| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08424006B2 |
Task assignment on heterogeneous three-dimensional/stacked microarchitectures
A method of enhancing performance of a three-dimensional microarchitecture includes determining a computational demand for performing a task, selecting an optimization criteria for the task, identifying at least one computational resource of the microarchitecture configured to meet the computational demand for performing the task, and calculating an evaluation criteria for the at least one computational resource based on the computational demand for performing the task. The evaluation criteria defines an ability of the computational resource to meet the optimization criteria. The method also includes assigning the task to the computational resource based on the evaluation criteria of the computational resource in order to proactively avoid creating a hot spot on the three-dimensional microarchitecture. |
| US08424002B2 |
Method, system and program of outputting information
An information output method for displaying information of a computer system executing a plurality of tasks including: reading out task construction information corresponding to a task executed by the computer system from a storage device and displaying by an output device the task construction information in a task construction display area inside an output area; reading out logical construction information associated with the task construction information from the storage device and displaying by the output device the logical construction information in a logical construction display area inside the output area; and reading out physical construction information associated with the logical construction information from the storage device and displaying by the output device the physical construction information in a physical construction display area inside the output area. |
| US08423999B2 |
Computer system, virtual machine monitor and scheduling method for virtual machine monitor
In a computer system according to the background art, when a request to halt a virtual processor was detected, the virtual processor was blocked. In the blocking method, latency of virtual halt exit of the virtual processor was so long that a problem of performance was caused. A virtual machine monitor selects either of a busy wait method for making repeatedly examination until the virtual halt state exits while the virtual processor stays on the physical processor and a blocking method for stopping execution of the virtual processor and scheduling other virtual processors on the physical processor while yielding the operating physical processor and checking off scheduling of the virtual processor to the physical processor, based on a virtual processor halt duration predicted value of the virtual processor which is an average value of latest N virtual processor halt durations of the virtual processor. |
| US08423992B1 |
Automated file delivery systems and methods
The invention provides systems and methods for automatically delivering a file from an originating computer system including a processor and memory to a destination computer system including a processor and memory. The method includes creating at least one master file delivery application and at least two file delivery agents running on the at least one originating computer system. A first file delivery agent of the at least two file delivery agents is controlled by a first master file delivery application of the at least one master file delivery application. A second file delivery agent of the at least two file delivery agents is run either by a second master file application. The method also includes dynamically balancing loads by the one master file delivery application, between the first file delivery agent controlled by the first master file delivery application and the second file delivery agent. The balancing is based on a number of files retrieved by the first file delivery agent and a number of files retrieved by the second file delivery agent; and transmitting at least one file according to at least one destination parameter associated with the at least one file. |
| US08423990B2 |
Installing software onto a client through a network, and corresponding client
The present invention relates to a method and system for installing software onto a client in the NIM environment and corresponding client. Said method includes: initializing said client, wherein a virtual mapping device associated with a memory driver of the client is created, the virtual mapping device for scheduling between the client's memory driver and the remote NIM server with respect to the I/O operation for running the software so as to direct the I/O operation for running said software to the client's memory driver or the remote NIM server; running said software on the client; acquiring the resources desired for running software; and conducting data migration operation from the NIM server to the client while running said software, wherein the migrated data is the resource data obtained from NIM server and desired for installing said software; and the software installation being completed when all the data desired for installing said software are migrated to the memory driver of the client. It is unnecessary for the present invention to copy all the installation images to the local client before installing software, therefore time delay of installing OSs or application programs can be shortened or even eliminated. |
| US08423986B1 |
Random utility generation technology
Random utility generation technology, in which configuration data that is descriptive of benchmark program complexity and scale is accessed and configuration parameters used in generating random benchmark programs are set based on the accessed configuration data. Predefined code elements that are used in generating random benchmark programs are accessed and a random benchmark program that has the benchmark program complexity and scale is constructed based on the accessed code elements and the set configuration parameters. |
| US08423984B2 |
System and method generating object code
An object code generating system includes: a storage unit configured to store a first source file; and an object code generating section. The object code generating section is configured to read the first source file, generate function data indicating an arrangement address and size of each of the functions in the first source file, generate an execution format file for the first source file; and read a second source file obtained by modifying at least one of the functions as a specific function in the first source file, and the function data from the storage unit, generate a dummy function corresponding to the modified specific function when the modified specific function is discovered in the second source file, arrange the dummy function at an arrangement address different from the arrangement addresses of the functions, and arrange a branch command to the dummy function at the different arrangement address. |
| US08423980B1 |
Methods for handling inlined functions using sample profiles
While optimizing executable code, compilers traditionally make static determinations about whether or not to inline functions. Embodiments of the invention convert dynamic hardware-event sampling information into context-specific edge frequencies, which can be used to make inlining decisions for functions. |
| US08423977B2 |
Implementing a class oriented data flow program on a programmable hardware element
System and method for converting a class oriented data flow program to a structure oriented data flow program. A first data flow program is received, where the first data flow program is an object oriented program comprising instances of one or more classes, and wherein the first data flow program is executable to perform a first function. The first data flow program is automatically converted to a second data flow program, where the second data flow program does not include the instances of the one or more classes, and where the second data flow program is executable to perform the first function. The second data flow program is stored on a computer memory, where the second data flow program is configured to be deployed to a device, e.g., a programmable hardware element, and where the second data flow program is executable on the device to perform the first function. |
| US08423976B2 |
Extreme pipeline and optimized reordering technology
The present invention relates to a binary translator for directly translating binary instructions written for a legacy processor to executable binary instructions for a native processor. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention the binary translator is configured as a reconfigurable translator, which enables the binary translator to be used with different legacy processors and/or operating systems and native processors. The binary translators also optimize to take advantage of more efficient native processor instructions and allows portions of the legacy binary code to be disabled and/or new native instructions to be added to the application program without modification of the legacy binary code. |
| US08423975B1 |
System performance simulator
Generally and not exclusively, there is disclosed a method and a routine that may be operated upon by a processor and is contained in a media, to execute a simulation of a system. The routine operates upon a database whose contents are a standardized formulation of the system to be simulated. Generally and not exclusively the standardized database is disclosed. Generally and not exclusively a language is disclosed that describes the characteristics of the system to be described in the database, and that can be converted by a compilation process to yield the data in the database. |
| US08423974B2 |
System and method for call replacement
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable storage media for obfuscating a function call. The method receives a computer program having an annotated function and determines prolog instructions for setting up a stack frame of the annotated function and epilog instructions for tearing down the stack frame. The method places a first portion of the prolog instructions in the computer program preceding a jump to the annotated function and a second portion of the prolog instructions at a beginning of the annotated function. The method places a first portion of the epilog instructions at an end of the annotated function and a second portion of the epilog instructions in the computer program after the jump. Executing the first and second portions of the prolog instructions together sets up the stack frame. Executing the first and the second portions of the epilog instructions together tears down the stack frame. |
| US08423971B2 |
Generating an application software library
Generating an application software library comprises: a static analyser processing a binary input library to identify one or more locations in the binary input library which satisfy a semantic analysis condition; inserting metadata into the binary input library at the one or more locations which satisfy the semantic analysis condition; and linking the binary input library with a binary aspect library to generate the application software library, wherein the binary aspect library includes an aspect definition using the metadata. |
| US08423954B2 |
Interactive container of development components and solutions
Methods, systems, and software for providing or utilizing a software solutions bag of development components and enterprise knowledge—whether developed internally or by third parties—are described herein. One method for managing reusable development components comprises providing a catalog of a plurality of development components to a user. The cataloged development components may include or reference at least a first development component of a first type and a second development component of a second type. A software solutions bag is then generated based on a user selection of at least one of the cataloged development components. |
| US08423950B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing performance and network traffic in distributed workflow processing
Methods and apparatus to optimize workflow execution by making intelligent decisions regarding service requests to perform workflow processes on one or more servers are provided. For some embodiments, a workflow controller may analyze a workflow definition specifying a set of tasks to be performed in order to determine if multiple tasks may be performed locally, on a common server. If so, the controller may generate a remote service to perform the multiple tasks on the common server, without requiring intermediate transfer of data between a local server on which the controller is running and the common remote server. |
| US08423936B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method of designing semiconductor structure to avoid high voltage initiated latch-up in low voltage sectors
A method and semiconductor structure to avoid latch-up is disclosed. The method includes identifying at least one high voltage device on a semiconductor chip, identifying a circuit on the semiconductor chip separated from the identified at least one high voltage device by a guard ring, evaluating the circuit for a latch-up condition, and when the latch-up condition occurs, adjusting the contact-circuit spacing in the circuit. |
| US08423928B2 |
System and method for model based multi-patterning optimization
Some embodiments provide a method for optimally decomposing patterns within particular spatial regions of interest on a particular layer of a design layout for a multi-exposure photolithographic process. Specifically, some embodiments model the spatial region using a mathematical equation in terms of two or more intensities. Some embodiments then optimize the model across a set of feasible intensities. The optimization yields a set of intensities such that the union of the patterns created/printed from each exposure intensity most closely approximates the patterns within the particular regions. Based on the set of intensities, some embodiments then determine a decomposition solution for the patterns that satisfies design constraints of a multi-exposure photolithographic printing process. In this manner, some embodiments achieve an optimal photolithographic printing of the particular regions of interest without performing geometric rule based decomposition. |
| US08423924B1 |
System and method for compressed post-OPC data
According to various embodiments of the invention, systems and methods for system and methods for compressed post-OPC data created during the design and manufacturing of integrated circuits. In one embodiment of the invention, the method begins by generating a post-OPC layout from a circuit layout during the design phase of a circuit. This post-OPC layout is generated by way of an OPC process. Next, a set of differences between the post-OPC layout and the circuit layout are calculated and a dataset containing these differences are generated In some embodiments the dataset is generated during the OPC process. |
| US08423919B2 |
Universal two-input logic gate that is configurable and connectable in an integrated circuit by a single mask layer adjustment
A spare logic circuit for implementing any one of a plurality of logic gates includes a multiplexer circuit whose select inputs are utilized as logic gate inputs, and whose output is utilized as a logic gate output. Each of a plurality of data inputs of the multiplexer circuit is configured to receive one of first and second logic voltage levels which define the desired logic function. By modifying a single photolithographic mask, the spare logic gate can be: configured to perform the desired logic function; connected into a target logic circuit; or both configured and connected into a target logic circuit. |
| US08423918B2 |
Structure and methodology for fabrication and inspection of photomasks by a single design system
A method and system for designing a photomask. The method provides a single machine methodology for inspecting photomasks having regions that repeat and regions that do not repeat. The method includes generating a chip dataset representing an integrated circuit chip design to be included in a cell region of a photomask, generating a kerf dataset to be included in the cell region, generating a kerf copy dataset, and merging the chip dataset, the kerf dataset and the kerf copy dataset into a photomask dataset representing a pattern of clear and opaque regions of the photomask. |
| US08423913B1 |
Methods and apparatus to display style-related information
A system detects an association of at least one style to at least one file, the file containing a reference to the style, and displays a representation of the style. The system also displays a representation of the file, and a representation of the association of the style to the file. The system displays a number of times the style is defined within the one file, and the number of times the style is used within the at least one file. |
| US08423909B2 |
System and method for an interactive filter
A system applies an interactive filter. The system includes a data storage device, a display device, a user interface input device, and a processor. The data storage device stores data. The display device displays an initial representation of the data. The user interface input device facilitates a localized selection of a portion of the initial representation displayed on the display device. The localized selection is determined by hovering a navigation icon in alignment with a selection area corresponding to the portion of the initial representation. The processor dynamically applies a filter parameter to the portion of the initial representation based on the localized selection from the user interface input device. |
| US08423908B2 |
Method for identifying language of text in a handheld electronic device and a handheld electronic device incorporating the same
Incoming e-mails, instant messages, SMS, and MMS, are analyzed by a handheld electronic device to identify the language of text. |
| US08423906B2 |
Cross-component bus channel communication and selection
A method, an application component manager, and a set of instructions are disclosed. A user interface 150 may register a first user component selection and a first user channel selection. A processor 110 may assign a first transmitting application component 220 to transparently broadcast a first transmission on a first bus channel 210 based on the first user component selection and the first user channel selection. |
| US08423900B2 |
Object based adaptive document resizing
What is disclosed is a resizing method that utilizes segmentation information to classify objects found within a document and then selects the most appropriate resizing technique for each identified object. The present method employs readily available document parsers to reliably extract objects. e.g. text, background, images, graphics, etc., which compose the document. Information obtained from a document parser is utilized to identify the document components for classification. The extracted objects are then classified according to their object type. Each of classified objects are then resized using a resizing technique having been pre-selected for the object type based on their respective abilities to resize certain types of document content over other resizing techniques. The present method advantageously extends smart or content-based scaling and is especially useful for N-up or variable-information printing. The present method finds its intended uses in enhancing N-up and handout options currently provided in a variety of print-drivers. |
| US08423898B2 |
System and method for performing calculations using a portable electronic device
An apparatus and method for performing calculations is provided so that a paradigm of a tape is utilized in a calculator application that executes on a computing platform and which is configured to enable a user to see and interact with multiple virtual tapes that each show numerical values and operators. Each tape functions as a user-accessible memory and a memory value may be recalled from any one tape and that value placed on any other tape. The calculator application is configured to enable the user to enter a sequence of values and operators which are all displayable on a given tape, as well as support the user's ability to edit any value or operator that was previously entered on that tape. Calculations are updated to reflect the user's edits on both the tape currently being edited and any other tape that uses the edited tape as a memory. |
| US08423896B2 |
Generating vector geometry from raster input for semi-automatic land planning
One embodiment of the invention includes a land planning tool that maybe used to perform a variety of land planning tasks. The land planning tool may interpret global information systems (GIS) electronic data in conjunction with user-specified constraints to analyze and display a development site, visually indicating developable areas. The user may then use a pen-based device to sketch outlines of land planning objects. As the user sketches, the land planning tool may generate vector geometry stored in an electronic database for use by a variety of computer aided design tools. |
| US08423894B2 |
Method and system for displaying network security incidents
A network security monitor system groups a plurality of security events into network sessions, correlates the network sessions according to a set of predefined network security event correlation rules and generates a security incident for the network sessions that satisfy one of the network security event correlation rules. The system then presents the information of the network sessions and security incidents to a user of the system in an intuitive form. The user is able to not only learn the details of a possible network attack, but also creates new security event correlation rules intuitively, including drop rules for dropping a particular type of events. |
| US08423891B2 |
Management of presentation timing in a distributed presentation environment
A data processing system invokes presentation of a presentation element of a distributed presentation by a plurality of devices. The data processing system receives progress reports from the plurality of devices, where the progress reports indicate progress in presenting the presentation element. The data processing system determines whether a quorum threshold of presentation progress has been achieved based upon the progress reports. In response to determining that the quorum threshold of presentation of presentation progress has been achieved, the data processing system presents an indication that a spoken presentation associated with the presentation element can commence. The notification is presented prior to completion of presentation of the presentation element by at least one of the plurality of devices. |
| US08423887B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
This invention has as its object to provide an information processing apparatus which can process an event generated upon changing an attribute value at high speed. This invention is directed to an information processing apparatus which parses an XML document and converts it into a DOM tree, and has the following characteristic, feature. Upon reception of an operation instruction by the user (step S312), it is checked if the instruction is an instruction including a change of an attribute value (step S313). If it is determined that the instruction is the instruction including the change of the attribute value, type information of the attribute value is acquired, and an event that describes the type information and the instruction contents is generated (steps S315-S318). An event handler processes the instruction contents in accordance with the type information (step S322). |
| US08423886B2 |
Systems and methods for document analysis
The present invention relates to systems and methods for the peer review, originality analysis, and contextual mark-up of formatted electronic documents. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods that utilize layered peer review, originality analysis and contextual markup modules in one view. These systems and methods have many applications, including use for online editing and education. |
| US08423882B2 |
Online navigation of choice data sets
A method and system are provided for communicating with a dynamic online database to display choices within the database. Groups of data within the database are classified through the use of a cluster analysis technique. This technique provides a navigation map of the online database. Choices that are determined to be related are conveyed as such in the navigation map. One or more navigation pages are created and presented to a user responsive to an action on a link for a choice provided in the navigation map. |
| US08423881B2 |
Systems and methods for placing visual links to digital media on physical media
Systems and methods provide for determining a location and size of a visual link to digital media on physical media such as a paper document. An authoring tool for creating a link on a paper document, such as an Embedded Media Marker (EMM), identifies and scores other EMMs and related keypoints on the document to determine similarities between a newly-created EMM and other EMMs and keypoints on the paper document. The scores are visualized for a user on a display in order to position and size the newly-created EMM in a location on the paper document that will avoid confusion with other EMMs and related content. The location and size of the newly-created EMM may be automatically adjusted based on the scoring of the keypoints and related EMMs. |
| US08423879B2 |
Method and apparatus for test generation from hybrid diagrams with combined data flow and statechart notation
A test generator and methods for generating tests from a hybrid diagram are provided. A hybrid diagram is a diagram that primarily uses one higher-level semantic notation with portions utilizing one or more secondary higher-level semantic notations. Example higher-level semantic notations are statechart notation and data-flow notation. A test generator processes the hybrid diagram without reducing the higher-level semantic constructs to lower-level semantic constructs. The test generator generates test-generation templates as needed based on the higher-level semantic model used in the diagram. The test generator uses the test-generation templates to generate tests for a system-performing device specified by the diagram. The generated tests may be executed automatically by a test driver or manually by a human tester. |
| US08423878B2 |
Memory controller and memory system including the same having interface controllers generating parity bits
A memory controller includes first and second interface controllers configured to exchange data with external devices, and an internal block connected between the first and second interface controllers. The first and second interface controllers exchange data received from the external devices and at least one parity bit corresponding to the received data through the internal block. |
| US08423874B2 |
Transmitter and receiver for terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting
Provided is a terrestrial digital broadcasting transmitter. The terrestrial digital broadcasting transmitter may include a Reed-Solomon (RS) encoder to RS-encode an inputted broadcast signal, a forward error correction (FEC) encoder to channel-encode an inputted additional signal associated with the broadcast signal, a selector to select the RS-encoded broadcast signal or the channel-encoded additional signal, and a vestigial side band (VSB) transmitting part to transmit, to a receiver via a transmitting antenna, the selected signal, the selected signal being the RS-encoded broadcast signal or the channel-encoded additional signal selected by the selector. |
| US08423870B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining the start of a data field in a data frame
A method for generating a data frame for data transmission includes using a processor to generate a first padding field. The method also includes using the processor to generate one or more parity bits by encoding an input comprising the first padding field, a syncmark and data to be transmitted. The method also includes using the processor to add the one or more parity bits to the data frame. The method also includes using the processor to add a second padding field after the one or more parity bits. |
| US08423866B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with post-write read and adaptive re-write to manage errors
Data errors in non-volatile memory inevitably increase with usage and with higher density of bits stored per cell. The memory is configured to have a first portion operating with less error but of lower density storage, and a second portion operating with a higher density but less robust storage. Input data is written and staged in the first portion before being copied to the second portion. An error management provides checking the quality of the copied data for excessive error bits. The copying and checking are repeated on a different location in the second portion until either a predetermined quality is satisfied or the number or repeats exceeds a predetermined limit. The error management is not started when a memory is new with little or no errors, but started after the memory has aged to a predetermined amount as determined by the number of erase/program cycling its has experienced. |
| US08423865B2 |
Apparatus and method for storing data using non-volatile buffer
An apparatus and method for storing data using a non-volatile buffer. A first data is stored in a first non-volatile buffer according to a first input/output request. The first data stored in the first non-volatile buffer is written into a memory cell while a second data is being stored in a second non-volatile buffer according to a second input/output request. |
| US08423864B2 |
Receiving apparatus, receiving method, program, and receiving system
A receiving apparatus includes: a deinterleaving device configured to perform a deinterleaving process on an LDPC-coded data signal having undergone an interleaving process, the LDPC representing Low Density Parity Check, by use of a memory which has columns capable of storing as many as “a” data, the “a” being an integer of at least 1; and a control device configured such that if the data signal is supplied in units of N data, the N being an integer smaller than the “a,” the control device controls the deinterleaving device to write the data signal to a predetermined address of the memory while reading previously written data from the predetermined address in a write period, the control device further controlling the deinterleaving device to stop writing the data signal to the predetermined address of the memory while reading the previously written data from the predetermined address in a write inhibit period. |
| US08423863B2 |
Terminal transmission apparatus for providing multimedia service via satellite communication link and method for providing multimedia service using the same
The present invention separates inputted triple play IP data into Internet and TV data and voice (VoIP) data, encodes the Internet and TV data permitting a long delay time according to the existing DVB-S2 standard, and encodes the voice data permitting only a short delay time according to a DVB-RCS+M standard based 4K mode. Each encoded data is subjected to the orthogonal modulation and the orthogonally modulated voice data is subjected to a direct sequence spectrum spread according to a spreading factor. The spread spectrum signal is multiplexed in a SCPC frequency division multiple access (FDMA) scheme so as to overlap with frequencies allocated to each user. |
| US08423857B2 |
Method for end-to-end hybrid automatic repeat request and system thereof
A method for an end-to-end hybrid automatic repeat request and a system thereof are provided. The method is applicable in a cognitive radio network (CRN) including at least a source node and a destination node. There are paths between a source node and a destination node in the CRN, and each path has a plurality of wireless links. The method includes the following steps. The source node encodes information into a coded packet, divides the coded packet into coded sub-packets, and transmits the coded sub-packets to the paths. Through the wireless links of each path, a coded sub-packet is amplified and forwarded to the destination node. In addition, the destination node combines the coded sub-packets for decoding so as to recover the information, and transmits an acknowledgement packet to the source node for notifying whether the information is successfully recovered. |
| US08423856B2 |
Method and apparatus for semi-persistent scheduling activation detection
A method for activating a semi-persistent scheduled (SPS) resource using a user agent (UA) is presented. A downlink (DL) communication may be received by a UA using a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The DL communication may include a control message. When the control message is associated with an SPS Cell-Radio Network Terminal Identifier (C-RNTI) of the UA, the method may include retrieving a value of a New Data Indicator (NDI) field. When the value of the NDI field is equal to 0, the method may include inspecting the control message to determine whether the control message indicates an SPS activation. When the control message indicates an SPS activation, the method may include activating an SPS resource identified by the control message. |
| US08423848B2 |
Server and method for testing inter-integrated circuit devices
A server includes a baseboard management controller (BMC). More than one inter-integrated circuit (I2C) device may be connected to the BMC via a multiplexing switch. The server sets a first identifier for indicating which channels of I2C device are open, and a second identifier for indicating which channels of the I2C devices are closed, and sends the set information to the BMC. To test a selected I2C device, the server opens a channel to the selected I2C device and assigns the first identifier to the channel of the selected I2C device. During testing of the selected I2C device, if the BMC intends to access a different I2C device, the BMC waits for the identifier of the selected I2C device to change from the first identifier to the second identifier, and then opens a channel to the different I2C device. |
| US08423842B2 |
Test apparatus and test method for testing a memory device
A test apparatus for testing a memory device including a memory cell. The test apparatus includes a storage and a controller. The storage stores a first value. The controller executes, at a given timing, determining a second value which is a threshold limit value to read data of the memory cell correctly on the basis of an output of the memory cell, calculating a difference between the first value and the second value, outputting a deterioration information on the basis of the difference between the first value and the second value, and updating the first value stored in the storage to the second value. |
| US08423841B1 |
Method and systems for memory testing and test data reporting during memory testing
The present invention provides a method and system for improving memory testing efficiency, raising the speed of memory testing, detecting memory failures occurring at the memory operating frequency, and reducing data reported for redundancy repair analysis. The memory testing system includes a first memory tester extracting failed memory location information from the memory at a higher memory operating frequency, an external memory tester receiving failed memory location information at a lower memory tester frequency, and an interface between the first memory tester and the external memory tester. The memory testing method uses data strobes at the memory tester frequency to clock out failed memory location information obtained at the higher memory operating frequency. In addition, the inventive method reports only enough information to the external memory tester for it to determine row, column and single bit failures repairable with the available redundant resources. The present invention further provides a redundant resource allocation system, which uses a bad location list and an associated bad location list to classify failed memory locations according to a predetermined priority sequence, and allocates redundant resources to repair the failed memory locations according to the priority sequence. |
| US08423837B2 |
High reliability and low power redundancy for memory
An integrated circuit containing a memory array, a redundancy circuit and a redundancy error correction circuit coupled to said redundancy circuit. A method for constructing a redundancy word which corresponds to each memory segment and a method for error checking the redundancy word during a memory access request. |
| US08423836B2 |
Method and system for detecting a failure in an error correcting unit
In order to detect a faulty error correcting unit (2) in an embedded system, wherein the error correcting unit (2) receives output data from a data source (20) and determines, whether the received data are incorrect, and wherein if the received data are incorrect, the error correcting unit (2) is expected to correct at least one error within the received data, output the corrected data and manipulate an error vector (4), a method and a system (Ia) are suggested that enable to compare the output data of the error correcting unit (2) with at least one reference data, wherein the at least one reference data originate at least indirectly from the data source (20). Both, the error vector (4) and the result of the comparison are input to a plausibility test in order to decide, whether the error correcting unit (2) is faulty. According to the result of the plausibility test, a failure vector (7) is manipulated in order to indicate whether a failure in the error correcting unit (2) is detected. |
| US08423832B2 |
System and method for preventing processor errors
A system for preventing processor errors in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a processor core, a patch, and a controller. The patch configures the processor core to detect occurrences of an event indicative of an imminent error in the processor core. The controller is configured to adjust, in response to a detection of an occurrence of the event by the processor core, a clock signal or a power signal provided to the processor core such that the imminent error is prevented. |
| US08423830B2 |
Debug method for computer system
A debug method for computer system is disclosed. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, a first index is increased. Next, a first debug data to a jth debug data are received via a debug port of controller. Then, the first debug data to the jth debug data are sequentially stored to a first memory block of a storage unit of the controller according to the second index of controller. Afterwards, the (i+1)th debug data to the jth debug data are copied to the second memory block from the first memory block according to the increased first index before a controller's power supply is removed or the computer system enters a sleep state. Lastly, an application is implemented so that the second memory block is read according to the first index; wherein, i and j are integers. |
| US08423826B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for displaying result of failure root cause analysis
A management system comprises at the least a first analysis rule information and a second analysis rule information, acquires a first analysis result and a second analysis result based on a detected status of an information processing apparatus, and aggregates and displays a first analysis result and a second analysis result based on (A) a cause denoted by an analysis result, (B) a status condition of analysis rule information that forms the basis for the analysis result, or (C) a detected status. |
| US08423824B2 |
Power sparing synchronous apparatus
Embodiments include a system, an apparatus, a device, and a method. An apparatus includes a synchronous circuit including a first subcircuit powered by a first power plane having a first power plane voltage and a second subcircuit powered by a second power plane having a second power plane voltage. The apparatus also includes an error detector operable to detect an incidence of a computational error occurring in the first subcircuit. The apparatus includes a controller operable to change the first power plane voltage based upon the detected incidence of a computational error. The apparatus also includes a power supply configured to electrically couple with a portable power source and operable to provide a selected one of at least two voltages to the first power plane in response to the controller. |
| US08423822B2 |
Storage system and method of controlling the same
A storage system, method and program product, the system comprising: storage devices; and a controller configured to: provide virtual volumes to a host computer; manage logical units on the storage device and storage pools; allocate, in response to receiving a write request to a virtual volume, a storage region of the storage pools; and store data related to the write request in the storage region allocated, wherein the controller is further configured to: allocate first storage region in first storage pool to first virtual volume based on first size of the first storage region or the first virtual volume; allocate a second storage region in a second storage pool to a second virtual volume of the plurality of virtual volumes based on a second size of the second storage region or the second virtual volume. |
| US08423819B2 |
Data storage device, controller, and data access method for a downgrade memory
The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device is coupled to a host, and comprises a downgrade memory and a controller. The downgrade memory comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks comprises a plurality of pages, each of the pages comprises a plurality of sectors, and some of the sectors are defect sectors. The controller generates a defect table for recording a plurality of defect addresses of the defect sectors in the blocks, receives a plurality of data sectors to be written to the downgrade memory from the host, determines a plurality of first physical sector addresses for storing the data sectors according to the defect table, and sends write commands to the downgrade memory to direct the downgrade memory to write the data sectors to the downgrade memory according to the first physical sector addresses. |
| US08423817B2 |
Method, system, and device for resetting network elements
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include detecting a fault associated with a network element that is communicatively coupled to a network. After detecting the fault, the network element may receive a reset signal in response to the fault detection. After receiving the reset signal, the network element may store a new image of an operating system of the network element into memory associated with the network element. After storing the new image, the network element may reboot. During reboot, the method may load the stored new image of the operating system from memory associated with the network element. |
| US08423811B2 |
Transparently increasing power savings in a power management environment
A mechanism is provided for transparently consolidating resources of logical partitions. Responsive to the existence of the non-folded resource on an originating resource chip, the virtualization mechanism determines whether there is a destination resource chip to either exchange operations of the non-folded resource with a folded resource on the destination chip or migrate operations of the non-folded resource to a non-folded resource on the destination chip. Responsive to the existence of the folded resource on the destination resource chip, the virtualization mechanism transparently exchanges the operations of the non-folded resource from the originating resource chip to the folded resource on the destination resource chip, where the folded resource remains folded on the originating resource chip after the exchange. Responsive to the absence of another non-folded resource on the originating resource chip, the vitalization mechanism places the originating resource chip into a deeper power saving mode. |
| US08423807B2 |
Generating power management parameters of power consumption devices by independent and selective component testing and monitoring of each power consumption device
A power management method and system. The method includes retrieving and storing by a computer processor, identification data identifying power consumption devices. Each power consumption device receives an input voltage signal and consumes power. The computer processor monitors a power consumption level for each power consumption device. The computer processor disables each power consumption device from receiving and consuming power. The computer processor generates an association list associating each power consumption level with the identification data. The computer processor generates and stores a prioritization list indicating an order of priority for disabling the power consumption devices. |
| US08423804B2 |
System and method for adjusting system performance based on an output power of a power adapter determined according to an over current recovering time
A method for adjusting a system performance of a portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device is connected to a power adapter for obtaining external power supply. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a voltage signal outputted from the power adapter; determining whether to execute an over current protection by the power adapter; calculating a recovering time of the voltage signal if the over current protection is executed by the power adapter, wherein the recovering time is a time period from stopping an output of the voltage signal to restarting the output thereof; and determining an output power of the power adapter to adjust the system performance of the portable electronic device according to the recovering time. |
| US08423802B2 |
Power scaling module and power scaling unit of an electronic system having a function unit in a standby state which is insensitive to change in frequency or voltage during synchronization
A power scaling unit (PSU) of an electronic system is provided. The PSU includes a software programming interface (SPI) and a PSM. The SPI receives a transaction through software programming. The PSM receives the transaction from the SPI and controls a power driving element (PDE) of the electronic system to change an output of the PDE provided to a function unit of the electronic system according to the transaction. The output of the PDE is an operating voltage or an operating clock signal of the function unit. The transaction includes a command defining a power scaling operation to be performed by the PSM, a parameter used by the operation, and an event mask specifying an event which triggers the operation. |
| US08423796B2 |
Storage device and data processing method of storage device
A storage device and a data processing method of the storage device are provided which can prevent leaking of data attributed to stealing or taking out of a disk device. The storage device includes: disk adapters, each connected to HDDs which constitute one or more RAID groups; and a management part which manages a storage area provided by the HDDs in a state that the storage area is divided into logical storage areas, and manages the RAID groups. The management part sets an encryption state indicative of whether or not the data is to be encrypted with respect to the RAID groups when all of the disk adapters are connected to the HDDs which belong to the RAID groups are encryption adapters. The management part also encrypts, based on the encryption state set with respect to the RAID groups, and stores the encrypted data in the HDD. |
| US08423794B2 |
Method and apparatus for upgrading a memory card that has security mechanisms for preventing copying of secure content and applications
A secure flash memory card or flash drive protects user content from unauthorized duplication. However, even the protected user content can be moved from one flash card or drive to another by its rightful owner or licensee. Additionally, secure firmware applications that may be added to the flash card over time in order to add additional functionality to the card may also be moved, although many of them are device specific and also designed to only operate on one particular piece of hardware. |
| US08423792B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for communication between a driver and an encryption source
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for interfacing a driver with an encryption source that uses a communication module that allows the driver and the encryption source to communicate messages to one another, wherein the messages result in the encryption source providing encryption data that the communication module relays to the driver. |
| US08423791B1 |
Location data quarantine system
A computer-implemented method and system of quarantining user location information receives from a user device user location information that includes personally identifiable user data and user position data associated with one or more geographic positions of the user. The user location information is temporarily stored in a quarantine data storage database for a predetermined quarantine time, during such time it can be used for various analyses. After the quarantine time, personally identifiable user data of the user location information is filtered out before the user position data is sent for long-term storage to a filtered data storage system. |
| US08423779B2 |
Compounding security with a security dongle
Exposure of a security mechanism, over time and/or in particular markets, increases the likelihood that the security mechanism will be compromised. A security dongle, however, can resist/delay being comprised by compounding one or more security techniques with the security dongle security mechanism (e.g., a unique identifier of the dongle stored in a secure area of the dongle, a cryptographic token with a private key that cannot be retrieved from the memory of the security dongle, etc.). A dynamic element (e.g., a changing key) and/or an unexposed element (e.g., a private key secured by an owner) can be used in conjunction with a security dongle to buttress against being compromised. Using the dynamic element and/or the unexposed element, the security dongle can be cryptographically bound to at least an identifier of a piece of software enabled by the security dongle. |
| US08423778B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting secure and/or copyrighted digital video broadcasting data over internet protocol network
A content distribution method for video copyright authentication and security comprising the steps of invisibly watermarking digital video data input from a video data source to create watermarked data; encrypting the watermarked digital video data using an encryption key to create encrypted video data; sending the encrypted watermarked digital data and a decryption key to a distribution network; decrypting the encrypted watermarked digital data to generate video data and adding visible watermarking data to the video data to generate visibly encrypted watermarked data compressing the visibly encrypted watermarked data to create compressed data; sending said compressed data and to an end user receiver; decompressing the compressed data at the receiver to generate decompressed data; and displaying the decompressed data to an end user. |
| US08423767B2 |
Security association verification and recovery
Example embodiments herein include a verification process that provides a safe and efficient mechanism for recovering security associations between network devices. More specifically, the verification process transmits a secured message from a first network device to a second network device across a network. Furthermore, the security association includes a parent process and a corresponding child process. The verification process detects, at the first network device, an incompatibility in the security association between the first network device and the second network device. Next, the verification process transmits a status query from the first network device to the second network device in order to determine the status of the security association between the first network device and the second network device. In response, the verification process receives a verifiable reply message that is indicative of the status of the security association between the first network device and the second network device. |
| US08423765B2 |
System and method for remote device registration
A system and method for remote device registration, to monitor and meter the injection of keying or other confidential information onto a device, is provided. A producer who utilizes one or more separate manufacturers, operates a remote module that communicates over forward and backward channels with a local module at the manufacturer. Encrypted data transmissions are sent by producer to the manufacturer and are decrypted to obtain sensitive data used in the devices. As data transmissions are decrypted, credits from a credit pool are depleted and can be replenished by the producer through credit instructions. As distribution images are decrypted, usage records are created and eventually concatenated, and sent as usage reports back to the producer, to enable the producer to monitor and meter production at the manufacturer. |
| US08423761B2 |
Method and device for enabling a trust relationship using an expired public key infrastructure (PKI) certificate
A method and device are useful for enabling a trust relationship using an expired public key infrastructure (PKI) certificate. The method includes determining at a relying party a maximum permissible grace period during which the PKI certificate can be conditionally granted a valid status (step 905). Next, at the relying party an uncertainty interval is determined, during which the relying party is unable to detect a revocation of the PKI certificate (step 910). A certificate grace period is then determined at the relying party from a function of the maximum permissible grace period, the uncertainty interval and at least one attribute defined in the PKI certificate (step 915). Using the PKI certificate, a trust relationship is then enabled between the relying party and a certificate holder of the PKI certificate, after determining the grace period and before an expiration of the grace period (step 920). |
| US08423760B2 |
Method and system for reducing packet overhead for an LTE architecture while securing traffic in an unsecured environment
A first packet is received at a network element from an E-UTRAN Node B (eNB) of an E-UTRAN access network via a secured communications tunnel of a secured connection, where the first packet encapsulates a second packet therein. It is determined whether the network element serves both a security gateway functionality and a serving gateway functionality of a core packet network based on the first packet and the second packet. The network element negotiates with the eNB to switch further communications from a tunnel mode to a transport mode of the secured connection if it is determined that the network element serves both the security gateway functionality and the serving gateway functionality. Thereafter, the network element exchanges further packets with the eNB via the transport mode of the secured connection after the eNB switches from the tunnel mode to the transport mode. |
| US08423757B2 |
Memory initialization by performing parallel execution of firmware and kernel by different CPUs
A memory initialization method in a boot sequence of an information processing apparatus having a memory and a plurality of processors sharing the memory, the memory initialization method includes initializing a first area of the memory required for an operation of the firmware and a second area of the memory required for a kernel activation by executing the firmware stored in a first storage by a first processor, storing the kernel to the initialized second area from a second storage by executing the firmware by the first processor, making a second processor activate and execute the kernel stored in the second area by executing the firmware by the first processor, and initializing a remaining area of the memory by the kernel executed by the second processor and the firmware executed by the first processor in parallel. |
| US08423751B2 |
Microprocessor with fast execution of call and return instructions
A microprocessor includes an instruction set architecture, comprising a call instruction type, a return instruction type, and other instruction types. Execution units correctly execute program instructions of the other instruction types. A call/return stack has a plurality of entries arranged in a last-in-first-out manner. The call/return stack is architectural state of the microprocessor not modifiable by program instructions of the other instruction types. The call/return stack is architectural state of the microprocessor indirectly modifiable by program instructions of the call and return instruction types. The microprocessor also includes a fetch unit that fetches program instructions and sends the program instructions of the other instruction types to the execution units to be correctly executed. The fetch unit correctly executes program instructions of the call and return instruction types without sending the program instructions of the call and return instruction types to the execution units to be correctly executed. |
| US08423749B2 |
Sequential processing in network on chip nodes by threads generating message containing payload and pointer for nanokernel to access algorithm to be executed on payload in another node
A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for controlling an algorithm that is performed on a unit of work in a subsequent software pipeline stage in a Network On a Chip (NOC) is presented. In one embodiment, the method executes a first operation in a first node of the NOC. The first node generates payload, and then loads that payload into a message. The message with the payload is transmitted to a nanokernel that controls a second node in the NOC. The nanokernel calls an algorithm that is needed by a second operation in a second node in the NOC, which uses the algorithm to execute the second operation. |
| US08423748B2 |
Register control circuit and register control method
A register control circuit that controls a register specified by an inputted address includes a signal output that outputs a first control signal and a second control signal based on the inputted address, a selector that selects data of a register specified by the first control signal outputted from the signal output, a logical operator that performs a logical operation of write data outputted from a processor and the data selected by the selector to output an operation result, and a storage that stores data in the register specified by the first control signal by selecting one of the write data and the operation results as the data based on the second control signal outputted from the signal output. |
| US08423746B2 |
Storage system and management method thereof
A storage system having at least two storage apparatuses capable of partitioning an internal resource into logical partitions and managing the logical partitions, and which replicates data written into a primary volume of a primary storage apparatus as the replication source storage apparatus to a secondary volume of a secondary storage apparatus as the replication destination storage apparatus, including: a configuration information sending unit for sending configuration information of the logical partition, to which the primary volume belongs, to the secondary storage apparatus; and a logical partition setting unit for setting the configuration of the logical partition to which the secondary volume belongs based on the configuration information of the logical partition to which the primary volume belongs sent from the configuration information sending unit. |
| US08423745B1 |
Systems and methods for mapping a neighborhood of data to general registers of a processing element
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for mapping a neighborhood of data to general registers of a processing element. Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for mapping a neighborhood of data to general registers that are “neighborhood constrained” because the general register set is of insufficient size in one or more dimensions to fully store a desired neighborhood of data in a manner that maintains the positional arrangement of such data. However, a window access method is employed for mapping the neighborhood of data to the general register set, thereby enabling the neighborhood of data to be stored to the general register set in a manner that maintains the positional arrangement of such data as may be desired for performing nearest-neighbor types of operations by the processing element. |
| US08423742B2 |
Data transfer control apparatus and data transfer control method
A data transfer control apparatus includes a memory, a write control part controlling data writing to the memory, a read control part controlling data reading from the memory, a read-start calculation part calculating an output timing of a notification which indicates a read-start operation to the read control part based on each transfer condition of the data writing to the memory and the data reading from the memory, and an asynchronous transfer part asynchronously transferring a clock of the notification, and notifying the read control part of the notification. |
| US08423741B2 |
Storage control device and data processing system
A storage medium management part includes a stored data amount adjustment part that: stores a maximum data amount which the storage medium can store at the time of startup of a storage control device, and a stored data amount which is an initial stored amount, in a data amount storage part; upon receiving a write amount of a data in response to a write request, writes a new stored data amount calculated by adding the write amount to the already stored data amount, over the already stored data amount; calculates a free space by subtracting the stored data amount from the maximum data amount; determines a deletion amount of the data if the free space does not takes a value not less than a prescribed value; and writes a newly-calculated stored data amount calculated by subtracting the deletion amount from the stored data amount, over the stored data amount. |
| US08423740B2 |
System and method for fast boot from non-volatile memory
Described herein are systems and methods for fast boot from non-volatile (“NV”) memory. The exemplary embodiments relate to systems and methods for significant improvements in performance speed with simple implementations. One embodiment relates to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions executable by a processor, the set of instructions operable to identify a page fault, determine whether the page fault occurred due to a read from a NV memory, copy a page from the NV memory to a random-access memory (“RAM”) storage, and create an identity mapping for the page in the RAM storage. A further embodiment relates to a system comprising a NV memory, a random access memory, and a processor executing a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions being operable to identify a page fault, determine whether a page fault occurred due to a read from the NV memory, copy a page from the NV memory to the RAM storage, and create an identity mapping for the page in the RAM storage. |
| US08423735B2 |
Space reservation in a deduplication system
A calculated factoring ratio is determined as a weighted ratio of current nominal data to physical data based on at least one storage capacity threshold and a used storage space currently physically consumed by one of backup and replication data. A maximal nominal estimated space in the computing storage environment is calculated. A remaining space, defined as the maximal nominal estimated space minus a current nominal space in the computing storage environment, is calculated. If the remaining space is one of equal and less than a user-configured reservation space for backup operations, data replication operations are accepted and stored in the computing storage environment. |
| US08423734B2 |
Making automated use of data volume copy service targets
A system and computer program product for automatically managing copies of source data volumes are provided. A copy management agent receives a message that target volume copies of source volumes are available. The copy management agent accesses the target volume copies of the source volumes. The copy management agent analyzes metadata for the target volume copies. The copy management agent determines whether any of the target volume copies is a boot volume copy based on the analyzed metadata. In response to a determination that one of the target volume copies is a boot volume copy, the copy management agent directs a provisioning agent to provision a new host for the target volume copies. The copy management agent directs the storage subsystem to present the target volume copies to a storage area network port associated with the new host. Then, the new host is booted using the boot volume copy. |
| US08423733B1 |
Single-copy implicit sharing among clones
Various systems and methods are disclosed to share a single copy of a storage object among clones. For example, one method involves creating a first and second clone. The first and second clones share a single copy of a storage object. The first clone is assigned an identifier based on the value of a variable. After creating the first clone the variable is incremented. The second clone is assigned the value of the incremented variable as an identifier. |
| US08423730B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting diverse memory access schemes
Methods and apparatus for supporting diverse memory access schemes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile computing device includes program code that accesses memory according to a first bad block management scheme and program code that accesses memory according to a second bad block management scheme, which is different than the first bad block memory scheme. In addition, a memory component includes data that is partitioned according to both the first bad block management scheme and the second bad block management scheme so as to enable both the code that accesses memory according to a first bad block management scheme and the code that accesses memory according to a second bad block management scheme to utilize the memory component. |
| US08423724B2 |
Dynamic back-up storage system with rapid restore and method of operation thereof
A method for operating a dynamic back-up storage system includes: providing a high speed memory including a first rank memory device and subsequent ranks of memory devices; providing a non-volatile memory for saving data from the high speed memory; and providing a control logic unit for controlling access, of a central processing unit that executes a program, from the high speed memory including restoring the subsequent ranks of memory devices while the central processing unit is executing the program from the first rank memory device. |
| US08423723B2 |
Multi-processor system device and method declaring and using variables
A method of declaring and using variables includes; determining whether variables are independent variables or common variables, declaring and storing the independent variables in a plurality of data structures respectively corresponding to the plurality of processors, declaring and storing the common variables in a shared memory area, allowing each one of the plurality of processors to simultaneously use the independent variables in a corresponding one of the plurality of data structures, and allowing only one of the plurality of processors at a time to use the common variables in the shared memory area. |
| US08423720B2 |
Computer system, method, cache controller and computer program for caching I/O requests
A computer system having a main unit and an expansion unit connected by an interface arrangement. The expansion unit includes at least one connector for receiving an input/output component, so that additional input/output components can be added to the computer system. The interface arrangement includes at least one cache controller and at least one cache memory for monitoring and predicting requests exchanged between the main unit and the expansion unit. A method of caching and processing input/output requests and a storage medium is also provided. |
| US08423717B2 |
Multi-core processing cache image management
A multi-core processor chip comprises at least one shared cache having a plurality of ports and a plurality of address spaces and a plurality of processor cores. Each processor core is coupled to one of the plurality of ports such that each processor core is able to access the at least one shared cache simultaneously with another of the plurality of processor cores. Each processor core is assigned one of a unique application or a unique application task and the multi-core processor is operable to execute a partitioning operating system that temporally and spatially isolates each unique application and each unique application task such that each of the plurality of processor cores does not attempt to write to the same address space of the at least one shared cache at the same time as another of the plurality of processor cores. |
| US08423716B2 |
Multithreaded clustered microarchitecture with dynamic back-end assignment
A multithreaded clustered microarchitecture with dynamic back-end assignment is presented. A processing system may include a plurality of instruction caches and front-end units each to process an individual thread from a corresponding one of the instruction caches, a plurality of back-end units, and an interconnect network to couple the front-end and back-end units. A method may include measuring a performance metric of a back-end unit, comparing the measurement to a first value, and reassigning, or not, the back-end unit according to the comparison. Computer systems according to embodiments of the invention may include: a random access memory; a system bus; and a processor having a plurality of instruction caches, a plurality of front-end units each to process an individual thread from a corresponding one of the instruction caches; a plurality of back-end units; and an interconnect network coupled to the plurality of front-end units and the plurality of back-end units. |
| US08423711B1 |
Compression solution for embedded devices and systems
An embedded device is hibernated by storing state data of the embedded device to a non-volatile data storage medium, and powering off the embedded device. The embedded device is later woken up in response to the detection of a wakeup event. The state data stored in the RAM of the embedded device comprises one or more registers of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the embedded device, one or more registers of a system-on-chip (SOC) of the embedded device, and the system and applications code and data. Waking the embedded device comprises loading, from the non-volatile data storage medium, initial memory sections that are used to run a kernel of the embedded device. State data that is stored in the RAM of a system is compressed by dividing the RAM into a plurality of sections and independently choosing, for each section in the plurality of sections, a compression arithmetic. |
| US08423705B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for controlling thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first nonvolatile storage area including a plurality of sectors, a second nonvolatile storage area, a third nonvolatile storage area located in the first nonvolatile storage area, a fourth nonvolatile storage area located in the second nonvolatile storage area, and a control portion selecting one of a first mode and a second mode. In first mode, sectors where the third nonvolatile storage area is not located in the first nonvolatile storage area are used as a main storage area, and the second nonvolatile storage area is used to store a program or data that is read before the first nonvolatile storage area is accessed, the third nonvolatile storage area being used to store control information that controls writing, reading, and erasing of data involved in the first nonvolatile storage area or the second nonvolatile storage area. In the second mode, the first nonvolatile storage area is used as the main storage area, and the fourth nonvolatile storage area is used to store the control information. |
| US08423700B2 |
Hybrid memory device with single interface
Described is a technology by which a memory controller is a component of a hybrid memory device having different types of memory therein (e.g., SDRAM and flash memory), in which the controller operates such that the memory device has only a single memory interface with respect to voltage and access protocols defined for one type of memory. For example, the controller allows a memory device with a standard SDRAM interface to provide access to both SDRAM and non-volatile memory with the non-volatile memory overlaid in one or more designated blocks of the volatile memory address space (or vice-versa). A command protocol maps memory pages to the volatile memory interface address space, for example, permitting a single pin compatible multi-chip package to replace an existing volatile memory device in any computing device that wants to provide non-volatile storage, while only requiring software changes to the device to access the flash. |
| US08423697B2 |
Device interface module
A computer, such as a portable computer, can include a removable interface module. The module can contain a device having a computer interface. The device can be a radio or a fiber optic communications device, for example. The use of such a module can facilitate repair and reconfiguration of the portable computer in the field. Such computers can be used by military personnel, police, emergency medical personnel, fire fighters, and the like. |
| US08423695B2 |
Dual PCI-X/PCI-E card
A dual bus interface PCB includes a main chipset component, a first type bus interface connector, and a second type bus interface connector. The PCB can be configured at fabrication time to enable a variety of configurations for operation. Optionally, the PCB can also be provided at least one memory chip and a NIC (Network Interface Card) chip. By virtue of having a dual interface, the PCB can be used with either the first type or the second type bus. Furthermore, the dual interface PCB eliminates the need by chipset manufacturers to carry multiple PCB variations of the same product in order to support various bus interfaces. In one embodiment, the PCB is a dual PCI-X/PCI-E interface PCB. |
| US08423692B2 |
Apparatus and method to read information from an information storage medium
A method to read information from an information storage medium using a read channel, where that read channel includes a data cache, where the method generates an analog waveform comprising the information, provides that analog waveform to a read channel, generates a digital signal from that analog waveform using one or more first operating parameters, corrects that digital signal at an actual error correction rate, determines if the actual error correction rate is greater than an error correction rate threshold. If the actual error correction rate exceeds the error correction rate threshold, then the method captures the digital signal, stores that captured data in a data cache, reads that digital signal from the cache, generates one or more second operating parameters, provides those one or more second operating parameters to the read channel. |
| US08423687B2 |
Location enabled bookmark and profile
Location based profiles are used to modify the configuration of a computing device based on a detected location. The location based profiles allow features such as cameras to be enabled and disabled. Physical and logical data storage partitions can also be mounted and unmounted, and the home screen displayed by a device can be modified. Location bookmarks can be used to further customize the appearance and function of a computing device. |
| US08423681B2 |
Control apparatus for process input-output device
A control apparatus for an input-output device includes a hardware part and a software part, in which a controller in the hardware part carries out a control operation in accordance with a signal from the input-output device, outputs a result of the control operation to a process, and has a timer unit to be excited at a constant period; and the software part has an information process part, a control process part, and an interrupt control unit to switch over the information process part and control process part one another, in which the interrupt control unit suspends an execution of the information process part to execute the control process part in priority and resume the information process part by switching over to the information process part from the control process part, when the execution of the control process part is terminated. |
| US08423675B2 |
Data transfer, synchronising applications, and low latency networks
Asynchronous network interface and method of synchronisation between two applications on different computers is provided. The network interface contains snooping hardware which can be programmed to contain triggering values comprising either addresses, address ranges or other data which are to be matched. These data are termed “trip wires”. Once programmed, the interface monitors the data stream, including address data, passing through the interface for addresses and data which match the trip wires which have been set. On a match, the snooping hardware can generate interrupts, increment event counters, or perform some other application-specified action. This snooping hardware is preferably based upon Content-Addressable Memory.The invention thus provides in-band synchronisation by using synchronisation primitives which are programmable by user level applications, while still delivering high bandwidth and low latency. The programming of the synchronisation primitives can be made by the sending and receiving applications independently of each other and no synchronisation information is required to traverse the network. |
| US08423672B2 |
Domain name resolution using a distributed DNS network
A distributed DNS network includes a central origin server that actually controls the zone, and edge DNS cache servers configured to cache the DNS content of the origin server. The edge DNS cache servers are published as the authoritative servers for customer domains instead of the origin server. When a request for a DNS record results in a cache miss, the edge DNS cache servers get the information from the origin server and cache it for use in response to future requests. Multiple edge DNS cache servers can be deployed at multiple locations. Since an unlimited number of edge DNS cache servers can be deployed, the system is highly scalable. The disclosed techniques protect against DoS attacks, as DNS requests are not made to the origin server directly. |
| US08423669B2 |
Communication device having VPN accommodation function
Disclosed herein is a VPN service with fully meshed virtual paths obtained with a smaller number of settings, thus facilitating expansion of the VPN service. This is attained by providing a communication device in a virtual private network (VPN) having a VPN accommodation function for connecting an intra-organization network or inter-organization network through the Internet. |
| US08423668B2 |
Link state protocol routing message containment
In one example embodiment, a system and method are shown that includes calculating a first SPF tree for a first device, the first SPF tree including a root node and a first child node, the first device being the root node of the first SPF tree. Additionally, the system and method may include calculating a second SPF tree for a second device that is a neighbor of the first device, the second SPF tree including a root node and a first child node, the second device being the root node of the second SPF tree. Further, the system and method may include building a set of interested nodes including the second device, if the first child node if the first SPF tree and the first child node of the second SPF tree are distinct. |
| US08423666B2 |
System and method for directing clients to optimal servers in computer networks
A communication protocol includes one or more messages passed between Web routers over a reliable transmission protocol used for inter-Web router communication. These messages include information that allows the Web routers to dynamically update mappings of client addresses or address ranges to information object repository addresses based on client-to-server distance and server load. The mappings are preferably optimal mappings of the client addresses or address ranges to the information object repository addresses and the messages report updated distances from these information object repository addresses to the client addresses or address ranges. For example, the messages may report, for each updated distance, an associated client address or address range and/or an associated anchor address of a Web router co-located with an information object repository that is the subject of the message. |
| US08423664B2 |
Network communications of application running on device utilizing multiple virtual network connections
A method includes steps of detecting, at a first device, a first request for a network connection from an application, spawning a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the first device such that a first virtual network connection is provided, selecting a routing protocol for the first virtual network connection, detecting, at the first device, a second request for a network connection from the application, spawning a second virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the first device such that a second virtual network connection is provided, selecting a routing protocol for the second virtual network connection, using the selected routing protocol for the first virtual network connection, communicating data from the application to a second device using the first virtual network connection, and, using the selected routing protocol for the second virtual network connection, communicating data from the application using the second virtual network connection. |
| US08423660B2 |
Datacasting system with hierarchical delivery quality of service management capability
Datacasting systems may include one or more compound carousels each managing one or more elementary carousels, and managed by a bandwidth manager. Subsets of compounds carousels may be identified, for example, according to priority levels. Bandwidth allocations may be determined for the compound carousels. For example, the bandwidth manager may utilize multiple bandwidth allocation cycles to determine the bandwidth allocations. The multiple bandwidth allocation cycles may form a sequence. Each bandwidth allocation cycle may at least partially allocate an available datacasting bandwidth resource to at least one of the identified subsets of the compound carousels. The allocations may be based at least in part on desired bandwidths determined by the compound carousels and/or one or more bandwidth guidelines of datacast sessions associated with the compound carousels. |
| US08423658B2 |
Method and system to release internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS), session initiation protocol (SIP), IP-connectivity access network (IP-CAN) and radio access network (RAN) networking resources when IP television (IPTV) session is paused
A user equipment (UE), comprising at least one component configured to support controlling a media stream and modifying Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN)/Radio Access Network (RAN) and Internet Packet (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) media resources, wherein the IP-CAN/RAN and IMS media resources are modified using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) RE-INVITE request to an IMS network, and wherein the media stream is controlled using a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) request to a media server. Also included is a UE comprising at least one component configured to support a method comprising sending a RTSP request to a signaling/control server in communications with a media server to control a media stream, wherein a SIP RE-INVITE request associated with the RTSP request is further sent from the UE or the signaling/control server to an IMS network to modify media resources associated with the media stream. |
| US08423657B2 |
Time slot allocation method for reducing consumption of energy in wireless sensor network
Disclosed is a time slot allocation method for reducing consumption of energy in a wireless sensor network, including transmitting and receiving, by an upper node, a report request and a response to and from at least one lower node in order to identify whether there is data to be transmitted between the upper node and the at least one lower node, transmitting, by the upper node, information required for data transmission to the at least one lower node based on the report request and response, and transmitting and receiving, by the upper node, data to and from the at least one lower node based on the information required for data transmission. |
| US08423656B2 |
Push gateway systems and methods
A push gateway includes a number of socket servers, a queue server, and arbiter serving, a mapping server and a number of worker servers. Each of the socket servers and the arbiter server includes a network interface. The queue server is coupled to the socket servers for bidirectional communication with the socket servers. The mapping server is coupled to the arbiter server and to the socket servers for bidirectional communication with the arbiter server and each of the socket servers. The worker servers are coupled to the queue serer and the mapping server. The arbiter server is configured to facilitate communications over a network with the worker servers by at least partially balancing loads on the number of socket servers based, at least in part, upon the mapping server. |
| US08423653B2 |
Inter-layer parameter liaison systems and methods
An exemplary method includes generating an access record associated with a data session provided by at least one access layer element over an access network, generating an application record associated with an application provided by at least one application layer element over the access network, transmitting data representative of a correlation parameter associated with application from the at least one application layer element to the at least one access layer element via an inter-layer liaison subsystem, and inserting the correlation parameter associated with application and received from the at least one application layer element via the inter-layer liaison subsystem in the access record. In some examples, the method further includes correlating the access record and the application record based on the correlation parameter associated with the application. Other exemplary inter-layer parameter liaison methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08423650B2 |
Transferring session data between network applications
In a method for transferring session data from a first application accessible via at least one DNS name in a first DNS domain to a second application accessible via at least one DNS name in a second DNS domain, a computer receives via the first application a first HTTP request from an HTTP client, and in response, the computer establishes a first session with the HTTP client. The computer receives, from the HTTP client, a second HTTP request comprising an identifier of the second application, and in response, the computer stores in a memory a data structure identifiable by a data structure identifier and containing data pertaining to the first session. Responsive to storing the data structure, the computer transmits, to the HTTP client, an HTTP response comprising the data structure identifier, a redirection status code, and a URI comprising a DNS name in the second DNS domain. |
| US08423649B2 |
System and method for maintaining presence and communicating over a computer network using the HTTP protocol
A computer-implemented process facilitates communication with an entity over a network. A static HTTP URL is associated with the entity. Communications information reflecting the entity's current online presence including the entity's dynamic session information as determined using the HTTP protocol is linked with the URL. Communication with the entity is facilitated using the URL and the communications information. The forms of communication facilitated include type chat/instant messaging, voice communication over a computer network, video communication over a computer network, voice communication from a computer network to a telephone network and two-way text messaging to Internet enabled wireless devices. |
| US08423645B2 |
Detection of grid participation in a DDoS attack
A method of, system for, and product for managing a denial of service attack in a multiprocessor environment comprising. The first step is establishing normal traffic usage baselines in the multiprocessor environment. Once the baseline is established the next step is monitoring outgoing traffic to detect a high proportion of packets being sent to a specific destination address, and a high number of outbound packets compared to said baseline. Next is monitoring ports and protocols to detect a high proportion of packets sent to a specific port, and a consistent use of a protocol for all packets for that port. If there is such consistent use of a protocol for all packets for that port as to evidence a denial of service attack, blocking measures are started to mitigate the apparent denial of service attack. |
| US08423636B2 |
Dynamic setting of mbuf maximum limits
A data processing system stack initializes a first mbuf chain limit to a pre-set level. It receives at least one packet. The system receives at least one packet. The system returns an mbuf data structure in response to receiving at least one packet from an IP address. The system measures a health of the network connection to determine whether the network connection satisfies a first health criterion. The system reduces the mbuf chain limit to a second mbuf chain limit, responsive to the health of the network connection not satisfying the first health criterion. The system measures the health of the network connection to determine whether the network connection meets a second health criterion. |
| US08423635B2 |
System and method for automatic call flow detection
A method and exploration engine for automatically detecting a call flow path of a voice application having a plurality of dialog states, the method comprising the steps of: identifying, in an automated manner, the plurality of dialog states of the voice application through execution of the voice application; and identifying at least one relationship between the plurality of dialog states. The method may further comprise some of the following steps: creating a unique identifier (ID) for one of the plurality of dialog states, wherein the unique ID is based on information received when executing the voice application, wherein the information comprises attributes associated with one of the plurality of dialog states; storing the unique ID and other information associated with the dialog state; and graphically illustrating a call flow path of the voice application based on the unique ID and other information stored in the database. |
| US08423634B2 |
System and method for determining cost of website performance
A system and method for visually and mathematically correlating website performance datasets with analytics datasets and optionally with back end application performance datasets in order to determine if variations in one dataset are caused by or related to variations in another dataset and simultaneously determines the cost of slow or unavailable websites by comparing expected traffic to actual traffic during the slow or errant period. |
| US08423629B2 |
Network framework associating non-enterprise phone with enterprise users
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for identifying unique points in communication processing for substituting and restoring identities associated with the communication. These specific replacements facilitate communication requests to-and-from external identities to be treated similar to communication requests to-and-from enterprise users, thereby allowing enterprise users to access enterprise-based communication preferences and services via non-enterprise devices. |
| US08423628B2 |
Method and apparatus for extending functionality of networked devices
Disclosed are methods for providing extended functionality to a networked device, the networked device connected in a network, as well as corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments intercept data communications in which the networked device is a party, the data communications being intercepted by an interdictor, receive at the interdictor a subscription registration for notification of a networked device event which is to be altered, the subscription registration being received from an extension service, determine whether the data communications in which the networked device is a party corresponds to the subscription registration of the networked device event which is to be altered, and modify the data communications in which the networked device is a party to provide the extended functionality when the data communications are determined to correspond to the subscription registration of networked device event to be altered. |
| US08423627B2 |
Managing method for providing contents service
A managing method and an apparatus for servicing contents provided by contents provider wherein the managing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a contents provider management module for generating an account of a contents provider based on information of the contents provider transmitted from the contents providing apparatus; a contents management module for managing a contents connection point for connecting to the contents provided from the contents providing apparatus and for managing information relative to the contents; and a menu management module for registering menus including a menu connected to the contents connection point and for managing a connection authority to a name of the menu and the menu, such that a collective management on the contents providers is possible and the contents providers can conveniently provide contents services to subscribers. |
| US08423621B2 |
System and method for improved synchronization between a server and a client
A system and method for improved client and server communications, more particularly, an improved protocol that may be used for communication between a client and a server, such as in an email environment. Many features are provided for improved communications. An email server may provide the best message body available for an email message, may transfer an entire data object if requested property or properties are not well defined within the data object, may provide progress data for use in tracking download progress, and may send error information for a data object having an error. Email changes may be optimized at an email server component, even if the email changes occurred at another email server component. An email server may maintain a table of changes that occur to folders at an associated data store, and may notify a subscribed email client component of changes that occur in the table. |
| US08423611B1 |
Metasearch engine for ordering at least one item returned in search results using at least one query on multiple unique hosts and for displaying advertising
Process for metasearching on the Internet performed by a metasearch engine, comprising: receiving a user interface related HTTP request from a client device; causing at least one user interface related advertisement to be displayed in a user interface related response; receiving a search related HTTP request, associated with at least one item that may be ordered, from the client device; sending at least one search query to a plurality of unique hosts; receiving search results from the plurality of unique hosts; incorporating the received search results into a search related response; causing at least one search related advertisement associated with the at least one item to be displayed in the search related response; communicating the search related response from the metasearch engine to the client device; receiving an order placement related HTTP request from the client device for placing an order for the at least one item; processing the order. |
| US08423609B2 |
Method and network apparatus for requesting data based on content name
Provided are a network apparatus and system that may request or receive the same contents stored in a plurality of network apparatuses. In a network system sharing data, specific segments from a plurality of segments constituting the data may be received from mutually different terminals. For this, a transmission region may be determined by calculating a transmission offset corresponding to the plurality of terminals, and at least one segment included in the determined transmission region may be received from a corresponding terminal. |
| US08423607B2 |
Fallback procedures for domain name server update in a mobile IP registration
A method and/or apparatus for intelligent domain name server selection are provided. A mobile device may wirelessly receive one or more domain name server Internet Protocol (IP) addresses from a network serving agent during a call setup or a network registration. The mobile device then determines whether one or more of the received domain name server IP addresses is valid prior to attempting to contact a domain name server associated with one of the received domain name server IP addresses. A fallback sequence of valid domain name server IP addresses may be generated and provided (either individually or as a group) from a link layer to an application layer for domain name resolution. Received domain name server IP addresses that are geographically closer to a current location of the mobile device or its visited network may be given priority. |
| US08423605B2 |
Parallel distributed processing method and computer system
Provided is a parallel distributed processing method executed by a computer system comprising a parallel-distributed-processing control server, a plurality of extraction processing servers and a plurality of aggregation processing servers. The managed data includes at least a first and a second data items, the plurality of data items each including a value. The method includes a step of extracting data from one of the plurality of chunks according to a value in the second data item, to thereby group the data, a step of merging groups having the same value in the second data item based on an order of a value in the first data item of data contained in a group among groups, and a step of processing data in a group obtained through the merging by focusing on the order of the value in the first data item. |
| US08423602B2 |
Web service broadcast engine
A system, computer architecture, and method of enabling asynchronous callback and broadcast notification between a server and a client software application in a network, wherein the method comprises processing computer logic instructions in the network; requesting a notification of a completion of the processing of the computer logic instructions; storing the notification request in a registry; queuing the notification request according to a response to the notification request and a list of user endpoints requesting the notification of a completion of the processing of the computer logic instructions; and notifying a recipient system of the completion of the processing of the computer logic instructions upon execution of the queued notification request. |
| US08423600B2 |
Accumulating operator and accumulating method for floating point operation
An accumulating operator is applicable to a digital data processor to realize an output floating point number in response to a first floating point number and a second floating point number. The accumulating operator comprises a splitter dividing the first floating point number into a third floating point number and a compensation number, wherein an exponent of the third floating point number is equal to or greater than the exponent of the second floating point number; an accumulator electrically connected to the splitter for operating the second and third floating point numbers to realize a fourth floating point number; and a compensator electrically connected to the splitter and the accumulator for operating the fourth floating point number and the compensation number to realize the output floating point number. Via compensation, the precision of the floating point operation can be improved. |
| US08423599B2 |
Locus smoothing method
The present invention discloses a locus smoothing method, comprising: generating multiple locus points by movement of an object; obtaining corresponding coordinates of the locus points; calculating a moving average coordinate of the coordinates of the locus points by a moving average function, wherein an average number is used as a denominator; adaptively adjusting the average number according to a velocity of the object, wherein a lower average number is used when the velocity of the object is relatively faster, and a higher average number is used when the velocity of the object is relatively slower. |
| US08423595B2 |
Convert significand of decimal floating point data to packed decimal format
A decimal floating point finite number in a decimal floating point format is composed from the number in a different format. A decimal floating point format includes fields to hold information relating to the sign, exponent and significand of the decimal floating point finite number. Other decimal floating point data, including infinities and NaNs (not a number), are also composed. Decimal floating point data are also decomposed from the decimal floating point format to a different format. For composition and decomposition, one or more instructions may be employed, including one or more convert instructions. |
| US08423591B2 |
Method and system for modularizing windows imaging format
A method and system may include capturing a computer system in a file-based manner that promotes single-instancing of files and thus prevents the occurrence of duplicate files, separating the captured computer system into primary file resources and ancillary file resources, and creating a parent image and a child image that refers to the parent image. The method and system may further include writing the primary file resources on the parent image, and writing the ancillary file resources onto the child image. The child image may include a resource-only file and a metadata-only file which provides instructions on how to recreate the file resources stored in the parent image and the child image. |
| US08423590B2 |
File generation for testing single-instance storage algorithm
For each section of a buffer, a string of characters is retrieved and reordered to generate a reordered string of characters for the section. Thereafter, for each section of the buffer, the string of characters within the section is copied over with the reordered string of characters for a different section of the buffer. The buffer is then output to a file. If a desired length of the file has not yet been reached, then this process is repeated, or the buffer is again output to the file, based on a desired amount of duplicate data to be included within the file. The resulting file can be used to test a single-instance storage algorithm. The file is thus adapted to mimic a non-artificially generated file in relation to testing a single-instance storage algorithm. |
| US08423587B2 |
System and method for real-time content aggregation and syndication
A system and methodology for real-time content aggregation and syndication is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for assisting a user with extracting items relevant to search queries from documents including items of various types, the method comprises steps of: receiving a search query specifying a search phrase and a particular item type; identifying documents matching the search phrase; for each matching document, determining whether the document includes an item having the particular item type; and extracting items having the particular item type from the matching documents for display to the user. The solution enables a user to aggregate and syndicate content without a professional content manager or complicated content management software tools. |
| US08423586B2 |
XBRL service system and method
Relationships between XBRL hypercubes, including implicit relationships, may be automatically determined based on shared dimensions. Once such relationships are understood, “generic” software (software that is not specific to a particular taxonomy) may be built to provide some or all of the following functionalities: determine, enforce, and/or encourage referential integrity; deduce (graph) ordered relationships between hypercubes; make inferences about those relationships; “join” or “split” hypercubes; create isomorphic and/or homomorphic views of a hypercube for user presentation; and/or assemble and order primary items (attached to hypercubes) in a logical (graph) order. |
| US08423585B2 |
Variants of files in a file system
Disclosed are various embodiments that provide variants of files in a file system. Multiple file systems are maintained for multiple users. Each file system includes multiple files and one or more folder. Each file includes a respective unique identifier and a respective reference to a data object stored in one or more data store. Multiple file variants are maintained. Each file variant includes the respective unique identifier of a respective file. Each file variant also includes a respective reference to a secondary data object stored in the one or more data stores. The secondary data object is related to the primary data object referenced by the respective file. |
| US08423583B2 |
User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user relationships
A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups. |
| US08423582B2 |
Database message builder
A database message builder presents a message building window on a user interface of a database application for retrieving structured data from one or more fields of a database record of the database and unstructured data (e.g., free form text) entered by a user of the database application. The message building window can be used to build database messages using a variety of structured and unstructured data. One or more tokens corresponding to the structured data in the database (e.g., database record fields) can be used in the window to build a database message. The user can publish the message to a target application or network resource (e.g., a social networking site). Prior to publication, the tokens can be replaced with corresponding structured data from the record fields. A current character count or character limit for the selected target application or network resource can be displayed in the user interface. |
| US08423580B2 |
System and method for specifying and implementing IT systems
Present invention relates to system and method for specifying and implementing IT systems, in particular for searching functionalities. Proposed is a method of specifying and system for implementing interactive systems used for data storing and analysis as well as supporting collaboration and human-computer interaction, which is based on a control flow network structure. The method and system include support for whole lifecycle of implemented systems along with their evolution in time. In particular system comprising directed control net comprising data containers and functionality codes search module for searching functionalities within directed control net by identifying input, and matching identified input with functionality code according to the directed control net structure for generating a group of identified functionalities. |
| US08423578B2 |
Messaging personalization
Participants in a communication are rendered by determining whether each entry in a list of participants in the communication satisfies criteria specified by a user participating in the communication. The criteria are used to identify a first subset of participants that is to be rendered in a first style that differentiates the first subset from remaining participants in the list. The first subset of participants is formatted in the first style. |
| US08423577B1 |
Providing suggested actions in response to textual communications
A system, method, and computer-readable media are described for suggesting an action based on multiple descriptors within a textual communication (e.g. email, text message). In one embodiment, event descriptors within an email are identified and displayed to the email recipient with an indication that the descriptors are selectable. Upon receiving the selection of at least two descriptors, an action is suggested to the recipient for acceptance. Upon receiving the acceptance, the proposed action is performed. |
| US08423575B1 |
Presenting information from heterogeneous and distributed data sources with real time updates
Receiving from each of a plurality of low level monitor models an outbound event comprising information associated with a respective data source. The information received in each of the outbound events can be collected to a global monitoring context in which the information is automatically aggregated. Via a global cube associated with the global monitoring context, the information can be presented in a report. At least one new outbound event can be received. The new outbound event can include updated information associated with at least one of the data sources. Responsive to receiving the new outbound event, the information presented the report can be updated in real time to reflect the updated information. |
| US08423572B2 |
Fast identification of complex strings in a data stream
An apparatus for detecting presence of a selected complex string in a data stream has a primary processor, detecting coherent strings of the selected complex string; and a secondary processor, pipelined to the primary processor, and detecting ambiguous strings interleaving said coherent strings. The primary processor is configured to determine a number of coherent strings in the selected complex string, each coherent string preceded by a prefix of indefinite characters, with a last coherent string succeeded by a suffix of indefinite characters; and to locate sequential portions of the data stream that are identical to successive coherent strings of the selected complex string. The secondary processor is configured to ascertain congruence of portions of the data stream preceding and interleaving the sequential portions to prefixes of the coherent strings; and to ascertain congruence of the suffix to a corresponding portion of said data stream following the sequential portions. |
| US08423571B2 |
Medical image information display apparatus, medical image information display method, and recording medium on which medical image information display program is recorded
Image observation reports and medical images are displayed correlated to each other. A second keyword group is obtained, by detecting phrases that match keywords of a first keyword group that represent organs or pathologies from within image observation reports. The organs or pathologies represented by the first keyword group are automatically detected from within medical images, and a third keyword group that includes keywords corresponding to the detected organs or pathologies is obtained. Common keywords that match among keywords within the second and third keyword groups are obtained. Link data that correlates the organs or pathologies corresponding to the common keywords are generated for each common keyword. The common keywords and indicia that represent the organs or pathologies corresponding to the common keywords are displayed correlated to each other. |
| US08423564B1 |
Methods and apparatus for managing and updating stored information
A method and systems are provided for managing database data. A data repository stores existing immediate mode data in the form of immediate mode database records. Transaction mode database records for modifying and adding to the immediate mode records are created and stored, with the transaction mode records being organized into transactions. Each transaction includes a definition, such as a transaction definition record, and transaction mode records are associated with a transaction using a field in each transaction mode record including a reference to a transaction. A transaction can be posted, causing values stored in the transaction mode records associated with the transaction to be used to create added or modified immediate mode records. Transactions can also be used in operations providing views to show the effects of the transaction mode records, or to create data structures for export. |
| US08423560B2 |
Filter range bound paged search
A filter range based search control to request a range of data from one or more directory servers. A directory server receives a search request from a client application comprising a search filter control defining a set of requested data, a sort control defining a sorting order of the set of requested data, and a range filter control defining a range of entries in the requested data. Data entries matching a search value defined in the search filter control and sorted according to sort attributes defined in the sort control are obtained from a set of directories associated with the directory server to form a sorted list of matching entries. A subset of data entries in the sorted list that match a range value defined in the range filter control are collected, and a response comprising the collected subset of data entries is then sent to the client application. |
| US08423558B2 |
Targeting online ads by grouping and mapping user properties
A method and a system are provided for targeting online ads by grouping and mapping user properties. In one example, the system receives user data associated with one or more users. The system identifies user properties for a user. The system eliminates unacceptable user properties associated with the user. The system identifies permutations of the user properties associated with the user. The system eliminates unacceptable permutations of the user properties associated with the user. Valid permutations remain. The system attaches a weight of importance to each valid permutation. A weight quantifies a level of importance of a valid permutation for the user with respect to buckets. A bucket is an ad category. The system grades each valid permutation relative to a bucket. The system calculates a final grade for each bucket. The system then assigns the user to zero or more buckets based on the final grade for each bucket. |
| US08423548B1 |
Methods and systems for inventory management
The present invention relates to inventory management solutions, and in particular, to methods and systems for inventorying items and property over wireless and data networks, using digital imaging, positioning, RFID, and data terminals. The user experience in performing inventory management is simplified and enhanced over existing methods. |
| US08423544B2 |
Hotspot analysis systems and methods
Hotspot analysis systems and methods are provided. The hotspot analysis system includes a database, a filtering module, a clustering module, and an analysis module. The database includes a plurality of records, each including context information having at least time information and position information. The filtering module filters the records according to current context information to obtain a plurality of filtered records. The clustering module clusters the filtered records into at least one hotspot cluster according to the position information of the filtered records, and generates a hotspot area for each hotspot cluster. The analysis module calculates integral hotness for each hotspot cluster according to the number of the filtered records in the hotspot cluster and the size of the hotspot area of the hotspot cluster, and generates at least hotspot area information according to the integral hotness and the hotspot area of each hotspot cluster. |
| US08423542B2 |
System and method for extracting users of similar interests between various types of web servers
Disclosed herein is a system and method for extracting users of similar interests between various types of web servers. The system includes a user profile vector creation unit, a user similarity calculation unit, and a similar user extraction unit. The user profile vector creation unit collects tag data, performs standardization calculation on the degree of importance of each of one or more tags, and creates user profile vectors for respective users. The user similarity calculation unit calculates user similarity using the user profile vectors of the respective users created through the user profile vector creation unit. The similar user extraction unit extracts users of similar interests using the value of the user similarity calculated through the user similarity calculation unit. |
| US08423541B1 |
Using saved search results for quality feedback
A system receives a search query from a user and searches a corpus of documents using the received search query to determine a set of search results. The system provides the set of search results to the user and receives a request from the user to save one or more selected search results of the set of search results. The system saves the selected one or more results in a database in response to the request and uses the saved one or more results as indicators of search result quality for subsequent related searches. |
| US08423536B2 |
Systems and methods to sort information related to entities having different locations
Systems and methods sort location dependent information based on selecting multiple groups of information according to location, ordering the groups based on location, and ordering the information within the groups based on at least one or more other criteria. The size(s) of the areas used to select the groups may be predetermined, or dynamically determined (e.g., based on clustering of information along distance to a location of interest). |
| US08423535B2 |
Query optimization in a multi-tenant database system
The present invention provides techniques for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency that includes a method that stores the information on the database among a plurality of tables arranged in columns and rows. For each of a subset of the plurality of tables, sets of the rows are distributed amongst different storage nodes on the database, with the set of rows stored at a common node having a common index value. Data storage and retrieval capabilities to the database are provided to allow access to the information, in response to requests from one of a plurality of remotely disposed computer systems. The retrieval capability includes a query condition that includes a query index value, with the query condition and the query index value being established to control retrieval latency. Also disclosed is a machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency when executed by one or more processors and cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of the method. A data center for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency is also disclosed that carries-out the functions of the method. |
| US08423531B2 |
Non-transitory storage medium storing management program, management apparatus, and management method
A non-transitory storage medium storing a management program, the management program causing a computer to execute first receiving case data related to a result of a clinical trial; referring to a definition table storing a first criterion and a second criterion; determining whether or not the case data satisfies the first criterion or second criterion; first transmitting a first inquiry to a terminal; second transmitting a second inquiry to the terminal; second receiving a first answer to the first inquiry from the terminal, the first answer including other case data that is the case data at least a part of which is modified; third determining whether or not the other case data satisfies the second criterion; and making a second answer to the second inquiry on the basis of a result of the third determination. |
| US08423528B2 |
Selection of rows and values from indexes with updates
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for selection of rows and values from indexes with updates. In general, rows of an index may be associated with validity flags that indicate whether a row has been updated with an update inserted in a delta index; one scheme for value identifiers may be used for an index and another scheme for one or more delta indexes where all of the indexes are, to at least some extent, compressed according to dictionary-based compression; and multiple delta indexes may be used in alternation such that one delta index may accept updates while another is being updated. The delta indexes may also have validity flags and all updates, such as modifications of values, deletion of records, and inserting of new records may be handled as updates accepted by one or more delta indexes. |
| US08423527B2 |
Enabling interactive integration of network-accessible applications in a content aggregation framework
Enabling network-accessible applications to be integrated into content aggregation frameworks (such as portals) and to become dynamically interactive through proxying components (such as proxying portlets), thereby providing run-time cooperation and data sharing. |
| US08423523B2 |
Apparatus and method for utilizing context to resolve ambiguous queries
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to derive from a database schema an irreducible ambiguous group comprising a sub-schema with a set of vertices wherein any two vertices are part of a loop. Contexts are defined on the sub-schema. For each context, joins in the sub-schema are designated as mandatory joins, excluded joins and neutral joins. A selection of a context from multiple contexts invoked by a path characterizing a query is processed. The query is resolved using the context. |
| US08423512B2 |
Leveraging XML capabilities of a database to enhance handling of document data
When an XML-annotated document is saved, a process automatically stores the document's data in the tables of a database. The database server validates the document's data against a user-specified XML schema. Queries can be executed against a set of documents in order to find documents in which a specified XML element contains specified content. Query results can be customized to return only the contents of specified XML elements. The document data can be linked with other data in the database such that the document data is updated based on the other data every time that the document is opened, thereby producing a “live” and dynamic document. Different file formats can be generated based on the document data, thus separating the presentation of the document data from the data itself. Contents of different elements may be obscured based on users' privileges, thereby maintaining the privacy of the document's information. |
| US08423507B2 |
Method and system for managing replication of data
Data replication management which enables rapid retrieval while increasing the performance of the entire system, and maintaining data synchronization regarding successively updated data is performed. There are steps which comprises a step that when a slave node which has received an instruction for retrieval does not receive a return massage from a master node within a predetermined time period (Ts1) from the transmission of a request message to the master node, the slave node requests the master node to provide a transaction log up to the latest version with respect to the update of a master database; a step that the master node which has received the request transmits the transaction log to the slave node; and a step that the slave node updates a replica database with reference to the transaction log transferred from the master node. |
| US08423499B2 |
Search device and search method
A search device includes an accelerator and a CPU. The accelerator includes a plurality of search cores and a scheduler. The scheduler is configured to distribute target text to the search cores in units of records ordered by record sequence number, and the search cores are configured to perform automaton matching on the distributed records in a parallel fashion. The CPU is configured to construct an automaton in accordance with a search expression input thereto, and to perform logical expression evaluations in order of the record sequence number on matching results obtained on a record-by-record basis. |
| US08423498B2 |
System and associated method for determining and applying sociocultural characteristics
A computer system and associated method are provided for analyzing a scenario task to determine contextual characteristics thereof. An analytical processing device parses the scenario task into parsed task requirements. An associative processing device associates each parsed task requirement with a task requirement identifier and a task requirement resolution factor, and associates the task requirement identifiers to define a task requirement model. A correlative processing device correlates the task requirement model with a database of scenario data elements, by correlating the task requirement identifiers and/or the task requirement resolution factors with the respective scenario data element identifiers and/or scenario resolution factors associated with the scenario data elements. A compilation processing device forms contextual characteristics having categories, attributes, parameters, and parameter values associated with the correlated scenario data element identifiers and scenario resolution factors, wherein the contextual characteristics cooperate to populate the task requirement model. |
| US08423491B2 |
Computer program product, method, and apparatus for calculating reliability of an application procedure for fraud using an estimated probability of detection of fraud
Information of an action of fact confirmation performed between nodes that are objects relating to fact confirmation in an application procedure is read from a predetermined storage unit that previously stores whether an action of fact confirmation is an action of operating information or an action of confirming information, and based on the read information of the action, when a fraud is committed in an action of operating information, reliability of the application procedure is calculated based on a probability of a detection of a fraud in an action of confirming information performed in a node connected to the action of operating information. |
| US08423490B2 |
Method for computer-aided learning of a neural network and neural network
There is described a method for computer-aided learning of a neural network, with a plurality of neurons in which the neurons of the neural network are divided into at least two layers, comprising a first layer and a second layer crosslinked with the first layer. In the first layer input information is respectively represented by one or more characteristic values from one or several characteristics, wherein every characteristic value comprises one or more neurons of the first layer. A plurality of categories is stored in the second layer, wherein every category comprises one or more neurons of the second layer. For one or several pieces of input information, respectively at least one category in the second layer is assigned to the characteristic values of the input information in the first layer. Input information is entered into the first layer and subsequently at least one state variable of the neural network is determined and compared to the at least one category of this input information assigned in a preceding step. The crosslinking between the first and second layer is changed depending on the comparison result from a preceding step. |
| US08423483B2 |
User-controllable learning of policies
Various embodiments are directed to a computer implemented method for updating a policy that is enforced by a computer program. In one embodiment, a computer communicates, to a user, data regarding one or more decisions made by the program over a period of time according to a policy. Each decision is made on the particular policy in force at the time the decision is made. Policy data for the policy is stored in a machine readable format. The user feedback data indicative of feedback by the user regarding the one or more decisions is stored. The computer identifies and ranks one or more potential variations to the policy based on a score of an objective function for each potential variation. The computer communicates, to the user, one or more suggested modifications based on the ranking of the one or more potential variations to the policy. The computer modifies the policy data based on one or more selections by the user in response to the transmission of the one or more suggested modifications. |
| US08423479B2 |
Trusted third party clearing house for lead tracking
A method for tracking sales leads, including a lead clearing house logging receipt in a log of one or more encrypted leads received from a participant of the lead clearing house, the one or more leads including personal lead information having been encrypted with a one-way hash algorithm; comparing the received one or more encrypted leads with stored encrypted leads to find any matches; updating the log related to the one or more encrypted leads with unencrypted log information associated with the matching one or more encrypted leads; and communicating a status to the participant based on the log relating to the one or more leads. |
| US08423477B2 |
Providing multiple views of a business process definition to different classes of users
In one embodiment, a method for providing multiple views of a business process definition includes storing a model of a business process, and providing different view points of the model to different classes of users. |
| US08423476B2 |
Methods and apparatus for conducting electronic transactions
A system and method for facilitating electronic transactions using an intelligent instrument is disclosed. An authorization server enables users to obtain authorization credentials through the use of the intelligent instrument by issuing a challenge to an intelligent token of the intelligent instrument. The intelligent token generates a challenge response and transmits the challenge response to the authorization server, which assembles credentials including a key for the electronic transaction upon validating the response. The authorization server sends the assembled credentials to the intelligent instrument and the intelligent instrument transmits the assembled credentials to the authorization server during a subsequent transaction. The authorization server validates the assembled credentials and provides authorization for the transaction in response to the validating the assembled credentials. |
| US08423466B2 |
Secure authentication and payment system
The present invention provides a service for allowing secure financial transactions to be carried out, the service involving authenticating a user's identity and/or status as part of a financial transaction with another party and in the event that the user is authenticated arranging for the transaction to be completed without revealing the user's financial details and/or other personal details to that other party. Authentication data and transaction data may be communicated over any suitable communications channel(s). The invention provides a trusted authentication and payment environment that protects a user's financial details, but allows them to be securely authenticated and arranges for transactions to be fulfilled, while providing other parties with reassurance that transactions will be completed. In this way, fraud and theft due to misappropriation of financial details can be minimized. |
| US08423456B2 |
Methods and systems for opening and funding a financial account online
Methods and systems for opening an account with a financial institution. One method can include electronically storing at least one rule for opening an account with a financial institution. The method can also include electronically receiving account application information from a remote device over at least one network, wherein the account application information includes personal information of a customer requesting to open an account. In addition, the method can include generating at least one risk score based on the account application information and applying the at least one rule to the at least one risk score in order to determine a decision regarding the account application information and to determine at least one funding constraint associated with the account. |
| US08423455B2 |
Retailer debit card system
Methods for soliciting and enrolling customers for a retailer payment instrument are disclosed. For example, a method is disclosed for enrolling a customer for a retailer debit card which includes receiving enrollment data from the customer, establishing a check writer rating for the customer based on a history of checks associated with the customer and stored by the retailer, adjusting a validation threshold score based on the check writer rating, and denying enrollment of the customer if the validation score is less than the adjusted validation threshold score. Other associated methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08423451B1 |
System and method for processing a loan
A computer-implemented data processing system for managing processing of mortgage loan applications comprises task manager logic configured to generate a first list representing a first plurality of tasks to be performed in connection with a mortgage loan application. The task manager logic is also configured to generate a second list representing a second plurality of tasks to be performed in connection with the mortgage loan application. The second list is generated after work has been performed in connection with processing the first list. The task manager logic comprises reconciliation logic configured to reconcile the first and second lists so that the work performed during processing of the first list is reflected in the second list. |
| US08423446B2 |
Derivative products
Methods, systems and apparatuses are described for processing and clearing derivatives products with a digital outcome and a plurality of constituents. A computer system configured to process and clear derivative products can accept initial and adjusted performance bonds from buyers and sellers, and adjust the market price of the derivative product at intervals. The market price may be adjusted on a mark-to-market basis and through analysis of other information, e.g., a change in credit rating of reference entities of the derivative product. As a result of price adjustments, cash flow may be generated between buyers and sellers (e.g., credit and debit to accounts). The derivative product may pay a percentage of a predetermined final settlement amount upon the triggering of a predetermined event in each of the constituents of the derivative product. However, upon expiration of the derivative product, the derivative's market price is settled to zero and the agreement is terminated. |
| US08423445B2 |
Method and system for three-dimensional presentation of financial data
A computerized method and system for displaying financial data, is based on geometric three-dimensional (3D) model. The geometric 3D model consists of geometric 3D components and geometric 3D interconnections between components. Components represent financial assets and interconnections represent relations between assets. Component's volume is proportional assets' parameters values. Volume of interconnections proportional covariance or correlation values between assets. The generalized multi-dimension and multi-tier model may be applied for presentation of financial data. |
| US08423441B2 |
Multiple balance state account processing
A computer based system and method for processing financial accounts. Each account is defined by multiple daily account balance records. Each daily account balance record is defined by a daily account balance record posting state that defines the types of transactions that may be posted to the daily account record balance at any one time. The various daily account balance records defining a single account may have different daily account balance record posting states, thereby allowing different types of transactions for different account days to be posted to the same account simultaneously. The resulting account processing system and method provides customers greater flexibility in transferring money between accounts and provides banking entities greater flexibility in account processing timing and reducing operational costs. |
| US08423438B2 |
Method of networking marketing
The present invention is directed to an improved method of network marketing that combines direct response advertisement with network marketing. The invention includes providing a registry that stores debit and credit entries for individual IBO accounts, wherein the registry is in communication with a computer network. The invention also includes providing a hot leads database in communication with the computer network, wherein the hot leads database provides leads generated through a direct marketing campaign. The method further includes allowing qualified IBO terminals in communication with the computer network to access the hot leads database and request lead packages. The method includes debiting IBO accounts in the registry in response to these requests for lead packages. Additionally, the method includes providing a sales database in communication with the computer network wherein the sales database is accessible to the qualified IBO terminals, wherein the sales database is configured to accept sales orders from qualified IBO terminals, and wherein the sales database is communicatively linked to the registry via the computer network. Lastly, the method includes crediting individual IBO accounts for sales orders according to terms of a payout agreement, wherein the sales database also is communicatively linked via the computer network to a centralized distribution system such that the entry of sales orders results in the shipment of the product ordered. |
| US08423435B1 |
Payroll withholding for debt management
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for withholding an amount of payroll funds of an employee to fulfill a financial obligation of the employee. The method involves receiving employee debt information and receiving employee payroll information. The method further involves calculating, using a central processing unit (CPU), an amount of available payroll funds based on the employee payroll information. The method further involves determining, using the CPU, whether the amount of available payroll funds exceeds a debt amount, where the debt amount is based on the employee debt information. The method further involves extracting, using the CPU, the debt amount from the amount of available payroll funds to obtain a payroll balance, where the payroll balance is subsequently sent to the employee. The method further involves sending, using the CPU, the debt amount to the creditor of the employee to fulfill the financial obligation. |
| US08423431B1 |
Light emission guidance
A visible-light based display system may be used to project visual guidance to picking and/or stowing agents in a materials handling facility dependent on their current location. The system may comprise a plurality of fixed-location display devices and/or mobile display devices coupled to a control system. The control system may send messages to particular ones of the display devices for projection of visual guidance usable to direct an agent to a particular inventory area in which an item is to be stowed or from which an item is to be picked, to identify a particular position within an inventory area, and/or to identify a particular item stored within an inventory area. The messages may include location, position, and/or descriptive information associated with an item to be stowed or picked. The projected visual guidance may include light or laser beams, text, graphics and/or images, and may be agent-specific, item-specific, and/or order-specific. |
| US08423430B2 |
Integrated materials management for commercial aircraft fleets including access to real-time on-board systems information
Turnkey maintenance of a customer's aircraft fleet is managed by a single management service provider (MSP) controlling integrated maintenance and materials services from a central operations site. The MSP converts data received directly from on-board aircraft systems into information it uses to manage maintenance service providers and parts suppliers. The MSP contracts with and manages maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations (MROs) who perform the maintenance on the customers' aircraft at line and base stations. The MSP either remotely manages part inventories at the customer's site, or manages suppliers who deliver the parts to the MROs. Maintenance planning, scheduling and execution information is exchanged between the MSP, MROs, part suppliers and the customers through a shared data communication network controlled by the MSP. The MSP charges the customer for the maintenance services based on a flat rate per unit of aircraft flying time. |
| US08423425B2 |
Evaluating public records of supply transactions for financial investment decisions
A platform facilitates buyers, sellers, and third parties in obtaining information related to each other's transaction histories, such as a supplier's shipment history, the types of materials typically shipped, a supplier's customers, a supplier's expertise, what materials and how much a buyer purchases, buyer and shipper reliability, similarity between buyers, similarity between suppliers, and the like. The platform aggregates data from a variety of sources, including, without limitation, customs data associated with actual import/export transactions and facilitates the generation of reports as to the quality of buyers and suppliers, the reports relating to a variety of parameters that are associated with buyer and supplier quality. |
| US08423423B1 |
Method and system for price suggesting using item-specific attributes
A method and system for generating transaction price data relating to electronic commerce. In one embodiment, the system classifies items based on an item classification hierarchy. Each item classification in the hierarchy may have associated item-specific attributes. When a commercial transaction relating to an item is conducted, the item is identified based on its item classification and values for the associated item-specific attributes. The system records information relating to commercial transactions for items that have been so identified and uses those records to generate transaction price data. When generating transaction price data, the system may allow the user to specify an item classification along with values of its attributes. The system identifies records of commercial transactions relating to items with that item classification and with matching attribute values and bases the transaction price data on those identified records. |
| US08423418B2 |
Managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a store and/or a work center business object. |
| US08423416B2 |
Real time auction with end game
A real time auction system operates in a non real time mode, and an end game mode in which the users are placed in a forum. In both modes the users are capable of placing bids along with times when those bids should be executed. An agent treats the bids as secret until the time, and then at the time executes those bids. |
| US08423415B2 |
Payment service authentication for a transaction using a generated dynamic verification value
Methods and systems for dynamically generating a verification value for a transaction and for utilizing such value to verify the authenticity of the payment service application. The dynamically created verification value may be generated on a payment device, such as an integrated circuit credit card or smart card, embedded into the payment data, and transmitted to a point of sale terminal. Alternatively, payment data is sent by a payment device to a point of sale terminal, which generates a verification value and embeds it into the payment data. The embedded verification value is used by a service provider to verify the authenticity of the transaction. The methods and systems may be used in a contactless (wireless) environment or a non-wireless environment. |
| US08423414B2 |
Method and system for pausing, migrating, and restarting retail point-of-sale transactions
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing transactions on point-of-sale terminals comprising a peer-to-peer network in a retail data processing system. A purchase transaction for a customer is initiated on a point-of-sale terminal in the system. Responsive to receiving a first input from a user of the point-of-sale terminal, the purchase transaction is suspended to form a suspended purchase transaction. Information about the customer is added to the suspended purchase transaction. The suspended purchase transaction is stored as a file on the point-of-sale terminal. Responsive to receiving a second input from the user of the point-of-sale terminal, a locally-stored list of suspended purchase transactions on the point-of-sale terminal is searched using the information about the customer. Responsive to locating the suspended transaction matching the information about the customer, the suspended transaction is selected to restart the suspended purchase transaction on the point-of-sale terminal. |
| US08423412B2 |
Systems and methods of contextual advertising
A method includes receiving message data at a mobile communication device from a user via a user input device of the mobile communication device. The message data is associated with a text message to be sent to at least one intended recipient device. The method includes receiving at least one address associated with the least one intended recipient device. The method further includes instructing a transmitter to send the text message to the at least one intended recipient device via a wireless network. The method also includes receiving advertisement data associated with at least one advertisement in response to a determination that a threshold number of messages have been sent by the transmitter. |
| US08423408B1 |
Dynamic advertising content distribution and placement systems and methods
A method of dynamic content distribution and placement of advertising between a mobile device and an advertisement fulfillment system comprising providing a rotation of advertisements stored in the mobile device. Each advertisement comprises substantive content and a value in an impression field. The method further comprises selecting an advertisement from the rotation of advertisements based at least in part on which advertisement in the rotation was last displayed, and displaying the selected advertisement. |
| US08423406B2 |
Determining advertising effectiveness with online reach and frequency measurement
A method converts online data into quantitative measures of reach and frequency. Gross Rating Points, Targeted Rating Points, frequency, targeted cost per thousand, and average advertising cost per person may be determined using data to measure the percent of non-country respondents receiving and gathering incidence of age, sex, income and other variables used to define target audience. Data may be merged to calculate GRP delivery by geographic region for the purpose of integrating online advertising into a marketing mix analysis. Over-samples may be used within events to measure different respondents' pre and post the event to measure incrementality of event. The total event attendance may be estimated and used to weight the over-sample back into the overall sample. Discrete media groupings may be used to identify the dilution of effects inherent in scaling thereby increasing the accuracy of projected results. |
| US08423405B1 |
Advertisement selection
In general, in one aspect, a first request to provide one or more advertisements on a first web page is received, the first web page comprising one or more items of web content related to a query. A first quality score is calculated for a first advertisement included in a set of one or more candidate advertisements. The first advertisement is presented on the first web page based at least in part on the first quality score. A second request is received to provide one or more advertisements on a second web page, the second web page comprising one or more different items of web content related to the query. A second quality score for the first advertisement is calculated based at least in part on the previous presentation of the first advertisement. It is determined whether to present the first advertisement on the second web page based at least in part on the second quality score. |
| US08423404B2 |
Secondary market and vending system for devices
A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface. |
| US08423403B2 |
Price guarantee methods and systems
A method is provided. The method includes recording transaction information for a consummated transaction related to a purchase of an item or service at a computer, the transaction information including information identifying a consumer; monitoring, by the computer, an incentive to purchase the item or service for a predetermined time period after purchase of the item or service by the consumer; comparing, by the computer, the incentive to the transaction information during the predetermined time period to determine if the incentive was offered as part of the consummated transaction; and if the incentive was not offered as part of the consummated transaction, duplicating, by the computer, the incentive for the consumer after the consummated transaction. |
| US08423400B2 |
System and method for managing customized reward offers
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is received, and a second performance target for the financial account is determined based on the transaction data. |
| US08423397B2 |
Asset management systems and methods
Systems, methods, and software for reliability, hazard, and integrity optimization are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the software includes an input module, a failure model module, a simulation module, and an optimization module. The input module accepts a list of assets to be managed and determines design data and process data for each asset. The failure model module determines probability of failure curve parameters for each asset degradation mode. The simulation module simulates an asset management plan to determine a total management cost that includes costs for predicted failures as well as risk-weighted costs for each degradation mode of each asset generates alternative management plans for evaluation by the simulation module and provides a selected management plan for display to a user. In each embodiment, the total management costs may account not only for direct costs, but also for safety costs, environmental costs, and business costs. |
| US08423395B1 |
System and method for managing data associated with available to-promise (ATP) products
A software system for managing available to promise and making promises to fulfill customer requests is provided. The software system includes a supply chain model representing a chain of supply. The supply chain model includes site models that represent sites having capacity and that manage material flow. The supply chain model also includes seller models that represent sellers and that manage forecasting and purchasing. Commitments between sites is modeled by requests and promises, and the sellers can post requests on behalf of sites in anticipation of future requests from the sites. |
| US08423388B1 |
GUI for risk profiles
A memory device stores machine-readable instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to graphically depict on a display device a first category of risk analysis data related to a plurality of insurance claims. The processor also causes the display to graphically depict a relationship between a first analysis result and a first benchmark value corresponding to the first analysis result, and graphically depict one or more user controls for selecting a second category of risk analysis data. |
| US08423387B1 |
Direct physician delivery of patient care over a network
A system and method of providing delivery of medical care through instant patient access to a physician via an application (app) on a smartphone connecting over a network. A patient signs into the system through a smartphone app and selects a category for an emerging medical issue and further submits a detailed description of the presenting issue. A physician instantly receives a notice through the app on a physician smartphone that the patient is waiting a consultation. The physician opens the app, reviews the category and the detailed description and calls the patient directly through the app for a consultation. After the consultation is complete, the physician submits clinical advice through the app, the app electronically mailing the patient with the advice in writing. The physician also submits a prescription to a pharmacy, makes a referral, bills an insurance provider and accepts payment through the app. |
| US08423380B1 |
Method and system for interactive health regimen accountability and patient monitoring
A method and system for providing an automated healthcare regimen monitoring and feedback system uses a healthcare regimen database that includes data related to healthcare regimen of various conditions using various healthcare related regimens. Once a healthcare related regimen is prescribed to a healthcare consumer by a healthcare service provider, the healthcare consumer provides contact information for their preferred method of contact and the healthcare consumer is then automatically contacted, via the selected form of contact, at intervals based on the data in the healthcare regimen database and/or entered additional information regarding the healthcare consumer, and/or the healthcare consumer's condition, and/or the prescribed healthcare regimen. Via this automatic contact, the healthcare consumer is provided reminders and other information regarding the prescribed healthcare regimen and, in some instances, asked for data and/or feedback. |
| US08423378B1 |
Facilitating health care management of subjects
A peer system of subjects with health-related issues is formed based on an association of subjects and a particular type of electronic device or devices which provides information related to a specific health-related issue or issues obtained from particular subjects. By means of such associations, subjects can transmit to and receive messages from other subjects associated with the same type of electronic device. One way to associate subjects with health-related issues is through an association of a subject with a type or types of sensors. For example, each monitoring device may be associated with a subject, and the type or types of sensor or sensors may be associated with the subject and/or monitoring device. Devices, systems, methods and computer program products may be provided leveraging this association for various applications, e.g., management of the health care of subjects, peering among subjects with a common heath-related issue or issues, advertising, research and other applications involving such subjects. |
| US08423376B2 |
Apparatus and method for online negotiation
A system, apparatus, article of manufacture and method for facilitating an automatic negotiation between a consumer and a vendor for purchase of an item is described. An electronic negotiation unit receives an offer to purchase the item, and automatically processes the offer. The processing is performed by a computer and includes accepting the offer if it is greater than a bottom line price for the item. The offer is rejected if the offer is below a negotiation range which extends below the bottom line price. If the offer is within the negotiation range for the item, the electronic negotiation unit automatically generates a counter offer price that is greater than or equal to the bottom line price. If the counter offer is within a final offer range the counter offer is designated as a final counter offer. |
| US08423368B2 |
Biofeedback system for correction of nasality
A system is described for providing biofeedback to hearing-impaired persons as to the degree of nasalization of vowel-like sounds in their speech, in order to monitor their own nasality and thus correct inappropriate nasalization. In a preferred embodiment, this feedback uses tactile vibration, with the vibration frequency or amplitude reflecting the nasalance of the speech. |
| US08423366B1 |
Automatically training speech synthesizers
A method includes receiving, by a system, a voice recording associated with a user, transcribing, the voice recording into text that includes a group of words, and storing an association between a portion of each respective word and a corresponding portion of the voice recording. The corresponding portion of the voice recording is the portion of the voice recording from which the portion of the respective word was transcribed. The method may also include determining a modification to a speech synthesis voice associated with the user based at least in part on the association. |
| US08423357B2 |
System and method for biometric acoustic noise reduction
Embodiments of the invention provide a communication device and methods for generating enhanced audio signals. An audio signal comprising a speech signal and a noise signals is acquired at the communication device. A noise processor of the communication device detects a pitch estimation of the audio signal. Thereafter, the audio signal is processed based on the pitch estimation and processing parameters of the audio signals to remove noise signals and generate an enhanced audio signal. |
| US08423355B2 |
Encoder for audio signal including generic audio and speech frames
A method for encoding audio frames by producing a first frame of coded audio samples by coding a first audio frame in a sequence of frames, producing at least a portion of a second frame of coded audio samples by coding at least a portion of a second audio frame in the sequence of frames, and producing parameters for generating audio gap filler samples, wherein the parameters are representative of either a weighted segment of the first frame of coded audio samples or a weighted segment of the portion of the second frame of coded audio samples. |
| US08423354B2 |
Speech recognition dictionary creating support device, computer readable medium storing processing program, and processing method
A device extracts prosodic information including a power value from a speech data and an utterance section including a period with a power value equal to or larger than a threshold, from the speech data, divides the utterance section into each section in which a power value equal to or larger than another threshold, acquires phoneme sequence data for each divided speech data by phoneme recognition, generates clusters which is a set of the classified phoneme sequence data by clustering, calculates an evaluation value for each cluster, selects clusters for which the evaluation value is equal to or larger than a given value as candidate clusters, determines one of the phoneme sequence data from the phoneme sequence data constituting the cluster for each candidate cluster to be a representative phoneme sequence, and selects the divided speech data corresponding to the representative phoneme sequence as listening target speech data. |
| US08423352B2 |
Enhancing language detection in short communications
A method, system, and computer usable program product for enhancing language detection in short communications are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A short communication is stored in an element of a line cache. The line cache is accessible to an application executing in a data processing system. The element is an element in a set of elements in the line cache. A compound text is assembled from contents of a subset of the elements of the line cache. A language identifier (language ID) is received for the compound text from a language detection algorithm. The language ID is stored in a language cache element of a language ID cache. The language ID cache is accessible to the application and includes a set of language cache elements. A language of the short communication is determined using the contents of a subset of language cache elements. |
| US08423344B1 |
Method and system for forecasting usage costs and computer capacity
The present invention provides at least a method and system for forecasting usage costs and computer capacity. With respect to the present invention, performance data and information related to transactions collected from computing devices are used to calculate correlations. A cost-allocation factor is calculated to determine the computer's usage costs without a long manual analysis of large volumes of data and extensive testing. Performance data and transaction data are used to forecast computer capacity. |
| US08423343B2 |
High-parallelism synchronization approach for multi-core instruction-set simulation
The present invention discloses a high-parallelism synchronization method for multi-core instruction-set simulation. The proposed method utilizes a new distributed scheduling mechanism for a parallel compiled MCISS. The proposed method can enhance the parallelism of the MCISS so that the computing power of a multi-core host machine can be effectively utilized. The distributed scheduling with the present invention's prediction method significantly shortens the waiting time which an ISS spends on synchronization. |
| US08423341B2 |
Method and system for constructing corner models for multiple performance targets
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for constructing corner models for multiple performance targets for circuit simulations. The method includes identifying N (N≧2) performance targets F1, F2, . . . , FN, and obtaining their correlation matrix R, calculating a normalized joint probability density (JPD); and building a common and optimal corner for the N targets. The method further includes constructing corner models to cover both lower and upper bounds of the performance targets; and determining an optimal common corner solution for each corner by maximizing a normalized JPD among all possible common corner solutions for that corner. |
| US08423338B2 |
Petroleum reservoir history matching method using local parametrizations
The invention is a method of constructing an image of a petroleum reservoir from dynamic data having application for petroleum reservoir characterization. At least two independent realizations of the reservoir are generated from at least two Gaussian white noises. At least one region is defined within the reservoir and a parameter allowing the shape and the size of this region to be modified is defined. A new realization of the reservoir is then generated from a linear combination of the white noises. The coefficients of this linear combination depend on the parameter allowing the region to be modified. A local objective function measuring, within this region, a difference between dynamic data simulated from the new realization and the measured dynamic data is then calculated. Finally, the image of the reservoir is constructed by iteratively modifying the parameter so as to minimize the local objective function. |
| US08423336B2 |
Aerodynamic simulation system and method for objects dispensed from an aircraft
A system and method implemented on a computing device are provided to simulate trajectories of objects dispensed from a moving aircraft. |
| US08423332B2 |
Method for synthesizing numerical operators, system for synthesizing operators, and simulation device
A stiffness matrix H′ is designed as PiTCPi or a linear combination form thereof, where a spatial first-order difference operator, which operates on a state vector, of a displacement vector at each discrete grid point is Pi and the matrix of elastic constants is C. The mass matrix T′ is derived using finite-difference approximations at the discrete grid points so that the result of the matrix δTnum operating on a state vector corresponding to rotations or translations is 0, where T is a positive definite diagonal mass matrix and δTnum=T′−T. |
| US08423331B2 |
Method for optimisation of an avionics platform
A method for optimization of the avionics platform of an aircraft, intended to implement a set of avionics functions. The association between the platform's functional architecture elements (functions, functional links) and the elements of its equipment architecture (equipment, network paths, direct physical links) are formalized by sets of constraints in the form of linear inequalities of decision variables. Certain segregation or co-location functional constraints are also envisaged. Optimization of the avionics platform is achieved through the minimization of cost functions which are linearly dependent on said decision variables. This minimization under constraints is achieved in an effective manner by the Simplex algorithm. |
| US08423321B2 |
Transfer of a component with effect on the safety function from the safety-relevant area
An electronic module for level measurements, pressure measurements or density measurements is disclosed. In the module, a safety-relevant function is transferred into an area that is categorized as safety-uncritical. In order to prevent malfunctions, a diagnostic function is performed in the safety-critical area of the electronic module in order to check the transferred function. This diagnostic function is also checked with respect to its effectiveness during the safety-oriented operation. Suitable measures can be initiated in case an error is detected. |
| US08423320B2 |
Method and system for quantitative inline material characterization in semiconductor production processes based on structural measurements and related models
By using powerful data analysis techniques, such as PCR, PLS, CLS and the like, in combination with measurement techniques providing structural information, gradually varying material characteristics may be determined during semiconductor fabrication, thereby also enabling the monitoring of complex manufacturing sequences. For instance, the material characteristics of sensitive dielectric materials, such as ULK material, may be detected, for instance with respect to an extension of a damage zone, in order to monitor the quality of metallization systems of sophisticated semiconductor devices. The inline measurement data may be obtained on the basis of infrared spectroscopy, for instance using FTIR and the like, which may even allow directly obtaining the measurement data at process chambers, substantially without affecting the overall process throughput. |
| US08423319B2 |
Process for mapping off-site piping systems in a refinery and/or petrochemical facility and a system for providing emergency isolation and response in a refinery and/or petrochemical facility
A process of mapping piping systems associated with a refinery and petrochemical facilities is disclosed, which maps piping systems, which interconnect facility operating units with other operating units, utilities, distribution facilities and storage units. A system for aiding in the isolation of piping systems, operating units and other facility components is also disclosed. The system includes a search database having representations of the piping systems and its related components. A method of isolating an event within a facility is also disclosed. The method includes identifying the location of an event in the facility, performing a search to identify the impacted piping systems and related components, and identifying measures to isolate the event. |
| US08423318B1 |
Object management system
A method and apparatus for managing information about an object. A location on the object is identified. An association between the location on the object and a number of points in a point cloud for the object is identified. The number of points in the point cloud is associated with a number of parts for the object. The location on the object is associated with the number of parts for the object based on the association of the location on the object with the number of points in the point cloud. An identification of the number of parts associated with the location on the object is presented on a graphical user interface on a display system. Information for the location on the object in a number of types of media is identified. The information for the location on the object is associated with the location on the object. |
| US08423312B2 |
Voltage-sensed system and method for anti-islanding protection of grid-connected inverters
A method is provided for preventing islanding of a power source connected to an electric AC grid via an interface. The method senses an output voltage waveform of the interface, controls an output current waveform of the interface to track a reference current waveform having a mathematical relationship with the sensed output voltage waveform, and discontinues the output current waveform when the output voltage waveform is sensed to be outside a predetermined waveform range. |
| US08423304B2 |
Thermal, flow measuring device
Thermal, flow measuring device and method for operating a thermal, flow measuring device, wherein the thermal, flow measuring device has a first sensor with a first heatable resistance thermometer and at least an additional, second sensor with a second heatable resistance thermometer. A decision coefficient is calculated according to the formula DC=(PC1−PC2)/PC1, with PC1(t=t1)=P1,1(t1)/(T1,heated;actual(t=t1)−Tmedium;actual(t=t1)) and PC2(t=t2)=P2,2(t2)/(T2,heated;actual(t=t2)−Tmedium;actual(t=t2)), with P being the heating powers consumed by the corresponding resistance thermometers at the points in time t, and T being the temperature values; wherein the value of the decision coefficient indicates the flow direction of a measured medium in the measuring tube. |
| US08423303B2 |
Method for real time measurement of mass flow rate of bulk solids
The mass flow rate of bulk solids in a pneumatic transport system is measured in real time. At least two pressure gauges (P1, P2) are provided in a pipe section of the transport system. The pressure drop ΔP between the pressure gauges is determined during a gas-solids flow of air and bulk solids through the pipe section. The suspension density ρsus of the flowing mixture of air and bulk solids is calculated. The bulk solids mass flow rate Ms at a given location along a given length of a pipeline is estimated based at least on the suspension density ρsus of the flowing mixture. |
| US08423296B2 |
Method for analyzing gene expression data
The invention provides a method for selecting one or more genes from among a predetermined group of genes whose expression level is significantly different among a first group of individuals in a population in comparison with a second group within the population. The first group of individuals may be, a group of individuals suffering from an illness that responded to a predetermined treatment. The second group of individuals may be a group of individuals suffering from the same illness that did not respond to the treatment. For each of one or more selections of m individuals from the first subset and n individuals from the second subset, the statistical significance of each gene i in the up group of the genes, and in the down group of genes are determined, where the up group is a group of genes for which the expression level in the first group is greater than an expression level in the second group and the down group is a group of genes for which the expression level in the first group is less than an expression level in the second group. The genes in the up and the down groups are ranked according to the number of times each gene received the highest statistical significance among the one or more selections of individuals. A subset of genes in the up group having the highest rankings and a subset of genes in the fown group having the highest rankings are then selected. |
| US08423295B2 |
Method of outputting body information and apparatus therefor
A method and an apparatus for outputting body information of a user. The method of outputting the body information of a user comprises: designating coordinate points of the body information according to first, second, and third body information on a three-dimensional coordinate having the first, second, and third coordinates as coordinate axes; and outputting comparison information between the user body figure and the average body figure from the distance between the coordinate point of the body information of the average body figure designated on a three-dimensional coordinate in advance and the coordinate point of the body information of the user. |
| US08423293B2 |
Display control device, display control method and control program
A user can visually and instinctively understand an operation to be executed, and a corresponding operation screen or input screen is easily displayed and operated. Plural flat display objects each having a predetermined displace face having each kind of information displayed in a virtual three-dimensional space are arranged in a predetermined area every category and classified into one main display object 51A and sub display objects 51B other than the display object 51A, the main display object 51A is rotated so that a display face thereof is perpendicular to or intersects to the overhead-view direction, and moved in the virtual three-dimensional space so as to be located in the overhead-view direction or in the neighborhood of the overhead-view direction while following variation of the overhead-view direction, and displayed on the display device, and the sub display objects 51B are controlled to be rotated in the virtual three-dimensional space so that display faces thereof are perpendicular to or intersect to the overhead view direction and displayed on the display screen of the display device 16. |
| US08423290B1 |
Method of providing emergency route guidance and related portable electronic device
A method of providing emergency route guidance to guide users away from a disaster includes receiving from a user a request for emergency route guidance through a user interface of a portable electronic device. The method further includes determining the current location of the portable electronic device with a position receiving device, presenting a list of possible disaster types to the user through the user interface of the portable electronic device, and receiving a selected disaster type from the user. At least one suggested route is generated for the user to follow using route software of the portable electronic device according to the selected disaster type and the current location of the portable electronic device. Navigation instructions are then provided for guiding the user on the suggested route in order to avoid the selected disaster type. |
| US08423288B2 |
Dynamic alerts for calendar events
A computing device can access a calendar entry having an associated time and an associated location, in a calendar application. The computing device can dynamically determine an estimated travel time to the location associated with the calendar entry. The computing device can provide an alarm indication for the calendar entry at a time based on the estimated travel time. |
| US08423287B2 |
Determining speed parameters in a geographic area
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area, wherein the parameters may be used to associate a speed limit with the geographic area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that comprises one or more street segments is identified. Additionally, speed data associated with one of more of the street segments is received. After receiving the speed data, a speed limit is determined for one or more of the street segments and associated with one or more of the street segments. |
| US08423283B2 |
System and method for efficient routing on a network in the presence of multiple-edge restrictions and other constraints
Embodiments provide systems and methods that find the quickest route between two locations on a graph with multi-edge constraints in a time and space efficient manner. In some embodiments, Dijkstra's algorithm is split into separate universes when a) a multiple-edge constraint is reached, and b) along each edge of a multi-edge constraint. In some embodiments, the split is performed for the purpose of finding the quickest (i.e. lowest weighted) route to the intersection(s) at the end of the constraints. These universes, in some embodiments, are merged or discarded when the intersection at the end of the constraint is found. Using these systems and methods, in some embodiments, the shortest path between two locations of a multi-edge constrained road network can be efficiently determined. |
| US08423279B2 |
Drive assist apparatus, method, and recording medium
A drive assist apparatus includes: a road-information storage unit storing road information; a traffic-signal information storage unit to store information regarding a traffic-signal change timing; a receiving unit to receive other-vehicle information; an obtaining unit to obtain host-vehicle information; a determining unit to determine whether the other vehicle becomes an obstacle to the host vehicle; and a calculating unit to calculate a recommended speed based on the host-vehicle information, the road information, and information regarding the traffic-signal change timing, when the other vehicle is determined to not become an obstacle to the host vehicle, and calculate the recommended speed based on the host-vehicle information, the road information, the information regarding the traffic-signal change timing, and an arrival delay time for avoiding an obstacle caused by the other vehicle, when the other vehicle is determined to become the obstacle to the host vehicle. |
| US08423278B2 |
Navigation aid method, device and program
This disclosure provides a navigation aid device that includes a calculation time setting module for setting two or more calculation points of time for calculating trial information, a ship-concerned information acquisition module for acquiring ship-concerned information including a position of a ship concerned at every predetermined ship-concerned information acquisition time, a ship-concerned trial information calculating module for calculating ship-concerned trial information including the position of the ship concerned at each calculation point of time based on the ship-concerned information acquired at the newest information acquisition time with respect to the calculation point of time. |
| US08423276B2 |
Systems and methods for determining entry of a navigation system into a structure
Systems and methods are operable to determine that a navigation system has entered a structure. An exemplary embodiment monitors a magnetic field at an outdoor position, monitors a magnetic field at a current position, compares a characteristic of the monitored magnetic field at the current position with a corresponding characteristic of the outdoor magnetic field, and determines entry into the structure at least as a function of a change in the determined characteristic of the monitored magnetic field from the corresponding characteristic of the outdoor magnetic field. |
| US08423274B2 |
Vehicle
A vehicle provides upstanding and tilted (standstill for allowing a user to get on an off the vehicle) positions without movement of the vehicle. In the vehicle, even if the vehicle body tilts, a riding section is moved in the forward-backward direction to bring the vehicle to an orientation where the center of gravity (P) of the vehicle body is on a vertical line (V) passing through ground contact points (S1) or drive wheels (12). This controls the tilt angle of the vehicle body and the position of the riding section (13) so that the center of gravity (P) does not move. Thus, the upright position and the tilted position of the vehicle are achieved without movement of the vehicle (without rotation of the wheels). Further, influences such as an error in parameters and disturbance are compensated for by a balancer that moves in the forward-backward direction. |
| US08423273B2 |
Minimum energy route for a motor vehicle
Minimum energy routes for a motor vehicle are determined. The minimum energy routes can be calculated using an energy map. Energy management information is determined and provided along the minimum energy route. |
| US08423272B2 |
Method and system to automatically generate a clearance request to deviate from a flight plan
A method to generate a clearance request to deviate from a flight plan is provided. The method includes receiving at one or more processors in an airborne vehicle input from at least one automatic flight-plan-relevant source, at least one of the one or more processors independently determining a revised flight route based on the received input, at least one of the one or more processors independently generating a preconfigured clearance request message to deviate from the flight plan for a flight crew user based on the determining. The method further includes providing an audible prompt to the flight crew user for one of approval and rejection of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan. When an approval of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan is received from the flight crew user, the preconfigured clearance request message is downlinked. |
| US08423270B2 |
Method for adjusting engine air-fuel ratio
A method for adjusting an air-fuel ratio of an engine is disclosed. In one example, the engine air-fuel ratio is adjusted in response to a duty cycle and frequency of a post catalyst oxygen sensor. The method may improve catalyst efficiency. |
| US08423268B2 |
Device for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, with improved rephasing of injection events
A device (D) is dedicated to controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine (M) including at least two cylinders (Ci), each equipped with at least one inlet valve (SA) and at least one injector (IJ), and of the so-called indirect and sequential fuel injection type. This device (D) includes detection elements (MD) designed to detect an injection event phasing error relative to reference angular positions specific to the various cylinders (Ci), and control elements (MC) designed to rephase, if a phasing error of a cylinder (Ci) is detected, the command to open the injector (IJ) of this cylinder (Ci) after closure of the inlet valve (SA). |
| US08423266B2 |
Engine
An engine in which a fluctuation in the amount of fuel injection is reduced in the entire operating tolerance of the engine. The engine (1) has an engine body (5) provided with a turbocharger (7), an engine speed sensor (21), a turbo sensor (22), a boost sensor (23), and an ECU (20) for correcting the amount of fuel injection. A control means recognizes an engine speed, a supercharging pressure, a supercharger speed, a fuel injection amount and corrects the fuel injection amount. |
| US08423263B2 |
Fuel injection detecting device
A fuel injection detecting device computes an actual fuel-injection-start timing based on a falling waveform of the fuel pressure detected by a fuel sensor during a period in which the fuel pressure decreases due to a fuel injection rate increase. The falling waveform is modeled by a modeling formula. A reference pressure is substituted into the modeling formula, whereby a timing is obtained as the fuel-injection-start timing. |
| US08423258B2 |
Vehicle speed estimation for 4WD vehicles under wheel-spinning situations
Systems and methods for detecting wheel-spinning situations of a vehicle. One system includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine a speed of each wheel of the vehicle based on information received from a plurality of wheel speed sensors, to identify a second slowest wheel of the vehicle based on the speed of each wheel, to calculate a vehicle acceleration torque based on an acceleration of the second slowest wheel of the vehicle and a mass of the vehicle, to calculate a torque ratio based on the vehicle acceleration torque and a wheel drive torque, and to activate a traction control system when the torque ratio is greater than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08423257B2 |
System for and method of maintaining a driver intended path
A system and method of maintaining a vehicle on a driver intended path is disclosed. The method includes steps of detecting a failure in a power steering system and controlling a braking system to maintain the motor vehicle approximately on a driver intended path. The driver intended path can be a straight path or a curved path. |
| US08423256B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive deceleration
Systems and methods for adaptive deceleration are disclosed. A brake system controller may perform a method comprising receiving a pedal deflection signal comprising a pedal deflection level, determining a present level of deceleration, and mapping the pedal deflection level to a desired level of deceleration, wherein the desired level of deceleration is greater than the present level of deceleration. |
| US08423255B2 |
System for sensing road and traffic conditions
A traffic sensing system for collecting information on traffic conditions is provided. A traffic sensing system includes a traffic sensing server and a mobile traffic sensing device that sends traffic reports to the traffic sensing server. An MTS device may use an accelerometer integrated into a smart phone to detect potholes, to detect when the vehicle is braking, to detect whether the MTS device is being transported via a vehicle or a pedestrian, to detect horns sounding, and so on. The MTS device reports the various conditions to the traffic sensing server for accurate assessment of traffic conditions at stretches of road through which vehicles transporting MTS devices travel. |
| US08423253B2 |
Automatic braking apparatus for a vehicle
A torque applying device is provided for applying a driving torque to at least a pair of wheels, and a torque restraining device is provided for restraining the torque created on the wheels to be applied with the torque by the torque applying device. A friction braking device is provided for applying a braking torque to each wheel in response to operation of a brake pedal. An automatic braking control device automatically actuates the friction braking device independently of operation of the brake pedal, to apply the braking torque to each wheel. And, a torque restraining cancellation device is provided for cancelling the torque restraining operation for a time period determined in response to a vehicle speed decreasing state, after a condition for initiating the automatic braking control was fulfilled. |
| US08423249B2 |
Torque sensor system with integrated electrical connectors
A torque sensor system for a transmission and other powertrain components in a motor vehicle includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver is operable to induce and detect a signal from the transmitter that is indicative of a torque load on the transmitter. The receiver is cylindrical and has an outer surface with a maximum, constant diameter. The outer surface defines one or more fluid transfer grooves and a docking port for an electrical connection. The fluid transfer groove and the docking port do not extend beyond the maximum outer diameter of the outer surface. Therefore, the receiver is capable of being press-fit within a component and is capable of routing fluid flow. An electrical connector is fed through an access hole and connects with the receiver. |
| US08423246B2 |
In-lane running support system, automobile and in-lane running support method
The in-lane running support system includes a steering input device and a steering input detector. The in-lane running support system further comprises a reaction force device that changes a condition of the steering input device between a normal operation mode that provides a normal reaction force to the driver, and a hapthic operation mode that performs a notification operation to the driver, a turning output device that is in a state mechanically disconnected from the steering input device and that turns steerable wheels, and a turning output controller. A running state detecting device acquires information of a running state of the vehicle with respect to a lane. An in-lane running support device controls the turning output device and the haptic device based on the information of the running state such that the vehicle runs in the lane, and has a first control mode that controls the turning output control device and causes the reaction force device to operate in the normal operation mode, and a second control mode that controls the turning output control device and causes the reaction force device to operate in the haptic operation mode. |
| US08423240B2 |
Wireless railroad monitoring
A sensor node configured to acquire sensor data on one or more properties of a railroad environment, wirelessly transmit data related to the property(ies), and generate sufficient power to operate the sensor node without access to any additional power sources is provided. The sensor node can be deployed as part of a group of sensor nodes, which provide data for use by a railroad system in monitoring and/or controlling the railroad environment. In this manner, various properties of the railroad environment can be monitored without requiring significant wiring to the various sensor nodes. |
| US08423239B2 |
Method and system for adjusting a charge related to use of a vehicle during a period based on operational performance data
A software method controlling a computer device compares operational performance data collected and stored from a vehicle to a predetermined criterion and determines, based on the comparison, whether to adjust a baseline charge for usage of a vehicle during the period. The software may compare data corresponding to one, or more, different parameters to determine the charge adjustment, the parameters including average MPG, engine revolutions, revolution-minutes, or fuel used during the period. The software method may use average values for MPG for the particular vehicle obtained prepared by a governmental agency. The method may also use criterion derived from governmental information. Or, the criterion may be a predetermined value based on a business consideration, such as number of engine revolutions corresponding to a given number of miles traveled. If the vehicle's engine turns more than the predetermined number during a period, the charge corresponding to use during period is increased. |
| US08423238B2 |
Monitoring battery health in an HVAC system
Systems and methods of monitoring battery health in an HVAC system. The charge state of a rechargeable battery and the number of amp-hours provided to or from the rechargeable battery are monitored. The number of amp-hours provided is recorded and an end-of-life condition is detected based on the number of amp-hours provided during the charge or discharge cycle. In some constructions, the end-of-life condition is detected by comparing the number of amp-hours provided during the charge or discharge cycle to a threshold. In some constructions, the end-of-life condition is detected by calculating a rate of change of the number of amp-hours provided during a charge or discharge cycle and comparing the rate of change to a threshold. |
| US08423236B2 |
System for detecting a wheel motion
In a method for detecting a rolling motion of a wheel in a motor vehicle, a wheel acceleration variable characterizing a wheel acceleration is recorded using at least one sensor element, the wheel acceleration variable is scanned at various scanning points in time, and the presence of a rolling motion is detected with the aid of the scanned values. The wheel acceleration variable is scanned in a cycle, including at least three scanning points in time, of nonequidistant points in time. |
| US08423232B2 |
Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device includes: an abnormality detecting portion that detects an abnormality in at least part of a shift position detection portion detecting a shift position; a shift-operatoin determining portion that determines, based on a detection signal from the shift position detection portion, whether a shift operating device is shift-operated or not by a driver, and a vehicle movement prevention control portion that, in a case where a movement of a vehicle is prevented by an actuator and in a case where the abnormality in part of the shift position detection portion is detected by the abnormality detecting portion, permits the actuator to release the prevention of the movement of the vehicle if it is determined by the shift-operation determining portion that the shift operating device is shift-operated by the driver. |
| US08423231B2 |
Driver assistance system
A driver assistance system includes a speed detector, a preceding vehicle detector having at least one video camera and at least one distance sensor for detecting the distance from a preceding vehicle, a device for determining the speed of the preceding vehicle, and an electronic control unit equipped to trigger an autonomous deceleration of the vehicle with the presence of predetermined brake trigger driving data and to terminate the autonomous deceleration with the presence of predetermined brake abortion driving data. The control unit effects: redundant detection of preceding vehicle driving data, and non-redundant detection of preceding vehicle driving data if a redundant detection is not possible. The non-redundantly detected preceding vehicle driving data is compared to preceding vehicle driving data redundantly detected within a predetermined time, and the non-redundantly detected data is used to control the autonomous deceleration if it corresponds to the redundantly detected data. |
| US08423230B2 |
Method and device for controlling a parallel hybrid drive-train of a vehicle
An method for controlling a parallel hybrid drive-train of a vehicle comprising an automatic transmission and a combustion engine which is connected, via a first shifting device, to an electrical machine, which is connected, via a drive shaft, a starting clutch positioned in the transmission. To guarantee safety and high drive comfort of the vehicle during failure of the starting clutch, shifting failures of the starting clutch are monitored. If a shifting failure is recognized, predetermined contingency procedures are initiated and executed in which either continued drive of the vehicle or slowing down of the vehicle to a stop is possible. A device comprises a monitor with a sensor and parts for analyzing and recognizing shifting failures of the starting clutch. Control parts initiate and execute contingency procedures such that a continued drive operation or slowing down of the vehicle to a stop is possible. |
| US08423228B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting decrease in tire air pressure and program for detecting decrease in tire air pressure
An apparatus for detecting a decrease in air pressure of a tire attached to a vehicle includes a rotation speed detection means for periodically detecting rotation speeds of tires of respective wheels of the vehicle; a rotation wheel speed ratio calculation means for calculating a rotation wheel speed ratio between front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle; a wheel torque calculation means for calculating a wheel torque of the vehicle; an initialization means for obtaining a relation at a normal internal pressure between the wheel torque and the rotation wheel speed ratio; a comparison means for comparing the rotation wheel speed ratio with the rotation wheel speed ratio at a normal internal pressure obtained from the wheel torque and the relation; and a determination means for correcting the comparison result by a front-to-rear direction acceleration and determining whether there is a tire having a decreased air pressure or not. |
| US08423227B2 |
Monitoring apparatus and method
An accumulating portion suspends the accumulation of an airflow meter output and a timer suspends the time count when a clutch semi-engagement detection signal is being output from a clutch semi-engagement detection portion. Thus, the airflow meter output obtained while the clutch semi-engagement detection signal was being output is excluded from the calculation of a total intake air amount. A comparing portion compares the calculated total intake air amount with a reference value obtained from a reference value setting portion. If the total intake air amount is smaller than the reference value, the Cold Start Strategy (CSS) control is determined as being abnormal and a CSS-abnormality signal is output. |
| US08423214B2 |
Motor assistance for a hybrid vehicle
A method of providing assistance to an internal combustion engine for a vehicle using an electric motor coupled to the engine is provided. The method comprises selectively operating the motor to provide assistance to the engine at predetermined operating conditions of the engine. During at least a portion of the selective operation, the motor is operated at a higher torque than a continuous operating torque rating for the motor. The electric motor is coupled to a crankshaft of the engine at a first side of the engine and a transmission is coupled to the crankshaft at a second side of the engine opposite the first side of the engine. |
| US08423213B2 |
Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle drive apparatus, the vehicle control device configured with a phase determining mechanism that determines the end of the torque phase in a shift operation, and a rotary electrical machine control mechanism that controls the torque of the rotary electrical machine using a variation of input torque. The vehicle control device is also configured with an engagement control mechanism that provides feedback controlling supplied oil pressure to an engagement side element as an engagement element on a side to be engaged after switching of shift speeds so that the rotation speed change rate of the input member becomes the target rotation speed change rate. |
| US08423211B2 |
Protection method for limited charging/discharging current of hybrid electric vehicle battery and a device and a system thereof
A limited protection method for charging/discharging current of hybrid electric vehicle battery and a device and a system thereof is disclosed. Said method includes: receiving a power requirement and determining an original torque based on the power requirement; judging a charge/discharge state of the battery and acquiring a limited torque from an actual current and a predefined torque; comparing said original torque with the limited torque to select the smaller one as a final output requirement. The embody of the invention can achieve the real-time limited protection for charge/discharge current of hybrid electric vehicle battery. |
| US08423210B2 |
Power supply system and vehicle including the same, and method of controlling power supply system
When a mode signal from a running mode control unit indicates a charge depleting (CD) mode, a CD mode electric power allocation ratio calculation unit calculates an electric power allocation ratio to be used during the CD mode. When the mode signal indicates a charge sustaining (CS) mode, a CS mode electric power allocation ratio calculation unit calculates an electric power allocation ratio to be used during the CS mode. A switching unit switches between the electric power allocation ratios received from the CD mode electric power allocation ratio calculation unit and the CS mode electric power allocation ratio calculation unit in response to the mode signal, and outputs the electric power allocation ratio to an instruction generation unit. |
| US08423209B2 |
Vehicle having power storage devices and charging line for supplying electric power provided from outside vehicle
A vehicle (1) includes a plurality of chargeable and dischargeable batteries (B1, B2), a load device, a bus for supplying electric power to the load device, a plurality of voltage step-up converters (12-1, 12-2) provided in association with a plurality of batteries (B1, B2) respectively, a charging line (PCL) for supplying electric power provided from outside the vehicle to a connection point of the first battery (B1) and the first voltage step-up converter (12-1), and a control device (30). When charging from an external source is started, the control device (30) causes the first voltage step-up converter (12-1) to perform a rectifying operation for supplying electric current from the charging line to the bus in a case where a voltage of the bus is lower than a voltage of the charging line, and causes the first voltage step-up converter (12-2) to connect the bus and the second battery (B2). |
| US08423207B2 |
Integrated approach navigation system, method, and computer program product
Systems, computer program products, and methods for displaying navigation performance based flight path deviation information during the final approach segment to a runway and during landing of non-precision flight modes are provided. Improved graphical depictions of navigation performance based flight path deviation information provide pilots and flight crew members with clear, concise displays of the dynamic relationship between ANP and RNP, mode and aspect of flight and related procedures, intersecting flight paths, and current actual flight path deviation from a predefined flight path during the final approach segment to a runway and during landing. For example, an enhanced IAN display may include NPS-type deviation scales to show RNP/ANP relationships and predetermined RNP markers to alert the pilots and flight crew members that the FMC has transitioned from an NPS display for RNAV (LNAV/VNAV) flight procedures to an enhanced IAN display for a non-precision (non-xLS) approach and/or landing. |
| US08423206B2 |
Variable maximum commandable roll rate for directional control during engine-out rolling maneuver
A system and a method for varying a maximum roll rate command for ensuring sufficient directional control during an engine-out rolling maneuver of a multi-engine aircraft. For a multi-engine airplane with a roll rate command flight control system, the primary flight control computer is used to vary the maximum commandable roll rate to preserve the desired control margins during roll maneuvers where the rudder is fully deflected to control a thrust asymmetry. When the engine-out yawing moment exceeds a specified value, the system sets a reduced limit on the amount of roll rate the pilot can command. |
| US08423205B2 |
Control device for communication with a medical implant and a machine
A safety system comprising an implant, a control device, and a machine. The machine has a control unit which is designed to allow operation of the machine only when a unique identifier has been received, and to set an operating mode of the machine as a function of the received suitability index. The implant is designed to detect physiological data of an implant wearer, and to either generate a suitability index based on detected physiological data and transmit the suitability index to the control device, or to transmit the physiological data itself to the control device. |
| US08423204B2 |
Electronic device and method for controlling unmanned aerial vehicle using the same
A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using an electronic device obtains movement data of an object on a display screen of the electronic device, and converts the movement data of the object into control signals. The method further sends the control signals to the UAV, and changes a flight status of the UAV according to the control signals. |
| US08423200B2 |
System and method for cooling an electronic device with multiple fans
An electronic device and a method for controlling heat reflux of the electronic device include setting a speed decrease value and standard temperatures for each of the first device and the second device. The control method further includes detecting a working temperature of the second device using a temperature sensor of the electronic device, if a speed of the second fan is at a full speed. The control method further includes reducing a speed of the first fan according to the speed decrease value, if the speed of the second fan is at the full speed and the detected working temperature exceeds the standard temperature of the second device. |
| US08423199B2 |
Method and device for controlling operation of a power supply system
A method for controlling a power supply system (10) supplying power to a power consuming device (17). The system comprising a climate-dependent source (5, 6) of electrical energy, an auxiliary source (7) of electrical energy, and an energy storage device (14) for storing electrical energy. The climate-dependent source and the energy storage device being connectable to the power consuming device (17). The method comprising acquiring (101) power consumption data indicative of expected future power consumption of the power consuming device (17), energy storage data indicative of a current energy storage level of the energy storage device (14), and power supply data indicative of a current supply of electrical power from the climate-dependent source (5, 6). Determining (102), based on the power consumption data, energy storage data and power supply data, an energy storage threshold level at which electrical energy should be supplied to the energy storage device (14). |
| US08423197B2 |
Apparatus for controlling the energizing of a heater
A heater energization control apparatus. When an engine is stopped, a microcomputer of a GCU enters a power save mode. When the microcomputer returns to a normal mode in response to an interruption signal periodically generated from an interruption timer, the microcomputer supplies electricity to a heating resistor for a short time and obtains its resistance (S19). When the resistance is greater than a first reference value, the microcomputer determines that a glow plug is removed from the engine; that is, the glow plug is being exchanged (S29). The microcomputer sets an exchange flag to “1” (S30), and performs calibration for the heating resistor of a new glow plug after the engine is operated next time (S35). When the current resistance becomes smaller than the past resistance, the microcomputer determines that the glow plug has been exchanged. |
| US08423195B2 |
Power consumption projection
The present invention provides a way to more effectively estimate energy usage by devices such as servers, including traditional mainframes as well as other enterprise systems. One core idea surrounds the fact that when detailed power consumption information is unavailable for a specific configuration, power consumption is computed/projected/estimated by de-rating the maximum power rating by a power adjustment factor that would more closely project the true power consumption. Under this approach, the power consumption is then provided as a range specifying probable expected lower and upper limits for a given device. This range is more meaningful for planning and decision-making and shows the client a more likely best and worst case energy consumption scenario for their specific device(s), and hence is helpful for planning or server comparison decisions. Cooling, energy costs, energy efficiency, and energy expanded per MIPS are also projected and given as a range instead of a single number. This gives the IT decision maker more accurate information upon which to base IT decision-making. |
| US08423194B2 |
Generator demand response behavior
A household energy management system is provided comprising a controller for managing power consumption of multiple devices within a household wherein the controller monitors energy usage data from a utility. The system further provides a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage by the household and a user interface through which a user can enter a parameter of the energy usage. The system yet further provides a local generator for generating energy for one or more of the energy consuming devices wherein the controller initiates the generator and changes at least some of the energy usage from the utility to the local generator when the energy usage level is within a predetermined percentage range of the parameter. |
| US08423193B2 |
Variable wattage control system
A control system and methods are provided that limit power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage. The system includes at least one power receiving device and a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device, the power controller comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function. |
| US08423192B2 |
Fresh air control device and algorithm for air handling units and terminal boxes
A method of controlling an existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that is configured to condition at least one zone and includes at least one terminal box having a terminal box interface and plurality of control components. The method comprises integrating a control device into said system such that the control device is in communication with the terminal box, terminal box interface, and control components of said system. The control device collects a plurality of zone characteristics, airflow measurements, and occupancy variables, calculates for a primary air freshness based on the plurality of airflow measurements, an outside air requirement based on some of the plurality of zone characteristics and occupancy variables, and a minimum airflow set point by dividing the calculated outside air requirement by the primary air freshness. The control components of said system are modulated based on the calculated minimum airflow set point. |
| US08423191B2 |
Air disk brake caliper pre-stressing method and pre-stressed caliper apparatus
A cast iron brake caliper with improved fatigue life, and a process and process equipment for pre-stressing a cast iron brake caliper to provide improved fatigue life, is provided. In the process, a load is applied to a cast iron caliper, where the load is high enough to locally yield and plastically deform the cast iron material, but not high enough to cause material failure, such as cracking. Upon load removal, residual compressive stresses in the cast iron caliper lower the mid-point of the stress range the plastically-deformed region of the caliper sees during in-service use, and thereby lowers the peak stress seen in this region, increasing fatigue life. The process permits a cast iron brake caliper to be designed to use less material and thus fit within constrained wheel rim envelopes, without the need to resort to high cost materials or other alternative design strategies. |
| US08423190B1 |
Manipulator system
From a desired wrist joint position and a desired elbow rotation angle, a temporary elbow joint position is calculated on the assumption that a distance between a shoulder joint and an elbow joint is fixed. The shoulder joint has a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis, and the elbow joint has a fourth axis. From the calculated temporary elbow joint position, temporary angles of the first and second axes or temporary angles of the first to fourth axes are determined. The temporary angles are corrected in accordance with at least one evaluation function calculated from the temporary angles. |
| US08423186B2 |
Ratcheting for master alignment of a teleoperated minimally-invasive surgical instrument
A minimally-invasive surgical system includes a slave surgical instrument having a slave surgical instrument tip and a master grip. The slave surgical instrument tip has an alignment in a common frame of reference and the master grip, which is coupled to the slave surgical instrument, has an alignment in the common frame of reference. An alignment error, in the common frame of reference, is a difference in alignment between the alignment of the slave surgical instrument tip and the alignment of the master grip. A ratcheting system (i) coupled to the master grip to receive the alignment of the master grip and (ii) coupled to the slave surgical instrument, to control motion of the slave by continuously reducing the alignment error, as the master grip moves, without autonomous motion of the slave surgical instrument tip and without autonomous motion of the master grip. |
| US08423182B2 |
Adaptable integrated energy control system for electrosurgical tools in robotic surgical systems
A method for a minimally invasive surgical system is disclosed including reading first tool information from a storage device in a first robotic surgical tool mounted to a first robotic arm to at least determine a first tool type; reading equipment information about one or more remote controlled equipment for control thereof; comparing the first tool information with the equipment information to appropriately match a first remote controlled equipment of the one or more remote controlled equipment to the first robotic surgical tool; and mapping one or more user interface input devices of a first control console to control the first remote controlled equipment to support a function of the first robotic surgical tool. |
| US08423178B2 |
Method and device for automated commissioning of bundles
A method for automated commissioning of bundles includes providing different source palettes and palettizing at least one target palette, with bundle layers of different source palettes being individualized and/or magazined in alternation and/or with variable predetermination, and/or bundles or bundle groups being magazined and/or demagazined in stacks before palettizing of the target palette, and/or the target palette is selectively palettized with at least one non-individualized bundle layer of a source palette. |
| US08423177B2 |
Dynamic item-space allocation and retrieval
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to staging manufactured items and provide a method, system and computer program product for staging items in a manufacturing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for staging items in a manufacturing environment can be provided. The method can include defining attributes of staging locations in a distribution area of the manufacturing environment, defining a set of staging strategies for use in the distribution area of the manufacturing environment, receiving a manufactured item in the distribution area and obtaining characteristics of the manufactured item, and comparing the obtained characteristics of the manufactured item to the set of staging strategies to select the staging strategy to apply to the manufactured item. |
| US08423173B2 |
Load port apparatus, lid member mounting and dismounting apparatus for load port apparatus, and controlling method for lifting mechanisms of mapping apparatus
A load port apparatus is disclosed wherein the total period of time of operation of a lid member mounting and dismounting apparatus and a mapping apparatus is minimized while avoiding interference of the two apparatus with each other. An interference avoiding sensor apparatus is provided on the lid member mounting and dismounting apparatus and the mapping apparatus and detects that a lid member suction plate of the lid member mounting and dismounting apparatus is disposed at a position lower by a value exceeding a preset value than the arm to which the mapping sensors are attached to enable pivotal motion of the arm without interfering with the lid member suction plate. Then, immediately after the preset value is detected by the interference avoiding sensor apparatus, the arm is pivoted to the mapping position to start the mapping. |
| US08423171B2 |
Method for processing workpiece in tool machine and behavior measurement device
In a method for processing a workpiece in a tool machine, a first step (Step S4) for continuously measuring a position of a tip portion of a tool attached to a main axis, a second step (Step S5) for computing a displacement amount of the position of the tip point of the tool based on a result of the measurement, a third step (Step S8) for observing a time period while the displace amount is belonged in arrange of allowable displace amount previously determined, a fourth step (Step S9) for keeping an idling operation in case that the time for which the displace amount is belonged in the range of the allowable displacement amount is shorter than a time period previously determined and intermitting the idling operation in the case that the time for which the displace amount is belonged in the range of the allowable displacement amount become the time period previously determined and a fifth step (Step S10) for starting a process with respect to the workpiece in the case that the idling operation is finished are operated in order. |
| US08423165B2 |
Digital/analogue conversion apparatus
A digital/analog conversion apparatus for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. The digital/analog conversion apparatus can generate a high-quality analog signal, even when elements configuring the digital/analog conversion apparatus have variance, with high resolution and a small circuit size. The data conversion apparatus is provided with a first data converter for reducing the number of bits of an input signal, a second data converter for converting the format of the first output signal, and a third data converter for conversion into a code which corresponds to the history of the output from the second data converter. |
| US08423164B2 |
Method for recording and replaying operations in a computer environment using initial conditions
A method for recording and replaying operations in a computer environment utilizes initial conditions of the computer environment at the start of a recording to configure a replay computer environment during replay. The initial conditions of the computer environment are saved prior to recording of user inputs to the computer environment. The saved initial conditions and the recorded user inputs can then be used to actively operate the replay computer environment from a state substantially identical to the initial state of the computer environment to replay the recorded operations in the replay computer environment. The method also includes a technique to synchronize the operations with accompanying audio during replay. |
| US08423160B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling electronic circuitry with separated controllers
Embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling electronic circuitry. A system can include at least a first controller and a second controller and at least one power electronic circuitry module. The first controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a first high-speed serial link (HSSL). The second controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a second HSSL. |
| US08423159B2 |
Method and system for operating a cyclic production machine in coordination with a loader or unloader machine
A method for synchronizing a first machine of a manufacturing process section arranged to carry out a production cycle including a working part and a non-working part. The first machine is operated in conjunction with at least one second machine. The first machine carries out a process during the working part of the cycle on a workpiece that is loaded into and/or unloaded out of the first machine by the at least one second machine during the non-working part of each process cycle. Also, a system for carrying out the method and a computer program. |
| US08423158B2 |
Multichannel cylindrical electrode for nerve stimulation and recording
An implantable multi-channel electrode is described. An ear implant electrode with a cylinder shaped electrode body has opposing top and bottom end surfaces. Electrode contacts are dispersed across the bottom end surface to provide electrical interaction with nearby auditory nerve tissue. |
| US08423155B1 |
Methods and systems for facilitating stimulation of one or more stimulation sites
Methods and systems of facilitating stimulation of a stimulation site within a patient include implanting a distal portion of a stimulating member such that the distal portion of the stimulating member is in communication with a stimulation site located within a patient, securing the distal portion of the stimulating member at a first securing site with a first securing device, forming at least two curves of opposite concavity with a proximal portion of the stimulating member, securing the stimulating member at a second securing site with a second securing device, and coupling a proximal end of the stimulating member to a stimulator. In some examples, the at least two curves of opposite concavity are located in between the first and second securing devices. |
| US08423154B2 |
Lead assemblies with one or more switching networks
Exemplary lead assemblies include a lead body having a plurality of conductor wires embedded therein, a plurality of electrode contacts at least partially disposed on an outer surface of the lead body, and a plurality of switching networks each configured to control an operation of one or more of the plurality of electrode contacts. |
| US08423153B2 |
Method for producing implant structures for contacting or electrostimulation of living tissue cells or nerves
The object, to create a method for producing multilayers or multilayer systems wherein the structures generated on a substrate can easily be jointly detached from the substrate and are preserved in a composite, is achieved by the present invention by means of a method for producing implant structures comprising generating a first metal layer on a substrate, generating a second metal layer above the first metal layer, producing a number of multilayered implant structures above the second metal layer, removing the first metal layer between the substrate and the second metal layer, and releasing the implant structures from the substrate in a coherent composite. With the method according to the invention, between the implant structures and the substrate a release layer is generated consisting of two or three metal layers which serve as sacrificial layer in the course of releasing the fully processed multilayers by means of an under-etching process. As a result, a uniform and reliable separation of the finished multilayers from the substrate in a composite is achieved, facilitating the subsequent technology for assembly and interconnection of the implant structures. |
| US08423151B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide safety checks for neural stimulation
In electrically stimulating neural tissue it is important to prevent over stimulation and unbalanced stimulation which would cause damage to the neural tissue, the electrode, or both. It is critical that neural tissue in not subjected to any direct current or alternating current above a safe threshold. Further, it is important to identify defective electrodes as continued use may result in neural and further electrode damage. Systems and stimulator control mechanisms to prevent damage to neural tissue. |
| US08423150B2 |
Control unit having a deployable antenna
A control unit for an implantable medical device includes a housing and electronics within the housing. The electronics control an RF emission from the control unit. An antenna is pivotably connected to the housing. The antenna is movable between a stowed position where RF emission from the antenna is prevented and a deployed position where RF emission from the antenna is permitted. To use the external control unit to effect communication between an external control unit and an implanted medical device, the user places the external control unit within electronic communication range of the implanted medical device. The control unit antenna is moved from the stowed position to a deployed position where RF emission from the antenna is permitted. RF waves are emitted from the antenna to establish communication between the external control unit and the implanted medical device. |
| US08423149B2 |
System and method for the remote programming of a programmable personal medical device
The invention relates to a system and a method for the remote programming of a programmable personal medical device (10, 10′), in particular an implantable medical device such as a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, or the like, selecting (61) of a personal medical device, compiling (63) of a programming instruction (50) by accepting inputs of a user, and checking (63) the inputs for plausibility and compatibility with the personal medical device in a programming device (20), transmitting (65) the programming instruction to a patient intermediary device (30) tuned to the personal medical device via at least one indirect connection, receiving (67) of the programming instruction by the patient intermediary device, and transmitting of the programming instruction to the personal medical device, and accepting (69) of the programming instruction by a programmable controller of the personal medical device being provided. |
| US08423146B2 |
Electrical stimulation to alleviate chronic pelvic pain
The disclosure describes a method and system for applying electrical stimulation to a genitofemoral nerve or a genital branch of a genitofemoral nerve of a patient. The system includes electrical stimulators that apply electrical stimulation for alleviation of pelvic pain. The system may apply electrical stimulation for pelvic pain in men or women. The electrical stimulators may comprise various types of electrodes such as cuff electrodes, electrode leads, and microstimulators implanted at various locations proximate to a single or both genitofemoral nerves and the genital branch of a single or both genitofemoral nerves of a patient. When implanted proximate to a genital nerve branch, the electrode may be implanted proximate to the genital nerve branch. In a male patient stimulation may be delivered proximate to the spermatic cord, which contains a portion of the genital nerve branch. |
| US08423140B2 |
System and method for decompensation detection and treatment based on patient hemodynamics
A system and method for detecting and treating symptoms of early decompensation utilizing a cardiac rhythm management. The system applies an electrical stimulus to the patient's heart at a first set of pacing parameters including a lower rate limit (LRL) setting, and acquires a coronary venous pressure (CVP) signal from a pressure sensor implanted in a coronary vein of the patient. An average coronary venous end diastolic pressure (CV-EDP) value is calculated from the CVP signal. The system monitors the average CV-EDP value over a predetermined interval, and dynamically adjusts the LRL setting responsive to the detection of a first or a second predetermined event based on the average CV-EDP value. |
| US08423138B2 |
Implantable device for transmitting therapeutic and diagnostic signals
An implantable medical device configured to connect to function conductor(s) to transmit therapeutic signals or diagnostic signals or both. Includes a controllable voltage/current source or adjustable terminating impedance for the function conductor and a control unit that is connected to the voltage or current source or adjustable terminating impedance. The control unit controls a voltage, or a current to be applied to the function line, or to adjust the terminating impedance. Includes an interference field sensor connected to the control unit, and to detect an alternating electromagnetic or magnetic field, and to supply an output signal, upon detection. The control unit controls the voltage/current source as a function of the output signal of the interference field sensor, or sets the adjustable impedance so that a voltage induced as the result of an alternating electromagnetic or magnetic field is compensated for at the distal end of the electrode line. |
| US08423137B2 |
Defibrillator having specialized output waveforms
An output stage for use in a therapeutic defibrillator enables practical use of specialized output waveforms optimized for cardiac defibrillation. A pulse-width modulated (PWM) switching amplifier, connected to a high voltage source capacitor and to one or more output bridges corresponding to different electrode placements, is adapted to operate with high efficiency, demonstrated at about 80%. The amplifier is capable of delivering a defibrillating electric shock to a heart in the form of a time-varying output voltage waveform of arbitrary shape. Efficiency improvement is accomplished through the use of a high voltage reservoir capacitor network configured to minimize a voltage differential between the high voltage reservoir and the output voltage. The switching amplifier features both step-up and step-down amplifier capability. A PWM control unit is positioned within the circuit so as to reduce complexity by eliminating a need for additional isolation circuitry. |
| US08423130B2 |
Optimization of thresholds for eating detection
A method is provided that includes providing a fundic impedance signal of a subject sensed during an initial calibration period using at least one implantable fundic sensor of an eating detection device. An indication is received of actual ingestion events of the subject during the initial calibration period. Using a cost function, an analysis is performed of the fundic impedance signal and the actual ingestion events. Responsively to the analysis, a threshold is set, the crossing of which by the fundic impedance signal is indicative of ingestion. The threshold is stored in a memory of the eating detection device. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08423126B2 |
Monitoring thermal conditions to vary operation of an ultrasonic needle tip of a surgical instrument
A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached. |
| US08423125B2 |
Radioimaging
Radioimaging methods, devices and radiopharmaceuticals therefor. |
| US08423122B2 |
Localization of capsule with a synthetic source of quadrupoles and dipoles
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for localizing an in vivo imaging device by means of a single magnetic source coil assembly and a single magnetic detector coil assembly. This invention also relates to methods and apparatus to enable the use of a single magnetic source coil assembly to also transmit and receive information, images, and controls signals, as well as for the coil assembly to be used in DC-DC voltage conversion. A user interface with a display provides the user with the option of viewing selected images captured by the in vivo imaging device. |
| US08423119B2 |
Marker tracking and accuracy verification for interventional magnetic resonance by measuring magnetic field inhomogeneity and determining a noise figure of merit
A fiducial marker assembly (30) is tracked using a magnetic resonance scanner (10). At the tracked position of the fiducial marker assembly, local B0 magnetic field inhomogeneity is measured. A warning is issued if the measured local B0 magnetic field inhomogeneity satisfies a warning criterion. A noise figure of merit of the tracking is also determined, and the warning is also issued if the noise figure of merit satisfies a noise-based warning criterion. |
| US08423118B2 |
Model-based differential diagnosis of dementia and interactive setting of level of significance
When detecting and classifying hypo-metabolic regions in the brain to facilitate dementia diagnosis, a patient's brain scan image, generated using an FDG-PET scan, is compared to a plurality of hypo-metabolic region patterns in brain scan images associated with a plurality of types of dementia. In a fully automated mode, the patient's scan is compared to all scans stored in a knowledge base, and a type of dementia associated with a most likely match is output to a user along with a highlighted image of the patient' s brain. In a semi-automated mode, a user specifies two or more types of dementia, and the patient's scan is compared to scans typical of the specified types. Diagnosis information including respective likelihoods for each type is then output to the user. Additionally, the user can adjust a threshold significance level to increase or decrease a number of voxels that are included in hypo-metabolic regions highlighted in the patient' brain scan image. |
| US08423117B2 |
System and method to process an acquired image of a subject anatomy to differentiate a portion of subject anatomy to protect relative to a portion to receive treatment
A system and method to process an acquired image to differentiate a portion of subject anatomy to protect relative to a portion of anatomy to receive treatment is provided. The system includes a controller with program instructions to perform the steps of receiving an instruction to indicate a zone interest of the imaged anatomy to protect associated with treatment of the subject anatomy; calculating a first set of image elements associated with a first circulatory network in communication to supply a first zone of interest to treat and not in communication to supply a second zone of interest to protect; calculating a second set of image elements of the acquired image associated with a second circulatory network in communication to supply the second zone of interest to protect; and creating a display that differentiates the second set of image elements from a remainder of the acquired image. |
| US08423113B2 |
Systems and methods for processing sensor data
Systems and methods for processing sensor data are provided. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for calibration of a continuous analyte sensor. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for classification of a level of noise on a sensor signal. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for determining a rate of change for analyte concentration based on a continuous sensor signal. In some embodiments, systems and methods for alerting or alarming a patient based on prediction of glucose concentration are provided. |
| US08423108B2 |
Device and system that identifies cardiovascular insufficiency
A system and method for identifying volume status of a patient are disclosed. A pulse density signal is recorded from the patient. The pulse density signal is filtered to capture a respiration sampling period and a plurality of cardiac cycles occurring during the respiration sampling period. Mean pulse pressure and peak blood flow velocity for the respiration sampling period are calculated and are used as indices of volume status of the patient. |
| US08423106B2 |
Multi-wavelength physiological monitor
A physiological monitor for determining blood oxygen saturation of a medical patient includes a sensor, a signal processor and a display. The sensor includes at least three light emitting diodes. Each light emitting diode is adapted to emit light of a different wavelength. The sensor also includes a detector, where the detector is adapted to receive light from the three light emitting diodes after being attenuated by tissue. The detector generates an output signal based at least in part upon the received light. The signal processor determines blood oxygen saturation based at least upon the output signal, and the display provides an indication of the blood oxygen saturation. |
| US08423093B2 |
Discontinuous reception in a mobile radio communications network
The invention provides for a method of controlling discontinuous reception between a mobile radio communications network device and a mobile radio communications device within a mobile radio communications network and including the step of controlling magnitude of the discontinuous reception period in a manner responsive to the velocity of movement of the mobile radio communications device within the network such that a decrease in velocity can lead to an increase in the discontinuous reception period employed by the devices. |
| US08423078B2 |
Dual-mode mobile terminal in a wireless communication system
A dual mode communication terminal in accordance with one embodiment comprises a first communication module configured to communicate with a first base station; a second communication module configured to communicate with a second base station; a first antenna connected to the first communication module to communicate a first base station signal with a first base station; and a second antenna configured to communicate either the first base station signal with the first base station or to communicate a second base station signal with a second base station, the second antenna having a switching module to connect the second antenna to either the first communication module or the second communication module, wherein in response to receiving a command from the first base station, the first communication module measures quality of the second base station signal received from the second base station. |
| US08423077B2 |
Multi-processor platform for wireless communication terminal having partitioned protocol stack
A multi-mode wireless communication device and multi-mode communication method are disclosed. The multi-mode device includes a first baseband co-processor configured to execute low-level stack operations of a first wireless communications protocol employed within a first wireless communications network. The device also includes a host baseband processor configured to execute a set of protocol stack operations of a second wireless communications protocol employed within a first wireless communications network and higher-level stack operations of the first wireless communications protocol. A data communication channel capable of carrying data received by the multi-mode wireless communication device from the first wireless communications network or sent by the multi-mode wireless communication device through the first wireless communications network is provided between at least the host baseband processor and the first baseband co-processor. |
| US08423075B2 |
Physical downlink control channel specific scrambling
A method, apparatus, and electronic device for creating a connection between a base station and user equipment are disclosed. A transceiver 202 may receive a physical downlink control channel signal containing a control message subjected to an encoding. A processor 204 may decode the control message. The processor 204 may determine a control channel element of the physical downlink control channel signal for the control message based in part upon the encoding. |
| US08423072B2 |
Methods and devices for reducing interference in an uplink
There is provided a method of operating a communication system, the communication system comprising at least a macrocell base station and a femtocell base station that is within the coverage area of the macrocell base station, the method comprising providing an indication of the noise rise or interference at the macrocell base station to the femtocell base station; and the femtocell base station adjusting a maximum permitted transmission power based on the indication. |
| US08423069B2 |
Cell access control method and user equipment
A cell access control method and a user terminal are provided, the method includes: obtaining, by a user equipment (UE), cell access information through a pilot channel and/or a synchronization channel; determining a current cell is a macro base station cell or an HNB cell according to the cell access information; determining, when the current cell is an HNB cell, whether the UE is allowed to access the HNB cell according to HNB information of the cell access information, if the UE is allowed to access the HNB cell, performing the access processing, if the UE is not allowed to access the HNB, abandoning the access. A UE is provided accordingly. |
| US08423065B2 |
Method and computer-readable medium for dynamic rate capping
A method and computer-readable medium for dynamic rate capping of data transmissions of a subscriber are provided. According to the method, configuration parameters for dynamic rate capping are defined. A plurality of subscriber parameters are obtained, and a plurality of network parameters are measured. A rate boost factor is calculated based on a backhaul rate boost factor and a sector rate boost factor. A transmission rate cap for subscriber data transmissions is calculated based on backhaul and sector parameters, such as backhaul and sector rate boost factors. The rate of subscriber data transmissions is dynamically controlled based on the transmission rate cap. |
| US08423064B2 |
Distributed blind source separation
Systems and methods for using distributed processing in conjunction with blind source separation techniques for signal processing and acquisition in sensor network environments are provided. In the distributed blind source separation framework, sensors each perform some processing of sensor signals rather than transmitting such signals over long distances, and/or outside of the sensor network, to be processed at a central location. Sensors attempt to own a source signal, and a source signal can only be owned by one active sensor. Sensors that own a source signal broadcast the source signal directly or indirectly so that it is perceived by users. Sensors receive information from other sensors in their sensor neighborhood, including the observed signals of the other sensors and the estimated source signals of the sources owned by the other sensors. This allows all owning sensors to extract the respective source signals associated with the sources they own and all redundant sensors to check if there are any non-owned source signals present. |
| US08423063B2 |
Guided remote storage system
A guided remote storage (GRS) is described for a portable computing device (PCD) capable of holding any type of digital information. The information required by the PCD does not need to be stored on the device but can be stored on a remote tower that holds information required for these devices. To the extent a user would like to use some of the information, the PCD can download it from the tower, effectively giving the device much more memory. The system ideally requires constant communication between the PCD and the tower. In the event the PCD can not maintain constant communication with the tower, the system will provide for intelligent exchange of information between the device and the tower. To solve the problem with intermittent service, the PCD can be provided with a GPS and the service provider will have a map of the areas that have service and the areas that don't have service. Information can then be downloaded on to the device based on this mapping information and the projected movement of the PCD. The GPS will help by notifying the system that the PCD is heading towards an area that does not have service and sending the user an alert and request if it would like to download the information being utilized by the PCD from the tower prior to service being completely interrupted. Such system is helpful for expediting downloads of items such as streaming movies, music downloads, on line gaming and electronic books. |
| US08423061B1 |
Initiation of wireless service
Disclosed are various embodiments for implementing wireless service for a wireless device. In a representative embodiment, a service initiation system is executed in a computing device that communicates with a service provider system over a network to activate a wireless service associated with a newly purchased wireless device. The service initiation system also generates a network page to send to a client over the network, where the network page has a component that initiates a porting of a contact designation associated with a prior wireless device to the newly purchased wireless device separate from the activation of the wireless service for the newly purchased wireless device. |
| US08423055B2 |
Cordless telephone active-call enabled intercom
A method of using an intercom on a cordless telephone during an active call. The active call is put on hold while the intercom is in use. Once the call is re-activated, the intercom is shut off. This system may be designed for a cordless telephone with one handset or a plurality of handsets. |
| US08423054B2 |
Method and apparatus of operating in idle mode in wireless communication system
A method of monitoring a paging message in a wireless communication system, which is performed by a mobile station operating in an idle mode including a paging listening interval and a paging unavailable interval, includes receiving a segment of the paging message comprising a plurality of segments during the paging listening interval, the received segment of the paging message including an extension flag indicating whether a remaining segment of the paging message exists; monitoring at least one subsequent subframe or frame to receive the remaining segment of the paging message while the mobile station remains awake if the extension flag indicates that the remaining segment of the paging message exists; and entering the paging unavailable interval if the mobile station is not paged after receiving all segments of the paging message. |
| US08423051B2 |
Method and system for improving performance of a positioning system during a continuous positioning process
A method and system for improving performance of a positioning system during a continuous positioning process. The method is applied in a mobile communication positioning system, and mainly comprises the following steps: during the continuous positioning process, a mobile positioning center sends a mobile station state inquiring request to a home location register, the home location register receives the request and returns a mobile station current state response, the mobile positioning center performs positioning process or terminates positioning process to the mobile station based on the current state of the station. The present method can avoid circumstances where the continuous positioning has terminated while the positioning center and the positioning entity fails to release resources in time. Also, it can continuously track a subscriber in special industrial application, which avoids the circumstance of inability to continue previous continuous positioning after restart of a subscriber terminal. |
| US08423050B2 |
Mobile object location-based privacy protection
A system, method and apparatus for creating and implementing a privacy zone around a mobile object are described herein. A privacy zone is a geographic location proximate to a mobile object in which mobile device functionality is reduced when a mobile device is inside the boundaries of the privacy zone. A locator subsystem tracks the location of the mobile object to update the location of the privacy zone. Further, the locator subsystem monitors for mobile devices that may interface with the privacy zone. Once a mobile device is found to be within a privacy zone, the pre-determined mobile device features will preferably be disabled. |
| US08423049B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method of controlling volume thereof
A mobile communication terminal and method of controlling a volume thereof are disclosed, by which the volume of the mobile communication terminal can be controlled in case of entering a specific mode while a manner mode is set. The present invention includes entering a specific mode for outputting an audio signal while a manner mode is set, selecting a presence or non-presence of an output of the audio signal, and terminating the specific mode, wherein the manner mode is maintained in case of terminating the specific mode. |
| US08423045B2 |
Location-based presence automation
The present invention provides for an improved presence system, which can automatically and unobtrusively factor in the location of a person being monitored when creating presence information for dissemination to subscribers. Presence tags can be distributed at different locations, which may bear on the relative availability of the monitored person for communications. A mobile terminal associated with the monitored person is configured to automatically obtain tag information from the presence tags and deliver location-based state information to the presence server without human interaction. The presence server will process the location-based state information and any other applicable state information to create presence information for the person being monitored, and then deliver the presence information to subscribers. |
| US08423043B2 |
Method and apparatus for location fingerprinting
Methods and apparatus herein facilitate accurate estimation of a mobile terminal's location via location fingerprinting. Specifically, the methods and apparatus obtain a radio fingerprint of the mobile terminal's location based on signal measurements (e.g., signal strength, signal quality, or path loss) performed at a radio frequency distinct from that used to obtain the reference radio fingerprints. The methods and apparatus transform the radio fingerprint, or the reference radio fingerprints, or both, based on that distinction, such as by offsetting signal measurements of the radio fingerprint by an amount determined based on theoretical or experimental models of the dependency of the signal measurements on the radio frequency at which they are performed. The radio fingerprint of the mobile terminal's location may then be compared to the reference radio fingerprints, to accurately estimate the mobile terminal's location despite the radio fingerprint and the reference radio fingerprints having been obtained using different frequencies. |
| US08423041B2 |
Communication apparatus preventing communication interference
A game apparatus according to a preferred embodiment includes a first wireless communication module and a second wireless communication module. The first wireless communication module performs communication utilizing Bluetooth protocols, whereas the second wireless communication module performs communication utilizing IEEE protocols. The first radio communication module and the second radio module have a common reference communication cycle, and each communicates in communication cycles of an integral multiple of the reference communication cycle. A control unit sets offset time between the start time of a communication by the first wireless communication module until the start time of a communication by the second wireless communication module. In so doing, the control unit monitors the communication load of the first wireless communication module and sets the offset time based on a monitored result. |
| US08423036B2 |
DRX configuration
A system is proposed to provide DRX/DTX configuration for mixed real time and non-real time transmission scenarios in a mobile telecommunications environment, particularly applicable to 3GPP networks. The proposed DRX/DTX configuration involves maintaining the DRX/DTX interval the same between the switching of real time VoIP data from an active period to a silence period. The proposed DRX/DTX configuration schedules transmission and/or reception times for a mobile device so that packets for non-real time services are transmitted/received immediately after packets for real time services. |
| US08423035B1 |
Dynamic uplink/downlink capacity allocation in a communication network
A method is provided for dynamically allocating capacity to uplinks and downlinks in a communication network. In the method, base stations of the communication network are apportioned into groups. Each of the base stations communicates over an uplink and a downlink with communication devices. For each of the groups, a first indication of utilization of the uplink for each of the base stations of the group is received. Also received is a second indication of utilization of the downlink for each of the base stations of the group. A capacity allocation between the uplinks and the downlinks of the base stations of the group is determined based upon the first and second indications. The capacity allocation is then employed for each of the base stations of the group. |
| US08423033B1 |
Method and system for allocating bandwidth in a wireless communication system having a tree structure
A method and system for allocating bandwidth in a wireless communication system arranged as a tree structure having a plurality of nodes that are each either a subscriber node or a base station node. A given one of the base station nodes within the tree structure directly serves a plurality of child nodes including at least one child base station node that itself directly serves at least one child subscriber node. The method of bandwidth allocation includes (i) determining a total number of descendant subscriber nodes of the given base station node and (ii) using the total number descendant subscriber nodes of the given base station node as a basis to proportionally allocate a quantity of data bandwidth at the given base station node among the total number of descendant subscriber nodes of the given base station node. |
| US08423031B2 |
Communication system, base station, relay station, mobile station, and communication method
In a communication system a base station maps paging information the destinations of which are a plurality of mobile stations to a specific frame of frames and transmits the specific frame to a relay station. The relay station for relaying communication between the base station and the plurality of mobile stations receives the specific frame, maps the paging information the destination of which are the plurality of mobile stations and which is mapped to the specific frame, to the remaining frames of the frames on the basis of a determined rule, and transmits the remaining frames to the plurality of mobile stations. When the plurality of mobile stations are under the control of the relay station, the plurality of mobile stations receive the remaining frames and acquire the paging information on the basis of the determined rule. |
| US08423030B2 |
User profiles
A method, system and computer-readable product for a fixed mobile convergence system. The method includes analyzing at least one rule set associated with at least one user profile with the user profile being associated with at least one mobile device supporting more than one line. Each line offering one or more transports and options for establishing a telephone call. After analyzing the one or more rule sets, a context-specific real-time usage mode is determined based on the analysis which include selections of a telephone line, a transport and establishment options. After determining the usage mode, a call is established between one of the devices and a telephony endpoint, either incoming or outgoing, based on the determined usage mode. |
| US08423025B2 |
Method and system for managing context of mobile station
A method for managing the context of the mobile station (MS) is applied in an MS handover process of a wireless access network. The function entity identification information of acting on the MS is carried in the context of the MS, and the MS addresses based on the function entity identification information and handovers to the target base station. By adding the identifications of various logic entities acting on the MS to the context information of the MS, the correct addressing of these logic entities is ensured during the handover. The different local policies of the source and destination ends are considered during conveying the context of the MS, in which the destination end may update certain context of the MS according to its own local policy during conveying; and the hierarchy of the context conveying of the MS during the handover is also considered. |
| US08423020B2 |
Communication method, mobile station apparatus and wireless base station apparatus
In a communication method, a wireless base station apparatus periodically sends a reference signal to a mobile station apparatus; the mobile station apparatus selects resources to be used for sending communication data to the wireless base station apparatus based on a receive time when receiving the reference signal first; the mobile station apparatus sends information on selected resources to the wireless base station apparatus, and sends communication data to the wireless base station apparatus using the selected resources; the wireless base station apparatus receives and demodulates the communication data based on the information on the resources sent from the mobile station apparatus. |
| US08423019B2 |
Determination of carrier frequency scanning priority in communications
Various methods are provided to address some of the current issues in selecting a carrier frequency. Some embodiments include estimating (101) a speed at which a mobile device is moving, determining (102) relative scanning priorities for different carrier frequencies based upon the estimated speed of the mobile device, and sending (103) an indication of the relative scanning priorities for the different carrier frequencies to the mobile device. By determining carrier frequency scanning priorities based upon the estimated speed of a mobile, throughput can be improved over that attained by present-day carrier frequency selection techniques. |
| US08423010B1 |
Remote activation of a communication-forwarding function for a mobile-communication device
One or more computer readable media, that enable a method for remotely activating one or more communication-forwarding functions for a mobile-communication device are provided. The present invention allows a forwarding service operated by a provider of mobile communication services and a forwarding application that runs on a mobile communication device to be remotely activated by a user that does not have possession of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device receives an activation message with instructions to automatically activate a communication-forwarding function. In response to the activation message the mobile communication device activates the requested communication-forwarding function in conformity with the instructions in the activation message. The activation message is generated and sent by an activation-message generator. |
| US08423009B2 |
Automated delivery of flight data to aircraft cockpit devices
Flight data and information update files such as electronic charts used by aircraft cockpit devices are automatically installed by a secure, wireless delivery system. A service provider downloads file updates through the Internet to servers at airport locations, within wireless transmission range of aircraft on the ground. A secure wireless link and router transmits the file updates from the server directly to a router on board the aircraft which routes the files to cockpit devices onboard the aircraft. Authentication procedures are used to assure that the cockpit device is authorized to receive the update. The servers are also connected to airport kiosks, where pilots may download the updates onto a media storage device, such as a flash memory card that can be used by the pilots to manually install the updates in the cockpit devices. |
| US08423006B2 |
Method and system for providing transfer service between mobile terminal and telematics terminal
The present invention relates to method and system for releasing terminal switching between a mobile terminal and a telematics terminal, and the method according to the present invention comprises receiving from the mobile terminal a terminal switching release request including an identification code representing terminal switching release; restoring information of the mobile terminal by inactivating information of the telematics terminal set as information of the mobile terminal in a home location register and activating information of the mobile terminal based on the identification code; and transmitting a mobile terminal activation command to a first switching center, where the mobile terminal is located, to allow a mobile communication service of the mobile terminal. |
| US08423000B2 |
Guardian system for a cognitively-impaired individual
A guardian system for cognitively-impaired individuals. The system includes a wrist phone system that has a display, a global positioning system, and a SIM card. The wrist phone system is tethered to a PDA phone so that the PDA phone is able to input information into the wrist phone system. In addition, the PDA phone and wrist phone system can communicate with one another and with monitoring devices such that if a warning or emergency condition is provided by the individual or by a monitor a warning message can be sent to a caregiver to address the emergency. |
| US08422999B1 |
Portable camera enabled device applications
Cellular telephone camera used to obtain an image, and to produce an output that helps recognize the words within that image, for example, a menu or a bill in a restaurant. The cellular telephone can have a low-light camera device so that it can obtain images in low light. The image processing can recognize characters in the image and display those characters using the phone's own internal font(s). |
| US08422997B1 |
Visual voice mailbox
A system and computer-readable media are provided for facilitating playback of voicemails using a mobile device having a display. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention allow users to customize the grouping of voicemails, and view and play back voicemails according to these groupings. Additionally, users are able to automatically play back subsets of groups of voicemails in an order that is most meaningful to them without having to intervene during playback. |
| US08422995B2 |
Wireless messaging system
Messages are routed via a cellular communications network to multiple cellular communications receivers configured for answering calls placed to a common subscriber number, such that a message originated with a single cellular call may reach multiple recipients. The geographic area of message distribution may be controlled by selectively enabling different cell sites for calling particular subscriber numbers. The cellular receivers may have message storage capabilities for subsequent replay of received messages. Message storage may be provided by downloading messages to a conventional telephone answering device also connected for landline telephone call answering, thereby adding received cellular messages to recorded landline telephone messages. |
| US08422994B2 |
Intuitive computing methods and systems
A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. The image processing tasks applied to the scene can be selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone can apply more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In some arrangements, data may be referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. Cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), can be aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08422993B2 |
System and method for responding to aperiodic information requests from users of personal communication devices by providing targeted advertisements
There are provided methods and systems for responding to aperiodic information requests from users of personal communication devices, such as mobile telephones and more particularly cellular telephones. In one embodiment, information requests issued from a plurality of user's cellular telephones are received and processed at a central host site. Processing comprises parsing the user requests to determine the content and category type of the request and retrieving relevant content configured as a sequence of images (frames), referred to as a “video strip”. When a user plays back a video strip on his or her personal communication device, the sequence of images appear on the user's display as a sequence of still images, played back at a slow rate, unlike conventional movie playback frame rates. |
| US08422992B2 |
Mobile terminal capable of being tracked and located and method for tracking and locating
A mobile terminal capable of being tracked and located is disclosed, comprising a built-in card and a security system module which are connected with each other. The security system module generates a short message used for tracking and locating when receiving an incoming call request or a short message sent by the built-in card, wherein the short message at least carries an identification of a cellular tower interacting with the built-in card and information of current signal intensity, and the short message is sent into the built-in card; the built-in card sends the received incoming call request or the short message to the security system module and periodically sends the short message used for tracking and locating generated by the security system module to the set security number. A corresponding method is also provided. The security system is good at cover-up to bring the advantages of security and saving electricity. |
| US08422991B2 |
System and method for service activation in mobile network billing
Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to select from a list of available services that can be used on a mobile device. The services include device-based services and device-network based services. The activation, usage tracking and deactivation of a selected service can be conducted at a central location. Some of the services can be provided by different carrier network providers and in different geographical areas. The service selection can be performed from the mobile device, thus providing the user with maximum flexibility as to when and where the user requests the service. |
| US08422988B1 |
Controlling activity levels and reducing infrastructure data transmission costs for wireless mobile devices
Activity levels are controlled and transmission costs are reduced for wireless mobile devices. Power consumption is optimized. Mobile device based activities are categorized according to importance, and associated with power thresholds. Actions are specified to perform responsive to the level of the battery dropping below specific power thresholds. The battery is periodically polled to determine its current level. Responsive to the current level dropping below a given power threshold, the associated action(s) are performed. Communication activity is also optimized in compliance with a service plan. A current service plan copy is maintained on the mobile device. Actions are specified to take when communication reaches given usage thresholds within a plan period. Communication use is tracked, and compared with usage thresholds. Responsive to communication reaching a threshold within a plan period, the associated action(s) are performed. |
| US08422984B2 |
Methods and systems for configuration and activation of power saving classes by a mobile station in a sleep mode
Techniques presented herein allow connections with different (albeit possibly similar) scheduling or data delivery services to be aggregated (or “bundled”) into groups, with each group assigned a common Power Savings Class Type. Bundling different connections into common PSC types may reduce the overall number of different sleep windows for active connections, which may help reduce overall power consumption. For example, by automatically activating different PSC types (for different bundles of connections), the reduced number of sleep windows may overlap in a manner that results in the MS spending more overall time in a low power state than when conventional “unbundled” PSC schemes are utilized. |
| US08422983B2 |
Method of controlling power consumption for a radio receiver
In a radio receiver, an analog/digital converting unit, which digitalizes a received signal down-converted in a radio frequency unit and takes the digitalized signal in a baseband unit, is capable of setting a bias current. A method of controlling power consumption includes determining whether a change is a first change in which a state is changed from a receive state to a standby state of the communication signal or a second change in which a state is changed from the standby state to the receive state based on a digital signal output from the analog/digital converting unit; and setting the bias current to a value smaller than a value in case of the second change when the determined change is the first change, and setting the bias current to a value larger than a value in case of the first change when the determined change is the second change. |
| US08422979B2 |
Method and system for low-noise, highly-linear receiver front-end
Aspects of a method and system for a low-noise, highly-linear receiver front-end are provided. In this regard, a received signal may be processed via one or more transconductances, one or more transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), and one or more mixers to generate a first baseband signal corresponding to a voltage at a node of the receiver, and a second baseband signal corresponding to a current at the node of the receiver. The first signal and the second signal may be processed to recover information from the received signal. The first signal may be generated via a first one or more signal paths of the receiver and the second signal may be generated via a second one or more signal paths of the receiver. |
| US08422978B2 |
Broadband tuner for very wide signal conversion
An agile RF tuner circuit capable of converting a wide portion of RF signal into an IF signal suitable for analog-to-digital conversion. The circuit up converts a received RF signal to a high IF signal and then down converts the high IF signal to a low IF signal. Embodiments of the RF circuit incorporate harmonic reject mixers to suppress harmonics and intermodulations typically associated with the frequency conversion process. |
| US08422975B2 |
Harmonic suppression and/or rejection
Disclosed are circuits, techniques and methods for removing one or more harmonics from a waveform that has been mixed with a local oscillator. In one particular example, such a waveform may also be mixed with a second local oscillator at a different frequency and combined with the first mixed waveform to suppress and/or substantially remove the one or more harmonics. |
| US08422973B2 |
Bidirectional transmission coil and bidirectional transmission system using the same
There is provided a bidirectional transmission coil capable of miniaturizing a structure and carrying out reliable transmission of a data signal. A transmitting coil L1 generates a magnetic flux of a transmission signal by a high frequency signal applied thereto. A receiving coil L2 is arranged to be positioned concentrically with the transmitting coil L1, for inducing a reception signal by the magnetic flux from outside. A first cancel coil Lac is connected to the transmitting coil L1 in series so as to be led-out from a middle of the transmitting coil L and is led-in to the lead-out part. The first cancel coil Lac is arranged so as to sandwich the receiving coil L2 between the first cancel coil Lac and the transmitting coil L1, wherein the magnetic flux in a direction opposite to the magnetic flux from the transmitting coil L1 is generated in the receiving coil L2. |
| US08422972B2 |
Antenna combining module
In an antenna combining module, coupling of an inductor and individual signal lines provided in a matching circuit is prevented and minimized and isolation of lines from one another and communication performance are improved. The antenna combining module includes a duplexer DUP and a multilayer substrate. The multilayer substrate includes a reception signal line, a transmission signal line, an antenna common line, a matching line and a ground line. A wiring electrode for an inductor is inserted into the matching line from the mounting electrode for grounding up to the position where it combines with the antenna common line. The wiring electrode for the inductor wraps around the outside of a via hole filled with a conductive material of the antenna common line. The ground line is arranged between the wiring electrode for the inductor and the reception signal line, and the transmission signal line. |
| US08422970B1 |
RMS power detection with signal-independent dynamics and related apparatus, system, and method
A circuit is configured to receive an input signal and to produce an output signal measuring a power of the input signal. The circuit includes a multiplier cell configured to multiply first and second signals, where each of the first and second signals includes a component related to the input signal and a component related to the output signal. The circuit also includes a controlled amplifier configured to amplify an intermediate signal produced by the multiplier cell, where an amplification provided by the controlled amplifier is a function of the output signal. The circuit could further include at least one first converting amplifier configured to generate the component related to the input signal and at least one second converting amplifier configured to generate the component related to the output signal. Transconductances of the converting amplifiers could be selected to configure the circuit as a linear or logarithmic RMS power detector. |
| US08422969B2 |
Radio frequency transceiver
A radio frequency transceiver includes a mixer circuit configured to convert an intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, a driver amplifier circuit configured to amplify the radio frequency signal from the mixer circuit, a temperature sensing circuit configured for sensing ambient temperature, and an attenuation circuit connected with the temperature sensing circuit, configured to decreasingly attenuate the radio frequency signal from the driver amplifier circuit as the ambient temperature increases. |
| US08422968B2 |
Wireless electronic device with open-loop and closed-loop output power control
Wireless circuitry in an electronic device may contain radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and power amplifier circuitry that transmits radio-frequency signals through an antenna. A tap and power detector that are interposed in the radio-frequency signal path between the power amplifier circuitry and the antenna may be used to make output power measurements. Control circuitry may control the wireless circuitry in an open-loop control regime in which output power adjustments are based on a requested power without using the output power measurements. The control circuitry may also control the wireless circuitry in a closed-loop control regime in which the output power measurements serve as a source of real time feedback to determine whether to increase or decrease the output power. The output power may be controlled using linear transition zone power control curves in a transition zone between the open-loop regime and the closed-loop regime. |
| US08422964B2 |
Partitioned radio-frequency apparatus and associated methods
Radio-frequency (RF) apparatus includes receiver analog circuitry that receives an RF signal and provides at least one digital signal to receiver digital circuitry that functions in cooperation with the receiver analog circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry are partitioned so that interference effects between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry tend to be reduced. |
| US08422962B2 |
Method and arrangement in a communication system
Methods and arrangements for generating adjustment commands in a node. The adjustment commands adjust the transmission power of radio signals. The radio signals are sent over at least a first channel and a second channel. The adjustment is performed by adjusting a gain factor. The gain factor is associated with the relation between a first transmission power level of a first channel and a second transmission power level of a second channel. |
| US08422960B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the present invention is provided with a transmission channel coefficient calculation unit 130-1, . . . for calculating a transmission channel coefficient in a transmission frequency band, for each of a plurality of antennas, by extrapolation based on a distribution of reception channel coefficients in a direction of frequency calculated by a reception channel coefficient calculation unit 120-1, . . . , and a transmission channel coefficient correction unit 170-11, . . . , when an absolute value of the transmission channel coefficient calculated by an absolute value calculation unit 140-1, . . . is greater than a threshold calculated by a threshold calculation unit 150 based on the reception channel coefficient as a result of a comparison by a comparison unit 160-1, . . . , for correcting the transmission channel coefficient such that the absolute value is matched with the threshold. |
| US08422958B2 |
Exploiting multiple antennas for spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks
Spectrum sensing in wireless communications is provided to identify utilized and/or unutilized frequency bands reserved for primary users using a cyclostationary beamforming approach. An adaptive cross self-coherent restoral (ACS) algorithm can be utilized to extract signals of interest (SOI) at unique cycle frequencies related to primary and/or secondary users from an antenna array measurement. Based on the SOI, one or more users of the spectrum can be identified or the spectrum can be regarded as vacant; this can be based on lobe identification in the frequency spectrum of the SOI, in one example. This mechanism is less complex than traditional cyclic spectrum analysis methods. The cyclostationary beamforming based approach is more effective than the energy detection method. Also, the need for quiet periods in spectrum sensing is eliminated when using this mechanism such that signals can be transmitted simultaneously with receiving signals over the antenna array. |
| US08422957B2 |
Signal strength guided intra-cell upstream data forwarding
Intra-cell upstream data forwarding is utilized in a wireless network such as a wireless local area network. A network forwarding path is determined based on the signal strength of an access point signal received at client stations within the network, referred to as the OASS. In particular embodiments, a station that is either originating or forwarding a frame inserts its own OASS into the frame before transmitting it and a client station that receives a frame forwards it only if its own OASS exceeds the frame-enclosed OASS, illustratively by at least a predetermined amount. |
| US08422956B2 |
Mitigation of uplink interference from wireless communication device connected to micro cell
A wireless communication device and method wherein the device determines pathloss between the wireless communication device and the neighboring non-serving cell in response to an order from a serving cell, determines a maximum acceptable transmit power of the wireless communication device based on the pathloss, and limits a transmit power of the wireless communication device, based on a maximum acceptable transmit power, while the wireless communication device is connected to the serving cell. |
| US08422953B2 |
Center device
To provide a center device for accommodating a variety of situations which may occur when a home-use game machine, or the like, is used, in which a plurality of users use their own controller devices such as an input device. A center device communicates with a plurality of devices in either a wired or radio manner, receives an instruction operation from a user of each device, and carries out a process based on the instruction operation, the plurality of devices each having unique identifier, including: a unit that obtains an identifier of a device; a unit that provides information concerning the device, the identifier of the device is not associated with the identifier of the user; and a unit that associates the identifier of the device selected by the user, the identifier of the user is already associated with the identifier of another device, with the identifier of the user. |
| US08422950B1 |
Mobile wifi arrangement
A system for enabling wireless near-field hot-spot communication between a wide variety of wireless ground-position-indicating personal communication devices being utilized within a zone and a further communication network outside of the zone. |
| US08422947B2 |
Communication device, high-frequency coupler, coupler electrode, and composite communication apparatus
A communication device includes a communication circuit part, a transmission path for signals, a ground, a coupler electrode, and a resonance part. The coupler electrode includes an upper flat part as an electrode, a support, and a connecting portion. The support supports the upper flat part. Thus, the upper flat part faces the ground and is separately placed therefrom at a height only enough to ignore the wavelength of the signal, while having a flexible portion which is elastically deformable in the height direction. On the connecting portion, the other end of the support is connected to the transmission path. The resonance part enlarges a current flowing into the coupler electrode through the transmission path. A micro dipole is a line segment connecting between the center of accumulated electric charge in the coupler electrode and the center of mirror charge accumulated in the ground. |
| US08422946B2 |
Near field RF communicators
A near field RF communicator has an inductive coupler (102) to couple inductively to an H field of an RF signal from another near field RF communicator in near field range to provide a received signal, a demodulator (300) coupled to extract any modulation from a source signal representing a received RF signal to provide an extracted modulation signal; and a controller (107) coupled to receive an extracted modulation signal from the demodulator. The demodulator (300) has a sampler (400) to sample the source signal in sampling periods and to compare signal samples with at least one of other signal samples and a clock or reference signal to remove or reject the carrier of the received RF signal and to extract the modulation. |
| US08422942B2 |
Radio relay apparatus and method
A disclosed radio relay apparatus receives signals from a transmitter via multiple receive antennas and transmits relay signals derived from the received signals to a receiver via multiple transmit antennas. The apparatus includes a channel estimation unit configured to estimate a forward channel matrix H1 representing radio channel characteristics between the transmitter and the radio relay apparatus and a loop channel matrix G representing interference occurring in the relay signals due to concurrently transmitting and receiving signals at the radio relay apparatus, a weight optimization unit configured to derive a canceling matrix C through iterative operations using the forward channel matrix H1, the loop channel matrix G and a backward channel matrix H2 representing radio channel characteristics between the radio relay apparatus and the receiver, and a feedback compensation unit configured to subtract a signal weighted in accordance with the canceling matrix C in a feedback path from a relay signal in a main signal path to adjust the relay signal. |
| US08422940B2 |
Resource management and interference mitigation techniques for relay-based wireless networks
Embodiments of a system and methods for resource management and interference mitigation techniques for relay-based networks are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08422938B2 |
Progressively broadcasting information in beacon signals
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting at least two different types of information in a single signal, whereby the different types of information can be encoded and decoded independently. Thus, changes to one type of information does not affect a second type of information. |
| US08422934B2 |
Illuminated output presence indicator
In a production, fax or printing system, collection stations are sometimes obscure to the user. This invention provides a first sensor connected to a light source that illuminates this collection station when a product or copy is present so that the presence of the product or copies to be collected is apparent to a user. A second sensor turns off the light source after a preset period of time so that the light doesn't stay on indefinitely. |
| US08422933B2 |
Curved pre-fuser transport to enable larger sheets through a xerographic print engine
A media transport that will fit between a xerographic transfer station and a fuser station is provided by this invention. The purpose of this media transport is to increase the distance that media with an unfused image will travel from transfer to fusing stations thus permitting longer media to be used in the xerographic system without the risk of disturbing the unfused image. A vacuum is positioned internally of the transport that will provide a vacuum force to hold a media sheet to belts that are guided by the top surface of the media transport. The media transport has a configuration with an arced top surface where the arc length of the top surface exceeds the overall width of the transport. |
| US08422927B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a developer image on a recording medium while rotating; an external heating member that heats the fixing member, the external heating member being driven-rotated by rotation of the fixing member while contacting with an outer peripheral face of the fixing member; an oil supply member that supplies oil to a surface of the external heating member; a switching unit that switches between contact and non-contact of the external heating member to the outer peripheral face of the fixing member, the switching unit causing the external heating member to contact with the outer peripheral face of the fixing member after a fixing operation by the fixing member is started; and a rotation mechanism that rotates the fixing member and rotates the external heating member in a state where the external heating member is separated from the fixing member by the switching unit. |
| US08422926B2 |
Fixing devices including low-viscosity release agent applicator system and methods of fixing marking material to substrates
Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a substrate, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including an outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which is received a pre-heated substrate on which marking material is disposed; a release agent applicator system including a supply of a release agent having a viscosity of from about 10 cST to about 300 cST, and a release agent applicator for applying the release agent to the outer surface of the first roll; and a thermal energy source for heating the outer surface of the first roll to a temperature of less than a boiling point of the release agent. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and a pressure of at least about 500 psi to the pre-heated substrate and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the substrate. |
| US08422925B2 |
Transfer-fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
In a transfer-fixing device for transferring and fixing a toner image on a transfer-fixing side of a recording medium, a transfer-fixing member carries the toner image. A pressing member presses against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip between the transfer-fixing member and the pressing member through which the recording medium passes. A heat transmission member is provided upstream from the nip in a recording medium conveyance direction to heat the transfer-fixing side of the recording medium while guiding the recording medium to the nip. A heating member is connected to the heat transmission member to heat the heat transmission member. A biasing member biases the recording medium guided by the heat transmission member against the heat transmission member. |
| US08422922B2 |
Tubular body, tubular body supporting apparatus, image fixing apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A tubular body includes: a substrate including concave portions on a surface thereof; a surface layer formed on the surface of the concave portion-including side of the substrate; and a particle positioned at an interface between the substrate and the surface layer in each of the concave portions. |
| US08422921B2 |
Image forming apparatus and developer container therefor
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units respectively including developer inlets, the developing units are arranged side by side in a first direction, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers to be supplied to the plurality of developing units and respectively including developer outlets, the developer units are arranged side by side in the first direction to face the plurality of developing units, and a plurality of developer supplying paths respectively to connect the developer inlets to the developer outlets, wherein the plurality of developer containers include first and second developer containers, and a position of the developer outlet of the second developer container is different from position of the developer outlet of the first developer container. |
| US08422918B2 |
Image forming apparatus and methods thereof
An ink tank apparatus usable with an image forming apparatus and methods of mixing ink in an ink tank apparatus are disclosed. The ink tank apparatus and methods include directing ink particles against at least one of an impeller and an interior surface of a head housing to reduce a particle size of the respective ink particles. |
| US08422903B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
A pattern forming unit forms a pattern for correcting a position shift of an image. A detecting unit detects the pattern. A measuring unit measures a time from a start of a control signal for controlling timing to start forming the image until a detection of the pattern. A control unit controls a position of forming the image based on the time measured by the measuring unit. |
| US08422899B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensation of banding from multiple sources in marking platform
A method for compensation of banding in a marking platform includes: initiating a calibration stage; marking a test pattern over multiple intervals of a lowest fundamental frequency among marking modules; obtaining image data for the test pattern from a sensor; obtaining 1x signals from sensors associated with the marking modules; and processing the image data in relation to the 1x signals to form banding profiles for multiple marking modules. Alternatively, the method may include: processing image data in relation to 1x signals to form banding profiles for multiple marking modules; determining amplitudes in multiple banding profiles exceeds a threshold to identify dominant banding profiles; and processing dominant banding profiles to form dominant banding signatures. Alternatively, the method may include: initiating a correction stage; obtaining 1x signals from sensors associated with dominant marking modules; and periodically processing dominant banding signatures and 1x signals to determine a banding compensation value. |
| US08422898B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In the image forming apparatus, the partial image data for gradation adjustment is threshold conversion data of a partial image, the partial image is a part of a base pattern image with a predetermined size and does not contain any sides of the base pattern image, and the base pattern image is an image generated in an error diffusion method; and the patch image generator unit generates an image of a toner pattern by arranging the partial image of the partial image data repeatedly, and forms the toner pattern. |
| US08422895B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes, a carrier element, an image forming unit, a patch mark generation unit, a specular reflected light detection unit that detects light irradiated onto the carrier element by the irradiation unit and specularly-reflected by the carrier element or patch marks, and a diffuse reflected light detection unit that detects the light irradiated onto the carrier element by the irradiation unit and diffusely-reflected by the carrier element or the patch marks. Additionally, the image forming apparatus includes, a correction unit that corrects at least one of a value detected by the specular reflected light detection unit and the diffuse reflected light detection unit, a correction condition determination unit that determines correction conditions for the correction unit, and a density calculation unit that calculates a density of a patch mark. |
| US08422894B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program for controlling calibration
The problem of the present invention is to appropriately control execution of calibration corresponding to an occurrence situation of a partial toner-low state. In order to solve the above problem, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes output unit for outputting an image for detecting a partial toner-low state to a print region, determining unit for determining the partial toner-low state based upon a read result of the image outputted by the output unit, and control unit for controlling execution of calibration adjusting a reproduction characteristic in outputting the image using the toner, based upon a result of the determination by the determining unit. |
| US08422885B2 |
Bandwidth allocation and management system for cellular networks
A bandwidth allocation and management system for cellular communication networks. The system includes at least one master optical switch and processing station, a number of aggregation base stations that are in optical fiber communication with a master optical switching and processing station and a number of auxiliary cellular base stations surrounded by and supported by each aggregation base station. In preferred embodiments a plurality of sets of three neighboring base stations are each adapted to receive and process RF signals transmitted by cellular users within a broadcast and receive range and transmit the RF signals received, by each of the three neighborhood base stations, from each of the cellular users in analog form to the master optical switching and processing station. The master optical switching and processing station processes the three RF signals and combine, for each user within the broadcast and receive range, the three RF signals and to convert the combined RF signals to digital form for transmission to other users in the communication network. |
| US08422882B1 |
Monitoring polarization-mode dispersion and signal-to-noise ratio in optical signals based on polarization analysis
Techniques, devices and applications are provided for monitoring a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) effect in an optical signal. |
| US08422881B2 |
Optical access network
Provided is an optical access network capable of realizing protection control without affecting an E-PON for providing an Ethernet service. In the optical access network comprising the E-PON having a transmission line which is duplexed between an OLT and a plurality of ONTs, the OLT includes a layer-2 (L2) control section in which a protocol, in which protection control information is provided, as a protocol structure, above an Ethernet media access control (MAC), is mounted. Further, the OLT has a protocol structure in which the protection control information is provided independently from the Ethernet MAC to transfer user data and the protection control information. |
| US08422878B2 |
Imaging apparatus performing auto focusing function with plurality of band pass filters and auto focusing method applied to the same
An imaging apparatus and an auto focusing method are provided. A plurality of focus signal values are calculated for a plurality of frequency bands of a captured image signal. An amount of defocus of a focus lens is calculated based on focus signal values calculated for two positions. A position of the focus lens is controlled depending on the calculated amount of defocus. Thereby, the imaging apparatus can detect a focus at higher speed. |
| US08422876B2 |
Interchangeable lens and camera system
An interchangeable lens includes a focus lens for changing a focus state of an object image, a driving unit for driving the focus lens, a lens controller for controlling the driving unit so as to move the focus lens forward and backward along the optical axis at a predetermined drive frequency, and a storage unit for storing therein drive frequency information representing a drive frequency at which the driving unit can control. A camera body obtains the drive frequency information from the interchangeable lens and performs control while referring to the drive frequency information. |
| US08422873B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus whose posture is easily adjustable is provided. The imaging apparatus is configured to include an inclination detector detecting a degree of inclination of one of the imaging apparatus and an image captured by the imaging apparatus relative to a horizontal direction orthogonal to a direction of gravity; a display unit; a first inclination indicator unit allowing the display unit to display an indicator to indicate the degree of inclination according to a detection result from the inclination detector; a second inclination indicator unit notifying via sound according to a detection result from the inclination detector that the degree of inclination is over a predetermined value; and a selector unit allowing at least one of the first and second inclination indicator units to operate. |
| US08422872B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus and information storage medium storing image information
An image processing method and apparatus for automatically rotating an image and a display unit, and an information storage medium storing image information. The apparatus including a photographing unit which generates image data and a rotation sensing unit which generates rotational information of a rotation state of the photographing unit. When an object is photographed, the rotation information of the image is obtained and stored together, and when the image is displayed, the rotation is analyzed and the image and display unit are automatically rotated. When an image including moving picture information is watched, an image always optimized to be horizontal without additional work by a user can be seen. |
| US08422870B2 |
Residential heat pump water heater
A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control are disclosed. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation. |
| US08422869B2 |
Handheld low-voltage fog effects system
A fog effects system includes a control system, a fog fluid reservoir, an elongated insulator, an elongated electric heating element, an air supply subsystem, a fog fluid supply subsystem, and a handheld body. The control system can include a battery-operated power supply and a user-operable control. The heating element extends along the insulator. The control system electrically energizes the heating element during system operation. The air supply subsystem directs a flow of air along the heating element during system operation. The fog fluid supply supplies fog fluid to the flow of air. The heating element vaporizes the fog fluid, which is emitted from an end of the system. |
| US08422868B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes a storage unit that sequentially stores a plurality of frame images based on an imaging signal from an imaging sensor that images light from a subject, a moving image data generation unit that generates slow motion moving image data that is to be played at a second frame rate lower than a first frame rate that represents the number of frame images stored per unit time in the storage unit, based on the plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit during a predetermined time period, a still image data generation unit that generates at least one piece of still image data based on at least one frame image of the plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit during the predetermined time period, and a record control unit that associates the slow motion moving image data generated by the moving image data generation unit and the still image data generated by the still image data generation unit and records the slow motion moving image data and the still image data in a recording medium. |
| US08422866B2 |
Signal output device, signal output method and readable-by-computer recording medium
A signal output device, has an output signal generating unit 23 generating the output signals based on the input data, an output control unit 21 outputting the output signals to a reproducing device, a detecting unit 27 which detects missing of the input data, and a substitute data generating unit 28 generating, when the detecting unit 27 detects the missing of the input data, with the exception of a portion with the missing detected, substitute data by averaging at least any one of input data posterior to the missing portion and input data anterior to the missing portion, as data for a period of reproducing time obtained by adding a period of reproducing time related to the input data to a period of reproducing time related to the missing portion, and the output signal generating unit 23 generates the output signals based on the substitute data. |
| US08422863B2 |
Video information playback method, video information playback device, recording medium and video content
Provided is a video information playback method of reducing a wait time until playback is resumed when resume playback of a content whose video playback can be controlled by a program operating in a virtual machine. After playback of the content is stopped in the resume playback, the program operating in the virtual machine determines whether or not the content to be playback-resumed is a content whose playback is possible either when the program operating in the virtual machine is activated or deactivated. The information of the determining indicating whether the playback is enabled or disabled is recorded in a nonvolatile memory. When a playback resume instruction is inputted, the information of the determining related to the content to be playback-resumed is read out. When the content is determined to be playback-enabled, playback is resumed from the playback stop position without activating the program operating in the virtual machine. Otherwise, the program operating in the virtual machine is activated, and then the playback is resumed. |
| US08422862B2 |
Data recording method, data recording apparatus and data recording medium
In a data recording method, a data recording apparatus and a data recoding medium, for downloading plural numbers of contents, thereby to record them, additionally, onto a same recording medium, while maintaining the compatibility of reproduction with using an existing player, a maximum file number, which is already recoded on the recording medium, is noticed to a server, and thereby additional contents is downloaded after changing management information in such that the file numbers do not duplicate with each other. |
| US08422861B2 |
Content management device
The present invention provides a content management device manages not to reproduce a part of contents in output source/destination concurrently, and manages to reproduce the whole contents in the original sequence continuously.A content management device is a device for managing reproduction of content from the first medium for which data corresponding to a part of the content output to the second medium. This device includes an outputting circuitry configured to output data corresponding to the part of the content, and a reproduction controller configured to disable reproduction of the part of the content recorded in the first medium when the outputting circuitry outputs the data corresponding to the part. |
| US08422857B2 |
Display control apparatus, display control method, and program
A display control apparatus: in a virtual three-dimensional space in which is disposed a three-dimensional model of an object contained in a moving image picked up by performing successive imaging operations once by using an imaging device, draws a plurality of thumbnail images extracted from the moving image to the respective positions of the imaging device at the time when the thumbnail images were picked up and draws information that relates the thumbnail images in order in which they were picked up, thereby generating a bird's eye-display image which provides a bird's-eye-view drawing of the virtual three-dimensional space containing the three-dimensional model and the thumbnail images; and causes a display unit to display the bird's eye-display image. |
| US08422855B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US08422853B2 |
Information signal processing method and apparatus, and computer program product
An information signal processing method is provided which is destined for processing feature data and making summary (digest) playback and various chapter data-based operations efficiently to attain a high effectiveness of the summary (digest) playback or chapter processing with the feature data. The method includes an information signal processing method, comprising the steps of making first predetermined recording of first predetermined information recorded in a predetermined recording medium into the recording medium or another recording medium so that the first predetermined information becomes second predetermined information corresponding to a predetermined setting of processing when in a predetermined mode of operation; and making, along with the first predetermined recording, second predetermined recording of third predetermined information so that the third predetermined information becomes fourth information when it is possible to detect that the third predetermined information associated with the first predetermined information has been recorded when in the predetermined mode of operation. |
| US08422851B2 |
System and methods for automatic time-warped playback in rendering a recorded computer session
Methods and systems for generating playback instructions for time-warped playback of presentation layer protocol data. The method includes a protocol engine executing on a computing device recording a protocol data stream comprising a plurality of packets representing a user session. The protocol engine determines a complexity factor for a first portion of the protocol data stream and for a second portion of the protocol data stream based on content of the packets of the protocol data stream. The protocol engine determines a first playback rate for the first portion of the protocol data stream and a second playback rate for the second portion of the protocol data stream using the complexity factor of each portion of the protocol data stream, wherein the first playback rate differs from the second playback rate. The protocol engine renders the protocol data stream according to the determined playback rates. |
| US08422850B2 |
Information recording apparatus, information recording method, information record medium, information reproducing apparatus, information reproducing method, information transmitting apparatus, and information transmitting method
An apparatus and a method, which make it possible to collect a plurality of the contents authored for DVD to record easily them on a large-capacity information record medium and to increase a data rate in reproducing the recorded contents, perform the processes of: creating source packets from a disk image file; collecting them to form arrangement units 320; collecting them to form ECC clusters; collecting sectors of the DVD to form a sector group, thereby storing it while bringing it into correspondence with a predetermined number of source packets; adding a control packet to this to form units of conversion; collecting them to bring them into correspondence with an integral number of the arrangement units 320; and storing a cluster-number, at which a leading sector of the sector group of the DVD is stored in the control packet; wherein the source packets are brought into correspondence so that a leading portion of the file system area coincides with both a leading portion of the arrangement unit and a leading portion of the error correction cluster and the disk image file is recorded using units of the length so that the length causes a boundary of the units of conversion to coincide with a boundary of the ECC clusters. |
| US08422849B2 |
Image playback apparatus, image recording apparatus, image playback method, and image recording method
An image playback apparatus includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire image content including still images and movies and photographing information involved in photographing a subject to create the image content, an image classifying unit configured to classify the image content into a plurality of image groups on the basis of the photographing information, and an image playback unit configured to organize all still images belonging to one of the image groups into a still-image slideshow and successively playing back one or a plurality of movies belonging to the one image group and the still-image slideshow. |
| US08422844B2 |
Plastic optical fiber cable and method of transmitting signal
A plastic optical fiber cable includes: a bare plastic optical fiber including a core formed of a polymer containing a methyl methacrylate unit, and a clad layer including a layer formed of a specific fluorine-containing olefin resin at least in the outermost layer; and a coating layer around the bare plastic optical fiber, the coating layer including a light-shielding coating layer formed of a specific nylon resin composition, a functional coating layer (C) and a functional coating layer (D) in this order, where one of the functional coating layer (C) and the functional coating layer (D) is formed of a resin composition (I) containing a polybutylene terephthalate resin as a major component or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer as a major component; the other is formed of a specific nylon resin composition (II); and a ratio of the thickness of the functional coating layer (C) to the thickness of the functional coating layer (D) is set to fall within a specific range. |
| US08422842B2 |
Plastic fiber coupler and method of manufacturing thereof
Embodiments of the present invention provide a plastic fiber coupler. The plastic fiber coupler includes a bundle of plastic optical fibers (POFs) arranged in a ring-shape; and an optical mixing tube attached to a cross-section of the bundle of POFs. In one embodiment, a cross-section of the optical mixing tube may be coated with a reflective film forming a reflective type plastic fiber coupler; in another embodiment, the optical mixing tube is attached to a second bundle of plastic optical fibers forming a transmissive type plastic fiber coupler. |
| US08422841B1 |
Double optical grating
A method and system for providing an optical grating are described. The optical grating is configured for light of a wavelength. The optical grating includes a top cladding, a first plurality of discrete ridges forming a first grating, a core, a second plurality of discrete ridges forming a second grating, and a bottom cladding. The first plurality of discrete ridges are spaced apart by a first pitch. The second plurality of discrete ridges are spaced apart by a second pitch. The core has a top side adjacent to at least a portion of the top cladding and a bottom side. The bottom cladding is adjacent to at least a portion of the bottom side of the core. The second grating resides between the bottom cladding and the core. |
| US08422839B2 |
Optical fiber-type optical filter
An optical fiber-type optical filter includes: two fiber regions, namely, the first and second PBGF regions, each of which includes: a core section extending in a waveguide direction of incident light; and a clad section extending in the waveguide direction and surrounding the core section, wherein the clad section includes a plurality of high rods which have a refractive index higher than that of a base material of the clad section, extend in the waveguide direction, and are arranged periodically in a cross section perpendicular to the waveguide direction, and a light loss region between mutually-facing end surfaces of the first and second fiber regions, for coupling a radiation mode with a waveguide mode in which light intensity is observed in the high refractive-index sections in the clad section. |
| US08422837B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor layer having a semiconductor integrated circuit, which is for processing an electrical signal, on a semiconductor substrate and an optical interconnect layer for transmitting an optical signal are joined. Control of modulation of the optical signal transmitted in the optical interconnect layer is performed by an electrical signal from the semiconductor layer, and an electrical signal generated by reception of light in the optical interconnect layer is transmitted to the semiconductor layer. The optical interconnect layer is disposed on the underside of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08422836B2 |
Printed circuit board element and method for producing the same
A printed circuit board element (1) with a substrate (2), with at least one optoelectronic component (3) embedded in a photopolymerizable optical layer material (5), and with at least one optical waveguide (6) optically coupled with the former and structured in the optical material by photon absorption, wherein a prefabricated deflection mirror (4) embedded in the optical material (5) and optically coupled with the optoelectronic component (3) via the optical waveguide (6) is arranged on the substrate (2), optionally together with a support (4′). |
| US08422834B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuits including optoelectronic device for changing optical phase
Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor pattern disposed on a substrate and including an optical waveguide part and a pair of recessed portions. The optical waveguide part has a thickness ranging from about 0.05 μm to about 0.5 μm. The recessed portions are disposed on both sides of the optical waveguide part and have a thinner thickness than the optical waveguide part. A first doped region and a second doped region are disposed in the recessed portions, respectively. The first and second doped regions are doped with a first conductive type dopant and a second conductive type dopant, respectively. An intrinsic region is formed in at least the optical waveguide part to contact the first and second doped regions. |
| US08422832B2 |
Annotating images
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating data for annotating images automatically. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an input image, identifying one or more nearest neighbor images of the input image from among a collection of images, in which each of the one or more nearest neighbor images is associated with a respective one or more image labels, assigning a plurality of image labels to the input image, in which the plurality of image labels are selected from the image labels associated with the one or more nearest neighbor images, and storing in a data repository the input image having the assigned plurality of image labels. In another aspect, a method includes assigning a single image label to the input image, in which the single image label is selected from labels associated with multiple ranked nearest neighbor images. |
| US08422829B2 |
Interpolation method and interpolation circuit
An interpolation method and an interpolation circuit are provided. The interpolation method calculates a difference between values of a first point and a second point and calculates an absolute value of the difference. Then, the absolute value of the difference is used to mix a first function and a second function to obtain a transformation function, which is then used to calculate an interpolation value of an interpolation point between the first point and the second point. Accordingly, the present invention may obtain a result close to high order interpolation without increasing hardware expense. |
| US08422826B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate using fused images to identify materials
First image data (which comprises a penetrating image of an object formed using a first spectrum) and second image data (which also comprises a penetrating image of this same object formed using a second, different spectrum) is retrieved from memory and fused to facilitate identifying at least one material that comprises at least a part of this object. The aforementioned first spectrum can comprise, for example, a spectrum of x-ray energies having a high typical energy while the second spectrum can comprise a spectrum of x-ray energies with a relatively lower typical energy. By one approach, this process can associate materials as comprise the object with corresponding atomic numbers and hence corresponding elements (such as, for example, uranium, plutonium, and so forth). |
| US08422823B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus comprises a data conversion unit for converting second 3D image information, to which first image information can be pasted, into 3D photo frame data including three-dimensional object information representing a three-dimensional shape of an object included in the second 3D image information and parameter information including a pasting position of the first image information, a parse calculation unit for calculating an image of the 3D photo frame data projected onto a display screen, an image pasting unit for pasting the first image information to the 3D photo frame data, and a display control unit for outputting to the display screen the 3D photo frame data or the 3D photo frame data pasted with the first image information. |
| US08422817B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing de-noise processing
A method for performing de-noise processing includes: with regard to each direction of a plurality of directions, summing up absolute values of differences between a plurality of sets of first pixel values around a target pixel of an image to generate a first detection value, and with regard to each direction of at least a portion of the directions, selectively averaging at least one set of second pixel values around the target pixel to generate a second detection value; sorting a plurality of pixel values around the target pixel and generating a third detection value accordingly; and with regard to a specific direction of the directions, performing de-noise processing on the target pixel according to at least the former two of the first detection value, the third detection value, and the second detection value. An associated apparatus is also provided. |
| US08422816B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing bad pixel compensation
A method for performing bad pixel compensation includes: with regard to each direction of a plurality of directions, summing up absolute values of differences between a plurality of sets of first pixel values around a target pixel of an image to generate a first detection value, and with regard to each direction of at least a portion of the directions, summing up absolute values of differences between a plurality of sets of second pixel values around the target pixel to generate a second detection value, where each set of the sets of first pixel values and the sets of second pixel values includes two pixel values corresponding to a difference; and with regard to a specific direction of the directions, selectively performing bad pixel compensation on the target pixel according to the first detection value and the second detection value. An associated apparatus is also provided. |
| US08422814B2 |
Apparatus and method for geometric distortion correction in video signals
Unnecessary flare correction at the boundary between a blanking area and video signal area is suppressed. An image quality improving apparatus includes 2-dimensional low-pass filter circuit 2 that extracts low-frequency components from an input video signal; subtractor circuit 4 that obtains high-frequency components by subtracting the low-frequency components extracted by 2-dimensional low-pass filter circuit 2 from the input video signal; and adder circuit 6 that adds the high-frequency components obtained by subtractor circuit 4 as a correction signal to the input video signal. The input video signal contains blanking signals without any video information. 2-dimensional low-pass filter circuit 2 starts extraction of the low-frequency components after a lapse of a predetermined unit time from when the input video signal changed from the blanking signal to the signal that contains the video information. |
| US08422813B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing method includes the following steps. First, noise of a first image is filtered, and the first image is converted to obtain a first luminance signal. Second, a color space converting process is performed upon the first image to obtain a second image. Third, the second image is stored and outputted. Fourth, noise of the second image is filtered, and the second image is converted to obtain a second luminance signal. Fifth, a linear computing is performed to obtain a third image. Sixth, an error compensation is performed upon the third image and the second image, and the third image is outputted. Seventh, the color space converting process is performed to obtain and output a fourth image. The linear computing and the error compensation are performed upon a single image to filter the noise of the images, and thus a load of a system may be decreased. |
| US08422812B2 |
Image processor and method therefor, and image display device
An image processor is provided with the high-frequency component detecting unit that calculates a convolution for each of regions of interest in part of an image region of input image data, to output the high-frequency component detection result for each pixel of interest; the smoothing unit that smoothes the image data, to output the smoothed image data; and the image data processing unit that combines based on the high-frequency component detection result the image data with the smoothed image data, to output the combined image data; wherein the image data processing unit varies the combination rate for the smoothed image data, based on the high-frequency component detection result. Thereby, even when a region in the image data contains such high frequency components as a checkered pattern has, an image resistant to moiré that would be generated in magnifying or reducing of the image on a region basis can be displayed without deterioration of image quality. |
| US08422810B2 |
Method of redundant picture coding using polyphase downsampling and the codec using the method
Provided are a method for redundant slice coding by polyphase down-sampling (PD) and a codec using the method. An encoder for redundant slice coding by PD includes a PD coding unit rearranging a residual block that is a difference between a current block and a prediction block into four sections by performing PD on the residual block, a quantization transform unit transforming and quantizing at least one of the sections of the residual block, and a reference block generation unit generating a reference block based on a value obtained by performing inverse transform and inverse quantization, and then inverse PD on the at least one transformed and quantized section by the quantization transform unit. |
| US08422808B2 |
Image encoding method, image decoding method, image encoding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, image encoding program, and image decoding program
Image encoding apparatus 10 according to the present invention is an image encoding apparatus 10 for dividing image signals into blocks, performing an orthogonal transform of each block, reading resultant orthogonal transform coefficients to obtain a coefficient string, and performing entropy coding, which has block selector 14 for selecting a size of a block for the orthogonal transform, out of a plurality of blocks of different sizes; coefficient string divider 12 for, when a block of a size larger than a minimum size is selected by block selector 14, dividing a coefficient string in the block into a plurality of coefficient strings of a length equal to that of a coefficient string in a block of the minimum size; and encoder 13 for performing entropy coding adapted to the coefficient string in the block of the minimum size. This substantializes the image encoding apparatus capable of achieving efficient entropy coding in the orthogonal transform of variable sizes. |
| US08422807B2 |
Encoder and image conversion apparatus
It is an object to provide a method of calculating a coding cost by which the magnitude relation of the amounts of generated codes can be estimated with high accuracy. A cost calculation part generates a differential block between a coding object block and a prediction block. Hadamard Transform is performed on the differential block to generate a frequency component block. A conversion factor matrix is generated with the information of a quantization matrix reflected thereon. A coding cost is calculated by multiplying components in the frequency component block individually by components in the conversion factor matrix and adding up the multiplied components. A mode selection part selects an optimum predictive coding method on the basis of the coding cost. |
| US08422802B2 |
Robust large-scale visual codebook construction
Techniques for construction of a visual codebook are described herein. Feature points may be extracted from large numbers of images. In one example, images providing N feature points may be used to construct a codebook of K words. The centers of each of K clusters of feature points may be initialized. In a looping or iterative manner, an assignment step assigns each feature point to a cluster and an update step locates a center of each cluster. The feature points may be assigned to a cluster based on a lesser of a distance to a center of a previously assigned cluster and a distance to a center derived by operation of an approximate nearest neighbor algorithm having aspects of randomization. The loop terminates when the feature points have sufficiently converged to their respective clusters. Centers of the clusters represent visual words, which may be used to construct the visual codebook. |
| US08422799B1 |
Complex image compression
Complex image data is transformed to a holographic representation of the image. A subset of the holographic representation is modeled. Model parameters constitute a compressed image representation. A two-dimensional Fourier transform can be applied to obtain the holographic image. Modeling includes applying an analysis portion of an adaptive analysis/synthesis linear prediction methodology to a subset of the holographic representation to obtain an autoregressive model. Prior to modeling, one-dimensional Fourier transform can be performed on the holographic representation and the linear prediction is one-dimensional. Model parameters are preferably quantized. Embodiments include determining error between the model and the model's input data. There the compressed image representation the error, which also can be quantized. The subset of the holographic representation can be less than all the representation. The subset can be a plurality of complete rows; preferably substantially symmetric about 0 Hz. |
| US08422798B1 |
Magnitude image compression
Embodiments of the invention view image intensity data as a spectrum of underlying wave forms. The spectrum of these waves can be approximated using spectral estimation techniques where the spectrum parameters constitute the compressed image. The image's underlying wave forms can be recovered using an inverse Fourier transform. The original image can also be symmetrically extended prior to the transform to preserve real valued transformed data and model parameters. The modeling method is typically based on a linear predictive methodology to obtain the spectrum parameters. Other transforms include a 2-D Fourier transform that transforms the image into a holographic representation similar to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) phase history. This 2-D waveform holographic format can be decorrelated into 1-D planar waves by applying a 1D Fourier transform. This process enables 1-D linear predictive modeling to obtain the spectral parameters. For compression applications the model parameters are preferably quantized. |
| US08422791B2 |
Detection of abandoned and vanished objects
Disclosed herein are a method and system for classifying a detected region of change of a video frame as one of an abandoned object event and an object removal event, wherein a plurality of boundary blocks define a boundary of said region of change. For each one of a set of said boundary blocks (510), the method determines a predicted edge characteristic (520) and an observed edge characteristic (530) for said boundary block. The method then determines an individual block score (540) for said boundary block, based on said predicted edge characteristic (520) for said boundary block and said observed edge characteristic (530) for said boundary block. Once all of the set of boundary blocks have been processed, the method determines a global score (560) for said region of change, based on said individual block scores of said boundary blocks. The method then classifies the region of change (570) as an abandoned object event or an object removal event, based on how the overall score relates to a threshold. |
| US08422790B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a conversion unit that converts an input image into a plurality of frequency components; a first quantization threshold calculating unit that calculates a first quantization threshold corresponding to a first frequency component among the plurality of frequency components of the input image converted by the conversion unit, based on a statistic value of the first frequency component; a second quantization threshold calculating unit that calculates a second quantization threshold corresponding to a second frequency component other than the first frequency component among the plurality of frequency components, based on the first quantization threshold calculated by the first quantization threshold calculating unit; and a quantization unit that quantizes the first frequency component and the second frequency component by using the first quantization threshold and the second quantization threshold, respectively. |
| US08422787B2 |
Apparatus, method and program for text segmentation
There is provided an apparatus including a model based topic segmentation section that segments a text using a topic model representing semantic coherence, a parameter estimation section that estimates a control parameter used in segmenting the text based on detection of a change point of word distribution in the text, using the result of segmentation by the model based topic segmentation unit as training data, and a change point detection topic segmentation section that segments the text, based on detection of the change point of word distribution in the text, using the parameter estimated by the parameter estimation section. |
| US08422786B2 |
Analyzing documents using stored templates
A method, a system and a computer program product for analyzing a document are disclosed. In response to receiving the document, the document is partitioned into a plurality of segments using a set of pre-defined attributes. The plurality of segments of the document is mapped with corresponding segments of at least one template selected from a set of stored templates. A first template from the set of stored templates is selected and a group of segments in the first template is identified by computing at least one of a structural similarity and a textual similarity associated with the group of segments compared with the plurality of segments of the document. A subset of segments from the group of segments is aligned with corresponding segments from the plurality of segments of the document. A set of scores is computed using a set of pre-defined criteria, in response to the mapping. The document is analyzed based on the computed set of scores. |
| US08422781B2 |
Methods and systems for creating a hierarchical appearance model
A method for creating an appearance model of an object includes receiving an image of the object and creating a hierarchical appearance model of the object from the image of the object. The hierarchical appearance model has a plurality of layers, each layer including one or more nodes. Nodes in each layer contain information of the object with a corresponding level of detail. Nodes in different layers of the hierarchical appearance model correspond to different levels of detail. |
| US08422779B2 |
Image data processing for more efficient compression
The present disclosure is directed to methods, systems, and apparatus for improved data compression. In one embodiment, a method is provided that separates image data by color channels and ordered bit planes. The method includes arranging bytes representing pixel values from a source image into corresponding color channels. Bits in each color channel are separated into a plurality of bit planes that are ordered based on significance. Then, the method may combine bits associated with adjacent pixel locations from common bit planes into new bytes. Once the image data is separated in this way, different compression processes are applied to data sets represented in the ordered bit planes. |
| US08422778B2 |
Image compressing method, image compressing apparatus, image forming apparatus, computer program and computer readable medium
During compressing an image at the compression processing section (image compressing apparatus), the color image processing apparatus detects edge of text and/or line art, generates the foreground layer represented by binary image for showing the detected edge, compresses the foreground layer with lossless compression, and compresses the background layer which is an image except the foreground layer with lossy compression. Furthermore, the color image processing apparatus sets the foreground layer color different from a color of text or line art, and provides information representing the set color into the compression file. As the set color, the color image processing apparatus utilizes the overall color representative for whole region of the image, or the text-vicinity color in the image. The edge region of the text and/or line art are represented with such the set color on the reproduced image based on the compression file. |
| US08422776B2 |
Transparency and/or color processing
A system or method of automated image processing that can automatically determine a color and transparency for a pixel with an observed color when given the pixel and a background reference color. A point in a color space can be automatically found by extrapolating in the color space based on two points in the color space that respectively correspond to or that respectively approximate the observed color and the given background reference color. A color for the given pixel that corresponds to or approximates the found point in the color space can also be calculated automatically. Based on the found point and the two points in the color space that respectively correspond to the observed color and the given reference color, a transparency for the pixel can be automatically found. |
| US08422774B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus and program storage medium
Vectorization of an image in which a monospaced line and surfaces coexist without generation of a gap in a boundary between the monospaced line and the surfaces or between the surfaces, is realized. Separation processing of the monospaced line and the surface is executed for each color region. After the separation, a pixel position where the monospaced line is located is filled with color information of an adjacent surface. Boundary-sharing type vectorization processing is executed for data which is obtained by filling the monospaced line. Further, vector data expressed by a core line and a line width is generated based on the monospaced line obtained by separation processing of the monospaced line and surface. A vectorization result of the monospaced line extracted according to each color, and a vectorization result of a boundary line of the surface generated from data after a monospaced line region is filled are outputted. |
| US08422773B2 |
Image zone detecting using color gradation levels, method, apparatus and computer readable medium
An image processing method according to the present invention is contrived to change the gradation level (of the color component corresponding to the complementary color of yellow) for a pixel within a zone located on a corner of a rectangular image so as to maximize the difference between the gradation level of a pixel that is a processing target and the gradation level of a pixel in a background area in the surrounding area of the pixel that is the processing target, that is, lowering the gradation level. This means the pixel that is a result of applying the process for changing the gradation levels looks yellowish. The human eye has difficulty in recognizing yellow and therefore the change applied to the pixel is inconspicuous as compared to the case of placing a mark or frame on the outside of a rectangular zone. |
| US08422769B2 |
Image segmentation using reduced foreground training data
Methods of image segmentation using reduced foreground training data are described. In an embodiment, the foreground and background training data for use in segmentation of an image is determined by optimization of a modified energy function. The modified energy function is the energy function used in image segmentation with an additional term comprising a scalar value. The optimization is performed for different values of the scalar to produce multiple initial segmentations and one of these segmentations is selected based on pre-defined criteria. The training data is then used in segmenting the image. In other embodiments further methods are described: one places an ellipse inside the user-defined bounding box to define the background training data and another uses a comparison of properties of neighboring image elements, where one is outside the user-defined bounding box, to reduce the foreground training data. |
| US08422766B2 |
System and method for depth extraction of images with motion compensation
A system and method for spatiotemporal depth extraction of images are provided. The system and method provide for acquiring a sequence of images from a scene, the sequence including a plurality of successive frames of images, estimating the disparity of at least one point in a first image with at least one corresponding point in a second image for at least one frame, estimating motion of the at least one point in the first image, estimating the disparity of the at least one next successive frame based on the estimated disparity of at least one previous frame in a forward direction of the sequence, wherein the estimate disparity is compensated with the estimated motion, and minimizing the estimated disparity of each of the plurality of successive frames based on the estimated disparity of at least one previous frame in a backward direction of the sequence. |
| US08422765B2 |
Three-dimensional image analysis system, process device, and method thereof
A three-dimensional image analysis system, a process device for use in the three-dimensional image analysis system, and a method thereof are provided. The three-dimensional image analysis system is configured to generate a plurality of three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional image. The process device defines a plurality of horizontal scan lines and a plurality of vertical scan lines according to the three dimensional data, determines a preliminary edge information of the three-dimensional image according to the horizontal scan lines and the vertical scan lines, divides the three dimensional data into a plurality of groups, compares the groups to determine a plane information of the three-dimensional image, and determines an edge information of the three-dimensional image according to the preliminary edge information and the plane information. The method is adapted for the process device. |
| US08422763B2 |
Method for comparing first computer-aided 3D model with a second computer-aided 3D model
The invention relates to a method for comparing a first computer-aided 3D model with a second computer-aided 3D model, the first model being described by a first topology comprising vertices, edges and faces of the first model and the second model being described by a second topology comprising vertices, edges and faces of the second model, the method comprising the following steps: scanning the first topology and the second topology; deriving from the first topology a first topological map relating vertices, edges and faces of the first model and from the second topology a second topological map relating vertices, edges and faces of the second model; determining by means of the topological maps all possible mappings between vertices of the first model and vertices of the second model; using those mapped vertices to identify all possible mappings between edges of the first and edges of the second model; using those mapped edges to identify all possible mappings between faces of the first and faces of the second model; using those mapped elements to linearly compare the first and the second model for geometrical sameness. |
| US08422759B2 |
Image processing method and image processing device
An edge code histogram of a model generated in a model image is registered. A target region with respect to the input image is set. An edge code histogram for the target region is generated. A relative positional relationship between the edge code histogram of the model and the edge code histogram for the target region is sequentially changed, and a degree of coincidence between the edge code histograms at each relative position is calculated. A possibility that the region that matches the model is contained in the set target region from the sequentially calculated degree of coincidence between the edge code histograms is evaluated. Then a candidate point having a possibility of matching the model in the input image is specified while sequentially changing the position of the target region with respect to the input image and repeating steps above for each target region. |
| US08422757B2 |
Systems and methods for generating images for identifying diseases
A method is provided that comprises receiving a first digital radiography (DR) image of at least a portion of a body of a patient, receiving a second DR image of the at least a portion of a body of a patient, the first DR image being captured at a different energy level than the second DR image, and determining common control point locations for both the first and second DR images. The method further comprises generating an optimized DR image by moving portions of a selected one of the first and second DR images with its associated control points to locations that correspond to similar portions of the other of the first and second DR images, applying deformable transformation to one of the first and second DR images and performing a log subtraction on the first and second DR image to generate a dual-energy digital radiography (DEDR) image. |
| US08422754B2 |
Medical imaging system
A medical imaging system for processing an original medical image is provided. The system includes a seed generator for receiving the original medical image representing an original blood vessel and to generate coarse seeds on a basis of vesselness feature in respect to every pixel of the original blood vessel represented by the medical image, and a seed processor for receiving the coarse seeds and for processing the coarse seeds to select a set of refined seeds on a basis of the regression profile for each of the coarse seed by using random forest classification, such that the set of refined seeds are selected from the coarse seeds such that the set of refined seeds adapted to lie on a corrected blood vessel. |
| US08422747B1 |
Finding untagged images of a social network member
A method for enabling a new member of a social network to tag photos of the new member is described, where the photos have been previously uploaded by existing members before the new member joined the social network. For example, a system can obtain a reference image (e.g., a profile picture) of the new member. The system compares the reference image to stored images in the social network using facial recognition technology and generates a list of stored images in which the new member may be pictured. The system enables the new member to take one or more predefined actions with regard to each image in the list. For example, the predefined actions may include tagging an image in which the new member is pictured, or sending a notification to the owner of an image in the list. |
| US08422743B2 |
Surface-reading apparatus, subject verification apparatus and storage medium storing subject verification program
The present invention provides a surface-reading apparatus that includes a subject-flexing mechanism and a surface-reading component. The subject-flexing mechanism causes a subject to flex in one of a convex form and a concave form. The surface-reading component reads a characteristic of a surface condition of the subject that has been flexed by the subject-flexing mechanism. The surface-reading component can includes an optical reading component that optically reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject. The optical reading component may be a reflected light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with reflected light or may be a transmitted light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with transmitted light. |
| US08422742B2 |
Image processing method
An image processing method comprises obtaining a current frame and a previous frame, performing a bilateral motion estimation to the current frame and the previous frame for acquiring a motion vector, and performing a motion compensated interpolation to the current frame, the previous frame and the motion vector for acquiring an interpolated frame. The bilateral motion estimation uses sum of bilateral absolute difference algorithm to generate at least one sum of bilateral absolute difference, and then an adaptive parameter is added to each of the sum of bilateral absolute difference to generate at least one adaptive sum of bilateral absolute difference. A group of matching blocks having a minimum adaptive sum of bilateral absolute difference is then determined to be the group of best matching blocks. The motion vector is obtained according to the relative locations of the best matching blocks. |
| US08422740B2 |
Methods for determining a liquid front position on a test strip
The present disclosure relates to methods for determining a liquid front position of a liquid on a surface of an assay test strip placing a liquid on the surface of the test strip; and acquiring one or more signals from the surface of the test strip at one or more times, comparing the one or more acquired signals to a threshold, wherein the liquid front position is a position on the surface of the test strip where a signal is greater than or less than a threshold (e.g., fixed or dynamic threshold). Such methods may be used to determine the liquid front velocity of a liquid on a surface of an assay test strip and the transit time of a liquid sample to traverse the one or more positions on the surface of the assay test strip. |
| US08422739B2 |
Real-time face tracking in a digital image acquisition device
A database includes an identifier and associated parameters for each of a number of faces to be recognized. A new acquired image from an image stream is received potentially including one or more face regions. Face detection is applied to at least a portion of the acquired image to provide a set of candidate face regions each having a given size and a respective location. Using the database, face recognition is selectively applied to at least one of the candidate face regions to provide an identifier for a face recognized in a candidate face region. A portion of the image is stored including the recognized face in association with at least one image of the image stream. |
| US08422738B1 |
Adaptive automated synthetic aperture radar vessel detection method with false alarm mitigation
A method involves adapting a vessel detection algorithm based upon received synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image data and associated metadata, detecting one or more vessels within an image tile of the SAR image data by iteratively applying the adapted vessel detection algorithm to successive portions of the image tile, discarding a detected vessel if a false alarm is determined, extracting one or more features from the detected vessels that are not discarded, and generating one or more output products based upon the extracted features. |
| US08422737B2 |
Device and method for measuring a parking space
A device for measuring a parking space as a vehicle drives past the parking space includes a depth-measuring line scan camera movable together with the vehicle for acquiring individual images of the environment surrounding the vehicle transverse to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, an arrangement for acquiring the movement of the vehicle, and an evaluation device. The individual images of the environment surrounding the vehicle contain depth information that is resolvable in a vertical direction. |
| US08422736B2 |
Method of and apparatus for producing lane information
A method of producing lane information for use in a map database is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes acquiring one or more source images of a road surface and associated position and orientation data, the road having a direction and lane markings parallel to the direction of the road; acquiring road information representative of the direction of said road; transforming the one or more source images to obtain a transformed image in dependence of the road information, wherein each column of pixels of the transformed image corresponds to a surface parallel to the direction of said road; applying a filter with asymmetrical mask on the transformed image to obtain a filtered image; and producing lane information from the filtered image in dependence of the position and orientation data associated with the one or more source images. |
| US08422730B2 |
System for analyzing forensic evidence using image filter and method thereof
The present invention provides a system for analyzing forensic digital evidence using an image filter and a method thereof. The system for analyzing forensic evidence using an image filter includes: a duplicator that creates a copy of digital evidence; a verifying unit that discriminates whether a copy and the original of the digital evidence are the same; an original storage that stores the original of the digital evidence; an evidence analyzer that classifies image files for the copy of the digital evidence stored in the original storage, on the basis of an image filtering model created by a learning model in accordance with predetermined categories, and then analyzes the evidence; and a reporting unit that creates a report about the result of evidence analysis. The image evidence analyzer includes an image file extractor, an image filtering model learning unit, an image filter, and a plurality of analyzers. |
| US08422728B2 |
Electromagnetic converter
An electromagnetic converter includes a magnetic circuit having permanent magnets, a lower frame for fixing magnetic pole faces of these permanent magnets thereto, an upper frame having an opening formed therein on a side of the other magnetic pole faces of the permanent magnets and plates fixed to the other magnetic pole faces, and a diaphragm having a voice coil pattern arranged on side portions thereof in a direction of the length thereof and on a top portion thereof in a direction of the width thereof. Protruding portions join between these side portions. The periphery of the top portion is joined to the periphery of the opening of the upper frame via an upper gasket. A flange at the edges of the four side portions is joined to an inner surface of the upper frame, i.e., an inner portion of the magnetic circuit via a lower gasket. |
| US08422720B2 |
Speaker arrangement
A loudspeaker assembly arranged in a surrounding surface of a multimedia apparatus, wherein the loudspeaker assembly including a transducer unit, the transducer unit being located at the back side of the multimedia apparatus. The transducer may be configured so to radiate sound away from the apparatus in directions from primarily upward to primarily backward relative to the apparatus. Each of the one or more transducer units are driven as active speakers with means for amplification per each transducer unit. |
| US08422718B2 |
Soft-opening hinge and headphone set including same
A foldable headphone set in which the earphones of the headphone set may rotate between a folded (or closed) position and an unfolded (or open) position due to a torsion- or spring-loaded hinge associated with each earphone. The headphone set may be held in the folded position by way of a magnetic latch. Also, the user may adjust the amount of rotation by the respective hinges so that the earphones rotate to the user-defined limit position. The user could set the user-defined limit position to a comfortable position for the user. That way, the earphones will unfold to the user-defined limit position every time (until the user-defined limit is readjusted). In addition, a friction grommet in the hinge may provide for a slow, controlled, smooth opening of the hinge. In at least one embodiment, a hinge is provided for use in a variety of applications. |
| US08422717B2 |
Adjustable audio headphone
Provided is an adjustable audio headphone, including a headphone body, a damping object and a pressing mechanism. The headphone body includes a headphone shell, which forms a sound cavity in inside thereof and a receiving chamber on one end thereof. A bottom surface of the receiving chamber forms a through hole communicated with the sound cavity. The damping object is made of compressible material such as sponge, elastic plastic, textile and so on and. The damping object is placed into the receiving chamber of the headphone shell. The pressing mechanism is mounted on the headphone shell and is capable of pressing the damping object. The adjustable audio headphone of the present invention can compress the damping object to change the density of the damping object by employing the pressing mechanism, thereby varying the pressure of the sound cavity and realizing the object of adjusting the audio thereof. |
| US08422715B2 |
Microphone unit
A microphone unit comprises a vibratory diaphragm for detecting sound input through its first and second openings. The sound input through the first opening is guided to a front surface of the vibratory diaphragm while the sound input through the second opening is guided to a rear surface of the vibratory diaphragm so as to detect the sound by the vibration of the vibratory diaphragm. The microphone unit satisfies relation 0.76≦D/Δr≦2.0 where D is difference in time between the sound propagation time from the first opening to the front surface of the vibratory diaphragm and that from the second opening to the rear surface of the vibratory diaphragm, while Δr is distance between the first and second openings. The relation D/Δr≦2.0 can reduce far-field noise, while the relation 0.76≦D/Δr can increase the detection sensitivity to sound emitted from a null point. |
| US08422714B2 |
Speaker with acoustic chamber
A speaker with acoustic chamber is provided. The speaker includes a main body and an acoustic chamber fixed to the main body. The acoustic chamber can be converted between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The acoustic chamber is drawn to the expanded state to increase the volume of the acoustic chamber and is collapsed to the collapsed state to decrease the volume of the acoustic chamber. When the acoustic chamber is drawn to the expanded state, the quality of the sound output by the speaker is improved. |
| US08422710B2 |
Method for designing and manufacturing a hearing aid device with an antenna
The production of a hearing aid device suitable for wireless signal transmission is simplified by providing fastening elements connected as one piece with the housing shell. The fastening elements serve for placement and fastening of an antenna or coil in the housing shell of the appertaining hearing aid device. The production of a hearing aid device with a corresponding antenna or coil is thereby simplified. The alignment of the antenna or coil in the housing shell can also already be optimized using a computer model of the housing shell. |
| US08422709B2 |
Method and system of noise reduction in a hearing aid
A hearing aid (200) comprises at least one microphone (210), a signal processing means (220) and an output transducer (230). The signal processing means is adapted to receive an input signal from the microphone. The signal processing means is adapted to apply a hearing aid gain to the input signal to produce an output signal to be output by the output transducer, and the signal processing means comprises means for adjusting the hearing aid gain by a direct transmission gain calculated for the hearing aid. The invention further provides a method and a system for reducing noise, as well as a computer program product. |
| US08422704B2 |
Speaker array apparatus and method for setting audio beams of speaker array apparatus
To provide a speaker array apparatus and a method for setting audio beams in a speaker array apparatus, in which the degree of freedom in the place where the speaker array apparatus is installed is high, and a user can set audio beams easily. A speaker array apparatus 1 sweeps a range of from 0 degree to 180 degrees in front of a speaker array 10 with audio beams based on an audio signal limited to a band where the angles of the audio beams can be adjusted. The speaker array apparatus 1 collects direct sounds or reflected sounds of the audio beams through a nondirectional microphone 2. The speaker array apparatus 1 analyzes the collected audio data, detects peaks not lower than a threshold value, and checks symmetry among the peaks. When there is a symmetry, the angles where the peaks were detected are set as angles with which audio beams of respective channels of a surround-sound should be output. Thus, outgoing angles of the audio beams can be set in optimum positions in accordance with the shape of a room or the installation position where the speaker array apparatus is installed. |
| US08422702B2 |
Condenser microphone having flexure hinge diaphragm and method of manufacturing the same
A micromini condenser microphone having a flexure hinge-shaped upper diaphragm and a back plate, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided.The method includes the steps of: forming a lower silicon layer and a first insulating layer; forming an upper silicon layer to be used as a back plate on the first insulating layer; forming a plurality of sound holes by patterning the upper silicon layer; forming a second insulating layer on the upper silicon layer; forming a conductive layer on the upper silicon layer having the sound holes, and forming a passivation layer on the conductive layer; forming a sacrificial layer on the passivation layer; depositing a diaphragm on the sacrificial layer, and forming a plurality of air holes passing through the diaphragm; forming electrode pads on the passivation layer and a region of the diaphragm; and etching the sacrificial layer, the passivation layer, the conductive layer, the upper silicon layer, the first insulating layer and the lower silicon layer to form an air gap between the diaphragm and the upper silicon layer.Consequently, due to the flexible diaphragm, a manufacturing process using semiconductor MEMS technology may improve the sensitivity of the condenser microphone and reduce the size of the condenser microphone, thereby enabling integration into a portable terminal. |
| US08422700B2 |
Audio signal adjusting system and method
An audio signal adjusting method is disclosed, which comprises steps of: determining an environment noise level; calculating a ratio between an environment noise level and an output audio signal level to form a measuring value; comparing the measuring value with a predetermined threshold as an audio comfort value; and determining whether or not to adjust an audio signal parameter according to the comparison result. If the comparison result is incorrect, then the audio signal parameter is adjusted, and the output audio signal should be outputted according to the adjusted audio signal parameter. The audio signal adjusting method can satisfy the different user needs on different environment types. |
| US08422699B2 |
Loudness consistency at program boundaries
Improving loudness consistency of an audio stream may include delaying an encoded audio stream and adjusting the delayed encoded audio stream based at least in part on the loudness of the audio stream before a transition and the loudness of the audio stream after the transition. Improving loudness consistency of an audio stream may further include determining the loudness of the audio stream before the transition, detecting the transition, storing the loudness of the audio stream before the transition, and determining the loudness of the audio stream after the transition. |
| US08422695B2 |
Sound processing apparatus, sound processing method and program
A sound processing apparatus includes a sound determination portion operable to determine whether an input sound includes a first sound emitted from a particular source based on location information of the source, a sound separation portion operable to separate the input sound into the first sound and a second sound emitted from a source different from the particular source if the sound determination portion determines that the input sound includes the first sound, and a sound mixing portion operable to mix the first sound and the second sound separated by the sound separation portion at a prescribed volume ratio. |
| US08422693B1 |
Geo-coded spatialized audio in vehicles
A three dimensional audio playback system in which the audio clips are determined by location. The audio playback system being located within a vehicle to aid in navigation or for entertainment or informational or safety purposes. |
| US08422690B2 |
Audio reproduction apparatus and control method for the same
There is provided an audio reproduction apparatus. The audio reproduction apparatus comprises a first acquisition unit, a determination unit, a calculation unit, a second acquisition unit, and a generation unit. The configuration of the audio reproduction apparatus enables changing a head-related transfer function for signal processing in audio signal reproduction in accordance with the state of the audio recording apparatus at the time of audio signal acquisition. |
| US08422686B2 |
Automated validation and execution of cryptographic key and certificate deployment and distribution
A method for automated validation and execution of cryptographic key and certificate deployment and distribution includes providing one or more keys; providing one or more key deployment points; and distributing the one or more keys to the one or more key deployment points in an automated manner based on a matrix or pattern mapping of each of the one or more keys to be distributed to each of the one or more key deployment points. |
| US08422683B2 |
Appraising systems with zero knowledge proofs
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for requesting a proof of a security policy in a client system. Additionally, a system, method, and computer program product are provided for proving a security policy to an interrogator system. |
| US08422672B2 |
Authenticated device, authenticating device and authenticating method
An authenticated device 200 includes a memory unit 220 to store at least one algorithm identifier and at least one encryption key identifier, a transmitting unit 212 to transmit at least one algorithm identifier and at least one encryption key identifier stored by the memory unit 220 to an authenticating device 100, a receiving unit 211 to receive a prescribed algorithm identifier and a prescribed encryption key identifier selected from among at least one algorithm identifier and at least one encryption key identifier transmitted by the transmitting unit 212 from the authenticating device 100, and an authentication processing unit 296 to perform an authentication process with the authenticating device 100 based on the prescribed algorithm identifier and the prescribed encryption key identifier received by the receiving unit 211. |
| US08422670B2 |
Password authentication method
There is provided an authentication method which is secure against various attacks such as a KCI attack on a public network, and can reduce a required calculation amount compared to a conventional method. In this authentication method, a mutual authentication processing technique using Diffie-Hellman type key exchange is modified to compute a master secret Ks in a server by Ks=gy, where y is a random number (yε(Z/qZ)*) generated by the server. In this method, let (G,·) be a group of order q, g be a generator of that set G, and U, WεG. “·” is a binary operator on G. |
| US08422661B2 |
Terminal and control program of terminal
A terminal includes a key input unit having a key section and an output unit outputting information inputted by the key input unit. The terminal includes a touch detection unit which detects a touch of an object to the key section and detects a moving distance that the object moves on a surface of the key section while keeping the touch and a control unit which switches information outputted to the output unit according to the moving distance detected by the touch detection unit. |
| US08422654B1 |
Increasing the likelihood that a conference call will occur
Methods and products are provided for facilitating a conference call. One embodiment includes receiving an incoming call from a participant who is to participate in the conference call but who does not have authority to start the call, identifying a chairperson who does have authority to start the conference call, and automatically notifying the chairperson that the participant is waiting for the conference call to begin. |
| US08422648B2 |
Provision of text messaging services
A method for providing text messaging services to subscribers in a telecommunications network is presented. Each of the subscribers has subscriber equipment that includes a telephone and television equipment. The method includes receiving first key stroke data corresponding to at least one text character associated with a text message, the first key stroke data having been input by the subscriber on a telephone, and providing first text prediction data, obtained from a lookup of the first key stroke data in a text prediction database, for display via the television equipment, the first text prediction data including predicted text for the text character in the text message being created. |
| US08422646B2 |
Method and apparatus for forwarding voicemail
A method and apparatus for forwarding voicemail is provided. A voicemail server determines that voicemail data stored in a memory device has been classified as urgent, the voicemail data for forwarding to a recipient communication device. Availability data associated with the recipient communication device is processed to determine an availability of the recipient communication device. If the availability data is indicative that the recipient communication device is available for receiving calls, then the voicemail data is provided to the recipient communication device. |
| US08422641B2 |
Distributed record server architecture for recording call sessions over a VoIP network
Devices, systems, and methods for recording call sessions over a VoIP network using a distributed record server architecture are disclosed. An example recording device for recording segments of a call session includes a record server configured to receive an agent voice data stream and an external caller voice data stream from an agent telephone station, and a file repository configured to store voice data and call data associated with each recorded segment of the call session. The recording device is configured to tag recorded segments of each call session, which can be later used by a third-party application or database to check the status and/or integrity of the recorded call session. |
| US08422640B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting emergency messages
A method and apparatus for transmitting emergency messages is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device, of a communication system, having a controller element to send a selection of types of emergency alert messages to be transmitted to one or more associates of a subscriber corresponding to the communication device; and receive an emergency alert message of a public emergency alert system for a zone of coverage, wherein the subscriber is in the zone of coverage and wherein the emergency alert message is transmitted to one or more associate communication devices of each of the one or more associates according to the selection of types of emergency alert messages to be transmitted. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08422637B2 |
Multi X-ray generating apparatus and X-ray imaging apparatus
A multi X-ray generating apparatus which has a plurality of electron sources arranged two-dimensionally and targets arranged at positions opposite to the electron sources includes a multi electron source which includes a plurality of electron sources and outputs electrons from driven electron sources by selectively driving a plurality of electron sources in accordance with supplied driving signals, and a target unit which includes a plurality of targets which generate X-rays in accordance with irradiation of electrons output from the multi electron source and outputs X-rays with different radiation qualities in accordance with the generation locations of X-rays. The generation locations and radiation qualities of X-rays from the target unit are controlled by selectively driving the electron sources of the multi electron source. |
| US08422633B2 |
X-ray beam device
The invention refers to an X-ray beam device for X-ray analytical applications, comprising an X-ray source designed such as to emit a divergent beam of X-rays; and an optical assembly designed such as to focus said beam onto a focal spot, wherein said optical assembly comprises a first reflecting optical element, a monochromator device and a second reflecting optical element sequentially arranged between said source and said focal spot, wherein said first optical element is designed such as to collimate said beam in two dimensions towards said monochromator device, and wherein said second optical element is designed such as to focus the beam coming from said monochromator device in two dimensions onto said focal spot. |
| US08422632B2 |
Method and system for crystallization and X-ray diffraction screening
An integrated fluidic circuit includes a substrate layer and a first structure coupled to the substrate layer and including a plurality of channels. The first structure is configured to provide for flow of one or more materials through the plurality of channels. The integrated fluidic circuit also includes a second structure coupled to the substrate layer. The second structure includes a plurality of control channels configured to receive an actuation pressure. The integrated fluidic circuit is characterized by a thickness of less than 1.5 mm. |
| US08422631B2 |
Radiation therapy planning apparatus and radiation therapy planning method
A radiation therapy planning apparatus includes a three-dimensional data collection part collecting three-dimensional data representing a plurality of positions where a plurality of portions of a subject are positioned, a marker position measurement part measuring a motion of a marker, and a dose calculation part calculating, when the subject is irradiated with therapeutic radiation changing on the basis of the motion of the subject, the dose of the therapeutic radiation with which each of the plurality of portions is irradiated, based on the motion and the three-dimensional data. The radiation therapy planning apparatus thus constructed can calculate the dose of the therapeutic radiation with which each of the respective portions of the subject is irradiated, more accurately, and reduce the dose of radiation with which the subject is irradiated in calculating the motions of the plurality of portions of the subject. |
| US08422630B2 |
X-ray inspection device and X-ray inspection method
In order to prevent misdetection and erroneous detection by clearly determining only a contrast caused by a foreign matter, there are provided an X-ray inspection method and an X-ray inspection device including: an X-ray tube (11) for irradiating a measurement sample with a characteristic X-ray having energy lower than an X-ray absorption edge of one element contained in the measurement sample and having energy higher than an X-ray absorption edge of a detection element; an X-ray detector (13) for receiving a transmission X-ray obtained when the X-ray passes through the sample; and an operation portion (15) for obtaining a contrast image from a transmission image of the transmission X-ray. |
| US08422617B2 |
Core of light water reactor and fuel assembly
A core of a light water reactor having a plurality of fuel assemblies, which are loaded in said core, having nuclear fuel material containing a plurality of isotopes of transuranium nuclides, an upper blanket zone, a lower blanket zone, and a fissile zone, in which the transuranium nuclides are contained, disposed between the upper blanket zone and the lower blanket zone; wherein a ratio of Pu-239 in all the transuranium nuclides contained in the loaded fuel assembly is in a range of 40 to 60% when burnup of the fuel assembly is 0; sum of a height of the lower blanket zone and a height of the upper blanket zone is in a range of 250 to 600 mm; and the height of said lower blanket zone is in a range of 1.6 to 12 times the height of the upper blanket zone. |
| US08422616B2 |
Method and system for reduced system-time overhead parameter length representation for inter-radio access technology communication
A wireless access terminal, system and method for the wireless access terminal to synchronize to system times in a wireless communication system. A first timing hierarchy in a first wireless communication network is used to operate the wireless access terminal. The first wireless communication network has a first radio access technology. Operating with the first timing hierarchy includes determining a frame cycle for the first wireless communication network. The frame cycle has a frame cycle boundary. Broadcast parameters for a second wireless communication network having a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology are received. The broadcast parameters include the system time of the second wireless communication network. The system time of second wireless communication network is aligned, from the perspective of the wireless access terminal, with the frame cycle boundary. The wireless access terminal engages in a communication session using the second wireless communication network. |
| US08422612B2 |
Communication terminal apparatus, communication apparatus, and signal receiving method
A communication terminal apparatus receives a management signal at a bit rate A and a data signal at a bit rate B (B=A×M) through the same line. The communication terminal apparatus includes a signal regenerating unit, a management signal converting unit, a timing control unit, and a data signal obtaining unit. The signal regenerating unit regenerates a signal transmitted through the line as a signal of a bit rate C (C=A×N). The management signal converting unit converts N bits of the regenerated signal into the management signal of one bit. The timing control unit controls timing for obtaining a data signal based on the management signal. The data signal obtaining unit obtains the data signal according to timing control of the timing control unit. |
| US08422605B2 |
System and method for linear distortion estimation by way of equalizer coefficients
Provided is a method and system for estimating distortion in a communications channel including an adaptive equalizer. The method includes determining one or more adaptive filter coefficients associated with a signal passed through the equalizer. The method also includes estimating un-equalized channel distortion based upon the determined adaptive filter coefficients. |
| US08422603B2 |
Signal receiving apparatus, signal receiving method and signal receiving program
A signal receiving apparatus for receiving signals is provided. The signal receiving apparatus includes a correlation-value computation section configured to sequentially compute a correlation value representing a correlation between the received signal and a series of known symbols while sliding the series of known symbols for every symbol included in the received signal, a maximum-value detection section configured to detect a largest correlation value among the correlation values computed by the correlation-value computation section for one frame of the received signal, and a correlation-value storage section configured to store each of the correlation values at one of a predetermined number of storage locations, before and after the largest correlation value is detected by the maximum-value detection section. |
| US08422602B2 |
Pattern detection circuit, base station and mobile communication system using the same, and pattern detecting method
A pattern detection circuit for performing pattern detection on input signals from a communication terminal, includes a frequency domain transformer that transforms input signals into frequency domain signals; a frequency extractor that extracts frequency components of the frequency domain signals; and a pattern detector that performs the pattern detection on the input signals based on cross-correlation values in frequency domain between the extracted frequency components and predetermined patterns. |
| US08422601B2 |
Spread spectrum signal processing
The present invention relates to processing of spread spectrum signals, where a continuous signal of a comparatively high frequency is received. This signal is sampled at a basic sampling rate whereby a resulting sequence of time discrete signal samples is produced, which are in turn quantized into a corresponding level-discrete sample value. A plurality of data words are formed, which each includes one or more consecutive sample values. Information obtained from these data words is correlated with at least one representation of a signal source specific code sequence, which has been pre-generated in the form of a code vector. The correlation step specifically involves correlating at least each vector in a sub-group of the code vectors with at least one vector that has been derived from the data word. Thereby resulting data is produced. |
| US08422599B2 |
Device and method of estimating symbol using second order differential phase vector
Provided is a method of estimating a symbol. The method may include deriving phase components of input data, applying a second order differentiation to the phase components to obtain a second order differential phase vector, and estimating symbols corresponding to the input data using the second order differential phase vector. |
| US08422592B2 |
Receiving apparatus and receiving method
A duplicating section duplicates a bit sequence to be input, and a 16QAM section modulates a bit sequence of a duplicating source to form a symbol, a 16QAM section modulates the duplicated bit sequence to form a symbol, an S/P section parallel converts the symbol sequence input in series, an S/P section parallel converts the symbol sequence input in series, and an IFFT section 15 provides IFFT processing to the input symbol sequence. Since each of multiple same bits duplicated by the duplicating section is included in a different symbol, each of the multiple same bits is allocated to each of multiple subcarriers each having a different frequency by IFFT processing. As a result, a multicarrier signal including the multiple same bits each having a different frequency is generated. |
| US08422589B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data in a digital communication system, and computer-readable storage medium relating thereto
The present invention is directed to a transmitter and method for transmitting data in a digital communication system, the method comprising generating an original symbol by mapping the bits of the original bit sequence using a modulation constellation, generating at least one counter part symbol from the original symbol or from at least one counter part bit sequence generated from the original bit sequence where a combination of the original symbol and the at least one counter part symbol forms a quasi pilot symbol. |
| US08422582B2 |
Method for sending and receiving a signal in a multiple-antenna system implementing spatial pre-encoding, corresponding sender, receiver and computer program products
A method and apparatus are provided for emitting and receiving a signal in a multi-antennae system, using spatial precoding. A method for emitting a signal from an emitter towards a receiver via a transmission channel, in the form of a set of data flows, includes distributing the emission antennae into a plurality of groups containing at least one antenna, at least one group containing two antennae, according to at least one piece of information representing the transmission channel. The method also includes: attributing an efficiency to each emission antenna; allocating an emission power to each data flow; and spatial precoding the signal, using a matrix for diagonal precoding by blocks, containing at least two blocks, each block being associated with one of the groups of antennae. |
| US08422581B2 |
Multi-antenna transmission device, multi-antenna reception device, multi-antenna transmission method, multi-antenna reception method, terminal device, and base station device
Provided is a multi-antenna transmission device (400) which can perform MLD by using a simple configuration of a reception device in a MIMO-AMC system. The multi-antenna transmission device (400) includes common signal point mapping units (401, 402) for mapping data transmitted from different antennas (111, 112) in transmission scheme using MIMO spatial multiplexing, to common signal points shared by respective modulation methods. Thus, the arrangement of baseband signal points obtained by mapping a code word after channel encoding onto an IQ plane can be shared as common signal points shared by modulation methods. Accordingly, the reception device need not prepare a particular circuit for performing MLD calculation in accordance with a combination of the methods for modulating the signals which have been MIMO-space multiplexed. This can reduce the circuit size of the MLD calculation circuit. |
| US08422579B1 |
Quadrature amplitude modulation via modified-square signal point constellation
A square array of signal points forming a 22n-QAM signal constellation, where n=3, 4, is modified by relocating the inner most 22n/16 and outer 22n/16 constellation points to specific positions, resulting a modified-square constellation with a reduced peak to average power ratio (PAPR) at the modulator output relative to that of the square constellation while resulting in a receiver sensitivity that is degraded by less than the decrease in the modulator's PAPR and hence less than the possible improvement at the transmitter in average transmitted power. |
| US08422578B2 |
Radio transmission apparatus, radio communication base station apparatus, radio communication mobile station apparatus, and transmission signal generating method
A base station allowing mobile stations to efficiently remove interference signals. In this base station, an encoding part performs an error correction encoding of transport data to generate a bit sequence comprising systematic bits and parity bits; a repetition part repeats, as a repetition subject, only the parity bits out of the plurality of bits included in the bit sequence, which is generated by the encoding part, so as to perform a rate matching; a modulating part modulates, after the repetition, the bit sequence to generate symbols; an S/P part parallel converts the symbols serially inputted from the modulating part (103) and then outputs them to an IFFT part; and the IFFT part performs an IFFT processing of the symbols inputted from the S/P part and then maps them onto subcarriers in accordance with a predetermined mapping pattern, thereby generating OFDM symbols. |
| US08422575B2 |
Broadcasting system and multi-carrier communication system
The invention provides a broadcasting system. In one embodiment, the broadcasting system comprises a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver carries out signal transmission via at least one fully configured carrier and at least one partially configured carrier. The processor controls the transceiver to broadcast a first preamble set via the at least one fully configured carrier, and controls the transceiver to broadcast a secondary preamble set via the at least one partially configured carrier, wherein the first preamble set comprises a primary preamble and at least one secondary preamble, and the second preamble set comprises no primary preamble and at least one secondary preamble. |
| US08422571B2 |
Procedure for simultaneous transmission in time and frequency of multiple communications of data by means of OFDM modulations
A method for simultaneous transmission in time and frequency of multiple communications of data using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation includes transmitting the multiple communications of data at a same time on a single channel. A first starting signal, transmitted using a first network device, and a second starting signal, transmitted using a second network device, are used in transmission of a frame. Properties of the first starting signal and the second starting signal for transmission of each of the multiple communications are modified by shifting a frequency of the first starting signal with respect to a frequency of the second starting signal so that remaining communications coincident in time and frequency with respect to a given communication are ignored. The frequency of the first starting signal is shifted an amount equal to a fraction of a separation between carriers of the OFDM modulation. |
| US08422569B2 |
Encoding device, decoding device, and method thereof
Provided is an encoding device which divides an input signal into a low-range component and a high-range component and encodes the components in separate encoding units. The encoding device can improve quality of a decoded signal. The encoding device (101) includes: a band division process unit (201) which subjects an input signal to a band division process so as to obtain a lower intermediate-range component lower than a first frequency and a high-range component higher than the first frequency; a low-range encoding unit (202) which suppresses a portion of the lower intermediate-range component higher than a second frequency so as to obtain a low-range component and encodes the low-range component so as to obtain low-range encoded information; an intermediate-range correction unit (203) corrects the intermediate-range component higher than the second frequency among the suppressed lower intermediate-range component so as to obtain a corrected intermediate-range component; an intermediate high-range encoding unit (204) which encodes the corrected intermediate-range component and the high-range component so as to obtain intermediate high-range encoded information; and a multiplexing unit (205) which multiplexes the low-range encoded information and the intermediate high-range encoded information so as to obtain encoded information. |
| US08422563B2 |
System for generating closed captioning compatible with legacy and newer set-top boxes
A caption formatting method and computing system that receives an input video stream that includes a sequence of input transport stream packets. The method locates user data in the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the user data includes input caption data compliant with an input caption data format. The method extracts EIA-608 captions and EIA-708 captions from the input caption data, and formats the EIA-608 captions as caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format. The method creates a sequence of output transport stream packets based on the sequence of input transport stream packets, where the sequence of output transport stream packets include the caption data compliant with SCTE-20 format and the input caption data. The method sends an output video stream from the computing device, where the output video stream includes the sequence of output transport stream packets. |
| US08422562B2 |
Decoding circuit, decoding method, and image reproducing apparatus
To perform, with a single circuit, decoding in association with various image encoding systems and improve universality, a coefficient selection processing section selects a DC coefficient and an AC coefficient of an adjacent block adjacent to a decoding target block, a coefficient arithmetic processing section applies arithmetic processing to the selected DC coefficient and AC coefficient, a coefficient comparison processing section calculates, based on the DC coefficient subjected to the arithmetic processing, inter-block correlations in horizontal and vertical directions, and a direction determination processing section determines a predicting method using the inter-block correlations. Further, a prediction processing section adds, using the determined predicting method, the DC coefficient and the AC coefficient subjected to the arithmetic processing to encoded data, and a controlling section controls, according to the encoded data, a selecting method, an arithmetic processing method, a determining method, and/or a prediction processing method. |
| US08422561B2 |
Method and system for low-subband content discrimination
A method and system are provided for discriminating areas of content from areas of noise in difference images of a digital video sequence. This allows the fewest bits possible to be used to encode areas of noise according to a video compression algorithm. The method comprises computing a difference frame from current image data and a reference frame; comparing at least one component of a candidate block within the difference frame to a threshold value to discriminate between content and noise; and encoding the candidate block if content is detected. |
| US08422557B2 |
Method of motion estimation for video compression
A motion estimation method for video compression comprises the following steps. First, an initial simplex comprising three points is determined based on motion vectors in blocks of a current frame and a previous frame, and a point having a largest function value among the three points is replaced with a point having a smaller function value to form a simplex. The replacement is repeated until two points of the three points of the simplex converge to a same point. The iteration is performed by downhill simplex search including operations of reflection, expansion, contraction and shrinkage to find a point for replacement. The motion estimation method for video compression can also use multi-reference frames. An initial simplex comprising four points is determined based on motion vectors of a current frame with reference to a plurality of previous frames, and a point having a largest function value among the four points is repeatedly replaced with a point having a smaller function value to form a simplex until two points of the four points of the simplex converge to a same point. |
| US08422556B2 |
Method of deriving a motion vector of a bi-predictive block based on a motion vector of a co-located block in a reference picture
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list 1 motion vector of the co-located block in a first reference picture if the co-located block only has the list 1 motion vector. The first reference picture is a type of reference picture permitted to be located temporally before or after a current picture. The current picture includes the bi-predictive block. The method further includes deriving at least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block by applying a bit operation to the selected motion vector. The bit operation includes 8 bits right shift. |
| US08422551B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing a reference picture
A method for managing a reference picture with a decoder is disclosed. The method for managing a reference picture includes storing a decoded picture including quality base picture and quality enhanced picture in a buffer, marking the quality base picture and the quality enhanced picture as a reference picture, marking the quality base picture as distinct information, managing the quality base picture and the quality enhanced picture using an adaptive memory management method or a sliding window method. |
| US08422548B2 |
Methods and systems for transform selection and management
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for managing and combining layers in a multi-layer bitstream. |
| US08422546B2 |
Adaptive video encoding using a perceptual model
A video encoder includes a region detector module that classifies blocks of video frames. An adaptive filter module applies a median filter to a block based upon a block classification assigned by the region detector module. An adaptive quantization module quantizes a block according to a quantization method adaptively determined based upon a block classification assigned by the region detection module. In one example, a video encoder adaptively determines a median filter selected using a block classification. In another example, a video encoder adaptively determines whether to drop an isolated last transform coefficient based on the block classification, and/or applies a dead-zone selected using the block classification. |
| US08422536B2 |
Spread spectrum clock signal generator method and system
A system and method for generating a spread spectrum clock signal with a constant ppm offset as a function of a repetition number. A phase interpolator can be configured in association with of a phase-locked loop circuit in order to provide a phase movement from a bit clock generated by the PLL circuit. A repetition number divider computes the repetition number for each time slot in a piece-wise SSC modulation profile. A noise shaping modulator can be employed for modulating a fractional part associated with the repetition number. A repetition counter and a phase accumulator receives an integer part of the repetition number and counts unit interval clock periods equal to a sum of integer and the sigma-delta modulated fractional parts of the repetition number. The phase accumulator can be incremented and/or decremented based on the sign of the spread spectrum direction. |
| US08422535B2 |
Frequency selective digital transmission apparatus
A frequency selective digital transmission apparatus includes: a preamble transmission processing unit generating a preamble for frame synchronization and spreading the generated preamble with a predetermined spreading code; a header transmission processing unit configuring a header including data attribute information and spreading the header with a predetermined spreading code; a data transmission processing unit performing serial-to-parallel conversion on transmission data according to a selected transmission mode and a spreading scheme and spreading the same with a frequency selective spreading code; and a multiplexing unit multiplexing the preamble, the header, and the data which have been spread by the preamble transmission processing unit, the header transmission processing unit and the data transmission processing unit, respectively, and transmitting the same as digital signals. |
| US08422533B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
Provided is a radio communication device which can make Acknowledgement (ACK) reception quality and Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) reception quality to be equal to each other. The device includes: a scrambling unit (214) which multiplies a response signal after modulated, by a scrambling code “1” or “e−j(π/2)” so as to rotate a constellation for each of response signals on a cyclic shift axis; a spread unit (215) which performs a primary spread of the response signal by using a Zero Auto Correlation (ZAC) sequence set by a control unit (209); and a spread unit (218) which performs a secondary spread of the response signal after subjected to the primary spread, by using a block-wise spread code sequence set by the control unit (209). |
| US08422531B2 |
Surface emitting semiconductor laser
A surface emitting semiconductor laser includes a substrate, an n-type lower DBR, an n-type cavity extending region formed on the lower DBR, an active region formed on the cavity extending region, and an upper DBR formed on the active region. A difference in refractive index between a relatively high refractive index layer and a relatively low refractive in the upper DBR is smaller than that in the lower DBR. |
| US08422529B2 |
Tunable laser light source based on variable optical pulse excitation and method for operating same
A tunable laser light source having emission wavelengths in a visible or an adjoining spectral region includes a rotationally disposed laser substrate having more than one emission wavelength, a drive unit coupled to the laser substrate, a pulsed light source having a pulse transmitter, a trigger device, and a signal-delay unit. The trigger device, the signal-delay unit and the pulse transmitter are sequentially connected downstream of the drive unit. |
| US08422526B2 |
Semiconductor laser device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor laser device includes a semiconductor multilayer structure selectively grown on a substrate other than on a predetermined region of the substrate. The semiconductor multilayer structure includes an active layer, and has a stripe-shaped optical waveguide extending in a direction intersecting a front facet through which light is emitted. The active layer has an abnormal growth portion formed at a peripheral edge of the predetermined region, and a larger forbidden band width portion formed around the abnormal growth portion and having a larger width of a forbidden band than that of a portion other than the abnormal growth portion of the active layer. The optical waveguide is spaced apart from the abnormal growth portion and includes the larger forbidden band width portion at the front facet. |
| US08422524B2 |
Rotary disk laser and amplifier configurations
There is provided a rotary disk laser module including disk comprised of at least one lasing material. The lasing material may be excited by a laser excitation source, such as an optical pump beam directed onto the disk. The laser gain region contains excited lasing material and extends between the first and second surfaces of the disk. A laser generator is formed when the gain region is brought into optical communication with a laser generator. A laser generator may be a laser oscillator or a laser amplifier. The disk may move in order to enable various lasing functionality to the laser module. For instance, the disk may rotate, translate, or tilt to rotate the gain region, provide various quantum effects, or to enable heat transfer with a heat sink. A high-power laser generator may be formed by using a number of disks containing lasing material, exciting the lasing material using at least one laser excitation source, and bringing them into optical communication with a laser generator. |
| US08422521B2 |
Laser device of equal-energy pulse synchronous with motion
A laser device of an equal-energy pulse synchronous with motion includes: a resonant cavity, outputting a plurality of pulses with stable pulse-width and energy; a beam switch modulator, selectively enabling one of the pulses to pass; a beam energy modulator, adjusting the energy of the pulse according to a power feedback signal; an optical power sensor, sensing the energy and the pulse-width of the pulse; a motion controller, providing processing motion information; an optical feedback controller, outputting the power feedback signal to the beam energy modulator according to the energy of the pulse and the processing motion information; a trigger controller, measuring a time difference between time when the pulse is triggered and time when the optical power sensor detects the pulse, and correcting a turn-on time point of the beam switch modulator. The processing quality is therefore stabilized, and the device is applicable to various laser industrial processes. |
| US08422518B2 |
Managing transmit jitter for multi-format digital audio transmission
A method of transmitting audio data across a digital interface is provided. The method includes receiving audio data, organized as a plurality of audio samples. At least one of the plurality of audio samples may be placed into a data packet. The data packet may be transmitted during a valid transmission interval if the data packet is full or during a valid transmission interval in response to receiving a packet send event. |
| US08422516B2 |
Scalable DigRF architecture
An embodiment of the invention provides a communication device (500, 800) which comprises a communication entity (502, 802) and a further communication entity (504, 804) communicatively coupled to the communication entity (502, 802) in accordance with a Digital Radio Frequency protocol. The communication entity (502, 802) comprises a protocol layer (516), the further communication entity (504, 804) comprises a protocol layer (514), and the protocol layers (516, 514) of the communication entity (502, 802) and of the further communication entity (504, 804) are connected via a protocol-physical interface (512, 513) which provides for a parallel bidirectional signal interfacing. The protocol-physical interface (512, 513) is adapted for selectively connecting the protocol layers (516, 514) directly or via physical layers (503, 508). |