| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| US08385757B2 |
Temperature control in image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a reception unit, an image forming unit, a drive unit, a detection unit, a prediction unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image based on image information received by the reception unit. The drive unit controls an imaging forming unit drive. The detection unit detects temperature within the image forming apparatus. The prediction unit predicts a transition of temperature within the image forming apparatus and an image formation time based on the image information and the temperature within the image formation unit. The control unit is responsive to detected temperature and predicted image forming time. The control unit switches between image forming modes and controls the image forming apparatus to form an image in a short image forming time. |
| US08385756B2 |
Failure diagnosis device, failure diagnosis method, image forming device, and recording medium
A first feature quantity computing unit that computes a first feature quantity representing an average of a plurality of driving loads recorded by a driving load of a fixing section recording unit of an image forming device that records the driving load acquired by a driving load acquiring unit that acquires the driving load, a second feature quantity computing unit that computes a second feature quantity representing a deviation of the plurality of the driving loads, and a diagnosis unit that performs failure diagnosis including estimation of a cause of a failure of the fixing section using the first feature quantity and the second feature quantity are used. |
| US08385754B2 |
Image forming apparatus featuring forced discharging of excessive developer
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image; a developing device, including a developer carrying member for carrying and feeding a developer including toner and a carrier to a developing position in which the developer opposes the image bearing member, for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member; a discharging portion for permitting discharge of an excessive developer present in the developing device by supplying the developer into the developing device; a feeding member for feeding the developer in the developing device; a controller for controlling a forced discharging operation for discharging the excessive developer from the discharging portion by changing a driving condition of at least one of the developer carrying member and the feeding member; and a detecting device for detecting information correlating to flowability of the developer in the developing device. The controller is capable of controlling the forced discharging operation on the basis of a detection result of the detecting device. |
| US08385750B2 |
Optical transmission device
An optical transceiver includes an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter varies the wavelength of its output beam in accordance with the setting of a digital to analog converter. Two split beams emerging respectively from beam splitters are introduced into a photodetector and a wavelength filter, respectively. A quotient is calculated by dividing the digital value output from an analog to digital converter (ADC) by the digital value output from another ADC. A memory address m is then determined based on this quotient without making any calculation for compensating for the imperfect characteristics of the wavelength filter. A wavelength notification value is then selected from a wavelength notification table based on the determined memory address m, and sent to the system host. |
| US08385747B2 |
Signal equalizer in a coherent receiver
A signal equalizer for compensating impairments of an optical signal received through a link of a high speed optical communications network. At least one set of compensation vectors are computed for compensating at least two distinct types of impairments. A frequency domain processor is coupled to receive respective raw multi-bit in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) sample streams of each received polarization of the optical signal. The frequency domain processor operates to digitally process the multi-bit sample streams, using the compensation vectors, to generate multi-bit estimates of symbols modulated onto each transmitted polarization of the optical signal. The frequency domain processor exhibits respective different responses to each one of the at least two distinct types of impairments. |
| US08385746B2 |
Optical interface device, and abnormality monitoring method for input frequency deviation
An optical interface device determines whether frequency deviation of a clock signal corresponding to an optical signal from a client side is abnormal based on a stuff amount when subjecting a data signal corresponding to an optical signal input from the client side to a stuffing process, inserts an alarm indication signal (AIS) indicating that the frequency deviation is abnormal into a predetermined region of a data signal when the deviation is determined to be abnormal, and outputs an optical signal generated corresponding to the data signal to a WDM line side so as to transfer the AIS to another component disposed downstream therefrom, so that locating a site where an abnormal state occurs is made easier. |
| US08385744B2 |
Delay control method in passive optical network, an optical line terminal and a passive optical network
A method for controlling delay in a Passive Optical Network (PON) is applicable when a Precision Timing Protocol (PTP) message is transmitted in a downlink direction. The method includes obtaining a buffer duration of the PTP message destined for an Optical Network Unit (ONU), storing the PTP message destined for the ONU, and sending the PTP message to the ONU when a duration for storing the PTP message reaches the buffer duration. |
| US08385743B2 |
Channel allocation method for multi-channel optical transmission and optical transmission system utilizing the method
Signal wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 of signal light components multiplexed at signal multiplexing sections 31, 41, 51 of multiplexing stations 3, 4, 5 installed on the input end side of an EDFA 2 on an optical transmission line 1 are set such that the wavelength-dependent noise figure of EDFA 2 successively decreases from the signal wavelength λ1 multiplexed at the signal multiplexing section 31 closest to the input end of EDFA 2 to λ2 and λ3. On the other hand, the transmission length of individual signal light component before being fed into the EDFA 2 is the shortest in the signal light component at λ1 and successively increases at λ2 and λ3. Thus, the order of magnitude of input signal light power is the same as the order of highness of noise figure in EDFA 2, whereby fluctuations in S/N ratio in the resulting amplified light are reduced. |
| US08385734B2 |
Focus control apparatus and focus control method
A focus control apparatus for use in an imaging apparatus includes an exchangeable lens and a camera body. The exchangeable lens includes an optical system including a focus lens. The camera body is able to hold the exchangeable lens and includes an imaging element. The apparatus further includes a pan•tilt detection unit, a decision unit, and a control unit. The pan•tilt detection unit detects a pan and tilt of the camera body. The decision unit determines whether the exchangeable lens is able to achieve wobbling. The control unit controls an automatic focusing process of the focus lens in accordance with an image data generated by the imaging element. The control unit executes a different automatic focusing process in accordance with a decision made by the decision unit, when the pan or tilt of the camera body is detected to have started. |
| US08385731B2 |
Heat exchanger for high flow rate infusion
A heat exchanger has a laminar fluid flow path receivable between the heating plates of a high flow rate infusion unit to which heat is conducted by contact with the heating plates. A bubble trap and a valve are integrated with the heat exchanger. The bubble trap collects air from the infusate exiting the laminar flow path, and includes an air vent in contact with the infusate that vents the air from the bubble trap. The valve shuts off the flow of infusate if air is detected in the bubble trap. |
| US08385730B2 |
Air care unit allowing for customization of fragrance strength and character
An air freshener with customizable fragrances is disclosed. The air freshener accepts a plurality of fragrance modules, which allow a user to create customized fragrant environments. A fan and/or heating element are included to increase fragrance dispersal. Additional components may be included into the air freshener to provide enhancements to the user experience, including but not limited to a clock, timer, or a music player. The air freshener obtains power from a number of sources, such as AC mains or DC batteries. Energy storage devices located on board the air freshener may be charged by inductive or solar power. The air freshener may also include lighting elements and styling cues to integrate into the local environment. |
| US08385729B2 |
Heat pump water heater and associated control system
A heat pump water heater has a tank portion, an electric heating structure for adding electrical heat to water stored in the tank, and a heat pump for adding refrigerant heat to the tank water. A control system associated with the water heater has three user-selectable heating modes for heating the tank water during a given heating demand cycle—a first mode that initially heats the tank water with refrigerant heat while the electric heat is locked out for a first predetermined period before supplementing the refrigerant heat if necessary, a second mode similar to the first mode but with a longer electric heat lockout period, and a third mode in which only the electric heat is utilized to satisfy a tank water heating demand. Illustratively, the heat pump is disposed in a compact component arrangement on the top end of the water heater tank. |
| US08385727B2 |
Recording apparatus, recording method, program and storage medium
In a recording apparatus, a succeeding chapter of a video stream is recorded by being connected to the preceding chapter of the video stream contained in a multiplexed stream. When transfer of the succeeding chapter of the video signal from a video encoder to a VBV buffer starts, a multiplexer is controlled in such a manner that the fullness of the VBV buffer will exceed a set threshold value. |
| US08385726B2 |
Playback apparatus and playback method using the playback apparatus
A playback apparatus includes an output unit configured to output main video data used as a main image, sub-video data used as a subsidiary image, cursor data to display a cursor, graphics data to display operation guidance, and sub-picture data to display subtitles, a first blend processing unit configured to superimpose the sub-video data, the sub-picture data, the cursor data and the graphics data, and a second blend processing unit configured to superimpose the superimposed data obtained by the first blend processing unit and the main video data. |
| US08385718B1 |
Process for programming actions of resources in a domestic communication network
A process for programming actions of resources in a network of domestic devices to enable a user to program an action to be performed by one of the devices from another device. The process includes sending a request for programming an action, the request including a set of parameters defining the action, a time indication, and a list of resources involved in the action. An actions manager verifies the availability of the resources at the time the action is to be carried out, and a message of acceptance or refusal of the programming action is sent out in response to the verification. |
| US08385716B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an image unit, a video recording medium configured to store video data generated by the imaging unit, and a controller configured to control recording of the video data in the video recording medium. The video recording medium includes a first recording medium having a data area in which data can be recorded, and at least one second recording medium having first and second data areas in which data can be recorded. The second data area can be written data at a higher speed than a speed for writing data in the first data area. The controller records video data and management data for managing the video data in the first recording medium, using whole data area of the first recording medium. The controller records video data in the second recording medium, using only the second data area of the second recording medium. |
| US08385715B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium and program used therewith
An image processing apparatus is intended to display an image arbitrarily selected between an original image and an edited image in accordance with a user's preference after image editing. The image processing apparatus is designed so that an image displayed after the image editing can be selected depending on a user's intention. The image processing apparatus specifies and displays an unedited or edited image on the basis of a user operation, whereby the user can easily view a desired image. |
| US08385711B2 |
Multi-configurable splice holder
Splice holders for managing and storing splices between optical fibers in fiber optic hardware and equipment are disclosed herein. The splice holder include a base portion and an array of splice holding partitions extending from the base portion. In some embodiments the array of splice holding partitions define a plurality of rows for receiving a respective first splice component along a first direction and a plurality of columns intersecting the plurality of fiber rows for receiving a second splice component along a second direction. Similarly, in some embodiments, selected pairs of splice holding partitions define a column width and selected pairs of splice holding partitions define a row width. Additionally, in some embodiments, the column width is sufficiently greater than the row width to accommodate the second splice component oriented along one of the plurality of columns that could not otherwise be accommodated if oriented along one of the plurality of rows. |
| US08385709B2 |
Structured cabling solutions
Structured cabling solutions may include techniques and systems usable to route, organize, and otherwise manager wires, optical fibers, and other cables. Structured cabling solutions may include one or more chassis coupled to and movable relative to a frame to provide access to signal connectors on the chassis. Structured cabling solutions may also include labeling schemes that identify patch connectors that correspond to outlets in a structured cabling installation. |
| US08385707B2 |
Layered light guide for producing ambient lighting
A device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) including an ambient image light source (110, 210, 310) and a stacked plurality of ambient imaging light guides (120, 220, 320) The ambient image light source (110, 210, 310) is arranged to couple light into the stacked light guides (120, 220, 320). The stacked light guides (120, 220, 320) are arranged to couple out corresponding ambient image light portions onto a reflective surface (130, 230). The stacked light guides (120, 220, 320) may be arranged to provide the ambient image light portions extending outward from the device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) such that a first one of the ambient image light portions extends substantially outward from a second one of the ambient image light portions. The second one of the ambient image light portions may be projected closer to the device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and may be projected to reflect brighter than the first one of the ambient image light portions. |
| US08385706B2 |
Optical element and method for the production thereof
Described is an optical element for guiding electromagnetic radiation. The optical element includes a base body and at least one film, wherein the film is configured to adhere to the base body and to form an intimate connection with the base body without using an adhesion and is arranged such that the electromagnetic radiation passes through it. |
| US08385702B2 |
Bend resistant multimode optical fiber
Bend resistant multimode optical fibers are disclosed herein. Multimode optical fibers disclosed herein comprise a core region and a cladding region surrounding and directly adjacent to the core region, the cladding region comprising a depressed-index annular region, wherein the inner boundary of said depressed index region is an extension of the graded index core, the depressed region having a moat volume greater than 105%-um2. |
| US08385701B2 |
Low bend loss optical fiber
An optical fiber includes a central glass core region comprising maximum refractive index delta percent Δ1, a first inner annular region surrounding said core comprising refractive index delta percent Δ2, a depressed annular region surrounding said inner annular region and comprising Δ3 and a third annular region surrounding the depressed annular region comprising refractive index delta percent Δ4; wherein Δ1MAX>Δ4>Δ2>Δ3. The difference between Δ4 and Δ2 is greater than 0.01 and profile volume, |V3| is at least 60% Δμm2. |
| US08385699B2 |
Amplified broadband fiber laser source
Methods and systems for generating a supercontinuum light source, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a seed laser; coupling the seed laser electromagnetic radiation to a fiber amplifier comprising: a pump laser, a fiber coupler comprising an input and an output, and a nonlinear gain fiber comprising an input and an output, wherein the nonlinear gain fiber is configured to amplify and broaden the electromagnetic radiation from the seed laser; generating electromagnetic radiation from the pump laser; coupling the pump laser electromagnetic radiation and the seed laser electromagnetic radiation into the input of the fiber coupler; coupling the output of the fiber coupler into the input of the nonlinear gain fiber; and coupling out the amplified and broadened electromagnetic radiation from the nonlinear gain fiber. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08385694B2 |
Automated optical switch and method
An automated optical switch for use in a central office to increase coupling density including a frame having a mating plate defining a plurality of precision alignment holes formed therethrough. In one embodiment, the precision alignment holes are sized and configured to receive corresponding pairs of optical fibers with polished end faces disposed within ferrules free of connector housings. In another embodiment, the precision alignment holes are sized and configured to receive optical fibers with polished end faces free of ferrules and connector housings. |
| US08385693B2 |
Integrated optical vapor cell apparatus for precision spectroscopy
An optical waveguide is provided comprising a non-solid core layer surrounded by a solid-state material, wherein light can be transmitted with low loss through the non-solid core layer. A vapor reservoir is in communication with the optical waveguide. One implementation of the invention employs a monolithically integrated vapor cell, e.g., an alkali vapor cell, using anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides, or ARROW waveguides, on a substrate. |
| US08385692B2 |
On-line fiber Bragg grating dithering
An apparatus for determining a property, the apparatus including: an optical fiber having a series of fiber Bragg gratings, each fiber Bragg grating in the series being characterized by a light reflection frequency at which the fiber Bragg grating reflects light; wherein: the light reflection frequency for each fiber Bragg grating is different from the light reflection frequency of each adjacent fiber Bragg grating to minimize resonance of light between at least two of the fiber Bragg gratings in the series; at least two fiber Bragg gratings in the series have light reflection frequencies that overlap; and a change in the light reflection frequency of each fiber Bragg grating in the series is related to the property at the location of the each fiber Bragg grating. |
| US08385691B2 |
Method and apparatus for photograph finding
Digital image data including discrete photographic images of a variety of different subjects, times, and so forth, are collected and analyzed to identify specific features in the photographs. In an embodiment of the invention, distinctive markers are distributed to aid in the identification of particular subject matter. Facial recognition may also be employed. The digital image data is maintained in a database and quarried in response to search requests. The search requests include criteria specifying any feature category or other identifying information, such as date, time, and location that each photograph was taken, associated with each photograph. Candidate images are provided for review by requesters, who may select desired images for purchase or downloading. |
| US08385684B2 |
System and method for minimal iteration workflow for image sequence depth enhancement
Movies to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D->3D) are broken into backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined into composite frame which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting/reshaping. Colors/depths are automatically applied with masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects. Areas never exposed by motion or foreground objects may be partially or fully realistically drawn/rendered/applied to the occluded areas and applied throughout the images to generate artifact-free secondary viewpoints during 2D->3D conversion. Iterative workflow is eliminated for simple artifact correction through real-time manipulation of images to avoid re-rendering of images and associated delays of sending work product to other workgroups for correction. |
| US08385683B2 |
Self-positioning device and method thereof
A self-localization device and a method thereof are provided. The self-localization device has a movable carrier, a first laser image-taking device and a processor. The movable carrier can be moved and rotated on a plan. During the motion of the movable carrier, the first laser image-taking device disposed on the movable carrier acquires an i-th lot point data in the space at a time point ti, where i is one index number from 1 to n, and n is an integer. The processor controls the first laser image-taking device, and receives coordinates of the i-th lot point data. The processor executes a K-D tree algorithm to perform a comparison and merge process between the first and the i-th lots point data, so as to establish a two dimensional profile. |
| US08385679B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhancing image base on luminance information of pixel
An image enhancement apparatus and method based on luminance information of a pixel. The image enhancement apparatus may determine luminance data of each of a plurality of pixels, and may adaptively determine a conversion ratio according to the luminance data to apply the conversion ratio to an input image, thereby performing image-enhancing. The image enhancement apparatus may adaptively converse the input image according to luminance data, thereby precisely and effectively performing image-enhancing. |
| US08385678B2 |
Image restoration apparatus and method
Provided is an image restoration method and apparatus, in which an image is restored by estimating the blur level of the image. The image restoration apparatus includes a block generation module which generates a plurality of overlapping blocks for an input image; a blur estimation module which generates a plurality of unit step responses for a current overlapping block from the overlapping blocks; a feature-map generation module which generates a feature map for the current overlapping block based on the unit step responses of the current overlapping block; and a filter application module which deblurs the current overlapping block by using a deconvolution filter to filter the feature map of the current overlapping block. |
| US08385672B2 |
System for detecting image abnormalities
An image capture system for capturing images of an object, the image capture system comprising a moving platform such as an airplane, one or more image capture devices mounted to the moving platform, and a detection computer. The image capture device has a sensor for capturing an image. The detection computer executes an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in an image immediately after the image is captured and then automatically and immediately causing a re-shoot of the image. Alternatively, the detection computer sends a signal to the flight management software executed on a computer system to automatically schedule a re-shoot of the image. When the moving platform is an airplane, the detection computer schedules a re-shoot of the image such that the image is retaken before landing the airplane. |
| US08385670B2 |
Image restoration by vector quantization utilizing visual patterns
The restoration of images by vector quantization utilizing visual patterns is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises restoring detail in a transition region of an unrestored image, by first identifying the transition region and forming blurred visual pattern blocks. These blurred visual pattern blocks are compared to a pre-trained codebook, and a corresponding high-quality visual pattern blocks is obtained. The high-quality visual pattern block is then blended with the unrestored image to form a restored image. |
| US08385667B2 |
Generalized scalability for video coder based on video objects
A video coding system that codes video objects as scalable video object layers. Data of each video object may be segregated into one or more layers. A base layer contains sufficient information to decode a basic representation of the video object. Enhancement layers contain supplementary data regarding the video object that, if decoded, enhance the basic representation obtained from the base layer. The present invention thus provides a coding scheme suitable for use with decoders of varying processing power. A simple decoder may decode only the base layer of video objects to obtain the basic representation. However, more powerful decoders may decode the base layer data of video objects and additional enhancement layer data to obtain improved decoded output. The coding scheme supports enhancement of both the spatial resolution and the temporal resolution of video objects. |
| US08385662B1 |
Principal component analysis based seed generation for clustering analysis
Clustering algorithms such as k-means clustering algorithm are used in applications that process entities with spatial and/or temporal characteristics, for example, media objects representing audio, video, or graphical data. Feature vectors representing characteristics of the entities are partitioned using clustering methods that produce results sensitive to an initial set of cluster seeds. The set of initial cluster seeds is generated using principal component analysis of either the complete feature vector set or a subset thereof. The feature vector set is divided into a desired number of initial clusters and a seed determined from each initial cluster. |
| US08385659B2 |
System for and method of displaying non-rectangular images in electronic content on a reader device
A system for and method of displaying non-rectangular images in electronic content on an electronic device in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include identifying, using a template identification computing apparatus, an image shape template associated with a non-rectangular image that is part of electronic content to be displayed on the electronic device, determining, using a boundary region determination computing apparatus, a boundary region of the image shape template, placing, using an image placement computing apparatus, the non-rectangular image inside the boundary region of the image shape template and on the electronic content, flowing, using a text flow computing apparatus, text that is part of the electronic content outside and along the boundary region of the image shape template, and transmitting, using a communication computing apparatus, the electronic content along with the non-rectangular image to the electronic device via a network. |
| US08385657B2 |
Multiscale edge detection and fiber enhancement using differences of oriented means
Method, apparatus and computer program product that uses a novel algorithm for edge detection suitable for both natural as well as noisy images. A scale adaptive threshold is used along with a recursive decision process to reveal the significant edges of all lengths and orientations and to localize them accurately even in low-contrast and very noisy images. Further the algorithm is use for fiber detection and enhancement by utilizing stochastic completion-like process from both sides of a fiber. The algorithm relies on an efficient multiscale algorithm for computing all “significantly different” oriented means in an image in 0(N log p), where N is the number of pixels in the image, and p is the length of the longest structure of interest. Experimental results on both natural and noisy images present confirmation of the method, apparatus and computer program product. |
| US08385650B2 |
Image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
Information on at least one object specified by a user is obtained from an external apparatus. In accordance with attribute information included in the object information, at least one object is retrieved from among objects registered in an object storage unit. Then, an order of display of at least one retrieved template is determined. Thereafter, the retrieved template is transmitted to the external apparatus in the determined display order. |
| US08385645B2 |
Object detecting device, imaging apparatus, object detecting method, and program
An object detecting device includes a calculating unit configured to calculate gradient intensity and gradient orientation of luminance for a plurality of regions in an image and calculate a frequency distribution of the luminance gradient intensity as to the calculated luminance gradient orientation for each of the regions, and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not an identified object is included in the image by comparing a plurality of frequency distributions calculated for each of the regions. |
| US08385643B2 |
Determination of inputted image to be document or non-document
A preprocessing section binarizes input image data and calculates a total black pixel ratio. A feature extracting section detects connected components included in the binary image data and detects circumscribing bounding boxes of the connected components. Predetermined connected components are removed from all of the connected components based on the sizes of the detected circumscribing bounding boxes and bounding box black pixel ratios. By using the connected components that remain after removing the unnecessary connected components, a histogram is generated by specifying the sizes of the circumscribing bounding boxes as classes and numbers of the connected components as the frequencies of occurrence. A determining section determines whether the input image data is document image data or non-document image data based on information related to the generated histogram and the total black pixel ratio. |
| US08385642B2 |
Method for removing color fringe in digital image
A method for removing color fringe is presented. Separated luminance and chrominance (YCbCr) signals of a digital image are analyzed through specific color detection, luminance detection, and gradient color detection, so as to determine whether color fringe occurs to each pixel in the digital image, thereby correcting pixels with color fringe. |
| US08385639B2 |
Compressive coding device and visual display control device
A compressive coding device converts three color components of pixel data from the RGB presentation to the YCbCr presentation according to a mapping rule. Converted pixel data are subsequently subjected to irreversible compressive coding, thus producing compressive coded data. Pixel data ascribed to transparency control are converted to a prescribed value out of a mapping range according to the mapping rule. Compressive coded data are supplied to a visual display control device, in which they are decoded and reproduced into original pixel data of the first color presentation. Compressive coded data corresponding to pixel data ascribed to transparency control are rendered with a prescribed color in the RGB presentation which is designated as transparency in advance or not rendered on screen. Thus, it is possible to precisely perform the transparency control without causing a reduction of the compression factor regardless of the irreversible compressive coding and decoding. |
| US08385637B2 |
Illuminant estimation
In a method of chromagenic illuminant estimation pixels from mutually-corresponding images with different filtering (e.g. a filtered image and an unfiltered image) are compared, a fraction of the brightest pixels being selected for a subsequent chromagenic estimation. The pixels may be at corresponding locations or they may correspond in that their mean brightness is in the same rank order. In one method, in which, in a first preprocessing stage, for a database of m lights Ei (λ) and n surfaces Sj (λ) there is calculated Ti˜QF Q+ where Q1F and QF represent the matrices of unfiltered and filtered sensor responses to the n surfaces under the i th light and + denotes an inverse, and in a second operation stage, given P surfaces in an image and 3×P matrices Q and QF, from these matrices there are chosen the r % brightest pixels giving the matrices Q′ and Q′F, and the scene illuminant Pest is estimated where formula (I) and (II). |
| US08385631B2 |
Calculation processing apparatus and control method thereof
A calculation processing apparatus, which executes calculation processing based on a network composed by hierarchically connecting a plurality of processing nodes, assigns a partial area of a memory to each of the plurality of processing nodes, stores a calculation result of a processing node in a storable area of the partial area assigned to that processing node, and sets, as storable areas, areas that store the calculation results whose reference by all processing nodes connected to the subsequent stage of that processing node is complete. The apparatus determines, based on the storage states of calculation results in partial areas of the memory assigned to the processing node designated to execute the calculation processing of the processing nodes, and to processing nodes connected to the previous stage of the designated processing node, whether or not to execute a calculation of the designated processing node. |
| US08385630B2 |
System and method of processing stereo images
The present invention is a system and a method for processing stereo images utilizing a real time, robust, and accurate stereo matching system and method based on a coarse-to-fine architecture. At each image pyramid level, non-centered windows for matching and adaptive upsampling of coarse-level disparities are performed to generate estimated disparity maps using the ACTF approach. In order to minimize propagation of disparity errors from coarser to finer levels, the present invention performs an iterative optimization, at each level, that minimizes a cost function to generate smooth disparity maps with crisp occlusion boundaries. |
| US08385629B2 |
Method for acquiring phase information and system for measuring three dimensional surface profiles
The present invention provides a band-pass filter, being capable of fitting a frequency spectrum area having phase information in a frequency spectrum image, to obtain a spectrum information corresponding to the phase information during the process of obtaining the phase information from the frequency spectrum image with respect to an object's surface profile. In another embodiment, the present invention further provides a method to optimize the spectrum range of the band-pass filter so as to enhance measuring accuracy and efficiency while restoring the surface of the object. In addition, by employing the foregoing method, the present invention further provides a measurement system for measuring three-dimensional surface shapes in which a deformed fringe pattern with respect to the measured object's surface is acquired and the phase information is obtained from the fringe pattern according to the foregoing method so as to restore the surface profile of the measured object. |
| US08385623B2 |
Radiographic apparatus
A radiographic apparatus of this invention, imaging (slot imaging) is carried out in one operation for obtaining a plurality of radiographic images based on radiation detected with an irradiation field restricted to be narrow by the irradiation field control device. Since these plurality of radiographic images are images picked up with the irradiation field restricted to be narrow, a center calculating device can determine a shifted center of the radiographic images. A shift calculating device derives a shift of the center of the X-ray images from a positional relationship between the shifted center of the radiographic images determined and the irradiation field of a radiation detecting device. Since the shift is corrected for the plurality of radiographic images per se based on the shift determined, the shift can be corrected in one slot imaging operation. At a time of slot imaging, the shift can be corrected while determining a central point at a point of time when each image is acquired, or determining a central point all together after acquiring a series of images. |
| US08385621B2 |
Method for reconstruction images and reconstruction system for reconstructing images
A reconstruction method for an image of an object, the reconstruction method comprising receiving a first projection data set representing information about said object, receiving a second projection data set representing information about said object, reconstructing a first image of said object using the first projection data set, reconstructing a second image of said object using the second projection data set, performing a registration between the first image and the second image, and fusing the first image and the second image to said image of said object, wherein the first projecting data set and the second projecting data set are achieved by using a single radiation type. |
| US08385617B2 |
Imaging device for dental treatment, and instrument unit for dental treatment with imaging device
An imaging device for dental treatment for use in an instrument for dental treatment with a head to which a rotary cutting tool can be attached. The imaging device for dental treatment comprises: an imaging module with an imaging element; and a mounting section through which the imaging module is detachably attached to the instrument for dental treatment such that the imaging module is on the bottom side or on the lateral side of the head, and that the imaging module is in a posture that causes the imaging axis of the imaging module and the rotary axis of the rotary cutting tool to be substantially parallel. |
| US08385615B2 |
Spectral imaging of biological samples
The invention features a method including: (i) providing spectrally resolved information about light coming from different spatial locations in a sample comprising deep tissue in response to an illumination of the sample, wherein the light includes contributions from different components in the sample; (ii) decomposing the spectrally resolved information for each of at least some of the different spatial locations into contributions from spectral estimates associated with at least some of the components in the sample; and (iii) constructing a deep tissue image of the sample based on the decomposition to preferentially show a selected one of the components. |
| US08385614B2 |
Slice image display apparatus, method and recording-medium having stored therein program
A shadow area in a lung-field area of a subject is detected from tomographic images constituting a three-dimensional image representing the subject. A hilum-of-lung area in the lung-field area of the subject is detected from the tomographic images. Further, a slice image that passes through a first point that is a predetermined point in the detected shadow area, a second point that is a predetermined point in the detected hilum-of-lung area, and an arbitrary point that has been set in advance is generated. The generated slice image is displayed. |
| US08385611B2 |
Fingerprint authentication device and information processing device with a sweep fingerprint sensor that acquires images of fingerprint at least two different sensitivity levels in single scan
A fingerprint authentication device includes a sweep fingerprint sensor that acquires images of a fingerprint on a finger at at least two different sensitivity levels in a single scan, and a counterfeit-finger determining unit that determines whether the finger is counterfeit based on the images acquired by the sweep fingerprint sensor. |
| US08385610B2 |
Face tracking for controlling imaging parameters
A method of tracking faces in an image stream with a digital image acquisition device includes receiving images from an image stream including faces, calculating corresponding integral images, and applying different subsets of face detection rectangles to the integral images to provide sets of candidate regions. The different subsets include candidate face regions of different sizes and/or locations within the images. The different candidate face regions from different images of the image stream are each tracked. |
| US08385609B2 |
Image segmentation
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for forming a mugshot from a digital color image are provided in which a dominant face is determined using the digital color image. Person segmentation is also performed using the digital color image. An image and a mask are cropped based on the dominant face thereby forming a cropped image. Rough segmentation is performed on the cropped image. A mask is averaged in projection space based on the cropped image. The mask is refined mask and prepared for the mugshot. |
| US08385602B2 |
Image processing device method, program, and recording medium for improving detection precision of a motion vector
An image processing device and method, a program, and a recording medium whereby the detection precision of a motion vector by the gradient method is further improved. A counter value computing unit acquires the number of valid pixels, the number of pixels having no gradient in the horizontal direction, and the number of pixels having no gradient in the vertical direction from a valid pixel number counter, a no-horizontal-gradient counter, and a no-vertical-gradient counter, computes the ratio between valid pixels within a computation block and one-sided gradient pixels among the valid pixels, and controls the value of a flag which a flag setting unit sets in accordance with the computation results. The flag setting unit sets the value of a gradient flag, and outputs the gradient flag to the subsequent stage. At the subsequent stage, gradient method computation and vector evaluation processing are executed based on the gradient flag. The above can be applied to a signal processing device for performing frame frequency conversion processing from a 24P signal to a 60P signal. |
| US08385596B2 |
First person shooter control with virtual skeleton
A virtual skeleton includes a plurality of joints and provides a machine readable representation of a human target observed with a three-dimensional depth camera. A relative position of a hand joint of the virtual skeleton is translated as a gestured aiming vector control, and a virtual weapon is aimed in proportion to the gestured aiming vector control. |
| US08385594B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the position of a vehicle, computer program and computer program product
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining the position of a vehicle moved along a path, markers, particularly code carriers or barcodes being located along the path. The method is characterized in that the markers are detected with a digital camera placed on the vehicle and that by means of image processing from a position of at least one marker image in the detection or coverage range of the digital camera a position of the vehicle relative to the given marker or the given markers in the main vehicle movement direction along the path and in at least one direction at right angles to the main movement direction is determined. The invention also relates to a computer program and a computer program product. |
| US08385593B2 |
Selecting representative images for establishments
Establishments are identified in geo-tagged images. According to one aspect, text regions are located in a geo-tagged image and text strings in the text regions are recognized using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) techniques. Text phrases are extracted from information associated with establishments known to be near the geographic location specified in the geo-tag of the image. The text strings recognized in the image are compared with the phrases for the establishments for approximate matches, and an establishment is selected as the establishment in the image based on the approximate matches. According to another aspect, text strings recognized in a collection of geo-tagged images are compared with phrases for establishments in the geographic area identified by the geo-tags to generate scores for image-establishment pairs. Establishments in each of the large collection of images as well as representative images showing each establishment are identified using the scores. |
| US08385592B2 |
Digital watermarking system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide a digital watermarking system and method for producing watermarked images from a sequence of original images. The system includes a storage unit and a processor to encode watermark data, create a watermark bitmap template of the encoded watermark data, load and scale the original images, composite the watermark bitmap template and the scaled original images to produce the watermarked images, and store the watermarked images. The system can also produce a single watermarked image from a single original image. |
| US08385591B1 |
System and method of using images to determine correspondence between locations
In one aspect, a system and method is provided that matches images that are associated with street addresses with images that are associated with locations that are stored with respect to another reference system, such as latitude/longitude. If the images match, the street address is associated with the location. In a further aspect, text contained in the images is extracted and associated with the street address as well. |
| US08385584B2 |
Diaphragm and loudspeaker using the same
A diaphragm includes a central portion and an edge portion around the central portion. The central portion includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes therein. The central portion is a carbon nanotube structure or a carbon nanotube composite structure. A loudspeaker using the diaphragm is also disclosed. The loudspeaker includes the diaphragm and a voice coil connected to the diaphragm. The voice coil is connected to an outer periphery of the central portion or a joint portion between the central portion and the edge portion. |
| US08385583B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reduced distortion balanced armature devices
An example apparatus comprises a drive coil energizable by a drive signal, at least one permanent magnet, and at least one magnetic return path element for flux induced by the drive signal, the magnetic return path element, such as a balanced armature, being configured to provide a variable reluctance, so as to reduce nonlinearities in a displacement versus drive signal relationship. Modifying the reluctance versus flux properties of the magnetic return path of a transducer, e.g. the armature of a balanced armature device, allows compensation for nonlinearity arising in another part of the apparatus. |
| US08385582B2 |
Damper and loudspeaker using the same cross-reference to related applications
A damper has ridges and furrows thereon and a through hole therein. The damper includes a carbon nanotube film structure and an amorphous carbon structure. The carbon nanotube film structure defines a number of micropores therein. The amorphous carbon structure is composited with the carbon nanotube structure. The amorphous carbon structure comprises a number of amorphous carbon particles received in the micropores. |
| US08385575B2 |
Reflex enclosure
A reflex enclosure, includes an enclosure body, a loudspeaker, a waveguide portion and a vibration unit; a rearward sound wave generated from the loudspeaker is guided 360 degree (in all directions) from the outside of the waveguide portion to the inside of the waveguide portion, and then push the vibration unit to generate vibration to generate a corresponding sound wave, thereby reducing a standing wave ratio of the rearward sound wave in a sound room to obtain a better timbre. Furthermore, the length of a rearward sound wave guiding distance can be extended, allowing the sound wave to have the effect of extending toward a low frequency compass. In addition, the rearward sound wave is allowed to compress to increase a vibration unit pushing force, thereby obtaining a better sound effect. |
| US08385572B2 |
Method for reducing noise using trainable models
The object is to improve the effect of a noise reduction algorithm for hearing apparatuses and in particular hearing aids. This is achieved by a method wherein the input signal is modeled by a wanted signal model and a noise signal model. In addition, a signal statistic of the input signal is recorded in a data logging unit. The wanted signal model and/or the noise signal model can now be changed as a function of said signal statistic. Finally the noise component of the input signal is reduced using the noise signal model and/or the wanted signal model. This means that the models used can be continuously adapted to the hearing apparatus user's current situation. |
| US08385565B2 |
Apparatus and method of operating an audio system
An audio system includes a level controller receiving an input audio signal from an audio medium. The level controller includes a gain adjust module producing an output audio signal based on the input audio signal. A filter arrangement is communicatively coupled to the level controller. The filter arrangement receives the output audio signal and divides the output signal into a plurality of filtered signals. Each of the filtered signals corresponds to a respective frequency band. A multiband dynamics controller is communicatively coupled to the filter arrangement. The multiband dynamics controller receives the filtered signals and applies a respective gain characteristic to each of the filtered signals to thereby produce a plurality of gain adjust signals. The gain adjust signals are combined into a multiband dynamics controller output signal. |
| US08385561B2 |
Digital power link audio distribution system and components thereof
An audio distribution system in one embodiment includes a master device, a powered speaker unit, and an expander device. The master device has an output port for receiving a cable carrying an electrical power signal along with a digital audio signal. The speaker unit includes a first port for receiving the electrical power signal and the digital audio power signal, and a second port for sending the signals. A digital-to-analog converter in the speaker unit converts the digital audio signal to an analog audio signal, and a speaker driver uses the signal to produce sound. The expander device is electrically connectable to the second port of the speaker unit for providing electrical power to one or more further speaker units. In another embodiment, the invention provides a master mixer device and a speaker unit. The master mixer device includes a digital signal processor for receiving and separately processing a speech channel having digital audio containing speech content and a music channel having digital audio containing music content. In an embodiment a powered speaker unit employing a class D amplifier for reproducing sound is further disclosed. A digital power link in port is provided in the powered speaker for receiving a cable carrying a digital audio signal and electrical power. |
| US08385553B1 |
Portable secure element
Transferring control of a secure element between TSMs comprises a zone master key established between the TSMs that facilitates encryption of a temporary key. The TSMs create the zone master key prior to initiation of transfer of control. Once transfer of control is initiated, the first TSM establishes a communication channel and deletes its key from the secure element. The first TSM creates a temporary key that is encrypted with the zone master key established between the first TSM and the second TSM. The encrypted temporary key is communicated to the second TSM with a device identifier. The second TSM decrypts the temporary key using the zone master key and identifies the user device using the device identifier. The new TSM establishes a communication channel and deletes the temporary key from the secure element. The new TSM then inputs and saves its key into the secure element. |
| US08385551B2 |
Highly available cryptographic key storage (HACKS)
A system and method for managing trusted platform module (TPM) keys utilized in a cluster of computing nodes. A cluster-level management unit communicates with a local TPM agent in each node in the cluster. The cluster-level management unit has access to a database of protection groups, wherein each protection group comprises one active node which creates a TPM key and at least one standby node which stores a backup copy of the TPM key for the active node. The local TPM agent in the active node automatically initiates a migration process for automatically migrating the backup copy of the TPM key to the at least one standby node. The system maintains coherency of the TPM keys by also deleting the backup copy of the TPM key in the standby node when the key is deleted by the active node. |
| US08385547B2 |
Method and apparatus for secure digital communications using chaotic signals
A system and method for encoding zero and one bits for transmission, including generating a first signal from a non-linear chaotic system to represent the one bit, with the signal's embedded vectors being within the non-linear system's attractor set, and generating a second signal from the non-linear system to represent the zero bit, with the signal's embedded vectors being outside the non-linear system's attractor set. The second signal encoding the zero bit can be generated by adding together two chaotic signals arising from the non-linear system initialized with different initial conditions, and weighting the second signal to have approximately the same energy as the first signal. One suitable chaotic systems is a Lorenz system. Systems and methods for decoding a transmitted stream of signals compare a detection statistic of the received stream of signals to a threshold value that depends on the chaotic system. |
| US08385544B2 |
Packet based high definition high-bandwidth digital content protection
A packet based high bandwidth copy protection method is described that includes the following operations. Forming a number of data packets at a source device, encrypting selected ones of the data packets based upon a set of encryption values, transmitting the encrypted data packets from the source device to a sink device coupled thereto, decrypting the encrypted data packets based in part upon the encryption values, and accessing the decrypted data packets by the sink device. |
| US08385543B1 |
Method and apparatus providing confidentiality, integrity and authenticity for a video file
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing confidentiality, integrity and authenticity for a video file is presented. An encryption header is produced for the video file, the video file including a plurality of packets that carry content, the encryption header containing information necessary to successfully decrypt the video file. The encryption header is added to the video file. An encryption key is generated from a master key identified in the encryption header and, using the encryption key, individual packets of the video file that carry content are encrypted. The video file comprises one of the group consisting of pre-recorded streaming video, live streaming video and randomly accessed video. |
| US08385541B2 |
Method of performing elliptic polynomial cryptography with elliptic polynomial hopping
The method of performing elliptic polynomial cryptography with elliptic polynomial hopping allows for the encryption of messages through elliptic polynomial cryptography, i.e., using elliptic polynomials with multi x-coordinates, and particularly with the utilization of elliptic polynomial hopping based upon both the elliptic polynomial and its twist, regardless of whether the elliptic polynomial and its twist are isomorphic with respect to one another. Each plaintext block is encrypted by a different elliptic polynomial, and the elliptic polynomials used are selected by an initial secret key and a random number generator. The method is particularly useful for symmetric encryption systems, and provides a block cipher fundamentally based upon a computationally hard problem. |
| US08385538B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for a differential transformer-free hybrid circuit
A differential transformer-free hybrid circuit includes a first amplifier configured to receive a first signal from a transmitter and output the first signal to a telephone loop, and a second amplifier configured to receive a second signal from the telephone loop and output the second signal to a receiver. Further, the differential transformer-free hybrid circuit also includes at least one balanced network element and a transformer-less interface configured to couple the first amplifier and the second amplifier to the telephone loop, wherein the transformer-less interface includes at least one current blocking device. |
| US08385536B2 |
Automatic telephone number favorites list
A system stores a set of telephone numbers dialed by a user. The system selects a subset of telephone numbers from the stored set of telephone numbers as the user's favorite telephone numbers based on one or more first scores, where the one or more scores include a frequency score associated with a frequency that the telephone numbers have been dialed by the user and/or a recency score associated with how recently that the telephone numbers have been dialed by the user. The system stores the list of the user's favorite telephone numbers in memory. |
| US08385530B2 |
Enhanced directory assistance system
An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information. |
| US08385528B2 |
Communication management feature
A method for screening incoming communications includes the steps of receiving an incoming communication intended for a communication device or a recipient and identifying a sender of the communication and a communication type, which can includes an email. The method also includes the steps of identifying screening settings based on the sender and the communication type and determining whether the communication is allowed in accordance with the identified settings. Further, the method includes the steps of notifying a recipient of the communication, if the communication is allowed. In addition, the method includes the step of processing the communication without notifying a recipient, if the communication is not allowed. |
| US08385527B2 |
Method and apparatus for overlaying whispered audio onto a telephone call
Information may be provided to a telephony customer from an overlay service by causing a second stream of audio information to be overlayed on a primary stream of audio information. The overlayed information may be whispered to the user by causing the overlayed information to be compressed into a limited frequency spectrum which is inserted into a manufactured gap in the primary audio stream. This allows the user to continue to hear the main audio stream while also hearing the overlayed information. The overlay service may provide administrative information, advertisements, music, and/or Internet search results via the overlayed audio. Users may issue commands to the overlay service, to have particular information transmitted via overlayed audio. Where the user is also associated with a telephony application running on a computer platform, the overlayed information may be incorporated onto the information being shown to the user on a computer display. |
| US08385524B2 |
System and method for control of communications connections and notifications
A method and system for selectively establishing a communications connection between an origin and destination in a communications network based on one or mediations rules and one or more lists of prohibited and exempted destination identifiers either in real-time using a control unit or with a pre-check using an analysis unit while also providing notification messages associated with the allowed or designated allowed communications connections. |
| US08385523B2 |
System and method to facilitate voice message retrieval
Some embodiments provide transmission of a request to access a voice message mailbox to a voice mailbox provider, transmission of caller information to the voice mailbox provider, and reception of a voice message associated with the caller information from the voice mailbox provider. According to various embodiments, the caller information may be associated with a selected contact, with a caller who initiated a missed voice call, and/or with a particular voice message mailbox. |
| US08385518B1 |
Integrated call handler and email systems and methods
Apparatuses, systems and methods are presented for handling calls. In one embodiment, an emergency call handling system capable of receiving visual information from callers and correlating the visual information to particular incidents is disclosed. To obtain visual information, a call handler may generate and send an electronic mail message to the caller. The caller may reply to the electronic mail message and attach an image captured with, for example, a camera phone. The visual information may then be correlated to the call between the caller and call handler. The visual information may be used to assess an emergency situation. The visual information may be forwarded to emergency service providers. |
| US08385517B2 |
Replying through different channels
An apparatus includes a display and a processor connected to the display. The processor being configured to transmit at least one reply communication in response to an incoming communication, the at least one reply communication being formatted by the processor for a communication protocol that is different from a communication protocol of the incoming communication. |
| US08385516B2 |
Ringback blocking and replacement system
A smart ringback blocking and replacement system for delivering and/or selectively blocking signal content from a communications network is disclosed. Communications devices interact with the smart ringback blocking and replacement system to allow for modifications of the network service. |
| US08385514B2 |
Providing an advertisement to a calling party before ringback
Communication networks and associated methods are disclosed that provide an advertisement or other type of informational message to a calling party before providing ringback tones. A communication network described herein receives a call from the calling party to the called party, and temporarily interrupts call processing for the call. The communication network then selects an advertisement for the call, and initiates delivery of the advertisement to the calling party. After the advertisement is delivered to the calling party, the communication network resumes call processing for the call. In resuming call processing, the communication network provides ringback tones to the calling party and attempts to connect the call to the called party. |
| US08385511B2 |
Dial capture alarm interface with integrated voice
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a system that provides for one or more of the following: (a) allows a dial capture alarm communicator to both send event data and provide a voice path to an alarm receiver at the central station; (b) is not integrated into the alarm panel, which allows it to be added to almost any preexisting installation; (c) uses industry-standard event reporting protocols, it can be used with any alarm panel that provides industry-standard event notifications; and/or (d) provides transparent transport for both the voice and the data, meaning that neither the alarm panel nor the alarm communicator at the central station is aware of the communicator's intermediary function. |
| US08385510B2 |
Method for transmission line analysis
A FDR SELT measurement is made in a stop band of a DSL band plan, using a PSD allowed by the PSD mask. Further measurements may also be made in an adjacent pass band and further bands, and the results combined to create a wide-band measurement result. When transformed into the time domain (e.g. by inverse Fourier transform to produce the line impulse response) greater resolution in time (and hence greater spatial resolution) is achieved. In order to compensate for AGC calibration errors measurements using different AGC steps may be scaled to fit smoothly to each other. If measurements overlap, measurement results in the region of overlap may be combined in various ways to limit the influence of noise and to create a smooth transition from one measurement to the next. |
| US08385505B2 |
X-ray tube bearing assembly
In one example, an x-ray tube comprises an evacuated enclosure and a cathode disposed within the evacuated enclosure. An anode is also disposed within the evacuated enclosure opposite the cathode so as to receive electrons emitted by the cathode. A rotor sleeve is coupled to the anode, the rotor sleeve being responsive to applied electromagnetic fields such that a rotational motion is imparted to the anode. A magnetic assist bearing assembly rotatably supports the anode. |
| US08385504B2 |
DC/AC power inverter control unit of a resonant power converter circuit, in particular a DC/DC converter for use in a high-voltage generator circuitry of a modern computed tomography device or X-ray radiographic system
A DC/AC power inverter control unit of a resonant-type power converter circuit (400), in particular a DC/DC converter, for supplying an output power for use in a high-voltage generator circuitry of an X-ray radiographic imaging system, a 3D rotational angiography device, or X-ray computed tomography device, comprises an interphase transformer (406) connected in series to at least one series resonant tank circuit (403a and 403a′ or 403b and 403b′) at the output of two DC/AC power inverter stages (402a+b) supplying a multi-primary winding high-voltage transformer (404). The interphase transformer (406) removes a difference (ΔI) in resonant output currents and (I1 and I2) of the DC/AC power inverter stages (402a+b). In addition, a control method is disclosed which assures that the interphase transformer (406) is not saturated. Furthermore, the control method ensures zero current operation and provides for minimized input power losses. |
| US08385498B2 |
Boosted charge transfer circuit
A charge transfer circuit, such as a charge coupled device or other bucket brigade device, which incorporates an amplifier to assist with charge transfer. |
| US08385494B2 |
Full range offset correction for coherent optical OFDM systems
A method includes synchronizing a received signal with at least two orthogonal frequency division multiplexed OFDM training signals having only in-phase values and being real in the time domain and determining a frequency offset correction from the synchronization of the received signal and training symbols responsive to a cross-correlation between said training symbols to enable estimating all possible frequency offsets for correction for enabling OFDM demodulation of said received signal. |
| US08385492B2 |
Receiver circuit architectures
Described are methods and circuits for margin testing digital receivers. These methods and circuits prevent margins from collapsing in response to erroneously received data, and can thus be used in receivers that employ historical data to reduce intersymbol interference (ISI). Some embodiments detect receive errors for input data streams of unknown patterns, and can thus be used for in-system margin testing. Such systems can be adapted to dynamically alter system parameters during device operation to maintain adequate margins despite fluctuations in the system noise environment due to e.g. temperature and supply-voltage changes. Also described are methods of plotting and interpreting filtered and unfiltered error data generated by the disclosed methods and circuits. Some embodiments filter error data to facilitate pattern-specific margin testing. |
| US08385489B2 |
Methods and apparatus for wireless channel estimation using interpolation elimination in the Eigen domain
Methods and apparatus are provided for wireless channel estimation using interpolation elimination in the Eigen domain. Channel components at known OFDM symbol locations are interpolated to other OFDM symbol locations. Methods and apparatus are provided for interpolating in the Eigen domain between reference signals (i.e., training signals) to estimate the equalizer coefficients with a reduced complexity. In particular, one aspect of the present invention performs the required interpolation before a required matrix inversion in the Eigen domain. |
| US08385488B2 |
Inter-cell interference mitigation method using spatial covariance matrix estimation method for inter-cell interference mitigation of MIMO antenna OFDM system
Disclosed is an inter-cell interference mitigation method using a spatial covariance matrix (SCM) estimation method in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system for mitigating interference between asynchronous cells. The inter-cell interference mitigation method includes extracting a reference symbol (RS) of a received OFDM symbol and performing channel estimation, estimating an initial SCM using the RS signal and the channel estimation result, applying time-domain sinc type weighting to the initial SCM and applying an SCM, and demodulating a data symbol with mitigated inter-cell interference using the channel estimation result and the estimated SCM. By applying time-domain sinc type weighting to SCM estimation, it is possible to reduce an SCM estimation error occurring due to a spectral leakage induced by an abrupt change in a signal at a border point between an effective sub carrier zone and a guard band zone, and a simple design of a moving average filter form for a frequency domain signal can be made instead of frequency-time-frequency domain transformation using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) and fast Fourier transfer (FFT). |
| US08385484B2 |
Method and apparatus for detection and cancellation of single-tone or multi-tone interference in communication systems
A method and system for canceling an interference signal are provided. In the method, a received signal is transformed from a time domain to a frequency domain at relative low precision to obtain an estimated frequency and an estimated amplitude of the interference signal. A reference signal is generated using the estimated frequency and the estimated amplitude. An error signal is generated using the received signal and the reference signal based on minimum correlation criteria. The reference signal is adjusted using the error signal based on an adaptive algorithm. The reference signal is subtracted from the received signal to obtain the useful signal. |
| US08385482B2 |
Start-up automatic frequency control (AFC) method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for use in connection with wireless communication to adjust the frequency of an oscillator to synchronize with a received signal by correlating a synchronization code channel with training sequences to estimate relative offsets which are employed to estimate an error, which is then filtered. The filtered output preferably provides a voltage controlling a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The same technique may be employed to control a numeric controlled oscillator (NCO). |
| US08385481B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and offset correction method
An apparatus includes: an offset adjustment unit that supplies an offset correction signal corresponding to a frequency switching to an adder unit that receives an output from a mixer; a timing adjustment unit that adjusts the timing of a frequency switching signal supplied to a local oscillator and the timing of an offset correction amount switching signal supplied to the offset adjustment unit for changing an offset amount in correspondence with the frequency switching in the local oscillator; a noise amount measurement and calculation unit that receives a signal obtained by amplifying and filtering of the signal from the adder unit, to measure a noise amount of the signal and generates a timing determination signal based on the measured noise amount; and a control unit that controls the timing of the frequency switching signal and the offset correction amount switching signal supplied to the timing adjustment unit, based on the timing determination signal from the noise amount measurement and calculation unit. |
| US08385479B2 |
Apparatus and method for canceling interference in multi-antenna system
An apparatus and a method for canceling interference based on Maximum Likelihood (ML) at a receiver of a multi-antenna system are provided. The method includes estimating a channel using a signal received over one or more receiver antennas; generating one or more weights using the estimated channel to cancel interference; detecting a candidate symbol having the shortest Euclidean distance through Maximum Likelihood using a first weight; and soft-decoding the candidate symbol using a second weight. Therefore, by receiving the signal based on the ML under the interference, the system capacity can be increased and the reception performance can be enhanced. |
| US08385478B1 |
Channel estimation method and device using the same
A channel estimation method is provided. The method includes the following steps of: receiving an input symbol of an input signal and obtaining several pilot channel gains through calculation; executing an operation of interpolation on the pilot channel gains by a Wiener filter to obtain several data channel gains through calculation; calculating an adaptive alteration for the first and second multi-path statistical characteristic parameters according to the data channel gains and the pilot channel gains, and accordingly having the first and the second multi-path statistical characteristic parameters adjusted; generating an updated Wiener filter according to the adjusted first and second multi-path statistical characteristic parameters to execute an operation of channel estimation on a next input symbol of the input signal. |
| US08385477B2 |
Decision boundary estimation for MIMO wireless receivers
In a wireless receiver, an estimated decision boundary for use in detecting symbol values from one group of combined received symbols is calculated based on a estimated traffic-to-pilot channel scaling ratio or an estimated decision boundary corresponding to another group of combined received symbols. By properly combining the information derived from the latter group of combined received symbols with channel estimation information for the former group, a decision boundary estimate for the former group can be obtained without the use of amplitude or power information for the latter group of symbols. |
| US08385474B2 |
Signal generator with adjustable frequency
Frequency of an oscillating signal is temporarily adjusted to adjust frequency and/or phase of an output signal. For example, the frequency of the oscillating signal may be adjusted for a very short period of time to adjust the phase of the output signal. In addition, the frequency of the oscillating signal may be temporarily adjusted in a repeated manner to adjust the effective frequency of the output signal. In some aspects the frequency of the oscillating signal is adjusted by reconfiguration of reactive circuits associated with an oscillator circuit. |
| US08385472B2 |
Context-sensitive overhead processor
An overhead processor for data transmission in digital communications, where a state machine, including a logic element and a flip-flop, is able to process a “previous” data state and a “next” data state simultaneously by storing the previous state in an external elastic storage element until the next state arrives along the datapath. By employing flip-flops on the path from the logic element to the elastic store and on the path from the elastic store to the logic element, data is transmitted faster, resulting in the ability for both the previous data state and the next data state to be transmitted simultaneously, in one clock cycle, requiring half of the transmission time required by prior art. |
| US08385471B2 |
Multi-channel receiver
This invention relates to a method, a computer program product, a device, and a system, wherein a receiver unit (200,300,300′,500,500′,600,600′) is configured to operate in a single-channel mode and in a multi-channel mode, wherein in the single-channel mode the receiver unit (200,300,300′,500,500′,600,600′) is configured to output exactly one channel of a received signal, and in the multiple-channel mode the receiver unit (200,300,300′,500,500′,600,600′) is configured to output at least two channels of the received signal. |
| US08385467B2 |
Method and apparatus for information transmission in a radio communication system
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for information transmission in a radio communication system. The method includes the steps of creating a first symbol and a second symbol relevant to information, creating a first transmission vector and a second transmission vector on the basis of Alamouti code from the first symbol and the second symbol, and transmitting the first transmission vector via a first antenna and transmitting the second transmission vector via a second antenna. |
| US08385461B1 |
On-off keying using vector modulation
A system and method including deriving a subcarrier frequency from a binary data stream having a clock frequency, wherein the subcarrier frequency is substantially the same as the clock frequency; gating the subcarrier frequency using the data stream to produce a modulated OOK signal; determining a OOK subcarrier center frequency based on the modulated OOK signal with the clock frequency; delaying the modulated OOK signal relative to the binary data stream by a predetermined amount to produce a delayed modulated OOK signal; conditioning the modulated OOK signal and the delayed modulated OOK signal to create a differential transition signal in an I channel and a Q channel to provide a stable amplitude signal level reference at an input to an I and Q vector modulator. |
| US08385454B2 |
Robust linear precoder designs for multi-cell downlink transmission
Methods and systems for optimizing the utilities of receiver devices in a wireless communication network are disclosed. Precoder design formulations that maximize a minimum worst-case rate or a worst-case sum rate are described for both full base station cooperation and limited base station cooperation scenarios. In addition, optimal equalizers are also selected to optimize the worst-case sum rate. |
| US08385453B2 |
Data processing method and base station for downlink transmit diversity
A data processing method and a base station for downlink transmit diversity are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises: obtaining data symbol groups formed by arranging a first type data symbol and a second type data symbol in an interval, wherein the first type data symbol is more important; determining a first antenna port pairing mode corresponding to a current slot; performing, for OFDM symbols including the reference signal in the current slot, an antenna port and subcarrier mapping on symbols in a transmit diversity matrix corresponding to the data symbol groups according to the first antenna port pairing mode, wherein a subcarrier in which a symbol related to the first type data symbol is located is nearer to a subcarrier in which a reference signal at the same antenna port is located; and performing an inverse fast fourier transform and a cyclic prefix insertion processing on symbols mapped to subcarriers and then mapping the time domain symbols to a physical antenna for transmission. According to embodiments of the invention, comparatively important symbols may obtain better protection. |
| US08385451B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved spatial temporal turbo channel coding (STTCC) using eigen-beamforming
The present invention is a method and apparatus for improving the performance of spatial temporal turbo channel coding (STTCC) used in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems called eigen-STTCC (E-STTCC) that employs eigen-beamforming to make use of orthogonal eigen streams in the MIMO channel. Singular value decomposition (SVD) is applied to the channel matrix producing a linear precoding matrix containing the orthonormal basis for the eigen streams. In a first embodiment, the turbo encoded codeword containing concatenated systematic and parity bits is precoded with the linear precoding matrix such that the systematic bits are transmitted over the eigen streams with highest power. In a second embodiment, the codeword is made up of interleaved systematic bits and parity bits prior to eigen beamform preceding, effectively interleaving the systematic and data bits spatially over the eigen streams. In an alternate embodiment, the data stream is interleaved at the input to the encoder. |
| US08385450B2 |
Metrics calculations utilizing pre-stored values
A trellis processing technique for estimating a transmitted signal from a received signal acquired through a channel achieves a reduced computational structure when implementing a DDFSE-like branch metrics calculation by pre-storing computed values, which can be re-used. The technique involves storing differences between a received symbol and different products, each of which is a product of a channel coefficient corresponding to a least time delay and a different possible transmitted symbol. A summation of products is calculated, each product being a product of a possible transmitted signal symbol and a channel coefficient other than the channel coefficient corresponding to the least time delay, the summation being specific to a branch-start state in a trellis. The summation is combined with different stored differences in a calculation of branch metrics leading to different branch-end states in the trellis. |
| US08385449B2 |
Method and device for detecting simultaneous double transmission of AM signals
A device that detects the presence of several amplitude-modulated high-frequency signals in a sum signal with closely-adjacent carrier frequencies. The sum signal is phase-demodulated by a phase demodulator and Fourier-transformed by a Fourier-transformation device. On the basis of the Fourier transform, the presence of several carrier frequencies is determined by an evaluation device. |
| US08385445B2 |
Method for processing digital signals, and transmission/reception system implementing said method
The present invention relates to a method for processing digital signals and to a transmission/reception system implementing said method; the present invention is based on the use of LDPC codes, in particular the LDPC code of the DVB-S2 standard, in combination with a QAM modulation, in particular the 1024QAM and 4096QAM modulations; in transmission, a bit permutation (Demux) is carried out prior to the QAM constellation mapping function; in reception, the bit permutation is carried out after the QAM constellation demapping function. |
| US08385439B2 |
Polarization mode dispersion compensation in multilevel coded-modulation schemes using blast algorithm and iterative polarization cancellation
Receivers and methods are provided for polarization mode dispersion compensation in multi-level coded-modulation schemes using a BLAST algorithm and iterative polarization cancellation. A receiver includes a vertical Bell Laboratories Layered Space-Time Architecture (V-BLAST) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) detector configured to receive input sequences and partially cancel polarization interference with respect to the input sequences to output symbol estimates for the input sequences. The receiver further includes one or more low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoders coupled to the V-BLAST OFDM detector configured to receive channel bit reliabilities and output code words. The channel bit reliabilities are indirectly calculated from the symbol estimates. The one or more LDPC decoders iteratively provide extrinsic soft information feedback to the V-BLAST OFDM detector to compensate for the polarization interference. |
| US08385437B2 |
Transport stream generating device, transmitting device, receiving device, and a digital broadcast system having the same, and method thereof
A transport stream (TS) generating apparatus, a transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus, a digital broadcast system having the above, and a method thereof are provided. The digital broadcast system includes a transport stream (TS) generating apparatus which generates a multi transport stream (TS) by multiplexing a normal stream and a turbo stream having a variable coding rate, a transmitting apparatus which re-constructs the multi TS by processing the turbo stream, and transmits the re-constructed multi TS, and a receiving apparatus which receives the re-constructed multi TS, and decodes the normal stream and the turbo stream respectively, to recover normal data and turbo data. Accordingly, a multi TS, which includes normal stream and a turbo stream of various coding rates, can be transmitted and received efficiently. |
| US08385433B2 |
Linear precoding for spatially correlated channels
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate estimating transmit covariance from evaluation of a channel (e.g., forward link channel, reverse link channel, . . . ) to be utilized in linear precoding for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems. Predefined codebooks that include any number of precoding matrices may be modified based upon transmit covariance estimations to yield improved precoding performance. Further, channel related feedback may be generated and analyzed by utilizing the modified codebooks. |
| US08385429B2 |
Video compression encoder
A video compression encoder which does not require a video frame buffer is disclosed. Without a frame buffer, incoming pixels can not be compared to pixels previously sent to the decoder. Instead, the disclosed encoder only stores check values for groups of pixels sent. If a group's check value has not changed, the encoder sends a command to the decoder not to change that pixel group. Also, without a frame buffer, an incoming video frame can not be captured and later sent to the decoder as network throughput permits. Instead, if throughput is insufficient to send an encoded group of pixels, the encoder leaves the check value for that group unchanged and sends a command instructing the decoder not to change those pixels. This defers updating that group until the next screen update is sent to the decoder. Grouping of pixels can be done in any fashion, for example; a group can be a single video line, a portion of a line, multiple lines or screen rectangles containing portions of multiple lines. |
| US08385425B2 |
Temporal video filtering for real time communication systems
Background vs. foreground decisions for video frames to be compressed and transmitted in a real time video communication system are made based on a non-parametric approach using signs of pixel value changes in sequential frames. Pixel value changes are tracked as negative or positive. Cost functions may be assigned to rows and columns of predefined blocks and a decision made based on randomness of the signs within the block whether the block represents background (noise) or foreground. Recursive temporal filtering is then employed to reduce the background noise progressively resulting in increased compression and transmission efficiency. Offset tiling is used to increase accuracy of randomness determination when blocks include background and foreground combinations. |
| US08385424B2 |
Reduction of errors during computation of inverse discrete cosine transform
Techniques are described to reduce rounding errors during computation of discrete cosine transform using fixed-point calculations. According to these techniques, an inverse discrete cosine transform a vector of coefficients is calculated using a series of butterfly structure operations on fixed-point numbers. Next, a midpoint bias value and a supplemental bias value are added to a DC coefficient of the matrix of scaled coefficients. Next, an inverse discrete cosine transform is applied to the resulting matrix of scaled coefficients. Values in the resulting matrix are then right-shifted in order to derive a matrix of pixel component values. As described herein, the addition of the supplemental bias value to the DC coefficient reduces rounding errors attributable to this right-shifting. As a result, a final version of a digital media file decompressed using these techniques may more closely resemble an original version of a digital media file. |
| US08385423B2 |
Motion vector detecting device, motion vector detecting method, image encoding device, and program
A motion vector detecting device includes: a motion predicting and compensating circuit calculating cost values of a plurality of motion vectors, which is candidates of an optimal motion vector, using a cost function indicating an encoding efficiency with a first pixel precision every prediction mode and calculating the optimal motion vector with a second pixel precision and the cost value of the optimal motion vector with the second pixel precision using a profile of the cost values with the first pixel precision. |
| US08385415B2 |
System and method for intracoding and decoding video data
A video system for coding a stream of video data that includes a stream of video frames divides each video frame into a matrix of a plurality of subblocks, wherein each subblock includes a plurality of pixels. The video system operates in accordance with nine prediction modes. Each prediction mode determines a prediction mode according to which a present subblock is to be coded. One of the nine prediction modes is selected to encode the present subblock, wherein the selected prediction mode provides for a minimum error value in the present subblock. |
| US08385406B2 |
Method and apparatus of coding/decoding image
An apparatus and a method of coding/decoding an image are provided. The apparatus includes: a low resolution image coding unit that codes a low resolution image corresponding to an input image using motion estimation and compensation; and a residual image coding unit that performs intra mode coding with respect to a residual image which indicates a difference between a reconstructed image of the coded low resolution image and the input image by considering temporal correlation between neighboring residual images. |
| US08385405B2 |
Recorded medium having program for coding and decoding using bit-precision, and apparatus thereof
A coding/decoding device using a bit-precision is disclosed. A coding device includes a bit-precision selecting unit, selecting a bit-precision value according to data to be coded; and a coding unit, generating a bit-stream by coding the data according to the selected bit-precision value, whereas the selected bit-precision value is inserted into the bit-stream.With the present invention, video data can be entropy-coded by selectively determining the number of bits and there can be provided the decoding method with a little complexity which has not only the identical compression rate to the conventional entropy coding method but also no necessity of additional computation when video data is decoded. |
| US08385400B2 |
Adaptive equalization in the presence of burst errors
Methods for providing adaptive equalization in the presence of a burst error are provided. If an equalization algorithm has converged and burst errors are present during a symbol interval, the equalizer coefficients remain unchanged during the symbol interval. If the burst error is no longer present during the next symbol interval, the equalizer coefficients are updated based on the previously converged coefficients. |
| US08385394B2 |
Circuit and method for on-chip jitter measurement
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an improved built-in self-test (BIST) circuit and an associated method for measuring phase and/or cycle-to-cycle jitter of a clock signal. The embodiments of the BIST circuit implement a Variable Vernier Digital Delay Locked Line method. Specifically, the embodiments of the BIST circuit incorporate both a digital delay locked loop and a Vernier delay line, for respectively coarse tuning and fine tuning portions of the circuit. Additionally, the BIST circuit is variable, as the resolution of the circuit changes from chip to chip, and digital, as it is implemented with standard digital logic elements. |
| US08385393B2 |
Transmission power control method for a wireless communication system
Transmission power relative to a propagation path having a variation in gain is controlled to increase communication channel capacity, and a data rate is controlled in accordance with the variation of the increased communication channel capacity. In order to increase the communication channel capacity, the transmission power is determined so that the sum of noise power (=received noise power/propagation path gain) converted into one at a transmitter and the transmission power becomes constant. As a result, contrary to the background art, the transmission power is controlled to be reduced when the propagation path gain decreases and to be increased when the propagation path gain increases. |
| US08385392B2 |
Network and method for transmitting data in a system of pipes
A network contains a main pipe, a branch pipe leading to the main pipe, an electric data line laid in the main pipe and one laid in the individual connecting pipe, one central data distribution unit and a terminal unit. A data line is introduced into the main pipe and is connected to the data distribution unit, its other end laid in the system of pipes being configured as a transmitting or receive antenna. An additional data line is introduced into the system of pipes via the individual connecting pipe and is connected to the terminal unit with one end and another end is configured as a transmitting or receive antenna. The transmitting or receive antenna of the data line serving as an antenna and the transmitting or receive antenna of the additional data line form a pair of antennas between the antennas of which a radio link exists. |
| US08385390B2 |
PHY preamble format for wireless communication system
A system and method of extracting data from data packets transmitted over a wireless network includes receiving a data packet having a preamble portion and a payload portion. The preamble portion is cross correlated with a first known spreading sequence to generate a first timing signal and the preamble portion is cross correlated with a second known spreading signal to generate a frame timing signal. An impulse is detected in the first timing signal and a first timing parameter is set based upon the detected impulse in the first timing signal. An impulse is detected in the frame timing signal and a frame timing parameter is set based upon the detected impulse in the frame timing signal. Data is extracted from the received payload portion according to the first timing parameter and the frame timing parameter. |
| US08385387B2 |
Time dependent equalization of frequency domain spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing using decision feedback equalization
System and method for equalizing an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal having been encoded by spreading subcarriers in the frequency domain using orthogonal codes includes receiving the signal at a receiver (300), demodulating the signal to produce demodulated information, producing a spread frequency domain representation of the demodulated information, determining an equalized representation by adjusting the power and phase of the spread frequency domain representation at least one frequency based on adjustment values, de-spreading the equalized spread frequency domain representation using the orthogonal codes to produce a de-spread frequency domain representation including received subcarriers, determining a subcarrier value for each of the received subcarriers, orthogonally spreading the determined subcarrier values using the orthogonal codes to produce a model spread frequency representation, calculating expected error values based upon the model spread frequency representation and the equalized spread frequency domain representation, and calculating new adjustment values based upon the expected error values. |
| US08385386B2 |
Method for transmitting multiple streams in wireless broadcast networks
Accordingly, a method and apparatus are provided to convert received content into a first stream and a second stream, to transmit said first stream using a first tone and to transmit said second stream using an orthogonal scheme. A layering scheme is used to transmit the base stream covering a smaller area and an enhanced stream is used to cover a large utilizing orthogonal scheme. |
| US08385384B1 |
System, method and apparatus for selecting frequency hopping sequences
Systems, apparatuses and methods for selecting an appropriate frequency hopping sequence in a system of communicating devices. A random seed value is generated at the host device at its point of deployment. A frequency hopping sequence is generated using the random seed value. Other embodiments involve verifying whether the randomly generated seed value is indeed random in the operational vicinity. |
| US08385383B2 |
Transmitting/receiving system and method of processing broadcast signal in transmitting/receiving system
A receiving system and a method of processing broadcast signal. The receiving system includes a signal receiving unit, an equalizer, a turbo decoder, a demultiplexer, first and second error correctors, and a block interleaver. The signal receiving unit receives a broadcast signal, the broadcast signal comprising a data group, which includes mobile service data, a plurality of known data sequences, and signaling data, and demodulating the received broadcast signal. The equalizer channel-equalizes the data group using at least one of the plurality of known data sequences. The turbo decoder turbo-decodes the signaling data contained in the channel-equalized data group. The demultiplexer distinguishes transmission parameter channel (TPC) data and fast information channel (FIC) data from the turbo-decoded signaling data. The first error corrector corrects an error in the TPC data. The block deinterleaver block-deinterleaves the FIC data. The second error corrector corrects an error in the block-deinterleaved FIC data. |
| US08385382B2 |
Compact multi-wavelength and multi-beam laser
A compact solid state laser that generates multiple wavelengths and multiple beams that are parallel, i.e., bore-sighted relative to each other, is disclosed. Each of the multiple laser beams can be at a different wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, repetition rate and average power. Each of the laser beams can be turned on or off independently. The laser is comprised of an optically segmented gain section, common laser resonator with common surface segmented cavity mirrors, optically segmented pump laser, and different intra-cavity elements in each laser segment. |
| US08385381B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser
In a VCSEL, a first multilayer film reflector, an active layer having a light emitting central region, a second multilayer film reflector, and a transverse mode adjustment layer are layered in this order. The first multilayer film reflector has a quadrangle current injection region with an intersection of diagonal lines corresponding to the light emitting central region. The second multilayer film reflector has a light emitting window provided in a region corresponding to one diagonal line of the current injection region and a pair of grooves provided with the light emitting window in between. The transverse mode adjustment layer is provided correspondingly to the light emitting window, and reflectance of a peripheral region thereof is lower than that of a central region thereof. |
| US08385380B2 |
Monochromatic light source
Light emitting systems are disclosed. The light emitting system includes an electroluminescent device that emits light at a first wavelength. The light emitting system further includes an optical cavity that enhances emission of light from a top surface of the light emitting system and suppresses emission of light from one or more sides of the light emitting system. The optical cavity includes a semiconductor multilayer stack that receives the emitted first wavelength light and converts at least a portion of the received light to light of a second wavelength. The semiconductor multilayer stack includes a II-VI potential well. The integrated emission intensity of all light at the second wavelength that exit the light emitting system is at least 10 times the integrated emission intensity of all light at the first wavelength that exit the light emitting system. |
| US08385376B2 |
Compact laser source with reduced spectral width
The invention relates to a laser source with an external cavity generating a useful laser beam (Fu), that comprises at least one laser diode DL (10) mounted in an extended optical cavity (30, 82) defined between two reflecting surfaces (92, 48) forming an optical path for a laser beam Fd generated by the laser diode DL, a mode selection filter (44, 86) in the optical path of the cavity for selecting a resonance mode from a range of resonance modes of the laser beam in the cavity. The extended cavity (2) includes in the optical path thereof an optical device (94) including a polariser (100) that is 100% permissive to a rectilinear polarisation of the beam Fd generated by the laser diode, the reference polarisation angle θ0being of 0 degrees, a polarisation rotator (102) of the beam at the output of the polariser (Fc1) by a predetermined rotation angle θ−1, a polarisation separator (04) of the beam (Frt) at the output of the polarisation rotator, the polarisation separator being inclined in the cavity so that its transmission axis (tt′) is oriented at an angle (−θ−1) having an opposite sign to and the same value as the polarisation angle of the beam (Frt) at the output of the rotator (102), wherein the optical device prevents any feedback of a reflection beam (Fretum) of the useful beam (Fu) towards said laser diode DL. The invention can be used in a laser for cooling atoms, in interferometry experiments, inertial sensors and atomic clocks. |
| US08385373B2 |
Method and apparatus for frame detection in a communications system
A method of determining a boundary of a subframe in a time division duplexing (TDD) system is provided. The method detects a power level of a signal on at least one radio frequency, the signal comprising at least one subframe. A time-domain correlation is done on the detected signal with a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal represents at least one subframe. The location in time of a boundary of the at least one subframe of the detected signal is determined based on the correlation of the detected signal and the first reference signal. |
| US08385366B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting a sequence of data packets and decoder and apparatus for decoding a sequence of data packets
In the context of packet-oriented data transmission via a network, an apparatus for transmitting a sequence of data packets checks whether a packet is missing or faulty. In this case, a replacement packet is provided which is a valid packet with regard to a packet syntax which, however, has a predetermined contents characteristic. On the decoder side, a basic decoder recognizes the packet as a valid packet and decodes same, whereas an extension decoder can enable an error concealing measure on the basis of an indication in the replacement packet to the fact that this is a replacement packet, in order to provide a higher-quality audio reproduction. |
| US08385365B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus, and packet length control method
There is provided a communication apparatus includes a soft decision data detection section which detects soft decision data from a received digitally modulated signal; an indicator calculation section which calculates an indicator indicating a degree of variation in the soft decision data detected by the soft decision data detection section; and a packet length control section which controls a packet length in accordance with the indicator calculated by the indicator calculation section. |
| US08385363B2 |
System and method for adapting analog systems to communicate with packet networks
A system for adapting an analog system to a packet network may include an electronic signal adapter in communication with the analog system and packet network. The electronic signal adapter may be configured to convert information received in data packets from the packet network into dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signals and single tone analog signals and to communicate the DTMF and single tone analog signals to the analog system. The single tones may have a signal strength below approximately −25 dBm. The electronic signal adapter may further be configured to receive and convert analog signals into digital data for communication in data packets over a packet network. |
| US08385361B2 |
Multicast transmission to a radio access network
The present invention relates to a method and system for performing a multicast transmission in a cellular network, wherein an identification information, which indicates terminal devices and/or areas in which authorized terminal devices are assumed to be located, is transmitted from a core network (100) to a radio access network of the cellular network by using a control information transmission protocol. Then, a signalling connection of a control and user data transmission protocol is establishing based on said identification information and used for transmitting multicast related data and corresponding control information between the core network (100) and the radio access network. Thereby, already defined protocol layers can be used for implementing multicast transmission, while modifications are minimized. |
| US08385356B2 |
Data frame forwarding using a multitiered distributed virtual bridge hierarchy
Systems and methods to forward data frames are provided. A particular method may include evaluating address data of a first data frame at a first virtual bridge coupled to a first virtual machine of a first server computer of a plurality of server computers. Based upon the evaluation at the first virtual bridge, the first data frame may be forwarded to a second virtual bridge associated with an adapter that is coupled to the first virtual machine. The address data of the first data frame may be evaluated at the second virtual bridge. Based upon the evaluation, the data frame may be forwarded to a third virtual bridge configured to forward the data frame based upon the address data to a second server computer of the plurality of server computers. |
| US08385355B1 |
E-Trees over MPLS and PBB-TE networks
An E-Tree is disclosed which includes a root node associated with a Metro Ethernet network. The E-Tree includes a first Virtual Bridge (VB), associated with the root node, which is configured to process Ethernet traffic, and a second node associated with the Metro Ethernet network. The E-Tree includes a second VB, associated with the second node, configured to process Ethernet traffic and having a first connection between the first VB and the second VB. The second VB is configured to be able to send Ethernet traffic to the first VB via the first connection, if appropriate. In the event there is a second connection between the second VB and a third VB and the second connection has been assigned a down direction from the point of view of the second VB, the second VB is not permitted to send traffic received from the second connection to another connection which from the point of view of the second VB has been assigned a down direction. |
| US08385354B2 |
Scalable hardware mechanism to implement time outs for pending POP requests to blocking work queues
Methods and apparatus for minimizing resources for handling time-outs of read requests to a work queue in a work queue memory are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a work queue execution engine receives a first read request when the work queue is configured in a blocking mode and is empty. A time-out timer is started in response to receiving the first read request. The work queue execution engine receives a second read request while the first read request is still pending, and the work queue is still empty. When the time-out timer expires for the first read request, the work queue execution engine sends an error response for the first read request and restarts the time-out timer for the second read request taking into account an amount of time the second read request has already been pending. |
| US08385344B2 |
Transmitting a packet from a distributed trunk switch
A method of transmitting a packet from a distributed trunk switch and a computer-readable medium storing instructions therefor is described. The method comprises populating an address table of the distributed trunk switch. The method also comprises receiving a packet from a device connected to the distributed trunk switch and transmitting the received packet via a distributed trunk (DT) port of the distributed trunk switch if the destination address of the received packet corresponds to a distributed trunk port in the address table. |
| US08385343B2 |
Method and apparatus for searching IP address
The present disclosure provides IP address lookup method and apparatus. In one embodiment of the disclosure, an IP address lookup apparatus stores node information generated for a binary search-on-levels architecture in a universal multi-hashing table prior to searching with an advance filtering by a universal Bloom filter minimizing the number of accesses to the universal multi-hashing table before executing the IP address lookup. |
| US08385339B1 |
Transmitting and receiving messages
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system and method for transmitting messages. In one advantageous embodiment, a system comprising a number of transceiver units, a first computer system, and a second computer system is provided. The number of transceiver units are configured for use in a cabin of a vehicle, each of the number of transceiver units being configured to receive a number of messages and transmit the number of messages to a subsequent transceiver unit, wherein the subsequent transceiver unit is identified based on a physical position of each of the number of transceiver units to one another. The first computer system is configured for use in the cabin, the first computer system receiving the number of messages on a first number of physical network media and transmitting the number of messages over a first wireless communications link to a first transceiver unit in the number of transceiver units. |
| US08385337B2 |
Determining packet forwarding information for packets sent from a protocol offload engine in a packet switching device
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-readable media, mechanisms used in one embodiment configured for, and means for, determining packet forwarding information for packets sent from a protocol offload engine in a packet switching device. The protocol offload engine performs the protocol processing for a protocol application (e.g., BGP) running on a separate control plane processing system, and generates packets to be sent to external devices. The protocol offload engine sends these packets to one of the line cards without using the routing information lookup facility of the control plane processing system, thereby, freeing the control plane processing system to use those processing cycles to perform other tasks. |
| US08385334B2 |
Communication via address modulation
Systems and methods are provided for communication via address modulation on an communication channel. A first processing component is configured to produce a plurality of data packets. Each data packet has an associated address from a plurality of available addresses. The system further comprises a plurality of addressable entities, with each of the addressable entities being represented by a proper subset of at least two of the available addresses. A second processing component is configured to apply at least one conditioning process to the series of data packets. The first processing component is configured to select an address for each packet from the subset of available addresses representing the addressable entity associated with the packet as to communicate data between the first processing component and the second processing component. |
| US08385332B2 |
Network-based macro mobility in cellular networks using an extended routing protocol
A new architecture provides network-based mobility in cellular networks that is built on Internet Protocol (IP)/Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) technologies, such as Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS), the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and BGP MPLS Layer 3 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The architecture consists of several building blocks that provide functionality for different aspects of cellular network mobility. One building block is network-based macro mobility in IP/MPLS networks. The macro mobility techniques described herein are built on extensions to a routing protocol such as BGP. Another building block relates to transferring subscriber context between network devices while preserving the IP address of the subscriber. The techniques described herein provide a subscriber context transfer mechanism for mobile subscriber management that is built on extensions to a routing protocol such as BGP. Another building block of the mobility architecture is network-based micro mobility based on VPLS. |
| US08385329B2 |
Method and system of voice carry over for instant messaging relay services
A method of assisting communication for a user is provided. The method includes receiving an IM message including a request for a voice carry over from the user, and transmitting to the user an invitation to join a first voice connection. The method further includes initiating the first voice connection with the user, and initiating a second voice connection with a recipient. Additionally, the method includes communicating to the recipient a first voice communication from the user over the first and second voice connections, and communicating to the user a response IM message including a transcribed version of a second voice communication from the recipient. An apparatus for assisting communication for a user is provided. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions is provided. The computer-executable instructions cause a processor to perform a method when executed. |
| US08385322B2 |
Distributed ad hoc network protocol using synchronous shared beacon signaling
A method for forming a protocol structure for use in an ad hoc, distributed, scaleable wireless sensor node network which enables nodes to join the network autonomously without there being a designated, permanent central time reference and for enabling such nodes to synchronize timing with each other and with other nodes in the network. The method involves discovering the active channel changing sequence used by the network, synchronizing communications of a new node with the remainder of the nodes in the network and scanning communications channels to detect merging clusters of nodes. |
| US08385320B2 |
System and method for uplink timing synchronization
A system and method are disclosed for providing uplink timing synchronization in a wireless communication system. The uplink timing synchronization may be provided via a specific message sent from the user equipment to a network access device, or may be calculated based upon data received at the network access device from the user equipment. |
| US08385317B2 |
Methods and apparatus supporting multiple timing synchronizations corresponding to different communications peers
Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. A wireless communications device supports peer to peer communications with multiple peers. The wireless communications device determines its transmit timing synchronization based on a reference signal received from a node such as a base station, a satellite, or a beacon transmitter which does not transmit user data. The wireless communications device determines a plurality of different receive timing adjustments corresponding to different peer communications devices based on signals received from those peer communications devices. The wireless communications device stores the plurality of determined receive timing adjustment information corresponding to the different peer communications devices. The wireless communications device retrieves and applies stored receive timing adjustment information which matches the particular device which transmitted the signal attempting to be recovered. |
| US08385313B2 |
Multi-tier polling
A polling arrangement where polling frequency and/or rates may be adjusted according to activities of end stations or other elements being polled. The ability to adjust the polling activities may be used to facilitate reducing or otherwise controlling network resources allocated to the supporting the polling or other messaging depending operations. |
| US08385312B2 |
Wireless communication terminal includes a setting section which sets frame transmission intervals
A wireless communication terminal includes a setting section and a communication control section. The setting section sets frame transmission intervals IFSh and IFSt (IFSh |
| US08385311B2 |
Hierarchical random acces method for wireless communication system having significantly large cell
Disclosed is a hierarchical random access method for a wireless communication system having a significantly large cell. According to the present invention, a length of a preamble sequence and a length of a reference slot may be designed based on a terminal having greatest capacity of adjusting a timing error arrived at a base station, and a slot length may be designed to be an integer multiple of the length of the reference slot depending on a timing error correction capacity, thereby enabling terminals to use various slot lengths. |
| US08385306B2 |
Power control arrangement for long term elvolution time division duplex method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems and apparatuses for optimizing downlink path loss (PL) measurements in time division duplex (TDD) systems enabling fast power control targeting to decrease fading margin. In one embodiment, a method of power control in a long term evolution time division duplex (TDD) system is provided. The method includes controlling a length of a path loss measurement filter based on an allocation type. A width and frequency position of the path loss measurement filter is made dependent on the allocation type. |
| US08385304B2 |
System and method for configuration of network-capable appliances
A controlling device is used to configure an appliance for wireless network communications through use of a setup wizard installed on a computing device. The setup wizard is used to obtain from a user information required to perform communications on a wireless network via a wireless network router and a digital representation of the information obtained from the user through use of the setup wizard is provided to the controlling device. The controlling device is then used to transfer the digital representation of the information to the appliance whereupon the appliance will use the digital representation of the information to configure itself for wireless network communications. |
| US08385303B2 |
System and method for inter-radio access technology signal measurement
A multi-mode user equipment is provided. The multi-mode user equipment includes a processor configured to promote measurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology based communication during a portion of a macrotechnology based communication, wherein the portion is assigned by a macrotechnology based network component. |
| US08385296B2 |
Multi-carrier CDMA transmitting device and method using block-based multi-carrier spreading
A multi-carrier CDMA transfer device using block-based partial-carrier spreading uses block-based partial-carrier spreading in the multi-cell environment to be applied to MC-CDMA models (FH-MC/CDMA TDD) that are strong against multi-path fading. A transmitter of the transfer device spreads carriers per block in the frequency domain by using the block-based partial-carrier spreading, and a receiver despreads received signals by using the block-based partial-carrier and restore original data. Optionally, an array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements is applied to the transmitter and the receiver, and weights are adaptively applied depending on the channel quality when transmitting and receiving signals through the antenna elements. Therefore, frequency diversity is obtainable and inter-cell interference and inter-code interference is optimized in the MC-CDMA method. Also, changes of frequency hopping reduce temporal variations of channels and prevent a high SN ratio. |
| US08385293B2 |
Cell base station neighbor list self configuration
A code division multiple access telecommunications network including an underlay base station in a private premises and a plurality of overlay macro base stations. The underlay base station includes a GPS receiver and a mobile unit receiver. The underlay base station uses its geographic location to obtain information identifying macro base stations within a preselected distance of the underlay base station. It uses the mobile receiver to measure pilot signal strength of the macro base stations. It generates a neighbor list of the identified macro base stations ranked according to pilot signal strength. |
| US08385292B2 |
Apparatus, and an associated method, for preserving communication service quality levels during hand-off of communications in a radio communication system
A mobile station is configured to transmit a sequence of data packets over a wireless network. The station includes a data sequence expander. The expander receives an indication of a pending hand-off for the mobile station from a first network access point to a second network access point and estimates an amount of time prior to occurrence of the hand-off. The expander inserts a number of delay packets into the sequence of data packets in response to receiving the indication of the pending hand-off. The number of delay packets is determined based on the estimated amount of time prior to the occurrence of the hand-off such that the insertion of the delay packets into the sequence of data packets will cause a delay that corresponds to the amount of time prior to occurrence of the hand-off. |
| US08385289B2 |
Procedure processing method for packet mode locating services in a mobile radiocommunication system
Systems and methods are provided for procedure processing for packet mode location services in a mobile radio communications cellular system, which may include entities of a base station subsystem (BSS) type, a network service entity (NSE), and a serving GPRS support mode (SGSN). In accordance with the systems and methods provided herein, in the event of an inter-NSE cell change, a current location procedure is not aborted if it can be maintained by the BSS. |
| US08385288B2 |
Multi-channel SDMA
Certain embodiments provide a method for scheduling packet transmissions in a multi-channel wireless communications system. The method generally includes requesting, from a plurality of wireless network nodes, an identification of channels available for communicating with the wireless network nodes, receiving an identification of channels available for communicating with the wireless network nodes, determining a schedule for packet transmission for the wireless network nodes based on the identification of channels, and communicating the schedule to the wireless network nodes. |
| US08385285B2 |
System, method and devices for enabling efficient hybrid route optimization between two mobile endpoints
A network, a method and devices (i.e., mobile node, access router, home agent, destination home agent) are described herein for enabling an efficient hybrid route optimization between two mobile endpoints so they can re-direct their data traffic to an optimal path without exchanging any mobility signaling messages. |
| US08385283B2 |
Real-time service transmission method and resource allocation method
The invention discloses a method for real-time service transmission and a method for resource allocation, wherein, the method for resource allocation of real-time service transmission includes the following processing: through the resource allocation control channels, the base station allocates the semi-static service channel resources to the terminal to be used for the initial transmission of hybrid automatic repeat request of the real-time service packets; wherein, before the base station reconfigures or releases the semi-static service channel resources, the terminal can use the semi-static service channel resources continuously; through the resource allocation control channels, the base station allocates the dynamic service channel resources to the terminal to be used for the retransmission of the hybrid automatic repeat request of the real-time service packets; wherein, the terminal can only use the dynamic service channel resources within the allocated time frame. The present invention can ensure the real time of service transmission and reduce the control signaling overhead during service transmission, thereby ensuring the QoS requirements of service. |
| US08385279B2 |
Resource allocation apparatus and method for reducing overhead in mobile communication system
An operating method of a base station for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduce overhead in a mobile communication system includes calculating a total amount of resources allocated to a corresponding subframe in a period of a corresponding fixed allocation resource; when the total amount of the resources allocated to the corresponding subframe is greater than a threshold, temporarily canceling one or more corresponding fixed allocation resources to make the total amount of the resources allocated to the corresponding subframe less than or equal to the threshold; and reallocating the one or more canceled fixed allocation resources according to a corresponding rule. |
| US08385278B2 |
Mobile radio terminal and communication processing method
A mobile radio terminal includes a radio transmission/reception unit and a control unit. The radio transmission/reception unit uses a radio signal to perform transmission and reception to and from a base station belonging to a circuit switching network, and also uses a radio signal to perform transmission and reception to and from a base station belonging to a mobile communication network. The mobile communication network is connected to the circuit switching network and forms an integrated communication network together with the circuit switching network. When the mobile radio terminal is on standby in a base station belonging to the mobile communication network, the control unit activates the radio transmission/reception unit and controls the radio transmission/reception unit so as to maintain synchronization with a base station belonging to the circuit switching network. |
| US08385276B2 |
Frequency tracking loop for wireless communications
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate computing discriminator signals for frequency tracking in wireless communications. The discriminator signal can be computed based at least in part on representations of a received signal shifted upward by a portion of a frequency tone and downward by the portion of the frequency tone. The shifted signals can be summed, and a dot product of the summed signals and a channel estimation of the original signal can be computed to remove uncertain frequency response due to fading. The discriminator signal can be computed as the imaginary portion of the dot product. A frequency error offset can be determined from the discriminator signal and applied to a receiver to tune alignment of the receiver with frequencies of received signals. |
| US08385270B2 |
Apparatus and method for operating a communications device in a mobile communications network
Apparatus and a method for handling discard of a service data unit in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment. Strategies for the radio resource control entity to handle discard of a service data unit by the radio link control entity are presented. |
| US08385269B2 |
Enabling IPv6 mobility with sensing features for AD-HOC networks derived from long term evolution networks
A wireless communication device includes a plurality of different wireless interfaces to facilitate communications with a remote device over a corresponding plurality of networks. The device can switch between the different interfaces to migrate an on-going communications session from one that requires the infrastructure of a fixed wireless communication network to one that does not require the infrastructure of a fixed wireless communication network. Switching between the various interfaces allows the migration to occur while protecting the device against malicious third-party impersonation attacks. |
| US08385268B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient control decoding for transparent relaying operation in a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate efficient control decoding to facilitate management of cooperative relay operation in a wireless communication environment. As described herein, a relay node (RN) and/or another entity cooperating with a serving network node for respective users in a potentially assisted group can prune a search space of control decoding candidates corresponding to the respective users. For example, respective control decoding candidates corresponding to, e.g., common and/or user-specific search spaces, aggregation levels, control channel sizes, etc., can be eliminated from a reduced control search space based on various criteria. Further, sets of control decoding candidates corresponding to respective users not schedulable at a given time interval can be eliminated. In addition, control search space pruning can be performed in addition to or in place of increased cyclic redundancy check (CRC) protection for control information, thereby further decreasing the probability of false control detection. |
| US08385267B2 |
Client routing in a peer-to-peer overlay network
A method of client routing in a peer-to-peer (“P2P”) overlay network is provided. In one embodiment, the method of client routing in a P2P overlay network comprises requesting communication with a client by a first peer using the P2P overlay network, wherein said first peer is directed to a second peer to which said client is registered in the P2P overlay network; determining that said client is not attached to said second peer in the P2P overlay network and said client has access to another network; providing said second peer with said client's location in the P2P overlay network using said other network, wherein said client's location is associated with a third peer to which said client is attached and not registered in the P2P overlay network; forwarding said client's location from said second peer to said first peer using the P2P overlay network, and using said client's location to communicate with said client by said first peer using the P2P overlay network. |
| US08385263B2 |
Communication system, domain managing device, edge device and mobile terminal device
A technique disclosed enables a node having a plurality of interfaces to conduct connection of the plurality of interfaces simultaneously in a communication network domain. A mobile node having a plurality of interfaces connects one of the interfaces with a MAG (mobile access gateway) 11a to take part in a NetLMM domain 18 using a NetLMM protocol, and a LMA (local mobility anchor) 13 includes association information with the MAG 11a registered therein. When the mobile node connects another interface with another MAG 11b, the LMA receives a registration request for association information of this mobile node with the MAG 11b, and makes an inquiry to the already registered MAG 11a as to whether link with the mobile node is still valid or not. If the link is valid, the LMA keeps association information of the mobile node with both of the MAGs 11a and 11b. |
| US08385262B2 |
Transferring data in a dual transfer mode between a mobile network and mobile stations
A circuit mobility management entity (CMM) is intended a mobile network adapted for transferring data in a dual transfer mode to and from mobile stations. The CMM is arranged, when it has established a circuit-switched (CS) connection between a mobile station and the mobile network and when it receives from a radio resource entity (RR) of the mobile network, a message informing that the CS procedure corresponding to this CS connection is ended, to determine if a GPRS Tunnelling Transport Protocol (GTTP) procedure is running for a packet-switched (PS) signalling procedure which concerns the mobile station, then either i) require release of the CS connection near the RR entity if the GTTP procedure is ended, or ii) maintain the CS connection as long as the GTTP procedure is running, and require release of the CS connection near the RR entity when the GTTP procedure is ended. |
| US08385260B2 |
Wireless base station, communication system, belonging information management method and storage medium for storing program
The present invention is to allow prompt and reliable synchronization of belonging information management table even in environments where there is a possibility of receiving update notification information from a plurality of wireless base stations, without needing unnecessarily large traffic for synchronization of belonging information management table. Wireless base station stores belonging information management table, to which belonging information of a terminal belonging to the base station is associated with, to new/old judgment information for judgment of new/old of update. Belonging information update unit performs update of belonging information including the new/old judgment information thereof. Further, upon receiving update notification information from other wireless base station, the belonging information update unit updates the belonging information management table based on the update notification information. The update notification information includes at least updated portion in the belonging information and new/old judgment information. |
| US08385257B2 |
Method for relaying and forwarding the feedback information in HARQ scenario
A method for relaying and forwarding feedback information in hybrid automatic repeat request scenario is provided, wherein the method for sending feedback information includes that: a relay station receives a resource allocation message; the relay station determines the time of sending the feedback information according to the resource allocation message, and sends the corresponding feedback information when the feedback time arrives. The processes of triggering the relay station to perform feedback or sending in multiple HARQ scenarios such as initial transmission and retransmission of downlink and uplink, and uplink feedback loss of subordinate node etc. are integrally and uniformly defined according to the present invention. |
| US08385256B2 |
Method and system for efficient synchronization in a wireless communication system
Embodiments herein provide a method and system for synchronization in a Wireless Communication Network using a new frame, Synchronization Frame (SF), and a configurable length of the same that is transmitted from a Network Controller (NC) to the Network Elements (NEs) in the network. The periodicity of the SF could be changed, to align with the data exchange periodicity, while still keeping synchronization. The length of the SF is made configurable to achieve this effect. It is directly proportional to the period, with which it needs to be transmitted, i.e., a larger delay between two SFs is achievable through the use of a larger SF frame size. This method provides a mechanism in which synchronization between the NC and NEs is achieved by listening to only a part of the SF, which is constant in size. This method also provides tolerance to failure by using acknowledgement schemes. |
| US08385251B2 |
Data communication control apparatus, data communication system, data communication method, and computer-readable storage medium recording data communication program
A user location monitoring unit of a data communication control apparatus monitors a message sent from a wireless device via a repeater. Upon detection of a change in the location of the wireless device, the user location monitoring unit updates the location information in the database and notifies via the Internet a management server of the location change. Upon receipt of the message via the Internet, a destination address confirming and correcting unit of the data communication control apparatus uses the user ID of a destination wireless device as a search keyword to search the database. In turn, the destination address confirming and correcting unit corrects the destination address of the message to the latest address of the pertinent user ID and outputs the corrected message to a received message forwarding unit. |
| US08385247B2 |
Communication systems and methods with resource management for overlapping multicast and broadcast service zones
A method for providing resource allocation in a communication network includes identifying at least two broadcast zones for receiving broadcast services in the communication network and generating a first index based on a relative relationship among the at least two broadcast zones. The first index includes information indicative of whether a first broadcast zone overlaps with at least one other broadcast zone. The method further includes generating a second index based on the relative relationship among the at least two broadcast zones; assigning at least one identifier to each of the at least two broadcast zones based on the first index and the second index; and enabling data transmissions to the at least two broadcast zones based on the assigned identifiers and using the at least one communication resource associated with the identifiers. The second index may include information indicative of a number of broadcast zones overlapped with the first broadcast zone. Each identifier may be associated with at least one communication resource, with distinct identifiers being assigned to overlapping broadcast zones of the at least two broadcast zones. |
| US08385242B2 |
Optimised messaging patterns
A fixed phase shift for each of a plurality of radio frequency signal components directed to or received from a plurality of antenna elements (100A, 100B) is formed in a phase shifter (102). A desired antenna beam pattern with at least one grating lobe is formed on the basis of the phase-shifted radio frequency signal components of the antenna elements (100A, 100B) in a predefined antenna structure. |
| US08385235B2 |
Full division duplex system and a leakage cancellation method
An exemplary embodiment of a full division duplex system comprises a receiver, a transmitter and an auxiliary circuit. The receiver receives an inbound RF signal of a first band to generate an inbound baseband signal, and the transmitter up converts an outbound baseband signal by an oscillation signal to generate an outbound RF signal of a second band for transmission. The auxiliary circuit calculates leakages from the outbound RF signal to generate a blocker replica, in which a LNA is coupled to a non-conductive coupling path extended from the input of receiver to collect leakages from the outbound RF signal to produce an induction signal. The induction signal is down converted to perform an adjustment, and thereafter up converted again to generate the blocker replica. In this way, the inbound baseband signal is generated from a subtraction of the inbound RF signal and the blocker replica. |
| US08385232B1 |
Flexible alerting for integrated cellular and VoIP
An integrated cellular/Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone system including a flexible alerting system, which in response to an inbound call placed to a pilot telephone number, routes a first call leg to a cellular telephone assigned to the pilot telephone number and a second call leg to a first telephone number. The telephone system further includes a VoIP server, adapted to establish an inbound call to a VoIP client in response to an inbound call leg routed to the first telephone number. To provide an integrated one-number service, the VoIP server also establishes an outbound call but sets the caller identification data to correspond to the pilot telephone number, in response to an outbound call originated by the VoIP client. |
| US08385231B2 |
Disseminating link state information to nodes of a network
Techniques are generally disclosed for disseminating link state information to one or more nodes of a network of nodes, the network of nodes interconnected via a plurality of communication channels. |
| US08385225B1 |
Estimating round trip time of a network path
A base round trip time (RTT) for a path in a network is determined. The RTT along a network path between a source node and a destination node is measured one or more times. A sample set of fitting parameters based on a distribution of historical queue delays is obtained. A Monte Carlo simulation is performed using the fitting parameters in the sample set to generate a distribution of queue delays for the measured network path. A base RTT for the network path is determined using the measured RTT and the distribution of queue delays. |
| US08385224B2 |
Shared Wi-Fi / wireless broadband access
A subscriber device detects a potential node for providing supplemental bandwidth to the subscriber device. The subscriber device sends, to a control server, an indication of the potential node. The subscriber device requests, via a primary data path, data from a content server and detects high bandwidth usage of the primary data path. The subscriber device sends, to the control server and based on the detected high bandwidth usage, a request for supplemental bandwidth. The subscriber device receives a portion of the data via the primary data path and another portion of the data from the potential node via a secondary data path that differs from the primary data path. |
| US08385223B2 |
Interference resistant satellite link power control using downlink beacon
A method for determining EIRP of user terminals in a satellite communication system comprises obtaining a frequency gain of a gateway at one or more frequencies, obtaining a path gain of the gateway for one or more signal paths, and obtaining a satellite beacon signal power at a receiver of the gateway. The method also comprises determining a target signal power at the gateway for one or more frequency channels, where the target signal power based at least in part on the frequency gain, the path gain, and the satellite beacon signal power. The method also comprises obtaining a message signal power at the gateway of a message from a user terminal, and determining the EIRP of the user terminal based at least in part on a difference between the target signal power and the message signal power. |