| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08398033B2 |
Cable clamp
A cable clamp for an electrical cable, comprising a first member and a second member that can cooperatively retain a cable between them; wherein the first member has been formed by extrusion in the general axial direction of a cable as it is to be retained in the clamp, at least a portion of the axial cross-section of the first member comprising a receiving part having a curved shape within which a portion of the cable is to be located, and a flange extending from either side of the receiving part; and the second member is attachable at either end to a flange of the first member so as to retain the cable within the receiving part of the first member. |
| US08398032B2 |
Gutter and mounting device for buildings
A mounting bracket for a gutter for buildings, the gutter including a generally channel or trough shaped body for collecting water with an internal wall having mounting means thereon, the mounting bracket including an elongated bracket body which includes an attachment section which is attachable to the building and a gutter mounting section, the gutter mounting section including a plurality of gutter support elements arranged along the gutter mounting section and aligned so as to correspond to a fall required when the gutter is in an installed position. |
| US08398031B2 |
Rail system, particularly for an electric pallet track
A rail system for an electric pallet track has, in known manner, a main line which can be optionally connected to at least two branch lines by way of points. The points have as many movable rail portions for each rail of the main line as there are branch lines. These movable rail portions can each be pivoted about a stationary pivot axis which is located outside the longitudinal extent of the corresponding movable rail portion. |
| US08398030B2 |
Control bar with outer steering line trim and sheeting system for sport kite
A kite control system having a control bar adapted with an internal sheeting system that provides trim/sheeting control by adjustment of outer steering lines which are attached at or near the rear corners of the kite. A tubular control bar is adapted such that the outer steering lines are routed through the interior of the control bar through openings at each opposing end. The outer steering lines are each joined to a sheeting control line which extends back out one of the opposing ends in either a left hand actuated or right hand actuated embodiment. A fixed pin located approximately mid-length within the control bar provides a fixed structure about which one of the outer lines and/or sheeting control line is routed in U-turn fashion. By pulling the sheeting control line from the end of the control bar, the rider can shorten the effective length of the outer steering lines thereby increasing the angle of attack so as to power up the kite. By releasing the sheeting control line such that it is drawn into the control bar, the ride can allow the outer steering lines to fully deploy thereby reducing the angle of attack so as to depower the kite. The control bar is equipped with means for selectively fixing the sheeting control line so as to achieve a desired angle of attack. |
| US08398028B1 |
Drogue with power generator
In one embodiment an aerial refueling drogue comprises a coupling having a channel formed therethrough, a shroud, and a piezoelectric energy collection system. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US08398025B2 |
Avionic door lock system
A security system adapted for use on an aircraft to prevent unauthorized access into a cockpit area of the aircraft via a cockpit door. The system includes a keypad accessible by individuals in a cabin area of the aircraft. A logic system is in communication with the keypad and also with a switch disposed inside the cockpit. Occupants of the cockpit, via the switch, have the ability to manually unlock the cockpit door, to deny the request for entry, or to do nothing, in which case the door will be automatically unlocked after the expiration of a predetermined time interval. A pressure sensor in communication with the controller allows the electronic door locking member to be automatically overridden, and the door immediately opened, in the event of a decompression condition occurring in the cockpit. |
| US08398023B2 |
Control station
Control station which comprises: a seat (10) for the operator of the said control station, the seat (10) comprising at least one arm rest (30), and a control and command assembly, said assembly comprising a control stick (1) with controls, mechanical components for transmitting and generating forces and movement to and from the control stick (1), components (17) for measuring the position of the control stick (1), and electronic components which are connected to the control stick (1) and via which the control and command assembly is operated, the control stick (1) of the said control station being incorporated in the seat (10), the control stick (1) being situated moreover on the armrest (30). |
| US08398021B2 |
Compliant crown panel for an aircraft
An aircraft forward pressure bulkhead and an aircraft crown panel are described herein. The forward pressure bulkhead includes a malleable and deformable dome that is configured to “catch” foreign objects, such as birds. The dome is intentionally designed to deform in response to a foreign object strike that imparts at least a threshold amount of impact energy to the bulkhead. The dome is free of rigid stiffeners and non-deformable reinforcement members that would otherwise hinder the flexible characteristic of the dome. Practical embodiments of the bulkhead utilize fewer parts, are less heavy, and are less expensive than traditional bulkheads that utilize rigid stiffeners. The crown panel has similar compliant characteristics. The crown panel is designed to simultaneously deform and deflect in response to foreign object impacts such as birds and hail. The crown panel is formed from a monolithic one-piece material, such as aluminum, and various reinforcing features are integrally formed in the material. |
| US08398020B2 |
Landing gear
An auxiliary mechanism includes a lever unit, a spring unit and a positioning unit. One of the units pivotally connects to the upper portion of a main shock absorber strut so as to pivot between a predetermined lower position for take-off and landing and an upper position. Another unit pivotally connects at an upper end to the upper portion of the main shock absorber strut and pivotally connects at a lower end to the first unit. A third unit pivotally connects at a lower end to the bogie beam at an auxiliary pivot and connects at an upper end to the lever. The positioning unit assumes either a contracted state or extended state for taxiing, take-off and landing, and assumes the other state for stowing the landing gear after take-off. The spring unit provides spring resistance to pivotal movements of the bogie beam about the main pivot during taxiing. |
| US08398019B2 |
Adjusting device for adjusting a high-lift flap and airfoil wing comprising such an adjusting device
An adjusting device for adjusting a flap at an wing of an aircraft includes at least one flap drive for operating the flap and a plurality of drive stations comprising drive struts structured and arranged to movably connect the flap to the wing. The plurality of drive stations includes at least two first drive stations that guide the flap in a defined position in a wing chord direction. The plurality of drive stations includes at least one second drive station at which the flap is moveable in the wing chord direction. The at least one second drive station includes at least one compensation element structured and arranged to compensate constraining forces occurring in the plurality of drive stations due to relative movements between the flap and the wing in the wing chord direction. |
| US08398012B2 |
Reversible seat belt tensioner
A reversible seat belt tensioner includes an electric motor (2), a belt shaft (1) drivable in the belt winding direction by the electric motor (2) via a drive wheel (10), and a drive shaft (9) transmitting the rotational movement of the electric motor (2) to the drive wheel (10). The drive shaft (9) is connected to at least one of the drive wheel (10) and the electric motor (2) via a helical gear unit. The use of a helical gear unit provides the advantage that the rotational axes of the meshing components can be arranged at angles other than 90 degrees with respect to each other because the components in the helical gear units only come into punctiform contact. |
| US08398009B2 |
Blade made of steel alloy
A refiner or disperser blade is made of a steel alloy by casting. The alloy comprises, in weight percent: 0.6 to 4 wt-% carbon (C), 0.5 to 1.5 wt-% silicon (Si), 0.4 to 1.5 wt-% manganese (Mn), 12 to 28 wt-% chromium (Cr), 4 to 12 wt-% niobium (Nb), as well as iron (Fe). |
| US08398003B2 |
Multiple function dispenser
A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a liquid chemical concentrate with a dilutent from a container. The dispenser includes two slideable eductors one of which is also rotatable. Both a high and low flow rate can be obtained with simultaneous adjustment of concentration of the chemical concentrate. The dispenser has a high degree of accuracy of the amount of dilution of the chemical concentrate as well as positive positioning of the high and low flow rate. |
| US08397996B2 |
Portable data carrier and method for the production of the data carrier
A portable data carrier with a card body (5) in which there are incorporated a chip module (7) and an antenna (7) for near-field communication, and a method for producing the data carrier. The data carrier has an improved mechanical stability. |
| US08397987B2 |
Card which can be authenticated by hologram chip
A card authentication is performed. An authentication chip for performing authentication by a copy-disabled hologram chip is attached to a card and when or after the card is introduced into a handling device, the authentication chip information is read to perform authentication. Read may be performed in a planar shape but a linear shape can reduce the processing load. An arbitrary straight line or a curved line may be used as a read line shape by modifying the read position in association with the card movement when the card is placed to be read. When the card introduced to a terminal device is an unauthorized one, the card is ejected or an alarm is issued when the card is introduced inside. |
| US08397986B1 |
Automatically loading medical data card
According to one aspect of the present invention, the medical data card automatically runs when inserted into a communication port of a computer. One type of communication port can be a USB port. The card prompts the service provider to enter a password that is verified by the server. The patient ID can then be entered and the patient's records can be retrieved. The server can be remotely accessed by the healthcare provider via the internet. A log is generated and stored on the server containing information such as who, when, what records were accessed. A family card can be provided permitting a minor's records to be obtained via the parent's or guardian's card. The card and the server automatically synchronize each time the card is used. |
| US08397984B1 |
System for on-site management of an event
A system includes a first portable, ruggedized, and waterproof case. The first portable, ruggedized, and waterproof case includes a router and a switch. The system further includes a computing system connectable to the switch. The computing system includes a first memory for storing first ticket information and a first set of instructions. The computing system further includes a first processor that, upon execution of the first set of instructions, receives a ticket identifier scanned from a ticket. The first processor also compares the ticket identifier to the stored first ticket information. Based on the comparison, the first processor further generates an indication of validity of the ticket. The first processor further transmits the indication of validity of the ticket. |
| US08397982B2 |
Method and device for recognition of docking stations
A method for controlling an electronic device for use with a docking station is disclosed. The method includes detecting a coupling of the electronic device with the docking station, obtaining an image of an identifier associated with the docking station in response to detecting the coupling, and performing a predefined operation by the electronic device based on the image of the identifier in response to obtaining the image. |
| US08397980B2 |
Card identifying apparatus
A card identifying apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention has a light-receiving portion that reads a card on a pixel basis of a predetermined area as a unit including color information having brightness, RAM that stores image data comprised of a plurality of pixels read by the light-receiving portion, an image data thinning processing section that makes the number of read pixels lower in another direction than in one direction to vary the number of pixels of the image data when the reading means reads the card, and an judgment processing section that identifies authentication of the card based on the image data varied by the image data thinning processing section. |
| US08397978B2 |
Collapsible triangular storage container-based combination storage container
A collapsible triangular storage container-based combination storage container includes multiple collapsible triangular storage containers attached together to form a rectangular configuration, each triangular storage container including a triangular container body having three upright side panels hinged to one another and a folding line on one upright side panel on the middle, a soft and collapsible bottom panel horizontally connected to the three upright side panels at the bottom side, a hard triangular plate member insertable into the inside of the triangular container body to support the triangular container body in shape, and magnetic members fixedly mounted in one upright side panels at two opposite sides relative to the folding line in reversed directions for creating a magnetic attractive force to secure the upright side panels of the triangular container body in a stack when the triangular container body is collapsed after removal of the hard triangular plate member. |
| US08397976B2 |
Method for cohesively bonding metal to a non-metallic substrate using capacitors
A process for cohesive bonding between a metal surface and a nonmetallic substrate is provided. The non-metallic substrate may comprise a plurality of microfilaments and/or nanofilaments dispersed into and below the surface of the substrate. The application of pressure and laterally-oriented high frequency and low amplitude vibration may allow for diffusion bonding between the metal surface and material of the nanofilaments. Another method includes discharging energy from a bank of capacitors to melt adjoining surfaces of the metal surface and nonmetallic substrate. Additionally, a cohesive bonding method may further comprise converting electrical oscillations of ultrasonic frequency into ultrasonic vibrations which are transmitted to the metal body and/or substrate for fusing the two materials together. |
| US08397972B2 |
Shipping wedge with lockout
A loading unit having a shipping safety device is provided for use with a surgical instrument. The loading unit includes a body portion, a movable operative device disposed in the body portion and an actuator associated with the body portion and operable to move the movable operative device. A locking member movably mounted in the body portion and movable in response to movement of the actuator. The locking member is movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position. The removable safety device generally includes a base, a blocking member projecting from the base and engageable with the movable operative device and a lockout member projecting from the base and engageable with the locking member. Flexible arms extend from the base and engage the body portion of the loading unit. The removable safety device is locked to the body portion when the locking member is in the first locked position and is unlocked for removal from the body portion when the locking member it is in the second unlocked position. |
| US08397962B1 |
Hydration method employing replenishable drinking vessel
A handheld drinking vessel with a compressible bladder, inlet and outlet members, an inlet valve to allow liquid to flow into the bladder, and an outlet valve to allow liquid to flow from the bladder whereby liquid can be exhausted by a compression of the bladder and liquid can be drawn into the bladder by a decompression of the bladder. The drinking vessel can be employed to provide hydration to athletes during athletic endeavors by providing athletes with drinking vessels and providing at least one water stop with beverage containers. Water can be drawn from a beverage container through the inlet member and consumed through the outlet member. When provided by a sponsor or race organizer, the drinking vessels can be distributed on a complimentary basis filled with a beverage of a purveyor of beverages. |
| US08397960B1 |
Dispensing and sealing assembly for container
A dispensing and sealing assembly for containers includes a mounting assembly comprising an assembly frame having an opening and a plurality of assembly mount flanges carried by the assembly frame. A dispensing assembly is carried by the mounting assembly and includes a tube skirt carried by the assembly frame generally over the opening and a dispensing assembly tube extending from the tube skirt. |
| US08397959B2 |
Packaging container
A packaging container formed by a container body has a connector with a thread. The connector has a predetermined breaking point where a tear-off part may be torn off. The tear-off part has a handle and may be torn off without a tool. The container body is fitted with an application nozzle which, when not in use, is positioned on the handle. |
| US08397953B2 |
Personal protection device
A pocket-sized self-defense spray device is capable of dispensing a chemical irritant to cause temporary breathing difficulty and a burning sensation in the eyes of the target without any permanent damage. The device comprises a casing, a nozzle, and a multi-position trigger. The trigger is slidably mounted in the casing to be moveable from a safe position to an active position. The casing may contain a battery-powered light that is switched on to illuminate the target when the trigger is in the active position. The trigger button in the second position may then be depressed into an engaged position that causes chemical irritant to be discharged from a removable canister with a poppet valve into a nozzle chamber, and out the nozzle exit at a target. The casing includes an ergonomic finger grip that serves to prevent inadvertent discharge at the user, and ease of aiming at the target. |
| US08397952B2 |
Refrigerator related technology
A refrigerator includes a body having a cooling chamber and a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cooling chamber. The refrigerator also includes a water source positioned at the cooling chamber or the door and configured to accommodate water. The refrigerator further includes a hot water supply unit positioned at the body or the door and configured to receive water from the water source, heat the water, and supply the heated water to outside of the body in response to a start signal. In addition, the refrigerator includes a hot water transferring unit that is connected to the hot water supply unit and configured to transfer the water remaining in the hot water supply unit after supplying the heated water to outside of the body is completed. |
| US08397947B2 |
Apparatus and a method and a system for dispensing goods
The invention relates to a dispenser apparatus for goods, said apparatus comprising a storage unit (1) for storing goods in a number of storage passages (7), a unit (8) for conveying one or more goods from the storage unit (1) to a conveyor unit (2, 20), said conveyor unit (2, 20) conveying, via an air pressure, goods to a dispensing station, wherein the storage passages (7) of the storage unit (1) forms an angle to the horizontal which is larger than or smaller than 90°, and wherein the unit (8) in the form of a fetcher mechanism comprises one or more ejectors for pushing one or more goods conveyed into one or more transfer chambers (19) into a conveyor pipe (2). The invention also comprises a method of dispensing goods, wherein the method comprises receipt of data representing selection of at least one item (202); and dispensing from a dispenser apparatus of said at least one item, if said at least one item is in stock in said apparatus for dispensing, and if said dispenser apparatus has received data representing a recording of said at least one item and/or recording of a payment made in respect of said at least one item (203). |
| US08397946B2 |
Cartridge based dispenser system
A cartridge based dispensing system includes a cartridge having a rotatable compartmentalized receptacle for supporting a plurality of items in separate compartments along with a housing for removably supporting the cartridge. The housing includes an opening for enabling dispensing of an item from an aligned separate compartment and a mechanism is provided for rotating the receptacle within the cartridge in order to align compartments with the housing opening. The mechanism may be configured for causing different discrete angular rotations of the receptacle corresponding to compartment size. |
| US08397944B1 |
Storage/mailing tube
A storage mailing tube having an elongated housing and a hand removable end cap with a rib positioned so as to facilitate hand alignment of the cap while at the same time forming limited frictional engagement sufficient to retain the end cap on the storage mailing tube during handling or transporting the storage mailing tube while allowing a user to access a document or item therein by hand removal of the end cap. |
| US08397938B2 |
Clamped liner-boss connection
A pressure vessel for storing a fluid, the pressure vessel including an annular inner boss having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a passage adapted to receive a utility device therein, wherein the inner boss includes a liner channel formed intermediate the inner surface and the outer surface, a vessel liner having a portion thereof disposed in the liner channel of the inner boss, and an outer boss secured to the outer surface of the inner boss. |
| US08397934B2 |
Padlock container assembly having a locking closure with sliding cover
A padlock container assembly for packing and maintaining small articles is assembled primarily from a box container and a closure for closing the open top of the container. Buckle holes are disposed in the upper sidewall of the container that cooperate with elastic closure pieces disposed on a skirt of the closure to lock the closure the container. The closure has a sliding cover capable of being moved according to a predetermined path disposed on an external cover of the closure. A series of holes in the closure allows for various connection arrangements between closure parts. A hangtag extends upwardly from the external cover to allow the container assembly to be hanging and exhibiting. |
| US08397930B2 |
Safety fuel transportation, storage, and delivery system
The present invention is an assembly for transporting, storing, and delivering a fuel such that a compromise to the containment of the fuel is readily recognized. |
| US08397926B2 |
Nursing bottle assembly and a reusable liner therefor
A nursing bottle assembly includes a rigid outer casing, a flexible inner liner and a teat arrangement. The teat arrangement attaches to the outer casing and secures the inner liner in position within the outer casing. The flexible inner liner includes a container in the form of a bellows such that it expands and collapses in a predictable linear manner along its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the inner liner is moulded from a food-grade silicone or thermoplastic elastomer and includes a substantially cylindrical container formed with at least one projecting rib or groove about which the liner folds to enable it to expand and collapse in a predictable linear manner along its longitudinal axis. |
| US08397925B2 |
Holding device for coupler adapter used in railcar
A holding device holds a coupler adapter which is connectable to a coupler of a railcar. The holding device includes: a holding frame configured to detachably hold the coupler adapter; a holding frame supporting portion provided at a carbody end portion of the railcar to support the holding frame; a fixing member configured to fix the coupler adapter and the holding frame to the holding frame supporting portion; and a lifting and lowering portion connected to the holding frame to lift and lower the holding frame and the coupler adapter. |
| US08397924B2 |
Drum frame system for cranes
A mobile lift crane includes a carbody having moveable ground engaging members; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members; a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed; a first hoist drum mounted in a first frame connected to the rotating bed; a second hoist drum mounted in a second frame connected to the rotating bed; and a third hoist drum mounted in a third frame indirectly connected to the rotating bed by being connected to at least one of the first and second hoist drum frames. Preferably load hoist drum frames are connected to the rotating bed by removable pins, the hoist drum and frame thus being detachable from the rotating bed as a combined unit. Further a major crane component, such as a mast, a mast stop, a backhitch or a boom stop, is connected indirectly to the rotating bed such that forces directed along a line of action of the major crane component are transferred to the rotating bed through at least one of the drum frames. |
| US08397923B2 |
Tilting tray bag dispenser rack
A tilting tray bag dispenser rack includes a support tray that has a base, a first side wall, a second side wall, a back wall and a front wall that holds a merchandise bag pack and has an opening for extraction of bags. The tray is hingedly attached adjacent an upper edge of the back wall to an underside of a counter. First and second side support linkage has a first and second upper and lower arms The upper arms are pivotally attached to first and second side brackets attached to the underside of the counter. The lower arms are pivotally attached to the upper arms and pivotally attached to outer surfaces of the first and second side walls. A position retention device retains the tray in an upper, bag delivery position when engaged and permits the bag pack support tray to move to a lower, loading position when disengaged. |
| US08397921B2 |
Scum removing apparatus
A spraying means is arranged on the scum-flowing wall surface side of wall surfaces forming a scum inlet of a scum discharging mechanism. The spraying means sprays pressured water upward along the wall surface on the scum-flowing side from when a part of the scum inlet is submerged in water until the scum begins to flow into the scum inlet. As a result, even large lumps of scum exceeding 10 cm in thickness (diameter) may be lead smoothly into a pipe by the pressured water, and the amount of discharged water accompanying scum discharge may be reduced to 1/20 to 1/30 than by a conventional scum removing apparatus. |
| US08397920B2 |
Pleated filter element with tapering bend lines
A pleated filter element extends axially between an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet along a plurality of axially extending bend lines forming axial flow channels. The bend lines taper in a transverse direction and define a plurality of axially elongated tetrahedron channels facing oppositely to each other. |
| US08397919B2 |
Continuous gravity assisted ultrasonic coal cleaner
An improved system and method for separating combustible organic particles from noncombustible inorganic particles in coal, in preparation for combustion. The coal is size-reduced and size-graded to small pieces which are then supplied to input ends of water-immersed descending slides having ultrasonic transducers for vibratory separation of inorganic and organic particles. The slides have different longitudinal lengths with angles of declination configured to achieve time-differential exposure to the ultrasonic vibratory energy, with smaller coal pieces being subjected to shorter time ultrasonic vibratory exposure. In one preferred form, longitudinally spaced turbidity sensors along the slide provide signals used to control selected ultrasonic transducers upon substantially complete cleaning of the coal pieces. |
| US08397909B2 |
Chisel case
A chisel case (50) includes a hollow unitary body portion (52) and a removable cap portion (54). The body portion (52) has a substantially cylindrical section (56) for receiving a chisel handle (70). A substantially elongate box section (58) adjoins and is integrally formed with the body portion (52) and in use receives a chisel blade (66). A chisel (62) is contained within the chisel case (50) and is supported by a deformable blade supporting means (64) disposed at the end of the elongate box section (58) and a deformable handle supporting means (68) disposed within the cap portion (54). |
| US08397908B2 |
Storage device for storing multiple recorded media
A storage device for multiple optical discs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a front cover, a back cover, and a spine rotatably connecting the front cover and the back to allow for rotation between a closed position and an open position. A tray is rotatable coupled to the spine between the front and back covers and includes a first hub on a first surface operable to retain a first disc, and a second hub on a second surface operable to hold a second disc. The second hub is offset from the first hub such that the first disc does not overlap the second hub and the second disc does not overlap the first hub. A second tray may be rotatably coupled to the spine between the front and back covers, adjacent to the first tray. The second tray preferably includes a third hub on a first surface operable to retain a third disc and a fourth hub on a second surface operable to retain a fourth disc. The fourth hub is offset from the third hub such that the third disc does not overlap the fourth hub and the fourth disc does not overlap the third hub. |
| US08397907B1 |
Toilet paper holding device
A toilet paper holding device for holding a spare roll of toilet paper or tissue is provided. The toilet paper holding device comprises a base plate and a top plate. A plurality of panels and a plurality of rods are mounted between the base plate and the top plate. The spare roll of toilet paper is visible between the panels and the rods. The lid sits on top of the toilet paper roll when inserted. When the holder is empty, the lid rests on the bottom of the device to serve as a reminder that the receptacle needs to be refilled. |
| US08397905B1 |
Multi-channel automated conveyor system and method for aligining and transfering of small objects
An automated multi-channel conveyor system comprises a plurality of channels for alignment, non-destructive transfer, and an accurate delivery of each of the plurality of small objects to a precise target destination. Each channel comprises alternate-profiled fins, pulleys, and belts. The pulleys within the set are connected to one another by two belts nestled in between and running parallel to the two fins. The belts are automated, travel continuously at predetermined speeds, accept a plurality of small objects, and facilitate uniform distribution by way of indentations. The fins and belts keep the objects aligned and uniformly distributed as the belts carry the accepted objects to a destination. A single-filed, uniform distribution of small objects within each channel and within a plurality of channels is a key to an efficient, automated, accurate, and precise delivery of the objects to a target destination. |
| US08397904B2 |
Belt conveyors and methods for conveyed products undergoing a thermal treatment
An environmentally controlled conveyor system including a sensor-instrumented conveyor belt conveying products continuously through a thermal-treatment process and a method for determining the instantaneous position of the sensors. Temperature or other sensors are embedded in the conveyor belt across its width and along its length to advance with the product through the thermal-treatment process, such as through a pasteurizer tunnel. The sensor measurements are transmitted wirelessly from the belt to a remote system controller for monitoring or controlling the system. Data from sensors measuring environmental or belt conditions are used to determine the instantaneous positions of the sensors to coordinate the sensor data with sensor position. |
| US08397903B2 |
Modular belt conveyor, in particular a curving or helical conveyor
A modular belt conveyor (12), in particular curving or helical conveyor, including a number of mutually interconnected modular belt conveyor links (14) that together form a common curving or helical conveyor with an inner and outer belt edge, respectively, of which at least one belt edge, preferably the inner belt edge, interacts by inter-spaced, preferably vertical curve guides, wherein at the belt edge or edges interacting with the curve guide, each of the belt conveyor links (14) are either provided with an edge reinforcement or are fitted with an edge element (20), the edge reinforcement or edge element (20), respectively, together with the corresponding adjacent belt conveyor link (14) forming a substantially closed guide surface (34) at the belt edge in question. In a simple way and by means of simple technical means are hereby achieved the possibility of counteracting the said problems of lateral incisions or apertures at the inner or outer belt edge. |
| US08397899B2 |
Mail feeder with improved stripper mechanism
A stripper of the invention uses flat metal springs (leaf springs) preferably made of spring steel and a flexible polymer based friction material covering the springs on one side so that the friction material contacts an incoming mail piece passing by the stripper along the friction surface presented by the outside of the friction material. A stripper according to the invention has variable stiffness, is quick responding, and is critically damped, meaning that incoming mail pieces will not bounce off it with excessive force likely to cause a misfeed or loss of control of the mail piece. |
| US08397896B2 |
Multi-mode and multi-pitch conveyor system
A conveyor system comprising: a track section comprising a control system; a drive system that is controlled by the control system; a plurality of moving elements that are driven by the drive system; a pallet support apparatus; a plurality of pallets that are configured to engage with the moving elements and move on the pallet support apparatus; and a plurality of workstations provided along the track section, each workstation at a predetermined pitch from each other workstation, wherein at least some of the pitches are different among workstations, wherein the control system, drive system and moving elements are configured such that each pallet of the plurality of pallets is independently advanced through the workstations based on the pitches of the workstations. |
| US08397894B2 |
Apparatus for locking shift lever of automatic transmission in vehicle
An apparatus for locking a shift lever of an automatic transmission in a vehicle may include a shift lock cam including a position converting member and being connected with a brake pedal wherein the shift lock cam is pivotally coupled to a shift lever housing and elastically supported by a first elastic member, and a shift lock release lever that is pivotally coupled to the shift lever housing and elastically supported by a second elastic member, wherein one end of the shift lock release lever is selectively coupled to a shift lever body and the other end of the shift lock release lever is eccentrically coupled to the position converting member of the shift lock cam. |
| US08397891B2 |
Brazed support ring
A support ring for a torque converter including first and second laminations, wherein each of the first and second laminations includes first and second opposite surfaces, wherein the first surfaces of the first and second laminations are matingly engaged and affixed together, and the second surfaces of the first and second laminations form a pair of external, opposite surfaces of the support ring, wherein the first surfaces of the first and second laminations each further comprise at least one hole, at least one protrusion, and wherein the at least one protrusion of the first lamination is engaged in the at least one hole of the second lamination, and wherein the at least one protrusion of the second lamination is engaged in the at least one hole of the first lamination. |
| US08397889B2 |
Frictional device comprising at least one friction plate
The present invention relates to a frictional device (6) comprising at least one friction plate (2), which has a plate-side toothing system (14), and a plate carrier (4), which has a carrier-side toothing system (70) and a predefined fitting end (66) for fitting the friction plate (2), the contours (62, 72) of the toothing systems (14, 70) corresponding to one another in such a way that the friction plate (2) can be brought into engagement with the plate carrier (4), forming a rotational drive connection. The friction plate (2) here has a first axial direction (16) and an opposing second axial direction (18). According to the invention the contours (62, 72) of the toothing systems (14, 70) are formed in such a way that only in the first axial direction (16) can the friction plate (2) be brought into engagement with the plate carrier (4) via the predefined fitting end (66) of the plate carrier (4). |
| US08397887B2 |
Actuating arrangement for shift elements of a transmission
An actuating system for at least first and second coaxially arranged shifting elements of a transmission, in particular, a dual-clutch transmission (1) with at least two coaxially arranged control devices for actuating the associated shifting elements. The control devices comprise at least one rotary drive (4, 5) and at least one control element (6, 7) which are coupled to one another by corresponding gearteeth such that rotational movement, of each rotary drive (4, 5), can be converted into an axial control movement of the associated control element (6, 7). The axial position of the teeth of the geartooth array, of each control element (6, 7), varies in the circumferential direction, at least over a certain range. |
| US08397880B2 |
Pad retraction device
A clip comprising: a body portion; one or more arms connected to the body portion and projecting away from the body portion; a deformable portion of the one or more arms that is distal from the body portion; and a lip on the one or more arms that is proximate to the body portion. |
| US08397876B2 |
Cable-operated device and parking brake containing the same
A cable-operated device (50) suitable for use with a parking brake (10) includes a cable (54) having first end coupled to a lever (52) of a brake mechanism. A supporting member (58) supports at least one longitudinal portion of the cable (54). One end of a coil spring (56) is affixed to the lever (52) and the other end may be affixed to the supporting member (58) or a bracket (81). The cable (54) extends through at least a portion of the coil spring (56). One end of a liner (61) is affixed to the supporting member (58) and the liner (61) surrounds at least a bent portion of the coil spring (56) that is supported on a guide surface (58b). |
| US08397873B2 |
Zoned elevator system
An elevator system includes at least two independently operable elevator cars in an elevator shaft. The elevator system controls loading of one of the car at ground floor level by moving the other car to a level below the ground floor level. |
| US08397871B2 |
Bearing lubrication device
A device comprises a rotor element which is connected to a stator element by at least one roller bearing, and a grease storage recipient for lubricating the roller bearing. The supply of grease from the grease storage recipient is controlled by a temperature-dependent expansion element. |
| US08397866B2 |
Enclosed track system for a fall protection system
Embodiments of the invention provide a fall protection system having first and second truss members, at a first distance from each other; first and second slotted housings at a second distance from each other, each housing defining a first track therein; a first plurality of connecting members connecting the first truss member to the first housing; a second plurality of connecting members connecting the second truss member to the second housing; and a first plurality of cross members connecting the first housing to the second housing. Some fall protection systems include at least two spaced apart support members and may have a length ranging from about 10 feet to about 2,000 feet in length. |
| US08397861B1 |
Diaphragm surround
A surround for supporting a diaphragm used to create acoustic waves includes a plurality of first rib sections extending away from the diaphragm and a second rib section having a zigzag pattern and being secured to an end of each of the first rib sections. As the diaphragm starts moving away from a home position in an intended direction of travel which is substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the diaphragm lies when the diaphragm is in the home position, the zigzag pattern of the second rib section starts to straighten out. |
| US08397859B2 |
Electric power steering system
In an electric power steering system, multiple cutouts (45) are formed in a flange portion (36) formed on an axial end portion (23a) of a ball screw nut (23) of a ball screw device that drives a rack shaft. In addition, a motor shaft (6) has a thin-plate portion (44) that extends on the radially outer side of the ball screw nut (23). When the thin-plate portion (44) that extends from the motor shaft (6) is swaged into the cutouts (45) that serve as engagement recesses that have side walls in the circumferential direction, the rotation of the ball screw nut (23) relative to the motor shaft (6) is restricted. |
| US08397852B1 |
Multiple-mode vehicle power system
A vehicle power system includes a constant speed internal combustion engine coupled with an electrical generator for powering an electric motor coupled to the vehicle drive train. An air assist system also coupled to the drive train supplements the electric motor. The air assist system includes an air fan powered by diverted air flow during vehicle travel and by an engine driven air compressor during low vehicle speeds. |
| US08397851B2 |
Swiveling work machine
A swiveling work machine includes: a swivel deck; an engine disposed rearward of the swivel deck; a suction type radiator disposed rearward of the swivel deck; a bonnet covering the engine and the radiator and forming an engine room; a cabin disposed frontward of the engine room; a partition wall standing on the swivel deck between the cabin and the engine room and forming a front portion of the bonnet; an air conditioner main body disposed frontward of the partition wall and in a lower portion of the cabin; an ambient air inlet for supplying ambient air to the air conditioner main body, the ambient air inlet being formed in a portion of the partition wall facing a radiator suction space; and a filter provided in the ambient air inlet. |
| US08397850B2 |
System and method for driving hybrid electric vehicle
Disclosed are a driving system and method of a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle driving system includes a generator to generate electric energy from rotating power input thereto, and an electric motor to generate rotating power from electric energy supplied thereto. An auxiliary drive wheel is movably provided to be raised or lowered. When being lowered, the auxiliary drive wheel is rotated in contact with the ground surface, to provide the generator with rotating power generated upon rotation thereof. A power distributor is provided to distribute the rotating power generated from the electric motor or auxiliary drive wheel, so as to provide the generator with regenerative energy, or to provide a drive wheel with rotating power. A control unit controls distribution of the rotating power by controlling the supply of electric current to the power distributor. |
| US08397849B2 |
Hybrid propulsion road vehicle
A hybrid propulsion road vehicle having: a couple of rear driving wheels; a thermal internal combustion engine; a gearbox, which is arranged in rear position, receives motion from the thermal internal combustion engine and transmits motion to the rear driving wheels, and comprises a gear case housing all the moving parts; a reversible electric machine mechanically connectable to the rear driving wheels; an electric drive controlling the electric machine; and an accumulating system, which is able to store electric energy, is connected to the electric drive and is placed beside the gear case and on the opposite sides of the gear case so as not to longitudinally exceed the extension of the gear case itself. |
| US08397846B2 |
Patient support apparatus with powered wheel
A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame, and a wheel supported with respect to the frame and movable between a lowered position engaging a floor and a raised position spaced from the floor. The patient support apparatus also has a drive assembly with a first mode of operation coupled to the wheel and operable to drive the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor and a second mode of operation decoupled from the wheel so that the wheel is free to rotate when the wheel is in the lowered position and the patient support apparatus is moved along the floor. A first user input is provided to move the wheel between the raised and lowered positions and a second user input is provided to signal the drive assembly to drive the wheel. |
| US08397843B2 |
Output control unit of a vehicle
An output control unit of a vehicle, having a front riding space and a rear riding space, includes a riding detection device for detecting the presence of a passenger in the rear riding space. When the riding detection device detects the passenger, the output control unit regulates the output of the engine as compared with the output when the riding detection device does not detect a passenger in the rear riding space. |
| US08397840B2 |
Replaceable wear band for well drill pipe
A wear band for a well drill pipe which is made up of a coil spring sized to fit at the joint of the well drill pipe or casing. The inner surface of the coil spring includes a textured coating such as a carbide. The outer surface includes a plurality of hydrodynamic dimples defined therein, and preferably both the outer surface and the inner surface are adapted to resist corrosion. The abrasive coating preferably consists essentially of 95% tungsten carbide and a binder of 5% cobalt and coats an amount of the inner surface in the range of 50% to 100%. The hydrodynamic dimples are generally tear drop in shape to act as miniature fluid pumps. As a result, the wear band can be mechanically attached to the drill pipe while eliminating the need for metallurgically-welded hardbands and therefore unaffecting the drill pipe properties and dimensions. |
| US08397831B2 |
Rotary tool having a manual ratchet mechanism
A rotary power tool according to the invention includes a manual ratchet mechanism having a driveshaft driven by a motor, an output shaft, a disengageable shaft coupling element for mechanically coupling the driveshaft to the output shaft, and a disengageable ratchet element for blocking rotation of the output shaft unidirectionally. The invention provides that one of the coupling element and the ratchet element is engaged, the other one is disengaged. |
| US08397828B2 |
Spoolable downhole control system and method
A spoolable downhole control system includes a length of one or more lines suitable for the downhole environment. The spoolable downhole control system also includes one or more components disposed in signal bearing communication with the one or more lines and along a length of the one or more lines, prior to the system being connected with a string. The components are capable of actuating an operation. A method for creating a downhole system includes spooling out the spoolable downhole control system and joining the one or more components with one or more subs of the tubing string. |
| US08397827B2 |
Reducing trips in well operations
A well system can include a tubular string in a blowout preventer stack, a releasable hanger of the tubular string supported by a support surface, and the released hanger permitting the tubular string to displace further through the blowout preventer stack. A tubular string can comprise a releasable hanger including at least one inwardly retractable support, an indicator sub interconnected a distance from the hanger, and wherein the support retracts in response to a stimulus, whereby the tubular string is released for displacement. A method of measuring a distance between a support surface and a location in a blowout preventer stack can include displacing a tubular string into the blowout preventer stack, contacting a releasable hanger with the surface, indicating the distance from the surface to the location along the tubular string, and then releasing the hanger, thereby permitting the tubular string to displace further through the blowout preventer stack. |
| US08397826B2 |
Pump down liner expansion method
A string to be expanded is run in with a running string that supports a swage assembly. The running string is secured to the existing tubular and the top of the string to be expanded is sealed around the supported running string. The pressure applied to the annular space above the seal drives the liner over the swage. A cement shoe is affixed to the lower end of the string that is expanded after becoming detached from the running string assembly. When the expanded liner bottoms on a support, generally the hole bottom, the cement is delivered through the shoe and the expansion of the top of the string into a recess of the string above continues. The swage assembly with the seal and the anchor are then recovered as the running string is removed during the process of expanding the top of the expanded string into the lower end recess of the existing string already in the wellbore. |
| US08397825B1 |
Hydraulic lubricating system and method of use thereof
A hydraulic lubricator assembly includes a spool for enclosing a downhole tool, wherein the spool comprises an upper end and a lower end. The hydraulic lubricator assembly further includes a pressure isolation connector attached to the upper end of the spool, wherein the pressure isolation connector includes a lower packing gland and an upper packing gland. A hydraulic assembly is positioned above the pressure isolation connector, wherein the hydraulic assembly comprises a rod connected to the downhole tool, and wherein the hydraulic assembly lowers the downhole tool into the wellbore. |
| US08397824B2 |
Hydraulic control system for actuating downhole tools
A hydraulic control system (100) for actuating a downhole tool. The hydraulic control system (100) includes a plurality of valve members (124) operable to selectively allow and prevent fluid communication between high and low pressure sources (54, 56) and first and second sides (58, 60) of an actuator (64) operably associated with the downhole tool. In the hydraulic control system (100), a first valve member (124) is ported between the high pressure source (54) and the first side (58) of the actuator (64), a second valve member (124) is ported between the low pressure source (56) and the first side (58) of the actuator (64), a third valve member (124) is ported between the high pressure source (54) and the second side (60) of the actuator (64) and a fourth valve member (124) is ported between the low pressure source (56) and the second side of the actuator (60). |
| US08397821B2 |
Caisson two-phase emulsion reducer
A seafloor pump assembly is installed within a caisson that has an upper end for receiving a flow of fluid containing gas and liquid. The pump assembly is enclosed within a shroud that has an upper end that seals around the pump assembly and a lower end that is below the motor and is open. A separating device is connected to an upper end portion of the discharge pipe within the caisson. The separating device causes separation of gas from the flow containing gas and liquid to be enhanced prior to the flow reaching the operating liquid level in the caisson. |
| US08397820B2 |
Method and apparatus for wellbore fluid treatment
A tubing string assembly is disclosed for fluid treatment of a wellbore. The tubing string can be used for staged wellbore fluid treatment where a selected segment of the wellbore is treated, while other segments are sealed off. The tubing string can also be used where a ported tubing string is required to be run in a pressure tight condition and later is needed to be in an open-port condition. |
| US08397818B2 |
Method and device for cleaning a cavity in a petroleum well
A method and a device for removing sediment or other undesired material (28) from a cavity (24) in a petroleum well (2) in which a tool (30) is moved down into the petroleum well (2). The method including placing a detonable charge (34) in the tool (30) and detonating the charge (34) after the tool (30) has been positioned in the petroleum well (2). |
| US08397817B2 |
Methods for downhole sampling of tight formations
There is provided a method of sampling a subterranean formation. The method includes the steps of creating a side bore into the wall of a well traversing the formation, sealing the wall around the side bore to provide a pressure seal between the side bore and the well, pressurizing the side bore beyond a pressure inducing formation fracture while maintaining the seal, pumping a fracturing fluid adapted to prevent a complete closure of the fracture through the side bore into the fracture, and reversing the pumping to sample formation fluid through the fracture and the side bore. |
| US08397814B2 |
Perforating string with bending shock de-coupler
A bending shock de-coupler for use with a perforating string can include perforating string connectors at opposite ends of the de-coupler. A bending compliance of the de-coupler may substantially increase between the connectors. A well system can include a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple bending shock de-couplers, each of the de-couplers having a bending compliance, and at least two of the bending compliances being different from each other. A perforating string can include a bending shock de-coupler interconnected longitudinally between two components of the perforating string. A bending compliance of the bending shock de-coupler may substantially decrease in response to angular displacement of one of the components a predetermined amount relative to the other component. |
| US08397810B2 |
Wireless tag tracer method
A fluid can be tracked in a wellbore utilizing at least one WID tag, such as an LW tag or an RFID tag, entrained in the fluid. A WID tag reader can be disposed and/or displaced in the wellbore, for example, on a drill string or a casing string. A reader can be utilized to locate the at least one WID tag in the wellbore. A reader can be housed in a drill string sub. A fluid entrained with at least one WID tag can be utilized as a tracer fluid. A WID tag can be entrained in cement or a drilling or fracture fluid. |
| US08397809B2 |
Technique and apparatus to perform a leak off test in a well
A technique that is usable with a well includes deploying at least one sensing device in the well and during a leak off test, communicating a signal that is indicative of a measurement that is acquired by the sensing device(s) over a wired infrastructure of a drill string. The technique includes controlling the leak off test based at least in part on the communication. |
| US08397807B2 |
Processing hydrocarbon materials
Systems and methods that include providing, e.g., obtaining or preparing, a material that includes a hydrocarbon carried by an inorganic substrate, and exposing the material to a plurality of energetic particles, such as accelerated charged particles, such as electrons or ions. |
| US08397799B2 |
Automatic switching two pipe hydronic system
A system for simultaneously heating and cooling a first portion and a second portion of a space utilizes a plurality of boilers, chillers, heat exchangers, condenser pumps and closed loop pumps by using a plurality of sensors indicating the temperatures inside and outside the space and a controlling module controlling the operation of the system. The present disclosure can be easily achieved by making minor configurational modifications to existing systems, thereby increasing system versatility. |
| US08397796B2 |
Porous media cold plate
A heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device including a base having a recess with a base coolant inlet opening and a base coolant outlet opening. A porous core is positioned within the recess of the base, and has a core coolant inlet opening and a core coolant outlet opening that are arranged in corresponding relation with base coolant inlet opening and a base coolant outlet opening so as to be in fluid communication. A porous gasket is pinched between the porous core and the base. |
| US08397795B2 |
Heat exchanger for vehicular air conditioning apparatus
In a heater core that constitutes part of a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, first and second fins having louvers therein are arranged between a plurality of tubes. The first fins are disposed on a first heating section, which faces toward a first front passage through which air from a first blower unit flows, whereas the second fins are disposed on a second heating section, which faces toward a first rear passage through which air from a second blower unit flows. Further, as a boundary portion between the first heating section and the second heating section, partitioning fins, which do not contain any louvers therein, are disposed separately from the first and second fins. |
| US08397794B2 |
Twin roll caster and method of control thereof
Described herein is a twin roll caster including a pair of casting rolls arranged parallel to one another with a gap between the casting rolls and side dams parallel to one another forming a pool between the casting rolls and side dams. A side dam support is provided that applies a compression force on at least one of the side dams at a compression angle relative to the axis of the casting rolls. |
| US08397788B2 |
Rear window roller blind with angled support rail
A rear window roller blind is provided that has a winding shaft that is rotatably seated between winding shaft bearing pieces. The two winding shaft bearing pieces are fixed to one another by a connecting strut. The connecting strut consists of an angled profile rail. |
| US08397781B2 |
Device for turning up body ply
In a body ply turn-up device, a plurality of arm components are circumferentially arranged to be movable in the axial direction of an operating shaft and to be pivotable radially of the operating shaft, guide members are respectively supported at both sides on an end portion of each arm component to be rotatable about an axis parallel to a pivot axis of each arm component, coil springs are interposed in respective spaces each between two guide members respectively supported on the arm components adjoining to be rotatable about respective arc axes around the operating shaft, and pressing members, which supplementarily cover respective spaces between the coil springs are rotatably supported on the arm components ahead of or behind the coil springs. Thus, the turn-up device can turn up both width-end portions of the body ply by an even pressing force without leaving any spaces in the circumference even in the case of being high in turn-up height. |
| US08397779B2 |
Rod wrappers
This invention relates to a material application system for applying material to a wrapper. The material application system comprises a material applicator means and an electronic application control means. Also provided is a rod making machine comprising a rod making section and the material application system. The invention also provides a method of applying material to a wrapper used in the tobacco industry comprising supplying a wrapper and applying a material to the wrapper using a material applicator and an electronic applicator control means therefore, which electronic applicator control means ensures accurate location of material application in an electronically adjustable variable manner. |
| US08397778B2 |
Flat-running device for a motor vehicle and mounted assembly incorporating it
The present invention relates to a flat-running device intended for equipping a mounted assembly without an air chamber for a motor vehicle, and to such a mounted assembly incorporating this device.This device (30) comprises a wheel rim (10) with a plurality of blocks (10a and 10b) and a tire (20) comprising beads (21 and 22) mounted against flanges (12 and 13) of the rim, the device comprising: a structure (31) for supporting the tire, which structure is to be mounted around the rim and is divided into ring sectors (32) in the form of an arc of a circle, surmounted by a casing (34) which is intended for supporting the tire when the latter is running flat and which has two projecting lateral portions (34b) partially covering lateral faces (32b) of the structure, and means (33) for locking the beads against said flanges, which connect the annular supporting structure to the beads. According to the invention, these lateral portions incorporate means (34c) for holding the sectors, opposing the axial displacement of the latter under lateral forces in the event of a shock during running in the inflated state or in the event of running flat, so that these sectors remain surmounted by the casing. |
| US08397776B2 |
Tire with innerliner containing talc and epichlorohydrin rubber
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and an innerliner in direct contact with the carcass, the innerliner comprising a rubber composition comprising: at least one elastomer selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, brominated butyl rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, polybutadiene, copolymer of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene, and brominated copolymer of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene; epichlorohydrin rubber; and at least one delaminated talc having a BET surface area according to DIN 66131 of 10-40 m2/g, an average particle size (D50) of 4-8 microns, determined by laser diffraction measurement, and a lamellarity index of 3-15. |
| US08397775B2 |
Cushioning rubber composition and pneumatic tire employing the same
A cushioning rubber composition contains 5 to 20 parts by mass of first carbon black having an iodine adsorption number of 50 to 70 mg/g and a dibutyl phthalate oil absorption of 130 to 150 ml/100 g and 15 to 30 parts by mass of second carbon black having an iodine adsorption number of 110 to 130 mg/g and a dibutyl phthalate oil absorption of 105 to 120 ml/100 g as well as sulfur and a vulcanization accelerator with respect to 100 parts by mass of a rubber component, while the mass ratio of sulfur to the vulcanization accelerator is 1.0 to 2.3. |
| US08397773B2 |
Tire with tread having circumferential grooves, first resonators and second resonators
A pneumatic tire (10) provided with a rib-like land portion (110) having first resonators formed therein, and also with a rib-like land portion (210) located, when the tire is mounted on a vehicle, on the side of the tire closer to the vehicle than the rib-like land portion (110) and having second resonators formed therein. Each of the first and second resonators includes an air chamber recessed inward in the radial direction of the tire, and also includes a narrow groove communicating with the air chamber and a circumferential groove. The volume of the air chamber of the first resonator is greater than the volume of the air chamber of the second resonator. |
| US08397772B1 |
Emergency tire support device for low air pressure tire
The emergency tire support device for a low air pressure tire includes an elongate belt formed by three layers of material that protects and supports a deflated tire. The belt wraps around the tire and is secured thereto by fasteners. The three layers include an outer layer of cloth, an inner layer of plastic, and an intermediate layer of cloth. A plurality of tacks extends through the inner layer, and the intermediate layer sandwiches the head of the tacks between the inner and intermediate layers. The tacks pierce the tread area of the tire as the tire rolls over the belt during installation, causing the belt to automatically wrap around the tire. The tacks also prevent slip. The inner and intermediate layers are stitched onto the first layer to form a plurality of longitudinal pockets. The pockets are filled with scrap rubber. |
| US08397769B2 |
Apparatus for transferring incoherent or liquid material
Apparatus (1) for transferring incoherent or liquid material from a discharge station (S1) to a collection station (S2) is provided with a tubular conduit (6) located between said stations (S1, S2), and a tubular bag (9) for transferring the material from the discharge station (S1) to the collection station (S2); the tubular bag (9) develops longitudinally inside the conduit (6) between the discharge station (S1) and the collection station (S2), and is kept adherent to the conduit (6) likewise an interior coating of same conduit (6) by a pneumatic device (24, 31) which exhibits a suction region distributed along the conduit (6) between two longitudinal ends (7) of same conduit (6). |
| US08397768B2 |
Static sensing fuel pump lever brace
A removable brace wedges between a fuel nozzle activating lever and the nozzle handle finger guard. A static electricity sensing circuit has antennas on both protruding sides of the brace. Visual and audible warning signals activate when a user approaches the nozzle with an electrostatic charge in the user's body. Light emitting diodes in upwardly extending protruding side portions are highly visible. A piezo-electric sounding device gives a loud warning. A magnet enables the brace to be attached to a metal part of the vehicle, such as inside the fuel cover door, when not in use. |
| US08397763B2 |
Low pressure valve assembly
A valve assembly controls the flow of fluid at very low pressures of about 5 psi or less to and from inflatable chambers. Each valve assembly has a plurality of valves that operate between a closed and an open position. A first conduit or channel directs the fluid to each of the valves; and a plurality of second conduits each associated with one of the plurality of valves communicates with an inflatable chamber. Each of the valves has a valve seat and a valve stem with a head that seats on or with the valve seat to effect a seal in the closed position. The valve stem has a portion positioned to be moved by the solenoid when activated. The separate valves also act as relief valves. A vent valve is also provided and configured to operate between open and closed positions. |
| US08397762B2 |
Fluidic system with improved flow characteristics
The invention relates to a fluidic system that includes a body structure having a chamber disposed therein. The fluidic system includes at least one fluid input at a first end of the chamber and at least one fluid output at a second end of the chamber. The fluidic system also includes a sensor device (e.g., an acoustic device) having a surface defining a portion of a surface of the chamber. The fluidic system also includes a first surface at the first end of the chamber oriented at an oblique or arcuate (e.g., curved) angle relative to the surface of the sensor device to direct fluid through the chamber. |
| US08397758B2 |
Valve
A valve, particularly a proportional pressure control valve for controlling fluid flows, includes a valve housing (10) having at least three fluid-conducting connections in the form of a pump connection (P), a use connection (A) and of a tank (T) connection. To connect the pump connection (T) to the use connection (A) and the use connection (A) to the tank connection (T), a control piston (18) can be guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner inside the valve housing (10). This control piston is provided for establishing a fluid-conducting connection between at least one of the connections (P) and a pilot chamber (20) of a pilot valve (22) having a connecting channel (24). A valve part (40) of the pilot valve (22) is guided in the pilot chamber (20) in a longitudinally displaceable manner. The connecting channel (24) has a throttle in the direction of the pilot chamber (20) of the pilot valve (22) with its valve part. A guiding device (38) oriented toward the pilot chamber (20) and provided for guiding the fluid flow is provided next to the throttle to divert the fluid flow, conveyed inside the connecting channel (24) and flowing toward the valve part (40), at least partially away from this valve part. |
| US08397755B2 |
Coupler with stop valve
A coupler having a stop valve, in which one of the connectors comprises a cylindrical wall, and a fixed shaft arranged along an axis of the cylindrical wall. A valve seat is arranged around the fixed shaft, and the valve seat is tapered to widen a diameter thereof. A cylindrical valve element is fitted onto the fixed shaft to slide in its axial direction while being pushed by an elastic member, and an inner circumferential face of the valve element is tapered to be congruent with the taper of the valve seat. An engagement portion which is diametrically larger than the leading end portion of the valve element is formed on the outer circumferential face of the valve element at an intermediate portion. Another connector comprises a cylindrical portion. A pushing portion is formed at an end of the cylindrical portion for pushing the valve element at the engagement portion. |
| US08397753B2 |
Systems and methods providing hands free water faucet control
A hands free water system and method for use with an existing or new wash basin. |
| US08397751B1 |
Vortex reducer
A vortex reducing apparatus and method for drainage of a process tank are described. The vortex reducer including a keel having a longitudinal axis, a top flow foil coupled to the keel and a bottom flow foil coupled to the keel. The top flow foil and the bottom flow foil are each coupled to the keel at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. |
| US08397750B2 |
Oil suction device for automatic transmission
An oil suction device for an automatic transmission includes: an oil pan that receives oil supplied to various portions of the automatic transmission and returned to the oil pan and reserves the received oil therein; an oil strainer located over the oil pan; a suction port drawing in the oil reserved in the oil pan; and an elastic wall provided selectively between a portion of the oil pan that receives a relatively small amount of the oil returned to the oil pan and the suction port, the elastic wall extending from a bottom surface of the oil pan and reaching a lower surface of the oil strainer to interrupt a flow of oil. |
| US08397748B2 |
Check valve having two seats
A valve includes a body, a cavity in the body, and a check valve formed in the cavity. The check valve includes a poppet having a first end and a second end, and a first seat and a second seat, wherein the first seat is formed at the first end, the second seat is formed at the second end, and a diameter of the second seat is greater than a diameter of the first seat. |
| US08397746B1 |
System for harvesting rainwater
A system for rainwater harvesting includes a rain barrel adapted for collecting and storing rainwater runoff gravity-fed from a rooftop through a downspout. A substantially rigid downspout diverter comprises an inlet section, an overflow section, and an elongated connector section interconnecting the inlet section and the overflow section. The inlet section has a first end adapted for communicating with an end of the downspout and a second end communicating with an inlet opening formed with the rain barrel. The overflow section has a first end communicating with an overflow opening formed with the rain barrel and a second end extending away from the rain barrel. |
| US08397745B2 |
Fluid activated flow control apparatus
Embodiments of a fluid flow regulating device and methods of using the same are described. Certain embodiments manages fluid flow between one or more input ports and output ports at least partly in response to fluid pressure changes and/or by a mechanism driven by fluid flow, optionally without using electrical power. |
| US08397744B2 |
Distribution valve monitor and distribution valve incorporating same
A distribution valve monitor to monitor the operation of a distribution valve of the type having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, which couples the outlets to the inlet according to a desired fluid distribution pattern comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors disposed at spaced locations about the distribution valve to sense activation of the valve to different operating conditions. A controller communicates with the sensors and records data representing the operation of the valve. The recorded data is examined to detect improper operation of the distribution valve. |
| US08397743B2 |
Internal relief valve apparatus for use with fluid regulators
An example internal relief valve disclosed herein includes a relief valve seat coupled to a first end of the relief valve stem and to engage a first side of a sensing apparatus to prevent fluid flow between the first side of the sensing apparatus and a second side of the sensing apparatus when the internal relief valve is in a closed position. A bleed hole within a surface of the sensing apparatus and separate from the opening of the sensing apparatus is dimensioned to provide a controlled flow rate between the first side and the second side of the sensing apparatus when the internal relief valve is in an open position. A seal is disposed along a body of the relief valve stem upstream from the bleed hole and the valve seat to prevent fluid flow between the first side of the sensing apparatus and the second side of the sensing apparatus via the opening of the sensing apparatus when the relief valve is in the open position. |
| US08397735B2 |
Dirt separator device with level control
An apparatus for level control in a fluid tank is provided, wherein the fluid tank is designed to accommodate a supply of a fluid. The apparatus includes at least one conveying line through which the fluid can flow and which has at least one control opening which is hydraulically connected to the fluid tank. The control opening is designed to at least largely prevent fluid flowing out of the conveying line and into the fluid tank when at least one minimum level in the fluid tank is exceeded, and the control opening is further designed to allow fluid to flow out of the conveying line and into the fluid tank when the at least one minimum level in the fluid tank is undershot. |
| US08397730B2 |
Tracheal tube adaptor and flaring jig
The present disclosure describes systems and methods that utilize a tracheal tube adaptor system. The tracheal tube adaptor system includes a tracheal tube adaptor and/or a flaring jig. A proximal end of a tracheal tube may be flared and the tracheal tube adaptor may be coupled to the proximal end of the tracheal tube. The tracheal tube adaptor may be configured to easily attach and detach an end connector. The end connector may be used to couple a variety of medical devices such as a ventilator, a manual respirator, a nebulizer, a vaporizer, suctioning equipment, and so forth, to the tracheal tube. The use of the tracheal tube adaptor system and methods enables the rapid detachment and attachment of various end connectors, thus allowing the coupling of the tracheal tube to a variety of medical devices. |
| US08397728B2 |
Cushion to frame assembly mechanism
A full-face mask assembly includes a frame and a cushion provided to the frame. The cushion is adapted to form a seal around the patient's nose and mouth. A flexible lip is provided to an interior wall of the cushion. The flexible lip is adapted to engage the frame to provide a seal in use. |
| US08397726B2 |
Small size breathing protective device arranged to be held in the users mouth
A breathing protective device comprising a tubular elongated filter housing defining at least one wall between a first end and a second end, said wall having at least one opening, a filter in the filter house and a mouthpiece having an air canal with an opening arranged to be introduced into and held in the user's mouth whereby said filter house extends parallel to a line between the corners of the user's mouth, said air canal being in communication with at least one space within said housing for filtered inhalation air and exhalation air respectively, and wherein either the filter or the filter with the housing is disposable, wherein said filter is arranged to separate a first space from a second space and in that said air canal is arranged to enable supply of inhalation air from said first space via said filter and to enable exhalation air to escape via said opening from said second space. |
| US08397723B2 |
Emergency oxygen supply device
An emergency oxygen supply device for an aircraft comprises an oxygen pressure tank, and at least one oxygen mask which is conductively connected thereto. At least two electrically actuatable and activatable shut-off valves which are arranged parallel to one another are arranged in the conduit from the oxygen pressure tank to the at least one oxygen mask. Of these shut-off valves, at least one shut-off valve has an NO-function and at least one shut-off valve an NC-function. |
| US08397717B2 |
Inhaler with mouthpiece having a microbiological protective function
The present invention relates to an inhaler with a novel mouthpiece having a microbiological protective function. The inhalers are used for administration of a pharmaceutical substance, substance formulation or substance mixture. |
| US08397714B2 |
Dispensing device
An inhaler is provided with a restricting member to prevent unintentional actuation of the inhaler. Also provided is an inhaler with an extensible strap joining a dust cap to the housing of an inhaler, the strap being particularly suited for use with inhalers that comprise a restricting member. The inhaler is useful, for example, in the treatment of asthma. |
| US08397713B2 |
Mouthpiece and flow rate controller for intrapulmonary delivery devices
This invention relates to a therapeutic device and method of administering precisely measured doses of a therapeutic substance via inhalation to pediatric and adult patients. More specifically, the invention relates to a therapeutic device and method of administering inhaled medication which delivers a controlled flow rate to a mouthpiece for administration of medicament to young children and adults with a diminished capacity, at a rate of about 25.8 L/minute to 30.2 L/minute. |
| US08397711B2 |
Solar collector
A solar collector has a polygonal top panel forming a top face and having at least three edges, a similarly polygonal bottom panel forming a bottom face directed away from the top face and fitted congruently to the top panel to form a flow passage extending between the faces, and at least four connectors projecting from at least three of the edges. |
| US08397708B2 |
Compositions and processes for assembling appliances
A method of assembling an appliance using a curable silicone composition optionally containing spacer beads of an appropriate size to permit adhesively joining the appliance parts in a desirably spaced-apart arrangement. |
| US08397707B2 |
Portable and compact grill apparatus
A portable and compact grill apparatus can be implemented in the form of free standing portable propane fueled cooking device, which utilizes one or more legs (e.g., four legs) to support the cooking surface. The device permits a standard propane tank to fit between the legs and directly under the cooking surface. The design permits one of the legs to be removed (by rotating it away from the center) to accommodate the exchange of the propane unit (required for refill of fuel). This design creates a very compact unit due to the fact that the fuel tank, burner and cooking surface all fit in a vertical column thus requiring minimal space. |
| US08397703B2 |
High voltage resonator-amplifier with an optimized structure for radiofrequency ignition system
A high voltage resonator-amplifier for a radiofrequency ignition system that can be used in an internal combustion engine, the resonator-amplifier including at least two electrodes, a coil arranged in alignment with the electrodes along a longitudinal axis, and a linking mechanism retaining the coil and the electrodes in a relatively fixed position. The coil is wound around a closed bend which in turn wraps around the longitudinal axis. |
| US08397702B2 |
Control circuit for capacitor discharge ignition system
A control circuit for use with an ignition system of a light-duty combustion engine. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a charging circuit, a timing circuit and a shut down circuit that includes a manual stop switch. Activation of the manual stop switch causes the control circuit to shut down the engine, and can do so even if the manual stop switch is only momentarily engaged by the operator. |
| US08397701B2 |
Fuel system for multi-fuel engine
A fuel system and a method of operation of the fuel system are described in the context of a multi-fuel internal combustion engine. In one example, the method includes varying a proportion of fuel supplied by a fuel pump to an engine and a fuel separator. The method may be particularly useful for a dual fuel engine. |
| US08397700B2 |
Abnormality diagnosis device for exhaust gas recirculation device
An abnormality diagnosis device for an exhaust gas recirculation device in an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust gas recirculation device has an exhaust gas recirculation valve that adjusts the amount of recirculation exhausts gas returned from an exhaust passage to an intake passage of the engine. The abnormality diagnosis device includes a control section that changes the exhaust gas recirculation valve to diagnose an abnormality in the exhaust gas recirculation device. When the abnormality diagnosis execution condition is met, the control section, prior to the execution of the valve closing operation, inhibits the opening degree adjustment and executes a valve opening process to increase the opening degree of the valve from the opening degree at the time to a second target opening degree greater than the first target opening degree. |
| US08397699B2 |
Fuel pretreater
A fuel pretreater apparatus for pretreating fuel for combustion is provided. A conversion tube is provided for vaporized fuel to flow therethrough. The conversion tube includes an intake end for receiving the vaporized fuel and an outlet end for dispersing the vaporized fuel. The conversion tube includes a hollow tapered interior wall having a narrower diameter near the intake end and a wider diameter near the outlet end. A tapered conversion rod is removably placed inside the conversion tube. The tapered conversion rod is conically tapered along at least one half of a length of the tapered conversion rod. The tapered conversion rod includes a narrow end corresponding to the narrower diameter of the conversion tube near the intake end and a wide end corresponding to the wider diameter of the conversion tube near the outlet end. |
| US08397697B2 |
Method and device for operating an injection valve
In a method and a device for operating an injection valve, a relevant time (t_ACT) is determined during a catch phase (PH_CATCH) when the electromagnetic actuator reaches a predetermined fraction value of the electric current, which value is smaller than a maximum current value, and a fraction of interval (T_FRAC) since the start of the respective catch phase (PH_CATCH) is determined depending thereon and the injection valve is diagnosed depending on the fraction of interval (T_FRAC) and the predetermined minimum and maximum threshold interval values (THD_T_MIN, THD_T_MAX). |
| US08397696B2 |
Comprehensive fuel pressure damper
A fuel pressure damper (10) includes a housing (14) defining an inlet (40) for receiving fuel from a fuel rail. A cover (12) is coupled to the housing to define an interior space (15). A flexible diaphragm (30) has a periphery (32) secured to at least the housing or the cover and has a freely movable central portion (28) that divides the interior space into first and second isolated chambers (42, 44). The diaphragm has a shaped feature (48) such that the central portion can be displaced over a distance. The inlet communicates with the second chamber (44). A spring cup (26) is in the first chamber (42) and is engaged with the central portion of the diaphragm. A variable rate compression spring (18) is in the first chamber and is disposed between the spring cup and the cover. The central portion of the diaphragm and spring are constructed and arranged to dampen low to high magnitude fuel pressure pulsations in the second chamber. |
| US08397695B2 |
Ignition energy management with ion current feedback to correct spark plug fouling
A system and method for operating an engine having ionization signal sensing include detecting plug fouling and controlling the engine using progressively more aggressive control strategies if the fouling condition persists. A first control strategy may be used when the number of engine starts or running time are below corresponding thresholds and a second strategy otherwise. The first strategy may employ progressively more aggressive control procedures to eliminate spark plug deposits that may include repetitive sparking, exhaust cycle sparking, increasing engine loading, advancing spark timing, increasing air/fuel ratio, and increasing idle speed, for example. The second strategy may include similar corrective actions employed in a different order and/or to a lesser degree in an attempt to eliminate plug fouling without any noticeable change in engine operation or performance as perceived by the vehicle operator. The control strategies may be applied to individual cylinders, cylinder banks, or all cylinders. |
| US08397694B2 |
Airflow-based crank throttle control in a torque-based system
A method of torque-based control for an internal combustion engine may include determining a desired airflow rate into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine during an engine start condition, determining a torque limit for a torque-based engine control module based on the desired airflow rate, and regulating engine torque based on the determined torque limit. |
| US08397692B2 |
Method for synchronizing injection with the engine phase in an electric injector controlled engine
In a method relating to an engine with n cylinders, fuel is injected in a predetermined order into the cylinders in a manner which is synchronized with the position of the pistons of the engine. The method includes the following steps after start-up: injection into m cylinders in a predetermined order of injection; measurement of engine speed and/or acceleration; continuation of injection in a predetermined order of injection if engine speed and/or acceleration exceed(s) a predetermined threshold; continuation of injection with a delay in the event of the contrary. The method can be used with respect to the start-up of a direct injection engine. |
| US08397691B2 |
Work apparatus with internal combustion engine
A work apparatus having an internal combustion engine includes a body case (100) that houses the engine and other components of the apparatus and a hood (102) that removably covers a top opening of body case (100). The hood (102) has an inclined pin (104) extending aslant downward toward one end of the hood (102) from a portion near the one end. The body case has an inclined bore (106) for receiving the inclined pin (104). A rear end portion of the hood (102) is locked to the body case (100) by a known lock means. The inclined pin (104) wears an elastic tube (112) on its outer circumference. |
| US08397686B2 |
Engine intake port arrangement for camshaft with differential valve lift
An engine assembly may include an engine structure, first and second intake valves, and a camshaft assembly. The engine structure may define a combustion chamber, a first intake port in communication with the combustion chamber and directing intake air flow toward a central region of the combustion chamber, and a second intake port in communication with the combustion chamber. The first intake valve may open and close the first intake port and the second intake valve may open and close the second intake port. The camshaft assembly may include a first intake lobe that opens the first intake valve and a second intake lobe that opens the second intake valve. The first intake lobe may be rotationally offset from the second intake lobe in a rotational direction of the camshaft assembly. |
| US08397685B2 |
Fuel injection system
An engine includes a fuel injector support element to support a fuel injector and define a first opening through which the fuel injector can inject fuel. A first piston defines a substantially cylindrical inner chamber and a portal into the substantially cylindrical inner chamber. One or more second pistons are arranged to reciprocate inside the substantially cylindrical inner chamber and to define, in cooperation with the substantially cylindrical inner chamber, a combustion chamber. The first fuel injector support element and the first piston are arranged such that, during engine operation, the first piston reciprocates relative to the first fuel injector support element to thereby cause the first opening and the first portal to move in and out of alignment with one another. |
| US08397680B2 |
Engine system
An engine system includes a medium which chemically repeats storage and release of hydrogen to provide an engine system where CO2 emissions can be suppressed and system efficiency is excellent. The engine system includes a hydrogen supply device for producing hydrogen rich gas from a medium which chemically repeats the storage and release of hydrogen, and drives an engine using the hydrogen rich gas produced in the hydrogen supply device as one of the fuels. This engine system is characterized by comprising a waste heat supply device for supplying waste heat of the engine to hydrogen supply device, a generator which generates electricity by power of the engine, an energy storage device for storing electric power produced by the generator, and a motor for converting electric power discharged from the energy storage device into power. |
| US08397675B2 |
Apparatus and method for loading an animal feeder
A vacuum-based filling device allows a user to transfer quantities of heavy or difficult to manage materials from a dependent position into a delivery system or storage container at a higher elevation or less accessible position. This allows the person filling the delivery system or storage container to remain at a safe and convenient location while operating the vacuum-based filling system. For example, in the case of a feeder for animals, the user is able to fill the storage portion of the feeder from ground level without having to climb a ladder or other unsafe device in order to elevate the feed and place it into the feeder. The vacuum-based filling device uses a motor to create a vacuum within the storage container via a hose connected between the vacuum motor and storage container. Another hose is coupled between the storage container and a container holding the feed. The vacuum created within the storage container draws the feed from its container into the storage container. |
| US08397673B2 |
Method of and system for supplying feed
Method of supplying feed to animals with the aid of a group of feed stations which are accessible to those animals, wherein the feed stations, following the identification of an animal, supply feed to that animal according to a feed program for that animal adjusted to that individual animal and taking into account data relating to earlier feed supplies to that animal, wherein data relating to a feed supply to an animal are made available to each feed station via data connections, and wherein, in the event of failure of the data connection for at least one of the feed stations, at least one of the feed stations is operated to switch over to a safety feed program to reduce the feed supply to an animal identified at that feed station. |
| US08397672B2 |
Pet bed tunnel device
A pet bed having a base and a plush pad within the base which is sized to support a pet thereon. A tubular member is provided having one end affixed to the base and a non-rigid side wall, the non-rigid side wall being extendable from the base in a first orientation forming a tunnel from the plush pad and collapsible in a second orientation creating a side wall to the base. |
| US08397670B2 |
Unmanned vehicle for supplying feed to an animal
An unmanned vehicle for supplying feed to an animal, which is provided with a frame, with propulsion mechanism disposed thereon, feed supplier for supplying feed and navigator connected to the propulsion mechanism with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, wherein the sensor comprises: a source of radiation for emitting modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for radiation reflected by an object, comprising a matrix with rows and columns of receivers, an optical device and sensor image processor configured to determine for the receivers a phase difference between the emitted electromagnetic radiation and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. Through use of the unmanned vehicle device an excellent and reliable navigation is possible, so that, for example, milk can be conveyed efficiently from a milking implement to a calf. |
| US08397666B2 |
Mandrel coating assembly
Mandrel coating assemblies are provided, as well as methods for coating endoluminal medical devices with a therapeutic agent using the mandrel coating assembly. The endoluminal medical device may be a stent, valve or other medical device, and may include a plurality of interconnected members defining a lumen and plurality of openings positioned along the abluminal surface in communication with the lumen. The mandrel coating assembly may be configured to minimize the coating penetration on the luminal surface of the medical device and/or incidence of webbing or agglomerations of the coating within the openings between the struts. |
| US08397665B2 |
Device for imparting gradations of tint density on a plastic ophthalmic lens
A device for imparting a curved gradation of tint density on an ophthalmic or optical lens is described. This gradient-tinting device utilizes both vertical movement and rotation about the vertical axis of the lens as it moves into a tinting solution. |
| US08397661B2 |
Tire treatment device with shock absorption and vehicle misalignment tolerance
A tire dressing applicator station for use in car wash installations wherein the applicators are tolerant of large degrees of vehicle misalignment, misorientation and entry contact shock. In each applicator structure, an additional pivot or “knuckle” is placed in one of two support arms which are pivotally connected between floor anchors and an elongate mounting carriage to which the dressing applicator elements are attached. Flared tire guides are located on the entry ends of the applicator structures to make contact with the tires of approaching vehicles whereby one or both of the two applicator structures is/are reoriented as necessary to accommodate the actual location of the vehicle, whether it be on the intended path of travel or off to one side and/or angularly misoriented relative to die intended path of vehicle travel. |
| US08397659B1 |
Boat lift canopy entrance
A boat lift canopy entrance for easily entering and exiting a boat upon a boat lift with a canopy without having to stoop and trip while getting into out of the boat. The boat lift canopy entrance includes an entrance closure assembly being fastenable over an entranceway of a canopy and having a piece of material capable of being removably disposed over and closing the entranceway. |
| US08397658B1 |
Buoyancy control systems and methods for submersible objects
A buoyancy control system comprises a housing, first and second pistons, and a source of pressurized air. The pistons are coaxially aligned and are supported by the housing such that movement of the pistons changes a volume of a control chamber. In a shallow mode, fluid flows from the source of pressurized fluid to the first piston such that the pressurized fluid displaces the first piston to alter the volume of the control chamber and thus a buoyancy of the buoyancy control system. In a deep mode, fluid flows from the source of pressurized fluid to the first and second pistons such that the pressurized fluid displaces both of the first and second pistons to alter the volume of the control chamber and thus the buoyancy of the buoyancy control system. |
| US08397657B2 |
Vertical glider robot
A subsea vertical glider robot which supports deployment in subsea oilfield activities is disclosed. This vertical glider robot can also be used in oceanographic research exploration. One application of this vertical glider robot is the autonomous delivery of equipment and sensor systems to a precise predetermined location on the sea floor. The vertical glider robot is deployed from a surface ship or any other suitable sea surface platform and allowed to free fall to the bottom of the ocean. The traversal through the body of water is performed primarily by converting initial potential energy of the apparatus into kinetic energy, it does not use propellers. The traversing of the seafloor is controlled with a steering module that refines orientation while processing information about the vertical glider robot's current position and the target where it has to land. |
| US08397655B2 |
Disconnectable turret mooring system with a rotatable turn table
A vessel includes a hull, a shaft extending from an upper part of the hull to a bottom of the hull, a turret being rotatably supported in the shaft via a turret bearing, a manifold support structure carrying one or more conduits being rotatably supported on the turret via a manifold bearing. The turret includes a cavity for receiving a mooring buoy carrying one or more risers and one or more vertically displaceable actuation members near the manifold bearing for vertically displacing the manifold support structure relative to the turret between a rotational position in which the manifold support structure can rotate relative to the turret via the manifold bearing and a locked position in which the bearing support structure is rotationally locked relative to the turret. |
| US08397654B2 |
Grate plate arrangement
A grate plate arrangement for stepped reciprocating grates includes a grate plate with a front plate fastened to a front wall in the direction of conveyance. The grate plate includes an adjustment plate being clamped between the front plate and the front wall of the grate plate for adjusting a motion gap between the front end of the grate plate and the following grate plate in the direction of conveyance which forms the next grate step. The adjustment plate is calibrated with the front plate still only loosely assembled, in its vertical position that forms the motion gap, and is held in this position by clamping the front plate. |
| US08397653B2 |
Folding table with locking member
A table may include a table top and a leg assembly. The leg assembly may be moved between use and storage positions, and the movement of the leg assembly may move a cross member between a first position in which the cross member resists folding of the table top and a second position in which the cross member facilitates folding and unfolding of the table top. The table top may include first and second sections with portions that overlap and/or interlock when the table top is unfolded. When the table top is in the unfolded position, movement of the leg assembly towards the use position may move the cross member towards the overlapping and/or interlocking portions, which may move the overlapping and/or interlocking portions towards each other. When moved towards each other, the overlapping and/or interlocking portions may be securely connected. |
| US08397648B1 |
Portable table system
A portable table system detachably secured upon various supporting members, such as vertical or angled columns or trees and horizontal rails. The system includes a tabletop having a first and second section each with a cutout for receiving the vertical or angled support member, first and second hook members extending from the underside of the tabletop, and a clamping assembly for being attached to the support member and being coupled to the tabletop via the hook members. Latching assemblies are used to attach the first and second sections together. Fillers may be used to partially fill the cutouts such as when the support member is relatively small or to completely fill the cutouts such as when attached to a horizontal support member. The clamping assembly may include a structure suitable for receiving flat-sided, rounded, or irregular-shaped support members. An optional legged-base assembly may also be used as the support member. |
| US08397647B1 |
Medical device stand and system
A system for an adjustable, portable stand for supporting a portable, non-surgical medical device such as a CPAP or BiPAP machine. The system includes an adjustable and portable stand and a carrying case. The stand includes a platform with a recess along the periphery of the top surface, and a central portion to support the medical device. The recess includes at least one hole for fluid released from the medical device to flow from the central portion of the platform to the recess, through the hole, to a tray beneath the platform. The tray is slidably engaged to and beneath the platform. The platform is supported by a plurality of members releasably attached to one another, and is adjustable in height. |
| US08397638B2 |
Shaped feed-through element with contact rod soldered in
A feed-through element of an ignition device for igniters of airbags or seatbelt tighteners is provided. The feed-through element has a metal support body, at least one first access opening in which a metal rod is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material, and at least one second access opening in which a further metal rod is electrically conductively fixed to the support body by a soldered connection in this access opening. The support body and the access openings are configured as a shaped part. The feed-through element further includes a solder gap between the metal rod and the wall of the second access opening, where the solder gap has a small width. |
| US08397637B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling printing plates and printing plate exposer
A method and an apparatus for handling printing plates which are fed to at least two process stations, include at least one receiving deck on which the printing plates are provided and fed to the different process stations by pivoting the receiving deck. The receiving decks are pivoted first of all about a first rotational axis and likewise about a second rotational axis which is different than the first, in order to ensure favorable receiving angles between the receiving deck and the individual process stations in each case for the printing plate transfer. A printing plate exposer having an apparatus for handling printing plates, is also provided. |
| US08397636B2 |
Method and apparatus for tensioning a printing form
A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum includes securing a first portion of the printing form to a first means for receiving that is coupled to a surface of the drum, and securing a second portion of the printing form to a second means for receiving that is disposed on a rotatable member that extends over a portion of the drum. The rotatable member is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first receiving means and the second receiving means is about the same as a length of the printing form. A rotary torque means is coupled to the rotatable member to apply a substantially constant torque on the member and tension the printing form about the surface of the drum. The rotary torque means adjusts torque on the member which adjusts tension on the printing form. |
| US08397635B2 |
Image transfer mechanism
A mechanism includes an impression member having an impression surface and impression media covering a portion of the impression surface. In one embodiment, the impression media includes one or more apertures. In one embodiment, the impression media is held by an impression media holding mechanism. |
| US08397634B2 |
Anti-marking jackets comprised of fluoropolymer and methods of using in offset printing
In a printing press having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, an anti-marking device is provided. The anti-marking device comprises a flexible jacket comprised of fluoropolymer to engage the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, the anti-marking device removably attached with free play to the transfer cylinder. In an embodiment, a base cover is installed on the transfer cylinder between the anti-marking device and the transfer cylinder. |
| US08397632B2 |
Knotter assembly
The subject invention relates to a knotter assembly for use in a wire-tieing system. The knotter assembly includes a slidably removable twist module assembly, a ratcheted cover arm assembly, and a torque tube assembly having two operating arms that carry all of the operating components for actuating various elements of the knotter assembly. |
| US08397627B2 |
Brewing device for coffee and method for producing a coffee beverage with a brewing device
The brewing device for coffee comprises a brewing unit for the brewing of coffee, a crema valve and a coffee outlet. The brewing unit, the crema valve and the coffee outlet are connected with one another so that in the brewing unit brewed coffee can be directed through the crema valve to the coffee outlet and the crema valve is designed so that the brewed coffee can be swirled through in a crema chamber of the crema valve and a crema is created. The brewing device comprises an injection device for injecting a gas into the crema chamber and a dosing device for dosing the quantity of the gas injected into the crema chamber. With each injection of the gas, a preset quantity of the gas is injected, the preset quantity of the gas being a parameter that can be changed. |
| US08397622B2 |
Bi-directional ammunition lifter
An ammunition elevator device is provided for raising and lowering ammunition. The device includes a housing, a crank assembly, a pawl mechanism, and a transfer linkage. The housing has a chamber flanked by first and second flanges. The assembly includes a crank axle, first and second sprockets mounted to the axle for elevating the ammunition, and a ratchet gear mounted to the axle adjacent to the first flange. The pawl mechanism includes a pawl, a toggle and a pin spreader. The transfer linkage has a rotatable bar pivotably connected to the second flange, a rod that radially shifts relative to the crank axle in response to the sprockets, and a pair of rotatable joints. The ratchet gear connects to the axle adjacent the first flange, wherein the gear cyclically pivots the pawl for raising the toggle. |
| US08397617B2 |
Adapter for converting a magazine-fed firearm to use linked ammunition
An ammunition feed adapter and method of use is provided that converts a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm from a magazine-fed firearm into a belt-fed firearm enabling the firearm to be used as a sustainable source of firepower. Modification of a soldier's standard issue automatic or semi-automatic rifle into a belt-fed firearm increases the options for strategic maneuvering of a combat unit on the field of battle by overcoming the limitations of traditional sources of sustained firepower, such as a Squad Automatic Firearm. |
| US08397616B2 |
Tube weapon
A tube weapon comprises a weapon tube arranged in an exchangeable fashion using screw thread at a breech block of the tube weapon, and a cradle tube in which the weapon tube is axially and displaceably positioned. Despite using screw thread for connecting the weapon tube with the breech end, prevention of axial, and preferably also radial play, are assured, whereby the weapon tube is removable via a cradle tube in front of the breech block. The weapon tube is pre-loaded in the stress direction, which occurs with firing stress, by a screw thread ring arranged in front at the breech block. The screw thread ring encircles the weapon tube and is preferably partially screwed in detachable fashion into the anterior end of the breech block, and efficiently supports itself, axially, with its anterior end located against a collar of the weapon tube. |
| US08397613B2 |
Adaptable launching system
A launch system for use as a standalone munition launcher or as a guest launcher within a main battery host launcher. |
| US08397612B2 |
Modular roller system
In an implementation, a roller system is provided. The roller system includes a modular frame. The frame includes a plurality of weight component attachment points. Each weight component attachment point is adapted to receive one or more weight components such that a weight of the frame and location of a center of gravity of the frame is adjusted by the addition of one or more weight components to each of the plurality of weight component attachment points. The frame further includes at least one arm assembly adapted to connect to the frame, and to apply force to a surface, wherein the force applied to the surface is proportional to the weight of the frame and the location of the center of gravity of the frame. |
| US08397606B2 |
Ratchet wrench with a reduced head
A ratchet wrench includes a connecting section between a head and a handle. The connecting section includes a vertical connecting portion integrally connected to a first side of the head. An extension extends outward from a section of an outer periphery of the head. A first compartment extends from the first side of the head through a second side of the head and rotatably receives a drive member. A second compartment is formed in a portion of the inner periphery of the first compartment aligned with the extension and receives two pawls releasably engaged with the drive member. The second compartment extends towards the extension. A first radius from the outer periphery of the head to a rotating axis defined by the head is smaller than a second radius from the extension to the rotating axis. |
| US08397605B1 |
Ratchet wrench
A ratchet wrench includes a wrench body, a driving ratchet, a change-gear set, a retaining lid and a positioning rod. The driving ratchet is configured to removably engage with a tool part. In virtue of the cooperation between the change-gear set and the positioning rod, when the wrench body is turned toward a predetermined direction of the tool part, the driving ratchet can rotate in an increased speed, thereby improving the efficiency of operating the tool part. |
| US08397603B2 |
Split-torque gear box
A split torque gearbox system provides a multiple path, three stage power gear train that transmits torque from a high-speed engine to a low speed output shaft, while providing equal gear load distribution with a floating pinion in the second stage of reduction. The number of the split modules in the gearbox depends on gearbox configuration, number of high speed input shafts, and transmitted power. The split modules are located around a last stage output gear that combines power from each module and transmits the power to an output such as a main rotor system. |
| US08397600B2 |
Multi-functional feed-screw-type dovetail stage
A multi-functional feed-screw-type dovetail stage may include a male threaded rod having, on each of its ends, a coupling portion for coupling to a control knob; a first support and a second support provided on respective sides of a fixed member for rotatably supporting the male-threaded rod; and the control knob that detachably couples via its coupling portion to the male-threaded rod and serves to rotate the male-threaded rod. A slide member travels until a female-threaded cylinder engaging the fixed member abuts the first support and the second support upon moving. |
| US08397591B2 |
Method and device for controlling the quality, in particular the stiffness and the phase, of a hydro-elastic joint
A process for testing the quality, in particular the stiffness and the phase, of an elastic joint for connecting two other parts while filtering vibrations transmitted between these two other parts, said elastic joint being meant to work in axial, radial or torsional direction, disposing or not disposing of one or more hydro-elastic chambers and of two cylindrical concentric support elements, the inner support element being located to a large extend inside the volume defined by the outer support element, the two support elements being connected by a set of components made of rubber or elastomer or, if applicable, of plastic and metallic parts, wherein said support elements are themselves respectively attached to the two other parts which the elastic joint connects, wherein a technique of testing by impact is applied within the timing of the production line of the elastic joint, i.e. less than 10 seconds per cycle, for identifying good joints from bad ones through a frequential analysis of the oscillation of the impacted area of the elastic joint, characterized in that the values of the phase shift of the frequential analysis are compared with a bandwidth of permissible phase shift. |
| US08397588B2 |
Torque angle sensor and electronic power steering apparatus having the same
Disclosed is a torque angle sensor and an electronic power steering apparatus having the torque angle sensor, which includes an upper case, an upper side of which is assembled with a sensor housing, a rotor assembled with an inside of the upper case, the rotor fitted around an outer surface of the output shaft extending through the rotor and assembled with an inside of the upper case, a lower case, a lower side of which is assembled with a spacer cover, and a middle case assembled between the upper case and the lower case. The upper case includes holding parts opposed to each other and formed on an upper surface of the upper case, which is assembled with the sensor housing, and a seating spring protruding downward with inclination from an end of one of the holding parts and elastically bent when the upper case is assembled with the sensor housing. Therefore, it is possible to remove a circumferential clearance and an axial circumferential clearance during assembling of the torque angle sensor with peripheral elements and can absorb movement created by an impact, so as to effectively prevent breakage and mis-operation of the elements included in the torque angle sensor and facilitate the assembling of the electronic power steering apparatus. |
| US08397587B2 |
Paddle-type flowmeter with magnetic coupling
The invention relates to a flow monitor for monitoring the flow of flowing media, wherein a paddle projecting into the flow transfers the rotating movement of the paddle onto a display device by means of a magnetic gear comprising a plurality of individual magnets corresponding with each other. |
| US08397586B2 |
Flow sensor assembly with porous insert
The present disclosure relates generally to flow sensors, and more particularly, to methods and devices for reducing variations in fluid flow across the flow sensor for increased accuracy and/or reliability. In one illustrative embodiment, a flow sensor assembly includes a housing with an inlet flow port and an outlet flow port. The housing defines a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port, with a flow sensor positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel. The flow sensor is configured to sense a measure related to the flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel. A porous insert is situated in the fluid channel, sometimes upstream of the flow sensor. When so configured, and during operation of the flow sensor assembly, a fluid may pass through the inlet flow port, through the porous insert, across the flow sensor, and through the outlet flow port. The porous insert may include pores that are configured to reduce the turbulence in the fluid passing the flow sensor. |
| US08397585B2 |
Electromagnetic flow meter having liner reinforcing plate with divided ring plates
An electromagnetic flow meter provided with a resin lining portion in which resin is lined in a measuring pipe by pressure molding, including the measuring pipe to flow liquid to be measured, a lining locking frame provided in the measuring pipe composed of a cylindrical plate with openings and a plurality of divided belt-like ring plates, and the resin lining portion formed by embedding the lining locking frame. Here, in case of pressure molding the resin lining portion, the resin to be lined can be filled easily in gaps between the measuring pipe and the lining locking frame via gaps formed by a first gap provided between the inner face of the measuring pipe and the outer circumference face of the cylindrical plate with openings and second gaps of the adjacent divided belt-like ring plates in the outer circumference direction of the measuring pipe. |
| US08397580B2 |
Multi-ferroic structural health monitoring systems and methods
A method for testing a multiple layer structure is described. The method includes monitoring strains experienced by strain sensitive, magnetic particles disbursed within an adhesive between a first layer and a second layer, and analyzing any changes in the strains experienced by the particles to determine an amount of damage or degradation to the structure. |
| US08397578B2 |
Capacitive pressure sensor assembly
The disclosure is directed to a capacitive pressure sensor, and the assembly of a capacitive pressure sensor, that may be used within an implantable medical pump. In one example, a housing ferrule that encloses one capacitive plate and includes at least one protrusion for attaching a support structure of the capacitive plate. The at least one protrusion defines a smaller inner diameter as a reference point for securing the support structure while the ferrule provides a larger inner diameter to allow the support structure to tilt inside the ferrule to orient the capacitive plate into a desired plane. Despite manufacturing irregularities, the capacitive plate can be mounted in the desired plane parallel to another capacitive plate, a diaphragm, mounted to an edge of the ferrule. In another example, an assembly tool provides a stage to orient the capacitive plate and support structure within the ferrule at a desired depth. |
| US08397577B2 |
Rolling diaphragm pressure sensor
A system for measuring and indicating pressure that uses as its pressure sensing element an outer resilient tube, an inner resilient tube, and a rolling diaphragm connecting the inner and outer tubes, and held inside a protective enshrouding structure where pressure applied to the annulus between the tubes causes the diaphragm to deform and roll to axial extend the outer tube by an amount proportional to the applied pressure. The structure has features that enable visual correlation of the partially rolled tube's unrolled state with the applied pressure. The system can be incorporated into a syringe to create a pressure measuring syringe for inflating endotracheal cuffs while providing a reading of the cuff pressure. |
| US08397572B2 |
Acoustic emission toughness testing for PDC, PCBN, or other hard or superhard materials
An acoustic emissions testing device includes a rock sample including a first surface, an acoustic sensor, an indenter coupled to the first surface, and a load. The load is exerted on the indenter, which transfers the load to the first surface. The acoustic sensor is communicably coupled to the rock sample and detects one or more acoustic events occurring within the rock sample. An acoustic emissions testing system includes a data recorder coupled to the testing device. The data recorder records the data from testing device. Based upon the data received, the toughness of the sample is objectively determined and can be ranked comparatively to the toughness of other samples. The load is ramped up to a peak load, held for a period of time, and then ramped down. |
| US08397568B2 |
Bias measurement for MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers
A system and method for separating bias instability of MEMS inertial instruments such as gyroscopes or accelerometers from the instrument signal, in which the inertial measurement instrument has an input axis and an output signal, and the bias instability has a frequency. The instrument is rotated about a rotation axis that is orthogonal to the input axis, at a frequency that is greater than the bias instability frequency. The instrument output signal is detected, and demodulated with a phase-sensitive detection method referenced to the instrument rotation. |
| US08397567B2 |
Dual clutch transmission of reduced axial length and method of controlling this dual clutch transmission
A dual clutch transmission comprising a first partial transmission and a second partial transmission is provided. A first group of forward gears is allocated to the first partial transmission, a second group of forward gears is allocated to the second partial transmission, each one of the forward gears comprises a particular transmission ratio, two adjacent forward gears comprise adjacent transmission ratios with no transmission ratio of any other forward gear in between, and at least two adjacent forward gears are allocated to the second partial transmission. Further, such a control method for controlling the dual clutch transmission is provided that a torque transmitting gap is closed when gear shifting between the aforementioned two adjacent gears. |
| US08397566B2 |
Apparatus for transferring high-frequency signals comprising overlapping coupling regions that are serially connected
An apparatus for the transfer of broadband, high-frequency signals of a center wavelength (λc), including a conductor structure, which includes at least one signal path and two reference paths arranged symmetrically to the signal path. Together the conductor structure and the two reference paths form a coplanar line, with the conductor structure being arranged on two oppositely lying sides of at least one dielectric substrate layer of a predetermined thickness in such a manner that the conductor structure overlaps in predetermined coupling regions, whereby the coupling region of the conductor structure transfers the high-frequency signals by an electromagnetic coupling, wherein the thickness of the substrate layer (18) is smaller than λc/4, and wherein multiple electromagnetic couplings are arranged serially one after the other. The apparatus enables a galvanic isolation having good transfer properties in the case of frequencies greater than 6 GHz. |
| US08397563B2 |
Aeronautical probe with integrated heater
The invention relates to an aeronautical probe designed to be mounted on the skin of an aircraft and comprising a probe body protruding from the skin of the aircraft and a heater for de-icing an external surface of the probe body. According to the invention, the heater comprises two self-supporting electrodes and heating resistive elements. Each electrode is formed of an electrically insulating substrate and of an electrically active portion forming one face of the electrode in question. Each resistive element is in contact with the faces of the electrodes. The notable advantages of the invention are that it makes it possible to reduce the operating temperature of the resistive elements and the phenomena of fatigue in the mechanical link between the electrodes and the resistive elements due to different expansion coefficients. |
| US08397561B2 |
Downhole sensor systems and methods thereof
A sensor module for a sensing apparatus configured for operation downhole, within a borehole. The sensor module comprises a sensor array having a plurality of sensors to sense selected formation parameters and a control system for selective and independent operation of each sensor of the sensor array. Each sensor of the sensor array is configured or designed as a discrete sensor unit for individual and independent communication and control. Each sensor of the sensor array may have an associated electronics module that provides standardized electronic connectivity with the control system. |
| US08397555B1 |
Scanning probe devices
The present invention is directed to scanning probes in which a cantilever contacts a stylus via an integrated stylus base pad, and methods for fabricating such probes. The probe offer many advantages over other types of scanning probes with respect to eliminating the need for a soft, reflective coating in some applications and providing for the simple fabrication of sharp stylus tips, flexibility with respect to functionalizing the tip, and minimal thermal drift due to reduced bimorph effect. The advantage of these features facilitates the acquisition of high resolution images of samples in general, and particularly in liquids. |
| US08397551B2 |
Passive blast pressure sensor
A passive blast pressure sensor for detecting blast overpressures of at least a predetermined minimum threshold pressure. The blast pressure sensor includes a piston-cylinder arrangement with one end of the piston having a detection surface exposed to a blast event monitored medium through one end of the cylinder and the other end of the piston having a striker surface positioned to impact a contact stress sensitive film that is positioned against a strike surface of a rigid body, such as a backing plate. The contact stress sensitive film is of a type which changes color in response to at least a predetermined minimum contact stress which is defined as a product of the predetermined minimum threshold pressure and an amplification factor of the piston. In this manner, a color change in the film arising from impact of the piston accelerated by a blast event provides visual indication that a blast overpressure encountered from the blast event was not less than the predetermined minimum threshold pressure. |
| US08397544B2 |
Household cleaning appliance with a single water flow path for both non-bulk and bulk dispensing
An apparatus with a single water flow path suitable for a household cleaning appliance having both a non-bulk dispensing system and a bulk dispensing system. |
| US08397538B2 |
Apparatus and method for drawing a ribbon of glass
Apparatus and method for balancing the mass flow rate of molten glass flowing over a forming body to form a glass ribbon. The apparatus comprises upper and lower transition members that surround the glass ribbon as the glass ribbon is drawn from the forming body. The upper and lower transition members are independently moveable, and separated by a gap less than 8 cm across. The narrow gap minimizes disruption to the thermal environment contained within the upper and lower transition members, and is positioned a sufficient distance above the setting zone of the ribbon to minimize any influence on the dimensional consistency of the ribbon. |
| US08397537B2 |
Method for local reversible glass swelling
A method of forming, on the surface of a glass material, a raised feature having a height within a target range, comprising (1) providing a glass material having a surface, (2) providing the glass material locally, at a location at or below the surface, with an amount of energy causing local expansion of the glass material so as to raise a feature on the surface at the location, (3) detecting the height of the raised feature or the height over time of the raised feature, (4) (a) if the height is below or approaching a value below the target range, providing the glass material at the location with energy in a greater amount, or (b) if the height is above or approaching a value above the target range, providing the glass material at the location with energy in a lesser amount, and (5) repeating steps (3) and (4) as needed to bring the height within the target range. Methods and devices for automating this process are also disclosed. |
| US08397535B2 |
Method and apparatus for pressurized product production
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a pressurized product stream product by cryogenic rectification. A main heat exchanger, used in the cryogenic rectification, warms a pumped product stream composed of oxygen-rich or nitrogen-rich liquid and thereby produces the pressurized product stream. Layers of the main heat exchanger are designed such that a reduction in the heat transfer area provided within the main heat exchanger for warming the pumped product stream occurs at a location at which the temperature of the pumped product stream exceeds either the critical or a dew point temperature of such stream. The reduction in heat transfer area leaves regions of the layers able to heat or cool another stream that is used in connection with the cryogenic rectification. Such other stream can be a refrigerant stream that allows the introduction of additional refrigeration to increase production of liquid products. |
| US08397533B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is disclosed which enables the user to easily take ice out of an ice maker without causing a variation in the capacity of the refrigerator or a limitation on the position of a freezing compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body which includes a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, an ice making compartment which is arranged in the refrigerating compartment, to make ice, a heat exchanger which generates cold air for freezing food stored in the freezing compartment, and a cold air guiding device which guides the cold air generated by the heat exchanger to the ice making compartment, to enable the ice making compartment to make ice. |
| US08397525B2 |
Device for controlling a condensate lift pump, and corresponding capacitive detector and system
The invention relates to a device for controlling a condensate lift pump, comprising a means for detecting at least two condensate levels in a container, and a means for activating and for stopping the pump according to the levels, in which the detection means comprises a capacitive detector comprising at least three electrodes: a ground electrode; a first level detection electrode; and a second level detection electrode, and a processing means comprising a means for measuring the capacitance between the electrodes. According to the invention, the lengths of the first level detection electrode and second level detection electrode are defined so as to come into contact with the condensates, when the condensates respectively reach the first level and the second level in the container; these electrodes are produced on distinct supports not having a submergible physical continuity between them. |
| US08397522B2 |
Integrated dehumidification system
A dynamic system controls indoor relative humidity and temperature to achieve specified conditions by applying multiple stages of dehumidification. In addition to a stage that increases dehumidification by reducing the speed of the indoor blower, the system uses a reheat coil and multiple valves that allow the reheat coil to function as either a subcooling coil or a partial condenser. Thus the system can maintain specified indoor temperature and humidity conditions even at times when no heating or cooling is needed. The system may have an outdoor condensing unit including a compressor and a condenser operably connected via refrigerant lines to an indoor unit to form a “split system” refrigerant loop. |
| US08397521B2 |
Supercooling recognition method and supercooling apparatus
The present invention relates to a supercooling recognition method and a supercooling apparatus which can rapidly and precisely judge whether a stored object is maintained in a supercooled state on the basis of a temperature thereof. A supercooling recognition method according to the present invention includes the steps of: cooling a stored object to below a temperature of a maximum ice crystal formation zone thereof; and judging whether the stored object is maintained in a supercooled state on the basis of a temperature thereof during the cooling step. |
| US08397515B2 |
Fuel nozzle flashback detection
A combustor of a turbine engine having a combustion zone defined therein is provided and includes a fuel nozzle, including two or more burners, each of the burners having a passage defined therein through which combustible materials are permitted to travel toward the combustion zone, a plurality of sensors disposed in relative association with each of the burners to respectively sense static pressures within the passages of each of the burners and to respectively issue sensed static pressure signals accordingly, and a controller, coupled to the sensors and receptive of the signals, which is configured to determine from an analysis of the signals whether any of the burners are associated with a flashback risk and to mitigate the flashback risk in accordance with the determination. |
| US08397509B2 |
Catalytic engine
A catalytic engine comprises a catalytic reformer and a turbine, and it employs the process steps of introducing a reactant mixture of fuel, air, water and recycled exhaust gas into a reaction zone, reacting said fuel mixture over oxidation catalysts in the reaction zone by adjusting the CO2/C, H2O/C, O2/C ratios and the % fuel of the reactant mixture to maintain the reactor at a temperature between 150-1100° C. and a pressure between 1 to 100 atmosphere, and feeding said refromate stream from said reaction zone to drive a downstream turbine, a turbocharger or any kind of gas turbine. This catalytic engine can be connected to an electrical generator to become a stationary or mobile power station, which can be used in transportation, industrial, utility and household applications. |
| US08397507B2 |
Active brake booster system
A brake booster system for a motor vehicle of a type having an internal combustion engine without a conventional throttle-type valve in an intake manifold for engine output control. In accordance with the present invention, a throttleless-type IC engine of the above described type is modified to include a valve which can periodically close or obstruct the path of intake air to the IC engine to generate intake manifold vacuum to provide a needed pressure differential for brake booster operation. The system includes a pressure transducer which controls operation of the valve to provide the desired control of engine brake booster vacuum. |
| US08397502B2 |
Automotive air blowers
An automotive air blower, in particular a supercharger, includes an air pump, such as an air impeller connected to the output shaft of a transmission system, the input shaft of which is connected, in use, to the engine of a motor vehicle. The input and output shafts are connected to respective branches of a three-branch epicyclic differential gearset. The third branch of the gearset and the input shaft are connected to the rotor of respective electrical machines, the electrical connections of the stators of which machines are connected together via a controller arranged to control the flow of electric power between them. |
| US08397501B2 |
Automotive air blower
An automotive air blower includes an air pump (14) connected to the output shaft of a transmission system, whose input shaft is connected, in use, to the engine (16) of a motor vehicle. The input and output shafts are connected to the ring gear (10) and sun gear (13), respectively, of a three-branch epicyclic differential gearset. The planet carrier (12) of the gearset is connected to the rotor (2) of an electric motor/generator and the input shaft is connected to the rotor of an electrical machine (1), which constitutes at least a generator. The electrical connections of the stators of the two machines are connected together via a controller arranged to control the flow of electrical power between them. A selectively engageable mechanical connection (15) is provided between two of the branches of the gearset and arranged to connect the two branches together such that the gearset will rotate as a single unit. |
| US08397497B2 |
System for multiple harnessing and complemented conversion of energy from sea waves
System for multiple harnessing and complemented conversion of energy from sea waves, which includes a structure of vertical guides (12) along which a floating body (1) moves, and a first submerged tank (2) of captive gas (3), held up by said floating body (1), characterized in that it includes a second submerged tank (5) with captive gas (3), attached to said floating body (1), with said first tank (2) and second tank (5) being connected to each other, in such a way that they exchange their respective volumes of gas (3) due to the effect of changes of pressure of water column (4) caused by the waves. Improves the energy harnessing performance of the system. |
| US08397496B2 |
Buoyancy engine using a segmented chain
In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method and system for a buoyancy engine is presented. In an exemplary embodiment, the buoyancy engine includes a divider to separate a liquid environment from a gas environment, and a reservoir aperture in the divider. A rotating element, approximately opposite the reservoir aperture, provides tension to, and helps rotate, a segmented chain. The segmented chain is configured to form a solid inner surface when transitioning between the liquid and gas environments, but separate during vertical travel. As the segmented chain travels between the liquid and gas environments, a rotary motion is created which can be captured as electrical or mechanical energy. |
| US08397495B2 |
Exhaust gas additive/treatment system and mixer for use therein
An exhaust mixer (16) is provided for use in an engine exhaust system (10) downstream from an additive injector (14). The mixer (16) includes eight vanes (20), with four of the vanes (20A) extending from a first side (22) of the mixer (16) and arranged in an equally spaced circumferential array around a central axis (24), and the other four of the vanes (20B) extending from an opposite side (26) of the mixer (16) and arranged opposite from the other four vanes (20A) in an equally spaced circumferential array. |
| US08397493B1 |
Method for recovering waste heat from exhaust
One or more methods for recovering waste heat from a combustion system performing a first operation and a second operation with the waste heat are provided herein. The method can include providing exhaust from a combustion system performing the first operation to an inner housing of a heat recovery silencer. Heat can be transferred from the exhaust to a heat transfer fluid in a heat recovery flow path to form a heated heat transfer fluid. The heat recovery flow path can be formed between the inner housing and an outer housing of the heat recovery silencer to form a heated heat transfer fluid. |
| US08397491B2 |
Device for introducing a liquid reducing agent into an exhaust gas of a combustion system
A device (4) for introducing a liquid reducing agent (5) into an exhaust gas (6) of a combustion system (2) has a reservoir (20), a discharge element (23) for discharging the liquid reducing agent (5) into the exhaust gas (6), a feed line (22), interposed between the reservoir (20) and the discharge element (23), a delivery element (26) arranged in the feed line (22) for delivering the liquid reducing agent (5) in a direction of delivery (29) from the reservoir (20) to the discharge element (23). The feed line (22) is associated with a controllable venting element (34) upstream of the delivery element (26), the discharge element (23) is connected to the reservoir (20) via a return line (32) and a controllable shut-off element (36) is arranged in the return line (32). |
| US08397490B2 |
System and method for controlling a catalyst temperature in an HCCI combustion engine
A method and system for controlling an engine includes a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode control module that operates an engine in HCCI mode and a condition monitor module that monitors operating conditions of the engine. The control module also includes a condition predictor module that generates a first predicted condition of a catalyst in response to the operating conditions of the engine. A comparison module compares the first predicted condition to a first threshold. A spark injection mode control module operates the engine in a spark injection mode in response to comparing. |
| US08397487B2 |
Environmental control system supply precooler bypass
A precooler for cooling compressor bleed air for an environmental control system includes a heat exchanger in fluid communication with a source of cooling air and operable for cooling the bleed air. A variable bypass valve between a bleed air source and environmental control system is operable for bypassing at least a portion of the compressor bleed air around the heat exchanger. The cooling air may be a portion of fan air modulated by a variable fan air valve. The bleed air source may be selectable between the low pressure bleed air source and a high pressure bleed air source. One method includes flowing the compressor bleed air from a single low pressure source only and increasing thrust sufficiently to meet a minimum level of pressure of the bleed air during one engine out aircraft operating condition during approach or loitering. |
| US08397480B2 |
Energy guiding chain
The invention relates to an energy guiding chain for guiding cables, hoses and the like with a number of tubular chain links (1) connected together in an articulated manner and designed so that the surface of the top panels (5), bottom panels (2) and at least the transition areas (11) of these panels and the side panels (3, 4) are convexly curved in the circumferential direction of the tubular chain links (1), said chain links each having a bottom panel (5), comprising thereon laterally adjoining, opposite side panels (3, 4) and a top panel (5), whereupon the top panel (5) is detachably connected to the side panels (3, 4), the side panels (3, 4) in each case having a joint pin (6) and a joint opening (7) to connect flexibly, the pivoting angle of both directions of pivot being limited by stops (8) and the top panels (5), side panels (3, 4) and bottom panels (2); of adjacent chain links (1) overlapping telescopically over the entire pivoting angle. |
| US08397477B2 |
Dally post with removable cap and sleeveless dally device
A saddle horn assembly attached to the tree of a saddle in lieu of a conventional saddle horn consisting of a post of rectangular prismatic configuration with a receiving chamber for insertion of a quick release locking pin, a cap with a quick release locking pin attached to and protruding from the bottom thereof that allows the cap to be detached and reattached to the post within seconds, and a dally traction device with a central void of complimentary dimensions to the post, having a hyperboloid external configuration and being symmetrical in both the horizontal and vertical planes such that the device may be rotated and/or inverted about the post so that it may be quickly and easily manipulated to numerous positions to generate even wear about the exterior, thus increasing the longevity of the device and improving the safety and effectiveness of dallying. |
| US08397469B2 |
Energy absorbing element for wall openings and methods of use therefor
Provided is an energy absorber for use in an opening of a wall of a building, the opening defined by a perimeter surface, the wall supporting a closure substantially filling the opening, the closure having respective edges which are substantially parallel to the perimeter surface of the opening. The energy absorber having a planar wall connecting portion, a planar closure connecting portion and a plastically deformable deforming surface therebetween. The connecting portions being substantially parallel to one another and, the deforming surface adapted to absorb, by plastic deformation, a force applied to the closure. |
| US08397468B2 |
Safety reinforced light transmitting panel assembly
A light-transmitting roof panel assembly, having the same shape as adjoining metal roof panels in a standing seam metal roof, includes an outer transparent panel made of a polymeric material and an inner reinforcing panel made of perforated metal. The inner and outer panels nest together and lie flush with the roof. Crimpable side corrugation pieces are attached to the reinforcing panel so that the assembly can be connected to neighboring roof panels by seaming. |
| US08397466B2 |
Tile with multiple-level surface
A grid-top floor tile for outdoor use includes a polymer tile having a grid-type top surface with multiple levels, such as a bi-level surface having an upper lattice and a lower lattice oriented generally transverse to the upper lattice. The multiple levels of the surface are preferably integrally formed with one another and provide drainage gaps therethrough. In a bi-level surface configuration, the lower lattice has a top surface below a top surface of the upper lattice, so as to draw residual moisture below the top surface of the upper lattice. The tile further includes a support structure, configured to support the tile on a support surface and provide drainage pathways beneath the top surface. The tile still further comprises various reinforcement members on each of the loop and pin connectors used to interlock the tiles when forming a flooring assembly. |
| US08397464B2 |
Middle pour anchor bolt holder
A connection between an anchor bolt and an anchor bolt holder that is economically efficient to produce and simple to use. This object is achieved by forming the anchor bolt holder from sheet metal and shaping the anchor bolt holder so that it can be formed on an automated die with a minimum of unused material. |
| US08397463B2 |
3-dimensional universal tube connector system
The present invention includes a system for connecting tubes or rods, which are preferably uni-directional pultruded, filament wound, or roll-wrapped carbon-fiber tubes or rods, together to form trusses and other structures using a series of connector pieces preferably bonded together with adhesive. |
| US08397461B2 |
Snap fit pultrusion for housing elements
The invention provides snap fit pultrusion housing elements for joining structurally insulated panels suitable for housing and shelter construction. The housing elements include a pultruded panel body member having at least one edge, and a pultruded snap lock fitting on the edge adapted for fastenerless engagement with a complementary fitting on an adjacent panel body member. |
| US08397460B2 |
Roofing shingle
The present invention provides a roof shingle comprising a shingle with at least one layer having a head lap and a butt, the head lap including at least one alignment notch and the butt including at least one corner that corresponds to the alignment notch. Also, the present invention provides a roofing shingle comprising at least one layer formed from a cutting cylinder having a circumference that is a fraction of said roofing shingle length. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the inventive shingles and a method for installing the inventive shingles upon a roofing area. |
| US08397458B2 |
Bracket useful with sloped suspended ceiling systems
The invention provides a bracket and method of its use for adapting standard wall angle trim for use in sloped ceiling construction. The disclosed bracket arrangement can be used for the top edge or bottom edge of a sloped ceiling and be adjusted to match the angle of any practical ceiling slope. In disclosed embodiments, the bracket has the form of a rectangular flat steel sheet. The sheet has a hinge or bend line running lengthwise in its mid-area. The bend line is made by cutting the sheet intermittently along its length and thereby dividing the sheet into two sections. The cuts may be made, for example, by punching elongated slots along the bend line in a blank being formed into the bracket. Also punched into the bracket blank are a plurality of holes distributed lengthwise on marginal areas of the two sections of the blank. |
| US08397456B2 |
Panel with a sound insulation layer and production method
The invention relates to a method for applying to a flooring panel a layer designed to reduce the footfall sound on the floor, and a panel of this kind. With the prior art, it is disadvantageous that the sound-insulation layer is glued onto the laminate panel in a subsequent manufacturing stage. Accordingly, the panel is initially manufactured by pressing with the associated gluing of layers and/or papers. The sound-insulation layer is glued in place in a subsequent operational stage. PVA-glues, thermoplastics or wood glues may be used, for example, to attach the sound-insulation layer. In the manufacture of a panel with a carrier board, decorative paper, counteracting paper and/or a wood veneer, an additional layer, preferably in the form of a sheet or a roll, is provided. The material of this roll or sheet product is designed to provide the desired sound-insulation properties as described above and/or provides these properties when a panel is being walked over. The roll or sheet product is placed in a press and pressed together with the other components at a temperature of at least 100° C. |
| US08397453B2 |
Moisture impermeable fire-barriers
An example of a pre-assembled, moisture, water, and gas impermeable fire-barrier system for use in expansion-joint spaces includes a fire-barrier having a layer of outermost protective cloth layer overlain by an insulation blanket overlain by stainless steel foil, overlain by a second insulation blanket, overlain by a limited layer of intumescent material, overlain by impermeable silicon coated cloth to completely or partially surround all of the other layers of the barrier. If desired, a first attachment apparatus for attaching a first long edge of the fire-barrier to a building unit and a second attachment apparatus for attaching the opposing second long edge to an opposing spaced building unit may be fixedly attached to the barrier. The barrier system may be fitted with a drain aperture and a drainage hose emanating from the aperture, the hose protected from the heat of a fire. |
| US08397452B2 |
Firestopping bushing
A relatively inexpensive bushing easily installed extending through walls, particularly, gypsum board membrane walls for providing firestopping around a limited number of linear penetrating members such as cables or wires. This grommet construction includes first and second half sections for facilitating attachment around cables more easily. A split internal seal preferably of resilient foam material is positioned within a split mechanical shell which facilitates placing of the bushing around penetrating members prior to placement thereof through walls or after positioned thereof penetrating through a panel such as wallboard. A split mechanical shell with a two-piece foam insert retained within a bore extending therethrough can be formed as two separable half cylindrical shells. Barbs are included on the outer portion of the shell to facilitate mounting thereof. The foam firestopping seal portion can be intumescent. |
| US08397449B2 |
Double window having ventilation function
The present invention relates to a double layered window having indoor and outdoor windows. There is provided a double layered window in which a ventilation device or a ventilation hole is formed in window frame to control temperature and moisture of an intermediate layer, thereby preventing dew condensation, and in a case where the double layered window is installed to an outer wall of a high-story building, the intermediate layer between the indoor and outdoor windows is used as an air pressure buffering space, thereby preventing a problem caused by an air pressure difference. |
| US08397447B2 |
Roof truss compatible for solar panels
A roof truss compatible for solar energy panels, and a method for installing the roof trusses, incorporates a non-structural top chord that may have a removable portion removed and replaced by a solar assembly. The truss is structurally designed to support the solar assembly without the presence of the non-structural top chord. A desired length of the non-structural top chord may be omitted or removed during manufacture of the truss, or may be removed at a future time for installation of solar panel assemblies. A solar assembly for inserting into the solar roof truss may include a panel enclosure which has a channel for holding a solar panel, where the panel is installed approximately flush with the roof line. The panel enclosure may have an air space underneath the solar panel, to allow for cooling air flow and water drainage. |
| US08397446B2 |
Composite roofing or other surfacing board, method of making and using and roof made thereby
A composite roofing board is provided, including a layer of bituminous core material having pieces or particles of shingles, rolled roofing, etc. that have been broken-up or comminuted therein, with the core material having layers of mat material on opposite surfaces thereof, also in layers, and with an adhesive applied to an outer surface of one of the layers of mat material, with a peelable and removable release liner layer covering the adhesive. The various layers are provided as a sandwich, to make the composite board. A plurality of composite boards may be applied to a roof deck or other roof structure, and they can be butt-joined and taped together with a joint tape. The method of making the composite board can be continuous. |
| US08397439B2 |
Panel
The present invention relates to a panel (20) for use in the assembly of a modular hot work habitat (10) so as to form an enclosure to facilitate hot working. The panels (20) comprise a first layer of flexible structural material (22), and a second layer of flexible fireproof material (24) fixed to the structural layer. A habitat (10) comprising a plurality of interconnected panels (20) is described. |
| US08397438B2 |
Flashing boots for roof penetrations
Flashing systems for use with metal and non-metal roof systems are provided having a generally planar lead base defining an aperture, a generally cylindrical structure attached to the base in surrounding relation with the aperture and projecting upward therefrom, and an adhesive sealing membrane attached to the bottom of the base for connecting the flashing to a roof. A flexible plastic downspout allows flashing system to adapt to various roof slope and roof penetration configurations. The downspout may be include a plurality of diametrically reducing stepped sections such that the installing technician is able to simply cut the stepped plastic downspout to the size that will accommodate the roof penetration pipe. |
| US08397437B2 |
Method for installing the guide rails of an elevator and system for installing the guide rails of an elevator
Method and system for installing the guide rails (1, 2), such as the car guide rails and/or counterweight guide rails, in an elevator shaft (3). The guide rails are installed by assembly in phases starting from the bottom (4) of the elevator shaft by placing one on top of the other guide rail sections (51, 52; 61, 62; 71, 72 . . . ) that are shorter than the whole length of the guide rail and by aligning the guide rail sections perpendicularly by means of the laser beam produced by a direction laser (8). The direction laser (8) is moved upwards along with progressive assembly of the guide rail. As assembly progresses the direction laser (8) is supported in the proximity of the top end of the topmost vertically aligned guide rail section at the time for aligning the next guide rail section to be installed in the vertical direction. These phases are repeated until the entire guide rail is assembled. The system comprises an alignment appliance (12), which can be supported against a guide rail section and fixed to it by means of a permanent magnet (20). In addition the alignment appliance contains an aligning element (13), at which the laser beam produced by the direction laser can be directed. |
| US08397423B2 |
Sight mount for antique rifles
A sight mount for mounting an optical sight to the tang of an antique rifle or replica without undesirable modification to the rifle is provided. The sight mount includes a tang mount porting having first and second tang mounting openings positioned to cooperate with spaced fasteners extending through a top side of the tang of the rifle, a scope mount portion configured to detachably receive in a mounting relation thereto a sight and position the sight at a spaced location above and generally parallel to the barrel of the rifle when the tang mount portion is mounted to the tang of the rifle, and a vertical plate portion joining together said tang mount portion and said scope mount portion. |
| US08397422B2 |
Gun sight adjustment device
A device for adjusting a gun sight disposed in a dovetail groove on a gun slide is presented. The device includes a pushing member and a pressure plate both moveable in a first direction and an opposing second direction. The device further comprises a bracing member opposing the pressure plate, where the bracing member is stationary, and a seating member disposed between the pressure plate and bracing member, where the seating member opposes the pushing member, and where the seating member is movable in a third direction and an opposing fourth direction. When the gun slide is secured between the bracing member and the pressure plate, moving the pushing member adjusts the position of the gun sight. |
| US08397420B2 |
Rifle scope with adjustment stop
Rifle scopes with adjustment stops include a scope body, a movable optical element defining an optical axis enclosed by the scope body, and a turret having a screw operably connected to the optical element for adjusting the optical axis in response to rotation of the screw. The turret has a stop element selectably engaged to the screw. The body defines a stop surface positioned for engagement by the turret stop element to limit rotation of the screw, such that the relative position at which the stop element is secured to the screw defines a zero position of the screw and the movable optical element. The stop element is held against the stop surface by an indexing portion while the relative position at which the stop element is secured to the screw to define the zero position is determined. |
| US08397419B2 |
Rotatable mount for integrated rail system and method for using same
An accessory support for a firearm having a longitudinal barrel, the accessory support comprising an annular body attachable to the barrel or to a rail on the barrel and including an inner surface wherein a portion of the inner surface includes a curved surface, an accessory mounting structure coupled to the annular body for receiving an accessory to the firearm, and a coupling mechanism attached to the annular body to fixedly attach the accessory support to the firearm or rail, wherein the curved surface includes a circumferentially-extending curved recess having opposing lateral surfaces for engaging mating protrusions of a rail mounted on the firearm barrel. |
| US08397418B2 |
System for providing electrical power to accessories mounted on the powered
A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided to provide a point of electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The powered rail(s) are electrically interconnected with a power source, which typically is a battery mounted in the butt stock of the weapon. |
| US08397416B2 |
Multi-caliber bolt-action rifle and components
A multi-caliber firearm has a breech sleeve connecting a barrel to a receiver and a stock. The stock includes a forward V-block and a rearward V-block. Each of the V-blocks defines a V-cut along a top portion and a through hole substantially aligned with the cross-sectional center of the V-block. The forward V-block extends through a cutout portion of the receiver and into the breech sleeve. The breech sleeve is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the forward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the stock and the breech sleeve. The receiver is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the rearward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the receiver and the stock. |
| US08397414B2 |
Buttstock pre-adjustment block
The invention presented here is an add-in part designed for the M4 and similar commercial AR-15 rifle variants or any other weapon using an adjustable multi position receiver extension based on the M4 pattern. Its purpose is to be installed in the longitudinal adjustment slot of the receiver extension tube limiting the buttstock's maximum extension travel to a preselected position. |
| US08397410B1 |
Integrated tabbed note with binder clip
A tabbed note includes a note sheet having an opening and at least two slits and a binder clip. Both slits extend to touch the opening. One slit extends to touch an edge of the note. A binder clip is inserted into one of the slits and positioned to block the opening from a front view of the tabbed note. |
| US08397409B2 |
Computer system, method and system for controlling light
A method for controlling a light is provided. The method is suitable for a computer system. The method includes interrupting an original service of the light and obtaining the authority to control the light. The method also includes controlling the operation of the light according to a current status of the computer system. |
| US08397408B2 |
Sign display assemblies
Sign display devices are described herein. The sign display devices comprise panel assemblies for attaching to beams and attachment assemblies for attaching to signs. The panel assemblies include a front panel, two side panels, and, optionally, rear panels. The attachment assemblies include various combinations of clip assemblies, C-channel assemblies, and extension assemblies. The display device can be used to display signs in retail establishments to advertise the goods situated on shelving units. |
| US08397402B2 |
Shoe having levered cushioning system
The present invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a cushioning system comprising a lower sole element and an upper sole element. The cushioning system further comprises at least one lever having at least two arms where an angle α between the arms lies within the range 0°<α<180°. The first arm is connected to a deformation element and the second arm is connected to one of the two sole elements, wherein the lever is pivotably arranged at the other sole element. |
| US08397398B2 |
Template for centering rollers at the foot of an ingot mold
A template for centering the rollers at the foot of an ingot mold which allows a quick and accurate centering of said rollers, regardless of the operator's skill and experience. There is also described a corresponding method for centering the rollers at the foot of an ingot mold. |
| US08397396B2 |
Quilting template and ruler
A combined template and ruler for use in quilting is formed from a rigid plastic material and includes a plurality of spaced slots that correspond to cutting and sewing lines that are marked on layers of fabric using the template. The cutting and sewing lines are positioned such that a plurality of half square triangles of two ply material are formed without cutting the thread. A template and method of forming snowball blocks in a similar fashion is also disclosed. |
| US08397392B2 |
Marking and/or leveling device
The invention relates to a marking and/or leveling device (1) comprising a light source (4) disposed on a pendulum (3) that can pivot relative to a housing (2). According to the invention, means are provided for accelerating (9) the pendulum (3) and/or a pendulum bearing (8) in a pulsing manner. |
| US08397390B2 |
Debris removal system for a power tool
A powered hand tool includes a handle portion arranged to provide a grip point for a user, a motor, a cutting member drivable to cut a workpiece, and a drive system interconnecting the motor and the cutting member and operable to drive the cutting member in response to operation of the motor. A housing at least partially encloses the cutting member and the motor and a debris removal system is movable between a first position and a second position. The debris removal system is operable to clean a portion of the drive system when in the second position. |
| US08397386B2 |
Valve assembly having a unitary valve sleeve
A valve assembly preferably including a housing having a recess and a flange face and a valve sleeve disposed within the recess. The sleeve preferably includes an annulus having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a passageway about a central axis, the outer and inner surfaces being radially spaced from one another to define a wall. The wall has a first end portion and a second end portion axially spaced from the first end portion, and homogenous material properties from the first end portion to the second end portion. Preferably, the first end portion defines a lip for supporting the annulus in the recess and further defines a first chamber that encases at least a portion of a first support member. The second end portion preferably defines a flange portion along the outer surface for engaging the flange and further defines a second chamber that encases at least a portion of a second support member. |
| US08397385B2 |
Method of configuring hollow helical wheels and their cages
Method for configuring the constituent elements of hollow helical wheels or their cages, which is based on using geometrical figures whose centers serve as reference for constructing them and defining their areas. Values of angles, offsets of the centers, and pitches, make it possible to control all the constituent elements. |
| US08397383B2 |
Annular gas turbine engine case and method of manufacturing
The method is used for making an annular gas turbine engine case from a preform. The method comprises comprising flowforming at least one section of the preform, and then outwardly bending at least one portion of the perform. |
| US08397380B2 |
Controlling warpage in BGA components in a re-flow process
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit package includes providing a ball grid array (BGA) module including BGA balls on a side of the BGA module; providing a base substrate; and placing the BGA module on the base substrate. The BGA balls are placed between the BGA module and the base substrate. An adhesive is applied between and contacting the BGA module and the base substrate. The adhesive is then cured. The BGA balls are re-flowed after the step of curing the adhesive. |
| US08397378B2 |
Manufacturing an insulating sheet, a copper clad laminate, and a printed circuit board
A method of manufacturing an insulating sheet, a method of manufacturing a copper clad laminate, and a method of manufacturing a printed circuit board, as well as a printed circuit board manufactured using these methods are disclosed. The method of manufacturing an insulating sheet can include: forming a thermoplastic reinforcement material, which includes fibers secured by a thermoplastic polymer binder, and in which pores are formed; forming a thermoplastic resin layer such that the thermoplastic reinforcement material is impregnated with a thermoplastic resin; and hot pressing the thermoplastic reinforcement material and the thermoplastic resin layer. This method can be utilized to manufacture an insulating sheet, which has a low rate of moisture absorption and superb electrical properties, including a low dielectric constant (Dk) and low dielectric loss (Df), and in which the fibers can readily be impregnated with the resin. |
| US08397376B2 |
System for automated production processing of smart cards
A smart card processing system for processing a plurality of smart card portions on a smart card panel substantially simultaneously. The system may include a transfer member for moving card panels. Smart card panels may be loaded into an input magazine capable of elevating the panels with respect to a processing station. A transfer member may transport smart card panels from the input magazine to the processing station wherein one or more pre-personalization operations may be conducted. The transfer member may also be operative to move the smart card panels from the processing station to a marking station such that defective smart portions may be marked. The transfer may also move panels from the marking station to an output magazine. The output magazine may lower the smart card panels with respect to the marking station to accommodate more initiated smart card panels. |
| US08397372B2 |
Electrode winding apparatus
An electrode winding apparatus and method of detecting displacement between a strip-shaped electrode and a strip-shaped separator when stacking and winding the strip-shaped electrode and the strip-shaped separator is described. A winding shaft is configured to wind the strip-shaped electrode and the strip-shaped separator, and a guide member is configured to stack the strip-shaped electrode and the strip-shaped separator before the strip-shaped electrode and the strip-shaped separator are wound around the winding shaft. An imaging device is disposed so as to photograph a portion in which the strip-shaped electrode and the strip-shaped separator are stacked between the guide member and the winding shaft from a side on which the strip-shaped separator is stacked. The imaging device is configured to photograph the strip-shaped separator and the strip-shaped electrode through the strip-shaped separator. |
| US08397368B2 |
Method of manufacturing stator for electric rotating machine
A method of manufacturing a stator includes the steps of: (1) forming substantially planar electric wires each of which includes in-slot portions to be received in slots of a stator core and turn portions to be located outside the slots to connect adjacent pairs of the in-slot portions; (2) rolling each of the planar electric wires by more than one turn into a spiral shape; (3) forming a stator coil by assembling the rolled electric wires through elastic deformation thereof; and (4) assembling the stator core and the stator coil to form the stator. Further, in the rolling step, each of the planar electric wires is rolled by plastically deforming the turn portions into circumferentially-extending sections each having a predetermined curvature. Furthermore, a curvature ratio of a radially-outermost one of the circumferentially-extending sections is set to be greater than that of a radially-innermost one of the same. |
| US08397366B2 |
Round container for germinating and drying malt
The invention relates to a method for producing a round container and to a round container configured for said method, which provide faster construction of the round container, mostly independent from the precision of the preliminary work in spite of high final precision, and which provide simple transportation of the components to the construction site. This is accomplished by the invention through setting up wall profiles (2), which are continuous over the wall height of the round container (1) and which have in particular a flat inner surface, continuously along the circumference and by connecting them with one another and with the subsurface in particular through bolting. |
| US08397363B2 |
Belt mounting jig
A holding surface 7 holding a portion of a belt 4 radially outwardly of a pulley flange 6 is formed on a belt mounting jig 1. A guide surface 8 guiding the belt 4 to the holding surface 7 is formed on the belt mounting jig 1. The guide surface 8 is formed into a curved shape bulging forwardly of the direction of rotation continuously from the holding surface 7. The belt mounting jig 1 is fixed to a small-diameter-side or low-load-side pulley 2. The belt 4 is wound around the belt mounting jig 1 and pulleys 2 and 3, and the large-diameter-side or high-load-side pulley 3 is rotated. The pulley 2 is rotated by a tension of the belt 4 guided in the rotating direction by the guide surface 8. The portion of the belt 4 slides in a direction along the pulley axis into a pulley groove 5. |
| US08397361B1 |
Motorcycle valve spring removal tool
Preferably, a motorcycle valve spring removal tool includes a motorcycle engine operatively mounted and secured to a frame of a motorcycle, and a valve spring compression tool secured to the motorcycle engine for use in removing a valve spring of the motorcycle engine while the cylinder head remains torqued to the cylinder, and the motorcycle engine remains mounted and secured within the motorcycle frame. In a preferred embodiment, the valve spring compression tool includes a base plate supporting a stud reception member that provides a threaded stud attachment aperture, in which a corresponding threaded stud is secured. Also included in the preferred embodiment is a compression plate interacting with the threaded stud and a force transfer component, preferably a threaded nut, also interacting with the stud to impart a compression force on the valve spring to achieve a predetermined level of compression of the valve spring. |
| US08397358B2 |
Method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head
Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head, the method including forming a piezoelectric element having a width in a reference direction longer than a width in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the reference direction on a first substrate, and adhering a second substrate to a surface of the first substrate opposed to the piezoelectric element at a temperature lower than a normal temperature, wherein, in the adhering of the second substrate, the second substrate is adhered such that the first direction of the second substrate is adjusted to the reference direction, using a first thermal expansion coefficient in a first direction on an adhesion surface with the first substrate, the first thermal expansion coefficient is less than a second thermal expansion coefficient in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and the first thermal expansion coefficient is less than a thermal expansion coefficient of the first substrate. |
| US08397357B1 |
Shoelace retaining apparatus
A retaining apparatus that is attached to a toe portion of a shoelace section of a laced shoe for securing loops and loose ends of a shoelace. The apparatus is fabricated of a substrate having an engagement surface and an external surface. The substrate is apportioned via a lateral midline into a fixed securing section and a free securing section. The fixed section includes a fastening configuration for securing the apparatus to the shoe. The fastening configuration can be an elongated tubular structure, a pair of loops, an attachment strap, or other fastening configuration. A first coupling interface portion is disposed upon the engagement surface of the fixed securing section and a mating coupling interface portion is disposed upon the engagement surface of the free securing section. The coupling interface engages the free section with the fixed section entrapping the loop and free ends of the shoelace. |
| US08397348B2 |
Binding strap device for securing cargo
A device for securing cargo, items or other objects, in particular a tie-down binding strap device including at least two different types of tightening mechanisms. The device is also provided in useful embodiments with interchangeable ends that can be secured to a variety of structures, even itself. The features of the device provide versatility and allow the device to secure cargo having different shapes. |
| US08397346B2 |
Methods and systems for deployment of curtains
A curtain hanging system is described that includes a curtain rod hanger with an overhead suspension member and a collar with a bellows. The curtain rod hanger includes one or more collar engaging members. When the collar is coupled to the curtain rod hanger via the collar engaging members, the bellows surrounds at least a portion of the curtain rod hanger. |
| US08397344B2 |
Cleaning appliance
A cleaning appliance includes an airflow generator for generating an airflow, separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from the airflow, a power source for supplying power to the airflow generator, at least one exhaust vent and an exhaust baffle, the exhaust baffle includes a body having an upstream face and a downstream face, an airflow path between the upstream and downstream faces and a plurality of blades projecting from the body, each blade having a first side edge, a second side edge and a forward edge. |
| US08397338B2 |
Multi-purpose mop system and method of use
A multi-purpose mop system includes a mop having a mop handle and a cleaning attachment removably mounted thereon, the mop handle further comprising a base and a grip installed thereon for manipulating the mop during use, and a bucket having a basin and a bucket handle removably and pivotally attached thereto, the basin being formed with at least one basin channel bounded by opposite, substantially upwardly-extending basin fingers, and the bucket handle being formed in a central portion inter-connecting opposite leg portions with at least one respective handle channel bounded by opposite handle fingers, whereby the basin channel and the handle channel cooperate in wringing the mop during wet use. The cleaning attachment may be a mop material cinched onto the base of the mop handle using a drawstring or may be a squeegee strapped thereto. A removable extension handle may be pivotally installed on the mop handle. |
| US08397334B2 |
Device and method for the treatment of a container wall and container
A device for cleaning a container, a tank or a silo, is provided with a cleaning unit suspended by rope sections and between winding units comprising a wound supply of rope. By changing the length of the sections by the winding devices under control of a controller the cleaning unit can be lifted and lowered, tilted and pressed against the inside wall of said container. |
| US08397333B2 |
Selectively adjustable steering mechanism for use on a floor cleaning machine
A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel that is interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor cleaning machine, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement. |
| US08397331B2 |
Cleaner apparatus for a submerged surface with a protuberance which accelerates the inlet flow
Detailed is a cleaner apparatus for a submerged surface including a body and at least one liquid inlet at the base of the body, characterized in that it includes at least one accelerating protuberance extending toward the submerged surface while maintaining a height of liquid, and extending, with respect of a forward travel direction of the apparatus, in front of an adjacent liquid inlet while maintaining the passage cross section of the liquid inlet. |
| US08397327B2 |
Bed insert
An insert for a bed facilitates use of a mattress having one cross-sectional profile with a bed frame having a different cross-sectional profile. An insert includes a base extending between sidewalls which have various contoured surfaces. The contoured sidewall surfaces enable the insert to be disposed in a bed frame in association with a mattress. Inner surfaces of the sidewalls are configured to accommodate receipt of a mattress while outer surfaces of the sidewalls are configured for the insert to be disposed in a bed frame. The surface sidewalls may further be configured to provide the insert with a safety feature which prevents or reduces the likelihood of a user falling from the side of a mattress associated with the insert. |
| US08397326B2 |
Patient/invalid handling support
A patient support for a patient includes an inflatable mattress with at least one inflatable bladder. The bladder comprises a top panel formed from a different material than its side wall panel or panels. |
| US08397324B2 |
Hinge for bed frame assembly
A hinge assembly (32-36) for a frame assembly (20) of for example, a hospital bed, has a smooth outer form which substantially conforms to the outer size of frame assembly struts to which it couples. The hinge assembly (32-36) has its components located internally and provides at least one reliable electrically conductive path therethrough so as to provide an electrical connection between frame struts (24-30) coupled together by the hinge (32-36), avoiding the need for electrical wires. There are provided angle markers on the hinge to indicate the degree of rotation of the hinge halves (50 52). |
| US08397323B2 |
Surgical table accessory platform
A support 56, 256, 356 for use with a surgical table 40, 140, 240, 340, 400 includes a first radiolucent beam 58, 258, 464 having a longitudinal axis and a second radiolucent beam 59, 259, 466 having a longitudinal axis. The first beam 58, 258, 464 and second beam 59, 259, 466 are each coupled to the deck 52, 252, 352 and extend outwardly therefrom in a cantilevered configuration. |
| US08397321B1 |
Wheel chair accessible crib
A crib has two sets of bi-fold doors which allows access by a wheel-chair-bound care giver and is provided with childproof latches in the form of upper and lower spring-biased actuators which must be simultaneously activated to allow opening of the bi-fold doors. Spring-biased safety bars may additionally be positioned to prevent the bi-fold doors from being opened by an unauthorized person. |
| US08397319B1 |
Add-on flush control mechanism to provide water conservation
A water-saving flush valve control mechanism is formed as a single unit that can easily be retrofitted onto existing toilet architectures with only one fixed attachment point. Water usage is reduced by providing the user full control in opening and closing the buoyant water valve. Control is achieved by a vertical rigid spine that is attached between the toilet handle arm and the valve. An adjustable lateral extension is included and placed between the toilet handle arm and the vertical rigid spine to ensure that the spine is properly positioned over the valve. Pivotable attachment of the spine to the lateral extension accommodates the arcing pathway of the buoyant valve. A float arm may be added and used to counterbalance the additional weight associated with the flush valve control mechanism. |
| US08402559B2 |
IP based security applications using location, port and/or device identifier information
Methods and apparatus for determining, in a reliable manner, a port, physical location and/or device identifier, such as a MAC address, associated with a device using an IP address and for using such information, e.g., to support one or more security applications is described. Supported security applications include restricting access to services based on the location of a device seeking access to a service, determining the location of stolen devices, and verifying the location of the source of a message or other IP signal, e.g., to determine if a prisoner is contacting a monitoring service from a predetermined location. |
| US08402556B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for fragmented file sharing
Systems, methods, software, and apparatus are described for facilitating the distribution and management of fragmented content. In one embodiment, a packager packages content into fragments and generates a manifest including policies and metadata associated with the content. A downloader obtains the manifest, and uses it to obtain the content from one or more uploaders. For example, a downloader might forward a search request to one or more trackers, which, in turn, are operable to locate one or more uploaders that can meet the request, subject to any relevant policy limitations. The uploaders forward fragments to the downloader, subject to any relevant policy. The downloader assembles the content from the fragments. The operations and interactions of the entities can be subject to policy limitations associated with the fragments, the content as a whole, or the like. |
| US08402554B2 |
Launching a cached web application based on authentication status
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for receiving a request to retrieve electronic resources that correspond to a first network address. The resources are retrieved from a cache. The retrieved resources are responsive to the request, correspond to the first network address, and are configured to activate a first web application. Activation of the first web application requires that the computing device be authenticated. Instructions that are in the retrieved resources and are for activating the first web application are executed. The execution includes determining that the computing device is not authenticated to activate the first web application, and requesting to retrieve electronic resources that correspond to a second network address and that are configured to activate a second web application. Activation of the second web application does not require that the computing device be currently authenticated. |
| US08402553B2 |
Updating an operating system of a computer system
The present invention provides a processor-implemented method and system of updating an operating system of a computer system, where the operating system is subject to a system lockdown that does not allow changes to a list of approved executables of the operating system and that does not allow changes to a base system configuration of the operating system. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include, (1) identifying at least one trusted updater process in the operating system and (2) allowing the trusted updater process to make at least one change to the list of approved executables. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include, (1) identifying at least one trusted updater process in the operating system and (2) allowing the trusted updater process to make at least one change to the base system configuration. |
| US08402549B2 |
Application software protecting method and stream transmitting/receiving system
A protection method of application software is executed by initiating the first program transmitted from a server via a network on a client, and the method divides an execution result of the application software executed on the client into a plurality of pieces of intermediate data in accordance with distribution arrangement information reported by the server, distributes and arranges the plurality of pieces of intermediate data in the server and the client, transmits to the server notice information including a data length and arranged location information of each piece of the distributed and arranged plurality of pieces of intermediate data, rearranges the distributed and arranged plurality of pieces of intermediate data in the original order of the execution result of the application software on the basis of the notice information, generates in the server a second program for generating the execution result, and transmits the second program to the client. |
| US08402536B2 |
Signature based authentication of the configuration of a configurable logic component
A configurable logic component is shown with a signature generator, responsive to a commanded configuration information signal from a processor, for providing a signed commanded configuration information signal, and with a memory device, responsive to the signed commanded configuration information signal from the signature generator, for storing the signed commanded configuration information signal in the configurable logic component for use by the processor in checking a current configuration of the configurable logic component against a trusted signed configuration file to ensure the current configuration matches the commanded configuration and allowing use of the configurable logic component in case of a match. |
| US08402535B2 |
Providing greater access to one or more items in response to determining device transfer
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user; and providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08402533B2 |
Input to locked computing device
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving at a computing device that is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to unlock the device and to execute at least one command that is different from a command for unlocking the device. The method further includes executing in response to the user inputs to unlock the device an unlocking operation by the device to convert the device from a locked state to an unlocked state. The method further includes executing the at least one command in response to receiving the user inputs to execute the at least one command. The at least one command executes so that results of executing the at least one command are first displayed on the device to a user automatically after the device changes from the locked state to the unlocked state. |
| US08402530B2 |
Dynamic load redistribution among distributed servers
Authentication requests are redistributed among a plurality of authentication servers and to centrally managing authentication affinities among distributed servers using a secure channels affinity service. A computer system instantiates a secure channel management service configured to manage secure channel connections. The secure channel management service receives state inputs from currently deployed authentication servers. The authentication servers may be configured to queue authentication requests for transmission to authentication servers. The computer system determines that, based on the received state input, at least one of the secure channels is to be remapped to a different authentication server. The computer system also remaps the determined secure channels to distribute future authentication requests among the authentication servers. In some cases, the current state of an authentication proxy server is embedded in communications transmitted by the authentication server, such that the secure channel connections are managed using the embedded state information. |
| US08402526B2 |
System integrating an identity selector and user-portable device and method of use in a user-centric identity management system
A combination includes a user-portable computing device, and an identity selector adapted for interoperable use with the user device. The user computing device includes a security token service that issues security tokens in reference to a portfolio of user identities stored as information cards on the user device. The issuance of security tokens employs user attribute information that is stored onboard the user device. The identity selector exports the information cards from the user device and determines which user identity satisfies a security policy promulgated by a relying party as part of an authentication process within the context of an online interaction. The identity selector generates a token request based on one of the eligible user identities, and forwards the token request to the user device to invoke the token issuance operation. The identity selector presents the issued security token to the relying party to comply with the security policy. |
| US08402523B2 |
System and method for associating message addresses with certificates
A system and method for associating message addresses with certificates, in which one or more secondary message addresses are identified and associated with a user-selected certificate that does not contain any e-mail addresses. In certain situations, a message may be encrypted using a certificate that does not contain an e-mail address that matches the e-mail address of the individual to which the message is to be sent, so long as the address to which the message is to be sent matches any of the message addresses associated with the certificate. The message addresses are saved in a data structure that resides in a secure data store on a computing device, such as a mobile device. |
| US08402522B1 |
System and method for managing services and jobs running under production IDs without exposing passwords for the production IDs to humans
Systems and methods for managing access to a computer account of a computer system that is not associated with a human user. The system comprises a password repository for storing a password for the computer account. The password is preferably encrypted with at least two secrets. The system also comprises a first data storage device for storing the first secret and a second data storage device for storing the second secret. The system additionally comprises a computer device in communication with the password repository and the first and second data storage devices for managing access to the computer account. The computer device is programmed to, in response to a request to perform an action under the computer account: (i) retrieve the first secret from the first data storage device; (ii) retrieve the second secret from the second data storage device; and (iii) decrypt the password with the first second secrets. |
| US08402517B2 |
Content distribution and evaluation providing reviewer status
A content distribution system may be provided for reviewing content such as video games, music, movies, or the like that may be shared by the system. The content distribution system may receive a credential from a user and authenticate the user based on the credential to permit access to the system. The content distribution system may also receive content generated by the user if the user may be authenticated. The content distribution system may provide the received content to a content evaluation entity, for example. The content distribution system may receive a review for the content from the content review entity and then may determine whether the content passes a review process based on the review, for example. The content distribution system may provide additional access to the content if the content passes the review process. |
| US08402516B2 |
Apparatus and method for establishing a peer-to-peer communication session with a host device
An apparatus and method of establishing a peer-to-peer communication session between a host device and a client device. Routing information of the host device is received from a server via a wide area network, routing information of the client device is provided to the server, and authentication information is provided to the host device via the wide area network. Peer-to-peer communication is transmitted to the client device via the wide area network if the client device is authenticated for peer-to-peer communication by the host device. |
| US08402511B2 |
LDAPI communication across OS instances
Methods and apparatus for connecting a client on a first operating system to a server on a second operating system using LDAPI communication includes establishing privacy between the first and second operating systems, identifying the client to the server, identifying the server to the client to establish a trust by the client of the server, and sending LDAPI messages between the client and the server. |
| US08402507B2 |
Distributing policies to protect against voice spam and denial-of-service
In one embodiment, a network device generates a protection policy responsive to identifying undesired voice data traffic. The network device then distributes the generated protection policy along a call path used for transferring the undesired voice data traffic. The proxy may distribute the protection policy by inserting the protection policy in a call response or other message that traces the call path back to a calling endpoint. |
| US08402505B2 |
Displaying enhanced content information on a remote control unit
A remote control unit for a video receiver may be utilized to display information about enhanced content available in conjunction with a video broadcast. The information displayed on the remote control unit display may provide information about available enhanced content, advertising, or even the status of connected devices, such as telephones, computer systems, digital video disk players, and video cassette recorders. By transmitting the data from the video receiver to the remote control unit, the information is available to the user without interrupting the display on the user's video receiver. |
| US08402504B2 |
Method and apparatus for interactive programming using captioning
A method and system for the creation of interactive programming using captions. A caption and program information extractor monitors a broadcast media signal having captions and program information encoded in the broadcast media signal. The captions and program information are extracted and stored in a content database. A moderator accesses the content database to retrieve captions and for a program specified by the program information. The moderator uses the services of a moderator server to generate interactive programming from the captions and the moderator's own comments. The interactive programming is transmitted to a plurality of viewers who interact with the interactive programming by entering viewer comments. The viewer comments are received by the moderator along with additional captions and new interactive programming is generated using the viewer comments, additional captions, and additional moderator commentary. |
| US08402503B2 |
Interactive program manager and methods for presenting program content
An interactive program manager comprises a receiver, a controller and an analyzer. The receiver presents audio and visual content for display. The controller directs the receiver to select a first channel and to forward a second channel different from the first channel. The analyzer monitors a program guide and at least the second channel for content of interest in accordance with a user profile. The controller also directs the receiver in response to an operator input. |
| US08402501B2 |
Method and apparatus for programming a remote control using broadcast data
A set top box 22 includes a communication module 102 receiving a remote control configuration database having a remote control associated therewith. The set top box 22 further includes a display control module 116 forming a screen display in response to the remote control configuration database. An interface 110 forms selections in response to the screen display and a display control module displays programming instructions for the remote control. |
| US08402494B1 |
Switching content
Displaying video on a video display device is disclosed. A first video stream from a first video streaming source is displayed on the display device. A second video stream from a second video streaming source is processed on the display device without displaying the second video stream. Displaying the first video stream is ceased and instead the second video stream is displayed. Supporting operations on a video stream is also disclosed. At least one video chunk is received at a first granularity. A determination is made that an operation is to be performed at a different granularity. At least one video chunk is requested at the different granularity. |
| US08402493B2 |
Community generated content channels
A method and system are disclosed for providing community defined and/or controlled channels where content for a channel may be continuously streamed to users based on input from users that participate in the channel. Channel definitions and content for different community channels may be stored in a community channel store within an on-demand media server capable of streaming content to subscribing users. One or more channels may be defined in the community channel store by a server administrator. Certain users may also have the ability to create channels within the community channel store. Each channel may be related to a topic, theme, type of content or anything of interest to a particular community of users. Content is added to each channel, which content is streamed to users continuously in a predetermined channel lineup. Ideally, there will be one or more channels that are tailored to a given community of users' viewing wishes, so that a user in that community may simply access a community channel and receive content that they are interested in without having to actively select the content they receive. |
| US08402487B2 |
Program selection support device
When searching for programs similar to a program designated by a viewer, a program selection support device not only searches for similar programs based on program-related information such as program contents, but also determines an algorithm used for similarity judgment based on viewer-related information, such as a program viewing history of a viewer, personal information of the viewer, evaluations by other viewers, and information added by a program producer, or based on a category of the designated program, and searches for similar programs using the determined algorithm. The program selection support device displays the programs found as a result of the search. |
| US08402486B2 |
System and method of ad delivery
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device having a controller programmed to store a subscriber selectable preference for advertisements used for selecting advertisements to send to a set top box (STB) and receive a signal from a broadcast stream indicating the location for insertion of an advertisement based on the subscriber selectable preference. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08402483B2 |
Television broadcasting receiving apparatus
Disclosed is a television broadcasting receiving apparatus which carries out a parental control based on rating information in a video/audio data included in a television broadcasting wave including a receiving unit to receive the television broadcasting wave, an auto preset unit to orderly tune channels in which a video/audio data of a program is viewable by scanning the television broadcasting wave, a rating table obtaining unit to obtain a rating table included in the television broadcasting wave when the channels in which the video/audio data of the program is viewable are orderly tuned by the auto preset unit, and a rating table storage unit to store the rating table obtained by the rating table obtaining unit. |
| US08402482B2 |
Distributing content
Activity involving content distributed in a first content distribution channel, such as viewership of a content item, is used to determine how related content, such as another content item, should be distributed in a second content distribution channel. The determination can be made based on a model of the relationship between activity in the first content distribution channel and activity in the second content distribution channel. Distribution information regarding how the related content is to be distributed can be created or modified based on the determination, and the related content can be distributed according to the distribution information for the related content. |
| US08402481B1 |
Virtual application execution system and method
A virtual execution environment for software applications and other code objects. In one implementation, the present invention allows for virtual execution of applications by transparently capturing the rendered output of natively executed applications, and delivering the output to other processes on the same platform or to remote devices in a platform agnostic manner. |
| US08402476B2 |
Registering an event
A computer-implemented method for registering an event includes detecting occurrence of at least one event to be registered in a sequence. The sequence is to have entries for occurred events, each of the entries being a number indicating at least one of the occurred events and being associated with an aggregation number reflecting a number of times the entry has been aggregated within the sequence. The method includes identifying a new entry for extending the sequence, the new entry comprising a first number corresponding to the detected at least one event. The method includes revising the sequence by adding the numbers of at least two entries whose respective aggregation numbers satisfy a criterion for aggregation. The method includes storing the revised sequence. |
| US08402475B2 |
SCA-based system and method of connecting components to each other
A software communication architecture (SCA)-based system includes a plurality of components and a relay component connected to the plurality of components. Since data among the components are transmitted through the relay component, it is possible to reduce the complexity of connection caused by an increase in the number of components and to prevent a file size from increasing. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the parsing time of a domain profile and to reduce mode exchange time so that it is possible to rapidly perform connection setups in an embedded environment and to effectively perform communication. |
| US08402471B2 |
Methods and apparatus to benchmark a computer system based on executing instructions using different numbers of threads
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to benchmark hardware and software are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes initiating a first thread to execute a set of instructions on a processor, initiating a second thread to execute the set of instructions on the processor, determining a first duration for the execution of the first thread, determining a second duration for the execution of the second thread, and determining a thread fairness value for the computer system based on the first duration and the second duration. |
| US08402469B2 |
Allocating resources for parallel execution of query plans
Computing resources can be assigned to sub-plans within a query plan to effect parallel execution of the query plan. For example, computing resources in a grid can be represented by nodes, and a shortest path technique can be applied to allocate machines to the sub-plans. Computing resources can be provisionally allocated as the query plan is divided into query plan segments containing one or more sub-plans. Based on provisional allocations to the segments, the computing resources can then be allocated to the sub-plans within respective segments. Multiprocessor computing resources can be supported. The techniques can account for data locality. Both pipelined and partitioned parallelism can be addressed. Described techniques can be particularly suited for efficient execution of bushy query plans in a grid environment. Parallel processing will reduce the overall response time of the query. |
| US08402468B2 |
Capacity planning based on resource utilization as a function of workload
Capacity planning based on resource utilization as a function of workload is disclosed. The workload may include different types of requests such as login requests, requests to visit web pages, requests to purchase an item on an online shopping site, etc. In one embodiment, data is determined for each of a plurality of workloads. The data includes characteristics of a workload and resource utilization due at least in part processing that workload. Based on the data, utilization of each of the resources as a function of workload characteristics is estimated. Further, based on the estimated resource utilization, workload characteristics that are expected to cause each respective resource to reach a certain level are predicted. That level could be 100 percent utilization, but could be another level. Capacity planning is performed based on the workload characteristics that are expected to cause each respective resource to reach a certain level. |
| US08402467B2 |
System and method for providing fault resilient processing in an implantable medical device
A system and method for providing fault resilient processing in an implantable medical device is provided. A processor and memory store are provided in an implantable medical device. Separate times on the processor are scheduled to a plurality of processes. Separate memory spaces in the memory store are managed by exclusively associating one such separate memory space with each of the processes. Data is selectively validated prior to exchange from one of the processes to another of the processes during execution in the separate processor times. |
| US08402465B2 |
System tool placement in a multiprocessor computer
A multiprocessor computer system comprises a plurality of nodes and an application placement module operable to place an application on a selected group of the compute nodes. The application placement module includes a system tool helper operable to manage operation of a system tool on the selected group of the compute nodes, the system tool operable to monitor execution of the application. Managing system tool operation comprises at least one of distributing, executing, and ending the system tool on one or more compute nodes. |
| US08402463B2 |
Hardware threads processor core utilization
A determination of processor core utilization by a plurality of hardware threads over a time interval is made through a division of a length of the time interval by a total count of the plurality of hardware threads. |
| US08402462B2 |
Detection and management of dynamic migration of virtual environments
A mechanism is provided to detect that a dynamic migration of a virtual environment is in progress or has been executed during a hardware or software scan without requiring instrumentation of applications running within the virtual machine. The mechanism relies on a particular sequencing and usage of application programming interfaces and commands that scanning technology provides, associated with the modularity of the scans and on the external virtual machine enabler component running on the host. The mechanism may detect a dynamic migration and take proper actions based on the system configuration. The actions may include discarding the output of the scan executed across a dynamic migration and repeat the scan. The actions may also include notifying the initialization subsystem of the non-migration-safe application to execute a script or program to address migration safety issues. One particular program or script may be an agent ID regeneration program or script. |
| US08402461B2 |
Switching between direct mode and indirect mode for virtual machine I/O requests
A first virtual machine is implemented on one or more computing devices to generate input/output (I/O) requests to a hardware device. A second virtual machine is also implemented on the computing devices. A mechanism is to switch between a direct mode and an indirect mode without switching between a first context and a second context of the hardware device. In the direct mode, the I/O requests generated by the first virtual machine are to be sent to the hardware device without being redirected to the second virtual machine. In the indirect mode, the I/O requests generated by the first virtual machine are to be redirected to the second virtual machine for processing. The second virtual machine is to, after processing the I/O requests redirected to the second virtual machine, send the I/O requests to the hardware device. |
| US08402457B2 |
Content distribution method and content distribution package
A content distribution method distributes a package containing a content from a content distribution apparatus to a terminal of a content distribution destination and causes the terminal to expand and display the content contained in the distributed package by using expansion software provided in the terminal. Update data of the expansion software is inserted in the package in addition to the content. When the terminal cannot expand the content by using the expansion software provided in it, the terminal updates the expansion software provided in it by using the update data contained in the distributed package and expands the content by using the updated expansion software. |
| US08402455B2 |
Methods and systems for distributing firmware through an over-the-air network
Systems and methods for over-the-air firmware distribution to battery-powered devices are disclosed. Such over-the-air distribution is accomplished, for example, using a non-battery-powered device as a buffer, for example, to reduce or eliminate the delay time of the over-the-air network. The firmware can be sent to and stored on a nearby, non-battery-powered device and then sent from there to the battery-powered endpoint device. The distribution of firmware to battery-powered devices may be implemented in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, a mesh network, a multi-channel radio network, or any other environment in which firmware distribution is desirable. |
| US08402451B1 |
Dual mode evaluation for programs containing recursive computations
A dual evaluation mode method for use with computer software that includes the acts of determining, for certain functions and expressions within input computer code, whether each function and expression may have any recursive dependencies, generating eager evaluation mode executable code for one or more elements of the input computer code based on the act of determining and providing both eager evaluation mode executable code and non-eager evaluation mode executable code to runtime software that supports both eager and non-eager evaluation modes. |
| US08402446B2 |
Associating probes with test cases
A probe (hereinafter also referred to as a breakpoint) can be added into source code of an application program. The probe can be exported to a file or any other form of storage. The probe is then associated with a unique test case for the application program thereby creating a direct mapping between the application program and the test case for the application program. In one embodiment, the probe can be added to at least one of a function or module of the application program. |
| US08402445B2 |
Program translation method and notifying instruction inserting method
The present invention comprises: a converting step for converting a source program into a machine language program; an inserting step for inserting notifying instructions for notifying that the source program has been executed in the machine language program; and a program generating step for generating the executable program from the machine language program in which the notifying instructions are inserted. Further, in the inserting step, the notifying instructions are placed at the entry points of each basic block that constitutes the machine language program and the notifying instructions to which the same conditions as those of the conditional instruction groups are granted are placed at the entry points of conditional instruction groups provided in the machine language program. In the program generating step, identification information for identifying the notifying instructions is granted to each of the notifying instructions. According to this, the present invention enables analysis of the executed range in the program that includes the conditional instructions as well. |
| US08402443B2 |
Method and system for automated analysis of the performance of remote method invocations in multi-tier applications using bytecode instrumentation
A method and system monitor and diagnose the performance of remote method invocations using bytecode instrumentation in distributed multi-tier applications. The method and system use automated instrumentation of client application bytecode and server application bytecode with sensors to measure performance of remote method invocations and operations performed during remote method invocations. Performance information is captured for each remote method invocation separately, allowing performance diagnosis of multithreaded execution of remote method invocations, so that throughput and response time information are accurate even when other threads perform remote method invocations concurrently. The captured performance metrics include throughput and response time of remote method invocation, object serialization, and transport. The performance metrics are captured per remote method invocation. Performance metrics may be sent to a processing unit for storage, analysis, and correlation. |
| US08402442B1 |
Common debugger method and system
Disclosed are approaches for operating a plurality of debugger tools. A common debugger receives first-type commands for processing. Each first-type command references one of the debugger tools. Each debugger tool provides control over a respective set of one or more components of the electronic system and recognizes a respective set of tool-specific commands. Each input first-type command is translated into a respective tool-specific command that is compatible with the one of the debugger tools specified in the first-type command. Each respective tool-specific command from the common debugger is provided to the one of the debugger tools specified in the input first-type command from which the respective tool-specific command was translated. Each translated tool-specific command is performed by the targeted debugger tool. |
| US08402437B2 |
System and method for updating initialization parameters for application software from within a software development environment
A computer implemented method for updating initialization parameters for application software from within a software development environment. The method involves changing a value of at least one initialization parameter contained in a configuration file of a developer computer system. The method also involves starting application software deployed on an application server in response to the value change. Thereafter, the configuration file including the changed value of the initialization parameter is communicated from the developer computer system to the application server. Once the configuration file is received at the application server, the application software is initialized using the configuration file. |
| US08402436B2 |
Cooperative unwrapping across intervening wrappers
A method of accessing layers in a multi-layer software architecture including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The method includes: at the third layer, publishing an interface; and at the first layer, before execution of a first function, registering a callback routine with the third layer using the interface. |
| US08402435B1 |
Systems and methods for organizing source code
Methods for organization of compiled and uncompiled source code are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes separating source code into a plurality of subroutines. The method also includes determining a relationship between a first subroutine and a second subroutine of the plurality of subroutines. The method further includes creating a first signature of the first subroutine. The method also includes creating a second signature of the second subroutine. The method further includes storing the first signature and the second signature so as to preserve the relationship between the first subroutine and the second subroutine. |
| US08402430B2 |
System and method for integrating object-oriented model profiles and object-oriented programming languages
A method includes receiving a modeling template, the modeling template comprising a plurality of modeling constructs and profile constructs, each profile construct generated from a modeling profile and comprising an extension of one of the modeling constructs. The method further includes parsing the modeling template into the plurality of modeling constructs and profile constructs. One or more object-oriented constructs are defined based, at least in part, on the parsed modeling constructs and profile constructs. Source code is automatically generated in an object-oriented programming language based, at least in part, on the defined object-oriented constructs. The object-oriented programming language comprises an object-oriented programming language with embedded inferencing. |
| US08402426B2 |
Architectural design for make to stock application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing a make to stock process. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component; a Production process component; a Site Logistics process component; a Confirmation and Inventory process component; a Customer Requirement Processing process component; a Demand Forecast Processing process component; a Supply and Demand Matching process component; a Production Trigger and Response process component; an In-house Requirement Processing process component; a Sales Scheduling Agreement Processing process component; and a Demand Planning process component. |
| US08402422B2 |
Wiring design device, method and recording medium
A wiring design device to conduct wiring design on a printed wiring board that includes a plurality of conductive layers, the wiring design device including: noise contaminating part extracting means for extracting a part in a condition where noise contaminates a signal, the part being on a wiring-designed line, based on a route of the line and a physical condition around the route; route modification processing means for modifying the route of the line by moving the extracted part on the line in the condition where noise contaminates the signal to a position that avoids the condition where noise contaminates the signal; and line length adjusting means for conducting a line length adjustment on the line to compensate for a variation of the line length of the line when the variation of the line length of the line occurs due to modifying the route of the line. |
| US08402420B2 |
Designing an optimal wiring topology for electromigration avoidance
A method for designing an optimal wiring topology for electromigration avoidance is disclosed. The wiring topology includes multiple sources, multiple sinks and multiple wires. The method includes the following steps: A feasible wire, a wire of the shortest length connecting each pair of source and sink, is calculated, and the capacity of each feasible wire is decided. An initial feasible topology is found. A flow network is created based on the initial topology. Negative cycles are iteratively checked and removed until no more negative cycles. |
| US08402416B1 |
Method and apparatus for composing and decomposing low-skew networks
A logic device includes a low-skew network that feeds a subset of elements on the logic device. The low-skew network includes a selector that can select from a plurality of signal sources which includes a first signal source and a second signal source, wherein the second signal source can reach at least one element outside of the subset. |
| US08402413B2 |
Wiring design apparatus and method
A wiring design apparatus for designing a plurality of wiring lines of a printed circuit board including a plurality of connection posts arranged in a matrix, includes a processor, the processor providing an orthogonal grid including a plurality of rows and columns running over and between the connection posts, providing a plurality of diagonal paths each connecting at least one of the rows with at least one of the columns each running between each of adjacent pairs of the connection posts, and determining a route for each of the wiring lines by exclusively allocating to each of the wiring lines a selected part of the rows, the columns and the paths so that the selected part connects both ends of each of the wiring lines. |
| US08402410B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing configuration memory of reconfigurable hardware
Provided is a method of managing a configuration memory of reconfigurable hardware which can reconfigure hardware according to hardware configuration information. The method includes: determining at least one slot capable of currently storing the hardware configuration information on the basis of the states of a plurality of slots of the configuration memory; and storing hardware configuration information, which is stored in an external memory, in the determined at least one slot capable of currently storing the hardware configuration information. Accordingly, memory utilization can be improved even in dynamic environment such as data dependent control flow or multi-tasking. |
| US08402409B1 |
Method and apparatus for supporting run-time reconfiguration in a programmable logic integrated circuit
Method and apparatus for generating an implementation of a program language circuit description for a programmable logic device (PLD) is described. In one example, the program language circuit description is analyzed to identify constructs indicative of dynamic function re-assignment. A hardware description of the program language circuit description is generated. The hardware description includes a plurality of implementations responsive to the identified constructs. Physical implementation data is generated from the hardware description. The physical implementation includes a plurality of partial configurations for the PLD based on the respective plurality of implementations in the hardware description. |
| US08402407B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit pattern verification method, photomask manufacturing method, semiconductor integrated circuit device manufacturing method, and program for implementing semiconductor integrated circuit pattern verification method
A semiconductor integrated circuit pattern verification method includes executing simulation to obtain a simulation pattern to be formed on a substrate on the basis of a semiconductor integrated circuit design pattern, comparing the simulation pattern and the design pattern that is required on the substrate to detect a first difference value, extracting error candidates at which the first difference value is not less than a first predetermined value, comparing pattern shapes at the error candidates to detect a second difference value, combining, into one group, patterns whose second difference values are not more than a second predetermined value, and extracting a predetermined number of patterns from each group and verifying error candidates of the extracted patterns. |
| US08402405B1 |
System and method for correcting gate-level simulation accuracy when unknowns exist
This invention provides a system and method for correcting gate-level simulation commences by identifying unknown values (Xs) that are falsely generated during the simulation of a given trace for a design netlist. Then, a sub-circuit of the design netlist is determined for each false X that has inputs of real Xs and an output of a false X. Finally, simulation correction code is generated based on the sub-circuit to eliminate false Xs in simulation of the design netlist. The original design netlist can then be resimulated with the simulation repair code to eliminate false Xs. This allows gate-level simulation to produce correct results. |
| US08402400B1 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a processor interface block with an electronic design automation tool
An electric design automation (EDA) tool for generating a design of a system on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes a library that includes a processor interface block selectable by a designer to represent a component in the design that is accessible to a processor. The EDA tool also includes a processor interface circuitry generation unit to automatically generate circuitry in the design to support the processor interface block without input from the designer. |
| US08402399B2 |
Method and system for computing fourier series coefficients for mask layouts using FFT
A method and system for computing Fourier coefficients for a Fourier representation of a mask transmission function for a lithography mask. The method includes: sampling a polygon of a mask pattern of the lithography mask to obtain an indicator function which defines the polygon, performing a Fourier Transform on the indicator function to obtain preliminary Fourier coefficients, and scaling the Fourier coefficients for the Fourier representation of the mask transmission function, where at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device. |
| US08402395B2 |
System and method for providing a dynamic user interface for a dense three-dimensional scene with a plurality of compasses
A system and method for providing a dynamic user interface for a dense three-dimensional scene with a plurality of compasses is presented. Clusters of semantically scored documents are placed in a three-dimensional scene and arranged as a cluster spine. Each cluster spine is projected into a two-dimensional display. A compass and another compass are provided via a heads-up display generator to logically frame at least one of the cluster spines within the two-dimensional display. A label is generated to identify each concept in one or more cluster spines appearing with the compass and the another compass, respectively. Slots are defined in the two-dimensional display and positioned circumferentially around the compass and the another compass. Each label is assigned to the slot outside of the compass or the another compass for the cluster spine having a closest angularity to the respective slot. |
| US08402389B2 |
Methods and apparatus for displaying contents using icon images
A content display method includes the steps of acquiring an icon image corresponding to a data content set composed of a plurality of data contents, generating a plurality of specific icons which are different from each other and correspond to the data contents, on the basis of the icon image and a predetermined generation rule, and displaying the specific icons on a display. |
| US08402388B2 |
Setting up a communication procedure between instances and a protocol tester using the method
A method of setting up a communication procedure between instances, one of which is a protocol tester that uses the method, includes the steps of selecting the instances, selecting a protocol layer for the communication procedure, selecting abstract communication interfaces for the protocol layer; selecting communication data and automatically setting up the communication procedure on the basis of the results of the selecting steps. Any of the selecting steps may be performed graphically, and parameters selected are assigned description files that are used in the setting up step. |
| US08402386B2 |
Method and apparatus for two-dimensional scrolling in a graphical display window
A method and system for two-dimensional scrolling in a graphical display window (102) in a user interface are provided. A first scroll bar (110, 120) associated with a display window (102) is enabled to move data displayed in the window (102) relative to a first direction in the direction of the first scroll bar (110, 120). Responsive to user selection of a slide button (114, 124) in the first scroll bar (110, 120) with a pointer device and responsive to movement of the pointer device in a second direction, data displayed in the window (102) is moved relative to the second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. A second scroll bar (120, 110) in the second direction may also be provided, wherein movement of the pointer device in the second direction with selection of the first scroll bar (110, 120) is represented by the position of a slide button (124, 114) in the second scroll bar (120, 110). |
| US08402381B2 |
Automatically arranging widgets of a model within a canvas using iterative region based widget relative adjustments
A widget adjustment event can be detected for a widget that is part of a model that is presented on a canvas of a user interface. On-canvas objects proximate to the widget can be adjusted. The on-canvas objects can include other widgets. The adjustments can be performed relative to a layout position of the widget after the widget adjustment event has occurred. Additional on-canvas objects further from the widget can the adjusted on-canvas objects can then be adjusted as necessary due to new positions of the adjusted on-canvas objects. |
| US08402378B2 |
Reactive avatars
Avatars are used to graphically represent users in a communications session, and the avatars are capable of being animated. An indication of an animation of one of the avatars is received. Another avatar that represents another of the users is animated in response to, and based on, the animation of the avatar in the same communications session. |
| US08402377B2 |
System and method for embedding a view of a virtual space in a banner ad and enabling user interaction with the virtual space within the banner ad
A system and method for providing a view of a virtual space to a user in a banner ad of a webpage. This enables an advertiser to provide content that is not merely static or scripted, but instead enabled provision of content through a web ad that represents activity within a virtual space (e.g., interactions of other users with the virtual space, content that changes based on current or recent events, etc.) in real time (or near real time). The provision of a virtual space in a web ad may be more effective than conventional web ad content. |
| US08402369B2 |
Multiple-document summarization using document clustering
Systems and methods are disclosed for summarizing multiple documents by generating a model of the documents as a mixture of document clusters, each document in turn having a mixture of sentences, wherein the model simultaneously representing summarization information and document cluster structure; and determining a loss function for evaluating the model and optimizing the model. |
| US08402367B1 |
Smart reload pages
Methods and systems for reloading one or more browser tabs containing an incomplete display of web page are disclosed. A request is provided for one or more web pages for display in one or more browser tabs of a browser. There is a one to one mapping between the one or more web pages and the one or more browser tabs. Each browser tab is assigned a reload priority. The one or more requested web pages are received and loaded by the one or more browser tabs. One or more browser tabs containing an incomplete display of the one or more web pages is identified. The one or more browser tabs containing an incomplete display of a web page are reloaded based on the reload priority of the respective browser tab containing the incomplete display of the web page. |
| US08402365B2 |
Information processing method and apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input an annotation of at least one of an underline, a box, a character, a character string, a symbol and a symbol string to a displayed document, an annotation recognition unit configured to recognize a type of the annotation and a coverage of the annotation in the document, an intention estimation unit configured to estimate intention of a user based on the type of the annotation and information in the coverage, an action storage unit configured to store a plurality of actions, an action selection unit configured to select an action to be performed for the document from the action storage based on the intention estimated by the intention estimation unit, and an execution unit configured to execute the action selected by the action selection unit. |
| US08402363B2 |
Table editing apparatus and method thereof
A form system 104 creates a table layout in accordance with an XML document that possesses a structure that is described by an XML schema. If a complex type of table element is present, the field name of the element is saved, and the child table elements of the complex type table element are laid out in the orientation of the height of the table. The field name and field region of each respective child table element is saved, and the position and size thereof determined. If a repeating loop element is present, an element is inserted beneath the table element in question that denotes the fact that the repeating loop is present. The layout data thus created is stored in the form storage unit 103. |
| US08402362B2 |
Substituting a favorite password value entered into a field of an online form with a specific password value
A system for automatically completing fields in online forms, such as login forms and new user registration forms, which employs a Master Cookie File containing sets of records associated with the user, his or her accounts or web sites, and registered values associated with form tags (e.g. username, password, address, email, telephone, etc.). When the user encounters another form, the MCF is automatically searched for matching values and form tags, primarily from the same account or web site, or alternatively from other accounts or sites. A flowing pop-up menu is displayed nearby the form fields from which the user can select values to automatically complete the form. Automatic account information updating, value expiration management, mapping of favorite values, and sharing of values are optional, enhanced functions of the invention. |
| US08402356B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for delivery of media
Systems, methods and apparatus for collecting data and presenting media to a user are provided. The systems generally includes a data gathering module associated with an electronic device. The data gathering module communicates gathered data to a management module, which manages at least one user profile based on the gathered data. The management module may select media for presentation to a user based on the user profile, and the selected media may be displayed to the user via a media output device co-located with the user, such as a display of the user's mobile electronic device or a television, computer, billboard or other display co-located with the user. Related methods are also provided. |
| US08402354B2 |
Signal processor and error correction process
A signal processor, which includes: a signal receiving section for receiving signals encoded under a predetermined code rule; a rule violation detecting section for detecting code rule violation included in the signals received by the signal receiving section; an error range specifying section for specifying a range in which an error bit is included out of a bit string which constitutes the signals on the basis of a position of the code rule violation detected by the rule violation detecting section; and an error correcting section for correcting one error bit in the range specified by the error range specifying section so that the code rule violation detected by the rule violation detecting section is eliminated. |
| US08402347B2 |
Error correction code for unidirectional memory
A memory array and a method of writing to a unidirectional non-volatile storage cell are disclosed whereby a user data word is transformed to an internal data word and written to one or more unidirectional data storage cells according to a cell coding scheme. A check word may be generated that corresponds to the internal data word. In some embodiments, the check word may be generated by inverting one or more bits of an intermediate check word. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08402344B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling dispersed storage of streaming data
A method begins by a processing module determining properties of streaming data. The method continues with the processing module determining required dispersed storage resources based on the properties of the streaming data, identifying a plurality of sets of dispersed storage resources, and establishing first error coding dispersed storage function parameters for a first set of dispersed storage resources of the plurality of sets of dispersed storage resources when the required dispersed storage resources requires the plurality of sets of dispersed storage resources. In addition, the method continues with the processing module enabling partitioning of the streaming data into a plurality of data streams and enabling routing of a first data stream of the plurality of data streams to the first set of dispersed storage resources, wherein the first set of dispersed storage resources converts the first data stream into pluralities of error coded data slices. |
| US08402335B2 |
Status report messages for multi-layer ARQ protocol
Disclosed herein is a method comprising detecting, by a relay node in a wireless network, an inner automatic repeat request (ARQ) error on a local link of the wireless network, and sending, in response to the detecting, an outer ARQ status report identifying one or more packets that were not successfully received, the outer ARQ status report including an originating node ID identifying the relay node as an originator of the outer ARQ status report. |
| US08402333B2 |
Device and method for transmitting data
A data transmission device transmits coded packets and a code for decoding the coded packets to a receiving device. The data transmission device retransmits the coded packets and the code to the receiving device when failing to receive feedback information on a decoding success state of the coded packets from the receiving device. Accordingly, the data transmission device can increase the radio resource efficiency in the wireless communication system. |
| US08402330B2 |
Selecting on die test port and off die interface leads
An IC includes an IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port (TAP) interface and an additional Off-Chip TAP interface. The Off-Chip TAP interface connects to the TAP of another IC. The Off Chip TAP interface can be selected by a TAP Linking Module on the IC. |
| US08402329B2 |
Scan test circuit, and method and program for designing same
Flip-flops 201 to 206 constitute a scan path shift register. During shift mode operation, a clock signal CLK is supplied to clock terminals of the flip-flops 201, 203, and 205, a signal obtained by having an inverted clock control circuit 303 reverse the phase of the clock signal CLK is supplied to clock terminals of the flip-flops 202 and 206, and a normal/inverted clock control circuit 404 supplies a signal having the same phase as the clock signal CLK to a clock terminal of the flip-flop 204 having no sufficient setup time. |
| US08402327B2 |
Memory system with error correction and method of operation
A method is provided for error correction of a memory. The method includes: providing a first memory and a second memory; initiating a read operation of the first memory to retrieve data; performing an error correction code (ECC) processing on the data, wherein the ECC processing for determining that at least a portion of the data is erroneous and for providing corrected data; and determining if an address of the erroneous data is stored in the second memory, if the address of the erroneous data is stored in the second memory, storing the corrected data in the second memory, and if the address of the erroneous data is not stored in the second memory, storing the address in the second memory. |
| US08402326B2 |
Integrated circuit having memory array including ECC and column redundancy and method of operating same
An integrated circuit device comprising a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; multiplexer circuitry, coupled to the memory cell array, comprising a plurality of data multiplexers, each data multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, comprising (i) a first input to receive write data which is representative of data to be written into the memory cells of the memory cell array in response to a write operation, and (ii) a second input to receive read data which is representative of data read from memory cells of the memory cell array, and an associated output to responsively output data from one of the plurality of inputs; and syndrome generation circuitry, coupled to the multiplexer circuitry, to generate: (i) a write data syndrome vector using the write data and (ii) a read data syndrome vector using the read data. |
| US08402325B2 |
Data storage and replay apparatus
A data storage and replay device uses measurements of the evolution of performance of the storage medium (typically a flash memory circuit) to predict an error rate of retrieval from a region of the storage medium. The prediction is used as a basis for dynamically selecting an ECC for encoding the data prior to storage of the data. The ECC is selected from a plurality of available ECC's so that a fastest encodable ECC is selected that is predicted to produce no more than a predetermined post-decoding error rate given the information. On decoding the data, which is typically audio or video data, is decoded and replayed at a predetermined speed. In another embodiment, the data stored using a plurality of ECC's together and an ECC is selected dynamically for decoding, so that an output data rate can be maximized or power consumption on replay can be minimized. |
| US08402323B2 |
System and method for in-line error correction for storage systems
A disk controller comprising a disk formatter configured to receive data being transferred between a disk and a host. A buffer controller is in communication with the disk formatter, a buffer configured to store the data being transferred between the disk and the host, and the host. The buffer is external to each of the disk controller and the host. The buffer controller is configured to regulate transfer of the data between the buffer and the disk formatter. An error correction module is in communication with the disk formatter and the buffer controller. The error correction module is configured to generate an error correction mask to correct errors in the data. The error correction mask is applied to the data prior to the buffer controller transferring the data to the buffer. |
| US08402321B2 |
System and method of providing driver software to test controller to facilitate testing by wireless transceiver tester of a device under test
A system and method of providing driver software to a test controller to facilitate testing by a wireless transceiver tester of a device under test (DUT). Using the wireless transceiver tester, executable tester instructions are accessed from one or more computer readable media and in accordance therewith bi-directional signal communications are established between the wireless transceiver tester and the test controller, and between the wireless transceiver tester and the DUT. Further accessed are executable driver instructions, including a plurality of executable driver program instructions for driving at least one of the wireless transceiver tester and the DUT, which are communicated to the test controller. |
| US08402319B2 |
Method and system to extract a navigation model for analysis of a web application
In one embodiment, a method includes automated extraction of the Page Transition Graph (PTG) model for model-based analysis of web applications. Specifically, the method includes accessing one or more JAVASERVER PAGES (JSP) files, one or more Extensible Markup Language (XML) configuration files, and one or more class files of a web application; parsing the JSP files and extracting data in the JSP files that encode user or server events supported by the event-driven application; parsing the XML configuration files and extracting data in the XML configuration files that encode definitions used by the event-driven application when deployed; parsing the class files and extracting data in the class files that encode one or more actions or one or more forms used by the event-driven application when deployed; storing the extracted data as an abstract syntax tree (AST); populating a page transition graph (PTG) of the event-driven application based on the AST; and checking the extracted PTG for navigation errors such as unreachable pages, ghost pages and undefined transitions. |
| US08402316B2 |
Method of testing computer, computer test apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable medium
A method of testing a computer, the method has designating a register as an input-only register having a setting of a value which does not cause an exception interruption with an execution of a specific type of instruction, generating a test instruction array having a plurality of instructions for a test, by assigning a register excluding the input-only register as an output destination of an execution result of each of the plurality of instructions, executing the plurality of instructions included in the generated test instruction array, and evaluating the execution results by the computer. |
| US08402314B2 |
Debug registers for halting processor cores after reset or power off
A method and apparatus of stopping a functional block of an integrated circuit (IC) for debugging purposes is disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes a number of functional units accessible by an external debugger via a debug port (DP). During a debug operation, a power controller in the IC may power down a functional unit. When the functional unit is powered off, a first register may be programmed. Responsive to the programming of the first register, a first signal may be asserted and provided to the functional unit. When power is restored to the functional unit, operation of the functional unit may be halted prior to execution of instructions or other operations, responsive to the signal. |
| US08402313B1 |
Reconfigurable testing system and method
One disclosed system and method enables dynamic reconfiguration of an electronic device in association with testing activities in a convenient and efficient manner. In one implementation, the electronic device includes a bus for communicating information, a microprocessor for processing data, a programmable functional component including a plurality of functional blocks programmable to provide a plurality of functions and configurations, and a memory for storing instructions including instructions for causing the programmable functional component to change functions and configurations. The components are programmably configurable to perform a variety of functions. In one example, the memory stores a plurality of configuration images that define the configuration and functionality of the circuit. The information stored in the memory facilitates dynamic reconfiguration of the circuit in accordance with the test harness instructions. Based upon a command from a test computer, the electronic device is automatically reconfigured by the test harness activating different configuration images. |
| US08402310B2 |
Detecting soft errors via selective re-execution
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining a vulnerability level for an instruction executed in a processor, and re-executing the instruction if the vulnerability level is above a threshold. The vulnerability level may correspond to a soft error likelihood for the instruction while the instruction is in the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08402308B2 |
Apparatus and method for failure management of RFID middleware management system
An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and method for failure management of a RFID middleware management system for providing optimum failure detection and restoring technologies to the RFID middleware management system for supporting more exquisite and faster failure detection and restoration. The apparatus for failure management of a RFID middleware management system includes a plurality of readers each for sensing and reading in a tag data, a plurality of RFID middlewares each for processing the tag data from the readers through processing steps of collection, classification, and transferring a result of the processing to an application in a fixed format, and an MMS (middleware management system) for detecting a failure taken place at the RFID middlewares, and performing at least one of re-starting and work shifting to restore the RFID middleware from the failure detected thus. |
| US08402306B1 |
Systems and methods for managing applications
A method for maintaining applications may include: (1) receiving a request to recover a first application, (2) identifying a first production topology of the first application that identifies a set of resources upon which the application depends, (3) maintaining a template for transforming the first production topology of the first application into a first recovery topology for the first application, the template comprising information for mapping the first production topology to the first recovery topology, (4) applying the template to the first production topology at a first point in time to create the first recovery topology, and (5) recovering the first application to a first computing system using the first recovery topology. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed herein. |
| US08402303B2 |
Method for encoder frequency shift compensation
The embodiments disclose a method for encoder frequency-shift compensation, including, determining frequency values of an input encoder signal, analyzing an encoder index clock signal and the input encoder signal to determine values of frequency-shifts and compensating for the values of the frequency-shifts to generate a frequency-shift compensated clock. |
| US08402302B2 |
Timer system for maintaining the accuracy of a real time clock when synchronization source is not available
An electronic timer system includes a counter-based time generator for continuously generating raw base time, and a translator for translating between raw base time and local precise time. The counter-based time generator is driven by an oscillator. The timer system further includes a temperature sensor placed in the proximity of the oscillator or a crystal used by the oscillator, and a look-up control table holding temperature values associated with corresponding control values representative of the configurable parameter value A. The look-up control table is generated when the timer system is synchronized with a synchronization source so that the temperature and control values are characteristic of the operation of the timer system in synchronization. The timer system is also configured for reading, when no synchronization source is available, a temperature value from the temperature sensor, and for extracting, based on the temperature value, a control value from the look-up control table corresponding to a suitable (quantized) representation of the temperature value. The timer system is then able to configure the parameter variable A in accordance with the extracted control value. |
| US08402300B2 |
Synchronization of clocks in autonomous components of an MR system and synchronous execution of commands in those components
In a device and a method to execute commands in components of an imaging system, in particular of a magnetic resonance tomography system, local clocks in the components are temporally synchronized, commands, including a respective command execution time specification which respectively specifies at which point in time a command should be executed, are sent to the components, the commands are received by the components, commands and command execution time specifications that are received by components are stored in these components, and a stored command is respectively executed when a time indicated by the local clock coincides with the stored command execution time specification regarding the command. |
| US08402288B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling voltage and frequency using multiple reference circuits
A method and an apparatus for controlling voltage level and clock signal frequency supplied to a system. The method comprises: providing at least one reference circuit representative of a behavior of at least one estimated circuit, whereas the at least one estimated circuit includes transistors of multiple types; supplying at least one input signal to at least one reference circuits and monitoring a behavior of the at least one reference circuit one or more reference circuit; determining a characteristic of at least one output signal provided to the at least one estimated circuit; and providing at least one output signal to one or more estimated circuitsThe apparatus includes at least one reference circuit representative of a behavior of at least one estimated circuit, whereas the at least one estimated circuit includes transistors of multiple types; and monitoring circuitry adapted to monitor a behavior of at least one reference circuit and to determine a characteristic of at least one output signal provided to the at least one estimated circuit. |
| US08402282B2 |
Method and device for encrypting and decrypting digital data
Method for encrypting an initial digital data set, which comprises a compression of the initial digital data set delivering a compressed set comprising at least one compressed digital data stream and at least one dictionary making it possible to describe the content of the compressed digital data stream or streams, and an encryption of each dictionary only delivering an encrypted digital data set. |
| US08402280B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for buffering in association with audio/video digital rights management (DRM) processing
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for buffering an audio video (AV) stream, audio/video header information, and an audio/video elementary stream for hardware audio/video digital rights management (DRM) processing. In operation, an AV stream encrypted under a shared symmetric key in an M2TS format is buffered, where the AV stream includes content including at least one of audio or video and all content data associated with the AV stream is removed at picture level and below, with the exception of content headers associated with the content data. Additionally, content header information encrypted under the shared symmetric key is buffered, the content header information indicating locations of the content headers associated with the content data. Further, a content elementary stream encrypted under a hardware secret key is buffered for consumption of a hardware bit stream decoding engine. |
| US08402278B2 |
Method and system for protecting data
The present invention is directed to a method and system for protecting data. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention a new file is created. Key information is retrieved for the file from a keyserver. The key information includes, a key, a key identifier, and encryption algorithm information. The file is encrypted using the encryption algorithm. The key identifier is stored in a data repository. The data repository relates the key identifier to the encrypted file. |
| US08402272B2 |
Master unit and slave unit
Provided is a communication device which securely registers a slave unit. A secret address generation and setup section generates a secret address generator, and a secret address of the slave unit used temporarily instead of a unique address of the slave unit based on the secret address generator and identification information of the slave unit. A second communication section transmits to the slave unit a registration start notice containing the secret address generator by broadcast. A registration process section generates a registration authentication key; generates a unique key of the slave unit by transmitting/receiving, to/from the slave unit, unique key generation information encrypted using the registration authentication key; receives, from the slave unit, the unique address of the slave unit encrypted using the registration authentication key; and stores the identification information in association with the unique address and the unique key of the slave unit in the registration information storing section. |
| US08402267B1 |
Security enhanced network device and method for secure operation of same
A security enhanced network device includes a processor, a memory, and a communication controller operably connected to form a processing device. A microkernel provides a partitioning between a communication address space, a security enforcement address space, and a protected operations address space. The communication address space contains communications threads for interacting with a network. The protected operations address space contains protected operations threads for performing protected operations. The security enforcement address space contains security threads for providing secure isolation of the protected operations address space from the communication address space. A method of secure operation of the network device includes: partitioning the network device into the communication address space, the security enforcement address space, and the protected operations address space; interacting with the network; providing secure isolation of the protected operations address space from the communication address space; and performing protected operations. |
| US08402265B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image processing system, method for controlling image processing system, and storage medium
At an apparatus, a reading unit reads a document a generation unit and generates a content data from the document and an encryption unit performs encryption processing on the content data using an encryption key and a transmission unit, when an instruction for not using a service for performing processing on the content data provided by a server group and for storing the generated content data in the server group is received, transmits to the server group the content data on which the encryption processing has been performed, and, when an instruction for using the service is received, transmits to the server group the content data on which the encryption processing has not been performed. |
| US08402263B2 |
Privacy-preserving probabilistic inference based on hidden Markov models
A most likely sequence of states corresponding to an observation sequence stored at a client is determined securely with respect to a HMM stored at a server. An encryption of a log-probability of the current element of the observation sequence is determined for each state of the HMM. A product of an encryption of the log-probability of the state for the current element, an encryption of a transition probability to the state, and the encryption of a log-probability of the current element of the observation sequence is determined iteratively, for each state of the HMM, to produce an encrypted matrix of indexes of the states; and the encrypted matrix is transmitted to the client. |
| US08402262B2 |
Enabling a heterogeneous blade environment
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a request for power-up of a first blade of a chassis, enabling the first blade to power-up in a reduced boot mode and receiving a communication including characteristic information and policy information associated with the first blade, and analyzing the characteristic information and the policy information to determine a policy and a boot configuration for the first blade. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08402260B2 |
Data processing apparatus having address conversion circuit
The present invention provides a data processing apparatus realizing reduced load on a host CPU and improved performance. An arithmetic unit includes an SIMD processor for processing a plurality of pieces of data by a single instruction, and a second CPU coupled to the SIMD processor via an arithmetic unit bus and controlling the SIMD processor. A host system includes a host CPU for controlling the entire data processing apparatus, a built-in memory and a peripheral circuit coupled to the host CPU via a first bus, and a peripheral circuit coupled to a second bus. The second CPU accesses an external flash/ROM via the arithmetic unit bus and the first bus, and the SIMD processor accesses an external memory via the second bus. Therefore, the load on the host CPU can be reduced, and the performance of the entire apparatus can be improved. |
| US08402254B2 |
Flag generation and use in processor with same processing for operation on small size operand as low order bits portion of operation on large size operand
The RISC data processor is based on the idea that in case that there are many flag-generating instructions, the number of flags generated by each instruction is increased so that a decrease of flag-generating instructions exceeds an increase of flag-using instructions in quantity, thereby achieving the decrease in instructions. With the data processor, an instruction for generating flags according to operands' data sizes is defined. To an instruction set handled by the RISC data processor, an instruction capable of executing an operation on operand in more than one data size, which performs a process identical to an operation process conducted on the small-size operand on low-order bits of the large-size operand, and generates flags capable of coping with the respective data sizes regardless of the data size of each operand subjected to the operation is added. Thus, the reduction in instruction code space of the RISC data processor tight in instruction code space can be achieved. |
| US08402252B2 |
Determining length of instruction with address form field exclusive of evaluating instruction specific opcode in three byte escape opcode
A method, apparatus and system are disclosed for decoding an instruction in a variable-length instruction set. The instruction is one of a set of new types of instructions that uses a new escape code value, which is two bytes in length, to indicate that a third opcode byte includes the instruction-specific opcode for a new instruction. The new instructions are defined such the length of each instruction in the opcode map for one of the new escape opcode values may be determined using the same set of inputs, where each of the inputs is relevant to determining the length of each instruction in the new opcode map. For at least one embodiment, the length of one of the new instructions is determined without evaluating the instruction-specific opcode. |
| US08402248B2 |
Explicitly regioned memory organization in a network element
A network element that includes multiple memory types and memory sizes translates a logical memory address into a physical memory address. A memory access request is received for a data structure with a logical memory address that includes a region identifier that identifies a region that is mapped to one or more memories and is associated with a set of one or more region attributes whose values are based on processing requirements provided by a software programmer and the available memories of the network element. The network element accesses the region mapping table entry corresponding to the region identifier and, using the region attributes that are associated with the region, determines an access target for the request, determines a physical memory address offset within the access target, and generates a physical memory address. The access target includes a target class of memory, an instance within the class of memory, and a particular physical address space of the instance within the class of memory. The physical memory address includes a network routing information portion that includes information to route the physical memory address to the target instance, and includes an address payload portion that includes information to identify the physical address space identified by the subtarget and the physical memory address offset. |
| US08402247B2 |
Remapping of data addresses for large capacity low-latency random read memory
Described herein are method and apparatus for using an LLRRM device as a storage device in a storage system. At least three levels of data structures may be used to remap storage system addresses to LLRRM addresses for read requests, whereby a first-level data structure is used to locate a second-level data structure corresponding to the storage system address, which is used to locate a third-level data structure corresponding to the storage system address. An LLRRM address may comprise a segment number determined from the second-level data structure and a page number determined from the third-level data structure. Update logs may be produced and stored for each new remapping caused by a write request. An update log may specify a change to be made to a particular data structure. The stored update logs may be performed on the data structures upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. |
| US08402245B2 |
System and computer program product for dynamically resizing file systems
Methods (100), systems (300) and computer program products are disclosed for uninterrupted execution of an application program (110). The method (100) comprises: receiving a write operation call to a native file system from an application program (110) being executed on an operating system; and dynamically allocating (120, 122) free data blocks to the native file system from at least one other file system in a group of file systems until completion of execution of the application program (110) thereby completing the write operation call. The group of file systems is configured to allow sharing of free data blocks amongst the group of file systems. |
| US08402242B2 |
Write-erase endurance lifetime of memory storage devices
A memory management system and method for managing memory blocks of a memory device of a computer. The system includes a free block data structure including free memory blocks for writing, and sorting the free memory blocks in a predetermined order based on block write-erase endurance cycle count and receiving new user-write requests to update existing data and relocation write requests to relocate existing data separately, a user-write block pool for receiving youngest blocks holding user-write data (i.e., any page being updated frequently) from the free block data structure, a relocation block pool for receiving oldest blocks holding relocation data (i.e., any page being updated infrequently) from the free block data structure, and a garbage collection pool structure for selecting at least one of user-write blocks and relocation blocks for garbage collection, wherein the selected block is moved back to the free block data structure upon being relocated and erased. |
| US08402240B2 |
Systems and methods for locking and exporting the locking of a removable memory device
A device and method is provided for commonly and securely allowing, as access control on a memory card, a plurality of information processing apparatuses to lock/unlock the memory. On the basis of a lock command input from an information processing apparatus serving as a host, such as a PC, an information storage device, such as a memory card, determines whether (a) a standard lock key set serving as a key set prohibiting output or (b) an export lock key set serving as a key set permitting output is detected and stores corresponding key set information. Only when the export lock key set is detected, output is permitted provided that predetermined verification succeeds. |
| US08402239B2 |
Volume management for network-type storage devices
An administrator's work load increases because the administrator has to both allocate volumes of PC server device applications and take over volumes for applications based on changes in PC server devices. A volume management system solves the problem with a computer system having storage devices each having a unit managing volume configuration information based on each application, a unit managing volume usage information based on the application volumes, and a unit managing and partitioning allocatable areas of the storage devices based on performance and reliability. The system has a unit selecting suitable allocation regions in accordance with the volume usages of the applications; a unit selecting a suitable allocation region based on change of host performance and migrating a volume to the suitable allocation region when the host configuration of an application changes; and a unit changing configuration information to perform change of setting on each host. |
| US08402236B2 |
Computer system managing volume allocation and volume allocation management method
In a management computer which manages a storage system including a main logical volume and subsidiary logical volumes, when the access volume to the main logical volume exceeds a threshold value, a subsidiary logical volume associated with a physical volume having higher input/output performance than the physical volume associated with the main logical volume is selected. When the migration time of the data stored in the physical volume corresponding to the selected subsidiary logical volume is within a prescribed time period, then data stored in the physical volume corresponding to the main logical volume is migrated to the physical volume corresponding to the selected subsidiary logical volume, and the physical volume corresponding to the selected subsidiary logical volume is associated with the main logical volume. |
| US08402230B2 |
Recoverability while adding storage to a redirect-on-write storage pool
Embodiments include a method comprising detecting addition of a new nonvolatile machine-readable medium to a data storage pool of nonvolatile machine-readable media. The method includes preventing from being performed a first operation of a file system that requires a first parameter that identifies a logical indication of a location within the nonvolatile machine-readable media for the file system, until logical indications of locations within the new nonvolatile machine-readable medium for the file system have been stored in the data storage pool. The method includes allowing to be performed, prior to logical indications of locations within the new nonvolatile machine-readable medium being stored in the data storage pool, a second operation of the file system that does not require a second parameter that identifies a logical indication of a location within the nonvolatile machine-readable media, wherein the second operation causes data to be written into the new nonvolatile machine-readable medium. |
| US08402229B1 |
System and method for enabling interoperability between application programming interfaces
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for sharing graphics objects between a compute unified device architecture (CUDA) application programming interface (API) and a graphics API. The CUDA API includes calls used to alias graphics objects allocated by the graphics API and, subsequently, synchronize accesses to the graphics objects. When an application program emits a “register” call that targets a particular graphics object, the CUDA API ensures that the graphics object is in the device memory, and maps the graphics object into the CUDA address space. Subsequently, when the application program emits “map” and “unmap” calls, the CUDA API respectively enables and disables accesses to the graphics object through the CUDA API. Further, the CUDA API uses semaphores to synchronize accesses to the shared graphics object. Finally, when the application program emits an “unregister” call, the CUDA API configures the computing system to disregard interoperability constraints. |
| US08402227B2 |
System and method for committing results of a software transaction using a hardware transaction
The system and methods described herein may exploit hardware transactional memory to improve the performance of a software or hybrid transactional memory implementation, even when an entire user transaction cannot be executed within a hardware transaction. The user code of an atomic transaction may be executed within a software transaction, which may collect read and write sets and/or other information about the atomic transaction. A single hardware transaction may be used to commit the atomic transaction by validating the transaction's read set and applying the effects of the user code to memory, reducing the overhead associated with commitment of software transactions. Because the hardware transaction code is carefully controlled, it may be less likely to fail to commit. Various remedial actions may be taken before retrying hardware transactions following some failures. If a transaction exceeds the constraints of the hardware, it may be committed by the software transactional memory alone. |
| US08402223B2 |
Cache eviction using memory entry value
Embodiments are directed to efficiently determining which cache entries are to be evicted from memory and to incorporating a probability of reuse estimation in a cache entry eviction determination. A computer system with multiple different caches accesses a cache entry. The computer system determines an entry cost value for the accessed cache entry. The entry cost value indicates an amount of time the computer system is slowed down by to load the cache entry into cache memory. The computer system determines an opportunity cost value for the computing system caches. The opportunity cost value indicates an amount of time by which the computer system is slowed down while performing other operations that could have used the cache entry's cache memory space. Upon determining that the entry cost value is lower than the opportunity cost value, the computer system probabilistically evicts the cache entry from cache memory. |
| US08402220B2 |
Storage controller coupled to storage apparatus
A storage controller comprises a cache storage used as a cache of an external storage and a control processor coupled to the cache storage. The control processor comprises an internal access function and an external access function. The internal access function transmits a read command to the cache storage. The cache storage determines whether the read target data complying with the read command is stored in a physical storage device or not. If the result of the determination is negative, the external access function is executed while, if the result of the determination is positive, the external access function is not executed because the cache storage transmits the read target data to the internal access function without issuing a request to the external access function. |
| US08402219B2 |
Hierarchical systems and methods for performing storage operations in a computer network
A system for performing storage operations using hierarchically configured storage operation cells. The system includes a first storage manager component and a first storage operation cell. The first storage operation cell has a second storage manager component directed to performing storage operations in the first storage operation cell. Moreover, the first storage manager component is programmed to instruct the second storage manager regarding performance of storage operations in the first storage operation cell. |
| US08402214B2 |
Dynamic page reallocation storage system management
In one embodiment, a storage system for storage management in a tiered storage environment comprises a plurality of storage volumes in a pool which are divided into a plurality of tiers having different tier levels, the tiers being organized according to a tier configuration rule, the plurality of storage volumes provided by a plurality of physical storage devices in the storage system; and a controller controlling the plurality of physical storage devices, the controller including a processor and a memory. The controller changes tier configurations of the tiers of storage volumes when the tier configuration rule is changed, the tier configurations including the tier levels. The controller allocates the pool to a plurality of virtual volumes based on a change of tier levels against the physical storage devices which occurs when the pool does not meet the tier configuration rule that was in effect. |
| US08402204B2 |
Methods for measuring usable lifespan and replacing an in-system programming code of a memory device, and data storage system using the same
A data storage system comprises a host and a flash memory device having a non-non-volatile memory. A controller of the flash memory device calculates an average erase count of the flash memory to obtaining a remaining period of time indicating usable lifespan of the flash memory device. The host obtains an index by comparing the average erase count with a first threshold and determines a performance capability status for the flash memory device. The performance capability status is set to a first status when the average erase count exceeds the first threshold. The host generates an indication based on the performance capability status and performs a limp function responsive to the first status. The limp function loads a predetermined in-system programming code for replacing an original one to configure a minimum number of at least some spare blocks of the flash memory reserved and used for data update operations. |
| US08402200B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and restoring state of virtual machine
Provided is a method and apparatus for storing and restoring a state of a virtual machine on a virtual machine monitor. The method of storing a state of a second virtual machine in a predetermined storage device by a first virtual machine on a virtual machine monitor includes determining whether the state of the second virtual machine has changed, by comparing a previous state of the second virtual machine, which has already been stored in the storage device, with a current state of the second virtual machine and selectively storing the state of the second virtual machine based on a result of the determination, thereby minimizing time required to store or restore the state of the second virtual machine. |
| US08402199B2 |
Memory management system and method thereof
The invention discloses a memory management system and a memory management method are disclosed. The memory management system includes a first memory, at least one secondary memory, and a memory management device. The first memory includes a normal access memory bank and at least one switching access memory bank. The secondary memory includes at least one secondary access memory bank corresponding to the switching access memory bank. The memory management device reads/writes the normal access memory bank or the secondary access memory bank. |
| US08402198B1 |
Mapping engine for a storage device
A hardware search structure quickly determines the status of cache lines associated with a large disk array and at the same time reduces the amount of memory space needed for tracking the status. The search structure is configurable in hardware to different cache line sizes and different primary and secondary index sizes. A maintenance feature invalidates state record entries based both on their time stamps and on associated usage statistics. |
| US08402189B2 |
Information processing apparatus and data transfer method
An object is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of improving the availability as a system while improving the reliability of a data transfer path and a data transfer method. An information processing apparatus has a data transfer path branching in a tree structure, from a root node to a plurality of nodes while communicably coupling therebetween and transmitting serial data between the root node and the plurality of nodes, including two internode data transfer paths provided between at least a pair of nodes of the plurality of nodes, through which serial data transfer is performed; and a routing processing unit provided to each terminal nodes that are the nodes on both ends of the internode data transfer path, transfers the return data from the transmission destination node to the transmission source node by using the same internode data transfer path as the internode data transfer path used for data transfer to the transmission destination node, when each of the terminal nodes transfers data received from any of another nodes being a transmission source to any of the nodes being a transmission destination via the other terminal node. |
| US08402188B2 |
Methods and systems for devices with a self-selecting bus decoder
Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device including a self-selecting bus decoder. In some embodiments, the device may be coupled to a microcontroller, and the self-selecting bus decoder may determine a response of the peripheral device to requests from the microcontroller. In another embodiment, the device may include a bus translator and a self-selecting bus decoder. The bus translator may be configured to translate between signals from a selected one of a plurality of different types of buses. A microcontroller may be coupled to a selected one of the plurality of different types of buses of the bus translator. |
| US08402183B2 |
System and method for coordinating control settings for hardware-automated I/O processors
A system and method for coordinating control setting with respect to an automated input/output (I/O) processor. A state machine having a transition algorithm can be configured in association with a storage controller in order to permit multiple entities to safely transmit an I/O request to an I/O device. Specific combinations of control bits associated with a fast path engine can be determined by identifying different modes with respect to the behavior of the fast path engine. Each mode can be assigned as a state with respect to the state machine. An I/O path exception and error condition that can cause transitions between the states can be determined and the transitions can be assigned from one state to another state. A generic logic template can then be configured to govern the transitions with respect to the state machine. The logic can be executed when an event occurs in order to trigger multiple state transition and/or modifications with respect to the hardware control bits of the fast path engine. |
| US08402182B2 |
Methods and systems for automatic configuration of peripherals
Peripherals and data processing systems are disclosed which can be configured to interact based upon sensor data. In one embodiment, a peripheral, which is configured to be used with a data processing system, includes an interface to couple the peripheral to the data processing system, and at least one sensor, such as a proximity sensor, to sense a user of the peripheral, and a processor coupled to the interface and to the at least one sensor, wherein the processor configures the peripheral in response to data from the at least one sensor. The peripheral may communicate sensor data from its sensors to the data processing system, which may be a wireless PDA, and the data processing system analyzes the sensor data from its sensors and from the peripheral's sensors to decide how to configure the peripheral and/or the data processing system based on the sensor. |
| US08402180B2 |
Autonomous multi-packet transfer for universal serial bus
A USB device can be configured for multi-packet data transfer to and from endpoints with minimal software intervention. Minimal software intervention allows a Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the USB device to handle other tasks, maximizing USB bus utilization. |
| US08402177B2 |
Inferring host storage topology
A processor implemented method for inferring storage topology of a host includes discovering, from a security group that contains an initiator port of the host, all initiator ports of the host and all target ports of a storage device. Identification is then made of a port in the security group through which access to the storage device is blocked. From the discovered ports not identified as blocked, available paths between the host and a volume exposed to the host by the storage device are detected. |
| US08402175B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining external connection device in mobile terminal
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining an external connection device connected to a portable terminal. A multi-connector, and a charging cable and a data cable having the same are disclosed. According to the method, a logic level of the external connection device is determined when the external connection device is connected to the portable terminal. The external connection device is distinguished according to the logic level and performing control corresponding to the external connection device. |
| US08402168B1 |
File processing to accelerate image viewer initialization
The present disclosure includes systems and methods relating to accelerating initialization of image viewers. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a request to display an image, identifying a data component involved with displaying the image, modifying an existing electronic binary vector graphics file to include the data component, and transmitting the modified file. |
| US08402167B2 |
Method and device for invoking USI
In the field of communication technology, a method for invoking a Universal Service Interface (USI) and a USI system are provided. The schemes provide a user with a short-lived user ID for the application to interact with the USI system. The short-lived ID has a corresponding relation with the long-lived user ID and can be found according to the long-lived user ID regardless of whether the user is online or offline. The method and device can effectively ensure the security of USI invocation, and ensure that the application can initiate the USI service request even when the user is in an offline state. |
| US08402161B2 |
Communication of information between a plurality of network elements
A communications protocol interface may be configured as being divisible into a core portion and an extensible portion. The extensible portion of the communications protocol interface may be further configured so that each network element can communicate a unique and optimally small subset of actual interoperable data that corresponds to at least a portion of a larger defined data set. A software generator program may be configured to generate a set of extensible source code that operates upon the subset of actual data and that directs the execution of the extensible portion of the communications protocol interface for a particular network element. |
| US08402160B2 |
Intelligent content stream bandwidth determination
A system and method for delivering content objects over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN) is disclosed that allows for intelligent bandwidth determination for content streams. A content object is delivered with the CDN using the Internet. When a content object is requested by an end user media player, characteristics of the access network, the content object and/or the CDN are used to choose an suitable algorithm. The algorithm then determines a bitrate for delivery of the content object to the end user media player. Ultimately, the content object is transmitted at the bitrate to the end user media player. |
| US08402159B2 |
Method and system for distributed infrastructure for streaming data via multiple access points
Methods and systems for distributed infrastructure for streaming data via multiple access points. Aspects of one method may include apportioning multimedia information among a plurality of transmitting devices based on feedback channel information received from a destination receiving device by, for example, a transmission controller device. The transmitting devices may transmit the multimedia information to the destination receiving device. A transmitting device that may not be apportioned multimedia information may transmit a probing signal. The destination receiving device may generate feedback channel information for a transmitting device, for example, based on the multimedia information or the probing signal received from the respective transmitting device. The apportioning of the multimedia information may be dynamically adjusted based on updated feedback channel information received from the destination receiving device. |
| US08402156B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for multi-bitrate content streaming
An apparatus for multi-bitrate content streaming includes a receiving module configured to capture media content, a streamlet module configured to segment the media content and generate a plurality of streamlets, and an encoding module configured to generate a set of streamlets. The system includes the apparatus, wherein the set of streamlets comprises a plurality of streamlets having identical time indices and durations, and each streamlet of the set of streamlets having a unique bitrate, and wherein the encoding module comprises a master module configured to assign an encoding job to one of a plurality of host computing modules in response to an encoding job completion bid. A method includes receiving media content, segmenting the media content and generating a plurality of streamlets, and generating a set of streamlets. |
| US08402155B2 |
Real-time media delivery with automatic catch-up
Live media content is delivered in substantially real-time to a player device from a streamer and through a content delivery network. The streamer receives live media content and encodes and streams the content over the content delivery network. The content delivery network is configured to provide minimal buffering. A player device accessing the streaming channel receives media frames and buffers the frames while rending the received frames in order of receipt. If the buffer is loaded to the point that the currently rendered data lags the actual live feed by more than a threshold amount of time, the player skips over one or more video frames to bring the rendered content more current. For instance, the buffer can be flushed and more recent content can be received from the content delivery network. |
| US08402153B2 |
Multimedia distribution in a heterogeneous network
The efficiency of real-time distribution of multimedia content over a heterogeneous network is optimized by locally, rather than centrally, adapting the content to conform to the capabilities limitations of the network. Multimedia content travels from a central location along the network backbone. When received by each of a system of dispersed media servers, that media server adapts the content by compensating for any QoS limitations of the downstream network segments. For example, the backbone of the communications network may consist of a satellite uplink. The dispersed media servers receive and replicate the content as required for distribution to unicast segments downstream rather than doing so at the source of the content, and thus multiple streams of identical content need not be carried on the backbone. Each dispersed server is programmed to optimize the transmission to conform to the transmission parameters of each adjacent and downstream segment of the network. |
| US08402148B2 |
Representation, decision models, and user interface for encoding managing preferences, and performing automated decision making about the timing and modalities of interpersonal communications
The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing a user interface that can be employed by contactors and contactees in conjunction with a communications architecture for identifying and establishing an optimal communication based on preferences, capabilities, contexts and goals of the parties to engage in the communication. The user interface can include a graphical display having a plurality of display objects and associated input fields operable by one or more parties to a communication in order to facilitate convenient access, control, personalization and communications via the communications architecture. For example, configuration capabilities are provided in the user interface to enable operational adjustments to one or more operating parameters, communications groupings, policies and/or context preferences relating to a preferred modality of communication and to potential parties of communication between the contactors and contactees. User interface controls are also provided for defining deterministic policies and for encoding preferences for cost-benefit analyses. |
| US08402146B2 |
End-point identifiers in SIP
A system and method for uniquely identifying an SIP device extends the SIP communications protocol with an end point identifier, carried for example in the header of an SIP transmission. The end point identifier is useful for routing, registration, subscription, and authentication. The end point (device) of a given user epid can be uniquely identified by creating a key from an epid and a user's address-of-record (URI). This in turn enables improved connection management and security association management when the connections/IP addresses are transient, such as when HTTPS tunneling is used. |
| US08402144B2 |
Parameterizable selection of a communication system on the basis of name resolution mechanisms
The invention relates to a method for establishing a communication link between a communication system and a remote station by means of a communication network, whereby, in the context of the communication link, a parameterized selection of a remote station is made from several available remote stations by utilizing the name resolution mechanism. The communication forms a logical name with the help of parameters used for selecting a remote station or embeds the parameters in a logical name and transmits the formed logical name to a name resolution mechanism located in the communication network. The name resolution mechanism selects a remote station on the basis of the afore-mentioned logical name and a selection function and feeds back the communication address thereof. |
| US08402141B2 |
Gracefully reestablishing an expired browser session
A system for re-establishing an expired user session in which a separate session expiration time cookie is provided to communicate the session expiration time from the Web server to the browser. When a user performs an action requiring server action, a determination is made as to whether the current user session has expired, or is near expiration. If so, the user action is stored, and a separate browser window is opened. A protected page is loaded which closes the browser window. The user first encounters the login page and enters the proper credentials to log-in to the server. As part of displaying the protected page, the server updates the user session expiration time cookie to the new session expiration time. The original window then detects the new session expiration time the prior invoked action is re-attempted. |
| US08402139B2 |
Methods and systems for matching resource requests with cloud computing environments
A matching system can provide matching services to users of cloud computing environments. The matching system can receive user requests for sets of services. Once received, the matching system can collect information about available cloud appliances. The matching system can match the cloud appliances with the user requested services and provide the user with information related to available cloud appliances that meet the user's request. |
| US08402131B2 |
Hierarchy for characterizing interactions with an application
Application runtime data is obtained from an application monitoring system which monitors execution of an application, and traffic monitoring data is obtained from a traffic monitoring system which monitors traffic to/from the application as the clients interact with the application. Corresponding application runtime data and traffic monitoring data can be selectively output to assist an operator in investigating an anomalous condition. The data can be classified and selectively output according to one or more hierarchies which characterize the interactions. The hierarchies can include a domain level, a business process level (where a domain is made up of a number of business processes), a business transaction level (where a business process is made up of different business transactions), an individual transaction level (where a business transaction is made up of different transactions), and a transaction component level (where a transaction is made up of one or more transaction components). |
| US08402130B2 |
System and method for adaptively collecting performance and event information
A method for communicating information from a first computing node to at least one of the following: a storage device and a second computing node. The first computing node is monitored to collect at least one estimate of available resources, and based on this estimate, an amount of data collected is modified. Then, the modified data is sent to at least one of the following: the storage device and the second computing node. |
| US08402129B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient reactive monitoring
A technique for managing network elements significantly reduces the amount of monitoring related traffic by using a combination of aperiodic polling and asynchronous event reporting. A global resource (e.g., a network of interconnected nodes or resources) is partitioned into a plurality of separate nodes, giving a fixed resource budget to each of the nodes. When any of the nodes exceeds its budget, based upon local monitoring at that node, the node triggers a report, typically sending a message to a central manager. In response, the central manager then and only then issues a global poll of all (or substantially all) of the nodes in the network. A rate based technique can also be used to monitor resource usage at the nodes, and send a message to a central monitoring location only when the rate at which the value of a local variable changes is too high. |
| US08402125B2 |
Method of managing operations for administration, maintenance and operational upkeep, management entity and corresponding computer program product
A method and apparatus are provided for managing administrative and maintenance operations for a computer connected to a communication network. The method includes: a phase of receiving a request in respect of at least one command to be executed, originating from the computer; a phase of programmed sequential distribution of the at least one command previously recorded within an operations database, destined for the computer; a phase of recording, within a database for collecting results associated with the computer, at least one result of implementing the at least one sequentially distributed command. |
| US08402123B2 |
Systems and methods for inventorying un-provisioned systems in a software provisioning environment
A provisioning server can utilize an inventory tool on new target machines in order to collect specification data from the target machines, prior to provisioning software. The inventory tool can be configured to operate on the new target machines without software, such as an operating system, being installed on the new target machines. The inventory tool can be configured to communicate with the hardware of the new target machines and collect data representing the specifications of the new target machines. The inventory tool can be configured to operate and execute on any new target machine regardless of the type and configuration of the new target machine. |
| US08402119B2 |
Real-load tuning of database applications
A database environment that includes one or more database production servers, one or more database test servers, and a virtualization connection that provides incoming service request traffic to both the database production server and the database test server. However, the database production server responds to the database service requests, while the database test server does not. The database test server may be tested for a variety of different configurations in an attempt to find a better performing configuration. The testing is in real-time as the database test server is subjected to the same incoming service request traffic as the database production server. |
| US08402118B2 |
Intelligent LUN generation and management
An apparatus for generating and managing logical units (LUNs) in a storage network environment is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such an apparatus includes an identification module to identify a type of LUN, one or more servers that will access the LUN, and a storage system that will host the LUN. A mapping module maps the type, the one or more servers, and the storage system to one more abbreviations. A naming module then generates a LUN name that encapsulates the abbreviations. An assignment module may then assign the LUN name to the LUN. A corresponding method and computer program product are also disclosed herein. |
| US08402114B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network
Systems and methods are provided for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network and, more particularly, to systems and methods for selecting video advertisements for display within internet web pages based on relevance, bid price, past performance, or a combination thereof. |
| US08402113B2 |
Semantic service applying system and method
The present invention relates to a semantic service applying system and a method, comprising: a semantic service pipeline manager which demands and receives a particular semantic service pipeline to and from a semantic service server, and stores the corresponding pipeline in a database to manage the stored pipeline; a semantic service pipeline provider which extracts corresponding semantic service pipelines and sends the extracted pipelines to the corresponding service server if the user requests at least one of a plurality of semantic service pipelines to be provided; and a database which stores information associated with a semantic service pipeline providing server as well as the semantic service pipelines, and thus various ontology-based semantic services can be applied to the web. |
| US08402111B2 |
Device assisted services install
Device assisted services (DAS) install techniques are provided in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, DAS install techniques for providing service processors for mobile devices are provided. In some embodiments, DAS install techniques for downloading/installing new and/or updated service processors for mobile devices are provided. In some embodiments, DAS install techniques for providing verified service processors for mobile devices are provided. In some embodiments, DAS install techniques for providing secured service processors for mobile devices are provided. In some embodiments, DAS install techniques include determining if a communications device in communication with a wireless network includes a service processor for assisting control of the communications device use of a service on the wireless network, in which the service processor includes a service profile that includes a plurality of service policy settings, and in which the service profile is associated with a service plan that provides for access to the service; and verifying the service processor. In some embodiments, DAS install techniques include providing a generic first version service processor for downloading and installing a second version service processor. |
| US08402110B2 |
Remote provisioning of information technology
Remote provisioning of an IT network and/or associated services is provided. Hardware, software, service and/or expertise can be moved from on-premise to a remote location (e.g., central, distributed . . . ). Accordingly, at least a large degree computation can be moved to the center to exploit economies of scale, among other things. In such an architecture, computational resources (e.g., data storage, computation power, cache . . . ) can be pooled, and entities can subscribe to a particular level of resources related to a private entity IT network. |
| US08402105B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving security in a data processing system
Methods and Apparatuses for processing data are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, an exemplary method receives data which may include an executable portion and a non-executable portion. The non-executable portion of the data may be presented to a user without rendering the executable portion. The non-executable portion of data presented may also include information regarding the executable portion (e.g., subject matter or source of the data). The executable portion of the data is rendered or executed only when a request from a user is specifically received. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08402104B2 |
Schedulable e-mail filters
An e-mail filter may be associated with a schedule defining a recurrent active time period. As such, some e-mail filters may be active at specific times of day and on specific days of the week and inactive the rest of the time. Before applying any filters, the current time is determined and it is determined which filters are active. The determination of which filters are active is based on the current time being within the active time period. |
| US08402100B2 |
Email delivery system using metadata on emails to manage virtual storage
E-mail system which organizes e-mails into queues based on their locations and characterizes the e-mails. Metadata, indicative of the e-mail, is appended to the e-mail. The queues are organized based on the metadata, and processed. The metadata is always stored in local storage; and the message body may be stored in local storage, or in remote storage, depending on how long it will be until the message is sent. A special server manages whether the information is stored in local or remote storage. |
| US08402098B2 |
System and method for intelligence gathering and analysis
A computing system for intelligence gathering and analysis includes a computer-based remote avatar rendering and maintenance module, a self-directed data gathering and communication module, a remote personalized data stream analysis module, and a database. The avatar rendering and maintenance module provides an indicator for users to select targeted data streams presented as weapon icons that includes user-selected analysis priorities and threshold attributes of the targeted data. The self-directed data gathering and communication module provides administration programs that coordinate and control the timing and execution of commercially available web search, crawler, and messaging applications. The personalized data stream analysis module provides administration programs that coordinate and control the timing and execution of data consolidation, workflow and scoring programs related to the analysis module. The database stores and manages electronic data related to administrative control of all other system applications and to hold all user gathered data and analysis records as defined specific to the system requirements. |
| US08402093B2 |
Workflow and in-context e-mail recipient handling
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve the workflow process for resolving data elements, such as email addresses. These technologies and techniques allow the user to perform such tasks in the same context as the activity or message. In addition, user can start and stop the resolution process at any point in the process of composing the activity or email. The activity cannot be finalized, such as an email message being sent, until all of the data elements are resolved. |
| US08402091B2 |
Virtual private meeting room
A method of establishing a multimedia conference meeting includes assigning unique user identifiers to corresponding users and corresponding persistent virtual private meeting rooms dedicated to the corresponding users. Conference sessions are established using the persistent virtual private meeting rooms in response to activation acts by the users. Resources for establishing communications among users that are logged in to the conference sessions are dynamically allocated using distributed conference bridge computers. Resources presented during the conference sessions in the persistent virtual private meeting rooms remain available in the persistent virtual private meeting rooms after the conference sessions end. |
| US08402089B2 |
Communicating multimedia information to respondent endpoints
Communicating information to respondent endpoints includes detecting a trigger event for an incident. The trigger event is related to an incident category for the incident. A rule is identified in accordance with the incident category. The rule specifies one or more processes for responding to the incident. A collaboration session with a first respondent endpoint and a second respondent endpoint is established in accordance with the rule. The first respondent endpoint is associated with a first respondent system, the second respondent endpoint is associated with a second respondent system. Multimedia information is communicated to the first respondent endpoint and the second respondent endpoint according to the rule. |
| US08402083B2 |
Automatic cluster node discovery and configuration
A computer cluster system comprising a plurality of nodes and a software package comprising a user interface and a kernel for interpreting program code instructions is provided. In one embodiment, a cluster node module is configured to communicate with the kernel and other cluster node modules. The cluster node module accepts instructions from the user interface and interprets at least some of the instructions such that several cluster node modules in communication with one another and with a kernel can act as a computer cluster. |
| US08402080B2 |
Clustered computer system
A clustered computational system comprises a clustered computational engine, a program host, and a queue manager. The clustered computational engine comprises a plurality of clustered computers and is configured to perform computations. The program host stores a plurality of programs that define computations that can be performed by the clustered computational engine and a plurality of inputs to the programs. The queue manager is configured to determine when the program host has stored sufficient inputs to allow the clustered computational engine to perform a computation defined by the program and to schedule the performance of the computation by the clustered computational engine. |
| US08402078B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for determining required precision in fixed-point divide operations
A method, computer program product and a system for controlling a fixed point division operation are provided. The method includes: receiving an instruction to perform a division operation for a dividend and a divisor, the operation comprising a maximum number of iterations to produce a quotient having a maximum precision; calculating a magnitude of at least one of the dividend and the divisor; determining a quotient precision based on the magnitude; and computing a required number of iterations needed to produce the quotient precision and performing the number of iterations. |
| US08402077B2 |
Amplitude calculation apparatus of output signal of encoder and amplitude calculation program of output signal of encoder
An amplitude calculation apparatus or an amplitude calculation program of an output signal of an encoder dividing a resurge waveform into a predetermined number of angle areas, presetting and storing coefficient α of the A-phase and the coefficient β of the B-phase corresponding to the divided angle areas, the coefficients being set so that αA+βB approximates the radius of the theoretical resurge waveform, calculating the radius of the resurge waveform as αA+βB, and making the calculated radius the amplitude of the output signal of the encoder or converting a phase angle θ of a quadrant n to a phase angle θ′ of the quadrant 1, and calculating the radius of the resurge waveform as α|A|+β|B|, whereby the circuit size of the apparatus for calculating the resurge radius from the output of the encoder is reduced and the processing time by software for calculating the resurge radius is shortened. |
| US08402075B2 |
Mechanism for fast detection of overshift in a floating point unit of a processing device
A floating point unit includes a floating point adder to perform a floating point addition operation between first and second floating point numbers each having an exponent and a mantissa. The floating point unit also includes an alignment shifter that may calculate a shift value corresponding to a number of bit positions to shift the second mantissa such that the second exponent value is the same as the first exponent value. The alignment shifter may detect an overshift condition, in which the shift value is greater than or equal to a selected overshift threshold value. The selected overshift threshold value comprises a base 2 number in a range of overshift values including a minimum overshift threshold value and a maximum overshift threshold value, and which has a largest number of a consecutive of bits that are zero beginning at a least significant bit. |
| US08402074B2 |
Adaptive filter device and method for determining filter coefficients
An adaptive filter device, including a finite impulse response (FIR) filter which is based on filter coefficients, which are determined based on a predetermined iterative adaptation algorithm for determining filter coefficients of an adaptive filter, wherein, in at least one iteration step of said predetermined iterative adaptation algorithm a sum value is determined, wherein each summand of said sum value depends on one of said filter coefficients, and, if said sum value is above a predetermined threshold, the filter coefficients are modified. |
| US08402072B2 |
Processing apparatus for calculating an approximate value to an analytical value with a tolerance maintained and a method therefor
In an approximation computation apparatus, a location monitor designates, each time the number of data of a received data sequence exceeds an integer l, a starting location of the received data for calculating reduced received-data; a dimensionality reducer dimensionally reduces each data sequence including the received data after the corresponding designated starting location by random projection to generate the reduced received-data; an object selecting controller controls an object in response to a result of monitoring from the location monitor of the number of the received data reaching another integer n, deletes currently-stored object data, selects the reduced received-data after the oldest reduced received-data in the reduced received-data, and substitutes and updates an object data sequence to the selected reduced received-data; and a coefficient approximator calculates an approximate value of a wavelet coefficient on the basis of the object data and a wavelet matrix. |
| US08402071B2 |
Catalog that stores file system metadata in an optimized manner
A system stores file system metadata in a manner that scales to a large number of entries per “capture,” where a capture is metadata of all of the files and their associated directories contained in a logical file system at a given time. The file system metadata is stored, in tangible computer readable media, in data structures that are optimized to the unique characteristics of file system metadata and, particularly, how it is desired to access and process file system metadata. Thus, the technical effect is that processing storing and processing of the file system metadata is highly optimized, such that time, storage and processing power to process the file system metadata is drastically reduced. |
| US08402069B2 |
Use of delete notifications by file systems and applications to release storage space
In accordance with one or more aspects, one or more portions of each of multiple files that have been freed are determined. One or more delete notifications are generated identifying the one or more portions of the multiple files. Each portion is identified as a range of data on a storage device, and each delete notification includes one or more ranges of data on the storage device. These generated delete notifications are then sent to a storage stack. Additionally, an application can determine that one or more ranges of data of a storage device are to be freed and send a delete notification, in the absence of a file system on the device, to the storage stack identifying the one or more ranges of data of the storage device that are to be freed. |
| US08402066B2 |
Method and system for providing a clarity grade for a gem
A method and system for generating a clarity grading look-up table includes collecting actual inclusion parameter data for a plurality of gems, where the actual inclusion parameter data includes an actual clarity grade and an actual inclusion parameter data combination. A mathematical relationship between a clarity grade and a particular inclusion parameter combination is then extrapolated from the actual inclusion parameter data. A derived clarity grade is then assigned to a plurality of inclusion parameter combinations as a function of the mathematical relationship and a set of inputted inclusion parameters. Also, a method and system for providing a clarity grade includes receiving a plurality of inclusion characteristics associated with a gem and parameterizing each of the inclusion characteristics, so that a parameter value is assigned to each inclusion characteristic. The parameter values are then input to a mathematical formula so as to provide a parameterized clarity grade for the gem. |
| US08402064B2 |
Orchestration of business processes using templates
A distributed order orchestration system for orchestrating a business process of an order fulfillment system receives from an interface a definition of the business process and generates metadata from the definition. The system then generates an abstract syntax tree from the metadata. The tree includes a plurality of nodes and one or more of the nodes correspond to a predefined template. The system then generates executable orchestration code based on the abstract syntax tree and the predefined template. |
| US08402054B2 |
Systems and methods for prioritizing content based on user profile relevance
In an exemplary method, a request for content initiated by a user associated with a user profile is received, a plurality of content instances is identified as being related to the requested content based on a predefined relationship heuristic, wherein the content instances are associated with other user profiles, a relevance between the user profile and each of the other user profiles is determined based on a predefined relevance heuristic, and the content instances are prioritized based on the determined relevance. In certain embodiments, data representative of the prioritized content instances is displayed in accordance with the prioritization. |
| US08402047B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating a query to search for matching forms
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates queries to search for matching forms in a set of forms, without requiring a pre-configured forms management system. During operation, the system obtains a form template, wherein the form template includes a form schema which specifies field names and data types for fields in form instances associated with the form template. Next, the system allows a user to specify search criteria for one or more fields defined by the form schema. Then the system generates a query based on search criteria entered by the user, and runs the query against the set of forms to identify matching forms. Finally, the system generates a list of the matching forms. |
| US08402046B2 |
Conceptual reverse query expander
A method for multilingual data querying comprises sending one or more words in an original language to a word ontology. The method further comprises receiving sense descriptions of the one or more words from the word ontology, and selecting one or more sense descriptions of the one or more words and a language for querying. The method further comprises translating the one or more sense descriptions into the language for querying, and also translating the one or more sense descriptions back into the original language for verification. The method further comprises selecting at least one of the one or more sense descriptions to use in a query. |
| US08402041B2 |
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. |
| US08402038B1 |
Method and system for data allocation
A computer-implemented method is provided for allocating input data. The method includes receiving (1) the input data comprising source data and driver data, and (2) one or more user-specified parameters for allocating the input data. The method includes configuring a set of rule metadata based on the one or more user-specified parameters. The method also includes filtering at least one of the source data or the driver data based on the rule metadata to generate at least one of filtered source data or filtered driver data. The method further includes processing at least one of the filtered source data or the filtered driver data to generate target data and storing at least one of the filtered source data, the filtered driver data or the target data in separate operational tables in a database. |
| US08402035B2 |
Methods and systems for determing media value
Exemplary embodiments are directed to determining a media value associated mentions of an entity in one or more documents based on a sentiment attributed to the mentions of the entity and/or a frequency with which the entity is mentioned. Exemplary embodiments can include a media value engine that can identify mentions of an entity in documents, attribute sentiment to the mentions of the entity; determine a polarity of the sentiment, and calculate a media value attributed to the entity based on the sentiment. |
| US08402034B2 |
Using a dynamically-generated content-level newsworthiness rating to provide content recommendations
A method for providing content-level data artifact recommendations can begin with the creation of a semantic library from the textual content of data artifacts by a newsworthy content recommendation engine. A base newsworthiness rating can be calculated using global newsworthiness parameters and behavioral functions that model newsworthy influences for each relationship contained in the semantic library. A user-specific search network can be generated that represents user-entered criteria and/or user task-related criteria. Within the semantic library, potential newsworthy semantic networks can be identified. Newsworthy content from each identified potential newsworthy semantic network can be dynamically determined based upon the base newsworthiness rating and a predefined newsworthiness threshold. The newsworthy content from the identified potential newsworthy semantic network can be related to the user-specific search network at the common node, creating a newsworthy content recommendation graph. The newsworthy content recommendation graph can be presented within a user interface. |
| US08402024B2 |
Domain expertise determination
A user's domain expertise may be estimated through several factors by monitoring different aspects of a user's interaction with a web browser. Based on the user's domain expertise, search results may be presented to the user that is commensurate with their expertise, resulting in a more efficient and productive on line session. A user's expertise in a knowledge domain may be determined from the user's behavior, including analyzing search queries, monitoring how the user navigates between and through websites, and analyzing the specific cites visited. As a user interacts with a browser, the user's estimated domain expertise may be updated and used to provide appropriate and useful search results. In many embodiments, a user may have different expertise levels for different technical domains. |
| US08402021B2 |
Providing posts to discussion threads in response to a search query
Systems, methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to provide posts to discussion threads in response to a search query. The methods include receiving information identifying multiple resources that have been identified by a search engine as satisfying a search query, identifying a first resource in the multiple resources as including a post to a discussion forum, and identifying one or more second resources that are each distinct from the first resource. Each second resource is linked directly or indirectly to the first resource and includes one or more other posts to the discussion forum. Further, the method includes extracting information from the first resource and the one or more second resources about the discussion forum, and providing the extracted information together with a link to the first resource to a user device for display to a user as part of a response to the search query. |
| US08402019B2 |
Topic initiator detection on the world wide web
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer program products for determining a particular document that initiated a topic of interest in a collection of documents, were each of the documents has contents and a time it was created. The method includes ranking the documents in the collection based on the respective times that the documents were created, ranking the documents based on how similar their respective contents are to the topic of interest and ranking the documents based on originality of their respective contents. The method further includes producing a composite ranking of the documents based on the time, contents, and originality rankings, and then determining the particular document that initiated the topic of interest from the composite ranking. |
| US08402016B2 |
Fetching optimization in multi-way pipelined database joins
A method of performing a multi-way join of a plurality of database relations includes executing a plurality of pipelined two-way joins with the database relations. Each two-way join has two sequential phases. In the first phase, missing attributes of the input relations that are required to evaluate a joining criterion specific to said two-way join are fetched from a non-volatile memory device, and the input relations are joined according to the criterion. In the second phase, any additional missing attributes of the input relations are fetched from the non-volatile memory device as assigned by an optimization process executed prior to commencing the multi-way join. |
| US08402013B2 |
Rich site maps
Providing a website map to a user. A method includes gathering information about web pages in a website, including information related to web page relationships, controls, and executable code underlying one or more web pages in the website. A relationship map is created. The relationship map includes representations of relationships between the web pages, the controls and the executable code underlying one or more web pages in the website. The method further includes graphically displaying at least a portion of the relationship map in a graphical user interface at the computing system. |
| US08402012B1 |
System and method for determining risk of search engine results
Embodiments of the present invention include a computer-controlled method of determining the risk of results of a search engine query before presentation to a client. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises accessing the results of the search engine query at a server side and scanning the results for software developed to harm a computer system, e.g., virus software, malware, etc. The method further includes determining a risk ranking associated with accessing one or more of the results and returning the results and the associated risk to a client, e.g., in a web page result display. Results exceeding a client specified threshold may be eliminated from the results display. |
| US08402011B1 |
System and method for managing user web browsing information
A system and method is disclosed for managing user web browsing information. A web browser-integrated extension provides one or more controls for selecting how the extension stores web browser information collected during a user's browsing session. On a first selection, the extension automatically transmits user-identifiable web browsing information to a first remote storage. On a second selection, the extension automatically transmits anonymous web browsing information to a second remote storage. On a third selection, a transmissions of web browsing information is stopped. |
| US08402003B2 |
Performance monitoring mechanism for use in a pattern matching accelerator
A pattern matching accelerator (PMA) for assisting software threads to find the presence and location of strings in an input data stream that match a given pattern. The patterns are defined using regular expressions that are compiled into a data structure comprised of rules subsequently processed by the PMA. The patterns to be searched in the input stream are defined by the user as a set of regular expressions. The patterns to be searched are grouped in pattern context sets. The sets of regular expressions which define the pattern context sets are compiled to generate a rules structure used by the PMA hardware. The rules are compiled before search run time and stored in main memory, in rule cache memory within the PMA or a combination thereof. For each input character, the PMA executes the search and returns the search results. |
| US08402002B2 |
System and method for event log review
An event log management system includes an event log source to generate event log data associated with an asset of an electronic network, an event log database to store the event log data, an asset database to store asset information, and a log report generator to package the event log data into a log report based on the asset information stored in the asset database. |
| US08401998B2 |
Mirroring file data
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for mirroring file data. Generally, high availability and disaster recovery (“HADRON”) is achieved within a database management system by detecting which parts of a file have changed and sending the changed parts to secondaries. Adjacent or partially overlapping parts of a file can coalesce to form larger chunks of changed data. Coalescing reduces the overall number of chunks that are tracked. |
| US08401993B2 |
Analytics integration server within a comprehensive framework for composing and executing analytics applications in business level languages
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for building and executing analytics solutions. Such a solution may provide a comprehensive analytics solution (e.g., a risk assessment, fraud detection solution, dynamic operational risk evaluations, regulatory compliance assessments, etc.). The analytics solution may perform an analytics task using operational data distributed across a variety of independently created and governed data repositories in different departments of an organization. A framework is disclosed which allows a user (e.g., a risk analyst) to compose analytical tools that can access data from a variety of sources (both internal and external to an enterprise) and perform a variety of analytic functions. |
| US08401991B2 |
Database-based inference engine for RDFS/OWL constructs
An un-indexed, partitioned temporary table and an exchange table are used in the inferencing of semantic data in a relational database system. The exchange table has the same structure as a semantic data table storing the semantic data. In the inferencing process, a new partition is created in the semantic data table. Inference rules are executed on the semantic data table, and any newly inferred semantic data generated is added to the temporary table. Once no new data is generated, the inferred semantic data is copied from the temporary table into the exchange table. Indexes that are the same as indexes for the semantic data table are built for the exchange table. The indexed data in the exchange table is then exchanged into the new partition in the semantic data table. By use of the un-indexed, partitioned temporary table, incremental maintenance of indexes is avoided, thus allowing for greater efficiency. |
| US08401990B2 |
System and method for aggregating raw data into a star schema
A method for aggregating raw data into a star schema comprises receiving data from a data source. The data is aggregated into star schema objects, based on a user-defined metadata schema. The star schema objects are stored into a star schema database. |
| US08401987B2 |
Managing validation models and rules to apply to data sets
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for managing validation models and rules to apply to data sets. A schema definition describing a structure of at least one column in a first data set having a plurality of columns and records providing data for each of the columns is received. At least one model is generated, wherein each model asserts conditions for at least one column in a record of the first data set. The schema definition and the at least one model are stored in a data quality model. Selection is received of a second data set and the data quality model. A determination is made as to whether a structure of the second data set is compatible with the schema definition in the selected data quality model. Each model in the data quality model is applied to the records in the second data set to validate the records in the second data set in response to determining that the structure of the second data set and the schema definition are compatible. |
| US08401982B1 |
Using sequencing and timing information of behavior events in machine learning to detect malware
A decision tree for classifying computer files is constructed. A set of training files known to be legitimate or malicious are executed and their runtime behaviors are monitored. When a behavior event is detected for one of the training file at a point in time, a feature vector is generated for that training file. Behavior sequencing and timing information for the training file at that point in time is identified and encoded in the feature vector. Feature vectors for each of the training files at various points in time are fed into a decision tree induction algorithm to construct a decision tree that takes into account of the sequencing and timing information. |
| US08401978B2 |
Using a genetic algorithm employing an expedited convergence mechanism to at least partially fit a medical implant to a patient using patient feedback
Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a medical implant system to a patient is described. These apparatuses and methods comprise executing a genetic algorithm to select a set of parameter values for the medical implant system. This genetic algorithm may comprise generating successive generations of child populations until a confidence threshold is reached. This confidence threshold comprises determining whether the values of each parameter value to be selected have converged on particular value with a specified confidence level. In determining whether the values have converged, one or more initial generations of the search may be excluded in computing the likelihood that the value has converged. |
| US08401973B1 |
Method and system for managing a license for an add-on software component
Methods and systems for activating an add-on software component independently of any host application with which the add-on component is compatible are described. Consistent with some embodiments, an add-on manager module can be invoked from any host application that is part of a suite of applications. The add-on manager module displays a list of add-on components that are installed, and compatible with a particular host application. After receiving product activation data (e.g., serial number or product key) for a particular installed add-on component, a license verification operation is performed to validate the product activation data, and activate the add-on component for use with a host application. |
| US08401967B1 |
Method and system for using reward points to liquidate products
A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment. |
| US08401965B2 |
Payment handling
Systems and methods are disclosed for handling a payment at a point of sale or a remote payment acceptance and processing location for a customer account. The systems and methods may include receiving a payment at a point of sale or a remote payment acceptance and processing location and identifying data including at least an amount of the payment that is associated with the payment. The data may be transmitted over a computer network and stored in a data store that is associated with a customer account. A balance of the customer account may be rapidly updated based on the data associated with the payment. The data may be transmitted over a computer network and may be utilized in a computer software application to provide a customer account with rapid recognition of a payment and of a total balance. |
| US08401962B1 |
Systems and methods for providing enhanced account management services for multiple banks
A deposit interchange system, method and program product for managing deposits and withdrawals among a plurality of financial institutions participating in a program, the system comprising: electronic databases, storing aggregated transaction account information; and client transaction account information for the respective client transaction accounts; computers with instructions: (a) receiving respective excess amount data, (b) allocating excess amounts between the financial institutions, comprising: (1) determining a respective primary client transaction account sum for the financial institutions; (2) comparing the primary client transaction account sum for the respective financial institution to fund balance in aggregated accounts of the financial institution to determine a surplus or a deficit for the financial institution; (3) allocating funds among the aggregated accounts in financial institutions to bring the balance of funds in the aggregated accounts in the financial institution into substantial equality with their respective primary client transaction account sum. |
| US08401956B2 |
System and method for transferring longevity risk
A method for transferring longevity comprising: receiving an order to trade a financial instrument associated with at least one asset or liability affected by longevity risk; calculating a morbidity description for at least one age of each individual, a survivorship distribution and a mortality distribution, a net cash flow projection distribution, where each distribution value in the net cash flow projection distribution is computed as the probability-adjusted cash in-flow expected over a period, less the probability-adjusted cash out-flow expected over the same period; calculating a net present and net forward value distribution; accepting starting and ending dates over which counterparties wish to exchange the difference to provide at least one exposure period; accepting an input for computing a performance bond; receiving through a computing device, over time, updated mortality information and morbidity information; and recalculating distributions affected to provide recalculated distributions; calculating the difference to be exchanged. |
| US08401954B2 |
Systems relating to the formulation of risk management contracts
Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed.‘Sponsor’ stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes.‘Ordering’ stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-off) at the future time of maturity for “each outcome,” and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a ‘counter-party’ stakeholder.Independently of the offered contracts, the ‘counter-party’ stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.Each offered contract is priced by the processing units by calculating counter-party premiums from the registered data, and a match attempted by a comparison of the offered premium with the calculated premiums.Matched contracts can be further traded until maturity, and at-maturity processing handles the exchange of entitlement as between the matched parties to the contract. |
| US08401953B2 |
Methods and systems for valuing investments, budgets and decisions
A computer implemented method of making an investment value decision through modeling an investment's expected cash flows, each expected cash flow represented on the display device of a computer as a graphical three-dimensional joint-probability volume encapsulating uncertainties of both time and magnitude, making it unnecessary to consider investment risk before choosing discount rates, allowing a user to discount all cash flows using only the “risk-free” rate to produce a net present value probability distribution rather than single-number estimate, and displaying the resulting net present value probability distribution as a graphical two-dimensional net present value probability area on the display device of a computer, wherein one dimension represents magnitude and the other dimension represents probability. |
| US08401952B1 |
Trade order submission for electronic trading
Various systems and methods for trade order processing in an electronic trading environment are provided. The order processing includes initiating a first thread of instructions at a computing device to send a first trade order onto an electronic exchange. However, if one or more trade orders are identified during the process to send the first trade order, then the one or more orders are queued. When the first trade order is sent to the electronic exchange, then a second thread of instructions is initiated at the computing device to send the queued one or more trade orders (substantially together, if there is more than one) on to the electronic exchange. |
| US08401949B1 |
Method, system and apparatus for wealth management
The invention enables a system user to create a scenario that includes an analysis resolution, portfolio component data and analysis environment data. Once the scenarios are established, the system user can conduct processing/modeling/analysis in order to optimize the portfolio allocation data—effectively maximizing the return on the component investments, while minimizing the risk exposure for the portfolio. In achieving the optimization, the system can process stored user or system defined scenarios based on a series of modeling/analysis system modules. Further, it is possible for a system user to model, analyze and compare multiple scenarios historically or prospectively. The system may provide wealth outcome analysis which allows a user to determine likely long term outcomes of a particular investment plan, while accounting for the tax consequences of the chosen plan. In an implementation, the system is configured to store the modeling/analysis results and generate a scenario report. Further, the system can be configured to generate the report in a standardized format and automatically distribute the report to designated recipients. |
| US08401948B2 |
Method for implementing a virtual community of investors having investment portfolios
A system and method for providing analytical tools for a community of investors having investment portfolios. A first tool provides an indication of a user's selection effectiveness regarding the user's choice of investments relative to those sectors in which the investment resides, and relative to a broader market. A second tool allows the user to evaluate the effectiveness of community stimuli on the user's portfolio. A third tool provides the user the capability to view relationships among a plurality of preferred analysts. With a fourth tool, a user may view a plurality of other analysts the user referred to the community. |
| US08401942B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a standard name for a payee
A system that determines a standard payee name for a payee is presented. During operation, the system receives a non-standard payee name, wherein the non-standard payee name can be a user-defined payee name, which is defined by a user, or a normalized payee name, which is defined by a financial institution. Next, the system determines whether the non-standard payee name is associated with the standard payee name by using the non-standard payee name to search through data structures containing associations between one or more of the following: user-defined payee names and normalized payee names; user-defined payee names and standard payee names; and normalized payee names and standard payee names. If the non-standard payee name is associated with a standard payee name, the system can perform specified actions. |
| US08401941B1 |
System and method for usage billing of hosted applications
A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client. |
| US08401938B1 |
Transferring funds between parties' financial accounts
Computer-implemented methods for requesting a transfer of funds between a first party a second party: the methods may comprise receiving from the first party an instruction to initiate a transfer request and an electronic copy of a bill associated with the transfer request. The methods may also comprise receiving from the first party a text message associated with the transfer request and an indication of at least a second party who is a recipient of the transfer request. In addition, the methods may comprise posting the transfer request to an account of the second party. The transfer request may comprise the electronic copy of the bill associated with the transfer request, and the text message associated with the transfer request. |
| US08401935B2 |
Coordinating license activation of licensable audio video (AV) device components between contract manufacturer and brand manufacturer
A contract manufacturer (CM) makes a consumer electronics (CE) device under the auspices of a brand name manufacturer (BNM) associated with the CE device, paying royalties immediately on licensable components in the CE device that are activated for sale and not paying royalties on licensable components in the CE device that are deactivated for sale. Should a purchaser subsequently activate an originally deactivated licensable component, the CM receives this information and pays royalties accordingly on the now-activated licensable component. |
| US08401934B2 |
Method and apparatus for information and computation closures account management
An approach is provided for enabling the accounting of closures to support query requests established by a device. A computation processing and accounting infrastructure determines one or more closures based, at least in part, on a query request. One of the one or more closures based, at least in part, on one or more predetermined policies is selected to generate a response to the query. |
| US08401933B2 |
Secure, differentiated reading of sensors and RFID tags
Secure access to inventory data concerning a supplier's product located at a seller's premises is provided by tagging units of product with a supplier identifier and a product identifier. The identifiers may be embedded in RFID tags or EPC labels. A secure VPN tunnel is established between a supplier and a seller. The VPN tunnel is associated with a particular supplier identifier such that only inventory data associated with the supplier identifier that matches the supplier is transmitted on the VPN tunnel, and inventory data associated with supplier identifiers that do not match the supplier are filtered out. Hence, the seller can provide the supplier with access to inventory data without exposing sensitive information related to the seller and other suppliers. |
| US08401932B2 |
Handling household tasks
In an embodiment, articles are left in storage areas, such as lockers or other receptacles, which may be associated with a household services company. In an embodiment, after depositing the articles in the storage area the articles are associated with the user by the household services company based on a claim by a user of using the storage area and/or tags associated with the articles. |
| US08401929B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for e-mail requisitioning
A method of and device for enabling the requisitioning of items over a network. The network is coupled to a server, thereby allowing communication between the server and a generating-user, a requisitioning-user and an initiating-user. The server generates a requisition template in response to input received from the generating-user. The server sends an initial e-mail message to the requisitioning-user's e-mail address in response to direction received from the initiating-user. The initial e-mail message includes the requisition template. The initial e-mail message is configured to result in the creation of a reply e-mail message in response to the requisitioning-user selecting to reply to the initial e-mail message from the e-mail application that is accessing the initial e-mail message, the reply e-mail message including the requisition template. |
| US08401928B2 |
Providing supplier relationship management software application as enterprise services
Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having supplier relationship management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described. |
| US08401926B2 |
System for tracking the successful recommendation of a good or service
Systems and methods for tracking the successful recommendation of goods or services are provided. A mobile phone-in the possession of a user is capable of sending and receiving communication messages, including recommendations. A first message is composed including a mobile phone number allocated to the mobile phone, a unique identifier of the recommender, and a reference code for a good or service. The first message is parsed, a referral record is created, and the results of the recommendation are recorded. |
| US08401925B1 |
Multi-product software license selection
A computer determines desired software products for a managed system. The computer selects a first set of one or more available owned licenses, each license of said first set involving the least waste in terms of covering non-desired products. The computer selects a second set of one or more of licenses from said first set, each license of said second set providing most coverage in terms of covering desired software products. The computer applies a license of said second set to said managed system. |
| US08401919B2 |
Method of and system for fact checking rebroadcast information
A fact checking system verifies the correctness of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information. |
| US08401917B2 |
Method for monetizing online content on the internet
A computer-implemented system for monetizing internet content. In an embodiment, the system includes an internet content provider providing online content and an online section with the online content for containing an expression of at least one reader's posted thoughts or opinion. The online section is capable of having posted thereto the expression of the at least one reader's thoughts or opinion in a free default format or a fee-paid distinctive format. The system also has a processor for executing the computer executable instructions and a memory for storing at least the computer executable instructions. |
| US08401913B2 |
System and method for producing custom merchandise from a virtual environment
Systems and methods are provided for producing merchandise for a user based upon a character within a virtual environment, on request of the user, by retrieving character data representing a player character within a game and converting the character data into merchandise characteristics. Merchandise is manufactured based, at least in part, on the merchandise characteristics. |
| US08401912B2 |
Method for using unique codes to trade virtual characters
There is provided a character training and development system for a virtual environment and related method. A character can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type and class of the character. Attribute values can be assigned to the attributes by default or by user preferences. The characters can be manipulated within the virtual environment. In particular, the characters can be trained in order to improve their skills, to add new skills, and to increase their overall value and worth in the virtual environment. In addition, the characters can be traded among users for a price based on their skills. Fees can be charged for each trade. Traded characters are given a new code to transfer all control of the character to the new owner. |
| US08401911B1 |
Display of popular, in-stock products of a merchant
Displaying popular items that are available for sale at a merchant's physical location comprises creating a electronic document corresponding to the merchant's physical location. Then, a product availability database and a product popularity database are populated, the product availability database taking into account the inventory available at the merchant's physical location. Next, a cross-referencing engine identifies the popular products that are available at the merchant's physical location, and displays on the merchant's electronic document a plurality of popular items that are available at the merchant's physical location. |
| US08401910B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing group volume pricing
An apparatus and method for selling goods and services. In one embodiment, a method is described that comprises receiving volume pricing information relating to a product or a service and receiving a first predetermined time period indicating a time period that the product or service may be offered for sale. Refined volume pricing information is then calculated from the volume pricing information. The product or service is then offered electronically for sale for a duration as indicated by the first predetermined time period and including the refined volume pricing information associated with the product or service. Purchase orders are received from potential buyers. A final purchase price is then calculated for the product or service based on the number of purchase orders received during the predetermined time period and the refined volume pricing information. Finally, potential buyers are notified of the final purchase price. |
| US08401909B2 |
Content distribution system and content distribution method
A content distribution system which assures reliability of content is provided. Permitted-user information corresponding to a user who is permitted to use content to be distributed is associated with the content. In the case where user specific information which specifies a user and the permitted-user information do not have a predetermined relation, a user terminal transmits the user specific information and the permitted-user information to a server. The server generates user-related information in which the received user specific information is set as a distribution destination and the permitted-user information is set as a distributor, generates new permitted-user information so as to have the predetermined relation with the user specific information, and provides the new permitted-user information to the user terminal. The user terminal which obtains the new permitted-user information changes the permitted-user information to the new permitted-user information. |
| US08401908B2 |
Architectural design for make-to-specification application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include The process components include an RFQ Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract Processing process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Customer Requirement Processing process component. |
| US08401906B2 |
Financial transaction authentication servers, methods, and computer program products for facilitating financial transactions between buyers and sellers
A financial transaction authentication server includes a wireless network interface that is configured to receive fund transfer requests from a buyer via a wireless communications terminal, a wireless terminal location module that is configured to identify the respective locations of the buyer and a seller, and a transaction authorization processor configured to authorize a transfer request if the geographic locations of wireless terminals of the buyer and seller are within a predetermined geographical proximity of each other. The wireless network terminal location module identifies the geographic locations of respective wireless terminals of the buyer and seller. The transaction authorization processor authorizes a fund transfer request if the respective locations of buyer and seller wireless terminals are within a predetermined geographical proximity and suspends a fund transfer request if respective locations of buyer and seller wireless terminals are not within a predetermined geographical proximity of each other. |
| US08401904B1 |
Real-time payment authorization
Novel features to be used in a proxy card payment system include a real-time request to override a declined transaction or to select a different financial account and the insertion of user identification information into the transaction approval message sent to the merchant. A payment request is forwarded to the payment system, which maintains the proxy card account and determines whether the transaction violates a user-defined rule. If the transaction is declined by the issuer that maintains the financial account, or the payment system for violation of a user-defined rule, the payment system sends a real-time message to the user. The user is prompted to override the rule causing the transaction to be declined or to select a new account to process the transaction. Once the payment system receives authorization for the transaction, it inserts the user identification information in an approval message before transmitting the approval to the merchant. |
| US08401902B1 |
Method for using computers to facilitate and control the creating of a plurality of functions
An electronic advertising system that provides self-serve control for the centralized automated creation and publication of customized advertising presentations to multiple electronic media venues. The customized advertising presentations are automatically created by the central controller from raw advertising information to comply with the criteria of each selected multiple electronic media venue. Self-serve interfaces are provided for sellers to input raw advertising information and information to select electronic media venues, and for media venues to input criteria for each electronic media venue. The criteria may include style, content, editorial, and design criteria. Information such as distribution factors, media venue layout, and price charged for publication may be used by the central controller. The system also includes programs to manage conflicting advertising information data input, to provide presentation file format conversion, an operator review interface program, an advertising presentation screening program, an operator owned content server, and internet capability. |
| US08401901B2 |
Advertising content delivery
Programming media and advertising media may be presented in a manner that approximates or equals a target ratio. In one implementation, a total temporal length of one or more programming media segments is accessed after the user has selected the programming media segments. One or more advertising media segments are then selected. The advertising media segments have a total length that is based on the total temporal length of the programming media segments and a target temporal ratio between programming media and advertising media. The client system may present the one or more selected advertising media segments. |
| US08401900B2 |
System and method for presenting advertising data based on end user trick-play trend data
A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program including but not limited to computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer are useful in performing a method for presenting advertising data, the method including but not limited to sensing current trick-play command data at an end user device; updating trick-play trend data for the end user device based on the current trick-play command data; and adjusting a number of advertising data items in an advertising data buffer presented at the end user device based on the trick-play trend data. A system is disclosed useful for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data used by the system and method. |
| US08401894B2 |
Online incentive management
Various methods and systems are provided to facilitate the centralized storage and access of online incentives such as coupons redeemable at associated online marketplaces. In one example, merchants may provide incentive information to payment service providers that in turn may associate such information with user accounts maintained by the payment service providers. Payment service providers may permit users to view incentives associated with their user accounts, thereby providing users with a comprehensive way to manage incentives from a plurality of online merchants. In another example, merchants may advise users of previously registered incentives in response to user activities in relation to online marketplaces. |
| US08401893B1 |
Assessment construction tool
An assessment construction tool is provided for developing and executing assessments of various operational aspects of a business entity. Both application-level and project-level assessments may be constructed, and the assessments include a mechanism for applying scores associated with answers derived from conducting the assessment to multiple assessment process categories of the business entity. |
| US08401887B2 |
Mobile device marketing and advertising platforms, methods, and systems
A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives. |
| US08401882B2 |
Aligning information technology with business objectives through automated feedback control
A method of aligning development of an information technology system with business objectives can include obtaining at least one metric relating to a development process for the information technology system and comparing the at least one metric with at least one quantified business objective relating to the information technology system to determine a delta between the at least one metric and the quantified business objective(s). The at least one metric can include a measure of complexity of the information technology system and the business objective(s) can specify a complexity threshold. The method further can include selectively increasing, according to the delta, an amount of at least one resource assigned to the information technology system. |
| US08401877B2 |
Insurance claim processing
A method, computer-readable medium, and apparatus by which a user may access information about one or more properties may be used by an insurance provider or claims administrator to provide an information portal to its clients. User input identifying one or more foreclosed properties may be received. Then, property data may be retrieved from a property database, and the property data may include property damage information and insurance claim information for each of the identified properties. Then, based on the retrieved property data, it may be determined whether an identified property is damaged and whether an insurance claim was filed. Subsequently, information corresponding to the identified property may be displayed, and this information may include a damage indicator and an insurance claim status indicator. |
| US08401870B2 |
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for generating patient timelines
An apparatus and system are provided for generating one or more patient timelines corresponding to a patient(s). The apparatus includes a processor configured to receive medical information, associated with a patient(s), from one or more different computer systems and store the received medical information in a memory. The processor is configured to examine the received medical information stored in the memory and identify whether data in the medical information indicates the medical information corresponds to a patient(s). The data may include a unique identifier(s) (ID(s)) associated with a patient(s). The processor is also configured to determine if content in the received medical information is designated for inclusion in at least one graphical representation. The content may include one or more unique codes. The processor is also configured to generate a graphical representation(s) corresponding to a chronological sequence of medical events associated with a patient(s) during a period of time. |
| US08401868B1 |
System and method for providing an income score of an applicant based on an income score model
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention generate a model for providing one or more scores indicating a likelihood that a stated income is faulty. In one embodiment, the method includes, for example, receiving information representative of at least one borrower; receiving a first income value for the at least one borrower; and receiving a second value for the at least one borrower, such that the second income value verifies the first income value. Moreover, the method includes determining one or more parameters for the model based on the received information, the received first income value, and the received second income value, such that the one or more parameters enable the model to provide the one or more scores. |
| US08401866B2 |
Business practices alignment methods
A method to align and effectively apply business practices or culture within the business units in one or more business entities is provided. In the first phase, a practices charter defining future state business practices is developed. A practices charter is developed from an initial set of differing alternatives statements regarding future business practices, in view of a right-versus-right spectrum. A practices charter is an output of the reconciliation of differing alternatives statements in right-versus-right spectrums. In a second phase, a practices charter is applied to hypothetical issues to develop realistic outcome narratives describing hypothetical situations and dilemmas. In a third phase, discrepancies between outcome narratives and a current state of business practice are identified, and a prioritized action program is developed to address identified discrepancies. Finally, progress is evaluated by utilizing outcome narratives to identify achievements and to target areas needing further improvement and additional actions. |
| US08401863B1 |
Audio encoding and decoding with conditional quantizers
Some methods may involve receiving a frame of encoded audio data that includes transform coefficient data. The transform coefficient data may include exponent data and mantissa data. The mantissa data may include mantissa values that were encoded with uniform or non-uniform boundaries of quantization intervals. The mantissa values may be reconstructed based, at least in part, on exponent profile data. Based on the exponent profile data, statistics regarding the pre-quantization mantissas values may be inferred. The exponent profile data may include exponent differential data. Some such exponent differential data may be exponent difference pairs, though more than two exponent differential data points may be evaluated in alternative methods. At each frequency bin, mantissa value reconstruction may be conditioned on the exponent differential data, e.g., on the exponent difference pairs. |
| US08401859B2 |
Voice application network platform
A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network. |
| US08401857B2 |
Assisting apparatus generating task-completed data while keeping some original data secret from the operator in charge of the task
Assisting apparatus that assists in a task for generating task-completed data from original data. The assisting apparatus includes: a conversion unit that converts the original data into converted data in order to keep a content of the original data secret from an operator in charge of the task; an interface unit that provides the converted data to the operator, and thereby allows the operator to perform the task by using the converted data and thus to generate a task-completed version of the converted data; and an inverse conversion unit that generates the task-completed data by performing inverse conversion of the task-completed version of the converted data. |
| US08401850B1 |
Processing packets of encoded speech using a plurality of processing levels based on values transmitted over a network
Methods and systems for handling speech recognition processing in effectively real-time, via the Internet, in order that users do not experience noticeable delays from the start of an exercise until they receive responsive feedback. A user uses a client to access the Internet and a server supporting speech recognition processing, e.g., for language learning activities. The user inputs speech to the client, which transmits the user speech to the server in approximate real-time. The server evaluates the user speech in context of the current speech recognition exercise being executed. The server receives a first value and a first packet of encoded speech from a first client, a second value and a second packet of encoded speech from a second client, and services the first and second packets using first and second levels of processing based on the first and second values. |