| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08380946B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for estimating when a reliable life of a memory device having finite endurance and/or retention, or portion thereof, will be expended
A method according to one embodiment includes gathering monitor data information from a memory device having finite endurance and/or retention, the monitor data being data of known content stored in dedicated memory cells of known write cycle count; analyzing the monitor data information; estimating a reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof based on the analysis; tracking a rate of change of at least a highest cycle count of user data; estimating when the reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof will be expended based on the tracking and the estimating; and taking an action prior to the reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof being expended. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US08380945B2 |
Data storage device, memory system, and computing system using nonvolatile memory device
Provided is a data storage device including two or more data storage areas including may have two or more (heterogeneous) types of nonvolatile memory cells. At least one of the data storage areas includes a plurality of memory blocks that are sequentially selected, and metadata are stored in the currently selected memory block. The memory blocks can be sequentially used and metadata can be stored in a uniformly-distributed manner throughout the data storage device. Therefore, separate merging and wear-leveling operations are unnecessary. Thus, it is possible to improve the lifetime and writing performance of a data storage device having two or more heterogeneous nonvolatile memories. |
| US08380944B2 |
Fast block device and methodology
A device, method and system is directed to fast data storage on a block storage device. New data is written to an empty write block. A location of the new data is tracked. Meta data associated with the new data is written. A lookup table may be updated based in part on the meta data. The new data may be read based the lookup table configured to map a logical address to a physical address. |
| US08380942B1 |
Managing data storage
Disclosed are various embodiments including systems and methods relating to the management of heat load in a data center. An access frequency of a data object is estimated in a computing device. The data object is stored in at least one of a plurality of storage units. Each of the storage units comprises a plurality of solid-state storage devices in a proximal arrangement. The storing is based at least in part on the access frequency of the data object and a density of the arrangement of the solid-state storage devices within the at least one of the storage units. |
| US08380938B2 |
Providing shared access to data storage resources across cluster computing environment boundaries
Providing shared access to data storage resources in a cluster computing environment, including detecting when a computer node requests access to a data storage device in a manner that excludes a computing device from accessing the data storage device, where the computer node is configured to communicate with the data storage device along a first communications channel, and where the computing device is configured to communicate with the data storage device along a second communications channel that is exclusive of the first communications channel, and responsive to the detecting, causing the data storage device to allow the computer node and the computing device to share access to the data storage device. |
| US08380935B2 |
Atomic memory operation cache protocol with opportunistic combining
An atomic memory operation cache comprises a cache memory operable to cache atomic memory operation data, a write timer, and a cache controller. The cache controller is operable to update main memory with one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries stored in the cache memory upon expiration of the write timer, and is further operable to update main memory with one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries stored in the cache memory upon eviction of the one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries from the cache memory. |
| US08380931B2 |
Memory cache data center
A data center system includes a memory cache coupled to a data center controller. The memory cache includes volatile memory and stores data that is persisted in a database in a different data center system that is located remotely from the data center system rather than in the first data center system. The data center controller reads data from the memory cache and writes data to the memory cache. |
| US08380930B2 |
Refreshing cached data based on content identifier map
A system for refreshing cached data based on content update frequency includes an application/presentation layer coupled to a caching layer, the caching layer including cached content, and a content management system coupled to the application/presentation layer, the content management system configured to provide a content invalidation message to the caching layer informing the caching layer when the cached content is updated. |
| US08380929B2 |
Hierarchical storage management for database systems
In response to read and write requests for data blocks at logical storage locations, a block mapping device determines physical storage locations on the storage devices. Read requests switch over secondary storage devices to the active mode when they are in the passive mode. Write requests write data blocks only to the primary storage devices. Secondary storage devices that have not been accessed for a minimum activation time may be switched over from the active to the passive mode to save power consumption and cooling. Data migration and data recall policies control moving of data blocks between the primary and secondary storage devices and are primarily based on threshold values. |
| US08380926B1 |
Handling sector edges
A method is used in handling sector edges. Input/output (I/O) requests to a storage device are handled. The I/O requests use a different sector size format than that of the storage device. An I/O request is received for a write operation at a logical address of a virtual device. The write operation specifies new data to be written to the virtual device. A logical sector associated with the logical address is determined. The logical sector is mapped to a portion of a physical sector of the storage device. The sector edge of the physical sector is read into a RAID-protected memory. The read sector edge is written together with the new data to the storage device. |
| US08380924B2 |
Storage system and processing efficiency improving method of storage system
A storage system 200 has a storage device 240 providing a plurality of logical volumes 250 used as data storage areas of a host 100 and a plurality of MPPKs 210 executing data IO processes for the logical volumes 250 from the host 100 and, when it is determined whether the MPPKs 210 correlated with the logical volumes 250 must be changed based on a storage function such as local copy set for the logical volumes 250, if it is determined that the change is necessary, the usage rates of processors 212 of the MPPKs 210 are acquired and compared with each other and if it is determined that the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition, the process cost for the logical volumes 250 is calculated for each of the responsible MPPKs 210 to determine the destination MPPK 210 such that the costs of the MPPKs 210 are equalized. |
| US08380922B1 |
Data storage device comprising host interface state machine blocking on target logical block address
A data storage device is disclosed wherein a host interface state machine receives an access command from a host, the access command identifying a plurality of logical block addresses (LBAs). A host interface processor generates at least one control structure executed by the host interface state machine in connection with servicing the access command. The host interface processor directs a master processor to execute the access command, and the master processor updates a LBA register in connection with executing the access command. The host interface state machine executes the control structure to compare a target LBA to the LBA register and communicates with the host in response to the comparison. |
| US08380918B2 |
Non-volatile storage alteration tracking
A method for tracking alteration of a non-volatile storage includes receiving a request to modify a tracked region of the non-volatile storage. In response to the request, it is determined whether or not a modification of data stored in a non-erasable one-time programmable (NEOTP) alteration log region has occurred. In response to determining that the modification of the data stored in the NEOTP alteration log region has occurred, the tracked region of non-volatile storage is modified in response to the request. In response to determining that the modification of the data stored in the NEOTP alteration log region has not occurred, the request to modify the tracked region of the non-volatile memory is denied. |
| US08380916B2 |
Control of page access in memory
The present techniques provide systems and methods of controlling access to more than one open page in a memory component, such as a memory bank. Several components may request access to the memory banks. A controller can receive the requests and open or close the pages in the memory bank in response to the requests. In some embodiments, the controller assigns priority to some components requesting access, and assigns a specific page in a memory bank to the priority component. Further, additional available pages in the same memory bank may also be opened by other priority components, or by components with lower priorities. The controller may conserve power, or may increase the efficiency of processing transactions between components and the memory bank by closing pages after time outs, after transactions are complete, or in response to a number of requests received by masters. |
| US08380915B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for managing solid-state storage media
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to manage solid-state storage media by determining one or more configuration parameters for the solid-state storage media. A media characteristic module references one or more storage media characteristics for a set of storage cells of solid-state storage media. A configuration parameter module determines a configuration parameter for the set of storage cells based on the one or more storage media characteristics. A storage cell configuration module configures the set of storage cells to use the determined configuration parameter. |
| US08380914B1 |
Extended address mode for serial flash memory
Example embodiments for providing enhanced addressability for a serial flash memory device may comprise providing an extended addressing mode to enable access to a larger range of memory locations. |
| US08380908B2 |
Emulation of an input/output advanced programmable interrupt controller
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for emulating an input/output Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first interrupt controller having a first programming model, and emulation logic to emulate a second interrupt controller having a second programming model that is different from the first programming model. The emulation logic is also to mask one of a plurality of interrupt requests to the first interrupt controller for each of the plurality of interrupt requests handled by the emulation logic. |
| US08380902B2 |
Situation understanding and intent-based analysis for dynamic information exchange
The system provides predictive error-checking and conflict resolution by comparing data contained in cognitive artifacts such as orders/instructions and reports against one another and against existing domain-specific databases, procedural and conceptual models, reasoning schemes, (in military domain specific applications, that would be terrain, weather, equipment, artillery, logistics, rules of engagement, field manuals, military doctrine, models of war games, etc) to determine their validity and effectiveness. Possible situations, states, or conditions arising from inferred actors' intent are recognized through expert systems analysis and trigger information exchanges. The system further advance Intention Awareness by enabling users to view information corresponding to the applicable environment obtained from external application systems across interoperability bridge. Through its graphical user interface the system allow users to graphically visualize and communicate their intent. The system also provides the management of information exchanges, where decisions to exchange a specific item of information are based on a set of metrics within a particular application-specific domain knowledge (such as importance, scope, time window of relevance as well as doctrine and rules of engagement in a military domain knowledge. Such metrics are evaluated while making information exchange decisions. |
| US08380901B2 |
Universal serial bus hub with wireless communication to remote peripheral devices
A wireless USB hub for connecting a plurality of remote peripheral devices to a computer for communication therewith without the need to physically connect the peripheral devices to the hub via a cable connection. The wireless USB hub includes a receiver for receiving wireless data transmissions from one or more remote peripheral devices. The wireless USB hub further includes a hub controller for passing appropriate peripheral device information to a USB upstream port and then to a computer. |
| US08380899B2 |
Arrangement comprising a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip connected thereto
A data communication method for semiconductor chips including transmitting load control data, pilot data and a transmission clock signal from a first semiconductor chip to one or more second semiconductor chips that are each coupled to one or more electrical loads, driving the electrical loads based on a timing defined by the load control data, deriving a transmission rate by dividing the transmission clock signal by a division factor prescribed by the pilot data, and transmitting diagnostic data at the transmission rate from the one or more second semiconductor chips to the first semiconductor chip. |
| US08380893B2 |
Storage system
A host I/F unit has a management table for managing an MPPK which is in-charge of the control of input/output processing for a storage area of an LDEV, and if a host computer transmits an input/output request for the LDEV, the host I/F unit transfers the input/output request to the MPPK which is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV based on the management table, an MP of the MPPK performs the input/output processing based on the input/output request, and the MP of the MPPK also judges whether the MPPK that is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV is to be changed, and sets the management table so that an MPPK which is different from the MPPK that is in-charge is to be in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV. |
| US08380892B2 |
Apparatus, method and program
Provided are an apparatus, a method, and a program for displaying an operating screen in a short time when the apparatus is powered on after change in configuration thereof. After the apparatus is powered on, the operating screen on the previous activation is displayed, and a simplified screen is displayed if the configuration of the apparatus is different from that on the previous activation. |
| US08380891B2 |
Data migration to high speed storage in accordance with I/O activity over time
Methods, controllers for data storage, data storage systems, and computer program products are directed to migrating data after the initial placement of the data in data storage entities having higher speed and in other data storage. Steps of a method to migrate data to the higher speed data storage are (1) identifying at least one group of data having had at least one I/O activity in each of a plurality of intervals of time, occurring over a string of multiple intervals of time, wherein the I/O activity is with respect to the other data storage from which data is to be migrated. The time for each of the multiple intervals is selected such that bursts of the I/O activity are likely to be contained in one interval. (2) The identified group of data is classified to the higher speed data storage and migrated. |
| US08380890B2 |
Data recording apparatus and method
A data recording apparatus includes a connection unit which is capable of connecting, as a recording medium, a first recording medium having a predetermined function and a second recording medium that does not have the predetermined function. The data recording apparatus detects a connection status of the recording medium to the connection unit, controls a menu concerning setting of the predetermined function. If the detection unit detects that the first recording medium is connected to the connection unit, the data recording apparatus makes the menu operable. If the detection unit detects that the first recording medium is removed and then detects that the second recording medium is connected to the connection unit, the data recording apparatus makes the menu inoperable, and maintains the menu in the operable state during a period from removal of the first recording medium to connection of the second recording medium to the connection unit. |
| US08380889B2 |
Distributed peripheral device management system
A method for controlling the use of a plurality of peripheral devices by a user is disclosed. The method includes assigning access rights to a user for access to individual ones of the peripheral devices, and quotas to each user for the use of the peripheral devices over a predetermined period. The system collects the use of each one of the peripheral devices by each user and totals the use by each user of the peripheral devices over the predetermined period. The method prevents a user from using the peripheral devices when the user exceeds the user's quota. The method also prevents a user from using peripheral devices to which the user has not been granted access rights. |
| US08380887B2 |
Dual mode displayport (DP) and high defination multimedia interface (HDMI) transmitter configured to transmit video and/or audio signals in DP or HDMI according to mode signal
A system and method for dual mode DP and HDMI transmission are provided. Briefly described, one embodiment of a dual mode DP and HDMI transmitter, among others, can be implemented as follows. The dual mode DP and HDMI transmitter comprises a driver circuit controlled by a data signal. The dual mode DP and HDMI transmitter also comprises a control circuit coupled to the driver circuit. The control circuit is configurable to transmit the data signal in a DP mode or a HDMI mode according to a mode signal. One embodiment of a method, among others, comprises: receiving a mode signal; determining whether to configure the dual mode DP and HDMI transmitter for transmitting in a DP mode or an HDMI mode based on the received mode signal; and configuring a dual mode DP and HDMI transmitter in accordance with the determination. |
| US08380886B2 |
Computer system
A computer system including a data processing device for producing an image signal, an input device for producing a control signal and a display device is provided. The display device includes a memory unit, a controller, a source driver, a gate driver and a display panel. The controller is coupled to the memory unit and the data processing device for receiving the image signal. The source driver and the gate driver are controlled by the controller to respectively output driving voltages and scanning signal to drive the display panel. In a reading model, the controller writes a plurality of frame data transmitted by the image signal to the memory unit, and reads one of the frame data according to the control signal to control the source driver and the gate driver. The data processing device is switched to an idle mode after the frame data is transmitted. |
| US08380885B1 |
Handling abort commands in replication
A system, method, and computer product for data replication comprising receiving an IO, receiving an IO abort command, the IO abort command specifying an IO to be aborted, determining if the IO was sent to a DPA by a splitter. |
| US08380884B2 |
Adaptable datapath for a digital processing system
The present invention includes an adaptable high-performance node (RXN) with several features that enable it to provide high performance along with adaptability. A preferred embodiment of the RXN includes a run-time configurable data path and control path. The RXN supports multi-precision arithmetic including 8, 16, 24, and 32 bit codes. Data flow can be reconfigured to minimize register accesses for different operations. For example, multiply-accumulate operations can be performed with minimal, or no, register stores by reconfiguration of the data path. Predetermined kernels can be configured during a setup phase so that the RXN can efficiently execute, e.g., Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) and other operations. Other features are provided. |
| US08380882B2 |
Packet validation in virtual network interface architecture
Roughly described, a network interface device receiving data packets from a computing device for transmission onto a network, the data packets having a certain characteristic, transmits the packet only if the sending queue has authority to send packets having that characteristic. The data packet characteristics can include transport protocol number, source and destination port numbers, source and destination IP addresses, for example. Authorizations can be programmed into the NIC by a kernel routine upon establishment of the transmit queue, based on the privilege level of the process for which the queue is being established. In this way, a user process can use an untrusted user-level protocol stack to initiate data transmission onto the network, while the NIC protects the remainder of the system or network from certain kinds of compromise. |
| US08380881B2 |
Synchronizing data transmission between a wireless network and a wired network
Methods, systems and computer program products to synchronize timing of data transmissions between wireless and wired networks using a combined wireless gateway and cable modem are provided herein. The method includes the step of generating an indicator prior to a look-ahead time period and transmitting a poll to a wireless device upon sending the indicator. The look-ahead time period is a time period from transmitting the indicator to transmitting the DOCSIS frame. The method further includes the step of receiving data from the wireless device and encapsulating the data in a DOCSIS format to generate a DOCSIS frame. The method also includes transmitting the DOCSIS frame at a start of a next transmit opportunity to a cable modem termination system (CMTS). |
| US08380880B2 |
Scalable architecture
Exemplary embodiments may employ techniques for dynamically dispatching requests to resources operating in a distributed computing environment, such as a computing cloud, according to one or more policies. Embodiments may further dynamically adjust resources in the computing environment using predictive models that use current loads as an input. Embodiments may still further maintain a state for a processing environment independent of the type or configuration of a device used to access the environment on behalf of a user. |
| US08380878B2 |
Side loading
Side loading of content elements is provided. A selection of a content element from a terminal device may be received and a content format associated with the terminal device may be identified. If the content element is not available in the identified content format, the content element may be transcoded from a current content format to the identified content format and the content element may be transferred to the terminal device in the identified content format. |
| US08380877B2 |
Mass generation of individual virtual servers, virtual web sites, and virtual web objects
Techniques for inducing a contact to invoke a resource prepared by a promoter when the resource resides on a network include generating a resource location description for the resource. The resource location description includes a name of the contact. The promoter provides access to the resource at a location on the network according to the resource location description and also prepares a message to notify the contact about the resource location description. Thus a promoter can provide a web site for each contact whom the promoter has identified. Each web site can have a domain name that prominently displays the contact's identity. The psychological benefit to the contact of finding a web site devoted to the contact and with the contact's own identity as part of the domain name conditions the contact favorably and increases the chances that the result sought by the promoter will be achieved. |
| US08380874B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
An apparatus for transferring a complete copy of media designated as time sensitive over a network. The apparatus includes a sending node including a network ascertaining element configured to ascertain if conditions on the network are adequate to transmit a full bit rate representation of media designated as time-sensitive at a first bit rate and a first packetization interval between the sending node and a receiving node over the network, where the full bit rate representation being derived from when the time-sensitive media was originally encoded. If the network conditions are ascertained as being inadequate, then a transmitter at the sending node generates and transmits a reduced bit rate representation of the media designated as time-sensitive. The transmitting node is also configured to receive receipt reports from the receiving node that identify the received reduced bit rate representation of the media. In response to the receipt reports, the transmitter at the sending node retransmits the corresponding full bit rate representation of the media. Eventually a complete full bit representation of the media is obtained at the receiving node after the retransmitted media is received. |
| US08380867B2 |
Method of transmitting/receiving streaming data in communication system including server and mobile communication terminal, and communication system therefor
Disclosed are a method of transmitting/receiving streaming data, to which a bit rate suitable for a mobile communication terminal is applied, in a communication system including a server and the mobile communication terminal, and a communication system therefor. The communication system include the server for converting multimedia data into the streaming data, and transmitting the streaming data to the mobile communication terminal; and the mobile communication terminal for, on receiving the streaming data from the server, collecting streaming parameters for use to determine the bit rate, and newly determining the bit rate. |
| US08380865B2 |
Gaming system and a method of managing bandwidth usage in a gaming network
A plurality of games are implemented at a plurality of gaming machines. At least one server (30, 36, 38) serves game play and non-game play related data to at least one gaming machine (12, 12′), and a resource control unit (50, 202) obtains information indicative of bandwidth usage of a plurality of gaming machines (12, 12′), and controls the level of non-game play related data served to at least one gaming machine based on the information. |
| US08380859B2 |
System and method for endpoint handoff in a hybrid peer-to-peer networking environment
A system and method for endpoint handoff in a hybrid peer-to-peer networking environment are provided. In one example, the method includes logging into the peer-to-peer network by a first endpoint. The first endpoint directly notifies a second endpoint that the second endpoint is to transfer an active communication session existing between the second endpoint and a third endpoint from the second endpoint to the first endpoint. The first endpoint receives session parameters associated with the active communication session directly from the second endpoint and directly notifies the third endpoint that the first endpoint is online. The first endpoint then re-establishes the active communication session with the third endpoint using the session parameters. |
| US08380849B2 |
Digital rights management
A digital rights management (DRM) system distributes the storage of rights and/or the rights management decision making process between a DRM client and a DRM server, in order to overcome the shortcomings inherent in exclusively client-side or exclusively server-side DRM systems. |
| US08380846B1 |
Automatic clustering for self-organizing grids
A method for clustering of nodes for a task, and cluster so provided comprising an automatically partitioned a set of nodes having a branched hierarchy of subsets based at least on a relative distance according to at least one node characteristic distance metric, each subset having a communication node, each node within the subset being adapted to communicate control information with the communication node, and the communication nodes of respective subnets which are hierarchically linked, being configured to communicate control information with each other; and a set of output preferred nodes for allocation of portions of a task, wherein the output set of preferred nodes is dependent on both the hierarchy and the task. |
| US08380834B2 |
System and method for supporting information interoperability between medical instruments
The present invention relates, in general, to Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, and, more particularly, to a system and method for supporting information interoperability between medical instruments which is capable of automatically combining medical test information measured by a plurality of medical instruments for performing data communication in compliance with various data interface protocols with the medical information of an EMR system. |
| US08380833B2 |
Method of configuring devices in a telecommunications network
A method of configuring a telecommunications system to provide a service involving multiple devices is disclosed. The method includes receiving a configuration script specifying a sequence of configuration instructions for configuring at least two of the devices to provide the service, and concurrently executing an instance of the configuration script for each of the at least two devices to configure the at least two devices to provide the service. The method can be used as part of a network management system or service provisioning system. |
| US08380832B2 |
Dynamic HTTP load balancing
The invention is a method and apparatus for facilitating facilitates load balancing in a server farm. In accordance with various aspects of the invention, all of the information about each server necessary for a load balancing program to define and execute a load balancing algorithm is stored at a predetermined URL for each server. The load balancer can query the predefined URL, which returns the necessary information. The load balancer then dynamically configures the load balancing algorithm in accordance with the returned information. |
| US08380827B2 |
Automatic detection and reconfiguration of devices
Described is a technology by which movement of a shared network device (e.g., a printer or storage device) to a different network machine triggers an automatic reconfiguration of the device and/or the network machines, so that those machines remain able to share that device. Configuration data may be pushed to the network machines, pulled by the network machines, and/or provided to a server by which the network machines may access the confirmation data. Reconfiguration may include creating a system user account and modifying the permissions associated with the device so that the other machine has access permission to use the device via the created account. |
| US08380825B2 |
Selecting proxies from among autodiscovered proxies
Network devices include proxies and where multiple proxies are present on a network, they can probe to determine the existence of other proxies. Where more than two proxies are present and thus different proxy pairings are possible, the proxies are programmed to determine which proxies should form a proxy pair. Marked probe packets are used by proxies to discover each other and probing is done such a connection can be eventually formed even if some probe packets fail due to the marking. Asymmetric routing can be detected and proxies configured for connection forwarding as necessary. |
| US08380816B2 |
System and method for managing and distributing bundled code objects
A method and apparatus for managing and distributing bundled code objects to, for example, set-top boxes serviced by a multi-service operator. The system and method creates different profiles, each including code objects, download conditions and so on. The different profiles are then combined in a code download bundle and the code download bundle is downloaded to a service center, which further distributes the bundle to a plurality of site servers which distribute the information in the bundle to the appropriate destinations, such as set-top boxes used with cable television service. |
| US08380813B2 |
Network terminal apparatus and method of requesting distribution
A network terminal apparatus includes: a communication section communicating with a server apparatus communicable through a network; a reproduction section reproducing and outputting content data; a request processing section performing a management structure requesting process for requesting a server apparatus communicable through the communication section to provide management structure information indicating a management structure for distributed content, a content selecting process for selecting an item of content data based on the management structure information acquired by the management structure requesting process, and a content requesting process for requesting a server apparatus identified as a distributor based on the management structure information to distribute the item of content data selected by the content selecting process without intervention of an operation performed by a user; and a reproduction controlling section causing the reproduction section to reproduce the item of content data transmitted from the server apparatus according to the content requesting process. |
| US08380810B2 |
Method and apparatus providing for output of a content package based at least in part on a content category selection and one or more contextual characteristics
An apparatus providing for output of a content package may include a content category selector for receiving a content category selection. A content category extractor may extract the content category selection from a content feed. The apparatus may further comprise a contextual characteristic determiner for determining one or more contextual characteristics. A GPS module may determine a location of the apparatus. The apparatus may thereby provide for selection of a content package based at least in part on the content category selection and the one or more contextual characteristics. The actual selection of the content package may occur in an external device, such as a content category selector. Once the content package is selected, the apparatus may provide for output of the content package such as through displaying the content package on a display. |
| US08380808B2 |
Dynamic medium content streaming system
A streaming on demand system includes an on-demand requester object installed on a computing device. The on-demand requester object is configured to receive I/O requests for an application for which data is available in data packs for streaming delivery. The on-demand requester object includes a minifilter associated with a filter manager in an I/O stack. The minifilter receives each I/O request from the application, references a table that includes at least one address where each data pack required to fulfill each I/O request is located, and determines if the data pack has been streamed to the system. The table may also include a size indicator for each data pack. The minifilter loads before compression and filter minifilter drivers in the I/O stack. The minifilter attaches to the I/O stack by registering with a filter manager in the I/O stack for I/O requests for the application for which data is available in data packs for streaming delivery. The minifilter passes on a read call if a required data pack is available locally and if all data in the required data pack has been received. The minifilter withholds a read call if a required data pack is not available locally or if all data in the required data pack has not been received. If an I/O request is a write operation, the minifilter writes an address and size indicator corresponding to the write operation to the table. If the I/O request is a create operation, the minifilter attaches extended data to a file stream. |
| US08380806B2 |
System and method for absolute path discovery by a storage virtualization system
A system and method provides for enabling a storage virtualization system to dynamically discover shares on a network attached storage file system is disclosed. Certain network attached storage systems represent user shares using abbreviated symbolic path names rather than full absolute path names. These network attached storage systems can correctly map the abbreviated path address to the actual file location; however, when a storage virtualization system is implemented to manage shares or files in these shares, it cannot access these files because it does not have the absolute path address. An embodiment of the present invention provides software instructions to augment the capabilities of the storage virtualization system, enabling it to map files with abbreviated share names, and therefore provide it with the ability to access these types of network attached storage systems. |
| US08380805B2 |
Peer-to-peer mixing system and method
The system gets a request to add a communication node to an existing peer-to-peer communication session between two communication nodes. The communication node is added to the existing peer-to-peer communication session. The communication nodes in the existing peer-to-peer communication have not previously defined a mixing node. The communication nodes in the existing peer-to-peer communication session exchange a mixing score. A mixing node is determined based on the exchanged mixing score. Additional systems are defined which determine a mixing node when two peer-to-peer communication sessions are joined into a combined peer-to-peer communication session. |
| US08380804B2 |
Identifying and presenting reminders based on opportunity for interaction
A method and apparatus are provided for presenting a reminder for a PIM record when there may be an opportunity for personal interaction regarding the PIM record. The opportunity for personal interaction regarding the PIM record may be identified in response to a trigger condition not associated with the PIM record. In one embodiment, an opportunity for interaction regarding a PIM record may be identified using identification information associated with the trigger condition. In another embodiment, an opportunity for interaction regarding a first PIM record may be identified when there is a contact associated with the first PIM record and a second PIM record, and there is an occurrence of a trigger condition associated with a second PIM record. In some embodiments, the portable electronic device may utilize additional information to identify or verify opportunities for interaction regarding a PIM record. |
| US08380798B2 |
Status message de-duplication
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of de-duplication of messages in a micro-blog includes receiving a first message and posting the first message to the micro-blog, receiving a second message, and classifying the second message as a new message or an edited version of the first message. |
| US08380797B2 |
Business data exchange layer
According to some embodiments, an account may be established for a user, and the account may be associated with a set of authorized combination identifiers, each authorized combination identifier including an authorized sending device identifier, an authorized destination device identifier, and an authorized file type identifier. A dynamically generated list of notification options may be displayed to the user, each option being associated with one of the authorized combination identifiers. The user may then select a notification option for each of the authorized combination identifiers. In addition, a business file may be received along with a received combination identifier that includes a sending device identifier associated with the sending device, a destination device identifier, and a file type identifier associated with the business file. Based on the received combination identifier, the business file may be forwarded to a destination device associated with the destination device identifier; and a notification message may be transmitted to the user based on the selected notification option associated with the received combination identifier. |
| US08380793B2 |
Automatic non-junk message list inclusion
Method to effectively include a transaction electronic mail (e-mail) message to a non-junk mail list of an email account of a user. The method includes interacting with the user to start to complete a business transaction at a transaction web site of a party. A confirmation step is defined to be a second to last step in a plurality of transaction steps to complete the business transaction. A request associated with the defined confirmation step is provided to the user and the request includes adding a transaction e-mail address to the non-junk mail list. The e-mail account is further received from the user, and properties of the received e-mail account are identified. The method further interacts with the user to log-in to the received e-mail account and interacts with the user to include the transaction e-mail address to the non-junk mail list of the e-mail account of the user. |
| US08380785B2 |
Managing rule sets as web services
Rule sets are managed as a web service. A web service request having at least a body and an endpoint address is received from a client. The endpoint address includes a service description parameter and a parameter identifying a path to a given rule set in a rule set. The body of the web service request is parsed to determine whether the body identifies a first type of method or a second type of method. If a first type of method is identified, a service description file is dynamically generated in a format specified by the service description parameter in the web service request. The service description file is based on the rule set path, information from the rule set database and model data. If a second type of method is identified, the identified rule set is executed. The first type of method may be a GET method while the second type of method may be a POST method. |
| US08380784B2 |
Correlated information recommendation
Method and apparatus for information recommendation are provided. In one aspect, a method for information recommendation uses correlated information combinations to improve recommendation accuracy. Upon receiving data from a client indicating a visited information type, the method obtains correlated information types related to the visited information type from stored records. The correlated information types providing one or more correlated information combinations each including at least two correlated information types. For each of the one or more correlated information combinations, the method computes a degree of correlation between the correlated information combination and the visited information type. The method selects a target correlated information combination with a satisfying degree of correlation, and recommends the target correlated information combination to the client. |
| US08380783B1 |
Method and apparatus for processing web calls in a web call center
A web call server provides call processing for web calls. The call processing for web calls comprises routing, queuing, and/or provision of web service applications. For routing, the web call server receives a call request message. In response to receiving the call request message, the web call server identifies a web call center resource. The web call server then generates and transmits a routing instruction to route the web call to the web call center resource. For queuing, the web call server receives a call request message for a web call. The web call server then determines whether any web call center resource is available to handle the web call in response to receiving the call request message. The web call server then transfers a web call indicator to a web call queue in response to the determination that all web call center resources are unavailable. For web service applications, the web call server receives a call request message for the web call. The web call server then identifies the web service application for the web call. After identifying the web service application, the web call server generates and transmits an instruction to provide the web service application to the web call. |
| US08380778B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for assigning elements of a matrix to processing threads with increased contiguousness
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for assigning elements of a matrix to processing threads. In use, a matrix is received to be processed by a parallel processing architecture. Such parallel processing architecture includes a plurality of processors each capable of processing a plurality of threads. Elements of the matrix are assigned to each of the threads for processing, utilizing an algorithm that increases a contiguousness of the elements being processed by each thread. |
| US08380775B2 |
Finite differences methods
The application of finite differences methods to solve boundary value problems typically involves a discretization of such a problem across an orthogonal array of discrete grid points. This leads to an array of difference equations which is solved numerically within the constraints of the boundary conditions to yield solutions at the grid point locations. However, the accuracy of the solutions is limited with conventional finite differences methods when the boundary conditions are not represented exactly within the orthogonal array of discrete grid points, as when the boundary conditions are curved or slanted surfaces. The invention described herein provides finite differences methods for solving boundary value problems more accurately than with conventional finite differences methods, particularly when curved or slanted boundary surfaces correspond to terminations of a known analytical function. |
| US08380766B2 |
Systems and methods for handling addresses within a database application
A system and method store addresses within a database. An address and an address usage type that define an intended use of the address for an entity are captured. Address elements of the address are determined using an address template based upon the address usage type. If the address is not already stored within the database, an address entry having a new unique address identification number is created within an address table, each of the address elements are stored within an address element table of the database in association with the new unique address identification number, and an association entry is created within an address association table to associate the new unique address identification number with the entity, as well as to store the address usage type. If the address is already stored within the database, an existing unique address identification number for the address within the database is determined and an association entry within the address association table is created to associate the existing unique address identification number with the entity and to store the address usage type. |
| US08380762B2 |
Database application including spilt views
A database application is provided which includes functionality for providing split views. The database application includes an object model having a number of objects, methods, and properties. The object model preferably includes a form object which includes a split view representation. A number of properties are associated with the split view which provides for the presentation of data to a user of the database application. |
| US08380760B2 |
System and method for automated deployment of an information handling system
A system and method for automated deployment of an information handling system are disclosed. A method for managing the deployment of an information handling system may include executing a deployment application on an information handling system, the deployment application including one or more tasks associated with the deployment of the information handling system. The method may further include automatically determining for a particular task whether an execution time for the particular task is within a predetermined range of execution times. The method may further include automatically performing an error-handling task in response to determining that the execution time for the particular task is not within the predetermined range of execution times. |
| US08380754B2 |
Apparatus and methods for creating, updating, and using learning tools
Apparatus and methods are presented for the automated creation, update, distribution, acquisition, and use of learning tools designed to aid users in memorizing information and learning new concepts. Apparatus comprises learning tools that contain the data to be presented to users as well as information describing how the data is to be presented, a learning tool engine that provides user interaction and learning tool operation, an optional peer-to-peer client that may be combined with a learning tool engine to acquire and distribute learning tools, a swarm that manages learning tools and descriptors and user-to-user communications, and a builder that creates and updates learning tools. Methods comprise creating new learning tools, updating learning tools as new, improved, or corrected materials become available, creating and managing unique identifiers, sharing learning tools with others, and coordinating the activities of multiple simultaneous users of learning tools. |
| US08380752B2 |
Customized reporting and mining of event data
Event data (e.g., log messages) are represented as sets of attribute/value pairs. An index maps each attribute/value pair or attribute/value tuple to a pointer that points to event data which contains the attribute/value pair or attribute/value tuple. An attribute co-occurrence map or matrix can be generated that includes attribute names that co-occur together. Queries and custom reports can be generated by projecting event data into one or more attributes or attribute/value pairs, and then determining statistics on other attributes using a combination of the inverted index, the attribute co-occurrence map or matrix, operations on sets and/or math and statistical functions. |
| US08380751B2 |
Abstraction layer for online/offline resource access
A resource abstraction layer for use in a media processing environment includes a configuration file and a set of computer-executable instructions. Both network-based and locally-accessible resources are indirectly accessible via the resource abstraction layer. The configuration file has at least two data structures—a first data structure storing “virtual resource identifiers,” which reference particular resource usable in connection with rendering a particular media presentation, and a second data structure storing “virtual location identifiers,” which reference one or more locations at which particular resources are stored. The set of computer-executable instructions facilitates use of the configuration file, and seamless indirect access by the media processing environment to particular resources, regardless of where such resources are located. Temporary resources may be rendered while a particular resource is being accessed via the resource abstraction layer. |
| US08380750B2 |
Searching and displaying data objects residing in data management systems
A data source is accessed to provide information. The data source is accessed by defining a plurality of data objects each associated with data within the data source, where the data objects include search information that facilitates searching of the data objects, and the data objects further include display information that pertains to a format in which data obtained from a search of the data objects is displayed, defining one or more relationships linking at least one data object with at least one other data object so as to establish associated data objects with linking relationships, receiving a query to search for data within the data source, retrieving data within the data source satisfying the query in accordance with the search information, where the retrieved data comprises data from at least two associated data objects, organizing and displaying the retrieved data in accordance with the display information, and displaying one or more links associated with the retrieved data so as to enable navigation between associated data objects. |
| US08380747B2 |
System and method for seamlessly integrating separate information systems within an application
The present invention is, in one embodiment, a system and method based on a client-server architecture for seamlessly integrating various information systems. In one embodiment, a bundle of files is deployed to a collaboration client, in order to enable the integration of the collaboration client with disparate information systems and content. In one embodiment, content within a mailbox item is allowed to become a “live” object, and is associated with trigger events, and actions, including sending all or part of the content to a separate information system. In one embodiment, mailbox items are subjected to predefined searches to assess whether they include certain content objects. In another embodiment, panel item elements are visible in the overview panel of the collaboration client. The user may interact with the panel items by dragging content onto them, double clicking them, and invoking actions from a context menu if one is available. |
| US08380742B2 |
Integration of database reporting with ERP systems
Increased reporting capabilities from a database system may be available in a customer relationship system while functionality of the customer relationship management system is maintained. |
| US08380740B2 |
Selective storing of mining models for enabling interactive data mining
Computerized methods, data processing systems, and computer program products for storing of data mining models (DMMs) are provided. A new DMM is created having at least one of the following characteristics: quality and complexity. The new DMM is handled as a candidate for storing in a storage device if a predefined criterion for the characteristics is met. The sum of the sizes of the new DMM and already stored DMMs is determined. In response to the sum falling below a storage limit, the new DMM is stored in the storage device. In response to the sum exceeding the storage limit, a decision is taken based on priorities of the DMMs which DMMs to store in the storage device. The priorities depend at least on access frequencies of the DMMs. Upon a data mining request, a corresponding DMM is determined and a user is requested to confirm that data mining is to proceed if quality of the determined DMM does not fulfill a further predefined criterion. |
| US08380736B2 |
De-duplication in billing system
Scalable handling of billing events that affect one or more accounts. A computing system partitions received events into a number of channels, perhaps by account identifier. The channels receive the events, and perform de-duplication of the events. This de-duplication may be performed using a Bloom filter that is updated to reflect the receipt of any original event. The Bloom filter may be used to either determine that the event is not a duplicate of another, or to determine that the event cannot be ruled out as being a duplicate of another. In the latter case, further processing may be performed to for definitively determine whether the event is truly a duplication, or in the alternative, the event may be immediately treated as a duplicate. |
| US08380728B2 |
Personalized searchable library with highlighting capabilities
A system and method for electronically searching a personalized library of content includes, in at least one embodiment, receiving one or more search terms and electronically searching a text searchable database to produce search results. After receiving a search result selection, a page image in a page image database corresponding to the search result selection is identified. A substitute image of the identified page image is prepared, wherein a portion of the content in the identified page image is suppressed in the substitute image. The substitute image is then provided for computer display, wherein the one or more search terms in the substitute image are highlighted when the substitute image is displayed. The substitute image appears substantially the same as the identified page image except for the portion that is suppressed. Information identifying the location of the search terms in the substitute image may be provided for highlighting. |
| US08380724B2 |
Grouping mechanism for multiple processor core execution
A concurrent grouping operation for execution on a multiple core processor is provided. The grouping operation is provided with a sequence or set of elements. In one phase, each worker receives a partition of a sequence of elements to be grouped. The elements of each partition are arranged into a data structure, which includes one or more keys where each key corresponds to a value list of one or more of the received elements associated with that key. In another phase, the data structures created by each worker are merged so that the keys and corresponding elements for the entire sequence of elements exist in one data structure. Recursive merging can be completed in a constant time, which is not proportional to the length of the sequence. |
| US08380723B2 |
Query intent in information retrieval
Inferring query intent in information retrieval is described. In an example reformulations of an initial query by a user are used to create a query neighborhood. In the example, the query neighborhood is used to identify a set of possibly related queries. First and higher order reformulations of the initial query may be used to expand the query neighborhood. In an example precision can be improved by reducing the query neighborhood to more closely related queries for example, two queries can be connected if they are often clicked for the same document. In an example two queries can be connected using a random walk and all pairs of queries that are not connected by a random walk of less than a fixed threshold are removed. The connected queries can be used to form clusters and weights can be applied in order to determine the most likely related queries. |
| US08380716B2 |
Mind map with data feed linkage and social network interaction
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a method of augmenting a mind map of a plurality of objects based on at least one data feed. The method comprises providing an interface which contains visual representations of objects and associates semantic data with these objects. The interface allows for a user to access data from a data feed, and it analyzes these data in order to identify additional objects which may be semantically related to the object. A visual representation of the additional object is then augmented with a connector to the original object. Information about the relationships of the objects may be certified automatically or manually. |
| US08380712B2 |
Systems and methods of building and using custom word lists
Standard word lists that are often used for such operations as predictive text, spell checking, and word completion are based on general linguistic data that might not accurately reflect actual text usage patterns of particular users. Systems and methods of building and using a custom word list for use in text operations on an electronic device are provided. A collection of text items associated with a user of the electronic device is scanned to identify words in the text items. A weighting is then assigned to each identified word, and the words and corresponding weightings are stored. |
| US08380711B2 |
Hierarchical ranking of facial attributes
In response to a query of discernible facial attributes, the locations of distinct and different facial regions are estimated from face image data, each relevant to different attributes. Different features are extracted from the estimated facial regions from database facial images, which are ranked in base layer rankings by matching feature vectors in a bipartite graph to a base layer ranking sequence as a function of edge weights parameterized by an associated base layer parameter vector. Second-layer rankings define second-layer attribute vectors as bilinear combinations of the base-layer feature vectors and associated base layer parameter vectors for common attributes, which are matched in a bipartite graph to a second-layer ranking sequence as a function of edge weights parameterized by associated second-layer parameter vectors. The images are thus ranked for relevance to the query as a function of fusing the second-layer rankings. |
| US08380708B2 |
Methods and systems for ordering query results based on annotations
A system, method and article of manufacture for managing query results and, more particularly, for sorting data records contained in a query result obtained in response to execution of a query against a database. In one embodiment, the data records in the query result are sorted on the basis of related information which is retrieved from a corresponding data source. In another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a value variance which is determined for each of the data records in the query result. In still another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a requested value range coverage. In yet another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of suitability scores which are determined with respect to analysis routines which are configured for processing the query result. |
| US08380698B2 |
Methods and systems to generate rules to identify data items
There is provided a method and system generate rules and identify data items. The system receives an aspect that is used to describe a data item and a request for at least one candidate value to associate with the aspect. Next, the system identifies a string of text in a database based on the aspect, analyzes the string of text based on the aspect to identify at least one candidate value in the string of text and receives a selection identifying a candidate value. Next, the system generates a rule that includes the aspect-value pair that includes the aspect and the selected candidate value. Next, system associates the aspect-value pair to a first data item based on a publication of the rule. Next, the system receives a query, associates the aspect-value pair to the query, based on the rule, generates a second query that includes the aspect-value pair and identifies the first data item based on the aspect-value pair in the second query for an interface that includes the first data item. |
| US08380697B2 |
Search and retrieval methods and systems of short messages utilizing messaging context and keyword frequency
Systems and methods of identifying and retrieving messages that satisfy a search query using the context of the message and term frequencies are provided. One embodiment includes identifying at least one category relevant to the search query, wherein a plurality of scored keywords are associated with each category, selecting at least one of the scored keywords that is relevant to an identified category, performing a plurality of searches of messages from a social networking messaging service to retrieve messages, where at least one search includes retrieving messages based on the original search query and one of the selected scored keywords, scoring the retrieved messages with respect to each of the at least one identified categories using at least the scored keywords relevant to each category, and returning at least the message with the highest score as the search result. |
| US08380695B2 |
Systems and methods for data storage and retrieval using algebraic relations composed from query language statements
Systems and methods for storing and accessing data. A query language statement may reference a plurality of data sets and a plurality of algebraic relations between the data sets may be composed from the query language statement. The algebraic relations may be used to define new data sets and to optimize access to data sets. A store of algebraic relations may be accumulated over time. Alternative collections of algebraic relations may be generated and evaluated to determine an optimized collection of algebraic relations to use in calculating and providing a requested data set. The optimization may be performed using the algebraic relations rather than retrieving underlying data sets from storage. As a result, optimization may be performed at processor speeds to minimize the amount of time required for data to be retrieved from slower storage. |
| US08380693B1 |
System and method for automatically identifying classified websites
Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums are provided to automatically identifying a classified website. A website is determined to be a candidate site based on a set of heuristics. From among pages constituting the candidate site one or more pages are determined to be listing page candidates and one or more pages are determined to be detail page candidates. Then a listing page score is determined using a listing page classifier. Similarly, a detail page score is determined using a detail page classifier. The listing page and detail page scores each indicate the likelihood that the pages are part of a classified website. A candidate site score is determined based in part on a combination of the listing page score and the detail page scores. Then when the candidate site score is above a threshold the candidate site is determined to be a classified website. |
| US08380691B1 |
Social network user data advertising
Data is received from a social networking system, the data including user data and performance data associated with one or more user pages in the social networking system. A query is received specifying desired user data and performance data. A performance group is generated including user data and performance data of user pages responsive to the query. |
| US08380690B2 |
Automating form transcription
A system, computer program and method for automating form transcription. Data and meta data may be retrieved from a selected input form, e.g., W2 form. Data may refer to information, e.g., gross income, contained in a field in the input form. Meta data may refer to information, e.g., identifying fields in the input form, that describes or characterizes the data. The retrieved data and meta data may be correlated and stored in a database. Correlating may refer to identifying particular information in particular fields in the input form. The stored correlated data and meta for a selected input form may be mapped to a selected target form, e.g., 1040 form. Mapping may include mapping the data and meta data associated with particular fields in the input form to corresponding fields in the target form. |
| US08380682B2 |
Indexing and searching of electronic message transmission thread sets
A method includes describing the thread configurations of a volume of well-ordered electronic message transmissions (EMT) and utilizing the thread configuration data to conduct selective searches of the EMT volume. An apparatus includes a thread processor and a query manager. The thread processor analyzes the EMT threads and records the thread configuration data. The query manager utilizes the thread configuration data to conduct selective searches of the EMT volume. |
| US08380681B2 |
Extensible pipeline for data deduplication
The subject disclosure is directed towards data deduplication (optimization) performed by phases/modules of a modular data deduplication pipeline. At each phase, the pipeline allows modules to be replaced, selected or extended, e.g., different algorithms can be used for chunking or compression based upon the type of data being processed. The pipeline facilitates secure data processing, batch processing, and parallel processing. The pipeline is tunable based upon feedback, e.g., by selecting modules to increase deduplication quality, performance and/or throughput. Also described is selecting, filtering, ranking, sorting and/or grouping the files to deduplicate, e.g., based upon properties and/or statistical properties of the files and/or a file dataset and/or internal or external feedback. |
| US08380680B2 |
Piecemeal list prefetch
Prefetching data using a piecemeal list prefetching method. This is achieved by various means, including building a plurality of data pages, sorting the plurality of data pages into sequential data pages and a list of non-sequential pages, prefetching the sequential data pages using a first prefetching technique, and prefetching the non-sequential list of data pages using a second prefetching technique. |
| US08380679B2 |
Method of handling transaction in a service oriented architecture environment
A method of handling transactions in a plurality of organization embracing Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is disclosed. The method includes invoking the transaction when at least one application registers for the transaction, by recognizing one or more services associated to the registered transaction context. The method also includes identifying one or more operations which needs to be initiated for executing each of the respective service. The method further includes revoking the transaction when an error is encountered during the transaction. The process of revoking the transaction includes rolling back the executed operations of the respective services when at least one of the identified operations of the recognized services encounters an error during the transaction. |
| US08380678B2 |
Tracking files which have been processed by a backup or a restore operation
Tracking files which have been processed by a backup/restore operation. A request to perform a backup/restore operation for files on a target computer may be received at the target computer. The request may be received from a server computer. Information regarding which files on the target computer have been processed by the backup/restore operation may be maintained by the target computer. The information may be configured to be used for restart of the backup/restore operation at a requested file. Maintaining the information may include storing file identifiers into a data structure on the target computer corresponding to files that have processed by the backup/restore operation. |
| US08380674B1 |
System and method for migrating lun data between data containers
A system and method for lun migration between data containers, such as aggregates of a storage system is provided. A new destination lun is created on a destination aggregate. A background copy process is then started that copies all data from a source lun on a source aggregate to the destination lun. The storage system continues to process client-originated data access requests directed to the source lun while the background copying continues. Once all the data of the source lun has been copied to the destination lun, processing of data access requests to the lun(s) is quiesced by the storage system. Lun maps of the storage system are then updated and processing of the client-originated data access requests is resumed with those requests now being directed to the destination lun. |
| US08380671B2 |
System and method for creating a new annotation for a data source
Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for creating a new annotation for a data source. According to the method for creating a new annotation, a data source version identifier is generated based on a current version of the data source, and text of the annotation is received. A new annotation record is added to an annotation data store, with the new annotation record including the data source version identifier that was generated and the text of the annotation. In one embodiment, the new annotation record further includes point information indicating coordinates of at least one part of the current version of the data source that the annotation is meant to annotate. |
| US08380666B2 |
File management device and storage device for managing mapping information between a first file system and a second file system
A file system management device is connectable to a storage device. The storage device includes a first file system entity created according to a first file system in which a second file system entity created according to a second file system is allowed to be mapped. A mapping information storing area is defined on a predetermined area of the first file system entity, and the mapping information storing area is reserved for storing mapping information indicating a correspondence of the mapping. The file system management device includes an accessing unit configured to access the second file system entity based on the mapping information through a process according to the first file system to the first file system entity. |
| US08380662B2 |
Setting time from a NFS server
A system time of a client is set from a network file system (NFS) server. In one embodiment, the client creates a file on the (NFS) server and reads the last-modified time attribute of the file. The client adjusts its system time accordingly based on the last-modified time attribute of the file. The file is then deleted from the NFS server. |
| US08380657B2 |
Techniques for performing ETL over a WAN
Techniques that enable data extraction, transfer, and load (ETL) operations to be performed asynchronously over communication networks including a Wide Area Network (WAN). |
| US08380655B2 |
Management of expert resources using seeker profiles
The present invention relates to a system and method of locating an expert having individualized knowledge of a seeker's request. A computer based match and route system is used to locate an expert. In the memory component of the system, a seeker profile is created and is embedded, prior to a request for an inquiry, with pre-selected inquiry criteria and values. An interactive problem definition page displays numerous inquiry criteria and values for a seeker to select. An expert having individualized knowledge regarding a seeker's request is located by filtering the pre-selected and seeker selected inquiry criteria and values. |
| US08380654B2 |
General market prediction using position specification language
Methods evaluating propositions about timeseries are provided. A service accepts a proposition about one or more timeseries, and the service monitors those timeseries. A proposition can reference multiple timeseries with different time intervals and different units. When new data is available, the service evaluates the proposition to determine if the proposition is true, false, or neither. The service automatically performs unit conversions and selects relevant, previously observed values before evaluating a proposition when new data is available. |
| US08380652B1 |
Methods and systems for autonomous robotic decision making
Methods and systems for robotic determination of a response to conflicting commands are provided. The robot may evaluate scenarios using variables related to the contextual/situational data for event outcomes from which the robot can determine which of two or more actions to take, as by prioritizing the actions in order of importance. |
| US08380649B2 |
Application of normative rules in a virtual universe
The present invention teaches methods for applying an avatar behavior rule within a virtual universe environment. An avatar behavior rule and a violation threshold for the rule are defined for a virtual universe environment. The behavior of a collective plurality of avatars within the virtual universe is monitored for compliance with the rule, including determining an amount of compliance with the rule and comparing the compliance amount with the violation threshold. If the compliance amount exceeds the violation threshold, then the rule or the violation threshold is revised until the monitored behavior of the collective plurality of avatars within the virtual universe is in compliance with the rule, and in effect does not exceed the violation threshold. Service methods, articles of manufacture comprising a computer readable program, systems, articles and programmable devices for performing one or more method and/or process elements of the current invention are also provided. |
| US08380646B2 |
Method for the computer-assisted learning of a control and/or a feedback control of a technical system using a modified quality function and a covariance matrix
A method of computer-assisted learning of control and/or feedback control of a technical system is provided. A statistical uncertainty of training data used during learning is suitably taken into account when learning control of the technical system. The statistical uncertainty of a quality function, which models an optimal operation of the technical system, is determined by uncertainty propagation and is incorporated during learning of an action-selecting rule. The uncertainty propagation uses a covariance matrix in which non-diagonal elements are ignored. The method can be used for learning control or feedback control of any desired technical systems. In a variant, the method is used for control or feedback control of an operation of a gas turbine. In another variant, the method is used for control or feedback control of a wind power plant. |
| US08380643B2 |
Searching multi-dimensional data using a parallelization framework comprising data partitioning and short-cutting via early out
Techniques for searching multi-dimensional data are provided. The techniques include providing a parallelization framework for a search algorithm, wherein the search algorithm exposes one or more architecture-sensitive tunable optimization parameters, and using the one or more architecture-sensitive tunable optimization parameters to tune the search algorithm to search multi-dimensional data in any underlying architecture. |
| US08380640B2 |
Driver training systems
A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters. |
| US08380630B2 |
Information record infrastructure, system and method
A security mediator, comprising an input configured to receive a user information request; an automated index, stored in a memory, configured to store information for determining which of a plurality of remote databases stores information responsive to the request; an automated security rule base, stored in a memory, containing rules applicable to information responsive to the request stored in the plurality of remote databases; a communication port configured to communicate to a plurality of remote databases which store information responsive to the request: security information, a query corresponding to the request and associated rules applicable to the information responsive to the request at the respective remote database; and at least one processor being configured to apply at least one security rule responsive to the query of the automated security rule base, and index information derived from a plurality of the remote databases, in a manner which permits application of the rules and which restricts insecure use of the index. |
| US08380627B2 |
Money processing system and money processing method
A money processing system includes a terminal device that stores therein as user information, a terminal user identifier for identifying a user and a code used for confirming the user for security reasons entered by the user, judges whether the received user information matches the stored user information when the user information that is entered at a money handling device is received through a port used for data communication with the money handling device, and establishes a connection with the money handling device from which the user information was received via the port if the pieces of the user information match, and the money handling device for entering the user information. |
| US08380622B2 |
Secure electronic payment messaging system with reconcilable finality
A transfer network system for providing communications between commercial buyers and suppliers and their respective banks is provided. Client systems in communication with the transfer network system operate under a secure legal and technical regime in order to provide an architecture that supports the exchange of messages to conduct commerce. This commerce may include instructions related to the transfer of funds directly from an account of the buyer to the supplier. Because of the secure legal and technical framework, this financial transaction can be conducted in real-time and finalized in real-time without the need for delay or the use of clearinghouse to settle the transaction. |
| US08380617B1 |
Catastrophe linked mortgage
A method and computer system for providing financial hedge against the risk of loss to a mortgaged property resulting from natural or other catastrophe. The probability of loss is established by means of a knowledge-based expert system and would be a function of the location of the property but not of its underlying soil, age or structural characteristics. The extent of the protection is selected by the mortgagor to suit budgetary and other considerations. The probability and the portion to be subject to the arrangement would ultimately determine the charge. Upon the occurrence of the designated catastrophe, the selected portion of the debt is forgiven. |
| US08380613B2 |
From indirect finance to direct finance debt-clearing system and method
A from-IDF-to-DF debt-clearing system and method is disclosed. Internet technology is used to construct a direct-finance fund trading platform, whereby a debtor can raise a fund to clear his debts, especially the debts of credit cards and fiduciary loans. After receiving an application of a debtor, the direct-finance fund trading platform analyzes the credit condition and debt-clearing requirement of the debtor and then assigns a bridge loan to the debtor. After delivering the bridge loan, the platform enters into a fund-trading module to bid for the debtor and clears the bridge loan with the obtained fund, and the debtor pays a contribution amount to the platform periodically. |
| US08380599B2 |
System and method for risk management
A margin requirement is computed while trading. The margin requirement may be calculated while trading because the preferred system takes into account working orders to generate the margin requirement. The on the fly possibility allows the preferred system to provide pre-trade risk calculations, but can also be used to provide post-trade calculations. A generic spread number and the maximum number of outright positions are determined. Using the spread positions and the maximum number of outright positions, a spread margin and an outright margin are calculated, which when summed provide a total margin requirement. Limits based in part on the total margin requirement may be imposed on one or more traders. |
| US08380597B2 |
International banking system and method
A system an method for providing banks with access to a previously inaccessible exiting international infrastructure. A provider bank first establishes on its system, a set of accounts for each of the customers of a client bank (the client bank environment). The client bank environment has its own Demand Deposit Account (DDA) module to process account entries and calculate interest and its own funds transfer module to initiate and to receive funds transfers. The primary interface into the funds transfer section in the client bank environment is to the funds transfer section of the provider bank environment. The funds transfer section of the provider bank is coupled to the systems which constitute the international banking infrastructure that is able to process banking transactions on a global basis for the customers of the client bank. |
| US08380593B1 |
System, method, and computer program for dynamically altering a rating based on network conditions
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for dynamically altering a rating based on network conditions. In operation, at least one aspect of a condition of a network is identified. Furthermore, a rating in association with an event is dynamically altered, based on the at least one aspect of the condition of the network. |
| US08380591B1 |
System and method for providing warning and protection for bill payments
Methods and systems for providing protection to an individual or party from penalties associated with late or missed payments of bills, invoices and other charges are described. The methods and systems can warn a user of possible penalties and take correction action to avoid incurring the penalty. In an example, a computerized method, and system for performing the method can include receiving data about a plurality of payments to be paid by at least one party, the data includes at least one penalty associated with at least one of the payments, ranking the payments based at least partially upon the penalty and determining an order for the payments to be paid. In an example, a computerized method, and system for performing the method can include receiving data about a plurality of bills for at least one user, determining at least one action to prevent incurring a penalty for at least one of the bills and allowing the user to select the action. In an example, a computerized method, and system for performing the method can include receiving data for a plurality of bills for at least one user, determining if at least one penalty event can occur and communicating the penalty event to the user. |
| US08380588B2 |
Side-by-side comparison of associations for multi-level bills of material
A method includes receiving first parameters and second parameters for a comparison of a first multilevel bill of material and a second multilevel bill of material. Internal items based on the first parameters are compared to determine differences between the internal items in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. If an internal item matches in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material, associations for the matched internal item are compared based on the second parameters to determine differences between the associations in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. A report is generated showing a result of the comparing of the internal items and the comparing of the associations, wherein the report shows unmatched internal items and unmatched associations for matched first items. The report can then be displayed. |
| US08380580B2 |
System and method for managing a plurality of tires
Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for managing a plurality of tires from their procurement through their disposal. An embodiment may include a method for determining all the costs of a tire over its total service life including procurement costs, repair costs, retread costs and disposal costs. An embodiment may include managing an inventory by automatically replenishing the inventory by following a set of stored inventory management rules. An embodiment may include helping to ensure that an impermissible tire is not mounted on a vehicle. A stored set of tire mounting rules automatically check the tire being mounted against requirements for the tire set by the rules, the requirements set as to by vehicle type and wheel position. |
| US08380579B2 |
Contextual commerce systems and methods
A system and method for context-sensitive, adaptive commerce is described that features recommendations of products and/or services based on system usage behaviors and supplier contextual information such as inventory levels. Adaptive commerce may include the bundling of a plurality of products and generating an associated price based, at least in part, on usage behavior information. Other contextual information related to the customer or supplier may also be applied in generating recommended products, bundles of products, product configurations, and corresponding prices. |
| US08380578B2 |
Method and system for joint-use of electronic product using mobile communication network
There is provided a method comprising: receiving a request for information on electronic products from a first mobile communication terminal over a mobile communication network and providing information on a list of electronic products; receiving a request for payment for an electronic product selected from the provided information on the list, and transmitting a payment result after carrying out payment procedures for the selected electronic product; storing the paid electronic product in a joint account; receiving a request for access to the joint account from a second mobile communication terminal and determining whether or not to allow the access to the joint account; and receiving a request for checking availability of some of the electronic products stored in the joint account from the second mobile communication terminal and checking the availability of the requested electronic products. |
| US08380576B2 |
Value determination for mobile transactions
Various embodiments provide techniques for determining a value share of a mobile transaction for one or more entities associated with the mobile transaction. Examples of mobile transactions include purchases of content such as applications, games, video, audio, graphics, and so on. In one or more embodiments, value share rules can be created and reconfigured. The value share rules specify a share of a transaction value (e.g., a percentage of revenue generated from a purchase of content) that an entity involved in a particular mobile transaction is credited with. In one example scenario, a user of a mobile device purchases an application for the mobile device. A value share rule can be applied to the application purchase amount to determine a share of the application purchase amount that is to be credited to a mobile operator that provides service for the mobile device. |
| US08380574B2 |
Method and system for validating a transaction, corresponding transactional terminal and program
A method and apparatus are provided for validating a transaction on a transactional terminal, the transaction being associated with a user. The method includes a step of decoding a validation code preliminarily generated and displayed by the transactional terminal, entered by the user in a validation message, and transmitted by a mobile device of the user to an entity of a telecommunications network to which the mobile device and said transactional terminal are connected. |
| US08380571B1 |
Automated determination of validity of complaints
The potential validity of complaints, including those relating to intellectual property rights, may be automatically determined. In one implementation, whether a complaint is determined to be valid is based on a history of complaints of the complaining party. |
| US08380570B2 |
Index-based technique friendly CTR prediction and advertisement selection
Methods and systems are provided for click through rate prediction and advertisement selection in online advertising. Methods are provided in which output information from a feature-based machine learning model is utilized. The output information includes predicted click through rate information. The output information is used to form a matrix. The matrix is modeled using a latent variable model. Machine learning techniques can be used in determining values for unfilled cells of one or more model matrices. The latent variable model can be used in determining predicted click through rate information, and in advertisement selection in connection with serving opportunities. |
| US08380566B2 |
Interactive voting or survey
An interactive direct response system combines the use of short text message systems (SMS) via cell phones (100) with a database (102) and website to enable advertisers to view in real time customer responses to a direct response campaign. Customers are invited to respond to a defined advertisement on for example a billboard by responding to a single telephone number associated with the website by sending a text message linked to that particular advertisement, i.e. a single word (104,106). A computer receives and analyses the responses and sends an acknowledgement message to the customer. |
| US08380562B2 |
Advertisement campaign system using socially collaborative filtering
In one embodiment, a method comprises identifying, in a network, user selection preferences of an identified user having accessed the network, the identifying based on an accumulation of user selection inputs executed by the identified user, the user selection inputs accumulated relative to input options presented to the user and identifying respective available network items; classifying, by an apparatus in the network, the identified user into one of multiple user affinity categories relative to an advertisement campaign for a targeted product, the classifying based on determining whether one of the user selection inputs represents a view gesture of the user having viewed the targeted product; and selecting an advertisement asset for delivery to the identified user based on the classifying of the identified user into the one user affinity category. |
| US08380561B1 |
Method and apparatus for scoring haptic devices
A method for scoring a haptic device using subjective and objective measurements is disclosed. A method of process, in one embodiment, is configured to obtain multiple objective measurements and the subjective measurements, wherein the objective measurements describe the performance of the haptic device. The subjective measurements indicate users' feedback and/or experience in connection with the haptic device. The process is capable of generating a score in response to the objective measurements and the subjective measurements. The score, for example, can be used to rate and/or evaluate the performance of the haptic device. |
| US08380556B2 |
Dispatch management model
A method is provided and includes detecting a fault condition in a refrigeration system, determining a maintenance cost to correct the fault condition, and determining a monetary value associated with continued operation of the refrigeration system with the fault condition. The method also includes comparing the maintenance cost to the monetary value and determining a level of urgency for correcting the fault condition based on the comparison. The method also includes scheduling maintenance to correct the fault condition based on the level of urgency. |
| US08380555B2 |
System and method for identifying and managing customer needs
The system monitors the activity of customers, agents, and industry experts in a network for new topics relevant to a business and the interests in those topics. A determination is made automatically if there is enough interest to warrant adding a skill. If there is not enough interest, the system continues to monitor for topics and interests. If there is enough interest, the system automatically projects a resource needed for a skill. The system monitors internal resources and the network to determine if the resource needed for the skill exists in an internal resource. If the resource needed for the skill exists in an internal resource, the internal resource is reallocated. If the resource needed for the skill does exist in the internal resource, the system monitors the network for an external resource that has the skill. |
| US08380554B2 |
Modeling a plurality of contests at a crowdsourcing node
Crowdsourcing is described, for example, where solutions to tasks such as designing a logo, writing a piece of code or answering a question are solicited by making open calls to large scale communities. In an example, a crowdsourcing node models a plurality of contests as all-pay auctions, each contest having a task and a reward. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to set rewards for the contests so that the optimal results are received for each contest owner, those owners having provided a budget and using a utility function for each of the contests. |
| US08380552B2 |
Method and system for estimating project delay
An approach is provided for determining an estimated completion time for a task and/or a project. A plurality of electronic communications of a plurality of users are accessed, wherein the electronic communications relate to a common project engaged in by the users. Timing information is extracted from the electronic communications. For each of the users, an average delay period is computed using the extracted timing information. An estimated delay value is generated for the project based on the computed average delay periods. |
| US08380548B2 |
Method for managing intellectual property
A search algorithm is provided in an intellectual property (IP) management system for determining an optimal IP portfolio. The search algorithm generates and evaluates a plurality of IP portfolios using objective functions to find an IP portfolio that most nearly optimizes at least one goal. The goals to be optimized includes, for example, minimizing the costs of procuring the IP assets or maximizing the growth potential of the IP portfolio. |
| US08380546B2 |
Managing an insurance plan
A method of managing an insurance policy includes defining a plurality of mechanisms to protect an insured person from adverse financial outcomes. A selection of at least one of the plurality of mechanism is received from the insured person and stored the selection in a memory. On the occurrence of an insured event, the stored selection is retrieved and a basic insurance amount to be paid to the insured person based on an insurance policy of the insured person is calculated. The method then includes determining based on the stored selection of mechanisms if the insured person has suffered any adverse financial outcomes since the inception of the policy and if so then calculating a further financial protector amount to be paid to the insured person based on the stored selection of mechanisms. Finally, the basic insurance amount and further financial protector amount are paid to the insured person or their nominated beneficiary. |
| US08380541B1 |
Systems and methods for collecting and transmitting assay results
Systems and methods are provided for collecting, preparing, and/or analyzing a biological sample. A sample collection site may be utilized with one or more sample processing device. The sample processing device may be configured to accept a sample from a subject. The sample processing device may perform one or more sample preparation step and/or chemical reaction involving the sample. Data related to the sample may be sent from the device to a laboratory. The laboratory may be a certified laboratory that may generate a report that is transmitted to a health care professional. The health care professional may rely on the report for diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing a disease in the subject. |
| US08380540B1 |
Computer implemented method and system for analyzing pharmaceutical benefit plans and for providing member specific advice, optionally including lower cost pharmaceutical alternatives
A method is described for reducing medication purchasing costs for a member of a pharmaceutical benefits plan. A member's currently prescribed medications are analyzed, and at least one substitute medication is recommended for the analyzed medication, this recommendation is based the member's pharmaceutical benefit plan. In response to the recommendation, the system receives at least one of an authorization and selection of a substitute medication. Approval for this medication is requested from the member's doctor. Further, the requested approval is sent along with a plurality of other medication substitution requests. The responses are processed to complete the substitution of the medication for the member. The member is informed that the substitute medication was approved for their purchase. |
| US08380534B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for reducing the burden on scheduling systems by forecasting a demand for medical resources
The present invention generates a forecast factor indicating an anticipated demand for a medical resource in a medical facility during a selected time period. The invention generates the forecast factor using billing data retrieved from one or more billing data systems wherein the retrieved billing data is from a prior time period that is comparable to the selected time period. The invention may also generate a schedule of the medical resource using the determined forecast factor such that the generated schedule may substantially correspond to the anticipated demand for the medical resource during the selected time period. In addition, the invention may also generate one or more displays of the determined forecast factor to a user and may also receive a user input for selecting and/or modifying the protocol used to determine the forecast factor. |
| US08380532B1 |
Method and apparatus for accurate price estimation in reverse distribution of pharmaceutical items
In a reverse distribution environment, a technique for generating an accurate refund estimate for a pharmaceutical item returnable for credit by a customer to a manufacturer includes receiving item information that includes an identity of the pharmaceutical item, retrieving a pricing rule record for the pharmaceutical item that specifies an amount of credit expected to be received for the item, generating a refund estimate for the customer using the expected amount, receiving a credit memorandum that specifies an actual amount of credit payable by the manufacturer for the pharmaceutical item, comparing the actual amount of credit to the refund estimate, and adjusting the pricing rule record if the actual amount of credit is not equal to the refund estimate, subject to certain conditions. |
| US08380527B2 |
System and method for franchise, finance, real estate, and supplier relationship management
An electronic system and method for Franchise, Finance, Real Estate and Supplier Management. Expedites the Franchise buying and selling process and provides: a shortened timeline; an integrated system for information; easing legal compliance; managing financing; managing real estate selection; and enhancing marketing. The present invention is provided by a Host (e.g., FAST TRACK) and typically used by Prospects, Companies, and their agents, but is not limited to these entities. The Prospects include entities (including individuals) that are interested in becoming a Franchisee, or are interested in services and goods necessary to become a Franchisee. The Companies include Franchisors, Finance Entities, and Real Estate Entities. The Finance Entities include Lenders, Loan Brokers, and Credit Reporting Agencies. The Real Estate Entities include Real Estate Owners and Real Estate Agents. |
| US08380524B2 |
Rate-distortion optimization for advanced audio coding
A method for optimization of rate-distortion for Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). The method provides for the identification of quantized spectral coefficient sequences for optimization of rate-distortion. The method also provides joint optimization of scale factors, Huffman codebooks and quantized spectral coefficient sequences for minimization of a rate-distortion cost. The method provides an iterative rate-distortion optimization algorithm for AAC encoding. In each iteration, the method first finds the optimal scale factors and quantized spectral coefficients when Huffman codebooks are fixed, then updates Huffman codebooks and quantized spectral coefficients given the optimized scale factors. The iterations may be applied until a predetermined threshold is attained. |
| US08380521B1 |
System, method and computer-readable medium for verbal control of a conference call
A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitate verbal control of conference call features are provided. Automatic speech recognition functionality is deployed in a conferencing platform. Hot words are configured in the conference platform that may be identified in speech supplied to a conference call. Upon recognition of a hot word, a corresponding feature may be invoked. A speaker may be identified using speaker identification technologies. Identification of the speaker may be utilized to fulfill the speaker's request in response to recognition of a hot word and the speaker. Particular participants may be provided with conference control privileges that are not provided to other participants. Upon recognition of a hot word, the speaker may be identified to determine if the speaker is authorized to invoke the conference feature associated with the hot word. |
| US08380520B2 |
Food processor with recognition ability of emotion-related information and emotional signals
A food processor with recognition ability of emotion-related information and emotional signals is disclosed, which comprises: an emotion recognition module and a food processing module. The emotion recognition module is capable of receiving sound signals so as to identify an emotion containing in the received sound signals. The food processing module is capable of producing food products with a taste corresponding to the emotion recognition result of the emotion recognition module. |
| US08380515B2 |
Method and apparatus for scrolling text display of voice call or message during video display session
A method and communication device disclosed includes displaying a video on a display, converting voice audio data to textual data by applying voice-to-text conversion, and displaying the textual data as scrolling text displayed along with the video on the display and either above, below or across the video. The method may further include receiving a voice call indication from a network, providing the voice call indication to a user interface where the voice call indication corresponds to an incoming voice call; and receiving a user input for receiving the voice call and displaying the voice call as scrolling text. In another embodiment, a method includes displaying application related data on a display; converting voice audio data to textual data by applying voice-to-text conversion; converting the textual data to a video format; and displaying the textual data as scrolling text over the application related data on the display. |
| US08380513B2 |
Improving speech capabilities of a multimodal application
Improving speech capabilities of a multimodal application including receiving, by the multimodal browser, a media file having a metadata container; retrieving, by the multimodal browser, from the metadata container a speech artifact related to content stored in the media file for inclusion in the speech engine available to the multimodal browser; determining whether the speech artifact includes a grammar rule or a pronunciation rule; if the speech artifact includes a grammar rule, modifying, by the multimodal browser, the grammar of the speech engine to include the grammar rule; and if the speech artifact includes a pronunciation rule, modifying, by the multimodal browser, the lexicon of the speech engine to include the pronunciation rule. |
| US08380511B2 |
System and method for semantic categorization
There is disclosed a system and method for automatically performing semantic categorization. In one embodiment at least one text description pertaining to a category set is accepted along with words that are anticipated to be uttered by a user pertaining to that category set; lexical chaining confidence score is attached to each pair matched between the anticipated words and the accepted text description. These confidence scores are used subsequently by a categorization circuit that accepts a text phrase utterance from an input source along with a category set pertaining to the accepted utterance. The categorization circuit, in one embodiment, creates word pairs matched between the accepted text phrase utterance and the accepted category set. From these word scores, the category pertaining to the utterance is determined based, at least in part, on the assigned lexical chaining confidence scores as previously determined. |
| US08380510B2 |
System and method for multi level transcript quality checking
Methods and systems for multi level quality checking of transcripts are disclosed. The method includes the steps of searching subsets of metadata associated with the transcripts, identifying a group of transcripts having at least one particular subset of metadata, selecting a number of transcripts from the group of identified transcripts corresponding to a predetermined percentage, identifying a group of correctionists having a proper set of characteristics to correct the selected transcripts by matching the identified subsets of metadata associated with the transcripts with characteristics of correctionists, providing the transcripts and any voice files from which the transcripts derive to the selected correctionists, and, following correction, updating the subsets of metadata associated with the transcripts to include subsets of metadata pertaining to the voice files from which the transcripts were derived, any transcriptionist who transcribed the transcripts, or any correctionist who corrected the transcripts. |
| US08380508B2 |
Local and remote feedback loop for speech synthesis
A local text to speech feedback loop is utilized to modify algorithms used in speech synthesis to provide a user with an improved experience. A remote text to speech feedback loop is utilized to aggregate local feedback loop data and incorporate best solutions into new improved text to speech engine for deployment. |
| US08380507B2 |
Systems and methods for determining the language to use for speech generated by a text to speech engine
Algorithms for synthesizing speech used to identify media assets are provided. Speech may be selectively synthesized from text strings associated with media assets, where each text string can be associated with a native string language (e.g., the language of the string). When several text strings are associated with at least two distinct languages, a series of rules can be applied to the strings to identify a single voice language to use for synthesizing the speech content from the text strings. In some embodiments, a prioritization scheme can be applied to the text strings to identify the more important text strings. The rules can include, for example, selecting a voice language based on the prioritization scheme, a default language associated with an electronic device, the ability of a voice language to speak text in a different language, or any other suitable rule. |
| US08380505B2 |
System for recognizing speech for searching a database
A system is provided for recognizing speech for searching a database. The system receives speech input as a spoken search request and then processes the speech input in a speech recognition step using a vocabulary for recognizing the spoken request. By processing the speech input words recognized in the speech input and included in the vocabulary are obtained to form at least one hypothesis. The hypothesis is then utilized to search a database using the at least one hypothesis as a search query. A search result is then received from the database and provided to the user. |
| US08380501B2 |
Parcel address recognition by voice and image through operational rules
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for parcel address recognition. A method includes receiving an address input and producing candidate address results corresponding to the address input. The method includes receiving operational scheme knowledge describing the mode of operation of a parcel processing system, and receiving at least one operational rule corresponding to the operational scheme knowledge. The method includes applying the at least one operational rule to the candidate address results and producing and storing a finalized result according to the operational rule and the candidate address results. |
| US08380497B2 |
Methods and apparatus for noise estimation
A system and method are disclosed for noise level/spectrum estimation and speech activity detection. Some embodiments include a probabilistic model to estimate noise level and subsequently detect the presence of speech. These embodiments outperform standard voice activity detectors (VADs), producing improved detection in a variety of noisy environments. |
| US08380496B2 |
Method and system for pitch contour quantization in audio coding
A method and device for improving coding efficiency in audio coding. From the pitch values of a pitch contour of an audio signal, a plurality of simplified pitch contour segments are generated to approximate the pitch contour, based on one or more pre-selected criteria. The contour segments can be linear or non-linear with each contour segment represented by a first end point and a second end point. If the contour segments are linear, then only the information regarding the end points, instead of the pitch values, are provided to a decoder for reconstructing the audio signal. The contour segment can have a fixed maximum length or a variable length, but the deviation between a contour segment and the pitch values in that segment is limited by a maximum value. |
| US08380495B2 |
Transcoding method, transcoding device and communication apparatus used between discontinuous transmission
The embodiments of a transcoding method, a transcoding device, and a communication apparatus are provided. The embodiment of a method includes: receiving a bit stream input from a sending end; determining an attribute of discontinuous transmission (DTX) used by a receiving end and a frame type of the input bit stream; and transcoding the input bit stream in a corresponding processing manner according to a determination result. Thereby, a corresponding transcoding operation is performed on the input bit stream according to the attribute of DTX used by the receiving end and the frame type of the input bit stream. In such a manner, input bit streams of various types can be processed, and the input bit streams can be correspondingly transcoded according to the requirements of the receiving end. Therefore, the average computational complexity and peak computational complexity can be effectively decreased without decreasing the quality of the synthesized speech. |
| US08380492B2 |
System and method for text cleaning by classifying sentences using numerically represented features
A method and system for cleaning an electronic document are provided. The method comprises: identifying at least one sentence in the electronic document; numerically representing features of the sentence to obtain a numeric feature representation associated with the sentence; inputting the numeric feature representation into a machine learning classifier, the machine learning classifier being configured to determine, based on each numeric feature representation, whether the sentence associated with that numeric feature representation is a bad sentence; and removing sentences determined to be bad sentences from the electronic document to create a cleaned document. |
| US08380490B1 |
Reusable controls for automatically translating text between languages
Methods, systems and computer program products provide reusable controls for automatically translating text with a reusable control by identify a plurality of variables comprising at least a source and a target language, identifying when translation should be invoked for text in the control and encapsulating said steps of initializing and identifying in order to make a reusable data object. Control objects for controlling text are also provide which include a text property for storing data corresponding to the text to be controlled by the control object, a translation language property which indicates a language to which the text to be controlled is to be translated and a translation method which performs translation of data in the text property. |
| US08380488B1 |
Identifying a property of a document
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying properties of an electronic document. In one aspect, a sequence of bytes representing text in a document is received. A plurality of byte-n-grams are identified from the bytes. For multiple encodings, a respective likelihood of each byte-n-gram occurring in each of the respective multiple encodings is identified. A respective encoding score for each of the multiple encodings is determined. A most likely encoding of the document is identified based on a highest encoding score among the encoding scores. In another aspect, a sequence of characters, having an encoding, are identified in a document. The sequence is segmented into features, each corresponding to two or more characters. A respective score for each of multiple languages is determined based on the features and a respective language model. A language of the document is identified based on the scores. |
| US08380484B2 |
Method and system of dynamically changing a sentence structure of a message
A method (50) of dynamically changing a sentence structure of a message can include the step of receiving (51) a user request for information, retrieving (52) data based on the information requested, and altering (53) among an intonation and/or the language conveying the information based on the context of the information to be presented. The intonation can optionally be altered by altering (54) a volume, a speed, and/or a pitch based on the information to be presented. The language can be altered by selecting (55) among a finite set of synonyms based on the information to be presented to the user or by selecting (56) among key verbs, adjectives or adverbs that vary along a continuum. |
| US08380482B2 |
System and method for clock modeling in discrete-event simulation
Local clock modeling for a discrete event simulator is described. A local clock generator provides realistic clock characteristics in terms of clock precision and clock drift and clock mapping utilities provide API for other modules and/or protocols in the discrete event simulator to schedule events on local clocks instead of global clock of the simulator. |
| US08380480B2 |
Computer product, analysis support apparatus, and analysis support method
A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium stores therein a program causing a computer to execute calculating, using respective standard deviations of first delay distributions of delay variation independent to each element included in a path among parallel paths in a circuit, standard deviation of a first delay distribution of the path when modeled as a series circuit; correcting the standard deviation of the first delay distribution for each element, using the calculated standard deviation of the first delay distribution of the path and a standard deviation of a first delay distribution of the path obtained by a statistical delay analysis on the circuit; obtaining a correlation distribution representing a correlation between delay and leak current of the circuit by executing, using the corrected standard deviation of the first delay distribution for each element, correlation analysis between delay and leak current of the target circuit; and outputting the obtained correlation distribution. |
| US08380475B2 |
Method for prediction in an oil/gas production system
Method in an oil and/or a gas production system including a plurality of oil and/or gas wells each producing a multiphase fluid stream, adapted for predicting change in produced fluids resulting from change in manipulated variables. Fitted model parameters which express the relationship between the change in manipulated variables and the produced fluids are determined from a set of historical production measurements. The method includes the steps of choosing a model structure which predicts change in produced fluids as a function of the change in manipulated variables, where the predicted change in produced fluids depends on the value of fitted model parameters, determining fitted model parameters so that predictions of produced fluids match said historical production measurements as closely as possible, and determining a quality tag that describes the uncertainty of the predictions of change in produced fluids. |
| US08380474B2 |
Location of bypassed hydrocarbons
A method of locating resources in a reservoir that includes at least one injection well and at least one production well includes mapping a modeled permeability characteristic of structures making up the reservoir, computing, based on the modeled permeability characteristic, an indicator of flow velocity for streamlines from each production well, computing, based on the modeled permeability characteristic, an indicator of flow velocity for streamlines from each injection well, and combining the indicators of flow velocity from each production and injection well to characterize a sweep efficiency of the reservoir system. |
| US08380472B2 |
Semiconductor yield management system and method
A system and method for yield management are disclosed wherein a data set containing one or more prediction variable values and one or more response variable values is input into the system. The system can process the input data set to remove prediction variables with missing values and data sets with missing values based on a tiered splitting method to maximize usage of all valid data points. The processed data can then be used to generate a model that may be a decision tree. The system can accept user input to modify the generated model. Once the model is complete, one or more statistical analysis tools can be used to analyze the data and generate a list of the key yield factors for the particular data set. |
| US08380470B1 |
Online engineering tool system for specifying the various components of a holdown system
A computerized online engineering tool system for specifying the various components of a holdown system that assemble a run comprising a tie rod extending inside a frame wall structure from the foundation up through the walls to the top floor, and bearing members and tension devices securing the tie rod to the wall. The system comprises a server including a database of drawing elements and hardware parts; a program residing in the server including the steps of allowing a user to login into the server; providing the user a settings page to allow the user to select options for the run; providing the user a data input and calculated data page for inputting uplift, tension or overturning load at each framing level and showing calculated rod elongation at a framing level and rod size sufficient to handle the uplift load; and providing the user a print and download page for allowing the user to download a shop or installation drawing of the run generated using the drawing elements and hardware component parts from the database. |
| US08380466B2 |
System identification method and program, storage medium, and system identification device
A large-scale sound system or communication system is numerically and stably identified. When an input signal is represented by the M(≦N)-th order AR model, high-speed H∞ filtering can be performed with a computational complex 3N+O(M). A processing section determines the initial state of a recursive equation (S201), sets CUk according to an input uk (S205), determines a variable recursively (S207), updates a matrix GkN, calculates an auxiliary gain matrix KUkN (S209), divides it (S211), calculates a variable DkM and a backward prediction error ηm, k (S213), calculate a gain matrix Kk (S215), and updates a filter equation of a high-speed H∞ filter (S217). To reduce the computational complexity, Kk(:, 1)/(1+&ggr;f−2 Hk Kk (:, 1)) is directly used as the filter gain Ks, k. |
| US08380462B2 |
System and method for setting machine limits
A system and method for setting machine limits include setting a limit for a machine parameter, setting a temporal operating range for the machine, and setting a temporal step. The machine is operated over the operating range and the machine parameter is measured. A first new limit for the machine parameter is set based at least in part on the measurements over the operating range. The operating range is advanced by the temporal step, and the machine parameter continues to be measured. Another new limit for the machine parameter is set based at least in part on the measurements over the operating range after the operating range has been advanced. |
| US08380457B2 |
Microfluidic devices with integrated resistive heater electrodes including systems and methods for controlling and measuring the temperatures of such heater electrodes
The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed heater electrodes, wherein the heater electrodes are part of a multiplex circuit including a common lead connecting the heater electrodes to a power supply, each of the heater electrodes being associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to regulate power applied to each heater electrode by varying a duty cycle, the control system being further configured to determine the temperature of each heater electrode by determining the resistance of each heater electrode. |
| US08380455B1 |
Method for prediction of a response of parameter sensor
A method for prediction of a response of a parameter sensor is provided. It's usable for measuring a parameter of an external object. The sensor is associated with microprocessors representing correction circuits, including correction elements, and a microprocessor implementing a program called ‘calculator’ characterized at least with a time constant and certain variables. The method provides for determining a first and second derivatives of the parameter, output signals of each correction element, setting a cycle for time counting by the calculator, forming the correction circuits, determining output signals of the elements, continuously calculating and recording the time constant, determining a first derivative of the correction circuit signal and modulus of the derivative, further compared with preset coefficients, and forming an equivalent of the sensor's output signal for checking the calculator. |
| US08380450B2 |
Determination of blade vibration frequencies and/or amplitudes
A method is provided for determining vibration frequencies of rotating blades mounted on a rotor which rotates relative to and is supported by a rotor support structure. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining possible vibration frequencies of the blade from blade displacements corresponding to the times at which a blade passes a stationary timing probe; (b) converting a vibration signal detectable at the support structure into a vibration frequency spectrum; and (c) identifying the blade vibration frequency by matching a peak in the vibration frequency spectrum with one of the possible blade vibration frequencies. |
| US08380448B2 |
System and method for detecting leaks
A leak detection system includes a pressure system that requires leak and/or pressure testing. A pressure sensor coupled to the pressure system senses a first pressure at time0, after which fluid pumping system provides a selected volume of test fluid to the pressure system. The pressure sensor senses a test pressure at time1 and at selected intervals ‘n’ to time(n+1) and transmits a signal reflect of the pressures at each time to a general purpose computer for recording and storage on a computer readable medium. An operating program is configured to calculate a leak detection value, which is a function of a ratio of the first pressure at time0 and the test pressure at time1; the test pressure at time1 and the test pressure at time2; and so on to a test pressure at the timen and the test pressure at the time(n+1). A graphical output is configured to display the leak detection value as a function of time. |
| US08380445B2 |
NMR method for differentiating complex mixtures
A method for differentiating complex mixtures each having one or more chemical species is provided. The method comprises producing a sample NMR spectrum by subjecting a mixture to a selective spectroscopy process, wherein the NMR spectrum has individual spectral peaks representative of the one or more chemical species within the mixture. The one or more chemical species within the mixture are identified by analyzing the individual spectral peaks, and the individual spectral peaks are then subjected to a multivariate statistical analysis. |
| US08380443B2 |
Microfluidic assay for characterization of the leukocyte adhesion cascade
An apparatus and method for identifying and screening for agents affecting the leukocyte adhesion cascade (LAC) encompassing rolling, adhesion and migration comprises an optically clear, plastic microfluidic chip comprising flow channels with diameters in the range of 10-500 μm. The flow channels are coated with endothelial cells and at least a portion of the flow channels contains 1-30 μm sized openings, optionally filled with a native or synthetic extracellular matrix, that allow leukocyte migration into one or more tissue spaces. |
| US08380441B2 |
Systems for producing chemical array layouts
Systems to obtain a chemical array layout are provided. Systems of the invention include input and output managers for receiving information from and sending information to one or more users and a processing module having an array layout developer that applies rules relating to array layout design. The array layout developer develops an array layout based on the application of one or more of the rules to array request information received from one or more users. Also provided are computer program products for executing the subject methods. |
| US08380440B2 |
3D residual binning and flatness error correction
A method for processing seismic data. The method may include splitting the seismic data into multiple datasets according to one or more offsets; determining a first shift amount in three or more dimensions of the seismic data between a dataset having a first offset and a dataset having a second offset, determining a second shift amount in the three or more dimensions between the dataset having the second offset and a dataset having a third offset, determining a cumulative shift amount based on a shift of the first shift amount and the second shift amount and determining a corrected dataset based on the dataset having the third offset and the cumulative shift amount. |
| US08380434B2 |
Navigation apparatus, server apparatus, navigation method, and navigation program
A navigation device performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination, the navigation device being connected to a server for searching the route. A navigation method for the navigation device includes sending a request for searching the route to the server and receiving information on the route from the server. The method also includes measuring an elapsed time from a start of the route guidance, and performing the route guidance based on the information received. The method further includes cutting off a communication with the server and coming into a standby state, upon a determination that the elapsed time measured has reached a predetermined time and when the route is being guided or a current location is being checked, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage. |
| US08380433B2 |
Low-complexity tightly-coupled integration filter for sensor-assisted GNSS receiver
Embodiments of the invention provide a blending filter based on extended Kalman filter (EKF), which optimally integrates the IMU navigation data with all other satellite measurements tightly-coupled integration filter. This blending filter can be easily implemented with minor modification to the position engine of stand-alone GNSS receiver. Provided is a low-complexity tightly-coupled integration filter for sensor-assisted global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) contains inertial sensors such as accelerometer, magnetometer, and/or gyroscopes Embodiments also include method for pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) data conversion for ease of GNSS/PDR integration. The PDR position data is converted to user velocity measured at the time instances where GNSS position/velocity estimates are available. |
| US08380430B2 |
Portable transceiver with vehicle security control and locate features
A portable transceiver for locking and locating an automobile, includes a remote keyless entry system for locking the automobile; a locating device determining a location of the transceiver, wherein the remote keyless entry system and the locating device are housed in a pocket sized housing; and a processor deriving directional information from a current location to a waypoint, wherein in response to an activation of the remote keyless entry system, the locating device determines the waypoint corresponding substantially to that of the automobile. |
| US08380429B2 |
Real-time traffic condition measurement using GPS data
In embodiments of the present invention, a computer program may use GPS coordinates associated with cell phones located within multiple cars to measure real time traffic conditions. These traffic conditions may be measured based at least in part on using parameters including, but not limited to, a time of day, a day of the week, a weather condition, a road condition, or some other parameter relating to traffic conditions. The traffic conditions may be used to calculate a vehicle speed between two locations and predict related travel time. The real-time traffic condition information may be manually accessed by a user from their cell phone or automatically presented to a user's cell phone when the cell phone enters a specific geographic location or region. |
| US08380428B2 |
Navigation server
According to a navigation server (1) of the present invention, in a mileage matrix containing elements which denote a mileage and are defined by respective mileage factors, a first element of the elements in the mileage matrix which is defined by recognized mileage factors is determined on the basis of the mileage of the recognized mileage of a first vehicle. A second element of the elements in the mileage matrix which is defined by unrecognized mileage factors is determined on the basis of the first element. According thereto, even when the mileage factors of a second vehicle are used to define the second element but not the first element, the previous mileage of the second vehicle can be evaluated with high accuracy in consideration of a relationship between the mileage and the mileage factors of the first vehicle estimated according to the known relationship therebetween. |
| US08380425B2 |
Autonomous collision avoidance system for unmanned aerial vehicles
Autonomous collision avoidance systems for unmanned aerial vehicles are disclosed. Systems illustratively include a detect and track module, an inertial navigation system, and an auto avoidance module. The detect and track module senses a potential object of collision and generates a moving object track for the potential object of collision. The inertial navigation system provides information indicative of a position and a velocity of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The auto avoidance module receives the moving object track for the potential object of collision and the information indicative of the position and the velocity of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The auto avoidance module utilizes the information to generate a guidance maneuver that facilitates the unmanned aerial vehicle avoiding the potential object of collision. |
| US08380424B2 |
Vehicle-based automatic traffic conflict and collision avoidance
Systems and methods for providing vehicle-centric collision avoidance are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a first flight trajectory for a first aircraft. The method also includes determining a second flight trajectory for a second aircraft. A distance between the first aircraft and the second aircraft at a first closest point of approach (CPA) is predicted. The predicted closest point of approach is then compared to a separation perimeter layer. The separation perimeter layer is configured to provide a minimum separation distance from the first aircraft to the second aircraft. When the predicted closest point of approach breaches the separation perimeter, the first flight trajectory is altered to provide collision avoidance. |
| US08380423B2 |
Diagnostic system and method for hydraulically-actuated cam phasers
A diagnostic system for an engine includes a phaser control module that commands a first cam phaser position of a cam phaser of the engine for a first period and a second cam phaser position of the cam phaser for a second period, and a phaser diagnostic module that diagnoses a phaser control error for the cam phaser based on a first pressure of fluid supplied by an oil control valve to the cam phaser measured during the first period, and a second pressure of fluid supplied by the oil control valve to the cam phaser measured during the second period. The first and second pressures are measured on one of an advance-side fluid chamber and a retard-side fluid chamber of the cam phaser. The phaser diagnostic module detects one of a phaser mechanical fault and a phaser hydraulic system fault. A related method is also provided. |
| US08380420B2 |
Drive control device for vehicle
Precise operation of an accelerator operating member (7) is more difficult to perform in a reversing operation of a vehicle (1) as compared with an advancing operation. Therefore, behavior of the vehicle (1) is not smooth and thus tends to be unnatural. In the reversing operation of the vehicle (1), driving force output from an internal combustion engine (2) is limited in accordance with vehicle acceleration (D). At this time, it is possible to regulate the driving force of the vehicle (1) in conformity to the actual operation of the accelerator operating member (7) by the driver. In addition, limitation of the driving force is not executed in the advancing operation of the vehicle (1). At this time, the vehicle (1) can be driven in a state in which the driving force is comparatively small. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the behavior of the vehicle (1) from being unnatural. Accordingly, limitation of the driving force output from the internal combustion engine (2) can be properly carried out in accordance with the moving direction of the vehicle (1). |
| US08380419B2 |
Resume speed adaptation for automatic vehicle acceleration at a rate derived from a measured acceleration rate
A method and system of accelerating a vehicle from an intermediate speed to a target speed under control of a cruise control or driving speed control unit are disclosed. An acceleration rate of a vehicle is measured while a vehicle speed is below an intermediate speed at which the driving speed control unit is enabled. The intermediate speed is greater than the initial speed and less than the target speed. A derived acceleration rate is calculated using the measured acceleration rate. When the driving speed control unit is enabled, the vehicle is accelerated from the intermediate speed to the final speed at an acceleration rate about equal to the derived acceleration rate. The derived acceleration rate may be the acceleration rate of the vehicle at the intermediate speed, the average acceleration rate between the initial and intermediate speeds, or the average acceleration rate within a threshold of the intermediate speed. |
| US08380415B2 |
Brake control apparatus and motor rotational speed computation method used in said brake control apparatus
There is provided a low-cost, power-saving brake control apparatus that is capable of performing control with good pressure regulation precision. The brake control apparatus has adjusting motor rotational speed computation means for causing pressurization control means to set a pressure regulation valve in a closed state and carry out an action of driving a pump at a predetermined motor rotational speed a plurality of times at different motor rotational speeds, and for computing in advance a adjusting motor rotational speed on the basis of the ratio between each of the motor rotational speeds and each of the pressure gradients for when the pressurization force of a pump driven at each of the motor rotational speeds has reached a predetermined pressure; and requested motor rotational speed correction means for correcting the requested motor rotational speed on the basis of the adjusting motor rotational speed in a case where the pressurization control means increases the pressure of the wheel cylinders and generates braking force in the wheels. |
| US08380414B2 |
Brake for a motor vehicle
A system for simulating brake feel for a vehicle braking installation comprising a hydraulic braking system (7, 8) and an electric braking system (9). This system comprises a first chamber (20) containing a force transmitting fluid (21) and in which there slides a hydraulic piston (22) under the control of a manual braking operating member (1), the first chamber (20) communicating with a second, secondary simulation chamber (4) via a simulation valve (3), the degree of opening of which allows a force to be simulated at the brake pedal. |
| US08380410B2 |
Clutch control device
Provided is a clutch control device capable of highly precisely controlling an engaging force of a clutch even when a rotation of a motor stops or a rotation speed of the motor rapidly decreases. The clutch control device includes: a unit for determining rapid deceleration state for, based on one of the rotation speed of the motor and a rotation angle of the motor, determining a rapid deceleration state of the motor; and a motor current selection unit for, when presence of the rapid deceleration state of the motor is determined, selecting the second motor current detected in each predetermined period as a motor current used for generating the drive signal even when the rotation speed of the motor is equal to or more than the predetermined rotation speed. |
| US08380407B2 |
Method for controlling a hydrostatic drive
The invention relates to a method for controlling a hydrostatic drive having at least one first hydraulic consumer and one second hydraulic consumer. The two hydraulic consumers are driven by a common drive machine. First of all, a first power requirement of the first hydraulic consumer is determined (20). Proceeding from the determined first power requirement, the free power which is available as a result of the common drive machine is determined (21). This available free power of the common drive machine is scaled onto a possible actuating path of a control transmitter for the working hydraulics (22). A position of the control transmitter for actuating the second hydraulic consumer is determined (23) and a power requirement is assigned on the basis of the scaled available free power. An operating point of the common drive machine is fixed from the first power requirement and the second power requirement (24). |
| US08380402B2 |
Control systems and methods for heavy equipment
Heavy equipment includes a main body, a drivetrain, a work implement, and a control system. The drivetrain includes a first and second actuator providing speed and direction movement of the heavy equipment. The work implement includes a third and fourth actuator providing position and orientation of the work implement. The control system includes first and second main interfaces and first and second auxiliary interfaces, to allows an operator to simultaneously control the drivetrain and the work implement. The first main interface is operated by a first hand of the operator, and the control system operates the third actuator responsive to a signal from the first main interface. The first auxiliary interface is integrated with the first main interface, and operates simultaneously with the first main interface by a finger of the first hand. The control system operates the first actuator responsive to a signal from the first auxiliary interface. |
| US08380400B2 |
Control apparatus for vehicle and method for controlling vehicle
An HV-ECU performs a program including the steps of: determining whether or not the HV-ECU is in an auto-P execution state; determining whether or not a predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since an auto-P was requested; and permitting determination of the shifting operation if the HV-ECU is in the auto-P execution state and if it is determined that the predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since the auto-P was requested. |
| US08380396B2 |
Travel control method for self-propelled carriage
A travel control method for a self-propelled carriage having a travel control section for controlling steering-driving wheels. In the method, the steering-driving wheels are steered by a predetermined angle based on a direction change command, and in this state, the carriage is moved forward and backward for a predetermined distance to make the carriage depart from a base line. Then, the carriage is steered toward the base line to return to the base line. After that, the carriage is made to be able to travel along the base line. |
| US08380395B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus
A vehicle control apparatus including a road wheel speed detecting section, a vehicle body speed detecting section, a slip ratio calculating section configured to calculate slip ratios which are ratios of respective road wheel speeds with respect to vehicle body speed, an anti-skid brake control section configured to control wheel cylinder fluid pressures for respective wheel cylinders such that the slip ratios fall within a predetermined range, a wheel cylinder fluid pressure acquiring section, damping force variable shock absorbers which are disposed between the respective road wheels and the vehicle body and constructed to variably adjust respective damping force characteristics thereof, and a damping force variable shock absorber control section configured to set the damping force characteristics in accordance with the acquired wheel cylinder fluid pressures. |
| US08380394B1 |
Automobile motion system
An automobile motion system for choreographed independent movement in three degrees of freedom of an automobile body with respect to the automobile wheels includes a central processing unit, a memory communicative with the central processing unit and an instruction set, the execution of which causes the central processing unit to output a programmed sequence of signals. At least one translator interconnects the automobile body with a front suspension assembly, and at least one translator interconnects the automobile body with a rear suspension assembly. Each translator is responsive to the programmed sequence of signals to independently move the automobile body with respect to the front suspension assembly and with respect to the rear suspension assembly in response to the programmed sequence of signals. The system can be adapted to any sized land vehicle, including oversized vehicles, standard vehicles, miniature vehicles, and toys. |
| US08380392B2 |
Method to ensure safety integrity of a microprocessor over a distributed network for automotive applications
A processor integrity system in a vehicle includes m main processor modules that control at least m respective functions of the vehicle, where m is n integer greater than or equal to one. A monitoring processor module controls at least one function of the vehicle, communicates with the m main processor modules over a distributed vehicle network, selectively transmits a query to at least one of the m main processor modules over the distributed vehicle network, receives an answer from the at least one of the m main processor modules over the distributed vehicle network, that verifies integrity of the at least one of the m main processor modules based on the answer. |
| US08380390B2 |
Method and system of determining load characteristics of a trailer
A system and method for determining characteristics of a trailer being towed by a vehicle. The trailer is coupled to the vehicle using a trailer hitch using at least one intelligent bolt or fastener. The intelligent fastener has structural characteristics similar to those of traditional bolts for fastening a trailer to a vehicle (e.g., shear strength, diameter, etc.), but the intelligent fastener is configured to sense forces at a junction between the trailer and the vehicle. An ESC system receives force readings from the intelligent fastener sensors along with signals from a plurality of other sensors and determines one or more characteristics of the trailer. The ESC system compensates the motion of the vehicle based on the forces sensed at the junction and the characteristics of the trailer. |
| US08380385B2 |
System and method for determining electronic logbook observed defect fix effectiveness
A method for automating tracking of an effectiveness of fault repairs. The method may involve defining a unique fault code for each one of a plurality of different faults; cataloging faults that are repaired according to their respective fault codes and storing each cataloged fault in a fix effectiveness subsystem; placing the fix effectiveness subsystem in communication with an electronic logbook (ELB) system that is able to populate the fix effectiveness subsystem with additional fault information; providing a user interface to enable a user to access said ELB system to obtain information on a specific fault condition that was previously stored on the fix effectiveness subsystem; and presenting a fault history to the user from information stored in the fix effectiveness subsystem that enables the user to select a repair procedure for correcting the specific fault condition. |
| US08380383B2 |
Distributed vehicle control system
A distributed vehicle control system comprising a secure real-time executive running as a distributed abstraction of both the application and the operating system, where the SRE comprises a message manager, security manager, critical data manager, configuration manager, and multi-processor task control manager and is configured to control how the processors communicate with each other, how the processors are initiated, how the processors start tasks, and how priorities are set for messages. |
| US08380380B2 |
Electric power reception apparatus and electrical powered vehicle
A secondary self-resonant coil is installed at substantially the central region of the bottom face of the vehicle body, receiving electric power from a power feeding apparatus in a non-contact manner by resonating with a primary self-resonant coil of a power feeding apparatus provided external to the vehicle, via an electromagnetic field. In a power reception mode from the power feeding apparatus, high voltage is generated at the wire end of the secondary self-resonant coil, causing generation of a high electric field around the wire end. In order to keep the wire end distant from an ECU that is an electric apparatus located closest to the secondary self-resonant coil, the secondary self-resonant coil is arranged such that the wire end is located at a side opposite to the side where the ECU is deviated relative to the bilateral symmetric axis of the vehicle body. |
| US08380377B2 |
Method for controlling cooling of power converter for hybrid electric vehicle
A method for controlling a cooling system for controlling a power converter of a hybrid electric vehicle includes: estimating the temperature of a power converter at the time of a CAN communication error as a current temperature of the power converter and controlling a cooling system at a cooling rate based on the estimated temperature; and controlling the cooling rate of the cooling system depending on whether an output of the power converter is greater than a reference value. According to the method, the cooling system can be more effectively controlled. |
| US08380364B2 |
Manual and computerized flight control system with natural feedback
A system and method for a controlling an aircraft with flight control surfaces that are controlled both manually and by a computing device is disclosed. The present invention improves overall flight control operation by reducing the mechanical flight control surface components while providing sufficient back-up control capability in the event of either a mechanical or power-related failure. Through the present invention, natural feedback is provided to the operator from the mechanical flight control surface which operates independent of computer-aided flight control surfaces. |
| US08380362B2 |
Systems and methods for remotely collaborative vehicles
Methods and architecture systems for controlling vehicle systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of remotely controlling a vehicle includes estimating a position of the vehicle. A position estimation algorithm may estimate the position of the vehicle. A position data packet received from the vehicle may be used to update the estimated position of the vehicle. A display device may display a virtual representation of the vehicle based on the updated estimated position of the vehicle. Command signals may be transmitted to the vehicle based on the displayed virtual representation of the vehicle. |
| US08380355B2 |
Capacitive sensor and method and apparatus for controlling a pump using same
A variable capacitor for sensing the level of a liquid. The capacitor provides a readable capacitance that varies with respect to the level of the liquid. A pump control system implementing the capacitive sensor to control the level of a liquid by activating and deactivating the pump depending on the level of the liquid. Methods relating to varying capacitance of a capacitive sensor and controlling a pump based on the level of a liquid. A pump controller for controlling the level of a liquid in a reservoir includes a controller and a capacitor. The capacitor is adapted to provide an activation signal to the controller when the liquid in the reservoir reaches a first predetermined level relative thereto. Additionally, the capacitor is adapted to provide a trigger signal to the controller when the liquid in the reservoir reaches a second predetermined level relative thereto. Based on the trigger signal, the controller determines when to deactivate the pump. |
| US08380350B2 |
Autonomous coverage robot navigation system
An autonomous mobile robot system for bounded areas including a navigation beacon and an autonomous coverage robot. The navigation beacon has a gateway beacon emitter arranged to transmit a gateway marking emission with the navigation beacon disposed within a gateway between the first bounded area and an adjacent second bounded area. The autonomous coverage robot includes a beacon emission sensor responsive to the beacon emission, and a drive system configured to maneuver the robot about the first bounded area in a cleaning mode in which the robot is redirected in response to detecting the gateway marking emission. The drive system is also configured to maneuver the robot through the gateway into the second bounded area in a migration mode. |
| US08380349B1 |
Methods and systems for providing instructions to a robotic device
Embodiments disclose methods and systems for providing instructions to a robot device. The method may be executable to receive information from a robotic device and determine data responsive to the information. The method may also be executable to determine an order to send the data to the robotic device, where data associated with robot functionality to be performed at a first time is given a first priority and data associated with robot functionality to be performed at a subsequent time is given a second priority. The method is further executable to receive information indicating an amount of available memory on the robotic device and to provide the robotic device an amount of the data responsive to the information that is storable in the amount of available memory on the robotic device and in an order such that data that pertains to the first priority is sent first. |
| US08380347B2 |
Method and apparatus for use in a vending machine
During operation of a vending machine, visual images of the next product to be dispensed from product dispensing locations are obtained. Features of the visual images are compared to a data base of features to determine the identity of the next product to be dispensed from each of the dispensing locations. After a product has been dispensed from a dispensing location, a visual image is obtained of the next product at the dispensing location. Features of the visual image of the next product at the dispensing location are compared to a data base of features to determine the identity of the next product to be dispensed. A displayed price of a product is compared with product prices in the data base. If necessary, the displayed price is adjusted to agree with the data base. |
| US08380346B2 |
System and apparatus for item management
Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a holder defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the holder, at least one indicator selectively-operable to indicate the holder cell into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to selectively operate each at least one indicator to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received. In embodiments, indicators are provided on the holder. In other embodiments, the indicators may by on a guide associated with the docking station to assist the user in loading the holder. The contents of the loaded holder may be easily loaded, for example, into an automated dispensing machine for packaging and subsequent administration to a patient or for another use. |
| US08380342B2 |
Workpiece removing device and method
A workpiece removing device including a camera for imaging a workpiece loading area including a plurality of workpieces loaded in bulk; a workpiece detection section for detecting a workpiece, based on a camera image taken with the camera; a workpiece selection section for selecting a workpiece adapted to be removed, based on a detection result by the workpiece detection section; a robot for removing the workpiece selected by the workpiece selection section; a loading state determination section for determining whether a loading state of the workpieces in the workpiece loading area has changed due to a operation of the robot; and an area setting section for setting a workpiece detection area where the workpiece detection section detects a workpiece. If the loading state determination section determines that the loading state of the workpieces has changed, the area setting section sets the workpiece detection area in a peripheral area of a changing position of the loading state, i.e., in a portion of the workpiece loading area. |
| US08380333B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for facilitating efficient browsing and selection of media content and lowering computational load for processing audio data
An apparatus for efficiently browsing and selecting media content and reducing computational load of processing audio data may include a processor and a memory storing executable computer program code that causes the apparatus to at least perform operations including obtaining audio signals corresponding to items of media data. The audio data associated with the audio signals is played simultaneously. The computer program code may cause the apparatus to determine whether audio signals correspond to multi channel audio signals when determining whether to generate simplified audio signals. The computer program code may also cause the apparatus to determine directions/locations to output the audio data associated with the audio signals. The determined directions/locations correspond to directions that media data is currently being moved or locations of the media data. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided. |
| US08380330B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and control method therefor and receiving apparatus and control method therefor
There are provided the controlling methods of the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus, which cancel the flow control to execute the normal reproduction by the user who looks at the warning display or in response to the reception of the flow control cancel signal from the receiver side. Otherwise, there are provided the controlling methods of the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus, which cancel the flow control reception to execute the normal reception without the buffer if the contents with the video is reproduced. |
| US08380329B2 |
Controlling a digital audio player from a cassette tape player adapter
An adapter for a cassette tape player couples to a digital audio player. The adapter enables controls operated on the cassette tape player to control an external digital audio player. The digital audio player may be coupled to the adapter to receive signals indicative of which controls on the cassette tape player were operated. For example, in one embodiment the adapter may determine the direction of cassette tape player rotation, the initiation of rotation and the speed of rotation to detect which controls were operated. Appropriate signals may then be provided to the digital audio player, either through a wired or wireless connection, to enable the digital audio player to respond accordingly. |
| US08380328B2 |
Method and system for monitoring and controlling a multi-variable process throughout a plurality of distinct phases of the process
A control of a multi-variable process throughout a plurality of successive, distinct operational phases of the process involves accumulation of sets of values of the process and quality variables (a-j) from previous multiple operations of the process through all its phases, as respective datasets of a historical record. Each dataset includes an identifier (p) of the phase to which it relates. The current values of the applicable process variables (Qa-Qh) during each phase and the phase identifier (p) are indicated on respective axes (Xp,Xa-Xh) of a multi-dimensional display in relation to an operational envelope which defines bounds (UL,LL) for the values of the individual process and quality variables (a-j) relevant to that phase and which is derived from the datasets of the historical record identified with that phase. Changes in the current process variables (Qa-Qh) result in changes of the bounds (UL,LL), and alarm is given when a current value departs from within them. Either manually or automatically correction of an alarm condition is made in accordance with calculation of required change of value of one or more manipulatable process variables (a-c). |
| US08380326B2 |
Insulated implantable electrical circuit
The invention is directed to an implant able insulated electrical circuit that utilizes polyparaxylylene, preferably as Parylene, a known polymer that has excellent living tissue implant characteristics, to provide for chronic implantation of conductive electrical devices, such as stimulators and sensors. The device is thin, flexible, electrically insulated, and stable after long exposure to living tissue. Layers of Parylene may be combined with layers of a polymer, such as polyimide, to yield greater design flexibility in the circuit. Multiple electrical conduction layers may be stacked in the circuit to increase packing density. |
| US08380324B2 |
Systems and methods for altering one or more RF-response properties of electrical stimulation systems
An implantable lead includes a lead body and at least one safety element. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end. The lead body defines at least one lumen extending along at least a portion of the lead body. The lead body includes a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body, a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, and a plurality of conductors disposed in the lead body, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. The at least one safety element is disposed along at least a portion of the lead body and is configured and arranged to reduce damage to patient tissue adjacent to the plurality of electrodes due to heating, induced electrical signals, or both when the lead is exposed to radio frequency irradiation. |
| US08380322B2 |
Electrode device for active medical implants
Electrode device for active medical implants with an elongated electrode body (2) having a proximal end and a distal end (1), a tip contact pole (6) on the distal end (1), at least one ring contact pole (5) before the distal end (1), electrical supply leads (3, 4) to the tip and ring contact pole (6, 5), and a high-frequency filter (11) before the distal end (1), which has electrical contact to the tip contact pole (6) and is connected to the supply lead (4) thereof. |
| US08380321B2 |
Programming interface with a cross-sectional view of a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry
The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with a clinician programmer, a patient programmer, or both. A user interface permits a user to view electrodes from different perspectives relative to the lead. For example, the user interface provides a side view of a lead and a cross-sectional view of the lead. The user interface may include an axial control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different axial positions along the length of a lead, and a rotational control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different angular positions around a circumference of the lead. |
| US08380319B2 |
Electrical screw
The present invention relates to the electrical stimulation of bone growth utilizing implantable bone fixation devices and implants to which are attached a screw of nonconductive material powered by a battery for the purpose of creating an electrical-magnetic field to promote bone healing and bone formation. The electric magnetic field is directed to the bone around the device through a battery of a rechargeable type and can include a radio frequency identification device. A constant current is generated in a range of 5-20 micro amperes to stimulate bone healing and bone formation. |
| US08380318B2 |
Pain management with stimulation subthreshold to paresthesia
Devices, systems and methods are provided for treating pain while minimizing or eliminating possible complications and undesired side effects, particularly the sensation of paresthesia. This is achieved by stimulating in proximity to a dorsal root ganglion with stimulation energy in a manner that will affect pain sensations without generating substantial sensations of paresthesia. In some embodiments, such neurostimulation takes advantage of anatomical features and functions particular to the dorsal root ganglion. |
| US08380316B2 |
Transcranial stimulation device and method based on electrophysiological testing
Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a combination electroencephalography and non-invasive stimulation devices. Upon measuring an electrical anomaly in a region of a brain, various tDCS or other electrical stimulations are utilized to correct neural activity. Devices of the disclosed technology may utilize visual, balance, auditory, and other stimuli to test the subject, analyze necessary brain stimulations, and administer stimulation to the brain. |
| US08380311B2 |
Housing for implantable medical device
A housing for an implantable medical device includes a first portion formed from a first material and a second portion formed from a second material. The first material and the second material comprise titanium and the first material has a higher resistivity than the second material. |
| US08380307B2 |
Switch polarity pacing to improve cardiac resynchronization therapy
The invention is directed to a heart stimulator for left-ventricular pacing comprising a left ventricular stimulation pulse generator connected or connectable to a single electrode lead for left ventricular stimulation having one or more electrodes for delivery of stimulation pulses to left ventricular myocardial heart tissue, said stimulation pulse generator being adapted to generate and deliver stimulation pulses of switchable polarity. The heart stimulator further comprises a control unit connected to the stimulation pulse generator for controlling the stimulation pulse generator and to trigger generation and delivery of stimulation pulses having a polarity controlled by said control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to control said left ventricular stimulation pulse generator so as to deliver at least a pair of suprathreshold stimulation pulses of opposite polarity. |
| US08380306B2 |
Implantable electrode
An implantable electrode, for an implantable tissue stimulator, has an electrically conductive porous material comprising metal carbide, metal nitride, metal carbonitride, metal oxide or metal oxynitride and one or more coating layers on a surface thereof. The coating layer or at least one of the coating layers, is for contact with body tissue when the electrode is implanted. Each coating layer is an electrically conductive layer of polymer having a polypyrrole polymeric backbone or polythiophene polymeric backbone. The coating layer or layers are formed in situ by electropolymerisation. The polypyrrole or polythiophene may be substituted. The coating layer or layers can provide high charge storage capacitance and a fast discharging profile, as well as biocompatibility. |
| US08380304B2 |
Regulation of neurotrophins
Disclosed are methods for regulating neurotrophin levels within a human body. The invention utilizes an implantable signal generator to deliver stimulation to neural tissue elements. Alternatively, an implantable pump may be utilized to delivery one or more drugs. The implanted device delivers treatment therapy to the neural tissue to thereby alter the level of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF expressed by the influenced neural tissue. A sensor may be used to detect various symptoms of a nervous system disorder. A microprocessor algorithm may then analyze the output from the sensor to regulate the treatment therapy delivered to the body. The invention describes a novel method to regulate the intrinsic levels of neurotrophins and may be used to treat patients with neurological and cognitive disorders. |
| US08380297B2 |
System for measuring a user's percentage of body fat
A system for measuring percentage of body fat for a user. The system has: structure for measuring body hydration and generating a signal representing a measured hydration value; structure for selectively changing the measured hydration value to an adjusted hydration value based upon a first parameter to thereby reflect more accurately an actual hydration value for the user and generating a signal representing the adjusted hydration value; and structure for measuring body fat percentage using the signal representing: a) the measured hydration value; or b) the adjusted hydration value in the event that the structure for selectively changing the measured hydration value changes the measured hydration value based upon the first parameter. |
| US08380296B2 |
Automatic activation of medical processes
Systems and methods involve automatic activation, de-activation or modification of therapies or other medical processes based on brain state. A medical system includes a sensor system having one or more sensors configured to sense signals related to the brain state of the patient. A brain state analyzer detects various brain states, including sleep stage and/or brain seizures. A controller uses the brain state detection information to control a medical system configured to perform at least one respiratory or cardiac process. Methods involve sensing signals related to brain state and determining the brain state of a patient based on the sensed signals. At least one respiratory or cardiac medical process is controlled based on the patient's brain state. |
| US08380291B2 |
Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer
The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like. |
| US08380281B2 |
Compression device for enhancing normal/abnormal tissue contrast in MRI including devices and methods related thereto
Featured are devices for compression of target tissue while magnetic resonance imaging the target tissue and methods and systems related thereto. The method includes disposing target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member of a compression device and compressing the target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member. The method also includes acquiring one or more, more specifically a plurality, of sequences of image data of the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI). In particular embodiments, the MRI technique is a SENC MRI technique, where tissue encoding is done prior to compressing the tissue and acquiring includes adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency. In further embodiments, the sequences of image data are acquired one of during successive periodic compressions of the tissue or successive periodic relaxation of the tissues. |
| US08380279B2 |
Intraluminal multifunctional sensor system and method of use
An intraluminal sensor designs for multifunctional characterization of injured, stunned, infarcted myocardium, atherosclerotic plagues and tumors are disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention comprise the sensor tips for a catheter. The tips comprises differential sensor arrangements, and use built-in electromagnet assemblies for a single or multiple axis sensing of various parameters of local magnetic field. |
| US08380275B2 |
Systems and methods for making and using medical ablation systems and having mapping catheters with improved anchoring ability
A mapping catheter includes an elongated body for inserting into patient vasculature. A distal end of the elongated body includes a distal portion that includes a plurality of electrodes, a proximal portion disposed proximal to the distal portion, and a reduced-dimension portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions. The distal end is formed, at least in part, from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space. The preformed shape includes a first loop formed, at least in part, by the distal portion. The first loop is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion. The reduced-dimension portion is configured and arranged to bend such that the reduced-dimension section advances distally through the first loop when the first loop is held in a fixed position and a force is applied distally along the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion. |
| US08380274B2 |
Biosensor membranes composed of polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogens
Novel membranes comprising various polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups are described. These membranes are usefully employed in electrochemical sensors, such as amperometric biosensors. More particularly, these membranes effectively regulate a flux of analyte to a measurement electrode in an electrochemical sensor, thereby improving the functioning of the electrochemical sensor over a significant range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped with such membranes are also described. |
| US08380270B2 |
Non-invasive ocular monitoring
A device for measuring an analyte concentration level in a subject. The device includes: a light source configured for illuminating at least a portion of an anterior region of an eye of the subject with incident light having a substantially broad illumination spectrum at an angle substantially tangential to the surface of the eye; an optical collector configured for detecting reflected light from the at least a portion of the anterior region of the eye; an analyzer configured for analyzing the detected reflected light; and a processor configured to determine the analyte concentration level in the subject based on the analyzed reflected light. |
| US08380269B2 |
Arrangement for providing a constant contract pressure for a probe
The invention relates to an arrangement for providing a constant contact pressure for a probe to a finger of a patient, including a housing having a top position and a side portion to support said top portion, said top portion having a thickness defined by a top surface and a base of said top portion, said top portion having a bore extending through, the top portion, said bore dimensioned to slidably receive a probe, said probe having a probe tip, a channel extending substantially perpendicular and on a same plane to said bore, said channel sized to receive a finger of a patient, wherein the probe further includes a collar positioned along the probe such that at rest, the collar is in contact with the top surface of the top portion of the housing, and the probe tip extends a distance from the base of the top portion, and into the channel. |
| US08380267B2 |
Superconducting cable system
A superconducting cable system in which at least one superconducting electrical cable is arranged in a cryostat which consists of two metallic tubes, which are arranged concentrically and at a distance from one another. Vacuum insulation is fitted in the circumferential gap formed by the distance between the tubes, which vacuum insulation consists of spaces composed of a material having low thermal conductivity and plastic films coated with a metal and having high reflectivity. The gap is evacuated. In addition, thermally insulating material (9) is arranged in the gap, and its thermally insulating characteristics are independent of the vacuum which is produced between the two tubes (5, 6). |
| US08380266B2 |
Coil element decoupling for MRI
An RF coil adjacent an imaging region includes a plurality of conducting coil elements, with each conducting coil element including a proximal portion and a distal portion. The RF coil also includes a capacitance between the distal portions of the at least two conducting coil elements. A mutual coupling inductance between at least two conducting coil elements of the plurality of conducting coil elements is substantially cancelled by the capacitance between the distal portions of the at least two conducting coil elements. |
| US08380253B2 |
Voice switching for voice communication on computers
A voice communication end device performs quality checks to determine whether acoustic echo cancellation would be ineffective, such as due to noise or clock drift or discontinuities between incoming and outgoing voice channels. In the case where echo cancellation would prove ineffective, the device falls back on a tri-state voice switching operation that includes a bi-direction state in which both channels are on in full duplex operation, which provides a smoother transition switching between active channels. The tri-state voice switching supports both voluntary transitions where the active user voluntarily stops to yield the active channel, and forced transitions where the active user is forcedly interrupted by the other user speaking more loudly. |
| US08380252B2 |
Modular communication apparatus
A communication device comprises a first structural module with a power source, as well as second, and third structural modules. The first structural module is between the second and third structural modules. The assembled communication device so formed has an elongated form, in which the second structural module is in a first end, the third structural module is in a second end and the first structural module is at least partly between the second and third structural modules. |
| US08380251B2 |
Wireless communications system and method
A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver using a Bluetooth communications standard. |
| US08380240B2 |
Enabling coordinated multi-point reception
This invention measures the propagation delay τ1 between the user equipment and a first cooperating unit and the propagation delay τ2 between the user equipment and a second cooperating unit. These propagation delays are used to compute a timing advance amount to the user equipment to enable coordinated multi-point reception. In a first embodiment one cooperating unit receives a function of the propagation delay, computes the timing advance amount and transmits a timing advance command to the user equipment. In a second embodiment a central unit performs these operations. |
| US08380239B2 |
Antenna transmitting power monitoring and/or controlling
A method and system for controlling the transmitting power of an antenna is provided, the system including a detecting device directly receiving signals from the antenna, the detecting device configured to obtain a voltage standing wave ratio of the antenna; and a control device coupled to the detecting unit. The control device includes a monitoring unit configured to calculate a real transmitting power value of the antenna based on the voltage standing wave ratio; a comparing configured to compare the real transmitting power value with an expected power value to generate an error value; and an adjusting unit configured to output a power adjusting signal for controlling the transmitting power of the antenna based on the error value. |
| US08380235B2 |
Communication system, management apparatus, management method and program
When a service providing device which provides a service to a mobile communication terminal has entered a service stop state, a managing device connected to the service providing device instructs service providing devices other than the service providing device which has entered the service stop state, to release a resource of a mobile communication terminal to which a service has been provided by the service providing device which has entered the service stop state. |
| US08380231B2 |
System and method for managing messages in conversational-type messaging applications
A system and method are provided for managing messages in conversational-type messaging applications. To provide continuity across all conversations with a particular recipient, an existing or not-yet-created 1:1 conversation can be populated with 1:Many messages that include the same recipient in the list of addressees. In this way, any 1:1 chat or conversation with a particular recipient will contain all correspondences with that recipient, regardless of whether the message was sent or received in a 1:1 or 1:Many context. As such, the user has access to all information that has been exchanged with that recipient in one messaging screen to avoid the need to traverse multiple messaging screens to obtain the context or information related to the recipient that the user requires. |
| US08380227B2 |
Verifying availability of idle-mode mobile subscriber station in wireless access system
A method of verifying availability of a mobile subscriber station that is in an idle-mode includes requesting to a base station by the mobile subscriber station to enter an idle-mode, wherein the base station is associated with a paging group comprising a plurality of base stations, and receiving from the base station an idle-mode response command to enter the idle-mode. The method also includes receiving from the base station a paging command comprising an action code associated with performing ranging while the mobile subscriber station is in the idle-mode to verify availability of the mobile subscriber station with respect to the base station, wherein if the ranging is not successfully performed with the base station during a predetermined period, the base station continues to transmit the paging command until a paging retrial count reaches a predetermined threshold. |
| US08380224B1 |
Location based information system
A wireless device-based system provides location-based services by determining the location of the wireless device and arranges for the service and the payment therefor. |
| US08380222B2 |
System and method for multiple range estimation location
A system and method of determining the location of a mobile station by determining the time of transmission of a signal by a mobile station and determining range rings at a plurality of reference stations receiving the transmitted signal, where the range rings represent the distance of the mobile station from the plurality of reference stations. |
| US08380219B1 |
Controlling an amount of information disclosed by a position-determining system
A method, system, and medium are provided for determining whether to allow a position-determining system to provide location information that describes a location of a mobile device. A series of steps are carried out in which information is exchanged between networked components. In an embodiment, a request for location information (e.g., map coordinates) is received together with contextual information (e.g., identification of a mobile device and identification of a requesting party). A set of rules, such as approved contextual information, is referenced to determine if the contextual information is permissible. Upon determining that the contextual information is permissible, the position-determining system is allowed to provide location information. |
| US08380218B2 |
Transponder subsystem for supporting location awareness in wireless networks
The present invention is related to an apparatus and method for determining the location of a communication device within a wireless network in order to provide a geolocation functionality to the communication device participating under an access protocol of a wireless local-area network (WLAN) infrastructure such as IEEE 802.11 or Hiperlan. The apparatus comprises at least two transponder units for communicating with the communication device when the communication device is situated in a coverage area of the wireless network and a processing unit for deriving the location of the communication device within the coverage area in dependence on information received from the transponder units. |
| US08380211B2 |
CS domain call terminating system, method and network device
A CS domain call terminating system, includes a routing-controlled determination module that determines a call which has been subject to routing control in accordance with information carried in a received call initiation message. The routing-controlled determination module sends routing-controlled information of the call to a subsequent call flow control module, and the subsequent call flow control module determines and executes a subsequent call flow of the call in accordance with the received routing-controlled information. A network entity can obtain the routing-controlled information of the call during CS domain call termination of the invention, thereby avoiding repeated routing control and an indefinite subsequent call flow in the CS domain call terminating flow. |
| US08380210B2 |
Method and system of providing on-network communication services
An approach is provided for using on-network communication services for wireless calls. Dialed digits associated with a call originated from a wireless network are received. It is then determined whether the dialed digits include either a steering digit or a pre-determined prefix. The call is routed according to an abbreviated dialing plan if the steering digit or the pre-determined prefix is present. |
| US08380208B2 |
Terminal device, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method
A terminal device (1) is provided with: a trigger judging section (6) judging whether an event trigger for performing handover from a macrocell to a CSG cell has occurred or not; a first measurement result reporting section (7) transmitting a first measurement result report which includes the PCI of a CSG cell for which an event trigger has occurred, to an eNB; a CGI detecting section (9) detecting the CGI of the CSG cell for which the event trigger has occurred, on the basis of measurement setting information transmitted from the eNB; and a second measurement result reporting section (10) transmitting a second measurement result report which includes the detected CGI, to the eNB. When event triggers have continuously occurred, a report transmission controlling section (13) controls transmission of the measurement result reports on the basis of the reception qualities of the CSG cells to reduce the frequency of transmission of the measurement result reports. Thereby, it is possible to control waste of wireless resources and prevent communication interruption from frequently occurring. |
| US08380202B2 |
Method for registering communication terminals with base station devices by using virtual appliances
A method for the registration of a communication terminal is provided. In some embodiments of the present invention, a communication terminal is registered with a base station by searching and executing a virtual appliance that contains base station software with which the communication terminal pre-subscribed. In some embodiments of the present invention, a communication terminal is registered as an endpoint device for a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) uniform resource identifier (URI) when the communication terminal registers with the base station. |
| US08380194B2 |
System and method for providing network access to electronic devices
Systems and methods of providing network access information from one or more servers to a wireless device. The wireless device acquires information from the servers about available networks at a current location of the wireless device. The network information is based on a plurality of device parameters, network parameters and regulatory requirements that govern the operation of the wireless device. In addition, the wireless device may assess the acquired information for suitability for communications to be carried out by the wireless device. |
| US08380188B2 |
System and method for temporarily accessing another user's service
A wireless handset, system and method is described that enables a wireless handset having access to an international long distance service to provide another wireless handset with temporary or limited international long distance service. The wireless handset comprises a transceiver, a user interface, a service request, and a first service acknowledgement. The transceiver communicates with a wireless network managed by a wireless network service provider that controls the first service. The wireless network communicates with the wireless handset and a separate wireless handset that does not have access to the first service. The user interface enables the separate wireless handset to have temporary access to the first service. The service request communicated from the wireless handset requests the separate wireless handset have temporary access to the first service. The first service acknowledgement acknowledges the separate wireless handset has temporary access to the first service. |
| US08380183B2 |
Communication system, and communication device and phone device for the same
A communication system switches a communication state from a first communication state where a communication device performs data communication and voice communication with an external device, a first phone device, and a second phone device to a second communication state to perform the voice communication between the communication device and the second phone device and the data communication between the first phone device and the external device, when the voice communication is started using the second phone device in response to a call from a communication line. The second communication state is set when a first-phone-device network ID is used for the communication device, a communication-device network ID is used for the first phone device, and a party device of the second phone device is set to a device identified with the first-phone-device network ID. |
| US08380181B2 |
Remote site telecom equipment communication
The present invention provides for a system, method and apparatus for monitoring telecommunication components. The invention provides a switch placed at a remote location, wherein the switch includes a converter that converts power from a first voltage to a second voltage, a plurality of communication lines for a connection to a plurality of end users; and an interface that establishes a communication link with a central office. A transmitter is associated with the converter or other switch component; the transmitter transmits a wireless signal relating to a converter or other switch component operating condition. A receiving device receives wireless signals from the transmitter and provides the signals to a serving area interface for processing and/or transmission of the signals to a Central Office for monitoring. A transmitter may initiate transmission upon the occurrence of a change in operating condition. |
| US08380180B2 |
Remote programming/activation of SIM enabled ATA device
Systems and methods for programming and/or activating a subscriber identity module (SIM) enabled analog telephone adapter (ATA) device. A component activates and/or programs a SIM-enabled ATA module. Additionally, a component is provided that communicates with a network, such that the activation/programming component enables functionality of the SIM-ATA device by programming and/or activating the SIM-enabled module via the network. Separate components can effectuate activating and programming the SIM-ATA module. |
| US08380179B2 |
System and method for learning based device management
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for learning based device management. In one example, the method includes identifying functions available on a mobile device and determining a usage pattern for each of the functions. A determination is made as to whether each of the functions is to be monitored based on the function's usage pattern, and a device management profile is generated that defines monitoring parameters for each of the functions to be monitored. |
| US08380176B2 |
Method of inhibiting functions of a mobile communications device
A method of inhibiting a function of a multi-function portable personal communications device includes determining a first position of the personal communications device, after a predetermined time interval, determining a second position of the personal communications device, determining the distance between the first position and the second position, determining the time interval in which the personal communications device moved from the first position and the second position, calculating an average velocity of the personal communications device based on the first position, the second position and the time interval and, if the average velocity of the personal communication device exceeds a predetermined value, inhibiting a function of the personal communications device. |
| US08380175B2 |
System for providing interactive advertisements to user of mobile devices
A system for mobile devices that facilitates the creation and dissemination of interactive media to a plurality of mobile devices and PCs/laptops that comprise a client component. The interactive media may comprise of a list of products that are for sale and the user can select one or more for purchase. It may also comprise a list of real estate entries with associated user interest solicitation and the user can indicate his interest in one or more of the entries. The server can help the user make an appointment to view the corresponding real estate properties. |
| US08380174B2 |
Voice mailbox configuration methods and apparatus for mobile communication devices
Techniques for use in a mobile telephone for configuring voice mailbox configuration information at a remote voicemail system for storage in association with a voice mailbox of the mobile telephone. The mobile telephone displays, in a GUI, a user input prompt for initializing or changing the information. In response to the user input prompt, the mobile telephone receives the information that is input via the GUI and stores the information in memory. After receiving and storing the information, the mobile telephone initiates a connection with the system via a wireless network. The mobile telephone transmits, via the wireless network, and over the connection to the system, the stored information and a command for initializing or changing the information of the voice mailbox at the system. The mobile telephone accesses, via the wireless network, voicemail from the voice mailbox of the system which utilizes the information. |
| US08380173B2 |
System and method for wireless messaging in a wireless communication system
A host service queues data messages received at a message server for delivery to a wireless mobile device. The host service detects a trigger in response to an expiration of a predetermined time interval. In response to detecting the trigger when the data messages are queued, the host service attempts to authenticate a previously-received login credential of the device with respect to a predetermined authentication period. The session is active when the period has not expired, and inactive when the period has expired. When the session is inactive, the host service receives via a wireless network a new login credential from the device, authenticates the new login credential, and activates the session for data message delivery based on the authenticating of the new login credential. When the session is active, the host service causes the data messages to be sent via the wireless network to the device. |
| US08380168B2 |
Communication system, and communication program and access point apparatus usable for the same
A game apparatus 10 transmits a connection request including identification information to an access point apparatus 1 (S1). In response to the transmission of the connection request, the access point apparatus 1 allows a user to select whether or not to permit connection with the game apparatus 10. When the connection with the game apparatus 10 is permitted, the access point apparatus 1 registers identification information of the game apparatus 10 in a registration list (S2), and transmits a connection response representing the permission of the connection to the game apparatus 10 (S3). In response to this, the game apparatus 10 transmits an authentication request (S5). When identification information included in the authentication request is registered in the registration list, authentication processing between the access point apparatus 1 and the game apparatus 10 is started. |
| US08380166B2 |
Apparatus for and method of operating a mobile communication device sensor
A wireless apparatus includes a cellular radio interface that is adapted to perform a data exchange by way of a wireless data network, a user identity module containing information for authorization of a user for use of wireless networks, and a control unit which controls establishment and implementation of the data exchange. A second control unit is included and adapted to limit, in respect of the duration of its effect, a rejection of the user identity module expressed by the locally available wireless data networks in logging on to the wireless data network by suitable control of the first control unit in the further course of the log-on process by bypassing communicated information about the rejection. |
| US08380165B1 |
Identifying a cloned mobile device in a communications network
Computer-readable media and methods are provided for identifying a mobile device as a legitimate subscriber to a communications network or as a clone device. A clone device is not legitimately subscribed to the network but poses as a legitimate device to gain usage of the legitimate mobile device's subscribed services. An application on the legitimate mobile device tracks call detail data for calls of the mobile device. The mobile device has a unique identifier. A network server compares the tracked call detail data against a master list of call detail data for the unique identifier. A mismatch between the mobile device's call detail data and the master list indicates a potential clone. A mobile device using the unique identifier but not providing substantially matching call detail data is identified as a clone. Countermeasures are provided to defeat the clone's usage of the network. |
| US08380164B2 |
Fee charging system, fee charging method, service server, service providing method, and storage medium
The present invention relates to a billing system, method, a service server and end-point terminal respectively which allows the end-point terminal to use billing authentication information of another mobile communication terminal. The billing system comprises: a first mobile communication terminal and at least a second mobile communication terminal with each mobile communication terminal connected in common to a service server through a mobile communication network in which said end-point terminal is connected to said first mobile communication terminal through a first short-range communication network for providing contents to the first end-point terminal that uses the billing authentication information of the second mobile communication terminal and a billing server for performing a billing process if the service server transmits contents to the first end-point terminal upon validation by the service server by comparing the billing authentication information transmitted from the first end-point terminal with billing authentication information received from the second mobile communication terminal to determine if a match exists. |
| US08380163B2 |
Package billing for micro-transactions
The invention relates to a method and system for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or products requested by the user, in which a message request is received from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user, and wherein the mobile phone user is charged only once for a predefined amount or number of message-related services or products, thereby making the billing experience clearer to the user. |
| US08380158B2 |
System and method for vital communications connectivity
A communications system is disclosed that is capable of collecting, processing, and transmitting information signals over communications networks originating within the same or different communications networks, the communications system having a means for developing, identifying, and/or utilizing electronic trigger signals generated by calls initiated within a first communications network, a database for storing information related to the triggers and one or more users and information recipients, and a means for transmitting signals over the first communications network or over a second communications network to the recipients, wherein the signals contain information related to the triggers in order to allow recipients to act on the information. |
| US08380153B2 |
Radio front end and applications thereof
A radio front end includes a transformer and an adjustable load. The transformer includes a first winding and a second winding, wherein the first winding is operably coupled to an antenna and the second winding coupled to at least one of a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier. The adjustable load is operably coupled to the second winding, wherein the adjustable load provides a first impedance based on a first impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a transmit mode and provides a second impedance based on a second impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a receive module such that impedance at the first winding is substantially similar in the transmit mode and in the receive mode. |
| US08380148B2 |
Power amplifier adjustment for transmit beamforming in multi-antenna wireless systems
One or more beamsteering matrices are applied to one or more signals to be transmitted via multiple antennas. After the one or more beamsteering matrices are applied to the one or more signals, the plurality of signals is provided to a plurality of power amplifiers coupled to the multiple antennas. Signal energies are determined for the plurality of signals provided to the plurality of power amplifiers, and relative signal energies are determined based on the determined signal energies. Output power levels of the plurality of power amplifiers are adjusted based on the determined relative signal energies. |
| US08380147B2 |
Power amplifier circuit with means for tuning wave shape of ASK RF signal envelope, and method for implementing the power amplifier circuit
A power amplifier circuit can be linked to an antenna arrangement of a communication system for transmission of ASK RF data signals. The power amplifier circuit includes an amplifier core with several cascode amplifier cells in parallel. Each cascode amplifier cell is composed of three NMOS transistors in triode mounting between an output terminal connected to the antenna arrangement, and an earth terminal. A first transistor of each cascode amplifier cell is controlled by a carrier frequency signal, whereas a second transistor of each cascode amplifier cell is controlled by a smoothing control loop in order to modulate data to be transmitted on carrier frequency by amplitude shift keying. The smoothing control loop is provided for generating an increasing gate voltage for the second transistors on the basis of an increasing current ramp from a first minimum current value to a second maximum current value during a “0” to “1” data transition. The smoothing control loop is provided for generating a decreasing gate voltage for the second transistors on the basis of a decreasing current ramp from the second maximum current value to the first minimum current value during a “1” to “0” data transition for shaping the envelope of ASK RF data signals to be transmitted. |
| US08380145B2 |
Integrated circuit, wireless communication unit and method for quadrature power detection
An integrated circuit for a wireless communication unit has a transmit power control system employing a quadrature (I/Q) based power detector having at least one reference path and at least one detector path. The integrated circuit includes: a first quadrature error determination module for determining a quadrature error of a transmit signal and a second quadrature error determination module for determining a quadrature error of a detector signal input to the at least one detector path; a first quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the transmit signal and output a reference signal to the at least one reference path; a second quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the reference signal input to the at least one reference path, and a third quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the detector signal input from the at least one detector path. |
| US08380141B2 |
Radio apparatus
A control unit, in cooperation with an interface (IF) unit, a modulation unit and a baseband processing unit, produces a packet signal composed of a plurality of streams. While using as a reference a first known signal assigned to one of the plurality of streams and performing a cyclic timing shift within the first known signal on a first known signal assigned to another stream, the control unit performs a timing shift also on an extensional known signal assigned to a stream where no data is assigned. The amounts of timing shift are given degrees of priority beforehand and for the stream where data signals are assigned the control unit uses the amounts of timing shift in descending degree of priority. For the stream where no data signal is assigned, the control unit uses the amounts of timing shift also in descending degree of priority. |
| US08380138B2 |
Duty cycle correction circuitry
Closed-loop techniques for adjusting the duty cycle of a cyclical signal, e.g., a clock signal, to approach a target value. In an exemplary embodiment, a charge pump is coupled to a charge and sample module, which drives a de-skew circuit in a negative feedback loop. The charge and sample module couples the charge pump to the integration capacitor during two of four successive phases, and also couples the integration capacitor to sampling capacitors during the other two of the four successive phases. The voltages across the sampling capacitors may be used to control the de-skew circuit, which adjusts the duty cycle of a cyclical signal to be adjusted. |
| US08380135B2 |
Method of transmitting control information in wireless communication system
A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment receives an antenna group selection indicator indicating an antenna group comprising two or more activated transmit antennas among a plurality of transmit antennas, selects a transmit antenna to be activated according to the antenna group selection indicator, and transmits the data by supplying power to a power amplifier corresponding to the selected transmit antenna, wherein the number of power amplifiers is less than the number of transmit antennas and a type of the antenna group is determined according to the number of the power amplifiers. Accordingly, information on an antenna group in use among a plurality of antennas can be effectively transmitted. |
| US08380131B2 |
Frequency selection system including a wireless microphone and a receiver
A frequency selection system includes a wireless microphone and a receiver. The wireless microphone includes a microphone element for receiving sound and outputting a corresponding audio signal, and a transceiver device electrically coupled to the microphone element for wireless transmission of the audio signal and configuration communication. The transceiver device has a first communication unit operable to receive a frequency code. The transceiver device also includes a wireless transmission unit operable to wirelessly transmit the audio signal received from the microphone element using a wireless transmission frequency that corresponds to the frequency code received by the first communication unit. The receiver includes a second communication unit for wirelessly receiving a command code from the first communication unit and wirelessly sending the frequency code to the first communication unit. |
| US08380125B2 |
Systems and methods for bluetooth resource conservation
A Bluetooth device searches for another Bluetooth device or a Bluetooth command in response to a user intervention event. A user intervention event can take many forms, such as, for example, a connection to a power source or communication device, a mechanical configuration change, or a user input. Specifically, a Bluetooth device begins searching when the user intervention event takes place. To list some examples, the Bluetooth device may enter a page state, a page scan state, an inquiry state or an inquiry scan state in response to the user intervention. Alternatively, as more examples, if the Bluetooth device is in a sniff mode, a hold mode or a park state, the Bluetooth device may enter the active mode in response to the user intervention event. |
| US08380124B2 |
Communication system by electrostatic coupling and electromagnetic induction
A communication system by electrostatic coupling and electromagnetic induction includes: a first transmission part (3a) and a first reception part (3b) which exchange data therebetween through non-contact communication using electrostatic coupling; a second transmission part (4a) and a second reception part (4b) which exchange data therebetween through non-contact communication using electromagnetic induction; and an image display device (8) which displays an image based on the data thus received. With this configuration, it is possible to make communication performed by the first transmission part (3a) and the first reception part (3b) communication with higher speed, larger volume, and higher reliability. |
| US08380120B1 |
Device for accepting and storing messages
A message storage apparatus that can stimulate creativity and imagination of children and adolescents is disclosed. The apparatus facilitates storage of messages such as secrets, memories, notes, diary entries, wishes, dreams, trivia and other educational facts, quiz and other game questions, valentines, etc. More particularly, the apparatus can virtually (or physically) store intangible (and tangible) messages, thereby enhancing creativity and imagination. The message storage apparatus has a message delivery system that receives a message and delivers it securely to a storage chamber where the message can be accessed at a later time. |
| US08380115B2 |
Lubricant applicator, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A lubricant applicator rotatable at multiple different linear velocities, including a rotatable lubricant applying member to scrape a lubricant and to apply the lubricant to a surface of an image carrier rotatable at multiple different linear velocities. Any given linear velocity of the lubricant applying member satisfies a relation of n1/N1>n2/N2> . . . nx/Nx, where N1, N2, . . . Nx (N1 |
| US08380110B2 |
Drive transmission device and image forming apparatus
A drive transmission device includes: a driving member configured to rotate by a first electric current and having an attracting portion configured to generate magnetic force by a second electric current; a driven member having an attracted portion, the attracted portion facing the driving member and configured to be attached to the attracting portion by the magnetic force, so that the driven member integrally rotates with the driving member when the attracting portion is coupled to the attracted portion; and a controller configured to control the first electric current and the second electric current, the controller configured to apply the first electric current and then the second electric current. |
| US08380109B2 |
Image forming apparatus and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus including at least an image bearing member having a substrate having a photosensitive layer thereon, the image bearing member to bear a latent electrostatic image on a surface thereof, a charging device to the surface of the image bearing member, an irradiation device to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member with light to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, a development device to develop the latent electrostatic with toner to obtain a developed image, a transfer device to transfer the developed image to a recording medium, and a cleaning device to clean the surface of the image bearing member, wherein the photosensitive layer includes naphthalene tetracarbonic acid diimide derivative as a charge transport material represented by the following Chemical Structure (1): In the Chemical Structure (1), Z represents a group represented by the following Chemical Formula (1): or the following Chemical Formula (2): —R9 Chemical Formula (2). In the Chemical Structure (1), and the Chemical Formulae (1) and (2), R1, R2, R3, R4 and R9 each, independently, represent a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group or a substituted or non-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, R5, R6, R7 and R8 each, independently, represent hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, or a substituted or non-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and R1 and R2 and R3 and R4 optionally share a bond connectivity to form a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic group including a nitrogen atom. |
| US08380108B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a main body mounted on an image forming apparatus body; a fixing member that is included in the main body and that fixes an image to a recording medium; a pair of conveying rolls that is supported by the main body and that conveys the recording medium to which an image is fixed by the fixing member, the pair of conveying rolls comprising a driven roll and a driving roll disposed under the driven roll; and an exterior portion that is formed in the main body, disposed under the driving roll, forms an exterior face of the main body, and also forms an exterior face of the image forming apparatus body while the main body is mounted on the image forming apparatus body. |
| US08380105B2 |
Developing device, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
In a developing device, a rotation shaft is provided with a developer feeding member, a cleaning member, and a receiving portion. The receiving portion is provided downstream of the developer feeding member and upstream of a light transmitting member, provided to a wall surface of a developer accommodating chamber of the developing device, with respect to a rotational direction of the rotation shaft when the cleaning member has passed through the light transmitting member. |
| US08380102B2 |
Tubular skiving seal for a rotary toner metering mechanism
A toner container system includes a reservoir for containing toner having a rotatable member positioned within an opening through the reservoir and a skiving seal for blocking toner from entering a gap between the opening and the rotatable member. The skiving seal is positioned along the length of the rotatable member and is adhesively affixed adjacent to the rotatable member along the gap in the skiving direction of rotation of the rotatable member. The skiving seal includes a flexible sheet having a length corresponding to the length of the gap and a tubular portion adjacent to the gap formed by folding the flexible sheet over itself from an edge extending along the length of the flexible sheet, without creasing the fold, and adhering a portion of the folded portion of the flexible sheet to the surface of the flexible sheet along the length of the flexible sheet. |
| US08380101B2 |
Photosensitive member unit with contact portions selectively connectable to voltage supplying mechanism, and image forming apparatus including photosensitive member unit
A photosensitive member unit detachably mountable to each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses including a voltage supplying mechanism adapted to different commercial power sources. The photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed; a resistor configured and positioned to generate heat so as to heat said photosensitive member by energization; and a plurality of contact portions, configured and positioned to be selectively connectable to the voltage supplying mechanism, including a first contact portion and a second contact portion which are connected to both ends of said resistor and including a third contact portion connected so as to divide the resistor into two branches. At least one of the contact portions used for supplying a voltage to the resistor is common to different commercial power source voltages. |
| US08380091B2 |
Resonant-frequency measurement of electrophotographic developer density
Developer density is measured in an electrophotographic system. First and second electrodes are disposed to define a working volume between them through which developer passes without contacting the first electrode, wherein the electrodes are electrically insulated from each other by the working volume. One terminal of an AC voltage (current) source having a selected frequency is connected to one of the electrodes. An inductor is connected in series (parallel) with the voltage source, so that the source provides the AC bias (current) across the electrodes through (across) the inductor. The AC is applied and the current (voltage) across the electrodes is measured. The density of the developer in the working volume is automatically determined using a processor responsive to the measured current (voltage) and the applied bias (current). |
| US08380090B2 |
Printer which allows a user to select whether to reuse a sheet or to print on a new sheet after a jam has occurred
A printer includes a feed unit; an image forming unit, which executes double-side printing; an acceptance unit, which accepts an execution command of either continuation printing and reprinting if double-side printing is stopped and a first recording medium with only a first side image printed thereon exists in the conveying path of the printer; and a control unit, which prints only the unprinted second side image, if a continuation printing command is entered and the control unit reprints the first side image on a second recording medium and also prints the unprinted second side image on the second recording medium, if a reprinting command is entered. |
| US08380087B2 |
High performance gigabit passive optical network
A system includes an optical line terminal (OLT) that includes an OLT transmitter. The OLT transmitter includes one or more fixed wavelength optical sources that generate an optical signal at a first wavelength, and an optical waveguide that transmits the optical signal at the first wavelength in an optical network. |
| US08380085B2 |
High-speed multi-level electronic signal generation for optical communications
A method of processing data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of binary electronic signals and generating an optical signal by a number of lasers that is equal to or greater than the number of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is generated at one of a plurality of intensity levels, and each intensity level represents a particular combination of bit values for the plurality of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is converted into an electronic signal having the plurality of intensity levels. An apparatus for processing data is provided that includes a plurality of lasers configured to emit light at a plurality of frequencies, and a plurality of modulators configured to receive a plurality of binary electronic signals and to modulate the light emitted by the lasers. An apparatus for transmitting data is provided that includes a photo receiver and an electronic signal generator. |
| US08380084B2 |
Polarization multiplexing and transmitting apparatus
A polarization multiplexing and transmitting apparatus generates polarization multiplexed light by multiplexing modulated signal components that having varying intensities and are in polarization states orthogonal to each other. The polarization multiplexing and transmitting apparatus includes a converting unit that converts light generated by a light source into signal components having a varying intensity synchronized with a clock signal input thereto and a varying intensity inversely synchronized with the clock signal, respectively; a modulating unit that modulates the signal components, respectively; and a polarization adjusting unit that orthogonalizes polarization states of the signal components. |
| US08380083B2 |
All optical up-conversion system
An optical system for providing all-optical up-conversion of a baseband signal including an all-optical up-converter responsive to baseband signals to provide corresponding dual sideband signals about a suppressed optical carrier, said dual sideband signals each having the same polarization direction, being phase locked, having the same optical power and having a fixed frequency spacing; and an optical filter for filtering the carrier signals and providing wavelength division multiplexed signals without optical carriers. In a preferred embodiment, the all-optical up-converter includes an intensity modulator for generating two pump lightwaves that are carrier suppressed in response to the intensity modulator receiving a laser light source and being driven by an RF signal, wherein the intensity modulator is DC biased at a null point, an optical combiner for combining the baseband signal and the two pump lightwaves, a nonlinear medium for four wave mixing the baseband signal and two pump lightwaves to generate the baseband signal and corresponding dual sideband signals, and an optical interleaver for removing the baseband signal and two pump lightwaves to provide said sideband signals about the suppressed optical carrier. |
| US08380073B2 |
Optical transceiver implemented with tunable LD
An optical transceiver implemented with a tunable LD is disclosed. The tunable LD is installed within a TOSA (Transmitter Optical Subassembly). The optical transceiver provides two circuit boards arranged in the up-and-down relation. The TOSA is primarily connected to the second board but signals to drive the tunable LD are carried on an FPC board directly connected to the first board that mounts a driver circuit for the tunable LD. |
| US08380064B2 |
Depolarised WDM source
A device and method for depolarising the total field of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal is provided. A polarization maintaining multiplexor combines a plurality of optical signals to form a polarized multiplexed signal. The multiplexed signal is then passed through a differential group delay (DGD) element adapted to modify the polarization state of one or more optical source signals within the multiplexed signal and thereby to at least partially depolarise the multiplexed signal. |
| US08380056B2 |
Inter-axial inline fluid heater
An inter-axial inline fluid heater is presented. The inter-axial inline fluid heater includes an outer retaining sheath defining a first area, and an interior flow tube disposed within the outer sheath and capable of having fluid flow therethrough. Further, the inter-axial inline fluid heater includes a resistance wire disposed between the interior flow tube and the outer retaining sheath, the resistance wire capable of producing heat for heating a fluid passing through the interior flow tube when power is applied to the resistance wire. Also includes is a dielectric heat transfer material disposed between the interior flow tube and the outer retaining sheath and surrounding at least a portion of the resistance wire. |
| US08380054B2 |
Information storage medium with structure for multi-angle data, and recording and reproducing apparatus therefor
An information storage medium on which multi-angle data is recorded includes at least two clips in each of which video object data for an angle of the multi-angle data is recorded. The at least two clips are recorded in contiguous areas of the information storage medium. |
| US08380053B2 |
System and method for processing video
A system and method for allocating video processing tasks over multiple video processors include an apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of video processors. Each video processor includes a first processor that processes video data and manages buffers used in conversion and displaying video data. The video processor includes a second processor that performs video data signal processing and manages buffers used in processing video data. The apparatus also includes a switch coupled to each video processor, as well as video inputs and video outputs. A third processor coupled to the switch, and a memory coupled to each video processor and to the third processor, are also part of the apparatus. The switch selectively couples a video processor to a video input or a video output, the third processor configures the switch based on processing requirements of each video stream, and the memory buffers and stores video data. |
| US08380052B2 |
Method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data
A method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data. The recording and playback apparatus is configured to record content data including a content and play back the content of the content data at a position specified by first relative time information indicating a relative time with respect to a start position of the content. A record start time information generator generates record start time information. A stream playback control table generator generates a stream playback control table associated with a stream resource record in a content data recording unit. Based on the content start time information and the record start time information, a relative time information correction unit corrects relative time information, of a segment to be played back, identified by a metadata manager based on segment metadata. A read controller controls a reading process according to the relative position information corresponding to the corrected relative time information identified by the metadata manager. |
| US08380043B2 |
Reproducing apparatus and reproducing method
Moving image data, obtained by capturing a plurality of frames within the period of a single frame of display output while changing the exposure condition, can be more flexibly produced. For example, such moving image data is stored in a recording portion. When the moving image data is reproduced from the recording portion, a single frame is selected and output by a reproduced frame selecting portion for each period of a single frame of display output. In response to a user operation instructing to make the displayed image darker, a frame having an exposure condition of underexposure is selected and output from the moving image data to be reproduced from the recording portion for each period of a single frame of display output. |
| US08380042B2 |
Reproduction device, reproduction method, and program
When AV playback and an operation of BD-J application are executed in conjunction with each other, the playback apparatus saves values stored by the currently executed BD-J application into a nonvolatile memory upon termination of the BD-J application or the like. Next time the playback starts, the playback apparatus restores the values to an area accessible by the BD-J application, and subsequently, activates the BD-J application. |
| US08380037B2 |
Lateral light emitting device and method of producing the same
A lateral light emitting device is formed by fusing one end of a rod lens to an end surface of an optical fiber, and by fusing a prism to another end of the rod lens. The prism has a basic shape including a planar light emitting surface parallel to an axis formed by cutting part of a circumference of a cylinder and has a distal end inclined surface, a distal end portion of which is diagonally cut. Alternatively, a prism lens is fused to the end surface of the optical fiber. The prism lens has the same basic shape described above. |
| US08380036B2 |
Splitter module with connectorized pigtail manager
Example embodiments of an installation unit for increasing capacity of a fiber distribution hub include a fiber optic splitter module having multiple splitter pigtails and at least one management module defining slots in which the management module holds at least one of the splitter pigtails. In one embodiment, the management module holds the fiber optic connector of the splitter pigtail. The management module is configured to be removed when the splitter pigtails are inserted into a storage module and/or a termination module provided within the fiber distribution hub. |
| US08380031B2 |
Low nonlinearity long haul optical transmission system
A long haul optical fiber transmission system includes a transmitter, a receiver optically coupled to the transmitter with at least two composite optical fiber spans, at least one amplifier between each composite optical fiber span, each composite optical fiber span having a length of at least 50 km. Each composite optical fiber span also includes a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber. When the second optical fiber has positive dispersion at a wavelength of 1550 nm, the composite optical fiber span has, at a wavelength of 1550 nm, an average attenuation of less than 0.180 dB/km. When the second optical fiber has negative dispersion at a wavelength of 1550 nm, the composite optical fiber span has, at a wavelength of 1550 nm, an average dispersion with a magnitude from about 2 to about 5 ps/nm/km, an average attenuation of less than 0.205 dB/km, and each composite optical fiber span has an average dispersion slope with a magnitude less than about 0.02 ps/nm2/km. |
| US08380025B2 |
Liquid crystal waveguide having refractive shapes for dynamically controlling light
Liquid crystal waveguides for dynamically controlling the refraction of light. Generally, liquid crystal materials may be disposed within a waveguide in a cladding proximate or adjacent to a core layer of the waveguide. In one example, portions of the liquid crystal material can be induced to form refractive or lens shapes in the cladding that interact with a portion (e.g. evanescent) of light in the waveguide so as to permit electronic control of the refraction/bending, focusing, or defocusing of light as it travels through the waveguide. In one example, a waveguide may be formed using one or more patterned or shaped electrodes that induce formation of such refractive or lens shapes of liquid crystal material, or alternatively, an alignment layer may have one or more regions that define such refractive or lens shapes to induce formation of refractive or lens shapes of the liquid crystal material. In another example, such refractive or lens shapes of liquid crystal material may be formed by patterning or shaping a cladding to define a region or cavity to contain liquid crystal material in which the liquid crystal materials may interact with the evanescent light. |
| US08380024B1 |
Integrated electro-optical fluid rotary joint
An integrated electro-optical fluid rotary joint has been invented in which optical signals, electrical power, and/or signal(s), as well as fluids can be simultaneously transmitted across a common rotary-stationary interface between two relatively rotatable members for such applications, as a tethered aerostats, and tethered ROV. It consists of a main stator, a main rotor rotatable relative to said main stator. An electrical rotary joint, or slip ring, a fiber optical rotary joint, and a fluid rotary joint are integrated together on the main stator and main rotor. As a result, when the main rotor rotates relative to the main stator, optical signals, electrical power, and/or signal(s), as well as fluids from the main rotor can be transmitted to the main stator, and vise versa. |
| US08380023B2 |
Waveguide-type optical circuit
A waveguide-type optical circuit comprises an optical coupler being an optical branch coupler constructed from waveguide cores which are closely arranged to each other, and dummy patterns that lay along sides of the waveguide cores in the optical coupler for preventing optical major axes of the waveguide cores from inclining. |
| US08380020B2 |
Planar optical structure forming an evanescent field measuring platform that includes a layer molded by a master
The planar optical structure forms an evanescent-field measuring platform. A body is made from the thermoplastic plastic with a three-dimensionally structured surface, wherein molding is performed directly from a master made of glass coated with metal oxide, without deposition of further coatings on a surface of the master. The planar optical structure forming an evanescent-field measuring platform has a first essentially optically transparent, waveguiding layer (a) with a refractive index n1 and a second essentially optical transparent layer (b) with refractive index n2, where n1>n2, in a case of an embodiment of a planar optical film waveguide, or a metal layer (a′) and a second layer (b), in a case of an embodiment for generating a surface plasmon resonance, wherein the second layer (b) includes a material from a group of cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers. |
| US08380018B2 |
Conductive coating based on polymer-carbon nanotube composite
A conductive polymer and a semiconducting carbon nanotube material are combined to form a highly conductive composite. The composite can be used for EMI shielding, optical sensing, optical switching, and other uses. |
| US08380016B1 |
Geometries for electrooptic modulation with χ2 materials in silicon waveguides
An apparatus for providing electrooptic modulation. The apparatus includes electrical contacts, a waveguide coupled between the electrical contacts, and a nonlinear optical material positioned in the slot region. The waveguide includes a first arm and a second arm that are each arranged to define a slot region for confining an optical mode. The slot region has a height, t1, and each of the first arm and the second arm include a strip load region having a height that is less than the height, t1, of the slot region. Each of the first arm and the second arm is configured to provide an electrical signal to the slot region via at least one of the electrical contacts. In one embodiment, the nonlinear optical material includes a χ2-based material. In another embodiment, each of the first arm and the second arm have an “L”-type shape. |
| US08380015B2 |
Optical control device
The present invention relates to an optical control device capable of achieving an accurate match of modulation timing and modulation intensity between optical waves propagating through optical waveguides disposed between a plurality of signal electrodes in an optical control device using an anisotropic dielectric substrate. |
| US08380012B2 |
Document imaging and indexing system
A document digitizing method digitizes and automatically indexes documents in printed form. The method includes optically scanning the document, forming and storing a digitized image file from the optically scanned document, optically recognizing characters in the optically scanned document, and forming and storing a text file of the optically recognized characters in document. A retrieval method for retrieving the digitized image file for a document includes searching the text files to identify any having a selected text string and providing access to the digitized image files that correspond to those text files. The digital image file and the text file together represent a digitized document data structure that combines a digital image of a document with a text file of optically recognized characters in the digital image. |
| US08380008B2 |
Automatic image cropping
Upon enabling an automatic cropping feature, a computer-implemented method for cropping a plurality of images retrieves a number of images to process among the plurality of images, and selects an image from the plurality of images to determine a set of crop values for the image until the set of crop values for each image have been determined. Determining a set of crop values for an image includes scanning the image from a first side to an opposing side to determine for each scan line of the image an amount representing a degree of color variation among the pixels for that scan line. The amount determined for each scan line is then compared to a threshold value until a crop value for a first area of the image can be determined. |
| US08380005B1 |
System and method for image composition using non-destructive editing model and fast gradient solver
Systems and methods for interactive image compositing may integrate image searching using visual search criteria (e.g., color, composition, tonal distribution, or lighting effects), non-destructive image compositing, and high-performance rendering using a fast gradient solver to provide an efficient workflow for users. An image compositing application, executable by a CPU and/or GPU, may employ a sketch-and-refine approach, whereby a user draws a rough perimeter around an object of interest in an image and (following an initial application of the fast gradient solver to a lower-resolution version of the image) receives a preview of how it would fit into a composition. The fast gradient solver may differentiate between the object and its background by applying artificial intelligence techniques and/or dependent on user-supplied hints. In a second stage, the fast gradient solver may refine the solution for a final rendering of the composite image by operating on successively higher-resolution versions of the image. |
| US08380001B2 |
Edge adaptive deblocking filter and methods for use therewith
A video filter processes a video input signal that includes a plurality of pixels in a plurality of macroblocks. The video filter includes an edge detector that processes a selected group of the plurality of pixels to generate a edge identification signal that identifies edge pixels in the selected group, wherein the edge detector is adapted based on a quantization parameter of at least one macroblock corresponding to the selected group of the plurality of pixels. An adaptive deblocking filter is coupled to receive the video input signal and to produce a processed video signal in response thereto, the adaptive deblocking filter being adaptive based on the edge identification signal. |
| US08379998B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus reads a unit of first image data corresponding to a first region, a unit of pixels at a time, from a first memory storing image data in a band area and reads second image data to be used in processing of multiple processing object pixels corresponding to the first region from a second memory. The image processing apparatus processes each of the multiple processing object pixels by using pixels in a second region containing each of the multiple processing object pixels and stores data of pixels contained in the first image data to be used in processing of other multiple pixels in the second memory. |
| US08379996B2 |
Image processing method using motion vectors, image processing device using motion vectors, and image processing program using motion vectors
An image processing method of finding a motion vector between an original image and a reference image, including dividing the original image to extract a block, searching for a similar region of the block from the reference image to detect a motion vector of the block, further dividing the block from which the motion vector has been detected to extract a lower block, and searching for a similar region to detect a motion vector of the lower block with a range in the vicinity of the motion vector found from the block before division as a start point. Thus, the method is characterized by reflecting a tree structure data of the motion vector obtained in this manner in the subsequent detection of motion vector. |
| US08379993B2 |
Image analysis
A method and apparatus for classifying an image is proposed. The image is first preprocessed by for example adjusting its orientation, selecting an area of interest and removing artifacts, and normalizing the brightness. Subsequently the image is processed by applying a wavelet decomposition and values for a scalar feature of the wavelet decomposition are measured. This value is binned and probabilities for different classifications of the image are determined based on the number of images from a training set that fall into the same bin that have each classification. Improved classifiers are constructed by aggregating the results for different features, and a network of improved classifiers, in which images are processed by later classifiers according to the results from earlier classifiers, is used. |
| US08379992B2 |
Computer-aided image interpretation method and device
A computer-aided image interpretation method and a device thereof to easily obtain an accurate image interpretation result are provided. An automatic classification means of the image interpretation device performs automatic classification by one of spectral characteristics, radiometric characteristics, diffuse characteristics, textures and shapes, or combinations thereof and accumulates data to an interpretation result database, for plural features of the same kind obtained by interpreting a remote sensing image obtained with an observation sensor. A means for extracting candidate of modification of interpretation result extracts the candidate of modification of interpretation result by comparing likelihoods that are the automatic classification results. A reinterpretation is performed for the candidate of modification of interpretation, and an interpretation result database is updated by an interpretation result update means. As a result, modification of the interpretation work can be efficiently performed. |
| US08379990B2 |
Object recognition apparatus, computer readable medium storing object recognition program, and image retrieval service providing method
An object recognition apparatus includes an image input unit capturing image data, an object dictionary unit storing conditions to specify a type of an object, and a processor collating the image data with the conditions and specifying the type of the object imaged in the image data, in which the object dictionary unit classifies the conditions into hierarchies and stores the classified conditions, and the processor performs collation while narrowing down object conditions positioned in lower hierarchies based on a collation result of object conditions positioned in upper hierarchies. |
| US08379986B2 |
Device, method, and computer-readable storage medium for recognizing an object in an image
An image processing device for recognizing an object corresponding to a registered image registered beforehand from an imaged image, comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain the imaged image; a recognizing unit configured to recognize an object corresponding to the registered image from the imaged image; and a detecting unit configured to detect, based on a registered image corresponding to an object recognized from the imaged image thereof, an area where another object is overlapped with the object corresponding to the registered image thereof. |
| US08379982B2 |
System and method for fast biometric pattern matching
A method and system for matching two biometric images including receiving an input biometric image; generating an index table for the input biometric image, wherein the index table includes a quality quantity for each minutia of the input biometric image; receiving a second biometric image; generating a number of patterns for a first minutia of the second biometric image; associatively accessing the index table by the generated number of patterns; accumulating quality quantities accessed from the index table for each minutia of the input biometric image for the number of patterns of the first minutia of the second biometric image; and selecting a minutia candidate of the input biometric image responsive to the accumulated quality quantities. |
| US08379981B1 |
Segmenting spatiotemporal data based on user gaze data
A segmentation task is specified to a user, and gaze data generated by monitoring eye movements of the user viewing spatiotemporal data as a plurality of frames is received. The gaze data includes fixation locations based on the user's gaze throughout the frames. A first frame and a second frame of the frames are selected based on the fixation locations. Segmentation is performed on the first and second frames to segment first and second objects, respectively, from the first and second frames based on a region of interest associated with the first and second frames, the region of interest corresponding to a location of one of the fixation locations. A determination is made as to whether the first and second objects are relevant to the segmentation task, and if so, association data to associate the first object with the second object when the first and second objects is generated. |
| US08379979B2 |
System and method for effectively performing a scene rectification procedure
A system and method for effectively performing a scene rectification procedure comprises an image manager that includes a segmentation module, a label module, and a rectification module. The segmentation module initially performs a segmentation procedure upon an image to produce corresponding sub-scenes. The label module then categorizes the sub-scenes by assigning initial labels without utilizing context information from other sub-scenes in the image. The rectification module performs a semantic grouping procedure upon the sub-scenes to produce semantic group nodes corresponding to pairs of the sub-scenes that have a predefined semantic relationship. The rectification module converts a sub-scene graph of the sub-scenes into a semantic graph that includes the semantic group nodes. The rectification module then performs a rectification procedure to convert the initial labels of the sub-scenes into rectified labels. A processor of an electronic device typically controls the image manager for performing the scene rectification procedure. |
| US08379977B2 |
Method for removing color fringe in digital image
A method for removing color fringe is presented. First, detection and correction of color fringe are performed on an original-size image and a small-size image respectively, so as to generate respective corrected images and corresponding color fringe maps. Then, the corrected small-size image and its corresponding color fringe map are enlarged to the same resolution as the original-size image. Finally, the two corrected images are blended according to the respective corresponding color fringe maps. |
| US08379971B2 |
Image gamut mapping
A method of gamut mapping maps an input image composed of pixels and having an input gamut (IG) defined by input RGB primaries (Ri, Gi, Bi) to a reproduction gamut (RG) defined by reproduction RGB primaries (Ro, Go, Bo). The reproduction gamut (RG) is narrower than the input gamut (IG). An input signal (RGBin) defined with respect to the input RGB primaries (Ri, Gi, Bi) is color transformed (1) into a transformed signal (RGBt) defined with respect to the reproduction RGB primaries (Ro, Go, Bo), whereby color information of the pixels (P1, P2, P3) within the reproduction gamut (RG) is preserved. Scaling factors (SFi) indicating a distance between on the one hand pixels (P1, P2, P3) of the transformed signal (RGBt) which are outside the reproduction gamut (RG), and on the other hand an edge of the reproduction gamut (RG) are determined (2). The scaling factors (SFi) of pixels (P1, P2, P3) of the transformed signal (RGBt) are spatial low-pass filtered (3) to obtain filtered factors (FFi) for these pixels (P1, P2, P3). Component signal values of the transformed signal (RGBt) of the pixels (P1, P2, P3) are corrected (4) in response to the filtered factors (FFi) to obtain reproduction signal values (RGBo) which are input values (RGBi) moved towards inside the reproduction gamut (RG). |
| US08379970B2 |
Method of providing contents using color marker and system for performing the same
The present invention relates to a color marker recognizing device using a color marker. The color marker recognizing device includes a coloring unit and a content unit. The coloring unit acquires a sub marker image from color marker images according to contextual information on a user. The content unit outputs a first content demand signal that requests to display a first content corresponding to the sub marker image acquired by the coloring unit. Since the color marker recognizing device uses the color marker, it is possible to provide personalized content services. |
| US08379969B2 |
Method for matching an object model to a three-dimensional point cloud
The invention relates to a method for matching an object model to a three-dimensional point cloud, wherein the point cloud is generated from two images by means of a stereo method and a clustering method is applied to the point cloud in order to identify points belonging to respectively one cluster, wherein model matching is subsequently carried out, with at least one object model being superposed on at least one cluster and an optimum position of the object model with respect to the cluster being determined, and wherein a correction of false assignments of points is carried out by means of the matched object model. A classifier, trained by means of at least one exemplary object, is used to generate an attention map from at least one of the images. A number and/or a location probability of at least one object, which is similar to the exemplary object, is determined in the image using the attention map, and the attention map is taken into account in the clustering method and/or in the model matching. |
| US08379965B2 |
Defect classification method, computer storage medium, and defect classification apparatus
A defect classification apparatus of the present invention includes a design unit and a diagnosis unit. In the design unit, a model creation unit combines a defect template in a template storage unit with a teaching image to create a defect model, and a classification class setting unit calculates feature amounts of a defect in the defect model and sets a classification class of the defect. The relation between the feature amounts of the defect and the classification class is stored in a storage unit. In the diagnosis unit, a feature amount calculation unit calculates feature amounts of defects from a captured inspection object image of the substrate, and a classification unit classifies the defects of the substrate into classification classes from the relations between the feature amounts of the defects and the classification classes in the storage unit based on the calculated feature amounts of the defects. |
| US08379960B2 |
System and method for distinguishing between biological materials
The invention provides a method for distinguishing biological materials. The method provides: providing at least one segmented image of at least two cells; applying a distance transform to the at least one segmented image of the confluent cells; applying a region growing technique to the distance transform of the at least one segmented image to form a region grown image, wherein a plurality of regions are formed in the at least one segmented image; assigning at least one label to at least one of the plurality of regions of the at least one segmented image of the confluent cells; applying a merging technique to at least two of the plurality of regions if it is determined that at least two of the plurality of regions are neighboring regions; determining whether to assign a same label to the neighboring regions or retain existing labels; and merging the neighboring regions of the region grown image if labels are changed to form at least one image of at least one cell. |
| US08379956B2 |
System and method for definition of DICOM header values
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an improved system and method for image file header configuration. Certain embodiments of the method include retrieving one or more criterion for configuration of an image orientation parameter, configuring the image orientation parameter based on the one or more criterion, obtaining image data, and storing the image data in an image file. The image file has a header portion including the image orientation parameter. In an embodiment, the image orientation parameter may be modified from a default configuration. The one or more criterion may include user preference, modality restriction, system preference, and/or rule, for example. The method may further include saving the image file with the configured image orientation parameter. Additionally, the method may include displaying an image according to the configured image orientation parameter. The image may be automatically oriented for display based on the configured image orientation parameter. |
| US08379955B2 |
Visualizing a 3D volume dataset of an image at any position or orientation from within or outside
A machine-implemented display method that, with respect to a volume dataset being rendered, enables a user to navigate to any position in space and look in any direction. Preferably, the volume dataset is derived from a computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. With the described approach, the user can see details within the dataset that are not available using conventional visualization approaches. The freedom-of-motion capability allows the user to go to places (positions) within the volume rendering that are not otherwise possible using conventional “orbit” and “zoom” display techniques. Thus, for example, using the described approach, the display image enables a user to travel inside physical structures (e.g., a patient's heart, brain, arteries, and the like). |
| US08379954B2 |
Three dimensional image processing apparatus and X-ray diagnosis apparatus
A three dimensional image processing apparatus includes a region-of-interest setting unit to obtain a moving image of an area of movement of the subject radiographed from a predetermined direction, the moving image including a sequence of frames, to obtain a first feature region in a first frame of the sequence, to search each subsequent frame in the sequence to identify corresponding feature regions most similar to the first feature region so as to identify a sequence of feature regions, and to set a region of interest on the first frame as a rectangular region that just covers all of the identified feature regions in the sequence of feature regions. |
| US08379949B2 |
Method and apparatus for preprocessing and storing image attributes for the accelerated display of medical images in medical applications
A method and apparatus are disclosed for preprocessing and storing image attributes for the accelerated display of medical images in medical applications. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: assigning image attributes to a medical image, which are characteristic of a medical application which generates a specific visual display of the medical image; adjusting the medical image in accordance with the image attributes; storing the adjusted medical image together with the image attributes; calling up a further or the same medical application, which requires a visual display of the medical image; checking whether the required image attributes for the visual display correspond to the stored image attributes; calling up the stored, modified medical image in the case of a similar or identical correspondence of the image attributes; and visually displaying the recalled medical image. |
| US08379945B2 |
Optical apparatus for acquiring structure information and its processing method of optical interference signal
An optical apparatus for acquiring structure information comprises an optical branching device which splits a light outputted from a wavelength-swept light source into a sampling light and a reference light; a scanning device which scans a subject having a layer structure with the sampling light; and an signal processing device which acquires optical structure information of the subject by processing an interference signal between a return light which is reflected or backscattered at the subject and the reference light which has propagated a predetermined optical path length; wherein the signal processing device includes: a layer information extraction device which extracts layer information of the subject based on the interference signal; a feature value calculation device which calculates a feature value of the layer information; and an enhanced layer-structure image construction device which constructs an enhanced layer-structure image in which the layer structure is enhanced based on the feature value. |
| US08379944B2 |
Identification, classification and counting of targets of interest in multispectral image data
An imaging system for detecting targets of interest (TOIs) in multispectral imaging data includes a memory device storing a plurality of instructions embodying the system for detecting TOIs, a processor for receiving the multispectral imaging data and executing the plurality of instructions to perform a method including determining a list of events collocated across images of the multispectral imaging data and labeling each event as one of a TOI or non-TOI. |
| US08379943B2 |
High-performance fingerprint image-processing method
The present invention is a high-performance fingerprint image-processing method that use a composite filtering approach to perform the image enhancement through a combination of linear filtering and rhombus filtering after obtaining the determination for the fingerprint direction of fingerprint instead of the image enhancement performed in the frequency domain of the prior art; and then a binarizing step will follow to demonstrate the minutiae for image enhancement, also, the composite filter applied in the present invention can truly perform the image enhancement and mend the broken lines mainly focusing on each point in different fingerprint direction; furthermore, the present invention can use a filtering mask with a very low mask coefficient; thus, the filtering time and memory space can be significantly saved while the time spent and storage space occupied for image enhancement can be lessened largely. |
| US08379941B2 |
Systems and methods for person's verification using portrait photographs taken by a verifier-controlled digital camera
One embodiment of the present invention envisions providing requester with a computer program for a remote computer equipped with a digital photo camera. The computer program controls the camera and prevents alterations to an image taken with the camera. The unaltered image of a portrait photograph of the requester is transmitted from the remote computer to the verifier's server computer. The image of the portrait photograph of the requester may further be used to verify the requester by comparing the image to the photographs from other sources. |
| US08379940B2 |
Robust human authentication using holistic anthropometric and appearance-based features and boosting
A new robust human authentication system, device, and instructions, embeddable in a physical and tangible computer readable medium, for determining if at least one test image obtained using an imaging device matches at least one training image in an enrollment database, are disclosed. This invention applies the concepts of appearance (PCA or PCA+LDA) and holistic anthropometrics that include head, face, neck, and shoulder linear and non-linear geometric measurements. The appearance (“eigen”) coefficients and holistic anthropometric measurements selected may be used as feature vectors. A boosting algorithm ranks features as “weak learners” and combines their outputs for “strong” recognition. |
| US08379936B2 |
Authentication apparatus and authentication system
An authentication apparatus includes: an acquiring section that acquires a piece of biometric authentication information; a controlling section that causes the acquiring section to acquire plural pieces of biometric authentication information and causes to execute a biometric authentication based on the plural pieces of biometric authentication information; a storing section that stores, as reference information, a first one of the plural pieces of biometric authentication information, which is acquired and authenticated precedently among the plural pieces of biometric authentication information; and a discriminating section that determines, based on a degree of similarity between the reference information stored in the storing section and a second one of the plural pieces of biometric authentication information, that authentication is rejected when the degree of similarity exceeds a prescribed degree of similarity. The second one of the plural pieces of biometric authentication information is acquired subsequently among the plural pieces of biometric authentication information. |
| US08379933B2 |
Method of determining shift between two images
A method of determining shift between two images is disclosed. A first array of pixel data of a first image is mapped to a first feature array(s) having a dimension lesser than the first array, and a second array of pixel data of a second image is mapped to a second feature array(s) having a dimension lesser than the second array. The second feature array is aligned with the first feature array by determining similarity between the first feature array and a number of the shifted second feature arrays. The position shift of the shifted second feature array with most similarity is thus determined as the shift between the two images. |
| US08379925B2 |
Determination of tire parameters for configurable application of a tire dressing
A tire dressing system includes an imaging device that captures an image of a vehicle tire or portion thereof and at least one application device that applies tire dressing to the tire based on the captured image. The system determines one or more tire parameters based on the captured image. The tire dressing system configures the at least one application device based on the tire parameter(s) such that the application device substantially restricts application of tire dressing to within the boundaries of the tire sidewalls. By determining the tire parameters, the tire dressing system may apply the tire dressing to the tire sidewalls while reducing or minimizing application of tire dressing to the body or rims of the vehicle. |
| US08379924B2 |
Real time environment model generation system
A vehicle environment monitoring system is provided that is based on a three-dimensional vector model. The three-dimensional vector model of the vehicle's environment is generated on the basis of the image data captured by at least one three-dimensional camera. Out of the image data, particular data are extracted for generating the three-dimensional vector model in order to reduce the data volume. For data extraction, a data extraction algorithm is applied that is determined in accordance with at least one parameter that relates to the situation of the vehicle. Therefore, targeted data extraction is performed for generating a three-dimensional model that is particularly adapted for an application that is desired in the current vehicle situation. The applications of the vector model include driver assistance, external monitoring and vehicle control, as well as recording in an event data recorder. In one implementation, a sequence of three-dimensional vector models, representing a three-dimensional space-and-time model, is generated. |
| US08379918B2 |
Method for perception measurement
In a procedure for measuring perception, first visual coordinates of a first point of vision assigned to a first visual field are processed, and second visual coordinates of a second point of vision assigned to a second visual field image, are processed. For determining the visual attention to certain areas of the surroundings, the second visual coordinates are examined together with the first visual coordinates in a comparison device to check whether they fulfill a fixation criterion. If the first and second points of vision fulfill the fixation criterion, they are assigned to a first fixation associated with ordered perception. Otherwise, they are assigned to a first saccade associated with aleatoric perception. |
| US08379915B2 |
Method of performing motion-based object extraction and tracking in video
A method of extracting objects from a video includes the identification of regions to be tracked, tracking the regions across several frames, calculating motions of the regions, and identifying new regions to be tracked. Regions of a selected frame of the video that are appropriate for tracking are selected. Tracking of the identified regions is then performed across frames subsequent to the selected frame of the video. Motions of the identified regions are calculated, and new regions for tracking are identified. |
| US08379910B2 |
Image signature creating method and apparatus for discriminating still images
An image signature creating method includes: creating a map by partitioning a still image using rings defined by concentric circles radially spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval and radial lines circumferentially spaced apart from each other by a predetermined angle, the center of the still image being that of the concentric circles; and creating an image signature from the created map on the basis of distribution of pixels in regions defined by the rings and the radial lines. Accordingly, distribution of illegal contents is prevented and interrupted by search for and discrimination of a still image illegally deformed by a copying of or an intended attack on the still image. |
| US08379903B2 |
Apparatus for driving voice coil actuator of camera and method thereof
An apparatus and a method for driving a voice coil actuator of a camera are disclosed. In the apparatus for driving a voice coil actuator of a camera, when an input shaping execution unit generates a shaping signal using a resonance frequency of the voice coil actuator to output a drive control signal subjected to input shaping, a drive circuit unit controls an operation of the voice coil actuator connected to a rear end according to the drive control signal using the shaping signal as an initial input. The shaping signal is used for removing resonance of the voice coil actuator and may be one of a 2-step shaping signal, a multi-step shaping signal having 4 or more steps, a linear shaping signal, a toggle shaping signal and the like. |
| US08379901B2 |
Sound enhancement system
A speaker assembly mounted on a bracket extending from a ceiling comprises an enclosure that includes a bottom wall, side walls including opposing first and second side walls, a sleeve that receives a tubular member of the bracket, and an interior wall having a first segment that extends from the sleeve to the first side wall and a second segment that extends from the sleeve to the second side wall. The interior wall cooperates with the sleeve to divide the enclosure into two approximately equal sized compartments. Each of the speakers within the assembly either forms, or is mounted in or on, one of the side walls. A top plate is mounted on, and forms a top of, the enclosure and seals the two compartments, the top plate having an opening that is aligned with the sleeve when the top plate is mounted on the enclosure. A power unit and circuitry for the speakers are mounted on the top plate. |
| US08379900B2 |
Connecting device, antenna device, and receiving device
A connecting device includes an audio signal plug to which an audio signal transmission cable including at least three lines can be connected, the audio signal plug including at least three plug terminals. The three plug terminals of the audio signal plug include first, second, and third plug terminals. The first plug terminal functions as a signal line in which a high-frequency signal is superimposed on an audio signal. The second plug terminal different from the first plug terminal functions as a ground for low-frequency and high-frequency. The third plug terminal different from the first and second plug terminals functions as a ground by capacitive coupling for the high-frequency, and has a function for transmitting a signal different from a signal of the first plug terminal for the low-frequency. |
| US08379899B2 |
Electro-acoustical transducer and a transducer assembly
An electro-acoustical transducer comprising DC atmospheric pressure equalization vents for equalizing pressure in both chambers therein. The sound port of the transducer may be sealed by a sound conducting member preventing gas flow there through. The transducer may have a single vent extending in a plane of a side portion, which vent may have a meandering path or may comprise tapering portions or cavities defining acoustical properties thereof. |
| US08379897B2 |
Hearing assistance device having reduced mechanical feedback
An electronic hearing aid apparatus comprises a first component, a second component and a cable assembly for electrically connecting the first component to the second component. The first component includes a vibration sensor for sensing acoustic vibrations and generating a vibration signal based on the sensed acoustic vibrations, electronics for processing and amplifying the vibration signal and an output port for providing access to the amplified vibration signal. The second component includes an input port for receiving the amplified vibration signal and a vibration generator for generating vibrations based on the amplified vibration signal. The cable assembly conducts the amplified vibration signal from the output port of the first component to the input port of the second component. The cable assembly includes a first connector for electrically connecting to the first component, a second connector for electrically connecting to the second component and a flexible cable portion for electrically connecting the first connector to the second connector. In some embodiments, the cable portion has a stiffness of no more than about 7.0 Taber stiffness units. In one most preferred embodiment, the cable portion has a stiffness of no more than about 1.0 Taber stiffness unit. |
| US08379890B2 |
Capacitive electro-acoustic transduction system and capacitive electro-acoustic transducer thereof
A capacitive electro-acoustic transducer includes a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, an electrode plate, and a diaphragm. The pair of input terminals receives an audio signal, and the pair of output terminals outputs the audio signal, wherein at least one terminal of these terminals is a conductive magnet. The electrode plate has a first end and a second end electrically connected to a first input terminal of the pair of input terminals and a first output terminal of the pair of output terminals, respectively. The diaphragm is disposed on one side of the electrode plate and has a third end and a fourth end electrically connected to a second input terminal of the pair of input terminals and a second output terminal of the pair of output terminals, respectively. |
| US08379889B2 |
Method of operating a hearing device and a hearing device
A method of operating a hearing device is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: sensing an acoustic signal and providing an input acoustic signal, sensing a magnetic signal and providing a input magnetic signal, selecting one of the input acoustic signal and the input magnetic signal as an information signal, wherein the input magnetic signal or the input acoustic signal is selected as the information signal after a signal detection process has determined a probability being above a preset value, said probability being indicative of a presence of audio information in the input magnetic signal or the input acoustic signal, respectively, and processing the information signal and providing an output signal to a user of the hearing device. In addition, corresponding hearing devices are also disclosed. |
| US08379881B2 |
Silicon based capacitive microphone
A silicon based capacitive microphone includes a first printed circuit board, a second printed circuit board far away from the first printed circuit board, a transducer electrically mounted on the first printed circuit board, a controlling chip electrically mounted on the second printed circuit board, a connecting member located between the first and second printed circuit boards. |
| US08379878B2 |
Pre-coding method for providing diversity gain in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system and transmission apparatus and method using the pre-coding method
A pre-coding method for improving diversity gain in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system and a transmission apparatus and method are disclosed. The transmission method includes converting an input transmission signal into parallel signals, pre-coding the parallel signals with a predetermined frequency offset, performing Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) on the pre-coded signals, and up-converting the IDFT signals and outputting the up-converted signals to a wireless network. By performing pre-coding on a transmission signal with a frequency offset in an OFDM system, diversity gain can be improved. |
| US08379876B2 |
Audio device utilizing a defect detection method on a microphone array
An audio device is provided, employing a defect detection method to detect defectiveness within a microphone array. The microphone array comprising a first microphone and a second microphone, respectively, generates a first audio signal and a second audio signal from ambient audio signals. An error detector is provided to detect functions of the first and second microphones based on the first and second audio signals to generate a status signal. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the first and second audio signals based on the status signal. If the status signal indicates that only the first microphone or the second microphone is defective, the DSP switches to a single microphone mode in which only the remaining normal microphone is enabled. If the status signal indicates that both the first and second microphones are defective, the DSP generates an error indication signal and stops processing the first and second audio signals. |
| US08379874B1 |
Apparatus and method for time aligning program and video data with natural sound at locations distant from the program source and/or ticketing and authorizing receiving, reproduction and controlling of program transmissions
A wireless device and method may comprise, by way of example, a device and method for receiving wireless transmissions which may include locating data, or authorization data or program data, for determining its location from the locating data, or for determining synchronization for program data, or for ticketing, or for a combination thereof. Authorization data and/or locating data and/or other data may be used to authorize reproduction and/or controlling of received program data, and or for controlling the wireless device. Video program data may be delayed by a number of video frames, preferably an integer number, so as to be substantially synchronized with natural sound. The device and method may determine a location for delaying received program data to be substantially in time alignment with natural sound. A ticketing entity may control a ticket and/or and authorization, and/or may control a remote device thereby. |
| US08379865B2 |
Multikey support for multiple office system
A novel approach is proposed for centralized administration of a multikey for a plurality of clients at a set of remote office/branch offices (ROBOs). A multikey having a set of properties, permissions, and policies is first associated with a secure item present at one or more of the ROBOs. A set of respective instances of the multikey are then generated for the ROBOs having the secure item, and the set of properties, permissions, and policies are associated with each of the respective instances of the multikey automatically. The instances of the multikey are then provided to the set of ROBOs for the encryption or decryption of the secure item present at the ROBOs. |
| US08379864B2 |
Software plug-in framework to modify decryption methods in terminals
The present invention provides methods, apparatuses, and systems for delivering protected multi-media content to a receiving device. Protected multi-media content and key information are inserted in a same time slice burst. A receiving device receives the time slice burst with the content datagrams and the key information and decrypts the content datagrams with the key information. Key datagrams may be associated with a higher priority level than content datagrams. Consequently, a receiving device can process a key datagram in order to extract a key before routing associated content datagrams to a message stack. A key may be encrypted at one or two levels of encryption. Additionally, a new security plug-in software module may be deployed at a receiving device. The new security plug-in software module is configured as an installation package that is encrypted as a protected message and that is decrypted by the receiving device. |
| US08379862B2 |
Method and device for automatically distributing updated key material
A method for handling an encrypted message received on an electronic device that has not been encrypted using a current public key. The portable electronic device automatically generates a reply message to the sender in response to determining that the message has not been encrypted with the current public key. The reply message may contain the current public key of the recipient device, and may request the sender to resend the message encrypted with the current public key. |
| US08379859B2 |
Method and apparatus for ciphering data in wireless communication system
An apparatus for ciphering data in a wireless communication system. The apparatus includes a memory which stores data to be ciphered; a controller which outputs a cipher command for each layer of a wireless protocol; a protocol processing unit including a cipher hardware, which receives the cipher command outputted from the controller, reads data to be ciphered from the memory, ciphers the data and outputs the ciphered data, and a transmission data processing unit, which receives ciphered data that is directly outputted from the cipher hardware, adds a header for transmission and generates a data packet; and an RF communication unit which directly receives the generated data packet and transmits the received data packet. |
| US08379856B2 |
Hardware based cryptography
Technologies are generally described for a hardware cryptographic unit that employs hardware public physically unclonable functions. A source computer can encrypt a message using a simulation of a hardware cryptographic unit. The encrypted message can then be sent to a destination computer. The destination computer can then use the hardware cryptographic unit to decrypt the message. The source computer can use a simulation of the hardware cryptographic unit to transform an input value into a simulation output. The simulation output can be transmitted from the source computer to the destination computer where all possible input values can be rapidly run through the hardware cryptographic unit until the output of the hardware cryptographic unit matches the simulated output. The input value that generated the matching output is now a shared secret between the source computer and destination computer without ever having been transmitted in the clear over the communication channel. |
| US08379855B2 |
Ciphering in a packet-switched telecommunications system
A method including generating a plurality of convergence layer protocol data units in a packet-switched telecommunications system protocol stack; ciphering the plurality of convergence layer protocol data units using a ciphering sequence number; transferring the plurality of ciphered convergence layer protocol data units to a link layer of the packet-switched telecommunications system; discarding at least one ciphered convergence layer protocol data unit at the link layer and generating a link layer protocol data unit from at least one of the ciphered convergence layer protocol data units that has not been discarded; and transmitting the link layer protocol data unit and information relating to the discarding for a peer link layer. |
| US08379853B2 |
Descrambler
According to one embodiment of the invention, the descrambler IC comprises a local memory to store a unique key and a plurality of process blocks. A first process block is adapted to perform cryptographic operations on input information using the unique key to produce a user key. A second process block is adapted to perform cryptographic operations on incoming information using the user key to produce a copy protection key while a third process block uses the unique key to decrypt an encrypted descrambling key and recover the descrambling key. The decryption logic uses the descrambling key to decrypt encrypted incoming digital content and produce digital content in a clear format. The encryption logic uses the copy protection key to re-encrypt the digital content in the clear format and produce encrypted digital content for transmission from the descrambler. |
| US08379851B2 |
Optimized client side rate control and indexed file layout for streaming media
An indexed file layout, comprising index information, is defined for segmented streaming of multimedia content. The index information can comprise program description information and streaming segment index information. In addition, the layout can comprise files containing streaming segments of the program, where the streaming segments are each encoded at one or more bitrates independently of other streaming segments of the program. The layout supports client switching between different bitrates at segment boundaries. Optimized client-side rate control of streaming content can be provided by defining a plurality of states, selecting available paths based on constraint conditions, and selecting a best path through the states (e.g., based on a distortion measure). In one client-side rate control solution states correspond to a specific bitrate of a specific streaming segment, and in another client-side rate control solution states correspond to a measure of client buffer fullness. |
| US08379844B2 |
Methods and apparatus for performing an elliptic curve scalar multiplication operation using splitting
For an Elliptic Curve Scalar Multiplication (ECSM) operation to be performed on a scalar and a base point, a given previous set of parameters that was used to split the scalar for a previous ECSM operation and a selected random integer are used to determine a new set of parameters for splitting the scalar. By basing the new set of parameters on the previous set of parameters, repeated use of the scalar to determine key-splitting parameters is avoided and susceptibility to a Differential Power Analysis Side Channel attack is minimized. |
| US08379840B2 |
Push-push slide mechanism
An apparatus including a guide track member for a first part, a guide pin for a second part and a first biaser. The first and second parts being for a portable electronic device and the guide track member including first and second guide track portions. The apparatus is configured such that the guide pm travels within the respective guide track first and second portions to provide respective first and second bistable configurations of the apparatus in which the first and second parts are held in relative positions to one another. The first biaser is configured to apply a lateral force to the guide pin to cause it to travel along the first portion of the guide track when moving from the first bistable configuration to the second bistable configuration and to apply a lateral force to the guide pin to cause it to travel along the second portion of the guide track when moving from the second bistable configuration to the first bistable configuration. The transition between the bistable configurations is provided by relative movement of the first and second parts in the same direction. |
| US08379838B2 |
Tone detector
A tone detector is disclosed that is realizable in digital embodiment on a single integrated circuit die and does not require external components, such as a discrete capacitor. An input connects to a comparator, which in turn connects to one or more edge detectors and a flip flop. The edge detector outputs a pulse responsive to a detected edge. A counter is reset by the pulses from the edge detectors thereby preventing the counter from reaching a maximum value, which would otherwise be output from the counter and provided to a flip flop to clock in the comparator output at the D input to the flip flop. In operation, the comparator generates a rail to rail signal responsive to a received tone, which in turn is clocked through the flip flop as a logic high output indicating presence of a tone. |
| US08379835B1 |
Systems and methods for endpoint recording using recorders
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recording media communications. An exemplary method is comprised of the following steps: configuring an endpoint recording device for relaying an incoming call to an endpoint component; receiving the incoming call from a communication system; determining whether to relay the incoming call to the endpoint component based on the configurations of the endpoint recording device; responsive to determining that the incoming call is to be relayed, relaying media communications associated with the incoming call to the endpoint component via the endpoint recording device; and recording the relayed media communications at the endpoint component. |
| US08379834B2 |
Method and system for managing interactive communications campaigns
A web-based hosted solution through which business entities create and manage communications campaigns, such as interactive campaigns that afford target recipients an opportunity to be connected to a third party call center. A web interface is provided to enable a business entity customer to create a set of one or more rules that, when triggered during the campaign, cause the hosted solution to take certain control actions in real-time, based on campaign performance. Preferably, this “campaign performance” is measured indirectly, i.e. without requiring a direct connection to an on-premises call center ACD. Rather, preferably all information about the call center's performance during the campaign is derived from information (gathered by the hosted solution) about calls delivered, or attempted to be delivered, to the call center. In effect, the call center performance is inferred, and this performance is then exposed to the business entity customer through a web-based interface. In particular, the interface provides the business entity customer with a convenient and easy-to-use display that identifies any rule that has been (or may be getting ready to be) triggered, together with a then current status of the campaign. The system is programmed to take a given control action (e.g., campaign suspension, adjusting an outbound call rate, or the like) when a customer-configurable rule is triggered. |
| US08379831B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for accessing a new customer service representative and for monitoring customer service
This disclosure details the implementation of methods, systems and computer program products for a customer satisfaction engine (CSE). Embodiments of the CSE allow callers to key in customer satisfaction data using a rating system and/or to change customer service representatives (CSR) during the course of a customer service call rather than after the call has ended. Caller generated ratings may be stored in a database in association with the respective CSR profile for later access, analysis, and/or review. CSE embodiments may also allow customers to log in to a website and view operations made by the CSR as a service call progresses. CSE systems may provide for improved customer service and allow companies improved efficiency, monitoring and reporting of CSR performance. |
| US08379828B2 |
Flexible communication systems and methods
A method of initiating a telecommunication session for a communication device include submitting to one or more telecommunication carriers a proposal for a telecommunication session, receiving from at least one of the one or more of telecommunication carriers a bid to carry the telecommunications session, and automatically selecting one of the telecommunications carriers from the carriers submitting a bid, and initiating the telecommunication session through the selected telecommunication carrier. |
| US08379827B2 |
Conveying service invocation information within multimodal conversation systems
Service invocation information including call routing, reasons for redirections, and similar information are provided to party requesting a communication session and recipients of an enhanced communication system along the call routing path as the request is routed. Some of the information is filtered based on system and/or user defined rules, user permission levels, and comparable aspects. |
| US08379826B2 |
Enhanced call return in a communications network
Methods for enabling enhanced call return in a communications network is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving an incoming telephone call from a caller, wherein the incoming telephone call identifies a subscriber as a callee thereof; capturing caller-specific information for the caller, wherein the caller-specific information includes at least one of the name of the caller and the telephone number of the caller; and storing the caller-specific information into an intelligent peripheral (IP) within the network. Some embodiments of the methods include allowing the subscriber to access the caller-specific information stored in the IP. In some embodiments, the subscriber subscribes to an enhanced call return (ECR) feature as part of a service plan. The ECR feature allows the subscriber to access caller-specific information for a predetermined number of past callers and also to return calls from those past callers. The caller-specific information may include caller's name, caller's telephone number and the date/time the call was received from the caller. |
| US08379825B2 |
System and method for establishing PSTN calls via an IP request
A method of establishing a call over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is provided. The PSTN operatively connected to an End Office (EO) serving a calling party's Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE). The method includes: receiving at a network element of the PSTN a message requesting establishment of the call over the PSTN, the message being received over a packet-switched network and identifying the calling party's CPE from which the call is to be placed; and, notifying the EO serving the calling party's CPE of the request for establishment of the call such that the EO treats the call as a terminating call as opposed to an originating call. |
| US08379823B2 |
Distributed bridging
A communication system that includes multiple conferencing devices connected in a daisy-chain configuration is communicably connected to far-end conference participants. Multiple conferencing devices provide improved sound quality to the far-end participants by reducing aural artifacts resulting from reverberation and echo. The daisy-chain communication system also reduces the processing and transmission time of the near-end audio signal by processing and transmitting the audio signal in frequency domain. Each conferencing device in the daisy chain performs signal conditioning on its audio signal before transmitting it in the frequency domain to a mixer. The output signal of the mixer is converted back to the time domain before being transmitted to the far-end. The daisy-chain configuration also provides a distributed bridge to external communication devices that can be connected to each conferencing device. |
| US08379820B2 |
Virtual personal assistant for handling calls in a communication system
Connecting a caller with a plurality of destinations using a destination list received from a caller or a designated user. Attempts are made to connect the caller with each of the destinations in the stored destination list, with each attempt including a connectability query to determine whether either the caller or the destination is connectable. Thereafter, the other party is called and offered a connection attempt to the first party. If the second party accepts, a call is made to the first party. If the first party is indeed connectable and answers the call, a connection is established between the two parties. Once the destination list is stored, attempts to connect the caller with each destination can be separately initiated or paused. Furthermore, the stored destination list can be edited even after connection attempts have been initiated. |
| US08379818B2 |
Method and apparatus for conveying a calling party identifier
A method and system is disclosed for presenting differentiated calling party identifiers representative of a calling party to various called parties based on the identifier information for a particular called party. The differentiated calling party identifier that is conveyed to a called party may be selected from a list of calling party identifiers associated with the calling party. The system receives an indication of an attempt to initiate a call by a calling party which includes identifier information indicative of the called party, determines a calling party identifier to be conveyed to the called party based on the identifier information indicative of the called party and causes an appropriate calling party identifier to be conveyed in association with the initiated call. |
| US08379812B1 |
Spending limit gauge for telephone devices
Methods are disclosed of assisting a user of a telephone device to manage their account with a telephone service provider. The method includes a step of displaying to the user a graphical display of current charges on their account together with an indicia indicating a spending limit associated with the account. The graphical display is designed such that the proximity of the sum of the current charges to the spending limit is displayed. The method further includes providing a display feature whereby the user can change the display to further display the current charges for the account, in addition to a charge for service by the telephone service provider which has not yet been incurred, such as for example the next monthly service charge. The graphical display of the spending limit gauge can take a variety of forms, such as bar graphics, or pie-chart. In one embodiment, the displays are presented on the display of a wireless telephone. |
| US08379809B2 |
One-touch user voiced message
A communication terminal includes a first input device for receiving a voiced input, a second input device for receiving a user input command, and a processor for conducting communications through a communication network. The processor is connectable to a messaging system having a message memory. When a user inputs a create message signal at the second input device, the processor monitors the first input device for receipt of a user voiced message, and transmits the user voiced message to the messaging system for storage in the message memory. The message is accessible by the user from the messaging system using the communication terminal. |
| US08379808B2 |
Dynamically reconfigurable distributed interactive voice response system
The present invention is a computer system and method that manages connections between one or more data network interfaces and one or more phone interfaces. A manager process, running on a computer system having both data and phone network interfaces, receives one or more telephone calls from one or more users over one of the phone interfaces and than accesses one or more profiles associated with each of the users. These profiles have one or more service identifiers and one or more interactive response agent (IRA) identifiers associated with the respective user. A menu of the service identifiers is presented to the user. The system then looks up an agent address of one of the IRAs that is associated with the service identifier selected by the user from the menu and establishes a session with the associated IRA. Having done this a two-way communication with the associated IRA occurs during the session. In this communication, the IRA is capable of passing information to the system from one or more application servers to which the IRA is connected over one or more data networks. |
| US08379806B2 |
System and method for management of call data using a vector based model and relational data structure
A system and method for representing call content in a searchable database includes transcribing call content to text. The call content is projected to vector space, by creating a vector by indexing the call based on the content and determining a similarity of the call to an atomic-class dictionary. The call is classified in a relational database in accordance with the vector. |
| US08379805B2 |
Interactive response system for giving a user access to information
Interactive response systems (1) of call centers for giving users access to information comprise means (11, 31) for receiving activation signals via audio or video or audio/video calls from the users and means (12, 32) for transmitting menu signals to the users and means (13, 21, 33) for receiving selection signals from the users are provided with means (22, 34) for transmitting video signals to the users for providing video to the user. This video may have entertaining, explaining, supporting and/or commercial functions and makes the interactive response systems more-sided and user friendly. The users either use two different devices (4, 5) or use one device (6) for exchanging audio and for receiving video. The interactive response systems (1) further comprise means (14, 35) for receiving link signals that provide direct or indirect links from the interactive response systems (1) to the devices (5) or to video or audio/video calls with the devices (6). The devices (4-6) comprise means (43, 52, 65) for transmitting selection signals to the interactive response systems (1) for making selections within menus. |
| US08379802B2 |
System and method for transmitting voice input from a remote location over a wireless data channel
A system and method for improving voice recognition processing at a server system that receives voice input from a remotely located user system. The user system includes a microphone, a processor that performs front-end voice recognition processing of the received user voice input, and a communication component configured to send the front-end processed user voice input to a destination wirelessly over a network. The server system includes a communication component configured to receive the sent front-end processed user voice input, and a processor configured to complete voice recognition processing of the sent front-end processed user voice input. |
| US08379795B2 |
Methods and apparatus for archiving X-ray fluoroscopy images
Methods and apparatus for archiving x-ray fluoroscopy images are provided. One method includes receiving fluoroscopic images from a fluoroscopic imaging system and storing all of the received fluoroscopic images during an image acquisition scan by the fluoroscopic imaging system. The received fluoroscopic images are displayed during the image acquisition scan. |
| US08379789B2 |
Nuclear plant
This invention relates to a nuclear plant having a reactor vessel and a fluid circuit including flow path defining means, defining a flow path for circulating a reactor coolant fluid from and to the reactor vessel. The nuclear plant includes a particle collection zone defined along at least part of the length of the flow path, and particle deflection means arranged in particle deflecting relationship with the flow path to deflect particles from a fluid stream in the flow path into or toward the particle collection zone. |
| US08379784B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device stably performs a read operation at a high frequency, thereby reducing a current consumption. The semiconductor memory device is capable of performing the read operation stably by controlling a data eye. The semiconductor memory device includes an output unit and a data eye control unit. The output unit outputs data in synchronization with clock signals. The data eye control unit controls a data eye of the data output by the output unit. |
| US08379777B2 |
Multicode transmission using walsh hadamard transform
A symbol sequence contained in a received signal comprising a cyclic convolution of a Walsh code multiplexed signal and a channel impulse response of a multipath channel is detected using Walsh Hadamard domain equalization techniques. The method comprises converting the received signal and the channel impulse response of the multipath channel from the time domain to the WHT domain, and determining the symbol sequence based on equalizing the received signal in the WHT domain using WHT spectra of the channel impulse response to remove inter-symbol interference from the received signal due to cross-correlation between Walsh codes. |
| US08379776B2 |
OFDM communication device and guard interval length decision method
Even if background noise is present, it is possible to control a guard interval length so that a minimum required SINR can be obtained. An OFDM communication device (10) includes: a correlation calculation unit (14) for calculating a correlation between a series of symbols to be received and a held signal that has a waveform identical to a waveform of a known signal contained in the series of symbols; a desired signal power acquisition unit (19) for acquiring a desired signal power based on a calculation result; a background noise power acquisition unit (22) for acquiring a background noise power that indicates a difference amount between a reception power of each of the series of symbols and the desired signal power; and a GI length determination/instruction unit (23) for determining the guard interval length in accordance with the background noise power and instructing a transmitter to transmit the series of symbols with the determined guard interval length. |
| US08379775B2 |
Selection of a received sequence by means of metrics
A method of received data sequence assessment, the method comprising producing a correlation metric describing the fit to a received sequence of the most likely of a set of candidates for the received sequence and calculating an error metric indicative of discrepancies between the received sequence and its most likely candidate. |
| US08379774B2 |
Method and apparatus for merging bit probability information in serial localization with indecision
Probability information generated by a decoder as part of the symbol decoding process is fed back for use by a multi-stage demodulator that employs serial localization with indecision so that the accuracy of the final symbol decision generated by the multi-stage demodulator is improved. The multi-stage demodulator has one or more non-final stages operable to localize a search for the final symbol decision of a received signal using centroid-based values as constellation points instead of modulation symbols associated with the received signal. A final stage of the multi-stage demodulator is operable to determine the final symbol decision using a subset of the modulation symbols as constellation points. The decoder is operable to decode the final symbol decision, including generating probability information related to the modulation symbols. The multi-stage demodulator is operable to revise the final symbol decision based on the probability information related to the modulation symbols. |
| US08379768B2 |
Method and arrangement for generating soft bit information in a receiver of a multiple antenna system
The invention which relates to a method and to an arrangement for generating soft bit information in a receiver of a multiple antenna system is based on the object of reducing the calculation complexity for generating the soft bit information. In terms of the method, the object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the iterative deepening search for the Mh antenna is carried out in two substeps, in which case, in the first substep, when the last element of s is not assigned to the mth antenna, s is rotated in such a manner that m is associated with the last element of s, that the channel matrix H is likewise rotated and QR decomposition of the channel matrix H is carried out, that, in the second substep, the iterative deepening search is carried out using a search radius in the form of a vector (Formula (I)); in which (Formula (II)) denotes the number of bit positions in the mth antenna, that the comparison (Formula (III))≧d2 is carried out for a search radius vector (Formula (IV)) and the search radius is adapted by setting the vector element (Formula (IV)) ( . . . ) of the search vector (Formula (IV)) to the value of the Euclidean distance corresponding to the condition satisfied, that the iterative deepening search is carried out as long as at least one search radius (Formula (IV)) ( . . . ) from the radius vector (Formula (IV)) satisfies the condition (Formula (III))≧d2 or the comparisons with all of the transmission symbols s(m) of all NTx antennas have been carried out, that the soft bit information (Formula (V)) for the antenna m is output, and that the substeps of the method are run through again until all of the soft bit information (Formula (V)) has been determined for all NTx antennas. |
| US08379767B2 |
Methods and systems to compensate IQ imbalance in zero-IF tuners
Methods and systems to calibrate I/Q imbalance with digital equalizers to compensate frequency dependent IQ imbalance, weighted summation modules to compensate frequency independent IQ imbalance, switch modules to controllably direct calibration signals through selected components and to a digital compensation calculator and to control tuner phases during calibration. The equalizers and summation modules may provide genetic IQ imbalance compensation. Methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented with respect to relatively wideband systems having non-linear spectrum responses, and other systems. |
| US08379766B2 |
Multi-channel receiver
This invention relates to a method, a computer program product, a device, and a system, wherein a receiver unit is configured to operate in a single-channel mode and in a multi-channel mode, wherein in the single-channel mode the receiver unit is configured to output exactly one channel of a received signal, and in the multiple-channel mode the receiver unit is configured to output at least two channels of the received signal. |
| US08379765B2 |
Amplitude monitor for high-speed signals
A serial communication system includes a receiver with an amplitude monitor. The amplitude monitor compares the input signal with a reference level in response to a sample clock. The sample clock is periodically phase shifted with respect to the incoming data so the amplitude monitor is sure to sample an incoming data eye at or near the peak amplitude over a selected sample period. The amplitude detector notes the detection of an input signal if the input signal surpasses the reference level for any sample phase. The amplitude monitor experiments with different sample-clock phases over a number of data symbols, but is capable of measuring amplitude fast enough to resolve amplitude-based signals used for rate negotiation. |
| US08379764B2 |
Receiving device and channel estimation method
Disclosed are a receiving device and a channel estimation method that are capable of using the amplitude information of a received signal to perform proper channel estimation. In the device, a detection section (102) extracts the amplitude information of the OOK modulation signal sequence in which a known CES (Channel Estimation Sequence) composed of data “0” and “1” is OOK (On Off Keying)-modulated to obtain a detected signal sequence. A “1”-detection section (1042) extracts only the sample value corresponding to the data “1” from the sample values of the detected signal sequence to obtain an extracted signal sequence. A correlation calculating section (1043) performs the correlation calculation between the extracted signal sequence and the CES. A propagation delay estimation section (1044) estimates the propagation delay amount of a CIR (Channel Impulse Response) from the correlation calculation. An amplitude coefficient estimation section (1045) estimates the amplitude coefficient of the CIR from the correlation calculation. |
| US08379762B2 |
Physical carrier to interference-plus-noise ratio techniques for wideband wireless communication networks
Techniques are provided to compute the physical carrier to interference-plus-noise ratio (PCINR) in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, the PCINR is computed from received signals in active subcarriers in a preamble of a wireless transmission frame. In another embodiment, the PCINR is computed from a block of contiguous subcarriers in a symbol of received wireless transmission. The PCINR may be used to adjust a system parameter associated with wireless communication between wireless communication devices. |
| US08379756B2 |
Method for multiplexing data information and control information in wireless communication system
A method for multiplexing a control information stream, and a data information stream comprised of systematic symbols and non-systematic symbols in a wireless mobile communication system is described. The multiplexing method includes mapping the data information stream to a resource area, so that the systematic bit symbols are not mapped to a specific resource area where the control information stream is to be mapped, and mapping the control information stream to the specific resource area. |
| US08379751B2 |
Method of transmitting data to a receiver
A method of transmitting data to a receiver, wherein the data is transmitted using a plurality of sub-carriers, is provided. The method provided includes determining, for each sub-carrier and for each of a plurality of combinations of the sub-carrier and an antenna of a plurality of antennas to be used for transmitting the data, a transmission characteristic of a transmission of the sub-carrier using the antenna; and selecting, for each sub-carrier, an antenna of the plurality of antennas to be used for the transmission of the sub-carrier based on the transmission characteristic of the transmission of the sub-carrier between the antenna and the receiver. |
| US08379750B2 |
Radio communication for reducing the signaling amount in selecting a plurality of beams in pre-coding for enhancing throughput
The signaling amount in selecting a plurality of beams is reduced in pre-coding to thereby enhance the throughput. To select a plurality of beams when the pre-coding is applied, when notification of a beam number is provided in a feedback signal from a user equipment 102 as a reception station to a radio base station 101 as a transmission station, a superior beam number having a high quality rank with small time variation is bound up and fixed for a predetermined time period and notification of only a inferior beam number is provided within the time period. For example, to select three beams from six beams, first, notification of the superior two beam numbers (beam numbers ‘b’ and ‘c’) is provided and the superior beam numbers are fixed for a predetermined time period and then notification of only the inferior one beam number (beam number ‘e’) is provided within the predetermined time period for reducing the signaling amount for providing beam number notification. |
| US08379749B2 |
Transmitter and transmission method
A transmitter includes multiple transmit antennas, a conversion unit configured to generate multiple signal sequences corresponding to a predefined frequency bandwidth from one or more transmission streams associated with any of the transmit antennas, a precoding unit configured to weight the signal sequences with a precoding matrix selected from a codebook including multiple predefined precoding matrices, and a transmitting unit configured to convert an output signal from the precoding unit into a number of signals corresponding to the number of transmit antennas and transmit the converted signals from the transmit antennas. The precoding unit applies distinct precoding matrices to different signal sequences, and an association between the distinct precoding matrices and the different signal sequences is determined through open-loop control being independent of a feedback from a receiver. |
| US08379743B2 |
Method and apparatus for interference mitigation in a baseband OFDM receiver
A method of compensating interference of received symbols in a MIMO OFDM receiver employs MMSE equalization and LLR scaling, and a MIMO OFDM receiver includes a linear MMSE equalizer. The method provides a low-complexity, numerically robust method for compensating interference of received symbols and provides a low-cost, robust digital baseband receiver for MIMO-OFDM, achieved by merging linear MMSE equalization and scaling of the corresponding equalized symbols into a single algorithm that, for the 2×M MIMO case, completely avoids computationally extensive matrix inversion and allows for significant simplification of symbol detection as compared to separate equalization and scaling. |
| US08379741B2 |
Wireless communication system and method for performing communication in the wireless communication system
Provided are a wireless communication system and a method of performing communication in the same. The wireless communication system includes a terminal configured to classify all subcarriers into a first group and a second group and allocate subcarriers of the first group to first symbols and subcarriers of the second group to the first symbols again to generate and transmit a first transmission signal, a base station configured to allocate the subcarriers of the first group to second symbols and the subcarriers of the second group to third symbols to generate and transmit a second transmission signal, and a relay configured to receive the first and second transmission signals and perform maximum likelihood (ML) determination of frequency domain signals of the first and second transmission signals to estimate the first to third symbols. |
| US08379739B2 |
Method and system for impact mitigation of sudden carrier frequency shifts in OFDM receivers
This disclosure relates to a method and system for impact mitigation of sudden carrier frequency shifts in OFDM receivers that transforming a received complex digital baseband signal and decoding data from the transformed signal. |
| US08379735B2 |
Automatic video glitch detection and audio-video synchronization assessment
A process to detect video glitches and audio-video synchronization errors arising during playback or capture. The process encodes an external time stamp into video and audio streams directly at the output of a digital media playback device. The process captures the stamped video and audio streams and analyzes the external stamp by comparing it with a presentation time stamp and a capture time stamp. |
| US08379732B2 |
Communications device for scanning multiple frequencies and for detecting analog and digital video signals and associated methods
A communications device includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver being scannable over a plurality of different frequencies and an analog to digital (AD) converter coupled to the RF receiver. The AD converter is configured to generate a receive bitstream. A processor coupled to the RF receiver and the AD converter. The processor is configured to perform, in parallel, calculating a received power level from the receive bitstream, attempting analog video decoding from the receive bitstream, and attempting digital video decoding from the receive bitstream. The processor is also configured to lock the RF receiver to a current frequency or scan the RF receiver to a next frequency based upon the received power level, and the attempted analog and video decoding. |
| US08379729B2 |
Content adaptive error localization to improve quality of corrupted video data streams upon decode
A method of video decoding discards a context dependent number of bits following detection of an invalid symbol. In the preferred embodiment the number of discarded bits depends upon the product of a constant corresponding to the video encoding standard and the current slice type and the maximum of the average number of bits per macroblock of the current slice and a stored average number of bits per macroblock of a previous slice of the same coding type. |
| US08379725B2 |
Motion-vector searching method and motion-vector searching apparatus
A motion-vector searching method is provided. The motion-vector searching method includes the steps of: reading out observed processing blocks and reading out reference processing blocks; concurrently computing partial evaluation values for each of a plurality of position vectors; obtaining a total evaluation value for each particular one of the position vectors; and finding the motion vector as an optimum position vector determined by comparison of the total evaluation values each obtained for one of the position vectors with each other. |
| US08379723B2 |
Chroma motion vector processing apparatus, system, and method
A system, apparatus, method, and article to process a chroma motion vector are described. The apparatus may include a video decoder. The video decoder includes a processor to receive a compressed video bitstream. The compressed video bitstream includes a stream of pictures. The stream of pictures includes a current slice and a current block within the slice. The processor pre-computes a chroma motion vector adjustment parameter for the current slice and determines a motion vector component for the current block within the current slice using the pre-computed chroma motion vector adjustment parameter. |
| US08379722B2 |
Timestamp-independent motion vector prediction for predictive (P) and bidirectionally predictive (B) pictures
Methods and apparatuses are provided for achieving improved video coding efficiency through the use of Motion Vector Predictors (MVPs) for the encoding or decoding of motion parameters within the calculation of the motion information in B pictures and/or P pictures. Certain exemplary methods and apparatuses selectively apply temporal and/or spatial prediction. Rate Distortion Optimization (RDO) techniques are also applied in certain methods and apparatuses to further help improve coding efficiency. |
| US08379717B2 |
Lifting-based implementations of orthonormal spatio-temporal transformations
A method and apparatus for encoding video frames is described. In one embodiment, an encoding method includes jointly transforming a set of pixels into high-pass data using an orthonormal transform. The set of pixels includes at least one reference pixel and predicted pixels. The method further includes generating low-pass data using the reference pixel and the high-pass data. |
| US08379713B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying video data
Provided is a method and apparatus for displaying video data without a display delay. In the method, a code indicating an end of stream is appended so that the code is appended behind a last video stream included in a stream to be displayed when only a part of an input stream including one or more video streams is displayed. In addition, the last video stream is displayed which is appended with the code indicating an end of stream. |
| US08379712B2 |
Image search methods for reducing computational complexity of motion estimation
An image search method may include: determining a quadrant of a predicted motion vector; calculating a tilt value of a first reference frame and a tilt value of a second reference frame using the predicted motion vector; deciding a search area for uneven hexagon search in response to the quadrant of the predicted motion vector and the calculated tilt values; performing the uneven hexagon search with respect to the decided search area; and/or comparing a result of the performed uneven hexagon search with a threshold value to determine termination of the uneven hexagon search. The second reference frame is earlier-in-time relative to the first reference frame. |
| US08379711B2 |
Methods and apparatus for decision-feedback equalization with oversampled phase detector
Methods and apparatus are provided for decision-feedback equalization with an oversampled phase detector. A method is provided for detecting data in a receiver employing decision-feedback equalization. A received signal is sampled using a data clock and a transition clock to generate a data sample signal and a transition sample signal. A DFE correction is obtained for each of the data sample and transition sample signals to generate DFE detected data and DFE transition data. One or more coefficients used for the DFE correction for the transition sample signals are adapted using the DFE transition data. |
| US08379710B2 |
Transmitter control in communication systems
Techniques are described to adaptively adjust the equalizer settings of each transmitter in a transmitter-receiver pair. The transmitter-receiver pair can be used at least with implementations that comply with 40GBASE-CR4 or 100GBASE-CR10. For implementations that comply with 40GBASE-CR4, equalizer settings of four transmitters may be independently established. |
| US08379709B2 |
Channel estimation and equalization for hard-limited signals
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for channel estimation when the amplitude of a received signal is hard-limited. A channel estimator computes amplitude estimates for the received signal based on the phase samples of the received signal and previous channel estimates. The amplitude estimates may comprise the expected values of the amplitude given the phase samples and the initial channel estimates. The channel estimator then computes revised channel estimates based on the amplitude estimates and the phase samples. The process may be performed iteratively to refine the channel estimates during each iteration. |
| US08379707B2 |
Signal analyzer and methods for displaying constellations
Constellation display allows a user to evaluate the quality of a signal under test with the constellation display even if the signal is a digital modulation signal that has many possible ideal phases. A signal analyzer 10 acquires time domain data of the signal under test that has N ideal phases. The signal analyzer 10 demodulates the signal under test to measure the phases θm and amplitudes Am of the symbols of the signal. Phase differences dθ between the ideal and measured phases of the measured symbols are calculated. K group phases θgi are assigned to N of the ideal phases. The signal analyzer displays a constellation using phases θgi+dθ and the measured amplitudes Am. That is, points are plotted at locations of X=Am*cos(θgi+dθ)+jAm*sin(θgi+dθ) on a complex plane. |
| US08379704B2 |
Method and device for data processing and communication system with data processing device
Signal processing and/or signal modulation includes tracking a phase parameter; determining a discontinuity; and compensating for the discontinuity. |
| US08379702B2 |
High bandwidth programmable transmission line pre-emphasis method and circuit
In one embodiment, a transmission line pre-emphasis circuit includes a primary signal path generating a primary differential output current indicative of a digital data stream and a secondary signal path including a pulse shaping stage incorporating a network and a scaling stage. The pre-emphasis circuit generates an overshoot pulse with variable pulse width. In another embodiment, a transmission line pre-emphasis circuit includes a primary signal path generating a primary differential output current indicative of a digital data stream and one or more secondary signal paths incorporating a network implementing a specific transient response. Each of the secondary signal paths includes a scaling stage and a shaping stage each with programmable bias current. The scaling stage can be configured before or after the shaping amplifier. The pre-emphasis circuit generates an overshoot signal with variable amplitude and/or variable width. |
| US08379698B2 |
Wireless frequency-domain multi-channel communications
A circuit for transmission and reception of multi-channel communications is disclosed. The transmitter path includes a digital modulation circuit receiving multiple channel binary data, and for each channel generating a digital representation of the data. A digital-to-analogue (D/A) conversion circuit (140-146) is provided for each data channel. Each D/A conversion circuit receives and converts respective channel digital representations to produce a resultant band limited analogue signal (148-154). The band limitation arises due to a characteristic of said channel digital representations. A bandpass filter (156-162) receives and filters each analogue channel signal. The band width to the start of the stop band of each bandpass filter is wider than a respective band limited analogue channel signal and wider than the Nyquist bandwidth arising from the sampling rate of said D/A conversion circuit. In this way, signal power in unwanted Nyquist zones is effectively removed. A frequency translation circuit (172-188) abuts the multiple channel bandpass filtered analogue signals in the frequency domain without any guard bands between adjacent channel signals. |
| US08379696B2 |
Method and apparatus for switching operating modes of a receiver
In a wireless communication system, a method and apparatus switches operating modes of a receiver receiving data and operating in a first mode. The method comprises determining whether a criteria is met to switch the operating mode of the receiver. The operating mode of the receiver is switched from the first mode to a second mode if the criteria is met. |
| US08379694B2 |
Simple and robust digital code tracking loop for wireless communication systems
A simple and robust CTL is used for time tracking of multipath components of a spread spectrum signal transmitted over a wireless multipath fading channel. A digital code-tracking loop includes the implementations of despreading early and late data samples by use of a pseudonoise sequence, an error signal output generated by the despreading, and adjustment for a plurality of on-time, early and late samples, a data rate of a control signal provided as a fractional proportion of a data rate of error signals. |
| US08379693B2 |
Method for de-spreading quadrature pseudorandom noise
The present invention discloses a method for de-spreading quadrature pseudorandom noise, which including: inputting data sequences I′ and Q′, and inputting pseudorandom noise sequences PNI and PNQ, on which quadrature pseudorandom noise de-spreading operation will be performed; in each timeslot, extracting continuously 2048 codeword from each pseudorandom noise sequence PNI and each pseudorandom noise sequence PNQ respectively, performing time-division de-multiplexing operation on the 2048 codeword respectively, and obtaining pseudorandom noise sequences PNI′ and PNQ′ both with a length of 1600 codeword; performing quadrature pseudorandom noise de-spreading operation on the pseudorandom noise sequences PNI′ and PNQ′ and the data sequences I′ and Q′ with a length of 1600 codeword input in the timeslot, and then outputting data sequences I and Q. The invention operates the input sequences to be performed with quadrature PN de-spreading. Thereby, system transmission requirement is satisfied, and complexity of transmitting end is relatively lowered. |
| US08379688B2 |
Method and apparatus adapted for localized hopping OFDMA and power efficient OFDMA multiplexing
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver configured for OFDM transmissions in frequency-contiguous, hopping, sub-channels. |
| US08379686B2 |
Two-dimensional photonic crystal surface-emitting laser light source
A two-dimensional photonic crystal surface-emitting laser light source producing a beam without side lobes is provided. A window-shaped electrode having a central window devoid of the electrode material is provided on a device substrate. A mount surface electrode smaller than the electrode including the window is provided on a mount surface. The distance between the substrate and the active layer is larger than that between the mount surface and the active layer. When a voltage is applied, electric charges are injected into the active layer and emission is obtained. Light having a specific wavelength is amplified by a two-dimensional photonic crystal and extracted through the window without side lobes due to interference. The positioning of the active layer close to the mount surface significantly enhances the heat-radiating effect. |
| US08379685B2 |
Surface emitting laser
A surface emitting laser emitting a laser beam in a single transverse mode irrespective of an emission area while one-dimensionally aligning polarization of the output beam, including a two-dimensional photonic crystal, having resonance modes in directions of the primitive translation vector a1 and a2, lengths |a1| and |a2| of the primitive translation vectors a1 and a2 satisfied |a1|=p×(λ1/2neff1), |a2|=λ2/2neff2 described by a resonance wavelengths λ1 and λ2 in the resonance modes in the a1 and a2 directions, effective refractive indexes neff1 and neff2 determined by the resonance modes in the a1 and a2 directions, an integer p of 2 or more, the resonance wavelengths λ1 and λ2 satisfy λ2≦2×(neff2/(nout+neff2))×λ1 described by the effective refractive index neff2 and a refractive index nout of an external medium located out of the surface emitting laser. |
| US08379684B1 |
Hole blocking layers in non-polar and semi-polar green light emitting devices
Light emitting devices are provided comprising an active region interposed between n-type and p-type sides of the device and a hole blocking layer interposed between the active region and the n-type side of the device. The active region comprises an active MQW structure and is configured for electrically-pumped stimulated emission of photons in the green portion of the optical spectrum. The n-type side of the light emitting device comprises an n-doped semiconductor region. The p-type side of the light emitting device comprises a p-doped semiconductor region. The n-doped semiconductor region comprises an n-doped non-polar or n-doped semi-polar substrate. Hole blocking layers according to the present disclosure comprise an n-doped semiconductor material and are interposed between the non-polar or semi-polar substrate and the active region of the light emitting device. The hole blocking layer (HBL) composition is characterized by a wider bandgap than that of the quantum well barrier layers of the active region. |
| US08379673B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmitter, turbo stream processing method thereof, and digital broadcasting system having the same
A digital broadcasting transmitter, a turbo stream processing method thereof, and a digital broadcasting system having the same. The digital broadcasting transmitter includes a first compressor, forming a normal stream by compressing audio and video signals in a first compression format, a second compressor, forming a turbo stream by compressing the audio and video signals in a second compression format, a transport stream (TS) constructor, compressing the turbo stream in an H.264 format and forming the dual transfer stream by multiplexing the normal stream and the turbo stream, and a TS processor, robustly processing the dual transfer stream transmitted from the TS constructor, thus enhancing the transmission efficiency. |
| US08379670B2 |
Method and device for transmitting video data
This method allows the transmission of coded data representing a sequence of digital images. A predetermined quantity of this data is stored in a buffer before transmission over a communication network. The method comprises a step of determining a subset of data in the buffer to be transcoded, as a function of at least one quantity representing the bandwidth available for the communication network. |
| US08379668B2 |
Controlling networked media capture devices
Disclosed embodiments allow media players and other electronic devices that operate under a first protocol to control the media capture devices that operate with a second protocol which may not be configurable to communicate with the first protocol. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a network device may store and/or render content within a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network and/or assist in content delivery for a DLNA device on a network. In another embodiment of the disclosure, a media capture device uses the Internet Protocol. |
| US08379666B2 |
System and method for resolving contention among applications requiring data connections between a mobile communications device and a wireless network
A mobile communications device includes a communication subsystem operable to conduct a plurality of wireless data connections between the mobile communications device and a wireless network wherein each of the data connections is associated with a connected application operating on the mobile communications device. A processor, coupled to the communication subsystem, is configured to process requests for new wireless data connections for a plurality of applications, releasing existing data connections and establishing new wireless data connections between the mobile communications device and a wireless network. The mobile communications device also includes means for prompting a user of the mobile communications device for releasing at least one application having an existing wireless data connection upon determining that a further wireless data connection cannot be effected when a request for a new wireless data connection for an application is received. |
| US08379660B2 |
Method and system for selecting from a plurality of configuration profile records for channel bonding operation
In DOCSIS 3.0 a greater level of configuration is possible for cable modems than was available in earlier versions. The CMTS potentially receives many possible configurations from a new CM. The standard does not indicate how the CMTS should configure a CM that can support more than one possible configuration. A CMTS' operator specifies preferences for certain channel configurations. The CMTS evaluates the configuration profiles received from a booting CM and determines the best profile to attempt to accommodate based on the specified preferences. The CMTS determines how to instruct the CM to configure itself based on the available channel resources than can accommodate the selected configuration profile. |
| US08379658B2 |
Deferred queuing in a buffered switch
A method and apparatus is disclosed for temporarily deferring transmission of frames to a destination in a data switch. When a request for transmission of a frame to the destination port is received, the congestion status of that destination is determined. If the destination is congested, the frame is stored in a deferred queue. When the status of a destination changes from congested to non-congested, the deferred queue is examined to see if any deferred frames can now be forwarded to their destination. While examining the deferred queue, incoming frames are placed on a backup queue. When the deferred queue is fully analyzed, the backup queue is emptied by either sending those frames to their destination or storing the frames in the deferred queue. While examining the deferred queue, the congested states of the destinations are not allowed to change from congested to non-congested. |
| US08379656B2 |
Real time configuration and provisioning for a carrier ethernet exchange
An Ethernet switch platform is configured to receive and process a provisioning order to establish a logical virtual circuit interconnecting a physical port associated with a buying carrier and a physical port associated with a selling carrier to set up a private network to private network connection between the buying and selling carriers. The virtual circuit is established with parameters called for in a request for quote (RFQ) initiated by the buying carrier and in a response to the RFQ submitted by the selling carrier. Information from the RFQ and from the response together with information previously stored in a relational database is extracted and used to fill out the provisioning order. The information extracted from the database include profile information and network service information associated with the buying and selling carriers. |
| US08379654B2 |
Method of and apparatus for providing isochronous services over switched ethernet including a home network wall plate having a combined IEEE 1394 and ethernet modified hub
A combined IEEE 1394-2000 and ethernet network allows devices on the network to operate according to both the IEEE 1394-2000 protocol and the ethernet protocol. The devices within the network are able to send IEEE 1394-2000 isochronous data, IEEE 1394-2000 asynchronous data and ethernet data. Both IEEE 1394-2000 and ethernet devices within the network are coupled to modified hubs (MHubs) to form a local cluster. The MHubs are coupled to an ethernet switch which controls communications between devices in different local clusters. The ethernet switch and the MHubs obey an isochronous interval in which all isochronous data transfers will be allowed. Preferably, on a regular and reoccurring period, the ethernet switch sends an isotick signal to begin the isochronous interval. Any bandwidth left after the isochronous interval is then allocated to the traditional ethernet traffic and the IEEE 1394-2000 asynchronous traffic, until the start of the next isochronous interval. |
| US08379653B2 |
Remote access method in network environment comprising NAT device
Provided is a remote access method between a remote access client (RAC) and a remote access server (RAS) in a network comprising a network address translation (NAT) device. The method includes obtaining a transport address set (TAS) with respect to a home remote access server (RAS) from an external server; registering the obtained TAS to a transport address resolution (TAR) server; receiving an IP packet transported from a remote access client (RAC) using the registered TAS; and transporting a response packet along a transport path of the received IP packet. Thus, an RAC can remotely access an RAS in a network comprising an NAT device, and an optimum communication path can be determined. |
| US08379651B2 |
Selectively disabling reliability mechanisms on a network connection
Computerized methods, systems, and computer-storage media for establishing and managing a transmission control protocol (TCP)-based tunnel (“tunnel”) are provided. The tunnel spans between a data center and a private enterprise network and connects endpoints, of a service application, that reside in each location. During communication, the endpoints transmit data packets over one or more channels (e.g., higher-level channel and lower-level channel) that comprise the tunnel. Each of the channels supports reliability mechanisms (e.g., congestion-control mechanism and loss-recovery mechanism) integrally running thereon, for ensuring complete data-packet delivery. To prevent unwarranted performance degradation caused by duplicative efforts of reliability mechanisms, a fabric controller is employed to selectively disable one or more of the reliability mechanisms individually. The selective disablement of the reliability mechanisms is invoked by predefined criteria, such as instructions from a service model or detected identity of a source/destination endpoint, and is invoked on a per network connection basis. |
| US08379650B2 |
Method and device for providing services for user
A method and a device for providing services for a user are provided. The method includes receiving, by an interrogating call session control function (I-CSCF), a failure response returned by a first serving call session control function (S-CSCF) after the I-CSCF selects the first S-CSCF for the user according to a capability set of an S-CSCF returned by a home subscriber server (HSS) and forwards a service request to the first S-CSCF; obtaining, by the I-CSCF, information of a second S-CSCF, and forwarding the service request from the user to the second S-CSCF. Therefore, when multiple identities of the user simultaneously generate unregistered services, when they generate registration requests at the time of generating unregistered services, or when they simultaneously generate registration requests, the I-CSCF forwards the service request from the user to a corresponding S-CSCF for processing, thus enabling a network to normally provide services for the user. |
| US08379646B2 |
Method of processing control information in a mobile communication system
A method of processing control information in a mobile communication system is disclosed, by which an RRC connection setup can be quickly completed and by which control information can be processed without an unnecessary standby of a mobile terminal. The present invention includes the steps of receiving a plurality of protocol data units transmitted plural time from a transmitting side via one common logical channel by an RLC (radio link control) entity operating in a UM (unacknowledged mode) and having a receiving window and a timer, re-ordering a plurality of the received protocol data units using sequence numbers of a plurality of the received protocol data units, the receiving window and the timer, reassembling at least one service data unit by processing a plurality of the re-ordered protocol data units, and delivering the at least one service data unit. |
| US08379645B2 |
Link data transmission method, node and system
Link data transmission to a plurality of nodes includes: establishing a tree connection among the plurality of nodes; receiving data to be transmitted at a current node; in the event that the current node receiving the data to be transmitted has at least one child node; sending by the current node the data to be transmitted to one of the at least one child node, and in the event that the current node receiving the data to be transmitted has at least one sibling node that has not obtained the data to be transmitted, sending by the current node the data to be transmitted to one of the at least one sibling node. |
| US08379644B1 |
System and method of processing management frames
A system and method of processing management frames implement a switching strategy that supports an interface between a generic device and a distributed switching architecture enabled switch. Control or management frames may be identified and processed independent of ordinary network traffic. |
| US08379635B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for processing a voice service
The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus, and a system for processing a voice service. The method includes: judging whether a PSTN service exists on an access line of a main node; if no PSTN service exists, closing a switch component on the access lines of the main node so that the PSTN service on a branch node is transmitted to an HGW on the main node through the switch component and the HGW converts the PSTN service into a service based on a packet format and transmits the service based on the packet format. When the PSTN service is carried on the PS domain, no information needs to be exchanged with the network side, thus preventing impact caused by the failure at the network side and improving stability of the apparatus. |
| US08379634B2 |
System and methods to route calls over a voice and data network
Systems and methods to route a call over a voice and data network (VDN) are provided. A particular method includes receiving a call from a calling device at a telecommunications gateway (TCG). Authentication data is received via the call. A determination is made whether a user account associated with the authentication data is authorized to route calls via the TCG to a VDN. When the user account is authorized to route calls via the TCG to the VDN, call data received at the TCG via the call is converted into a format compatible with the VDN. The converted call data is sent via the VDN to a destination device. |
| US08379632B2 |
Simultaneous delivery of a telephony call over a broadband access network and a circuit-switched network
A call processing module includes a first network interface configured to communicate over a packet-switched network and a second network interface configured to communicate with a local subscriber over a broadband access network employing RF modulation. A call manager is provided which includes a database associating a local subscriber telephone number with an address of a client device associated with the local subscriber for a plurality of subscribers authorized to receive telephony service. A frequency handler is provided for allocating to the client device a receive frequency and a transmit frequency to be used by the client device over the broadband access network during a telephony call. The call processing module also includes a session manager configured to generate and receive signaling messages for establishing the telephony call between the local subscriber and a remote subscriber over the broadband access network and the packet-switched network as well as over the broadband access network and a circuit-switched network in communication with the packet-switched network. |
| US08379631B2 |
System, method and computer program product for point-to-point bandwidth conservation in an IP network
A method, system and computer program product are provided that reduce voice and data over IP (VoIP) packet overhead in an Internet telephony system, and regenerate missing or damaged data in a data packet. A media framer aggregates packets from multiple concurrent calls from several channels into a larger data packet. A transmission control module defines the format for each data packet, and updates and synchronizes header information in the data packets. A single virtual connection transmits data packets and other signals between originating and destination gateways located in the service areas for a caller and called party. System redundancy improves the quality of service by regenerating missing or damaged data in the data packets. |
| US08379628B2 |
Wireless communication system, its base station and mobile station, communication synchronization management method and timer control program therefor
A mobile station which performs communication with a base station, the mobile station including: a timer timing a period to judge whether an uplink signal to the base station is synchronized, wherein the period is set by the base station for each of a plurality of mobile stations, wherein the timer restarts timing the period in response to receiving a timing adjustment value from the base station. |
| US08379619B2 |
Subcarrier permutation to achieve high frequency diversity of OFDMA systems
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of improving subcarrier permutation to achieve high frequency diversity of OFDMA systems in wireless networks, comprising introducing different tone selections for different symbols, such that if a channel has only a few tones in each symbol of a resource unit it can still have sufficient frequency diversity. |
| US08379618B2 |
Precoded data receiver
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying successive multi-rank beamforming strategies (e.g., successive precoding strategies) for the design of precoders over a set of parallel channels. Successive beamforming is applied to a narrow band channel model and is also applied for finer quantization of a single beamforming vector (e.g., recursive beamforming). A first embodiment provides the optimal approach with high complexity. An alternative embodiment provides successive beamforming for near optimal precoding selection with medium complexity. A low complexity method for precoder selection is also provided wherein a channel representative matrix for the set of parallel channels is determined and successive beamforming on the calculated channel representative is applied. |
| US08379610B2 |
System and method of unacknowledged network layer service access point identifier (NSAPI) recovery in sub-network dependent convergence protocol (SNDCP) communication
A system and method of unacknowledged Network Layer Service Access Point Identifier (NSAPI) recovery in Sub-Network Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP) communication are disclosed herein. The disclosed techniques prevent the loss of data which may result from changing between GPRS/GSM modes in a Class B mobile station (MS). |
| US08379609B2 |
Multimedia client/server system with adjustable data link rate and range and methods for use therewith
A circuit for use in a multimedia server module that is coupleable to a plurality of multimedia sources that produce at least one multimedia signal and that can transmit over a wireless communication path to at least one client module, the circuit includes an encoder module that encodes the at least one multimedia signal to produce an encoded signal. An RF server transceiver module produces a channel signal that includes the encoded signal, and that wirelessly transmits the channel signal at a link data rate over the wireless communication path, the RF server transceiver module including a first monitor module that generates first RF performance signals that are based on the performance of the wireless communication path, and a quality of service module that receives the first RF performance signals and adjusts both a range of the link data rate and the link data rate. |
| US08379608B2 |
Radio communication method, radio communication system and wireless terminal
A radio communication method, a radio communication system and a wireless terminal by which low power consumption and the flexibility of a network can be realized. A base station and wireless terminals change an intermittent receive period and the preamble length of data on the basis of characteristics of the multihop radio network to carry out the intermittent receiving of data. Thus, a wireless terminal relaying data can receive the data reliably and a useless boot-up of a receiving part and standby time can be largely reduced to achieve low power consumption. |
| US08379602B2 |
Device, system and method of wireless communication
Briefly, according to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a wireless communication system and a method to receive by a base station from a first mobile station a first chain of data symbols transmitted by at least two antennas and having a first transmit diversity, to receive from a second mobile station a second chain of data symbols transmitted by at least two antennas and having a second transmit diversity. Both first and second chains of data symbols are transmitted from the first and second mobile stations at the same time, modulated according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme and encoded by a space time block codes scheme. |
| US08379597B2 |
Method for preventing ping-pong handover effect in mobile WiMAX networks
To prevent a handover ping-pong effect between base-station in WiMAX-compliant networks, a priority level is assigned to the trigger causes for handover, and the prioritized causes are coded. Then codes are subdivided into a first class of unrestricted handovers and a second class of restricted handovers. The first class includes the highest priority handovers. The second class includes a subset of handovers with a high or normal priority intended for optimizing resources. Outside this subset the second class also includes handovers for power budget having a normal priority level. When an outgoing handover is decided, the actual serving BS permits or selectively suppresses the Handover Request to the target BS when the latter corresponds to the preceding serving BS for that mobile. The selection mechanism operates on the second class of restricted handovers, during a penalty time triggered by the occurrence of handover causes included in the second class subset. |
| US08379594B2 |
Device and method to play back contents according to reception sensitivity
A device and method to play back contents according to a reception sensitivity, more specifically, a device and method to select a wireless communication system according to the reception sensitivity of wireless signals such as AirTV signals, digital multimedia broadcasting signals and wireless LAN signals, and playing back received multimedia content. The device includes a communication unit receiving multimedia content through a wireless communication device corresponding to a selection instruction message input by a user among one or more wireless communication devices; a reception sensitivity check unit checking the reception sensitivity of the received multimedia content; and an interface unit outputting the received multimedia content according to the reception sensitivity. |
| US08379592B2 |
System and method for coordinating electronic devices in a wireless communications system
A system and method for coordinating electronic devices in a wireless communications system are provided. A method for transmitting information by a controller includes computing a beam cycle based on transmissions from a plurality of mobile devices, receiving resource-specific channel quality indicators from the plurality of mobile devices, scheduling a transmission opportunity for a mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices, and transmitting information to the mobile device based on the scheduled transmission opportunity. The mobile devices are being served by the controller, and the scheduling is based on the beam cycle and the channel quality indicators. |
| US08379578B2 |
Control signal transmission for wireless communication systems
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate communicating reverse link control information over OFDMA control channel(s) and CDMA control channel(s). Dedicated OFDMA control channel resources can be assigned to mobile device(s). Control information related to one or more logical control channels can be generated by a mobile device. Further, a physical control channel type (e.g., OFDMA control channel or a CDMA control channel) can be selected for sending the control information via the reverse link. For example, control information associated with periodic, logical control channels can be multiplexed and sent over the OFDMA control channel (e.g., utilizing the dedicated OFDMA control channel resources) while control information related to non-periodic, logical control channels can be transmitted over the CDMA control channel. |
| US08379574B2 |
Systems and methods for mitigating intercell interference by coordinated scheduling amongst neighboring cells
A networked computing system capable of mitigating interference amongst neighboring base stations. The networked computing system includes multiple base stations, user equipment, a network resource controller, and a data communications network facilitating data communications amongst all network devices. A serving base station is configured to acquire interference metrics from its local user equipment and then generate an aggregate representation from the acquired interference metrics. The network resource controller is configured to acquire the aggregate representation, determine an interference reduction associated with a neighbor base station for each of the user equipment serviced by the serving base station, determine a power schedule for the first base station based on the aggregate representation and the determined interference reduction, and then modify a power schedule for the neighbor base station based on the determined interference reduction. |
| US08379573B2 |
Apparatus and method for network mobility management in proxy mobile IPv6 network
Provided is a network mobility management apparatus for providing mobility in a proxy mobile Internet Protocol (IP) network of mobile nodes which configure a mobile network. The network mobility management apparatus includes an address generation unit and a communication unit. The address generation unit transmits a router request message to a mobile access gateway of a proxy mobile IP network to be accessed by the mobile nodes, and receives a router advertisement message containing a home network prefix to generate an address. The communication unit transmits a proxy binding update message containing the home network prefix and an identification code of the mobile node to the mobile access gateway when the router request message is received from the mobile node, and includes the mobile home network prefix, which is contained in a proxy binding response message received from the mobile access gateway and is for the mobile node, in the router advertisement message to transfer the mobile home network prefix to the mobile node. |
| US08379569B2 |
Architecture for signal distribution in wireless data network
A simple and low cost architecture for a distribution network is provided for coupling wireless local area network (“wireless LAN”) signals between geographically distributed access points and centrally located internetworking devices. The distribution network eliminates complexities involved with the deployment of such systems in the past, which have typically required the computer network-compatible wiring to be extended to each access point directly from an internetworking device such as a repeater, bridge, router, or gateway. The distribution network makes it economically efficient to deploy wireless local area networking equipment in locations where wired network infrastructure is not readily available. In particular, any convenient existing physical wiring, such as may be provided by the existing optical transport cabling of a fiber optic network, is used as a physical layer transport medium to carry the wireless local area network signals between the access points and centrally located network hub equipment. |
| US08379567B2 |
Method of transmitting/updating system information
A method of transmitting/updating system informations is disclosed. The present invention includes transmitting channel descriptor transmission control information including an index of the system information classified into a plurality of groups to a terminal at a start timing point of an arbitrary control interval and transmitting the system information of a corresponding group to the terminal at a transmission timing point according to the index in the control interval. According to the above embodiments of the present invention, it is able to non-periodically perform scheduling on system informations classified by a base station. It is able to decrease an update time of system information as well as a time taken for network entry and initialization of terminals. And, it is able to obtain distributed effect of an initial ranging attempt in aspect of system. |
| US08379566B2 |
Synchronization method and synchronization apparatus of communication system
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for synchronization in a communication system, the method includes: detecting whether a user equipment is in an uplink out-of-synchronization state; triggering, by a downlink scheduling entity, an uplink enhanced random access synchronization process, if the user equipment is in the uplink out-of-synchronization state; and obtaining, by an uplink scheduling entity, a user equipment identifier sent by the user equipment on which the uplink enhanced random access synchronization process is triggered, and informing the downlink scheduling entity via an interaction with the downlink scheduling entity that uplink synchronization of the user equipment is restored. By employing the method and the apparatus of the invention, the uplink synchronization is accomplished by using the existing enhanced random access technology of the current system and via the interaction between the uplink and downlink scheduling entities, the delay of the synchronization may be shortened effectively, the data transmission efficiency and the system resource utilization are improved, and the normal sending and transmitting of the downlink data may be guaranteed. |
| US08379565B2 |
Method for mapping subband/miniband in wireless communication system and an apparatus therefor
A method for mapping subband/miniband in a wireless communication system and apparatus therefore are disclosed. The present invention includes dividing the system frequency band into a plurality of physical resource units (PRUs) and mapping a plurality of the physical resource units to a subband physical resource unit (PRUSB) and a miniband physical resource unit (PRUMB), wherein the mapping is based on an interval between contiguous resource units which includes a predetermined number of contiguous PRUs and another interval greater than the former interval and wherein the interval between the contiguous resource units is a roundup value of a value resulting from dividing a maximum number of the contiguous resource units by the number of the contiguous resource units to allocate to the minibands. According to a related art subband/miniband mapping method, if KSB has a greater value, an interval between contiguous PRUs allocated to miniband among total PRUs is narrowed, diversity of the miniband may be lowered. Therefore, the present invention proposes a subband/miniband mapping method for securing diversity gain of miniband by improving the related art subband/miniband mapping method. |
| US08379561B2 |
Multiple relay based multiple input multiple output communication system
A base station with multiple antennas including a relay scheduler to select a serving relay from a plurality of candidate relays. Each candidate relay may have a user group including at least one user. The selection may be based on an achievable transmission capacity of each candidate relay with respect to its user group and a state of channels formed between the plurality of candidate relays and the base station. The base station also includes a transmission signal generator to generate a transmission signal for the user group corresponding to the serving relay. |
| US08379557B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling sleep mode in wireless communication networks
A method for controlling sleep mode of a base station and a mobile station in wireless communication networks, including: determining N of the N-ary exponential sleep mode to decide a length of sleep duration including a sleep interval; measuring downlink traffic addressed to the mobile station at the beginning of a listening interval right after the sleep interval; and when there exist downlink traffic, confirming whether the measured downlink traffic satisfies a mode transition condition. The method further includes: conducting a sleep interval of the next sleep duration of which the length is determined by multiplying the length of the current sleep duration by N unless the downlink traffic satisfies the mode transition condition; and transmitting the downlink traffic to the mobile station when m times the additional consecutive sleep duration is expired or when the measured amount of the downlink traffic satisfies the mode transition condition. |
| US08379554B2 |
Periodic ranging in a wireless access system for mobile station in sleep mode
A method of performing a ranging process between a base station and a mobile station in sleep mode in a wireless access system, wherein the base station provides the mobile station with an initial notification of a periodic ranging time that occurs during a sleep time interval and during which the mobile station is to perform the ranging process, the initial notification included in a first message, the first message indicating whether the mobile station should terminate sleep mode to receive downlink data, and wherein the base station provides the mobile station with subsequent notifications of periodic ranging times that occur during the sleep time interval, the subsequent notifications indicated in a second message, the second message transmitted to the mobile station as part of the ranging process such that the mobile station performs a plurality of ranging processes within the sleep time interval. |
| US08379553B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating the impact of receiving unsolicited IP packets at a wireless device
To initiate dormancy early, a wireless device receives an IP packet from a wireless network and determines whether the received IP packet is an unsolicited IP packet. An unsolicited IP packet may be declared if the received IP packet causes the wireless device to reactivate from dormancy or is not delivered to an application or service running at the wireless device. The wireless device transitions to dormancy early if the received IP packet is deemed to be an unsolicited IP packet and no other events prevent transition to dormancy. The wireless device may use (1) a shortened value for an inactivity timer for a predetermined time duration if an unsolicited IP packet is detected and (2) a nominal value for the inactivity timer thereafter. The wireless device resets the inactivity timer whenever an IP packet is sent or received and transitions to dormancy upon expiration of the inactivity timer. |
| US08379552B2 |
Transmission adaptation in a wireless network
An arrangement is provided for adapting the output bit rate of a multimedia source to the bandwidth available in a wireless network. Depending on the value of the available network idle time, at least a portion of the available network idle time may be used by the source to increase its output bit rate so that the network bandwidth may be more efficiently utilized. If the effective throughput of the network after the increase of source output bit rate drops significantly, the source may reduce its output bit rate until the effective throughput returns to the level before the source output bit rate increase. Additionally, packet delay and queue jitter information may be collected and used for queue rate adaptation as well as bandwidth adaptation. |
| US08379549B2 |
Remotely fed module
In a method and device for the transmission of a multiplicity of signals having different frequencies between a base station and a module situated at a location remote from the base station via a single, common cable connection, some of the signals being transmitted from the electronic assembly to the module and, in general simultaneously, the remaining signals are transmitted in the opposite direction. Each of the base station and the module has bandpass filter bank therein having a multiplicity of bandpass filters, the number thereof being a function of the number of channels to be transmitted, with which the respectively received signals are spectrally separated from one another so that they are available for further signal processing in the base station, or for further use in the module. |
| US08379541B2 |
Information platform and configuration method of multiple information processing systems thereof
An information platform system, the configuration thereof is able to change flexibly to meet the needs of the customers, and able to use a single adapter for multiple uses, wherein multiple general-purpose processing modules and dedicated processing modules for processing disks and external networks are connected to one another with switching hubs via respective adapters, and the platform system includes a management module having a system identifier management table specifying system type of the general-purpose processing modules, a functional set management table managing a functional set to be included by the general-purpose processing module of each system identifier, and the configuration management table managing the combination of the general-purpose processing modules and dedicated processing modules, and the management module selects a functional set from multiple functional sets, installs the selected functional set into a general-purpose processing module and an adapter, and manages the system configuration comprising of a general-purpose processing module and a dedicated processing module. |
| US08379537B2 |
Network device management system, network device management device, and network device management program
A network device management system includes a computer that is connected to a network and at least one network device that is connected to the network and is capable of communicating with the computer via the network. Each network device includes a network device controller that provides the computer with network device information about settings and conditions of each network device of the at least one network device, via the network. The network device information includes connection type information that indicates whether each network device is a wired connection type or a wireless connection type. The computer includes a computer controller that obtains the network device information from each network device via the network and outputs a part or all of contents of the network device information including at least the connection type information, based on the obtained network device information. |
| US08379534B2 |
Detection of encrypted packet streams using feedback probing
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for detecting encrypted Internet Protocol packet streams. A probe stream having a known observable parameter is generated. The observable parameter exhibits a known characteristic of a known type of data encrypted within a stream of packets. The probe stream is communicated to a network element via a communications network. When the probe stream is received by the network element, the network element can compare the known observable parameter to an actual value. Any difference between the known observable parameter and the actual value can be used to correct for network-induced variation and other effects, thus ensuring accurate detection and identification of data types within encrypted streams of packets. |
| US08379531B2 |
Telephony communication via varied redundant networks
A switched telephone network is arranged in a manner to enable packet voice communication between telephone terminals via multiple redundant packet switched networks. The packet switched networks may utilize different protocols, be operated by different entities, and have primary functions other than voice communication. One example of such a network may be internetworked networks, such as the Internet. One example of an alternate packet switched network may be a network whose primary function is control of a circuit switched telephone network. The common channel interoffice switching system (CCIS) of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is a preferred example.A voice communication link may be established from telephone terminal to telephone terminal via the Internet, the quality of voice communication may be monitored, and the link may be transferred to the common channel interoffice signaling network if and when the quality of voice communication deteriorates beneath a pre-established norm. There is provided a means for monitoring the links of the common channel interoffice signaling system carrying the packetized voice communication and collecting the information needed to permit charging for the voice communication by time duration or by cells used to carry the packetized voice signal. The customer may be provided with the option of establishing the norm for diversion of the communication, or may elect which path is to be selected as the primary path. |
| US08379525B2 |
Techniques to support large numbers of subscribers to a real-time event
Techniques to manage large numbers of subscribers to real-time events are described. Embodiments may filter subscribers dynamically into buckets where publications are distributed only to subscribers in the same bucket as the publisher. Buckets may be dynamically created and removed to lower or raise the publication rate for subscribers to an acceptable level. Embodiments may use a two-level bucketing algorithm for filtering that is memory and CPU efficient, and scales with large numbers of subscriptions. The techniques may also reduce the context loss for a subscriber when a new bucket has to be created and subscribers distributed between buckets. Embodiments may be scaled out to multiple servers, to accommodate very large numbers of subscribers and publications. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08379524B1 |
Prioritization and preemption of data frames over a switching fabric
Network switching and/or routing devices can use multiple priority data streams and queues to support prioritized serial transmission of data from line cards (or the like) through a fabric switch to other line cards (or the like). Preemption logic is used to insert within a data stream commands indicating a switch from one priority level data to another. Delimiter commands and combination switch/delimiter commands can also be used. Multiple crossbars are implemented in the fabric switch to support the various data stream priority levels. |
| US08379522B2 |
Link aggregation flood control
A network interfaced unit includes a first data processing device, a second data processing device coupled to the first data processing device, memory coupled to the first data processing device, and instructions accessible from the memory by the first data processing device. The instructions are configured for causing the first data processing device to carry out operations for causing a copy of a frame received by the second data processing device to be received by the first data processing device in response to a destination address of the frame failing to be found in an address lookup table accessibly by the second data processing device and for causing the first data processing device to query other network interface units after receiving the copy of the frame for determining if the destination address of the frame has been learned on any one of the other network interface units. |
| US08379521B2 |
Deterministic communication system
The invention relates to data sources for a deterministic communications system comprising data sources, which can be connected to a data sink by means of at least one coupling node. Said system comprises a means of controlling the data sources to achieve a planned, deterministic communication between said data sources and the data sink. |
| US08379519B2 |
Method for realizing resource admission control at push mode in nomadism scene of NGN
A method for implementing resource and admission control in PUSH mode in nomadism scenario of NGN comprises the following steps: after a subscriber accesses NGN in a visited network, initiates a service request to AF of a home network thereof, and receives a resource request transmitted by AF, SPDF of the home network transmitting the resource request to A-RACF of the visited network through SPDF of the visited network; A-RACF of the visited network making a resource policy decision on the resource request, and transmitting the decision result to RCEF of the visited network for policy installation; A-RACF of the visited network transmitting a resource request response to SPDF of the home network through SPDF of the visited network; in these steps, after receiving the resource request, SPDF of the home network and/or SPDF of the visited network perform authorization examining for the resource request. |
| US08379518B2 |
Multi-stage scheduler with processor resource and bandwidth resource allocation
A multi-stage scheduler that provides improved bandwidth utilization in the presence of processor intensive traffic is disclosed. Incoming traffic is separated into multiple traffic flows. Data blocks of the traffic flows are scheduled for access to a processor resource using a first scheduling algorithm, and processed by the processor resource as scheduled by the first scheduling algorithm. The processed data blocks of the traffic flows are scheduled for access to a bandwidth resource using a second scheduling algorithm, and provided to the bandwidth resource as scheduled by the second scheduling algorithm. The multi-stage scheduler in an illustrative embodiment may be implemented in a network processor integrated circuit or other processing device of a communication system. |
| US08379505B2 |
Super-resolution optical recording medium on which information is recorded using train of prepits, optical recording medium reproduction device, and control method
A super-resolution optical recording medium includes: a medium information region on which medium identification information is recorded; a content region on which content information is recorded; and a blank region provided between the medium information region and the content region and in which at least two tracks are provided so as to connect a train of prepits in the medium information region and a train of prepits in the content region. No information is recorded on the blank region. Thus, a super-resolution optical recording medium is provided in which a region on which medium identification information is recorded and a region on which content information is recorded are different in track pitch and in which a reproduction error hardly occurs when reproduction shifts from the region on which the medium identification information is recorded to the region on which the content information is recorded. |
| US08379503B2 |
Optical information recording reproduction apparatus and optical information recording reproduction method
An optical information recording reproduction apparatus includes: a first light beam source; a second light beam source emitting a beam with a wavelength shorter than that of the first light beam source; and an object lens condensing the beams from the first and second light beam sources to an optical information recording medium. When information is recorded in the optical information recording medium, a recording beam is emitted from the first light beam source and a beam used to generate a signal for controlling a position of the object lens is emitted from the second light beam source. When the information of the optical information recording medium is reproduced, a reproduction beam is emitted from the second light beam source. |
| US08379501B2 |
Disc authentication by grayscale image
The present principles provide a way to place a multilevel grayscale image, visible with the bare eye in the data area of an optical disc. This feature can be used to authenticate a legitimate disc, since the image features are lost when copying a disc either with a PC recording drive or by a pirate creating a data set to be used on a laser beam recorder to produce forged ROM discs. The modulation rules are selectively varied during disc writing in a way to change the distribution of pit/land lengths, so that the at least three (3) different diffraction properties are generated, and therefore produce at least three (3) distinct looks to the bare eye. |
| US08379499B2 |
Disc recording medium, disk drive apparatus, reproduction method, and disk manufacturing method
A recording and reproducing area and a reproduction-only area are formed by wobbling a groove formed in a spiral fashion to form a track to be tracked on a disk. The recording and reproducing area has address information recorded by wobbling of the groove and information recorded and reproduced by phase change marks on the track formed by the groove where the address information is recorded. The reproduction-only area has prerecorded information recorded by wobbling of the groove. |
| US08379495B2 |
System, method and apparatus for internal polarization rotation for horizontal cavity, surface emitting laser beam for thermally assisted recording in disk drive
A laser, such as a horizontal cavity surface emitting laser, with internal polarization rotation may be used in thermally assisted recording in hard disk drives. The desired polarization of the laser may be accomplished with two beam reflections off of facets within the laser. The facets may be formed in a single ion beam etching step. The laser may be used on a thermally assisted recording head to produce a polarized beam that is aligned with a track direction of the disk. |
| US08379492B2 |
Energy saving digital timepiece
A timepiece includes a casing, a display, a timepiece core unit, and a current processing circuitry. The current processing circuitry includes a rectifying circuitry, an oscillating circuitry, and an output circuitry. The rectifying circuitry is adapted for electrically connected with an AC power source, and arranged to rectify the AC. The oscillating circuitry is electrically connected with the rectifying circuitry, and is arranged to transform the DC outputted from the rectifying circuitry back into AC having a predetermined voltage and a frequency. The output circuitry is electrically connected with the oscillating circuitry, and is arranged to rectifying the AC output from the oscillating circuitry into a DC pulses output, wherein the DC output from the output circuitry is electrically transmitted to the timepiece circuitry for triggering an operation thereof so as to allow the signal generator to generate accurate time signal to display the current time by the display. |
| US08379489B1 |
Devices for quantifying the passage of time
Devices, systems, and methods for presenting date and time information are described. In some embodiments, a date and/or a time value is presented as a base-36 number. In some embodiments, an integral portion of the base-36 number represents a date value, and a fractional portion of the base-36 number represents a time value. Each base-36 digit may be represented by one of the numerals 0-9 and the letters A-Z. Both digital and analog clocks displaying date and/or time information in which a day is broken into thirty-six increments are disclosed. |
| US08379485B2 |
Compressive sensing system and method for bearing estimation of sparse sources in the angle domain
Compressive Sensing (CS) is an emerging area which uses a relatively small number of non-traditional samples in the form of randomized projections to reconstruct sparse or compressible signals. Direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation is performed with an array of sensors using CS. Using random projections of the sensor data, along with a full waveform recording on one reference sensor, a sparse angle space scenario can be reconstructed, giving the number of sources and their DOA's. Signal processing algorithms are also developed and described herein for randomly deployable wireless sensor arrays that are severely constrained in communication bandwidth. There is a focus on the acoustic bearing estimation problem and it is shown that when the target bearings are modeled as a sparse vector in the angle space, functions of the low dimensional random projections of the microphone signals can be used to determine multiple source bearings as a solution of an l]-norm minimization problem. |
| US08379484B1 |
Apparatus and method for compensating images for differences in aspect
A method and apparatus for eliminating aspect dependence of images generated by a radiative scanner such as a radar, sonar, or the like. Echoes from the scanner are received back and detected at a known and preselected number of aspects. The echo received at each aspect is multiplied by the transform of the point spread function of each of the other preselected aspects. In this manner, the frequency domain version of each echo is multiplied by the frequency domain point spread function of all of the preselected aspects, and the ultimate processed echo will be aspect independent. |
| US08379480B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A multi-layered non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The non-volatile memory device may include a plurality of first semiconductor layers having a stack structure. A plurality of control gate electrodes may extend across the first semiconductor layers. A first body contact layer may extend across the first semiconductor layers. A plurality of charge storage layers may be interposed between the control gate electrodes and the first semiconductor layers. |
| US08379477B2 |
Sub-word-line driving circuit, semiconductor memory device having the same, and method of controlling the same
Provided is a semiconductor memory device including a sub-word-line driving circuit capable of reducing an amount of leakage current due to coupling. The semiconductor memory device includes a word-line enable signal generating circuit and a sub-word-line driving circuit. The sub-word-line driving circuit provides a pull-down current path between a selected word line and ground for a pulse type period of time in a precharge mode following an active mode for the selected word line, generates a word line driving signal on the basis of a main word line driving signal, a first sub-word-line control signal, and a second sub-word-line control signal, and provides the word line driving signal to a memory cell array. The semiconductor memory device may reduce an amount of leakage current flowing to a ground through the sub-word-line driving circuit. |
| US08379475B2 |
Clock control circuit and clock generation circuit including the same
A clock control circuit is presented for reducing unnecessary current consumption. The clock control circuit includes a write enable signal generation unit and a clock enable signal generation unit. The write enable signal generation unit is configured to generate a first write enable signal, which is enabled during a predetermined time period after a write command is inputted, in response to first and second burst signals and a write signal including a pulse generated in response to the write command. The clock enable signal generation unit is configured to generate a clock enable signal, which is enabled during a write operation period, in response to the first write signal and the first write enable signal. |
| US08379473B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes first and second write driving blocks to perform a data write operation on first and second memory banks in response to first and second bank strobe signals, respectively, and a common input driving block to transmit data to the first and second write driving blocks through a common data line in response to access information of the first and second memory banks. |
| US08379471B2 |
Refresh operation control circuit, semiconductor memory device including the same, and refresh operation control method
A semiconductor memory device includes a bank including a first cell region and a second cell region, an active signal generation unit configured to generate a first row active signal and a second row active signal having different activation periods from each other in response to a refresh command, and an address counting unit configured to count the refresh command and generate a row address, wherein a word line of the first cell region designated by the row address is activated when the first row active signal is activated, and a word line of the second cell region designated by the row address is activated when the second row active signal is activated. |
| US08379469B2 |
Integrated circuit memory operation apparatus and methods
Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a memory cell included in a device, a control line configured to receive a control signal to access the memory cell, and a first line configured to transfer information to and from the memory cell. The control signal has a first level during a first time interval and a second level during a second time interval of a memory operation. The apparatus and methods also include a module configured to reduce difference between a value of a voltage on the second line and a value of a voltage on a node of the device during a first time portion of the second time interval. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed. |
| US08379467B2 |
Structure and methods for measuring margins in an SRAM bit
Integrated circuit for performing test operation of static RAM bit and for measuring the read margin, write margin, and stability margin of SRAM bits with operational circuitry that includes effects of the SRAM array architecture and circuit design. In addition, the integrated circuit has a built-in self-test circuit for measuring the read margin, write margin, and stability margin of SRAM that excludes the effects of SRAM array architecture and circuit design. |
| US08379465B2 |
Combined write assist and retain-till-accessed memory array bias
Bias circuitry for a static random-access memory (SRAM) with a retain-till-accessed (RTA) mode and with write assist bias in a normal operating mode. The memory is constructed of multiple memory array blocks of SRAM cells. Bias devices are associated with each memory array block, and associated with one or more columns. Each bias device includes a diode-connected transistor in parallel with a shorting transistor, between a power supply voltage and a power supply bias node for cells in its column or columns. The shorting transistor receives control signals from control logic so that the diode-connected transistor for each column is shorted during read cycles, and in write cycles in which its columns are not selected; in write cycles in which its columns are selected, the shorting transistor in the bias device is turned off, so that a reduced power supply voltage is applied to the selected column. The shorting transistors for all columns in the block are turned off in the RTA mode. An additional transistor in series with the diode-connected transistor may be included, to enable a floating power supply bias mode. |
| US08379461B2 |
Program and sense operations in a non-volatile memory device
Methods for programming and sensing in a memory device, a data cache, and a memory device are disclosed. In one such method, all of the bit lines of a memory block are programmed or sensed during the same program or sense operation by alternately multiplexing the odd or even page bit lines to the dynamic data cache. The dynamic data cache comprises dual SDC, PDC, DDC1, and DDC2 circuits such that one set of circuits is coupled to the odd page bit lines and the other set of circuits is coupled to the even page bit lines. |
| US08379459B2 |
Memory system with delay locked loop (DLL) bypass control
A memory system with delay locked loop (DLL) bypass control including a method for accessing memory that includes receiving a memory read command at a memory device. The memory device is configured to operate in a DLL off-mode to bypass a DLL clock as input to generating a read clock. A DLL power-on command is received at the memory device and in response to receiving the DLL power-on command a DLL initialization process is performed at the memory device. The memory read command is serviced at the memory device operating in the DLL off-mode, the servicing overlapping in time with performing the DLL initialization process. The memory device is configured to operate in a DLL on-mode to utilize the DLL clock as input to generating the read clock in response to a specified period of time elapsing. The specified period of time is relative to receiving the DLL power-on command. |
| US08379455B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device including failure detection circuit and method of detecting failure on nonvolatile semiconductor storage device
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes: a word line; a reading circuit; and a failure detection circuit. The word line is connected to gates of a plurality of nonvolatile memory cell transistors. The reading circuit is connected to one end of the word line and supplies one of a reading selection voltage and a reading non-selection voltage to the word line. The failure detection circuit is connected to the other end of the word line and detects a voltage of the word line supplied with the one of the reading selection voltage and the reading non-selection voltage by comparing the voltage with a plurality of reference voltages. |
| US08379447B2 |
Memory bit redundant vias
An integrated circuit containing a memory array with memory bits and a differential sense amplifier for reading the logic state of the memory bits. The integrated circuit also contains redundant vias which are in the via path that couples a bitline to Vss. Moreover, an integrated circuit containing a FLASH memory bit with redundant vias in the via path from the bitline to Vss. |
| US08379445B2 |
Semiconductor storage device capable of reducing erasure time
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit. The distribution state of the threshold voltages of the memory cells is monitored by the read operation, the distribution state of the threshold voltages of the memory cells after the soft erasure is monitored, and an erase voltage is set based on the monitored results. Thus, the erase voltage can be precisely set without depending on the threshold voltage distribution of the memory cell before the erasure. |
| US08379442B2 |
Memory device and method having charge level assignments selected to minimize signal coupling
A non-volatile memory device programs memory cells in each row in a manner that minimizes the coupling of spurious signals. A control logic unit programs the cells in a row using a set of bit state assignments chosen by evaluating data that are to be written to the cells in the row. The control logic unit performs this evaluation by determining the number of cells in the row that will be programmed to each of a plurality of bit states corresponding to the write data. The control logic unit then selects a set of bit state assignments that will cause the programming level assigned to each bit state to be inversely proportional to the number of memory cells in the row that are programmed with the bit state. The selected set of bit states is then used to program the memory cells in the row. |
| US08379440B2 |
Metallic-glass-based phase-change memory
A phase-change material for use in a phase-change memory device is provided. The phase-change material includes at least one metal and is reversibly phase-changeable, switchable, to a detectable metallic glass state or to a detectable crystalline state thereof. There is also provided a phase-change memory, that includes at least one phase change memory cell comprising the phase change material whereby the phase-change material and thereby the phase-change memory cell is reversibly programmable to one of these states. A method of fabricating the phase-change memory is also provided. |
| US08379439B2 |
Programmable matrix array with chalcogenide material
A memory element, a threshold switching element, or the series combination of a memory element and a threshold switching element may be used for coupling conductive lines in an electrically programmable matrix array. Leakage may be reduced by optionally placing a breakdown layer in series with the phase-change material and/or threshold switching material between the conductive lines. The matrix array may be used in a programmable logic device. |
| US08379438B2 |
Electronic device, and method of operating an electronic device
An electronic device comprising a heat transfer structure and a phase change structure which is convertible between two phase states by heating, wherein the phase change structure is electrically conductive in at least one of the two phase states, wherein the heat transfer structure is arranged to be heated by radiation impinging on the heat transfer structure, wherein the phase change structure is thermally coupled to the heat transfer structure so that the phase change structure is convertible between the two phase states when the radiation impinges on the heat transfer structure. |
| US08379437B2 |
Flexible multi-pulse set operation for phase-change memories
Methods and apparatus are provided that include reading a plurality of sets of program pulse tuning instructions from a memory page, the memory page including a plurality of memory cells; and creating a plurality of program pulses in accordance with the plurality of sets of program pulses to program the plurality of memory cells. The plurality of sets of program pulse tuning instructions may be different from one another in at least one respect. |
| US08379435B2 |
Smart well assisted SRAM read and write
An integrated circuit containing an array of SRAM cells with NMOS drivers and passgates, and an n-well bias control circuit which biases n-wells in each SRAM column independently. An integrated circuit containing an array of SRAM cells with PMOS drivers and passgates, and a p-well bias control circuit which biases p-wells in each SRAM column independently. A process of operating an integrated circuit containing an array of SRAM cells with NMOS drivers and passgates, and an n-well bias control circuit which biases n-wells in each SRAM column independently. |
| US08379433B2 |
3T DRAM cell with added capacitance on storage node
A 3T DRAM cell includes a first transistor having a first control element connected as a storage node and a second transistor connected between the first transistor and a read bit line having a second control element connected to a read word line. The 3T DRAM cell also includes a third transistor connected between the storage node and a write bit line having a third control element connected to a write word line. Additionally, the DRAM cell includes a supplemental capacitance connected to the storage node and configured to extend a refresh interval of the 3T DRAM cell. A method of operating an integrated circuit having a 3T DRAM cell includes providing a memory state on a storage node of the 3T DRAM cell and extending a refresh interval of the memory state with a supplemental capacitance added to the storage node. |
| US08379431B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and writing method thereof
A memory cell array includes memory transistors each including a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film, and a variable resistance film formed on the gate electrode and made of a variable resistance material having variable resistance and is configured by plural memory strings disposed with longer direction extending in a first direction and including plural series-connected memory transistors. Word lines are disposed with a longer direction extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and connected commonly to the gate electrodes of the plural memory transistors lined up in the second direction. A plate line is disposed to sandwich the variable resistance film with the gate electrode. First voltage terminals supply a certain voltage to first ends of the plural memory strings. Second voltage terminals supply a certain voltage to second ends of the plural memory strings. |
| US08379430B2 |
Memory device and method of reading memory device
A memory device includes: a memory unit in which an electric charge discharging rate between two electrodes is different in accordance with logic of stored information; a sense amplifier that detects the logic of the information by comparing a discharge electric potential of a wiring to which one electrode of the memory unit is connected with a reference electric potential; and a replica circuit that has a replica unit emulating the memory unit and controls a sense timing of the sense amplifier in accordance with a discharge rate of the replica unit. |
| US08379420B2 |
Controller with punctuated switching control circuit
An example controller for use in a power supply includes a zero crossing detection (ZCD) circuit and a punctuated switching control circuit. The ZCD circuit is coupled to generate a ZCD signal in response to a zero-crossing of an ac input voltage of the power supply. The punctuated switching control circuit is coupled to the ZCD circuit to generate a switching signal to control a switch to regulate an output of the power supply. The punctuated switching control circuit generates the switching signal having an interval of switching and an interval of no switching in response to the ZCD signal, where the interval of switching has a beginning that is synchronized with the zero crossing of the ac input voltage and where the interval of no switching has a beginning that is synchronized with another zero crossing of the ac input voltage. |
| US08379410B2 |
Reversible cable management arm
A cable management arm system includes a rack and a pair of spaced apart support slides mounted on opposite sides of the rack. A first cable support arm is pivotably connected to a second cable support arm. A first arm attachment member is pivotably connected to the first cable support arm and a second arm attachment member is pivotably connected to the second cable support arm. Connector receivers are mounted on both sides of the rack. Snap-on connectors interconnect the attachment members and the connector receivers. |
| US08379407B2 |
Apparatus for mounting and electrical connection of a connector between a package LED lamp and a PCB
A connector for connecting surface mount devices, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), to printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connector may be prepackage with an LED assembly or on a PCB to which the LED assembly will be mounted. Connection complexity can be moved from the PCB to the connector, and LED assemblies may be customized differently for different customers. One to many and many to one connections are readily supported with variations on the connector. |