| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| US08401846B1 |
Performing speech recognition over a network and using speech recognition results
Systems, methods and apparatus for generating, distributing, and using speech recognition models. A shared speech processing facility is used to support speech recognition for a wide variety of devices with limited capabilities including business computer systems, personal data assistants, etc., which are coupled to the speech processing facility via a communications channel, e.g., the Internet. Devices with audio capture capability record and transmit to the speech processing facility, via the Internet, digitized speech and receive speech processing services, e.g., speech recognition model generation and/or speech recognition services, in response. The Internet is used to return speech recognition models and/or information identifying recognized words or phrases. The speech processing facility can be used to provide speech recognition capabilities to devices without such capabilities and/or to augment a device's speech processing capability. Voice dialing, telephone control and/or other services are provided by the speech processing facility in response to speech recognition results. |
| US08401845B2 |
System and method for enhancing a decoded tonal sound signal
A system and method for enhancing a tonal sound signal decoded by a decoder of a speech-specific codec in response to a received coded bit stream, in which a spectral analyser is responsive to the decoded tonal sound signal to produce spectral parameters representative of the decoded tonal sound signal. A quantization noise in low-energy spectral regions of the decoded tonal sound signal is reduced in response to the spectral parameters produced by the spectral analyser. The spectral analyser divides a spectrum resulting from spectral analysis into a set of critical frequency bands each comprising a number of frequency bins, and the reducer of quantization noise comprises a noise attenuator that scales the spectrum of the decoded tonal sound signal per critical frequency band, per frequency bin, or per both critical frequency band and frequency bin. |
| US08401842B1 |
Phrase matching for document classification
Phrase matching processes for matching phrases comprising a plurality of keywords in document text construct hit lists of the keywords in a document text, and operate on the keywords in either phrase order or without regard to the order of occurrence of the keywords in the phrase. The processes form sorted sets of all keywords, and compare occurrences of the keywords in the sorted sets to a predefined proximity constraint. For unordered phrases, the proximity constraint defines a maximum span between keywords in the highest and lowest positions in the sorted set as MaxSpan=p(k−1), where p is a proximity and k is the number of keywords in the phrase. For ordered phrases, the distances between successive phrase keywords in phrase order must be less than or equal to the proximity p. |
| US08401841B2 |
Retrieval of documents using language models
Methods of retrieving documents using a language model are disclosed. A method may include preparing a language model of a plurality of documents, receiving a query, processing the query using the language model, and using the processed query to retrieve documents responding to the query via the search engine. The methods may be implemented in software and/or hardware on computing devices, including personal computers, telephones, servers, and others. |
| US08401839B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing hybrid automatic translation
The present invention provides a Korean-English hybrid automatic translation method for providing translation from Korean to English, includes: performing a morpheme analysis and a syntactic analysis on a Korean input source text; segmenting the Korean input source text into at least two source text segments, based on the results of the morpheme analysis and the syntactic analysis; and generating a PBMT (pattern-based machine translation) translated text segment and a SMT (statistical machine translation) translated text segment with respect to each of the source text segments. Further, the method includes determining, as final translation result, one of the PBMT translated text segment and the SMT translated text segment with respect to each source text segment, based on predetermined weight information; and composing the translated text segments with respect to the source text segments of the Korean input source text into one English translated text by using the determined final translation results. |
| US08401833B2 |
Method for predicting power usage effectiveness and data center infrastructure efficiency within a real-time monitoring system
A system for making real-time predictions about power usage efficiency (PUE) and/or data center infrastructure efficiency (DCiE) of an electrical system comprises a data acquisition component communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system; an analytics server communicatively connected to the data acquisition component and comprising a virtual system modeling engine configured to generate predicted data output for the electrical system using a virtual system model of the electrical system, an analytics engine configured to monitor the real-time data output and the predicted data output of the electrical system, and a PUE/DCiE simulation engine configured to use the virtual system model updated based in the real-time data to forecast the PUE/DCiE. |
| US08401830B2 |
Method and device for performing channel simulation
A method and a device are provided for performing channel simulation. The device includes a radio channel simulation block and a memory and it is configured to simulate a radio connection between a transmitter and a receiver in real time. The device is further configured to simulate a radio connection between at least one interfering signal source and the receiver in real time, and to store the simulation result in the memory, and to read the stored simulation results in real time from the memory and add the results read to the simulation during simulation of the radio connection between the transmitter and the receiver. |
| US08401828B1 |
Methods and systems for analog object fetch in mixed-signal simulation
Systems and methods for simulating and verifying an analog mixed signal design provide an analog mixed signal testbench configured to verify analog parameters of the design. The testbench can include a mechanism to fetch a value of an analog object in an analog portion of a mixed signal design. The testbench mechanism can include an argument specifying the name of the object and the analog quantity to be fetched for that object. The testbench can retrieve estimated values and can further specify timing constraints specifying absolute times or events at which values are to be measured and returned. |
| US08401816B2 |
Apparatus and method for geometric measurement
An non-contacting measurement apparatus for measuring distances, angles and related geometric quantities, and for computing other quantities based on the measurements, is provided. A visible light beam allows a user to point the device at one or more points to which the distance is measured, and angular rotation between the various points of interest can be recorded. Then, geometric and trigonometric relationships are used to compute and display lengths, areas, volumes or other facts derived from the measurements. Various input and output features are provided in the present embodiments. |
| US08401815B2 |
Orientation calculation apparatus and storage medium having orientation calculation program stored therein
A game apparatus calculates an orientation of an input device including an acceleration sensor and a gyroscope based on at least acceleration data and angular rate data acquired from the input device. The game apparatus includes a reflection rate setting unit, a first orientation calculation unit, and a second orientation calculation unit. The reflection rate setting unit sets a reflection rate representing a degree by which an acceleration indicated by the acceleration data is reflected in the orientation. The first orientation calculation unit calculates the orientation of the input device based on the acceleration when the reflection rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold. The second orientation calculation unit calculates the orientation of the input device based on the angular rate when the reflection rate is less than a predetermined second threshold equal to or less than the first threshold. |
| US08401809B2 |
System and method for adjusting an on-line appearance sensor system
A system, apparatus and method are provided for adjusting an on-line appearance sensor system (OnLASS) for color and other appearance characteristic(s) of a web product produced during a production run of a web production system. The OnLASS is calibrated and its setting(s) are sent to a color error minimizer (CEM). The OnLASS measures a first appearance characteristic of the web product during the production run and the on-line measurement is sent to the CEM. After the production run, a second appearance characteristic of the web product is measured with an off-line appearance sensor system (OffLASS) and the off-line measurement is sent to the CEM. The CEM compares the on-line and off-line appearance measurements and adjusts at least one setting based on the comparison. The adjusted setting(s) are sent to the OnLASS. |
| US08401807B2 |
Method and system for energy consumption monitoring in an ICT environment
A method for energy consumption monitoring in an ICT environment, wherein the ICT environment (1) includes a multitude of energy consuming components (2, 3), at least partly the components (2, 3) being instrumented with elements for energy consumption monitoring and/or having assigned specific energy consumption models that derive one or more energy metrics for the respective component (2, 3) from the component's (2, 3) current performance metrics, is characterized in the steps of ascertaining changes of and/or related to the ICT environment (1) via an energy consumption monitoring controller (7), performing an assessment of available energy consumption monitoring techniques both instrumentation-based and model-based, based on the result of the assessment selecting one or more energy consumption monitoring techniques that best satisfy the change of the ICT environment (1) according to predefined policies. Furthermore, a corresponding monitoring system is described. |
| US08401806B2 |
Method for the detection of errors in pump units
A method is provided for detecting faults in a pump assembly having an electric motor, or faults in an electric motor, having at least one rotating shaft. A vibration signal is detected, the detected vibration signal is processed in a manner such that the influence of the current rotational speed of the shaft is eliminated, periodic signals are filtered out of the processed vibration signal, and the vibrational operating condition, in particular possible faults, is recognized by way of the periodic signals. Further, a pump assembly having an electric motor or an electric motor is provided in which this method is applied. |
| US08401797B2 |
Method for predicting enzyme-catalyzed reactions
The reactivity of given metabolites is assessed using selected empirical atomic properties in the potential reaction center. Metabolic reactions are represented as biotransformation rules. These rules are generalized from the patterns in reactions. These patterns are not unique to reactants but are widely distributed among metabolites. Using a metabolite database, potential substructures are identified in the metabolites for a given biotransformation. These substructures are divided into reactants or non-reactants, depending on whether they participate in the biotransformation or not. Each potential substructure is then modeled using descriptors of the topological and electronic properties of atoms in the potential reaction center; molecular properties can also be used. A Support Vector Machine (SVM) or classifier is trained to classify a potential reactant as a true or false reactant using these properties. |
| US08401796B2 |
Methods and systems for acoustically monitoring formations
Methods and systems for acoustically determining reservoir parameters of subterranean formations. A tool comprising a plurality of acoustic sources and configured for acoustic measurements is deployed within a wellhole. Acquired acoustic data are processed and utilized for deriving key parameters for the formations. The plurality of acoustic sources include a plurality of hammer sources, where at least one of the hammer sources includes an actuator that is adapted to strike a surface to generate acoustic energy. |
| US08401795B2 |
Methods of detecting, preventing, and remediating lost circulation
A method for planning a wellbore, the method including defining drilling data for drilling a segment of a planned wellbore and identifying a risk zone in the segment. Additionally, the method including determining an expected fluid loss for the risk zone and selecting a solution to reduce fluid loss in the risk zone. Furthermore, a method for treating drilling fluid loss at a drilling location, the method including calculating a drilling fluid loss rate at the drilling location, classifying the drilling fluid loss based on the drilling fluid loss rate, and selecting a solution based at least in part on the classifying. |
| US08401794B2 |
Methods of logging geological formations
A method of processing geological log data obtained from use of one or more logging tools and including at least a first log having a relatively poor attribute and a corresponding, second log having a relatively good said attribute comprises the step of incorporating into the first log characteristics of the second log that confer improvements in the said attribute, characterised in that the incorporating step includes modulating the extent of incorporation into the first said log of the said characteristics without distorting geologically significant information in the first log. |
| US08401786B2 |
Point of interest search along a route with return
A routing module identifies POIs that can be reached from a route with a cost less than distance m. A routing engine performs a reverse exploration on nodes in the planned route to locate POIs from which the route can be reached with a cost of less than a second cost n. POIs identified as being reachable from the route with a cost of less than m, and from which the route is reachable with a cost less than n are then further filtered to identify a subset of the POIs for which the sum of the time or distance from the route to the POI and the time or distance from the POI back to the route is less than a threshold time or distance, t. |
| US08401785B2 |
Method for providing POI information for mobile terminal and apparatus thereof
A method and apparatus for providing point of interest (POI) information of a mobile terminal. The method and apparatus extract POI information, where the POI information and/or associated road information is included in an image captured by a camera. Location information of an image capture place and image capture direction information are read from the digital photo image, and the POI information corresponding to the location and image capture direction information is extracted from a map data, and the extracted POI information is thereafter displayed on the digital photo image. |
| US08401784B2 |
Course evaluation apparatus and course evaluation method
A course evaluation that evaluates a course of a mobile unit includes: generating a predetermined first course of the mobile unit; generating, for the first course, a second course for which a controlled amount of the mobile unit after a predetermined driving condition is satisfied is increased as compared with a controlled amount of the mobile unit on the first course; estimating another object course, which is a course of another object; determining whether the second course interferes with the other object course; and evaluating a degree of safety of the first course on the basis of a result of determination as to whether the second course interferes with the other object course. |
| US08401783B2 |
Method of building map of mobile platform in dynamic environment
Disclosed herein is a method of building a map of a mobile platform moving in a dynamic environment and detecting an object using a 3D camera sensor, e.g., an IR TOF camera sensor, for localization. A localization technology to separate and map a dynamic object and a static object is applied to a mobile platform, such as an unmanned vehicle or a mobile robot. Consequently, the present method is capable of accurately building map information based on the static object in a dynamic environment having a large number of dynamic objects and achieving a dynamic object avoidance or chasing function using position information acquired to build the map. |
| US08401775B2 |
Systems and method for managing airport ground traffic
An air traffic control system for control of airport ground traffic includes a graphical display system configured to display a surface map, and configured to enable a controller to input, via a graphical input device, a taxi route along the surface map. Furthermore, the system includes a processor operatively coupled to the graphical display system, wherein the processor is configured to provide the surface map to the graphical display system. The processor is programmed to interpret the taxi route, and modify the taxi route to a taxiway path existing on the surface map. The system includes a transmitter communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the transmitter configured to transmit the taxiway path to an aircraft, and a datalink interface positioned onboard the aircraft and configured to receive and display the transmitted taxiway path. |
| US08401774B2 |
System and method for detecting and preventing runway incursion, excursion and confusion
A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area. The method may involve obtaining a plurality of parameters including a position of the mobile platform within the designated area for determining a kinematic motion of the mobile platform while the mobile platform is operating within the designated area. Information may also be obtained that relates to surface geometry of the designated area. The information related to surface geometry may be used to determine physical constraints within the designated area that limit operation of the mobile platform within the designated area. The plurality of parameters may be used to determine a kinematic motion of the mobile platform within the designated area. The kinematic motion of the mobile platform and the physical constraints may be used to predict if motion of the mobile platform will cause it to incur an undesired operating event. |
| US08401773B2 |
Air traffic control
An air traffic control system, for use by a human controller controlling a plurality of aircraft held vertically separated in a stack above a minimum stack level, the system comprising at least one processor, and a display device for the human controller, controlled by said at least one processor; further comprising: means for periodically inputting a value representative of local terrestrial air pressure conditions; means for periodically inputting an aircraft flight level reading representing an altitude defined by a reference air pressure measured on the aircraft; means for periodically generating a display on said display device comprising a plurality of flight levels vertically arranged; means for indicating in said display said plurality of aircraft, arranged in a vertical list ranked by flight level; said at least one processor being arranged, on reception of a new said value, to redetermine said minimum stack level and to vary said display so as to indicate changes to said minimum stack level. |
| US08401772B2 |
Automated routing to reduce congestion
This disclosure describes embodiments that include systems and methods for integrating various efficient and beneficial transportation and network technologies into an energy-efficient, time-efficient, highly-scalable, semi-public transportation system. Specifically, the disclosed embodiments include methods and systems provide a distributed transportation computing system for routing clean-powered, semi-independent system vehicles within adapted existing metropolitan freeway systems. The embodiments reduce traffic congestion by synchronizing the movements of system vehicles within system roadways. System vehicles may be designed to incorporate clean-power, energy-efficiency, and both on- and off-system operational control. As system vehicles allow for both system and independent use, individuals desiring independence may be incentivized to participate in this semi-public, mass-transportation system. High scalability is possible because modifications to existing freeway infrastructures require minimal retrofitting and simplified expansion in comparison with the construction of presently available mass-transportation systems, such as light rail and subway systems. |
| US08401767B2 |
Enhanced powertrain performance during knock control
Various systems and methods are described for controlling combustion stability in an engine driving a transmission. One example method comprises limiting airflow to the engine in response to a spark timing retarded beyond a spark retard threshold, the limiting airflow to the engine reducing engine torque output and compensating for the reduction in engine torque output by adjusting a transmission operating parameter. |
| US08401766B2 |
Inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance determination apparatus for internal combustion engine
An inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance determination apparatus (determination apparatus) according to the present invention obtains, based on the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor, an imbalance determination parameter which becomes larger as an air-fuel ratio fluctuation of an exhaust gas passing through a position at which the air-fuel ratio sensor is disposed becomes larger, during a parameter obtaining period. The determination apparatus energizes the heater of the air-fuel ratio sensor in such a manner that a temperature of the air-fuel ratio element during the parameter obtaining period is higher than a temperature of the air-fuel ratio element during a period other than the parameter obtaining period. Accordingly, the imbalance determination parameter is obtained while the responsiveness of the air-fuel ratio sensor is high, and thus, the inter-cylinder air-fuel-ratio imbalance determination having a high accuracy can be made. |
| US08401760B2 |
Gas turbine engine oil consumption monitoring system and method
A system and method of monitoring oil consumption in a gas turbine engine system are provided. When the gas turbine engine is not running the reservoir oil level, reservoir oil temperature, and reservoir attitude are sensed. The current gas turbine engine system oil quantity is determined based on at least the sensed reservoir oil level, the sensed reservoir oil temperature, and the sensed reservoir attitude. When a predetermined event has occurred, an average gas turbine engine system oil quantity is automatically calculated. The gas turbine engine system oil consumption rate is determined from a plurality of the average oil quantities. |
| US08401758B2 |
Method and device for assisting a vehicle operator
A method for assisting an operator of a vehicle which is approaching a set of traffic lights which permits a stop line to be crossed in at least one first operating state and does not permit the stop line to be crossed in a second operating state. The method provides that (i) a signal which describes the current operating state of traffic lights and the time period until the operating state changes is received in the vehicle, (ii) in the vehicle, verification is carried out on the basis of the received signal as to whether the vehicle can reach the stop line at a speed from a predefined speed range while the set of traffic lights is in the first operating state, and (iii) a speed of the vehicle is influenced and/or a recommendation for influencing the speed is generated as a function of the result of the verification. |
| US08401757B2 |
Running control apparatus and running control program for the apparatus
A running control apparatus calculates a target driving or braking torque in a calculating block to control the vehicle driven or braked by this torque at a target speed against a running resistance changed with running circumstances of the vehicle. In a control block, when a driver-required braking torque based on the braking operation of the driver is smaller than the target braking torque, the running control for the vehicle is performed to brake the vehicle by the target braking torque. When the driver-required braking torque becomes higher than the target braking torque, the running control is stopped, and the driver manually brakes the vehicle by the driver-required braking torque. When the driver-required braking torque is decreased to be lower than the target braking torque or a predetermined braking torque corresponding to the release of the braking operation, the running control is restarted. |
| US08401756B2 |
Method and apparatus for clutch pressure control
A method, apparatus and system for controlling transmission clutch system output pressures is provided. A transmission control unit and a pressure control device including an electro-hydraulic valve and a pressure switch cooperate to provide self-calibrating clutch pressure control systems. |
| US08401744B2 |
System and method for configuring a guidance controller
System and method for configuring guidance controllers. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an implement, by a guidance controller, coupled to a machine. The method may further include determining a characteristic of the implement which affects a calibration parameter of the guidance controller and configuring the calibration parameter of the guidance controller based, at least in part, on the characteristic of the implement. An operational path of the machine may be controlled based on the calibration parameter. |
| US08401740B2 |
Adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat
An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat that functions in dual-modes, including a primary mode during severe (shock event) operation and a secondary mode during normal (non-shock event) operation. When operating in primary mode, the present system automatically adjusts a VPEA in real-time to keep loads transmitted to the occupant's body below acceptable injury threshold levels, and can recover to perform said function for multiple shock events. When operating in secondary mode the system reduces vehicle vibration transmitted to the occupant, thereby reducing fatigue and increasing situational awareness. |
| US08401737B2 |
Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device calculates an operation amount and a motion state amount for varying an operation amount necessary for a real vehicle's operation based on a dynamic vehicle model modeling the motion state of a vehicle running in accordance with running targets such as a target path and a speed pattern and determines whether the calculated operation amount and the motion state amount satisfy prescribed running requirements. The operation amount and the motion state amount determined to satisfy the running requirements are a feed-forward (FF) operation amount and a target state amount in a state feedback (FB) control, respectively. |
| US08401734B2 |
Operation assisting system and driving force controlling system
An operation assisting system, which is capable of adjusting an operational feeling to operate an operating device to an actual resultant physical quantity, thereby mitigating uncomfortable feeling of the driver. The operation assisting system includes a drive unit for generating a power for driving a vehicle, an operating device for controlling the power transmitted from the drive unit to a wheel of the vehicle, a reaction force generating mechanism for generating a reaction force against the operated operating device, and a reaction force controller for controlling the reaction force generated by the reaction force generating mechanism exponentially, with respect to a change in a force applied to the operating device to operate the operating device, a change in an operating amount of the operating device, or a velocity to operate the operating device. |
| US08401731B2 |
Workshop system with a plurality of diagnostic and/or programming devices networked by data links for vehicles
A workshop system, with a plurality of diagnostic and/or programming devices, which are networked by means of data links and are intended for vehicles is provided. In order to enhance the reliability of workshop systems of the prior art, a warning indicating the occurrence of an event, which requires that a workshop employee intervene at a moment's notice at a first diagnostic and/or programming device of the networked devices is forwarded, as an alternative or in addition, to a second or an additional diagnostic and/or programming device to be communicated to the workshop employee. |
| US08401722B2 |
System and method for charging a vehicle battery
An automotive vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery charger that receives electrical energy from a power distribution circuit remote from the vehicle. The at least one controller may request that a battery charger of another vehicle draw a specified current, and may establish a battery charging schedule with the another vehicle for the battery charger if, after issuing the request, the at least one controller detects a drop in voltage on the power distribution circuit. |
| US08401719B2 |
Aircraft engine management for fuel conservation method
A method includes controlling an aircraft during descent, and controlling the engine pressure ratio of a jet engine so that the engine has a substantially equal pressure at the exhaust, and at the front of the engine during the descent. |
| US08401718B2 |
Method of and system for maintaining operating performance of a transparency
Repair or replacement of a transparency mounted in body of a vehicle, e.g. an aircraft when one or more properties of the transparency is (are) operating outside of an acceptable limit(s) is arranged by monitoring operating performance of a property of the transparency, e.g. by mounted a sensor, e.g. a sensor for detecting moisture; a sensor for detecting impacts and vibrations; a sensor for detecting fractures; a sensor for detecting electric arcing, and a sensor for measuring temperature of an electrically conductive coating, on the transparency. Scheduling repair or replacement of the transparency at a geographical area when the operating performance of the property is outside an acceptable operating performance limit, and forwarding the schedule to the vehicle and to a maintenance location to prepare for the repair or replacement of the transparency at the geographical work area. |
| US08401717B2 |
Actuator control reducing the level of vibration of an associated flexible structure
The aim of the method of controlling at least one mechanical system exhibiting at least one flexible structure element and at least one actuator or group of actuators is to reduce the level of vibrations of said element while controlling the actuator or group of actuators in such a way as to achieve at least one objective assigned to the mechanical system. The control consists of increments having to be carried out at a sampling period T, each of the increments being constant in amplitude in a sampling time interval extending between two successive sampling instants and each of the increments being applied during a duration which is less than or equal to the sampling period T. In each sampling interval, at least one of the initial and final instants of application of the increment is modified by adding a variable, random or pseudo-random, temporal deviation dT. |
| US08401713B2 |
Determining relative spatial information between vehicles
A method for determining relative spatial information between a first vehicle and a second vehicle, the method including monitoring a communication channel at the first vehicle and receiving a current communication signal sent by the second vehicle on the communication channel. The current communication signal is received at a received power level. A relative position between the first vehicle and the second vehicle is calculated. Input to the calculating includes an actual or estimated transmitted power level, and the received power level. |
| US08401712B2 |
Method for controlling distributed power sources
A control method of the present invention is a control method for distributed power sources which systematically controls a plurality of distributed power sources having different responsive capabilities for a load disturbance. The distributed power sources include an electricity storage device. The control method of the present invention includes: obtaining a component to be compensated for using a power source having a responsive capability equal to or lower than that of the electricity storage device based on a difference value between a remaining capacity of the electricity storage device and a target remaining capacity; and compensating for the component to be compensated for using the power source having a responsive capability equal to or lower than that of the electricity storage device. |
| US08401711B2 |
System and method for managing distributed renewable energy systems
A method for managing distributed renewable energy systems comprising receiving first meter data for a plurality of first meters, each of the plurality of first meters associated with a renewable energy power generation component at an institution and measuring an amount of power generated by each associated renewable energy power generation component over a first period of time. Receiving second meter data for a plurality of second meters, each of the plurality of second meters associated with an institution having a renewable energy power generation component and measuring an amount of power consumed by each associated institution over a period of second time. Determining a difference between the amount of power measured by each of the first meters and the amount of power measured by a corresponding one of each of the second meters at each institution. Assessing a first charge to each of the institutions based on the corresponding difference determined for each institution. Assessing a second charge to each of the institutions based on a finance charge for the renewable energy power generation component associated with the institution. |
| US08401710B2 |
Wide-area, real-time monitoring and visualization system
A real-time performance monitoring system for monitoring an electric power grid. The electric power grid has a plurality of grid portions, each grid portion corresponding to one of a plurality of control areas. The real-time performance monitoring system includes a monitor computer for monitoring at least one of reliability metrics, generation metrics, transmission metrics, suppliers metrics, grid infrastructure security metrics, and markets metrics for the electric power grid. The data for metrics being monitored by the monitor computer are stored in a data base, and a visualization of the metrics is displayed on at least one display computer having a monitor. The at least one display computer in one said control area enables an operator to monitor the grid portion corresponding to a different said control area. |
| US08401708B2 |
Electric power system
The electric power supply and demand control device judges whether or not electric power shortage is occurred or whether or not electric power surplus is occurred in the electric power supplier and demander provided with the electric power supply and demand control device based on data on total electric energy, the amount of maximum electric power demanded, and the amount of total electric power demanded of the following day in each electric power supplier and demander, predicted by a neural network; receives electric power from other electric power suppliers and demanders provided with the power generation devices and/or the electrical storage devices in the case where electric power shortage is occurred in the electric power supplier and demander; and controls to deliver electric power to other electric power suppliers and demanders in the case where electric power surplus is occurred in the electric power supplier and demander. |
| US08401707B2 |
Output-power control apparatus
An output-power control apparatus is provided in an electric power system connecting a secondary battery system and a power generator in parallel, and controls output power of the electric power system. The output-power control apparatus detects output power of the power generator, and controls output voltage of the secondary battery system, based on a value obtained by subtracting the detected output power of the power generator from an output power instruction for controlling the output power. |
| US08401696B2 |
Banknote handling apparatus and method of controlling banknote handling apparatus
A banknote handling apparatus and a method of controlling the banknote handling apparatus that make the display of complicated functions and configuration of a banknote handling apparatus easy for the operator to understand. A banknote handling apparatus of the present invention includes an operation unit that accepts an instruction from an operator, first and second display units that can display graphics, a storage unit that stores first and second data for display on the first and second display units, detecting part that detects an occurrence of a predetermined event, and a control unit that reads out first and second data stored in the storage unit based on the content of the event, causes the first display unit to display the first data, and causes the second display unit to display the second data, when the detecting part detects the occurrence of the predetermined event. |
| US08401694B2 |
Management apparatus and management method
A management apparatus is for managing a storage medium. The apparatus includes a rack including a cell which has a first opening and a second opening, a robot for inserting or ejecting the storage medium with respect to the cell through the first opening, and a controller for executing a process. The process includes driving the robot to start inserting or ejecting the storage medium with respect to the cell, detecting a failure in inserting or ejecting the storage medium, stopping the robot from inserting or ejecting the storage medium for a given time upon detecting the failure, and driving the robot to restart inserting or ejecting the storage medium with respect to the cell after the stopping the robot from inserting or ejecting the storage medium for the given time. |
| US08401692B2 |
System and method for tool testing and alignment
A system and method for improving a tool tip path of a machine, such as a waterjet cutting machine, by testing and compensating for tool misalignment. The system and method using a sensor positioned to sense a portion of the machine, such as a cutting head assembly, during a sequence of movements thereof and configured to output information indicative of various positions and orientations of a tool of the machine so as to generate an improved tool tip path based on transformation parameters derived from such information. |
| US08401691B2 |
Dynamic metrology methods and systems
The present invention provides dynamic metrology methods and systems for: periodically determining an actual position of one or more of a machine and a tool with respect to a workpiece using one or more laser interferometers; tracking a tracked position of the one or more of the machine and the tool with respect to the workpiece using one or more accelerometers; and altering a controlled position of the one or more of the machine and the tool with respect to the workpiece when either the actual position or the tracked position of the one or more of the machine and the tool with respect to the workpiece diverges from a desired position of one or more of the machine and the tool with respect to the workpiece. |
| US08401687B2 |
Visual assembly tool
An assembly model is identified including a plurality of part models. Each part model is a predefined, selectable model corresponding to at least one part in a plurality of assembly parts. The assembly model is presented and a sequence of user selections identifying part models in the assembly model are received through a user interface. User selections can correspond to designations of parts to be removed from the modeled assembly during a disassembly of the assembly. Selected part models are removed from the displayed presentation in response to corresponding user selections. A disassembly order is generated including an ordered grouping of disassembly steps, each disassembly step corresponding to a user selection of a part model in the sequence of user selections. The disassembly steps are ordered based on an order of selection of the corresponding part models. The order of the disassembly order is reversed and an assembly order is generated for the assembly from the reversed disassembly order. |
| US08401686B2 |
Reduced registration bonding template
A dental template for positioning an object on teeth of a patient and method for fabricating the same. The method includes creating a digital model of the patient's teeth, creating a simplified template model based on the digital model, and fabricating the dental template based on the simplified template model. The template model is simplified by removing certain features of the patient's tooth anatomy. The dental template can be located on a patient's teeth using four or fewer positioning teeth. |
| US08401682B2 |
Interactive sound reproducing
An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network. |
| US08401681B2 |
System and method for placeshifting media playback
Systems and methods of placeshifting media playback between two or more devices are provided. For example, a method for placeshifting media may include sending a first message from a media-receiving electronic device to a media-playing electronic device playing a media file and receiving a response identifying the media file and a point at which the media file was being played when the first message was received. The media-receiving electronic device may play a copy of the media file at the point where the media-playing electronic device left off. |
| US08401676B2 |
Performance improvement of signal transformation schemes for ultra-fast scanning
A mechanism for controlling a plant is provided. A reference signal is received at a signal transformation loop of a feedback controller. The signal transformation loop causes the reference signal to include a disturbance signal and a nominal signal. Also, the reference signal is received at a feed-forward controller, and the feed-forward controller recreates the disturbance signal that was caused by the signal transformation loop. The output of the feedback controller is input into a plant. The output of the feed-forward controller is input into the plant such that the disturbance signal is removed from the output of the feedback controller. |
| US08401675B2 |
Methods and systems for machine-related information delivery
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for training, maintenance, trouble-shooting and repair of machinery and equipment. |
| US08401671B2 |
RF rejecting lead
A lead assembly for an implantable medical device includes a lead body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion adapted for coupling to a pulse generator and the second portion is adapted for implantation. First and second conductive coils are positioned within the lead body and electrically isolated from each other. The first and second conductive coils each including a plurality of turns. Two or more adjacently wound consecutive turns of the first conductive coil alternate with two or more adjacently wound consecutive turns of the second conductive coil. |
| US08401668B2 |
Systems and methods for creating an effect using microwave energy to specified tissue
Systems, methods and devices for creating an effect using microwave energy to specified tissue are disclosed. A system for the application of microwave energy to a tissue includes a signal generator adapted to generate a microwave signal having predetermined characteristics, an applicator connected to the generator and adapted to apply microwave energy to tissue. The applicator includes one or more microwave antennas and a tissue interface, a vacuum source connected to the tissue interface, a cooling source connected to the tissue interface, and a controller adapted to control the signal generator, the vacuum source, and the coolant source. The tissue includes a first layer and a second layer, the second layer below the first layer. The controller is configured so that the system delivers energy such that a peak power loss density profile is created in the second layer. |
| US08401661B2 |
Remote control for implantable medical device
A system and method for modifying the parameters of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device that communicates with a remote control device that, in turn, communicates through the browser of a computer or any other device capable of using mark-up language protocol. The computer optionally communicates with other computers and/or devices through a network. |
| US08401660B2 |
Polling mechanism in a medical implant based system
Polling mechanism in a medical implant based system. A method for operating a receiver includes searching for a signal by a receiver. The method further includes entering into an inactive state for a predefined time interval, if the signal is not detected. The method also includes altering at least one of sensitivity and the predefined time interval if number of times the searching is performed without detecting the signal exceeds a threshold. Moreover, the method includes searching for the signal with at least one of altered sensitivity and altered predefined time when the receiver enters into an active state. |
| US08401659B2 |
Implantable medical device with wireless communications
An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system is described, including a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating a data signal describing the measurement, and a processor configured to analyze the data signal and identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient. The implantable medical device further includes a first non-rechargeable battery configured to power at least the sensor and the processor. In addition, a first communications unit is configured to be powered by the first non-rechargeable battery and includes a wireless transmitter capable of establishing a first communications link with a host computer using an external local receiver, when said first wireless transmitter is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local receiver, to deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer. The implantable medical device also includes a second rechargeable battery and a second communications unit powered by the second rechargeable battery. The second communications unit is capable of establishing a second communications link with said host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a cell phone network, to deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer. |
| US08401656B2 |
Perception-based parametric fitting of a prosthetic hearing device
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting an established initial operational settings profile, the profile having two or more operational setting values for a speech processor of a recipient's cochlear implant, comprising: setting one or more profile adjustment functions with one or more function parameters; and modifying concurrently said two or more operational setting values in said operational settings profile using each of said set profile adjustment functions. |
| US08401654B1 |
Methods and systems for treating one or more effects of deafferentation
Methods of treating one or more effects of deafferentation within a patient include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to treat one or more effects of deafferentation. Systems for treating one or more effects of deafferentation within a patient include a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to treat one or more effects of deafferentation. |
| US08401653B2 |
Systems and methods for avoiding neural stimulation habituation
An embodiment relates to a method for delivering a vagal stimulation therapy to a vagus nerve, including delivering a neural stimulation signal to non-selectively stimulate both afferent axons and efferent axons in the vagus nerve according to a predetermined schedule for the vagal stimulation therapy, and selecting a value for at least one parameter for the predetermined schedule for the vagal stimulation therapy to control the neural stimulation therapy to avoid physiological habituation to the vagal stimulation therapy. The parameter(s) include at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters consisting of a predetermined therapy duration parameter for a predetermined therapy period, and a predetermined intermittent neural stimulation parameter associated with on/off timing for the intermittent neural stimulation parameter. |
| US08401646B2 |
Method and apparatus to determine the relative energy expenditure for a plurality of pacing vectors
A medical device system determines and displays relative energy expenditure information for programmable parameter values. The system establishes a programmable parameter and multiple values of the parameter to be compared. A module performs a measurements for each of the multiple values and related to energy expenditure of a battery of an implantable medical device when operating according to each of the multiple parameter values. An energy expenditure for each of the values is computed using the measurements, and a graphical user interface is generated for displaying information corresponding to the computed energy expenditure for multiple parameter values. |
| US08401643B2 |
Implantable medical sensor and anchoring system
A medical device adapted to be implanted in a vessel of a human body includes a housing that contains a diagnostic or therapeutic module and an anchor for supporting the housing in an intended location and orientation within the vessel. The anchor is expandable from a low profile configuration adapted for delivery to an expanded configuration for engagement with the vessel wall. The anchor and a delivery catheter are adapted to enable the medical device to be retrieved and repositioned or removed from the vessel. The anchor is adapted to apply sufficient force against the vessel wall to maintain the anchor in place but less force than that required to provide scaffolding support for the vessel. |
| US08401638B2 |
Defibrillation shock strength determination technology
A method for determining a cardiac shock strength, for example the programmed first-therapeutic shock strength of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), including the steps of sensing a change in a T-wave of an electrogram with respect to time such as the maximum of the first derivative of a T-wave of an electrogram; delivering a test shock by (i) delivering a test shock at a test-shock strength and at a test-shock time relating to the maximum of the first derivative of the T-wave with respect to time; and (ii) sensing for cardiac fibrillation. If fibrillation is not sensed, test-shock delivery is repeated at the same test-shock strength and at specific, different test-shock times relating to the maximum of the first derivative of the T-wave. If fibrillation is still not sensed, the shock strength is decreased and test shocks are repeated at the same specific test shock times relative to the maximum of the first derivative of the T-wave. And if fibrillation is sensed, the programmed therapeutic shock strength of the ICD is set as a function of the incrementally greater test-shock strength. Also disclosed is an apparatus for selecting a programmed first-shock strength of an ICD, including a shock subsystem for delivering therapeutic shocks and test shocks to the heart, and a ULV subsystem connected to the shock subsystem, to provide test shocks of test-shock strengths and at test-shock times relating to the maximum of the first derivative of the T-wave with respect to time, and to determine the therapeutic shock strength of the ICD as a function of the test-shock strengths. |
| US08401637B2 |
Medium voltage therapy applications in treating cardiac arrest
A method and system for treating an individual experiencing cardiac arrest using an automatic external defibrillator (AED) includes placing a first and a second electrode of the AED in electrical communication with an exterior surface of the individual. A need to apply a high voltage defibrillation signal to the individual is automatically determined. The method also includes automatically causing the AED to apply a medium voltage therapy (MVT) signal through the first and the second electrodes to the individual. The MVT signal is applied to induce a hemodynamic effect in the individual. Alternatively, or additionally, the MVT signal is applied to induce a respiratory effect in the individual. Optionally, the MVT signal is applied before determining the need to apply the defibrillation signal. |
| US08401636B2 |
Monitoring of chronobiological rhythms for disease and drug management using one or more implantable device
The health state of a subject is automatically evaluated or predicted using at least one implantable device. In varying examples, the health state is determined by sensing or receiving information about at least one physiological process having a circadian rhythm whose presence, absence, or baseline change is associated with impending disease, and comparing such rhythm to baseline circadian rhythm prediction criteria. Other chronobiological rhythms beside circadian may also be used. The baseline prediction criteria may be derived using one or more past physiological process observation of the subject or population of subjects in a non-disease health state. The prediction processing may be performed by the at least one implantable device or by an external device in communication with the implantable device. Systems and methods for invoking a therapy in response to the health state, such as to prevent or minimize the consequences of predicted impending heart failure, are also discussed. |
| US08401634B2 |
Treatment of movement disorders by brain stimulation
Systems for treating a movement disorder include a system control unit configured to be implanted at least partially within a patient and to generate at least one stimulus in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters adjusted to treat the movement disorder. The systems further include a programmable memory unit in communication with the system control unit and programmed to store the one or more stimulation parameters to at least partially define the stimulus such that the stimulus is configured to treat the movement disorder. A means for applying the stimulus to one or more stimulation sites within the patient is operably connected to the system control unit. |
| US08401633B2 |
Subdermal material delivery device
A method may include placing a first device on a first side of a skin portion of a subject and transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject. |
| US08401630B2 |
Method of determining training intensity
Method of determining the training intensity of a person (2), whereby time intervals RRi (13) between consecutive heartbeats are recorded whereupon from sequences of these time intervals RRi (13) a sequence of standardised intervals rri (14) is generated through mathematical modelling. From two consecutive standardised intervals rri (14) and rri+1 points in a Poincaré plot are generated and with regard to the principal horizontal axis X0 (16) of a confidence ellipse of these points a standard deviation SOL is calculated. From pairs of values formed of a mean value RRMV of the sequence of intervals RRi (13) and the standard deviation SOL for further sequences of standardised intervals rri (14) a training intensity curve (20) is then produced for the person (2) whereby the training intensity curve (20) is produced from pairs of values of the heart frequencies HF (HF=1/RRMV) corresponding to the mean values RRMV and the standard deviations SOL. |
| US08401629B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and discriminating tachycardia
A medical device and associated method for discriminating cardiac events includes determining whether a cardiac evidence counter is greater than a predetermined detection threshold, determining whether to advance from a current state to a next state in response to the evidence counter being greater than the predetermined detection threshold, determining whether advancing from a previous state to the current state occurred while in one of a low variability mode and a high variability mode during the previous state, and determining whether to advance from the current state to a previous state in response to determining whether advancing from a previous state to the current state occurred while operating in one of a low variability mode and a high variability mode during the previous state. |
| US08401628B2 |
Sensing vector configuration in ICD to assist arrhythmia detection and annotation
An apparatus comprises an implantable cardiac signal sensing circuit, configured to provide a sensed near-field depolarization signal from a ventricle and to provide a sensed a far-field intrinsic atrial signal using a far-field atrial sensing channel, and a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the cardiac signal sensing circuit. The controller circuit includes a P-wave detection module configured to detect an atrial depolarization in the sensed far-field intrinsic atrial signal and a tachyarrhythmia detection module configured to detect an episode of tachyarrhythmia using the sensed near-field depolarization signal and to determine whether the tachyarrhythmia episode is indicative of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) using the detected atrial depolarization and the sensed near-field depolarization signal. |
| US08401625B2 |
Multi-electrode mapping system
In some aspects, a method includes measuring unipolar signals at one or more electrodes in response to electrical activity in a heart cavity. The method also includes determining, based at least in part on Laplace's equation, bipolar physiological information at multiple locations of an surface based on the measured unipolar signals and positions of the one or more electrodes with respect to the surface. |
| US08401624B2 |
ECG signal analysis tool
A computer-implemented method for analyzing a physiological signal includes selecting a first time interval containing a pattern of interest in a recording of the physiological signal. Respective values of a characteristic of the physiological signal are computed in a plurality of time segments within the first time interval. The computed values are concatenated to form a signature of the pattern of interest. A further occurrence of the pattern of interest is identified in the physiological signal during a second time interval by matching the signal in the second time interval to the signature. |
| US08401623B2 |
Detection chamber with variable volume
The invention proposes a detection chamber (5) comprising a fluid-tight measurement volume (20) the size of which can be varied using a movable wall portion (15). Such a detection chamber (5) allows compression of the object to be imaged as well as the use of a matching medium to fill the space inside the measurement volume (20) not filled by the object to be imaged. |
| US08401622B2 |
Biopsy marker with in situ-generated imaging properties
A biopsy marker having radio-opaque properties that are derived in situ, based on a natural a biological response, such as for example, calcification, accumulation or tissue-concentration of a chemical agent so as to provide an imaging contrast. A biodegradable foam such as collagen foam or gelatin foam is embedded with a biological tissue that is susceptible to the calcification. Initially the marker can be imaged using ultrasound, but over time, the embedded material calcifies causing it to become visible under radiation imaging. |
| US08401620B2 |
Needle positioning apparatus and method
Apparatus for accurate positioning of a needle guide is disclosed. The apparatus provides a means for taking as input the position vector for the point of insertion of the needle into the body. This point of insertion can be selected from images produced by a Computer Tomography system. Similarly, the apparatus has a means for taking as input the point of target. A controller determines the directional vector between point of insertion and point of target. A guide manipulator accurately positions the needle guide in line with the directional vector, such that the needle can easily be inserted through the guide to the point of target. The positioning of the guide manipulator in accordance with the directional vector is done with the help of motors. |
| US08401616B2 |
Navigation system for cardiac therapies
An image guided navigation system for navigating a region of a subject includes an imaging device, a tracking device, a controller, and a display. The imaging device generates images of the region of the subject. The tracking device tracks the location of the instrument in the subject. The controller superimposes an icon representative of the instrument onto the images generated from the imaging device based upon the tracked location of the instrument. The display displays the image with the superimposed instrument. |
| US08401602B2 |
Secondary-emitter sensor position indicator
A secondary-emitter sensor position indicator has primary emitters that transmit light having primary wavelengths and at least one secondary emitter that transmits light having at least one secondary wavelength. A detector outputs a sensor signal in response to received light. An attachment assembly, in a sensor-on condition, positions the emitters and detector relative to a tissue site so that the sensor signal is substantially responsive to the primary wavelength light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site and is negligibly responsive to the secondary wavelength light. The attachment assembly, in a sensor out-of-position condition, positions the secondary emitter relative to the tissue site so that the sensor signal is at least partially responsive to the secondary wavelength. |
| US08401601B2 |
Use of a two-phase superconducting cable as a power supply cable
An arrangement of a two-phase superconducting cable as a power supply cable in two-phase power distribution networks for electric railways include two phase conductors which are arranged coaxially with respect to one another and are separated from one another by an inner dielectric. A cryostat, with the superconducting cable arranged therein, has two tubes which run co-axially and at a distance from one another with vacuum insulation between them, where in addition to the superconducting cable, the cryostat surrounds a free space for a coolant to be passed through, and where an outer dielectric is fitted over the outer phase conductor of the superconducting cable. |
| US08401594B2 |
Reducing power consumption of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices
A system and method for maximizing the standby time of mobile communication devices that have WiFi or other high energy-consuming network interfaces, by predicting in real time actionable silent periods (ASPs) of the interface and shutting the interface down during these ASPs. Standby times are significantly increased, resulting in longer periods of operation before battery charging is required, while keeping minimal the probabilities of missing incoming data packets when the interface is turned off. |
| US08401593B2 |
Enabling speaker phone mode of a portable voice communications device having a built-in camera
Apparatuses and methods of using a speaker phone mode of a portable voice communications device having a built-in camera are described herein. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated if it is determined that an image captured by the device is black or nearly black, which indicates that the device is placed flat or nearly flat against surface. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on the results of comparing the captured image to a plurality of previously stored captured images wherein the previously stored captured images include images captured by the device in situations where it would be desirable for the speaker phone mode to be activated. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on a comparison of a captured image and previously stored captured images and their respective speaker phone mode statuses. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08401591B2 |
System and method for channel-adaptive antenna selection
Systems and methods that provide channel-adaptive antenna selection in multi-antenna-element communication systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method that selects a subset of receive antennas of a receiver to receive a transmitted RF signal may include, for example, one or more of the following: establishing possible subsets of the receive antennas; determining sets of channel parameter statistics corresponding to the possible subsets of the receive antennas; computing output bit error rates of the receiver, each output bit error rate being computed based on at least one set of channel parameter statistics; selecting a particular possible subset of the receive antennas based upon a criterion predicated on the computed output bit error rates; and connecting one or more RF chains of the receiver to the receive antennas of the selected particular possible subset. |
| US08401587B2 |
Remote power control system and power supply tap
According to one embodiment, a power supply tap includes a first wireless reception module which receives a control request which is transmitted from a remote-control terminal by a first wireless signal, a power observation module which is activated in a case where the received control request includes a power information acquisition request, and observes a total amount of power including power supplied to an electric apparatus from a power output module and power consumed by a communication control module, a first wireless transmission module which transmits the observed total amount of power to the remote-control terminal by a second wireless signal, and a switch control module which turns off a switch in a case where the control request received by the first wireless reception module includes a power-off request, thereby shutting off power supply to the electric apparatus from the power output module. |
| US08401582B2 |
Time-shifting for push to talk voice communication systems
A network communication device located on a Push To Talk (PTT) communication network and configured to provide time-shifting capabilities to a user of a PTT communication device. The network communication device includes a receiver configured to progressively receive time-based media. The network communication device also includes a time-shifting buffer for progressively storing the received time based media as the time-based media is received and a time-shifting buffer controller configured to control the rendering of the time-based media at the PTT device. In response to a control signal received from the PTT device of the user, the time-based media is rendered at the PTT communication device either (i) in a near real-time mode as the time-based media is progressively received at the network communication device and progressively transmitted to the PTT device or (ii) at an arbitrary later time after the storage of the time-based media in the time-shifting buffer by retrieving the time-based media from the time-shifting buffer at the arbitrary later time and transmitting the retrieved time-based media to the PTT communication device. |
| US08401580B2 |
Processing simulcast data
A mobile device receives a radio simulcast of streaming data and content. The mobile device extracts metadata from the radio simulcast. The mobile device identifies a communication channel to a content provider by comparing components of the metadata with reference data. The mobile device presents a user interface for connecting to the content provider through the communication channel. The mobile device also records the metadata with a time stamp and provides a user interface for displaying the data and time of content received. |
| US08401577B2 |
Message delivery control based on destination point codes
Systems and methods are disclosed for limiting text/multimedia message delivery based on destination point codes or other destination identifiers. A switching center in a mobile network monitors the amount of text/multimedia message traffic routed to destinations. If the message traffic routed to a destination exceeds a threshold, then the switching center generates a traffic message indicating traffic congestion for the destination, and transmits the traffic message to a message center. The message center processes the traffic message to identify a destination point code for the destination. The message center then adjusts delivery of text/multimedia messages toward the destination point code of the destination. |
| US08401576B2 |
Messaging service in a wireless communications network
This invention concerns a messaging service in a wireless communications network. In a first aspect, the invention is a method for providing a messaging service on a wireless device in a wireless communications network; the method comprising the steps of: Retrieving the destination address of an outgoing message on the device. Verifying whether the destination address is capable of receiving the message via a packet-switched bearer. If verification is affirmative, then automatically sending the message to the destination address via a packet-switched bearer, but otherwise, automatically sending the message to the destination address via an SMS bearer. In another aspect, the invention is a mobile device programmed to perform the method. In a further aspect, the invention is a software program to implement the method. |
| US08401570B2 |
LTE fingerprinting positioning references for other cellular systems
High precision UE position estimates derived by OTDOA positioning in an LTE network are provided to other networks (e.g., WCDMA and/or GSM), along with inter-RAT measurements performed on the other networks, to support fingerprinted positioning databases in the other networks. Signaling is provided enabling LTE UE position estimates to be used as reference points in the fingerprinting database in each of GSM control plane AECID positioning, GSM user plane AECID positioning, WCDMA control plane AECID positioning, and WCDMA user plane AECID positioning. In support thereof, inter-RAT measurement supporting the population of databases in WCDMA and GSM, using fingerprints and reference measurements in LTE; the use of OTDOA positioning to generate the LTE UE position estimates, and the required signaling are disclosed. The AECID databases in WCDMA and GSM networks do not have own-network serving cells at the top hierarchical level, since the inter-RAT measurements are performed in LTE. |
| US08401564B2 |
Method and system enabling use of white space radio spectrum using digital broadcast signals
A system (10) and method (50 or 70) of dynamic allocation of spectrum for a communication device where a UHF band is currently unused for licensed television broadcasting involves determining (51) a location of a user device, determining (52) which UHF television broadcast channels are available for use by the user device and determining (53) a maximum allowed transmission power for a given channel based on signal strength for the given channel and on adjacent channels before transmitting (54) the maximum allowed transmission power and location by the user device to a remote server. The method can receive (55) polygon endpoints from a television broadcast defining the location of usable reception of the television broadcast. |
| US08401560B2 |
Infrastructure for location discovery
Techniques are generally described for determining locations of a plurality of communication devices in a network. In some examples, methods for creating a location discovery infrastructure (LDI) for estimating locations of one or more of a plurality of communication nodes may comprise one or more of determining a plurality of locations in the terrain to place a corresponding plurality of beacon nodes, determining a plurality of beacon node groups for the placed beacon nodes, and determining a schedule for the placed beacon nodes to be active. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08401556B2 |
Mobile terminal and method used in the same
A mobile terminal used in a cellular mobile communication system is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a measuring unit configured to measure reception levels of received signals; an averaging unit configured to average the measured reception levels based on a forgetting factor; a cell reselection unit configured to reselect a cell based on the averaged reception level; and a factor determining unit configured to determine the forgetting factor according to parameters sent from a network. |
| US08401554B2 |
System and method for advertising the same service set identifier for different basic service sets
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises advertising services by a first wireless device. The services are provided by different basic service sets, each basic service set having the same service set identifier (SSID). Thereafter, one of the basic service sets is selected. |
| US08401552B2 |
Telecommunications networks and devices
A GSM, UMTS or LTE mobile telecommunications network is disclosed. In addition to the conventional radio access network comprising the base stations, one or more additional access points may be provided. An access point is typically connected to the network core by an IP transport broadband connection. The access point is configured to appear to the mobile terminal as a conventional base station. Arrangements are disclosed which allow the network to more simply route mobile terminating calls to a mobile terminal in a network including home base stations. Other arrangements are disclosed which allow the network to verify the validity of a mobile terminal accessing the telecommunications network using a home base station, and correspondingly the validity of the home base station to register itself as serving a given UE. |
| US08401551B2 |
Method of operating a communication system
A method of operating a communication system is provided. The communication system comprises a NetWork (NW) and User Equipment (UE), a Non Access Stratum (NAS) via which the NW and UE communicate with each other, and an Access Stratum (AS) providing a physical connection to enable the NAS communication between the NW and UE to be achieved, the physical connection including a wireless radio link to the UE. The method includes sending information from the NW to the UE to determine at least one action of the UE in response to a failure of a radio link to the UE, detecting a Radio Link Failure (RLF), in response to the detecting of the RLF, deciding on an action to be performed by the UE according to the received information, and performing, by the UE, the decided action. |
| US08401549B2 |
Apparatus and method for searching accessible wireless network in software defined radio terminal
Provided is an apparatus for searching accessible wireless networks in a software-defined radio (SDR) terminal, a method thereof, and a computer-readable recording medium for storing a program executing the method. The apparatus includes: a hardware platform; a network search executable code storing means for storing a network search executable code having at least one of mode search executable codes; a search shape information storing unit for storing search shape information necessary for network search; a network search control means for arranging each of the mode search executable codes from the network search executable code storing means at the hardware platform by using the search shape information from the search shape information storing means and searching a network according to a search mode by executing the arranged mode search executable codes; and a network search result storing means for storing network search results from the network search control means. |
| US08401548B2 |
Method for scanning wireless frequencies
A method of scanning frequencies for registration onto a wireless service provider by a wireless device is provided. The inventive method comprises predefining a priority sequence of frequencies in association with each of a plurality of locations. Itinerary information is received and a current expected location of the device in real-time based is determined based on the itinerary information. The device then scans frequencies according to any priority sequence predefined for the current expected location. |
| US08401538B2 |
System and method for generic mobile phone configuration
A method of providing wireless communication service to a mobile phone is provided. The method comprises identifying common mobile phone applications and selectively supported mobile phone applications, installing the common mobile phone applications and the selectively supported mobile phone applications in read only memory of the mobile phone, each of the selectively supported applications associated with a selection switch initially disabled. The method further comprises, when activating the mobile phone, enabling at least one of the selection switches and writing at least one reference to branded content to a random access memory of the mobile phone based on a service plan associated with the mobile phone. |
| US08401536B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method
It is presented a method for providing a user interface of a portable electronic apparatus. The method comprises: detecting an actuation of a mode switch actuator associated with switching operational modes of the apparatus; determining a switching direction by determining whether the actuation is associated with a first switching direction or a second switching direction; determining a current operational mode; determining a new operational mode considering the switching direction and the current operational mode; and switching operational modes of the portable electronic apparatus from the current operational mode to the new operational mode. Corresponding portable electronic apparatuses and computer program product are also presented. |
| US08401524B2 |
Mail operating device and method for controlling transmission of mail information
A cellular phone device stores mail information related to an electronic mail exchanged with a communication network. A communication unit is configured to connect with the cellular phone device via a wireless communication. Immediately after connection of the wireless communication between the communication unit and the cellular phone device, a receiving unit receives specific mail information among mail information stored in the cellular phone device. The specific mail information is related to an electronic mail exchanged in a time period between previous disconnection from the cellular phone device and present connection with the cellular phone device. |
| US08401522B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for authenticating access to enterprise resources
Systems, apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture provide for controlling access to one or more enterprise resources, including one or more functions of an enterprise device, or other computing device, based on information about one or more activities of a user. Some embodiments provide for determining an intuitive challenge question having a corresponding response, such as an intuitive password. |
| US08401516B2 |
Method and device for receiving emergency broadcasting messages
The present invention discloses a method for receiving emergency broadcasting messages. The method comprises that: when the terminal acquires periodically from the information header of the multimedia broadcasting service information that there is a new emergency broadcasting message needed to be received, it parses the emergency broadcasting message from the multimedia broadcasting control information; alternatively, under the scene that the terminal receives the multimedia broadcasting service information, when the terminal acquires from the information header of the service information that there is a new emergency broadcasting message queue needed to be received, it parses the emergency broadcasting message from the multimedia broadcasting control information. The present invention discloses a communication mobile terminal for receiving emergency broadcasting messages. The present invention enables the terminal to open the logic channels periodically to receive all emergency broadcasting messages punctually and effectively prevents the high power consumption and resource wasting in the course of reception. |
| US08401515B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic routing
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for emergency event routing. One or more routing instructions may be determined to route one or more individuals away from a location corresponding to the emergency event based at least in part on at least one category associated with the emergency event, a type of the emergency event, and one or more estimated locations of one or more mobile devices associated with the one or more individuals. |
| US08401514B2 |
System and method for controlling an emergency event in a region of interest
An emergency response system of a premises uses an egress agent or application installed on mobile communications devices of users to provide evacuation instructions that are specific to the location of the user. The egress agents determine the location of their device and may determine an evacuation route from premises plans stored in the device or by transmitting their location to a server and receiving evacuation instructions from the server. Tracking of the devices along the evacuation route provides continual updates as to the relevant safety of an evacuation route. |
| US08401509B1 |
Two stage radio frequency interference cancellation system and method
A radio frequency receiver subject to a large in-band interferor employs active cancellation with coarse and at least one cancellation signals, each with a respective radio frequency combiner, in order to increase the effective dynamic range of the receiver for weak signals of interest. One or both can be digitally synthesized. This is particularly applicable for co-site interference, whereby the interfering transmit signal is directly accessible. A similar system and method may also be applied to external interferors such as those produced by deliberate or unintentional jamming signals, or by strong multipath signals. An adaptive algorithm may be used for dynamic delay and gain matching. In a preferred embodiment, a hybrid technology hybrid temperature system incorporates both superconducting and semiconducting components to achieve enhanced broadband performance. |
| US08401508B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigation of unwanted signal components in complex sampling receiver
Disclosed are methods and systems for mitigating unwanted signal components. A received carrier signal is downconverted using a local reference signal that imposes an frequency perturbation or dither. Later, when an intermediate digitized signal is filtered to remove the DC offset that is an artifact of the sampling process, the dither in the carrier signal serves to distinguish the carrier from the unwanted offset. The preferred offset filter is a low pass filter with a passband that is narrow relative to the frequency range of the dither. |
| US08401507B2 |
Automatic gain control for beamformed signals
A method of selecting an RF gain of an automatic gain control amplifier includes the steps of measuring a strength of a received signal, the signal reliable and consistent power characteristics, and then measuring an interference level of the received signal, and determining either a target output power level or a target output interference power level based on a ratio of the measured signal strength to the measured interference level. The method also includes determining a gain that, when applied to an incoming signal, will produce a corresponding one of the determined target output power level and the determined target output interference power level. |
| US08401505B1 |
LNA gain adaption based on received signal strength of signals conforming to different communication protocols
A first low noise amplifier (LNA) applies a gain to both (a) signals conforming to a first communication protocol and (b) signals conforming to a second communication protocol. A second LNA applies a gain to the signals conforming to the first communication protocol. A third LNA applies a gain to the signals conforming to the second communication protocol is provided. A first signal strength indicator corresponding to a signal strength of a first signal, conforming to the first communication protocol, is determined. A second signal strength indicator corresponding to a signal strength of a second signal, conforming to the second communication protocol, is determined. The gain of the first LNA is controlled based on (i) the first signal strength indicator and ii) the second signal strength indicator. The gains of the second and third LNAs are controlled based on the first and second signal strength indicators, respectively. |
| US08401504B2 |
Extended range RMS-DC converter
Described herein is technology for, among other things, reducing offset errors in RMS-to-DC converters. The technology involves generating first and second feedback signals with first and second feedback paths respectively. A multiplier is then employed to receive first and second signals and provide a third signal based on multiplying the first signal and the second signal. The first signal is based on an input signal and the first feedback signal, and the second signal is based on the input signal and the second feedback signal. A chopper is then employed to receive an output signal, which is based on the third signal, and a chopping signal, and in turn provide a fourth signal based on multiplying the output signal with the chopping signal. As a consequence, the fourth signal represents the output signal shifted to a frequency different than that of low-frequency noise components of the first and second signals. |
| US08401497B2 |
Configurable RF sections for receiver and transmitter and methods for use therewith
A transceiver includes an RF receiver section having a plurality of RF receiver stages configured in parallel, and a configurable RF transmitter section. The plurality of RF receiver stages are selectively enabled in response to a control signal. The configurable RF transmitter section is configured to operate in one of: a mixed signal mode of operation and a phase modulation mode of operation, in response to the control signal. |
| US08401495B2 |
High-frequency module and communication apparatus using the module
A high-frequency module has a configuration in which a diplexer is capable of separating the frequency bands of first and second communication systems from the frequency band of a third communication system, a first high-frequency switch is capable of separating a transmission signal of the first or second communication system from a reception signal thereof, a second high-frequency switch is capable of separating a transmission signal of the third communication system from a reception signal thereof, and a third high-frequency switch is capable of separating the reception signal of the first communication system from the reception signal of the second communication system. A reception-signal output port for the second communication system of the high-frequency module is terminated with a chip capacitor to configure the double-band high-frequency module supporting the first and third communication systems. |
| US08401494B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and system employing the same apparatuses and method for controlling a plurality of the same apparatuses
At least two or more wireless communication apparatuses of the present invention are located adjacent or separately in a relatively confined area. The output portion of any one currently used wireless communication apparatus of the wireless communication apparatuses is connected to the input portion of each of the other standby wireless communication apparatus. While a radio signal is transmitted from the transmitter of the currently used wireless communication apparatus, a reception limit signal is transmitted from the output portion of the currently used apparatus to the respective input portion of each of the nearby standby apparatuses so that the reception ability of the receiver of the standby apparatus is effectively limited. |
| US08401493B2 |
Frequency synthesizer and related method for generating wideband signals
A frequency synthesizer includes a phase-locked loop circuit having an output. A frequency divider is connected to the output of the phase-locked loop circuit for receiving the signal therefrom and dividing the frequency of the signal. A tunable bandpass filter is connected to the frequency divider and is tuned for selecting a harmonic frequency to obtain a fractional frequency division for a signal output from the phase-locked loop circuit. |
| US08401490B2 |
Information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes: a wireless communication module which performs a wireless communication with a counterpart apparatus; a memory which stores a first application and a plurality of second applications, the first application for performing data communication with the counterpart apparatus through the wireless communication, and the second applications placed in a higher level than the first application; a controller which activates one of the second applications for the counterpart apparatus; and an indicator which makes an indication according to the wireless communication. The controller determines whether the activated one of the second applications is accessible the indicator. The controller controls the indicator by executing the activated second application when the controller determines that the second application is accessible the indicator, and controls the indicator by executing the first application when the controller determines that the second application is not accessible the indicator. |
| US08401486B2 |
Wireless base station equipment and monitoring control method
Wireless base station equipment including a plurality of amplifiers and modulation and demodulation equipment having a monitoring control link with each of the plurality of amplifiers. The modulation and demodulation equipment terminates communications with the plurality of amplifiers and performs a monitoring control of each of the plurality of amplifiers. Each of the of amplifiers includes a plurality of cards as respective functional sections and a transmission and reception-integrated section that collects transmission and reception signals input to and output from each of the plurality of cards and terminates communication with the modulation and demodulation equipment. The modulation and demodulation equipment obtains, from a transmission and reception-integrated section of a corresponding amplifier via a monitoring control link with the corresponding amplifier, information related to the corresponding amplifier. The modulation and demodulation equipment performs the monitoring control based on the obtained information. |
| US08401485B2 |
Calibration method and device in telecommunication system
A device system, computer medium and method for calibrating at least one impairment of a signal transmitted from a transmitting unit to a receiving unit, the method including receiving at the receiving unit at least two signals transmitted from the transmitting unit, estimating at the receiving unit, based on the received at least two signals, at least one parameter associated with transmit chain links between the transmitting unit and corresponding antennas of the transmitting unit, collecting the at least one parameter in a measurement report at the receiving unit, and transmitting the measurement report from the receiving unit for correcting the at least one impairment based on the at least one parameter. |
| US08401480B2 |
Method for performing CoMP operation and transmitting feedback information in a wireless communication system
A method for performing a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) operation and transmitting feedback information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes measuring interference levels or noise and interference variances of reference signals received from one or more neighbor cells, and transmitting to a serving Base Station (BS) information about the measured interference levels or noise and interference variances, and information about a Precoding Matrix Index (PMI) that a mobile station (MS) wants to restrict or recommend for a neighbor cell performing the CoMP operation. |
| US08401479B2 |
Managing interference from femtocells
A system and method for minimizing interference for mobile devices in a communication network that includes a macrocell base station and a femtocell having a base station. The method receives initialization data on a backhaul connection between the femtocell base station and the macrocell base station, and uses that data to configure the femtocell base station transmitting power. The method receives a user equipment identifier from a macrocell user equipment in the communication network, and determines whether the macrocell user equipment is authorized. If authorized, the macrocell user equipment is granted access to the femtocell base station. If unauthorized, user equipment information for the macrocell user equipment received on the backhaul connection is used to adjust the femtocell base station transmitting power to minimize the interference for mobile devices. |
| US08401475B2 |
Data communication and object localization using inductive coupling
An apparatus and method are disclosed for a software and hardware configuration that uses inductive coupling to allow a physical object to determine information describing another physical object. An inductor capacitor circuit acts as a transmitter as well as a receiver of inductive field. A voltage signal provided to an inductor in an object causes the inductor to generate inductive field received by another inductor in a second object. An object receiving inductive field from another object analyzes the inductive field to receive arbitrary data, including but not limited to data that can allow the receiving object to determine the identity of the object transmitting the inductive field. The object receiving the inductive field can also determine the distance between the receiving object and the transmitting object based on the strength of a signal generated by the inductive field. |
| US08401474B2 |
Method and device for managing application data in an NFC system
A method for managing application data in an NFC system embedded or to be embedded in a portable object and including a contactless data sending/receiving interface, one or more host processors, and a data routing or transferring processor is described. The method includes generating internal application data in response to the occurrence of an internal event within the NFC system, and supplying the internal application data to a host processor of the NFC system. |
| US08401472B2 |
Method of guiding a user in an environment, particularly in a building
A method of guiding a user in an environment particularly in a building, utilizes at least one first communications unit communicating data to a mobile second communications unit carried by the user. The first communications unit transmits a contact signal within a predetermined range for establishing contact with the second communications unit. If the second communications unit is located within the range and receives the contact signal, contact is established between the first communications and the second communications unit. In order to enable guidance of the user through the environment by means of the second communications unit, data are communicated from the first communications unit to the second communications unit. |
| US08401471B2 |
Large band inductive antenna for contactless communication systems
Signal transmission and/or reception device, by contactless inductive coupling comprising at least one structure forming one or several antennas, said structure comprising a plurality of conducting links (102, 106) in at least two parallel and distinct planes, a first plurality of said conducting links forming a first conducting circuit (104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) through which a current (I1) will circulate, and a second plurality of said conducting links forms at least one second conducting circuit (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608, 708), distinct from said first circuit, and through which a current (I2) will circulate, the links being arranged such that the coefficient coupling between pairs of said circuits is zero or at least less than 5% or less than 1%. |
| US08401467B2 |
Flexible coverage areas for return link signals in a spot beam satellite communication system
Conventional spot beam satellites receive return uplink beam signals that each correspond to a separate and unique return downlink beam. An embodiment of the invention allows flexible coverage areas by selectively attenuating and combining multiple return uplink beam signals and transmitting them on a single beam to a gateway terminal. This allows uplink capacity to be dynamically allocated amongst different uplink signals. Offered load in different beams can be predicted and used to set the attenuation values appropriately and the attenuation values may also be controlled remotely. |
| US08401466B2 |
Scalable high speed MIMO-satellite communication system
This invention provides satellite communication systems and methods that employ a satellite in MIMO communication with a geographically-distributed array of ground nodes. In an embodiment, the satellite communication system includes a MIMO satellite configured to receive first information at a higher bandwidth, process the first information into lower bandwidth signals, and relay the lower bandwidth signals using a satellite communication link. The geographically-separated ground nodes receive the lower bandwidth signals and transmit terrestrial signals using high-speed communication links. A central processing node receives the terrestrial signals over the high-speed communication links and combines the terrestrial signals to obtain the higher data rate signals. |
| US08401464B2 |
Method and system for a wireless multi-hop relay network
In a wireless multi-hop relay network arranged in a tree topology, the base station and one or more relay stations are associated as a virtual base station (VBS). The base station and each relay station have a unique virtual base station identifier (VBS-ID) associated with the path defined by the base station and the one or more relay stations. a relay station in the branch uses its VBS-ID for communicating with an attached subscriber station (e.g. a mobile station) such that communications between the base station and subscriber station occur via the VBS. Subscriber station data communications are relayed between the base station and the one or more relay stations over the VBS via a tunnel connection. The VBS is autoconfigurable. Mobility for subscriber stations and relay stations is provided through reconfiguration of VBS's. |
| US08401459B2 |
Image-forming device
An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit. |
| US08401457B2 |
Duplex image forming apparatus with a single drive source
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a printing medium; a discharging roller capable of transporting the printing medium which passes through the image forming unit in forward and reverse directions; a driving source to supply a rotation driving force in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to the discharging roller and the image forming unit; a duplex roller to transport the printing medium towards the image forming unit, which was transported in the reverse direction by the discharging roller; and a swing gear unit to receive the rotation driving force in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions to transmit a driving force to the duplex roller in a uniform direction. |
| US08401456B2 |
Medium holding apparatus and image forming apparatus that employs the medium holding apparatus
A medium holding apparatus detachably is attached to a medium feeding section of an image forming apparatus. A supporting section supports the medium thereon. A side guide is mounted to the supporting section. The side guide extends in a direction parallel to a first direction in which the medium is advanced to the medium feeding section, and is movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The side guide abuts the side edge of the medium to guide the medium toward the medium feeding section. A guide unit is mounted to the supporting section, and holds the medium in a gently curved position. When the medium is fed to the image forming apparatus, the guide unit guides the medium to the supporting section. |
| US08401455B2 |
Space efficient multi-sheet buffer module and modular printing system
Disclosed are a sheet buffer module and a printing system incorporating the buffer module. The buffer module has parallel first and second sheet transport paths that extend in opposite directions across a frame. Sheet buffer paths connect the first sheet transport path to the second sheet transport path. In operation, a stream of sheets is fed by the first sheet transport path from a multi-color printing module to a monochrome printing module. During this process, selected sheets are diverted from the stream into the sheet buffer paths and held. After processing by the monochrome printing module, the stream is fed by the second sheet transport path back to the multi-color printing module for further processing and/or final output. During this process, the sheet buffer paths feed the buffered sheets into the second sheet transport path such that they are inserted at the proper locations back into the stream. |
| US08401452B2 |
Fixing device with gloss control unit and image forming apparatus
A fixing device including a fixing unit that fixes a toner image on a recording material by application of heat and pressure, and a glossing unit that controls a gloss of the toner image fixed on the recording material. The glossing unit includes a heating roller, an endless belt stretched taut over multiple rollers including the heating roller, a pressing roller pressed against the heating roller with the endless belt therebetween to form a nip therebetween, and a separating member that separates the recording material from the endless belt downstream from the nip. The multiple rollers are positioned to maintain the recording material in contact with the endless belt for a predetermined distance downstream from the nip. The separating member is movable along the endless belt downstream from the nip, to control a length of contact between the recording material and the endless belt. |
| US08401450B2 |
Pressing member and image heating member using the pressing member
A pressing member for creating a nip in which the pressing member contacts a heating member and a recording material is heated while being nip-conveyed, includes an elastic layer and a high thermal conductive elastic layer, which is provided on the elastic layer and has a thermal conductivity which is higher than that of the elastic layer. In the high thermal conductive elastic layer, carbon fibers and carbon nanofibers are dispersed in a heat-resistant elastic material. |
| US08401447B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing apparatus having: a heating section and a pressing section that forms a fixing-nip portion by being in pressure contact with the heating section, wherein at least one of the heating section and the pressing section having: an endless fixing belt that is trained about a plurality of rollers, a pressure applying member that causes the fixing belt to be in pressure contact with a side of the fixing-nip portion from an inner circumferential surface thereof, and a lubricant supplying member that supplies lubricant to the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt; and a supplying amount change section that changes a supplying amount of the lubricant by the lubricant supplying member based on an amount used coming from a part replacement of at least one of the fixing belt, the pressure applying member and the lubricant supplying member. |
| US08401446B2 |
Variable pressure transfer assist blade
A printing apparatus and method include a charging device positioned adjacent a photoreceptor that places a latent image charge on the photoreceptor. A donor device is adjacent the photoreceptor, and transfers marking material to regions of the photoreceptor that have received the latent image charge. In addition, a media path that is adjacent the photoreceptor causes at least one sheet of media to be placed on the photoreceptor and the marking material. A transfer assist blade that is also adjacent the photoreceptor, presses the sheet of media against the photoreceptor to cause the marking material to be transferred to the sheet of media. The apparatus also includes a controller that is operatively connected to the transfer assist blade. The controller causes the transfer assist blade to apply more pressure to leading and trailing portions of the sheet of media relative to the middle portion of the sheet of media. |
| US08401444B2 |
Developing roller comprising surface layer containing water-dispersible silica and/or aqueous silicone acrylic graft polymer
A developing roller which shows an excellent environmental performance and is free from occurrence of toner filming and toner leakage is provided. The developing roller 10 comprises a shaft 1, an elastic layer 2 supported on the outer periphery of the shaft 1, and a single surface layer 3 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 2. The elastic layer 2 comprises a polyurethane foam and the surface layer 3 comprises an aqueous polyurethane resin as a major component and further a water-dispersible silica and/or an aqueous silicone acrylic graft polymer. As the aqueous polyurethane resin, a UV curing resin may be preferably used. |
| US08401442B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus, developing apparatus, and coupling member
A developing device used with an image forming apparatus has a driving shaft with a rotating force applying portion, and a movable member on which the developing device is mountable. The developing device includes a developing roller and a coupling member for transmitting a rotating force to the developing roller. The coupling member includes a rotating force receiving portion and a rotating force transmitting portion for transmitting a force received through the rotating force receiving portion to the developing roller. The coupling member can be in a rotational force transmitting angular position, a pre-engagement angular position, and a disengaging angular position. In response to movement of the movable member the coupling member moves from the pre-engagement angular position to the rotational force transmitting angular position, and by moving from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position the coupling member is disengaged from the driving shaft. |
| US08401432B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developing tank for containing a powder developer, an agitating member disposed in the developing tank to agitate the powder developer; and a cooling tank attached to the developing tank. The cooling tank contains an endothermic material to absorb heat from the powder developer. |
| US08401429B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having a driving roller, a driven roller, a driving roller gear; and a belt which is looped around the driving roller and the driven roller; a belt driving gear which is engaged with the driving roller gear; a photosensitive drum which contacts the belt; and a positioning section which contacts a portion of the belt unit to position the belt unit with respect to a moving direction of the belt. The positioning section contacts the portion of the belt unit in a direction of receiving a force with which the photosensitive drum is pressing the belt unit. The belt driving gear is engaged with the driving roller gear such that a force pressing the belt unit from the belt driving gear via the driving roller gear presses the belt unit against the positioning section. |
| US08401427B2 |
Image forming device with drawer
An image forming device includes: a main body; a plurality of image forming units; a holding unit; and an engagement mechanism. Each of the plurality of image forming units has a developing portion. The holding unit holds the plurality of image forming units. The plurality of image forming units are aligned in the holding unit in a predetermined drawing direction. The holding unit is configured so as to be drawn out in the predetermined drawing direction from a storage position where the holding unit is stored in the main body. The holding unit sequentially reaches a plurality of different drawing positions while moving in the predetermined drawing direction. The plurality of image forming units are sequentially exposed to the outside while the holding unit sequentially reaches the plurality of drawing positions. The engagement mechanism is configured to engage the holding unit with the main body when the holding unit reaches each of the plurality of drawing positions. |
| US08401425B2 |
Charging member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided is a charging member capable of suppressing adhesion of toner or the like to a surface. The charging member comprises: a support; an elastic layer; and a surface layer, and the surface layer contains a polymer having an Si—O—Sr bond and having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1) and a structural unit represented by the following formula (2). |
| US08401424B2 |
Process cartridge and assemblying, disassemblying remanufacturing method therefor
A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit, and a developing roller. The apparatus further comprises a developer supplying roller, and a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer. A developing unit is swingably coupled with the drum unit and supporting the developing roller, the developer supplying roller, and the developer accommodating portion. A first-end developing-device spacing member is provided rotatably about an axis of a shaft at a first end portion of the developing unit to limit rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit to maintain spacing between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A second-end developing-device spacing member is provided rotatably about an axis of a shaft at a second end portion of the developing unit to limit rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit to maintain spacing between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. |
| US08401419B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, in which a toner collection section is disposed in an air pathway between a ventilation duct and suction blower, and the toner collection section and a recovery container are connected via an opening and closing device, has a control device to control the opening and closing device to close the opening and closing device when the suction blower is suctioning air and to open the opening and closing device so that the recovery container recovers the toner collected by the toner collection section after the suction blower is stopped. |
| US08401414B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible endless fixing member rotates in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first heat generator faces an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member. A second heat generator faces the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member, and is disposed adjacent to the first heat generator along the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member. |
| US08401411B2 |
Image forming apparatus and printing control method
An image forming apparatus having a printing section loaded with a first toner group, and a second toner group having a higher chroma value than the first toner group; and a control section which is configured to: convert color information of each part of an image based on image data specified by a print job into values in a prescribed color space; make a first judgment of a toner group proper to the image by comparing the values in the prescribed color space with color reproducible range of previously registered each toner group; make a second judgment of the toner group proper to a recording sheet and/or a printing condition which being specified by the print job, by referring to previously stored correlation information; and determine the toner group to be used for printing the image, based on results of the first and second judgments. |
| US08401410B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to cause an image forming unit to form an adjustment image on an image bearing member, and a detection unit configured to detect the adjustment image, wherein the control unit controls gradation for forming an image by the image forming unit based on a detection result provided by the detection unit, and wherein, when causing the image forming unit to form a first adjustment image on the image bearing member at a photosensitive member and to subsequently form a second adjustment image that is different from the first adjustment image, the control unit causes the image forming unit to form the second adjustment image at a position different from a position for forming the first adjustment image in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive member. |
| US08401409B2 |
Method and arrangement for inking up an applicator element of an electrophotographic printer or copier
In a method or system for generation of a toner image layer with a preset layer thickness on a surface of a photoconductor, the two-component mixture of electrically charged toner particles and carrier particles is directed on an auto-surface of a roller adjacent a surface of an applicator element to be inked. At least a portion of the toner particles is transferred onto the surface of the applicator element. An electrical field is generated that exerts at least one force on a portion of the electrically charged toner particles between the roller and the applicator element. A strength of the electrical field is varied to adjust a layer thickness of a layer of the toner particles transferred onto the surface of the applicator element and thus to adjust a thickness of the toner image layer on the photoconductor. A measurement arrangement detects a thickness of at least one region of the toner image layer inked on the surface of the photoconductor as a real value. The determined real value is compared with a desired value determined by a preset layer thickness, and a strength of the electrical field is controlled dependent on a deviation of the determined real value from the desired value. |
| US08401407B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for testing connection of a voltage line for applying voltage to the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an attachment unit configured to receive at least one voltage and being replaceable with a test tool, a controller for controlling operation of a plurality of voltage generating circuits, a current detecting section and a deciding section. The controller is configured to control a first voltage generating circuit so as to generate a test voltage and so as to apply the test voltage through a first voltage line, the test tool, and a second voltage line to a second voltage generating circuit. The deciding section is configured to, upon a detection current corresponding to the applied test voltage and detected by the current detecting section being equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, decide that the predetermined voltages are to be normally applied through the respective first and second voltage lines to the attachment unit. |
| US08401405B2 |
Monolithic widely-tunable coherent receiver
Various embodiments of a coherent receiver including a widely tunable local oscillator laser are described herein. In some embodiments, the coherent receiver can be integrated with waveguides, optical splitters and detectors to form a monolithic optical hetero/homodyne receiver. In some embodiments, the coherent receiver can demodulate the full phase information in two polarizations of a received optical signal over a range of optical wavelengths. |
| US08401399B2 |
Chip-based advanced modulation format transmitter
In various embodiments, a monolithic integrated transmitter, comprising an on-chip laser source and a modulator structure capable of generating advanced modulation format signals based on amplitude and phase modulation are described. |
| US08401397B2 |
Optical reception device, optical receiving method, and optical transmission apparatus
An optical reception device is provided. The optical reception device includes a filtering unit that receives input light of predetermined power, filters the input light by use of filter characteristics where the degree of attenuation of the power of an optical signal of predetermined frequency is lower than the degree of attenuation of the power of an optical signal of another frequency, and supplies an output light; and a determining unit that compares a value relevant to the power of the output light supplied by the filtering unit, with a threshold, and determines whether the input light contains signal light. |
| US08401396B2 |
Optical communication module and method for using the same
An optical communication module includes an optical package including at least one semiconductor optical device, an optical filter for reflecting light of a specific wavelength and transmitting light of an other wavelength, an optical block including a transparent material and the optical filter, a housing that houses the optical package and the optical block, an in-housing circuit board housed in the housing and mounting a peripheral electrical circuit for the optical package thereon, and an electrical connector electrically connected to the in-housing circuit board and exposed at a bottom surface of the housing. The optical block further includes a front lens portion at a front side face of the housing, a rear lens portion at a rear side face of the housing, a light inputting port, and a light outputting port. The optical filter is arranged to obliquely intersect with an optical axis passing through the front lens portion and the rear lens portion at a predetermined angle. The optical package is arranged such that an optical axis between the optical filter and the optical package is substantially orthogonal to an optical axis between the front lens portion and the optical filter. |
| US08401395B2 |
Free space optics broadband home network
A system comprises a transmitter including a laser configured to generate a laser beam directed at a spot on a surface, and a laser driver connected to the laser and configured to modulate input data onto the laser beam. The system may further comprise a receiver including an optical detector configured to decode received light into raw data, a signal processor configured to decode the raw data into the original input data, and telescope optics configured to receive light reflected from the spot on the surface, collimate the light and converge the light onto the optical detector. |
| US08401394B2 |
Method for non-flutter transmission of digital data in a free-space optical transmission system
In a method for transmission of digital data in an optical free-space transmission system in which a binary code sequence produced from the digital data is used to transmit amplitude-modulated light waves across an optical free space between a transmitter and a receiver, according to a first aspect, the binary code sequence is produced such that a modulation frequency of the light waves determined by the binary code sequence has a value of 70 Hertz. According to a second aspect, ‘t’ light waves are modulated with the binary code sequence and binary data are transmitted in blocks during a first time period, and non-modulated light waves are emitted during second time periods, wherein the light intensities of the time periods are selected so that the quantities of light transmitted in two periods correspond to predetermined quantities of light. |
| US08401389B2 |
Method and system for compensating for optical dispersion in an optical signal
A method for compensating for optical dispersion includes receiving an optical signal at a first node of an optical network that includes a first set of channels and a second set of channels that are each configured to be received using coherent digital receivers at a second node of the optical network. Each coherent digital receiver provides electronic dispersion compensation for the received channel at the second node. The method also includes forwarding the first set of channels from the first node without performing optical dispersion compensation on those channels. Furthermore, the method includes compensating for optical dispersion in the second set of channels at the first optical node and forwarding those channels from the first node. The optical dispersion compensation on the second set of channels at the first node provides dispersion compensation in addition to the compensation provided by the associated coherent digital receivers at the second node. |
| US08401381B2 |
Stereo camera platform and stereo camera
A platform for a stereographic camera system, a stereographic camera, and a method for operating a stereographic camera. The platform may include a base and a fixed camera mounting plate attached to the base, the fixed camera mounting plate defining a line of sight. A first linear motion mechanism mounted to the base may be configured to adjust a first distance, normal to the line of sight, between the line of sight and a first rotation axis. A second linear motion mechanism mounted to the base may be configured to adjust a second distance, normal to the line of sight, between the line of sight and a second rotation axis. A movable camera mounting plate may be rotatably coupled to the first linear motion mechanism at a first rotation axis and rotatably coupled to the second linear motion mechanism at a second rotation axis. |
| US08401380B2 |
Stereo camera with preset modes
A stereographic camera and a method of operating a stereographic camera are disclosed. The stereographic camera may include a left camera and a right camera having respective lenses and an interface for receiving a selection of a selected preset operating mode from a plurality of preset operating modes. A preset parameter memory may store a plurality of preset parameter sets, each of the plurality of preset parameter sets associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of preset operating modes, each of the plurality of preset parameters sets including an assumed minimum object distance and an assumed extreme object distance. An interocular distance mechanism may set an interocular distance between the left camera and the right camera based on, at least in part, the assumed minimum object distance and the assumed extreme object distance associated with the selected operating mode. |
| US08401377B2 |
Method and system for portable video display
A portable video display system (PVDS) provides convenience of presenting video data to users in a variety of situations, such as while the users may be traveling. A PVDS can store video data through removable and/or installed memory, including a disc, and present the video through a video display, providing an autonomous video storage and display system that is portable such that users may experience video presentations conveniently under many circumstances. Common applications include use while a user is traveling, commuting, on vacation, and present in other places and situations where portable entertainment is desired. A PVDS may be used with headphones to increase privacy and minimize disturbance to others nearby while PVDS is in use. A PVDS may also have the ability to present other media data such as image data and/or audio data. |
| US08401373B2 |
Broadcast program reservation apparatus, broadcast program reservation method, and program thereof
A broadcast program reservation apparatus is disclosed. The broadcast program reservation apparatus may include a reception unit, a reservation unit, and a determination unit. The reception unit may receive a broadcast program and electronic program information. The reservation unit may execute a reserve-recording process of recording the program based on the electronic program information which has been received. The determination unit may determine whether or not a reservation candidate program as a candidate of the program is caused to be reserve-recorded by the reservation unit corresponding to a plurality of broadcast patterns of the program in a predetermined time period. |
| US08401369B2 |
Reproducer, program, and reproducing method
When a plurality of AVClips recorded on a BD-ROM and Local Storage 18 constitute one stream sequence, a Playback Control Engine 32 starts playback if at least one AVClip of the stream sequence is in an enable status, even when the stream sequence also includes an AVClip which is in a disable status. While one AVClip is being played back, a Virtual FileSystem unit 38 changes a remaining AVClip to the enable status of being recognizable by the Playback Control Engine 32 or the disable status of being unrecognizable by the Playback Control Engine 32, according to a method call by an application. |
| US08401367B2 |
Method for generating additional information for guaranteeing seamless playback between data streams, recording medium storing the information, and recording, editing and/or playback apparatus using the same
A method for generating additional information for guaranteeing seamless playback of data streams, a recording medium for storing the information, and recording, editing and/or playback apparatus using the same are provided. The method generates additional information for guaranteeing seamless playback. The method includes a step of generating data stream information for each of two or more data streams, which includes packet data to which information on an arrival time of the respective packet data is added. The data stream information includes seamless playback information, which indicates whether a corresponding data stream is to be seamlessly reproduced after playback of a preceding data stream, and/or seamless time control information for controlling an output time of the corresponding data stream to be seamlessly reproduced. Therefore, data streams can be seamlessly reproduced without interruption between the data streams, by using data stream information which includes seamless information and/or seamless time control information including reference time, an offset value and/or a gap length value. Especially, by using the information structure, even if data streams are edited, the data streams can be seamlessly reproduced in such a simple manner of just modifying data stream information, instead of directly rewriting or modifying arrival time information which is added to packet data. |
| US08401365B2 |
Recording apparatus, imaging and recording apparatus, recording method, and program
Disclosed herein is a recording apparatus including: an input section configured to input or generate main data and added data thereof; and a recording control section configured such that when the main data and the added data input or generated by the input section have each reached a predetermined data amount, the recording control section temporarily stores the main data and the added data in units of the predetermined data amount, that when the sum of the temporarily stored data has reached a specific write data unit, the recording control section transfers the temporarily stored data to recording media for recording thereto, and that when the amount of the temporarily stored data is less than that of the specific write data unit upon elapse of a predetermined time period since the most recent recording, the recording control section transfers the temporarily stored data to the recording media for recording thereto. |
| US08401364B2 |
Imaging device and playback device
The imaging device is provided with at least one imaging part to obtain images through shooting and at least one sound-collection part to obtain audio, collecting it together with the shooting of the imaging part, and at least one display part to display images. It performs audio-correction processing of audio obtained through the sound-collection part according to the relative relationship between the direction in which the display part displays images and the direction in which the imaging part shoots. |
| US08401361B2 |
Information recording and reproducing apparatus and method using menu of face images included in recording information
A signal processing portion successively accepts frames of images from video information recorded on a recording medium acting as a dubbing source. The medium is one of a hard disc drive and a disc medium. Then, the processing portion recognizes face images from the frames of image, displays the recognized face images on the screen of an LCD, registers face images selected from the displayed face images in response to a manipulation of control buttons, creates thumbnail images from images which are included in the registered face images and which have appeared at ratios in excess of 70%, extracts images including the thumbnail images from the recording medium acting as the dubbing source, and dubs the extracted images onto the recording medium acting as a dubbing destination. |
| US08401360B2 |
Apparatus and associated methodology for generating a picture-in-picture display from two video screens
A reproducing apparatus simultaneously reproduces a first video signal and a second video signal reproduced at any timing against the first video signal. A first (second) converting section outputs the first (second) video signal having a first frame frequency alternately for three successive frames and two successive frames to convert the first (second) video signal having the first frame frequency into the video signal having a second frame frequency. They have a relationship of 2 to 5. A controlling section performs control such that timing at which a field group of the three successive frames of the first video signal having the second frame signal is changed to a field group of the two successive frames thereof matches timing at which a field group of the three successive frames of the second video signal having the second frame signal is changed to a field group of the two successive frames thereof. |
| US08401359B2 |
Video receiving apparatus and video receiving method
A video receiving apparatus having an input terminal to receive pixel-based video data transmitted with pixel clock synchronized with the video data is provided. The video receiving apparatus may include a separation unit, an information acquisition unit, and a determination unit. The separation unit may be configured to separate auxiliary data added to the video data from the video data obtained at the input terminal. The information acquisition unit may be configured to acquire information on the number of horizontal pixels and the number of vertical pixels for the input video data from the auxiliary data separated at the separation unit. The determination unit may be configured to determine a type of the input video data based on the information on the number of horizontal pixels and the number of vertical pixels that is obtained at the information acquisition unit. |
| US08401346B2 |
Methods of making and using an apparatus and devices for placing light and sample in photo-emitting or absorbing device
The present invention relates to a device having an optical fiber coupled to a high pressure containment vessel and a method for making the same. The high pressure containment vessel can be an optical fiber based flow cell for a chromatography system. |
| US08401345B2 |
Optical modulator with three-dimensional waveguide tapers
An integrated circuit that includes an optical waveguide defined in a semiconductor layer is described. In this integrated circuit, light is coupled between the optical waveguide and an optical modulator, which is disposed on the optical waveguide, using 3-dimensional (3-D) taper structures that are proximate to the ends of the optical modulator. The cross-sectional areas of these 3-D taper structures transition, over a distance, from that of the optical waveguide (distal from the optical modulator) to that of optical modulator (proximate to the ends of the optical modulator). In this way, a spatial extent of an optical mode in the optical waveguide and a spatial extent of the optical mode in the optical modulator may be approximately matched to reduce the optical loss when the light is coupled to or from the optical modulator. |
| US08401341B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method, and storage medium for generating a magnified image by synthesizing structure and texture
An imaging apparatus has an intermediate image generating section to generate a second structure component and a second texture component by magnifying each of a first structure component and a first texture component separated from an original image by an intermediate magnification ratio. The second structure component and the second texture component are synthesized to generate an intermediately magnified image. A final image generating section generates a finally magnified image by synthesizing a finally magnified structure component generated by magnifying a third structure component separated from the intermediately magnified image by a final magnification ratio, and a finally magnified texture component generated by magnifying the first texture component by the final magnification ratio. |
| US08401339B1 |
Apparatus for partitioning and processing a digital image using two or more defined regions
Apparatus for partitioning a digital image into multiple regions where each of the multiple regions is defined using a portion of the digital image and is specified using a width and a height. In addition, neighboring pixels for each of the multiple regions are defined as margins and may contain pixels that are part of the digital image and/or newly generated pixels by using various techniques such as on the fly generation or using a predetermined process for data generation, e.g. replication. Each of the multiple regions is combined with its margin pixels to create a new quadrilateral digital image that is completely processed and/or scaled. The appropriate portion of the processed quadrilateral digital image is displayed using a display region of an electronic display panel, or monitor, having multiple display regions. The concatenation of the images displayed using each display region faithfully reproduce the original digital image. |
| US08401337B2 |
Registration of separations
Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation. |
| US08401336B2 |
System and method for rapid image sequence depth enhancement with augmented computer-generated elements
Motion picture scenes to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D->3D) are broken into separate elements, backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined into composite frame which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting/reshaping. Colors and/or depths are automatically applied to masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects. Areas never exposed by motion or foreground objects in a series of images may be partially or fully realistically drawn or rendered and applied to the occluded areas of the background and then automatically applied throughout the images to generate of minimal artifact or artifact-free secondary viewpoints when translating foreground objects horizontally during 2D->3D conversion. |
| US08401335B2 |
Method for outputting consecutive characters in video-recording mode
The invention discloses a method for outputting consecutive characters in a video-recording mode. The method includes obtaining a first image and a second image from an object, comparing the first image and the second image to obtain a third image which is the overlapping part of the first image and the second image, removing the third image from the second image to generate a fourth image, integrating the fourth image with the first image to obtain a fifth image and recognize characters on the fifth image by OCR software and output the characters of the fifth image. |
| US08401332B2 |
Optical pattern recognition technique
Disclosed is a distortion invariant system, method and computer readable medium for detecting the presence of one or more predefined targets in an input image. The input image and a synthetic discriminant function (SDF) reference image are correlated in a shift phase-encoded fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation (SPFJTC) correlator yielding a correlation output. A peak-to-clutter ratio (PCR) is determined for the correlation output and compared to a threshold value. A predefined target is present in the input image when the PCR is greater than or equal to the threshold value. |
| US08401331B2 |
Video quality analysis using a linear approximation technique
A video analysis technique includes correlating frames from a processed video with frames from a pre-processed, original video. A linear approximation of a relationship between the correlated frames is determined. A disclosed example includes determining a linear approximation that maximizes the number of processed video frames that fit into the linear approximation. The linear approximation and whether any frames do not fit within the linear approximation is then used to provide quality information for analyzing a quality of the processed video. |
| US08401329B2 |
Image processing device, display device and image processing method, and its program
To provide an image processing device, a method and its program, and a display device capable of properly performing gray-scale extension processing with low costs. An image processing device including a detection unit 11 that detects a gray-scale correction application area that is an area where a gray-scale variation should be smoothed in a pixel row of an input digital image signal by successively scanning a pixel row of the digital signal, and an extension correction unit 12 that performs gray-scale correction processing on a gray-scale correction application area detected by the detection unit 11, wherein in the detection unit 11, an output pixel row on which gray-scale correction processing was performed is fed back to and used as an input signal to the detection unit 11, and a gray-scale correction application area is detected by comparing an adjacent gray-scale difference of an input image signal with an adjacent gray-scale difference of the fed-back output pixel row. |
| US08401325B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and computer program for core line modification of a thinning figure in an image process
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a thinning process unit which extracts a core line by applying a thinning process; a line width estimation unit which estimates an original line width of each pixel of the core line; a core line division unit which divides the core line; a monospaced line determination unit which determines, based on line width information, whether or not each of core lines divided by the core line division unit is a monospaced line; a connection relation information generation unit which generates connection relation information with another core line in association with each of the core lines; and a core line modification unit which modifies the core lines, based on pieces of line width information of core line pixels, a monospaced line determination result, and pieces of connection relation information generated. |
| US08401324B2 |
Visual processing apparatus, visual processing method, program, recording medium, display device, and integrated circuit
It is possible to inhibit side effects even when an image that has sharp edge regions has been input, using a spatial processing portion (10) outputting surrounding image information US from an input image signal, a control signal generation portion (40) outputting an effect adjustment signal MOD according to a degree of flatness of an edge proximal region, and an effect adjustment portion (20) outputting a synthesized signal MUS that is synthesized by changing a ratio of the image signal IS and the surrounding image information US according to the effect adjustment signal MOD. Further, the side effects are inhibited using a visual processing portion (30) visually processing the image signal IS based on the synthesized signal MUS and the image signal IS. |
| US08401317B2 |
Method and apparatus for image data processing
An image data processing apparatus includes an encoding unit, a storage unit, a decoding unit and a Digital-to-Analog (D/A) converter. The encoding unit receives image data, compares (2n−1)th pixel data with (2n)th pixel data, and creates a header value, an encoding value and a reference value, which are used to encode the pixel data. The storage unit is connected to the encoding unit, and stores the header value, the encoding value and the reference value, which are created by the encoding unit. The decoding unit is connected to the storage unit, and restores the (2n−1)th pixel data and the (2n)th pixel data using the header value, the encoding value and the reference value. The D/A converter is connected to the decoding unit, converts the restored image data into analog signals, and outputs the analog signals. |
| US08401316B2 |
Method and apparatus for block-based compression of light-field images
A method and apparatus for the block-based compression of light-field images. Light-field images may be preprocessed by a preprocessing module into a format that is compatible with the blocking scheme of a block-based compression technique, for example JPEG. The compression technique is then used to compress the preprocessed light-field images. The light-field preprocessing module reshapes the angular data in a captured light-field image into shapes compatible with the blocking scheme of the compression technique so that blocking artifacts of block-based compression are not introduced in the final compressed image. Embodiments may produce compressed 2D images for which no specific light-field image viewer is needed to preview the full light-field image. Full light-field information is contained in one compressed 2D image. |
| US08401312B2 |
Method and a system for organizing an image database
Method for organizing a set of images into subsets of images, the method including the following procedures producing a respective model according to a plurality of feature points and the geometric relations between the feature points for each of the images, determining a similarity index between each pair of the images, according to the respective model of each image of the pair of the images, producing a distance matrix, according to the similarity index between each pair of the images, producing a set of coordinates, according to the distance matrix and sorting the images in plurality of dimensions, according to the set of coordinates. |
| US08401310B2 |
Image comparing method, apparatus and program
Disclosed is an image comparing method for comparing plural first images and a second image, includes: converting the second image to generate a second numerical data; dividing each of plural first numerical data corresponding to the plural first images into plural parts, and dividing the second numerical data into plural parts; comparing a first part of the divided parts of the plural first numerical data and a first part of the divided parts of the second numerical data; outputting a first result, when the first part of the divided parts of the plural first numerical data satisfies a first condition; and comparing a second part of the divided parts of the plural first numerical data and a second part of the divided parts of the second numerical data, when the first part of the divided parts of the plural first numerical data satisfies a second condition. |
| US08401308B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
Disclosed herein an information processing device that compares an input image with a model image, the device including: a storage; an object feature point extractor; and a feature comparator. |
| US08401307B1 |
Determining celestial coordinates for an image
A plate solving methodology determines celestial coordinates of an image. Star locations are extracted from the image in terms of pixel coordinates. A group of four stars, referred to as a “test quad”, is identified. A signature for the test quad is generated. In one embodiment, this test signature is derived by determining the separations of the four stars in the test quad, normalized by the largest separation. In one embodiment, the signature also includes the sum of these normalized separations. A query is performed, using the generated signature, against a database of reference signatures for known groups of stars (referred to as “reference quads”). A geometric transform is determined, establishing the relationship between the test quad and a reference quad that matches within a specified tolerance. This geometric transform defines the celestial coordinates of the image. Additional verification steps can be performed to confirm the accuracy of the match. |
| US08401306B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method
An image processing apparatus includes a block background/foreground determination unit which determines, based on a block attribute and quantized color information, whether each connected area is a foreground or a background, a block background/foreground attribute determination unit which determines, based on the block attribute, the attribute of a connected area determined to be the foreground of the block and the attribute of a connected area determined to be the background of the block, and a block background/foreground attribute information recording unit which records and holds information of the attribute of the block and the attribute of each connected area. |
| US08401302B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus may include a feature quantity extraction unit configured to extract a feature quantity from an image, a setting unit configured to set setting information including a plurality of setting items used to perform processing upon the image so that a designated setting item can be changed among the setting items; and a recording unit configured to associate the setting information with a feature quantity of the image and record them. |
| US08401298B2 |
Storage medium storing character recognition program, character recognition method, and character recognition apparatus
A storage medium storing a character recognition program for causing a computer to execute a process, the process including comparing a structure of a target pattern regarded as one character with a structure of a one-character pattern stored in a storage section and determining whether the target pattern is a pattern including a plurality of characters, on the basis of a result of the comparing. |
| US08401297B1 |
Neuromorphic parallel processor
A neuromorphic parallel image processing approach that has five (5) functional layers. The first performs a frequency domain transform on the image data generating multiple scales and feature based representations which are independent of orientation. The second layer is populated with feature based representations. The third layer, an object class recognizer layer, are fused using a neuromorphic parallel processor. Fusion of multimodal data can achieve high confidence, biometric recognition. |
| US08401296B2 |
Image processing method for locating and recognizing barcodes in image frame, computer readable storage medium, and image processing apparatus
An image processing method of locating and recognizing barcodes in an image frame is applicable to an image processing apparatus. The method is to define plural scan tracks on the sample image frame, and the image processing apparatus searches for the section(s) possibly having the barcode, along each scan track. If the section(s) possibly having the barcode found on two neighboring scan tracks by the image processing apparatus is located at an approximate horizontal axis position, the image processing apparatus determines that a quadrilateral area defined by the two sections possibly having the barcode is an area possibly having the barcode. Therefore, the image processing apparatus can quickly locate and recognize the barcode area in the image frame. |
| US08401295B2 |
Pose estimation
In a pose estimation for estimating the pose of an object of pose estimation with respect to a reference surface that serves as a reference for estimating a pose, a data processing device: extracts pose parameters from a binarized image; identifies a combination of pose parameters for which the number of cross surfaces of parameter surfaces that accord with surface parameter formulas, which are numerical formulas for expressing a reference surface, is a maximum; finds a slope weighting for each of cross pixels, which are pixels on each candidate surface and which are pixels within a prescribed range, that is identified based on the angles of the tangent plane at the cross pixel and based on planes formed by each of the axes of parameter space; and identifies the significant candidate surface for which a number, which is the sum of slope weightings, is a maximum, as the actual surface that is the reference surface that actually exists in the image. |
| US08401291B2 |
Image processing that improves contrast in light and dark portions of an image
Provided is an image processing apparatus which includes a block histogram generation unit configured to calculate frequency of a pixel value in each block, divide a dynamic range, and generate a first histogram including “N” number of bins, a pixel histogram generation unit configured to calculate frequency of a target pixel in a block based on first histograms of the block including the target pixel and a block adjacent to the block including the target pixel, and generate a second histogram including “N” number of bins for each pixel, and an output value determination unit configured to generate a relation between the pixel value and an output value of the pixel value based on the second histogram so that a maximum cumulative frequency of the second histogram matches a maximum value of the output value, and calculate the output value based on the pixel value of the target pixel. |
| US08401287B2 |
Image processing apparatus and processing method thereof
In an image processing apparatus that processes image data in units of blocks, each block having a predetermined number of pixels, a number of pixels in the block whose pixel values are different is calculated. A predetermined pattern for the block is specified in accordance with the calculated number of pixels whose pixel values are different and the locations of the different pixels, and the image data is compressed by outputting the specified pattern and the pixel values of only the number of pixels whose pixel values are different. It is then determined whether the image data is composed of a single color based on the output pattern and the pixel values. |
| US08401285B1 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for controlling luminance of non-tissue objects within an image
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for controlling luminance of non-tissue objects within an image. A method may include determining one or more seed pixel values for an image. The method may further include determining, based at least in part on the one or more seed pixel values, one or more regions of the image that include non-tissue objects. The method may additionally include defining a mask comprising the determined one or more regions of the image. The method may also include calculating a mask pixel value based at least in part on a defined luminance value. The method may further include setting pixel values within the mask to the calculated mask pixel value. The method may additionally include causing masking of the image with the mask. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08401278B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Image retargeting is appropriately performed on stereo pair images composed of at least two images such as in three-dimensional displays. A path of connected pixels in first image data is calculated based on pixel gradient energy. Each pixel in second image data corresponding to each pixel in connected pixels in the first image data is calculated as an initial search point, based on the stereo correspondence relationship between the first image data and the second image data. Pixels that minimize energy between pixels of the first image data and pixels of the second image data in the proximity of the initial search point is calculated as a path of connected pixels in the second image data. A path of optimal connected pixels in the first image data is calculated using the energy. |
| US08401276B1 |
3-D reconstruction and registration
Generating three-dimensional information can include accessing multiple different images of an object taken by one or more cameras; selecting one of the accessed images as a reference image; identifying corresponding features between the reference image and one or more different ones of the accessed images; determining first camera pose information for each accessed image based on one or more of the corresponding features, each first camera pose information indicative of a relationship between an imaging device and the object; determining a first three-dimensional structure of the object based on first camera pose information of two of the accessed images; and generating a second three-dimensional structure and a second camera pose information for each accessed image based on the first three-dimensional structure and the first camera pose information for each accessed image. |
| US08401274B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
A computer displays an image of an object which has been created by photographing by a photographing portion in a setting mode. Further, height threshold-value data is received according to an input from outside through a key board. Based on height information detected from the image created by photographing and based on the received threshold-value data, a partial image having height information specified by the threshold-value data is extracted from the image created by photographing and then is displayed. In a driving mode, the computer displays an image acquired by photographing the object, and extracts a partial image having height information specified by the threshold-value data, based on the height information detected from the image created by photographing and the threshold-value data preliminarily-received in the setting mode. The image data extracted in the driving mode is utilized for inspections of defects in the object. |
| US08401272B2 |
Patterned wafer defect inspection system and method
A system for inspecting semiconductor devices is provided. The system includes a region system selecting a plurality of regions from a semiconductor wafer. A golden template system generates a region golden template for each region, such as to allow a die image to be compared to golden templates from a plurality of regions. A group golden template system generates a plurality of group golden templates from the region golden templates, such as to allow the die image to be compared to golden templates from a plurality of group golden templates. |
| US08401270B2 |
Examination of a region using dual-energy radiation
A first image including a projection of a portion is generated based on data representing attenuation of higher-energy radiation having a peak energy of at least 1 MeV that passes through a portion of an inspection volume. A second image including a projection of the portion is generated based on data representing attenuation of lower-energy radiation passing through the portion of the inspection volume. A dual-pixel image is created from the first image and the second image. A region of interest is selected from the dual-pixel image. A first basis function that is derived from an attenuation characteristic associated with the region of interest is selected. The region of interest is represented in terms of an amplitude associated with the first basis function and an amplitude associated with the second basis function. |
| US08401267B2 |
Medical X-ray CT imaging apparatus
A medical X-ray CT imaging apparatus is capable of performing efficient CT imaging of living organs symmetrically located with respect to a predetermined plane. The medical X-ray CT imaging apparatus comprises an X-ray source (10), an X-ray detection means (20), a supporting means (30), a subject holding means (40), a rotation means (60r), a moving means (60), an imaging region specifying means for specifying imaging regions of a first living organ and a second living organ which are symmetrically located with respect to a predetermined plane, a calculation means which uses the moving means (60) and the rotation means (60r) to automatically and consecutively perform X-ray CT imaging of respective imaging regions of the first living organ and the second living organ, which are specified by the imaging region specifying means, and reconstructs respective CT images of the first living organ and the second living organ on the basis of electrical signals obtained by the X-ray CT imaging, and a display part (88) for displaying the CT images of the first living organ and the second living organ, which are obtained by the calculation means. |
| US08401266B2 |
Method and system for correlated noise suppression in dual energy imaging
Methods and systems for correlated noise suppression are presented. The present correlated noise suppression technique estimates a correlation direction between noise values in a first and a second MD image corresponding to a first and a second basis material, respectively. The two MD images are diffused using the estimated correlation direction to generate a first and a second diffused image. Further, first and second noise masks are generated by subtracting the diffused image from the corresponding MD image. Edges in the first and the second MD images are processed with the first and second noise masks, respectively to generate a final first noise mask and a final second noise mask. The first MD image is then processed with the final second noise mask to generate a final first MD image and the second MD image is processed with the final first noise mask to generate a final second MD image. |
| US08401263B2 |
Method and apparatus for selectively targeting specific cells within a cell population
This invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively identifying, and targeting with an energy beam, specific cells within a cell population, for the purpose of inducing a response in the targeted cells. Using the present invention, every detectable cell in a population can be identified and affected, without substantially affecting non-targeted cells within the mixture. |
| US08401261B2 |
Imaging facial signs of neuro-physiological responses
The invention provides an integrated framework for detecting peripheral sympathetic responses through imaging. The measurements may be performed on three facial areas of sympathetic importance, that is, periorbital, supraorbital, and maxillary. Because the imaging measurements are thermal in nature and comprise multiple components of variable frequency (i.e., blood flow, sweat gland activation, and breathing), wavelets are used as the image analysis framework. The image analysis may be grounded on GSR signals. |
| US08401258B2 |
Method to provide automated quality feedback to imaging devices to achieve standardized imaging data
Automated image quality assessment algorithms, which perform the functions of locating a region of interest, maximizing the image contrast, and ensuring the region of interest is properly centered in the image. Wherein the region of interest is located by spectral matching filter using a target spectrum obtained from samples of the image itself. |
| US08401257B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for processing images generated using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT)
Methods, systems and computer program products for managing frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) image resolution. A spectrum used to acquire an image of a subject is calibrated and default dispersion correction parameters are set. Default dispersion management parameters associated with a region of the image of the subject are also set. The image of the subject is acquires after setting the default dispersion correction parameters and the default dispersion management parameters. A quality of the acquired image is compared to a quality metric for the acquired image. The dispersion correction parameters are adjusted if the quality of the acquired image does not meet or exceed the quality metric for the acquired image. The acquired image is reprocesses based on the adjusted dispersion correction parameters. The steps of comparing, adjusting and reprocessing are repeated until the acquired image meets or exceeds the quality metric for the acquired image. |
| US08401249B2 |
Method and apparatus for information processing
According to one of embodiments, taking in facial image data for a user, extracting feature points of the face of the user from the facial image data and then coding the feature points, and registering the facial image data on a destination management table so that the facial image data is associated with a special identifier and/or the coded feature points. In particular, the face of the sender is incorporated into a video mail, so that the exchange of addresses (faces) is facilitated and the reliability of the e-mail itself can be enhanced. Further, a face can be automatically registered on an address book at a receiving end. In this case, a similar face can be updated by the latest face. |
| US08401247B2 |
Image processing apparatus, biometric authentication apparatus, image processing method and recording medium
A region of an iris image where eyelash and other part images are mixed is identified with accuracy. The noise region of an iris image contained in a digital eye image (P1) where, for example, eyelash and eyelid parts are mixed is identified with accuracy based on characteristic curves obtained by scanning the iris image with arcs (AR1) and (AR2). Then, authentication is performed using data created based on the iris image from which the noise region is excluded. In this way, the subject can be authenticated with accuracy without being affected by noise. |
| US08401245B2 |
Biometric authentication using variable threshold based on normal entry/exit times
An authentication apparatus includes a time-information storage unit configured to store a reference time used for authentication; a biometric-information storage unit configured to store biometric information used for authentication; a biometric-information obtaining unit configured to obtain biometric information of a person; a matching-score calculating unit configured to calculate a matching score representing a degree of similarity between the biometric information stored in the biometric-information storage unit and the obtained biometric information; a current-time obtaining unit configured to obtain a current time; a threshold setting unit configured to set a threshold used for authentication, on the basis of the obtained current time and the reference time stored in the time-information storage unit; and an authentication-result determining unit configured to determine success or failure of authentication regarding the obtained biometric information, on the basis of the calculated matching score and the set threshold. |
| US08401239B2 |
Object tracking with regressing particles
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and a system for tracking an object from a training image to a target image. The training image and the target image are elements of a sequence of images. The object in the training image is represented by an object state. First, a set of particles is acquired, wherein each particle in the set of particles is associated with a weight, such that the particle represents the object state with a probability equal to the weight. Next, a regression function is applied to each particle in the set of particles based on a target image to determine a set of moved particles and the object state is updated according to the set of moved particles, such that the object state represents the object in the target image. |
| US08401234B2 |
Object position correction apparatus, object position correction method, and object position correction program
An object position correction apparatus is provided with an observing device that detects an object to be observed to obtain an observed value, an observation history data base that records an observation history of the object, a position estimation history data base that records the estimated history of the position of the object, a prediction distribution forming unit that forms a prediction distribution that represents an existence probability at the position of the object, an object position estimation unit that estimates the ID and the position of the object, a center-of-gravity position calculation unit that calculates the center-of-gravity position of the observed values, an object position correction unit that carries out a correction on the estimated position of the object, and a display unit that displays the corrected position of the object. |
| US08401231B2 |
Sustainable outdoor lighting system for use in environmentally photo-sensitive area
Provided herein are systems and methods for outdoor lighting, which generally include two or more light sources. One light source is a monochromatic light source producing a light with a peak wavelength of about 580 nm or above. A second light source is a polychromatic light source producing a green-tint white light. During a standby operational mode, a control system maintains the first light source illuminated. The control system, which includes an integrated imaging system, illuminates both the first light source and the second light source when the imaging system identifies a target in an illumination area. Methods of preparing and using such outdoor lighting system are also provided. |
| US08401227B2 |
Apparatus for acquiring images of mailpieces bearing both fluorescent marks and marks in contrast
Image acquisition apparatus (1) for acquiring images of mailpieces (P), the apparatus comprising a housing (3) inside which the following are placed: a first camera (4) co-operating with a first lighting system (8) emitting light radiation at a certain wavelength suitable for exciting a fluorescent mark to acquire an image of the surface of a mailpiece through a first window (5); a second camera (6) co-operating with a second lighting system (9) emitting light radiation in the visible light domain to acquire an image of the surface of a mailpiece through a second window (7); and means (10) for preventing light interference, which means are concave in shape and are disposed between the first window and the second window, the second lighting system (9) being disposed in the cavity of said means (10) for preventing light interference. |
| US08401221B2 |
Cognitive control framework for automatic control of application programs exposure a graphical user interface
A cognitive control framework system for automatically controlling execution of an application program having a graphical user interface includes a recording component, an execution scenario script, and a playback component. The recording component is adapted to capture user input data and images displayed by the graphical user interface during a recording phase of execution of the application program, and to analyze the captured user input data and displayed images to generate an execution scenario (script) during the recording phase. The execution scenario may be written in a selected high level language (e.g., XML). The playback component is adapted to generate simulated user input data based on the execution scenario during a playback phase of execution of the application program. |
| US08401219B2 |
Headset connector
Headset assemblies and headset connectors are provided. Headset connectors can include a magnetic mating face and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the mating face. Engaging assemblies and engaging connectors are also provided. The engaging connectors can include a housing having a mating side, a magnetic array structure, and a plurality of spring biased contact members. The magnetic array structure can be fixed within the housing and house a plurality of spring biased contact members. The spring biased contact members can include tips that extend out of the mating side. The tips can electrically couple with electrical contacts in a headset connector. |
| US08401217B2 |
Extreme low frequency acoustic measurement system
The present invention is an extremely low frequency (ELF) microphone and acoustic measurement system capable of infrasound detection in a portable and easily deployable form factor. In one embodiment of the invention, an extremely low frequency electret microphone comprises a membrane, a backplate, and a backchamber. The backchamber is sealed to allow substantially no air exchange between the backchamber and outside the microphone. Compliance of the membrane may be less than ambient air compliance. The backplate may define a plurality of holes and a slot may be defined between an outer diameter of the backplate and an inner wall of the microphone. The locations and sizes of the holes, the size of the slot, and the volume of the backchamber may be selected such that membrane motion is substantially critically damped. |
| US08401215B2 |
Receiver assemblies
A receiver is provided having a balanced armature motor mechanically interconnected to a displaceable diaphragm component. A front volume changes as the displaceable diaphragm component moves. The front volume is connected to a port. A rear volume changes oppositely to the front volume as the displaceable diaphragm moves. An acoustic channel connects to the port and is also connected to a sound outlet. The sound outlet allows acoustic energy to exit from the acoustic channel. A first acoustic pressure is generated in the front volume as the balanced armature motor moves the diaphragm. The acoustic channel and the internal volume are divided by a common wall section, wherein the common wall section is defined by at least one of the walls of the housing which also provides a portion of at least one wall for the acoustic channel. |
| US08401208B2 |
Anti-shock methods for processing capacitive sensor signals
A low impedance coupling to bias voltage dissipates abnormal charge levels within a microphone in response to a shock event such as dropping or bumping. High impedance coupling to bias voltage is thereafter restored. |
| US08401207B2 |
Motional feedback system
An audio amplifier is operated in an audio system with optimized source impedance to minimize distortion in a loudspeaker that is paired with the audio amplifier. The audio amplifier provides an amplified audio signal to drive the loudspeaker. A variable output impedance of the audio amplifier is controlled using a feedback control loop to allow negative output impedance at low frequencies that changes to positive output impedance at higher frequencies. The change from negative output impedance to positive output impedance occurs at a determined threshold frequency or determined transitional frequency band. |
| US08401205B2 |
Noise canceling system and noise canceling method
Disclosed herein is a noise canceling system, including: a first sound collection section configured to collect noise and output a first noise signal; a first signal processing section configured to produce a first noise reduction signal for reducing the noise at a predetermined cancel point; a sound emission section configured to emit noise reduction sound based on the first noise reduction signal; a second sound collection section configured to collect noise and output a second noise signal; and a second signal processing section configured to produce a second noise reduction signal for reducing noise at the cancel point. In the noise canceling system, the sound emission section emitting the noise reduction sound based on the first and second noise reduction signals. |
| US08401200B2 |
Electronic device and headset with speaker seal evaluation capabilities
Electronic devices and accessories for electronic devices such as headsets are provided. The electronic devices may produce audio output. The headsets may include earbuds with speakers that play the audio output for a user while the earbuds are located in the user's ears. Circuitry in an electronic device and a headset may be used in evaluating how well the earbuds are sealed to the user's ears. In response to seal quality measurements, informative messages can be generated for the user, overall earbud volume may be increased, balance adjustments may be made to correct for mismatched balance between left and right earbuds, equalization settings may be adjusted, and noise cancellation circuitry settings can be changed. Electrical impedance measurements and acoustic measurements can be used in evaluating seal quality. |
| US08401199B1 |
Automatic performance optimization for perceptual devices
Systems and methods may be used to modify a controllable stimulus generated by a digital audio device in communication with a human user. An input signal is provided to the digital audio device. In turn, the digital audio device sends a stimulus based on that input signal to the human user, who takes an action, usually in the form of an output signal, to characterize the stimulus that the user receives, based on the user's perception. An algorithm then determines a difference between the input signal and the output signal, and a perceptual model is constructed based at least in part on the difference. Thereafter, a new value for the parameter of the digital audio device is suggested based at least in part on the perceptual model. This process continues iteratively until the algorithm finds the user's optimal device parameters. While this process is highly complex and time consuming, the algorithm successfully reaches at least a near optimal settings, if not the optimal, in a short time. |
| US08401198B2 |
Method of improving acoustic properties in music reproduction apparatus and recording medium and music reproduction apparatus suitable for the method
A method of measuring and improving acoustic properties, and a recording medium and a music reproduction apparatus that are suitable for the method. The method includes reproducing and outputting an analysis signal stored in codec file types, recording the output analysis signal in the codec file types, obtaining an impulse response by performing convolution on the recorded signal and an inverse signal of the analysis signal, and correcting frequency properties based on the impulse response. By storing a signal that is supposed to be generated by a signal generation device in codec file types, it is possible to implement the signal in a music reproduction apparatus without a need for the signal generation device. By correcting frequency property, the music reproduction apparatus can improve the performance of an output acoustic signal close to that of an original sound. |
| US08401197B2 |
Audio power monitoring system
An audio power display provides a signal and an update rate. An audio power monitoring system comprises a digital display unit including at least one light-emitting display element and a rapid update rate. The digital display unit displays signal levels at the rapid update rate to emphasize the dynamic nature of music. In one embodiment, the display update rate is varied to increase proportionally to increases in signal level, and decrease proportionally to decreases in signal level to further represent the dynamic nature of music. |
| US08401196B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing JRNSO in FDD, TDD and MIMO communications
A method and apparatus for performing Joint Randomness Not Shared by Others (JRNSO) is disclosed. In one embodiment, JRNSO is determined in Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) using a baseband signal loop back and private pilots. In another embodiment, JRNSO is determined in Time Division Duplex (TDD) using a baseband signal loop back and combinations of private pilots, private gain functions and Kalman filtering directional processing. In one example, the FDD and TDD JRSNO embodiments are performed in Single-Input-Single-Output (SISO) and Single-Input-Multiple-Output (SIMO) communications. In other examples, the FDD and TDD embodiments are performed in Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) and Multiple-Input-Single-Output (MISO) communications. JRNSO is determined by reducing MIMO and MISO communications to SISO or SIMO communications. JRNSO is also determined using determinants of MIMO channel products. Channel restrictions are removed by exploiting symmetric properties of matrix products. |
| US08401195B2 |
Method of automatically populating a list of managed secure communications group members
Methods of automatically populating a secure group list in a key variable loader and of providing keys to a secure group are presented. After a user selects a secure group and encryption algorithm using inputs of the loader, the loader provides a group identifier and corresponding key for the group. The group identifier, encryption algorithm, and key are transmitted to a portable communication device over a physical connection between the two while a device identifier of the communication device is transmitted concurrently to the loader. The key variable loader automatically populates a stored list of subscribers of the group with the device identifier. When it is desired to transmit a new key to all of or fewer than all of the subscribers, one of the subscribers is connected with the loader and used to wirelessly transmit a new key to the remaining subscribers. |
| US08401193B2 |
System and method for securing wireless communications
A system and method for securing wireless communications are provided. A method for secure communications by a first user includes estimating a channel between the first user and a second user, thereby producing an first phase estimate of the channel, generating a first block of secret bits based on the first phase estimate of the channel, and transmitting public information regarding the first block of secret bits to the second user. The second user makes use of the public information to generate a second block of secret bits. |
| US08401192B2 |
Mechanism for securely ordered message exchange
In one embodiment, a mechanism for securely ordered message exchange is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes associating sequence numbers with each of a plurality of messages that are part of a transmission from a broadcaster to an intended recipient, and for each message of the plurality of messages, calculating a unique message authentication code (MAC) using as inputs the message, a shared secret key, and the associated sequence number. The method also includes sending to the intended recipient the plurality of messages each with the associated calculated MAC attached to the message. |
| US08401186B2 |
Cloud storage data access method, apparatus and system based on OTP
The present application relates to cloud storage technology and especially relates to a cloud storage data access method, apparatus and system based on OTP. This method includes: generating and storing true random numbers of a predetermined length and a random seed of a predetermined length composed of the true random numbers via a preset method; acquiring data from the random seed for several times and cascading the data acquired each time into a true random data string of no shorter than the length of plaintext; based on the true random data string, generating a true random cryptographic key of no shorter than the length of the plaintext, encrypting the plaintext using this cryptographic key and transmitting ciphertext to a cloud storage data center. This application also provides a cloud storage data access apparatus and system based on OTP. The method, apparatus and system introduced by this invention can generate and store sufficient true random cryptographic key with relatively small physical space occupancy in comparison with that of plaintext, thereby enabling OTP to be applied into cloud storage data security protection. |
| US08401185B1 |
Systems and methods for securely deduplicating data owned by multiple entities
A computer-implemented method for securely deduplicating data owned by multiple entities may include identifying a plurality of data segments to store on a third-party storage system and, for each data segment: 1) identifying a hash of the data segment, 2) transmitting the hash of the data segment to a central server, 3) receiving an encrypted string that is based on the hash of the data segment from the central server, 4) encrypting the data segment with the encrypted string, and 5) transferring the encrypted data segment to the third-party storage system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08401183B2 |
Method and system for keying and securely storing data
An approach is provided for securely storing sensitive data. A system is provided that includes a central device configured to receive a key from a requester, to obtain a new key associated with the key, and to transmit the new key to the requestor, and a storage device for storing the new key in association with the key. Also, a secure system is provided that includes a parsing unit that parses an actual data value into a first data field and a second data field, a key generation unit that generates a key, a first process that transmits the key to a central manager and receives a new key associated with the key from the central manager, and at least one storage device configured to store the first data field in association with the key, and to store the second data field in association with the new key. |
| US08401181B2 |
Segment deduplication system with encryption of segments
A system for storing encrypted data comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive an encrypted segment. The encrypted segment is determined by breaking a data stream, a data block, or a data file into one or more segments and encrypting each of the one or more segments. The processor is further configured to determine whether the encrypted segment has been previously stored, and in the event that the encrypted segment has not been previously stored, store the encrypted segment. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US08401178B2 |
Multiple microphone switching and configuration
A mobile communications device contains at least two microphones. One microphone is designated by a selector to provide a voice dominant signal and another microphone is designated to provide a noise or echo dominant signal, for a call or a recording. The selector communicates the designations to a switch that routes the selected microphone signals to the inputs of a processor for voice signal enhancement. The selected voice dominant signal is then enhanced by suppressing ambient noise or canceling echo therein, based on the selected noise or echo dominant signal. The designation of microphones may change at any instant during the call or recording depending on various factors, e.g. based on the quality of the microphone signals. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08401176B2 |
Acoustic echo canceller with multimedia training signal
In an electronic device having an acoustic echo canceller and being capable of implementing audio applications and at least one of a conferencing application and a telephony application, there is provided a background training method for the acoustic echo canceller. The method includes the step of utilizing (650) sound that corresponds to a non-training audio application to train the acoustic echo canceller. |
| US08401174B1 |
System and method for optimizing termination impedance for an analog telephone line
A system and method in accordance with a non-limiting aspect minimizes echo return loss in a communications system. The dial tone is broken on an analog telephone line connected to a hybrid circuit having selectable impedance configurations and that interfaces a digital communications circuit and the analog telephone line. After the telephone line is quiet, a white noise signal as a test call is inserted through the hybrid circuit onto the analog telephone line corresponding to a selected impedance setting configuration. The returned white noise signal is used for measuring the echo return loss corresponding to the selected impedance setting configuration. The test call is dropped. This process is repeated with multiple test calls each at a selectively different impedance setting configuration to obtain echo return loss measurements at each of the impedance setting configurations. The optimum impedance setting configuration is determined based on the results determined from the different test calls. The optimum impedance setting configuration is applied to the hybrid and typically set during a running telephone configuration. |
| US08401169B2 |
System and method of delivering ringback audio content
A system and method of delivering ringback audio content are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a connection request at an originating serving call session control function (S-CSCF) network element. The connection request indicates that a caller device has placed a call to a destination device associated with a ringback audio content service subscriber. The method also includes receiving a plurality of naming authority pointer (NAPTR) records at the originating S-CSCF network element from a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server. The NAPTR records include a plurality of ringback audio uniform resource indicators (URIs) associated with the destination device. The method also includes modifying the connection request to include the plurality of ringback audio URIs. |
| US08401167B2 |
International origin dependent customized routing of calls to toll-free numbers
A customized routing service platform for routing international communications includes a receiver that receives, from an international gateway via a network node, international communication origination data for an international communication to a customer's communication address. A database server receives customer routing instructions from the customer via a web server. The database server stores the received customer routing instructions. The database server also retrieves stored customer routing instructions, and determines a destination communication address based on the international communication origination data and the retrieved customer routing instructions. A forwarder forwards the destination communication address to the network node for routing the international communication to the destination communication address. |
| US08401162B2 |
Telephone relay system, telephone relay apparatus and telephone relay method
The present invention provides a telephone relay apparatus in which even in a telephone terminal which cannot recognize a subaddress, it is possible to attain information to judge whether or not the call is to be started. A telephone relay apparatus 100 possesses a plurality of call transmission telephone numbers (proxy telephone numbers) to uses a telephone number (user telephone number) properly to transmit a call to a telephone terminal 210 on the call reception side according to a rule prescribed in advance, which enables the telephone terminal 210 on the call reception side to identify the type of the call via the telephone relay apparatus 100 based on the call transmitter telephone number (notification telephone number). |
| US08401160B2 |
Communication device
A communication device is provided. The communication device includes a calling party information receiving unit to receive calling party information, a first call record storing unit to create and store a call record including the calling party information based on receiving conditions of the incoming call, a second call record storing unit to create and store a call record without the calling party information based on receiving conditions of the incoming call, and a call record output unit to output the call records inclusive of the call records stored by the first call record storing unit and by the second call record storing unit. |
| US08401157B2 |
System and method for providing audible spoken name pronunciations
A system and method for providing a user with an accurate audible pronunciation of a person's name in a non-call environment using the spoken name pre-recorded and saved at the person's Voice Mail system is described herein. An Application Server can obtain an audio file of a person speaking his or her name for the external Voice Mail System to which he or she subscribes, and provide the audio file to a User requesting to hear an accurate pronunciation of the person's name. The Application Server can provide this spoken name pronunciation feature as part of a Directory Information Service, talking call waiting feature, or to other Online Applications. |
| US08401149B2 |
X-ray photographing apparatus for receiving and editing X-ray image
An X-ray imaging system includes a digital imaging panel for capturing an X-ray image of an object and an X-ray device for irradiating a beam of X-rays toward the digital imaging panel and making wireless communication with the digital imaging panel. The X-ray device is capable of directly receiving data of an X-ray image of an object from a digital imaging panel, enabling an operator to see the X-ray image on a real time basis and editing and storing the X-ray image by itself. |
| US08401148B2 |
Non-voxel-based broad-beam (NVBB) algorithm for intensity modulated radiation therapy dose calculation and plan optimization
A method of calculating a dose distribution for a patient for use in a radiation therapy treatment plan. The method includes acquiring an image of a volume within the patient, defining a radiation source, and defining a reference plane oriented between the radiation source and the patient. The method also includes generating a radiation therapy treatment plan, wherein the plan includes a plurality of rays that extend between the radiation source and the patient volume, and calculating a three-dimensional dose volume for the patient volume from the plurality of rays that intersect the reference plane without first having to independently calculate a dose distribution on each of the plurality of rays. The method can also include displaying the three-dimensional dose volume. |
| US08401146B2 |
Conveyer belt with optically visible and machine-detectable indicators
A method for correlating optically visible objects with objects detectable through a non-invasive imaging system is described. The method includes conveying an object on a conveyer belt through the non-invasive imaging system. The conveyer belt can include optically visible indicia and machine-detectable indicia. The object and the machine-detectable indicia can be displayed on a display in communication with the non-invasive imaging system. The machine-detectable indicia viewed on the display can be correlated with the optically visible indicia on the conveyer belt after the object has exited the non-invasive imaging system to identify the object. |
| US08401145B1 |
Imaging sheet and related method
A flexible, durable, sanitary, adhesive-backed sheet is applied to the skin-contacting surfaces of a mammography bucky prior to commencing a mammography procedure, and is removed from the bucky once the procedure is complete, without leaving a residue behind. The sheet is made of a non-woven polymeric material that gives the sheet a fabric-like or cloth feel, and is substantially incompressible in response to forces applied during a mammography procedure. The sheet insulates the patient from the temperature differential between the patient's skin and the bucky surfaces. Additionally, the surface of the sheet is embossed with a texture, markings or raised features to enhance the fabric-like feel. |
| US08401143B2 |
Arrangement for three-dimensional electron beam tomography
It is an object of the present invention to specify an arrangement for X-ray computed tomography, which allows continuous three-dimensional imaging of the examination object or a partial volume of the examination object at a high temporal and spatial resolution, wherein a high spatial resolution defines both a high resolution within the slice plane and also in the axial direction. |
| US08401141B2 |
Axial void fraction distribution measurement method and neutron multiplication factor evaluating method
A first intensity Az expressed as Az=az×Eα, a first reference intensity A0 expressed as A0=a0×Eα, a second intensity Bz expressed as Bz=bz×E, and a second reference intensity B0=b0×E, are evaluated. The first intensity and the first reference intensity are of radioactive nuclides generated by a neutron capture reaction of a heavy nuclide or a fission product nuclide. The second intensity and the second reference intensity are of radioactive fission product nuclides except nuclides generated by a neutron capture reaction. The reference intensities are measured where the void fraction is known. Also a correlation curve of (az/a0) and a void fraction is evaluated. Finally an axial void fraction distribution is evaluated based on the value of (az/a0) and the correlation curve. |
| US08401139B2 |
Data transfer unit, data transmission device, data receiving device, and control method
A transmission LSI calculates a buffer usage rate in accordance with data stored in a buffer in a transmission data processing unit and determines, in accordance with the calculated buffer usage rate, the number of signal lines that perform a phase readjustment and the timing thereof. Then, the transmission LSI and a receiving LSI perform a phase adjustment using some of the signal lines and continues a data transfer using the rest of the signal lines. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the optimum phase of a clock without delaying the data transfer. |
| US08401134B1 |
Broadband high dynamic range digital receiving system for electromagnetic signals
A method is provided for the design of a wide-band high dynamic-range electromagnetic signal receiving system. The method provides for receiving a plurality of analog signals, converting the plurality to a digital replica that can be processed to recover separate high-fidelity replicas of each individual signal in the received plurality. The method also provides increasing the signal dynamic range with a parallel architecture comprising “p” identical parallel analog-to-digital channels wherein the value of is determined by the ratio of the largest amplitude signal to the minimum detectable signal. Further, it is demonstrated that “p” is the fundamental limit on the number of parallel channels necessary to linearly process a specified plurality of signals containing a largest signal and a minimum detectable signal. |
| US08401133B2 |
Multi-antenna system using adaptive beamforming
A multi-antenna system using adaptive beamforming includes a phase shift unit, a signal combination unit, a frequency down-converter, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, and a beamforming control unit. The phase shift unit includes a plurality of phase shifters which shift the phases of signals received from a plurality of antennas. The signal combination unit combines phase-shifted signals output from the plurality of phase shifters. The frequency down-converter down-converts a signal output from the signal combination unit into a baseband signal. The A/D converter converts the baseband signal into a digital signal. The beamforming control unit searches for a weight vector higher than a preset threshold signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when a reception SNR of the digital signal output from the A/D converter is lower than the threshold SNR, and changes a currently set weight vector into the searched weight vector to provide to the phase shift unit. |
| US08401132B2 |
Interference cancellation with time-varying interference and/or distortion
A communications receiver includes a noise analyzer to characterize the composition of the interference and/or distortion impressed onto a transmitted communications signal in the presence of one or more time-varying conditions. The noise analyzer may provide a selection signal indicating the composition of the interference and/or distortion impressed onto a transmitted communications signal in the presence of one or more time-varying conditions to be used by the communications receiver. In an exemplary embodiment, the communications receiver selects at least one set of filter coefficients to compensate for the interference and/or distortion impressed onto a transmitted communications signal in the presence of a particular time-varying interference and/or distortion condition. In another exemplary embodiment, the communications receiver selects a corresponding interference cancellation filter bank to compensate for the interference and/or distortion impressed onto a transmitted communications signal in the presence of the particular time-varying interference and/or distortion condition. |
| US08401127B1 |
Multi-stream soft demodulation using hard-decision schemes
A method of decoding a signal transmitted via a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication channel includes receiving a data symbol vector including multiple data symbols that are received at substantially the same time. The received data symbol vector corresponds to a transmitted data symbol vector including multiple transmitted data symbols corresponding to the plurality of data symbols. The method further includes estimating values for transmitted data symbols in a first group of transmitted data symbols using a hard-decision technique. The method further includes calculating likelihood values for bits in a second group of transmitted data symbols using a soft-decision technique based on the estimated values of transmitted data symbols in the first group of transmitted data symbols. The first group of transmitted data symbols does not overlap with the second group of transmitted symbols. |
| US08401119B2 |
Equalizer based symbol timing recovery with symbol enabled control
A receiver is an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee)-receiver and comprises a controller and an equalizer, which comprises a feed-forward filter and a feed-back filter. The feed-forward filter comprising at least one tap associated with at least one tap coefficient value. The controller determines a location of at least one tap of the equalizer; and if that location is close to a tap boundary (or edge) of the equalizer, the at least one tap of the equalizer is shifted forward or backward by at least one sample position. |
| US08401116B2 |
RF receiver
An RF receiver comprising: an amplifier configured to receive an RF signal over an input bandwidth and to provide an amplified RF signal; an equalizer circuit connected to the amplifier to receive the amplified RF signal and configured to provide an equalized RF signal; a converter module connected to the equalizer circuit and comprising an analog to digital converter configured to convert the equalized RF signal to a digital signal; and a digital signal processing module connected to the receiver module and configured to process the digital signal to provide a plurality of channels at an output of the receiver, wherein the digital signal processing module is further configured to process the digital signal to determine a measure of tilt in the RF signal across the input bandwidth and is connected to the equalizer circuit to provide a control signal for adjusting the measured tilt. |
| US08401115B2 |
Detector using limited symbol candidate generation for MIMO communication systems
A circuit detects symbols transmitted from multiple transmitting antennas to multiple receiving antennas. A distance block for an initial transmitting antenna in an ordering of the transmitting antennas determines a distance value for each symbol in a constellation. A selector block selects a limited number of candidates for the initial transmitting antenna from the symbols having smaller distance values. For each first and successive second transmitting antenna in the ordering, a distance-selector block selects a candidate for the second transmitting antenna for each candidate for the first transmitting antenna. The candidate for the second transmitting antenna is a pairing having a smaller distance value among the pairings of the candidate for the first transmitting antenna and the symbols. An identifier block selects a last candidate having a smaller distance value among the candidates for a last transmitting antenna in the ordering. The last candidate includes the detected symbols. |
| US08401112B2 |
Dirty paper precoding method and transmitter implemented by using phase reshaping
A dirty paper precoding method implemented by using phase reshaping at the transmitter side, wherein the method comprises: subtracting interference signal from intended signal to obtain difference signal; determining constellation size for constellation extension according to amplitude-related information of interference signal and intended signal; extendedly mapping original constellation block of the difference signal to extended constellation block having the determined constellation size by constellation extension processing, according to the determined constellation size for constellation extension, wherein, the extended constellation block being proportionally enlarged to be closer to origin of constellation coordinate compared with original constellation block; and performing phase reshaping of each constellation point of extended constellation block corresponding to the difference signal, wherein, the phase reshaping making constellation point of extended constellation block of difference signal corresponding to specific constellation point of intended signal to be mapped into the same constellation quadrant as that of the specific constellation point. |
| US08401108B1 |
Modulation and demodulation of band-limited signals using near-Nyquist sampling
Techniques for modulation and demodulation using near-Nyquist sampling operate using substantially band-limited signal. In modulating, the substantially band-limited signal is formed by filtering modulated symbol date to produce a complex sample stream having a bandwidth of less than the twice the associated symbol transmission rate and with a sample rate of less than twice the symbol rate. In demodulating, a substantially band-limited signal having a bandwidth of less than twice the associated symbol transmission rate is sampled at a sample rate of less than twice the symbol rate of the modulation. |
| US08401104B2 |
Codebook design method for multiple input multiple output system and method for using the codebook
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication method using a codebook is provided. The MIMO communication method may use one or more codebooks and the codebooks may change according to a transmission rank, a channel state of a user terminal, and/or a number of feedback bits. |
| US08401103B2 |
Parallel decoder
A parallel decoder for decoding a code division multiplexed (CDM) signal. The parallel decoder has two matched filters, both operating at a frequency equal to half the chip rate of the CDM signal. One matched filter correlates odd-numbered chips of the CDM signal with odd-numbered chips of the spreading code. The other matched filter correlates even-numbered chips of the CDM signal with even-numbered chips of the spreading code. The two resulting correlated signals are combined, and the decoded signal is obtained from the combined signal. This arrangement doubles the maximum possible chip rate of the CDM signal. |
| US08401098B2 |
Digital differential signal transmitter for low supply voltage
A digital differential signal transmitter circuit for a low supply voltage. A phase correction circuit for correcting digital signals transmitted through two signal paths in such a way as to have a phase relationship of differential signals and duty cycle correction circuits for correcting the digital signals in such a way as to maintain signal integrity in spite of changes in process, supply voltage and temperature are installed on the two signal paths so that the distortion of digital differential signals is compensated for. Power consumption at a final output section of the transmitter circuit is reduced. Impedances of the transmitter circuit and transmission lines are matched so that the transmitter circuit can operate insensitively with respect to operation circumstances. |
| US08401096B2 |
Communication system and method of operations therefor
A method of operation in a communication system is presented in which a first terminal sends to a second terminal a communication including ranging information by which the second terminal is able to calculate a range between the first terminal and the second terminal. The communication is sent in a plurality of frames. In at least one of the frames ranging information is included in a ranging region of the frame. The size and position of the ranging region is known to the first and second terminals without a ranging information indicator being sent in the frame to indicate the size and position of the ranging region. |
| US08401091B2 |
Inter-layer prediction method for video signal
In one embodiment, a method for encoding or decoding a video signal includes constructing a base layer picture in a base layer, where the base layer picture includes image sample data. The method further includes applying a de-blocking filter to the image sample data in the constructed base layer picture, and interpolating the deblocking filtered base layer picture. Each of an even field component and an odd field component in the deblocking filtered base layer picture is interpolated in a vertical and a horizontal direction. The interpolated even field component and odd field component are interleaved, and texture prediction information of a current block in an enhanced layer is obtained by using the interleaved even field component and odd field component. |
| US08401087B2 |
Video quality and audio quality adjustment
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to allocate between a video and audio quality in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) presentation and to utilize a resultant bandwidth as a result of allocation to enhance an audio or video quality in the IPTV presentation in response to a user selection among levels of video quality and audio quality. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08401086B1 |
System and method for increasing responsiveness to requests for streaming media
In a streaming media environment in which multiple channels of media content are available, the present invention reduces the time interval between a user requesting a new channel and the media content of the requested channel being made available to the user. |
| US08401085B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding of a video signal
In decoding a scalable video signal using a partial picture reference on a temporal domain and a scalable domain, the present invention provides a method including obtaining a first partial picture on a first temporal point, and decoding a full picture referring to the first partial picture, the full picture being on a second temporal point, the second temporal point being located after the first temporal point, wherein a level of the first partial picture on a scalable domain is lower than a level of the full picture on the scalable domain. |
| US08401084B2 |
System and method for multi-row decoding of video with dependent rows
A system and method for decoding digital video by processing multiple regions of an image in parallel, even when there are dependencies between rows in the image, are disclosed. The method generally involves decoding multiple rows concurrently, with the start of decoding of a given row being delayed until portions of the other rows on which the given row depends have been decoded. The system generally comprises parallel processors, with one processor typically decoding one row and another processor typically decoding the row above it. In accordance with the present invention, however, any number or type of processors can decode, or perform decoding functions on, the image in parallel. |
| US08401080B2 |
Motion vector coding method and motion vector decoding method
A motion vector coding unit 117 executes processing including a neighboring block specification step (S100) of specifying a neighboring block which is located in the neighborhood of a current block; a judgment step (Steps S102, S104) of judging whether or not the neighboring block has been coded using a motion vector of another block; a prediction step (S106, S108) of deriving a predictive motion vector of the current block using a motion vector calculated from the motion vector of the other block as a motion vector of the neighboring block; and a coding step (S110) of coding the motion vector of the current block using the predictive motion vector. |
| US08401079B2 |
Image coding apparatus, image coding method, image decoding apparatus, image decoding method and communication apparatus
A moving picture decoding method and a decoder for restoring a moving picture signal is disclosed. The decoder includes a decoding unit that decodes the differential signal, a motion vector, and a shape information indicating a shape of a block that becomes a unit for the motion compensated prediction by using an encoded bitstream. The shape information indicates an accuracy of virtual pixel and an interpolation filtering method. The decoder also includes a motion compensating unit that determines that the accuracy of virtual pixel and the interpolation filtering method is to be used in generating the predicted picture based on the shape of the block that becomes the unit for the motion compensated prediction, and generating the predicted picture containing the virtual pixel with reference to the reference pictures stored in a frame memory using the motion vector decoded by the decoding unit according to a determination result. |
| US08401078B2 |
Interpolation of video compression frames
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation. |
| US08401076B2 |
Video rate control for video coding standards
A method and device for improving rate controlling in video coding of sequences including a series of Inter frames separated by Intra frames, when a decoding delay is considered, comprise for each Inter frame of the series: computing a target frame size, computing a maximum buffer level related to a position of each Inter frame relative to a previous Intra frame and an upcoming Intra frame, and optimizing a transmission buffer level in response to the computed target frame size and the computed maximum buffer level. |
| US08401073B2 |
Inverse quantization circuit, inverse quantization method and image reproducing apparatus
Provided are a versatile inverse quantization circuit which performs inverse quantization operable for various encoding systems by a single circuit, an inverse quantization method, and an image reproducing apparatus. A first multiplier generation unit (10) generates a first multiplier M1, a second multiplier generation unit (20) generates a second multiplier M2, a shift quantity generation unit (180) generates shift quantity data SF indicating a bit shift quantity, a multiplication unit (140) multiplies quantized coefficient data CD by the first multiplier M1 and the second multiplier M2, a shift unit (170) carries out bit shift operation in accordance with the shift quantity data SF, at least one of the multiplication unit (140) and the shift unit (170) determines whether or not to perform operation depending on the encoding system, and at least one of the first multiplier generation unit (10), the second multiplier generation unit (20) and the shift quantity generation unit (180) determines a value to be generated or a way of generating the value depending on the encoding system. |
| US08401068B2 |
Device attachment and bearer activation using cell relays
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate assigning TEIDs, or portions thereof, to UEs or other devices during network attachment and/or dedicated bearer activation using one or more cell relays. Relay eNBs can request bearer establishment from a UE, which can be based on receiving an attach accept from an upstream node during attachment for the UE, receiving a bearer setup request from the upstream node, and/or the like. Once a bearer establishment response is received from the UE, the relay eNBs can store a TEID relating to the bearer. This can be a TEID that is at least partially received in the attach accept or bearer setup message, generated for the UE upon receiving the bearer establishment response, and/or the like. The TEID, or portion thereof, can be utilized for subsequent packet routing to the UE through one or more cell relays. |
| US08401066B2 |
Power regulator
Method and system of power regulating, such as but not limited to attenuating signal power levels. The power regulating being suitable for use in any number of application, environments, and circuits, including but not limited to those associated with a universal garage door opener (UGDO), remote keyless entry (RKE) unit, tire pressure monitor (TPM) unit, and/or a passive entry element. The regulating may be suitable for directly broadcasting the regulated signal and/or communication the regulated signal to other circuit element for further processing. |
| US08401062B2 |
Method of transmitting data and modem
A method, and corresponding modem, of transmitting data. The method including: modulating the data onto a plurality of carriers with different carrier frequencies, resulting in a transmission signal; notching predetermined frequency bands of the transmission signal, which predetermined frequency bands would otherwise disturb external transmissions; and boosting carriers that are adjacent to the predetermined frequency bands and that would be attenuated because of the notching. |
| US08401061B2 |
Method and apparatus for remotely testing a digital subscriber line access multiplexer
A system and method for testing a modem of a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) includes a pair of modems communicatively coupled to each other by way of a communications path that includes a first DSL communication medium connected to one modem, a second DSL communication medium connected to the other modem, which is part of the DSLAM, and an Ethernet medium connected between the first and second DSL modems. DSL signals can be dispatched from the first (or second) modem via the first (or second) DSL communication medium for receipt by the second (or first) DSL modem via the second (or first) DSL communication medium, whereupon, DSL signals passing from the first DSL communication medium to the second DSL communication medium, or vice versa, are converted into Ethernet packets for transmission over the Ethernet medium and then back into DSL signals. |
| US08401051B2 |
Base station apparatus that communicates with mobile station apparatuses, mobile station apparatus that communicates with a base station and transmission band setting method performed in a base station
A base station effectively transmits BCH data and includes an encoding unit for encoding the BCH data; a modulation unit for modulating the BCH data after being encoded; a transmission band setting unit for setting a BCH data transmission band in one of sub carriers constituting an OFDM symbol; encoding units for encoding user data, modulation units for modulating user data after being encoded; and an IFFT unit for mapping the BCH data and the user data to each of the sub carriers and performing IFFT to generate an OFDM symbol. Here, the IFFT unit maps the BCH data to the sub carrier existing in the transmission band set by the transmission band setting unit among the plurality of sub carriers. |
| US08401047B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
The semiconductor laser device of the present invention has a structure that allows a cooling medium to be directly fed into heatsink disposed inside package. Besides, the structure ensures that the inside of package is kept at hermetically sealed condition. The structure suppresses temperature rise in semiconductor laser element and package, enhancing the reliability and quality of the semiconductor laser device. At the same time, a high-power semiconductor laser element can be employed. |
| US08401045B2 |
Regulating a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-based optical communication link
In one embodiment, a transmitter can bias a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) coupled to an optical medium. The biasing of the VCSEL determines at least in part an optical power output by the VCSEL to the optical medium. The transmitter can also modulate the VCSEL with data to transmit the data optically through the optical medium to a receiver; receive from the receiver through a feedback channel an error vector representing a degradation in performance of the VCSEL sensed by the receiver or an instruction vector comprising one or more coefficients for use in biasing the VCSEL; and adjust the biasing of the VCSEL based on the error vector or the instruction vector to regulate the optical power output by the VCSEL to the optical medium. |
| US08401043B1 |
Hardware interface utilizing alignment symbols for demultiplexing
In a data transfer interface, at least one deserializer receives a serial data stream at a first clock speed and outputs a first parallel data stream at a second clock speed. The first parallel data stream includes data symbols representing data and alignment symbols for aligning the data symbols at a downstream location. A demultiplexer demultiplexes the first parallel data stream into a plurality of second parallel data streams based on the alignment symbols. |
| US08401041B2 |
Robust synchronization for time division duplex signal
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, system and computer program product, wherein a time division multiplex signal is received with a periodic first time period allocated to a downlink transmissions and a periodic second time period allocated to uplink transmissions. A decision time metric is obtained by correlating the received signal with a replica signal in order to detect a synchronization pattern provided in the first time period. Then, a slide window based normalization with a time window long enough to accommodate said second time period is applied to the decision time metric. |
| US08401040B2 |
Apparatus and method for transforming cable channel
Provided is apparatus and method for transforming cable channel. The apparatus includes a data mixing unit for receiving and mixing a band data and a first broadband data, to thereby generate a second broadband data of a broadband cable channel, and a channel adapting unit for dividing a band data from the second broadband data received through the broadband cable channel, bypassing the second broadband data to a first subscriber apparatus and transmitting the band data to a second subscriber apparatus. |
| US08401038B2 |
False lock detection for physical layer frame synchronization
Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described which may be used for the reception of a wireless broadband signal at a user terminal from a gateway via a satellite. A wireless signal may include a series of physical layer frames, each frame including a physical layer header and payload. The received signal is digitized and processed using various novel physical layer headers and related techniques to synchronize the physical layer frames and recover data from physical layer headers for purposes of demodulation and decoding. |
| US08401026B2 |
Achieving about an equal number of active links across chassis in a virtual port-channel environment
Two or more network devices can automatically coordinate to aggregate ports into virtual port channels. Ports of the port channel can be automatically assigned priorities to achieve about an equal distribution of active links across the two or more network devices. |
| US08401025B2 |
Windowing technique for adaptive clock recovery and other signal-processing applications
In one embodiment, an adaptive clock recovery (ACR) system generates a current delay-offset estimate value (DOE(i)) using a window technique that selects the larger of (i) the maximum delay-offset value (DOP) in the previous window and (ii) the maximum delay-offset value so far (DOM) in current window. This windowing technique can be implemented without having to store all of the individual values over a specified window size, as in a conventional sliding window technique. This windowing technique can be used to find extreme (i.e., either maximum or minimum) values for applications other than ACR systems. |
| US08401024B2 |
Ethernet address management system
A system and method for mapping original Media Access Control (MAC) addresses to unique locally administered virtual MAC addresses in an Ethernet network. A first field of the address may include a domain for the address, and a second field may indicate that the address is a locally administered MAC address. A third field of the address may include an index indicating a number of virtual MAC addresses for each user. Fourth and fifth fields of the address may include a Network Element ID (NE ID) for uniquely identifying a given access node in a given domain, and a Port ID for uniquely identifying an end-user port at the given access node. The system may be implemented in an access node or in a network emulator, which generates unique locally administered MAC addresses for all of the nodes in the Ethernet network for performing emulations of the network. |
| US08401021B2 |
Systems and methods for prioritizing wireless communication of aircraft
A method for wireless communication of aircraft. The method includes, inter alia, in any feasible order, (1) in accordance with detecting a touchdown of the aircraft, assigning a first priority for transmitting information and a second priority for receiving media content; (2) in accordance with detecting an arrival of the aircraft at the gate, assigning a third priority for receiving media content; (3) in accordance with detecting a departure of the aircraft, assigning the first priority for transmitting information and the second priority for receiving media content; and (4) in accordance with detecting a departure ready of the aircraft, assigning a fourth priority for receiving essential media content and the second priority for receiving other media content. The first priority is greater than the second priority; and the fourth priority is greater than the second priority. |
| US08401014B2 |
Method for transmitting data packets with different precedence through a passive optical network
A method of transmitting data packets through a passive optical network. The method includes: receiving a first data packet from a first interface of the passive optical network, the first data packet including precedence information; encapsulating the first data packet in a second data packet at the first interface; and transmitting the second data packet through the passive optical network toward a second interface, wherein encapsulating includes inserting in a header field of the second data packet a value indicative of the precedence information. The value indicative of the precedence information could include a priority and/or a virtual LAN identifier. |
| US08401011B2 |
Method for formatting signal in mobile communication system
A method for formatting a signal in a mobile communication system by appending a plurality of medium access control headers to a plurality of medium access control-service data units for data transfer between a mobile station and network in the mobile communication system. If the service data units have the same characteristics, a medium access control-protocol data unit is formed by successively coupling the service data units to any one of the medium access control headers. If the service data units have different characteristics, the protocol data unit is formed by sequentially coupling each of the service data units and each of the medium access control headers. The formed protocol data unit is then transformed into a transport block with a predetermined size. A medium access control sublayer formats medium access control-protocol data units according to transport channel characteristics in peer-to-peer communication in such a manner that the protocol data units can have different formats with respect to different transport channels. This makes it possible to provide more efficient functions. |
| US08401004B2 |
Terminal, method and system for performing combination service using terminal capability version
A terminal, method and system for providing a CS service, a SIP-based service, or a CSI service, are provided. According to an embodiment, the terminal includes a controller to receive a terminal capability version of at least one target terminal, to compare the received terminal capability version with a previously stored terminal capability version of the at least one target terminal, and to determine whether to request for terminal capability information of the at least one target terminal based on the comparison result, wherein the terminal capability version identifies a version of capabilities of the at least one target terminal. |
| US08401003B1 |
Method and system for updating physical location information
A method and system for updating physical location data associated with a VoIP endpoint device is implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment, a VoIP endpoint device stores an identifier for a packet-communicating device which is subject to changing. The VoIP endpoint device has an interface for communication over the Internet via the packet-communicating device and uses a circuit-implemented method for prompting a VoIP user to update physical location data associated with the VoIP endpoint device. In response to a power state transition and a change in the stored identifier, the VoIP endpoint device facilitates an update to the physical location data associated with the VoIP service. |
| US08401000B2 |
Method of processing data packets
A method and apparatus for processing data packets. Each data packet comprises data intended to indicate a source of the data packet. The method comprises creating a data packet at a control element. The data of the second data packet intended to indicate a source of the second data packet comprises data indicating the first source, and further comprises data indicating that the second data packet was created by the control element, the second data packet is transmitted to a destination. |
| US08400999B2 |
Method of handling packet data in a wireless communications system and related apparatus
A method of handling packets for a user end in a wireless communications system includes activating a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) procedure, receiving a first packet and decoding the first packet successfully, receiving a second packet following the first packet, and decoding the second packet if the second packet is a retransmission of the first packet. |
| US08400995B2 |
System and method for descrambling data
A method and system for negating a series of packed data bytes simultaneously based on conditional flags is used to descramble the data, as opposed to negating each byte with respect to each conditional flag bit. Sets of scrambled binary values are received. A descrambling code that corresponds to a flag bit sequence used to scramble the sets of binary values is generated. Then the sets of scrambled binary values are descrambled using the descrambling code. The method is particularly suitable for use in a wireless base band receiver. |
| US08400994B2 |
Method for transmitting downlink reference signals in a multi-antenna wireless communication system
A method for transmitting downlink reference signal in a multi-antenna wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes allocating RSs for a first antenna group to a subframe having a predetermined area with different access levels for user equipments having different access capabilities, pairing RSs for a second antenna group with RSs for the first antenna group, allocating the paired RSs to the predetermined area of the subframe in code division multiplexing, and transmitting the subframe on the downlink. |
| US08400987B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-channel medium access control
Systems and methods for controlling communication on a control channel and service channels of an ad hoc wireless network includes periodically switching to the control channel during a control interval, periodically switching to one of the service channels during a service interval, and variably switching to another of the service channels during the service interval. |
| US08400985B2 |
Femtocell discovery and association in cellular networks
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for discovery and association, by a mobile station, of a femto base station from a plurality of base stations. The mobile station may select a base station for consideration for association by decoding a physical layer identifier to determine that the base station is a macro base station and select a different base station based on other considerations. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08400984B2 |
Access stratum manager
A multi-mode mobile communication device includes a processing device, a memory sub-system, a communication sub-system operable to communicate with wireless access networks, and a protocol stack stored in the memory sub-system and executed by the processing device. The protocol stack includes a first access stratum, a second access stratum, a non-access stratum and an access stratum manager. The first access stratum communicates with a first wireless access network via the communication sub-system. The second access stratum communicates with a second wireless access network via the communication sub-system. The non-access stratum communicates with a core network. The access stratum manager interfaces the non-access stratum with the first and second access strata, and is operable to activate the first access stratum to establish a communication link with the core network over the first wireless access network. |
| US08400983B2 |
Communication system and method, and gateway
To realize a handover in which a gateway connecting to the access networks using different protocols is an anchor.In a communication system, the gateway holds a service identifier management table for converting a service identifier of different kind with the protocol into a PDN identifier, and at the time of handover, specifies a session to be held with the user identifier and the PDN identifier, selects the same PDN connected to the movement source, and reassigns the same IP address that has been already assigned at the movement source. |
| US08400980B2 |
Fast handover system and method thereof
Disclosed are a fast handover system and a method thereof. The fast handover method can include: allowing a mobile node (MN) to transmit a handover information message to a previous mobile access gateway (PMAG); allowing the PMAG to transmit a fast proxy binding update (FPBU) message to a local mobility anchor (LMA) on the basis of the handover information message received from the MN; allowing the LMA to transmit a handover initiation (HI) message including MN-ID and proxy-care-of address (CoA) of the PMAG to a new MAG (NMAG); transmitting a position update message to the NMAG if the MN is attached to a target BS that is connected to the NMAG; and allowing the NMAG to deliver a buffered packet to the MN. |
| US08400978B2 |
Method for multiplexing data and control information
A method for multiplexing a data information stream, including a systematic symbol and a non-systematic symbol, and a control information stream of at least three types in a wireless mobile communication system is disclosed. The method includes mapping the data information stream to a resource area so that the systematic symbol is not mapped to a specific resource area to which the control information stream is mapped, and mapping the control information stream to the specific resource area. |
| US08400976B2 |
Method and system for allocating media access control layer resources in a wireless communication environment
A method and system for allocating shareable wireless transmission resources. A resource pool is established. The resource pool is divided into a plurality of physical layer allocation units usable for wirelessly transmitting control information and traffic data. The allocation units are assigned at the media access control layer for the wireless transmission of the control information and traffic data. The system and method of the present invention also allows mobile stations to be dynamically grouped into multicast groupings to reduce system overhead resource requirements. |
| US08400973B2 |
Method and node for determining bandwidth allocations in a radio communication network
A network includes a first node and a second node and data frames are transmitted from the first node to the second node. Each of the data frames carry information belonging to one of a plurality of data flows. In a flow control unit (125) there is an estimate or measure determining unit (1201) for determining for each of the data flows, at the ends of first time periods having a predetermined first length, an estimate of or a measure representing the total number of received data frames that have been faulty during the first time period. A reference calculating unit (1101) is connected to the estimate or measure determining unit for calculating, based on the determined estimate or measure, a bandwidth capacity reference value determining the currently maximum allowable bandwidth for transmission from the data transmitting node to the data receiving node. The first node can be a radio network controller and the second node a radio base station, the data frames forwarded in an HS-DSCH over an Iub interface. |
| US08400966B2 |
Computer assisted VOIP communication method and system
A computer assisted VoIP communication method and system. A remote server comprises a database in which is stored generic data of a plurality of displayed mobile phones. A personal computer in communication with the remote server comprises a local memory device in which is storable user-specific data of a known mobile phone, and an input device for selecting a desired mobile phone displayed in the remote website and for downloading the generic data associated with the selected phone to the memory device. Following generation of a virtual phone having a shape, key arrangement and functionality similar to those of the known mobile phone on the computer screen, a type and recipient of a session to be established are defined by virtually selecting a desired number and sequence of keys of the virtual phone or by entering commands. A session is established by a VoIP application residing on the computer. |
| US08400963B2 |
System and method for accelerated network entrance
In one embodiment, a method for wireless communication includes providing, at a base station, access to a network to a preferred endpoint during a first communication session. In addition, the method includes determining, at the base station, to treat the preferred endpoint as preferred. The method also includes causing, at the base station, at least one parameter regarding the preferred endpoint used to establish the first communication session to be stored in response to determining to treat the preferred endpoint as preferred. In addition, the method includes receiving, at the base station, a request for a second communication session after the first communication session has ended. Further, the method includes determining, at the base station, that the request for the second communication session was sent by the preferred endpoint. The method also includes retrieving, at the base station, the stored at least one parameter in response to determining that the preferred endpoint sent the request for the second communication session. Moreover, the method includes utilizing, at the base station, the retrieved at least one parameter to establish the second communication session with the preferred endpoint. The method also includes providing, at the base station, access to the network to the preferred endpoint during the second communication session. |
| US08400961B1 |
Wireless multimedia brokerage service for real time content provisioning
A wireless multimedia brokerage service supports sharing of real-time multimedia content whereby a mobile device user can perceive real-time content from a device in visual proximity, such as a nearby display device, and share the content of the display device with another mobile terminal user without the need to download or otherwise directly access the real-time content. The brokerage service can handle the transactional details of obtaining rights to the real-time content and also manage establishing and terminating a real-time multimedia session with the device(s) of the recipient user(s). In some embodiments, the wireless multimedia content brokerage service can proactively obtain subscriptions to content providers based on the location of one or more users. The brokerage service can also proactively obtain and buffer real-time content after receiving a request to share the content, with the buffering allowing for content to be preserved while the recipient user or users are contacted. The content can then be pushed or otherwise provided to the recipient(s). |
| US08400960B2 |
Method of distributive reservation of a medium in a radio communications network
Method for reservation of a medium in a radio communication network for data transmission between stations (A-E) of the network comprising at least one station (A, B, E) operating according to a first protocol (DRP) and a second station (C, D) operating according to a second protocol (802.11), the method comprises the steps of: providing a contention free period (23) within the first and second protocol; performing the reservation of the medium for the first station (A, B, E) according to the first protocol; and performing the reservation of the medium for the second station (C, D) according to the second protocol, announcing the contention free period for the first and second protocol by use of the same signal (21, 22, 31, 33). In particular a beacon signal is used, wherein the beacon includes a signal (488) which is recognized and accepted by the second stations (C, D). Further information (404) is added into the beacon frame (41) for reserving reservation periods (23) for the first stations (A, B, E). |
| US08400954B2 |
System and method of authenticating mobile devices
Systems and methods for providing network access to mobile devices that travel with a vehicle, such as a train, a bus, a boat, etc. along or adjacent to a relatively fixed path that may extend over a large geographic area. Mobile devices access the network through stationary access points arranged along or adjacent to the path and communicate with a communication network. The communication network may be arranged as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) local area network emulation (LANE) network. One of the mobile devices may be a mobile access point which can couple other mobile devices to the network and record authentication information of other mobile devices so that fast transitions can be made from one stationary access point to another as the vehicle moves along the path. |
| US08400949B2 |
Limited system information decoding for automatic neighbor relations in mobile networks
A UE in the idle or semi-idle state determines that a wirelessly received signal is scrambled by a scrambling code which is not within a locally stored list of scrambling codes received from its serving network node, and applies a rule to determine from the scrambling code whether to decode broadcast system information that is transmitted by an access node using the scrambling code. In one embodiment such a rule is that if the scrambling code is not within the list, do not decode the broadcast system information again if the scrambling code is locally stored from a previous instance of decoding the system information. Another rule embodiment is if the scrambling code is not within the list, do not attempt to decode the system information unless a measured signal strength for the wirelessly received signal is higher than a threshold, which may be absolute or dependent on strength of a signal received from the serving network node. |
| US08400947B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for specifying a particular ENUM service type in a communications network that utilizes a plurality of different ENUM service types
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for specifying an ENUM service type in a communications network that uses a plurality of different ENUM service types. According to one method, at least one ENUM service type is identified from a plurality of different ENUM service types. The identification is performed at a signaling point separate from an ENUM database. An ENUM query message corresponding to the at least one identified ENUM service type is generated. The ENUM query message is transmitted to an at least one ENUM server for providing the at least one identified ENUM service type. |
| US08400945B2 |
Transit prevention in hub-and-spoke topologies using link state protocols
In one embodiment, a method and apparatus of controlling transmission of data packets in a communications network includes designating all networking devices in a portion of the communications network as either hubs or spokes, communicating a link-state advertisement to each connected hub and spoke in the portion of the communications network, computing a shortest path tree at all the hubs and the spokes based on the link-state advertisement, the computing including truncating the shortest path tree at the hubs only for links leading from the spoke to the hub, creating a routing table at each of the hub and the spoke based on the truncated shortest path tree, and transmitting the data packets in the communications network based on the link-state advertisement. The shortest path tree includes all data transmission routes in the tree except links leading from a spoke to a hub. |
| US08400942B2 |
Large frame path MTU discovery and communication for FCoE devices
Embodiments of the invention relate to performing network communications according to an existing protocol by using frames that are larger than those usually allowed by the existing protocol. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide for an extension of the existing protocol which allows for the use of larger frames. The larger frames may result from the use of larger payloads and their size may be defined in terms of the payload size. Embodiments provide for use of various negotiation and initialization mechanisms of the existing protocol with additional modifications to allow for the negotiation of the use of larger frames. These modifications may provide for end to end negotiation of a larger frame or payload size. Some embodiments ensure that the negotiations are performed in such a manner that devices that feature the improvements of the present invention can communicate with devices that do not feature these improvements. |
| US08400936B2 |
Methods and apparatus to provison name-servers
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to provision name-servers. An example system disclosed herein includes a name-server evaluator to determine capacities of the plurality of name-servers, a provisioner to compute profile assignment values based on a plurality of subscriber identifiers, and an assignor to assign the subscriber identifiers to one of the plurality of name-servers based on the profile assignment values and the capacities. |
| US08400934B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing discontinuous reception and downlink inter-frequency and inter-radio access technology measurements in cell—fach state
A method and apparatus of performing discontinuous reception (DRX) and downlink inter-frequency and inter-radio access technology (RAT) measurements in CELL_FACH state are disclosed. While in DRX mode, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may perform inter-frequency and inter-RAT measurements in a measurement occasion that fall into a DRX period. The WTRU may perform the measurements while T321 timer is running. The WTRU may take the measurements on first predetermined number of frame in which a DRX frame would coincide after a last reception frame if DRX operation was ongoing. The WTRU may periodically wake up for downlink reception in CELL_FACH state in accordance with a common DRX pattern that is common to all WTRUs in a cell or may wake up from DRX upon reception of the order and receiving a common traffic. |
| US08400933B2 |
Efficient probabilistic counting scheme for stream-expression cardinalities
In one embodiment, a method of monitoring a network. The method includes, at each node of a fixed set, constructing a corresponding vector of M components based on data packets received at the node during a time period, M being an integer greater than 1, the fixed set being formed of some nodes of the network; and, based on the constructed vectors, estimating how many of the received data packets have been received by all of the nodes of the set or estimating how many flows of the received data packets have data packets that have passed through all of the nodes of the set. The constructing includes updating a component of the vector of one of the nodes in response to the one of the nodes receiving a data packet. The updating includes selecting the component for updating by hashing a property of the data packet received by the one of the nodes. |
| US08400932B2 |
Method of providing voice over IP at predefined QoS levels
The present invention is a technique for provisioning and assessment of voice quality in Internet Protocol (IP) voice applications. A predetermined quality of service (QoS) is received from a user in the form of an acceptable packet loss. The technique measures current packet loss and delay in the network and in the terminal, and determines and optimum play-out delay for the use by a play-out adaptation routine. An actual QoS is reported back to the user. To enhance packet delay and loss measurement, a QoS engine component is placed on the terminal side of the packetizer, therefore including packetizer losses in any measurement of the network. |
| US08400930B2 |
Communication quality diagnostic unit
The invention achieves a communication quality diagnostic unit capable of detecting an omen phenomenon of a communication trouble early in a stage prior to actual emergence of the communication trouble due to a noise, thereby issuing a warning. The communication quality diagnostic unit for diagnosing quality of communication for transmitting and receiving frames at predetermined interval time, comprising a frame-interval time detector for monitoring interval time between the frames, a frame-interval abnormality determiner for making determination as the case of diagnostic abnormality when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded by frame-interval time as detected, and a diagnostic abnormality notifier for notifying a host unit of the diagnostic abnormality as an alarm. |
| US08400928B2 |
Method of reporting channel state
A method of reporting a channel state for a plurality of bands includes transmitting channel quality indicators (CQIs) for the respective bands, and transmitting CQI variation information, wherein the CQI variation information comprises CQI up/down information indicating whether the CQIs of the respective bands collectively increase or decrease and a CQI variation indicating a collective variation of the CQIs of the respective bands. Accordingly, waste of resources consumed for the CQIs can be reduced. |
| US08400924B2 |
Credit management when resource granularity is larger than credit granularity
In one embodiment, a receiver on a credit-based flow-controlled interface is configured to free one or more data credits early when a data payload is received that incurs fewer unused data credits within a buffer memory that is allocated at a coarser granularity than the data credits. In another embodiment, header credits and data credits are dynamically adjusted based on actual packet data payload sizes. |
| US08400922B2 |
System and method for avoiding stall using timer for high-speed downlink packet access system
At least one timer is used to prevent a stall condition. If a timer is not active, the timer is started for a data block that is correctly received. The data block has a sequence number higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received. When the timer is stopped or expires, all correctly received data blocks among data blocks up to and including a data block having a sequence number that is immediately before the sequence number of the data block for which the timer was started is delivered to a higher layer. Further, all correctly received data blocks up to a first missing data block, including the data block for which the timer was started, is delivered to the higher layer. |
| US08400918B2 |
Video traffic smoothing
Video traffic smoothing may be provided. A video stream may be divided into segments for transmission. For each segment, a desired transmission rate and a range of possible transmission rates may be established. The desired transmission rate may be evaluated to determine whether the rate may result in an overflow and/or a starvation of a memory buffer associated with a receiver. The transmission rate and/or the segment size may be varied to avoid these scenarios. |
| US08400911B2 |
System and method for packet timing of circuit emulation services over networks
A system and method for managing information communication in a network includes a plurality of network nodes. A plurality of circuit emulation data flows are established between a first network node and at least a second network node. Different data transmission rates are assigned to each circuit emulation data flow such that the frequency of communicated packets is different at least for each circuit emulation data flow used for timing recovery to make the plurality of circuit emulation data flows substantially independent of each other. For example, different frame rates can be assigned to synchronous backhaul transmission links such that the frequency of the backhaul transmission rates is substantially independent of the circuit emulation flow rates. |
| US08400910B1 |
Associated tunnels terminating on different packet switches and relaying packets via different tunnel combinations
Packet switch operating methods and packet switches forward a first packet to a first packet switch via an active primary tunnel terminating on the first packet switch. The primary tunnel is associated with an inactive backup tunnel terminating on a different second packet switch. The methods and packet switches also deactivate the primary tunnel, activate the backup tunnel, and forward a second packet to the second packet switch via the activated backup tunnel. Network operating methods relay a first packet to a first one of a plurality of destination packet switches via two or more different tunnels in a first combination. The methods and packets switches also deactivate one of the tunnels of the first combination without deactivating any other tunnel of the first combination and relay a second packet to a second one of the packet switches via two or more different tunnels in a second combination. |
| US08400909B2 |
Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus, mobile communications system and transmission control method
A disclosed transmission apparatus comprises a switching portion that switches radio access methods; a frequency domain signal generation portion that allocates a radio resource to a spread chip sequence on which one of a fast Fourier transformation and a series/parallel conversion is performed in accordance with the switched radio accessed method, so as to generate a signal in a frequency domain; and a transmission signal generation portion that performs a fast inverse Fourier transformation on the signal in the frequency domain so as to generate a transmission signal. |
| US08400904B2 |
Hierarchical-cell communication system using asymmetric feedback scheme based on class of access network
A small cell communication system may reduce interference occurring in a macro terminal through beamforming, even when using the same frequency resources as used by a macro communication system. For example, the small cell communication system may use a larger amount of radio resources than the macro communication system for transmission of feedback information in an uplink. For example, the small cell communication system may use a codebook having a larger size than a size of a codebook used by the macro communication system. |
| US08400903B2 |
Optical information recording medium, reproducing device for optical information recording medium, control method and control program for the reproducing device, and medium with the control program recorded therein
A super-resolution medium (1) has a medium identification information for specifying a type of medium recorded in a medium information area (3) by use of pre-pits having a length not shorter than a length of a resolution limit of an optical system in a reproducing device (10). |
| US08400901B2 |
Optical pickup device
An astigmatism element converges laser light in a first direction for generating a first focal line, and converges the laser light in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for generating a second focal line. A light separating element guides the laser light entered into two first areas and into two second areas to four positions different from each other. The light separating element imparts a light separating function to the laser light entered into the first two areas in directions identical to each other and with magnitudes different from each other, and imparts a light separating function to the laser light entered into the two second areas in directions identical to each other and with magnitudes different from each other. |