Document Document Title
US08386975B2 Method, system, and computer program product for improved electrical analysis
An improved method, system, user interface, and computer program product is described for using a memory and learning component to improve capacitance and resistance estimates based on the types of layouts and devices being evaluated. According to some approaches, a learning component is implemented that uses recommended test sets from the evaluation component to automatically test the extraction estimates against the field solver. Variability models from manufacturing or electrical analysis may also be used to select a series of objects (unique conductor geometries) that make up a conduction path or net or specific conductor geometries for evaluation and additional learning improvement.
US08386974B2 Accelerating coverage convergence using symbolic properties
In a method for increasing coverage convergence during verification of a design for an integrated circuit, multiple simulation runs can be performed. Symbolic variables and symbolic expressions can be generated for the variables and the variable expressions in the hardware code of the design and a test bench. Exemplary hardware code can include the hardware description language (HDL) code and/or the hardware verification language (HVL) code. Symbolic properties, which are derived from propagating the symbolic variables and symbolic expressions through the design and the test bench during the multiple simulation runs, can be collected. Coverage information from the multiple simulation runs can be analyzed to identify coverage points to be targeted. At this point, for each identified coverage point, the constraints resulting from the collected symbolic properties can be solved to generate directed stimuli for the design. These directed stimuli can increase the coverage convergence.
US08386972B2 Method and apparatus for managing the configuration and functionality of a semiconductor design
A method of managing the configuration, design parameters, and functionality of an integrated circuit (IC) design using a hardware description language (HDL). Instructions can be added, subtracted, or generated by the designer interactively during the design process, and customized HDL descriptions of the IC design are generated through the use of scripts based on the user-edited instruction set and inputs. The customized HDL description can then be used as the basis for generating “makefiles” for purposes of simulation and/or logic level synthesis. The method further affords the ability to generate an HDL model of a complete device, such as a microprocessor or DSP. A computer program implementing the aforementioned method and a hardware system for running the computer program are also disclosed.
US08386967B2 Semiconductor layout scanning method and system
A method for scanning a semiconductor layout, the layout comprising objects with edges and corners, the method comprising identifying locally closest point pairs, identifying a proximity relation between two parallel edges where the parallel edges have at least one locally closest point pair in common and storing the proximity relation in a proximity relations table of a database together with a reference to the corresponding pair of edges. Locally closest point pairs are identified where the first edge and the second edge are not in contact with each other, a distance between the first point and the second point is the shortest distance between the first edge and the second edge, and a convex bounding area with the first point and the second point on its boundary contains no edge.
US08386965B2 Techniques and systems for enhancing touch screen device accessibility through virtual containers and virtually enlarged boundaries
Techniques for increasing accessibility of touch-screen devices are disclosed. In one aspect, container regions on a touch-sensitive user interface of a touch screen device are defined. A touch event corresponding to a location on the user interface is received, and it is determined that the location corresponds to a particular container region. When another touch event is received, content is determined according to a context of the particular container region. The content is then presented. In another aspect, data specifying locations of user interface items on a user interface is received. The data is modified to enlarge an area for a particular item. A touch input event corresponding to a particular location on the user interface is received. It is determined that the location is within the enlarged area for the item, and input is provided to an application indicating that the item was selected.
US08386964B2 Interactive image matting
A user interface enables interactive image matting to be performed on an image The user interface may provide results including an alpha matte as feedback in real time. The user interface may provide interactive tools for selecting a portion of the image, and an unknown region for alpha matte processing may be automatically generated adjacent to the selected region. The user may interactively refine the alpha matte as desired to obtain a satisfactory result.
US08386953B1 Accordion user interface
A method executed at a client computer accesses a data record having a fixed set of predefined fields and a set of custom fields. Each predefined field has a predefined field name and a field value, and each custom field has a user-specified field name and a field value. The method displays the data record in a graphical user interface, which includes data entry controls for user specification of a field name and a field value. The method receives input from a user that includes a user-specified field name in the data entry controls. When the user-specified field name matches a field name of a predefined field, the method stores a user-supplied value in that predefined field. When the user-specified field name does not match the field name of any predefined field, the method stores the user-specified field name and the user-supplied value in an allocated custom field.
US08386944B2 Method for providing graphical user interface and electronic device using the same
A method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and an electronic device using the method are provided. The method includes forming one or more groups of GUI items other than a GUI item selected by a user, moving the GUI items in the one or more groups, and enlarging and displaying the selected item on an area formed by movement of the GUI items. Therefore, it is possible to provide a GUI which enables easy manipulation and which is displayed with superior visual effect on a screen that is relatively small in size.
US08386943B2 Method for query based on layout information
The present invention discloses a method for query based on layout information, including: setting up a query condition containing layout information; and querying an electronic document based on the query condition containing the layout information. The present invention also discloses a device corresponding to the method.
US08386935B2 Content summary and segment creation
Disclosed herein is an ability to create segments of content, such as video, audio, multimedia, image, animation, interactive, etc. content, to associate metadata to each segment created, and to generate a summary of content comprising one or more segments using the metadata associated with the content segments. One or more acticons represented as icons in a user interface displayable to a user can be used to indicate a starting and/or ending point for a content segment. An acticon can represent an occurrence in the content, or a reaction of a user experiencing the content, for example.
US08386933B2 Apparatus and method for providing digital content
A digital content providing apparatus including an interactive content composer to compose continuous interactive contents by linking at least two content units depending on at least one pre-condition or post-condition selected determined on the basis of a user's request and a reproducer to seamlessly reproduce the composed interactive contents.
US08386929B2 Personal assistant for task utilization
An electronic personal assistant that uses task information to obtain task performance assistance and help content is provided. Tasks from an electronic tasks application may be utilized by the personal assistant application to search a variety of information sources for task performance functionality and help content related to the tasks. The personal assistant may provide functionality to help a user actually perform a given task. Alternatively, once help content is obtained, a new task may be generated or the related task may be modified to provide the help content or to provide a link to the help content. The personal assistant application may provide the help content in a separate user interface or cause an application from which the help content is obtained to be launched.
US08386927B1 Gravity-based link assist
A user interface of an electronic content rendering device implements gravity-based link assist to enhance user experience when browsing linked content. As a user moves a pointer along a trajectory across various links and objects, gravitational fields surrounding the links and objects provide a pulling effect that draws the pointer toward these fields. Responsive to pointer deceleration being detected when the pointer resides within a gravitational field, the link assist repositions the pointer to a center of the link or object relative to the trajectory of the pointer within the field.
US08386924B2 Apparatus, method and system for transforming data
An apparatus, method and system to automatically associate page elements, and convert and transform between disparate data and device format types. This allows for the ability to transform a single data source into multiple output composites suitable for deployment in disparate media outlets and on disparate output devices. Such automatic generation of disparate composites allows for the ability to take content written once in any given format and have said content automatically regenerated for any desired output outlet. The present disclosure further provides the ability to create and edit templates and data, and save edited changes affecting a single or a collection of templates. The invention teaches how to create associations from a piece of data and any of its page elements. Such associations facilitate the automatic transformation of the data into various output formats.
US08386912B2 Hypermedia document publishing including hypermedia document parsing
Hypermedia documents can be published using a computer system by recursively parsing a hypermedia document to identify at least one direct linked document and at least one nested linked document. The addresses for the hypermedia document, the direct linked document and the nested linked document are remapped and versions of the hypermedia document and the linked documents are stored in a directory at their remapped addresses. The directory then can be distributed to another location on a network. Alternatively, or in addition, the hypermedia document and a document linked to it can be processed (e.g., converted to standard formats) based on predefined criteria before versions of the documents are stored in the directory.
US08386910B2 Differencing and merging tree-structured documents
Differencing and merging tree-structured documents, such as eXtensible Markup Language (XML) documents, is disclosed. A differencing-and-merging system for tree-structured documents of one embodiment of the invention includes a difference processing unit and a merging processing unit. The differencing processing unit performs a difference operation on at least two tree-structured documents, in accordance with difference configuration information regarding the documents. The merging processing unit performs a merging operation on the tree-structured documents from correspondence information generated by the difference processing unit, based on the difference operation configuration information regarding the documents. The correspondence information indicates differences among nodes of the documents. The difference operation configuration information specifies one or more nodes among the documents that are to be considered equivalent when the difference operation is performed, and one or more nodes among the documents that are to be ignored when the difference operation is performed.
US08386904B2 High speed low density parity check codes encoding and decoding
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for generating a single rate or multi-rate highly structured low density parity check, encoding a data stream with the generated LDPC matrix for transmission in a wireless communication system, and for efficient LDPC decoding at a receiver.
US08386901B2 Method, device and software application for transmitting data packets in a communication system
A transmitting apparatus transmits a plurality of data packets to a receiver in a communication system, by transmitting one or more data packets from a list of data packets to be transmitted, and determining whether an acknowledgment is received for each transmitted data packet. When it is determined that an acknowledgement has not been received for at least one data packet, referred to as an unacknowledged data packet, the apparatus selects one or more additional data packets from the list of data packets to be transmitted, generates one or more parity packets by encoding a block of data containing a combination of the selected one or more additional data packets and at least one unacknowledged data packet using a forward error correction scheme, and transmits at least one of the generated parity packets.
US08386900B2 Controlling point-to-multipoint transmissions of content data over a radio interface
The invention relates to error control for point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmissions of content data over a radio interface. A method embodiment for controlling a PTM transmission in a PTM-enabled network comprises the steps of receiving and storing redundancy data at a dedicated redundancy data storage in a radio access network, wherein the redundancy data are provided for a correction of transmission errors in the content data resulting from the transmission of the content data without the redundancy data over one or more radio interfaces; receiving a request for redundancy data from a redundancy data control node; and responding to the redundancy data request by providing at least a portion of the redundancy data.
US08386895B2 Enhanced multilevel memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to semiconductor memories and, more particularly, to multilevel non-volatile or volatile memories.
US08386893B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. The method includes, receiving a broadcast signal in which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, extracting transmission parameter signaling information and fast-information-channel signaling information from a data group contained in the received mobile service data, parsing first program table information, which describes virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble acting as a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, using the fast-information-channel signaling information, parsing second program table information including a data chunk acting as data-broadcasting contents of the mobile service data, and providing a data broadcasting service using the data broadcasting contents of the parsed second program table information.
US08386891B2 Anamorphic codes
The error tolerance of an array of m storage units is increased by using a technique referred to as “dodging.” A plurality of k stripes are stored across the array of storage units in which each stripe has n+r elements that correspond to a symmetric code having a minimum Hamming distance d=r+1. Each respective element of a stripe is stored on a different storage unit. An element is selected when a difference between a minimum distance of the donor stripe and a minimum distance of a recipient stripe is greater or equal to 2. The selected element is also stored on a storage unit having no elements of the recipient stripe. A lost element of the recipient stripe is then rebuilt on the selected element.
US08386890B2 Error correction for multilevel flash memory
An integrated circuit is provided with an array of multilevel flash memory cells. In one embodiment these flash memory cells have a storage signal level which is Gray coded to output data bits thereby increasing the independence between bit errors. The error correction circuitry targets independent identical distributed error patterns. In another embodiment, the storage signal levels are read to generate n-bit symbols which are then subject to error correction with an error correction mechanism targeted at the error properties of those n-bit symbols. The data is read in sets of symbols such that the error correction targeted at those symbols will be more efficient.
US08386888B2 Error correcting circuit and disk storage device for detecting and correcting insertion and/or deletion errors
An error correcting circuit includes a marker decoder for sampling 2-bit markers from a data string and, from sample values of the 2-bit markers, determine whether there is an occurrence of an error on the 2-bit markers, of an insertion error, or of a deletion error. The circuit also includes an error corrector for performing an error correction on the data string received from the marker decoder by using an error correcting code in the data string. When either one of the insertion error and the deletion error is determined to have occurred, the marker decoder can perform another error correction on the either one of the insertion error and the deletion error, and output the data string from which the 2-bit markers are removed.
US08386887B2 High-speed memory system
The disclosed embodiments relate to a Flash-based memory module having high-speed serial communication. The Flash-based memory module comprises, among other things, a plurality of I/O modules, each configured to communicate with an external device over one or more external communication links, a plurality of Flash-based memory cards, each comprising a plurality of Flash memory devices, and a plurality of crossbar switching elements, each being connected to a respective one of the Flash-based memory cards and configured to allow each one of the I/O modules to communicate with the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards. Each I/O module is connected to each crossbar switching element by a high-speed serial communication link, and each crossbar switching element is connected to the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards by a plurality of parallel communication links.
US08386879B2 GLDPC encoding with Reed-Muller component codes for optical communications
A method of encoding for optical transmission of information includes encoding information with a generalized low-density parity-check (GLDPC) code for providing coding gains, and constructing the GLDPC code with a Reed-Muller RM code as a component code, the component code being decodable using a maximum posterior probability (MAP) decoding. In a preferred embodiment, the GLDPC code includes a codeword length of substantially 4096, an information word length of substantially 3201, a lower-bound on minimum distance of substantially greater than or equal to 16, a code rate of substantially 0.78 and the RM component code includes an order of substantially 4 and an r parameter of substantially 6.
US08386861B2 Non-volatile memory and method with post-write read and adaptive re-write to manage errors
Data errors in non-volatile memory inevitably increase with usage and with higher density of bits stored per cell. For acceptable quality assurance, conventional error correction codes (“ECC”) have to correct a maximum number of error bits up to the far tail end of a statistical population. The present memory is configured to have a first portion operating with less error but of lower density storage, and a second portion operating with a higher density but less robust storage. If excessive error bits (at the far tail-end) occur after writing a group of data to the second portion, the data is adaptively rewritten to the first portion which will produce less error bits. Preferably, the data is initially written to a cache also in the first portion to provide source data for any rewrites. Thus, a more efficient ECC not requiring to correcting for the far tail end can be used.
US08386860B2 Methods of calculating compensation voltage and adjusting threshold voltage and memory apparatus and controller
Methods of calculating a compensation voltage and adjusting a threshold voltage, a memory apparatus, and a controller are provided. In the present invention, data is written into a rewritable non-volatility memory, and the data is then read from the rewritable non-volatility memory and compared with the previously written data to obtain error bit information. The compensation voltage of the threshold voltage is calculated according to the error bit information, and the threshold voltage is adjusted according to the compensation voltage.
US08386858B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device is capable of performing a test operation in its various operation modes. Particularly, the semiconductor memory device can enter a test mode in other modes, as well as, an all bank pre-charge mode. The semiconductor memory device includes a test mode control block configured to generate a test signal enabled for a predetermined interval in an active mode, and a mode register set control block configured to enable a mode register set signal for a test operation in the predetermined interval in response to the test signal.
US08386856B2 Data storage device capable of selecting scrambled signals according to transmission power
The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device comprises a memory and a controller. The memory is for data storage. When the data storage device receives first source data to be written to the memory from a host, the controller generates at least one first input data according to the first source data, scrambles the first input data according to a plurality of pseudo random sequences to obtain a plurality of first scrambled signals, calculates a plurality of transmission powers of the first scrambled signals, and selects a target scrambled signal with a lowest transmission power to be stored in the memory from the first scrambled signals.
US08386853B2 System and method for a staggered execution environment
A staggered execution environment is provided to safely execute an application program against software failures. In an embodiment, the staggered execution environment includes one or more probe virtual machines that execute various portions of an application program and an execution virtual machine that executes the same application program within a time delay behind the probe virtual machines. A virtualization supervisor coordinates the execution of the application program on one or more probe virtual machines. The probe virtual machines are used to detect and correct software failures prior to the execution virtual machine encountering them. The virtualization supervisor embargos output data in order to ensure that erroneous data is not released which may adversely affect external processes.
US08386850B2 System health monitor
Backup set metadata is received, wherein the backup set metadata comprises information about backup data sets that are received by a backup storage system that stores the backup data sets. The manner in which the backup data sets flow through a processing flow path of the backup storage system is emulated. One or more processes that process the backup set metadata through an emulated processing flow path are executed, wherein the emulated processing flow path is indicative of the manner in which the backup data sets flow through the processing flow path of the backup storage system when the backup storage system stores the backup data sets. One or more timing statistics are calculated based on the flow of the backup set metadata through the emulated processing flow path.
US08386849B2 Noisy monitor detection and intermittent fault isolation
A method of detecting and diagnosing system faults, includes detecting the noisy status of a monitor during operations and incorporating a quantified monitor uncertainty level to support fault isolation reasoning. A sequential probability ratio test is used to statistically test the noisy status of a monitor and Shannon's entropy theory is used to quantify the uncertainty levels of the monitor to support the use of the monitor values in fault isolation.
US08386846B2 Network switch with backup power supply
A network switch apparatus includes a housing, a first network port, a second network port, a first instrument port, an active component inside the housing, wherein the active component is configured to receive packets from the first network port, and pass at least some of the packets from the first network port to the first instrument port, a connector for supplying power from a power supply to the active component, and a backup power supply for supplying power to the active component when the active component does not receive power from the power supply.
US08386844B2 Self-repairing electronic data system
An array of logic devices capable of self-determining the program, inputs and outputs from configuration information provided by its nearest neighbors. The rules used by each device to self-determine its behavior are identical to those of every other device in the array. This facilitates the development of robust array configurations and robust behavior of the device as a whole. This system's logic devices utilize three shift-registers, two are programmed before operation, the third is programmed on-the-fly by the other two. This facilitates a fast response to changes in the performance of the array in the event of partial dynamic or static failures of the array. An iterative design algorithm for the array ensures optimum use of the resources of the array.
US08386842B2 Computer system with damaged bios data recovering function and recovering method thereof
A computer system with a damaged BIOS data recovering function is disclosed. When BIOS data in the computer are damaged, the computer system may update and recover the BIOS of the storage unit of the computer system in a standby mode via an external electronic device (another computer or a USB flash disk). The computer system includes a storage unit, a data transferring interface, a power supply unit, and a control unit. The computer system is electrically connected with the external electronic device via the data transferring interface. The power supply unit provides standby power (in the standby mode) when the computer system is shut down. The control unit is electrically connected with the power supply unit and the data transferring interface, respectively. The control unit is actuated via the standby power, receives the external BIOS stored in the external electronic device.
US08386841B1 Systems and methods for improving redundant storage fault tolerance
A computer-implemented method for improving redundant storage fault tolerance may include 1) identifying a plurality of storage devices storing an encoded set of data, with the encoded set of data including a redundant form of an underlying set of data, 2) determining that a subset of the plurality of storage devices have failed, 3) reconstructing encoded data lost due to the failure of the subset of the plurality of storage devices, and then 4) redundantly storing the reconstructed encoded data on the plurality of storage devices. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08386837B2 Storage control device, storage control method and storage control program
A storage control device includes a first rebuilding unit rebuilding information stored in one of a plurality of storages that fails by using information stored in the plurality of storages excluding said failed storage and storing rebuilt information in a spare storage replaced with the failed storage, a second rebuilding unit rebuilding information stored in two of said plurality of storages that fail by using information stored in said plurality of storages excluding the two failed storages and storing rebuilt information in two spare storages replaced with the two failed storages, and a rebuilding control unit for controlling said first rebuilding unit and second rebuilding unit where one of said spare storages fails during rebuilding the data stored in said two failed storages to replace the failed spare storage with other spare storage whereby said second rebuilding unit continues rebuilding the data.
US08386836B2 Managing memory faults
Embodiments are described for managing memory faults. An example system can include a memory controller module to manage memory cells and report memory faults. An error buffer module can store memory fault information received from the memory controller. A notification module can be in communication with the error buffer module. The notification module may generate a notification of a memory fault in a memory access operation. A system software module can provide services and manage executing programs on a processor. In addition, the system software module can receive the notifications of the memory fault for the memory access operation. A notification handler may be activated by an interrupt when the notification of the memory fault in the memory access operation is received.
US08386835B2 System and method for end-to-end data integrity in a network file system
A computer readable storage medium, embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method, the method including: validating a memory write of data segments using a first number of leaf hashes of a first hash tree, where each of the first number of leaf hashes is associated with one of the data segments of a first block size, generating interior node hashes based on the first number of leaf hashes, where each of the interior node hashes is associated with a second block size, generating a first root hash using the interior node hashes, where the first root hash is associated with a remote procedure call size, transmitting the first root rash and the data segments to a network file system, where the transmission is performed using the remote procedure call size, and validating the transmission of the data segments using the first root hash.
US08386832B2 Power and data redundancy in a single wiring closet
Redundancy of data and/or Inline Power in a wired data telecommunications network from a first network device and a second network device configured as power sourcing equipment (PSE) devices and coupled together and to a third network device (such as a PD) via a Y device is provided by providing redundant signaling to/from each of the pair of network devices, and coupling a port of each of the network devices to the Y device and from there to a third port where a third network device such as a PD may be coupled. Because the Y device is essentially passive, communications paths between the PSE devices and the PD are provided for negotiating master/slave status and other status and related information among the respective network devices. Dynamic impedance matching is provided to handle situations where not all devices are plugged in and as a communications technique among the devices.
US08386830B2 Server switching method and server system equipped therewith
There is disclosed a high speed switching method for a disk image delivery system fail-over. A management server sends a disk image of an active server in advance to a standby server. When receiving a report that the active server has failed, the management server judges whether or not it is possible for the standby server to perform the service of the failed active server based on service provision management server information held by the management server and if possible, instructs the standby server to perform the service of the active server. Even if the disk image delivered in advance is different from the disk image of the failed active server, switching of the service to the standby server can be performed more quickly through resetting the setting values of unique information and installing the additional pieces of software on the standby server by the management server than redelivering an appropriate disk image.
US08386827B2 Systems and methods for signal delay and alignment
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for event alignment control. For example, an event alignment control circuit is disclosed that includes a delay table, a flag write controller circuit, and a signal reconstruction circuit. The delay table includes at least a first register and a last register, and is operable to transfer data from the first register to the last register. The flag write controller circuit is operable to receive an indication of assertion of an event flag and to write information relevant to the event flag to the first register of the delay table. The signal reconstruction circuit is electrically coupled to the last register, and reconstructs the event flag based at least in part on the information relevant to the event flag obtained from the last register.
US08386818B2 Data storage device including current detector
Provided is a data storage device including a current detector. The data storage device includes a plurality of memory devices, a detector, and a power manager. The detector detects a current inputted from a power source. The power manager manages consumption power of the plurality of memory devices according to a result of the detection provided from the detector.
US08386815B2 Recycling of cache content
A method of operating a storage system comprises detecting a cut in an external power supply, switching to a local power supply, preventing receipt of input/output commands, copying content of cache memory to a local storage device and marking the content of the cache memory that has been copied to the local storage device. When a resumption of the external power supply is detected, the method continues by charging the local power supply, copying the content of the local storage device to the cache memory, processing the content of the cache memory with respect to at least one storage volume and receiving input/output commands. When detecting a second cut in the external power supply, the system switches to the local power supply, prevents receipt of input/output commands, and copies to the local storage device only the content of the cache memory that is not marked as present.
US08386805B2 System and method of security function activation for a mobile electronic device
A system and a method are provided for activating one or more security functions of a mobile electronic device. The system and method provide for the activation of one or more security functions when the mobile electronic device is stored in a mobile electronic device holder. Security functions include, for example, closing a data item currently being displayed on the mobile electronic device, erasing decrypted information stored on the mobile electronic device, locking the mobile electronic device, and performing a secure garbage collection operation.
US08386802B2 Method and apparatus for processing arbitrary key bit length encryption operations with similar efficiencies
A calculating apparatus, or system, having a plurality of stages, such as in a pipeline arrangement, has the clocking rail or conductor positioned alongside the stages. With a large number, i.e., hundreds, of stages arranged in parallel sub-arrays, the clocking conductor is snaked alongside the sub-arrays. In individual stages it is arranged that the shortest of the two calculations taking place in a stage, takes place in the return path. An array can be divided into separate sections for independent processing.
US08386801B2 Authentication of integrated circuits
A group of devices are fabricated based on a common design, each device having a corresponding plurality of measurable characteristics that is unique in the group to that device, each device having a measurement module for measuring the measurable characteristics. Authentication of one of the group of devices is enabled by selective measurement of one or more of the plurality of measurable characteristics of the device.
US08386795B2 Information security device of Universal Serial Bus Human Interface Device class and data transmission method for same
The present invention relates to an information security device of Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) class and the data transmission method for the same. With a master chip that has a built-in HID descriptor and a USB interface chip connected to the master chip, the device of the present invention itself may be designed to be compact and easy to use, and provide powerful functions. With the USB HID interface, the device user does not need to install a driver and the user can use the device anywhere and anytime. And the user does not need to manage the driver whose version updates constantly, consider the compatibility of various product drivers, face the risk caused by the driver when running OS, and worry about the pollution to the system resulted from the installation and uninstallation of the driver. CPU, SCM or smart card chip used as the master chip ensures that the security of identity authentication is reliable. Moreover, the security of identity authentication device can be further improved by adding biometric identification module and/or the like.
US08386794B2 Apparatus and method for protecting RFID data
An apparatus and method for protecting radio frequency identification (RFID) data in a communication between a RFID tag and a RFID reader are provided. In the apparatus and method for protecting RFID data, message header information transmitted while communicating the RFID tag and the RFID reader is used to perform an encryption operation for important data, thereby protecting the important data included in the RFID tag. In the present invention, information of the RFID tag can be protected from an illegitimate eavesdropper and an ill-intentioned and unusual message can be detected, thereby ensuring the security of a RFID system.
US08386792B1 Asymmetric content fingerprinting with adaptive window sizing
Processes for fingerprinting a document file and for preventing information leakage are disclosed. Computer apparatus for implementing said processes are also disclosed. For fingerprinting a document, the document is provided and may be normalized. A sequence of hash values are generated for the document. A window size is adaptively determined depending upon the document. Fingerprints for the document are selected from amongst the hash values using the adaptively-sized window. The fingerprints for the document are added to a fingerprint set for content being protected by the information leakage prevention system. For information leakage prevention, suspect documents are processed at the deployment points by extracting fingerprints from the suspect documents and matching the extracted fingerprints against the fingerprints in the fingerprint set. Different fingerprint extraction methods are used at the server and the deployment points. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08386788B2 Method and apparatus for loading a trustable operating system
A method and apparatus is provided for securing a region in a memory of a computer. According to one embodiment, the method comprises halting of all but one of a plurality of processors in a computer. The halted processors entering into a special halted state. Content is loaded into the region only after the halting of all but the one of the plurality of processors and the region is protected from access by the halted processors. The method further comprises placing the non-halted processor into a known privileged state, and causing the halted processors to exit the halted state after the non-halted processor has been placed into the known privileged state.
US08386778B2 System and method of protecting data on a communication device
A system and method of protecting data on a communication device are provided. Data received when the communication device is in a first operational state is encrypted using a first cryptographic key and algorithm. When the communication device is in a second operational state, received data is encrypted using a second cryptographic key and algorithm. Received data is stored on the communication device in encrypted form.
US08386777B2 Method and equipment for controlling access to multicast IP flows
The invention relates to a method of controlling access to multicast IP flows. Following connection to a collection equipment by a user terminal, the method consists in: transmitting an access authorization request message from said collection equipment to an access control server; and, subsequently, upon successful verification of the user access right, transmitting an access authorization acceptance message comprising at least one multicast filter from the server to the collection equipment or, in the absence of a successful verification, transmitting an access refusal message from the server to the collection equipment in order to inhibit the connection of the user terminal. The invention is suitable for multicast broadcasting over an IP, Internet and/or corporate network.
US08386775B2 Tolerant key verification method
A tolerant key verification method is provided. The tolerant key verification method comprises the following steps. A first key is generated instantly according to first characteristic values from a user terminal and is transmitted to a verification server to perform a comparison. When a data in the verification server matches the first key, the verification server makes no response and asks a network-service server to provide a network service to the user terminal. When the data doesn't match the first key, the verification server makes no response. When no data is available, the verification server makes no response and asks a message server to send a key-regeneration signal to the user terminal such that the user terminal generates a second key instantly according to second characteristic values. The verification server saves the second key and asks the network-service server to provide the network service to the user terminal.
US08386774B2 Logging system and method based on one-way hash function
A logging system and method based on a one-way hash function are described. The system includes a user system, a trusted third party, and a verifier. The method includes the following steps. The user system records a log file and initializes a message authentication code key and an image code. When the verifier requests the user system for a logging unit corresponding to an operation history, the user system uses a one-way hash function to calculate a check value and returns the check value and an image code sequence. The verifier then verifies the integrity of the check value and the image code sequence through the trusted third party. The trusted third party checks if the image code sequence obtained by the hash calculation equals to the check value through the one-way hash function, so as to verify that the log file of the user system has not been modified.
US08386765B2 Method for the encrypted transmission of synchronization messages
There is described a method for transmitting synchronization messages, for example PTP messages of the IEEE 1588 standard, the PTP message being inserted into a data packet in line with the Internet Protocol, the data packet having an IP header, and the data packet having a UDP header. In this case, for the encrypted transmission on the PTP message, the data packet is addressed to a UDP port that is reserved for encrypted PTP messages, the data packet is provided with an additional S-PTP header that is provided for encryption, the PTP message is extended with a pseudo random number, and the PTP message is encrypted together with the pseudo random number.
US08386755B2 Non-atomic scheduling of micro-operations to perform round instruction
A microprocessor executes an instruction specifying a floating-point input operand having a predetermined size and that instructs the microprocessor to round the floating-point input operand to an integer value using a rounding mode and to return a floating-point result having the same predetermined size. An instruction translator translates the instruction into first and second microinstructions. An execution unit executes the first and second microinstructions. The first microinstruction receives as an input operand the instruction floating-point input operand and generates an intermediate result from the input operand. The second microinstruction receives as an input operand the intermediate result of the first microinstruction and generates the floating-point result of the instruction from the intermediate result. The intermediate result is the same predetermined size as the instruction floating-point input operand. The microprocessor executes the first and second microinstructions such that the commencement of their executions may have indeterminate separation in time.
US08386752B2 Processor architecture
A processor architecture includes a plurality of processing elements and a bus structure. Each element has at least one input port and at least one output port, each port having at least a data bus and a valid data signal line. The bus structure contains a plurality of switches arranged to connect an output port of any first processing element to the input port of any second processing element for a time interval. Each processing element sets a value on the valid data signal line of its output port to a first logic state when the associated data bus contains a transfer value and to a second logic state when it does not contain a transfer value. Each processing element enters a waiting state for a predetermined time interval when the value on the valid data signal line of the associated input port is in the second logic state.
US08386750B2 Multiprocessor system having processors with different address widths and method for operating the same
A multiprocessor computer system has a plurality of first processors having a first addressable memory space, and a plurality of second processors having a second addressable memory space. The second addressable memory space is of a different size than the first addressable memory space, and the first addressable memory space and second addressable memory space comprise a part of the same common address space.
US08386748B2 Address translation unit with multiple virtual queues
An address translation unit includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB), a miss queue, and a control unit. The TLB may store a plurality of address translations. The miss queue may store received address translation requests that missed in the TLB. The miss queue includes a plurality of entries. At least some entries may each store a respective address translation request and a corresponding identifier. The corresponding identifier of a given entry identifies another entry in the miss queue that stores another respective address translation request having a process ordering constraint that is the same as a process ordering constraint of the respective address translation request in the given entry. Address translations having a same ordering constraint that are linked together via the identifier belong to the same virtual miss queue. The control unit may process the received address translation requests in an order dependent upon the identifier.
US08386745B2 I/O memory management unit including multilevel address translation for I/O and computation offload
An input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) configured to control requests by an I/O device to a system memory includes control logic that may perform a two-level guest translation to translate an address associated with an I/O device-generated request using translation data stored in the system memory. The translation data includes a device table having a number of entries. The control logic may select the device table entry for a given request by the using a device identifier that corresponds to the I/O device that generates the request. The translation data may also include a first set of I/O page tables including a set of guest page tables and a set of nested page tables. The selected device table entry for the given request may include a pointer to the set of guest translation tables, and a last guest translation table includes a pointer to the set of nested page tables.
US08386741B2 Method and apparatus for optimizing data allocation
Embodiments of the invention relate to block layout and block allocation in a file system to support write transactions. Regions in a cluster file system are defined to support a block allocation, include both write affinity and wide striping region. An allocation map is maintained to define and support the block allocation regions. For each write transaction, a copy of data is written to both regions, and in the event there is a shortage of blocks in one of the regions, at least one block in the other region is dynamically converted to support the write transaction.
US08386740B2 Modeling memory compression
A system, and computer usable program product for modeling memory compression are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A subset of candidate pages is received. The subset of candidate pages is a subset of a set of candidate pages used in executing a workload in a data processing system. A candidate page is compressible uncompressed data in a memory associated with the data processing system. The subset of candidate pages is compressed in a scratch space. A compressibility of the workload is computed based on the compression of the subset of candidate pages. Page reference information of the subset of candidate pages is received. A memory reference rate of the workload is determined A recommendation is presented about a memory compression model for the workload in the data processing system.
US08386739B2 Writing to memory using shared address buses
Techniques for writing to memory using shared address buses. A memory device that includes a plurality of memory arrays connected to a common address bus, the common address bus used to broadcast memory addresses simultaneously to the plurality of memory arrays. Each memory array includes a plurality of memory locations and circuitry for: receiving the broadcasted memory addresses from the address bus; selecting a memory address in the memory array from a list of most recent memory addresses received from the address bus; and performing a memory access at the selected memory address, such that at a given point in time at least two of the memory arrays perform the memory access at a different broadcasted address when the memory access is a write.
US08386731B2 Method and system for optimizing live migration of persistent data of virtual machine using disk I/O heuristics
Techniques for migrating persistent data of virtual machines between and across data stores are optimized using special tracking data structures and monitoring methods. Special tracking data structures include an incremental change block tracking bitmap that indicate what blocks have been modified during a copy operation. The determination of whether any one block has been modified during the copy operation is based on whether or not the copy operation has progressed past that block. Another special tracking data structure is a Bloom filter, which provides a space-efficient data structure for keeping track of dirtied blocks. In addition, heat-based optimization techniques are applied so that blocks that are frequently updated are filtered and not transferred to the destination data store until the last iteration of the migration process.
US08386722B1 Stacked DIMM memory interface
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth an interface circuit configured to combine time staggered data bursts returned by multiple memory devices into a larger contiguous data burst. As a result, an accurate timing reference for data transmission that retains the use of data (DQ) and data strobe (DQS) signals in an infrastructure-compatible system while eliminating the cost of the idle cycles required for data bus turnarounds to switch from reading from one memory device to reading from another memory device, or from writing to one memory device to writing to another memory device may be obtained, thereby increasing memory system bandwidth relative to the prior art approaches.
US08386720B2 Method for allowing exclusive access to shared data
A method of allowing exclusive access to shared data by a computing device and a computer readable article embodying instructions for executing the method. The method includes: reading from a storage unit into a memory a program including a code for execution in a critical section and an instruction to write a value into or read a value from a shared data area in the memory; acquiring a lock on the critical section before start of a first instruction in the critical section; writing a value into a thread-local area in the memory in response to an instruction to write the value into the shared data area; writing into the shared data area the value written into the thread-local area upon completion of a final instruction in the critical section; and releasing the lock on the critical section, thereby allowing exclusive access to shared data.
US08386717B1 Method and apparatus to free up cache memory space with a pseudo least recently used scheme
A mechanism is provided for identifying data that can be removed from a cache memory by determining a memory region of the cache that is less recently accessed than other memory regions in the cache. A tree data structure is used to store a mapping of storage volume data locations to cache data locations. A counter reflecting recency of access to the cache data location is associated with each entry. The counter is incremented, along with counters associated with keys leading to a node including the entry, with each access to the associated cache memory location, while other counters in each affected node are decremented. Advantages of the tree data structure are used to efficiently locate a cache memory location associated with a counter reflecting a less recently accessed state in order to make that cache memory location available for storage of recently accessed data from the storage volume.
US08386716B2 Apparatus and methods to reduce castouts in a multi-level cache hierarchy
Techniques and methods are used to control allocations of cache lines to a higher level cache that have been displaced from a lower level cache. The allocations of the displaced cache lines are prevented for displaced cache lines that are determined to be redundant in the next level cache, whereby the displaced cache line castouts are not allocated to the higher level cache. To such ends, a line is selected to be displaced in a lower level cache. Information associated with the selected line is identified which indicates that the selected line is present in a higher level cache. An allocation of the selected line in the higher level cache is prevented based on the identified information.
US08386714B2 Reducing write amplification in a cache with flash memory used as a write cache
Embodiments of the invention are directed to reducing write amplification in a cache with flash memory used as a write cache. An embodiment of the invention includes partitioning at least one flash memory device in the cache into a plurality of logical partitions. Each of the plurality of logical partitions is a logical subdivision of one of the at least one flash memory device and comprises a plurality of memory pages. Data are buffered in a buffer. The data includes data to be cached, and data to be destaged from the cache to a storage subsystem. Data to be cached are written from the buffer to the at least one flash memory device. A processor coupled to the buffer is provided with access to the data written to the at least one flash memory device from the buffer, and a location of the data written to the at least one flash memory device within the plurality of logical partitions. The data written to the at least one flash memory device are destaged from the buffer to the storage subsystem.
US08386711B2 Management method and management system for computer system
The present invention provides a technique to efficiently rearrange data in actual regions.A management system acquires load lumped region variation information (access distribution variation amount) indicative of a variation in the position of a virtual region in a virtual volume in a storage subsystem which region corresponds to a hot spot. Then, based on the load lumped region variation information, the management system determines a load position unvaried hour(s) indicative of a hour(s) in which the position of the virtual region corresponding to the hot spot is almost or perfectly unvaried (the hour(s) in which the position of the hot spot is stable). The management system then displays the load position unvaried hour(s) on a display device (see FIG. 19).
US08386709B2 Method and system for protecting against multiple failures in a raid system
Embodiments of methods of protecting RAID systems from multiple failures and such protected RAID systems are disclosed. More particularly, in certain embodiments of a distributed RAID system each data bank has a set of associated storage media and executes a similar distributed RAID application. The distributed RAID applications on each of the data banks coordinate among themselves to distribute and control data flow associated with implementing a level of RAID in conjunction with data stored on the associated storage media of the data banks. Furthermore, one or more levels of RAID may be implemented within one or more of the data banks comprising the distributed RAID system.
US08386706B2 Method and system for secure data storage
A method and system for secure data storage and retrieval is provided. A sequence of data units is divided into multiple subsets of data units corresponding to multiple data channels. The multiple data channels are assigned to multiple data writers based on a key code. Then, each subset of data units is transferred to a writer via an assigned channel for writing to storage media. Thereafter, to securely retrieve the stored data, each subset of data units is read from the storage media using a data reader. The original sequence of data units can only be reassembled using the key code for properly reassembling the subsets of data units into their original sequence.
US08386705B2 Data protection systems with multiple site replication
Systems and methods for replicating data from a first site to a second site remote from said first site are described. An embodiment includes storing compressed data on a hard disk appliance, reading said data without decompressing said data, sending said data over a wide-area-network (WAN) in a compressed state, and storing said data on a second hard disk appliance remote from said first hard disk appliance in its compressed state without performing an additional compression operation.
US08386697B2 Memory managing method for non-volatile memory and controller using the same
A memory managing method for a non-volatile memory and a controller using the same are disclosed. The controller includes a system wear leveling member for performing a first wear leveling process in a non-volatile memory for choosing a memory unit; and a subsystem wear leveling member for performing a second wear leveling process in the chosen memory unit for selecting a block from the chosen memory unit for data programming; whereby uneven use of the blocks of the chosen memory unit is avoided.
US08386696B2 Methods of writing partial page data in a non-volatile memory device
A method of writing partial page data in a non-volatile memory device includes, reading data from a second block when the size of a last page of data to be written in a page of a first block is smaller than a size of the page of the first block, wherein a size of the read data is given by the size of the page of the first block minus the size of the last page of data; storing together data of the last page and the data read from the second block in a buffer; and writing the data stored in the buffer in the first block.
US08386695B2 Methods and apparatus for writing data to non-volatile memory
Methods and apparatus for writing data to non-volatile memory include maintaining one or more lists of obsolete blocks of the non-volatile memory and limiting the lists to a predetermined value. If a write operation would result in a list exceeding its predetermined value, a block erase operation is performed on one of the obsolete blocks. Valid data contained in an obsolete block selected for erasure is relocated prior to erasure.
US08386692B2 Method for communicating between nodes and server apparatus
According to an aspect of the embodiment, an input/output device transmits a message to a first node controller of a parent node which is set in advance via a cross bar. At this point, the cross bar generates information based on node information of the input/output device, and adds the generated information to the message. The first node controller transmits, via the cross bar, the message to a second node controller of a parent node corresponding to an input/output device that is to receive the message. The second node controller transmits, via the cross bar, the message to an input/output device that is to receive the message. At this point, the cross bar transmits the message restored by deleting the generated information from the message to the input/output device which is set as a destination.
US08386691B1 Multimedia storage card system
A multimedia storage card system includes a memory card; a dynamic switch coupled electrically and communicatively to the memory card; a first accessor coupled electrically and communicatively to the dynamic switch for accessing to the memory card, thereby storing data into and retrieving data from the memory card; and a second accessor coupled electrically and communicatively to the dynamic switch. Upon receipt of a first access signal transmitted from the second accessor, the dynamic switch determines whether the first accessor is in an idle condition. Upon detecting the first accessor is in the idle condition, the dynamic switch is switched to and in communication link with the second accessor, thereby transmitting the first access signal to the memory card and enabling the second accessor to access the memory card in order to store data into and retrieving data from the memory card.
US08386689B2 Interface adapter systems and methods
Interface adapter systems and methods are provided. An adapter means can be provided for coupling a first interface to a second interface, the second interface configured to accommodate the coupling of a peripheral device. A detector means can be provided for detecting the peripheral device. A means can be provided for communicating a first signal to a first bus when the peripheral device is not detected. A converting means can be provided to convert a first signal to a second signal having a protocol different than the first and a communications means for communicating the second signal to a second bus can be provided when the detecting means has detected the peripheral device.
US08386688B2 Modular integrated circuit with common interface
A modular integrated circuit includes a hub module that is coupled to a plurality of spoke modules via a plurality of hub interfaces. The plurality of hub interfaces provide a plurality of signal interfaces between the hub module and each of the plurality of spoke modules, wherein each of the plurality of signal interfaces is isolated from each of the other signal interfaces of the plurality of signals interface, and wherein each of the plurality of signal interfaces operates in accordance with a common signaling format.
US08386687B2 Method and apparatus for data transfer
A method and apparatus for data transfer includes receiving a first data packet across a first bi-directional bus and receiving a second data packet across a second bi-directional bus. Next, the first data packet is written to a first register operably coupled to the first bi-directional bus and the second bi-directional bus. The second data packet is written to a second register operably coupled to the first bi-directional bus and the second bi-directional bus. The second data packet is then transferred across the first bi-directional bus and the first data packet is transferred across the second bi-directional bus, thereby providing data transfer across a plurality of bi-directional buses and providing for data to be transferred across those buses to be stored at an intermediate register so that the data may be transferred in the next clock cycle, overcoming any latency requirements.
US08386685B2 Apparatus and method for packet based storage virtualization
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for data processing and virtualization. The method and apparatus are configured to receive communications, separate a command communication from a data communication, parallel process the command communication and the data communication, generate at least one virtual command based on the command communication, and generate virtual data according to the at least one virtual command. The apparatus can comprise a parallel virtualization subsystem configured to separate data communications from command communications and to parallel process the command communications and the data communications, to generate virtual commands and to generate virtual data according to a virtual command, and a physical volume driver coupled with the parallel virtualization subsystem, wherein the physical volume driver receives the virtual data and configures the virtual data.
US08386682B2 Method, apparatus and system for maintaining transaction coherecy in a multiple data bus platform
Techniques for maintaining an order of transactions in a multi-bus computer architecture. In an embodiment, an arbitrator receives access requests from a plurality of requestors, each access request requesting a respective access to a bus. Based on an arbitration between the access requests—e.g. between those requestors providing the access requests—the arbitrator may generate a grant message which triggers a carrying of a first message on the first bus. In certain embodiments, the grant message further triggers another carrying of the first message on the second bus.
US08386679B2 Dynamic allocation of a direct memory address window
A computer-implemented method may include determining that a slot coupled to a peripheral component interconnect host bridge is occupied by an input/output adapter. The computer-implemented method may include determining one or more characteristics of the input/output adapter and determining whether the input/output adapter is capable of using additional memory based on the one or more characteristics of the input/output adapter. The computer-implemented method may also include allocating the additional memory for the input/output adapter in response to determining that the input/output adapter is capable of using the additional memory.
US08386678B2 Enhanced data storage device
A data storage device includes one or more electrical contacts and one or more data paths through the electrical contacts. The one or more electrical contacts enable bits to be transferred into and out of the data storage device via the one or more data paths. The data storage device also includes a memory that stores an indication of a number of the one or more data paths. The data storage device is configured to provide the indication via at least one of the one or more data paths while the data storage device is operatively coupled to a host device to indicate to the host device the number of the one or more data paths.
US08386676B2 Systems, methods, and apparatuses for transmitting data mask bits to a memory device
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for transferring data mask bits to a memory device. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit includes logic to issue a partial write command to a memory device. In addition, the integrated circuit may include logic to transfer a write frame to the volatile memory device over an N bit wide data bus, wherein the write frame includes one or more data mask bits to be transferred over the N bit wide data bus.
US08386669B2 Apparatus and managing method using a preset policy based on an invalidated I/O path by using configuration information acquired from storage system
To appropriately manage configuration information acquired from a storage system for the purpose of performance management, etc., an information processing apparatus managing the configuration information, i.e., information indicative of a configuration of resources making up the storage system in a database, detects a change in setting of an I/O path to extract resources making up an invalidated I/O path, which is the I/O path subject to the change, as monitoring object resources, acquires performance information that is information indicative of operation statuses of the monitoring object resources from the storage system, judges whether the performance information of the monitoring object resource matches a preset policy, determines a timing to make invalidated configuration information, which is the configuration information related to the invalidated I/O path, deletable from the storage device based on the result of the judgement, and deletes the invalidated configuration information from the database when the determined timing comes.
US08386667B2 Techniques for managing the transmission and reception of data fragments
This invention relates to techniques for managing the transmission and reception of data fragments that contains one or more data blocks using a single timer. One embodiment of the invention includes the following steps: processing the fragments sequentially, wherein each fragment has a processing index that corresponds to sequential processing of that fragment; processing each of the fragments until a termination upon meeting a first pre-defined condition; assigning a timer to an un-terminated fragment having a lowest processing index; starting said timer having a timeout value; and running said timer until the processing of said un-terminated fragment is terminated. This invention uses only one timer for each connection and therefore reduces memory and operational needs in the management of the data fragments that are being received or transmitted.
US08386661B2 Communication network for controlling devices
A system and method for controlling devices that are part of a peer to peer network of controllers is provided. Messages are routed to controllers of the network and such messages are used to control devices coupled to said controllers. Status messages indicating the state of devices are routed to controllers to allow the state of the devices to be displayed by said controllers.
US08386658B2 Communication method of host apparatus capable of connecting with device by using wireless universal serial bus and wireless connection system including host apparatus and device
A communication method of a host apparatus capable of connecting with a device by using a Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB) includes operations of receiving a connection request signal from the device to be connected to the host apparatus, according to a determination of whether a request to perform an operation in the device occurs in the host apparatus, selectively responding to the connection request signal to connect the device thereto, and performing data communication with the device to perform the operation. According to the communication method, the host apparatus is connected to the device when the host apparatus uses the device, to improve effective and convenient use of the device.
US08386654B2 System and method for transforming PCIe SR-IOV functions to appear as legacy functions
A system for transforming a single root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV) function to appear as a legacy function, and a corresponding method includes a switch platform coupled between a legacy host and a SR-IOV-enabled device. The switch platform includes a processor programmed to discern configuration cycles by type and to process the configuration cycles, and one or more local registers that store data related to the configuration cycles.
US08386652B2 Mobile computing device with adaptive response based on accessory firmware
Techniques for predicting accessory behavior and techniques for responding based on the predicted behavior are provided. A mobile computing device (MCD) determines firmware being used by an accessory. Based on the determination, the MCD can predict a command most likely to be received next from the accessory. After the MCD determines the command most likely to be received next from the accessory, the MCD can retrieve the information to be sent in response to the command and/or initiate an operation to be performed in response to the command prior to actually receiving the command from the accessory.
US08386650B2 Method to improve a solid state disk performance by using a programmable bus arbiter
A method to improve a solid state disk performance by using a programmable bus arbiter is generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a method is introduced comprising delaying a request from a solid state drive for access to an interface for a time to allow a host to access the interface to transmit a command to the solid state drive. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08386645B2 Method and device to process network data
A method and network device to process network data is described. The method may comprise, when the network device is unable to process the network data, communicating a translation request including data for translation to a remote translator. The translation request may identify a format into which the network data is to be translated. Thereafter, the method comprises receiving translated data from the translator and processing the translated data. Further, a method and translation device to provide translated data to a network device is described. The method may comprise receiving at a translator a translation request from at least one network device wherein the translation request includes data to be translated. Thereafter, the method may identify a data schema associated with the received data and translate the received data into translated data corresponding to the identified data schema. The translated data is then communicated to the network device.
US08386644B1 Systems and methods for efficiently processing large data segments
Large data segments are efficiently processed by setting up a plurality of Large Receive Segment Offload (LRO) queues within the computing system memory. The plurality of LRO queues are maintained concurrently so that a plurality of LRO contexts can be assembled simultaneously. A timer associated with each LRO queue prevents indefinite waiting for LRO segments to be completed.
US08386643B2 Automated double firmware upgrade
A method of upgrading the software load of a device includes receiving a configuration file and checking if a device software load matches load information (EE) of the configuration file. If the device software load does not match the EE of the configuration file, a check is made to determine if the device software load matches new load information (NE) of the configuration file.
US08386637B2 Connection forwarding
Two or more network traffic processors connected with the same LAN and WAN are identified as neighbors. Neighboring network traffic processors cooperate to overcome asymmetric routing, thereby ensuring that related sequences of network traffic are processed by the same network proxy. A network proxy can be included in a network traffic processor or as a standalone unit. A network traffic processor that intercepts a new connection initiation by a client assigns a network proxy to handle all messages associated with that connection. The network traffic processor conveys connection information to neighboring network traffic processors. The neighboring network traffic processors use the connection information to redirect network traffic associated with the connection to the assigned network proxy, thereby overcoming the effects of asymmetric routing. The assigned network proxy handles redirected network traffic in much the same way that it would handle network traffic received directly.
US08386630B1 Video-aware P2P streaming and download with support for real-time content alteration
A method for generating chunks for peer to peer distribution, the method includes: converting a media stream to chunks of variable size in response to media characteristics of the media stream; generating a hash value for each chunk; and transmitting to a peer to peer manager hash values and media characteristic information associated with the chunks.
US08386628B1 Method and apparatus for reducing the amount of information that must be transmitted to slower viewers over a remote viewing session
To accommodate different viewer capabilities, update commands may be maintained in an update queue at the server and distributed to viewers according to the viewers' abilities to receive them. As update commands arrive that supersede older update commands, the new update commands may cause the old update commands to be removed from the queue so that the older update commands may be pruned from the update queue. Where the pruned update messages have not yet been sent to the slower viewers, pruning the older update commands from the update queue enables information that will quickly be replaced via another update command to be selectively not transmitted to slower viewers. Panes may be used to keep track of which updates are required to be maintained in the queue and which may be pruned from the queue.
US08386624B2 Broadcast processing method for network system and network system
A network system broadcast data from one node to a plurality of other nodes, which can decrease the time required for broadcast. A transfer source node divides the transfer data to be broadcasted, and transfers each divided data separately from the network adapters of the transfer source node to the network adapters of the other nodes, and the other nodes transfer the received data to the network adapters of the other nodes other than the transfer source node. Since more nodes (network adapters) can participate in data transfer in the second data transfer, high-speed transfer processing can be implemented, and the transfer processing time for broadcast can be decreased.
US08386617B2 Network device connecting system, data transmission device, data receiving device, and portable terminal
A system including a first device connected to a network, a second device connected to the network, and at least one portable terminal is disclosed. Device information of the first device containing connection information for establishing a connection between the first device and the second device is transmitted from the first device to the portable terminal and later transmitted from the portable terminal to the second device. Therefore, the connection between the first device and the second device is established based on the device information.
US08386616B2 Method of retrieving information from a notifying node of SIP/IMS network to a watcher client
A method of delivering information from a Notifying node of a SIP/IMS network to a Watcher Client, via an intermediate Watcher Proxy. A connection is established between the Watcher Proxy and the Watcher Client, using a SIP session, wherein the established connection is used for forwarding a request for a SIP subscription to the Watcher Proxy as an embedded SIP subscribe message. Once a backend SIP subscription has been setup between the Watcher Proxy and the Notifying node, SIP notify messages delivered from the Notifying node will be forwarded from the Watcher Proxy to the Watcher Client via the established connection, thereby separating SIP subscribe traffic from SIP control traffic.
US08386614B2 Network connection manager
Described herein is technology for, among other things, facilitating network communications. It involves various techniques for facilitating network communications by creating virtual named channels which allow applications and thereby users to communicate over a wide variety of networks interfaces without requiring specific knowledge or programming corresponding to the underlying network. Thus, the technology may provide a uniform interface to handle network connections on different types of computing devices and over different types of networks.
US08386613B2 Method for monitoring and providing information over a peer to peer network
The present invention relates to a pseudonode used for deployment on a peer to peer network which pseudonode comprises an IP address and client ID that is changeable upon the occurrence of a preselected event and includes a list containing at least one searchable data object. The pseudonode is programmed for monitoring the network to receive search requests therefrom and to compare each said received search with said list of data objects and to respond to such request. The invention also provides a method for monitoring search requests for selected objects by nodes on a peer to peer network. The method includes interposing the pseudonodes on the network in which it is configured to provide at least one IP address and optionally at least one client ID. The pseudonode has at least one stored object corresponding to a request object stored at said pseudonode; and monitors the network to detect requests matching at least one of the stored objects and acquires a unique ID generated by any network node requesting the object matching that stored object on the pseudonode and responding to substantially each node representing an acquired ID.
US08386609B2 Reconnection to and migration of electronic collaboration sessions
The invention generally relates to electronic collaboration sessions and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing reconnection to and migration of electronic collaboration sessions. A method for managing a collaboration session includes providing a computer infrastructure structured and arranged to store data regarding a plurality of clients of a collaboration session, and monitor a connection of each of the plurality of clients to a host system. The computer infrastructure is further operable to (i) migrate the plurality of clients to a new host system after determining that a number of the plurality of clients experiencing connection problems with the first host system exceeds a threshold value and/or (ii) present customized summary data to at least one of the plurality of clients after the at least one of the plurality of clients reconnects to the collaboration session after having been disconnected from the collaboration session.
US08386607B2 Method and system for utilizing a resource conductor to optimize resource management in a distributed computing environment
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for optimizing resource management in a distributed computing environment through the use of a resource conductor. An application managed by an application manager requires resources managed by a resource manager. A resource conductor in communication with both the application manager and the resource manager receives from the application manager a processing specification for the application and workload associated with the application. The processing specification provides the resource conductor with information needed to determine the type and quantity of resources appropriate for processing the workload associated with the application. The resource conductor adjusts the quantity of resources allocated to the application by communicating with the resource manager.
US08386605B2 Accessing of sample portions of a large digital file preliminary to the access of the entire file
Accessing a digital file from a database which includes the steps of determining a first set of data entry protocols for enabling a user to access i.e. preview at least one portion of the digital file, enabling a user to access the one or more portions by entering the first set of protocols, determining a second set of data entry protocols for enabling a user to access the entire digital file from the database, and enabling a user to access the entire digital file by entering the second set of data entry protocols in response to the user accessing the one portion or some threshold of a predetermined number of such portions.
US08386598B2 Network monitoring by using packet header analysis
A computer method and a system for detecting the file type of an electronic file, the method including the steps of: (a) using a predetermined number of bytes at the beginning of the file to create a list of probable file types; (b) testing the file against a detection rule for each file type in the list until a match is found; if no match is found (c) testing the file against other known detection rules for file types to find a match.
US08386596B2 Request routing based on class
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests is provided. A content delivery network service provider receives a DNS query from a client computing device. The DNS query corresponds to a requested resource from the client computing device. The content delivery network service provider associates the client computing device with a cluster of other client computing devices. Based on routing information for the cluster, the content delivery network service provider routes the DNS query. The process can further include monitoring performance data associated with the delivery of the requested resource and updating the routing information for the cluster based on the performance data for use in processing subsequent requests from client computing devices in the cluster.
US08386586B2 Distributed kernel operating system
An improved distributed operating system over a network of computer systems is described. Existing distributed operating systems have transmission performance limitations dictated by their inability to (1) reliably handle transient communication failures and rapid node reboots, (2) provide a transmission protocol that adapts to link reliability, and (3) allow transmissions to occur over an arbitrary combinations of communication links. The systems and methods described herein solve these problems by providing a reliable node-to-node session protocol that offers high performance message delivery and multi-interface management and support. This is done by transmitting all data between two nodes of the operating system over a single connection that may dynamically exploit multiple interfaces between the nodes.
US08386585B2 Real-time communications over data forwarding framework
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for real-time communications over data forwarding framework. A framework includes a group of interconnected computer system nodes each adapted to receive data and continuously forward the data from computer memory to computer memory without storing on any physical storage device in response to a request from a client system to store data from a requesting system and retrieve data being continuously forwarded from computer memory to computer memory in response to a request to retrieve data from the requesting system, and at least two client systems linked to the group, each of the client systems executing a real-time communications client program.
US08386584B2 Multimedia processing control apparatus and multimedia processing control method
A multimedia processing control apparatus according to embodiments has a holding section which holds groups of information for management of a plurality of components generated in a first address space, and a plurality of groups of first address information, and also holds a plurality of groups of second address information in a second address space; a control section request issue section which converts, when a processing request is issued, each of the plurality of groups of second address information into the plurality of groups of first address information by referring to the holding section, and issues the processing request; a processing section request issue section which issues from the first address space the processing request; and a component processing section which controls the plurality of components on the basis of the plurality of groups of first address information the processing request.
US08386582B2 Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus obtains image data included in an image file stored in a storage medium of the digital camera and the updated time of the image file stored in the storage medium of the digital camera, and reads out the shooting time of the image data included in the header of the image file stored in the storage medium of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus displays a first view that displays the image data in an order based on the obtained updated time, and a second view that displays the image data included in the image file stored in the storage medium of the information processing apparatus in an order based on the read out shooting time.
US08386581B2 Communication system and its method and communication apparatus and its method
This invention relates to a communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus, the second apparatus comprising: a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium; communication means for communicating data with the first apparatus; edit means capable of editing the management information; and control means for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communication means on the basis of the management information edited by the edit means.
US08386580B1 Shared buffer for data communications routed through hub
Various techniques are provided for selectively allocating a buffer adapted to be shared for storage media device data communications and downstream device data communications routed through a hub. For example, in one embodiment, a method includes detecting if one or more downstream devices are connected to one or more downstream device ports of the hub. The method also includes, if any downstream devices are detected: allocating a first portion of the buffer for a storage media device controller, allocating one or more second portions of the buffer for the detected downstream devices, wherein each of the second portions is associated with a corresponding one of the detected downstream devices, and passing the storage media device data communications between a host device and the storage media device controller through the first portion of the buffer and not the second portions of the buffer.
US08386578B2 Method and system for message pacing
A system for managing message volume and timing, which permits first and second messages to be spaced apart over time, with the pacing controlled in part by a characteristic of the second message. The system receives a first message and sends the first message to an intended recipient. When the system receives a second message for the recipient, the system determines a separation based on a pacing algorithm and send the second message to the recipient according to the separation.
US08386574B2 Multi-modality classification for one-class classification in social networks
A classification apparatus, method, and computer program product for multi-modality classification are disclosed. For each of a plurality of modalities, the method includes extracting features from objects in a set of objects. The objects include electronic mail messages. A representation of each object for that modality is generated, based on its extracted features. At least one of the plurality of modalities is a social network modality in which social network features are extracted from a social network implicit in the set of electronic mail messages. A classifier system is trained based on class labels of a subset of the set of objects and on the representations generated for each of the modalities. With the trained classifier system, labels are predicted for unlabeled objects in the set of objects.
US08386572B2 System and method for circumventing instant messaging do-not-disturb
A system and method for circumventing a do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user including defining a trusted user. A do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user is identified. The trusted user is allowed to circumvent the do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user.
US08386569B2 Individual XML message processing platform
A communications platform is disclosed containing a message processing platform along with an XML message format (SmartMessage) which provides for the reception, organization, summarization, filing, storage, synthesis, routing, formatting, and intelligent processing of XML-based electronic messages and SMTP electronic mail from corporations and other senders to fully integrate individuals' existing e-mail boxes, cellular telephones, paging equipment, facsimile machines, wireless and wired telephones, and other devices. The platform utilizes a nickname-based routing to enable device specific sending without knowledge of the specific device address. The platform provides sender-defined information folios, which enable synthesized filing, viewing and storage of all received SmartMessages, and the platform allows semi-private access control for the user, which allows access by others. The platform also utilizes a web-based user interface, which greatly simplifies the user's viewing, control and configuration of the individual user's particular platform.
US08386566B2 Method and apparatus for controlling information in virtual world
Provided is a method for controlling information shared in a virtual world by a server and a plurality of users' client terminals connected to each other through a network. In this information control method, a computer creates a third object between a first object and a second object in the virtual world when the first object and second object transmit communication information therebetween, and filters the information with the third object. In addition, when an object transmits visual information, the third object can be created around the object transmitting the visual information. The third object can be created as a pseudo wall.
US08386564B2 Methods for determining a reputation score for a user of a social network
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for assigning a “karma” to users of a social network. In some embodiments, the karma is a score that is based on various reputations and feedback on a user. For example, reputation or feedback scores given to user in general are collected. In addition, karma is based on scores collected by analyzing feedback provided between two users. Thus, a reputation score for one from the point of view of the others may be calculated. Embodiments of the present invention provide an open interface (API) that allows users to submit their reputation scores.
US08386562B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for processing responses to a web page
The disclosed web server and methodology processes responses to a web page. The web page is at least partially generated from one or more widgets and each widget denotes how an element of the web page is to be displayed at a client. The web server receives a response to the web page from the client. From the received response, the server identifies a widget that was used by the server to generate an element of the web page that was provided to the client. In response to this identification, the server then executes action processing logic associated with the particular widget that was used by the server to generate an element of the web page. The action processing logic for the widget uses data received in the response and performs an action with respect to that data.
US08386561B2 Method and system for identifying website visitors
A website server computer hosting a website can identify a visitor to the website by using information provided by a visitor server computer that interacts with the visitor. The information provided by the server computer, in some embodiments, can be a combination of an IP address and characteristics of a computing device from where the visitor visits the website. In some embodiments, the IP address of the visitor server computer is used. In embodiments where the visitor may be sharing the computing device with other users, the characteristics may include at least one characteristic that is uniquely associated with the visitor. The website server computer can use a visitor identifier thus generated to start tracking the pages that the visitor requests during the session and can generate and customize pages for the visitor by using characteristics originated from the visitor.
US08386559B2 Method for exchanging requests between the computer application of a mobile terminal and an instantaneous messaging server
This invention relates to a method for exchanging requests between the computer application of a mobile terminal (A) and an instantaneous messaging server (1), wherein: the computer application sends requests (2) to server (1) relative to the detection of an event (3), requests (2) are sent according to a request frequency set to a first value, whereby: when requests (2) are sent, if the event (3) is not detected by server (1), said server controls the computer application so that the latter sends the requests (2) according to a request frequency set to a second value that is lower than the first value, as soon as server (1) detects the event (3), said server controls the computer application so that the latter sends the requests (2) according to a request frequency set to the first value.
US08386558B2 Cross-pollination synchronization of data
A technique and mechanism to effect cross-pollination synchronization of PIM (personal information manager) data to multiple sources. Additionally, a novel feature of the subject invention is the ability to effect cross-pollination synchronization with any number of devices and sources in a network. The invention provides for a user to employ a mobile device or set of devices as a central repository for PIM data (e.g., calendar, contacts and tasks) synchronized from multiple sources (e.g., multiple PC's (personal computers), an exchange server). The invention provides for synchronization of PIM data from multiple types of server sources to multiple devices regardless of the synchronization protocol versions and different schemas.
US08386555B2 Systems and methods for adapting procedure calls to service providers
Systems and methods are provided for adapting a procedure call from a service manager to a service provider in a computer framework. An inbound procedure call is received, requesting an inbound procedure to operate on an object. Then, the inbound procedure is transformed to an outbound procedure based on a stored mapping of input procedures to output procedures. The outbound procedure is called from the service provider to operate on the object.
US08386553B1 Large multiplier for programmable logic device
A plurality of specialized processing blocks in a programmable logic device, including multipliers and circuitry for adding results of those multipliers, can be configured as a larger multiplier by adding to the specialized processing blocks selectable circuitry for shifting multiplier results before adding. In one embodiment, this allows all but the final addition to take place in specialized processing blocks, with the final addition occurring in programmable logic. In another embodiment, additional compression and adding circuitry allows even the final addition to occur in the specialized processing blocks. Circuitry that controls when an input is signed or unsigned facilitates complex arithmetic.
US08386549B1 Reduced complexity adaptive multistage wiener filter
Multistage Wiener filters (MWF) represent a component of the MWF as an un-normalized vector of filter coefficients within a finite impulse response (FIR) filter in a manner that avoids reliance on the 2-norm operation of the un-normalized vector of coefficients. The 2-norm operation can be replaced by less expensive operations performed elsewhere in the MWF. Preferably the filter adds only a few additional addition, subtraction and multiplication operations to compensate for the elimination of the square root and the division operations used for the 2-norm operation. As a result, it is possible to eliminate all or nearly all of the square rod and arithmetic division operations of at least some implementations of the MWF.
US08386545B2 System and method of using common adder circuitry for both a horizontal minimum instruction and a sum of absolute differences instruction
A system which uses common adder circuitry to perform either one of a horizontal minimum instruction and a sum of absolute differences instruction including multiple adders, a sum circuit, a compare circuit, and a routing circuit. The input operands include multiple digital values which are delivered by the routing circuit to the adders depending upon which instruction is indicated. Each adder determines a difference between a pair of digital values. The differences are grouped and summed together by the sum circuit for the sum of absolute differences instruction. The adders are paired together for the horizontal minimum instruction, in which each pair provides carry and propagate outputs. The upper portions of a pair of digital values are compared by the upper adder and the lower portions are compared by the lower adder, and the carry and propagate outputs are collectively used to determine the minimum value.
US08386544B2 Managing floating point variables in constraint satisfaction problems
Systems and methods for managing floating point variables are described in the present disclosure. According to one example, an embodiment of a method includes analyzing a constraint on a floating point variable in a system that supports both floating point variables and integer variables. The constraint is designed to have the ability to numerically limit the domain of the floating point variable. The method also includes determining whether or not the floating point variable can be handled as an integer variable and converting the floating point variable to a pseudo integer variable when it is determined that the floating point variable can be handled as an integer variable. This conversion of the floating point variable to a pseudo integer variable allows the domain of the floating point variable to be processed as an integer domain.
US08386542B1 Watch calculator device for unit conversions
A metric-converter watch device comprising a small watch-shaped housing having a display panel and a numeric keypad; and a microprocessor configured to perform mathematical operations and configured to convert a first English numeric value to a first metric numeric value and convert a second metric numeric value to a second English numeric value, wherein the microprocessor is operatively connected to a first conversion button, to a second conversion button, and the display panel, wherein the microprocessor is operatively connected to a battery, the battery being operatively connected to a solar panel disposed on the housing, wherein the solar panel provides power to re-charge the battery.
US08386540B1 Scalable relational database service
System and methods for providing a Scalable Relational Database Service (SRDBS) are disclosed. SRDBS may allow a subscriber to lease/rent a virtual relational database (a.k.a. namespace) with a specified allocation of disk space, CPU resources and/or I/O resources. The namespace may resemble a physical RDBMS, and may allow client applications to perform SQL queries. SRDBS may partition a subscriber's database across multiple database servers automatically and may replicate each partition automatically. SRDBS may provide automatic routing of client queries to the appropriate database server holding the required data. The routing process may mask temporary data outages due to database replica failures, network failures, and/or repartitioning operations. SRDBS may employ partition maps to convey the location of data to client-side routing functions. These partition maps may use a multi-versioning scheme. SRDBS may provide a resource isolation mechanism that limits the resource utilization of each namespace to its specified allocation.
US08386538B2 File exchange system and mobile device
A mobile device includes a file information acquiring unit, a file information display unit that displays the file information acquired on a display unit, a file presence identifying unit that determines whether or not a file specified by file information designated by a user from among the file information displayed on the display unit is stored in a storage unit, a first file transmitting unit that transmits the stored file to another mobile device when the file presence identifying unit determines that the file is stored in the internal storage unit, a file acquiring unit that downloads the file specified by the designated file information from the server when the file presence identifying unit determines that the file is not stored in the internal storage unit, and a second file transmitting unit that transmits the file acquired by the file acquiring unit to the other mobile device.
US08386532B2 Mechanism for co-located data placement in a parallel elastic database management system
A database management system implemented in a cloud computing environment. Operational nodes are assigned as groups of controller-nodes, compute-nodes or storage-nodes. Assignments as compute-nodes or storage-nodes vary during execution of queries. Queries specify tables for an associated database operation, and respective storage nodegroup(s). The number of nodes executing a query may change by (a) changing a compute-nodegroup, or (b) adding or removing nodes from a compute nodegroup; and/or distributing data to the storage nodegroup based on a Distribution Method which may be specified by a Distribution Vector (DV) that determines at least where each row is stored.
US08386528B2 System and method of data processing for a communications operation
A data processing system comprises an interface configured to communicate with a data source, a memory, and a reference data module. The data processing system comprises a processor which is configured to communicate with the memory, the interface, and the reference module. The processor is further configured to request a first list from the data source. The first list comprises a record. The record being modified based on a comparison of a data characteristic to a first reference data. The processor is further configured to receive the first list from the data source for a communication operation and to compare the data characteristic of the first list to a second reference data. The processor is further configured to generate a second list based on comparing the data characteristic of the first list to the second reference data.
US08386523B2 Random access audio decoder
Random access decoding start points (audio frame headers) for AMR-type files are found by sequential elimination of types of file points from consideration for a block of file points following a random access selected point. Chaining of file points according to frame header format interpretation gives paths of points through the block, and selection of maximal path(s) includes sums of weights of the points of a path. The next-to-initial points of such a maximal path provides a decoding start point.
US08386522B2 Technique to introduce advanced functional behaviors in a database management system without introducing new data types
A row property provides a mechanism for implementing advanced functional behavior in a relational database management system (RDBMS) without introducing new data types. A row property is part of a table definition, such that, when a table is defined in the RDBMS, at least one row property is specified for one or more associated columns of rows of the table, wherein the row property has an associated functional behavior that is predefined within the RDBMS. The columns associated with the row property are generally of existing data types supported by an RDBMS. A row property may be invoked when the RDBMS processes a language statement that references the row property. When the row property is invoked, the RDBMS executes programming logic associated with the row property, in order to perform the advanced functional behavior using data stored in the associated columns.
US08386520B2 Database security structure
A database structure that may be used for semistructured databases assigns each node of a database to a collection. For each collection, create rights, retrieve rights, associate rights and dissassociate rights are provided to one or more users, the rights being assigned in common for all nodes of the collection. Users can only carry out the task if they have the appropriate rights. In this way, a flexible database security structure is provided that can deliver appropriate security for different elements of a semistructured database.
US08386515B2 Persistent querying in a federated database system
Methods and systems are provided, for persistent querying in a federated database system. A federated database system has a plurality of connectable database management system nodes, each database node having at least one database. Persistent querying includes: receiving a query at a first database node and propagating the query from the first database node to other database nodes in the federated database system. A responding database node satisfying the query: obtains a query results set; defines a topic identifier for the query; and publishes subsequent messages relating to the topic identifier when data updates are available. The first database node receives query results sets from one or more responding nodes and the first database node subscribes to topic identifiers for publications of subsequent messages from the responding database nodes. Subsequent messages are published relating to the query along the connection through which the query is returned.
US08386513B2 System and method for analyzing, integrating and updating media contact and content data
A computer implemented system for integrating, searching, and updating media related databases comprising a first server for receiving digital content from at least one of a plurality of sources, a second server for receiving queries from at least one of a plurality of user computing devices, and a database access layer being utilized by the first and second servers to read and write to a plurality of databases. The plurality of databases comprise a content database and a media database. The content database receives at least one article of digital content from the first server via the database access layer and stores the at least one article. The media database contains at least one journalist data and media outlet data. A mapping module matches journalist data and media outlet data to at least one journalist data and media outlet data contained in the media database.
US08386512B2 System for managing data collection processes
A system and process for managing data collection processes is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, a data collection system having a controller element that assigns to each of the processes a query interval according to a priority level of the data collection process for requesting use of processing resources, receiving one or more requests from the processes, once per respective query interval, for use of at least a portion of available processing resources, releases at least a portion of the available processing resources to a requesting one of the processes when the use of the available processing resources exceeds a utilization threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08386510B2 Flexible connector framework for data feed generation
A data feed engine allows a user to create a data feed without protocol and/or formatting knowledge for the data source. The data feed engine dynamically selects a connector for any one of a variety of different types of data sources. The date feed engine can then build a search command with search parameters and a data source identity based on the automatically selected data source connector. The data feed engine publishes a reference to the generated data feed definition in a catalog of data feeds. A framework that utilizes such functionality allows creation of a mashup to with a combination of data feeds from different types of data sources.
US08386505B2 Identifying unique objects in multiple image collections
A method of identifying images containing a unique object found in at least two separate image collections of different users comprising identifying the unique object and providing features for the unique object; at least one user identifying at least two separate image collections produced by separate users that potentially have images of the unique object; and using the features to search the at least two separate collections to identify images that contain the unique object.
US08386503B2 Method and apparatus for entity removal from a content management solution implementing time-based flagging for certainty in a relational database environment
The present invention provides a way to efficiently validate and process requests, such as deletion requests, that affect items having associated objects in a content management system. When the request is received, a timestamp for the item is retrieved. A timestamp for any objects affected by the request are then retrieved and checked against the timestamp for the item. The request is then completed on the item and objects based on the respective timestamps for the item and the objects.
US08386496B2 System and method for effectively implementing a personal channel for interactive television
A system and method for effectively implementing a personal channel for interactive television comprises a personal channel manager that may include a configuration module, a search module, and a content packaging module. A system user may utilize the configuration module to perform a personal channel configuration procedure to specify personal channel configuration data for performing a content record search procedure. The search module may manage the content record search procedure according to one or more search parameters that may be defined during the personal channel configuration procedure. The search module finds content records from content databases during the foregoing content record search procedure. The content packaging module coordinates a content record sorting procedure according to user-specified sorting criteria.
US08386491B2 System and method for utilizing organization-level technology demand information
A plurality of subtechnologies may be identified in which each of the plurality of subtechnologies is characterized by a common granularity level. The organization-level demand and/or expertise for each of the identified plurality of subtechnologies may also be identified. Thereafter, a corresponding plurality of subtechnology profiles may be generated, which include a corresponding organization-level demand and/or expertise, as well as other subtechnology attributes. In one embodiment, the generated subtechnology profiles may then be stored in a common technology database. The technology database may be searched based on user queries entered via the common graphical user interface. The subtechnology search results may be ranked based, at least in part, on a quantitative comparison of the subtechnology's general relevance to the user, with the internal relevance to the user's company or organization.
US08386490B2 Adaptive multimedia semantic concept classifier
A method of classifying a set of semantic concepts on a second multimedia collection based upon adapting a set of semantic concept classifiers and updating concept affinity relations that were developed to classify the set of semantic concepts for a first multimedia collection. The method comprises providing the second multimedia collection from a different domain and a processor automatically classifying the semantic concepts from the second multimedia collection by adapting the semantic concept classifiers and updating the concept affinity relations to the second multimedia collection based upon the local smoothness over the concept affinity relations and the local smoothness over data affinity relations.
US08386485B2 Case-based framework for collaborative semantic search
A service-oriented system architecture includes a computer-implemented search method and computer-implemented agent system for enabling efficient information searches on, for example, on XML databases, relational databases, and files located on intranets, the Internet, or other computer network systems. Referred to as the Knowledge Sifter architecture, the architecture may comprise, in one embodiment, a community of cooperating agents. The system architecture may be employed using a variety of methodologies, such as a case-based framework, collaborative filtering, or hybrid filtering. The case-based framework may be configured to recommend query specifications and refinements based on previously-stored user-query cases. Collaborative filtering involves the architecture recommending a set of unseen items that are preferred by other users to the active user. Hybrid filtering combines collaborative filtering and content-based filtering.
US08386483B2 Providing increased quality of content to a user over time
Increasing quality of content provided to a user is provided. Communities of practice a user is associated with are determined based on login data. A corresponding set of tags is retrieved for each of the communities of practice. All corresponding sets of tags are aggregated to define a role for the user. A personal set of tags associated with the user is retrieved. The personal set of tags is added to the aggregate of all corresponding sets of tags to create a new set of tags. A context of the user in the particular task is recorded. The new set of tags is filtered based on the context to create a sub-set of tags. A defined number of tag aware information sources are queried using the sub-set of tags. Content is received from the defined number of tag aware information sources based on the query. The content is outputted.
US08386478B2 Methods and systems for unobtrusive search relevance feedback
Methods and systems for receiving feedback from a user regarding the relevance of search results to a search query are provided. The method includes presenting at least one search result responsive to a search query by the user, selecting ones of the at least one search result that are determined by the user to be relevant to the search query, and increasing a relevance ranking of the selected search results in future searches based on the determination.
US08386467B2 Controlling optimizer robustness and achieving service level goals in a database system
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for automatic and dynamic control of optimizer settings in a large complex system environment are provided. The described mechanisms significantly increase the potential of achieving Service Level Goals for classes of queries where optimizer aggression is needed. Confidence threshold parameters are automatically controlled to facilitate generation of query execution plans to conform with associated Service Level Goals.
US08386461B2 Method and apparatus for generating hash mnemonics
Methods and computing devices enable users to identify documents using a hash value mapped to a word mnemonic for easy recall and comparison. A hash algorithm may be applied a document to generate a distinguishing hash value. The hash value is mapped to a plurality of words to form the mnemonic. To obtain the words, the hash value may be mapped to word indices used to identify particular words in word lists. Word lists may include a list of nouns, a list of verbs, and a list of adverbs or adjectives, so that the resulting three word mnemonics are memorable. More word lists may be used to map hash values to four-, five- or more word mnemonics. The number-to-mnemonic mapping methods may be used to map large numbers, such as account numbers, telephone numbers, etc. into mnemonics which are easier for people to remember and compare.
US08386460B1 Managing URLs
Crawling pages is disclosed. Pages are crawled up to a target number of pages. Additional pages, that have an importance that is equal to or greater than an importance threshold, are crawled beyond the target number of pages. In some embodiments, pages having an importance less than an importance threshold are deleted.
US08386459B1 Scheduling a recrawl
A method for determining a recrawl schedule of items on an intranet using a search appliance includes estimating, using the search appliance installed on the intranet, a change period for items on the intranet using a history of crawl information for the items. The change period for an item may be a frequency of change in content of the item. The method includes calculating a crawl period for each of the items, where the crawl period for an item is set relative to the change period for the item. The method includes determining whether to adjust the calculated crawl period for each of the items using adjustment criteria, adjusting the calculated crawl period for selected items determined for adjustment using the adjustment criteria and creating a recrawl schedule of the items on the intranet using a recrawl time for each of the items.
US08386456B1 Codex search patterns
A search engine optimizer that works independently and in parallel with a browser and search engine supercomputer to gather, analyze, and distill input information interactively. The optimizer reorganizes the input, and providing an optimized version as an output. The optimized version of the input (e.g. output) is sent to the search engine that responds to the end user with search results. The optimizer recognizes each request as a pattern and stores the pattern in an advanced Glyph format. This permits the optimizer to identify a left and ride side checkmate combination required to achieve certitude.
US08386455B2 Systems and methods for providing advanced search result page content
The present invention provides a method and system for generating search results including receiving a search request including at least one search term and accessing a corpus of data to determine relevant content for inclusion in a search result set on the basis of the search request. The method and system includes determining a plurality of applications associated with the search request and generating a search result output display for the presentation of at least a portion of the search result set and at least a portion of the applications.
US08386454B2 Systems and methods for providing advanced search result page content
The present invention provides a method and system for generating search results including receiving a search request and accessing a corpus of data relating to web content to determine relevant content. The method and system includes determining at least one semantic object in the search results set and generating an object filter on the basis of the at least one semantic object. The method and system further includes generating a search result output display for the presentation of at least a portion of the search result set and active data links for one or more of the semantic objects and toggling the search result output display to present at least a portion of a subset of the search results set in response to selection of a given active data link, the subset including content having semantic object associated therewith.
US08386452B2 Data combination system and data combination method
A data join system of the present invention includes a table determination unit 11 selecting a record b as a join target if a value of a key item included in a record a acquired by a data write unit from a table A falls within a first predetermined range set based on a value of a key item included in the record b stored in a table B, a data join unit joining the selected record b with the record a to generate a record c, and a data write unit storing the record c into a table C. Thus, the success rate of data join can be improved while the accuracy of join of the record b and the record a to be joined is improved.
US08386450B2 Query optimization technique for obtaining improved cardinality estimates using statistics on pre-defined queries
A technique for optimizing execution of a query that accesses data stored on a data store connected to a computer. Statistics on one or more pre-defined queries are used to determine an optimal query execution plan for the query. In particular, improved cardinality estimates are generated for one or more query execution plans for the query using statistics of one or more pre-defined queries that vertically overlap the query. These cardinality estimates are used to make more accurate cost estimates, thus improving the likelihood of determining the optimal query execution plan.
US08386446B1 Proxying search requests for files to a search engine
A method and apparatus for proxying search requests for a storage system and maintaining a central index for performing the search requests is described herein. An index manager on the storage system may initially produce the central index by examining each file in a file system and update the central index thereafter by examining only those files that have changed since the central index was initially produced or last updated. The index manager may receive a changed file list from a differencing layer configured for comparing snapshots of the file system at different time points to produce changed file lists. A search proxy module may receive search requests in a search protocol and proxy the search requests to a search engine by converting the search requests to another search protocol compatible with the search engine. The search engine may then use the central index for performing the search request.
US08386438B2 Method for restoring data from a monolithic backup
A computer system and methods for restoring data from a copy of a database file. The method includes receiving a request to restore an item from the copy of the database file. The item includes a file and associated context information describing the file in a first intranet portal application environment. The method further includes retrieving a schema including the item from the copy of the database file and generating an item file comprising a copy of the file. The item file is independent of the context information. The method further includes generating a metadata file based on the context information, associating the metadata file with the item file, storing the item file and associated metadata file in a file system, and restoring the item to a second intranet portal application or to a third application via the file system.
US08386431B2 Method and system for determining database object associated with tenant-independent or tenant-specific data, configured to store data partition, current version of the respective convertor
A system includes a database instance having a data storage system with a data store area storing first and second data partitions, where the respective data partitions each include a plurality of database pages storing respective tenant-independent/-specific data and respective first/second converters associated with the respective partitions. A database management system (DBMS) to receive a request for a database object and determine whether the database object is associated with tenant-independent data or with tenant-specific data. If the database object is associated with tenant-independent data, the DBMS determines a location of first database pages associated with the database object within the first plurality of database pages based on the first converter. Or if associated with tenant-specific data, the DBMS determines a location of second database pages associated with the database object within the second plurality of database pages based on the second converter. A method is also disclosed.
US08386428B2 Method and system for fast generation of file system snapshot bitmap in virtual environment
A method, system and computer program product for generation and management of incremental backups of VEE file system using bitmaps. The proposed method allows users to roll back to any previous version or state of the VEE file system and to instantiate this version using the data encapsulated in virtual disk storage (i.e. file system) of the VEE. A number of VEEs run on a Host Operating System of the computer system. One of the VEEs implemented on the computer system is designated to generation and management of backups of the virtual disk data of the other VEEs without freezing the file system during the entire backup process. A special tracing application runs on the designated VEE for generating the bitmap of a file system snapshot. The user can also set up a time for generating a backup or create a schedule for automatically generating the backups at critical points.
US08386426B2 System and method for editing cartographic data
Systems, methods, and computer program products for editing and displaying cartographic data are described. Cartographic source data is retrieved from a first record set and displayed in a display device. Based on a selection by a user of a feature in the display device, source data corresponding to the selected feature is selected. Based on a modification of the selected feature by the user in the display device, cartographic edit data is created. The cartographic edit data is associated with the cartographic source data for the feature and the associated cartographic edit data is stored within a second record set that is editable by the user. An output record set is created for display on the display device, at least in part, from the associated cartographic edit data for the feature.
US08386416B2 Database rating index
Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for determining the status of a clinical database in order to characterize the quality of the database. The status may be based on the proportion of outstanding items in relation to relative milestones. A database rating index for a database is determined from risk factors, where the database rating index is indicative of a status of the clinical database and may be determined from risk factors, where each risk factor includes an issue parameter and a subject parameter, the issue parameter equals the number of occurrences for the corresponding issue, and the subject parameter corresponds to the number of patients associated with the issue parameter. The database rating index may be determined from one of a set of functions that depend on an issue health score and a subject health score.
US08386414B2 Browsing within a virtual environment to determine web content of interest based on interactions with virtual objects
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for integrating web browsing with a three dimensional (3D) immersive environment. In one embodiment, characteristics describing a user's web browsing history may be used to identify objects that are of interest to the user. The objects of interest may be matched to objects included in a virtual environment. The virtual objects may then be presented to the user within an interface to the virtual environment. In another embodiment, characteristics of user interactions with virtual objects may be used to determine related web content. The related web content may be presented to the user in a web browser.
US08386413B2 System for generating a media playlist
A system for generating a media playlist comprising a media management module operable to select a first media item from a plurality of media items stored in a media database for playback; and using raw user input data representing a measure of the popularity of the first media item, generate preference data representing a refined user preference for the first media item; wherein the preference data is used to determine a second media item from the plurality of media items for playback.
US08386412B2 Methods and apparatus to construct histogram and wavelet synopses for probabilistic data
Example methods and apparatus to construct histogram and wavelet synopses for probabilistic data are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving probabilistic data associated with probability measures and generating a plurality of histograms based on the probabilistic data. Each histogram is generated based on items represented by the probabilistic data. In addition, each histogram is generated using a different quantity of buckets containing different ones of the items. An error measure associated with each of the plurality of histograms is determined and one of the plurality of histograms is selected based on its associated error measure. The method also involves displaying parameter information associated with the one of the plurality of histograms to represent the data.
US08386411B2 Method and device for distributing patterns to scanning engines for scanning patterns in a packet stream
A method and a device for distributing patterns to scanning engines for scanning packets in a packet stream are provided. The method includes providing a plurality of scanning engines and patterns, calculating a respective distance metric for every pair of patterns, and providing a plurality of distribution functions. Further, the method includes calculating a respective sum of the calculated distance metrics for distributing the patterns for each of the distribution functions, and utilizing the sums for selecting a distribution function of the D distribution functions for distributing the patterns to the M scanning engines. A device for implementing the method is also provided.
US08386406B2 Systems and methods for making contextual recommendations
A method and a system for making contextual recommendations to users on a network-based system. For example, a first and second related category are selected and a relationship score is calculated representing an aspect of the relationship between the first and second related categories. A relationship type is selected to represent the relationship between the first and second categories using the relationship score. The relationship type is one of either a complement or a substitute. A complement relationship indicates a complementary relationship between the first and second related categories. While a substitute relationship indicates a substitutionary relationship between the first and second categories. The relationship type is stored associated with the first and second related categories. Using the selected relationship type, a recommendation is provided to a user on the network-based system.
US08386405B2 Method and a computer program product for providing a response to a statement of a user
A method for interacting with a person, the method comprising: receiving a user textual input; matching a structured representation of the user textual input against expected user statement fields of knowledge database entries; wherein a knowledge database entry comprises an expected user statement field and at least one action field; wherein multiple entries of the knowledge database form a data structure that comprises multiple expected user statements fields that match an expected sequence of user textual inputs.
US08386404B2 Methods for automated eddy current non-destructive testing analysis
A system and method for precisely detecting tubing flaws using a computer architecture that combines scalable processing power with an extensible array of detection and classification possibilities involving eddy current data analysis, as well as detection algorithms for pinpointing exact tubing regions and wherein these regions can be further divided into manageable segments for flaw analysis. Multiple classification tools utilized to discriminate detection and to precisely assign proper report codes to detect flaws repeatedly and accurately.
US08386401B2 Machine learning methods and systems for identifying patterns in data using a plurality of learning machines wherein the learning machine that optimizes a performance function is selected
Methods for training machines to categorize data, and/or recognize patterns in data, and machines and systems so trained. More specifically, variations of the invention relates to methods for training machines that include providing one or more training data samples encompassing one or more data classes, identifying patterns in the one or more training data samples, providing one or more data samples representing one or more unknown classes of data, identifying patterns in the one or more of the data samples of unknown class(es), and predicting one or more classes to which the data samples of unknown class(es) belong by comparing patterns identified in said one or more data samples of unknown class with patterns identified in said one or more training data samples. Also provided are tools, systems, and devices, such as support vector machines (SVMs) and other methods and features, software implementing the methods and features, and computers or other processing devices incorporating and/or running the software, where the methods and features, software, and processors utilize specialized methods to analyze data.
US08386398B1 Campaign goal pricing
Advertising pricing based on campaign goal progress and/or achievement. Surveys conducted during campaign initiation can determine baseline statistics for goals. Periodic surveys during and after the campaign can be used to measure progress toward a goal and/or whether the goal has been achieved. Pricing of the campaign can be tied to goal progress and/or achievement. In one implementation, lift in brand awareness among an audience can be a campaign goal that is measured. Survey results are integrated into an ad server for running display ads on a publisher website and the advertiser only pays for percentage point lifts in reader awareness.
US08386394B1 Verifying that a purchasing request is legitimate
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A computing device provides a user interface of a third-party application program. The user interface includes an interface element that causes purchase of a product. The computing device receives an indication that the user has selected the interface element. The computing device identifies a first identity certificate that is assigned to the third-party application program from among multiple identity certificates that are assigned to multiple respective third-party application programs. The computing device sends the first identity certificate to a server system so as to cause the server system to determine whether the first identity certificate matches a second identity certificate. The computing device receives an indication that the third-party application program is able to legitimately purchase the product. The computing device sends a request for purchasing the product.
US08386393B2 Systems and methods for verifying identities in transactions
A computerized method of verifying the identity of an attendant operating a money transfer transaction device includes receiving at the money transfer transaction device a user identification and password from the attendant and receiving at the money transfer transaction device additional information from the attendant. The additional information relates to a security feature that limits access to the transaction device. The method also includes using the additional information, the user identification, and the password to evaluate whether to allow the attendant to operate the transaction device to process a transaction.
US08386392B2 Software license agreement amongst workgroups using software usage data
A license handling information handling system receives an electronic message from a first computer system utilized by a first user. The first user's message requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization. The license handling information handling system identifies a second user in the organization that currently has a license to the licensed product, and requests that the second user relinquish the license to the licensed product. The second user indicates that the second user's license will be relinquished for a temporary time period. The licensing handling information handling system sends an electronic message, including the temporary time period, to the first user. In response to the first user accepting the temporary time period, the second user's license to the licensed product is revoked, and the first user is granted a license to the licensed product.
US08386390B2 Right management device, terminal device, and right management system
A service provider (SP) receives an original license including an edit condition that shows designation of a range of a usage condition from a content provider (CP) license management server of a CP. On the basis of the received original license, a sales license generation tool of the SP generates a sales license which includes the usage condition that shows a condition for allowing the usage of the content and from which a content key has been deleted. A content key insertion processing unit of an SP license management server judges whether or not the usage condition included in the generated license information is within the range of the edit condition, and inserts the content key into the generated license information only when the usage condition is within the range of the edit condition.
US08386388B2 Entitlement security and control
A system, apparatus, and method are provided for entitlement security and control. According to one embodiment, an entitlement request is matched against entitlement rules, the entitlement permission is granted if the entitlement request satisfies the entitlement rules, and an audit trail of entitlement events is generated.
US08386387B2 System and method for tracking syndication of internet content
A method and system for syndicating content via a plurality of publication venues is provided. In one embodiment the method includes storing in a memory a plurality of videos; storing a content identifier (ID) for each of the plurality of videos; storing a syndication ID for each of the plurality of publication venues, wherein at least some of the plurality of publications venues act as a referring venue for other publication venues; and storing information sufficient to identify the referring venue for the other publication venues. The method may further comprise receiving a syndication request for a first video from a requester, wherein the request includes a first content ID for the first video and a first syndication ID; generating code that includes the first content ID and a second syndication ID; associating the first content ID, the first syndication ID and the second syndication ID in a memory; and providing the code to the requester.
US08386386B1 Phone usage pattern as credit card fraud detection trigger
A credit card fraud reduction system is disclosed. The system comprises a computer system and an application. The application, when executed on the computer system, applies increased credit card fraud prevention procedures to use of an electronic credit card application in a mobile electronic device, based on a changed communication usage pattern of the mobile electronic device.
US08386383B1 Money fund banking system with multiple banks and/or rates
A method, system and program product for managing a plurality of individual client deposits for multiple clients, the method comprising: accessing, an electronic database, comprising: aggregated account information for a plurality of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured and interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts held in a plurality of banking institutions, and client information for each of a plurality of the respective clients, i, comprising (i) a total of a respective client's funds deposited across a plurality of the FDIC-insured interest-bearing aggregated accounts held in a plurality of the banking institutions; and (ii) a maximum deposit percentage of the respective client funds to be held in at least one of the banking institutions; maintaining funds for said individual clients in a plurality of the FDIC-insured, interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts at a plurality of banking institutions, wherein each of the banking institutions has at least one of the aggregated deposit accounts; processing, by computer, client transaction data comprising data for each of one or more deposits/transfers and/or one or more withdrawals/transfers for one or more of said clients, with the data comprising a respective amount for each respective deposit/transfer and each respective withdrawal/transfer; making needed deposits to, or needed withdrawals from one or more of said aggregated deposit accounts based on the data for one or more of the deposit/transfers and/or the withdrawals/transfers and based, at least in part, on the maximum deposit percentage in the database for one or more of the clients; and updating the database based on the client's deposits/transfers and/or withdrawals/transfers.
US08386380B2 Products and processes for revenue sharing and delivery
Various techniques of distributing revenue and/or other money, selecting/bonding delivery agents, and performing other tasks are providing herein. Methods include distributing portions of loan payments to one or more referrers associated with one or more loans, bonding of delivery agents, selecting delivery agents, allocating portions of credit card payments and/or sharing advertisement revenue. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.
US08386376B2 System and method using enhanced authorization data to reduce travel-related transaction fraud
Processes for reducing fraud risk in credit transactions, particularly those involving airline ticket purchases, include collecting the following additional transaction variables and their use in real-time authorization decisions: credit card holder name, reservation code, passenger name, origin city, destination city, travel date, routing description, class of service, e-ticket indicator, number of passengers traveling and carrier code. The additional transaction variables received during a transaction involving the purchase of airline tickets are passed, in addition to the transaction variables traditionally included in a real-time authorizations request, to a fraud risk evaluation model maintained by a financial institution or other entity responsible for authorizing a payment for the transaction. The fraud-risk models use historical behavior and optimal risk decision-making factors to authorize or reject the transaction in real time, without slowing standard authorization processing times.
US08386371B2 Method and system for canceling orders for financial articles of trades
Market data is monitored for purposes of canceling orders for financial articles of trade. Real-time data is collected from multiple liquidity destinations trading at least one financial article of trade. The real-time data comprises disparate data corresponding to associated liquidity destinations. The collected real-time data is normalized into a standardized form. A condition is defined of a trading market that includes one or both of submitted and executed transactions of financial articles of trade over the multiple liquidity destinations. The condition is associated with an entity. Through monitoring of the normalized real-time data, an event is identified in the trading market that matches the condition. Upon identification of the condition, at least one communication session between the entity and a corresponding liquidity destination is terminated causing a process at the corresponding liquidity destination to cancel pending or outstanding orders for financial articles of trades from the entity.
US08386365B2 Interactive online funding method and system thereof
An interactive online funding method includes providing an interactive online funding platform, offering an interactive funding activity for a user to participate in the interactive online funding platform, by placing a bid, and comparing the bid price of the user with a threshold price set by the interactive online funding platform. When the bid price is greater than or equal to the threshold price, the method further includes utilizing the interactive online funding platform to perform settlement and liquidation to remit a loan amount to the user according to at least the bid price; when the bid price is lower than the threshold price, the method further includes utilizing the interactive online funding platform to perform settlement and liquidation to receive a deposit amount from the user according to the bid price.
US08386362B2 Information distribution process and method
A process for distributing information in an electronic market includes an insertion process to insert, in a file that resides in a storage medium, information representing an activity relating to a security interest stored in an order book that resides in main memory and is accessible by a matching process.
US08386353B2 Systems and methods to process transactions based on social networking
Systems and methods to authenticate and process requests received via social networking websites. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating a first phone number of a user with an identification of the user in a social networking website; and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers of mobile communications. The converters communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor receives a request including the identification of the user, identifies the first phone number of the user based on the data stored on the data storage facility, and uses the converters to communicate with a mobile phone at the first phone number to confirm the request.
US08386350B2 System and method for extracting value from a portfolio of assets
A system and methods for extracting value from a portfolio of assets, for example a patent portfolio, are described. By granting floating privileges described herein, a portfolio owner can extend an opportunity for obtaining an interest in selected assets from the portfolio to a client who lacks the resources to accumulate and maintain such a portfolio, in return for an annuity stream to the portfolio owner. The floating privilege can take many forms, depending on the needs of the client and the nature of the assets in the portfolio. The privilege is executed for a set of assets selected by the client and approved by the portfolio owner in accordance with a floating privilege agreement controlling the floating privilege.
US08386348B2 System and method for comparing and analyzing expenditures and savings over different time periods
A method of comparing and analyzing expenditures and savings for a first and a second time period includes a first step of receiving consumption data, expenditure data and market price data for the first and second time periods, a second step of calculating data representing a change in savings from the first time period to the second time period, based on differences between the market price data and the expenditure data for the two time periods, and a third step of outputting the data representing the change in savings from the first to the second time period. The consumption data represents a type and an amount of a commodity consumed during a given time period, the expenditure data represents an actual cost paid for the commodity consumed during that given time period, and the market price data represents a market price of the commodity consumed during that given time period.
US08386344B2 Methods and apparatus for centralized global tax computation, management, and compliance reporting
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for tax computation, management, and compliance reporting via a centralized transactional tax platform capable of incorporating transaction data and/or tax information from multiple locations and/or multiple business applications via a network architecture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a central server may be configured to execute an application to generate a user interface to enable configuration of tax compliance data via a network link, to receive transaction data from one or more client systems via the network, to calculate transaction taxes corresponding to the transaction data, and to store tax information, including outputs and computational logic generated by tax calculation engines executed by the server. In another embodiment, the tax calculations may be executed client-side, while administration of tax compliance data and reporting are facilitated by the central server.
US08386340B1 Establishing communication based on item interest
Interactions between an item and an online shopper may be used to determine interest in an item or a category of items. Once interest has been determined, the online shopper may be presented with an option to initiate communication with other users. This communication may be between a plurality of users including shoppers, owners, experts, item representatives, and so forth. Communication may include text chat, video chat, audio chat, telephone, and so forth. Rewards may be provided to some or all users to encourage communication.
US08386337B2 System and method for single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise
A system and method for performing single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise is provided. The system preferably includes at least one server and at least one client coupled via a network. The server is preferably operable to identify the user of the client system and retrieve a transaction listing for the identified user. The client system preferably displays the transaction listing to the user and allows the user to perform a single action to select transactions and/or merchandise for returns processing. In response to the single action performed, the server system preferably initiates and completes a returns process based upon stored user preferences for such returns. The returns process can include returning merchandise to the retailer from which it was purchased, auctioning the unwanted merchandise, notifying a shipping agent of the return as well as other return procedures.
US08386333B2 Anonymous shopping transactions on a network through information broker services
A system and method for enabling a user to transact an anonymous on-line transaction, wherein a form of on-line payment is requested at a transaction interface is disclosed. The method may include providing an anonymous user interface that enables a user to initiate an on-line payment, accessing a first profile comprising user data when the user activates the form of on-line payment, generating a second profile linked to the first profile, wherein the second profile comprises anonymous data, and communicating the anonymous data from the second profile to the transaction interface to enable completion of the transaction.
US08386330B1 Tool for auction grouping by preference and extensions of time
A tool used for managing multiple auctions is presented. The tool includes instructions providing the capability of creating subgroups of auctions based on criteria used to sort data pertaining either to the subject matter of the auction or to its participants. Further, the tool manages within-group closing times by extending closing times of all auctions in the group. A comparison of a recent bid to extension criteria may extend the closing time of an auction by an extension period; if the number of times this auction is extended meets a trigger number, then all closing times of all auctions in the group are extended by a specified time related to the trigger number and the extension period.
US08386328B2 Automated listing management
Disclosed is a sales system for lots of items that includes business rule definition logic. The sales system also includes offering creation logic that is operative to dynamically create different offerings for items in the lots. The offering creation logic optimizes return based on one or more of the business rules by using different offering parameter values for the different offerings.
US08386325B2 Architectural design for plan-driven procurement application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Inbound Delivery Processing process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Demand Forecast Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Logistics Execution Control process component.
US08386322B2 Integrated point of sale terminal
An integrated point-of-sale terminal for use with a fuel dispenser has a site controller, at least one dispenser having a user interface, at least one processor at the site controller, memory coupled to the processor, and a plurality of point-of-sale applications associated with the site controller. The processor is configured to dynamically regulate which of the plurality of point-of-sale applications has control of the dispenser user interface based on a set of business rules.
US08386319B1 Student prospects assessment system
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for assessing student prospects. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to receiving transaction data from a transaction involving a consumer, comparing the transaction data to an education position rule, and determining an education position based at least partially on a comparison of the transaction data to an education position rule.
US08386315B1 Yield management system and method for advertising inventory
System, method, computer program and computer program product automate and optimize process of placing advertising campaigns on available inventory. When visitor loads one of publisher's web pages, system will be queried for advertisement that should be shown. System periodically analyzes performance data to determine optimal allocations. When queried, identifies advertiser campaign and advertisement to be shown. Results of that visitor encounter are logged or recorded for future analysis. Determination of campaign placements may advantageously be a two-phase process. First, campaign is efficiently tested on the inventory most likely to produce good results. The testing module dynamically adapts, adjusting the amount of testing on different channels until a sufficient determination of the creative performance on different channels can be made. The second phase is the resource allocation. Campaign performance data and contractual constraints are formulated as a network problem. Efficient methods for solving network problems are well known. These two phases may be further subdivided if necessary.
US08386312B2 Neuro-informatics repository system
A neuro-informatics repository system is provided to allow efficient generation, management, and access to central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, effector data, and behavioral data obtained from subjects exposed to stimulus material. Data collected using multiple modalities such as Electroencephalography (EEG), Electrooculography (EOG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Event Related Potential (ERP), surveys, etc., is stored using a variety of data models to allow efficient querying, report generation, analysis and/or visualization.
US08386309B2 Intelligent clearing network
In an embodiment, a system for validating, redeeming, and financially settling paper coupons coded with a GS1 barcode and 8110 Application Identifier comprises a real time network through which a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal communicates directly to, or through a POS controller, with an Intelligent Clearing Network (ICN) server. One or both of the POS terminal and POS controller are installed with a ICN POS data bridge which stores computer code. The ICN server is configured to run a real time application while in communication with the POS terminal, wherein the POS terminal transmits paper coupon data elements read from the GS1 barcode and other consumer transaction information including universal product codes purchased, and transaction details to the ICN server via the network.
US08386303B2 Sparse data environmental equipment threshold compliance alarm system and method
A sparse data system is provided for verifying operational compliance of a plurality of environmental systems. To reduce operational costs to a minimum, the quantity of data transmitted is minimized and the data is only transmitted at certain times. If systems are compliant, then information is preferably not sent. If systems are non-compliant, then notices are sent to parties of interest at effectively the same time as the noncompliance occurs. Subsequent alarm detection level may also be sent after detection of an operational threshold to provide notice for continued ongoing or severe noncompliance.
US08386293B2 Initial content customization apparatus and method
A hardware platform (300) of choice can be configured and arranged to determine (101) a current need to respond to a previously unknown person with content and to then obtain (102) from that person only a modicum of personal information. The hardware platform can then use (103) that modicum of personal information to access a store of characterizing general information and thereby obtain a corresponding profile for this person. The hardware platform can then automatically and currently provide (104) initial content to this person, wherein the initial content is customized as a function, at least in part, of this profile information.
US08386291B2 Equipment planning support system for triple-deck elevator
The invention relates to a triple-deck elevator equipment planning support system, arranged such that the average number of times of being stopped per going-round is calculated on the basis of a given building specification and cage specification data in a triple-deck elevator system; a total value of getting-on/off time periods of passengers, a total value of door-opening/closing time periods, and the total value of running time periods are calculated based on the average number; and a going-round time period of an elevator is calculated from these calculation results, and a practical transportation capacity per on triple-deck elevator is calculated.
US08386290B2 Optimizing a shared service delivery system
A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product optimize a shared service delivery system. A model of an existing shared service delivery system is created. Capacity of the existing shared service delivery system is defined according to required resources for existing projects, new projects, and proposed projects. Existing cells of practitioners in the existing shared service delivery system are identified, and any gaps or gluts of capacity in the existing cells of practitioners are identified according to a general predetermined resource requirement for the shared service delivery system.
US08386286B2 System and method for the dynamic allocation of resources
A system and method for dynamically allocating resources in a process. A demand pattern change detection unit, a future demand forecasting unit and a process optimization engine can be employed to constantly adjust resource allocation and assist in maintaining processes in a state of peak performance. An initial resource allocation unit generates an initial resource allocation plan based on past experience with respect to the process. The change detection unit detects a shift in the job demand pattern utilizing a statistical data when a change occurs in process requirements. The future demand generation unit accurately generates future demand data based on current job data and the outlook of future demand. The optimization engine acts as a surrogate process expert and provides recommendations to the process owner regarding potential possible resource allocation policies for new job demand data utilizing a simulation process to predict the result of variable staffing configurations.
US08386284B2 Demand modeling in retail categories using retail sales data sets with missing data elements
A system, method and computer program product provides for accurate demand modeling and forecasting in retail categories using retail sales data sets with missing data values, in order to enable a variety of retail decision-support applications.
US08386279B2 System and method of managing an insurance scheme
A system for managing an insurance scheme includes a calculation module to, on the occurrence of an insured event for an insured person, calculate a subsidy for expenses for the insured person or a nominated beneficiary. The subsidy is calculated by accessing data defining a plurality of categories of expenses and determining for each category a spend amount. The spend amount is either an average historical spend amount over a period of time prior to the insured event or an actual spend amount for a period of time after the insured event. A percentage is then calculated using the insured person's participation with a wellness program. Finally, the amount of the subsidy is calculated by multiplying the percentage by the spend amount. A payment module effects payment of the subsidy to the insured person, the nominated beneficiary or a third party goods or services provider.
US08386278B2 Methods, systems, and devices for managing transfer of medical files
The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, transferring, modifying, converting and/or tracking medical files and/or medical system messages. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may generally be based on requesting medical files at a first medical facility, identifying the requested medical files at a second medical facility, initiating a secure network connection between the first and second medical facility, modifying a header portion of the medical files based on patient identification information created by the first medical facility, and other processing steps.
US08386276B1 Systems and methods for determining prescribing physician activity levels
Systems and methods may determine prescribing physician activity levels. Information associated with a plurality of healthcare transaction requests that are received during a designated time period from at least one healthcare provider computer for communication to one or more claims processor computers may be collected. A respective prescribing physician for each of the plurality of received healthcare transaction requests may be identified. For each identified physician, a respective activity measure for the designated time period may be calculated based upon a respective number of the healthcare transaction requests identifying the physician.
US08386275B2 Automatic pill dispensing device and method of use thereof
Devices, systems, and methods for automatic pill dispensing are disclosed herein. An exemplary automatic pill dispensing device includes a temporary storage compartment, a feeding assembly, a dispensing route, a plurality of optical sensors, and a controller. The temporary storage compartment stores pills that are to be counted and eventually dispensed into a pill bottle. The feeding assembly is coupled to the temporary storage compartment and can move or stop the flow of pills into the dispensing route where the plurality of optical sensors count the pills as they pass by the light beams thereof. The controller receives a count from the plurality of optical sensors and stops the feeding assembly when a predetermined count of pills has been reached.Systems and methods utilizing the pill dispensing devices include incorporating a centralized computer and a conveyor belt system to accurately and efficiently dispense a plurality of pill types into pill bottles.
US08386271B2 Lossless and near lossless scalable audio codec
A scalable audio codec encodes an input audio signal as a base layer at a high compression ratio and one or more residual signals as an enhancement layer of a compressed bitstream, which permits a lossless or near lossless reconstruction of the input audio signal at decoding. The scalable audio codec uses perceptual transform coding to encode the base layer. The residual is calculated in a transform domain, which includes a frequency and possibly also multi-channel transform of the input audio. For lossless reconstruction, the frequency and multi-channel transforms are reversible.
US08386269B2 Multi-channel audio encoding and decoding
An audio encoder and decoder use architectures and techniques that improve the efficiency of multi-channel audio coding and decoding. The described strategies include various techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or independently. For example, an audio encoder performs a pre-processing multi-channel transform on multi-channel audio data, varying the transform so as to control quality. The encoder groups multiple windows from different channels into one or more tiles and outputs tile configuration information, which allows the encoder to isolate transients that appear in a particular channel with small windows, but use large windows in other channels. Using a variety of techniques, the encoder performs flexible multi-channel transforms that effectively take advantage of inter-channel correlation. An audio decoder performs corresponding processing and decoding. In addition, the decoder performs a post-processing multi-channel transform for any of multiple different purposes.
US08386268B2 Apparatus and method for generating a synthesis audio signal using a patching control signal
An apparatus for generating a synthesis audio signal using a patching control signal has a first converter, a spectral domain patch generator, a high frequency reconstruction manipulator and a combiner. The first converter is configured for converting a time portion of an audio signal into a spectral representation. The spectral domain patch generator is configured for performing a plurality of different spectral domain patching algorithms, wherein each patching algorithm generates a modified spectral representation having spectral components in an upper frequency band derived from corresponding spectral components in a core frequency band of the audio signal. The spectral domain patch generator is furthermore configured to select a first spectral domain patching algorithm from the plurality of patching algorithms for a first time portion and a second spectral domain patching algorithm from the plurality of patching algorithm for a second different time portion in accordance with the patching control signal to obtain the modified spectral representation.
US08386261B2 Training/coaching system for a voice-enabled work environment
A voice assistant system is disclosed which directs the voice Prompts delivered to a first user of a voice assistant to also be communicated wirelessly to the voice assistant of a second user so that the second user can hear the voice Prompts as delivered to the first user.
US08386257B2 Emotion detecting method, emotion detecting apparatus, emotion detecting program that implements the same method, and storage medium that stores the same program
An audio feature is extracted from audio signal data for each analysis frame and stored in a storage part. Then, the audio feature is read from the storage part, and an emotional state probability of the audio feature corresponding to an emotional state is calculated using one or more statistical models constructed based on previously input learning audio signal data. Then, based on the calculated emotional state probability, the emotional state of a section including the analysis frame is determined.
US08386246B2 Low-complexity frame erasure concealment
A system is described that performs frame erasure concealment to generate frames of an output speech signal corresponding to a series of erased frames of encoded bit-stream in a manner that conceals the quality-degrading effects of such erased frames. In one embodiment, responsive to the detection of a first erased frame in the series, a number of steps are performed. These steps include deriving long-term and short synthesis filters based on previously-generated portions of the output speech signal, calculating a ringing signal segment based on the long-term and short-term synthesis filters, and generating a frame of the output speech signal corresponding to the first erased frame by overlap adding the ringing signal segment to an extrapolated waveform. Deriving the long-term filter includes estimating a pitch period based on a previously-generated portion of the output speech signal by finding a lag that minimizes a sum of magnitude difference function.
US08386242B2 Method, medium and apparatus enhancing a bass signal using an auditory property
Provided are a method, medium and apparatus for enhancing an acoustic signal using an auditory property. An acoustic signal is enhanced by generating a plurality of harmonic signals based on a predetermined acoustic signal frequency, selecting harmonic signals, which exist in an area masked by the predetermined harmonic signal, from among the generated plurality of harmonic signals, and outputting harmonic signals remaining after excluding the selected harmonic signals from the generated plurality of harmonic signals. The enhancement results in a bass signal of good sound quality and having a low distortion ratio, without changing the structure of a micro speaker.
US08386238B2 Systems and methods for evaluating a sequence of characters
A sequence of characters may be evaluated to determine the presence of a natural language word. The sequence of characters may be analyzed to find a subsequence of alphabetical characters. Based on a statistical model of a natural language, a probability that the subsequence is a natural language word may be calculated. The probability may then be used to determine if the subsequence is indeed a natural language word.
US08386237B2 Automatic correction of user input based on dictionary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which input keystroke data can be interpreted using a current mapping and a determination can be made whether the current mapping is valid based upon the characters identified by the mapping and the keystroke data. Invalid mappings can be corrected by identifying a transliteration of the characters in an alternative language.
US08386235B2 Collaborative translation system and method
A system and method for translating source data from a source language to a target language. The source data is uploaded by a user and received by the translation system after proper user authentication. The source data is fragmented into source segments that can be separately translated. Revision control is provided by locking each source segment so that each source segment is not subject to multiple translations at any given time. A segment status is applicable to each one of the segments. Upon completion of translation, each source segment is recombined into a single target data.
US08386233B2 Electronic multi-language-to-multi-language translation method and system
An electronic multi-language-to-multi-language translation method and system is disclosed. The system includes a first user to communicate in a first language, a server, where the first user and the server are in communication, a second user to communicate in a second language, and a translation engine on a remote server. A message in the first language is transmitted by the first user to the second user via the server, where the message is forwarded to the translation engine to translate the message to the second language and transmit a translated message back to the second user for display. The message may be forwarded to the translation engine by a local application of the second user. In addition, the system may include a database in communication with the server to store the user's profile to identify the preferred language of the user. The message may be stored by the database.
US08386223B2 Method for selecting an optimized tire configuration for a road vehicle such as a racing car or motorcycle
A method for selecting, from a set of possible configurations, an optimized tire configuration for fitting a vehicle intended to run on a circuit following a predefined route, oriented in a single course direction and including bends. The method includes the steps of developing a physical model of the vehicle fitted with a first tire configuration, simulating the route course by the modeled vehicle, optimizing the speed of the vehicle, storing in memory the course time taken by the vehicle to cover the route at least once, comparing the course time to at least one reference time and producing a comparison result, and optionally selecting the first configuration at the optimized configuration as a function of the comparison result.
US08386221B2 Method for subsea equipment subject to hydrogen induced stress cracking
Systems and methods for generating transfer functions associated with calculating local stresses on pipe elements by post processing forces and moments of a pipe model representing the piping system. The transfer functions are reusable and allow recalculation with different sets of user data without requiring regeneration of the transfer functions.
US08386220B2 Special treatment on circular ring part of the OLED bank structure with surface evolver
Systems and methods for representing a surface with faces. Defining a face with inner and outer concave constraint lines. Representing the face with five initial vertices spread equidistant on each of the inner and outer concave constraint lines. Using a triangulation refinement method to transform the initial set of vertices into a first set of representative vertices.
US08386219B2 Computer based models for absorbent articles
Methods of using computer based models for simulating the physical behavior of bodily fluids with absorbent articles.
US08386218B2 Waveform inversion in laplace-fourier domain
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for visualizing subsurface velocity structure by processing signals through waveform inversion in the Laplace-Fourier domain, and a recording medium storing a program for implementing the method. A receiver receives a seismic signal from a target region, and a signal processor processes the seismic signal to generate image data for visualizing the subsurface structure of the target region. The signal processor performs the waveform inversion in the Laplace-Fourier domain, thereby obtaining a velocity model similar to an true structure of the target region.
US08386217B2 Method of determining a stiff value of an aerodynamic coefficient
Method for determination of a rigid value of an aerodynamic coefficient of an aircraft, in which measurements are made in a wind tunnel on a model of the said aircraft and, on the basis of these measurements, at least one value, known as flexible model value, of this aerodynamic coefficient is determined, characterized in that a rigid value of the aerodynamic coefficient is calculated on the basis of the said flexible model value(s) and a correction taking into account the flexibility of the model. A plurality of flexible model values is determined on the basis of measurements made by varying the parameter q/E and maintaining the angle of incidence at a constant value, and the correction consists in an extrapolation operation providing a value of the aerodynamic coefficient corresponding to q/E=0. As a variant, a single flexible model is determined and the correction consists in adjusting the said value with the aid of a correction factor.
US08386215B2 Method and apparatus for radio propagation modeling using ray-tracing method
A method and apparatus for modeling radio propagation is provided. In the method, when a wall having a thickness is modeled as a line having no thickness, an error in a shade area is minimized by considering the thickness of a wall while maintaining simplicity in a ray-tracing method.
US08386213B2 Device, method and computer program for simulation of collision events between physical objects
A dynamics simulation device for dynamically simulating physical interactions acting on a plurality of objects under an environment where the objects coexist is disclosed. The device includes: nominal value providing means for providing a nominal value Λn of an operational space inertial matrix; nominal inertial force calculating means for calculating a nominal inertial force acting on the operational space by the use of the nominal value Λn of the operational space inertial matrix and a target acceleration value of the physical quantity x; a disturbance observer estimating forces other than the nominal inertial force acting on the operational space as a disturbance; and means for calculating the force f acting on the physical quantity on the basis of the nominal inertial force and the estimated disturbance fd.
US08386210B2 Combinatorial process optimization methodology and system
A method for obtaining an optimized process solution from a set of design of experiments in a cost effective manner is provided. An actual experiment is performed and data from the experiments is obtained. Through statistical analysis of the data, coefficients are obtained. These coefficients are input into an experiment simulator where input parameters and conditions are combined with the coefficients to predict an output for the input parameters and conditions. From simulated results, conclusions can be drawn as to sets of input parameters and conditions providing desired results. Thereafter, physical experiments utilizing the input parameters and conditions may be performed to verify the simulated results.
US08386209B2 Testing system
A test system (1) comprises a system-on-chip with a memory (7) for storing sample data; and a dynamic test engine (4) to control input of dynamic test waveforms including sinusoidal waveforms to an ADC under test (15) and to determine device under test dynamic parameters by analysing the samples. A linear test engine (5) determines device under test (15) static parameters, and controls input of ramp input waveforms to the ADC. A test controller (2) performs finite sate machine control of testing including applying test waveforms, dumping samples to the memory (7), and retrieving static and dynamic results. A DAC (3) generates controlled waveform generation under instructions from the test engines, and an interface (10) communicates with an external host. The components are linked with a bus (11) and are modular. The test system (1) is adapted to re-use the memory (7) for both test sample acquisition, and operation of the device under test (15) is adapted to enable re-use circuits in order to minimize logic overheads and maximize use other than ADC test and measurement. The linear and dynamic test engines (5, 4) perform parallel linear and dynamic testing in which dynamic testing sample acquisition and processing takes place during application of a ramped input for linear testing.
US08386207B2 Open-service based test execution frameworks
An open-service based test execution framework that is based on disconnected architecture, with agent-initiated “REST” connectivity. Further contemplated herein are systems and methods for “unified resource store access” test management, distribution and execution.
US08386206B2 Method for checking an interface module
A method for checking an interface module, the interface module returning to the processor, using a second data message, stored values representing sensor values, after a request for a test by a processor using a data message. Using these firm sensor values, the processor can check the functioning of the interface module and its own algorithm. A safety module, which also picks up the sensor values, also checks its functioning with them, since the safety module is a redundant hardware path to the processor and is used as a plausibility check for the release decision of means of restraint. The interface module is changed into a test mode as soon as it receives the first data message from the processor, and it then suppresses the transmission of the real sensor values which were received from connected sensors.
US08386204B2 Method for the diagnosis of the EGR cooler efficiency in a diesel engine
A method is provided for the diagnosis of the EGR cooler efficiency in a Diesel engine that includes but is not limited to construction of a model for determining the temperature drop y=ΔT in the EGR cooler, the model having a parameter vector θ and an input vector x; performing a model calibration phase in order to estimate the bias h0 of the system; calculation of a set of primary residuals ε(θ0, x, ΔT), staffing from the model equation and using the results of the calibration phase; calculation of a set of improved residuals εN(θ0): ɛ N ⁡ ( θ 0 ) = 1 N ⁢ ∑ k = 1 N ⁢ ( ɛ ⁡ ( θ 0 , x k , y k ) - h 0 ) where N is the number of samples on which the diagnostic test is performed; calculation of a diagnostic index S: S=εTNR0−1εN and, use of the diagnostic index S in order to diagnose the efficiency of the EGR cooler.
US08386203B2 Method and device for evaluating graduated refraction power lens and method for manufacturing graduated refraction power lens
An evaluation method of a progressive-addition lens is provided. First, powers of the progressive-addition lens at a plurality of measurement points are measured to obtain an actually measured power distribution. Next, a comparison power distribution created based on the actually measured power distribution and a defective power distribution prepared in advance are compared with each other to perform similarity search between the both. Thereafter, whether or not the comparison power distribution and the defective power distribution are similar to each other is determined based on the result of the similarity search step, and if it is determined that the comparison power distribution and the defective power distribution are similar to each other, then the progressive-addition lens is evaluated as defective.
US08386198B2 Real-time power line rating
Real-time power line rating may be provided. First, sensor data may be received corresponding to a conductor of a power line. The sensor data may provide real-time weather conditions for the conductor's environment. The sensor data may be received from a sensor device configured to collect the sensor data. The sensor data may correspond to the weather conditions at a location of the sensor device on the power line. Next, design limitations for the power line having the conductor may be received. The conductor of the power line may have a design ampacity based upon the design limitations and assumed weather conditions for the conductor's environment. Then a dynamic ampacity may be calculated for the power line based upon the received sensor data and the received design limitations for the power line. The power line may then be operated according to the calculated dynamic ampacity instead of the design ampacity.
US08386193B2 Molecular orbital computing device for elongation method
A molecular orbital computing device, method, program, and a recording medium recorded with the program, capable of computing electronic states at a high speed by an elongation method, are provided. A molecular orbital computing device (1) for determining molecular electronic states by the elongation method implements a localization process of transforming a canonical molecular orbital by an atomic orbital basis into a regional localized molecular orbital by using the formulas expressed by: YCMORLMO=CROCML+U CAORLMO=CAOCMOYCMORLMO where YCMORLMO is a transformation matrix for transforming into a regional localized molecular orbital by a canonical molecular orbital basis, CROCMO+ is a transpose matrix of a matrix representing a canonical molecular orbital by a regional atomic orbital basis, U is a transformation matrix for erasing elements in an off-diagonal block in a density matrix DRO by the regional atomic orbital basis by a Jacobi method, CAORLMO is a matrix representing a regional localized molecular orbital by the atomic orbital basis, and CAOCMO is a matrix representing the canonical molecular orbital by the atomic orbital basis.
US08386186B2 Selective resonance of chemical structures
Chemical compositions may be selectively or preferentially excited by the application of scores comprising a series of energy inputs. Such a composition may act in the body by breaking a bond, heating or ablating material, or reacting with surrounding material when the energy inputs are applied to the body.
US08386180B2 Geophysical data processing systems
We describe a method of processing geophysical data including at least measured potential field data from a potential field survey of a surveyed region of the earth to provide a three-dimensional representation of the underlying geology of said surveyed region, the method comprising: inputting terrain-corrected potential field data for said surveyed region, said potential field data comprising data for a range of spatial wavelengths, geological features at different depths in said surveyed region being associated with different wavelengths in said range of wavelengths; filtering said potential field data by spatial wavelength to generate a first plurality of filtered sets of potential field data, each relating to a respective wavelength or range of wavelengths, each targeting geological features at a different respective said depth; processing each said filtered set of potential field data, to identify a set of spatial features comprising one or both of line spatial features and point spatial features in each said filtered set of potential field data, and to generate a set of plot data for each said filtered set of potential field data, a said set of plot data representing said identified set of spatial features for a said depth targeted by said filtering; and combining said sets of plot data to generate three-dimensional map data providing a three-dimensional representation of said underlying geology of said surveyed region.
US08386177B2 Vehicle-dispatching method and vehicle-dispatching system
A vehicle-dispatching system includes a service center and a plurality of hosts disposed in respective vehicles. For equally distributing the chances of accepting a reserved vehicle service task, a vehicle-dispatching method is provided. Firstly, the service center is in communication with the hosts of respective vehicles, thereby establishing a database and a dispatching priority ranking table. When the service center receives a vehicle service request, a vehicle is selected from the database according to the dispatching priority ranking table. If the host of the selected vehicle receives the inquiry signal and consents to accept a vehicle service task, a vehicle service confirming signal is issued from the host of the selected vehicle. When the service center receives the vehicle service confirming signal from the host of the selected vehicle, the host of the selected vehicle is adjusted to a lower priority ranking in the dispatching priority ranking table.
US08386173B2 Adjusting a level of map detail displayed on a personal navigation device according to detected speed
A method of adjusting a level of map detail for content displayed on a personal navigation device includes displaying a map of a current location of the personal navigation device on a display of the personal navigation device, calculating a current speed of the personal navigation device, adjusting a level of map detail according to the current speed of the personal navigation device to create an updated map, and displaying the updated map on the display of the personal navigation device.
US08386165B2 Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system
Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels.
US08386164B1 Locating LDAR components using position coordinates
Various technologies and techniques directed to creating, encrypting, and updating a database of position coordinates of LDAR components. In one implementation, the method for creating a database of coordinates of leak detection and repair (LDAR) components includes receiving an input pertaining to an LDAR component, obtaining position coordinates of a handheld computer device and associating the position coordinates of the handheld computer device with the LDAR component.
US08386158B2 Method and system for assisting in the management of the relative spacing between aircraft
A method for providing for the optimized regulation of the relative spacing between aircraft is disclosed. This method can be implemented by a system whose physical architecture can rely mainly on existing computers on board most current aircraft. The method includes a main step of determining the changing trend of the relative spacing, in distance or in time, between a target aircraft (C) and a following aircraft (S).
US08386150B2 Fuel cutoff transition control systems and methods
An engine control system includes a fuel cutoff (FCO) module, a fuel control module, and a spark control module. The FCO module, when a FCO event is disabled, determines a feed-forward (FF) number of cylinders to offset a delay period associated with supplying fuel to the cylinders of an engine and selectively maintains a FCO torque request at a predetermined torque. The fuel control module commands fuel be supplied to the FF number of cylinders of the engine when the FCO event is disabled. The spark control module maintains a spark timing of the FF number of cylinders at a fully retarded spark timing based on the FCO torque request.
US08386149B2 Small engine operation components
A low pressure, low cost electronic fuel injection system (18) for small hand-held two cycle engines (1) is provided which employs a number of improvements, including by way of example and not of limitation, an improved low cost injector construction (45), a throttle body integration (10) that includes mounting the operational components of the supply system on a single unit, an improved ignition module (40), a pressure regulated fuel system controlled by an electronic control unit (42) employing and an adaptive algorithm based on engine speed which controls the speed by varying the amount of fuel provided to the engine.
US08386147B2 Apparatus for controlling intake air heating of gas turbine
In a heating apparatus for heating the air sucked into a gas turbine by a heat exchanger, the temperature fluctuation of the heated air is suppressed even in the period, for which a steam source to be fed to the heat exchanger is changed. For suppression, a heat exchanger is fed with both a self-can steam, the feed rate of which is controlled by a self-can steam control valve, and the auxiliary-steam, the feed rate of which is controlled by an auxiliary-steam control valve. At starting time, the quantity of the auxiliary-steam is reduced at a constant rate, and that of the self-can steam is increased while a feedback control and a feedforward control are being made. At stopping time, the quantity of the self-can steam is reduced at a constant rate, and that of the auxiliary-steam is increased while the feedback control and the feedforward control are being made.
US08386145B2 Device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle using a positional information device
A device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle are provided. The device includes a locational information module for determining location information and speed; a storage module for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route; a processing module configured to receive the location information, retrieve at least one geographic map based on the location information, determine a speed limit based on the location information and compare the speed of the device to the determined speed limit; and a display module for alerting a user if the speed of the device exceeds the determined speed limit. The system and method can be for communicating a subject vehicle's speed to a central server where it can be utilized to analyze traffic congestion patterns or notify selected companies or individuals.
US08386144B2 Brake system and method
A system configured to estimate a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation. The system includes a weight estimation module for estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted, a volume estimation module for estimating a volume of a brake component, a temperature model module for calculating a change in temperature during brake application based on a relationship between the weight of the vehicle as estimated by the weight estimation module, the volume of the brake component as estimated by the volume estimation module, the deceleration of the vehicle, and further constants of the vehicle and/or the brake.
US08386142B2 Hybrid drive motor vehicle control system comprising distributed functional components for controlling hybrid drive operating status
A motor vehicle control system for controlling a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, with a strategy sub-component, a control sub-component and an actuator sub-component. The functional components include at least an internal combustion engine functional component, a transmission functional component, such that the strategy sub-component (8) of the hybrid functional component (4) comprises an operating status prescription module which determines a prescribed value for the operating status of the hybrid drive and transmits the prescribed value to the control sub-component (9) of the hybrid functional component (4) such that the control sub-component (9) of the hybrid functional component (4) comprises a first module (18) and a second module (23).
US08386138B2 Fastening pressure control device for starting friction element at time of controlling idle stop of vehicle
An engine is restarted in response to an idle stop OFF command at t1 so that a gear shift control purpose hydraulic pressure is raised according to a working oil from an engine driven oil pump. An idle stop release time control of the engine is allowed according to a torque down unnecessary determination when a gear shift control purpose hydraulic pressure has reached to a set hydraulic pressure at t2. In a case where this allowance causes an engine torque Te to be raised from a torque down value toward a driving operation corresponding value by a predetermined gradient ΔTe1, a command value of a starting frictional element engagement pressure Ps is set to a control maximum value during the idle stop control including during the idle stop release time control.
US08386136B2 Construction vehicle
In the construction vehicle, a controller is configured to implement a pump displacement rapid change suppression control for controlling the displacement of a travel hydraulic pump so that travel circuit oil pressure reaches a maximum value equal to or less than a cutoff pressure value when the vehicle has stopped regardless of engine speed, and the displacement of the travel hydraulic pump gradually increases as the travel circuit oil pressure decreases from the maximum value.
US08386135B2 Drive system and method of monitoring a hydrostatic drive
The invention relates to a drive system and to a method for monitoring a hydrostatic drive (1). The hydrostatic drive (1) has at least one hydrostatic piston engine (2) on which a control unit (6, 6′), which controls the hydrostatic piston engine (2, 2′), is arranged, wherein the control unit (6, 6′) is connected to a central control device (13), which controls the drive system (1), via a first interface (14). Control signals for controlling the drive system (1) can be transmitted using the first interface (14). The central control device (13) is additionally connected to the control unit (6) via a second interface (26, 26′), and a switch-off signal can be transmitted from the control unit (6, 6′) to the central control device (13) and/or from the central control device (13) to the control unit (6, 6′) using the second interface (26, 26′).
US08386126B2 Method and apparatus for providing independent content to multiple terminals within a vehicle
A system 10 for distributing content includes a content provider 12 that provides content through various devices including a satellite 26 or a terrestrial-based system 38. The content provider 12 provides content to a content distribution system 70 within a vehicle 60. The content is provided by generating a first request for a list of content from a terminal. The list is provided to a first terminal and a second terminal. A first selection and a second selection are generated from a respective first terminal and a second terminal.
US08386124B2 Method and device for stabilizing a vehicle after a collision
A device for stabilizing a vehicle after a collision, including a control device having a regulation algorithm, a sensor system for recording various quantities that describe the vehicle state, and an actuator for carrying out a stabilization intervention. The driving state of the vehicle is monitored for the occurrence of a collision, a setpoint value is calculated for a vehicle movement quantity, the setpoint value being at least partly independent of the steering instruction of the driver, and the vehicle movement quantity of the vehicle is regulated to this setpoint value in the case of a collision.
US08386116B2 Universal serial bus memory device for use in a vehicle diagnostic device
A method and apparatus are provided that allow an off-the-shelf USB flash memory device to used with a scan tool. The USB flash memory device can have a different operating system then the proprietary operating system of the scan tool. The method and apparatus allows the scan tool to read from and write on the USB flash memory device regardless of the formatted operating system on the device.
US08386114B2 Imaging system for vehicle
A vehicular imaging system includes an imaging device that is part of an exterior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle. A control processes captured image data utilizing edge detection. Responsive at least in part to the processing, the control determines objects of interest present in the field of view of the imaging device. Objects of interest determined to be present in the field of view include (i) a vehicle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, (ii) a headlight of a vehicle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, (iii) a bicycle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, and/or (iv) a bicycle rider that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to the processing of captured image data, a driver of the vehicle is alerted to a hazardous condition.
US08386113B2 Multiprocessor system for managing devices in a home
A multiprocessor network in a home uses a transceiver configured to detect and establish communication between a processor in the network and a new device brought near or into the home. The device is connected to the network and a data manager identifies a type of data used by the new device. The multiprocessor network identifies software in the network that processes the same type of data as the new device, and transfers control and operation of the new device over to the multiprocessor network in the home.
US08386112B2 Vessel hull robot navigation subsystem
A vessel hull robot navigation subsystem and method for a robot including a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving the robot about the hull. A sensor subsystem onboard the robot outputs data combining robot and vessel motion. A memory onboard the robot includes data concerning the configuration of the hull and a desired path of travel for the robot. A fix subsystem communicates position fix data to the robot. A navigation processor onboard the robot is responsive to the memory data, the sensor subsystem, the position fix data, and the data concerning vessel motion. The navigation processor is configured to determine the position of the robot on the hull by canceling, form the sensor subsystem output data combining both robot and vessel motion, the determined vessel motion. The navigation processor controls the drive subsystem to maneuver the robot on the hull based on the fix data, the configuration of the hull, the desired path of travel for the robot, and the determined position of the robot on the hull.
US08386110B2 Travel route generating method for unmanned vehicle
A travel route generating method for an unmanned vehicle, which includes a condition input step of inputting a vehicle constraint condition including a vehicle width and a minimum turning radius of the unmanned vehicle, and a geometrical constraint condition including a travel route generation range in which the unmanned vehicle is to travel, an obstacle to avoid, and a position and a direction of an entrance point and an exit point; and a travel route generating step of generating a travel route such that the vehicle constraint condition and the geometrical constraint condition are satisfied, and such that a function value of a cost function having at least a magnitude of a curve and/or a rate of change in the curve as a cost element is minimized.
US08386107B2 Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus of hybrid vehicle has a drive mode change section, a deceleration detection section, an engine stall prevention control section, an engine stall prediction section, and an engine stall avoidance control section. The drive mode change section changes drive modes of EV drive mode, HEV drive mode and WSC drive mode according to a vehicle travel state. The engine stall prevention control section performs a coast-down shift which changes a transmission ratio of an automatic transmission to a lower transmission ratio upon deceleration of the vehicle. The engine stall prediction section predicts whether or not an engine stall occurs, during a travel in a HEV drive mode. The engine stall avoidance control section disengages at least one of first and second engagement elements when the occurrence of the engine stall is predicted by the engine stall prediction section.
US08386102B2 Discrete voltage level controller
In an electrically powered vehicle, a computer-controlled switching system activates relays to switch additional discrete batteries into a circuit in response to throttle level, where a processor is configured to decide what specific batteries should be present in the circuit at any given time, in response to both throttle level and a battery load balancing optimization scheme.
US08386097B2 Method and device to assist in the guidance of an airplane
Disclosed is a method and device for assisting guidance of an aircraft. A flight management system is used to determine guidance instructions that include speed instructions having at least one flight time constraint to guide the aircraft to a check-point. An accuracy level for complying with the flight time constraint and at least one error level for at least one flight parameter are generated by an accuracy generating unit. An operating margin for at least one second parameter is determined from the determined accuracy and error levels, with the operating margin being representative of air speed criterion values of the aircraft. A range determining unit is used to determine whether the range of air speed criterion values is within an air speed envelope of the aircraft, and the speed instructions are modified when the range of air speed criterion values is not within the air speed envelope.
US08386096B2 Relative navigation system
A relative navigation system projecting a grid into space from a first object a grid that is repeatedly detected from a second object having a second relative reference frame and using range and attitude between the objects to adjust the attitude or range of at least one of the first and second objects.
US08386094B2 Taxi brake inhibit system
A taxi brake inhibit system overcomes problems of discontinuities in pedal “feel” that can occur by use of a taxi brake inhibit system, by adding a new pedal “feel” logic in which twice the brake force is commanded for a given brake pedal application when taxi brake inhibit is active. The taxi brake inhibit system relies upon two different brake force vs. brake pedal application curves to compensate for the difference in deceleration that is achieved for a given brake pedal application depending upon whether the taxi brake inhibit is active or inactive. Such system effectively eliminates undesirable deceleration bumps, yaw effects and changes in pedal feel during braking. The taxi brake inhibit feature is also shut off to both fore-aft brake pairs if any non-normal taxi brake inhibit condition exists on either fore-aft brake pair.
US08386091B2 Methods and apparatus for dynamic powertrain management
A computer-implemented method includes determining that a vehicle powertrain feature is engaged. The method further includes relaying, to a remote computing source, a request for a computation to be performed relating to the engaged powertrain feature. The method additionally includes receiving a result of the computation at a vehicle computing system and transferring the result of the computation to a powertrain for use in controlling the powertrain feature.
US08386083B2 Systems and methods for updating valve cracking current in mass flow controllers
A valve system for a mass flow controller that controls a flow rate of a fluid is disclosed. The valve system includes a valve movable between an open position and a closed position to adjust the flow rate of the fluid to a desired set point, and a valve controller. The valve controller sends a valve current through the valve, so as to adjust the flow rate of the fluid until an actual measured flow rate of the fluid substantially equals the desired set point. The valve controller monitors the valve current and the flow rate when the valve is moving to the closed position, determines a value of the valve current when the fluid has near-zero flow rate, and updates the valve cracking current for a next run, by setting the updated valve cracking current to the value of the valve current at the near-zero flow rate.
US08386082B2 Utilizing cell phone location for occupancy determination and home energy control
A cell phone location-based system is described that determines the occupancy of a home and controls home energy consumption such that energy is saved when the home is unoccupied. Occupancy is determined according to cell phone locations, occupant behavior patterns, or burglar alarm status. When an occupant is determined to be returning to their unoccupied home, the heating or cooling apparatus is activated to return the temperature in the home to a comfortable level by the time the occupant arrives.
US08386081B2 Navigational control system for a robotic device
An autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a chassis, a drive system disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system.
US08386079B1 Systems and methods for determining semantic information associated with objects
Methods and systems for determining semantic information associated with objects are provided. An example method includes receiving information associated with an object and information associated with a contextual situation of a robotic device from the robotic device. For example, the information associated with the contextual situation may include information associated with an environment in which the robotic device is configured to operate. The method may further include performing a search of a database for information associated with the object, and receiving results of the search. The method may also include a computing system determining semantic information associated with a use of the object based on the results of the search. The use of the object may be based on the information associated with the contextual situation of the robotic device. According to the method, the semantic information may be stored as supplemental information associated with the object.
US08386078B1 Methods and systems for providing a data library for robotic devices
Methods and systems for robot cloud computing are described. Within examples, cloud-based computing generally refers to networked computer architectures in which application execution and storage may be divided, to some extent, between client and server devices. A robot may be any device that has a computing ability and interacts with its surroundings with an actuation capability (e.g., electromechanical capabilities). A client device may be configured as a robot including various sensors and devices in the forms of modules, and different modules may be added or removed from robot depending on requirements. A robot may interact with the cloud to perform any number of actions, such as to share information with other cloud computing devices. A robot's performance of a task can be augmented by a cloud service which contains a data library of elements which are delivered to the robot to help the robot execute actions.
US08386076B2 Legged robot and its control method
There is provided a legged robot that performs motion by changing a joint angle, which includes a trajectory generating section to calculate a center-of-gravity trajectory in designated stepping motion from the stepping motion including at least one of walking motion, running motion and stopping motion, and generate a center-of-gravity trajectory by superimposing a designated travel velocity onto a travel velocity of a center of gravity in the calculated center-of-gravity trajectory in stepping motion, and a trajectory updating section to store the generated center-of-gravity trajectory and update all the stored center-of-gravity trajectories so as to be continuous, and a trajectory reproducing section to calculate time-varying data of a target value of the joint angle based on the updated center-of-gravity trajectory, and a joint driving section to rotate a joint of the legged robot based on the calculated time-varying data of a target value of the joint angle.
US08386074B2 Vending machine
One embodiment of the vending machine of the present disclosure provides a housing defining a product holding area, a frame positioned in the product holding area, a plurality first product holders removably attached to the frame and configured to hold a first type of product package, a plurality different second product holders configured to hold a second different product package, a plurality of RFID sensors, each RFID sensor attached to a different one of the product holders, a door attached to the housing, a first electronic combination display device and input device attached to the door, a second electronic display device attached to the door and configured in one mode to display advertising or other content, a physical product display area in the door, a signage display area in the door, a payment receiver in the door, a product retrieval area in the door, a lock configured to lock the door to the housing, and a computer control system including at least one processor configured to control various functions of the vending machine.
US08386071B2 Automatic store and method for storing plates of electronic circuits
An automatic store and a method for storing plates of electronic circuits comprising a feed belt that feeds the plates of electronic circuits along a first plane (F); collection boxes positioned along at least one side of the feed belt and in which the plates of electronic circuits fed by the feed belt are grouped together according to quality classes; and one or more clearing stations disposed in cooperation with the feed belt in order to position the plates of electronic circuits in the respective collection boxes. The store comprises at least two rows of collection boxes disposed along at least one side of the feed belt, and a movement unit associated with the collection boxes to discharge the filled collection boxes and to position new collection boxes to be filled.
US08386070B2 Automated pharmacy admixture system
In a preferred implementation, an automated pharmacy admixture system (APAS) prepares intermediary IV bags as drug sources for creating highly diluted patient doses in syringes. During the compounding process the APAS may align needles with a vial seal opening so as to ensure repeated entry through the same vial puncture site via precise control of needle position, needle bevel orientation, and needle entry speed. These techniques can in certain implementations substantially improve bung pressure sealing and reduced particulate generation. The APAS optionally creates drug order queues for incoming drug orders wherein the orders can be sorted by priority, drug type or patient location. A phantom queue can be combined with the incoming drug order queues to include frequently used medicaments to minimize operator loading of the APAS.
US08386067B2 Machine tool monitoring device
The invention relates to a machine tool monitoring device with an identification unity for identifying the operating situation of a machine tool. According to the invention, the machine tool monitoring device has at least one projection unit for defining at least one region to be monitored.
US08386066B2 Method for suppressing the influence of roll eccentricities
The invention relates to a method for suppressing the influence of roll eccentricities on the run-out thickness of a rolled stock, which runs through a rolling stand, roll eccentricities being identified by using a process model and taken into consideration in the determination of a correction signal for at least one final control element, preferably a final control element for the adjustment position, of the rolling stand, wherein the measured tensile force upstream of the rolling stand is fed to the process model to identify the roll eccentricities. According to the invention, variations in tensile force are fed back in a targeted manner to reduce the effects of periodic roll eccentricities on the rolled stock, whereas all other sources of variation are eliminated. A process model of the rolling nip and the rolls, preferably based on the observer principle, produces reliable data on the roll eccentricity.
US08386065B2 Method for manufacturing smart pressure monitored suits
A method for manufacturing smart pressure suits, comprises steps of: measuring physical properties of lycra materials and select a lycra material suitable for making the smart pressure monitored suits; measuring body contour data of a patient and computing a pressure value applied to a disease's part of the patient; inputting the body contour data into a computer and creating a pattern of the smart pressure monitored suits by the body contour data and the pressure value processed by a drawing process module in the computer; plotting a blueprint of the smart pressure monitored suits with a plotter controlled by the computer; and sewing the smart pressure monitored suits according to the selected lycra material and the blueprint. Said method makes whole manufacturing process shorten and the manufactured smart pressure monitored suits has advantages of aesthetic, comfort, good air permeability, less deformation after it is wore in a period of time.
US08386063B2 Electronic component mounting apparatus and stopping method of electronic component mounting apparatus
A foreign matter detection unit detects an entry of an unexpected foreign matter that is other than the substrates by light transmitting optical sensors 7 having light projecting portions 7a and light receiving portions 7b at opening sections 3a, 3b formed in cover members 2 through which the substrates pass. By executing an emergency stop processing, when the entry of the foreign matter is detected at one of the opening sections, to stop the electronic component mounting apparatus that is adjacent to the opening section at which the entry of the foreign matter is detected, safety of the machine operators is properly ensured in check and confirmation works conducted at the time of machine troubles etc even in an electronic component assembling line in which the small-sized thin unit apparatuses are combined.
US08386061B2 Methods for designing a customized dental prosthesis using digital images of a patient
Methods and systems for producing customized dental restoration and prosthesis, particularly denture prescriptions using a computer software program are provided. In this system, digital photographs of the patient to be fitted with the denture are taken, and the photographs are transferred to the software program. Based on these photographs, the program makes certain calculations. The program then prompts the dental professional to select the desired materials and structure for the denture. Based on this input, the program automatically produces a prescription for the denture. The digital prescription is sent to a dental laboratory for making the denture.
US08386055B2 Implantable lead with isolated contact coupling
An implantable lead for a medical device with an isolated contact connection for connecting a conductor to a contact reduces the opportunity for conductor material to migrate to a contact or into a patient. The implantable lead comprises a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one conductor, at least one contact carried on the proximal end, at least one contact carried on the distal end, at least one coupling. The lead has an exterior surface. The conductor is contained in the lead body and extends from the lead proximal end to the distal end. The conductor is electrically insulated. The contact carried on the proximal end is electrically connected to the conductor. The coupling has a conductor coupling and a contact coupling. The conductor coupling is placed over the conductor and attached to the conductor. The contact coupling exits the lead body and has a weld to connect the contact coupling to the contact. There is an isolation space created between the conductor and the contact to prevent the weld from containing conductor material.
US08386052B2 Percutaneous flat lead introducer
In general, the invention is directed to a technique for percutaneously introducing a stimulation lead into a target stimulation site via the epidural region proximate the spine of a patient. The process of introducing the stimulation lead may include the use of a hollow stimulation lead introducer, which comprises an elongated sheath and an elongated dilator. The dilator fits within the sheath and serves to widen a path through the epidural region for the introduction of a stimulation lead. At least a portion of the stimulation lead introducer has an oblong cross-section, allowing passage of stimulation leads such as paddle leads. The stimulation lead introducer may enter the epidural region proximate a spine of a patient via a guidewire. The stimulation lead introducer provides a path through the epidural region of a patient to a target stimulation site. A stimulation lead may travel through the path to reach the target stimulation site where it may provide therapy to the patient.
US08386048B2 Systems and methods for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator
An exemplary system for communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator includes a coil configured to emit a magnetic field for driving a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator and a coil driver circuit configured to drive the coil with a tuning frequency. The coil driver circuit actively adjusts the tuning frequency such that the coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency. An exemplary method of communicating with or providing power to an implantable stimulator includes driving a coil with a tuning frequency and actively adjusting the tuning frequency such that the coil operates at a frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency. The coil emits a magnetic field used to drive a corresponding circuit in the implantable stimulator.
US08386045B2 Systems and methods for selectively stimulating nerve roots
Various system embodiments comprise an implantable lead, an implantable housing, a neural stimulation circuit in the housing, and a controller in the housing and connected to the neural stimulation circuit. The lead has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is adapted to deliver neural stimulation pulses to the ventral nerve root and the dorsal nerve root. The proximal end of the lead is adapted to connect to the housing. The neural stimulation circuit is adapted to generate neural stimulation pulses to stimulate the ventral nerve root or the dorsal nerve root using the implantable lead. The controller is adapted to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver a neural stimulation treatment.
US08386043B2 Implantable medical device telemetry with adaptive frequency hopping
A far-field radio-frequency (RF) telemetry system transmits data between an implantable medical device and an external system using an active channel selected from a plurality of channels each representing a frequency band within a predetermined frequency range. One or more preferred channels are identified from the plurality of channels based on channel quality indicators produced for each of the channels. When channel hopping is needed, a hop channel is selected from the one or more preferred channels and becomes the active channel.
US08386042B2 Omnidirectional accelerometer device and medical device incorporating same
A portable medical device is provided with an internal accelerometer device. The medical device includes a circuit board, the accelerometer device, and a response module coupled to the accelerometer device. The accelerometer device is mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuit board, and it includes a plurality of mass-supporting arms for a plurality of electrically distinct sensor electrodes, piezoelectric material for the mass-supporting arm, and a proof mass supported by the mass-supporting arms. Each of the mass-supporting arms has one of the sensor electrodes located thereon. Acceleration of the proof mass causes deflection of the piezoelectric material, which generates respective sensor signals at one or more of the sensor electrodes. The response module is configured to initiate an acceleration-dependent operation of the portable medical device in response to generated sensor signals present at the sensor electrodes.
US08386038B2 Vagal stimulation during atrial tachyarrhythmia to facilitate cardiac resynchronization therapy
The disclosure describes techniques for delivering vagal stimulation to decrease the ventricular rate response during an atrial tachyarrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. Decreasing the ventricular rate response during an atrial tachyarrhythmia may facilitate increased ventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and may also reduce the likelihood of inappropriately detecting a ventricular tachyarrhythmia during the atrial tachyarrhythmia. Furthermore, the vagal stimulation may augment vagal tone, which may facilitate long term left ventricular reverse remodeling and decrease atrial and ventricular arrhythmic burden in heart failure patients. An example system that delivers CRT comprises a processor that detects an atrial tachyarrhythmia in one or more atria of the heart, and monitors at least one of a ventricular rate or degree of ventricular pacing subsequent to the detected atrial arrhythmia. The processor controls a stimulation generator to deliver vagal stimulation based on the least one of a ventricular rate or degree of ventricular pacing.
US08386037B2 Subcutaneous defibrillator implantation with right-side active canister
A subcutaneous cardiac device includes a subcutaneous electrode and a housing coupled to the subcutaneous electrode by a lead with a lead wire. The subcutaneous electrode is adapted to be implanted in a frontal region of the patient so as to overlap a portion of the patient's heart.
US08386036B2 Expert system and method
A medical device programmer and a method of operation in which a first data value is received and used in the execution of one or more algorithms. One or more suggested pulse generator settings are calculated from the one or more algorithms based on the first data value, and the one or more suggested pulse generator settings are displayed on an interactive display screen of the medical device programmer. In one embodiment, the first data value is a duration interval of a QRS complex. From the duration interval, suggestions are made as to one or more ventricular chambers in which to provide pacing pulses. Additionally, pacing intervals for an AV delay are suggested based on measured P-R intervals, or pacing intervals for an LV offset are suggested based on a measured duration interval of a V-V-interval between a right ventricular event and a left ventricular event.
US08386032B2 Systems and methods for therapeutic electrical stimulation
A patch for a therapeutic electrical stimulation device includes a shoe connected to the first side of the patch, the shoe including a body extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, and having first and second surfaces, the first end of the shoe defining at least two ports, and the first surface of the shoe defining a connection member. The patch also includes at least one conductor positioned in the ports of the first end of the shoe. The shoe is configured for sliding insertion into a receptacle defined by a controller so that the conductor is connected to the controller to deliver electrical current from the controller, through the conductor, and to the electrodes, and the connection member is at least partially captured by a detent defined by the controller in the receptacle to retain the shoe within the receptacle.
US08386031B2 Implantable self-powered biodegradable medical device to treat or prevent reperfusion injury
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a biodegradable, self-powered medical device for preventing or reducing reperfusion injury, comprising a galvanic cell, the galvanic cell comprising: a first biodegradable electrode member; and a second biodegradable electrode member comprising a biodegradable conductive polymer and an electrode-releasable therapeutic agent, wherein the galvanic cell generates an electric force sufficient to cause the electrode-releasable therapeutic agent to be released from the biodegradable conductive polymer and elute to a target location. The device may further include a reservoir material containing a burst-release therapeutic agent.
US08386029B2 Apparatus for electrotherapy drug delivery with added impurities
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for an electrotherapeutic system including a first and second electrode. Each electrode includes a respective resistance wherein during operation of the electrotherapeutic system, an electrochemical reaction involving one or both of the electrodes varies the respective resistance of at least one of the electrodes.
US08386028B2 Method of analyzing body composition with measurement of voltage signals at multiple positions of body
A method of analyzing a composition of a human body having a plurality of body segments is disclosed. The method can include applying a current signal to a body. The method can further include simultaneously measuring a plurality of voltage signals from a plurality of measuring positions of the body during a predetermined period, and processing at least two of the plurality of voltage signals to determine a composition parameter of a body segment so as to assess or analyze composition of the body.
US08386020B2 Medical-device guidance system
A situation where a medical device is outside a region suitable for guidance control thereof can be easily coped with. Included are a medical device provided with a magnet; a guiding unit (5X-1, 5X-2, 5Y-1, 5Y-2, 5Z-1, 5Z-2) that forms a control magnetic field for guidance control of the medical device, inside a prescribed control area; a detection unit (7Y-1, 7Y-2) that detects positional information of the medical device; and a computational unit that judges that the medical device has gone outside the control area on the basis of an output from the detection unit (7Y-1, 7Y-2) and calculates a direction for returning the medical device to the control area, wherein a signal-waveform calculating unit (21) stops forming the control magnetic field when the medical device is outside the control area.
US08386016B2 Method and device to determine a position shift of a focal area
In a method and device for determination of a position shift, first image data of a body region of a treatment-positioned patient that contain derivable temperature information are acquired. A focal area in the body region is determined, and the focus of a hyperthermia applicator can be aligned on the focal area. Second image data of the body region of the treatment-positioned patient that contain derivable temperature information are acquired, and a position shift of the focal area is determined by a comparison of the second image data with the first image data.
US08386013B2 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using ultra short echo times and spiral sampling in K-space
Methods, systems and computer program products of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using ultra short echo times and spiral sampling in k-space are disclosed. A long inversion radio frequency (RF) pulse that inverts magnetization of long T2 components are applied to a sample that exhibits long transverse relaxation time (T2) components and short T2 components to minimize signals corresponding to the long T2 components. In addition, half RF excitation pulses are applied to the sample to select one or more echo times. Data corresponding to the selected one or more echo times are acquired using a spiral trajectory, and a first echo image is obtained based on the acquired data.
US08386011B2 Motion detection in medical systems
In a medical system, at least one medically operative member (10, 12, 100) is configured to interact with or acquire data from a subject (74) disposed in an examination region. An array of photosensors (70, 170) is disposed on the at least one medically operative member. The array of photosensors is arranged to view the examination region. A position-determining member (82, 82a, 82b) is configured to determine a position of at least one optically detectable marker (72, 172) disposed with the subject in the examination region based on light from the at least one optically detectable marker sensed by the array of photosensors.
US08386007B2 Thin-film micro electrode array and method
A thin-film microelectrode array tailored for long-term, minimally invasive cortical recording or stimulation and method are provided. The microelectrode array includes a flexible element that is movable between a first contracted configuration and a second expanded configuration. An array of contacts is provided on the flexible element. The contacts are engagable with a cortical surface with the flexible element in the expanded configuration. A link operatively connects the array of contacts to a control module. The link is capable of transmitting at least one of cortical recordings and cortical stimulation signals thereon.
US08385999B1 Processing venous oxygen saturation and hematocrit information in an implantable sensor
Methods of processing venous oxygen saturation and hematrocrit information in an implantable sensor are provided. In an embodiment a method for collecting data from an implantable multi-wavelength SvO2 sensor having multiple light sources is provided. The method includes receiving a frame signal that indicates a beginning of the light sources being turned on and receiving a light source signal that indicates a light source is on. The output of a photodetector is sampled to measure the intensity of the transmitted light. The process is repeated for each light source to gather intensity measurements that then can be used to generate venous oxygen saturation and hematocrit measurements.
US08385994B2 Superconducting joint and method for manufacturing same
There is provided a superconducting joint for electrically connecting a first multifilamentary superconducting wire including a plurality of first superconducting filaments embedded in a first stabilizer matrix and a second multifilamentary superconducting wire including a plurality of second superconducting filaments embedded in a second stabilizer matrix. The joint includes: a first bundle of bare superconducting filaments being formed by removing the first stabilizer matrix at an end joint portion of the first superconducting wire; a second bundle of bare superconducting filaments being formed by removing the second stabilizer matrix at an end joint portion of the second superconducting wire; and an intermediate superconductor interposed in contact relationships between the first and the second bundles, a critical current density of the intermediate superconductor under an operating condition of the superconducting joint being less than a critical current density of the bare superconducting filaments under the operating condition.
US08385990B2 Mobile wireless communications device having improved RF immunity of audio transducers to electromagnetic interference (EMI)
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing and having radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor operative with each other. Audio circuitry is carried by the circuit board and an audio transducer assembly, such as a speaker, has electrical contacts that electrically engage the audio circuitry for carrying audio signals between the audio circuitry and audio transducer assembly. A filter is mounted at the audio transducer assembly and reduces radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic interference to the audio transducer assembly during device operation.
US08385986B2 Mobile terminal and power source controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and power source controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which power consumption can be efficiently controlled in a low power mode. The present invention includes calculating a remaining power level of a power supply unit, if the calculated remaining power level is equal to or lower than a predetermined reference, entering a power saving mode, if the power saving mode is entered, activating a basic operation related module, if the power saving mode is entered, comparing a power consumption level required for a designated operation execution to the calculated remaining power level, and if the remaining power level is equal to or higher by a predetermined level or more than the power consumption level as a result of the comparing step, outputting designated operation execution possibility indication information.
US08385984B2 Method and apparatus to supply power voltage to a mobile device in a variable manner
A method and apparatus to supply a power voltage to a mobile device in a variable manner in order to provide high output power and a high quality sound environment and a mobile device using the same. The apparatus includes a volume control unit to detect installation of an external power supply and to generate a voltage control value corresponding to a current volume level, and a DC-DC converter unit to convert a voltage of an internal power supply in a variable manner on the basis of the voltage control value generated in the volume control unit in order to drive the switching power amplifier.
US08385983B2 Mobile phone apparatus with over voltage protection device
A mobile phone apparatus is provided. The mobile phone apparatus includes a charger for supplying power to a rechargeable battery including a connection portion and a main telephone unit. The main telephone unit includes a rechargeable battery detection unit which detects whether the connection portion of the rechargeable battery is connected to the main telephone unit; an overvoltage protection unit which is coupled to the connection portion of the rechargeable battery and switches between an active state of supplying power output from the connection portion and an inactive state of not supplying power output from the connection portion; and a controller which controls the overvoltage protection unit to switch the overvoltage protection unit into the active state if the rechargeable battery detection unit detects that the rechargeable battery is connected.
US08385977B2 Cellular communication system with high speed content distribution
A communication system and method that combines with direct high data rate links at least one content distribution networks with a number of base stations of at least one cellular communication networks. In preferred embodiments the high data rate direct communication links between the content distribution networks and the base stations include millimeter wave radio links and the cellular communication networks are provided with third or fourth generation communication equipment providing data rates in excess of 40 Mbps. In a preferred embodiment millimeter wave links operating at data rates in the range of about 1.25 Gbps or greater in frequency ranges of within the range of 71 GHz to 86 GHz provide communication channels between base stations and points of presence of the content distribution network.
US08385976B2 Multi-SIM cellular telephone
Disclosed is a multi-SIM cellular telephone capable of accessing information on multiple SIM cards for multiple cellular service subscriptions while simultaneously accessing full functionality of all other features on the handset. It allows users to insert multiple SIM cards, each with a unique IMSI number associated with a unique cellular service subscription. The user can remove any SIM card and port to other handsets at his/her discretion. Purchasing extra cellular service for such purposes as business use is less expensive than was heretofore possible. Some services are only required on one subscription in order for the service to be used since the microprocessor assesses the features of each subscription and applies the required functionality to that SIM card. The multi-SIM cellular telephone also has a phone number that is associated with the handset; this number allows communication to and from the user of the multi-SIM phone on any installed subscription.
US08385961B1 Method, apparatus and system for improving cell search and synchronization using non-circularity of signal statistics
There are provided measures for cell search and synchronization. Such measures may exemplarily comprise acquiring an observation signal for a carrier signal on a carrier which is under consideration for synchronization with a desired cellular system, calculating a power measure of the observation signal, which indicates a received power of said carrier signal, calculating a non-circularity measure of the observation signal, which indicates a non-circularity of said carrier signal, and calculating a ranking measure, which indicates an applicability of said carrier for synchronization with the desired cellular system, based on the calculated power measure and the calculated non-circularity measure.
US08385957B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting data based on quantized channel state information
A base station apparatus including a receiving unit to receive, from a terminal, quantized channel state information with respect to a radio channel from a plurality of transmission antennas of the base station apparatus to a plurality of receiving antennas of the terminal. A control unit to determine a control ratio of interference signal to noise with respect to the radio channel based on the channel state information. A precoding matrix computing unit to compute a precoding matrix based on the control ratio of interference signal to noise and a transmission unit to transmit data to one or more of the connected terminals using the precoding matrix.
US08385956B2 Emergency notification system for a portable device
Systems and methods for providing alerts to end users of networked enabled portable devices are provided so that the end users are made aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. In various embodiments, a portable device is enabled to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. The user can be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, the user can optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, and/or the user can otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data, such as a link to the information.
US08385951B2 SMS wrapper/dewrapper and mobile devices embedded with the SMS wrapper/dewrapper
Disclosed is a method for providing a GUI for manipulation utilizing a SMS in PDU mode, comprising: receiving a SMS message which comprises encoded SM data; parsing said SM data for decoding to retrieve form display data; generating a UI element corresponding to said form display data; and displaying said UI element.
US08385933B2 Base station device and radio communication device
Provided is a base station device capable of suppressing power consumption of a radio communication device and transmitting a pilot signal for measuring an uplink channel quality in a high frequency use efficiency. The base station device (2) includes: a resource block size decision unit (54) which decides the number of subcarriers to be allocated for the radio communication device (1); and a cyclic shift delay amount decision unit (55) which sets a cyclic shift delay amount used when performing cyclic shift delay diversity transmission according to the number of subcarriers decided by the resource block size decision unit (54). By using the cyclic shift delay amount set by the cyclic shift delay amount decision unit (55), the radio communication device (1) cyclic shift delay diversity transmission of the channel quality measuring signal.
US08385931B2 Methods and arrangements for allocating scheduling request resources in a wireless communication system
Method and arrangement in a base station for allocating scheduling request resources to a user equipment. The method and arrangement comprises receiving a bearer setup message from the user equipment and sending a first instruction comprising a first scheduling request interval, to be used by the user equipment. Also, a scheduling request is received from the user equipment. The moment of time when data was generated at the user equipment and a periodicity of data generation at the user equipment are estimated. Further, a second scheduling request interval and scheduling request resources to be used by the user equipment is determined, based on the estimated periodicity and moment of data generation at the user equipment, and sent to the user equipment. In addition, a method and arrangement in a user equipment for assisting the base station for allocating scheduling request resources to the user equipment are described.
US08385930B2 Reduced resource allocation parameter signalling
It is described a method for distributing radio resources between a first radio link between a primary network element being assigned to a first hierarchic level of a network and a first secondary network element being assigned to a second hierarchic level and a second radio link between the primary network element and a second secondary network element being assigned to the second hierarchic level. The method includes (a) transmitting respectively a first resource allocation parameter from the first and the second secondary network element to a decision unit, the first resource allocation parameter being indicative for a minimum performance requirement, (b) transmitting respectively a second resource allocation parameter from the first and the second secondary network element to the decision unit, the second resource allocation parameter being indicative for a performance increase for the respective radio link following an allocation of additional radio resources, and (c) distributing the radio resources between the first and the second radio link based on the first and the second resource allocation parameter.
US08385928B2 Communication network
There is provided a method of operating a communication network comprising at least one macrocellular base station, and a plurality of femtocell base stations that are within the coverage area of the at least one macrocellular base station, the method comprising providing a proxy in a signalling path between the at least one macrocellular base station and the plurality of femtocell base stations, providing unidirectional signalling for the support of mobility and interference control from the at least one macrocellular base station to the proxy; and providing signalling for the support of mobility and interference control between the proxy and the plurality of femtocell base stations.
US08385925B2 Selection of core network nodes in a communication network
Method of selecting a communications node for allocation to a user communications device. The method comprises selecting the communications node from a plurality of communications nodes of a communications network. The method further comprising performing a calculation to determine a selection value, which calculation includes as input data at least one of first identifier data identifying selection equipment configured to select a communications node from a plurality of communications nodes, and second identifier data identifying a radio cell with which the user communications device is associated. The method also comprises using the selection value in selecting the communications node.
US08385924B2 Systems and methods for facilitating communications over a shared channel
A node may include a receiver configured to receive signals transmitted from a gateway and a logic device coupled to the receiver. The node may also include a memory configured to store label information identifying a data packet stored in the node. The logic device may be configured to receive a message from the gateway, where the message includes label information, and access the memory to identify a data packet based on the label information included in the message. The node may also include a transmitter configured to transmit the data packet to the gateway over a channel shared with a number of other nodes.
US08385923B2 Methods and systems for adaptive server selection in wireless communications
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for providing adaptive server selection in wireless communications. An access terminal may be configured to determine a forward link quality metric associated with each of a plurality of sectors serviced by a plurality of access points; assign credits to each sector in relation to the forward link quality metric; and change a data source control (DSC) value if the credits accumulated for a non-serving sector at a DSC change boundary is greater than a predetermined threshold, where the non-serving sector and the serving sector for the access terminal belong to different cells. The access terminal may be further configured to change a data rate control (DRC) cover in accordance with the DSC change. The use of DSC may provide an early indication of handoff, thereby allowing the service outage associated with server switching to be substantially reduced.
US08385916B2 Automated device provisioning and activation
Devices and methods are disclosed for controlling communications over a roaming access network by determining that an end-user device is connected to or attempting to connect to the roaming access network and applying a control policy that allows the end-user device to send a first data communication over the roaming access network but prevents the end-user device from sending a second data communication over the roaming access network.
US08385913B2 Using a first wireless link to exchange identification information used to communicate over a second wireless link
Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.
US08385912B2 Digital media distribution system
A system and method employs an online site for making stored digital video recordings available for selection and download to a wireless communications device. Upon receipt of a selection for a digital video recording, the system and method causes the selected digital video recording to be wirelessly transmitted to the wireless communications device. The selected digital video recording is also made available to a personal computer associated with the user who made the selection. At least a title of the selected digital video recording is stored in a personal storage account of the user.
US08385908B2 Modifying mobile network signal propagation predictions
Technologies are provided herein for modifying mobile network signal propagation predictions. According to embodiments, signal characteristics are received from a network management system. The signal characteristics correspond to signals propagating in a predetermined portion of a mobile telephone network. An initial signal propagation prediction that corresponds to the predetermined portion of the mobile telephone network is also received. The initial signal propagation prediction is modified based on the received signal characteristics to produce a more accurate signal propagation prediction.
US08385907B2 Communication system, and communication device and phone device for the same
A communication system switches a communication state from a first communication state where a wireless communication unit of a communication device performs data communication and voice communication with an external device and a phone device to a second communication state to perform the data communication between the phone device and the external device, in response to electric power supply to the wireless communication unit being interrupted. The first communication state is set with a communication-device network ID used for the communication device and a phone-device network ID used for the phone device. The second communication state is set with the phone-device network ID used for the communication device and the communication-device network ID used for the phone device.
US08385905B2 System and method for cell information broadcasting in reduced-size local environments in a cellular mobile communication system
Cell information broadcast system and method for reduced local environments, inferior to a radio cell, and applied to a cell (9) of a mobile telephone system. The system comprises for said cell (9) a base station (1), a plurality of mobile terminals (2), and at least one local cell broadcast equipment LCBE (3), which transmits local cell broadcast messages (5) to the mobile terminals (2) located within its coverage area (4) using a physical channel of the cellular system. Each LCBE (3) comprises reception means to recognize the transport configuration of the cell broadcast messages (5′) in said cell (9), configuration and content means, to determine the format and content of the local cell broadcast messages (5), and transmission means to broadcast the local cell broadcast messages (5).
US08385903B2 Transferring sessions in a communications network
Systems and methods for transferring a session or components of a session in a communication network are provided. The components of the session include media flows and control over the media flows. The user can initiate a transfer of a existing session with a mobile device such as user equipment (UE) to one or more devices that may lead to fan-out or fan-in to multiple devices. This can include separating the delivery of media from the control of the delivery. For example, a UE can be designated a controller to control another UE, such as a television (TV). In providing the capability to transfer these sessions, a gateway is used to implement network functions that allow the streaming to be controlled and delivered to the respective UEs. In some embodiments, the gateway can be flexible and its operation modified according to messages it receives.
US08385896B2 Exchanging identifiers between wireless communication to determine further information to be exchanged or further services to be provided
A server exchanges information between one or more wireless devices to complete a transaction. The server receives second device identifier information from a first wireless device using a wide area network. The second device identifier information was previously provided to the first wireless device using short range wireless communication. The server then uses the second device identifier information to determine additional information concerning an entity or object located in proximity to the second device, and then the server delivers information to the first wireless device based at least in part upon both (a) the second device identifier and (b) a current step in a multiple step process for an ongoing electronic commerce transaction.
US08385895B2 Updating an operating parameter
A method includes communicating with a first wireless network of a first type, and obtaining a location-based operating parameter from the first wireless network. The method further includes checking the validity of the location-based operating parameter obtained from the first wireless network. If the location-based operating parameter obtained from the first wireless network is not valid, then the method further includes searching for a second wireless network of a second type, and updating the location-based operating parameter from the second wireless network.
US08385894B2 Information delivery system for sending reminder times bases on event and travel times
An information delivery apparatus is provided, including a receiving portion to receive location information of a mobile communication terminal at a given time and acquired date and time of the location information from the terminal, an event information storage portion to store event information including an event place, date and time, a delivery terminal selecting portion to select the mobile communication terminal to which the event information is to be delivered based on the location information and the acquired date and time of the location information and on the event place, date and time, and an event information delivery portion to deliver the event information to the selected mobile communication terminal. The delivery terminal selecting portion selects the mobile communication terminal whose location indicated by location information is within a predetermined range and whose acquired date and time of the location information are before the event date and time.
US08385893B2 Multi-SIM status update system
A particular method includes processing a call connection between a user equipment (UE) device and a first network. The UE device is coupled to or includes at least a first subscriber identity module (SIM) that is associated with the first network and a second SIM that is associated with a second network. The method includes sending a status update message to the second network associated with the second SIM. The status update message instructs the second network to provide a busy status message in response to receiving a call connection request that is directed to the second SIM.
US08385888B2 Authentication of mobile devices over voice channels
Mobile devices are authorized to access PBX-based voice services through presentation of audible tones on a voice channel, which are determined based on a code received over a separate data channel. The device can request a code over a data channel from a server in communication with the PBX. The server provides data representative of the code over the data channel to the device, and arranges for local storage of the code. The device makes a connection with the PBX over a separate voice channel. The mobile device presents the received code as a sequence of audio tones (e.g., DTMF tones). The audio tones are used to generate data that can be compared with stored codes by an authentication module. The authorization module can indicate to the PBX that the code is valid; services can be provided by the PBX in response. The valid codes can be maintained, such as by removing used codes from code storage.
US08385884B1 Disruption blocking in mobile devices
A do not disturb (DND) mode for telephonic devices, in which the DND mode is automatically deactivated after a time increment has elapsed, the DND mode having been activated based on detecting, upon receiving a telephone call, a selection of the control.
US08385882B2 Wireless data service apparatus and method in broadcast mobile communication system
A system for broadcasting wireless data service in a mobile communication system includes sending a request call for a wireless data service from a mobile terminal to a mobile switching center, identifying whether the terminal is registered in the mobile switching center, transmitting authentication code information indicating that the terminal is registered in the base transceiver station, and releasing the corresponding call in the terminal receiving the authentication code information and receiving the wireless service data. The authentication code information may include a Walsh code and a long code necessary for allowing the terminal to reconstitute the data. Through this case information, the system can broadcast wireless service data throughout an entire region and be assured that only mobile terminals storing compatible code information will be able to access the data.
US08385880B2 Apparatus for and system for enabling a mobile communicator
Provided herein is a mobile communicator that includes a contact operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and positioned to complete an electric circuit when the contact is in the closed position thereby activating the mobile communicator and providing the mobile communicator with functionality. The mobile communicator includes a display, a notification mechanism for alerting a user, a user interface configured for allowing a user to enter a plurality of destination inputs, the plurality of destination inputs associated with an alphanumeric combination of numbers and letters, a transmitter in operable communication with the user interface and configured to send a transmission from the mobile communicator to a destination corresponding with the destination input, a receiver capable of receiving a transmission from a transmitting device and an enabling system. Further, the mobile communicator includes an initial default disabled state, wherein at least one of a plurality of functions are disabled. The mobile communicator remains in the initial default disabled state even when the contact is in the closed position and the activating electrical circuit is complete. A logic of the enabling system is configured to change the initial default disabled state of the mobile communicator to an enabled state, wherein the at least one of the plurality of functions become enabled, when a hands-free mode of the mobile communicator is activated.
US08385870B2 Method of controlling antenna of moving object and system using the same
A system of controlling an antenna of a moving object is provided. The system includes: a plurality of communication antennas established in the moving object; an environmental information generation unit generating environmental information which includes strength information of a received signal and moving speed information of the moving object; an antenna use determination unit determining, with respect to the plurality of communication antennas, a number of antennas for each use based on the environmental information; and an antenna assigning unit assigning the plurality of communication antennas for each use according to the determined number of antennas.
US08385869B2 Embedded module receiver noise profiling
A self-test prediction system predicts the impact that a host device has on an embedded wireless device's receiver performance by recording the wireless device's received power. No carrier or pilot signal is necessary to predict the impact. The wireless device's embedded receiver monitors its own received power (e.g., RSSI) from any type of radiated noise from the host device. For receivers that do not provide RSS referenced to absolute power, an external reference tone can be used in order to scale the measured receiver carrier to noise or signal to noise data to an absolute power. The increase in measured received power on the wireless device's receiver correlates to the impact the host device will have on the embedded wireless device's receiver sensitivity performance, providing a faster approach with less external equipment than current approaches that use external equipment to simulate the wireless device's forward link signal.
US08385866B2 Diversity receiver and method performed by a diversity receiver
A diversity receiver includes a plurality of receiver circuits that are configured to receive and process the received radio frequency signals. A channel estimator is coupled to at least one of the plurality of receiver circuits and is configured to determine at least one channel estimation value for the received radio frequency signals. A controller is coupled to the channel estimator and to at least one of the plurality of receiver circuits and is configured to selectively activate or deactivate the at least one of the plurality of receiver circuits based on the determined at least one channel estimation value.
US08385861B2 Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
A disclosed radio communication apparatus transmits a radio signal to multiple users via multiple transmit antenna groups at appropriate transmit power levels, each of the transmit antenna groups including one or more transmit antennas, the transmit antenna groups having respective transmit power constraints. The apparatus includes a precoding unit configured to perform precoding on signals modulated for individual users and generate transmit weights, an optimum transmit power calculation unit configured to receive the transmit weights from the precoding unit and use components of the transmit weights and respective transmit power limit values for the transmit antenna groups to calculate an initial value for a transmit power optimization problem for calculation of the appropriate transmit power levels for the users, and a transmission unit configured to transmit radio signals at the calculated transmit power levels.
US08385858B2 Power amplifier and signal transceiving system
A power amplifier and a signal transmitting system using the power amplifier are disclosed. The power amplifier includes a circuit board, a power amplifier, and a structural component. The circuit board is fixed on the structural component. The power amplifier is fixed on the circuit board or the structural component. A grounding reference layer is set on the structural component. A pair of pins is set on the power amplifier. A pair of housing portions is set between the circuit board and the structural component. Overhead matching areas are set face to face with the housing portions on the circuit board respectively. Power amplification matching portions are set face to face with the reference layer on the matching areas respectively. The pins are electrically connected to the power amplification matching portions respectively.
US08385853B2 System and method for power detection in a power amplifier
A system for detecting power output of a power amplifier includes a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of a power amplifier, the first power detector configured to provide a first power detector output, and a second power detector configured to receive a collector parameter signal and detect a collector parameter therefrom, the second power detector also configured to provide a second power detector output.
US08385849B2 Standby mode switch system and communication device having same
A standby mode switch system includes a mode selection module, a control module, and a position detection module. The mode selection module has a vibration mode. The control module is in communication with the mode selection module and the position detection module. The control module turns on the vibration mode when the mode selection module selects the vibration mode and an incoming call. The control module turns off the vibration mode when the position detection module detects a distance from the position detection module to an adjacent object element is greater than a predetermined value.
US08385847B2 Switching element, antenna switch circuit and radio frequency module using the same
A switching element is provided that realizes an stabilize a potential between the gates of the multi-gates without an increase in the insertion loss, and an antenna switch circuit and a radio frequency module each using the switch element. The switching element includes two ohmic electrodes 39, 40 formed on a semiconductor substrate, at least two gate electrodes 41, 42 disposed between the two ohmic electrodes, and a conductive region 45 disposed between the adjacent gate electrodes among the at least two gate electrodes, a field effective transistor being structured by the two ohmic electrodes, the at least two gate electrodes, and the conductive region. The conductive region has a wider portion that is wider in width than the conductive region interposed between the adjacent gate electrodes on one end thereof. The distance between the adjacent gate electrodes is narrower than the width of the wider portion. Resistors 44, 46 are connected in series between the two ohmic electrodes through the wider portion.
US08385846B2 Active load isolator and wireless speaker for mixed signal environments
An isolation circuit includes a low dropout operational current control loop and a shunt regulator. The current control loop is configured to drive the shunt regulator to result in a high dynamic impedance ratio between a voltage source and a load. The current control loop may include a series-pass transistor, a current sensing resistor, and a high side current sensor.
US08385845B1 Shunt device for switch
Embodiments include but are not limited to apparatuses and systems including a first active device located on a signal path between an antenna terminal and a transmit and/or receive (T/R) terminal, and a self-biasing shunt device coupled to the first active device and including a second active device having a DC-blocked source terminal and a non-DC-blocked drain terminal. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08385844B2 Transceiver with plural space hopping phased array antennas and methods for use therewith
A wireless transceiver includes an antenna array that transmits an outbound RF signal containing outbound data to remote transceivers and that receives an inbound RF signal containing inbound data from the remote RF transceivers, wherein the antenna array is configurable based on a control signal. An antenna configuration controller generates the control signal to configure the antenna array to hop among a plurality of radiation patterns based on a hopping sequence. An RF transceiver section generates the outbound RF signal based on the outbound data and that generates the inbound data based on the inbound RF signal. In one configuration, a switching section selectively couples a selected one of the antennas in the array to the RF transceiver section, based on the control signal. In another configuration, the RF transceiver section includes an RF section for each antenna in the array.
US08385843B2 Sequence generation method and sequence generation device
Disclosed are a sequence report method and a sequence report device for reducing a signaling amount for reporting a Zadoff-Chu sequence or a GCL sequence allocated for a cell. Indexes starting at 1 are correlated to different ZC sequences and are allocated for cells so that the indexes are continuous. When such ZC sequences are reported from BS to UE, a start index indicating the start of the continuous indexes is combined with the number of allocated sequences and they are reported as allocation sequence information by a report channel. The UE and the BS share the correlation between the ZC sequences and the indexes and the UE identifies a usable sequence number according to the correlation and the allocation sequence information reported from the BS.
US08385842B2 Wireless communication terminal and communication system selection method
Provided are a wireless communication terminal that can select a power-efficient wireless communication system while keeping a data rate at a fixed level, and a communication system selection method. A wireless communication terminal is designed to be able to operate selectively according to a plurality of communication systems, and is configured to include: a required data rate calculation section that calculates a required data rate as a data rate needed to be satisfied in accordance with a remaining level of power and a communication history; and a communication system selection section that selects which communication system to be used through a comparison between a data rate of each of the communication systems to be determined based on a measured quality of communication service, and the calculated required data rate. This accordingly enables to select a power-efficient communication system while keeping a data rate at a standard level determined by a remaining level of power and a communication history. For example, the communication system can be used adaptively depending on the remaining level of battery, i.e., when the remaining level of battery is high, selected will be a communication system with a high data rate, and when the remaining level of battery is low, selected will be a communication system with a low data rate.
US08385838B2 Method of transmitting feedback information in multiple antenna system
A method of transmitting feedback information in a multiple antenna system is provided. The method includes selecting at least one subband selected from a plurality of subbands according to subband preset information, the subband preset information being a preset on data processing settled for each of the plurality of subbands, and transmitting a subband index of the selected subband. Only a subband index is fed back instead of separately transmitting a precoder index or a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) level index to each UE, thereby reducing feedback overhead.
US08385829B2 Slave device complying with bluetooth communication protocol and related method for establishing bluetooth communication connection
A slave device that complies with Bluetooth communication protocol includes a communication module, a memory and a RF output module. The communication module can be operated to generate a driving signal. The memory stores an access code that complies with Bluetooth communication protocol and is electrically connected to the communication module. The memory is configured to determine whether or not to output the access code according to the driving signal output by the communication module. The RF output module is electrically connected to the memory so as to receive and output the access code.
US08385825B2 Communication device
There is provided a communication device for communicating with a counterpart device, including: a first and a second short range communication modules; and a short range communication controller configured to: control the first short range communication module to exchange information with the communication device, determine whether file transmission between the counterpart device and the second short range communication module is properly done based on the information received from the counter part device, and control the second short range communication module to receive or transmit a file from or to the counterpart device based on a determination that the file transmission is properly done.
US08385824B2 Procedure for headset and device authentication
Disclosed herein is a system for configuring and setting up a one to one communication correspondence between a headset and a mobile device. The authentication PIN allows communication of the headset with only those devices that are authenticated using the PIN. A first software application and a second software application are provided on the mobile device and a headset respectively. The process of configuring the PIN access information on the headset using the first and second application comprises the step of establishing a secure communication link by completing challenge response sequence between the headset and the device using the currently prevailing PIN, transmitting a configuration set PIN from the device to the headset, enforcing reauthentication using the newly configured PIN, and establishing and locking a communication between the device and the headset based on the new personal identification number.
US08385822B2 Orientation and presence detection for use in configuring operations of computing devices in docked environments
A mobile computing device (‘MCD’) and docking station (‘dock’) are individually equipped with features and components that enable charging/power signals to be communicated from the dock to the MCD without use of connectors. Other embodiments provide for the MCD or the dock to identify an orientation of the MCD as retained on the docking station. As an addition or alternative, magnetic coupling may be used to maintain and/or orient the two devices in a mated position.
US08385818B2 Delay control to improve frequency domain channel estimation in an echo cancellation repeater
A wireless repeater has a receiving antenna for receiving an input signal and a transmitting antenna for transmitting an amplified signal where the input signal is a sum of a remote signal and a feedback signal. The repeater includes an echo canceller receiving the input signal and generating an echo cancelled signal by estimating a feedback channel between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna and cancelling a feedback signal estimate from the input signal, an amplifier for amplifying the echo cancelled signal and providing the amplified signal to the transmitting antenna, and a variable delay element receiving the echo cancelled signal and introducing a first delay to the echo cancelled signal. The first delay is selected to optimize the estimation of the feedback channel, thereby optimizing the cancellation of the feedback signal. The delayed echo cancelled signal is coupled to the echo canceller as a reference signal for estimating the feedback channel.
US08385814B2 Virtual wireless multitrack recording system
Disclosed are systems and methods for wirelessly recording multi-track audio files without the data corruption or loss of data that typically occurs with wireless data transmission. In some aspects of the present invention, each performer is equipped with a local audio device capable of locally recording the respective performer's audio while also transmitting it to a master recorder. The locally recorded audio may then be used to repair or replace any audio lost or corrupted during transmission to the master recorder. Such repair or replacement may be performed electronically or via playback of the locally recorded audio. In other aspects of the present invention, a master recorder is not required since all locally recorded audio may be combined or otherwise processed post-recording. Locally recorded audio may include identifiers to aid in post-recording identification of such audio. A multi-memory unit is also provided to facilitate manipulation and processing of audio files.
US08385812B2 Assessment-driven cognition system
A computer-based assessment driven cognition system includes, in embodiments, a generator configured to present questions, where each question presented is associated with a stacking weight and has at least one correct response, and a question property evaluator configured to, for each question presented, determine a likelihood of randomly selecting the at least one correct response. The system also includes a question response receiver configured to receive at least one response to each question presented. Additionally, the system includes a question response evaluator configured to determine, for each question presented, when the at least one response is the at least one associated correct response, a likelihood that the at least one response is a false positive. The question response evaluator is further configured to adjust the stacking weight of each question presented depending at least upon the likelihood that the at least one response to the question is a false positive.
US08385810B2 System and method for real time tracking of student performance based on state educational standards
A system for providing feedback on educational standards within schools includes an interface providing access to a plurality of established educational standards which may be downloaded into a database of the system. A plurality of control modules enables a user to establish educational programs specifically associated with at least one of the downloaded established educational standards and receive feedback on student performance. Real time reports on student performance are provided responsive to the received feedback on student performance.
US08385808B2 Method and apparatus for managing media trays in an image production device
A method and apparatus for managing media trays in an image production device is disclosed that may include determining if a media tray door is open, and if so, starting a timer, determining if a misfeed indication has been set, and if so, determining if the timer has reached a first predetermined value, and if it has not, determining if the media tray door has been closed, and if so, returning the image production device to a pre-media tray opening state. Otherwise, if it is determined that a misfeed indication has been set, determining if the timer has reached a second predetermined value, and if it has not, determining if the media tray door has been closed, and if so, returning the image production device to the pre-media tray opening state.
US08385807B2 Image-bearing member protecting agent, protective layer forming device, image forming method, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
The present invention provides an image-bearing member protecting agent containing a fatty acid metal salt, and boron nitride, wherein the boron nitride has an oxygen content of 0.4% by mass to 4.5% by mass, and wherein the image-bearing member protecting agent is applied or attached onto a surface of an image bearing member.
US08385797B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
In a fixing device, a second rotary member disposed opposite a first rotary member forms a nip between the first rotary member and the second rotary member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first separation member rotatively provided on a rotary shaft of the first rotary member separates the recording medium passing through the nip from the first rotary member. A rotation angle adjuster connected to the first separation member changes a rotation angle position of the first separation member.
US08385796B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
In a fixing device, at least one separator is provided downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotary member and a pressing rotary member in a recording medium conveyance direction to contact the fixing rotary member to separate a recording medium having passed through the fixing nip from the fixing rotary member. A feeler is provided upstream from the fixing nip in the recording medium conveyance direction and contacted by the recording medium conveyed toward the fixing nip to receive a pushing force from the recording medium. A transmission assembly is connected between the feeler and the separator to receive and transmit the pushing force to the separator to move the separator from a non-contact position at which the separator does not contact the fixing rotary member to a contact position at which the separator contacts the fixing rotary member.
US08385786B2 Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A developer accommodating container is provided with a first accommodating portion in which a first feeding member is arranged, a second accommodating portion in which a second feeding member is arranged, a first communication portion communicating the first accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion in their one end sides, a second communication portion and a third communication portion communicating the first accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion at two positions in the other end sides so as to be shifted their positions in a feeding direction of the developer, a discharge portion arranged between the second communication portion and the third communication portion in the second accommodating portion, and provided for discharging the developer, and a replenishing portion arranged in a downstream side in the feeding direction of the developer than the third communication portion in the first accommodating portion, and provided for replenishing the developer.
US08385779B2 Charging device including a multi-portion sheet member for shielding a corona charger
A charging device includes a corona charger for electrically charging a photosensitive member; a shutter, having first surfaces at which the shutter opposes the corona charger and having second surfaces at which the shutter opposes the photosensitive member, for covering and uncovering an opening of the corona charger with respect to a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a retracting device for retracting the shutter when the opening is uncovered. The retracting device retracts the shutter in a state in which the first surfaces contact each other so that the first surfaces and the second surfaces do not contact each other.
US08385777B2 Drive transmission mechanism and image forming apparatus including same
A drive transmission mechanism including a drive shaft, a rotational driving member having at least two first protrusions and provided to the drive shaft, a driven member having at least two second protrusions and provided to a rotary shaft of a rotary member, deformable connecting parts provided to at least one of portions between the first protrusions and the rotational driving member and portions between the second protrusions and the driven member, and an elastic member covering the deformable connecting parts. The deformable connecting parts displace one of the first and second protrusions relative to one of the rotational driving member and the driven member in a direction tangential to a direction of rotation of the rotational driving member and the driven member upon contact of the first protrusions with the second protrusions.
US08385775B2 Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is provided that is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The process cartridge further includes a portion to be positioned, a displacing portion, and a portion to be urged. The portion to be positioned is positioned to a main assembly side positioning portion by the portion to be urged when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly.
US08385769B2 Image forming apparatus having a plurality of cleaning members and computer readable medium for the same
An image forming apparatus, including: a plurality of charging members, each applying charging voltage between the charging member and corresponding charged body, a plurality of cleaning members, each removing adherent matters by reciprocating in a contact state with each of the charging members, each waiting in a waiting position in a non-cleaning time, a plurality of detection units, each detection unit detecting by availability of electric connection whether each of the cleaning members is located in the waiting position, and a series circuit that connects the plurality of detection units in series, wherein, when the plurality of cleaning members clean the plurality of charging members: an outward movement is started from a cleaning member on a side corresponding to one end of the series circuit, and a homeward movement is completed by the cleaning member on the side corresponding to the one end of the series circuit.
US08385762B2 Transfer device and image forming apparatus
A transfer roller lies opposite to a supporting roller across an image carrying belt and abuts against the outer surface of the image carrying belt to form a transfer nip. A driving force transmission unit transmits driving force from a driving source to a driving roller. A drive control unit performs drive control of the driving source. A feedforward control unit performs feedforward control on the driving source via the drive control unit. An entry detecting unit detects entry of a sheet in the transfer nip. The feedforward control unit considers an entry detection signal output by the entry sensor as a trigger for performing feedforward control after a predetermined time.
US08385755B2 Fixing device having a unit to prevent overheating
A fixing device and an image forming apparatus having the same, and a method of operating the fixing device, the fixing device being provided with a power interruption unit to prevent overheating of the fixing device by physically separating a fuse element from a power line and/or approximating a thermostat to a fixing member of the fixing device.
US08385752B2 Laser diode driver with back terminator and optical transmitter providing the same
An LD-Driver with a back termination circuit is disclosed. The back termination circuit of the invention provides a transistor as an active device, a current source to provide a bias current to the transistor, and a resistor as a passive element that couples the transmission lines carrying a differential signal thereon. Because the transistor shows a differential resistance of several tens of ohms by providing only a few milli-amperes, the output impedance of the LD-Driver may be substantially matched with the characteristic impedance of the transmission line with lesser additional power consumption.
US08385748B2 Printed circuit board and optical transmission device
To reduce emission of an unintentional electromagnetic wave even if a frequency of a clock signal being output is high, a printed circuit board (10) includes: a substrate (101); signal output circuits (102 and 103) formed on the substrate (101), for outputting a clock signal; power supply wirings (109 and 110) for connecting the signal output circuits (102 and 103) and a power source; and trap filters (107 and 108) provided to the power supply wirings (109 and 110), for attenuating a frequency component corresponding to a frequency of the clock signal.
US08385745B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving signals in a microwave system
This invention discloses a method and an apparatus for transmitting/receiving signals in a microwave system, and pertains to the field of communications. The transmitting method comprises receiving and modulating a transmission signal transmitted via an optical fiber; processing the modulated transmission signal to generate RF signal; and separating the RF signal to be transmitted from a signal received via an antenna, and transmitting the separated RF signal via the antenna. The receiving method comprises separating a signal received via an antenna from a signal to be transmitted; processing the received signal after being separated to generate IF signal; demodulating the generated IF signal; and transmitting the received signal after being demodulated via an optical fiber. The transmitting/receiving apparatus comprises an optical fiber signal interface, a signal reception module, a modulation module, an IF-RF transmission module, a duplexer, a control module and a power interface. Use of the optical fiber to transmit the transmission signal and the received signal according to the present invention makes it possible for application of large capacity microwave and also greatly saves production cost.
US08385742B2 Electrical return-to-zero (ERZ) driver circuit
Consistent with the present disclosure, clock-and-data recovery (CDR) circuitry and driver circuitry are provided on a chip that is separate from the driver circuitry, thereby reducing the amount of power consumed by the driver circuitry and simplifying system design. In one example, timing of the ERZ signals is controlled by a feedback loop that adjusts the phase of a data carrying signal relative to a clock signal, such that the phase has a desired value. Timing of the ERZ signals may thus be adjusted to minimize errors.
US08385741B2 Optical pulse generating device and optical signal processing device
An optical pulse generating device includes a continuous light input unit to which continuous light is input; a pulse input unit to which control pulse light that includes periodic pulses of light is input; and a generating unit that generates pulse light from the continuous light by clipping the continuous light according to a variation of emission intensity of the control pulse light.
US08385738B2 Method and apparatus for routing data-carrying optical signals
A method is provided for routing optical data, which method comprises transmitting optical addressing data to a first network element having routing capabilities, assigning an appropriate optical link connecting the first network element with a second network element where the assignment is based on the optical addressing data, and transmitting the optical data via the assigned optical link.
US08385737B2 Stereopicture shooting bracket
A stereopicture shooting bracket, includes: a bracket (10), a base (9) mounted on the base (10), a curved rail mounted on the base (9), a sliding block (2) moving along the curved rail (1), a camera (3) capable of continuous shooting mounted on a top of the sliding block (2), and a driving device for driving the sliding block (2). A circle the curved rail (1) locating locates on a horizontal plane. The stereopicture shooting bracket according to the present invention is capable of shooting pictures of a same object continuously from different angles, so as to overcome the drawback that the focus, metering, and angle of different cameras can not be consistent at the shooting moment.
US08385736B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes: optical finder means for introducing subject light having passed through an image capturing optical system onto a predetermined mirror at a first angle and guiding light reflected off the predetermined mirror to a finder window; a liquid crystal display disposed in an optical path of the subject light in the optical finder means; and illumination means for illuminating the liquid crystal display with light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein scattered light produced in the liquid crystal display illuminated with the light from the illumination means is incident on the predetermined mirror at a second angle, the finder window is disposed in a path of the scattered light reflected off the predetermined mirror, and the predetermined mirror has reflection characteristics in which spectral reflectance associated with the predetermined wavelength of the light incident at the second angle is lower than the spectral reflectance associated with the predetermined wavelength of the light incident at the first angle.
US08385725B2 Method of the apparatus for recording digital multimedia based on buffering states of the multimedia service
Provided are a method and apparatus for recording digital multimedia by buffering. The method includes performing buffering with regard to each of a plurality of received multimedia services in a predetermined output mode; managing buffering information relating to buffering settings with regard to each of the buffered multimedia services; and controlling output of a corresponding multimedia service according to the buffering information, wherein the output mode comprises a time shift mode where a previously buffered multimedia service is called and reproduced and a background mode where a currently received multimedia service is buffered without being displayed on a screen.
US08385723B2 Recording of sports related television programming
A video recording system that controls recording of television programming relating to sporting events to better match the intent of a user who specified programming for recording. The system merges data from an electronic program guide and sports data, such as from a news feed, to determine values of recording parameters, such as start and stop time and channel. User input may specify a player, team, league or other sports entity for which sporting events are to be recorded. The system may use the sports data to identify sporting events involving the specified sports entity and then access an electronic program guide to determine a channel on which to record the sporting events. When the user specifies a sporting event to record, sports data may be used to track progress of the event and dynamically adjust an ending time of the recording to ensure that the full event is recorded.
US08385722B2 Modular digital video recorder storage
Modular storage functionality is provided for a digital video recorder (DVR), which may be configured in such a way as to limit a user's access to the whole storage capacity, and wherein a user may choose to increase or decrease the amount of accessible storage capacity of the internal storage medium.
US08385721B2 Media playlist methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for easily creating playlists of media programs to be played sequentially, where each program on a playlist either is played in real time, i.e., when broadcast, or is played time-shifted when the program temporally conflicts with one or more other programs on the playlist. When a playlist is played, a user can pause viewing at any time, in which case the methods and apparatus recompute the program sequence of the playlist and schedules program recordings as required.
US08385714B2 Methods for visually inspecting interferometric modulators for defects
A method is provided for visual inspection of an array of interferometric modulators in various driven states. This method may include driving multiple columns or rows of interferometric modulators via a single test pad or test lead, such as test pad, and then observing the array for discrepancies between the expected optical output and the actual optical output of the array. This method may particularly include, for example, driving a set of non-adjacent rows or columns to a state different from the intervening rows or columns and then observing the optical output of the array.
US08385713B2 Universal optical fiber fusion splice connector holder
A universal holder for fusion splice connector bodies fits any of several standard styles of connector body to variety of different fusion splicer machines. The holder is formed of a block of solid material with a longitudinal cutout formed of a series of of generally semiicylindrical recesses and generally cylindrical lands with one or more square cutouts. The recess and lands are coaxially arranged so as to accommodate the various styles of connector bodies. The body also has locating features, including locating cutouts extending up from a bottom side, to accommodate locating structure of an associated fusion splicer machine. These locating cutouts may accommodate pin and slot, offset pin or parallel pin arrangements.
US08385710B2 Fiber tray
A fiber tray for managing and organizing fiber distribution is disclosed. The fiber tray includes a housing and a drawer received in the housing. The housing is secured to an equipment rack. The housing includes inner sides with a glide mechanism extending the length of each inner side. The glide mechanism includes a first end and a second end. The glide mechanism also includes at least one curved path located at one of the first end and the second end. The drawer includes a bottom, a first side, a second side, a front and a back. The first and second sides of the drawer have a pin. The pins extending from the sides of the drawer slide within the glide mechanism to enable the drawer to be retracted, extended or removed from the housing.
US08385708B2 Apparatus for the collection and transmission of electromagnetic radiation
A collector for propagating incident radiation is disclosed. The collector may comprise a light directing component coupled to a buffer component, a first propagation component coupled to the buffer component and configured to transmit the incident radiation into a collector region through one of a plurality of windows, and an optical transport assembly coupled to an end of the collector region and having a second propagation component. Each light directing component may be configured to redirect the incident radiation from a first direction to a second direction, and the collector region may include a plurality of regions exhibiting a refractive index value that gradually transitions from about 1.5 to about 2.0. The second propagation component may be further configured to retain the incident radiation.
US08385703B2 High numerical aperture multimode optical fiber
Multimode optical fibers with a large core diameter and high numerical aperture are disclosed herein. Multimode optical fibers disclosed herein comprise a core region having a radius greater than 30 microns and a cladding region surrounding and directly adjacent to the core region, the cladding region comprising a depressed-index annular portion comprising a depressed relative refractive index. The depressed cladding region is surrounded by a titania doped cladding region. The fiber has a total outer diameter of less than 120 microns, and exhibits an overfilled bandwidth at 850 nm greater than 200 MHz-km.
US08385697B2 Multiple-core optical fiber with coupling between the cores
An optical fiber includes a cladding, a first core, and a second core. At least one of the first core and the second core is hollow and is substantially surrounded by the cladding. At least a portion of the first core is generally parallel to and spaced from at least a portion of the second core. The optical fiber includes a defect substantially surrounded by the cladding, the defect increasing a coupling coefficient between the first core and the second core.
US08385690B2 Automated image processing
Automated electronic document design systems and methods for appropriately sizing and positioning uploaded user images into predefined image areas in a product design being created in a Web environment. For an image that is not to be cropped when incorporated into the design, the image is sized to fit within the selected image area and positioned in the image area according to a predefined anchor location. The aspect ratio of the original image is maintained. For an image that is available for cropping when incorporated into the design, the image is sized and cropped to create a version of the image that fills the image container.
US08385689B2 Image alignment using translation invariant feature matching
A computer implemented method and system is provided for aligning multiple overlapping images in real time using translation invariant feature matching. A user captures overlapping images comprising a first image and a second image using one or more image capture devices. An image aligning application determines one or more local maxima pixel points and local minima pixel points in the first image and the second image based on predetermined statistical criteria. The image aligning application performs iterative intra image correlation in the first image for selecting a predetermined number of feature points. The image aligning application performs iterative inter image correlation for the selected feature points, for determining a predetermined number of best correlated feature point pairs, and selects a matching feature point pair from the best correlated feature point pairs. The image aligning application aligns the first image and the second image using the selected matching feature point pair.
US08385687B1 Methods for determining a transformation between images
In accordance with one embodiment, a method of determining a transformation between a first image and a second image includes acts of, for at least one region in the first image, determining a corresponding region in the second image as a function of a transformation parameter and determining a similarity function as a function of the transformation parameter between the region in the first image and the corresponding region in the second image. In one embodiment, the method further includes acts of determining a similarity function between the first image and the second image using the similarity function for the at least one region, and determining a value of the transformation parameter, wherein the value substantially optimizes the similarity function between the first image and the second image.
US08385685B2 System and method for ocular recognition
A system and method include decomposing via a computer an ocular region into several filtered images of different orientation and scale, using the computer to combine the decomposed images for each scale, using a computer executed classifier for each scale, matching across different quality images, and using a computer, constructing a matching score by combining the scale scores using adaptively weighted sum for each scale.
US08385677B2 Method and electronic device for reducing digital image noises
A method and an electronic device for reducing digital image noises are described. The method includes the steps of sequentially selecting a pixel from a digital image, and setting the pixel as a target pixel; defining a first area, and setting at least two of the rest pixels surrounding the target pixel in the first area as adjacent pixels; setting a first weighted area; setting a second weighted area corresponding to the first weighted area; computing a weight of the adjacent pixel located at a center position of the second weighted area by using a piecewise linear curve according to a similarity value of the first weighted area and the second weighted area; computing a weighted average of all the adjacent pixels and the target pixel, to determine a new value of the target pixel; and performing the above steps repeatedly, till all the pixels are processed.
US08385675B2 Systems and methods for filtering a signal using a continuous wavelet transform
According to embodiments, systems and methods for reducing noise in a signal are provided. A signal may be transformed using a continuous wavelet transform and a corresponding scalogram may be generated. Regions of noise may be identified from the resulting scalogram. These regions may be masked by, for example, removing, altering, or appropriately tagging the regions. After masking the regions of noise, the scalogram may be converted to a filtered signal using an inverse wavelet transform. Alternatively or additionally, desirable regions of non-noise may instead be identified from the resulting scalogram. These desirable regions may be extracted from the scalogram and an inverse wavelet transform performed on the extracted regions in order to generate a filtered signal.
US08385671B1 Digital camera and method
Image noise reduction filtering by low-pass/high-pass filtering to get a hierarchical representation, modifying coefficients in each hierarchy level for noise suppression, and the modified level combination to yield a noise-filtered image. The noise suppression within levels preserves edges which the representation preserves.
US08385669B2 Scalable mutable tiled multi-resolution texture atlases
Functionality for storing and modifying multi-resolution texture atlases is provided so that applications can expose methods to enable users to access and browse a collection that includes multiple multi-resolution images. The images are stored as thumbnails in a texture atlas having different levels of detail in which the levels are arranged in an image pyramid that includes multiple tiles that are each stored as separate files. The thumbnails are spatially storable as textures in the texture atlas using a fractal layout (which in one illustrative example is a Morton layout) that enables images to be efficiently packed in the tiles. The fractal layout ensures that no more than one tile stores less than a fully packed texture at each level of detail. The same packing order scales across each level of detail in the texture atlas so that layout information is stored for the individual images in the collection only once.
US08385665B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program and semiconductor integrated circuit
An image processing apparatus includes a filter unit which filters image signals; a sampling unit which generates first digital image signals having a first resolution by sampling the filtered image signals at a predetermined sampling frequency; and a super-resolution unit which reconstructs a second digital image signal having a second resolution which is higher than the first resolution by performing super-resolution on the first digital image signals generated by the sampling unit, wherein the filter unit passes frequency components corresponding to or lower than the Nyquist frequency which is half the sampling frequency, and passes a part of frequency components within a range from the Nyquist frequency to the highest frequency which can be represented by the second resolution.
US08385664B2 Method for progressive JPEG image decoding
A progressive JPEG image decoding method is provided. In the decoding method, a non-zero history table and a sign table of each variable length decoding (VLD) result are recorded and used as a reference for decoding the next scan layer. The decoded coefficients are no longer directly stored in a memory so as to save the memory space. Accordingly, an image can be decoded and displayed correctly even with limited memory space.
US08385661B2 Hand-held mobile apparatus and method of quckly displaying online community friends' images applicable thereto
A hand-held mobile apparatus and method of quickly displaying online community friends' images applicable thereto are disclosed. The hand-held mobile apparatus includes a network communication module for linking to an online community server; a comparison module for comparing and determining whether data of a web image in the online community server matches data of a local image in a storage unit of the apparatus; a recognition module for determining an image type of the web image when the web image data is different from the local image data; a processing unit for downloading the web image of a first type in a smallest image size or the web image of a second type in an image size matching a screen resolution of the apparatus, and storing the web image in the storage unit as the local image; and a display unit for displaying the local image.
US08385655B2 Method and system for generating intrinsic images using single reflectance technique
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, identifying a dominant region of single reflectance in the image and segregating the image into intrinsic images as a function of the dominant region of single reflectance.
US08385654B2 Salience estimation for object-based visual attention model
The present invention provides a salience estimation method for object-based visual attention model. The method comprises steps of segmenting the image into a plurality of objects to be estimated, extracting feature maps for each segmented object, calculating the saliences of each segmented object in a set of circles defined around a center pixel of the object based on the extracted feature maps, and integrating the saliences of each segmented object in all circles in order to achieve an overall salience estimation for each segmented object. The present invention is much more human vision inosculated and of low computing complexity.
US08385652B2 Segmentation of textual lines in an image that include western characters and hieroglyphic characters
An image processing apparatus segments Western and hieroglyphic portions of textual lines. The apparatus includes an input component that receives an input image having at least one textual line. The apparatus also includes an inter-character break identifier component that identifies candidate inter-character breaks along a textual line and an inter-character break classifier component. The inter-character break classifier component classifies each of the candidate inter-character breaks as an actual break, a non-break or an indeterminate break based at least in part on the geometrical properties of each respective candidate inter-character break and the bounding boxes adjacent thereto. A character recognition component recognizes the candidate characters based at least in part on a feature set extracted from each respective candidate character that can be histogram features, Gabor features or any other feature set applicable to character recognition. A Western and hieroglyphic text classifier component finds and classifies textual line segments as Western text segments or hieroglyphic text segments and further passes the recognition results to an output component.
US08385648B2 Detecting illumination in images
An image having m light sources, with m preferably equaling 2 or 3, is sequenced into different regions, each of which is lit by only one of the m light sources, by obtaining paired imaged with different filtering, for example a filtered and an unfiltered image, applying to the image pairs sets of m pre-computed mappings at the pixel or region level, and selecting the most appropriate. The rendering of the information in the image maybe adjusted accordingly.
US08385647B2 Method of image analysis using sparse Hough transform
A digital image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. In a method of analyzing the image, some of the pixels are purposefully not processed. In particular, only those pixels in a particular subgroup are processed according to a Hough or similar transform. The number of pixels in the subgroup is less than the total number of pixels in the image (e.g., as little as about 5% of the total pixels), and each pixel in the subgroup is pseudo-randomly selected. The Hough transform is inherently configured to function within the context of noisy images, for identifying features of interest in the image, as simulated by the pseudo-random selection and processing of less than the total number of pixels in the image. This significantly reduces the processor resources required to analyze the image.
US08385646B2 Image processing
An image processing method includes partitioning an image under test to form a plurality of contiguous image segments having similar image properties, deriving feature data from a subset including one or more of the image segments, and comparing the feature data from the subset of image segments with feature data derived from respective image segments of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.
US08385644B2 Digital video fingerprinting based on resultant weighted gradient orientation computation
Video sequence processing with various filtering rules is applied to extract dominant spatial features and generate unique set of signatures describing video content. Accurate active regions are determined for each video sequence frame. Subsequently, a video sequence is structured by tracking statistical changes in the content of a succession of video frames, and suitable frames are selected for further spatial processing. Selected video frames are processed for feature extraction and description, and compact representative signatures are generated, resulting in an efficient video database formation and search.
US08385640B2 System for controlling dynamic optical illusion images
A system for controlling a printed dynamic optical illusion image, comprising: an item including a printed optical illusion image having one or more mutable portions that can be controllably switched between first and second appearance states by application of an appropriate external stimulus; a stimulus source for providing the external stimulus; and a controller for controlling the stimulus source. The printed optical illusion image is printed on a printing device using a plurality of colorants, one or more of the colorants being appearance mutable colorants having spectral characteristics that can be controllably switched between a first colorant state and a second colorant state by applying the appropriate external stimulus, the one or more mutable portions of the optical illusion image being printed using at least one appearance mutable colorant.
US08385638B2 Detecting skin tone in images
One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a method that includes sampling an image to generate a sample portion; evaluating pixels in the sample portion to determine whether the pixels correspond to skin tone colors; generating, based on the determination, a skin tone result indicating a confidence level that the received image includes a depiction of human skin; and providing the skin tone result to an image management application to indicate a likelihood the image depicts a human face.
US08385636B2 Color processing apparatus and computer-readable medium
A color processing method includes setting a color gamut constituted by combinations of values of M color components, wherein each combination has a minimum total sum of the values of the M color components among combinations that provide a corresponding one of target colors, and each combination meets a predetermined limitation; obtaining output color signals each having values of the M color components by controlling, within a range meeting the predetermined limit, combinations each providing any of colors within the set color gamut; and generating pairs each having a corresponding one of the output color signals and an input color signal which is in an input color space, corresponds to the corresponding one of the output color signals, represents a color within the set color gamut, and has values of N color components as elements where N is an integer smaller than M.
US08385635B2 Image processing apparatus for performing AM screen processing and FM screen processing, image processing method, computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a screen processing unit that performs, on a color component basis, screen processing for a color signal having basic color components and at least one spot color component. The screen processing unit performs FM screen processing for one of the basic color components of the color signal and performs AM screen processing for the color components, other than the one of the basic color components, of the color signal with four types of screen angles.
US08385634B1 Selecting and applying a color range in an image mask
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for generating a mask based on a color model. In one embodiment, a selection of at least one color in an input image is received. A color model may be determined based on the selection of the at least one color, wherein the color model comprises one or more truncated Gaussian functions. A mask may be generated based on the color model. The mask may comprise a respective value indicating a degree of membership in the mask for each of the plurality of pixels in the input image, wherein the degree of membership in the mask is a function of a similarity in color to the selection.
US08385633B2 Techniques for enabling or establishing the use of face recognition algorithms
Embodiments described herein facilitate or enhance the implementation of image recognition processes which can perform recognition on images to identify objects and/or faces by class or by people.
US08385628B2 Image encoding and decoding method, apparatuses therefor, programs therefor, and storage media for storing the programs
An image encoding method includes determining and encoding global parallax data which is probably correct parallax data in consideration of the Epipolar geometry constraint between a camera of a standard viewpoint, which is selected from the entire multi-viewpoint images, and images obtained by all the other viewpoints; generating base parallax data for each camera as a viewpoint other than the standard viewpoint, where the base parallax data is probably correct parallax data in consideration of the Epipolar geometry constraint between the image of the relevant camera and the images of all the other cameras based on the global parallax data and the camera parameters; determining and encoding correction parallax data used for correcting the base parallax data, so as to indicate parallax data between the image of the relevant camera and an already-encoded reference viewpoint image used for parallax compensation; and encoding the image of the relevant camera by using parallax data obtained by correcting the base parallax data by means of the correction parallax data.
US08385625B2 System for detecting infectious agents using computer-controlled automated image analysis
A method for providing quantitative information regarding the extent of infection of host cells by an infectious agent. A microscope image of a specimen of a bodily fluid is analyzed using image processing techniques to quantify the percentage of the area of the specimen that is infected.
US08385618B2 Determination and monitoring of laser energy
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining the energy of a laser. In particular, the invention relates to an initial determination of a laser energy and the monitoring of the laser energy preferably of an excimer laser for use in a refractive laser system for treatment of any eye. An apparatus for determining an energy of an excimer laser comprises a tool comprising an area being ablated with a plurality of laser pulses of said excimer laser using at least one predetermined multi spot ablation pattern, said ablation area comprising a specific ablation area being as large as the ablation area or smaller, an image capturing means for capturing at least one image comprising at least said specific ablation area of the tool; an analyzing means for analyzing said at least one image, wherein the size of the specific ablation area provides a measure of the energy of the excimer laser.
US08385616B2 System for assisting preparation of medical-image reading reports
A report-data collecting unit retrieves and collects a character string in accordance with the prescribed character-string retrieval condition and the character string of annotation data. An image data display unit displays the character string and a list showing a medical image referred to while the object is being photographed. When the user selects the character string by designating the medical image shown in the list, both the character string and the medical image are associated by an image-data acquisition/process unit and then pasted at a prescribed position in a medical-image reading report preparation screen. Further, the data representing the medical image thus pasted is archived in an image database.
US08385608B2 Dictionary data registration apparatus and dictionary data registration method
A face data registration apparatus is an apparatus to register dictionary data for walker authentication by use of a face image. The face data registration apparatus causes a posture data collection unit to collect posture variation data from a plurality of face images obtained by photographing a face of a registrant whose posture (face direction) is changed, further causes a walking data collection unit to collect walking data from a face image obtained by photographing a face of the registrant who actually walks along a passage, causes a synthesizing unit to create dictionary data by synthesizing posture variation data and walking data and registers the created dictionary data as dictionary data used to authenticate a person who walks in the passage by face collation into a dictionary data unit.
US08385605B2 Image based turing test
A system and method for determining if a computer user is a human or a computer program. A computer user is presented with a series of images, the series of images including: at least two related images of an object, at least one of the at least two related images independently processed using an image modifying algorithm; and at least one unrelated image. The computer user is then requested to identify the related images from the series of images. These image identifications are received from the computer user. A determination is made that the computer user is: a human if the image identifications only identify the related images from the series of images; and a non-human if the image identifications do not only identify the related images from the series of images.
US08385603B2 Method for hierarchical determination of coherent events in a seismic image
The determination of coherent events in a seismic image is disclosed including the following operational phases: a phase of selecting a segmentation criterion based on a variable and at least one sliding window on the zone and its characteristics, a phase of hierarchical segmentation, for overlapping positions of the sliding window, including a segmentation of the zone into n regions and for each pixel located at least once by a segmentation boundary; a phase of assigning to the non-located pixels a value of indices (EI and EIC) corresponding to a numerical or alphanumeric characteristic non-value; a phase of determining coherent events of the image by thresholding the indices (EI and EIC), that is by selecting only located pixels of the zone corresponding to values lower or higher than a fixed threshold.
US08385601B2 In-vehicle white line recognition apparatus
An in-vehicle white line recognition apparatus is disclosed. Form an image captured by a camera, the apparatus extracts multiple white line candidates including a first white line candidate and a second white line candidate. The apparatus calculates a certainty factor of each white line candidate, the certainty factor indicating a degree of certainty that the each white line candidate represents the white line. When the first and second white line candidates are within a predetermined range and when a ratio of contrast of the first white line candidate to that of the second white line candidate is less than a predetermined value, the apparatus decreases the certainty factor of the first white line candidate.
US08385599B2 System and method of detecting objects
The present invention is a system and a method of segmenting and detecting objects which can be approximated by planar or nearly planar surfaces in order to detect one or more objects with threats or potential threats. The method includes capturing imagery of the scene proximate a platform, producing a depth map from the imagery and tessellating the depth map into a number of patches. The method also includes classifying the plurality of patches as threat patches and projecting the threat patches into a pre-generated vertical support histogram to facilitate selection of the projected threat patches having a score value within a sufficiency criterion. The method further includes grouping the selected patches having the score value using a plane fit to obtain a region of interest and processing the region of interest to detect said object.
US08385598B2 Action analysis apparatus
An action analysis apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires moving image data including a series of frame image data obtained by imaging a human body and environmental information in a period when the moving image data is imaged, a unit that detects at least one image area in which a predetermined portion of the imaged human body is imaged in the frame image data and generates and stores information to identify the detected image area, a unit that (i) generates feature quantity information, (ii) generates information to identify frames of the moving image data imaged at a timing at which the feature quantity information satisfies a predetermined condition, (iii) obtains a length of continuous timings at which a length of the feature quantity information exceeds the predetermined condition based on to generated information, and (iv) stores the information.
US08385597B2 Tracking device and image-capturing apparatus
A tracking device includes: an image sensor that obtains image information of an image present within an image plane formed via an optical system; a tracking unit that tracks a target within the image plane based upon the image information; a focus detection unit that detects a focus adjustment state of the optical system over at least one focus detection area set in the image plane; a focus adjustment unit that executes focus adjustment for the optical system based upon the focus adjustment state detected in the focus detection area corresponding to a position of the target; a decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not the target is being tracked based upon results of tracking operation executed by the tracking unit; and a control unit that bans the focus adjustment based upon results of the decision made by the decision-making unit.
US08385589B2 Web-based content detection in images, extraction and recognition
A web-based image detection system includes: an image capture device, a web browser, a plug-in, and a recognition server. A captured image is processed by the plug-in to assess whether a pre-determined content type is contained with in the image. Once an initial analysis at the browser plug-in detects a pre-determined content type in an image, the image is transmitted to a recognition server for content recognition of the image by content type. The system thus enables users to link documents or other image types to electronic data using only a capture device and a web browser.
US08385588B2 Recording audio metadata for stored images
A method of processing audio signals recorded during display of image data from a media file on a display device to produce semantic understanding data and associating such data with the original media file, includes: separating a desired audio signal from the aggregate mixture of audio signals; analyzing the separated signal for purposes of gaining semantic understanding; and associating the semantic information obtained from the audio signals recorded during image display with the original media file.
US08385587B2 Method to avoid mixed contours in pile fabrics
A computer reviews card designs for color changes in a fabric pattern that might cause mixed contours in the fabric woven by a Jacquard design. The computer displays problem positions of the card designs that cannot be corrected by correction lift plans and suggests changes to the card designs. When permitted the computer automatically changes the card designs to avoid mixed contours.
US08385585B2 Speaker
A speaker includes a speaker body; a cone paper movably supported by the speaker body; and a magnetic driving unit disposed on the speaker body to vibrate the cone paper, wherein the cone paper includes at least two layers made of different materials.
US08385580B2 High power low frequency transducers and method of assembly
An acoustic transducer including a sound producing cone that is activated by a voice coil cylinder having a pair of spaced electrical windings that are retained in spaced relationship from a surround ferromagnetic ring that is carried by a heat sink and wherein a magnetic subassembly is mounted within the voice coil cylinder. The voice coil cylinder is supported by a pair of spaced suspension members or spiders and by the sound producing cone.
US08385578B2 Piezoelectric acoustic device and electronic apparatus
A piezoelectric acoustic device comprises: at least two piezoelectric actuators; a support body that supports the at least two piezoelectric actuators; and a signal input unit that drives the at least two piezoelectric actuators at respective arbitrary times. At least one pair of piezoelectric actuators among the at least two piezoelectric actuators is arranged in such a manner that their sound radiation surfaces face each other with a predetermined gap.
US08385577B2 Fixing a sound tube in a hearing apparatus
A thin hearing tube is to be fastened in a hearing apparatus such that it can be easily exchanged again. To this end, the end of the sound tube is melted, so that its diameter is enlarged. The sound tube can then be drawn into the bore, the inner diameter of which is smaller than the enlarged outer diameter of the end of the sound tube, until the extended end of the sound tube rests closely against one side of the bore. By cutting the sound tube end or by cutting through the tube at another point, it can be removed from the bore without any problem, so that a new tube can be fastened there.
US08385576B2 Bone conduction communications headset with hearing protection
A communications headset includes bone vibrating transducers supported over the temporal bones of a wearer in front of each ear and an earpiece. The earpieces, when not in use, are selectively securable in a holster formed on each transducer housing. Radio signals received by a wearer or vehicular mounted radio are processed by and distributed through a communications interface to both the transducers and the earpiece speakers. Ambient or external noises picked up by one or more microphones on each earpiece are processed to reduce ambient noises above a certain level.
US08385574B2 Multipart compartment for a hearing system
A hearing system and/or earpiece assembly is comprising an assembly structure with at least three parts. The parts are removably connectable and at least one of the parts can be arranged in relation to another one in a different orientation. Alternatively or in addition, at least one part is made out of a flexible material.
US08385571B2 Circuit for operating a hearing device and hearing device
A circuit for operating a hearing device with a variable operating parameter is disclosed. A storage device for storing operating parameter settings in a starting situation as well as in a target situation and a control unit, which implements a matching of the operating parameter according to a setting of the starting situation to the operating parameter settings of the target situation, is provided. Further, a connection device for connection to a control element and a data processing device for influencing the operating parameter by a user of the hearing device, is provided. The control unit performs the matching of the operating parameter with a minimal matching rate in time segments in which the operating parameter is often influenced by the control element or data processing device, and with a higher matching rate in time segments, in which the operating parameter is rarely influenced or not influenced at all by the control element or data processing device.
US08385570B2 Electret transducer with solar power and amplifier circuitry
The present invention provides an electret transducer with solar power. The provided electrets transducer includes a solar power supply device, an amplifier circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the solar power supply device and a second input terminal coupled to an audio signal input terminal, and an electret loudspeaker coupled to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit receives a first voltage level via the first input terminal and boosts the first voltage level to a second voltage level, and receives a first audio signal via the second input terminal and amplifies the first audio signal to a second audio signal. The electret loudspeaker coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier circuit receives the second audio signal and outputs a sound corresponding to the second audio signal.
US08385569B2 Acoustic transducer unit
An acoustic transducer unit includes a first member having a recess, and a plate-like second member having main surfaces. The second member is bonded to the first member so as to cover the recess and form a housing. A microphone element, which is an acoustic transducer, is accommodated in an internal space of the housing, and an acoustic path is provided between the internal space and an external space of the housing. A conductive electromagnetic-shielding member and terminal members for electrically connecting the microphone element and an external circuit are embedded in a resin body of the first member by insert molding. An electromagnetic shield layer of the second member is electrically connected to the electromagnetic-shielding member.
US08385564B2 Amplifier thermal management
A thermally regulated amplifier system includes an amplifier unit, a temperature-sensing unit and a controller. The amplifier unit includes a power amplifier that has an adjustable gain function. The controller receives temperature readings from the temperature-sensing unit, computes the gain G(n) of the amplifier unit, and provides the computed gain of the amplifier G(n) to the power amplifier unit.
US08385560B2 In-ear digital electronic noise cancelling and communication device
A noise canceling and communication system includes an in-ear device adapted to fit in the ear canal of a device user. A passive noise reduction element reduces external noise entering the ear canal. An external microphone senses an external acoustic signal outside the ear canal. An internal microphone senses an internal acoustic signal proximal to the tympanic membrane. One or more internal sound generators produce a noise cancellation signal and an acoustic communication signal, both directed towards the tympanic membrane. A probe tube shapes an acoustic response between the internal sound generator and the internal microphone to be relatively constant over a wide audio frequency band. An electronics module is located externally of the ear canal and in communication with the in-ear device for processing the microphone signals using a hybrid feed forward and feedback active noise reduction algorithm to produce the noise cancellation signal.
US08385559B2 Adaptive digital noise canceller
Systems and methods for adaptive feed-forward noise cancellation. The system includes a plurality of reference microphones, an error microphone, a secondary path module, an adaptation controller, and a canceller filter. A finite impulse response (“FIR”) based plant model is converted to an infinite impulse response (“IIR”) based plant model using balanced model reduction. Due to the inherent instability of the adaptive IIR filter, the Schur-Cohn stability test is applied to the denominator coefficients of the IIR filter transfer function to determine the stability of the noise cancellation system. A secondary path of the noise cancellation system is identified in an on-line manner in the secondary path module. If the energy level of the communication signal (e.g., a music signal) is strong, secondary path identification is performed. The adaptation controller controls the updating of the IIR transfer function based on the stability determination and the secondary path. An anti-noise signal is then generated and added to the communication signal. The anti-noise signal is generated within approximately 60 or fewer micro-seconds.
US08385558B2 Echo presence determination in voice conversations
Presence of echo in a conversation is determined through a search performed in the sub-band domain using independent short length adaptive filters across a range of sub-band and maximum expected echo delay values. The adaptive filters attempt to predict and cancel the echo in the microphone signal based on the content in the speaker signal. If substantial cancellation is achieved in any of the sub-band filters, echo presence in the microphone signal is determined.
US08385557B2 Multichannel acoustic echo reduction
A multichannel acoustic echo reduction system is described herein. The system includes an acoustic echo canceller (AEC) component having a fixed filter for each respective combination of loudspeaker and microphone signals and having an adaptive filter for each microphone signal. For each microphone signal, the AEC component modifies the microphone signal to reduce contributions from the outputs of the loudspeakers based at least in part on the respective adaptive filter associated with the microphone signal and the set of fixed filters associated with the respective microphone signal.
US08385550B2 System and method for secure wireless multi-hop network formation
The present invention provides methods and devices for a security architecture for use in wireless multi-hop networks. A method for implementing pair-wise encryption key establishment, network node authentication and determining tunnel encryption keys is provided in a following manner. In a multi-hop wireless network including a plurality of network nodes, pair-wise security is established between pairs of neighboring network nodes of the plurality of network nodes. For example, pair-wise security is established in the form of temporal pair-wise encryption keys. Following establishment of pair-wise security between pairs of neighboring network nodes, for a pair of network nodes that are not neighbors, tunnel security is established between the pair of network nodes using tunnel encryption keys derived by the pair of network nodes on an ad hoc basis. The tunnel encryption keys are used to form the connection between non-neighboring network nodes so as to avoid the hop-by-hop encryption/decryption used in conventional multi-hop wireless systems.
US08385549B2 Fast authentication between heterogeneous wireless networks
A method for preparing for handover of an apparatus from a first wireless network to a second, different wireless network, a master session key (MSK) having been generated during establishment of a connectivity of the apparatus to the first wireless network includes detecting signals of the second wireless network. In response thereto, establishing a connectivity of the apparatus to the second wireless network, using a pairwise master key (PMK) derived from the MSK generated during establishment of the connectivity to the first wireless network, one or more encryption keys being derivable from the PMK to support secure communication over the second wireless network.
US08385548B2 System and method for entangled photons generation and measurement
Apparatus and method for producing quantum entangled signal and idler photon pairs is provided. The apparatus makes use of a nonlinear optical fiber to generate the entangled photons. The use of an external broad band light source for alignment of any downstream measurement apparatuses is disclosed. One or more polarized output signals can be generated at both the signal and idler wavelengths using the alignment source, allowing the downstream measurement apparatuses to be aligned using classical light. Multiple signal and idler wavelengths can be generated and aligned using such a system.
US08385539B2 Method and arrangement for controlling adaptive filters
The invention relates to methods for controlling adaptive filters, where a first step involves a first input signal, which has a narrowband frequency range and occurs at least intermittently during an adaptation phase in the filter, at the input of the filter prompting the adaptation phase to be continued until an echo signal which is conditional upon the first input signal and in the same frequency range is compensated for completely, a second step involves the adaptation phase being suspended when complete compensation for the echo signal has been achieved, and a third step involves the adaptation phase being continued if the first input signal is followed by a second input signal which has a narrowband frequency range and which differs from the frequency range of the first input signal at least by a frequency value, with the above steps being repeated starting at the first step, or with a fourth step involving a new adaptation phase being performed if the first input signal is followed by a third input signal having a wideband frequency range. The invention also relates to an arrangement for carrying out the method.
US08385537B1 Unified method and apparatus to simplify telephone area code dialing
A computerized method and related system and software for simplifying telephonic calling, comprising: designating a default destination area code; the user specifying a destination telephone number; and as a default, causing the call to be signaled using the designated default destination area code in combination with the specified destination telephone number, without the user entering the designated default destination area code when specifying the destination telephone number.
US08385534B2 Method for dispatching service requests
Techniques for dispatching one or more services requests to one or more agents are provided. The techniques include obtaining one or more attributes of each service request, obtaining one or more attributes of each agent, obtaining feedback from each of one or more agent queues, and using the one or more attributes of each service request, the one or more attributes of each agent and the feedback from each of the one or more agent queues to determine one or more suitable agents to receive a dispatch for each of the one or more service requests. Techniques are also provided for generating a database of one or more attributes of one or more service requests and one or more attributes of one or more agents.
US08385532B1 Real-time detective
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for monitoring and reporting various metrics associated with objects of interest. The present invention is adapted to monitor objects of interest, such as contact center agents, to determine whether a triggering event has occurred and, if so, report metrics associated with the object of interest in a dynamic, customized, and real-time fashion.
US08385526B2 System and process for mass telephony conference call
A method of controlling conference calls includes initiating a conference call between multiple conferees using a conferencing controller, placing each of the multiple conferees in a listen only mode using the conferencing controller, receiving a signal at the conferencing controller from a plurality of the conferees requesting active participation in the conference call, displaying a list of the plurality of conferees requesting active participation in the conference call, receiving from a user a selection of one of the plurality of conferees who have requested active participation in the conference call, and placing the one of the plurality of conferees in a talk mode using the conferencing controller. The method may also include monitoring a connection between the conferencing controller and a controlling application and notifying an operator if the connection is disrupted.
US08385521B2 Billing for call complete calls
A method and system for billing a calling party for an unanswered call attempt is provided. A first network component receives a call attempt from the calling party and routes the call attempt to a second network component for establishing a communications link between the calling party and a called party. The second network component redirects the call attempt unanswered by the called party to the voice server. A billing management application, provided for managing the billing of the calling party, detects the redirection of the call attempt and indicates to the first network component to disable billing the calling party for the unanswered call attempt. The billing management application, in communication with the voice server, initiates billing of the calling party based on billing criteria, via the second network component instead of the first network component, for utilizing one or more services provided by the voice server.
US08385520B2 Information apparatus and control method of the same
After the user purchased an information apparatus, even when he turns on a power source without setting a line and automatic line identification fails, a demonstration mode is not started, and when the information apparatus exists in a shop, the demonstration mode can be certainly started by the minimum number of steps. The information apparatus has: a communicating situation identifying unit for identifying a communicating situation of the information apparatus; a display unit for displaying the demonstration mode and an electronic key for promoting sales of the information apparatus; an operation unit for selecting the electronic key; and a control unit for identifying the communicating situation when the power source is turned on, starting a regular mode in which the information apparatus is normally used when the identification of the communicating situation succeeds, and displaying a demonstration mode selection display screen to select start-up of the demonstration mode when the identification of the communicating situation fails.
US08385515B2 Intuitive profiling engine for voice-based telephony applications
Methods and systems for providing a telephone user with one or more of a plurality of possible voice scripts are disclosed. The voice scripts may be comprised of one or more individual voice modules which are dynamically selected for presentation to the user based on information known about the user. The information known about the user may include the user's identity, information obtained from the user on one or more previous calls, and/or demographic information obtained from third party sources. The user's identity may include the user's ANI, gender, and/or other identity data. The user's gender may be determined by analyzing the tonality of the user's voice.
US08385509B2 Method and system for extending transmission distance of ADSL signal
A method for extending transmission distance of an ADSL signal includes: increasing power spectral density (PSD) of an ADSL signal when a parameter of the ADSL signal is equal to or greater than a preset threshold; and sending the ADSL signal with the increased PSD. A system for extending transmission distance of ADSL signal includes a PSD adjustment determining unit, a PSD adjusting unit and a transmitting unit. A method for promoting transmission rate of an ADSL signal is disclosed as well. The solution extends the coverage of the ADSL signal, and when the CO increases the downlink PSD, the CEP need not to be modified, which reduces the cost.
US08385507B2 Apparatus and method for improved transient response in an electromagnetically controlled X-ray tube
An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure that has a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion. The throat portion includes a metal bellows. An upstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target.
US08385499B2 2D reflector and collimator structure and method of manufacturing thereof
A two dimensional collimator assembly and method of manufacturing thereof is disclosed. The collimator assembly includes a wall structure constructed to form a two dimensional array of channels to collimate x-rays. The wall structure further includes a first portion positioned proximate the object to be scanned and configured to absorb scattered x-rays and a second portion formed integrally with the first portion and extending out from the first portion away from the object to be scanned. The first portion of the wall structure has a height greater than a height of the second portion of the wall structure. The second portion of the wall structure includes a reflective material coated thereon in each of the channels forming the two dimensional array of channels.
US08385496B1 Apparatus and methods of receiver offset calibration
One embodiment relates to a method of offset cancellation for a receiver in an integrated circuit. The receiver is set to a phase-detector offset-cancellation mode so as to determine offset cancellation settings for the phase detector. The offset cancellation settings are applied to the phase detector. The receiver is then set to a receiver-driver offset-cancellation mode so as to determine an offset cancellation setting for the receiver driver. This offset cancellation setting is applied to the receiver driver. Another embodiment relates to an integrated circuit configured to perform receiver offset cancellation. The integrated circuit including a receiver driver configured to receive a differential input signal, a phase detector including a plurality of latches, a calibration controller, a voltage source, and first and second pairs of switches. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.
US08385495B2 Frame sync detecting circuit and FSK receiver using the same
A frame sync detecting circuit and FSK receiver sequentially derive a moving average value (□) from oversample values of a received word pattern, for given symbol periods, and a difference between the moving average value and an average value for the given symbol periods in a given sync word pattern is determined as DC offsets Δf. Subsequently, the DC offset Δf is subtracted from the received word pattern, and correlation processing with respect to the sync word pattern is performed to determine a correlation value (●). If the correlation value exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that a sync word candidate has been received, and symbol values of the received word pattern after the DC offset correction are compared with respective symbol values of the sync word pattern. A sync word pattern detection is determined if errors in the symbols are within a given range.
US08385483B2 Self-adaptive digital RF bandpass and bandstop filter architecture
A system and method provides adaptive digital front end control of an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal to identify RF characteristics in that signal, such as interference or desired data signals and adaptively control digital filter elements to selectively tune only portions of the RF signal to produce a filtered output signal, on a per cycle basis, prior to communicating the RF signal to an underlying wireless communication device, such as a base station in cellular network, cellular phone, wireless router base station, cognitive radio, or other wireless communication device. Each digital filter element may be tuned in frequency and bandwidth of operation and collectively the elements form an adaptive filter stage with elements configurable into both bandpass and bandstop filters for cascaded operation.
US08385480B2 Receiving apparatus and receiving method
Disclosed herein is a receiving apparatus including a first correlation value computation section, an operation section, a second correlation value computation section, a decoding section, and a determination section.
US08385476B2 Digital phase locked loop
A phase locked loop circuit (30, 100, 110) includes a controllable oscillator (42) for generating an output signal of desired frequency responsive to a control signal, a first phase detection circuit (32, 102, 112) for generating an output indicative of phase differential responsive to the output signal and a first edge of a reference signal and a second phase detection circuit (34, 104, 114) for generating an output indicative of phase differential responsive to the output signal and a second edge of a reference signal. The control signal to the controllable oscillator (42) is driven by the outputs of the first and second phase detections circuits.
US08385470B2 Coding a signal with a shuffled-Hadamard function
A method can include receiving, at an electronic transmitter device, for communication to an electronic receiver device, a first data value corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined data values; identifying, from a matrix of data bits having the form of a 2N×2N Hadamard matrix whose rows have been randomly or pseudo-randomly shuffled, a column of data bits that is associated with the first data value; and transmitting to the electronic receiver device, in place of the first data value, the identified column of data bits. The method can further include receiving data at the electronic receiver; correlating the received data to the identified column of data bits; and providing the first data value for further processing by the electronic receiver.
US08385468B2 Asynchronous delta-sigma modulator and a method for the delta-sigma modulation of an input signal
An asynchronous delta-sigma modulator is proposed that comprises an input port, a filter, an envelope path, a phase path, an amplifier, and a feedback path that conveys the amplifier output signal to the filter. The envelope path extracts an envelope from the signal provided by the filter and issues an envelope signal. The phase path processes or processes a phase from the signal provided by the filter and issues a phase signal. The amplifier comprises input ports for the envelope signal and the phase signal. The amplifier issues an amplifier output signal based on said envelope signal and said phase signal. The feedback path conveys the amplifier output signal to the filter. The feedback signal contains both amplitude information and phase information. A corresponding method and computer-program products usable for production and operation of the delta-sigma modulator are also disclosed.
US08385466B2 Transmitting a signal from a power amplifier
A method for limiting peak-to-average power of a signal transmitted from a power amplifier. The method comprises: applying a pulse-shape filter to a first signal, thereby generating a second signal being a filtered version of the first signal; and outputting the second signal for transmission from a power amplifier. The method further comprises: applying each of a plurality of predictor filters to a respective instance of the first signal, each predictor filter approximating the application of the pulse-shape filter to the first signal based on a different respective set of filter coefficients, and each thereby generating a respective third signal. The method also further comprises determining an indicator of amplitude of each of the third signals, selecting the indicator corresponding to the largest of those amplitudes, generating a modifier based on the selected indicator, and using the modifier to limit the first signal prior to applying the pulse-shape filter.
US08385463B2 Transmitter and method for transmitting data block in wireless communication system
Provided are a transmitter and a method for transmitting a data block in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the following steps: encoding an information bit and generating a block coded with an NCBPSS bit; generating two sub-blocks by parsing the coded block; and transmitting the two sub-blocks to the transmitter. By preventing the bits that are contiguous to the encoding block from having continuous identical reliabilities on a signal constellation, the deterioration of the decoding performance of the transmitter can be prevented.
US08385460B2 Apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal and method of transmitting and receiving a signal
A method for transmitting and receiving a signal and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal are disclosed. The method for receiving the signal includes receiving (S210) the signal in a first frequency band, identifying (S220) a first pilot signal including, a cyclic prefix obtained by frequency-shifting a first portion of an useful portion of the first pilot signal and a cyclic suffix obtained by frequency-shifting a second portion of the useful portion of the first pilot signal from the received signal, demodulating (S220) a signal frame including a physical layer pipe (PLP) to which a service stream is converted, by an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme, using information set in the first pilot signal, parsing (S230) the signal frame and obtaining the PLP and obtaining (S240) the service stream from the PLP.
US08385459B2 Cyclic shift sequence generation method, radio communication terminal device, and radio communication base station device
Provided is a cyclic shift sequence generation method which can prevent coming of an interference wave into a desired wave detection window even if a cyclic shift sequence has a high mutual correlation in different bandwidths, thereby improving a channel estimation accuracy in a base station. In this method, a cyclic shift sequence number to be allocated to a cell is decided in advance. Moreover, when the cyclic shift amount between cyclic shift sequences allocated in cells is Δ1 and the cyclic shift amount of the cyclic shift sequences allocated between the cells is Δ2, Δ1 and Δ2 are made different when generating a cyclic shift sequence.
US08385458B2 Signal processing circuit and signal processing method
A signal processing circuit for compensating for an I/Q amplitude mismatch in which the amplitudes of I- and Q-components of output signals of a quadrature modulator are unequal to or for compensating for an I/Q phase mismatch in which the phase difference between the I- and the Q-components of output signals of the quadrature modulator deviates from 90 degrees. The signal processing circuit comprises an I/Q mismatch compensating part that corrects the amplitude or phase of an input signal based on the compensation amount for compensating for an I/Q amplitude mismatch or an I/Q phase mismatch and that inputs the corrected signal into a quadrature modulator; a test signal generating part that sequentially generates and inputs two sets of combined I- and Q-components of a test signal, which is an AC signal, to the I/Q mismatch compensating part; a detector that determines an amplitude of the envelope of an output signal of the quadrature modulator; a filter that passes those ones of output signals of the detector which have frequencies equal to or lower than a cutoff frequency; and a control part that derives an amplitude or phase compensation amount of the I/Q mismatch compensating part such that the output values of the filter at the time of generating the two respective sets of test signals are equal to each other, the control part then inputting the derived amplitude or phase compensation amount into the I/Q mismatch compensating part.
US08385456B2 Wireless radio frequency signal transceiving system
A differential radio frequency signal transmitter is provided. The differential radio frequency signal transmitter includes an oscillator, a modulator and an amplifier module. The oscillator generates a pair of differential oscillation signals. The modulator generates a pair of differential modulated signals according to an input signal and the pair of differential oscillation signals. The input signal is a digital signal. When the input signal is at a first state, the modulator outputs the pair of differential oscillation signals as the pair of differential modulated signals, and when the input signal is at a second state, the modulator outputs a constant voltage signal as the pair of differential modulated signals. The amplifier module receives and amplifies the pair of differential modulated signals and generates a pair of differential radio frequency signals, accordingly.
US08385455B2 Multi-antenna wireless communication method, multi-antenna wireless communication system, and multi-antenna wireless communication device
Wireless communication devices A and B perform wireless communication with the MIMO technology. The wireless communication devices A and B determine the optimal diversity combining information that optimizes a diversity reception state through a two-way training signal transfer. This determination can be made based on reception level information, baseband reception IQ information, correlation information between a diversity-combining received signal and a predetermined information sequence, or the like, which are obtained when the diversity combining information with respect to each antenna is sequentially changed. The optimal diversity combining information can be determined by receiving training frames or symbols (the number of antennas+1) times.
US08385452B2 Method and apparatus for separable channel state feedback in a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate the generation and use of separable, hierarchical channel state feedback in a wireless communication system. As described herein, in the event that multiple network nodes cooperate to conduct downlink transmissions to a network user, channel state feedback as reported by the network user can be separated into intra-node feedback relating to per-node channel conditions and inter-node feedback relating to relative phase and/or amplitude between channels corresponding to respective nodes. Further, a network user can select to report intra-node feedback and/or inter-node feedback based on network instructions, a cooperation strategy to be utilized by respective network nodes, or the like. As additionally described herein, respective codebooks on which inter-node and intra-node channel feedback is based can be configured to convey information relating to a partial channel description and/or to vary based on resource units (e.g., sub-bands, resource blocks, etc.) utilized for downlink communication.
US08385446B2 Receiving apparatus and method for maximum likelihood in a single carrier system
A receiving apparatus and method of a Maximum Likelihood (ML) scheme in a Single-Carrier (SC) system are provided. The apparatus includes at least two antennas, at least two Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) demodulators, at least two subcarrier mappers, at least two OFDM modulators, and a detector. The antennas receive signals. The OFDM demodulators convert the signals into frequency domain signals. The subcarrier mappers confirm signals mapped to frequency domain subcarriers. The OFDM modulators convert the signals into time domain signals. The detector constructs at least one set for candidate transmission symbols and detects receive signals through ML detection using the set.
US08385443B2 Constructing very high throughput long training field sequences
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for constructing a long training field (LTF) sequence in a preamble to reduce a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) at a transmitter.
US08385442B2 Transmitter and the method therefor
A transmitter and the method therefor are provided. The transmitter is applied in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based or other multicarrier communication systems. The transmitter uses N sub-carriers. Among the N sub-carriers, L sub-carriers (or tones) are reserved for PAPR reduction. L is less than N. The method includes the following steps. Original frequency domain data symbols are generated and fed into the reserved-tone symbol generation unit. The reserved-tone symbols are generated by using pure frequency domain signal processing. Then the reserved-tone symbols are combined with original data symbols to generate combined PAPR reduction signal. The resultant PAPR reduction signal can be fed into reserved-tone symbol generation unit iteratively to obtain updated reserved-tone symbols. For proper iterations, the original data symbols combined with L frequency domain reserved-tone symbols will result in lower PAPR transmit signal.
US08385441B2 Efficient MIMO transmission schemes
A method for communication includes, in a transmitter having a first number of transmit antenna ports, setting an upper limit on a second number of spatial layers to be used by the transmitter to be less than the first number. An actual number of the spatial layers, which does not exceed the upper limit, is allocated for transmission to a given receiver. One or more streams of modulated symbols are mapped onto the allocated actual number of the spatial layers. The actual number of the spatial layers are transmitted from the transmitter to the given receiver. A precoding operation maps the spatial layers onto the transmit antenna ports. A first upper limit is set when the precoding operation depends on feedback from the given receiver. A second upper limit, which does not exceed the first upper limit, is set when the precoding operation is not dependent on the feedback.
US08385438B1 System and method for adaptive synchronization
A system and method are disclosed to synchronize adaptively a transform window in a multiple sub-carrier communication system based on analysis of a time domain channel impulse response. A set of frequency domain channel estimates, derived from received and one-dimensional Wiener filter interpolated channel estimates, are transformed into a time domain channel impulse response estimate containing multiple, repeated constituent responses. Each order of the constituent responses in the time domain channel impulse response estimate is associated with a two-dimensional Wiener interpolation filter. The set of two-dimensional Wiener interpolation filters generate interpolated channel estimates to compare with received channel estimates to determine a best channel impulse response order of the constituent responses. The transform window is adaptively updated using the best channel impulse response order.
US08385435B2 Measuring interference and noise power using non-content burst periods
Embodiments describe a method of measuring noise and interference within transceivers of an OFDM wireless transmission system, or similar communication system, including a number of receivers communicating with one or more base stations in cell or sector arrangements. The transmitter schedules a transmission burst for a non-existent user (receiver) using wireless transmission traffic. In an OFDM system, this corresponds to a certain set of subcarriers in the time/frequency arrangement. Thus, in the receive frame structure, the data and pilot subcarriers are guaranteed to be only noise and interference from adjacent sectors. The receiver can accurately measure the noise and interference without needing to cancel out the transmitted signal. Therefore, the system is assured that there is no desired signal as part of this measurement. The noise and interference measurement process can be appropriately scheduled so that it does not impact the overall throughput of the system. This mechanism creates a deterministic place (in time and/or frequency) within the transmission, where no desired signal is required.
US08385434B2 Process of synchronization in the time and frequency domain of multiple equipments in a transmission system with OFDM modulation
A system for synchronization of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal having a first frequency. The system includes filters configured to receive the OFDM signal, and output second signals corresponding to different frequency bands of the OFDM signal. Each of the second signals includes a corresponding synchronization symbol associated with the OFDM signal, and the synchronization symbols of each of the second signals are the same. The system further includes a Fourier transform circuit configured to receive the second signals from the filters, and output the second signals. Each of the second signals has a second frequency. The system is configured to detect the synchronization symbols in the second signals, and detect a start of OFDM symbols in the OFDM signal based on the detected synchronization symbols. The start of the OFDM symbols corresponds to an average of a plurality of estimations of the start of the OFDM symbols.
US08385432B2 Method and apparatus for encoding video data, and method and apparatus for decoding video data
Scalable video coding based on H.264/AVC uses motion compensation, which results in motion vectors and residual pictures. To optimize the encoding of the residual pictures of the enhancement-layer, they can be predicted from the base-layer. This requires complex encoders and decoders. Simplified residual prediction techniques are provided that focus on reducing the encoding and decoding complexity of the spatial scalable enhancement-layer with optimized coding efficiency. The method for encoding video data containing high-pass frames and low-pass frames comprises the steps of encoding the low-pass frames, wherein residual prediction may be used, splitting the high-pass frames into two interleaving frame groups, encoding the frames of the first of said frame groups, wherein residual prediction may be used, and encoding the frames of the second of the frame groups using an encoding method without residual prediction.
US08385431B2 Moving picture data decoding device
To aim at outputting video signals causing a viewer to feel none of a sense of discomfort even if a partial or entire lack of the picture occurs in a device that decodes a datastream of a compressed moving picture of one-segment broadcasting etc and outputs the video signals. A moving picture data decoding device includes a buffer unit 26 buffered with a predetermined quantity of already-decoded pictures decoded by a decoding process, and a picture generation unit 23 configured to generate pictures and, if there is a missing picture used for interframe prediction (S202), performing the picture generation (S205) in a way that acquires a substitute reference picture with which to substitute the missing picture from the already-decoded pictures buffered in the buffer unit 26 (S203).
US08385430B2 Video signal processing apparatus and video signal processing method
A moving area detecting circuit detects a moving area of image information S(i-1). An intermediate image generating circuit generates intermediate image information SC(i-1) based on the moving area information. A spatial frequency separating circuit generates high-frequency image information SH(i-1) and low-frequency image information SL(i-1) from the image information S(i-1). If contrast information of the moving area is higher than a predetermined value, an image represented by the image information S(i-1) and an image represented by the intermediate image information SC(i-1) are sequentially displayed. If the contrast information is not higher than the predetermined value, an image represented by the high-frequency image information SH(i-1) and an image represented by the low-frequency image information SL(i-1) are sequentially displayed.
US08385428B2 Flexible data organization for images
A system, a method and computer-readable media for encoding image data into a compressed bitstream. A mode selection component is configured to select a mode of operation for use in encoding image data. A spatial mode encoder is utilized when the mode selection component selects a spatial mode of operation. The spatial mode encoder is configured to encode the image data into packets by organizing the image data in accordance with a spatial partitioning. A frequency mode encoder is utilized when the mode selection component selects a frequency mode of operation. The frequency mode encoder is configured to encode the image data into packets by organizing the image data in accordance with a frequency ordering.
US08385426B2 Method for a mosaic program guide
A method and apparatus for generating a mosaic program guide. The method comprising; generating I frames from a coded video bit stream; placing each I frame into one of a multiplicity of mosaic windows; and combining the multiplicity of mosaic windows into a mosaic video frame.
US08385422B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a resolution increasing module and a moving-image improving module. The resolution increasing module that performs, on receipt of a first video signal with first resolution, super resolution conversion on the first video signal to obtain a second video signal with second resolution that is higher than the first resolution by estimating an original pixel value from the first video signal and increasing the pixels. The moving-image improving module that increases the frame rate of the second video signal after the super resolution conversion.
US08385421B2 Method for estimating the motion in image processing
A method of selecting a motion vector for an image block of an image of an image sequence from a number of test vectors.
US08385419B2 Methods and apparatus for motion search refinement in a SIMD array processor
Various approaches for motion search refinement in a processing element are discussed. A k/2+L+k/2 register stores an expanded row of an L×L macro block. A k-tap filter horizontally interpolates over the expanded row generating horizontal interpolation, results. A transpose storage unit stores the interpolated results generated by the k-tap filter for k/2+L+k/2 entries, wherein rows or columns of data may be read out of the transpose storage unit in pipelined register stages. A k-tap filter vertically interpolates over the pipelined register stages generating vertical interpolation results.
US08385418B2 Dominant motion estimation for image sequence processing
Herein is described a method of estimating dominant motion between a current frame n and another frame m of an image sequence having a plurality of frames, the method comprising generating integral projections of the images and using gradients of those projections and using differences between the projections. The input may be any sequence of image frames from an image source, such as a video camera, an IR or X-ray imagery, radar, or from a storage medium such as computer disk memory, video tape or a computer graphics generator.
US08385417B2 Method of deriving a motion vector of a bi-predictive block based on a motion vector of a co-located block in a reference picture
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list 0 motion vector of the co-located block in a first reference picture if the co-located block has the list 0 motion vector and a list 1 motion vector. The first reference picture is a type of reference picture permitted to be located temporally before or after the current picture. The method further includes scaling the selected list 0 motion vector based on temporal distance between the current picture and the first reference picture, and deriving at least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block by applying a bit operation to the scaled motion vector.
US08385416B2 Method and apparatus for fast mode decision for interframes
There is disclosed a video encoder and corresponding method for encoding video data for an image block. The video encoder performs a mode decision by performing initial motion estimation on only a subset of possible block sizes to output motion information corresponding thereto, and determining, based upon the motion information corresponding to only the subset of possible of block sizes and upon other image-related analysis data, whether other block sizes are to be evaluated.
US08385414B2 Multimedia size reduction for database optimization
Optimizing data in a data store. A request including a number of optimization parameters is received, where the optimization parameters specify characteristics of media content to be optimized. Responsive to the request, the media content (e.g., audio content, video content and images) may be encoded to reduce a storage size of the media content. Such a determination may be made based on one or more attributes of the media content, as well as the optimization parameters included in the request.
US08385413B2 Decoding and presentation time stamps for MPEG-4 advanced video coding
A system, method, and apparatus for time stamping compressed video data is disclosed. A delay parameter is generated and can be encoded with the compressed video, representing the number of picture delay between the decoded sequence and the presented sequence. The presentation time stamp is associated with each of the pictures. The presentation time stamp is a function of the delay parameter and other parameters associated with picture associated therewith.
US08385411B2 Method and an apparatus for encoding or decoding a video signal
A method of processing a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving prediction information of a macroblock and filter information, predicting a current picture using the prediction information of the macroblock, and applying a filter using the predicted current picture and the filter information. Accordingly, accuracy of prediction can be enhanced by applying a filter to a frame predicted before a residual for a predicted frame is coded. As the residual is reduced, efficiency of video signal processing can be enhanced.
US08385410B2 Digital broadcast system and data processing method
A digital broadcast system and a data processing method are disclosed. A data processing method of a digital broadcast transmission system includes delaying a reference time of a program clock reference (PCR) based on a size of mobile service data, when processing a broadcasting signal including main service data and the mobile service data, verifying a transport stream system target decoder (T-STD) model based on the PCR of the delayed reference time, and storing a packet of the main service data in an auxiliary buffer, when overflow of a buffer in the T-STD model is estimated as the verification result of the T-STD model.
US08385409B2 Picture coding method, picture decoding method, picture coding apparatus, picture decoding apparatus, and program thereof
A picture coding method of the present invention codes a picture signal and a ratio of a number of luminance pixels and a number of chrominance pixels for the picture signal, and then one coding method out of at least two coding methods is selected depending on the ratio. Next, data related to a picture size is coded in accordance with the selected coding method. The data related to the picture size indicates a size of the picture corresponding to the picture signal or an output area, which is a pixel area to be outputted in decoding in a whole pixel area coded in the picture signal coding.
US08385404B2 System and method for video encoding using constructed reference frame
Disclosed herein is a method for digital video encoding prediction comprising creating a constructed reference frame using an encoder and compressing a series of source video frames using the constructed reference frame to obtain a bitstream including a compressed digital video signal for a subsequent decoding process. The constructed reference frame is omitted from the series of digital video frames during the subsequent viewing process.
US08385403B2 Digital broadcasting receiving unit and digital broadcasting system
This invention provides a digital broadcasting receiving unit capable of achieving synchronization of time information between a base station and a receiving unit with reference clock without use of a crystal oscillator (VCXO) having a variable frequency. The crystal oscillator oscillates a clock of a predetermined fixed frequency. A variable digital dividing circuit divides a fixed frequency by a division ratio so as to change the division ratio. A system decoder detects reference time information from the base station. A reference counter generates time information of a receiving unit. A phase comparator detects a difference between reference time information and time information. A division ratio control circuit controls the change of the division ratio based on the difference. The reference counter generates time information based on a clock having a frequency obtained by dividing by the variable digital dividing circuit and feeds back time information to the phase comparator.
US08385402B2 Transmission element having a segmented characteristics map
A transmission element having at least one input and at least one output is described, the transmission element delivering a functional relationship (t=F(R)) between the input quantity (R) applied to the input and the output quantity (t) that may be picked up at the output and the functional relationship (t=F(R)) being stored in a characteristics map, wherein the characteristics map comprises at least one segment having a lower limit (N(bi)) and an upper limit (N(b(i+1)), a function value (t_(i)=F(N(b_i))) being assigned to the lower limit (N(bi)) and a function value (t(i+1)=F(N(b(i+1))) being assigned to the upper limit (N(bi+1)), and the output quantity (t) being interpolated between the lower limit and the upper limit.
US08385399B2 Method for impulse noise mitigation
A method of noise mitigation in a multi-carrier communication system includes receiving a signal from a decision device, determining whether synchronization symbol update is enabled, updating at least one of frequency-domain equalizer (FEQ) coefficients or digital echo canceller (DEC) coefficients in synchronization symbol periods if the synchronization symbol update is enabled, determining whether data symbol update is performed if the synchronization symbol update is not enabled, determining whether a flag associated with the signal is set if the data symbol update is not performed, and updating at least one of FEQ or DEC coefficients associated with the signal in synchronization symbol periods if the flag is set.
US08385391B2 Closed-loop receiver feedback pre-distortion
Methods and systems for calculating pre-distortion coefficients in a closed-loop communication system are presented. Transmission terminals that include high power amplifiers are difficult to operate at or near the saturation point without transmitting signals with nonlinear distortions. By pre-distorting the signal prior to amplification the transmitted nonlinear distortions may be decreased. A closed-looped pre-distortion system may include a receiver that calculates the pre-distortion coefficients and transmits these coefficients back to the transmitter. These coefficients may be stored in a pre-distortion coefficient lookup table and may be updated by the receiver terminal.
US08385378B2 Interband cascade lasers
A gain medium and an interband cascade laser, having the gain medium are presented. The gain medium can have one or both of the following features: (1) the thicknesses of the one or more hole quantum wells in the hole injector region are reduced commensurate with the thickness of the active hole quantum well in the active quantum well region, so as to place the valence band maximum in the hole injector region at least about 100 meV lower than the valence band maximum in the active hole quantum well; and (2) the thickness of the last well of the electron injector region is between 85 and 110% of the thickness of the first active electron quantum well in the active gain region of the next stage of the medium. A laser incorporating a gain medium in accordance with the present invention can emit in the mid-IR range from about 2.5 to 8 μm at high temperatures with room-temperature continuous wave operation to wavelengths of at least 4.6 μm, threshold current density of about 400 A/cm2 and threshold power density of about 900 W/cm2.
US08385369B2 Digital broadcasting system and method
A digital broadcasting system and method, where the digital broadcasting system includes: a transmission stream generator multiplexing a normal stream and a turbo stream to generate a dual transmission stream; a transmitter inserting an supplementary reference signal (SRS) into the dual transmission stream, processing the turbo stream to reconstitute the dual transmission stream, and outputting the reconstituted dual transmission stream; and a receiver receiving the reconstituted dual transmission stream, separately turbo decoding the turbo stream, inserting the turbo decode turbo stream into the dual transmission stream, and decoding the dual transmission stream into which the turbo decoded turbo stream has been inserted, to restore normal stream data and turbo stream data. Thus, reception sensitivity of a digital broadcasting signal can be efficiently improved.
US08385368B2 Method for inserting parity to frame control header
A method for inserting parity into an FCH is disclosed. A method for inserting parity into a frame control header includes channel-encoding, by an additional channel encoder, a frame control header bit applied to a legacy encoder, and generating an additional codeword, and mapping the codeword generated by the legacy encoder and the additional codeword to subcarriers. This method inserts parity into the FCH, and defines a new FCH, such that it extends an FCH coverage simultaneously while maintaining a compatibility with a legacy system. Also, it may add additional energy to a legacy FCH or may give a coding gain to the same legacy FCH, such that it can extend information transferable using reserved bits of the FCH.
US08385360B2 Control channel formulation in OFDM systems
Control channel information is formulated for transmission in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. In an example embodiment, a method entails formulating control channel information for a transmitting device operating in an OFDM system in which a control channel spans n OFDM symbols, with n being an integer. The method includes acts of allocating, creating, and mapping. Control channel data is allocated to at least one set of resource element groups. At least one order for the set of resource element groups is created in accordance with one or more permutation mechanisms that involve at least one interleaving sequence having a low cross-correlation property. The set of resource element groups is mapped to resource elements of the n OFDM symbols of the control channel responsive to the order that is created using the permutation mechanism(s). The permutation mechanisms may include interleaving sequence(s) and/or cyclic shift(s).