Document Document Title
US08365903B2 Roller drive and system of roller drives
A roller drive and system of roller drives, which includes a roller component driven by an electric motor, the electric motor being supplied from an electronic circuit, which is connected to a secondary coil, which is inductively coupled to a primary conductor installed in the external environment of the roller component, the electric motor, the electronic circuit, and the secondary coil being at least partially surrounded by the roller component so as to form a housing.
US08365902B2 Belt conveyors with retractable wall segments
A conveyor having a conveyor belt with wall segments that pivot between a retracted position below the conveying surface of the belt and an extended position above the conveying surface. When extended, the wall segments form a wall along the length of a portion of the belt to prevent conveyed articles from moving laterally past. The retractable wall segments are cam- or spring-actuated. Diverting conveyors using the retractable wall segments in an oblique-roller conveyor belt are useful as sorters or switches.
US08365901B2 Conveyor pan with changeable trough, and a changeable trough
A conveyor pan for a mining conveyor having a substructure with two side elements and an intermediate floor as well as a changeable trough forming a top strand and being detachably and exchangeably fastenable to the substructure. The trough having side profiles, each with a top web, and the top strand fastening means including screw bolts being fixable in place on the substructure. In order to ease an exchange of the trough, at least the top web of one side profile is provided with a plurality of open-edged indentations, in which there are welded holding strips, which project laterally over the top web and are provided with a plurality of bolt holes for the passage of a plurality of screw bolts.
US08365900B2 System for removably blocking a drawing-abutting element of a case or carton to a cogged belt, and a conveyor obtained with the system
The system for removably blocking a drawing-abutting element to a cogged belt comprises: a drawing-abutting element (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) of an article (3) in turn comprising a base (13) and an upper portion (14) which develops starting from the base (13) and is conformed for drawing or abutting the article (3); a coupling element (10) fixable to a cogged belt (4) at a first surface (23) of the cogged belt (4) located opposite a side (22) in which cogs (5) are arranged, in order to project with respect to the first surface (23); the base (13) of the drawing-abutting element (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) affords a seating (11) for receiving the coupling element (10), the seating (11) and the coupling element (10) being conformed such as to joint-couple to one another; the base (13) affords at least a through-hole (17) opening in the first seating (11); the system further comprising first removable fastening means (12) for engaging in the at least a through-hole (17) and blocking the drawing-abutting elements (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) to the coupling element (10) when the drawing-abutting elements (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) and the coupling element (10) are joint-coupled to one another.
US08365895B2 Pressure plate
A pressure plate for use in a friction clutch assembly comprises a substantially flat annular coupling face for frictional engagement with a coupling face of a clutch plate and one or more discontinuities formed in the coupling face of the pressure plate. The discontinuity(ies) decrease a greater relative proportion of the surface area closer to an inner radius of the coupling face of the pressure plate than an outer radius of the coupling face of the pressure plate to increase a mean effective radius of the surface area. The discontinuity(ies) include a generally circumferential groove around an inner portion of the coupling face of the pressure plate and, at each end of the generally circumferential groove, a wiper portion of the coupling face of the pressure plate extending inwardly toward an axis of rotation of the pressure plate(s).
US08365894B2 Hydraulic system
A hydraulic system is presented with a hydraulic fluid, with a work element actuable by the fluid, with a fluid pump for the application of a fluid pressure to the fluid, with the fluid pump being operable to generate a reference depression in the system, and with a pressure sensor for the measurement of the fluid pressure which is in communication with a control unit which is designed to carry out a calibration of the pressure sensor with reference to the reference depression.
US08365882B2 Spring for a composite brake disk and composite brake disk
A spring for a composite brake disk. The spring has a planar central region with a hole and two spring regions which are formed symmetrically to one another and which in each case on sides lying opposite one another adjoin the planar central region. The spring regions in each case have an arc and a spring arm. Preferably, the spring arms have in each case an end region with a rounded bearing surface. By such a spring being used, a simple construction of a composite brake disk is made possible, the occurrence of hotspots and the effect of thermal rubbing being as far as possible avoided. At the same time, a functionally appropriate fit of the spring is ensured, the load on the pot due to the bearing surface of the spring being kept extremely low.
US08365881B2 Bicycle disk brake apparatus with laminated components
A bicycle disk brake rotor apparatus comprises a generally circular first rotor member and a generally circular first second rotor member. The first rotor member has a first fixing component structured to mount the first rotor member to a hub mounting member, and the first second rotor member has a first fixing component structured to mount the first second rotor member to the hub mounting member. The first rotor member is attached to a side of the first second rotor member, and the first second rotor member is formed of a material having greater braking wear resistance than the first rotor member.
US08365874B2 Electric parking brake actuator
An electric parking brake actuator has an actuator device, a brake device and a cable-tension measuring device. The brake device has a cable and a tube assembly. The cable is mounted through the actuator device. The tube assembly is mounted around the cable and has a first tube, a second tube, a spring, a Hall IC and a magnet. The cable-tension measuring device has a first member and a second member which are mounted around the cable. The second member is capable of moving toward the first member relatively. The compressible spring is mounted between and abuts the first member and the second member. The Hall IC and the magnet are respectively mounted securely on the first member and the second member. The Hall IC is capable of measuring how much the spring is compressed to further measure the tension of the cable.
US08365872B2 Elevator device having the plurality of hoisting machines
In an elevator device, a car is raised and lowered by a plurality of hoisting machines respectively including hoisting machine brakes. Each of the hoisting machine brakes has a braking force large enough to stop the car by itself. Each of a plurality of brake control sections respectively for controlling the corresponding hoisting machine brakes includes a plurality of calculation sections. The calculation sections can detect a failure of the calculation sections by comparing own results of calculations and cause a corresponding one of the hoisting machine brakes to perform a braking operation upon detection of the failure of the calculation sections.
US08365871B2 Electronic device and method for monitoring an elevator
A method for monitoring an elevator controls an image capturing device located inside the elevator to capture a current image inside the elevator when a malfunction of the elevator is detected by one or more monitor devices. The method further analyzes the current image to determines if there are passengers trapped inside the elevator. In addition, the method generates a rescue message and sends the rescue message to an emergency response department through a network upon the condition that there are passengers trapped inside the elevator.
US08365870B2 Foldable handrail and safety switch arrangement on top of an elevator car
An elevator car includes a foldable handrail mounted on top of the car. Safety switches are associated with the foldable handrail including a first safety switch and a second safety switch. The first safety switch is closed only when the handrail is folded in a fully retracted position. The second safety switch is closed when the handrail is unfolded in a fully deployed position. A safety chain is associated with the first and second safety switches for supplying power to an elevator drive system in a normal operation or an inspection operation depending on the state of the first and second safety switches.
US08365866B2 Internal lubrication for a gearbox, a power-generating wind turbine system, and a power-generating system
A gearbox including a gear-train including an input and an output and a rotating conduit internally traversing the gear-train is provided. The rotating conduit is configured to receive lubrication fluid from one or more components downstream of the rotating conduit and deliver lubrication fluid to one or more components upstream of the rotating conduit. The components downstream of the rotating conduit rotate at a different speed than components upstream of the rotating conduit.
US08365858B2 Harness arrangement structure of vehicle
A harness arrangement structure of a vehicle comprises a pair of front side frames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, an internal combustion engine provided between the front side frames, a pair of front tires provided on a vehicle outside of the front side frames, a battery device provided at a specified position which is located on the vehicle outside of the front side frame and in front of one of the front tires, an electric-power control device for battery device provided in back of the front tire, and a harness interconnecting the electric-power control device and the battery device and arranged along a wheel arch which is formed above the front tires. Accordingly, the battery device can be effectively cooled and the harness interconnecting the battery device and the electric-power control device can be arranged properly.
US08365856B2 Shifting system for a motorcycle, and motorcycle incorporating same
A shifting system for a motorcycle includes a shift link mechanism for transmitting operational force during a gear shifting operation. The shift link mechanism is arranged between a shift spindle and a change pedal operated by a shifting movement. A motion capture mechanism is provided on the shift link mechanism so as to transmit the operational force from the change pedal to the shift spindle via an resilient member including a compressive coil spring.
US08365845B2 High impact resistant tool
In one aspect of the present invention, a high impact resistant tool comprises a sintered polycrystalline diamond body bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at an interface, the body comprising a substantially pointed geometry with an apex, the apex comprising a curved surface that joins a leading side and a trailing side of the body at a first and second transitions respectively, an apex width between the first and second transitions is less than a third of a width of the substrate, and the body also comprises a body thickness from the apex to the interface greater than a third of the width of the substrate.
US08365843B2 Downhole tool actuation
In one aspect of the invention, a downhole tool string component has at least one end adapted to connect to an adjacent tool sting component and a bore adapted to accommodate a flow of drilling fluid. A turbine is disposed within the bore and an actuating assembly is arranged such that a clutch may mechanically connect and disconnect with the turbine.
US08365842B2 Ratchet mechanism in a fluid actuated device
A tool comprising a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular body includes a guided sleeve and a reciprocating sleeve disposed within the bore. A gearwheel is located on an outer surface of the guided sleeve and at least one pawl located on an inner surface of the reciprocating sleeve. When the reciprocating sleeve translates axially, it rotates in a first direction. As the reciprocating sleeve rotates, the at least one pawl pushes the gearwheel and causes the guided sleeve to rotate in the first direction into a new position.
US08365840B2 Method and device for controlling at least one drilling parameter for rock drilling
The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling at least one drill parameter when drilling in rock with a drilling machine. During drilling, an impulse-generating device uses an impact means to induce shock waves in a tool working against the rock, a pressure level for a shock-wave-generating pressure is controlled during the drilling, and said drilling machine includes a damping chamber that can be pressurized. The contact of the drilling machine against the rock is affected at least partially by the pressure prevailing in said damping chamber. When the pressure in said damping chamber exceeds said first level and is below said second level, the percussion pressure is controlled as a function of the pressure in said damping chamber.
US08365836B2 Fire prevention equipment
A wide protection range can be ensured by extending the flying distance of fire-extinguishing agent particles electrified and sprayed from a head. A water-based fire-extinguishing agent is pressurized and supplied to an electrification spray head 10 installed in a protection area A via a pipe, the jetted particles of the fire-extinguishing agent are electrified and sprayed from the electrification spray head 10. The electrification spray head mixes and sprays the fire-extinguishing agent having a comparatively small particle size included in a range from 30 μM to 200 μm by a small-particle jetting nozzle 38a and the fire-extinguishing agent having a comparatively-large particle size of 200 μm to 2000 μm by a large-particle jetting nozzle 38b, thereby carrying the group of the fire-extinguishing-agent particles having the small particle size by the air current caused by spraying the group of the fire-extinguishing-agent particles having the large particle size.
US08365833B2 Variable Tg shape memory polyurethane for wellbore devices
Wellbore devices for use in filtration, wellbore isolation, production control, lifecycle management and wellbore construction may include at least a first and a second shape-memory material each having a an altered geometric position and each an original geometric position. Each shape-memory material may include a polyurethane material held in the altered geometric run-in position at a temperature below glass transition temperature (Tg), where the Tgs and/or the respective slope changes of the first and second polyurethane materials are different. Once the wellbore device is in place downhole and the first and second shape-memory materials are subjected to temperatures above their Tgs, the materials will deploy and expand to recovered geometric positions at or near their original geometric positions to perform their filtration, isolation, control or other function. These deployments or expansions may occur at different times or rates.
US08365829B2 Tubular seat and tubular actuating system
A pluggable seat includes, a first portion, positionable within a tubular, that is receptive to a runnable member seatable thereagainst, a second portion positioned downstream of the first portion, having a radial dimension smaller than a smallest radial dimension of the first portion, and a profile disposed at the second portion configured to increase resistance to extrusion of a runnable member past the pluggable seat in comparison to the same pluggable seat without the profile.
US08365827B2 Fracturing method to reduce tortuosity
A series of jet nozzles have a telescoping structure designed to impact the borehole wall and initiate a fracture. The nozzles can be extended through fluid pumped through them or with some mechanical force from within the bottom hole assembly. The leading ends of the telescoping assembly can be sharp and hardened to facilitate the initiation of a formation fracture in an open hole. The telescoping structures can be disposed in a single or multiple rows with the circumferential spacing being such that each telescoping structure is designed to cover a target circumferential distance of 45 degrees or less so that jetted fluid from at least one jet will be within 22.5 degrees of a location of maximum formation stresses to reduce the tortuosity of the created fractures from jetting through the nozzles with possible enhancement of the fracturing from added annulus pressure.
US08365825B1 Suppressing voltage transients in perforation operations
A perforating system includes a casing collar locator. The casing collar locator includes a coil. The perforating system includes a plurality of perforation charge elements. Each perforation charge element is in a circuit parallel to the coil. The perforating system includes a transient voltage suppressor in a circuit parallel to the coil.
US08365824B2 Perforating and fracturing system
A system for use in borehole completion is provided and includes a perforating sub, a firing sub having a first port and an interior and including a firing assembly disposable within the interior and operably coupled to the perforating sub and a drilling fluid barrier, which is formed with a second port and is displaceable toward a position at which the first and second ports align to form a fluid path through the interior that is sufficiently pressurizable to actuate the firing assembly, a drop plug selectively engageable with the drilling fluid barrier to enable displacement thereof to the position in response to applied pressures and an isolation sub, into which the drop plug is receivable following disengagement thereof from the drilling fluid barrier.
US08365823B2 In-situ upgrading of heavy crude oil in a production well using radio frequency or microwave radiation and a catalyst
A method for heating heavy oil inside a production well. The method raises the subsurface temperature of heavy oil by utilizing an activator that has been injected below the surface. The activator is then excited with a generated microwave frequency such that the excited activator heats the heavy oil.
US08365815B2 System for extracting and decontaminating groundwater
A system for the exploitation of geothermal heat and for conveying and decontaminating ground water is disclosed. The system comprises a main pipe (20), arranged in a pit (10) of well and is subdivided into an upper and a lower part by a transverse seal (21). The transverse seal has an opening in which a pump (22) is arranged which delivers water from the lower part of the main pipe. The pump is connected to a delivery pipe (30) which is connected to an overground closed circuit. The closed circuit at its other end leads to the upper part of the main pipe and the main pipe has through openings (23) towards the surroundings upstream and downstream of the transverse seal. The main pipe is surrounded by a porous bed which surrounds the hollow space of the pit around the main pipe. The porous bed is interrupted by a sealing material (12) at the level of the transverse seal so that the porous bed is hydraulically interrupted. The use of the system is also described.
US08365812B2 Shell and tube heat exchanger
The shell and tube heat exchanger includes a shell having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a plurality of tubes disposed inside the shell, the tubes having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. An impingement baffle having a plurality of perforations is disposed in the shell between the shell fluid inlet and the tubes. The impingement baffle is configured to guide a heat exchanger fluid from the shell fluid inlet to distribute the heat exchanger fluid uniformly around the tubes. The perforations prevent recirculation and stagnation of fluid flow behind the baffle, thereby preventing fouling and corrosion with subsequent thinning of the tube walls.
US08365808B1 Process and apparatus for minimizing the potential for explosions in the direct chill casting of aluminum lithium alloys
Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.
US08365807B2 Reduction of butt curl by pulsed water flow in DC casting
The invention provides a method of reducing butt curl during DC casting of a metal ingot. The ingot is cast in at least two stages, including an initial casting stage and then a steady-state casting stage carried out at higher casting speed. The emerging ingot is cooled by directing a liquid coolant onto its outer surface. During the first casting stage, the liquid coolant is directed in the form of at least two streams, including a constant first stream in the form of a series of first jets, and an intermittent second stream in the form of a series of second jets. The first and second jets impact the outer surface at locations spaced from each other peripherally and/or longitudinally of the ingot. Both the first and second streams experience film boiling when they contact the ingot. The invention includes apparatus for the method.
US08365804B1 Portable inflatable protective partitioning system
An inflatable separation device and method of using the device to form a gas-impermeable barrier in a structural location such as a hallway. The device also provides a safe, effective passage across the barrier to form a concealed region for decontamination protocols. The inflatable separation device includes an inflatable support frame and a cover that envelops the support frame and forms an enclosed interior space when the support frame is inflated. An inflatable perimeter sealing bladder is disposed about the cover and adapted to form a seal between the cover and exterior surfaces of a structural space when the support frame and the sealing bladder are inflated.
US08365795B2 Window shade and method of use thereof
A window shade that reduces the risk of an individual becoming entangled in cords used to operate the shade includes a headrail adapted for horizontal mounting above a window, a shading material attached to the headrail, and at least one cord for raising and lowering the shading material. The cord is attached to a location adjacent a lower end of the material, and extends upward through cord guides toward the headrail. The cord is encased within a collapsible shroud attached to each cord guide. The shroud is adapted to longitudinally extend as the shading material is lowered toward a deployed position, and then longitudinally collapse as the shading material is raised toward a stowed position.
US08365788B2 Label printer applicator system
A printer system includes a print and apply device that receives a single data stream containing label printing/encoding data and positioning data. The print and apply device transmits label data to a printer/encoder portion of the system and positioning data to motors that move the system. Once the printer portion and the applicator portion have indicated they are ready, a signal is sent to apply the label. The label can be applied anywhere in the X, Y, and/or Z directions on a package.
US08365787B2 Pneumatic tire with cord layer part close to tire outer surface
The pneumatic tire includes: an air permeation preventive layer disposed in the inner surface of the tire; a belt layer buried in a tread part; and a cord layer formed by arranging a plurality of cords. The cord layer is disposed between the air permeation preventive layer and the belt layer, and extends to a bead part side further from a tire maximum width position. In addition, at least a part of the cord layer is located close to the outer surface of the tire, at a position closer to the bead part side than the tire maximum width position, so that the distance between the cords and the outer surface of the tire is not more than 1 mm.
US08365786B2 Tire for heavy vehicle
A tire for a heavy vehicle, with radial carcass reinforcement, having an outside radius R greater than 1000 mm, comprising a crown reinforcement radially interposed between the carcass reinforcement and the tread, said crown reinforcement having at least one protective crown reinforcement radially adjacent to the tread. The tire comprises a complex having at least one layer of polymer mix with an axial width that is less than the width of the working crown reinforcement and with a thickness that is greater than 16 mm, the elastic modulus of said complex having a radial gradient, the lowest elastic modulus being greater than 15 MPa.
US08365779B2 Liquid quantity measuring apparatus, liquid quantity measuring method and method for supplying quantitively supplying liquid material
The present invention is aimed at providing a method for simply measuring the liquid quantity of liquid material in a receptacle. A liquid quantity measuring apparatus for use in a liquid material supplying system comprising a receptacle for storing liquid material, a first pipe for feeding feeder gas into said receptacle, a first shutoff valve provided in said first pipe, a second shutoff valve provided in said first pipe downstream of said first shutoff valve and a second pipe for supplying the liquid material from said receptacle to supplier's destinations, and for measuring the liquid quantity of the liquid material in said receptacle, the measuring apparatus comprising: —a first pressure detection means for detecting the pressure of feeder gas in said pipe between said first shutoff valve and said second shutoff valve; —a second pressure detection means for detecting the pressure of gas in said receptacle; and —an arithmetic processing means for seeking by arithmetic calculation the liquid quantity of the liquid material in said receptacle on the basis of the detection results of said first pressure detection means and said second pressure detection means.
US08365777B2 Compressor fill method and apparatus
A method an apparatus for filling a vessel with compressed gas is disclosed. Gas is compressed into the vessel at a predetermined flow rate using a variable speed pump or compressor. The flow rate is adjusted to increase the gas pressure at a predetermined rate of change. The flow rate is adjusted based upon the instantaneous value of a measured parameter such as gas temperature or pressure or ambient temperature. The parameter is measured by a transducer and the value is fed back to a controller which adjusts the speed of the compressor or pump to produce the flow rate needed to achieve the predetermined pressure rate of change.
US08365774B2 Method for repairing flexible tube
Around a damaged area of a jacket of a flexible tube, a top coat layer whose adhesion to a polymer layer is weak is peeled off with an adhesive tape. The damaged area and its immediate surrounding area are sanded, and then wiped with ethanol for cleaning. A main agent and a hardening agent are heated and defoamed while being mixed to prepare a repair material. The repair material is applied to the damaged area and the immediate surrounding area. A heat shrink tube is opened along slits in an end portion and covers the flexible tube. The heat shrink tube is shrunk with hot air, pressing the repair material and making it flush with a surface of the jacket. The flexible tube is heated with an electric hot plate to harden the repair material. Thereafter, the heat shrink tube is peeled off from the flexible tube.
US08365768B2 Fluidic device unit structure
A fluidic device unit structure in which a plurality of fluidic devices are integrated and which is effective in reducing a footprint is provided. With a fluidic device unit structure in which a plurality of fluidic devices that are connected by channels are integrated in a base member 10 in parallel, the base member 10, which has a plurality of mounting surfaces 11 on which pure-water opening and closing valves 5 are mounted, includes a pure-water circulation supply line 2 that passes through the base member 10 and that is connected in parallel to the pure-water opening and closing valves 5 via pure-water branch channels 4.
US08365763B2 Pilot-controlled pressure limiting valve
A pressure limiting valve has a control element (10) which can be acted on in an opening direction, against a first control face, by a pressure which is to be limited, and which can be acted on in a closing direction by a spring (16) and, against a second control face, by a control pressure prevailing in a control pressure space (14). The pressure prevailing in the control pressure space can be limited by means of a pilot control valve (21). A control fluid can be supplied to the control pressure space through the control element via a control fluid nozzle (48). Upstream of the first control face, a plate (38) is held on the control element. Formed between the plate and the first control face is a gap with a predefined gap dimension. Said gap is situated upstream of the control fluid nozzle.
US08365757B2 Valve device for fuel tank
A valve body and a float body are combined by respectively coupling two or more coupling parts provided on one of the valve body and the float body to coupled parts provided on the other of the valve body and the flat body in a state allowing upward and downward movements of the valve body. During descent of the float body, one coupling part of the two or more coupling parts is caught on the coupled parts ahead of the other coupling parts whereby the valve body is tilted, and the other coupling parts restrict the tilting of the valve body.
US08365754B2 Valve cover assembly and method of using the same
A valve cover assembly for a pump. In an embodiment, the valve cover assembly comprises a first cylindrical member having a central axis and a first throughbore. In addition, the valve cover assembly comprises a second cylindrical member coaxially disposed within the first throughbore and rotatable relative to the first cylindrical member about the central axis between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the second cylindrical member is axially translatable relative to the first cylindrical member. In the second position, the second cylindrical member is axially fixed relative to the first cylindrical member.
US08365751B2 Multipurpose hunting blinds, methods of making hunting blinds and methods of using hunting blinds
Hunting blinds include a frame comprising two rod attachment structures at opposing longitudinal sides and a plurality of support attachment structures extending between and coupled to the two rod attachment structures. A rod is coupled to each of the two rod attachment structures, and a support member rod is coupled to each of the support attachment structures. Methods of using hunting blinds and methods of making hunting blinds are also disclosed.
US08365746B2 Safely operable handle device for an automatic foldable umbrella
A safely operable handle device for an automatic foldable umbrella includes a grip shell coupled with a telescopic central shaft unit, a retained block releasably blocked to hold the umbrella in an opened state, a reel member rotatably mounted in the grip shell and biased to reel in a force transmission cord to restrict extending movement of the central shaft unit, a pawl member movable to engage or disengage from a ratchet tooth of the reel member, and a force-transmitting mechanism urged to move from a lower position to an upper position, and having a camming surface mated with a cammed surface of the pawl member to move the pawl member to engage the ratchet tooth so as to prevent undesirable unfolding of the central shaft unit as a result of accidental slip-off during folding.
US08365745B2 Eyelash curler
An eyelash curler used to shape an upper eyelash so as to make it appear longer and more full. The eyelash curler employs a “roller system” that curls an upper eyelash, rather than a “pressing system” that bends or crimps an upper eyelash to achieve a curled effect as with conventional eyelash curlers. The forming members of the eyelash curler, in all the embodiments of the present invention, are cylindrical and curved like the upper eyelash line to help achieve curling, and are less likely than conventional eyelash curlers to damage an eyelash.
US08365744B1 Hair cutting design kit
A kit for creating decorative haircut designs includes a hair design stencil that, when held against a subject body of hair, at least partly defines a desired haircut design, and at least partly bounds a region of hair to be decoratively cut, said stencil having a flexible panel, wherein selected portions of the panel are removed to define the at least parts of the desired haircut design; a hair marking compound that is applied to the hair defined by the hair design stencil; and hair clippers for cutting the desired haircut design according to the applied hair marking compound. The kit may include a stencil frame for releasably holding the stencil near the edges, and wherein the stencil frame includes a handle. The hair design stencil may be a plastic or paper sheet, and multiple stencils may be used simultaneously or sequentially. Multiple marking compound colors may be used.
US08365743B2 Tool for hair extension removal
A hair extension removal tool is generally shaped like a pair of pliers with two jaws formed of two elongated members pivotally joined together. A body is attached to the first elongated member and houses a solvent container therein. A tubing extends from the container to an opening on an inside surface of one of the jaws. The container has a pump for ejecting an amount of the solvent through the tubing. A lever attached to the body is provided for activating the pump. In use, a strand of extension hair is placed within the jaws of the removal tool, the lever is pressed to eject an appropriate amount of the solvent through the tubing, and pressure is applied to the hair extension with the jaws of the tool to weaken the attachment, until the bonding material is sufficiently dissolved and the extension hair is detached and removed.
US08365742B2 Aerosol electronic cigarette
An aerosol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a cigarette bottle assembly and also includes a shell (a) which is hollow and integrally formed. Said battery assembly connects with said atomizer assembly and both are located in said shell (a). Said cigarette bottle assembly is located in one end of the shell (a), which is detachable. Said cigarette bottle assembly fits with said atomizer assembly. Said shell (a) has through-air-inlets (a1).
US08365741B2 Restless leg syndrome treatment
The present invention describes a method of treating restless leg syndrome by eliminating venous reflux in an underlying vein. The malfunctioning vein can be removed or ablated by inserting a catheter into the vein that transmits sufficient energy to coagulate or ablate the lining of the vein causing it to permanently close, eliminating the source of venous reflux and the symptom of restless leg syndrome.
US08365740B1 Methods and apparatus for restraining a person
A patient restraining device is secured to a patient supporting structure to more safely support a person's body during transport from one place to another. The device includes a sheet of fabric and connector straps secured to the fabric. After the device is fastened to the patient supporting structure, and the person is positioned on the patient supporting structure, the fabric is wrapped about the person's body, and the connector straps are secured about the fabric and the person's body. Among other things, the device may be used to increase the “patient capacity” of an otherwise conventional ambulance cot.
US08365736B2 Nasal devices with respiratory gas source
Described here are devices for altering the flow of air in a respiratory cavity such as the mouth and nostrils of the nose. These methods and devices may be useful for affecting a physiologic benefit in patients suffering from a variety of medical diseases, particularly those that may benefit from “pursed-lip” breathing and non-invasive ventilation, such as COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and other medical disorders. The devices are typically removable devices that may be placed over or in a respiratory cavity to increase resistance to airflow within the respiratory cavity. Resistance to expiration may be selectively increased relative to inspiration. Removable oral and removable nasal devices are described. Oral and nasal devices that filter inhaled airflow of debris and allergens are also provided. A nasal device that increases patency of the nares is also provided.
US08365731B2 Pressure reducing valve with flexible cuff
A pressure reducing valve for use in a system adapted to deliver a breathing gas to a patient. The pressure reducing valve is structured to communicate a flow of breathing gas to such a patient's airway during an inspiratory phase. The pressure reducing valve is structured to discharge the flow of breathing gas and a flow of exhaled gas to atmosphere during the expiratory phase. The flow of breathing gas and flow of exhaled gas are discharged to atmosphere through a number of exhaust ports. Because the flow of breathing gas and flow of exhalation gas are discharged through the exhaust ports, less effort is required by a patient during the expiratory phase.
US08365728B2 Portable gas powered positive pressure breathing apparatus and method
A portable positive pressure breathing apparatus includes a demand valve with a supply inlet port adapted to be connected to a pressurized source of oxygen and an outlet port adapted to be connected to the inlet of a patient's breathing appliance. The demand valve further includes a reference chamber and a valve assembly responsive to the reference chamber/appliance inlet pressure differential for connecting/disconnecting the inlet port to and from the outlet port. At least one manually adjustable back pressure regulator is connected to the pressure source and the reference chamber for setting the pressure in the reference chamber (and inlet to the breathing appliance) at a selected level above atmospheric pressure.
US08365726B2 Tub for humidifier
A humidifier includes a tub. The tub includes a base plate; a tub base; a seal between the base plate and the tub base; and a latch mechanism that connects the base plate to the tub base so that the base plate is engaged with the seal. The latch mechanism may include an overcenter latch pivotably attached to the tub base and latch tabs formed on the base plate, the overcenter latch engaging the latch tabs in the connected position to connect the base plate to the tub base. The latch mechanism may alternatively include resilient tabs on the tub base, the resilient tabs elastically biasing the base plate toward the tub base upon connection of the base plate to the tub base. The resilient tabs may include tamper evident projections that indicate that the base plate has been disconnected from the tub base. The base plate may be stainless steel and be formed by stamping. The base plate may include a stamped ring. The humidifier further includes a tub lid configured to cover the tub to form a water container. A cradle receives the water container. A hinged lid on the cradle is pivotable between an open position permitting insertion of the water container into the cradle and a closed position covering the inserted water container. A heating element contacts the base plate when the water container is inserted into the cradle. The humidifier is connectable to a flow generator of a CPAP device.
US08365723B2 Filter cartridge having cone of visibility for end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI)
A filter cartridge 12 that includes a filter material 42, an end-of-service-life-indicator 40, a cartridge housing 22, and a window 38. The filter material 42 and ESLI 40 are disposed in the housing, and the ESLI 40 may be viewed through the window 38. The window 38 is configured such that the ESLI 40 can only be seen within a cone defined by an angle θ of 20 to 70 degrees. The limited viewing range precludes reader error when examining the ESLI for color change.
US08365721B2 Methods and apparatus for intraocular brachytherapy
A method for performing intraocular brachytherapy and an apparatus for performing the same is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a hand-held delivery device that advances a radiation source into an associated cannula or probe that is positioned adjacent the target tissue. The handpiece provides for shielded storage of the radiation source when retracted from the cannula and includes a slider mechanism for advancing and retracting the radiation source. The radiation source is mounted to a wire that has a flexible distal end and a relatively stiffer proximal end. A positioning system for the cannula is also disclosed.
US08365718B2 Method and control system for operating a solar power tower system
A solar energy collection system includes a primary solar receiver and a secondary solar receiver. The secondary solar receiver generates steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. The primary solar receiver receives the generated steam from the secondary solar receiver and superheats the steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. A plurality of heliostat-mounted mirrors reflects incident solar radiation onto one of the primary and secondary solar receivers. A controller aims a portion of the heliostat-mounted mirrors at the primary solar receiver such that a predetermined thermal profile is provided on a surface of the primary solar receiver.
US08365715B2 Combined apparatus for machining of articles in particular in form of slabs
An apparatus for machining an article (L) in the form of a slab or the like comprises—in addition to a rotary tool (24) associated with a spindle (22)—a nozzle (26) ejecting water at very high pressure. Both the rotary tool and the nozzle are supported by a carriage (20) sliding along a beam (18) in turn sliding along two shoulders (14) in a perpendicular direction. In the working area (12) and above a tank (30) normally filled with water, the article (L) is supported in a horizontal position not only by an interchangeable grid (32; 52), but preferably also by a disposable support (34) which prevent the rotary tool (24) from coming into contact with the grid. The disposable support is periodically replaced.
US08365713B2 Bowstring suppressor
A bowstring suppressor for an archery bow including a suppressor assembly and/or a bowstring attachment element. The assembly can include a housing within which resilient elastomeric elements are located. A push rod can be telescopically joined with the housing and located near the resilient elements. An engagement element can be joined with the push rod and can be engaged by a bowstring when an arrow is shot from the bow. The push rod can move toward the resilient elements and compress them when the bowstring engages the engagement element. Compression of the resilient elements provides energy absorption, vibration absorption and/or dampening in relation to energy generated by the bow. A string attachment element can be joined with the bowstring and can engage the suppressor assembly, with the attachment element seating in and optionally deforming the engagement element, which in turn, restrains lateral and vertical movement of the bowstring.
US08365712B2 Limb connection apparatus for archery bows
A traditional archery bow includes a handle assembly, a bowstring, and at least one connection apparatus. The handle assembly includes a riser, an upper limb, and a lower limb. The upper and lower limbs each include a proximal end connected to the riser and a distal end. The bowstring extends between the distal ends of the upper and lower limbs. The at least one connection apparatus is mounted to at least one of the upper or lower limbs. An accessory such as a bushing or stabilizer may be mounted to one of the limbs with the connection apparatus.
US08365711B2 Ball feeding device for a ball pitching machine and method of using the same
A device for attachment to a chute of a ball pitching machine includes a ball feeder tube having a first end for receiving a first ball. A retaining member is fixed relative to the ball feeder tube and extends transversely to the ball feeder tube into the bore for selectively retaining the first ball in the bore. The retaining member is resiliently deformable toward the ball feeder tube for allowing the first ball to move past the retaining member toward the chute upon application of a predetermined force on the first ball. The ball feeder tube defines a bore having a diameter. The retaining member is spaced along the bore a first distance from the first end. The first distance is shorter than the diameter of the bore so that insertion of a second ball into the first end with the predetermined force displaces the first ball toward the chute.
US08365708B2 Apparatus for reforming air in an internal combustion engine
An apparatus for reforming air in an internal combustion engine including means for generating electrical current that oscillates at radio frequency and conducting medium being in communication thereof, said means for generating electrical current that oscillates at radio frequency including radio frequency generating unit being in communication with a voltage multiplier, said means for generating electrical current that oscillates at radio frequency being arranged such that it is confined in a low temperature surrounding than the outside temperature, and said conductive medium having an air reforming zone with a plurality of conductive elements, said conductive elements being arranged in a manner wherein they are capable of introducing substantial electromagnetic radiation to the air within the air reforming zone to facilitate production of nitrous oxide for introduction to the air/fuel mixture of the internal combustion engine.
US08365702B2 Internal combustion engine
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1), in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising at least one cylinder (3) that defines a combustion chamber (4) and in which a piston (5) can be adjusted with regard to stroke. Each cylinder (3) comprises at least one intake opening (6) for a fresh mixture. Each intake opening (6) is associated with an intake valve (7) that works together with an associated valve seat (8) in order to control the intake opening (6). At least one such intake opening (6) is provided with a guide mask (9) that laterally encloses the respective valve seat (8) on a side that is opposite the respective combustion chamber (4) along a delimited circumferential section. Each intake opening (6) is associated with an intake canal (10). In order to improve the operation of the internal combustion engine (1), at least one intake canal (10) leading to a masked intake opening (6) is associated with an additional valve (11) for controlling the intake canal (10).
US08365701B1 Diesel engines operating with an equivalence ratio near unity
A method of operating a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine having at least one cylinder acting as a compression cylinder and at least one cylinder action as a combustion cylinder. The method comprise compressing air in the compression cylinder, and in the combustion cylinder, opening and then closing an exhaust valve during an exhaust stroke to trap some exhaust gas, during a compression stoke immediately following the exhaust stroke, injecting a controlled amount of fuel into the combustion chamber to obtain compression ignition at or near a top dead center piston position without reaching combustion temperatures at which NOX is formed, and injecting compressed air and fuel during a power stroke immediately following the compression stroke to sustain combustion to burn the fuel with an equivalence ratio within a predetermined range around unity. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US08365692B2 Valve drive for gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, comprising a movable cam support and twin worm gear
A valve drive assembly cooperable with gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine having a cam shaft and at least one came support rotatably fixed and axially displaceable on the cam shaft and having at least two cam profiles selectively engageable with a roller provided on a follower engageable with a valve comprising a cam support having a cylindrical surface disposed coaxially with a cam shaft, provided with a pair of oppositely inclined, spiral grooves; and means selectively insertable into the grooves, coacting with side walls of such grooves as the cam shaft rotates to effect axial displacement of the cam support.
US08365688B2 Method and apparatus for reformation of fuels at low temperatures
A method and reactor suitable for reformation of fuels at low temperatures is disclosed. The method includes introducing an oxidized porous metal felts with a catalyst powder in a reaction chamber having a heat exchange relationship with a heat-providing chamber, vaporizing a liquid mixture of alcohol and water using an Inconel tubing, and introducing the vaporized liquid into the reaction chamber for producing a methane gas. The fuel reforming reactor includes a heat-providing chamber in a heat exchange relationship with at least one reaction chamber. Each reaction chamber having an aluminum shim lining on at least one interior surface. Each reaction chamber accommodating a catalyst powder and an oxidized porous metal felt. The catalyst powder loaded onto the oxidized porous metal felt to facilitate production of methane gas from alcohol for use with the internal combustion engine.
US08365687B2 Tube shield and a method for attaching such shield to a boiler tube
A tube shield has a cylindrical shape and adapted to be attached with refractory cement (R) around an outer peripheral surface of a boiler tube (T). The tube shield has at least two tube shield parts for surrounding the boiler tube (T). The shield parts has complimentary parting surfaces for defining a gap between abutting complimentary parting surfaces of adjacent shield parts when the shield parts are attached with refractory cement (R) around the boiler tube (T). Each shield part encloses 140-220° of the total circumference of the boiler tube (T). Each complimentary parting surface is configured in a dovetail form such that one shield part is locking into the other shield part with dovetail protrusions (DP) located in dovetail slots (DS) in the other shield part.
US08365686B2 Malfunction detection device for hot water supplier
A malfunction detection device for a hot water supplier has a tank temperature detection thermistor for detecting a hot water temperature of a hot water storage tank and is configured such that when the detected hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank is a reference temperature or higher, a relay provided at a tank printed circuit board stops power supply from a tank unit to a heat pump unit. A heat pump shutdown command is a standby power saving command for saving a standby power of the heat pump unit.
US08365685B2 Loop for restraining pets
A flexible loop for restraining animals during handling such as during grooming or examination or operation or in bath tubs with a swivel snap closure mechanism or fixed means at its top and, at the bottom of the flexible loop, fixed means. The loop is suitable for attachment to a grooming arm or to tethers to cross-tie the animal in place. The fixed means is preferably a D-ring.
US08365675B2 Railway vehicle comprising pivoting end bogies
A railway vehicle including two end bogies is provided. Each end bogie includes a chassis; two front wheels and two rear wheels; for each front wheel and each rear wheel, guide for guiding the wheel in rotation and a primary suspension device of the chassis on the guide. At least the primary suspension devices associated with the front and rear wheels arranged on the same first lateral side of the bogie include two longitudinal connecting rods, each connected by a first connection point to the chassis, and by a second connection point to the corresponding guide, at least one resilient component inserted between the two connecting rods to define at least the vertical stiffness of the primary suspension device, the two connecting rods being offset longitudinally relative to one another. Each end bogie includes pivot connector suitable for connecting the end bogie to the vehicle.
US08365665B2 Fireworks igniter system and method
A fireworks igniter system and method for safely igniting fuse-type fireworks including a handheld igniter module and a remote control module. An igniter head at the proximal end of the igniter module includes a heater element and fuse clamp slide which receives and biasingly molds the fuse against the heater element. A microprocessor in the igniter module includes an infrared receiver and an igniter module actuator. The remote control module includes an infrared emitter and a remote control module actuator, the infrared emitter emitting a coded IR signal in response to activation of the actuator. The IR signal is sensed by the infrared receiver to activate the igniter module actuator and deliver electric current to the heater element sufficient to ignite the fuse.
US08365662B2 Direct engraving of flexographic printing plates
A system for engraving flexographic printing plates, is presented. A flexographic plate (104) is mounted on an imaging drum 404. Printable areas (204, 304) on the flexographic plate are engraved by an imaging source (408) configured to engrave fine detail information. Non-printable areas (208) are engraved on the flexographic plate by a second imaging source (412, coarse imaging source) capable to engrave substantially deeper (208, 520) than the depth of engraving used for the printable areas. Synchronizing (424) between the fine imaging source and the coarse imaging source, by directing the fine and coarse sources operate simultaneously, whereby the fine source images on the printable areas and the coarse source images the non-printable areas. In addition the fine source engraves the printable data areas (704) and non-printable support areas (708) underneath the printable areas. The non-printable support areas are engraved to be substantially wider than the printable data areas.
US08365659B2 Apparatus for printing poultry eggs
Disclosed is a stamp head (1) for printing uneven surfaces, especially agricultural products such as poultry eggs, by means of screen printing. The stamp ink is stored in a tampon (5) within a stamp chamber (2) and is transferred to the egg surface with the aid of structures of a small coated screen printing plate (4). The stamp head (2) can be fastened to a stamp guiding assembly (7) via a stamp pressing element (10) such that an egg stamp (50) is created which can be vertically moved up and down on a stamp bar (18), the stamping process being carried out by means of the vertical movement. Several egg stamps (50) can be mounted on the stamp bar (18) such that a stamping apparatus is created which allows several eggs to be printed simultaneously.
US08365656B2 Food processor of the citrus press or juicer type
A rotary food processor including a base unit, drive elements provided with a rotary motor spindle, an active processing implement, a driveshaft to drive the active implement, and wherein the driveshaft is movable from a rest position to an active position in which it rotates by a force applied by a user. The driveshaft is a hollow shaft which defines an open housing in which the rotary spindle is at least partially retained and the rotary spindle freely rotates within the housing when the driveshaft is in the rest position.
US08365654B2 Half-sleeved and sleeveless plastic piston pumps
In one aspect, a brake pump assembly with a hydraulic block and a pumping element including a polymer piston that is received in a piston bore. A circumference of the polymer piston defines a high-pressure seal slideably engaging adjacent structure. The polymer piston may include a peripheral sealing lip projecting primarily longitudinally from the polymer piston for sealing engagement with the piston bore. In another aspect, a brake pump assembly with a hydraulic block, a straight bore polymer piston, a peripheral sealing lip projecting from a proximal portion of the polymer piston, and a elastomeric seal mounted to a distal portion of the polymer piston, where the peripheral sealing lip selectively acts to depressurize fluid accumulating between the peripheral sealing lip and elastomeric seal.
US08365648B2 Highly survivable urban utility vehicle (HSUUV)
The Highly Survivable Urban Utility Vehicle (HSUUV) provides a novel way to balance the concerns of armor, mobility and cost. Prior art distributes armor to protect all areas of the vehicle evenly, thereby distributing the maximum armor weight capacity evenly. The HSUUV provides armored protection in levels, which vary depending on the location of the armor and that location's ballistic threat. Entrance to the HSUUV is located in location(s) other than the traditional side door(s) so as to provide additional armored protection in the area receiving the greatest ballistic threat. Using the HSUUV, soldiers can safely and quickly enter areas that they otherwise would have had to fight and sustain casualties to enter. The vehicle will give United States forces an unprecedented amount of flexibility, allowing for better strategic and tactical decisions.
US08365644B2 Reciprocating saw blade for cutting drywall
There is provided a replaceable drywall saw blade capable of reciprocating in-line when mounted to a hand held reciprocating power saw. The blade includes a generally planar body member having a generally linear top edge and a generally parallel opposed bottom edge. The blade further includes a generally linear upper piercing edge angularly offset downwardly from the top edge. The blade additionally includes a generally linear lower piercing edge angularly offset upwardly from the bottom edge. The upper piercing edge and lower piercing edge intersect to form a forward point on said blade. A mounting aperture is also formed on the blade for releasably securing the blade to the hand held reciprocating power saw.
US08365642B2 Closed-loop CNC machine system and method
A closed-loop feedback system and method for performing a machining operation. A tool's operational properties are measured in real-time. The operating parameters of the machining process are adjusted in real-time based on the measured properties.
US08365638B2 Tubular soil auger and manufacturing method
A soil auger for creating smooth-walled cylindrical holes in the earth is provided for use with a drill. The auger has a central rotational axis with a tubular body that is open at a bottom cutting end, and enclosed at a top end by a cap assembly. The cap assembly has a top wall and a bottom wall. The top and bottom walls have apertures aligned with the central rotational axis for receiving a shaft in alignment therewith, and for attachment to a drill. The distance between the top wall and bottom wall compared to the overall length of the assembled auger determines the minimum height of the cap assembly to minimize the rotational imbalance of the auger during use for a given body length. A method of manufacturing the auger is provided using precision cutting tools to create apertures in the body and to maintain concentricity of the auger components.
US08365633B2 Devices, systems and methods for minimally invasive surgery of the throat and other portions of mammalian body
Featured are systems, devices and apparatuses for use in minimally invasive surgical, diagnostic or therapeutic methods and/or techniques, in particular methods and/or techniques for a mammalian throat. In particular embodiments, a dexterity apparatus including one or more dexterity devices is featured, where each of the dexterity devices comprises surgical tools and each is configured and arranged with end-tip dexterity for enhanced manipulation. A portion of the dexterity devices is snake like, which is re-configurable (i.e., can be bent) so as to in effect maneuver the surgical tool and put the tool in a desired position with respect to the surgical site. Another portion of the dexterity device includes the surgical tool thereby providing the capability of performing surgical actions such as sewing, gripping, soft tissue manipulation, cutting and suction of saliva, blood and other materials from the surgical site.
US08365628B2 Methods of making torque overlay actuators
A method for designing a pole piece for a power assist steering system, includes: selecting a number of teeth, k, for the pole piece where k=n/2 and n represents an even number of poles; and selecting a ratio between an angle made by an inner tooth tip and an outer tooth tip, θtp, and an angle made by a magnet pole width, θmp, to provide a desired torque function for the steering system.
US08365625B2 Double clutch transmission
A double clutch transmission comprising two clutches each having an input side connected to a drive shaft and an output side connected to one of two transmission input shafts coaxially arranged with respect to one another. At least two countershafts, on which toothed idler gearwheels are pivotally supported and toothed fixed gearwheels are disposed on both transmission input shafts in a rotationally fixed manner and mesh with at least some of the idler gearwheels. A plurality of coupling devices connect an idler gearwheel to a countershaft in a rotationally fixed manner. One output gear is provided on both countershafts which is coupled to gearing of an output shaft. At least one first shift element connects two toothed gearwheels in a rotationally fixed manner such that a plurality of power shifting forward gears and at least one reverse gear can be shifted.
US08365623B2 Double clutch transmission
A dual-clutch transmission with two clutches (K1, K2) whose input sides are connected to a drive input shaft (w_an) and whose output sides are respectively connected to one of two transmission input shafts (w_K1, w_K2) arranged coaxially with one another. Idler gearwheels (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06) are mounted to rotate on at least two countershafts (w_vorgelege1, w_vorgelege2) while fixed gearwheels (09, 10, 11) are rotationally fixedly connected on the two transmission input shafts (w_K1, w_K2). A plurality of coupling devices (A-B, C, D-E, D, E-F, F) connect the idler gearwheels (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06) of the two countershafts (w_vorgelege1, w_vorgelege2) with a respective drive output gearwheel (07, 08) fixed on each of the two countershafts (w_vorgelege1, w_vorgelege2). At least one shifting element (G) couples the two transmission input shafts (w_K1, w_K2) such that at least six shift-under-load forward gears (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and at least one reverse gear (RA1, R1) can be engaged. The transmission has three wheel planes (01-04; 02-05; 03-06) or four wheel planes (01-04, 01-09; 02-05, 02-04; 03-11, 03-05; 12-06) arranged in such manner that at least one shift-under-load winding gear can be engaged by the shifting element (G).
US08365620B2 Rack and pinion gear
A motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, which utilizes a power take-off mechanism, that converts the reciprocating linear motion of the piston into reciprocating angular motion of the gearing cylinder, being in gear with the partially teethed connecting rod via right angled teeth and rotating motion of the drive shaft which runs coaxially through the gearing cylinder and vice versa. The mechanism has means for causing the piston to pause while the drive shaft rotates. The motor vehicle comprises a fuel heater, an exhaust cleaner including a sinuous tube and liquid for separating impure components of exhaust, a main control module controlling the function of the engine and piston function, a second control module controlling the engine during the minimal running state, thus controlling the pause time of the piston, a third control module controlling the energy flow to the heater, the fuel feeder, and the air feeder.
US08365617B2 Sampling device
An in situ sampling device for capturing a material sample from a vessel. Embodiments of the present invention may be disposed as elongate probes having extendable sample capture elements. A sample capture element of such a device may include a concave sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof. The sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. The sample capture pocket may be provided with a port for receiving material therein and a port for expelling material therefrom. These ports may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element. A device of the present invention provides for substantially contemporaneous sample capture and sample processing.
US08365616B1 Sampling probe for solutions containing soluble solids or high concentrations of dissolved solids
An analytical system for solutions containing soluble solids or high concentrations of dissolved solids. The system includes a container having upper and lower portions; a lead an/or a tubing line extending into the upper portion of the container, for withdrawing a portion of a gas in the upper portion of the container; and a sampling probe extending into the lower portion of the container, for withdrawing a portion of a sample of a liquid or of a mixture of a liquid and a solid. The sampling probe is a probe support shaft which may be provided with a filter for separating liquid and solid phases from one another if the sample is a liquid-solid mixture. Gas in the headspace above the liquid or the liquid-solid mixture can be withdrawn through the lead and/or the tubing line.
US08365614B2 Coriolis mass flow meter having a support frame installed between the pair of vibrating tubes
A Coriolis mass flow meter targeted for measurement of a fluid with a minute flow rate is reduced in weight and size, the flow meter being in which a subframe supporting a vibration exciter and first and second detectors has an outer peripheral wall, a notch and an inner peripheral wall, a circuit board supported by a main frame is positioned in the portion of the notch, the circuit board is housed in a board case penetrating the main frame, and a liquid crystal monitor is mounted in the portion of the circuit board adjacent to supply/discharge portions of a pair of vibration tubes.
US08365608B2 Tension detection mechanism and manipulator using the same
A tension detection mechanism includes a linear member which extends in a longitudinal direction, and which is configured to transmits power, a restraining member including a restraining portion through which the linear member extends and which is configured to restrain movement of the linear member in the longitudinal direction partially, and a detection member which is provided to the restraining member and which is configured to detect tension of the linear member. A length of a portion of the linear member restrained by the restraining portion is larger than a distance between two ends of the restraining member in the longitudinal direction of the linear member.
US08365604B2 Apparatus for and method of detecting defects in a rail joint bar
An apparatus and method for inspecting a rail joint bar transported along a railway rail by an inspection vehicle is provided. The apparatus and method includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers housed in liquid-filled wheels. The wheels are positionable for a stored position to a measurement position in rolling contact with the vehicle surfaces of the rail joint bars on each side of the rail. The ultrasonic transducer transmits a signal into the rail joint bar and the reflected signal is detected by the transducer and analyzed to identify flaws in the rail joint bar.
US08365602B2 Weld seam tracking system using phased array ultrasonic devices
A weld seam tracking device for tracking weld seams on pipes or the like uses NDT/NDI sensor(s) in conjunction with an NDT/NDI operation, such as an ultrasonic phased array (PA) inspection. Processing of the weld seam tracking data is integrated or combined with the existing data processing element of the existing NDT/NDI inspection devices. Wide scanning areas of phased array probes allow weld seam tracking and inspection to be performed using a single set of probe and data processing elements to achieve both fault scanning and seam tracking with a single run of the PA scan.
US08365597B2 Apparatus having a movable body
An apparatus with a second movable portion that moves along an x-axis direction and a z-axis direction and a first movable portion that only moves along the z-axis direction is disclosed. The apparatus is provided with a fixed portion fixed to a support portion, a plurality of first spring portions connected to the fixed portion, a first movable portion connected to the plurality of first spring portions, a second spring portion connected to the first movable portion, and a second movable portion connected to the second spring portion. A spring constant of each of the plurality of first spring portions in the z-axis direction is lower than spring constants of each of the plurality of first spring portions in the x-axis and a y-axis directions respectively, and a spring constant of the second spring portion in the x-axis direction is lower than spring constants of the second spring portion in the y-axis and the z-axis directions respectively. The first movable portion is configured to move along the z-axis but not to move along the x-axis and the y-axis nor to rotate around the z-axis, and the second movable portion is configured to move along the x-axis and the z-axis with respect to the support portion.
US08365596B2 Method for sensing acceleration using a translational mass in-plane MEMS accelerometer
An in-plane, closed-loop Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometer device with improved performance. An example MEMS device includes one or more components for generating a magnetic flux field perpendicular to a major plane of the device. The device includes substrates, a proof mass, spring elements that flexibly connect the proof mass to the substrate and constrain the proof mass to translate within the major plane of the device which corresponds to a major surface of the proof mass, a plurality of conductive traces located at a position on the proof mass proximate the magnetic flux field, a plurality of conductive springs, each of the springs are electrically connected to a corresponding one of the conductive traces, and a plurality of anchor pads connected to the substrate and one of the conductive springs.
US08365591B2 Static port apparatus
A static port apparatus for an aircraft having a static plate having inner and outer surfaces for fixture on the aircraft. The static plate including a first set of a plurality of port apertures and at least a second set of a plurality of port apertures. Each port aperture of the second set of port apertures is coaxially positioned with respect to each port aperture of the first set of port apertures.
US08365590B2 Terminal encapsulated tire monitoring device
A terminal encapsulated tire monitoring device electrically connectable with at least one contact of a read-write tool is disclosed to include a housing, a sensor unit mounted in the housing and consisting of a circuit board and a plurality of terminal connection portions, a plurality of conducting terminals partially embedded in the housing each having a first contact end electrically connectable by one contact of the read-write tool and a second contact end electrically connected to one terminal connection portion of the sensor unit.
US08365588B2 Piston ring tension measurement apparatus
To provide a piston ring tension measurement apparatus which can stably measure a piston ring for suitable tension, the piston ring tension measurement apparatus of the present invention comprises: a table 1 which supports a measured piston ring 5; a first band 3 which is to be wound around an outer circumferential part of the measured piston ring 5 and which is fastened at its two end sides by fasteners 4 and 6; a second band 8 which is to be wound around an outer circumferential part of the measured piston ring 5 where the first band 3 is not wound; a fastener 11 for fastening one end side of the second band 8; a tension imparting means 14, 15, and 16 for making the second band 8 move in a direction squeezing the measured piston ring 5; and a load cell 10 which measures a tension which is imparted to the second band 8.
US08365586B2 Method of monitoring soot mass in a particulate filter and monitoring system for same
A method of monitoring soot mass in a particulate filter of an exhaust system includes predicting soot mass in the particulate filter based at least partially on a pressure differential between exhaust flowing into the filter and exhaust flowing out of the filter. The predicted soot mass is then revised based at least partially on measured operating parameters indicative of mass flow rate of nitrogen oxides in exhaust flow of the exhaust system and temperature of the particulate filter.
US08365584B1 Apparatus for inspecting turbomachine components in-situ
An apparatus is provided for inspecting a component of a turbomachine in-situ. The apparatus includes an end effector having a frame defining a stable platform with a curved surface of the component, a spring loaded suspension attached to the frame, and a probe connected to a wedge member, where the probe and wedge member are connected to the spring loaded suspension. The probe is configured to inspect the component by passing signals through the wedge.
US08365582B2 Device for measuring viscosity/elasticity and method for measuring viscosity/elasticity
An apparatus of measuring viscosity and/or elasticity comprising: an electro-conductive rotor; a container that contains a sample and the rotor such that the rotor is arranged in the sample; a magnet unit that is arranged in the surrounding of the container and applies a magnetic field to the rotor; a rotation controlling unit that drives the magnet unit to apply a rotating magnetic field to the rotor so as to induce induced current in the rotor and rotate the rotor by providing the rotor with a rotation torque caused by Lorentz interaction between the induced current and the magnetic field applied to the rotor; a rotation detection unit that detects the rotation of the rotor; and a dynamic property detection unit that detects viscosity and/or elasticity of the sample being in contact with the rotor based on the rotation torque and the rotational movement.
US08365579B2 Knock detection system and method for an amplifier control for a knock signal
An apparatus for furnishing an amplified sensor signal of a knock sensor, encompassing an analog amplifier for amplifying the sensor signal in accordance with a first definable gain factor; an analog/digital converter for digitizing the amplified sensor signal into a digitized sensor signal; a digital amplifier for amplifying the digitized sensor signal in accordance with a second definable gain factor; and a control unit in order to furnish the first and the second gain factor as a function of a baseline sound level of the sensor signal, the baseline sound level corresponding to the component of the solid-borne sound signal generated in normal operation without knocking.
US08365578B2 Rotary particle sensor assembly and an air cleaner having it
A rotary particle sensor assembly and an air cleaner having the rotary particle sensor assembly are disclosed. Particularly, in the present invention, regardless of the orientation of the air cleaner, the rotary particle sensor assembly can always be oriented in the direction of gravity. The rotary particle sensor assembly includes a particle sensor, which measures the pollution level of air drawn into the air cleaner. The particle sensor is supported in the air cleaner so as to be rotatable using a rotating shaft and has a weight at a predetermined position. Thus, the particle sensor can always be oriented in the direction of gravity by the weight regardless of the orientation of the air cleaner. Therefore, the present invention ensures the accuracy of measurement of the pollution level of air.
US08365576B2 Method for detecting low concentration gas
Disclosed is a method for detecting a low concentration gas. In the method, a measurand gas containing the target gas in a concentration of 50 ppm or less is supplied to an oscillation element which contains a quartz crystal resonator and a zeolite including a metal complex (such as a zeolite including a cobalt phthalocyanine complex) present on or above the quartz crystal resonator. The target gas is then detected through a change in resonance frequency of the quartz crystal resonator, the change being caused by the adsorption of the target gas by the metal-complex-including zeolite.
US08365569B2 Method and tool for the production of three-dimensional attachments by forming and fine blanking operations
A method and tool for the production of three-dimensional attachments out of a flat strip by forming and fine blanking operations, especially for car seat components or the like. The flat strip is fed into a tool, at least one plate is stamped out of the plate in the tool, the plate is processed into an attachment in multiple processing steps, at first by fine blanking, in a following second step the developed burrs are flattened and then without finishing the attachment is removed from the tool ready for mounting. Attachments with complex geometry can be produced by combined fine blanking and forming operations in such a way, that mountable and burr-free parts with very small tolerances, high accuracy and process safety can be provided at effective costs. Simultaneous forming and fine blanking of the plate is carried out in the first process stage, wherein the plate is completely cut out of the flat strip and the position, form and location of the inner form created by the forming during the complete cutting out is aligned to the outer contour of the plate, and in the second stage, by centering the plate before flattening the burr, which developed during fine blanking at the outer and inner contours, according to its outer contour and simultaneously orienting the plate according to location and form of the shape of the inner form created in the plate in such a way, that the burr at the fine blanked surfaces can be flattened directly in the tool.
US08365562B2 Method and plant for integrated monitoring and control of strip flatness and strip profile
Apparatus and method of controlling strip geometry in casting strip having a rolling mill. A target thickness profile is calculated as a function of the measured entry thickness profile of the strip while satisfying profile and flatness parameters. A differential strain feedback from longitudinal strain in the strip is calculated by a control system by comparing the exit thickness profile with the target thickness profile, and a control signal is generated to control a device capable of affecting the geometry of the strip processed by the hot rolling mill. A feed-forward control reference and/or sensitivity vector may also be calculated as a function of the target thickness profile, and used in generating the control signal sent to the control device. The control device may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of a bending controller, gap controller and coolant controller.
US08365561B2 Electric door lock
An electric door lock includes a door latch mechanism movable between latching and unlatching positions, a manual operation mechanism, and first and second rotatable members. The manual operation mechanism is manually operable to drive movement of the door latch mechanism between the latching and unlatching positions. The first rotatable member is rotatable about an axis, and includes a rotary body and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism is disposed resiliently on the rotary body and is movable parallel to the axis toward and away from the rotary body. The second rotatable member is coupled to the manual operation mechanism for co-rotation therewith, and has one side that confronts the first rotatable member and that is provided with a pushed unit.
US08365560B2 Lock key mechanism
A key mechanism that makes it possible to fix the key inside the cylinder bolt lock outphased from the original combination, thereby preventing the cylinder of the bolt lock from turning. The security of the key mechanism is also enhanced as a cylinder tumbler engages within a slot of the key blade and the key cannot then be expelled from the cylinder bolt lock. Therefore, it is impossible to insert another key or picklock from the other side of the cylinder bolt lock.
US08365555B2 Method and system for producing glass, in which chemical reduction of glass components is avoided
In the method and system for producing glass reduction of reduction-sensitive ingredients in the glass is reduced or preferably is avoided during the melting and fining processes. The glass preferably has a high refractive index. During the process an oxidizing agent is inducted into a fining vessel and preferably also into a melt crucible made of a slit skull that is cooled by a cooling agent. The oxidizing agent is preferably oxygen. Furthermore a system for conducting the method is also described.
US08365553B2 Jewelry item for selective display of colored regions hidden beneath a gemstone
A jewelry item including a gemstone mounted to a gemstone setting having a plurality of reflective surfaces that selectively display colors from a region hidden beneath the gemstone while preventing viewing of the colored region through the gemstone itself.
US08365546B2 Hot water storage type hot water supply system and operation method of the same
A hot water storage type hot water supply system includes a storage battery unit, a heat pump cycle, a water storage tank, a water circulation path, first and second paths, first and second temperature sensors, and a controller. The heat pump cycle circulates a first refrigerant. The first and second paths circulate a second refrigerant. The first and second sensors sense temperatures of the storage battery unit and water stored in the tank, respectively. The controller controls the second refrigerant to flow in the first or the second path when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is higher or lower than a first or a second predetermined temperature, respectively. The controller controls to close the first and second paths when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is not lower than the second predetermined temperature and not higher than the first predetermined temperature.
US08365543B2 Cooling storage
A liquid refrigerant from a compressor and a condenser is alternately supplied to a cooling device for the freezing room 27F and an evaporator for refrigeration room through a three-way valve, so as to conduct the cooling of a freezing room and a refrigeration room. When the thermal load condition of a refrigerating cycle is light, the three-way valve switches to the “F side opened-state” after the compressor is stopped, and thereby conducting pressure balancing, without the liquid refrigerant flowing into the evaporator for refrigeration room. A cooling storage, wherein from one compressor a refrigerant is selectively supplied to multiple evaporators, is constituted so as to prevent one evaporator side from becoming a supercooled state, and furthermore, quickly conduct pressure balancing after stop of the compressor.
US08365541B2 Method and apparatus using evaporator fan power requirements to determine defrost cycle for a refrigerator appliance
A refrigerator and a method of operating a refrigerator to determine the time at which to initiate a defrost cycle is provided. Changes in the voltage provided to an evaporator fan are used to determine and/or predict when to initiate a defrost cycle. Adjustments to the timing of the defrost cycle can be made based on known periods of peak energy demand and/or the increased costs associated with operating the defrost cycle during such peak energy demand periods.
US08365539B2 System and method for thermal process including a thermoelectric heat pump and internal heat exchanger
A system for using a thermal cycle for healing or cooling. The system comprises a thermoelectric module flowing a gas; and an internal heat exchanger flowing the gas and exchanging heat between the gas and another fluid; the gas flow from at least one of the thermoelectric module and the internal heat exchanger flowing for heating or cooling. The system may be for using a closed cycle to remove a liquid from at least one object comprising moisture, the system comprising an enclosure containing the at least one object and arranged to receive a hot and dry gas for flow over the at least one object and thereby to produce a flow of moist gas at an intermediate temperature. The internal heat exchanger is arranged to exchange heat between the flow of the moist gas at the intermediate temperature and a flow of cold dry gas, thereby producing cooled moist gas and pre-warmed dry gas.
US08365535B2 Fuel nozzle with multiple fuel passages within a radial swirler
A fuel nozzle manifold comprising a flange, a stem and a swirler is provided. The flange has a first fluid inlet fluidly connected to a radially extending first flow passage, the stem includes at least a first axially extending and only partially circumferentially extending flow channel, and the swirler has at least a first radially extending premix passage. The flange and the stem can comprise a homogeneous component, or two separate components fluidly connecting the first axially extending flow channel to the first flow passage, to form a fluid connection between the flange and the stem, the swirler comprises another component fitted together with the flange and stem component and fluidly connecting the first premix passage and the first flow channel.
US08365529B2 High temperature molten salt receiver
A high temperature solar power tower system includes a molten salt heat transfer medium, a high temperature solar receiver, and an energy conversion system. The molten salt heat transfer medium is capable of being heated to a temperature of at least approximately 1200 degrees Fahrenheit by the high temperature solar receiver. The energy conversion system uses the heated molten salt to generate power.
US08365528B2 Engine valve duration control for improved scavenging
Systems and methods for controlling air flow in an engine including a turbocharger are provided. One example method includes adjusting valve operation for a turbocharged engine. The method may improve scavenging and reduce exhaust blow down interference.
US08365527B2 Drive unit with cooling circuit and separate heat recovery circuit
A cooling circuit and an independent heat recovery circuit are associated with an internal combustion engine. A coolant is circulated a pump in a first and a second cooling sub-circuit. An increase in pressure in a work medium is achieved within the heat recovery circuit by a pump. This work medium is changed from liquid aggregate state to vaporous aggregate state and back to the liquid aggregate state in heat exchangers. This work medium is divided after the pump into two parallel partial flows and is changed into vaporous state in a first parallel branch in an EGR heat exchanger through which recycle exhaust gas flows and in a second parallel branch in an exhaust gas heat exchanger through flow exhaust gas downstream of the low-pressure turbine flows. This vaporous work medium is then fed to an expander and is then conducted through a cooled condenser and, liquefied again.
US08365526B2 Vehicle or stationary power plant having a turbocharged internal combustion engine as a drive source
A vehicle or stationary power plant having an internal combustion engine as a drive source and having components adapted to be supplied with heat from a medium accommodated in a closed loop The turbine of the exhaust gas turbocharger provided for turbocharging the internal combustion engine acts as a heat source. A heat exchanger is disposed externally on the turbine housing and can be incorporated or switchable into the medium loop The medium can be conveyed directly or channeled through the interior of the heat exchanger, and the medium is adapted to be heated up in such interior utilizing at least thermal radiation energy from the hot turbine housing.
US08365522B2 Dual exhaust system with independent valve control
A dual exhaust system includes a first exhaust component defining a first exhaust path and a second exhaust component defining a second exhaust path that is different from the first exhaust path. A first valve is associated with the first exhaust path and a second valve is associated with the second exhaust path. The first valve and second valve operate independently of each other to vary exhaust flow and provide sufficient noise control for varying applications.
US08365520B2 System and method for auxilary power unit emissions management
A system is disclosed including a primary engine that provides vehicle propulsion and a secondary engine that drives a generator to provide auxiliary power. The system further includes a first exhaust gas passageway from the primary engine and a second exhaust gas passageway from the secondary engine. The system further includes an emission treatment device including an exhaust inlet to treat exhaust from the primary and secondary engines. The system further includes an exhaust routing device that selectively routes exhaust from the first passageway or the second passageway to the exhaust inlet. The exhaust routing device at least partially blocks the first passageway or the second passageway from fluid communication with the exhaust inlet.
US08365519B2 Charging device with exhaust gas temperature control device
In a charging device for an internal combustion engine, the charging device has at least one first line for the intake of fresh air, having at least one air-gap-insulated exhaust-carrying component. This is assigned to an outlet side of the internal combustion engine. At least one regulating element for distributing an exhaust gas stream, and at least one regulating element for distributing a pre-compressed fresh air stream is provided. The air-gap insulated exhaust-carrying component has an outer chamber, through which a controllable stream of fresh air flows.
US08365513B2 Turbofan engine operation control
(A1) A turbofan engine (10) is provided that includes a spool (14). The spool (14) supports a turbine (18) and is housed within a core nacelle (12). A fan (20) is coupled to the spool (14) and includes a target operability line. The target operability line provides desired fuel consumption, engine performance, and/or fan operability margin. A fan nacelle (34) surrounds the fan (20) and core nacelle (12) to provide a bypass flow path (39) having a nozzle exit area (40). A controller (50) is programmed to command a flow control device (41) for changing the nozzle exit area (40). The change in nozzle exit area (40) achieves the target operability line in response to an engine operating condition that is a function of airspeed and throttle position. A change in the nozzle exit area (40) is used to move the operating line toward a fan stall or flutter boundary by manipulating the fan pressure ratio.
US08365505B2 Virtual enclosure bins in printing architectures
Improved printing architectures and associated methods are disclosed for printing enclosures in substantially real-time for insertion with a document in a mail piece. The printing architecture allows for virtual enclosure bins in place of or in addition to actual enclosure bins. When a virtual enclosure bin is referenced in a document print job, an enclosure image is identified for the virtual enclosure bin and is printed in substantially real-time to generate an enclosure. The enclosure for the virtual enclosure bin may then be inserted with the document in the mail piece.
US08365503B2 Method and a device for placing of a card or the like in a sheet
A device far placement of a card in a sheet, the device having one support plaque of the sheet, with windows for insertion of the corners of the card, cutting blades facing the windows to be displaced through the windows to provide oblique cuts on the sheet. The device further has a card holder plaque for fastening the card in a window, wherein part of the contour of this window is level with the route of the blades. Pushers are moveable towards the support plaque, facing the windows of the support plaque, for insertion of the corners of the card through the oblique cuts of the sheet. The cutting blades and of the pushers are displaced by an actuator.
US08365501B2 Wide-body connector for concrete sandwich walls
Wide-body connectors are provided for concrete sandwich walls. Each connector includes a body with longitudinally thickened portions defining flanges and a thinner inner connecting web extending between the flanges. The flanges provide increased bending stiffness for the connector, while the web provides enhanced shear transfer between the concrete layers of the wall. Anchoring surfaces are formed into or overmolded onto the body to anchor the ends of the connector in the concrete layers of the wall and assist in the creation of end moments ofr the transfer of forces between the concrete layers. Preferably, a lip is provided on the connector to limit the penetration of the connector through the insulation layer of the wall. The connectors transfer forces between the concrete layers, without thermal bridging, such that the wall has a substantially composite character.
US08365500B2 Optimized building integrated hybrid roofing system
An optimized building integrated hybrid roofing system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of metal battens having a longitudinal channel mounted horizontally onto a plurality of wooden battens, a plurality of solar electric roof tiles mounted on the metal battens and connected in series to form a string, a thermal tubing/heat pipe mounted along the longitudinal channel, at least one manifold containing liquid connected with the thermal tubing/heat pipe, an inverter connected to each string, heat exchangers connected to the thermal tubing/heat pipe, and a pump connected between the thermal tubing/heat pipe and the heat exchangers. The solar electric roof tiles generate DC from solar energy and the inverter converts the DC to AC to feed to a utility grid. The metal battens collect solar energy and converts into thermal energy resulting in producing hot water.
US08365499B2 Resilient floor
A method of assembling resilient floorboards is disclosed that includes the step of bending an edge of a floorboard during the assembling. The bending reduces the force required for connection of the edge to another edge of a juxtaposed floorboard.
US08365497B2 Insulated panel
The insulated panel comprises exterior sheathing, studs, rigid foam panels and a spray-pour foam. The rigid foam panels are placed up against the sheathing between the studs, and the spray-pour foam is used to fill in the voids.
US08365495B1 Fire and water resistant expansion joint system
A fire resistant and water resistant expansion joint system comprises a compressed lamination of fire retardant infused open celled foam, one coat of an elastomeric waterproofing or water resistant material on the lamination, and another coat of an intumescent material on an opposing surface of the lamination, thereby providing fire resistance in one direction and water resistance in the opposite direction. The intumescent material may be further coated with a similar elastomeric material, thereby providing fire resistance in one direction and water resistance in both directions. In the alternative, the compressed lamination may comprise first and second opposing layers of intumescent material thereon each having a respective layer of elastomeric material to provide both water resistance and fire resistance in both directions.
US08365494B2 Floor panels with edge connectors
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US08365490B2 Purlin clip for blown-in insulated ceilings
An improved purlin clip has an arm and a leg defining a channel to receive the lower flange of a ceiling purlin. A pin is integrally formed with the lower leg of the clip and extends downwardly. The pin is adapted to penetrate a ceiling membrane. A cap is frictionally fit onto the pin to retain the membrane adjacent the purlin, and to support the membrane, with the insulation blown in between the membrane and the ceiling deck. The pin includes teeth or barbs for retentively engaging the cap.
US08365489B1 Building system and method of constructing a multi-walled structure
A building system including supports vertically disposed in an underlying surface in spaced apart relation, and support headers removably disposed on an exposed end of each of the supports. Each support header includes a mounting hub that removably engages the exposed end of the support. A span element is provided and extends between adjacent supports, each span element including a lock element that matingly engages a corresponding engagement element at the supports to removably secure the span element in position. A reinforcement panel formed of a stiff, open grid configuration is suspended from the span element along with an application panel. The application panel includes apertures defined therein to define an open mesh, and a quantity of unhardened concrete is applied to the application panel to substantially cover the application panel, the reinforcement panel and the supports, thereby defining a wall upon hardening.
US08365486B2 Multi-layered building wall
The invention relates to a multi-layered building wall provided with an inner wall comprising a building inner surface and an outer surface, and a façade layer forming the outer side of the building wall. The aim of the invention is to provide a multi-layered building wall, wherein damp penetrating the wall from the inside or the outside is reliably drained off. To this end, a draining vapor barrier (6) having a cavity-forming structure on both sides and an SD-value=50 m corresponding to an equivalent air layer thickness is arranged on the outer surface of the inner wall (4).
US08365485B2 Method and apparatus for setting support columns within a foundation
A column support footing, and a method for utilizing the same, allows structural columns to be installed after a cement floor is poured rather than pouring the floor after the columns are set. The column support footing comprises an apparatus which is utilized for setting the column after the concrete floor has been poured. The apparatus comprises a column support sleeve which has an upwardly facing open end for receiving the bottom end of the column. Extending downwardly from the apparatus is an anchor member, which is set within a concrete footing member. The concrete floor may be poured after the first concrete footing member has set around a portion of the anchor member. The concrete floor provides lateral support to the column support sleeve. The column may then be placed and secured within the column support sleeve after the concrete floor has been installed for the structure.
US08365475B2 Readily adjustable and lockable pedestal for an access floor assembly
A pedestal (18) for an access floor assembly (10), the pedestal (18) comprises a stand portion and a head portion. The stand portion has a base plate (21) for resting upon a sub-floor (20), and a stem (22) extending upwardly therefrom. The head portion has a platform (24) and a threaded shaft (26) extending downwardly therefrom. The pedestal (18) includes a lockable nut (28) which has a thread (29) adapted to screwably engage the threaded shaft (26), wherein the lockable nut (28) has at least one detent (30) to lock with the stem (22) in order to prevent the rotation of the lockable nut (28) when abutted against the stem (22).
US08365471B2 Automated telescoping tower
A telescoping tower comprising a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition, a processor for comparing the monitored environmental condition to a predetermined value, and an actuator for automatically retracting the telescoping tower if the environmental condition is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.
US08365468B2 Metal bahama style storm shutter
A metal shutter with improved air and light transmission is provided. The shutter comprises a metal top, a metal bottom, and two metal sides, which can be collectively assembled into a frame. The frame can have a metal support column that can be affixed to the top and bottom. A number of metal slats can be affixed between the sides of the shutter, and can either pass through the center column or can be affixed to the center column. A hinge can be affixed to the top of the frame, and can also be affixed to a structure. The top, bottom, sides, support column, slats, hinge, and a lock all comprise the shutter. The hinge allows the shutter to rotate between a first, substantially vertical, position, and a second, non-vertical position. The lock holds the shutter to a structure when the shutter is in the first position.
US08365467B1 Prevegetated blanket
A prevegetated blanket protects an exposed soil surface from erosion in an efficient manner. The prevegetated blanket has a fibrous structure, with a water retaining composition, water retention substance and topsoil to receive the desired seeds. Components of the prevegetated blanket of this invention grow a living membrane for native and cover crops in a controlled environment in a weed free, state. Then, the prevegetated blanket is transferred to a specific site and installed immediately after soil is prepared.
US08365466B1 Hydroponic produce display apparatus
A hydroponic produce display apparatus for in-store and market display of plants is provided. The hydroponic produce display apparatus comprises a basin having an open top with the basin holding a volume of liquid. A cover is positioned on the open top of the basin with the cover being permeable to liquid. A display backing is provided having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The first end of the display backing is mounted over the open top of the basin with the display backing extending vertically from the basin. Mounting mechanisms cooperate with the display backing for mounting the plants to the display backing. A liquid introduction mechanism introduces liquid to the plants mounted to the display backing. A liquid transfer mechanism moves liquid from the basin to the liquid introduction means. Excess liquid from the liquid introduction means not absorbed by the plants is moved into the basin for transfer back to the liquid introduction means.
US08365465B2 Covers for plant-growing media
A cover for a plant-growing medium comprises a main cover portion, a peripheral base spaced from the main cover portion and defining an outer perimeter of the cover, and a peripheral wall extending from a first side of the main cover portion between the main cover portion and the peripheral base. One or more plant growth channels are defined by one or more tubes extending from the first side of the main cover portion. Each tube has a proximal end adjacent the main cover portion and a distal end relative to the proximal end, with a first aperture defined in the main cover portion at the proximal end of the tube and a second aperture defined at the distal end of the tube. The first aperture and the second aperture communicate through the tube to define each plant growth channel.
US08365464B1 Plant eradication using unnatural mechanical and thermal trauma
Plant eradication using by inflicting upon a plant root (R) unnatural hot wound mechanical and thermal trauma delivered from a hot stab knife (V) which produces a stab gash (K) sufficiently deep to traverse plant cortex (C) and penetrate to plant xylem (X), simultaneous with or followed by heating the damaged area to a temperature of higher than 70 C, preferably 200 C for a sufficient time to cause cellular damage to the plant root. The root and hot stab knife may be shrouded to increase the temperature adjacent the stab gash. Preferably, the stab knife is formed to be sufficiently acuate and flat so as to allow a surface/volume ratio for the stab knife to be at least twice that of a cone of similar size and extent. Unhealable damage results, believed to caused by role conversion of organisms in the rhizosphere from sybiosis to antagonism.
US08365461B2 Long line fishing connector
Provided is a long line fishing that prevents a tubular sleeve from separating from the external circumference of a main line no matter how large force may be radially applied from the outside, reduces friction, and makes it possible to quickly and easily connecting a string to a simple connection hook of a swivel. The present invention may be implemented by fitting a plurality of tubular sleeve on a long main line at predetermined positions, disposing clover stoppers at both sides of the tubular sleeves at predetermined positions to prevent the tubular sleeve s from longitudinally moving, and protruding hook from the external circumference by striking the external circumference of the tubular sleeve with a punch through a hole.
US08365460B2 Fishing line cutter
A fishing line cutter which is adapted to cut a fishing line closely adjacent the hook at the end of the fishing line. The fishing line may be inserted into the line cutter without any disassembly of the line cutter.
US08365459B2 Stem guide and replaceable cartridges
The invention relates to a stem guide that is configured to receive a replaceable cartridge. The stem guide includes a cartridge receiving end having a cartridge attachment means for attaching the cartridge to the stem guide in a manner that the cartridge can be removed from the stem guide without causing an amount of damage to either the cartridge or the stem guide which prevents either the cartridge or stem guide from being used again. The stem guide may be provided in a kit form with a variety of replaceable floats, scent sticks and light sticks.
US08365454B2 Increased capacity ammunition clip
An ammunition clip is described that includes a front end wall, a back end wall, two opposing sidewalls operably engaged with the front end wall and the back end wall to define an enclosure. The sidewalls each include a top section defining a first circumference for the enclosure, a lower section defining a second circumference for the enclosure that is larger than the first circumference, and a transition section between the top section and the lower section. The transition section includes a plurality of offset angled members opposite one another defining the transition between the top section and the lower section. A first guide extends inward into the enclosure from the front end wall substantially orthogonal thereto and a second guide extends inward into the enclosure from the back end wall substantially orthogonal thereto. A guided member is configured to travel within the enclosure in a substantially planar fashion and includes slots at each end thereof for engagement with respective said guides.
US08365452B2 Display frame
The display frame has a transparent front and back panel with friction clamps that interact to close the frame around a content, or has a transparent folded outer glazing that holds an inside assembly around a content. The frictional clamp and the folded outer glazing and inside assembly allow the frame to be opened and the content to be replaced. A hanging-bumper device protrudes from the back of the frame either as an integral component of the back panel, outer glazing, or inside assembly, or as a removable attachment.
US08365451B2 Multi-layer label for affixing to a curved surface, particularly to a cylindrical surface, of an object
A multi-layer label (1) for affixing to a curved surface, particularly to a cylindrical surface, of an object has at least the following: a support foil (2) and at least one spare label (20; 20a, 20b, 20c), which is affixed to the support foil (2) in such a way that it is removable from the support foil (2), wherein the at least one spare label (20), in at least a first partial area (21) of its total area (25), is connected to the support foil (2), whereas at least a second partial area (22) of the total area (25) of the at least one spare label (20), which second partial area (22) includes a first edge (24) of the spare label (20), is free from any fixed connection to the support foil (2).
US08365448B2 Memorial display
The memorial display is a retainer and display for funereal and memorial related items, such as obituary pages, sympathy cards, funeral flowers and the like. The memorial display includes a page retainer for receiving a display page, such as an obituary page. A transparent holder is provided for receiving the page retainer and securing the display page therein. A face plate, such as a memorial placard, is secured to a front face of the transparent holder. A framing mat, having opposed front and rear faces and a central cutout portion formed therethrough, is positioned against the transparent front face of the transparent holder for bordering the face plate. A frame member receives the page retainer, the transparent holder, the face plate and the framing mat such that the face plate is displayed through the front end of the frame member and the display page is displayed through the rear end.
US08365444B2 Articulating footwear sole
An articulating footwear sole is provided. The articulating footwear sole includes a midsole having a recess a first plate having a first end interlocking with a second end of a second plate, the first and second plates positioned within the plate recess and held in place free of adhesive. In another embodiment, the sole includes a midsole having a recess, a first plate including a first end, and a second plate including a second end, the first end configured to moveably overlap with the second end, the first and second plates positioned in the recess. Still other examples are also provided.
US08365443B2 Shoe with transverse aperture and cover
A shoe is provided including a sole, an upper with a transverse aperture, and a cover piece, wherein the cover piece covers the transverse aperture and is affixed to the shoe at medial and lateral ends of the cover piece, and wherein the transverse aperture compresses without compression of the cover piece when the sole bends along a hinged metatarsophalangeal portion when transitioning from a stance phase to a swing phase.
US08365440B2 Supporting plate apparatus for shoes
One aspect of the present invention is directed to an article of footwear including a snake-shaped foot plate that prevents “penetration,” when concentrated stresses are transmitted to cause discomfort to the wearer, of intermediate sized rocks through a shoe. Specifically the snake-shaped plate embodiments with plurality of longitudinally staggered, substantially lateral cutouts enable increased torsional flexibility and distribute the stresses towards the outer parts of the shoe. The plate insert can include a plurality of longitudinally staggered cutouts extending substantially laterally from the central longitudinal axis forming a plurality of outriggers such that the cutouts on the left side are not located directly opposite from the cutouts on the right side. The cutouts can be straight or curved and the endpoints can be laterally aligned or not.
US08365437B2 Drum for washer and dryer
Drum (1) for a washing machine or a dryer including a cylindrical metal body part (100). reduced parts (110) at opposite ends of the body part, each having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the body part. and bent parts (120) each having a folded edge of the reduced part, thereby providing a drum that preventing occurrence of vibration and noise.
US08365431B1 Glove drying apparatus
A glove holder is disclosed for coupling a glove to an air vent. The air vent discharges an air flow over a fan shroud. The glove holder comprises a cylinder having an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior bore. The cylinder is inserted into the glove. A support arm extends from a first end to a second end. The first end of the support arm is secured to the interior surface of the cylinder. The second end of the support arm is positioned within the interior bore. A key receiver is secured to the second end of the support arm. A clamp extends between a key and a conical backing. The key slidably engages the key receiver and the conical backing frictionally engages the air vent. The air flow is displaced from the air vent, through the interior bore of the cylinder and through the body of the glove for drying the glove.
US08365427B2 Grinding angle gauge and holder
An angle gauge comprising multiple surfaces around its perimeter, each of which provides for two or more fixed sharpening angles; each angle incorporating angular compensation for workpiece thickness and variations in peripheral grinding wheel diameter in order to quickly and accurately set an angular relationship between an curved or planar abrasive surface and a tool rest. The angle gauge has no moving or adjustable parts and is separate from both the grinder and the tool rest. The angle gauge may also be attached to a holder allowing for angle setup when the workpiece cannot be supported by a platform or tool rest.
US08365425B2 Chart specific navigation plotter and method for inexpensive production thereof
A navigational plotter for use with a selected navigational chart and its method for production include providing a generally transparent elongated planar straight edge member having each of a first and a second straight edges parallelly disposed opposite one another bounding a generally rectangular interior surface. A printed central axis bisecting the rectangular interior surface and at least one compass rose arranged to have its North/South ordinal points to lie upon the printed central axis thus to allow the user to maintain orientation of the plotter on the chart. A first distance scale is calibrated in accord with the scale of the selected chart along a selected line of latitude. The first distance scale is printed to span the East/West ordinal points on the compass rose and along the first straight edge. A second distance scale is calibrated in accord with longitude according to a Mercator projection.
US08365422B1 Tru-hitchin using dual beam technology and triangulation
The problems of hitching are typically focused on the alignment of the mating components. As a result, assist products tend to offer fragmented solutions and lack universal appeal in the marketplace. The Tru-Hitchin Model using Dual Beam Technology and Triangulation develops a Spatial Triangle with the aid of hardware, as a framework for positioning and alignment of any mating components. The Model transforms two dimensional vehicle movements into a 3rd dimensional beam movement for operator viewing. The operation requires a one-time initialization after which all future hitching is performed safely by one operator with ordinary parking skills. Alignment is complete when the dual functional laser beams are on selected pivot points.
US08365421B2 Tailoring point-to-point measurement tool
A point-to-point measurement tool performs the measurement of the distance between the outside surfaces of the shoulders across the back of an individual, which is associated with tailoring custom clothing and utilized to determine both the top-of-sleeve points and used to assist in determining the sleeve length measurements in tailoring custom clothing. Various embodiment of the point-to-point measurement tool can be folded, collapsed, or broken down to enable increased portability and ease of storage of the tool.
US08365420B2 Tightening device with swivelling handling arm and appliance including such a device
Tightening device of the screw-nut type includes a tightening member, which can be rotated, and a rotary wrench for this tightening member, equipped with a handling arm. The wrench and the tightening member are joined by a connecting device in such a way that the wrench can swivel in relation to the tightening member around a swivel axis substantially perpendicular to the screwing axis of the tightening member. Thus, it can be placed in a rest position substantially perpendicular to the screwing axis and can rotate the tightening member around the screwing axis or rotated freely in relation to the tightening member around the screwing axis, over a range of angular clearance (α) of at least 170°.
US08365415B2 Nail clipper for accommodating decorative cover
A nail clipper configuration accommodates permanent three dimensional covers on the front of the nail clipper by limiting the necessary movement of the operating handle to move from the stored position to the operating position.
US08365414B2 Roller bearing assembly
A bearing assembly includes an inner race having a first inner race half and a second inner race half, and an outer race having a first outer race half and a second outer race. The first inner race half and the second inner race half cooperate to define an inner annular groove, and the first outer race half and the second outer race half cooperate to define an outer annular groove. A plurality of rollers is disposed within the inner annular groove and the outer annular groove in rolling engagement with the inner race and the outer race. An inner coupling mechanism couples the first inner race and the second inner race together, and an outer coupling mechanism couples the first outer race and the second outer race together.
US08365410B2 Grille badge and/or method of making the same
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a grille badge including an outer member and an inner member configured to be snapped together. The inner member includes a living hinge to facilitate the connection to the outer member. The inner member is at least initially inserted into the outer member in a bent position, the inner member being bent or snapped into place via the living hinge provided thereto during manufacturing and/or assembly. In certain example embodiments, the outer element includes at least one slot for receiving at least one corresponding tab provided to the inner element. In certain example embodiments, the inner and outer members include corresponding snap features for securing the connection therebetween. An assembled grille badge may be connected, directly or indirectly, to a vehicle (e.g., to the vehicle, to a front-end assembly, to a grille, etc.), for example, using one or more snap features.
US08365404B2 Method for ultrasonic welding a coaxial cable to a coaxial connector
A coaxial connector for interconnection with a coaxial cable with a solid outer conductor by ultrasonic welding is provided with a monolithic connector body with a bore. An annular flare seat is angled radially outward from the bore toward a connector end of the connector, the annular flare seat open to the connector end of the connector. An inner conductor cap is provided for interconnection with an inner conductor of the coaxial cable by ultrasonic welding. The ultrasonic welding of each of the inner and outer conductor interconnections may be performed via inner conductor and outer conductor sonotrodes which are coaxial with one another, without requiring the cable and or connector to be removed from their fixture.
US08365401B2 Circuit board and manufacturing method thereof
A circuit board includes a circuit substrate, a dielectric layer disposed on the circuit substrate and a patterned circuit structure. The dielectric layer covers a first surface and at least a first circuit of the circuit substrate. The dielectric layer has a second surface, at least a blind via, a second intaglio pattern and a third intaglio pattern connected to the blind via. The patterned circuit structure includes at least a second circuit disposed in the second intaglio pattern and third circuits disposed in the third intaglio pattern and the blind via. Each third circuit has a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The materials of the first conductive layer and the second circuit are the same. The line width of the second circuit is shorter than that of each third circuit. At least a third circuit is electrically connected to the first circuit of the circuit substrate.
US08365399B2 Method of connecting components to a printed circuit board
A printed circuit board and method of making a print circuit board having one or more holes that are controllably drilled to extend into the printed circuit board substrate to a predetermined depth intermediate first and second faces. A mechanical locating pin is received into each of the one or more holes to mechanically align a first component for electronically interfacing with the printed circuit board substrate. A second component is installed on the second face directly opposite of the one or more holes such that the second component is in electronic communication with conductive traces or interconnects formed on the second face directly opposite of the hole.
US08365398B2 Accurate alignment for stacked substrates
Using developed photo-resist materials at the side walls of silicon substrates, the preferred embodiments of the present invention improve alignment accuracy of stacked substrates. Such alignment accuracy improves the area efficiency of side-wall connections as well as through-hole connections. The parasitic impedances of stacked substrate connections are also improved.
US08365397B2 Method for producing a circuit board comprising a lead frame
A sub-component circuit board may be electrically and mechanically connected to a higher order circuit board using one or more leads extending from a lead frame embedded in the sub-component circuit board. The sub-component board is produced as a layered assembly with the embedded lead frame at the core. One or more dielectric layers and one or more circuitry layers are provided over the lead frame and then bonded using heat and pressure. Apertures in the dielectric and circuitry layers define a perimeter of the circuit board where the leads of the lead frame are exposed. The lead frame connects to the circuitry layer(s) using plated vias.
US08365395B2 Tables for assembling composite panels
A system for use in a manufacturing process comprises a series of tables with clamping and conveying/lowering mechanisms. The tables are arranged to facilitate alignment of successive composite dry freight panels. Tables may include a plurality of transfer mechanisms, such as ball rollers, to assist an operator in moving the panels into place. Once a new panel is in place, the rollers may be pneumatically or mechanically lowered to form a new joint. A clamping mechanism can be used to secure the new joint with adhesive.
US08365393B1 Manufacturing methods for write heads with floating side shields
Methods for manufacturing a magnetic head for a disk drive. The methods include the steps of depositing a first non-magnetic spacer layer, depositing a plating seed layer on the first non-magnetic spacer layer and plating at least one side shield and a pole tip layer on the plating seed layer, each of the at least one side shield and the pole tip layer separated by a trench. Then the method includes depositing a first non-magnetic material in the trench using ion-beam assisted deposition and planarizing using a chemical-mechanical polishing step.
US08365392B2 Method of fabricating a rotor assembly for an electric motor
A rotor assembly and a method for fabricating the same are provided in which a solid rotor ring is formed at either end of a stack of laminated discs, the solid rotor rings yielding improved electrical and mechanical characteristics in a low weight assembly. The solid rotor rings are fabricated by brazing slugs between the end portions of the rotor bars, the braze joints contacting a large percentage (at least 90 %) of the rotor bar end portions.
US08365390B2 Method for affixing adhesive films and main board with adhesive films applied using the method
A method for affixing adhesive films to a main board is provided. The main board includes a main body and a shield. The shield includes a first shield and a second shield. The second shield defines openings. When the second shield is attached to the main body, components of the main body are confined within the openings, respectively. The method includes: first absorbing a single adhesive film to an electrostatic absorbing film. Then, stamping the electrostatic absorbing film and the single adhesive film to form adhesive films that have substantially the same shape and arrangement as the openings. Next, aligning the electrostatic absorbing film with the first shield and affixing the adhesive films to the first shield. Then, removing the electrostatic absorbing film from the first shield. And, assembling the first shield to the second shield.
US08365389B2 Multifunction tool for depalletising
A multifunctional tool which enables a single robot or other manipulator to perform each of the operations to depalletize a palletized load is disclosed. The depalletization can proceed without the need to move the palletized load from one station to another. The multifunctional tool includes a strap cutting mechanism, extendable vacuum arms, and a fork lift mechanism.
US08365388B2 Method of joining plates of material to form a structure
A method of joining plates of material to form a predetermined structure, the method comprising: assembling a first plate (40) of a material comprising at least one recess (100) against a second plate (80) of material such that the at least one recess (100) of the first plate (40) is in an exterior surface of the first plate (40) on a side of the first plate opposite to the side which faces the second plate (80); bonding a portion (120) of the first and second plates (40, 80) to one another; superplastically forming the bonded plates, wherein the superplastic forming causes the material of the second plate (80) which is opposite to the at least one recess (100) of the first plate (40) to be driven towards the recess (100), and wherein the unbonded portion of the second plate (80) is deflected away from the plate to form the predetermined structure.
US08365381B2 Vehicle closure member mounting
A system and method for mounting a vehicle closure member (62) on a vehicle body (40) utilizes vision sensing of a master gauge location (42) of the vehicle body, of coordination formations (48) on the vehicle body, and of opening extremities of a closure member opening of the vehicle body, and the sensing is used by a controller (34) to provide mounting of a hinge at a proper location.
US08365378B1 Molding removal tool assembly
A molding removal tool assembly includes a handle having a first end and a second end. A plate is attached to the second end. The plate has a distal edge with respect to the handle. A blade is attached to the distal edge. The blade has a first side, a second side and a free edge. The blade has an opening therein extending into the first side and outwardly of the second side. The opening has a bottom edge. A tab is attached to the bottom edge and is angled toward the handle so that the plate extends over the tab. The free edge is configured to be extended between a wall surface and molding attached to the wall surface to urge the molding off of the wall surface with the tab.
US08365377B1 Pipe joining tool
The tool (10) includes first and second pipe securing heads (12, 30), each having downward facing C-shaped frames (14, 16) and pipe securing clamps (16, 36) secured within the frames (14, 16) for selectively and detachably securing the pipe securing heads (12, 20) to sections of pipes (18, 36). A pivot rod (48) is pivotally secured between necks (20, 38) of the heads (12, 30), and handles (54, 56) are secured to the necks (20, 38). The handles (54, 56) and pivot rod (48) are configured so that, after securing the clamps (16, 36) within the frames (14, 16) to adjacent first and second pipes (18, 36), movement of the handles (54, 56) toward or away from each other causes the pipe securing heads (12, 30) to move the pipes (18, 36) to be joined together or separated.
US08365375B2 Rivet gun with detachable pneumatic cylinder assembly
A rivet gun has a barrel, a shaft, a handle and a pneumatic cylinder assembly. The shaft is mounted under the barrel. The handle is mounted around the shaft. The pneumatic cylinder assembly is mounted under the handle and has a top cover, a fastener, an annular cylinder and a bottom base. The top cover, fastener, annular cylinder and bottom base are detachably assembled so can be replaced easily without changing the whole pneumatic cylinder assembly. The maintenance costs of the rivet gun are reduced.
US08365374B2 Elastomeric element installation tool and method
Disclosed herein is a method of installing an elastomeric element onto a tubular. The method includes, positioning the elastomeric element onto a radially expandable member, radially expanding the radially expandable member and the elastomeric element installed thereon, positioning a tubular coaxially with the radially expandable member, and axially urging the elastomeric element off the radially expandable member thereby allowing the elastomeric element to be positioned coaxially about an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular.
US08365372B2 Piezoelectric oscillating circuit, method for manufacturing the same and filter arrangement
In a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric oscillating circuit in thin film technology, wherein the oscillating circuit includes a predetermined natural frequency and a plurality of layers, first of all at least a first layer of the piezoelectric oscillating circuit is generated. Subsequently, by processing the first layer a frequency correction is performed. Subsequently, at least a second layer of the piezoelectric oscillating circuit is generated and processed for performing a second frequency correction.
US08365371B2 Methods for manufacturing piezoelectric vibrating devices
Methods are disclosed for manufacturing tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating devices. In an exemplary method a metal film is formed on both surfaces of a piezoelectric wafer, followed by application of photoresist. A first metal-film-etching step etches the metal film after removal of the photoresist layer outside the profile outline of the devices. A first piezoelectric-etching step etches the wafer surface but not through to the rear surface; thus, outside the profile outline the metal film is removed. A second metal-film-etching step etches the metal film after removal of the photoresist layer from first groove regions. A second piezoelectric-etching step etches outside the profile outline and the groove regions through to the rear surface.
US08365365B2 Hook fastener with spring closure
In a hook fastener having a sliding closure for closing the mouth of the hook, a keeper prevents opening of the closure. The hook fastener includes a body having a base portion and a hook portion extending from an end of the base portion to define a gap between the hook and the base portion. An opening formed in the base portion has an elongate mouth intersecting an external face on the base portion. The closure includes a shaft part and a grip part, the shaft part received in the opening, the grip part protruding from the shaft part through the mouth for manipulation by a user. A spring urges the closure such that the shaft part extends out of the opening into the gap. The keeper is received to rotate upon the external face, being located between the grip part and abutment on the body. A slot in the keeper extends parallel to the mouth, the keeper preventing the user retracting the closure from the gap, except when the slot is rotated so as to be angularly aligned with the mouth.
US08365364B2 Buckle attachment device
A buckle attachment device is provided for removably securing a buckle and a strap to form a unified strap object, such as a belt. The buckle attachment device enables a user to select one of a wide variety of buckles to be coupled with one of a wide variety of straps that may be custom cut to a desired length. The selected buckle and strap are then removably secured by the user to the buckle attachment device without the need for specialized tools or additional binding components.
US08365363B2 Strap fastening device
A strap fastening device includes two fastening straps and a tightness adjusting unit. The fastening straps each have a fixing end and an opposing free end. The tightness adjusting unit includes an assembling box and two locating members. The assembling box is provided at a left and a right half with at least one non-return retaining tooth each. The two locating members are slidably mounted to the assembling box and connected to the free ends of the two fastening straps, such that the free ends of the fastening straps are not turned back to expose from the assembling box. The slidable locating members respectively have a raised locating rib releasably engaging with the at least one non-return retaining tooth at the left and the right half of the assembling box. The two locating members can be conveniently slid with one hand to adjust the tightness of the fastening straps.
US08365357B2 Hinge mechanism
A hinge mechanism includes a pivot shaft, a resilient member coiling around the pivot shaft, a first cam, a second cam, and a rolling assembly. The pivot shaft defines a through hole in a radial direction thereof. The first cam and the second cam are sleeved on the pivot shaft, the first cam defines two pairs of recesses at one end surface thereof, and the second cam defines a groove at one end surface thereof facing the first cam. The rolling assembly positioned between the first cam and the second cam includes a pin and two rolling bearings sleeved on opposite ends of the pin.
US08365355B2 Rocking doorstop
The invention is a mechanical device that fixes a door in an open or partially open position, preventing the door from closing as a result of wind or incidental tugging. The invention does not require permanent attachment to the door or doorframe and can be readily applied or removed from the door. And the rocking doorstop prevents the door from moving in either direction.
US08365351B2 Floor cleaning machine comprising a vertically movable water slider
Water slider for a floor cleaning machine 1, comprising a sliding unit 2 located in front of the brush unit 5 of the machine, characterized by actuating means 3, 6, 13; 3, 6′, 11, 12; 3, 6, 7; 3, 6, 7′; 3, 6, 7″; 3, 6′, 10; 3, 6′, 10′; 3, 6′, 10″ for raising and lowering the sliding unit. The actuation of the water slider can be obtained in several ways: automatically via an actuating bar 3 which connects the sliding unit to the driving wheels of the machine mechanically and which raises/lowers the sliding unit on a forward/backward movement of the wheels; intuitively via a mechanical connection of the bar 3 to the steering handle 8 via a negative gear transmission; manually via an actuating lever 7; 7′; 7″; or by a powered mechanism 10; 10′; 10″ which is steered by the electronics of the machine and which raises/lowers the water slider when the machine is moved forward/backward.
US08365348B2 Vacuum cleaner having a holding device for holding a vacuuming tool in a parked position
A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having at least one holding device configured to receive a vacuuming tool in a parked position and at least one illumination device associated with the holding device.
US08365338B1 Wheel cleaning device
The wheel cleaning device is especially useful in cleaning lug nuts and the area and orifice within a wheel that surround a lug nut. The device may importantly provide for brush change, via a threaded fitting. Various bristle designs are provided. The device also importantly provides an arc within the shaft so that the brush can be inserted beyond a bulbous exterior of many typical lug nuts. The arc then allows a user to clean the area without device failure and without undue brush bristle fatigue, as the arc allows clearance adjacent to the most bulbous part of a lug nut so that the brush may better reach the confines of the spaces typically not reached. The cylindrically shaped handle may be provided with a rounded end as a more user friendly interface.
US08365335B2 Electric toothbrush, and transmission for an electric toothbrush
The transmission according to the invention for an electric toothbrush serves for the transmission and reforming of a rotational movement provided by an electric motor into a particularly careful and effective cleaning movement of a cleaning element. The ratio of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of an output shaft and the longitudinal mid-axis of a drive shaft of the transmission and of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of a shaft driving a cam of the transmission and the longitudinal mid-axis of the cam amounts to at least 10:1.
US08365334B2 Washing machine and method of controlling a washing machine
A washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine are provided. According to the washing machine and method of controlling the washing machine, the drum is operated at a first speed so that part of laundry within the drum tumbles and another part of the laundry adheres to the drum. When an unbalance amount of the drum operating at the first speed is a first specific value or less, the speed of the drum is increased to a second speed so that all of the laundry adheres to the drum. When an unbalance amount of the drum detected during the increasing to the second speed is a second specific value or more, the rotation of the drum is decelerated. Accordingly, at a time of a dehydration cycle, stability of the washing machine and laundry balancing can be ensured.
US08365332B2 Utility bar
A utility bar includes a shank portion for providing a grip, the shank portion including a first end and a second end, a substantially arch-shaped head portion extending from the first end of the shank portion, and a pry bar portion extending from the second end of the shank portion. Each of the head portion and the pry bar portion define a free end of the utility bar. The utility bar also includes a first facet including the free end of the head portion, a second facet extending from the first facet at an angle with respect to the first facet and positioned between the free end of the head portion and the shank portion, and a first fulcrum edge between the first and second facets for providing a first pivot point about which the utility bar is pivoted to provide leverage.
US08365329B1 Infant feeding and support pillow
An infant feeding and support pillow has a pillow cover and filling material disposed within the pillow cover. The pillow cover has a longitudinal base portion with a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region. A first end arm with a distal end extends transversely from the first end region of the longitudinal base portion. At least one middle arm with a distal end extends transversely from the middle region of the longitudinal base portion. A second end arm with a distal end extends transversely from the second end region of the longitudinal base portion. The first end arm, the longitudinal base portion, and the middle arm define a first opening configured to hold a first infant. The middle arm, the longitudinal base portion, and the second end arm define a second opening configured to hold a second infant.
US08365325B2 Infant blanket wrap with bifurcated legs
Disclosed is an infant blanket wrap that is specially tailored for use in an infant carrier or car seat having a crotch strap. The present invention comprises an article of material with two flaps, a bifurcated leg portion that forms a pouch for each leg and a securing means for the upper terminal end of the leg portion. The bifurcated leg portion allows a parent to place a swaddled baby in an infant carrier without removing the blanket and disturbing the child. The device also includes a securing means for the bifurcated leg portion. This allows the leg portion to fold down for ease of entry into the blanket and creates an extended tube portion that covers the infant's torso, keeping the child completely covered.
US08365324B2 Hide away bed rail
A bed rail having an operating position at one of the sides of a bed and a stored position between a mattress and box spring of the bed. To take down the bed rail, a guard frame portion is disengaged from a base frame portion, then the guard frame portion is pivoted and slid into the base frame portion. To set up the bed rail, the guard frame portion can be slid out of the base frame portion, pivoted relative to the base frame portion, then engaged to the base frame portion and into the operating position at a side of the bed.
US08365322B1 Multi-position remote latching mechanism
The patient room window seat converts between a bench seat and a bed with a simple pull of a handle. In the seat position part of a horizontal upholster cushion is under the backrest so the portion of the cushion in available is the correct width for comfortable seating. Moving the upholstered cushion forward until fully uncovered provides a comfortable bed. A second knob removes a stop allowing the cushion to fully extend and leave the base uncovered in a service position that gives full access for cleaning. The patient room seat is constructed with a commercially available heavy-duty ball bearing slides and a modular multi-position remote latching mechanism. The slides and the latching mechanism working in combination provide an effortless transition between the seat and bed position, allowing elderly or weakened individuals to operate the window seat without problem.
US08365321B2 Method of preparing bath tub with cushion and bath tub with cushion
A method of manufacturing a bathtub includes a first operation of forming an external structure layer forming an external appearance of the bathtub; a second operation of forming a mold-release agent layer having a bathtub forming surface corresponding to an internal shape of the bathtub and a flange extending from a circumference of the bathtub forming surface to the outside, on an external surface of an internal mold; and a third operation of forming a semi-rigid foam layer having a first unfoaming painted layer, a soft foam layer, and a second unfoaming painted layer in sequence such that the soft foam layer is sandwiched between the first unfoaming painted layer and the second unfoaming painted layer. The semi-rigid foam layer is formed between the external structure layer and the mold-release agent layer by being injected in a space between the external structure layer and the mold-release agent layer.
US08365314B2 Coated elastomeric article and method for making a coated elastomeric article
An elastomeric article, such as a glove or a condom, is coated with a compound containing silicone, collagen and allantoin.
US08370960B2 Modular atomic force microscope
A modular AFM/SPM which provides faster measurements, in part through the use of smaller probes, of smaller forces and movements, free of noise artifacts, that the old generations of these devices have increasingly been unable to provide. The modular AFM/SPM includes a chassis, the foundation on which the modules of the instrument are supported; a view module providing the optics for viewing the sample and the probe; a head module providing the components for the optical lever arrangement and for steering and focusing those components; a scanner module providing the XYZ translation stage that actuates the sample in those dimensions and the engage mechanism; a isolation module that encloses the chassis and provides acoustic and/or thermal isolation for the instrument and an electronics module which, together with the separate controller, provide the electronics for acquiring and processing images and controlling the other functions of the instrument. All these modules and many of their subassemblies are replaceable and potentially upgradeable. This allows updating to new technology as it becomes available.
US08370959B2 Connection device authentication
A method and apparatus are provided for a secure interconnect between data modules, including a security apparatus within a secured data connection device installed with a security chip. The connection device may be authenticated prior to enabling a stacking feature. Authentication of a connection device may be used to ensure the quality and performance of the connection device and the data modules.
US08370957B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting contents with limited system permissions
Provided is a method for transmitting contents with limited system permissions. In the method, a content request is received from a client terminal. A download descriptor is transmitted to the client terminal in response to the content request, the download descriptor including information about the authentication and permission of the client terminal system that can be managed in the contents. A content transmission request is received from the client terminal that has received the download descriptor. Contents are transmitted to the client terminal in response to the content transmission request.
US08370955B2 Enforcing policies in wireless communication using exchanged identities
Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.
US08370954B2 Content management systems and methods including content usage restrictions
Key data is generated that contains a decryption key that decrypts an encrypted content, and a policy that defines the usage restrictions on the content. Binder data is then generated, which contains the encrypted content, key data, and the control data, which describes the applied conditions of the key data.
US08370953B2 Method of managing a software item on a managed computer system
A method and system is provided of managing a current software item on a managed computer system connectable to a management computer system via a computer network. The method includes identifying, using an agent application, the current software item on the managed computer system, identifying if the current software item is an unauthorized software item; and selectively disabling the unauthorized software item.
US08370950B2 Securing mixed-mode applications
Embodiments are directed to securing mixed-mode applications in a semi-trusted environment. In an embodiment, a computer system securely loads native data files associated with a mixed-mode application. The secure loading ensures that the native components upon which the managed component depends are authentic. The computer system implements a securely stored handle associated with the loaded native data files to provide secure communications between the managed component and the loaded native data files. The handle provides a trusted function pointer to an associated mixed-mode application function. The computer system also initiates a security permission request for each resource that is passed to the native components during execution of the mixed-mode application, so that each resource is verified before execution.
US08370949B2 Automated screening of content based on intellectual property rights
Systems and methods automatically scan content, such as advertisements, for a list of terms and/or phrases that may not be allowed in the content. In one implementation, the terms and/or phrases include trademarks. In this implementation, incoming advertisements may be automatically scanned for the presence of trademarks.
US08370947B2 System and method for selecting computer security policy based on security ratings of computer users
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for reducing security risk in a computer network. The system includes an administration server that collect information about one or more computers in the network, including the following information: computer user's external drive usage history, software installation history, and Web browsing history. The server calculates based on the collected information a security rating of the computer user. The server then adjust a security rating of the computer user based on the security rating of at least one other user of another computer connected to the same computer network. The server then selects security policy of the security software based on the adjusted security rating of the computer user. Different security policies provide different network security settings and prohibitions on launching of executable files from external drives.
US08370945B2 Identifying security breaches caused by web-enabled software applications
Identifying a security breach caused when a computer-based software application uses a computer-based web browser application, including identifying at least one function within a computer-based software application that causes a computer-based web browser application to access data from a source that is external to the software application, at least partially replacing the data with malicious content that is configured to cause a predefined action to occur when the malicious content is accessed by the web browser application, where the predefined action is associated with a known security breach when the predefined action occurs subsequent to the malicious content being accessed by the web browser application, causing the software application to perform the function, and determining whether the predefined action is performed.
US08370940B2 Methods and apparatuses for providing internet-based proxy services
A proxy server receives, from multiple visitors of multiple client devices, a plurality of requests for actions to be performed on identified network resources belonging to a plurality of origin servers. At least some of the origin servers belong to different domains and are owned by different entities. The proxy server and the origin servers are also owned by different entities. The proxy server analyzes each request it receives to determine whether that request poses a threat and whether the visitor belonging to the request poses a threat. The proxy server blocks those requests from visitors that pose a threat or in which the request itself poses a threat. The proxy server transmits the requests that are not a threat and is from a visitor that is not a threat to the appropriate origin server.
US08370935B1 Auditing a device
The auditing of a device that includes a physical memory is disclosed. One or more hardware parameters that correspond to a hardware configuration is received. Initialization information is also received. The physical memory is selectively written in accordance with a function. The physical memory is selectively read and at least one result is determined. The result is provided to a verifier.
US08370934B2 Methods for detecting malicious programs using a multilayered heuristics approach
Three heuristic layers are used to determine whether suspicious code received at a port of a data processing device is malware. First, static analysis is applied to the suspicious code. If the suspicious code passes the static analysis, dissembling analysis is applied to the suspicious code. Preferably, if the suspicious code passes the dissembling analysis, dynamic analysis is applied to the suspicious code.
US08370933B1 Systems and methods for detecting the insertion of poisoned DNS server addresses into DHCP servers
A computer-implemented method for detecting the insertion of poisoned DNS server addresses into DHCP servers may include: 1) identifying a DNS server address provided by a DHCP server, 2) determining that the DNS server address provided by the DHCP server differs from a prior DNS server address provided by the DHCP server, 3) determining, due at least in part to the DNS server address differing from the prior DNS server address, that a DNS server located at the DNS server address provided by the DHCP server represents a potential security risk, and then 4) performing a security operation in an attempt to remedy the potential security risk.
US08370928B1 System, method and computer program product for behavioral partitioning of a network to detect undesirable nodes
A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, votes from a plurality of nodes for node categorization are monitored. Further, a pattern associated with the votes is identified. Thus, malicious nodes may be identified based on the pattern.
US08370924B2 Role based server installation and configuration
The described systems and methods are directed at configuring a server based on a selected role. An installation application is configured to install core components in a server where these core components enable the server to perform the basic functions of a network computing device. A role management application is configured to enable a system administrator to select a role for the server and to automatically determine software components associated with the selected role. The role management application is then configured to build the software components and install the components on the server. The role management application is further configured to configure the components for the selected role. The automated installation process performed by the role management application enables a server to be efficiently configured for a particular role without installing other unnecessary components unrelated to the role.
US08370914B2 Transition from WS-Federation passive profile to active profile
A server system sends a first credential request to a passive requestor at a client device. After sending the first credential request, the server system receives a credential for a user of the client device. If the credential is valid, the server system can provide the passive requestor with access to a resource provided by the server system. After providing the passive requestor with access to the resource, the server system provides an active requestor at the client device with access to the resource without sending a second credential request to the active requestor. Consequently, it may not be necessary for a user of the client device to provide credentials twice in order for the passive requestor and the active requestor to access the resource.
US08370912B2 Automated user registration
For users to access network services such as video streaming from a device, users usually have to register themselves with the service first. Most registration mechanisms require a user to input a username, password, date of birth and other details. When implemented through a web interface, this mechanism is relatively easy for the service provider to provision. However, the problem is that users are required to manually enter significant amounts of information which can be both time consuming, especially on a mobile device where there usually no QWERTY input device, and susceptible to unintentional errors. The present invention proposes an automated registration process that does not require a user to enter any details manually except for the initial request to subscribe to a service. The process gathers information automatically about the user and the device used, which is then stored and used for user authentication during subsequent service requests following the initial subscription request. The subsequent requests for service also do not require the user to manually input any user data.
US08370911B1 System for integrating multiple access controls systems
In a location where a number of entities share a common area and where those entities wish to exclude unauthorized individuals yet desire access for a set of individuals from each entity, a system, using networking techniques, integrates a plurality of independent entity access control systems in which each system authorizes credentials from one of the plurality of entities to control access to each individual entity area.
US08370909B2 Method and system for authenticating internet user identity
A method and system for authenticating an Internet user identity by cross-referencing and comparing at least two independent sources of information. A first geographical location of computer signature of an internet user is identified and the geographical location of a communication voice device of said internet user is identified to determine a second location. The first and second locations are compared for geographical proximity to confirm the identity of the internet user. Based upon geographical proximity of said locations, a score is assigned to the internet user, and access to a website is allowed or limited based upon said score. Alternatively, additional authentication information can be required or access can be terminated.
US08370906B2 Method and system of plug-in privilege control
A plug-in privilege control includes authorizing a plug-in, including assigning a plug-in identification number (PIN) to the plug-in wherein the PIN is used to identify an identification (ID) of the corresponding plug-in; notifying the plug-in about the PIN; storing information about the plug-in and a plug-in accessible service to a mapping of services; receiving a request for a service from the plug-in, wherein the request includes the PIN; retrieving the ID of the plug-in according to the PIN; and determining whether to allow the plug-in to access the service that it requested.
US08370900B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs security management functions such as security transmission and security printing of data stored in a hard disk of the image forming apparatus and shared with a plurality of host computers through a network, to which a security tag is added for the security of the data so as to increase the security of the data. The image forming apparatus is connected to the network to be shared with the host computers to receive and store data transmitted from the host computers, and includes a storage device to store IP address information of a host computer which transmitted data and security data to which a security tag is added for the security of the transmitted data corresponding to the IP address information, and an image forming controller to perform security management function of the security data.
US08370898B1 System and method for providing threshold-based access to compute resources
The invention relates to systems, methods and computer-readable media for controlling access to compute resources in a compute environment such as a cluster or a grid. The method of providing conditional access to a compute environment comprises associating a required service level threshold with a compute environment, associating a service level with a requestor, receiving a request for access to the compute environment from the requestor; and, if the service level of the requestor meets the specified service level threshold, then allowing access to the compute resources. The threshold-based access may be enforced by reservations, policies or some other method.
US08370895B2 Social network privacy by means of evolving access control
A method and software product for limit privacy loss due to data shared in a social network, where the basic underlying assumptions are that users are interested in sharing data and cannot be assumed to constantly follow appropriate privacy policies. Social networks deploy an additional layer of server-assisted access control which, even under no action from a user, automatically evolves over time, by restricting access to the user's data. The evolving access control mechanism provides non-trivial quantifiable guarantees for formally specified requirements of utility (i.e., users share as much data as possible to all other users) and privacy (i.e., users expose combinations of sensitive data only with low probability and over a long time).
US08370892B2 Apparatus and methods for handling interactive applications in broadcast networks
An interactive method includes receiving background video including a multiplicity of video frames, at least one of the multiplicity of video frames include a plurality of sub-pictures, each of the plurality of sub-pictures representing an alternative background (1200), and switching between a first sub-picture of the plurality of sub-pictures and a second sub-picture of the plurality of sub-pictures (1210).
US08370889B2 Switched digital video client reverse channel traffic reduction
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a switched digital video (SDV) client to intelligently generate and transmit reverse request in a SDV system. In this manner, reverse channel traffic is reduced. During rapid channel changes using the up and down keys on a remote control, the SDV client waits a predetermined amount of time before generating a reverse request that is subsequently transmitted upstream to a headend server. By way of example, changing broadcasted channels quickly will not generate a reverse request until the predetermined amount of time is over. In the event that a changed channel is an SDV session, a program select request is immediately generated in order to begin receiving the SDV session.
US08370888B2 Hydra: high-performance data recording architecture for streaming media
A data stream recorder system, for multi-stream recording and retrieval of utilizes a number of gateways, each for sending and receiving packets containing streaming multimedia content data at real-time rates via a packet data network. A session manager communicates via the network with source client devices and receiver client devices, to establish and control recording and retrieval sessions. The manager assigns sessions to the gateways for the sending and receiving of the packets to and from client devices. Content is distributed across storage devices associated in storage nodes. Each of the gateways receives packets containing content data at real time rates during a recording session and distributes the received packets from the session across all of the storage nodes. A scheduler of each respective storage node distributes content data from packets distributed to the respective storage node, across all of the digital storage devices of the respective storage node.
US08370886B2 Return feed forward
Provided is a device for use with a headend, a household and an amplifier. The headend is able to provide signals within a high-frequency band fH. The household is able to provide signals within a low-frequency band fL, and to provide signals within a super-high-frequency band fR, where fL
US08370879B2 Connection interface for personal electronic devices with a television
A connection interface allows individuals (such as guests at a lodging facility) to use portable personal electronic devices (such as laptop computers, digital audio players, and digital audio/video players) in conjunction with a television. The connection interface device includes inputs to receive signals from various portable devices, and includes selection keys by which a guest can select a particular type of input to the television. The connection interface senses presence of video and audio signals on its inputs, and the state of the selection keys, and provides data over an in-room network with a television interface terminal. The connection interface device also routes the signals received at its inputs to corresponding inputs of the television. The television interface terminal responds to inputs from a remote control, keyboard or game controller and provides commands to the television to tune to selected channels for free-to-guest programming pay-per-view movies, video games, Internet, and other interactive services. Based on data from the connection interface, the television interface terminal can command the television to receive and play selected inputs from the connection interface.
US08370877B2 Content downloading method and apparatus used by mobile device
A content downloading method and apparatus of a mobile device employing an Internet protocol television (IPTV) are provided. The content downloading method and apparatus allow an IPTV to provide a mobile device with content information received from a service provider, allow a user to input content desired to be downloaded to the mobile device, and allow a user to download the content to the mobile device from the service provider via the IPTV, thereby quickly and easily downloading desired content to the mobile device without a complicated process of browsing and copying the content.
US08370874B1 Subscription and channel management technology
Subscription and channel management technology, in which a system allows a user to subscribe to a subset of the available channels on a content delivery network and personalize at least one channel. The system identifies a user identity of the user and stores, in a user database, channel subscription information for the user identity based on the subset of channels to which the user subscribed and the user personalization. The system identifies a downloader device associated with the user identity and controls the downloader device based on the channel subscription information stored in the user database.
US08370872B1 Broadcasting channels of streaming media content in a wireless telecommunications network
Systems, methods and media are provided for presenting a group of available broadcast channels utilizing a wireless network upon initiation of a channel-viewing graphical user interface (GUI). The group comprises channels that can be broadcast most efficiently to the mobile device. After initiating the channel-viewing GUI on the mobile device, requests are communicated to elements on the network to retrieve lists of currently broadcast channels in the area and currently viewed channels throughout the wireless network. A list also is retrieved of recently viewed channels on the mobile device. At least a portion of each list is then presented on the channel-viewing GUI. The lists can be sent by a first video media proxy (VMP) server and a broadcast management server (BMS).
US08370871B2 Image signal receiver for diagnosing and editing channel, and control method thereof
Provided are a system and a method for diagnosing and editing a channel using received signal sensitivity. The method allows a user to edit a channel on a received signal sensitivity diagnosis screen of a digital TV, so that the user can edit a favorite channel while checking received signal sensitivity of a predetermined channel. Since a user can edit a channel while checking received signal sensitivity of each channel, channel diagnosis and channel editing can be performed accurately and efficiently.
US08370870B2 Method and system for compensating viewers of content
A method and system for use in providing content to a viewer that includes providing a service comprising an on demand video service to the viewer wherein the viewer has an option to view video content. The system is configured to compensate the viewer a reward for having viewed the video content, and the system maintains an accounting of the reward and corresponding viewer identification.
US08370868B2 Spindle motor and disk driver having the same
Disclosed herein is provided a spindle motor and a disk driver having the same. There is provided a spindle motor including: a sleeve rotatably supporting a shaft; a bush combined with the top portion of the shaft to be rotated together with the shaft; a rotor case including a cylindrical wall part combined with the outer peripheral surface of the bush; an air flow spreading part formed on the axial bottom part of the bush and spreading the air flow generated between the shaft and the sleeve to the radial outer side when the shaft is rotated; and a sealing part formed on the axial bottom portion of the bush and formed between the cylindrical wall part and the air flow spreading part to seal oil when the shaft is rotated.
US08370866B2 Optical pickup supporting device with position adjustment mechanism and optical disc apparatus including the same
Provided is a high-accuracy optical pickup supporting device by fixing guide shafts to a chassis by use of adjustment screws accurately. To this end, in the optical pickup supporting device, an end portion of a second guide shaft for supporting an optical pickup device is fixed to the chassis by use of: a coil spring included in an accommodation area of the chassis; and an adjustment screw. In addition, the adjustment screw is screwed to a fixation plate accommodated in an accommodation part of the chassis. Accordingly, a repulsive force produced by the coil spring does not concentrate on any part of the chassis. For this reason, the chassis is prevented from deforming and breaking due to this repulsive force.
US08370864B2 Optical disc player with proctecting structure for decreasing noise
An optical disc player includes a main body, a lid, a rotator, and a protective structure. The lid is pivotably connected to the main body. The rotator is disposed in the main body for rotating discs and can be covered by the lid. The protective structure is disposed between the rotator and the lid. The protective structure is capable of suppressing noise and/or damage caused by contact between the rotator and the lid when the rotator operates.
US08370862B1 Communicating between software environments
A method for use in communicating between software environments is disclosed. A JavaScript connection is established between a Flex based operating environment and a Java based operating environment. Based on the JavaScript connection, a socket connection between the Flex based operating environment and the Java based operating environment is established. Based on the socket connection, remote procedure calls are executed between the Flex based operating environment and the Java based operating environment.
US08370861B2 Encoding object states
A method, computer program and system, which, given a set of Boolean state variables, a set of state transitions described as truth tables for the state variables, a set of initial states (that is states that objects happen to be in when they are brand new or when they are introduced into the system), all established by a natural modeling of the application domain, can derive an encoding that is provably isomorphic to the initial one but smaller, and transitions that match exactly the initial transitions but operating upon the new encoding, without incurring a significant time penalty. This effect is obtained by generating the extensive set of significant states, renumbering those states, then modifying the transitions implementation so as to use the renumbered states in place of the original ones.
US08370860B2 Application programming interface for providing native and non-native display utility
Methods for controlling complementary dual displays for use with an electronic device are presented including: receiving an input for display on a non-native display, where the input includes a native user interface (UI) input and a non-native UI input, and where the non-native display is a bistable, low frame rate display; if the input is the native UI input, sending the first native UI input to a corresponding application, processing the native UI input by the corresponding application, calling a non-native API for forwarding the processed native UI input to a non-native display driver, and sending a non-native display signal to the non-native display; receiving another native UI input for display on a native display, where the native display is a refresh-based, high frame rate display; and sending the other native UI input to the corresponding application.
US08370856B2 Computer system with controller kernel and remote desktop
Remote desktop software for use with guest operating systems that run on a controller kernel. Also, remote desktop software that can be used to remotely view and/or manipulate multiple containerized guest operating systems that run on a single computer. The multiple, containerized operating systems preferably run on a controller kernel. Alternatively, the multiple containerized operating system may be controlled to run on the single computer by other software, such as a hypervisor.
US08370855B2 Management of process-to-process intra-cluster communication requests
A mechanism is provided for managing a process-to-process intra-cluster communication request. A call from a first application is received in a first operating system in a first data processing system. The first operating system passes the call from the first operating system to a first host fabric interface controller in the first data processing system without processing the call. The first host fabric interface controller processes the call without intervention by the first operating system to determine a second data processing system in the plurality of data processing systems with which the call is associated. The first host fabric interface controller initiates an intra-cluster connection to a second host fabric interface controller in the second data processing system. The first host fabric interface controller then transfers the call to the second host fabric interface controller in the second data processing system via the intra-cluster connection.
US08370854B2 Automatic closure of a file or a device in a data processing system
A mechanism is provided for automatically closing a file or a device. A service routine monitor monitors a request received from either an application that opened the file or a device driver that readied the device. The service routine monitor determines whether the file or the device has been accessed within a predetermined time interval. Responsive to the file or the device failing to be accessed within the predetermined time interval, the service routine monitor sends a call to the application that opened the file or the application or a higher level device driver that requested that the device driver ready the device. Responsive to a response from the application or the higher level device driver indicating that the use of the file or the device is no longer needed, the service routine monitor closes the file or quiesces the device.
US08370853B2 Event notification management
Systems and methods are provided for event notification. In one implementation, a method is provided. A determination is made as to whether a threshold associated with pending event notifications has been exceeded by an incoming event notification. A plurality of pending event notifications that can be combined are identified. Two or more event notifications are combined.
US08370850B2 Cache management
A number of applications can be run by the computing system. Such applications can execute independently from each other and can also each independently manage a corresponding set of content stored on a local storage device (LSD). One of the advantages presented by the invention is the ability of the LSD to inform one application of the content made available on the LSD by another one of the applications even though the applications have no relationship to each other. In this way, a synergy between the independent applications can be achieved providing a co-operative environment that can result in, for example, improved operation of the computing system, improved resource (i.e., memory, bandwidth, processing) allocation and use, and other factors.
US08370849B2 API method and system for providing access to an external service via an application services platform
There are provided mechanisms and methods for providing access to an external service via an application services platform, utilizing an application program interface (API). These mechanisms and methods for providing access to an external service via an application services platform can provide an effective way of allowing access to such external service without necessarily forcing access to the external service separately with respect to the application services platform. The ability to provide such effective technique can enable the integration of an external service with an application services platform, thus allowing access to the external service in a more time effective manner.
US08370845B1 Method for synchronizing independent cooperative thread arrays running on a graphics processing unit
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for synchronizing the execution of multiple cooperative thread arrays (CTAs) implementing a parallel algorithm that is mapped onto a graphics processing unit. An array of semaphores provides synchronization status to each CTA, while one designated thread within each CTA provides updated status for the CTA. The designated thread within each participating CTA reports completion of a given computational phase by updating a current semaphore within the array of semaphores. The designated thread then polls the status of the current semaphore until all participating CTAs have reported completion of the current computational phase. After each CTA has completed the current computational phase, all participating CTAs may proceed to the next computational phase.
US08370841B2 Optimizing deterministic event record and replay operations
Mechanisms for managing task events during the scheduling period of a task executing on a processor. Only events of specific portions of the scheduling period are logged, wherein a first shared resource access has been granted for the task, this portion of the scheduling period involving gathering all the non-deterministic events which cannot be replayed by simple task re-execution. Other independent non-deterministic event records are still logged as usual when they occur out of the portion of the scheduling period for which a record has been created. This limits the number of logged events during a recording session of an application and limits the frequency of events to transmit from the production machine to the replay machine.
US08370839B2 Monitoring message queues in message queuing information systems and initiating batch jobs to perform functions on the message queues
A method, system, and computer program product for initiating batch jobs in a message queuing information system are provided. The method, system, and computer program product provide for monitoring a message queue in the message queuing information system, detecting a predetermined condition in the message queue, determining whether a member name is associated with the predetermined condition, determining whether a server is available responsive to a member name being associated with the predetermined condition, and sending the member name to the server for the server to attach a batch job to load or unload one or more messages in the message queue based on information included in the member name responsive to a server being available.
US08370833B2 Method and system for implementing a virtual storage pool in a virtual environment
A system and method for implementing distributed data storage. In particular, the system includes a plurality of virtualization servers, each of which is associated with available data resources. Each virtualization server supports one or more application virtual machines through a virtualization layer. In addition, a plurality of storage virtual machines is included in the system. Each storage virtual machine is associated with a corresponding and participating virtualization server. A virtual storage pool is included in the system, wherein each storage virtual machine allows the export and aggregation of available data resources within a corresponding virtualization server into the virtual storage pool.
US08370827B2 Method and device for the controlled editing and broadcasting of compressed multimedia files
The present application relates to a method for editing and broadcasting compressed multimedia files composed of binary data blocks originating from digital transformations applied to an audiovisual or multimedia content according to the format of a parent file, said parent file having been separated into a first modified file having the format of the nominal parent file and into a complementary file including information on the modifications brought to the parent file, the method comprising prior to the transmission from a portal to the receiving terminal: a step of preparation including analyzing said first file for extracting time-codes therefrom, a second step including generating an index register table from said first modified file, a third step including generating a modified multimedia file according to the format of the parent file containing information of said first modified file and meta-data, a step of transmission of said modified multimedia file separate from said modified multimedia file, the elements of said complementary file making it possible to recreate a partial synthesis of the original audiovisual file.
US08370824B2 Dynamic class loading
According to one embodiment of the present invention a method is disclosed. The method includes requesting a class to be dynamically loaded during program execution. The class includes an attribute. A properties file is searched for the attribute. An associated delegation policy is found in the properties file. The associated delegation policy is associated with the attribute. The class is loaded by applying the associated delegation policy.
US08370818B2 Methods and apparatus for analyzing software interface usage
Methods and apparatus for analyzing the interface usage and requirements within software applications. In one embodiment, the interfaces comprise application programming interfaces (APIs) used with Java-based software, and the apparatus comprises a computer program that analyzes file paths (or classpaths) containing one or more files comprising Java bytecode. The names of the classes are extracted and placed into a class dictionary. The different classes listed in the dictionaries are broken down into their individual methods. Each method is then dissembled and analyzed for method or field invocations on other classes found in the dictionary. Methods called are added to a “used class” report. The used class report preferably contains the name of the class, method and the instruction information.
US08370816B2 Device, method and computer program product for evaluating a debugger script
A method for evaluating a debugger script, the method includes: (i) receiving a debugger script that includes a first debugger breakpoint that is associated with a certain program line number; and determining a validity of the first debugger breakpoint in response to a comparison between expected content associated with the first debugger breakpoint and between an actual content of at least a portion of a certain program line group that comprises a certain program line identified by the certain program line number.
US08370811B2 Modularizing and aspectizing graphical user interface directed test scripts
A test structure for testing graphical user interface applications (GAPs) modularizes test scripts by separating statements that define GAP test logic from statements that navigate to GAP objects. Composition rules weave the statements together to generate the test scripts that are executed to test the GAP. Because the test structure is modular, test logic can be reused across different GAPs and different versions of the same GAP. Reusing test logic is not only an efficient practice from a test engineer's point of view, but also leads to a reduction in test programming errors. The modular test structure also facilitates the efficient modification of test scripts to account for modifications in the underlying GAPs, greatly reducing the time, cost, and resource expenditures needed to arrive at updated test scripts.
US08370804B2 Delta compression using multiple pointers
Encoding a new version of a data module includes constructing a delta data module having data for providing the new version of the data module. The delta data module may indicate an encoding for copying data at an offset from one of a number of pointers into different versions of the data module. Decoding a delta data module to provide a new version of a data module includes copying, to the new version of the data module, data relative to a target pointer when an encoding in the delta data module indicates a matching pattern relative to the target pointer, and copying, to the new version of the data module, data relative to at least one other pointer when an encoding in the delta data module indicates a matching pattern relative to the at least one other pointer.
US08370803B1 Asset templates for agile software development
A method of creating assets for agile software development includes detecting selection of an asset type for an asset template, receiving values of one or more attributes for the asset template, and creating the asset template. Upon detecting an action to select the asset template, creation of an asset of the selected asset type and having the received values is initiated.
US08370801B2 Architecture that extends types using extension methods
Architecture that extends existing types including constructed and sealed types using extension methods. Extension methods are static methods that can be invoked using instance method syntax. Extension methods are declared by specifying the keyword “this” as a modifier on the first parameter of the methods. Extension methods have all the capabilities of regular static methods. In addition, once imported, extension methods can be invoked using instance method syntax. Also disclosed are rules for importing extension methods, and extension method invocations. Extension methods are imported through using-namespace-directives. In addition to importing the types contained in a namespace, a using-namespace-directive imports all extension methods in all static classes in the namespace. In effect, imported extension methods appear as additional methods on the types that are given by their first parameter and have lower precedence than regular instance methods.
US08370798B2 Analytical software design system
An analytical software design system arranged to receive informal system design specifications and to convert them into verified design specifications for use in creating source code and carrying out implementation testing of the source code is described. The system comprises a verified black box specification generator arranged to process the received informal system design specifications to create formal specifications; to generate from the formal specifications mathematical models representing the system behavior; to analyze the mathematical models to determine if they have the required behavior; to adjust the formal specifications until the required behavior is achieved; and to derive the required verified design specifications from the mathematical models.
US08370797B2 Data processing apparatus, method therefor, and computer program
A data processing apparatus includes a host processing apparatus that can cooperatively verify, using generated Timed software, hardware and software of a semiconductor device mounted with a target processing device and an operating system (OS), wherein the host processing apparatus analyzes an assembler of the target processing device and recognizes a Basic Block, which is a basic unit for calculating information concerning time, and generates Timed software for the cooperative verification with reference to the Basic Block.
US08370794B2 Software model process component
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for defining one of a plurality of process components. At least one inbound operation initiated by an external process component to read or modify data encapsulated in a business object solely associated with the process component is defined. Additionally at least one outbound operation to read or modify data encapsulated in a business object solely associated with an external process component is defined. Each of the process components characterizes software implementing a respective and distinct process, and each of the process components defines a respective at least one service interface for communicating and interacting with other process components. In addition, all communication and interaction between process components takes place through the respective interfaces of the process components.
US08370792B2 Techniques for instantiating and configuring projects
Techniques for project management instantiation and configuration are provided. A master project includes policy directives that drive the dynamic instantiation and configuration of resources for a project. The resources are instantiated and configured on demand and when resources are actually requested, in response to the policy directives.
US08370791B2 System and method for performing next placements and pruning of disallowed placements for programming an integrated circuit
A system and method for graphically displaying modules and resources within a chip design software application. The system and method provide a data driven model for matching the hardware resource requirements for an associated user module and the available hardware resources on an underlying chip. Databases are utilized to describe the hardware resource requirements which are dictated by the particular user module and the available hardware resources of a particular chip. The user module descriptive database can be updated in response to additional user modules being added or changes to the hardware resource requirements of existing user modules. The hardware description database can be updated in response to additional chips being added. Further, the graphical interface relates both a user module and the possible hardware resource. This graphical interface utilizes highlights of both the module and the associated resource in patterns, grayscales, or colors to graphically illustrate the relationship between the module and the associated resource.
US08370788B2 Circuit design change and correspondence point finding method between HDL land RLT design
A change point finding method applied to a logic circuit is provided. The method first defines an indication map and performs a functional equivalent check to judge whether the indication map is correct. When a result is confirmative, the method adds a trap to an RTL HDL of the logic circuit, so that a plurality of comparing points are generated in an APR gate level HDL of the logic circuit. Then the method performs a backward functional equivalent check on the APR gate level HDL of the logic circuit to find a change point according to the comparing points.
US08370786B1 Methods and software for placement improvement based on global routing
Methods and software for placing or re-placing integrated circuit cells and routing or re-routing nets between the cells in an integrated circuit layout. The method includes selecting a region of the cells in the integrated circuit layout, selecting a cell within the selected region, locating a border point where a net coupled to the selected cell crosses a border of the selected region, and moving the selected cell within the selected region to improve a timing characteristic (e.g., a wire length, capacitance, or other characteristic of the net that affects timing or delay) of the net. The method and software advantageously improve the placement of cells and routing of wires around congested or reserved regions after global routing has been performed, without causing timing violations in other signal paths on the integrated circuit device, in a computationally efficient manner.
US08370785B2 Software controlled transistor body bias
Software controlled transistor body bias. A target frequency is accessed. Using software, transistor body-biasing values are determined for the target frequency in order to enhance a characteristic of a circuit. The bodies of the transistors are biased based on the body-biasing values, wherein the characteristic is enhanced.
US08370782B2 Buffer-aware routing in integrated circuit design
A method, system, and computer usable program product for buffer-aware routing in integrated circuit design are provided in the illustrative embodiments. The design has cells, and the circuit includes buffers and wires. A route is received from a set of routes. The route couples a first point in the circuit to a second point in the circuit and including at least one buffer between the first point and the second point. A determination is made whether the route violates a set of hard constraints for a part of the circuit, where the set of hard constraints includes a reach length constraint. In response to the route not violating any hard constraint in the set of hard constraints, the route is selected as a buffer-aware routing solution between the first and the second points in the circuit.
US08370781B2 Computer product for supporting design and verification of integrated circuit
Design and verification support related to integrated circuits that includes acquiring a first use case diagram representing a function of an object subject to design and verification and an activity diagram representing a processing procedure of the object; analyzing a structure of the activity diagram acquired at the acquiring step; converting the activity diagram to a second use case diagram representing a function of the object, based on the structure analyzed at the analyzing; verifying uniformity of the first use case diagram and the second use case diagram; and outputting a verification result obtained at the verifying uniformity.
US08370780B2 Method and system for estimating power consumption of integrated circuitry
A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing integrated circuitry. The design structure includes first hardware for executing first software in response to macros that describe the integrated circuitry, and for generating a set of constants in response to the execution of the first software. Second hardware is for receiving the set of constants from the first hardware, and for executing second software in response to the macros and the set of constants, and for estimating a power consumption of the integrated circuitry in response to the execution of the second software.
US08370779B1 Method and system for power distribution analysis
Disclosed are systems and methods for electrical verification of integrated circuits. Methodologies are described for verification of the power and ground distribution systems (PDS) for system-on-a-chip (SoC) and the verification of the interaction of the PDS with the behavior of integrated circuits.
US08370773B2 Method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit using inverse lithography technology
Method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit by calculating an optimised reticle layout design from an IC layout design and a model describing an optical system for transferring the IC layout design onto a semiconductor wafer using a reticle, wherein the IC layout design comprises features defined by a plurality of boundaries. Approximating the plurality of boundaries to generate an approximated IC layout design suitable for the manufacture of the IC. Performing OPC simulation on at least a portion of the approximated IC layout design.
US08370771B2 Communication device
A communication device for sending data to a destination includes a destination storage unit for registering the destination; a condition input unit for inputting a registration condition to register the destination in the destination storage unit and a deletion condition to delete the destination registered in the destination storage unit; a condition storage unit for the registration condition and the deletion condition input through the condition input unit; a destination registration unit for storing the destination in the destination storage unit when the destination satisfies the registration condition stored in the condition storage unit; and a destination deletion unit for deleting the destination satisfying the registration condition stored in the condition storage unit and stored in the destination storage unit when the destination satisfies the deletion condition stored in the condition storage unit.
US08370770B2 Variable path management of user contacts
Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for managing a subset of user contacts on a telecommunications device are provided. In one embodiment, a software application executed by a processor of a telecommunications device identifies a subset of contacts selected at least in part by a user of the telecommunications device. The subset of contacts includes a portion of the user's contacts accessible by the telecommunications device. The software application executed by the processor of the telecommunications device then causes display of a first portion of graphical identifiers associated with a first portion of the subset of contacts along a first path on a display of the telecommunications device about an axis positioned external to the display of the telecommunications device. The software application further causes display of a second portion of graphical identifiers associated with a second portion of the subset of contacts along a second path on the display of the telecommunications device about the external axis. Aspects of systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for further arranging the graphical identifiers are also provided. Even further, aspects of systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for providing functionality associated with the graphical identifiers are provided.
US08370767B2 List authoring surface
A list authoring surface (LAS) is provided that includes a lightweight user interface component for entering, displaying, manipulating, and providing reminders for one or more tasks that takes the place of hand-written notes, scraps of paper, or “sticky” notes. The list authoring surface may be deployed across a multitude of software applications and may be readily accessed anywhere on a stationary or mobile desktop or display screen. Information may be manually or automatically entered into the list authoring surface user interface. An event timeline that uses a “fuzzy” reminder method allows for reminders to be associated with tasks where some tasks must be accomplished or must occur at hard dates/times, but where other tasks may be accomplished or may occur during soft or “fuzzy” date/time ranges.
US08370764B2 Scrolling web pages using direct interaction
Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method for scrolling or dragging information on a display. A panning tool is provided that may scroll information, such as a web page, on a display in tandem with movement of a cursor. If interactive elements are present on the page or document, an interactive element may be activated as desired. Scrolling may be accomplished with the panning tool either on non-interactive elements or interactive elements that are not required to be activated. Furthermore, inertia of movement of the information on a display is optimized and autoscrolling is provided in which a page or document may be scrolled without dragging.
US08370761B2 Methods and systems for interactive classification of objects
Methods and systems provide a computational assistance for interactive classification that compensates for the small size of computer screens and accelerates classification tasks. Similarity indicators reduce manual search by enabling information objects to “call out” automatically to encourage a sensemaker to place related items nearby. Similarity terms signal which groups or objects match and why they match. Using these techniques, an interactive classification tool can focus a sensemaker's attention, move things into view automatically, and provide shortcuts for automatic classification. These techniques speed up classification for rule-based classification, example-based classification, and mixed strategies and have the potential for application in a wide variety of sensemaking tools.
US08370759B2 Visualizing, creating and editing blending modes methods and systems
A method of creating a blending mode for blending base colors and blend colors to produce resultant colors for one or more pixels of a digital image includes displaying by a display device a relationship between a first independent variable representing the base colors and a dependent variable representing the resultant colors for a specific value of a second independent variable representing blend colors. The method also includes receiving user input altering the relationship, displaying the altered relationship, and storing the relationship as a blending mode.
US08370755B2 User interface controlled by environmental cues
A method comprises receiving a signal containing an environmental cue; correlating the environmental cue to a user interface control element; and generating a user interface control command based on the environmental cue. A device may be controlled by receiving a visual image, processing the image to identify a visual cue, correlating the visual cue with a user interface control, and controlling the device using the user interface control. The visual image may be received from a camera that is part of an automobile, and the user interface control may include a control for a radio to tune to a radio station; a speed control for controlling a speed of the automobile corresponding to a speed sign visual cue; or a navigation system control for controlling a navigation system based on traffic signs. Other variations include an apparatus and computer-readable media including instructions for performing the methods.
US08370754B2 Method and apparatus for providing a user with dynamic sync status
Data files are selected for downloading from a host device to an electronic device via a sync process. Once the sync process starts, the electronic device provides the user with dynamic sync status information so that the user, for example, knows how much data has been downloaded, how much time is remaining in the download, what data files are being downloaded, etc. In addition, the user is also provided with the capability to obtain general summary information about the data files downloaded after the sync process is complete, as well as detailed summary information that may, for example, provide the user the names of each song downloaded and the size of each file.
US08370753B2 Subscription based content delivery for a digital signage network
A digital signage network employs a common data model and a subscription system to disseminate data gathered from a plurality of data sources to a number of displays. The network nodes interact with each other as content sources, content consumers, or both, with some systems acting as consumers to upstream sources and acting as sources to downstream consumers. The presentation of the data on a digital signage display allows for real-time binding of live data to provide a rich display effect.
US08370737B2 Method and system for inserting data in a web page that is transmitted to a handheld device
Disclosed is a system and method that adds additional data (a banner, footer or a header, for example) to a web page while the data is transferred toward a mobile device. An exemplary system can comprise an intermediate node between a surfer and the Internet. Such an intermediate node element can reside at a service provider premises (SPP), for example. The service provider can be a telecom operator, such as but not limited to, a cellular service provider, a satellite communication service provider, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) operator, an access network service provider, etc. Alternatively, other exemplary embodiments can comprise elements which reside at an Internet Service Provider (ISP) premises.
US08370736B2 Methods and graphical user interfaces for editing on a multifunction device with a touch screen display
In some embodiments, a device displays content on a touch screen display and detects input by finger gestures. In response to the finger gestures, the device selects content, visually distinguishes the selected content, and/or updates the selected content based on detected input. In some embodiments, the device displays a command display area that includes one or more command icons; detects activation of a command icon in the command display area; and, in response to detecting activation of the command icon in the command display area, performs a corresponding action with respect to the selected content. Exemplary actions include cutting, copying, and pasting content.
US08370735B2 Efficient, non-blocking mechanism for incrementally processing arbitrary sized XML documents
Reader and writer XML processing APIs may process XML documents without blocking a thread by initiating any potential I/O necessary prior to reading from or writing to the XML processing API and by providing a callback which may be notified when the I/O, if any, is complete. The XML processing API may be able to simultaneously process multiple XML documents in various formats and sizes.
US08370731B2 LDPC (low density parity check) codes with corresponding parity check matrices selectively constructed with CSI (cyclic shifted identity) and null sub-matrices
LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) codes with corresponding parity check matrices selectively constructed with CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) and null sub-matrices. An LDPC matrix corresponding to an LDPC code is employed within a communication device to encode and/or decode coded signals for use in any of a number of communication systems. The LDPC matrix is composed of a number of sub-matrices and may be partitioned into a left hand side matrix and a right hand side matrix. The right hand side matrix may include two sub-matrix diagonals therein that are composed entirely of CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrices; one of these two sub-matrix diagonals is located on the center sub-matrix diagonal and the other is located just to the left thereof. All other sub-matrices of the right hand side matrix may be null sub-matrices (i.e., all elements therein are values of zero “0”).
US08370729B2 Apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal and method of transmitting and receiving a signal
In one aspect of the present invention, the method receiving a signal is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal transmitted in a radio frequency (RF) band including at least one RF channel, demodulating the received signal, parsing a preamble of a signal frame including layer-1 information, from the demodulated signal, deinterleaving bits of the layer-1 information, decoding the deinterleaved bits using an error correction decoding scheme including a shortening scheme and a puncturing scheme and obtaining physical layer pipes (PLPs) from the signal frame using the error-correction-decoded layer-1 information.
US08370728B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a method of processing is provided. A receiving system may include a signal receiving unit, a first data processor, a second data processor, and an audio/video decoder. The signal receiving unit receives at least first mobile service data transmitted according to a first transmission made and second mobile service data transmitted according to a second transmission mode. The first data processor corrects errors generated in the first mobile service data by performing demodulation according to a first demodulation mode and cyclic redundancy check decoding and RS decoding. The second data processor corrects errors generated in the second mobile service data by performing demodulation according to a second demodulation mode and performing CRC decoding and RS decoding. The A/V decoder can perform A/V decoding for the mobile service data output from the first data processor and the second data processor.
US08370727B2 Method and circuit for decoding an error correction code
The invention provides a method for decoding an error correction code. First, an error syndrome of the error correction code is calculated. A plurality of coefficients of an error locator polynomial of the error correction code is then sequentially determined according to the error syndrome. When a new coefficient of the error locator polynomial is determined, it is also determined whether the new determined coefficient is equal to zero. When the new determined coefficient is equal to zero, a speculated error locator polynomial is built according to a plurality of low-order-term coefficients of the error locator polynomial, wherein the orders of the low-order-term coefficients are lower than that of the new determined coefficient. A Chien search is then performed to determine a plurality of roots of the speculated error locator polynomial. The error correction code is then corrected according to the roots of the speculated error locator polynomial.
US08370726B2 Soft output viterbi decoder architecture
A soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) decoder arranged to decode symbols received over a transmission channel, the symbols indicating a state transition between two states of a plurality of states that determines a decoded data value, the SOVA decoder comprising a reliability memory unit including at least four stages of logic units, each logic unit including a single buffer and at least four stages including a plurality of full stages comprising a separate logic unit corresponding to each of the plurality of states; and a plurality of compact stages including half or less than half the number of logic units than the number of the plurality of states, each logic unit corresponding to two of the plurality of states.
US08370721B2 Method and system for sensing available bandwidth over a best effort connection
A bandwidth sensing system operates to sense the existence of additional bandwidth available for transmitting data over a best effort communication. The operations include receiving an original block of data from a transmitting node and calculating error correction data based on the original block of data. The original block of data and the error correction data is then transmitted toward a receiving node. The data may be simply appended or, the entire block may be modified during the error correction data process. When the original block of data and error correction data is received at the receiving end associated with the receiving node, the data is analyzed to determine if any errors occurred in the transmission. If so, the error correction data is used to maintain the integrity of the transmitted data by restoring the original block. However, if no errors are detected, because the error correction data inherently requires the transmission of additional data, the receiving end can conclude that additional bandwidth is available over the channel. Thus, the transmitting node can be notified of the available bandwidth so that additional bandwidth can be utilized on subsequent transmissions.
US08370718B2 Method for identifying a flash memory device and related hosting device
A method is for identifying a flash memory device coupled to a host device. The flash memory device may have a page size from possible page sizes, bootstrap code stored on a first sector thereof, and a data bus for accessing data stored in the flash memory device and with a data bus size from possible data bus sizes. The method may include reading data stored in a first page of the first sector as if the flash memory device had an assumed page size and an assumed data bus size, and reading content from memory locations where error correction code (ECC) bytes of the first page are stored if the flash memory device has the assumed page size and checking whether the ECC bytes include more than a number of errors associated with the assumed page size. The method may also include if the ECC bytes do not include more than the number of errors, generating a flag signal that the flash memory device has the assumed page size and the assumed data bus size.
US08370717B1 Method and apparatus for flexible buffers in an XOR engine
A method and apparatus uses a flexible buffering scheme in an XOR engine to generate checksums, allowing a user to recover data when a disk drive partly or completely fails. An XOR engine may include three or more arithmetic units and three or more local result buffers, which may be used to generate a combination of any of a “P” checksum, a “Q” checksum, and an unmodified copy of the user data, in a single read. The local result buffers and arithmetic units allow the use of multiple Galois field Multiply coefficients so that multiple distinct “Q” checksums may be generated with only one read of the user data.
US08370713B2 Error correction code decoding device
An error correction code decoding device comprises a first memory having a memory space like a matrix, a first decoding unit writing a first information into the first memory along a first direction, a second decoding unit reading the first information from the first memory along a second direction and a plurality of turbo decoders included in the second decoding unit, and differentiating access timing to a same row or same column with each other.
US08370712B2 Memory management in a non-volatile solid state memory device
A computer-implemented method of managing a memory of a non-volatile solid state memory device by balancing write/erase cycles among blocks to level block usage. The method includes: monitoring an occurrence of an error during a read operation in a memory unit of the device, wherein the error is correctable by error-correcting code; and programming the memory unit according to the monitored occurrence of the error; wherein the step of monitoring the occurrence of an error is carried out for at least one block; and wherein said step of programming comprises wear-leveling the monitored block according the error monitored for the monitored block. A computer system and a computer program-product is also provided.The non-volatile solid state memory device includes: a memory unit having data stored therein; and a controller with a logic for programming the memory unit according to a monitored occurrence of an error during a read operation. The method includes: monitoring an occurrence of an error during a read operation in a memory unit of the device; and programming the memory unit according to the monitored occurrence of the error.
US08370708B2 Data error measuring circuit for semiconductor memory apparatus
A data error measuring circuit for a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a data error correction unit that compares data with parity data to correct data, a data selection unit that outputs the data or the corrected data as selected data in response to a test selection signal, and a test result output unit that receives the selected data and the parity data to output a test result signal in response to the test selection signal.
US08370703B2 Information encoding method, information decoding method, recording/reproducing apparatus, and information storage medium
A method of encoding information and a method of decoding information, and an apparatus to perform one or both methods, and an information storage medium on which to store the information, the method of encoding the information including encrypting data between two ECC-encoding operations, and the method of decoding the information including decrypting data between two ECC-decoding operations.
US08370699B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus for reducing bus traffic between NAND flash memory device and controller
Provided is a semiconductor memory apparatus that may use an efficient protocol between an NAND flash memory device and a controller to reduce bus traffic. The flash memory device may include a memory cell array and an error correction encoder. The memory cell array may include a plurality of pages. The error correction encoder may generate first parity data based on normal data to be written to the memory cell array, compare the first parity data and second parity data encoded with the normal data stored in the memory cell array, and check an error. The error position detector may detect an error position in response to the error signal transmitted from the error correction encoder. Thus, since the semiconductor memory apparatus may transmit and receives parity data or a syndrome between an NAND flash memory device and the controller by detecting and correcting an error in the same memory chip, bus traffic may be reduced.
US08370698B2 Interleaving apparatus for improving transmission performance and interleaving method used by the interleaving apparatus
Provided are an interleaving apparatus for improving transmission performance and an interleaving method used by the interleaving apparatus. The interleaving apparatus determines the type of data at each element position of an interleaving matrix, reads encoded data, which corresponds to the determined type of data at each element position, from an encoder, rearranges the read data in an order determined by the interleaving matrix, and outputs the rearranged data. Since the interleaving apparatus does not include a memory, it can prevent delay in signal processing, thereby improving transmission performance.
US08370694B2 Method and device for transmitting data, in particular video
A method and device for transmitting data packets from a server to at least one client concerns i) estimating a time lapse between the transmission of a successive first and second packet, on the basis of information relating to the first packet, the information being representative of whether or not the first and second packets transport image data from the same image, and ii) triggering and defining retransmission of the second packet, on the basis of said time lapse. In one embodiment, the client estimates the time lapse on the basis of the type of the second packet and on the basis of statistical results concerning the type of the second packet and requests the retransmission of a packet awaited for a longer time than that time lapse. In another embodiment, the server estimates the time lapse on the basis of the type of payload of a first packet to retransmit and of at least one second packet following the first packet to retransmit and spontaneously retransmits the second packet with the first packet on the basis of that time lapse.
US08370693B2 System and method for reliably communicating information without explicit acknowledgments including retransmission of older, missed commands
A system and method communicates commands from a command originator to receiving devices, yet the receiving devices do not confirm receipt of the command. The most current command (e.g. the one with the highest sequence number) is rebroadcast by the command originator and the receiving devices, tending to be more frequent upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was not received by at least one other device, and less frequently upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was provided with sufficient duplication that if another device could receive it, the device likely did receive it, subject to a maximum and minimum rate.
US08370687B2 Mechanism for storing and extracting trace information using internal memory in micro controllers
This document relates to apparatus and methods to store and retrieve trace information in on-chip system memory of microcontrollers. A microcontroller comprises a microprocessor and a memory device accessible through a data bus and an address bus coupled to the microprocessor. The microcontroller includes on-chip debug logic coupled to the microprocessor. Trace data can be retrieved from system memory using a debug port of the debug logic. A system in accordance with the present invention will lower the cost of implementation of trace features in microcontrollers, and strongly reduce the cost of supporting such features in debug tools.
US08370686B2 Method and system for managing apparatus performance
The method comprises and executes constitutional information collection processing of collecting constitutional information of the apparatus, constitutional information of a logical unit which is a logical existence obtained by abstracting the apparatus, constitutional information of the application and constitutional information of the dependency relation of the performance established among the apparatus, the logical unit and the application; performance information collection processing of collecting each performance information of the apparatus, the logical unit and the application; and saturation indication detection processing of analyzing a correlation between a change value with time of the performance information of the apparatus and a change value with time of the performance information of the logical unit having the dependency relation of the performance with respect to the apparatus for a predetermined period, and detecting that the apparatus has the saturation indication, when a correlation coefficient obtained by the correlation analysis is a predetermined threshold value or more.
US08370684B2 Microprocessor with system-robust self-reset capability
A microprocessor includes a bus interface unit that interfaces the microprocessor to a bus that includes a signal that, when asserted, instructs all bus agents to refrain from initiating bus transactions. Microcode causes the bus interface unit to assert the signal in response to detecting an event and resets the microprocessor, but does not reset a portion of the bus interface unit that asserts the signal on the bus. After the reset, the microcode causes the bus interface unit to deassert the signal on the bus. Additionally, the microcode sets a flag and saves the microprocessor state to memory before resetting itself, but does not reset the interrupt controller. After the reset, the microcode reloads the state of the microprocessor from the memory. However, if the microcode determines that the flag is set, it forgoes reloading the state of the interrupt controller.
US08370681B2 Remote backup storage
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a backup utility are described. One example system causes a backup utility to identify a remote device as local to a client device. Backup data may then be retained on the remote device identified by the backup utility as being local.
US08370679B1 Method, apparatus and system for improving failover within a high availability disaster recovery environment
A method, apparatus and system for improving failover within a high-availability computer system are provided. The method includes obtaining one or more parameters associated with a disaster recovery protocol of at least one resource of any of the first cluster, second cluster and high-availability computer system. The method also includes monitoring one or more states of the parameters. The method further includes detecting, as a function of the parameters and states, one or more anomalies of any of the first cluster, second cluster and high-availability computer system, wherein the anomalies are types that impact the failover. These anomalies may include anomalies associated with the disaster-recovery protocols within the first and/or second clusters (“intra-cluster anomalies”) and/or anomalies among the first and second clusters (“inter-cluster anomalies”). The method further includes generating an alert in response to detecting one or more of the anomalies.
US08370677B2 Method and system for using logical values to represent sequence of oscillation periods of a modulated clock signal in time synchronized measurement system
A time synchronized measurement system has a master device and a slave device. The master device and the slave device each have a time measurement device for assigning a corresponding time of sending and/or receiving a piece of measurement information. The master device also has a reference clock pulse-generating device for transmitting a reference clock signal to the slave device. The reference clock signal is modulated by a piece of information on a common time basis for the master device and the slave device.
US08370676B2 Receiving apparatus and time correction method for receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus includes: a clock unit that outputs time information; a synchronizing (sync) packet receiving unit that receives a sync packet which contains transmitting time information and which is sent from a transmitting apparatus over an asynchronous network; a magnitude-of-jitter calculation unit that calculates as a magnitude of a jitter a difference between a first difference, which is a difference between the receiving times of two adjoining sync packets received by the sync packet receiving unit, and a second difference which is a difference between the transmitting times of the two sync packets; a delay time estimation unit that obtains the delay time of the sync packet on the basis of magnitudes of jitters calculated by the magnitude-of-jitter calculation unit; and a time correction unit that compensates the transmitting time of the sync packet, which is received by the sync packet receiving unit, on the basis of the delay time of the sync packet, which is obtained by the delay time estimation unit, so as to obtain a compensated time, and rewrites and corrects the time of the clock unit with the compensated time.
US08370671B2 Saving power by powering down an instruction fetch array based on capacity history of instruction buffer
Mechanisms for saving power by powering down an instruction fetch array based on capacity history information of an instruction buffer are provided. The mechanisms operate to receive a current access to an instruction buffer of a processor. The current access is a fetch of a group of one or more instructions to be stored in the instruction buffer. A determination is made, for one or more prior accesses occurring prior to the current access, if a predetermined pattern of capacity availability of the instruction buffer indicates that the instruction buffer is likely to have available capacity to store the group of one or more instructions of the current access. An instruction fetch unit array is powered down in response to a determination that the instruction buffer is not likely to have available capacity to store the group of one or more instructions of the current access.
US08370669B2 Memory device having a memory sleep logic and methods therefor
A memory device includes memory sleep logic operative to detect a repetitive pattern within at least one memory block, and place the memory block into a sleep mode in response to detecting the repetitive pattern. The memory device memory sleep logic may also provide a response to read commands to the memory block while it is in sleep mode, where the response is a constant output for any address location of the memory block. The memory device memory sleep logic may include pattern detection logic, associated with each memory block, to detect the repetitive pattern; and data port logic, coupled to the pattern detection logic, operative to receive an activation command from the pattern detection logic, and operative to return a constant output pattern in response to any read command to read data from the memory block.
US08370668B2 Portable information processing apparatus having a switchable operating state and method of the same
The present invention relates to a portable information apparatus which can realize electrical power for a longer period of time. Under the condition that the suspending mode is set, when an exclusive key is manipulated, a switch monitoring circuit detects this condition and issues an interruption to the CPU. In this timing, the CPU supplies the necessary electrical power to the CD-ROM controller, CD-ROM drive and audio circuit which are required for reproduction of CD. Thereby, a CD can be reproduced under the suspending mode.
US08370667B2 System context saving based on compression/decompression time
A method and apparatus for improving the resume time of a platform. In one embodiment of the invention, the context of the platform is saved prior to entering an inactive state of the platform. When the platform is switched back to an active state, it reads the saved context and restores the platform to its original state prior to entering the inactive state. In one embodiment of the invention, the platform determines whether it should compress the saved context before storing it in a non-volatile memory based on the operating condition of the platform. This allows the platform to select the optimum method to allow faster resume time of the platform.
US08370660B2 Method and system for reducing power consumption of active web page content
A method and system for reducing power consumption of active web page content includes synchronizing the wakeup periods of threads associated with active advertisement components of a web page.
US08370655B2 Information processing apparatus and method
An information processing apparatus includes: a plurality of electric power generating elements; detection means for determining whether each of the plurality of electric power generating elements has an electromotive force equal to or higher than a predetermined value; determination means determining an input operation performed by a user by identifying an electric power generating element having an electromotive force below the predetermined value when at least one of the plurality of electric power generating elements is determined as having an electromotive force below the predetermined value according to the detection means; processing means carrying out a process associate with the input operation determined by the determination means; and bypass means which is provided in parallel with the electric power generating elements and through which a current flows when the electric power generating elements have an electromotive force below the predetermined value.
US08370654B1 AVS-adaptive voltage scaling
Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a first operational circuit module receiving a first supply voltage from a first voltage regulator that is external to the integrated circuit, and a first adaptive voltage scaling module to adjust the first supply voltage based on performance characteristics of the first operational circuit module. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first adaptive voltage scaling module includes a first performance monitoring module. The performance monitoring module is disposed on the integrated circuit, and is configured to generate at least a first indicator corresponding to at least one performance characteristic of the first operational circuit module. Further, the first adaptive scaling module includes a first voltage requirement determination and voltage feedback generator module that is disposed on the integrated circuit, and is coupled to the first performance monitoring module. The first voltage requirement determination and voltage feedback generator module is configured to output a first feedback voltage signal having a voltage level that varies as a function of at least the first indicator. The first voltage regulator is configured to regulate the first supply voltage as a function of the first feedback voltage signal.
US08370651B2 Method and system for optimized power management and efficiency in wireless universal serial bus network
A method and system for optimizing certified Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB) power management and efficiency are disclosed. For example, the method may introduce a master Micro Management Control (MMC) and a master MMC period and may require the host to schedule transactions to the awake devices in a master MMC period. Further, the work pending indication may have been provided in the master MMC that may start the master MMC period. Moreover, the method also may require the WUSB host to indicate a work pending indication to devices in the master MMC that may be in a sleep mode.
US08370650B2 Power supply capable of receiving digital communications from electronic devices
A power supply capable of receiving digital communications from an electrical device is described. The power supply includes a microprocessor and instructions, configured for execution by the microprocessor, to receive a digital communication from a device to be powered by the power supply. A method of supplying power is also described. The method includes receiving a digital communication from a device and supplying power to the device based on the digital communication.
US08370649B2 Stream control failover utilizing an attribute-dependent protection mechanism
A technique for managing the streaming of digital video content to multiple clients involves identifying an attribute of a content element that is streamed to a client and selecting a protection mechanism for the content element as a function of the attribute, wherein the protection mechanism enables streaming of the content element to the clients in the event of a resource failure. In an example, the identified attribute is an indication of the popularity of the content element (e.g., as measured by the number of active streams), such that the protection mechanism is selected as a function of the popularity of the content element. In an embodiment, protection mechanisms that offer a higher level of protection are selected for the more popular content elements and protection mechanisms that offer a lower level of protection are selected for the less popular content elements.
US08370646B2 Method and system for maintaining secure data input and output
Methods and systems for enhancing the security of data during input and output on a client computer system are provided to prevent attempts by unauthorized code to access, intercept, and/or modify data. Example embodiments provide a plurality of obfuscation techniques and security enhanced drivers that use these obfuscation techniques to prohibit unauthorized viewing/receiving of valid data. When the drivers are used together with the various obfuscation techniques, the security enhanced drivers provide mechanisms for “scheduling” the content of the storage areas used to store the data so that valid data is not available to unauthorized recipients. When unauthorized recipients attempt to access the “data,” they perceive or receive obfuscated data. The obfuscation techniques described include “copy-in,” “replace and restore,” and “in-place replacement” de-obfuscation/re-obfuscation techniques. In one embodiment, a security enhanced display driver, a security enhanced mouse driver, a security enhanced keyboard driver, and a security enhanced audio driver are provided. To complement the security enhancements, the methods and systems also provide for a watchdog mechanism to ensure that the driver is functioning as it should be and various user interface techniques for denoting security on a display device.
US08370645B2 Protection of security parameters in storage devices
Security parameters used to encrypt data stored on a storage device may be protected using embodiments of systems and methods described herein. During a resize operation, data stored on a memory unit in the storage device may be altered prior to communicating an updated partition size to a host computer. In some examples, data is altered prior to storing the updated partition sizes in the storage device. In this manner, a host system may not receive the updated partition sizes until after the data is altered. Altering data may avoid exposure encrypted data, information about one or more security parameters used to encrypt data on the memory unit or decrypt data retrieved from the memory unit, or combinations thereof.
US08370643B2 Cryptographic module selecting device and program
A cryptographic module selecting device includes a cryptographic module evaluation information storage device configured to store identification information of a cryptographic module and cryptographic module evaluation information describing a function and/or performance of the cryptographic module in relation to each other, a condition information acquiring device configured to acquire condition information for specifying the condition of the cryptographic module to be selected, an extracting device configured to extract cryptographic module evaluation information conforming to the acquired condition information, from the stored cryptographic module evaluation information of the cryptographic module, and an output device configured to read out the identification information of the cryptographic module corresponding to the cryptographic module evaluation information selected by the extracting device from the cryptographic module evaluation information storage device and output the read identification information.
US08370640B2 Simplified multi-factor authentication
A reader element is associated with an identity verification element. The reader element has a biometric input device and is configured, through enrollment of a biometric element is used to encrypt a character sequence associated with the identity verification element. In a verification phase subsequent to the enrollment, a user may be spared a step of providing the character sequence by, instead, providing the biometric element. Responsive to receiving the biometric element, the reader element may decrypt the character sequence and provide the character sequence to the identity verification element.
US08370639B2 System and method for providing secure access to an electronic device using continuous facial biometrics
A facial biometric recognition system and method (100) for providing security for an electronic device (101) includes a digital camera (105) having a field of view for providing facial biometric images at a predetermined interval from a user of the electronic device (101). A processor (109) is associated with the electronic device (101) for comparing the facial biometric images to biometric image data stored in a database (107). The facial biometric images are continuously compared (111) to those stored in the database (107) or to facial image tracking (113) for providing substantially continuous authentication when the user physically moves about the camera's field of view. The invention may be used with devices such as a personal computer (PC), mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or gaming device and provides an efficient means by which to secure information on the device without the need for complex biometric security devices.
US08370634B2 Systems and methods for watermarking software and other media
Systems and methods are disclosed for embedding information in software and/or other electronic content such that the information is difficult for an unauthorized party to detect, remove, insert, forge, and/or corrupt. The embedded information can be used to protect electronic content by identifying the content's source, thus enabling unauthorized copies or derivatives to be reliably traced, and thus facilitating effective legal recourse by the content owner. Systems and methods are also disclosed for protecting, detecting, removing, and decoding information embedded in electronic content, and for using the embedded information to protect software or other media from unauthorized analysis, attack, and/or modification.
US08370632B2 Apparatus and method for incorporating signature into electronic documents
There is presented a method and apparatus for incorporating digital signature to within a document for paper-less office. The method comprises generating the document to be signed on a computer and transferring it and displaying it on a device for incorporating digital signature wherein the device comprises a screen, signature means such as electronic pen or fingerprint capturing device, and et least one smart card reader. Then, the document is being digitally signed. The digitally signed document is being encrypted and transferred to the computer so as to prevent restoration of the digital signature. From the customer side, the procedure is based on “what you see is what you sign”.
US08370628B2 Document collaboration system with alternative views
A system provides document collaboration for a plurality of users. The system divides a central document into a plurality of sections. The system then assigns edit rights for a user for one or more sections, and read-only rights for the user for one or more sections. The system then generates a customized document for the user that includes the edit rights sections and the read-only rights sections.
US08370618B1 Multiple platform support in computer system firmware
Technologies are provided herein for multiple platform support in a computer system firmware. A firmware is built for each hardware platform to be supported. At built time of the firmware for each platform to be supported, an instance of platform specific information is extracted from the built firmware and stored. Once the platform specific information instances have been collected for each platform to be supported, the platform specific information instances are stored in a multi-platform firmware. At run-time of the multi-platform firmware, the particular hardware platform that the multi-platform firmware is executing upon is identified. Once the platform has been identified, the particular instance of platform specific information corresponding to the identified platform is selected. The selected instance of platform specific information is then loaded and exposed for consumption by other programs.
US08370616B2 Imaging apparatus and start-up method of imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging processing unit configured to image a subject and output imaging data; a temporary storage medium configured to temporarily store the imaging data output from the imaging processing unit; an imaging control unit configured to control the imaging processing unit; a storage control unit configured to store, in a storage medium detachably mounted to a device main unit, the imaging data temporarily stored in the temporary storage medium; and a request unit configured to request the device main unit for execution of start-up processing; wherein, upon the start-up processing being requested from the request unit, start-up processing of the imaging control unit and the storage control unit are executed in parallel.
US08370615B2 Device and method for monitoring hard disk temperature and stopping operation thereof when BIOS configuration setting having a selected value indicating a predetermined temperature
A hard disk temperature monitoring device for monitoring a temperature of a hard disk in a computer system is provided. A hard disk stores an operating system. A basic input/output system (BIOS) has a setting configuration. When the setting configuration is a first setting value, operation of the hard disk is restored. When the setting configuration is a second setting value, the operation of the hard disk is stopped. A thermal sensor detects a temperature of the hard disk. A keyboard controller (KBC) is electrically connected to the thermal sensor via a data transmission channel for detecting the temperature of the hard disk in real time. If the KBC detects that the temperature of the hard disk rises to a first predetermined temperature, the setting configuration is set to the second setting value, and the BIOS stops the operation of the hard disk according to the second setting value.
US08370613B1 Method and apparatus for automatically optimizing a startup sequence to improve system boot time
A method and apparatus for optimizing a startup sequence to improve system boot time is described. In one embodiment, a method for configuring a startup sequence stored in memory, using one or more processors, to improve system boot time including accessing necessity indicia associated with a plurality of startup programs, wherein the necessity indicia comprising at least one of global reputation data or local interaction information, identifying at least one startup program to disable or postpone based on the necessity indicia and modifying at least one startup sequence to disable or delay execution of the at least one identified startup program.
US08370610B2 Remote configuration of computing platforms
An embodiment of the invention relates to a computing platform having an attribute that is configurable by a remote system, the computing platform storing a first verifier for verifying that a message is from a trusted remote source and being operable to: acquire a second verifier from a trusted remote source, including by verifying the second verifier using the first verifier, the second verifier being usable for verifying that a message is from a remote configuration system that is trustable to configure the attribute; acquire a configuration setting from the remote configuration system, including by verifying the configuration setting using the second verifier; and configure the attribute according to the configuration setting.
US08370608B2 Copy-propagate, propagate-post, and propagate-prior instructions for processing vectors
The described embodiments provide a processor for generating a result vector with copied or propagated values from an input vector. During operation, the processor receives at least one input vector and a control vector. Using these vectors, the processor generates the result vector, which can contain copied propagated values from the input vector(s), depending on the value of the control vector. In addition, a predicate vector can be used to control the values that are written to the result vector.
US08370605B2 Computer architecture for a mobile communication platform
A system includes first and second processors, first and second graphics processing units (GPUs), one or more peripheral devices, a switch matrix, and processor-readable memory. The switch matrix comprises programmable data paths between the processors, the GPUs, and the peripheral devices. Software encoded in the process-readable memory includes a first operating system (OS) executed by the first processor, a second OS executed by the second processor, a matrix scheduling engine, and a media interface switch (MIS) engine. The first OS boots faster than the second OS. The matrix scheduling engine runs on both OSs and configures the data paths in the switch matrix to couple the processors and the GPUs, and to couple the processors and the peripheral devices. The MIS engine runs on the operating systems, detects presence of the peripheral devices, and configures the data paths in the switch matrix to couple the processors and the peripheral devices.
US08370604B2 Method and system for caching attribute data for matching attributes with physical addresses
A method for caching attribute data for matching attributes with physical addresses. The method includes storing a plurality of attribute entries in a memory, wherein the memory is configured to provide at least one attribute entry when accessed with a physical address, and wherein the attribute entry provided describes characteristics of the physical address.
US08370602B2 Method for memory space management
A method for memory space management is disclosed. It uses a resident program loaded into an operation system or the controller of a storage device to monitor the storage space and the resource allocation of the file system of the storage device. The status of the logical address with an erased and invalid data mapped with a physical block is checked via a L2P mapping table. By using a data erase instruction, the controller modifies the L2P mapping table to cancel the link relation between the physical block and the logical address and erase the physical block to release the memory space. Finally, the check location is stored for a next check. The method for memory space management improves the access speed and the usage life of the storage device.
US08370599B2 Storage system and controlling system and method thereof
A controlling system is used in a storage system. The storage system includes a host and at least one storage device connected to the host in series. The controlling system includes a detecting unit and a partitioning unit. The detecting unit is operable to detect the number of the at least one storage device. The partitioning unit is operable to partition the at least one storage device and generate a partition table and at least one partition information table. The partition table records partition information of the at least one storage device. Each partition information table is stored in a corresponding storage device and records storage information of the corresponding storage device.
US08370587B2 Memory system storing updated status information and updated address translation information and managing method therefor
A memory system in which a first management unit includes an update information managing unit that manages update information indicating an updated section in status information stored in a volatile first storing unit, and an update information notifying unit that notifies a second management unit of the update information managed by the update information managing unit, and the second management unit includes a commit executing unit that collects, based on the update information, difference information of the status information from the status area when the update information is notified from the update information notifying unit, and causes a second storing unit to accumulate the difference information in a backup area.
US08370586B2 Multivalue statistical compression of telemetric time series data in a bounded storage footprint
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that stores telemetry data from a computer system. The system includes a first buffer, a second buffer, and a third buffer. During operation, the system periodically obtains the telemetry data from the computer system and stores the telemetry data in the first buffer, second buffer, and third buffer. The system also compresses the telemetry data in the first and second buffers. To compress the data, the system creates a first set of summary statistics from the telemetry data in the first buffer and the second buffer and stores the first set of summary statistics in the first buffer, which becomes a historical data buffer.
US08370583B2 Network memory architecture for providing data based on local accessibility
A network memory system comprises a first appliance and a second appliance. The first appliance receives data and determines whether a portion of the data is locally accessible to the second appliance. The first appliance generates an instruction based on the determination and transfers the instruction to the second appliance over a communication network. The second appliance receives the instruction from the first appliance over the communication network and processes the instruction to obtain the data. The second appliance then transfers the data to a computer.
US08370581B2 System and method for dynamic data prefetching
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises measuring memory access latency for a prefetch cycle associated with a transmission of data from a memory device to a destination device such as a storage device. Hereafter, the prefetch rate is dynamically adjusted based on the measured memory access latency.
US08370580B2 Techniques for directory server integration
Techniques for directory server integration are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for directory server integration comprising setting one or more parameters determining a range of permissible expiration times for a plurality of cached directory entries, creating, in electronic storage, a cached directory entry from a directory server, assigning a creation time to the cached directory entry, and assigning at least one random value to the cached directory entry, the random value determining an expiration time for the cached directory entry within the range of permissible expiration times, wherein randomizing the expiration time for the cached directory entry among the range of permissible expiration times for a plurality of cached directory entries reduces an amount of synchronization required between cache memory and the directory server at a point in time.
US08370578B2 Storage controller and method of controlling storage controller
Provided is a storage controller and method of controlling same which, if part of a storage area of a local memory is used as cache memory, enable an access conflict for access to a parallel bus connected to the local memory to be avoided.A storage controller which exercises control of data between a host system and a storage apparatus, comprising a data transfer control unit which exercises control to transfer the data on the basis of a read/write request from the host system; a cache memory which is connected to the data transfer control unit via a parallel bus; a control unit which is connected to the data transfer control unit via a serial bus; and a local memory which is connected to the control unit via a parallel bus, wherein the control unit decides to assign, from a cache segment of either the cache memory or the local memory, a storage area which stores the data on the basis of a CPU operating rate and a path utilization of the parallel bus connected to the cache memory.
US08370575B2 Optimized software cache lookup for SIMD architectures
Process, cache memory, computer product and system for loading data associated with a requested address in a software cache. The process includes loading address tags associated with a set in a cache directory using a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) operation, determining a position of the requested address in the set using a SIMD comparison, and determining an actual data value associated with the position of the requested address in the set.
US08370570B2 Storage system
Disclosed is a storage system that suppress occurrence of a bottleneck in the storage system, efficiently uses a bandwidth of hardware, and achieves high reliability. A storage system includes a storage apparatus that stores data, a controller that controls data input/output with respect to the storage apparatus, and an interface that couples the storage apparatus and the controller. The storage apparatus has a plurality of physical ports that are coupled to the interface. The controller logically partitions a storage area of the storage apparatus into a plurality of storage areas and provides the plurality of storage areas, or allocates the plurality of physical ports to the logically partitioned storage areas.
US08370569B2 Method for remote data back up with de-duplication and recovery from clustered secondary storage arrays
A method, system, and apparatus a method for remote data back up with de-duplication and recovery from clustered secondary storage arrays are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes writing a set of data of a primary storage module (e.g., may be coupled to the secondary storage cluster with a fiber channel network) to a secondary storage module of a secondary storage cluster, writing an other set of data of the primary storage module to an other secondary storage module coupled to the secondary storage module, writing the set of data from the secondary storage module to the other secondary storage module of the secondary storage cluster (e.g., the other secondary storage module may contain both the set of data and the other set of data), and writing the other set of data from the other secondary storage module to the secondary storage module.
US08370567B1 Storage system with self describing data
A method for storing data, including receiving a request to write a first datum defined using a first object ID and a first offset ID to persistent storage. The method further including determining a first physical address in the persistent storage, where the first physical address comprises a first block ID and first sub block ID. The method further includes writing the first datum to the first physical address, generating a first table of contents entry (TE) comprising the first object ID, the first offset ID, and the first sub block ID, and writing the first TE to a second physical address in the persistent storage, where the second physical address comprises the first block ID and a second sub block ID corresponding to the second sub block ID, and where the second sub block is located within a first block corresponding to the first block ID.
US08370563B2 Non-volatile memory system and access method thereof utilizing a confirm mark when data has been successfully recorded therein
Disclosed is a method for accessing a non-volatile memory device using a flash translation layer. The method includes receiving a write request for data from a file system and recording the data in the non-volatile memory device in response to the write request. The flash translation layer is informed whether a confirm mark for the data is recorded or not from the file system.
US08370549B2 Wearable device assembly having athletic functionality
A wearable device has a carrier having an aperture. A device has a USB connection and a protrusion wherein the protrusion is received in the aperture to connect the device to the carrier. The device is a USB type device having athletic functionality.
US08370543B1 Busy detection logic for asynchronous communication port
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for synchronizing independent time domain information. The synchronization of the device resource access information allows a memory access device to reliably access memory in a time domain independent of a device issuing requests. The system may synchronize device resource information for requests made by a processor to access (e.g., read/write) locations of a memory device. The present invention synchronizes the device access information without restricting pulse width of a read/write signal or requiring a high speed clock.
US08370524B2 Systems and methods for network address translation
An intelligent network address translation system and methods for intelligent network address translation. In one embodiment, a network packet is received from a host device, and a stored record associated with the host device is identified. The stored record includes information relating to connection parameters associated with the host device. Using the stored record, a processor determines whether the network packet should be assigned a dedicated address. If so, then the network packet is transmitted using communication parameters including a dedicated IP address. If the packet should not be assigned a dedicated address, then the packet is transmitted using connection parameters including a default public IP address and a port number.
US08370516B2 Presenting information in a conference
One conferencing system allows conference participants to share all or a portion of the display seen on their computer screens. The conferees may be at sites removed from each other, or may view a recorded presentation or archived conference at different times. Conference participants are either “presenters” who can modify the display or “attendees” who cannot modify the display. A pointer icon, which can be labeled to identify the conferee, is displayed on the shared image area. Each conferee can modify the position of his or her own pointer, even when not presenting, so that every participant can see what each conferee is pointing to, should a conferee choose to point to an element of the display. These and other features apply to other data streams shared in the conference or in meetings where there is no shared-image data stream.
US08370515B2 Packet prioritization and associated bandwidth and buffer management techniques for audio over IP
The present invention is directed to voice communication devices in which an audio stream is divided into a sequence of individual packets, each of which is routed via pathways that can vary depending on the availability of network resources. All embodiments of the invention rely on an acoustic prioritization agent that assigns a priority value to the packets. The priority value is based on factors such as whether the packet contains voice activity and the degree of acoustic similarity between this packet and adjacent packets in the sequence. A confidence level, associated with the priority value, may also be assigned. In one embodiment, network congestion is reduced by deliberately failing to transmit packets that are judged to be acoustically similar to adjacent packets; the expectation is that, under these circumstances, traditional packet loss concealment algorithms in the receiving device will construct an acceptably accurate replica of the missing packet. In another embodiment, the receiving device can reduce the number of packets stored in its jitter buffer, and therefore the latency of the speech signal, by selectively deleting one or more packets within sustained silences or non-varying speech events. In both embodiments, the ability of the system to drop appropriate packets may be enhanced by taking into account the confidence levels associated with the priority assessments.
US08370507B1 System, device, and method for receiver access control in an internet television
A system, device, and method for receiver access control in an interne television system uses a push mechanism to distribute access control information from a distribution device to an access device. The access device uses the access control information to make receiver access control decisions for a subsequently received request from a host to join a television channel multicast group.
US08370505B2 Method and apparatus for ensuring transport of user agent information
Techniques to ensure that user agent information is transported includes determining whether both a type field and a client platform information field are included in a first portion of a uniform resource locator field (URL) of a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request message received from a remote client process. The first portion is different from a domain portion of the URL. The type field holds data that indicates whether the remote client inserted the client information field into a URL of an original HTTP request message. If both the type field and the client platform information field are included, then it is determined, based on data in the type field, whether to include both the type field and the client platform information field in a first portion of a URL in a link in a HTTP response message. The HTTP response message is sent to the remote client process.
US08370502B2 Method and apparatus for completing a circuit switched service call in an internet protocol network
A method and an apparatus for processing a session request in an Internet Protocol (IP) network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a session request, and queries an tElephone NUmbering Mapping (ENUM) server for a called party of the session request. The method determines if at least one Naming Authority Pointer (NAPTR) resource record associated with the called party is received from the ENUM server, and forwards the session request to a circuit switched network if the at least one NAPTR resource record is not received from the ENUM server. The method determines a Session Description Protocol (SDP) value of the session request if the at least one NAPTR resource record is received from the ENUM server, and processes the session request in accordance with the SDP value if the at least one NAPTR resource record is received from the ENUM server.
US08370501B2 Gesturing to select and configure device communication
Described is a technology by which a gesture made with a source device (e.g., a cellular telephone), such as a throwing or pointing motion, is used to automatically set up a connection with another device to which the gesture is directed. Audio signals output during the gesture, e.g., such as at the start and end of the gesture, are detected by candidate (listening) devices. The device having the least time difference between detection of the start and end signals is the device that is generally best aligned with the throwing or pointing motion, and thus may be selected as the target device. Once selected, a connection such as a network connection may be set up between the source device and the target device for further communication, such as for application data exchange.
US08370499B2 Self-service terminal
A self-service terminal comprises: a plurality of session initiation devices, each associated with an initiation token, so that a customer can initiate a transaction using one of a plurality of different initiation tokens. The terminal further comprises a plurality of session suppliers, each session supplier being associated with one of the session initiation devices, and each session supplier being operable: (i) to receive from its associated session initiation device, information from an initiation token provided by a customer, and (ii) to create an electronic access token based on the received information. The terminal also comprises a session supplier aggregate operable to receive an electronic access token from one of the session suppliers for each session to be created; and a session component operable (i) to receive the electronic access token from the session supplier aggregate and (ii) to create a session based on the received electronic access token.
US08370498B2 Method of using server, server reservation control apparatus and program storage medium
In a content supply system 100, in order to use a streaming server 102 to perform a live distribution, a user PC 106 used makes a reservation for a time zone, etc. to a server reservation control center 101. When the user PC 106 sends desired reservation information to the server reservation control center 101 via the Internet 103, if the reservation is accepted, a reservation ID only used for authentication of the reservation is created and sent from the server reservation control center 101 to the user PC 106 via the Internet 103. When a distribution request is sent from the user PC 106 to the streaming server 102, authentication processing using this reservation ID is performed.
US08370497B2 Method for time-synchronous data transfer
A method for transferring time-synchronous data, particularly voice and video data, over a network, particularly the Internet, between at least two terminals, where between the terminals a connection is established using a SIP server and where the SIP protocol is used for establishing the connection, is—with respect to high Quality of Service for transferring time-synchronous data and with a technically simple and cost effective design—developed in a way that the SIP server analyzes the connection and/or the terminals or the like and that based on the analysis it determines an ideal bandwidth for optimizing the transfer of time-synchronous data.
US08370495B2 On-demand compute environment
An on-demand compute environment comprises a plurality of nodes within an on-demand compute environment available for provisioning and a slave management module operating on a dedicated node within the on-demand compute environment, wherein upon instructions from a master management module at a local compute environment, the slave management module modifies at least one node of the plurality of nodes.
US08370493B2 Saving program execution state
Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs. In at least some situations, the techniques include decomposing or otherwise separating the execution of a program into multiple distinct execution jobs that may each be executed on a distinct computing node, such as in a parallel manner with each execution job using a distinct subset of input data for the program. In addition, the techniques may include temporarily terminating and later resuming execution of at least some execution jobs, such as by persistently storing an intermediate state of the partial execution of an execution job, and later retrieving and using the stored intermediate state to resume execution of the execution job from the intermediate state. Furthermore, the techniques may be used in conjunction with a distributed program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple customers or other users of the service.
US08370492B2 System for providing quality of service in link layer and method using the same
A system and method of providing a quality of service (QoS) is provided. The method of providing the QoS in the link layer includes receiving, by a stream providing device, minimum and maximum resource requirement information of a stream receiving device; transmitting, by the stream providing device, a reservation message including the minimum and maximum resource requirement information; allocating a resource, by at least one bridge, based on the reservation message transmitted from the stream providing device; and receiving, by the stream receiving device, a stream transmitted from the stream providing device via the resource.
US08370491B1 Open mobile alliance provisioning via a global wimax device registry
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for writing provisioning parameters to a device. In a first aspect, a set of computer-readable media provide a method that includes receiving a request for access onto a communication network from a device. Attributes about the device are retrieved from a first database that details the capabilities of the device. One of the attributes may identify the device a being capable of being provisioned via Open Mobile Alliance protocol, wherein the first database sends a request to a second database to retrieve a tree structure of the device. The tree structure is populated with one or more provisioning parameters, and the populated tree structure is written to the device.
US08370490B2 Cloud service cost-optimal data center assignment
A method for service creation and mapping between at least two support systems includes provisioning a service based on a service requirement and a plurality of available data centers, collecting a value of the service requirement and a cost associated with the service, matching resource types of the data centers to resource availability, determining at least one valid data center from the plurality of data centers, and selecting a valid data center with a minimum cost for service placement and provisioning.
US08370486B2 Social news ranking using gossip distance
Devices, systems, and methods are directed towards ranking of messages based on a hop distance a forwarded message travels through a social network. As a message is forwarded by a member of the social network the hop distance increases. As the message is forwarded, recipients and/or senders may view the hop distance in real-time. The hop distance may reflect a number of times the message is forwarded to reach a recipient, or the maximum number of times the message is forwarded. The message may be displayed to a member in a rank ordering based on the hop distance, and messages with hop distances below a defined value may be deleted from a displayed list after a period of time. In one embodiment, a message may be forwarded anonymously to, for example, encourage members to forward the message.
US08370485B2 Isolating local performance variation in website monitoring
Systems and methods are provided for isolating performance variation in website monitoring. A set of geographically diverse monitoring agents are identified and a subset of baseline agents is selected from these monitoring agents. The baseline agents are those agents that are geographically close to the target website or otherwise enjoy reliable communications with the target website and are therefore less affected by network latencies. The frequency at which a target website is monitored is weighted in favor of the baseline agents in order to get an accurate baseline metric for the target website while also obtaining information regarding global accessibility of the website from the geographically disperse monitoring agents. The variations in sample frequency can be optimized for each particular set of baseline agents. The set of baseline agents can be pre-assigned or dynamically identified based on an analysis of the performance variation from each of the monitoring agents.
US08370484B2 Provisioning for enterprise service
Identifying an incoming call as from a mobile device of an enterprise communication system. Creating a first list relating mobile devices of the enterprise communication system with Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) number of the device. Creating a hashmap comprising keys. Each key comprising the last n digits assigned as a PLMN number to at least one mobile device of the enterprise communication system. The hashmap further comprising a plurality of buckets. Each bucket corresponding to a key, and comprising a second list identifying each enterprise-associated mobile device having a PLMN number ending with the key. Receiving an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) number of an call incoming to the enterprise communication system. Retrieving at least one bucket corresponding to a key comprising the last n digits of the ANI number. Searching the retrieved bucket for the unique identifier associated with the full PLMN number.
US08370483B2 Network analysis system and method
A system for analyzing a packet-based network includes a wireless network analysis processing device that is configured to receive correlated packet records representative of the order in which corresponding packets are transmitted in a wireless network. The correlated packet records include media access control (MAC) layer data and network layer data for each corresponding packet. The MAC layer data and network layer data are processed to generate network topology data representative of the network topology, generate packet flow data representative of the flow of packets between devices at the MAC layer and across the network at the network layer, and measurement data relating to the packet flow data.
US08370482B2 Method and system for storing and distributing social and business contact information online
An information management and distribution method and system for updating contact information over a network. A plug-in associated with a cloud-based back-end unit interacts with a Web application. A virtual card comprising a set of pluggable user interface components associated with the plug-in can be displayed in a user interface associated with the Web application. The contact information with respect to a user can be updated and automatically distributed to other users associated with the Web application that is configured with the virtual card plug-in module. The back-end unit can be employed to keep track of the contact information in a database and provide management functions associated with the data via a Web services application programming interface. A hard copy version of the virtual card can also be rendered utilizing a variable data composition engine and a rendering technology.
US08370480B2 Method and system for propagating statistics between federated contact center sites for use in event distribution
A routing system includes a router, a statistics server (Stat Server) coupled to the router, receiving, processing and storing statistics related to event handling, and providing information regarding the statistics for use by routing intelligence in the router, and a first proxy data server coupled to the Stat Server and to a second proxy data server at a remote contact center over a network. The system is characterized in that the Stat Server receives event statistics regarding the local queue, and through the coupled first and second proxy data servers, event statistics regarding the remote queue, provides information related to the statistics to the router, and the router determines to route incoming events to local queue or to the remote queue based on the information provided.
US08370479B2 System and method for dynamically grouping devices based on present device conditions
A method to dynamically group devices based on device information, which is associated with a system for monitoring the device information that communicates information between a device and an enterprise. Information is collected from a device information source to obtain an actual status of a device. The actual status of the device is compared to a stored status of the device. The stored status is stored on a server of the enterprise. The enterprise determines if the actual status has been changed from the stored status. When a change is detected, the method performs at least one of the acts of automatically disassociating the device from a group that reflects the stored status and automatically associating the device with a new group to reflect the actual status.
US08370477B2 Systems and methods for providing content and services on a network system
Systems and methods for managing and providing content and services on a network system. Aspects of the invention include location-based determination of network content and services that may be provided to client computers. Other aspects of the invention include authorization and authentication components that determine access rights of client computers. Additional aspects include systems and methods for redirecting client computers to different network content. The disclosed systems and methods may be used in numerous network system applications.
US08370474B1 Arbitration server for determining remediation measures in response to an error message from a content provider
A method, device, and medium are provided for improving a user's Internet experience, comprising in one aspect, receiving, from a gateway, an indication of a reply from a content provider indicating an error requiring arbitration, determining, on the basis of an arbitration agreement, one or more remediation measures for the gateway to take in response to the error, the remediation measures selected from the set consisting of: passing the reply to the user unchanged, providing cached content to the user, rewriting the error reply to include a redirection to an alternate page, rewriting the error reply to include an alternate reply status code, providing a standardized error page in place of the error reply provided by the content provider, rejecting future requests sent to the content provider, and redirecting future requests sent to the content provider to an alternate content provider; and sending to the gateway an arbitration response including a remediation policy indicating the remediation measures.
US08370469B2 Management device, management method, and recording medium for synchronizing information from management devices
A first acquisition unit acquires an event notification from an MFP and updates first device-status information. A transmission unit transmits the event notification and first reference-destination information. A switching unit switches a first access to the first reference-destination information to a second access to second reference-destination information. A second acquisition unit issues an acquisition request at a first interval, issues an acquisition request at a second interval in response to the event notification, acquires the second device-status information, and update the first device-status information.
US08370466B2 Method and system for providing operator guidance in network and systems management
An operator guidance system is provided for an administrator managing a computer network such as a distributed computer system. Fault events reported by a fault management system in the network are enhanced to include topology information about other nodes (such as neighbor nodes, path nodes and/or service nodes) that may have been responsible for the fault. The enhanced events are correlated with configuration commands used in the past to correct faults. A set of guidance rules are developed based on the actions that were taken by the operator in handling previous faults of a similar nature. The guidance rules can be displayed to the administrator to facilitate network fault resolution. Using a set of predefined policies, some of the corrective actions can be performed automatically.
US08370459B2 Method and user interface for accessing groups of media assets
Improved systems and methods to navigate, browse, search and/or playback digital media assets (e.g., media items) hosted on a media server are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention pertains to a user interface arrangement, such as a hierarchical menu system, that facilitates navigation, browsing and playing of media items remotely stored on a media server. The user interface arrangement enables user scrolling or browsing with respect to a list or set of information pertaining to media items, where the list or set can be expanded to include information for additional media items that are subsequently acquired. The user interface arrangement can also present and permit navigation of categorized media items. The user interface arrangement can be presented on a display device associated with a client device. In one embodiment, the display device can be a television and the client device can be an electronic apparatus that can couple to the media server via a network.
US08370457B2 Network communication through a virtual domain
The present invention is an apparatus, system and method for communicating to a network through an ad hoc virtual domain. The present invention contains a deceiver, a controller, and a forwarder through which a client communicates through. The deceiver, controller, and forwarder collectively establish the domain in which the ad hoc virtual namespace will exist. This invention allows clients to interact over a network in a fashion that is anonymous and unique to the session which the client is engaging in.
US08370455B2 Systems and methods for mapping media content to web sites
Systems and methods for mapping viewable and non-viewable media to websites are disclosed. Mapping is executed through associated or embedded data, based upon frame and/or time segment of the media. The media-to-browser-destination-data (MBDD) may be embedded in media content, embedded in a transmitted signal, downloaded or pushed to a media playing device, or provided by a graphic overlay. Media players are disclosed that can process the MBDD to launch a browser to a selected web site.
US08370454B2 Retrieving a replica of an electronic document in a computer network
There are introduced ways for retrieving or depositing a replica of an electronic document in a computer network. After having selected at least one replica number, a given function is applied. The function requires as input the replica number and a document identifier. The function returns as a result at least one entity identifier, each entity identifier representing an entity in the network that might provide the replica. In a next step, a document related request is addressed to at least one of the identified entities.
US08370448B2 API for worker node retrieval of session request
A method is described that involves, at a worker node, receiving a notification of a request from a queue. The notification contains a handle for a shared memory connection. The queue is implemented with a second shared memory connection. The method involves receiving the request from the shared memory through the connection. The method also involves generating a response to the request at the worker node and sending the response over the shared memory connection.
US08370445B2 Systems and methods for messaging to multiple gateways
Systems and methods for providing message communication among multiple communication gateways. In particular, systems and methods for providing non-voice message delivery to intended recipients with increased speed and reliability to multiple users on multiple platforms. The systems and methods relate to non-voice messaging to multiple messaging gateways. In at least one embodiment, the systems and methods include Internet based electronic messaging using a messaging subsystem configured to optimize text message delivery to communication gateways.
US08370442B2 Method and system for leveraging identified changes to a mail server
A method and system for identifying changes to a data set, such as data within a mailbox, and performing actions based on the identified changes is discussed. In some examples, the system receives an indication of a change to a mailbox, creates a change journal entry for the change, and identifies data to be copied via the change journal entry. In some examples, the system leverages the change journal to associate messages with changes to a mailbox.
US08370431B1 Secure desktop for a network meeting
A network meeting application for providing network meetings, such as web conference meetings, runs on a presenter device. In response to a request for a network meeting from an attendee device, the presenter device creates a secure desktop separate from a working desktop. The presenter may use the secure desktop to share documents, presentations, or other applications with the attendee device. The attendee device is blocked from accessing the working desktop of the presenter device. A presenter using the presenter device may switch between the working desktop and the secure desktop. Security policies, downloaded to the presenter device from a server, determine the applications the attendee may run on the secure desktop. The secure desktop thereby protects the integrity of the presenter's working desktop during a web conference meeting, while allowing documents, presentations, or other applications to be shared with attendees via the secure desktop.
US08370430B2 Method for interchanging messages and information during a telephone conference
A method and a telecommunications system for interchanging messages and information during a telephone conference, with the telephone conference taking place via a telephone network and the telephone conference being assigned a code which can be predetermined, and from which a password is derived which allows the subscribers to the telephone conference access to a communication platform which is based on a data network, for the purpose of interchanging data during the telephone conference.
US08370427B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting messages between heterogeneous networks
A method and apparatus for transmitting messages between heterogeneous networks are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) message from an IMS network; converting the format of the IMS message into the format of a non-IMS message and converting the sender terminal ID of the IMS message into the sender terminal ID of the non-IMS message; and sending the non-IMS message that includes the content and sender terminal ID of the non-IMS message to a receiver terminal of the non-IMS message through the home network of the non-IMS message. The disclosure can implement message interworking between an IMS user terminal and a non-IMS user terminal.
US08370426B2 Content-on-demand method and network therefor
A method is provided of providing a content-on-demand service to a user terminal in a system comprising a plurality of content-on-demand servers and a packet-switched network. The method comprises the steps of: a first of the content-on-demand servers seeking to reserve packet-switched network resources to enable service delivery to the user terminal, said first server sending a message that resource reservation was insufficient, a further of the content-on-demand servers seeking to reserve packet-switched network resources to enable service provision to the user terminal, said further server sending a message that resource reservation is sufficient, and said further server providing the content to the user terminal via the packet-switched network.
US08370416B2 Compatibility enforcement in clustered computing systems
In one embodiment a method of creating a clustered computing system, comprises storing license information for a computing cluster in a memory module associated with a computing node, wherein the licensing information includes a bundle-type parameter that identifies a characteristic of the cluster and one or more node license parameters that identifies a characteristic of a computing node, initializing the computing cluster in a first computing node, adding one or more available computing nodes to the computing cluster; and activating the computing cluster when the computing cluster includes a number of nodes that complies with the bundle-type parameter.
US08370413B1 No-multiply finite impulse response (FIR) filter using phase additions
The present invention is directed toward a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) no-multiply filter (NMF), which replaces complex multiplications with phase additions. At each tap in the FIR filter, only phases are accumulated and at the output the complex result is reconstructed in I/Q. Noise dither is relied upon to smooth the digitized phase resolution. The NMF is ideally suited to a matched filtering scenario for constant modulus signals.
US08370408B2 Configuration representation and modeling using configuration spaces
Configuration spaces facilitate the useful presentation of data, particularly configuration data used for representing configured products. Products include features and common features can be grouped by families. For example, an automobile can include a transmission family. The transmission family could include features such as automatic transmission and 4-speed manual transmission. Configuration spaces can be achieved by consolidating selected data without loosing useful information. The degree of consolidation achieved can be significant enough to permit display of data using conventional display technology. Configuration spaces break down the “universe” of possible configurations into constituent spaces defined by groups of rules for a selected feature. Common dependencies between the selected feature and related features can be consolidated to produce a more minimal form of the data used for representing the selected features and related features. Configuration spaces can provide a useful graphical view of the breakdown of all rules written for a single feature or multiple features. The data present in this view can be analyzed to, for example, study the dependency paths of an existing configuration and better understand the impact of revising configuration relationships. Thus, configuration spaces aid in the creation and modification of configuration models.
US08370406B2 Image transmission apparatus, registration method, and registration program
An image transmission apparatus is high in convenience, operability and reliability when newly registering a transmission destination to an address book. The apparatus obtains a list of destination names corresponding to recipients who have registered a recipient setting designating a transmission method; receives from a user a selection of whether to follow the recipient setting; receives from the user (a) if a selection to not follow the recipient setting has been received, a destination name and a transmission method to correspond thereto, and (b) if a selection to follow the recipient setting has been received, a selection of a destination name from the list; in the case of (a), registers the destination name and the transmission method in association as a candidate for the destination; and in the case of (b), registers the selected destination name with an indication that the recipient setting is to be followed, as a candidate.
US08370405B2 Variable-length record, corruption recovery apparatus, system, and method
A method for identifying records of variable length within a data block containing corrupted data is disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, such a method may include scanning backward from an end of a data block containing variable-length records. The backward scan may proceed, one record at a time, to identify a first span of good (i.e., non-corrupt) records. The method may further include scanning forward from a front of the data block, also proceeding one record at a time, to identify a second span of good records. The method may include identifying a problem region by identifying data that resides between the first span and the second span. The method may also include creating a new record between the first span and the second span that contains the problem region. A corresponding computer program product, apparatus, and system are also disclosed.
US08370400B2 Solution-specific business object view
A computer-implemented system may include one or more storage devices storing first metadata defining an instance of a first metaobject, second metadata defining an instance of a solution supplement metaobject, wherein the second metadata comprises annotations to the first metadata, and wherein the first metaobject and the solution supplement metaobject are instances of a meta-metaobject. Also stored is executable program code of a service to determine merged metadata based on the first metadata and the annotations to the first metadata. A processor is included to execute the executable program code.
US08370396B2 System and process for connecting media content
A system for correlating a user's interests to media content, said system comprising: (a) at least one data store comprising media content data relating to people, works, and tags; (b) a relationship generator configured to generate direct relationships among said people, works and tags; (c) a connection module to generate connections between a primary person, work or tag and a first set of said people, works, and tags, wherein each person, work and tag of said first set has a direct relationship with said primary person, work or tag; and (d) a display module for causing the display of at least a portion of said first set of said people, works and tags.
US08370394B2 Parallel processing of data organized in a tree structure
A method for parallel processing of data organized in the form of a tree including: converting the tree into a linear array structure including a data array for storing the data of said tree and three reference arrays; determining partial workloads from the linear array structure obtained at step a; and performing parallel processing of said partial workloads. Each entry in the data array corresponding to a given node in the tree and includes three pointers. The pointers each point to a respective one of the reference arrays: a first pointer identifies the parent node of the given node, a second pointer identifies the first child node of the given node, and a third pointer identifies the sibling node of the given node.
US08370390B1 Method and apparatus for identifying near-duplicate documents
Duplicate or near-duplicate documents can be identified by creating a vector representing the evaluated document, where vector values are serial numbers of the summary vector coordinates, sorted according to the value in each coordinate. The summary vector is calculated summing bits of hashes of the document shingles. Vectors representing other documents can be reduced in size to 64-bit fingerprints and stored in permanent memory. The duplicates or near-duplicates can be identified by comparing these stored fingerprints with the vector representing evaluated document.
US08370386B1 Methods and systems for template driven data mining task editing
A computer-based method for creating data mining task templates for utilization in data mining activities is described. The method includes defining, via a template editor and an associated user interface, a task template for discovery of common patterns occurring within data mining events, generating a task editor/wizard from the task template, creating example tasks via the task template and task editor/wizard, running at least one of the example tasks, and refining the task template using results returned from execution of the at least one of the example tasks.
US08370384B2 Information processing apparatus, file management method, program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus which is capable of improving user's convenience in searching for documents once found by a previous search, again. A CPU of the apparatus accepts the entry of a search keyword from the user, and obtains user information for identifying the user. The CPU adds the input search keyword to an index information item contained in each of document data items in association with the user information, and stores the index information item having the search keyword added thereto in an HDD, together with the document data item.
US08370382B2 Method for facilitating the search of video content
A method for facilitating the search of video content by matching fingerprint data extracted from a given video content with existing video fingerprint data already stored in the database. The system consists of systems for extracting fingerprint from the video content, the database for storing plurality of fingerprint data entries from known video content segments and systems for comparing between the fingerprint data obtained from the video content with the fingerprint data entries obtained from the fingerprint database. Once a match is identified, the video content associated with the matched fingerprint in the database is said to be identified by the information in the database associated with the match. The information referenced from the database includes archived video information.
US08370381B2 Location based information
Location based information may be provided. Data may be received having an entry predicate. The data may comprise, for example, a weblog (blog). The entry predicate may comprise location information defining an applicable zone for the data. Location information may be provided in the received entry predicate when it is determined that the location information is missing from the received entry predicate. Next, the data and the entry predicate may be saved. Then an application zone may be calculated, for the saved data, based on the entry predicate. Next, a request may be received comprising a reader predicate. In response to receiving the request, the data may be transmitted when the reader predicate corresponds to the application zone. The data may be transmitted to a request device from which the request was received. The request device may comprise a mobile device.
US08370380B1 Method and system for displaying real time trends
Displaying an information product that includes exceptional search queries to a user can include receiving search queries, measuring the frequencies of search queries received, determining the search queries whose frequencies are rising in the most relevant manner, and then displaying these exceptional queries on a user interface. The user then can select one of the displayed exceptional queries, and then the system can provide search results corresponding with the exceptional queries. The activity of a particular query can be based on the frequency of the search query's reception over a given period of time, whether in relation to an expected frequency level or the rate of change of the frequency level. Additionally, the relevant periods of time over which activity is measured can be relatively short to maximize their relevance at a given instant.
US08370376B2 Multimedia object retrieval from natural language queries
A method for identifying multi-media assets from a multi-media collection, and the method implemented at least in part by a data processing system and comprising the steps of: receiving a search query, the search query, or a derivative thereof, including a possessive phrase, wherein the possessive phrase includes a possessor and a possession category; identifying a denoted object referred to by the possessive phrase using a predefined relationship database that establishes social relationships between objects; identifying one or more additional possessors of the denoted object using the predefined relationship database; generating one or more additional possessive phrases for the denoted objects relating the identified additional possessors to the denoted object; and identifying one or more multi-media assets from the multi-media collection containing the denoted object responsive to the one or more additional possessive phrases.
US08370373B2 Document processing system and control method thereof, program, and storage medium
This invention is directed to a document processing system and control method thereof. The system stores a plurality of items of document data each containing metadata pertaining to the contents of each item of document data, and relation information representing the relations between the plurality of items of document data. When scanned image data or facsimile-received image data is input, document data related to the input image data is specified among the plurality of items of stored document data, based on the metadata contained in each item of document data. Relation information representing the relation between the input image data and the specified related document data is stored. Even document data obtained from a paper document is able to be stored as document data subjected to search processing.
US08370367B1 System and method for navigating documents
Embodiments of this invention allow a user to navigate through previously viewed documents. These documents may be associated with a key, e.g. a search or a document. In response to re-entering the search or detecting subsequent interaction with the document, the navigation may be provided. In certain embodiments, the navigation is provided through a button on a toolbar or through a menu listing.
US08370363B2 Hybrid neighborhood graph search for scalable visual indexing
A hybrid search method may be used to identify information responsive to a query. A search may be performed utilizing a neighborhood graph and a partitioning tree. The partitioning tree may be searched to select one or more pivots that may be used to guide a subsequent search in the neighborhood graph. Once the search in the neighborhood graph is unable to identify nearest neighbors in closer proximity to the query, the search may be switched to the partitioning tree. The partitioning tree may then be searched to select pivots that may be used to guide subsequent searches in the neighborhood graph. The searches performed in the partitioning tree and/or the neighborhood graph may be conducted utilizing an iterative algorithm.
US08370362B2 Database access system
An improved human user computer interface system, wherein a user characteristic or set of characteristics, such as demographic profile or societal “role”, is employed to define a scope or domain of operation. The operation itself may be a database search, to interactively define a taxonomic context for the operation, a business negotiation, or other activity. After retrieval of results, a scoring or ranking may be applied according to user define criteria, which are, for example, commensurate with the relevance to the context, but may be, for example, by date, source, or other secondary criteria. A user profile is preferably stored in a computer accessible form, and may be used to provide a history of use, persistent customization, collaborative filtering and demographic information for the user. Advantageously, user privacy and anonymity is maintained by physical and algorithmic controls over access to the personal profiles, and releasing only aggregate data without personally identifying information or of small groups.
US08370360B2 Merchandise recommending system and method thereof
The present invention relates to a merchandise recommending system, and it is an object of the present invention is to derive recommended merchandise through a multiple image search, in which image characteristic information is extracted through a text search or an image search, thereby deriving recommended merchandise. To accomplish the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operator server comprising a data receiving unit for receiving a ‘merchandise search request signal’ containing a text search or an image search (request) from the user computer and receiving a unique identification number of each user input information and merchandise information together with a corresponding matching table from the manager computer, a matching process module unit for sequentially arranging images by performing a command processing on search keywords that are searched through the characteristic information extraction module unit, a merchandise recommendation module unit for deriving recommended merchandise using the image characteristic information according to a search result, a data transmission unit for transmitting the merchandise extracted through the merchandise recommendation module unit to the user computer, and a data storage unit stores the user input information, merchandise information, unique identification numbers, and matching table.
US08370356B2 Music search system, music search method, music search program and recording medium recording music search program
A music search device, a music search method, a music search program, and a recording medium having the music search program recorded on it are provided. There is included a memory means for relating a music to a characteristic of the music and memorizing the music and the characteristics; a reproduction means for reproducing the music; a process means for processing the characteristic of the music thus reproduced by the reproduction means based on an instruction of a manipulation input; a characteristic detection means for detecting the characteristic of the music thus processed; and a search means for searching the music thus memorized by the memory means based on the characteristic of the music thus detected.
US08370350B2 User accessibility to resources enabled through adaptive technology
A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product identify an appropriate resource for a user. A user profile is created for a user. A request, from the user, is received for a requested resource. Based on the user profile, a user-specific scope of the request, which defines a type of resource that is being requested by the user, is established. An identifier of an appropriate resource that meets the user-specific scope of the request is transmitted to the user.
US08370349B2 Instant contact searching and presentation by category
A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a mobile device user to perform a federated search across a plurality of disparate contact data stores, including a phone directory, IM store, an email address book, a buddy list, a social networking group, a SMS list, or any of a variety of other communication contact data stores. When a user inputs a character, a dynamic search is performed across the various contact data stores. The results of the search may be repeatedly updated based on additional input characters. The results of the search may be displayed on the mobile device organized by categories of the contact data stores and/or a preferred communication mechanism. The results may also indicate a preferred mechanism for communicating with the displayed name.
US08370347B1 System and methods for ranking documents based on content characteristics
A system is described for assessing information in natural language contents. A user interface receives an object name as a query term and a value for a customized ranking parameter from a user. A computer storage device stores an object-specific data set related to the object name, wherein the object-specific data set includes a plurality of property names and association-strength values. A computer processing system can count a first frequency of a first property name and count a second frequency of a second property name in a document containing text in a natural language, calculate a relevance score as a function of the first frequency and the second frequency, and rank the plurality of documents using their respective relevance scores, and return one or more documents to the user based on the ranking of the plurality of documents. The function is in part defined by the customized ranking parameter.
US08370346B2 Micro-browser viewers and searching
Architecture that enables a user to connect, search, and review information under a mobile context by interacting through a micro-browser. The current “Find” experience can now be made part of the document search functionality thereby allowing the user to enter one or more keywords to quickly search and obtain the information desired. The “Find” feature can be part of the micro-browser viewer and solves the current inability of the user to view and read documents on the small display of the mobile device. Additionally, users can choose to search from the current page or from the beginning of the document. Results are listed with the keyword(s) emphasized (e.g., highlighted) in a portion of the content in which the keyword(s) was found. The page number can also be presented. Each result can be presented is an active link that automatically navigates the user directly to the associated keyword of the page.
US08370345B2 Snippet based proximal search
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer program products for a snippet based proximal search. A method comprises ranking the documents based on text that is similar to a text snippet. The ranking includes automatically generating proximity queries that include the text snippet, submitting the proximity queries, and collecting the document results. The method comprises selecting a plurality of highest ranked documents to form a subset of documents, extracting snippets from each document in the subset, and creating a vector space model for a set defined by a union of the extracted snippets and the text snippet. The method comprises ranking the extracted snippets according to their vector distances from the input text snippet, and ranking the documents within the subset of documents based on the ranking of the extracted snippets to determine a best matching document in view of the text snippet.
US08370342B1 Display of relevant results
Apparatus and associated systems, methods, and computer program products relate to displaying the most relevant information in a document at or near the top of a page of displayed information. The most relevant information may be determined to be relevant with respect to a set of search query terms, such as those that may be entered into a search engine, for example. In some embodiments, a selected document of interest may be formatted (i.e., transcoded) for display on a small display area, and the transcoding may be arranged to produce a first displayed page or sub-page (if the document is divided among more than one sub-page) that begins with the most relevant information in the document. By formatting transcoded pages in this manner, the most relevant information may be displayed first for immediate viewing by the user.
US08370341B1 Systems and methods for determining and facilitating content updates for a user device
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for updating content are presented. A first version of content residing on a user device is determined, and a second version of content relating to the first version of content is determined. Version information for each file within a second set of files organized within a second archive of the second version of content is sequentially accessed based on a second order of the second set of files in the second archive, the version information indicating a version of each file. A determination is made of when version information indicating a newer version of content has been accessed from the second archive, and new content associated with the newer version is provided to the user device.
US08370340B1 User location reputation system
A computer-implemented method and system of building a user reputation database for use in a user location data system. The method and system receive user location information containing personally identifiable data of a user and user position data. The user position data may or may not represent one or more actual geographic positions of the user. The user location information is temporarily stored and analyzed to provide a spam score associated with the user position data indicative of whether the user position data represents the actual geographic positions of the user. Data indicative of the spam score is also provided to user reputation database to store a user reputation score associated with the user.
US08370338B2 Large-scale asymmetric comparison computation for binary embeddings
A system and method for comparing a query object and one or more of a set of database objects are provided. The method includes providing quantized representations of database objects. The database objects have each been transformed with a quantized embedding function which is the composition of a real-valued embedding function and a quantization function. The query object is transformed to a representation of the query object in a real-valued embedding space using the real-valued embedding function. Query-dependent estimated distance values are computed for the query object, based on the transformed query object and stored. A comparison (e.g., distance or similarity) measure between the query object and each of the quantized database object representations is computed based on the stored query-dependent estimated distance values. Data is output based on the comparison computation.
US08370336B2 Methods and systems for deriving demand metrics used in ordering item listings presented in a search results page
Methods and systems for using a half-life formula for deriving demand metrics used in ordering item listings, when presenting those item listings in a search results page, are described. In some embodiments, a demand metric for an item listing is derived by monitoring events associated with item listings, such as, keeping a count of the number of search impressions an item listing receives. A half-life formula is used to ensure that events occurring earlier in time contribute less to the demand metric than more recently occurring events. The demand metric are used to order the item listings, when the item listings are being presented in a search results page.
US08370335B2 Multiple field look ahead and value help
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for providing value help. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving, from a user interface, an input. Based on the received input, one or more fields may be determined from a plurality of columns of a table of a database. The determined one or more fields may be provided to the user interface for presentation as a value help to the input being presented at the user interface. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US08370333B2 Query utilization using query burst classification
Query utilization in which a rate of a plurality of queries to a data source may be determined for a plurality of time periods. A cost may be associated with a query state transition. A query state may be assigned to a particular query on a particular time period of the plurality of time periods based on the rate of queries for the particular time period and the cost of the query state transition. A query burst may be identified during the plurality of time periods based on assignment of a query state to the plurality of queries. The query may exhibit a normal query state, a normal-to-deviated query state transition, and a deviated query state. A query burst identification module may identify a query burst during the plurality of time periods, a burst conversion module may convert the query burst to a wavelet using a wavelet transform, a clustering module may apply a clustering technique to the wavelet, and a query classification module may classify the query burst based on applying the clustering technique.
US08370326B2 System and method for parallel computation of frequency histograms on joined tables
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for the parallel computation of frequency histograms in joined tables is provided. The method includes reading data in a table row-by-row from a database system using a coordinator unit and distributing each read row to separate worker units. Each worker unit computes a partial frequency histogram for each column in the table in parallel. The partial histograms from the worker units are then merged and the coordinator unit sends the merged frequency histograms to the worker units.
US08370324B2 Data management method using a table, and related storage device, storage medium and program
The objective of the present invention is to manage reference movies using an index file, without causing the user to be perplexed. the reference movies are generated because of, for instance, the upper limit of the file size. The index file manages sets of information regarding the files being managed. Examples of these sets of information are information for determining whether or not a file is presented to the user, information for determining whether or not a file is original, and information indicating whether or not nondestructive editing has been done. Based on such information, the erasure, displaying a list, and so on are carried out. Thus, it is possible to manage the reference movies using the index file, without causing the user to be perplexed.
US08370321B2 Automated information-provision system
Various system embodiments of the present invention are directed to an automated concierge system through which users of the automated concierge system can request and obtain many types of information and services. Unlike traditional search engines and electronic query-processing interfaces, the automated concierge systems provide much greater flexibility with respect to means of access, including types of electronic devices and communications media that can be used to access the concierge services, greater flexibility in the timing of responses to information and service requests, more efficient information and service provision, and access to a much broader range of information sources and service providers. The automated concierge systems that represent embodiments of the present invention provide state-associated searches, in contrast to the stateless searches generally provided by search engines and many electronic query-processing interfaces, and employ a generally asynchronous message-based interface, rather than the rigid request/response interfaces provided by traditional search engines and other electronic query-processing systems.
US08370319B1 Determining search query specificity
Systems and methods described and suggested herein utilize various techniques to assess the degree of specificity of search queries. By assessing the degree of specificity of search queries, the systems and methods may be used to determine where the submitting users' intentions fall along the continuum between specific and general searching. Thus, the systems and methods may be used to, among other uses, deliver search results that more closely coincide with the users' intentions. For example, if data associated with a search query indicates that users typically submit the search query with the intention of specific searching, embodiments may tailor search results to include a limited number of highly relevant search-result items. On the other hand, for example, if data associated with a search query indicates that users typically submit the search query with the intention of general searching, embodiments may tailor search results to include a diverse set of search-result items from multiple categories.
US08370317B2 Synchronizing shared resources in a collection
Multi-threaded access to a collection is synchronized without locking the collection for long periods of time. In one implementation, a collection is locked briefly to allow safe creation of a resource entry (or a placeholder entry) in the collection and then unlocked prior to the start of the resource build operation. As such, the collection is unlocked during the potentially long period of time required to build the resource (e.g., a data object) into the collection. Furthermore, during the build operation, access attempts to the same resource in the collection by other threads are forced to wait until the resource build is completed. Nevertheless, the collection itself is not locked during the resource build operation, so that other threads can access other resources within the collection without waiting.
US08370315B1 System and method for high performance deduplication indexing
A system and method for efficiently reducing latency of accessing an index for a data segment stored on a server. A server both removes duplicate data and prevents duplicate data from being stored in a shared data storage. The file server is coupled to an index storage subsystem holding fingerprint and pointer value pairs corresponding to a data segment stored in the shared data storage. The pairs are stored in a predetermined order. The file server utilizes an ordered binary search tree to identify a particular block of multiple blocks within the index storage subsystem corresponding to a received memory access request. The index storage subsystem determines whether an entry corresponding to the memory access request is located within the identified block. Based on at least this determination, the file server processes the memory access request accordingly. In one embodiment, the index storage subsystem is a solid-state disk (SSD).
US08370311B2 Using versioning to back up multiple versions of a stored object
Using a versioning feature of an authoring application to back up multiple versions of a stored object in single, version-enabled instance stored on backup media is disclosed. In some embodiments, an indication is received that a subsequent version data associated with an object an existing instance of which is stored in a backup storage location is to be backed up. A version control mechanism of an authoring application that created or updated the object as stored in a primary storage location is invoked to incorporate the subsequent version data into the existing instance of the object as stored in the backup storage location.
US08370308B2 Document management system, document management method, and computer program for forming proxy data for deleted documents
When a document in which a shortcut has been set is exchanged to another document, a shortcut to the document before the exchange is enabled to effectively act on the document after the exchange. When a formation of a shortcut of the document is instructed, the shortcut including a document ID of the document is formed and attributes (shortcut formation history) of the document are updated. After that, when a deletion of the document into a trash box and a formation of a proxy entity of the document are instructed, a proxy entity in which a user ID set into the document to be deleted has been set is formed. The proxy entity is formed in a same folder as a folder in which the deletion document exists. The document ID of the deletion document and the document ID of the formed proxy entity are exchanged and the deletion document is moved into the trash box.
US08370307B2 Cloud data backup storage manager
Techniques for cloud data backup are disclosed. Example methods may store backup data from a client computer on portions of data storage media associated with peer computers. In some example embodiments, a file may be encoded into segments using an error-tolerant encoding scheme, and the segments may be stored on peer computers. In some example embodiments, individual segments may be stored on more than one peer machine and/or an individual peer machine may not receive all of the segments associated with the file.
US08370305B2 Method of minimizing the amount of network bandwidth needed to copy data between data deduplication storage systems
A method and system is provided for copying data between two deduplicating storage systems. A list of unique fingerprints is compiled from the data which will be sent. This list is transmitted to the receiving system during a preliminary data exchange called the preamble. The receiving system replies with a second list which contains the unique fingerprints of the data which either needs to be sent or can be omitted. Which list depends on the size of the list where the smaller list is sent for efficiency and lower bandwidth consumption. A reference list of duplicate blocks being sent is retained on the receiving system until the copy operation is complete. This reference list is used to protect blocks on the receiving system by deferring deletions until the incoming hallow block can reference the duplicate block on the receiver to confirm that is on the target system and should not be deleted.
US08370301B1 System and method for reallocating blocks in checkpointing bitmap-based file systems
A computerized file system has a first software layer for writing data blocks to persistent storage, and a second software layer for receiving requests from a client, and in response to receiving a request passing a command to the first software layer. A current bit map shows data blocks of persistent storage which are allocated to holding data of the file system. A safe copy of the current bit map is maintained. A third copy of the current bit map is passed, at a selected time, to the first software layer to enable the first software layer to write data blocks containing the bit map current at the selected time to the persistent storage, and simultaneously changing the current bit map as maintained in a computer memory while data blocks containing the bit map current at the selected time are written to the persistent storage.
US08370300B2 Method and apparatus of data protection
A contents management system comprises a plurality of subsystems which include: a storage subsystem to store a plurality of objects; a contents gateway server configured to create snapshots of the objects and store the snapshots in a first snapshot layer; a system management control unit configured to determine whether the number of snapshots in the first snapshot layer exceeds a corresponding limit for the first snapshot layer and, if yes, to migrate the snapshots from the first snapshot layer to a second snapshot layer provided by another subsystem of the contents management system, and delete the migrated snapshots from the first snapshot layer; and a contents management server configured to track location changes of the snapshots of the objects during migration of the snapshots and to re-index an index data of the snapshots of the objects based on the tracked location changes.
US08370296B2 Method for transmitting SyncML synchronization data
The present invention provides methods for transmitting SyncML synchronization data. One is that the originator constructs a SyncML message after encrypting the user data to be transmitted and then transmits the data in an existing transmission way; the user data includes, but is not confined to, authentication information, terminal capability information and the data to be synchronized; the other method is that the originator encrypts the SyncML message in the transport layer before transmitting the message, and the recipient deciphers the received SyncML message from transport layer and processes the message subsequently. The two methods can be used either separately or together. If they are used together, the transmission of SyncML synchronization data is provided with double safety insurance. By using the present invention, user data can be transmitted safely without being intercepted by the third party.
US08370292B2 Identifying and defining information services for delivery in a service oriented architecture
A method for information service identification during service modeling of a service oriented architecture (SOA) architected computing system includes loading a business process defined by different business services in memory of a service modeling tool executing in a host computing platform. The method further includes identifying different information elements directed for access by the business services and determining a set of information transactions for the identified different information elements. The method yet further includes generalizing the set of information transactions into a candidate list of information services. The method even yet further includes selecting from amongst the candidate list a selection of information services for incorporation into the business process. Finally, the method includes refining the business services of the business process to invoke the selection of information services to access the identified different information elements.
US08370291B2 Individualizing and encrypting on-demand media content in retail kiosks
A system for selecting and recording data, comprising: a local storage unit for storing a subset of media content items and other content; a content selection unit to display a catalog of the media content items and other content, to allow a customer to browse, search, and select a media content item and other content from the catalog of media content items and other content, to retrieve the selected media content item and other content from the local storage unit if the selected media content item and other content is found in the subset, and otherwise to retrieve the selected media content item from a remote storage unit, the content selection unit configured to cache the retrieved media content item and other content in the local storage unit for a period of time based on the popularity of the retrieved media content item; a financial transaction unit to determine the cost of the retrieved media content item and other content and display the cost for review and payment by the customer; and an authoring system configured to format, encode, encrypt, and write the media content item and other content onto an article of media when the customer makes the payment.
US08370283B2 Predicting energy consumption
Systems and methods for predicting energy usage of an asset are provided. Among several implementations of methods implemented by a computer, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method includes selecting one of a plurality of base temperatures that allows a linear equation to estimate energy consumption by an asset as a function of an average daily demand on the asset to attain a desired temperature. The computer-implemented method also includes inserting the selected base temperature in a non-linear equation for modeling the asset's energy consumption.
US08370281B2 Self-modification of a mainframe-based business rules engine construction tool
In various embodiments, a programmable apparatus for use in a computing environment is provided. The apparatus may include a business rules engine having at least one rule executable by a mainframe system and stored based on an extensible language; and, a business rules engine builder interface configured to access the business rules engine and which permits user selection from among different rules collections in the business rules engine. At least one of the rules in the business engine is associated with modifying an aspect of the business rules engine builder interface itself.
US08370275B2 Detecting factual inconsistencies between a document and a fact-base
Techniques for identifying one or more inconsistencies between an unstructured document and a back-end fact-base are provided. The techniques include automatically parsing a query document and comparing the document with a back-end fact-base comprising facts relevant to the document, identifying one or more inconsistencies between information mentioned in the document and the facts stored in the back-end fact-base, and providing a response to the query document, wherein the response additionally includes the one or more identified inconsistencies.
US08370274B2 Apparatuses and methods for deterministic pattern matching
Apparatuses and methods to perform pattern matching are presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory to store a first pattern table comprising information indicative of whether a byte of input data matches a pattern and whether to ignore other matches of the pattern occur in remaining bytes of the input data. The apparatus further comprises one-byte match logic coupled to the memory, to determine, based on the information in the first pattern table, a one-byte match event with respect to the input data. The apparatus further comprises a control unit to filter the other matches of the pattern based on the information of the first pattern table.
US08370271B1 Recurring delivery of products
Technologies are described herein for providing recurring delivery of products to a customer on a periodic basis. A customer creates a recurring delivery list that specifies a particular delivery slot indicating when orders are to be delivered. The customer adds products to the recurring delivery list, specifying a quantity and frequency of delivery for each product. Orders are periodically generated from the customer's recurring delivery list for delivery on the next occurrence of the specified delivery slot. The products included in each order are based on the frequency of delivery and a last delivery date for each product in the recurring delivery list. If the customer makes changes to the recurring delivery list, those changes may also be applied to any pending orders generated from the list.
US08370270B2 System and method for creating an efficient shipping strategy for shipping printed material
A system and related method for creating an efficient shipping strategy for shipping printed material is disclosed. The system includes a communication component, an analysis component and a shipping component. The communication component communicates printing instructions. The printing instructions include image data and at least one job parameter. The analysis component communicates with the communication component and determines at least one physical property of a print job when formed according to the printing instructions. The shipping component generates shipping information in accordance with the at least one physical property.
US08370268B2 Systems and methods for remote vehicle rental with remote vehicle access
An automated vehicle rental system with individual vehicle transmitting sensors for keeping track of vehicle mileage, fill state of vehicle fuel tank, and localized position status in a rental lot. Sensors are linked to the vehicle odometer reading and to the vehicle fuel tank float sensor with compensation for types of driving and fuel fill-ups which affect float level readings. The sensors are integrated with or are linked with communicating tags operable in a defined site for ultimate communication of stored vehicle related sensor data, vehicle location and type to a central data base for automatically completely effecting check out, charges and state of vehicle readiness for renewed rental. The transmitting sensors are adapted to avoid interference between sensors of other vehicles during multiple transmissions. Also included is an in-vehicle check out and payment device operatively linkable to the transmitting sensor of the vehicle.
US08370266B2 Authentication-authorization system for mobile communication terminal and method therefor
An authentication-authorization system for a mobile communication terminal and a method therefor are provided. When a mobile communication terminal is in a connect state, code data randomly generated by a remote encoding terminal is continuously provided to the terminal and data management terminal. When an application service program on the mobile communication terminal or an application service terminal connected to the mobile communication terminal need to execute an authentication-authorization, identification data of the mobile communication terminal and its card and code data can be offered to the data management terminal to carry out a bidirectional dynamic authentication-authorization, to determine whether allow the application service program or the application service terminal to keep providing an application service or not. In a further aspect of the embodiment, at least two aforementioned authentication-authorization systems are joined, and a layered authentication-authorization mechanism is adopted, so as to provide a secured and completed system.
US08370263B2 Providing trusted services management using a hybrid service model
Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing trusted services management using a hybrid service model are presented. According to one or more aspects, a first transaction log of a first secure element included in a mobile computing device may be received. The first secure element may be provisioned with first secure information provided to a user of the computing device by a first entity, such as a first financial institution. Subsequently, a second transaction log of a second secure element included in the mobile computing device may be received. The second secure element may be provisioned with second secure information provided to the user of the computing device by a second entity different from the first entity, such as a second financial institution, for instance. In some arrangements, incentive offers may thereafter be provided to the user based on the first transaction log and the second transaction log.
US08370258B2 Apparatus, method, and computer program product for recovering torn smart payment device transactions
A first command is sent from a payment terminal assembly to a payment device with an on-device balance to compute a cryptogram to complete a putative transaction. It is detected that the cryptogram is not received as expected. In response, an identifier of the payment device and transaction recovery data associated with the putative transaction are stored in a storage area of a terminal memory of the payment terminal assembly. The payment terminal assembly obtains the identifier of the payment device, upon re-presentation of the payment device. Upon such re-presentation, the payment terminal assembly compares the obtained identifier of the payment device to contents of the storage area. Conditioned at least upon the comparing yielding a match, a second command is sent from the payment terminal assembly to the payment device to instruct the payment device to re-produce the cryptogram to complete the putative transaction.
US08370251B2 Method and apparatus for a fair exchange
A fair exchange is disclosed to reduce potential inequities in an electronic trading environment. Market data is sent from a host system to client devices through one or more synchronized local communication servers such that the data can be displayed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously at each client device. Market data sent to client devices might include price information. Likewise, a host system may transaction data sent from client devices via the local communication servers. The ordering of transaction data is based, at least in part, on when the local communication servers received the transaction data from the client devices. Transaction data sent to a host system might include order information.
US08370249B2 Enhanced parimutuel wagering
Methods and systems for engaging in enhanced parimutuel wagering and gaming. In one embodiment, different types of bets can be offered and processed in the same betting pool on an underlying event, such as a horse or dog race, a sporting event or a lottery, and the premiums and payouts of these different types of bets can be determined in the same betting pool, by configuring an equivalent combination of fundamental bets for each type of bet, and performing a demand-based valuation of each of the fundamental bets in the equivalent combination. In another embodiment, bettors can place bets in the betting pool with limit odds on the selected outcome of the underlying event. The bets with limit odds are not filled in whole or in part, unless the final odds on the selected outcome of the underlying event are equal to or greater than the limit odds.
US08370248B2 TBA futures contracts and central counterparty clearing of TBA
Networks, systems and methods that match orders for TBA futures and settle and clear open positions for TBA futures are disclosed. The TBA futures may include MBS TBA future contracts. A central counterparty clearing firm may net long and short positions and generate delivery instructions to parties having open positions.
US08370246B2 System and method for settling trades
A method of settling trades includes the steps of obtaining an authenticated delivery instrument, wherein the authenticated delivery instrument is authenticated by a first exchange and may be used to settle a trade undertaken on the first exchange. An electronic proxy is issued for the delivery instrument, wherein the electronic proxy may be exchanged for the authenticated delivery instrument and where the electronic proxy is used to settle a trade undertaken on a second exchange.
US08370242B2 Systems and methods for providing a benefit product with periodic guaranteed minimum income
The invention provides systems, and methods of using the systems, for implementing a benefit product with a guaranteed minimum income. Payment into the benefit product secures the guaranteed minimum income for a payout phase following an accumulation phase of the benefit product. The system comprises an income recordkeeper interfacing with a plurality of savings recordkeepers. The income recordkeeper includes (1) an income recordkeeper interface portion that inputs attributes to the benefit product funded by payments from a plan associated with the benefit product; and (2) an income recordkeeper record keeping system that implements the benefit product. The income recordkeeper record keeping system: (a) monitors transactions to or from the benefit product; and (b) determines, based on the transactions, a guaranteed minimum income associated with participation in the benefit product, the guaranteed minimum income being an amount that may be paid from the benefit product beginning on a future start date.
US08370238B2 Credit index, a system and method for structuring a credit index, and a system and method for operating a credit index
The present invention relates to a credit index, a system and method for structuring a credit index, a system and method for operating a credit index, and a system and method for determining the liquidity of a credit.
US08370236B1 Method and system for allocating funds over a plurality of time deposit instruments in depository institutions
A method, system and program product, the method in one embodiment comprising: A method, comprising: accessing databases comprising: client information for each of a plurality of respective clients, comprising a balance of funds of the client; a distribution percent value, Xi, for tranches; information for each of multiple government backed-insured aggregated time deposit instruments holding a tranche of client funds, comprising: a rate; an identification of the depository institution; a term; and determining a given client available distribution amount, Di; determining an amount of a client tranche to be deposited in each of Ni depository institutions based at least in part on the percentage, Xi, in order that the client tranches are approximately equal and are insured; determining Ni depository institutions to distribute the client tranches; allocating substantially equally respective client tranches to the Ni depository institutions; generating data for instructions to transfer the respective client tranches; updating, the databases.
US08370234B2 Device, system, and method of generating a customized trade article
Some embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of generating a customized trade article. In one embodiment, a trade-article generator application is to receive trade information including a plurality of values of one or more trade-related parameters defining at least one trade with respect to at least one financial instrument, and to automatically generate a customized electronic trade article corresponding to the trade based on a predefined trade-article layout. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08370232B2 System and method for back office processing of banking transactions using electronic files
As banking transactions are processed by a bank teller, all of the relevant information with respect to the transaction (e.g., dollar amount) is captured in an electronic file. Each of the electronic files from the various branches of the bank are forwarded to a central back office processing center where the electronic files are combined into a single Transaction Repository. At the end of the branch day, all of the paper associated with the transactions is forwarded from the branches to the back office processing center. The paper transactions are imaged in the conventional manner and the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) data is read from the paper. The present invention then automatically correlates the images and MICR data captured from the paper with the complete transaction record contained in the Transaction Repository. Most of the conventional back office processing can now be performed without the need to perform character recognition and without the need for excess human intervention.
US08370229B2 Evergreen contract billing and in life contract management system and method
The present invention provides an improved billing and contract management method and a computerized enterprise resource management system for processing and management of rent-producing financial products, such as contracts and leases that are past the initial end term date, and that have not been renegotiated or extended, or, in other words, that have entered the “evergreen” period. Among other things, the method and computerized system of the present invention integrate processing of the “evergreen” contracts with a proprietary generalized ERP software product/solution such as Oracle™ E-Business suite's Lease Management system, and supplement the processing of regular contracts with the “evergreen” contract authoring and booking, processing, validation, billing, accounting, collections, modification and audit trailing of the changes made to the “evergreen” contract terms.
US08370228B1 Method and apparatus for tax refund allocation
Method and apparatus for tax refund allocation in tax programs. A tax program may include a tax refund allocation component and user interface that allows a taxable entity to allocate portions of a refund from one tax authority to pay taxes due to another tax authority. The component and user interface may also be used to allocate portions of tax refunds to other institutions than tax authorities. Once the tax refund allocation process is completed, a message or messages indicating the allocation instructions may be sent to a financial institution that acts as an intermediary between the taxable entity, the tax authority(s), and the other institutions. The financial institution may receive the tax refund from the tax authority and distribute the portions of the refund to the other tax authorities and/or institutions as directed by the received allocation instructions.
US08370227B2 Method for maintaining continuity of ‘diameter’ protocol-based online charging
The present invention relates to a method for maintaining continuity of Diameter online charging. The method comprises the following steps: a) initializing, when a user is moving, the relocation of a prepayment client terminal from an old prepayment client terminal to a new prepayment client terminal, and implementing the re-authentication of a mobile station at the new prepayment client terminal; b) transmitting the context information of an old Diameter online charging session from the old prepayment client terminal to the new prepayment client terminal after the re-authentication has been successfully completed; c) transmitting an initial credit control request (CCR) message comprising the identification of the old Diameter online charging session from the new prepayment client terminal to a prepayment server for continuing the old Diameter online charging session, and request for a quota by a prepayment proxy to the prepayment server via the new prepayment client terminal; and d) disconnecting the old connection between the old prepayment client terminal and the prepayment server.
US08370226B1 Technique for correcting round-off errors
A technique for performing a financial calculation is described. In this calculation technique, initial financial values are rounded based on a rounding criterion, and a total financial value is calculated by summing the rounded financial values. Based on the rounded financial values, associated rounding error values are computed. These rounding error values are then summed to determine a total error value. Moreover, the total error value is rounded based on the rounding criterion, and the resulting rounded total error value is used to correct a rounding error in the total financial value.
US08370225B2 Equipment management system
The invention is a system and method of managing equipment. The system incorporates a tagging device to attach identification tags to each piece of equipment. A scanning device is used to read the identification tags and relay this information to an equipment server. An input device is used to input information to the equipment server. The equipment server runs the equipment management program. The system flags a potential asset assigned to an asset creating individual. Equipment is designated an asset after use in an asset creating event.
US08370222B2 Systems and methods for tracking lumber in a sawmill
At least one geometric characteristic for each of a number of pieces of lumber is determined. Each of the pieces of lumber may then be logically associated with at least one of a log or a cant from which the piece of lumber was sawn.
US08370218B2 System and method for prepaid biometric redemption accounts
A system and method of offering a redemption account that allows users to purchase in advance and subsequently redeem products and services from one or more vendors that are affiliated with the system. The present invention imparts a process by which users enrolled in a biometric authorization system can access a redemption account for advance purchased products and services by submitting their biometric data. Information stored in the user record can then be utilized to enable the fulfillment of the advance purchase.
US08370213B2 Electronic commerce system for processing auxiliary order form on on-line open market and method thereof
An electronic commerce system and method for processing auxiliary order information in an on-line open market are provided. The system includes an on-line market server for brokering the on-line transaction on the Internet, wherein the on-line market server, when entrusted with partial or full processing of acquisition of auxiliary order documents for an object for sale requested for purchase from the buyer, acquires the auxiliary order documents from an issuing authority and requests the seller to deliver the object for sale, based on the auxiliary order documents; and at least one database for storing information related to the buyer and the seller.
US08370212B2 Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for determining the end to a silent auction using a tiered strategy
Methods, apparatuses and article of manufactures of an electronic auction system that receives at least one bid to purchase an item that is available for auction during a period of time. The period of time comprises a plurality of time increments. The system also uses a computing device to determine that the auction for the item has ended. The act of determining includes determining that at least one of the following events has occurred: (ii) a first quantity of bids received during a first time increment is less than a first pre-determined number; and (iii) a second quantity of bids received during a second time increment is less than a second pre-determined number. Based on pre-determined criteria, the system also determines a winning bid from a plurality of received bids. In addition, the system transmits to a remote device a notification of the winning bid. The remote device and the computing device are in communication via a network. The system also processes a payment of the item.
US08370211B2 Computer system
A method of conducting a telephone or internet based reverse auction for selling units where the reverse auction is transmitted to users on a medium, the method comprising the steps of providing a number of units for sale and storing a preliminary available quantity in an allocation database initially indicative of the number provided for sale, providing a telephone number or web site to which calls or orders from users can be placed to enter the reverse auction, recording the time at which one or more calls or orders were received on the telephone number or at the website in a record database, placing any callers into a queue and assigning them to a call operator or system in order to sell a unit, conducting a reverse auction in which a person or system reduces the indicated price of a unit over time and in which a producer or system reduces the preliminary available quantity, the reverse auction is concluded at the time of the preliminary available quantity is reduced to a pre-determined number, such as zero, with the price at the conclusion being stored in an auction database, wherein the preliminary available quantity is reduced based at least partly on one or more preliminary indicators associated with a call/user, such as the time of the acceptance of the call or order in the record versus the timing of the auction, which indicator(s) occur before a sale of a unit is completed/confirmed.
US08370202B2 Audience segment estimation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for estimating segments from key values for advertising impressions.
US08370201B2 System and method for presenting prioritized advertising data in a picture in picture display window during execution of video trick play command data
A computer readable medium is disclosed containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method, the method including but not limited to receiving trick play command data at an end user device; receiving a advertising data at the end user device; correlating the advertising data with penetration data for an end user associated with the end user device; prioritizing the advertising data for the end user device based on the correlation; and presenting a portion of the advertising data in a picture in picture display window on the end user device based on the prioritizing of the advertising data during execution of the trick play command data. A system is disclosed that is useful in performing the method. A data structure embedded in a computer readable medium is disclosed that contains data used by the system and method.
US08370200B2 Interactive marketing network and process using electronic certificates
A data processing system issuing electronic certificates through “online” networks. Each electronic certificate includes transaction data and identification data, and can be printed out on a printing device linked to a consumer's personal input device, or electronically stored in a designated data base until a specified expiration date. Consumers access the data processing system online, browse among their choices, and make their selections. Certificate issuers have online access to the data processing system and can create or revise offers, and provide various instructions pertaining to the certificates, including limitations as to the number of certificates to be issued in total and to each individual consumer.
US08370199B2 Promotion processor and management system
A data processing system employs a unique coded promotional vehicle to attract customers into retail establishments for the purchase of discounted goods. The promotional vehicle includes coupon styled graphics integrated with a code to allow data tracking by the store pursuant to purchases by that customer. The promotional vehicle is easier and less costly to distribute compared to the prior art, avoids cutting of coupons, and post purchase redemptions. The system further allows more targeted discounting at a lower cost, and substantially reducing fraud by eliminating post purchase coupon processing and redemption. Additionally, the system provides for selective deactivation of the code for each discount used by redemption of the vehicle without deactivating the code for the discounts not used so that the code may remain selectively active for future use.
US08370196B2 Multimedia advertising service through a mobile communication network and multimedia content controlling apparatus and method of a mobile terminal supporting said service
The present invention relates to apparatus and method of providing a multimedia advertising service through a mobile communication network. In the present invention, a content server downloads ad contents to a mobile terminal along with content-displaying condition and the mobile terminal having received the ad contents displays the received ad contents according to the content-displaying condition when an event specified by the content-displaying condition occurs. Afterwards, a content-displayed history is uploaded to the content server by the mobile terminal.
US08370195B1 Methods and systems for dynamically reallocating shared computing resources among hosted business applications
Methods and systems for hosting business and other e-commerce application services are provided which provide secure shared computing resources to multiple instances of e-commerce or other business applications. The shared computing resources are dynamically allocated among the instances of the applications, and the instances of the applications are logically separated from one another to provide additional security.
US08370192B2 Method and system for dynamic project management and capacity management
Described herein are systems and methods for dynamic project management and capacity management. Specifically, the systems and method include a management tool for performing project management, capacity management, and time and cost creation across systems and departments for the lowest levels of data. The management tool include a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor, the set of instructions being operable to store projected time information and projected cost information for a project, store actual time information and actual cost information for the project, and display a correlation between i) the projected time information and actual time information, and ii) the projected cost information and the actual cost information.
US08370189B2 System and method for automatic moderator delegation
A method and computer program product for receiving an indication of a meeting being scheduled between a plurality of attendees. At least one of the attendees is designated a moderator of the meeting. The actions of the designated moderator are monitored to determine if the designated moderator is capable of performing one or more moderator responsibilities associated with being the designated moderator. If it is determined that the designated moderator is incapable of performing the one or more moderator responsibilities, an alternate moderator chosen from the plurality of attendees is designated.
US08370186B2 System and method for providing web-based management solutions
A centralized web-based system and method for managing appointments having a user interface that interacts with one or more users to display one or more items based on user input, a management module connected to the user interface and configured to receive data related to scheduling an appointment, determine one or more possible appointments based on the data, present the one or more possible appointments, receive a user selection from the one or more possible appointments, and schedule the appointment based on the user selection, and one or more databases configured to store appointment information, wherein the one or more databases are connected to the management module and wherein the data comprises a date and time slot and at least one of a facility, a service, and a servicer.
US08370183B2 Method, program, and system for conducting trade studies and evaluation activities
A comparative evaluation of a plurality of alternative candidates is performed by creating a plurality of evaluation criteria for evaluating the alternative candidates, comparing pairs of the evaluation criteria and assigning a relative weight to each compared pair of evaluation criteria, assigning an evaluation value to the evaluation criteria for each of the alternative candidates, and generating a relative ranking of the alternative candidates based at least in part on the assigned relative weights and the assigned evaluation values.
US08370181B2 System and method for supply chain data mining and analysis
A method and system for supply chain data analysis. The method includes storing supply chain data including test data, genealogy data, repair data, some factors and some items, in one or more databases and selecting a portion of the factors from the stored data, and a time range for analysis. The method then selects one or more criterion for analysis; extracts a portion of the stored data; analyzes the extracted portion of the stored data to detect a combination of factors that result in a test failure, according to the selected factors, the time range, and the selected one or more criterion. The method then detects a root cause for the detected combination of factors; performs correlation analysis between the selected factors; and performs trend analysis on the selected factors.
US08370180B2 Token delivery system
A token process including storing transaction data for purchase of a product, generating a token for redemption of the product, providing access to the token over a communications network, and sending the token to a handheld device on receipt of a request for the token, the token being readable from the handheld device by a reading device at point of provision of the product. A handheld device including wireless communication means for receiving ticket data, the ticket data adapted to generate a visual display on said handheld device readable by a reading device to redeem a product corresponding to the ticket.
US08370176B2 Method and system for defining and interactively managing a watched diet
A method for interactive defining and managing of a controlled diet, prescribed to a patient by a doctor/dietician, includes the asynchronous execution of at least two different operational cycles. A first operational cycle is effected through an interactive terminal and includes a step, in which the foods to be consumed in a given meal are chosen from a first food data base, quantifying the chosen food and assessing the congruity of the choices with what is prescribed and transmitting the data to a central processing unit. A second operational cycle executed by the doctor/dietician on a central processing unit, includes acquiring the data related to the quantities and to the composition of the foods chosen by this patient and comparing this data with the dietary order, and if possible acquiring updated orders and transmitting the updated orders to the patient's interactive terminal.
US08370173B2 System and method for dispersing medications using a single point replenishment
A computer system and methods manages dispensing and replenishment of medications by a Contract Pharmacy for a Covered Entity. Participating Contract Pharmacies are associated with a Covered Entity, and each medication unit is associated with a code that corresponds to medication units dispersed by the Contract Pharmacies. The amount of medication units corresponding to the code and dispersed by the Contract Pharmacies is tracked. When the amount of medication units dispensed across the Contract Pharmacies to patients of the Covered Entity reaches a replenishment threshold, replacement medication units are ordered to replace inventory loaned by the Contract Pharmacies to the Covered Entity at the Covered Entity's available drug discount purchase price.
US08370168B1 Facilitating return of a missing user device to a device owner
A server identifies a user device that is missing, communicates with the user device and causes the user device to disable access to content stored on the user device, and to generate a message that includes information facilitating return of the user device to an owner of the user device.
US08370162B2 Aggregating multimodal inputs based on overlapping temporal life cycles
In a voice processing system, a multimodal request is received from a plurality of modality input devices, and the requested application is run to provide a user with the feedback of the multimodal request. In the voice processing system, a multimodal aggregating unit is provided which receives a multimodal input from a plurality of modality input devices, and provides an aggregated result to an application control based on the interpretation of the interaction ergonomics of the multimodal input within the temporal constraints of the multimodal input. Thus, the multimodal input from the user is recognized within a temporal window. Interpretation of the interaction ergonomics of the multimodal input include interpretation of interaction biometrics and interaction mechani-metrics, wherein the interaction input of at least one modality may be used to bring meaning to at least one other input of another modality.
US08370160B2 Methods and apparatus for implementing distributed multi-modal applications
Embodiments include methods and apparatus for synchronizing data and focus between visual and voice views associated with distributed multi-modal applications. An embodiment includes a client device adapted to render a visual display that includes at least one multi-modal display element for which input data is receivable though a visual modality and a voice modality. When the client detects a user utterance via the voice modality, the client sends uplink audio data representing the utterance to a speech recognizer. An application server receives a speech recognition result generated by the speech recognizer, and sends a voice event response to the client. The voice event response is sent as a response to an asynchronous HTTP voice event request previously sent to the application server by the client. The client may then send another voice event request to the application server in response to receiving the voice event response.
US08370159B2 Multi-layered speech recognition apparatus and method
A multi-layered speech recognition apparatus and method, the apparatus includes a client checking whether the client recognizes the speech using a characteristic of speech to be recognized and recognizing the speech or transmitting the characteristic of the speech according to a checked result; and first through N-th servers, wherein the first server checks whether the first server recognizes the speech using the characteristic of the speech transmitted from the client, and recognizes the speech or transmits the characteristic according to a checked result, and wherein an n-th (2≦n≦N) server checks whether the n-th server recognizes the speech using the characteristic of the speech transmitted from an (n−1)-th server, and recognizes the speech or transmits the characteristic according to a checked result.
US08370158B2 Adaptive information presentation apparatus
An adaptive information presentation system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a server apparatus with processor, network interface, and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a digital representation of speech input received from a user (such as at a location remote to the server), the speech input relating to an organization or entity which the user wishes to locate. Based at least in part on the digital representation, the program identifies a location associated with the organization or entity, and enables generation of a graphical or visual representation of the location in order to aid the user in finding the organization or entity.
US08370149B2 Speech synthesis system, speech synthesis program product, and speech synthesis method
Waveform concatenation speech synthesis with high sound quality. Prosody with both high accuracy and high sound quality is achieved by performing a two-path search including a speech segment search and a prosody modification value search. An accurate accent is secured by evaluating the consistency of the prosody by using a statistical model of prosody variations (the slope of fundamental frequency) for both of two paths of the speech segment selection and the modification value search. In the prosody modification value search, a prosody modification value sequence that minimizes a modified prosody cost is searched for. This allows a search for a modification value sequence that can increase the likelihood of absolute values or variations of the prosody to the statistical model as high as possible with minimum modification values.
US08370148B2 System and method for answering a communication notification
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for answering a communication notification. The method for answering a communication notification comprises receiving a notification of communication from a user, converting information related to the notification to speech, outputting the information as speech to the user, and receiving from the user an instruction to accept or ignore the incoming communication associated with the notification. In one embodiment, information related to the notification comprises one or more of a telephone number, an area code, a geographic origin of the request, caller id, a voice message, address book information, a text message, an email, a subject line, an importance level, a photograph, a video clip, metadata, an IP address, or a domain name. Another embodiment involves notification assigned an importance level and repeat attempts at notification if it is of high importance.
US08370145B2 Device for extracting keywords in a conversation
The present invention aims at extracting a keyword of conversation without preparations by advanced anticipation of keywords of conversation. A keyword extracting device of the present invention includes an audio input section 101 by way of which a speech sound made by a speaker is input; a speech segment determination section 102 that determines a speech segment for each speaker in connection with the input speech sound; a speech recognition section 103 that recognizes a speech sound of the determined speech segment for each speaker; an interrupt detection section 104 that detects a feature of a speech response suggesting presence of a keyword on the basis of a response of another speaker to speech sounds of respective speakers; namely, an interrupt where a preceding speech and a subsequent speech overlap; a keyword extraction section 105 that extracts the keyword from the speech in the speech segment specified on the basis of an interrupt; a keyword search section 106 that performs keyword search by means of the keyword; and a display section 107 that displays a result of keyword search.
US08370144B2 Detection of voice inactivity within a sound stream
A method for identifying end of voiced speech within an audio stream of a noisy environment employs a speech discriminator. The discriminator analyzes each window of the audio stream, producing an output corresponding to the window. The output is used to classify the window in one of several classes, for example, (1) speech, (2) silence, or (3) noise. A state machine processes the window classifications, incrementing counters as each window is classified: speech counter for speech windows, silence counter for silence, and noise counter for noise. If the speech counter indicates a predefined number of windows, the state machine clears all counters. Otherwise, the state machine appropriately weights the values in the silence and noise counters, adds the weighted values, and compares the sum to a limit imposed on the number of non-voice windows. When the non-voice limit is reached, the state machine terminates processing of the audio stream.
US08370141B2 Device, system and method for enabling speech recognition on a portable data device
Devices, systems and methods for converting analog data to digital data or digital data to analog data for enabling speech recognition processing on a portable data device are provided. The system includes at least one portable data device including an input module configured to receive analog audio signals; a processing module configured to convert the analog audio signals to digital audio data; a communication module configured to transmit the digital audio data to a remote processor and to receive digital text data from the remote processor; and a display module for displaying the received digital text data; the remote processor configured for receiving digital audio data, converting the digital audio data to digital text data and transmitting the converted digital text data to the at least one portable data device; and a communications network for coupling the remote processor to the at least one portable data device.
US08370134B2 Device and method for encoding by principal component analysis a multichannel audio signal
A system and a method for coding by principal component analysis (PCA) of a multi-channel audio signal comprising the following steps: decomposing at least two channels (L, R) of said audio signal into a plurality of frequency sub-bands (I(b1), . . . , I(bN), r(b1), . . . , r(bN)), calculating at least one transformation parameter (θ(b1), . . . , θ(bN)) as a function of at least some of said plurality of frequency sub-bands, transforming at least some of said plurality of frequency sub-bands into a plurality of frequency sub-components as a function of said at least one transformation parameter (θ(b1), . . . , θ(bN)), said plurality of frequency sub-components comprising principal frequency sub-components (CP(b1), . . . , CP(bN)), combining at least some of said principal frequency sub-components (CP(b1), . . . , CP(bN)) in order to form a principal component (CP), and defining a coded audio signal (SC) representing said multi-channel audio signal (C1, . . . , CM), said coded audio signal (SC) comprising said principal component (CP) and said at least one transformation parameter (θ(b1), . . . , θ(bN)).
US08370132B1 Distributed apparatus and method for a perceptual quality measurement service
Apparatus and methods are provided for measuring perceptual quality of a signal transmitted over a communication network, such as a circuit-switching network, packet-switching network, or a combination thereof. In accordance with one embodiment, a distributed apparatus is provided for measuring perceptual quality of a signal transmitted over a communication network. The distributed apparatus includes communication ports located at various locations in the network. The distributed apparatus may also include a signal processor including a processor for providing non-intrusive measurement of the perceptual quality of the signal. The distributed apparatus may further include recorders operatively connected to the communication ports and to the signal processor, wherein at least one of the recorders processes the signal at one of the communication ports and the recorder sends the signal to the signal processor to measure the perceptual quality of the signal.
US08370131B2 Method and system for providing convenient dictionary services
A method for providing a dictionary service to a terminal, includes: providing a dictionary service window in or near a web browser for displaying a webpage through a screen of the terminal if a certain item for executing dictionary services in the terminal is clicked; (b) receiving a query inputted in the provided dictionary service window wherein the query includes a query for requesting meaning, a query for requesting pronunciation, or both; and (c) searching and providing a translation data corresponding to the query for requesting meaning or a pronunciation data corresponding to the query for requesting pronunciation. The method provides a translation data and/or pronunciation data of a word or expression which the user wants to find out while web surfing through the dictionary service window.
US08370129B2 System and methods for quantitative assessment of information in natural language contents
A method is disclosed for quantitatively assessing information in natural language contents related to an object name. The method includes identifying a sentence in a document, determining a subject and a predicate in the sentence, and retrieving an object-specific data set related to the object name. The object-specific data set includes property names and association-strength values. Each property name is associated with an association-strength value. The method also includes identifying a first property name in the property names that matches the subject, assigning a first association-strength value associated with the first property name to the subject, identifying a second property name in the property names that matches the predicate, assigning a second association-strength value associated with the second property name to the predicate, and multiplying the first association-strength value and the second association-strength value to produce a sentence information index.
US08370128B2 Semantically-driven extraction of relations between named entities
A system and method of developing rules for text processing enable retrieval of instances of named entities in a predetermined semantic relation (such as the DATE and PLACE of an EVENT) by extracting patterns from text strings in which attested examples of named entities satisfying the semantic relation occur. The patterns are generalized to form rules which can be added to the existing rules of a syntactic parser and subsequently applied to text to find candidate instances of other named entities in the predetermined semantic relation.
US08370126B2 Incorporation of variables into textual content
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for incorporating variable values into textual content. In one embodiment, an abstract phrase including a text phrase and a variable at a particular position in the text phrase is received. The abstract phrase may include multiple variables. A text value for the variable is received. The text phrase of the abstract phrase is combined with the text value according to the particular position of the variable. An integration rule is applied at a boundary of the text phrase of the abstract phrase and the text value, where the integration rule is based on a language rule. The integration rule modifies a portion of the text phrase of the abstract phrase or a portion of the text value to produce an integrated phrase.
US08370119B2 Website design pattern modeling
Website design pattern modeling technique embodiments are presented that model a website's design patterns. This can be based on the website's layout elements, its URL tokens, or both. When based on both, the design patterns can be modeled separately using first the layout elements and then the URL tokens, or vice versa. Alternately, the modeling can be based on coupled layout and URL token patterns. In operation, the modeling involves first identifying layout elements and/or URL tokens found on at least some of the pages of the website. The website design patterns are then modeled based on the occurrences of the identified layout elements and/or URL tokens in pages of the website. In cases where a coupled modeling scheme is employed, a modeling technique that exploits the correlations between the layout elements and URL tokens is used.
US08370109B2 Machine vibration baseline synthesizer
Machine vibration baselines are synthesized without averaging historical vibration data. Instead machinery configuration information is used, including data about the machine train, the machine's rotating components, and the machine speeds. For each component being considered, a plurality of parameters is identified for deriving baseline portions. The parameters for one component are used to identify baseline vibration amplitude floor values, vibration amplitudes at frequencies corresponding to various harmonics of a rotational speed, and vibration amplitudes corresponding to forcing frequencies and their harmonics/sidebands. Parameters for other components also may be used to identify amplitudes at harmonic frequencies and forcing frequencies.
US08370106B2 Spatially aware inference logic
A method, system, and article to support a motion based input system. Movement data is acquired from a motion sensor. An orientation detector detects orientation towards gravity from a rest position, and a motion detector detects motion, including movement and rest. In addition, an inference state machine in communication with the orientation and motion detectors maintains a sequence of the detected motion conditions, and produces a profile description for the sequence of the detected motion conditions. An output event corresponding to the profile description is generated based upon the profile.
US08370100B2 Method for determining when to perform a test of an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine
Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of determining when to test an overspeed protection system of a powerplant machine. As described herein, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of powerplant machines, each comprising a shaft. After determining that test of the overspeed protection system should be performed, embodiments of the present invention may allow for a variety of methods to test the overspeed protection system.
US08370097B2 Calibration techniques for an electronic compass in portable device
Measurement data is collected from a magnetic sensor in a portable device, while the device is being carried by its end user and without requiring the end user to deliberately rotate or position the device while the output data is being collected. For example, the device may be held in the user's hand while walking or standing, or it may be fixed to the dashboard of an automobile or boat. Measurement data may also be collected from one or more positing, orientation or movement sensors. The collected measurement data from one or both of the magnetic sensor and the position, orientation or movement sensor is processed. In response, either a 2D compass calibration process or a 3D process is signaled to be performed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08370090B2 RF fingerprinting for location estimation
The location of a terminal is estimated within an area of coverage of a wireless network comprising at least one fixed node by measuring a complex frequency response of a radio channel between the terminal and one of said fixed nodes and estimating the location of the terminal on the basis of at least a comparison between data representing a first metric of the measured complex frequency response and data representing a plurality of stored metrics, each of said plurality of stored metrics being related to one of a plurality of different locations within the network and each stored metric being of a complex frequency response measured between the said one of said fixed nodes and the location within the network to which the metric relates.
US08370089B2 Method and equipment for determining the interface between two or more fluid phases
A method and equipment are provided for determining the level/height, of one or more interfaces between two or more fluid phases of different density that are contained in a vessel, tank or the like. The position of the different interfaces in a tank is determined by measuring the pressure thereby determining the density of the fluid over the height of the tank by using a pressure measuring rod, equipped with pressure sensors, positioned in the tank. A mathematical model or algorithm is used which calculates how the density and hence the pressure vary over the height of the tank as a function of the fluid properties of the respective fluids in the tank, the interface, on the basis of the density being the same within each layer of the respective fluid, as a respective point at which the density changes from one layer to the next in the tank.
US08370087B2 Bicycle power meter with frame mounted sensor
A bicycle power meter has a strain gauge sensor assembly mounted on a relatively compressible portion of the end of the rear fork of the bicycle frame. The relatively compressible portion is near the rear hub and subject to the forces exerted by the cyclist to the crankset, and transferred via the chain, and sprocket assembly to the hub. The sensor assembly has two ohmically interconnected stretch sensors each having a first layer bearing a variable resistance element, whose resistance changes with displacement of the compressible portion, and a second layer for providing support for the first layer. The sensor assembly is connected in a bridge circuit to two other resistances to generate signals representative of cyclist applied force. These signals are processed along with velocity signals to generate power signals and the power signals are supplied to a display.
US08370086B2 System and method for determining wedge tightness
A system and method for determining wedge tightness in a dynamoelectric machine is provided. The dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor, stator and a wedge assembly having at least one wedge for retaining a coil. The system includes a force application device for applying a predetermined force or a known quantity of force to a wedge, and the force is applied in a substantially radial direction. A measuring device for measuring movement of the wedge, measures a movement distance relative to a surface of an adjacent core surface. The system can be inserted between the rotor and the stator, and the movement distance is obtained by evaluating a distance to an adjacent core surface and a distance to a surface of the wedge.
US08370077B2 System for optimizing a patient's insulin dosage regimen
A system for optimizing a patient's insulin dosage regimen over time, comprising at least a first memory for storing data inputs corresponding at least to one or more components in a patient's present insulin dosage regimen, and data inputs corresponding at least to the patient's blood-glucose-level measurements determined at a plurality of times, and a processor operatively connected to the at least first memory. The processor is programmed at least to determine from the data inputs corresponding to the patient's blood-glucose-level measurements determined at a plurality of times whether and by how much to vary at least one of the one or more components in the patient's present insulin dosage regimen in order to maintain the patient's future blood-glucose-level measurements within a predefined range.
US08370076B2 Computer method and system for predicting physical properties using a conceptual segment-based ionic activity coefficient model
In the present invention the NonRandom Two-Liquid segment activity coefficient model system of the parent application is extended for computation of ionic activity coefficients and solubilities of electrolytes, organic and inorganic, in common solvents and solvent mixtures. The invention method and system may be applied to the chemical and/or pharmaceutical design process. In addition to the three types of molecular parameters defined for organic nonelectrolytes, i.e., hydrophobicity X, polarity Y, and hydrophilicity Z, an electrolyte parameter, E, is introduced to characterize both local and long-range ion-ion and ion-molecule interactions attributed to ionized segments of electrolytes. Successful representations of mean ionic activity coefficients and solubilities of electrolytes, inorganic and organic, in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents are presented.
US08370074B2 System and methods for predicting transmembrane domains in membrane proteins and mining the genome for recognizing G-protein coupled receptors
The invention provides computer-implemented methods and apparatus implementing a hierarchical protocol using multiscale molecular dynamics and molecular modeling methods to predict the presence of transmembrane regions in proteins, such as G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR), and protein structural models generated according to the protocol. The protocol features a coarse grain sampling method, such as hydrophobicity analysis, to provide a fast and accurate procedure for predicting transmembrane regions. Methods and apparatus of the invention are useful to screen protein or polynucleotide databases for encoded proteins with transmembrane regions, such as GPCRs.
US08370071B2 Integrated biosensor and simulation system for diagnosis and therapy
BioMEMS/NEMS appliance biologically monitors an individual, using biosensors to detect cellular components. Data is simulated or analyzed using systems-biology software, which provides diagnostic or therapeutic guidance.
US08370065B2 Engine control system with algorithm for actuator control
An engine control apparatus which may be employed in automotive vehicles. The engine control apparatus is equipped with at least one of a combustion parameter or a controlled variable arithmetic expression. The combustion parameter arithmetic expression defines combustion conditions of the engine needed to achieve required values of engine output-related values such as exhaust emissions. The controlled variable arithmetic expression defines how to operate actuators for an operation of the engine to meet desired combustion conditions of the engine. The use of the combustion parameter or controlled variable arithmetic expression achieves simultaneous agreement of the engine output-related values with required values without mutual interference between combustion parameters associated with the combustion conditions.
US08370063B2 Navigation system having filtering mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes sampling a first location reading from a device; sampling a first time stamp associated with the first location reading; sampling a second location reading from the device; sampling a second time stamp associated with the second location reading; obtaining a velocity for the device between the first location reading and the second location reading; and validating the second location reading with the first location reading, the first time stamp, the second time stamp, and the velocity for displaying on the device.