| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08402557B2 |
Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.” |
| US08402555B2 |
Personalized digital media access system (PDMAS)
The invention is an apparatus that facilitates access to encrypted digital media to accept verification and authentication from an excelsior enabler using at least one token and at least one electronic identification. The at least one electronic identification could be a device serial number, a networking MAC address, or a membership ID reference from a web service. Access to the product is also managed with a plurality of secondary enablers using the at least one electronic identification reference. |
| US08402552B2 |
System and method for securely accessing mobile data
The present invention provides a system and method for maintaining secure information on mobile devices and that balances security and convenience in the provision of mobile data access. Security is maintained by extending the use of industry-accepted two-factor authentication methods, and convenience is enhanced by utilizing a user's existing mobile device accessories as an authentication factor. As a result, the present invention provides a strong authentication system and method without the cost or burden of requiring the user to acquire additional hardware for security purposes. |
| US08402550B2 |
Method and device for preventing a control error of a machine tool
Machine tool (2, 2a) protected against improper activation, which has an open-loop and/or closed-loop control device for the activation of machine functions, preferably machine axes, and means for reading in machine control parameters for the open-loop and/or closed-loop control device from a data carrier or electronic carrier signal (3), and which has an improper-activation safety module, preferably an improper-activation safety software module, which decodes the machine control parameters that are intended for the machine tool and are encoded by means of an asymmetric encryption method, using an encryption key which is assigned to the machine tool (2, 2a) and provided for the encryption, with the aid of a decryption key which is likewise assigned to the machine tool (2, 2a), is different from the encryption key and is provided for the decryption, and which module enables the machine control parameters for controlling the machine tool (2, 2a) only in the case of successful decryption, with an associated method of avoiding improper machine activation by machine control parameters, and also an associated data carrier or data carrier signal and a method, system and program for generating such parameters. |
| US08402545B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying unique malware variants
A computer-implemented, server-side method for identifying unique malware variants may include (1) identifying the creation of a child object by a parent object on a client device, (2) determining that instances of both the parent object and the child object occur relatively infrequently within a user community, (3) classifying, based at least in part on the low prevalence of the parent and child objects within the user community, the child object as a potential security risk, and then (4) providing the child object's classification to at least one computing device in order to enable the computing device to evaluate the trustworthiness of the child object. Corresponding systems, encoded computer-readable media, and client-side methods are also disclosed. |
| US08402544B1 |
Incremental scanning of computer files for malicious codes
Incremental scanning of files for malicious codes. A file may be scanned for malicious codes in a first scanning instance in a client computer using a pattern of malicious code signatures. Thereafter, an update to the pattern for generating an updated pattern is received in the client computer. A delta pattern may be generated based on a difference between the pattern and the updated pattern. In a second scanning instance, the file may be rescanned using the delta pattern. |
| US08402543B1 |
Machine learning based botnet detection with dynamic adaptation
Embodiments of the invention address the problem of detecting bots in network traffic based on a classification model learned during a training phase using machine learning algorithms based on features extracted from network data associated with either known malicious or known non-malicious client and applying the learned classification model to features extracted in real-time from current network data. The features represent communication activities between the known malicious or known non-malicious client and a number of servers in the network. |
| US08402542B2 |
Non-sensitive-passage database for cut-and-paste attack detection systems
One embodiment provides a system that detects sensitive passages. During operation, the system receives a document and disassembles the document into a plurality of passages. For a respective passage, the system performs a search through a non-sensitive-passage database to determine whether the passage is a known non-sensitive passage. If so, the system marks the passage as non-sensitive, and if not, the system determines whether the passage triggers a cut-and-paste attack detection. If so, the system forwards the passage to an administrator and allows the administrator to determine whether the passage is non-sensitive and, further, to add the passage to the non-sensitive-passage database responsive to the administrator determining the passage to be non-sensitive. |
| US08402541B2 |
Proactive exploit detection
Malware detection systems and methods for determining whether a collection of data not expected to include executable code is suspected of containing malicious executable code. In some embodiments, a malware detection system may disassemble a collection of data to obtain a sequence of possible instructions and determine whether the collection of data is suspected of containing malicious executable code based, at least partially, on an analysis of the sequence of possible instructions. In one embodiment, the analysis of the sequence of possible instructions may comprise determining whether the sequence of possible instructions comprises an execution loop. In a further embodiment, a control flow of the sequence of possible instructions may be analyzed. In a further embodiment, the analysis of the sequence of possible instructions may comprise assigning a weight that is indicative of a level of suspiciousness of the sequence of possible instructions. In a further embodiment, the sequence of possible instructions may begin with a possible instruction that comprises at least one candidate operation code (opcode) that has been determined to occur frequently in executable code. |
| US08402539B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting malware
A method for detecting malware may include 1) receiving a request to determine whether a connection from a client device to a server is being blocked, 2) attempting to connect to the server from a kernel mode of the client device, 3) determining that the client device successfully connected to the server from the kernel mode, 4) attempting to connect to the server from a user mode of the client device, 5) determining that the client device did not successfully connect to the server from the user mode, 6) determining, based on the client device successfully connecting to the server from the kernel mode and failing to connect to the server from the user mode, that malware is blocking the connection from the client device to the server, and 7) in response to determining that the malware is blocking the connection, performing at least one security action. |
| US08402538B2 |
Method and system for detecting and responding to harmful traffic
There is provided a method and system for detecting and responding to harmful traffic. The system includes a router determining whether or not received data is harmful traffic, by using a dynamic flow identification (DFI) function and a deep packet inspection (DPI) function, sending Cflowd information of the received data, and then encapsulating the received data when the received data is determined to be harmful traffic, a policy & resource control entity receiving the Cflowd information from the router, determining whether or not the received data is harmful traffic by using the received Cflowd information, and then sending a result of the determination to the router, and a security management server receiving the encapsulated data from the router, reconfirming whether or not the encapsulated data is harmful traffic, and then processing the encapsulated data. |
| US08402537B2 |
Detection accuracy tuning for security
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to tuning detection components of a security system. In aspects, a history of alerts is collected. This history is then used together with knowledge about tunable objects of the system to determine parameters of the tunable objects that can be changed to improve detection of the system. Parameters of tunable objects are adjusted in a simulator that determines an effect on alerts in the history based on the adjusted parameters. A recommendation of one or more tuning actions may be provided together with information regarding the effect of each tuning action. |
| US08402529B1 |
Preventing propagation of malicious software during execution in a virtual machine
A system and method for preventing propagation of malicious content associated with an electronic message are disclosed. An electronic message and content associated with the electronic message is simulated in a virtual machine which emulates the destination computing device of the electronic message. A virtual firewall receives one or more commands as the electronic message or content associated with an electronic message is executed. Initially, the virtual firewall establishes a network connection and determines the type of action associated with the commands. If the type of action comprises a connection maintenance or configuration command, the network connection is maintained. If the type of action comprises a data transmission command, the network connection is terminated. This allows the virtual machine to simulate performance of a networked computer by transmitting a subset of the data through a network connection. |
| US08402525B1 |
Web services security system and method
An exemplary method includes (1) receiving a web service request for a particular web service, along with user identification credentials, from a web service subscriber, the request and the credentials being received into a service agent of a web service publisher, (2) determining whether the credentials are cached in the service agent, and further, whether the credentials are valid, (3) in response to a determination that the credentials are not cached in the service agent, initiating a security service to authorize the web service subscriber to access the particular web service, (4) in response to a determination that the credentials are cached in the service agent and are invalid, responding to the web service subscriber with an error message, and (5) in response to a determination that the credentials are cached in the service agent and are valid, passing the web service request to the particular web service for access. |
| US08402519B2 |
Transparent client authentication
A system and method for authenticating an application (client) to a server or service. During a registration phase, an application that requests access to a service can receive a service identifier, which it can authenticate. The application can generate and send to the server or service an application-service key that is based upon the authenticated service identifier and a secret application key; a service-application identifier that can be based upon the authenticated service identifier and an application identifier; and a registration nonce, all of which can be stored at the server. During the authentication phase, the client can send to the server the application-service identifier, which the server can use to lookup the stored registration data. The server can send the registration nonce to the client, which can compute a proof of possession of the service-application key and send to the server. The server can compute its own version of this key and compare it to the received key. If they correspond, then the client is authenticated. |
| US08402518B2 |
Secure management of authentication information
A system, method and computer program product are provided for managing authentication information for a user. According to the method, a master digital key is received from the user, and authentication of the user is obtained based on the master digital key. There is received from the user a selection of one identity from among a plurality of identities that are stored for the user. Authentication information for the user is provided into an application or web page based on the one identity selected by the user. In one embodiment, the authentication information is provided by recognizing a web page for which authentication information is stored, and automatically filling the authentication information for the user into appropriate elements of the web page. |
| US08402515B2 |
Apparatus and method for establishing a peer-to-peer communication session with a client device
An apparatus and method of establishing a peer-to-peer communication session between a host device and a client device. Routing information of the client device is received from the server by a host device, communication with the server is maintained, and authentication information from the client device is received by the host device. Peer-to-peer communication is transmitted to the client device via the wide area network if the client device is authenticated for peer-to-peer communication by the host device. |
| US08402514B1 |
Hierarchy-aware role-based access control
A method, apparatus, and system are described herein, in which system resources and operations are assigned to roles in a role-based access control system, and the roles are assigned to a plurality of users. An RBAC system is used to resolve the client request to perform an operation on a resource, the RBAC system using a hierarchy of the plurality of resources to determine if a user is permitted to perform the operation on a parent of the resource in the hierarchy of resources. The RBAC system also determines if a user is permitted to perform the operation on the resource if a user group to which the user belongs to has the required access. |
| US08402513B2 |
Network access method of wireless local area network (WLAN) terminals and network system thereof
A network access method of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) terminals and a network system thereof which are designed to support network association between a terminal and an Access Point (AP) in an IEEE 802.11 WLAN environment includes: scanning at least one AP in the network and determining whether or not the AP uses a Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) Key; and converting to an Open System authentication mode or a Shared Key authentication mode according to the determination. Accordingly, the terminal can scan for the existence of a WEP Key from at least one AP and convert into a network-accessible Open System authentication mode and a Shared Key authentication mode so as to execute an association. |
| US08402509B2 |
User authentication apparatus and method thereof
A user authentication apparatus includes an information collection unit which collects user information from a plurality of personal portable devices of a user within a predetermined distance, and a control unit which identifies the user as a user corresponding to the collected information based on the amount of user information collected. Accordingly, user authentication can be easily performed using portable devices of a user, resulting in increased user convenience. |
| US08402500B2 |
System and method for supplying supplemental audio information for broadcast television programs
A method, computer readable medium and an apparatus for providing supplemental information related to a character featured on a broadcast television program, wherein the supplemental information is not broadcast along with the broadcast television program. A viewer can request specific supplemental information associated with the broadcast television program through a telephone or electronic network interface. In some embodiments, a service controller transmits the requested supplemental information such that an audio component of the supplemental information does not conflict with the audio component of the broadcast television program. |
| US08402499B2 |
Voicemail interface system and method
Disclosed herein are inventions that integrate a home television set top box (“STB”) or home media center with a smart voicemail system of a telephone service provider. Smart voicemail features, such as email notification of voicemails, or online playback of voicemails, may be used to obtain digital voicemail audio files that are then stored and maintained in a home computer network. These files can be served over the network via a networked television STB or a media center computer, to a display monitor during normal usage. Embodiments cause new voicemail notifications to be displayed during typical operation of a television with the STB or media center computer and provide users with an interface for responding to new voicemail notifications, and reviewing, managing, and playing back voicemail. Messages received thus can be easily identified and reviewed through an interface with which subscribers are extremely comfortable. |
| US08402498B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a set-top box based on device events
An approach is provided for controlling a set-top box based on a device event. A set-top box detects a wireless device. A communication channel is established with the wireless device configured to initiate a voice call. A command message is received, by the set-top box, over the communication channel. The command corresponds to a device event experienced by the wireless device. |
| US08402492B2 |
System for displaying via a network of an interactive movie
The present invention relates to a system for transferring an interactive walkthrough movie located at a server via a network and displaying the same at a user station, which comprises: (a) a display unit at the user station for displaying movie frames; (b) a control device at the user station for enabling the user to navigate within the movie; (c) a map of the movie describing the links between the individual movie frames and the index of each movie frame, said map also maintains at any given time the present virtual location of the user within the map; and (d) a prediction unit for receiving inputs from said map and from a user control device, and based on said inputs predicting those future frames that may be required for view by the user, and instructing the server to convey said predicted future frames to the user station. The prediction unit may order a first level of resolution frames when the user is in a virtual movement, and a second level of resolution frames when the user is stationary within the interactive movie. |
| US08402491B2 |
Apparatus and method for searching TV program
A TV program searching apparatus includes: an image receiving unit that receives an image having additional information from an external device; an additional information reading unit that reads the additional information from the image received from the image receiving unit; and a TV program searching unit that searches for a TV program related to the additional information using the additional information read by the additional information reading unit. |
| US08402490B2 |
Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-factored interface therefore
The need for a more readily usable interface for programmable devices is widely recognized. The present invention relates to programmable sequencing devices, or, more particularly, the remote controls for consumer electronic devices. The present invention provides an enhanced interface for facilitating human input of a desired control sequence in a programmable device by employing specialized visual feedback. The present invention also relates to a new interface and method of interfacing with a programmable device, which is usable as an interface for a programmable video cassette recorder. |
| US08402489B2 |
Content presentation system, content presentation method, content presentation assistance server, content presentation assistance method, and information storage medium
To make it possible for a user to smoothly find content which satisfies the user's current taste without the need to carry out a troublesome input operation. Each of the content reproduction devices reproduces a content selected from among one or more reproduction object contents according to designation by the user. The content presentation assistance server analyzes, for every user attribute, relevance of one or more symbols relevant to each of the contents reproduced according to the designation of the user having that user attribute, and sends an analyzed result to the content reproduction used by the user having user attribute relevant to that analyzed result. Each of the content reproduction devices acquires, for the content, one or more relevant symbols, and displays content relevance information which describes the relevance of the reproduction object contents based on the symbols and the analyzed result. |
| US08402488B2 |
Systems and methods for creating custom video mosaic pages with local content
Systems and methods for providing custom video mosaic pages are provided. The custom pages may be locally-generated, remotely-generated, or partially locally-generated and partially remotely-generated. The custom pages may include local content, such as content recorded to a digital video recorder (DVR), overlaid on a multi-video composite feed. A local compositing system may render the mosaic pages and dynamically customize the pages based on user profile data, user preferences, and active user monitoring. |
| US08402484B2 |
Systems and method of controlling access to media content
A system and method of controlling access to media content are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a viewing request at a set-top box device at a user premises. The method also includes retrieving a permission policy stored at the set-top box device and identifying a wireless device associated with the permission policy. Further, the method includes fulfilling the viewing request when the wireless device is present at the user premises and is within a first relative proximity to the set-top box device, and not fulfilling the viewing request when the wireless device is present at the user premises and is within a second relative proximity to the set-top box device. |
| US08402474B2 |
Message sending method, message sending device and message transmission system
A message sending method is disclosed includes: receiving a message containing a plurality of requested programs, the plurality of requested programs being provided by a plurality of content service systems; separating the received message containing the plurality of requested programs into a plurality of sub-messages; and sending the separated plurality of sub-messages to corresponding ones of the plurality of content service systems. The invention also relates to a message sending device and a message transmission system. |
| US08402473B1 |
Managing consistent interfaces for demand business objects across heterogeneous systems
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. Specifically, example business objects include DemandPlan, DemandPlanningCharacteristicValueCombination, and DemandViewOfPromotion. |
| US08402464B2 |
System and method for managing contention in transactional memory using global execution data
Transactional Lock Elision (TLE) may allow threads in a multi-threaded system to concurrently execute critical sections as speculative transactions. Such speculative transactions may abort due to contention among threads. Systems and methods for managing contention among threads may increase overall performance by considering both local and global execution data in reducing, resolving, and/or mitigating such contention. Global data may include aggregated and/or derived data representing thread-local data of remote thread(s), including transactional abort history, abort causal history, resource consumption history, performance history, synchronization history, and/or transactional delay history. Local and/or global data may be used in determining the mode by which critical sections are executed, including TLE and mutual exclusion, and/or to inform concurrency throttling mechanisms. Local and/or global data may also be used in determining concurrency throttling parameters (e.g., delay intervals) used in delaying a thread when attempting to execute a transaction and/or when retrying a previously aborted transaction. |
| US08402459B2 |
License management system, license management computer, license management method, and license management program embodied on computer readable medium
In order to facilitate a change of a computer into which an application program is to be installed, a license management computer stores management information, and in receipt of an installation request from an installation computer, it extracts the management information corresponding to the installation request. When there is no relevant management information, the license management computer generates and stores new management information, and permits installation of the application program to the installation computer. When the relevant management information is extracted, the license management computer compares device identification information and external device identification information included in the installation request with device identification information and external device identification information included in the extracted management information, and if at least one of the device identification information and the external device identification information matches the corresponding one, the license management computer permits installation of the application program to the installation computer. |
| US08402458B1 |
Methods and systems for converting non-layered-software-application installations into layered installations
A method may include receiving a request to convert a non-layered installation of a software application into a layered installation of the software application. The method may also include determining a base location of at least one file associated with the non-layered installation of the software application. The method may further include creating the layered installation of the software application by transitioning the at least one file from the base location to a virtualization layer. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable-media are also disclosed. |
| US08402454B2 |
In-service software upgrade on cards of virtual partition of network element that includes directing traffic away from cards of virtual partition
A method within network element, for directing traffic away from cards of first virtual partition, before changing software on cards of first virtual partition, until after cards of first virtual partition have session data, while network element services sessions. Redistribute sessions, serviced by cards of first virtual partition, to cards of second virtual partition. Each of virtual partitions has control card and line card. Direct traffic away from cards of first virtual partition, prior to taking line card of first virtual partition offline. After redistributing sessions, change software on line card of first virtual partition, while cards of second virtual partition service sessions, including redistributed sessions. After changing software, synchronize session data, for sessions serviced by cards of second virtual partition to cards of first virtual partition. Traffic is directed away from cards before changing software on line card, and until after synchronizing session data to cards of first partition. |
| US08402453B2 |
In-service software upgrade of control and line cards of network element
Virtually partition control and line cards of network element into virtual partition A and virtual partition B, each including a control card and a line card. Redistribute sessions serviced by cards of virtual partition A to cards of virtual partition B. Then change software on, at least, line card of virtual partition A, while cards of virtual partition B service sessions, including sessions redistributed from cards of virtual partition A. Next redistribute sessions serviced by cards of virtual partition B to cards of virtual partition A. Then change software on line card of virtual partition B and control card of virtual partition B, while cards of virtual partition A service sessions including sessions redistributed from cards of virtual partition B. Next eliminate virtual partitions and redistribute portion of sessions currently serviced by cards of virtual partition A to cards of virtual partition B. |
| US08402444B2 |
Program analysis through predicate abstraction and refinement
An analysis engine is described for performing static analysis using CEGAR loop functionality, using a combination of forward and backward validation-phase trace analyses. The analysis engine includes a number of features. For example: (1) the analysis engine can operate on blocks of program statements of different adjustable sizes; (2) the analysis engine can identify a subtrace of the trace and perform analysis on that subtrace (rather than the full trace); (3) the analysis engine can form a pyramid of state conditions and extract predicates based on the pyramid and/or from auxiliary source(s); (4) the analysis engine can generate predicates using an increasingly-aggressive series of available discovery techniques; (5) the analysis engine can selectively concretize procedure calls associated with the trace on an as-needed basis and perform other refinements; and (6) the analysis engine can add additional verification targets in the course of its analysis, etc. |
| US08402438B1 |
Method and system for generating verification information and tests for software
Disclosed is a process, system, and computer program product for generating a verification test or verification environment for testing and verifying software or mixed software/hardware. Object code is analyzed to generate and setup test information and environments. The object code is analyzed to identify information about the software important or relevant for the verification process. Based upon the information generated from the object code, one or more verification environments or tests can be generated for testing and verifying the software or mixed hardware/software. |
| US08402433B2 |
Method and system for performing automated transactions using a server-side script-engine
A method and an apparatus for performing automated transactions are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a script-engine associated with a particular server receives a request to execute a script. The script-engine executes a script and prompts a user to enter critical data directly related to the goal sought to be achieved by the script. After receiving the critical data related to the transaction, the script automatically executes and communicates commands to a server. The script automatically communicates the critical data to the server upon request by the server. In addition, the script retrieves and enters non-critical data without user interaction. The server performs operations according to the commands received from the script-engine to automatically carry out the transaction. |
| US08402431B2 |
System and method for communicating with a microcontroller
A system for communicating with a microprocessor includes an interface agent that facilitates a communications link between customized windows applications and a suite of development tools. The system allows for interactive hardware and software verification testing of a microcontroller or microprocessor contained within any type of platform, such as mass produced electronic subassembly, consumer product, or a demonstration board. The system also allows for interactive tutorials about the suite of development tools and capabilities of a selected microcontroller or microprocessor. The interface agent affords a high level of interactivity during the tutorials, which involves requesting the user to perform tasks and monitoring for execution of the tasks. |
| US08402429B2 |
Generating object code that uses calculated contents for a variable determined from a predicate
In an embodiment, a predicate condition that compares a predicate variable to a compared value is determined. The predicate condition is in a predicate block that exists on a path to a current block that accesses a current variable. A decision is made whether the current variable and the predicate variable are defined by a sub-clique and whether a member of the sub-clique sets the predicate variable to a predicate value that causes control flow to take the path from the predicate block to the current block. Upon a determination that the current variable and the predicate variable are defined by the sub-clique and the member of the sub-clique sets the predicate variable to the predicate value that causes control flow to take the path from the predicate block to the current block, then contents for the current variable are calculated and first object code is generated, which loads the contents. |
| US08402428B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically generating source code files in a file storage unit
An apparatus for automatically generating source code files in a file storage unit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a file storage unit that stores the source code files, a code generator unit that generates at least some of the source code files, wherein the code generator unit comprises, and a file unit that monitors the file storage unit to detect changes in the file storage unit and in response send file event notifications. A metadata unit that builds a metadata model relating to the source code files in the file storage unit is also provided. The metadata model comprises a plurality of metadata items, each metadata item comprises a metadata section containing metadata, a key that identifies the metadata item, and one or more dependencies of the metadata items in relation to other of the metadata items. The metadata unit sends metadata notifications according to changes to the dependencies of the metadata items. The apparatus further includes at least one add-on unit comprising a metadata provider module that provides the metadata items to the metadata unit and registers the dependencies of the metadata items on other of the metadata items. |
| US08402421B2 |
Method and system for subnet defect diagnostics through fault compositing
A method and system for subnet defect diagnostics through fault compositing is disclosed. A testing apparatus generates callout data for an integrated circuit device under test. A computer received the callout data, which includes a list of faults. Each fault of the list of faults has associated with it one or more failures and/or conflicts. In order to explain the failures, two or more faults are selected and composited, yielding a composite fault having a composite conflict count. The composite fault is assigned a score based on the composite conflict count, which score determines a candidate composite that best explains the faults of the list of faults. This procedure may be repeated to explain all the failures. |
| US08402419B1 |
DSP design system level power estimation
Power consumption estimation is performed at the system level in a design process, thus allowing early evaluation of feasibility and other considerations relating to logic/DSP design and hardware implementation of a proposed electronic design. Evaluation of the system level power consumption estimate(s) permits adjustment of a system level representation of the proposed electronic design, prior to investment of substantial resources in the electronic design. Other estimates, including other power consumption estimates, may be performed to adjust the proposed electronic design as well. Such estimates may be made in response to gate level power consumption estimates and/or hardware level power consumption estimates. |
| US08402418B2 |
System and process for automatic clock routing in an application specific integrated circuit
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter are directed to methods and a system that use a standardized grid of clock buffers to automatically route clocks according to a uniform clock grid throughout an ASIC of a non-uniform arrangement of non-uniformly sized logic partitions. According to one embodiment, clock sources and sinks are mapped to grid point locations and a novel grid routing process is performed to link them together. A clock routing macro is assigned to a corresponding partition and associated with the corresponding partition or logic unit according to a partition hierarchy. The underlying routing structure and resources of a clock routing macro are automatically renamed to correspond to the local partition in a script or schedule of programmed instructions, or a routing map. The position of blockages within a partition may also be detected and alternate routes for traversing the blockage may be preemptively determined as well. |
| US08402417B2 |
Spine selection mode for layout editing
Methods, software, and systems implementing software provide for accepting a user's selection of a database object defining layout being displayed. The database objects can include objects defining paths and path segments. Automatic layout tools may be used in creating at least some of the objects. The user's selection begins a recursive process of automatically selecting additional database objects based on criteria designed to create an uninterrupted spine from database objects on a single interconnect layer, of the same width, and collectively arranged such that the spine has a first end and a second end, and can be traced from the first end to the second end without backtracking. |
| US08402412B1 |
Increasing circuit speed and reducing circuit leakage by utilizing a local surface temperature effect
An embodiment of an integrated circuit is disclosed. For this embodiment, the integrated circuit includes circuit blocks. At least one transistor of a circuit block of the circuit blocks includes a portion of a semiconductor substrate having a diffusion layer. The circuit block has a relatively high diffusion pattern density as compared with others of the circuit blocks. The diffusion layer has an exposed surface active area constrained responsive to a design rule. The design rule is to limit to a maximum amount the surface active area in order to improve at least one parameter of the at least one transistor selected from a group consisting of an increase in switching speed and a decrease in leakage current of the at least one transistor of the circuit block having the relatively high diffusion pattern density. |
| US08402411B1 |
Reporting of aspects and partitioning of automatically generated code according to a partitioning scheme
A method and system are described for generating a performance prediction report to assist finalizing a partitioning scheme of a block diagram model. Providing a user-defined partitioning scheme and information describing a target hardware platform used in that partitioning scheme, the present invention can generate a performance prediction report by analyzing the computational characteristics of the block diagram model. |
| US08402408B1 |
Register retiming technique
An electronic automation system performs register retiming on a logic design, which may be a logic design for a programmable logic integrated circuit. Register retiming is a moving or rearranging of registers across combinatorial logic in a design in order to improve a maximum operating frequency or fmax. In one implementation, the system includes machine-readable code, which may be stored on a computer-readable medium such as a disk, executing on a computer. The system balances timing in order to trade off delays between critical and noncritical paths. Register retiming may make changes to a design at a gate level. |
| US08402406B2 |
Controlling plating stub reflections in a chip package
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling plating stub reflections in a chip package. In one embodiment, a resonance optimizer determines performance characteristics of a bond wire that connects a chip to a substrate of a semiconductor chip mount. In this embodiment, the resonance optimizer selects, based on the performance characteristics of the bond wire, a line width for an open-ended plating stub that extends from a signal interconnect of the substrate to a periphery of the substrate, The resonance optimizer also generates a design of signal traces for the substrate, where the signal traces include the open-ended plating stub with the selected line width. |
| US08402402B1 |
Method for calculating a mixed I/O standard simultaneous switching noise (SSN) using a non-mixed I/O standard SSN model
A method for determining simultaneous switching noise for multiple Input/Output (I/O) standards is provided by calculating incremental noise for the multiple I/O standards by considering a cumulative amount of noise contributed by previously assigned pins. In another embodiment, the number of pins being placed is considered rather than the cumulative amount of noise. When considering the cumulative amount of noise the I/O noise from corresponding I/O standards are characterized and a greater contributor is identified so that the I/O standard associated with the greater contributor can be assigned. |
| US08402401B2 |
Protection of intellectual property cores through a design flow
One embodiment provides a method for protecting an integrated circuit chip design. The method can include storing in memory a circuit description of an integrated circuit core comprising a set of nodes and selecting a plurality of modification nodes from the set of nodes. A sequential structure can be inserted into the circuit description to provide a modified circuit description, the sequential structure utilizing the plurality of modification nodes as inputs. The modified circuit description can be stored in memory. |
| US08402394B2 |
Three-dimensional website visualization
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for visualizing content of one or more websites are provided. An amount of available content contained by at least one website is determined. A three-dimensional object is displayed having a surface. Each location of the surface of the three-dimensional object corresponds to a portion of the determined amount of available content contained by the website(s). A user is enabled to select a location of the surface of the three-dimensional object. The selected location is mapped to the corresponding portion of the determined amount of available content contained by the website(s). Content of the website(s) corresponding to the selected location, such as a web page, video, audio, an RSS feed, etc., can be accessed by selection of the location. Interaction of the user with the website(s) can be tracked, and the resulting tracking information can be displayed on the three-dimensional object. |
| US08402392B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing access to and working with architectural drawings on the internet
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide access to architectural documents in a network based on-line web based system. Servers that are accessible from the Internet maintain persistent multiple architectural documents of different media types. An online user is provided, from the servers via the Internet, a set of basic virtual design tools that have persistent properties and may be copied. The virtual design tools may also be utilized to work with the architectural documents. A workspace is also provided for viewing, accessing, and modifying the architectural documents. |
| US08402391B1 |
Collaboration system
A collaboration system provides enhanced user interface to enable users to interact with electronic devices. In one embodiment, users can add content to a digital system by using a pen that streams coordinates so that input to the digital system may be based on conventional pen and paper handwriting. In another embodiment, a pie-based menu system is used for input to large display area digital devices in which an occluded portion of the pie-based menu system is not used for direct input by the user. The selection of which areas of the pie-based menu system should be omitted from use is adaptive and responsive to whether the user is left-handed or right-handed, and the wrist angle defined by the user's posture. In still another embodiment, an ergonomic open-shaped pie menu system is provided to facilitate selection of options on a digital surface. |
| US08402390B2 |
Rendering icons along a multidimensional path having a terminus position
Icons are arranged in foreground background positions in an interface environment to define a multidimensional path extending from a terminus. The icons transition between the foreground position and the background positions along the multidimensional path. Each icon corresponds to a content-specific menu item. |
| US08402385B1 |
Snap to content in display
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for managing viewable content on a display. In some implementations, the method includes displaying content on the display, monitoring scrolling activity of a user and selectively centering a portion of the content on the display based on the scrolling activity. |
| US08402383B1 |
Content resizing and caching in multi-process browser architecture
Embodiments relate to content resizing and caching in multi-process browser architecture. An embodiment includes initiating a rendering engine process and a browser process, receiving a request to resize content, providing the request to the rendering engine process, waiting to allow the rendering engine process to render an updated bitmap associated with the content and displaying the updated bitmap synchronously if the updated bitmap is produced during the waiting step. Another embodiment includes, receiving an input associated with the status of a tab, determining if the tab is a background tab or a foreground tab based on the receiving step, checking a cache for a bitmap of content associated with the tab if the tab has changed status to a foreground tab, and displaying the contents of the cache in the tab if the cache includes the bitmap of content previously associated with the tab. |
| US08402380B2 |
Event highlighting and differentiation view
A calendar application is disclosed for providing special occasion event highlighting and differentiation. The calendar application program according to the present system provides a special occasion interface which presents a high level view of all significant events for a given time period. The special occasion interface includes a plurality of special occasion event objects which can be dragged and positioned on a grid to represent special occasions of emotional or other significance to the user. |
| US08402372B2 |
Touch screen with user interface enhancement
The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen. |
| US08402368B2 |
Methods for dynamic document generation
Dynamic web page generation is optimized by reducing the processing overhead required to parse the web page HTML code for tokens and insert dynamic content. Using the invention, an HTML file for a dynamic web page need be read and parsed only once throughout the life of the server. A software object parses the HTML, decomposes the page into constituent pieces and saves them to data structures as byte streams, which are cached, along with the software object, rendering multiple disk accesses unnecessary when the page is reconstituted. For subsequent requests, the dynamic page is created from the cached version, which is shareable across users and across requests. The optimization reduces server resource usage for dynamic page generation to near zero. The invention is also applicable to other documents combining static and dynamic content that require composition tools for editing. |
| US08402366B1 |
Format tag stacks for stream-parsing format information
Electronic content may be formatted using tag format stacks that store format information up to a predetermined location in the electronic content. The electronic content may be formatted for display using data in the format tag stack and without parsing the entire electronic content. In some aspects, an encoder may receive content that includes a predetermined format and body text. The encoder may parse the content via a sequential process to identify active format tags at certain locations within the content. Next, the encoder may store the active format tags as a format tag stack in the content. In further aspects, a decoder may select a portion of the content for display. The format tag stack may be updated by parsing the portion of the content that is not included in the format tag stack. The content may be formatted based on instructions of the updated format tag stack. |
| US08402361B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing a dynamic hierarchical data viewer
Methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums are disclosed for viewing multiply-dimensioned data. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed which comprises displaying multiply-dimensioned data in a table format, the table format having a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of cells displaying data, a first column of the plurality of columns including data having at least two hierarchical levels. Data for at least a first set of the plurality of cells is displayed in a graphical format, the first set including cells in the first column, the graphical format of the cells in the first set in the first column indicating a hierarchical level associated with the cell data and a mechanism is displayed for a first one of the rows to display at least one additional row having data in the first column associated with a lower hierarchical level of the first row data. |
| US08402358B2 |
System and method of dynamically generating index information
A client and one or more information retrieval (IR) engines, such as a search engine, may be in communication with each other via a network. A computer may read index information associated with at least a portion of an audiovisual object, the index information structured to be used in an index database of a search engine system. The computer may obfuscate at least a portion of the index information so that the intelligibility of the contents of the index information is reduced, and may transmit at least some of the obfuscated index information to the search engine system. |
| US08402353B2 |
Cyclic code processing circuit, network interface card, and cyclic code processing method
A cyclic code processing circuit, network interface card, and method for calculating a remainder from input data comprising a plurality of bits arranged in parallel. The calculation is performed by first computing a first remainder obtained by dividing an integral multiple data block by a generator polynomial, the integral multiple data block comprising a plurality of words that precede the final word of the input data. Then, a second remainder is computed by dividing the final word by the generator polynomial, the final word comprising the parallel bits located at the end of the input data. The input data remainder is calculated using the first and the second previously calculated remainders. |
| US08402349B2 |
Two dimensional data randomization for a memory
In an embodiment, a data scramble/descramble circuit for a memory may employ multiple scramble circuits that may provide randomization of data across both rows and columns of a memory array. The first circuit may receive at least a portion of the address of the row, and may produce an output value by logically operating on the portion of the address. The second circuit may receive the output of the first circuit (or a portion thereof) as a seed, and may scramble the data to be written to memory. In one embodiment, a least significant portion of the address may be operated upon by the first circuit (e.g. the least significant byte), which may be most likely to change from row to row as compared to other portions of the address. |
| US08402339B2 |
Error correcting device and error correcting method
An error correcting device in an optical communication system that transmits a transmission frame formed by adding an overhead and an error correction code to information data uses a concatenated code or an iterated code of at least two error correction codes as an outer code and an error correction code for soft-decision decoding as an inner code. |
| US08402332B2 |
Reception apparatus, reception method and reception system
Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus, including an acquisition section adapted to receive a signal which includes at least one of a first signal and a second signal which have different structures from each other except that the first and second signals have a preamble signal and acquire the preamble signal from the received signal; a detection section adapted to detect a value for correcting the signal using the signal; and a correction section adapted to correct, if it is decided based on the preamble signal acquired by the acquisition section that the signal is the first signal, the signal using the value detected by the detection section. |
| US08402331B2 |
Signal connections extending from the periphery of an IP core
An integrated circuit carries an intellectual property core. The intellectual property core includes a test access port 39 with test data input leads 15, test data output leads 13, control leads 17 and an external register present, ERP lead 37. A scan register 25 encompasses the intellectual property core and ERP lead 37 carries a signal indicating the presence of the scan register. |
| US08402328B2 |
Apparatus and method for protecting soft errors
An apparatus and method for soft-error resilience or correction with the ability to perform a manufacturing test operation, a slow-speed snapshot operation, a slow-speed signature analysis operation, an at-speed signature analysis operation, a defect tolerance operation, or any combination of the above operations. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a system circuit, a shadow circuit, and an output joining circuit for soft-error resilience. The output joining circuit coupled to the output terminals of the system circuit and the shadow circuit includes at least an S-element for defect tolerance. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a system circuit, a shadow circuit, a debug circuit, and an output joining circuit for soft-error correction. The output joining circuit coupled to the output terminals of the system circuit, the shadow circuit, and the debug circuit includes at least a V-element for defect tolerance. |
| US08402324B2 |
Communications system employing local and global interleaving/de-interleaving
In one embodiment, a communications system has a write path and a read path. In the write path, a local/global interleaver interleaves a user data stream, and an error-correction (EC) encoder encodes the user data stream to generate an EC codeword. A local/global de-interleaver de-interleaves the parity bits of the EC codeword, and both the original un-interleaved user data and the de-interleaved parity bits are transmitted via a noisy channel. In the read path, a channel detector recovers channel soft-output values corresponding to the codeword. A local/global interleaver interleaves the channel values, and an EC decoder decodes the interleaved values to recover the original codeword generated in the write path. A de-multiplexer de-multiplexes the user data from the parity bits. Then, a local/global de-interleaver de-interleaves the user data to obtain the original sequence of user data that was originally received at the write path. |
| US08402322B2 |
Emergency data preservation services
Methods and systems of initiating a data backup process on a computer system are described. One method calls for the data to be backed up to be identified. The computer system is monitored for the occurrence of a backup trigger event. If the trigger occurs, a data backup process is initiated. |
| US08402320B2 |
Input/output device including a mechanism for error handling in multiple processor and multi-function systems
An I/O device includes a host interface that may be configured to receive and process a plurality of transaction packets sent by a number of processing units, with each processing unit corresponding to a respective root complex. The host interface includes an error handling unit having error logic implemented in hardware that may be configured to determine whether each transaction packet has an error and to store information corresponding to any detected errors within a storage. More particularly, the error handling unit may perform the error detection and capture of the error information as the transaction packets are received, or in real time, while the error handling unit may include firmware that may subsequently process the information corresponding to the detected errors. |
| US08402309B2 |
Item-level restoration and verification of image level backups
Systems and methods for item-level restoration from and verification of an image level backup without fully extracting it. The method receives backup parameters and selection of an image level backup to restore or verify and initializes virtual storage. The method attaches the virtual storage to a hypervisor to launch a virtual machine (VM) to test and restore data objects. The method stores VM virtual disk data changes resulting from restoration and verification in a changes storage. The method optionally reconfigures VMs to use an isolated network. The method optionally uses a routing appliance to provide access to VMs running in the isolated network from a production network. The method determines if the VM operating system (OS) is able to start using restored copies of selected data objects and tests applications associated with selected data objects. The method displays restoration and test results in an interface and automatically delivers the results. |
| US08402305B1 |
Method and system for providing high availability to computer applications
A system and method for performing loss-less migration of an application program from a primary node to a backup node. All application state for the application program on the primary node are captured and transmitted to the backup node. TCP/IP connection state is restored for all connections; and internals of the application program are remapped to an operating system and to system libraries on the backup node. |
| US08402304B1 |
High-availability data center
Method/system is disclosed for recovering computing capacity and critical applications after a catastrophic failure. The method/system involves distributing the computing capacity over multiple computing clusters, each computing cluster having concurrent access to shared data and software applications of other computing clusters. Sufficient backup computing capacity is reserved on each computing cluster to recover some or all active computing capacity on the other computing clusters. Message traffic throughout the computing clusters is monitored for indications of a catastrophic failure. Upon confirmation of a catastrophic failure at one computing cluster, the workloads of that computing cluster are transferred to the backup computing capacity of the other computing clusters. Software applications that have been designated for recovery are then brought up on the backup computing capacity of the other computing clusters. Such an arrangement allows computing capacity and critical software applications to be quickly recovered after a catastrophic failure. |
| US08402301B2 |
Delaying one-shot signal objects
A device may include a processor to execute a thread. The processor may be further configured to execute a set of wrappers that are called from within the thread to invoke a set of one-shot signal objects to generate delayed signals. Each of the set of wrappers may be configured to detect whether different ones of one-shot signal objects that were invoked from within the thread have generated signals at periodic time intervals, determine a delay to be used for invoking one of the set of one-shot signal objects, and invoke the one of the set of one-shot signal object to generate one of the delayed signals based on the delay when the different ones of one-shot signal objects have generated signals at periodic time intervals. The processor may be further configured to receive the delayed signals generated from the set of one-shot signal objects over a time period. |
| US08402298B2 |
Array-type processor having delay adjusting circuit for adjusting a clock cycle in accordance with a critical path delay of the data path
Disclosed is an array-type processor including a data path unit in which a plurality of processor elements are arranged in an array; a state-transition management unit that stores information for controlling changeover of data paths; and a delay adjusting circuit that adjusts delay of the input clock signal based upon information output from the state-transition management unit, and provides the delay-adjusted clock signal to the data path unit. The delay adjusting circuit has a delay control information memory and a programmable delay. The delay control information memory stores a plurality of items of delay control information, delay control information is read out using a configuration number supplied from the state-transition management unit as an address, and the delay control information is applied to the programmable array. The programmable delay delays the input clock signal by a delay time specified by the delay control information and provides the delayed clock signal to the data path unit. |
| US08402295B2 |
Techniques employing flits for clock gating
A method includes receiving data intended for a destination and sending a power flit to the destination via a route. The power flit wakes at least one component on the route. The method also includes sending the data as a data flit to the destination via the route after sending the power flit. The power flit can include a header indicating the destination and a source of the received data. The power flit can be formed by extracting destination data from the received data. |
| US08402294B2 |
Mechanism for adaptively adjusting a direct current loadline in a multi-core processor
A central processing unit (CPU) is disclosed. The CPU includes two or more processing cores and a power control unit to regulate voltage applied to the CPU based upon the number of processing cores that are active. |
| US08402293B2 |
Power management in electronic systems
In one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises at least one processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor and comprising logic instructions encoded in the computer readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed in a processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising initializing a direct memory access profiler in an electronic system, wherein the direct memory access is coupled to a policy manager in the electronic system, measuring at least one memory consumption characteristic of the electronic system, communicating the at least one memory consumption characteristic to a policy manager of the electronic system, and using the at least one memory consumption characteristic to adjust a power state of the electronic system. |
| US08402289B2 |
System and method for maintaining connectivity to remote application servers
A system and method for maintaining connectivity between a host system running an Always-On-Always-Connected (AOAC) application and an associated remote application server. The system further includes circuitry configured to establish a communication link between the host system and the remote application server. The circuitry is configured periodically transmit keep-alive messages to the remote application server after the host system transitions to and remains in a low-power state. The keep-alive messages are configured to maintain connectivity and presence of the AOAC application with the remote application server while the host system is in the low-power state. |
| US08402283B1 |
Secure content enabled drive system and method
The present invention facilitates convenient and secure distribution of proprietary content. A present secure content enabled drive system and method permits flexible use of storage medium for both protected distribution of information and user definable storage use. In one embodiment, a computer readable storage medium includes an unprotected information portion, a protected information portion and a protection interface. The unprotected portion stores unprotected information. The protected content portion stores protected information. The protection interface protects information in the protected content portion from unauthorized access. |
| US08402279B2 |
Apparatus and method for updating set of limited access model specific registers in a microprocessor
A microprocessor having model specific registers (MSRs) includes, for each of the MSRs, an associated default value that indicates whether the MSR is protected or non-protected and an associated fuse that, if blown, toggles the associated default value from protected to non-protected or non-protected to protected. In one embodiment, microcode that does the following in response to the microprocessor encountering an instruction that accesses a specified MSR: determines whether the fuse associated with the specified MSR is blown or unblown, uses the default value associated with the MSR as an indicator of whether the MSR is protected if the associated fuse is unblown; toggles the associated default value to generate the indicator if the associated fuse is blown; protects access to the MSR if the indicator indicates the MSR is protected; and refrains from protecting access to the MSR if the indicator indicates the MSR is non-protected. |
| US08402277B2 |
Secure mailbox printing system with authentication on both host and device
A method for secure communication and printing, comprising: user entering user and destination information to host; authentication server producing, saving encryption key for the job, user, and destination information into database, and sending to host; host encrypting the job using encryption key and sending job to destination; user entering user and destination information to device; authentication server retrieving encryption key from database, and sending to device; and device decrypting the job using encryption key and releasing job. Authentication at both host and MFP sides disables unauthorized, malicious attack to a user's mailbox, and results in jobs to a mailbox having different dynamic encryption keys, and no password or mailbox PIN trafficking on network. Furthermore, host and MFP can be at different domains. Methods also include secrecy encrypting encryption key; hashing key generator using SHA1, MD5, etc.; password, PIN, RFID, biometrics; and timer module deleting jobs older than threshold value from storage. |
| US08402275B2 |
Method and system for establishing a communications pipe between a personal security device and a remote computer system
A method and a system is provided for establishing a communications path over a communications network between a personal security device (PSD) and a remote computer system without requiring the converting of high-level messages such as API-level messages to PSD-formatted messages such as APDU-formatted messages (and inversely) to be installed on a local client device in which the PSD is connected. |
| US08402274B2 |
System and method of sharing contents data in network
A technique for sharing contents data in a network. In order to easily share the contents data in the network without using a physical media apparatus or a personal computer, a contents data providing device for providing the contents data is registered in a server in the network, and after the registration, the contents data is transmitted to the server. A contents data receiving device for receiving the contents data is registered in the server, and after the registration, the registered contents data receiving device is authenticated. According to a result of the authentication, the contents data is transmitted to the contents data receiving device. |
| US08402271B2 |
User information providing system
In the system, when the service providing apparatus is used through the multi-functional peripheral, user authentication is performed and user information is provided to the service providing apparatus, and the authenticating apparatus holds authentication information and user information associating each information with identification information of a user, performs user authentication based on the input of the authentication information of the user for the multi-functional peripheral, transmits the identification information of the user to the multi-functional peripheral by authentication, and is allowed access to the service providing apparatus through the multi-functional peripheral by receiving the identification information, and the service providing apparatus, by receiving a service request from the multi-functional peripheral and the identification information, transmits the identification information to the authenticating apparatus, and thereby obtains user information transmitted from the authenticating apparatus. |
| US08402266B2 |
Extensible role-based access control model for services
Architecture removes the limitation of a fixed set of roles and scopes, allows more effective permission auditing, and provides a convenient delegation model. Administrators can create roles fine-tuned to business needs without changing permissions on the resources. The new roles can be easily examined and delegated to other administrators. Moreover, scoping and delegation is simplified. This is possible because permissions are granted as a role (a unit of permission assignment is a role), which can include multiple entries. The entries correspond to end-user actions and are not related to implementation-dependent resource rights. The actions can include web services or API calls, script or executable file names, specialized commands that implement particular operation, and associated parameters, etc., essentially any action that the end-user performs. |
| US08402261B2 |
System and method providing a pluggable architecture for task management on computers
A system and method retrieve an image using a first computer processor, and transmit the image from the first computer processor to a second remote computer processor. The first computer processor and the second remote computer processor are coupled via a network connection. The image is received at the network connection, and the image is a lightweight operating system that is configured to be stored in and execute in a virtual memory coupled to the second remote computer processor. The second remote computer processor is not equipped with additional hardware or an agent to receive or execute the image. |
| US08402259B2 |
Accelerating wake-up time of a system
A method for accelerating a wake-up time of a system is disclosed. The method includes scrubbing and making available for allocation a minimum amount of memory, executing a boot-up operation of an operating system stored on the system, and scrubbing and making available for allocation an additional amount of memory in parallel with and subsequent to the boot-up operation of the operating system. The system may include one or more nodes, each of the nodes having a minimum node resource configuration associated therewith that corresponds to a minimum number of processors included in a node that are required to be activated in order to activate the node. The system may further include one or more partitions, where each partition encompasses at least one node. Each partition may be assigned a priority in relation to other partitions, and the partitions may be successively activated based on the assigned priorities. |
| US08402256B2 |
Processing prefix code in instruction queue storing fetched sets of plural instructions in superscalar processor
The present invention is directed to realize efficient issue of a superscalar instruction in an instruction set including an instruction with a prefix. A circuit is employed which retrieves an instruction of each instruction code type other than a prefix on the basis of a determination result of decoders for determining an instruction code type, adds the immediately preceding instruction to the retrieved instruction, and outputs the resultant to instruction executing means. When an instruction of a target instruction code type is detected in a plurality of instruction units to be searched, the circuit outputs the detected instruction code and the immediately preceding instruction other than the target instruction code type as prefix code candidates. When an instruction of a target instruction code type cannot be detected at the rear end of the instruction units to be searched, the circuit outputs the instruction at the rear end as a prefix code candidate. When an instruction of a target instruction code type is detected at the head in the instruction code search, the circuit outputs the instruction code at the head. |
| US08402253B2 |
Managing multiple threads in a single pipeline
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if an instruction of a first thread dispatched from a first queue associated with the first thread is stalled in a pipestage of a pipeline, and if so, dispatching an instruction of a second thread from a second queue associated with the second thread to the pipeline if the second thread is not stalled. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08402251B2 |
Selecting configuration memory address for execution circuit conditionally based on input address or computation result of preceding execution circuit as address
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit that executes a first calculation, a second circuit that includes a first storage unit therein and executes a second calculation, a controller that outputs a first address for specifying a first execution circuit for the first calculation and a second execution circuit for the second calculation, to the first circuit and the second circuit, and controls input of data into the first circuit, and a bus that transfers a result of the first calculation executed by the first circuit to the second circuit, wherein the result of the first calculation can be conditionally used as an address for specifying the second execution circuit. |
| US08402243B2 |
Dynamically allocating number of bits per cell for memory locations of a non-volatile memory
Systems and methods are provided for dynamically allocating a number of bits per cell to memory locations of a non-volatile memory (“NVM”) device. In some embodiments, a host may determine whether to store data in the NVM device using SLC programming or MLC programming operations. The host may allocate an erased block as an SLC block or MLC block based on this determination regardless of whether the erased block was previously used as an SLC block, MLC block, or both. In some embodiments, to dynamically allocate a memory location as SLC or MLC, the host may provide an address vector to the NVM package, where the address vector may specify the memory location and the number of bits per cell to use for that memory location. |
| US08402237B2 |
Presentation of a read-only clone LUN to a host device as a snapshot of a parent LUN
A method, apparatus, and system of presentation of a read-only clone Logical Unit Number (LUN) to a host device as a snapshot of a parent LUN are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a read-write clone LUN of a parent LUN and coalescing an identical data instance of the read-write clone LUN and the parent LUN in a data block of a volume of a storage system. A block transfer protocol layer is modified to refer the read-write clone LUN as a read-only clone LUN, according to the embodiment. Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the read-only clone LUN is presented to a host device as a snapshot of the parent LUN. |
| US08402235B2 |
Backup apparatus, backup method and backup program
A backup apparatus has an address conversion table for storing, in correspondence with each other, a logical address and a physical address. The backup apparatus has a sequential data count setting unit, a sequential data information acquisition unit, and a reading unit. The sequential data count setting unit sets sequential data count information indicating the number of data blocks in a sequence in the physical address in the address conversion table. The sequential data information acquisition unit, upon receiving a read request, reads the data block in the address conversion table corresponding to the leading logical address among the logical addresses requested to be read and acquires the sequential data count information set in the address conversion table. The reading unit reads a physical volume corresponding to physical addresses in a sequence in accordance with the sequential data count information acquired by the sequential data information acquisition unit. |
| US08402233B2 |
Method and apparatus for high throughput mass storage device interface in a microprocessor for handheld systems
Certain embodiments of a method and apparatus for high throughput mass storage device interface in a microprocessor for handheld systems may comprise interleaving accesses to a plurality of mass storage devices communicatively coupled to a portable media processing device. Interleaved transfer may occur of data corresponding to the interleaved accesses to the plurality of mass storage devices communicatively coupled to the portable media processing device. At least a portion of the plurality of mass storage devices may be communicatively coupled internally to the portable media processing device. A remaining portion of the plurality of mass storage devices may be communicatively coupled externally to the portable media processing device. |
| US08402232B2 |
Memory utilization tracking
A hardware memory control unit that includes a register block and hardware logic. The register block includes, for a hardware memory segment, an access count register, a low threshold register, and a high threshold register. The hardware logic includes functionality to increment the access count stored in the access count register for each memory access to the hardware memory segment performed during a predefined duration of time, and, at the end of the predefined duration of time, perform a response action when the access count stored in the access count register is less than the low threshold stored in the low threshold register, and perform a response action when the access count stored in the access count register is greater than the high threshold stored in the high threshold register. A power saving mode of the hardware memory segment is modified based on performing the response action. |
| US08402225B2 |
Method for performing cache coherency in a computer system
In a computing system, cache coherency is performed by selecting one of a plurality of coherency protocols for a first memory transaction. Each of the plurality of coherency protocols has a unique set of cache states that may be applied to cached data for the first memory transaction. Cache coherency is performed on appropriate caches in the computing system by applying the set of cache states of the selected one of the plurality of coherency protocols. |
| US08402222B2 |
Caching for heterogeneous processors
A multi-core processor providing heterogeneous processor cores and a shared cache is presented. |
| US08402218B2 |
Efficient garbage collection and exception handling in a hardware accelerated transactional memory system
Handling garbage collection and exceptions in hardware assisted transactions. Embodiments are practiced in a computing environment including a hardware assisted transaction system. Embodiments includes acts for writing to a card table outside of a transaction; handling garbage collection compaction occurring when a hardware transaction is active by using a common global variable and instructing one or more agents to write to the common global variable any time an operation is performed which may change an object's virtual address; acts for managing a thread-local allocation context; acts for handling exceptions while in a hardware assisted transaction. A method includes beginning a hardware assisted transaction, raising an exception while in the hardware assisted transaction, including creating an exception object, determining that the transaction should be rolled back, and as a result of determining that the transaction should be rolled back, marshaling the exception object out of the hardware assisted transaction. |
| US08402215B2 |
Storage system, storage apparatus, and optimization method of storage areas of storage system having page migration
This invention is intended for the purpose of providing the storage system, the storage apparatus, and the storage system by which, even if the storage areas allocated to the virtual volume are managed in management units set by the RAID group, overhead for parity calculation does not become excessive. This invention, by releasing a specific management unit not fully utilized for page allocation from allocation to the virtual volume and migrating the allocated pages belonging to this specific management unit to the other management unit, makes the storage areas of the specific management unit available for the write accesses for the other virtual volumes from the host computer. |
| US08402211B2 |
Disk array apparatus and disk array apparatus controlling method
Times at which requests for a data read or data write from/to a logical volume are received are stored in memory as access times of a RAID group making up the logical volume. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the access time, a number of the hard disk drives according to the redundancy of the RAID group are set to a power saving mode. Assume there are first hard disk drives and second hard disk drives having shorter lifes and the RAID group exceeds a predetermined time after the access time. When the RAID group consists of only the first drives, a number of the first drives according to the redundancy of the RAID group are set to a power saving mode and when it consists of only the second drives, an arbitrary number of second drives are set to a power saving mode. |
| US08402209B1 |
Provisioning space in a data storage system
Dynamic provisioning of available space in a data storage system without having to configure partitions at system startup is presented. A system table may be maintained with entries corresponding to provisions within the available physical capacity of a data storage system. A volume table may be maintained that includes entries corresponding to territories within a logical data storage volume. When a data write operation is requested, a determination may be made as to whether physical space has been allocated for the territory in the volume that is to be written. If physical space has not yet been allocated, the necessary physical space may be allocated for the territory within the logical volume that is to receive the written data and the requested write operation may be performed. Metadata can be written to disk as to simplify recover from system crashes and unclean shutdowns. |
| US08402208B2 |
Configurable memory controller/memory module communication system
A memory system includes a first memory module and a second memory module. A memory controller is coupled to the first and second memory modules and reads configuration information from the first and second memory modules using a memory channel. The controller also configures a switch coupled between the controller and one of the memory modules to communicate using either a chip select line or a memory address line. |
| US08402207B2 |
Memory cell operation
The present disclosure includes memory devices and systems having memory cells, as well as methods for operating the memory cells. One or more methods for operating memory cells includes determining age information for a portion of the memory cells and communicating a command set for the portion of the memory cells, the command set including the age information. |
| US08402206B2 |
Solid-state device with load isolation
Systems and methods are provided for coupling multiple flash devices to a shared bus utilizing isolation switches within a SSD device. The SSD device is operable at a speed of about 400 MT/s or higher with high signal integrity. The SSD device includes a controller, a channel in electrical communication with the controller, a plurality of isolation devices in electrical communication with channel, and a plurality of flash memory devices, wherein each flash memory device is in electrical communication with the channel and controller through the one of the isolation devices. |
| US08402201B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for storage space recovery in solid-state storage
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for storage space recovery in solid-state storage. A sequential storage module sequentially writes data packets in a storage division. The storage division includes a portion of a solid-state storage. The data packets are derived from an object. The data packets are sequentially stored by order of processing. A storage division selection module selects a storage division for recovery. A data recovery module reads valid data packets from the storage division selected for recovery, queues the valid data packets with other data packets to be written sequentially, and updates an index with a new physical address of the valid data. The index includes a mapping of physical addresses of data packets to object identifiers. A storage division recovery module marks the storage division selected for recovery as available for sequentially writing data packets in response to completing copying valid data from the storage division. |
| US08402195B2 |
Storage system mounted with plurality of processors
A storage system 10 enables control by more processors 201 in accordance with reducing the resource size required per EP in a communication network to which MR-IOV is applied. The storage system 10 includes a plurality of processors 201 and a plurality of CMs 209. The internal network of the storage system 10 is configured such that each processor 201 is able to dual-write write data to a CM 209 in a FE-CM data transfer, and to transfer the write data from one of the dual-write CMs 209 to the BE in a CM-BE data transfer. |
| US08402194B2 |
Storage router and method for providing virtual local storage
A storage router and method for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices to devices are provided. Devices are connected to a first transport medium, and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a second transport medium. In one embodiment, the storage router maintains a map to allocate storage space on the remote storage devices to devices connected to the first transport medium by associating representations of the devices connected to the first transport medium with representations of storage space on the remote storage devices, wherein each representation of a device connected to the first transport medium is associated with one or more representations of storage space on the remote storage devices and controls access from the devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage space on the remote storage devices in accordance with the map and using native low level block protocol. |
| US08402187B2 |
Method and system for transferring button status information between a media player and an accessory
A method, system, and connector interface for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory. The method includes determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, where the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type. According to the method and system disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands in a variety of environments such as within a connector interface system environment to facilitate the transfer of status information. |
| US08402186B2 |
Bi-directional handshake for advanced reliabilty availability and serviceability
In some embodiments a signal is sent from a Basic Input/Output System to a device to indicate that the Basic Input/Output System needs to obtain control of shared resources. A signal is sent from the device to the Basic Input/Output System that indicates that the Basic Input/Output System can now control the shared resources. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08402184B2 |
Techniques for reducing memory write operations using coalescing memory buffers and difference information
Techniques are described for reducing write operations in memory. In use, write operations to be performed on data stored in memory are identified. A difference is then determined between results of the write operations and the data stored in the memory. Difference information is stored in coalescing memory buffers. To this end, the write operations may be reduced, utilizing the difference information. |
| US08402179B1 |
Event notification system and method
A technique for user notification involves modifying a title associated with a process to include information about an event that calls for user notification. A method according to the technique may include running a process, processing an event, generating a string of characters that includes information associated with the event, and displaying the string of characters as a title associated with the process. A system constructed according to the technique may include a client, a title array, an event processing engine, and a title provisioning engine. |
| US08402178B2 |
Device to device flow control within a chain of devices
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for device to device flow control. In one or more embodiments, a system configured for device to device flow control includes a host and a chain of devices, including one or more memory device, coupled to each other and configured to communicate with the host device through a same host port. In one or more embodiments, at least one device in the chain is configured to regulate the flow of data by sending a token in downstream data packets, the token allowing devices downstream from the respective at least one device to send an upstream data packet to the respective at least one device. |
| US08402176B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic configuration parameter monitoring between actual and nominal parameter sets for wind energy installations
A method for automatic configuration parameter monitoring for wind energy installations. The method includes generating a nominal configuration parameter set for a wind energy installation, storing the nominal configuration parameter set in a database, automatically detecting an actual configuration parameter set for the wind energy installation, automatically comparing the nominal configuration parameter set with the actual configuration parameter set, and outputting a warning message in the event of discrepancies between the actual configuration parameter set and the nominal configuration parameter set. A system for implementing the method can include a wind energy installation with a communication unit, a server, and a database. |
| US08402172B2 |
Processing an input/output request on a multiprocessor system
A method and system for processing an input/output request on a multiprocessor computer system comprises pinning a process down to a processor issuing the input/output request. An identity of the processor is passed to a device driver which selects a device adapter request queue whose interrupt is bound to the identified processor and issues the request on that queue. The device accepts the request from the device adapter, processes the request and raises a completion interrupt to the identified processor. On completion of the input/output request the process is un-pinned from the processor. In an embodiment the device driver associates a vector of the identified processor with the request and the device, on completion of the request, interrupts the processor indicated by the vector. |
| US08402169B2 |
Apparatus for time synchronizing a non-PCI component over a PCI bus
The information processing system includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected via a network. Each apparatus includes one or more modules interconnected via a system bus. At least one of the modules is a network module having a network communication function. The information processing apparatus that inputs an external timing signal functions as a timing master, and the other information processing apparatuses function as a timing slave. The module in the timing master generates time synchronization information in the form of a packet and in the form of a command according to the timing signal and transmits the command to another module and transmits the packet to the timing slave via the network. The network module in the timing slave receives the packet from the timing master, converts the packet to the command to transmit to another module connected to the system bus and included in the timing slave. |
| US08402166B2 |
Access control list endpoint implementation
A method, system, and computer program product for providing direct communications between FCoE endpoint devices within the same fibre channel network zone. A direct fibre channel (DFC) utility provides an FCoE stack with an exclusive ability to define an Ethertype within an ethertype field of an Ethernet packet with “FCoE”. In addition, the DFC utility enables storage of access control lists (ACLs) containing allowed destination addresses and allowed source addresses within the adapter of an FCoE endpoint. Additionally, the DFC utility initiates an exchange of messages with an Ethernet switch to determine a feasibility of establishing direct connections between endpoints. In particular, the DFC utility determines whether the Ethernet switch supports FCoE ACL checking. Further, the DFC utility creates a zone ID for the FCoE endpoint device. The DFC utility allows direct communication between FCoE endpoints within the same fibre zone. |
| US08402165B2 |
Methods and apparatus for prioritizing assignment of a packet data session for a plurality of applications of a mobile communication device
Methods and apparatus for prioritizing assignment of a packet data session for a plurality of applications of a mobile communication device, especially when operating in wireless networks that limit the number of simultaneous packet data sessions available to the mobile device. The plurality of applications include at least a first (priority) application operative in connection with a first (priority) communication service and a second application operative in connection with a second communication service. The first (priority) service may be or include a “push” type data or message synchronization service. The mobile device causes a packet data session associated with the first (priority) application to be activated for accessing the first (priority) service. In response to identifying an indication of a request for information via the second application, the mobile device causes the packet data session associated with the first (priority) application to be deactivated, and causes a packet data session associated with the second application to be activated for accessing the second service. Subsequently, in response to identifying communication inactivity associated with the second application over a predetermined time period, the mobile device causes the packet data session associated with the second application to be deactivated, and causes a packet data session associated with the first (priority) application to be activated again with the wireless network for again accessing the first (priority) service. |
| US08402162B2 |
Network system that can easily remotely access other networks
A network system that can easily carry out remote access of a different network. The network system comprises a first image processing apparatus connected to a first network and a second image processing apparatus connected to a second network having a network address different from that of the first network. The first image processing apparatus includes a first network interface connected to the first network; a second network interface that can build a third network, that is different from the first and second networks, between it and a terminal that is normally connected to the second network and in which the first IP address in the second network is set; an IP header editing unit that performs processing such that the address of the IP packets sent from the terminal via the third network is the IP address of the second image processing apparatus; and a packet transmission unit that sends the IP packets processed by the IP header editing unit to a network via the first network interface, and the second image processing apparatus includes a response header editing unit that performs processing to make the first network interface the destination for responses to IP packets sent by the terminal via the first image processing apparatus. |
| US08402158B2 |
Adaptive variable fidelity media distribution system and method
A layered media stream comprising media information layers of different priorities may be adaptively distributed by transmitting at least one of the media information layers to a client on a time-windowed basis. A client device obtains different media information layers during various time windows, and different portions of the media stream may be rendered using different combinations of layers obtained in each time window. In various embodiments, different layers may be obtained from different hosting devices using differing distribution models. |
| US08402150B1 |
Manipulation of LonWorks® protocol for RF communications
A method and system for converting LonWorks® protocol in an electrical device management network to a different protocol for RF transmission between RF transceivers of the network and thereafter returning the converted protocol back to the LonWorks® protocol at a remote location without the need for software to make the conversions. |
| US08402147B2 |
Nomadic subscriber data system
A logical network directory database compliant with the X.500 standard for a directory data system is disclosed. The network directory database provides a source of subscriber and service data accessible by various control and management processes that require subscriber information. The network directory database may be extensible across various communications service providers and IT domain. Further, the disclosed network directory database may be applied to new and existing services, such as, IP Multimedia Subsystem, Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) and other IP services. |
| US08402145B2 |
Application communication with external accessories
Embodiments of the present invention provide various communication techniques for communication between a mobile computing device and an accessory. An accessory protocol that is generic to the mobile computing device can be used for some communication. An application executing at the mobile computing device can communicate with the accessory using an application communication protocol. In some embodiments, the application communication protocol can be different from the accessory communication protocol. In other embodiments the application protocol may only be recognized by the application and the accessory. In some embodiments, messages conforming to an application protocol can be communicated between the application and the accessory by packaging the messages inside a message conforming to the accessory communication protocol. |
| US08402142B2 |
System and method for TCP/IP offload independent of bandwidth delay product
A method for providing TCP/IP offload may include receiving control of at least a portion of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection variables by a TCP/IP Offload Engine operatively coupled to a host. The at least a portion of the TCP/IP Offload Engine connection variables may be updated and provided to the host. The TCP/IP Offload Engine may receive control of segment-variant TCP connection variables. The TCP/IP Offload Engine may update the received TCP segment-variant TCP connection variables, and communicate the updated TCP segment-variant TCP connection variables to the host. A system for providing connection offload may include a TCP/IP Offload Engine that receives control of state information for a particular connection offloaded to a network interface card (NIC). Control of the state information for the particular connection may be split between the NIC and a host. |
| US08402137B2 |
Content management
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests is provided. A content delivery network service provider determines a class associated with a set of client computing devices and monitors resources requests for the determined class. The content delivery network service provider then identifies at least one cache component for providing additional content, such as advertisement content or other additional content provided in anticipation of future resource requests, to client computing devices as a function of the determined class. In other embodiments, instead of cache components, the content delivery network service provider identifies a second set of client computing devices as a function of the determined class for providing the additional content information. |
| US08402136B1 |
Methods and apparatus for discovery driven product registration
A system provides a registration client capable of querying a network to discover at least one asset existing on the network. The system receives, at the registration client, registration information from at least one asset. The registration client receives the registration information as a result of an interrogation of at least one asset. The system registers at least one asset using the registration information received from at least one asset. The registration client registers the asset. |
| US08402134B1 |
System and method for locating lost electronic devices
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for locating lost or stolen electronic devices. The method comprises deploying software agents on a plurality of networked electronic devices; receiving by a software agent deployed on a first electronic device a message from a remote server, the message including an identifier of a lost or stolen electronic device; searching by the software agent on a network to which the first electronic device is connected for the lost or stolen electronic device using the device identifier; if the lost or stolen electronic device is located on the network, collecting information about the lost or stolen electronic device; and transmitting by the software agent the collected information to one of the central server or an owner of the lost or stolen electronic device. |
| US08402132B2 |
Method, system and device for device capabilities exchange
A method, system and device for device capabilities exchange are provided. The method for device capabilities exchange includes: receiving a device capability exchange request sent from an initiating Diameter node; and returning a device capability exchange answer to the initiating Diameter node according to a state of a state machine of a receiving Diameter node or a request type in the device capability exchange request. The method can optimize the existing method for updating and negotiating device capability information when a Diameter device is upgraded, reduce the amount of data exchanged over the network, reduce the repetition of database update performed by the Diameter nodes, and improve the robustness of network connection and system processing. |
| US08402128B2 |
Accessory attachment protocol and responsive actions
Embodiments of the present invention provide various communication techniques for communication between a mobile computing device and an accessory. An accessory protocol that is generic to the mobile computing device can be used for some communication. An application executing at the mobile computing device can communicate with the accessory using an application communication protocol. In some embodiments, the application communication protocol can be different from the accessory communication protocol. In other embodiments the application protocol may only be recognized by the application and the accessory. In some embodiments, messages conforming to an application protocol can be communicated between the application and the accessory by packaging the messages inside a message conforming to the accessory communication protocol. |
| US08402127B2 |
System and method for offering virtual private clouds within a public cloud environment
Systems, methods and computer readable media for providing virtual private clouds within a public cloud are described. Examples include a method wherein a service provider deploys a primary instance of a cloud-in-a-box (CIAB) to his cloud computing system to create a public cloud. A CIAB includes adapters configured to manage virtual infrastructure of the cloud, and end-user portal and an administrative portal. A nested instance of CIAB may be deployed to one of the virtual machines, with one of the adapters of the nested instance of CIAB being connected to the end-user portal of the primary instance. An administrator of the nested instance may create his own library of virtual machine images and offer the library to the end-users of the nested CAIB instance. |
| US08402124B1 |
Method and system for automatic load balancing of advertised services by service information propagation based on user on-demand requests
A methodology for balancing demand for networked services in a distributed data processing system is presented. Each client is uniquely associated with a local service manager; one or more local service managers are located throughout a distributed data processing system, and each local service manager provides access to networked services for associated clients. Each local service manager is uniquely associated with a distributed service manager; one or more distributed service managers are located throughout the distributed data processing system, and each distributed service manager provides access to networked services for associated local service managers. A client sends a service request to its local service manager, which returns information about a matching service to the client after finding a matching service that has characteristics that match parameters in the request. If the local service manager does not have information about a matching service, then the request is forwarded to its associated distributed service manager. If the distributed service manager does not have information about a matching service, then the request is broadcast to all distributed service managers. If the distributed service manager has two or more matching services, then it performs a load balancing operation to select a best service to be returned. |
| US08402122B2 |
UPnP apparatus and method for providing UPnP network with multiple remote access service
A universal plug and play (UPnP) apparatus and method for providing a UPnP network with a multiple remote access service by operating a multiple remote access server (RAS) device in a UPnP home network and controlling the multiple RAS device by using a UPnP control point (CP). The communication method of a UPnP CP device, the method includes: discovering a neighboring remote access server (RAS) device that is capable of providing a remote access service in a home network according to a discovery result of a service status of an active RAS device that provides a remote access client (RAC) device with a remote access service; and transmitting identification information of the discovered neighboring RAS device to an Internet gateway device (IGD) of the home network or the RAC device of a remote network. |
| US08402120B1 |
System and method for locating and configuring network device
In accordance with a non-limiting example, a communications method and system locates a network device that has been misconfigured by propagating within the same broadcast domain of an Ethernet communications network to which the network device is connected a discovery protocol frame and determining the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the remote device. A remote console terminal is connected for communications to the Ethernet communications network to the network device after discovering the network device. The remote console terminal communicates with the network device using Ethernet packets and configures correctly the network device such as by configuring a correct internet protocol (IP) address of the remote device. |
| US08402112B2 |
Inter-cache communication using HTTP resource
Servicing resource requests. A method includes at a first caching node, receiving a request for a first resource. The method further includes at the first caching node, determining at least one of health or load information of the first caching node. The method further includes generating a response to the request for the first resource, including generating a header to the response. The header is a custom header. The custom header includes at least one of health or load information. The method further includes sending the response to the request including sending the custom header with the at least one of health or load information. |
| US08402109B2 |
Wireless router remote firmware upgrade
A wireless router receives a firmware update from a remote server, and destructively overwrites router firmware in flash memory in a chunk-wise manner, and then writes a kernel memory before going live with upgraded firmware. Some routers authenticate the firmware image. In some cases, image chunks are re-ordered into an executable order after receipt and before finishing their final arrangement in the flash memory. In some routers, a maximum firmware image size is at least two chunk sizes smaller than the flash memory storage capacity. Some routers remap ROM to RAM memory. Some decompress data from flash into a RAM. Some save text file configuration settings in flash before rebooting. Some detect a user's inactive billing status and redirect a web browser to a billing activation page. |
| US08402102B2 |
Method and apparatus for filtering email spam using email noise reduction
A method and system for filtering email spam using email noise reduction are described. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting, in an email message, data indicative of noise added to the email message to avoid spam filtering. The method further includes modifying the content of the email message to reduce the noise, and comparing the modified content of the email message with the content of a spam message. |
| US08402101B2 |
Reliable messaging instruction
The subject invention provides reliable messaging with and within a control environment. The systems and methods utilize a message broker that facilitates message exchange. The message broker can be located within an industrial controller, as a dedicated entity within a control environment and/or an entity external to the control environment. Messages transmitted from an industrial controller and/or the external entity can be routed through the message broker prior to reaching a destination, wherein the message can be stored in the message broker and subsequently obtained by a recipient. The message broker decouples the message sender (e.g., an industrial controller, an external entity . . . ) from the message recipient (e.g., an industrial controller, an external entity . . . ) such that messages can be successfully transmitted (to the message broker) regardless of a state of the recipient, and messages can be retrieved (from the message broker) regardless of a state of the sender. |
| US08402099B2 |
Method for carrying out a multimedia communication based on a network protocol, particularly TCP/IP and/or UDP
The invention relates to a process for executing a multimedia communication, in particular a video, audio and/or text chat, between a totality of terminals (2) arranged in a communication network (1), which communication is based on a network protocol, in particular TCP/IP and/or UDP. The method is characterized in that at least one subscriber generates a personalized user account in the form of a virtual subscriber profile on a server (3) or in a peer-to-peer network, wherein, by setting up the virtual subscriber profile, the multimedia communication is established at each of the terminals. Thus, a mode of a subscriber selection preceding the communication, a communication type and/or a number of communication links to one of the terminals and/or the type of data transmission employed for the communication are freely defined. An arrangement for executing a process according to the preceding claims comprises a communication network with a valid communication protocol, in particular the internet (1). There are provided a plurality of terminals (2) having means for transmitting and receiving multimedia contents, and a server (3) or a peer-to-peer network having means for operating a hierarchical layer structure consisting of a database layer (4) for managing subscriber data, terminal addresses and multimedia contents, a link layer (5) for executing a switched communication between the terminals, a subscriber layer (6) for operating subscriber profiles set up by the users of the terminals, and a front end layer (7) having means for generating and operating a graphical user interface. |
| US08402097B2 |
Determining a manner in which user interface commands are processed in an instant messaging environment
Sharing an instant messaging environment is described. The instant messaging environment is selected from a set of stored instant messaging environments. An instant messaging environment identifier corresponding to the selected instant messaging environment is transmitted from a transmitting instant messaging application to a receiving instant messenger application. The instant messaging environment identifier is received and the stored instant messaging environment corresponding to the instant messaging environment identifier is retrieved. The instant messaging environment is activated in the receiving instant messaging application. |
| US08402096B2 |
Automatic conversation techniques
Automatic conversation techniques are described. An apparatus may comprise a computing device having an incoming message module operative to receive an incoming message, a conversation identification module communicatively coupled to the incoming message module, the conversation identification module operative to determine the incoming message is part of a conversation thread, and associate the incoming message with the conversation thread by setting a conversation identifier property of the incoming message to a conversation identifier for the conversation thread, and a conversation manager module communicatively coupled to the conversation identification module, the conversation manager module operative to determine a conversation rule is associated with the conversation thread, and apply the conversation rule to the incoming message. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08402095B2 |
Apparatus and method for instant messaging collaboration
An apparatus and method for instant message transmission includes a message center coupled to one or more servers and to an event engine by a network. An instant message is transmitted to the message center by the event engine over the network. An algorithm determines the optimum path for the transmission of the instant message. Users may share identical data via instant messaging, and may make changes to the data as it is streamed in real-time to designated users over the network. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b) |
| US08402094B2 |
Providing a newsfeed based on user affinity for entities and monitored actions in a social network environment
A system and method for measuring user affinity in a social network environment is provided. One or more activities performed by a user associated with a social network environment are monitored. A relationship associated with the one or more activities is identified. An affinity for one or more objects associated with the social network environment is then determined based on the one or more activities and the relationship. |
| US08402090B2 |
Teleconferencing apparatus, teleconferencing system, method of controlling teleconferencing apparatus, and computer-readable medium storing control program for controlling teleconferencing apparatus
A teleconferencing apparatus for a teleconference to be performed between a plurality of terminal apparatus including a shared display area and an individual display area, the teleconferencing apparatus includes a browsing page information storage control device that causes a browsing page information storage device to store, identification information for identifying the terminal apparatus having sent the page information and the received page information, a browsing time information storage device that stores, as browsing time information, the page information of the display data displayed in the individual display area and a display time indicating a time in which a page specified with the page information is displayed in the individual display area unlike a page in the shared display area, a sending device that sends page information of the browsing time information, to the terminal apparatus. |
| US08402085B2 |
Transaction accelerator for client-server communications systems
Self-discovering transaction accelerators improve communications between a client and a server. A client directs a message to a server. A client-side transaction accelerator intercepts the message, terminates the connection with the client, and accelerates the request by replacing segments of data with references. The accelerated request is forwarded to a server-side transaction accelerator through a new connection. The server-side transaction accelerator reconstructs the message by replacing the reference with segment data in a persistent segment store accessible to the server-side transaction accelerator. The reconstructed request is then provided to the server. Accelerations may occur in any direction of communication. Persistent segment stores can be pre-populated with segment data from other transaction accelerators and anticipated transactions. The persistent segment store can store segments that are data segmented based on content of the data and can be independent of transaction protocol, application, and device. |
| US08402084B2 |
Host embedded controller interface bridge
A system, method, and computer readable medium are disclosed. In one embodiment the system includes a remote computer system. The remote computer system has a remote host embedded controller interface (HECI) driver and a HECI simulator. The HECI simulator intercepts commands directed to the HECI driver from software running on the remote computer system and routes the commands as HECI messages to a local computer system also included in the system. The local computer system includes a HECI bridge that is capable of receiving the HECI messages sent from the remote computer system and then can pass the received HECI messages to a local HECI driver to be operated upon. |
| US08402082B2 |
Maintenance information management system, management apparatus, and maintenance information management method
A maintenance information management method comprising steps of: by a terminal processing apparatus, transmitting, to a management apparatus via a network, maintenance work information about an analyzer on which maintenance work has been performed; storing, in a maintenance work information storage section of the management apparatus, the maintenance work information transmitted via the network; and transmitting, to the terminal processing apparatus via the network, the maintenance work information of the analyzer, which is stored in the maintenance work information storage section. |
| US08402079B2 |
Security and report generation system for networked multimedia workstations
A method for providing security in a networked multimedia computing system is provided wherein an administrative workstation is challenged by a network workstation when the administrative workstation is attempting to manipulate or query the network workstation. The administrative workstation responds in an automatic fashion to supply a series of logically acceptable password candidates to the challenging workstation in an attempt to validate itself to the challenging network workstation without interrupting a user. If none of the series of passwords is successful, an administrator, or user, operating the administrative workstation is prompted to manually enter a password. The system allows for an administrative workstation to automatically and transparently validate itself to a challenging network workstation, in most situations, without requiring input from the administrator. Another aspect of the invention involves a system for generating reports concerning user-selected hardware and software attributes for one or more network workstations. |
| US08402070B2 |
Training, certifying, assigning and collaborating agents among multiple users
Automatically accepting applications, and testing, training, certifying, assigning, allocating, controlling, and scheduling remote agents. An applicant (100) transmits an application to a remote agent center (RAC) (130) via a Communications Network (120). The application contains the person's profile, training, and experience. The RAC validates the skills via testing or third party confirmation, accepts the person as a remote worker, certifies the person's skill levels, and places the person in the remote worker pool. The remote worker can also obtain remote training on new or additional topics. The RAC evaluates the business demands of an external party, identifies remote workers with the needed skills who are available, and transmits the work at the appropriate time to the remote workers. The work is transmitted via or through the RAC. The external parties thus do not have to recruit, train, or test persons, or be concerned with staffing issues. |
| US08402068B2 |
System and method for collecting, associating, normalizing and presenting product and vendor information on a distributed network
A system and method for collecting and displaying information on a product at a website, and related method for storing a product's various identifiers, where the system comprises a database that stores a plurality of identifiers for each product and the relationships between the identifiers. The system recognizes the different identifiers that refer to the same product. The system accepts product information from a variety of sources, regardless of the product identifier used by the sources. The system then sends out the product information to users and to other servers. The information displayed at the website includes: (1) a general description of the product; (2) a numerical user rating of the product; (3) one or more user reviews of the product; (4) one or more industry reviews of the product; (5) one or more comparisons between the product and other similar items; (6) a list of one or more vendors that sell the product; (7) a list price of the product; (8) a price for the product at each of the vendors; (9) an indication of the availability of the product at each of the one or more vendors; (10) a profile on each of the one or more vendors, and (11) a rating and/or review for each of the one or more vendors. The website may further provide access to discussions regarding the product and related products. The website may further suggest complementary products that may be purchased along with the product of interest. |
| US08402067B2 |
Automatic data transmission in response to content of electronic forms satisfying criteria
Automatic transmission of information is generated when the content of a posted electronic form matches a predefined criteria. An interface allows the user to create a criterion template to specify the match criterion without requiring the user to have the skills of a professional programmer. The person to be notified and the form and content of the notification can also be defined by the user and can be dependent on the content of the posted form. In one application, individuals associated with an institution of higher learning are automatically notified when a student submits an electronic profile form showing that the student meets a pre-specified criteria. |
| US08402065B2 |
Electronic control batch record
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with batch process monitoring are described. One example method may include monitoring an external batch process (e.g. food manufacture, drug manufacture). The method may include collecting data (e.g. material usage, material yield, resource usage, quality results, process parameters, actions performed on batches) from the external batch process. The method may also include generating an XML document based, at least in part, on data collected from the external batch process. The contents of the XML document are to represent a required record that relates to a consumable product manufacturing event. In one example, the record may comply with Title 21 of the United States Code. |
| US08402062B2 |
Data export/import from multiple data source to a destination data repository using corresponding data exporters and an importer
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for exporting data from a number of data sources using a number of corresponding data exporters, and importing the exported data into a destination data repository using a data importer. In various embodiments, the data exporters may be automatically generated using a data exporter generator adapted to generate the data exporters in view of data schemas of the data sources. |
| US08402058B2 |
Method and computer program product for geophysical and geologic data identification, geodetic classification, organization, updating, and extracting spatially referenced data records
A method of geodetic information acquisition and a computer program product having computer code for performing the method are provided. The method includes identifying a file having multiple records, where the records contain spatially referenced data. The records are classified into header records and data records. Each data record is divided into fields. Patterns of fields consistent with sets of the data records are identified. The records are associated with a format based on the patterns of fields. At least some of the spatially referenced data is extracted from the records according to the format. |
| US08402056B2 |
Resolving, protecting against and/or defending an employer liability claim based on historically archived locked notes
A system and method are disclosed to resolve, protect against and/or defend an employer liability claim. Input notes are received as formatted text and are stored in a database, wherein the stored text, after submission, are editable for a pre-determined time period and, after expiration of the pre-determined time period, the submission being non-editable and being locked in the database for historical archival. The locked notes are output as part of a judicial proceeding associated with the employer liability claim initiated by the employee, wherein the employer liability claim is resolved, protected against and/or defended based on the locked notes. |
| US08402053B2 |
Registering and discovering unique identifiers
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for discovering information that is related to a unique object identifier from a decentralized collection of computing systems. A unique object identifier is identified. A first information request that includes the unique object identifier is forwarded to a first computing system. First information that the first computing system has stored in association with the unique object identifier is received from the first computing system. An identifier for a second computing system is received from the first computing system in response to the first information request. A second information request that includes the unique object identifier is forwarded to the second computing system based on the received identifier. Second information that the second computing system has stored in association with the unique object identifier is received from the second computing system. |
| US08402050B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing objects using filter information
An object recognition method using filter information includes acquiring object image information including an object of interest, acquiring filter information for recognizing the object of interest from the object image information, and recognizing the object of interest using the filter information. An object recognition apparatus using filter information including an object information acquiring unit to acquire object image information comprising an object of interest, a filter information input unit to acquire filter information, an output unit to output the image information and the filter information, and a controller to recognize the object of interest in the object image information using the filter information. |
| US08402048B2 |
Trail management method, system, and program
A trail management system acquires and manages operation contents in a PC that is provided with an operation function including a document transcription function. When a user performs a transcription operation, a server acquires operation information and stores it as chronological data. The operation information contains time of the transcription operation, a user name, a value transcribed by the transcription operation, document specification information for specifying a transcription origin document during the transcription operation, location specification information for specifying a transcription origin location in the transcription origin document, document specification information for specifying a transcription destination document during the transcription operation, and location specification information for specifying a transcription destination location in the transcription origin document. Using a PC, an administrator searches for chronological data in accordance with a search condition supplied to search for the chronological data and displays a search result on the PC. |
| US08402044B2 |
Systems and methods for secure access of data
In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising receiving a first query in a local computer system to access data stored on a remote computer system the local computer system. Data elements of the remote data are associated with data elements of the local data. The query is transformed into multiple queries. A second query is sent to the remote computer system to retrieve remote data. A first data result is received and stored on the local computer system and incorporated into a third query. The third query is executed against the local data and the first data result to produce a result. Sensitive data may be stored locally in a dimension table of a star schema and non-sensitive data may be stored remotely in a fact table and another dimension table of the star schema, for example. |
| US08402040B2 |
Method and system to authenticate an object
The system and methods disclosed herein validate the authenticity of a document and an individual's claimed identity. The system and method use a validation facility that is configurable to compare and match characteristics of biometric and non-biometric data presented by an individual with biometric and non-biometric data received from a request to a database or file system holding such information. The determination on the matching characteristics of the data can occur in completely automated fashion without intervention from the user, but user intervention is also possible allowing the user to review and override certain data discrepancies. The validation facility provides a user interface for use by a user to review a determination on the data analysis and instruct the validation facility to override that determination if the user determines the cause of the identity verification failure is within an acceptable criterion. |
| US08402032B1 |
Generating context-based spell corrections of entity names
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for correcting entity names. One method includes receiving texts and deriving a plurality of name-context pairs from the texts. The method further includes calculating a context consistency measure for each name-context pair and storing context-entity name data representing the name-context pairs. Another method includes identifying an entity name and one or more context terms from a query and generating candidate names for the entity name. The method further includes determining a score for each of the candidate names, selecting a number of top scoring candidate names, and using the selected candidate names to respond to the query. |
| US08402031B2 |
Determining entity popularity using search queries
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining the Internet search popularity of an entity are provided. Embodiments of the present invention include receiving a group of Internet search records and assigning a popularity ranking based on the number of times an entity descriptor associated with an entity occurs within the group of Internet search records created over a designated time period. An entity descriptor is one or more terms commonly used to identify an entity. The trend in an entity's popularity rank may also be calculated. An entity's popularity rank and trend in popularity rank may be presented in a graph or in a list. |
| US08402030B1 |
Textual document analysis using word cloud comparison
A system and method textually analyze documents. A frequency distribution is generated for the documents, and an intersection between the documents is determined. For each word in the intersection, the frequency of the word in the first document is compared with the frequency of the word in the second document, and the lower frequency is selected. A similarity measure between the first document and the second document is determined as a function of a count of the words in the intersection, a count of the words in the second document, the selected lower frequencies, and the frequency distribution for the words in the second document. |
| US08402029B2 |
Clustering system and method
An increase in information available to a user of computing technologies has a tendency to increase the number of topics that are similarly related. Given the large amount of information that is now available, it is increasingly likely that a first set of search results generated in response to an initial search query will contain information that is not of interest to the user. What is needed in the art is a technique to enable a search query to be conducted by taking advantage of linguistic feedback. Furthermore, what is needed is a technique to enable the presentation of search results to be refined in a manner based on what is not of interest to a user, either intrinsically or because the user has already seen and evaluated certain information and next wants to see more or different information. |
| US08402028B2 |
System, method and computer program product for conditionally performing a query including an aggregate function
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for conditionally performing a query including an aggregate function. These mechanisms and methods for conditionally performing a query including an aggregate function can limit performance of queries including aggregate functions based on a number or records associated with such performance of such aggregate functions. The ability to limit performance of queries including aggregate functions can enable performance quality of a computer system to be maintained. |
| US08402027B1 |
System and method for hybrid hierarchical segmentation
A computer-implemented method for clustering a plurality of observations included in a dataset. The method includes selecting a subset of variables from a set of variables, where each variable in the subset is associated with each observation in the dataset; for each of a first number of times, randomly selecting an initial value for each variable in the subset to generate a seed value set that includes an initial value for each variable in the subset; generating a number of pre-clusters equal to the first number based on a similarity between each observation in the dataset and each of the first number of seed value sets; and applying a hierarchical clustering algorithm to the first number of pre-clusters to derive a second number of clusters. |
| US08402025B2 |
Video quality measures
A query including one or more keywords is received from a client device, and a content item (e.g., an advertisement) relevant to the one or more keywords is identified. A video is selected from one or more videos associated with the content item, the selection based on the one or more keywords. Display data is generated for displaying the content item at the client device, and video selection data is generated for displaying the video proximate to the content item at the client device. The display data and the video selection data are provided to the client device. |
| US08402022B2 |
Convergence of terms within a collaborative tagging environment
Tools and techniques for converging terms within a collaborative tagging environment are described herein. Methods for converging divergent contributions to the collaborative tagging environment may include receiving respective contributions from users within the environment. The methods may identify at least some of the contributions as divergent, and enable the users to converge the divergent contributions. |
| US08402020B2 |
Academic activity stream
A method and computer-readable medium for generating an activity stream is provided. The activity stream includes a ranked set of objects that are presented to one or more users. The ranking of objects is updated to reflect events associated with objects. |
| US08402018B2 |
Semantic search system using semantic ranking scheme
A semantic search system using a semantic ranking scheme including: an ontology analyzer analyzing ontology data related to a search target to determine a weight value of each property according to a weighing method for property; a semantic path extractor extracting all the semantic paths between resources and query keywords and determining a weight value of each extracted semantic path according to the semantic path weight value determination scheme by using the weight value of each property; a relevant resource searcher traversing an instance graph of ontology based on a semantic path having a pre-set length and weight value of more than an expectation level to search resources that have a semantic relationship with the query keywords and are declared as a type presented in the query; and a semantic relevance ranker selecting a top-k results having the highest rank from among the candidate results extracted by the relevant resource researcher by using a relevance scoring function. |
| US08402017B2 |
Method for altering database views dependent on rules
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and data processing system for dynamically altering database views, based on a set of administrator-defined rules. The dynamic view system determines whether the query, requested by a user, has an associated view rule. The system determines if the view rule is satisfied. In response to a satisfied associated view rule, the altered view is returned to the user. |
| US08402015B2 |
Method for processing stream data and system thereof
The present invention provides a method for processing stream data and a system thereof capable of implementing general data processing including recursive processing with low latency. In the system for processing stream data, a single operator graph is prepared from operator trees of a plurality of queries, an execution order of the operators is determined so that execution of a streaming operator is progressed in one way from an input to an output, the ignition time of an external ignition operator that inputs data from the outside of the system and an internal ignition operator that time-limitedly generates data is monitored, and an operator execution control unit repeats processing that completes the processing in the operator graph at the time according to the determined operator execution order, assuming the operator of the earliest ignition time as a start point. |
| US08402010B2 |
Method and apparatus for resolving domain names of persistent web resources
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing persistent storage of Web resources. Uniform Resource Locators (“URLs”) that identify Web resources are augmented to include a time stamp. A web browser and a web server are disclosed that accommodate a time stamp parameter and allow a user to refer to any Web address with a precise target date. The persistent Web servers (i) receive URLs containing a time stamp, (ii) extract the time stamp, (iii) retrieve the correct Web page from the archive, and (iv) return the requested page to the client. The persistent Web servers include a persistent archive for storing all of the versions of Web resources that will be persistently available to Web users. A persistent domain name server (PDNS) allows a user to refer to historical Web resources. The persistent domain name server (PDNS) utilizes the dated URL to determine where the historical information of a given company is located following a domain name change for the requested time period and translates the request to a new machine containing the historical information of the company. |
| US08402009B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus that positively notifies a notification destination of information to be notified even if a communication protocol is changed before notifying storage of stored data. A notification setting processing section of a document storage notification application sets a protocol for accessing the stored document data from a computer via a network. When document data is stored in a HDD, a mail transmission processing section notifies the computer of storage location information on the document data for accessing the data according to the set protocol. If the set protocol is changed before the storage location information is notified to the computer, a control section causes the mail transmission processing section to notify the computer of storage location information for causing the document data to be accessed using the changed protocol. |
| US08402007B2 |
Methods and apparatus for creating and utilizing templates in connection with information modeling
Methods and apparatus for information modeling, such as product modeling, are described. In one specific embodiment, a system for capturing product information includes a product definition tree representing permitted elements of a generalized product structure, a plurality of template trees and a plurality of configuration trees. Each template tree represents a product design structure variant which represents a subset of said product definition tree. Each configuration tree represents a particular design configuration, which is constrained to implement the structure of its associated template tree. |
| US08402005B2 |
Systems and methods for creating self-extracting files
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a self-extracting file from any given input file type with minimum user interaction. The systems and methods include, in response to a single action, receiving an input file, compressing the input file, transforming the compressed input file into a self-extracting file, configuring the self-extracting file to, upon execution, decompress and launch the original input file with the appropriate application software, and generating a name for the resulting self-extracting file. The systems and methods may operate directly on the input file regardless of file type, transforming the input file into an executable file and increasing the ease and speed of creating a self-extracting file that automatically launches the original input file upon execution of the self-extracting file. |
| US08401999B2 |
Data mirroring method
A system includes a first storage unit connected to a secondary storage unit such that data written to the first storage unit is replicated on the secondary storage unit. The first storage unit in at least one embodiment includes the capability to intercept input/output instructions for routing to a buffer and/or directly to the secondary storage unit. A method for operation of a first storage unit includes intercepting a data operation from a requesting client, determining whether the data operation modifies data. When no modification of data is required, the method retrieves the requested data from the first storage unit and transmits the requested data to the requesting client. When a modification of data is required, the method performs the data operation in the first storage unit, stores the data operation in a buffer, transmits the data operation from the buffer to the second storage unit, receives a confirmation from the second storage unit is done, and deletes the data operation in the buffer. |
| US08401996B2 |
Storing a variable number of instances of data objects
Described are systems and methods for storing a variable number of instances of data objects (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or up to N−1 instances, where N is the number of instances of the data object included in primary data) in secondary storage across a data storage network. In some examples, a system for storing a variable number of instances of data objects includes, one or more computing devices storing a set of data objects and multiple storage devices distinct from the one or more computing devices. Each of the multiple storage devices is configured to store at least a single instance of a data object. The system also includes a database configured to store information associated with the data objects. This information includes substantially unique identifiers for the data objects and, for each of the data objects, a number of instances of the data object stored on the multiple storage devices. |
| US08401992B2 |
Computing platform based on a hierarchy of nested data structures
Embodiments of the invention may provide a computing platform, a business rules engine, a method, a system, and a user interface for building a computing platform, where each is based on a hierarchy of nested data structures and an application programming interface defining functions. The functions comprise at least one function for nesting one or more data structures within the contents of an enclosing data structures such that nesting the one or more data structures within the contents of the enclosing data structures results in a hierarchy of nested data structures; at least one function for removing one or more data structures from the contents of the enclosing data structures; at least one function for retrieving one or more data structures from the contents of the enclosing data structures; and at least one function for modifying the contents of one or more data structures. Each of the functions may receive a data structures as a parameter. The functions for retrieving and removing receive a pattern as the parameter, the pattern having a head concept and nested concepts. The functions match the contents of the data structures against the pattern in a recursive manner, wherein the matching is first by the head concept and then by the zero or more nested concepts. |
| US08401989B2 |
Validation mechanisms for simulations of complex systems
A method of and apparatus and software for validating a computer model of a complex system comprising eliciting information regarding the complex system from one or more human experts, determining from the elicited information a set of variables and a set of constraints on those variables regarding the complex system, automatically by computer examining output of the computer model to locate violations of determined constraints, and generating output establishing any located violations. |
| US08401985B2 |
Hierarchy determination for power monitoring systems
A method of automatically learning how multiple devices are directly or indirectly linked in a monitoring system, comprises determining configuration parameters for the multiple devices in said system, receiving data measured by the devices, and grouping the devices into multiple segments according to at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of configuration parameters and data measured by said devices. Potential relationships of the devices in each segment are determined according to at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of configuration parameters and data measured by the devices, the hierarchies of the devices within individual segments are determined, and the hierarchies of the top-most device or devices in the segments are determined. |
| US08401981B1 |
Triggering attract mode for devices using viewability conditions and detected proximity of human to device
A data processing device may be operable to determine that the data processing device is inactive. The data processing device may determine whether the data processing device is in a state of charging a battery. When the data processing device is determined to be in the state of charging the battery, a charging condition of the battery may be analyzed by the data processing device. The data processing device may analyze a viewability condition at a display module. The data processing device may analyze an environmental condition associated with proximity of a human to the data processing device. The data processing device may then choose, based on a result of the analysis of the charging condition, a result of the analysis of the viewability condition and/or a result of the analysis of the environmental condition, display of content in a manner to attract attention to the data processing device. |
| US08401979B2 |
Multiple category learning for training classifiers
Described is multiple category learning to jointly train a plurality of classifiers in an iterative manner. Each training iteration associates an adaptive label with each training example, in which during the iterations, the adaptive label of any example is able to be changed by the subsequent reclassification. In this manner, any mislabeled training example is corrected by the classifiers during training. The training may use a probabilistic multiple category boosting algorithm that maintains probability data provided by the classifiers, or a winner-take-all multiple category boosting algorithm selects the adaptive label based upon the highest probability classification. The multiple category boosting training system may be coupled to a multiple instance learning mechanism to obtain the training examples. The trained classifiers may be used as weak classifiers that provide a label used to select a deep classifier for further classification, e.g., to provide a multi-view object detector. |
| US08401976B2 |
Method and system for providing a barcode image over a network
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a barcode image. A client is operable to create a request for a barcode image and send the request to a server. The request comprises data to be converted to a barcode. The server is operable to receive the request from the client via a network, generate a barcode image from the data, and encode the barcode image. Thereafter, the server provides the encoded image to the client. |
| US08401972B2 |
System and method of generating a per sale watermarking on digital files
A system, method and computer readable media provided for watermarking a digital file. The method comprises altering samples of the digital file available for distribution upon request by adding a number such as + or a −1 to each sample of the digital file according to a probability value and compressing the digital file with the altered samples. Altering the sample of the digital file may be done on a per distribution or per sale basis. |
| US08401969B2 |
Virtual traveler's check
The purchase and redemption of virtual traveler's checks is managed. A purchase request is received, which includes purchasing customer identification information and a request for one or more virtual traveler's checks. Each of the one or more virtual traveler's checks has one of a predetermined set of fixed denominations. A check number is issued for each of the one or more virtual traveler's checks. Each check number is associated with the purchasing customer identification information. A redemption request is then received, which includes redeeming customer identification information and a request to redeem at least one of the one or more virtual traveler's checks. The release of funds is approved in an amount equal to the denominations of the requested virtual traveler's checks if the redeeming customer identification information matches the purchasing customer identification information. |
| US08401968B1 |
Mobile group payments
A mobile group payment service enables members of a group to access a group account. The group account may enable members to transmit funds, request funds, and perform account queries, and modify account settings, among other possible operations. A member may request a payment from the group account to a target account. A transaction authorization service may facilitate an authorization process to determine whether the requested payment is authorized by one or more of the other members of the group. Upon authorization, the requested payment may be completed by transferring funds to the target account. |
| US08401960B2 |
Online credit escrow service
The online credit escrow service is a method of protecting the credit of debtors who are paying back their debts. The method involves a third party as an intermediary between the debtor and the debt collector. The debtor delivers money to a third party that stores the money in an escrow account. The third party then contacts the debt collector and notifies them that the debt has been paid, but payment will not be transferred to the debt collector until the credit rating of the debtor has been updated to reflect the payment. When the debt collector updates the debtor's credit rating the payment for the debt is sent to the debt collector. |
| US08401958B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating electronic securities transactions
A method for facilitating securities transactions is shown. In one embodiment, the method provides for pricing shares of stock traded between anonymous parties without requiring pricing negotiations between parties. The method can include matching, via an electronic trading system, a first party and a second party in response to receiving contra binding orders for a security from the parties, transmitting, to each of the parties, an indication of the matching, receiving, via an electronic trading system, a first trade confirmation from the first party, determining, for the security, a midpoint of a price spread at the time the first trade confirmation was entered, receiving, via the electronic trading system, a second trade confirmation for the security from the second party, and executing, via the electronic trading system, a transaction for the security between the first and second parties, wherein the security price is determined in response to the determined midpoint. |
| US08401957B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a sale offer over an electronic network system
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for presenting sale offers to users of mobile devices. In accordance with some embodiments, a controller is used to set parameters for offering a sale offer. The parameters may include a limited time period during which the sale offer may be accepted while displayed on a mobile device, and profile information for targeting a group of users for receiving the sale offer. The sale offer may be presented on a mobile device of each user whose profile information matches the profile information for the targeted group of users. A sale may be completed with a user if the sale offer is accepted within the limited time period. |
| US08401955B2 |
Cross-currency implied spreads
The disclosed systems and methods relate to allowing trading of over the counter (“OTC”) foreign exchange (“FX”) contracts on a centralized matching and clearing mechanism, such as that of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's (“CME”'s) futures exchange system (the “Exchange”). The disclosed systems and methods allow for anonymous transactions, centralized clearing, efficient settlement and the provision of risk management/credit screening mechanisms to lower risk, reduce transaction costs and improve the liquidity in the FX market place. In particular, the disclosed embodiments increase speed of execution facilitating growing demand for algorithmic trading, increased price transparency, lower cost of trading, customer to customer trading, and automated asset allocations, recurring trades as well as clearing and settlement efficiencies. |
| US08401951B2 |
Electronic trading system supporting anonymous negotiation and indicators of interest
A system conducts anonymous negotiations and supports indications-of-interest (IOIs) in trading stock. The system includes a database for storing public orders received from a public stock trading system; and a server for receiving hidden orders from a plurality of users and for conducting anonymous negotiations between first and second users with the hidden orders. The server repeatedly accesses the database to determine a match of any one of the hidden orders with any one of the public orders, and to execute a pair of orders selected from the hidden orders and the public orders. |
| US08401950B2 |
Optimizing portfolios of financial instruments
A decision model is applied to a set of current data from a mortgage portfolio to generate a first portfolio metric. The decision model is formed from a network of a plurality of predictive models that are trained on historical data derived from a plurality of mortgage account profiles for a plurality of mortgages within the mortgage portfolio. One or more of the predictive models is an action-based predictive model allowing modification of at least one attribute affecting performance of the mortgage portfolio. One or more of the attributes can be modified and a second portfolio metric can then be optimized, using the decision model, in light of at least one constraint (which can be user-defined). Related techniques, apparatus, systems, and articles are described. |
| US08401945B2 |
Rate benchmarking tool for fee-based and managed accounts
A computer for displaying an evaluation tool for evaluating a proposed fee on behalf of a professional, including a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code and a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory. The program code includes code for receiving a product type for a proposed client account, a proposed fee for the proposed client account, and at least one of the following numerical parameters: (i) an account asset amount for the proposed client account, (ii) a relationship asset amount for the proposed client account, and (iii) a breakdown of components in an asset mix for the proposed client account. A range of historical fees of the nearest neighbor historical accounts is shown on a graph from lowest to highest, and the proposed fee is shown on the graph relative to the nearest neighbor historical fees. |
| US08401944B2 |
Marketing investment optimizer with dynamic hierarchies
A hierarchal view preserving relationships between data is generated by storing information related to sales and investment. The information includes dimensions and each of the dimensions includes a level and each of the levels is described by variables. Relationships between the variables are also stored. A request for a hierarchy is received. The requested hierarchy includes a set of dimensions from the stored dimensions, a level for each dimension in the set, and a sequence of the dimensions or levels in the hierarchy. A computer system calculates values for the variables in the levels for the requested hierarchy using the stored relationships that are applicable to the variables in the levels. A view of the hierarchy is generated and includes the calculated values. The view also includes the dimensions or levels of the requested hierarchy in the sequence specified for the requested hierarchy. |
| US08401943B2 |
Pricing mechanism for security valuation
Techniques and systems for determining a valuation for securities that do not have an established valuation mechanism are described herein. Derivative securities based on underlying employee stock options where the maturity of the derivative security is tied to exercise and forfeiture behaviors of individuals owning the stock options are also described herein. |
| US08401940B1 |
System and method for usage billing of hosted applications
A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client. |
| US08401939B2 |
System and method for payer (buyer) defined electronic invoice exchange
A method of implementing buyer and seller transactions is provided. A set of rules for accepting information into a document is received from the buyer. Also defined is the form of the presentation of an interface to the seller for creating the seller's invoice. The seller also receives address information from the buyer. The rules for accepting information, the rules regarding presentation and the address information are stored in a storage resource. The rules regarding presentation are accessed from the storage resource, and an interface is presented to the seller based on those rules. The rules for accepting information are accessed from the storage resource, and information for the document based on those rules is accepted through the interface. The address information is accessed from the storage resource, and the document with the accepted information is sent to the buyer. |
| US08401937B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for identifying an optimized rating scheme
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying an optimized rating scheme. In use, a first rate calculated for an event utilizing a first predefined rating scheme is received. Additionally, at least one second rate for the event is calculated, utilizing at least one second predefined rating scheme. Further, an optimized rating scheme is identified by comparing the first rate and the at least one second rate. |
| US08401936B2 |
Architectural design for expense reimbursement application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing expense reimbursement. 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 Expense and Reimbursement Management process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, a Payroll Processing process component, and an Accounting process component. |
| US08401927B2 |
Providing time-sensitive information for purchase determinations
A method, system, and medium are provided that are directed to providing a user with time-sensitive information that is usable to determine when to purchase a product. In accordance with embodiments of the technology, exemplary steps include using historical product information to generate time-sensitive information. Moreover, in response to receiving from a user a request to receive information describing a given product, time-sensitive information is caused to be presented. For example, time-sensitive information might be usable by the user to determine when to purchase the given product and an alternative product. |
| US08401922B2 |
Method, medium, and system for managing linked auctions
A system, a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus includes at least one memory including computer program code, and at least one processor. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive a request from a first user node to initiate an auction for a purchase of a product, and initiate an auction for the product. The at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive an initial bid from a second user node. The initial bid includes a price term that is lower than or equal to an initial price term for the product. The at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive one or more subsequent bids from the second user node or another user node. Each subsequent bid includes a price term that is lower than the price term of the initial bid and all preceding subsequent bids. Furthermore, the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to terminate the auction, when a period of time lapses or a price point is accepted. |
| US08401921B2 |
Seller-driven method for a bid set system
A method for automatically bidding on multiple on-line auction items up for bid where the number of items the bidder wishes to buy is less than the number of items up for bid is disclosed. A method of a seller or auction site giving a bidder the ability to add a listing to a set of listings that can be processed as above is also disclosed. |
| US08401916B2 |
Product customization system and method
A product customization system and method are provided in which a consumer can insert user content, such as images or text, onto a product, such as a shoe, and then view the customized product before purchasing the customized product. |
| US08401915B1 |
Method of operating retail store with mobile application for searching products available for sale in the retail store
The disclosure provides a method of operating a retail store by displaying copies of some variations of a product in a customer shopping area within the retail store and storing other variations of the same product in a non-customer storage area of the retail store, while providing customers with a method to easily browse through all of the store's offerings by using mobile devices and QR codes located on or near displayed products. Upon scanning a QR code of a product displayed in the customer shopping area, the mobile device displays all variations and products related to the scanned product that are available for purchase at the retail store. |
| US08401914B1 |
Method of operating retail store with mobile application for searching products available but not displayed in the store
The disclosure provides a method of operating a retail store by displaying copies of some variations of a product in a customer shopping area within the retail store and storing other variations of the same product in a non-customer storage area of the retail store, while providing customers with a method to easily browse through all of the store's offerings by using mobile devices and QR codes located on or near displayed products. Upon scanning a QR code of a product displayed in the customer shopping area, the mobile device displays all variations and products related to the scanned product that are available for purchase at the retail store. |
| US08401899B1 |
Grouping user features based on performance measures
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing online advertising data including metric values for one or more online advertising spaces; identifying pairs of the user variables; for each of the pairs, calculating a statistical score for each of the online advertising metrics and calculating a weighted score based on all the statistical scores for the pair; selecting one of the pairs based on its weighted score; and performing a merge test on the selected pair; and merging the user variables in the selected one of the pairs with each other if the selected one of the pairs passes the merge test. |
| US08401898B2 |
System and method for using loyalty rewards as currency
The present invention involves spending loyalty points over a computerized network to facilitate a transaction. With this system, a loyalty program participant is able to use an existing transaction card to purchase an item over a computerized network, while at the same time offsetting the cost of that transaction by converting loyalty points to a currency value credit and having the credit applied to the participant's financial transaction account. Currency credit from converted loyalty points may also be applied to stored value cards, online digital wallet accounts and the like. Further, currency credit may also be applied to other accounts to effect a gift or donation. |
| US08401897B1 |
System and method of displaying ads based on location
A system and method is provided that displays advertisements. In one aspect, advertisements are associated with target areas. When a request for information is received from a client device, the system and method determine a geographic area in which the client device may be located. Advertisements may be selected based on the likelihood that the client device is within the target area. In another aspect, advertisers may select prices for their advertisement that vary with such likelihood. |
| US08401891B2 |
Evaluation of a business case based on the cost of poor process opportunities
Evaluation of a business case based on the cost of poor process opportunities. In at least some embodiments, an evaluation of a cost of poor process opportunity (COPPO) in an “as-is” process can include calculating a cost per step for each of the plurality of steps or tasks in an activity. COPPO can be determined based in part on whether each step or task in a process or activity is a non-value-add step, and also based in part on a cost of poor quality (COPQ) target percentage. In some embodiments a total cost of poor business process relative to a total cost for each of the plurality of steps can be displayed for a user. The COPPO evaluation can further be used to facilitate the evaluation of a business case for a “to-be” process. |
| US08401888B2 |
Methods for supply chain management
According to various embodiments, the present teachings include inventory control policies that are defined in terms of functions of aggregate cost rates, involving thresholds Ω and an order-up-to point S. An embodiment of the present teachings includes a method. The method includes tracking an inventory position of each of the plurality of items by a logistics network and determining an item cost rate for each of the plurality of items based on the tracked inventory position. The method also includes determining an aggregate cost rate for the plurality of items based on the determined item cost rates, comparing the aggregate cost rate with a cost rate threshold Ω, and ordering the plurality of items to an order-up-to point S if the compared aggregate cost rate is greater than or equal to the cost rate threshold Ω. |
| US08401885B2 |
System and method for automatically generating and populating a school calendar utilizing a predetermined class rotation scheduling pattern
A scheduling method, computer-readable medium, system, and an apparatus are provided. In this scheduling method, a user request is received, order of classes for each day in the user request is calculated and an organizer is populated with the calculated order of classes for each day of the week specified in the user request and provides a schedule in a predetermined output format or in a format specified by the user. The calculation of the schedule may include for said each day in the user request determining corresponding day in a scheduling cycle, and calculating the order of classes for said corresponding day based on a stored pattern or a table. |
| US08401884B1 |
Electronic scheduling for work shifts
A computer-implemented shift scheduling system and method are disclosed that present data to workers relating to unfilled work shifts. Selected shifts are compiled as shift data for each worker. Worker accreditation may be tracked and used to determine access to the database of unfilled work shifts. Work shift data may be grouped into categories according to an employers worker needs for specific shifts. Pay rate incentives may be associated with one or more categories and indicated on presentment of the work shift data. Remote worker access to the scheduling system may be provided in LAN or WAN environments. |
| US08401879B1 |
Umbrella travel insurance
Umbrella travel insurance that accounts for coverage provided to the user through other insurance policies. A request from the existing customer is received for a travel insurance policy. It is determined whether the customer has an existing insurance policy issued by an insurance company. The existing insurance policy issued by the insurance company held by the existing customer is analyzed. Coverage of the travel insurance policy using coverage of the existing insurance policy is modified to create a modified travel insurance policy. Overlap of the existing insurance policy and coverage of the modified travel insurance policy is at least reduced. |
| US08401878B2 |
Method and system for connecting an insured to an insurer using a mobile device
A system and method for connecting an insured to an insurer using a mobile device in order to provide insurance services. The mobile device, which is associated with the insured, includes a mobile insurance module that is in communication with a server insurance module of a server, which is associated with the insurer. Together, the mobile insurance module and the server insurance module establish a communication channel with the insurer over which insurance services (e.g., requesting a quote, buying a policy, filing a claim and reviewing account information) are provided. The communication channel leverages the technological capabilities of the mobile device, such as a smart phone, to deliver data in a fast, efficient and integrated manner having robust functionalities. |
| US08401876B1 |
Systems and methods for selecting proper clause for document
An insurance company issues a property policy to a customer for property encumbered with an obligation to a creditor. The policy is to be issued to include an encumbrance clause as specified by the creditor. An identification of the creditor is provided to a clause database owned and maintained by a third party agent of the insurance company. The clause database determines that the identified creditor has an entry therein, retrieves from the entry the encumbrance clause as specified by the creditor, and returns the retrieved clause, which is received and inserted into the policy to be issued. |
| US08401874B2 |
Rules-based system for maternal-fetal care
A rules-base patient care method for managing the care of a plurality of pregnant patients from a remote command center for use in healthcare locations using patient-specific rules for each of the plurality of pregnant patients. A patient rules generator creates rules for the patients. Performance measures indicative of the ability of a rule to predict changes in the condition of the patient are acquired by the rules generator. A determination is made from the rules performance measures whether to revise the rule. A rules engine applies a rule to selected data elements stored in the database to produce an output indicative of a change in the medical condition of a pregnant patient and/or a fetal patient. The output from the rules engine is used to determine when intervention is warranted. |
| US08401873B2 |
Health data management device
A device for managing health data provides a first housing portion including a data storage system that stores health data and a second housing portion including a data communications element. The data communications element provides data communications between the data storage system and a processing device that processes the health data according to a data-management software. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are connected by a cable that communicates signals between the data communications element and other components in the first housing portion. Another device for managing health data provides a first housing portion including a health data management system and a data communications element that provides data communications between the health data management system and an external processing device. The second housing portion is removably coupled to the first housing portion, and includes at least one component used by the health data management system. |
| US08401872B2 |
Medical diagnostic apparatus and method for the operation thereof
In a method for operation of a medical diagnosis apparatus as well as medical diagnosis-apparatus, with which medical questions are to be answered, the medical questions to be answered is established for each question at least one examination step is determined that is necessary for clarification of the respective medical question, and supplementary information is associated with each examination step, and, using the supplementary information, the examination workflow is determined with the necessary examination steps that are needed to answer all medical questions. |
| US08401869B2 |
Streaming video network system
A distributed, digital, network-based, streaming video solution allows users to view live streaming digital video from multiple video sources in multiple operating rooms at any location connected to a network. One or more video sources in an operating room are connected to a streaming video encoder capable of converting the video to a network packet stream. Once the digital video stream is available on the network, it may be accessed and routed through the use of a streaming video control server. The streaming video control server is responsible for user authentication and authorization and web page access for remote viewing and video source selection by users. The control server also provides audit logging services, operating room selection and overall system resource allocation. The video control server also provides a network-based remote control interface, which enables other systems to communicate on the streaming video network, and allows for remote control of visualization from an integrated operating room control system, and provides the ability for one operating room to look into other operating rooms. |
| US08401867B2 |
Method for transmitting an anonymous request from a consumer to a content or service provider through a telecommunication network
A method and associated arrangement allows a content or service provider to establish an anonymous profile of a consumer using at least one request sent by the consumer through a communication network. The request sent by the consumer includes identification data of the consumer. The identification data is substituted in the network with an alias so as to anonymize the request. The identification data is not accessible to the content or service provider and there is a one-to-one and immutable correspondence between the identification data and the alias. |
| US08401865B2 |
Flexible parameter update in audio/speech coded signals
This invention relates to a method, a computer program product, apparatuses and a system for extracting coded parameter set from an encoded audio/speech stream, said audio/speech stream being distributed to a sequence of packets, and generating a time scaled encoded audio/speech stream in the parameter coded domain using said extracted coded parameter set. |
| US08401861B2 |
Generating a frequency warping function based on phoneme and context
A method for generating a frequency warping function comprising preparing the training speech of a source and a target speaker; performing frame alignment on the training speech of the speakers; selecting aligned frames from the frame-aligned training speech of the speakers; extracting corresponding sets of formant parameters from the selected aligned frames; and generating a frequency warping function based on the corresponding sets of formant parameters. The step of selecting aligned frames preferably selects a pair of aligned frames in the middle of the same or similar frame-aligned phonemes with the same or similar contexts in the speech of the source speaker and target speaker. The step of generating a frequency warping function preferably uses the various pairs of corresponding formant parameters in the corresponding sets of formant parameters as key positions in a piecewise linear frequency warping function to generate the frequency warping function. |
| US08401858B2 |
Method and system for voice communication
A method and a system for voice communication, especially for a user who has voice or speaking problems, are disclosed. The method requires a communication sheet and a digital voice signal processing device. The communication sheet comprises a plurality of communication units and a plurality of function units for a user to click with the digital voice signal processing device. The plurality of function units comprise a whole sentence unit, and the method comprises a method for performing a function of emitting the sound of a whole sentence, which comprises the following steps: receiving sounds of words selected by the user; searching a voice file according to each of the sounds of words; receiving a command generated by the user's clicking the whole sentence unit; and playing voice files in order. |
| US08401855B2 |
System and method for generating data for complex statistical modeling for use in dialog systems
Embodiments of a dialog system that utilizes grammar-based labeling scheme to generate labeled sentences for use in training statistical models. During the process of training data development, a grammar is constructed manually based on the application domain or adapted from a general grammar rule. An annotation schema is created accordingly based on the application requirements, such as syntactic and semantic information. Such information is then included in the grammar specification. After the labeled grammar is constructed, a generation algorithm is then used to generate sentences for training various statistical models. |
| US08401848B2 |
System and method for audible text center subsystem
A system, method, and computer-readable storage device for sending a spoken message as a text message. The method includes initiating a connection with a first subscriber, receiving from the first subscriber a spoken message and spoken disambiguating information associated with at least one recipient address. The method further includes converting the spoken message to text via an audible text center subsystem (ATCS), and delivering the text to the recipient address. The method can also include verifying a subscription status of the first subscriber, or delivering the text to the recipient address based on retrieved preferences of the first subscriber. The preferences can be retrieved from a consolidated network repository or embedded within the spoken message. Text and the spoken message can be delivered to the same or different recipient addresses. The method can include updating recipient addresses based on a received oral command from the first subscriber. |
| US08401847B2 |
Speech recognition system and program therefor
An unknown word is additionally registered in a speech recognition dictionary by utilizing a correction result, and a new pronunciation of the word that has been registered in a speech recognition dictionary is additionally registered in the speech recognition dictionary, thereby increasing the accuracy of speech recognition. The start time and finish time of each phoneme unit in speech data corresponding to each phoneme included in a phoneme sequence acquired by a phoneme sequence converting section 13 are added to the phoneme sequence. A phoneme sequence extracting section 15 extracts from the phoneme sequence a phoneme sequence portion composed of phonemes existing in a segment corresponding to the period from the start time to the finish time of the word segment of the word corrected by a word correcting section 9 and the extracted phoneme sequence portion is determined as the pronunciation of the corrected word. An additional registration section 17 combines the corrected word with the pronunciation determined by a pronunciation determining section 16 and additionally registers the combination as new word pronunciation data in the speech recognition dictionary 5 if it is determined that a word obtained after correction has not been registered in the speech recognition dictionary 5. The additional registration section 17 additionally registers the pronunciation determined by the pronunciation determining section 16 as another pronunciation of the corrected word if it is determined that the corrected word has been registered. |
| US08401838B2 |
System and method for multilanguage text input in a handheld electronic device
A system provides multilanguage text input in a handheld electronic device. The system includes one or more applications implemented in the handheld electronic device. The applications include a text input application requiring access to language data usable thereby. One or more language databases contain language data from a plurality of different languages usable by at least one of the applications including the text input application. An interface provides the applications with access to at least some of the different languages of the language data of the one or more language databases, in order that the applications including the text input application receive the different languages. |
| US08401837B2 |
Efficient text discrimination for word recognition
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for text discrimination comprising a word recognizer and control logic. The word recognizer has language data compiled using a number of finite state automata. The control logic is configured to operate the word recognizer to accept or reject a number of characters as a word. |
| US08401835B2 |
Trigger ordering for trace streams when multiple triggers accumulate
In the case of tracing processor activity and generating data streams multiple triggers can be generated at the same time. The issue is further complicated in a protected pipeline where certain locations are considered as in illegal instruction boundary. During those cycles certain information is invalid and cannot be transmitted to the user. Thus a received trace trigger cannot begin. This invention resolves all ambiguities related to multiple triggers so that the user has a known predictable behavior based on the setup of the triggers. |
| US08401832B2 |
Method and system for integrated reservoir and surface facility networks simulations
A method includes initiating a first reservoir simulation on a first simulator for a first set of physical parameters of a first reservoir. The first reservoir simulator uses a first set of components for a compositional reservoir model. A second reservoir simulation is initiated on a second simulator. A network simulation is initiated on a network simulator to model a network for coupling the first reservoir and the second reservoir to a surface facility. The network simulator uses a second set of components for a compositional network model. The method further includes translating each of a first hydrocarbon fluid stream of the first reservoir simulator and a second hydrocarbon fluid stream of the second reservoir simulator to a common fluid model. Further, network balancing is initiated among the simulators at a corresponding point in each controller time step. |
| US08401827B2 |
Processing device and method for structure data representing a physical structure
A processing device and a method for processing structure data representing a physical structure are disclosed to obtain information about physical properties of the physical structure faster and with high quality and accuracy. The processing device for processing structure data representing a physical structure comprises an obtainer module for obtaining structure data representing a physical structure; a parts defining module for subdividing said structure data into at least two parts including a connection part and a material part; a meshing module for generating a mesh model approximating said physical structure by transforming said connection part and said material part into mesh elements having different sizes, wherein the mesh element sizes of said connection part are smaller than the mesh element sizes of said material part; and a processing module for processing said mesh model to estimate physical properties of said physical structure. |
| US08401823B2 |
Method and arrangement for detecting, localizing and classifying defects of a device under test
An arrangement and method for assessing and diagnosing the operating state of a device under test in the presence of a disturbing ambient noise and for detecting, localizing and classifying defects of the device which affect its operational reliability and quality. At least two sensors monitor signals at arbitrary locations which are affected by signals emitted by defects and by ambient noise sources. A source analyzer receives the monitored signals, identifies the number and location of the sources, separates defect and noise sources, and analyzes the deterministic and stochastic signal components emitted by each source. Defect and noise vectors at the outputs of the source analyzer are supplied to a defect classificator which detects invalid parts of the measurements corrupted by ambient noise, accumulates the valid parts, assesses the quality of the system under test and identifies the physical causes and location of the defects. |
| US08401820B2 |
In situ health monitoring of piezoelectric sensors
An in situ health monitoring apparatus may include an exciter circuit that applies a pulse to a piezoelectric transducer and a data processing system that determines the piezoelectric transducer's dynamic response to the first pulse. The dynamic response can be used to evaluate the operating range, health, and as-mounted resonance frequency of the transducer, as well as the strength of a coupling between the transducer and a structure and the health of the structure. |
| US08401818B2 |
Golf ball movement measuring apparatus
A golf ball movement measuring apparatus includes: a camera for taking a plurality of images of a golf ball hit by a golf club; a dark-colored background material which is disposed so as to configure a background of the golf ball in the images; and a processing unit to which the images are transmitted from the camera, the processing unit masking a background portion excepting the dark-colored background material in the images in black through image processing, and the processing unit analyzing a movement of the golf ball hit by the golf club. |
| US08401814B1 |
Hoist system with an electronic programmable limit switch
An electronic limit switch software module is programmed into a controller for a hoist system. The electronic limit switch determines the rotations of a motor to keep track of the location of the load. Arbitrary stop and slow down locations may be input into the system so that the system can determine when to stop and slow down the load. |
| US08401811B1 |
Flow testing system for fluid networks
An apparatus, system, method and kit for testing fluid flow and pressure is provided. The apparatus, system, method and kit include or include the use of a flow unit which is configured to measure flow rate and/or flow velocity when interfaced with a flow valve or hydrant and a pressure unit configured to measure at least residual pressure when interfaced with a test valve or hydrant. At least one of the units is configured to wirelessly send data transmissions to the other unit which is configured to receive such transmissions. |
| US08401810B2 |
Scheduling device, scheduling method, scheduling program, storage medium, and mass spectrometry system
The present invention provides a scheduling device which can carry out scheduling of process execution periods of time, included in plural pieces of processing target data, respectively. The scheduling device sorts out plural pieces of substance data by looking up a retention time, included in each of the plural pieces of substance data. The scheduling device groups the plural pieces of substance data into a plurality of functions Fn so that pieces of substance data, included in each of the plurality of functions Fn, is successively arrayed in an order resulting from the sorting. Further, the scheduling device finds, for each of the plurality of functions Fn, a function range between a detection start time included in that function Fn and a detection end time included in that function Fn, and groups the plurality of functions Fn into a measurement group(s) In so that an interval between functions Fn included in the same measurement group is more than a condition set in advance. |
| US08401805B2 |
Ultrasonic multiphase flowmeter, ultrasonic multiphase flow rate measurement program, and multiphase flow rate measurement method using ultrasonic wave
An ultrasonic multiphase flowmeter, a flow rate measurement program and a multiphase flow rate measurement method using an ultrasonic wave that can measure the flow rate of a multiphase flow by detecting the position of an interface between phases by an operation processing of at least one of data on reflected ultrasonic wave and data on a flow velocity distribution are provided. The ultrasonic multiphase flowmeter functions to transmit/receive ultrasonic waves, calculate flow velocity distributions, determine interface positions, and calculate flow rates. |
| US08401804B2 |
Trigger circuit for low-power structural health monitoring system
A trigger circuit for use with a structural health monitoring system. To save power, a structural health monitoring system is programmed with a sleep mode and a wake, or operational, mode. In its operational mode, the structural health monitoring system can perform its usual tasks, e.g. monitoring a structure and determining its structural health. In sleep mode, many functions are suspended, so that the system requires less power. The trigger circuit wakes the system when the sensors of the structural health monitoring system emit a sufficiently large signal, i.e. when an event occurs. That is, when not in use, the system enters sleep mode, and when some event occurs (e.g., impact, or some other stresses that are of concern), the trigger circuit alerts the system, prompting it to shift from sleep mode to operational mode and to begin taking/analyzing data. |
| US08401803B2 |
Determination of the lifetime of a component
Method and arrangement for determining the remaining lifetime of a component of a power electronics appliance, such as a frequency converter, in which the lifetime data that is dependent on the ambient conditions and operation as specified by the manufacturer of the component is used, in which method at least one magnitude connected to ambient conditions, such as temperature, is determined, at least one loading magnitude of the component, such as speed of rotation, is determined and the calculation of the remaining lifetime is performed on the basis of at least one magnitude connected to ambient conditions, such as temperature, and of at least one loading magnitude of the component, such as speed of rotation, as well as of the lifetime data that is dependent on these ambient conditions and loading as specified by the manufacturer of the component. |
| US08401800B2 |
Molecular flux rates through critical pathways measured by stable isotope labeling in vivo, as biomarkers of drug action and disease activity
The methods described herein enable the evaluation of compounds on subjects to assess their therapeutic efficacy or toxic effects. The target of analysis is the underlying biochemical process or processes (i.e., metabolic process) thought to be involved in disease pathogenesis. Molecular flux rates within the one or more biochemical processes serve as biomarkers and are quantitated and compared with the molecular flux rates (i.e., biomarker) from control subjects (i.e., subjects not exposed to the compounds). Any change in the biomarker in the subject relative to the biomarker in the control subject provides information to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of an administered drug or a toxic effect and to develop the compound further if desired. In one aspect of the invention, stable isotope-labeled substrate molecules are administered to a subject and the label is incorporated into targeted molecules in a manner that reveals molecular flux rates through metabolic pathways of interest. |
| US08401799B2 |
Antibody design using anti-lipid antibody crystal structures
Methods for designing optimized antibodies, including optimized humainized or human antibodies, to target bioactive lipids are provided. These methods may be performed in silico and may be intended to enhance binding affinity of an antibody to its original target lipid, and/or to alter binding specificity. Antibodies produced by these methods are also provided, as are methods for using them. |
| US08401793B2 |
High resolution wind measurements for offshore wind energy development
A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to measure wind. Data at a first resolution (i.e., low resolution data) is collected by a satellite scatterometer. Thin slices of the data are determined. A collocation of the data slices are determined at each grid cell center to obtain ensembles of collocated data slices. Each ensemble of collocated data slices is decomposed into a mean part and a fluctuating part. The data is reconstructed at a second resolution from the mean part and a residue of the fluctuating part. A wind measurement is determined from the data at the second resolution using a wind model function. A description of the wind measurement is output. |
| US08401791B2 |
Methods for evaluating operation of marking apparatus
A marking system may hold a container from which markers are dispensed to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area. The container may identify a marker characteristic regarding the markers in the container. The marking system may receive activation of a trigger, dispense a marker from the container when the trigger is activated, and store the marker characteristic and time data when the trigger is activated. In other embodiments, the marking system may dispense a marker, determine location data and/or time data, and substantially simultaneously trigger the dispensing of the marker and logging of the location data and/or the time data. The location data identifies a geographic location where the marker is dispensed and the time data identifies the time when the marker is dispensed. |
| US08401790B2 |
Computing-time-efficient route determination along several preset path points with given connecting routes in-between
A process for determining a route along more than two mutually consecutive preset path points with given connecting routes in-between. In this case, a plurality of connecting routes is given between at least one pair of two mutually consecutive path points. Respective costs and preferably also a respective time duration are assigned to each connecting route. In a first step of the process, a tree is generated which comprises edges and nodes connected by edges. Each node is assigned to a defined path point and each edge corresponds to a connecting route. The route is determined based on a selection of edges of the tree. |
| US08401789B2 |
Navigation system, route retrieval server and mobile terminal device, and route guiding method
A mobile terminal device has a display for indicating guidance of a route retrieved by a route retriever and a GPS receiver for detecting the present location. A route retrieval server has a database for storing the present location of each bus running on bus lines and an alternative route guider for evaluating alternative bus route to provide guidance. When the guided route includes a walking route, the route retriever references the database based on the present location of the mobile terminal device to identify an alternative route that includes a bus. The alternative route guider compares the alternative route and guided route. When the alternative route is more favorable than the guided route, the alternative route guider sends alternative route information indicating presence of the alternative route to the mobile terminal device, displays the guided route on a display, and indicates the presence of the alternative route. |
| US08401788B2 |
Angular velocity sensor correcting apparatus and method
A GPS measuring unit receives a signal from a GPS satellite and outputs GPS measurement data including at least orientation of an object. An angular velocity sensor outputs angular velocity of the object. An offset value computing unit estimates a running condition of the object on the basis of the measurement data and the angular velocity. The offset value computing unit sequentially derives a temporary offset value of the angular velocity sensor in accordance with the estimated running condition of the object. The offset value computing unit derives an offset value of the angular velocity sensor by executing statistical process on the temporary offset value of the angular velocity sensor. A forgetting factor in the statistical process is changed according to the running condition of the object. |
| US08401780B2 |
Method of prioritizing similar names of locations for use by a navigation system
Locations having similar names are identified and placed in groups. The naming similarity includes how names or portions of names are spelled and/or pronounced. The names within the groups are then ranked by priority. The ranking is calculated using one or more attributes in a geographic database, such as the number of road segments associated with a named location, the population associated with a named location, distance to a named location, and administrative level of a named location. The ranking may be used during destination entry, when providing route guidance and/or maps, and when providing additional information to a user of a navigation system, such as demographic information. |
| US08401778B2 |
System for displaying a cumulative fuel economic driving area and method thereof
The present invention relates to a system and a method for displaying an accumulative fuel economic driving area of a vehicle. A system according to an embodiment includes a vehicle information unit that collects vehicle information and a controller that calculates a fuel economic driving area by using the vehicle information, and calculates an accumulative fuel economic driving area by accumulating respective lighting times of respective zones of the fuel economic driving area and calculating respective accumulation ratios of the respective zones. The system provides the driver with information for fuel economic driving. |
| US08401776B2 |
Automatic determination of aircraft holding locations and holding durations from aircraft surveillance data
A method of using airport surveillance data to determine a location of a delay and an amount of time a vehicle is subjected to the delay during a movement of the vehicle between locations including obtaining a time-ordered sequence of data points representing the movement of the vehicle, creating a speed vector (sv) for each data point, replacing ground speed elements in the speed vector (sv) with a one when the ground speed element is less than a speed threshold, performing a spatial density test on each data point in a sequence of consecutive one entries, defining a starting and stopping index for a consecutive sequence of data points as a preliminary hold, determining whether to merge adjacent preliminary holds, determining a time duration of each preliminary hold and eliminating any preliminary hold having a time duration less than a predetermined time duration and outputting the results. |
| US08401771B2 |
Discovering points of interest from users map annotations
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates generating a point of interest related to a map. An interface component can collect a portion of annotation data from two or more users, wherein the portion of annotation data is associated with a digital map and includes at least one of a map location and a user specific description of the map location. An annotation aggregator can evaluate annotation data corresponding to the map location on the digital map. The annotation aggregator can create a point of interest (POI) for the map location based upon the evaluation and populates the digital map with at least one of an identified location extracted from two or more users or a universal description extracted from two or more users. |
| US08401770B2 |
Method and device for controlling start time of vehicle heat engine
A method to permit a start time of a heat engine of a vehicle to be controlled. The heat engine is mechanically coupled to a polyphase rotary electrical machine connected to an on-board electrical network. The method is of the type consisting of carrying out pre-fluxing by establishing an excitation current in the inductor for a predetermined pre-fluxing time (Tpref) before the phase currents are established. In accordance with the method, the predetermined pre-fluxing time (Tpref) is a function of the voltage (Vbat+X) of the on-board electrical network. Typically, the predetermined pre-fluxing time (Tpref) is increased when the voltage (Vbat+X) of the on-board electrical network reduces within a nominal voltage range (V 1, V2). |
| US08401764B2 |
Fuel identification based on crankshaft acceleration
Systems and methods for identifying alcohol content of a fuel in an engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting fuel injection to the engine based on fuel alcohol content identified from crankshaft acceleration. For example, the crankshaft acceleration may be generated by modulating an air/fuel ratio in a selected cylinder across a range of air/fuel ratios while keeping the engine at stoichiometry. |
| US08401763B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
In a control device which uses a specific physical quantity as a control variable of an internal combustion engine, and controls the internal combustion engine by manipulation of one or a plurality of actuators, switching of setting of a manipulation variable based on a required value of a physical quantity and setting of the manipulation variables by direct instruction to individual actuators is performed without generating discontinuity in a realized value of the physical quantity. When a manipulation variable instruction value directly designating a manipulation variable of an actuator is present, the manipulation variable instruction value is converted into a value of a physical quantity which is realized in the internal combustion engine by the operation quantity instruction value. When a deviation between a physical quantity conversion value converted from the manipulation variable instruction value and the physical quantity required value is within a predetermined range, switch of information for use in setting of the manipulation variable of each of the actuators is permitted. |
| US08401762B2 |
Engine control system with algorithm for actuator control
An engine control apparatus which may be employed in automotive vehicles. The engine control apparatus is equipped with a controlled variable arithmetic expression which defines correlations between combustion parameters associated with combustion conditions of an engine and controlled variables actuators for an operation of the engine. This eliminates the need for finding relations of optimum values of the controlled variables to the combustion parameters through adaptability tests, which results in a decrease in burden of an adaptability test work and a map-making work on manufacturers. The engine control apparatus also works to learn or optimize the controlled variable arithmetic expression based on actual values of the combustion parameters, thereby avoiding undesirable changes in correlations, as defined by the controlled variable arithmetic expression, due to a change in environmental condition. |
| US08401761B2 |
Fuel indicator method
A method for operating a vehicle is provided. The method includes, in one example during a first a rate of change of an inclination of the vehicle, adjusting a fuel level indication based on the inclination and a level of fuel within the fuel tank; and during a second rate of change of the inclination different from the first rate of change, adjusting the fuel level indication based on actual fuel consumption of the engine. In this way, it is possible to provide an accurate fuel level indication based on the inclination when the inclination is not changing too quickly. However, when inclination is changing quickly and may give degraded level readings, it is still possible to provide an accurate fuel level by transiently estimating fuel usage and using, for example, a previous fuel level reading from when the inclination was not changing too quickly. |
| US08401759B2 |
Accelerator reaction force control apparatus
An apparatus to control a reaction force of an accelerator includes a detector to detect an opening degree of the accelerator, and a controller to increase the reaction force by a first force magnitude during a period in which the vehicle transitions from a first operational state to a second operational state in response to an increase in the opening degree of the accelerator, wherein the controller increases the reaction force if the accelerator opening degree is increased within a predetermined time period after the reaction force is increased by the first force magnitude, wherein the first operational state corresponds to a low specific fuel consumption and the second operational state corresponds to a high specific fuel consumption, and wherein the controller decreases the reaction force by the first force magnitude in response to a reduction in the opening degree of the accelerator. |
| US08401754B2 |
Method for detecting the status of the clutch in the drive train of a motor vehicle
In a method for detecting the status of the clutch in the drive train of a motor vehicle, the engine speed and the speed are ascertained and a transmission ratio is formed as the quotient of the engine speed and speed. Furthermore, a reference value is determined, which is set equal to the transmission ratio from a first time step. In a subsequent time step, the difference between the instantaneous transmission ratio and the reference value is formed, a disengaged clutch status being detected if the difference exceeds a threshold value. |
| US08401752B2 |
Fail-to-neutral system and method for a toroidal traction drive automatic transmission
A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign. |
| US08401751B2 |
Shift control and method
A machine has a power train including a prime mover connected to a transmission having two or more selectable gear settings. The machine includes an electronic controller configured to receive and transmit signals indicative of machine parameters. The electronic controller contains computer executable instructions for determining a current value for at least one efficiency metric of the machine at a current gear setting of the transmission. Instructions for determining a first expected value for the efficiency metric at a first alternative gear setting, instructions for comparing the current value with the first expected value to determine an optimal gear setting as between the current gear setting and the first alternative gear setting at least partially based on engine speed, and instructions for indicating a gear shift recommendation and/or performing a gear shift to select the optimal gear setting are executed during operation. |
| US08401749B2 |
Vehicle gear shift control device and gear shift control method
In a gear shift control device for a vehicle that shifts a transmission having a plurality of gears based on a shift line set in a shift map, an upshift line for shifting to the highest gear, and a downshift line that is located in a high vehicle speed region on the side of a higher vehicle speed than the upshift line are set in the shift map. The downshift line is used when shifting from the highest gear to a prescribed gear that has a larger gear ratio than the highest gear. |
| US08401747B2 |
Shift-by-wire device and transmission device mounting thereon the same
A shift-by-wire device including a shaft position sensor that detects a shaft rotating angle, a drive unit that drives an actuator of the shaft, an operational function unit including an operational CPU that receives the shaft rotating angle from the shaft position sensor, receives a shift command from an administrative electronic control unit to transmit the shaft rotating angle of the shaft to the administrative electronic control unit, and controls the drive unit according to the shaft rotating angle and shift command. The device further includes a monitoring function unit including a monitoring CPU that receives the shaft rotating angle in order to monitor whether there is an abnormality in the operational function unit and transmits the shaft rotating angle to the administrative electronic control unit when a detected abnormality occurs in the operational function unit. |
| US08401746B2 |
Excavator control using ranging radios
A system for use with an excavator of the type having a chassis, bucket support elements including a boom extending from the chassis and a dipper stick pivotally mounted on the end of the boom, and an excavator bucket pivotally mounted on the end of the dipper stick, determines the position of the excavator bucket during operation of the excavator at a worksite. The system includes a plurality of fixed ranging radios that are positioned at known locations at the worksite. A pair of ranging radios is mounted on the chassis of the excavator. A third ranging radio is mounted on one of the bucket support elements. A measurement circuit is responsive to the pair of ranging radios and to the third ranging radio, and determines the position and orientation of the excavator chassis, the bucket support elements, and the bucket with respect to the plurality of fixed ranging radios. |
| US08401742B2 |
Reconfiguration of cabin layouts
A control and monitoring system is provided in the aircraft cabin and controls a reconfiguration process with corresponding software in combination with reconfiguration data received from the ground personnel. The control is realized, for example, with a suitable light signals and the unlocking of the seats at certain times. All work sequences are acoustically and/or optically displayed such that the reconfiguration can also be carried out by untrained personnel. |
| US08401741B2 |
Headlamp in an automobile
A headlamp in an automobile, which is rotatable about a yaw axis when negotiating a bend, has a controller for controlling the rotary movement. In order to improve the illumination of a roadway lying in front of an automobile, the controller may take into account a driving profile. |
| US08401735B2 |
Damping apparatus for reducing vibration of automobile body
A damping apparatus for an automobile is provided, capable of ensuring a high level of reliability while obtaining excellent damping effect with simple configuration. The damping apparatus for an automobile that reduces vibrations of an automobile body may include an actuator that is attached to the automobile body and drives an auxiliary mass; a current detector that detects a current flowing through an armature of the actuator; a section that detects a terminal voltage applied to the actuator; a calculation circuit that calculates an induced voltage of the actuator, and further calculates at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator, based on a current detected by the current detector and the terminal voltage; and a control circuit that drive-controls the actuator based on at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator calculated by the calculation circuit. |
| US08401733B2 |
Optimized powertrain with route-learning feature
The technology described herein provides a powertrain system with a route-learning feature. Particularly, learned information is used to optimize powertrain operation along any learned route. The learned information comprises, generally, feedback from the vehicle's acceleration and brake sensors and information from an on-board trip computer. At the least, the powertrain is able to optimize its operation to a driver's preference based on the feedback recorded along a particular route that the driver has specified. The route-learning powertrain control described herein is particularly useful with a hybrid powertrain, and can be used to optimize start/stop and regenerative braking control. The system described herein can also be integrated with a navigation system and GPS receiver, to provide more accurate route-learning and/or automated operation. |
| US08401732B2 |
Vehicle control device and vehicle control method
Disclosed are a vehicle control device and a vehicle control method capable of performing appropriate traveling control while exhibiting the capability of a control system. Feedback control is performed according to a traveling target set in advance. At the time of the feedback control, when a vehicle traveling trace is deviated, when a tire friction circle is exceeded, or when a vehicle acceleration or a jerk exceeds a set value, if a control deviation exceeds a set value, a traveling target is regenerated. This enables appropriate traveling control while sufficiently exhibiting the capability of the control system until the control deviation exceeds the set value. When the control deviation exceeds the set value, a traveling target is regenerated, such that traveling control appropriate for the traveling environment can be performed. |
| US08401730B2 |
Good checking for vehicle lateral acceleration sensor
A controller for indicating whether a previously-detected, acceleration-sensor malfunction no longer exists. The controller includes an electronic memory and an electronic processing unit connected to the electronic memory. The electronic processing module includes a malfunction monitoring module, a failure handling module, and a signal checking module. The signal checking module performs a signal check after the malfunction monitoring module generates the fault signal. The signal check includes executing a signal check function with a lateral acceleration signal. Also disclosed is a vehicle including the controller, and a method executed by the controller. |
| US08401726B2 |
Maintenance interval determination and optimization tool and method
A Maintenance Interval Determination and Optimization Tool (MIDOT) provides optimized maintenance schedules for performing maintenance tasks on one or more components or systems based on component survival functions and economic analysis of non-safety tasks associated with maintenance schedules. MIDOT is used for specified platforms such as aircrafts. The MIDOT filters maintenance history data, uses a statistical analysis to predict likely maintenance needs, and performs an economic analysis to optimize aircraft maintenance schedules. Specifically, the MIDOT calculates component survival probability, based on the specific usage of one or more related components within the platform and determines an optimal maintenance task interval to perform a maintenance task associated with the one or more related components. |
| US08401723B2 |
Electric power control system, electric power control method, and control device, data storage medium, and server device for the same
A power control system comprises a power accumulating system including a storage cell charged with electric power supplied from a power generating system and supplying a vehicle with electric power, and a control device controlling a cumulative power amount that is an amount of electric power accumulated in the storage cell. The power control system accepts drive schedule data representing whether or not the vehicle is to be used during a predetermined period. The power control system charges the storage cell till the cumulative power stored in the storage cell reaches a first threshold when the drive schedule data represents the vehicle is to be used during the period, or otherwise, it charges the storage cell till the cumulative power stored in the storage cell reaches a second threshold smaller than the first threshold when the drive schedule data represents the vehicle is not to be used during the period. |
| US08401720B2 |
System, method, and computer software code for detecting a physical defect along a mission route
A route defect detection system for a powered system, the route defect detection system including a control system connected to the powered system for application of tractive effort, and a processor to determine an unplanned change in the application of tractive effort and/or otherwise associated with the tractive effort of the powered system. Based on the unplanned change, the processor determines a type of defect encountered along a mission route. A method and computer software code stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor are also disclosed for a powered system to detect a defect along a mission route. |
| US08401716B2 |
Flight control systems
A system and method for a controlling an aircraft with flight control surfaces that are controlled both manually and by a computing device is disclosed. The present invention improves overall flight control operation by reducing the mechanical flight control surface components while providing sufficient back-up control capability in the event of either a mechanical or power-related failure. Through the present invention, natural feedback is provided to the operator from the mechanical flight control surface which operates independent of computer-aided flight control surfaces. |
| US08401715B2 |
Vehicle periphery monitoring device
Provided is a vehicle periphery monitoring device having: a first distance calculating unit (25) which calculates a distance between a vehicle (10) and an object, using a parallax gradient of image sections of the same object among a plurality of images captured by infrared cameras (2R, 2L) at different times within a predetermined sampling interval; a vehicular velocity sensor (4) which detects a vehicular velocity of the vehicle (10); and a sampling interval setting unit (23) which sets the sampling interval shorter with the increase of the vehicular velocity of the vehicle (10). |
| US08401714B2 |
Apparatus for supporting drive of mobile object based on target locus thereof
In an apparatus for supporting drive of a mobile object, a curl component calculator projects relative motion of a environmental field in a coordinate system formed by modeling a retina sphere of a driver of the mobile object. The curl component calculator calculates each of rotational components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field around a corresponding driver's eye direction to the gaze point. A target trajectory setter sets, as a target trajectory of the mobile object, an equal-magnitude line connecting a part of the rotational components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field, the part of the rotational components having a same magnitude. |
| US08401705B2 |
Irrigation controller water management with temperature budgeting
The present invention provides methods for water conservation with irrigation controllers based upon the ambient temperature and extraterrestrial radiation of a particular geographical area. It receives a preliminary irrigation schedule from the operator and computes a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data, then modifying the preliminary irrigation schedule based upon that ratio. The present invention utilizes fewer variables, is less complex, and is much easier to install and maintain than the current evapotranspiration-based controllers. |
| US08401704B2 |
GNSS control system and method for irrigation and related applications
A global navigation satellite sensor system (GNSS) control system and method for irrigation and related applications is provided for a boom assembly with main and extension boom sections, which are hingedly connected and adapted for folding. The control system includes an antenna and a receiver connected to the antenna. A rover antenna is mounted on the boom extension section and is connected to the receiver. A processor receives GNSS positioning signals from the receiver and computes locations for the antennas, for which a vector indicating an attitude of the extension boom section can be computed. Various boom arrangements and field configurations are accommodated by alternative aspects of the control system. |
| US08401703B2 |
Method and device for controlling production of a mixture of components, in particular a mixture with pre-mix dead volumes
The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling the production of a mixture of components, especially a mixture with premix dead volumes.The method and the device according to the invention ensure multivariable regulation feedback by a dynamic observer providing an estimate in real time of the properties of the components of the mixture, said estimate being sufficient to guarantee the effectiveness of the feedback loop. Thus, the desired properties of the mixture are guaranteed despite large uncertainties in the properties of the components on the one hand, and partial knowledge of the mixing process on the other. |
| US08401700B2 |
Actuator and electronics packaging for extrinsic humanoid hand
The lower arm assembly for a humanoid robot includes an arm support having a first side and a second side, a plurality of wrist actuators mounted to the first side of the arm support, a plurality of finger actuators mounted to the second side of the arm support and a plurality of electronics also located on the first side of the arm support. |
| US08401698B2 |
Method for optimising the performance of a robot
A method for optimizing performance of a robot. At least one experiment is designed including at least two tests. Each test differs from at least one other test in the experiment regarding the location of the task in relation to the robot. The boundaries that are allowable for location of a task are calculated/determined. The effect on optimality for at least one test in the experiment is calculated/determined. The experimental data is fit to an algorithm. The optimal location of the task is calculated/determined. |
| US08401695B2 |
Process and device for automatically feeding containers of the same kind to a column stacker, preferably in a sorter system
A method and a device are provided for automatically supplying packages, that have been sorted by type, to a column stacker, preferably in a sorting system. The device has at least one supply path (2) on which the packages, which have been sorted by type, are automatically supplied to the column stacker (3) individually and chaotically distributed in partial stacks. The invention proposes that at least two packages (T1, T1) or partial stacks of packages (T2, T2 or T3, T3 or T4, T4 or T5, T5)—as long as said partial stacks are not already randomly present on the supply path (2)—of the same height disposed one directly behind the other be combined with the aid of a package register 1 before being supplied to the column stacker (3) simultaneously. |
| US08401693B2 |
Method and manipulator gripper for spacing bundles of a bundle layer
In a method for spacing bundles of a bundle layer by means of a manipulator gripper with at least one support base that engages bundles and a stop for the placement of bundles, separation between an edge of the support base and the stop is reduced, by a placement motion of the support base in a placement direction that is superimposed on the relative motion of the support base and the stop and is synchronized with this relative motion. |
| US08401690B2 |
Method for machining a blank having an individual scale-up factor and blank therefor
In a method for processing a blank (1), in which the blank (1) can be densely sintered with shrinkage following machining and machining of the blank (1) is carried out in a machining device (7) allowing for an individual scale-up factor (F) relevant to the blank (1) for compensating for the shrinkage occurring during dense sintering, a linear measurement of the blank (1) is performed in one or more of the dimensions length, width, and height for determining the scale-up factor (F), wherein the measured linear measure (1) bears a known relationship to the scale-up factor (F), the type of blank (1) being known. Linear measurement of the blank (1) can be carried out in the machining device (7). |
| US08401689B1 |
Dynamic global scheduler system for a glass production line
A glass production line comprises a style of lean manufacturing to solve many of the inefficiencies in the scheduling of orders through a glass plant. The main goal of the global scheduler of the present invention will be to dynamically adjust the flow of glass through a glass plant for maximum efficiency. |
| US08401688B2 |
Identification of engineering intent requirements in an electronic environment
Engineering requirements are defined in an electronic environment. In one embodiment, a method includes providing at least one of a set of master requirements and a set of version requirements to be applied to the electronic product definition, and referencing an electronic reference document from at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements, the electronic reference document including one or more particular engineering requirements to be applied to the electronic product definition. Alternately, a method includes defining a callout linked to the at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements, the callout being adapted to supersede a conflicting engineering requirement set forth in at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements. |
| US08401685B2 |
Method for reproducing an audio recording with the simulation of the acoustic characteristics of the recording condition
The method relates to audio recording reproduction. The method involves testing the features of a three-dimensional sound field using a dual or multi-channel system of spatially distributed channels, transmitting audio signals, and recording the responses in order to determine the differences between the influence of the natural acoustical properties of a room and the influence of the mutual spatial arrangement of audio sources and audio receivers on the characteristics of the sound field. Determining the differences between the features of the three-dimensional sound fields at different recording and reproduction conditions in accordance with this method makes it possible to adjust the parametric data of the tonal characteristics when reproducing an audio recording in order to produce a sound field identical to the sound field of the recording. |
| US08401684B2 |
Audio signal processor and network system
In the case where an audio network system that performs transport of audio signals between a plurality of processors is constructed such that the plurality of processors each including two sets of transmission I/Fs and reception I/Fs are connected in series, and a TL frame generated by a master node is circulated along a ring transmission route formed among the processors in each fixed period, the TL frame including a plurality of storage regions for audio signals, when one of the processors is required to be the master node, the one processor resets in sequence processors which are connected on both sides thereof and processors behind the processors connected on both sides to once remove each of those processors from a ring transmission route if it belong to any ring transmission route, then incorporates the processors into a ring transmission route in which the one processor belongs to. |
| US08401679B2 |
Methods and a system for detecting fraud in betting and lottery games
In one embodiment of the invention, a method to detect fraud includes a) receiving by the computer system from a source information regarding a plurality of played coupons for at least one game, wherein the plurality of played coupons comprises at least one first coupon; b) populating by the computer system a two-dimensional array for each played game from the received information, wherein the at least one two-dimensional array holds aggregated game statistics, c) storing by the computer system the at least one two-dimensional array with in a data structure; d) scanning, using the received information for the at least one first coupon, by the computer system the at least one data structure to identify at least one abnormal pattern; and e) generating, when the at least one abnormal pattern is identified, by the computer system an alert prior to a payout on the at least one first coupon. |
| US08401678B2 |
Mobile control and monitoring system
An HMI system with a mobile control and monitoring device for automation components of a technical system is provided. The HMI system includes means for a contactless data transmission between the mobile control and monitoring device and the automation components, a manual device for triggering or blocking security relevant operations of the technical system and means for locating the mobile control and monitoring device. Evaluation means are provided for managing an active operational area which activate the automation components for security-relevant operations of the technical system via the mobile control and monitoring device solely when the manual device is released and the locating means detect that the mobile control and monitoring device is located inside the active operational area. Is he manual device placed directly on the housing of the technical system, an operator has to approach such that he/she enters the active operational area in a secure manner. |
| US08401677B2 |
Method for programming a control device
A method for programming a control device for a machine includes the steps of obtaining a component that is required to program the control device, this component being called up from a data collection, storing the component in a memory device, processing the component, integrating the processed component in the control device, calling up the component from a data collection via an Internet, outputting instructions that are characteristic for the components and for integrating the components in the control device, and callable up via the Internet. |
| US08401673B2 |
Inner and outer telescoping catheter delivery system and method
A method of delivering a payload to a destination vessel branching from a coronary sinus of a patient's heart. The method comprises inserting a catheter assembly into a right atrium of the patient's heart. The catheter assembly comprises an outer catheter and an inner catheter movably disposed within the open lumen of the outer catheter. The inner and outer catheters are operable to be rotated and translated relative to one another such that the distal end of the outer catheter can assume a selectable plurality of shapes appropriate for accessing the coronary sinus. The method further comprises locating and cannulating the patient's coronary sinus by adjusting a relative orientation or longitudinal position of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, longitudinally sliding the outer catheter over the distal end of the inner catheter to deep seat the outer catheter within the patient's coronary sinus, and delivering a payload to the destination vessel through the outer catheter or the inner catheter. |
| US08401670B2 |
Neurological screening connector
A medical lead screening connector includes a first housing portion having a first lead receptor channel and a second housing portion having a second lead receptor channel and the second housing portion is pivotally connected to the first housing portion. The first lead receptor channel includes two first contact apertures and the second lead receptor channel comprising two second contact apertures. The first housing portion includes two second lead receptor contacts that mate with the second contact apertures and the second housing portion includes two first lead receptor contacts that mate with the first contact apertures. |
| US08401669B2 |
Lead assembly and related methods
Defibrillator lead designs and methods for manufacturing a lead including attachment between a fibrosis-limiting material covering, a shocking coil electrode, and an implantable lead body are disclosed herein. The shocking coil electrode includes at least one treated portion. The fibrosis limiting material includes a selectively modified portion that is disposed over the at least one treated portion. |
| US08401665B2 |
Apparatus and methods for detecting position and migration of neurostimulation leads
Apparatus and methods for detecting lead migration through the use of measured artifactual data about the tissue in the vicinity of the lead. |
| US08401663B2 |
Pressure-sensitive external charger for an implantable medical device
An improved external charger for an implantable medical device is disclosed in which charging is at least partially controlled based on a sensed pressure impingent on its case, which pressure is indicative of the pressure between the external charger and a patient's tissue. The improved external charger includes pressure detection circuitry coupled to one or more pressure sensors for controlling the external device in accordance with the sensed impingent pressure. The sensed pressure can be used to control charging, for example, by suspending charging, by adjusting a maximum set point temperature for the external charger based on the measured pressure, or by issuing an alert via a suitable user interface. By so controlling the external charger on the basis of the measured pressure, the external charger is less likely to create potentially problematic or uncomfortable conditions for the user. |
| US08401658B2 |
System and method for displaying stimulation field generated by electrode array
An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. |
| US08401651B2 |
System for neural control of respiration
A system, device and method for neural control of respiration are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device for sensing and controlling respiration during incidence of central respiratory diseases. According to various embodiments, the device includes a sensing circuit to receive sensed signals representative of an incidence of a central respiratory disease. The device also includes a neural stimulator adapted to generate neural stimulation signals, and a controller to communicate with the sensing circuit and to control the neural stimulator to stimulate a desired neural target in response to the detection of the incidence of a central respiratory disease. In an embodiment, the device includes a plurality of sensors which are adapted to monitor physiological parameters to detect the incidence of a central respiratory disease and to send signals to the sensing circuit. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08401649B2 |
Axial lead connector for implantable medical device
The disclosure describes an axial lead connector assembly for an implantable medical device (IMD). The lead connector assembly facilitates electrical connection between an implantable medical lead and circuitry contained within the housing of an IMD. A connector header defines an axial stack bore to receive an axial stack of in-line connector components. The connector components define a common lead bore to receive a proximal end of an implantable lead. The in-line stack of connector components may include seals, electrical connector elements, a strain relief, and a locking device, each of which defines a passage that forms part of the lead bore. |
| US08401648B2 |
Housing for implantable medical device
An implantable medical device includes a housing having frame with one or more openings. The openings of the frame are covered with a thin metallic foil that is welded to the frame to provide a hermetic seal. Non-conductive members may be placed in or about the openings to provide a backing or structural support for the metallic foil. By decreasing the mass of conductive material capable of forming eddy currents, improved recharge or telemetry performance may be realized. |
| US08401647B2 |
Active medical implant
An active medical implant, in particular a medical electronic device having a power supply which has a mechanical vibrator or rotor which is induced to vibrate and/or rotate by movements of the patient wearing the implant and/or external excitation and is energetically connected to an electronic consumer and/or an energy storage mechanism, such that a portion of the kinetic energy generated by the vibration and/or rotation is input into the consumer and/or energy storage mechanism. |
| US08401645B2 |
Electrode and lead stability indexes and stability maps based on localization system data
A method includes selecting an electrode located in a patient; acquiring position information with respect to time for the electrode where the acquiring uses the electrode for repeatedly measuring electrical potentials in an electrical localization field established in the patient; calculating a stability metric for the electrode based on the acquired position information with respect to time; and deciding if the selected electrode, as located in the patient, has a stable location for sensing biological electrical activity, for delivering electrical energy or for sensing biological electrical activity and delivering electrical energy. Position information may be acquired during one or both of intrinsic or paced activation of a heart and respective stability indexes calculated for each activation type. |
| US08401640B2 |
Systems and methods for delivering vagal nerve stimulation
According to various method embodiments, a person is indicated for a therapy to treat a cardiovascular disease, and the therapy is delivered to the person to treat the cardiovascular disease. Delivering the therapy includes delivering a vagal stimulation therapy (VST) to a vagus nerve of the person at a therapeutically-effective intensity for the cardiovascular disease that is below an upper boundary at which upper boundary the VST would lower an intrinsic heart rate during the VST. |
| US08401632B1 |
Systems and methods for performing neurophysiologic assessments
The present invention involves a system and methods for performing neurophysiologic assessments including, but not necessarily limited to, pedicle integrity assessments, neuromuscular pathway assessments, nerve proximity assessments, and spinal cord assessments, and methods for filtering EMG signal data to reject noise. |
| US08401621B2 |
Method and device of detecting, locating and/or analyzing a radioactive source(s) in a material, e.g. a biological tissue
A method of detecting and/or analyzing a radioactive source emitting charged or neutral particles in a biological tissue, consisting essentially in using scintillating fibers having particular ratios of length or diameter to range of the particles emitted by the source; scanning the surface of the material with the detection rod; collecting by means of a SiPM, the scintillation light output generated by the particles having interacted with the scintillating fibers and emitted at the outlet end; optionally selecting signals corresponding to the particles entering the scintillating fibers in a substantially axial direction, that eliminates the particles from certain angles between the axis of the scintillating fiber and the direction of the particles entering the scintillating fiber, correlating the scintillation light output and the selected signals to the presence of a source of radiation located in the material to be analyzed; and optionally communicating these data to the user. |
| US08401618B2 |
Systems and methods for tomographic imaging in diffuse media using a hybrid inversion technique
The invention relates to systems and methods for tomographic imaging in diffuse media employing a fast reconstruction technique. A hybrid Fourier approach is presented that enables the fast tomographic reconstruction of large datasets. In certain embodiments, the invention features methods of in vivo fluorescence molecular tomographic (FMT) reconstruction of signals, reporters and/or agents (i.e., contrast agents or probes) in a diffusive medium (e.g., a mammalian subject). The method preserves the three-dimensional fluorophore distribution and quantitative nature of the FMT approach while substantially accelerating its computation speed, allowing FMT imaging of larger anatomies. |
| US08401617B2 |
EM tracking systems for use with ultrasound and other imaging modalities
An EMT system for use in ultrasound and other imaging modality guided medical procedures. The system includes a tool set of various components to which EM sensors can be releasably secured. Thus, the sensors can be reused, notwithstanding the disposal of other components of the tool set. Various components of the tool set include keying elements to facilitate their registration to the anatomy of the patient undergoing the procedure via the EM sensors. |
| US08401614B2 |
Magnetic resonance thermometry method
A method for reducing errors in the measurement of temperature by magnetic resonance, for use in magnetic resonance imaging-guided HIFU equipment, includes acquiring an MR phase image, as a reference image, before heating an area to be heated with the HIFU equipment; acquiring another MR phase image, as a heated image, during or after the heating by the HIFU equipment; and calculating the temperature change in the heated area according to said heated image and said reference image; and making compensation to said temperature change according to the change in the magnetic field caused by the position change of an ultrasonic transducer in said HIFU equipment. The method can reduce significantly the temperature errors resulting from the position changes of the ultrasonic transducer. |
| US08401610B2 |
Rotating catheter probe using a light-drive apparatus
The invention is a rotating tip catheter-imaging probe where electromagnetic energy is delivered to the distal end of a catheter and converted to mechanical energy using a light drive apparatus. The mechanical energy is then used to rotate a mirror that redirects light in fixed pattern on a sample. The rotating element of the light drive apparatus contains vanes, which rotate about an axis and positioned with bearings to minimize friction. A chamber encompasses the rotating element and is set to a vacuum pressure. The rotational speed of the catheter tip can be controlled by varying the optical power delivered to the vanes, the vacuum pressure in the chamber, or by a braking mechanism applied to the rotating element. The vanes may be shaped in a particular geometry to increase forces on the vanes from thermally driven gas flow. |
| US08401605B2 |
Multiple wavelength physiological measuring apparatus, sensor and interface unit for determination of blood parameters
A measuring apparatus, a physiological sensor, and an interface unit for determining blood parameters of a subject are disclosed. The sensor comprises an emitter unit comprising a first plurality of emitter elements configured to emit radiation at a second plurality of wavelengths and a detector unit configured to receive radiation generated by the emitter elements and transmitted through the tissue of the subject, wherein the detector unit is further configured to produce electric measurement signals indicative of absorption caused by the blood of the subject. The sensor or the interface unit is provided with a memory that stores emitter activation information for at least a third plurality of wavelengths, thereby to enable a monitoring unit operably connectable to the physiological sensor to employ a combination of wavelengths selected from the third plurality of wavelengths, wherein the third plurality is equal to or smaller than the second plurality. |
| US08401603B2 |
Imaging device, method thereof, and program
To realize an imaging device, imaging method and program capable of improving image quality. This invention controls light sources so as to irradiate a body with irradiation light of a luminance level higher than that in the air arriving at the body, adjusts the imaging sensitivity of a solid imaging element for performing photoelectric conversion on pattern scattered light obtained through the inside of the body, and masks the luminance level deterioration region of a pattern image obtained from the solid imaging element to treat the masked image as an image to be composed with a reference image. |
| US08401600B1 |
Superconducting multi-bit digital mixer
A superconducting multi-bit digital mixer, designed using rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) logic, for multiplying two independent digital streams, at least one of these comprising a plurality of parallel bit lines, wherein the output is also a similar plurality of bit lines. In a preferred embodiment, one of the digital streams represents a local oscillator signal, and the other digital stream digital radio frequency input from an analog-to-digital converter. The multi-bit mixer comprises an array of bit-slices, with the local oscillator signal generated using shift registers. This multi-bit mixer is suitable for an integrated circuit with application to a broadband digital radio frequency receiver, a digital correlation receiver, or a digital radio frequency transmitter. A synchronous pulse distribution network is used to ensure proper operation at data rates of 20 GHz or above. |
| US08401598B2 |
Method and system for chip to chip communication utilizing selectable directional antennas
A wireless device comprising a plurality of chips may be operable to wirelessly communicate information between a plurality of chips via selectable directional antennas. Each of the chips may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers, and one or more integrated directional antennas communicatively coupled to the transmitters and/or receivers. The directional antennas may include patch antennas that may be configured to transmit signals in the direction of another chip intended to receive the transmitted signals. The patch antennas may be configured to transmit signals at a frequency matching a configured frequency of a directional antenna integrated on another of the plurality of chips intended to receive the transmitted signals. The directional antennas may include dipole antennas. The inter-chip communication may include baseband signals, radio frequency signals, and/or intermediate frequency signals. The plurality of chips may be integrated on a single package or on a plurality of packages. |
| US08401596B2 |
Communication device, communication method, program and communication system
A communication device is provided and includes: an electromagnetic-wave generating means for outputting an electromagnetic wave; and a transmitting/receiving means for transmitting data by modulating the electromagnetic wave in accordance with data as well as receiving data transmitted from the other device by demodulating the electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating means or the electromagnetic wave outputted by the other device as the other party of communication, wherein the transmitting/receiving means transmits attribute information indicating communication ability of the device itself as well as receives attribute information indicating communication ability of the other device as the data, and the electromagnetic-wave generating means turns off the output of the electromagnetic wave for a given period of time after the transmission of the data based on the attribute information. |
| US08401592B2 |
Mobile terminal having storage box and saving method thereof
A mobile terminal having a touch function is presented. The mobile terminal includes a display unit to display one or more content on a screen and a storage box positioned on the screen for storing at least one of the one or more content dragged on the screen. |
| US08401588B2 |
Dual mode human interface device
A dual mode human interface device (HID) includes a wireless interface for wireless communication with a host computer; a wired interface for wired communication with the host computer; and a processor coupled with the wireless interface and the wired interface for transferring data between the HID and the host computer, wherein the processor initiates establishing wireless communication with the host computer, when the HID is connected to the host computer via the wired interface. |
| US08401585B2 |
Method and apparatus for uplink power control in a wireless communication network
A method and apparatus provide advantageous uplink power control for a set of uplink channels transmitted by a mobile terminal or other item of user equipment (UE). The proposed uplink power control maintains the total received power for the set of uplink channels at or about a target received power, while also maintaining the received signal quality for a subset of those channels—e.g., a particular one of them—at or about a target received signal quality. In an advantageous but non-limiting example embodiment, the subset comprises a fixed-rate control channel, and the set includes that control channel and a variable-rate traffic channel. Correspondingly, a base station generates first power control commands to maintain the received signal quality of the control channel at or about some quality target, and generates second power control commands to maintain the total received power (of the two channels) at or about some power target. |
| US08401583B2 |
Time-shifting for push to talk voice communication systems
A method for providing on a Push To Talk (PTT) communication network time-shifting capabilities to a user of a PTT communication device. The method involves progressively receiving time-based media at a node on the PTT communication network from a sending device and progressively storing the received time-based media in a time-shifting buffer located at the node as the time-based media is progressively received. In response to rendering control instructions received from the user of the PTT communication device, the method further includes controlling the rendering of the time-based media at the PTT communication device in either (i) a near real-time mode as the time-based media is progressively received at the node or (ii) in a time shifted mode at an arbitrary later time after the receipt and storage of the time-based media in the time-shifting buffer. If the received rendering control instructions indicate the PTT user would like to review the media in the near real-time mode, the method further involves progressively transmitting the time-based media to the PTT communication device as the time-based media is progressively received at the node. If the received rendering instructions indicate the time-shifted mode, then the time-based media is progressively transmitted from the time-shifting buffer to the PTT communication device at the arbitrary later time. |
| US08401579B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing broadcast message in broadband wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for synchronizing a broadcast message in a broadband wireless communication system are provided. In a method of operating a Base Station (BS) for synchronizing the broadcast message in the broadband wireless communication system, the method includes setting a transmission start frame number of each of broadcast messages so that the transmission start frame number is identical to those of neighbor BSs according to a frame number generated based on Global Positioning System (GPS) information, if at least one or more of the broadcast messages are superposed in an nth frame, transmitting broadcast messages having a high priority among the at least one or more of the broadcast messages in the nth frame, and transmitting broadcast messages, having a low priority and not transmitted in the nth frame, in an (n+1)th frame with a time delay, and setting a next transmission start time of the broadcast messages having the high priority and the broadcast messages having the low priority to an (n+m)th frame, wherein n is an integer indicating a frame number for transmitting the broadcast messages, and m is an integer indicating a transmission period of a corresponding broadcast message. |
| US08401578B2 |
System for selectively disabling cell phone text messaging function
A selective cell phone text messaging function disabling system prevents a vehicle occupant from text messaging while driving. Other occupants of the vehicle can text message using their cell phones. The driver's cell phone text messaging functionality is turned off by a signal broadcasting system as the driver enters the vehicle through the driver-side door. When the driver exits the vehicle through the driver-side door, the cell phone resumes its texting capability, preserving text messaging functionality while the driver is not operating the vehicle. |
| US08401573B2 |
Personal wireless coverage map
Methods and systems respectively provide for receiving a wireless signal coverage map request from a wireless device. A map is generated in accordance with the request and provided to the wireless device. The map includes symbology keyed to wireless signal services within a particular geographic area. Such symbology can be indicative of recommended areas and travel routes having particular types of wireless signal coverage, regions of poor or non-existent wireless signal service, areas presently experiencing heavy wireless signal usage, and so on. In this way, a wireless device user can seek to access specific wireless services and/or avoid suspect trouble regions within a geographic area. |
| US08401572B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing location based services using connectivity graphs based on cell broadcast information
An approach is provided for providing location based services using connectivity graphs based on cell broadcast information. A plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers are caused to be received. Cell broadcast message identifiers are respectively associated with a plurality of cells. A connectivity graph specifying relationships among the cells is generated for providing a location based service. |
| US08401571B2 |
Mobile electronic system
The invention relates to a mobile electronic system. In order to expand and enhance the usability of the mobile electronic system, it is proposed that it comprises a 3D magnetometer 51 performing magnetic measurements in three dimensions and providing data indicative of the current posture of the mobile electronic system based on these measurements. Further, it is proposed that the mobile electronic system comprises processing means 52, 54 processing the data provided by the 3D magnetometer 51 for enabling a posture related presentation of information via output means 12, 42 of the mobile electronic system. The invention relates equally to components of such a system and to a corresponding method. |
| US08401566B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for converting broadcast channel of a mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and method for converting a channel on a desired channel list is provided such that a channel list can be changed while receiving broadcast data without having to select a menu when a channel change is desired. An input method corresponding to a key or a touch input received while receiving a broadcast is detected and either a currently set channel list is changed to a different list or the currently set channel list is changed to a different channel list and a channel is simultaneously changed on the different channel list according to the detected input method. |
| US08401561B2 |
Method and arrangement in a telecommunication system
In a method of improved channel-sounding transmissions between a base station in communication with a user equipment in a telecommunication system, the user equipment receiving (S0) an assigned channel-sounding transmission pattern from the base station, and transmitting (S1) a channel-sounding signal to the base station based on the assigned channel-sounding transmission pattern and on available uplink data at the user equipment. |
| US08401559B2 |
Tiered wireless, multi-modal access system and method
A wireless, multi-modal access device and system adapted to integrate a number of communications networks operating in differing communication modes. to facilitate transfer of communication links during a communication session to promote efficient use of the communication networks. The system includes a plurality of Universal Multi-Modal Access. Devices UMMAD that are capable of operating at different frequencies and different protocols (TDMA, AMPS, .CDMA, GSM, PCS etc.) to communicate with any one of a number. of Wide Bandwidth Gateways (WBG), which are each capable of communication using one or more of the protocols. The communication links may be switched from one WBG to another or from one protocol to another during a communication session to continue the session under the control of a Universal System Traffic Controller. Numerous other applications of the UMMADs for unique identification and e-commerce are disclosed. |
| US08401555B2 |
Receiver status message management during handoff
Described herein are mechanisms and methods that facilitate generation of receiver status message (e.g., acknowledgments and/or negative acknowledgments) before, during, and after a handoff of an access terminal (user equipment) from a first transceiver module to a second transceiver module. A network module can generate receiver status messages during a handoff and informs a target transceiver module of when it can begin to generate receiver status messages for data received from an access terminal. |
| US08401550B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing a pass to access multimedia services in a limited geographical area
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer-readable media for providing a pass to access multimedia services in a limited geographical area serviced by a fiber-fed, star-topology network (FFSTN). The method comprises receiving pre-registration information from a user to authorize one or more computing devices to obtain access to the fiber-fed, star-topology network covering a limited geographical area for a limited time, presenting the user with a plurality of customizable services each associated with capabilities of the respective one or more computing devices to access the FFSTN, and upon authorization, granting access to requested customized services for each of the one or more computing devices. Mechanisms are provided for handing off one or more devices as they travel from a first FFSTN to a second FFSTN. |
| US08401547B2 |
System and method for enhanced content access
A method and system for facilitating HLR access includes receiving a query request from a query entity, processing the query request to yield an SS7 request message, dispatching the SS7 request message to a HLR, receiving an SS7 response message from the HLR, constructing a query response, and returning the query response to the query entity. |
| US08401546B2 |
Universal acquisition and tracking apparatus for global navigation satellite system (GNSS)
An acquisition and tracking apparatus is provided for tracking digitized spread spectrum navigation signals modulated with a spreading code according to any of a set of modulation types including Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) with and without Frequency Domain Multiplexing Access (FDMA), time multiplexed BPSK, Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), sine and cosine Binary Offset Carrier (BOC), modified, complex, and time multiplexed BOC (TMBOC), the apparatus comprising a plurality of universal tracking channels, each coupled to an interrupt module. The universal tracking channel includes a carrier demodulation module, a code generation module, a correlator module, a code frequencies generation module, and a subcarrier combining module for efficiently using the correlator resources in the correlation of the data and the pilot components of the signal within a single universal tracking channel. A corresponding method of operation is also provided. |
| US08401544B2 |
Method of determining the active set in a cellular radio system
In a method and a device for determining an active set for a mobile station cell individual offsets (CIO) is determined for a number of cells. The offsets are signaling to the mobile station, which adds corrections to the reference signal measurements based on the cell individual offsets (CIO), thereby forming a corrected reference signal measurement and the active set based on the corrected reference signal measurement. |
| US08401542B2 |
Wireless communication system for monitoring physical downlink control channel
A method of monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment monitors a set of PDCCH candidates for a search space in a subframe. The search space includes a common search space monitored by all user equipments in a cell and a UE-specific search space monitored by at least one UE in the cell. |
| US08401541B2 |
Method and apparatus for scanning in multi-carrier communication system
There are provided a method and an apparatus for scanning in a mobile communication system supporting a multi-carrier. For this, the scanning method includes: in a mobile station supporting a multi-carrier including a primary carrier and a secondary carrier, requesting allocation of a scanning interval to a serving base station by using the primary carrier; receiving a response message for designating the scanning interval and a carrier to be used for scanning from the serving base station; and scanning neighbor base stations by using the carrier designated by the response message in the scanning interval. Transaction data is continuously transmitted and received through the remaining carriers while scanning the neighbor base stations by using the primary carrier or the secondary carrier without interruption. |
| US08401540B2 |
Mobile communication system, control device thereof, mobile terminal, and database constructing method
A mobile communication system comprises base stations, a mobile terminal and a control device. The mobile terminal comprises a report unit reports a reception power of a radio wave from a current station and a next station to the control device for each base station switch processing. The control device comprises a calculation unit calculates a first distance and a second distance. The first distance is the distance between the current station and the mobile terminal. The second distance is the distance between the next station and the mobile terminal. The control device comprises a database stores distance data between the base stations. The control device comprises an update unit updates the distance data by a minimum value of a sum of the first and the second distances. |
| US08401539B2 |
Servicing attributes on a mobile device
Enabling remote customer service and maintenance using a visual identifier is disclosed. In response to a user enrolling in a service capability associated with a mobile device, the process utilizes a visual identifier to associate the service capability with the customer account, the service and the mobile device. The system allocates a visual identifier for each service capability and enables customer service agents to identify the service capability and mobile device, verify the user and retrieve information for the service interaction. |
| US08401535B2 |
System, a method, and an apparatus for sharing an updated content with peers
A method for providing content via a wireless communication network to a requesting terminal. The method comprising editing the content on a mobile terminal, receiving a request at a mobile terminal for the content from the first requesting terminal, and providing the content to the first requesting terminal via at least one connection with a mobile terminal storing the content. |
| US08401533B1 |
Methods and systems for call processing in a wireline and wireless network
Methods and systems are described for routing call in a wireless network environment. In one embodiment, a phone address is assigned to a subscriber and/or a subscriber's mobile telecommunications device. A call directed to the phone address is routed to a call processing system. An outbound call from the call processing system is placed to a wireless communication service provider so as to cause, at least in part, the wireless communication service provider to route the outbound call to the subscriber's mobile telecommunications device, wherein the call processing system configures call signaling parameters associated with the outbound call so that the outbound call appears to be to a phone number ported to the wireless communication service provider, and wherein the phone number has not been ported to the wireless communication service provider. The outbound call is bridged with the inbound call. |
| US08401532B2 |
Method for simulating network hold
A method, a master short range accessory, and an ad-hoc personal area network device for pairing with multiple slave communication devices are disclosed. An audio user interface 310 may interact with a user. A primary device interface component 372 may create a primary audio connection with a primary mobile communication device 502 to facilitate a primary telephone conversation session with a primary communication partner 512. A secondary device interface component 372 may create a secondary audio connection with the secondary mobile communication device 504 to facilitate a secondary telephone conversation session with a secondary communication partner 532 while maintaining the primary audio connection. A processor 330 may send an audio hold indication to the primary communication partner 512 and mutes the primary audio connection. |
| US08401528B2 |
Systems and methods for providing telephony services
A system and method for enabling a user to purchase an instant mobile telephony services plan makes use of an application on a mobile telephony device. The user can purchase an instant mobile plan via a third party merchant. Once purchased, the user can also make use of the application on the user's mobile telephony device to obtain the purchased telephony services. The communications services provider that provides services to the user under an instant mobile plan may be different from the communications services provider that is tied to the user's mobile telephony device. |
| US08401525B2 |
Electronic file transfer for a communications device
Systems and methods are provided for identifying an electronic file that is accessible by a communications node to be transmitted to a recipient. A communications device sends an identification of the electronic file. The communications node receives the identification of the electronic file, identifies the electronic file based on the identification, and accesses the electronic file for transmission to the recipient. The electronic file is not transmitted from the communications device to the communications node. |
| US08401521B2 |
Enabling remote and anonymous control of mobile and portable multimedia devices for security, tracking and recovery
Aspects of the invention comprise a remote tracking and control server operable to transparently activate control of resources and to monitor operations on a target handheld communication device utilizing code installed on the handheld device. The resources may comprise a camera, microphone, GPS receiver, input device, display, speaker, wireless and/or wire-line transmitter and/or receiver. The monitoring and/or controlling activity is protected from interruption. The handheld device may be accessed by a securely stored unique identifier. Access to the controlling function and/or the resources by a user of the handheld device may be restricted. Monitored information is stored on the handheld device and communicated to the tracking server. The control server may receive monitored information from the handheld device whenever the device is coupled to a communication network. Monitoring may be initiated based on detected motion, sound, user input, video and/or touch. |
| US08401520B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiterminal support using bluetooth based audio gateway
Disclosed herein is a method and system for establishing a local conferencing session amongst a plurality of Bluetooth enabled terminal units. An audio gateway is provided to interconnect a voice network and the terminal units. A session management entity is provided on the audio gateway and each of the terminal units. A local conferencing session setup is established prior to the conference session wherein a set of common session parameters is shared among the audio gateway and the terminal units through the respective session management entities. The common session parameters enable Bluetooth communication between the audio gateway and the terminal units. The audio gateway broadcasts the voice packets from the voice network to the terminal units. The audio gateway provides microphone holder rights to a terminal unit to transfer voice packets to the voice network. Further, the audio gateway coordinates the transfer of microphone rights between the terminal units. |
| US08401519B2 |
System and method for provisioning a wireless device to only be able to access network services within a specific location
A system and method for provisioning wireless devices such that they are only capable of accessing network services when in a specified location. A device surveys the current location of the device for existing base stations and stores a corresponding network environment profile. After the profile is stored, network services will only be provided to the device if the current network profile matches the stored profile. |
| US08401518B1 |
Variable billing of MMS messages in wireless network communication system based on message formation application
A wireless mobile communication device may include a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit MMS messages over a wireless network communication system. The device may also include a plurality of user applications. Each user application may be of a different type and configured to generate content for an MMS message based on input to the wireless mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may include an MMS client configured to generate MMS messages based on content supplied by the user applications. The MMS client may be configured to generate a value for a field of information within each MMS message that is indicative of the type of user application which supplies content for the MMS message. The value may be different for each different type of user application. |
| US08401517B1 |
System and method for maintaining high service quality within a mobile wireless communication network
A method for managing service quality provided by a mobile wireless network including a population of base station transceivers and associated antennas at a radio frequency interface to mobile wireless devices is described. The method includes acquiring data volume and connection attempts demand information from the base station transceivers. The data volume and connection attempts demand parameter values are analyzed to render statistical values for these two types of demand parameter values. Thereafter, trigger points for data volume and data connection attempts demand are established based upon the statistical values for these two respective types of demand information. The data volume and connection attempts demand trigger points are applied, respectively, to the individual data volume demand parameter values and the individual connection attempts demand parameter values to render a list of transceivers having parameter values exceeding both the data volume and connection attempts demand trigger points. |
| US08401510B2 |
Common-gate common-source transconductance stage for RF downconversion mixer
In an embodiment, a method and apparatus for downconverting a received RF signal in a wireless device where differential signals from an off-chip matching network may be input to a CGCS input stage of a mixer, which downconverts the signals to baseband or some intermediate frequency. The input stage includes a pair of NMOS transistors in a common-gate configuration and a pair of PMOS transistors in a common-source configuration. A potential advantage of the CGCS input stage over the existing CGO transconductance stage configuration is that by adding a common-source stage through the PMOS differential-pair, the transconductance gain is decoupled from the high Q matching network. |
| US08401500B1 |
High-efficiency low-cost power supply for radio frequency systems
The present disclosure relates to an RF power amplifier (PA) power supply that includes a series pass circuit coupled across a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter to receive a power supply input signal, such as provided from a battery, to provide a power supply output signal to at least a first RF PA based on an output setpoint. Control circuitry selects between a switching supply operating mode and a non-switching supply operating mode based on the output setpoint. During the switching supply operating mode, the DC-to-DC converter provides the power supply output signal and during the non-switching supply operating mode, the series pass circuit provides the power supply output signal. |
| US08401492B2 |
High frequency switch module
A high frequency switch module includes a laminated circuit component that includes an antenna electrode connected to a single antenna, a plurality of communication electrodes connected to a plurality of high frequency communication circuits to transmit, receive, or transmit and receive plural kinds of communication signals, and a land arranged to mount a switch IC on, and a switch IC that is mounted on the laminated circuit component and includes a common terminal connected to the single antenna through the laminated circuit component, and a plurality of communication circuit terminals connected to the plurality of high frequency communication circuits through the laminated circuit component. The switch IC is provided with switch circuits between the communication circuit terminals and the common terminal, and all of the switch circuits have the same or substantially the same resistance against transmission power applied at the time of transmission. |
| US08401489B2 |
Calibrating a telephone hands free system
A calibration device automatically calibrates a telephone hands free system. The device includes a signal processor that processes a received telephone signal that may be converted into audible sound through the hands free system. A first telephone and a second telephone communicate with the signal processor. The first telephone is programmed to transmit a predetermined test signal to the second telephone through a wireless or physical medium. A comparator compares the received test signal to a predetermined reference signal at a hands free interface. The comparison determines a deviation from the reference signal. An adaptor modifies the processing of the digitized aural information based on the deviation. |
| US08401487B2 |
Radio channel analyzer to determine doppler shifts across multiple frequencies of a wideband signal
A receiver and receive processing method described herein improves the accuracy of channel estimates by correcting for the assumption that the Doppler shift (or rate-of-change-of-delay) stays constant for each frequency within a signal bandwidth of a received signal. To that end, a receiver according to the present invention comprises a channel processor having multiple processing units. A first processing unit processes reference values (e.g., pilot signals) received for each of a plurality of frequencies within a signal bandwidth at a plurality of different signal times (or the complex propagation channel coefficients estimated therefrom) to determine a set of complex wave amplitudes either for each of multiple frequencies in the signal bandwidth or for each of the different signal times. A second processing unit subsequently processes the complex wave amplitudes to determine complex scattering coefficients, where each complex scattering coefficient corresponds to a respective scattering object in the wireless communication channel. |
| US08401482B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling a signal
The disclosed embodiments relate to an apparatus and method for controlling transmission of a signal in a communications device in order to prevent interference. An apparatus is described that includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal, an antenna coupled to the transmitter for radiating the signal in a radiated polarization pattern, and a controller for adjusting the transmitter when the radiated signal exhibits an undesired polarization pattern. A method is also described that includes the steps of producing a signal for transmission, radiating the signal in a polarization pattern, and adjusting the production of the signal for transmission when the radiated signal exhibits an undesired polarization. |
| US08401478B2 |
Television band (TVBD) channel quieting across diverse radio access technologies
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for the communication of wireless data using diverse radio access technologies (RATs) in Television Band (TVBD) frequencies. An architecture for communicating wireless data in TVBD frequencies may include one or more network nodes that perform functions related to the coordination of channel quieting across multiple diverse RATs. Channel quieting may be performed across multiple diverse RATs by using temporary channel reassignments, by aggregating wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) that use a particular RAT onto the same channel, and/or via other techniques. |
| US08401477B2 |
System, method and apparatus for communicating with vehicle occupants
An application for a two-way communication system for communicating with a person who is within a vehicle includes a short-range radio transmission to transmit audio to a radio within the vehicle. Communication from the person is done by reflecting a light beam on a window of the vehicle and receiving the light beam. The light beam is modulated by vibration of the window caused by the person's voice. The received light beam is then processed to reproduce the sound of the person's voice. |
| US08401470B2 |
Transmitter with adjustable transmit level for magnetic link
A device, e.g., a hearing aid, has an electronic circuit for wireless communication of a digital signal. The circuit has a driver driving an RLC tank. The driver has a plurality of inverters whose outputs are coupled to a node of the coil via a respective one of multiple capacitors in the tank. The circuit has a controller that selectively drives one or more of the inverters with the digital signal and connects the inputs of the other inverters to a supply voltage or ground. The tank has a further plurality of series arrangements of a further capacitor and a high-voltage switch connected between the node and ground. The controller is configured for controlling the high-voltage switches. |
| US08401468B2 |
Method and system for facilitating scheduling using a mobile device
A method and system for facilitating scheduling using a mobile device and near field communication (NFC) allows a user of a mobile device integrated with an NFC unit while in the vicinity of a shared resource that is presently unavailable or a residence of a social contact who is presently not home to review a schedule for the shared resource or social contact, and in the case of a shared resource reserve the shared resource at a later time. |
| US08401462B2 |
FM broadcast system competitive with satellite radio
A media broadcast and distribution system is disclosed which substitutes storage for communications, allowing more efficient use of scarce bandwidth resources. One embodiment allows a terrestrial FM broadcaster to offer a larger number of higher quality audio channels than current satellite radio services such as Sirius and XM Satellite Radio. This embodiment also has features that offer a better user experience than with personal audio devices such as Apple's iPod™. Another embodiment allows satellite radio services to expand their video offerings. |
| US08401461B2 |
Wireless communication system for wirelessly transmitting setting information of display unit
In a wireless communication system including a source device for wirelessly transmitting a video signal, and a sink device for receiving the wirelessly transmitted video signal and displaying the received video signal on a display, the sink device reads out EDID information from a ROM and wirelessly transmits a wireless data signal including the EDID information to the source device. The source device wirelessly receives the wireless data signal including the EDID information and wirelessly transmitted from the sink device, and wirelessly transmits the video signal to the sink device based on the EDID information. |
| US08401454B2 |
System for collecting waste toner
A system for collecting waste toner or developer in an electrophotographic printer includes a waste collection tube for collecting waste toner or developer in an electrophotographic module. An auger transports waste toner or developer from the collection tube through a transport tube to a waste container. A spring has a first end in the collection tube and a second end fixed within the transport tube of the auger. An elbow of the spring rides on the auger and the motion of the auger causes the spring to oscillate in the collection tube. |
| US08401453B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a developer removal member, a support member and a fixation member. The developer removal member is in contact with an adherend to which developer adheres and removes the developer from the adherend. The support member has a first end where a bent portion is formed and a second end opposite to the first end. The support member also supports the developer removal member in the vicinity of the bent portion. The fixation member holds the second end of the support member. |
| US08401449B2 |
Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of fixing marking materials onto media
Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of fixing marking materials onto media are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus useful in printing includes a first roll including a first shaft and a first surface; a second roll including an axially-extending inner portion including a second shaft; an axially-extending outer portion over the inner portion; at least a first annular gap and a second annular gap extending axially between the inner portion and the outer portion, the first annular gap being axially spaced from the second annular gap; and a second surface forming a nip with the first surface. The inner portion and the outer portion of the second roll bend in opposite directions when the first roll and the second roll are loaded by applying a first force to the first shaft in a first direction and applying a second force to the second shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US08401448B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a fixing member, a nip formation member, a pressing member, and a low-friction sheet. The nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member rotating in a predetermined direction of rotation. The pressing member is pressed against the nip formation member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The fixing member and the pressing member rotate and convey the recording medium bearing the toner image through the nip. The low-friction sheet, over which the fixing member slides, covers the nip formation member. The nip formation member includes a first sandwiching member covered by the low-friction sheet, and a second sandwiching member sandwiching the low-friction sheet together with the first sandwiching member. |
| US08401445B2 |
Developer supply apparatus and image forming apparatus
A developer supply apparatus is provided which supplies a toner to a supply object, the developer supply apparatus including a developer storage body which stores a powdery developer, and a transfer body which transfers the developer along the developer transfer path with traveling wave electric fields. The developer includes a toner having a predetermined charging characteristic and an electric neutralizer having an opposite charging characteristic, which is opposite to the predetermined charging characteristic. |
| US08401440B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes: a first developer holding body with a first cylinder member disposed facing the outer peripheral surface of a rotating latent image holding body, and a first magnet disposed at the inside of the first cylinder member; a second developer holding body with a second cylinder member disposed facing the outer peripheral surface of the latent image holding body, further downstream in the latent image holding body rotation direction than the first developer holding body, and a second magnet disposed at the inside of the second cylinder member; and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the relative position of the first magnet to the second magnet in a circumferential direction. |
| US08401439B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The present invention realizes an image forming apparatus which is equipped with a carrier recovery section of simple configuration and for which maintenance is not required, the apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the photoconductive drum by a two-component developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier, and a carrier recovery section which is equipped with a recovery roller, wherein the carrier recovery roller includes a rotatable sleeve, and a magnet roller that is installed inside the sleeve and provided with a plurality of fixed magnetic poles including a main pole to recover the magnetic carrier adhered onto the photoconductive drum and a separating pole to separate the magnetic carrier from the recovery roller, wherein a separating member is disposed at such a position that is opposite to the sleeve at a prescribed distance in a non-contact state. |
| US08401438B2 |
Conveyance member, developer cartridge, and image-forming apparatus
A conveyance member includes: a rotational shaft; a support portion that extends from the rotational shaft in a direction crossing an axial direction of the rotational shaft; and an arcuate member that includes one end that is supported by the support portion, and another end that extends in a direction different from the rotational direction, wherein a distance between an outer edge of the arcuate member at the other end and the rotational shaft is longer than a distance between an outer edge of the arcuate member at the one end and the rotational shaft. |
| US08401436B2 |
Developer container and image forming apparatus using the same
A developer container is provided with a container body. An opening is formed through the container body. An opening/closing lid closes the opening. A lid holding frame holds the opening/closing lid in such a manner that the opening/closing lid can move between an open position and a closed position. A stopper stops the opening/closing lid and thereby preventing it from moving toward the open position in a state that the opening/closing lid is located at the closed position. A contact portion comes into contact with a hook portion provided in a container receiving portion when the developer container is inserted into the container receiving portion. A deformable portion deforms the stopper to such an extent that the stopping of the opening/closing lid by the stopper is canceled when the developer container is inserted into the container receiving portion and the contact portion comes into contact with the hook portion. |
| US08401431B2 |
Developing device, image forming apparatus, and image forming structure
A developing device includes: a developing device main body in which a developer chamber containing a developer is formed; a pressure application area forming unit that is provided in the developer chamber so as to form a pressure application area where pressure is applied to the developer in the developer chamber because of movement of the developer contained in the developer chamber; and a pressure regulating unit that regulates the pressure applied to the developer in the pressure application area in response to temperature of the developer in the pressure application area. |
| US08401430B2 |
Electron emitting element for accelerating and emitting electrons, and use of electron emitting element
An electron emitting element (1) includes a substrate (2), an upper electrode (3), and a fine particle layer (4) sandwiched between the substrate (2) and the upper electrode (3). The fine particle layer (4) includes metal fine particles (6) with high resistance to oxidation, and insulating fine particles (5) larger in size than the metal fine particles (6). The electron emitting element (1) can steadily emit electrons not only in vacuum but also in the atmosphere. Further, the electron emitting element (1) can work without electric discharge so that harmful substances such as ozone, NOx, or the like are scarcely generated. Accordingly, degradation of the electron emitting element (1) due to oxidation does not occur. Therefore, the electron emitting element (1) has a long life and can steadily work continuously for a long period of time even in the atmosphere. |
| US08401426B2 |
Opening/closing mechanism and image forming apparatus
When closing a front cover opened in a case where a fixing lever is placed in a fixing position, a guide plate portion formed on the front cover raises the fixing lever together with a support shaft. When a connection pin of the fixing lever enters a cam groove provided in the front cover, the fixing lever obtains a closed state in which the fixing lever is connected to the cam groove. |
| US08401423B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in the state that cartridge is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising an opening; a cartridge supporting member linearly movable through the opening between an inside position, in the main assembly of the apparatus, for forming an image using the cartridge and an outside position which is outside the main assembly of the apparatus; retracting means for retracting the cartridge supporting member from a region in which the cartridge supporting member faces the opening, in the state that cartridge supporting member is in the outside position; and locking means for releasably locking the cartridge supporting member at the retracted position. |
| US08401420B2 |
Process cartridge having toner scatter preventing sheet having roughened contact end and photoelectrographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a first unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a second unit including a developing roller configured to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a sheet member which is disposed along the developing roller in a lengthwise direction of the developing roller and contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member to restrain scattering of developer, wherein a contact portion of the sheet member that contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughened by a roughening process. |
| US08401418B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including: a frame member including a first electrode and a replacement unit including a second electrode that electrically contacts the first electrode. The replacement unit is movable relative to the frame member along a moving direction. The moving direction includes a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction. The first electrode is formed by a wire and includes a contact portion. The contact portion, which is bent along an intersection plane, is movable in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. A direction of the contact portion is set so that the intersection plane intersects with a first plane and a second plane at angles smaller than an intersection angle formed by the intersection of the first plane and the second plane. |
| US08401416B2 |
Electrophotographically printing job having job type
A method of printing a job having a type using an electrophotographic (EP) printer includes receiving the job and its type. A processor is used to automatically select a first or a second job mode based on the job type; the first job mode indicates aggressive gray component replacement (aGCR) is used but not clear toner, and the second job mode indicates clear toner is used but not aGCR. The data of the job are processed using the processor according to the selected job mode to provide six separations corresponding to respective colorants. Toner corresponding to the six separations is then applied to the receiver using at least one EP printing module in the EP printer to produce a print image of the job. |
| US08401415B2 |
Image forming device to process job using set-up entries of other image forming devices and method thereof
An image forming device to receive set-up entry data of external image forming devices, includes an interface portion to relay communications with at least one external image forming device; a communication portion to request set-up entry data to the at least one external image forming device; and a central processing unit to execute a job according to the set-up entry data when the requested set-up entry data is received through the interface portion. The communication portion searches the external image forming devices using a broadcast scheme and requests the set-up entry data according to the search result. Accordingly, functions of the image forming device can be utilized with more convenience and efficiency. |
| US08401408B2 |
Light scanning device and image forming apparatus including a controller that determines a scanning direction of light beam
A light scanning device and an image forming apparatus including the light scanning device are provided. The light scanning device includes: a light emitting unit which emits a light beam; a light deflecting unit which deflects the light beam to scan in a scanning direction; a scanning lens which focuses the light beam deflected and scanned by the light deflecting unit on a photosensitive body; and a light detecting unit which detects the light beam directed to outside areas of an image formation area in the scanning direction, wherein an optical path length of the light beam directed to one of the outside areas, from the light deflecting unit to the light detecting unit is different from an optical path length of the light beam directed to the other one of the outside areas, from the light deflecting unit to the light detecting unit. |
| US08401404B2 |
Optical receiver
An on-chip receiver for flows of information conveyed to a target via optical signals with different wavelengths includes a plurality of photo-detector modules, each sensitive to a different wavelength, for converting a respective optical signal at input into an electrical signal, a plurality of de-serialization circuits acting on the electrical signals for converting into packet traffic the flows of information received via the photo-detector modules, and an arbitration node acting on the packet traffic to enable a single packet at a time to achieve the target. |
| US08401403B2 |
Timing recovery in presence of optical impairments and optimization of equalization based on timing recovery moment strengths
The present disclosure provides timing recovery in optical systems in the presence of chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), and polarization dependent loss (PDL) and to optimization of equalization settings based upon timing recovery moment strengths. A stable timing point may be determined in the presence of PMD and PDL impairments, even when the direct estimate of timing becomes unreliable. This determination may be performed entirely in the digital domain providing precise, predictable performance. Also, the present invention utilizes a monotonic relationship between the timing metric and CD setting error to provide directed search in setting the CD equalizer thereby reducing significantly the overall search effort in optimizing CD equalizer settings. This utilizes computations already performed by the transceiver for timing recovery function yielding a computational advantage over competing methods. |
| US08401400B2 |
Detection of data in signals with data pattern dependent signal distortion
A detection system and method may be used to detect data transmitted in a signal with data pattern dependent signal distortion. In general, a detection system and method compares samples of a received signal with stored samples of distorted signals associated with known data patterns and selects the known data patterns that correspond most closely with the samples of the received signal. The detection system and method may thus mitigate the effects of data pattern dependent signal distortion. |
| US08401398B2 |
Modulator for frequency-shift keying of optical signals
Described are an FSK modulator and a method for large-alphabet FSK modulation. The FSK modulator and the method are based on filtering of a multi-tone optical source such as a mode-locked laser which provides a comb distribution of tones. A frequency-selective component selects for transmission a subset of the tones. In various embodiments the frequency-selective component is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer filter or a microring resonator filter. A second frequency-selective component selects a subset of the tones from the comb distribution provided by the first frequency-selective component. Still more frequency-selective components can be used according to the number of tones supplied by the multi-tone optical source to the FSK modulator. The optical signal exiting the last frequency-selective component includes only a single tone which corresponds to the symbol to be transmitted. |
| US08401393B2 |
Data center with free-space optical communications
A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. |
| US08401392B2 |
Flexible branching unit and system including the same
Fault tolerance may be achieved in a branched optical communication system such that a fault in one optical path may not affect optical signals coupled from a healthy optical path. In general, a flexible branching unit is configured, when adding and dropping channels, to select channels from a healthy path and not from the faulty path (e.g., a trunk path or a branch path) to prevent non-uniform channel loading on the trunk path after the branching unit. In this manner, a fault detected on the trunk path may not affect signals from the branch path and a fault detected on the branch path may not affect signals from the trunk path, thereby providing fault tolerance. A flexible branching unit may also be capable of adjusting the number and selection of channels that are added and dropped at the branching unit. |
| US08401390B2 |
Optical connecting apparatus
An optical connecting apparatus has a light source outputting an optical signal indicating a plurality of wavelengths which correspond to a plurality of transmission channels, an optical transmit section and an optical receive section being mounted with integrated circuits and being connected to each other through an optical line of a single system, and a signal conversion section being inlet in the optical line and converting a phase modulated signal into an intensity modulated signal. The optical transmit section includes: a demultiplexer which separates the optical signal from the light source according to the transmission channels; an optical modulator unit which generates phase modulated signals by implementing phase modulation with optical signals from the demultiplexer by using a plurality of optical modulators whose operations are synchronized by a signal from the integrated circuit; and a multiplexer which multiplexes the phase modulated signals from the optical modulator unit and outputs the multiplexed phase modulated signals to the signal conversion section through the optical line. The optical receive section includes: a demultiplexer which separates the intensity modulated signal from the signal conversion section according to the transmission channels; and an optical receiver unit which converts the intensity modulated signals from the demultiplexer into electric signals. |
| US08401388B2 |
Optical transmitter
A transmitter for generating, starting from a data-packet traffic at input, flows of information to be conveyed via optical signals with different wavelengths towards a plurality of targets in a communications network, the transmitter including: a destination decoder to identify, for each packet in the input packet traffic, a respective destination target in the plurality of targets; a plurality of emitter modules operating at different wavelengths for converting the electrical signals into optical signals; and a de-multiplexer, which is controlled by the destination decoder and is able to drive the emitter modules by sending selectively to each emitter module the electrical signals corresponding to a given packet of the input packet traffic according to the respective destination target identified by the destination decoder. A serialization module is set upstream of the de-multiplexer for converting the packet traffic into a serial flow of bits. The transmitter also includes an optional transmission optical bus inverter for implementing a source coding on the electrical signals sent to the emitter modules. |
| US08401384B2 |
Optical access system, optical switching unit and optical line terminal
Provided is an optical access system, including: an optical line terminal, a plurality of optical network units and an optical switching unit. The optical line terminal sends to the optical switching unit a control frame including a switching time when the optical switching unit is to make a switch from one of the optical communication paths between the optical line terminal and the plurality of optical network units to another, and an identifier of an optical communication path to which the switch is made in order to switch the optical communication paths between the optical line terminal and the plurality of optical network units. The optical switching unit switches the optical communication paths between the optical line terminal and the plurality of optical network units based on the switching time and the identifier of the optical communication path after switching which are included in the control frame. |
| US08401383B2 |
Data transmission method and network for transmitting a digital optical signal over optical transmission links and networks
A data transmission method for transmitting a digital optical signal over an optical transmission link includes creating a digital optical signal defining at least two service levels, each service level transporting information via a modulation scheme comprising at least three different modulation symbols. The data transmission method also includes transmitting the digital optical signal over the transmission link and receiving the transmitted digital optical signal at a remote end of the transmission link by demodulating the received signal and extracting the information of the at least two service levels. In case that the transmission performance is below a given threshold due to increased constraints of the transmission link a compensating action is taken to drop at least one of the service levels from the optical signal or to determine parameters associated with the transmission so as to increase one of the service levels to a predetermined quality level. |
| US08401379B2 |
Optical path adjusting device and photographing apparatus having the same
An optical path adjusting device includes a supporting plate having a hole through which light travels, a two-dimensional (2D) aperture disposed in the supporting plate so as to adjust an open area of the hole, and a three-dimensional (3D) aperture having a plurality of first blinds and a plurality of second blinds. The plurality of first blinds are disposed to correspond to a first area of the hole so as to move to open or close the first area, and the plurality of second blinds are disposed to correspond to a second area of the hole so as to move to open or close the second area. |
| US08401378B2 |
Flash control for electronic rolling shutter
A method performed by an electronic camera in flash mode is as follows. A scene ambient lighting indication is obtained. An integration time interval and a flash pulse-on time interval for taking a picture is then set. The set integration time interval is shorter when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark; and the set flash pulse-on time interval is longer when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark. An image is captured using the set integration time interval and the set flash pulse-on time interval in accordance with an electronic rolling shutter (ERS). Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08401376B2 |
Information recording apparatus and method for the same
Entry points are managed so they are easy for users to understand. The data recording apparatus has a receiver unit that receives a stream of encoded digital data; an analyzer that detects change in an attribute of the received stream and that outputs the detection information; a controller that generates management information containing the detection information output by the analyzer and time information indicating detection time of the change as a first entry point; a drive that records the management information and the received stream to a data storage medium; and an input unit that defines a second entry point. This second entry point is set relative to the playback path of the stream and is used to access and read from a particular point in the stream. The controller further generates the management information containing the first entry point and the second entry point separately identified. |
| US08401375B2 |
Recording apparatus, recording method, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program
There is provided a recording apparatus that is capable of avoiding the deletion of contents, which is important to the user, due to overwriting of the contents and degradation in reproduction quality due to recompression thereof, by allowing the user to selectively delete unnecessary contents by himself or herself using a deleting contents selection screen displayed to the user when there is little remaining recording capacity on a recording medium. The recording apparatus records information data on a recording medium at a plurality of different recording data rates. A recording data rate of the information data selected from the plurality of different recording data rates is set. A recordable time period is detected based on the set recording data rate and an information quantity of information data that has already been recorded on the recording medium. Recordable time period information indicative of the detected recordable time period is displayed. |
| US08401372B2 |
Image recording apparatus, image recording method and storage medium for recording television programs
An image recording apparatus in which recording preset information, constituted by a recording start time and a recording end time, is stored for each preset program to be unattended recorded. If there is any overlap between the recording start times and the recording end times of the preset programs that are to be recorded, a warning is generated; and the overlapping preset programs are prioritized for unattended recording. |
| US08401371B1 |
Method and apparatus for automatic time-shifting for a content recorder
A content player includes a pausable mass storage device player that can be used to record and play content. The pausable mass storage device can become paused in response to an assertion of a pause signal. Once paused, the content player remains paused until the pause signal is deasserted. The content player also includes an event detector that is coupled to the pausable mass storage device player. The content player detects a non-viewer initiated event, (e.g., an automatic event such as the receipt of an email with embedded enhanced content), and to assert the pause signal in response thereto. The content player receives content, detects an event, and in response to detecting the event, pauses the content to a presentation device; and spools the content onto the mass storage device. |
| US08401368B2 |
Video data reproducing apparatus, video data generating apparatus and recording medium
To provide a video data reproducing apparatus or the like, which includes: a flag reader 101 for reading out a flag that designates a playback style during special playback, from video data; decoders 102 and 103 for decoding two sets of video data; a synthesizer 106 for combining the decoded videos to output the result; and a manager 109 for controlling the operations of decoders 102, 103 and synthesizer 106 in accordance with the flag value, and which manages the playback style in the special playback during picture-in-picture playing in accordance with the flag value, to thereby realize the playback style of the picture-in-picture video during the special playback that reflects the distributor's intention. |
| US08401352B2 |
Optical waveguide device, its manufacture method, laser module and optical transmission system
A first optical waveguide of a convex shape is formed over a substrate. A second optical waveguide of a convex shape is formed over the substrate. A multimode interference waveguide of a convex shape is formed over the substrate for optically coupling the first optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide. Either side of the first optical waveguide is filled with a filling material, but either side of the second optical waveguide is not filled with the filling material. |
| US08401342B2 |
System and method to match images using topologically equivalent correspondences
A method, system and computer program product for matching images is provided. The images to be matched are represented by feature points and feature vectors and orientations associated with the feature points. First, putative correspondences are determined by using feature vectors. A subset of putative correspondences is selected and the topological equivalence of the subset is determined. The topologically equivalent subset of putative correspondences is used to establish a motion estimation model. An orientation consistency test is performed on the putative correspondences and the corresponding motion estimation transformation that is determined, to avoid an infeasible transformation. A coverage test is performed on the matches that satisfy orientation consistency test. The candidate matches that do not cover a significant portion of one of the images are rejected. The final match images are provided in the order of decreasing matching, in case of multiple images satisfying all the test requirements. |
| US08401334B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for media customization
A method for customizing media is provided. The method comprises obtaining an image including at least one image of a portion of a person. The method further comprises extracting the at least one image of a portion of a person from the image based on object finding and generating customized media including the at least one image of a portion of a person extracted from the scene image. An amusement park attraction is also disclosed. |
| US08401333B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus for multi-resolution feature based image registration
When different images are combined, the corresponding parts are to be aligned accurately. To thus combine images, the feature point of each pixel is calculated from each original image using an operator (filter). The pixels are divided into blocks that the resolution matches that of the reduced image of each original image, and an expectation value map for registering the expectation value of the feature point of each block is drawn. Feature points are expected from the expectation values which the expectation value map holds, and reduced images are superposed one on the other. The feature points of the original images corresponding to the feature points between which the correspondence is derived from the reduced images are extracted, and the original images are superposed one on the other using the extracted feature points. |
| US08401327B2 |
Apparatus, computer program product and associated methodology for video analytics
A processor and associated methodology employ a SIMD architecture and instruction set to efficiently perform video analytics operation on images. The processor contains a group of SIMD instructions used by the method to implement video analytic filters that avoid bit expansion of the pixels to be filtered. The filters hold the number of bits representing a pixel constant throughout the entire operation, conserving processor capacity and throughput when performing video analytics. |
| US08401326B2 |
Image processing system and method for liquid crystal display
In an image processing system for a liquid crystal display a frame converter receives an original frame signal and produces a double frequency frame signal. A high pass filter performs a high pass filtering on the double frequency frame signal and produces a high pass double frequency frame signal. A delay device performs a delay operation on the double frequency frame signal and produces a delayed double frequency frame signal. A local contrast measurement device measures a contrast of the double frame signal and produces a local contrast signal. A high frequency gain device performs a gain adjustment on the high pass double frequency frame signal based on the local contrast signal and produces a gained high pass double frequency frame signal. A mixer is employed to mix the gained high pass double frequency frame signal and the delayed double frequency frame signal and produce an output frame signal. |
| US08401322B2 |
Image recording device, image recording method and program
There is provided an image recording device, including: a highly-gradating unit for highly-gradating an input image having a first gradation depth, thereby generating a high gradation image having a second gradation depth higher than the first gradation depth; an image quantizing unit for quantizing the high gradation image generated by the highly-gradating unit such that a quantization error is modulated into a band with relatively low sensitivity of human visual characteristics, thereby generating a recording target image having a third gradation depth lower than the second gradation depth; an encoding unit for encoding the recording target image generated by the quantizing unit; and a recording unit for recording the recording target image encoded by the encoding unit in a recording medium. |
| US08401321B2 |
Method and apparatus for context adaptive binary arithmetic coding and decoding
A method of and apparatus for context adaptive binary arithmetic coding and decoding of a significance map indicating the position of a coefficient that is not zero in a residual block are provided. According to the method and apparatus, a subdivided context is selected according to whether or not a coefficient of a previous residual block corresponding to a coefficient of a current residual block, and binary arithmetic coding is performed according to the selected context, thereby improving the performance of context-based binary arithmetic coding. |
| US08401315B2 |
File and folder structure for layered compressed image sequences
Systems, methods, and computer programs for high quality wide-range multi-layer image compression coding, including consistent ubiquitous use of floating point values in essentially all computations; an adjustable floating-point deadband; use of an optimal hand-split filter; use of entire SNR layers at lower resolution levels; targeting of specific SNR layers to specific quality improvements; concentration of coding bits in regions of interest in targeted band-split and SNR layers; use of statically-assigned targets for high-pass and/or for SNR layers; improved SNR by using a lower quantization value for regions of an image showing a higher compression coding error; application of non-linear functions of color when computing difference values when creating an SNR layer; use of liner overall quantization at lower resolution levels with regional quantization scaling; removal of source image noise before motion-compensated compression or film steadying; use of one or more full-range low bands; use of alternate quantization control images for SNR bands and other high resolution enhancing bands; application of lossless variable-length coding using adaptive regions; use of a folder and file structure for layers of bits; and a method of inserting new intra frames by counting the number of bits needed for a motion compensated frame. |
| US08401313B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing method is provided for an image processing apparatus which executes processing by allocating a plurality of weak discriminators to form a tree structure having branches corresponding to types of objects so as to detect objects included in image data. Each weak discriminator calculates a feature amount to be used in a calculation of an evaluation value of the image data, and discriminates whether or not the object is included in the image data by using the evaluation value. The weak discriminator allocated to a branch point in the tree structure further selects a branch destination using at least some of the feature amounts calculated by weak discriminators included in each branch destination. |
| US08401311B2 |
Image processing device, method, and program
An image processing device includes: a step calculator configured to calculate, as a step, a difference in pixel values of pixels in a neighborhood with respect to each pixel in an image; a classifier configured to classify the pixels into classes for areas of the steps; a boundary ratio calculator configured to calculate, as a boundary ratio, a ratio of the number of pixels at a block boundary for each of the classes; and a block noise strength determinator configured to determine, as a block noise strength of the image, the step that is larger than a predetermined threshold and that is at a class having a largest value. |
| US08401309B2 |
Security screening image analysis simplification through object pattern identification
A mechanism is provided for security screening image analysis simplification through object pattern identification. Popular consumer electronics and other items are scanned in a control system, which creates an electronic signature for each known object. The system may reduce the signature to a hash value and place each signature for each known object in a “known good” storage set. For example, popular mobile phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, and the like may be scanned for the known good signature database. At the time of scan, such as at an airport, objects in a bag may be rotated to a common axis alignment and transformed to the same signature or hash value to match against the known good signature database. If an item matches, the scanning system marks it as a known safe object. |
| US08401304B2 |
Detecting an object in an image using edge detection and morphological processing
A representation of an object in a live event is detected in an image of the event. A location of the object in the live event is translated to an estimated location in the image based on camera sensor and/or registration data. A search area is determined around the estimated location in the image. A direction of motion of the object in the image is also determined. A representation of the object is identified in the search area by detecting edges of the object, e.g., perpendicular to the direction of motion and parallel to the direction of motion, performing morphological processing, and matching against a model or other template of the object. Based on the position of the representation of the object, the camera sensor and/or registration data can be updated, and a graphic can be located in the image substantially in real time. |
| US08401303B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying character areas in a document image
An image processing apparatus comprises an attribute determination unit that divides image data into a plurality of blocks each having a predetermined number of pixels and determines an attribute of each of the divided blocks that indicates whether or not the block includes a character; a connected area extraction unit that extracts a connected area in which pixels having the same pixel characteristic are connected sequentially, from each of the divided blocks; and a foreground/background determination unit that selects a foreground/background determination method to be used for a processing target block, based on the attribute of the processing target block, the attribute of a first adjacent block that is adjacent to the processing target block, and the extracted connected areas, and determines whether a connected area of the processing target block among the extracted connected areas is the foreground or the background, using the selected foreground/background determination method. |
| US08401301B2 |
Property record document data verification systems and methods
A data verification system is configured to verify machine-recognized data elements acquired during a machine-implemented data acquisition process. The system includes a data verification workstation, a image server, and a data entry server. The data verification workstation is configured to obtain document images from the image server, present portions of document images to an operator, wherein the document images include text, and receive input from the operator based on the text. The input includes data elements. The data verification workstation is also configured to acquire machine-recognized data elements from the data entry server. The machine-recognized data elements were acquired from the document image during a machine-implemented data acquisition process based on the text. The data verification workstation is also configured to compare the data elements received from the operator to the machine-recognized data elements and selectively prompt the operator to re-input the data elements based on the comparison. |
| US08401300B2 |
Targeted image transformation of skin attribute
Targeted attribute transformation involves obtaining a digital image of the skin, selecting an individual skin attribute (an imperfection, such as a blemishes, pores, or wrinkles), extracting the individual skin attribute from the digital image by linear digital filtering on all the color channels, to obtain a contrast map in all three channels of the individual attribute, and adding or subtracting a fraction of the contrast map to the initial image, to obtain the skin image with transformed selected skin attribute. |
| US08401294B1 |
Pattern matching using convolution of mask image and search image
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for pattern matching includes receiving a pattern image, a mask image and a search image, the mask image having an arbitrary shape and identifying a portion of the pattern image. The method includes evaluating a normalized cross-correlation equation based on the pattern image, the mask image and the search image, including at least a convolution of the mask image and the search image. The method includes outputting a result of evaluating the normalized cross-correlation equation, the result indicating whether the search image matches the portion of the pattern image. |
| US08401292B2 |
Identifying high saliency regions in digital images
A method for identifying high saliency regions in a digital image, comprising: segmenting the digital image into a plurality of segmented regions; determining a saliency value for each segmented region, merging neighboring segmented regions that share a common boundary in response to determining that one or more specified merging criteria are satisfied; and designating one or more of the segmented regions to be high saliency regions. The determination of the saliency value for a segmented region includes: determining a surround region including a set of image pixels surrounding the segmented region; analyzing the image pixels in the segmented region to determine one or more segmented region attributes; analyzing the image pixels in the surround region to determine one or more corresponding surround region attributes; determining a region saliency value responsive to differences between the one or more segmented region attributes and the corresponding surround region attributes. |
| US08401281B1 |
Method and system for three dimensional feature attribution through synergy of rational polynomial coefficients and projective geometry
A method is provided for generating height information for an arbitrary-image point on a rectified image and for generating a representation of the rectified image that includes the height information. According to an exemplary embodiment, height information is generated for an arbitrary-image point on the rectified image from first and second aerial images having respective first and second sets of rational polynomial coefficients (RPCs) and projective geometrical relationships, such that the first and second aerial images and the rectified image include overlapping image locations. |
| US08401280B2 |
Device for improving stereo matching results, method of improving stereo matching results using the device, and system for receiving stereo matching results
Provided is a device for improving stereo matching results. The device for improving stereo matching results includes: a stereo camera unit outputting binocular disparity images by using binocular disparity between two images preprocessed according to a plurality of preprocessing conditions; a discrete cosine transform (DCT) unit generating DCT coefficients by performing DCT on the binocular disparity images; a streak estimation unit receiving the DCT coefficients and estimating amounts of streaks distributed on a screen by using AC coefficients, including streak patterns, of the DCT coefficients; a condition estimation unit estimating a preprocessing condition, corresponding to the smallest amount of streaks of the estimated amounts of streaks, of the plurality of preprocessing conditions, as an optimal condition, and a streak removal unit generating binocular disparity images without the streaks by changing predetermined AC coefficients of the DCT coefficients and performing inverse DCT on the changed DCT coefficients. |
| US08401279B2 |
Environment recognition system, environment recognition method and robot
A system capable of recognizing position, a shape, a posture and the like of an object present in a marginal environment of a device such as a robot in order to make the device perform operations on the object as a subject. In an environment recognition system, 3D information and physical information (color information and the like) of a subject are associated by using camera parameters of each of a 3D image sensor and a 2D image sensor. Thereby, the position, the posture and the shape related to the subject and the physical information of the subject present in the environment of a robot are obtained. |
| US08401277B2 |
Method for restoration of building structure using infinity homographies calculated based on parallelograms
A method for restoration of building structure using infinity homographies calculated based on parallelograms includes: calculating, using two or more parallelograms, an infinity homography between those cameras which refer to an arbitrary camera; restoring cameras and the building structure on an affine space using the computed infinity homography and homologous points between images; and transforming the restored result onto the metric space using constraints on orthogonality of vectors joining the restored three-dimensional points, the ratio of lengths of the vectors and intrinsic camera parameters. As a result, intrinsic camera parameters, camera positions on the metric space and the structure of the building are restored. All the restoration is possible even when intrinsic camera parameters corresponding to all the images are not constant. |
| US08401271B2 |
Seed sorter
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating and sorting seeds based on characteristics of the seeds. One system includes an imaging and analysis subsystem that collects image data from the seeds and analyzes the collected image data for characteristics of the seeds. This subsystem can include an imaging theater having mirrors that reflect image data from the seeds to an imaging device for collection. The system can also include an off-loading and sorting subsystem configured to sort the seeds based on their characteristics. And, one method includes illuminating the seeds and collecting image data from the seeds for determining their characteristics. The image data can be collected from at least three portions of the seeds at each of a plurality of sequentially changing spectral wavelengths. In addition (or alternatively), the image data can be collected from top and bottom portions of the seeds using a single imaging device. |
| US08401269B2 |
System and method for automatic measurements and calibration of computerized magnifying instruments
The present invention relates to a system and method for automatic measurements and calibration of computerized magnifying instruments. More particularly, the method includes an automatic calibration aspect, which includes obtaining an optimized digital image of a reference object including at least one standardized landmark feature, and establishing calibration parameters based on one or more measured attributes of the landmark feature. The method further describes a calibration aspect, which includes providing calibration parameters, obtaining a digital image including at least one known attribute, measuring the at least one known attribute and comparing the measured value with the known value. The method further includes an aspect of automatic measurement of an attribute of one or more object, which includes retrieving calibration parameters, acquiring a digital image and measuring the attribute. The system includes an object support, a reference object including one or more standardized landmark features, and an automatically readable identification means. |
| US08401268B1 |
Optical imaging sensor for a document processing device
A document processing device includes a controller and a sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement illuminates a surface of documents. The gradient index lens array collects light reflected from the documents and transmits at least a portion of the collected reflected light onto a photodetector array. The photodetector array generates one or more electrical signals in response to a gradient index lens transmitting light thereon. The controller derives data including image data from the one or more electrical signals. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of the surface of the documents. The visually readable image has a resolution such that alphanumeric characters can be extracted from the visually readable image in response to the document remaining within a depth of field of the gradient index lens array while being transported via the transport mechanism. The depth of field is at least about 0.03 inches. |
| US08401265B2 |
Processing of medical image data
An anti-aliasing filter comprised by a first filter kernel is applied to the medical image data so as to obtain filtered image data. The filtered image data is downsampled so as to obtain decimated image data, and pixel resolution of the decimated image data is approximately one half of pixel resolution of the image data for the medical image. The decimated image data is upsampled and an interpolation filter is applied so as to obtain interpolated image data. The interpolation filter is comprised by a second filter kernel, and the size of the first kernel is smaller than the size of the second filter kernel. Pixel resolution of the interpolated image data is approximately equal to pixel resolution of the medical image data. Difference image data between the interpolated image data and the medical image data for the medical image is obtained, and the difference image data is displayed. |
| US08401262B2 |
Device, system and method for motility measurement and analysis
A device, system and method for motility measurement and analysis. For example, a system includes a processor to determine contractile activity within a body lumen based on an analysis of data received from an autonomous in-vivo device. |
| US08401260B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing growth of computer detected patterns on digital medical images
Methods and systems are provided for displaying the change in size of a CAD identified pattern over time. Patterns on medical images stored in a medical imaging database are identified and measured using a CAD system. A user interface provides users with access to the medical images stored in imaging database via a network. A medical image belonging to a patient historical exam category and having at least one CAD identified pattern is displayed to a user via the user interface. The size of the CAD identified image pattern and the medical exam date associated with the medical image is compiled for each of the medical images belonging to the patient historical exam category. A graphic is then generated showing the sizes of the CAD identified image pattern and the medical exam dates associated with the medical image. |
| US08401259B2 |
Image diagnosis support system
The admission of the editing of information on a key image of an object, the type of edit processing, and the contents targeted for edit processing are controlled in accordance with a combination of user information and device information (i.e., a scene where the key image is used). |
| US08401256B2 |
Systems and methods for an interactive PACS image display test image
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a test image including a plurality of bands and a plurality of markers in each band. Each band includes a plurality of pixels of the same pixel value. Each marker contrasts with the plurality of pixels in the band. The markers are adapted to allow a user to determine a feature of an image display system. |
| US08401253B2 |
Distinguishing true 3-d faces from 2-d face pictures in face recognition
According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain a plurality of images captured in time series; a first calculating unit configured to calculate a first change vector indicating a change between the images in an angle representing a posture of a subject included in each of the images; a second calculating unit configured to calculate a second change vector indicating a change in coordinates of a feature point of the subject; a third calculating unit configured to calculate an intervector angle between the first change vector and the second change vector; and a determining unit configured to determine that the subject is three-dimensional when the intervector angle is smaller than a predetermined first threshold. |
| US08401251B2 |
Face pose estimation device, face pose estimation method and face pose estimation program
An object is to provide a face pose estimating device, a face pose estimating method, and a face pose estimating program that allow high accuracy estimation of a face pose even if a face organ cannot be detected from an image. A face organ detector 11 of the face pose estimating device 10 detects a face organ from an image frame. A face pose candidate set generator 16 generates a face pose candidate set. A first similarity estimator 12 computes 3D-model-based similarities. A second similarity estimator 13 computes appearance-based similarities. A first likelihood estimator 141 computes a first likelihood corresponding to the 3D-model-based similarity. A second likelihood estimator 142 computes a second likelihood corresponding to the appearance-based similarities. An integrated likelihood estimator 143 computes an integrated likelihood by using the first and second likelihoods. A face pose estimator 15 estimates the face pose by using the integrated likelihood. |
| US08401244B2 |
Method and system for securely authenticating user identity information
Systems and methods for providing secure identity authentication amongst devices using identity information contained therein to facilitate data synchronization amongst the user devices, wherein the identity information in the devices are compared for authentication but not actually transmitted or exposed for unauthorized access to such information and to the devices. |
| US08401241B2 |
Structure and motion with stereo using lines
A system and method are disclosed for estimating camera motion and structure reconstruction of a scene using lines. The system includes a line detection module, a line correspondence module, a temporal line tracking module and structure and motion module. The line detection module is configured to detect lines in visual input data comprising a plurality of image frames. The line correspondence module is configured to find line correspondence between detected lines in the visual input data. The temporal line tracking module is configured to track the detected lines temporally across the plurality of the image frames. The structure and motion module is configured to estimate the camera motion using the detected lines in the visual input data and to reconstruct three-dimensional lines from the estimated camera motion. |
| US08401237B2 |
Image processing program, image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing system
As to each section making up of an original image, a CPU of an image processing apparatus calculates a distance from a predetermined position, for example, a center of the original image to a center of the section, sets a probability in accordance with the calculated distance, determines whether or not the section is a section where an object is to be drawn according to the set probability, and draws an object in each section which is determined as a section to be drawn. |
| US08401236B2 |
Method and apparatus for wheel alignment
A vehicle wheel alignment method and system is provided. A three-dimensional target is attached to a vehicle wheel known to be in alignment. The three-dimensional target has multiple target elements thereon, each of which has known geometric characteristics and 3D spatial relationship with one another. |
| US08401233B2 |
Systems and methods for remote work sessions
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for facilitating the usage of an online workforce to remotely monitor security-sensitive sites and report potential security breaches.In some embodiments, cameras are configured to monitor critical civilian infrastructure, such as water supplies and nuclear reactors. The cameras are operatively connected to a central computer or series of computers, and images captured by the cameras are transmitted to the central computer. After initially registering with the central computer, Guardians “log on” to a central website hosted by the central computer and monitor the images, thereby earning compensation. In one embodiment, images of “no-man” zones—areas where no humans or vehicles should be present or monitored—are sent to Guardians for a simple determination of whether or not a human exists in the picture. Site owners compensate the operator of the computer system for this monitoring service, and the operator in turn compensates Guardians based on, for example, (i) the amount of time spent monitoring, and/or (ii) the degree of a given Guardian's responsiveness to real or fabricated security breaches.Among other things, systems and methods are disclosed herein for facilitating (a) the registration of monitored sites, (b) the registration of Guardians, and (c) the management of monitoring sessions, including the routing of real and fabricated images to Guardians, the rating of Guardians, and the compensation of Guardians. Many additional and alternative embodiments are contemplated, including the following example of one embodiment. |
| US08401229B2 |
Stationary target detection by exploiting changes in background model
A sequence of video frames of an area of interest is obtained. A first background model of the area of interest is constructed based on a first parameter. A second background model of the area of interest is constructed based on a second parameter, the second parameter being different from the first parameter. A difference between the first and second background models is determined. A stationary target is determined based on the determined difference. An alert concerning the stationary target is generated. |
| US08401222B2 |
System and process for roof measurement using aerial imagery
The present disclosure shows creating a first layer and a second layer, in computer memory and substantially overlapping at least a segment of line from said first layer with at least a segment of another line from said second layer. A first non-dimensional attribute is different from said second non-dimensional attribute of the two lines. A user length field enabling a client with said interactive file to override at least one of said length numeric values, where said area operator may automatically recalculate area based on said length field override is shown. Also, providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said aerial imagery region, which may be moved, to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure is shown. |
| US08401218B2 |
Adjustable earphone and earphone set
An earphone comprises an inner shell, a stem and a pivot connection. The inner shell has a generally circular periphery shaped to at least partially fit in a user's concha. The stem is mounted to the inner shell at a position spaced from a rotational center of the inner shell and supports a wire leading to the inner shell. The inner shell and the stem are rotatable relative to each other by the pivot connection to configure the earphone to fit the user's ear with the shell member positioned at least partially in the user's concha and the stem positioned exteriorly along an intertragic notch of the ear. |
| US08401216B2 |
Acoustic traveling wave tube system and method for forming and propagating acoustic waves
The present invention is an acoustic traveling wave tube system for propagating a directional acoustic wave comprising an acoustic traveling wave tube having a cylindrical shape with a load on one end of the tube, a plurality of excitation rings positioned around a circumference of the tube and spaced at predetermined intervals along a length of the tube and a microprocessor having a database containing a plurality of waveforms representative of acoustic signals. The microprocessor energizes one of the plurality of excitation rings to form an acoustic wave, sequentially energizes one or more of the remaining excitation rings along the length of the tube to amplify the acoustic wave as the acoustic wave travels along the length of the tube, and propagates the acoustic wave from an end of the tube opposite the load as a shaped directional acoustic wave. |
| US08401214B2 |
Eardrum implantable devices for hearing systems and methods
An implantable device is configured for placement in the eardrum to transmit an audio signal to a user. The device may be configured to improve transmission of an electromagnetic signal including light energy from an input assembly on a lateral side of eardrum to an output assembly positioned on a medial side of the eardrum, for example at least partially in the middle ear of the user. The output assembly may include a transducer or at least two electrodes configured to stimulate the cochlea, for example. The device may include an opening to transmit the light signal or an optic to transmit the light signal. Alternatively the device may be configured to support a transducer of the output assembly with the eardrum when the device is implanted in the eardrum, such that the eardrum vibrates in response to the signal electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic signal may include light energy for a magnetic field. |
| US08401212B2 |
Multifunction system and method for integrated hearing and communication with noise cancellation and feedback management
Systems, devices and methods for communication include an ear canal microphone configured for placement in the ear canal to detect high frequency sound localization cues. An external microphone positioned away from the ear canal can detect low frequency sound, such that feedback can be substantially reduced. The canal microphone and the external microphone are coupled to a transducer, such that the user perceives sound from the external microphone and the canal microphone with high frequency localization cues and decreased feedback. Wireless circuitry can be configured to connect to many devices with a wireless protocol, such that the user can receive and transmit audio signals. A bone conduction sensor can detect near-end speech of the user for transmission with the wireless circuitry in noisy environment. Noise cancellation of background sounds near the user can improve the user's hearing of desired sounds. |
| US08401209B2 |
Microphone having diaphragm ring with increased stability
A microphone includes a housing; a back volume within the housing; a diaphragm within the housing; a backplate attached to the housing; and a diaphragm ring connected to the diaphragm. The diaphragm ring has a body defined by an outer perimeter and at least a first inner perimeter and a second inner perimeter adjacent the first inner perimeter. The first inner perimeter is adjacent to a top surface of the diaphragm ring. The second inner perimeter is adjacent to the bottom surface of the diaphragm ring. The second inner perimeter is smaller than the first inner perimeter. |
| US08401204B2 |
Method for the active reduction of sound disturbance
A method and a system for the active reduction, at a predetermined area, of the energy of a sound signal (dk(n)), also called a diffused noise signal, generated at the area by a primary signal (xk(n)), or noise signal, by the emission of a plurality of counter-noise signals (yk(n)) having an effect antagonistic to the diffused noise signal (dk(n)), each of the counter-noise signals (yk(n)) including a feedback counter-noise signal (yfbkk(n)) and a feed-forward counter-noise signal (yfwdk(n)). The method includes detecting the periodical components of diffused noise signal (dk(n)) for adjusting the feedback counter-noise signal (yfbkk(n)), and modelling the inverse of the secondary path for adjusting the feedback counter-noise (yfbkk(n)) and feed-forward counter-noise (yfwdk(n)) signals. The invention can be implemented to any type of industrial or non-industrial noise and in any location such as working places and relaxation places. |
| US08401203B2 |
Information processing apparatus and program
According to one embodiment, An information processing apparatus includes a first signal input unit configure to receive a first signal, a second signal input unit configure to receive a signal, a first control unit configure to acquire system resources, a second control unit configure to select, in accordance with information of the system resources acquired by the first control unit, a processing method for suppressing at least one of echo and noise of the second signal input from the second signal input unit containing the echo due to the first signal input from the first signal input unit, a third control unit configure to generate an output signal by suppressing at least one of the echo and the noise from the second signal by the processing method selected by the second control unit, and a signal output unit configure to output the output signal generated by the third control unit. |
| US08401202B2 |
Speakers with a digital signal processor
A speaker with a digital signal processor is disclosed. In one aspect, a speaker comprises at least one electromechanical transducer configured to convert an electrical audio signal into sound and a digital signal processor configured to process an audio signal and send the processed audio signal to the electromechanical transducer directly or indirectly. |
| US08401190B2 |
Portable security module pairing
A method for pairing a first element and a second element, wherein the first element and the second element form a first decoding system among a plurality of receiving decoding systems in a broadcasting network. Each receiving decoding system is adapted to descramble scrambled audiovisual information received over the broadcasting network. A first key unique in the broadcasting network is selected. A second key is determined according to the first key, such that a combination of the first key and the second key enables to decrypt broadcasted encrypted control data that is received to be decrypted by each receiving decoding system, the encrypted control data being identical for each receiving decoding system. The first key and the second key are assigned respectively to the first element and the second element. |
| US08401184B2 |
Device to generate a machine specific identification key
An integrated circuit assembly having monitoring circuitry for observing the internal signals of the system so that its properties are captured. The system properties are manipulated so that they can be used as a pseudo random number and or as the basis number for an encryption key. The monitoring circuitry having: manipulation circuitry to transform monitored data and combine it with previously manipulated values; and registers to store previously manipulated values; and counters to count events; and condition detection circuitry for detecting when a signal is at a specific value or range of values. Optionally the monitoring circuitry which has the functionality for capturing system properties may be combined with other monitoring circuitry, which has the functionality required by a debug support circuit. The monitoring circuitry avoids replication of resources by sharing parts of specific monitoring circuits like counters. |
| US08401180B2 |
Non-linear data converter, encoder and decoder
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-linear data converter including: first to fourth converters that each performs a respective converting process on an input bit string to output respective output bit string; a generator that generates a random number bit string; and a selector that selects any one of the output bit strings from the first to fourth converters based on the random number bit string. Each of the converting processes is equivalent to performing a first mask process, a non-linear conversion predetermined for an encoding or a decoding and a second mask process. |
| US08401179B2 |
Encryption parameter setting apparatus, key generation apparatus, cryptographic system, program, encryption parameter setting method, and key generation method
A sophisticated cryptographic system is realized without using a pairing operation on a composite order. A random matrix selection unit 142 randomly selects a random matrix V* from a plurality of matrices satisfying a predetermined condition, based on a plurality of pairing log coefficients ηi calculated by an encryption parameter setting apparatus 100. An output base calculation unit 143 calculates a plurality of output bases gk, based on a plurality of base divisors D˜j calculated by the encryption parameter setting apparatus 100 and the random matrix V* selected by the random matrix selection unit 142. |
| US08401173B2 |
Telephone-line-connection method
It is determined whether a call-connection condition set to a call-connection device is a first call-connection state or a second call-connection state. When the determination result shows that the first call-connection state is set, a call is connected from an originating terminal to a destination terminal. When the determination result shows that the second call-connection state is set, the call is connected from the originating terminal to the destination terminal and conversation-termination processing is performed without waiting for a disconnection request transmitted from the originating terminal or the destination terminal. |
| US08401171B1 |
Computing device assistance for phone based customer service representative interaction
Systems and methods for computing device assistance for phone based customer service representative interaction are described herein. One or more systems include a number of customer service representative computing devices having processors and memory thereon for the storage of executable instructions and data, wherein the instructions are executed to allow at least one of the number of computing devices to control a customer's computing device such that the customer service representative or executable instructions can select information, related to a phone based customer service representative interaction, to display on the customer's computing device and display the selected information on a display of the customer's computing device. |
| US08401170B2 |
Method of using VOIP for callback from an ACD
A method and apparatus are provided for establishing a communication connection between a client of an organization and an agent of the organization. The method includes the steps of an automatic call distributor of the organization receiving a call from the client, the automatic call distributor detecting an IM handle of the client from the call and the automatic call distributor establishing a VOIP connection between the client and agent of the organization using the IM handle. |
| US08401163B1 |
Methods and systems for call processing and for providing call progress status over a network
The present invention is related to telecommunications, and in particular, to methods and systems for call processing. By way of example, a first call control is visually provided via a Web page in association with search results transmitted to a user computer system, wherein the user submitted to search request to a search engine. An indication is received that the user activated the first call control. A first call is placed to a telephonic address selected by the user. A second call is placed to a telephonic address associated with the first call control. Progress information related to the second call is transmitted to the user computer system in substantially real-time. |
| US08401159B2 |
Data provision to a virtual personal assistant for handling calls in a communication system
Uploading data to a call connection service by providing data records associated with a call destination in a user-selected manner. Navigation instructions are obtained concerning a particular data record in response to the data navigation instructions. An indication is received to upload the call destination associated with the particular record to the call connection service. In response to the indication, a routine is executed to acquire a portion of the data record and upload the portion to the call connection service in a format suitable for handling. Alternatively, data can be provided to the call completion service in an automated manner, including in response to an unconnectability condition detected during the call process, either during call initiation or after the call has been connected, and when calls are received at a secondary user device. |
| US08401158B2 |
Release link trunking for IP telephony
Methods and systems are provided that use resources more efficiently for calls originating and terminating in a first address space that use services in an IP address space. A call is established from an originator in a first address space to an IP device within an IP address space. The IP device sends a message to a switch in the first address space indicating a new destination in the first address space. The established call is released and a second call is established from the originator in the first address space to the new destination in the first address space. In another implementation, a first leg of a call is established to an IP device from a first address space. The IP device establishes a second leg of a call to a destination in the first address space. The calls are bridged and resources released. |
| US08401156B1 |
Real-time monitoring of caller experience in a call flow
A method, a system, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for monitoring caller experience in a call flow are provided. The method comprises collecting at least one selection by at least one caller in a call flow, generating performance analysis of a voice response system, combining the at least one selection and the performance analysis into a set of data, applying a monitoring formula to the set of data to form a result representing caller experience; and presenting the result to at least one service provider. |
| US08401153B2 |
Network to alarm panel simulator for VoIP
The present invention provides for a system and method for providing a signal to a communication system comprising an interface between a communication link and the communication system, like an alarm system, wherein the interface receives a signal from the communication link and provides a signal indicative of the availability of the communication link for use by the communication system. Alarm systems operations may be facilitated so that Residential Gateway components (such as voice terminal adapters) may simulate traditional telephone network systems that run on 48 VDC powered telephone lines. The system also comprises an input port associated with the interface for receiving the signal from the communication link, a transformer or a voltage regulator and an output port associated with the interface for providing the conditioned signal to the communication system. A ring voltage received from the communication link may be passed through to the alarm system. |
| US08401152B2 |
Method and system for performing EMTA loop diagnostics
Diagnostic testing of a telephony line card device and corresponding line card is initiated using an initiation MIB. Responding to an instruction from a main processor that a query has determined that an initiation MID is Set, line card processor circuitry begins a predetermined series of diagnostic testing. Results for the diagnostic testing are stored in a register coupled to the line card processor circuitry. After testing completes, the main processor, which is coupled to the line card processor, retrieves the results information from the line card register, converts the information to one or more results MIB(s) and stores the results MIB(s) as an instance(s) to a memory coupled to the main processor. The result MIB instance(s) is/are made available to a local or remote device via port coupled to the line card device. A permissive MIB may be queried to determine whether diagnostic testing is permitted. |
| US08401151B2 |
X-ray tube for microsecond X-ray intensity switching
An injector for an X-ray tube is presented. The injector includes an emitter to emit an electron beam, at least one focusing electrode disposed around the emitter, wherein the at least one focusing electrode focuses the electron beam and at least one extraction electrode maintained at a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter, wherein the at least one extraction electrode controls an intensity of the electron beam. |
| US08401144B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting artifacts in circular CT scans
A scanning method and apparatus useful for correcting artifacts which may appear in a primary short circular CT scan are provided. A secondary helical scan performed on a stationary subject, or a secondary circular scan, may be used to correct for artifacts. The secondary scan may be performed with a smaller radiation dosage than the primary circular CT scan. |
| US08401138B2 |
Serial data receiver circuit apparatus and serial data receiving method
A serial data receiver circuit apparatus to receive serial data delimited by a first bit length, the circuit apparatus includes: a serial/parallel converter circuit to convert the serial data into parallel data of a second bit length that is smaller than the first bit length; a data hold circuit to hold a plurality of parallel data; a detector circuit to detect a delimiter position in the received serial data; a detected position hold circuit to generate a select signal to select data included in the parallel data stored in the data hold circuit; and a selector circuit to select data in units of the second bit length starting from the data delimiter position based on the select signal. |
| US08401137B2 |
Jitter evaluation
A jitter evaluation apparatus for receiving a digital test signal from which a clock signal is recovered, is shown. A clock recovery circuit (401) recovers a clock signal from the test signal and a synchronization circuit generates a synchronized system clock signal from said recovered clock signal. A sinusoid generator (403) generates a sinusoid signal from the synchronized system clock signal and a sampling analog to digital converter (404) samples the sinusoid signal by the recovered clock signal to provide sinusoid samples further comprising: A numerically controlled oscillator (401) is configured to produce sine values and cosine values in response to receiving an input from the system clock signal and a first multiplier (412) is configured to produce a first product of the sinusoid samples and the sine values. In addition, a second multiplier is configured to produce a second product of the sinusoid samples and the cosine values. Furthermore, a co-ordinate rotation device (416) is configured to receive said first product via a first low pass filter (414) and to receive said second product via a second low pass filter (415) to produce an output indicative of jitter phase. |
| US08401131B2 |
Reduction of interference in an OFDM signal with weighting vectors evolving in vector subspaces
To reduce interferences in signals received by a receiver through a propagation channel, each including symbols distributed according to frequency and time dimensions and corresponding to a common emitted signal, the receiver weights an estimate of the emitted signal and the received signals by weighting vectors evolving in vector subspaces representing time variations and frequency variations of the channels for propagating the signals between an emitter and the receiver. These vector subspaces are defined by matrices, some columns of which are suppressed as a function of frequency and time constraints of the channel. The receiver minimizes a function of the difference between the sum of weighted received signals and the weighted estimate of the emitted signal in order to estimate the emitted signal as a function of the weighting vectors and the received signals. |
| US08401130B2 |
Automatic gain control method and apparatus for wireless communication systems
A system and method are provided for automatic gain control (AGC) using an adaptive reference and a threshold. An adaptive reference allows for adjusting the target power based on variations in operating parameters and conditions, such as a change to a modulation schemes which requires a different signal to noise ratio (SNR) to maintain performance. A gain adjustment threshold allows for rapid AGC response while reducing the potential effects of hysterisis. AGC levels may be changed during symbol prefixes or suffixes, and avoided during a data portion of a signal. Embodiments allow for symbol-by symbol AGC changes in OFDM, OFDMA, and TDD systems. |
| US08401128B2 |
Method and system for adaptable receiver parameters
A method and system are described for processing a received signal at a receiver in a communication system. The receiver includes a digital filter and automatic gain control means. Information indicating the frequency band of operation and the type of service of the received signal is received at the receiver from the communication system. The gain and filtering parameters of the receiver are set according to the received information. The received signal is processed at the receiver using the gain and filtering parameters. Optionally, a determination of whether the received signal contains adjacent channel interference above a predetermined allowable threshold may also be made and the determination may then be used in setting the gain and filtering parameters. |
| US08401126B2 |
Viterbi decoding apparatus
The present invention can reduce power consumption at the time of tracing. The present invention provides a viterbi decoding apparatus for decoding convolution codes, which includes a path memory unit that stores one of two paths toward respective transition states of a convolution code, as a selected path, for a plurality of continuous time points, a tracing unit that traces a selected path stored in the path memory unit in a reversed-time direction, thereby decoding a convolution code at respective time points, each of the time points being prior to a predetermined trace-skipping period, and a control unit that controls the path memory unit, wherein the path memory unit has a storage area designed to store selected paths assuming respective transition states at respective time points, the storage area is divided into sub-areas from the lowest order of transition state, each of the sub-areas corresponding to predetermined number of bits, and reading data can be stopped for each sub-area, and the control unit designates sub-areas from which no selected path needs to be read at respective time points so as to stop reading data from the designated sub-areas. |
| US08401123B2 |
Method and system for increasing the accuracy of frequency offset estimation in multiple frequency hypothesis testing in an E-UTRA/LTE UE receiver
A mobile device receives a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising a primary synchronization sequence (PSS) and a secondary synchronization sequence (SSS). The mobile device performs multiple frequency hypothesis (MFH) testing via multiple MFH branches. A PSS correlation process is performed for each MFH branch. Frequency offset for receiving data is estimated using resulting correlation data. A desired offset is placed in each MFH branch. A baseband signal is frequency offset per MFH branch according to the desired frequency offset before the PSS correlation process. A received PSS is detected based on a maximum PSS correlation over the entire set of MFH branches. A frequency offset is estimated for the MFH branch associated with the detected PSS by combining an associated residual frequency with a corresponding desired offset. The frequency offset estimate is used for baseband signal processing and/or adjusting a reference oscillator frequency at the mobile device. |
| US08401122B2 |
Sphere decoding of symbols transmitted in a telecommunication system
A method for decoding at least one signal, including: receiving the at least one signal, the at least one signal being transmitted by at least one transmitting antenna and received by at least one receiving antenna; defining a sphere having a predetermined radius and being centered on a particular symbol chosen among predetermined symbols forming a lattice constellation of symbols which may be received by the receiving antenna; and producing estimated symbols representative of at least one transmitted symbol carried by the at least one signal and identified among the predetermined symbols included in the sphere and likelihood values associated to the estimated symbols. |
| US08401117B1 |
Method of adaptive modulation for cognitive radios using a fast and simplified modulation recognition
Method for automatic modulation recognition in adaptive modulation based cognitive software defined radio (SDR), including receiving a transmitter signal from a transmitter; inputting signal data frame r(k), k=1, . . . , K; estimating SNR for data frame; feeding channel condition to transmitter; selecting one of plurality of predetermined modulation schemes from database; determining whether SNR(r(k))< or =threshold T(i); reporting failure if SNR(r(k))< or =T(i) and if not then estimating mean bj(i)(k) for r(k); calculating ∥r(k)−{circumflex over (b)}(i)(k)∥2; accumulating to calculate g ( i ) = ∑ k = 1 K r ( k ) - b ^ ( i ) ( k ) 2 ; repeating above steps from selecting for the other predetermined modulation schemes; finding minimum g ( i ) = ∑ k = 1 K r ( k ) - b ^ ( i ) ( k ) 2 ; determining whether [K/SNR(r(k))−g(I)] |
| US08401113B2 |
Method for setting cyclic shift considering frequency offset
A method for transmitting a random access preamble to a base station at a user equipment (UE) includes generating the random access preamble from a Zadoff-Chu sequence having a length ‘N’ and a root index ‘M’, wherein the random access preamble is defined by a cyclic shift of the Zadoff-Chu sequence and transmitting the generated random access preamble to the base station via a random access channel, wherein the cyclic shift is given by using a variable corresponding to a Doppler shift of one subcarrier spacing, the variable given by using the root index ‘M’, and wherein the cyclic shift is differently given based on whether the variable is smaller than ⅓ of the length ‘N’. |
| US08401107B2 |
Transmit methods with delay diversity and space-frequency diversity
In this invention, several open-loop solutions that encompass the small delay CDD codeword cycling, codeword cycling between different re-transmissions of both small and large delay CDD are proposed. In addition, an open-loop codeword cycling method for SFBC+FSTD scheme, as well as its extension to SFBC+FSTD based HARQ, are proposed. In one method, a plurality of information bits are encoded, scrambled and modulated to generate a plurality of modulation symbols. The plurality of modulation symbols are mapped onto the subcarriers in at least one transmission layer of a transmission resource. The modulation symbols are then precoded by using a matrix for cyclic delay diversity and a set of codewords from a certain codebook to generate a plurality of precoded symbols. The codewords are cycled for every a certain number of subcarriers. Finally, the precoded symbols are transmitted via a plurality of transmission antennas. |
| US08401106B2 |
Interference rejection combining for multi-user MIMO telecommunications system
Method and apparatus are provided for processing a received signal for making a symbol estimate of a symbol included in a signal transmitted in a Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) system. In an example mode, the method comprises (1) providing at least a subset of precoding matrices which are candidates for use in transmission of an interfering signal in a MIMO system; (2) using the received signal and plural candidates of the subset to determine corresponding plural covariance matrices, each of the plural covariance matrices being formed using a corresponding candidate precoding matrix; (3) determining which of the candidates is a trace minimizing candidate which is associated with one of the plural covariance matrices that has a minimum trace value; (4) forming a weighting matrix using the trace minimizing candidate; and (5) using the weighting matrix to make the symbol estimation. |
| US08401105B2 |
Method for transmitting a data signal in a MIMO system
A method for transmitting a data signal by a transmission unit of a wireless multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. The communication system includes the transmission unit and a reception unit, the transmission unit having a plurality of transmission antennas and the reception unit having a plurality of reception antennas. The method includes performing a first transmission of a data signal, the first transmission including transmitting the data signal by each one of the plurality of transmission antennas, and performing a second transmission of the data signal at a time later than the first transmission, the second transmission including transmitting at least one spectrally modified signal variant of the data signal by at least one antenna of the plurality of transmission antennas. |
| US08401100B2 |
Transmission apparatus and transmission method
A wireless receiving apparatus capable of efficiently removing interference signals in a multicarrier communication. In a mobile station incorporating this wireless receiving apparatus, a selecting part selects a plurality of the same symbols in accordance with a mapping pattern established at the time of generating OFDM symbols in a base station. A correlation value calculating part determines correlation values between the subcarriers of the same symbols to generate an R-matrix, and further determines an inverse matrix of the R-matrix. An MMSE processing part performs an MMSE processing to determine a weight from both a P-vector received from a channel estimating part and the inverse matrix of the R-matrix received from the correlation value calculating part. Multipliers multiply each of the symbols selected by the selecting part by the weight determined by the MMSE processing part. A combining part combines the symbols as multiplied by the weight. |
| US08401099B2 |
Method of transmitting control signal in wireless communication system
A method of transmitting a control signal in a wireless communication system includes allocating a first sequence to spread a first control signal in a radio resource, allocating a second sequence to spread a second control signal in the radio resource, selecting one of the first control signal and the second control signal, generating a spread control signal by spreading the selected control signal, and transmitting the spread control signal in the radio resource, wherein the first sequence and the second sequence use different cyclic shifts of a base sequence. |
| US08401097B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing common phase error in a DVB-T/H receiver
A receiver is a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial/Handheld (DVB-T/H) receiver. The DVB-T/H receiver comprises a fast fourier transform (FFT) operative on a signal for providing an FFT output signal comprising a number of samples; a spectrum shifter for reordering the samples in the FFT output signal to provide a spectrum shifted signal; and a phase corrector for estimating a phase error from the FFT output signal and for correcting a phase of the spectrum shifted signal in accordance with the estimated phase error. |
| US08401093B2 |
General method for low-frequency data transmission on a power line
A method for producing a set of inbound pulse patterns and detection vectors for lengths longer than 4 cycles in an AC waveform. These are used for generating inbound messages in a two-way automatic communication system (TWACS). The method uses Hadamard matrices adapted to generate a set of detection vectors by permuting rows of a matrix and removing certain columns of the matrix to meet system design requirements. The method can be extended to any length and modified to accommodate multiple pulses per half-cycle to support higher data rates. |
| US08401089B2 |
Video coding
A method of video encoding including receiving a video signal to be coded; coding data representing a frame of said video signal; and repeating part, but not all, of the data. The repeated part including the picture header for the frame. A method of decoding an encoded video signal including receiving coded data representing frames of a video signal; examining the coded data to detect header data and picture data; when an error in the picture header is detected, storing the picture data in a temporary picture data store, detecting a repeat of the header data; and decoding the stored picture data using the repeated header data. |
| US08401088B2 |
Encoding device and method, decoding device and method, edition device and method, recording medium, and program
The present invention relates to an encoding device and a method, a decoding device and a method, an editing device and a method, a storage medium, and a program which can perform encoding and decoding so that buffer failure does not occur. Information, such as a minimum bit rate, a minimum buffer size, and a minimum initial delay time, is contained in a random access point header contained in an accessible point in a bitstream. A bitstream analyzing unit 72 analyzes an input bitstream, sets the above-mentioned information, and outputs the resulting information to a buffer-information adding unit 73. The buffer-information adding unit 73 adds the input information to the input bitstream and outputs the resulting bitstream. The present invention is applicable to an encoding device and a decoding device which process bitstreams. |
| US08401075B2 |
Hybrid video encoder including real-time and off-line video encoders
A method and apparatus is provided for encoding a video signal stream. The method includes receiving a video signal stream, identifying a plurality of individual segments within the video signal stream and encoding, off-line, recurring ones of the individual segments that recur with at least a first frequency to produce encoded recurring segments. The video signal stream is also encoded in real-time to generate a real-time encoded video stream. Segments in the real-time encoded video stream are replaced with their corresponding encoded recurring segments to thereby produce an encoded video output stream that includes some segments encoded in real-time and other segments encoded off-line. |
| US08401074B2 |
Picture coding method, picture decoding method, picture coding apparatus, picture decoding apparatus, and program thereof
The picture decoding method according to the present invention is a decoding method for decoding coded pictures by inverse quantization and inverse orthogonal transformation, in which a quantization matrix which defines a scaling ratio of a quantization step for each component is multiplied by a multiplier, which is a coefficient for frequency transformation or a quantization step, and also, a result of the multiplication is multiplied by a quantized value, as a process of inverse quantization. |
| US08401071B2 |
Virtually lossless video data compression
An apparatus and method of performing YUV (or YCrCb) video compression prior to storage within a memory and decompression upon retrieval of the blocks from memory. Compression is performed utilizing a quantizer to compress video data to a desired overall compression ratio R, even though the luma and chroma contributions to compression can differ for each subblock, each preferably selected in response to texture estimation. Selections are made for each subblock to perform either linear or non-linear quantization during compression. Compression is performed without utilizing data from blocks outside of the block being compressed, wherein video blocks can be retrieved and decompressed in any desired order. In one implementation, an encoder non-sequentially selects blocks from memory which are then decompressed and encoded. The compression may be beneficially utilized in a number of different video transmission and storage applications without departing from the invention. |
| US08401070B2 |
Method for robust inverse telecine
A method for inverse telecine. The method generally includes the steps of (A) checking if a current field of a plurality of fields in a video sequence repeats in the video sequence according to a pattern-based approach where the current field fits a telecine pattern, (B) checking if the current field repeats according to a first pattern-less approach where the current field complies with at least one of a plurality of rules and (C) generating a signal for an encoder in (i) an asserted state if the current field repeats and (ii) a deasserted state if the current field does not repeat. |
| US08401069B2 |
Apparatus and process for re-timing video cuts
A video process receives an interlaced sequence of input fields organized in a plurality of frames and identifies whether each video cut occurs at a frame boundary. Where a cut occurs otherwise than at a frame boundary, the processes generates a synthetic field by motion compensation and interpolation. This synthetic field replaces one of the fields at the cut, effectively re-timing the cut to a frame boundary. The process thereby outputs a sequence of output fields in which every cut is positioned at a frame boundary, the sequence of output fields containing the same number of fields as the sequence of input fields. |
| US08401067B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring QoE guaranteed real-time IP-media video quality
A method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a video provided in an IP network based media service is provided. The apparatus for measuring Quality of Experience (QoE) guaranteed real-time Internet Protocol (IP)-media video quality, includes: a receiver receiving a transmission video provided through an IP network service platform and an original video corresponding to the transmission video, and extracting frames of the transmission video and the original video; a detector comparing the frames of the transmission video and the original video in real time to obtain a difference between the frames of the transmission video and the original video and detecting a matching segment between the transmission video and the original video; and a measurement unit calculating a QoE parameter using the frames of the transmission video and the original video which correspond to the matching segment. |
| US08401065B2 |
Clock recovery circuit for receiver using decision feedback equalizer
In particular embodiments, a method includes receiving by a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) a first signal comprising transmitted data; adjusting by the DFE the first signal to an equalized signal comprising the transmitted data; detecting by a phase-error detector phase errors at a data rate of no more than one fourth of a data rate for the transmitted data; generating by the phase-error detector a phase-error level based on the detected phase errors; and recovering, by a clock-recovery circuit for the DFE and the phase-error detector, a clock signal associated with the transmitted data based on the phase error level. |
| US08401060B2 |
System of sharing data using transmission order
A data transmission apparatus and a data apparatus, are provided. The apparatuses may share data in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) scheme via a network. The data transmission apparatus divides data into a plurality of segments, and determines a transmission order with respect to each of the divided segments. The data transmission apparatus and the data apparatus share data based on the transmission order of the divided segments. |
| US08401057B2 |
OFDM-based relay-assisted channel estimation method
An OFDM-based relay-assisted channel estimation method enables a composite channel (source-relay-destination) to be disintegrated into a source-to-relay channel and a relay-to-destination channel and separately estimated at the destination node in a relay-assisted way. A relay-amble signal is added to a sub-frame when the relay node is forwarding the amplified signals from the source node. Through the relay-amble signal, the second channel estimation from the relay node to the destination node is performed to obtain a second channel coefficient, and then uses an ML (Maximum Likelihood Estimator) algorithm to estimate a first channel coefficient from the source node to the relay node. After having estimated the coefficients of the two channels, the optimum diversity combining is performed at the destination node to improve accuracy of received data. |
| US08401056B2 |
Method and apparatus for packet acquisition
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for acquisition of a received spread spectrum signal transmitted over a wired or wireless medium. |
| US08401053B2 |
Active RFID apparatus for improving PN code generation
An active radio frequency identification (RFID) apparatus having an additional transmitter in addition to a single transmitter is provided. The active RFID apparatus includes a first transmitter including a first pseudo noise (PN) code generator to generate a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) introduced by ISO/IEC (International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission) 24730-2 or ISO/IEC 18185-5 type B; and a second transmitter including a second PN code generator to perform an AND operation on an initial value and a fed back value and shift the resultant value of the AND operation, to perform an XOR operation on particular bits from among the shifted bits and to perform an XOR operation again on the shifted bits and the resulting value of the XOR operation to finally generate a PN code. Accordingly, where an additional PN code is added besides an existing PN code, a PN code having excellent auto correlation characteristics allowing discrimination of the PN code itself and cross-correlation characteristics providing a code discrimination ability with respect to another code can be generated. |
| US08401052B2 |
Method for detecting signals based on despreading and method for transmitting signals for the same
A method for detecting signals based on despreading and a signal transmitting method for the same are provided. Signals are spread according to the size of at least one spreading band, which is determined in consideration of a correlation degree of a frequency band in a communication system. A reception side which receives the signals detects the signals after de-spreading with respect to signals which are spread in a frequency band having a correlation degree equal to or greater than a predetermined level as a spreading band, among the reception signals. Thus, the dimension of the detected signals can be decreased. |
| US08401050B1 |
Multiple projection sampling for RF sampling receivers
RF sampling receivers are disclosed that employ multiple sampling clocks to produce multiple projections. In operation, a Nyquist folded receiver (NYFR) may be implemented that utilizes at least one modulated sampling clock in combination with one or more other modulated or non-modulated sampling clocks to identify received signals. In such an embodiment, one or more clock modulations may be used to induce frequency modulations that are Nyquist zone dependent, and multiple Nyquist zones may be aliased together while still allowing for signals from different Nyquist zones to be separated and identified. |
| US08401046B2 |
Multibeam coherent laser diode source (embodiments)
A multibeam coherent laser diode source comprises a master laser, a linear amplifier and two perpendicular amplifiers. The master laser and amplifiers are in the form of a single heterostructure containing an active layer, two limiting layers and a radiation influx area with an influx layer. The heterostructure is characterized by the ratio of the refractive index of the heterostructure to the refractive index of influx layer. This ratio is determined from a range extending from one plus delta to one minus gamma, where delta and gamma are defined by a number much less than one and gamma is greater than delta. The linear amplifier is positioned so that optical axis of radiation propagation from master laser coincides with the axis of the linear amplifier. Each perpendicular amplifier has output edge and is positioned so that its optical axis is situated at right angle to the axis of linear amplifier. |
| US08401039B2 |
Point-to-point communications systems particularly for use in power distribution system
A point-to-point communications system (20) for transmitting messages from any location (A) within a power distribution system or network (10) to any other location (B) within the network. A transceiver (12) at the one location includes a transmitter (X) that impresses a waveform (WR) on a waveform (WG) propagated by the network to supply power throughout the network. The transmitter is a resonant transmitter that includes a reactive load (13) which is selectively connected to and disconnected from the power distribution network. A controller (16) controls operation of the transmitter to connect and disconnect the reactive load from the network so to impress on the propagated waveform a dampened sinusoidal waveform whose characteristics represent information conveyed over the power distribution system. A receiver (Yn) at the other location receives and demodulates the dampened sinusoidal waveform to extract therefrom the information being conveyed by it. |
| US08401037B2 |
Method of handling an error on CS voice over HSPA
A method of processing data at a specific protocol layer in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of receiving a first data block including sequence information from a lower layer, checking a status of a second data block contained in the first data block, the second data block being an upper layer data block having time information, and if the status of the second data block fails to correspond to a prescribed condition, discarding the first data block. |
| US08401036B2 |
Quality of service based resource determination and allocation apparatus and procedure in high speed packet access evolution and long term evolution systems
A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) and method are provided that process communication data in a hierarchy of processing layers including a physical (PHY) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer and higher layers. A MAC layer transport format selection device defines an assignment of higher layer transmission data to parallel data streams based on data characteristics received from higher layers and physical resource information received from the PHY layer. The transport format selection also device generates transport format parameters for each data stream. A multiplexer component multiplexes the transmission data onto the parallel data streams in transport blocks in accordance with the data stream assignment and the respective transport format parameters generated by the transport format selection device and outputs the selectively multiplexed transmission data to the PHY layer for transmission over respective physical resource partitions. Preferably, the transport format selection device also generates physical transmission attributes such as modulation and coding rate (MCR), number of subframes per transmission time interval (TTI), duration of TTI, transmission power and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) parameters. |
| US08401033B2 |
Systems, apparatus and methods to facilitate physical cell identifier collision detection
Systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for facilitating collision detection are provided. In some embodiments, a method can include: receiving identifying information during one or more time intervals from a plurality of base stations; determining whether at least two different values of the identifying information from the plurality of base stations have been transmitted during the same time interval; and determining that a collision has occurred between at least two of the plurality of base stations in response to determining that the at least two different values of the identifying information from the plurality of base stations have been transmitted during the same time interval. |
| US08401032B2 |
Multi-user multimedia messaging services
Methods, devices, and computer programs for improving the efficiency of multi-user multimedia messaging services are disclosed. A multimedia message is sent from an originator user device to an originator server and further to one or more recipient servers to which recipient user devices as addressed are associated to. The one or more recipient servers execute a multicast delivery for distributing the multimedia message to the recipient user devices and/or an improved reporting of a transmission state of the multimedia message by receiving status messages from the recipient user devices, each status message comprising an indication of an individual transmission state of the multi media message at one of the recipient user devices, aggregating the indications into a report representing the transmission state of the multimedia message, and sending the report to the originator server. |
| US08401031B2 |
Method of performing random access procedure in wireless communication system
A method of performing a random access procedure in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting a random access preamble, and monitoring a downlink control channel in a transmission time interval (TTI) window for a random access response, the TTI window comprising a plurality of TTIs, wherein a TTI is an interval to search a random access-radio network temporary identity (RA-RNTI) transmitted on the downlink control channel and monitoring the downlink control channel for the random access response is stopped when the random access response including an random access preamble identifier corresponding to the transmitted random access preamble is received. |
| US08401029B2 |
Method, device and system for establishing a bearer for a GSM network
A method for establishing a bearer for a GSM network is disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: receiving, by a Media Gateway, a message for adding a wireless side end point, assigning an IP address and a port number for a call and transmitting a response message containing the IP address and the port number assigned for the call; acquiring, by the Media Gateway, the IP address and the port number assigned for the call by the Base Station Controller via the Mobile Switching Center Server and establishing an IP bearer with the Base Station Controller. A device and a system for establishing a bearer for a GSM network are also disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. With the present invention, a full or part path transcoder-free operation may be realized, which can avoid quality reduction and transmission delay. |
| US08401023B2 |
Intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and private address translation
An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”) and private address translation are provided that can provide significant advantages. The method includes generating an input ATM setup message at the calling party CPE that includes a VToA designator and a called party phone number, extracting information from the input ATM setup message, analyzing the information, designating an ATM address of a called pany CPE to be stored in the first parameter of an output ATM setup message, determining if private address translation is needed, designating the ATM address of the called party CPE to be stored in a first instance of the second parameter of the output ATM setup message, designating an ATM address of an egress ATM edge switch to be stored in the first parameter of the output ATM setup message, and generating an output ATM setup message. |
| US08401020B2 |
Method for controlling access to TDMA wireless channel from nodes of network of either linear or tree topology
Requests of resources of uplink flows towards a base station (BS) and/or downlink flows towards end nodes are computed by each requesting node on an end-to-end basis. Each requesting node issues a cumulative request given by summing up the same request for each link separating the node from the BS plus each link separating the BS from the destination node, enabling the centralized node to perform connection based scheduling. The BS in response to all cumulative requests grants uplink and/or downlink resources for each link. The profile of grants is equal to the profile of requests when the amount of resources requested is below the maximum net throughput on MAC layer. When not below the maximum net through-put on MAC layer, the ideal profile of grants is normalized with respect to a ratio between the maximum net throughput on MAC layer and the amount of the overall requested resources. |
| US08401018B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling in a wireless network
Techniques for scheduling flows and links for transmission are described. Each link is an oriented source-destination pair and carries one or more flows. Each flow may be associated with throughput, delay, feedback (e.g., acknowledgments (ACKs)) and/or other requirements. A serving interval is determined for each flow based on the requirements for the flow. A serving interval is determined for each link based on the serving intervals for all of the flows sent on the link. Each link is scheduled for transmission at least once in each serving interval, if system resources are available, to ensure that the requirements for all flows sent on the link are met. The links are also scheduled in a manner to facilitate closed loop rate control. The links are further scheduled such that ACKs for one or more layers in a protocol stack are sent at sufficiently fast rates. |
| US08401016B2 |
Method, system and peer device for message routing
A method for message routing in a Peer to Peer (P2P) network includes the following steps: when a request message is routed from a source peer to a destination peer, the source peer and every intermediate peer that needs to be recorded add path information of the local peer to the request message and forward the request message to a next hop until the message arrives at the destination peer, where the path information includes a communication address of the local peer; the destination peer adds the path information in the request message to a response message obtained according to the request message; and the response message is routed from the destination peer to the source peer according to the path information. A source peer, an intermediate forwarding peer, and a destination peer as well as a message routing system are also disclosed. With the present invention, recursive message routing is implemented in a structured P2P network. Because a peer in the P2P network no longer needs to maintain a local transaction table, resources of the peer are saved and the cost of the P2P network is less. |