| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08402561B2 |
MEMS actuator device with integrated temperature sensors
An electro-thermal actuator which includes a unit cell comprising at least one thermal bimorph, the thermal bimorph comprising at least two materials of different thermal expansion coefficient bonded together, the unit cell having a first end and a second end; and at least one temperature sensor located on the at least one thermal bimorph for measuring a temperature of the at least one thermal bimorph and determining a position of the unit cell. The basic structure can be expanded to 1-D, 2-D and 3-D positioners. The bimorphs can also be coupled to an active yoke which is in turn anchored to a plate, in order to reduce the parasitic heat effects on displacement of the tip of the bimorph. |
| US08402560B2 |
Scanning probe microscope with drift compensation
A scanning probe microscope compensates for relative drift between its upper structure that includes a probe and a scanner that scans the probe in a straight line and a lower structure that includes a sample stage and a scanner that scans the sample stage in a plane. A light beam from the upper structure is initially aligned with a center of a position sensitive photo detector (PSPD) disposed on the lower structure at a predetermined position of the sample stage and any subsequent misalignments of the light beam with the center of the PSPD at the predetermined position of the sample stage are determined to be caused by drift and compensated by the scanning probe microscope. |
| US08402558B2 |
Securing digital content system and method
A system and method of encrypting digital content in a digital container and securely locking the encrypted content to a particular user and/or computer or other computing device is provided. The system uses a token-based authentication and authorization procedure and involves the use of an authentication/authorization server. This system provides a high level of encryption security equivalent to that provided by public key/asymmetric cryptography without the complexity and expense of the associated PKI infrastructure. The system enjoys the simplicity and ease of use of single key/symmetric cryptography without the risk inherent in passing unsecured hidden keys. The secured digital container when locked to a user or user's device may not open or permit access to the contents if the digital container is transferred to another user's device. The digital container provides a secure technique of distributing electronic content such as videos, text, data, photos, financial data, sales solicitations, or the like. |
| US08402551B2 |
Digital rights management method for terminal
A method for setting digital rights associated with content the method includes receiving a request from a user to access content comprising digital rights defined by a first set of attributes, identifying if the user has existing digital rights to the content, wherein the existing digital rights is defined by a second set of attributes, and modifying the existing digital rights associated with the content to include the first set of attributes. A terminal for issuing digital rights includes a digital rights management (DRM) server for issuing a rights object to a terminal or a content server; and a content server for encoding content using encryption keys issued from the DRM server and providing encoded content to the terminal in response to a content download request wherein the DRM server also issues content encryption keys to the content server. |
| US08402548B1 |
Providing user confidence information to third-party systems
An online services system includes a mechanism for providing user confidence information to an external data consumer, and for determining user contribution quality. Using stored information about user actions and interactions, user confidence is evaluated for one or more parameters associated with the validity of the user's account and/or quality of the user's contributions to the online services system. Confidence values are assigned to each parameter, and the values are exposed to external data consumers. Using stored information, user actions and interactions are correlated with contribution quality to produce a metric indicative of user contribution quality. Users with low quality parameter metrics may have their contributions shown to a smaller audience or have a lower prominence in a news feed. |
| US08402547B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting, prioritizing and fixing security defects and compliance violations in SAP® ABAP™ code
A static code analysis (SCA) tool, apparatus and method detects, prioritizes and fixes security defects and compliance violations in SAP® ABAP™ code. The code, meta information and computer system configuration settings are transformed into an interchangeable format, and parsed into an execution model. A rules engine is applied to the execution model to identify security and compliance violations. The rules engine may include information about critical database tables and critical SAP standard functions, and the step of applying the rules engine to the execution model may include the calculation of specific business risks or whether a technical defect has a business-relevant impact. In particular, an asset flow analysis may be used to determine whether critical business data is no longer protected by the computer system. Such critical business data may include credit or debit card numbers, financial data or personal data. |
| US08402546B2 |
Estimating and visualizing security risk in information technology systems
Security risk for a single IT asset and/or a set of IT assets in a network such as an enterprise or corporate network may be estimated and represented in a visual form by categorizing risk into different discrete levels. The IT assets may include both computing devices and users. The risk categorization uses a security assessment of an IT asset that is generated to indicate the type of security problem encountered, the severity of the problem, and the fidelity of the assessment. The asset value of an IT asset to the enterprise is also assigned. Security risk is then categorized (and a numeric risk value provided) for each IT asset for different problem types by considering the IT asset value along with the severity and fidelity of the security assessment. The security risk for the enterprise is estimated using the numeric risk value and then displayed in visual form. |
| US08402540B2 |
Systems and methods for processing data flows
A flow processing facility, which uses a set of artificial neurons for pattern recognition, such as a self-organizing map, in order to provide security and protection to a computer or computer system supports unified threat management based at least in part on patterns relevant to a variety of types of threats that relate to computer systems, including computer networks. Flow processing for switching, security, and other network applications, including a facility that processes a data flow to address patterns relevant to a variety of conditions are directed at internal network security, virtualization, and web connection security. A flow processing facility for inspecting payloads of network traffic packets detects security threats and intrusions across accessible layers of the IP-stack by applying content matching and behavioral anomaly detection techniques based on regular expression matching and self-organizing maps. Exposing threats and intrusions within packet payload at or near real-time rates enhances network security from both external and internal sources while ensuring security policy is rigorously applied to data and system resources. Intrusion Detection and Protection (IDP) is provided by a flow processing facility that processes a data flow to address patterns relevant to a variety of types of network and data integrity threats that relate to computer systems, including computer networks. |
| US08402534B2 |
Management system, program recording medium, and program distribution apparatus
The management system of the present invention is capable of efficiently discovering each apparatus coupled to a communication network. The management server 1 judges a type of an apparatus coupled to a communication network 5 on the basis of service utilization information T1, which is acquired from a discovered device or acquired from a device (an iSNS server 4, for example) having a name server function for resolving an address from a public name, and on the basis of discovery management information prepared beforehand (S1, S2). The management server 1 acquires a communication protocol in accordance with the type of the apparatus from protocol selection rules T3, and attempts authentication of the apparatus by using the communication protocol (S3). |
| US08402532B2 |
Host control of partial trust accessibility
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing host control of partial trust accessibility. A framework allows libraries to be identified as partial trust callers allowed to indicate that the libraries are allowed to be called from partially trusted code by default. The framework allows libraries to be identified as partial trust callers enabled to indicate the libraries could be called from partially trusted code, but not by default. A hosting application is notified that a particular library has been loaded. If the particular library has been identified as partial trust callers allowed, then a determination is received from the hosting application on whether to remove or keep partial trust accessibility for the particular library. If the particular library has been identified as partial trust callers enabled, then a determination is received from the hosting application on whether or not to enable partial trust accessibility for the particular library. |
| US08402531B2 |
Selection of authentication servers based on authentication mechanisms in supplicant attempts to access network resources
A computer-implemented method is provided for processing access requests in an AAA network. The method includes receiving an access request from a network device, identifying, based upon the access request, an authentication mechanism for facilitating AAA services for the network device and selecting, based on the identified authentication mechanism, a particular server from a plurality of servers that is compatible with the identified authentication mechanism. |
| US08402528B1 |
Portable firewall adapter
A computer is especially vulnerable when connected to a network while software on the computer is in an unpatched state. A portable firewall adapter is installed inline between the computer having the unpatched software and a network. A firewall within the adapter enforces a security policy that protects the computer from attack via the network. The adapter allows the computer to be connected to the network in order to download patches and/or other software that cure the vulnerabilities on the computer. |
| US08402527B2 |
Identity broker configured to authenticate users to host services
Techniques are disclosed for an identity broker to authenticate users to a network device, system, or hosted application that uses certain legacy protocols for user authentication. For example, the identity broker may be configured to respond to a user authentication request from a network device formatted as a RADIUS or LDAP message. The identity broker may operate in conjunction with an identity provider to authenticate a user requesting access to a computing resource (e.g., to the network device, system, or hosted application). |
| US08402524B2 |
ID bridge service system and method thereof
An ID bridge service system manages a type and assurance of identity information required for provision of service by an application service system and a type and assurance of identity information managed by plural authentication service systems, and is provided with a selecting measure that selects an authentication service system that manages identity information corresponding to the identity information required for the provision of the service by the application service system out of the plural authentication service systems when a request for authentication is received from the application service system and a requesting measure that requests the selected authentication service system to authenticate. |
| US08402521B2 |
Systems and methods for dual reader emulation
Systems and methods for emulating credentials are disclosed. In some cases, the systems include an access credential reader and an access credential writer. The access credential reader is communicably coupled to the access credential writer. The access credential reader is operable to receive information from an access credential, and to transfer at least a portion of the information to the access credential writer. The access credential writer is operable to transfer at least the portion of the information to an emulation access credential. |
| US08402520B1 |
Authentication protocol for network security services
In one embodiment, an authentication protocol used in a network security service is performed over non-secure connection, such as HTTP. A router subscribing to the service may send a service request for information about a URL to a server computer providing the service. The service request may be included in a first data set posted by the router to the server computer. The first data set may be described by an HTML form and include an encrypted device authenticator used by the server computer to validate the router. The first data set may further include a server authentication code. In responding to the service request, the server computer returns the server authentication code to the router along with information about the URL. The response may be in a second data set, such as an XML document sent by the server computer to the router over an HTTP connection. |
| US08402512B2 |
System and method for creating a secure trusted social network
A system for a plurality of users to share resources with access, control and configuration based on pre-defined relationships of trust between the users of the system. A computer-based authority provides the services of authentication, identification and verification of each user within network. Processes are described that leads to the formation of an electronic community, which facilitates electronic communication and transactions in a defined manner. |
| US08402510B2 |
Method and system of managing and allocating communication related resources
A system and method for managing communication. The system and method applying to but not limited to settop boxes (STBs) and other devices used to interface services. The management including any number of features and processes associated with achieving Quality of Service (QoS) across different domains and according to network limitations associated with the same. |
| US08402508B2 |
Delegated authentication for web services
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a method and an apparatus for enabling delegated authentication for web services. Delegated authentication is provided without divulging the information the user requires to complete an authorization procedure of another web service or otherwise subjecting the user to unnecessary risk. Furthermore, delegated authentication is granted for a limited duration and access is subject to further limitations to prevent unnecessary intrusion to the user, the user's data, and the host web service.One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method for enabling delegated authentication to allow a third party service access to protected data on a host service. A user attempting to utilize functionality of a third party website that requests access to the user's data stored on a separate host website is enabled as a delegate with authorization to access the data stored on the host website. |
| US08402506B2 |
Informational alert messaging for digital home services
Systems and methods are provided to implement a number of improvements to the consumption process for television (and other services), including personalization, community viewing, shared presence and context, messaging, access to ratings and recommendations (including community reviews), alerts, etc. A content distribution server manages the delivery of television, messaging, on demand audio or video, online gaming, and other entertainment and information services to a plurality of client devices (e.g., televisions, personal computers, enhanced telephones, etc.). The server components include a television application component, messaging component, and application components that integrate the various services to deliver, for example, enhanced television, which includes television broadcast enhanced with messaging services, Internet access, informational alerts, and/or the like. Informational alerts allow a user to customize the timing and types of alerts being presented in parallel with the delivery of other services, such as television broadcast or online gaming. |
| US08402502B2 |
Method and apparatus for presenting media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, presenting a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, receiving information from a viewing apparatus to adjust an intensity of emitted light associated with one of the unassociated media programs, and adjusting the intensity of the emitted light in a manner that is detectable by the viewing apparatus supplying the information. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated. |
| US08402497B2 |
Meta channel network-based content download technology
Content download technology, in which a network-based video scheduled to be played at a particular time is identified, and multiple sources from which the network-based video is available for downloading are identified. An initial source from which to download the network-based video is selected from among the multiple sources, and a first process to download the network-based video from the initial source is initiated. Progress of the download of the network-based video is monitored. When an estimated amount of time remaining for the download of the network-based video from the initial source to complete does not enable viewing of the network-based video at the particular time without interruption, an alternative source from which to download at least a portion of the network-based video is selected from among the multiple sources, and a second process to download at least the portion the network-based video from the alternative source is initiated. |
| US08402496B1 |
Method and apparatus for internet protocol television media content sharing
A method and apparatus for enabling IP service subscribers to share media contents with other IP service subscribers or Internet users in either a secured or open fashion are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention enables the sharing of home movies, pictures, and other media contents, where media could be stored media or media created in real-time. Namely, the present method allows IP service subscribers to effectively create their own TV station, e.g., complete with stored or live content programming and content scheduling. In turn, the method allows a viewing subscriber to select and view a shared media program created by another subscriber. |
| US08402495B1 |
Content sequence technology
Content sequence technology, in which a channel subscribed to by a user of a content delivery network is identified and a genre of the identified channel is determined. A play sequence policy is selected for the identified channel based on the determined genre. The play sequence policy defines one or more rules used in determining an order to play content files on the identified channel. Display of the identified channel is controlled based on the selected play sequence policy. |
| US08402485B2 |
Advertisement inserting VOD delivery method and VOD server
A VOD server refers to advertisement delivery information, and inserts a stream of advertising content in a stream of video content of a main part, based on advertisement inserting position information indicating an inserting position of the advertising content to be inserted into the video content of the main part, for delivery to a client terminal. When making this delivery, at least time information, such as time management information of reproduced output or decoding, to be added to the stream of the video content of the main part and the stream of the advertising content to be delivered to the client terminal, is replaced by time information in accordance with an order of the streams to be delivered to the client terminal. |
| US08402480B2 |
Systems and methods for generating a Swimlane Timeline for task data visualization
The Swimlane Timeline application for task data visualization utilizes the Microsoft Visio Application Programming Interface (API) to visualize user specified task data. The task data includes one or more of: task name, task outline number, task start date, and/or task finish date. The application solicits, interprets, and visualizes the data by mapping the user selected top-level outline number “n” as the parent task that defines the timeline and title, the “n.n” child tasks to swim lane rows, and the “n.n.n . . . ” lower level tasks to intervals and milestones within the swim lanes. Task analysis and reporting are enhanced with features including task drill-in, task filtering, and other user visualization preferences. |
| US08402479B2 |
Device control call allocation for embedded system design
Methods and apparatuses for control call allocation in an embedded system environment are provided. Control calls are placed into groups, with each group having a globally unique identifier. Control calls within each group are assigned relative offset values. Subsequently, as control calls are allocated to hardware resources, such as, for example, during the initial setup of the embedded system or when hardware resources are added to the embedded system, a base offset for each group, and a request number, derivable from the base offset and the relative offset is allocated for each supported control call. Hardware resources may be accessed in a similar manner. |
| US08402478B2 |
Storing medium having a device driver for controlling a plurality of types of peripheral devices
A storing medium includes a driver program installable on a host computer and a plurality of files. The host computer includes a controller, and is connectable to a plurality of different types of peripheral devices. Each file includes separately a common setting file and an individual setting file. The common setting file includes common setting information that is commonly applicable to at least two types of peripheral devices. The individual setting file includes individual setting information that is unique to a single type of peripheral device. The driver program instructs the controller to select target setting information for controlling one peripheral device from the common setting information and the individual setting information included in the file corresponding to the one peripheral device, and to control the peripheral device based on the selected target setting information. |
| US08402477B2 |
Network system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
An information processing apparatus can easily delete drivers which become unnecessary as a result of removal of a peripheral device shared on a network or cancellation of a sharing setting. A driver deletion notification including the designation of a driver is input via an external network. In response to the deletion notification, the designated driver is deleted. |
| US08402472B2 |
Network management system event notification shortcut
Provided is a network management system notification shortcut relating to control of an event notification shortcut in a network management system. The network management system comprising: a probe for intercepting a system event from a monitored system and creating an event item or modifying an event item associated with the system event; a collection database server for collecting a new event item or modification to an existing event item and forwarding a event notification to a second database server; a second database server for receiving the event notification, requesting the event item data or modification data and forwarding the event item to a first client; a first client for receiving the event notification and requesting the event item data or modification data; whereby the collection database server sends the event notification directly to the first client bypassing the second database server if the event satisfies a priority condition. |
| US08402470B2 |
Processor thread load balancing manager
A processor thread load balancing manager employs an operating system of an information handling system (IHS) that determines a process tree of data sharing threads in an application that the IHS executes. The load balancing manager assigns a home processor to each thread of the executing application process tree and dispatches the process tree to the home processor. The load balancing manager determines whether a particular poaching processor of a virtual or real processor group is available to execute threads of the executing application within the home processor of a processor group. If ready or run queues of a prospective poaching processor are empty, the load balancing manager may move or poach a thread or threads from the home processor ready queue to the ready queue of the prospective poaching processor. The poaching processor executes the poached threads to provide load balancing to the information handling system (IHS). |
| US08402466B2 |
Practical contention-free distributed weighted fair-share scheduler
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for scheduling tasks in a computer system. In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving a multitude of sets of tasks, and placing the tasks in one or more task queues. The tasks are taken from the one or more task queues and placed in a priority queue according to a first rule. The tasks in the priority queue are assigned to a multitude of working threads according to a second rule based, in part, on share values given to the tasks. In an embodiment, the tasks of each of the sets are placed in a respective one task queue; and all of the tasks in the priority queue from each of the task queues, are assigned as a group to one of the working threads. |
| US08402460B2 |
Installing and updating interpreted programming language applications using a designated virtual machine
A method, system and program of executing an interpreted programming language application from a server at a designated virtual machine on a client computer are provided. A manifest file is extracted which indicates at least one resource for the interpreted programming language application as well as the repository file associated with the resource. The repository file is located in a web start cache and moved to a run directory accessible by the designated virtual machine, outside the web start cache. The interpreted programming language application is then executed from the run directory using the at least one resource. |
| US08402456B2 |
Portable storage device, system and method for automatic software installation
A portable storage device, a system, and a method for an automatic software installation, the portable storage device including: an interface to connect to an external device to transmit and/or to receive data to/from the external device; a memory to store a setup program to install, in the external device, a main software required to connect the portable storage device to the external device; and a controller to control the interface to transmit the setup program to the external device when the interface is connected to the external device, wherein the setup program is transmitted to the external device and automatically run in the external device. Accordingly, when the portable storage device is connected to the external device, the software can be automatically installed by auto-running the setup program internally stored to the portable storage device. |
| US08402452B2 |
Automatically recommending an upgrade approach for a customizable software product
An upgrade analysis unit can include functionality to analyze a customized software product and compute a convenience for using the upgrade toolkit. The upgrade analysis unit automatically generates an upgrade approach based on the convenience. The upgrade approach identifies software product modules recommended for automatic upgrade with the upgrade toolkit. |
| US08402450B2 |
Map transformation in data parallel code
A high level programming language provides a map transformation that takes a data parallel algorithm and a set of one or more input indexable types as arguments. The map transformation applies the data parallel algorithm to the set of input indexable types to generate an output indexable type, and returns the output indexable type. The map transformation may be used to fuse one or more data parallel algorithms with another data parallel algorithm. |
| US08402449B1 |
Technique for automatically assigning placement for pipeline registers within code generated from a program specification
A system and method automatically inserts pipelines into a high-level program specification. An Intermediate Representation (IR) builder creates one or more graphs or trees based on the high-level program specification. A scheduler iteratively applies a bounded scheduling algorithm to produce an execution schedule for the IR minimizing overall execution time for a given number of pipeline stages. A Hardware Description Language (HDL) code generator may utilize the pipelined, scheduled IR to generate optimized HDL code corresponding to the high-level program specification. An annotated version of the high-level program specification showing where the pipelines have been inserted may be displayed allowing additional design exploration. |
| US08402448B2 |
Compiler system and a method of compiling a source code into an encrypted machine language code
A compiler system including a compiler configured to compile a source code into a machine language code is presented, so that the machine language code is executable on a processing unit, wherein the processing unit comprises an internal register that is changing its state responsive to an execution of the machine language code. The compiler is configured to encrypt the machine language code based on an encryption function that depends on the state of the internal register. |
| US08402447B2 |
Parallelizing sequential frameworks using transactions
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for transforming a sequential loop into a parallel loop for use with a transactional memory system. Open ended and/or closed ended sequential loops can be transformed to parallel loops. For example, a section of code containing an original sequential loop is analyzed to determine a fixed number of iterations for the original sequential loop. The original sequential loop is transformed into a parallel loop that can generate transactions in an amount up to the fixed number of iterations. As another example, an open ended sequential loop can be transformed into a parallel loop that generates a separate transaction containing a respective work item for each iteration of a speculation pipeline. The parallel loop is then executed using the transactional memory system, with at least some of the separate transactions being executed on different threads. |
| US08402441B2 |
Monitoring execution of guest code in a virtual machine
A method is provided for monitoring registered code in a virtual machine of a virtualization system. The method includes instantiating a guest in the virtual machine of the virtualization system and monitoring execution of code registered for monitored execution in an execution context of the guest. The monitoring is performed by the virtualization system and is hidden from computations of the guest. |
| US08402440B2 |
Program verification through symbolic enumeration of control path programs
Systems and methods are disclosed to verify a program by symbolically enumerating path programs; verifying each path program to determine if the path program is correct or leads to a violation of a correctness property; determining a conflict set from the path program if the path program is proved correct; using the conflict set to avoid enumerating other related path programs that are also correct. |
| US08402439B2 |
Program analysis as constraint solving
Described is a technology by which program analysis uses rich invariant templates that may specify an arbitrary Boolean combination of linear inequalities for program verification. Also described is choosing a cut-set that identifies program locations, each of which is associated with an invariant template. The verification generates second-order constraints, converts second-order logic formula based on those constraints into first-order logic formula, then converts the first-order logic formula into a quantifier-free formula, which is then converted into a Boolean satisfiability formula. Off-the-shelf constraint solvers may then be applied to the Boolean satisfiability formula to generate program analysis results. Various templates may be used to convert the second-order logic formula into the first-order logic formula. Further described are interprocedural analysis and the determination of weakest precondition and strongest postcondition with applications to termination analysis, timing bounds analysis, and generation of most-general counterexamples for both termination and safety properties. |
| US08402434B2 |
Graphical user interface (GUI) script generation and documentation
There is disclosed a method and system for generating documentation for a GUI usage scenario. There is also disclosed a method and system for assembling a GUI script from a plurality of pre-scripted parts. In an embodiment, shadow objects are created to listen to and report activities of each GUI object of interest during a GUI usage session. The shadow objects may listen to shadowed GUI object activities during playback of the GUI script, or during a live GUI usage session. GUI object activities reported by the shadow objects are identified and converted into narrative language statements, using a pre-determined conversion list, to create human-readable documentation. |
| US08402432B2 |
System and method of creating and communicating with component based wireless applications
A system and method of creating and communicating with wireless component applications is provided. Mobile communication devices communicate with a web service via a wireless network, the Internet, and optionally a message-map service. Each wireless component application is executed by a component framework on one of the mobile communication devices, and comprises data components, presentation components, message components, and workflow components. The component framework executes the component application in an application container which provides access to framework services which include a communication service, a screen service, a persistence service, an access service, a provisioning service, and a utility service. Messages can be sent from the component application to the message-map service, which converts each of the messages to a format required by the web service using an application message-map, and then sends the message to the web service. The web service sends a response to the message-map service, which converts the response to the format required by the wireless component application, and sends the response to the wireless component application. |
| US08402427B2 |
Web application generator
A method, system and apparatus for providing a web application or to generate the basis for a complete web application source code. Based on user interface input files provided by graphic designers, the web application or generates application framework code, an event handler skeleton and s logic foundation code. Web developers then prepare additional source code object-oriented programming language based on the event handler skeleton and business logic foundation code to create web application business logic objects and handler methods. Ultimately the graphical user interface input files prepared by the designers and web application source code prepared by the web developers dynamically bound at runtime. |
| US08402425B2 |
Framework for realization of web 2.0 features
A method to shape one or more features of Web 2.0 in the form of Web 2.0 solutions, using Web 2.0 realization framework, to the plurality of enterprises is disclosed. The method includes identifying the respective enterprises computing infrastructure and a business application needs of the respective enterprises. The respective enterprises current support system is also measured to find the feasibility of implementing the features of the Web 2.0. The method further comprises offering one or more Web 2.0 features to the respective enterprises based on the business activity. The method includes providing the Web Realization Cycle (WRC) for controlled implementation of Web 2.0 features to the respective enterprises. |
| US08402424B2 |
Support apparatus, control method, and control program
A design support apparatus that supports designing of a circuit and is connected to a display unit, the design support apparatus includes a storage unit that stores logical connection information of the circuit and cell information of a plurality of cells included in the circuit, a selection unit that selects target cell information of a cell to be placed out of the cell information stored in the storage unit, a placement unit that provisionally places the cell corresponding to the selected target cell information based on inputted positional information, a determination unit that determines whether a wiring mode is set, a wiring unit that provisionally arranges wiring connected to the provisionally placed cell when the determination unit determines that the wiring mode is set, and a finalization unit that finalizes a position of the wiring provisionally arranged based on finalization of a position of the cell provisionally placed. |
| US08402423B2 |
System and method for verifying PCB layout
In a method for verifying a printed circuit board (PCB) layout using a computing device, a PCB simulation file is obtained from a storage device of the computing device, and a PCB image is displayed on a display device according to the PCB simulation file. The PCB image includes multiple signal lines and switching voltage regulator nodes (SVRN). A SVRN to be checked is selected from the PCB image, and all signal lines around the SVRN are searched. The method calculates a layout distance between the selected SVRN and each of the searched signal lines, and generates a graphical window interface to position a signal line whose layout distance is equal to or less than the minimum distance. The method further modifies the layout of the positioned signal line to satisfy a layout design specification by increasing the layout distance to the minimum distance. |
| US08402415B2 |
Layout device and layout method of semiconductor integrated circuit
A layout method of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes five steps. The first step is of extracting a wiring crowding place where wiring lines are crowded as compared with a predetermined condition, after carrying out a routing in a region where a placement of circuit elements is carried out. The second step is of generating routing prohibition regions where a routing is prohibited in an area including the wiring crowding place. The third step is of carrying out a routing by bypassing the routing prohibition regions. The fourth step is of deleting the routing prohibition regions. The fifth step is of carrying out a re-routing. The generating step includes: calculating a size and an interval of the routing prohibition regions based on a rate for generating a routing prohibition region in the area in each wiring layer, and generating the routing prohibition regions in the area on the basis of the calculating result. |
| US08402414B2 |
Support computer product, apparatus and method for wiring of integrated circuit design
A computer-readable, non-transitory medium stores therein a design support program that causes a computer executing tentative wiring processing between a first terminal group and a second terminal group in a tentative wiring area to execute a process. The process includes detecting unwired nets occurring in the tentative wiring area consequent to the tentative wiring processing; updating the tentative wiring area by expanding the tentative wiring area according to the number of unwired nets, if any unwired nets are detected at the detecting; controlling to execute the tentative wiring processing and the subsequent detecting with respect to the tentative wiring area updated at the updating; and determining the tentative wiring area to be a wiring area if no unwired nets are detected at the detecting. |
| US08402404B1 |
Stacked die interconnect validation
A system includes an automated place and route tool to generate a layout of an integrated circuit (IC) die based on a gate level circuit description. A machine readable persistent storage medium includes a first portion encoded with a first gate-level description of first and second circuit patterns to be formed on first and second IC dies, respectively, and a second portion encoded with a second gate level description of the plurality of circuit patterns received from the tool. The second gate level description includes power and ground ports, and the first gate level description does not include power and ground ports. A processor-implemented verification module is provided for comparing the first and second gate level descriptions and outputting an error report if the second gate level description has an error. The verification module outputs a verified second gate-level description of the first and second circuit patterns. |
| US08402403B2 |
Verifying a register-transfer level design of an execution unit
A mechanism is provided for verifying a register-transfer level design of an execution unit. A set of instruction records associated with a test case are generated and stored in a buffer. For each instruction record in the set of instruction records associated with the test case: the instruction record is retrieved from the buffer and sent to both a reference model and an execution unit in the data processing system. Separately, the reference model and the execution unit execute the instruction record and send results of the execution of the instruction record to a result checker in the data processing system. The result checker compares the two results and, responsive to a mismatch in the results, a failure of the test case is indicted, the verification of the test case is stopped, and all data associated with the test case is output from the buffer for analysis. |
| US08402398B2 |
Reducing through process delay variation in metal wires
A mechanism is provided for reducing through process delay variation in metal wires by layout retargeting. The mechanism performs initial retargeting, decomposition, and resolution enhancement techniques. For example, the mechanism may perform optical proximity correction. The mechanism then performs lithographic simulation and optical rules checking. The mechanism provides retargeting rules developed based on coupling lithography simulation and resistance/capacitance (RC) extraction. The mechanism performs RC extraction to capture non-linear dependency of RC on design shape dimensions. If the electrical properties in the lithographic simulation are within predefined specifications, the mechanism accepts the retargeting rules; however, if the electrical properties from RC extraction are outside the predefined specifications, the mechanism modifies the retargeting rules and repeats resolution enhancement techniques. |
| US08402397B2 |
Hotspot detection based on machine learning
Aspects of the invention relate to machine-learning-based hotspot detection techniques. These hotspot detection techniques employ machine learning models constructed using two feature encoding schemes. When two-level machine learning methods are also employed, a total four machine learning models are constructed: scheme-one level-one, scheme-one level-two, scheme-two level-one and scheme-two level-two. The four models are applied to test patterns to derive scheme-one hotspot information and scheme-two hotspot information, which are then used to determine final hotspot information. |
| US08402396B2 |
Layout decomposition for double patterning lithography
The invention provides systems and methods for layout decomposition to produce exposure layouts that can be used to perform double patterning lithography (DPL). Preferred embodiment methods of the invention are executed by a computer and provide alternate methods for layout decomposition for double patterning lithography (DPL) using integer linear programming (ILP) formulations. Embodiments of the invention meet a key optimization goals, which is to reduce the total cost of layout decomposition, considering the abovementioned aspects that contribute to cost of prior conventional DPL techniques. Embodiments of the invention provide integer linear programming (ILP), phase conflict detection (PCD) and node election bipartization (NBD) formulations for the optimization of DPL layout decomposition, with a process-aware cost function that avoids small jogging line-ends, and maximizes overlap at dividing points of polygons. The cost function can also make preferential splits at landing pads, junctions and long runs. |
| US08402393B2 |
Apparatus and method for manipulating virtual object
Disclosed is a virtual object manipulating apparatus and method. The virtual object manipulating apparatus connects a virtual object in a 3D virtual world with a virtual object manipulating apparatus, senses a grab signal from a user, and determines a grab type of the virtual object based on the sensed grab signal and the connection between the virtual object and the virtual object manipulating apparatus. |
| US08402387B1 |
Advertising based on user models
A generic model of behavior pattern of general users is established. Information about a specific user is obtained from one or more electronic messages associated with the specific user, and a specific model of behavior pattern of the specific user is established based on the information about the specific user. Ads are identified based on the generic model and the specific model. |
| US08402384B2 |
Dynamic bar oriented user interface
Method and user interface for controlling an apparatus are provided. At least one dynamic bar is provided for displaying on a main screen of a graphical user interface for controlling the apparatus. Each dynamic bar is associated with respective one or more interfaces for applications and/or functions provided by the apparatus and each dynamic bar has a pop-up interface for providing at least one of preview information determined from information managed by the applications and/or functions and links to invoke said respective interfaces. |
| US08402382B2 |
System for organizing and visualizing display objects
A method, system and computer program for organizing and visualizing display objects within a virtual environment is provided. In one aspect, attributes of display objects define the interaction between display objects according to pre-determined rules, including rules simulating real world mechanics, thereby enabling enriched user interaction. The present invention further provides for the use of piles as an organizational entity for desktop objects. The present invention further provides for fluid interaction techniques for committing actions on display objects in a virtual interface. A number of other interaction and visualization techniques are disclosed. |
| US08402379B2 |
Dynamic content layout for a user interface display
According to some embodiments, an ordered set of display elements may be determined for a user interface display, each display element being associated with a display value. A dynamic display table may be created for the display page, with each cell in the dynamic display table representing a sub-set of the display elements and containing a total of the display values of the display elements in that sub-set. An overall display value may be determined for the user interface page, and a plurality of cells in the dynamic display table may be evaluated to select an appropriate sub-set of display elements based on the overall display value. It may then be arranged for the selected sub-set of display elements to be presented on the user interface display. |
| US08402376B2 |
Appliance development toolkit for creating a themeable dynamic user interface for an appliance
An appliance development toolkit includes access to user interface domain data, an editor configured to create one or more instances of user interface control data, to create a map for associating the instances with one or more resource identifiers, and to create a map for associating one or more theme identifiers with the resource identifiers. The toolkit also has a converter for creating content based on the instances of user interface control data and the maps. The content is in a builder file. An appliance, having a graphical user interface with which a user can control and observe operation of the appliance, can use the builder file at runtime to dynamically render its graphical user interface based on resources in response to selection of a theme. |
| US08402375B1 |
System and method for managing bookmark buttons on a browser toolbar
A system and method is disclosed for managing bookmark buttons on a web browser toolbar. A web browser stores the number of times it is used to navigate to a website. On navigating to a website a predetermined number of times, a bookmark button that links to the website is automatically generated and displayed on the toolbar. The number of bookmark buttons displayed at any one time is limited, and they are arranged by the number of times their associated websites have been viewed. On determining that a new website has been viewed more than a website associated with a currently displayed bookmark button, the currently displayed bookmark button is replaced by a new bookmark button that links to the new website. |
| US08402374B1 |
Audience platform
An audience platform is disclosed. In a first example case, a first question is received. A preference event associated with the first question is received. A score is determined for the first question based at least in part on the preference. In a second example case, indications of a first and second potential interviewee are received. Preference events associated with the first and second potential interviewees are received. Scores are determined for the first and second potential interviewees based at least in part on the received preference events. A designated interviewee is selected based on the first and second scores. In a third example case, indications of a first and second potential awardee are received. Preference events associated with the first and second potential awardee are received. Scores are determined for the first and second potential awardees based at least in part on the received preference events. |
| US08402373B2 |
Device cloning method for non-programmatic interfaces
Devices, methods, and computer-readable media for cloning a device setting input from a user by aggregating a user interface based on two or more members of plurality of peripheral computing devices, e.g., multifunction peripheral rendering and/or printing devices, having a user interface where two or more members of the plurality of user interfaces each require a user input; replicating a user input of at least one member of the plurality of user interfaces based on the aggregated user interface; and outputting for routing, to two or more members of the plurality of peripheral computing devices a replicated user setting based on the aggregated user interface. |
| US08402371B2 |
Method and system for embedding covert data in text document using character rotation
A method and system for embedding data covertly in a text document using character rotation encoding. A character that occurs in first and second occurrences is selected, where the first occurrence of the character is a reference character and the second occurrence of the character as a rotatable character. The rotational orientation of the rotatable character is altered to produce an altered character with a predetermined rotation with respect to the reference character, wherein the rotation represents the embedded covert data. A text document is formatted based on the altered character. |
| US08402370B2 |
System for storing and providing information for personalizing user devices
Systems (10) for storing and providing information for personalizing user devices (61-64, 71-72) comprise first means (11) for storing personalization information destined for user devices (61-64) of a predefined type and comprise second means (12) for providing the personalization information to these user devices (61-64) and are provided with third means (13) for storing further personalization information destined for further user devices (71-72) of a further predefined type and with fourth means (14) for providing the further personalization information to these further user devices (71-72), to handle different user devices (61-64, 71-72) of different predefined types. Preferably, the systems (10) comprise fifth means (15) for billing one and the same user for provisions of the personalization information and for further provisions of the further personalization information, which one and the same user owns the user devices (61-64, 71-72). User devices (61-64, 71-72) comprise mobile phones, televisions, set top boxes, monitors, pc's, cordless phones and fixed phones. Personalization information comprises avatars, pictures, logos, sound and speech. |
| US08402359B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing recent activity navigation in web applications
A method and apparatus are provided for maintaining the navigation history of a web application that includes techniques for maintaining those pages that are considered valuable. The method and apparatus further include techniques for registering a visited page into the application navigation history, displaying a particular history menu of a web page, and, to pass stateful information, using a redirecting technique that includes redirecting a user to a history page to obtain the stateful information once the user has chosen a menu item. |
| US08402357B1 |
System and method for facilitating posting of public and private user comments at a web site
A software system and method that allows web site operators to adapt web pages for posting of public and private user comments. An administrator accesses a web site to enter data for creating reader comment areas. HTML code for the reader comment areas is generated for insertion into web pages. When the web page containing the code is posted to a web site, the code results in a reader comment display page where web site visitors can comment on the content of the particular web page where the reader comment area appears. Comments are saved at a remote web site accessible to the administrator. The administrator may review and manage the reader comments. A reader who makes a comment on a web page has the option of creating a personal journal comprising all comments entered by the reader at any web page enabled according to the invention. |
| US08402355B2 |
Signal processing device and error correction method
Provided is a signal processing device including a signal receiving unit for receiving a multilevel signal having a signal waveform that is obtained by synchronously adding an encoded signal generated based on a specific coding rule and a clock which has an amplitude larger than the encoded signal and for which the transmission speed is half that of the encoded signal, an amplitude level detection unit for detecting an amplitude level of the multilevel signal received by the signal receiving unit, a violation detection unit for detecting a bit position at which rule violation of the specific coding rule occurred, based on a change pattern of the amplitude level detected by the amplitude level detection unit, and an error correction unit for correcting a detection value of the amplitude level corresponding to the bit position detected by the violation detection unit so that the rule violation is resolved. |
| US08402352B2 |
Multi-bit error correction method and apparatus based on a BCH code and memory system
Exemplary embodiments for providing multi-bit error correction based on a BCH code are provided. In one such embodiment, the following operations are repeatedly performed, including shifting each bit of the BCH code rightward by 1 bit while filling the bit vacated due to the rightward shifting in the BCH code with 0, calculating syndrome values corresponding to the shifting of the BCH code, and determining a first error number in the BCH code under the shifting based on the syndrome values corresponding to the shifting of the BCH code. In the case where the first error number is not equal to 0, modified syndrome values are calculated corresponding to the shifting of the BCH code. The modified syndrome values are those corresponding to the case that the current rightmost bit of the BCH code under the shifting is changed to the inverse value. Additional operations are performed as described herein. |
| US08402351B1 |
Error correction coding with nuisance data
The disclosure provides a method that includes receiving a data sector of a plurality of data tiles, wherein each of the plurality of data tiles includes either nuisance data or user data, decoding the received data sector, using an error correction code, to generate a decoded data sector, and determining an error in the decoded data sector. The method further includes identifying, in response to determining the error, at least one data tile from a first plurality of data tiles, such that each of the identified at least one data tiles potentially includes nuisance data, and generating a modified data sector from the received data sector, by correcting at least one of the at least one data tiles in the received data sector. |
| US08402350B2 |
System, method and apparatus for reducing blockage losses on information distribution networks
System, apparatus and method are provided for transmitting and receiving packets over first and second channels. An FEC encoder generates forward error correction (FEC) packets corresponding to an original stream of packets. A packet transmitter transmits the original stream of packets over the first channel and transmits the FEC packets over the second channel. A packet receiver receives a stream of packets over the first channel, and receives the FEC packets corresponding to the stream of packets over the second channel. An FEC decoder uses information stored in the FEC packets to determine a correspondence between the FEC packets and the stream of packets, and recovers one or more lost packets of the stream of packets using the FEC packets. |
| US08402348B1 |
Systems and methods for variable data processing using a central queue
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is disclosed that includes two or more detection processing circuits, a decoder processing circuit and a memory. The memory is coupled to both of the data detection processing circuits and the decoder processing circuit. In some instances of the aforementioned embodiments, the system further includes a scheduling circuit that is operable to govern access to the memory by the detection processing circuits and the decoder processing circuit. |
| US08402346B2 |
N-way parity technique for enabling recovery from up to N storage device failures
An n-way parity protection technique enables recovery of up to n storage device (e.g., disk) failures in a parity group of a storage array encoded to protect against n-way disk failures. The storage array is created by first configuring the array with m data disks, where m=p−1 and p is a prime number and a row parity disk. n−1 diagonal parity disks are then added to the array. Each diagonal parity set (i.e., diagonal) is associated with a slope that defines the data and row parity blocks of the array that are included in the diagonal. All diagonals having a common slope within a parity group are organized as a diagonal parity class. For each diagonal parity class, a diagonal parity storage disk is provided to store the diagonal parity. |
| US08402345B1 |
Methods and apparatus for providing multilevel coset coding and probabilistic error correction
Systems and methods are provided for performing multilevel coset coding and probabilistic error correction. Multiple bit data is encoded in a memory by combining one of the bit positions of multiple data values and encoding the combination to form a codeword. A data point containing a bit error is determined by decoding a codeword associated with one of the bit positions. A first coset corresponding to a data point with the error is determined where the coset includes labels representing non-adjacent analog signal levels. Labels in a second coset that includes mutually exclusive labels from the first coset are analyzed to select a label representing a signal level that is closest in proximity to the signal level represented by the data point containing the bit error than the other labels in the second coset. The data point error is corrected by replacing the data point with the selected label. |
| US08402343B2 |
Reliable packet cut-through
A cut-through data packet mechanism is described. Forwarding of a cut-through data packet by an intermediary node enables packet transmission of the cut-through data packet to begin prior to performing a frame CRC on the packet. The CRC is instead performed while transmission of the packet is occurring. If one or more errors are found in the cut-through data packet, then a packet trailer indicating such errors is transmitted toward an endpoint node that receives the cut-through packet. |
| US08402342B2 |
Method and system for cyclic redundancy check
The present disclosure describes a method, performed by a data processor comprising a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) module configured for calculating CRC remainders for encoded data and a comparator comprising a shift register, for making a cyclic redundancy check of an encoded data record of bit length L, in which at least A bits of the record represent content data and at least B bits represent check data. A system for performing a cyclic redundancy check is also described. |
| US08402341B2 |
Method and system for providing low density parity check (LDPC) encoding and decoding
An approach is provided for processing structure Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes. Memory storing edge information and a posteriori probability information associated with a structured parity check matrix used to generate Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coded signal are accessed. The edge information represent relationship between bit nodes and check nodes, and are stored according to a predetermined scheme that permits concurrent retrieval of a set of the edge information. |
| US08402340B2 |
Parity-check-code decoder and recording controller
A parity-check-code decoder includes: a verifying device that multiplies (N) bit nodes by a matrix provided with (N) columns so as to obtain a plurality of check nodes; a reliability generator that generates a reliability index for each of the bit nodes in accordance with a channel; a reliability-updating device that uses the bit nodes and the check nodes to exchange message iteratively, and following each iteration, updates (N) exchange results corresponding to the (N) columns; and a recording controller that includes a separator, a quantizing determiner and a quantizer. The separator divides the matrix into at least one column group based on the characterizing signals. The quantizing determiner determines a shift signal for each column group based on the characterizing signals. The quantizer quantizes the characterizing signals according to the shift signals for subsequent output. |
| US08402338B2 |
Method of error control
A method of error control in a wireless access system is disclosed. More particularly, a method of error control using a random liner coding method is disclosed. A method of error control in a wireless access system comprises receiving code blocks generated as data blocks included in a data block set are randomly linear-coded; decoding a predetermined number of code blocks to a first data block set, wherein the predetermined number of code blocks are selected from the code blocks; replacing one or more code blocks among the predetermined number of code blocks with code blocks other than the predetermined number of code blocks selected from the code blocks and decoding them to a second data block set; and comparing the first data block set with the second data block set. |
| US08402337B2 |
Data processing apparatus and data processing method as well as encoding apparatus and encoding method
A data processing apparatus, a data processing method, an encoding apparatus and an encoding method which can be applied, for example, to a transmission system for transmitting an LDPC code and so forth, and which can improve the tolerance to errors. Of an LDPC code which is prescribed in the DVB-S.2 and has a code length of 64,800 and an encoding rate of 2/3, mb code bits are replaced, and the code bits after the replacement become symbol bits of b symbols. When m is 8 and b is 2, where the i+1th bit from the most significant bit of 8×2 code bits and 8×2 symbol bits of two successive symbols are represented by bi and yi, respectively, replacement of allocating b0 to y15, b1 to y7, b2 to y1, b3 to y5, b4 to y6, b5 to y13, b6 to y11, b7 to y9, b8 to y8, b9 to y14, b10 to y12, b11 to y3, b12 to y0, b13 to y10, b14 to y4 and b15 to y2. |
| US08402336B2 |
HARQ process management for carrier aggregation
A method and apparatus for use with a mobile user agent configured to be able to communicate via N carriers, the method for managing Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) processes in a communication system that uses R HARQ process indicators (HPIs) so that the system can support a maximum of (R)(N) HARQ processes, the method comprising the steps of, using a processor running a program to perform the steps of, within the mobile user agent, identifying less than (R)(N) unique HPI/carrier combinations, instantiating HARQ process buffers, associating each of the identified HPI/carrier combinations with at least one of the instantiated HARQ process buffers, receiving data, identifying HPI/carrier combinations associated with the received data and, where the HPI/carrier combination associated with received data is one of the identified combinations, delivering the data to the buffer associated with the HPI/carrier combination. |
| US08402334B2 |
System and method for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) functionality in a relay node
A relay node. The relay node includes a first hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) entity providing a first HARQ functionality. The relay node further includes a second HARQ entity providing a second HARQ functionality. |
| US08402318B2 |
Systems and methods for recording and replaying application execution
A method for recording and replaying execution of an application running on a computer system using a program module is provided. The method includes recording events which result from the execution of the application including a non-deterministic event, wherein the program module deterministically records the non-deterministic event, saving the recorded events for deterministic replay of the recorded execution, restoring the saved recorded events, and deterministically replaying the recorded execution of the application. |
| US08402317B1 |
Viewing multi-dimensional metric data from multiple test cases
A viewer is disclosed for viewing a multi-dimensional data set. The viewer may be coupled to or included in a test environment and receive data generated in the test environment. The test environment may generate metric data from the multiple test cases of a UUT. The viewer may display the cumulative metric data generated from multiple test cases. The viewer may display the cumulative metric data in a fashion that the user can gain insight into the UUT's characteristics. |
| US08402315B2 |
Electronic card able to execute a command originating from a simulation system and a command originating from a diagnostic module and associated simulation method
An electronic card (4) comprising a processing unit (7), able to receive a command originating from a diagnostic module (6) and a command originating from a simulation system (3). The electronic card (4) comprises means of managing the execution priority of the command originating from the simulation system (3) relative to the command originating from the diagnostic module (6). A diagnostic system of an electronic card comprising a diagnostic module and means of managing the execution priority of the commands. A simulation method is associated with the electronic card (4). For use in particular for analysing malfunctions on electronic cards (4) incorporated in integration simulators (1). |
| US08402312B2 |
Method and system for testing an application
The present invention provides a method, test-bed and computer program product for testing an application installed on a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device communicates one or more messages wirelessly to a server through a test-bed. The test-bed is connected with the server and provides one or more testing parameters for the one or more messages. A tester, testing the application, assigns a probability to the one or more messages. Further, the tester assigns a probability to the one or more testing parameters. Thereafter, the messages are re-communicated between the server and wireless communication device through the test-bed. Subsequently, the one or more messages are identified by the test-bed and one or more wireless network conditions are emulated based on the probabilities assigned to the one or more messages and the one or more testing parameters. |
| US08402311B2 |
Monitoring activity with respect to a distributed application
Techniques are described herein that are capable of monitoring activity with respect to a distributed application. A server system includes logical tiers, each including processing system(s) configured to process messages in accordance with a respective protocol (e.g., an ASP.net® protocol, WCF protocol, SQL protocol, etc.). When a user initiates an activity with respect to a distributed application, hops are performed between the logical tiers and/or between components of the distributed application to complete the requested activity. A hop is a transfer of a message or a procedure call from one processing system to another processing system. A common identifier may be assigned to each of the hops that are performed with regard to the activity. If a failure occurs with respect to the activity, the common identifier may be used to gather information regarding the hops. For instance, the information may be used to determine a source of the failure. |
| US08402307B2 |
Peripheral component interconnect express root port mirroring
An information handling system includes a peripheral component interconnect express root complex, a basic input output system, and a root complex mirroring block. The peripheral component interconnect express root complex includes a plurality of peripheral component interconnect express ports. The basic input output system is in communication with the peripheral component interconnect express root complex, and is configured to detect a peripheral component interconnect express adaptor configuration, and to set a peripheral component interconnect express mirroring setting based on the peripheral component interconnect express adaptor configuration. The root complex mirroring block is in communication with the basic input output system, and is configured to mirror data between a first peripheral component interconnect express adaptor and a second peripheral component interconnect express adaptor based on the peripheral component interconnect express mirroring setting. |
| US08402299B2 |
Electronics device having timekeeping function and computer-readable record medium storing program for timekeeping function
An electronics device comprising a time information acquisition unit which acquires time information representing present time from an external device, an update unit which updates reference time stored in a reference time storage unit to time represented by the latest time information acquired by the time information acquisition unit each time the time information is acquired, a counter circuit which is formed by hardware and updates its count value at fixed cycles, an elapsed time measurement unit which measures an elapsed time since the update of the reference time by use of the counter circuit, a present time calculation unit which calculates present time by adding the elapsed time to the reference time stored in the reference time storage unit, and a response unit which makes the present time calculation unit calculate the present time and outputs the calculated present time if a present time output request is issued. |
| US08402297B2 |
Method and apparatus for indicating multi-power rail status of integrated circuits
Methods and apparatus provide for indicating multi-power rail status of integrated circuits by taking into account a clock signal provided by, for example, core logic, in addition to considering voltage levels of multiple power rails. In one example, the apparatus includes multi-power rail status indicating logic that provides a multi-power rail status signal. The multi-power rail status signal is synchronized for assertion with a clock signal of the integrated circuit, such as the core logic of the integrated circuit, in response to an assertion of an asynchronous multi-power rail voltage stability signal. The asynchronous multi-power rail voltage stability signal indicates a state of a plurality of voltage signals from a plurality of power rails supplied to the integrated circuit. The multi-power rail status indicating logic may include a synchronous assertion/asynchronous de-assertion multi-power rail status signal generator that receives the clock signal and the asynchronous multi-power rail voltage stability signal, and in response to of the assertion of the asynchronous multi-power rail voltage stability signal, synchronizes the asynchronous multi-power rail voltage stability signal with the clock signal to assert the multi-power rail status signal. |
| US08402296B2 |
Power profiling application for managing power allocation in an information handling system
A method, system, and software instructions for allocating power in a information handling system are operable to respond to a power profiling request by transitioning a processing resource to a first power consumption state and obtaining and storing a first power consumption value. The first power consumption value is then retrieved and used to allocate power to the first processing resource in response to a power on request. The first power consumption state may be a state in which power consumption approximates a maximum power consumption. The processing resource may be further transitioned to a second power consumption state and a second power consumption value obtained. The second power consumption state may be a reduced performance state. Thereafter, responsive to determining that the system lacks sufficient power budget to fulfill a pending request for power, the processing resource is throttled and power is allocated using the second power consumption value. |
| US08402292B2 |
Method and apparatus to maximize power of a computer system for effective testing
Implementations of the present invention may involve methods and systems to improve the combined power consumption and thermal response of individual components of a computer system as the components are stressed concurrently during simulation or testing of the system. A group of operating system-level instruction sets for several individual components of the computer system may be designed to stress the components and executed concurrently while power and thermal measurements are taken. The instruction sets may utilize one or more software threads of the computer system or hardware threads such that minimal interference between components occurs as the system is tested. Further, the system components may be partitioned between separate instruction sets. By minimizing the interference between the components while the system is operating, a more accurate power consumption and thermal effect measurements may be taken on the computer system to better approximate the performance of the system. |
| US08402291B2 |
Method, device, and system for guaranteed minimum processor power state dwell time
A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes causing a processor to enter into a first power state. Then an interrupt is received that signals the processor to leave the first power state. The method continues by causing the processor to remain in the first power state if the interrupt was received less than a minimum dwell time after the processor entered the first power state. |
| US08402290B2 |
Power management for multiple processor cores
Methods and apparatus relating to power management for multiple processor cores are described. In one embodiment, one or more techniques may be utilized locally (e.g., on a per core basis) to manage power consumption in a processor. In another embodiment, power may be distributed among different power planes of a processor based on energy-based considerations. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08402287B2 |
Protection against side channel attacks
The invention relates to a cryptographic mechanism and to a cryptographic device incorporating such cryptographic mechanism. The cryptographic mechanism offers a better resistance to side channel attacks than that of known cryptographic mechanisms by incorporating a new type of masking mechanism. |
| US08402286B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus which makes it possible to store encrypted data of packets in a decrypted state, and improve the efficiency of data analysis. A network interface receives encrypted data which has been encrypted, and data which has not been encrypted, from a network. A HDD stores received data. A IPSec module is operable when an item of the received is an item of the encrypted data, to decrypt the item of the encrypted data. A packet acquisition sub application searches the data stored in HDD for an item of the encrypted data corresponding to an decrypted item of data. The packet acquisition sub application updates the item of the received encrypted data based on the decrypted item of the data. |
| US08402285B2 |
Method of encrypting and storing digital content using firmware regional code and apparatus therefor
A method of processing digital content performed by an apparatus for storing digital content. In the method, a hardware regional code extracted from a memory of a content storage device is compared with a firmware regional code extracted from firmware, and the digital content is selectively encrypted and stored according to a corresponding regional code only when the hardware regional code matches the firmware regional code. |
| US08402284B2 |
Symbiotic storage devices
A system is provided, the system having a first storage device and a second storage device. A symbiotic relationship is established between the first and second storage devices to selectively store backup digital content for each other. |
| US08402281B2 |
Data security system for a database
A method and an apparatus for processing data provides protection for the data. The data is stored as encrypted data element values (DV) in records (P) in a first database (0-DB), each data element value being linked to a corresponding data element type (DT). In a second database (IAM-DB), a data element protection catalogue (DC) is stored, which for each individual data element type (DT) contains one or more protection attributes stating processing rules for data element values (DV), which in the first database (0-DB) are linked to the individual data element type (DT). In each user-initiated measure which aims at processing a given data element value (DV) in the first database (0-DB), a calling is initially sent to the data element protection catalogue for collecting the protection attribute/attributes associated with the corresponding data element types. The user's processing of the given data element value is controlled in conformity with the collected protection attribute/attributes. |
| US08402276B2 |
Creating and verifying electronic documents
Systems and methods for generating and verifying an electronic document with embedded digital signatures. When an electronic document is generated, signature blocks are included that are used to store corresponding digital signatures. When each digital signature is generated, some of the attributes of the signature blocks are filled such that the digital signature references these attributes, such as a timestamp. Each signature block also includes a reconstruct attribute that is used when the electronic document and/or the digital signature is validated through reconstruction. Other signature blocks do not require a reconstruct attribute. During reconstruction, some data is removed from the electronic document such that the data is identical to a previous state. The reconstructed document is hashed and the hash result is compared with the decrypted digital signature. The electronic document and/or the digital signature is validated or verified if the hash result matches the decrypted digital signature. |
| US08402273B2 |
Method for securing a transmission, associated system and mediation platform
In a system comprising a broadcasting subsystem and a radiocommunication subsystem each connected to a mediation platform, said transmission being ciphered and arranged for being deciphered by using a key, the following steps are performed at the mediation platform, relatively to a user or group of users having terminals: determining one first and at least one second sets of values from said key, so that the knowledge of all the determined sets of values is required to retrieve the key; and controlling the broadcasting subsystem so that it transmits the first set of values to the user or group of users and the radiocommunication subsystem so that it transmits the at least one second set of values to the user or group of users. |
| US08402270B2 |
Measurement probe systems for co-ordinate positioning apparatus
A measurement probe, such as a touch trigger measurement probe, is described that comprises a measurement portion for measuring an object and a data transfer portion for receiving data from and/or transmitting data to an associated unit. The measurement device also comprises an authentication module for verifying the authenticity of the associated unit. The authentication module may include a processor for running a one-way hash algorithm. Authenticity may be established using a challenge and response authentication process. |
| US08402269B2 |
System and method for controlling exit of saved data from security zone
A system for controlling exit of saved data from a security zone, comprising an access control device, the access control device comprising an access detection module for detecting access of an application to a security zone and access of an application to a general zone, a target checking module for comparing the application, detected by the access detection module, with a list and then controlling access of the application to the security zone and access of the application to the general zone, and a processing control module for controlling writing of data of the application to the general zone. |
| US08402268B2 |
System and method for providing security aboard a moving platform
A system for providing network security on a vehicle information system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The security system comprises an all-in-one security system that facilitates security system functions for the vehicle information system. Exemplary security system functions include secure storage of keys used to encrypt and/or decrypt system data, security-related application programming interfaces, a security log file, and/or private data. The security system likewise can utilize antivirus software, anti-spyware software, an application firewall, and/or a network firewall. As desired, the security system can include an intrusion prevention system and/or an intrusion detection system. If the information system includes a wireless distribution system, the security system can include an intrusion prevention (and/or detection) system that is suitable for use with wireless network systems. Thereby, the security system advantageously can provide a defense in depth approach by adding multiple layers of security to the information system. |
| US08402264B2 |
Method for securing an interaction between nodes and related nodes
The invention proposes a method for securing an interaction between a first node and a second node, wherein a security algorithm belonging to both a first set of security algorithms held by the first node and a second set of security algorithms held by a third node is selected to secure the interaction between the first and second nodes, the selection of said security algorithm taking account of capacities of both the first and third nodes. |
| US08402258B2 |
Debug message generation using a selected address type
A method for generating a debug message includes receiving a translated address and an untranslated address associated with a same processor operation, determining a value of one or more control indicators, selecting the translated address or the untranslated address as a selected address based on the value of the one or more control indicators, and creating a debug message using at least a portion of the selected address. |
| US08402257B2 |
Alteration of execution of a program in response to an execution-optimization information
Embodiments include a device, and a method. In an embodiment, a device includes an information store operable to save an execution-optimization information, a first processor, and a hardware circuit. The hardware circuit includes a hardware circuit for altering an execution of a program by the first processor in response to the execution-optimization information. The execution-optimization information created by a hardware device utilizing data collected from a second processor and corresponding to a previous runtime execution by the second processor of at least a portion of the program that was transparent to any software executing on the second processor. |
| US08402255B2 |
Memory-hazard detection and avoidance instructions for vector processing
A processor that is configured to perform parallel operations in a computer system where one or more memory hazards may be present is described. An instruction fetch unit within the processor is configured to fetch instructions for detecting one or more critical memory hazards between memory addresses if memory operations are performed in parallel on multiple addresses corresponding to at least a partial vector of addresses. Note that critical memory hazards include memory hazards that lead to different results when the memory addresses are processed in parallel than when the memory addresses are processed sequentially. Furthermore, an execution unit within the processor is configured to execute the instructions for detecting the one or more critical memory hazards. |
| US08402250B1 |
Distributed file system with client-side deduplication capacity
A system and method are provided for deduplication (dedup) of data file information in a network of distributed data filers. A host, including a metadata service (MDS) and a data node (DN), receives a block count and hash group calculations for a file from a network-connected client device. The MDS creates a file map with target addresses, and compares the calculated hash group to hash groups associated with stored blocks of data in a global dedup hash table. If a match is found, the MDS directs the client device not to send the block of data associated with matching hash group, and reallocates the address of the block of data from the target address. |
| US08402249B1 |
System and method for mixed-mode SDRAM address mapping
A method of mapping system addresses to physical addresses associated with a physical memory device receives memory requirements associated with an application, allocates a region of the physical memory device to the application (wherein the region is a contiguous portion of the physical addresses that does not overlap with any other region and is associated with a memory mapping mode), determines a memory mapping scheme for the region (wherein the memory mapping scheme defines the mapping between system addresses and the region and is based at least on the memory mapping mode) and modifies a mapping register to reflect the region. In one implementation, the method modifies the mapping register to reflect the memory mapping scheme. In another implementation, the memory requirements comprise an application type, and the memory mapping mode is determined based on the application type. |
| US08402246B1 |
Alignment adjustment in a tiered storage system
A storage proxy monitors storage access operations. Different address alignments are identified between the storage access operations and data blocks in a storage media. A dominant one of the address alignments is identified. Data blocks are mapped into the storage media to remove the dominant address alignment. An array of counters can be used to track the address alignments for different storage access sizes and the address alignment associated with the highest number of storage access operations is used as the dominant address alignment. |
| US08402244B2 |
Methods and system of pooling storage devices
A system and method are provided for pooling storage devices in a virtual library for performing a storage operation. A storage management device determines a storage characteristic of a plurality of storage devices with respect to performing a storage operation. Based on a storage characteristic relating to performing the storage operation, the storage management device associates at least two storage devices in a virtual library. The storage management device may continuously monitor the virtual library and detect a change in storage characteristics of the storage devices. When changes in storage characteristics are detected, the storage management device may change associations of the storage device in the virtual library. |
| US08402241B2 |
Method and apparatus to control access to device enable features
An integrated circuit device includes a first plurality of non-volatile memory locations such as fuses that supply programmed values corresponding to initially selected device features such as voltage, frequency, clock speed, and cache parameters. The device is programmed with a lock value in a second plurality of non-volatile memory locations. That lock value may be a randomly generated number that is unique for each device. After initial programming of the device, access to the device is prevented by appropriately programming access control. In order to unlock the device and modify device features, an unlock key value is supplied to the device. If the unlock key value correctly corresponds to the lock value, the device features can be modified. In that way device features can be modified, but security is maintained to prevent unauthorized modification to device features. |
| US08402238B2 |
Storage apparatus and control method thereof
In order to prevent the degradation of performance of a storage apparatus caused by dynamic reallocation, the storage apparatus performs reassigning to a logical page the first physical page which is the physical page provided by the physical drive in Tier 1 which is the higher hierarchy than Tier 2 which is the hierarchy of the physical drive which provides the second physical page which is the physical page currently assigned to the logical page and, at the same time, by making the contents of the second physical page identical to the contents of the first physical page, performs the first migration for the logical page, associating and managing the second physical page and the first physical page and, when performing the second migration by reassigning the physical page provided by the physical drive in Tier 2 to the logical page to which the first physical page is assigned, and performs the second migration by reassigning the relevant second physical page to the logical page again when the second physical page is associated with the first physical page. |
| US08402234B2 |
Storage system and storage migration method
A storage system and storage migration method where migration may be carried out to an access destination of a host apparatus without stopping the exchange of data between the host apparatus and the storage apparatus. This system is provided with a host apparatus inputting and outputting requests for data, a migration source storage apparatus having logical unit(s) correlated to storage regions of physical devices for storing the data, a migration destination storage apparatus having logical unit(s). The system also has an editing unit for editing configuration control information relating to the logical unit(s) for the migration source so as to match with settings for the migration destination storage apparatus, an importing unit for importing edited configuration control information to the migration destination storage apparatus, and a mapping unit for mapping the logical unit(s) of the migration source to the logical unit(s) of the migration destination. |
| US08402231B2 |
Storage device, method for restoring data in storage device and storage controller
A virtual volume control unit allocates, upon detection of a write request for new data in a virtual volume to be accessed, an actual storage space of a physical medium existing in the same storage group to the virtual volume in accordance with volume capacity of the new data. A storage control unit stores the new data as actual data in the actual storage space of the physical medium allocated to the virtual volume. And a restoration control unit causes, upon detection of a fallback in data redundancy in the storage group, the actual data in a stored space among the actual storage spaces in the physical medium that caused the fallback to be preferentially restored in an actual storage space in a destination physical medium with reference to the physical media other than the physical medium that caused the fallback in the storage group. |
| US08402228B2 |
Page buffering in a virtualized, memory sharing configuration
An apparatus includes a processor and a volatile memory that is configured to be accessible in an active memory sharing configuration. The apparatus includes a machine-readable encoded with instructions executable by the processor. The instructions including first virtual machine instructions configured to access the volatile memory with a first virtual machine. The instructions including second virtual machine instructions configured to access the volatile memory with a second virtual machine. The instructions including virtual machine monitor instructions configured to page data out from a shared memory to a reserved memory section in the volatile memory responsive to the first virtual machine or the second virtual machine paging the data out from the shared memory or paging the data in to the shared memory. The shared memory is shared across the first virtual machine and the second virtual machine. The volatile memory includes the shared memory. |
| US08402226B1 |
Rate proportional cache write-back in a storage server
Based on a count of the number of dirty pages in a cache memory, the dirty pages are written from the cache memory to a storage array at a rate having a component proportional to the rate of change in the number of dirty pages in the cache memory. For example, a desired flush rate is computed by adding a first term to a second term. The first term is proportional to the rate of change in the number of dirty pages in the cache memory, and the second term is proportional to the number of dirty pages in the cache memory. The rate component has a smoothing effect on incoming I/O bursts and permits cache flushing to occur at a higher rate closer to the maximum storage array throughput without a significant detrimental impact on client application performance. |
| US08402224B2 |
Thread-shared software code caches
A runtime system using thread-shared code caches is provided which avoids brute-force all-thread-suspension and monolithic global locks. In one embodiment, medium-grained runtime system synchronization reduces lock contention. The system includes trace building that combines efficient private construction with shared results, in-cache lock-free lookup table access in the presence of entry invalidations, and a delayed deletion algorithm based on timestamps and reference counts. These enable reductions in memory usage and performance overhead. |
| US08402221B2 |
Storing the most significant and the least significant bytes of characters at non-contiguous addresses
In an embodiment, an indicator is set to indicate that all of a plurality of most significant bytes of characters in a character array are zero. A first index and an input character are received. The input character comprises a first most significant byte and a first least significant byte. The first most significant byte is stored at a first storage location and the first least significant byte is stored at a second storage location, wherein the first storage location and the second storage location have non-contiguous addresses. If the first most significant byte does not equal zero, the indicator is set to indicate that at least one of a plurality of most significant bytes of the characters in the character array is non-zero. The character array comprises the first most significant byte and the first least significant byte. |
| US08402217B2 |
Implementing RAID in solid state memory
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to implementing fault tolerant data storage in solid state memory. In some implementations, a method includes receiving data to be stored, dividing data into logical data blocks, assigning the blocks to a logical block grouping comprising at least one physical data storage block from two or more of multiple solid state physical memory devices, storing the blocks in physical data storage blocks, determining a code that corresponds to the persisted data, and storing the code that corresponds to the data stored in the logical block grouping. Blocks of damaged stored data may be recovered by identifying the logical data block and logical block grouping corresponding to the damaged physical data storage block, reading the data and the code stored in the identified grouping, and comparing the code to the read data other than the data stored in the damaged block. |
| US08402216B1 |
Systems and methods for off-host backups
A computer-implemented method for off-host backups may include identifying a striped volume of data on which to perform an off-host backup. The computer-implemented method may also include generating stripe-aware extent metadata for the off-host backup operation. The computer-implemented method may further include performing the off-host backup operation using the stripe-aware extent metadata. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08402213B2 |
Data redundancy using two distributed mirror sets
A method for storing data and two sets of distributed mirrored data disposed as data stripes which permits data recovery without the necessity of parity calculations, is described. Redundant data are stored in groups of five physical hard drives which are logically segmented into stripe groups, each stripe group having three data stripe sets wherein one data stripe is protected by two distributed mirror stripes in accordance with an algorithm. The present method provides protection for all one- and two-disk failures and certain three-disk drive failures, for each physical five disk group, and retains a usable disk capacity of 33%. |
| US08402212B2 |
Storage system and management method of its storage medium
High availability is provided in a storage system that offers expandability more inexpensively. Provided is a storage system including multiple expanders to be connected to multiple storage mediums, multiple cascades connected respectively to a prescribed number of expanders among the multiple expanders, and multiple control units for respectively controlling the multiple cascades. One end of the multiple cascades is connected with an inter-cascade link, and the inter-cascade link has a logically connected state and a logically disconnected state. |
| US08402210B2 |
Disk array system
Provided is a disk array system which is connected to a computer and which data is transmitted by the computer, including: a plurality of disk drives for storing user data transmitted by the computer; a cache memory for temporarily storing data sent/received among the computer and the plurality of disk drives; and a control unit for controlling input/output of the data to/from the cache memory, in which the control unit stores user data identification information that is capable of judging whether the user data is stored in a sector of the disk drive. The disk array system according to this invention allows the identification of user data of a disk drive. |
| US08402205B2 |
Multi-tiered metadata scheme for a data storage array
Method and apparatus for managing metadata associated with a data storage array. In accordance with various embodiments, a group of user data blocks are stored to memory cells at a selected physical address of the array. A multi-tiered metadata scheme is used to generate metadata which describes the selected physical address of the user data blocks. The multi-tiered metadata scheme provides an upper tier metadata format adapted for groups of N user data blocks, and a lower tier metadata format adapted for groups of M user data blocks where M is less than N. The generated metadata is formatted in accordance with a selected one of the upper or lower tier metadata formats in relation to a total number of the user data blocks in the group. |
| US08402203B2 |
Systems and methods for storing data in a multi-level cell solid state storage device
This disclosure is related to systems and methods for storing data in multi-level cell solid state storage devices, such as Flash memory devices. In one example, a multi-level cell memory array has programmable pages, a first page having a first programming time, and a second page having a second programming time that is different than the first programming time. In one embodiment, the first programming time is faster than the second programming time. Further, a controller coupled to the multi-level cell memory array may be configured to select the first page to store the data when a priority level of a write operation indicates a first priority level and select the second page to store the data when the priority level indicates a second priority level. |
| US08402202B2 |
Input/output control method and apparatus optimized for flash memory
An input/output control method and apparatus optimized for a flash memory, which can improve the performance of the flash memory. The input/output control method optimized for a flash memory includes determining whether a random write operation of data occurs in a flash memory, and successively writing randomly input data in a predetermined surplus region of the flash memory if it is judged that the random write operation occurs. |
| US08402197B2 |
Multi-port system and method for routing a data element within an interconnection fabric
A method and structure(s) for providing a data path between and among nodes and processing elements within an interconnection fabric are described. More specifically, a device comprising a first circuit configured to couple between a first bus and a link is described. The circuit may be configured to operate as a bridge, support PCI configuration cycles, send outgoing information serially through the link in a format different from that of the first bus, and allow a host processor, communicating through the first bus, to selectively address one or more remote devices to which the device is configured to allow access. In some embodiments, the first circuit may support “spoof-proof” data protocols, and the device may operate in multiple modes including root bridge, leaf bridge, and gateway mode. Multiple addressing models may also be used. |
| US08402196B2 |
Storage assembly, a physical expander and a method
A storage assembly includes a physical expander for connection in use to two or more SCSI initiators, and two or more storage devices, wherein the expander is controlled such that it presents plural virtual expanders. A method for connecting two or more storage devices to two or more SCSI initiators within a storage assembly, includes providing a physical expander for connection in use to the two or more SCSI initiators, and two or more storage devices, and controlling the single expander such that it presents plural virtual expanders. |
| US08402193B2 |
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. A plurality of devices, such as workstations, 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 receives and processes native low level block protocol requests from the devices connected to the first transport medium to access allocated storage. |
| US08402192B2 |
Modularly constructed field device of process automation technology
A modularly constructed field device of process automation technology having a basic card with an executable, basic program, wherein the basic card is expandable by at least one expansion card containing at least one, executable, expansion program. For executing the basic program, the basic card comprises at least one computing unit and a first memory unit matched to memory requirement of the executable, basic program, characterized in that the expansion card comprises at least a second memory unit designed for memory requirement of the expansion program, an automatic detecting of the connected expansion card is provided by the basic card, and, for expanding the basic program by the expansion program, a partial and/or intermittent accessing of the second memory unit by the computing unit is provided. |
| US08402191B2 |
Computing element virtualization
System and method for virtualization of computing elements. A hypervisor provides virtualization of one or more peripherals for one or more computing elements. The hypervisor may further allow separate instances of an operating system to be suspended on one computing element to allow another application to be processed by replacing the state information of the computing element. The suspended instance may be resumed on the same or a different computing element. |
| US08402190B2 |
Network adaptor optimization and interrupt reduction
A method and system are disclosed for network adaptor optimization and interrupt reduction. The method may generate an immediate I/O interrupt notification to a host device driver in response to receiving data from a network. The method may also update an inbound buffer list based on the received data in the inbound buffer queue. Furthermore, the method may set the buffer state from an empty state to a primed state to indicate that the received data is available for processing. The method may also build an outbound buffer list based on outgoing data and add the outgoing data to an outbound buffer queue. Furthermore, the method may set a buffer state from an empty state to a primed state to indicate that the outgoing data is prepared for transmitting and signal a network adaptor with a notification signal. |
| US08402185B2 |
Display device adapter with digital media interface
An apparatus comprises a plug to couple the apparatus to a display device, a first receptacle to receive a first media device containing image data for display on the display device and an imaging processor coupled to the plug and the first receptacle. |
| US08402181B2 |
Bifurcate arbiter
An arbiter for a space switch comprising a two buffers, a media access controller having data outputs coupled to the two buffers, and two control outputs coupled to respective buffers for buffering input data at a clock rate one-half that of the input data and a switch fabric connected to the two buffers for matching buffer data throughput with switch data throughput, the arbiter comprising first and second schedulers, each scheduler includes a plurality of inputs for connection to the two buffers for receiving requests, a plurality of outputs for granting requests and a plurality of inter connections to each of the plurality of schedulers for informing them of grants and logic for logically grouping input ports associated with a bifurcate input port, logically grouping output ports associated with a bifurcate output port, establishing round robin pointers for each of two alternate clock ticks for tracking next allowable requests and on one clock tick allowing connection requests from input ports to output ports and accepting a connection request in dependence upon the grouping of the input and output ports and the round robin pointer. The arbiter can be generalized to an n-furcated switch having n-furcated ports where n is an integer greater than or equal to two. |
| US08402174B2 |
Handling sensors in a context-aware platform with hint signals
The context engine of a context aware platform may comprise a provider manager coupled to context providers and the provider manager may communicate with the context providers using application programming interfaces (API). To optimize the use of system resources, the provider manager may load/unload the context providers based on value of a load field of a hint signal or on prediction values. The context providers is to activate a first set of sensors of the plurality of sensors if the preferred activity level for the first set of sensors is set to activate state in the hint signal. The context providers is to deactivate a second set of sensors of the plurality of sensors if the preferred activity level for the first set of sensors is set to deactivate state in the hint signal. |
| US08402173B2 |
USB device communication apparatus, systems, and methods
Some embodiments include methods and apparatus to decode a functional request embedded in a portion of a standard device request, and execute the functional request by a universal serial bus (USB) device. The standard device request can include a Get_Descriptor request. Other embodiments are described. |
| US08402171B1 |
Host bus adapter that interfaces with host computer bus to multiple types of storage devices
One embodiment of the present invention provides a universal storage bus adaptor that can interface a host computer's bus to any of multiple types of storage devices. The universal serial bus adaptor provides transport layer functionality in such a way that a separate transport layer does not have to be provided for each type of storage device. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a file management system (or storage stack) that has a read/write chimney configured to enable a READ/WRITE operation to bypass the exception processing and management functionalities of the file management system. Bypassing these functionalities increases the processing efficiency of READ/WRITE operations. |
| US08402170B2 |
Servicing daemon for live debugging of storage systems
A servicing daemon is described herein for providing servicing of a running computer system (such as a filer). The servicing daemon resides and executes on the operating system of the filer and communicates across a network with a debugger that resides and executes on a remote administering computer. A debugging session is performed that complies with a protocol relating to the remote accessing of files. The debugging session provides live servicing of an application executing on the filer without requiring an actual corefile (having copied filer memory data) to be created. Rather, the servicing daemon creates a simulated corefile header that is sent to the debugger, receives requests from the debugger, and maps addresses specified in the requests to filer memory addresses. The servicing daemon then reads and retrieves data directly from filer memory at the determined filer memory addresses and sends the data to the debugger for analysis. |
| US08402164B1 |
Asynchronous communication network and methods of enabling the asynchronous communication of data in an integrated circuit
An asynchronous communication network in an integrated circuit is described. The asynchronous communication network comprises a plurality of circuit elements enabling the transmission of tokens, each circuit element having a component interface comprising: a routing network coupled to a first adjacent circuit element of the plurality of circuit elements; and a control circuit coupled to the routing network, the control circuit having a first input coupled to receive a first command requesting a detection of a token received at a second input of the control circuit, and a first acknowledgement output coupling a first acknowledgement signal indicating whether the first command is received at the first input. Methods of enabling asynchronous communication in an integrated circuit are also disclosed. |
| US08402163B2 |
Target advertising to a specific user offered through an intermediary internet service provider, server or wireless network
An advertising method controls the display of information on a client device. A user accesses first content on a server and a first link reference to second content is created. The first content and the first link reference are displayed in separate areas. User interaction with the first link reference sends second content to replace the first content on the content display area of the client computer. The second content includes a second link reference which can redirect the user to the hosting location of the second content. The server may operate as a wireless node. The first content is optionally parsed to key words or objects and the parsed content is used to identify the second content. Optionally, receiving data from a user's wireless device relates to user location; and, the location data is used to identify the second content. |
| US08402157B2 |
Internet-based system and method for distributing interstitial advertisements
A system and method for use by website operators and advertisers to place interstitial advertisements on websites. The system uses an Internet dispatcher server and a mass storage device containing one or more databases storing advertisement command files pertaining to placements of advertisements that are stored in an advertisement server. The method comprises the steps of selecting aid files stored in a computer ad server, designating the url for the ad file, the url for the website page where the ad will be displayed, the url for the websites to which a user will be directed depending on the user's reaction to the advertisement, storing in a dispatcher server database a data string representing the ad placement commands with a url representing a dispatcher server-based application to execute said ad placement commands, and including said data string on said website for launching said dispatcher server command file. |
| US08402154B2 |
Method, application server and user equipment for transferring media streams of multimedia session
A method, Application Server (AS) and User Equipment (UE) for transferring media streams of a multimedia session are provided. A first UE sends a request for transferring media streams of a multimedia session to an AS, where the request carries the ID of a third UE and the media type of media streams requested to be transferred; and the third UE establishes media streams of the media type with a second UE under the control of the AS. |
| US08402152B2 |
Apparatus and system for object-based storage solid-state drive
An object-based storage system comprising a host system capable of executing applications for and with an object-based storage device (OSD). Exemplary configurations include a call interface, a physical layer interface, an object-based storage solid-state device (OSD-SSD), and are further characterized by the presence of a storage processor capable of processing object-based storage device algorithms interleaved with processing of physical storage device management. Embodiments include a storage controller capable of executing recognition, classification and tagging of application files, especially including image, music, and other media. Also disclosed are methods for initializing and configuring an OSD-SSD device. |
| US08402151B2 |
Dynamic communication stack
A method of facilitating communication between a resource and a computer is described. The computer employs a software application that allows the computer to communicate with the resource. The resource may comprise a medical device such as a blood glucose meter or an insulin pump. In order to facilitate communication between the computer and the resource, the software constructs a communication protocol particular to the type of resource connected to the computer. The stack comprising the communication protocol allows the computer to communicate with the resource. Once the resource and computer cease communication, the stack may be removed from the memory of the computer. |
| US08402149B2 |
Method and system of remote diagnostic, control and information collection using a dynamic linked library of multiple formats and multiple protocols with restriction on protocol
A method, system and computer program product for (1) collecting information from a remote application unit and/or (2) diagnosing or controlling the remote application unit. By utilizing a shareable computer code device (e.g., a dynamic linked library), a new application can utilize tested, proven code without having to reproduce existing functionality. Moreover, by supporting multiple data formats and/or multiple communication protocols, a computer code device increases the likelihood that a supported format and/or protocol will be either receivable or understandable by a receiver. |
| US08402143B2 |
Secure proxies for flat networks
A proxy is in communication with an internet protocol network and a mobile operator network. The proxy receives first communications from access points via the internet protocol network, transmits content from the first communications to the mobile operator network, receives second communications from the mobile operator network, and transmits content from the second communications to the access points via the internet protocol network. The proxy may perform operations based on the first and second communications received from either the access points, or from the mobile operator network. The operations performed by the proxy may include modifying the communications, saving certain information regarding the communications, performing authentication, encryption, or decryption of the communications, determining a destination for the communications, or sending the communications to a destination. |
| US08402140B2 |
Methods and apparatus for coordinated energy management in virtualized data centers
A method and system for coordinating energy management in a virtualized data center including a plurality of physical servers and a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), includes analyzing status information about the virtualized data center; determining server utilization target settings for server consolidation from the analyzed status information; and executing the server consolidation according to the determined server utilization target settings. Server consolidation can be executed by determining an effective size of each of the VMs and placing the VMs on the servers in a selective manner using an independent workload VM placement process, a correlation-aware VM placement process, or a migration-cost and correlation-aware VM placement process. |
| US08402138B2 |
Method and system for server consolidation using a hill climbing algorithm
A system and method for consolidating a plurality of resources on a plurality of data processing units (DPUs) in a data processing network is provided. The method includes selecting a first DPU having a highest DPU volume among the plurality of DPUs. The method further includes calculating an angle made by a first DPU vector of the first DPU with a horizontal dimension of a multi-dimensional chart using first DPU co-ordinates from the plurality of DPU co-ordinates. Further, the method includes calculating an angle made by a first resource vector of a first resource to be assigned to the first DPU with a horizontal dimension of the multi-dimensional chart. Thereafter, the first resource is assigned to the first DPU, when a deviation of the first resource vector from the first DPU vector is minimum among the plurality of resources. |
| US08402135B2 |
DLNA-compliant device, DLNA connection setting method, and program
[Problem]To enhance the ease of use of a network by a DLNA-compliant device.[Solving Means]A television receiver 250 discovers another DLNA-compliant device connected to a network (S3). Then the television receiver 250 determines an IP address of eHDMI connection (S4) and, in the case of a device directly connected by HDMI, connection setting of a DLNA with that device is automatically executed (S5 through S8). The television receiver 250 may present each connection setting state to a user on a user interface screen, thereby making the user execute checking. In configuring an AV system, the user may execute direct connection by HDMI to enhance the ease of use of an AV system 200 without having to execute the connection setting of DLNA. |
| US08402133B1 |
Detecting content and user response to content
A position of a cursor on a display is tracked. It is detected that the cursor is in an area of the display that includes a component of a webpage. It is determined whether the component matches a designated type of component, and details of the component are stored in response to determining that the component matches a designated type of component. A user input that selects the component is detected, and details of the component are accessed in response to detecting the user input. The details of the component are sent to a collection server. |
| US08402126B2 |
Method and system for discovering managed systems in a network
A method for discovering managed systems in a network including classifying a first managed system associated with a first active Internet Protocol (IP) address in the network using a plurality of network protocols, identifying a set of drivers using the classification, where the set of drivers are configured to obtain first management information about the managed system, obtaining a first set of drivers, populating a data model with the first management information obtain using at least one of the first set of drivers, and managing the first managed system using the data model. |
| US08402121B2 |
Method of network reconfiguration in optical transport networks
A method of reconfiguring a network having a transport plane for carrying subscriber traffic flows within end-to-end connections, a control plane for managing at least a portion of resources of the transport plane allocated to each connection, and a management plane for implementing management functions in the control plane and any resources of the transport plane that are not managed by the control plane. The method comprises installing an updated version of a control plane name space for a target node of the network. For each connection traversing the target node: a control plane to management plane migration is performed for removing connection state in the control plane associated with the connection, so as to transfer ownership of the connection from the control plane to the management plane; followed by a management plane to control plane migration for installing new connection state in the control plane associated with the connection, so as to transfer ownership of the connection from the management plant to the control plane, the new connection state being defined using the updated version of the control plane name space. |
| US08402117B2 |
Anonymous location service for wireless networks
An anonymous location wireless network service for use in a wireless network. The service provides content providers with the location of network users without revealing their identities. The service includes a wireless network having a proxy server, a network communication link to a plurality of web sites, and a wireless communication link to a plurality of handheld devices. The proxy server blocks identity by reading the location and identity information of network devices, generating dummy identifications, relating the dummy identifications to the identity information, storing the relationships in a memory storage, and forwarding the location information and dummy identifications to the global computer network. Upon receiving messages from the global computer network, the proxy server reads the dummy identifications, looks up the related identification information in the memory storage, and forwards the data to the appropriate network devices. |
| US08402116B2 |
System for vending game contents and method thereof
The present invention relates to a game vending machine that receive game contents from a service provider server and vends the game contents, the game vending machine comprising: a data analyzer that divides the game contents transmitted from the service provider server into a game executing file and UI generating information and divides the UI generating information into variable dynamic information and continuously usable static information and outputs the divided information; a dynamic information updating unit that receives the dynamic information and updates the previously stored dynamic information; an interface generator that receives the static information and the updated dynamic information to generate a user interface to be used for vending games; and an interface managing unit that displays the generated user interface to a user. |
| US08402115B2 |
System and method for delivering remotely stored applications and information
A method and system are disclosed for delivering interactive links for presenting applications and second information at a client computer from remote sources in a network-configured computer processing system. In one embodiment, the method includes retrieving over a first communication connection, in response to a request of a client computer, informational content having computer program code embedded therein, and executing the embedded computer program code for establishing a second communication connection to an application server. The method further includes retrieving over the second communication connection first information including presentational information for presenting the application and the second information. The method also includes presenting the application and the second information based upon the presentational information, and storing on the client computer an interactive link for selectively re-establishing the second communication connection to the application server for retrieving the first information and presenting the application and the second information on an as-needed basis. Preferably, the storing of the interactive link includes downloading a graphical representation of the interactive link and storing a file containing information representing an operating environment of the client computer and a network address of the application server. |
| US08402108B2 |
System for providing web page having home network function and method of controlling home network devices
A system for providing a web page having a home network function and a method of controlling home network devices, the system including: a plurality of universal plug and play (UPnP) devices forming a UPnP network, wherein a first UPnP device from among the plurality of UPnP devices includes a web browser having a control point used to control one or more other UPnP devices. Accordingly, the web page including the control point is provided, so that home network devices in various standards can be conveniently used without a firmware upgrade. |
| US08402107B2 |
System and method for embedding interactive components within mobile content
A system is provided for providing content including one or more interactive components to a wireless device. The system includes a content server configurable to deliver push content to the wireless device, a processor for controlling operation of the server, a communications subsystem for communicating with a communications network, and a memory. The content server includes one or more modules for providing the content to the wireless device, the module(s) being configured to cause the content server to: receive a content file including the content and information about the interactive component(s), the information about each individual interactive component comprising one or more attributes useful in rendering the individual interactive component; process the content file and package the processed content file as a content package for delivery to the wireless device; and send the content package to the wireless device as a push delivery. |
| US08402106B2 |
Asynchronous future based API
An apparatus and a method for operating on data at a cache node of a data grid system is described. An asynchronous future-based interface of a computer system receives a request to operate on a cache node of a cluster. An acknowledgment is sent back upon receipt of the request prior to operating on the cache node. The cache node is then operated on based on the request. The operation is replicated to other cache nodes in the cluster. An acknowledgment that the operation has been completed in the cluster is sent back. |
| US08402103B2 |
System, method and computer program for recipient controlled communications
A communication system is provided in which users associate handling data identifying how messages are to be processed with contact data. Handling data for the identified contacts in the contact data is then dispatched to those contacts. Subsequently when messages are dispatched from the locations identified by the contact data a sender of a message selects handling data to be associated with a message being dispatched. Upon receipt of a message associated with handling data the message is then processed in the manner identified by the handling data. |
| US08402092B2 |
Selecting a service oriented architecture shared service
An approach that selects a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service selection tool, including an input component configured to gather service requirements of a SOA shared service project; an identification component configured to identify a set of candidate SOA shared services that meets the service requirements of the SOA shared services project; an analysis component configured to compare the set of candidate SOA shared services to a set of technical and business requirements, and select a set of SOA shared services from the set of candidate SOA shared services for construction based on a comparison of the set of candidate SOA shared services to the set of technical and business requirements. |
| US08402088B2 |
Establishing telephone calls at a specified future time using a URI and a web-based telephony application
Web-based telephony applications have recently been developed whereby a user is able to access a web-site and click on links or buttons in order to establish a voice over internet protocol telephone call from for example, his or her PC phone, to another user at another telephone terminal (PC phone or other suitable type of telephone). By enabling a web-based telephony application to receive URIs containing time information it is possible to enable telephone calls (including conference calls) to be initiated automatically at specified times or for feature keys on a user's telephone terminal to be programmed such that when activated at a particular time, a specified telephone call is initiated. In addition, URIs comprising time information may be used to set up “follow-me” functionality whereby all calls to a particular user are directed to different pre-specified directory numbers depending on the time of day. In another example, URIs comprising time information are used to route calls to contact-center agents in order to reduce the burden on contact center routing applications. URIs comprising time information are also advantageously used to communicate information to other entities. |
| US08402087B2 |
Content discovery and transfer between mobile communications nodes
Content discovery and content transfer between mobile communications nodes is often required, for example, to synchronize maps, traffic hot spot information and the like for vehicle mounted satellite navigation devices, pedestrian hand-held personal digital assistants and other mobile communications nodes. In an embodiment, content discovery processes using a tree-based data structure for transferring data between two mobile communication nodes is described. |
| US08402086B2 |
Brokered cloud computing architecture
A cloud broker receives a request for processing resources from one of a plurality of cloud management infrastructures (each of which correspond to one of a plurality of clouds). The cloud broker selectively enables access to the clouds associated with each cloud management infrastructure. The clouds each comprise segregated computing environments having at least one server for executing tasks and a data store for data persistency attached to the at least one server. The cloud management infrastructures selectively starts and stops services executed by the corresponding cloud. After receiving the request, the cloud broker identifies which of the plurality of clouds coupled to the cloud broker has processing capacity to fulfill the request. Subsequently, the cloud broker enables access to at least one of the identified clouds having capacity to fulfill the request. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08402081B2 |
Platform for data aggregation, communication, rule evaluation, and combinations thereof, using templated auto-generation
Embodiments of the present invention provide platforms for data aggregation, communication, rule evaluation, and combinations thereof. The platform may include three distinct functional layers; a core layer, an adaptive layer and an intelligence layer. Furthermore, the platform may include a data block, messaging block, rule block, or combinations thereof. Generally, the platform may facilitate data acquisition, storage, and manipulation between and among clients and data sources in a generic manner. That is, clients may communicate and make requests independent of a target system or database type. The platform may process the communications and requests in a manner suitable to the target system or database type. The platform may also evaluate rules received from the clients in a manner generic to the client application. Instances of the platform for a given application may be efficiently created using a template-based mechanism. In this manner, the platform may be used to support a variety of end user applications in a flexible, scalable manner. |
| US08402076B2 |
Exploitation of topological categorization of chaotic and fractal functions, including field line calculations
A topological categorization method, based on inclusive intervals, provides a general method of analyzing escape topologies for discrete dynamic systems, in complex and higher dimensions, including the calculation of both potential for complex and hypercomplex and field lines for complex iterations. |
| US08402073B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a random bit stream
Presently disclosed is method and apparatus for generating a random bit stream by generating a random bit according to a polynomial expression, providing a modification function operative on the polynomial expression, and modifying the polynomial expression by modifying the modification function. |
| US08402063B2 |
Restoring data backed up in a content addressed storage (CAS) system
In one example, a method of restoring data backed up in a content addressed storage system may include retrieving a recipe and appended storage addresses from a first storage node of content addressed storage, where the recipe may include instructions for generating a data structure from two or more data pieces, and the two or more data pieces may be resident in locations identified by the appended storage addresses. The example method may further include populating a cache with the appended storage addresses for the two or more data pieces. As well the method may further include retrieving, and populating the cache with, the two or more data pieces without looking up a storage address for any of the two or more data pieces in an index, and restoring the data structure using the retrieved two or more data pieces in the cache. |
| US08402061B1 |
Tiered middleware framework for data storage
A tiered middleware framework for transacting data between an application layer and a data storage layer includes modular components. The tiered middleware framework is implemented when the arrangement of the modular components enables the tiered middleware framework to meet or exceed certain data transaction criteria. However, when the data transaction criteria are not met by the tiered middleware framework with arrangement of the modular components, the modular components in the tiered middleware framework is rearranged. |
| US08402060B2 |
Software for managing data between a client and server
Various techniques and components are provided for managing data between a client and server. In one example embodiment, software is operable to receive an updated business object property at a server, process the updated property with a business object residing on the server, and communicate an updated business object from the server to the client. In certain implementations, this allows for the server to update a complete business object, including properties requiring recalculation based on the updated business object property, through a targeted communication from the client, namely, the single updated business object property. Additionally, the software may provide for the identification and automatic updated of server-side business objects or business object properties related to the received updated business object property. |
| US08402059B2 |
Internet directory system
Improved Internet Directory System including an upper-level Directory Provider referencing a plurality of independently owned for-profit Category Directory Websites, the Category Directory Websites referencing websites relating to a category and being identified as participating in the System by at least a mark or URL, and including a business model imposed on the Category Directory Websites. |
| US08402057B2 |
Content management method and apparatus using license information
A content management method and apparatus for storing and deleting content, backing up content, and restoring the backup content are provided. The method includes receiving the content from a first server and storing the content, and generating and storing content information including information about a location from which the content can be downloaded. |
| US08402055B2 |
Systems and methods for providing social electronic learning
A social electronic learning system, including a plurality of computing devices for communicating with a plurality of users in an educational community, and at least one server in communication with each of the plurality of computing devices, each server in communication with at least one data storage device configured to host a plurality of electronic portfolios, each electronic portfolio associated with one or more users of the plurality of users in the educational community, wherein each server is configured such that one or more users may associate one or more digital items with each electronic portfolio, and the plurality of users may take actions on the digital items in each electronic portfolio depending on authorization criteria. |
| US08402052B2 |
Search device, search method, and computer-readable recording medium storing search program
The search method includes: receiving a search request including plural search conditions; separating the plural search conditions into search conditions for individual databases; storing, for each database, the search condition and the database identifier in a condition record; searching a search result management table by the database identifier and the search condition; determining anterior search databases; searching each of the anterior search databases by the search condition to acquire a first search result; determining common entity identifiers included in common in the first search results; and searching each of posterior search databases by the common entity identifiers and the search condition. |
| US08402051B2 |
Consumer share quota feature
Disclosed herein is a system and method that that allows device administrators to set disk quotas for each share of a server. Quotas are set and enforced per share. The quota specifies the total disk space the share may consume on the device. When a share reaches or exceeds the set quota the share can no longer be written to. |
| US08402049B2 |
Metadata cache management
In an embodiment managing a cache includes determining from metadata of a received service request whether a cache data response may satisfy the request as a function of recognizing a cacheable method name specification within request metadata by a service provider associated with the request, the embodiment further including determining whether the request is an inquiry or a request as a function of comparing an update frequency specification in the request metadata to a value of a time parameter associated with the cacheable method name in the metadata if the request may be satisfied by the cached data. The embodiment also includes searching the cache for the data response if determined the data is cacheable and the request is an inquiry, and sending the request on to a service provider if the data response is not a cacheable response or the request is an update request. |
| US08402045B2 |
System, method and computer program product for storing a formula having first and second object fields
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for storing a formula having first and second object fields. These mechanisms and methods for storing a formula having first and second object fields can allow access to data from related object types other than the object type being currently accessed. The ability of embodiments to provide such access may allow access to additional contents of a database for performing validations, calculations, etc. |
| US08402043B2 |
Analytics of historical conversations in relation to present communication
A method of analyzing historical communications. During a first communication session between a first user and at least a second user, at least a first communication exchanged between the first user and the second user can be detected and stored. A second communication exchanged in a second communication can be compared with the first communication to determine a degree of similarity between the first communication and the second communication. In one aspect, when the degree of similarity is at least a threshold value, an indication can be provided to at least one user participating in the second communication session that the first communication potentially is relevant to the second communication session and that the first communication is available to be reviewed. In another aspect, a report pertaining to hierarchical relationships between users and the context of the communications can be generated based on the first and second communications. |
| US08402042B2 |
Named entity database or mining rule database update apparatus and method using named entity database and mining rule merged ontology schema
A mining rule database update apparatus using a named entity dictionary and a mining rule combined with an ontology schema includes: a named entity dictionary and mining rule database storage module storing the named entity dictionary and a mining rule database; a mining pattern generation module recognizing terminology from text and converting the terminology into the mining pattern; a named entity and mining rule search module searching for a corresponding named entity and a mining rule from the named entity dictionary and the mining rule database using the recognized terminology and the mining pattern; and a mining rule database update module estimating a relationship name using a named entity of the recognized terminology and the ontology schema, generating a corresponding mining rule, and storing the generated mining rule in the mining rule database depending on a user's selection. |
| US08402039B2 |
Information processing apparatus and computer readable medium having information processing program
An information processing apparatus includes: an encoder configured to encode target information using encoding information so as to generate encoded target information; a first storage unit configured to store a target information group including the encoded target information. The information processing apparatus further includes: an input unit configured to receive an input of the encoding information; a processing control unit configured to allow browsing of attribute information of the target information group only when the encoding information is input; a decoder configured to decode, after the browsing of the attribute information is allowed, the encoded target information using the input encoding information, so as to generate the target information; a second storage unit configured to store the target information as the target information contained in the target information group; and a processing unit configured to process the target information stored in the second storage unit as the target. |
| US08402037B2 |
Information handling
An information handling apparatus in which textual metadata is generated in respect of a current information item in an ensemble of information items including: a mechanism that detects one or more predetermined properties of the current information item; a mechanism that detects a subset of information items from the ensemble of information items the subset being those which have the one or more predetermined properties most similar to those of the current information item; and a mechanism that selects one or more most frequently occurring words and/or phrases within textual metadata associated with the subset of information items, for use in textual metadata to be associated with the current information item. |
| US08402036B2 |
Phrase based snippet generation
Disclosed herein is a method, a system and a computer product for generating a snippet for an entity, wherein each snippet comprises a plurality of sentiments about the entity. One or more textual reviews associated with the entity is selected. A plurality of sentiment phrases are identified based on the one or more textual reviews, wherein each sentiment phrase comprises a sentiment about the entity. One or more sentiment phrases from the plurality of sentiment phrases are selected to generate a snippet. |
| US08402033B1 |
Phrase extraction using subphrase scoring
An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are extracted from the document collection. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases, using phrase posting lists. The phrase posting lists are stored in an cluster of index servers. The phrase posting lists can be tiered into groups, and sharded into partitions. Phrases in a query are identified based on possible phrasifications. A query schedule based on the phrases is created from the phrases, and then optimized to reduce query processing and communication costs. The execution of the query schedule is managed to further reduce or eliminate query processing operations at various ones of the index servers. |
| US08402026B2 |
System and method for efficiently generating cluster groupings in a multi-dimensional concept space
A system and method for efficiently generating cluster groupings in a multi-dimensional concept space is described. A plurality of terms is extracted from each document in a collection of stored unstructured documents. A concept space is built over the document collection. Terms substantially correlated between a plurality of documents within the document collection are identified. Each correlated term is expressed as a vector mapped along an angle θ originating from a common axis in the concept space. A difference between the angle θ for each document and an angle σ for each cluster within the concept space is determined. Each such cluster is populated with those documents having such difference between the angle θ for each such document and the angle σ for each such cluster falling within a predetermined variance. A new cluster is created within the concept space those documents having such difference between the angle θ for each such document and the angle σ for each such cluster falling outside the predetermined variance. |
| US08402023B2 |
Systems and methods for ranking user defined targets in a universal graph database
A computer-implemented method for determining a connection ranking value between entities includes receiving private information from a user, and retrieving public information from publicly available sources. The method also includes matching the public information with the private information, generating a graph database with the public and private information, establishing at least one search criteria, and generating a connection ranking value between entities in the graph database based on the search criteria. |
| US08402008B2 |
Handling file operations with low persistent storage space
In some embodiments, a file management unit located in the operating system detects a write operation that writes the data blocks within the consistency snapshot (in main memory) to the persistent storage. The file management unit can then determine that all transactions have been completed before the write operation begins. In some instances, the file management unit then attempts to write the data blocks within the consistency snapshot to the persistent storage. The file management unit can then receive a notification that the write operation did not successfully write the data blocks from the consistency snapshot to the persistent storage. In some embodiments, the write operation is not successful because there are fewer free data blocks in the persistent storage than needed for writing the data blocks within the consistency snapshot to persistent storage. The file management can then wait a period of time. After the file management unit has waited for a period of time, it can make another attempt to write the data blocks within the consistency snapshot to the persistent storage. |
| US08402006B1 |
Portion generation, certification, and verification
In an exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method for obtaining a persistent design portion of an executable model is provided. The model includes on or more design details, a design detail specifying one or more aspects or elements of the model. The method also includes obtaining a design description of the model and a user selection specifying a design detail to be included in the design portion. The method further includes generating a selection specification from the user selection, obtaining the design portion by processing the design description according to the selection specification, and making the design portion persistent. |
| US08402004B2 |
System and method for creating deduplicated copies of data by tracking temporal relationships among copies and by ingesting difference data
Systems and methods are disclosed for forming deduplicated images of a data object that changes over time using difference information between temporal states of the data object. The method includes organizing the content of the data object for a first temporal state as a plurality of content segments and storing the content segments in a data store; creating an organized arrangement of hash structures to represent the data object in its first temporal state; receiving difference information for the data object; forming at least one hash signature for the changed content; and storing the changed content that is unique in the data store as content segments, whereby a deduplicated image of the data object for a second temporal state is stored without requiring reception of a complete image of the data object for the second temporal state. |
| US08402001B1 |
System and method for archiving data
Systems, methods, apparatus and software can utilize a markup language to import and export data that is archived using a backup and restore system. An export utility extracts data produced or processed by an application program, converts it into a markup language format, and provides it to a backup and restore system. An import utility extracts data in a markup language format, converts it to another format, and provides the data for use by the application program. In one example, the application program is a database management system. |
| US08402000B2 |
Systems and methods of media management, such as management of media to and from a media storage library
A system and method for determining media to be exported out of a media library is described. In some examples, the system determines a media component to be exported, determines the media component is in the media library for a specific process, and exports the media component after the process is completed. |
| US08401997B1 |
System and method for replication using consistency interval markers in a distributed storage environment
Applications executing on various nodes in a distributed storage environment may write data to primary storage and may also replicate the data to secondary storage via a replication target. An interval coordinator may coordinate the periodic saving of checkpoints or snapshots of the replicated data. The interval coordinator may determine the length of consistency intervals between the saving of each of the checkpoints. Writes to the replication target from each of the nodes may be associated with the current consistency interval and, in some embodiments, with a unique per-node sequence number. When transitioning between consistency intervals, each node may be configured to temporarily suspend completion of the writes and to send the replication target a consistency interval marker indicating that the node has completed all writes for the current consistency interval. |
| US08401995B2 |
File removal with no available disk blocks in redirect-on-write file systems
Embodiments include a method for removing a file within a redirect-on-write file system. In some embodiments, a file removal operation is detected in a file management unit, which resides in a memory unit. It is then determined that the number of free data blocks in the persistent storage is below a minimum threshold. The file removal operation is written to a log used for storing system operations. A file management unit is notified of the successful write of the file removal operation to the log used for storing system operations. The data blocks are moved from the file selected for removal to a list of free data blocks. The indirect blocks from the file selected for removal are moved to a data block removal list. |
| US08401994B2 |
Distributed consistent grid of in-memory database caches
A plurality of mid-tier databases form a single, consistent cache grid for data in a one or more backend data sources, such as a database system. The mid-tier databases may be standard relational databases. Cache agents at each mid-tier database swap in data from the backend database as needed. Consistency in the cache grid is maintained by ownership locks. Cache agents prevent database operations that will modify cached data in a mid-tier database unless and until ownership of the cached data can be acquired for the mid-tier database. Cache groups define what backend data may be cached, as well as a general structure in which the backend data is to be cached. Metadata for cache groups is shared to ensure that data is cached in the same form throughout the entire grid. Ownership of cached data can then be tracked through a mapping of cached instances of data to particular mid-tier databases. |
| US08401988B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining groupings and relationships of propositions associated with a knowledge base
The disclosure describes a method and apparatus for maintaining groupings and relationships of propositions associated with a knowledge base. In one embodiment, the method includes providing multiple microtheories to form a knowledge base. Each microtheory includes multiple propositions. An mt label is provided for each microtheory. A proposition label is provided for each proposition. The proposition label for a specific proposition is compared with the microtheory labels in response to a transaction request. Microtheory labels that have a common element with the proposition label are determined. In another embodiment, the method includes providing multiple microtheories, providing an mt label for each microtheory, and initializing tags for first and second microtheories to a clean value. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include one or more storage devices and a tag processing logic. |
| US08401986B1 |
System and method for efficiently generating association rules
A data processing system processes data sets (such as low-resolution transaction data) into high-resolution data sets by mapping generic information into attribute-based specific information that may be processed to identify frequent sets therein. When association rules are generated from such frequent sets, the complexity and/or quantity of such rules may be managed by removing redundancies from the rules, such as by removing rules providing only trivial associations, removing rules having only a part group as the consequent, modifying rules to remove redundant antecedent items and/or filtering subsumed rules from the generated rule set that do not provide sufficient lift to meet an adjustable specialization lift threshold requirement. |
| US08401984B2 |
Identification and measurement of social influence and correlation
Techniques for detecting social influence between users in a set of users with regard to an activity are provided. Data for each user of the set of users is received that includes a time value at which the user became active with regard to the activity, and includes at least one indication of another user in the set of users associated with the user. A first estimate of social correlation in the set of users is determined based on the data. The data is modified. For instance, the data may be modified according to a shuffle test and/or an edge reversal test. A second estimate of social correlation in the set of users is determined based on the modified data. The first estimate is compared to the second estimate to determine a degree of social influence in the set of users. |
| US08401983B2 |
Combination domain knowledge and correlation media recommender
Media is recommended to a user based on domain knowledge and correlation-based recommendation scores. A domain knowledge-based recommendation score is calculated for a user, and a correlation-based recommendation score is calculated for the user. A user recommendation score is calculated for the user regarding a media item, derived from the domain knowledge-based recommendation score and the correlation-based recommendation score. One or more media items are recommended to the user, such as by ordering or selecting media based on their user recommendation scores. |
| US08401980B2 |
Methods for determining context of compositions of ontological subjects and the applications thereof using value significance measures (VSMS), co-occurrences, and frequency of occurrences of the ontological subjects
The present invention discloses methods, systems, and tools for evaluating a number of value significance measures of ontological subjects of compositions or networks. The method breaks a composition into its constituent ontological subjects of different orders and builds a participation matrix indicating the participation of ontological subjects of the composition in other ontological subjects, i.e. the partitions, of the composition. Using the participation information of the OSs into each other, an association strength matrix is built from which the value significance measures of the partitions of the composition are calculated. The methods systematically calculate the value significances of the ontological subjects of different orders of the composition. Various systems for implementing the methods and some exemplary applications and services are disclosed. |
| US08401977B2 |
Method and system for calculating importance of a block within a display page
A method and system for identifying the importance of information areas of a display page. An importance system identifies information areas or blocks of a web page. A block of a web page represents an area of the web page that appears to relate to a similar topic. The importance system provides the characteristics or features of a block to an importance function that generates an indication of the importance of that block to its web page. The importance system “learns” the importance function by generating a model based on the features of blocks and the user-specified importance of those blocks. To learn the importance function, the importance system asks users to provide an indication of the importance of blocks of web pages in a collection of web pages. |
| US08401975B1 |
System and method for package performance analysis
A computer-implemented method for analyzing package performance in a materials handling facility may include calculating an expected shipping cost for an item package and an actual shipping cost for the item package to determine excess shipping costs due to shipping item packages in the wrong container. The expected shipping cost may be the sum of the transportation cost and shipping materials cost when the item package is shipped in a recommended container. The actual shipping cost may be the sum of the transportation cost and shipping materials cost when the item is shipped in another container. The shipping materials costs may include the costs of the containers themselves and any non-item contents in the containers. A package performance analyzer may be configured to calculate excess shipping costs, generate various package performance reports according to received report parameters, and recommend corrective actions, including changing the available container types or providing training. |
| US08401974B2 |
Method, system, and graphic user interface for enabling a customer to access a media file
A method, system, GUI, apparatus, and computer readable media for enabling a customer to access to a media file uploaded by a user are provided. A user profile may be generated using received login and profile information. The user profile may be hosted on, for example, a web site, SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site. A media file may be received from the user and may be upload to the user profile. The media file may be associated with a user account. A request to access the media file may be received from a customer. An account associated with the customer may be updated to indicate their requested access to the media file. The customer may then be enabled to access the media file. The user's account may be updated to indicate the transaction. |
| US08401971B2 |
Document processing apparatus and document processing method
Character spacing values in a document image are extracted and a variance is calculated for fluctuations in the character spacing values. When the calculated variance is lower than a preset threshold value, the document image is determined as having watermark information embedded therein. Such use of the variance in the character spacing values enables high-speed determination of the presence or absence of character-spacing watermark information. At this time, it is possible to speed up the determination by using only some character spacing values in the document, instead of using all character spacing values. |
| US08401970B1 |
System and method for reusing payment authorizations
Various embodiments may include a payment management system including an authorization reusability component. The payment management system may be configured to, subsequent to a customer providing payment information for an order, receive a payment authorization that indicates funds of an account associated with the customer have been reserved as a form of payment for a given transaction associated with the order. The payment management system may be configured to assign the reserved funds of the payment authorization to the given transaction. The payment management system may be configured to, subsequent to assigning the reserved funds, reassign at least some of the reserved funds of the authorization to a one or more other transactions. The payment management system may be configured to initiate a settlement of the one or more other transactions, the settlement including the reserved funds reassigned to the one or more other transactions. |
| US08401966B2 |
Electronic payment and authentication system with debit and identification data verification and electronic check capabilities
An electronic payment and authentication system that includes features to verify the authenticity of a payer, validate debit data, and facilitate debit (as opposed to credit) payment transactions. The electronic payment system allows a consumer to purchase items and services via a network while utilizing a debit transaction. The invention provides merchants with the ability to verify the identity of the consumer, determine if the consumer is a good debit transaction risk, and retrieve debit data associated with a particular consumer. |
| US08401964B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program product for encoding enhanced issuer information in a card
Facilitating communications between an electronic payment device and an issuer host includes storing in the payment device a set of personalization parameters. A first set of status information indicative of available status information relating to the payment device is transformed into a second set of status information based on the set of personalization parameters, and/or a second set of actions is selected from a first set of actions indicative of available actions to be performed by the payment device based on the set of personalization parameters and an order received from the issuer for initiating at least one corresponding action in the payment device. The second set of status information includes a subset of the first set of status information; the second set of actions includes a subset of the first set of actions. The payment device transmits the second set of status information to the issuer and/or initiates the actions in the second set of actions corresponding to the order received from the issuer. |
| US08401963B2 |
Secure authentication and payment system
A transaction and payment and processing system securely conducts transactions over the public telephone network. The transactions may be between and among entities of any type such as individuals, merchants, utilities, banks, etc. Nothing more than access to a telephone is required after initial registration of a user. |
| US08401961B1 |
Method for structuring a supplemental interest mortgage
A system and method of structuring a supplemental interest mortgage is disclosed. A principal debt obligation and a supplemental debt obligation based on the principal debt loan are secured by a single security instrument. The principal debt obligation includes the principal loan and principal interest to compensate a lender for use of the lender's funds. The supplemental debt obligation includes supplemental interest to compensate a lender for the risk of borrower nonpayment. |
| US08401959B2 |
System and method for dynamically changing an electronic trade order quantity
A system and methods for dynamically changing a trade order quantity in an electronic trading environment are described herein. According to one example embodiment, an automated trading tool determines if a leaned on quantity of a trading strategy has increased or decreased and if so, dynamically changing a desired order quantity to reflect the change in the leaned on quantity. Dynamically changing an order quantity may be more profitable for a trader as order queue position may be maintained and portion of the desired order quantity may get filled; rather than a trader losing their order queue position and/or taking a chance of not getting any of their order quantity filled. |
| US08401947B2 |
Industry size of wallet
Consumer spend by industry is modeled based on the industry sizes of wallet of consumers having a high share of wallet with a financial institution. A size of wallet is calculated for each consumer in a plurality of consumers. A share of wallet for each consumer is also calculated. A subset of the plurality of consumers whose share of wallet is above a given percentage of their size of wallet is then determined. For each consumer in the subset, an industry size of wallet is determined. A correlation between the industry size of wallet of a given consumer and one or more characteristics of the given consumer is then derived using the industry size of wallet for the consumers in the subset. |
| US08401946B2 |
Revenue assurance analytics
A system and method of revenue assurance for a service activity are presented. Multiple data feeds are received by a revenue assurance analytic system, where each data feed contains the same logical component of the service activity. The multiple data feeds are processed to detect revenue assurance issues in the service activity based on one or more common linking keys between disparate records related to the logical component. |
| US08401931B2 |
Test machine for an automated light
A moving light tester includes plural sensors, each of which can test a function of the moving light. A conveyor can move the light between the sensors. Once tested, information about the test is used to characterize the light, to determine if it needs repair, or can be re rented. The information can also be used to create inventory lists, and bills for damage. The testing can include automated testing for gobos, colors, noise, heating and movement, or other tests. |
| US08401930B1 |
Computerized system and method for library collection analysis
An automated tool for analyzing inter-library loan (ILL) transactions to identify holding needs for a library. The automated tool may be used in conjunction with a bibliographic database that comprises data related to inter-library loan requests and document orders. Libraries have the ability to compare borrowing requests over time to identify acquisition priorities, compare borrowing requests based on age, subject, serial, and nonserial items, analyze items the library is borrowing, and analyze items the library is lending. ILL request data may be analyzed by date, by frequency, and by cost. The library may then decide to acquire additional holdings for its collection based on the analyses of ILL transaction data. |
| US08401924B1 |
System for enabling electronic catalog users to create and share research data
Comparative decision systems and methods are disclosed for gathering and mining data representative of purchase decisions. One disclosed comparative decision system detects when a user is comparing items and provides the user with the ability to create a research note storing comparative information for the alternative items. The system displays information about items according to a variety of factors. The user can customize the factors and enter information for each alternative item according to the various factors. Some information may be pre-populated by the system. The research note may be made visible to other users, and may be suggested to another user based on the note's expected helpfulness and relevance to that user. One disclosed method for mining data stored within research notes identifies which factors are given higher relative priorities by users considering a purchase. Another mining method analyzes the effects of price changes on item popularity. |
| US08401923B1 |
Method for a ticket exchange across different systems of record
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to method for exchange of semi-fungible goods or services. In some embodiments, the method includes electronically receiving a plurality of offers from a plurality of participant devices, each offer comprising a plurality of parameters related to the offer, including an identification of a semi-fungible good or service to be offered, matching two of the offers from the plurality of participant devices based on the parameters of the offers, and executing an exchange of the semi-fungible goods or services identified in the offer, based on the parameters of the offers. In some embodiments, the semi-fungible goods or services can be tickets, reservations, services, order in line, educational services, or physical objects. |
| US08401920B2 |
System and method for distributing media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, transmitting registration information over a network to a registration server for registration of first media content housed in a physical medium where the first registration information is associated with a purchase of the first media content from a point of sale device of a retailer and responsive to the registration, obtaining authorization for electronic access to second media content provided by a media source, where the second media content is associated with the first media content. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08401918B2 |
Promoting offers through social network influencers
Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities. |
| US08401907B2 |
System and method for dynamic price setting and facilitation of commercial transactions
The present invention provides methods and systems for defining commercial transaction components; defining rules for mapping customer transactions into individual components; market segmentation in light of these individual definitions and bundling individual components of an offer into optimized packages for presentation and sale. A data processing system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, examines the commercial behavior of enrolled customers, breaks each of the constituent transactions into purchases of atom-level components; catalogues those components; extracts demographic information from said transactions and other sources; facilitates demographic studies of groups of such customers; optimizes offerings to such groups; and facilitates the consummation of those offers of sale. The processing system may also facilitate customers fiscal management through the communication of data necessary to practice the instant invention. |
| US08401905B2 |
Method and system for determining the relative priority of in-process work and focusing process improvements
A method and system tor determining the relative priority of items moving in a predefined process flow, wherein the method comprises selecting a particular item that is in a predefined process flow, utilizing transaction data that was provided at regular Reporting Intervals and at Reporting Points, providing a planned movement of the selected item along the predefined process flow, processing the transaction data to determine the item's actual movement along the predefined process flow, determining the difference between the actual movement and the planned movement, providing a total planned Time Buffer for the movement of the item along the predefined process flow, using the determined difference to compute the actual amount of downstream Time Buffer Remaining in relation to the total planned Time Buffer, and utilizing the differences between actual and planned completions at both the Reporting Point and Item level to focus local improvements in relation to global outcomes. |
| US08401903B2 |
Interactive advertising
Systems and methods for dynamically sizing, structuring and operating advertisements that include a variety of content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which enable an engagement-based revenue generation model. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing advertising content, serving an XML file from an advertising server to an advertisement manager in order to control a player on a user computer, dynamically generating the advertisement through the player based on directions from the advertisement manager and the stored content, and tracking and reporting a user's engagement with the advertisement in order to determine compensation for the publisher. |
| US08401896B2 |
Automated task processor for insurance claims
An insurance claim processing system may include an insurance claim database and an automated task processor. The insurance claim database may be configured to store and provide access to data in a data record that is related to an insurance claim. The automated task processor may be executable with a computer to identify an insurance claim processing task from the insurance claim database, and obtain insurance claim data related to the identified insurance claim processing task. The automated task processor may also select an action plan from an action plan database based on the obtained insurance claim data. The automated task processor may also identify a set of one or more automated procedures included in the action plan, and cause execution of the identified set of procedures included in the action plan. |
| US08401895B2 |
Pre-existing liability payment and reward system and method of use
A pre-existing liability payment and reward system including a user communication module in communication with a pre-existing liability holder; a merchant communication module that transacts with the user communication module and a processing communication module; a processing communication module that communicates with the merchant communication module and a provider communication module; a provider calculation module that determines a reward; a provider communication module in communication with the provider calculation module; a system calculation module that determines a reward and communicates with a system communication module; a system communication module in communication with a system calculation module; a holder calculation module managing a pre-existing liability holder user account; and a holder communication module in communication with a user communication module and the system communication module. A method of use is also provided. |
| US08401892B2 |
Systems and methods of analyzing accounts receivable and sales outstanding
Systems and methods are provided to perform an analysis of the accounts receivable of a business. Each component of the accounts receivable is reviewed individually and all factors related to that particular component are accounted for. A data tool is then implemented to analyze the data and to recognize the areas of all of the components that are susceptible to improvement. A strategy is then developed to maximize the efficiency of the accounts receivable. |
| US08401890B1 |
System and method for identifying one or more business transactions and/or business systems
A system for identifying one or more business transactions and one or more business systems is provided. The system includes a consolidated logical database comprising an information domain hierarchy comprising a set comprising one or more defined data requirement elements. The system includes a physical database, comprising one or more business transactions. An identification routine is used to select a defined data requirement element to identify the business transaction. |
| US08401889B2 |
Estimating the spend capacity of consumer households
The spend capacity of a consumer typically increases as the number of consumers in the household increases, since the consumer can draw on the spending power of other consumers in the household. The size of wallet of the household is thus a better indicator of the consumer's spend capacity than an individual size of wallet. All consumers in a given household can be aggregated based on, for example, their address of record. Duplicate tradelines within each household are removed from consideration in a size of wallet estimate. A spend capacity is then estimated for each tradeline using calculations derived from a consumer behavior model. The spend capacities for all tradelines in the household are combined to determine a household size of wallet. Each consumer in the household is then tagged with the household size of wallet, rather than their individual size of wallet. |
| US08401886B2 |
Optimized call center operations method and system
The present invention provides an optimized system and method for electronically operating a call center. The system includes three major logical components, including a technology component with one or more third party software products, an in-house tools component, and a knowledge management component. Each of the plurality of third party software programs in the technology component is associated with related in-house tools and knowledge management tools and tool components (including data and programs). When one of the tools within any of the three logical components is updated or modified (as, for example, when a third party software is upgraded or replaced), the system automatically notifies the user which associated or related in-house tool or knowledge management tools or tool components also need to be modified and retrieves and performs the updates to these related tools and tool components. |
| US08401883B2 |
Maintaining viable provider-client relationships
A process for enhancing the relationship between a service provider and a client is disclosed. A first data set of feedback from employees of the service provider regarding service provided by the service provider to the client is received via machine interface. A second data set of feedback from a client regarding services provided by the service provider to the client also is received via machine interface. An analysis of the first and second data sets is implemented via a computer programmed to compare the first and second data sets and assess areas of similarity and areas of difference between the first and second data sets. A strategy is developed based on the analysis for the service provider to enhance areas of similarity and reduce differences between the first and second data sets. The strategy is implemented in the relationship between the service provider and the client. |
| US08401881B2 |
Extended web enabled business to business computer system for rental vehicle services
An Internet-enabled rental vehicle reservation management method and system are disclosed. Via the system and method, authorized purchasers can select a rental vehicle service provider from a among a plurality of competitive rental vehicle service providers via at least one graphical user interface (GUI) menu, and the authorized purchasers can further interact with the system and method to (1) automatically book a rental vehicle reservation with a selected competitive rental vehicle service provider without human intervention on the part of personnel of the selected competitive rental vehicle service provider operating the computer system and (2) manage the booked rental vehicle reservation. In an exemplary embodiment, the reservations created and managed through the system and method are replacement rental vehicles and the authorized purchasers are insurance company personnel. |
| US08401880B2 |
Computer reservation and usage monitoring system and related methods
A computer network may include a host computer and a plurality of computer workstations selectively connectable thereto at which user work sessions may be initiated. Each computer workstation when disconnected from the host computer (e.g., due to server outage, etc.) may advantageously initiate a user session responsive to a user request and store session information for updating the respective user account balance when reconnected with the host computer. Additionally, when the computer workstations are connected to the host computer they may copy respective user account balances from the host computer upon initiation of user sessions, and update the copied account balances based upon computer usage during the respective user sessions. The computer network may also include at least one reservation computer for cooperating with the host computer to schedule user session reservations and provide a requesting user an estimated time before a user session will be made available. |
| US08401875B2 |
Secured personal data handling and management system
A system, method and personal apparatus for managing highly secured personal data is provided. The system and the personal apparatus are complementary, both providing highly secured personal data, mass, safe and secured data access, storage and management solutions, while serving the needs for managing and exchanging secured personal data with external services and data providers and with other such highly secured personal data users. The apparatus may be used independently of the system by securely connecting the apparatus to service providers. The apparatus, which is uniquely identified with a unique user, includes a sensor module comprising a plurality of biometric sensors for reading a plurality of personal biological identification parameters of the user and an authentication unit for positive authentication of the user's personal biological identification parameters stored in the authentication unit. The system is designed to securely serve the needs of conducting and maintaining multiple users' personal data access, storage, updating and retrieval capabilities. The method supports the safe and secured operation of the apparatus by its owner, in order to get access to the system and to exchange highly secured personal data with external pre-registered service providers and with other registered system users. |
| US08401871B2 |
Healthcare notification method and system including a healthcare website
Methods and apparatus enabling organizations with a need to communicate with healthcare providers regarding health-related issues affecting patient health to notify healthcare providers of a health-related issue affecting patient health are disclosed. An electronic notification of the health-related issue is transmitted by one of the organizations to a healthcare notification network, which may include a healthcare website, for transmission to a healthcare provider, where the electronic notification includes a mechanism for obtaining an acknowledgement indicating that the healthcare provider has received and opened the electronic notification. Healthcare related information, such as drug recalls and medication warnings to healthcare providers from content providers, along with other services, is provided at the healthcare website. Healthcare related information may also be provided through other websites, such as electronic prescription and electronic medical/health records websites. Other services include providing corresponding Continuing Medical Education (“CME”) courses that may enable healthcare providers to earn CME credits toward a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) required by Medical Boards. MOCs for corresponding healthcare providers along with certificates to prescribe particular medications and/or use particular medical devices may be also stored at the healthcare website and verified by third parties, such as pharmacists and medical device manufacturers, before delivery. |
| US08401862B2 |
Audio encoder, method for providing output signal, bandwidth extension decoder, and method for providing bandwidth extended audio signal
An audio encoder for providing an output signal using an input audio signal includes a patch generator, a comparator and an output interface. The patch generator generates at least one bandwidth extension high-frequency signal, wherein a bandwidth extension high-frequency signal includes a high-frequency band. The high-frequency band of the bandwidth extension high-frequency signal is based on a low frequency band of the input audio signal. A comparator calculates a plurality of comparison parameters. A comparison parameter is calculated based on a comparison of the input audio signal and a generated bandwidth extension high-frequency signal. Each comparison parameter of the plurality of comparison parameters is calculated based on a different offset frequency between the input audio signal and a generated bandwidth extension high-frequency signal. Further, the comparator determines a comparison parameter from the plurality of comparison parameters, wherein the determined comparison parameter fulfils a predefined criterion. |
| US08401860B1 |
Voice-activated command and control for remotely controlled model vehicles
A voice-activated command and control system for remotely-controlled vehicles includes a voice-activated control module, a microphone, and a verbal or visual feedback indicator such as a speaker. The operator speaks instructions into the microphone to activate control functions on the vehicle. Confirmation of receipt and/or status of the verbally commanded instructions are sent back to the operator such as spoken through the speaker. The microphone and speaker can be implemented, for example, either in a headset (with a microphone and earphones) worn by the operator, or in the hand-held controller for the vehicle. The system can be alternately implemented without the speaker or other feedback element. |
| US08401856B2 |
Automatic normalization of spoken syllable duration
A very common problem is when people speak a language other than the language which they are accustomed, syllables can be spoken for longer or shorter than the listener would regard as appropriate. An example of this can be observed when people who have a heavy Japanese accent speak English. Since Japanese words end with vowels, there is a tendency for native Japanese to add a vowel sound to the end of English words that should end with a consonant. Illustratively, native Japanese speakers often pronounce “orange” as “orenji.” An aspect provides an automatic speech-correcting process that would not necessarily need to know that fruit is being discussed; the system would only need to know that the speaker is accustomed to Japanese, that the listener is accustomed to English, that “orenji” is not a word in English, and that “orenji” is a typical Japanese mispronunciation of the English word “orange.” |
| US08401854B2 |
Speech recognition on large lists using fragments
A system and method is provided for recognizing a speech input and selecting an entry from a list of entries. The method includes recognizing a speech input. A fragment list of fragmented entries is provided and compared to the recognized speech input to generate a candidate list of best matching entries based on the comparison result. The system includes a speech recognition module, and a data base for storing the list of entries and the fragmented list. The speech recognition module may obtain the fragmented list from the data base and store a candidate list of best matching entries in memory. A display may also be provided to allow the user to select from a list of best matching entries. |
| US08401853B2 |
System and method for enhancing voice-enabled search based on automated demographic identification
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for approximating responses to a user speech query in voice-enabled search based on metadata that include demographic features of the speaker. A system practicing the method recognizes received speech from a speaker to generate recognized speech, identifies metadata about the speaker from the received speech, and feeds the recognized speech and the metadata to a question-answering engine. Identifying the metadata about the speaker is based on voice characteristics of the received speech. The demographic features can include age, gender, socio-economic group, nationality, and/or region. The metadata identified about the speaker from the received speech can be combined with or override self-reported speaker demographic information. |
| US08401852B2 |
Utilizing features generated from phonic units in speech recognition
A computer-implemented speech recognition system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a plurality of detected units of an audio signal, wherein the audio signal comprises a speech utterance of an individual. A selector component selects a subset of the plurality of detected units that correspond to a particular time-span. A generator component generates at least one feature with respect to the particular time-span, wherein the at least one feature is one of an existence feature, an expectation feature, or an edit distance feature. Additionally, a statistical speech recognition model outputs at least one word that corresponds to the particular time-span based at least in part upon the at least one feature generated by the feature generator component. |
| US08401851B2 |
System and method for targeted tuning of a speech recognition system
A system and method of targeted tuning of a speech recognition system are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining a frequency of occurrence of a particular type of utterance method and includes determining whether the frequency of occurrence exceeds a threshold. The method further includes tuning a speech recognition system to improve recognition of the particular type of utterance when the frequency of occurrence of the particular type of utterance exceeds the threshold. |
| US08401849B2 |
Methods employing phase state analysis for use in speech synthesis and recognition
A computer-implemented method for automatically analyzing, predicting, and/or modifying acoustic units of prosodic human speech utterances for use in speech synthesis or speech recognition. Possible steps include: initiating analysis of acoustic wave data representing the human speech utterances, via the phase state of the acoustic wave data; using one or more phase state defined acoustic wave metrics as common elements for analyzing, and optionally modifying, pitch, amplitude, duration, and other measurable acoustic parameters of the acoustic wave data, at predetermined time intervals; analyzing acoustic wave data representing a selected acoustic unit to determine the phase state of the acoustic unit; and analyzing the acoustic wave data representing the selected acoustic unit to determine at least one acoustic parameter of the acoustic unit with reference to the determined phase state of the selected acoustic unit. Also included are systems for implementing the described and related methods. |
| US08401844B2 |
Gain control system, gain control method, and gain control program
Disclosed is a gain control system in which speech model constituted from a sound pressure and a feature is stored in a speech model storage unit for each of a plurality of phonemes or for each of clusters into which a speech is divided. When an input signal is given, a feature conversion unit calculates a feature and a sound pressure of the input signal. A sound pressure comparison unit determines a sound pressure ratio between the input signal and each of speech models. A distance calculation unit calculates a distance between the feature of the input signal and the feature of each of the speech models. A gain calculation unit calculates a gain value from the sound pressure ratio and information on the distance. A sound pressure compensation unit thereby compensates for the sound pressure of the input signal. |
| US08401843B2 |
Method and device for coding transition frames in speech signals
There is provided a transition mode device and method for use in a predictive-type sound signal codec for producing a transition mode excitation replacing an adaptive codebook excitation in a transition frame and/or a frame following the transition in the sound signal, comprising an input for receiving a codebook index and a transition mode codebook for generating a set of codevectors independent from past excitation. The transition mode codebook is responsive to the index for generating, in the transition frame and/or frame following the transition, one of the codevectors of the set corresponding to the transition mode excitation. There is also provided an encoding device and method and a decoding device and method using the above described transition mode device and method. |
| US08401840B2 |
Automatic spoken language identification based on phoneme sequence patterns
A language identification system that includes a universal phoneme decoder (UPD) is described. The UPD contains a universal phoneme set representing both 1) all phonemes occurring in the set of two or more spoken languages, and 2) captures phoneme correspondences across languages, such that a set of unique phoneme patterns and probabilities are calculated in order to identify a most likely phoneme occurring each time in the audio files in the set of two or more potential languages in which the UPD was trained on. Each statistical language model (SLM) uses the set of unique phoneme patterns created for each language in the set to distinguish between spoken human languages in the set of languages. The run-time language identifier module identifies a particular human language being spoken by utilizing the linguistic probabilities supplied by the SLMs that are based on the set of unique phoneme patterns created for each language. |
| US08401836B1 |
Optimizing parameters for machine translation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for language translation are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes accessing a translation hypergraph that represents a plurality of candidate translations, the translation hypergraph including a plurality of paths including nodes connected by edges; calculating first posterior probabilities for each edge in the translation hypergraph; calculating second posterior probabilities for each n-gram represented in the translation hypergraph based on the first posterior probabilities; and performing decoding on the translation hypergraph using the second posterior probabilities to convert a sample text from a first language to a second language. |
| US08401834B2 |
Computer implemented method for modelizing a nuclear reactor core and a corresponding computer program product
A computer implemented method for modelizing a nuclear reactor core, including the steps of: partitioning the core in cubes to constitute nodes of a grid for computer implemented calculation, calculating neutron flux by using an iterative solving procedure of at least one eigensystem, the components of an iterant of the eigensystem corresponding either to a neutron flux, to a neutron outcurrent or to a neutron incurrent, for a respective cube to be calculated.The neutrons are sorted in a plurality of neutron energy groups, and the eigensystem iterative solving procedure includes a substep of conditioning the eigensystem into a restricted eigensystem corresponding to the eigensystem for a selection of some neutron energy groups. |
| US08401831B2 |
Methods for designing secondary cutting structures for a bottom hole assembly
A method for designing a secondary cutting structure for use in a bottom hole assembly, the method including defining initial design parameters for the secondary cutting structure and analyzing forces acting on the secondary cutting structure. Additionally, the method includes modifying at least one design element of the secondary cutting structure and simulating an effect of the modifying on both the secondary cutting structure and a primary cutting structure to determine if an improved condition is met. Also, a method for designing a drilling tool assembly, the method including defining initial drilling tool assembly design parameters including a primary cutting structure and a secondary cutting structure, and simulating a dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly. Additionally, the method includes adjusting at least one design element of the secondary cutting structure based on the dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly, determining if the adjusted design element improved a condition of the drilling, and repeating the simulating and adjusting until the condition is optimized. |
| US08401829B2 |
Automated method to determine composite material constituent properties
A method of determining in situ composite material constituent properties is provided. In one example computer software is provided that automatically determines adjusted material properties or in situ properties of each constituent of a composite material. Methods shown ensure that a finite element model will consistently predict material behavior not just at one desired stress/strain state, but in all simulated states. |
| US08401826B2 |
System and method for representation, modeling and application of three-dimensional digital pontics
Modeling pontics at successive treatment stages includes: (1) calculating space measurements between first and second teeth by getting first and second tooth transformations at a treatment stage i; (2) applying the first and second tooth transformations to get positions of the first and second teeth at the stage i; (3) calculating a direction vector of the space measurements at the stage i; (4) calculating a reference plane using the direction vector as a normal; (5) determining whether the space is available for a pontic by measuring the distance from the closest point on each of the first and second teeth to the reference plane; (6) generating an original pontic geometry for a first treatment stage; and (7) generating pontic geometries at each successive stage by calculating deformation parameters based on the original pontic geometry and size characteristics of the space and of the first and second teeth at each stage. |
| US08401825B2 |
Methods and systems for data processing and their applications
A method (400) of processing signal outputs of a plurality of topologically distinct sensors in response to stimuli is described. The method comprises obtaining (402) a plurality of temporal sensor outputs in parallel. Thereafter, features are extracted (406), the features having dynamic behavior pattern. The extraction is performed in a topology consistent way by arithmetic processing in parallel of neighboring temporal sensor outputs. Furthermore, a quality of the extracted features is being determined. |
| US08401824B2 |
Method for determining an output value of a sensor of automation technology
In a method for determining an output value of a sensor of automation technology, in a case in which the sensor has a non-linear characteristic curve K, which is pointwise specified, help points Hj are additionally produced according to a simple calculational specification. The output value is obtained from the input value via an interpolation of at least two points of the characteristic curve. |
| US08401822B2 |
System, wellness circuit and method of determining wellness of a rotating electrical apparatus
A wellness circuit is for a rotating electrical apparatus having a rated current and being operatively associated with an electrical switching, control, protection or monitoring apparatus structured to provide a number of currents and a number of voltages of the rotating electrical apparatus. The wellness circuit includes a current sensor scaled to the rated current and structured to provide a notch current signal representative of one of the number of currents; an interface to the electrical switching, control, protection or monitoring apparatus, the interface providing the number of currents and the number of voltages; and a processor employing the number of currents and the number of voltages from the interface and the notch current signal to determine wellness of the rotating electrical apparatus. The wellness circuit is structured to be separate from or added to the electrical switching, control, protection or monitoring apparatus. |
| US08401821B1 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for latency measurement
A method, apparatus and computer program for measuring a latency associated with a transaction between logic units is described. In certain described examples, transactions take place over an on-chip interconnect, for example an interconnect forming part of a system-on-chip configuration. In certain described examples, time values obtained in response to signals indicative of transaction initiation events are added to a data queue. A transaction initiation event has an associated transaction identifier and each data queue is associated with a particular transaction identifier. The method and apparatus enable time values relating to transactions that overlap in time to be output from a data queue on receipt of a transaction completion event and thus measured. |
| US08401819B2 |
Statistical processing methods used in abnormal situation detection
Detection of one or more abnormal situations is performed using various statistical measures, such as a mean, a median, a standard deviation, etc. of one or more process parameters or variable measurements made by statistical process monitoring blocks within a plant. This detection is enhanced in various cases by using specialized data filters and data processing techniques, which are designed to be computationally simple and therefore are able to be applied to data collected at a high sampling rate in a field device having limited processing power. The enhanced data or measurements may be used to provided better or more accurate statistical measures of the data, may be used to trim the data to remove outliers from this data, may be used to fit this data to non-linear functions, or may be use to quickly detect the occurrence of various abnormal situations within specific plant equipment, such as distillation columns and fluid catalytic crackers. |
| US08401817B2 |
Velocity detection device and servomotor
A velocity detection device includes a rotational direction discriminator calculating an x coordinate or a y coordinate in temporary coordinates on a line between an origin of the coordinates and a point obtained by rotating the actual second coordinates by as much as a rotational angle θ in a direction of a coordinate axis, the rotational direction discriminator discriminating a rotational direction from the actual first coordinates to the actual second coordinates based on either a sign of the x or y coordinate in the temporary coordinates; and a processor calculating calculational second coordinates represented by a multiplication, addition or subtraction between the actual first coordinates and one of the trigonometric function values to make calculational second coordinates closer to the actual second coordinates, and calculating the velocity of the moving body based on the temporary angles corresponding to the trigonometric function value used for the calculational second coordinates. |
| US08401813B2 |
Test table creation system and test table creation method
The objective of the present invention is to efficiently create a test table in a monitoring control system.There are provided a logic drawing analysis unit (20) that analyzes a logic drawing (LG1) stored in a logic drawing storage device (1); an input value creation unit (8) that creates an input value for each of the input value types into which analogue values are categorized, based on an input point (11) of the logic drawing (LG1) derived by the logic drawing analysis unit (20) and an input specification (ITB1) for the logic drawing (LG1) stored in an input specification storage device (2); an output value creation unit (6) that creates the respective expected values corresponding to the input values created in the input value creation unit (8), for the output points (15, 18) that correspond to the types of arithmetic elements derived by the logic drawing analysis unit (20); and a table creation unit (9) that creates a test table (TTB1), based on the input value created by the input value creation unit (8) and the expected value created by the output value creation unit (6). |
| US08401812B2 |
Tester, method for testing a device under test and computer program
A tester for testing a device under test has a first channel unit and a second channel unit. The first channel unit has a corresponding first pin connection for a signal from a device under test, a corresponding first test processor adapted to process, at least partially, data obtained from the first pin connection, and a corresponding first memory coupled with the first test processor and adapted to store data provided by the first test processor. The first channel unit is adapted to transfer at least a part of the data obtained from the first pin connection to the second channel unit as transfer data. The second channel unit has a corresponding second test processor adapted to process, at least partly, the transfer data from the first channel unit. |
| US08401808B2 |
Wavelength-multiplexed optical signal measurement device and the method thereof
Light to be measured L and sampling pulse light LSP are each split into M beams, and a time delay of 0, T, 2T, . . . , (M−1)T is given to each of the M-split sampling pulse light beams. The M-split light beams to be measured are then respectively multiplexed with M optical 90-degree hybrids, and M electrical field amplitudes per time T are determined for the light beam to be measured, based on M sets of output currents received at a balance light receiving element that receives light emitted from each of the optical 90-degree hybrids. The amplitudes of the respective wavelength optical signals contained in the light beam to be measured are calculated through Fourier transformations of the field electrical amplitudes. Pulsed light with a spectral width that covers the total frequency bandwidth of the light to be measured is used as the sampling pulse light. Where the total frequency bandwidth of the light to be measured is Δftotal, and the frequency interval of the optical signals contained in the light to be measured is Δf, T≦1/Δftotal and 1/(MT)≦Δf are set. |
| US08401802B2 |
Haplotype estimating apparatus and program
The present invention calculates a sum of the count numbers for each of the marker sites to obtain a maximum value of the sum of the count numbers, enumerates polymorphic identification characters up to the count numbers of the polymorphic nucleotides, permutates the enumerated polymorphic identification characters so as to create any character string that has copy units of which the number equals the maximum value, divides the character string into two by the copy unit to store the divided strings as a combination of the haplotype character strings, calculates the number of identical haplotype character strings in the group, obtains a frequency of the haplotype character string in the group, and estimates the combination of the haplotype character strings (representing haplotypes) of each individual of which frequency satisfying a predetermined condition. |
| US08401801B2 |
Methods for selecting medications
Methods for selecting a medication for a patient are described that include determining the patient's genotype for a panel of genes and selecting the medication based on the genotype. Articles of manufacture also are provided that include nucleic acid molecules for detecting alleles of genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes and genes encoding products involved in neurotransmission. |
| US08401798B2 |
Systems and methods for constructing frequency lookup tables for expression systems
Methods for determining a property that affects expression of polynucleotides are provided. A plurality of polynucleotides each encoding a polypeptide sequence is constructed. A frequency that a sequence element is used in a first polynucleotide is different than in a second polynucleotide. Each polynucleotide is expressed in an expression system to obtain an expression property value thereby constructing a dataset that contains, for each respective polynucleotide, sequence element occurrence in the respective polynucleotide and the measured expression property value of the respective polynucleotide. A model is computed that describes variation in the measured expression property values as a function of a plurality of variables and weights. From the model, a property that affects expression of polynucleotides in the expression system is determined, where the property is an effect that the frequency of occurrence of one or more sequence elements has on the expression property of polynucleotides in the expression system. |
| US08401792B2 |
Navigation system and control method thereof
A navigation system includes a touch screen for receiving a touch input and displaying a navigation map, mode-switching means for issuing a mode-switching command to switch the navigation system into an input mode, a memory for storing a database, and a controller to recognize a handwriting input or a gesture input to acquire an input information, search the database for a facility information corresponding to the input information, and show facilities represented by the facility information in the navigation map. |
| US08401787B2 |
Method of determining drive lane using steering wheel model
Provided is a method of determining a drive lane using a steering wheel model. The method includes a step S100 of preparing a precise digital map having an accuracy capable of differentiating a road lane; a step S200 of estimating a vehicle location on a road using GPS information; a step S300 of checking whether the vehicle location information is normal using a difference between variation in the azimuth angle of the vehicle obtained by using the GPS information and variation in the azimuth angle of the vehicle obtained by using the steering wheel model; and a step S500 of determining and outputting a drive lane occupied by a running vehicle. |
| US08401782B2 |
System and method for assessing vehicle paths in a road environment
A method and system for assessing vehicle paths in a road environment including a vehicle and external objects includes: determining a position and a dynamic state of the host vehicle and of each of the external objects; generating a plurality of paths that may be followed by the vehicle as it moves toward the external objects; and evaluating a cost associated with each of the paths, the cost based on a lateral acceleration experienced by the vehicle. Each path is made up of path segments, including: an initial path segment corresponding to the vehicle continuing along a selected route without consideration of the external objects, and a maneuver pair for each external object, each maneuver pair including a path segment passing to the left of the external object and a path segment passing to the right of the external object. |
| US08401781B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for determining the location of a user in an area
Apparatus for orientating a user in a space wherein the space comprises a plurality of zones of which only certain zones constitute functional zones wherein each functional zone includes a first type device containing information relating to the position of the zone in the space and wherein the first type device is reactive to the presence of a second type device associated with the user to provide the user with the information to determine the orientation of the user in the space. A method of orientating the user within the space and guiding the user toward one or more features in the space is also disclosed. |
| US08401779B2 |
SEG (smart energy gateway) for optimized energy flow control
A smart energy gateway (SEG) operable to optimize energy consumption in a manner that optionally reduces user costs and/or emissions. The SEG may include a controller operable to manage energy distribution between one or more sources and one or more loads include within a vehicle according to one or more energy distribution schedules, such as but not limited to energy distribution schedules weight according to monetary and/or emission-based valuation metrics. |
| US08401777B2 |
System for wireless transmission of measurement results intented to be used in a coupling device and a use of the system in a vehicle
A coupling device (1) for gas and liquid systems comprises a passive transponder and at least one sensor for measuring at least one quantity. The transponder is connected to the sensor and arranged to wirelessly transmit and receive data via communication protocols. Moreover the sensor is passive, connected to and integrated with the transponder, the sensor being activated with energy induced by the transponder. An independent claim is included for a use of a wireless transmission system in a vehicle. |
| US08401769B2 |
Control method of restarting engine in an AT ISG automobile
A control method of restarting an engine of an AT ISG vehicle may include a first step of restarting the engine when a state of the vehicle satisfies a restart condition after an idle-stop, a second step of keeping a throttle valve constant at a first critical value or less when a positional value of an acceleration pedal may be equal to a second critical value or more after the first step, and a third step of opening a throttle valve until the positional value of the acceleration pedal detected by the acceleration pedal position sensor and a positional value of the throttle valve detected by a throttle valve position sensor may be matched after a critical time passes, a shifting may be completed after the restarting, or when the acceleration pedal may be pressed down less than at the second critical value after the first step. |
| US08401768B2 |
System and method for restarting an engine
Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission to assist in spinning-up of the engine from rest while the vehicle is traveling. In this manner, vehicle inertia can be used to assist in spinning-up the engine from rest when the vehicle is moving. |
| US08401765B2 |
Inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance determination apparatus for internal combustion engine
An inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance determination apparatus that obtains, based on an output value Vabyfs of an air-fuel ratio sensor, an air-fuel ratio fluctuation indicating amount (AFD) which becomes larger as an air-fuel ratio fluctuation of an exhaust gas passing through a position at which the air-fuel ratio sensor is disposed becomes larger, during a parameter obtaining period. The determination apparatus estimates an air-fuel ratio sensor element temperature (Temps) having a strong relation with responsiveness of the air-fuel ratio sensor during the parameter obtaining period, and obtains a corrected air-fuel ratio fluctuation indicating amount by correcting the AFD based on the estimated Temps. The determination apparatus adopts the corrected air-fuel ratio fluctuation indicating amount as the imbalance determination parameter X, and determines whether or not an inter-cylinder air-fuel-ratio imbalance state has been occurring based on a comparison between the imbalance determination parameter X and the imbalance determination threshold Xth. |
| US08401755B2 |
System and method for detecting lockup clutch on-coming capacity
A dynamic model is stored in memory that defines torque transmitted by a lockup clutch in a torque converter as a function of a plurality of torque converter operating parameters. A lockup clutch command to control engagement the lockup clutch is asserted, and thereafter a number of the plurality of torque converter operating parameters are monitored. The model is continually solved using the monitored operating parameters to determine torque transmitted by the lockup clutch over time, and a lockup clutch on-coming capacity signal is produced if the torque transmitted by the lockup clutch exceeds a torque threshold. |
| US08401753B2 |
Automatic downhill speed control system
A method for automatically controlling the downhill speed of a machine. The method includes establishing a target machine speed based on a current machine speed and determining whether at least one trigger condition including a grade greater than a predetermined threshold has been satisfied. If satisfied, the method activates a control system to control at least one of a powertrain retarder and a change in a transmission gear to prevent exceeding the target machine speed. |
| US08401750B2 |
Method and device for automatic or semiautomatic selection of a better starting gear in a vehicle
Method and a device for automatic selection of a better starting gear in a vehicle, including the steps of engaging a first starting gear, on driver demand controlling propulsion torque as to attempt to achieve a first take off, if the first starting gear is too high interrupting the first take off and automatically braking the vehicle, engaging a second adapted starting gear which is a lower gear compared to the first starting gear, controlling propulsion torque as to attempt to achieve a second vehicle take off, and if the second vehicle take off attempt results in a transmitting of torque to driven wheels of the vehicle being enough as to perform a take off then stop braking the vehicle. An incorrectly selected starting gear can thus be automatically changed. The starting gear change can be performed in an uphill situation. |
| US08401748B2 |
Method and device for influencing the traction force during shifting operations of a manual transmission in vehicles
In a method for influencing the traction force during shifting operations of a manual transmission in vehicles having at least two drive axles, the drive system of the first axle is activated in such a way that the interruptions in traction force occurring at the second axle during shifting operations of the manual transmission are at least partially compensated for. |
| US08401745B2 |
Pressure control system for a hydraulic lift and flotation system
A control system is provided to control the rate of pressure rise in a hydraulic lift and flotation system. When a hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic lift and flotation system is to be adjusted, the pressure in the hydraulic lift and flotation system has to be increased to a predetermined pressure controlled by a relief valve before the hydraulic cylinder can be operated. The unload valve of the hydraulic lift and flotation system can be closed in a controlled or regulated manner in order to control the rate at which pressure rises in the hydraulic lift and flotation system. |
| US08401743B2 |
Motor grader blade positioning system and method
A ground engaging vehicle having a tool connected to the vehicle, at least one actuator coupled to the tool and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is controllably coupled to the at least one actuator. The controller includes an operator interface. The controller is configured for issuing a plurality of commands, recording the commands, positioning the tool and replaying at least some of the commands. The issuing step includes issuing a plurality of commands to the at least one actuator using the operator interface to place the tool in a position relative to the vehicle. The recording step records the commands issued in the issuing step. The positioning step includes positioning the tool in another position different from the position. The replaying step includes replaying at least some of the commands recorded in the recording step, thereby repositioning the tool substantially in the original position. |
| US08401739B2 |
Device for activating a security system in a vehicle
Disclosed is a device for activating a security system in a vehicle including a first and second vehicle sensor (4). The sensor include, respectively, a measuring value sensor (4.1) which can detect acceleration and structure-borne noise, and a central unit (2) which evaluates the signals of at least two vehicle sensors (4) and activates the security system according to the signals. The first and second vehicle sensors have a first direction of sensitivity for at least one measuring value sensor (4.1), which is used to detect acceleration, and a second direction of sensitivity for at least one measuring value sensor (4.1) which is used to detect structure-borne noise. |
| US08401738B2 |
Electric power steering system
An ECU of an electric power steering system includes a driving circuit configured as an H bridge circuit; a microcomputer that controls the driving circuit; a capacitor for stabilizing electric power that is supplied to the driving circuit; and a resistor that is interposed in a second power supply path that bypasses a first power supply path in which the relay contact is interposed. The microcomputer causes a relay circuit to be activated after the capacitor is charged via the resistor (second power supply path). The microcomputer determines whether a stuck-open fault has occurred on the basis of a voltage difference between terminals of the relay contact at the time when both FETs that are connected in series and that constitute the driving circuit are turned on to cause the discharge of the capacitor after the relay circuit is activated. |
| US08401736B2 |
Driving assistance apparatus and driving assistance method
Traveling environment information, which is information on a traveling environment around a vehicle, is obtained. If the automation level of the vehicle, which is set according to the traveling environment information, is decreased, the driving assistance level is decreased in a stepwise manner to execute a driving assistance control. |
| US08401729B2 |
Diagnostic tool for repairing aircraft and method of using such a tool
A device according to the present invention comprises: a central unit (8) having access to a database (18) in which there are stored not only information on the aircraft fleet to be managed but also an aircraft repair manual, this central unit (8) having means of communicating with the outside, and in particular with a technical center (16) of at least one aircraft manufacturer, at least one portable device equipped with visual display means as well as with means of wireless communication between the said portable device and the central unit (8). Application to the analysis of damage observed in an aircraft during inspection thereof. |
| US08401728B2 |
Battery system for vehicle, on-vehicle battery module, and cell controller
A battery system for vehicle comprises a battery unit that is constituted with a plurality of serially connected cell groups each include a plurality of serially connected battery cells, integrated circuits that are each disposed in correspondence to one of the cell groups of the battery unit and each measure terminal voltages at the battery cells in the corresponding cell group, and a signal transmission path through which one of the integrated circuits is connected to another one of the integrated circuits or to a circuit other than that of the integrated circuits. |
| US08401727B2 |
Method and device for the diagnosis of an NOx sensor for an internal combustion engine
In a method and a device for the diagnosis of an NOx sensor (54) for an internal combustion engine, during a homogenous operation of the internal combustion engine, a base diagnostic value (NOx_DIAG_BAS) of the NOx sensor (54) is determined as a function of a reference value (I_REF) of a measuring signal of the NOx sensor (54) determined in a new state of the NOx sensor (54) and a current value (I_AV) of the measuring signal of the NOx sensor (54). A time-dependent measuring value sequence (O2_EG_T) of the oxygen content of the exhaust gas in the exhaust gas system (14) is determined by the exhaust gas probe (53). Depending on the measuring value sequence (O2_EG_T) of the oxygen content of the exhaust gas, and the base diagnostic value (NOx_DIAG_BAS) of the NOx sensor (54), a corrected diagnostic value (NOx_DIAG_COR) is determined for the NOx sensor (54). |
| US08401725B2 |
Target route setting support system
A target route setting support system is equipped with a transiting area/starting-terminal point recognizing unit, a route candidate generating unit, and a determining unit. The transiting area/starting-terminal point recognizing unit recognizes a node or a link connecting nodes together designated by the user via a remote controller as a designated transiting area, the target position as a terminal point, and a departure position as a starting point. The route candidate generating unit generates a moving route candidate connecting the terminal point and the starting point so the designated transiting area is included at least in a part of the moving route candidate. The determining unit determines the level of a possibility of contact between the robot and an object in the case where the robot is made to move along the moving route candidate, and outputs the determination result via an output device. |
| US08401724B2 |
Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a generator motor, a capacitor, and a driving force assisting unit. Further, the control device includes a switching unit that selects an appropriate traveling range from a plurality of traveling ranges including at least a normal traveling range and a charging priority range for preferentially charging the capacitor and switches the range, and a threshold value increasing unit that increases, when the charging priority range is selected by the switching unit, the predetermined determination threshold value as compared to when the normal traveling range is selected by the switching unit. |
| US08401721B2 |
Variable valve actuating apparatus, valve phase varying apparatus and control apparatus for internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine is provided with a valve lift varying mechanism for intake valves and a valve phase varying mechanism for exhaust valves. A controller performs a control operation in response to a request to pause at least one cylinder while the engine is in operation. The control operation includes: a first operation of setting an intake valve lift to a zero-lift setpoint by the valve lift varying mechanism; and a second operation of setting an exhaust valve phase by the valve phase varying mechanism so as to set an exhaust valve opening timing to a first timing setpoint on an advance side of bottom dead center and set an exhaust valve closing timing to a second timing setpoint on a retard side of bottom dead center. The first and second timing setpoints are closer to top dead center than to bottom dead center. |
| US08401709B2 |
Dynamic distributed power grid control system
A system for dynamically managing and controlling distributed energy resources in a transmission/distribution power grid is disclosed. A plurality of regions within a transmission/distribution power grid is autonomously managed using regional control modules. Each regional control module oversees the management and control of the transmission/distribution power grid and is further associated with a plurality of local control modules that interface with distributed energy resources within a region. Power production and power consumption are monitored and analyzed by the enterprise control module which, upon determining that power consumption within a region does not match power producing capability, dynamically reallocates distributed energy resources throughout the grid keeping the system balance. Power flow at key nodes within the network are monitored and analyzed by the local control modules, regional control modules, and enterprise control modules with compensating actions taken in the event that system parameter risks violating safety, stability, or operational thresholds. |
| US08401706B2 |
Networked multi-inverter maximum power-point tracking
A group of solar power stations with inverters are adjusted in order to achieve optimum power output in accordance with maximum power-point tracking (MPPT). The MPPT data is used to perform adjustments. Power measurement factors, including Maximum Power Points (MPPs) are established to represent a bus-voltage setting that produces the maximum power output from an individual photovoltaic panel. These settings are established for the group so as to optimize power output under a variety of operating conditions. |
| US08401702B2 |
Robot, and control apparatus, control method, and control program for robot
A robot arm provided with a body unit shifting mechanism that connects a base unit and a body unit so as to be relatively shifted, and joint lock mechanisms that are capable of mechanically securing respective joints is disposed on the body unit, and a robot operation control unit controls to switch between a robot arm operation mode in which the robot arm is operated with one of the joints of the robot arm brought into a free state, and a body unit shift mode in which the body unit is shifted with the joint being brought into a locked state. |
| US08401701B2 |
Substrate transfer robot, substrate transfer apparatus including the same, and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including the same
A substrate transfer robot sets an interference region in advance in the range of motion of the substrate transfer robot; stores a plurality of patterns of a combination of a starting position, a target position, and the interference region, the starting position and the target position being among taught positions; determines which pattern among the plurality of patterns a movement of the substrate transfer robot from the starting position to the target position matches when the substrate transfer robot moves between the plurality of taught positions; and determines a movement path from the starting position to the target position so as to avoid the interference region in accordance with the determined pattern so that the substrate transfer robot avoids the interference region. |
| US08401699B2 |
Manipulator and manipulator posture control method
A manipulator includes a main unit movable to a specified target position, an arm unit rotatably provided on the main unit, and a posture controller. The posture controller controls the posture of the arm unit so that a front surface of the arm unit facing forward in a moving direction of the main unit is not orthogonal to the moving direction of the main unit when the movement of the main unit is performed. The arm unit may be inclined obliquely backward with respect to a moving direction of the main unit when the main unit is moved to a specified target position. |
| US08401697B2 |
Electronically controlled and monitored enclosure to dispense tobacco products
A device for storing and dispensing tobacco products includes a housing configured to store tobacco product packages, a tracking system, and an electronic system. The housing may contain a plurality of chambers, each configured to store a different brand of tobacco product packages. The tracking system is configured to track the number of tobacco product packages in each chamber as tobacco product packages are dispensed from the chambers and to include one or more light emitting elements and one or more light detection elements. The electronic system is configured to enable dispensing of the tobacco product packages from the chambers and to store information related to the dispensing of the packages from the chambers. |
| US08401683B2 |
Audio onset detection
Among other things, techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting onsets. On a device, an audio signal is pre-processed in temporal domain. The pre-processed audio signal is smoothed on the device. A predetermined quantity of peaks is selectively identified in the pre-processed and smoothed audio signal based on a size of a sample window applied to the pre-processed and smoothed audio signal. |
| US08401680B2 |
Amplifier system
When any one of a plurality of amplifiers has been selected in response to amplifier selecting operation, an amplifier Detail View of the selected amplifier is displayed, where corresponding parameters are displayed via elements of the amplifier Detail View. When any one of a plurality of groups has been selected in response to group selecting operation, a group Detail View of the selected group is displayed, where maximum and minimum values detected from among values of a parameter of individual amplifiers of the selected group are displayed via a band-shaped element of a corresponding fader element. In another example, where a hierarchical group is selected in a tree display section on a control screen, respective state information, including parameter values or states of parameters, of a plurality of amplifiers belonging to the selected hierarchical group is displayed in a state information section. |
| US08401674B2 |
Apparatus for delivery of pharmaceuticals to the cochlea
An implantable tissue-stimulating device, such as a cochlear implant, having a resiliently flexible elongate member (11) having a plurality of electrodes (12) positioned thereon. The elongate member (11) provides a means of delivering at least one bio-active substance to the implantee following implantation of the elongate member (11). The delivery means can comprise a lumen 21 containing the bio-active substance in a liquid form. The bio-active substance can comprise a steroid or can perform a function of reducing the resting neuron potential of neurons within the cochlea. |
| US08401672B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling autonomic balance using neural stimulation
A neural stimulation system senses autonomic activities and applies neural stimulation to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to control autonomic balance. The neural stimulation system is capable of delivering neural stimulation pulses for sympathetic excitation, sympathetic inhibition, parasympathetic excitation, and parasympathetic inhibition. |
| US08401667B2 |
Selective accumulation of energy with or without knowledge of tissue topography
Methods and systems for heating a body tissue region adjacent a body lumen using selective accumulation of energy without knowledge of tissue topography. Methods include positioning an energy delivery portion of a catheter within the lumen adjacent the body tissue region, determining a pulse characteristic in response to a thermal property of a first tissue type and applying pulsed energy with the characteristic to treat a second tissue type within the region by drawing heat from the first tissue at a rate that inhibits thermal damage to the first tissue while building-up heat in the second tissue. Systems include a catheter body having an energy delivery portion processor configured to control a pulse characteristic of pulsed energy to therapeutically treat the second tissue by drawing heat from the first tissue at a rate that inhibits thermal damage to the first tissue while building-up heat in the second tissue. |
| US08401666B2 |
Modification profiles for posture-responsive therapy
In general, the disclosure describes techniques for modifying therapy provided to a patient by a medical device. The techniques may be applicable to electrical stimulation therapy or other therapies. Modification of therapy may include adjustment of one or more therapy parameter values that define one or more characteristics of stimulation therapy delivered to a patient. The therapy modification may be based on activity of a patient that is detected by an IMD, such as a change in a detected posture state occupied by the patient. Different therapy modifications may be applied for different changes in detected posture state. An IMD may modify therapy based on a transition from one posture state to another posture state, and apply different modifications for different transitions. In some aspects, the modification may include a profile, such as a ramp up or ramp down in a parameter value over a period of time. The profile may be different for different posture transitions. A ramp slope may be steeper for one transition than for another transition. When a patient transitions from an upright to a lying posture state, for example, the profile may be especially abrupt. In some examples, a modification profile may define a dwell time. |
| US08401664B2 |
System and method for charging a power cell in an implantable medical device
Apparatus and methods for charging a power cell in an implantable medical device (“IMD”) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing an electrical pulse to an inductor external to the IMD. A frequency of an oscillation signal induced in the inductor by the current pulse is measured. The inductor is driven with an oscillating signal having a frequency based on the measured frequency of the oscillation signal. The power cell is charged using current induced in the IMD by the driving of the inductor. |
| US08401662B2 |
Performance assessment and adaptation of an acoustic communication link
Systems and methods for adapting the performance of an acoustic communication link with an implantable medical device (IMD) are disclosed. An illustrative method includes initiating an acoustic link with the IMD, measuring an initial performance of the acoustic link, determining whether the initial performance of the acoustic link is adequate, adjusting an operating parameter related to the acoustic link in the event the initial performance of the acoustic link is inadequate, measuring a performance of the acoustic link in response to the adjusted operating parameter, and setting the operating parameter to a prior setting if the measured performance of the acoustic link does not improve in response to the adjusted operating parameter. |
| US08401657B1 |
Spectral profile adjustment of incoming audio signals for cochlear implant patients
Methods and systems for normalizing a spectral profile corresponding to an audio signal include detecting a spectral profile of an incoming audio signal and comparing the spectral profile of the incoming audio signal to a reference spectral profile. The methods further include using the comparison to determine an adjusted spectral profile that more closely matches the reference spectral profile than does the spectral profile of the incoming audio signal and applying electrical stimulation representative of the adjusted spectral profile to a cochlear implant patient. |
| US08401655B2 |
Stimulation design for neuromodulation
The present application relates to a new stimulation design which can be utilized to treat neurological conditions. The stimulation system produces a burst mode stimulation which alters the neuronal activity of the predetermined site, thereby treating the neurological condition or disorder. The burst stimulus comprises a plurality of groups of spike pulses having a maximum inter-spike interval of 100 milliseconds. The burst stimulus is separated by a substantially quiescent period of time between the plurality of groups of spike pulses. This inter-group interval may comprise a minimum of 5 seconds. |
| US08401652B2 |
Devices and methods for treatment of heart failure and associated conditions
Devices and methods of use are described for detecting and treating an undesirable level of fluid in a pulmonary circulation of a patient. An exemplary system may include an implantable baroreflex activation device including an electrode configured to be implanted proximate a baroreptor within a patient, an implantable sensor configured to provide an indication of a fluid level within the patient, and a control system coupled to the baroreflex activation device and the sensor. The control system may be programmed to automatically detect a level of a fluid in a pulmonary circulation of the patient with the sensor and upon detecting an undesirable level of the fluid in the pulmonary circulation, delivering a therapy via the electrode of the baroreflex activation device to reduce the level of fluid in the pulmonary circulation. |
| US08401650B2 |
Methods and apparatus for electrical treatment using balloon and electrode
The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to body tissue. A device is provided having an enclosure within an outer wall formed from an electrically-permeable material to allow for electrical energy to pass from the interior of the enclosure through the outer wall. The device further includes an electrode positioned within the interior of the enclosure and a fluid passage coupled to the enclosure for delivery of an electrically conductive fluid into the interior of the enclosure such that the electrically conductive fluid couples the electrode with the electrically-permeable section of the outer wall. The conductive fluid allows for the passage of electrical energy from the electrode through the fluid and the outer wall of the enclosure for treatment of tissue on or in a patient. In this manner, the electrode does not directly contact the tissue of the patient, which reduces the potential for collateral tissue damage or necrosis and/or excessive electric fields in the tissue. |
| US08401644B2 |
Method and apparatus for post-processing of episodes detected by a medical device
A method and system of post-processing of sensing data generated by a medical device that includes transmitting a plurality of stored sensing data generated by the medical device to an access device, the stored sensing data including sensed atrial events and sensed ventricular events. The access device determines, in response to the transmitted data, instances where the medical device identified a cardiac event being detected in response to the sensing data, and determines whether there is an abrupt onset of the cardiac event in response to the transmitted data. |
| US08401642B2 |
Pressure-driven intermittent pacing therapy
Cardioprotective pre-excitation pacing may be applied to stress or de-stress a particular myocardial region delivering of pacing pulses in a manner that causes a dyssynchronous contraction. Such dyssynchronous contractions are responsible for the desired cardioprotective effects of pre-excitation pacing but may also be hazardous. Described herein is a method and system that uses measures of a patient's physiological response to ventricular dyssynchrony to control the duty cycles of intermittent pre-excitation pacing. |
| US08401641B2 |
Treatment of cardiac arrhythmia by modification of neuronal signaling through fat pads of the heart
To control cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation post-operatively, various non-ablative agents include polymers, fibroblasts, neurotoxins, and growth factors are introduced into one or more cardiac fat pads into the atrioventricular nodal fat pad in proximity to the autonomic ganglia therein. Any desired technique may be used for introducing the agent, including injection. The sinoatrial nodal fat pad target site and the atrioventricular nodal fat pad target site are identified using a stimulator, which may have electrodes coupled thereto or which may coupled to electrodes built into a delivery system. |
| US08401639B2 |
Anodal stimulation detection and avoidance
Cardiac resynchronization therapy is delivered to a heart using an extended bipolar electrode configuration in accordance with programmed pacing parameters including a non-zero intraventricular delay. The extended bipolar electrode configuration comprises a left ventricular electrode defining a cathode of the extended bipolar electrode configuration and a right ventricular electrode defining an anode of the extended bipolar electrode configuration. A pace pulse is delivered to the left ventricular electrode and anodal stimulation of the right ventricle is detected based on the sensed response to the pace pulse. |
| US08401635B2 |
Device and method using integrated neuronal cells and an electronic device
The present invention provides a device of integrated neuronal cells interfaced with an electronic device and a method of producing the same. |
| US08401631B2 |
Method and system for monitoring physiological conditions
A method for providing an indication of a state of awareness for a patient, includes the steps of arranging data of an EEG and EMG power spectrogram to provide power versus frequency in a log-log arrangement; calculating a first best-fit line for a lower frequency region of the EEG power spectrogram; calculating at least a second best-fit line for a higher frequency region of the EEG power spectrogram. The display of these lines is augmented by displaying a template that identifies different regions on the display that help confirm the state of the patient. Secondly, the time domain EEG signals can be filtered and displayed such that different frequency bands can be simultaneously displayed or a single frequency band can be displayed according to different time scales. |
| US08401627B1 |
Methods and systems for monitoring heart instabilities
Systems and method for assessing a patient's myocardial electrical stability by pacing a patient's heart using a pacing sequence that includes at least two different types of pacing pulses. The pacing rate used is preferably only slightly above the patient's intrinsic heart rate. A degree of alternans, in a signal (e.g., IEGM or ECG) that is indicative of cardiac activity in response to the pacing sequence, is determined. The degree of alternans can be determined by comparing portions of the signal that are indicative of cardiac activity in response to the first type of pacing pulses to portions of the signal that are indicative of cardiac activity in response to the second type of pacing pulses. The patient's myocardial electrical stability is assessed based on the determined degree of alternans. |
| US08401626B2 |
System and method for assessing sleep quality
An assessment of sleep quality and sleep disordered breathing is determined from cardiopulmonary coupling between two physiological data series. An R-R interval series is derived from an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. The normal beats from the R-R interval series are extracted to produce a normal-to-normal interval series. The amplitude variations in the QRS complex are used to extract a surrogate respiration signal (i.e., ECG-derived respiration) associated with the NN interval series. The two series are corrected to remove outliers, and resampled. The cross-spectral power and coherence of the two resampled signals are calculated over a plurality of coherence windows. For each coherence window, the product of the coherence and cross-spectral power is used to calculate coherent cross-power. Using the appropriate thresholds for the coherent cross-power, the proportion of sleep spent in CAP, non-CAP, and wake and/or REM are determined. Coherent cross-power can be applied to differentiate obstructive from non-obstructive disease, and admixtures of the same. |
| US08401619B2 |
Systems and methods for virtual index-matching of diffusive media
The invention relates to systems and methods for tomographic imaging of a subject comprising diffuse media by converting measurements of electromagnetic radiation, e.g., fluorescent light, obtained in free space exterior to the subject into data that would be measured if the subject were surrounded by an infinite and homogeneous diffusive medium, e.g., a medium with optical properties equal to the average optical properties of the subject. After applying a transformation to convert measurements to virtually-matched values, propagation of light is simulated from the index-matched surface to a set of virtual detectors exterior to the subject and arranged in a geometrically advantageous fashion, for example, in a planar array, thereby facilitating the use of fast reconstruction techniques. |
| US08401615B1 |
Planar coil flexion fixture for magnetic resonance imaging and use thereof
An aspect of the present invention is a system for magnetic resonance imaging that includes a fixture for housing an antenna such that the position of a portion of a patient's anatomy remains fixed relative to the antenna as the patient moves between a first and a second position for imaging. |
| US08401613B2 |
PET-MRI combination apparatus
Disclosed herein is a PET-MRI combination apparatus which can extend transaxial and axial fields of view (FOV) by transmitting an output signal from a photo sensor to the outside of an MRI bore using cable. The PET-MRI combination apparatus includes an MRI bore for capturing an MR image of an object. A PET detector is installed inside imaging space of the MRI bore, and is configured such that a plurality of scintillation crystal arrays, each having scintillation crystals arranged in a ring shape, is arranged in a longitudinal direction so as to extend a axial field of view (FOV). A PET circuit unit is installed outside the MRI bore to prevent the PET circuit unit from being influenced by a magnetic field in the MRI bore, and is configured to include a signal amplification circuit and a signal processing circuit. A cable is configured to connect the PET detector to the PET circuit unit. |
| US08401612B1 |
Magnetic resonance imaging system and method for detecting chiari malformations
A method for detecting Chiari malformations. The method generally comprises positioning a patient in an upright orientation in a patient-receiving space of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and acquiring images of the patient's cerebellum and brainstem in the upright orientation. The method further comprises positioning the patient in a recumbent orientation in the patient-receiving space of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and acquiring images of the patient's cerebellum and brainstem in the recumbent orientation. |
| US08401611B2 |
Apparatus and method for imaging tissue
A device and method for imaging body tissue, the device comprising a catheter for accessing body cavities having a catheter end, the catheter end having there within an ionizing radiation source for emitting ionizing radiation; and at least one ionizing radiation detector for detecting ionizing radiation; and wherein preferably a signal is emitted by the ionizing radiation source, said signal comprising photons or electrons, said photons or electrons are reflected from the body tissue or provoke the body tissue to generate photons or electrons. |
| US08401609B2 |
System, method and applications involving identification of biological circuits such as neurological characteristics
Various aspects are directed to systems and methods for assessing neural activity of a neural region having multiple subfields. In certain embodiments, a method includes evoking a cellular electrical response in at least one subfield due to neural activity in the neural region, capturing image data of the electrical response at a level sufficiently detailed in space and time to differentiate between polarization-based events of two respective portions of the subfield, and then assessing neural activity by correlating space and time information, from the captured data, for the two respective portions of the sub-field. Other more specific aspects of the invention involve different preparation and neural stimulation approaches which can vary depending on the application. |
| US08401608B2 |
Method of analyzing photon density waves in a medical monitor
A monitoring system that may include an emission feature capable of emitting light into tissue, a modulator capable of modulating the emitter at a modulation frequency generally in a range of about 50 MHz to 3.0 GHz to generate resolvable photon density waves, a detection feature capable of detecting photons of the photon density waves after passage through the tissue and capable of providing a distribution of detected photons over a time period for the photon density waves, and a processor capable of calculating a skewness of the distribution and making determinations relating to a value of a physiologic parameter of the tissue based at least in part on the skewness of the distribution. |
| US08401607B2 |
Nuisance alarm reductions in a physiological monitor
A method and apparatus for controlling alarms in a medical diagnostic apparatus where an alarm is generated when a measured value for a physiological parameter is outside a specified range. The method continuously calculates a baseline value, and establishes dynamic thresholds that are related to and continuously track the baseline value. The method determines the amount of time the measured value is past the dynamic threshold, and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Alarms are triggered based upon a combination of the amount of time and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Preferably, the combination is an integral or some function of an integral. |
| US08401606B2 |
Nuisance alarm reductions in a physiological monitor
A method and apparatus for controlling alarms in a medical diagnostic apparatus where an alarm is generated when a measured value for a physiological parameter is outside a specified range. The method continuously calculates a baseline value, and establishes dynamic thresholds that are related to and continuously track the baseline value. The method determines the amount of time the measured value is past the dynamic threshold, and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Alarms are triggered based upon a combination of the amount of time and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Preferably, the combination is an integral or some function of an integral. |
| US08401604B2 |
Apparatus and methods for non-invasive measurement of a substance within a body
Embodiments of the present system and methods measure a concentration of a substance, such as glucose, in a body. The present embodiments measure a first amount of infrared (IR) radiation absorbed or emitted from the body in a first wavelength band, and a second amount of IR radiation absorbed or emitted from the body in a second wavelength band. The present embodiments also measure a temperature at a surface of the body and an ambient temperature. A normalized ratio parameter is calculated from the four measurements, and the concentration of the substance in the body is calculated by correlating the normalized ratio parameter with the body surface temperature and the ambient temperature using an empirically derived lookup table. Also disclosed are methods for creating the empirically derived lookup table. |
| US08401599B2 |
Superconducting AC generator
An alternating current (AC) generator and method of operating the generator are provided. The generator includes a pair of two opposing cylinders. Each cylinder includes a high-temperature superconductor material at a temperature. The superconductor material is in a superconducting state in the presence of an external magnetic field below a critical field strength, wherein the critical field strength is a function of the temperature of the superconductor material. A sum of a non-zero time-invariant magnetic field strength and a time-varying magnetic field strength cycles between at least a first field strength below the critical field strength for the superconductor material at the temperature and at least a second field strength above the critical field strength for the superconductor material at the temperature, such that the superconductor material cycles between a superconducting state and a non-superconducting state. The generator further includes a piston configured to move within the two cylinders. The piston includes a permanent magnet having a magnetic field that interacts with the superconductor material of each of the two opposing cylinders. A time-varying force is applied to the magnet by an interaction of the magnet's magnetic field with the superconductor material. The generator further includes a pickup coil positioned so that movement of the magnet induces an electrical current in the pickup coil. |
| US08401597B2 |
Mobile terminal device
A mobile terminal device including a first housing, a second housing, the device having multiple configurations, including a first configuration in which the second housing is closed with respect to the first housing, a second configuration in which the second housing is slid relative to the first housing from the first configuration, and a third configuration in which the first housing is separated from the second housing, and a first input key is provided on the first housing, and is covered with the second housing in the first and second configurations and is exposed in the third configuration. |
| US08401595B2 |
Method and system for integrated wireless power and data communication
A method and system of integrated wireless power and data transmission in a wireless device having a data communication circuit for wireless data communication and a power reception circuit including a charge storage unit. The wireless device is tuned to receive wireless RF signals in a certain frequency band via an antenna. Switching between power reception mode and data communication mode is detected. Received RF signal electrical charge is selectively distributed to the power reception circuit and/or the data communication circuit based on the switching mode and/or strength of the RF signal. |
| US08401590B2 |
Combined omni- and directional-communications in high-frequency wireless networks
In a wireless communication network, specific portions of the communication may combine directional transmission with omnidirectional reception. In particular, sector-level directional transmission may be established through sector sweeps, followed by antenna training for more directionality. In some embodiments, collisions during the exchange may be reduced by having different network devices use different sub-channels or different time slots. In some embodiments, each network may restrict its network communications to a single sub-channel that is different than the sub-channels used by adjacent networks. |
| US08401589B2 |
Controlled text-based communication on mobile devices
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for managing text-based services on mobile devices during the operation of a vehicle. Proactive service-controls use a time of day and location based services to determine that a mobile device is in a moving vehicle. Reactive position-awareness techniques use near-field communication (NFC) to determine that the mobile device is being operated by a user in a driver's seat of the vehicle. Upon satisfying both these determinations, specific text-based services such as messaging, browsing, etc. can be disabled by either the mobile device itself or by a network entity. The present invention can also be extended to managing other mobile device's usages in vehicles, including phone calls, online gaming, etc. |
| US08401586B2 |
System and method for power control in distributed networks
A system and method for power control in distributed networks is provided. A method for transmitting information includes setting a transmit power level for a subset of communications controllers in a communications network, and transmitting information to a communications device served by a communications controller. The subset of communications controllers includes ad hoc communications controllers in the communications network, and the setting of the transmit power level is performed in a distributed manner. The information is transmitted at a transmit power level set for the communications controller. |
| US08401584B2 |
Dynamic group prioritization in communication networks
An apparatus and method for dynamic group prioritization in a communication network includes a first step (400) of defining a dynamic list of group participants by an application, such as a dispatch function. A next step (402) includes sending a request to a Group Management Function, wherein the request includes a requested group priority and the list of group participants. A next step (404) includes allocating a unique identifier to the group and assigning a group priority to the group. A next step (406) includes notifying the application, group participants, and network of the unique identifier and the network of the assigned group priority. The assigned priority of the group and its flows can be dynamically altered in real-time while the group is active. |
| US08401581B2 |
Communication method and radio apparatus using the communication method
A control unit allocates sequentially a channel for use in data transmission and a channel for use in channel estimation used to acquire channel characteristics between a radio apparatus and another radio apparatus to be communicated with, to the another radio apparatus. A radio unit to an IF unit communicate with the another radio unit through the sequentially allocated data transmission channels, respectively. An acquisition unit acquires the traveling speed of the another radio apparatus in communication with the radio apparatus. A decision unit varies the frequency at which the channel for use in channel estimation is allocated, based on the traveling speed acquired. |
| US08401575B2 |
Network signaling for point-to-multipoint service over single frequency network mode
The present invention relates to communicating between a network and a mobile terminal in a wireless communication system. The invention includes receiving a message from the network for announcing a service. The message includes an attribute for identifying whether the service is to be received according to a specific mode. The specific mode is a mode wherein information is communicated on a frequency having no associated uplink service. The attribute is included in the message according to a session description protocol describing the service. |
| US08401574B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing delivery of information in a wireless communication network
A method and apparatus for managing delivery of information in a wireless network (100) includes bearer plane information handlers (110, 111), each of which maintains a database of paging controller associations (200). Each paging controller association is an association of an idle mobile device to a last known paging controller of that idle mobile device. The apparatus also includes paging controllers (115-118), each of which is associated with at least one paging area (130-133). For each paging area, the paging controller maintains a database of all base transmitters of the paging area that are associated with the paging controller (310) and maintains a database of other selected paging controllers that control base transmitters in the paging area (315). Using these resources, the method uses location notification messages and paging responses to deliver bearer plane information to a mobile device (125) that has been idle. |
| US08401569B1 |
System effective to demodulate a modulated code and provide content to a user
A system and method effective to provide content to a user. The system may include a sound device, a smart phone, and a processor. The sound device may produce a modulated code where different frequencies represent respectively logic 0s and 1s. The smart phone may apply a transform and peak detector to the modulated code to determine logic 0s and 1s to demodulate the code. The smart phone may send the demodulated code to a processor. The processor may receive the code, determine content associated with the code, and send the content over the network to the smart phone. The smart phone may further receive the content and output the content on a display. |
| US08401568B2 |
Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
The present invention allows mobile terminals to receive location-based information upon entering a local wireless zone established by an access point. The access point includes or is associated with one or more servers, which may provide the location-based information and control access. The local wireless zone is a limited area in which communications between the access point and the mobile terminal are possible. Once the mobile terminal enters into one or more local wireless zones, the presence of the mobile terminal in the local wireless zone is detected. Once detected, the mobile terminal is afforded access to a server on which the location-based information is stored. The server is associated with the local wireless zone. |
| US08401567B2 |
Method and system to locate an object
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for handling identification information emitted by a radio frequency device, and a radio frequency device for emitting identification information. The method receives and stores identification information transmitted by the radio frequency device, retrieves the identification information from the first mobile communication device, and inserts the identification information into the communication. The system includes a first mobile communication device, a second communication device, and an inserting means. The computer program product includes computer program instructions for carrying out the steps of the method. The radio frequency device includes an antenna adapted to operate in UHF frequency bands, an energy storage means adapted to be charged with energy captured through the antenna, an information storage means adapted to store information, and a transmission means adapted to transmit the information using the energy from the energy storage means. |
| US08401565B2 |
Delayed emergency position determination and transmission
A method including detecting a communication call attempt in a portable communication device, determining whether the portable communication device is outside of a communication network coverage area, determining a location of the portable communication device where the communication call attempt is detected if outside of the communication network coverage area with a position determining module of the portable communication device and storing the location in a memory of the portable communication device, determining at least one route from the location of the portable communication device where the communication call attempt is detected to at least one communication network coverage area with a navigation module of the portable communication device and presenting the at least one route on a display of the portable communication device. |
| US08401563B2 |
Downlink resource allocation and mapping
Embodiments of the present invention provide for downlink resource allocation among a plurality of users. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08401562B2 |
Apparatus and method employing scheduler behavior aware predictive resource selection in a communication system
An apparatus, method and system to predict interference employing scheduler behavior information in a communication system. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and memory including computer program code. The memory and the computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to receive scheduler behavior information for an allocation of communication resources, and produce an interference history associated with at least one of a communication resource and a user equipment operable in a cellular communication mode. The memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to predict an interference level on the communication resource as a function of the interference history and the scheduler behavior information for a user equipment operable in a device-to-device communication mode. |
| US08401557B2 |
Mobile communication system, its control device, and hand-off control method
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile communication system comprises a plurality of cellular stations configured to each form areas and a control device configured to connect the cellular stations to a network through communication resources. The control device comprises a construct processing module, a prediction processing module, a secure processing module and an establishment processing module. The construct processing module constructs a database storing hand-off records in time series of a plurality of the mobile terminals. The prediction processing module predicts one or more candidates of cellular stations of connection destinations next to the mobile terminals with reference to the time series of the database before hand-offs are requested. The secure processing module secures channels in the communication resources of the predicted candidates. The establishment processing module establishes communication links via the secured channels among the mobile terminals and the network when hand-off execution is requested. |
| US08401553B2 |
Access control in a mobile communication system
A method and radio network controller (RNC) in a radio access network (RAN) for controlling access to a cellular telecommunication system. Upon receiving an access request from a given user equipment (UE) through a given radio base station (RBS), the RNC retrieves authorization information from an access control database within the RAN. The authorization information indicates whether the given UE is authorized to access the system through the given RBS. The RNC alternatively grants access or denies access to the UE based on the retrieved authorization information. The RBS is particularly useful for controlling access through small cells with limited capacity. |
| US08401545B2 |
Dropped call re-establishment system with inter-network capabilites
In a communication system comprising multiple networks, a system is provided for re-establishing a dropped call, involving subscribers of possibly different networks, between a user A who has been unintentionally-disconnected from a communication network and a user B who is the other party to the call. The system includes a database, a detection task module, re-establishment task modules and a task manager module. The call is re-established after complete tear-down of the dropped call in both users' networks. |
| US08401543B2 |
Power switching for electronic device test equipment
An apparatus, system and method are provided for testing a battery-powered electronic device-under-test in a transport frame engaged with a test fixture. A transport frame power supply is arranged to provide power to the DUT in a pre-testing stage. A switching circuit is arranged to switch from the transport frame power supply to a test fixture power supply in response to receiving a power switching signal indicating satisfaction of a pre-testing condition. Power from the test fixture power supply can then be switched back to the first transport frame, or to a second transport frame, to begin testing a second DUT. The ability to start a DUT test without having to wait for the DUT to boot-up in the test fixture reduces test time and increases efficiency of use of test equipment. |
| US08401537B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for programming user-defined information into electronic devices
A device for programming user-defined information into an electronic device is provided. The programmer allows a user to program customized information, such as user-selected audio, video, or Internet access information into his or her programmable device. Such electronic devices include wireless telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The programmer allows a user to, among other things, customize the device to suit his or her particular taste. |
| US08401534B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method for controlling the same
A mobile communication terminal and a method for controlling the mobile communication terminal are discussed. According to an embodiment, the mobile communication terminal includes at least two memories to store data; and a controller, wherein if the controller loses its control authority for one of the at least two memories while certain data is read and processed from the one of the at least two memories, the controller reads and processes the same certain data or related data stored in another one of the at least two memories. |
| US08401531B2 |
Messaging service subscription
A messaging service system, including a call component for receiving a voice call from a caller and transmitting call data associated with the call, the call data including caller identification (ID) data; and a subscription server for receiving the call data, causing the call component to send a subscription acceptance message to the caller, and storing the caller ID data in association with data representing a messaging service identified by the called number of the call data. |
| US08401530B2 |
System for multimedia content-assisted trigger location, and service methods thereof
Disclosed is a mobile marketing and advertising based system comprised of a database, a mobile device, a trigger location (primary physical location), a secondary location in a favorable proximity to the trigger location and a means for providing multimedia content from the database to the mobile device. |
| US08401529B1 |
Sponsored keyword usage in voice communication
A server computer is provided comprising a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, identifies at least one keyword based on one of a first communication device and a second communication device and transmits the at least one keyword to the first communication device. The server computer also analyzes a voice traffic between the first communication device and the second communication device to determine whether the at least one keyword occurs in the voice traffic. When the at least one keyword is determined to occur in the voice traffic, the server computer sends a confirmation message to the first communication device. |
| US08401527B2 |
Method of simulating communication
A method of simulating a conversation includes providing at least one pre-programmed conversational script on a storage device; selecting the at least one pre-programmed conversational script for playback on the mobile communications device at a predetermined time; receiving an incoming communications alert on the mobile communications device; reciting the selected at least one pre-programmed conversational script on the mobile communications device upon responding to the incoming communications alert; and simulating an authentic conversation through the mobile communications device using the at least one pre-programmed conversational script. |
| US08401526B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a password reset feature
A method for providing a voicemail password reset feature can include receiving a password reset request message (220) from a mobile device (118) at a voicemail system (102), resetting a current password to a default password (222) at the voicemail system (102), and sending a response message request (224) to a short message service center (122). The response message request can include a request to generate a response message that includes the default password. The method can further include generating the response message at the short message center (122) and sending the response message (226) to the mobile device (118), wherein the response message includes the default password. A system for providing a voicemail password reset feature and a computer-readable medium for initiating a voicemail password reset from a mobile device (118). |
| US08401523B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling quality of service of master bluetooth terminal in piconet
An apparatus for controlling Quality of Service (QoS) of a master Bluetooth® terminal in a piconet. A file-specific band setting unit sets information about files and information about bandwidths set for the files, which are stored in the master Bluetooth® terminal, for a content meta database. A QoS controller checks the content meta database when an arbitrary slave Bluetooth® terminal requests file download service, and provides the set bandwidth information of the corresponding file. A balancing Bluetooth® Network Encapsulation Protocol (BNEP) creates a virtual interface when the slave Bluetooth® terminal is accessed, and sets a bandwidth of the virtual interface, which is set for the slave Bluetooth® terminal requesting the download service, to a bandwidth of the corresponding file when the set bandwidth information of the file for which the download service is requested is received from the QoS controller, and provides the download service to the slave Bluetooth® terminal. |
| US08401513B2 |
Proximity sensor, in particular microphone for reception of sound signals in the human audible sound range, with ultrasonic proximity estimation
Proximity sensor, particularly for usage in an electronic mobile device, comprising at least one acoustic transducer adapted for receiving acoustic signals at least in parts of the frequency range of human audible sound and emitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals for proximity estimation. The acoustic transducer preferably is a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) microphone. Further, a method in an electronic device comprising an acoustic transducer is provided comprising the steps of generating at least one electric signal in the frequency range of ultrasonic sound, emitting at least one ultrasonic signal by means of the acoustic transducer; receiving at least one ultrasonic signal by means of the acoustic transducer; deducing from the at least one emitted ultrasonic signal and the at least one received ultrasonic signal at least the delay between emission of the emitted ultrasonic signal and reception of the corresponding ultrasonic signal. |
| US08401512B2 |
Compact high linearity MMIC based FET resistive mixer
A MMIC (microwave monolithic integrated circuit) based FET mixer and method for the same is provided. In particular, adjacent transistors, such as FETs (field effect transistors) share terminals reducing physical layout separation and interconnections. A smaller die size is realized with the improved system geometry herein provided. |
| US08401511B2 |
Current-mode wireless receiver and reception method thereof
A current-mode wireless receiver includes a pre-processor to receive a voltage-mode input signal and output a current-mode pre-processed signal corresponding to the voltage-mode input signal, a mixer to perform frequency down-conversion upon the current-mode pre-processed signal to generate a current-mode frequency down-converted signal, and an amplifier to amplify the current-mode frequency down-converted signal to generate a current-mode output signal. A method of wireless reception is also disclosed. |
| US08401506B2 |
Method and system for testing the radiation performance of wireless terminal based on data mode
The invention provides a method and system for the wireless terminal radiation performance test based on a data mode, and wherein, the method comprises: building a human body model, in which the upper limb of the model holds the device under test at a predefined distance in front of the head of the model; taking the antenna of the device under test as the origin to build a spherical coordinate and selecting a testing point in the spherical coordinate; placing the model under the circumstance of a full-anechoic chamber, enabling the device under test to work in a data mode, and collecting the total radiated power at the testing point in the spherical placement system using the testing antenna, so as to obtain the total radiated power of the device under test. Through using the invention, the performance effect of human body coupling on the mobile terminal in a data mode could be reflected truly. It has higher authenticity and is easy to use. |
| US08401503B2 |
Dual-loop automatic frequency control for wireless communication
Techniques for performing frequency control using dual-loop automatic frequency control (AFC) are described. The dual-loop AFC includes an inner loop that corrects short-term frequency variations (e.g., due to Doppler effect) and an outer loop that corrects long-term frequency variations (e.g., due to component tolerances and temperature variations). In one design, a first inner loop is implemented for frequency control of a first system (e.g., a broadcast system), a second inner loop is implemented for frequency control of a second system (e.g., a cellular system), and at least one outer loop is implemented for adjusting a reference frequency used to receive signals from the first and second systems. Each inner loop estimates and corrects the frequency error in an input signal for the associated system and may be enabled when receiving the input signal from the system. The reference frequency may be used for frequency downconversion, sampling and/or other purposes. |
| US08401502B2 |
Method and system for a control scheme on power and common-mode voltage reduction for a transmitter
Provided is a method and system for controlling current characteristics in a transceiver having a transmitter. The transmitter includes a plurality of current cells. Each cell is configurable for operating in different modes. The method includes determining a first probability associated with transmitting data at a particular symbolic level and determining a second probability associated with each cell being used during a transmission at the particular symbolic level. Next, one of the modes for each cell is selected in accordance with anticipated performance requirements. An average current of the transmitter is then calculated based upon the determined first and second probabilities and the selected modes. |
| US08401501B2 |
Transmit power management for a communication device and method for use therewith
In integrated circuit includes a processing module that determines a selected one of the plurality of power modes based on a function being currently performed by at least one non-transceiver module of a host device, and generates a power mode signal based on the selected one of the plurality of power modes. An RF transmitter generates a transmit signal at a selected one of the plurality of operating power levels based on the power mode signal and that operates from at least one transmitter power supply signal generated and selected by a power management circuit in response to the power mode signal. |
| US08401499B2 |
Baseband-derived RF digital predistortion
A baseband-derived RF predistortion system using a lookup table having coefficients extracted at baseband and then applied at RF by means of a vector modulator. The architecture combines the narrowband advantage of envelope predistortion with the accuracy of baseband predistortion, and including compensation for memory effects. A polynomial-based alternative is also described. |
| US08401496B2 |
Semiconductor antenna switch
A semiconductor antenna switch has an antenna terminal, a transmission terminal and a reception terminal. The antenna switch is capable of reducing harmonic distortion even though it includes field effect transistors formed over a silicon substrate. A shunt transistor including a plurality of series-connected field effect transistors is connected between he transmission terminal and a common terminal, such as a common terminal, which may be an electrical ground. Off capacitances and/or gate widths of a plurality of the series-connected field effect transistors increase monotonically in the direction from the common terminal to the transmission terminal, or equivalently, decrease monotonically in the direction from the transmission terminal to the common terminal. |
| US08401491B2 |
Basestation maintenance systems and method
A method and system for maintaining a basestation system is provided. The basestation includes a basestation module. The system includes a translating system for translating at least a portion of the basestation module between a first position and a second position. The system includes a connection module for detachably connecting to the portion of the basestation module when the portion of the basestation circuitry is at the second position. |
| US08401488B2 |
Transient RF detector and recorder
A portable device for detecting a radio frequency transmission of electromagnetic radiation includes a housing; a controller situated within the housing; memory communicatively connected to the controller; an antenna connected to the controller and configured to receive the radio frequency transmission; and an audio-generating component connected to the controller. The radio frequency transmission of the electromagnetic radiation is harmful to an electrical device and is from a transient electromagnetic device (TED) threat source. The controller is operative for sensing magnitude, duration, and/or repetition of the radio frequency transmission; identifying a class of the radio frequency transmission based on one of the magnitude, duration, and repetition associated with the radio frequency transmission; and causing the audio-generating component to output tones to provide aural discrimination of an identified class of the radio frequency transmission received by the portable device. The identified class is a transient electromagnetic pulse signal from the TED source. |
| US08401484B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, computer program, and wireless communication system
A wireless communication apparatus includes: a first wireless communication section performing wireless communication on the basis of a first communication mode; a second wireless communication section performing wireless communication on the basis of a second communication mode using a different frequency band from the first communication mode; a beam learning signal generation section generating a beam learning signal for specifying a beam pattern at the time of the communication based on the second communication mode and transmitting the beam learning signal from the second wireless communication section; a response information acquisition section acquiring response information responding to the transmitted beam learning signal; and a preliminary information generation section generating preliminary information so as not to cause interference among a plurality of wireless communications using the second communication mode on the basis of the response information and transmitting the preliminary information from the first wireless communication section. |
| US08401483B2 |
Apparatus and method for wireless communication via at least one of directional and omni-direction antennas
Techniques for using at least one of omni-directional and directional antennas for communication are described. A station may be equipped antenna elements selectable for use as an omni-directional antenna or one or more directional antennas. The station may select the omni-directional antenna or a directional antenna for use for communication based on various factors such as, e.g., whether the location or direction of a target station for communication is known, whether control frames or data frames are being exchanged, etc. |
| US08401481B1 |
Increased wireless communication transmissions in heterogeneous networks
A wireless communication system comprises a macrocell base station and a communication control system, wherein picocell base stations inhibit wireless communications during a first set of time slots and transfer the wireless communications during a second set of the time slots. The macrocell base station is configured to transfer wireless communication signals at a first power level to a plurality of wireless communication devices during the first set of the time slots. The communication control system configured to determine a quantity of the wireless communication devices that are within a distance threshold of the macrocell base station. The macrocell base station is configured to transfer additional wireless communication signals at a second power level during the second set of the time slots to at least some of the wireless communication devices if the quantity exceeds a quantity threshold. |
| US08401476B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for configuration automation
Methods and apparatuses for automated configuring of user preferences. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to operate a data processing system, includes: detecting whether or not a portable device is connected to the data processing system; and automatically configuring one or more user preferences of the data processing system according to an identity of the portable device in response to a change in whether or not the portable device is connected to the data processing system. In one aspect of the present invention, call forwarding of at least one of a land line phone and a mobile phone is automatically configured when the mobile phone is brought close to the land line phone or when the mobile phone is taken away from the land line phone. |
| US08401473B2 |
Apparatuses and methods that facilitate the transfer of power and information among electrical devices
The present invention is directed to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer readable media that can facilitate the transfer of power between at least two electrical devices. At least one of the electrical devices is preferably a battery operated device. The present invention may also be used to facilitate the transfer of information among electrical devices. For example, the present invention may be used to automatically pair two Bluetooth devices together. |
| US08401469B2 |
Shield for use with a computing device that receives an inductive signal transmission
Embodiments described herein include a computing device that is capable of inductive signal transfer with other computing devices. Such computing devices are provided a shield that protects the device and other components from electromagnetic interference and unwanted electrical affects resulting from the inductive signal transfer. |
| US08401465B2 |
Relay frame structure for supporting transparent and bidirectional relays
A method for transmitting data includes receiving at a first relay station first data from a parent station during a downlink period comprising a plurality of downlink zones. A network coding zone is one of the plurality of downlink zones and is located at an end of the downlink period, and the first data is received in at least one of the plurality of downlink zones other than the network coding zone. The method further includes receiving at the first relay station from a child station, second data during an uplink zone, and transmitting third data by the first relay station to the child station, during the network coding zone using a resource. The method further includes transmitting the third data to the parent station, during the network coding zone, using the resource. The third data results from the first data being effectively logically XOR-ed to the second data. |
| US08401463B2 |
Relay station, radio communication system, and control method of relay station
A relay station for relaying a radio communication between a radio terminal and a base station includes a relay standby unit configured to, in a relay standby state, receive a connection request transmitted from the radio terminal to the base station in response to broadcast information from the base station; a connection request detector configured to, in a relay standby state, detect the connection request transmitted from the radio terminal to the base station; and a relay operation unit configured to relay a radio communication between the radio terminal and the base station when the relay station shifts from the relay standby state to a relay operation state in response to the connection request detected by the connection request detector in the relay standby state. |
| US08401460B2 |
Transmitting sports and entertainment data to wireless hand held devices over a telecommunications network
A method and system for wirelessly providing venue-based data to one or more wireless hand held devices. Venue-based data can be acquired from one or more venues. The venue-based data can be authenticated and wirelessly transmitted to one or more hand held devices through one or more wireless telecommunications networks, in response to authenticating the venue-based data and/or the hand held device(s) and/or a user of the hand held device(s), in order to permit the venue-based data to be accessible via one or more hand held devices at locations remote from the venue(s). |
| US08401458B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a reversing feeding unit
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a reverse-feeding unit. The reverse-feeding unit includes a frame which forms a first feeding path along which a printing medium is fed and a second feeding path which is branched off from the first feeding path, a guide plate which rotates between a first position in which the printing medium fed along the first feeding path is supported and a second position in which the supported printing medium is directed towards the second feeding path, and a plate driving unit which comprises an actuator which actuates the guide plate, a driving source which drives the actuator, and an electronic clutch which selectively transmits a driving force of the driving source to the actuator. |
| US08401451B2 |
Heating fixing roller and process for producing the heating fixing roller
Provided is a heating fixing roller which includes a tubular base member and a fluororesin layer provided on an outer circumferential surface of the base member directly or through an adhesive layer, the heating fixing roller being characterized in that the fluororesin layer contains phosphorus-doped tin oxide. The heating fixing roller has a surface resistance capable of stably and effectively preventing the occurrence of electrostatic offsets, and also has an excellent releasing property. Also provided is a process for producing the heating fixing roller, characterized by including the steps of applying a fluororesin dispersion containing an aqueous dispersion of phosphorus-doped tin oxide onto a tubular base member or an adhesive layer disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular base member, and then sintering the fluororesin. |
| US08401443B2 |
Toner-particle bearing roller, developing device, and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a toner particle-bearing roller that bears toner particles on its surface and develops a latent image borne by an image-bearing member with those toner particles, the toner particle-bearing roller has a projection portion disposed on its surface, the projection portion having a top surface having a flat portion, and a width of the top surface being equal to or more than a volume average particle diameter of the toner particles. |
| US08401441B2 |
Cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and an electroconductive developer layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer deposited on the developer carrying member. A part of the developer layer thickness regulating member is directly contactable to the main assembly electrical contact. |
| US08401437B2 |
Toner cartridges for an image forming device
The present application is directed to toner cartridges for use with image forming devices. The cartridge may include an interior to contain toner that is transferred to the image forming device and used during image formation. The cartridge may include one or more engagement features that interact with the image forming device during insertion. The engagement features may include one or more alignment features that align the cartridge during insertion into the image forming device. The engagement features may also include one or more functional features that allow the cartridge to effectively transfer the toner to the image forming device. |
| US08401435B2 |
Developer supplying apparatus
A developer supply apparatus includes an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for discharging developer from the accommodating portion; a first feeding member, provided in the accommodating portion, for feeding the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion from one end of the accommodating portion toward the other end; and second feeding member, provided at a position remoter from the discharge opening than the first feeding member, for feeding the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion from the one end of the accommodating portion toward the other end; wherein a feeding power of the second feeding member per unit drive time is higher than that of the first feeding member. |
| US08401434B2 |
Powder storage device and image forming apparatus using the same
A powder storage device that stores powder to be supplied or recovered powder, includes: a storage container that is extractably mounted on a container receiver, and in which powder to be supplied or recovered powder is stored; an opening/closing door that opens and closes the container receiver; and an opening/closing restricting mechanism that restricts a closing operation of the opening/closing door, and the opening/closing restricting mechanism includes: a restricting member as defined herein; and a restricted member as defined herein. |
| US08401433B2 |
Methods for dual drive operation of an auger in a development station
Methods for operating a development station are provided. In one aspect a method comprises the steps of: applying a first force at a first end of an auger and a second force at a second end of the auger with the first force and the second force being sufficient to rotate the auger against a drag exerted by the developer and the replenishment toner. Both the first force and the second force are less than a third force applied to a single driven end of an alternative auger to rotate the alternative auger against the drag and wherein the auger has a first yield strength at the first end and a second yield strength at the second end that are less than a third yield strength required to receive the third force at the driven end of the alternative auger. |
| US08401428B2 |
Fixing device having a thermistor and a support member for supporting the thermistor
A fixing device is mounted on a main casing of an image forming apparatus. A heating member contacts a recording medium to apply heat thereto while rotating. A heating member includes a roller that rotates about an axis. A frame supports the heating member and includes a frame fixing part that is fixed to the main casing to mount the frame on the main casing. A detecting unit opposes the heating member in an opposing direction to detect a temperature of the heating member and is separated from the heating member. A support member supports the detecting unit. A position of the support member in the opposing direction with respect to the frame is determined at a position closer to the frame fixing unit than the detecting unit. A position of the support member in an axial direction of the roller with respect to the frame is determined at a same position as the detecting unit in the axial direction. |
| US08401422B2 |
Cleaning apparatus and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is a cleaning apparatus including: a blade and a roller to remove the residual toner on the image carrier, the blade and the roller provided on a downstream side of a rotating direction of the image carrier than a transfer position of the toner image; a scraper to remove toner attached to the roller; and a first controlling section to control movement of the residual toner removed by the blade and the roller, the first controlling section is provided on an upstream side of the rotating direction of the image carrier than the blade and on a downstream side of the rotating direction of the image carrier than the roller and the scraper, and the first controlling section is provided facing the image carrier with a certain area provided in between to form an accumulating section to accumulate residual toner in the certain area. |
| US08401421B2 |
Charging device, method for producing charging device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A charging device includes: a charging component, and a cleaning member for the charging component, containing a substrate and an elastic layer that contains a silicone oil and is arranged in a spiral form on an outer surface of the substrate, the charging device being satisfying a following formula: A≦6 atomic % wherein A is a maximum value of the contents of Si atom constituting a siloxane skeleton with respect to total atoms at a contact part where the charging component is brought into contact with the elastic layer and at a non-contact part where the charging component is not brought into contact with the elastic layer, in which the contents of Si atom are obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of a surface of the charging component after preparing the elastic layer of the cleaning member for the charging component in an initial state and the charging component in an initial state to bring into contact with each other for 24 hours. |
| US08401417B2 |
Power supply device, heating unit using same, and image forming apparatus using said heating unit
The invention reduces loss produced when a power supply device supplies power to a fixing unit of a copier, thereby contributing to a reduction in size, a saving in terms of energy and lower cost. To achieve this, it is arranged so that it is possible to vary the capacitance of a resonant capacitor C200 that constructs a resonant circuit together with a coil 71 through which a high-frequency current flows in order to produce an induced electromotive force in an electrically conductive heating element. In an interval in which a tail current flows after closure of an IGBT 401 that switches the coil current, the capacitance of the resonant capacitor C200 of a switching element SW402 is increased, thereby suppressing a rise in voltage Vce of the IGBT 40 over a fixed interval of time. As a result, loss ascribable to the tail current is reduced. |
| US08401413B2 |
Image forming device having a moving section
Disclosed is an image forming device which can prevent occurrence of damage on the surface of a fixing roller or a fixing belt due to the contact of the end of a sheet with the fixing roller or fixing belt. The image forming device, for transferring a toner image to a sheet fed out from a sheet feed section and fixing the toner image to the sheet by pressing the sheet carrying the toner image at a fixing section, includes a moving section for moving the sheet and or the fixing section in the direction at right angles to the traveling direction of the sheet within a preset moving range, the moving section being controlled based on a preset operation pattern. |
| US08401412B2 |
Conveyance speed difference maintaining heat and pressure fixing system
A fixing apparatus includes a fixing mechanism having a first motor, and a conveyance mechanism arranged downstream of the fixing mechanism having a second motor. A motor control section is provided to control sheet conveyance speeds V1 and V2 in the respective fixing and conveyance mechanisms to maintain a difference therebetween within a prescribed range by adjusting a number of rotations of one of the first and second motors. |
| US08401406B2 |
Image forming apparatus with forced toner consumption
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member into a developer image; a transferring device for transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material; a temperature detecting sensor in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for detecting a temperature; and a controller for controlling a forced consumption operation in which toner is forcedly consumed by the developing device without transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto the transfer material. The controller is capable of executing the forced consumption operation when toner consumption is below a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is higher with higher temperature. |
| US08401402B2 |
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 such as intersymbol interference. 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. |
| US08401401B2 |
Polarization-diverse, heterodyne optical receiving system
To provide a polarization-diverse, heterodyne optical receiving system, a light signal is transmitted into an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors that are distinguishable using a multiplexing arrangement. A return light signal from the optical fiber is mixed with an optical local oscillator light signal, where the mixing outputs plural output signal portions having different polarizations. A birefringence of a particular optical sensor is determined based on the plural signal portions. |
| US08401391B2 |
Channel power management in a branched optical communication system
Channel power management may be achieved in a branched optical communication system such that uniform loading is provided across branch channels on a branch drop path without passing information signals that are not intended for the branch terminal to the branch drop path. In general, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure reuses one or more loading signals (e.g., noise bands) from the branch add path to maintain uniform loading in the branch drop path of the same branch. The system and method thus prevents trunk channels from being dropped to a branch terminal when those trunk channels are not intended for the branch terminal. |
| US08401387B2 |
Optical network interface devices and methods
A system comprises an optical network terminal (ONT) that provides an interface to a passive optical network (PON). The ONT is coupled to a subscriber gateway device via at least one cable. The ONT may be located outside a subscriber premises while the subscriber gateway device may be located within the subscriber premises. The ONT converts optical signals received from PON to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any MAC layer functions. The subscriber gateway device includes an optical media access control (MAC) unit that converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals and a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices. In this manner the MAC and gateway layer functions are relocated from the ONT to the subscriber gateway device. |
| US08401386B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus
There is provided an optical transmission apparatus including: a plurality of wavelength selective switches including input ports, a transmission port, and monitor port used to output a light switched so that the light from the input port is monitored; a multiplexer to combine the lights output from the transmission ports of the plurality of wavelength selective switches; a monitor to monitor whether a same wavelength of the light output from the monitor port exists in wavelengths of the lights combined by the multiplexer; and a controller to control the wavelength selective switch so as to output, from the transmission port, the light switched to the monitor port in case that the same wavelength of the light output from the monitor port is absent in wavelengths of the lights combined by the multiplexer, based on a monitor result by the monitor. |
| US08401385B2 |
Optically switched communication network
A large communication network suitable for nationwide or worldwide utilization. The present invention overthrows the conventional packet switching technologies with an all-optical network. The invention uses tunable laser sources to generate large number of highly stable narrow-band optical signals, each serving as a communication channel. With packet processing replaced by all-optical channels, the network become highly secure and scalable while harnessing the virtually unlimited capacity of fiber-optic. A large number of nodes (called area code nodes) are connected with all-fiber-optic links with all-optical switches. A routing algorithm provides one or more communication links from each area code node to every other area code node so that information never has to change carrier wavelength as it travels the network. Each area code node contains circuits that are provided to connect individual users to the network. |
| US08401382B2 |
Passive optical network protection method, switchover control device, and passive optical network protection system
The present invention discloses a passive optical network (PON) protection method, a switchover control device, and a PON protection system. In embodiments of the present invention, a protection optical line terminal (OLT) is connected to optical links of at least two working OLTs through the switchover control device; when a working OLT or working optical link fails, the switchover control device replaces the working OLT through the protection optical link, thus ensuring smooth communication. In addition, by using the networking mode of multiple working OLTs and one protection OLT, the embodiments of the present invention greatly saves the networking cost and facilitates the application of the PON technology. |
| US08401374B2 |
Apparatus and method of managing data stored in a data storage unit to ensure a storage space
An apparatus and method of managing data stored in a data storage unit is provided. Data stored in the storage unit is classified into data to be preserved and deletable data. The data is preserved or deleted on the basis of preservation setting and a preservation period of the data in the storage unit. The preserving and deleting of the data may be automatically or manually performed based on the remaining storage capacity of the storage unit. |
| US08401370B2 |
Application tracks in audio/video containers
Techniques for providing application tracks in a media data container are described. An application descriptor may be extracted from a coded bitstream. The coded bitstream comprises media data to be played by a media presentation system. The application descriptor identifies an application archive (i) that is retrievable by the media presentation system from one or more sources and (ii) that is required by the media presentation system at a set media time associated with the media data. While playing the media data, the media presentation system causes retrieving all of the application archive from the one or more sources before the set media time. |
| US08401366B2 |
Method and apparatus for downloading ancillary program data to a DVR
A method and apparatus for downloading ancillary program data to a DVR. An embodiment allows multimedia device users to select programs to record or download movie or music over a network, such as the Internet, from a content provider. The system automatically downloads and stores ancillary program data that is directly related to, and associated with, a program that has been selected for recording or content requested for download. When a user selects a program to view the user is offered the opportunity to browse ancillary program data associated with the program and view an ancillary program data. The service can charge the content provider or an advertiser for each time their ancillary program data is viewed by a user. The ancillary programming is deleted when the associated recorded program is deleted. |
| US08401363B2 |
Data playback device, control method therefor, computer program, and recording medium
A data playback device comprising a data reader which reads out moving image data from a storage device that stores the moving image data, a speed detector which detects a reading speed of the moving image data from the storage device, a data rate detector which detects a data rate of the moving image data in playback, a playback speed designation acceptance unit which accepts designation of a playback speed of the moving image data and a controller which controls reading of the moving image data by the data reader on the basis of the reading speed, the data rate, and the designated playback speed. |
| US08401362B2 |
Indication of trickplay availability for selected multimedia stream
A user is able to select a multimedia stream from a plurality of multimedia streams available at a multimedia receiver. The availability of one or more trickplay features for the selected multimedia stream is determined in response to the selection of the multimedia stream. A visual indicator, an audible indicator, or both are selectively provided for display/output based on the determined availability status of the corresponding trickplay feature. The selective provision of a trickplay indicator can include providing a first trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is available and providing a second, different trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is unavailable. Alternately, the selective provision of a trickplay indicator includes providing the trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is unavailable and omitting provision of the trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is available, or vice versa. |
| US08401358B2 |
Attachment part and electronic apparatus
An attachment part includes: a base portion that has a through hole through which a lead of an optical component passes; and a plurality of holding portions that are provided in the base portion, that face each other, and that hold a chassis of the optical component. |
| US08401357B2 |
Telecommunications connection cabinet
A telecommunications cabinet includes a cabinet housing; a fiber optic splitter; a plurality of spools disposed on a cable management surface; a panel oriented at a fixed angle relative to the access opening so that the panel extends laterally and rearwardly between the access opening and the cable management surface; and a plurality of adapters disposed on the panel. |
| US08401356B2 |
Optical connector assembling jig and optical connector assembling method
An optical connector assembling jig and an optical connector assembling method includes an optical connection. The optical connector assembling jig includes a base and a guide. The base is provided in a longitudinal direction with an accommodation groove for accommodating an optical fiber, and a rear pressing member for restraining a rear part of the optical fiber accommodated in the accommodation groove. The rear part is set apart from an embedded fiber. The guide has a front holding portion for holding a front part of the optical fiber accommodated in the accommodation groove. The front part is near the embedded fiber, and the guide is capable of moving in the longitudinal direction. Moving the base toward the optical connector causes the intermediate section of the optical fiber to separate from the accommodation groove and bend. By moving the base further toward the optical connector, a buffered fiber in the optical fiber can be connected to the embedded fiber. |
| US08401355B2 |
Hydrogen-resistant optical fiber/grating structure suitable for use in downhole sensor applications
A hydrogen-resistant optical fiber particularly well-suitable for downhole applications comprises a relatively thick pure silica core and a depressed-index cladding layer. Interposed between the depressed-index cladding layer and the core is a relatively thin germanium-doped interface. By maintaining a proper relationship between the pure silica core diameter and the thickness of the germanium-doped interface, a majority (preferably, more than 65%) of the propagating signal can be confined within the pure silica core and, therefore, be protected from hydrogen-induced attenuation problems associated with the presence of germanium (as is common in downhole fiber applications). The hydrogen-resistant fiber of the present invention can be formed to include one or more Bragg gratings within the germanium-doped interface, useful for sensing applications. |
| US08401354B2 |
Fiber optic security systems and methods of using the same
A fiber optic security system is provided. The fiber optic security system includes at least one length of fiber optic cable affixed to at least one item to be monitored using the fiber optic security system. The fiber optic security system also includes at least one local control node, the at least one local control node including at least one light source for generating and transmitting light through the at least one length of fiber optic cable, and the at least one local control node monitoring a status of the light. The fiber optic security system also includes a remote control unit for receiving information from the at least one local control node regarding the status of the light. |
| US08401353B2 |
Optical fiber cable assembly
The present invention provides optical fiber communication cable assemblies useful for separating and conveying individual fibers from a multiple optical fiber cable to connectors in a protective manner. The optical fiber cable assembly is suitable for outdoor use and includes a (i) cable with multiple optical fibers; (ii) a furcation unit attached to the cable for directing individual optical fibers from the cable to furcation legs; and (iii) multiple furcation legs receiving at least one of the optical fibers. The furcation legs include (i) a buffer tube surrounding the optical fiber; (ii) strength members surrounding the buffer tube; and (iii) a jacket surrounding the strength members. The furcation legs typically exhibit a tensile rating of at least about 50 pounds (lbf), more typically 100 pounds (lbf) or more. Moreover, the furcation legs typically exhibit total shrinkage of less than about 2 percent when cycled from +23° C. to −40° C. to +70° C. to −40° C. |
| US08401351B2 |
90-degree hybrid
The present invention provides a 90-degree hybrid capable of miniaturization and also capable of a stable operation in a wide band. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a PLC-type 90-degree hybrid comprises: a PLC chip having a planar lightwave circuit formed therein; and a 90-degree hybrid circuit formed in the planar lightwave circuit, mixing a modulated signal light and an LO light to separate the signal light into quadrature components I and Q, and outputting the same. The 90-degree hybrid circuit includes: two Y-branch couplers each branching the signal light and the LO light; and two wavelength-independent directional couplers which cause LO lights passing through two paths and signal lights passing through two paths to interfere with each other, respectively. The above-described paths include waveguides having mutually inverted shapes and waveguides having an identical shape, and have a shape substantially symmetrical with respect to the signal light. |
| US08401350B2 |
Optical resonator, and fluid optical sensor employing an optical resonator
There is provided an optical resonator including: N individual optical waveguide paths of line segment shape disposed in a common flat-plane so as to intersect at a single intersection region, wherein N is an integer of 2 or more; curved optical waveguide paths connecting respective portions of the optical waveguide paths that extend towards the outside from the intersection region, wherein for a first to a 2Nth optical waveguide path portions in a clockwise direction, connection is made between end portions at the opposite side to the intersection region of the (2i−1)th to 2ith optical waveguide path portions, wherein i is an integer of 1 to N; and an optical coupler that couples light input or output perpendicular to the flat-plane with the optical waveguide paths, the optical coupler being formed in a region containing the intersection region where the optical waveguide paths are connected. |
| US08401349B2 |
Method for providing an automated patch panel
An approach is provided for an automated patch panel. A command is received to change a connection state of an optic patch cord. A robotic arm is controlled to change the connection state of the optic patch cord with respect to a particular port of a plurality of ports disposed about a disk-shaped face of a docking panel. |
| US08401348B2 |
Methods and apparatus for constructing large wavelength selective switches using parallelism
Optical networks are increasingly employing optical network nodes having multiple interfaces to allow a node to direct optical signals received at any interface to any other interface connected to the node. Constructing a larger wavelength selective switching (WSS) module used in such a node can be complex and expensive. A method an apparatus for constructing a large WSS using parallelism is provided. In example embodiments, a larger WSS may include multiple parallel non-cascaded smaller WSSs and an optical coupler configured to optically couple the multiple parallel, non-cascaded smaller WSSs. This technique may be used to construct both N×1 and 1×N WSSs. Because the technique employs multiple parallel, non-cascaded WSSs, all inputs of a larger N×1 WSS and all outputs of a larger 1×N WSS are available receive or transmit external signals rather than being rather than being unavailable due to, for example, cascading smaller WSS devices together. |
| US08401347B2 |
Photoelectric composite wiring module and method for manufacturing the same
A photoelectric composite wiring module includes a circuit substrate, an optical device, an LSI (device) having a driver and an amplifier for the optical device, and a thin film wiring layer having an electrical wiring. The optical device is connected with the LSI by means of the electrical wiring. The optical device is formed on the circuit substrate and optically coupled to an optical waveguide formed in the circuit substrate. The thin film wiring layer is formed on the optical device to ensure that the optical device is electrically connected with the electrical wiring of the thin film wiring layer. The LSI is mounted on and electrically connected with the thin film wiring layer. |
| US08401344B2 |
Semiconductor optical modulator and optical modulating apparatus
A semiconductor optical modulator that includes a first semiconductor optical waveguide having a laminated structure including a core layer, a first clad layer, a second clad layer, and a barrier layer, the first clad layer and the second clad layer being disposed below and above the core layer, the barrier layer being inserted between the second clad layer and the core layer; a second semiconductor optical waveguide having a laminated structure in which the second clad layer has a p-type semiconductor penetrating locally through a n-type semiconductor in a laminated direction in the laminated structure of the first semiconductor optical waveguide; a first electrode connected to the first clad layer of the first semiconductor optical waveguide; and a second electrode electrically connecting the second clad layer of the first semiconductor optical waveguide and the p-type semiconductor of the second clad layer of the second semiconductor optical waveguide. |
| US08401343B2 |
System and method for defining an augmented reality character in computer generated virtual reality using coded stickers
A system and method for defining an augmented reality character in a computer game having multiple players uses a portable cellular communications device having a camera. Tags are used comprising patterns which are scanned by the camera and transmitted to a game server. The pattern is translated by the server into an augmented reality item, being either a person or a character. The augmented reality item is transmitted to the camera and displayed to the gamer transposed over the object upon which the tag is placed. |
| US08401340B2 |
Image processing apparatus and coefficient learning apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit in which regression coefficient data is stored for each class on the basis of a tap in which a linear feature amount corresponding to a pixel of interest of first image data and a non-linear feature amount determined from the image data are used as elements; a classification unit configured to classify each of linear feature amounts of a plurality of items of input data of the input first image into a predetermined class; a reading unit configured to read the regression coefficient data; and a data generation unit configured to generate data of a second image obtained by making the first image have higher quality by performing a product-sum computation process by using the regression coefficient data read from the reading unit and elements of the tap of each of the plurality of items of input data of the input first image. |
| US08401338B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus, and method of controlling the same
The present invention provides an image processing apparatus for performing image processing of image data in which information specifying, on a first coordinate system, a position of a portion of interest in an image is recorded, including an image processing unit configured to perform rotation processing of the image data using a second coordinate system having an origin different from that of the first coordinate system, and a change unit configured to change the information specifying the position of the portion of interest in accordance with a rotation amount of the image data by the rotation processing such that an image of the portion of interest specified by the information specifying the position of the portion of interest after the rotation processing matches that before the rotation processing. |
| US08401330B2 |
No-reference spatial aliasing measure for digital image resizing
A method for detecting aliasing artifacts includes receiving a second image that has been converted from a first image and evaluating the second image using a computer to detect aliasing artifacts due to the conversion, where the evaluation is performed without reference to the first image. The second image is a different size than the first image The second image is evaluated by identifying patches in the image that are likely to contain strong directional energy with few distractions and to estimate a direction component for each of the identified patches. The total energy of each patch is partitioned into an estimated signal energy and an estimated aliasing energy. The estimated aliasing energy and the estimated signal energy of each of the identified patches are combined to obtain an estimate of the aliasing artifacts in the image. |
| US08401328B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a detection circuit configured to detect an image, a luminance correction circuit configured to determine luminance of the detected image and to execute correction for reducing a luminance variation in the detected image, and an extraction circuit configured to extract feature amount data from the detected image corrected by the correction circuit for use in authentication processing. |
| US08401320B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for compressing image data, includes: a compression unit that reduces data into a predetermined bit number per band of image data so as to satisfy a condition related to a predetermined compression and compresses the reduced data; a specifying unit that specifies a minimum bit number among the predetermined bit numbers applied to the bands and specifies bands which are not compressed by the minimum bit number; and a re-compression unit that performs re-compression on the specified bands so that the data is compressed by the minimum bit number. |
| US08401319B2 |
System and method for encoding and decoding using texture replacement
The invention provides devices and methods that process images. The invention processes a received signal representing information of texture and information of an image, which has the texture removed from at least one region. The image information is encoded to obtain encoded information of the image. An output signal is generated representing the texture information and the encoded image information. In another embodiment, the invention synthesizes texture based on the received texture information, decodes received image information, which is encoded, to obtain a decoded image, and then maps the synthesized texture onto the decoded image. |
| US08401318B2 |
Motion vector detecting apparatus, motion vector detecting method, and program
Generation of evaluation value information about a motion vector, extraction of candidates for the motion vector on the basis of the evaluation value information, and determination of the motion vector to be allocated from the candidates for the motion vector are performed. The possibility that a reference pixel a in a second frame is a candidate for a motion from a target point in a first frame is evaluated on the basis of pixel-value correlation information to generate an evaluation value table. A constant area is adaptively set around each of the target pixel and the reference pixel corresponding to each extracted candidate for the motion vector in accordance with the state of the continuity of a constant pixel value. The motion vector from the first frame to the second frame is allocated on the basis of the result of comparison between values calculated for the constant areas. |
| US08401314B2 |
Systems and methods for character correction in communication devices
A system and method for character error correction is provided, useful for a user of mobile appliances to produce written text with reduced errors. The system includes an interface, a word prediction engine, a statistical engine, an editing distance calculator, and a selector. A string of characters, known as the inputted word, may be entered into the mobile device via the interface. The word prediction engine may generate word candidates similar to the inputted word using fuzzy logic and user preferences generated from past user behavior. The statistical engine may generate variable error costs determined by the probability of erroneously inputting any given character. The editing distance calculator may determine the editing distance between the inputted word and each of the word candidates by grid comparison using the variable error costs. The selector may choose one or more preferred candidates from the word candidates using the editing distances. |
| US08401305B2 |
Contour-information extracting method by use of image processing, pattern model creating method in image processing, pattern model positioning method in image processing, image processing apparatus, image processing program, and computer readable recording medium
There is provided a pattern model creating method in image processing, which allows selection of an appropriate contour in accordance with an object image, the method being a pattern model creating method in image processing for positioning by searching an object to be searched that is similar to a pre-registered image out of an image to be searched by use of a pattern model corresponding to the registered image, the method including: extracting a plurality of edge points from the registered image; creating a plurality of continuous chains by coupling adjacent edge points among the plurality of extracted edge points; eliminating a chain with a length not larger than a predetermined length among the plurality of chains; selecting chains sequentially from the smallest chain among the remaining chains; and regarding aggregation of the selected chains as a contour extracted from the registered image, to construct a pattern model for positioning. |
| US08401299B2 |
Character line recognition method and character line recognition device
A character line recognition method for processing image data obtained by scanning a character line on a medium to recognize the character line may include processing the image data into monochrome binary format image data by using a predetermined binarization standard threshold; extracting character features from each character that composes the character line to calculate similarity with respect to standard character features; temporarily determining characters based on the similarity; calculating basic statistics of the similarity for all the characters which have been temporarily determined; and changing the binarization standard threshold based on the basic statistics and then returning to the processing the image data. |
| US08401293B2 |
Word recognition of text undergoing an OCR process
A method for identifying words in a textual image undergoing optical character recognition includes receiving a bitmap of an input image which includes textual lines that have been segmented by a plurality of chop lines. The chop lines are each associated with a confidence level reflecting a degree to which the respective chop line properly segments the textual line into individual characters. One or more words are identified in one of the textual lines based at least in part on the textual lines and a first subset of the plurality of chop lines which have a chop line confidence level above a first threshold value. If the first word is not associated with a sufficiently high word confidence level, at least a second word in the textual line is identified based at least in part on a second subset of the plurality of chop lines which have a confidence level above a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value. |
| US08401290B2 |
Method and system for processing to enhance digital images
A system reads a digital image that includes a set of pixels. The system determines a distribution of colors of the pixels of the digital image. Also, the system analyzes the distribution to identify a range of colors of a background of the digital image. Further, the system identifies pixels whose colors are within the identified range, and the system modifies the identified pixels to have a different color. |
| US08401289B2 |
Method for matching colors between two systems
A method for matching colors including comparing the appearance of a first white color associated with a first color imaging system and a second white color associated with a second color imaging system, wherein the tristimulus values of the first and second white color are similar; determining a fixed correction to the tristimulus values of the second white color to achieve a visual match to the first white color; measuring a first set of spectral values for a first color associated with the first color imaging system; determining a first set of tristimulus values from the first set of spectral values; measuring a second set of spectral values for a second color associated with the second color imaging system; determining a second set of tristimulus values from the second set of spectral values; applying a correction to the tristimulus values of the second color; determining a difference between the tristimulus value of the first color and the corrected tristimulus value of the second color; and adjusting the second color to reduce the difference. |
| US08401288B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for improved color statistic pruning for automatic color balance
Pixels from an image are sampled for gray world statistics. To avoid the effect of saturated regions, the color pixels are pruned based on predetermined criteria for individual and combined color channel values. If a predetermined percentage of the pixels are included in the gray world statistics, color channel gain is calculated and applied to the image for color balancing. |
| US08401286B2 |
Image detecting device and method
An image detecting device receives a video signal stream including at least one frame. Each frame includes rows of data, and each row of data has a plurality of pixels. The frame has an image portion and a blank portion. The image detecting device includes a characterizing unit and a searcher. The characterizing unit receives the pixels and determines pixel characterization values thereof. The searcher includes an image comparator and a blank comparator. The image comparator and the blank comparator evaluate the pixel characterization value of a current pixel to determine whether the current pixel belongs to the image portion or the blank portion. The searcher derives a position of the image portion based on determined results of the image comparator and the blank comparator. An image detecting method is also disclosed. |
| US08401284B2 |
Color correcting method and apparatus
Some embodiments provide a method of color correcting an image. Some such embodiments provide (1) a display area for displaying a modifiable graph correlating a first color attribute of the image to a set of second color attributes and (2) at least one tool that adjusts the graph in order to adjust color attributes in the image. The graph adjustment tool of some embodiments is a set of control points that specify the color correction adjustment over a parameterized curve representation of the graph. In some embodiments, the graphs are rasterized curves that are adjusted through the use of a Gaussian manipulator. The Gaussian manipulator distributes a second color attribute adjustment over a set of first color attribute values according to a Gaussian distribution. Moreover, some embodiments allow for the selective switching between the parameterized and rasterized curves or the control points and the Gaussian manipulator. |
| US08401283B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A learning unit is configured to perform Adaptive Boosting Error Correcting Output Coding learning using image feature values of a plurality of sample images each being assigned a class label to generate a multi-class classifier configured to output a multi-dimensional score vector corresponding to an input image. A registration unit is configured to input a register image to the multi-class classifier, and to register a multi-dimensional score vector corresponding to the input register image in association with identification information about the register image. A determination unit is configured to input an identification image to be identified to the multi-class classifier, and to determine a similarity between a multi-dimensional score vector corresponding to the input identification image and the registered multi-dimensional score vector corresponding to the register image. |
| US08401282B2 |
Method for training multi-class classifiers with active selection and binary feedback
A multi-class classifier is trained by selecting a query image from a set of active images based on a membership probability determined by the classifier, wherein the active images are unlabeled. A sample image is selected from a set of training image based on the membership probability of the query image, wherein the training images are labeled. The query image and the sample images are displayed to a user on an output device. A response from the user is obtained with an input device, wherein the response is a yes-match or a no-match. The query image with the label of the sample image is added to the training set if the yes-match is obtained, and otherwise repeating the selecting, displaying, and obtaining steps until a predetermined number of no-match is reached to obtain the multi-class classifier. |
| US08401275B2 |
Mobile robot with a head-based movement mapping scheme
A robotic system that includes a mobile robot and a remote input device. The input device may be a joystick that is used to move a camera and a mobile platform of the robot. The system may operate in a mode where the mobile platform moves in a camera reference coordinate system. The camera reference coordinate system is fixed to a viewing image provided by the camera so that movement of the robot corresponds to a direction viewed on a screen. This prevents disorientation during movement of the robot if the camera is panned across a viewing area. |
| US08401273B2 |
Apparatus for evaluating degradation of pattern features
A measurement tool apparatus for evaluating degradation of pattern features in a semiconductor device manufacturing process. The measurement tool apparatus detects variations in the patterns from SEM images thereof and extracts pattern edge points along the circumference of each pattern. The measurement tool apparatus compares the pattern edge points to corresponding edge points of an ideal shape so as to determine deviation of the patterns. Metrics are derived from analysis of the deviations. The measurement tool apparatus uses the metrics in calculating an index representative of the geometry of edge spokes of the pattern, an indicator of the orientation of the edge spokes, and/or anticipated effects of the edge spokes on device performance. |
| US08401264B2 |
Solid modeling based on volumetric scans
The geometry of an object is inferred from values of the signed distance sampled on a uniform grid to efficiently model objects based on data derived from imaging technology that is now ubiquitous in medical diagnostics. Techniques for automated segmentation convert imaging intensity to a signed distance function (SDF), and a voxel structure imposes a uniform sampling grid. Essential properties of the SDF are used to construct upper and lower bounds on the allowed variation in signed distance in 1, 2, and 3 (or more) dimensions. The bounds are combined to produce interval-valued extensions of the SDF, including a tight global extension and more computationally efficient local bounds that provide useful criteria for root exclusion/isolation, enabling modeling of the objects and other applications. |
| US08401255B2 |
Computer-assisted reconciliation of multiple image reads
A technique for reconciling two or more reads of an image data set. One or more computer implemented routines is employed to provide computer-assisted reconciliation (CAR) including resolution of discrepancies between the two or more reads. The computer-assisted reconciliation may optimally display the discrepancies, the concurrences and any associated information to a human reconciler, may resolve the discrepancies in a partially automated manner, or may resolve the discrepancies in a fully automated manner. The reconciled data may then be provided to an end user. |
| US08401254B2 |
Image search device and image search method
An object of the present invention is to provide an image search device and an image search method by which search efficiency is improved. The image search device includes a personal characteristic database (21) where images of individual multiple photographic subjects obtained by shooting by multiple cameras (10) are stored in the form of a database, a similarity search unit (22) that performs a similarity search by using a query image from the images of the individual multiple photographic subjects stored in the personal characteristic database (21), a query image generation unit (23) that generates a new query image by synthesizing, of the multiple images obtained by the similarity search unit (22), a correct image used as a criteria with another correct image or synthesizing the correct image used as the criteria with a negative-positive inverted incorrect image, and an image processing unit (24) that performs image processing for displaying the images retrieved by the similarity search unit (22) on a search terminal (30). |
| US08401252B2 |
Video retrieval system for human face content
A method and apparatus for video retrieval and cueing that automatically detects human faces in the video and identifies face-specific video frames so as to allow retrieval and viewing of person-specific video segments. In one embodiment, the method locates human faces in the video, stores the time stamps associated with each face, displays a single image associated with each face, matches each face against a database, computes face locations with respect to a common 3D coordinate system, and provides a means of displaying: 1) information retrieved from the database associated with a selected person or people, 2) path of travel associated with a selected person or people, 3) interaction graph of people in video, 4) video segments associated with each person and/or face. The method may also provide the ability to input and store text annotations associated with each person, face, and video segment, and the ability to enroll and remove people from database. The videos of non-human objects may be processed in a similar manner. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims. |
| US08401250B2 |
Detecting objects of interest in still images
A computer implemented method and system for detecting interest sections in a still image are provided. One or more sub images of the still image is subjected to segmentation. A gray scale version of interest sub images and/or a binary image version of the interest sub images are matched with a predefined template for filtering the interest sub images. Multiple prospective image sections comprising one or more of prospective interest sections and prospective near interest sections are determined by performing discriminative feature analyses of the filtered interest sub images using a gabor feature filter. The discriminative feature analyses are processed by a boosted cascade of classifiers. The boosted cascade of classifiers detects the interest sections in the still image from the prospective interest sections and the prospective near interest sections. The detected interest sections are subjected to a support vector machine classifier for further detecting interest sections. |
| US08401248B1 |
Method and system for measuring emotional and attentional response to dynamic digital media content
The present invention is a method and system to provide an automatic measurement of people's responses to dynamic digital media, based on changes in their facial expressions and attention to specific content. First, the method detects and tracks faces from the audience. It then localizes each of the faces and facial features to extract emotion-sensitive features of the face by applying emotion-sensitive feature filters, to determine the facial muscle actions of the face based on the extracted emotion-sensitive features. The changes in facial muscle actions are then converted to the changes in affective state, called an emotion trajectory. On the other hand, the method also estimates eye gaze based on extracted eye images and three-dimensional facial pose of the face based on localized facial images. The gaze direction of the person, is estimated based on the estimated eye gaze and the three-dimensional facial pose of the person. The gaze target on the media display is then estimated based on the estimated gaze direction and the position of the person. Finally, the response of the person to the dynamic digital media content is determined by analyzing the emotion trajectory in relation to the time and screen positions of the specific digital media sub-content that the person is watching. |
| US08401246B2 |
Mapping of retinal parameters from combined fundus image and three-dimensional optical coherence tomography
A second retinal characterization data set is mapped to a first retinal characterization dataset. The first retinal characterization dataset is displayed as a first graphical map. The second retinal characterization dataset is displayed as a second graphical map which is mapped to the first graphical map. The second graphical map may be warped and morphed onto the first graphical map. Retinal characterization datasets may be derived either from a fundus image or from a retinal parameter dataset calculated from a three-dimensional optical coherence tomography scan of a retina. Retinal parameter datasets may characterize parameters such as retinal thickness. In an embodiment, a fundus image is warped and morphed onto a retinal surface topographical map. |
| US08401243B2 |
Articulated object region detection apparatus and method of the same
An articulated object region detection apparatus includes: a subclass classification unit which classifies trajectories into subclasses; a distance calculating unit which calculates, for each of the subclasses, a point-to-point distance and a geodetic distance between the subclass and another subclass; and a region detection unit which detects, as a region having an articulated motion, two subclasses to which trajectories corresponding to two regions connected via the same articulation and indicating the articulated motion belong, based on a temporal change in the point-to-point distance and a temporal change in the geodetic distance between two given subclasses. |
| US08401242B2 |
Real-time camera tracking using depth maps
Real-time camera tracking using depth maps is described. In an embodiment depth map frames are captured by a mobile depth camera at over 20 frames per second and used to dynamically update in real-time a set of registration parameters which specify how the mobile depth camera has moved. In examples the real-time camera tracking output is used for computer game applications and robotics. In an example, an iterative closest point process is used with projective data association and a point-to-plane error metric in order to compute the updated registration parameters. In an example, a graphics processing unit (GPU) implementation is used to optimize the error metric in real-time. In some embodiments, a dense 3D model of the mobile camera environment is used. |
| US08401240B2 |
Passive single camera imaging system for determining motor vehicle speed
A system for passively determining a speed of moving vehicles includes a single imaging device (103) for acquiring a plurality of images at a first time and at least at one second later time, wherein each image includes a moving vehicle (406) on a vehicle pathway (402) and at least one fixed object (404) proximate to the vehicle, defining a first plane (π1) intersecting an adjacent portion of the vehicle pathway (402), wherein no geometric lengths of the vehicle (406) are known a priori. The system can also include a processor (121) operable to receive data associated with the images and determine a speed of the vehicle (406) in the images, wherein the processor (121) estimates at least one geometric length of the vehicle (406) by applying homography using the plurality of images, and where the processor (121) determines a speed of the vehicle (406) from the plurality of images and the estimated geometric length using a velocity estimation method. |
| US08401238B2 |
Map matching for security applications
An apparatus for map matching between a measured position for an object and information on a digital map is specified. This involves a computation unit being used to perform a first selection of cartography elements on the map on the basis of the measured position and on the basis of a predefined error. In addition, the computation unit is designed to provide the selected cartography elements for a first and a second secondary computation unit. In addition, values from the secondary computation units are converted in the same unit of measurement. |
| US08401235B2 |
Method and system for recognizing parking lot
Disclosed are a parking space recognition method and apparatus. The inventive parking space recognition system includes: a vehicle edge extraction unit for extracting a vehicle edge of a counterpart vehicle positioned adjacent to a parking space by analyzing an image acquired by a camera; a vehicle position extraction unit for extracting a vehicle position of the counterpart vehicle by analyzing ultrasonic wave data acquired by an ultrasonic sensor; a vehicle edge position analysis unit for analyzing the vehicle edge position for the extracted vehicle edge by mapping the extracted vehicle edge and the extracted vehicle position; and a parking space recognition unit for recognizing the parking space by determining the position of the counterpart vehicle on the basis of the analyzed vehicle edge position. According to the present invention, a sensor convergence type parking space recognition technology using a camera and an ultrasonic sensor in such a manner that the disadvantages of the ultrasonic sensor and the camera can be compensated with each other. |
| US08401232B2 |
Method, device, and computer-readable medium of object detection
Disclosed are an object detection method and an object detection device. The object detection method comprises a step of obtaining plural detection results of a current frame according to plural object detection methods; a step of setting initial probabilities of the plural detection results of the current frame; a step of calculating a movement frequency distribution diagram representing movement frequencies of respective pixels in the current frame; a step of obtaining detection results of a previous frame; a step of updating the probabilities of the plural detection results of the current frame; and a step of determining a final list of detected objects based on the updated probabilities of the plural detection results of the current frame. |
| US08401230B2 |
Signature based drive-through order tracking system and method
A system and method for providing signature-based drive-through order tracking. An image with respect to a vehicle at a POS unit can be captured at an order point and a delivery point (e.g., a payment point and a pick-up point) utilizing an image capturing unit by detecting the presence of the vehicle at each point utilizing a vehicle presence sensor. The captured image can be processed in order to extract a small region of interest and can be reduced to a unique signature. The extracted signature of the vehicle at the order point can be stored into a database together with the corresponding order and the vehicle image. The signature extracted at the delivery point can be matched with the signature stored in the database. If a match is found, the order associated with the vehicle together with the images captured at the delivery point and the order point can be displayed in a user interface at the delivery point to ensure that the right order is delivered to a customer. |
| US08401228B2 |
Autofocus using object tracking based on adaptive template matching range
An image recognition device includes a detection unit which is configured to detect a first difference between at least a part of the first image information and the reference information, a second difference between at least a part of the second image information and the reference information, and a third difference between at least a part of the third image information and the reference information. A recognition unit is configured to make a first determination whether the first difference is within a predetermined range, and to make a second determination whether the second difference is within the predetermined range. A changing unit is configured to change the predetermined range based on the first and second determinations. The recognition unit is configured to recognize an area corresponding to the reference image in the third image information based on the third difference and the predetermined range which has been changed. |
| US08401226B2 |
Method of accessing digital images of mailpieces franked by a standard franking machine
A method of accessing digital images of mailpieces from a workstation of a sender, includes franking the mailpieces on a franking machine of the sender; acquiring a digital image of each of the franked mailpieces at an office for receiving the mailpieces; extracting, from the digital images, a first identifier of the sender and a second identifier of a dealer of the franking machine; feeding a first database with the digital images and with the identifiers; making portions of the first database available to each of the servers of the dealers, the portions being determined as a function of the second identifier; feeding a second database with the determined portion; making portions of the second database available to a workstation of each of the senders, the portions being determined as a function of the first identifier; and accessing the digital image of each of the franked mailpieces on the workstation. |
| US08401225B2 |
Moving object segmentation using depth images
Moving object segmentation using depth images is described. In an example, a moving object is segmented from the background of a depth image of a scene received from a mobile depth camera. A previous depth image of the scene is retrieved, and compared to the current depth image using an iterative closest point algorithm. The iterative closest point algorithm includes a determination of a set of points that correspond between the current depth image and the previous depth image. During the determination of the set of points, one or more outlying points are detected that do not correspond between the two depth images, and the image elements at these outlying points are labeled as belonging to the moving object. In examples, the iterative closest point algorithm is executed as part of an algorithm for tracking the mobile depth camera, and hence the segmentation does not add substantial additional computational complexity. |
| US08401224B2 |
Hidden image signalling
An image is encoded to define one or more spatial regions that can be sensed by a suitably-equipped mobile device (e.g., a smart phone), but are imperceptible to humans. When such a mobile device senses one of these regions, it takes an action in response (e.g., rendering an associated tone, playing linked video, etc.). The regions may overlap in layered fashion. One form of encoding employs modification of the color content of the image at higher spatial frequencies, where human vision is not acute. In a particular embodiment, the encoding comprises altering a transform domain representation of the image by adding signal energy in a first chrominance channel, where the added signal energy falls primarily within a segmented arc region in a transform domain space. |
| US08401223B2 |
Embedding and decoding three-dimensional watermarks into stereoscopic images
Disclosed inventions relates to methods and systems for encoding at least one watermark into a stereoscopic conjugate pair of images. An example method comprises the step of encoding the at least one watermark by shifting selected pixels of said pair of images in one or more directions. The one or more directions include a horizontal direction. In the disclosed embodiments, ancillary information is not required to support decoding of encoded watermarks in addition to the transmitted left and right images. |
| US08401220B2 |
Piezoelectric micro speaker with curved lead wires and method of manufacturing the same
A micro speaker includes a substrate having a cavity formed therein, a diaphragm formed on the substrate overlapping the cavity. The diaphragm includes a first vibration membrane formed in a first area corresponding to a center portion of the cavity and a second vibration membrane formed in a second area corresponding to an edge portion of the cavity and formed of material different from that used for the first vibration membrane. A piezoelectric actuator is formed including a first electrode layer formed on the first vibration membrane, a piezoelectric layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the piezoelectric layer, and first and second curved lead wires, respectively connected to the first and second electrode layers across the second area, which are symmetrical to the center of the piezoelectric actuator. |
| US08401213B2 |
Snap-lock coupling system for a prosthetic device
A fixation system for a bone conduction device is disclosed. An abutment is coupled to a bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment pass into the bone anchor. The abutment comprises a first conduction surface, a bearing surface, and a magnetic material at or near the first conduction surface. A coupler extends from a bone conduction device and comprises a second conduction surface, a leveraging extension, and a magnet. The second conduction surface is shaped complimentary to the first conduction surface. The magnet attracts to the magnetic material such that the second conduction surface seats on the first conduction surface, thereby enabling vibrations to pass from the bone conduction device to a recipient's skull. |
| US08401211B2 |
Hearing device with RF communication
In a hearing device with an audio signal processing stage (3, 7, 5) and an Rf signal processing stage (9, 11) the Rf signal processing stage is realized in one module (13a), whereas the audio signal processing stage is realized in a second module (13b). The two modules are releasably interlinked by means of a releasable positive locking link (15). |
| US08401210B2 |
System and method for dynamic control of audio playback based on the position of a listener
An optimal listening position for the multi-channel audio sound system is determined. A listening area and other audio playback controls may also be defined or modified by a listener. During subsequent audio playback, an imager captures images of at least a portion of the listener. When the listener has moved to a position that is different from a previous position, one or more audio parameters are adjusted for at least one channel in the multi-channel audio system in order to reposition the initial or previous optimal listening position to the current position of the listener. When the listener moves outside the listening area, an out of bounds response is initiated to disable or control the audio playback until the listener moves to a position within the listening area. |
| US08401206B2 |
Adaptive beamformer using a log domain optimization criterion
Described is a audio signal processing technology in which an adaptive beamformer processes input signals from microphones based on an estimate received from a pre-filter. The adaptive beamformer may compute its parameters (e.g., weights) for each frame based on the estimate, via a magnitude-domain objective function or log-magnitude-domain objective function. The pre-filter may include a time invariant beamformer and/or a non-linear spatial filter, and/or may include a spectral filter. The computed parameters may be adjusted based on a constraint, which may be selectively applied only at desired times. |
| US08401201B2 |
Sound processing apparatus and method
A sound processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires a test signal for measuring a standing wave state emitted in a listening room, and determines a peak position or a dip position due to a standing wave based on frequency characteristics of the test signal. Next, the sound processing apparatus emits a burst signal corresponding to the frequency of the peak position or the dip position, and acquires this signal. The sound processing apparatus calculates an increment ΔP of the acquired signal, which indicates an amount of increase of a peak in the trailing edge portion corresponding to the end position of the burst signal relative to a peak in the portion corresponding to the stationary portion of the burst signal, and attenuates the frequency of the above peak position or dip position of a sound signal to be output by an attenuation depending on ΔP. |
| US08401194B2 |
Diabetes care kit that is preconfigured to establish a secure bidirectional communication link between a blood glucose meter and insulin pump
A diabetes care kit for providing diagnostics and therapy that is preconfigured to reduce initial setup by a user. The kit can include a handheld diabetes managing device and insulin pump. The handheld diabetes managing device and insulin pump can each be preloaded with an encryption key such that the handheld diabetes managing device and the insulin pump are paired and a secure bidirectional communication link exists between the handheld diabetes managing device and the insulin pump. |
| US08401191B2 |
Efficient broadcast entitlement management message delivery mechanism using a scheduled delivery window
Systems and methods include broadcasting an entitlement management message (EMM) in a communication system using a scheduled delivery window. The systems and methods including receiving a EMM broadcast window from a distribution system, listening for the EMM during the EMM broadcast window, and receiving the EMM from the distribution system during the EMM broadcast window. |
| US08401189B2 |
Opportunistic use of keys during encryption/decryption
An encrypted program received in an MPEG transport stream is decrypted by receiving a message in the MPEG transport stream, wherein the message contains a key, decrypting the encrypted program based on the key, and replacing the message in the MPEG transport stream with a null packet. |
| US08401188B1 |
System and method for partial encryption of frame-based electronic content
Various embodiments of a system and method for partial encryption of frame-based electronic content are described. Embodiments may include a partial encryption component configured to receive electronic content that includes multiple frames to be displayed according to a chronological sequence. In various embodiments, such frames may include multiple key frames and multiple reference frames. For each reference frame, content of one or more other frames may be dependent on the content of that reference frame. In various embodiments, for each key frame, content of frames to be displayed subsequent to that key frame may not be dependent on content of any frame preceding the key frame in the chronological sequence. In various embodiments, the partial encryption component may be configured to generate partially encrypted content by encrypting a portion of the electronic content without encrypting other portions of the electronic content (e.g., at least some key frames and reference frames). |
| US08401187B2 |
Processing recordable content in a stream
Methods and a systems are described for processing recordable content in a broadcast stream sent to a receiver, wherein said broadcast stream is protected in accordance with a conditional access system and wherein said receiver is configured for storing and consuming content in said broadcast stream in accordance with a digital rights management system. In this methods and systems recording information is sent in one or more entitlement control messages over a broadcast network to a receiver. Using the recording information in the entitlement control messages the receiver is able to store recordable events in a broadcast stream on a storage medium and to consume said recorded events in accordance with a digital rights management system. |
| US08401182B2 |
Method of and device for updating group key
A method and device for updating a group key are disclosed. The group key updating method comprises determining a start node for a key update on a binary tree, updating a node key of the start node for a key update, updating a node key of a parent node of a node corresponding to the updated node key using the updated node key, and repeatedly performing the updating of the node key of the parent node, and then updating a node key corresponding to a root node of the binary tree. With the disclosed method and device, it is possible to efficiently perform a group key update process. |
| US08401177B2 |
Combined sidetone and hybrid balance
A combined sidetone and hybrid balance apparatus and method of operating same are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may provide both a hybrid balance mode of operation and a sidetone generation mode of operation within a single integrated circuit device. The functionality provided by an embodiment of the present invention may be used in both Internet protocol (IP)-based telephones and residential gateways, and may be incorporated within the IP telephone chip used in such devices. An embodiment of the present invention may be used to reduce processor demand and the cost of materials, permitting greater IP telephone or residential gateway functionality at lower cost. |
| US08401175B2 |
Internet protocol telephone system
An internet protocol telephone includes a substrate having an input and an output that are capable of being connected to the internet protocol (IP) network. A relay is disposed on the substrate and is connected between the input and the output of the substrate. The relay includes first and second native FETs that have a threshold voltage of approximately zero volts. Therefore, the relay is nominally turned-on, even when little or no voltage (or power) is applied to the IP telephone substrate, as during the discovery mode of IP telephone operation. During discovery mode, The IP phone is configured to be responsive to extended link pulses and block data packets that are associated with legacy devices. Data packets have a higher signal duration and are more continuous than extended link pulses. The IP phone includes a switchable ground that is connected to the gates of the native devices, and is controlled by a rectifier and filter circuit that are connected to the substrate input. If the IP phone receives legacy data packets during discovery mode, then the high signal duration and continuous nature of the data packets are sufficient to cause the rectifier to generate a rectified signal having sufficient amplitude to activate the switchable ground, so as to ground the gates of the native devices and therefore turn-off the native devices. Therefore, the data packets are rejected and are not passed back to the switch. Extended link pulses have a frequency that is too low to generate a rectified signal that is sufficient to activate the switchable ground, and therefore the native devices remain turned-on. Accordingly, the extended link pulses are passed back to the switch. |
| US08401172B1 |
Methods and systems for processing and managing telephonic communications using ring pools
An online and offline communication processing and tracking using data processing and data/voice networks is described. A phone address from a phone address number pool is automatically assigned to a first entity. A call quality rating is determined and recorded. A call from a caller directed to the phone address is received at a call bridging system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. Based at least in part on the call quality associated with the caller call, the caller call is assigned to a first location in a call queue. An outbound call is generated from the call bridging system and the inbound and the outbound calls are bridged. One or more parameters of the bridged call are compared to the call quality rating. An indication is recorded regarding the successful bridging of the calls in association with an entity identifier. |
| US08401168B2 |
System and method for ring delay on a user agent
A system and method for ring delay on a user agent. A destination user agent may receive a request from an origination user agent to establish a session between the two user agents. The destination user agent may delay ringing according to a ring delay parameter. If the request has not been terminated by the time the ring delay parameter is met, the destination user agent may ring and a session may occur between the origination user agent and destination user agent. If the request is terminated before the ring delay parameter is met, the destination user agent may never ring. The ring delay parameter may be a ring delay time period. The ring delay parameter may be received as part of the request from the origination user agent, set by the destination user agent, or set by a service provider for the destination user agent. |
| US08401166B1 |
Systems and methods of mitigating phantom call traffic
Systems and methods for mitigating phantom call traffic in a communication system are disclosed. A call may be received at a communications exchange. A jurisdiction of the call may be determined in real-time, and egress signaling information and a route of the call to a terminating local exchange may be determined based on the jurisdiction. At least a portion of the egress signaling information may be provided to the terminating exchange in call signaling and/or in call detail billing records so that the terminating exchange is enabled to correctly charge for call termination. |
| US08401164B1 |
Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
System and method for putting control of incoming telephone calls in the hands of subscribers with the aid of computer software and the Internet. In effect, a very efficient multiplexer is provided that does not require a change in the behavior of the called party or the calling party. This system permits the called party to hear a spoken message by the calling party in real time, and the content of the spoken message permits the called party to decide how to handle the call. The system adaptively learns and captures the rules of the called party for handling calls, and learns which callers the called party always wishes to talk to. The system uses special control software on the called party's computer which is connected to the Internet. The system employs a central server in which all of the required intelligence is resident. Audio signals are exchanged via non-data channels provided by the telephone companies and by the Internet. Either a very simple Internet busy pick-up is provided, or a very complex messaging system is provided, as desired. A feature is the monitoring and screening of incoming calls before deciding how to handle them. Another feature is the capturing and storage of the decision making profile. |
| US08401161B2 |
Routing outbound toll-free calls through a VoIP network
A method for routing a toll-free call through a network includes receiving a toll-free call from a call origination endpoint, determining an identifier associated with the call origination endpoint, determining a meet point trunk based on at least a portion of the identifier if a DAL is not available, and routing the toll-free call to a LEC via the determined meet point trunk. A system for routing a toll-free call entering a network to an appropriate carrier includes an inbound gateway device configured to receive a toll-free call from a call origination endpoint having an assigned telephone number and to query a core routing engine (CRE) for a route plan using the assigned telephone number, and a CRE configured to select an interconnection access line based on the origination endpoint telephone number, wherein the interconnection access line is connected to a LEC that is operable to route the call to the appropriate carrier. |
| US08401155B1 |
Systems and methods for secure recording in a customer center environment
Systems and methods for secure recording in a customer center environment are provided. The system receives data related to a communication at a media distribution device. A key is provided by a key server to the media distribution device to encrypt the received data. In addition, an identifier may be associated with the received data. The key and the identifier are stored in a database associated with the key server. The encrypted data is recorded the a recorder, where it is accessible to authorized users within the customer center. Upon request, the key is provided to the authorized user to decrypt the encrypted data for play back. The customer center environment may include a user interface for viewing customer contacts. The contact may be organized into folders and annotations associated with the customer contacts may be received. |
| US08401154B2 |
Emergency text communications
A system includes one or more devices connected to or within one of a group of emergency services networks. The one or more devices may generate a text message that includes information identifying a user device, information identifying a geographic location of the user device, and information identifying a particular emergency services network of the group of emergency services networks; establish, based on the text message, a text-based communication session between the user device and a call taker device within the particular emergency services network; store session information regarding the text-based communication session; receive a subsequent text message; and transmit the subsequent text message to the call taker device based on the session information. |
| US08401150B2 |
Radiation imaging system and relay station selection method
This invention includes a radiation detector to detect the radiation transmitted through an object while being in a portable state or mounted on a detector holder, a control unit to control capturing of a radiographic image using the radiation detector, and a plurality of relay stations to relay wireless communication from the radiation detector. The detector holder includes a detection unit to detect the mounting of the radiation detector. The control unit determines the usage pattern of the radiation detector or the mounting of the radiation detector on a detector holder based on detection information from the detection unit or a connection request from the radiation detector, and selects one of the relay stations based on the determination result. |
| US08401147B2 |
Multiple screen detection systems
The present specification discloses an improved detection system employing multiple screens for greater detection efficiency. More particularly, a first enclosure has two adjacent walls, each with interior surfaces, a first end and a second end. The first ends of the two adjacent walls are connected at an angle to form an interior and the second ends of the two adjacent walls are connected to a semi-circular housing. At least one substrate, positioned on each of the interior surfaces of the adjacent walls, has an active area for receiving and converting electromagnetic radiation into light. A photodetector, positioned in the interior portion of the semi-circular housing, has an active area responsive to the light. |
| US08401142B2 |
Nuclear reactor vessel fuel thermal insulating barrier
The reactor vessel of a nuclear reactor installation which is suspended from the cold leg nozzles in a reactor cavity is provided with a lower thermal insulating barrier spaced from the reactor vessel that has a hemispherical lower section that increases in volume from the center line of the reactor to the outer extent of the diameter of the thermal insulating barrier and smoothly transitions up the side walls of the vessel. The space between the thermal insulating harrier and the reactor vessel forms a chamber which can be flooded with cooling water through passive valving to directly cool the reactor vessel in the event of a severe accident. The passive inlet valve for the cooling water includes a buoyant door that is normally maintained sealed under its own weight and floats open when the cavity is Hooded. Passively opening steam vents are also provided. |
| US08401140B2 |
Phase/frequency detector for a phase-locked loop that samples on both rising and falling edges of a reference signal
A circuit comprises a first phase detector, a second phase detector, and combinational logic. The first phase detector is for detecting a phase difference between a rising edge of a first clock signal and a rising edge of a second clock signal, and for providing a first difference signal indicating the phase difference. The second phase detector is for detecting a phase difference at a time of a falling edge of the first clock signal and a time of a falling edge of the second clock signal, and for providing a second difference signal indicating the phase difference. The combinational logic is coupled to receive the first difference signal and the second difference signal, and for preventing the second difference signal from being provided when the first difference signal is being provided. |
| US08401136B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and communication system
Disclosed is a semiconductor integrated circuit for generating a frequency division clock signal that approximates a desired clock signal without increasing a size thereof. The semiconductor integrated circuit masks, for each programmable cycle, a clock signal to be supplied to a transmission clock generation unit 100, thereby delaying a counting operation of a clock counter 101, and setting a timing for extending a transmission clock signal so as to cause a transmission rate of an average frequency of the transmission clock signal to approximate a predetermined transmission rate, wherein the transmission clock generation unit 100 divides a frequency of a clock source signal S301 that is a high-speed clock signal. |
| US08401135B2 |
Post-equalization amplitude latch-based channel characteristic measurement
A serial data receiver includes an amplitude path including a first signal conditioner that adds a first offset or subtracts a second offset based on a selection input, a preamp configured to receive a signal from a transmitter and provide an input signal to the amplitude path, an amplitude latch coupled to the amplitude path, a data latch having a data output and a decision feedback equalization (DFE) logic block coupled to the first conditioning element and the data output and configured to generate the selection output based on the data output of the data latch. |
| US08401129B2 |
Digital automatic gain control
An automatic gain control (“AGC”) system. The system includes a first multiplier, an envelope detector, a summation module, a filter module, a convergence module, and a feedback module. The convergence module includes a convergence control module and a second multiplier. The feedback module includes an accumulator, a scalar multiplier module, and a third multiplier. The system is configured to adjust or modify its convergence speed according to the state of convergence of the AGC system, and the convergence speed of the AGC system is substantially independent of a signal level of the received signal. |
| US08401125B2 |
Receiving apparatus and method with no oversampling analog to digital conversion
A receiving apparatus and a receiving method for receiving signals in a wireless communication system are presented, the signals including a dedicated channel estimation sequence. The apparatus includes an analog to digital converter that converts received signals into digital samples with a sampling rate identical to a symbol rate of the received signals, a channel estimation unit that performs a channel estimation based on the dedicated channel estimation sequence comprised in a digital samples of the received signals, an evaluation unit that evaluates the channel estimation result from the channel estimation unit, and a control unit that controls a phase of the sampling rate of the analog to digital converter based on an evaluation of the channel estimation result. The present invention further relates to a corresponding receiving method. |
| US08401124B2 |
Method, device and system for detecting pilot sequence signal
A method for detecting pilot sequence signal includes: when the service data signal in the received signal is confirmed to be right, the said service data signal is extracted from the received signal, wherein, the service data signal and the pilot sequence signal in the received signal are located in the same slot; the pilot sequence signal is obtained from the received signal having been extracted the service data signal. At the same time, a communication device and a communication system are provided. The interference of pilot sequence signal made by the service data signal can be restrained, the detecting performance of the pilot sequence can be enhanced by using the present invention. |
| US08401121B1 |
Symbol error detection for bluetooth basic data rate packets
A symbol error detector can be configured to detect symbol errors of GFSK modulated portions of a Bluetooth packet without relying solely on a CRC error detection mechanism. The symbol error detector can operate on frequency error signals that are a difference between a frequency associated with a current symbol and predetermined frequency outputs from a bank of filters matched to a frequency response of the Bluetooth receiver for predefined combinations of three consecutive symbols (i.e., an estimated previously decoded symbol, an estimated current symbol, and an estimated subsequent symbol). The frequency error signals can be compared against a threshold and against each other to determine a potential unreliability in decoding the current symbol and to determine whether to generate a symbol error notification. The frequency error signals being within a threshold of each other can indicate potential unreliability in decoding the current symbol. |
| US08401120B1 |
Symbol error detection for bluetooth enhanced data rate packets
A symbol error detector can be configured to detect symbol errors of a Bluetooth enhanced data rate (EDR) packet without relying solely on a CRC error detection mechanism. After a phase of a current symbol is demodulated to determine a demodulated current symbol, the phase of the demodulated current symbol can be subtracted from the phase of the current symbol prior to demodulation to yield a phase error. The phase error can be compared against a phase error threshold to determine a potential unreliability of the demodulated current symbol. The phase error being greater than the phase error threshold can indicate that the demodulated current symbol may be unreliable. Accordingly, a symbol error notification can be generated to indicate that the demodulated current symbol may be unreliable. |
| US08401118B2 |
Method and apparatus for constant envelope demodulation
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for demodulating CPM modulated signals transmitted in a wired or wireless communication system using a linear modulation model consisting of a linear superposition of time pulses modulated using pseudo-PSK pulses. |
| US08401114B2 |
Mobile telecommunication device and ramping data transmitting method thereof
A mobile telecommunication device includes a digital baseband processing unit and an analog baseband processing circuit. The digital baseband processing unit is configured to extract a difference value of current ramping data of ramping data of ramping samples of a ramping profile from previous ramping data, the current ramping data and the previous ramping data having a first bit number, and to transmit the difference value to the analog baseband processing unit as sample difference ramping data having a second bit number which is smaller than a first bit number. The analog baseband processing unit configured to receive the sample difference ramping data, and to generate a ramping up/down signal of the first bit number based on the sample difference ramping data, wherein the ramping up/down signal controls an output power level of the mobile telecommunication device. |
| US08401111B2 |
Method and apparatus for sequencing and correlating a positioning reference signal
Aspects are disclosed for sequencing and correlating a positioning reference signal. A set of reference symbols associated with a reference signal are allocated, and a base sequence is generated. An extended sequence, which includes the set of reference symbols, is then provided according to the base sequence. The extended sequence is then transmitted in a sub-frame designated as an idle period. A sequence of reference symbols is received from a base station during an idle period of the base station. A replicated sequence of reference symbols is generated, and a correlation is ascertained between a subset of the received sequence of reference symbols and a corresponding subset of the replicated sequence of reference symbols. The received sequence of reference symbols is then identified according to the correlation. |
| US08401110B2 |
Transmission method, transmitter apparatus and reception method
A transmitter apparatus wherein a simple structure is used to successfully suppress the degradation of error rate performance that otherwise would be caused by fading or the like. There are included encoding parts (11—1-11—4) that encode transport data; a mapping part (3304) that performs such a mapping that encoded data sequentially formed by the encoding parts (11—1-11—4) are not successively included in the same symbol, thereby forming data symbols; and a symbol interleaver (3301) that interleaves the data symbols. In this way, a low computational complexity can be used to perform an interleaving process equivalent to a bit interleaving process to effectively improve the reception quality at a receiving end. |
| US08401109B2 |
Methods for sending and receiving a multicarrier signal comprising a preamble comprising data elements, corresponding devices and computer products
A method is provided for receiving a multicarrier signal formed by a temporal succession of symbols including of a set of data elements with real values, including informative data elements and pilots. Due to at least one preamble being inserted into the multicarrier signal and formed by at least two end symbols, encompassing at least one central symbol including of central pilots, such a reception method includes, for at least one central pilot, a step of eliminating or reducing an interference affecting the central pilot, and a step of estimating the transmission channel, taking into account the result of the eliminating or reducing step. |
| US08401102B2 |
Joint constellation multiple access
A method for communication includes defining N respective symbol constellations in a signal space for N transmitters (24), N(2, subject to a predetermined power constraint, so as to produce a joint constellation including superpositions of symbols selected from the N symbol constellations. Data is transferred from the N transmitters by simultaneously transmitting from M the N transmitters N respective symbols selected respectively from the N symbol constellations. A composite symbol including a superposition of the N transmitted symbols is received. The received composite symbol is demodulated using the joint constellation so as to reconstruct the data transferred from the N transmitters. |
| US08401101B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for training sequence transmission and reception
A training sequence helps optimize SNR degradation in a wireless communication. Various sets of training sequences may be stored in a repository, and transmitters and receivers encoded with such sequences transmit at least one of the sequences between them as part of the wireless transmission of data. |
| US08401095B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting data using carriers and method thereof
An apparatus for transmitting data using a plurality of carriers and method thereof are disclosed, by which PAPR improving effect is enhanced. A method of generating an OFDM signal, which is transmitted by spreading data symbols using a DFT (Discrete Fourier Transform) matrix, according to the present invention includes the steps of generating an output symbol by data-processing the data symbols in time domain in a manner of giving a specific weight to the data symbols and summing up the weight-given data symbols and generating the OFDM signal by performing OFDM data processing on the output symbol. |
| US08401094B2 |
MIMO wireless communication method and apparatus for transmitting and decoding resource block structures based on a dedicated reference signal mode
The transmission and decoding of resource blocks (RBs) transmitted via a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna having a plurality of transmit antennas is disclosed. Each RB includes a plurality of resource elements (REs). Each RE is reserved for one of a common reference signal (CRS) associated with one of the transmit antennas, a dedicated reference signal (DRS) including a single beamformed or precoded pilot, a DRS including a composite beamformed or precoded pilot, and a data symbol. Each RB may include a “control type” data symbol that indicates a DRS mode associated with the RB. In one DRS mode, each DRS includes a single beamformed or precoded pilot. In another DRS mode, each DRS includes a composite beamformed or precoded pilot. In yet another DRS mode, single beamformed or precoded pilots, and composite beamformed or precoded pilots, may coexist and be transmitted simultaneously within the same RBs or in different RBs. |
| US08401092B1 |
Multi-reference clock synchronization techniques
Efficient synchronization techniques that support multiple reference clocks in an EQAM device. Consider a plurality of different modulators in the EQAM device receiving data from a corresponding plurality of different sources having corresponding different timing references (i.e., different source reference clocks). To accommodate this, the modulators all operate using a common system clock, and each modulator is provided with a phase synchronizer. The phase synchronizer synchronizes the modulated symbol phases to the corresponding reference clock. |
| US08401090B2 |
Video synchronization
A method of synchronizing the phase of a local image synchronization signal generator of a local video data processor in communication with an asynchronous switched packet network to the phase of a reference image synchronization signal generator of a reference video data processor also coupled to the network, the local and reference processors having respective clocks, the reference and local image synchronization signal generators generating periodic image synchronization signals in synchronism with the reference and local clocks respectively including: frequency synchronizing the local and reference clocks; sending an image timing packet providing reference image synchronization data indicating the difference in timing, measured with respect to the reference processor's clock, between the time at which the image timing packet is launched onto the network and the time of production of a reference image synchronization signal; and controlling the timing of the production of the local image synchronization signal. |
| US08401083B2 |
Extreme video compression over a fixed bandwidth channel
Compression using a graded wavelet, general and camera motion compensation, and spatial and entropy coding to create a compressed video. |
| US08401082B2 |
Methods and systems for refinement coefficient coding in video compression
A method for coding refinement coefficients in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scalable enhancement layer of a compressed video sequence is disclosed. A video sequence is received. A prediction of an original video signal in a current frame is constructed from the video sequence. A residual signal is formed by subtracting the prediction of the original video signal from the original video signal in the current frame. A transform is applied to the residual signal. A plurality of transform coefficients is quantized. A refinement coefficient is mapped to a ternary refinement symbol. Refinement symbols are grouped in a certain coding order. The refinement symbol groups are coded using variable length codes. |
| US08401081B2 |
Accurate motion portrayal for display and digital projectors
A system and method for motion portrayal manipulation includes performing a motion estimation to determine objects in motion in content provided at an acquisition rate. An eye motion trajectory of a viewer is predicted based on the content to determine a region of interest. An object in the area of interest is filtered along an object trajectory to adapt motion of the object to permit display of the acquisition rate on a display device having a refresh rate other than the acquisition rate. The content is portrayed at the acquisition rate on the display device. |
| US08401077B2 |
Video processing apparatus and method
A video processing apparatus includes a decoder, a controller and a display device. The decoder decodes a bitstream, wherein the bitstream includes a plurality of groups of pictures and each group of pictures includes a frame sequence. The controller is coupled to the decoder to determine whether a current frame of a current group of pictures to be displayed has macroblocks with forward reference to a previous frame of a previous group of pictures, wherein the current group of pictures is subsequent to the previous group of pictures. The display device is coupled to the controller to display the current frame of the current group of pictures when the current frame has no macroblock with forward reference to the previous frame of the previous group of pictures. |
| US08401072B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
An information processing apparatus for decoding compression-coded video data, including: at least one decoder that decodes the compression-coded video data; and a controller than controls processing executed by the decoder, wherein the controller, when a picture at a head of a decoding processing unit is an I-picture or a P-picture among decoded pictures output from the decoder, controls the decoder so that a decode start timing at which the decoder starts decoding and a display output timing at which the decoder starts outputting the decoded pictures are displaced from each other by a first predetermined number of pictures. |
| US08401064B1 |
Systems, circuits and methods for adapting parameters of components in a receiver
A receiver is optimized by adapting parameters of components within the receiver. Various component parameters are adapted by using either a least means squared algorithm or a steepest descent algorithm. The taps of a decision feedback equalizer can be adapted by using either a least means squared algorithm or a steepest descent algorithm. The gain value of a linear equalizer and the input of a digital to analog converter coupled to the linear equalizer are also adapted through the least means squared algorithm or a steepest descent algorithm. A variable gain amplifier is also capable of being adapted through the use of the least means squared algorithm. Clock offsets are also configured by use of a steepest descent algorithm. |
| US08401063B2 |
Decision feedback equalization scheme with minimum correction delay
A decision feedback equalizer includes a correction circuit to correct a sampled value of an incoming bit based on intersymbol interference of at least one preceding bit, and to generate a received bit. The correction circuit includes a first multiplexer and a first pair of latches coupled thereto. The first multiplexer is controlled by a clock signal to generate a digital level representative of a sign of a first correction coefficient to be subtracted from the sampled value of the incoming bit for deleting the intersymbol interference. The first pair of latches receives as input the received bit and is clocked in phase opposition by the clock signal to generate respective latched replicas of the received bit during respective active phases of the clock signal. The respective latched replicas are input to the first multiplexer. |
| US08401059B2 |
Radio communication system
A radio communication system minimizes power consumption against noises. The system includes a first radio terminal (10A) with a first transmitter (40A) for transmitting a first data indicative of a specific event, and a second radio terminal (40A) with a battery (14B) and a receiver (20B). The first radio terminal (10A) includes a first bit interpolator (32A) which inserts a check bit pattern of “01010101” at a predetermined cycle into one frame of the first data. The second radio terminal (10B) has a second power controller (60B) which intermittently activates the second receiver (20B) at predetermined intervals in order to receive the bit-interpolated data from the first transmitter. A check bit detector (24B) is included in the second radio terminal (10B) to detect the check bit pattern from within the bit interpolated data and to issue a stop signal immediately upon occurrence of that the check bit pattern fails to appear at said predetermined cycle within a predetermined time frame shorter than one frame length of the first data. In response to the stop signal, the power controller of the second radio terminal terminates a current receiving operation. |
| US08401058B1 |
Channelized amplifier system and method
A channelized amplification system and method for mitigating non-linear amplification effects and controlling spectral re-growth is disclosed. A channelized amplifier system includes a frequency divider, a plurality of distributors coupled to the frequency divider, and a plurality of amplification modules coupled to the plurality of distributors. Each of the plurality of amplification modules includes a plurality of channelized non-linear amplifiers, a frequency combiner having a plurality of band-pass filters and coupled to the plurality of channelized non-linear amplifiers, and a band-pass filter coupled to the frequency combiner. |
| US08401055B1 |
Communications methods and apparatus
Apparatus for recovering symbols from control and data channels corresponding to a plurality of users is described. Samples corresponding to control channel signals from multiple users are processed on a time shared basis with various control channel processing elements being reused multiple times to processes the samples and recover signals, e.g., symbols, corresponding to the plurality of users. While the control channel processing elements are used on a time shared basis, a separate data channel processing chain or module maybe provided for each of the plurality of users. In some embodiments the order of despreading and filtering is reversed for the control and data channel signal processing. |