| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08387158B2 |
Laser guided tip approach with 3D registration to a surface
The present invention relates to a method of rapidly and repeatably bringing sharp objects into close proximity to a particular region of interest of a sample with high precision and accuracy in two or three dimensions using a laser guided tip approach with three dimensional registration to the surface. |
| US08387156B2 |
Equipment managing system, equipment managing method, and computer-readable storage medium
An equipment managing system includes an intermediating apparatus and an equipment managing apparatus. The intermediating apparatus is connected to a license management apparatus and a program management apparatus via a network. The equipment managing apparatus is connected to an electronic equipment via a network. The intermediating apparatus stores a program acquired from the program management apparatus and a license file acquired from the license management apparatus to an external storage medium. The equipment managing apparatus sends the program and the license file recorded in the external storage medium to the electronic equipment. |
| US08387154B2 |
Domain management for digital media
In accordance with the domain management for digital media, a device obtains multiple pieces of protected content from multiple content providers, where two or more of the content providers employ different digital rights management systems. The device also accesses a license server to obtain, for each piece of protected content, a content license that is bound to a domain. The content license permits the device to play back a piece of protected content. |
| US08387151B2 |
Content data managing apparatus, content data managing method, and content data managing program
A content data managing apparatus includes: timing means for measuring time, not allowed to correct measure time by an operator; content-data storing means for storing data of content and recording time of the content measured by the timing means; content recording means for recording the content to cause the content-data storing means to store data of the recorded content; recording-time recording means for causing the content-data storing means to store, in association with the content, the recording time when the recording of the content is executed; storage-period extracting means for extracting data concerning a storage period for the content, from the data of the content; storage-period-end-time calculating means for calculating storage period end time for the content from the storage period and data of the recording time; and content-data deleting means for deleting the content when present time measured by the timing means is past the storage period end time. |
| US08387150B2 |
Segmented media content rights management
Segmented media content rights management is described. A media device can receive segments of protected media content from media content streams that each include a different version of the protected media content. A media content file can be generated to include the segments of the protected media content that are sequenced to render the protected media content for viewing. A file header object can be instantiated in a file header of the media content file, where the file header object includes DRM-associated features, such as one or more DRM licenses, properties, and/or attributes that correspond to the media content file to provision all of the segments of the protected media content together. |
| US08387145B2 |
Blocking malicious activity using blacklist
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a directly observable identifier of host network traffic in the Internet and a host's IP address can dynamically change. Analysis of traffic (e.g., network activity or application request) logs may be performed and a host tracking graph may be generated that shows hosts and their bindings to IP addresses over time. A host tracking graph may be used to determine host accountability. This can enable host-based blacklisting instead of the traditional IP address based blacklisting. Host tracking results can be leveraged for forensic analysis to understand an attacker's traces and identify malicious activities in a postmortem fashion. The host tracking information may be used to build a tracklist which can block future attacks. |
| US08387143B2 |
Systems and methods for aggressive window probing
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for aggressively probing a client side connection to determine and counteract a malicious window size attack or similar behavior from a malfunctioning client. The solution described herein detects when a connection may be under malicious attach via improper or unusual window size settings. Responsive to the detection, the solution described herein will setup probes that determine whether or not the client is malicious and does so within an aggressive time period to avoid the tying up of processing cycles, transport layer sockets and buffers, and other resources of the sender. |
| US08387141B1 |
Smartphone security system
System for protecting a mobile device against malware or harmful communications via calls and SMSs. A security module for a personal mobile device protects the device (and the user) against malicious communication, unauthorized access to resources and user private data, and against other security threats. The security module includes a combination of some or all of the following features: control of third-party applications, validation of the SMS sender's number, protection against fake contact name of the SMS sender, collection of data about fraudulent and spam SMS messages, robust sending of SOS SMSs and SOS e-mails with geographic coordinates of the mobile device, verification of validity of the base station, deletion of user data from a mobile device remotely, locking of a phone until the password is entered and filtering calls and SMS messages. |
| US08387139B2 |
Thread scanning and patching to disable injected malware threats
An arrangement for scanning and patching injected malware code that is executing in otherwise legitimate processes running on a computer system is provided in which malware code is located in the memory of processes by extracting the start addresses of processes' threads and then searching near these addresses. Additional blocks of code in memory that are invoked by the code identified by each start address are also identified and the blocks are then matched against scanning signatures associated with known malware threads. If the entire signature can be matched against a subset of the blocks, then the thread is determined to be infected. The infected thread is suspended and in-memory modifications are performed to patch the injected code to render it harmless. The thread can be resumed or terminated to disable the protection mechanisms of the malware without causing any harm to the process in which the thread is injected. |
| US08387138B2 |
Security scanning system and method
The present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium, method and system for determining security vulnerabilities for a plurality of application programs used to provide television services to a customer device over a communications network. The method includes running a first scanning program against a first application program relating to a control panel for the customer device; running a second scanning program against a second application program that provides Internet content to the customer device; running a third scanning program against a third application program that relates to a component management system of customer premises equipment; and correlating security vulnerabilities identified utilizing the first, second, and third scanning programs. |
| US08387137B2 |
Role-based access control utilizing token profiles having predefined roles
A method and system for managing role-based access control of token data using token profiles having predefined roles is described. In one method, a token processing system (TPS) assigns a TPS client a token profile for a group of multiple tokens, the token profile being stored in a profile data structure. The token profile specifies at least one of multiple predefined roles for the TPS client, each role associated with predefined access to entries of a token database. The TPS receives a request from the TPS client over a network to perform an operation on the entries of the token database that correspond to the group, and allows the TPS client access to the token database to perform the operation when permitted by the predefined roles specified in the token profile on the entries of the token database that correspond to the group identified by the token profile. |
| US08387130B2 |
Authenticated service virtualization
Virtualizing a service is disclosed. A request to access a service from a first server is received from a client. A secret data associated with the first server is used to process the received request. The processed request is sent to a second server. The first and second servers are associated with a virtualization; and wherein the processed request can be used by the second server to authenticate the client. |
| US08387128B1 |
System and method for distributed multi-processing security gateway
A system and method for a distributed multi-processing security gateway establishes a host side session, selects a proxy network address for a server, uses the proxy network address to establish a server side session, receives a data packet, assigns a central processing unit core from a plurality of central processing unit cores in a multi-core processor of the security gateway to process the data packet, processes the data packet according to security policies, and sends the processed data packet. The proxy network address is selected such that a same central processing unit core is assigned to process data packets from the server side session and the host side session. By assigning central processing unit cores in this manner, higher capable security gateways are provided. |
| US08387126B2 |
Systems and methods for authenticating a server by combining image recognition with codes
A system and method is provided for authenticating a first device to a second device. This involves providing images to the second device, receiving an indication of selected ones of the images as authenticating images, and identifying an authenticating code associated with the second device. This also involves receiving a transaction request from the second device, the first device providing a display page to the second device, the display page including the authenticating images at locations identified by the authenticating code. |
| US08387121B1 |
System, method, and computer program for authenticating a customer using a network provided by another service provider
A system, method, and computer program are provided for authenticating a customer using a network provided by another service provider. In use, a message associated with a customer of a second network service provider is received from a first network service provider. Further, the message indicates usage by the customer of a network provided by the first network service provider. Additionally, in response to the receipt of the message, a request is sent from the second network service provider to the customer for authentication information. In addition, it is determined whether a valid response to the request is received by the second network service provider. Furthermore, based on the determination, the usage by the customer of the network provided by the first network service provider is conditionally blocked. |
| US08387120B2 |
Method and system of transferring electronic messages
The invention relates to a method and system of transferring internet electronic messages (e-mails). The method comprises the steps of creating a first e-mail by sender's mail user agent (11) and authorizing the sender by sender's mail server (2). To reduce network traffic and limit activities of entities responsible of transferring SPAM the method further comprises the steps of (a) sending an authorization request, in one embodiment in a form a of a second e-mail comprising IP address of sender's local computer system (1), to a sender authorization sever, which in one embodiment is recipient's local mail server (42); (b) authorizing said local computer system (4); (c) accepting the first e-mail by recipient's server, which in one embodiment is recipient's local mail server (42), if said authorization request of intention of sending the first e-mail to this recipient was authorized by the sender authorization server. |
| US08387118B2 |
System and method for monitoring usage of a user device
A server includes a limitation database, a monitor module, and a notification module. The limitations database is configured to store control limits for a user device. The monitor module is in communication with the limitations database. The monitor module is configured to monitor usage of the user device and to determine that one of the control limits for the user device has been exceeded. The notification module is in communication with the monitor module. The notification module is configured to notify a master device that the one of the control limits for the user device has been exceeded, to receive a request to disable the user device, and to disable the user device in response to the request. |
| US08387115B2 |
Active access control system and method
A method of dynamically assigning a role to a user in a distributed computing environment can comprise the steps of: defining one or more roles and their respective threshold trust values; defining one or more attributes and their respective weight coefficients; determining current values of the attributes for the user; calculating a current level of trust for the user, based on the attribute values and the weight coefficients; and assigning a role to the user based on the current level of trust and the threshold values. |
| US08387114B2 |
Secure workload partitioning in a server environment
Generally speaking, systems, methods and computer program products for creating a secure workload partition in a server environment are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include creating, for a process associated with a client network service, a secure workload partition within a logical partition executing in a server environment having a root partition where the secure workload partition has no network interfaces and no communication with any other workload partitions within the logical partition. Embodiments of the method may also include establishing an alternative network connection for the process within the created secure workload partition without establishing a network interface for the secure workload partition and without establishing communication with any other workload partitions within the logical partition. Embodiments of the method may also include executing the process within the secure workload partition to provide the client network service. |
| US08387113B2 |
Communication system, authentication method, information processing device, information processing method, and battery
An authenticating system according to the present invention has a characteristic structure of which an authenticating section 32 of a note type PC 10 and an authenticating section 42 of a battery 20 are directly connected through I/O ports 51 and 61, respectively. Thus, the authenticating system according to the present invention can be relatively easily accomplished using a conventional system. The present invention can be applied to a system that is composed of a plurality of electronic devices that perform an authenticating process. |
| US08387100B1 |
Delivery of application functionality via video-on-demand architecture
Provision of non video on demand applications and associated content through a video on demand (VoD) infrastructure is provided. An existing VoD application may be used to allow services other than traditional VoD services to be provided to a requesting networked device, such as a cable system set-top box. Applications may be provided by remote application servers acting as VoD servers. Remote content or applications may be requested by a client VoD application, wherein the requested content may be streamed to the requesting device, and a personalized client experience may be provided. The thin VoD client application may interact with the remote application as if the content were VoD content. Accordingly, normal VoD command functionality may be utilized to interact with the remote application. |
| US08387096B2 |
Web-based personal video recorder (PVR)-type subscription service
A web-based subscription service PVR system. An Internet server maintains, for each subscriber, the subscriber's aggregated content including digital rights management (DRM) rules for each piece of content as defined by the content provider. Pointers to requested content are provided. |
| US08387092B2 |
Display apparatus and information saving method thereof
A display apparatus includes: a saving part; a user inputting part; a receiving part which receives broadcasting signal including at least one data information; a signal processing part which performs signal processing by extracting the data information from the received broadcasting signal; and a controlling part which enables a user to determine whether to save the data information through the user inputting part if the data information is received, and controls the signal processing part to save the data information determined to be saved in the saving part. |
| US08387091B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing data streams containing audio, video and/or other data
Several data streams contain video, audio and/or other data. Some of the data streams are pre-recorded in a multiplex on a storage medium while other data streams are located out of the data stream multiplex on the storage medium. The data streams are synchronized using a navigation file, which comprises descriptors pointing to parts of said data streams, wherein said descriptors define the arrangement in time for said data streams by means of data sub stream paths. |
| US08387090B2 |
Method and system for providing a regional channel in a digital broadcast environment
A method of delivering a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service comprising the steps of forming a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including one or more regional channels corresponding to one of the multicast of channels; broadcasting the multicast channels to the user through a regional gateway; forming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the one of the multicast of channels; transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regional gateway; and in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding channel. |
| US08387086B2 |
Controlling ad delivery for video on-demand
Various embodiments related to delivery of advertising content for video on-demand are disclosed. One example embodiment comprises receiving a set of VOD metadata including a first configuration of ad avails to be included in a VOD content item. The first configuration specifies a first set of locations of ad avails and a size of each ad avail in the first configuration. The method further includes comparing the VOD metadata to a set of one or more policy rules specifying a second configuration of ad avails to be included in the VOD content item, the second configuration of ad avails specifying a second set of locations of ad avails and a size of each ad avail in the second configuration. The method further includes determining a number of advertisements to be included in the VOD content item based upon a result of the comparing and obtaining an ad decision. |
| US08387085B2 |
Methods and systems for tailoring an interactive game associated with a media content instance to a user
An exemplary method includes maintaining a user profile associated with a user of a media content access subsystem, presenting, by the media content access subsystem, a media content instance and an interactive game associated with the media content instance to the user, and tailoring the interactive game to the user in accordance with the user profile. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08387081B2 |
Dynamic pricing for pay-per-view events
A method performed by one or more devices within a subscription television network that offers pay-per-view programming to viewers includes receiving criteria for triggering dynamic pricing discounts for a pay-per-view event and establishing, based on the received criteria, dynamic prices for the pay-per-view event. The method also includes offering, to the viewers over the subscription television network, the pay-per-view event at one of the established dynamic prices. |
| US08387076B2 |
Standardized database connectivity support for an event processing server
Techniques for facilitating communication between one or more client applications and an event processing server. In one set of embodiments, a framework is provided that enables a client application to communicate with an event processing server via a standard database connectivity API, such as Java Database Connectivity (JDBC). |
| US08387070B2 |
Object request broker
A computer-implemented system for receiving an incoming message including a message header and a message body in General Inter-ORB Protocol (GIOP) type format, the system comprising: an external ORB element based on a computer configured to convert the header of the incoming message to an implementation-specific format, and configured to provide the header in implementation-specific format with the body in GIOP type format to a distribution mechanism for identifying an appropriate target server for processing the body of the incoming message; and an internal ORB element based on an originating server configured to convert the body of the outgoing message to CORBA GIOP type format to a distribution mechanism. |
| US08387066B1 |
Dependency-based task management using set of preconditions to generate scheduling data structure in storage area network
In a storage area network, a task manager identifies a set of preconditions for execution of storage management tasks. The set of preconditions establish dependencies between tasks in the storage area network. Execution of the tasks is contingent upon satisfaction of the set of preconditions. In addition, the task manager generates a scheduling data structure based on the set of preconditions in order to schedule execution of the tasks. As a result, the task manager can utilize the scheduling data structure to optimize task execution in the storage area network (e.g., by applying a task optimization algorithm). Such optimization minimizes resource consumption (e.g., thread allocation, processor time commitment, etc.) in the storage area network during execution of the tasks. |
| US08387065B2 |
Speculative popcount data creation
A method and a data processing system by which population count (popcount) operations are efficiently performed without incurring the latency and loss of critical processing cycles and bandwidth of real time processing. The method comprises: identifying data to be stored to memory for which a popcount may need to be determined; speculatively performing a popcount operation on the data as a background process of the processor while the data is being stored to memory; storing the data to a first memory location; and storing a value of the popcount generated by the popcount operation within a second memory location. The method further comprises: determining a size of data; determining a granular level at which the popcount operation on the data will be performed; and reserving a size of said second memory location that is sufficiently large to hold the value of the popcount. |
| US08387064B2 |
Balancing a data processing load among a plurality of compute nodes in a parallel computer
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for balancing a data processing load among a plurality of compute nodes in a parallel computer that include: partitioning application data for processing on the plurality of compute nodes into data chunks; receiving, by each compute node, at least one of the data chunks for processing; estimating, by each compute node, processing time involved in processing the data chunks received by that compute node for processing; and redistributing, by at least one of the compute nodes to at least one of the other compute nodes, a portion of the data chunks received by that compute node in dependence upon the processing time estimated by that compute node. |
| US08387060B2 |
Virtual machine resource allocation group policy based on workload profile, application utilization and resource utilization
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automatically allocating resources to a virtual machine. Expected workload profile data and application utilization data corresponding to a software application associated with a virtual machine (VM) is collected by an application profiling agent. Resource utilization data corresponding to the utilization of resources associated with the execution of the software application is collected by a system resource monitor. The expected workload profile data, the application utilization data, and the resource utilization data are then processed to determine a virtual machine workload class, which is then used to determine a corresponding VM policy. Data associated with the VM policy then processed to generate VM resource allocation instructions, which are in turn processed to provision the VM. |
| US08387059B2 |
Black-box performance control for high-volume throughput-centric systems
Throughput of a high-volume throughput-centric computer system is controlled by dynamically adjusting a concurrency level of a plurality of events being processed in a computer system to meet a predetermined target for utilization of one or more resources of a computer system. The predetermined target is less than 100% utilization of said one or more resources. The adjusted concurrency level is validated using one or more queuing models to check that said predetermined target is being met. Parameters are configured for adjusting the concurrency level. The parameters are configured so that said one or more resources are shared with one or more external programs. A statistical algorithm is established that minimizes total number of samples collected. The samples may be used to measure performance used to further dynamically adjust the concurrency level. A dynamic thread sleeping method is designed to handle systems that need only a very small number of threads to saturate bottleneck resources and hence are sensitive to concurrency level changes. |
| US08387057B2 |
Fast and linearizable concurrent priority queue via dynamic aggregation of operations
Embodiments of the invention improve parallel performance in multi-threaded applications by serializing concurrent priority queue operations to improve throughput. An embodiment uses a synchronization protocol and aggregation technique that enables a single thread to handle multiple operations in a cache-friendly fashion while threads awaiting the completion of those operations spin-wait on a local stack variable, i.e., the thread continues to poll the stack variable until it has been set or cleared appropriately, rather than rely on an interrupt notification. A technique for an enqueue/dequeue (push/pop) optimization uses re-ordering of aggregated operations to enable the execution of two operations for the price of one in some cases. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08387051B2 |
Smart scheduler
A smart scheduler is provided to prepare a machine for a job, wherein the job has specific requirements, i.e., dimensions. One or more config jobs are identified to configure the machine to meet the dimensions of the job. Information concerning the machine's original configuration and groupings of config jobs that change the machine's configuration are cached in a central storage. The smart scheduler uses information in the central storage to identify a suitable machine and one or more config jobs to configure the machine to meet the dimensions of a job. The smart scheduler schedules a run for the config jobs on the machine. |
| US08387050B2 |
System and method to dynamically manage applications on a processing system
A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides an intelligent prediction approach for populating and depopulating multiple applications at the system level across applications. The detection and management of user behavior patterns to anticipate the user's next request is provided. Further the present invention is to account for a situation to relate dynamically to user behavior and where that user behavior changes to adjust so as to more accurately set forth a desired result for a user of the present invention. The present invention in various implementations provides an intelligent prediction scheme for populating and depopulating multiple applications at the system level across a diversity of applications. |
| US08387042B2 |
Remote servlets collaboration
Presents remote servlets collaboration. A method includes: creating a common registry; creating an extended context in response to an external request, wherein the extended context can invoke the resources within the common registry; performing initializing configuration on a plurality of servlets, and registering a plurality of servlets in the common registry, wherein a plurality of servlets being located on different Java virtual machines, or being located in different servlet containers on the same Java virtual machine; and a plurality of servlets collaborate with each other by being invoked through the extended context. It can implement collaboration between servlets located on different virtual machines or even servlets on the same virtual machine but within different servlet containers, because in a converged application service system, not only between HTTP servlets or between SIP servlets but also between HTTP servlets and SIP servlets there is necessity to collaborate. |
| US08387038B2 |
Method and system for automatic computer and user migration
A method is provided for automatic computer and user migration. The method may include obtaining a plurality of source computers with corresponding users and preparing the source computers such that at least one software image is created, based on a software inventory, for the source computers to be used to migrate the source computers and the users to a plurality of target computers. The method may also include installing the software image on the target computers and verifying operations of the target computers after the installation. |
| US08387036B2 |
Method and system for execution profiling using loop count variance
A method for executing a computer program involving obtaining a statement of the source code, where the statement comprises a method call, and where the source code is composed in a statically-typed programming language. The method also involves, upon entry into a loop included in the computer program: incrementing an entry counter by one; and, for each iteration of the loop, incrementing an iteration counter by one, incrementing a local counter by one to obtain an incremented value of the local counter, incrementing a summation variable by the incremented value of the local counter, and executing the iteration of the loop. |
| US08387034B2 |
System and method for the distribution of a program among cooperating processing elements
A Veil program analyzes the source code and/or data of an existing sequential target program without user interaction and determines how best to distribute the target program and data among the processing elements of a multi-processing element computing system. The Veil program analyzes source code loops, data sizes and types to prepare a set of distribution attempts or strategies, whereby each strategy is run under a run-time evaluation system and evaluated to determine the optimal decomposition and distribution across the available processing elements. |
| US08387033B2 |
System and method for the distribution of a program among cooperating processing elements
A Veil program analyzes the source code and/or data of an existing sequential target program and determines how best to distribute the target program and data among the processing elements of a multi-processing element computing system. The Veil program analyzes source code loops, data sizes and types to prepare a set of distribution attempts, whereby each distribution is run under a run-time evaluation wrapper and evaluated to determine the optimal distribution across the available processing elements. |
| US08387032B1 |
Captive runtime deployment
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for captive runtime deployment. In one aspect, a method performed by data processing apparatus employing a runtime environment includes accessing software code of a software application that relies on a runtime of the runtime environment to operate; selecting a proper subset of the runtime, including sharable library code, based on information associated with the software application; combining the software code and the proper subset of the runtime to form a computer program configured to effect the software application using a version of the runtime captive to the computer program, the captive version of the runtime including the proper subset of the runtime; and storing the computer program on a computer-readable medium coupled with a processor. |
| US08387029B2 |
Direct execution virtual machine
A method for parsing and executing a software program includes receiving a portion of a software program in an original linguistic form, wherein the portion of the software program includes a nonlinear program element having a body, and, while retaining the original linguistic form, directly executing the nonlinear program element by manipulating a parse state and an input stream of tokens representing the body of the nonlinear program element, wherein directly executing comprises executing tokens until the dynamic end of the nonlinear program element is reached. A system includes a tokenizer operable to tokenize the software program and a parser operable to directly execute a nonlinear program element in the software program by manipulating a parse state and an input stream of tokens representing the body of the nonlinear program element, while preserving the original linguistic form of the software program. |
| US08387027B2 |
Method and system for compiling a dynamically-typed method invocation in a statically-typed programming language
A method for compiling source code, involving: obtaining a statement of the source code comprising a method call, where the source code is composed in a statically-typed programming language; determining whether the method call is a dynamic method call; upon determining that the method call is a dynamic method call, compiling a dynamic method invocation without performing type checking on the method call; upon determining that the method call is not a dynamic method call: performing type checking on the method call, selecting a target method to invoke, and compiling a static method invocation to invoke the target method. |
| US08387023B2 |
Instrumentation of computer-based application software
A method for instrumenting a computer-based software application, the method including instrumenting instructions of a computer-based software application, the instructions being in a first computer instruction language, with a native handler referencing instructions in a second language, and creating the instructions referenced by the native handler in the second computer instruction language to carry out at least one task during the execution of the computer-based software application. |
| US08387022B2 |
Software self-defense systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for protecting a computer program from unauthorized analysis and modification. Obfuscation transformations can be applied to the computer program's local structure, control graph, and/or data structure to render the program more difficult to understand and/or modify. Tamper-resistance mechanisms can be incorporated into the computer program to detect attempts to tamper with the program's operation. Once an attempt to tamper with the computer program is detected, the computer program reports it to an external agent, ceases normal operation, and/or reverses any modifications made by the attempted tampering. The computer program can also be watermarked to facilitate identification of its owner. The obfuscation, tamper-resistance, and watermarking transformations can be applied to the computer program's source code, object code, or executable image. |
| US08387018B2 |
Fault localization using directed test generation
Disclosed is a novel computer implemented system, on demand service, computer program product and a method for fault-localization techniques that apply statistical analyses to execution data gathered from multiple tests. The present invention determines the fault-localization effectiveness of test suites generated according to several test-generation techniques based on combined concrete and symbolic (concolic) execution. These techniques are evaluated by applying the Ochiai fault-localization technique to generated test suites in order to localize 35 faults in four PHPWeb applications. The results show that the test-generation techniques under consideration produce test suites with similar high fault-localization effectiveness, when given a large time budget. |
| US08387014B2 |
Synchronization of concurrently modified interdependent semi-derived artifacts
Described is a method for synchronizing interdependent artifacts that are each modified independent of a modification to the other artifact after a last synchronization. Each artifact has a plurality of elements and is of a different formant from the other artifact. The method includes generating a temporary artifact having all the elements of a last synchronized version of the first artifact and having all the elements of a latest version of the second artifact transformed as the first artifact. The temporary artifact is merged with a latest version of the first artifact to create a synchronized version of the first artifact. A synchronized version of the second artifact having all the elements of the latest version of the second artifact and having all the elements of the synchronized version of the first artifact transformed as the second artifact is generated. |
| US08387011B2 |
Method and apparatus for a dynamic and real-time configurable software architecture for manufacturing personalization
A process receives a personalization request to personalize a communication device. Further, the process provides the personalization request to a message controller that composes a message having personalization information with a message composer engine according to a set of rules and configures one or more communication parameters for the message with a message flow control engine according to the set of rules. The set of rules indicates a distributed environment set of files that the message composer engine and the message flow control engine utilize in a distributed environment, and a centralized environment set of files that the message composer engine and the message flow control engine utilize in a centralized environment. |
| US08387009B2 |
Pointer renaming in workqueuing execution model
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method that includes initializing a queue for a master thread. A cyclic pointer buffer is created based on heap variables in arguments in the master thread. At least one heap variable is passed from the master thread to a slave thread. A pointer for the master thread is exchanged with a pointer for an entry in the buffer. The entry in the buffer is indicated as being available for processing by the slave thread. |
| US08387007B2 |
Scripting bridge
A scripting bridge allows a developer to automatically build glue classes to access a scriptable application with standard method calls written in a language such as Objective-C. The Objective-C code sends properly formed Apple events automatically (or events according to some other event protocol), so that the developer is not required to have any knowledge of the scripting language of the target application. Classes can be created dynamically at run-time, including dynamic creation of methods within those classes. Lazy evaluation is employed to avoid unnecessary inter-process communication traffic.The present invention provides a straightforward model for controlling scriptable applications that can result in code that is significantly faster and more efficient than prior art methods. |
| US08387005B1 |
Generation of multi-domain code from a graphical program
A system and method configures a target processing entity having multiple processing elements to execute a graphical program. A first part of the graphical program is designated for execution by a first processing element, and a second part of the graphical program is designed for execution by a second processing element. A code generation system generates a single build file from the graphical program having an initialization section, suitable executable code sections for each processing element, and a communication section that supports communication between the two processing elements. The build file may be downloaded to, and run by the target processing entity to implement the graphical program at the target processing entity. |
| US08387000B2 |
Continuous time mode-driven simulations in a graphical modeling environment
A system, computer-readable medium, and method includes providing a control flow graph including at least one condition. An update control flow graph is automatically generated based on the provided control flow graph, where execution of the update control flow graph includes an evaluation of the condition. The update control flow graph and a value corresponding to the evaluated condition is stored. An output control flow graph based on the provided control flow graph is automatically generated, where execution of the output control flow graph is based on the stored value corresponding to the evaluated condition. A mode transition control flow graph configured to identify mode transitions for the control flow graph at one or more time intervals is automatically generated and the update control flow graph is re-executed based on the generated mode transition control flow graph. |
| US08386993B2 |
Workflow system and computer readable medium
A workflow system includes: a workflow storage that stores workflows built by connecting a plurality of tasks assigned to persons in charge, respectively; a task extracting unit that extracts at least one task from each of two or more of the workflows stored in the workflow storage; a site creation unit that creates a conference site of which an access authority is given to the persons in charge of the tasks extracted by the task extracting unit and in which electronic information is shared; and an access controller that controls access to the conference site created by the site creation unit in accordance with the authority. |
| US08386991B2 |
Support apparatus, method, and recording medium
A design support apparatus includes: a circuit-data generation unit to generate circuit data based on layout information of a semiconductor integrated circuit; and a parameter determination unit to set a first parameter relating to mechanical stress exerted on a transistor including at least one of a plurality of gates in a diffusion region, wherein the circuit-data generation unit obtains a mobility of the transistor based on the first parameter and reflects the mobility in the circuit data. |
| US08386990B1 |
Unique identifier derived from an intrinsic characteristic of an integrated circuit
An embodiment of the invention relates to an integrated circuit such as an FPGA wherein a stable unique identifier is produced by reading an intrinsic characteristic of the IC such as a physically unclonable function, and a related method. In one embodiment, a first unique identifier is generated using the intrinsic characteristic and is subdivided into a plurality of first subsets. A second unique identifier is received and subdivided into a plurality of second subsets. The first and second subsets are compared to identify matching subsets to generate the stable unique identifier. Each of the one or more matching subsets includes a particular one of the plurality of first subsets that matches a corresponding one of the plurality of second subsets. The stable unique identifier can be integrated into logic of the IC. Prior to comparing the subsets, the first and second subsets can be transformed with one-way functions. |
| US08386988B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and operating voltage control method
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first circuit part that is designed under a first corner condition with respect to a process variation, a second circuit part that is designed under a second corner condition narrower than the first condition, and a control part that changes an operating voltage supplied to the first circuit part and the second circuit part according to a delay amount of the first circuit part, and starts the second circuit part when a delay characteristic caused by a change in the operating voltage conforms to a delay characteristic under the second corner condition. |
| US08386986B2 |
Temperature controlled attenuator
In one embodiment, a temperature controlled attenuator is disclosed having an attenuation circuit and a control circuit. The attenuation circuit includes a series connected attenuation circuit segment and a shunt connected attenuation circuit segment, as well as additional attenuation circuit segments. Each attenuation circuit segment includes a stack of transistors that are coupled to provide the attenuation circuit segment with a variable impedance level having a continuous impedance range. Furthermore, the temperature controlled attenuator includes a temperature controlled circuit that adjusts an attenuation level of the attenuation circuit in accordance to an operating temperature. In this manner, the attenuation level of the temperature controlled attenuator is temperature dependent. |
| US08386985B2 |
Timing driven routing in integrated circuit design
A method, system, and computer program product for timing driven routing in a design of an integrated circuit (IC) are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A router application executing in a data processing system performs a pre-global routing optimization of the design. A plurality of wirelength target constraints are set on a plurality of subsets of a set of nets in the design. Global routing is performed on the design. The design is adjusted using wires placed in the design during the global routing. A priority is assigned to each net in the set of nets. Detailed routing is performed on the design. |
| US08386980B2 |
Integrated circuits design
This invention concerns an automated method of generating a design for an I/O fabric of a target integrated circuit having a core and pins. A process tool executes algorithms to generate a synthesizable representation of the I/O fabric ring in hardware description language. It imports integrated circuit design data, and from it captures I/O specification data for a circuit core, library of cells, pin, I/O control, BSR and I/O cell chaining, and die. The tool validates the specification data, and generates the I/O fabric design by configuring and inter-connecting a pin multiplexing and control matrix structures according to constraints for signal control, and timing. The structures includes on both the input and output paths of each pin a functional multiplexer matrix structure, a test multiplexer matrix structure, an override matrix structure, a multiplex select and control matrix structure, and an I/O Cell control logic. A required pin output circuit is configurable by modification of the I/O specification data, and/or, modification of a manner of wiring the algorithms, and/or by modification of the algorithms. The tool wires algorithms according to a wiring framework, and said wiring framework is modifiable. |
| US08386977B2 |
Circuit design checking for three dimensional chip technology
A tool that allows three dimensional chip circuit designs to be checked subsequent to 3D design layer mirroring. The 3D chip design is converted to a corresponding 2D chip design by mirroring one or more design layers from the mirrored side of a 3D design and merging those design layers with unmirrored design layers from the unmirrored side of a 3D design. The converted circuit design can be processed by standard verification checks. The tool may also receive design layers corresponding to an integrated circuit that will pass through multiple semiconductor chips. Each design cell is examined to determine if it corresponds to a mirrored or unmirrored side of its respective semiconductor chip. If the respective design cell corresponds to the mirrored side, the design cell is mirrored. All mirrored cells are then merged with the unmirrored design cells in the correct order. The merged design is processed by standard verification checks. The tool also has the capability to create terminal metal abstracts for two adjoining chips. One of the abstracts is mirrored and then merged with the other for connectivity and alignment checking. |
| US08386973B2 |
Behavioral synthesis apparatus, method, and program having test bench generation function
Disclosed is a behavioral synthesis apparatus for generating a test bench where the same test vector can be used in both the behavioral simulation and the RTL simulation. The apparatus includes input application/output signal observation timing signal generation means that generates an input application timing signal, an output observation timing signal, and logic circuits for the input application timing signal and the output observation timing signal; and test bench generation means that generates a test bench that observes the signals, applies inputs, and observes outputs. |
| US08386971B2 |
Method and apparatus for low delay recursive filter design
A method and apparatus for low delay recursive filter design. The method includes determining a predefined filter template with higher magnitude specification than a target filter design, determining at least one relaxation bound on the filter specification utilizing the predefined filter template, specifying at least one constraint for the target filter design utilizing the at least one relaxation bound, and determining a low delay recursive filter design for minimizing the average group delay of the filter utilizing the at least one constraint. |
| US08386970B2 |
Replacing single-cut via into multi-cut via in semiconductor integrated circuit design
According an aspect of the invention, there is provided a design support system of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first unit configured to determine a wiring path by calculating wiring resource consuming information for carrying out a connection through a multi-cut via in case that the connection is carried out through the multi-cut via in a wiring region having a plurality of layers; and a second unit configured to replacing a single-cut via into the multi-cut via. |
| US08386966B1 |
Real-time tracking of user-application interaction
Some embodiments provide a system that monitors use of an application. During operation, the system uses the application to track a set of interactions between a set of users and the application without impacting the performance of the application. Next, the system stores the interactions as the interactions are detected by the application. Finally, for each user from the set of users, the system periodically processes a subset of the stored interactions associated with the user to obtain an activity history for the user, wherein the activity history is used to facilitate subsequent real-time use of the application by the user. |
| US08386963B2 |
Virtual inking using gesture recognition
A virtual inking device is created in response to a touch input device detecting a user's inking gesture. For example, when a user places one of their hands in a pen gesture (i.e. by connecting the index finger with the thumb while holding the other fingers near the palm), the user may perform inking operations. When the user changes the pen gesture to an erase gesture (i.e. making a fist) then the virtual pen may become a virtual eraser. Other inking gestures may also be utilized. |
| US08386962B2 |
System and method for viewing device components
In a system for viewing the internal components of a device, a user interface is provided. Device selection criteria is received by the system from the user interface. After receiving the device selection criteria, a device model is retrieved from a database in accordance with the device selection criteria. The device model is displayed using the user interface. After displaying the device data, component or subsystem selection criteria is received from the user interface. Component or subsystem data is retrieved from the database, and the component or subsystem data is displayed using the user interface. |
| US08386961B2 |
Widget of graphical user interface and method for navigating amongst related objects
The invention is directed to a widget of or in a graphical user interface for navigating amongst related objects. The widget is adapted for displaying first and second groups of objects within respective first and second visually linked display areas. The widget is further adapted, upon user selection of a relation between an object of the second group and a third group of objects, for displaying objects of the third group in the second display area and objects of the second group in the first display area. The invention also relates to a method for navigating amongst related objects, comprising a step of providing to a user a graphical user interface with such a widget. Lastly, the invention is directed to a computer program comprising code means for implementing the method and to a computer system comprising means for implementing the method. |
| US08386960B1 |
Building object interactions
A software development environment may have a object interaction construction interface for defining sentences that include two or more sentence atoms in an ordered arrangement. The sentence atoms may be one of: a source object, an event, a target object, and an action. The object interaction construction interface may receive user input selecting the sentence atoms in a particular sequence. The object interaction construction interface may configure a menu list of available second sentence atoms according to the type of sentence atom selected as the first sentence atom. Throughout the sequence, the object interaction construction interface will self-configure the next menu list according to the type of atom selected in the previous selection. When the sentence is complete, the software development environment may generate program instructions and/or data structures to implement object interactions defined by the sentence, which may be used to build an application. |
| US08386959B2 |
Scalable display of internet content on mobile devices
Apparatus, methods and software for creating resolution-independent vector display of Internet (Web) content to allow Web pages to be scaled (zoomed) and panned for better viewing and/or to fit any resolution or screen size. According to one aspect, novel client-side processing of markup language-based Web content is provided that translates employs a rendering engine to interpret original page layout information into scalable page layout information. The scalable page layout information is then scaled and employed to enable the Web content to be rapidly rendered, zoomed, and panned. According to another aspect, display lists are generated to provide further enhancements in rendering speed. According to other aspects, bounding boxes are generated and scaled to lay out text and/or images on scaled Web content that is used to facilitate browsing of Web pages with zooming and panning. |
| US08386957B2 |
Method for dynamically scaling an original background layout
In a method for dynamically scaling an original background layout having at least one element, an instruction to employ the original background layout in a new page that differs in at least one of size and aspect ratio from at least one of the size and aspect ratio of the original background layout is received. In addition, a type and a position of the at least one element is identified and one or more constraints are applied on at least one characteristic of the at least one element to modify the at least one characteristic of the at least one element for inclusion in the new page, in which the one or more constraints are based upon the type and position of the at least one element. |
| US08386955B1 |
User-optimized content for web browsing windows
Computer-implemented methods for determining what to display to a user when the user opens a new web page browsing window in a web browser are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to open a new web page browsing window, and providing the new web page browsing window for display, the new web page browsing window displaying, by default, either a collection of user selected web addresses or previously visited web pages. The method also includes receiving a request to display the collection that was not displayed by default in response to the request to open the new web page browsing window. The collection that was not displayed by default in response to the request to open the new web page browsing window becomes the default collection to display for a subsequent request. Systems, web browsers, and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US08386954B2 |
Interactive media portal
Techniques are disclosed herein for a media center portal. One implementation includes displaying first content in an expanded state and second content in a contracted state. At least a portion of the first content is presented in a viewport. A request is received to expand the second content. The first content is contracted for display in the contracted state. The second content is expanded for display in the expanded state. The contracted first content is displayed while displaying the expanded second content. At least a portion of the second content is presented in a text reader when in the expanded state. |
| US08386951B2 |
Display adjustment features
A graphical user interface presents an image of an object coded with values from a sequence of qualitative values, according to a calibration of the qualitative values to a selected range of quantitative values. The interface includes a display adjustment feature, having the sequence of qualitative values superimposed thereon, and at least one moveable marker, which is adapted to select a quantitative value for the selected range of quantitative values. |
| US08386948B2 |
Mobile communication terminal, information processing device, and program
[Problem] To make it possible to switch display of plural windows depending on a situation such as a time and a place.[Solution] A mobile communication terminal stores condition data for applications that display a window. Condition data is data describing for applications, an application (namely, a window), an attribute of a location associated with the application, and a frequency at which the application has been executed. The mobile communication terminal, if plural overlapping windows are displayed, determines a window to be displayed on top, using the condition data. For example, the mobile communication terminal, if an attribute of a location of the terminal is “office”, and an application “groupware” is running, displays a window of the application on top. |
| US08386947B2 |
Declaratively composable dynamic interface framework
An interface framework enables dynamic generation of a user interface for browsing online media content. The interface can be modified based on changing one or more configuration or data files rather than making changes to code. The files contain interface content, interface configuration parameters and content category information. The framework retrieves a collection of content corresponding to a category, configures the interface based on a set of parameters and the retrieved content, and provides the interface to a remote device. When the files used to generate the interface are modified, the interface provided by the framework thereafter is changed. As a result, the interface may be changed without modifying or adding any code or markup within the framework. |
| US08386946B2 |
Methods for automated and semiautomated composition of visual sequences, flows, and flyovers based on content and context
A system with the ability to dynamically compose a sequence of visual views or flows allowing a single object or region, or multiple objects or regions, to be viewed from different perspectives and visual distances is described. The sequence of views can provide smooth flyovers over positions and details on objects that are deemed to be of interest, with changes in zoom level and/or velocity that are functions of the estimated complexity and/or unfamiliarity with features of the object. In an example, a flyover displaying different views on a map of a city arterial system on a small-screened mobile device is composed based on current traffic conditions, swooping up and down with parabolic trajectories, based on distances being traversed, and pausing at times over key traffic jams and other findings of interest based on the estimated visual complexity and predicted atypicality of situations. |
| US08386942B2 |
System and method for providing digital multimedia presentations
There is presented a system and method for providing a digital multimedia presentation. The system comprises a presentation server and a presentation content database configured to store a plurality of digital multimedia content items, accessible through the presentation server. The system also comprises a presentation control application configured to enable identification of a digital multimedia content item for presentation from among the plurality of digital multimedia content items. The presentation control application is configured to organize the plurality of digital multimedia content items into digital multimedia content sets displayed on a selection plane, enable navigation in a first navigation mode on the selection plane, group the plurality of digital multimedia content items into grouping subsets displayed on a presentation plane, enable navigation in the first navigation mode on the presentation plane, and enable navigation in a second navigation mode between the selection plane and the presentation plane. |
| US08386940B2 |
Operating system and a program product
Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a first provider adapted to provide a first user interface configured to receive an input about an instruction about an operation of an apparatus, the first user interface being provided in a first direction; a second provider adapted to provide a second user interface in conjunction with the first user interface, the second user interface being provided in a second direction; and an informer adapted to provide a status of the operation via the second user interface when the operation is performed. |
| US08386936B2 |
Processing apparatus for displaying content title
A processing apparatus configured to perform a process in accordance with a processing instruction, and connected to a network is provided. The processing apparatus may store address information of summarized content information that includes at least titles of content, acquire the summarized content information based on the address information, allow a user to input an instruction, receive a first processing instruction from the network, display the titles of the content included in the summarized content information on a display unit in a case where a second processing instruction is input by the user, display the titles of the content included in the summarized content information on the display unit on a condition that a predetermined instruction is input by the user in a case where the first processing instruction is received, and terminate the display of the titles of content in a case where a predetermined condition is met. |
| US08386934B2 |
Information presenting apparatus, information presenting method, and computer program
In an information presenting apparatus, information associated with each of one or more motion images stored in a storage apparatus is displayed at a location corresponding to a file production time in the form of a calendar view. A plurality of frames of representative images are extracted from each motion image in accordance with a specified frame extraction method. Thumbnail images of the respective extracted representative images are produced, and each thumbnail image is related to a playback position in the motion image. The resultant thumbnail images are managed as a set of motion image thumbnail images in accordance with a production time of the motion image. Information associated with each motion image is displayed at a location corresponding to the production time of the motion image in the form of the calendar view. Thumbnail images associated with each motion image are displayed in an expanded form in the order of time. |
| US08386931B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing process guidance
A context-sensitive process guidance system provides process guidance based on context data from a system used in performing the process. The system may be a work item tracking system or similar project management tool. Process guidance may provide information to a user performing actions related to a process. Context data may be derived from various sources, including the state of an application at the time of the request for process guidance, the user making the request and the role assigned to that user in the process, or the data displayed for the user who made the request. The context-sensitive process guidance system may display context-sensitive process guidance content and provide links to related process guidance content based on the context data. |
| US08386930B2 |
Contextual data center management utilizing a virtual environment
Contextual data center management utilizing a virtual environment is described. In one embodiment, there is a data center management tool for managing a physical data center from a representation of the physical data center operating in a virtual universe. The data center management tool includes a data center contextual object component configured to obtain a data center contextual object that describes operational information of the physical data center in the virtual universe. An operational change component is configured to implement at least one operational change to the representation of the physical data center in the virtual universe. The at least one operational change is implemented as a function of the data center contextual object. A management component is configured to manage the physical data center pursuant to a result obtained from implementing the at least one operational change. |
| US08386928B1 |
Method and system for automatically captioning actions in a recorded electronic demonstration
A system and method are disclosed for automatically captioning an electronic demonstration using object properties captured from the operating system. In response to an action that is initiated by a demonstrator, the operating system is queried to obtain the property information for the target object to which the action is directed as well as the parent object of the target object. This property information is then used to generate explanatory captions that are displayed to a user or trainee during the playback of the electronic demonstration. |
| US08386926B1 |
Network-based custom dictionary, auto-correction and text entry preferences
Methods and apparatus for implementing network-based text-entry preferences are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, at a server, a valid login request from a user for an account maintained on the server and identifying, on the server, a set of text-entry preferences associated with the account. The example method further includes receiving, at the server, a request from the user to execute a first network-based application on the server and receiving, at the server, user-entered text associated with the first network-based application. The example method still further includes applying, by the server, the set of text-entry preferences to the received user-entered text and providing, after applying the set of text-entry preferences, the received user-entered text to the first network-based application. |
| US08386925B2 |
Information processing terminal device, information processing device, information processing method, and program
An information processing terminal device includes: a communication unit; a primary content information acquiring unit for acquiring primary content information; a primary content information holding managing unit for holding and managing primary content information, in correlation with a unique primary content identifier; a subsidiary content information holding managing unit for obtaining subsidiary content information configured having at least playback control information and having a subsidiary content identifier corresponding to itself and an editing history identifier; an editing processing unit for executing editing processing with secondary usage of at least one of primary content information and subsidiary content information; a subsidiary content information creating unit for creating subsidiary content information; an editing history identifier managing unit for generating the editing history identifier; and a subsidiary content identifier managing unit for generating a subsidiary content identifier to be correlated with subsidiary content information and providing this to subsidiary content information. |
| US08386923B2 |
Document generation apparatus, method, and storage medium
A document generation apparatus comprises: a first acquisition unit adapted to acquire, based on identification information appended to a first document, layout data and data acquisition information required to acquire data to be laid out in accordance with the layout data; a second acquisition unit adapted to acquire data based on the data acquisition information acquired by the first acquisition unit; and a generation unit adapted to generate a second document on which the data acquired by the second acquisition unit are laid out in accordance with the layout data acquired by the first acquisition unit. |
| US08386920B2 |
Method and apparatus for data visualization
A data visualization system provides data visualization objects to a live document author for incorporation into a live document. The system is responsive to selection of one or more objects by incorporating the object in a hypertext markup. Objects may include view objects, such as bar charts and dynamic tables, text objects, which permit an author to guide a reader through the live document, and interaction objects which permit a reader to interact with a live document. The system also permits views to be linked by an author and interaction sessions to be saved by a reader. |
| US08386918B2 |
Rendering of real world objects and interactions into a virtual universe
Systems are disclosed herein that can capture image data reflecting real world objects and/or actions and convert this data into a format that, is usable in a virtual universe (VU). Thus, image data representing real world/actual objects and actions can be acquired, converted into virtual universe compatible data, sent to a VU server where the actions and objects can be associated with a virtual area or an avatar, and a recreation of the objects and actions can be displayed to a user in the VU. This allows a participant to customize activities and objects in the VU, and provide a unique “personality” for their avatar and their VU. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08386916B2 |
Systems and methods to create a multidimensional expression calculated member in a spreadsheet cell
According to some embodiments, a system, method, means, and/or computer program code are provided to facilitate use of a spreadsheet application to access information stored in a multidimensional data source. Some embodiments include receiving, at an analyzer module, a change indication from the spreadsheet application. The change indication may be, for example, associated with a spreadsheet formula of the spreadsheet application entered by a user into a spreadsheet cell. In response to the change indication, the spreadsheet formula may be translated into a multidimensional expression calculation associated with the multidimensional data source. The spreadsheet formula in the spreadsheet cell may then be automatically replaced with information associated with the multidimensional expression calculation. |
| US08386913B2 |
Portable data carrier as a web server
The invention relates to a method for providing hypertext data through a hypertext server (43) on a portable data carrier (10) for a terminal (80) connected to the portable data carrier (10), and to an accordingly adapted portable data carrier (10). The hypertext server (43) receives (100) a hypertext query of the terminal (80) and thereupon provides (200) hypertext data relating to the hypertext query. The hypertext server (43) then sends (400) the provided hypertext data as a hypertext response to the terminal (80). The method is characterized in that upon the providing (200) of the hypertext data at least one hyperlink contained in the hypertext data is checked and the checked hyperlink is contained in the hypertext response. |
| US08386908B2 |
Data transmission methods and universal serial bus host controllers utilizing the same
A data transmission method for a universal serial bus (USB) host controller is provided. First, input data is received. A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) result of the input data is calculated, and, simultaneously, the input data is transmitted to a system memory of a host. Then, it is determined whether the input data is the last input data of a data packet. When it is determined that the input data is the last input data of the data packet, the CRC result of the last input data of the data packet is calculated. Thus, the CRC result of the data packet is accumulated. The accumulated CRC result is combined with the last input data, and transmitted the combination to the system memory of the host. |
| US08386907B2 |
Multi-user packing techniques for wireless network
Various example embodiments are disclosed herein. According to an example embodiment, a method may include transmitting a Media Access Control Protocol Data Unit (MAC PDU) via a wireless link to one or more mobile stations, the MAC PDU including a plurality of MAC management messages as a pay load, at least some of the MAC management messages directed to different mobile stations, the KIAC PDU including a MAC header having a connection ID field identifying a connection for all (or at least one, or a plurality) of the MAC management messages included in the MAC PDU. |
| US08386906B2 |
Multi-CSI (cyclic shifted identity) sub-matrix based LDPC (low density parity check) codes
Multi-CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrix based LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) codes. A CSI parameter set, that includes at least one dual-valued entry and may also include at least one single-valued entry, and/or at least one all-zero-valued entry, is employed to generate an LDPC matrix. One of the single-valued entries may be 0 (being used to generate a CSI matrix with cyclic shift value of 0, corresponding to an identity sub-matrix such that all entries along the diagonal have elements values of 1, and all other elements therein are 0). Once the LDPC matrix is generated, it is employed to decode an LDPC coded signal to make an estimate of an information bit encoded therein. Also, the LDPC matrix may itself be used as an LDPC generator matrix (or the LDPC generator matrix may alternatively be generated by processing the LDPC matrix) for use in encoding an information bit. |
| US08386903B2 |
Bit reverse interleaving methods for QAM modulation in a wireless communication system
In a communication method, a sequence of information bits is encoded into systematic bits and parity bits. The systematic bits and the parity bits are grouped in output blocks, each output block to be assigned to an address of a constellation scheme. The addresses include addresses that are more prone to error and address that are less prone to error so that the symbols are grouped such that bits in groups of consecutive bits of the sequence of information bits are not all assigned to addresses that are more prone to error. |
| US08386902B1 |
Method and apparatus for rational puncturing of forward error correcting codes
A method and apparatus to select bits for puncturing forward error correcting code frames to synthesize higher code rates. For example, there is provided a method of puncturing a digital data stream that includes a first parity bit stream and a second parity bit stream to generate a punctured bit stream. In one example, the method includes operating a first counting loop to select a first number of punctured bits from the first parity bit stream, comparing the first number of punctured bits with a desired number of bits for the punctured bit stream, and if the first number of punctured bits is less than the desired number of bits, operating a second counting loop to select a second number of punctured bits from the second parity bit stream until the sum of the first number of punctured bits and the second number of punctured bits is equal to the desired number of bits for the punctured bit stream. |
| US08386896B2 |
8VSB DTV signals with PCCC and subsequent trellis coding
Data to be more robustly transmitted within 8VSB broadcast DTV signals are turbo coded using parallel concatenated convolutional coding (PCCC) and incorporated within the segments of data fields, the bytes of which are convolutionally interleaved before trellis coding and 8VSB symbol mapping. Packing the PCCC into payload fields of MPEG-2-compatible null data packets and Reed-Solomon coding the packets to generate the segments of data fields, the bytes of which are convolutionally interleaved, conditions legacy DTV receivers to disregard PCCC components not useful to them. Transversal packing turbo-coded Reed-Solomon codewords into the payload fields of MPEG-2-compatible null data packets increases the capability of those turbo-coded Reed-Solomon codewords to overcome burst errors. Repeated transmissions of the transversally packed turbo-coded Reed-Solomon codewords in whole or in part allows them to overcome protracted deep fades encountered during mobile reception of 8VSB DTV signals. |
| US08386886B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for distributed decoding during prolonged refresh
Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for preserving, verifying, and correcting data in DRAM device during a power-saving mode. In the power-saving mode, memory cells in the DRAM device may be refreshed using a self-refresh operation. This self-refresh operation may allow bit errors to occur in the DRAM device. However, by employing error correction coding (ECC), embodiments of the present invention may detect and correct these potential errors that may occur in the power-saving mode. Furthermore, a partial ECC check cycle is employed to check and correct a sub-set of the memory cells during a periodic self-refresh process that occurs during the power-saving mode. |
| US08386883B2 |
Lengthening life of a limited life memory
A phase-change memory (PCM) includes a matrix of storage cells, including at least a first group with at least one cell. Each cell includes a phase change material having at least a first resistance value and a second resistance value, such that the first group can have an identical message encoded therein in at least a first way and a second way. The memory also includes a controller configured to encode the identical message in the at least first group the first or second way, based on which way causes the least amount of writing cost, given current levels of the group. Another embodiment of memory includes a matrix of storage cells, including at least a first group with at least one cell. Each of the storage cells has at least two levels, such that each of the storage cells can have an identical message encoded therein in at least a first way and a second way (the cells can be PCM or another technology). Each one of the storage cells is arbitrarily individually changeable among the at least two levels, and each of the cells is cost-asymmetric. A controller encodes the identical message in the at least first group using the first way or the second way, based on which way incurs a least cost when writing the message into the at least one cell of the at least first group, given current levels of the at least first group. |
| US08386882B2 |
Set partitioning and multilevel coding
A signal is encoded by receiving input data. A first portion of the input data is encoded to obtain a first set of encoded data. At least some part of the input data is processed to determine which one of a plurality of subsets the input data corresponds to. In the event the input data corresponds to a first subset having a greater signal margin (SM) than a second subset, the first set of encoded data and a second portion of the input data are output. In the event the input data corresponds to the second subset, the second portion of the input data is encoded to obtain a second set of encoded data and the first set of encoded data and the second set of encoded data are output. |
| US08386880B2 |
Method for transmitting non-binary codes and decoding the same
The invention relates to a decoding method for non-binary codes, in particular non-binary LDPC codes, amenable to representation by a bipartite graph representing N variables and M constraints. The invention also relate to a transmission method for transmitting non-binary codes, in particular non-binary LDPC codes, and to a reception to receive the same. The invention can be applied in particular to an IR-HARQ or a cooperative network using a non-binary code, in particular a non-binary LDPC code. |
| US08386877B2 |
Communication system, transmitter, error correcting code retransmitting method, and communication program
Intended is to achieve, in a wide range of an SN ratio, throughput on the same order of that attained by a method based on puncturing and improve computational complexity of decoding processing at a high coding rate. In a communication system for transmitting an error correcting code for an error on a communication path from a transmitter to a receiver, the transmitter divides information bits of a code word to be transmitted into a plurality of blocks based on a request for retransmission of an error correcting code from the receiver, generates an error correcting code by compact-coding of one block among the plurality of blocks and transmits the generated error correcting code. |
| US08386876B2 |
Transmission of different redundancy versions on different degrees of freedom
For downlink cooperative multi-point (CoMP) communication, each cooperating transmission point (e.g., base station) may send a retransmission packet with a different redundancy version to a user equipment (UE). Mechanisms may be provided to determine which transmission point should send packets with which redundancy version. For uplink CoMP, in order to reduce the backhaul overhead, each cooperating base station may share only a fraction of the retransmitted packet with the serving base station. Also, different retransmission packets with different redundancy versions can be transmitted to different cooperating base stations using spatial degrees of freedom. |
| US08386875B2 |
Method and system for handling HARQ operations during transmission mode changes
A method and device for handling hybrid automatic repeat request (‘HARQ’) operations during transmission mode changes, the method detecting a transmission mode change; and manipulating an HARQ process buffer based on the detecting. Further, a method and network element for handling hybrid automatic repeat request (‘HARQ’) operations during transmission mode changes, the method checking when a user equipment is in a transmission mode uncertainty window; and blocking communications to the user equipment or utilizing a downlink control information format 1A for communications to the user equipment. |
| US08386874B2 |
HARQ process utilization in multiple carrier wireless communications
Methods and apparatus utilize hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmissions and retransmissions that are usable on multiple carriers, i.e. joint HARQ processes. For example, a downlink (DL) shared channel transmission of a joint HARQ process is received on one of the carriers. A first part of an identity of the joint HARQ process is determined by using HARQ process identity data received on a shared control channel. A second part of the joint HARQ process identity is determined using additional information. The joint HARQ process identity is then determined by combining the first part and the second part. A WTRU is provided that is configured to receive the DL shared channel and to make the aforementioned determinations. A variety of other methods and apparatus configurations are disclosed for utilizing joint HARQ processes, in particular in the context of DC-HSDPA. |
| US08386870B2 |
Fractional HARQ re-transmission
A mechanism is provided to allow an HARQ retransmission to more closely match the receiver's need for energy with the additional energy sent over the wireless link. In one aspect, the receiver sends the transmitter qualitative feedback which indicates to the transmitter an approximate amount of additional energy that the receiver needs to successfully decode the transmission. |
| US08386862B2 |
Fault diagnosis apparatus and fault diagnosis method of multi-channel analog input/output circuit
A fault diagnosis apparatus and method capable of simultaneously detecting the fault of a multiplexer and the fault of an A/D converter and isolating and identifying causes of these faults, the multiplexer and the A/D converter being used in a multi-channel analog input/output circuit. Test-voltage values are inputted from a diagnosis-voltage input unit into the multiplexer and the A/D converter constituting an analog-signal conversion unit, the multiplexer having plural channels, the A/D converter converting outputs from the multiplexer into digital signals, the test-voltage values being different from each other for each channel of the multiplexer. Comparisons are made between the digital voltage values and the test-voltage values inputted, the digital voltage values being outputted for each channel of the multiplexer. From this comparison result, it is judged whether the multiplexer is at fault or the A/D converter is at fault. |
| US08386859B2 |
On-chip non-volatile storage of a test-time profile for efficiency and performance control
Mechanisms for controlling an operation of one or more cores on an integrated circuit chip are provided. The mechanisms retrieve, from an on-chip non-volatile memory of the integrated circuit chip, baseline chip characteristics data representing operational characteristics of the one or more cores prior to the integrated circuit chip being operational in the data processing system. Current operational characteristics data of the one or more cores are compared with the baseline chip characteristics data. Deviations of the current operational characteristics data from the baseline chip characteristics data are determined and used to determine modifications to an operation of the one or more cores. Control signals are sent to one or more on-chip management units based on the determined modifications to cause the operation of the one or more cores to be modified. |
| US08386854B2 |
Automatic analysis of log entries through use of clustering
A set of log entries is automatically inspected to determine a bug. A training set is utilized to determine clustering of log identifications. Log entries are examined in real-time or retroactively and matched to clusters. Timeframe may also be matched to a cluster based on log entries associated with the timeframe. Error indications may be outputted to a user of the system in respect to a log entry or a timeframe. |
| US08386851B2 |
Functional coverage using combinatorial test design
A generator generates tests to improve functional coverage. A functional coverage of a first set of tests is examined in respect to a functional coverage model. The functional coverage model is transformed to a combinatorial model. The coverage measurements are used to refine the combinatorial model. The combinatorial model is utilized to generate a second set of tests that have a different functional coverage than the first set of tests. The second set of tests is utilized to examine quality of a tested system. |
| US08386848B2 |
Root cause analysis for complex event processing
Root cause analysis for complex event processing is described. In embodiments, root cause analysis at a complex event processor is automatically performed by selecting an output event from an operator and correlating the output event to an input event using event type and lifetime data for the input event and the output event stored in a data store. Embodiments describe how the lifetime data can comprise a start time and an end time for the event, and the correlation can be based on a comparison of the start and end times between the input and output events. Embodiments describe how the correlation algorithm used is selected in dependence on the event type. In embodiments, a complex event processing engine comprises a logging unit arranged to store in the data store an indicator of an event type and lifetime data for each output event from an operator. |
| US08386847B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for volume-level restoration of cluster server data
A setup module saves disk signatures identifying cluster disks for at least one source volume to a device distinct from the cluster disks. A copy module copies data with a volume-level restore from at least one snapshot volume to the at least one source volume, overwriting the disk signatures identifying the cluster disks so that the cluster disks cannot be accessed. A reset module rewrites the saved disk signatures to the cluster disks. |
| US08386845B1 |
Techniques for providing instant disaster recovery
Techniques for providing instant disaster recovery are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing instant disaster recovery comprising, maintaining, in a data store, data associated with a first host system, wherein the data comprises a first data portion and a second data portion, storing, in the first data portion, a disaster recovery agent, and exposing, to a second host system, the first data portion and the second data portion, wherein the disaster recovery agent is configured to initiate, on the second host system, a disaster recovery process, boot the second host system using the first data portion, and copy, from the data store, the second data portion in accordance with a first copy procedure and a second copy procedure. |
| US08386843B2 |
High speed redundant data processing system
A high speed data processing system is described comprising first and second data processing modules and first and second data checking modules. The first and second data processing modules are each arranged to perform substantially the same processing steps on data received at said data input, with each providing an output. The first and second checking modules are arranged to compare the outputs of said first and second data processing modules and to output an error signal indicative of whether or not said first and second data processing modules have performed substantially the same processing steps. The first and second checking modules are located on physically separate devices. In some arrangements a third checking module is provided, which checking module may be physically separated from each of said first and second checking modules. |
| US08386839B2 |
Information system and data transfer method
Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a computer is improved. First and second storage apparatuses execute remote copy of copying data written into a first primary volume from the computer to a second primary volume, at least one of the first and second storage apparatuses executes local copy of copying the data written into the first or second primary volume in a self-storage apparatus to the corresponding first or second secondary volume, and the computer switches the destination of a write request of the data from the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus in case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus. |
| US08386838B1 |
High-availability of a storage system in a hierarchical virtual server environment
Described herein is a high-availability storage system having hierarchical levels of storage functions. The storage system may comprise one or more hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level comprising physical servers and be assigned to perform a particular set of storage functions. Each physical server may implement one or more VMs configured to perform only the set of storage functions assigned to the hierarchical level on which the VM executes. VMs of a first hierarchical level may be configured to organize the VMs of a second hierarchical level into a redundant array of storage access servers for providing data reliability and high-availability of the storage system. VMs of a first hierarchical level are configured to produce and route sub-requests to the VMs of a second hierarchical level. Failure of a sub-request is detected and remedied by a VM of the first hierarchical level. |
| US08386834B1 |
Raid storage configuration for cached data storage
A storage server receives a notification indicating a failure of a mass storage device in a storage array. The storage server determines whether a number of failures exceeds a fault tolerance level of the array and if the number of failures exceeds the fault tolerance level, recovers an address space corresponding to the failed storage device. When recovering the address space, the storage server replaces the failed storage device with a spare storage device having an identifiable pattern stored thereon and determines whether a file system on the storage system can automatically invalidate cached data blocks on the failed storage device. |
| US08386829B2 |
Automatic internal trimming calibration method to compensate process variation
A method is described for performing an automatic internal trimming operation that can compensate process variation and supply voltage variation in an integrated circuit. A reference signal is applied when the integrated circuit is in an automatic internal trimming mode, and integrated circuit timing is trimmed into a predetermined target range after applying predefined reference cycles. |
| US08386828B1 |
Circuit for estimating latency through a FIFO buffer
Circuits and methods are provided for estimating a latency through a FIFO buffer. A first detector detects first instances of a pattern in first data values serially written to a write port of the FIFO buffer. A second detector detects second instances of the pattern in second data values serially read from a read port of the FIFO buffer. The second data values are the first data values delayed by the latency through the FIFO buffer. A counter counts a count of active transitions of a sample clock signal. The counter starts on each detected first instance and stops on each detected second instances. The count provides an estimate of the latency of the FIFO buffer. |
| US08386826B2 |
System and method for managing power of a portable device
A method and system for managing power of a portable device is disclosed. The portable devices has a plurality device components that has controllable power settings. The device has a plurality of power profiles, each power profile referencing a list of the available device components that are configured for adequate power needs. Set of rules are then defined having a criterion for executing the plurality of power profiles, where the criterion is based on a device input. Once the rules and power profiles are created, the device inputs are monitored to determine if there is a match. If the criteria in the rules are matched, the corresponding power profile is executed to maximize battery life. |
| US08386822B2 |
Wake-and-go mechanism with data monitoring
A wake-and-go mechanism is provided for a data processing system. The wake-and-go mechanism recognizes a programming idiom, specialized instruction, operating system call, or application programming interface call that indicates that a thread is waiting for an event. The wake-and-go mechanism updates a wake-and-go array with a target address, expected data value, and comparison type associated with the event. The thread then goes to sleep until the event occurs. The wake-and-go array may be a content addressable memory (CAM). When a transaction appears on the symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) fabric that modifies the value at a target address in the CAM, logic associated with the CAM performs a comparison based on the data value being written, expected data value, and comparison type. |
| US08386821B2 |
Apparatus for providing appropriate level of power to a CPU driving power generator based on the mode of the CPU
A computer includes a CPU and a system unit, and further includes a power source, a system driving power generator which converts source power input from the power source to be outputted to the system unit, a CPU driving power generator which outputs driving power to drive the CPU, and a controller which selectively supplies either the source power from the power source or the system power converted from the system driving power generator to an input terminal of the CPU driving power generator according to an operation mode of the CPU. Thus, a computer adjusts a level of power supplied to a CPU driving power generator according to a CPU mode and improves power efficiency, and includes a control method thereof. |
| US08386819B2 |
Communication apparatus and method having one or more communication control programs
A communication apparatus includes an automatic response unit configured to make a response to received data in a power saving state on behalf of one or more communication control programs, and a setting unit configured to collect automatic response information from the one or more communication control programs and to set the automatic response information in the automatic response unit, the automatic response information including conditions regarding received data to which the automatic response unit makes a response, and also including response data to be included in the response, wherein the automatic response unit sends the response data included in the automatic response information upon detecting that the conditions included in the automatic response information match data received in the power saving state, and causes the communication apparatus to exit the power saving state upon detecting that the conditions do not match said data received in the power saving state. |
| US08386816B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for reducing power consumption in computing devices
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for reducing power consumption in computing devices. An apparatus may include a processor configured to provide a user interface allowing a user to select a device power profile from a plurality of available device power profiles. The processor may be further configured to receive an indication of a selection of a device power profile. The processor may additionally be configured to implement the selected device power profile based at least in part upon the received indication. The processor may also be configured to measure power consumed by the device and calculate power consumption statistics based at least in part upon the measured power consumed. The processor may further be configured to send the calculated power consumption statistics to a community power savings portal. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08386812B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing network communications
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Power Over Ethernet (PoE) device (PD) having a controller to receive signals over a first cable having twisted pair wires from at least one of a network element and a gateway where the network element is associated with a service provider where the gateway is associated with a premises and where the service provider provides network communications to the premises, adjust the signals, transmit the adjusted signals over a second cable having twisted pair wires to at least one of the network element and the gateway, and receive power from at least one of the network element and the gateway, where the power is received over at least one of the first and second cables, where the power is received according to PoE protocol, and where the PD is positioned between the network element and the gateway. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08386809B2 |
System and method for configuring a power device
A system and method for directing a user to configure a power device via an alphanumeric user interface is provided. The power device may include data storage storing a plurality of operational parameters. The method includes acts of prompting, during an initial power-up of the power device, a user to enter an indication of quality of power supplied to the power device, receiving the indication via the user interface, determining a first value for each of the plurality of operational parameters of the power device based at least in part on the indication and applying each first value of the plurality of operational parameters to the power device. |
| US08386808B2 |
Adaptive power budget allocation between multiple components in a computing system
According to some embodiments, a power budget allocation engine of a multi-component computer system may receive a power budget allocation adjustment request signal from a first component. Based on the received budget allocation adjustment request signal (and, in some embodiments, a component preference), the power budget allocation engine may determine whether to adjust a power budget allocation signal provided to the first component. |
| US08386806B2 |
Integrated power management logic
A device and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the device includes a programmable power supply management logic. The programmable power supply management logic is capable of managing a plurality of voltage regulators present in a computer system. Additionally, the power supply management logic is integrated into an input/output complex in the computer system. |
| US08386804B2 |
Semiconductor integrated device and method of testing semiconductor integrated device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated device which stores secret data and is capable of operating in a test mode in which a scan test with respect to an internal circuit is executed, the semiconductor integrated device comprises a mode signal receiving module configured to receive a scan mode signal designating the test mode, a mask module configured to mask the secret data when the mode signal receiving module receives the scan mode signal, and an error detection module configured to detect presence or absence of error in the secret data and to store detection result in a first flip-flop. |
| US08386803B2 |
System and method for data obfuscation based on discrete logarithm properties
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable storage media for obfuscating data based on a discrete logarithm. A system practicing the method identifies a clear value in source code, replaces the clear value in the source code with a transformed value based on the clear value and a discrete logarithm, and updates portions of the source code that refer to the clear value such that interactions with the transformed value provide a same result as interactions with the clear value. This discrete logarithm approach can be implemented in three variations. The first variation obfuscates some or all of the clear values in loops. The second variation obfuscates data in a process. The third variation obfuscates data pointers, including tables and arrays. The third variation also preserves the ability to use pointer arithmetic. |
| US08386800B2 |
Verifiable, leak-resistant encryption and decryption
This patent describes techniques usable by devices to encrypt and decrypt sensitive data to in a manner that provides security from external monitoring attacks. The encrypting device has access to a base secret cryptographic value (key) that is also known to the decrypting device. The sensitive data are decomposed into segments, and each segment is encrypted with a separate encryption key derived from the base key and a message identifier to create a set of encrypted segments. The encrypting device uses the base secret cryptographic value to create validators that prove that the encrypted segments for this message identifier were created by a device with access to the base key. The decrypting device, upon receiving an encrypted segments and validator(s), uses the validator to verify the message identifier and that the encrypted segment are unmodified, then uses a cryptographic key derived from the base key and message identifier to decrypt the segments. Derived keys and validators are produced using methods designed to preserve security even if cipher and hashing operations leak information. Embodiments for systems including SoCs, firmware loading, FPGAs and network communications are described. |
| US08386799B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for providing DRM interoperability
Methods and apparatuses for providing DRM interoperability are provided. Proxy re-encryption technique using bilinear map is used, and the same content can be used in different devices. According to the method of providing DRM interoperability includes in proxy agent with respect to digital rights management (DRM) service providers and device which supports predetermined DRM, first DRM service provider, second DRM service provider, the proxy agent, and the device identify each other, and proxy re-encrypt an interoperable content (IC) and provide the IC to the device. The IC is second-level encrypted by using a key of the first DRM service provider, and the proxy re-encryption is performed by using a proxy key generated from proxy key information provided from the first DRM service provider and the second DRM service provider. Therefore, a problem in which interoperability cannot be guaranteed since a DRM technique depends on a service provider is resolved. |
| US08386798B2 |
Block-level data storage using an outstanding write list
A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. The secure storage appliance is configured to present to a client a virtual disk, the virtual disk mapped to the plurality of physical storage devices. The secure storage appliance is capable of executing program instructions configured to generate a plurality of secondary blocks of data by performing splitting and encrypting operations on a block of data received from the client for storage on the virtual disk and reconstitute the block of data from at least a portion of the plurality of secondary blocks of data stored in shares on corresponding physical storage devices in response to a request from the client. |
| US08386797B1 |
System and method for transparent disk encryption
A data storage system providing transparent encryption. The data storage system has a hardware encryption/decryption engine and a register coupled to the hardware encryption/decryption engine. The register is for securely storing a key for encrypting and decrypting data. The key may not be read from outside the data storage system. More specifically, the key may not be read by the operating system. The user does not have access to the encryption key, but may have a password that is passed to a controller coupled to the encryption/decryption engine. The controller verifies the password and causes data received from main memory to be encrypted by the hardware encryption/decryption engine using the key. The controller also transfers the encrypted data to the data storage device. |
| US08386796B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information management method
An information processing apparatus includes a chip implemented therein to independently perform a predetermined process. The chip includes a storage unit that stores therein user signature information in which biometric information of a user and a user electronic signature key that is a key for generating an electronic signature of the user for information created by the user are associated with each other and an encryption key that is a key for encrypting information, an electronic signature adding unit that, if the biometric information is obtained from the user, searches the storage unit for the user signature information corresponding to the biometric information, and adds the electronic signature of the user to user created information with a user electronic signature key in the user signature information, and an encrypt processing unit that encrypts with the encryption key the user created information processed by the electronic signature adding unit. |
| US08386793B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing electronic seal
A method provided herein includes the following steps: storing seal data of an electronic seal, a digital certificate, electronic signature program and a private key of a sealer in an external portable apparatus; performing a Hash conversion to a file to be sealed and the seal data of the electronic seal to generate a data digest, wherein the file to be sealed is a layout file; sealing, in the portable apparatus, the data digest using the private key of the sealer and the electronic signature program to generate an electronic signature result; and combining the file to be sealed, the seal data of the electronic seal, the digital certificate and the electronic signature result to generate a seal combination file. |
| US08386791B2 |
Secure data processing method based particularly on a cryptographic algorithm
The invention relates to a secure data processing method comprising the steps of generating (E204; E304) a first random value (A1); executing (E206; E306) a first cryptographic algorithm (FK) using the first random value (A1); generating (E208; E308) a second random value (A2); executing (E210; E310) a second cryptographic algorithm (FK; GK) using the second random value (A2); and generating a result (V) to verify that the first algorithm (FK) was properly executed. |
| US08386790B2 |
Method of using ECDSA with winternitz one time signature
A method is provided of authenticating a digitally signed message. A chain of messages is generated. A Winternitz pair of keys is generated for each respective message. A sequence number is assigned to each of the messages. Each of the sequence numbers cooperatively identify an order of Winternitz verifiers assigned to each of the messages. A signature to a first message in the chain of messages is signed using a digital signature algorithm private key. Signatures to each of the following messages in the chain of messages are signed using both Winternitz private keys and digital signature algorithm private keys. The signed messages are broadcast from a sender to a receiver. The first signed broadcast message is authenticated at the receiver by verifying the digital signature algorithm signature. At least some of the following signed broadcast messages are authenticated at the receiver by verifying only the Winternitz signature. |
| US08386789B2 |
Method and system for performing an electronic signature approval process
The present invention includes a computer-implemented method and an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP). The method and system allows a user to enable an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction. The method includes accessing a table that corresponds with the transaction and adding a signature field having a property sheet to the table. The method also includes defining a select property in the property sheet with a select parameter. The select property configured to provide approval of modified data in the transaction upon entry of a valid electronic signature. |
| US08386786B2 |
File system authentication
The present invention relates to file system authentication and, in particular, authentication of users for accessing files stored on a serverless distributed or peer-to-peer file system. Its objective is to preserve the anonymity of the users and to provide secure and private storage of data for users on a serverless distributed file system. It provides a method of authenticating access to a distributed file system comprising the steps of; receiving a user identifier; retrieving an encrypted validation record identified by the user identifier; decrypting the encrypted validation record so as to provide decrypted information; and authenticating access to data in the distributed file system using the decrypted information. |
| US08386784B2 |
Apparatus and method for securely submitting and processing a request
An apparatus and a method for securely submitting a request and an apparatus and a method for securely processing a request. The apparatus for securely submitting a request includes a request pre-submitting component and a request confirmation component. The request pre-submitting component sends a request with a unique identifier to a server and sends an alarm message containing the unique identifier and a request description to the request confirmation component. The request confirmation component contains a key inaccessible to other components in a client. It pops up a request confirmation window, on which the request description is displayed, in response to the alarm message and generates a request confirmation message associated with the request by using the key and the unique identifier. |
| US08386783B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication system performs a communication after establishing a channel from an external host device in an external network to an internal host device in an internal network, where a firewall blocks communications from the external host device in the external network to the internal host device in the internal network while selectively allowing communications from the internal network to the external network. The external host device includes a transmitting unit that transmits channel maintenance data to the internal host device when the channel needs to be maintained, with the channel maintenance data being used for maintaining the channel. |
| US08386782B2 |
Authenticated group key agreement in groups such as ad-hoc scenarios
The invention provides a method, system, device and computer program product for setting up a secure session among three or more devices or parties of a communication group, including authenticating a key agreement between the devices or parties of the communication group, wherein the devices of the group start, preferably after a key is computed or agreed, a protocol, preferably a multi-party data integrity protocol, for authenticating the key agreement. |
| US08386779B2 |
Role navigation designer and verifier
Systems and methods are provide for providing role navigation design and verification. An embodiment includes displaying user interface having at least one secured element, identifying a first privilege needed for access the secured element, and associating the privilege with a role, whereby a user having the role may access the at least one secured element. |
| US08386772B2 |
Method for generating SAK, method for realizing MAC security, and network device
A method for generating a secure association key (SAK), a method for realizing medium access control security (MACsec) and a network device are provided. The method for generating an SAK includes the following steps. A sending key selection protocol (KSP) instance sends a key selection protocol data unit (KSPDU) to the other KSP instances in the same secure connectivity association (CA). The KSPDU includes a secure connectivity association key identifier (CKI) of the instance and information about a MACsec level that the sending KSP instance belongs to. If the receiving KSP instance and the sending KSP instance belong to the CA with the same MACsec level, an SAK is generated based on the KSPDU. The MACsec of multiple levels in a communication network and the secure MACsec network communication with multiple levels are realized, thus ensuring the confidentiality of the network communication. |
| US08386771B2 |
Process and streaming server for encrypting a data stream with bandwidth based variation
There is disclosed a process for encrypting a data stream to secure the data stream for single viewing and to protect copyrights of the data stream. Specifically, there is disclosed a process for protecting streaming multimedia, entertainment and communications in an Internet-type transmission. There is further disclosed a streaming server component operably connected with a streaming server that interacts with a client system to affect the inventive process. |
| US08386769B2 |
Apparatus, and an associated method, for providing and using opaque presence indications in a presence service
An apparatus, and an associated method, enables presence information of a presentity to be retrieved by a watcher. Elements, or portions, of the presence information may be made selectively opaque (unreadable) to any but authorized watchers or other consumers of the presentity information. |
| US08386767B2 |
Methods and systems for bootstrapping security key information using session initiation protocol
Methods, systems and communication nodes for bootstrapping key establishment to exchange encryption keys between a terminal-based client and an application server using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling are described. |
| US08386766B2 |
Method and arrangement for deciding a security setting
The present invention relates to a method and arrangements in a mobile telecommunications network including a plurality of access points (203), a plurality of 5 network gateway devices (204). The method comprising the steps of: deciding a security setting needed for a dedicated bearer signal by a network component, communicating said decision to a node needed for establishing communication, configuring or selecting by said access point (203) a secure protocol (205) as needed between said access point and said gateway devices (204), and said decision being based on one or several of the network deployment being used and/or network operator policies. |
| US08386763B1 |
System and method for locking down a capability of a computer system
A system and method is disclosed for locking down a capability of a computer system. Hardware instructions initiate a sequence of boot cycles to launch a computer operating system on a computer-enabled device. During the boot cycles, multiple levels of boot code are verified. Each verified stage of boot code verifies a subsequent stage of boot code. If the subsequent stage of boot code cannot be verified, the verified stage locks a capability of the computer so that the subsequent stage of boot code cannot modify the capability. |
| US08386762B2 |
Methods and systems for modifying disk images to provide network interface card teaming capabilities
A system for modifying a virtual disk to provide network interface card (NIC) teaming capabilities to a virtual disk. The system can include a virtual disk that has access to one or more NICs. In some instances, the NICs are included in a NIC team that is also available to the virtual disk. A teaming module executing on a computer can identify the NIC team and responsively obtain a media access control (MAC) address of the NIC team. In response to obtaining the NIC team MAC address, the teaming module can obtain a network boot MAC address that was used to PXE boot the virtual disk. The teaming module can then replace the NIC team MAC address of each NIC in the NIC team with the obtained network boot MAC address. The system then boots from the virtual disk that has the modified NIC team configuration. |
| US08386761B2 |
System for registering and initiating pre-boot environment for enabling partitions
A method for registering and initiating a pre-boot environment for enabling partitions. The method provides a basic input output system (CIOS) with an application program interface (API) that accesses a Logical Clock Address (LCA) sector number when a boot configuration flag is set, the LCA sector number stores an operating environment manager which then boots the information handling system to an appropriate partition. |
| US08386760B2 |
Electronic apparatus and booting method of the same
An electronic apparatus and a booting method of the same are provided. The booting method of the electronic apparatus, including a non-volatile first storage unit storing a device initialization file and a device execution file, and a volatile second storage unit, includes: loading the device execution file from the first storage unit into the second storage unit at an initial booting; generating reference information about the loaded device execution file; maintaining power supplied to the second storage unit when the electronic apparatus is turned off; loading and executing the device initialization file from the first storage unit into the second storage unit at a rebooting; and executing the device execution file stored in the second storage unit with reference to the reference information. |
| US08386759B1 |
Integrated circuit boot method and apparatus for configuring memory device read mode using programmable circuitry boot code read from the memory device
An integrated circuit (“IC”) including a configurable configuration controller and associated IC boot program product is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention provides an IC boot program product including IC boot code for configuring a configuration controller of an IC such that an updated programming file can be read out of the configuration memory prior to loading an initial default programming file from the configuration memory into configuration elements of the IC. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an IC boot program product including IC boot code for configuring a configuration controller of an IC in accordance with a particular configuration memory interface selected from a plurality of such interfaces. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for reading configuration memory device information in a first read mode and then reading a programming file from the configuration memory device in a second read mode. Another embodiment of the invention provides an IC including a configurable configuration controller adapted to be configured by IC boot code read from a configuration memory device. |
| US08386753B2 |
Completion arbitration for more than two threads based on resource limitations
A mechanism is provided for thread completion arbitration. The mechanism comprises executing more than two threads of instructions simultaneously in the processor, selecting a first thread from a first subset of threads, in the more than two threads, for completion of execution within the processor, and selecting a second thread from a second subset of threads, in the more than two threads, for completion of execution within the processor. The mechanism further comprises completing execution of the first and second threads by committing results of the execution of the first and second threads to a storage device associated with the processor. At least one of the first subset of threads or the second subset of threads comprise two or more threads from the more than two threads. The first subset of threads and second subset of threads have different threads from one another. |
| US08386751B2 |
Low power, high performance, heterogeneous, scalable processor architecture
One embodiment of the present includes a heterogenous, high-performance, scalable processor having at least one W-type sub-processor capable of processing W bits in parallel, W being an integer value, at least one N-type sub-processor capable of processing N bits in parallel, N being an integer value smaller than W by a factor of two. The processor further includes a shared bus coupling the at least one W-type sub-processor and at least one N-type sub-processor and memory shared coupled to the at least one W-type sub-processor and the at least one N-type sub-processor, wherein the W-type sub-processor rearranges memory to accommodate execution of applications allowing for fast operations. |
| US08386749B2 |
Address mapping in virtualized processing system
A processing system has one or more processors that implement a plurality of virtual machines that are managed by a hypervisor. Each virtual machine provides a secure and isolated hardware-emulation environment for execution of one or more corresponding guest operating systems (OSs). Each guest OS, as well as the hypervisor itself, has an associated address space, identified with a corresponding “WorldID.” Further, each virtual machine and the hypervisor can manage multiple lower-level address spaces, identified with a corresponding “address space identifier” or “ASID”. The address translation logic of the processing system translates the WorldID and ASID of the current address space context of the processing system to corresponding WorldID and ASID search keys, which have fewer bits than the original identifiers and thus require less complex translation lookaside buffer (TLB) hit logic. The resulting WorldID and ASID search keys are used to perform one or more TLB lookups to obtain address mapping information related to the particular address space represented by the WorldID/ASID combination. |
| US08386742B2 |
Recording/reproducing method, recording/reproducing apparatus and information storage medium
A recording and/or reproducing method, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and an information storage medium are provided. The method of recording data to an information storage medium includes: according to a change in a method of using the information storage medium, rearranging the order of a first information structure with a variable size and a second information structure with a fixed size, both of which are included in management information of the information storage medium, so that the first information structure with the variable size can be positioned following the second information structure with the fixed size; and recording the rearranged management information on the information storage medium. According to the method and apparatus, recording management information can be found in a fixed location of a finalized information storage medium, thereby allowing the recording management information to be found easily and quickly. |
| US08386738B1 |
Off-chip non-volatile memory access
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to non-volatile memory. Systems and techniques can include sending a sequence of data including an address to a non-volatile memory to request data and receiving data from the non-volatile memory. The data can include a first portion and a second, different portion. The systems and techniques can include determining, based at least on the first portion, whether the second portion includes valid access parameter information associated with the non-volatile memory. |
| US08386736B2 |
Rapid memory buffer write storage system and method
Efficient and convenient storage systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment a storage system includes a host for processing information, a memory controller and a memory. The memory controller controls communication of the information between the host and the memory, wherein the memory controller routes data rapidly to a buffer of the memory without buffering in the memory controller. The memory stores the information. The memory includes a buffer for temporarily storing the data while corresponding address information is determined. |
| US08386735B1 |
Memory architecture and system, and interface protocol
A system includes a first integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit includes a direct memory access (DMA) circuit, a first random access memory (RAM) that is accessed by the DMA circuit using DMA, a data/command terminal that communicates with the DMA circuit and that receives a selection signal, and an M-bit data terminal that communicates with the DMA circuit and that receives a write command during a first period when the selection signal has a first state, a write address during a second period when the selection signal has a second state that is different than the first state, and write data during T third periods when the selection signal has the second state. M is an integer greater than one and T is an integer greater than zero. The first period, the second period, and the T third periods are non-overlapping. |
| US08386734B2 |
Apparatus and method for on-demand in-memory database management platform
A method and apparatus for constructing a memory-based database service platform, in which database can be on-loaded and off-loaded or unloaded as needed, and can reserve schedule and size of memory and other resources, including CPUs, network, backup, mirroring and recovery recourses. With the service platform, multiple different types of databases can be chosen by specifying data storage type and data operation interfaces, such as Relational Database (RDB), Biometric Database (BDB), Time Series Database (TDB), Data Driven Database (DDDB) and File-based Database (FDB) etc. Database types can be chosen either by user directly or by platform automatically or semi-automatically based on data types and data operation characteristics. |
| US08386733B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing file-level restoration from a block-based backup file stored on a sequential storage device
A method and apparatus for performing file-level restoration from a block-based backup file stored on a sequential storage device is described. In one embodiment, a method of processing a backup file to perform file-level restoration from a sequential storage device comprises generating extent information, wherein the extent information pertains to at least one file system object associated with a backup file, wherein the backup file is to be stored on a sequential storage device, wherein the backup file is block-based and processing a backup catalog, wherein the backup catalog indicates locations of various portions of the extent information and is used to restore a file system object. |
| US08386732B1 |
Methods and apparatus for storing collected network management data
A system provides a store process and method of operation that stores network management data collected from a managed resource by obtaining agent data collected by an agent from a managed resource in a network. The store process populates a set of adapters with the agent data, the set of adapters determined from the agent data collected from the managed resource. Based on the set of adapters populated with the agent data, the store process selects and applies at least one of a plurality of read mechanisms to read corresponding managed object data from a management database into managed objects that are to be synchronized with the agent data collected from the managed resource. The store process then synchronizes the agent data populated in the set of adapters with the managed object data in the management database. |
| US08386729B2 |
Dynamic volume compare for asynchronous remote copy verification
A method, device, and computer program product for performing asynchronous remote copy verification is provided. An initial track-to-track comparison between a primary and a secondary volume pair is performed. Differences between primary and secondary volume tracks are recorded as noncompare tracks. A first predetermined time is waited for. A subsequent track-to-track comparison of the noncompare tracks is performed. |
| US08386727B2 |
Supporting interleaved read/write operations from/to multiple target devices
Bus transactions in a computer network are improved by utilizing a multicast transaction from a single initiator to multiple targets. The multiple targets simultaneously execute the transaction and provide a return transaction to the initiator. The transaction cycle time is reduced as individual request to each target is replace with a single request to a collective target group, addressable by a single base memory address. Interleaved read or write operation is provided to allow the multiple targets of a particular target group to independently execute a portion of the transaction request. Improved bus performance is achieve by utilizing the higher throughput capacity of the system bus providing a higher number of shorter data segments from each target executing its portion of the larger transaction. |
| US08386726B2 |
SMT/ECO mode based on cache miss rate
A computer implemented method for managing an execution mode for a parallel processor is provided. A monitor identifies a first efficiency rate for a first contested resource of the parallel processor operating in a first operating mode. Responsive to identifying the first efficiency rate for the first contested resource, the monitor identifies whether the first efficiency rate for the contested resource of the parallel processor operating in the first operating mode exceeds a threshold. Responsive to identifying that the efficiency rate for the contested resource exceeds the threshold, an operation of the parallel processor is changed to a second operating mode. |
| US08386725B2 |
USB host controller and controlling method for USB host controller
The present invention aims to provide a USB host controller capable of reducing time for a data transfer between storage devices. A USB host controller according to the present invention includes a buffer memory for USB pipe having a first buffer memory region and a second buffer memory region, and a buffer memory controller configured to control a data transfer between the buffer memory for USB pipe and each of first and second devices. The buffer memory controller stores data from the first device in the first buffer memory region, swaps address information corresponding to the first buffer memory region and address information corresponding to the second buffer memory region, and transfers data stored in the first buffer memory region to the second device, on the basis of the address information corresponding to the first buffer memory region after the swapping. |
| US08386723B2 |
System and method of host request mapping
Systems and methods for reading data are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a data storage device includes a host interface that is adapted to couple the data storage device to a host. The host includes memory that is addressable by a host memory address space. The data storage device also includes a device address space that is independent from the host memory address space. The device address space includes a first address region and a second address region, where the second address region is distinct from the first address region. The data storage device also includes a non-volatile memory array and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory array and further coupled to a mapped device. The controller is adapted to, in response to a first request from the host for access to the first address region of the device address space, perform a memory access operation at the non-volatile memory array. The controller is also adapted to, in response to a second request from the host for access to the second address region of the device address space, map the second request to the mapped device. |
| US08386721B2 |
Storage having logical partitioning capability and systems which include the storage
A storage includes: host interface units; file control processors which receives a file input/output request and translates the file input/output request into a data input/output request; file control memories which store translation control data; groups of disk drives; disk control processors; disk interface units which connect the groups of disk drives and the disk control processors; cache memories; and inter-processor communication units. The storage logically partitions these devices to cause the partitioned devices to operate as two or more virtual NASs. |
| US08386718B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing application data in a shared cache of a mobile electronic device
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method and apparatus for managing memory in a mobile electronic device are provided. The method comprises: receiving a request to install an application; receiving at least one indication of data intended to be maintained in a shared cache; determining, based on the at least one indication, whether data corresponding to the intended data exists in the shared cache; upon a negative determination, writing the intended data to the shared cache; and repeating the receiving at least one indication, the determining and the writing for at least one additional application. |
| US08386715B2 |
Method and apparatus for tile mapping techniques
A tile-map caching technique in which it is determined whether a tile object is stored in a first cache that is configured to store a plurality of tile objects associated with a map. It is also determined whether a resource locator associated with the tile object is stored in a second cache, if the tile object is not in the first cache. The tile object is retrieved based on the resource locator if the resource locator is stored in the second cache. |
| US08386713B2 |
Memory apparatus, memory control method, and program
Disclosed herein is a memory apparatus comprising: a nonvolatile memory configured to allow data to be written thereto and read therefrom in units of a cluster and to permit data to be deleted therefrom in units of a block made up of a plurality of sectors; a control circuit configured to control access operations to said nonvolatile memory; a management area; a user data area; and a cache area; said management area includes a logical/physical table, and the addresses of physical blocks in said cache area. |
| US08386712B2 |
Structure for supporting simultaneous storage of trace and standard cache lines
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design for a single unified level one instruction cache in which some lines may contain traces and other lines in the same congruence class may contain blocks of instructions consistent with conventional cache lines is provided. A mechanism is described for indexing into the cache, and selecting the desired line. Control is exercised over which lines are contained within the cache. Provision is made for selection between a trace line and a conventional line when both match during a tag compare step. |
| US08386707B2 |
Virtual disk management program, storage device management program, multinode storage system, and virtual disk managing method
In a multinode storage system, a virtual disk associated with a storage device to be connected is created, and a slice of a connected storage device is allocated to one segment of the virtual disk. Next, one slice of data in the storage device to be connected is copied to the connected storage device. The rest of the data in the storage device to be connected is divided into slices, which are allocated to segments of the virtual disk. Then, metadata of the rest of the slices is written into a management information area in which copying of the data therefrom has been completed. |
| US08386704B2 |
Techniques for improving hard disk drive efficiency
A host operating system (OS) can function as a task under a disk drive operating system. The host OS and the disk drive operating system can be run on a single processor. The processor is able to maintain the real-time response characteristics of a disk drive controller. A shared memory subsystem can be accessed by both operating systems. A disk drive storage device can access and respond to metadata about an underlying file system maintained by a host operating system (OS) to optimize data transfers between the disk drive and the host OS. The disk drive can identify the nature of read/write accesses, allowing it to prioritize and performance optimize the accesses. The disk drive can perform these functions without any changes to the block interface. |
| US08386701B2 |
Apparatus and method for multi-level cache utilization
In some embodiments, a non-volatile cache memory may include a multi-level non-volatile cache memory configured to be located between a system memory and a mass storage device of an electronic system and a controller coupled to the multi-level non-volatile cache memory, wherein the controller is configured to control utilization of the multi-level non-volatile cache memory. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08386700B2 |
Flash memory controller garbage collection operations performed independently in multiple flash memory groups
A flash memory controller connected to multiple flash memory groups performs independent garbage collection operations in each group. For each group, the controller independently determines the amount of free space and performs garbage collection operations if the amount falls below a threshold. |
| US08386699B2 |
Method for giving program commands to flash memory for writing data according to a sequence, and controller and storage system using the same
A method for giving program commands to a flash memory chip is provided, the method is suitable for writing data from a host system into the flash memory chip. In the present method, a plurality of host write commands and data corresponding to the host write commands are received from the host system by using a native command queuing (NCQ) protocol, and cache program commands are gived to the flash memory chip to write the data into the flash memory chip. Accordingly, the time for executing the host write commands is effectively shortened by writing the data through the cache program commands and the NCQ protocol. |
| US08386690B2 |
On-chip networks for flexible three-dimensional chip integration
Mechanisms for providing an interconnect layer of a three-dimensional integrated circuit device having multiple independent and cooperative on-chip networks are provided. With regard to an apparatus implementing the interconnect layer, such an apparatus comprises a first integrated circuit layer comprising one or more first functional units and an interconnect layer coupled to the first integrated circuit layer. The first integrated circuit layer and interconnect layer are integrated with one another into a single three-dimensional integrated circuit. The interconnect layer comprises a plurality of independent on-chip communication networks that are independently operable and independently able to be powered on and off, each on-chip communication network comprising a plurality of point-to-point communication links coupled together by a plurality of connection points. The one or more first functional units are coupled to a first independent on-chip communication network of the interconnect layer. |
| US08386686B2 |
Cloud computer
A cloud computer includes a base, a host, and a battery, in which the host includes a motherboard, a memory connected to the motherboard, and a base connector connected to the motherboard, and the base includes a host connector corresponding to the base connector of the host, and a plurality of input/output ports to connect to peripherals. The battery is mounted on the host and connects to the motherboard to provide electronic power to the motherboard, and the host is detachably connected with the base. |
| US08386684B2 |
Data processing system and method of interrupt handling
A data processing system is provided which comprises at least two processing units (100, 101, 102) each for executing a plurality of tasks and an interrupt handling unit (200) for receiving an interrupt to be processed by the data processing system and for distributing the interrupt to one of the at least two processing units (100, 101, 102). The processing unit (100, 101, 102) to which the interrupt is distributed stops its current execution of the task and processes the interrupt. The interrupt handling unit (200) is adapted to determine whether the processing units (100, 101, 102) are executing a critical section (CS) of the task. The interrupt handling unit (200) distributes the interrupt to one of the processing units (100, 101, 102), which is not executing a critical section (CS) of a task. |
| US08386680B2 |
Communication between an accessory and a media player with multiple protocol versions and extended interface lingo
An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo. |
| US08386674B2 |
Methods and systems of controlling an electronic device's I/O terminals using pulse-width modulation
An electronic system includes a signal processor, a control signal generator, and an I/O interface. The signal processor has a first output signal and the first output signal is characterized by at least a first property and a second property. The control signal generator is configured to produce first and second control signals in accordance with the first and second properties of the first output signal, respectively. The I/O interface is configured to couple at least the first and second control signals to an output device. In some embodiments, the first output signal is a pulse width modulated signal having a software-specified pulse width and a software-specified repeat frequency. In some embodiments, the first property of the first output signal is the signal's duty cycle and the second property is the signal's frequency. |
| US08386673B2 |
KVM switch and method for controlling the same
A KVM switch connected between a plurality of consoles including a plurality of monitors, and a plurality of information processing apparatuses, comprises a setting portion that sets a part or all of the plurality of consoles to each information processing apparatus as one group, wherein the plurality of monitors included in the plurality of consoles which are set as one group by the setting portion display information from an information processing apparatus corresponding to the group. |
| US08386672B2 |
Systems, methods and media for disabling graphic processing units
An information handling system (IHS) provides a method for managing power consumption. The method includes detecting a power-on in the IHS, wherein the IHS comprises a first graphics processing unit (GPU) and at least one additional GPU. The method also includes determining if a normal boot is implemented in the IHS and determining if an instant-on boot occurred if the normal boot is implemented. The at least one additional GPU is disabled if an instant-on boot occurred. |
| US08386671B2 |
Communication system, communication device and communication method
A communication system includes a first communication device that transmits transmission data containing user data and control data, and a second communication device that receives the transmission data from the first communication device. The second communication device includes a temporary storing unit that temporarily stores therein the received transmission data, and a space-insufficient-information transmitting unit that transmits, when an amount of the transmission data stored in the temporary storing unit exceeds a first threshold, space insufficient information indicating that available storage space of the temporary storing unit is insufficient to the first communication device. The first communication device includes a transmission control unit that transmits, when receiving the space insufficient information from the second communication device, transmission data excluding the user data from the transmission data to the second communication device, and that resumes, when receiving space-insufficient dissolution information from the second communication device, transmission of the user data. |
| US08386668B2 |
Querying a device for information
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving in a processor complex a first write request from a peripheral device, obtaining information of the processor complex responsive to the first write request, and transmitting a second write request from the processor complex to the peripheral device including the information. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08386666B2 |
System and method for peripheral device communications
A method for operating a host device includes comparing a predetermined response of a peripheral device to a response token received from the peripheral device. The predetermined response and the response token are generated based on a first command transmitted from the host device to the peripheral device. The method further includes controlling a transfer of first data from a first memory to a peripheral control module based on the comparison between the predetermined response and the response token without interrupting a host control module, and selectively passing interrupts to the host control module when the predetermined response does not match the response token. |
| US08386664B2 |
Reducing runtime coherency checking with global data flow analysis
Reducing runtime coherency checking using global data flow analysis is provided. A determination is made as to whether a call is for at least one of a DMA get operation or a DMA put operation in response to the call being issued during execution of a compiled and optimized code. A determination is made as to whether a software cache write operation has been issued since a last flush operation in response to the call being the DMA get operation. A DMA get runtime coherency check is then performed in response to the software cache write operation being issued since the fast flush operation. |
| US08386662B2 |
Method for a DMA-compatible peripheral
The invention relates to a method for organizing the registers of a peripheral in memory, the peripheral including at least one control register to be addressed in memory to store configuration data of the peripheral, one transmission register to be addressed in memory to store data to be transmitted from the memory to the peripheral, and one reception register to be addressed in memory to store data to be transmitted from the peripheral to the memory, the method including: duplicating, within a data memory range, the transmission/reception register to different contiguous addresses; and implementing in memory the control registers at contiguous addresses at the level of a memory range adjacent to the memory range where the transmission/reception register has been duplicated. |
| US08386657B2 |
Dynamic address change for slave devices on a shared bus
A master/slave data communication system in which a master device communicates with the slave devices by uniquely addressing each of the slave devices. In order to enhance the security of the data communication system, each slave device includes an address generator for generating unique addresses. Periodically, the master device requests that one or more slave device change its address. In response to the request, the addressed slave device increments its address generating algorithm to provide a new slave address. The master device also includes an algorithm that is synchronized with the slave address generating algorithm, whereby when the slave changes its address, it need not transmit the new slave address to the master device over the bus. |
| US08386649B2 |
User input command relaying
Embodiments discussed herein are directed to an apparatus and method for relaying user input commands by a receiver to other devices connected to or in communication with the receiver. In one embodiment, a receiver receives one or more commands from a user input device and determines if the command is intended for the receiver or for a device in communication with the receiver. Based on this determination, the receiver may either execute the command or relay the command to a device that is attached or otherwise in communication with the receiver. |
| US08386640B2 |
Method, computer readable medium, and apparatus for providing different services to different users of an aggregate endpoint in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network
Different services are provided to different users or groups of users of an aggregate endpoint in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network. The different users or groups of users are differentiated based on service profiles designated by different PUIDs for the different users or groups of users of each of the users or groups of users. Different services for transmission and/or receipt of packets for the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint are provided, depending upon the differentiation between the different users or groups of users. |
| US08386639B1 |
System and method for optimized and distributed resource management
A system for optimized and distributed resource management, comprising a plurality of media servers, a statistics server, a historical statistics database, a forecasting engine, a scheduling engine, and an activity manager. The forecasting engine generates a forecast of estimated volume of imperative demand and determines a required volume of contingent demand to be handled based on managing a backlog of contingent demand. The scheduling engine generates a schedule that provides an adequate number of resources to handle the forecasted imperative demand and to handle the required volume of contingent demand over an aggregated time. The activity manager monitors statistical data, compares actual staffing and imperative demand to scheduled staffing and forecasted imperative demand, and determines activity switches needed to reallocate available resources, the activity switches only occurring switched after a configured minimum activity switching time. |
| US08386634B2 |
Communication system with removable operation member providing internet access
A communication system includes a communication device provided with an accessing system capable of accessing web pages. At least one operation member which is operable with being attached to the communication system is provided. The operation member has a data storage containing first access data which is used by the communication device to access a first predetermined web page. The system includes a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in the data storage to the accessing system when the at least one operation member is operated while it is attached to the communication device. In this configuration, the accessing system accesses the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted from the data storage of the at least one operation member. |
| US08386633B2 |
Method and system for processing raw financial data streams to produce and distribute structured and validated product offering data to subscribing clients
A method and system is disclosed for processing information provided from various content providers in the form objects having states subject to periodic updates. Formatted information indicating a current state of the objects are delivered to subscribing clients in substantially real-time. An information manager module is configured to receiving raw data objects from the content providers, format the information, and broadcast current state information on various broadcast data stream. A client manager module supports multiple client communication sessions and connects to at least one broadcast data stream. Current state information received on a broadcast data stream is processed and transmitted to specific clients in accordance with processing rules specified in the client profiles. |
| US08386632B2 |
Method, device, and system for controlling streaming media play
A method for controlling streaming media play includes: receiving from a terminal a PAUSE message requesting to pause the playing of a current streaming media file; pausing the sending of a media stream of the current streaming media file to the terminal and obtaining a first play time parameter, where the first play time parameter is about the time when the current streaming media file is paused; receiving from the terminal a PLAY message that carries a second play time parameter used to locate a play position of the streaming media file; and comparing the first play time parameter and the second play time parameter, and play, according to the comparison result, another streaming media file in the play list to which the current streaming media file belongs. This facilitates the selection of streaming media files by the user and enhances the user experience. |
| US08386631B2 |
Data streaming system and method
A data streaming system and method typically use a server arranged to stream one of a plurality of encoded data streams to a client. Each of the plurality of data streams may be an independent representation of a common data source encoded at a different resolution to the other of the plurality of data streams. The server can include a transmitter and a first buffer. The transmitter can be arranged to transmit data packets of the encoded data stream to the client via the first buffer. The transmitter can be arranged to monitor the content of the first buffer and switch to transmit another of the plurality of data streams in the event that predetermined criteria are detected from the first buffer. |
| US08386629B2 |
Network optimized content delivery for high demand non-live contents
The invention relates to a method of distributing a non-live content stream in a network. The method comprises transmitting an initial meta-file in response to receiving a request for a non-live content stream. The initial meta-file comprises information, and the information identifies a division of the content stream, identifies a multicast source server and a unicast source server. The method also comprises transmitting at least a first portion of the non-live content stream using the multicast source server and at least a second portion of the non-live content stream using the unicast source server. Also, the invention relates to a system comprising a multicast source server adapted to transmit at least a first portion of the non-live content stream in response to transmission of an initial meta-file. The initial meta-file is transmitted in response to receiving a request for a non-live content stream. |
| US08386627B2 |
UDP broadcast for a user interface in a download and configuration gaming method
A system and method are disclosed for implementing a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages. The method includes: receiving a registration message at a server from a client with a client IP address in the registration message, wherein the registration message includes types of notifications desired to be received by the client, and wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine; adding the client IP address to a registration message database; receiving a request for a port number from the DCM engine; and responding to the request for the port number. |
| US08386626B2 |
Transmit scaling using multiple queues
According to some embodiments, it may be determined, at a first processing element of a device with a plurality of processing elements, that first data is to be transmitted in association with a first network connection. A first entry associated with the first data may then be stored into a first of a plurality of transmit queues. It may subsequently be determined, at a second processing element of the device, that second data is to be transmitted in association with the first network connection. A second entry associated with the second data may then be stored into a second of the plurality of transmit queues. |
| US08386622B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating communication in a content centric network
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating communication in a content centric network (CCN). During operation, the system receives at a first node from an interest owner an interest in a piece of content. The interest indicates a structured name for the content. Furthermore, the name is unique and persistent with respect to the content, and where the name includes authentication information for the content. Next, the system determines whether content available at the first node satisfies the interest. If so, the system sends the content to the interest owner. Otherwise, the system marks the interest as pending, and forwards the interest to a second node in the network based on the interest. After receiving content from the second node in response to the forwarded interest, the system un-marks the interest as pending and sends the content to the interest owner. |
| US08386621B2 |
Parallel streaming
Embodiments of the present invention set forth techniques for a content player to stream a media file using multiple network connections. To stream the media file, the content player downloads metadata associated with a requested media file, establishes a network connection with multiple content servers (or multiple network connections with a single content server or both) and begins requesting portions of the media file. In response, the requested portions are transmitted to the content player. The content player may employ a predictive multi-connection scheduling approach to determine which network connection to use in downloading a given chunk. |
| US08386620B2 |
Ad hoc networking based on content and location
Methods, program products, and systems for ad hoc networking based on content and location are described. A user of a mobile device can identify another user using another mobile device who is close by, if both users have requested to participate in networking. Common interests and experiences of two or more users located close to each other can be identified from content, including automatically created usage data of the mobile devices. Usage data of a mobile device can be created based on activities performed on the mobile device (e.g., songs downloaded), a trajectory of the mobile device (e.g., places traveled), or other public data available from the mobile device (e.g., pictures shared). Each of the users can be notified that another user having the common interests and experiences is close by. A means of initiating communication can be provided to the users to facilitate communication between the users. |
| US08386618B2 |
System and method for facilitating wireless communication during a pre-boot phase of a computing device
A system, device, and method for facilitating wireless communications during a pre-boot phase of a computing device includes establishing a communications interface between a unified extensible firmware interface executed on the computing device and a wireless transceiver of the computing device during a pre-boot phase of the computing device. An OOB processor of the computing device processes data communications between the unified extensible firmware interface and the wireless communication circuit during the pre-boot phase by reformatting the data communications between wired and wireless communication standards. |
| US08386615B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for causing a communication device to join a communication session
According to embodiments of the present invention, there are provided a method, system and apparatus for joining a communication session. A method comprises receiving from a first communication device an indication of a desire of the first communication device to establish a communication session; the first communication device having been associated with a device group comprising the first communication device and at least one second communication device. The method further comprises determining if there exists an active communication session with the at least one second communication device. The method further comprises, responsive to existence of the active communication session, causing the first communication device to join the active communication session. |
| US08386612B2 |
Optimizing migration policy during live virtual memory migration
Controlling live migration of a running application between a source machine and a target machine is provided. At least one application characteristic and at least one network characteristic are obtained. An objective function that defines a cost to migrate from the source machine to the target machine as a function such as a weighted combination of at least one cost property is obtained. The objective function is optimized using the at least one application characteristic and the at least one network characteristic to determine a policy specifying when to switch execution of the running application from the source machine to the target machine. Live migration of the application from the source machine is controlled to send pages from the source machine to the target machine in accordance with the policy, and to switch the execution of the application from the source machine to the target machine at a state specified by the policy. |
| US08386611B2 |
Information system, load control method, load control program and recording medium
A load control server, computer program product, and method for controlling bottlenecks in an information system that includes application servers and a database server. Each application server executes at least one application program for processing a transaction received by each application server. The database server accesses a database based on a request received from an application server. A processing time required for each application program to process the transaction is monitored. A bottleneck relating to usage of at least one resource is detected. Each resource is a resource of at least one application server, a resource related to input to the transaction, a resource of the database server, or a resource related to the transaction. The detecting responds to the monitoring determining that the processing time for processing the transaction by at least one application server is not within a predesignated permissible processing time range. The detected bottleneck is removed. |
| US08386610B2 |
System and method for automatic storage load balancing in virtual server environments
Methods and systems for periodically analyzing and correcting storage load imbalances in a storage network environment including virtual machines are described. These methods and systems account for various resource types, logical access paths, and relationships among different storage environment components. Load balancing may be managed in terms of input/output (I/O) traffic and storage utilization. The aggregated information is stored, and may be used to identify and correct load imbalances in a virtual server environment in order to prevent primary congestion and bottlenecks. |
| US08386604B1 |
Assigning blame to web browser extensions and applications
According to one general aspect, a method of assigning blame to web browser extensions and applications is described. The method gathers performance data about a web application, detects a problem with the web application based on the performance data, and displays, when the problem is detected, an indication of the problem adjacent an indicator representing the web application. |
| US08386594B2 |
Network controller circuitry to initiate, at least in part, one or more checkpoints
An embodiment may include network controller circuitry to be included in a first host computer that includes a host processor to execute an operating system environment. The circuitry may initiate, at least in part, one or more checkpoints of, at least in part, one or more states associated with, at least in part, the operating system environment and network traffic between the first host computer and a second host computer. The circuitry also may coordinate, at least in part, respective execution, at least in part, of the one or more checkpoints with respective execution of one or more other respective checkpoints of the second host computer. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US08386592B2 |
Real-time HD TV/video IP streaming to a game console
Program code enabling the streaming of HD content in real-time to a game console is stored on a storage medium remote from the game console. The game console executes software that facilitates transfer of the program code from the remote storage medium to the game console. The program code ensures that sufficient bandwidth exists on a network between the game console and a HD tuner, and enables the streaming of HD content in real-time to the game console. |
| US08386591B2 |
Method and broadband access system for remote-controlling a voice interface of an access node
A method for controlling an access node interface connected to a VoIP server via an IP-based network, wherein subscriber lines connect a plurality of subscriber terminals to the access node, includes storing subscriber-specific data in a memory device associated with the VoIP server, where the data contains information to configure an access node voice interface. The access node determines whether at least one of the plurality of subscriber terminals is connected to the interface. If at least one of the subscribers is connected to the interface, then interface-associated identification data is transmitted from the access node to the VoIP server using an IP-based protocol. In response to the interface identification data received, subscriber-specific data filed for the connected interface is transmitted from the VoIP server to the access node using the IP-based protocol. The access node is configured, using the subscriber-specific data, so that the interface is operated as a voice interface. |
| US08386590B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing rehoming of user endpoint devices in a communication network
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Domain Name System (DNS) server having a controller to receive new provisioning information for updating a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), and update the FQDN with the new provisioning information. The new provisioning information can include among other things a start time for rehoming one or more user endpoint devices (UEs) assigned to a current session border Controller (S/BC), a move-from record comprising a descriptor of at least the current S/BC, a move-to record comprising a descriptor of at least a new S/BC to which to rehome the one or more UEs, a transfer window representing a total time for the rehoming the one or more UEs to the new S/BC, and a pacing parameter for rehoming the one or more UEs to the new S/BC during the transfer window. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08386587B2 |
Server-assisted and peer-to-peer synchronization
Systems and methods for synchronizing data between endpoints using elements of centralized and decentralized synchronization systems and communication topologies are disclosed. Such systems and methods may in some cases synchronize some subset of data with a centralized endpoint while another subset of data is synchronized in a decentralized fashion directly with other endpoints. Such systems and methods may include a variety of cooperative functionality to assist in the synchronization of data between endpoints. |
| US08386583B2 |
Information distribution system
Disclosed is an information distribution system including: a SIP server; and a plurality of terminals registered to the SIP server, wherein the plurality of terminals are composed of: a distribution source terminal; and a distribution destination terminal, the SIP server includes: a storage section to store terminal information; an obtaining section to obtain terminal information of a distribution destination terminal; a producing section to produce the distribution destination information; and a sending section to send distribution destination information to the distribution source terminal, the distribution source terminal includes: a requesting section to request to send the distribution destination information; and a distributing section to connect to the distribution destination terminal and to distribute the predetermined information by peer-to-peer communication, the requesting section sends the predetermined information to the SIP server, and the sending section sends the distribution destination information and the predetermined information. |
| US08386576B2 |
Graphical user interface for messaging system
A method, system and graphical user interface for a chat room system is disclosed. One aspect of certain embodiments includes sending messages that originate from a user's current chat room as well as messages that originate from nearby chat rooms to the user. Both types of messages are displayed in a single context to the user. |
| US08386573B2 |
System and method for caching linked email data for offline use
A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving an indication of a data caching request. A local copy of a piece of remote content that is defined by a link within an email is cached onto an accessible storage device. The remote content is stored on a remote resource. |
| US08386571B2 |
Mail manufacturing virtualization
Mail manufacturing virtualization is performed at a centralized routing site. This includes receiving, from at least one mailing source, electronic mailing data associated with at least one mailing and determining a mail routing distribution for the received electronic mailing data. Similarly, mail manufacturing virtualization includes routing the electronic mailing data to a plurality of output centers according to the determined mail routing distribution, where the plurality of output centers are configured to generate physical mail from the electronic mailing data and facilitating sending the physical mail to at least one respective recipient. |
| US08386568B2 |
Annotating and routing message content
Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business for improving communication, whereby message content is routed efficiently while allowing different recipients to receive different versions of the content. A portion of the electronic conversation in an instant messaging session (or of messages in other messaging systems) can be identified as being relevant to a third party (or parties), and information can be specified for routing the relevant information to that third party. A variety of delivery mechanisms may be used. Approval may be obtained prior to routing an annotated message. The recipients of annotated message may be human users and/or automated processes. The message author may also be a human or an automated process. |
| US08386567B2 |
Method and apparatus for coordinating internet multi-media content with telephone and audio communications
Internet content is coordinated with audio communications, such that two or more parties can view the same media content on the Internet while simultaneously communicating over a traditional telephony network or via voice over network. A user computer displays shared content that corresponds to a second computer's display, such that both parties view the same content on their browsers. Either of the parties is allowed to update the visual content of their browsers. Updates in the visual content are transmitted to the other parties so that all parties view the same, shared content. The shared content can include web pages, forms, applications, images, conferences, and files among other information. |
| US08386565B2 |
Communication integration between users in a virtual universe
An invention for communication integration between users of a virtual universe is provided. In one embodiment, there is a communication integration interface tool that provides communication integration between users within the virtual universe. In this embodiment, there is a response component for identifying an object of interest in the virtual universe, the object of interest comprising at least one of the following: a first user, or an asset associated with the first user that is within the virtual universe, and generating a response from the object of interest in the virtual universe. The communication integration interface tool further includes a communication link component for establishing a communication link between a second user and at least at least one of the following: the first user, a representative of the first user, or a third user in the virtual universe associated with the asset based on the generated response. |
| US08386563B2 |
Zero-click sharing of application context across devices
A first client device performs a handoff operation to a second client device by transmitting application information, associated with a first application, to the second client device when the first client device is positioned within a predefined proximity of the second client device. The first application has a first client device user interface state when the handoff operation is performed. Further, the first client device, in response to receiving from another client device application information associated with a second application executed by the other first client device, executes a third application corresponding to the second application with an initial user interface state corresponding to a user interface state of the other client device. |
| US08386560B2 |
Pipeline for network based server-side 3D image rendering
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates rendering a portion of an image from a server on a client. A portion of an image can be hosted by a server. A client can utilize a device to interact with the portion of an image via a network. The client can established two or more TCP/IP connections with the server in order to interact with the portion of the image. A pipe component can enforce an isolated pipeline and a processing thread for each of a user manipulation of the portion of the image, a transmission of a user request to manipulate the portion of the image via the network, a rendering of the portion of the image on the server, a compression of the portion of the image on the server, a transmission of the compressed portion of the image via the network, a decompression of the portion of the image on the client, and a display of the portion of the image on the client. |
| US08386554B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for factoring numbers
Systems, methods and apparatus for factoring numbers are provided. The factoring may be accomplished by creating a factor graph, mapping the factor graph onto an analog processor, initializing the analog processor to an initial state, evolving the analog processor to a final state, and receiving an output from the analog processor, the output comprising a set of factors of the number. |
| US08386550B1 |
Method for configuring a finite impulse response filter in a programmable logic device
A hybrid FIR filter includes a plurality of FIR filter units arranged as Direct Form FIR filters, connected together in an arrangement similar to a Transpose Form FIR filter. The hybrid filter arrangement may be used to configure a larger FIR filter in a programmable logic device having one or more specialized functional blocks, incorporating multipliers and adders, that are particularly well-suited for configuration as small Direct Form FIR filters. |
| US08386547B2 |
Instruction and logic for performing range detection
A technique to accelerate range detection in a spline calcuation. In one embodiment, an instruction and corresponding logic are provided to perform range detection within a computer or processor. |
| US08386546B2 |
Montgomery multiplication architecture
A Montgomery multiplication device calculates a Montgomery product of an operand X and an operand Y with respect to a modulus M and includes a plurality of processing elements. In a first clock cycle, two intermediate partial sums are created by obtaining an input of length w−1 from a preceding processing element as w−1 least significant bits. The most significant bit is configured as either zero or one. Then, two partial sums are calculated using a word of the operand Y, a word of the modulus M, a bit of the operand X, and the two intermediate partial sums. In a second clock cycle, a selection bit is obtained and one of the two partial sums is selected based on the value of the selection bit. Then, the selected partial sum is used for calculation of a word of the Montgomery product. |
| US08386541B2 |
Dynamic change data capture process
Systems and methods for dynamically creating Entity-Specific Views from one or more Data Warehouses are provided. The system may involve multiple data sets within a Data Warehouse and may provide a Target Result data set which excludes fields of information not relevant to the desired view. The system may involve the use of derived fields and logical decision structures for the assignment of overriding boundary date information. |
| US08386537B2 |
Method for trimming data on non-volatile flash media
A method for trimming data on non-volatile flash media is generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a method is introduced comprising allocating a temporary file that occupies free space on a flash memory, determining specific blocks of the flash memory that the temporary file occupies, generating TRIM commands for the specific blocks, and deleting the temporary file. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08386536B2 |
Gateway server, file management system, and file management method and program
With a new function introduced neither to a file server nor to a client terminal, control of displaying only a file or a folder whose access right is held by a user is enabled by using existing file server and client terminal. A gateway server connected to a file server and a client terminal through a network, which has the function of filtering structure information of a folder and a file that the file server has based on access authorization of a user of the client terminal on the user basis and presenting the filtered structure information of the folder and the file to the client terminal of a user who has access authorization for the folder and the file. |
| US08386533B2 |
Records management of database tables
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with records management are described. One example method includes managing a relational database for compliance with record retention rules, where the relational database includes a table organized with rows and columns. The relational database provides options for designating rows for records management. |
| US08386531B2 |
Cache system and method for generating uncached objects from cached and stored object components
Methods and apparatus for constructing objects within a cache system thereby allowing the cache system to respond to requested objects that are not initially available within the cache system. One embodiment of the invention caches image files, where the images are divided into components and stored in a format that allows identification and access to the components. The cache system determines that an object, such as an image file, is missing from the cache memory, locates sufficient components from the cache memory and/or external storage, and constructs the object from the located components. |
| US08386527B2 |
Method and system for efficiently sharing array entries in a multiprocessing environment
A method and a system efficiently and effectively share array entries among multiple threads of execution in a multiprocessor computer system. The invention comprises a method and an apparatus for array creation, a method and an apparatus for array entry data retrieval, a method and an apparatus for array entry data release, a method and an apparatus for array entry data modification, a method and an apparatus for array entry data modification release, a method and an apparatus for multiple array entry atomic release-and-renew, a method and an apparatus for array destruction, a method and an apparatus for specification of array entry discard strategy, a method and an apparatus for specification of array entry modification update strategy, and finally a method and an apparatus for specification of user-provided array entry data construction method. |
| US08386526B2 |
Coupled node tree backup/restore apparatus, backup/restore method, and program
A coupled node tree has a root node and a node pair, the node pair being a branch node, which includes position information of a link target node pair, and a leaf node, which includes a search target index key, or a pair of branch nodes, or a pair of leaf nodes located in adjacent storage areas. The nodes of the coupled node tree are backed up in a depth precedence search sequence. The coupled node tree is restored by repeating the following process: reading out the nodes in the sequence they are backed up, storing in a stack the position information of the node to be restored, successively restoring child nodes as long as branch nodes are encountered, restoring a leaf node which is read out and then, tracing back up the stack, a decision being made as to which node is next to be restored. |
| US08386519B2 |
Pangenetic web item recommendation system
Computer based systems, methods, software and databases are presented in which correlations between web item preferences and pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) attributes of individuals are used for pangenetic based web item recommendation in which a user can request and receive personalized online recommendations of web items that are based on the user's pangenetic makeup. Data masking can be used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data. |
| US08386518B2 |
Server for managing anonymous confidential data
When a user records confidential data in a communicating object, the user inputs the confidential data which are encoded and transmitted, with a reference of the user, towards a server in order to record the encoded confidential data in association with the reference. When a user searches for a reference of another user of a communicating object in the communicating object, the user inputs a search datum which is encoded and transmitted to the server for comparing therein the encoded search datum transmitted to all of the encoded confidential data recorded in the server. The server transmits a reference associated with an encoded confidential datum corresponding to the encoded search data to the communicating object. In this way, the user of the communicating object is put into contact with the other user without knowing the data of the other user. |
| US08386516B2 |
Registration and maintenance of address data for each service point in a territory
A computer system and method is disclosed for mining current and archived address data in order to identify a preferred address for each service point in a territory. The data mining system may start in response to the presentation of a candidate address for matching. The set of mined data may be prioritized by clustering like characteristics, building similarity matrices, and by constructing dendrograms with nodes joined according to common characteristics. A computer system and method for maintaining a central database of preferred addresses is also disclosed. Selected address data gathered in a queue may be scored by characteristic, grouped by consignee location, and staged for processing. The scored queue of data may be prioritized by clustering like characteristics, building similarity matrices, and by constructing dendrograms. |
| US08386509B1 |
Method and system for associating search keywords with interest spaces
A method and system for associating search keywords with interest spaces. According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting a request to access a given online content source, where the request includes referral information specifying one or more search keywords associated with the given online content source, where the given online content source is one of a plurality of online content sources included within an interest space, and where the interest space is identified dependent upon indications of user navigation activity among the plurality of online content sources. The method may further include extracting the one or more search keywords from the request and creating an association of the one or more search keywords with the interest space. |
| US08386508B2 |
System and method for parallel query evaluation
A method and system for parallel query processing is provided. The method includes estimating a number of sub-queries that may be formed corresponding to an input query. The method further includes fragmenting the input query into a plurality of sub queries by adding one or more filter predicates to the input query without altering the semantics of the input query. Further, processing of the sub queries is scheduled. Thereafter, one or more query execution plans are generated and processed. Following the processing of the query execution plans, the results of the processed sub queries are collated, aggregated and presented in a required format. |
| US08386507B2 |
Efficient caching for dynamic webservice queries using cachable fragments
A method and apparatus for intelligent caching is provided. A thin layer of business logic on a web server receives URL requests sent to the web server from clients and resolves the URLs into URLs corresponding to component parts of the requested document according to the rules of a rule set. Thus only the component resources of a composite document are cached in the web server's caching layer. The rule set defines a format for the requests sent to the web server, the manner in which properly formatted requests should be resolved, and the manner in which the component resources should be assembled into the composite document. |
| US08386506B2 |
System and method for context enhanced messaging
A system and method for media enhanced messaging. A message from a message sender to be delivered to at least one message recipient is received over a network. The message comprises at least one delivery criteria and at least one content criteria. When it is determined, via the network that the delivery criteria of the message has been satisfied, a query is formulated based on the content criteria so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the content criteria and to media files so as to identify at least one media file that is relevant to the content criteria. The media files are inserted into the message and the message is transmitted over the network to the recipient. |
| US08386500B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for XML based disconnected data access for multivalued/hierarchical databases
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing a client with disconnected data access to a non-relational database. A command module requests non-relational XML data from a non-relational database using an XML mapping in response to a non-relational data request. A fill module receives the non-relational XML data from the non-relational database and populates one or more data access sets with the non-relational XML data. A communications module transmits the one or more data access sets to an integration broker in communication with the integration adapter. |
| US08386495B1 |
Augmented resource graph for scoring resources
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for scoring resources. One method includes generating a resource graph, the graph including nodes representing resources, nodes representing queries, edges between nodes representing resources, and edges between nodes representing queries and nodes representing resources. The method further includes calculating a score for each of the resources, wherein the score for a particular resource is based on scores for resources represented by nodes with edges to the node representing particular resource in the graph and scores for queries represented by nodes that have an edge to the node representing particular resource in the graph, and ranking one or more of the resources in response to a first query received from a user based, at least in part, on the scores. |
| US08386493B2 |
System and method for schema matching
A system and method for matching one or more source schemas with one or more target schemas is provided. The matching between source and target schemas is performed by gathering inputs pertaining to the source and target schemas, wherein the inputs comprises a set of details in a predefined format. Thereafter, the gathered inputs are processed by comparing the source schemas with the target schemas. The processing is performed to identify a set of matches between the source and target schemas based on the linguistic similarity, structural similarity and functional similarity and relationship between the source and target schemas. Subsequently, the identified matches are stored. |
| US08386489B2 |
Applying formal concept analysis to validate expanded concept types
According to one embodiment, attributes associated with a concept type of a query conceptual graph are received. A potentially conceptually similar term is received from an onomasticon. The potentially conceptually similar term is validated according to the attributes. According to another embodiment, attributes associated with a concept type of a document conceptual graph are received. A potentially conceptually similar term is received from an onomasticon. The potentially conceptually similar term is validated according to the attributes. |
| US08386488B2 |
Method and system for matching appropriate content with users by matching content tags and profiles
A method and system is provided for classifying and labeling information content (e.g., websites, databases, or the like) and also for profiling a user (e.g., interests or responsibilities) for accessing the information content, both using a coordinated labeling technique so that the content from multiple sources may be searched, identified and/or presented to the user according to the user's profile. This technique provides an ongoing update of information content and sources while at the same time filtering out unnecessary information that is irrelevant to the user's profile, resulting in more focused availability of information to the user. The user profile is matched with content of interest (as tagged by content creators reflective of categories that is also employed by a user profile) and matching content information may automatically be updated and made available to a user, in conformity with the user's profile. Content providers may now jointly use a common labeling scheme to improve the experience of their users and to provide content providers a technique to associate users with common facets of classification. |
| US08386487B1 |
Clustering internet messages
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-method includes receiving a plurality of documents at a server and adding meta-data to each of the plurality of documents. The meta-data added to a particular document comprises at least one of task flow features of the particular document or data associated with an author of the particular document. The method also includes selecting a plurality of features for use in clustering the plurality of documents. The plurality of features includes a subset of the meta-data and a subset of content associated with one or more of the plurality of documents. The method also includes clustering the plurality of documents based on the plurality of features including identifying a topic associated with each cluster, and preparing a report based on the clusters and metric information associated with each cluster. The method also includes displaying the report to a user. |
| US08386486B2 |
Method for facilitating social networking based on fashion-related information
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating social networking based on fashion-related information. During operation, the system receives fashion-related information from a user. Next, the system extracts the user's fashion preferences from the received information and compares the user's fashion preference with other users' fashion preferences. Finally, the system groups users based on similarity of their fashion preferences. |
| US08386484B2 |
Maltweb multi-axis viewing interface and higher level scoping
A method, apparatus and computer program product for navigating in a multi-dimensional space containing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are disclosed. A selected predefined portion is displayed in a first display region. A point on a primary axis of the multi-dimensional space corresponding to the displayed pre-defined portion is also displayed. Also, a method, apparatus and computer program product for publishing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are also disclosed. Predefined portions are stored in terminal nodes. Higher level nodes are provided for organising the terminal nodes into an hierarchical structure embodied in said electronic publication. Each higher level node contains the identity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher level node and an associated identifier. |
| US08386481B1 |
System and method for candidate assessment
A computer-implemented candidate assessment system is configured to identify the drive characteristics of a candidate having taken a personality test. The system includes a characteristic identification engine configured to identify at least a candidate achievement score, a candidate competitiveness score, and a candidate optimism score, a candidate assessment engine configured to determine a drive core skill score based on a combination of the candidate achievement score, candidate competitiveness score, and candidate optimism score. The drive score is determined with weighting using the achievement score. The system also includes a reporting engine configured to generate a profile report including the drive core skill score. |
| US08386480B2 |
Systems and methods for providing search results
A method includes generating search results in response to a user query, where at least one of the search results includes a group of links. The group of links may represent links to web pages within a same web site and may be identified based on at least one factor associated with the links. The method may also include providing the search results to the user. |
| US08386479B2 |
Routing methods for multiple geographical entities
Routing method for computing routes over uncertain geo-spatial data whereby only upon visiting the geographic entities it can be determined whether the needed service or product is actually provided and is adequate. When dealing with uncertain data, the returned route may need to go via several entities of the same type. Another routing method consists of finding an efficient and effective route from a starting point to an ending point going trough a predetermined number of objects, wherein each object represents a geographical entity of a unique type, and each object is selected from a distinct set of similar objects. |
| US08386476B2 |
Computer-implemented search using result matching
A computer search system compares search results received for searches falling within a defined parameter envelope used for grouping search requests. The parameter envelope may be defined by various parameters, for example, time of search, origin or search request, language, or other non-keyword data associated with each search request, excluding keywords used to define the search. Each new search result (comprising a list of search hits) for incoming search requests is compared to stored search results for search requests within the same parameter envelope. Search results that are found to be similar based on a pre-defined similarity measure are provided as related search results responsive to the incoming search requests. A client-side pseudo-browsing application may control interactions with the search engine, collecting true browsing input from the client and providing pseudo-browsing information to the search engine or other information provider. |
| US08386475B2 |
Attribution analysis and correlation
An attribution analysis and correlation system can include a content manager and a semantic correlation module. The content manager can receive a list identifying at least one contributor to be evaluated. The content manager can also mine at least one community for content pertaining to the contributor(s). The semantic correlation module can generate correlation results by performing a semantic analysis and correlation on the persistent content and attributions corresponding to the contributor(s). |
| US08386472B2 |
Techniques for database rule ordering and processing
Techniques for database rule ordering and processing are provided. Structured Query Language (SQL) statements are iterated to identify processing dependencies and a processing order is generated. The SQL statements are automatically modified to enforce the processing order and the modified SQL statements are executed against a database. |
| US08386471B2 |
Optimizing queries in a multi-tenant database system environment
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for optimizing a query in a database system, a database statistic is generated for a number of related records for one or more entities for at least one tenant and a related record is a record with a relationship to a shared record in a database table for an entity from the one or more entities, a first cost is calculated for accessing the number of related records for at least one tenant, a second cost is calculated for accessing a number of related records accessible to a user, a comparison of the first cost to the second cost is performed to determine a data access path for retrieving accessible related records, and the data access path for retrieving accessible related records is determined based upon the comparison. |
| US08386468B2 |
Spatial query processing with query window index
One example method of spatial query processing using query window indexes includes receiving a spatial query on spatial data that has an associated spatial data index. The spatial query specifies a query window. A query window index structure is constructed that describes a geometry of the query window. The query window index structure is compared to the spatial data index and, when necessary, to the spatial data to determine a spatial relationship between the query window and the spatial data. |
| US08386466B2 |
Log visualization tool for a data stream processing server
Techniques for logging data pertaining to the operation of a data stream processing server. In one set of embodiments, logging configuration information can be received specifying a functional area of a data stream processing server to be logged. Based on the logging configuration information, logging can be dynamically enabled for objects associated with the functional area that are instantiated by the data stream processing server, and logging can be dynamically disabled for objects associated with the functional area that are discarded (or no longer used) by the data stream processing server. In another set of embodiments, a tool can be provided for visualizing the data logged by the data stream processing server. |
| US08386465B2 |
System and method to manage and distribute media using a predictive media cache
A system for decreasing the perceived end user latency while interacting with a database. The system comprises the database storing metadata associated with one or more of media, files, data, devices and services, a user interface operable to receive a user generated query selected from a plurality of user generated query options, the plurality of user generated query options representing at least one of a user selectable object displayed by the user interface, and a processor having a predictive module operable to generate at least one background query of the database prior to the user interface receiving the user generated query, the at least one background query correlating to at least one of the user generated query options. The predictive module compares the user generated query to the at least one background query prior to sending the user generated query to the database such that if the user generated query corresponds to the at least one background query the user interface displays a result to the at least one background query. |
| US08386464B2 |
Configuration of optimized custom properties in a data finder tool
A method and system is presented which provides a TDM framework for managing self-describing measurement data. The TDM framework provides applications with a central platform for accessing measurement data across an entire enterprise system. By means of individual plug-ins, which may be specific to a given data file format, meta-data for each data store in the enterprise may be indexed in a unified manner. The unified indexing, in turn, provides the ability to browse and query the indexed measurement data without requiring the opening or reading from a source data file. |
| US08386462B2 |
Standby index in physical data replication
Generating a standby index on a standby database server in a physical log-shipping data replication environment. Embodiments of the invention include providing a primary database server and a standby database server, replicating a primary database and a primary database index from the primary database server to the standby database server, generating a standby index on the standby database server, and cataloging the standby index on the standby database server. |
| US08386458B2 |
Mobile terminal device and computer program
A mobile terminal device capable of coupling to the Internet and a home network, includes: accompanying information storing means operable to store an image obtained by photographing and accompanying information pertaining to the image and the photographing; search request means operable to request a search server on the Internet to execute a search with the accompanying information as a keyword; search result storing means operable to temporarily store search result obtained from the search server; image composition means operable to create a composite image by combining the search result with the image obtained by the photographing; and transmission means operable to transmit the composite image to a specified output device on the home network. |
| US08386457B2 |
Using a dynamically-generated content-level newsworthiness rating to provide content recommendations
A method for providing content-level data artifact recommendations can begin with the creation of a semantic library from the textual content of data artifacts by a newsworthy content recommendation engine. A base newsworthiness rating can be calculated using global newsworthiness parameters and behavioral functions that model newsworthy influences for each relationship contained in the semantic library. A user-specific search network can be generated that represents user-entered criteria and/or user task-related criteria. Within the semantic library, potential newsworthy semantic networks can be identified. Newsworthy content from each identified potential newsworthy semantic network can be dynamically determined based upon the base newsworthiness rating and a predefined newsworthiness threshold. The newsworthy content from the identified potential newsworthy semantic network can be related to the user-specific search network at the common node, creating a newsworthy content recommendation graph. The newsworthy content recommendation graph can be presented within a user interface. |
| US08386451B1 |
System and method of managing internet browser navigation
The present invention provides a system and method of managing Internet browser navigation. Software code designed to interact with and control the user's Internet browser is embedded into web pages made available to remote users by a web server. Embedded software code is read by the user's Internet browser upon loading a requested web page. Embedded software code directs the browser to store one or more attributes upon the remote user's computer system. Stored attributes may then be compared to attributes embedded within subsequently requested web pages to determine if the requested web page, or a corrected web page, should be displayed. |
| US08386449B2 |
Customer statistics based on database lock use
A method and service for establishing a web-based network that includes an enterprise locking service. The enterprise locking service is able to coordinate multiple, cooperating applications that need to ensure that one and only one user is modifying a database record at a given time. These database records may be stored in multiple databases having potentially different database record locking protocols. Through monitoring and tracking of requests for database locks, the enterprise locking service is also able to determine database usage trends under various metrics. |
| US08386448B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database functionality with a common security policy function
Methods for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database (VPD) functionality are provided. The methods may include inserting rows into a user security table in a database providing VPD functionality, each row comprising a user ID for which database access is to be controlled, the name of a database object to be secured, and a predicate; and defining a security policy function common to all secured database objects, said security policy function generating a second predicate to be appended by the database's VPD functionality to queries made on a queried secured database object by a querying user, said second predicate based on at least one predicate in at least one row in the user security table, the at least one row referencing the name of the queried secured database object and the user ID of the querying user. Related systems and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08386447B2 |
Allocating and managing random identifiers using a shared index set across products
Provided are techniques for selecting row identifiers from an initial index structure storing rows of randomized indexes. The row identifiers are randomized. Groups are formed with the randomized row identifiers so that each group has a predetermined number of row identifiers. At least one group is selected from the groups. Indexes are retrieved from the initial index structure that correspond to the row identifiers in the selected at least one group. The retrieved indexes are encoded by adding product information to form new identifiers. |
| US08386444B2 |
Techniques for selective compression of database information
Techniques for selective compression of database information are presented. Selective first portions of a field associated with a database table are identified along with metadata associated with the database table. The first portions and the metadata are then compressed by selecting one or more compression algorithms in response to compression capabilities associated with the algorithms. |
| US08386443B2 |
Representing and storing an optimized file system using a system of symlinks, hardlinks and file archives
A data de-duplication system is used with network attached storage and serves to reduce data duplication and file storage costs. Techniques utilizing both symlinks and hardlinks ensure efficient deletion file/data cleanup and avoid data loss in the event of crashes. |
| US08386442B2 |
Scalable computer arrangement and method
A scalable computer arrangement and method enables the accessing of stored information by utilizing algorithms. The validity of the algorithms and/or retrieved data are determined by a validity management module. The algorithm and/or the retrieved data may be updated, whereby self correction occurs dynamically over time with changing stored information. In another embodiment, the computer arrangement and method enable networked computer systems each including hyper objects employing embedded algorithms or rules for accessing information across the network in a standardized manner, even though the networked computer system databases may employ different schema and formats. |
| US08386437B2 |
Apparatus and method for document collection and filtering
A system and method for document management are provided. The method relies on a logging system which automatically generates image logs for input documents for each job (print, copy, fax, scan, etc.) processed by the multifunction printing device(s) of an organization. The image logs are processed to identify keywords which are the basis of a search for similar documents among those which have been previously archived as well as documents in other accessible document repositories, including Web documents. The method identifies matching documents and optionally also revisions and related documents. A procedure is provided for ensuring that for each document processed by a multifunction device or other image output device of the organization, image data is archived (or identified as a public document without archiving). The method avoids duplication by using a digital matching document, where available, enabling the images of the image log for the input document to be discarded. |
| US08386434B2 |
Optimizing defragmentation operations in a differential snapshotter
A method for establishing and maintaining a differential snapshot of a set of files stored on a volume is disclosed. The invention achieves processing time and disk space optimizations by avoiding copy-on-write operations for logically insignificant moves of blocks, such as the block rearrangements characteristic of defragmentation utilities. A file system enhancement enabling the passing of a block copy command from the file system to lower-level drivers, is used to inform the snapshotter that a block move operation is not logically meaningful. When the logically insignificant move is of a block whose data forms part of the data captured in the snapshot virtual volume, and when the move is to a block location that is functioning as logical free space, the snapshotter can simply modify its block bitmap and update translation table entries without needing to perform a copy-on-write. |
| US08386430B1 |
File storage method to support data recovery in the event of a memory failure
A method of storing a file in memory so that the file can be recovered in the event of a memory failure is provided. A block of memory having a first predetermined memory size is allocated at a first device. A first header is defined that includes an identifier of a first file and a sequence value. The defined first header is written to the allocated block of memory, and a first cluster of the first file is written to the allocated block of memory. The first cluster has a second memory size that is smaller than the first predetermined memory size. The sequence value is updated, and a next cluster of the first file is identified. The process is repeated with the next cluster as the first cluster and with the updated sequence value as the sequence value until the first file has been written to the allocated block of memory. |
| US08386429B2 |
Generic editor for databases
Facilitating generic database editing to allow for data to be received from a user for entry into a database without requiring the data to conform to schema constraints for the database. A method includes examining a first schema for a first database. The first schema including a first set of constraints specified in the first schema on data to be entered into the first database. The method further includes, based on the examination, constructing a second database corresponding to the first database. The second database is associated with a second schema with a second set of constraints. The second set of constraints is a relaxed version of the first set of constraints specified in the first schema. |
| US08386425B1 |
Out of order delivery for data and metadata mirroring in a cluster storage system
Described herein are a system and method for remote mirroring of data and metadata from a local node to a remote node using out-of-order delivery (OOD), while also providing data integrity at the remote node. OOD may utilize increased throughput of multiple connection paths between nodes. A mirroring layer/engine executing on the local node may receive related groups of data and metadata for storing to the remote node, each related group comprising one or more data sets and one metadata set that describes and is associated with each of the one or more data sets in the related group. The mirroring layer provides data integrity at the remote node by ensuring that the metadata set of a related group is stored to the remote node only after all the data sets in the related group are stored to the remote node, thus ensuring data consistency at the remote node. |
| US08386422B1 |
Using constructed paths to supplement map data
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to indoor localization, for example, where GPS or other localization signals are unavailable. More specifically, aspects relate to using a particle filter in conjunction with one or more orientation devices to identify a location of a client device with respect to a map of an indoor space. This location may then be used to identify the path of the client device through the indoor space. The paths of a plurality of different client devices through the same indoor space may be used to update the map based on common patterns or inconsistencies between the map and the paths of the plurality of client devices. |
| US08386420B2 |
Framework for web services exposing line of business applications
Functionality from a line of business application can be exposed as a web service. User input is received that requests information about objects exposed by a line of business application. Metadata is also gathered about a first set of objects exposed by the line of business application. The metadata is returned to the user. User input is received selecting a second set of objects from among the first set of objects to be exposed as a web service. A web service model is constructed that exposes the second set of objects. The web service model includes a service description, metadata map, and configuration information. The web service model is published to allow for web service clients to access the second set of objects by accessing the web service model. The web service can then be used to translate messages between a line of business application and one or more web service clients. |
| US08386419B2 |
Data extraction and testing method and system
The present method and apparatus provides for automated testing of data integration and business intelligence projects using Extract, Load and Validate (ELV) architecture. The method and computer program product provides a testing framework that automates the querying, extraction and loading of test data into a test result database from plurality of data sources and application interfaces using source specific adaptors. The test data available for extraction using the adaptors include metadata such as the database query generated by the OLAP Tools that are critical to validate the changes in business intelligence systems. A validation module helps define validation rules for verifying the test data loaded into the test result database. The validation module further provides a framework for comparing the test data with previously archived test data as well as benchmark test data. |
| US08386410B2 |
System and method for semantic information extraction framework for integrated systems management
The invention provides an enterprise administration system and method. The system includes a user interface module configured to enter administration terms or select a predetermined script of administration terms, a knowledge base configured to store system information, a meta information module configured to use the system information to store entity-objective indexes, and a workflow mapping module configured to map the administration terms to system information extraction tasks to extract relevant entities and objectives and apply a rule to the extracted entities and objectives for presenting the extracted entities and objectives in a ranked order. |
| US08386409B2 |
Syslog message routing systems and methods
A syslog message routing system can include multiple syslog sources, a syslog message routing module, and multiple syslog parsers. The syslog message routing module can receive a syslog message from one of the syslog sources, identify a particular syslog parser to handle the syslog message, and send the syslog message to the selected syslog parser. The syslog message routing module can identify the syslog parser by applying at least one of an application ID-based policy, a unique pattern matching rule policy, and a universal syslog parser policy. |
| US08386408B2 |
Editing and compiling business rules
A component in a graph-based computation having data processing components connected by linking elements representing data flows is updated by receiving a rule specification, generating a transform for transforming data based on the rule specification, associating the transform with a component in the graph-based computation, and in response to determining that a new rule specification has been received or an existing rule specification has been edited, updating the transform associated with the component in the graph-based computation according to the new or edited rule specification. A computation is tested by receiving a rule specification including a set of rule cases, receiving a set of test cases, each test case containing a value for one or more of the potential inputs, and for each test case, identifying one of the rule cases that will generate an output given the input values of the test case. |
| US08386400B2 |
Unsupervised clustering of multimedia data using a large-scale matching system
A method and apparatus for clustering a plurality of data elements. The method comprises receiving a plurality of cluster elements, each cluster element containing at least a data element; generating a clustering score for each cluster element of the plurality of cluster elements versus all other cluster elements of the plurality of cluster elements using a computing device; determining a size of a diagonal matrix having a size corresponding to the number of the plurality of cluster elements; placing the clustering score in a diagonal matrix in storage one clustering score for each pair of cluster elements; creating a new cluster element for each two cluster elements in the diagonal matrix having a clustering score that exceeds a threshold; and storing generated new cluster elements in the storage. |
| US08386385B2 |
Apparatus and methods for providing a payment system over a network
Apparatus and methods provide an accumulator that processes electronic payments from an employer to a recipient via a network. The payments processed may be, for example, child support payments collected from an employee by the employer. The employer may submit one transaction made up of payments collected from multiple employees bound for multiple recipients and the accumulator may receive, translate, batch, and deliver the payments to the multiple recipients. The accumulator, employers, and recipients may communicate via a network such as the Internet. |
| US08386382B1 |
System and method for allocation to obtain zero activity in one or more selected aggregated deposit accounts
A method, program product and system, the comprising: one or more computers, configured for accessing databases comprising: aggregated deposit account information for a plurality of FDIC-insured interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts held in depository institutions participating in program, and client account information; obtaining via an internet interface transfer data; allocating first amount to and/or from one depository institution, comprising: selecting sub-set of aggregated deposit accounts to deposit or to withdraw funds, while avoiding withdrawing funds for a respective sub-period one or more of other aggregated deposit accounts based on criteria; allocating funds to an aggregated deposit account held in one or more other depository institutions; allocating second fund amount from client accounts among the aggregated deposit accounts to substantially match the first amount; generating data for instructions to transfer funds to or from the sub-set of depository institutions. |
| US08386381B1 |
Method and system for detecting, monitoring and addressing data compromises
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automated computer implemented method for detecting one or more data compromises comprises the steps of detecting an activity indicative of a data compromise based at least in part on a compromise detection report involving at least one of merchant compromise report, region compromise report and acquirer compromise report, wherein the compromise detection report is generated by an automated detection algorithm; classifying the activity based on a combination of risk level, size of data compromise and fraud severity; and identifying a specific mitigation response to the activity through an interface. Another embodiment of the present invention determines whether one or more accounts associated with the activity have been probed or tested by a fraudster to determine if the one or more accounts are valid. |
| US08386379B2 |
Consumer behaviors at lender level
The present disclosure generally relates to financial data processing, and in particular it relates to lender credit scoring, lender profiling, lender behavior analysis and modeling. More specifically, it relates to rating lenders based on data derived from their respective consumers. Also, the present disclosure relates to rating consumer lenders based on the predicted spend capacity of their consumers. |
| US08386377B1 |
System and method for credit scoring using an identity network connectivity
A technique is provided for determining credit ratings without the need for traditional credit bureau data. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises the steps of providing a network of linked identity records, each identity record comprising identity related information; receiving an identity record comprising identity related information of the entity; linking the received identity record with at least one of the identity records in the network of linked identity records, quantifying a plurality of linked identity records related to the entity; and generating a credit rating for the entity based on the quantified identity records. Application of the invention is particularly useful for individuals with less than a few years credit behavior recorded on a credit bureau, such as immigrants or young people with limited traditional historical information (“thin file”) and individuals with no traditional historical information (“no hit”). |
| US08386374B2 |
System and method for creating and trading packaged collar options on an exchange
A method of creating and trading packaged standard option collars on an exchange is provided, as well as a trading facility for trading such packaged standard option collars. Collars are created by identifying an underlying asset, a first leg of a collar is determined by determining the desired strike price for the first leg and selecting a standard option contract traded on the exchange having a strike price closest to the desired strike price. The second leg is determined by selecting another standard option, the opposite of the first leg, having an option price substantially offsetting the option price of the first leg. Once the legs of the collar have been selected the collar package may be listed on the exchange, and orders for the collars may be processed by matching orders for opposite positions in the collar. |
| US08386369B2 |
Method for receiving bids on an energy-savings and energy supply portfolio
A computer-implemented method for determining an optimal award schedule for satisfaction of energy efficiency and energy supply requirements for a portfolio of one or more buildings. A first auction is conducted so as to receive over a computer network, from one or more prospective efficiency suppliers, a plurality of first bids for the provision of energy efficiency, each such first bid specifying an amount of energy saved and a cost. A computer is used to determine a schedule of remaining portfolio energy supply requirements that would remain after the provision of energy efficiency from at least a plurality of the first bids. A second auction is then run so as to receive over the computer network, from one or more prospective energy suppliers, one or more second bids for a plurality of the remaining portfolio energy supply requirements, each such second bid specifying a cost. A computer is then used to determine the lowest cost combination of a first bid and a second bid that satisfies the portfolio energy requirement. |
| US08386368B2 |
Cover-OCO for legged order
A position associated with a synthetic spread order may be managed where a status of a synthetic spread order is identified as legged. The synthetic spread order may have at least one child hedge order pending at an electronic exchange and in response, a bracket order is submitted to an electronic exchange for the tradeable object associated with a filled leg of the synthetic spread. In response to execution of the bracket order, the child hedge order may be cancelled. |
| US08386366B2 |
System and method for creating a customer account
An electronic auction system may include a bid validator connected between a network and a customer database. The example bid validator may receive bid information from a customer over the network. The example bid validator may use the bid information to detect whether the customer database includes a customer record for the customer. If no customer record is found in the customer database, the example bid validator may initiate creation of a new customer record and place it in the customer database. |
| US08386360B2 |
Method for personalized guidance for reference date dependent investments
A system and method is provided to generate personalized savings recommendation and/or needed assignments of reference-date dependent investments. Recommendations and assignments are based on differences between a investor profile and an ideal representative that was used to construct the investments. The system provides a configurable increasing level of financial service based on a Methodology Publisher's configuration for reference date based investments. A forecast simulation system is provided for each investor with various optimizers by the Methodologically Publisher to provide various level of financial services and portfolio recommendations for reference date dependent investments. Reports may be provided to investors illustrating progress toward goals and highlighting distribution of potential risky outcomes. An online inter-active mode may allow an investor to provide further profile information and customize a solution to their needs. |
| US08386359B2 |
Flexible system and method for electronic trading
System, method, and program products offer flexibility to the rather rigid way of trading in an electronic trading system. Orders for a tradeable object may typically get matched according to set terms and/or conditions at an electronic exchange. A trader may log onto the electronic exchange to trade the tradeable object, and may choose to display and trade the tradeable object according to a different set of terms and/or conditions. As such, the market data sent to the trader from the exchange is converted to a format according to the trader's selection, so that it may be presented to the trader in this format. Transaction messages sent to the exchange from the trader are converted to the format readable by the matching process, so that it can process the messages. Other features and advantages are described herein. |
| US08386358B1 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a risk-adjusted return maximizing investment structure
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A RISK-ADJUSTED RETURN MAXIMIZING INVESTMENT STRUCTURE (“RAR-MAX”) transform market data, client's investment request inputs, and/or the like via RAR-MAX components into transaction record, investment return outputs, and/or the like). A method is disclosed, comprising: formulating a portfolio of a plurality of contract positions; determining hedge roll dates for each contract position in the portfolio; determining a first expiring financial instrument on a first hedge roll date; determining a first plurality of parameters for a first new financial instrument; rolling the first expiring financial instrument to the first new financial instrument associated with the determined first plurality of rollover parameters on the first hedge roll date; determining a second expiring financial instrument on a second hedge roll date; determining a second plurality of parameters for a second new financial instrument; and rolling the second expiring financial instrument to the second new financial instrument associated with the determined second plurality of rollover parameters on the second hedge roll date. |
| US08386357B1 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a risk-adjusted return maximizing investment structure
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A RISK-ADJUSTED RETURN MAXIMIZING INVESTMENT STRUCTURE (“RAR-MAX”) transform market data, client's investment request inputs, and/or the like via RAR-MAX components into transaction record, investment return outputs, and/or the like). A method is disclosed, comprising: retrieving information of an investment portfolio of financial instruments; receiving market data of a list of eligible financial instrument positions; determining the instant trading time is within an initial time period of a trading period; calculating implied roll costs associated with each of the one or more eligible financial instrument positions; determining a financial instrument position with the lowest implied roll cost based on the calculation; and generating a transaction order purchasing a portion of the financial instrument with the lowest implied roll cost. |
| US08386356B2 |
Method for calculation of time weighted returns for private equity
Method for the calculation of performance data for a private equity fund, including acquiring input data for a first transaction of cash flow patterns during a term of the fund, having a plurality subperiods having a value for contribution and a value for the distribution in each subperiod; acquiring input data for a plurality of rates of interest; calculating a first value for an average duration of contributions and a second value for an average duration of distributions; calculating a third value for a net duration of said first transaction; calculating a bullet transaction equivalent to the first transaction, by calculating a fourth value for a bullet investment paid at the time represented by the first value and a fifth value for a bullet reimbursement received at the time represented by the second value; and calculating a sixth value for a duration adjusted return on capital. |
| US08386355B1 |
System and method for defining, structuring, and trading political event contracts
A system and method for defining, structuring, and trading political event contracts is disclosed that implement a systematic process for defining political event contracts. The systematic process comprises a rigorous taxonomy of risk event classes that delimit the types of contracts to be defined. An event relevance scoring mechanism determines whether a derivative instrument embodying a specified event is economically warranted and useful to the marketplace as a mechanism for hedging risks not easily addressed through other market tools. The disclosed apparatus further comprises apparatus for modeling the value of a specified political event contract that captures both rational and intuitive analysis about an event using criteria based decision trees to provide highly structured calculation of relative probabilities. The tree components are weighted and compared by an analyst or other user to determine probabilities for various alternative outcomes to a specified political event. |
| US08386354B2 |
Deterministic pricing management of a portfolio of one or more applications
In certain embodiments, a method for deterministic pricing management of a portfolio of one or more applications comprises, for each of the one or more applications: (1) receiving information associated with the application for a plurality of pricing drivers comprising one or more business pricing drivers and one or more maintainability pricing drivers, each pricing driver associated with a corresponding set of categories; (2) determining, for each business pricing driver and based on the received information, a particular category from the corresponding set of categories for the business pricing driver; (3) generating a business index based on the determined particular categories for the business drivers; (4) generating a maintainability index based on the received information; and (5) generating a composite index based on the generated business and maintainability indices. The method comprises determining one or more pricing bands based on the generated composite indices of the one or more applications, associating each of the applications with a corresponding pricing band, and determining a price for each of the applications based on the corresponding pricing band for the application. |
| US08386349B2 |
Verification of a portable consumer device in an offline environment
A portable consumer device includes a base, and a computer readable medium on the base. The computer readable medium comprises code for an issuer verification value and a supplemental verification value. The issuer verification value is used by an issuer to verify that the portable consumer device is authentic in an on-line transaction and the supplemental verification value is used to verify that the portable consumer device is authentic in an off-line transaction. |
| US08386347B2 |
System and method for tracking the return of loaned or rented items
A system for tracking a number of items borrowed or rented by customers includes a chute reading identification data from each item as the item is returned through the chute by the customer. Data records associated with the returned items are updated to indicate the items are available, even before the items can be restocked. The time at which an item is returned may be compared with a time at which it is due, with an additional fee being added to an account of a customer borrowing or renting an item that is returned late. |
| US08386346B2 |
Activity based costing underwriting tool
A method of evaluating underwriting activities of a company providing insurance coverage is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of storing data related to the underwriting activities for the company; receiving information from employees related to tasks associated with the underwriting activities; analyzing the information from the employees; and generating a report based upon the information from employees. A system for evaluating underwriting activities for a company is also disclosed. The system comprising a user computer storing a program containing questions related to tasks for underwriting activities; a server coupled to the user computer to receive information entered by a plurality of users related to tasks for underwriting activities; and a report generated by the server and providing analyzed information related to responses of the plurality of users. |
| US08386343B2 |
Method and user device for management of electronic receipts
A system for managing electronic receipts is provided. According to one aspect, the system includes a portable device, a base device, a user device and an electronic receipts administration system. The electronic receipts administration system provides the base device with the appropriate data to allow the base device to generate, store and manage electronic receipts accordingly. A user uses the portable device to conduct a transaction with the base device. The base device uses a variety of information to generate an electronic receipt for the transaction. Such information includes, for example, information stored on the portable device, information stored locally on the base device and information stored on another device such as an electronic cash register. The electronic receipt is then stored on the portable device. The user device allows the user to subsequently retrieve the electronic receipt for management purposes. |
| US08386341B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for applying billing options for multiple carriers for online, multi-carrier, multi-service parcel shipping management
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods that apply to a single particular billing method selected by each of a plurality of users, in response to each particular user's request, a set of billing method rules for each carrier of a plurality of carriers and determines whether or not each carrier of the plurality of carriers supports the shipper's specified preferred billing method, and if so, any special pricing considerations for each particular Carrier. Each user of the present invention accesses the present invention over a global communications network using a client computer device, each user client computer device having an individual electronic connection to the global communications network. |
| US08386339B2 |
Ordering via dynamic matrix code generation
A content receiver receives ordering information from a content provider for orderable content or products. The content receiver also derives information specific to the content receiver and dynamically generates a matrix code including the ordering information and the specific information. The content receiver then transmits the matrix code to a display and when the displayed matrix code is detected and decoded by a reader, the reader initiates an order for the orderable content to be transmitted to the content receiver or products. In some implementations, the orderable content may be ordered from the content provider, which may then transmit the ordered content to the content receiver. However, in other implementations the orderable content may be ordered from a third party provider. As such, the third party provider may transmit the ordered content to the content provider, which may then transmit it to the content receiver. |
| US08386336B1 |
Customized solicitations of product suggestions and product recommendations
An online merchant can use a product review to customize a solicitation of a product suggestion. If a customer reviews a product unfavorably, the customer might be solicited to suggest alternate products to the reviewed product. If a customer reviews a product favorably, the customer might be solicited to suggest accessories or other products related to the reviewed product. The products suggested by the customer might then be utilized to recommend the suggested products to other customers. Information provided by a customer in a product review or other data might also be utilized to customize a product recommendation for the customer. If a customer reviews a product unfavorably, a recommendation might be provided to the customer for an alternate, or substitutable, product for the reviewed product. If a customer reviews a product favorably, a recommendation might be provided to the customer for related products or accessories to the reviewed product. |
| US08386335B1 |
Cross-referencing comments
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for cross-referencing comments. In one aspect, a method includes, identifying unstructured text in a document associated with a first product or provider, in the unstructured text, identifying, by the one or more computers, a reference to a second product or provider different from the first product or provider, determining a relationship between the first product or provider and the second product or provider based on content of the unstructured text, and providing an indication of the relationship for display on a document associated with the first product or provider or the second product or provider. |
| US08386334B2 |
System and methods for mapping price and location of tickets in an event venue
A system and methods for mapping price and location of tickets in an event venue are described. An interactive event venue seat map is provided by a network-based system that implements an online marketplace for tickets for upcoming events. The interactive event venue seat map enables sellers to view pricing information and transaction information for both sold and current event listings for any section or zone in an event venue. The interactive event venue seat map allows sellers to browse and click on sections to see sold and listed data for any section and zone in the event venue and to compare a proposed sale price to available pricing information of sold and current event listings in comparable sections. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08386331B2 |
Method for providing vehicle information at a live auction
Detailed information about a particular used motor vehicle is quickly provided to a potential buyer having a personal digital assistant equipped with a receiving means. To provide the information, it is first necessary to obtain standard information about used motor vehicle values in digital form from a provider of such information. It is then necessary to obtain specific information about an inventory of used motor vehicles from the owner or seller of the vehicles. The standard information and the specific information are then integrated on a server computer and transmitted to the potential buyer. |
| US08386329B1 |
Social network-based recommendation
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and program products for making a recommendation to a purchaser and/or member of a social network. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of making a recommendation to a purchaser, the method comprising: determining a plurality of features of a first product selected by a purchaser; prioritizing the plurality of features of the first product; and making at least one recommendation to the purchaser, the at least one recommendation being selected from a group consisting of: a second product sharing at least one feature of the first product and a social network connection determined to have purchased another product sharing at least one feature of the first product. |
| US08386324B2 |
Distributed management service for an auto-identification system
An auto-identification system is described that includes a plurality of distributed auto-id nodes that are operable to track physical objects as they move through an operation of an enterprise, such as, for example, a supply chain network or a sales network. The auto-id nodes are distributed across sites of the network, and are in communication with enterprise application systems and/or data acquisition systems such as RFID readers or sensor devices. By focusing on their respective sites, the auto-id nodes minimize the amount of data tracked by their respective enterprise applications. Further, a distributed management service may be in communication with all of the auto-id nodes, so as to distribute rules governing the operation of the enterprise to at least one of the auto-id nodes. The distributed management service may be used for, for example, generating and updating new rules, distributing the rules into the local auto-id nodes, and operating the rules for handling the data collected from different auto-id nodes. |
| US08386321B2 |
Methods and systems for searching, selecting, and displaying content
Methods and systems for identifying and presenting information are described. Search results are received from a search engine. An entity associated with a networked site is selected using a selection criterion. A determination is made as to whether the listing includes a link to the networked site or includes the link to the networked site at a list position that fails to satisfy a first criterion. After determining that the link to the site associated with the entity is not included in the search result listing, or that the link to the site associated with the entity is not at a position in the search result listing that satisfies the first criterion, the search listing is modified by causing the link to the site associated with the entity to appear in a first position in the search listing. The modified search listing is displayed on a user terminal. |
| US08386320B2 |
System and method for qualifying a lead originating with an advertisement published on-line
A system and method are provided for qualifying leads originating from an advertisement published online. The system is configured to track certain events relative to an advertisement. Tracked event data may be recorded to a database. |
| US08386318B2 |
System and method for supporting peer interactions
Peer to peer interactions are a popular way of social networking. Such peer to peer interactions play an important role in (a) obtaining relevant and latest information; (b) obtaining relevant experiential information; (c) obtaining of relevant opinions on, say, products; (d) collaborative problem solving, and so on. Consider a scenario of classified ads: a user visiting a portal through a mobile phone to decide on buying of a product can be well assisted by facilitating peer to peer interactions. In many situations, it is required to make the right selection of peers in order to be able to obtain the right information, and furthermore, voice is a preferred mode of interaction if mobile phones are used in peer to peer interactions. Also, in peer to peer interactions, anonymity is important in order to protect the privacy of the peers. A system and method for supporting peer interactions, especially in a mobile scenario involving classified ads, need to address the issues related to (a) selecting and displaying of the right information; (b) selecting of right peers; and (c) facilitating anonymous peer interactions. |
| US08386316B1 |
Method and system to grant remote access to video resources
A method and system to control at least one remote video resource access system. A first embodiment is a method to operate a remote video resource access system. The method includes publishing an access link on a website to a video resource of a grantor; detecting activation of the access link by a prospective grantee; obtaining the prospective grantee identity from a website user file to determine if the prospective grantee should be a grantee; providing an advertising opportunity to a prospective advertiser regarding the prospective grantee; and granting the prospective grantee access to the video resource of the grantor, within one or more limits optionally imposed by the grantor on the scope of the access being offered. A second embodiment is a remote video resource access system. The system includes a module to publish an access link on a website to a video resource of a grantor; a module to detect activation of the access link by a prospective grantee; a module to obtain the prospective grantee identity from a website user file to determine if the prospective grantee should be a grantee; a module to provide an advertising opportunity to a prospective advertiser regarding the prospective grantee; and a module to grant the prospective grantee access to the video resource of the grantor, within one or more limits optionally imposed by the grantor on the scope of the access being offered. These embodiments can be applied in several wired and wireless communication applications, even combinations of wired and wireless technologies including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.16 wireless applications. |
| US08386313B2 |
Stimulus placement system using subject neuro-response measurements
A system evaluates and selects temporal and spatial locations for introduction of stimulus material. Video streams, physical locations, print advertisements, store shelves, images, commercials, etc. are analyzed to identify locations for introducing stimulus material, such as messages, brand images, products, media, marketing and/or other sales materials. The system analyzes neuro-response measurements from subjects exposed to stimulus material in different temporal and spatial locations. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements. Neuro-response measurements are analyzed to select temporal and spatial locations for introduction of stimulus material. |
| US08386310B2 |
System for measuring web traffic related to an offline advertising campaign
A system is described for measuring web traffic relating to an offline advertising campaign. The system may include a processor and a memory. The memory may be operatively connected to the processor and may store an offline advertising campaign of an advertiser, a time period, a set of users and web traffic data. The processor may identify the offline advertising campaign, and the period of time the offline advertising campaign was available to a set of users. The processor may measure the web traffic related to the offline advertising campaign of the users during the time period. |
| US08386306B2 |
System and method for branding a facility
A computer-assisted method of establishing a brand presence in a facility. The method includes accessing, by facility personnel, a computer having a playlist that controls the playback of audio and video broadcasting within the facility and entering on the playlist, by facility personnel, identifiers of advertisements related to the facility. |
| US08386304B2 |
Methods for interactive television and mobile device
A environment of server and client systems for revenue generation, where a component is provided for broadcasters to broadcast and/or transmit programming, and where advertisers can create advertisement, and bid for advertising time on the transmitted programming. Advertisers are empowered by the network's ability to perform targeted advertising and/or product placement base on viewer attribute, programming content, and other criteria collected by the environment. Broadcasters are empowered by the network's ability to produce relatively high conversion rate using an viewer interface allowing enabling viewers to perform click-to-buy, click-to-send-lead, and/or click-to-send information, without much disruption to viewing of the transmitted programming. Also disclosed is a business method of generating revenue by utilizing an environment of server and client systems for targeted advertising and/or product placement, where incentives are created by and for broadcasters, advertisers, content providers, creator of the environment, and viewers. |
| US08386301B2 |
Professional collaboration networks
Methods and systems for making decisions and risk mitigation for professional contracts and related collaboration. The use of a Collaboration Network is used with one or more Trust Layers and Professional layer to identify matches for collaboration separately on professional reputation and on integrity. |
| US08386299B2 |
System and method for dynamically pricing electronic advertisements
User terminals receive multimedia content, such as on-line articles, from a publisher. The user terminals collect statistical data indicating the current popularity of the content with the users, and report the statistical data back to a server associated with the publisher. The server accumulates and periodically analyzes the statistical data and dynamically generates prices for the publisher to charge the advertisers based on this information. Placing advertisements with more popular content, as determined by the statistical data, could cost the advertisers more than placing advertisements with less popular content. |
| US08386296B2 |
System and method for managing and monitoring supply costs
Techniques for managing and estimating supply costs, by drilling down through detailed component lists of tree structured component specifications and rolling up pricing estimates based on predetermined, projected and available criteria and automatically accounting for costs in an organized manner. The costs may be analyzed from a historical perspective, accounting for future costs based on historical cost data within a given past or future date range. The costs may also be analyzed based on average costs of available costed items. Quotes can be received from suppliers for use in estimating supply costs. In addition, scenarios such as partnership splits, where multiple suppliers manufacture and supply common components to buyers at same or different prices, can be taken into account. |
| US08386295B2 |
Checking the correctness of GIS data
A method and apparatus for checking the correctness of GIS data. The method includes the steps of: receiving GIS data; receiving business data of each branch; determining the geographic area to which each branch belongs, wherein the GIS data in the geographic area will be checked; and, checking whether the GIS data of the geographic area to which each branch belongs are correct based on the business data of each branch. The method and apparatus can automatically check geographic and demographic data of a given city or region. |
| US08386294B2 |
Specified business function scoring tool
A system for determining a level of optimality for countries in which to perform a specified business function includes a data storage unit, a mapping engine and a mapping generator. The data storage stores a composite business environment index, a composite input resources index, and an innovation index. The mapping engine receives the specified business function and input factors related to the specified business function and selects at least two of the composite business environment index, the composite input resources index, and the innovation index based on the input factors. The matrix generator determines the level of optimality indicating a measure of success in achieving the specified business function for each of the countries based on scores in the at least two selected indices. |
| US08386292B2 |
System and method for triggering a process on an enterprise system
A system and method for triggering a process in an enterprise system. The present invention includes a computer-implemented method, in which an application triggers the execution of a process in response to an external signal indicating a status change. An alternate method includes executing a process in response to an external signal and providing a user interface to each user associated with the process so the user can manage the user's process data. Examples of implementations of the present invention include a credit card system, an RFID tag system, an electronic tollgate system, an automated callback system, and an inventory transport system. |
| US08386288B2 |
Workflow management system and method with workflow package exchange between drop-box application programs
A workflow management system for managing workflow within one or more entities is provided. The workflow management system may include a first drop-box application program executed on a first computing system including a first input object directory configured to receive an input object electronically outputted from an application program. The first drop-box application program may further include a first workflow engine configured to generate and send a workflow package to a second drop-box application program executed on a second computing system, the workflow package including the input object, a plurality of workflow tasks, and a set of predetermined workflow rules defined by a user via the first drop-box application program. In some examples at least one workflow task may be implemented via the second drop-box application program based on the set workflow rules. |
| US08386287B2 |
Resource management using constraint programming with efficient ordering of variables
A method for resource management includes associating respective variables with resource consumers, and identifying resources as values applicable to the variables. A group of the variables are identified as preferred variables. An assignment of the values to the variables that satisfies constraints applying to the allocation of the resources is found by repeatedly performing the steps of choosing a variable from the group, instantiating the chosen variable with a value, removing the chosen variable from the group, and pruning the domains of the other variables by propagation of the constraints. The resources are assigned to the resource consumers responsively to the assignment of the values to the variables. |
| US08386285B2 |
Demand modeling and prediction in a retail category
System, method and computer program product for demand modeling and prediction in retail categories. The method uses time-series data comprising of unit prices and unit sales for a designated choice set of related products, with the time-series data obtained over a given sequence of sales reporting periods, and over a collection of stores in a market geography. Other relevant data sets from participating retail entities that include additional product attribute data such as market and consumer factors that affect retail demand are further used. A demand model for improved accuracy is achieved by individual sub-modeling method steps of: estimating a model for price movements and price dynamics from the time series data of unit-prices in the aggregated sales data; estimating a model for market share of each product in the retail category using the aggregated sales data and integrated additional product attribute data; and, estimating generating a model for an overall market demand in the retail category from the aggregated sales data. |
| US08386282B2 |
Managing events in a configuration of SOA governance components
Embodiments of the invention are associated with a configuration comprising multiple integrated SOA governance components, and are generally concerned with monitoring and managing events that can or are likely to impact on different components of the configuration. One embodiment of the invention, directed to a method, comprises the steps of detecting a particular event that occurs at a particular SOA governance component of the configuration, and routing information pertaining to the detected event to a pre-specified storage location. The method further comprises operating a monitoring mechanism to selectively monitor the information routed to the location, and to determine from the monitored information that the particular event has occurred at the particular component of the configuration. Responsive to determining that the particular event has occurred at the particular component, the monitoring mechanism is further operated to query each of the remaining SOA governance components, in order to identify each of the remaining components in which the particular event does not exist. |
| US08386280B2 |
Spatial database system for generation of weather event and risk reports
The present invention is a tool including a spatial database and a data warehouse used to track portfolio sites that are affected by weather events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, hail, tornados, or manmade events. A spatial database provides rich spatial geometry features using earth longitude and latitude as a 2-D reference system in spatial system. A insurer portfolio site, which is defined by longitude and latitude data, includes portions that are represented as a point. A weather event is represented as polygon in the spatial database. Based on user configured threshold values, it may be determined when a point falls inside, or on a boundary, of a polygon to identify a site that is affected by that weather event and corresponding reports may be generated, including maps identifying the affected sites and total insured value calculations for the affected sites, in order to gauge risk. |
| US08386267B2 |
Stereo signal encoding device, stereo signal decoding device and methods for them
A technique of improving the degree of freedom of controlling the accuracy of encoding a stereo signal. In a stereo signal encoding device, a sum/difference calculation section generates a monophonic signal which is the sum of first and second channel signals constituting a stereo signal and a side signal which is the difference between the first channel signal and the second channel signal. A mode setting section generates mode information that indicates either a monophonic encoding mode or a stereo encoding mode. A core layer encoding section, a first extended layer encoding section, a second extended layer encoding section, and a third extended layer encoding section individually carry out the monophonic encoding using the monophonic signals or the stereo encoding using both the monophonic signal and the side signal depending on the mode information, and output to a multiplexing section the resultant encoded information from the core layer to the third extended layer. |
| US08386249B2 |
Compressing feature space transforms
Methods for compressing a transform associated with a feature space are presented. For example, a method for compressing a transform associated with a feature space includes obtaining the transform including a plurality of transform parameters, assigning each of a plurality of quantization levels for the plurality of transform parameters to one of a plurality of quantization values, and assigning each of the plurality of transform parameters to one of the plurality of quantization values to which one of the plurality of quantization levels is assigned. One or more of obtaining the transform, assigning of each of the plurality of quantization levels, and assigning of each of the transform parameters are implemented as instruction code executed on a processor device. Further, a Viterbi algorithm may be employed for use in non-uniform level/value assignments. |
| US08386247B2 |
System for processing an audio signal to enhance speech intelligibility
An adaptive audio system can be implemented in a communication device. The adaptive audio system can enhance voice in an audio signal received by the communication device to increase intelligibility of the voice. The audio system can adapt the audio enhancement based at least in part on levels of environmental content, such as noise, that are received by the communication device. For higher levels of environmental content, for example, the audio system might apply the audio enhancement more aggressively. Additionally, the adaptive audio system can detect substantially periodic content in the environmental content. The adaptive audio system can further adapt the audio enhancement responsive to the environmental content. |
| US08386243B2 |
Regeneration of wideband speech
A method and system for regenerating wideband speech from narrowband speech. The method comprises: receiving samples of a narrowband speech signal in a first range of frequencies; modulating received samples of the narrowband speech signal with a modulation signal having a modulating frequency adapted to upshift each frequency in the first range of frequencies by an amount determined by the modulating frequency wherein the modulating frequency is selected to translate into a target band a selected frequency band within the first range of signals; filtering the modulated samples using a high pass filter to form a regenerated speech signal in the target band, wherein the lower limit of the high pass filter defines the lowermost frequency in the target band; and combining the narrow band speech signal with the regenerated speech signal in the target band to regenerate a wideband speech signal. |
| US08386234B2 |
Method for generating a text sentence in a target language and text sentence generating apparatus
By inputting words of source language as a keyword (31), a translation pairs are extracted (50) from a parallel corpus database including source language and target one. From the partially corresponding information on the translation sentence, a corresponding phrase group table formed by the corresponding phase of the target language corresponding to the source language phrase including a keyword phrase f the source language is stored (60). Text generator (70) assumes a relationship between the phrases of different language contained in the corresponding phrase group table and generates a text sentence candidate (32) of the target language. |
| US08386232B2 |
Predicting results for input data based on a model generated from clusters
A method for predicting results for input data based on a model that is generated based on clusters of related characters, clusters of related segments, and training data. The method comprises receiving a data set that includes a plurality of words in a particular language. In the particular language, words are formed by characters. Clusters of related characters are formed from the data set. A model is generated based at least on the clusters of related characters and training data. The model may also be based on the clusters of related segments. The training data includes a plurality of entries, wherein each entry includes a character and a designated result for said character. A set of input data that includes characters that have not been associated with designated results is received. The model is applied to the input data to determine predicted results for characters within the input data. |
| US08386231B2 |
Translating languages in response to device motion
A method, performed on a server, of translating between languages includes receiving first audio data for a first language from a mobile device, translating the first audio data to second audio data for a second language, receiving an indication that the mobile device has moved between two locations, and sending the second audio data to the mobile device in response to the indication. |
| US08386229B1 |
Integrated circuit package component and ball grid array simulation model
A simulation model is provided for flip-chip BGAs to help engineers determine the effects of IC package components. The simulation model includes a bump model, a package planes model, a package bypass capacitor model, a ball model and a PCB model. The simulation model in particular includes resistors, inductors, capacitors and transmission lines to simulate the electrical interaction between signal conductors, power/ground planes, vias and balls that exist in a flip-chip ball grid array (BGA) package. The simulation model helps engineers understand actual physical effects of flip-chip and IC package interactions, as well as the impact of the effects of power supply droop, ground bounce and crosstalk between adjacent signals, not only on the IC package level, but at the computer system level. |
| US08386228B2 |
Microcomputer simulator
Provided is a microcomputer simulator capable of quickly dealing with change of a target microcomputer to thereby enable a speedy development of software. The microcomputer simulator is a microcomputer simulator for simulating a microcomputer including therein a CPU and a peripheral circuit of the CPU, and includes a mother board including a CPU for executing application software to be processed by the CPU provided in the microcomputer, and an IO board for executing, at an FPGA thereof, processing of the peripheral circuit provided in the microcomputer and IO processing executed by the CPU provided in the microcomputer. The FPGA includes a common memory portion so that the microcomputer simulator updates data stored in the common memory portion through a communication bus provided between the mother board 10 and the IO board, and causes data to be exchanged between the CPU provided in the mother board and the FPGA. |
| US08386226B2 |
Probabilistic simulation of subterranean fracture propagation
Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to stochastic simulation of subterranean fracture propagation. A plurality of subterranean formation models, each representing a subterranean formation, are analyzed to obtain information on predicted results of applying an injection treatment to the subterranean formation. Each of the analyzed subterranean formation models is generated by simulating forces acting on rock blocks of the subterranean formation during the injection treatment. Each simulation has an input parameter value determined for that simulation based on sampling a distribution of values for a characteristic of the subterranean formation. The characteristic may include, for example, a natural fracture parameter. The information on the predicted results of applying the injection treatment may include, for example, an output probability distribution. In some implementations, the information may be used to design an injection treatment for the subterranean formation. |
| US08386224B2 |
Method for simulating stretching and wiggling liquids
A method for simulating the stretching and wiggling of liquids is provided. The complex phase-interface dynamics is effectively simulated by introducing the Eulerian vortex sheet method, which focuses on the vorticity at the interface and is extended to provide user control for the production of visual effects. The generated fluid flow creates complex surface details, such as thin and wiggling fluid sheets. To capture such high-frequency features efficiently, a denser grid is used for surface tracking in addition to coarser simulation grid. A filter, called the liquid-biased filter, is used to downsample the surface in the high-resolution grid into the coarse grid without unrealistic volume loss resulting from aliasing error. |
| US08386216B1 |
Method and system for adaptive modeling and simulation of lossy transmission lines
A method and system are provided for adaptively modeling and simulating high speed response of a transmission line. A simulation unit maintains a plurality of curve approximation options for modeling the transmission line. The suitability of a predefined primary one of the curve approximation options for modeling is determined based on frequency-domain modal scattering parameters obtained according to frequency-dependent data characterizing the transmission line. One of the options is selectively executed in response to the determination, in order to generate a macromodel of the transmission line. The primary option is executed upon determination of suitability, while a secondary one of the curve approximation options is alternatively executed upon determination of non-suitability. Transient simulation is then executed upon the resulting macromodel of the transmission line. |
| US08386205B2 |
Rotational vibration test system and method
A rotational vibration test system and method of a storage system set storage devices of the storage system, fan speeds of an electric fan of the storage system, and access patterns of the storage system. The electric fan is controlled to run at the fan speeds. The storage system is accessed according to the access patterns. Accordingly, the storage devices are input/output performance tested. Test results of the storage devices are output to an output device. |
| US08386200B2 |
Distribution system analysis using meter data
A monitoring system includes a first sensor positioned at a first location along a phase conductor line and a second sensor position at a second location along the phase conductor line. The first sensor is configured to generate a first set of synchrophasor data. The second sensor is configured to generate a second set of synchrophasor data. The monitoring system includes a processor configured to receive the first and second sets of synchrophasor data. The processor is further configured to determine a primary side voltage of at least one distribution transformer electrically connected to the phase conductor line based on a secondary side voltage of the at least one distribution transformer. The processor is further configured to determine at least one phase conductor line condition based on the first and second sets of synchrophasor data and the primary side voltage. |
| US08386197B1 |
Method and system for processing information from a combination of a solar thermal system and a photovoltaic apparatus
A method for operating a solar thermal system. The method includes providing a photovoltaic apparatus coupled to a solar thermal apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the solar thermal apparatus comprises flow region having a first measurement region and a second measurement region. The first measurement region is configured by a spatial distance to the second measurement region according to one or more embodiments. The present method also includes receiving electrical information associated with operation of the photovoltaic apparatus and receiving thermal information associated with operation of the solar thermal apparatus. In a specific embodiment, the thermal information is derived from the first measurement region and the second measurement region. The method also includes processing the electrical information and associating the electrical information against one or more electrical parameters and processing the thermal information and associating the thermal information against one or more thermal parameters. In a preferred embodiment, the method associates the one or more thermal parameters with the one or more electrical parameters to determine a state (e.g., failure, working, maintenance) of the solar thermal apparatus. |
| US08386196B2 |
Method for determining the wear state
This invention relates to a method for determining a wear state of a chisel, a chisel holder, and/or a chisel holder replacement system equipped with a chisel and chisel holder. For this method to give the user qualitative and quantitative information about the wear, according to one embodiment of this invention, a position of at least one point of the chisel and/or the chisel holder is determined by a contactless measurement method and a corresponding measurement result is compared in a switching unit to a reference value stored in a memory device. |
| US08386195B2 |
Information notification sample processing system and methods of biological slide processing
A sample processing system that may be automated and methods are disclosed where samples are arranged on a carrier element and a process operation control system automatically processes the samples perhaps robotically with an operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor or a data capture element. Significant process details as well as operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information may be monitored and an automatic notice element may cause notification of a person at some display that may be remote. Various people may be notified, such as an administrator, a supplier, or a manufacturer of an opportunity for some action such as reagent reordering or the like. A simulated motion display may be included to “watch” simulated operation in real time or long after completion of the actual processing. |
| US08386189B2 |
Protein structure analysis
Techniques for analyzing one or more protein structures. In one aspect of the invention, the technique comprises the following steps. A normalized second-order hydrophobic moment is determined for a protein structure. The normalized second-order hydrophobic moment is then used for analysis of the protein structure. A scoring function in accordance with the normalized second-order hydrophobic moment for the protein structure may be determined. A score for the protein structure may then be generated using the scoring function. The scoring function may represent an integral of the normalized second-order hydrophobic moment. The scores may be generated for a plurality of protein structures. The scores generated for the plurality of protein structures may then be compared. |
| US08386188B2 |
Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model. |
| US08386187B2 |
Lipoprotein insulin resistance indexes and related methods, systems and computer programs for generating same
Methods, reports and systems for generating insulin resistance indexes for assessing decreased insulin sensitivity and/or levels of insulin resistance using a plurality of different measured lipoprotein particle parameters. |
| US08386185B2 |
Food content detector
A system may include utensil means for portioning a foodstuff into a first portion and a second portion, a means for detecting a first portion size for the first portion with the utensil means, a means for detecting a second portion size for the second portion with the utensil means, and a means for determining a cumulative amount of portioned foodstuff based upon the first portion size and the second portion size. |
| US08386183B2 |
Selective resonant reconfiguration of chemical structures
Chemical compositions may be selectively or preferentially excited by the application of scores comprising a series of energy inputs, thereby changing them from a first geometric configuration to a second geometric configuration (e.g., a first to a second stereoisomer). |
| US08386181B2 |
System and method for bent motor cutting structure analysis
Techniques for analyzing operation of drill bit in a borehole are disclosed herein. A method for analyzing operation of a drill bit in a borehole includes providing information describing the drill bit and a bent housing coupled to the drill bit. A path of a cutter of the drill bit is determined based on a ratio of a rotational speed of the bent housing to a combined rotational speed of the drill bit and the bent housing. The combined rotational speed is different from the rotation speed of the bent housing. |
| US08386178B2 |
Marking system and method
A marking tool and a method for marking a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility is presented. The method includes dispensing a marker when a trigger of a marking tool is actuated. The method further includes identifying at least one characteristic associated with the marker or the dispensing of the marker. The method further includes storing the at least one characteristic associated with dispensing the marker when the actuation of the trigger is signaled. |
| US08386174B2 |
Method and device for calculating a time window
The invention relates to a method and a device for calculating a time window for a time constraint of arrival of an aircraft at a given point, the aircraft receiving wind predictions and including a sensor for measuring the wind. The method includes a calculation of a first time window, and the calculation of an overall confidence index having the determination of a first confidence index on the basis of a deviation between wind predictions and wind measurements performed by the aircraft, the calculation of a margin for the time constraint on the basis of the overall confidence index, and the calculation of a second window on the basis of the first time window and of the calculated margin. |
| US08386172B2 |
In-vehicle apparatus and map data updating system
An in-vehicle apparatus includes: a memory for storing a map data; a center communication element for obtaining a latest map data from a center; an inter-vehicle communication element for communicating with another in-vehicle apparatus; an input element for receiving an input signal of a specific area from an user; and a controller for setting the specific area as an initial main area. The inter-vehicle communication element receives another map data from another in-vehicle apparatus. The controller compares the map data with another map data. When another main area includes an area not included in the initial main area, the controller adds the area as a new main area, and updates the map data with another map data. The controller updates the map data corresponding to the initial main area with the latest map data. |
| US08386171B2 |
Method for matching virtual map and system thereof
A method of matching a virtual map, the method including: receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) information; generating a basic map matching result using the GPS information; generating a virtual map matching location based on the basic map matching result; and displaying the virtual map matching location. |
| US08386170B2 |
Automatic creation of scenic tours using points of interest
A method is provided for presenting audio information related to scenic points of interest (POIs) to a user traveling along a predetermined route. The predetermined route is guided by a navigation device for providing audio navigation announcements that include turn-by-turn directions to the user. The predetermined route is defined between the starting location and a destination that includes scenic POIs. Audio navigation announcements are output to the user for selectively guiding the user along the predetermined route. An active region around each POI while traveling along the predetermined route is used to identify a current POI. Audio POI information is reproduced relating to the current POI while the user is within the active region of the current POI. Audio POI information reproduced to the user is selectively scheduled at a time not conflicting with the audio navigation announcements output to the user. |
| US08386169B2 |
Navigation system with route planning and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: detecting a light intensity; and selecting a route determined by the light intensity for displaying on a device. |
| US08386160B2 |
Body detection apparatus, and body detection method
A body detection apparatus includes: movement direction calculation portion that calculates a movement direction of each of acquisition points by using signals that show the acquisition points and that are obtained through detection of a body present around the vehicle; and determination portion that pre-sets a frame commensurate with a shape of a body as a detection object, and for pre-setting for the frame a reference traveling direction as an assumed traveling direction of the body, and for determining, among the acquisition points, acquisition points present within the frame whose reference traveling direction is aligned with the movement direction as being acquisition points of a single body. |
| US08386157B2 |
Universal GPS traffic monitoring system
A universal GPS traffic monitoring system that uses a plurality of GPS enabled mobile devices to transmit near real-time traffic direction and speed information to a server. The sever processes the information thereby reducing the computational load and power consumption of the mobile devices. The system uses a Traffic Pattern Recognition software program that recognizes only valid traffic data while filtering out unwanted traffic data. The system creates a Distributed Traffic Data Store database containing the average speeds for designated traffic monitoring points (TMPs) created for the region. A request for traffic data containing the boundary data and the zoom level is sent from the mobile device to the server. The server reviews the request and determines which specific Distributed Traffic Data Store database contains the information and then creates and sends a compressed file containing the traffic information relevant to the TMPs in the request to the mobile device. |
| US08386156B2 |
System and method for lane-specific vehicle detection and control
A roadside equipment (RSE) system that can be used for controlling traffic signals and other equipment and corresponding method. A method includes wirelessly receiving vehicle data from an onboard equipment (OBE) system connected to a vehicle, the vehicle data including location data, time data, and vehicle identification data related to the vehicle. The method includes determining motion data for the vehicle and determining the current state of at least one traffic device. The method includes determining a roadway lane corresponding to the vehicle, based on the motion data and the current state of the at least one traffic device, and storing the vehicle and associated roadway lane. |
| US08386153B2 |
Internal combustion engine and method and device for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine includes at least two cylinders, an intake duct, an exhaust gas section and an exhaust gas recirculation line. The cylinders include a combustion chamber. The intake duct communicates with the combustion chambers via a cylinder inlet channel of the intake duct depending upon a switch position of a gas inlet valve. The exhaust gas section communicates with the combustion chambers depending upon a switch position of at least one gas outlet valve. Exhaust gas is guided back to the inlet channels via the exhaust gas recirculation line dependent upon a switch position of the exhaust gas recirculation valve. To detect a mixing air temperature in the inlet channels, a mixing air temperature sensor is provided. The determined mixing air temperatures are compared. Exhaust gas guided back due to uneven distribution is identified if a difference between the determined mixing air temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08386151B2 |
Control unit and control method for variable valve timing mechanism, program for implementing the control method, and recording medium on which the program is recorded
An ECU executes a program based on which, when a fuel-supply cutoff control is executed or when a hybrid vehicle travels in a second mode in which the engine is stopped and the hybrid vehicle travels using only the drive power generated by a second MG an intake VVT mechanism is controlled so that a valve phase is brought to the mechanically determined most retarded phase. The phase, which is detected by a cam position sensor, is learned as the most retarded phase. |
| US08386148B2 |
Traffic-sensitive engine control
A method and engine control system for controlling a vehicle, including determining an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter responsive to traffic conditions and directing the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range. |
| US08386146B2 |
Inter-vehicle distance control apparatus and inter-vehicle distance control method
In an inter-vehicle distance control apparatus and an inter-vehicle distance control method, object detection information is obtained from a detection portion that detects a first preceding vehicle ahead of a vehicle, and an object ahead of the first preceding vehicle; a first possible target stop position is calculated taking into account the first preceding vehicle, and a second possible target stop position is calculated taking into account the object, based on the object detection information; and a target stop position for the vehicle is set to one of the first possible target stop position and the second possible target stop position, which is closer to the vehicle than the other of the first possible target stop position and the second possible target stop position is. |
| US08386141B2 |
Vehicle control system
A vehicle control system for an automatic transmission includes a range selector for outputting a range instruction signal representing the selected shift range and a range shifter for manually outputting a shift instruction signal, and a by-wire control part for controlling the change-over of the shift range according to the range instruction signal input from the range selector. The by-wire control part has a range control circuit, which uses the shift instruction signal input from the range shifter if the range instruction signal is abnormal while monitoring the range instruction signal input from the range selector. |
| US08386140B2 |
Hybrid vehicle control device to control transmission torque input
A control device controls an input coupled to a drive force source including a rotary electric machine and an internal combustion engine, an output coupled to wheels, and a speed change mechanism that transfers rotation of the input to the output with a speed of the rotation changed in accordance with a speed ratio of a shift speed selected from a plurality of shift speeds. When switching between the shift speeds, a rotation-varying torque value is calculated, the rotary electric machine outputs torque based on the rotation-varying torque value, and when an absolute value of the torque that the rotary electric machine outputs will become more than a predetermined threshold, both the rotary electric machine and the internal combustion engine are caused to output torque corresponding to the rotation-varying torque value such that the output torque of the rotary electric machine becomes equal to or less than the predetermined threshold. |
| US08386137B2 |
Planter monitor system and method
A planter monitor system and method that provides an operator with near real-time data concerning yield robbing events and the economic cost associated with such yield robbing events so as to motivate the operator to take prompt corrective action. |
| US08386133B2 |
Automated control of boom and attachment for work vehicle
A first sensor detects a boom angle of a boom with respect to a support. An attachment is coupled to the boom. A second cylinder is associated with the attachment. A second sensor detects an attachment angle of the attachment with respect to the boom. An accelerometer detects an acceleration or deceleration of the boom. A switch accepts a command to enter a ready position state from another position state. A controller controls the first hydraulic cylinder to attain a boom angle within the target boom angular range and for controlling the second cylinder to attain an attachment angle within the target attachment angular range associated with the ready position state in response to the command in conformity with at least one of a desired boom motion curve and a desired attachment motion curve. |
| US08386131B2 |
Method and system for controlling a driving direction of an electric drive machine
The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method for changing a direction of a machine that is moving in a first direction. The method includes the step of receiving a signal indicative of an intention to change the direction of the machine to a second direction. The method also includes the step of determining whether a signal indicative of a speed of the machine is greater than a threshold based at least in part on an electric motor parameter. Finally, the method includes the step of applying a braking torque to at least one travel mechanism of the machine in response to a signal indicative of an accelerator pedal position until the speed reaches the threshold. |
| US08386128B2 |
Method for adapting steering characteristics of a motor vehicle
A method for adapting steering characteristics of a motor vehicle with an electric power steering system, including determining of steering angle signals of a steering train utilizing at least one steering angle sensor in the steering train, determining measuring and control quantities of a dynamic drive system, and adapting the steering characteristics based on the steering angle signals and the measuring and control quantities. |
| US08386127B2 |
Bicycle user interface system and method of operation thereof
A bicycle is disclosed having a control system with a user interface and an active suspension system. The control system includes a one or more sensors arranged to measure and transmit a signal indicative of the terrain over which the bicycle is being ridden. The active suspension system includes a valve box that is fluidly coupled to each chamber of the lower cylinder. An orifice in the valve box is changed in size in response to a signal from a sensor associated with the front wheel that changes the response of the suspension system due to changing terrain conditions. The user interface includes a selection device mounted to the handlebars that allows the user to change parameters of the active suspension system during operation of the bicycle. |
| US08386123B2 |
Method for calibrating a slope sensor
A method for automatically determining a current offset value for the zero-point correction of a vehicle inclination sensor including the steps of while driving in a first driving direction, the current driving resistance is determined repeatedly, without regard to the sensor and stored temporarily, and a current raw signal value of the sensor is noted. Upon a change in the driving direction, the last-noted raw signal value is stored temporarily and while driving in the second driving direction. The current driving resistance is determined repeatedly, without regard to the sensor and stored temporarily. Then, if the difference between the two stored driving resistances agree with a tolerance threshold, the noted raw signal value is stored as the offset value for the zero-point correction of the inclination sensor. |
| US08386118B2 |
System and method for detecting an anomaly in a hidden layer of a multi-layer structure
Systems and methods are provided for detecting an anomaly in a hidden portion of a first layer of a multi-layer structure. A monitoring element is provided on at least one exposed end of a fastener that extends through the multi-layer structure, and another monitoring element on an exposed portion of the first layer. With at least one of the monitoring elements, an inspection signal is introduced into the multi-layer structure including the hidden portion of the first layer. The inspection signal is then sensed with at least another one of the monitoring elements following propagation of the inspection signal through at least a portion of the multi-layer structure including the hidden portion of the first layer. Finally, an anomaly may be detected in the hidden portion of the first layer based upon the inspection signal that has been sensed. |
| US08386117B2 |
Vehicular diagnostic method, vehicular diagnostic system, vehicle and center
When determining that a failure has occurred, a vehicle (10) transmits alarm lamp illumination information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center (20). The center (20) transmits the received alarm lamp illumination information to an automobile dealer computer (30) at an automobile dealer. The center (20) then obtains abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer, prepares an abnormality notification, and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) notifies a user of the abnormality notification, and reserves servicing at the automobile dealer through an operation of a reservation button performed by the user. With the reservation, the center (20) transmits an abnormality transmission request to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) collects failure information in response to the failure information transmission request, and transmits the failure information to the center (20). The center (20) transmits detailed abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer to the vehicle (10). |
| US08386111B2 |
Automatic vehicle guidance protection system
An automated vehicle protection system is provided comprising a guideway (20), a vehicle (10), a guideway loop antenna (21), and transponders (41a, 41b), mounted on the vehicle (10). Means (24, 25) are provided, couple to the guideway loop antenna (21), for receiving a signal from the vehicle (10) and generating an inhibit signal in order to inhibit vehicle movement in a section of the guideway (20). The inhibit signal may be passed to a circuit associated with another guideway loop antenna (22, 23) to control transmission of a signal from this other guideway loop antenna (22, 23). |
| US08386109B2 |
Hybrid electric vehicle and method of control
An apparatus includes a fuel burning actuator operable to burn fuel to drive generator means to generate charge to recharge an energy storage means. The apparatus is operable to motor the fuel burning actuator by means of motoring means comprising an electric machine, the fuel burning actuator being operable to pump gas when motored. Brake means comprising a second electric machine is operable to generate charge in a regenerative braking operation in order to recharge the energy storage device. The apparatus is operable automatically to motor the fuel burning actuator by means of the motoring means when the fuel burning actuator is not burning fuel responsive to at least one operating parameter associated with the energy storage means, the apparatus being operable automatically to restrict by means of restrictor means an amount of gas pumped by the fuel burning actuator thereby to increase an amount of work done by the motoring means when the fuel burning actuator is motored. |
| US08386106B2 |
Starting method of a thermal engine of a vehicle with hybrid propulsion
A starting method of an internal combustion thermal engine of a vehicle with hybrid propulsion provided with a transmission equipped with a twin-clutch gearbox and a reversible electric machine connected to a first primary shaft; the starting method including the steps of: making the electric machine work as an engine for producing a torque; partially closing a first clutch connected to the first primary shaft in order to make the first clutch itself slip to transmit part of the torque generated by the electric machine to a drive shaft of the thermal engine; engaging a gear coupled to a second primary shaft to mechanically connect the second primary shaft itself to the driving wheels; and closing partially a second clutch connected to the second primary shaft in order to make the second clutch itself slip and transmit part of the torque generated by the electric machine to the driving wheels. |
| US08386101B2 |
Detecting program flow fault in torque security software for hybrid vehicle electric drive system
A diagnostic system for a hybrid vehicle comprises a processor module and a motor control module. The processor module outputs a seed value. The motor control module controls torque output by an electric motor of the hybrid vehicle, receives the seed value, generates a final key value based on the seed value, and outputs the final key value to the processor module. |
| US08386100B1 |
Aircraft flight event data integration and visualization
Concepts and technologies described herein provide for the integration of flight event parameters with time and location data to provide a geographic visualization of a flight path and associated parameters. According to various aspects, a geographic area that encompasses a flight path according to location data associated with the aircraft is rendered on a display device. The location data is then transformed into a representation of the flight path on the rendering of the geographic area. One or more parameters associated with an event that occurred while the aircraft was in flight are retrieved and correlated with the location data to determine the location along the flight path in which the event occurred, and a representation is provided on the flight path to illustrate the exact geographic location in which it occurred. |
| US08386095B2 |
Performing corrective action on unmanned aerial vehicle using one axis of three-axis magnetometer
Methods and systems are provided for using a measurement of only one axis of a three-axis magnetometer to perform at least one corrective action on an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”). An exemplary embodiment comprises (i) receiving from a three-axis magnetometer a measurement representative of an attitude of a UAV, wherein the measurement is of only one axis of the magnetometer, (ii) comparing the measurement to an allowable range of attitudes, (iii) determining that the measurement is not within the allowable range of attitudes, and (iv) performing at least one corrective action on the UAV. |
| US08386093B2 |
Multi-axis serially redundant, single channel, multi-path fly-by-wire flight control system
A multi-axis serially redundant, single channel, multi-path fly-by-wire control system comprising: serially redundant flight control computers in a single channel where only one “primary” flight control computer is active and controlling at any given time; a matrix of parallel flight control surface controllers including stabilizer motor control units (SMCU) and actuator electronics control modules (AECM) define multiple control paths within the single channel, each implemented with dissimilar hardware and which each control the movement of a distributed set of flight control surfaces on the aircraft in response to flight control surface commands of the primary flight control computer; and a set of (pilot and co-pilot) controls and aircraft surface/reference/navigation sensors and systems which provide input to a primary flight control computer and are used to generate the flight control surface commands to control the aircraft in flight in accordance with the control law algorithms implemented in the flight control computers. |
| US08386088B2 |
Powered device including a multi-use detection resistor
In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving a powered device (PD) detection signal at a PD from a powered network and applying the PD detection signal to an external resistor to provide a detection signature to the powered network. Further, the method includes receiving a PD classification mark signal at the PD, applying the received PD classification mark signal to the external resistor, and selectively activating a classification mark current path in parallel with the external resistor to produce a classification mark signature. |
| US08386086B2 |
Methods and systems for analyzing energy usage
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention allow an energy consumption index to be generated from DR response data and influencer data. The energy consumption index may indicate the energy consumption of a consumer before receiving a DR signal, the change in the consumption after the consumer receives a DR signal, and the consumer's propensity to respond to a DR signal. Systems and methods consistent with the present invention also allow energy providers to monitor, forecast, and plan for changes in consumer demand for energy. Various energy planning tools may facilitate an energy provider's ability to monitor, forecast, and plan for such changes. |
| US08386072B1 |
Dual meter filler apparatus and method
A filler product supply system (5) and method using two or more conduits (120, 130) to deliver filler product under pressure from product reservoirs (200, 210) to in fluid isolation to a supply manifold (58). Filler product is further delivered in fluid isolation from supply manifold (58) through conduits (170, 171) to two or more filling heads (180, 190). Downstream from filling heads (180, 190), the previously isolated fluid lines are combined to introduce two or more distinct filler products into a single container without creating a homogenous mixture. |
| US08386058B2 |
Method and device for robust rejection of periodic disturbances in an axis-position control loop
A method and a device for robust rejection of the periodic disturbances in a motor-position control structure of the RST type, wherein the assembly including the motor, the position sensor, the element for computing the functions 1/So(z−1) and Ro(z−1), in a loop, is called central controller. Within the framework of the invention, to the central controller are added two additional computing elements, the first one being an estimator block E(z−1) and the second one a modifier block Q(z−1), as well as an additional loop, the estimator block E(z−1) allowing a load disturbance estimation signal {circumflex over (v)}(t) to be computed, the modifier block Q(z−1) receiving the load disturbance estimation signal {circumflex over (v)}(t) as an input, to produce a modified signal, which is applied to a negative input of an additional adder arranged upstream from the element for computing the function 1/So(z−1) and then forming the additional loop, the modifier block having a variable transfer function. |
| US08386057B2 |
Electrode catheter for interventional use
An electrode for interventional purposes, such as a cardiac pacemaker, neurostimulation, or ICD electrode, comprises an elongate electrode body (6), at least one electrode pole (5) in the area of the distal end (4) of the electrode body (6) for delivering an intervention pulse, at least one supply line (7) running in the electrode body (6) to the at least one electrode pole (5), and an electrode sheath (8) for insulating the supply line (7). The first and/or second material is produced in such a way that it contains conductive particles embedded in a polymer matrix in a concentration which is greater than or equal to the percolation threshold. |
| US08386051B2 |
Disabling an implantable medical device
Various techniques for using a disconnection element to disable an implantable medical device (IMD) are described. The disconnection element may be responsive to energy delivered from outside of the IMD to the disconnection element within the IMD. In response to the delivery of the energy, the power source and operational circuitry of the IMD may be decoupled. |
| US08386050B2 |
Calibration systems and methods for neural interface devices
A system and method for a neural interface system with integral calibration elements may include a sensor including a plurality of electrodes to detect multicellular signals, an interface to process the signals from the sensor into a suitable control signal for a controllable device, such as a computer or prosthetic limb, and an integrated calibration routine to efficiently create calibration output parameters used to generate the control signal. A graphical user interface may be used to make various portions of the calibration and signal processing configuration more efficient and effective. |
| US08386049B2 |
Adaptive staged wake-up for implantable medical device communication
A communication wake-up scheme for an implantable medical device may involve repeatedly activating a receiver to determine whether an external device is attempting to establish communication with the implantable device. To reduce the amount of power consumed by the implantable device in conjunction with the wake-up scheme, the scheme may involve conducting preliminary RF signal detections as a precursor to conducting a full scan. In this way, power may be conserved since the more power intensive full scans may be performed less frequently. This preliminary detection of RF signals also may be adapted to reduce the number of full scans performed by the implantable device that do not result in communication with the external device. In some embodiments the adaptation involves adjusting one or more thresholds that are used in conjunction with the preliminary detection of RF signals. In some embodiments a wake-up scheme may involve scanning for signals using an initial RF band that is relatively wide, and then scanning for signals using narrower RF bands. |
| US08386046B2 |
Screening devices and methods for obstructive sleep apnea therapy
Devices and methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea by first performing an assessment of the patient that involves observing the patient's upper airway during a tongue protrusion maneuver. The assessment may, for example, be done using endoscopy to observe the upper airway while the patient is awake in the supine position. An adequate response of the upper airway during the tongue protrusion maneuver is indicative of likely therapeutic success with hypoglossal nerve stimulation, and may be used for making clinical decisions. The principles of the present invention may be applied to other therapeutic interventions for OSA involving the upper airway. |
| US08386044B2 |
Complex connector in component footprint of implantable medical device
A complex connector and component within an implantable medical device in which the complex connector is positioned within the spacing footprint of the component to optimize packaging within the device. |
| US08386035B2 |
System and method for effectively indicating element failure or a preventive maintenance condition in an automatic external defibrillator (AED)
Battery powered systems with long standby times, such as automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), may be required to indicate their operational status to a user by blinking lights or sounding speakers or buzzers. These active status indication activities consume power thereby reducing the battery life of the system. To conserve power and to be more effective in seeking attention from a human operator, the status alerts for the AED produced by an active status indicator (ASI) system can be more meaningful to humans or more unique relative to status alerts provided by conventional devices. Additionally, the ASI system may automatically adjust power consumed by the indicators in response to sensing environmental conditions of the AED. |
| US08386027B2 |
Skin permeation device for analyte sensing or transdermal drug delivery
Devices, systems, kits and methods for increasing the skin's permeability controlled by measured skin electrical parameter are described herein. They may be used for transdermal drug delivery and/or analyte extraction or measurement. The controlled abrasion device contains (i) a hand piece, (ii) an abrasive tip, (iii) a feedback control mechanism, (iv) two or more electrodes, and (v) an electrical motor. The feedback control mechanism may be an internal feedback control mechanism or an external feedback control. The kit contains the controlled abrasion-device, one or more abrasive tips, optionally with a wetting fluid. The method for increasing the skin's permeability requires applying the controlled abrasion device to a portion of the skin's surface for a short period of time, until the desired level of permeability is reached. Then the abrasion device is removed, and a drug delivery composition or device or an analyte sensor is applied to the treated site. |
| US08386026B2 |
System and method for acquiring and displaying abdominal EMG signals
A system and method for acquiring and processing abdominal EMG signals from a maternal patient to indicate when a maternal patient should push to progress the labor toward delivery. Raw abdominal EMG signals are acquired and processed in a central unit designed to isolate the patient and any internal circuitry from electrical shock. The central unit has a circuit board that amplifies and filters the EMG signal, then transmits the signal to an A/D converter, after which the digitized signal is transmitted to a computer for further processing and subsequent display of a signal representative of abdominal activity. The system may also acquire and process uterine EMG signals that can be evaluated in conjunction with the abdominal EMG signals. |
| US08386022B2 |
Multifaceted tracker device for computer-assisted surgery
A tracker device of the type is associated with a surgical instrument and being trackable in space by a CAS system such that a position of the surgical instrument is calculable. A support is adapted to be connected to the surgical instrument. Optical elements are mounted to the support in a first pattern so as to be detectable by the CAS system along a first range of visibility. Other optical elements are mounted to the support in a second pattern so as to be detectable by the CAS system along a second range of visibility, with the first range of visibility and the second range of visibility having at most a common portion, whereby a position of the surgical instrument is tracked within the first and the second range of visibility as a function of the detection of any one of the patterns of the optical elements. |
| US08386021B2 |
Energy transfer amplification for intrabody devices
Apparatus for driving current in a power circuit of a medical device inserted into a body of a subject includes a power transmitter, which is adapted to generate, in a vicinity of the body, an electromagnetic field having a predetermined frequency capable of inductively driving the current in the power circuit. A passive energy transfer amplifier, having a resonant response at the frequency of the electromagnetic field is placed in proximity to the medical device so as to enhance the current driven in the power circuit by the electromagnetic field. |
| US08386015B2 |
Integration of micro and macro information for biomedical imaging
Macroscopic imaging data, such as from a CT, MR, PET, or SPECT scanner, is obtained. Microscopic imaging data of at least a portion of the same tissue is obtained. To align the microscopic imaging data with the macroscopic imaging data, intermediate data is also obtained. For example, photographic data is acquired at an intermediary stage of a process of preparing tissue for microscopic scan. The macroscopic and microscopic data are registered to the intermediary photographic data. Once registered to the intermediary data, the spatial relationship between the macroscopic and microscopic data is known and may be used for imaging or quantification. |
| US08386014B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing heart geometrical measurements
In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter provides a method of identifying the source of arrhythmia, e.g. reentrant ventricular tachycardia, in a patient. In other embodiments, the disclosed subject matter provides a method for treating or preventing reentrant ventricular tachycardia in a patient. In still other embodiments, the disclosed subject matter provides systems for identifying the location of a candidate ablation site in a patient. In some embodiments, the patient has suffered from a myocardial infarction or has undergone structural remodeling of the heart caused by, e.g., cardiac fibrosis or the presence of dense trebeculation, resulting in nonviable areas with border zones (BZ). |
| US08386012B2 |
Screening test for recognizing prostate diseases and apparatus and diagnosis substance for carrying out the test
In a screening test method, and a device for implementing the screening test method, a diagnostic substance is provided that contains at least one biomarker connected with at least one ferromagnetic particle, the biomarker binding specifically to a target molecule that is formed by specific pathological prostrate tissue. The diagnostic substance is administered to the blood stream of a patient. A magnetometer is used to detect enrichment of the ferromagnetic particle in the prostrate, as an indicator of a level of the specific pathological prostrate tissue. |
| US08386001B2 |
Rocker-chute type finger-clipped oximeter
The present invention discloses a finger-clipped oximeter comprising an upper case (2) and a lower case (1), wherein one of the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) is provided with a guide post (12) which enables the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) to depart from and approach to each other vertically, the other of the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) is provided with a guide sleeve (13) which enables the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) to depart from and approach to each other vertically, and a return spring (9) is provided between an end of the guide post (12) and the case provided with the guide sleeve (13). One of the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) is provided with rockers (7, 8) which are used to facilitate the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) to depart from and approach to each other vertically, the other of the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) is provided with chutes (14, 15) which are used to facilitate the upper case (2) and the lower case (1) to depart from and approach to each other vertically, and ends of the rockers (7, 8) fit with the chutes (14, 15). |
| US08386000B2 |
System and method for photon density wave pulse oximetry and pulse hemometry
Present embodiments are directed to a system and method capable of modulating light at a modulation frequency, wherein the modulation frequency is somewhere above about 50 MHz and below about 3 GHz, to generate photon density waves in a medium, detecting relative amplitude changes and phase shifts in the photon density waves, and detecting and graphically indicating a physiologic value related to scattering particles in the medium based on the phase shifts. |
| US08385998B2 |
Contact lens integrated with a biosensor for the detection of glucose and other components in tears
The present invention provides contact lens with integrated biosensor for the continuous, non-invasive monitoring of physiological glucose by employing biocompatible nanostructure-laden lens materials. These contact lenses can be worn by diabetics who can colorimetrically see changes in their contact lens color or other fluorescence-based properties, giving an indication of tear and blood glucose levels. This invention for the glucose biosensor based on the new disposal contact lens provides a safe, convenient and non-expensive glucose sensing device. The sensing device disclosed herein provides an efficient and noninvasive solution for monitoring blood glucose. |
| US08385997B2 |
Spectroscopic detection of malaria via the eye
Methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting hemozoin and diagnosing malaria infection are disclosed. |
| US08385996B2 |
Multiple wavelength sensor emitters
A physiological sensor is adapted to removably attach an emitter assembly and a detector assembly to a fingertip. The emitter assembly is adapted to transmit optical radiation having multiple wavelengths into fingertip tissue. The detector assembly is adapted to receive the optical radiation after attenuation by the fingertip tissue. The sensor has a first shell and a second shell hinged to the first shell. A spring is disposed between the shells and urges the shells together. An emitter pad is fixedly attached to the first shell and configured to retain the emitter assembly. A detector pad is fixedly attached to the second shell and configured to retain the detector assembly. A detector aperture is defined within the detector pad and adapted to pass optical radiation to the detector assembly. A contour is defined along the detector pad and generally shaped to conform to a fingertip positioned over the detector aperture. |
| US08385989B2 |
Fascia assembly for a portable electronic device
A fascia member (200) for a wireless telecommunication device (700) or other electronic device includes a thin, flexible membrane (201) having a transparent, reinforcing member (212) coupled thereto. The thin, flexible membrane (201) includes a transparency region (203) and a deflectable key region (204). The thin, flexible membrane (201) may thus serve as a major front face for the wireless telecommunication device (700) with no break lines between display and keypad. Printing on one side of the thin, flexible membrane (201) provides alphanumeric indicia (207) and graphical designs for the wireless telecommunication device (700). Printing may also be applied to the transparent, reinforcing member (212). |
| US08385988B2 |
Reducing WLAN power consumption on a mobile device utilizing a cellular radio interface
A system and method of reducing the WLAN power consumption and limiting battery drain of a mobile communications device is provided. The mechanism continuously monitors for changes in the WLAN and cellular signal strength and modifies the WLAN profile scanning activity accordingly. By monitoring for changes, transitions can be detected which indicate the location of the mobile device (i.e., indoor or outdoor). An increase in cellular signal strength and a decrease in WLAN signal strength indicates the user is transitioning outdoors where WLAN coverage may be limited. To reduce battery power consumption, background scanning is suspended or its frequency significantly lowered. Moving indoors is indicated by a decrease in cellular signal strength and an increase in WLAN signal strength. Background/Connectivity scanning frequency is increased to provide shorter time-to-connect to WLAN Networks for the user within the WLAN coverage area. |
| US08385982B2 |
Controlling use of a communications device in accordance with motion of the device
A wireless communications device is controlled in accordance with motion thereof. If the device is determined to be in motion, such as in a vehicle, use of the device is restricted. Discrimination between vehicular motion and ambulatory motion is provided. While in motion, use of the device can be allowed under specific exception conditions. Exception conditions include the device being used by a passenger of a vehicle, a 911 call, or a call to a designated number. The ability to control the device in accordance with motion thereof can be remotely activated and deactivated, thus allowing, for example, parental control of a device belong to a child. |
| US08385981B2 |
System and method for capturing augmented reality electronic signatures
A system and method for more accurately and easily recording signatures electronically/digitally. The preferred signing experience is generating a “wet” signature by putting a pen to paper as a pen and paper are ubiquitous and portable as well as familiar to most people. The present invention preserves this experience while combining it with a digital rendering of a document using conventional mobile communication devices having a camera feature in order to record a wet signature of a user and store a digital representation of the document that includes the recorded wet signature in the signature block of the document. |
| US08385980B2 |
Devices and methods for changing the appearance of a mobile communications device
The present invention is a housing of a mobile communications device that is entirely covered in pixels. The pixels allow the appearance of the housing to be customized or changed as a user desires. The pixels can be part of an active matrix or passive matrix LCD display that comprises the entire housing. A logic unit on the device allows the appearance of the housing to be selected, created, or downloaded. |
| US08385979B2 |
Sharing antennas for increased multiple-input uplink reception
Sharing antennas among carriers co-located at a base station such to increase throughput of the individual carriers is provided. Thus, the carriers can effectively receive multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) from mobile devices though the individual antennas of the carrier alone are not sufficient to receive such signals. A co-sharing interface is provided that takes signals from antennas of one carrier and forwards the signals to a second co-located carrier. In this regard, a carrier can receive signals from a related set of antennas as well as the co-sharing interface component (from a set of antennas related to a disparate carrier) and process the signals in conjunction. Thus, the signals can be disparate portions of a MIMO signal. In addition, the co-sharing interface can modify the signals as defined by the carrier receiving the signals from the interface, such as by applying gain control, alarming, bypass circuitry, and/or amplification. |
| US08385978B2 |
Multi-function wireless apparatus
Systems and methods which provide a multi-function wireless node are shown. Multi-function wireless nodes of embodiments provide link completion infrastructure suited for a plurality of situations and environments, such as for repeaters, bridges, gateways, and APs. Embodiments provide a multi-function wireless node comprising a plurality of radios. Multi-function wireless nodes of embodiments further comprise a smart antenna system coupled to radios thereof and providing illumination within a service volume. The service volume of embodiments comprises a semi-spherical volume. Embodiments comprise a controller facilitating proper and/or optimal deployment and commissioning of the multi-function wireless node in each of a plurality of different link completion infrastructure forms. Embodiments further comprise a communication interface providing one or more information communication links in addition to those available through wireless links. |
| US08385975B2 |
Context-based messaging for wireless communication
This disclosure describes techniques for providing a wireless communication device with context-based voicemail messaging. In reply to a call, a wireless communication device may select a message based on a context. As an example, a wireless communication system may detect a call directed to a wireless communication device from a caller, generate one of a plurality of reply messages for the caller based on a context of the wireless communication device derived from input information received by at least one input of the wireless communication device, and transmit the generated reply message to the caller. In some cases, the message may be selected based on both context and caller identity. In addition, the message may be selected based at least in part on analysis of a pattern of usage or user activity with respect to the wireless communication device. |
| US08385973B1 |
Remote equipment control system
A system for remote control of equipment such as office equipment is provided. The system involving a telephone interface and a control system. A method is provided for remote equipment control having steps of installing and configuring equipment. A method is provided controlling equipment remotely having steps relating to using elements of a control system. |
| US08385972B2 |
Medication injection site and data collection system
A medication delivery apparatus for use with a medication container includes a housing, a fluid conduit at least partially extending within the housing and configured to deliver medication within the medication container to a patient, a medication port extending from the housing and configured to be coupled to a fluid outlet of the medication container, the medication port being fluidically coupled to the fluid conduit, and at least one sensor disposed within the housing to generate information characterizing administration of the medication for processing by a remote data collection system. The housing can have a size and shape that enables it to be supported by a first hand of a user while the user administers the medication from the medication container via the medication port using a second hand of the user. Related apparatus, systems, and techniques are also described. |
| US08385971B2 |
Methods and systems for content processing
Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to data driven imaging architectures, in which a cell phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing, such as filtering and edge detection—and even some simpler template matching operations—may be performed on the cell phone. Other operations are referred out to remote service providers. The remote service providers can be identified using techniques such as a reverse auction, though which they compete for processing tasks. Other aspects of the disclosed technologies relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08385970B2 |
Channel width switching in multiple OBSS systems
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a device is capable of operating at a first bandwidth or a second bandwidth, and further capable of operating using a communication method intolerant to operation at the first bandwidth. If operation using a communication method intolerant to operation at the first bandwidth is desired, the device transmits an assertion of intolerance of operation at the first bandwidth to one or more devices on the network to cause the one or more devices on the network to switch operation at the second bandwidth. |
| US08385969B2 |
Method of transmitting TPC commands
In a cellular radio system Transmission Power Control (TPC) power offset is set so that it is adjusted for each transmitting radio base station based on available relevant measurements that reflect the quality of the downlink channel carrying the uplink TPC command whereby an improved performance is obtained. The TPC power offset can for example be based on an estimated uplink Dedicated Physical Control CHannel (DPCCH) SINR, the number of TPC “up” and the number of TPC “down” sent by a radio base station and aggregated UE receiver power or UE transmit power over a number N slots. Also a mobile station used in a cellular radio system supporting soft handover may be adapted to apply TPC discarding thresholds based on the number and the quality of simultaneously received TPC commands. The discarding procedure in the mobile station may also be carried out selectively such that TPC commands that are determined to be unreliable are not discarded but selectively discarded based on how reliable they are determined to be. |
| US08385968B2 |
Precoding method and apparatus, and precoding control method and apparatus
To control precoding of a terminal in a serving base station, a first codeword that maximizes transmission power of the serving base station is determined by a codebook, and an index of a second codeword that minimizes interference to the neighboring base station is transmitted from the neighboring base station. The serving base station transmits an index of the first codeword, an index of the second codeword, and a combination ratio of a precoding matrix corresponding to the index of the first codeword and a precoding matrix corresponding to the index of the second codeword to the terminal. |
| US08385967B2 |
Systems and methods for usage-based output power level adjustments for self-optimizing radio access nodes
A wireless base station and method are described for adjusting an output power level for self-optimizing radio access node. The base station monitors a link metric of a downlink traffic channel and records the measurements as historical link metric data. Later, the base station compares the link metric with the historical link metric data and adjusts the power level of a broadcast channel and one or more system channels. This may reduce the operating radius of the base station, including the broadcast channels, system channels, and traffic channels, to reduce interference with other cells in a network. This method may be used in a femtocell or picocell wireless base station. |
| US08385965B2 |
Method and device for power control
A method for generating a filtered signal quality value used in a power control system of a wireless communication apparatus. An estimated signal quality value of a received signal is generated. A filtered signal quality value is generated based on the estimated signal quality value. The filtered signal quality value is generated in dependence of at least one of registering a difference between a first and a second reference signal quality value, and a change in transmitted power of said received signal. A power control device comprising a signal quality estimator, a BLER estimator, a regulator, and an inner loop is configured to implement the method. |
| US08385964B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for geospatial-based sharing of information by multiple devices
A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel. |
| US08385962B1 |
Push-to-talk voice messages
A system is provided for push-to-talk voice messages. The system includes a processor and a voice message component. When executed by the processor, the voice message component identifies a request from a first handset to communicate with a second handset via push-to-talk communication, and determines whether the second handset is available. If the second handset is not available, the voice message component stores a voice communication associated with the request in an audio file identifies a voice mail storage associated with the second handset, and provides the audio file to the voice mail storage. The voice message component also informs the first handset that the second handset is not available and that the voice mail storage stores the voice communication. |
| US08385959B2 |
Method for performing carrier management procedure in a multi-carrier supported wideband wireless communication system and apparatus for the same
A method and apparatus for performing a carrier management in a broadband wireless communication system supporting multi-carriers are disclosed. A method for a mobile station to perform a carrier management procedure with a base station supporting multiple carriers includes receiving a carrier management command message including an action code indicating a primary carrier change and an action time, on a serving primary carrier, transmitting an acknowledgement message indicating that the carrier management command message is successfully received in the mobile station, on the serving primary carrier, and switching the primary carrier to a target carrier indicated by the carrier management command message at the action time, wherein the action time is set to a value more than a retransmission timer, the retransmission timer is set to a time during which the base station waits for receiving the acknowledgement message in response to the carrier management command message. |
| US08385958B2 |
Method of transmitting down link data
In a cellular radio system data is transmitted to a Dual Carrier mobile station from two different cells during a data transfer. Hereby existing hardware in a GSM system can be utilized more efficiently. The data transmission from the two cells can be frame synchronized. Frame synchronization can for example be obtained by transmitting data from two cells located on the same radio base station site. |
| US08385955B2 |
Permission based text messaging
A system and method for narrowcasting text messages to a plurality of cellular phones. The system and method allow a potential user to opt in to receive the text messages the user wants to receive. The potential user can opt in through a computer network based web page. Once the potential user sends a sign up request application to participate via the computer network, the user will receive a first text message containing an authorization code on their cell phone. The user enters the authorization code into the web page and sends the authorization code. Receipt of the authorization code back through the computer network will trigger the phone number of the potential user to be added to a list of authorized text message receivers. A narrowcaster then instructs the central computer to narrowcast text messages to the phone numbers on the list that have indicated they want to receive messages on a certain topic. |
| US08385953B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for automatic mapping between parlay-X short messaging service message element XML encoding and native SMPP protocol data coding scheme
Systems, methods, and computer program products are for mapping an extensible markup language (XML) encoding declarations to a short message peer-to-peer (SMPP) data coding scheme (DCS) for a mobile-terminated (MT) short messaging service (SMS). An exemplary method includes receiving a message from a short message entity (SME) for delivery to a mobile device. The message includes a payload with at least one character encoded in accordance with a first character encoding scheme. The exemplary method further includes receiving from the SME a second encoding scheme for the message, implementing a mapping table to map the first character encoding scheme to the second character encoding scheme, and performing an encoding transformation of the message from the first character encoding to the second character encoding scheme yielding a modified message comprising the payload of the message encoded in the second character encoding scheme as specified by the SME. |
| US08385950B1 |
Capturing and automatically uploading media content
A computer-implemented method for automatically uploading media content from a mobile device to an online service provider can include receiving, in the mobile device, identifying information corresponding to a user account associated with at least one of a plurality of online service providers; capturing media content with a media input component included in the mobile device; and after the media content is captured, automatically uploading to the at least one online service provider the captured media content and the identifying information, without receiving user input contemporaneous with the automatic uploading that specifies that the captured media content is to be uploaded. The mobile device can further include a wireless communication component configured to wirelessly send data to and wirelessly receive data from the plurality of online service providers, which can be external to the mobile device. |
| US08385949B2 |
Method, call setup device and computer product for controlling and setting up calls with reduced costs
A method, call setup device (10) and computer program product for controlling telephone call setup for an associated user and having access to different communication networks are provided. The call setup device (10) comprising a data receiving unit (52) receiving a first data message (DM1) from the user comprising callee identifying information and user identifying information and a control unit (48) having access to call placing units (12, 14, 58), each connected to corresponding network (24,32) and providing telephone call set up via these networks, wherein the control unit analyses the callee and user identifying information, orders a call placing unit to set up a first telephone call to a user terminal, orders a call placing unit to set up a second telephone call to a callee terminal and orders an interconnection of the first and the second call. |
| US08385948B2 |
Method and arrangement for improved positioning
In a method of improved positioning of user equipments in a telecommunication system comprising at least one user equipment in communication with a core network node via a radio access network node, in response to a user equipment positioning event for said at least one user equipment performing the following steps. Providing S10 user equipment identification data in the core network node for each at least one user equipment, the data comprising at least a parameter indicative of a type for the user equipment, a confidence reporting principle, a geographical reporting format type, and a positioning method, associated with said user equipment type. Providing S20 positioning information in the core network node from the radio access network node based on the positioning event. The positioning information comprising a geographical format representative of the geographic position of the user equipment, and a positioning method applied in at least the radio network node. Subsequently, determining S30 the type of the at least one user equipment, from information signaled to the core network node. Finally, correcting/adapting S40 the provided positioning information based on the provided user equipment identification data, a predetermined desired output geographical format, the determined user equipment type and the applied positioning method, whereby an improved positioning for the user equipment is enabled in the core network node. |
| US08385945B2 |
Communication signal transmission management system and method of base station
A communication signal transmission management method of a base station using a computing device configures a distance table for recording remote base stations proximate the base station and a distance between the base station and each of the remote base stations, and stores the distance table in a storage system of the computing device. When the base receives a communication signal from communication device, the method determines a remote base station to receive the communication signal according to the distance between the base station and each of the scanned remote base stations and a current load of each remote base station, and transmits the communication signal to the determined remote base station. |
| US08385944B1 |
Location based reminders
A computer-implemented user alert method includes identifying a task for a user, associating a location with the task, monitoring a location of a mobile device associated with the user, and notifying the user about the task when the mobile device comes within a defined proximity of the associated location. |
| US08385940B2 |
Modified overhead adjustment function
A MOAF algorithm is used to resize cells for balancing capacity. The MOAF algorithm bases its decision on a cell and all other cells which the algorithm decides are sufficiently close in a propagation sense to affect the results. The MOAF algorithm also automatically determines those cells in an area which are most heavily loaded and those cells which are lightly loaded. The MOAF algorithm will only decrease the size of a cell if it determines specific adjacent cells that are willing and able to accept the load, and the MOAF algorithm will increase the size of a cell only if there is a nearby heavily loaded cell that requires the removal of load. Moreover, the MOAF algorithm can be tuned (via the threshold parameter T) to shift the focus of the optimization from avoidance of coverage holes to the avoidance of creation of excessive handover legs. Because the changes are electrical rather than physical they can be deployed instantaneously via the network management system thus saving the cost of sending a field crew to the site. Moreover, it is possible to make these changes much more frequently than has been possible in the past thereby permitting the optimization of the network to be done in near real time to meet the temporal changes in the geographic distribution of customers. |
| US08385938B2 |
Radio resource management based on load and channel inactivity
The data transmission activity of established connections is monitored along with a measure of the load or drain on communication resources. When the load on communication resources increases or when it moves past a threshold, inactivity over an connection is not permitted or is permitted for a shorter time before releasing that user's connection. On the other hand, lower loads allow for a longer (or no) inactivity period before disconnecting the connection. Once inactivity on a connection exceeds the time determined based on load, that connection may be transferred to a lower capacity channel, e.g., a common channel. Alternatively, that inactive connection may be disconnected. |
| US08385932B2 |
Technique and apparatus for cognitive radio access to a brokered spectrum
A technique (300) and apparatus for sharing frequency spectrum amongst cognitive radios, without the use of a centralized control, is provided. By determining open segments of available spectrum within a brokered spectrum (306), and determining costs associated with those available segments (307), a CR device can identify an optimal spectral portion (308) within which to transmit (314) and grow (342) a narrowband signal. The occupied bandwidth growth is monitored such that cost associated with the growth does not exceed a cost threshold (341). |
| US08385927B2 |
Generation of a space-related traffic database in a radio network
The present invention relates to a method for generating a space-related traffic database for a radio network which comprises a plurality of radio cells which can each be assigned to a group of radio cells, with a region to be mapped being subdivided into area elements by a grid and each of the area elements being allocated a respective assignment probability for each of the radio cells which supply the area element and a land-use class from amongst a finite group of land-use classes by generation being achieved by a minimization process in which the distance between the measured traffic of a radio cell and the predicted traffic of the radio cell is minimized for each radio cell, with the traffic, which is to be predicted, of a respective radio cell being set equal to the sum of area elements which are weighted by land use class-specific and group-specific coefficients, which area elements of the respective radio cell for a respective land-use class and for a respective group of radio cells are produced from the assignment probabilities of the area elements to the radio cells included in the process, and the coefficients are determined by the minimization process and assigned to the corresponding radio cell. The present invention also relates to a computer program and a corresponding computer-program product. |
| US08385920B2 |
Mobile station and mobile communication method
“A mobile station that includes a measurement information storage unit configured to store a measurement rule and a measurement object in association with each other; a measurement unit to perform a measurement of a radio quality in an inter-frequency cell using a frequency defined by the measurement object stored in the measurement information storage unit; a measurement report transmitter unit configured to transmit a measurement report to a radio base station, when determining that a determination condition defined by the measurement rule associated with the measurement object is satisfied on the basis of the measurement result of the radio quality; and a handover processor unit configured to perform an inter-frequency handover in response to an instruction from the radio base station. The measurement information storage unit is configured to change the association between the measurement rule and the measurement object, when the inter-frequency handover is performed.” |
| US08385918B2 |
Radio communication system, base station apparatus, terminal apparatus, and radio link setting method in radio communication system
A radio communication system, including: a first and second base stations; and a terminal, the first base station includes a first position information acquisition unit which acquires position information of the first base station; a first control unit which generates a new-installation massage including the position information and indicating that the first base station is a newly installed base station and transmits the message to the second base station, transmits a signal link establishment request message to each second base station in the number capable of transmitting to the terminal as adjacent cell information when the first base station receives a new-installation response message responding to the new-installation message from the second base station, generates the adjacent cell information indicating that the second base station transmitted a signal link establishment response message is an adjacent base station. |
| US08385917B2 |
Radio selection employing transit data determined from kinetic energy generation
Systems and techniques for motion adaptive wireless user equipment (UE) in a wireless network are disclosed. These techniques can leverage kinetic information to select a preferred radio (or radio technology) or adapt a reselection scanning interval. This can serve to improve the performance of a UE by reducing the amount of power expended in maintaining an adequate level of connectedness to the wireless network components in the face of UE movement. In a further aspect, kinetic power generators can be employed as a source of UE transit data. Kinetic fingerprints can be compared to UE transit data, e.g., that acquired from a kinetic generator of the UE, to facilitate selection of preferred radios and reselection intervals. In this aspect, radio selection schema and reselection scanning schema can effectively be selected with little to no drain on a UE power source. |
| US08385915B2 |
Service provider identifier
A disclosed method for providing service provider information to a user communication device includes determining a telecommunications service provider associated with a targeted node such as a called party telephone number. An indicator of the telecommunications service provider is provided to and displayed by the user communication device. Communication services available to the communication device are then determined based at least in part on the identity of the telecommunications service provider. Indications of the available communication services may be presented to the communication device by audible or visual signals. |
| US08385911B1 |
Method for generating propagation characteristics of a multipath environment
A method, using a positioning module and a wireless telecommunication network comprises first and second base stations and first and second mobile terminals, said first terminal comprising a rake receiver, the method comprising: storing received signal data (MT_data) generated by the first mobile terminal rake receiver from signals transmitted over the air in a multipath environment and received by first mobile terminal; storing positioning data (MT_pos) obtained from the positioning module, said positioning data (MT_pos) comprising a plurality of positions of first mobile terminal with time associated with such position information; storing base station data obtained from first base station, said base station data comprising first base station identification code (BS_id) and first base station position information (BS_pos); determining field test data from said received signal data (MT_data), positioning data (MT_data) and base station data (BS_id, BS_pos), such determined field test data comprising: an estimate of the angle (MT_BS_ang) between the first mobile terminal antenna orientation and the first base station antenna orientation, an estimate of the pathloss and the shadowing attenuation of the received signals (path_shad), at least one tap of the received signals (sig_taps), a tap being an information representing an estimate of phase and amplitude of a path of the multipath environment, and an estimate of the first mobile terminal speed (MT_speed) generating radio propagation characteristics of the multipath environment for simulation of radio propagation between the second base station and the second mobile terminal, using the determined field test data. |
| US08385910B2 |
Systems and methods for testing signal processing control
A test system emulates the analog processing portion of a communication device and adjusts input signals based on distortions specified by a user and control signals generated by a baseband processing portion of the communication device. The distortions can be specified in terms of the baseband. One or more of the control signals can be bypassed to investigate the effect of each of the control signals alone, or in various combinations. An operator interface can be provided that allows the user to set up and conduct the tests, and monitor the results. Facilities are also provided to allow the reference voltage at the baseband processing portion to be adjusted while maintaining the appropriate reference voltage for components in the test system. |
| US08385909B1 |
Dynamic adjustment of a base transceiver station in a wireless communication system
A system is provided for dynamic communication adjustment. The system includes a server that obtains data associated with a base transceiver station. The server also compares the data to at least one threshold. Additionally, the server promotes adjustment of an operational parameter of a base transceiver station based on the comparison. Furthermore, the server promotes readjustment of at least one operational parameter based on an at least weekly comparison of subsequently obtained data associated with the base transceiver station to at least one threshold. |
| US08385906B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying network affiliations of churned subscribers
In one aspect, the teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for identifying the new network affiliation of a churned subscriber that has moved from an old network operator to a new network operator. Knowing the new network affiliation of a former subscriber provides a number of significant advantages to the old network operator. By way of non-limiting example, the old network operator can undertake new or adjusted advertising targeted at retaining remaining subscribers of like demographics. Additionally or alternatively, the old network operator can review pricing and service plans from the new network operator that are comparable to that used by the former subscriber, and make competitive pricing or service adjustments. |
| US08385902B2 |
System and method for remotely operating a wireless device using a server and client architecture
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for remotely operating one or more peripheral devices of a wireless device using a server and client architecture. In one aspect, the system may comprise a wireless device that includes a processor, a memory, a peripheral device, and a server adapted to communicate with the peripheral device; and a removable media device that includes a memory, a processor, and a client adapted to communicate with the server of the wireless device. In another aspect, the method may comprise the steps of emulating a hardware interface on a removable media device; mapping a peripheral device of a wireless device to the interface; mapping a processor of the media device to the peripheral device; wrapping and sending hardware commands from a client of the media device to a server of the wireless device; and executing the commands on the peripheral device. |
| US08385892B2 |
Radio base station and communication control method
A radio base station 200 includes a call process controller 105 and a baseband processor 109. The call process controller 105 notifies the baseband processor 109 of an offset of the baseband resource when accepting the priority call. The baseband processor 109 changes the baseband resource to be allocated to the normal call in a predetermined cycle and applies a resource use restriction based on the offset notified from the call process controller 105, the resource use restriction restricting the baseband resource to be allocated to the normal call within a range defined by subtracting the offset from a total baseband resource. |
| US08385889B2 |
Radio communications system and method
A radio communications system is disclosed. The system includes a subscriber information management apparatus, and a subscriber authentication module mounted in a mobile terminal connectable to a mobile communications network to which the subscriber information management apparatus is connected. The subscriber authentication module includes a connecting information setting determining unit; a connecting information generating unit; and a connecting information setting unit which sets the connecting information included in a response received from the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a connecting information transmitting unit; a connecting information response receiving unit; and a connecting information transmitting unit. The subscriber information management apparatus includes a temporary connecting information determining unit; a connecting information selecting unit; and a connecting information transmitting unit. |
| US08385887B2 |
System and method for updating message trust status
Systems and methods for processing encoded messages within a wireless communications system are disclosed. A server within the wireless communications system performs signature verification of an encoded message and provides, together with the message, an indication to the mobile device that the message has been verified. In addition, the server provides supplemental information, such as, for example, a hash of the certificate or certificate chain used to verify the message, to the device, to enable the device to perform additional checks on the certificate, such as, for example, validity checks, trust checks, strength checks, or the like. |
| US08385877B2 |
Fully integrated compact cross-coupled low noise amplifier
Fully integrated compact cross-coupled low noise amplifier. A circuitry implementation that includes two pairs of metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) (either N-type of P-type) operates as an LNA, which can be used within any of a wide variety of communication devices. A majority of the elements are integrated within the design and need not be implemented off-chip, and this can provide for a reduction in area required by the circuitry. A differential 100Ω input impedance is provided by this design. A higher than typical power supply voltage can be employed (if desired) to accommodate one possible implementation that includes two parallel implemented resistors to ground. |
| US08385876B2 |
Semiconductor device
In view of achieving a cost reduction of an antenna switch, a technique is provided which can reduce harmonic distortion generated in the antenna switch as much as possible in particular even when the antenna switch is comprised of a field effect transistor formed over a silicon substrate. Each of a TX series transistor, an RX series transistor, and an RX shunt transistor is comprised of a low voltage MISFET, while a TX shunt transistor is comprised of a high voltage MISFET. Thus, by reducing the number of serial connections of the high voltage MISFETs constituting the TX shunt transistor, the nonuniformity of the voltage amplitudes applied to the respective serially-coupled high voltage MISFETs is suppressed. As a result, the generation of high-order harmonics can be suppressed. |
| US08385875B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
In a communication semiconductor integrated circuit, a capacitance included in a filter on the output side of a mixer circuit is reduced without requiring the cutoff frequency of the filter to be changed. A Gilbert cell circuit is used as a mixer circuit which combines, for downconversion, a reception signal and a local oscillator signal. A low-pass filter for removing unwanted waves from output is composed of load resistors of upper stage differential transistors and a capacitive element provided between differential output terminals. The resistances of the load resistors are increased, and a current circuit for applying a current to emitters or collectors of the upper stage differential transistors is provided, so that a current to make up for a decrease in current amount attributable to the increase in load resistance can be applied from the current circuit to lower stage differential transistors. |
| US08385874B2 |
Discrete time direct sampling circuit and receiver
Provided are a direct sampling circuit and a receiver using a discrete time analog process and having a filter effect of a steep attenuation characteristic in a narrow-pass band without lowering a sampling rate. In a discrete time direct sampling circuit (13), the positive phase side and the inverse phase side are both sampled by a local signal for a differential current output of a differential voltage/current conversion unit (1011) and electric charge is accumulated in a charge sampling capacitor. The latest accumulated charge at the positive phase side and charge accumulated at the inverse phase side before a predetermined number of samples are combined with the charge accumulated in a history capacitor (1043) in the past. Thus, it is possible to realize equivalently high-degree FIR filter characteristic. |
| US08385872B2 |
Linear transconductor for RF communications
The present patent application comprises a linear transconductor having at least one input and at least one output, comprising a differential amplifier having a plurality of transistors and a plurality of inputs, wherein a difference of input signals is amplified, a cascode circuit having a plurality of transistors, wherein the transistors are operably connected to the differential amplifier, wherein reverse isolation between an input and an output of the linear transconductor is improved by decoupling the input and the output of the linear transconductor by mounting at least one transistor of the plurality of transistors of the cascode circuit as a common-gate stacked on the at least one transistor of the differential amplifier, an active load having a plurality of transistors operably connected between the cascode circuit and supply voltage, and an auxiliary device operably connected to the connection between the active load, the cascode device and ground. |
| US08385868B2 |
Diversity antenna system and method utilizing a threshold value
An antenna system for receiving an RF signal from a first antenna and a second antenna includes a phase shift circuit. The phase shift circuit shifts a phase of the RF signal from the second antenna by one of a plurality of possible phase shifts to produce a phase shifted signal. A combiner combines the RF signal from the first antenna and the phase shifted signal to produce a combined signal. A comparator circuit compares a signal quality of the combined signal with a minimum threshold value to determine if the signal quality of the combined signal is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The comparator circuit is in communicative control of the phase shift circuit and maintains the phase shift of the RF signal received by the second antenna in response to the signal quality of the combined signal being equal to or greater than the threshold value. |
| US08385867B2 |
Tracking filter for a television tuner
In one embodiment, a set of tracking filters to be coupled between an amplifier and a mixer is provided. The tracking filters may be differently configured depending on band of operation. For example, a first set of the filters can be configured to maintain a substantially constant Q value across their operating bandwidth while a second set of the filters can be configured to maintain a substantially constant bandwidth across their operating bandwidth. |
| US08385865B2 |
Evolved EDGE receiver
The wireless receiver of the present invention accommodates dual-carrier Evolved EDGE without significantly impacting existing receiver architectures. The inventive receiver comprises a shared local oscillator and two image-rejecting downconverters. The local oscillator generates a local oscillator frequency between two carrier frequencies of adjacent radio channels. The receiver receives a signal in each of the adjacent radio channels. In a dual-carrier mode, a first image-rejecting downconverter uses the local oscillator frequency to downconvert a first signal received in the first radio channel while rejecting a second signal received in the second radio channel. A second image-rejecting downconverter uses the local oscillator frequency to downconvert the second signal while rejecting the first signal. In a diversity mode, the first and second image-rejecting downconverters use the local oscillator frequency to downconvert the signal received in one of the radio channels while rejecting the signal received in the other radio channel. |
| US08385864B2 |
Method and device for low delay processing
Adaptively processing an input signal, such as an input signal of a hearing aid. The input signal is passed through an adaptive time domain filter to produce an output signal. At least one of the input signal and the output signal is used as an analysis signal. The analysis signal is transformed into a transform domain to produce a transformed analysis signal, which is analyzed to produce a desired gain for each respective transform domain sub-band. A minimum phase time domain filter characteristic is synthesized which approaches the desired gains. The adaptive filter is updated with the synthesized filter characteristic. |
| US08385860B2 |
Power detector and wireless device
According to one embodiment, a power detector includes a reference voltage generator, a square signal generator, a detection circuit, and an output circuit. The reference voltage generator is configured to receive a bias voltage and generate a reference voltage. The square signal generator is configured to receive a voltage having a high frequency input voltage superimposed on the bias voltage and output a signal including the reference voltage, a voltage of a square of the high frequency input voltage, and a high-frequency signal. The detection circuit has a first lowpass filter, a first operational amplifier configured to amplify error between an output voltage of the first lowpass filter and the reference voltage and output the error as a control voltage, and a feedback transistor configured to feed a feedback current according to the control voltage back to an output terminal of the square signal generator. |
| US08385859B2 |
Electronic apparatus, transmitter, amplifier, and amplifier control method
An electronic apparatus having communications capabilities, including: an envelope detector that detects an envelope of a transmission signal; a differentiator that differentiates the envelope with respect to time to obtain differential components; a filtering processor that filters the differential components; an integrator that integrates the filtered differential components with respect to time to generate an envelope tracking signal; an amplifying unit that amplifies the transmission signal; and a voltage controller that controls, in accordance with the envelope tracking signal, a voltage the amplifying unit uses to amplify the transmission signal. |
| US08385857B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication apparatus configured to amplify a transmission signal at an amplifier and transmit the amplified transmission signal, the wireless communication apparatus includes a memory configured to store a distortion compensation coefficient for compensating a distortion characteristic of the amplifier, and an electrical-power measuring unit configured to measure electrical power of the transmission signal. The wireless communication apparatus includes a gain control unit configured to calculate a gain adjustment value for correcting the distortion compensation coefficient stored in the memory based on a power value measured by the electrical-power measuring unit, and a distortion-compensation processing unit configured to perform distortion compensation on the transmission signal based on the distortion compensation coefficient stored in the memory and the gain adjustment value. |
| US08385856B2 |
Method and device for controlling power amplification
A method and an NE for controlling power amplification are provided. The method for controlling power amplification includes: outputting a voltage signal according to the state of an NE; applying the voltage signal to a grid electrode or a base electrode of at least one power amplifier transistor in a power amplifier. Thus, static power dissipation of the power amplifier can be eliminated when no RF power is output, and the efficiency of the power amplifier can be improved by using the above method and NE. |
| US08385855B2 |
Dual conversion transmitter with single local oscillator
The present disclosure relates to systems, devices and methods related to transmitters, and/or transceivers having a single, tunable oscillator in a dual conversion architecture. In various exemplary embodiments, this transmitter may include: a first mixer configured to receive a first oscillator signal from the single oscillator; a filter configured to band pass filter the converted signal and output a filtered signal; and a second mixer in communication with the filter, configured to receive the filtered signal. This dual conversion transmitter may be configured to receive a communication signal from an input to the transmitter and to output a converted signal based on the first oscillator signal and the communication signal. The second mixer may be configured to receive a scaled version of the first oscillator signal and to output a desired frequency output signal based on the scaled version of the first oscillator signal and the filtered signal. |
| US08385851B2 |
Radio communication method, radio transmission apparatus and receiving apparatus
A radio communication method includes generating a first transmit RF signal and a second transmit RF signal from a data signal to be transmitted. Each of the first and second transmit RF signals have a power spectrum in symmetric shape in the frequency domain. The first transmit RF signal and the second transmit RF signal are transmitted at a different time. The first transmit RF signal and the second transmit RF signal are received to generate a first received RF signal and a second received RF signal. The data signal from the first received RF signal and the second received RF signal are reproduced. |
| US08385850B1 |
Telecommunications enclosure with passive cooling
A telecommunications enclosure for telecommunications equipment that includes an equipment housing with sealed openings to receive wiring. Each sealed opening having a removable blank so that the sealed opening can be utilized. There being at least two brackets mounted to the inside surface of the top of the equipment housing to receive and secure the telecommunications equipment. There being an enclosure door attached to the equipment housing to close off the open end of the equipment housing. The enclosure door being removable to allow access to the equipment housing. The enclosure door having perforations covering at least 30 percent of the enclosure door to allow airflow to flow in and out of the enclosure door when in a closed position on the equipment housing. The enclosure door having a depth such that a portion of the enclosure door with all of the perforations extends in the room. |
| US08385841B2 |
Low-IF transceiver architecture
A transceiver, receiver, and transmitter are provided. The transmitter includes an in-phase path for an in-phase signal, a quadrature path for a quadrature signal, a first path associated with a first local frequency, a second path associated with a second local frequency, and a band selector for swapping the in-phase and quadrature paths with respect to the first and second paths so that one of the in-phase and quadrature paths communicates with the first path and the other communicates with the second path. The receiver includes an in-phase path, a quadrature path, a polyphase filter having first and second inputs and first and second outputs, and a selector for swapping the in-phase and quadrature receive paths to switch connection between the in-phase and quadrature receive paths and the first and second inputs. The transceiver may include the receiver and the transmitter. |
| US08385840B2 |
Phone service processor
An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor includes primary transceiver operation circuitry. In addition to routine transceiver circuitry, the radio transceiver includes a service processor module operable to support redundant operations to facilitate any one of monitoring, test, device management and boot-up sequence functions of the primary transceiver operation circuitry. The service processor module generally has necessary access to hardware components and is operable to control, initialize and monitor the hardware components to assist in test and error recovery. |
| US08385837B2 |
Mobile receiver apparatus
A mobile receiver apparatus includes first tuner 2 for converting a received frequency signal by antenna 1 into an intermediate frequency signal, delay circuit 4 for setting a time required for the movement corresponding to a specific wavelength of the received frequency signal as a delay time, second tuner 3 for converting an output of the circuit 4 into a second intermediate frequency signal, and control units 5A and 7A for dynamically setting the delay time in the circuit 4 in response to a measured movement speed of a mobile unit and a received electric field strength upon the measurement, and equiphase-combining the intermediate frequency signals generated by the tuners 2 and 3 to be outputted, and the unit 7A sets the delay time corresponding to a received frequency and a Doppler shift frequency in the circuit 4, and equiphase-combines signals having a phase difference of about ¼ wavelength (90°). |
| US08385836B2 |
Method and device in a communication network
There is provided a method of method of estimating a quality of a signal, the method in a first device comprising measuring a signal transmitted from a second device to a third device; determining a value of a metric from an autocorrelation function of the measured signal; and determining an estimate of the quality of the signal from the determined metric. |
| US08385833B2 |
Adaptive idle mode measurement methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus in a receiver for selecting among methods of estimating a received power of at least one signal based on whether inter-frequency or inter-radio-access-technology received power measurements are needed. A method includes using a first method of measuring the received power based on the pattern to generate a first power estimate based on a first duration of the at least one signal; comparing the first power estimate to a first threshold; and based on the comparing, either using the first method of measuring to generate another first power estimate or using a second method of measuring the received power based on the pattern to generate a second power estimate, the second method being different from the first method and the second power estimate being based on a second duration of the at least one signal, and measuring a received power of at least one signal having a second carrier frequency. |
| US08385832B2 |
Inter-cell interference control in an uplink multi-carrier radio communications system
A multi-carrier cellular radio communication system includes a serving base station associate with a serving cell currently serving a mobile radio and a non-serving base station within range of the mobile radio and associated with a non-serving cell. The mobile radio can transmit to the serving base station at the same time over multiple radio frequency carriers. An estimate is made of inter-cell interference in the non-serving cell caused by uplink transmission by the mobile radio over one or more of the multiple radio frequency carriers over which the mobile radio is currently simultaneously transmitting. If the estimated inter-cell interference in the non-serving cell exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the inter-cell interference in the non-serving cell is reduced or limited by managing radio resources so that the estimated inter-cell interference in the non-serving cell is or becomes less than the predetermined threshold. |
| US08385828B1 |
Peer-to-peer transfer of files with back-office completion
A method of data transfer using short range technology. An originating short range wireless technology enabled device wirelessly communicates a first portion of content to a destination short range wireless technology enabled device along with location information that enables retrieval of a remaining portion of the content from a back office location. The destination short range wireless technology enabled device processes the first portion of content. The remaining portion of the content may be retrieved for processing by the destination short range wireless technology enabled device before the completion of processing of the first portion of content. |
| US08385827B2 |
Techniques for augmented functionality by sharing wireless resources
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising, a wireless platform adapted for communication with at least one additional wireless platform, wherein the wireless platform and the at least one additional wireless platform each have their own set of wireless communication devices and capabilities, wherein at least one of the wireless communication devices and capabilities are in common between the wireless platform and the at least one additional wireless platform, and wherein when the wireless platform and the at least one additional wireless platform are within communication range of each other or are on at least one common wireless communication protocol, the wireless platform is capable of virtualizing to the wireless platform some or all wireless devices and capabilities available on the at least one additional wireless platform. |
| US08385823B2 |
Method and system for communication in near field communication network
A method and system for establishing a communication link between a plurality of electronic devices in a Near Field Communication (NFC) network are provided. The method, at a first electronic device, includes identifying at least one service registered at a Logical Link Control Protocol (LLCP) in at least one of the plurality of electronic devices. The electronic devices are NFC-compatible devices. Thereafter, the method establishes the communication link between the first electronic device and the at least one of the plurality of electronic devices based on the identified at least one NFC service and a first set of services. The first set of services is selected from a plurality of services registered at a Logical Link Control Protocol (LLCP) in the first electronic device. |
| US08385819B2 |
System and method for identifying the path or devices on the path of a communication signal
A system and method of applying a known modification in the form of a distortion to a signal to enable a determination if a signal received by a first node is received directly from a second node or indirectly through a repeater. The repeater receives a primary signal and creates a secondary signal as a function of the primary signal and a known distortion, wherein the known distortion identifies the repeater. The primary signal is transmitted and injected with the secondary signal as the first signal to the primary receiver. |
| US08385817B2 |
Multi-band satellite communication fade mitigation
One or more satellites may generate multiple beams. The beams may facilitate communication over multiple communication frequency bands including a relatively high capacity frequency band and a relatively fade-resilient frequency band. The beams may overlap. User terminals and/or gateways in a beam intersection may select from among the multiple communication frequency bands to communication with the satellite(s). Responsive to detection of rain fade, some of the user terminals and/or gateways may be instructed to use the relatively fade-resilient frequency band. The multiple communication frequency bands may be assigned to the user terminals and/or gateways so as to maximize total system capacity. |
| US08385813B2 |
Media distribution server that presents interactive media to a mobile device and to a browser
A media distribution server presenting interactive media on mobile devices and receives mobile user response interactively. During the presentation of interactive media the user is prompted with multiple choices for their selection, which can be provided using softkeys on the mobile device. The media distribution server prepares the subsequent portions of the interactive media and delivers them to the mobile device. In one embodiment, the necessary text, graphics, audio and video are assembled and integrated dynamically and is presented on the mobile device to the user. Further the mobile user is prompted to approve online purchases, make online appointment requests, show interest in products, etc. while browsing the interactive media on their mobile device. The media distribution server supports such activities as necessary. |
| US08385811B1 |
System and method for processing forms using color
Systems and methods are provided for improved processing of forms using color. One aspect is a method for processing a plurality of test answer sheets in a standardized test system. In various embodiments, each of the plurality of completed test answer sheets is recorded. The completed test answer sheet is scanned, an identifier for the completed test answer sheet is determined, and three or more colors are electronically recorded to form a multicolor image on a computer readable medium. The multicolor image is representative of the scanned completed test answer sheet. The multicolor image is associated with the identifier in a database. Each of the plurality of completed test answer sheets is scored. Scoring the test answer sheets includes digitally modifying at least one color in the multicolor image at an image use point to assist with scoring the completed test answer sheets. Other aspects are provided herein. |
| US08385805B2 |
Fixing member, fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A fixing member includes a tubular surface layer having a first band section including a resin composition that contains a heat resistant resin having releasability, and a second band section having a higher mechanical strength than the resin composition, and the first band section and the second band section is respectively disposed along a circumferential direction of the surface layer and is disposed alternately in a width direction of the surface layer. |
| US08385804B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus employing the fixing device
A fixing device includes an endless, flexible fixing member, a metal member, a heater, a pressing member, a temperature detector, and a supporting member. The fixing member is rotatably provided in the fixing device to heat a toner image thereon. The metal member is fixedly mounted in the fixing device so as to be opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, to maintain the fixing member in a substantially circularly loop shape. The heater is disposed near the metal member to heat the metal member. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member. The temperature detector is disposed in contact with the metal member, to detect a temperature of the metal member. The supporting member is disposed between the heater and the temperature detector to support the temperature detector. |
| US08385803B2 |
Belt-type fixing device and image forming apparatus capable of maintaining prescribed tension of belt
A fixing device includes a fixing roller that fixes a non-fixed toner image onto a sheet, a separation roller arranged downstream of the fixing roller to separate the sheet, and an endless fixing belt wound around the fixing roller and the separation roller. A pressing roller presses against the fixing roller via the fixing belt and cooperatively fixes the non-fixed toner image with the fixing roller. A guiding member is secured to the fixing device and has a guiding hole. The guiding member guides the separation roller when the separation roller approaches or withdraws from the fixing roller along the guiding hole. A belt tensioner creates a prescribed tension on the fixing belt by applying tension use biasing force to the separation roller in an opposite direction to the fixing roller. A driving force transmitting device directly transmits rotational driving force to the separation roller via an engaging section of the separation roller. The guiding hole has an arc shape coaxially formed with the driving force transmitting device. |
| US08385799B2 |
Lubricating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A lubricating device includes an lubricant impregnation member to coat a surface of a target member with lubricant, an lubricant supply member to supply lubricant to the lubricant impregnation member, a subsidiary roller to feed the lubricant impregnation member out, a main roller to reel in the lubricant impregnation member fed by the subsidiary roller, a drive motor to drive the main roller, an encoder disc provided at a rotational shaft of the subsidiary roller, an encoder sensor to detect a rotational state of the encoder disc, and a controller unit to calculate an outer diameter of the main roller and a portion of the lubricant impregnation member reeled by the main roller, based on a number of drive steps of the drive motor during a detection interval of the encoder disc. |
| US08385798B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device including: a fixing member; a pressing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member, wherein the fixing member and the pressing member sandwich a recording medium, fix a toner image on the recording medium and convey the recording medium; a detection unit for detecting that a leading edge of the recording medium is located at the nip portion; a first air jetting unit for separating the recording medium from the fixing member by jetting air only to a position close to the leading edge of the recording medium having passed the nip portion based on the detection result by the detection unit; and a second jetting unit for jetting air to the recording medium whose leading edge has passed through the nip portion. |
| US08385793B2 |
Image forming apparatus preventing gaps between a conveyor belt and transfer sheet
An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier, a second image carrier, an intermediate transfer member disposed facing the second image carrier, a conveyance belt to transport a transfer sheet, disposed facing both the first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member, a first transfer member to transfer a first toner image formed on the first image carrier onto the transfer sheet, a second transfer member to transfer a second toner image formed on the second image carrier onto the intermediate transfer member, and a third transfer member disposed downstream from the second image carrier in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, to transfer the second toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet transported by the conveyance belt. The first image carrier and the intermediate transfer member inflect the conveyance belt at a first inflection angle and a second inflection angle, respectively. |
| US08385789B2 |
Development device and image forming device
A development device, comprising: a casing; a developer reservoir formed at a bottom part of the casing; a developer supply chamber that accommodates the developer; a developer holding body that is provided to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a width direction of the casing and is located on an upper side of the developer reservoir to face an image holding body; a first carry member that is provided in the developer supply chamber to extend in the width direction and to carry the developer to the width direction, a second carry member that is provided on a casing side to extend in the width direction and to carry the developer to the width direction; and a carry substrate that is provided in the casing so that the developer is carried from the developer reservoir to a position facing the developer holding body. |
| US08385788B2 |
Toner cartridge having linearly movable shutter member and image forming device provided with the same
An image forming device includes a movable holding member, a plurality of operation members and a plurality of developer cartridges detachably mountable on the holding member. The holding member has a plurality of photosensitive members and developing devices. Each operation members is disposed on the holding member in correspondence with each developing device. Each of the photosensitive member, the operation member and the developer cartridge extends in a first direction. Each developer cartridge is formed with an opening and has a shutter member linearly movable between an open position and a closed position in the first direction. The shutter member opens the opening at the open position to allow developer to flow and closes the opening at the closed position to prevent developer from flowing. Each operation member is linearly movable in the first direction to move the shutter member between the open position and the closed position. |
| US08385783B2 |
Development device including an agitator having a linear member, and an imaging forming apparatus including the development device
A development device includes a development portion to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrying member with developer including toner and carrier particles, a circulation unit to convey the developer collected from the development portion to development portion, the circulation unit including a container to store the developer, disposed upstream from the development portion in a direction in which the developer is circulated, and a first agitator provided inside the container, to agitate and mix the collected developer and fresh toner supplied to the container, the first agitator formed by multiple linear members. |
| US08385782B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a rotary-type developing device and a development control device. The developing device includes a rotation holding member and plural developing units mounted on the rotation holding member. The rotation holding member is configured to stop rotating so that any of the developing units stops in a developing position. The development control device includes a receiving unit, a first determination unit, a first drive control unit and a second drive control unit. The receiving unit receives an image formation instruction relating to a series of image formation processes. The first determination unit determines as to whether or not the series of image formation processes are completed. When the first determination unit makes the determination, the second derive control unit returns the developing unit, which is finally located in the developing position in the image formation processes, to an initial waiting position. |
| US08385780B2 |
Charging member, charging device including the charging member, process cartridge including the charging device and image forming apparatus including the process cartridge
A charging member, includes: an electrically-conductive support; an electrical resistance adjustment layer having ion conductivity provided on the electrically-conductive support; an intermediate layer having ion conductivity provided on the electrical resistance adjustment layer; and a surface layer having insulation provided on the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed of a resin composition containing at least a polyether polyol resin, and the surface layer is formed of a resin composition containing at least one of a fluorine-based resin, a silicone-based resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, and a urethane resin. |
| US08385778B2 |
Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively eliminating color displacement by recognizing a rotational position of a rotating member with a mechanism using detection marks
An image forming apparatus includes a rotating member, a motor configured to rotate the rotating member, and a marking member having primary and secondary portions. The image forming apparatus also includes a mark sensor configured to detect the primary and secondary portions, and output a primary signal and a secondary signal, and a position sensor configured to determine a rotational position of the rotating member based on a primary reception time of one of the primary and secondary signals that comes immediately after the other of the primary and secondary signals when the position sensor receives the other of the primary and secondary signals at a start of a mark detecting operation. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a motor controller configured to control the motor based on the recognition result and make the rotational position consistent with a target position at a predetermined time during the mark detecting operation. |
| US08385774B2 |
Image forming apparatus having toner cartridge
Each of the toner cartridges includes a case, a shutter, a first operation portion and a second operation portion. The shutter is located at an open position where the shutter opens an opening of a case when the first operation portion is located at a first position. The shutter is located at a block position the shutter blocks the opening when the first operation portion is located at a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the second operation portion is located at a third position. The shutter is located at the block position when the second operation portion is located at a fourth position. An interference unit is configured such that a first operation portions abut the interference unit to be displaced from the second position to the first position when a holder unit is moved from a pulled out position to an accommodated position and such that the second operation portions abut the interference unit to be displaced from the third position to the fourth position when the holder unit is moved from the accommodated position to the pulled out position. |
| US08385773B2 |
Mounting structure of removable member, and image forming apparatus
A mounting structure of a removable member includes a body; a removable member mounted to and dismounted from the body; a functional member provided at the removable member and having a determined function; a first gear provided at the removable member and transmitting power to the functional member; a second gear provided at the body, and engaging the first gear and transmitting the power to the first gear when the removable member is mounted to the body; and a covering member provided at the body. The covering member moves to an engageable position where the first and second gears are engageable with each other when the removable member is mounted to the body. The covering member covers at least a portion of the second gear from an engagement side of the first gear by moving from the engageable position when the removable member is dismounted from the body. |
| US08385772B2 |
Detachable toner cartridge and image forming apparatus including the same
An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge that has an inner shutter and an outer shutter and is attached to and detached from a main body through a door disposed on a main body. The outer shutter moves to a position in which toner is allowed to be discharged through a toner outlet of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is loaded into the main body, and the inner shutter moves to an open position in which the toner outlet is opened by being interlocked in a closing operation of the door after the toner cartridge is loaded into the main body. |
| US08385770B2 |
Developer recovery device and image forming device
There is provided a developer recovery device including: a casing; a recovery member disposed along an edge portion of the aperture portion; a sealing member disposed along an edge portion at a conveyance direction upstream side of the aperture portion; a moving section that moves the recovery member and the sealing member between a position of being touched against the developer-bearing member and a position of being apart from the developer-bearing member; a suction section that sucks the developer separated from the developer-bearing member into the casing; and a filter that is long in the length direction of the aperture portion and that is disposed in the casing between the aperture portion and the suction section with an inclination such that a lower portion of the filter is further away from the aperture portion than an upper portion of the filter. |
| US08385767B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a transfer belt unit, image forming units, a support member, an air flow path forming member, and an exhausting unit
An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer belt having a surface onto which a toner image is transferred directly or through a transfer medium; plural image forming units that are aligned along a moving direction of the surface of the transfer belt and form the toner image; a support member that supports the transfer belt; a flow path forming member that forms a flow path along the moving direction of the surface of the transfer belt, has plural suction ports through which floating fine toner particles occurring in the plural image forming units are sucked into the flow path, and is disposed at the transfer belt side with respect to the support member; and an exhausting unit that sucks the floating fine toner particles through the suction ports into the flow path, and exhausts the sucked floating fine toner particles from the flow path. |
| US08385761B2 |
Image forming apparatus that adjusts a secondary transfer condition for a secondary transfer device based on a degradation of toner
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a toner image forming device, an intermediate transfer member, a primary transfer device, a toner adherence detector, a secondary transfer device, and a controller. The toner image forming device forms a toner image and a toner pattern for detection of degradation of toner on the image bearing member. The primary transfer device transfers the toner pattern onto the intermediate transfer member with transfer conditions that deliberately reduce transfer efficiency compared with that for image formation. The toner adherence detector detects an amount of toner adhered to the toner pattern at multiple places. The controller calculates a degree of degradation of toner based on the difference in the amount of toner adhered to the toner pattern detected by the toner adherence detector and adjusts secondary transfer conditions for the secondary transfer device based on the obtained degradation of toner. |
| US08385758B2 |
Image forming device and method of the same
An image forming device includes a first medium container for a first printing medium; a second medium container for a second printing medium; a medium feeder for feeding one of the first and second media from one of the first and second medium containers; a special process unit that performs a special process on the first printing medium fed by the medium feeder when image data, including instruction information instructing the special process, is received; a detector that detects a characteristic of the first printing medium; a special process capability determination unit for determining whether or not the special process can be performed based on the characteristic; and a control unit that ejects the printing medium and that causes the second medium to be fed from the second medium container when the special process capability determination unit determines that the special process cannot be performed. |