Document Document Title
US08341273B2 Deferred invocation of communication services
In one embodiment, a network device determines one or more conditions for invoking one or more real applications to the network device for a session. This determination may be made at the initiation of the session, such as when a SIP INVITE message is received. The one or more conditions allow real applications to be invoked when a future event satisfies the condition. When it is determined that a condition is satisfied, a real application associated with the condition is then invoked. Accordingly, conditions may be set for real applications that may be tested against future events that have not yet occurred. This allows deferred invocation of real applications. Accordingly, if real applications are not needed for a session, then they are not invoked. But, when a real application is needed, it can be invoked.
US08341270B2 Methods and systems for providing access to a computing environment
A method for providing access to a computing environment includes the step of receiving, by a broker machine, a request from a client machine for access to a computing environment, the request including an identification of a user of the client machine. One of a plurality of virtual machines is identified, the identified virtual machine providing the requested computing environment. One of a plurality of execution machines is identified, the identified execution machine executing a hypervisor providing access to hardware resources required by the identified virtual machine. A connection is established between the client machine and the identified virtual machine.
US08341269B2 Configuring cloud resources
A computer implemented method, system and/or program product configure cloud resources. A request is received for a specific set of cloud resources. The set of cloud resources comprises at least one cloud resource that has been associated with an ontological database. The ontological database defines descriptive terms for the cloud resource and describes relationships between the descriptive terms used by different cloud resources. An optimal set of cloud resources that satisfies the request is configured and saved for future usage in responding to requests for the specific set of cloud resources.
US08341264B2 Displaying advertisements in a computer network environment
A method of presenting advertising to viewers in a computer network environment includes monitoring a viewer's interactions with an associated computer system, and adjusting a timing of displayed advertisements on the viewer's associated computer system based on one or more of the viewer's monitored interactions.
US08341263B2 Peer to peer monitoring framework for transaction tracking
An approach is provided that transmits a load balance request from a first peer node to other peer nodes. Some of the peer nodes have assigned transaction tracking responsibilities. The transmitting is performed in response to identifying that the first peer node is performing at a non-optimal level. The first peer node receives responses from the other peer nodes. A determination is made as to whether to handover one or more of the first peer node's transaction tracking responsibilities. If a second peer node is identified to take some of the first peer node's responsibilities, then a handover message is sent from the first peer node to the second peer node that assigns at least one of the first peer node's assigned transaction responsibilities to the second peer node.
US08341262B2 System and method for managing the offload type for offload protocol processing
A method for determining the offload type for the processing of the protocol of a network connection is disclosed. An offload policy manager in a server node determines the offload type on the basis of a number of factors, including the application type of the network connection, the traffic priority of the network connection, and the port of the network connection. After the offload policy manager selects the offload type of the network connection, the offload policy manager identifies the offload type to the offload engine, which processes the protocol of the network connection according to the offload type selected by the offload policy manager. The offload policy manager is able to access a number of application-specific tables. The offload policy manager selects an offload type by cross-referencing on an application-specific table the traffic priority of the network connection against the port of the network connection.
US08341261B2 Server device, information report method, and information report system
A server device including a management unit for receiving and managing a status of equipment or a user operating the equipment as status information and detecting a load status of the server device from receiving situation of the status information, a notification request receiving unit for receiving a notification request message that requests notification of the status information from a reference person terminal; a notification response transmitting unit for transmitting a notification respond message that responds to the received notification request message; and a status notification transmitting unit for transmitting an information notification message including the status information received by the management unit to the reference person terminal according to the load status. The server device can precisely transmit information from a user device, and the like, to the reference person terminal when the server device is in an overload state.
US08341257B1 Grid proxy architecture for network resources
A Grid Proxy Architecture for Network Resources (GPAN) is proposed to allow Grid applications to access resources shared in communication network domains. GPAN bridges Grid services serving user applications and network services controlling network devices through its proxy functions such as resource data and management proxies. Working with Grid resource index and broker services, GPAN employs distributed network service peers (NSP) in network domains to discover, negotiate and allocate network resources such as bandwidth for Grid applications. An elected master NSP is the unique Grid node that runs GPAN and represents the whole network to share network resources to Grids without Grid involvement of network devices. GPAN provides the Grid Proxy service (GPS) to interface with Grid services and applications, and the Grid Delegation service (GDS) to interface with network services to utilize network resources. Resource-based XML messaging is employed for the GPAN proxy communication.
US08341250B2 Networking device provisioning
Systems, methods and other embodiments associated with network device provisioning are described. One example method includes storing a set of device specific identification data in a network device. The example method may also include storing an association between the network device and a set of device specific provisioning data. The example method may also include providing the set of device specific provisioning data to the network device. The set of device specific provisioning data may be provided in response to receiving a provisioning data request from the network device.
US08341249B2 Synchronizing configuration information among multiple clients
A user of multiple client devices (clients) makes application configuration changes on the clients from time to time. The configuration changes are stored in a local event log on each client, as well as in a synchronization server. When one of the clients connects to the synchronization server, for example when the user logs into the synchronization server while using a respective client, the configuration information in the server and client is synchronized. Conflicts, if any, in the configuration changes for a respective application are resolved in accordance with a conflict resolution procedure or conflict resolution rules associated with that application.
US08341248B2 Energy-efficient communication method in group information-based sensor network and sensor network system using the method
Provided are an energy-efficient communication method in a group information-based sensor network and a sensor network system using the method. A group exchanges group information and data with another group in order to provide an application service through inter-group cooperation in a sensor network. In this process, a target group is discovered, a communication path is established, and inter-group communication cycle information for energy-efficient communication is transmitted. On the basis of the group information and the communication cycle information, it is possible to minimize the network resource consumption and provide an energy-efficient inter-group communication method.
US08341247B2 Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner
A method, performed using one or more servers under the control of an ISP, comprises: (a) receiving an electronic transmission from a requesting server of an IP address and a time and date; (b) automatically determining to which subscriber of the ISP the received IP address was allocated at the received time and date; and (c) automatically transmitting an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider. The delivered offline data concern the subscriber determined to have been allocated the received IP address at the received time and date. The communication does not convey to the offline data provider the subscriber's history of online activity, and the delivery does not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the subscriber.
US08341241B2 Method and apparatus for presenting media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media device having a controller to present a graphical user interface for a selection of replacement content where the replacement content corresponds to a portion of media content presentable by the media device, receive the selection of the replacement content, transmit the selection to a server where the selected replacement content is retrieved using one or more metadata pointers associated with the media content, and receive the replacement content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08341235B2 Creating rich experiences in mail through attachments
The disclosed embodiments provide for an email and messenging system that allows a user composing a message to select an application which will appear next to the composition screen at both the sending and receiving computer. The application is specified as an attachment at the sending client and when received at a receiving client of a user with an enhanced or compliant mail/messenging account the application will be executed at the receiving client, thus customizing the functionality of the receiving client computer and the mail experience between sender and receiver. An unapproved application sent as an attachment will not be executed and/or alter the receiving client interface. Similarly, the application will simply appear as a standard attachment at a non enhanced recipient client/account.
US08341228B2 Method and system for automatically collecting information in a messaging system
A method and system for automatically collecting information in messaging system. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: setting a flag indicating an information collection and an initiation flag for a message for requesting information collection by an information requestor; generating a unique identifier for identifying a task for the information collection, and sending the message; when replying to the message for requesting information collection, setting a reply flag for a replied message and sending the replied message, wherein information required to be collected is included in the replied message; and extracting the information required to be collected by the task for the information collection identified by the unique identifier from the replied message in accordance with the flag indicating an information collection and the reply flag, consolidating the information into a single summary document, and providing the summary document to the information requester.
US08341224B2 Multi-master text synchronization using deltas
A server enforces a policy for selecting what received change to process. The non-selected changes are not processed by the server. Instead, after the selected change is processed and is incorporated into the current version of the text, the server sends an update to each of the clients indicating the change made to the current version of text. A client performs a conflict resolution procedure when its change was not processed by the server. The conflict resolution procedure detects the differences between the updated text version and its text change that was not accepted by the server and uses the differences to deduce the intent of the user and come up with a merged version of the text which preserves the intent and avoids data loss. The updated version is then sent back to the server to update the current version of the text.
US08341223B1 Method for relevant content discovery
A method including: retrieving information, associated with an account identifier, from a social network; generating a user profile from the retrieved information, wherein the user profile includes user interests; retrieving content from the social network; extracting content parameters from each piece of retrieved content, the content parameters including a content location and a content time; evaluating relevance of the content by a degree of similarity between the user profile and the content; in response to receiving a device location and a filtering time, filtering the content by the device location and the filtering time; and sending the filtered content to a user device.
US08341220B2 Content distribution service
The technology disclosed herein is related to content distribution. It involves transmission of a request to a server for content, reception and display of that content on a user device. In addition, requests are received to send notification to at least one remote user and the server sends an indication that at least one remote user has selected content. A user device is enabled to send and/or receive at least one communication involving at least one remote user.
US08341219B1 Sharing data based on tagging
Sharing data based on tagging is disclosed. Sharing includes associating a tag with a contact, identifying an object to which the tag is assigned, and sending object data associated with the object to the contact. Assigning a tag is disclosed. Assigning includes receiving an object from a contact, identifying a tag associated with the contact, and assigning the tag to the object.
US08341217B2 Portable recording and/or reproducing device, reproducing method, and recording/reproducing method
A reproducing means for performing reproduction processing on digital data which is read out from a predetermined recording medium recording the digital data, a manipulating means for making an instruction of reproducing the digital data inserted in the recording medium, a control means for reading the digital data from the recording medium in accordance with the reproduction instruction input with the manipulating means and sending it to the reproducing means, and for controlling the reproducing means to perform reproduction processing on the digital data, and a cylindrical case for containing the reproducing means and the control means are provided, and wherein the manipulating means is provided on one end side on one plane in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case. Thereby the user can manipulate the manipulating means without taking out a portable recording and/or reproducing device from a bag or a pocket, thus making it possible to remarkably improve its manipulation.
US08341216B2 Efficient method for image processing in a computer network
A method for processing digital image files including providing local and remote network-connected computing resources. A digital image stored on a local resource is used for calculating a local turnaround time for processing the digital image file and also for calculating the remote turnaround time for processing the digital image. Either the local or remote resources are selected for processing the digital image in response to which resource is capable of processing the digital image faster.
US08341215B2 Processing-time-definition creating program, processing-time-definition creating method, and information processing apparatus
A processing time can be defined in a system including a plurality of computers for which the processing time is calculated, by displaying candidates of paths corresponding to flow of a series of processings as to transmission and reception of each message based on transmission and reception of messages among a plurality of computers; receiving an input that selects one path among the displayed candidates; and creating a processing time in each of computers in the flow of a series of processings as to transmission and reception of messages based on the received input.
US08341206B2 Systems and methods for real-time viewing and manipulation of information hosted on third-party systems, including metrics, false acknowledgements, and auto-completion for inputting information over a network
Systems and methods for real-time viewing and manipulation of information hosted on third-party systems are described. The system and methods enable property managers to create, edit and delete real estate vacancy postings on multiple sites from a single account, view metrics associated with the postings, and shift the administrative burdens associated with the unreliability of third-party systems to the system itself.
US08341203B2 Computer technical solution of the digital engineering method of hybrid numeral carry system and carry line
The present invention provides a digital engineering method of hybrid numeral carry system and carry line, in which K common Q-ary numerals that participate in the computation of addition and subtraction are transformed into K or 2K numerals of hybrid numeral carry system, then said K or 2K numerals are added for the sum in the hybrid numeral carry system, whereby the operating speed of all kinds of digital engineering can be improved significantly and the error rate of written calculation engineering can be reduced greatly. The present invention also provides a computer technical solution of hybrid numeral carry system and carry line.
US08341202B2 Code division multiple access (CDMA) system for calculating coefficients of filter and method for filtering a received signal
A method for calculating coefficients of a filter and a method for filtering are provided. The invention directly factorizes a specific function in a cepstrum domain by spectral factorization and cepstrum technique to obtain coefficients of denominator function from the filter. In other words, the invention adopts a non-iterative algorithm to reduce computational complexity and avoid convergence due to calculating coefficients. Besides, the specific function of the invention includes a compensation function, so that a Fourier transform with greatly reduced size can be utilized in the spectral factorization to greatly save the computations and keep good system performance at a receiver.
US08341189B2 Extending collaboration capabilities to external data
A computing device includes instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to: create a business data catalog module that accesses and manipulates data residing on an internal data store and an external data store, wherein the business data catalog module receives a request for data, determines whether the data resides in the internal data store or the external data store, and access the data residing on the external data store, and create a external data provisioning module that provisions data accessed from the external data store, wherein the external data provisioning module maps external data from the external data store for presentation on a client computing device. A user can access and manipulate the data from the external data store in a same manner as accessing and manipulating data from the internal data store.
US08341188B2 Controlling the state of duplexing of coupling facility structures
A coupling facility is coupled to one or more other coupling facilities via one or more peer links. The coupling of the facilities enables various functions to be supported, including the duplexing of structures of the coupling facilities. Duplexing is performed on a structure basis, and thus, a coupling facility may include duplexed structures, as well as non-duplexed or simplexed structures.
US08341183B2 Representing the allocation of integers
Methods and arrangements of representing the allocation of integers are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to represent the allocation of integers. An embodiment may involve representing a first allocation of integers via a set of nodes of a tree. In the representation, a data structure in a node may represent, for each integer in a set of integers, whether the integer is allocated or free. The embodiment may also involve representing a subsequent allocation. The representing may include adding a new node to the nodes of the tree for the first allocation. The subsequent allocation may consist of freeing of an integer allocated in the first allocation. The data structure of the new node may represent that the integer is free.
US08341179B2 System and method for content collection and distribution
Content delivery system that aggregates and delivers text, audio and video and other content to an end-user from a library of past and current content. A user can actively provide information to the system without utilizing multiple steps or the system can guide content creation from a content originator. A single or limited action content request from a user to the content originator simultaneously collects various information from the user without additional user action. The system collects implicit and explicit content from the source where a content originator can indicate content that should appear a delivery system which originates on other delivery systems. The system automatically reads content and assigns it to a specific category and allows the content originator to further edit said content. Content is delivered to a user through implicit and explicit triggers and excludes content or makes available content depending on user history and other variables.
US08341177B1 Automated dereferencing of electronic communications for archival
Various methods and systems for automatically obtaining documents that are referenced by an electronic communication, such as an email or instant message, for archival are disclosed. One method involves searching at least a portion (e.g., the header and/or body) of an electronic communication for a reference to a document and, in response to detecting the reference, automatically obtaining an electronic copy of the document. The electronic copy of the document can then be archived.
US08341162B2 Social network for travelers with layovers
An application for a computer system providing a social network for traveling people includes social network software executing on a server computer for providing social network functions. The social network software maintains a list of members and, for each member, maintains a list of buddies of the member, the buddies also being in the list of members. At least one schedule is available, either internal to the social network or external to the social network and extraction software extracts layover data from the schedule(s) and analysis software finds members with layovers in the layover data. Notification software notifies the member with the layover of the overlapping layover in which the member and a buddy of the member has an overlapping layover
US08341159B2 Creating taxonomies and training data for document categorization
Methods, apparatus and systems are provided to generate from a set of training documents a set of training data and a set of features for a taxonomy of categories. In this generated taxonomy the degree of feature overlap among categories is minimized in order to optimize use with a machine-based categorizer. However, the categories still make sense to a human because a human makes the decisions regarding category definitions. In an example embodiment, for each category, a plurality of training documents selected using Web search engines is generated, the documents winnowed to produce a more refined set of training documents, and a set of features highly differentiating for that category within a set of categories (a supercategory) extracted. This set of training documents or differentiating features is used as input to a categorizer, which determines for a plurality of test documents the plurality of categories to which they best belong.
US08341157B2 System and method for intent-driven search result presentation
A system and method for intent driven search presentation. A query is received, over a network, from a user, wherein the query comprises at least one query token. The query is analyzed wherein at least one query keyword is identified in the query. The query is classified wherein the query is classified into at least one intent using query keywords. A plurality of data objects that match query keywords is identified. The data objects are ranked, wherein at least one intent is assigned to at least some of the data objects. A result is built using the ranked plurality of data objects, wherein the result comprises display entries wherein if a data object has been assigned at least one intent, such intent is used to construct the display entry for the respective data object. The result is transmitted over the network to the user.
US08341155B2 Asset advisory intelligence engine for managing reusable software assets
Providing intelligent recommendations of reusable software assets can begin with obtaining semantic topic maps that define semantic relationships between topics. A topic can represent a requirement or a reusable software asset. A semantic topic map can be written in accordance with a semantic framework using a Web ontology language and stored in a semantic Web repository. User-entered search criteria, representing a requirement, a user-selected search results filter, or a reusable software asset, can be received. A set of semantic topic maps can be identified for the user-entered search criteria. A set of inferred data items can be inferred from the set of identified semantic topic maps. The contents of both sets can be aggregated into a results table. A semantic results graph, a pictorial representation of topics and relationships, can be synthesized from the results table. The semantic results graph can be rendered within an associated user interface.
US08341153B2 Apparatus and method for heap sorting with collapsed values and selective value expansion
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to order a binary tree using primary values and selected secondary values required to resolve a position in the binary tree. The remaining secondary values are in a do not care state. A new primary value is compared to the primary value at the root node of the binary tree. If necessary, a new secondary value is compared to the secondary value at the root node to determine whether the new primary value and the new secondary value or the value at the root node should be placed in a sorted list.
US08341149B2 Ranking with learned rules
Systems, methods and computer program products for the ranking of a target data set based on learned rules are disclosed. One embodiment is a method that includes generating a learned rule set from a training data record set, creating at least one prototype for each rule in the learned rule set to generate a prototype set, and ranking the target data record set using learned rule set and the prototype set. The generating of a learned rule set includes dividing the training data record set to a positive class and a negative class, and deriving the learned rule set for the positive class. Learning of rules includes deriving the most general projected rules with respect to remaining training data and then refining those rules, eventually selecting the best rules using an F-measure.
US08341147B2 Blending mobile search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for blending mobile search results. A method includes receiving a search query and multiple search results. The search results each satisfy the search query and have a respective search result quality score. The search results include generic and mobile search results. The generic and mobile search results each identify a generic and mobile resource, respectively. The search result quality scores include mobile and generic search result quality scores for the mobile and generic search results, respectively. The mobile search result quality scores and the generic search result quality scores were generated according to different scoring formulas. Based on one or more terms in the search query, the search query is classified as a mobile query. As a consequence, one or more search result quality scores are modified to improve the sorting of search results that include both mobile and generic search results.
US08341144B2 Selecting and presenting user search results based on user information
A search engine stores different taxonomies that each specifies categories and relationships between the categories. When the search engine receives a request having a search query, the search engine determines which taxonomy, if any, it should use to generate a search engine results page. The search engine bases this determination upon information provided to it in the request, in one embodiment. For example, the search engine might select a taxonomy based on the particular environment from which the search query originated. However, the search engine can select the taxonomy based on other information, such as a role of the user. Thus, a medical researcher and a financial analyst for a particular corporation could receive search engine results pages that were generated with appropriate taxonomies for each of them.
US08341139B1 Item customization by tailored intergenerational historic snapshots
A user-customized photo book includes a tailored intergenerational historic snapshot message which informs a younger person about the world an older person lived in when they were young. The older person's age and the younger person's age may be used to identify a historic time period in which the older person was the same age as the younger person. A circumstance which occurred in the historic time period may be selected from a database or web search result. The message may be tailored to the ages of the people involved. The message may also be tailored to recite circumstances specific to a topic area or a geographic location. The message may be used in the book's title, dedication, photo captions or watermarks, photo call-outs or other labels, narrative text, and back-cover summary, for example. Items other than photo books may also be customized with such a message.
US08341136B2 Search engine for video and graphics
A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.
US08341135B2 Information search provision apparatus and information search provision system
It is necessary to create a new information search service system for differentiating reliable contents from unreliable contents. An information search provision apparatus for acquiring a search conditional statement, matching the search conditional statement and providing contents, as the search results, comprises: a collecting unit which collects contents to be evaluated, posted on a web page via a network at a predetermined time; and a reliability controlling unit which increases or decreases the reliability degree of the contents to be evaluated, depending on whether the contents to be evaluated were collectable by the collecting unit. Accordingly, the contents to be evaluated may be evaluated in terms of reliability degree, depending on whether it is possible to collect the contents to be evaluated, as a result, reliable contents can be separated from unreliable contents, and is thus an information search service which is highly convenient to users may be provided.
US08341134B2 Asynchronous deletion of a range of messages processed by a parallel database replication apply process
Mechanisms are provided for replicating transactions at a source database node on a target database node of the data processing system. A transaction message, for a transaction, is stored in a receive queue data structure of the target database node. An agent thread applies a change to data of the target database node based on a specification of the change in the transaction message. An identifier of the transaction message is stored in a done message data structure of the target database node and the identifier of the transaction message is also stored in a prune queue data structure of the target database node. A prune thread determines if a contiguous range of identifiers of transaction messages equal to or greater than a predetermined batch size is present in the prune queue data structure. If so, then a range of transaction messages is deleted from the done message data structure.
US08341132B2 System and method for applying deltas in a version control system
A system and method that efficiently maintains multiple versions of a dataset using recursive calls is provided. The method may include fully storing one or more versions of the dataset and storing only changes, called deltas, that occurred from one version to another. Using recursive techniques eliminates the need to generate interim versions in their entirety to generate a requested version. For each position in the requested version the method may include generating content by recursive calls. Each recursive call may initiate a request on an adjacent version to produce content at its corresponding position. The request triggers a recursive call by the adjacent version, which may in turn initiate another request on its adjacent version. This series of recursive calls may be repeated until a fully stored version, which simply returns its content, is reached. The requested version may then generated using content generated for each position by the recursive calls.
US08341130B2 Scalable file management for a shared file system
Managing a shared file system comprising a directory and files stored on a multiple storage devices shared by plural processing nodes, is provided. A plurality of parallel directory traversal records are partitioned into a plurality of ranges to allow for the records in each range to be written independently in parallel by plural processing nodes during parallel directory traversal. Parallel operations are performed comprising parallel directory traversal of all directory paths and files in the shared file system.
US08341128B1 Concurrency control using an effective change stack and tenant-based isolation
Transaction processing is disclosed. A first transaction associated with a first system tenant is received. The first transaction is associated with a transaction effective time. It is determined whether the first transaction modifies data. In the event that the first transaction modifies data, it is determined whether a second transaction is executing that modifies data associated with the first system tenant. In the event that there is not a second transaction executing, the first transaction is executed with respect to the transaction effective time.
US08341119B1 Flexible copies having different sub-types
According to one or more of the provisions set forth herein, data can be managed in a data storage system in an efficient manner. In one example, a first flexible copy volume of data is generated based on a snapshot copy volume of a flexible volume containing the data. The first flexible copy volume is configured to be operated upon according to a first set of operations. A second flexible copy of the data is also generated based on the snapshot copy volume. The second flexible copy volume is configured to be operated upon according to a second set of operations that differs from the first set of operations. Having a second copy of the data allows testing or other operations to be performed on the data while also maintaining an original version of the data.
US08341113B2 Method and system for updating versions of content stored in a storage device
A system for generating a compact update package between an old version of content and a new version of content. The system includes a conversion element generator for generating a conversion element associated with the old version and new version. A modified version generator for generating a modified version including applying the conversion element to the old versions. An update package generator for generating the compact update package. The compact update package includes the conversion element and a modified delta based on the modified version and the new version.
US08341110B2 Temporal-influenced geospatial modeling system and method
A temporal-influenced geospatial modeling system and method forecasts the likelihood of desirable and undesirable events. In one aspect, the present invention designates at least one temporal feature, determines an intensity function representing an expected value of event type instances corresponding to the temporal feature, determines a time window break associated with the intensity function and assesses whether the time window break is a critical time point for the event type.
US08341109B2 Method and system using a processor for reasoning optimized service of ubiquitous system using context information and emotion awareness
A method and system using a processor for reasoning an optimized service of a ubiquitous system using context information and emotion awareness. The system using a processor for reasoning an optimized service of a ubiquitous system includes: a ubiquitous system unit to collect information about surroundings of a user; a context awareness unit to recognize a state of the user based on the information collected in the ubiquitous system unit, and to generate context information; an emotion awareness unit to recognize an emotion of the user based on the information collected in the ubiquitous system unit, and to generate emotion information; a combination unit to combine the context information and the emotion information; and a service selection unit to reason and select a service for the user based on the combination result of the combination unit.
US08341107B2 Organically ranked knowledge categorization in a knowledge management system
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to expert modeling in a KM system and provide method, system and computer program product for organically ranked knowledge and categorization for a KM system. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for organically ranked knowledge and categorization in a KM system can be provided. The method can include bookmarking answer content for a first end user of the knowledge management system, suggesting a set of categories previously associated with the answer content by other end users of the knowledge management system, and categorizing the bookmarked answer content with a category selected from the set of categories.
US08341101B1 Determining relationships between data items and individuals, and dynamically calculating a metric score based on groups of characteristics
Systems, apparatus, and methods for correlating two items of interest, based on a plurality of data items and characteristics. The data items may include objective and quantitative data, as well as subjective and qualitative data. In one implementation, the relationship of an individual to a metric is determined. The system, apparatus, and methods may store characteristics describing individuals generally, along with metrics relevant to an organization; receive a plurality of data items; extract information associated with the individual from the data items; determine a number of relationships between the data items, individuals, metric, and characteristics; and use the relationships to determine an overall relationship between the individual and the metric, based on the data and characteristics. In addition, related groups of characteristics may be identified. Similarly, the relationships between any individual, metric, sub-metric, group of characteristics, data item, data source, characteristic, or groups thereof may also be determined.
US08341095B2 Supervised semantic indexing and its extensions
A system and method for determining a similarity between a document and a query includes building a weight vector for each of a plurality of documents in a corpus of documents stored in memory and building a weight vector for a query input into a document retrieval system. A weight matrix is generated which distinguishes between relevant documents and lower ranked documents by comparing document/query tuples using a gradient step approach. A similarity score is determined between weight vectors of the query and documents in a corpus by determining a product of a document weight vector, a query weight vector and the weight matrix.
US08341091B2 Computer system for managing orders for and deliveries of goods
A computer system may manage orders for goods from a plurality of purchasers. The computer system may receive the orders, calculate an approximate volume that the goods which are the subject of each order would collectively occupy during shipment, and compare each calculated approximate volume to a pre-determine maximum allowed volume that the purchaser of the order is permitted. The computer system may accept each order whose approximate volume does not exceed the maximum allowed volume for the purchaser of the order, or reject each order whose approximate volume exceeds this maximum allowed volume.
US08341089B2 Real estate management system and method
A real estate management system and method are provided. The system and method provide an integrated system that handles all of the aspects of a piece of property including identification, acquisition, development (design and construction), management, maintenance and disposal. The system may include a five year plan, a sign package, a lease wizard and a work orders module.
US08341082B1 Systems and methods for providing multiple entities with access to account information
A user may log into a system containing data pertaining to a jointly owned funding account of which he is a co-owner. The user may view information directed to the jointly owned funding account, such as his bills and bills associated with other co-owners. The user may pay bills or schedule payments of bills from the funding account. A co-owner of the funding account may set up an account with a biller and enable other co-owners of the funding account to use this information, thereby providing the other co-owners with the same or similar functionality when they log into the system using their own login information. The information that the co-owner may set up with a biller may be ported over to the information maintained by the system that is directed to the other co-owners.
US08341079B2 Electronic settlement system, electronic settlement method and cash paying method using LCD barcode displayed on mobile terminal
Disclosed are an electronic settlement system, an electronic settlement method, and a cash payment method using a barcode displayed on a mobile terminal, thereby simply performing member identification using the barcode including member information, electronic settlement services (such as credit card settlement, direct payment card settlement, advance payment card settlement, small amount settlement, and Giro system settlement) at various shops via a procedure verifying whether a user is an actual owner of the barcode, cash payment services via member information barcode and member identification procedures, advance payment card services by depositing a designated amount of money at a database of the bank and allowing the user to systematically use the advance card within the deposited money, and wireless banking services for transmitting and receiving various banking related data via wireless network between the bank and the members.
US08341078B2 Construction payment management system and method with document tracking features
A system and method of managing a construction payment process involving a plurality of participants associated with the construction project and at least one document to be transferred between at least two participants of the plurality participants during the course of the construction project. One method can include assigning at least one enforcement action to the at least one document wherein the enforcement action is automatically effected if the document is not transferred between the at least two participants.
US08341074B1 Method and system for reducing the total interest paid on a debt
A loan repayment system and method comprises a loan account for a purchased item, and a personal fund account used to manage discretionary money. A user deposits discretionary money periodically into the fund account. Typically, the fund account has a starting balance of at least one full cycle's worth of such deposits. Additional principal payments, leveraged from the fund account to front-load against the loan account, are used to exponentially counter the total interest. As the method recycles with each full cycle, the loan account balance is reduced faster.
US08341070B2 Exchange trading of mutual funds or other portfolio basket products
A system for determining a basket of financial instruments for hedging investment risk in actively managed exchange traded funds is described. The system uses a trusted computer system and includes a computer storage medium storing a computer program product. The product determines the basket of hedging instruments by extracting factor information from a portfolio of the actively managed exchange traded fund and determining factors that affect the price of the exchange traded fund. The program can select a portfolio of instruments with similar behavior with respect to the determined factors to produce a hedging portfolio that tracks the price of the exchange traded fund.
US08341064B2 Standardization and management of over-the-counter financial instruments
A method of managing over-the-counter financial products is disclosed. The method includes receiving transaction parameters associated with an over-the-counter financial product, determining a standardized financial product that reflects the transaction parameters associated with the over-the-counter financial product; calculating a net position based on the difference between the standardized financial product and the over-the-counter financial product, and clearing the net position through a clearing party.
US08341062B2 System and method of margining fixed payoff products
A system and method is disclosed for determining performance bonds for fixed payoff products, i.e. contracts which payoff a fixed amount based on the outcome of an underlying event regardless of the value thereof. The worst outcome of the overall portfolio, which may contain more multiple instruments, is calculated, allowing the portfolio to have both long and short positions on the same underlying event and offsets among instruments within the portfolio. A universe of outcomes is constructed including single events with single outcomes, and the probability thereof, and single events with multiple outcomes, each with a probability thereof. Each outcome has an associated price and probability. Low probability events will have low values, resulting in a lower margin requirement. The margin requirement is then the amount of the maximum loss that the portfolio can sustain for any possible outcome of the underlying event, adjusted for the probability thereof.
US08341061B2 System and method for managing investment funds
Method for establishing an investment mandate and for managing institutional investment funds associated with equity-based investments, bond-based investments and other investments.
US08341058B2 System and method for managing a portfolio of different cuts of meat
A system and method for modifying a portfolio having respective quantities of a plurality of different meat cut types (MCT) of an animal comprising: accessing portfolio information including a first quantity of a first MCT and a second quantity of a second MCT determining first comparison data of the first MCT and of the second MCT for a selected historical time period; determining a correlation value between the first MCT and the second MCT analyzing the correlation value and adjusting a parameter of a price model used in determining the first predicted future price and sending the modified value of the first price premium for presentation to a member of the portfolio.
US08341056B2 Distribution of market data
Systems and methods are provided for communicating and processing market data. The market data may comprise quotes, orders, trades and/or statistics. A messaging structure allows for adding, re-ordering and/or expanding data, within the printable character set of any language. One or more delimiters are defined and used to delimit data elements within the message structure. The data is interpreted based on templates which may be disseminated prior to the sending of messages and used as an abstraction so that the meaning of data need not be conveyed in the message.
US08341055B2 System for reducing information required to open a new account
An existing customer of a financial institution may open a new account with their financial institution using an optimized online interface. Initially, the interface presents a standard application for a new account in which an extensive number of fields for personal and financial information must be completed. A link is provided on this long application for use by existing account holders only. Upon selection of the link, an existing account holder is instead presented with a short application in which only the account holder's name, a portion of their social security number, their existing account number, and their account confirmation identifier are required to be entered.
US08341051B2 System and method of auctioning a defaulted loan
A method and system for conducting an online property auction whereby the system allows for identifying an owner of property willing to sell his property by an online auction, entering into a contract with the owner obligating him to complete the sales of his property conducted pursuant to terms of the contract; pre-arranging a minimum auction price for his property that accounts for the owner's interest, plus costs and fees, conducting the on-line auction with a plurality of bidders for his property whereby at the on-line auction's conclusion there is a winning bidder and ensuring the transfer of the winning bidder's funds to the escrow holder.
US08341050B2 Proof of mailing
Methods and systems for providing a proof of mailing service include receiving from a user a designation of a recipient to receive an item to be mailed, and receiving a free-form description of the item. Postage indicia is printed bearing an amount of postage for a mail piece containing the item. In response to the mail piece being processes by a postal authority, a transmission from the postal authority containing a scanned image of the mail piece is received. The recipient is then sent a notification that the item has been mailed, and the notification includes the free-form description of the item and access to the scanned image.
US08341048B2 Check-cashing/loan system using a variable amount electronic funds card
A rechargeable and disposable electronic funds (cash card) issued by a non-financial facility, such as a check cashing facility, a payday loan facility or a short term loan facility, is disclosed where the card substitutes for the cash and is labeled in the name of a bank type financial institution with which the non-financial facility has a relationship. The card can be charged with a variable amount on money. When used at a store for a purchase it can act like a debit card but need not have a name of the holder associated with (or embossed on) it like a gift card, so the user can remain anonymous. The card can be upgraded to a rechargeable or debit/credit card. The card can draw on an account or sub account of the check cashing service or of the bank.
US08341047B1 Systems and methods for optimizing an electronic advertising campaign based on organic content
A system and method for optimizing an electronic advertising campaign based on organic content by determining organic content of an advertising venue display, determining an organic display parameter for an advertisement based on organic content of the display, and adjusting one or more advertising parameters based at least in part on the organic display parameter. The advertising parameters may comprise one or more keywords, one or more advertising venues, one or more placement values, the content of the advertisement, or any other parameter.
US08341045B2 Pre-paid financial savings and investment card system
A savings and investment system and method including a plurality of pre-paid investment cards (PPICs) which can be purchased by individuals as investment products for themselves or as gifts for PPIC recipients. The PPICs are pre-paid stored value cards that are provided for use with the investment system by a PPIC company, which establishes relationships with partner financial services providers and partner retailers to provide investment vehicles and the PPICs. The value stored on the PPICs can be redeemed through a PPIC website maintained by the PPIC company or the partner financial services provider(s), whereby the value on the PPIC is deposited in an investment account established for the PPIC recipient, and then allocated among specified investment vehicles. The PPIC purchaser may optionally define usage rules governing how the PPIC value is allocated.
US08341032B2 Methods for transforming an auctioned item of unknown value and buyer into an auctioned item of known value and buyer
Methods, including methods conducted with a computer system and/or over a telecommunications network, are provided for transforming an auctioned item of unknown value and buyer into an auctioned item of known value and buyer. The methods comprise sealed bid, second-best price auctions that diminish the effects of information asymmetry while aligning the interests of buyers and sellers by reducing common auction risks of the winner's curse, buyer's remorse, bid shading, shill bidding, bid sniping, and/or collusion. Bidders submit sealed bids for the auctioned item. At a successful auction's conclusion, a highest bidder is established as the item's buyer and a second-best price is established as the value. This second-best price is the second highest sealed bid obtained, or a reserve price that the highest bidder accepts as the value for the auctioned item when the highest sealed bid is the only sealed bid at least equal to the reserve price. The second-best price optionally may be one bid increment more than the second highest sealed bid or the reserve price.
US08341031B2 Availability check for a ware
Computer-implemented methods, and associated computer program products and systems, for checking availability of a ware in a time interval, a resource to produce the ware being associated with the ware. The computer-implemented method can include obtaining capacity supply information comprising a capacity supply for each date of the time interval and capacity demand information comprising a capacity demand for each date of the time interval. The first date of the time interval is set to a later date, there is determined for each date from the first date to the later date whether capacity supply is unused. If capacity supply is unused, the method includes eliminating the specific amount from the capacity supply information. In response to demand information representing a demand having a requested date, availability of the resource on the requested date is determined using the capacity supply information and the capacity demand information.
US08341026B1 Data feed adoption tracking
This document relates to tracking the adoption of a data feed. For example, a feed of items is sent to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. The referral network site refers a plurality of customers to the electronic commerce network site. The referral includes feed generation information. A determination is made whether the feed has been adopted by the referral network site based upon the feed generation information.
US08341024B2 Methods and apparatuses for facilitating spontaneous shopping collaboration incorporating consultant's interests
Servicing and/or providing spontaneous collaboration between a shopper and consultants concerning a shopping goal includes deriving information about the shopper's physical or logical proximity to a particular product category, combined with the current contents of his or her shopping cart is used to determine one or more shopping goals; as well as information about each potential consultant, including physical proximity, willingness to consult, areas of expertise and recent experience is used to rank each consultant in terms of relevance to one or more shopping goal.
US08341023B2 Certified email system and method
A certified email system for providing a time stamp for a presented file, particularly when the presented file is an email. Preferably a demanding party receives the email; generates a unique HASH; digitally signs the unique HASH; and sends the signed HASH and a time-stamp request call to a web services time-stamp conduit (WSTC). The WSTC receives the request and signed HASH from the demanding party and obtains a time stamp. The WSTC sends the time stamp back to the demanding party, which sends a time-stamp notification to the original sender of the email and, optionally, the recipient(s) of the email. Multiple branded or customized demanding servers can efficiently run using one web services time-stamp conduit.An integrated detailed billing system capable of pass-through client billing, keyword search functionality, a multi-party content management system, and convenient web-based automated verification (file or HASH) services are provided.
US08341022B2 Virtual reality system for environment building
Embodiments of the invention include a virtual reality system that includes an instrumented device used to present a virtual shopping environment to a simulation participant. The participant's interactions with the virtual shopping environment may be used to conduct market research into the consumer decision making process. The virtual shopping environment may include one or more smart objects configured to be responsive to participant interaction. The virtual shopping environment may recreate a real-world shopping environment.
US08341018B2 Methods and systems for providing contextual information on communication devices and services
Methods and systems for providing contextual information regarding communication devices and/or services. Profile information relating to a user is stored by a communications manager. Data about a communication for the user may be received from a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network. A comparison is made between the profile information and the data about the communication. Based on the comparison, contextual information relating to the communication is presented. The contextual information may be presented while the user participates in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a communication device and/or service used in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a discrepancy between the profile information relating to the user and the originating communication device and/or service. Further, the contextual information may be obtained from a telecom manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network.
US08341017B2 System and method for optimizing search result listings
A method, system, and computer-accessible medium are provided for optimizing search result listings in a search engine user interface. The system and method provide an automated way of promoting and demoting the placement of a search result listing between more or less desirable locations, based on the listing's performance in a given placement. Promoting and demoting placements is based on a threshold performance for the listing against which the actual performance of a listing is measured. The threshold performance may be advantageously varied to accommodate different revenue and relevance goals for a particular search engine or portion of the search engine's market.
US08341012B2 Working skill estimating program
A working skill estimating program is provided for estimating working skills of each agent in the state of separating a disturbance factor from response records (incidents). A large category classifier is supplied with the incidents within a predetermined time and classifies the incidents according to classification rules, for creating the topic-classified incidents. A small category generator collects the analogous incidents for each task type of the topic-classified incidents and generates a small category. A disturbance distinguisher distinguishes if the incidents belonging to each small category are common response records that appear regularly over time or disturbances whose frequency exhibits a significant time dependency. Then, a skill estimator estimates the working skills of each agent for each task type by using only common incidents determined as the common information.
US08341011B2 Method and system for reporting price planning results
A method for reporting one or more results that occur based on a price change includes receiving price planning input including at least one price change from at least one of an automated pricing engine and a manual pricing engine. The method further includes generating at least one result that will occur based on the price planning input and reporting the at least one result along with the at least one price change.
US08341009B1 Information modeling and projection for geographic regions having insufficient sample size
The various exemplary embodiments provide a method for projecting survey information into a geographic region. The geographic region is divided into a plurality of geographic subregions, each of which are profiled using a plurality of profiling variables to form a selected geographic subregion profile. The profiling variables include both demographic and behavioral variables. A plurality of survey respondents are then randomly assigned into the selected geographic subregion to form a modeled population, with the random assignment weighted based on a representation probability of each of the corresponding plurality of survey respondents for the selected geographic subregion profile, with the representation probabilities having been determined using a sample balancing algorithm. Following such profiling and assignment for all subregions, survey information corresponding to the modeled population is projected into the geographic region.
US08341008B2 Demand forecasting method, system and computer readable storage medium
Disclosed are a demand forecasting method, a demand forecasting program, and a demand forecasting system that can adequately forecast a demand for a commodity. A management computer calculates a trend function with respect to demand values. The management computer then calculates the ratio of the demand values to a trend curve, and calculates a logarithm of the ratio. Then, the management computer approximates the calculated natural logarithm curve with a periodic model, and converts the logarithmic scale of the acquired periodic model to a normal scale. Demand forecasting is performed using a demand forecasting model acquired by combining a periodic change model of the normal scale with a trend curve (trend function).
US08341005B2 System and method for evolving processes in workflow automation
Gradually automation of a workflow by a configuration change management system is provided by a first workflow template having a relatively low level of automation and complexity in which at least a plurality of tasks require manual input, manual response, or manual approval, operating the first workflow by a workflow automation system engine, monitoring a measurement of the maturity level of the process during the operation the first workflow, and responsive to detecting the maturity level meeting pre-determined benchmark, automatically selecting, engaging, and operating a second workflow template which increases automation by automating one or more subprocesses, adding one or more subprocesses, or eliminating one or more subprocesses.
US08341004B2 Dynamically managing electronic calendar events based upon key performance indicators (KPIS) within a business process monitoring (BPM) system
The present invention can include a solution that dynamically manages electronic calendar events based upon the key performance indicators (KPIs) of a business process monitoring (BPM) system. Such a system can include a BPM system, an electronic calendar software application, and a dynamic calendar event manager. The BPM system can be configured to manage data for many user-defined KPIs. The electronic calendar software application can be configured to manage the calendar data of various calendar events for many users. The dynamic calendar event definition can be configured to define a condition for modifying the calendar data of a user-specified calendar event. The dynamic calendar event definition can consist of a KPI threshold value, a calendar action, and an applicable attendee list. The dynamic calendar event manager can be configured to dynamically and automatically handle the modification of the calendar data in accordance with the dynamic calendar event definition.
US08341003B1 Apparatus, systems and methods for determining delivery time schedules for each of multiple carriers
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for determining from a set of delivery times for each of a plurality of services for each of a plurality of carriers a potential delivery schedule for each of the plurality of services for each of the plurality of carriers in response to a request by each of a plurality of users, according to an input by each particular user of a shipping date, a set of parcel specifications for shipping a particular parcel, a set of shipping requirements for shipping the particular parcel, a particular origin postal code and a particular destination postal code. Each user accesses the present invention over a global communications network using a client computer device, and each user client computer device has an individual electronic connection to the global communications network.
US08340999B2 Automatic generation of executable components from business process models
Exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for automatically generating executable components from a process model. An input is received, wherein the input comprises a model that describes activities that needs to be performed as part of a business operation, a sequencing of the activities, and input and output data of the activities, forming a process model. A model of a set of connected business artifacts based on the process model, forming a business operation model, is generated. The business operation model is saved. The business operation model is displayed to a user. Executable components definitions based on the business operation model are generated.
US08340997B2 Just-in-time insurer's removable goods evaluation and replacement system
The present invention is directed to a system, and method for making and using the same, for an on-site evaluation of removable goods, condition, and value, and further, for providing replacement removable goods. The present invention provides an effective and uniform way to more objectively evaluate removable goods and/or provide replacement removable goods and/or remediation of the removable goods to the benefit of both an insurer and a customer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable goods evaluation system which includes removable goods evaluators equipped with a portable apparatus for evaluating removable goods which includes an objective evaluation approach using evaluation logic to determine a current monetary market value, or “as new” or pre-use value, which takes into account removable goods characteristics, and/or a depreciated value which takes into account loss factors such as wear, appearance, and other degradative considerations. Further, the system of the present invention can include removable goods providers and/or remediators which participate in the remediation and/or replacement of a selected replacement removable goods. The present invention is directed to an interconnected system which includes estimation logic, project management logic and delivery logic for managing an insurance claim from start to finish in a just in time fashion.
US08340993B2 Method and system for importing and exporting assessment project related data
A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, the assessment management system may share data in a format that is importable by other management systems. Sharing of data does not necessarily mean the concurrent sharing of data but rather that the data is exported in a format that is transportable to another system. Portions of an assessment project may be shared in this way with other institutions even if the organization levels and other operating units are not the same between the two institutions.
US08340989B2 Method and system for managing rental vehicle reservations with user authorization limits
An Internet-enabled rental vehicle reservation management method and system are disclosed. Via the system and method, authorization limits can be assigned to the users who create and manage replacement rental vehicle reservations through the system, where these authorization limits impose financial commitment monetary limits that the users can make on replacement rental vehicle reservations over a specified period of time. In an exemplary embodiment, these authorization limits are customized on a per user basis.
US08340987B2 Program for alternative funding of employee and retiree benefits
An insurance program for funding benefits by maintaining assets in the insurance program that includes an employer or employee owned trust account and at least one life insurance contract obtained directly or indirectly from a captive insurance company. The life insurance contract is purchased with assets from the trust account and the captive insurance company is a least partially owned by the employer. When paying or reimbursing benefits, the employer or the trust may pay the benefit and if the employer pays the benefit, the trust may reimburse the employer.
US08340974B2 Device, system and method for providing targeted advertisements and content based on user speech data
An aspect of the present invention is drawn to an audio data processing device for use by a user to control a system and for use with a microphone, a user demographic profiles database and a content/ad database. The microphone may be operable to detect speech and to generate speech data based on the detected speech. The user demographic profiles database may be capable of having demographic data stored therein. The content/ad database may be capable of having at least one of content data and advertisement data stored therein. The audio data processing device includes a voice recognition portion, a voice analysis portion and a speech to text portion. The voice recognition portion may be operable to process user instructions based on the speech data. The voice analysis portion may be operable to determine characteristics of the user based on the speech data. The speech to text portion may be operable to determine interests of the user.
US08340973B2 Data embedding device and data extraction device
A data embedding device for embedding data in a speech code obtained by encoding a speech in accordance with a speech encoding method based on a voice generation process of a human being, includes an embedding judgment unit, every speech code, judging whether or not data should be embedded in the speech code, and an embedding unit embedding data in two or more parameter codes of a plurality of parameter codes constituting the speech code for which it is judged by the embedding judgment unit that the data should be embedded.
US08340969B2 Method and mobile communication device for generating dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands on a mobile communication device having a touchscreen
A method and mobile communication device for generating dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands on a mobile communication device having a touchscreen are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands on a mobile communication device having a touchscreen, comprising: detecting an automated attendant during a telephone call; activating speech recognition in respect of incoming voice data during the telephone call in response to detecting an automated attendant; translating spoken prompts in the incoming voice data into respective DTMF commands; displaying a menu having selectable menu options corresponding to the DTMF commands In a graphical user interface on the touchscreen; receiving input selecting one of the menu options; receiving input via the touchscreen activating a selected one of the menu options; and generating a DTMF command in accordance with the activated menu option.
US08340966B2 Device for generating speech, apparatus connectable to or incorporating such a device, and computer program product therefor
A control unit extracts at least a part of data that is displayed on a display and sends the extracted part of the displayed data to a speech generating device. The speech generating device includes a conversion circuit that converts the received data to a speech signal. The conversion circuit may be connected to a speaker system for broadcasting the speech signal.
US08340964B2 Speech and music discriminator for multi-media application
The present invention relates to means and methods of classifying speech and music signals in voice communication systems, devices, telephones, and methods, and more specifically, to systems, devices, and methods that automate control when either speech or music is detected over communication links. The present invention provides a novel system and method for monitoring the audio signal, analyze selected audio signal components, compare the results of analysis with a pre-determined threshold value, and classify the audio signal either as speech or music.
US08340962B2 Method and apparatus for adaptively encoding and decoding high frequency band
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an audio signal. According to the present application, a signal of a high frequency band above a preset frequency band is adaptively encoded or decoded in the time domain or in the frequency domain by using a signal of a low frequency band below the preset frequency band. As such, the sound quality of a high frequency signal is not deteriorate even when an audio signal is encoded or decoded by using a small number of bits and thus coding efficiency may be maximized.
US08340960B2 Methods and apparatus for efficient vocoder implementations
Techniques for implementing vocoders in parallel digital signal processors are described. A preferred approach is implemented in conjunction with the BOPS® Manifold Array (ManArray™) processing architecture so that in an array of N parallel processing elements, N channels of voice communication are processed in parallel. Techniques for forcing vocoder processing of one data-frame to take the same number of cycles are described. Improved throughput and lower clock rates can be achieved.
US08340958B2 Text and speech recognition system using navigation information
A system and method are provided for recognizing a user's speech input. The method includes the steps for detecting the user's speech input, recognizing the user's speech input by comparing the speech input to a list of entries using language model statistics to determine the most likely entry matching the user's speech input, and detecting navigation information of a trip to a predetermined destination, where the most likely entry is determined by modifying the language model statistics taking into account the navigation information. A system and method is further provided that takes into account navigation trip information to determine the most likely entry using language model statistics for recognizing text input.
US08340955B2 System and method for finding the most likely answer to a natural language question
Automated question answering is disclosed that relates to the selection of an answer to a question from a pool of potential answers which are manually or automatically extracted from a large collection of textual documents. The a feature extraction component, a feature combination component, an answer selection component, and an answer presentation component, among others, are included. The input to the system is a set of one or more natural language questions and a collection of textual document The output is a (possibly ranked) set of factual answers to the questions, these answers being extracted from the document collection.
US08340952B2 Power estimation method and device therefor
A set of instructions executable at an integrated circuit is partitioned into multiple instruction blocks. A first and second instruction block are executed multiple times, including a first execution and a second execution. The first execution of the first instruction block is associated with a first set of executions, and the first execution of the second instruction block is associated with a second set of executions. A first amount of energy consumption representative of a member of the first set of executions is determined, and a second amount of energy consumption representative of a member of the second set of executions is determined. The first amount of energy is assigned to each member of the first set, and the second amount of energy is assigned to each member of the second set, and used to determine a total amount of energy consumption associated with execution of the set of instructions.
US08340949B2 Occupant positioning module
A vehicle test system includes an occupant positioning module that receives a virtual vehicle and a virtual dummy. The occupant positioning module generates a first set of parameters based on the virtual vehicle, the virtual dummy and a first adapted vehicle standard. N groups receive the first set of parameters. N is an integer greater than 1.
US08340941B2 Temperature measurement system for a light emitting diode (LED) assembly
A temperature measurement system is provided for a light emitting diode (LED) assembly that includes an LED having two semiconductors joined together at an LED junction. The system includes a temperature sensor operatively connected to the LED assembly at a remote location that is remote from the LED junction. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the LED assembly at the remote location. A temperature calculation module is operatively connected to the temperature sensor for receiving the measured temperature at the remote location from the temperature sensor. The temperature calculation module is configured to determine a junction temperature at the LED junction based on the measured temperature a the remote location.
US08340935B2 9-term calibration method for network analyzers
A network analyzer contains a processing device, at least one signal generator and at least four measuring points. The processing device controls the signal generator and processes measured values picked up from the measuring points. The network analyzer implements several calibration measurements on calibration standards, before it implements measurements on a device under test. The network analyzer implements the calibration measurements using the measuring points. The processing device determines error matrices on the basis of the results of the calibration measurements. The network analyzer implements measurements on the device using simultaneously, exactly three measuring points. The processing device determines measured values in each case of a fourth measuring point on the basis of the calibration measurements and the measured values of the three measuring points. The three measuring points belong to the set of the at least four measuring points, at which the network analyzer implements the calibration measurements.
US08340931B2 Power grid with comparison of differences in remote phasor changes
The invention compares geographically remote locations on a power grid by determining at each location the amount of change to phasor measurements for a period of time, and then comparing the determined change values from each location to determine relative differences in values as an indicator of the stability of the power grid. One embodiment calculates the product of the node's most recent phasor and a complex conjugate of that nodes previous phasor sample to produce a phase difference phasor for that node. The various phase difference phasors are sent to a monitoring location (which may be local for one of the phasors) and comparisons made among the phase difference phasors to assess the amount of load imbalance among the nodes that are being compared.
US08340930B2 Arrangement for protecting equipment of a power system
An arrangement for protecting equipment of an AC electrical power system comprises first means configured to measure the frequency of the current and voltage at at least one location in the electrical power system along an interconnection between two theoretical electric machines of an equivalent two machine system. Fourth means are configured to use the values of the frequency of the current and voltage measured to determine whether a power swing has occurred and if an occurrence of a power swing has been determined determine whether the measuring location is located on a motor side or a generator side of a potential pole slip electrical centre along said interconnection, the electrical centre being defined as the location where the voltage becomes zero during a pole slip, and send this information further to third means for use in a control for protecting equipment of the electrical power system.
US08340929B2 Liquid level determination system and associated methods
A liquid level determination system to determine the level of a liquid in a wet we is disclosed. The system may include pressure determination components and a pressure pipe with a pressure sensing pipe end located adjacent to the pressure determination components and a bubbler pipe end locatable at least partially in the wet well. A transducer is used to determine a pressure level within the pressure pipe maintained by a bubbler air compressor. A level detection processor may analyze the pressure level to determine a liquid level in the wet well. An interference dampener is included to mitigate interference originating from the bubbler air compressor. The interference dampener may be provided by transducer plug to restrict air flow. Alternatively, the interference dampener may be provided by a computer operated program to monitor and mitigate the interference.
US08340927B2 Apparatus for measuring flow velocity and flow rate of groundwater leaking from earth surface and apparatus for monitoring the same
An apparatus for measuring a flow velocity and a flow rate of groundwater leaking from the earth surface includes: a storage tank that is fixed to close a side surface and a top surface of an earth surface region from which the groundwater leaks and that stores the groundwater leaking from the earth surface; a liquid column tube that causes the groundwater stored in the storage tank to introduce thereto and causes a water column to rise; and a pressure-type measuring unit that is formed in a top opening of the liquid column tube and that senses a differential pressure. Accordingly, it is possible to easily and rapidly measure a flow velocity and a flow rate of groundwater leaking from the earth surface by the use of a user's terminal in real time, or by time zones, or on the user's request.
US08340924B2 Membranous filtration prediction method, prediction apparatus, and membranous filtration prediction program
A method is provided for precisely predicting the temporal variation of a membranous filtration resistance, a transmembrane pressure, a membranous filtration flowrate, or a membranous filtration flowrate as occurs in filtrating a liquid with a membrane, in a membranous filtration method wherein the liquid is filtrated by the separation membrane with the transmembrane pressure as a driving force. The method includes calculating: a constituent component quantity value of the liquid that attaches on a surface of the separation membrane at a time t+Δt; a constituent component quantity value of the liquid that exists in pores of the separation membrane; a consolidation degree of a constituent component of the liquid that attaches on the separation membrane surface; a membranous filtration resistance value; a transmembrane pressure value; and a membranous filtration flowrate value.
US08340920B2 Method and device for measuring foreign bodies in the measuring medium
The disclosure relates to a method for measuring a flow rate, in particular in an inductive flowmeter, in which an electrical signal is applied to a measuring medium flowing in a measuring tube at electrodes, and the response function at measuring electrodes is determined as a measure of the flow rate, and to a corresponding flowmeter device. So that the flow effects of gas bubbles and/or particles in the measuring medium can be distinguished from other faults and the determination of the flow rate is thus more reliable, the disclosure proposes that, in order to detect gas bubbles and/or particles in the measuring medium, a magnetic and/or electric field is applied to the latter and the potential and/or current is/are read out at one or more electrodes, the signal profile A(t), together with its signal-to-noise component, is measured electronically as a function of the time, and a statistical evaluation is used to infer the existence of gas bubbles and/or particles.
US08340919B2 Method for quantifying initial concentration of nucleic acid from real-time nucleic acid amplification data
Provided is a method for quantifying an initial concentration of a nucleic acid from a real-time nucleic acid amplification data. Nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) extracted from organism or virus is amplified using an enzyme. Then, the initial concentration of the nucleic acid is found by calculating the characteristic amplification cycle number or the characteristic amplification time at which the fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid subtracted by the background fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid has half of its maximum value, or the characteristic amplification cycle number or the characteristic amplification time at which the amplification efficiency has the maximum or the minimum value, or the prior-to-amplification fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid subtracted by the background fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid. Accordingly, the initial concentration of the nucleic acid can be calculated without differentiation or integration.
US08340917B2 Sequence matching allowing for errors
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with sequence matching with no more than a number E errors are disclosed. A test fragment to be located within a target sequence with at most a number E errors is received. The test fragment is broken into E+1 test sub-fragments. If one test sub-fragment is located within the target sequence with no errors; a determination is made as to whether the other test sub-fragments are located within the target sequence adjacent to the one test sub-fragment with a total of at most E errors. If the other test sub-fragments are located within the target sequence adjacent the one test sub-fragment with at most E errors, a location of the test fragment within the target sequence is returned.
US08340915B2 Systems and methods for analyzing microarrays
The present invention discloses methods and systems for analyzing microarray data. The method includes the general steps of providing microarray data, normalizing the data using a least trimmed squares regression, and then analyzing the normalized microarray data to obtain a desired result such as an expression profile. There is also disclosed a method of subdividing an array into subarrays before normalization. This approach provides a method for improving measurement accuracy and salvaging array data from arrays containing minor defects. Also disclosed is a Probe-Treatment-Reference (PTR) model for streamlining normalization and summarization of microarray data by allowing multiple references. Other aspects of the present invention include computer systems and computer readable media encoding methods of the present invention.
US08340914B2 Methods and systems for compressing and comparing genomic data
Systems and methods are disclosed for compressing and comparing data such as genomic data. The disclosed systems and methods may include selecting a segment, creating a delta representation of the segment, the delta representation comprising a script, and storing the script. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include receiving a first script comprising a compressed version of a first segment and receiving a second script comprising a compressed version of a second segment. The disclosed systems and methods may further include comparing the first script to the second script and determining if the first segment matches the second segment based upon the comparison of the first script to the second script.
US08340913B2 Phase behavior analysis using a microfluidic platform
Methods and related systems are described for analyzing phase properties in a microfluidic device. A fluid is introduced under pressure into microchannel, and phase states of the fluid are optically detected at a number of locations along the microchannel. Gas and liquid phases of the fluid are distinguished based on a plurality of digital images of the fluid in the microchannel. Bi-level images can be generated based on the digital images, and the fraction of liquid or gas in the fluid can be estimated versus pressure based on the bi-level images. Properties such as bubble point values and/or a phase volume distribution ratio versus pressure for the fluid are can be estimated based on the detected phase states of the fluid.
US08340910B1 Method and system for monitoring soil and water resources
A system and method for monitoring soil and water resources is disclosed herein. Sensors capable of monitoring soil temperature, moisture and salinity are utilized with other sensors capable of monitoring such values as air temperature in order to provide real-time parameters to users/operators of land area in order to optimize plant and turf growth, and to optimize water usage.
US08340909B2 System for monitoring propane or other consumable liquid in remotely located storage tanks
An improved apparatus and method for monitoring the levels of propane or other consumable liquid in remotely located storage tanks and coordinating delivery of liquid to those tanks, including an improved method of using the remote monitoring data to identify out-of-ordinary conditions at remote tanks, optimally schedule purchases or deliveries, improve safety, and more efficiently operate a propane dealership. More accurate and timely information concerning the status of customer tanks serves to improve operational efficiencies and increase safety. Data received from remote sensors can be collected and organized so that it is easily understood and utilized through the implementation of a user interface accessible via the Internet that allows the information to be presented in an efficient graphical and contextual fashion. Operational efficiencies can also be improved by calculating site-specific Degree-days and K-factors for each tank and by taking historical propane usage for each tank, weather conditions, and projected fuel usage into account.
US08340908B2 Calibration of tracking device
A tracking device may be used to detect a position or movement of an object. The tracking device may include a housing that supports an emitter. The emitter may transmit a first signal. A measurement device within the housing may measure rotational movement of an object. Circuitry may receive a second signal in response to the first signal. The circuitry may reset an angle value to a predetermined value based on the second signal. The angle value may be determined by a measurement of the rotational movement of the object.
US08340906B2 Method for generating and searching through trajectory content performed in navigation device
A method and apparatus for searching and generating trajectory content in a navigation device are provided. The method includes establishing a predetermined search region from a current position; extracting information about first parcels included in the established search region and information about second parcels including information about links of specific trajectory content; and determining whether the specific trajectory content is included in the established search region by comparing the information about the first parcels with the information about the second parcels.
US08340903B2 Wayfinding system
Disclosed is a system to provide optimum guidance for an individual seeking the destination point in a complex building. The system can be used for a range of individuals from firemen seeking an optimized and accurately mapped path from an access point at the entrance to the building to a destination point where a fire alarm has gone off or for a visitor in the museum who is seeking a path to a particular desired display destination. The system can provide multiple sequential simplified floor configuration maps. These maps are designed to show foreshortened walls so as to provide a three-dimensional maze-like format with the pathways visible and with a track mark illustrating an optimal path for the user to follow within the area shown on the map.
US08340902B1 Remote vehicle management system by video radar
A remote vehicle management system by video radar includes a camera array installed on the vehicle to capture and generate video data, video recognition units receiving the video data and converting into an object data stream, a vehicle database including static and dynamic data, an environment management unit generating a video radar data stream based on the object data stream and, a wireless transfer unit transmitting the radar data stream in a wireless medium, and a remote device reconstructing an illustrative screen based on the received video radar data stream by using specific icons or symbols, which is used to assist the operator of the vehicle to fully understand the actual situation so as to alleviate the human workload, reduce human mistakes and improve the efficiency of the vehicle management.
US08340901B2 Mobile robot and path planning method thereof for manipulating target objects
A mobile robot and a path planning method are provided for the mobile robot to manipulate the target objects in a space, wherein the space consists of a periphery area and a central area. With the present method, an initial position is defined and the mobile robot is controlled to move within the periphery area from the initial position. Next, the latest image is captured when the mobile robot moves, and a manipulating order is arranged according to the distances estimated between the mobile robot and each of target objects in the image. The mobile robot is controlled to move and perform a manipulating action on each of the target object in the image according to the manipulating order. The steps of obtaining the image, planning the manipulating order, and controlling the mobile robot to perform the manipulating action are repeated until the mobile robot returns to the initial position.
US08340896B2 Road shape recognition device
A road shape recognition device includes: distance and height detecting means for detecting distance data having a distance and height in real space regarding a road surface where a vehicle is traveling at multiple mutually different points; approximation line calculating means for dividing the plurality of distance data into near and far groups as viewed from the vehicle to calculate an approximation line of the distance data for each group each time the distance data of the boundary portion between the two groups is transferred from one of the groups to the other; statistics calculating means for calculating statistics from the corresponding approximation line for each group where the distance data is transferred; and road shape model generating means for selecting one out of combinations of the approximation lines to generate a road shape model using the selected combination.
US08340895B2 Method of performing mixed category and point of interest search and related personal navigation device
To provide a simple interface that can operate seamlessly across a mix of databases with different categorization, individually or concurrently, and limit categories offered to those categories directly relevant to a search term entered, a method of querying and displaying point of interest category and point of interest item information in a personal navigation device includes sending a search term to a first server, receiving matching category data from the first server, displaying a representation of the matching category, sending a query to a second server when the matching category is selected, receiving point of interest data corresponding to the matching category from the second server, and displaying a point of interest described in the point of interest data.
US08340889B2 System and method for aggregating probe vehicle data
A system and method for combining sequential map segments to aggregate, analyze, and display traffic data collected from one or more probe vehicles located on one or more of the map segments.
US08340887B2 Fuel control for internal combustion engine
A fuel injection control for an internal combustion engine is provided. Fuel is injected into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The fuel injection is divided into main injection and pilot injection in advance of the main injection. An actual compression ignition timing is detected based on a combustion state in the cylinder. A fuel injection timing of the main injection is controlled based on the actual compression ignition timing. An amount of heat release based on the pilot injection is computed. A fuel injection amount of the pilot injection is corrected based on the computed heat release amount.
US08340883B2 Method and apparatus for predicting a movement trajectory
In order to be able to undertake a reliable prediction of a movement trajectory of an object moving in road traffic even for relatively long prediction periods, a method is proposed in which there is firstly determined (203) with the aid of an evaluation of a determined movement variable of the object a driving maneuver that is executed by the object. A model (2051; . . . ; 205N) of the movement of the object is then selected as a function of the determined driving maneuver, and the movement trajectory of the object is calculated with the aid of the selected model. There is also proposed an apparatus for predicting the movement trajectory of an object that is suitable for carrying out the method. The object can be both a motor vehicle and an object in the surroundings of the motor vehicle.
US08340881B2 Method and system for assessing vehicle movement
Methods and systems are provided for assessing movement of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels. A plurality of wheel direction values are obtained. Each of the wheel direction values pertains to a direction of wheel rotation of a respective wheel. An average value of the wheel direction values is calculated. A direction of movement of the vehicle is obtained via a controller using the average value. In addition, a signed velocity is determined for and indicative of both forward and reverse motions using the wheel direction values.
US08340880B2 System and method for automatically and independently controlling wheel torque or speed using wheel hubs having engagement/disengagement mechanisms integrated therewith
A system and method for controlling torque and/or speed of wheels of a vehicle. The system and method receive one or more vehicle operating signals. Based on the received vehicle operating signals, the system and method determine whether one or more of a vehicle's wheels require torque or speed modification. If it is determined that one or more of the vehicle's wheels requires torque or speed modification, the system and method modifies the torque to drive, or speed of, a wheel or wheels based on the received vehicle operating signals. The modification is automatic and/or independent for each wheel. Some or all wheels can be coupled to respective wheel hubs having incorporated therewith an engagement/disengagement mechanism. The system and method can control the engagement/disengagement mechanism to modify the torque at, or speed of, the associated wheel based on the received vehicle operating signal or signals.
US08340874B2 Construction equipment including rear view camera
Construction equipment including a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a lower driving structure, an upper swing structure swingably mounted on the lower driving structure, a working device mounted on the upper swing structure and having a boom, an arm, and a bucket respectively driven by a hydraulic cylinder is disclosed. The construction equipment comprises a rear view camera to permit a driver to view rearward traffic conditions.
US08340867B2 Steering system
A steering controller for an electric power steering device 110 includes a base signal computing part 51 for computing a base signal DT in accordance with at least the steering torque; a damper compensation signal computing part 52 for computing a damper compensation signal in accordance with an angular velocity of an electric motor 4 or a speed of steering wheel turn; and an inertia compensation signal computing part 53 for compensating inertia and viscosity in the steering unit. The electric motor is driven by a target signal IM1 obtained by compensating the base signal with a damper compensation signal and an inertia compensation signal, to provide a steering auxiliary force. The target signal of the auxiliary torque is compensated so that a difference between a reference self-aligning torque of front wheel in a front wheel steering vehicle and a self-aligning torque of front wheel in an all-wheel steering vehicle is provided to a driver as a responsive feeling from the steering torque.
US08340866B2 Vehicle and steering control device for vehicle
A steering control device for a vehicle has a steering assistance means (7) which performs steering assistance processing for driving an actuator (6) so that a vehicle (1) travels along a lane recognized by a lane recognition means (5) from an image acquired by an image acquisition means (4); a side displacement amount calculation means (8) which calculates a displacement amount in the lane width direction between the position of the vehicle (1) and the center of the recognized lane; a complexity calculation means (10) which calculates the complexity of the acquired image; and a steering assistance inhibition means (11) which inhibits, according to the displacement amount in the lane width direction calculated based on the lane recognized from the acquired image at a given time point and the complexity of the acquired image, steering assistance processing based on the lane by the steering assistance means (7). This prevents inappropriate steering control based on an incorrectly recognized lane when performing the steering control of the vehicle so that the vehicle travels along the lane recognized from the road image.
US08340863B2 Vehicle pedal apparatus with user actuation sensor, and related operating method
A pedal system for a vehicle is disclosed. The pedal system includes an accelerator pedal, a sensor, a sensor detection circuit, and a controller. The pedal has a footpad, and the pedal moves in response to user actuation of the footpad. The sensor, which is coupled to or integrated into the footpad, has a first state when the footpad is actuated and a second state when the footpad is not actuated. The sensor is independent of and distinct from any physical position sensors of the pedal. The detection circuit, which is electrically coupled to the sensor, can distinguish between the first state and the second state. The controller, which is coupled to the sensor detection circuit, controls operation of the vehicle in a manner that is influenced by the first state or the second state.
US08340844B2 Undersea position and velocity measuring system and process
This invention relates to a GPS navigation system comprised of a submerged vessel having a navigation processor associated via buoyant cable with a buoy having a GPS device; wherein the cable contains: a data link between the vessel and the GPS device; and a location device for the determination of the location of the cable to the vessel; and wherein the processor computes a GPS position relative to the vessel. The invention also relates to a navigation process comprising the steps of: attaching a cable between a buoy and a submerged vessel; providing a GPS data relative to the buoy and cable location data over the cable to the submerged vessel; and using the GPS position of the buoy and location data to compute the GPS position of the submerged vessel.
US08340842B2 Aircraft emergency handling
The present invention provides methods and apparatuses that reduce pilot workload and increase the performance and efficiency of the pilot's control of the aircraft. The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses for determining the presence and type of an emergency condition, for example by detecting corresponding sensor outputs or by accepting input from a pilot or a combination thereof; and then responding to that emergency by initiating a pre-determined set of actions specific to the determined emergency. Embodiments of the invention can include the ability to monitor engine conditions as well as control electrical functions such as the fuel boost pump, alternator field, battery contactor and other important electrical devices. Some examples described below assume a single-engine piston aircraft for ease of illustration. The invention can also be applied to multi engine and turbine powered aircraft as well.
US08340840B2 Method and device for reducing on an aircraft lateral effects of a turbulence
A method and device for reducing on an aircraft lateral effects of a turbulence. The device (1) includes means (2, 3, 5, 7, A1, A2) for calculating and applying a roll control command and a yaw control command enabling the side effects generated by a turbulence event to be attenuated on the aircraft.
US08340836B2 Intelligent selectively-targeted communications methods
A method for receiving at least one of advisory information and vehicle control information in a vehicle-mounted system, comprising: receiving at least one of advisory information and vehicle control information from a transmitting unit using a receiving unit; determining whether the at least one of the advisory information and the vehicle control information is directed to the receiving unit; and if the at least one of the advisory information and the vehicle control information is directed to the receiving unit, outputting the at least one of the advisory information and the vehicle control information.
US08340827B2 Methods for controlling time scale of gas delivery into a processing chamber
A method for establishing a mass flow controller (MFC) control scheme, which is configured for reducing a time scale for gas delivery into a processing chamber, for a recipe is provided. The method includes identifying a set of delayed gas species utilized during execution of the recipe with a set of delivery time slower than a target delivery time scale. The method also includes establishing an initial overshoot strength and an initial overshoot duration for each gas specie of the set of delayed gas species. The method further includes establishing MFC control scheme by adjusting an MFC hardware for each gas specie during the execution of the recipe. Adjusting the MFC hardware includes applying the initial overshoot strength for the initial overshoot duration to determine if the MFC control scheme provides for each gas specie a pressure profile within a target accuracy of an equilibrium pressure for the processing chamber.
US08340825B2 Method and device for controlling a process for burning a lime containing mixture to burnt lime
A method and a device for controlling a process for burning lime containing mixture (CaCO3) and converting it to calcinated lime (CaO) in a rotary kiln, the rotary kiln having an elongated cavity surrounded by a wall and a burner arranged to heat the cavity. The method includes collecting measurement data of the temperature in the wall at a plurality of measuring points along the longitudinal axis of the cavity, predicting the actual temperature gradient along the longitudinal axis of the cavity based at least on the measurement data of the temperature in the wall, and by means of a thermal model describing the temperature along the cavity of the kiln, determining a desired temperature gradient along the cavity based on the predicted temperature gradient along the cavity and a predetermined control strategy controlling the temperature in the kiln.
US08340822B2 Actuator control device, actuator control method, actuator, robot apparatus, and computer program
There is provided an actuator control device for force-controlling a joint driving actuator according to a commanded joint force command value τa. The actuator control device includes a joint value detecting means for detecting a joint value q at an output stage of the actuator, an action force detecting means for detecting an action force τe in a joint driving direction at the output stage of the actuator, and a driving force determining means for determining an instructed driving force τ to the actuator, on the basis of an ideal response model of the actuator which specifies the relationship of a joint value acceleration target value achieved as the actuator responds ideally when the joint force command value τa, the action force τe, and a joint value velocity obtained by time-differentiating the joint value q are given.
US08340821B2 Robot program adjusting system
A robot program adjusting system (11) adjusting an operating program of a robot arm having a plurality of axes including an overload identifying means (12) for successively reading operational instructions from said operating program of said robot arm to run simulations and thereby identify an axis where overload is acting from said plurality of axes, an additional operation generating means (13) for generating an additional operation for an axis other than the axis identified by said overload identifying means (12) to lighten the load of said identified axis, and a program adjusting means (15) for adjusting the operating program of said robot arm based on the additional operation generated by said additional operation generating means (13), whereby the load acting on an axis with a large load can be lightened without trial and error.
US08340819B2 Mobile videoconferencing robot system with network adaptive driving
A remote control station that controls a robot through a network. The remote control station transmits a robot control command that includes information to move the robot. The remote control station monitors at least one network parameter and scales the robot control command as a function of the network parameter. For example, the remote control station can monitor network latency and scale the robot control command to slow down the robot with an increase in the latency of the network. Such an approach can reduce the amount of overshoot or overcorrection by a user driving the robot.
US08340817B2 Legged robot and its control method
There is provided a legged robot that performs motion by changing a joint angle, which includes a section of generating a center-of-gravity trajectory of the legged robot based on a trinomial equation obtained by discretizing a ZMP equation and a target ZMP, a section of calculating time-varying data of a target value of the joint angle based on the generated center-of-gravity trajectory, and a section of rotating a joint of the legged robot based on the calculated time-varying data of a target value of the joint angle, wherein the ZMP equation involves an angular momentum according to a center-of-gravity velocity.
US08340814B2 System and method for tracking of mail using a universal coding system
A method of tracking trays through a delivery system. The method comprises: generating an enhanced label, the enhanced label comprising a routing code and a label unique identifier, the enhanced label being applied to the tray; associating a tray with a container, the container having a container unique identifier; and receiving a load container scan, the load container scan associating the container unique identifier with the enhanced label.
US08340813B2 System and process for real time monitoring of mail and print jobs and providing real time verification of mail piece completion
The present application relates to a system and method for tracking individual pieces within a printing or mailing job, as well as tracking completed trays, skids, or containers of printed documents.
US08340812B1 Optimization of packaging sizes
Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for determining optimum sizes of packaging in a packaging suite employed in a materials handling facility. The packaging may be used, for example, in the shipping of items from the materials handling facility to various destinations. The sizes of the packaging in the packaging suite are determined based upon the shipping volumes associated with packages or shipments shipped from the materials handling facility.
US08340807B1 Rapid production turnkey system and related method
A system and related method providing a turnkey arrangement for the rapid production of parts using one or more CNC machines. The system includes a set of functions arranged to generate a rapid production technical data package that may be used by the manufacturer to fabricate a part quickly, efficiently and accurately. The package includes a First Article inspection certificate, a three-dimensional solid model, setup and process instructions, G and M Post codes, holding fixtures, cutting tools and revision control. The method includes steps leading to the creation of the rapid production technical data package. The steps include the gathering of part information, populating a database with CNC machine information, including Post codes, designing manufacturing instructions using a single CAD/CAM platform, integrating model and fixture information to generate a Smart Part model for any CNC machine, establishing Post codes for all CNC machines in the database, and proving out the model.
US08340805B2 Method and apparatus for detecting accidental stops of the yarn on a knitting line
A knitting line comprises a plurality of yarn feeders from which a downstream machine draws respective yarns. The machine is provided with selection elements adapted to vary the state of selection of the yarn feeders in relation to the angular position of the machine. Each of the yarn feeders is provided with a stationary drum and with a yarn count sensor arranged to generate a pulse per each yarn loop unwound from the drum. A selection signal is periodically sent to the yarn feeders, which is indicative of the state of selection of the individual feeders in relation to the angular position of the machine. For each of the selected feeders, a threshold time interval is continuously calculated, which corresponds to the maximum interval between two successive pulses, above which it should be regarded that an accidental stop of the yarn has occurred, and is updated in real time as a function of the yarn-drawing speed, the delay from the last pulse is continuously measured and compared with the updated threshold time interval, and the downstream machine is stopped when the measured delay exceeds the updated threshold interval.
US08340803B2 Component placement apparatus, component placement setting calculation apparatus, program, and component placement setting calculation method
The present invention is directed to a technique that avoids occurrence of interference among multiple placement heads, when multiple placement heads simultaneously access a circuit board, and a pallet which is arranged in one direction with respect to the circuit board. When the component placement part 150 having the multiple placement heads simultaneously pick up the components from the pallet 160 and simultaneously place the components on the circuit board, the controller 140 specifies a pair of component groups to be picked up simultaneously from the pallet 160 by the multiple placement heads and places the components on the circuit board, so that an area where the multiple placement heads move in overlapping manner is minimized, and the placement heads respectively pick up the components included in the pair of component groups being specified and place the components on the circuit board.
US08340798B2 Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The preset invention includes a signal receiving unit a plurality of preset informations and preset attribute information; a display unit displaying a plurality of preset metadatas; a preset mode input unit being inputted a select signal selecting one preset metadata; a preset mode select unit selecting the preset metadata and a preset information based on the select signal; a static preset mode receiving unit receiving the preset information and the preset metadata corresponding all data regions of the downmix signal based on the preset attribute information; a dynamic preset mode receiving unit receiving the preset information and the preset metadata corresponding single data region of the downmix signal based on the preset attribute information; and a rendering unit controlling the object by applying the preset information to the all data regions or the single data region of the downmix signal.
US08340795B2 Small removable audio player that attaches to a host media player
A media player, including a host player, including a host media playing module for playing digital media files, a host storage unit for storing digital media files, a host battery for supplying power to the host player, a host controller for storing incoming media files in the host storage unit, a host display unit, and at least one host user interface control for user command input to navigate and play the digital media files stored in the host storage unit, and a removable player which can be attached to the host player and detached from the host player, and which is operative to play digital audio files when it is attached to the host player and when it is detached from the host player, including an audio playing module, a storage unit for storing digital media files, a wireless modem for receiving digital media files from remote sources, a battery for supplying power to the removable player, which is charged by the host battery when the removable player is attached to the host player, and a controller for storing incoming media files in the removable player storage unit and for selectively copying media files from the removable player storage unit to the host storage unit when the removable player is attached to the host player, wherein the host controller selectively copies media files from the host storage unit to the removable player storage unit when the removable player is attached to the host player. A method is also described and claimed.
US08340794B1 Fantasy sports trade evaluator system and method
Disclosed is a trade evaluator for evaluating trades based on statistics of players to be traded, statistics of other players on each fantasy team, and settings of a fantasy league. A computer receives a request to analyze a trade of one or more players for one or more other players. The computer determines league settings and player statistics. For each player on the teams, the computer determines a position in a roster. The computer determines a highest value player for each position. If there is only one slot that can hold the highest ranked player still available to place, the computer fills the slot with that player. If there are multiple slots left, and each of those slots can also hold other player positions, the computer places the player in a slot with a lowest opportunity cost. The computer determines a point total for the teams with and without execution of the trade.
US08340792B2 System and method for dynamically adjusting patient therapy
A system and method of managing therapy provided to patients in an institution. The system monitors all aspects of the medication delivery to a patient, as well as other information related to the patient, such as values of vital signs, laboratory results and patient factors such as history, diagnosis, allergies and the like. The system includes one or more databases of information, including institutionally developed rules, guidelines and protocol representing the best medical practices of the institution. The system provides alerts and/or recommendations based on the application of the rules to the information being monitored, and alerts care givers accordingly, providing for dynamic adjustment of the patient's therapy. The system also monitors the status of the alerts, and if no action is taken in a selected period of time, may escalate the priority of the alert and/or halt the delivery of medication to the patient until the alert is resolved.
US08340791B2 Process device with sampling skew
An industrial process device for monitoring or controlling an industrial process includes a first input configured to receive a first plurality of samples related to a first process variable and a second input configured to receive a second plurality of samples related to a second process variable. Compensation circuitry is configured to compensate for a time difference between the first plurality of samples and the second plurality of samples and provide a compensated output related to at least one of the first and second process variables. The compensated output can comprise, or can be used to calculate a third process variable. The third process variable can be used to monitor or control the industrial process.
US08340785B2 Self expanding electrode cuff
An expandable electrode cuff of an implantable stimulation system that includes a base member, a first flange member extending from a proximal end along a first side wall of the base member to a first distal end, and a second flange member extending from a proximal end along a second side wall of the base member to a second distal end. The first flange member extends over both a top wall of the base member and the second flange member, and the second flange member extends over the top wall to form a lumen. The electrode cuff is capable of being advanced between a first position corresponding to both flange members extending over the top wall, a second position corresponding to the first flange member not extending over the top wall and the second flange member extending over the top wall, and a third position corresponding to both of the flange members not extending over the top wall.
US08340784B2 Stimulation/sensing lead adapted for percutaneous insertion
The present invention relates to a percutaneous insertion-capable lead, wherein insertion made through a percutaneous insertion structure. For one embodiment of such lead, the electrode-supporting stimulation portion of the lead includes at least one waisted region, relative to a transverse dimension of the lead, to facilitate lead steerability.
US08340781B2 Sensor element, sensor system, catheter and manufacturing method of the sensor element
A sensor element, a sensor system, a catheter that can detect the thrombi, plaques and stents in the blood vessels and manufacturing method of the sensor element are provided. A cylinder is formed as a cylinder shaped part that has a long inner space and one open end. The cylinder has a slit being formed along an axis and the width of the slit is less than diameter of the inner space. A plurality of coils is wound outside of the cylinder and the lead portions of the coils are led into the inner space of the cylinder by passing through the slits. Electrically conducting means are connected to each of lead portions and are externally led out from the open end of the cylinder.
US08340778B2 Multi-element acoustic recharging system
An acoustic energy delivery system for delivering acoustic energy to an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The system includes an IMD having a power source and an energy delivery device. The energy delivery device includes a controller and an array of ultrasonic elements electrically coupled to the controller and configured to deliver acoustic energy to the IMD. Methods of delivering acoustic energy to an IMD are also disclosed.
US08340776B2 Biased acoustic switch for implantable medical device
Devices, systems, and methods for selectively activating medical devices are disclosed. A medical device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment includes an energy storage device, an acoustic transducer configured to convert an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, a signal detector configured to generate a trigger signal when the electrical signal exceeds a specific threshold established by a biasing element, a control circuit, and an activation/deactivation switch configured to switch the medical device between an inactive state and an active state in response to the trigger signal.
US08340775B1 System and method for defining stimulation programs including burst and tonic stimulation
In one embodiment, a method for defining a stimulation program for electrical stimulation of a patient, the method comprising: providing a single screen user interface that comprises a first plurality of controls and a second plurality of controls, the first plurality of controls allowing selection of multiple stimulation parameters for a plurality of stimulation sets, the second plurality of controls allowing selection of multiple stimulation parameters defining burst stimulation and tonic stimulation; receiving user input in one or more of the second plurality of controls; and automatically modifying parameters for one or more stimulation sets in response to receiving the user input in one or more of the second plurality of controls and modifying values displayed in one or more controls of the first plurality of controls according to the modified parameters, the modified parameters reflecting a stimulation program that includes an interleaved pattern of burst stimulation and tonic stimulation for delivery to the patient.
US08340772B2 Brown adipose tissue utilization through neuromodulation
Methods and devices for improved neurostimulation to treat obesity. Some methods include measuring temperature increases in Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) during intraoperative test stimulations to determine the proper nerve electrode placement for implantation. Methods can include determining the side of the patient having the most BAT, and stimulating preferentially on that right or left side. The BAT maybe used to burn fat by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system innervating the BAT deposits.
US08340771B2 Stimulation system and method treating a neurological disorder
According to one aspect, a method of treating a patient by electrically stimulating a predetermined site to treat a neurological condition. The method includes implanting a lead into subcutaneous tissue of the C2 dermatome/C3 dermatome area.
US08340769B2 Implantable temperature sensor
A sensor is disposed within a pin portion of a feedthrough assembly. The feedthrough assembly provides a hermetically sealed enclosure that protects the sensor. In one embodiment, the sensor is a temperature sensor and the feedthrough assembly thermally isolates the sensor from the surrounding housing or enclosure.
US08340768B2 Sensing threshold control to limit amplitude tracking
A depolarization sensing threshold can be determined using an amplitude-limited portion of a cardiac signal received using an implantable medical device. One or more cardiac depolarizations can be detected using the cardiac signal and the depolarization sensing threshold.
US08340766B2 Method and system for identifying cardiac arrhythmia driver sites
A method of identifying potential driver sites for cardiac arrhythmias includes acquiring a plurality of electrograms from a plurality of locations on at least a portion of a patient's heart. Using the acquired electrograms, at least one electrical activity map is generated. Desirable electrical activity maps include complex fractionated electrogram standard deviation and mean maps, dominant frequency maps, peak-to-peak voltage maps, and activation sequence maps. Using one or more of these maps (e.g., by analyzing one or more electrogram morphological characteristics represented by these maps), at least one potential driver site can be detected.
US08340764B2 Method and apparatus for cardiac protection pacing
A pacing system delivers cardiac protection pacing to protect the heart from injuries associated with ischemic events. The pacing system detects an ischemic event and, in response, initiates one or more cardiac protection pacing sequences each including alternative pacing and non-pacing periods. In one embodiment, the pacing system initiates cardiac protection pacing sequences including at least one postconditioning sequence to protect the heart from a detected ischemic event and a plurality prophylactic preconditioning sequences to protect the heart from probable future ischemic events.
US08340763B2 Methods and apparatus to stimulate heart atria
A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by pacing of the heart atria. Atrial pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in premature atrial contraction that does not result in ventricular contraction. Pacing results in the atrial wall stress, peripheral vasodilation, ANP secretion. Concomitant reduction of the heart rate is monitored and controlled as needed with backup pacing.
US08340761B2 Myocardial infarction treatment system with electronic repositioning
Methods and devices for treating a blockage in the coronary arterial system are provided. Some blockages in the coronary arterial system restrict the blood flow to a portion of the heart, causing ischemia or infarction. Such blockages may be treated by displacing, removing and/or breaking up the blockage, which allows blood to reperfuse into the infarcted portion of the heart. Before, during, and/or after the reperfusion, cardioprotective pacing is provided to the heart. The devices have multiple electrodes in order to provide multiple locations at which the cardioprotective pacing may be delivered. The devices are adapted to deliver cardioprotective pacing to the heart via the electrode that results in a relatively high level of dyssynchrony of the heart.
US08340756B2 Electronic stimulation device
An electronic stimulation device is provided. The electronic stimulation device includes a wave generation device and a wave buffer connected to the wave generation device. A wave amplifier is connected to the wave buffer, and a transformer is connected to the wave amplifier. The transformer is configured for connection to leads for transmitting a current through a body of a user. The present invention further provides a method for providing electronic stimulation to a body of a user.
US08340749B2 System for automatically minimizing cardiac oxygen consumption and cardiac disease treating system using the same
A cardiac disease treating system has an input part for inputting a patient's indexes of kinetics of blood circulation including at least heart rate, a cardiac oxygen consumption calculation monitor unit for calculating the estimated value of said patient's amount of cardiac oxygen consumption based on the indexes of kinetics of blood circulation input from the input part, and a cardiac oxygen consumption curtailment unit for comparing the heart rate input from the input part and the critical heart rate minimizing the estimated value of amount of cardiac oxygen consumption calculated by the cardiac oxygen consumption monitor unit and controlling the patient's heart rate in conformity with the results of this comparison.
US08340746B2 Motif discovery in physiological datasets: a methodology for inferring predictive elements
The application relates a methodology and apparatus for identifying predictive patterns for acute clinical events in the absence of prior knowledge. Principles of conservation are used to identify activity that consistently precedes an outcome in patients, and describe a two-stage process that allows us to more efficiently search for such patterns in large datasets. This is achieved by first transforming continuous physiological signals from multiple patients into symbolic sequences, and by then searching for patterns in these reduced representations that are strongly associated with an outcome.
US08340745B2 Methods for characterizing cancer and pre-cancer tissues
A quantitative method for determining tissue characteristics includes the steps of generating data for a dynamic optical curve over a period of time based on an optical property of a tissue, or portion thereof, that has been exposed to a biomarker and, based on the data, determining a value of a dynamic optical parameter. The value of the dynamic optical parameter is compared with at least one reference value of the dynamic optical parameter known to be linked to a structural or functional characteristic and/or the pathological status of the tissue. Based on the comparison, a structural or functional characteristic and/or the pathological status of the tissue, or portion thereof is determined. Data for dynamic optical curves may be generated for a plurality of tissue locations corresponding to a plurality of spatial image locations. The plurality of dynamic optical curves may be used to determine values of a dynamic optical parameter and a related tissue characteristic at a plurality of tissue locations. A computer readable medium holds computer program instructions for carrying out this method. Reference values can be calculated by measuring dynamic optical properties from known representative tissue samples. Preferred tissue samples include endothelial and cervical samples. Preferred methods involve diagnosing and/or grading neoplasia and/or HPV infection and/or calculating nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios of the cells in the tissue sample.
US08340744B2 System, apparatus, and method for reproducible and comparable flow acquisitions
A system, apparatus and method are provided for measuring and removing the influence of pulsatility on contrast agent flow in a region of interest of a vascular system of a patient. Once the change of blood speed over the cardiac cycle is known (pulsatility), this influence is removed from acquired image sequence for outcome control such that “quasi-stationary”, regular flow acquisition is passed on to subsequent visualization and analysis processes. A contrast agent injector is also provided that simultaneously measures and uses ECG to inject a known contrast agent at a fixed point over the cardiac cycle or such that a known amount of contrast agent will arrive at a known time at a region of interest in the vasculature of a patient, thus controlling one of the main unwanted variables in an acquisition of blood flow sequences.
US08340743B2 Methods, systems and computer program products for positioning a guidance apparatus relative to a patient
A method for positioning a guide device for placement of an interventional object in a body, the guide device having a guide axis, includes: determining a target point in the body and a reference point, wherein the target point and the reference point define a planned trajectory line (PTL) extending through each; determining a visualization plane, wherein the PTL intersects the visualization plane at a sighting point; mounting the guide device relative to the body to move with respect to the PTL, wherein the guide device does not intersect the visualization plane; determining a point of intersection (GPP) between the guide axis and the visualization plane; and aligning the GPP with the sighting point in the visualization plane.
US08340742B2 Integrated radiation therapy systems and methods for treating a target in a patient
An integrated radiation therapy process comprises acquiring first objective target data related to a parameter of a target within a patient by periodically locating a marker positioned within the patient using a localization modality. This method continues with obtaining second objective target data related to the parameter of the target by periodically locating the marker. The first objective target data can be acquired in a first area that is apart from a second area which contains a radiation delivery device for producing an ionizing radiation beam for treating the patient. The localization modality can be the same in both the first and second areas. In other embodiments, the first objective target data can be acquired using a first localization modality that uses a first energy type to identify the marker and the second objective target data can be obtained using a second localization modality that uses a second energy type to identify the marker that is different than the first energy type.
US08340732B2 Mobile electronic device
A mobile electronic device is disclosed. A housing comprises a circuit board located inside the housing. Protection means protects an electronic component located on the circuit board and exposed externally through an external opening in the housing.
US08340726B1 Communication device
The method of a communication device to implement a caller's area dependent ringtone modifying function, wherein when receiving a phone call from a caller's device, a caller's device current location which indicates the current geographic location of said caller's device is identified, if said caller's device current location indicates to be located in a 1st geographic area, a 1st ringtone audio data is output from said speaker with the sound volume indicated by a 1st ringtone sound volume data, if said caller's device current location indicates to be located in a 2nd geographic area, a 2nd ringtone audio data is output from said speaker with the sound volume indicated by a 2nd ringtone sound volume data.
US08340717B2 Method and device for downloading a file via a network
In an embodiment, a mobile device is provided comprising a network interface and download controller. In an embodiment, the download controller is configured to check if a file to be downloaded can be handled by the mobile device and to transmit a download request to a further device if the mobile device cannot handle the file.
US08340716B2 Wireless communication apparatus with physical layer processing module and MAC layer processing module and its communication method
A wireless communication apparatus includes a first module, a second module, an inhibit module, a calculation module, and a control module. The first module constitutes a first system. The first system transmits and receives first data to and from a first device. The second module constitutes a second system. The second system transmits and receives second data to and from a second device in each interval time-divided with determined transmission timing. The inhibit module generates inhibit periods for preventing the first module from communicating by use of the first data. The calculation module calculates an occupation time required for the transmission and reception of the first data. The control module compares the period between the inhibit periods adjacent to one another with the occupation time and, according to the comparison result, instructs the first device to stop or delay the transmission of the first data.
US08340714B2 Computing device with configurable antenna
A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies.
US08340711B1 Dual mode service WiFi access control
Systems and methods are described that facilitate the provision of dual mode services. Access to the dual mode services is controlled by associating a mobile device to an access point. Subscribers are required to provide valid geographical addresses for access points associated with the mobile devices prior to provision of service. Consequently, physical addresses are necessarily available for emergency services (e.g., E911). Mobile devices are restricted to specific access points based upon the access point identifiers automatically provided during initialization of service and maintained for authorization purposes.
US08340707B2 Method and system for connecting wireless communications unit users
A system and method for wireless communications unit users within proximity to make social connections. Users can dynamically discover potential matches in the proximity and interactively find out mutual intentions to socially connect in an anonymous and discreet manner.
US08340706B2 Co-existence between radio access units
In a non-limiting and exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for controlling co-existence of multiple radio access units. The method comprises: receiving a scheduling request comprising value information on at least some of radio independent scheduling parameters of a control interface common to a plurality of radio access units, scheduling radio access on the basis of the value information on at least some of the radio independent scheduling parameters, and sending a response to the scheduling request in a given form in accordance with the control interface common to the radio access units.
US08340700B2 Enabling binary object attachment support for short messaging service
Systems and methods are described for enabling binary object attachment support in a short messaging service (SMS). More specifically, a binary SMS exposure service is described that allows for sending any generic binary content via SMS to the telecom network. The binary SMS exposure service includes an application-facing web services interface and a network-specific protocol interface. The binary attachment sent via SMS can represent any object, such as an electronic business card, an encrypted token, and the like. Applications are enabled to poll for the delivery status of a message sent using the exposure service, as well as receive asynchronous notifications for messages that have been sent. In addition, a specific use case is described wherein an encrypted binary object attachment is transmitted via SMS to an automobile in order to perform a specified function thereon.
US08340699B2 Method and system for monitoring high availability support system
A system for monitoring the availability of support members includes an application program (heartbeat application) that runs on a handheld device and an associated program that runs on a heartbeat server. The heartbeat application collects status information of the handheld device. The handheld device periodically transmits the status information to the heartbeat server in a digital data message that has a format adapted to an operation mode of the handheld device. Based on the status information, the availability of the data connection to the handheld device is determined.
US08340695B2 Mobile terminal and method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying a map, which is divided into a plurality of blocks in predetermined units of latitude and latitude, on a display module and displaying in each of the blocks identification information indicating whether a corresponding block includes geo-tagged information; and if one of the blocks is selected, displaying one or more thumbnail images corresponding to geo-tagged information included in the selected block on the display module. Therefore, it is possible to effectively select and use geo-tagged information even when using a small size screen.
US08340692B2 Positioning with several operators
In one aspect, the invention provides apparatuses and methods for determining the location of a wireless user equipment (UE). Advantageously, the location may be determined by combining location estimates from a plurality of wireless network operators to increase accuracy.
US08340689B2 Commercially subsidized mobile communication devices and services
Mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, may be capable of recommending to a user various providers of one or more solicited services, e.g., by identifying a user location and identifying providers near the user location that provide the services, and by initiating a call between the user and a selected provider. However, the equipment and service costs of such devices may be prohibitive, particularly for mid-range mobile communication devices that may appeal to cost-conscious users. The prohibitive costs may be diminished by redirecting part or all of the cost of providing the recommendation service from the providers, e.g., by charging the provider a service cost upon initiating a call from the user to the provider, or upon representing the provider in a provider database. In one such embodiment, all service costs may be borne by providers, providing to the user a free recommendation service via the mobile communication device.
US08340688B2 Method and apparatus for finding people via a mobile device
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for finding at least one person are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a subscriber to find at least one person having at least one characteristic predefined by the subscriber, receives a location of the subscriber and finds, via a processor, the at least one person having the at least one characteristic predefined by the subscriber near the location of the subscriber.
US08340687B2 Method and apparatus for activating a base station
The invention includes a method and apparatus for activating a base station. A method includes transitioning the base station to a first state in which at least one base station activation activity is performed and RF transmissions are disabled, and transitioning the base station from the first state to a second state in which RF transmissions are enabled. The at least one base station activation activity may include at least one of warming at least one power amplifier, setting at least one base station configuration parameter, establishing GPS synchronization, and other base station activation activities. The base station may transition from the first state to the second state in response to a trigger.
US08340684B2 Mobile station
A method of estimating a location of a mobile station is disclosed. A received signal strength of a signal transmitted from a base station is measured. Based on the received signal strength, determination is made whether a signal propagation path to the base station is non-line-of-sight. If the signal propagation path is non-line-of-sight, a distance to the base station is estimated based on a propagation model of the base station.
US08340682B2 Method for disseminating geolocation information for network infrastructure devices
A scheme is provided for distributing reference geographical locations on a network. Geolocation information is integrated or associated with one or more network infrastructure devices to permit them to serve as reference points for the rest of the network. A reference geographical location associated with a network infrastructure device may be broadcast by the network infrastructure device over a network. Alternatively, other network devices may request reference geographical location from a network infrastructure device or obtain it from a network-accessible database that stores such geolocation information. Other network devices can then use the one or more reference geographical locations to determine their own geographical location. By allowing existing network devices to take advantage of the geolocation capability of its “neighboring” network devices, this scheme provides a convenient way to deliver geolocation to many network devices.
US08340677B2 System and method for semi-static downlink inter-cell interference coordination for wireless communications
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a base station in a wireless system, includes partitioning a frequency band into at least one band of a first type and at least one band of a second type, and coordinating the partitioning with at least one further base station. The at least one band of the first type includes a band on which the base station transmits power proportional to a distance of a user device from the base station, and the at least one band of the second type comprises a band on which base station transmits a data rate inversely proportional to a distance of a user device from the base station.
US08340676B2 Control and data signaling in heterogeneous wireless communication networks
A wireless communication device receives control signaling from a base station in a control region of a downlink carrier spanning a first bandwidth, signaling message from the base station indicating a second bandwidth, and a first control message within the control region using a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format size, wherein the first DCI format size is based on the first bandwidth. The device also receives a second control message within the control region using a second DCI format size, the second DCI format size based on the second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is distinct from the first bandwidth and the first and second control messages indicate downlink resource assignments for the downlink carrier.
US08340675B2 Radio bearer management in a cellular communication system
A cellular communication system comprises a network based radio bearer controller (123) which is arranged to control and manage the setup and operation of radio bearers. The radio bearer controller comprises a RAB processor (201) which is arranged to set up a plurality of user plane radio bearers for a user equipment (101). The plurality of user plane radio bearers all support a common service. The radio bearer controller (123) further comprises a link processor (203) which links the plurality of user plane radio bearers. The radio bearer controller (123) can process linked user plane radio bearers in relation to each other, for example by terminating all linked user plane radio bearers if a single radio bearer fails. The invention may be particularly suitable for a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) communication system supporting services using a plurality of UMTS user plane radio bearers.
US08340674B2 Method and system for assigning wireless special number call routing among call answering positions
A method for assigning special number wireless call routing responsibilities among special number call answering positions, each respective special number call answering position having a respective designated special number service area, includes: (a) in no particular order: (1) establishing a plurality of cell sector areas for wireless call service; and (2) establishing respective special number service areas in the vicinities of the plurality of cell sector areas; (b) associating respective cell sector areas with the respective special number service areas to establish cell sector-special number areas; (c) establishing at least one population area in the vicinity of the cell sector-special number areas; (d) associating the cell sector-special number areas with the at least one population area to establish cell sector-special number-population areas; (e) determining portions of population attributed to each respective cell sector-special number-population area; and (f) assigning the responsibilities in proportion with the portions of population.
US08340672B2 Wireless network synchronization of cells and client devices on a network
A wireless synchronization device is used to coordinate the timing and activities of individual, possibly physically separated, wireless service providers with defined coverage area. Further, the synchronization information is used to coordinate the timing and activities of portable wireless client devices in an autonomous, wireless proximity sensing and data transfer network. Moreover, one or more of the wireless service providers can be arranged to simultaneously monitor broadcasts from the wireless synchronization device and communicate with one or more of the portable wireless client devices.
US08340663B2 Method and system for ground station signal handover for aircraft
A method and system for ground station signal handoff for an aircraft. The method comprises receiving signal quality data and position data from each of a plurality of ground stations as a signal from each of the ground stations becomes detectable onboard the aircraft, while the aircraft is in communication with an active ground station. A position of the aircraft is determined each time a signal quality from one of the ground stations reaches a predetermined threshold indicating that the signal quality is suitable for handoff. A set of ground stations potentially suitable for handoff is identified based on their signal quality data when an insufficient signal quality of the active ground station is detected. The set of potentially suitable ground stations is evaluated based on their position and signal quality, and a trajectory or speed vector of the aircraft, to determine an optimal ground station for handoff. A handoff request is then transmitted to the optimal ground station.
US08340661B2 Low-cost multimode GSM monitoring from TD-SCDMA
Embodiments of techniques for low-cost multimode operation in wireless communications involving the Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) standard and the Global System for Mobile telecommunications (GSM) standard are described. In one aspect, a method of multimode operation in a mobile telecommunication device renders wireless communications based on the TD-SCDMA standard using either or both of first and second frequency synthesizers of the mobile telecommunication device. The method also receives signals based on the GSM standard using either or both of the first and second frequency synthesizers of the mobile telecommunication device. Techniques for performing baton handover as well as signal reception for multimedia broadcast and multicast services (MBMS) using two frequency synthesizers are also provided.
US08340658B2 Peer to peer sharing of functionality of mobile devices
Systems and methodologies for sharing functionality among mobile devices in a peer to peer manner are described herein. A mobile device can include a plurality of functional components that can each perform respective functionality. Examples of the functionalities can include transceiver communications, processing, power, memory, input and output for the mobile device. Further, the mobile device can include a sharing component that enables sharing a particular third party functional component to replace or supplement operation of a corresponding functional component of the mobile device. The third party functional component, for instance, can be made available for sharing by at least one of a disparate mobile device or a stand alone functional component. Moreover, a host component can allow a disparate mobile device to use an available one or more of the plurality of functional components of the mobile device.
US08340657B2 Method for transceiving signal in mobile station in multiple antenna wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A mobile station provided with multiple antennas in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the mobile station displays an overlap zone entry notification message received from a macro base station if the mobile station enters an overlap zone between the macro base station and a femto base station, and an user selects an antenna driving mode of the multiple antennas. And then, the mobile station transmit and receive signals to and from at least one of the macro base station and the femto base station in accordance with the selected antenna driving mode.
US08340654B2 Apparatus and method for video display and control for portable device
An apparatus and method for display and control of video data on a mobile device provides simultaneous multiple video data display of groups of video sources and selection of video data for single, larger viewing. Control of the camera source of the video data is provided for the mobile device user, such as by manipulation of a multi-touch sensitive screen to pan, tilt and zoom. Image capture from the video screen and marking of the captured image is provided. Activation of video data streams and groups of video data streams for display on the mobile device is provided by transfer of activation information to the mobile device via email. Notification of events monitored by the video source or by other sensors is sent to users of the mobile devices.
US08340652B2 System and method of waste management
A method of application waste management in a wireless device is provided. The method comprised a first low-memory event. Deleting a first set of data records incrementally until event is cleared or no more records are present. Determining a second low-memory event when memory is still low. Executing a clean-up script to mark additional data records for deletion. Deleting the second set of data records until the second low-memory condition are cleared or no more records are present.
US08340646B2 Direct voicemailing
Various exemplary user interfaces, methods, and computer program products describe directly sending a voicemail message to a voicemail box of a receiving telecommunications device without first initiating a synchronous voice communication to the receiving telecommunications device. A sending telecommunications device can record the voicemail message for sending the voicemail message or for subsequent transmission. In some implementations, the voicemail server sends or subsequently transmits based on whether the sending telecommunications device is capable of engaging in an asynchronous communication session.
US08340644B2 Voicemail forwarding functionality for communications networks
A voicemail system (18, 30) includes a memory (38, 64) and a processor (34, 62). The memory (38, 64) can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail system (18, 30) and provided with functionality based upon a user's preferences, for example. The voicemail system (18, 30) can include functionality to allow a user to convert a voicemail message to a desired format and forward the file to one or more designated destinations. Methods (700, 800, 900, 1000) for forwarding one or messages are also disclosed.
US08340642B2 Communication terminal for data communications
A communication terminal generates a notification at the completion of data reception according to the amount of data received or a time period for receiving data. A communication system has a communication terminal and a content data server storing data. On request from the communication terminal, the content data server retrieves the data, converts the data such that a predetermined code is included in the data when an amount of the data is larger than a predetermined amount, and transmits the data including the predetermined code to the communication terminal. The communication terminal receives the data including the predetermined code, detects the predetermined code, and generates a notification at the completion of data reception when the predetermined code is detected. In another communication system having a communication terminal and a content data server, the content server transmits data on request from the communication terminal. The communication terminal receives the data and generates a notification at the completion of data received according to a time period for receiving the data.
US08340635B2 Capability model for mobile devices
A server receives an application update request from a mobile device. The request can include a specification of the mobile device and a license. The server can identify an available hardware component of the mobile device based on the specification. The server can identify an access privilege of the hardware component based on the license. The server can further identify an application that utilizes the available hardware component of the mobile device and is accessible under the identified access privilege. The server can recommend the application in response to the application update request.
US08340632B2 Prepaid cellular phone no-charge transaction system
A no-charge transaction service method and apparatus for prepaid cellular telephones is provided which utilizes a prepaid cellular telephone in conjunction with a wireless intelligent network coupled to a prepaid cellular service provider. The user enters a short code to indicate a top-up request or other transaction request along with payment information into the prepaid cellular telephone using the alphanumeric keypad. The call data is transmitted to the wireless network which identifies the call and transfers the information to the prepaid cellular service provider. The prepaid cellular service provider identifies the transaction type, validates the call data and sends a verification message to the prepaid cellular telephone and other associated equipment, if any, via short message service, push to talk service, or other means without completing the originating call.
US08340630B1 Remotely activatable locator with backchannel
A method for use in providing emergency services to a locator device comprises remotely triggering the locator device. This causes the locator device to employ a first wireless transceiver to communicate with a control center and to employ a second wireless transceiver to initiate an emergency services call to a public services answering point (PSAP). Information relating to the locator device is provided from the control center to the PASP using a backchannel communications channel.
US08340628B2 Systems and methods for localized wireless notification
Implementations relate to systems and methods for localized notification that provide localized information to one or more mobile devices in a wireless communication system that are located in one or more geographical regions. The wireless communication system includes a localized notification server that responds to geographically-targeted broadcast requests and localized service or information requests. The localized notification server localizes components of the wireless communication system into sets of localized components that provide wireless communication service to mobile devices in the specific geographical regions.In response to a request to broadcast to a target geographical region, the localized notification server identifies a set of localized components associated with the target geographical region. The localized notification server then broadcasts information to mobile devices actively serviced by the set of localized components.
US08340626B2 System and method for supporting voice call continuity for VOIP emergency calls
A system and method are disclosed to support Voice Call Continuity (VCC) for emergency calls. The system includes a VCC Application in a visited internet-protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) to facilitate domain transfers between the IMS subsystem and a circuit-switched (CS) subsystem. The system further includes an emergency call session control function (E-CSCF) subsystem in the visited IMS subsystem that is operatively coupled to the VCC Application to facilitate domain transfers between the IMS subsystem and the CS subsystem.
US08340625B1 Alternative techniques for processing wireless communication backhaul
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for transmitting wireless data across a coaxial cable. In one aspect, a set of computer-readable media provides a method that includes receiving a request from a mobile device for data and transmitting the data across a coaxial cable to a cable modem. The method further includes sending the data to the mobile device through a base station, wherein the base station communicates with the cable modem in order to receive the data.
US08340624B2 Receiver circuit adapted to communication apparatuses operative with different power voltage range
A LIN receiver includes a voltage divider that divides an input voltage and outputs the divided voltage, and a peak hold circuit that outputs a peak voltage of the input voltage. The LIN receiver is configured to generate a threshold voltage to be used for determining a voltage signal of a communication bus. The threshold voltage is generated from a voltage signal of the communication bus such that the peak value of the voltage signal (i.e., equivalent to a battery voltage) is held by the peak hold circuit and divided by the voltage divider. Although the communication bus is connected to an on-vehicle battery of which voltage varies with time, by using the voltage signal of the communication bus, a 5V system ECU can generate a threshold voltage which varies responding to the variation of the battery voltage. Hence, the voltage signal can be determined correctly as either high or low level.
US08340621B1 Wireless device using a shared gain stage for simultaneous reception of multiple protocols
A wireless device that can process signals according to multiple wireless protocols simultaneously and without signal loss. The wireless device may comprise an antenna and first and second wireless protocol circuitry. The first wireless protocol circuitry comprises a shared gain element that amplifies signals that are processed by each of the first and second wireless protocol circuitry. Since the third signals are amplified by the shared gain element prior to being split out to the respective protocol circuitry, the first and second portions of the amplified third signals do not have significant signal loss relative to the third signals provided by the antenna. Thus the wireless device can receive and process wireless signals according to both the first and second protocols simultaneously without any significant signal losses due to splitting of the receive signal.
US08340620B2 Frequency converting circuit and receiver
A frequency converting circuit that outputs an output signal obtained by mixing a first input signal and a second input signal, has: a first input terminal to which the first input signal is input; a second input terminal to which the second input signal is input; an output terminal from which the output signal is output; a frequency converting element that has a first input part connected to the first input terminal and an output part connected to the output terminal, restricts the signal input to the first input part according to a signal input to a second input part and outputs the restricted signal to the output part; and a pulse controlling circuit that receives the second input signal via the second input terminal and outputs a pulse signal obtained by restricting the pulses of the second input signal to the second input part of the frequency converting element.
US08340617B2 Sampling mixer, quadrature demodulator, and wireless device
There are provided a sampling mixer, quadrature demodulator, and a wireless device capable of suppressing receiving sensitivity degradation caused by alias components or second-order distortion components. In the sampling mixer (101), a sampling switch (5) and another sampling switch (36) sample a reception signal based on a local signal with a predetermined frequency. A control signal generator (15) generates a control signal for controlling a filter operation. An in-phase mixer (2) and a reverse-phase mixer (3) perform, based on the control signal, filter processing on the sample signal obtained by the sampling switch (5). A delay controller (117) controls the phase difference between the local signal and the control signal according to a reception-desired frequency.
US08340614B2 Antenna diversity to improve proximity detection using RSSI
A method and apparatus for determining proximity of a mobile radio relative to its base radio. Antenna diversity is utilized to provide improved proximity detection, such as NEAR state or FAR state, of the mobile radio relative to its base radio.
US08340611B2 Noise based quality estimation for signals
A method of calculating the noise power in a received signal containing a pilot channel, the method comprising estimating the power of the received signal, estimating the power of the pilot channel and calculating the noise power as a function of the estimated signal and the pilot channel powers. The noise power thus deduced may be used as a parameter of a function defining a channel quality indicator. The invention extends to corresponding apparatus.
US08340610B2 Multi-carrier selection
A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. A location associated with a first wireless device is received. For a first frequency band, a first stored signal quality indicator associated with the location is received. For a second frequency band, a second stored signal quality indicator associated with the location is received. Based on the first stored signal quality indicator and the second stored signal quality indicator, the first frequency band is selected.
US08340609B2 System and method for power control in MIMO systems
The return channel in a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication system is used to provide signal information on an individual-channel basis. In one embodiment, in a controlled factory environment, this information may be used to incrementing up or down the variable gain amplifier and/or the power amplifier of a MIMO transmitter and/or receiver so as to generate a default signal power offset to be used during normal operation. Thereafter, such signal information may similarly be provided via the return channel and used to further adjust the transmit parameters to account for location-specific signal conditions.
US08340606B2 Doherty amplifier and transmitter using mixer
A transmitter and a signal amplifier are provided. The signal amplifier includes a digital-to-analog converter converting an input digital signal into an analog signal, a local oscillator signal generator outputting in-phase and quadrature-phase oscillator signals, a first mixer mixing the analog signal with the in-phase local oscillator signal to output an in-phase high frequency signal, a second mixer mixing the analog signal with the quadrature-phase local oscillator signal to output a quadrature-phase high frequency signal, a main amplifier amplifying the in-phase high frequency signal output from the first mixer, and an auxiliary amplifier amplifying the quadrature-phase high frequency signal output from the second mixer.
US08340603B2 Digital compensation for parasitic distortion resulting from direct baseband to RF modulation
A digital pre-distortion system which can provide the flexibility to model the highly non-linear distortion associated with High Efficiency RF Power Amplifiers while through a novel implementation of a least squares estimation process allows an implementation well suited for an FPGA application where limited resources and in particular memory resources are available.
US08340602B1 Power amplifier linearization system and method
Provided is a radio-frequency (RF) power amplifier system that includes a look-up table (LUT), populated with values indicative of predistortion information that is stored in a memory location, and a transmit path that includes a predistorter to receive a transmission signal (TX) and output a predistorted transmission (TX) signal, wherein the predistorted transmission signal is compensated for distortion of the transmit path, and wherein the predistorter outputs the predistorted TX signal based on the values indicative of predistortion information populated in the look-up table. The transmit path also includes a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to receive the predistorted TX signal from the predistorter and output an analog predistorted transmission (TX) signal, and a power amplifier configured to amplify the analog predistorted TX signal.
US08340601B2 MU MIMO support with highly directional antennas
In various embodiments, a network controller in a multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU MIMO) network may perform training for directional communications with multiple mobile devices. It may organize the mobile devices into different groups, with all the mobile devices in a single group able to communicate simultaneously with the network controller without excessive interference from each other. Various techniques may be used for such training and grouping.
US08340600B2 Apparatus and method for DC offset calibration in system
An apparatus and method for DC offset calibration in a system are provided. The method of a DC offset calibrator for calibrating a DC offset on a system transmission path includes variably setting offset values to be applied to transmit signals of a system, transmitting the variably set offset values to the system, measuring a DC component output value at an antenna end of the system for the transmit signals to which the variably set offset values are applied, and, when the measured DC component output value has a value allowable in the system, determining the variably set offset values as final offset values to be applied to the system.
US08340599B2 Swept notch ultra wide band (UWB) transmitter
A UWB or other transmitter reduces interference to a narrow-band victim receiver on a periodic basis by means of a frequency swept notch. The notch may be created using active interference cancellation signal processing or simple deletion of sub-carriers. Details are given of both methods.
US08340598B2 Dual mode power amplifier
A dual mode power amplifier can include a linear gain section and a non-linear gain section configured together as a polar amplifier. The dual mode power amplifier may be used to transmit GFSK, 4-DPSK, and 8-DPSK modulated data. In one mode, both non-linear and linear gain sections may be used to transmit 4-DPSK and 8-DPSK modulated data. Alternatively, in another mode, the linear gain section may be bypassed while the non-linear gain section may be used to transmit GFSK modulated data. By selecting the operating mode, the dual mode power amplifier may be advantageously configured to use relatively less power while supporting GFSK, 4-DPSK, and 8-DPSK modulation schemes.
US08340596B2 Signal transmission apparatus and method using eigen antenna technique in wireless communication system
Disclosed are a signal transmission apparatus and method using a eigen antenna technique in a wireless communication system. The signal transmission apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention relates to a signal transmission apparatus using a eigen antenna technique in a wireless communication system furnished with a plurality (N) of antennae, comprising: an antenna correlation estimate part that estimates correlation information among the antennae based on a signal received in a reverse channel; a group separation part that separates the plurality of antennae into antenna groups corresponding to the number (M) of transmission signals based on the estimated correlation information among the antennae and provides the information on the separated antenna groups; a gain adjustment part that adjusts the gain of each group antenna included in the antenna group based on the separated antenna group information; and a signal transmission part that transmits the pertinent signal via the antenna group for which the gain of the individual group antenna has been adjusted.
US08340593B2 Techniques to control uplink power
Techniques are described that provide uplink power control techniques that can support different uplink multi-input multi-output (MIMO) transmission schemes. Open and closed loop power control schemes can be used to prescribe the power level of the mobile station.
US08340592B2 Radioterminals and operating methods that receive multiple measures of information from multiple sources
A radioterminal includes a receiver that is configured to receive information from a base station by receiving a first measure of the information from the base station and a second measure of the information from a second device. The second device receives a measure of the information from the base station, responsively generates the second measure of the information and transmits the second measure of the information to the radioterminal over a short-range wireless link. Related methods are also described.
US08340588B2 Handheld synthetic antenna array
A system for estimating parameters of an incoming signal is provided. At least one antenna is coupled to at least one suitable receiver. The antenna(s) are spatially translated in an arbitrary trajectory. As the antenna(s) is being spatially translated, a data processing means samples the incoming signal at set intervals based on a clock signal provided by a system clock. By sampling the incoming signal at different times at different spatial locations on the arbitrary trajectory, the system acts as a synthetic antenna array. The different samplings of the incoming signal at different times and positions provide signal diversity gain as well as different readings which can be used to estimate and/or calculate various parameters of the incoming signal. The different samplings can be used to detect the incoming signal, estimate its angle of arrival, estimate its time of arrival, as well as other parameters.
US08340586B2 System and method for link adaptation for variable link conditions
Systems, apparatus, methods, and manufactures for performing link adaptation in a communications system are described. The methods may employ an error rate table that has a channel condition value dimension and a transmission parameter dimension. The elements of the error rate table include expected error rates for data transmitted at various channel conditions according to various transmission parameters. Also, the various transmission parameters may each be associated with a data transmission rate. For a given channel condition value, the methods may determine expected throughputs for each of the transmission parameters according to the associated expected error rates and data transmission rates. A transmission parameter may be selected according to the expected throughputs.
US08340585B2 Receiving device and communication system
A receiving device and a communication system wherein the frequency usage efficiency is raised to improve the communication throughput. The receiving device comprises a receiving unit that receives multicarrier signals in which a plurality of subcarriers are divided into a plurality of subcarrier blocks (frequency blocks) each including at least one subcarrier and in which signals to be transmitted to receiving devices are allocated on a subcarrier block basis; an estimating unit that estimates, for each of the subcarrier blocks, quality values indicative of the reception statuses of the signals allocated to the plurality of subcarrier blocks; and a notifying unit that notifies a transmitting device of information indicative of a high quality subcarrier block having a high quality value in the quality values, a quality value in the high quality subcarrier block, and an interval of the subcarrier blocks having the quality value of which a difference from the quality value in the high-quality subcarrier block falls within a predetermined threshold value.
US08340583B2 Receiver circuit, electronic instrument, and signal processing method
In a portable phone, a signal received by a GPS antenna passes through a SAW filter and is amplified by an LNA. An addition section adds a cancellation signal generated by a cancellation signal generation section to the amplified signal to cancel noise superimposed on the received signal.
US08340582B1 Method for detecting center-frequency-tuned signals in the presence of off-tuned signals and noise using higher order statistics
A method of distinguishing center-frequency-tuned signals from off-tuned signals and noise in a single-channel receiver, comprising: receiving a signal with the single-channel receiver; storing the signal in a memory store; calculating the variance of a time-windowed segment of the signal; storing data representing the variance of the segment in the memory store; calculating the kurtosis of the segment of the signal; storing data representing the kurtosis of the segment in the memory store; comparing the variance data and the kurtosis data to variance and kurtosis thresholds respectively; identifying the segment as center-frequency-tuned if the variance of the segment exceeds the variance threshold and the kurtosis falls below the kurtosis threshold; and identifying the segment as non-center-frequency-tuned if the variance of the segment is less than or equal to the variance threshold and/or the kurtosis is greater than or equal to the kurtosis threshold.
US08340579B2 Techniques for mmWave WPAN communications with high-directional steerable antennas combining omni-directional transmissions with beamforming training
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for communicating in a millimeter wave (MMWAVE) wireless personal area network (WPAN) system using a reliable low-rate omni-directional communications mode implemented as TX-RX space scanning using directional antennas; and using a high-rate directional communications mode with beamformed directional antennas.
US08340576B2 Electronic circuit for communicating through capacitive coupling
A device and method to compensate for distortions of amplitude that afflict systems for communicating through capacitive coupling. A circuit includes a first transmitter stage, a first receiver stage, and a first coupling capacitor, coupled between the first transmitter stage and the first receiver stage. The first receiver stage includes a calibration amplifier of a variable-gain type coupled between the first coupling capacitor and an output of the electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a reference channel formed by: a transmission calibration stage; a reception calibration stage; and a reference capacitor coupled between the transmission calibration stage and the reception calibration stage. The reception calibration stage includes: a reception amplifier of a variable-gain type, having an input coupled to the reference capacitor, and a gain controller, having an input coupled to an output of the reception amplifier and an output coupled to control terminals of the reception and calibration amplifiers.
US08340575B2 Communication system
Stable receiving action is achieved with a receiver of simpler configuration.When a human hand is held over the panel unit 201, the electric field in the vicinity of the human body is coupled to the sensor electrode 2122 of the coil sensor 212 from the receiving electrode 211 of the panel unit 201, and alternate current is generated at the sensor electrode 2122. This alternate current then induces a magnetic flux inside the central opening of the coil 2121 in proportion to the strength of the electric field in the vicinity of the human body. Depending on the changes in this magnetic flux, electric current passes through the coil 2121. The electric current passing through the coil 2121 is converted by the electric current detecting circuit 2124 of the coil sensor 212 to voltage signals and transmitted as received signals to the demodulator 22. As a result, the received signals corresponding to the electric field in the vicinity of the human body, namely the transmission signals applied by the transmitter 1 to the human body, are obtained.
US08340574B2 System and method for enabling ultra small aperture communication antenna using spectral replication and coherent frequency and phase combining
A system for enabling use of ultra-small aperture terminals in satellite communications is provided. The system comprises a transmitter configured to receive an input signal having information, a bandwidth, and an amplitude, replicate the input signal into two or more replications of the input signal, convert each of the two or more replications to have a frequency tuned to two or more corresponding satellite transponders while maintaining the bandwidth and all the information of the input signal, and combine the two or more replications into a single uplink signal. A transmit antenna is configured to transmit the uplink signal to the two or more satellite transponders.
US08340569B2 Method of controlling and apparatus of receiving mobile service data
A data transmission system for minimizing the number of errors during Tx/Rx times of mobile service data under mobile environments, and a data processing method for the same are disclosed. The system additionally codes the mobile service data, and transmits the resultant coded mobile service data. As a result, the mobile service data has a strong resistance to noise and channel variation, and can quickly cope with the rapid channel variation.
US08340568B2 Method and system for improving performance on standardized examinations
The method and system include presenting a user with a plurality of questions, timing the user's response time for the plurality of questions, identifying an optimal answer time where the user is able to answer a maximum percentage of questions correctly, and informing the user of the optimal answer time. An embodiment of the method may also include providing the user with a suggested change in an actual time taken to answer a question. Certain embodiments may also include weighting the chance of receiving a question in a particular topic based on the user's past performance in answering questions in that topic.
US08340567B2 Printing apparatus and tray control method of the same
Provided is a printing apparatus which includes a tray for setting a printing medium thereon, the printing apparatus including: a switch section which is used to perform a power-on operation or a power-off operation; a tray driving section which performs a driving operation of extracting the tray; a detection section which detects whether the printing medium exists on the tray; a control section which moves the tray to a discharge position by controlling the tray driving section in order to prompt an operation of extracting the printing medium from the tray before an initialization process ends when the printing medium is detected upon performing a power-on process; and a storage section which stores information that the control section moves the tray to the discharge position upon performing the power-on process.
US08340566B2 Discharge unit including feeding guide and image forming apparatus having the same
An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; a printing medium supply unit, which is coupled to the casing, and supplies a printing medium; an image forming unit, which forms an image on the printing medium supplied from the printing medium supply unit; and a discharge unit. The discharge unit includes: a discharging part, which discharges the printing medium fed from the image forming unit out of the casing; a feeding guide, which is provided along in a feeding path of the printing medium, and moves between a discharging position, in which the printing medium is discharged out of the casing, and a back feeding position, in which the printing medium is back fed to the image forming unit; and a pressing lever, which presses and releases the feeding guide, according to a movement of the discharging part, so that the feeding guide can move between the discharging position and the back feeding position.
US08340562B2 Image forming apparatus, protective agent and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member that bears a latent image and has a surface layer; a charging device that charges the surface of the image bearing member: a latent image forming device that forms the latent image on the surface of the image bearing member; a development device that develops the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearing member with a development agent to form a toner image thereon; a transfer device that transfers the toner image to a transfer medium; a cleaning device that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member after transferring the toner image to the transfer medium; and a protection agent supplying device that supplies a protection agent to the surface layer of the image bearing member that forms a protection layer thereon, wherein the protection agent comprises a metal soap and boron nitride and the amount of the boron nitride in the protection layer applied to the image bearing member after image formation is 0.3 μg/cm2 or less.
US08340559B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device comprises: a heating rotary member and a pressurizing rotary member, which form a nip, and guiding members for guiding a recording sheet that has passed through the nip. In a cross-section perpendicular to a rotation axis of the heating rotary member, La connects axial centers of two rotary members, Lb is perpendicular to La, P is on a guiding surface of one of the guiding members and horizontally closer to the pressurizing rotary member than any other points thereon, said one of the guiding members being closer to the heating rotary member than the other, Lc passes through P and is tangent to an outer circumference of the heating rotary member near the nip, and D is a P-La distance. Here, heating rotary member diameter×1.6≦D
US08340558B2 Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus is provided with: an intermediate transfer belt that has a hard layer formed on a surface thereof and supports a toner image that has been primarily transferred on the hard layer from a latent-image supporting member; and a secondary transfer roller that is pressed onto the intermediate transfer belt supporting the toner image with an image-recording medium being interposed therebetween, wherein a toner is supplied to a non-image area 17 in the contact area 16 of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 3 with the image-recording medium at a rate of 0.01 to 0.20 g/m2.
US08340556B2 Toner cartridge with toner stirring section including a first rotating body and second rotating body and image forming apparatus including the same
A toner stirring section provided in a toner cartridge includes a first rotating body and a second rotating body. The first rotating body is rotated around an axis J13 to stir a toner. The second rotating body includes a conveying sheet for conveying the toner to a toner replenishing roller which is a conveying destination, to be rotatably provided around the axis J13, and to rotate by being pressed by the first rotating body being rotated. The first rotating body and the second rotating body are provided so that the first rotating body presses the second rotating body after the first rotating body is rotated by a predetermined degrees relative to the second rotating body.
US08340555B2 Toner supply container and image forming apparatus
A toner supply container has a container body and a conveyance member rotatably arranged inside the container body and which conveys toner toward a discharge opening of the container body when driven to rotate by external force. The conveyance member includes a cylindrical rotary body and a screw blade member wound around the cylindrical rotary body so that the screw blade member stands on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical rotary body. The inner surface of a bottom wall of the container body includes a cylindrically curved surface identical to a part of a circumferential surface of an imaginary cylinder whose axis is substantially the same as a rotation axis of the conveyance member. A curvature radius of the cylindrically curved surface is set so the conveyance member rotates in a state where an outer circumferential edge of the screw blade member substantially slides on the cylindrically curved surface.
US08340554B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus using the same
A developing device includes a developing vessel, first and second conveying passages for conveying a developer, first and second conveying members for agitating and conveying the developer, a developing roller, a toner supply port for receiving a supply of toner and an agitator arranged under the toner supply port. The first conveying member has a rotary shaft and first and second conveying blades formed on the periphery of the rotary shaft. The agitator is arranged coaxially with the first conveying member so as to be rotatable independently from the first conveying member. The agitator includes a circular helical blade formed around the outer periphery of the second helical blade.
US08340553B2 Image forming apparatus including corona charger
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a corona charger, provided with an opening opposing the photosensitive member, for electrically charging the photosensitive member; image forming means for forming an image on the photosensitive member electrically charged by the corona charger; a sheet-like member for covering and uncovering the opening of the corona charger with respect to the photosensitive member; and control means for controlling a rotating operation of the photosensitive member so as to be started at a predetermined time in a period from start of an opening operation of the sheet-like member for starting image formation to end of the opening operation of the sheet-like member.
US08340551B2 Image forming apparatus having a photoconductor containing titanylphthalocyanine
The present invention therefore provides an image forming apparatus, comprising: a photoconductor; a charge means for charging the photoconductor; an exposure means for irradiating a surface of the photoconductor with light to form an electrostatic latent image; a development means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed; a transfer means for transferring the image developed onto a paper sheet; and a discharge means for irradiating the surface of the photoconductor with light to eliminate charges, wherein the photoconductor contains a titanylphthalocyanine having absorption bands in a wavelength region of 380 nm to 420 nm and a wavelength region of 600 nm to 850 nm as a charge generation material, the exposure means irradiates the surface of the photoconductor with light having a wavelength of 380 nm to 420 nm to form the electrostatic latent image, and the discharge means irradiates the surface of the photoconductor with light having a wavelength of 600 nm to 850 nm to eliminate the charges.
US08340549B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming unit
Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.
US08340547B2 Cleaning device, image forming apparatus including the same and cleaning method
A cleaning device includes a cleaning member that comes into contact with a developer carrier, which carries developer, in a direction crossing a moving direction of the developer carrier and cleans the developer carrier by removing the developer from the developer carrier, a recovery section that is provided with a recovery port formed inside of end portions of the developer carrier in the direction crossing the moving direction of the developer carrier and recovers the developer, which is removed by the cleaning member, through the recovery port, and a guide member that guides the developer to the recovery port, one end of the guide member being positioned outside an end portion of the cleaning member and the end portion of the developer carrier, and the other end of the guide member being positioned inside the cleaning member in the direction crossing the moving direction of the developer carrier.
US08340546B2 Dual function charging device and charge patterning device cleaner
A printing apparatus includes a charging device and a photoreceptor adjacent the charging device. The charging device transfers a charge to the photoreceptor. Also, a charge patterning device is adjacent the photoreceptor. The patterning device patterns the charge on the photoreceptor to form a latent image charge. Additionally, an automated cleaning device is adjacent the charging device. The charge patterning device periodically moves by the charging device and the charge patterning device to simultaneously clean the charging device and the charge patterning device.
US08340545B2 Image forming apparatus and power control method therefor
An image forming capable of operating with reliability and shortening the down time. An operation unit forms an image. A power source unit supplies electric power supplied from an external power source to the operation unit. A storing unit stores successful data which shows that the image forming apparatus has started successfully. A mode selection unit selects a first mode in which regular electric power is supplied to the operation unit at a start-up when the storing unit stores the successful data, and a second mode in which electric power smaller than the regular electric power is supplied to the operation unit at the start-up when the storing unit does not store the successful data. A power control unit controls the electric power supplied from the power source unit to the operation unit according to the mode selected by the mode selection unit.
US08340543B2 Temperature control method for fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A temperature control method for use in a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip defined between a fixing member and a pressure member includes temperature detection, heater control, and duty control execution. The temperature detection detects a temperature of the fixing member with a temperature detector. The heater control controls operation of a heater of the fixing device by changing a duty thereof according to the detected temperature. The duty control execution executes a heater duty control to change a heater duty for a current control cycle discontinuously from that for a previous control cycle when the current control cycle precedes entry of the recording sheet into the fixing nip by a given period of time.
US08340541B2 Method for automatically correcting transfer pressure non-uniformity using the cross process uniformity
An electrophotographic marking apparatus and an automatic method for automatically scanning and correcting TAB pressure non-uniformity using a cross-process uniformity controller and a closed loop system. The TAB is contacted with an image on a photoreceptor surface to leave its imprint or footprint on the image, which are analyzed for TAB performance and pressure. This method uses a CPUC full width array in conjunction with a software version for assessing TAB performance. This method continuously monitors the TAB performance during the running of a marking apparatus.
US08340540B2 Dual registration and process control toned patches
A method and apparatus saves on toner cost and improves productivity for running registration and color process controls in a printer by making dual use of patches for both functions. That is, the small patches normally used only for registration measurement are also used for xerographic process control measurements, thereby eliminating the need for large patches and obtaining registration information and color control information at the same time. The dual use of small patches to measures both registration and color process control is made possible by periodically establishing correlation between the density of large density patches and the smaller registration patches.
US08340537B2 Image forming apparatus and method of compensating for printing quality of the image forming apparatus
A method of compensating for printing quality of an image forming apparatus includes determining a pattern to be printed as a first pattern which is a default pattern and a second pattern obtained by changing the first pattern according to a toner stress index that represents a deteriorated degree of remaining toner, and printing the determined pattern with the remaining toner.
US08340536B2 Photoreceptor diagnostic method based on detection of charge deficient spots
Systems and methods of diagnosing a photoreceptor associated with an imaging device. The photoreceptor is configured to enter into a diagnostic cycle to complete a set number of cycles. A sensor or array is configured to a scan a component associated with the imaging device during each of the set of cycles to establish defect data. The defect data is analyzed to filter one or more charge deficient spots (CDS) from background noise in the defect data. The systems and methods determine whether the photoreceptor needs replacement based on the determined one or more CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the determination. The determination is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device.
US08340529B2 HDMI TMDS optical signal transmission using PAM technique
An HDMI interconnect arrangement is presented that performs a pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) conversion of the TMDS audio/video signals in order to simultaneously transmit all three channels over a single optical fiber. The set of three audio/video TMDS channels is applied as an input to a PAM-8 optical modulator, which functions to encode the set of three channels onto an optically-modulated output signal. The modulated optical signal is thereafter coupled into an optical fiber within an active HDMI cable and transmitted to an HDMI receiver (sink). The TMDS CLK signal is not included in this conversion into the optical domain, but remains as a separate electrical signal to be transmitted along a copper signal path within the active HDMI cable.
US08340528B2 Optical transceiver
An optical transceiver for detecting an incoming light beam and for transmitting an outgoing light beam along a common optical axis is provided. Such an optical transceiver provides a compact optical transceiver that is suitable for a wide variety of applications.
US08340524B2 Protected light source for multiple wavelength division multiplexed passive optical networks (WDM-PONs)
A protected light source for generating seed light for at least two wavelength division multiplexed passive optical networks (WDM-PONs). The protected light source includes an optical coupler having N≧2 input ports and M≧2 output ports, each output port being optically connected to supply seed light to a respective set of one or more WDM-PONs. A respective multi-wavelength light source (MWLS) is optically coupled to supply seed light to each input port of the optical coupler. A controller unit controls operation of each multi-wavelength light source (MWLS).
US08340517B2 Systems and methods for on-chip data communication
An on-chip data communications infrastructure includes a hybrid, photonic/electronic network. The network includes a plurality of interconnected optical switches, each under the control of an electronic router. The electronic routers are connected in a fashion similar to the optical switches, forming a parallel, photonic/electronic network. Electronic path setup messages are routed through the electronic network. At each hop, a photonic switching element in a parallel, photonic network is reserved. When the electronic path setup message reaches its destination, a chain of reserved optical switches is ready to channel the optical data through the photonic network.
US08340515B2 Method and system for monitoring optical dispersion in an optical signal
A method is provided for dispersion compensation of an optical signal communicated in an optical network. The method may include receiving an optical signal comprising a plurality of channels. The method may further include filtering at least one channel from the plurality of channels. The method may also include analyzing the at least one channel of the plurality of channels to measure optical dispersion in the at least one channel. The method may additionally include compensating for optical dispersion based on the measured dispersion.
US08340508B2 Record/playback apparatus and control method therefor
In a record/playback apparatus, if playback of image data is stopped, recording information relating to a stop point at which the playback of the image data is stopped and generating image data playback control information that specifies a playback resume point based on the stop point at which the playback of the image data is stopped. When the image data is recorded onto another recording medium, the playback control information is recorded together with the image data as resume information, thereby providing a user-friendly resume playback function.
US08340507B2 Recording medium, playback apparatus, recording method, program, and playback method
On a BD-ROM, an AVClip and a plurality of playback section information (PlayItems) are recorded. The AVClip includes a video stream multiplexed with a plurality of elementary streams. The playback section information Playable_PID_entries showing the playback start point and the playback end point in the video stream correlated with the filtering specification of each elementary stream. The filtering specification specifies whether each of the plurality of elementary streams are able to be played back or not.
US08340505B2 Method of processing audio-video data
An audio-video processing method is adapted to an audio-video device and a storage device for processing an index-based audio-video file. The method for processing audio-video data includes a write procedure, a play procedure, and/or a repair procedure. In the write procedure, audio-video data is captured by the audio-video device first, and the audio-video data includes a plurality of continuous samples; a header is written according to the audio-video data; a predetermined number of samples are captured as a data chunk; a prefix index corresponding to the data chunk and the data chunk are written in sequence repeatedly according to the audio-video data; and a file index is written finally. In the play procedure, after the header is read, corresponding prefix index and data chunk are repeatedly read and played. Moreover, in the repair procedure, incompletely written file index and data chunk are repaired through all the prefix indexes.
US08340501B2 Input-output circuit, recording apparatus and reproduction apparatus for digital video signal
A video signal input-output circuit and a recording-reproduction apparatus in which a digitally compressed video signal input in packet form can be recorded and reproduced efficiently and in stable fashion. In this apparatus, a clock reference is detected from a packet signal containing the clock reference and a digitally compressed video signal, a time stamp for a packet is generated using a clock signal in phase with the clock reference and added to the particular packet, and the packet signals with the time stamp added thereto are recorded closely to each other in a data storage element such as a magnetic recording medium. At playback, the packet interval is output by being restored to the original length on the basis of the time stamp added to the packet in store.
US08340500B2 Video signal recording apparatus
To perform a seamless recording on a tape recording medium, additional information included in a predetermined unit of data in recording data is detected. An editing point for the seamless recording is determined based on information indicating at least presence of an editing point where the seamless recording can be performed, field order, and presence/absence of a repeat field included in the additional information. The seamless recording is performed from a position based on the determined editing point.
US08340497B2 Recording apparatus, recording method, reproducing apparatus, reproducing method, and program
Disclosed is a recording apparatus to record data in a recording medium. The apparatus includes: an input portion to input moving picture data; an encode portion to encode the moving picture data input by the input portion; a storage portion which uses a first storage area to store frame image data, i.e., data for any frame image contained in the moving picture data encoded by the encode portion and uses a second storage area to store the moving picture data except the frame image data; a recording portion to record the moving picture data stored by the storage portion in the recording medium; a decode portion to decode the moving pictured at a encoded by the encode portion; and a thumbnail image generation portion to generate a thumbnail image based on the frame image data.
US08340494B2 Image converter, image reproducer, image conversion/reproduction system, and recording medium
An image converter includes an image converting unit and a determining unit. The image converting unit acquires frame image groups each including one or more frame images from original image data, and outputs the frame image(s) of each acquired group, converting its/their image quality based on determination by the determining unit, generating foreign-device-use image data including the frame image groups including the frame image(s). The determining unit determines necessity of first-image-quality retention of the frame image(s) of each group based on whether it/they satisfies/satisfy a condition. The image converting unit outputs the frame image(s) of the group at the first image quality if it/they is/are determined by the determining unit as necessary to retain at the first image quality, or a second image quality if determined as unnecessary to retain at the first image quality.
US08340493B2 Automatic generation of video from structured content
Apparatus for generation of playable media from structured data, comprises a structured data reading unit for reading in of content of a first structure, a transformation unit for transforming said content into a second structure, said transformation comprising incorporating media play instructions, and a rendering unit for rendering content from the second structure using said media play instructions to generate playable media from the content.
US08340492B2 Method and system for sharing annotations in a communication network
A method for sharing at least one annotation between a first user media terminal (102) and a second user media terminal (104) in a communication network (100) is provided. The method includes inputting (404) the at least one annotation on the first user media terminal. Further, the method includes anchoring (406) the at least one annotation to the media stream executed on the first user media terminal at a first start time. The at least one annotation is sent (408) to the second user media terminal. The at least one annotation is received (410) at the second user media terminal. Furthermore, the at least one annotation is synchronized (412) at the second user media terminal based on a relative start time. The at least one synchronized annotation is then rendered (414) to the media stream on the second user media terminal.
US08340491B2 Wavelength division multiplexing module
A telecommunications module includes a main housing portion and a cover, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a second sidewall when mounted on the main housing portion. An optical component located within the module receives an input signal from a signal input location of the housing and outputs an output signal toward a signal output location on the front wall. The telecommunications module is configured such that the signal input location can be selected to be either on the front wall or the rear wall of the main housing. The cover defines a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion being selectively breakable to expose a recess on the front wall of the main housing portion that defines a signal input location.
US08340488B2 Multimode optical fiber
The present invention embraces a multimode optical fiber that includes a glass-based central core having an alpha-index profile and a glass-based cladding immediately surrounding the optical fiber's central core. Typically, the refractive index difference between the central core's minimum refractive index and the cladding's maximum refractive index is greater than 2×10−3. The multimode optical fiber exhibits reduced bending losses and reduced coupling losses when connected to a standard graded-index fiber.
US08340482B2 Optical fiber holding apparatus
An optical fiber holding apparatus in accordance with the present invention is characterized in that the same comprises a surface in order to hold an optical fiber which is to be a state of which is rolled up so as not to overlap with each other, wherein at least the surface is formed of a thermo conductive molding body which has a thermal conductivity to be higher than or equal to 0.5 W/mK, and which has an Asker C hardness to be between twenty and fifty. Or, the same comprises a peripheral surface in order to roll up and hold an optical fiber, wherein at least the peripheral surface is formed of a thermo conductive molding body which has the thermal conductivity to be higher than or equal to 0.5 W/mK, and which has the Asker C hardness to be between twenty and fifty. Moreover, it is desirable for the thermo conductive molding body to have a compressive strength of which a peak value is between ten and thirty N/cm2 and a stabilized value is between three and ten N/cm2. Furthermore, it is desirable for the thermo conductive molding body to have the thermal conductivity to be higher than or equal to 1.0 W/mK and to have the Asker C hardness to be between twenty-five and forty.
US08340479B2 Electro-optic modulator with inverse tapered waveguides
An integrated circuit that includes an optical waveguide to convey an optical signal via an optical mode in an on-chip optical waveguide is described. In this integrated circuit, a cross-sectional area of the optical waveguide may be tapered in proximity to an electro-optic modulator in the integrated circuit, such as a germanium electro-optic modulator or a quantum-well (QW) electro-optic modulator. In particular, the cross-sectional area may be tapered from a first diameter distal from the electro-optic modulator to a second diameter proximate to the electro-optic modulator. This so-called ‘inverse taper’ may increase the spatial extent or size of the optical mode, thereby allowing the optical signal to be optically coupled to or from the electro-optic modulator with low optical loss.
US08340478B2 Resonant optical modulators
Disclosed are optical modulators that have two coupling paths or structures between an input port to an output port, at least one of which includes an optical resonator.
US08340475B2 Database production method, database production program, database production apparatus and image content recording apparatus
The present invention provides a database production method including: a representative image selection step of selecting certain images each as a representative image which represents an image content from the image content; a display processing step of causing a display apparatus to display the representative image; an operation inputting step of allowing a user to input image text information corresponding to the representative image; and a database production step of registering representative characteristic information extracted from the representative image in accordance with a predetermined extraction method and the image text information inputted at the operation inputting step in an associated relationship with each other to produce a database for acquiring, using arbitrary image characteristic information for each image extracted from an arbitrary image content in accordance with the extraction method, substance character information corresponding to an image which the arbitrary image content has.
US08340473B2 Apparatus and method of interpolating image using region segmentation
An apparatus and a method of interpolating an image via a region division are provided. To improve an image quality artifact around an edge, the apparatus to interpolate the image may determine whether an inputted image corresponds to an edge after performing a thinning process with respect to a gradient value of the inputted image, and convert a resolution of the image using optimal location information via a region division and a pixel replacement according to an interpolation direction of the image.
US08340471B2 Parameter control processing apparatus and image processing apparatus
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus that is capable of effectively generating a high-resolution image with high image quality from multiple low-resolution images having displacements by an iterative reconstruction processing based on a reconstruction-based super-resolution processing method.
US08340462B1 Pixel mapping using a lookup table and linear approximation
A forward interpolation approach is disclosed for enabling a second version of an image to be constructed from a first version of the image. According to one implementation, pixels from the first version of the image are mapped to pixels in the second version of the image, and pixel values are determined for the corresponding pixels in the second version of the image. In one implementation, the pixel mapping is performed using a lookup table and linear approximation. Performing the pixel mapping in this manner enables computations to be simplified and cost and gate count to be reduced.
US08340461B2 Single image haze removal using dark channel priors
Techniques and technologies for de-hazing hazy images are described. Some techniques provide for determining the effects of the haze and removing the same from an image to recover a de-hazed image. Thus, the de-hazed image does not contain the effects of the haze. Some disclosed technologies allow for similar results. This document also discloses systems and methods for de-hazing images. Some of the disclosed de-hazing systems include an image capture device for capturing the hazy image and a processor for removing the effects of the haze from the hazy image. These systems store the recovered, de-hazed images in a memory and/or display the de-hazed images on a display. Some of the disclosed methods include removing the effects of the haze from a hazy image and outputting the recovered, de-hazed image.
US08340460B2 Estimating an offset image of a new imaging device from the offset image of an aged imaging device
The present invention relates to methods and systems for improving image quality of imaging devices such as image detectors, and preferably of flat panel detectors such as amorphous silicon flat panel detectors, for example used in radiotherapy. The invention also relates to the improving of life span of used or aged detectors.
US08340458B2 Systems and methods for processing image pixels in a nuclear medicine imaging system
A system and method for smoothing digital images using a non-orthogonal convolution kernel involves steps for rearranging and remapping input image data and the convolution kernel image from hexagonal coordinate mapping to orthogonal mapping of a memory space thus enabling implementation of a general box filter convolution strategy to smooth the input image.
US08340455B2 Systems and methods for performing Gabor-domain optical coherence microscopy
In one embodiment, imaging a medium under evaluation includes generating acquired images of the medium, each acquired image comprising a cross-sectional image along a lateral and a depth direction of the medium that results from scanning the medium at a different depths, filtering each acquired image to remove out-of-focus portions of the images and generate filtered images, and merging the filtered images to form a high-resolution fused image.
US08340452B2 Automatic generation of a photo guide
An apparatus, method and an image quality guide document are disclosed. The method includes, for at least one image in a set of images undergoing image enhancement, identifying image quality-related features for the image based on enhancements being applied to the image, identifying image content-related features based on content of the image, determining a content-based degradation of the image based on the identified image quality-related features and image content-related features, and generating a thumbnail of the image. The method further includes generating an image quality guide document for the set of images in which at least one of the thumbnails is associated with a respective text description that is based on the determined content-based degradation.
US08340451B2 Method for constructing image database for object recognition, processing apparatus and processing program
Provided is a method for constructing an image database for object recognition, which includes a feature extraction step of extracting local descriptors from object images which are to be stored in an image database, a scalar quantization step of quantizing a numeric value indicating each dimension of each of the local descriptors into a predetermined number of bit digits, and a storing step of organizing each of the local descriptors after the quantization to be able to be searched for in the closest vicinity, giving to the local descriptor an identifier of the image from which the local descriptor has been extracted, and storing the local descriptor to which the identifiers are given in the image database. The storing step comprises extracting the local descriptors from the object images when a search query is given, scalar-quantizing each dimension, determining a local descriptor in the closest vicinity of each of the local descriptors from the image database, and storing each local descriptors so as to be able to identify one image by majority vote processing from the images including any determined local descriptor. The scalar quantization step comprises quantizing each dimension of each of the local descriptors into 8 bits or less. Also provided are a processing program for the method and a processing device for performing the processing.
US08340448B2 Locally variable quantization and hybrid variable length coding for image and video compression
A coding method, apparatus, and storage media with instructions to carry out a method. The method operates on an ordered series of transform coefficients of a block of image data, and for a fixed quantization method, and includes quantizing and encoding the ordered series to form a coded bitstream. The quantizing and encoding uses one or more variable length code (VLC) mappings. The quantizing includes quantizing to have amplitude-1 at least one coefficient that would be quantized by the fixed quantization method to have zero amplitude, quantizing to have zero amplitude at least one coefficient that would be quantized by the fixed quantization method to have amplitude-1, and using the fixed quantization method to quantize any coefficient that is quantized by the fixed quantization method not to have zero amplitude, amplitude-1, or amplitude-2.
US08340446B2 Apparatus and method for generating chain code
Disclosed are a chain code generating apparatus and a method thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the chain code generating apparatus can include an image input unit, receiving an image signal from a camera and converting the received image signal to a digital image signal, and separating a synchronizing signal from the digital image signal and outputting the synchronizing signal; an image storing unit, storing image data corresponding to an active image section of the digital image signal in units of frame based on the synchronizing signal; and a code generating unit, reading the image data stored in the image storing unit and performing an outline search of the analysis portion, and generating a chain code according to a correlation between adjacent pixels forming an outline of the analysis portion in accordance with the searched result.
US08340440B2 Apparatus and method for inserting additional data into image file in electronic device
Provided is an apparatus and a method for inserting additional data into an image file in an electronic device. According to the method, when an event of inserting additional data into the image file occurs, an identification code representing insertion of additional data is recorded in a corresponding header within the image file, and the additional data is added to an end portion of the image file.
US08340436B2 Detecting significant events in consumer image collections
A method for determining significant events in a digital image collection, including, using a processor for generating image counts time-series from the image collection; computing a model of the image counts time-series; and using the image counts time-series and the model to determine significant events.
US08340427B2 Providing a symbol
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of providing a symbol includes using a computer to receive a request to provide the symbol, retrieve an image based on the request, modify the image based on the request, convert the image to form the symbol and provide the symbol. In another aspect, an article includes a machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions to provide a symbol. The instructions cause a machine to receive a request to provide the symbol, retrieve an image based on the request, modify the image based on the request, convert the image to the symbol and provide the symbol. In a further aspect, an apparatus to provide a symbol includes circuitry to receive a request to provide the symbol, retrieve an image based on the request, modify the image based on the request, convert the image to the symbol and provide the symbol.
US08340426B2 Apparatus and method for recognizing characters
Provided is an apparatus and method for recognizing characters. The apparatus includes a display unit to display an image in which a region of interest or an error region is indicated, and a character recognition result, a region-of-interest setting unit to set the region of interest in the image displayed on the display unit, a recognition unit to perform character recognition on the region of interest or the error region and provide the character recognition result to the display unit, and an error correction unit to set the error region in the image displayed on the display region, perform image copying on the set error region according to a user input, and provide a handwriting input using the image copying to the recognition unit.
US08340419B2 Image processing device, image processing method, image processing program, and integrated circuit
The grayscale of an input signal is converted without amplifying noise components thereof. A grayscale conversion portion performs grayscale conversion on an input signal IS to create a converted signal TS, a noise reduction degree determining portion determines a noise reduction degree NR that expresses a strength of noise reduction processing to be applied to the converted signal based on the input signal IS and the converted signal TS, and a noise reducing portion executes noise reduction processing on the converted signal TS based on the noise reduction degree NR. By doing this, it is possible to convert the grayscale of the input signal without enhancing the noise.
US08340418B2 Image processing apparatus, mobile wireless terminal apparatus, and image display method
A histogram generating function generates a histogram by counting the number of pixels included in each tone for each tone of an input video signal. A peak luminance gain calculation function calculates the gain value of a peak luminance on the basis of the histogram. A tone conversion function calculation function generates a lookup table for obtaining an output tone by correcting an input tone on the basis of the histogram and the gain value, and records the table in a tone conversion lookup table storage unit. A tone-converted image generating function which executes the correction processing of correcting the tone of an input video signal on the basis of the tone conversion lookup table.
US08340413B2 Display device and method of improving flicker of image
A display device includes a scene conversion detecting module to detect whether a scene is converted in an input image, and a brightness compensating module to determine an image category of the input image when a scene conversion is generated in the input image, and compensating for the brightness of the input image by calculating a weighted mean value of a tone increase value corresponding to the determined image category and a tone increase value corresponding to an image category of a previous image.
US08340412B2 Image processing
An image processing method includes detecting statistical distribution of permutations of pixel properties amongst contiguous groups of a predetermined number of pixels in at least a portion of an image under test, so as to derive feature data in respect of the image under test, and comparing the feature data derived in respect of the image under test with feature data derived from at least respective portions of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.
US08340410B1 Intelligent saturation of video data
The intelligent saturation controller calculates the exact maximum saturation any valid YCbCr pixel can undergo before it becomes invalid in ROB space. The controller models the saturation operation in RGB color space and calculates the maximum saturation level at which the RGB values falls outside the valid range. The saturation operation is performed independently for every pixel of the incoming video frame and ensures that each output pixel is a valid. The controller finds the maximum saturation for each input pixel and checks whether it is less than the input saturation factor. If so, then this calculated maximum saturation value is applied. If not, the input saturation factor is applied. Accordingly, the output RGB pixels are valid and no clamping is necessary if no other video processing is done in YCbCr space. Increasing the saturation of the video signal results in a more vivid and more colorful picture.
US08340406B1 Location-weighted color masking
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for generating a location-weighted mask based on a color model comprising spatial dimensions. In one embodiment, a selection of at least one pixel in an input image is received, wherein the selection of the at least one pixel comprises a color and a location within the input image. A color model may be determined based on the color and the location of the at least one pixel, wherein the color model comprises one or more truncated Gaussian functions. A mask may be generated based on the color model. The mask may indicate a degree of membership in the mask for each pixel in the input image as a function of a similarity in color to the at least one pixel in the selection and a proximity to the location of the at least one pixel in the selection.
US08340405B2 Systems and methods for scalable media categorization
Systems and methods for automating digital file classification are described. The systems and methods include generating a plurality of classifiers from a plurality of first features of a plurality of first digital files, each of the plurality of first digital files having one or more associated annotations. A plurality of second features extracted from a plurality of second digital files is sorted according to the plurality of classifiers. A distance vector is determined between the second features and respective first features for the corresponding ones of the classifiers and the determined distances are ranked. A subset of matched files is selected based on the ranking. The subset of matched files correspond to respective one or more associated annotations. One or more annotations associated with the subset of matched files are associated to subsequently received digital files using the corresponding ones of the classifiers.
US08340402B2 Device and method for detecting a plant
A device for detecting a plant includes a two-dimensional camera for detecting a two-dimensional image of a plant leaf having a high two-dimensional resolution, and a three-dimensional camera for detecting a three-dimensional image of the plant leaf having a high three-dimensional resolution. The two-dimensional camera is a conventional high-resolution color camera, for example, and the three-dimensional camera is a TOF camera, for example. A processor for merging the two-dimensional image and the three-dimensional image creates a three-dimensional result representation having a higher resolution than the three-dimensional image of the 3D camera, which may include, among other things, the border of a leaf. The three-dimensional result representation serves to characterize a plant leaf, such as to calculate the surface area of the leaf, the alignment of the leaf, or serves to identify the leaf.
US08340398B2 Correlation extract method for generating 3D motion data, and motion capture system and method for easy composition of humanoid character on real background image using the same
Provided are a method for extracting a correlation to generate 3D motion data, and a motion capture system and method using the extracting method to easily compose a humanoid character on a real background image. Cameras for motion capture are installed in a real background capture location (such as an outdoor location or in a studio), and the correlation between motion capture fixed cameras and a moving camera for capturing a real background image is obtained to capture 3D motion data prior to performing motion capture for integrating a humanoid character, so that even when there is interaction between a 3D figure and an actual prop such as a chair or table within the captured space, a humanoid character can easily be composed with the real background.
US08340392B2 Medicine packet inspecting apparatus
A medicine packet inspecting apparatus is disclosed. The medicine packet inspecting apparatus includes a transfer conveyer installed on the upper surface of a main body to transfer medicine packets to one side of the main body, a tablet spreading unit installed on the upper surface of the transfer conveyer to uniformly spread tablets within the medicine packets, an image reading unit to capture the upper surfaces of the medicine packets with a camera and to judge whether or not the tablets are defective through comparison of the captured images with information regarding a prescription and the tablets stored in a data storage unit, and a making unit to mark a defective sign on medicine packets if the tablets within the medicine packets are judged to be defective.
US08340389B2 Cellular- or sub-cellular-based visualization information using virtual stains
Methods, systems and computer readable storage media for providing image-extracted measurements extracted from an image of at least one cell or subcellular component with the image. At least one attribute is determined from the image-extracted measurement of the at least one cell or sub-cellular component. The image of the at least one cell or sub-cellular component is virtually stained with at least one color, wherein different colors represent different attributes, and wherein the at least one color is virtually stained in locations of the image from where the image-extracted measurements were extracted for the attribute that that color represents.
US08340384B2 Method and apparatus for cerebral hemorrhage segmentation
An apparatus for segmenting a cerebral hemorrhage site in a medical image of a head comprises a means for segmenting an internal region of a skull bone in the medical image of the head, a means for segmenting a possible region in which a cerebral hemorrhage site is contained, out of the region segmented by the means for segmenting the internal region of the skull bone, and a means for determining a cerebral hemorrhage site out of the region segmented by the means for segmenting the possible region in which the cerebral hemorrhage site is contained.
US08340381B2 Hybrid segmentation of anatomical structure
An image of an anatomical structure can be analyzed to determine an enclosing three-dimensional boundary when the anatomical structure is filled with two substances, such as air and a fluid. Various techniques can be used to determine the enclosing boundary including: analyzing the virtual structure to segment the structure into air and fluid pockets, determining if there are multiple fluid pockets whose surface touches a single air-fluid boundary, determining a separate threshold for respective fluid pockets, resegmenting the virtual anatomical structure using the separate threshold for different fluid pockets, forming a hierarchical pocket tree which represents the relationship between the fluid and air pockets, pruning the pocket tree based on various criteria which corresponds to deleting those pruned portions from the virtual anatomical structure, and resegmenting the remaining virtual anatomical structure using one or more of fuzzy connectedness, two-dimensional gap filling, and level set segmentation.
US08340370B2 Pattern verification apparatus, pattern verification method, and program
When a false matching rate depends on data for evaluation, there is a possibility that the accuracy of pattern authentication could deteriorate in an actual operation. A pattern verification apparatus includes a correction value calculation unit that generates a plurality of unit area pairs by associating each of a plurality of unit areas generated by dividing a second pattern with each of a plurality of unit areas generated by dividing a first pattern according to a degree of similarity of a pattern, and calculates a correction value, which is suitable for matching or approximating unique feature values of the respective unit areas of the mutually associated unit areas, on the unit area pair basis; a difference value calculation unit that calculates a difference value indicating a difference between the correction values based on a comparison of the correction values between the unit area pairs that are positioned spatially adjacent to each other; and a verification evaluation value calculation unit that calculates a verification evaluation value according to a verification result between a condition indicating that patterns belong to mutually different categories and a plurality of difference values calculated by the difference value calculation unit.
US08340368B2 Face detection system
The present invention relates to a face detection system for a vehicle. At least one first lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a left side of a driver's face. At least one second lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a right side of the driver's face. An image capturing unit separately captures the driver's face onto which the infrared light is radiated from the first and second lighting units. A control unit acquires left and right images of the face from the image capturing unit, and obtains a difference image between the acquired left and right images, thus determining whether the driver is inattentive in looking ahead. The system stably performs the face detection function with no or less effect by external optical environments as well as reduced computational load.
US08340367B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, image capturing apparatus, and controlling method thereof
An image processing apparatus includes an image converting section, a scanning controlling section, an image memory, and an object detection processing section. The image converting section converts a size of input image data. The scanning controlling section stores the size-converted image data, performs a scanning process of moving a square region having a predetermined size in the size-converted image data, and successively extracts square region image data. The image memory stores the square region image data which have been extracted by the scanning controlling section. The object detection processing section which detects an object region from the extracted square region image data. The image memory stores a plurality of entries of object candidate image data containing object regions of a plurality of object candidates. The object detection processing section performs an object determining process of determining whether or not the square region image data contain an object region.
US08340366B2 Face recognition system
A face recognition system includes: an image input section that acquires a facial image of a user; a database in which a feature value of a part of a face of a registered person is stored; a facial position detection section that detects a position of a part of a face from the facial image of the user; a feature value extraction section that extracts a feature value of the part of the face; and a recognition section that recognizes the user by comparing the feature value of the part of the face which is extracted by the feature value extraction section with the feature value of the part of the face of the registered person stored in the database, in which the user selects the part of the face from which the feature value is extracted.
US08340365B2 Using image recognition for controlling display lighting
A system obtains an image that depicts a region adjacent a display device. The system determines a content of the image and alters a lighting level associated with the display device based on the determined content of the image.
US08340360B2 System and method for fusing vector data with imagery
Automatic conflation systems and techniques which provide vector-imagery conflation and map-imagery conflation. Vector-imagery conflation is an efficient approach that exploits knowledge from multiple data sources to identify a set of accurate control points. Vector-imagery conflation provides automatic and accurate alignment of various vector datasets and imagery, and is appropriate for GIS applications, for example, requiring alignment of vector data and imagery over large geographical regions. Map-imagery conflation utilizes common vector datasets as “glue” to automatically integrate street maps with imagery. This approach provides automatic, accurate, and intelligent images that combine the visual appeal and accuracy of imagery with the detailed attribution information often contained in such diverse maps. Both conflation approaches are applicable for GIS applications requiring, for example, alignment of vector data, raster maps, and imagery. If desired, the conflated data generated by such systems may be retrieved on-demand.
US08340357B2 Moving object detection method and moving object detection apparatus
A moving object detection method is provided which can accurately perform segmentation on an image including an object such as a person that moves changing shape. The method includes: accepting pictures included in the video (S101); calculating movement trajectories by detecting motions between two temporally adjoining pictures in units of blocks constituting each of the pictures and each including one or more pixels, and concatenating detected motions for all the pictures (S102 and S103); calculating distances each indicating similarity between the calculated movement trajectories (S104); and performing segmentation by performing geodetic distance transformation by combining distances smaller than a predetermined threshold from among the calculated distances, detecting a discontinuity point in a distribution of the calculated geodetic distances, and classifying, into one cluster, movement trajectories separate from each other at a geodetic distance smaller than a length indicating the detected discontinuity point (S105 and 106).
US08340355B2 Three-dimensional measurement instrument, image pick-up apparatus and adjusting method for such an image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus is provided with cameras and string-shaped members. The user is allowed to know working distances based upon the lengths of the string-shaped members. The optical axis direction of the camera is adjusted so that the leading edge of the string-shaped member is included in the viewing field of the camera, and the optical axis direction of the camera is adjusted so that the leading edge of the string-shaped member is included in the viewing field of the camera. Even in the case when no image-pickup object is present, by presuming the position of the image-pickup portion of the object, the working distance from the presumed position can be found by the string-shaped member. Moreover, since the string-shaped members are coupled to each other at the image-pickup position, the directions of the optical axes of the cameras can be determined based upon the extending directions of the string members.
US08340353B2 Close-up shot detecting apparatus and method, electronic apparatus and computer program
A close-up shot detection device includes motion detection element that calculates the amount of motion between at least two frames or fields constituting a video image every predetermined unit which is composed of one pixel or a plurality of adjacent pixels constituting the frame or field; binarization element that binarizes the calculated amount of motion; large-area specifying element that specifies, as a large area, a connected area in which the number of units is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, among connected areas which are obtained by connecting a predetermined number of units having the same binarized amount of motion; and close-up shot specifying element that, when at least one of preset criteria for the specified large area satisfies a predetermined condition, specifies a frame or field having the specified large area as a close-up shot. Consequently, a close-up shot can be easily and rapidly detected.
US08340349B2 Moving target detection in the presence of parallax
A method for detecting a moving target is disclosed that receives a plurality of images from at least one camera; receives a measurement of scale from one of a measurement device and a second camera; calculates the pose of the at least one camera over time based on the plurality of images and the measurement of scale; selects a reference image and an inspection image from the plurality of images of the at least one camera; and detects a moving target from the reference image and the inspection image based on the orientation of corresponding portions in the reference image and the inspection image relative to a location of an epipolar direction common to the reference image and the inspection image; and displays any detected moving target on a display. The measurement of scale can derived from a second camera or, for example, a wheel odometer. The method can also detect moving targets by combining the above epipolar method with a method based on changes in depth between the inspection image and the reference image and based on changes in flow between the inspection image and the reference image.
US08340345B2 Thermal and short wavelength infrared identification systems
A method and apparatus for preventing fratricide including an emitter that emits a signaling code at a wavelength, the signaling code representing a coded message; a receiver that captures an image of a field of view including the emitter and generates image information corresponding to the captured image; a translation system that: receives the image information, and decodes the coded message from the image information; and a output device that outputs the decoded message.
US08340344B2 Method and system for video transmission and processing with customized watermarking delivery
Methods and systems for video transmission and processing with customized watermarking delivery are disclosed and may include watermarking data at a communication device utilizing received global positioning (GPS) data and communicating the watermarked video data to a receiving communication device. The receiving communication device may verify the watermarked data, and may determine whether to render the received watermarked data based on the verification. The communication device may include an edge device, and may receive a feedback signal communicated from the receiving communication device. The watermarking of subsequently processed data may be adjusted based on the received feedback signal, which may include GPS data and/or device parameters corresponding to the receiving communication device. The watermarked video data communicated to the receiving communication device may be adjusted based on one or more device parameters corresponding to the receiving communication device and/or GPS information.
US08340343B2 Adaptive video fingerprinting
A method and system for embedding and recovering a spatial fingerprint in a sequence of video frames. The sequence includes marked frames that include marked groups having markable positions. The embedding method selects a frame offset and marking period for the marked frames, and determines a marking strength for modifying each marked group. A portion of the spatial fingerprint is embedded in each marked group of a first subgroup of the marked groups, and an ordering of the portion embedded in the first subgroup is embedded in each marked group of a second subgroup of the marked groups. The recovering method analyzes a quality ratio of the DCT transform energy and the residual for each markable position in the frame to determine whether the frame is a marked frame. The recovering method recovers the spatial fingerprint when the marked groups maintain the quality ratio in a number of successive marked frames.
US08340338B2 Adjustable shape earphone
This disclosure relates to an adjustable ear insert, such as an earbud style earphone, that may be inserted in a user's ear canal in a compact configuration and adjusted by a user to expand and fit snugly against the ear canal.
US08340336B1 Magnetic coupling enhanced speaker assembly
A speaker assembly, a method for manufacturing a speaker assembly and a wireless device are provided. Such a speaker assembly may include a diaphragm for generating sound, a transducer for causing the diaphragm to generate sound and an integrated inductive element that is electrically connected to the transducer. The diaphragm, transducer and integrated inductive element are contained within the speaker assembly.
US08340335B1 Hearing device with semipermanent canal receiver module
A modular canal hearing device having a speaker module placed in the bony region for extended wear while a main module is removably inserted in the cartilaginous region. The main module wirelessly activates the speaker module when placed in proximity thereto. The main module is removed daily or as needed for maintenance of the hearing device such as for battery replacement. The speaker module remains undisturbed in the bony region to avoid skin friction. The main module contains the microphone, electronics, battery and in the preferred embodiment an inductive coupling coil for inductively sending audio signals to the receiver module. The modular design allows for a highly miniaturized design that is easier to navigate in the ear canal for improved fit and sound fidelity at the eardrum while allowing easy maintenance of a removable module.
US08340334B2 Ear mold
[Technical Problem] In regard to an ear mold for a hearing aid, there are provided the ear mold which a metal bush is settled in a tube for joint of the hearing aid, said metal bush has been used on account of settlement of said tube for joint of the hearing aid, and which a tube is adhered by an adhesive, the adhesive has been used on account of settlement of said tube. However, said ear mold has disadvantages that said tube is easily moved for the reason of instability, said tube drops out from the ear mold, and the ear mold occurred the problem of a phenomenon of a howling by sound leak-out.[Technical Solution] The ear mold which is configured by embedding a connection and fixation member (A hub) 2 having a hole for connection to a hearing aid body and an introductory-hole of a forming material of said ear mold 2010 into the ear mold 1 on the basis of an ear impression. The connection and fixation member (the hub) 2 is embedded into the ear mold 1 when molding of the ear mold.
US08340333B2 Hearing aid noise reduction method, system, and apparatus
A computer-implemented method including receiving a first signal from an input device of a hearing aid. The first signal may include a noise signal. The computer-implemented method may include low-pass filtering first periodic samples of the first signal, and the first periodic samples may be approximately periodic with respect to a period of the noise signal. The computer-implemented method may further include low-pass filtering second periodic samples of the first signal, and the second periodic samples may be approximately periodic with respect to the period of the noise signal. The second periodic samples may also be phase shifted relative to the first periodic samples. Hearing aid systems and apparatuses are also disclosed.
US08340331B2 Communication system
A system for assisting a hearing impaired user is presented. The system includes a transmitter to transmit data representing audio intended to be heard by a hearing impaired person, the transmitter paired with at least one intended receiver. The transmitter includes: an analogue-to-digital converter to convert an analogue audio signal into digitally represented audio data, and a transmitter to transmit the digitally represented audio data in a radio signal on an active channel selected from a plurality of channels. The system also includes a receiver to receive data representing audio to be heard by the hearing impaired person, the receiver paired with the transmitter device. The receiver includes a receiver to receive the radio signal containing the digitally represented audio data, the radio signal being received from the transmitter on the active channel, and a digital-to-analogue converter to convert the digitally represented audio data into an analogue audio signal.
US08340318B2 Methods and systems for measuring performance of a noise cancellation system
A method for measuring performance of a noise cancellation system that is operable to cancel noise is provided. The method includes generating a first model of a target noise. The first model represents the target noise in a form that is received at a location remote from a noise source of the target noise and within a defined environment. The method also includes generating a second model of a cancellation noise. The cancellation noise is configured to at least partially cancel the target noise when combined with the target noise. The second model represents the cancellation noise in a form that is received at the location. The method also includes determining, using the first model and the second model, a cancellation error value indicative of only a portion of the target noise that remains when the target noise and the cancellation noise are combined. The method also includes transmitting the determined cancellation error value to a module operable to monitor a performance level of the noise cancellation system.
US08340317B2 Stereo audio-signal processing system
An audio processing system is provided for controlling the acoustics of a loudspeaker-room system. The loudspeaker-room system having a listening room and loudspeakers located in said listening room, and transfer functions with linear and non-linear components. The audio processing system comprises a compensator with a transfer function for obtaining at least two compensated signals from the input signals. The transfer functions of the compensator may include linear and non-linear components and are inverse to the transfer functions of the loudspeaker-room system to the extent that a desired overall transfer function is established.
US08340316B2 Directional microphone device
The directional microphone device according to the present invention solves a problem of increase in thermal noise (problem of decrease in sensitivity) that occurs at the time of directivity synthesis. The directional microphone device includes: a plurality of microphones which have directional and non-directional characteristics; a control unit which generates an output signal using signals outputted from each of the plurality of microphones; and an output unit which outputs the output signal generated by the control unit. The control unit generates the output signal such that a nearly non-directional directivity and a high sensitivity are obtained in small amplitude range of the output signal, and a directivity and a low sensitivity are obtained in large amplitude range of the output signal.
US08340313B2 Wireless digital transmission of low frequency effects and surround channels for surround sound system
A subwoofer is equipped with a wireless receiver to receive signals containing information for a Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel and information for both surround channels. In one form, the LFE is added to one or both surround channels to provide a stereo surround signal (containing both surround channels) including a multiplexed LFE channel. The subwoofer utilizes the LFE channel, powers surround speakers, and passes the surround signals to respective surround speakers. A receiver multiplexes LFE signals into either one or both surround sound audio channels. A digital RF transmitter of the receiver transmits the combined subwoofer/surround channels to the wireless receiver of the subwoofer. The remote subwoofer is connected to a power source. The surround speakers are connected to the subwoofer so as to receive the surround channels and be powered thereby.
US08340312B2 Differential mode noise cancellation with active real-time control for microphone-speaker combinations used in two way audio communications
An audio host device has an electrical interface having a speaker contact, a microphone contact, and a reference contact. The reference contact is shared by a microphone and a speaker. The reference contact is also directly coupled to a power return plane of the audio host device. A difference amplifier is provided, having a cold input and a hot input. The hot input is coupled to the microphone contact. A variable attenuator circuit is also provided having an input coupled to receive a signal from a sense point for the reference contact, and an output coupled to the cold input of the difference amplifier. A controller has an output coupled to control the variable attenuator. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08340311B2 Voice amplification system for signal calling during the play of a sports competition
A system that allows the teammates of an individual (such as a quarterback on a football team) to hear signals being called by that individual during the course of a sports competition, despite noise generated by an audience. The system includes a microphone positioned within the helmet of the signal caller connected to an audio amplification device, either positioned in the helmet or in some other part of the clothing or equipment worn by the signal caller. The amplified signal is then directed to one or more loudspeakers, again positioned either on the helmet of the signal caller or on the clothing or equipment worn by the signal caller. The loudspeakers are directed to the signal caller's teammates, positioned typically along a line of scrimmage. The system may be time-limited in operation in that the signal caller must specifically activate the system which thereafter remains activated only for a pre-set period of time before automatically shutting off. The components of the system may be connected to each other by wired or wireless signal lines.
US08340310B2 Diaphonic acoustic transduction coupler and ear bud
The disclosed methods and devices incorporate a novel expandable bubble portion which provides superior fidelity to a listener while minimizing listener fatigue. The expandable bubble portion may be expanded through the transmission of low frequency audio signals or the pumping of a gas to the expandable bubble portion. In addition, embodiments of the acoustic device may be adapted to consistently and comfortably fit to any ear, providing for a variable, impedance matching acoustic seal to both the tympanic membrane and the audio transducer, respectively, while isolating the sound-vibration chamber within the driven bubble. This reduces the effect of gross audio transducer vibration excursions on the tympanic membrane and transmits the audio content in a manner which allows the ear to utilize its full inherent capabilities.
US08340309B2 Noise suppressing multi-microphone headset
A new type of headset that employs adaptive noise suppression, multiple microphones, a voice activity detection (VAD) device, and unique mechanisms to position it correctly on either ear for use with phones, computers, and wired or wireless connections of any kind is described. In various embodiments, the headset employs combinations of new technologies and mechanisms to provide the user a unique communications experience.
US08340308B2 Method and apparatus for automatic noise compensation used with audio reproduction equipment
A method and an apparatus for automatic noise compensation used with audio reproduction equipment are provided. The method comprises: (a) collecting a plurality of mixed audio signals, each mixed audio signal including equipment sound output by the audio reproduction equipment, and background noise; (b) removing the equipment sound from the mixed audio signals to obtain the background noise therein; (c) determining whether or not a plurality of mixed audio signals under inspection include a significant sound; and (d) adjusting the volume of the audio reproduction equipment according to whether or not a significant sound has been generated in the surrounding area and the magnitude of the background noise in the mixed audio signals under inspection to satisfy a plurality of predetermined compensation conditions.
US08340304B2 Method and apparatus to generate spatial sound
A spatial sound generation method and apparatus by which reflected sounds of an input sound signal are generated and by using the reflected sounds, a spatial sound is generated. The method includes delaying an input signal by applying a specified number of a plurality of delay values to the input signal to generate the specified number of a plurality of reflected sound signals, multiplying each of the delayed reflected sounds by a respective predetermined gain value, and generating additional reflected sounds from each of the gain-multiplied reflected sounds through a feedback loop comprises a delay value and a gain value that are specific for its corresponding gain-multiplied reflected sound signal.
US08340299B2 Key management system and method
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing secured data transmission and for managing cryptographic keys. One embodiment of the invention provides secure key management when separate devices are used for generating and utilizing the keys. One embodiment of the invention provides secure storage of keys stored in an unsecured database. One embodiment of the invention provides key security in conjunction with high speed decryption and encryption, without degrading the performance of the data network.
US08340297B2 Method and apparatus for efficiently providing location of contents encryption key
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for efficiently providing a location of a contents encryption key. A method of efficiently providing a location of a contents encryption key according to an embodiment of the present invention includes generating metadata containing information regarding a location of a contents encryption key in a rights object, and setting the generated metadata and the rights object in a portable storage device.
US08340289B2 System and method for providing an indication of randomness quality of random number data generated by a random data service
A system and method for providing an indication of randomness quality of random number data generated by a random data service. The random data service may provide random number data to one or more applications adapted to generate key pairs used in code signing applications, for example. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: retrieving random number data from the random data service; applying one or more randomness tests to the retrieved random number data to compute at least one indicator of the randomness quality of the random number data; associating the at least one indicator with at least one state represented by a color; and displaying the color associated with the at least one indicator to a user. The color may be displayed in a traffic light icon, for example.
US08340288B2 Cryptographic key generation
A technique for generating a cryptographic key (120) is provided. The technique is particularly useful for protecting the communication between two entities (202, 302; 204, 304) cooperatively running a distributed security operation. The technique comprises providing at least two parameters (106, 108), the first parameter (106) comprising or deriving from some cryptographic keys (110, 112) which have been computed by the first entity (202, 302) by running the security operation; and the second parameter (108) comprising or deriving from a token (116) having a different value each time the security (114) operation is initiated by the second entity (204, 304) for the first entity (202, 302). A key derivation function is applied to the provided parameters (106, 108) to generate the desired cryptographic key (120).
US08340286B2 Interleaving and deinterleaving method for preventing periodic position interference
A method for implementing volatile cipher key and separate verification module by collecting physical features includes the steps of setting physical features sensor on a handset, collecting physical features information of every user in advance by a physical features sensor, transmitting the physical features to a control module, storing the physical features in a user database, resetting a cipher temporary storage unit after physical features sensor is away from the user's body, retrieving cipher data in the user database when registered user operates the handset, and checking by the control unit the user database has an identical record which matches the user's physical features.
US08340285B2 Method for efficient and zero latency filtering in a long impulse response system
A method for long impulse response digital filtering of an input data stream, by use of a digital filtering system. Where the input data stream is divided into zero-input signals and zero-state signals. One of the zero-input signals and a corresponding impulse response of the digital filtering system is converted to the frequency domain to determine a respective zero-input response of the digital filtering system. One of the zero-state signals is convolved with a corresponding impulse response of the digital filtering system to determine a respective zero-state response of the digital filtering system, wherein at least part of the zero-input signal precedes the zero-state signal. The zero-state response of the digital filtering system is added to the zero-input response of the digital filtering system to determine the response of the digital filtering system. Apparatus for effecting this method is also disclosed.
US08340283B2 Method and system for a PKI-based delegation process
A client generates a session key and a delegation ticket containing information for a requested delegation operation. The client generates a first copy of the session key and encrypts it using a public key of a proxy. The client generates a second copy of the session key and encrypts it using a public key of a server. The client then puts the encrypted session keys and delegation ticket into a first message that is sent to the proxy. The proxy extracts and decrypts its copy of the session key from the first message. The proxy then encrypts a proof-of-delegation data item with the session key and places it and the delegation ticket along with the encrypted copy of the session key for the server into a second message, which is sent to the server. The server extracts and decrypts its copy of the session key from the second message and uses the session key to obtain the proof-of-delegation data. Authority is successfully delegated to the proxy only if the server can verify the proof-of-delegation data.
US08340281B2 Efficient method and apparatus for modular inverses
Methods and apparatus are described for computing modular inverses of odd input values modulo 2N (or modulo xN, for example in some Galois field) to perform a modular multiplication in cryptographic processing systems. In one embodiment an approximation is computed having 2k bits of the modular inverse of the odd input value without multiplications, for example using a binary extended Euclidean algorithm. A sequence of log2N−k Newton-Raphson or similarly quadratically convergent iterations are applied to the approximation using an extended precision multiplier to generate the modular inverse of the odd input value modulo 2N (or modulo xN), the modular inverse having up to N bits of precision. The modular inverse of the odd input value is then used in a modular multiplication to perform cryptographic operations and/or cyclic redundancy checks on communication data.
US08340277B2 Bartering system and method for controlling position in a wait queue in a contact center
A contact center establishes a communication with a user. The communication is placed into a position in a wait queue that has other position(s) with other communication(s) that are waiting to be serviced by contact center agents. An offer is made to the user to change an amount of time to wait in the wait queue before being connected to a contact center agent. The offer can be based on a commodity such as money, frequent flyer miles, willingness to listen to an advertisement while holding, completing a survey, and the like. In response to the user accepting the offer, the position of the communication in the wait queue is changed to a different position. This allows the user to interactively adjust their wait time.
US08340274B2 System for routing interactions using bio-performance attributes of persons as dynamic input
A system for routing an interaction has a queue for staging the interaction, a router running a routing strategy for routing the interaction, and a number of object models maintained for a number of agents, the object models defining one or more agent skills, the values of the object models dynamically affected by real-time bio-metrics of the agents obtained through ongoing monitoring of voice and input actions of the agents. The routing strategy routes the interaction based on comparison of the dynamically-affected skill values of the agents, as evidenced in the object models.
US08340273B2 Provision of telecommunication services
A device (1200) for concentration of unused subscriber lines in a telecommunications or data network comprising a first distribution matrix (104) connected to a crossover matrix (108) and a second distribution matrix (106) connected to said crossover matrix (108), wherein the crossover matrix (108) is adapted to be connected to a distribution cable (1212, 1214) and crossover switching elements for switching of connections within said crossover matrix (108) and distribution switching elements for switching of connections within said distribution matrices (104, 106) are controlled from a remote location, wherein the first distribution matrix (104) and the second distribution matrix (106) are adapted to be connected to a main cable and/or to a node for providing a plurality of telecommunications or data services (1208, 1210).
US08340272B2 Method and system for initiating a conference based on the proximity of a portable communication device
A conferencing system for an enterprise is disclosed. The conferencing system determines the location of a portable communication device within a premises and sends a prompt to the portable communication device announcing an option to initiate a communication session using local conferencing devices. In response to a request from the portable communication device, the system determines connection information for a remote endpoint and initiates a communication session between the local conferencing device and the remote endpoint.
US08340270B2 Identification of multiple persons on a phone call
A method in one embodiment includes receiving input identifying a plurality of callers within a listening or speaking range of a phone device being used to place a call. The input is then sent over a packet-based network to a server that authenticates and authorizes each of the callers to the call. Following authentication and authorization by the server, a name or caller ID of each of the callers is sent to a destination endpoint device of the call. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08340269B2 Method, device, and system for processing multi-channel audio signals
A method for processing multi-channel audio signals includes receiving L channel audio signals from participating conference terminals, decoding the L channel audio signals, and determining N conference terminals whose audio signals are to be mixed from the participating conference terminals according to the data obtained through decoding; selecting an encoder as a common encoder from L−N encoders of the participating conference terminals except the N conference terminals whose audio signals are to be mixed, encoding decoded audio signals of the N conference terminals whose audio signals are to be mixed, and sending encoded data to conference terminals corresponding to the L−N encoders (indicating that the number of encoders is equal to the value of L minus N); and updating encoding status information of L−N−1 encoders except the common encoder to synchronize with encoding status information of the common encoder.
US08340267B2 Audio transforms in connection with multiparty communication
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can preprocess audio portions of communications in order to enrich multiparty communication sessions or environments. In particular, the architecture can provide both a public channel for public communications that are received by substantially all connected parties and can further provide a private channel for private communications that are received by a selected subset of all connected parties. Most particularly, the architecture can apply an audio transform to communications that occur during the multiparty communication session based upon a target audience of the communication. By way of illustration, the architecture can apply a whisper transform to private communications, an emotion transform based upon relationships, an ambience or spatial transform based upon physical locations, or a pace transform based upon lack of presence.
US08340264B1 System and method for providing segmented applications
The invention provides systems and methods in which an incoming call port is looped back at a switch and, under control of a call segment controller, is directed to applications and/or other termination points to provide enhanced calling services. According to a preferred embodiment, the call segment controller is provided with initial call instructions to initially direct an incoming call. The call may then be directed to an application which interacts with the call to determine further call instructions. These further call instructions are passed to the call segment controller to further process the call. Under control of the call segment controller the call may be directed to multiple termination points, including redirection to the application to provide subsequent interaction with the call.
US08340258B2 System, method and apparatus for controlling image access in a video collaboration system
The present invention provides a computer implemented method, comprising the steps of: determining using data from a sensing device, when a moveable obscuring structure is in a closed position. When the obscuring structure is in the closed position, the transmission of accessible images captured by an image capture device at the location of a local user is to remote user locations in a video conference session is prevented.
US08340257B1 Switching modes in an interactive voice response system
A method for switching interactive modes in a menu system is disclosed. An audio interactive voice response session is established to provide audio menus to a communication device. A data session with said communication device is also established. The data session is used to instruct the communication device to display indicia that a second mode may be activated. The indicia may be an icon indicative of the second mode. A user selection of the indicia on the communication device sends a message to the IVR system indicating that the second mode is to be activated. The second mode may be a text mode wherein text menus are presented to the user instead of audio menus. The second mode may be a suspend mode whereby the IVR session is halted at its present menu choices and saved for later reactivation.
US08340255B2 Interactive display response system
An interactive display response (IDR) system. The IDR system comprises an interactive display server (IDS) for communicating display requests from a call center to a plurality of mobile devices that established a connection with the call center; an interactive display agent (IDA) installed on each of the plurality of mobile devices for at least displaying the display requests received from the IDS and communicating user's selections to the call center responsive to the display requests; and an IDR interface for interfacing with interactive voice response (IVR) scripts carried out by the call center and generating display requests based on the IVR scripts.
US08340254B2 Unified messaging system
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a unified messaging system. The unified messaging system comprises a unified messaging system server and clients, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, and two-way paging machines connected via both land based and wireless connections. This system enables a user to access and retrieve a variety of messages, including voice mail messages, facsimiles, and electronic mail messages via a unified user interface that clearly distinguishes each message type using message identifiers, and segregates messages by type.
US08340253B1 Plug-in remotely controllable telephone line terminator with protector integration
A telephone line terminator has a plug-in end to connect to a protector socket instead of the protector, which in turn is plugged in at a protector receptacle integrated with the terminator to provide continuous line protection while the terminator is connected to the telephone line. The terminator is dimensioned to fit in between adjacent protectors in a main frame. The terminator has circuitry powered by batteries to receive remote control signals for selectively ground connecting the wires. The batteries may be replaceable or rechargeable via voltage from the connected telephone line or via a separate charger that connects also via the plug-in end. A tone generator may provide a line tone and a warble tone in conjunction with several operation modes activated by a multi selecting push button.
US08340252B2 Surveillance device detection with countermeasures
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for detecting surveillance devices on a telephone line and deployment of countermeasures therefor. The apparatus comprises a line monitoring circuit for evaluating whether the phone is off hook or ringing. A test generation circuit produces a test signal to be injected into a line and issues test commands. A signal response analysis circuit compares a test signal response to a baseline signal response and reports an anomaly when the difference between a test signal response and a baseline signal response exceeds a threshold. Additionally, an anomaly may be reported when an unusual signal is detected, such as a clock. A detection management circuit issues countermeasures to the anomaly based on programmed responses.
US08340248B2 X-ray diffraction method and X-ray diffraction apparatus
In an X-ray diffraction method, an X-ray parallel beam is incident on a sample, and diffracted X-rays from the sample are reflected at a mirror and thereafter detected by an X-ray detector. The reflective surface of the mirror is a combination of plural flat reflective surfaces, the respective centers of which are located on an equiangular spiral having a center that is located on a surface of the sample. The X-ray detector is one-dimensional position-sensitive in a plane parallel to the diffraction plane. X-rays that have been reflected at different flat reflective surfaces reach different points on the X-ray detector respectively. A correction is performed for separately recognizing different reflected X-rays that may have been reflected at the different flat reflective surfaces, and might be mixed with each other on the same detecting region of the X-ray detector.
US08340247B2 Method and system for four dimensional intensity modulated radiation therapy for motion compensated treatments
A deliverable four dimensional (4D) intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning method is disclosed, for delivery using a linear accelerator with a dynamic multi-leaf collimator (DMLC). A 4D computed tomography (CT) scan is used for segmenting tumor anatomy on a reference phase of periodic motion of the tumor. Deformable registration of the 4D CT data is used to generate corresponding anatomical structures on other phases. Preferably, the collimator for each beam position is aligned using the gross tumor volume (GTV) centroid motion corresponding to the periodic motion of the tumor, as determined from the two dimensional (2D) projection of a given beam position. A deliverable IMRT plan is created on the 4D CT image set in which the MLC leaf positions and beam on/off status can vary as a function of respiratory phase by solving a four dimensional optimization problem. The mechanical constraints of the MLC leaves are included in the optimization.
US08340245B2 Transportation container inspection system and method
In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, containers, such as, for example, those used in transportation and shipping, can be inspected by using a CT X-ray scanning system with a large area detector plate. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the detector plate can directly convert X-rays transmitted through the container into visible light, thus forming light patterns on the outer surface of the plates. The plates can then be analyzed using, for example, CCD or ICCD cameras and a data processor so as to form real-time 2D and/or 3D images of objects in the container. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention each such plate can comprise a coating of X-ray converting material such as, for example, a phosphor on a metallic plate. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an exemplary scanning system can, for example, rotate a rotor having an X-ray source on one side of an axis of rotation, and a detector including such detector plates on the other side of the axis. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a container can be moved, through an opening in the rotor and support structure in synchronization with the rotor, such as, for example, by transporting the container on rails.
US08340244B1 Vacuum interface assembly
An X-ray metrology system for a vacuum deposition chamber includes a vacuum interface assembly mounted through an aperture in the exterior wall of the chamber and extending into the interior of the chamber. The interface assembly is formed from a housing having side walls and a bottom forming an interior chamber, and an X-ray port mounted in an aperture in the bottom of the housing. The X-ray port has two apertures therethrough, with each aperture being covered by a window of beryllium. An X-ray metrology machine having a generator and detector is disposed within the housing, and the apertures in the X-ray port are arranged so that X-rays generated by the generator pass through one of the apertures, and X-rays fluorescing off of a substrate in the deposition chamber travel through the other aperture to the detector.
US08340239B2 Decoder and method for adaptively generating a clock window
A decoder and related method adaptively generate a clock window. A falling edge of a horizontal synchronization signal is detected, and the time difference between an actual frame code and a predefined frame code is determined. The beginning and the end of the clock window are then adaptively determined based on the falling edge and the time difference, such that symbol timing recovery through received clock run-in signals may be performed within the generated clock window.
US08340234B1 System and method for ISI based adaptive window synchronization
This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for positioning a FFT window using the noise power that is related to ISI By selecting a FFT window position that minimizes the noise power, ISI is reduced or eliminated The techniques can be used in coherent and non-coherent systems Further, noise associated with the Doppler effect is compensated for, allowing the use of these system and methods in time-varying environments, such as mobile applications.
US08340233B2 Method and apparatus for combining signals at wireless receivers in the absence of channel gain estimation
Signals transmitting symbols through a multi-paths channel are received by a diversity receiver using at least two branches. The signals are combined after their processing in individual branches, minimizing combining loss of EGC receivers, minimizing BER and optimizing the performance. Processing in individual branches includes estimation of the phase changes induced by the channel at each received signal, with reference to the transmitted signal, and weighting of each signal by a co-phasing coefficient based on said estimation, so that all received signals are co-phased. An optimization step includes estimation of mean value and variance of signal to noise ratio (SNR) in each branch, using sampling techniques, and weighting the received signals by an optimization coefficient calculated from the mean value and variance. The process avoids expensive hardware for continuous estimation of instantaneous channel gains at each branch.
US08340231B1 Optimal symbol detection in the presence of non-gaussian interference
Techniques are provided for detecting a coded signal in the presence of non-Gaussian interference. In an embodiment, a primary transmitter corresponds to a desired transmitter, and one or more secondary transmitters correspond to interfering transmitters. In an embodiment, received symbols, which include non-Gaussian interference and additive noise, are decoded to determine a set of message bits. In an embodiment, an estimate of the set of message bits may be determined using a minimum-distance detector or an optimal-ML detector, for example, depending on the signal-to-noise and/or signal-to-interference ratios at a receiver.
US08340229B2 Method and apparatus for reducing the interferences between a wideband device and a narrowband device interfering with the wideband device
The method includes an interference deduction mode for reducing interferences between a wideband device and a narrowband device. The method is performed within the wideband device and includes detecting an emission from and/or a reception performed by the narrowband device; determining from the detection step a group of at least one sub-carrier having frequencies interfering with the narrowband devices; and frequency shifting at least a part of frequency band of the wideband device including the group of at least one interfering sub-carriers with a chosen frequency shift such that at least a part of frequency band of the narrowband device is excluded from the frequency band of the wideband device.
US08340218B2 Integrated micro-sampling wireless receiver
Disclosed are methods and systems for filtering an intermediate frequency (IF) band when digitizing a radio frequency (RF) signal using a higher Nyquist zone several times above the sampling rate. Undersampling may be employed along with an undersampled Nyquist filtering technique to implement an integrated receiver for base station applications such as wireless base station beacon monitoring. Such a receiver may be integrated into a smaller package and consume less power at a reduced cost. In one embodiment, the receiver may operate at a high RF sampled frequency that is microsampled in the 10th Nyquist zone at less than 20% undersampling. In another embodiment, the receiver may operate in the 5th Nyquist zone at ½ the sampling rate with 40% undersampling. In various embodiments, sampling and processing functions may be implemented using software on a computer or other embedded computing device.
US08340214B2 Method and apparatus for generating predistortion signal
Provided is a digital predistortion linearizer applicable to millimeter-wave band point-to-point communications. The digital predistortion linearizer includes a transmission unit and a reception unit. The reception unit receives a first signal including a transmission signal and a distortion signal through a millimeter-wave propagation environment, detects the distortion signal from the first signal, and transmits information on the detected distortion signal with the first signal to the transmission unit. The transmission unit generates a predistortion signal using the information on the distortion signal and the first signal received from the reception unit, couples the generated predistortion signal with the transmission signal, and outputs the coupled signal.
US08340213B2 Signal encoding apparatus and method, signal decoding apparatus and method, programs and recording mediums
An encoding apparatus that divides an input time series signal into a plurality of sub-bands and encodes a low frequency sub-band signal to generate encoded data of the low frequency sub-band signal. Concurrently, it compares the frequency amplitude peak of the new high frequency sub-band signal generated from the low frequency sub-band signal and the original high frequency sub-band signal and generates frequency amplitude peak information of the high frequency sub-band signal. It compares the gain of the new high frequency sub-band signal generated by using the low frequency sub-band signal and the original high frequency sub-band signal and generates gain information of the high frequency sub-band signal. Subsequently, the signal encoding apparatus multiplexes the encoded data of the low frequency sub-band signal, the frequency amplitude peak information of the high frequency sub-band signal and the gain information of the high frequency sub-band signal and outputs compressed data.
US08340206B2 System for MIMO spatial adaptivity in dynamic environments
An adaptive wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system switches among two or more modes of operation including Uninformed Transmitter (UT) and Informed Transmitter (IT) modes based on channel conditions as reflected in a set of metrics including a temporal selectivity metric (TSM) indicative of the temporal dynamics of the MIMO channel. In an exemplary embodiment, the adaptive MIMO system uses a dominant eigenmode IT mode of operation if a signal-to-noise ratio is below a threshold, otherwise, the system uses an IT mode or a UT mode based on the TSM. If the TSM indicates a channel that is changing too rapidly for feedback to be effective, the UT mode is used, otherwise the IT mode is used. Overall system capacity in time varying MIMO channels is thereby improved.
US08340201B2 Wireless communication system with multiple transmission antennas using pilot subcarrier allocation
A method of allocating pilot subcarriers in a resource block for a wideband wireless mobile communication system with multiple transmission antennas using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation is disclosed. In this method, pilot subcarriers are allocated to the resource block comprised of five (5) or seven (7) OFDM symbols so that only four (4) OFDM symbols of the resource block are allocated for pilot subcarriers.
US08340197B2 System and method for modulating a signal at an antenna
A Direct Spatial Antenna Modulation (DSAM) antenna structure makes use of the instantaneous electromagnetic field state of a radiating antenna structure to achieve direct modulation of a transmitted signal within the antenna. In contrast to existing amplitude and phase-only based digital modulation techniques, this innovative technique utilizes an inherent spatial modulation component, mapping data spatially to different locations in the antenna structure, where each location has different transmitting and receiving properties. This spatial component of the modulation can enable, for example, a unique increase in data transmission speed in a fixed spectral bandwidth with no increase in bit error rate over current phase and amplitude only modulation techniques. Additionally, the DSAM antenna structure affords important benefits in reduced hardware complexity, reduced supply current consumption, and relaxed amplifier linearity requirements. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this Abstract.
US08340195B2 Buffer size reduction for wireless analog TV receivers
Reducing a frame size in a memory for a receiver includes compressing a first analog television picture frame, storing the compressed frame in the memory, decompressing the compressed frame from the memory, obtaining a second analog television picture frame. The first frame includes a first set of pixels that further include at least one of Red/Green/Blue (RGB) samples and, the second frame includes a second set of pixels. Each of the first set of pixels of first frame being decompressed are compared with the corresponding second set of pixels of second frame to obtain an alpha (α) factor. A Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and a motion per pixel of the first set of pixels and the second set of pixels are compared. Each of a pixel is displayed based on the α factor.
US08340189B1 Phase correlation based motion estimation in hybrid video compression
Motion vectors for encoding a predicted frame relative to a reference frame are determined from a phase correlation of corresponding regions of the predicted frame and reference frame. Peaks in the phase correlation are identified, and the location of the peaks are used as candidate motion vectors. From this limited set of candidate motion vectors, the best motion vectors for predicting blocks within each region can be readily identified.
US08340187B2 Video transmitting apparatus and video transmitting method
A video transmitting apparatus has a moving image encoding unit performing an encoding process using an intra-slice scheme; and a transmission monitoring unit detecting disconnection and recovery of a line between the moving image encoding unit and a video receiving apparatus. At a time of line disconnection, the moving image encoding unit performs an encoding process on a picture by putting reference restrictions on a motion vector so that a transmission error falls within a pixel macroblock line.
US08340186B2 Method for interpolating a previous and subsequent image of an input image sequence
A method for interpolating a previous and subsequent image of an input image sequence, including: determining fidelity information for at least one motion vector that is descriptive for motion between a previous and subsequent image, wherein the fidelity information is descriptive for the level and accuracy of the motion, determining classification information for the at least one motion vector, wherein the classification information depends on the fidelity information, the classification information being descriptive for the motion type of the motion, and selecting an interpolation method in dependence of the determined classification information.
US08340185B2 Systems and methods for a motion compensated picture rate converter
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for estimating global and local motions between a pair of temporally adjacent frames of an input signal and for applying these motion vectors to produce at least one interpolated, motion-compensated frame between the adjacent frames. In particular, the systems and methods comprise designs for a motion compensated frame rate converter including a global affine motion estimation engine, a global translation motion estimation engine, a segmentation mask generator, an object edge strength map generator and a local motion estimation engine. Combinations of these features are implemented in a motion compensated picture rate converter to accurately and efficiently provide motion estimation and compensation for a sequence of frames.
US08340183B2 Digital multimedia channel switching
The disclosure relates to techniques for coding a channel switch frame used for switching between channels of digital multimedia content. In particular, an encoding device may code channel switch frame to exclude one or more blocks of pixels that may be reconstructed at a desired fidelity at a decoding device using one or more spatial error concealment algorithms. Excluding the one or more blocks of pixels of the channel switch frame that can be reconstructed at a desirable fidelity reduces the amount of bandwidth necessary to code the portion of the channel switch frame, thus allowing more efficient utilization of available bandwidth.
US08340176B2 Device and method for grouping of images and spanning tree for video compression
A device and a process for compressing video documents. The process includes decomposition of the video document into shots, extraction of images representative of the said shots, measurement of the distances between the said representative images, grouping of the images whose distance is less than a predetermined threshold into a group of images, calculation of the relative cost of coding of each image with respect to the other images of the group of images. The process further includes calculation of a minimum spanning tree for each group of images minimizing the cost of coding of each group of images and coding of each group of images by browsing the images in the order given by the said spanning tree.
US08340175B2 Dynamic image encoding device, dynamic image decoding device, dynamic image encoding method, dynamic image decoding method, dynamic image encoding program, and dynamic image decoding program
A moving image encoding device measures a band of a target image to be encoded and a band of a reference image by a band analyzer, and generates band-related information representing these bands. A prediction signal generator generates a prediction signal such that the signal matches the band of the target image, from the reference image, based on the band-related information. A difference unit obtains a difference between the target image and the prediction signal to generate a differential signal. A converter and a quantizer each encode the differential signal to generate an encoded differential signal. An inverse quantizer and an inverter each decode the encoded differential signal to generate a decoded differential signal. An adder adds the prediction signal to the decoded differential signal to generate a reproduced image. An output terminal outputs at least the encoded differential signal and the band-related information.
US08340174B2 Image processing device and image processing method
Disclosed herein is an image processing device for coding image data, which is divided by a given pixel count into macroblocks, on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis, the image processing device including: a quantization section configured to quantize image data on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis; a detection section configured to detect a macroblock containing a given color pixel from the image data; and a control section configured to control the quantization section, the control section including a distance calculation section configured to calculate the distance between a given image position in a picture of the image data and an image position in the macroblock detected by the detection section, and a bitrate control section configured to control the quantization section so that a higher bitrate is assigned with decreasing distance calculated by the distance calculation section.
US08340173B2 Method and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding moving pictures
A method of encoding moving pictures using a plurality of quantization matrices. The method involves selecting one of the plurality of quantization matrices in consideration of an at least one characteristics of an input image; transforming the input image; and quantizing the transformed input image using the selected quantization matrix.
US08340172B2 Rate control techniques for video encoding using parametric equations
This disclosure describes rate control techniques that can improve video encoding. The described rate control techniques exploit relationships between the number of bits encoded per frame and the number of non-zero coefficients of the video blocks after quantization. The number of number of non-zero coefficients of the video blocks after quantization is referred to as rho (ρ). The value of ρ is generally proportional to the number of bits used in the video encoding. This disclosure utilizes a relationship between ρ and a quantization parameter (QP) in order to achieve rate controlled video encoding. More specifically, this disclosure exploits a parametric equation to map a value of a predicted ρ to a QP.
US08340169B1 Order recursive computation for a MIMO equalizer
A receiver including an input module, a computation module, and an equalizer module. The input module is configured to receive a message from a wireless communication channel. The message includes multiple training fields. The computation module is configured to recursively compute equalizer parameters, as the training fields are being received, based on the training fields and a channel estimation matrix. The equalizer module is configured to apply the equalizer parameters to the message to recover user data.
US08340161B2 Method of data block transmitting
A method of transmitting data to guarantee reliability and, more particularly, a method of efficiently transmitting data by adjusting the size of data blocks according to a channel environment are provided. The method includes dividing input data into a plurality of blocks and generating one or more block sets using the plurality of blocks, coding a first block set of the one or more block sets and transmitting a predetermined number of coded blocks in the first coded block set to a receiver, receiving a signal indicating the state of a channel environment from the receiver, and packing a more increased or decreased number of coded blocks than the predetermined number of coded blocks according to the signal and transmitting the coded blocks to the receiver. By this configuration, it is possible to efficiently adjust a block error rate by adaptively increasing or decreasing the size of blocks according to the channel environment.
US08340155B2 Techniques for generating and using a reservation map
A method of allocation transmission channels of a frequency band to has each of a plurality of remote stations monitor all channels of the frequency band in its area for the presence of transmissions from stations not part of the network. Each remote station transmits its clear channel list to a master station that aggregates the clear channel list into a reservation map, or map of channels that are clear to all stations in the network. The master station then transmits the reservation map to all stations of the network. The individual stations use the channels of the reservation map to transmit information to the master station. Preferably transmission is accomplished using frequency hopping using a set of channels selected from the reservation map.
US08340148B2 Surface-emission laser devices, surface-emission laser array having the same, electrophotographic system and optical communication system
A surface-emission laser device comprises an active layer, cavity spacer layers provided at both sides of the active layer, reflection layers provided at respective sides of the cavity spacer layers, the reflection layers reflecting an oscillation light oscillated in the active layer and a selective oxidation layer. The selective oxidation layer is provided between a location in the reflection layer corresponding to a fourth period node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillating light and a location in the reflection layer adjacent to the foregoing fourth period node in the direction away from the active layer and corresponding to an anti-node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillation light.
US08340145B2 Microwave circuit
A microwave circuit includes at least one inductive portion and at least one capacitive portion and having a resonance frequency, the microwave circuit including a material which acts as a dielectric for the capacitive portion, characterized in that the material acting as a dielectric includes an active region that is an electrically pumped semiconductor heterostructure having at least two energy levels whose energy separation is close to the resonance frequency of the microwave circuit.
US08340141B2 Method of operating all-fiber-based ultra pulse laser system
A method of operating an all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system is provided. The steps includes providing an all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system having a pulse pump light source, a fiber saturable absorber, an assistant light source, at least a dispersion fiber, and a light coupling output; generating a broadband ASE via the pulse pump light source; making the all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system switch passive mode locking via the fiber saturable absorber; decreasing the restoring period of the fiber saturable absorber via the assistant light source; providing dispersion compensation via the dispersion fiber to output an ultra short pulse; and partially outputting a laser passing through the all-fiber-based ultra short pulse laser system via the light coupling output.
US08340140B2 Statistical multiplexing using a plurality of encoders
A plurality of programs are statistically multiplexed using a statistical multiplexing (stat mux) system. Rchannel, a constant total bit rate for the plurality of programs, is determined. Cl,Ff,picTYpe, a complexity for each picture in the plurality of programs, is determined. Tl,Ff,picType, a bit allocation for each picture in the plurality of programs, is determined based on Cl,Ff,picTYpe and Rchannel. The plurality of programs are encoded using a plurality of encoders, a combined encoder buffer, and Tl,Ff,picType to form a plurality of variable bit rate (VBR) compressed bit streams. The plurality of VBR compressed bit streams are multiplexed to form a single constant bit rate (CBR) bit stream.
US08340138B2 Interface circuit
A video signal and an audio signal are TMDS transmitted from a source device to a sink device. Through a reserved line and a HPD line provided separately from a TMDS transmission line, an Ethernet™ signal is bidirectionally transmitted, and also, a SPDIF signal is transmitted from the sink device to the source device. The Ethernet™ signal bidirectionally transmitted between Ethernet™ transmitter/receiver circuits is differentially transmitted by an amplifier and is received by the amplifier. The SPDIF signal from a SPDIF transmitter circuit is common-mode transmitted from an adder and is received by the adder to be supplied to the SPDIF receiver circuit.
US08340124B2 Method and system for bandwidth detection
A method detects a bandwidth that is transmitted by a transmitter in a radio communications system, which is based on transmission frames. The transmission frames comprise a fixed time extension and a variable spectral extension. The transmission frames consist of a plurality of sub-units. Each sub-unit of the transmission frames contains a control channel, which is subdivided into two sub-control channels. The two sub-control channels are arranged at the spectral edges of the sub-units of the transmission frames. The transmitted bandwidth is investigated by determining the spectral extension of the transmission frame. The spectral extension of the transmission frame is determined by determining the spectral position of the sub-control channels in the sub-units of the transmission frames.
US08340119B2 Transmission apparatus
A modulator modulates the packet data signal. A correction unit 18 adjusts the amplitude component of the modulated data signal. An amplifier amplifies the adjusted data signal and outputs the data signal. A control unit controls the operation of the amplifier. The control unit turns on the operation of the amplifier at the header timing of a packet. The amplifier generates a transient response in the header part of the packet when the amplifier is turned on. In accordance with the inverse characteristic of the transient response generated in the amplifier, the correction unit adjusts the amplitude component of the modulated data signal.
US08340117B2 Method and system for out-of-band signaling for TCP connection setup
TCP performance is improved over unreliable links so as to allow TCP connections to be set up when such connections are otherwise impossible. Out-of-band signaling may be used to synchronizing and establishing a connection between two TCP endpoints without modification to the TCP/IP protocol suite. A system may create a control channel to enable out-of-band signaling for TCP connection establishment between two TCP endpoints. The control channel may be achieved using a system that includes of a signaling broker, an agent application, and a virtual network interface and a capture module that together create the control channel for the TCP signaling traffic.
US08340116B2 Node scheduling and address assignment within an ad-hoc communication system
A method and apparatus for address assignment and node scheduling within an ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. During operation a personal area network coordinator (PANC) (40) will divide a superframe (301) into a plurality of slots, assigning each sub-tree under the PANC's direct child node to each slot for communication with the PANC. Each sub-tree coordinator will be assigned a same logical address by the PANC. As a result, a sub-tree coordinator synchronizes to the PANC node in only one subsuperframe slot assigned by the PANC with different sub-tree coordinators synchronizing to the PANC in different slots.
US08340113B2 Method and arrangement for improved media session management
In a method for media session management a user terminal upon detecting S0, S00 switching to a media stream on a channel from a unicast transport source, requesting S1 transmission of the media stream by indicating a predetermined starting frame for the transmission and a media server transmitting S2 the requested media frame starting with a media frame as indicated in the request.
US08340109B2 Systems and methods for accelerating TCP/IP data stream processing
A network device includes an interface (105), a TCP/IP protocol fast processing path (115), and a TCP/IP protocol slow processing path (110). The interface (105) receives a packet and parses the packets to determine a characteristic of the packet. The TCP/IP protocol fast processing path (115) processes the packet if the characteristic of the packet includes a first characteristic. The TCP/IP protocol slow processing path (110) processes the packet if the characteristic of the packet includes a second characteristic.
US08340105B2 Coordination independent rate adaptation deployment methods and systems
A method and system of coordination independent rate adaptation is disclosed. The method and system of coordination independent rate adaptation provides for deploying a rate adaptation subdomain into a packet network having no rate adaptation coordination among the network nodes. The method and system is particularly useful for incremental introduction of rate-adaptive devices in existing networks; combining the best properties of sleep-state exploitation and rate scaling techniques by defining a class of state-setting policies for rate adaptation schemes that enforce tight deterministic bounds on the extra delay that the schemes may cause to network traffic at every node where they are deployed.
US08340103B2 System and method for creating a secure tunnel for communications over a network
A system and method for establishing a virtual local area network (LAN) between a local device and a remote device are provided. The local device and the remote device may each have a physical and a virtual network interface card (NIC), and a virtual driver associated with each respective device virtual NIC may assign a Media Access Control (MAC) address to the virtual NIC and an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the physical NIC. The local device may communicate an IP to MAC address translation to the remote device that maps the assigned IP address to the assigned MAC address. Thereafter, the remote device may transmit secure data that can be received by the local device. For example, the remote device may encapsulate the data being communicated as well as the IP to MAC address translation for the local device into an HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request.
US08340095B2 Equipment in a data network and methods for monitoring, configuring and/or managing the equipment
A router having one or more downstream interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast data packets to at least one multicast group address and multiple hosts that request data from the multicast group address and sources. In one implementation the router has a management system agent and an associated management system agent database and stores for each network interface, each multicast group address and each host information in the management system agent database derived from one or more data requests made by the hosts. In one implementation the router stores for a downstream network interface and multicast group address at least one INCLUDE source record containing information about include source lists derived by data requests made by the one or more hosts and at least one EXCLUDE source record containing information about exclude source lists derived by data requests made by the one or more hosts in the management system agent database, the router using a host-router multicast routing protocol based on the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or the MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) protocol to communicate with the one or more hosts, the router using a different protocol to communicate with a management system control station information stored in the management system database.
US08340094B2 Method, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture for reliable low-bandwidth information delivery across mixed-mode unicast and multicast networks
A system and method are provided wherein information is disseminated using a reliable IP multicast network implementation coupled with dynamically assigned proxy nodes serving as zonal aggregation points. These nodes share information with each other over the reliable IP multicast network, augmenting this function with a reliable point-to-point communication infrastructure between proxy nodes in those instances where IP multicast is not available or prone to error.
US08340089B2 Apparatus and method for managing data transfer in VoIP gateway
A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway is provided which upon an extension call between VoIP terminals, optimizes transfer routes of data between the terminals. In setting a session for the extension call, the VoIP gateway converts IP addresses and ports of the originator's and recipient's terminals included in an invite message for session connection transmitted from one terminal of an internal private network of the VoIP gateway into internal IP addresses and internal ports to enable media data of the originator's and recipient's terminals to be directly transmitted without by way of a wide area network (WAN) module and a media server of the VoIP gateway, thereby effectively managing resources of the network system.
US08340085B2 Method and apparatus for enabling customer premise public branch exchange service feature processing
A method and apparatus for enabling customer premise Public Branch eXchange (PBX) service feature processing to be performed in a service provider network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a signaling message associated with a user, and accesses a customer premise Internet Protocol (IP) Public Branch eXchange (PBX) to retrieve customer premise IP PBX based service logic and data associated with the user by a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) network element. The method then completes a service feature associated with the service logic and data in the communication network.
US08340082B2 Transmission method and apparatus
A voice packet transmission method and apparatus for transmitting a voice packet with a header, wherein a voice packet with a compressed header is transmitted, monitoring is performed to detect whether a necessity to send a voice packet with an uncompressed header is generated during the transmission, the voice packet data with an uncompressed header is divided into a plurality of portions when the necessity is generated, and each divided data is transmitted via different antennas by spatial multiplexing.
US08340080B2 System, method, and recording medium for scheduling packets to be transmitted
A system for scheduling packets to be transmitted is provided. The system includes a soft delay bound calculator module and a frame determination module. The soft delay bound calculator module calculates a soft delay bound for a non-real-time packet based on a packet size of the non-real-time packet and a minimum reserved traffic rate of a channel. The frame determination module determines whether a real-time packet must be transmitted at a current frame according to a delay bound, a transmission time, and a possible retransmission time thereof, and whether a non-real-time packet must be transmitted at a current frame according to a soft delay bound, a transmission time, and a possible retransmission time thereof. Thus, it is possible to improve the performance of the system while keeping the QoS thereof in a mixed service environment.
US08340079B2 Method and apparatus for selecting a network for telecommunication
A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for selecting a network for telecommunication are provided. A type of network supporting a called identifier is identified. Several types of networks are accessible to a calling communication device. The network corresponding to the identified network is selected at the calling communication device. The call is completed using the selected network. A database is queried with a query including the called identifier. The response to the query is used for identifying the identified network from the response. The query may be sent to a local database, a remote database, or both. The local database may include information about frequently called identifiers as well as called identifiers that are provided by a user. The identified network may be overridden by selecting a network of a type that is different from the type of network supporting the called identifier.
US08340077B2 Providing operation services for networks via operations service servers
Systems and methods of provide operations services for networks through an operations service switch. Multiple customers of the operations service may obtain operations service through the operations switch, as opposed to implementing operations services themselves. Operations service servers are in communication with the operations switch so as to be available for providing operations services to the customer accessing the operations switch. The operations switch may then establish communication links between the customer networks and the operations service servers to facilitate a centralized manner of providing operations services to the customer networks.
US08340076B2 Mesh node mobility across static and mobile mesh networks
Methods and systems for mobility of mobile nodes in mesh networks are taught wherein the mobile mesh nodes choose an attachment point to another mesh node based on predetermined criteria, such as the characteristics of the attachment point's path to a reference destination, and other factors local to the attachment point, such as load and available capacity. The mobile nodes forward packets on each other's behalf. Static and mobile nodes and the links between them are treated differently from each other in view of their respectively different properties. A special metric is used for paths that include mobile links in addition to the static mesh links and wired mesh links. Mobility is handled completely transparently to any client devices attached to the mesh nodes, where this attachment could be wireless or wired.
US08340072B2 Preambles in OFDMA system
The present invention provides a preamble that is inserted into an OFDMA frame and has a common sequence for all the base stations participating in a transmission. The subscriber station performs fine synchronization using the common sequence on the common preamble, and the resulting peaks will provide the locations of candidate base stations. The base station specific search is then performed in the vicinities of those peaks by using base station specific pseudo-noise sequences. With this two stage cell search, the searching window is drastically reduced. The preamble is matched to known values by a respective receiver to decode the signals and permit multiple signals to be transferred from the transmitter to the receiver. The preamble may comprise two parts, Preamble-I and Preamble-2, which may be used in different systems, including multioutput, multi-input (MIMO) systems.
US08340071B2 Systems for communicating using multiple frequency bands in a wireless network
Communication signals using a first and a second frequency band in a wireless network is described herein. The first frequency band may be associated with a first beamwidth while the second frequency band may be associated with a second beamwidth. A method includes transmitting, in a first frequency band by a coordinating device, an indication of a first time resource and/or first frequency resource for a communication device to identify one or more neighbor communication devices that are capable of communicating over a second frequency band, receiving, in the first frequency band by the coordinating device, link availability information for the second frequency band based at least in part on the one or more neighbor communication devices identified as being capable of communicating over the second frequency band, and transmitting, in the first frequency band, a transmission schedule to indicate to the communication device a second time resource and/or second frequency resource in which the communication device can communicate with at least one of the one or more neighbor communications devices over the second frequency band, the transmission schedule being based at least in part on the received link availability information. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08340070B2 Resource partitioning for wireless communication systems
Partitioning resources so that they can be operated in different modes and synchronizing these partitioning among different sectors so that they can employ mutually cooperative power allocation settings are provided. The resources can be partitioned into one of two modes, namely, block mode or distributed mode. A user can be synchronized according to the mode and a zone, which can be based in part on the mode. The synchronization can be based on bit reversal order or quasi-uniform spacing of tones.
US08340064B2 Wireless system for communication
A method of wirelessly communicating from a high speed data modem using a first radio transceiver at a first location and a second radio transceiver at a second location preferably includes: (i) attaching a housing (containing the data modem and the first radio transceiver, a radio processor, and a power supply) to an outdoor supporting structure that supports a coaxial cable carrying an RF signal and AC power; (ii) using a splitter to split the RF signal from the AC power; (iii) transmitting the RF signal to the data modem, and transmitting the AC power to the power supply; (iv) providing a digital signal from the data modem to the radio processor; (v) converting the AC power to DC; (vi) using the DC power to run the data modem, the first radio transceiver, and the radio processor; (vii) communicating the digital signal from the radio processor to the first radio transceiver and then to a first antenna; (viii) transmitting a wireless signal from the first antenna to a second antenna; and (ix) communicating the wireless signal from the second antenna to the second radio transceiver, then to a second radio processor contained in a user device.
US08340052B2 Method for improving discontinuous reception for a wireless communication system and related communication device
A method for improving discontinuous reception for a user equipment of a wireless communication system includes separately managing retransmission reception time limits of a plurality of downlink hybrid automatic repeat request (DL HARQ) processes when the discontinuous reception is used in the plurality of DL HARQ processes.
US08340051B2 Method and apparatus for storing mobile station physical measurements and MAC performance statistics in a management information base of an access point
A method and wireless communication system for requesting and obtaining transmit power control (TPC) information. The system includes at least one access point (AP) and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). When the AP decides to adapt the transmit power level of the WTRU, the AP transmits a TPC request frame to the WTRU. In response to receiving the TPC request frame, the WTRU performs one or more physical measurements and sends a TPC report frame back to the AP.
US08340042B2 Configuring signaling radio bearer information in a user equipment protocol stack
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for configuring signaling radio bearer information in a user equipment protocol stack. A wireless network may be used that includes a radio access network for transmitting information between a user equipment device and a core network. An instruction may be received to generate a signaling radio bearer configuration information element (IE) that includes configuration information for a pre-selected number of signaling radio bearers. The signaling radio bearer configuration IE may then be generated, while ensuring that the signaling radio bearer configuration IE includes configuration information for a required minimum number of signaling radio bearers. The signaling radio bearer configuration information element may be transmitted from the radio access network to the user equipment device for use in configuring the signaling radio bearers in the user equipment device.
US08340040B2 System and method for providing mobile based services for hotel PBX
The invention relates to a method and system for providing mobile based services for hotel PBX having an external number assigned which includes the steps of providing each hotel room which provides the mobile based service with at least one mobile station comprising a SIM, each SIM storing a different IMSI number; assigning a VPN to the hotel; assigning each IMSI number of each mobile station to a different MSISDN that can only be used internally in the MNO network and that cannot be dialed from other telephones; and assigning each MSISDN to a different extension number that can be used as a room extension number and that corresponds to the VPN number of the VPN of the hotel. The invention is advantageous in that it solves problems of prior art systems by making use of a mobile PBX, so that every hotel will have its own VPN numbers that can be used as room extensions.
US08340036B2 Combined base transceiver station and base station controller data call and quality of service
A system, method, and computer readable medium for determining a data call rate comprises determining if a supplemental channel (SCH) should be allocated, if the SCH should be allocated, potentially altering the data rate, requesting an SCH allocation at a current data rate or the altered data rate, and receiving a response to the request with the current data rate, the altered data rate, or a further altered data rate.
US08340031B2 Resource allocation
A number of techniques are described for signalling the allocation of resources within a communications system. A preferred method that is described includes the steps of: receiving an allocation of sub-carriers for a user device, the allocation comprising data defining a starting block and data defining a number of consecutive blocks from the starting block; a first mapping step of mapping the data defining the number of consecutive blocks from the starting block to a first mapped value in accordance with first mapping data; a second mapping step of mapping the data defining the starting block and said first mapped value to a second mapped value representative of the allocation in accordance with second mapping data; and signalling said second mapped value as resource allocation data to the user device.
US08340030B2 Method and apparatus for high-speed transmission on RACH
A method and apparatus for signaling in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU). The method includes the WTRU receiving a value of a maximum number of retransmissions and retransmitting data in a plurality of hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) processes limited by the value of a maximum number of retransmission. The WTRU is configured to receive a cell-specific, fixed or absolute grant on a broadcast channel.
US08340027B2 Monitor period for asynchronous wireless communication
A monitoring period is defined after a scheduled transmission period to enable a transmitting node to acquire control information that may otherwise have been transmitted during the scheduled transmission period. In some implementations the scheduled transmission may be divided up into several segments so that a transmitting node may receive and transmit control messages between segments. In some implementations wireless media access control supports asynchronous communication and overlapping transmissions. Here, a wireless node may determine whether to request or schedule a transmission based on control messages it receives from neighboring nodes. In some implementations data and control information are transmitted over different frequency division multiplexed channels to enable concurrent transmission of the data and control information.
US08340025B2 Data burst communication techniques for mobile communication devices operating in packet data sessions
In one illustrative example, a mobile communication device receives and decodes a plurality of packet data bursts over a packet data channel of a serving cell. While receiving and decoding the packet data bursts, the mobile communication device also receives and decodes a plurality of broadcast data bursts over a broadcast control channel of a neighbor cell. When a time conflict exists between receiving and decoding at least one of the packet data bursts and receiving and decoding at least one of the broadcast data bursts, the mobile communication device receives and decodes the at least one packet data burst instead of the at least one broadcast data burst when no imminent call drop between the mobile communication device and the serving cell is identified. On the other hand, the mobile communication device receives and decodes the at least one broadcast data burst instead of the at least one packet data burst when an imminent call drop between the mobile communication device and the serving cell is identified.
US08340024B2 Virtual linking using a wireless device
A system and method for virtual linking a wireless device to another device is disclosed herein. The system includes an access point and a controller configured to mediate transmissions between the wireless device and the another device. The system further includes a virtual device table and a permissions filter to ensure virtual linking between devices that have matching access right and requested services. The wireless device and the another device may have the same or dissimilar protocols.
US08340023B2 Method and apparatus for canceling a circuit switched fallback
A method and apparatus may be used to cancel a communication session. The apparatus may transmit a first message to initiate a communication session and then transmit a second message that indicates a request to cancel the communication session. If the apparatus determines that there is an ongoing Packet Switched (PS) session, the apparatus may continue the ongoing PS session on a current Radio Access Technology (RAT) without performing an intersystem change. If the apparatus receives a handover (HO) command, the apparatus may transmit a message to reject the HO command, or it may ignore the HO command.
US08340022B2 Wireless location determination system and method
Disclosed herein is a wireless location determination system and method.A wireless location determination system of the present invention includes one or more location determination nodes (reception units) for calculating standard deviations of time intervals between pulses sequentially received from a location determination target, and estimating reliability values from the standard deviations. A location determination server receives messages, including the reliability values, from the location determination nodes, and obtains a location of the location determination target (transmission unit). Accordingly, the present invention can not only improve the resolution of location determination by correcting the distances between the location determination target and the respective location determination nodes, but also can easily observe the location determination performance of a relevant node by monitoring reliability values of the location determination nodes, and can regard the reliability values as measures for the observation of performance and the maintenance of location determination nodes.
US08340017B2 Message generation system and method for managing the delivery of mobile-terminated (MT) calls in IMS network environment
In one embodiment, a message generation scheme is disclosed that is operable with respect to user data information relating to the signaling of an IMS message over a CS network. A number of User Data Items (UDIs) may be configured at one of the entities, e.g., a UE device or a network node, wherein each UDI is operable to contain a plurality of Information Element Identifiers (IEIs). For a select IEI, an Information Element Data Length (IEDL) structure is provided that is operable to indicate a length of data associated with the select IEI, wherein the data comprises at least a portion of the user data information. One or more alternative signaling (AS) messages are generated for transmission to a second entity, wherein the AS messages include one or more of the UDIs.
US08340014B2 Method for transmitting and receiving signals using multi-band radio frequencies
A method for transmitting and receiving signals using multi-band Radio Frequencies (RFs) is provided. The method includes transmitting/receiving control information identifying a subsidiary carrier frequency band for a user equipment via a primary carrier frequency band of the user equipment, wherein the control information includes information of a second ID assigned to a first ID of the subsidiary carrier frequency band among a plurality of first IDs, the first ID identifying the subsidiary carrier frequency band in the physical layer and the second ID identifying the subsidiary carrier frequency band in the specific layer.
US08340013B2 Frame format and frame assembling/disassembling method for the frame format
A method of assembling a plurality of frames including cell/packet-formatted data according to a predetermined frame format for transmission in a communication signal in a wireless or satellite environment. The method begins by assembling a data payload for each frame having a first variable size, including at least one of a partial data cell/packet and a complete data cell/packet. Then, for each frame a block code having a second variable size is generated for use in error correction. Each frame is provided with a frame header which defines aspects of the frame. Finally, the data payload, the block code and the format header are combined to form a frame corresponding to the plurality of frames, the format header defining a first portion of the frame, the data payload defining a second portion of the frame and the block code defining a third portion of the frame.
US08340006B2 Transmission of multicast/broadcast services in a wireless communication network
A method and system for transmitting data in a wireless communications system using multiple transmit antennas. The method comprises the steps of receiving a plurality of data sequences, each assigned with a priority level; encoding each of said plurality of data sequences in accordance with the assigned priority level to form a plurality of coded data sequences, the coded data sequences comprising systematic data and parity data; interleaving said plurality of coded data sequences to form a plurality of interleaved data sequences; multiplexing said plurality of interleaved data sequences to form a plurality of multiplexed data sequences; and mapping said plurality of multiplexed data sequences to form a plurality of mapped data sequences for subsequent transmission of said mapped data sequences from said multiple transmit antennas.
US08340004B2 Combining transmission with incrementing fields
Chase combining gains for receiving a scrambled broadcast channel can be achieved even when a portion of each received channel coded transmission contains a portion that varies. A set of possible difference values for this varying portion, such as for a system frame number, provides hypotheses, each having a corresponding probability. One or more of the hypotheses are selected by rank order for adjusting a corresponding received coded transmission so that two or more channel coded transmissions can be combined and blind decoded until one of the hypotheses are confirmed.
US08340001B2 System and method for spatial division multiple access using wireless repeater having single transmitting/receiving antenna
A system for spatial division multiple access using a wireless repeater having a single transmitting/receiving antenna, includes: a base station that selectively transmits a plurality of data stream signals to the wireless repeater within an area through a multi-transmitting antenna for downlink; and at least one wireless repeater that forms a wireless repeater group within the base station area and repeats the data stream signals selectively transmitted from the base station to terminals.
US08339999B2 Method for implementing centralized service chairman side conference service of IP multimedia subsystem
A method for implementing a chairman side conference service of an IP Multimedia Subsystem centralized service is disclosed. A non ICS UE has contracted a conference service and is currently in calls with multiple UEs. The method for implementing the conference service when the non ICS UE serves as a chairman UE comprises: the chairman UE originating a conference setup request to an eMSC; after receiving the request, the eMSC sending a session request message for setting up the conference service to a conferencing server according to the address of the conferencing server to which the chairman UE belongs; the conferencing server returning a success response message to the eMSC; after receiving the response, the eMSC inviting the UEs, which are currently in calls with the chairman UE, to participate in the conference, and returning a conference setup success message to the chairman UE after the participation is successful.
US08339998B2 Meeting information distribution system and method
A meeting information distribution system and method using a mobile communication base estimates a threshold value of a signal strength of a wireless signal receivable by a meeting room, and monitors user information of a terminal device by a server connected to the mobile communication base station. Attendee information is obtained from a database connected to the mobile communication base station, and is determined whether the user of the terminal device is an attendee by comparing the user information and the attendee information. Meeting information is obtained from the database if the user is an attendee, and is distributed to the terminal device through a wireless broadcast service channel.
US08339991B2 Node self-configuration and operation in a wireless network
A device performs a self-configure process for operations in a managed network to allocate a network address for the device by determining if the device will operate as a gateway of the managed network, obtaining a network address for communication with external devices outside of the managed network in response to determining that the device will operate as a gateway, scanning for neighbor devices operating in the managed network and maintaining a database of neighbor devices located in the scanning, and selecting a managed network to join based on the database of neighbor devices in response to determining that the device will operate as a node.
US08339986B2 Instrumentation of MPEG-2 transport streams for testing network performance
A method and apparatus for testing and measuring the performance of a network for delivering multimedia is disclosed. A multimedia source is divided into data packets according to a packetizing standard. Each data packet includes a header and a payload containing a portion of the multimedia. N data packets (N>0) are grouped together into a packet bundle. Then, instrumentation is inserted into the header of at least one data packet within the packet bundle. The instrumentation includes information used in determining performance characteristics of the network.
US08339982B2 Method and device for power reduction in an LTE system
A method (600) for use in a wireless communications system (100) in which there is at least a first node (110) which controls the traffic to and from user terminals (130, 140) in a cell (120) within the system, so that there is downlink traffic in the system. The first node (110) transmits downlink traffic in radio frames, each of which comprises sub-frames. The first node (110) performs measurements on pre-defined system indicators in at least the first cell (120), and based on the results of the measurements, the first node is allowed to autonomously decide (615) to vary the number of available down link sub-frames used for down link traffic in the down link radio frames and also to vary (620) the content of the down link sub frames which are used, the decision being valid (625) for a time which is specified by the first node (110).
US08339981B2 Apparatus and method for measuring home cell/private network cell in mobile communication system
Disclosed is a method of measurement on a home cell/private network cell, by a user equipment (UE), in a mobile communication system, the method including the steps of: transmitting a request message requesting the measurement to a network node, the request message including an indicator instructing at least one of register, join, and use of the home cell/private network cell; receiving a response message corresponding to the request message from the network node, the response message including context information for measurement control of at least one home cell/private network cell accessible by the UE; and selectively executing measurement on the accessible home cell/private network cell by using the context information.
US08339980B2 Transmitting/receiving system and method of processing broadcast signal in transmitting/receiving system
A receiving system and a method of processing broadcast signal are disclosed herein. The receiving system includes N number of antennae, N number of demodulators, N number of known sequence detectors, and an equalizer. The N number of antennae each receives a broadcast signal including mobile service data and known data sequences. The N number of demodulators demodulates the broadcast signal received by the corresponding antenna. The N number of known sequence detectors detects known data sequences from the broadcast signal received by the corresponding antenna. The equalizer estimates a channel impulse response (CIR) of a broadcast signal received and demodulated by each antenna based upon each known data sequence detected by the N number of known sequence detectors, calculates an equalization coefficient of the broadcast signal received and demodulated by each antenna based upon at least one of the estimated CIRs, so as to compensate channel distortion of the broadcast signal received and demodulated by each antenna, and combines at least one or more distortion-compensated broadcast signal, thereby finally outputting the combined signal.
US08339978B2 Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication, and computer program
A wireless communication apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive packets in multiple formats in which two or more different types of preamble information and intra-header control information are multiplexed, a demodulation and decode unit configured to demodulate and decode the received packets, and a measurement unit configured to measure a sending end time of the reception packets by selectively referring to any one of the intra-header control information on the basis of a transmission mode supported by the demodulation and decode unit.
US08339975B2 Apparatus and method for allocating subchannels and controlling interference in OFDMA systems
Provided is an apparatus for controlling interference. The apparatus may receive interference information about at least one subchannel which is allocated to at least one node in an OFDMA system. The apparatus may create an interference list using the interference information. The apparatus may report the interference list to a radio network controller (RNC).”
US08339974B1 Method and system for detecting and mitigating RTP-based denial of service attacks
This present invention provides a method and system for detecting and mitigating RTP-based denial of service attacks. A prediction model is implemented to analyze data within RTP packets to predict a range of valid data for future packets. Subsequent RTP packets that contain data that fall within the predicted range of data are considered valid RTP packets while others may be considered invalid packets subject to additional analysis.
US08339973B1 Multicast traceroute over MPLS/BGP IP multicast VPN
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes receiving, at a first network device that is associated with an MVPN, an mtrace message that identifies a source device that is associated with the MVPN and that is separated from the first network device by an MPLS network. The method further includes determining an LSP from the first network device to a second network device that is associated with the MVPN and that is separated from the first network device by the MPLS network. The method further includes adding an IP header to the mtrace message, the IP header including a destination address set to a localhost loopback IP address. The method further includes encapsulating the mtrace message with an MPLS label stack that causes the encapsulated mtrace message to reach an instance of the MVPN on the second network device.
US08339970B2 System and method for network optimization
A mobile station (MS) used in a wireless communication system collects communication metrics data during a call session and stores the communication metrics data in the MS at the time that a session is disrupted. When a new communication link is established, the MS transmits the stored communication metrics. The communication metrics and other data relating to the disrupted communication session may be analyzed to determine which communication metrics were operating at abnormal values and determine the probability that a particular communication metric was related to the cause of the session disruption. The communication metrics values and probability metrics values may be used to determine a likely cause for the session disruption.
US08339969B2 Distributed ethernet system and method for detecting fault based thereon
A distributed ethernet system including a plurality of switches, which switches are connected in sequence to form a ring, where after being synchronized in clock, each of the switches sequentially performs loop detection and protocol machine detection periodically according to a predetermined configuration, and sends a fault alarming message when a loop fault or a protocol machine fault occurs. A fault detecting method based on the system is further provided.
US08339966B2 Adaptive error counter for a wireless field device
A transmitting and receiving unit is provided for a field device for measuring a filling level or a pressure, which has an adaptive error counter. In this way, the sensitivity of the error detection may be adapted to individual needs or to the present length of the communications section. Thus, during wireless communication an optimally set error counter may fundamentally be used according to the distance to be covered without any adjustment needing to be made for this on the user side.
US08339964B2 Method and apparatus for solving data packet traffic congestion
The present invention relates to data packet traffic congestion solving mechanism in a node of a Radio Access Network (RAN), said mechanism is capable of blocking the transmission of data packets between a user terminal (UT) and said node in both uplink and downlink directions, if a created blocking table indicates for a scheduler that said user terminal has been determined to have been idle for more than a pre-determined time.
US08339963B2 Technique for end-to-end admission control of real-time packet flows
A technique for end-to-end admission control of real-time packet flows is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for end-to-end admission control of real-time packet flows in a network having a plurality of network elements. The method may comprise transmitting at least one probe packet from a first network element to a second network element via a network path, determining, at least one intermediate network element on the network path, at least one flow rate associated with a plurality of packets, marking at least one predetermined bit in the at least one probe packet if the at least one flow rate is greater than a predetermined rate, and controlling an admission of additional packets into the network based at least in part on the marking of the at least one predetermined bit in the at least one probe packet.
US08339958B2 Wireless communication method and wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication method of a wireless communication apparatus (100) for performing wireless communication with a plurality of terminals based on the adaptive modulation scheme by using the space division multiple access scheme includes a data rate acquisition step of acquiring a data rate in a downlink to each terminal, a data rate estimation step of estimating a data rate in the downlink to each terminal based on the uplink signal quality of each terminal, a data rate difference calculation step of calculating, with respect to each terminal, a difference between the data rate estimated at the data rate estimation step and the data rate acquired at the data rate acquisition step and a channel assignment control step of controlling channel assignment to each terminal based on the difference in data rate calculated at the data rate difference calculation step.
US08339957B2 Aggregate transport control
Example embodiments of methods and apparatus for data communication are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, at a data network communication device having a shared data buffer for queuing received data, respective data backlog information for a plurality of sending network devices operationally coupled with the data network communication device. The example method also includes determining an amount of aggregate data backlog for the data network communication device based on the respective data backlog information. The example method further includes comparing the aggregate data backlog amount with a threshold, and, in the event the aggregate data backlog amount is less than or equal to the threshold, allocating, at the data network communication device, respective data transmission windows to the plurality of sending network devices. In this example, respective sizes of the respective data transmission windows are based on the respective data backlog information for each sender. In the event the aggregate data backlog amount is greater than the threshold, the example method further includes allocating, at the data network communication device, fixed size data transmission windows to the plurality of network sending devices. The example method still further includes receiving, at the data network communication device, data from the sending network devices in accordance with at least one of the respective data transmission windows and the fixed size data transmission windows.
US08339956B2 Method and apparatus for providing a centralized subscriber load distribution
A method and apparatus for providing subscriber load distribution in networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives capacity data and user equipment (UE) resource consumption data from a plurality of devices that process call control signaling messages within the communication network. The method receives a first request from one of the plurality of devices to re-register one or more selected user equipment, and selects at least one available device from the plurality of devices. The method then re-registers the one or more selected user equipment on the at least one available device.
US08339953B2 Apparatus and method for monitoring data transmitter
For monitoring a data transmitter such as a streaming server, which supplies transmitted data in response to a request of a receiver, an examiner examines a data traffic at the input of a receiver or at the output of the receiver, the examiner being configured to ascertain whether the data traffic falls below a minimum threshold. If the minimum threshold is fallen below, a connection activator initiates a new connection between the receiver and the data transmitter. This serves to enable consistent data-transmitter monitoring, even for non-reliable point-to-point connections via the internet.
US08339950B2 Router and queue processing method thereof
A queue processing method and a router perform cache update and queue processing based upon whether or not the packet capacity stored in the queue exceeds a rising threshold, or whether the packet capacity stored in the queue is below a falling threshold after the packet capacity stored in the queue has exceeded the rising threshold. This queue processing method and router makes it possible to eliminate overhead associated with the update of flow information by using two caches, while concomitantly removing the inequality of packet flows via RED queue management with the expedient of using two caches.
US08339949B2 Priority-aware hierarchical communication traffic scheduling
Priority-aware hierarchical communication traffic scheduling methods and apparatus are disclosed. Communication traffic is scheduled by schedulers. Each scheduler supports a multiple priority scheduling function to schedule communication traffic having any of multiple priorities. The communication traffic scheduled by the schedulers is further scheduled based on the priorities of the communication traffic scheduled by each of the schedulers. Traffic shaping may also be integrated into a hierarchical scheduler. The priority-aware further scheduling and the optional shaping may be implemented, for example, using multiple Active lists, one per traffic priority, and a Pending list to which a scheduler can be added if it has communication traffic to schedule but is not allowed to schedule that traffic due to the shaping.
US08339948B2 Method for improving capacity in multi-hop wireless mesh networks
Wireless access efficiency is improved in a multi-hop, multiple-flow network by optimizing multi-flows over the entire network using joint routing and traffic-shaping techniques at intermediate hops. Even though the joint routing and traffic-shaping techniques may adversely affect flows at some hops, when considered over multiple hops (for a given flow) and over multiple flows (for a given hop or number of hops), significant performance may be achieved for all flows. System performance is achieved by controlling the routing paths of multiple flows in a multi-hop, multi-flow wireless network, and applying traffic shaping in a systematic way, rather than relying on an opportunistic (i.e., randomly or independently optimized) approach.
US08339947B2 Flow-based proactive connection admission control (CAC) in wireless networks
A device receives available capacity and used capacity associated with a network, receives a connection request from a user device in the network, and receives a maximum capacity threshold associated with the network. The device calculates a minimum capacity threshold and a medium capacity threshold, associated with the network, based on the maximum capacity threshold. The device also determines whether to admit or deny the connection request based on the available capacity, the used capacity, the minimum capacity threshold, the medium capacity threshold, and the maximum capacity threshold. The device further allocates, when the connection request is to be admitted and based on resource availability associated with the network, a particular bit rate, for a particular quality of service (QoS) class, to the connection request.
US08339944B2 SDU discard mechanisms for wireless communication systems
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate packet discard restriction in a wireless communication system. As described herein, a discard prohibit counter and/or other similar mechanism can be employed to limit the number of consecutive packets that are discarded by a transmitter, even in the event that the delay bounds of those packets have been exceeded. A discard prohibit counter as described herein can be updated upon a packet transmission and reset upon a packet discard to ensure that an acceptable number of packets are transmitted before a packet can be discarded. An acceptable number of packets can be selected based on device specifications, requirements of a data packet flow and/or traffic associated with the flow, or other suitable factors, and can be constant or adaptable to changes in network conditions. As further described herein, multiple counters can be separately maintained and utilized for a plurality of corresponding packet flows.
US08339938B2 Method and system for automatically tracking the rerouting of logical circuit data in a data network
A method and system are provided for tracking the rerouting of logical circuit data in a data network. A disclosed example method involves updating reroute information in response to a dropped packet associated with a quality of service parameter having been exceeded. Transmitted data is rerouted to at least one logical failover circuit in the data network from at least one failed logical circuit associated with the exceeded quality of service parameter. The at least one logical failover circuit is selected based on a bit rate capability specified to be one of a committed bit rate, a variable bit rate, or an unspecified bit rate.
US08339934B2 Spatial multiplexing in a cellular network
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. A subscriber unit for use in a cellular system is disclosed. The subscriber unit includes: spatially separate receivers, a spatial processor, and a combiner. The spatially separate receivers receive the assigned channel composite signals resulting from the spatially separate transmission of the subscriber downlink datastream(s). The spatial processor is configurable in response to a control signal transmitted by the base station to separate the composite signals into estimated substreams based on information obtained during the transmission of known data patterns from at least one of the base stations. The spatial processor signals the base stations when a change of a spatial transmission configuration is required. The combiner combines the estimated substreams into a corresponding subscriber datastream.
US08339933B2 Method for transmitting uplink pilot signal in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method for transmitting an uplink pilot signal in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method for transmitting an uplink pilot signal in a wireless communication system includes forming a basic unit including a plurality of pilot Resource Elements (REs) and data REs and having a size of 4 subcarriers×9 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbols, setting the plurality of pilot REs in the basic unit, and transmitting the basic unit to a base station. Each of the REs is time-frequency resource defined by one symbol index and one subcarrier index.
US08339920B2 Optical storage medium with optically detectable marks
Optically detectable marks readable by a wide range of optical systems are included on an optical storage medium. Among other uses, the marks may be used to determine the type of the optical storage medium in an optical device capable of reading multiple types of optical storage media.
US08339919B1 Disk drive margining read channel by biasing log-likelihood ratios of a nonbinary iterative decoder
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk and control circuitry operable to sample a read signal emanating from the head to generate read samples. First vectors of log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) are generated in response to the read samples, wherein each vector corresponds to a nonbinary symbol q in a set of symbols. The first vectors of LLRs are biased to generate biased vectors of LLRs, and the biased vectors of LLRs are decoded into a data sequence, wherein the biased vectors of LLRs increase an error rate of the data sequence.
US08339916B2 Optical recording medium, information recording method, and information reproducing method
According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the second light reflecting layer is larger than the thickness of the first light reflecting layer.
US08339915B2 Focus optimization routine with sub-optimal jump settings in optical disc systems
A method and system for obtaining focus optimization in an optical disc system is disclosed. The focus offset of a recording unit is set to a first of a plurality of predetermined values. A HF quality value is measured and stored for the selected focus offset value of the recording unit. The focus offset is then set to a best-known focus offset value. Tracks on the optical media being read are then jumped. The above steps are then repeated for each of the plurality of predetermined focus offset values. The optimal focus setting is then determined from the stored HF quality measurements.
US08339913B2 Information storage medium, recording and reproducing apparatus, and recording and reproducing method
A computer readable medium, apparatus, and method for efficiently managing a space bitmap. A computer readable medium includes: a user data area on which user data is recorded; and a temporary disc management area on which a space bitmap indicating a recording status of recording and reproducing unit blocks of the user data area is recorded. The space bitmap includes header information for distinguishing an additional space bitmap from the space bitmap. The additional space bitmap is assigned when a space provided for the space bitmap is insufficient to represent the recording status of the recording and reproducing unit blocks of the user data area.
US08339909B2 Optical disc device
A first signal is detected from the central part of a light beam returning from a super-resolution optical disc; a second signal is detected from a peripheral part in a direction corresponding to a track on the super-resolution optical disc; a gain adjustment unit is provided to adjust the amplitude of the first signal; a subtraction unit is provided to generate a third signal by subtracting, from the second signal, the first signal with the amplitude adjusted by the gain adjustment unit; and an unit is provided to generate a reproduced signal by combining the first signal and a signal obtained by delaying the third signal.
US08339907B2 Optical storage focus servo system and method of controlling same
An optical storage focus servo system may include an optical pickup unit that includes an astigmatic focusing lens, a focusing actuator that controls a position of the lens relative to an optical media, and a plurality of detectors that detect an intensity and shape of a reflected beam from the media. The system may also include a controller that controls the focusing actuator based on the intensity and shape of the reflected beam.
US08339905B2 Alignment features for heat assisted magnetic recording transducers
An apparatus comprises an optical transducer positioned adjacent to a storage medium and including a waveguide and a grating for coupling light into the waveguide, a light source transmitting light to the grating, and a detector for detecting a portion of the light, wherein the detected portion of the light has a magnitude that varies in response to the amount of light coupled into the waveguide.
US08339902B2 Clockwork mechanism and clockwork timepiece
A clockwork mechanism includes: a supporting member; a movable member including an engagement hole and movably supported by the supporting member; a drive pin engaging the engagement hole, including a flange portion for preventing the drive pin from disengaging from the engagement hole, and revolving to move the movable member; a biasing member provided in the movable member to partially overlap the engagement hole; and an abutment member abutting the movable member to restrict the movement of the movable member. The flange portion overlaps or does not overlap the biasing member depending on a revolving position of the drive pin. When the movable member abuts the abutment member, the drive pin pushes the biasing member and the movable member is biased toward the abutment member by the biasing member. When the flange portion does not overlap the biasing member, the drive pin moves the movable member to push the biasing member, allowing the drive pin to disengage from the engagement hole.
US08339901B2 Display station
A display device for deriving geographic location from a GPS signal or the Internet and cross referencing the location with a database to determine the adjustment required to display correct time regardless of time zone and daylight savings time. Thus, a device may be sold and/or transported anywhere in the country and/or world and display the current time.
US08339897B2 Automatic dispersion extraction of multiple time overlapped acoustic signals
Slowness dispersion characteristics of multiple possibly interfering signals in broadband acoustic waves as received by an array of two or more sensors are extracted without using a physical model. The problem of dispersion extraction is mapped to the problem of reconstructing signals having a sparse representation in an appropriately chosen over-complete dictionary of basis elements. A sparsity penalized signal reconstruction algorithm is described where the sparsity constraints are implemented by imposing a l1 norm type penalty. The candidate modes that are extracted are consolidated by means of a clustering algorithm to extract phase and group slowness estimates at a number of frequencies which are then used to reconstruct the desired dispersion curves. These estimates can be further refined by building time domain propagators when signals are known to be time compact, such as by using the continuous wavelet transform.
US08339896B2 Method for separating seismic sources in marine seismic surveys
An operator is applied in a frequency domain to multiple source seismic data acquired in a marine survey, with multiple sources substantially horizontally collocated and at different depths, to generate an estimate of a primary source wavefield, the operator constructed to compensate for time delays between and for different depths of the primary and secondary sources. The primary source wavefield estimate is adaptively subtracted from the multiple source seismic data to generate secondary source wavefield estimates. Another operator is applied in the frequency domain to the secondary source wavefield estimates to generate another primary source wavefield estimate, the operator constructed to compensate for time delays between and for different depths of the primary and secondary sources. The primary and secondary source estimates are used, after further iterative refinements to remove noise, to generate upgoing and downgoing wavefield components of the multiple source seismic data.
US08339893B2 Dual beta ratio SRAM
A static random access memory (SRAM) cell includes a first read port, the first read port having a first beta ratio; and a write port, the write port having a second beta ratio that is substantially lower than the first beta ratio. A static random access memory (SRAM) array includes a plurality of SRAM cells, an SRAM cell including a first read port, the first read port having a first beta ratio; and a write port, the write port having a second beta ratio that is substantially lower than the first beta ratio.
US08339891B2 Power savings and/or dynamic power management in a memory
An apparatus comprising a plurality of buffers and a memory controller. The plurality of buffers may each be configured to generate an access request signal in response to a respective one of a plurality of channel requests received from a respective one of a plurality of clients. The memory controller circuit may be configured to generate a clock enable signal in response to the plurality of access request signals. The clock enable signal may be configured to initiate entering and exiting a power savings mode of a memory circuit.
US08339889B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory core; a charge pump circuit providing a high voltage to the memory core; and a charge pump control circuit operating the charge pump circuit by a standby mode and measuring an operation time value of the standby mode. The charge pump control circuit controls the standby mode of the charge pump circuit using the time value.
US08339888B2 Memory devices having programmable elements with accurate operating parameters stored thereon
A system with a memory device having programmable elements used to configure a memory system. More specifically, programmable elements, such as antifuses, located on a memory device are programmed during fabrication with measured operating parameters corresponding to the memory device. Operating parameters may include, for example, operating current values, operating voltages, or timing parameters. The memory device is incorporated into a system. Once the memory device is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements may be accessed by a processor such that the memory system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating parameters measured for the memory device in the system.
US08339885B2 Data transfer circuit of semiconductor apparatus
Various embodiments of a data transfer circuit of a semiconductor apparatus are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the data transfer circuit may include a first data line, a second data line, a first transfer unit configured to amplify data on the first data line in response to a first control signal and transfer amplified data to the second data line, and a second transfer unit configured to electrically connect the first data line to the second data line in response to a second control signal.
US08339884B2 Low power and high speed sense amplifier
A sense amplifier circuit includes a precharge circuit configured to precharge a bit line coupled to a sensing node in response to a precharge control signal and a sense output circuit. The sense output circuit includes a sense output inverter coupled to the sensing node. The sense output inverter is disabled during bit line precharging and for a period after bit line precharging is complete, and thereafter the sense output inverter is enabled.
US08339883B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a bitline sensing amp detecting and amplifying data of a pair of bitlines from a memory cell, a column selecting unit transmitting the data of the pair of bitlines to a pair of local datalines in response to a column selecting signal, a dataline precharging unit precharging the pair of local datalines to a precharging voltage level in response to a precharging signal, and a dataline sensing amp detecting and amplifying data transmitted to the pair of local datalines. The dataline sensing amp includes a charge sync unit discharging the pair of local datalines at the precharging voltage level in response to a first dataline sensing enabling signal and data of the pair of local datalines, and a data sensing unit transmitting data of the pair of local datalines to a pair of global datalines in response to a second dataline sensing enabling signal.
US08339879B2 Repair circuit and semiconductor apparatus including the same
A repair circuit of a semiconductor apparatus includes a transmission control unit configured to generate first through nth (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) control signals in response to a repair information signal, and enable all mth through nth control signals when the repair information signal indicating an mth (m is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than n) TSV is inputted; transmission units configured to allocate transmission paths for first through nth signals to first through nth TSVs and a repair TSV in response to the first through nth control signals; and receiving units configured to receive the signals transmitted from the first through nth TSVs and the repair TSV in response to the first through nth control signals.
US08339877B2 Semiconductor memory device comprising variable delay unit
A semiconductor memory device comprises a variable delay unit and a data trainer. The variable delay unit is configured to generate a write data signal by delaying a write data driving signal by different amounts of time depending on whether the semiconductor memory device is in a data training mode or a normal operating mode, and further configured to generate a read data driving signal by delaying a read data signal by different amounts of time in the data training mode and the normal operating mode. The data trainer is configured to be activated in the data training mode, and while activated, receive the write data signal, compare the write data signal with a predetermined write pattern, perform a data training mode operation, and output the read data signal with a predetermined read pattern.
US08339873B1 Memory device and method thereof
A first input of a sense amplifier is connected to a first bitline, a second input of the sense amplifier is connected to a second bitline, a third input of the sense amplifier is coupled to a third bitline. The sense amplifier provides at an output an indicator of a storage state of a memory cell connected to the first bitline based upon information provided to the sense amplifier via the first, second, and third bitlines.
US08339864B2 Method of programming nonvolatile memory device
The present invention relates to a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device. A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention can include performing an erase operation, counting an erase pulse application number once the erase operation is completed, comparing the counted erase pulse application number and a reference, defining a program start voltage based on the comparison result, and performing a program operation using the defined program start voltage.
US08339861B2 Method and apparatus of performing an erase operation on a memory integrated circuit
Various discussed approaches include an improved grouping of edge word lines and center word lines of an erase group during erase verify and erase sub-operations of an erase operation. In another approach, changed voltage levels of edge word lines to address the over-erase issue of the erase group, and also improve erase time performance. Another approach uses dummy word lines.
US08339859B2 Nonvolatile memory devices that utilize dummy word line segments to inhibit dishing during fabrication
A NAND flash memory device includes a plurality of continuous conductors disposed on a common level of a multilayer substrate, the plurality of continuous conductors including respective conductive lines extending in parallel along a first direction, respective contact pads disposed at ends of the respective conductive lines and respective conductive dummy lines extending in parallel from the contact pads along a second direction.
US08339858B2 Selecting programming voltages in response to at least a data latch in communication with a sense amplifier
Memory devices and methods of programming memory cells including selecting a voltage to apply to a control gate of the memory cell during programming of a data value of a sense amplifier to the memory cell in response to at least a data value contained in a data latch that is in communication with the sense amplifier.
US08339856B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and semiconductor device
A control circuit is configured to erase a selected block in the erase operation by applying a predetermined potential to the source-line and the third conductive layer to generate a current to increase a potential of the first columnar semiconductor layer and by providing a first voltage to the first conductive layer. The control circuit is configured to keep first conductive layers at a floating state during the first period, while during the second period after the first period, to switch the first conductive layers from the floating state to a state in which the conductive layer is charged to a second voltage higher than the first voltage, in an unselected block in the erase operation.
US08339854B2 Nonvolatile memory device and data randomizing method thereof
A method is for operating a nonvolatile memory device, where the memory device includes a memory cell array and a page buffer block. The method includes loading program data into the page buffer block, loading random sequence data into the page buffer block, generating randomized data by executing a logic operation, such as a bit-wise XOR operation, in the page buffer circuit on the program data and the first random sequence data, and programming the randomized data into the memory cell array.
US08339853B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, nonvolatile semiconductor storage system and method of managing of defective column in nonvolatile semiconductor storage system
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device is disclosed, which includes a memory cell array in which nonvolatile memory cells are arranged, a first data holding circuit which temporarily holds a collective processing unit of read or write data to be simultaneously read from or written to the memory cells, a circuit which takes out the data held in the first data holding circuit from the device, and a second data holding circuit in which data is automatically set at a time when power supply is turned on and in which the data is changeable based on a command input to the device, wherein the collective processing unit is equal to a sum of the number of units used within the device and the maximum number of units continuously output from the device to outside or input to the device from outside.
US08339852B2 Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a sensing circuit that is configured to detect a charge of a common source line and a voltage controller that is configured to vary a level of a voltage being inputted to a word line in response to a result of the detection of the sensing circuit.
US08339851B2 Non-volatile memory device and method of operation therefor
In one embodiment, the non-volatile memory device includes a well of a first conductivity type formed in a substrate, and a first plurality of memory cell transistors connected in series to a bit line formed in the well. A buffer is formed in the substrate outside the well and is connected to the bit line. At least one de-coupling transistor is configured to de-couple the buffer from the bit line, and the de-coupling transistor is formed in the well.
US08339849B2 Semiconductor device and layout method for the semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of bit line patterns; a plurality of pad patterns that are respectively connected to the plurality of bit line patterns; and at least one contact that is formed on each of the plurality of pad patterns, wherein the pitch of the plurality of pad patterns is greater than the pitch of the plurality of bit line patterns. The bit line patterns may be formed using a double patterning technology (DPT).
US08339845B2 Flash memory device, programming method and memory system
Provided is a programming method in a flash memory device. The programming method applies a first pass voltage to a selection word line and a non-selection word line, applies a local voltage to the non-selection word line, applies a second pass voltage to the selection word line, and applies a programming voltage to the selection word line.
US08339843B2 Generating a temperature-compensated write current for a magnetic memory cell
This disclosure describes write current temperature compensation techniques for use in programming a data storage device that includes one or more memory cells. The techniques may include programming a programmable magnetization state of a magnetoresistive device included within a resistance network based on a signal indicative of the operating temperature of a magnetic memory cell. The techniques may further include generating a write current having a magnitude that is determined at least in part by the programmable magnetization state of the magnetoresistive device. The techniques may further include supplying the write current to the magnetic memory cell for programming a programmable magnetization state of the magnetic memory cell.
US08339839B2 SRAM cell for single sided write
A first integrated circuit containing a single sided write SRAM cell array, each SRAM cell having a bit passgate and an auxiliary bit-bar driver transistor. A process of operating the first integrated circuit including a single sided read operation in which source nodes of the auxiliary drivers in both addressed cells and half-addressed cells are floated. A second integrated circuit containing an SRAM cell array, in which each SRAM cell includes a bit-side write passgate, a bit-bar-side read passgate and a bit-bar auxiliary driver transistor. A process of operating the second integrated circuit including a single sided read operation in which source nodes of the auxiliary drivers in both addressed cells and half-addressed cells are biased to a low bias voltage.
US08339832B2 Write-once nonvolatile memory with redundancy capability
A write-once memory can be written only once to each memory cell; therefore, a defective bit cannot be detected by an actual inspection of writing. Accordingly, as described above, the measures, in which a redundant circuit is provided and the defective bit is modified before shipping, cannot be taken; thus, it is difficult to provide a memory with few defects. It is an object of the present invention to provide a write-once memory where the probability of a defect is reduced considerably. A nonvolatile memory that can be written only once includes a redundant memory cell, a first circuit which allocates an address to the redundant memory cell, a second circuit which outputs a determination signal that expresses whether writing is performed normally or not, and a third circuit, to which the determination signal is inputted, which controls the first circuit and the second circuit.
US08339828B2 Semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device combining transistors integrating on a same substrate transistors including an oxide semiconductor in their channel formation region and transistors including non-oxide semiconductor in their channel formation region. An application of the present invention is to realize substantially non-volatile semiconductor memories which do not require specific erasing operation and do not suffer from damages due to repeated writing operation. Furthermore, the semiconductor device is well adapted to store multivalued data. Manufacturing methods, application circuits and driving/reading methods are explained in details in the description.
US08339824B2 Nearest neighbor serial content addressable memory
A digital design and technique may be used to implement a Manhattan Nearest Neighbor content addressable memory function by augmenting a serial content addressable memory design with additional memory and counters for bit serially accumulating in parallel and subsequently comparing in parallel all the Manhattan distances between a serially inputted vector and all corresponding vectors resident in the CAM. Other distance measures, besides a Manhattan distance, may optionally be used in conjunction with similar techniques and designs.
US08339821B2 Electrical appliance and power supply thereof
A power supply includes an adapter and a delay module. The adapter is operable to receive an input voltage and convert the input voltage into a first operation voltage to power a load controlled by a control unit. The adapter includes a filter capacitor configured to smooth the first operation voltage. The delay module detects the input voltage, and supplies a second operation voltage to the control unit when receiving the input voltage. The delay module continues supplying the second operation voltage to the control unit for a predetermined time period after the input voltage is no longer supplied to the adapter. As a result, the load operates for at most the predetermined time period and the filter capacitor discharges via the load after the input voltage is removed.
US08339817B2 Method of operating a resonant power converter and a controller therefor
A method of operating a resonant power converter(1, 2), having a high side switch(3) and a low side switch(4), is disclosed in which the switching is controlled to allow for improved operation at low power levels. The method involved an interruption to the part of the switching cycle in which the low side switch (4) is normally closed, by opening the switch at a particular moment in the cycle which allows the energy to be store in the resonance capacitor (5). Since, as a result, the energy is largely not resonating but stored in a single component, the time quantization of the mode of operation is significantly reduced or eliminated.
US08339814B2 Method and system for efficient power control with multiple modes
Method and system for efficient power control with multiple modes. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a power system with selectable power modes. The power system includes a first terminal for outputting energy, and the first terminal is electrically coupled to a load. The system also includes a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) component that is configured to adjust a pulse frequency based on the load. The system additionally includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) component that is configured to adjust a pulse width based on the load. The system further includes a switch that is electrically coupled to the first terminal. Also, the system includes a control component, the control component being configured to provide a control signal that is capable of causing the switch to be turned on or off. The control signal is associated with an output of the PWM component and the pulse width if an output is greater than a predetermined value. The control signal is associated with an output of the PFM component and the pulse frequency if an output is lower than a predetermined value.