequencies signals being output from the frequency generator and each having a different frequency; a flexible distributor for receiving the plurality of frequency signals from the frequency generator and selecting ones of said plurality of frequency signals and transmitting said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals; and a plurality of differential units, each for receiving one of said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals, each for applying a differential signal to said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals, and each for adding time stamps to the selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals and outputting respective time stamped differential selected frequency signals. |
| US08321715B2 |
Communication apparatus having clock interface
A communication apparatus having a clock interface unit supplying a clock signal for synchronization, includes a clock extracting section for extracting a clock component from a receive signal, a decoding section for generating a decoded signal by decoding in a predetermined encoding form the clock component extracted by the clock extracting section, a frame converting section for creating a receive frame by converting the decoded signal to a frame in a predetermined frame form, a determining section for determining whether the predetermined encoding form and the predetermined frame form are right or not on a basis of the receive frame, a setting section for performing setting regarding the clock signal on a basis of the encoding form and frame form determined to be right by the determining section, and a clock signal output section for outputting the clock signal generated on a basis of the setting by the setting section. |
| US08321714B2 |
Serial controller and bi-directional serial controller
A serial controller is adapted to receive an external clock and an input data, and output an inverted clock and an output data. The serial controller includes an inverter, a serial position detector, a synchronous clock generator, a serial register, and a half-cycle delay unit. Thereby, through the serial controller, the problem that the data signal and the driving clock are not synchronous when the clock series are inverted is avoided. Besides, a bi-directional serial controller further includes an identification unit and a data directing unit, and the serial controller is enabled to return the current status to a central control unit to serve as the reference for error detection. |
| US08321711B2 |
Semiconductor device having a threshold voltage control function
The invention provides a semiconductor device that power is stabilized by suppressing power consumption as much as possible. The semiconductor device of the invention includes a logic portion and a memory portion each including a plurality of transistors, a detecting portion for detecting one or both of operation frequencies of the logic portion and the memory portion, a Vth control for supplying a Vth control signal to one or both of the logic portion and the memory portion, and an antenna. Each of the plurality of transistors has a first gate electrode which is input with a logic signal, a second gate electrode which is input with the Vth control signal, and a semiconductor film such that the second gate electrode, the semiconductor film, and the first gate electrode are provided in this order from the bottom. |
| US08321708B2 |
Interfacing media access control (MAC) with a low-power physical layer (PHY) control
An apparatus and method of interfacing physical layer (PHY) control with media access control (MAC) is disclosed. One method includes signaling to the PHY control to operate in a low-power mode when the MAC is detected to be transmitting idle patterns. The MAC transitioning from transmitting the idle patterns to transmitting data can be detected. When the transition is detected, the PHY control is signaled to transition to a wake up mode. Data from the MAC is buffered while the PHY control is in the wake up mode. The buffered data is provided to the PHY control after the PHY control has completed the wake up mode. |
| US08321707B2 |
Main computer for vehicle and power management method thereof
A main computer for vehicle includes a central processing unit and a programmable logic device. The central processing unit is configured for controlling operations of the main computer. The programmable logic device is coupled to the central processing unit and includes a built-in power state machine for managing power statuses of the main computer. The power state machine includes a turn-off status, an operating status, and a predetermined status located between the turn-off status and the operating status. |
| US08321703B2 |
Power aware memory allocation
A computer system may place memory objects in specific memory physical regions based on energy consumption and performance or other policies. The system may have multiple memory regions at least some of which may be powered down or placed in a low power state during system operation. The memory object may be characterized in terms of access frequency, movability, and desired performance and placed in an appropriate memory region. In some cases, the memory object may be placed in a temporary memory region and later moved to a final memory region for long term placement. The policies may allow some processes to operate while consuming less energy, while other processes may be configured to maximize performance. |
| US08321700B2 |
Using a single terminal for a power enable output signal and detecting an over-current condition
A power controller for a peripheral bus interface. A peripheral bus power controller includes a first terminal, a second terminal coupled to receive an power enable input signal from a host controller, and a third terminal coupled to provide an over-current output signal indicative of an over-current condition to the host controller. The peripheral bus power controller further includes an enable circuit configured to assert a power enable output signal on the first terminal responsive to receiving the power enable input signal and a first buffer configured to provide the over-current output signal to the host controller responsive to the power controller detecting the over-current condition on the first terminal. |
| US08321697B2 |
Memory device, host device, memory system, memory device control method, host device control method and memory system control method
A memory card 100 having a NAND type flash memory connectable to a host device 200, capable of transmitting/receiving a signal to/from the host device 200 at a first voltage (3.3 V) or a second voltage (1.8 V) and safely changing a signal voltage of a transmission/reception signal that mutually checks a signal voltage through handshake processing with the host device 200 when the signal voltage is switched. |
| US08321688B2 |
Secure and private backup storage and processing for trusted computing and data services
A digital escrow pattern is provided for backup data services including searchable encryption techniques for backup data, such as synthetic full backup data, stored at remote site or in a cloud service, distributing trust across multiple entities to avoid a single point of data compromise. In one embodiment, an operational synthetic full is maintained with encrypted data as a data service in a cryptographically secure manner that addresses integrity and privacy requirements for external or remote storage of potentially sensitive data. The storage techniques supported include backup, data protection, disaster recovery, and analytics on second copies of primary device data. Some examples of cost-effective cryptographic techniques that can be applied to facilitate establishing a high level of trust over security and privacy of backup data include, but are not limited to, size-preserving encryption, searchable-encryption, or Proof of Application, blind fingerprints, Proof of Retrievability, and others. |
| US08321686B2 |
Secure memory card with life cycle phases
A secure memory card with encryption capabilities comprises various life cycle states that allow for testing of the hardware and software of the card in certain of the states. The testing mechanisms are disabled in certain other of the states thus closing potential back doors to secure data and cryptographic keys. Controlled availability and generation of the keys required for encryption and decryption of data is such that even if back doors are accessed that previously encrypted data is impossible to decrypt and thus worthless even if a back door is found and maliciously pried open. |
| US08321685B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing confidential information
The invention is a method and apparatus for managing the secure acquisition, storage and disclosure of confidential information using biometric keys to lock data storage devices, a secure data input/output device and authorization procedures to facilitate identity rights management; and/or data querying techniques to preserve the anonymity of disclosed personal data. |
| US08321682B1 |
System and method for generating and managing administrator passwords
A password management system and method for securing networked client terminals and mobile devices is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for encrypting randomly generated administrator-level passwords and providing a means for decrypting the randomly generated passwords for single-use unrestricted access to a designated terminal or mobile device. When unrestricted access to the terminal or mobile device is required, the encrypted administrator-level password is decrypted using a shared symmetric key, which is generated during encryption of the administrator password, to reveal the administrator-level password for the terminal or mobile device. The administrator-level password is a single-use password, wherein upon use of the administrator-level password a new administrator-level password may be automatically generated for the corresponding terminal or mobile device. |
| US08321681B2 |
Managing user accounts
The present disclosure relates to managing user accounts in one or more computer systems. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of storing on a client computing device a first cookie containing plaintext representations of one or more user identifications, and a second cookie containing encrypted versions of the one or more user identifications; updating the cookies in coordination with each other based on communications received from a central server system in response to actions by a user of the client computing device to log on or off of accounts managed by the computer server system; and mediating user access to data stored locally on the client computing device by using the first and second cookies and determining whether the data is associated with one of the user identifiers. |
| US08321680B2 |
Multisigning—a protocol for robust multiple party digital signatures
Embodiments describe a system and/or method for multiple party digital signatures. According to a first aspect a method comprises establishing a first validity range for a first key, establishing a first validity range for at least a second key, and determining if the validity range of the first key overlaps the first validity range of the at least a second key. A certificate is signed with the first validity range of the first key and the first validity range of the at least a second key if the validity ranges overlap. According to another embodiment, signage of the certificate is refused if the first validity range of the first key does not overlap with the first validity range of the at least a second key. |
| US08321679B2 |
Pre-processed information embedding system
Methods are provided for embedding auxiliary information in a host content signal which reduce the memory, bandwidth and computational complexity of the embedding and transmission systems. In one embodiment, a first reduced-scale signal is produced which corresponds to the host content embedded with a first logical value and producing a second reduced-scale signal corresponding to the host content embedded with a second logical value. A first set of segments from the first reduced-scale signal may be combined with a second set of segments from the second reduced-scale signal in a pre-defined manner to produce a composite embedded host content. Thus the storage and transmission requirements of the watermarking system are reduced to having to deal with only the original content plus two reduced-scale signals. |
| US08321678B2 |
System and method to send a message using multiple authentication mechanisms
A system may include a sender computing system to transmit first authentication data in association with a message, the first authentication data conforming to a first authentication mechanism, and to transmit second authentication data in association with the message, the second authentication data conforming to a second authentication mechanism. The system may also include a component to receive the first authentication data in association with the message from the sender computing system, and to receive the second authentication data in association with the message from the sender computing system. |
| US08321665B2 |
Apparatus and method for using contents information in digital rights management
An apparatus and method for determining contents information corresponding to a Rights Object (RO) by transmitting information on contents together when the RO is moved from a mobile device to a memory card or a smart card or when the RO is moved from the memory card or the smart card to the mobile device are provided. The apparatus includes a meta information manager for determining information on contents corresponding to the RO when the RO is moved, and for generating meta information containing the determined contents information, and a controller for providing control to transmit the RO and the meta information generated by the meta information manager to a portable storage device. Accordingly, the conventional problem can be solved in which information on contents cannot be determined by using a Contents IDentifier (CID) if the RO does not exist together with the contents. |
| US08321664B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient certificate revocation
Revocation of digital certificates in a public-key infrastructure is disclosed, particularly in the case when a certificate might need to be revoked prior to its expirations. For example, if an employee was terminated or switched roles, his current certificate should no longer be valid. Accordingly, novel methods, components and systems are presented for addressing this problem. A solution set forth herein is based on the construction of grounded dense hash trees. In addition, the grounded dense hash tree approach also provides a time-communication tradeoff compared to the basic chain-based version of NOVOMODO, and this tradeoff yields a direct improvement in computation time in practical situations. |
| US08321662B2 |
Certificate renewal using secure handshake
A method, system, and computer usable program product for certificate renewal using a secure handshake are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A determination is made, forming an expiration determination, whether a validity period associated with a certificate ends within a predetermined period from a time of receiving the certificate. If the expiration determination is true, a holder of the certificate is notified about the expiration. The holder may be an application executing in a data processing system or the data processing system itself. A new certificate is requested on behalf of the holder. The requested new certificate is received. The new certificate is sent to the holder of the certificate over a network. |
| US08321656B2 |
Timer use in extensible firmware interface compliant systems
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for providing timer use and timer based execution parallelism during the DXE phase of computer start-up.Provision is made for loading a microkernel (or other kernel program) which presents itself as though it were a DXE Driver and changes a single threaded environment into a multithreaded environment. |
| US08321654B2 |
Methods for initial bootstrap during activation and initial configuration of user terminals in network
Methods and devices for initial bootstrap of a user terminal are provided. The user terminal transmits at least one first message to an initial bootstrap server. The first message includes device management capability information for the user terminal. The initial bootstrap server selects a device management protocol to be used by the user terminal and sends the selected device management protocol to the user terminal in at least one second message. |
| US08321652B2 |
Process and method for logical-to-physical address mapping using a volatile memory device in solid state disks
An embodiment of the invention relates to a mass storage device including a nonvolatile memory device with a plurality of memory management blocks and an address translation table formed with pointers to locations of the memory management blocks. A volatile memory device is included with an address index table formed with pointers to the pointers to the locations of the memory management blocks. The address index table is stored in the nonvolatile memory upon loss of bias voltage. Changes to the address translation table are accumulated in the volatile memory and written to the address translation table when at least a minimum quantity of the changes has been accumulated. The changes to the logical block address translation table accumulated in the volatile memory are written to a page in the address translation table after prior data in the page has been updated, written to another page, and then erased. |
| US08321650B2 |
Alignment-unit-based virtual formatting methods and devices employing the methods
In various embodiments, the present invention provides virtual disk formatting by intermediate devices including: (1) a storage shelf router and the storage shelf in which the storage-shelf is included, to external computing entities, such as disk-array controllers and host computers; (2) an I/O controller; and (3) a storage-bridge device. Additional embodiments of the present invention enhance virtual formatting by using additional padding, in a dual-abstraction method, to efficiently align virtual-block reads with underlying device blocks. Yet additional embodiments of the present invention allow for tracking and correcting device blocks corrupted during READ-MODIFY operations that occur during virtual-block WRITE operations. Various intermediate devices may employ two or more of the virtual formatting, dual abstraction, and corrupted-device-block tracking methods. |
| US08321649B2 |
Memory controller address and data pin multiplexing
A system and a method for configuring a memory controller that communicates with a memory device muxes selected pins for the data transfer. The memory controller includes a set of pins where each pin of the set is associated with a data bit and an address bit. A programmable logic block is connected to the set of pins and uses a subset of the set of pins to enable data transfer between the memory device and the memory controller depending on the size of the memory device such that the pins not included in the subset are available for other applications. |
| US08321648B2 |
Use of similarity hash to route data for improved deduplication in a storage server cluster
A technique for routing data for deduplication in a storage server cluster includes computing, for each node in the cluster, a value collectively representative of the data stored on the node, such as a “geometric center” of the node. New or modified data is routed to the node which has stored data identical or most similar to the new or modified data, as determined based on those values. Each node stores a plurality of chunks of data, where each chunk includes multiple deduplication segments. A content hash is computed for each deduplication segment in each node, and a similarity hash is computed for each chunk from the content hashes of all segments in the chunk. A geometric center of a node is computed from the similarity hashes of the chunks stored in the node. |
| US08321646B2 |
Method and apparatus for rebalancing storage components within a storage tier
A method for a storage controller to rebalance storage components within a storage tier is provided. The method maintains a linked list for each component, and each component includes a plurality of pages. Each linked list is ordered according to hot and cold pages and includes an identifier for each page. The method calculates a percent range of hot and cold pages for each component, and identifies a fullest and least full component. The method compares a random percent to the hot and cold percent ranges for the fullest component. If the random percent falls within the hot range, the method moves a selected hot page from the fullest component to an empty page in the least full component. If the random percent falls within the cold range, the method moves a selected cold page from the fullest component to an empty page in the least full component. |
| US08321642B1 |
Information storage system, snapshot acquisition method, and data storage medium
The information storage system of an aspect of the present invention includes a first differential data storage area which stores differential data of a higher volume from a first point of time to a second point of time, a lower snapshot manager which provides a lower snapshot at the second point of time of the higher volume, and a second differential data storage area which stores differential data of the higher volume after the second point of time. The higher snapshot manager acquires a plurality of generations of higher snapshots from the lower snapshot and the data in the first differential data storage area and acquires a plurality of generations of higher snapshots from the data of the higher volume and the data in the second differential data storage area. |
| US08321640B2 |
Data mask system and data mask method
A data mask system includes a processor providing control signals including a command signal, an address signal, and a data signal, a data mask processor receiving the control signals and providing either write data or masked data in response to the control signals, and generating data mask information and a data mask selection signal from at least one of the control signals, and a data mask register unit receiving the data mask selection signal, storing the data mask information, selecting a subset of the stored data mask information in response to the data mask selection signal, and returning selected data mask information to the data mask processor. The data mask processor receives the selected data mask information from the data mask register unit and provides the masked data as a result of performing a data mask operation on the data signal according to the selected data mask information. |
| US08321638B2 |
Cooperative mechanism for efficient application memory allocation
System, method and computer program product for allocating physical memory to processes. The method includes enabling a kernel to free memory in a physical memory space corresponding to arbitrarily sized memory allocations released by processes or applications in a virtual memory space. After freeing the memory, the system determines whether freed physical memory in the physical memory space spans one or more fixed size memory units (e.g., page frames). The method further includes designating a status of the one or more page frames as available for reuse; the freed page frames marked as available for reuse being available for backing a new process without requiring the kernel to delete data included in the freed memory released by the process. The kernel may organize pages marked as available for reuse in one or more local “pools” that is organized according to a variety of schemes which provide system efficiencies in that the kernel can eliminate the need for deleting of old data in those page frames without compromising data security. |
| US08321637B2 |
Computing system with optimized support for transactional memory
A computing system processes memory transactions for parallel processing of multiple threads of execution by support of which an application need not be aware. The computing system transactional memory support provides a Transaction Table in memory and a method of fast detection, of potential conflicts between multiple transactions. Special instructions may mark the boundaries of a transaction and identify memory locations applicable to a transaction. A ‘private to transaction’ (PTRAN) tag, directly addressable as part of the main data storage memory location, enables a quick detection of potential conflicts with other transactions that are concurrently executing on another thread of said computing system. The tag indicates whether (or not) a data entry in memory is part of a speculative memory state of an uncommitted transaction that is currently active in the system. |
| US08321633B2 |
Memory card and method for storing data on memory card
A memory card, connected to a host, includes a NAND flash memory and a memory controller. The NAND flash memory includes multiple pages, and each page includes multiple sectors. The memory controller receives sector data and a corresponding sector address from the host. The memory controller enables the sector data to be transferred to the NAND flash memory over a first data bus, via a buffer memory, when the sector address is an address for accessing a first sector in a selected page. The memory controller enables the sector data to be transferred to the NAND flash memory over a second data bus, bypassing the buffer memory, when the sector address is an address for accessing a sector other than the first sector in the selected page. |
| US08321630B1 |
Application-transparent hybridized caching for high-performance storage
Systems, apparatus, and computer-implemented methods are provided for the hybridization of cache memory utilizing both magnetic and solid-state memory media. A solid-state cache controller apparatus can be coupled to a host computing system to maximize efficiency of the system in a manner that is transparent to the high-level applications using the system. The apparatus includes an associative memory component and a solid-state cache control component. Solid-state memory is configured to store data blocks of host read operations. If a host-read operation is requested, the controller communicates with a solid-state cache memory controller to determine whether a tag array data structure indicates a cached copy of the requested data block is available in solid-state memory. |
| US08321629B2 |
Storage system, control methods for the same with data migration on power capped chassis
The present invention calculates the power consumption of the storage system for each device which supplies power with a storage system, and controls the storage system to keep the power consumption not to exceed the upper limit. In order to achieve this, the power consumption of the chassis configuring the destination storage system is calculated with reference to the number of logical volumes configuring the pool which includes virtual logical volumes, and the logical volumes included in the source storage system are migrated to the virtual logical volumes included in the destination storage system, keeping the power consumption specified in advance per device supplying power to the chassis configuring the destination storage system not to exceed the upper limit value. (Refer to FIG. 27.) |
| US08321627B1 |
Memory operation command latency management
Methods and apparatus for managing latency of memory commands are disclosed. An example method includes receiving memory operation commands for execution by a data storage device, each memory operation command being associated, for execution, with one of a plurality of memory devices. The example method also includes maintaining, for each memory device, a respective cumulative latency estimate. The example method also includes, for each memory operation command, when received by the memory controller, comparing the respective cumulative latency estimate of the associated memory device with a latency threshold for the received memory operation command. In the event the cumulative latency estimate is at or below the latency threshold, the received memory operation command is provided to a respective command queue operatively coupled with the respective memory device. In the event the cumulative latency estimate is above the latency threshold, the received memory operation command is returned to a host device. |
| US08321624B2 |
Memory device and management method of memory device
A memory device includes a plurality of blocks, and the plurality of blocks may include a plurality of pages. The memory device may translate an external physical address into internal physical address using a non-volatile address translation memory. The memory device may access one page of a plurality of pages using the internal physical address. |
| US08321623B2 |
Ad hoc flash memory reference cells
In a nonvolatile memory, that includes cells organized in a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of word lines, user data are stored in respective portions of each of two of the word lines. Control information is stored in a cell that is common to one of the bit lines and one of the two word lines. A cell that is common to the bit line and the other word line is used as a reference cell. A flash memory, that includes a plurality of primary cells and a plurality of spare cells, is interrogated to determine which spare cells have been used to replace respective primary cells. At least some of the other spare cells are used as reference cells. |
| US08321620B2 |
Computer system for supplying electric power to external apparatus and control method thereof
A computer system includes multiple ports to which at least one external device is connected and which are connectable to multiple power supplying lines branched from a power supplying line for supplying electric power to the at least one external device; a switching unit which controls connections between the power supplying lines and the ports; and a controller which controls the switching unit so that two or more power supplying lines among the power supplying lines are connected to a first port, to which one of the at least one external device is connected, among the ports. |
| US08321617B1 |
Method and apparatus of server I/O migration management
In an information system, for I/O migration, the migration management module detects a first I/O function associated with a first I/O device to which the OS is connected, selects a second I/O function associated with a second I/O device which is the same type of the first I/O device, and instructs to hot-add the second I/O function to the OS. And the OS sets a teaming for a first virtual MAC address of a first virtual NIC corresponding to the first I/O function and a second virtual MAC address of a second virtual NIC corresponding to the second I/O function, and disconnects the first virtual MAC address of the first virtual NIC corresponding to the first I/O function. |
| US08321616B2 |
System and method for enabling interchangeable dedicated management network interface card access via fabric controller
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with traditional approaches to providing dedicated network interface card access are provided. An information handling system may include a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, a non-dedicated network interface communicatively coupled to the processor, a dedicated network interface, and a baseboard management controller. The non-dedicated network interface may have a first sideband interface. The dedicated network interface may have a second sideband interface communicatively coupled to the first sideband interface. The baseboard management controller may be communicatively coupled to the second sideband interface. |
| US08321615B2 |
Source core interrupt steering
An embodiment of the invention includes (i) receiving a core identifier that corresponds with a processor source core; (ii) receiving an input/output request, produced from the source core, that is associated with the core identifier; (iii) and directing an interrupt, which corresponds to the request, to the source core based on the core identifier. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US08321614B2 |
Dynamic scheduling interrupt controller for multiprocessors
Technologies are generally described herein for handling interrupts within a multiprocessor computing system. A priority level associated with a current task for each processor of the multiprocessor computing system can be maintained. Cache state information associated with each processor can also be maintained. Upon receiving an interrupt to the multiprocessor computing system, a cache locality score for each processor can be determined based on the maintained cache state information. A value can be computed that balances, for each processor, the priority level and the cache locality score. A processor for servicing the interrupt can be determined based on the computed value. The determined processor can be signaled to service the interrupt. Tracking state information related to processor cores can support rapid allocation of an arriving interrupt to a processor core without collecting processor core state information at interrupt time. |
| US08321612B2 |
Method and device for synchronizing two bus systems by transmission of a time associated trigger signal from one system to another
A device for synchronizing at least two bus systems, having a first communications module for a first bus system and a second communications module for a second bus system, wherein in the first communications module first trigger information is present by which a trigger signal is triggered in the first bus system, characterized in that the device is configured in such a manner that the first and second communications modules are connected to each other and the first trigger information is transmitted to the second communications module, and the second communications module is configured in such a manner that a time information value is determined from the first trigger information and that time information value is compared with a second time mark of the second bus system, a time difference being determined and the next reference message being triggered in the second bus system in dependence upon the second time mark and the time difference. |
| US08321610B2 |
Methods of multi-server application synchronization without stopping I/O
A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to perform a backup of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; communicating with I/O Handlers on the servers for initiating a coordinated backup operation on the data at about a same start time; and instructing the I/O Handlers to stretch communication between instances of the application and data storage volumes associated therewith during initiating the backup operation. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US08321608B2 |
Pool I/O device operation confirmation method and computer system
In a computer system to which a plurality of I/O devices are connected and a pool I/O device is included therein, a periodical operation confirmation is performed on a pool I/O device to be used when a fault occurs. A pool I/O device operation confirmation section obtains pool I/O device status information from a pool I/O device status information storage section (provided inside or outside the computer system). The status information includes a pool I/O device ID for identifying the pool I/O device, a type of the pool I/O device, a status value indicating an operation confirmation result, and an update time indicating the most recent operation confirmation time. Then, the pool I/O device operation confirmation section activates the pool I/O device and performs an operation confirmation thereon; terminates the operation of the pool I/O device after the operation confirmation; and updates the pool I/O device status information using the operation confirmation result obtained by the operation confirmation. |
| US08321607B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and multilayered chip semiconductor device
Disclosed here is a semiconductor memory device including: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of pads formed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to permit data input and output; and a memory core block and an I/O block integrated on the semiconductor substrate. The data items are input and output to and from the plurality of pads at twice a maximum access rate in effect. |
| US08321593B2 |
Time synchronization of media playback in multiple processes
Systems, methods, devices that enable the efficient synchronization of timing information from first time-based process to a second time-based process using periodic or event-driven synchronization messages are provided. In one aspect, the invention includes a media processing system having a first process for processing media based, at least in part, on first timing information derived from a first timing source and a second timing source. The system may also include a second process for processing the media based, at least in part, on second timing information derived from the first timing source. The first process may send one or more timing synchronization messages, generated based at least in part on the first timing source and the second timing source, to the second process to synchronize the second timing information with the first timing information. |
| US08321587B2 |
Method for discovery and routing using a priori knowledge in the form of application programme within mobile ad-hoc networks
A mobile ad-hoc network device includes application software. The device constructs its routing table, listing reachable devices with the same application software. The routing table knowledge is dynamic, as devices enter and leave the network or their parameters change. |
| US08321583B2 |
Receive window auto-tuning
Methods of tuning a receive window. A receiving device and a sending device may be in communication over a network. The receiving device may advertise a receive window to the sending device. The size of the receive window may be adjusted over time based on one or more connection parameters, application parameters and/or operating system parameters. |
| US08321581B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
A method for reliably transferring media over a network from a sending node to a receiving node. The method includes ascertaining at the sending node if the media to be transmitted is either time-sensitive or not time-sensitive. For media ascertained as non time-sensitive, the media is transmitted by adjusting the rate of transmission at the sending node based on network conditions. As the non time-sensitive media is received, the receiving node generates one or more low priority requests for the retransmission of any missing non time-sensitive media lost during the transmission. The method also includes transmitting the time-sensitive media from the sending node to the receiving node. As the time-sensitive media is received, the receiving node ascertains if a predetermined acceptable network transmission loss level is met. If met, the receiving node generates one or more low priority requests for the retransmission of any missing time-sensitive media lost during transmission. The sending node retransmits the missing time-sensitive and non time-sensitive media in response to the low priority requests when bandwidth on the network becomes available in excess of what is needed for the transmission of time-sensitive media. |
| US08321579B2 |
System and method for analyzing streams and counting stream items on multi-core processors
Systems and methods for parallel stream item counting are disclosed. A data stream is partitioned into portions and the portions are assigned to a plurality of processing cores. A sequential kernel is executed at each processing core to compute a local count for items in an assigned portion of the data stream for that processing core. The counts are aggregated for all the processing cores to determine a final count for the items in the data stream. A frequency-aware counting method (FCM) for data streams includes dynamically capturing relative frequency phases of items from a data stream and placing the items in a sketch structure using a plurality of hash functions where a number of hash functions is based on the frequency phase of the item. A zero-frequency table is provided to reduce errors due to absent items. |
| US08321577B2 |
Method for providing messaging using appropriate communication protocol
The invention relates to a low latency transport of an Internet message over a connection from an Internet message-sending node to an Internet Message-receiving node. Said Internet Message-sending node determines the size of the Internet message (40) and compares the size of with a pre-determined single-packet threshold (42). Thereafter, the Internet Message-sending node performs a TCP Internet message-transport (44) over said connection if the size of the Internet message is larger than said single-packet threshold, and a single-packet (UDP) Internet message-transport (45, 46) if the size of the Internet message is smaller than said single-packet threshold. |
| US08321576B2 |
Method and apparatus of data transfer controlling data transfer among a plurality of equipments connected to a network and medium recording the program thereof
A data transfer apparatus includes an attribute collecting unit collecting attribute of data managed by an equipment connected to a network, a transfer control unit selecting a method of data transfer based on the attribute information of data collected by the attribute collecting unit, a data receiving unit receiving data by the method of transfer selected by the transfer control unit, and a data transmitting unit transmitting data by the method of transfer selected by the transfer control unit. As the transfer control unit selects the method of data transfer based on the data attribute information collected by the attribute collecting unit, it becomes possible for a user or an application program to receive data by the same operation. |
| US08321574B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for secure information dissemination
An apparatus transfers the title of content to an ID-assigning unit which assigns an ID to the content and transmits the content ID to a broadcasting unit via a tagging unit. A broadcasting apparatus then broadcasts the content ID and a receiver extracts the content ID from a received signal and transfers the content ID to a verification unit which determines whether or not the content ID received from a reception functional unit matches a stored content ID. If the content ID received from the reception unit matches a stored content ID, user information of the receiver is transmitted to a privacy-guarding unit. The privacy-guarding unit searches privacy-guarding items and, in accordance with a result of the search, only necessary user information presented by the verification unit is transmitted to a provider unit. |
| US08321573B2 |
Communications terminal with optimum send interval
A communication terminal includes a CPU (28). The CPU (28) issues to a router (16) a send request for requesting the router (16) to send an ask signal for repetitive responses to a server (14). Then, the ask signal is sent to the server (14) by the router (16), and a receive port is temporarily opened. From the server (14), a response signal is repeatedly sent in response to the ask signal. To the response signal, time information representative of a waiting time from receiving an ask signal to its reply is attached. A response signal sent back while the receive port is opened arrives at the communication terminal through the router (16), but a response signal sent back after the receive port is closed is discarded in the router (16). The CPU (28) repeatedly issues a send request to the router (16) regarding a time indicated by time information attached to the response signal lastly received as an issuance cycle (T). |
| US08321572B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing discoverability and usability of data network capability of a mobile device
In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call. |
| US08321571B2 |
Local game-area network method
A local game-area network includes a plurality of gaming devices and local game-area servers. Each local game-area server is associated with a corresponding gaming device. Each local game-area server in the local game-area network is operatively associated with every other local game-area server in the local game-area network. Additionally, one of the local game-area servers is a host local game-area server while the remaining gaming devices and associated local game-area servers are clients. Furthermore, the host status of the host local game-area server moves dynamically to an available local game-area server in the local game-area network in response to the host local game-area server becoming non-operational. |
| US08321569B2 |
Server resource allocation
A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide for end-to-end QoS for a set of processes that comprise a workload over nfs. A set of processes that comprise a workload such as the processes of a WPAR, or an entire LPAR are given a class designation and assigned priority/limits. The data are then passed to the server which allocates resources based on the sum total of all the current classes and their priorities and/or limits. This requires re-engineering the nfs client code to be workload-aware and the nfs server code to accommodate the resource allocation and prioritization needs of the nfs clients. |
| US08321567B1 |
IP pool management utilizing an IP pool MIB
A method for managing Internet Protocol (IP) addresses on a data communications network includes allocating multiple local IP address pools, requesting IP address usage data from one or more of the network edge devices, receiving the requested IP address usage data, determining whether the local IP address pools should be reallocated based upon the requested IP address usage data, reallocating one or more of the local IP address pools based upon the determination and updating one or more of the local IP address pool databases and a global IP pool database based upon the reallocating. Each of the local IP address pools is associated with a different network edge device that is capable of accepting connection requests requiring an IP address. The global IP address pool database includes the information maintained in each local IP address pool. A network edge device capable of managing IP addresses on a data communications network includes an allocator capable of allocating multiple local IP address pools, a receiver capable of receiving a communication, an allocator capable of allocating an available IP address from the local IP address pool if the communication includes a connection request, a determiner capable of determining whether the local IP address pool should be adjusted, a notifier capable of sending an alarm message to an IP pool manager when the IP address pool should be adjusted and a memory capable of storing an IP address allocation when the communication includes an IP address allocation. |
| US08321563B2 |
Third party verification using override IP addresses
Techniques for third party verification using override IP addresses is described, including detecting a request header from an endpoint, the request header being associated with a request for a media file, initiating a download of the media file to the endpoint, evaluating the request header to identify an address associated with the endpoint, generating a notification comprising the address, the notification being configured to indicate the address overrides a source address identified by a field in a packet associated with the request header, and sending the notification to report data associated with the media file, wherein the address overrides the source address to identify a source of the request. |
| US08321562B2 |
Determining a value according to a statistical operation in a monitored living area
A method for monitoring a user in a user living area in a system including a system controller having control parameters for controlling the operations of said system and a remote monitoring site, comprising; monitoring a user activity of said user; activating a control circuit in response to an occurrence of said user activity to provide user activity information to said system controller representative of said user activity; performing a statistical operation upon said user activity information to provide a statistical determination; and adjusting at least one of said control parameters in accordance with said statistical determination. |
| US08321558B1 |
Dynamically monitoring and modifying distributed execution of programs
Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs. In some situations, the techniques include dynamically monitoring the ongoing distributed execution of a program on a cluster of multiple computing nodes, and may include automatically determining the status of execution of the program on each of the multiple computing nodes and/or automatically determining the aggregate usage of one or more types of computing resources across the cluster of multiple computing nodes by the distributed program execution. The information obtained from the dynamic monitoring may be used in various manners, including to facilitate dynamically modifying the ongoing distributed program execution in various manners, such as to temporarily throttle usage of computing resources by the distributed program execution (e.g., to remove or reduce one or more bottlenecks). |
| US08321556B1 |
Method and system for collecting data on a wireless device
A method of storing collected data on a wireless device. User interaction with a wireless device and/or the performance of the wireless device is monitored and data related thereto collected. The collected data may be structured into a tagged hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of events that are separate and independent from one another. Each event may describe a specific application with a plurality of attributes. The tagged hierarchical structure formed as a tree structure is translated into a syntax generic language. The result may be formed into a compact format using a zipped format and/or a binary-equivalent format and then stored and transmitted to a central location (e.g., a server) for statistical analysis processing. The server transforms the received data into expanded format and forms a hierarchical tree structure for each event and its attributes. The result is processed for producing a statistical analysis of the collected data. |
| US08321550B2 |
Media access control address based service selection
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request from a computing device for an address. The request is to include a unique value associated with the computing device. The method also comprises generating a username based on the unique value. The username is associated with the computing device. Additionally, the username is bound to a context within a network element. The method also comprises assigning an address to the computing device within the context. A circuit is generated between the computing device and the network element based on the address. |
| US08321545B2 |
Service oriented platform architecture for a wireless network
Described is a framework system residing on a network including a plurality of services, wherein each of the services registers with the framework system, a service manager to manage each of the services which register with the framework system, the management including lifecycle management for each of the services and a communication broker to manage communication between the plurality of services. |
| US08321544B2 |
Method and system for the transfer of communication network administration information
In order to minimize a bandwidth required for the transfers of communication network administration information, said information relating to objects pertaining to hardware, software or network operation elements, catalogued in an administration information base (11) and with each of which is associated a formal language specification, the system comprises a translator module (10). The module (10) is designed to generate on the basis of the specification for each object, a pair of words the value of whose first word pertains to an indication of the object and the value of whose second word pertains to an information length of the object. The module (10) is also designed to generate one or more templates comprising an ordered set of pairs of words and an identifier, making it possible to subsequently send an ordered string of information corresponding to each template. |
| US08321541B1 |
Assigning internet protocol addresses in a network
Methods are provided for assigning a static IPv6 address to a mobile device by accessing a database to determine whether a static IPv6 address is stored in the database for that mobile device. A mobile device communicates a request for a static IPv6 address, and it is then determined that a static IPv6 address is defined in a customer-profile database in association with the mobile device. The network portion and the host portion of the static IPv6 address are sent to the mobile device so that the mobile device is able to communicate by way of a communications network. |
| US08321539B2 |
Peer-to-peer (P2P) network system and method of operating the same
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network system and a method of operating the P2P network system are provided. The P2P network system includes at least one edge peer storing resources and at least one super peer sharing and managing resource information corresponding to the resources of the at least one edge peer. By updating changes in characteristics of peers due to elimination and movement of any one of a plurality of edge peers and super peers included in the P2P network, path reconfiguration may be performed efficiently. |
| US08321538B2 |
Autonomous network device configuration method
An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of configuring one or more target network devices for operation, that further comprises the steps of creating an object for deployment to a predetermined target network device, the object having configuration data for configuring the target network device, and at least one of identification data identifying the object, an autonomous encapsulated agent for executing necessary steps for installing the configuration data, identification data identifying the predetermined target network device, and authentication data for authenticating at least one of the predetermined target network device identification data and object identification data, transporting the object to the predetermined target network device, and the autonomous encapsulated agent begins an on-site process of installing the configuration data in the predetermined target network device. |
| US08321536B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing remote control key data in home network device
Provided are a method and apparatus for receiving remote control key data in a home network and requesting a server to perform an operation corresponding to the remote control key data. The method includes converting the remote control key data to a code which can be referred to in a web document received from the server, determining an operation corresponding to the code by referring to the web document, and requesting the server to perform the determined operation. Accordingly, even when an item corresponding to a function supported by the server is not displayed on a menu screen, a user receiving a service from the server using a client device in the home network can use the function by instinctively pressing a remote control key corresponding to the function. |
| US08321533B2 |
Systems and methods thereto for acceleration of web pages access using next page optimization, caching and pre-fetching techniques
A method and system for acceleration of access to a web page using next page optimization, caching and pre-fetching techniques. The method comprises receiving a web page responsive to a request by a user; analyzing the received web page for possible acceleration improvements of the web page access; generating a modified web page of the received web page using at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; providing the modified web page to the user, wherein the user experiences an accelerated access to the modified web page resulting from execution of the at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; and storing the modified web page for use responsive to future user requests. |
| US08321531B2 |
Personal criteria verification using fractional information
A method for verifying the identity of users connected to a computer network comprises providing fractional information queries to users, wherein responses to these individual queries are not sufficient to identify the user. This method further comprises receiving responses to these fractional information queries and comparing these responses to data available from within a computer network. A set of potential matches to the user is generated according to these responses and is used in determining whether the set of potential matches is sufficient to identify the user. |
| US08321528B2 |
Method of processing event notifications and event subscriptions
A method of processing event notifications and event subscriptions in a telecommunications or data network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein an individual node performs the steps of maintaining a first repository for storing a set of event subscriptions encoded in a first summary and maintaining a second repository for storing the set of event subscriptions. The node encodes a received event notification into a second summary and then checks if the received event notification is a member of the set by comparing the first summary and the second summary. If the event notification is not a member of the set said notification is discarded. |
| US08321525B2 |
Method, device and system for creating a virtual local social network
There is provided a system and method for creating a local social network, based on a user's location and a user's virtual social profile (e.g. a facebook profile, a myspace profile) on a virtual social network (e.g. facebook, myspace). The method includes the steps of: (1) associating a communication device with a user's virtual profile, (2) detecting a communication device within an interactive region, (3) extracting unique parameters of the communication device, (4) retrieving data associated with the communication device and with the user's virtual profile, and (5) initiating data transfer based on the retrieved data. |
| US08321520B2 |
Intelligent offload of work to handle peak activity in an enterprise email system
A method and system for sending a message are disclosed. The method involves receiving a message at a mail server and determining that a load of the mail server exceeds a threshold. If it is determined that the load of the mail server exceeds a threshold, then the method involves determining whether the message needs to be sent immediately. If it is determined that the message does not need to be sent immediately, then the method involves delaying sending the message. |
| US08321519B2 |
Social network site recommender system and method
A document management system monitors proposed recipients for documents and provides recommendations on alterations to the distribution set, such as by adding or removing recipients. |
| US08321518B2 |
Linking sounds and emoticons
A method and apparatus for linking sounds and emoticons to allow a recipient of a message containing an emoticon to hear audio associated with the emoticon. In one aspect of the invention, a first user or sender establishes a link or association between the emoticon being sent and a sound file to be associated with that particular emoticon. The emoticon is then transmitted from the sender to the recipient along with the link or association such that the recipient can hear the audio when the emoticon is displayed. |
| US08321514B2 |
Sharing email
A trust relationship may be established between a first email user and at least a second email user. At least one email message received by the second user is automatically propagated to the first user based upon, at least in part, the trust relationship. |
| US08321513B2 |
Multiple-layer chat filter system and method
A computer network-based messaging system includes a multiple-layer chat filtering system for controlling the content of messages sent by users. A computer receives a message including a plurality of words entered by a sender. A word database includes a plurality of permitted words which are allowed to be transmitted. A phrase database includes a plurality of prohibited phrases which are not allowed to be transmitted. At least one of the plurality of prohibited phrases consists of a plurality of individual words that are each included in the word database. A message sending part that transmits the message over a computer network only if all of the plurality of words entered by the sender are contained in the word database and none of the plurality of prohibited phrases are contained in the message. |
| US08321512B2 |
Method and software product for identifying unsolicited emails
A method and software product for detecting unsolicited emails, e.g. spam, involves altering the case of at least some symbols comprising an email user's email address according to a predetermined criteria prior to transmitting an email message. The altered case sequence of the email user's address is stored in a database. Subsequently, as email's are received in the email user's mailbox their intended recipient addresses are processed to determine if they include symbols whose case sequence, i.e. uppercase and lowercase, matches one of the sequences that was previously stored. If no match is found then the incoming email is treated as potentially constituting spam and is handled as such. Embodiments of the invention take advantage of a property of most Internet post office email servers being that they are generally case insensitive in respect of the symbols that make up an email address. |
| US08321508B2 |
Controlling collaboration participation
A system and method is provided for controlling collaboration participation. The system includes a computing infrastructure configured to monitor endpoint collaboration devices and/or users. The computing infrastructure is also configured to authorize collaboration between one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users with an initiating device if the computing infrastructure finds a match between stored attributes and information related to the one or more endpoint collaboration devices and/or users. |
| US08321500B2 |
Method and system for generating messages
The present invention discloses a method and system for generating Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) message, wherein, at least one first information sets are pre-stored and each of the first information sets contains at least one piece of information. The method comprises: generating a first SOAP message which contains a second information set that contains at least one piece of information; retrieving a first information set that corresponds to the second information set; and generating a second SOAP message using the retrieved first information set and the first SOAP message. |
| US08321497B1 |
Data structure disposed in a computer readable memory that provides information corresponding to a location
A data structure disposed in a computer readable memory provides information corresponding to a location. The data structure includes a first data field for identifying the location and a second data field associated with the first data field containing information corresponding to the location. |
| US08321495B2 |
Byzantine fault-tolerance in distributed computing networks
A mobile intelligent agent is used in a Byzantine fault-tolerant computing network. The mobile intelligent agent ensures that only a single instance of the mobile intelligent agent performs processing in the processing host. The agent interrogates an environment in the processing host for presence of a sibling mobile intelligent agent or a trace left by a sibling mobile intelligent agent. If a sibling mobile intelligent agent or a trace left by a sibling mobile intelligent agent is detected, further execution by the mobile intelligent agent in the processing host is ended. The agent will then be forwarded onward to find a processing host wherein the agent has not been executed. |
| US08321494B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting and invoicing of data downloads
The present invention provides an apparatus for reporting about a download of an item of digital data to an end user from a plurality of logged data sources. The item of digital data is downloadable in one or more sessions but also divisible into portions. The apparatus comprises multiple event logs being associated with the logged data sources of the plurality of logged data sources. The apparatus further comprises a retrieving device for retrieving the multiple event logs from the logged data sources. The apparatus further comprises multiple event logs indicating the portions of the item of digital data downloaded in at least one of the one or more sessions. The apparatus further comprises a reporting device for combining the at least one event log and producing a report of the download of the item of digital data. |
| US08321488B2 |
Singular value decomposing method and related singular value decomposing device
A method for performing a singular value decomposition (SVD) upon a matrix. The method includes the steps of: (a) simplifying the matrix to derive a simplified matrix; (b) performing an iterative matrix multiplication upon the simplified matrix to generate an iterated matrix; (c) extracting a vector of the iterated matrix according to an iteration number of the iterative matrix multiplication; (d) de-correlating the simplified matrix from the vector to update the simplified matrix; (e) repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until a predetermined number of vectors have been derived; and (f) storing a first unitary matrix determined according to the predetermined number of vectors in the singular value decomposition. |
| US08321487B1 |
Recovery of directory information
Locating a file object in a storage system includes determining at least one characteristic of the file object, obtaining a subset of nodes in the storage system by applying the at least one characteristic to criteria for storing file objects at particular ones of the nodes in the storage system, and examining the subset of nodes to determine if any contain the file object. A metadata location server may be used to obtain the subset of nodes. The criteria may include at least one policy relating to placement of objects corresponding to files at the time the files are created. The policies may relate to owners of the files. The characteristic information may include the owner of a target file corresponding to the file object, the date that the target file was created, a business organization associated with the target file, and/or the size of the target file. |
| US08321485B2 |
Device and method for constructing inverted indexes
To achieve high speed document search, an inverted index is compressed at high compressibility by an encoding method decodable in a high process speed. In compressing an identification number of a document to obtain a byte sequence by the variable byte method, w bits are used to represent the number of occurrences of the indexing term in the document, and x bits are used to represent additional information of the posting, where x and w are integers given as parameters. When the number of occurrences cannot be represented within w bits, a certain value indicating a numeric value that cannot be represented by w bits is stored is written to the said w bits, and anther byte sequence that represents the value by the variable byte method follows. Additionally provided is a means for reading a compressed posting from any position of a list of postings called inverted lists, allowing a binary search on an inverted list. |
| US08321482B2 |
Selectively modifying files of a container file
A stub directory is written out to a storage device for multiple files in a container file, the stub directory including identifiers of the multiple files but excluding data of the multiple files. In response to a request to access one file of the multiple files, the data of the one file is written out to the storage device. A requested modification is allowed to be performed on the one file written out to the storage device to generate a modified version of the file. After modification of the one file is completed, a previous version of the file in the container file is replaced with the modified version of the file. |
| US08321481B2 |
Method for incremental anti-tear garbage collection
Persistent memory in an integrated circuit cars (ICC) must be managed in such a way that removal of power from the device at any moment does not leave the data stored in this memory in a faulty or inconsistent state. The mechanisms of this disclosure accomplish this end using the tag-length-value data structures found extensively in ICC software and standards. |
| US08321475B2 |
System and method for contextual data modeling utilizing tags
Sorting and displaying data objects is facilitated by displaying a collection of tags, each representing a respective data object, and each including identifying information for its respective data object. The organization of the tags with respect to one another is correlated with the organization of the data objects. Responsive to user input, the tags are displayed in a specified arrangement, and a new tag and an associated new data object associated with the new tag are created. A user is permitted to specify parameter values for the new data object, which is added to the existing data objects at a location that corresponds to a location of the new tag within the organization of the tags. The new data table thus includes the new data object arranged in order with the previous data objects as determined by the organization of the tags and the new tag. |
| US08321474B2 |
System and method for generating evaluation data
The invention relates to a system for generating evaluation data with a data base for storing original data, a memory for storing an evaluation program for the evaluation of original data stored in the data base and a control. In order to achieve rapid and reliable provision of evaluation data, an evaluation order for evaluating original data is generated upon the occurrence of a pre-specified event. It is checked by the control whether an evaluation order has been generated. In the event of an evaluation order being present, the evaluation program stored in the memory is started dependently upon the evaluation order, the evaluation program accessing original data stored in the data base dependently upon the evaluation order and the evaluation data being generated from this. |
| US08321473B2 |
Object customization and management system
An Object Customization and Management (OCM) system is configured to identify an object for creating a website based on a business objective. The OCM system includes a customizing module configured to determine qualitative attribute categories for a plurality of objects operable to be used in websites. The module assigns the plurality of objects to the qualitative attribute categories. The OCM system also includes a data management module configured to receive a request for one of the plurality of objects to be used to achieve the business objective. This module also matches the business objective with one of the qualitative attribute categories, and selects an object in the matched qualitative attribute category for the request. |
| US08321470B2 |
Heterogeneous multi-level extendable indexing for general purpose annotation systems
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for indexing annotations made for a variety of different type (i.e., heterogeneous) data objects are provided. A set of parameters uniquely identifying an annotated data object may be converted to an index comprising a set of index values, each corresponding to a column in a homogeneous index table. In order to accommodate the indexing of heterogeneous data objects, a mapping may be provided for each different type (or classification) of data object that may be annotated, that defines how the identifying parameters of that type will be mapped to the columns of the homogeneous index table. |
| US08321468B2 |
Web-based asset management
The method and system of the present invention provides an improved technique for replacing, implementing and managing computer-related assets. A technician accesses the World Wide Web through a user's computer. The information resident on the computer, including information regarding the computer and the user's preferences, are downloaded to a remote storage medium through the World Wide Web. Once downloaded, all information may be removed from the user's computer. Subsequently, the technician accesses another computer such as, for example, a new computer that has been assigned to the same user. The technician accesses the World Wide Web through the new computer and downloads the information previously stored on the remote storage medium. This information can then be used to install the user's prior applications, settings and preferences on the new computer. |
| US08321465B2 |
Systems and methods for data coding, transmission, storage and decoding
Systems and methods are provided for the provision of data for transmission and/or storage, the transmission and storage of data, and, more particularly, to data coding for transmission and/or storage and to decoding of received and/or accessed or retrieved coded data. In an embodiment of the invention, data is assembled into coded data structures comprising a plurality of fields that, e.g., may contain actual or implied field values, and data associated therewith that relates to the plurality of fields. Encoding and decoding of the data may take place with reference to one or more associated data models, and a coded data structure according to this embodiment may contain content only (field values and data identifying the structure). This allows for a reduction in size of the data structure as compared to, e.g., a data structure comprising program code or all data needed to describe the data in the data structure. |
| US08321460B2 |
Populating a cache system based on privileges
A cache system is updated upon determining that a current privilege has not been checked for the session. Updating the cache system includes receiving all data items that are accessible for the current privilege. The cache system stores each received data item in association with a privilege set. The privilege set is enabled to include at least one privilege that is granted for the corresponding data item. The current privilege is stored in the privilege set of each data item when the cache system is updated based on the current privilege. |
| US08321459B2 |
Method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information
The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information. Users submit their personal contact information or a collection of third party contact information or both to a storage location, where records are being searched for identical or similar entries. In case of a match the third party contact information is replaced with a link or pointer to the personal contact information entry of the owner of the information. As long as the owner of the information updates his records in the storage location, all third party contact information collections are also kept up to date and users will benefit from the most accurate and current contact information available. |
| US08321458B2 |
Related contact and record recommendation for product design
In one embodiment, a description of a product design is received. The description is analyzed to determine terms describing the product design. The determined terms are compared to a plurality of stored records. A subset of the stored records is determined based on the comparison. The stored records are considered relevant to the description of the product design. A set of recommended contacts associated with the subset of stored records is then determined. The recommended contacts are considered to have knowledge relevant to the description of the product design. At least one of the subset of stored records and the set of recommended contacts is output. For example, at least one of the subset of stored records and the list of recommended contacts may be displayed on an interface that is being used to input the description of the product design. |
| US08321454B2 |
Double map reduce distributed computing framework
A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and data structure provide the ability to perform a sorted map-reduce job on a cluster. A cluster of two or more computers is defined by installing a map-reduce framework onto each computer and formatting the cluster by identifying the cluster computers, establishing communication between them, and enabling the cluster to function as a unit. Data is placed into the cluster where it is distributed so that each computer contains a portion of the data. A first map function is performed where each computer sorts their respective data and creates an abstraction that is a representation of the data. The abstractions are exchanged and merged to create complete abstraction. A second map function searches the complete abstraction to redistribute and exchange the data across the computers in the cluster. A reduce function is performed in parallel to produce a result. |
| US08321453B2 |
Communication system
A communication system includes: a communication device; and a data receiver that is configured so as to be capable of being connected to the communication device. The communication device includes: a content summary receiving unit that is configured so as to be capable of receiving content summary data transmitted from an external device, the content summary data including at least positional data and title data for content data; and a positional data transmitting unit. The data receiver includes a scheduled port querying unit that is configured to transmit to the communication device a query querying the communication device for a scheduled port. The communication device further includes: a scheduled port notifying unit that, upon receiving the scheduled port query from the data receiver, transmits to the data receiver a scheduled port notification indicating the scheduled port. The data receiver further includes: a determining unit that determines whether the scheduled port indicated in the scheduled port notification is available; and an availability notifying unit that transmits to the communication device an availability notification indicating the scheduled port that is determined as being available. The communication device further includes: an active port setting unit that sets the scheduled port indicated by the availability notification as an active port; and an active port notifying unit that transmits to the data receiver an active port notification indicating the active port. The positional data transmitting unit transmits the positional data for the content data to the data receiver through the active port at a prescribed timing and according to the prescribed communication protocol. |
| US08321445B2 |
Generating content snippets using a tokenspace repository
A search engine server system receives from a client system a search query and identifies a set of documents in accordance with the search query. A content snippet corresponding to content in a respective document of the identified set of documents is generated, the content snippet associated with at least one query term of the one or more query terms in the search query. A response to the search query is returned to the client system, the response including information identifying at least the respective document and including the content snippet. Generating the content snippet includes performing a first decompression operation on first token identifiers, from a compressed document repository, to provide a set of second token identifiers, and performing a second decompression operation on the set of second token identifiers to recover uncompressed content comprising a portion of the respective document. |
| US08321443B2 |
Proxying open database connectivity (ODBC) calls
An Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) proxy infrastructure to transparently route incoming queries to one or more selected query engines. The ODBC proxy receives a query from an application, and determines based on the characteristics of the query and the capabilities of the query engines which one or more query engines are to perform the query. The proxy then routes the query to the one or more query engines, which perform the query. The results are then returned to the proxy, which provides the results to the application. |
| US08321440B2 |
String search scheme in a distributed architecture
Methods and apparatuses for searching network data for one or more predetermined strings are disclosed. In one embodiment, the string search is a multi-stage search where the stages of the search are performed by different hardware components. In one embodiment in a first search stage, a first processor performs a comparison of blocks of incoming data to determine whether the blocks potentially represent the beginning of one of the predetermined strings. If a potential predetermined string is identified, a second processor performs a further search to determine whether the string matches one of the predetermined strings. Because the first processor searches only for the beginning of the predetermined strings, the first stage comparison can be performed quickly, which improves network performance as compared to more detailed searching. The second stage is performed by second processor, which allows the first processor to search for potential matching strings. Because many strings do not match the one or more predetermined strings, the more detailed search performed by the second processor is performed selectively, which increases network performance as compared to more detailed searches on all network data. |
| US08321439B2 |
Quick filename lookup using name hash
File system methods and systems enabling efficient detection that a filename exists, by executing a hash function on the file name to reduce the overall computational complexity of determining that a directory entry might match the target filename, prior to performing the string comparison to determine the entry does match the target filename. A cross-device extensible means of providing a conversion function, such as uppercasing the filename, occurs prior to the hash. Methods of creating, deleting, and modifying the directory entries is further provided, as well as details of an embodiment of the file system described. |
| US08321437B2 |
Detecting behavioral patterns and anomalies using activity profiles
Activity data is analyzed or evaluated to detect behavioral patterns and anomalies. When a particular pattern or anomaly is detected, a system may send a notification or perform a particular task. This activity data may be collected in an information management system, which may be policy based. Notification may be by way e-mail, report, pop-up message, or system message. Some tasks to perform upon detection may include implementing a policy in the information management system, disallowing a user from connecting to the system, and restricting a user from being allowed to perform certain actions. To detect a pattern, activity data may be compared to a previously defined or generated activity profile. |
| US08321435B2 |
Quick find for data fields
Methods, program products, and systems for automatically searching data in multiple data fields are described. A user can view data retrieved from a database and formatted based on a layout. While viewing the data, the user can perform a search using one or more search terms. A system can automatically examine the database and identify on which tables and on which data fields of the tables to perform the search. The system can identify searchable tables and data fields by analyzing the database schema as well as characteristics of the tables and data fields. |
| US08321434B1 |
Two tiered architecture of named entity recognition engine
A system (and a method) is disclosed to extract entity values from texts. The system receives, at a first tier entity recognition engine, an input data string having a plurality of entities. The first tier entity recognition engine marks entities of the plurality of entities that are regular expression and transmits the input data stream with the marked entities to a second tier entity recognition engine. The second tier entity recognition engine receives the input data stream and identifies unmarked entities in the input data stream received at the second tier entity recognition engine. The second tier entity recognition engine determines whether the unmarked entities comprise a predetermined data format, and if so, outputs those unmarked entities of the plurality of entities that comprise the predetermined data format. |
| US08321432B2 |
System and method for filtering electronic messages using business heuristics
Disclosed are systems and methods for use in filtering electronic messages using business heuristics. In one aspect, a method includes determining whether the electronic message is associated with a desirable business, and adjusting the likelihood of delivering the electronic message to an intended recipient of the message if the electronic message is determined to be associated with the desirable business. In a more specific embodiment, the method further includes assigning a spam-score to the electronic message based on a likelihood that the electronic message is not unwanted by the intended recipient, blocking delivery of the electronic message to the intended recipient when the spam-score does not cross an overall threshold, and delivering the electronic message to the intended recipient based on the adjusted likelihood when the electronic message is determined to be associated with the desirable business. |
| US08321430B2 |
Resource efficient handling change notifications in graph structures
A method and apparatus for handling a data structure in a computerized system, the data structure comprising a first object having content and a second object having content, and interdependencies between the first object and the second object, the method comprising: receiving a description of the data structure; creating a graph structure indicating the interdependencies between the objects, the graph structure comprising at least a first vertex and a second vertex, the first vertex and the second vertex connected by an edge; and associating the first vertex with content of the first object and the second vertex with content of the second object, wherein the first vertex and the second vertex do not contain the content of the first object or the second object.In some embodiments, an application executed by computing platforms in a cluster comprising symmetrical nodes, statically registers relevant filters with every node in the cluster, and registers to the filter upon loading. When an event occurs in a node, only if the event passes any of the filters it is transferred to the other nodes in the cluster. In each of the other nodes, components are invalidated by traversing the dependency graph. |
| US08321427B2 |
Method and apparatus for generation and augmentation of search terms from external and internal sources
A method and apparatus to identify names, personalities, titles, and topics that are present in a repository, and place them into a grammar, and to identify names, personalities, titles, and topics that are not present in the repository, and place them into a grammar, uses information from external data sources, notably the text used in non-speech, text-based searches, to expand the search terms entered into the ASR grammars. The expansion takes place in two forms: (1) finding plausible linguistic variants of existing search terms that are already comprehended in the repository, but that are present under slightly different names; and (2) expanding the existing search term list with items that should be there by virtue of their currency in popular culture, but which for whatever reason have not yet been reflected with content items in the repository. |
| US08321420B1 |
Partition elimination on indexed row IDs
A method, computer program, and database system for performing a request on a table associated with an index are disclosed. A database contains a table, an index, and a partition elimination list and accepts a query. A table has one or more rows stored in one or more partitions. The index contains index entries, each of which references a row in a partition, where the row is in the table. The query has a first and a second condition. The partition elimination list is populated with partitions based on the first condition of the query. Only index entries that are identified by the request because of the second condition and that reference partitions that are not eliminated by the partition elimination list are read. |
| US08321412B2 |
Digital data processing method for personalized information retrieval and computer readable storage medium and information retrieval system thereof
A digital data processing method for information retrieval and an information retrieval system thereof are provided. In an embodiment, the information retrieval system trains a personalized model according to a user's feedback perceptions of at least one information piece. With respect to information pieces and different users, the information retrieval system performs estimation, based on two different stages with a generalized model and the trained personalized model. |
| US08321410B1 |
Identification of semantic units from within a search query
A search engine for searching a corpus improves the relevancy of the results by classifying multiple terms in a search query as a single semantic unit. A semantic unit locator of the search engine generates a subset of documents that are generally relevant to the query based on the individual terms within the query. Combinations of search terms that define potential semantic units from the query are then evaluated against the subset of documents to determine which combinations of search terms should be classified as a semantic unit. The resultant semantic units are used to refine the results of the search. |
| US08321409B1 |
Document ranking using word relationships
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for scoring documents. A plurality of documents with an initial ordering is received. Local term relationships between terms in the plurality of documents are identified, each local term relationship being a relationship between a pair of terms in a respective document. Relationships among the documents in the plurality of documents are determined based on the local term relationships and on the initial order of the documents. A respective score is determined for each document in the plurality of documents based on the document relationships. |
| US08321404B1 |
Dynamic query suggestion
A query prefix is received from a user device. A user identifier is determined based on the user device. A user category is determined based on the user identifier. A node representing the query prefix is located in a query graph. Descendent nodes of the located node that represent queries are located. Each node has one or more user category specific frequency measures and each user category specific frequency measure is associated with a user category. The queries represented by the located nodes are ranked based on the associated user category specific frequency measure associated with the identified user category. The ranked queries are sent to the user device. |
| US08321401B2 |
User interface with available multimedia content from multiple multimedia websites
Automatically and repeatedly crawling multiple multimedia websites to identify and collect information about the multimedia content that is available for delivery over the Internet to a client device for playback on a media player operating on the client device. In one embodiment, the method normalizes the collected information by converting the different formats of the collected information into a common format and converting the different nomenclatures of the collected information into a common nomenclature. The method updates an index with the normalized information, and sends a data feed to the client device to populate the user interface on the client device with the normalized information of the index. The user interface allows the user to navigate and select the multimedia content that is available for delivery over the Internet for playback on the media player. |
| US08321397B2 |
Storage medium including metadata and reproduction apparatus and method therefor
A storage medium including metadata, which provide an extended search function using a variety of search keywords on audio-visual data, and a reproduction apparatus and a reproduction method of reproducing the storage medium. The storage medium includes: audio-visual data; and metadata to provide an extended search function on the audio-visual data, wherein the metadata include a predefined search keyword and a search keyword which may be additionally defined by an author. Accordingly, by using a variety of search keywords additionally defined by an author as well as predefined search keywords, providing an extended search function is possible. In addition, by recording only portions of the metadata relative directly to supporting multiple languages in an additional text-based file, providing an extended search function using a plurality of languages is also possible. |
| US08321392B2 |
Pending state management for mobile business objects
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for invoking an operation to change a current data row of a table in a local database. As a result, a pending change data row is inserted in the table, distinguished by a primary key comprising a common key value and a pending change indicator. The pending change is then submitted for synchronization. |
| US08321391B2 |
Conditional commit for data in a database
A database comprises a database interface and a database updater. The database interface enables a reading of a first set of information from the database. The database updater updates a second set of information in the database based at least in part on one or more conditions. The one or more conditions limit changes allowable to the first set of information from the database that occurred after the reading of the first set of information from the database. |
| US08321388B1 |
Systems and methods for backing up multimedia data
Systems and methods described herein may separate one or more enhancement layers of a multimedia file from a base layer of the multimedia file and treat the base layer and the enhancement layer differently when backing up and/or archiving the multimedia file (e.g., by giving the enhancement layer a lower priority than the base layer). By separating enhancement layers from multimedia files and treating the enhancement layers with a lower priority, these systems and methods may reduce the strain that large multimedia files put on data repositories and associated computing resources (e.g., storage space, network bandwidth, etc.) while still preserving and protecting enough of the multimedia file to keep important information that the multimedia file may contain intact. |
| US08321383B2 |
System and method for automatic weight generation for probabilistic matching
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method of automatically generating weights for matching data records. Each field of a record may be compared by an exact match and/or close matches and each comparison can result in a mathematical score which is the sum of the field comparisons. To sum up the field scores accurately, the automatic weight generation process comprises an iterative process. In one embodiment, initial weights are computed based upon unmatched-set probabilities and default discrepancy weights associated with attributes in the comparison algorithm. A bulk cross-match is performed across the records using the initial weights and a candidate matched set is computed for updating the discrepancy probabilities. New weights are computed based upon the unmatched probabilities and the updated discrepancy probabilities. Test for convergence between the new weights and the old weights. Repeat with the new weight table until the weights converge to their final value. |
| US08321382B2 |
Validating aggregate documents
Embodiments described herein are directed to validating an aggregate document. An instance signature can be generated for a first instance of a data page retrieved for inclusion in the aggregate document and can be compared to a baseline signature associated with a second instance of the data page. A similarity value can be calculated in response to the comparison. The similarity value indicates a degree of similarity between the first instance and the second instance of the data page. Based on the similarity value it can be determined whether to delete or bypass the data page in the aggregate document. |
| US08321376B2 |
Address resolving database
A system for resolving addresses in an internet protocol based network. The system includes an address resolving master database and a plurality of slave databases. A plurality of transfer agents are each allocated to different ones of the plurality of slave databases for reading data from the master database and writing it to the slave databases. Each slave database receives and stores either ENUM data or DNS data, but not both. A plurality of applications have read access to at least one of the plurality of slave databases. |
| US08321371B2 |
Enhanced artificial intelligence language
A method of determining an appropriate response to an input includes linking a plurality of attributes to a plurality of response templates using a plurality of Boolean expressions. Each attribute is associated with a set of patterns. Each pattern within the set of patterns is equivalent. The method also includes determining an appropriate response template from the plurality of response templates based on the input. |
| US08321370B2 |
Method and system for translating logical constraints to linear constraints
A system and method is provided for translating one or more logical expressions E is TRUE, or statements of the form IF E1 is TRUE THEN E2 is TRUE, to a set of linear constraints. Examples in accordance with the present invention contribute to systems and methods for solving optimization problems that include constraints in the form of arbitrarily complex logical relationships between binary variables. Examples are also applicable to solving general optimization problems that have arbitrarily complex relationships between sets of linear constraints. The systems and methods combine simplification and ordering of logical expressions, factorization, direct translations of expressions, substitution of auxiliary variables, and substitution of auxiliary variables for phrases that would otherwise lead to an unacceptable number of linear constraints. The systems and methods also include mechanisms that reduce the number of required auxiliary variables by use of simplification, consolidation, Boolean identities, and auxiliary variable reuse. |
| US08321369B2 |
Anti-intrusion method and system for a communication network
There is disclosed an anti-intrusion method for a communication network comprising a plurality of network elements. The method comprising the following steps: a) providing a passive monitoring component, a decision making component, and an action making component cooperating with the communication network; b) at the passive monitoring component, detecting management information indicative of an attack against at least one network element, processing the management information thus generating infection data and transmitting the infection data to the decision making component; c) at the decision making component, receiving the infection data, making a decision about an action to be carried out to block the attack, and transmitting the decision to the action making component; and d) at the action making component, based on the decision, instructing the at least one network element to perform the action. |
| US08321367B2 |
Data processing apparatus, method, and computer program product for user objective prediction
A data processing apparatus includes an input unit that receives input data, a calculating unit that calculates a feature vector, a selection receiving unit that presents processing options to a user and receives a user selection, a storing unit stores processing history information, and a predictor constructing unit that constructs a predictor for an identifying algorithm that predicts optimal processing for input data based on processing history information stored in a history database. An optimal function predicting unit predicts optimal processing based on a feature vector calculated for new data by using the predictor and an evaluating unit evaluates work efficiency for the predicted optimal processing, wherein the evaluating unit is configured to evaluate work efficiency for the optimal processing based on a prediction accuracy of the predictor and a user specific working time that is required for each user to select one of the processing options with the selection receiving unit. Finally, a presenting unit presents the optimal processing to a user when an evaluation result obtained by the evaluating unit is equal to or greater than a threshold. |
| US08321361B1 |
Featured items of distributed discussion collaboration
In an embodiment, a method for distributed discussion collaboration is provided. The computer-implemented method includes selecting a featured discussion item for each of one or more collaborators based on information associated with each respective collaborator. The method also includes providing selected featured discussion items for display to respective one or more collaborators. The method further includes receiving voting information for the featured discussion items displayed to the respective one or more collaborators. In another embodiment, a system for distributed discussion collaboration includes a selection module configured to select a featured discussion item for each of one or more collaborators based on information associated with each respective collaborator. The system also includes a view controller and a voting module. |
| US08321360B2 |
Method and system for weighting transactions in a fraud detection system
A method of computing a similarity between a first transaction having a set of properties and a second transaction having the set of properties includes computing an initial weight for each of the properties of the set of properties and computing a similarity between each of the properties of the first transaction and the properties of the second transaction. The method also includes adjusting the initial weight for each of the properties based on a measure of the commonness of each of the properties of the set of properties, normalizing the adjusted weights, and computing the similarity by summing the products of the normalized adjusted weights and the computed similarities. |
| US08321356B2 |
System and method for calculating real-time costing information
Real-time costing information is provided by a central knowledge base in communication with a database. The central knowledge base provides an application programming interface (API) through which queries are run on the content in the database. The database content includes a harmonized system (HS) module holding an HS tree unified across multiple countries, a tariffs module holding tariffs applicable to goods classified in the unified HS tree, and a freight rates module holding rules and data for calculating freight rates for a shipment of goods. A knowledge workbench includes a catalog harmonizer that enables goods in a catalog to be harmonized according to one or more countries' HS trees and the results to be stored in the database. An applications server provides applications for generating queries for costing information, such as landed cost estimates, analyzing the results. |
| US08321355B2 |
Adaptive rating system and method
The present invention is embodied in adaptive rating methods and systems. The adaptive rating method includes receiving a first rating for a first product from a user, receiving a second rating for a second product from the user, identifying a conflict with a processor by comparing the first rating and the second rating, soliciting feedback from the user to remedy the conflict, and adjusting at least one of the first or second ratings with the processor responsive to feedback from the user. The steps of the method may be embodied in computer executable instructions stored on a non-transient machine readable medium that cause a processor to perform the method when executed by the processor. The system includes a processor configured to perform the steps of the method. |
| US08321353B2 |
Method of providing transactions employing advertising based verification
A method of improving electronic security establishes a secure trusted path between a user and an institution seeking an electronic signature to verify a transaction before any request for signature and completing electronic transaction activities occurs. The secure trusted path providing the user with a first predetermined portion of a branded watermark, for instance an advertisement, provided from the institution in conjunction with the request, and a second predetermined portion of the branded watermark being provided upon a personalized device that cannot be intercepted or manipulated by malware, allowing the user to verify that the request as displayed upon the user's primary computing device is valid. |
| US08321351B2 |
Device management in a wireless network
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatus, and system configurations for device management in a wireless communication network. A method includes determining, by a server of a communication network, that one or more updates are designated for a mobile station, initiating a re-authentication of the mobile station based on the determining to trigger the mobile station to establish communication with the server of the communication network to receive the one or more updates, and sending the one or more updates to the mobile station. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08321348B2 |
Computer-based method and system for aiding transactions
A method for providing a warranty relating to a transaction between two parties, each party being a client of at least one respective institution which provides services to the respective party, the method including: transmitting a request for a warranty from one party to the transaction which is a client of the respective institution to a respective location associated with the respective institution, which request includes information identifying the other party to the transaction and information about the nature of the transaction; conducting an exchange of information between the respective location and a location associated with a institution of which the other party is a client; and transmitting a response to the request from the respective location to the one party. |
| US08321347B2 |
Integrated technology money transfer system
Money transfer system authorizing an escrow agent computer electronically by touch-tone telephone, computer modem, P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal, live operators, to send cash transfers from a sender's account such as their credit, debit, bank, or ATM card, or a bank account, to a recipient who accesses the money at any remote ATM type location or P.O.S. (point of sale) terminal by using cards such as a specialized magnetic cards, credit cards, debit cards, and automated teller machine (ATM) card, at anytime and anywhere. Senders can authorize the transfer by touch-tone and PIN (personal identification number) secure codes. The system can operate without pre-existing relationships, and monitor transactions and take surcharges based on transfer amounts, and use a cards tethered to ATM machines and be used with double magnetic sided cards. |
| US08321343B2 |
Managing transaction accounts
A transaction account verification system and method are provided. A user computing device transmits an account registration request that includes a selection of an account verification technique. A service provider obtains the request and initiates a set of transactions with an identified financial service provider. The service provider generates at least one verification token reflective of the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The user computing device generates at least one user verification token from user input regarding the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The service provider can verify the transaction account and set transaction thresholds based upon matching verification tokens. |
| US08321342B2 |
Method and system to accept and settle transaction payments for an unbanked consumer
A system and method is provided to accept and settle transaction payments for an unbanked consumer. A consumer initiates a transaction with a merchant, and the merchant may transmit transaction information to a central processing unit using an initiating processing unit. The central processing unit may generate a unique transaction identifier or the merchant may generate the unique transaction identifier which complies with the systems rules and notifies the central processing unit of the transaction information and unique transaction identifier. The system may provide the merchant and consumer the nearest payment processing unit. At the payment processing unit, the consumer presents the unique transaction identifier, which is transmitted to the central processing unit for validation. The consumer may also validate the transaction information. The consumer makes payment at the payment processing unit, and the payment information is transmitted to the central processing unit. The system may generate a confirmation receipt for the consumer, and the central processing unit notifies the merchant of payment by the consumer. The merchant may then fulfill the transaction. The system remits the payment to the merchant. |
| US08321340B2 |
Adjustable mounting apparatus for a peripheral device of a self-service retail item checkout station
A self-service retail item checkout station comprises a peripheral device for interacting with a customer while the customer is conducting a self-service retail item checkout transaction at the station. The self-service retail item checkout station further comprises a non-swiveling mounting mechanism including (i) a slidable mounting portion on which the peripheral device is mounted, and (ii) a fixed mounting portion on which the slidable mounting portion is supported for sliding movement between a retracted position in which a customer in a standing position at the station can more easily interact with the peripheral device an extended position in which a customer in a seated position at the station can more easily interact with the peripheral device. |
| US08321336B2 |
Systems and methods related to lifetime mortgages
The present invention relates to a mortgage having a forward portion and a reverse portion. In the forward portion, the borrower receives a loan from a lender in order to purchase a property, such as a home. In the reverse portion, the property has accumulated sufficient equity to enable the lender to disburse funds back to the borrower. The present disclosure describes various computer systems and computer-implemented methods that assist in planning for this type of mortgage. Various factors may be considered, such as, the initial loan principal, ages of one or more borrowers, and a desired mortgage interest rate, and calculates. Different scenarios for conversion from the forward portion to the reverse portion of the mortgage may then be calculated and presented. For example, one or more forward mortgage payment schedules may be calculated and future reverse mortgage capacity may be presented. In some embodiments, the reverse mortgage capacity is used to pay some or all of the forward mortgage portion. |
| US08321334B1 |
Credit score simulation
Systems and methods are described that simulate a credit score. The system enables a user to modify a credit data element in order to determine its effect on a credit score. The user can modify the element directly or simulate an action that, if performed, would modify the element. Since the number of possible modifications and actions can be overwhelming, in one embodiment, the system suggests modifications and actions to be simulated. These suggestions can be tailored to a user's goal, such as increasing a credit score by a particular number of points or allocating a particular sum of money in order to maximize a credit score. In one embodiment, the system obtains credit data from multiple credit bureaus and can determine credit scores using different algorithms, such as the different algorithms used by the different credit bureaus. |
| US08321332B2 |
System and method for selectively displaying market information related to a plurality of tradeable objects
A graphical interface and method are provided for selectively displaying market information corresponding to a plurality of tradeable objects. According to one example method, a scanning feature is provided in relation to a number of tradeable object indicators. Upon detecting a predefined movement of a user input device in relation to the plurality of indicators, a graphical interface dynamically displays market information corresponding to the tradeable objects as a predefined movement of the user input device is detected in relation to the tradeable object indicators. |
| US08321329B1 |
Apparatus, article, and method for a specified event bond
A method, machine, article for a specified event bond. The method can include: storing in memory terms of a bond indenture for a bond, the indenture including a contingent liability obligation whereby an issuer of the bond is obligated to pay to an investor in the bond if a specified event occurs; determining, by a computer accessing the memory and receiving market data, an amount of contingent liability corresponding to the obligation; and outputting, by the computer, the determined amount of the contingent liability. |
| US08321328B2 |
Electronic credit default futures market
Systems and methods are provided for providing a credit default futures market. A system providing the credit default futures market includes a processor, memory and an interface. The interface is configured to display credit default futures contracts that subscribe to a set of standard terms and conditions. The processor is configured to settle certain credit futures contracts in kind and other in cash, depending on, at least in part, the maturity date of the futures contract. A method is presented for electronically clearing and settling probability of default futures contracts. |
| US08321326B2 |
Method and system for enhancing the efficiency of a digitally communicated data exchange
The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the efficiency of digitally communicated data exchanges and to a computer system that implements such a method. The invention particularly concerns the use of adaptive custom compression techniques, binary integers (“bits”), massively parallel processing, database optimization techniques and/or calculation optimization techniques to achieve such enhanced efficiency. The invention is applicable to any digitally communicated data exchange, but is particularly applicable to exchanges of financial information such as financial market buy/sell orders, market making, etc. |
| US08321325B2 |
Systems and methods for compression of trade-related records
In certain embodiments, a computer system and process for use in a trading system are provided that allow trading entities to compress trade records while simplifying the reconciliation process. Advantageously, compressed trade records are processed by a custodian firm, while uncompressed reconciliation data are processed by a central counterparty. In some embodiments, a computer system and process are provided that allows trading entities to compress trade records across markets. Advantageously, compression across markets provides a larger pool of eligible trade records for compression, increasing the number of compressible trades, and thus reducing fees paid by the trading firm and the amount of data transmitted. |
| US08321324B2 |
Managing outlying trading orders
A determination is made as to whether a trading order that has been placed on a trading exchange is an outlying trading order. If it is determined that the trading order is an outlying trading order, a restrictive action is taken regarding the outlying trading order, and/or a restrictive action is taken regarding a subsequent trading order that may trade with the outlying trading order. |
| US08321322B2 |
Method and system for creating a spot price tracker index
A method and system for creating a spot price tracker index is disclosed. The method includes obtaining values of first and second derivatives at a time t and calculating an index value by linear extrapolation from the first and second futures contracts. The index value may be displayed at a trading facility and quotes based on the index value may be transmitted by the trading facility to a market participant. |
| US08321321B2 |
Online marketplace system and method
A computerized online marketplace that facilitates the acquisition of funding and services for the development and operation of an online business. It provides a variety of investment opportunities for investors and facilitates an entrepreneur's acquisition of capital as well as skills and services needed to start an online business. Possible investment channels for potential investors comprise: money; skills; and services. Investors are awarded investment points for monetary and non-monetary investments and are compensated according to their points. Monetary compensation is awarded periodically to investors according to their rank in relation to the respective investor base of a given business entity. Businesses are hosted at the online marketplace and all aspects of investment and operations are managed through the marketplace thereby facilitating interactions between all parties involved in business initiation, development and operation, including customers. |
| US08321320B1 |
Portfolio management analysis system and method
An analysis system and method are provided in which out-of-bound accounts can be easily identified and rebalanced. |
| US08321318B2 |
System and method for facilitating the funding and administration of a long term investement or retirement trust
The funding and administration of a long term investment and/or retirement trust for a minor child or minor children are facilitated by the present invention. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method for the real-time, interactive, dynamic modeling and goal-solving for the pre-funding of a retirement benefit account specific to a minor child. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method for the input of user variables specific to the requirements necessary for the real-time production of trust documents necessary and specific to the purpose of establishing a funded pre-retirement trust for a minor child. |
| US08321316B1 |
Income analysis tools for wealth management
Enhanced processes, methods, tools, strategies, and techniques are provided for more effectively and efficiently processing, managing, analyzing, and communicating wealth related data and other financial information within a computing environment. In various embodiments, the analysis tools provided herein have been designed to correspond visually with a mental model employed by many clients in managing their wealth. |
| US08321314B2 |
Negotiable instrument electronic clearance monitoring systems and methods
Methods, devices, and systems for analyzing negotiated negotiable instruments are described. A computer system, including a computer readable storage device and a processor may be provided. A plurality of electronic files may be received. Each of these electronic files of the plurality of electronic files may include an electronic image of at least a portion of a negotiable instrument and include a plurality of data fields. The plurality of electronic files may be divided into subsets based on whether data is available in particular data fields of the electronic files. Based upon the subset an electronic file is made a member of, various selection criteria may be applied to determine if the electronic file is a candidate for suspicious and/or illegal activity. Statistics may be calculated about the analysis process to determine the quality and effectiveness of various analysis methods. |
| US08321312B2 |
Method and system for organizing tax information and providing tax advice
A method includes providing to a user a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user's electronic device, generate a user interface displayable on a display device coupled to the user's electronic device, presenting to the user via the user interface a plurality of solicitations for a set of personal information describing characteristics of the user, receiving via the user interface the personal information set, and, based on the personal information set, generating to the user interface a checklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by the user. |
| US08321309B1 |
Method and system for streamlined payroll set up and compliant paycheck generation
A method and system for streamlined payroll set up and compliant paycheck generation whereby a computing system implemented payroll system is provided that maintains a payroll record for each employee. In one embodiment, data indicating the minimum information required by the law to generate a compliant paycheck is obtained. When a user begins the process of generating a paycheck for a given employee, the given employee's payroll record data is analyzed and compared with the data indicating the minimum information to determine if the given employee's payroll record data includes all of the minimum information. If the given employee's payroll record data includes the minimum information, then the given employee's payroll record is marked as having the compliant paycheck data and the requested paycheck is generated. If the given employee's payroll record data does not include the minimum information, then the user is asked to provide at least enough missing data to extrapolate the minimum information and when the missing data is obtained, the given employee's payroll record is marked as having the compliant paycheck data and the requested paycheck is generated. |
| US08321308B2 |
Architectural design for manual invoicing application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing manual invoicing. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Customer Invoice Processing process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an Accounting process component, a Project Processing process component, and a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component. |
| US08321305B2 |
Managing assemblies with uncertain demands containing common parts
A system and method for planning common-use parts in such a way that operating inventory levels are reduced without introducing more risk of parts outages. One embodiment comprises determining use of at least one common component in a plurality of product models, receiving a forecast for the plurality of product models that use the common component, computing a demand correction factor for each of the forecasts, and determining inventory requirements for the at least one common component based at least in part on the respective forecasts and demand correction factors. |
| US08321297B2 |
Community management for electronic peer to peer business to business transactions
Systems, methods, and devices for the automated, community-based exchange of procurement documents. In some embodiments, there may be different sets of rules for each of a number of different communities of trading partners. Each set of rules may be made up of rules data for direct peer-to-peer exchange and/or transformation of procurement documents in respective communities. By way of example, a host trading partner may select the rules for exchange of procurement documents for a community. Invited trading partners may register for the community, and rules for the community may then be distributed to the registered trading partners. |
| US08321295B1 |
Fact checking method and system
A fact checking system verifies the correctness of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information. |
| US08321289B2 |
Method for making use of site activity index and a system thereof
Provided are a method and a system for applying site activity indexes by a site activity index applying system connected to a plurality of user terminals through the Internet. In one embodiment, the method includes checking whether a user who is connected to a web site through the Internet desires to buy a game item, checking whether to use the user's site activity indexes so as to buy the game item, checking whether the user possesses site activity indexes, and exchanging the site activity indexes with game items when the user possesses the site activity indexes. With the method and system for applying site activity indexes user loyalty and game participation may be increased. |
| US08321287B2 |
Receipt printer, receipt printer control method, and program
A receipt printer, a control method for a receipt printer, and a program whereby producing counterfeit printout is not possible. A receipt printer 20 has a storage unit 61 that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information, a specific information acquisition unit 62 that acquires specific information from a POS terminal 10, a comparison unit 63 that compares the specific information with the registered information decrypted from the encrypted information, a printing permission unit 64 the permits printing when the comparison unit 63 confirms a data match, and a printing unit 65 that prints when printing is permitted by the printing permission unit 64. |
| US08321283B2 |
Systems and methods for alerting pharmacies of formulary alternatives
Methods, systems and computer program products alert pharmacies of formulary alternatives. A claim generated by a provider and including at least one drug is received, where the claim is directed to a payer recipient. The claim is reviewed to identify the at least one drug. The at least one drug is then compared to a pre-established formulary alternative table, which may be created or managed, at least in part, by the payer recipient. A preferred drug alternative may then be forwarded to the provider when the at least one drug has a match in the pre-established formulary alternative table. |
| US08321281B2 |
Automated sales tax payment system
A computer-implemented transaction processing system includes a card reader and a plurality of modules each comprising code that executes in the processor. The card reader transfers credit card data from a credit card of a customer to a memory of the computer. A check presentation module is operative to calculate a sales tax associated with a price of a product sold to the customer. An approval module is operative to obtain an approval against the credit card data in the memory for at least the price of the product and the sales tax and thereby define an approved sale transaction. A revenue settlement module and a tax settlement module are operative to settle respective portions of the sales transaction(s) to different accounts, such that a revenue portion goes to a first account free of any sales tax, and a sales tax portion goes to the other account. |
| US08321275B2 |
Advertiser reporting system and method in a networked database search system
A system and method provide advertisement campaign information about an advertisement campaign to an advertiser. The system includes means for organizing advertisement campaign information into one or more ad groups and a web interface to receive advertiser inputs and provide a visual report including the advertisement campaign information to the advertiser. The system further includes a campaign data store configured to store advertisement campaign account data and a reporting system to produce the visual report about performance of the advertisement campaign. The visual report is based on the organization of the advertisement campaign information into the one or more ad groups. |
| US08321274B2 |
Advertiser alerting system and method in a networked database search system
A system and method provide advertisement campaign information about an advertisement campaign to an advertiser. The system includes means for organizing advertisement campaign information into one or more ad groups and a web interface to receive advertiser inputs and provide system alerts about the advertisement campaign information to the advertiser. The system further includes a campaign data store configured to store advertisement campaign account data and an alerting system to produce the system alerts about performance of the advertisement campaign. |
| US08321273B2 |
Cross-media campaigns with bias adjustment and attribution modeling
A method for determining advertising effectiveness of cross-media campaigns provided. The effectiveness of the combined campaign is plotted, and the effects of different media are isolated. Examining complementary effects and synergies are examined, and a dollar-for-dollar comparison for each of the media is performed. This dollar-for-dollar comparison may include a return on marketing objective calculation. If applicable, budget re-allocations are recommended. Optionally, post effectiveness, efficiency, and allocation analysis are performed. Such analysis may include providing descriptive advertising and media suggestions on each media independently. |
| US08321270B2 |
System and method for a multiple merchant stored value card
The loyalty system allows a consumer to accumulate general loyalty points from one or more merchants, and convert any desired subset of general points to loyalty dollars associated with a specific merchant. The system stores, for each consumer, the merchant loyalty dollars (or monetary equivalent) by merchant within a remotely-accessible host database or within a smart card database. Upon conducting a purchase at a particular merchant, the consumer may utilize a code key to facilitate access to the consumer's own loyalty dollars for the particular merchant. The loyalty dollars are then applied to the purchase transaction as a discount or rebate. The consumer may also re-load the merchant loyalty dollar accounts. |
| US08321261B2 |
Integrated gourmet item data collection, recommender and vending system and method
Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc. |
| US08321254B2 |
Notification of employees via pass code accessed web pages
Disclosed is an Internet-based database system and method (ASP), that enables school districts and temporary employment agencies to automate the dispatching (24/7) of pre-qualified substitute/temporary personnel to specified school/work site locations for specific absent employees/job openings. The system includes a profile database of permanent and substitute (temporary) employees, positions, skills, working dates/shifts, rates of pay, work sites, lesson plans/comments, reasons for absence and corresponding budget codes. Approved substitute/temporary employees may access the database using a multi-level access and secure logon code through their Internet-based browser device. The software filters job/position information to match specific job openings to the skills, qualifications (certification), preferences and availability of the substitute/temporary employee/s. As job openings (absences) are entered into the system by employees, the school district or employment agency, job details are immediately available through Internet “distributed technology” to all appropriate substitute/temporary employees through their web browser device. |
| US08321251B2 |
Evolutionary process system
A method for implementing a closed-loop business process management lifecycle. The method comprising producing at least one to-be process model during a process analysis phase. Storing a copy of the at least one to-be process model. Automating the at least one to-be process model during a process automation phase. Producing data logs by applications implementing the automated to-be process models. Data mining the produced data logs during a process monitoring phase, to produce emerging to-be process models and updated to-be process models of automated to-be process models. Storing the emerging to-be process models and the updated to-be process models; and selecting ones of the stored emerging and updated to-be process models to provide to a new process analysis phase. |
| US08321249B2 |
Determining a demographic attribute value of an online document visited by users
A demographic attribute value of a sink online document may be determined by (a) accepting a value(s) of the demographic attribute of a source online document, (b) accepting, for each of the source online documents having an accepted demographic attribute value, a probability that a user will visit or has visited the sink online document if the user visited the source online document, and (c) determining the demographic attribute value of the sink online document using the demographic attribute value of each of the source online documents and the probabilities. A demographic attribute value of the sink online document may also be determined using the above information and using the demographic attribute value of each of the source online documents and the probabilities that a user will visit or has visited the sink online document if the user visited the other online document. |
| US08321248B2 |
Method, system and program product for rendering state diagrams for a multi-dimensional enterprise architecture
The present provides a method, system, and program product for rendering state diagrams for a multi-dimensional enterprise architecture. The rendered state diagrams illustrate the actual or planned use, assignment, retirement, interdependence, etc., of enterprise elements in a multi-dimensional enterprise architecture within a user-specified time frame, from a user selected frame of reference, for a user-specified business scope. The method comprises: defining a plurality of objects, wherein each of the objects represents an element of the enterprise architecture; defining a plurality of relationships, wherein each of the relationships is between one of the plurality of objects and another of the plurality of objects; and rendering the at least one state diagram based upon the plurality of objects, the plurality of relationships, and a frame of reference. |
| US08321247B2 |
Business level metric for information technology
A method, system, and computer program product for determining a business level metric for assessing the impact of performance degradation of IT components upon the revenue stream of an entity is provided. In one embodiment, the business level metric is determined by determining business functions that comprises a revenue stream for a line of business. Weights are then assigned to each business function, wherein the weights indicate the relative importance of each business function in relation to the other business functions. For each business function, the business processes that enable the completion of a specific business function are determined and weights. For each business process, critical service points for measuring the performance of supporting information technology components for the business process are determined and weights are assigned. The critical service points are then monitored and a partial business level metric raw score is determined. |
| US08321243B1 |
Systems and methods for the intelligent coordination of benefits in healthcare transactions
Systems and methods are provided for the coordination of benefits. The systems and methods may include receiving a healthcare claim request from a healthcare provider computer; determining, based at least in part from patient information in the healthcare transaction claim request, that the patient is associated with at least a first payer and a second payer; generating a primary claim request based upon the identified product and the patient associated with the healthcare claim request, the primary claim associated with the first payer; and generating a coordination of benefits (COB) claim request based at least in part on the received first adjudicated reply associated with the primary claim request, the COB claim request, the COB claim request associated with a second payer. |
| US08321242B1 |
Personalized time release messaging
Media devices containing instructions which can allow patients to enroll and participate in time release messaging programs can be provided to patients by doctors who record personalized messages which are played when the devices are used. These media devices (or instructions from those devices stored on a user computer) can communicate with external systems to receive updates, both in terms of content and timing of information. |
| US08321241B1 |
Electronic patient record documentation with push and pull of data to and from database
A medical records software apparatus and method is described that allows a clinician, e.g., nurse or doctor, to combine entry of new patient orders, prescriptions, flowsheet observations, etc. into the documentation process or workflow. A documentation user interface is provided that pulls patient data from a database into the display. The user can select on the user interface a category of a patient record, e.g., Significant Events or Orders, view or edit prior entries in the database in these categories, and add additional documentation for that category. The documentation is written or pushed to two areas of the database, one devoted to patient documentation and a second area corresponding to the selected category, e.g., Orders. The method and apparatus improves workflow efficiency and promotes a smooth transition from the thought process of the clinician to the ordering or prescription process, without the need for changing venues or screen displays to both enter documentation and enter the order or new prescription. |
| US08321235B2 |
Validating an electronic transaction
An electronic transaction may be processed by receiving an order to execute a transaction electronically, identifying a format for the order, identifying a version of the format, retrieving a metasyntax with a rule related to the identified format and the identified version, the rule defining one or more acceptable arrangements of one or more elements in the transaction, relating the order to the metasyntax, determining whether the order conforms to the metasyntax, and forwarding the order for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax. |
| US08321231B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing customized souvenir images
A method and system that captures and delivers customized souvenir images to a plurality of attendees at a sporting event, music concert, and the like. Individuals wanting to receive a copy of these images provide location information, such as their assigned seat number. The present invention uses this information to identify the proper image and deliver it to the customer. Embodiments of the present invention may be adapted for use in a kiosk and to deliver the picture over a computer network, such as the Internet. |
| US08321230B2 |
Method and device for the hierarchical coding of a source audio signal and corresponding decoding method and device, programs and signals
Hierarchical coding of a source audio signal in the form of a data stream including a base level and at least two hierarchical enhancement levels, each of the levels being organized in successive frames. At least one frame of at least one enhancement level has a duration less than the duration of at least one frame of the base level. At least one indication representative of an order used for a set of enhancement level frames corresponding to the duration of at least one frame of the base level is inserted into the data stream. |
| US08321226B2 |
Generating speech-enabled user interfaces
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for automatically creating a speech-based user interface involve identifying a software service definition that includes service inputs, service outputs, and context data and accessing a standard user interface incorporating the service input and output. The standard user interface defines a set of valid inputs for the service input and a set of available outputs, at least one of which based on the context data. Audio data is associated with at least some of the inputs in the set of valid inputs to define a set of valid speech inputs. A speech-based user interface is automatically generated from the standard user interface and the set of valid speech inputs. |
| US08321225B1 |
Generating prosodic contours for synthesized speech
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method including receiving text to be synthesized as a spoken utterance. The method includes analyzing the received text to determine attributes of the received text and selecting one or more utterances from a database based on a comparison between the attributes of the received text and attributes of text representing the stored utterances. The method includes determining, for each utterance, a distance between a contour of the utterance and a hypothetical contour of the spoken utterance, the determination based on a model that relates distances between pairs of contours of the utterances to relationships between attributes of text for the pairs. The method includes selecting a final utterance having a contour with a closest distance to the hypothetical contour and generating a contour for the received text based on the contour of the final utterance. |
| US08321216B2 |
Time-warping of audio signals for packet loss concealment avoiding audible artifacts
Packet loss concealment (PLC) systems and methods are described that use time-warping to merge a concealment signal generated to replace one or more bad frames of an audio signal with a received signal representing one or more subsequent good frames of the audio signal in a manner that avoids signal discontinuity and audible artifacts resulting therefrom. Prediction-based PLC systems and methods are also described that use time-warping to conceal the loss of one or more frames containing a transition region in a manner that will not result in an audible artifact. |
| US08321215B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving intelligibility of audible speech represented by a speech signal
The perceived quality of a speech signal is improved by estimating the average power of first and second signal components and applying a first gain factor to the second signal components to generate adjusted second signal components. The first gain factor is selected such that on application of the first gain factor to the second signal components, the ratio of the average power of the first signal components to the average power of the adjusted second signal components would be a first predetermined value, the first predetermined value being such as to inhibit perceptual distortion of the improved speech signal. |
| US08321214B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for multichannel signal amplitude balancing
A method for processing a multichannel audio signal may be configured to control the amplitude of one channel of the signal relative to another based on the levels of the two channels. One such example uses a bias factor, which is based on a standard orientation of an audio sensing device relative to a directional acoustic information source, for amplitude control of information segments of the signal. |
| US08321211B2 |
System and method for multi-channel pitch detection
A method and system for multi-channel detection of pitch may comprise one or more of the following steps and/or means therefore: (a) sampling an audio input stream including at least a first channel and a second channel; (b) setting a search frequency for each of the first channel and the second channel; and (c) detecting a pitch of the first channel and a pitch of the second channel. |
| US08321209B2 |
System and method for low overhead frequency domain voice authentication
A system and method are provided to authenticate a voice in a frequency domain. A voice in the time domain is transformed to a signal in the frequency domain. The first harmonic is set to a predetermined frequency and the other harmonic components are equalized. Similarly, the amplitude of the first harmonic is set to a predetermined amplitude, and the harmonic components are also equalized. The voice signal is then filtered. The amplitudes of each of the harmonic components are then digitized into bits to form at least part of a voice ID. In another system and method, a voice is authenticated in a time domain. The initial rise time, initial fall time, second rise time, second fall time and final oscillation time are digitized into bits to form at least part of a voice ID. The voice IDs are used to authenticate a user's voice. |
| US08321207B2 |
Device and method for postprocessing spectral values and encoder and decoder for audio signals
For postprocessing spectral values which are based on a first transformation algorithm for converting the audio signal into a spectral representation, first a sequence of blocks of the spectral values representing a sequence of blocks of samples of the audio signal are provided. Hereupon, a weighted addition of spectral values of the sequence of blocks of spectral values is performed in order to obtain a sequence of blocks of postprocessed spectral values, wherein the combination is performed such that for calculating a postprocessed spectral value for a frequency band and a time duration a spectral value of the sequence of blocks for the frequency band and the time duration and a spectral value for another frequency band or another time duration are used, wherein the combination is further performed such that such weighting factors are used that the postprocessed spectral values are an approximation to the spectral values as they are obtained by converting the audio signal into a spectral representation using a second transformation algorithm which is different from the first transformation algorithm. The postprocessed spectral values are in particular used for a difference formation within a scalable encoder or for an addition within a scalable decoder, respectively. |
| US08321205B2 |
Definitional method to increase precision and clarity of information
In order to know precisely and clearly what words mean, the DMTIPCI definitional method implements by use of a first algorithm steps for iteratively deconstructing all usage predicate words of all words in any language to their primary words, creating the DMTIPCI First Subject Word Dictionary. Primary words as herein defined are words that have no non-tautological words in their predicate(s). The second algorithm creates a list of all primary words and the third algorithm gives meanings to the primary words by citing examples of said primary words. All words are arranged under their primary words by a fourth algorithm creating a DMTIPCI Primary Word Dictionary. A fifth algorithm measures the accuracy of search engines. |
| US08321202B2 |
Method and system for candidate matching
A method and system for candidate matching, such as used in match-making services, assesses narrative responses to measure candidate qualities. A candidate database includes self-assessment data and narrative data. Narrative data concerning a defined topic is analyzed to determine candidate qualities separate from topical information. Candidate qualities thus determined are included in candidate profiles and used to identify desirable candidates. |
| US08321195B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving word alignment quality in a multilingual corpus
A method for improving word alignment quality in a multilingual corpus including a plurality of corresponding sentence pairs between any two languages among a first language, a second language and at least one other language and word alignment information between each of the plurality of corresponding sentence pairs, the method includes inducing word alignment between a first sentence of the first language and a second sentence of the second language by using the word alignment information between the first sentence of the first language and a third sentence of the other language corresponding to the first and second sentences and the word alignment information between the second sentence of the second language and the third sentence of the other language, and combining induced word alignment and the word alignment information between the first sentence of the first language and the second sentence of the second language in the multilingual corpus. |
| US08321186B2 |
Synthetic air traffic management fast-time environment
Techniques for providing synthetic air traffic management in a fast-time environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing a closed-loop air traffic management simulation gateway between a decision support tool (DST) and an airspace modeler includes receiving airspace simulation data from an airspace modeler. The airspace simulation may be converted to emulated radar signals at an update interval. The emulated radar signals may be transmitted to a decision support tool for analysis. A recommendation may be received from the decision support tool based on the emulated radar signals, which may be used to generate a synthetic actor response based on the recommendation. The synthetic actor may provide the response to the airspace modeler to enable updating the airspace simulation data. In this manner the design of more efficient airspace routes, arrival and departure routes and procedures may be more quickly achieved. |
| US08321185B2 |
Program for outputting stress-strain equation and its device
There is provided a model that can evaluate properties of viscoelasticity and also rubber elasticity of an elastic material. A correlation equation between stress and strain that is calculated from: a correlation equation between stress, strain, elastic modulus and relaxation time, calculated based on a Maxwell model in which an elastic element and a viscous element are placed in series; and a correlation equation between strain and elastic modulus, including different moduli depending on properties, the correlation equation between stress and strain including different moduli depending on said properties as parameters is output as a stress-strain curve formula. There is one feature in finding a correlation between the strain and the elastic modulus, and this allows a large deformation behavior of an elastic material having properties of both rubber elasticity and viscoelasticity to be expressed with high quantitative characteristics on simulation. |
| US08321183B2 |
Multi-variable control-based optimization to achieve target goal
In a computer-implemented method of designing at least one system to achieve a target goal, an inventory of a plurality of variables that affect the design of the at least one system is created, where the inventory includes a feasibility range for each of the plurality of variables contained in the inventory is created. In addition, initial values are assigned for the plurality of variables in the inventory and a model of input to output correlations of the plurality of variables is created by commissioning the plurality of variables from the initial values. Moreover, a design of the at least one system to achieve the target goal is optimized by manipulating one or more of the plurality of variables through application of the model. |
| US08321181B2 |
Computer-implemented land planning system and method
A computer-implemented land planning system is designed to generate at least one conceptual fit solution to a user-defined land development problem. The system electronically creates at least one candidate solution to the land development problem. The candidate solution incorporates a number of engineering measurements applicable in development of an undeveloped land site. A fitness function quantitatively evaluates the candidate solution based on its fitness. A heuristic problem-solving strategy manipulates the engineering measurements of the candidate solution to achieve a more quantitatively fit solution to the land development problem. A computer output device outputs to a user documentation illustrating the fit solution to the land development problem. |
| US08321180B2 |
Method and apparatus for composite part data extraction
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for providing ply lay-up data for a composite part. A designation of a location is received for the composite part in a three dimensional object from a requester. A three dimensional model is opened in which the composite part is located. The ply lay-up data is extracted for a section within the composite part within the three dimensional model to form extracted ply lay-up data for the section. An output file is created containing a two dimensional drawing for the section with the ply lay-up data identifying a ply stacking sequence, an orientation of each ply in the ply stacking sequence, and a material for the each ply in the ply stacking sequence. The output file is returned to the requester. |
| US08321179B2 |
Multiple axes scanning system and method for measuring radiation from a radiation source
A three dimensional radiation measurement scanning system includes a circular drive operable with horizontal and vertical drives for moving a radiation detector through first, second and third orthogonal axes in a three dimensional scanning of the detector in a water tank. Motor are coupled to the drives and activated by a controller for providing the movement of the radiation detector which providing radiation field sensing signals for locations of the detector throughout the tank. A reference detector is fixed for comparing its radiation field measurements with those of the scanned radiation detector. An offset mount carries the radiation detector allowing it to be extended beyond the circular ring gear during horizontal movement of the radiation detector and thus position the radiation detector at wall surfaces of the water tank. |
| US08321174B1 |
System and method to measure capacitance of capacitive sensor array
A system and method for measuring capacitance of a capacitive sensor array is disclosed. Upon measuring the capacitance, position information with respect to the sensor array may be determined. A column, a first row, and a second row of a capacitive sensor array may be selected. The first row and the second row intersect with the column of the capacitive sensor array. A differential capacitance between the first row and the second row may be measured. The differential capacitance may be utilized in determining a location of an object proximate to the capacitive sensor array. |
| US08321167B2 |
Surveying instrument and surveying compensation method
The present invention provides a surveying instrument, which comprises rotating units operated rotatably, supporting units to support the rotating units, a reflection mirror portion provided on one of the supporting unit or the rotating unit, tilt sensors arranged on the other of the supporting unit and the rotating unit and for projecting a detecting light and for detecting a relative tilting of the reflection surface of the reflection mirror portion with respect to the supporting unit by receiving the detecting light reflected by the reflection mirror portion, and a control unit for calculating an unsteadiness of rotation of the rotating unit based on a signal from the tilt sensor. |
| US08321163B2 |
Monitoring power-related parameters in a power distribution unit
A power distribution unit (PDU) disposable in an electrical equipment rack. The PDU has a housing, a power input penetrating the housing, outlets in the housing, a processor disposed in the housing, voltage and current sensors, and a voltage calculation procedure communicable with the processor. The processor samples voltage and current waveforms and calculates RMS values and other power parameters. A method of managing electrical loads each drawing electrical power from a PDU includes repeatedly sampling voltage across and current flowing through each of the loads, calculating raw RMS values of voltage and current, and scaling the raw RMS values to obtain corrected RMS voltage and current values and other power parameters. |
| US08321162B2 |
Minimizing circulating current using time-aligned data
A power system may comprise two or more transformers operating in parallel. A voltage differential may exist between the transformers, which may create a circulating current in the power system. The system voltage of the power system may be modified by performing a tap change operation on one or more of the transformers. The tap change operation may be configured to minimize the circulating current. The circulating current may be minimized by determining the bias between the transformers using an angular difference between the transformer currents. The angular difference may be calculated using time-aligned measurement data. A tap change operation configured to modify the system voltage, while minimizing circulating current, may be determined using the transformer bias. |
| US08321160B2 |
Remotely reconfigurable system for mapping subsurface geological anomalies
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode. |
| US08321155B2 |
Field device comprising two processors
A field device for measuring the filling level, the pressure or the density of a medium in a container is described. The field device comprises two processors that are separate from each other. The first processor corresponds to a lower safety standard while the second processor corresponds to a higher safety standard. Functions of the field device that are directed towards safety are carried out in the second processor. Functions that are less critical to safety are carried out in the first processor. Data exchange between the two processors is controlled by way of an operating system. |
| US08321154B2 |
Methods for detecting coronary artery disease
Markers are provided for detecting coronary artery disease. Levels of these markers are indicative of a patient being at risk of having or developing coronary artery disease. |
| US08321153B2 |
Method for determining isotopic clusters and monoisotopic masses of polypeptides on mass spectra of complex polypeptide mixtures and computer-readable medium thereof
Disclosed herein is a method of finding an isotopic cluster in a polypeptide and determining the monoisotopic mass of the cluster. The method comprises an algorithm for finding an isotopic cluster based on a probabilistic model, defined by each of peaks in the isotopic cluster, and determining the monoisotopic mass of the isotopic cluster. The probabilistic model of the isotopic cluster includes characteristic functions for mass, that is, a function of the ratio of two peak intensities, and a function of the product of two ratios obtained from three peaks. These characteristic functions for mass define the shape of peaks acceptable in an actual isotopic cluster for the mass of any isotopic cluster. The algorithm of finding the isotopic cluster based on the functions uses the characteristics to score the degree of the approximation of any isotopic cluster to the spectral shape of a theoretical cluster. |
| US08321149B2 |
Transcutaneous analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host. |
| US08321145B2 |
Predictor of when to harvest cells grown in a bioreactor
This invention relates to a cell expansion system and to a method of determining when to harvest cells from the cell expansion system. |
| US08321143B2 |
Synthetic active peptide fragments
The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using peptide fragments. |
| US08321142B2 |
Analyzer, analysis method and computer program product
An analyzer includes a determining unit that determines whether an analysis result of a sample corresponding to a controlled specimen having a known value is normal or not based on an analysis result of the controlled specimen. The analyzer also includes a generating unit that generates analysis information in which a determination result by the determining unit is associated with each analysis result of samples; and an output unit that outputs the analysis information generated by the generating unit. |
| US08321139B2 |
Methods and apparatus for modulus measurement
Methods and system/apparatus as can be used to determine a material mechanical modulus on length scales as can be of biological cell dimension. |
| US08321137B2 |
Knowledge-based storage of diagnostic models
Methods, computer systems, and computer readable medium for testing a plurality of models in order to classify a biological specimen. A determination is made as to whether a model precondition associated with a model in the plurality of models has been satisfied. The model is skipped when the model precondition has not been satisfied. When the model precondition has been satisfied, the first model is tested by selecting a calculation from the first model. The selected calculation is computed using cellular constituent abundance values from the biological specimen in accordance with a calculation algorithm set forth in the selected model. This selecting and computing is repeated for one or more calculations in the selected model. Then, each of these calculations is aggregated in accordance with an aggregation algorithm associated with the selected model. These steps are repeated for at least one other model in the plurality of models. A computer medium comprising a classifier for classifying a biological specimen into a biological sample class that includes one or more models. Each of the one or more models comprises (i) an optional model precondition, (ii) a calculation algorithm, (iii) a plurality of calculations, and (iv) a calculation aggregation algorithm. |
| US08321136B2 |
Method and system for classifying slides using scatter plot distribution
The present invention relates to a method and system for classifying biological specimen. A number of objects of interest are identified in a biological specimen. The nuclear area and nuclear integrated optical density for each object of interest in the specimen are measured and used for generating a scatter plot. The specimen is classified as normal or suspicious based on the distribution of points within the scatter plot. |
| US08321132B2 |
Combining LWD measurements from different azimuths
Apparatus, methods for forming the apparatus, and methods for operating the apparatus provide a value for a formation property or a borehole property from measurements obtained in a well. The value may be generated from determining a weighted average of the value for the formation property or the borehole property using both values corresponding to different azimuths and weights corresponding to different azimuths. |
| US08321125B2 |
System and method for providing route guidance to a requesting vehicle
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a recommended route, based, in part, on fuel consumption, to a requesting vehicle using data collected from other vehicles. The system includes, but is not limited, to a communication system that is configured to receive vehicle data from a plurality of vehicles. A data storage system is in communication with the communication system and is configured to store the vehicle data as compiled vehicle data. A processor is in communication with the data storage system and the communication system. The processor is configured to utilize the compiled vehicle data to calculate a recommended route that is based, in part, on fuel consumption. The communication system is further configured to transmit the recommended route to the requesting vehicle. |
| US08321123B2 |
System and method for traffic condition communications
A system and method for communicating with traffic detectors. A location of a vehicle is determined. A search is performed continuously for any of a number of traffic detectors in a wireless environment. A communication session is established with one of the number of traffic detectors in response to entering a range of one of the number of traffic detectors. A message associated with the one of the number of traffic detectors is communicated to the vehicle while the vehicle is within the range of one or more traffic detectors. |
| US08321121B2 |
Engine fuel injection control apparatus
A fuel injection control apparatus is provided with a supply control section, a stop control section, a timing estimating section and a torque recovery control section. The supply control section controls fuel supplied to an engine based on a detected prescribed vehicle running state. The stop control section stops supplying fuel upon detecting a first prescribed vehicle running state. The timing estimating section estimates a timing at which a drive train transmitting a drive force from the engine to a wheel will change from a non-drive state in which the engine rotates due to a force from the wheel to a drive state in which the wheel rotates due to a drive force of the engine. The torque recovery control section resumes supplying fuel upon detecting a second prescribed vehicle running state and stops resumption of fuel being supplied for a prescribed amount of time based on the timing. |
| US08321117B2 |
Vehicle control system
A vehicle control system includes: an inter-vehicle distance control section configured to perform a follow-up control to a preceding vehicle by automatically accelerating or decelerating a host vehicle, or a constant speed running control section configured to perform a constant speed running to converge to a set speed; a brake operating state sensing device; and a control unit including; a deceleration control section configured to perform a deceleration in accordance with the brake operating state of the driver when the brake operating state sensing device senses the brake operation of the driver during the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed running control; and an acceleration control limit section configured to cancel a control in the acceleration direction which is performed by the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed control when the brake operating state sensing device senses an end of the brake operation of the driver. |
| US08321113B2 |
Vehicle control device and vehicle mounted with the device
A vehicle control device has a control device 10 mounted on a vehicle including an accelerator opening detecting sensor 2, a vehicle speed sensor 3, and braking means 7 capable of adjusting deceleration of the vehicle. The control device stores a plurality of deceleration tables 12 in which the deceleration is set according to a predetermined parameter. If the detected vehicle speed is equal to or less than a preset vehicle speed V1 and the detected accelerator opening is equal to or less than a preset accelerator opening when a target deceleration is selected by the deceleration selecting means 4 and 5, the selection of the deceleration is validated, a deceleration table 12 corresponding to the deceleration selected by the deceleration selecting means is read, and the braking means is actuated on the basis of braking parameters specified in the table, thereby executing deceleration control to provide the selected deceleration. |
| US08321105B2 |
Propulsion system with a continuously variable transmission
One disclosed embodiment relates to a propulsion system for a machine. The propulsion system may include a prime mover operatively connected through a continuously variable transmission to a propulsion device. The propulsion system may also include propulsion-system controls that control an operating parameter of the continuously variable transmission, which may include adjusting the operating parameter based on operator input. Controlling the operating parameter may also include determining an adjustment limit for the operating parameter based on one or more operating conditions and applying the adjustment limit to the operating parameter to modify at least one of acceleration and jerk of the machine based on the one or more operating conditions. |
| US08321097B2 |
Automatic transmissions and methods therefor
Systems and methods for controlling transmissions and associated vehicles, machines, equipment, etc., are disclosed. In one case, a transmission control system includes a control unit configured to use a sensed vehicle speed and a commanded, target constant input speed to maintain an input speed substantially constant. The system includes one or more maps that associate a speed ratio of a transmission with a vehicle speed. In one embodiment, one such map associates an encoder position with a vehicle speed. Regarding a specific application, an automatic bicycle transmission shifting system is contemplated. An exemplary automatic bicycle includes a control unit, a shift actuator, various sensors, and a user interface. The control unit is configured to cooperate with a logic module and an actuator controller to control the cadence of a rider. In one embodiment, a memory of, or in communication with, the control unit includes one or more constant cadence maps that associate transmission speed ratios with bicycle speeds. |
| US08321095B2 |
Control device for hybrid construction machine
The amount of assist for a sub-pump (SP) is reduced when a rotating motor (RM) is singly operated, and the amount of assist for the sub-pump (SP) is increased except when the rotating motor (RM) is singly operated. A controller (C) has a function which, when a signal representing single operation of a rotating motor is inputted in the controller from a single operation detecting means and, at the same time, when a single indicating that assist is required is inputted from an assist controlling input means (A1) in the controller, controls either or both of the speed of an electric motor (MG) and the tilt angle of the sub-pump (SP) based on a low-output set value lower than a value for normal operation of the rotating motor, which is operation other than when the rotating motor is singly operated. |
| US08321091B2 |
Backward motion control method for a car connected to at least one trailer
Provided is a backward motion control technology for a car. The car comprises a backward-motion control terminal, a control signal converter, and a backward-motion controller. The backward-motion control terminal outputs a first backward-motion control signal corresponding to a backward velocity and a backward direction of the last trailer according to a user's operation. The control signal converter converts the first backward-motion control signal to a second backward-motion control signal which corresponds to a backward velocity and a backward direction of the car. The backward-motion controller controls the car based on the second backward-motion control signal so that the last trailer moves backward by the backward velocity and the backward direction corresponding to the first backward-motion controlling signal. |
| US08321085B2 |
Working vehicle, vehicle speed control method of working vehicle, and vehicle speed controller of working vehicle
A working vehicle of the present invention achieves more stabilized constant speed traveling. A vehicle speed control section 20A of a controller 2 calculates a target drive force required for constant speed traveling on the basis of a preset standard traveling resistance (S1). And, on the basis of an output rotational speed (S2) and the target drive force (S1) of a torque converter 14, the vehicle speed control section 20A determines a target input rotational speed (S3) to be inputted to the torque converter 14, and sets a clutch pressure (S5) so as to eliminate a difference between the target input rotational speed and an actual input rotational speed (S4). A standard traveling resistance correction section 20B corrects a standard traveling resistance according to state of a road surface, long term change of components, and so on. Due to this, it is possible to perform stabilized constant speed traveling. |
| US08321084B2 |
Control device, control method, control device of vehicle, and control system of vehicle
Provided is a control device including: a storage portion for storing binary data transmitted from outside and received successively; and a control portion for carrying out processing including: production processing of producing a frame where of the stored binary data, pieces of data expressing events occurring in a predetermined period are placed into a group among which pieces of data expressing events each having a small degree of variation are arranged so as to be close to each other; difference computing processing of arranging the frames produced at intervals of the predetermined time in a predetermined order and of computing a difference between two adjacent frames; compression processing of compressing a result of the computation by a run length method; and recording processing of recording, to a recording portion, a first frame in the difference computing processing, a number of difference computations, and the compressed data. |
| US08321082B2 |
Hybrid vehicle
In a hybrid vehicle, control is executed to operate an engine with fuel injection being performed, when an unexecuted percentage of catalyst degradation suppression control is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the unexecuted percentage, when a power storage percentage of a battery is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the power storage percentage and the battery is charging, and also when a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the vehicle speed and a cumulative air amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value of the cumulative air amount, when a catalyst temperature is less than a first threshold temperature and equal to or greater than a second threshold temperature, when the catalyst temperature is equal to or greater than the first threshold temperature, when there is a braking request while the engine is operating. |
| US08321079B2 |
Anti-collision control system for a vehicle
An anti-collision control system for one or more vehicles fitted with an onboard automatic pilot (self-guiding) allowing for bi-directional movements on a single track under the control of a ground-based automated traffic control unit of the CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) type. The system includes: a signaling control unit of the AWS (Auxiliary Wayside System) type for controlling ground signals on a section of a single-direction circulation lane; a first default control means based on which the signaling control unit imposes a single-direction movement to the vehicle running on the section of a single-direction circulation lane in order to avoid any collision with another vehicle controlled solely by the signaling control unit of the AWS type, i.e. independently from the ground-based automated traffic control unit. |
| US08321077B1 |
Attitude determination with three-axis accelerometer for emergency atmospheric entry
Two algorithms are disclosed that, with the use of a 3-axis accelerometer, will be able to determine the angles of attack, sideslip and roll of a capsule-type spacecraft prior to entry (at very high altitudes, where the atmospheric density is still very low) and during entry. The invention relates to emergency situations in which no reliable attitude and attitude rate are available. Provided that the spacecraft would not attempt a guided entry without reliable attitude information, the objective of the entry system in such case would be to attempt a safe ballistic entry. A ballistic entry requires three controlled phases to be executed in sequence: First, cancel initial rates in case the spacecraft is tumbling; second, maneuver the capsule to a heat-shield-forward attitude, preferably to the trim attitude, to counteract the heat rate and heat load build up; and third, impart a ballistic bank or roll rate to null the average lift vector in order to prevent prolonged lift down situations. Being able to know the attitude, hence the attitude rate, will allow the control system (nominal or backup, automatic or manual) to cancel any initial angular rates. Also, since a heat-shield forward attitude and the trim attitude can be specified in terms of the angles of attack and sideslip, being able to determine the current attitude in terms of these angles will allow the control system to maneuver the vehicle to the desired attitude. Finally, being able to determine the roll angle will allow for the control of the roll ballistic rate during entry. |
| US08321075B2 |
Mitigating effects of biodynamic feedthrough on an electronic control device
Biodynamic feedthrough in a master control system can be mitigated. An accelerometer is used to measure the acceleration of an environment. In one embodiment, mitigation damping forces can then be determined based on the velocity of an effector of a haptic manipulator and the measured accelerations. The haptic manipulator applies the mitigation damping forces as force feedback. In another embodiment, biodynamic feedthrough can be filtered from the input signal. Parameters for a model can be accessed based on the position of the effector, and the model can be used to predict biodynamic feedthrough from the measured accelerations. |
| US08321072B2 |
Method for determining the quantity of fuel taken on board an aircraft making it possible to maintain a time requirement of the RTA type
A method for determining the quantity of fuel in an aircraft and an optimization criterion such as a cost index, notably used in an FMS, making it possible to maintain a time requirement of the RTA type, comprising a first step of computing the optimization criterion CIi as a function of the aircraft weight GWi-1 via a method of the RTA type and a second step of computing the weight of the aircraft GWi as a function of the optimization criterion Ci-1 computed in the first computation step and the aircraft weight GWi-1, executed by successive iterations, until the estimated flight time resulting from the computed parameters after the second computation step makes it possible to observe the time requirement to within a determined criterion δt, a last step determining the pair of values of aircraft weight GWi and of performance criterion CIi-1 allowing an optimal fuel payload and the maintenance of the RTA. |
| US08321068B2 |
Method of plotting a portion of trajectory of an aircraft comprising a circular arc of constant radius
A method is disclosed for plotting a trajectory portion (6, 6″), using flight management means of an aircraft, and linking a known position (7) of the aircraft to a point in space (4), denoted the “exit point”. A circular arc is defined, the coordinates of whose centre (1) are known, comprising two ends (3, 4) of known coordinates, one end of which is the exit point (4). The position of a transition point (5) is determined which is situated on the arc. The trajectory (6, 6″) by the flight management means of the aircraft is automatically plotted. The trajectory is successively linking the known position (7) of the aircraft, and the transition point (5) and the exit point (4). |
| US08321067B1 |
Transitioning a mixed-mode vehicle to autonomous mode
Disclosed are methods and devices for transitioning a mixed-mode autonomous vehicle from a human driven mode to an autonomously driven mode. Transitioning may include stopping a vehicle on a predefined landing strip and detecting a reference indicator. Based on the reference indicator, the vehicle may be able to know its exact position. Additionally, the vehicle may use the reference indictor to obtain an autonomous vehicle instruction via a URL. After the vehicle knows its precise location and has an autonomous vehicle instruction, it can operate in autonomous mode. |
| US08321064B2 |
Grid interconnection device, grid interconnection system, and power control system
A grid interconnection device 100 for interconnecting a power storage device to a power distribution system to which alternating current power is distributed, the grid interconnection device comprises a receiver 101 and a controller 104. The receiver 101 receives a second adjustment instruction transmitted before a first adjustment instruction. The controller 104 controls the power storage amount on the basis of the second adjustment instruction. |
| US08321062B2 |
Systems and method for operating a wind turbine having active flow control
A method of operating a wind turbine that includes a flow control system includes operating the wind turbine in a first mode, operating the wind turbine in a second mode that is different than the first mode, acquiring operational data of the wind turbine during at least the second mode, determining an effectiveness of the flow control system using the acquired operational data, and performing an action based on the effectiveness of the flow control system. |
| US08321058B2 |
HVAC control system having integrated CPH cycling control and deadband staging
A method of controlling an HVAC system including programming a thermostat of the HVAC system to define a temperature set point, a temperature differential around the temperature set point, and a number of cycles per hour for a temperature control source of the HVAC system. The method also includes sensing a temperature, executing a cycling control algorithm that includes the temperature, the temperature set point, and the number of cycles per hour as inputs to determine a duty cycle, and running the temperature control source according to the duty cycle when the temperature is within the temperature differential. The method further includes executing a deadband algorithm to turn on the temperature control source when the temperature is outside of the temperature differential at one extreme and to turn off the temperature control source when the temperature is outside the temperature differential at the opposite extreme. |
| US08321056B2 |
Power plant with CO2 capture and compression
A power plant frequency response characteristic is implemented by controlling the power consumption of a CO2 capture and compression system. A power reserve is provided for under-frequency events without deloading the plant to part load, by an operating method, in which the power consumption of the CO2 capture system is used to control the net output of the plant. |
| US08321054B2 |
Industrial robot and a method for adjusting a robot program
A method for adjusting a program including program instructions for controlling an industrial robot to carry out work at a plurality of target points on a work object. The robot includes a tool having two arms adapted to clamp the work object and at least one of the arms is arranged movable relative the other arm in an opening and a closing direction, a manipulator adapted to hold the tool or the work object, and a controller controlling the movements of the manipulator and the tool arm and configured to switch between a normal control mode and a compliant control mode in which the manipulator has a reduced stiffness in at least one direction. The method includes moving the manipulator and the tool according to the program instructions until one of the target points is reached. |
| US08321050B2 |
Device for selectively presenting objects
An assembly for selectively presenting objects includes: a frame; a carousel rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation about a generally vertical axis of rotation, the carousel including a plurality of object compartments arranged about the axis of rotation; a servomotor operably connected with the carousel, the servomotor being configured to rotate the carousel about the axis of rotation; and a controller. The controller is configured to actuate the servomotor to rotate the carousel when torque applied to the servomotor exceeds a predetermined magnitude. Such an assembly can serve as a presentation device that enables an operator to remove objects therefrom at his/her convenience. |
| US08321048B1 |
Associating data with workpieces and correlating the data with yield data
A method and apparatus is provided for associating operational data with workpieces and correlating the operational data with yield data. The method comprises processing a workpiece using a processing tool, associating the operational data with the workpiece during the processing of the workpiece and measuring the yield data associated with the processed workpiece. The method further comprises correlating the operational data with the yield data to make one or more determinations. |
| US08321046B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus including a controller connected to a plurality of sub-controllers for controlling a substrate processing, and an operating section having a display unit for showing an operation screen displaying a daily check data for checking utility equipment relating to each part and having a daily check initial parameter file defined in a client type, a presence of an item and unit conversion. The controller is configured to receive the daily check data from a sub-controller, to convert a unit of the received daily check data, and then to transfer the unit-converted daily check data to the operating section, and the operating section is configured to refer to the daily check initial parameter file and to display the daily check data transferred from the controller on the operation screen. |
| US08321043B2 |
Simulation apparatus and program
In a simulation apparatus, a difference data generation part compares a simulation result of an existing sound generator with a simulation result of a virtual sound generator, and generates difference data representing a difference between the simulation result of the existing sound generator and the simulation result of the virtual sound generator. A characteristic correction part corrects a measurement result of the existing sound generator based on the difference data, and generates virtual sound generator prediction data representing the sound generation characteristic of the virtual sound generator according to the corrected measurement result of the existing sound generator. |
| US08321036B2 |
Cardiac rhythm management device
A medical device is disclosed for implantation on an epicardial surface of the heart. The device has a transmural member providing optimal electrode locations for various therapies. The hemodynamically optimal therapy is guided by sensed left ventricular pressure and electrical activity. The device may be used alone or with a companion implanted cardiac rhythm management device. |
| US08321034B2 |
Stimulation electrode lead
An implantable stimulation electrode lead for medical purposes includes a coaxial lead structure with an inner supply lead and an outer supply lead electrically insulated from the inner supply lead, and first and second electrodes which are provided at or near the distal end of the lead structure. The outer supply lead is guided to the first electrode, which is at the tip of the lead structure, and the inner supply lead is guided to the second electrode, which is proximal to the first electrode, such that the electrical connections cross over along the radius of the device. |
| US08321033B2 |
Implantable medical lead having passive lock mechanical body terminations
Disclosed herein is an implantable medical lead configured to receive a stylet. The lead may include a tubular body and a structure. The tubular body may include a distal end and a proximal end. The body may be configured to receive the stylet. The structure longitudinally may extend through the body between the distal end and the proximal end. The structure may be anchored within the body such that a tensile force arising within the body by the stylet being extended through the body causes the tensile force to be substantially carried by the structure. |
| US08321030B2 |
Esophageal activity modulated obesity therapy
Methods and devices for delivering electrical stimulation to the sympathetic nervous system in response to the onset of eating. In some methods, swallowing is detected which then initiates a dose of stimulation which can vary in intensity, frequency, or both over the dose length. In some methods, the dose length is between about one quarter hour and one hour. The dose frequency may increase, hold steady, then decrease over the dose duration so as to mimic the response of the gut stretch and nutrient receptors to receiving food. The dose can drive biomarkers indicative of eating, for example glucagon, glucose, FFA or glycerol to at least about half of their normal post eating levels and then stop so as to retain stimulation effectiveness for subsequent doses and to prolong battery life. |
| US08321027B2 |
Transcutaneous power supply with optimal positioning for use with active implantable devices
The transcutaneous power supply and/or recharger device of the present invention enables a precise centering of the device with a receiver coil in an implant. In one embodiment, the power supply device includes a plurality of satellite sensors or coils disposed around the transmitter coil. A voltage value detected in the receiver coil is transmitted to the power supply or recharger device via a telemetric channel and indicates the amount of power being transferred, and, therefore, the accuracy of the reciprocal positioning of the power supply terminal with the receiver coil. |
| US08321025B2 |
Lead and methods for brain monitoring and modulation
An apparatus, a system and methods for modulating and monitoring tissue have an elongate member with proximal and distal ends and a plurality of annular stimulating electrodes axially arranged along the elongate member. The stimulating electrodes are disposed near the distal end and are adapted to pass current into tissue. At least one of the annular stimulating electrodes has at least three independent stimulation points on the electrode. The apparatus also includes a plurality of recording electrodes that are adapted to measure local tissue potentials and a plurality of conductors are coupled with the recording and stimulating electrodes. An optional multiple contact connecting terminal may be coupled with the conductors and is disposed near the proximal end of the elongate member. |
| US08321024B2 |
Devices and methods for treatment of heart failure and associated conditions
Devices and methods of use identification, treatment, and/or management of heart failure and/or associated conditions. Methods may include providing a baroreflex therapy system including a blood pressure sensor and a heart rate sensor, providing an implantable measurement device proximate a blood vessel of a patient, the implantable measurement device including an electrode, providing a control system coupled to the baroreflex therapy system and the implantable measurement device, the control system programmed to automatically determine an impedance of the blood vessel with the implantable measurement device over a time period of at least one cardiac cycle, determine arterial stiffness of the blood vessel based on the impedance, determine blood pressure and heart rate, and activate, deactivate or otherwise modulate the baroreflex therapy system to deliver a baroreflex therapy based on the blood pressure, heart rate and arterial stiffness. |
| US08321022B2 |
Adaptive therapy for disordered breathing
An approach to providing disordered breathing therapy includes detecting disordered breathing and adapting a therapy to mitigate the disordered breathing. The therapy may be adapted to enhance therapy effectiveness, to provide therapy that reduces an impact of the therapy on the patient, or to achieve other therapeutic goals. Cardiac electrical therapy to mitigate the disordered breathing may include various cardiac pacing regimens and/or delivery of non-excitatory electrical stimulation to the heart. |
| US08321020B1 |
System and method for detecting and correcting atrial undersensing
A method for operating an implantable medical device includes delivering a plurality of pacing pulses to an atria of a patient's heart and monitoring intrinsic atrial activity to detect intrinsic atrial contractions between one or more of the plurality of pacing pulses. The method further includes detecting atrial undersensing as a function of the detection of intrinsic atrial contractions. |
| US08321019B2 |
Apparatus and method for ensuring safe operation of a thermal treatment catheter
A working end of a catheter includes at least one therapeutic element, such as a resistive heating element, usable to deliver energy for ligating, or reducing the diameter of, a hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, the catheter includes a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery. In certain embodiments, a balloon is inflated to place resistive element(s) into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure and to occlude the structure. Indexing devices and methods are also disclosed for successively treating portions of the hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, marks along the catheter shaft provide visual verification to the physician of the relative position of the therapeutic element of the catheter. Embodiments of indexing devices may include pairs of rings and/or hinged arms that move a catheter a desired indexed position between successive treatments. |
| US08321017B2 |
Electromechanical delay (EMD) monitoring devices, systems and methods
Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, enable the monitoring of a patient's electromechanical delay (EMD) and arterial blood pressure. Paced cardiac events are caused by delivering sufficient pacing stimulation to cause capture. A cardiogenic impedance (CI) signal, indicative of cardiac contractile activity in response to the pacing stimulation being delivered, is obtained. One or more predetermined features of the CI signal are detected, and a value indicative of the patient's EMD is determined by determining a time between a delivered pacing stimulation and at least one of the detected one or more features of the CI signal. The value indicative of EMD can be used to more accurately determine metrics indicative of pulse arrival time (PAT), which can be used to estimate arterial blood pressure. |
| US08321014B2 |
Dynamic cardiac resynchronization therapy by tracking intrinsic conduction
Systems and methods for pacing the heart using resynchronization pacing delays that achieve improvement of cardiac function are described. An early activation pacing interval is calculated based on an optimal AV delay and an atrial to early ventricular activation interval between an atrial event and early activation of a ventricular depolarization. The early activation pacing interval for the ventricle is calculated by subtracting the measured AVEA from the calculated optimal AV delay. The early activation pacing interval is initiated responsive to sensing early activation of the ventricle and pacing is delivered relative to expiration of the early activation pacing interval. |
| US08321012B2 |
Device, method, and system for neural modulation as vaccine adjuvant in a vertebrate subject
A method for enhancing an immune response in a vertebrate subject is described. The method includes providing at least one energy stimulus configured to modulate one or more nervous system components of the vertebrate subject, and administering one or more immunogen to the vertebrate subject, wherein the at least one energy stimulus and the one or more immunogen are provided in a combination and in a temporal sequence sufficient to enhance an immune response in the vertebrate subject. |
| US08321010B2 |
Method for determining the condition of a biological object and device for making same
The invention relates to the field of instrumentation and can be used for diagnosing the condition of a biological object. The technical result consists in an increased measurement precision. In order to achieve this result, the invention comprises determining the condition of a biological object on the basis of fixation and comparison of the structures of gas-discharge light emission around the reference object and the biological object under study in an electromagnetic field. The light emissions around the reference object and the biological object under study are converted into digital code. The invention comprises determining the quantitative parameters of the light emission and the characteristics thereof. The invention also comprises determining corresponding spatial points of specified parameters for the reference object and the biological object under study. The invention further comprises determining the deviation of quantitative parameters that characterize the condition of the biological object under study by means of the distance between said points. The reference object is implemented as a non-biological material. The invention also comprises carrying out the fixation of the structure of gas-discharge light emission around the reference object and determining the relative deviation thereof from an average value. |
| US08321002B2 |
Arrhythmia discrimination using ECG's sensed from multiple implanted electrodes
Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems provide for monitoring, diagnosing, defibrillation and pacing therapies, or a combination of these capabilities, including cardiac systems incorporating or cooperating with neuro-stimulating devices, drug pumps, or other therapies. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to implantable medical devices employing automated cardiac activation sequence monitoring and/or tracking for arrhythmia discrimination. Embodiments of the invention are directed to devices and methods involving sensing a plurality of composite cardiac signals using a plurality of implantable electrodes. A source separation is performed using the sensed plurality of composite cardiac signals and the separation produces one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with one or more cardiac activation sequences that is indicative of ischemia. A change of the one or more cardiac signal vectors is detected using the one or more cardiac signal vectors. Cardiac arrhythmias are discriminated using the one or more cardiac signal vectors. |
| US08321001B2 |
Implantable P-wave dispersion detector
An electromedical implant, having a far-field electrocardiogram capturing unit for recording a far-field electrocardiogram signal, which is connected or can be connected to at least two electrodes for recording electric signals reflecting the curve of the far-field electrocardiogram of the right and left atria, a detection unit, which is designed to detect signal features characterizing atrial cardiac actions in an electrocardiogram signal, an averaging unit, which is connected to the recording unit and the detection unit and designed to generate an averaged P-wave signal in that the averaging unit averages a plurality of signal sections of the electrocardiogram signal associated with a particular detected atrial cardiac action, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the averaging unit and designed to determine the duration of an averaged P-wave in the particular averaged P-wave signal. |
| US08320993B2 |
Subcutaneous cavity marking device
These are subcutaneous cavity marking devices and methods. More particularly, upon insertion into a body, the cavity marking device and method enable one to determine the center, orientation, and periphery of the cavity by radiographic, mammographic, echogenic, or other non-invasive imaging techniques. Also, the device contains a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker. The device may be combined with various substances enhancing the radiopaque, mammographic, or echogenic characteristics of the marker or the body allowing it to be observed by any non-invasive imaging techniques. This is further a method of marking a subcutaneous cavity using a bioabsorbable material and a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker in conjunction with the material. The method also may combine any of the features as described with the device. |
| US08320992B2 |
Method and system for superimposing three dimensional medical information on a three dimensional image
A system for video based registration between images during a skeletal medical procedure includes a stereoscopic camera, a two dimensional image detector and a registration processor. The camera is associated with a stereoscopic coordinate system, the camera acquires a stereoscopic image pair of fiducial marks fixed onto a skeletal structure. Fiducial representations of the fiducial marks appear on the stereoscopic image pair, and a skeletal representation of the skeletal structure appears on two different 2D images. The registration processor registers a stereoscopic coordinate system with a 3D coordinate system associated with a volumetric image detector, and superimposes 3D information on at least one volumetric image. The registration processor registers the stereoscopic coordinate system with the 3D coordinate system by registering the stereoscopic coordinate system with the 2D coordinate system and by registering the 2D coordinate system with the 3D coordinate system. |
| US08320991B2 |
Portable electromagnetic navigation system
A portable system can be provided that works with a surgical navigation system. The portable system can control a localizer to assist in the tracking of a tracking device. The portable system can be provided to be substantially carried by a single user form one location to another. Further, various digital control components can be provided to assist in miniaturization, robustness, and the like. |
| US08320989B2 |
Region of interest methods and systems for ultrasound imaging
A region of interest is identified by user selection of a single point. Multiple regions of interest may be identified by selection of multiple points. Region growing is then used to define the boundary of the region of interest. |
| US08320988B2 |
Multi-electrode strung on a common connector
A medical electrode includes a moderately conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side with a plurality of highly conductive patterns disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side in a spaced apart relationship. A moderately highly conductive layer disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side and covering the conductive patterns, for adhering the electrode to a patient's skin. A connector is provided for establishing electrical contact with an external apparatus. The connector includes a leadwire having conductive portions in electrical communication with the conductive patterns and non-conductive portions between the conductive patterns. Control over conductivity between the leadwire conductive portion and the conductive pattern is provided. |
| US08320987B2 |
Electric potential mapping and electrode attachment device with continuous electric signal monitoring and method
Electric potential mapping and electrode attachment device comprises: a main cylinder; a center piece having a center piece passage for receiving a catheter with its electrode running from a center piece inlet to a center piece outlet; a cylinder cap for closing main cylinder; a second cylinder which fits inside of and is allowed to rotate relative to main cylinder; and at least two electromechanical connections used to connect the device to at least two connectors on an electrode lead, where the device facilitates rotation and movement of each connector relative to the other while retaining continuous electrical connection with heart tissue or other body cavity tissue. The device offers continuous recording of electrical potentials of a body cavity during full rotation of collars, connectors, or connections on a laparoscopic device during HIS bundle mapping, pacemaker electrode anchoring, post anchoring, pacemaker programming, and afterwards. |
| US08320985B2 |
Touch screen interfaces with pulse oximetry
Examples of touch screen interfaces with pulse oximetry are generally described, along with examples of methods of determining pulse rate, blood oxygen level, or both, with a touch screen interface. |
| US08320984B2 |
Optical sensor for medical device
An optical sensor for a medical device includes a fixed lens spacing between emit and receive modules to achieve target sensor sensitivity, while varying other sensor parameters in order to increase signal amplitude without increasing power demand. The size of at least one of emit and receive module lenses of an optical sensor, and the offset between the opto-electronic component and the respective lens of at least one of emit and receive modules is decreased to increase amplitude of the signal received by the receive module from the emit module. |
| US08320983B2 |
Controlling transfer of objects affecting optical characteristics
An implantable product such as an article, device, or system can include analyte and non-analyte containers in parts that can be operated as optical cavities. The product can also include fluidic components such as filter assemblies that control transfer of objects that affect or shift spectrum features or characteristics such as by shifting transmission mode peaks or reflection mode valleys, shifting phase, reducing maxima or contrast, or increasing intermediate intensity width such as full width half maximum (FWHM). Analyte, e.g. glucose molecules, can be predominantly included in a set of objects that transfer more rapidly into the analyte container than other objects, and can have a negligible or zero rate of transfer into the non-analyte container; objects that transfer more rapidly into the non-analyte container can include objects smaller than the analyte or molecules of a set of selected types, including, e.g., sodium chloride. Output light from the containers accordingly includes information about analyte. |
| US08320982B2 |
Multi-wavelength optical devices and methods of using same
Multi-wavelength optical apparatus includes an optical emitter, and an energy transition layer positioned adjacent to the optical emitter. The energy transition layer generates multi-wavelength electromagnetic radiation when monochromatic light from the optical emitter passes therethrough. The energy transition layer includes a plurality of luminescent films, and each film is configured to luminesce at a respective different wavelength range when monochromatic light from the optical emitter passes therethrough. The plurality of luminescent films may be arranged in contacting face-to-face relationship or may be arranged in an array. The luminescent films may include rare-earth doped oxides, phosphors, metal-doped oxides, rare-earth doped nitrides, nanostructures, and/or nanostructured films, etc. The optical emitter may be a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode (LD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a resonant cavity light emitting diode (RCLED), and/or an edge-emitting diode (EELED). |
| US08320979B2 |
Water-shielding type mobile terminal apparatus
The mobile terminal apparatus of the present invention includes a housing having an opening section in which an accommodated object is fitted; a lid covering the opening section, the lid having a protrusion which surrounds the opening section and shields the accommodated object from water, on a surface facing the accommodated object; and a cover covering the lid, the cover being attached to the housing to press the lid onto the housing. When the cover is attached to the housing, the protrusion of the lid surrounds the opening section and is pressed onto the housing by the cover, so that the accommodated object can be reliably shielded from water. |
| US08320977B2 |
Uplink power control in aggregated spectrum systems
A method for communication includes modulating data in a wireless communication terminal to produce an aggregated-spectrum signal, which includes at least first and second signals in respective first and second spectral bands. The modulated data is transmitted in the first and second signals at respective first and second power levels. The second power level is adjusted separately from the first power level. In some embodiments, one or more instructions to set the first power level are received at the wireless communication terminal, and the first power level is set separately from setting the second power level based on the instructions. |
| US08320974B2 |
Decisions on ambient noise suppression in a mobile communications handset device
A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08320972B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method of connecting call thereof
A mobile communication terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to receive a call; a touch screen display configured to display indication information that the call is being received and to display a first soft touch item and a second soft touch item on the touch screen display when the call is being received; and a control unit configured to connect the call being received if the first soft touch item is selected, and to control the touch screen display to continue to display the indication information indicating that the call is being received if the second soft touch item is selected. |
| US08320970B2 |
Mobile device display management
The display of a mobile device is managed during a voice communication session using a proximity sensor and an accelerometer. In one example, the display of a mobile device is turned off during a phone call on the mobile device when a proximity sensor detects an object is proximate the device and an accelerometer determines the device is in a first orientation. |
| US08320969B2 |
Communication device, communication control method and communication system
There is provided a communication device including: a first radio communication unit capable of radio communication in accordance with a first communication method; and a second radio communication unit capable of radio communication in accordance with a second communication method using a higher frequency band than the first communication method, wherein the first radio communication unit transmits an instruction signal instructing to learn a beam directionality to another communication device, and the second radio communication unit transmits a beam reference signal used for learning a beam directionality to said another communication device after completion of transmission of the instruction signal by the first radio communication unit and before reception of a response signal to the instruction signal. |
| US08320967B2 |
User location based switching between diversity and multiplexing
Multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver increase the capacity in a wireless communication system. Received signal quality can be enhanced through diversity by transmitting the same symbol on multiple antennas. Data rate can be increased through multiplexing by transmitting different symbols on the transmitting antennas. Operating in one particular mode only is generally not suitable. Choosing diversity or multiplexing by taking into account the location of a user can enhance both throughput and reliability. |
| US08320965B2 |
Apparatus and method for saving power of femto base station in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for transiting an operation mode of a femto base station in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes, in a sleep mode, confirming whether operation transition request information is received from at least one terminal; and when receiving the operation transition request information from the terminal, entering an active mode. Thus, the power consumption of the femto base station can be reduced and the interference caused by the operation of the femto base station can be mitigated. |
| US08320963B2 |
Subscriber identity module card and terminal device having the same
A subscriber identity module (SIM) card to be mounted to a terminal device that includes a SIM interface unit, the SIM card including: a first terminal to output a control signal indicating that the SIM card is mounted to the terminal device when the SIM card is mounted to the terminal device; and a second terminal to receive the control signal from the first terminal, and to transmit, to the SIM interface unit, the control signal when the SIM card is mounted to the terminal device. |
| US08320960B2 |
Docking station and computer system using the docking station
A docking station includes a casing, a socket and a plurality of peripheral interface devices. The casing includes a base and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotingly disposed on the base, openably and coverably, to form an appearance of a notebook computer. The socket is formed in a surface of the base for receiving a mobile communication device, and a high speed transmission interface is formed in a bottom of the socket. The plurality of peripheral interface devices is disposed on the casing and electrically connected with the high speed transmission interface. When the mobile communication device is placed in the socket, the mobile communication device is electrically connected with the high speed transmission interface and transmits signals with the plurality of peripheral interface devices. Basing on the structure, the present invention can ensure that mobile communication devices are convenient for operation. |
| US08320956B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing manual selection of a communication network for a mobile station
Methods and apparatus for providing manual selection of a communication network for a mobile station are described. A plurality of communication networks are identified by scanning a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating. A plurality of network identifiers corresponding to the plurality of communication networks are then retrieved from memory of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in accordance with an Enhanced Operator Name String (EONS) protocol. Preferably, each network identifier is retrieved based on a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), and a Location Area Code (LAC). The plurality of network identifiers are visually displayed for user selection, and at least two of the network identifiers may be substantially the same. The user selected communication network is registered with and the network identifier associated with this network is visually displayed. |
| US08320946B2 |
Mobile user terminal, mobile communication system, base station, and communication method
A mobile user terminal includes a receiver which receives a signal, and a processor which measures downlink channel quality based on the signal and does not transmit downlink channel quality information and an uplink pilot signal simultaneously at a period which the mobile user terminal is a state of transmission off in an intermittent fashion. |
| US08320941B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for displaying data added location information
A mobile terminal has a current-location information acquisition unit configured to acquire current-location information indicating a current location of the mobile terminal, a direction information acquisition unit configured to acquire direction information indicating a direction of orientation of the mobile terminal, a storage unit configured to store data added location information, a search unit configured to search for at least one of the data having the location information that is located in the direction from the current location of the mobile terminal and that falls within a predetermined range around the direction based on the current-location information and the direction information, and a display control unit configured to cause the retrieved data to be displayed. |
| US08320934B2 |
Dynamic location almanac for wireless base stations
A system and method of dynamically updating an almanac of base stations with wireless phones that are controlled by end users. First, second, and third location information are received respectfully from a first, second, and third wireless phones. A position of each wireless device is known. The distance between each wireless device an uncooperative base station is determined while accounting for an uncertainty factor. A location of the uncooperative base station is calculated using the first, second, and third location information and the distances. The almanac is updated with the location. |
| US08320932B2 |
Method and system of utilizing a context vector and method and system of utilizing a context vector and database for location applications
A system (100) and method (300) of using a context vector and database (202) for location applications can include a transceiver (104), a plurality of environmental sensors (114, 116, 118, 120, 121) including at least two location technology devices (110, 112), and a processor (102) coupled to the transceiver and the plurality of environmental sensors. The processor can be programmed to sense (302) an environmental condition for a given location, define (310) a context vector for the given location, detect (312) a context transition corresponding to a change in the environmental condition, and modify (314) an operation of the at least two location technology devices based on the context transition detected. The processor can be further programmed to form (320) a new context vector based on the context transition and attempt to match the new context vector with a pre-stored context vector. |
| US08320930B2 |
Systems and methods for intelligent discard in a communication network
Systems and methods for optimizing system performance of capacity and spectrum constrained, multiple-access communication systems by selectively discarding packets are provided. The systems and methods provided herein can drive changes in the communication system using control responses. One such control responses includes the optimal discard (also referred to herein as “intelligent discard”) of network packets under capacity constrained conditions. Some embodiments provide an interactive response by selectively discarding packets to enhance perceived and actual system throughput, other embodiments provide a reactive response by selectively discarding data packets based on their relative impact to service quality to mitigate oversubscription, others provide a proactive response by discarding packets based on predicted oversubscription, and others provide a combination thereof. |
| US08320926B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system that enable the allocation of resources to UEs based on measurements of their antenna polarization, in order to suppress the interference between different UEs at a very low overhead cost. This is achieved by a solution where the scheduling unit retrieves information about the polarization of the UE antenna configurations, and based on this information allocates radio resources to the different UEs, with the aim to minimize the interference. The scheduling unit may retrieve the information from the RBSs or from the UEs. The RBS and the UE will determine the polarization and transmit information regarding this polarization to the scheduling unit. The scheduling unit coordinates the allocation of resources with other scheduling units if necessary. |
| US08320917B2 |
Mobile terminal, communication system including communication server base station, communication method in the communication system and base station
A communication method in a communication system, wherein the communication system includes a mobile terminal, a communication server that distributes data to the mobile terminal, and plural base stations that are capable of relaying the data, and one of the base stations among the plural base stations is responsible for relaying the data. The communication method includes transmitting, to the communication server, restriction instruction information to restrict a data transmission rate, by a first base station that is responsible for relaying the data among the plural base stations, and hand-overing, by the first base station, causing a second base station different from the first base station to take over the responsibility of relaying. |
| US08320916B2 |
Method and apparatus for pre-fetching data in a mobile network environment using edge data storage
A method and apparatus in which a mobile network advantageously communicates data requests to neighboring data stores so that they may pre-fetch the data. In particular, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol is advantageously established whereby a local data store in a mobile network notifies neighboring data stores of data requests, and whereby the neighboring data stores advantageously pre-fetch the data that may be required, thereby advantageously avoiding cascading cache misses. Such notifications may advantageously reduce the number of cache misses, which in turn may advantageously reduce the latency to download data as the user moves around within the mobile network and changes data sources. Specifically, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol for communicating data requests between local storage centers in a network supporting mobile users is provided. |
| US08320914B2 |
Voice channel data connection retry strategy
A system and method for making vehicle originated calls to a telematics service provider or other call center. The method includes identifying a call type associated with a desired wireless communication of speech or data to the call center, and then carrying out one of a number of different call connection processes depending on the call type. For voice channel cellular connections, an in-band modem cellular connection is preferably established in most instances using a connection retry strategy that includes primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary connection attempts. The system and method can be carried out in connection with various cellular system technologies, but is especially suited for use with GSM systems. |
| US08320899B2 |
Installation notification method, installation notification system, and installation notification server
A mobile terminal is notified of information indicating that an operator pack or the like is downloadable, without need for a user of the mobile terminal to perform any active operation and without need for the mobile terminal to be preliminarily equipped with an extra function for automatic installation. An installation notification system 10 of the present invention includes a mobile terminal 50 and an installation notification server 60 and is provided with an operator pack presence determining unit 15 configured to determine whether an operator pack is present in the mobile terminal 50, based on originating data sent from the mobile terminal 50, and an installation notifying unit 18 configured to notify the mobile terminal 50 of installable information indicating that the operator pack is installable, when the operator pack presence determining unit 15 determines that the operator pack is absent. |
| US08320894B1 |
Employing multiple mobile devices with varying functional capabilities
Communications over a network are selectively routed to one of multiple mobile devices identified by the same mobile device number. In one example, a method includes identifying a first mobile phone associated with a first activation priority by a phone number and identifying a second mobile phone associated with a second activation priority by the same phone number. The activation priority indicates a priority with which the first and the second mobile phones are activated for communications on a network. Communications associated with the phone number are selectively routed to one of the first mobile phone or the second mobile phone having a highest activation priority. The phone number defines an address at which the communications are routed to the one of the first mobile phone or the second mobile phone having the highest activation priority without being routed to an intervening address defined by another device number. |
| US08320893B2 |
Method and system for conference calling with vehicle occupant
The disclosed system and method provide a mechanism for facilitating a conference call between a telematics subscriber and third parties through a call center. In one aspect, vehicle data may be uploaded data from the telematics unit while maintaining the conference call. The uploaded data may contain GPS location of the vehicle to assist a requester in locating and assisting the vehicle occupant. |
| US08320890B2 |
Interrupting and resuming a media player
In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes playing a content file with a media player on a cellular telephone. Also, the method includes receiving an interrupt event. Moreover, the method includes saving state of the media player on the cellular telephone in the media player. |
| US08320888B2 |
Method and system for delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber using cellular phone network
A method and system of the present invention delivers a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in the subscriber mailbox. The voice mail system cellular phone network. The voice mail notification typically includes the calling party number and the name of the calling party if available, and an index. This is forwarded through the cellular phone network to the subscriber to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox. Subscribers can retrieve a specific message from the Voice Mail System. |
| US08320887B2 |
Mobile communication apparatus and method for alerting users by light sources with time-varying illuminative effects
An apparatus, including: a light source; a controller configured, in response to the occurrence of a first event involving the apparatus, to control the light source to produce a first, time-varying, illuminative effect that varies between maxima and minima of illumination intensity over a period of time following the occurrence of the first event, wherein the variation in the first illuminative effect is indicative to a user that the first event has occurred; and the controller being further configured, in response to the occurrence of a second event involving the apparatus, to control the light source to produce a second, time-varying, illuminative effect that varies between maxima and minima of illumination intensity over a period of time following the occurrence of the second event, wherein the variation in the second illuminative effect is indicative to a user that the second event has occurred. |
| US08320885B2 |
Methods that communicate via transferjet and NFC transmitter and receiver pairing
An electronic communication device includes a high-rate RF wireless transmitter circuit (e.g., a TransferJet transmitter circuit) and a low-rate magnetically coupled receiver circuit (e.g., a Near Field Communication receiver circuit). The high-rate RF wireless transmitter circuit transmits a block of data to another proximately located communication device via RF signals using a first RF communication protocol. The low-rate magnetically coupled receiver circuit receives a communication control signal from the other proximately located communication device via magnetic coupling thereto using a second protocol that is different from the first RF communication protocol, and responds to the communication control signal by selectively triggering the high-rate RF wireless transmitter circuit to transmit another block of data when available for transmission. |