| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08429760B2 |
System and method for storing a password recovery secret
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for storing a password recovery secret on a peripheral such as a power adapter by receiving a password recovery secret at the power adapter via an interface with the computing device, and storing the password recovery secret on a memory in the power adapter. The password recovery secret can be recovered by requesting the password recovery secret from the power adapter, wherein the password recovery secret is associated with a computing device, receiving the password recovery secret from the memory of the power adapter, and recovering a password based on the password recovery secret. The power adapter can include an electrical source interface, an electronic device interface, an intermediate module to adapt electricity between the interfaces, a memory, and a memory interface through which a password recovery secret is received for storage in the memory. |
| US08429755B2 |
System and method for receiving digital content
A method and system for conducting a transaction involving digital content is provided. The system includes, a first user of a first mobile device connected to a network; a second user of a second mobile device connected to the network; a MNO that is functionally coupled to the first mobile device and the second mobile device and to a digital content provider and a rights issuing authority. The MNO receives a request for digital content from the first user, searches for the requested digital content and if the second user has the requested digital content, then the MNO obtains any rights to re-distribute/access the requested digital content; and the second user, the digital content provider and the MNO are compensated for distributing the requested digital content from the second mobile device to the first mobile device. |
| US08429750B2 |
Search engine with webpage rating feedback based Internet search operation
The system and methods herein provide feedback of a web page quality/legitimacy factor, various user interaction parameters, a contact address correlation factor, and an explicit web page rating on the reverse path from the client to the severs for Internet search operations. This operation facilitates to improve the quality of websites/web pages and enhances the efficiency of the Internet search operation. This reverse communication also allows for the automatic blockage of any illegitimate websites due to poor “contact address correlation factor” and poor “web page quality factor.” The rating of the websites is based on a computed number called “web page quality factor.” The “web page quality factor” is communicated in the reverse path of Internet search operation back to various whois servers, domain registrars, and web servers on the Internet to further improve quality. This facilitates the filtering of scammers, squatters, illegal/unwanted sites, etc., which have low “web page quality factor” rating resulting in high efficiency of search operations. |
| US08429748B2 |
Network traffic analysis using a dynamically updating ontological network description
Network traffic analysis is performed by deploying, across a network having a plurality of network nodes, at least one data collection agent, on at least two of the plurality of network nodes. Each data collection agent may monitor at each network node, a plurality of network connections instantiated during a monitoring time period. Data resulting from the monitoring is acquired from the data collection agents and an ontological description of the network is automatically created from the acquired data. The ontological description is dynamically updated and network traffic analysis is performed using the dynamically updating ontological description. |
| US08429741B2 |
Altered token sandboxing
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to application security. In an embodiment, a method for altered token sandboxing includes creating a process based on a naked token and suspending the process. The method further includes obtaining an impersonation token and resuming the process with the impersonation token. The method further includes acquiring resources needed for the process with the impersonation token. The method also includes replacing the impersonation token with the naked token. In a further embodiment, the method further includes executing the suspended process with the naked token and the acquired resources. In another embodiment, a system for user-mode, altered token sandboxing includes a security module, an acquisition module and a replacement module. In a further embodiment, the system may include an execution module. In another embodiment, the system may include a request module. |
| US08429739B2 |
Authorizing communications between computing nodes
Techniques are described for managing communications between multiple computing nodes, such as computing nodes that are separated by one or more physical networks. In some situations, the techniques may be used to provide a virtual network between multiple computing nodes that are separated by one or more intermediate physical networks, such as from the edge of the one or more intermediate physical networks by modifying communications that enter and/or leave the intermediate physical networks. In some situations, the computing nodes may include virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems, such as by or on behalf of one or more users (e.g., users of a program execution service). The managing of the communications may include determining whether communications sent to managed computing nodes are authorized, and providing the communications to the computing nodes only if they are determined to be authorized. |
| US08429738B1 |
Method and system for performing asynchronous cryptographic operations
A system and method for performing asynchronous cryptographic operations. A cryptographic toolkit receives requests for cryptographic operations, and initiates the cryptographic operations within a thread of execution. The toolkit detects when the cryptographic operations are complete, retrieves the results, and returns the results to a calling program. The cryptographic operations are performed in an asynchronous manner, without blocking a calling program. The calling program can specify whether the requested operations are to be performed without blocking. |
| US08429737B2 |
Method and apparatuses for end-to-edge media protection in an IMS system
An IMS system includes an IMS initiator user entity. The system includes an IMS responder user entity that is called by the initiator user entity. The system includes a calling side S-CSCF in communication with the caller entity which receives an INVITE having a first protection offer and parameters for key establishment from the caller entity, removes the first protection offer from the INVITE and forwards the INVITE without the first protection offer. The system includes a receiving end S-CSCF in communication with the responder user entity and the calling side S-CSCF which receives the INVITE without the first protection offer and checks that the responder user entity supports the protection, inserts a second protection offer into the INVITE and forwards the INVITE to the responder user entity, wherein the responder user entity accepts the INVITE including the second protection offer and answers with an acknowledgment having a first protection accept. A method for supporting a call by a telecommunications node. |
| US08429730B2 |
Authenticating users and on-line sites
A method and system enables a user and/or an on-line site to be authenticated by comparing a received password with an expected password, transmitting a new password if the received and expected passwords match, and authenticating a communication if the new password matches what is expected by the on-line site. The initially received password may be distorted, such as with CAPTCHA. |
| US08429725B2 |
System and method for providing a secure connection between networked computers
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a system, method, and computer program product for establishing a secure network connection between a client and a server. The client may send a connection request over a public network to the server. The server may prepare a response containing a controller and session-specific credentials. The controller may be selected to configure a tunneling protocol on the client. After being downloaded to the client, the controller configures the tunneling protocol and establishes a secure network connection with the server without user intervention. The session-specific credentials are valid until the secure network connection between the client and the server is severed. |
| US08429719B2 |
Interworking between first and second authentication domains
To interwork between a first authentication domain and a second authentication domain, a bridge module performs a first authentication procedure in the first authentication domain for a mobile station, wherein the first authentication domain is part of a wireless access network. Based on information collected in the first authentication procedure, the bridge module performs a second authentication procedure is performed, on behalf of the mobile station, in the second authentication domain. |
| US08429717B2 |
Method for activating virtual machine, apparatus for simulating computing device and supervising device
A method for activating a virtual machine, an apparatus for simulating a computing device and a device for supervising activation of the apparatus. The method includes: activating a network interface of the virtual machine, and activating other components of the virtual machine, where the network interface of the virtual machine is capable of communicating with the outside world so activation of the other components of the virtual machine can be supervised. The simulation apparatus includes a network interface and an operating system having a security sub-system, where the network interface is configured to be first activated during activation of the simulation apparatus so the network interface can communicate with the outside world, and activation of the other components of the apparatus can be supervised during the activation of the other components of the apparatus. |
| US08429716B2 |
System and method for transparent access and management of user accessible cloud assets
System and method for enabling user access of cloud assets are described. In one embodiment, a method comprises authenticating a user to a system comprising a cloud computing environment in which a plurality of cloud assets are hosted; assembling a deployment associated with the authenticated user in accordance with a policy, the deployment comprising designated ones of the cloud assets; and providing a secure mechanism by which the designated ones of the cloud assets comprising the deployment are accessible by the authenticated user. |
| US08429712B2 |
Centralized user authentication system apparatus and method
An identification module receives a password request for a specified user and communicates an encrypted password field in response thereto, wherein the encrypted password field references a directory object corresponding to the specified user. The present invention also teaches an authentication module that communicates the password request to the identification module and receives the encrypted password field therefrom. Upon receiving the encrypted password field, the authentication module authenticates the specified user against the referenced directory object. In some embodiments, the encrypted password field is stored in an identification data store of an identification server and the directory object is stored in an authentication data store of an authentication server. |
| US08429711B2 |
System and method for executing interactive applications with minimal privileges
A mechanism for running interactive applications with a minimal set of privileges is disclosed. The privileges form a subset of the privileges afforded to the user requesting the application and are allocated consistent with the principle of least privilege. The application runs with the minimal amount of permissions necessary to accomplish its assigned tasks. A new user account is created and provisioned or identified for each application to which a user requests access. The accounts have a subset or superset of the access rights and operating system privileges that the user who is logged on to the system and requesting access to the application ordinarily enjoys. The subset/superset of the user's privileges is determined by a policy-based decision system. The policy-based decision system makes its determination based on an analysis of the application requirements, an analysis of the data security and privacy concerns associated with the execution of the application, the identity of the user and user's role and any other policy considerations previously specified by an administrator. Once the determination as to the appropriate set of privileges to be afforded in the execution environment has been made, the execution environment is created and provisioned or a pre-existing execution environment possessing the requisite privileges is identified and the remote user is logged into the server-side account. The application-specific accounts may be audited by audit trail tools that provide evidence of policy enforcement. |
| US08429709B2 |
Privacy ontology for identifying and classifying personally identifiable information and a related GUI
Method and system of providing an association between a system's meta-tagged data objects and a list of terms, the association indicating which objects are and are not covered by a given policy, in one aspect, may comprise obtaining a list of terms and a policy that includes one or more of the terms; identifying a plurality of meta-tags used in a system; developing one or more mappings between the terms and the meta-tags; identifying system data objects in the system having one or more meta-tags; creating for each meta-tag of each system data object identified, an association between the system data object and the one or more terms to which the meta-tag is mapped, the association indicating whether the system data object is or is not covered by the policy. |
| US08429706B2 |
Method and device for transmitting data
This method of transmitting coded data, representing a digital video, from a server to a plurality of clients, at least one subset of the clients using congestion control algorithms, uses a plurality of signals for passing from a coded representation of the video at a given quality level to a coded representation at least one quality level different from the given level. The sending (E618) of at least one of the passage signals at least to the subset of clients depends on information representing the behavior of the congestion control algorithms used by the subset of clients. |
| US08429704B2 |
System architecture and method for composing and directing participant experiences
The present invention contemplates providing an experience platform within a CDN, as well as sentio or experience codecs, and experience agents for supporting the experience platform. The experience platform may be provided by a service provider to enable an experience provider to compose and direct a participant experience. The service provider monetizes the experience by charging the experience provider and/or the participants for services. Alternatively, the experience platform may be provided by the CDN, either as an integrated component of the CDN, or a supplemental complimentary aspect. The participant experience can involve one or more experience participants. The experience provider can create an experience with a variety of dimensions and features. As will be appreciated, the following description provides one paradigm for understanding the multi-dimensional experience available to the participants. There are many suitable ways of describing, characterizing and implementing the experience platform contemplated herein. |
| US08429702B2 |
Methods and apparatus for selecting and pushing customized electronic media content
Methods and an apparatus for selecting and pushing customized electronic media content are disclosed. An example method selects a piece of electronic media content based on user characteristic data associated with a user; identifies a storage capacity of a user device associated with the user; and pushes at least a first portion of the selected piece of electronic media content to a user device associated with the user prior to the user demanding the selected piece of electronic media content, the first portion being selected based on the storage capacity of the user device. |
| US08429701B2 |
System and method to deliver video content
A method of delivering video content includes identifying a television program scheduled to be broadcast at a time during a peak viewing period, and identifying a recipient multimedia storage device that is to receive video content associated with the television program. The method also includes sending the video content associated with the television program to the recipient multimedia storage device during a non-peak viewing period that precedes the peak viewing period. The video content includes data to prevent viewing of the video content prior to the time when the television program is scheduled to be broadcast. |
| US08429699B2 |
Systems and methods for resource-adaptive processing of scaled video and graphics
An embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for adaptive video decoding. A method for adaptive video decoding includes determining whether a resource constrained mode is to be initiated, and responsive to a determination that the resource constrained mode is to be initiated, initiating the resource constrained mode, including foregoing the decoding of portions of received video input. For example, adaptive video decoding may include foregoing the decompression and reconstruction of selected video frames during intervals of high demand for memory and/or bus bandwidth resources. |
| US08429691B2 |
Computational recommendation engine
A computational recommendation engine is described. In embodiment(s), identifiers of ranked programs can be distributed to television client devices, and then a viewing vector from each of the television client devices can be received where the viewing vectors indicate which of the ranked programs have been displayed for viewing at different ones of the television client devices. A client devices group can be created that includes a subset of the television client devices based on the viewing vectors that are received from respective ones of the television client devices. A ranked program can be determined that has not been displayed for viewing by some of the television client devices in the client devices group, and a recommendation of the ranked program can be communicated to the television client devices in the client devices group that have not had the ranked program displayed for viewing. |
| US08429690B2 |
TV program search apparatus
Record history record processing accumulates all user operations relating to program recording in a storage as a recording history. Preference change analysis processing extracts recorded programs in the most recent period from the recording history, obtains the weight of a word in the recorded program from an index from an EPG, adds the weight of the word to a preference in a period. The preference in programs for a period immediately preceding the most recent period is normalized, and a degree of similarity to the preference in the most recent period is calculated. Preference query generation processing emphasizes (five-fold) the weight of the words contained in the recorded programs in the period (June) and generates a preference query. |
| US08429686B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a scan
Systems and methods for a video scan are provided. The scan may be dynamically interactive and a function of characteristics of the programs in the scan (e.g., commercial breaks or the end of a program approaching) The scan may simultaneously display multiple scan windows for a plurality of programs, for example in a scan wizard. The scan wizard allows the user to simultaneously view a scan window and an information panel, select criteria for the scan from a criteria panel, and control the scan using a scan control panel. The scan may allow the user to record a program displayed in the scan without interrupting the scan (e.g., by using an additional tuner). The scan may display, within the scan interface, trick-play functions for appropriate scanned programs (e.g., recorded, cached and on-demand programs). The user may select and perform trick-play functions for a scanned program without exiting the scan mode. |
| US08429685B2 |
System and method for privacy-preserving advertisement selection
Methods and systems to provide targeted advertising in a subscription television setting, wherein the households that receive the targeted advertisement may retain anonymity. This may be achieved by marrying an anonymization protocol and infrastructure with a mechanism for STB selection and reporting. This anonymizes the set of households that are selected to play an ad, by ensuring that when an STB meets defined criteria and sends a ‘criteria met’ message (during the selection process) or ‘ad shown’ message (during a validation or counting process) to a head end, an STB or household identifier is not revealed, thus anonymizing the household information from the head end. In addition, this allows the head end to control the ad campaign process by advertising only to those households that meet specified criteria, and to count the number of actual instances in which an ad was displayed. The head end is able to count the number of times an ad was displayed, without knowing which particular household(s) viewed the ad. |
| US08429682B2 |
Disc with embedded flash memory and disc drive
A disc has an outer section on which digital media can be recorded and a core in its center in which a flash memory is embedded with the core having a central hole and electrical contacts to the flash memory. A disc drive has a drive spindle that is to extend into the disc core central hole with one of the spindle or spindle hub having electrical contacts to engage with the core electrical contacts so that data can be written into and/or read from the core flash memory by electronic components of the drive. |
| US08429681B2 |
Optical disc apparatus which includes an optical pickup apparatus that includes an optical member driving apparatus
An optical member driving apparatus comprising: a holding member configured to have an optical member mounted thereon; a driving unit assembly configured to be capable of driving the holding member; a connecting member configured to connect the holding member and the driving unit assembly; and a jointing member configured to joint the connecting member and either or both of the holding member and the driving unit assembly. |
| US08429676B2 |
Integrated trading platform architecture
A system and method that provides a JPeX client that opens up a socket on which it listens for connections from the local host. External applications on the desktop are able to connect to the server socket in the client and use XML to execute commands on the client. |
| US08429674B2 |
Maintaining data states upon forced exit
Methods, program products, and systems of maintaining data states upon forced exit are disclosed. In one aspect, an application program executing on the mobile device can maintain a connection to a remote data store and retrieve and cache data from the data store. When the mobile device receives an event that forces the application program to terminate, the mobile device can provide a time window in which the mobile device can perform various state preservation actions. During the time window, the mobile device can store data states, including states of the connection and states of the cached data. When the application program is re-launched, the mobile device can use the stored data states to restore a connection and a displayed view. |
| US08429673B2 |
Systems and methods of accessing information across distributed computing components
In one embodiment the present invention includes a systems and methods of accessing information across distributed computing components. In one embodiment, a first software component has associated information and references to information associated with other software components that provide inputs to the first software component. Information about downstream software components may be accessed through the references. In one embodiment, a first software service such as a web service may include metadata that describes the service and pointers to other services consumed by the first software service. Embodiments of the invention provide automated auditing and searching across related software components. |
| US08429671B2 |
Integrated workflow builder for disparate computer programs
A method of communicating between hydrocarbon management-related computer programs having non-identical data formats. Tools associated with each of the computer programs are obtained. Each tool represents a functionality of its respective computer program. Representations of the tools are displayed in a toolbox. A plurality of the displayed representations are selected such that the displayed representations are placed in a displayed workspace to establish a graphical representation of a workflow. Displayed representations from more than one computer program are selected. The displayed representations are positioned in the graphical representation of the workflow in a sequence corresponding to a desired workflow sequence. The workflow is executed according to the desired workflow sequence. Inter-program communications is facilitated between the computer programs to enable the workflow to execute by transferring messages and data between the computer programs in a common data format. |
| US08429666B2 |
Computing platform with resource constraint negotiation
Various techniques are described for resource management on a computing platform. A computing platform can receive a query message that specifies an amount of a resource proposed for allocation. The computing platform can select a selected recommendation level from a plurality of recommendation levels, based on an evaluation of a request for the amount of the resource proposed for allocation. The computing platform can generate a resource allocation recommendation that includes the selected recommendation level with respect to the amount of the resource proposed for allocation. The computing platform can send the resource allocation recommendation. |
| US08429661B1 |
Managing multi-threaded FIFO memory by determining whether issued credit count for dedicated class of threads is less than limit
Systems and methods storing data for multi-threaded processing permit multiple execution threads to store data in a single first-in first-out (FIFO) memory. Threads are assigned to classes, with each class including one or more threads. Each class may be allocated dedicated entries in the FIFO memory. A class may also be allocated shared entries in the FIFO memory. The shared entries may be used by any thread. Data for a first thread may be stored in the FIFO memory while data for a second thread is read from the FIFO memory, even when the first thread and the second thread are not in the same class. The FIFO memory is shared between the threads to conserve die area, however each thread may be executed independently, as if each thread has a dedicated FIFO memory. |
| US08429657B2 |
Global avoidance of hang states via priority inheritance in multi-node computing system
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with avoiding resource blockages and hang states are described. One example computer-implemented method for a clustered computing system includes determining that a first process is waiting for a resource and is in a blocked state. The resource that the first process is waiting for is identified. A blocking process that is holding the resource is then identified. A priority of the blocking process is compared with a priority the first process. If the priority of the blocking process is lower than the priority of the first process, the priority of the blocking process is increase. In this manner the blocking process can be scheduled for execution sooner and thus release the resource. |
| US08429655B2 |
System and method for asynchronous processing in page lifecycle
System and methods for asynchronous processing within a web page lifecycle, enabling web page developers to integrate asynchronous work within the web page implementation that can store state inside the page and is applied to requests to the particular page. Handlers initiate event-based or task-based asynchronous operations without keeping a dedicated thread while waiting for a response. The thread is returned to a pool of available threads upon initiation of the process. Results are received on other threads and provided to the page before rendering. Timeout errors are also provided, if a particular result is not received within specified period. The events are delivered in a serial manner so that the page developer uses request instance data without explicit synchronization. This makes a high-scale, asynchronous processing model less complex and more accessible to developers accustomed to web scripting, which is traditionally synchronous. |
| US08429653B2 |
Process model control flow with multiple synchronizations
Activations of a plurality of incoming branches may be detected at a synchronization point having a plurality of outgoing branches. A first synchronization may be executed after a first number of activations is detected, and at least one of a plurality of outgoing branches from the synchronization point may be activated, based on the first synchronization. A second synchronization may be executed after a second number of activations is detected, and at least a second one of the plurality of outgoing branches from the synchronization point may be activated, based on the second synchronization. |
| US08429651B2 |
Enablement and acceleration of live and near-live migration of virtual machines and their associated storage across networks
A virtual machine is migrated between a source cloud and a destination cloud. A temporary storage is mounted to a partition management firmware of the source cloud and to a partition management firmware of the destination cloud. A first storage location migration migrates the virtual machine from the source cloud to the at least one temporary storage. A second storage location migration migrates the virtual machine from the at least one temporary storage to final destination storage of the destination cloud. The temporary storage is then unmounted from the partition management firmware of the source cloud and from the partition management firmware of the destination cloud. |
| US08429645B2 |
Method for optimizing migration of software applications to address needs
An exemplary method (which can be computer implemented) for enhancing migration of software applications from a source system environment to a destination system environment includes the steps of translating needs into requirements for the destination system, capturing deployment and configuration of the software applications in the source system environment and the destination system environment in a centralized model, analyzing dependencies between the systems in the source and destination systems to construct a mapping between the requirements and elements of the model, and generating enhanced migration rules, based, at least in part, on the mapping. |
| US08429643B2 |
Secure upgrade of firmware update in constrained memory
A hardware-based security module may contain executable code used to manage the electronic device in which the security module resides. Because the security module may have limited memory, a memory update process is used that allows individual blocks to be separately downloaded and verified. Verification data is sent in a header block prior to sending the individual data blocks. |
| US08429640B2 |
System and method for modifying firmware
A system and method for updating software in an information handling system are disclosed. One or more relationships between a firmware package and a set of components associated with the information handling system are generated. A first storage partition identifier is generated based, at least in part, on the relationships. A second storage partition identifier generate is based, at least in part, on one or more parameters of the set of components, where the second storage partition identifier is associated with the first storage partition identifier. A first storage partition having the first storage partition identifier is generated. A second storage partition having the second storage partition identifier is generated. A copy of the firmware information is stored so that the firmware information is associated with the second storage partition. Firmware for at least one of the set of components is modified based, at least in part, on firmware information. |
| US08429639B2 |
Image-based software update
State data can be separated from an existing software stack stored in one or more computer storage units in a computer system. The existing software stack can include operating system software and application software, and the state data can represent one or more states of the existing software stack. An image can be stored in one or more computer storage units in the computer system, and the stored image can form an updated software stack including operating system and application software. In addition, the updated software stack can be configured using the state data. |
| US08429638B2 |
Instruction exploitation through loader late fix-up
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for substituting a candidate instruction in application code being loaded during load time. Responsive to identifying the candidate instruction, a determination is made whether a hardware facility of the data processing system is present to execute the candidate instruction. If the hardware facility is absent from the data processing system, the candidate instruction is substituted with a second set of instructions. |
| US08429633B2 |
Managing memory to support large-scale interprocedural static analysis for security problems
Embodiments of the invention describe systems and methods for application level management of virtual address space. A static analysis application can model and analyze a large and complex source code listing to determine whether it has vulnerabilities without exhausting the virtual memory resources provided to it by the operating system. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes analyzing the source code listing to create a call graph model to represent the expected sequences of routine calls as a result of the inherent control flow of the source code listing. The method also includes monitoring the amount of virtual memory resources consumed by the dynamic state, and swapping out to a storage medium a portion of the dynamic state. The method includes reusing the virtual memory resources corresponding to the swapped out portion of the dynamic state to continue analyzing the source code listing. |
| US08429628B2 |
System and method for comparing partially decompiled software
A method and computer program product for generating a suspect abstract syntax tree by partially decompiling a compiled software module. The suspect abstract syntax tree is compared to one or more reference abstract syntax trees. |
| US08429627B2 |
Asynchronous preemptive edit time semantic analysis of a graphical program
System and method for analyzing a graphical program. A graphical program is displayed on a display. A semantic edit operation is performed on the graphical program in response to user input. The semantic edit operation is performed by a first process. Semantic analysis of the graphical program is performed by a second process in response to performing the semantic edit operation, where the second process is asynchronous with respect to the first process. Results from the semantic analysis of the graphical program are displayed in response to completion of the semantic analysis. If during the semantic analysis, another semantic edit operation is performed on the graphical program, the semantic analysis may be preemptively terminated and re-initiated. Displaying results from the semantic analysis of the graphical program may then include displaying results from the re-initiated semantic analysis of the graphical program in response to completion of the re-initiated semantic analysis. |
| US08429626B2 |
Packaging content updates
Aspects of the present invention are directed at obtaining user feedback and causing a package of content updates to be created and distributed based on the received feedback. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for creating a package that contains one or more content updates configured to change the content that is displayed by default when a program executes. More specifically, the method includes obtaining input that describes one or more content updates. In this regard, the input received may include the user-defined content that will be displayed when the program executes and the identity of the content displayed by default. Then, the method assembles selected content updates into a package that is suitable for transmission over a network connection. When the package is assembled, processing is provided that allows the content updates in the package to be implemented on a remote computing device. |
| US08429619B2 |
Executable high-level trace file generation system
An executable high-level trace file generation system provides reduced debugging effort and time, particularly on initial startup of new or modified hardware. An executable program invokes high-level application programming interfaces (APIs), to perform various tasks. Instructions within the APIs generate a trace file documenting the invoked sequence of APIs by writing a line to a trace file that documents the API and input parameters received by the API. Upon completion of execution of the API, the return value may be documented as a comment line in the trace file. The resulting trace file is then re-executable as a script and may be edited to alter the sequence of APIs invoked and/or the arguments provided. The script interpreter may be a command line interface through which the APIs are invoked, and trace files may be similarly generated that document sequences of manually entered commands. |
| US08429616B2 |
Orthogonal experimentation in a computing environment
Various embodiments include at least one of systems, methods, and software to receive input configuring tests within a computing environment to expose users to standard application or website experiences or test experiences. In some embodiments, multiple tests may be configured to run orthogonally within user experiences without affecting the results of one another. Some such embodiments preserve the ability to execute certain tests in a non-orthogonal manner while other tests are allowed to execute orthogonally. |
| US08429611B2 |
Method and system for generating a source code for a computer program
A method for the generation of a source code for a computer program for the execution or simulation of a complex process in which a multiplicity of subjects communicate with one another. In this method, the processes are described, the description of the processes is stored in a process file, and with the aid of the process file a source code for a computer program is generated, with a separate source code file being generated for each subject. Through the provision of a source code file for each subject, a complex process may be easily and therefore automatically split into several sub-programs, the source code files, which may be generated automatically. In this way it is possible to generate automatically a computer program for a very complex process. A further benefit of the method according to the invention is that it may be executed after automatic generation, i.e. it may be validated by an execution immediately after generation. |
| US08429606B2 |
Transactional object container
A computing device receives an object at runtime of a compiled application, wherein the object is a component of the application. The computing device generates a transactional proxy for the object, the transactional proxy including transactional logic, a transactional marker and a pointer to the object. The transactional proxy is passed to the application, wherein the application to make calls on the transactional proxy instead of on the object. |
| US08429604B1 |
System and method for extracting behavioral code from a software code file
Systems and methods for extracting behavioral code from a software code file are disclosed. A behavioral code extractor logic accesses an existing software code file that comprises structural code and behavioral code. The behavioral code extractor logic extracts, from the software code file, at least a portion of the behavioral code into a separate file. And, the behavioral code extractor logic generates binding code for referencing the extracted behavioral code to maintain run-time behavior of the software code file consistent with its run-time behavior before the extracting. In certain embodiments, the software code file is a source file for a web page, and the structural code comprises markup language code. The behavioral code may comprise scripting language code and/or event attributes code defined by markup language. |
| US08429603B2 |
Virtual typing executables
Computer program product, apparatus, and data processing system for modifying a computer program. According to one embodiment, a new value to replace a value associated with a virtual type in a computer program is received. The new value is received during execution of the computer program by a processor unit. The replacement of the value by the new value modifies the computer program while the computer program is executed by the processor. |
| US08429602B2 |
Identification of user interface controls
A mechanism is disclosed for identifying non-standard user interface controls in a target application. The mechanism includes an accelerator, an agent, and a dialog. The agent is configured to be installed into the target application and to interface with the accelerator. The dialog is configured to select non-standard controls in the target application where each non-standard control includes a set of properties. The agent is configured to provide the properties of the selected non-standard controls to the accelerator. The accelerator is configured to determine a set of common properties for the selected non-standard controls and to automatically generate an identification rule for the determined set of common properties. |
| US08429601B2 |
Code completion for object relational mapping query language (OQL) queries
Techniques for developing database applications are described herein. According to one embodiment, an object-relational mapping (ORM) query language (OQL) statement is received via a first window which is entered from a user for querying an underlying database, where the OQL statement is written in a customized query language that is incompatible with the underlying database. In response, a SQL statement compatible with the underlying database is dynamically displayed in a second window, where the SQL statement is automatically translated from the OQL statement displayed in the first window. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08429600B2 |
Distributed collaborative environment definition system and method
A system and method for generating a reusable virtual environment item to be integrated into a visual computer simulation using data gathered from a plurality of developers, comprising a centralized knowledge management module, a plurality of distributed workspaces, a content repository, and a content production tool. |
| US08429599B2 |
Computer method and system for enforcing derived union constraints
A computer method and system preserves derived union constraints and enforces the same in generated target code. The method includes (a) providing a model element having one or more derived union properties, (b) tracking derived union constraints from the derived union properties of the model element, and (c) interpreting the tracked derived union constraints and generating therefrom an implementation that enforces the derived union constraint. Tracking may be by annotating the model element accordingly. |
| US08429595B1 |
Software development tool that supports use of a design-time data feed
A software application development tool supports a specified design-time data feed. A software application developer can interact with the development tool to specify a design-time data feed that is to be used during development of an application in place of a given run-time data feed that is not available for access by the application. For instance, a software application developer may code the application with reference(s) to the unavailable run-time data feed, and the developer may specify to the development tool a design-time data feed for such referenced run-time data feed. The development tool then manages correlation of the specified design-time feed to the run-time feed such that references to the run-time feed in the application under development instead trigger access to the specified design-time feed by the development tool. When deployed in a run-time environment, the software application's references to the run-time feed trigger access to such run-time feed. |
| US08429594B2 |
Via design apparatus and via design method based on impedance calculations
A via design apparatus includes a determination section that determines a value of a shape parameter indicating a shape of a via in a multilayer board. The via has a hole passing through the plurality of layers and a conductive section on a side wall of the hole. The apparatus also includes a calculation section that calculates a value of impedance of the via according to the value of the shape parameter. |
| US08429589B2 |
Generating net routing constraints for place and route
A method of generating net routing constraints for nets of an IC design includes generating a file with hashes organized by nets. Each hash has attributes of a net, e.g. net name, length, fanout, total actual route (AR) resistance, a corresponding virtual route (VR) resistance, and a number of vias. A wire only AR resistance for each net can be calculated. Wire scaling factors can be calculated using the wire only AR resistances and their corresponding VR resistances. Wire scaling factors can be binned by one or more net characteristics. An average wire scaling factor can be calculated for each bin. Code used by a place and route tool can then be generated, wherein the code applies the average wire scaling factors to nets of the design to improve pre-route and post-route correlation. |
| US08429588B2 |
Method and mechanism for extraction and recognition of polygons in an IC design
Disclosed is an improved approach for organizing, analyzing, and operating upon polygon data which significantly reduces the amount of data required for processing while keeping elements non-interfacing with each other. According to one approach, clusters of elements are extracted which are then handled separately. In some approaches, a set of polygons forms a cluster if for any two polygons from the set of polygons there exists a sequence of polygons from the set such that the distance between any sequential polygons are less than or equal to a given threshold number. Rather than analyzing each and every polygon in the design, repetitive unique patterns are analyzed once, which are then replicated for all clusters which have the same repetitive pattern. |
| US08429586B2 |
Basic cell architecture for structured ASICs
A basic cell circuit architecture having plurality of cells with fixed transistors configurable for the formation of logic devices and single and dual port memory devices within a structured ASIC is provided. Different configurations of ensuing integrated circuits are achieved by forming variable interconnect layers above the fixed structures. The circuit architecture can achieve interconnection of transistors within a single cell or across multiple cells. The interconnection can be configured to form basic logic gates as well as more complex digital and analog subsystems. In addition, each cell contains a layout of transistors that can be variably coupled to achieve a memory device, such as a SRAM device. By having the capability of forming a logic circuit element, a memory device, or both, the circuit architecture is both memory-centric and logic-centric, and more fully adaptable to modern-day SoCs. |
| US08429579B2 |
Translating a user design in a configurable IC for debugging the user design
Some embodiments provide a method of monitoring the implementation of a user design in a configurable integrated circuit (IC). The method receives a user design for an IC and optimizes the user design to produce a second IC design. The optimization results in the elimination of circuit element(s). The method defines the second IC design for the configurable IC and generates output data for the eliminated circuit element(s) to allow for monitoring the user design. |
| US08429576B2 |
Methods and system for analysis and management of parametric yield
Impact on parametric performance of physical design choices for transistors is scored for on-current and off-current of the transistors. The impact of the design parameters are incorporated into parameters that measure predicted shift in mean on-current and mean off-current and parameters that measure predicted increase in deviations in the distribution of on-current and the off-current. Statistics may be taken at a cell level, a block level, or a chip level to optimize a chip design in a design phase, or to predict changes in parametric yield during manufacturing or after a depressed parametric yield is observed. Further, parametric yield and current level may be predicted region by region and compared with observed thermal emission to pinpoint any anomaly region in a chip to facilitate detection and correction in any mistakes in chip design. |
| US08429574B2 |
Dual-pattern coloring technique for mask design
A hierarchical schematic design editor displays mask layers for each shape as mask specific colors and alerts a user to mask layer conflicts during the design and editing process. According to an embodiment, mask colors may be assigned at the time the shapes or geometries and cells are placed in a circuit design layout, or when a mask layer condition indicating that two or more shapes should be set to different mask layers is detected. In an embodiment, if the distance between two shapes is less than a predetermined threshold, those shapes may cause a mask layer condition. Shapes may be grouped to facilitate mask layer condition detection and mask layer assignment. |
| US08429572B2 |
Method and system for implementing controlled breaks between features using sub-resolution assist features
Disclosed is a method, system, and computer program product for implementing controlled breaks using sub-resolution assist features. Sub-resolution bridging features are added to implement controlled breaks between features on the layout. The bridging features may also be used to facilitate or optimize multiple mask/exposure techniques that split a layout or features on a layout to address pitch problems. |
| US08429571B2 |
Method of etch proximity correction and method of creating photomask layout using the same
Provided is an etch proximity correction method in which an accurate etch bias value is calculated. The etch proximity correction method includes creating an etch bias value from a project area corresponding to an area blocked by a pattern region within a linear distance projected from a target position selected in a target layout to an outermost portion of the proximity region and a non-project area corresponding to an area projected into an edge linear distance from an edge of the pattern region blocked in the linear distance to the outermost portion of the proximity region and correcting the target position in the layout using the etch bias value. Since an etch bias model includes the project area and the non-project area, the accurate etch bias value may be calculated. |
| US08429570B2 |
Pattern recognition with edge correction for design based metrology
Exemplary embodiments include a method for edge correction in pattern recognition, the method including receiving a design layout, receiving a sample plan based on the design layout, receiving user-generated edge input and generating a recipe output from the design layout, the sample plan and the user-generated edge input. The incorporation of the edge input results in SEM recipes that are much more successful in recognizing patterns that have tendency to deviate in appearance from design by, for example, moderate to severe sidewall angle. |
| US08429569B2 |
Method and system for feed-forward advanced process control
A method including providing a present wafer to be processed by a photolithography tool, selecting a processed wafer having a past chip design from a plurality of processed wafers, the processed wafer being previously processed by the photolithography tool, selecting a plurality of critical dimension (CD) data points extracted from a plurality of fields on the processed wafer, modeling the plurality of CD data points with a function relating CD to position on the processed wafer, creating a field layout on the present wafer for a new chip design, creating an initial exposure dose map for the new chip design using the function and the field layout, and controlling the exposure of the photolithography tool according to the initial exposure dose map to form the new chip design on the present wafer. |
| US08429568B2 |
Graphical user interface for large-scale, multi-user, multi-touch systems
A method implemented on the graphical user interface device to invoke an independent, user-localized menu in an application environment, by making a predetermined gesture with a pointing device on an arbitrary part of a display screen or surface, especially when applied in a multi-touch, multi-user environment, and in environments where multiple concurrent pointing devices are present. As an example, the user may trace out a closed loop of a specific size that invokes a default system menu at any location on the surface, even when a second user may be operating a different portion of the system elsewhere on the same surface. As an additional aspect of the invention, the method allows the user to smoothly transition between the menu-invocation and menu control. |
| US08429562B2 |
Graphical user interface for computers having variable size icons
A computer user interface is provided which allows a user to adjust the size of icons based upon a user's preference or based upon a characteristic of the objects that the icons represent. When the icon sizing is performed according to a user preference, a relative sizing scheme or an arbitrary icon sizing scheme can be employed to variably size icons. Providing the ability to size icons in such a manner allows users to represent a user's categorization of object importance, for example. |
| US08429561B2 |
Information search method and apparatus
Names of pieces of information to be searched are arranged in a predetermined order, and a range display bar that is divided into sections is formed on a screen. A detailed-name-of-information display section is formed adjacent to the range display bar to display detailed information associated with the names in a scrollable manner. An arbitrary range on the range display bar may be designated as a range of the names to be searched. Preferably, the names corresponding to the divided sections are searched with respect to the designated range for the names. Predetermined portions of the names obtained through the search are displayed on the divided sections. Preferably, the portions of the names include at least the initial letter of the names. The detailed information associated with the names in the designated range is displayed on the detailed-name-of-information display section in the arrangement order. |
| US08429560B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying input items on a display
Methods and systems are described for displaying input items on a display. In one embodiment, a first activation of a button representing a displayable input item is detected. Responsive to the first activation of the button, the displayable input item is displayed on a display at an initial display size without accepting selection of the displayable input item. The displayable input item is incrementally enlarged on the display over time until detecting a second activation of the button. Selection of the displayable input item is accepted responsive to the second activation of the button. The initial display size is set for the displayable input item based on a display size of the displayable input item when the second activation of the button is detected. |
| US08429557B2 |
Application programming interfaces for scrolling operations
At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application. A method for operating through an application programming interface (API) in this environment includes transferring a set bounce call. The method further includes setting at least one of maximum and minimum bounce values. The set bounce call causes a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll. |
| US08429556B2 |
Chunking data records
Methods, program products, and systems of chunking data records are described. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can provide for display on a display screen a scrollable window. The scrollable window can display first display content (e.g., a first segment of formatted data) stored in a first display buffer. The mobile device can determine that the scrollable window will cross a boundary of the first display buffer. Upon the determining, the mobile device can create second display content (e.g., a second segment of formatted data) in a second display buffer. The second display content can include display content that borders the first display content at the boundary. The mobile device can provide for display the second display content when the scrollable window crosses the boundary. |
| US08429555B2 |
Apparatus and method of providing items based on scrolling
Disclosed is an apparatus and method of providing items based on scrolling.An apparatus for processing data of a non-volatile memory according to an aspect of the invention includes a scrolling detecting unit detecting scrolling for one or more items that are displayed on a screen, a screen region control unit dividing the screen into one or more regions according to the detected scrolling, and controlling the sizes of the divided regions, and an item control unit controlling at least one of the sizes and the number of items according to the sizes of the divided regions. |
| US08429547B2 |
Generation and data management of a medical study using instruments in an integrated media and medical system
In general, a computer-implemented method is described for receiving one or more requests to generate a medical study, retrieving from one or more data repositories one or more medical study instruments, receiving a selection of a particular medical study instrument to use in the medical study, generating by one or more computers a list of one or more research collaborators invited to review the medical study, and generating by one or more computers a list of one of more participants invited to join the medical study. |
| US08429546B2 |
Creating task sessions
Various embodiments provide a mechanism to allow end users to install web applications and websites onto their desktop. In accordance with one or more embodiments, client-side code can be utilized to allow developers associated with a website to define boundaries associated with user interaction, and have those boundaries enforced by a run-time engine. In at least some embodiments, developers can provide, through JavaScript code and/or HTML markup, various configurations for the creation of a start menu shortcut, navigation, and so-called jumplist integration. |
| US08429544B2 |
Content server latency demonstration
A first portion of a content page can be loaded in a first user interface, where the first portion includes content received from a publisher server. A second user interface can then be displayed. A second portion of the content page can be loaded in the second user interface, where the second portion includes one or more content items received from one or more content servers. In addition, one or more attributes associated with the one or more content items can be displayed in the second user interface. |
| US08429540B1 |
End user created collaborative and non-collaborative workspace application container system and method
A computer-implemented method includes: receiving a command from a first workspace participant to create a new workspace and creating a workspace identifier for the workspace, where an application container having a user interface can instantiate the workspace; receiving one or more applications to execute in the workspace and creating an application identifier for each application that refers to an application provider for the application, and where each application is configured to execute in the application container and where each executing application has a visual representation in the user interface. A command to publish the workspace as a shared workspace is received. A command is received from a second workspace participant to join the shared workspace. A workspace definition is stored. Commands are received to create and store a private view of the shared workspace. A command is received to add a customization to the private view of the shared workspace. |
| US08429537B2 |
Remote controller supporting system and method for displaying function of key being mapped with remote controller
Provided is a remote controller supporting system and method that may display, on objects included in a webpage, keys of a remote controller corresponding to the objects and manipulation schemes, respectively. The remote controller supporting system may include: a profile storage unit to store a plurality of profiles containing functions of the remote controller and information associated with the functions of the remote controller; a receiver to receive an input signal from the remote controller, and to interpret a meaning of the input signal based on a profile corresponding to the remote controller; an event unit to transform the meaning of the input signal to an event form; and a presentation unit to access a web server to display a webpage, to transform, to a predetermined behavior, at least one event transformed by the event unit, and to request the web server for an operation corresponding to the behavior. |
| US08429531B2 |
Object selecting apparatus, object selecting program, integrated circuit used for the object selecting apparatus, and object selecting method
In an object selecting apparatus for allowing a user to select an object in a video image: when the object sought to be selected by the user moves, the user selects the desired object intuitively and without feeling uncomfortable; an input operation from the user is received and anticipated paths of the respective objects are estimated based on path information occurring during the certain period of time prior to a point in time which is the start of a predetermined period of time before a time of receipt; and an appropriate object is determined as the object selected by the user when the anticipated position on the anticipated path, which corresponds to the time of receipt, is close to an inputted position. |
| US08429525B2 |
Method and system for reversible design tree transformations
A method and system for transforming versions of a design tree and transforming identity-descriptions relating to the versions of a design tree. The transformation system provides a pipeline of transforms for sequentially transforming versions of a design tree and transforming identity-descriptions relating to the versions of the design tree. Each transform may provide a command interface for manipulating the input version of the design tree or for setting parameters to control the transformations of a transform. |
| US08429518B2 |
Data mining and reporting
An integrated system is described that allows a user to easily mine and report data maintained by a customer relationship management (CRM) application. In general, the system automates the process of creating electronic reports, such as an electronic worksheet, in a format that can be directly manipulated and viewed from spreadsheet application. In one embodiment, the report is automatically generated to include a pivot table for displaying the data. The system includes a database adapted to store the CRM data. First and second reporting modules execute within the CRM software application and the worksheet software application, respectively. The reporting modules cooperate in order to integrate CRM application and spreadsheet application, thereby automating the process of generating a worksheet based on the CRM database. |
| US08429510B2 |
Simplified parallel address-generation for interleaver
An apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to store a block of data values arranged in a first order. The first circuit may be further configured to present a plurality of the data values in parallel in response to a plurality of address signals, where the data values are presented in a second order. The second circuit may be configured to generate the plurality of address signals in response to a first signal, a second signal and a third signal. The second circuit generally includes an even number of address generators configured to generate the plurality of address signals in parallel. |
| US08429509B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining reliability of decoded data in communication system
A method and apparatus for determining the reliability of decoded data in a communication system. The method includes calculating a total sum of absolute values corresponding to Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR) values of received data, generating a first value obtained by multiplying the total sum of the absolute values by a predetermined threshold value, performing iterative decoding with respect to the LLR values of the received data, generating a survived path metric value having a maximum value among all path metric values as a decoded result and generating decoded data, comparing the first value with the survived path metric value, and determining whether the decoded data has suitable reliability according to the compared result. |
| US08429508B2 |
Data storage apparatus with encoder and decoder
According to one embodiment, an encoder/decoder apparatus includes an encoder module, a decoder module, and a transposing module. The encoder module is configured to generate a Hamming code from the input data, in accordance with a check matrix having a specific regularity. The decoder module is configured to detect an error position in the output data composed of the Hamming code, in accordance with the check matrix. The transposing module is configured to perform a transposing process of transposing some of the columns of the check matrix, while maintaining the regularity of the check matrix, and to change the error position in accordance with the transposing process, during the decoding process. |
| US08429504B2 |
DTV transmitting system and method of processing broadcast data
A DTV transmitting system includes an encoder, a randomizer, a block processor, a group formatter, a deinterleaver, and a packet formatter. The encoder codes enhanced data for error correction, permutes the coded data, and further codes the permuted data for error detection. The randomizer randomizes the coded enhanced data, and the block processor codes the randomized data at an effective coding rate of 1/H. The group formatter forms a group of enhanced data having data regions, and inserts the coded enhanced data into at least one of the data regions. The deinterleaver deinterleaves the group of enhanced data, and the packet formatter formats the deinterleaved data into corresponding data bytes. |
| US08429502B2 |
Frame format for millimeter-wave systems
A single frame format is employed by a millimeter wave communication system for single-carrier and OFDM signaling. A Golay-coded sequence in the start frame delimiter (SFD) field identifies the data transmission as single carrier or OFDM. Complementary Golay codes are employed in a channel estimation field to allow a perfect estimate of the multipath channel to be made. Marker codes generated from Golay codes are inserted periodically between slots for tracking and/or for reacquiring timing, frequency, and multipath channel estimates. The length of the marker codes may be adapted relative to the multipath delay spread. |
| US08429488B1 |
System and method for using pilot signals in non-volatile memory devices
A memory system including a memory and, to perform a writing operation to store user data among a plurality of cells of the memory, a pilot generator module, a multiplexer module, and a write module. The pilot generator module is configured to randomly alternate between selection of a first scheme by which pilot data is to be stored, along with the user data, among the plurality of cells of the memory, and a second scheme by which the pilot data is to be stored, along with the user data, among the plurality of cells. The pilot data comprises a known predetermined sequence. The multiplexer module is configured to combine the pilot data and the user data in accordance with the selection of the first scheme and the second scheme. The write module is configured to write the pilot data and the user data among the plurality of cells. |
| US08429486B2 |
Decoding device, data storage device, data communication system, and decoding method
A data converting means generates first interim data held in one-to-one correspondence to columns vectors from data stored in a first storage means and data stored in a second storage means. A check node processing means generates second interim data for updating the data stored in the first storage means based on the sum of the first interim data and received data. The data converting means updates the data stored in the second storage means using the first interim data, and updates the data stored in the first storage means using the second interim data generated by the check node processing means. Decoded data are generated by a process carried out by the data converting means and the check node processing means. |
| US08429484B2 |
Digitized radar information redundancy method and system
The present invention relates to a real time radar data transmission system and process for transmitting forward error correctable data to a plurality of parallel communication channels. |
| US08429482B1 |
Multi-stage forward error correction decoding
In one embodiment, a multi-stage decoder circuit is provided. Each stage of the decoder circuit is configured to perform one or more decoding iterations and produce an error mask indicating errors detected in the decoding stage. A compression circuit is coupled to one or more of the decoder stages and is configured to generate, for each of one or more of the plurality of decoder stages, a respective compressed error mask from the error mask produced by the decoder stage. A buffer circuit is coupled to the compression circuit and is configured to buffer the compressed error masks. A decompression circuit is coupled to the buffer circuit and is configured to decompress each of the compressed error masks. A combination circuit is coupled to the decompression circuit and is configured to combine the decompressed error masks into a single error mask. |
| US08429477B2 |
Hybrid automatic repeat request associations for downlink semi-persistent scheduling
Disclosed is a user equipment in a wireless communication system, configured to receive a first initial transmission associated with a first Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) process; receive a second initial transmission associated with a second HARQ process; and receive at least one retransmission associated with the first HARQ process, wherein when the second initial transmission occurs before the at least one retransmission, the second HARQ process assigned an HARQ process ID that is different from an HARQ process ID assigned to the first HARQ, and wherein when the second initial transmission occurs after the at least one retransmission, the second HARQ process assigned an HARQ process ID that is the same as an HARQ process ID assigned to the first HARQ process. |
| US08429474B2 |
Multiple protocol data transport
Methods, media and systems are disclosed in which data is transferred from a data source apparatus to an application of a data receiving apparatus using both a first protocol and a second protocol. The data receiving apparatus identifies data received via the second protocol that has not been received via the first protocol, and delivers the identified data received via the second protocol to the application. |
| US08429469B2 |
Method and apparatus for remotely verifying memory integrity of a device
A device and method for verifying the integrity of a memory in a remote device are provided. An exemplary memory integrity verification method compares, based on a verification parameter received from a verifier, the time for retrieving data block of a memory of a remote device with a maximum threshold time allowed to read the memory, and transmits to the verifier a remote verification code and a data status according to the result of comparison so that the verifier can verify the integrity of the memory. Instead of relying on the verifier, the remote device provides data status information for integrity verification by using the memory retrieval time. As a result, accurate integrity verification is provided, and no independent hardware is required to verify integrity. |
| US08429467B2 |
User-triggered diagnostic data gathering
An infrastructure is provided for gathering diagnostic data that is relevant to an error or other conditions detected in a monitored system. A diagnosability framework is provided that automates the gathering of relevant diagnostic data upon occurrence of the condition in the monitored system. In one embodiment, context data is determined for the condition detected in the monitored system. A rule-based engine is provided that is configured to automatically determine one or more actions to be performed for the condition detected in the monitored system based on the determined context data. The actions may include performing tasks that gather diagnostic data that is relevant to the detected condition, store the gathered diagnostic data in a repository, recommend one or more diagnostic actions to a user, and other diagnostic related actions. |
| US08429466B2 |
XML-schema-based automated test procedure for enterprise service pairs
The testing of services techniques include a method, a system, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments of these techniques, the method includes receiving a first payload generated by a first service. The first service transmits the first payload to a system. The method further includes receiving a second payload from a second service. The second payload is generated based on data received from the first service. The method further includes receiving a schema associated with the second payload. The schema is configured to define the structure of the second payload. The method further includes determining one or more discrepancies between the second payload and the first payload using the schema associated with the second payload. The method further includes determining a testing result based on the one or more discrepancies.This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08429463B2 |
Log management method and apparatus, information processing apparatus with log management apparatus and storage medium
One system monitors components constituting an information apparatus and a program in execution. The system classifies logs outputted from the information processing apparatus for each monitor target, divides the monitor targets into categories of hardware and software, refers to relationship definition information indicating the combination of monitor targets in which an operational relationship exists between monitor targets belonging to different categories and specifies a combination indicated in the relationship definition information among monitor targets whose logs are classified. The system relates logs arranged for each monitor target on the basis of the specified combination and outputs the logs on a display device. |
| US08429460B2 |
Methods and systems for first occurence debugging
An embodiment relates generally to an apparatus for debugging. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store data and an arithmetic logic unit configured to perform logical and arithmetic operations. The apparatus also includes a control unit configured to interface with the memory and arithmetic logic unit and to decode instructions. The control unit is configured to write a data state designated to be overwritten by a currently executing instruction to a buffer allocated in the memory in response to a trace debug flag being set. |
| US08429459B2 |
Use of attribute sets for test entity identification during software testing
An attribute collector may collect an attribute set for each test entity of a plurality of test entities associated with a software test executed in a software environment. An attribute analysis signal handler may receive an attribute analysis signal associated with a change in the software environment, and a view generator may provide an attribute-based view associated with an affected attribute set associated with the change, the attribute-based view identifying an affected test entity that is affected by the change. |
| US08429457B2 |
Use of statistical representations of traffic flow in a data processing system
An apparatus and method are provided for performing verification tests for a design of a data processing system. The apparatus comprises a system under verification representing at least part of the design of the data processing system, and a transactor for connecting to an interface of the system under verification, and for generating signals for input to the system under verification via the interface during performance of the verification tests. Profile storage stores a profile providing a statistical representation of desired traffic flow at the interface, the statistical representation providing statistical information for a plurality of traffic attributes and also identifying at least one dependency between such traffic attributes. The transactor then references the profile in order to determine the signals to be generated, such that the signals generated take account of the specified dependencies identified in the profile. Such a mechanism enables the transactor to more realistically replicate the traffic flow that will be observed in the real system. Another aspect to the present invention provides a mechanism for generating such profiles. |
| US08429456B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing intelligent error messaging
A method and apparatus for providing intelligent error messaging is disclosed wherein a user of a mobile communications device is provided with descriptive error messaging information to assist the user in overcoming errors associated with the processing of electronic messages and data. |
| US08429452B2 |
Failover and load balancing
Also provided are techniques for failover when a network adapter fails, wherein the network adapter is connected to a miniport driver that is connected to a filter driver. With the miniport driver, it is determined that at least one of the network adapter and a data path through the network adapter has failed. With the miniport driver, the filter driver is notified that at least one of the network adapter and the data path through the network adapter has failed. |
| US08429450B2 |
Method and system for coordinated multiple cluster failover
Hyperclusters are a cluster of clusters. Each cluster has associated with it one or more resource groups, and independent node failures within the clusters are handled by platform specific clustering software. The management of coordinated failovers across dependent or independent resources running on heterogeneous platforms is contemplated. A hypercluster manager running on all of the nodes in a cluster communicates with platform specific clustering software regarding any failure conditions, and utilizing a rule-based decision making system, determines actions to take on the node. A plug-in extends exit points definable in non-hypercluster clustering technologies. The failure notification is passed to other affected resource groups in the hypercluster. |
| US08429449B2 |
Optimized placement of virtual machines in a network environment
Systems and methods for reducing risk of service interruptions for one or more virtual machines (VMs) in a computing environment are provided. The method comprises computing a placement scheme for placing at least one VM on one or more hosts according to a set of placement constraints defined for the VM, wherein the set of placement constraints comprises at least one availability constraint defined for the VM, wherein the availability constraint designates a N resiliency level, wherein N corresponds to number of host failures that may occur before the services provided by the VM are interrupted. |
| US08429447B2 |
System and method for providing indexing with high availability in a network based suite of services
A suite of network-based services, such as the services corresponding to Microsoft® SharePoint™, are provided to users with high availability. The suite of network-based services may include browser-based collaboration functions, process management functions, index and search functions, document-management functions, and/or other functions. In particular, the indexing service associated with the suite of network-based services may be provided with high availability. |
| US08429441B2 |
Operating processor below maximum turbo mode frequency by sending higher than actual current amount signal to monitor
A method, computer program product and system for controlling the maximum turbo mode of a processor in a turbo boost state. The method comprises limiting a maximum turbo mode available to the processor by over-reporting the amount of current drawn by the processor to the current monitoring feedback line to the processor, wherein the processor uses the over-reported current to maintain operation of the processor within performance specifications of the processor. An automatic calibration routine may be used to determine nominal amounts of current over-reporting that may be used to prevent the processor performance from exceeding the maximum turbo mode. In one embodiment, a digital potentiometer is included in the voltage regulator circuit to over-report the current as instructed. |
| US08429436B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for power reduction in a storage device
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing power consumption in a data storage device. An audit module monitors a power consumption rate of the data storage device relative to a power consumption target. A throttle module adjusts execution of one or more operations on the data storage device in response to the power consumption rate of the data storage device failing to satisfy the power consumption target. A verification module verifies whether the power consumption rate of the data storage device satisfies the power consumption target in response to adjusting the execution of the one or more operations. |
| US08429435B1 |
Automation devices, systems, architectures, and methods for energy management and other applications
An automation system including a plurality of peripheral devices, each configured to perform at least one function relating to energy consumption in a facility and an automation controller in communication with the plurality of peripheral devices and providing for the control of the performance of the function by each device, wherein the automation controller includes a compiler configured to take high level rules and information about the peripheral devices and produce at least one program that will respond to data from the peripheral devices and to timer, calendar, clock, and preprogrammed events and a server component that provides the data as input to the at least one program and takes actions based on the output of the program. |
| US08429430B2 |
Information processor, computer readable recording medium which records data evacuation program, and data evacuation method
An information processor includes a set information storage unit storing evacuation residual quantity information representing an evacuation residual quantity as a residual quantity of the battery that corresponds to electric power necessary for executing a data evacuation process for storing data, stored in a memory of the information processor, onto a nonvolatile recording medium, a battery residual quantity detecting unit detecting the battery residual quantity of the battery, a load information collecting unit acquiring load information representing an electric load of the information processor, an evacuation residual quantity setting unit setting the evacuation residual quantity based on the load information collected by the load information collecting unit, and controls the set information storage unit to store the evacuation residual quantity information representing the set evacuation residual quantity, and an evacuation control unit controlling execution of the data evacuation process. |
| US08429428B2 |
System and method for providing encryption in storage operations in a storage network, such as for use by application service providers that provide data storage services
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a method is provided for performing a storage operation in a pipeline storage system in which one or more data streams containing data to be stored are written into data chunks. The method includes generating an encryption key associated with a first archive file to be stored when encryption is requested for the storage operation, encrypting the archive data from the data stream using the encryption key to create an encrypted data chunk when a data stream containing the archive file is processed in the pipeline storage system, storing the encrypted data chunk on a storage medium, and storing the encryption key in a manner accessible during a restore operation of the encrypted data chunk. |
| US08429427B2 |
Storage device
The storage device used in connection with an information processing apparatus is provided. The storage device includes: an authentication storage area storing an authentication program in advance, wherein the authentication program is executed to authenticate whether each user operating the information processing apparatus is an approved user; an operating system storage area storing an operating system in advance, wherein the operating system is encrypted and is used by the information processing apparatus; an access controller configured to control accesses the authentication storage area and the operating system storage area from the information processing apparatus; and a decoder configured to decrypt the encrypted operating system, wherein upon notification of successful authentication representing that the user is authenticated as the approved user by the authentication program, the access controller allows an access the operating system storage area from the information processing apparatus. |
| US08429426B2 |
Secure pipeline manager
A method for data storage includes supplying data to and from a host to a storage memory via a secure data path. A first CPU is employed to control operation of the storage memory, and a second CPU is employed to control operation of the secure data path. |
| US08429425B2 |
Electronic backup and restoration of encrypted data
Systems and methods are provided for storing and restoring digital data. In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes identifying an encrypted source disk image to be included in a backup operation, the encrypted disk image being encrypted with a first key and generating an encrypted backup disk image, the encrypted backup disk image being encrypted with a second key protected with a randomly generated password. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, computer program products, and computer readable media. |
| US08429424B2 |
Method and system for encrypting files based on security rules
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for encrypting files based on security rules. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, a request to store a file on a storage device is received. At least one security parameter associated with a security profile of the file is identified. It is determined whether to encrypt the file by applying at least one security rule to the security parameter. The security rule includes selection criteria. The file is encrypted if the security rule indicates the file should be encrypted. The file is stored on the storage device. |
| US08429423B1 |
Trusted platform modules
A method of porting of trust data includes a computer system extracting trust data from the trust module using a manufacturer key. The trust data and the manufacturer key are then stored, encrypted with a control key, on a removable storage medium. |
| US08429421B2 |
Server-side encrypted pattern matching
Server-side encrypted pattern matching may minimize the risk of data theft due to server breach and/or unauthorized data access. In various implementations, a server for performing the server-side encrypted pattern matching may include an interface component to receive an encrypted query token. The server may further include a query component to find a match for the encrypted query token in the encrypted data string. The query component may find such a match without decrypting the encrypted data string and the encrypted query token by using an encrypted dictionary that includes information on the edges of the encrypted suffix tree. |
| US08429417B2 |
Protection against side channel attacks with an integrity check
The invention relates to a method for protecting a sensitive operation by checking the integrity of at least a subset of the data manipulated by the sensitive operation. Data to be checked are divided into blocks, an intermediate integrity check value being computed for each block, the intermediate integrity check values being computed in random order. The invention also relates to a cryptographic device wherein at least one sensitive operation of the cryptographic device is protected by a method according to the invention. |
| US08429411B2 |
Automated selection and inclusion of a message signature
A system and method for the creation and automated selection and inclusion an automated signature text with an electronic message, wherein the automated selection of the automated signature text is dependent on attributes of the message, the designated recipients, or attributes of the designated recipients as compared to the sender's attributes, such as the encoding type and/or transport method selected for the electronic message or the location of the recipient without the need for multiple user profiles or manual editing by the sender. At least one of a plurality of automated signature texts is associated with at least one encoding type of a plurality of encoding types, at least one message transport type, or with at least one predeterined recipient attribute or the outcome of a comparison of the recipient attribute with the sender's attributes. The appropriate automated signature text is inserted prior to encoding of the message for transport. |
| US08429409B1 |
Secure reset of personal and service provider information on mobile devices
Systems and methods are described herein for supporting end users of a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, to reset a secure element associated with the communication device. The reset process may include clearing the secure element, associated memories, and storage devices of any user specific or personalized information associated with the user. The reset process may also include removing or resetting keys or other identifiers within the secure element that associate the mobile device with a particular secure service provider. According to various embodiments, a computer-implemented method for resetting a secure element within a network device may include receiving an encrypted reset request message at the secure element, decrypting the encrypted reset request message using a communication key, verifying authorization for the reset request message, and atomically clearing parameters associated with the secure element. |
| US08429408B2 |
Masking the output of random number generators in key generation protocols
To mitigate the effects of a weak random number generator (RNG) in a public key cryptosystem, a public key obtained from the RNG is encrypted using a deterministic cryptographic scheme before being made publicly available. A trusted party receiving the encrypted public key can recover the public key and combine it with other information so it is not subject to direct scrutiny. In one embodiment, the trusted party incorporates the public key in a certificate, such as an implicit certificate, for use by the correspondents in other communications. |
| US08429403B2 |
Systems and methods for provisioning network devices
A method performed by a network device may include generating and storing a first public key and a first private key in a first device, transmitting a serial number and the first public key from the first device to a second device, generating, by the second device, a second public key and a second private key, transmitting the second public key from the second device to the first device and transmitting the serial number, the first public key, the second public key and the second private key to a third device, establishing and authenticating a connection between the first device and the third device using the first public key and the second public key and transmitting encrypted configuration information with the two key pairs from the third device to the first device. |
| US08429398B2 |
Method and apparatus of providing personalized virtual environment
An approach is provided for providing a personalized virtual environment for a visitor of a service community. A comparison is made of identification information of the visitor with contact entries of a plurality of registered users of a service community. Additionally, an identification is made of content of one or more of the plurality of registered users having a contact entry that matches the identification information of the visitor to provide a personalized virtual environment of the visitor in the service community. |
| US08429389B2 |
ROM BIOS based trusted encrypted operating system
There is disclosed a device, system, and method for a ROM BIOS based trusted encrypted operating system for use in a gaming environment. The gaming device includes a ROM storing a BIOS, a secure loader, an encrypted operating system, and a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted operating system. The decryption key is partitioned and scattered about the secure loader. The method includes initializing the BIOS, locating the decryption key, decrypting the encrypted operating system with the encryption key, verifying a plurality of check codes, and transferring control to the operating system. The check codes are verified responsive to decrypting the encrypted operating system. The check codes are dispersed about the operating system and are unrelated to the operating system. Control is transferred to the operating system responsive to verifying the check codes. |
| US08429385B2 |
Device including a field having function cells and information providing cells controlled by the function cells
A cell element field for data processing having function cells for execution of algebraic and/or logic functions and memory cells for receiving, storing and/or outputting information is described. A control connection may lead from the function cells to the memory cells. |
| US08429382B2 |
Information handling system including a multiple compute element processor with distributed data on-ramp data-off ramp topology
A symmetric multi-processing (SMP) processor includes a primary interconnect trunk for communication of information between multiple compute elements situated along the primary interconnect trunk. The processor also includes a secondary interconnected trunk that may be oriented perpendicular with respect to the primary interconnect trunk. The processor distributes data on-ramps and data off-ramps across the data lanes of a data trunk of the primary interconnect trunk to enable communication with compute elements and other structures both on-chip and off-chip. |
| US08429380B2 |
Disabling redundant subfunctional units receiving same input value and outputting same output value for the disabled units in SIMD processor
A processor includes a plurality of subfunctional units provided corresponding to respective slots of one or more pieces of operation result data including a plurality of slots for an SIMD operation; and an enable generating unit configured to, in each of the one or more pieces of the operation result data, compare a value of a predetermined slot with a value of a slot other than the predetermined slot, and disable one or more subfunctional units to which the value equal to the value of the predetermined slot is inputted, and the processor outputs the value of the predetermined slot as the value of the one or more subfunctional units which have been disabled. |
| US08429373B2 |
Method for implementing on demand configuration changes
A method for implementing on-demand configuration of a logical volume, wherein the method monitors the amount of available storage capacity of the logical storage volume and determines whether the available storage capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold, such as a percentage of available logical storage space. If the method determines that the storage capacity of the logical storage volume is nearing full capacity, the method determines whether configured physical storage space is available. If the method determines that configured physical storage space is available, the method then reconfigures the logical storage volume to include the configured physical storage space. If configured physical storage space is not available, the method locates unconfigured physical storage space, configures the available physical storage space, and reconfigures the logical volume using the configured physical storage space. |
| US08429367B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatuses for clock enable (CKE) coordination
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for clock enable (CKE) coordination. In some embodiments, a memory controller includes logic to predict whether a scheduled request will be issued to a rank. The memory controller may also include logic to predict whether a scheduled request will not be issued to the rank. In some embodiments, the clock enable (CKE) is asserted or de-asserted to a rank based, at least in part, on the predictions. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08429365B2 |
Memory device and method for embedding host-identification information into content
A memory device and method for embedding host-identification information into content are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a memory operative to store content and a controller in communication with the memory. The controller is operative to receive a credential comprising host-identification information from a host in communication with the memory device, authenticate the host using the credential, receive a request from the host to play content stored in the memory, embed the host-identification information into the content, and send the content with the embedded host-identification information to the host. |
| US08429364B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying the presence of sensitive data in backups
A computer-implemented method for identifying the presence of sensitive data in a backup may comprise identifying a backup, identifying sensitive data in the backup, creating metadata that identifies the presence of the sensitive data in the backup, and associating the metadata with the backup. In addition, a method for preventing sensitive data from being placed in a backup may comprise identifying a file, identifying sensitive data in the file, and preventing the file from being placed in a backup. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08429357B2 |
Device management apparatus, device initialization method, and device system
A device management apparatus that executes an initialization processing to a device that stores user data includes a first initialization processing section for executing a first initialization processing in which a progress status of an initialization is notified to another device management apparatus every time when the initialization equivalent to a processing unit of the initialization processing is executed to the device, a second initialization processing section for executing a second initialization processing in which a progress status of an initialization is notified to the another device management apparatus every time when the initialization for the predetermined number of processing units is executed to the device, a monitoring unit for monitoring a status of access to the device and an operation state of the device, and a changeover section for changing over the first initialization processing and the second initialization processing based on a monitoring result. |
| US08429352B2 |
Method and system for memory block flushing
A method and system for flushing physical memory blocks in a memory device is disclosed. The method includes detecting a quantity of available memory, background flushing partially obsolete memory blocks if the quantity decreases to a background activation threshold, disabling the background flushing if the quantity increases to a background deactivation threshold, foreground flushing the partially obsolete memory blocks if the quantity decreases to a foreground activation threshold, and disabling the foreground flushing if the quantity increases to a foreground deactivation threshold. The thresholds may be adaptively defined. The background flushing may occur when the host interface is idle. The foreground flushing may interleave writing operations with flushing operations while a write command is unfinished. The system includes a memory for receiving data with a host write command, and a controller for detecting a quantity of available memory and enabling and disabling background and foreground flushing depending on adaptive thresholds. |
| US08429351B1 |
Techniques for determining an amount of data to prefetch
Described are techniques for processing a data operation in a data storage system. A front-end component receives the data operation to read a data portion. In response to receiving the data operation, the front-end component performs first processing. The first processing includes determining whether the data operation is a read operation resulting in a cache hit to a prefetched data portion of a sequential stream, and if said determining determines that said data operation results in a cache hit to a prefetched data portion, performing processing in connection with prefetching additional data for said sequential stream. The processing includes determining whether to prefetch additional data for said sequential stream and, if so, an amount of additional data to prefetch. The processing uses one or more criteria to determine one or more of an amount of data to prefetch in a single prefetch request and a track ahead parameter. |
| US08429346B1 |
Automated data relocation among storage tiers based on storage load
Methods and systems are disclosed for relocating data in a physical storage pool comprising a plurality of storage tiers having differing performance characteristics, the physical storage pool being mapped into one or more logical units, each logical unit comprising a plurality of logical slices of data storage. The methods and systems can involve receiving a relocation list, the relocation list including, for each of a plurality of logical slices, a slice identifier, a temperature value, and a current physical location, determining a destination tier for each logical slice on the relocation list, evaluating for each logical slice on the relocation list a performance gain expected to be achieved by moving the logical slice from its current physical location to a new location in the destination tier, and relocating data in a logical slice from its current physical location to the new location based on the evaluation. |
| US08429344B2 |
Storage apparatus, relay device, and method of controlling operating state
Each time any one of HDDs is accessed, a corresponding relationship between the disk address of the accessed HDD and the time information indicating a time at which the HDD is accessed is added to a first operating-state management table. When a corresponding relationship with the same disk address already exists in the first operating-state management table, the time information is updated. When the first operating-state management table has no space available for new entry, corresponding relationships are deleted from the one having the oldest time information. Only HDDs of which disk address is recorded in the first operating-state management table is turned on. |
| US08429343B1 |
Hybrid drive employing non-volatile semiconductor memory to facilitate refreshing disk
A hybrid drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data sectors, and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM). A plurality of refresh zones are defined, wherein each refresh zone comprises a plurality of the data sectors on the disk, and a refresh monitor is maintained for each refresh zone. When a write command is received from a host comprising data and the data is targeted to the NVSM, the data is written to the NVSM. When the data is targeted to a first refresh zone on the disk, and a first refresh monitor has not reached a refresh limit, the data is written to the first refresh zone. When the data is targeted to the first refresh zone on the disk, and the first refresh monitor has reached the refresh limit, the data is written to the NVSM. |
| US08429341B2 |
Method and system for responding to file system requests
A system and method for responding to file system requests having file IDs comprising V, a volume identifier specifying the file system being accessed, and R, an integer, specifying the file within the file system being accessed. The system and method also include D disk elements, where D is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer, a switching fabric connected to the D disk elements to route requests to a corresponding disk element, and N network elements connected to the switching fabric. Each network element has a mapping function that for every value of V, specifies one or more elements from the set D that store the data specified by volume V, where N is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer and N+D is greater than or equal to 3. |
| US08429339B2 |
Storage device utilizing free pages in compressed blocks
According to one embodiment, a storage device comprises a first storage unit having blocks, each including pages, a second storage unit having a free block list, and a free page list, and a control unit. In write data in units of blocks, the control unit generates compressed data blocks by compressing the data in units of blocks, writes the compressed data blocks to the blocks which can be written in accordance with the information held in the free block list, holds, in the free page list, the information about pages existing in free areas which are provided in the blocks holding compressed data blocks and which holds no compressed data blocks. In write data in units of pages, the control unit writes the data in units of pages to pages existing in the free areas, in accordance with the information held in the free page list. |
| US08429338B2 |
Method and apparatus for emulating byte wise programmable functionality into sector wise erasable memory
A method and system for emulating a byte-wise programmable memory in a sector-wise erasable memory, where emulating a byte-wise programmable memory in a sector-wise erasable memory is based on dividing the sector-wise erasable memory in a plurality of sectors, dividing each of the sectors into several memory locations suitable to store containers, with each container having a header and a payload portion, and storing a data value relating to an application in the payload portion of one of the containers and header information identifying the application in the header in an available container. The containers can be block containers, and the data portion can have two or more payload values. The storing action can be performed in such a way that the two or more payload values in the payload portion together uniquely represent the data value. |
| US08429337B2 |
Apparatus for controlling NAND flash memory
The apparatus includes: a register unit in which a start address of a macro-command to be executed, is selected from macro-commands included in a command script in which at least one macro-command in which a plurality of micro-commands for controlling a unit operation of NAND flash memory are arranged in an array shape, is recorded; a command fetch unit accessing first memory connected based on the start address of the macro-command to be executed and sequentially reading the plurality of micro-commands from the start address of the macro-command to be executed; a command interpretation unit interpreting the read micro-commands and outputting the result of interpretation including types of the micro-commands and command parameters; and a command execution unit generating interface signals for controlling an operation of NAND flash memory according to each of the micro-commands based on the result of interpretation. |
| US08429336B2 |
Disk drive and method of changing a program therefor
A method of changing a program for controlling a disk drive that includes an EEPROM. The method includes storing a program block to a disk area such that the program block is associated with a second area for storing the program block that is not utilized for a read operation from the disk area. The method also includes storing a program block that is associated with a first area to an area that includes at least a portion of the second area in the EEPROM such that the first area contained a program block that is utilized for a read operation from the disk area. In addition, the method includes changing the program block in the first area after storing to the second area. Moreover, the method includes storing to the second area the program block that is not utilized for a read operation from the disk area after storing to the first area. |
| US08429335B2 |
Memory device and operation method to selectively invert data
Provided is a MLC (Multi-level cell) memory device, comprising: a memory array, including a plurality of groups each storing a plurality of bits; and an inverse bit storage section, storing a first inverse bit data including a plurality of inverse bits, the plurality of bits in the same group in the memory array being related to a respective inverse bit. |
| US08429334B2 |
Method for preventing data loss during solder reflow process and memory device using the same
The invention provides a method for preventing data loss in a flash memory during a solder reflow process. The flash memory includes a plurality of memory blocks and each memory block includes a plurality of strong pages and weak pages. Preloading data is first received and stored into the strong pages of at least one of first memory block within the flash memory. Then, the flash memory is heated for the solder reflow process. Next, the preloading data is reorganized according to a trigger signal and the strong pages and weak pages of at least one of second memory block within the flash memory are provided for storing the reorganized preloading data. |
| US08429331B2 |
Storage optimizations by directory compaction in a fat file system
Storage optimizations by directory compaction in a file allocation table (FAT) file system. The method comprises determining if a cluster comprises a deleted content, indicating that the deleted content is deleted, and updating an entry of a FAT associated with the cluster to indicate that the cluster is free. The method may also comprise indicating that the deleted content is deleted and modifying a metadata of at least one of a file of the cluster and a directory of the cluster according to a specified protocol. |
| US08429329B2 |
Serial interface NAND
Embodiments are provided that include operating a NAND memory device via an SPI interface. One such method includes cache loading a NAND memory device including loading data into a cache of the NAND memory device, writing data from the cache of the NAND memory device to an address of a memory array of the NAND memory device, and polling to determine the status of the data being written. Further one such method includes caching of data in a NAND memory device via an SPI interface comprising loading first data to a cache of the NAND memory device, writing the first data to a first address of a NAND memory array of the NAND memory device, polling the status of the cache, if polling indicates that the cache is ready, then loading a portion of the cache with second data, polling the status of the cache and the NAND memory device, and if polling indicates that the cache is ready and the device is ready, writing the second data to a second address of the NAND memory array of the NAND memory device. |
| US08429328B2 |
System for communicating with a non-volatile memory storage device
A storage device is provided. The storage device includes a command parser module for interpreting a command from a host system in a platform independent format; and for extracting information regarding an operation from the command, wherein the command parser module interfaces with the host system. |
| US08429326B2 |
Method and system for NAND-flash identification without reading device ID table
A method and system for identifying a NAND-Flash without reading a device ID. The method includes: executing an identification flow for setting a first page of a block as a target block, utilizing a combinations table to query a target block, evaluating a result by comparing a identifying information in the target block with the combinations table, trying all combinations in the combinations table until correctly identifying the NAND-Flash by having a positive match result or returning an error if none of the combinations match. |
| US08429324B2 |
Bus-protocol converting device and bus-protocol converting method
A bus-protocol converting device includes: a command detecting unit that detects a command sent from an external-memory control device, connected to a primary bus, to a primary bus interface controller; a command converting unit that converts the detected command into a command to be sent from a secondary bus interface controller to an external memory device through a secondary bus; a status detecting unit that detects a status sent from the external memory device; a status converting unit that converts the detected status into a status to be sent from the primary-bus interface controller to the external-memory control device through the primary bus; and a data transfer controller that is provided between the primary bus interface controller and the secondary bus interface controller to perform data transfer between the external-memory control device and the external memory device through a DMA bus. |
| US08429312B2 |
System and method for archiving of data
The invention relates to a method, a system and a computer program for archiving of data. An announcement signal, which identifies the data, which have to be archived, is sent from a source system to a destination system. A feedback signal, which identifies the announcement signal received by the destination system, is sent from the destination system to the source system, wherein it is determined from the feedback signal whether the announcement signal has been received by the destination system correctly. If it has been determined that the announcement signal has not been correctly received, at least parts of the announcement signal are resent from the source system to the destination system. The data identified by the announcement signal are sent from the source system to the destination system for archiving of data. |
| US08429311B2 |
Process for the transfer of data into several control devices
A process is provided for transferring a first sequence control and/or first data into a first control device and a second sequence control and/or second data into a second control device in a motor vehicle. The transfer is carried out by way of a first data bus while using a first transmission protocol which has a data frame with a predetermined frame format or message format, and the transfer as a whole takes place by the transmission of a plurality of data frames. In a first step, by way of a first data frame, a portion of the first sequence control and/or of the first data is transmitted to the first control device. In a second step, by way of the second data frame, a portion of the second sequence control and/or of the second data is transmitted to the second control device. |
| US08429308B2 |
System and method for migrating data from a storage device
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for migrating data from a storage device includes accessing data on a storage device. The method also includes providing at least one interface that allows for selecting a first operating system stored on the storage device. The interface further allows for selecting one or more settings stored on the storage device. The method further includes initiating a migration of the one or more settings from the storage device. The method further includes storing the one or more settings. |
| US08429306B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic assignment of identification codes to devices
A system and method for automatically and uniquely assigning identification codes to a plurality of slave processors. A master processor having communication port is linked to a first slave processor, which, itself, has first and second communication ports. The first communication port is used in support of the aforementioned link to the computer. A second slave processor, also having first and second serial ports, is linked by its first communication port to the second communication port of the first slave processor. The slave processors are programmed to read designated pins on their first communication ports. The read values determine the identification code of each processor. Thereafter, each slave processor outputs to its second port a value one greater than the value read from its first port. Therefore, each slave processor assigns itself a particular identification code and directs the next slave processor to assign itself an identification code one greater. |
| US08429303B2 |
Run-time engine implemented on a computing device allowing synchronization of records during application execution
A first database implemented on a remote device such as a handheld computer may be reconciled with a corresponding second database implemented on a host computer during execution of an application program on the handheld device. In addition, the application program may be executed according to program instructions stored in an application program file located in the remote device. The databases may be reconciled by first commencing execution of the application program. Then, during the course of program execution, a synchronization instruction located in said application program file is retrieved. The synchronization instruction is executed by establishing a communications link between the handheld computer and the host computer. Subsequently, any differences between the first database and the second database are reconciled. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention contemplate that in addition to reconciling all of the databases located on the handheld and host computers, less than all of the databases may be reconciled to reduce the amount of time required to execute the reconciliation process. In addition, after reconciliation control may be returned to the calling application program, or to another application, as determined by the application designer. |
| US08429300B2 |
Data transferring method
A method of transferring data in which a secure authenticated channel is established with a receiving entity corresponding to receiver information included in a received control message, when receiving the control message from a control entity, a format of received plurality of data is transformed according to content format transformation information included in the control message, when receiving the plurality of data from a predetermined transmission entity in a chain constructed by a control of the control entity, the transformed plurality of data is transmitted to the receiving entity through the established secure authenticated channel, and an event message for representing a transmission status of the data is transmitted to the control entity. Accordingly, it is possible to transmit the plurality of data through a single transmission session and provide a transmission status of each data through an event. |
| US08429299B2 |
Distributed audio and video processing
A method of distributing audio and video processing tasks among devices interconnected to a display device via a local network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display device offloads some processing tasks to a computing device on the local network to achieve improved processing performance. The computing device receives audiovisual data, decodes, processes, encodes and transmits the encoded data to the display device in a suitable data format. The processing in the computing device is complementary to any processing to be performed in the display device. In another embodiment, the display device utilizes a plurality of devices on the local network to perform particular signal processing tasks. The other devices in network perform the processing tasks indicated by the display, and send processed data back to the display device for presentation, which helps improve the overall audiovisual data processing performance. |
| US08429296B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing routing instructions over multiple interfaces of a data router
A software application in a multi-processor data router in which a forwarding information base for the router is maintained is provided with a server module and one or more client modules, each client module associated with one or more communication interfaces of the data router. The application is characterized in that the server module sends to each client module only that portion of the forwarding information base specific to the communication interfaces associated with the client module. |
| US08429294B2 |
Enabling simultaneous use of home network and foreign network by a multihomed mobile node
The invention relates to a method performed by a home agent serving a mobile node in a home network upon attachment of a mobile node to the home network as well as to the home agent. The invention also relates to a method for enabling simultaneous use of a plurality of interfaces by a mobile node being attached to a home network through one of the plurality of interfaces and to at least one foreign network through at least another interface of the plurality of interfaces. Moreover, the invention provides a mobile node and a proxy acting on behalf of the mobile node. To enable a mobile node to use a home network and at least one foreign network for communications the invention suggests the registration of the mobile node's home address or of a network node's address within its home network as a care-of address in the home network. |
| US08429293B2 |
IP server facilitating network communications between devices utilizing virtual network connections
A method includes, first, communicating by first and second devices, to a server, network contact information; and thereafter, communicating data from the first device to the second device by communicating, by the first device, a request to the server to engage in communications with the second device, communicating, by the server, the request received from the first device, communicating, by the second device, acceptance to the server of the request to engage in communications with the first device, communicating connection information, by the server, to one or more of the first and second devices for enabling an open network connection between the first and second devices, using virtualized network capabilities of a virtual machine of the first device, establishing a network connection with the second device using the connection information, and communicating data, from the first device using the virtualized network capabilities of the virtual machine, to the second device. |
| US08429288B2 |
Massive terminals access of a streaming media server including setting maximum count of file handles allowed to be opened
The present invention relates to IPTV technical field, and discloses a method and system for implementing access of a large number of terminals to a streaming media server to solve the technical problems of the streaming media server having low processing efficiency and not supporting the access of a large number of terminals by TCP short connections when there are a large number of terminals accessing to the streaming media server in the prior art. The present invention uses EPOLL/POLL event polling interface to poll the events in the established link, thereby improving the capability of the system to accept the access of a large number of terminals. A socket file descriptor is used as an index entry of the polling list in the present invention such that the link retrieval efficiency is improved when there are a large number of terminals accessing. |
| US08429286B2 |
Methods and systems for rapid data acquisition over the internet
The present invention includes apparatuses, methods, computer readable media and systems comprising means for rapid data acquisition from a server are discussed herein. This rapid data acquisition can be achieved using a combination of bulk data requests and small data requests. A hybrid approach that uses simultaneous bulk and small data requests can provide random access to data files while achieving the high download speeds of a large data transfer. |
| US08429285B2 |
Method and device for data transmission and reception with dropped stable data elements
A method of transmitting data from a first node to a second node in a communication network includes receiving a signal; dividing the signal into data elements arranged in a first data stream comprising active and inactive data elements; analysing at least one characteristic of the signal to determine if the signal is stable; dropping at least one active data element from a plurality of data elements of the first data stream if it is determined that the portion of the signal included in the plurality of data elements is stable; inputting the data elements that are not dropped from the first data stream into a core stream; and transmitting the core stream from the first node to the second node. |
| US08429283B2 |
Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multi-cast supporting LAN
A multicast processing section constructs, when it is determined that a received packet is a packet on a multicast packet and multicast group management protocol, a table showing a correlation between a host device and a multicast group in a port number-multicast physical address correlation storing section as well as in a multicast router-connected port storing section according to the received packet, and controls to transfer a packet for each multicast group between a multicast router and host devices according to the table. |
| US08429279B2 |
Method and device for connecting packet-oriented communication terminals
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for connecting packet-oriented communication terminals, wherein a first communication terminal (P1) is arranged in a first network (LAN), the first network (LAN) being connected to a second network (INT) via a network address-translating unit (NAT), a second communication terminal (P2) being arranged in said second network. For this purpose, a proxy (P) is provided in the gateway (GW) for intercepting or listening to messages, in that a STUN, ICE, or TURN protocol is implemented. The concept of the invention is to implement, on a case by case basis, IP address spoofing or port number spoofing and a “RESPONSE ADDRESS” STUN field in the proxy, thereby performing the STUN or ICE protocol not on the respective communication terminals, but at a third part on another unit. A performance takes place even if the central unit is not located in the user data path between the STUN server STUN and the respective communication terminal. |
| US08429277B2 |
Cross social network data aggregation
Disclosed in some examples is a method of aggregating social networking data by receiving first authentication information for a first social networking service, the first authentication information being associated with a user and being received from a first social networking application, receiving second authentication information for a second social networking service, the second authentication information being associated with the user and being received from a second social networking application, requesting first information regarding the user from the first social networking service using the first authentication information, receiving the first information regarding the user from the first social networking service and storing the received first information, requesting second information regarding the user from the second social networking service using the second authentication information; and receiving the second information regarding the user from the second social networking service and storing the received second information. |
| US08429276B1 |
Dynamic resource allocation in virtual environments
In general, techniques are described for dynamic resource allocation in virtual environments. A network device comprising physical resources, a first virtual machine (VM), a second VM and a hypervisor may implement these techniques. The first VM executes within a first partition of the physical resources to process a first portion of received network traffic, while the second MV executes within a second partition of the physical resources to process a second portion of the received network traffic. The first VM determines whether physical resources in addition to those allocated by way of the first partition are required to process the incoming network traffic and issues a request requesting additional physical resources based on the determination. Either the second VM or the hypervisor, in response to the request, dynamically reallocates at least a portion of the physical resources allocated to the second partition to the first partition. |
| US08429273B2 |
Network management system accelerated event desktop client
A method, a system, and a computer program product associated with a network management system are disclosed. The method includes storing event data associated with a system event in a network as an event item at a database. The method also includes processing the event item at a control system of a collection server when a fast track flag is identified in the stored event item of the database. Processing the event item by the control system includes generating processing data to send a first notification associated with the event item to a first client. The first notification includes an identifier enabling the first client to obtain the stored event data from the database. Processing the event item by the control system also includes purging the processing data from the control system after sending the first notification. |
| US08429272B2 |
Network resource management with prediction
An indicator for a device may provide an indication that a threshold associated with a budget for a network resource has or will be reached. When a user requests a network operation that will consume the network resource, an amount of the network resource to be consumed by the operation is predicted, if possible. If the prior use of the network resource and the amount to be used to complete the network operation exceeds a threshold the user may be warned and given an opportunity to cancel the operation or adjust the way in which the operation will be performed. If the amount of network resource a network operation will consume is unknown, a rate of use of the network resource is determined and a time until the budget is reached is estimated. |
| US08429270B2 |
Network usage collection system
A system includes a first database to associate a sub-interface identifier with customer information, a second database to store a history of customer usage records, and a first device. The first device may receive information from a routing device, where the information includes the sub-interface identifier for a sub-interface of the routing device and information identifying an amount of network traffic received at or transmitted from the sub-interface over a time period, use the sub-interface identifier to obtain the associated customer information from the first database, associate the customer information with the information identifying an amount of network traffic received at or transmitted from the sub-interface over a time period to create a new customer usage record, and store the new customer usage record in the second database. |
| US08429267B2 |
Web services enabled device and browser gadgets coupled with data storage service and web portal
A method of presenting structured information, via software gadgets, based on monitored data in a utility monitoring system. First monitored data is exposed to a network to produce, via a first web service, first structured data. The first monitored data is indicative of utility characteristics measured by a first IED in the utility monitoring system. The first structured data is received over the network and second structured data is received from a network-accessible data storage service. The data storage service has a second web service that exposes second monitored data to produce the second structured data. The first structured data is manipulated, in at least one of the software gadgets, to produce structured information based on the first monitored data, and the structured information is communicated from the at least one software gadget to a web browser for display in a web page by the web browser. |
| US08429266B2 |
System for measuring audience of media on at least one internet communication network
The present invention relates to a system for measuring audience of media on at least one communication network like an Internet communication network.The audience measurement system operates on a collection of networks comprising at least one communication network. A plurality of predetermined users is associated with a first suite of machines (D, LT) connected to a network of the said collection of networks, in a first zone of use and with at least one second suite of machines (AL) connected to a network of the said collection of networks, in a second zone of use.The system of the invention consists in that a calculation means (M1-M5) is designed to produce, on the basis of the first suite of machines, user counterparts for at least one other zone of use (AL) so as to reconstitute the plurality of the users. |
| US08429263B2 |
File content distribution method, device, and system for an interactive network television system
The present invention discloses file content distribution method, device and system, wherein, the method includes: a content preparing means selecting one or more content location and distribution global controlling means, and sending a file content distributing requests to the selected content location and distribution global controlling means; after receiving the file content distributing request, the content location and distribution global controlling means selecting one or more content delivery and storage controlling means according to a predetermined distributing strategy, and transmitting the file content distributing requests to the selected content delivery and storage controlling means; after receiving the file content distributing request, the content delivery and storage controlling means selecting one or more content delivering and storing means according to the predetermined distributing strategy, and transmitting the file content distributing request to the selected content delivering and storing means; and after receiving the file content distributing request, the content delivering and storing means establishing a link to the content preparing means and distributing file content. |
| US08429262B2 |
Communication system using multiple types of communication modes, communication terminal, computer program, and communication method
A communication system includes multiple communication terminals that are used by multiple users; and a management unit that holds management information expressing which type of communication mode corresponding to which communication address information is used by which user and by which communication terminal, and connection information including communication address information of one communication terminal that has communicated and communication address information of the other communication terminal that has communicated. The management unit holds connection information corresponding to an instance of communication even if that instance of communication has ended. Each communication terminal can communicate with other communication terminals in one or more types of communication modes, and includes a communication support unit. |
| US08429260B2 |
Methods and apparatus for user persona management
Systems and techniques for managing a user persona presented in a communication session. In response to a request from an originating user for a communication session, a persona manager for the originating user is invoked, examining request details and the nature and context of the requested communication session and selecting a persona for the user, selection of the persona being employed to indicate services associated with the communication. Similarly, in response to a request from an originating user for a communication session, a persona manager for the receiving user to whom the request is directed examines details of the request and the nature and context of the communication session and makes decisions relating to persona selection for the receiving user. The decision may involve accepting a persona indicated in the originating user's request, or selecting a different persona and creating routing a request to be routed to the receiving user. |
| US08429259B2 |
Network management system
A network management system includes a plurality of terminal devices, and a network to which the plurality of terminal devices are connected. At least one of the plurality of terminal devices includes a management setting information changing system configured to change management setting information for managing network use by the plurality of terminal devices, and a management setting information restoring system configured to perform a restoring operation for restoring the management setting information changed by the management setting information changing system, in response to a predetermined restoring condition being satisfied. The present arrangement enables use of at least one peripheral device by the plurality of terminal devices according to different management settings. |
| US08429258B2 |
Using unique local unicast addresses in a global domain name server by providing a centralized registry
Mechanisms are provided for assigning addresses for use in communications between computing devices. With these mechanisms, a centralized domain name registrar server assigns a unique global identifier to a domain of a site such that the unique global identifier uniquely identifies the domain. The unique global identifier is received in a data processing system from the centralized domain name registrar server. The site is divided into a plurality of sub-domains and a unique sub-domain identifier is assigned to each sub-domain in the site such that the unique sub-domain identifier uniquely identifies a corresponding sub-domain in the site. The global identifier for the domain of the site and the sub-domain identifiers of the sub-domains in the plurality of sub-domains are provided by the data processing system to routers of the site for use in associating addresses with devices of the site. |
| US08429257B2 |
Optimizing use of internet protocol addresses
A network device receives a connection request from a user device. The network device determines whether an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to the user device. The network device identifies the IP address when the IP address is assigned to the user device. Otherwise, the network device assigns the IP address to the user device. The network device also assigns a virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) associated with the IP address to use to satisfy the connection request. |
| US08429256B2 |
Systems and methods for generating cached representations of host package inventories in remote package repositories
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating cached representations of host package inventories in remote package repositories. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager installed on the client reports an inventory of the installed packages to one or more package servers. The package server(s) can receive the inventory from machines populating the managed network, and generate an encoded identification for each constituent package, such as a hash-based output based on package attributes. The encoded identification and other data can be stored to an aggregate package cache in the one or more package servers, for more efficient management of the host machines in the managed network. In embodiments, the package update files for each identifier can also be stored in the cache for even more efficient inventorying and package update operations. |
| US08429252B2 |
System and method to identify devices employing point-to-point-over ethernet encapsulation
A method may include transmitting, during a point-to-point over Ethernet (PPPoE) discovery stage, a PPPoE active discovery (PAD) packet from a customer premises equipment (CPE) device to an access concentrator. The PAD packet may include a tag that is associated with a device type of the CPE device. The method may include receiving a PPPoE active discovery session (PADS) confirmation packet from the access concentrator. The PADS confirmation packet may be associated with conclusion of the PPPoE discovery stage and establishment of an Ethernet communication session between the CPE device and the access concentrator. |
| US08429245B2 |
Networked computer system for communicating and operating in a virtual reality environment
The present invention relates to interactive virtual reality networked computer systems and methods that facilitate communication and operation in a virtual reality environment. The virtual reality networked computer system has an infrastructure that includes a number of users, hosts and servers. The interconnected hosts and servers allow users to effectively locate, activate, access and interact within virtual reality environments in a variety of different ways. For example, users can establish user groups such that interaction within the virtual reality environment occurs between hosts (accessed by users) without the need of a central or dedicated server. |
| US08429243B1 |
Web analytics event tracking system
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products are described for formatting and sending data corresponding to web page events and user interactions with content displayed by on a web page to a web analytics system for storage and reporting. |
| US08429242B1 |
Methods and apparatus for providing content
One embodiment of the invention relates to the transfer of content between a host computer that issues OAS access requests and a block I/O storage system. Specifically, a host computer may issue an access request for a content unit that identifies the content unit is an object identifier. The request may be received by a second server, which may determine the block address(es) on the block I/O storage system at which the content unit is stored. A request may then be sent to the block I/O storage system to retrieve the content stored at the requested block address(es) and the block I/O storage system may return the content. |
| US08429241B2 |
Image data transmitting apparatus and image data transmitting method
Provided is an image data transmitting apparatus capable of transmitting an image data in a given form according to a command from the receiving side. The image data transmitting apparatus is an image data transmitting apparatus transmitting image data to a receiving apparatus through a network, and includes: image data converting unit not only converting the image data to a converted image data file but also preparing file information of the converted image data file; posting unit posting the file information to the receiving apparatus; receiving unit receiving command information concerning a transmitting method for the converted image data file; and transmission controlling unit transmitting the converted image data file to the receiving apparatus based on the command information. |
| US08429236B2 |
Transmission of status updates responsive to status of recipient application
Selecting and modifying the transmission rates and sizes of status update messages transmitted by a mobile communications device to a recipient application based on use of the updates by the recipient application improves resource utilization or accuracy. During one mode of operation, a mobile communications device transmits status messages using a conservative message transmission mode. This allows the mobile communications device to transmit a greater number of status updates for future processing by the recipient application while conserving resources. When the recipient application is actively processing status updates from the mobile communications device, the mobile communications device transmits the status messages using an accelerated message transmission mode with a different number of status updates in each status message and different delay between status messages, which may reduce delay or improve accuracy. Similarly, the mobile communications device may reduce the number of status updates transmitted by applying algorithm-based filters described herein based on the expected usage by the recipient application. |
| US08429235B2 |
Apparatus and method for precluding e-mail distribution
E-mail addresses are converted by a hashing function into hash codes. An e-mail mass mailer that can have millions of addresses hash codes all addresses to which a message might be sent to form a first list. An entity that wishes to exclude delivery of a message to various e-mail addresses, hash codes such addresses to form a second list. Hash codes in the first list that are also in the second list are purged from the first list to yield a third list of hash codes, each of which represents an e-mail address to which a message may be sent. |
| US08429230B2 |
Method for transmitting a communication invitation relating to a medical DICOM image
A method for transmitting an invitation to a communication relating to a medical image in a DICOM data record from a person who has access to the image to a partner is proposed. The invitation is stored as information in the DICOM data record of the image. The DICOM data record is transmitted to a server. With reference to the invitation, the server determines a message channel which leads to the partner. The server transmits the invitation to the partner via the message channel. |
| US08429228B1 |
Method for creating manipulating exchanging and distributing information messages of organized data structure
The present invention provides a system for creating, manipulating, g and distributing information message of organized data structure. The system is comprised of: an application installed on a terminal, said application includes: an information module for receiving and transmitting update information messages and an organizing data module enabling organizing information data into structured table format, the organizing include searching, sorting, filtering manipulating and editing the information data, a message distribution module for defining a query which represents the organized information in the structure format based on a user operations and associating the query with and information message having predefined format and transmit the information messages according to user distribution list, a web server application including: a table data management module enabling online creating, manipulating filtering, sorting and searching of information data tables and a data exchange module for managing distribution information messages between information sources and target mobile users. |
| US08429227B2 |
Image display device and method of announcing a presence of an image display device over a network
In an image display device, a method of communicating over a network an invitation to use the image display device to at least one image source connected to the network is provided. The method may include forming an invitation message, wherein the invitation message contains an invitation for an image source to connect to the image display device to use a service on the image display device, and sending the invitation message to a multicasting address on the network. |
| US08429222B2 |
Remote access and automated dialog building for remote processing
Geophysical data processing is remotely controlled and monitored over a wide-area network such as the Internet. A customer using a client computer builds geophysical data processing flows (concatenations of geophysical data processing modules or filters) and enters parameter values required for flow execution. The flow descriptions and associated parameter values are then transferred from the client to a geophysical data processing server, for example a parallel supercomputer. The flows (jobs) are executed on the server, typically over periods ranging from hours to weeks. Intermediate or partial results are made available to the customer for visualization before the processing of a flow is complete. The customer can then modify the flow before its complete execution. Data-entry windows are automatically generated for geophysical processing modules by parsing the source code of the modules. The automatic generation of data-entry windows allows relatively simple integration of new seismic interpretation packages with a given graphical user interface. |
| US08429219B2 |
Data alteration prevention system
A method, system and computer program product for controlling a processing unit connected to a network. The method includes providing information to the network by the processing unit via plural communication channels; sending a reset signal from a controller to a reset unit of the processing unit after a specified amount of time, the reset unit being connected only to a communication channel of the controller and being isolated from the plural communication channels; and rebooting the processor unit when the reset signal is received by the reset unit. |
| US08429217B2 |
Executing fixed point divide operations using a floating point multiply-add pipeline
A mechanism for executing fixed point divide operations using a floating point multiply-add pipeline are provided. With the mechanism, the floating point execution unit in a processor is modified to include elements that may be used to perform fixed point divide operations. These additional elements include a leading zero counter, a leading one counter, an estimate table unit, and a state machine. The fixed point divide operands are converted to a floating point format and an estimate of the reciprocal of the divisor is generated using estimate tables. These values are used in multiple passes through the floating point unit for calculating estimates of the quotient and corresponding error values. The estimates of the quotient are based on previous estimates of the quotient in a prior pass through the floating point unit and a corresponding error value. The final quotient estimate is truncated. |
| US08429214B2 |
Programmable logic systems and methods employing configurable floating point units
A programmable system is disclosed having multiple configurable floating point units (“FPU”) that are coupled to multiple programmable logic and routing blocks and multiple memories. Each floating point unit has static configuration blocks and dynamic configuration blocks, where the dynamic configuration blocks can be reconfigured to perform a different floating point unit function. A floating point unit includes a pre-normalization for shifting an exponent calculation as well as shifting and aligning a mantissa, and a post-normalization for normalizing and rounding a received input. The post-normalization receives an input Z and realigns the input, normalizes the input and rounds the input Z. |
| US08429211B1 |
System and method for controlling computer originated audio file transmission
A system and method for controlling computer originated audio file transmission includes a server having a communications module operable to communicate with a terminal unit over a path of communication. The server may also include a storage module operable to store at least one file. A processor may be provided to separate the file into a plurality of packets. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is operable to establish a control channel between the server and the terminal unit. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the control channel may include an out of band channel with regard to the path of communication. Commands may be transmitted over the control channel using the VoIP. |
| US08429210B2 |
Method and computer-readable medium for providing an official file repository
A method and computer-readable medium are provided for storing files in an official file repository. According to the method, a generic interface is exposed that includes a first method for requesting that a file be stored in a file vault. A record series is maintained that identifies one or more document types that may be stored in the file vault along with a location for each file type within the file vault where files of the type should be stored. A call may be made to the first method including the file to be stored in the file vault. In response to the call, a location for storing the file in the file vault may be identified based on the contents of the record series. Once the location has been identified, the file is stored in the identified location if the file type is in the record series. If the file type is not in the record series or the necessary property values are not received with the call, the file is placed in a holding zone portion of the file vault. The generic interface may further expose a second method for retrieving the file types identified in the record series and a third method for retrieving one or more properties associated with a file type identified in the record series. |
| US08429209B2 |
Method and system for efficiently reading a partitioned directory incident to a serialized process
A method of reading data from a partitioned directory incident to a serialized process. A first read and an offset value are received. A first data block in a modeled fully partitioned directory is identified based on the offset value and a predetermined number of entries associated with a buffer. It is determined whether the first data block in the fully partitioned directory is present in the actual partitioned directory. Zeros are written in the buffer if the first data block in the fully partitioned directory is not present in the actual partitioned directory otherwise the first data block associated with the actual partitioned directory is written to the buffer. A second data block is similarly read by a second read operation and written. The second data block is associated with a second subdirectory, selected based on a horizontal node traversal at a node level of said first subdirectory. |
| US08429208B2 |
Methods and systems for managing data
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described. |
| US08429207B2 |
Methods for implementation of information audit trail tracking and reporting in a storage system
Embodiments of archival storage system are disclosed. The archival storage system includes one or more removable disk drives that provide random access and are readily expandable. One or more application servers can store archival data to the one or more removable disk drives. Further, the archival storage system provides an audit trail that stores information about actions taken on the archival data. The audit trail data providing a list of the actions and information about the actions that can be used to determine changes to the archival data. |
| US08429201B2 |
Updating a database from a browser
Techniques are provided to update a database, in which a browser communicates changes to the database. A change request is received from a browser, and a database update program is executed in response to the change request. The change request may be a page redirect request from a first network address to a second network address, and the database update program replaces the first network address with the second network address in one or more data tables in the database. The change request may also be a web page change request, and the database update program is a trigger program for determining additional programs to be run to update the database. |
| US08429199B2 |
Load on demand network analysis
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with load on demand network analysis are described. One method embodiment includes accessing a network analysis request and data associated with a set of network partitions associated with a network. The request describes a function to be performed on the network. A set of partitions subdivides the network and a data model stores data describing the network and its partitions. Thus, the example method may include identifying a member of the set of network partitions associated with the network analysis request and selectively loading data associated that member. The method may then perform the network analysis function on the data associated with the member rather than on data describing the entire network. |
| US08429198B1 |
Method of creating hierarchical indices for a distributed object system
A data management system or “DMS” provides data services to data sources associated with a set of application host servers. The DMS typically comprises one or more regions, with each region having one or more clusters. A given cluster has one or more nodes that share storage. When providing continuous data protection and data distribution, the DMS nodes create distributed active object storage to provide the necessary real-time data management services. The distributed object store can be built above raw storage devices, a traditional file system, a special purpose file system, a clustered file system, and a database. The DMS active object store provides an indexing service to the active objects. In an illustrative embodiment, any object property that has a given attribute is indexed and, as a result, the attribute becomes searchable. The DMS provides hierarchical distributed indexing using index trees to facilitate searching. |
| US08429192B2 |
System and method for supporting a plurality of access control list types for a file system in an operating system
System, method and computer program product for supporting a plurality of Access Control List types for a file system in an operating system in a data processing system. An Access Control List supporting system for managing access to a file system in a data processing system has at least one file system in an operating system of the data processing system, and an Access Control List management framework in the operating system and external to the at least one file system for managing access to the at least one file system. The Access Control List supporting system of the invention removes ACL management and access check-related functions from the at least one file system to an external Access Control List management framework, thus enabling an operating system to support a plurality of Access Control List types using the same Access Control List management framework and enabling new Access Control List types to be added to the operating system dynamically while the operating system is running. |
| US08429186B2 |
System and method for rapid assessment of lab value distributions
System and methods for rapid assessment of lab value distributions are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a data storage device and a server. The data storage device may be configured to store a database comprising one or more records, wherein the records are identified by one or more test codes. The server may receive a medical code, search the database to obtain a first group of records associated with individuals having the medical code, wherein each record of the first group of records is identified by a test code, search the database to obtain a second group of records associated with a control population, wherein each record of the second group of records is identified by the test code, and generate an output comprising a distribution graph on a shared scale from the first and second group of records. |
| US08429185B2 |
Using structured data for online research
Various embodiments utilize structured data contained within a resource, such as a web page, to enable a user to define collections of data. Individual constituent parts of a collection or “links” are collected within a collection. In one or more embodiments, a full page viewing experience can be provided which enables users to not only view more details for a given link, but to view multiple different links at a time. Other viewing options and collection interactions are provided. |
| US08429183B2 |
Support for international search terms
A search engine server supports delivery of search results using an international search string option by identifying websites that provide support in English as well as the language of the international search string. The international search string is a search string in any of the languages that are listed/supported by the search engine server. The search engine server delivers web links of websites that provide support in both English as well the language of the international search string by identifying conjugate English terms, strings or phrases for the international search string, that provide exact or approximate equivalent meaning for searching. In addition, the search engine server also provides web links of websites that provide international language support by utilizing a thesaurus in English that provides synonyms for the conjugate English terms. The search engine server also translates websites where there is no support in the language of the search string. |
| US08429182B2 |
Populating a task directed community in a complex heterogeneous environment based on non-linear attributes of a paradigmatic cohort member
A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product defines a paradigmatic member of a first task directed community. Non-linear attributes of each member of the first task directed community having a first agenda are identified. Each of the non-linear attributes is individually unrelated to the first agenda. Common non-linear attributes shared by multiple members of the first task directed community are identified for use in defining the paradigmatic member of the first task directed community. A second task directed community, which has an agenda that substantially matches the first agenda of the first task directed community, is then presented with candidate members that match the paradigmatic member of the first task directed community. |
| US08429181B2 |
System and method for providing music
A system, method, and computer program product for providing music is disclosed. A method in accordance with one particular embodiment may include storing a plurality of cues in a memory, each of the plurality of cues having a plurality of tags associated therewith. The plurality of tags may include both musical and non-musical tags. The method may further include receiving an input at a computing device, the input corresponding to at least one of the plurality of tags. The method may also include searching the memory of the computing device to locate at least one of the plurality of cues having at least one tag that corresponds to the input. The method may further include providing a cue having the at least one tag that corresponds to the input to a client device. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure. |
| US08429156B2 |
Spatial attribute ranking value index
A request may be received that includes an indicator associated with a geographic location and scope. A database search may be initiated, based on the geographic location and scope. A list of one or more tags may be received, the tags associated with the geographic location, ordered based on relevance within the geographic scope, based on tag locale rankings associated with each of the tags included in the list of tags, the tag locale rankings based on comparisons of relative frequencies of occurrence of the tags, based on first bounded geographic areas, compared with second relative frequencies of occurrence of the tags based on second bounded geographic areas that are respectively larger than the first bounded geographic areas, the request geographic scope indicating one of a plurality of hierarchical geographic analysis levels associated with a plurality of geographic locations. |
| US08429153B2 |
Method and apparatus for classifying known specimens and media using spectral properties and identifying unknown specimens and media
Method and apparatus for determining a metric for use in predicting properties of an unknown specimen belonging to a group of reference specimen electrical devices comprises application of a network analyzer for collecting impedance spectra for the reference specimens and determining centroids and thresholds for the group of reference specimens so that an unknown specimen may be confidently classified as a member of the reference group using the metric. If a trait is stored with the reference group of electrical device specimens, then, the trait may be predictably associated with the unknown specimen along with any traits identified with the unknown specimen associated with the reference group. |
| US08429151B2 |
Highly adaptable query optimizer search space generation process
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for determining at least one algorithm from a pool of algorithms to optimize a query. An embodiment includes building optimization blocks for the subplan, determining the complexity of the subplan based on the optimization blocks and selecting an algorithm from a pool of search space generation algorithms based on complexity of the subplan and characteristics of the selected algorithm, and optimizing the subplan with the selected algorithm. |
| US08429149B2 |
System, method and computer program products for determining O*NET codes from job descriptions
Systems, methods and computer program products include job bots that are configured to periodically visit network sites that have stored therein one or more job postings. During each visit, the one or more job postings are analyzed and a searchable job post database is updated to add new job postings, modify changed job postings and delete any removed job postings. A search engine is provided for job seekers to search the searchable job post database where a consolidate list of job postings from the network sites is stored. |
| US08429147B1 |
Federation for parallel searching
A search engine can be configured to improve search times by implementing a parallel computing architecture. The index is split across a plurality of independent search nodes. A query is communicated to each of the parallel nodes and the query is searched in each independent node. The results from each node are routed to a federator that is configured to aggregate the results to a result set. The federator is configured to determine a subset of intermediate results to retrieve and aggregate from each of the independent nodes. The federator determines a number of results to retrieve from each of the nodes based at least in part on the number of nodes and the number of search results desired in the results set. |
| US08429146B2 |
Predicting future queries from log data
A system, media, and method for selecting future queries are provided. The selected future queries are used to transmit appropriate online advertising to a user that issues queries to a search engine. The search engine is coupled to a prediction component that predicts what subject the user is going to be interested in and when the user will be interested in the subject. The prediction component returns a future query using statistical language models representing a query history of the user and aggregate query histories for a community of users. |
| US08429143B2 |
Methods and systems for improving hash table performance
Methods and systems for generating a hashcode for a hash table are provided to improve the hash table performance. A particular method includes receiving an input of a key; applying a hash function to the key to generate an incoming hashcode of the key; encoding a key type into the incoming hashcode to generate a first hashcode; and storing the first hashcode. A particular method includes encoding the key type into at least one bit of a bucket index portion of the incoming hashcode. |
| US08429141B2 |
Linguistically enhanced email detector
A computer-implemented system and method are provided for warning a user of a missing attachment to an email. The method may include automatically recognizing a natural language of text of an email and selecting a keyword list from a plurality of keyword lists, based on the recognized natural language. Each keyword list is associated with a respective natural language and includes at least one keyword. At least one of the keyword lists includes a multi-sense keyword having a plurality of senses. A first of the plurality of senses is recognized as referring to an attachment and a second of the plurality of senses is recognized as not referring to an attachment. The text of the email is processed to identify an instance, where present, of a keyword that is in the selected keyword list and, for a keyword which is a multi-sense keyword, at least one sense-related rule is applied to a portion of the text which includes the instance of the multi-sense keyword. Based on the application of the at least one sense-related rule, where the email lacks an attachment, a notification is provided to the user. |
| US08429138B2 |
Method and apparatus for data exchange in a distributed system
An encoding module generates metadata descriptions for unique combinations of subset of fields of data structures that define for the receiver how to decode data in the corresponding subset of fields of that data structure included in messages; generates a unique metadata description identification for each different metadata description; includes metadata descriptions in the messages as well as the corresponding metadata description identifications when the receiver has not previously received those metadata descriptions. A decoding module stores metadata descriptions in a metadata description data structure as they are received, where each metadata description is associated with a metadata description identification, whereby the metadata description data structure is progressively populated with metadata for data structures as messages are received that include metadata descriptions; and decodes those messages received that do not include metadata descriptions based on the stored metadata descriptions that correspond with the metadata description identifications included in these messages. |
| US08429133B2 |
Partial key indexes
A partial reverse key index is described, which allows distributed contention as resources vie to insert data into an index as well as allows range scans to be performed on the index. To do so, before an index entry for a key value is inserted into an index, the key value is transformed using a transformation operation that affects a subset of the order of the key value. The index entry is then inserted based on the transformed key value. Because the transformation operation affects the order of the key value, the transformed values associated with two consecutive key values will not necessarily be consecutive. Therefore, the index entries associated with the consecutive key values may be inserted into unrelated portions of the index. |
| US08429132B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for database table aggregation
Database table aggregation is implemented by a method that includes encoding first and second components via a waveform definition, the first and second components specifying criteria for aggregating data. The method also includes generating a complex waveform representing the components in a pattern corresponding to the waveform definition and criteria, which spans a first axis indicative of a time period for aggregating the data. The method further includes providing a byte count for aggregated data stored in a first table defined by the criteria, aggregating the data for the time period, and creating a second table for overflow data when the count is exceeded. The method also includes updating the complex waveform to reflect results of the aggregation that includes generating a waveform representing the second table along a second axis depicted at a location corresponding to a time in which the data aggregation for the first table was initiated. |
| US08429130B2 |
Optimized prefetching for wide area networks
A data prefetching technique uses predefined prefetching criteria and prefetching models to identify and retrieve prefetched data. A prefetching model that defines data to be prefetched via a network may be stored. It may be determined whether prefetching initiation criteria have been satisfied. Data for prefetching may be identified based on the prefetching model when the prefetching initiation criteria have been satisfied. The identified data may be prefetched, via the network, based on the prefetching model. |
| US08429126B2 |
Object graph editing context and methods of use
The present invention comprises a novel system for managing changes to a graph of data bearing objects. In one embodiment, an object graph manager object referred to as an editing context is used to identify changes made to data bearing enterprise objects and to notify other interested objects when changes occur. As a result, data bearing objects need not themselves contain code necessary for monitoring changes. In another embodiment of the invention, the editing context is used to provide event-based “undo” capabilities. In another embodiment of the invention, each enterprise object has a primary key that is used to maintain the identification between an enterprise object instance and a corresponding database row. In another embodiment of the invention, multiple levels of editing contexts are used to provide multiple isolated object graphs, each of which allows independent manipulation of the underlying data bearing objects. |
| US08429125B2 |
Conversion of physical computers to virtualized environments method and system
A method for converting a physical file system to a virtual file system of a virtual machine. The method includes initiating a new incremental physical to virtual conversion process, and analyzing a history of a plurality of prior incremental conversions to determine whether there exists at least one prior incremental conversion that failed. Upon determination that a prior failed incremental conversion occurred, the method further includes determining a correct chronological order of the plurality of prior incremental conversions, and determining an original failure point and any subsequent failure points. The prior incremental conversions are re-applied from each of said original failure point and said subsequent failure points in the correct chronological order with the most recent incremental conversion re-applied last. |
| US08429122B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for remote data searching
A method and apparatus for remote searching of data stored on a communication device is provided. The communication device is generally in communication with a server for tracking data associated with the communication device and data associated with a synchronizable computing device, synchronizable with the communication device. An index of data stored at the communication device is maintained at the server, the index for distinguishing the data stored at the communication device from data stored at the synchronizable computing device. A searchable copy of data stored on the communication device cross-referenced to the index is maintained, the searchable copy searchable using search parameter data received from the communication device to produce search results transmittable back to the communication device. |
| US08429120B1 |
System and method for distributed back-off in a database-oriented environment
Embodiments may include a system configured to, for each of multiple database partitions, generate a respective value of commit latency dependent on the latency of one or more previous commit operations directed to that database partition. The system may also be configured to, for a given work item that includes a commit operation to be initiated on a given database partition of said multiple database partitions, determine whether the value of the commit latency for the given database partition exceeds a configurable commit latency threshold. The system may be configured to, in response to determining that the value of the commit latency for the given database partition exceeds the commit latency threshold, postpone the given work item to reduce load on the database partitions and perform the given work item after the postponement. If the commit latency does not exceed the threshold, the work may be performed without the postponement. |
| US08429119B2 |
System and method of determining relationship information
A method includes classifying a relationship between a first party and each of one or more additional parties based on at least one of a number of communications between the first party and each of the one or more additional parties over a time period and a frequency of the communications between the first party and each of the one or more additional parties over the time period. The method includes generating first social network data based on the relationship between the first party and each of the one or more additional parties. |
| US08429118B2 |
Embedding and retrieving data in an application file format
Third party data embedding may be provided. Data associated with a third party provider may be saved in a native application save file. If a save file opened by the application is determined to comprise third party data, the application may determine whether an appropriate data provider is available. The application may connect to the data provider and provide on-demand, asynchronous access to the third party data upon request from a user. |
| US08429117B2 |
Data loading method for a data warehouse
Provided is a method of loading data in a data warehouse. Two types of work tables are generated, namely, a first work table and a second work table. The data is loaded into the first work table and prepared for loading, using the second work table as temporary table for data preparation. The prepared data is loaded into the data warehouse. |
| US08429115B1 |
Measuring change distance of a factor in a decision
An analytic network process (ANP) storage memory stores an ANP weighted supermatrix representing an ANP model. A processor is in communication with the ANP storage memory. The processor fixes each one of plural nodes one at a time in the ANP model and measures a row sensitivity of each of the nodes as it is fixed, the row sensitivity being measured using one or both of (i) a predetermined increase value and (ii) a predetermined decrease value. Also, it scores how much synthesized alternatives scores found by doing ANP row sensitivity on each of the fixed nodes change from original values thereof, to generate a value indicating a change distance for each of the nodes. A same proportionality is maintained in the stored ANP weighted supermatrix as the fixed node is changed by the predetermined increase and/or decrease values. |
| US08429114B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing low cost programmable pattern recognition
An apparatus for providing pattern recognition may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least receive an indication of sensor data descriptive of movement of a user terminal, provide for expansion of the sensor data in a predetermined manner to define outcome values, apply a logical mask to the outcome values to generate selected outcome values for provision to a finite state machine, and utilize a pattern recognition algorithm associated with the finite state machine to determine whether the sensor data corresponds to a pattern identified by proceeding through defined transitions to a final state of the finite state machine. A corresponding computer program product and method are also provided. |
| US08429113B2 |
Framework and system for identifying partners in nefarious activities
The invention is a method and a system for discovering collusion among a network of interacting entities. Collusion is defined as a conspiracy among two or more interacting entities to use deception or an unfair advantage for private gain above their peers or other stakeholders in their network. The invention comprises a mathematical framework for measuring the collusion propensity of two or more entities in a network. |
| US08429106B2 |
Providing recommendations using information determined for domains of interest
Techniques are described for determining and using information related to domains of interest, such as by automatically analyzing documents and other information related to a domain in order to automatically determine relationships between particular terms within the domain. Such automatically determined information may then be used to assist users in obtaining information from the domain that is of interest (e.g., documents with contents that are relevant to user-specified terms and/or to other terms that are determined to be sufficiently related to the user-specified terms). For example, recommendations may be automatically generated for a user by using information about specified preferences or other interests of the user with respect to one or more terms and identifying other particular terms that are sufficiently probable to be of interest to that user, such as based on a generated probabilistic representation of relationships between particular terms for the domain. |
| US08429100B2 |
Method for building adaptive soft sensor
The invention discloses a method for building adaptive soft sensor. The method comprises the following steps. The input and schedule vectors are constructed, and a novel learning algorithm that uses online subtractive clustering is used to recursively update the structure and parameters of a local model network. Three rules are proposed for updating centers and local model coefficients of existing clusters, for generating new clusters and new models as well as for merging existing clusters and their corresponding models. Once verified, the online inferential model can be created to generate the predicted value of process. Thus, it does not need much memory space to process the method and can be easily applied to any other machine. |
| US08429098B1 |
Classification confidence estimating tool
Disclosed is a tool that assesses and classifies data in a data set to and compares those assessments with nominal attributes and text attributes of data present in a new record to assign a classification to the new record. The classification assigned to the new record is provided a confidence level based on both a qualitative factor and a quantitative factor. The qualitative factor may be calculated by forming of a list of important words for each class and comparing the list to data in the new record and converting the comparison into a confidence level; the quantitative factor may be calculated by estimating the importance or weight of several factors, ratios of certain probabilities related to the most likely class and to the second most likely class, and using the importance of the factors and matchfactors to scale the resulting ratio, then transforming the resulting ratio into a confidence level. |
| US08429095B1 |
Fluid delivery control nozzle
A fluid delivery nozzle for wireless communication to either an active or a passive device located on a vehicle and for wireless communication from the fluid delivery nozzle to a central location for storage of vehicle data. Upon initiation of a fluid delivery transaction, a communication link is established between a vehicle communication device and the central location and between a fluid container of the vehicle and the fluid delivery nozzle. The information received from the vehicle and container is relayed to the central location to authorize delivery of a fluid to the vehicle. Information is also transferred from the central location back and forth to the fluid delivery nozzle to update and store information regarding the fluid delivery transaction. A keyboard and display are provided on the fluid delivery nozzle to provide an operator interface during the fluid delivery transaction. Using the keyboard, the operator may directly control the delivery of fluid to the container or may respond to information displayed on the nozzle during the fluid delivery transaction. |
| US08429094B2 |
Method of franking as a function of mail category
A method of franking mailpieces including the following steps: an operator loads a mailpiece on a feed deck of the machine; the width of the mailpiece is determined automatically by a plurality of presence detectors mounted on the feed deck; the length of the mailpiece is estimated by a processor, on the basis of the width of the mailpiece; an initial franking amount to be applied to the mailpiece is computed by the processor; the mailpiece is extracted automatically from the feed deck, and a postal imprint is printed; the real length of the mailpiece is determined; the real length is compared with the previously estimated length; if these two lengths do not match, an audible or visible alarm is generated by a warning device; the processor computes a corrected franking amount; and a new postal imprint making it possible to correct the initial franking amount is printed. |
| US08429093B2 |
System and method for providing information to a recipient of a physical mail object
A system and method is provided for transmitting information (e.g., an advertisement, content data, etc.) over a wide area network, such as the Internet, in response to receiving at least a portion of mail data. In one embodiment of the present invention, information is stored in a memory. Mail data is then affixed to a mail object (e.g., on the object itself, on an envelope encasing the object, etc.). The mail object is then manually delivered to a recipient. The mail data is then provided to a reception device. The reception device then uses the mail data to retrieve the information from a mail device in communication with the memory. In a preferred embodiment, the mail data includes data corresponding to the recipient of the mail object, and the information corresponds to a content of the mail object. |
| US08429092B2 |
Method and system for career management assessment matching
A method for system for career matching assessment matching. One or more electronic questionnaires that are designed to reflect models of working environments, problem solving, communication and inter-personal skills are presented via a communications network. Each candidate and/or employer fills in a separate questionnaire. The job seeker answers questions as if the job seeker was the employer and the employer answers questions as if the employer were the job seeker. The particular pattern of their answers provides a profile for both the job seeker and the employer. A matching process then assesses the amount of overlap between the profiles of different candidates and employers. Greater candidate-employer overlap yields superior job performance, higher levels of job satisfaction and longer retention. |
| US08429091B2 |
Methods and systems for the display and navigation of a social network
Systems and methods for the display and navigation of a social network or set forth. According to one embodiment a method comprising identifying a first profile in a social network, identifying associated profiles associated with the first profile, ranking the associated profiles, wherein ranking is not based exclusively on a degree of separation, and outputting the associated profiles based at least in part on the ranking is set forth. According to another embodiment a method comprising identifying a user profile, identifying a member profile, determining an association path for the user profile and the member profile, and outputting the association path is set forth. |
| US08429088B2 |
On-location electronics troubleshooting services system
A method and system for providing on-location troubleshooting services to homeowners and businesses for low-voltage electronic equipment and other on-location services. It employs the use of an Internet-based system for recording customer requests for service and subsequently automatically dispatching technicians and managing provision of the requested services. It also provides functions to support customer and technician recruitment and sign up. Additionally, it provides functions for recording customer satisfaction, requesting repair services and links to low-voltage electronics equipment suppliers for purchasing desired low-voltage electronics equipment. Service areas, work cells are established for groups of customers which are closely located geographically. Technicians are recruited and assigned responsibility for work cells based on whether their residence is in or close to a particular work cell or group of work cells. Customers and technicians may also access certain functions of the Internet-based system through telephones and telephone interface to the Internet-based system. |
| US08429083B2 |
Messaging stamp authority
Electronic messages may be processed using a stamp authority by receiving an electronic message, identifying a stamp associated the message, determining if the stamp is valid, and, if the stamp is determined to be valid, distinguishing the message from messages with which a valid stamp is not identified. |
| US08429079B1 |
Overdraft protection and forgiveness
Various aspects relate to systems, methods or devices for processing overdrafts made by customers. A particular embodiment is directed towards, a system that is configured to receive transaction data from customer-oriented terminals. The transaction data includes requests for monetary transfers on behalf of customers that hold a checking or savings account at a financial institution. In response to receiving the transaction data, the system accesses customer account information, which can include the amount of funds in the checking or savings accounts. The system determines whether sufficient funds exist in the accounts to cover the financial transactions. In response to a potential overdraft of one or more customer accounts, stored customer information is accessed to determine and authorize overdraft deferment eligibility of the customer based upon the stored customer information. The system defers an overdraft fee by providing a grace period during which funds can be transferred to cover the overdraft. |
| US08429078B2 |
Payment processing device signature verification
Devices and methods for signature authentication of a bearer of a payment processing device during financial transactions are provided. The payment processing device is provided with a signature input panel configured to receive user input signature information for the purpose of authenticating the signature. After the bearer of the payment processing device writes her signature into the signature input panel, the input signature information is compared to a pre-stored signature profile stored in the payment processing device for authentication. |
| US08429077B2 |
Web enabled bank teller machine
A system and method is provided for an ATM having a display, a logic server coupled to the display, and a memory coupled to the logic server. The logic server dynamically controls the content of screens to be displayed on the display. The memory, which is accessible to the logic server, contains a profile of at least one user.In operation, the ATM detects the swipe of a user's card and requests the profile of the user whose card was swiped from a host. The ATM then receives the user's profile and stores the user's profile in the ATM. |
| US08429073B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring and establishing a secure credential-based network link between a client and a service over a data-packet-network
A bill-paying service has an internet-connected server executing software from a non-transitory, machine-readable medium, the software providing functionality accessing, on behalf of a user, a plurality of billing servers, logging in with credentials supplied by the user, and downloading information concerning one or more bills which the user is responsible to pay, functionality receiving a selection by the end user, indicating a bill the user wishes to pay, and functionality transmitting to the user a deep-link plug-in (DLP) for the billing server where the bill selected by the client is associated, the DLP redirecting the user to a page at the billing server where the user is enabled to pay the bill selected. |
| US08429072B1 |
System and method for processing microtransactions
Methods and systems of the invention provide a variety of techniques for processing microtransactions. In accordance with the invention, the method starts with a customer initiating a purchase through interaction with a merchant. The purchase is associated with purchase information, which includes the particulars of the purchase, such as the purchase price. In the purchase, the customer uses a transaction account, obtained from a payment enabler. The purchase is classified as a microtransaction, if the purchase price is below a predetermined monetary amount. Thereafter, the purchase information is forwarded for processing based on the classifying, i.e., either as a regular transaction or as a microtransaction. Then, upon receipt of the purchase information by an appropriate recipient, such as an interchange entity or an alternate interchange entity, the purchase information is processed to effect the microtransaction, if so classified, between the customer and the merchant. |
| US08429069B1 |
System and method for processing microtransactions
Methods and systems of the invention provide a variety of techniques for processing microtransactions. In accordance with the invention, the method starts with a customer initiating a purchase through interaction with a merchant. The purchase is associated with purchase information, which includes the particulars of the purchase, such as the purchase price. In the purchase, the customer uses a transaction account, obtained from a payment enabler. The purchase is classified as a microtransaction, if the purchase price is below a predetermined monetary amount. Thereafter, the purchase information is forwarded for processing based on the classifying, i.e., either as a regular transaction or as a microtransaction. Then, upon receipt of the purchase information by an appropriate recipient, such as an interchange entity or an alternate interchange entity, the purchase information is processed to effect the microtransaction, if so classified, between the customer and the merchant. |
| US08429068B1 |
Data aggregation for transaction banking partnerships
A system and method to assign a score to an entity involved in a transaction where the score is used to manage risk for a transaction underwriter. In particular, the score represents the ability of the entity to fulfill a financial obligation separate from the transaction where failure to fulfill the financial obligation by the entity results in defaulting on the transaction. The score assigned to the entity may be determined by aggregating data obtained from multiple sources, such as accounting application, payroll application, inventory management application, personal financial management application, and/or tax preparation application used by the entity. |
| US08429067B1 |
System and method for detecting changes in business stability
A system for detecting changes in business stability is provided. The system includes a merchant system that receives periodic payment data from one or more users, such as credit card transaction data. A credit processor coupled to the merchant system receives the periodic payment data from the merchant system and stores the periodic payment data, such as when the credit processor is compiling the credit card transaction data for submission to a credit card company. A merchant credit/risk system coupled to the credit processor generates business stability data from the periodic payment data, such as by determining when changes in the periodic payment data exceed allowable variations for such changes. |
| US08429064B2 |
Model-based selection of trade execution strategies
Effective selection of trade execution strategies using a multi-dimensional model is disclosed. A relationship exists between order difficulty and execution strategy. Execution strategy depends on order difficulty, and order difficulty has many dimensions. The multi-dimensional model classifies trade orders according to the dimensions, and then maps these classified trade orders into suitable execution strategies. For each trade order, one or more appropriate strategies are automatically selected and presented to the trader to assist the trader in making an informed and timely decision. |
| US08429057B1 |
Systems and methods for creation, issuance, redemption, conversion, offering, trading, and clearing a debt obligation convertible into cash plus a spot foreign exchange contract that is priced to reflect the value of the debt obligation in a base currency in relation to the value of a reference currency
Securities trading systems and methods for creating, issuing, offering, trading, redeeming, converting, and clearing a novel debt obligation convertible into cash plus a foreign exchange spot or forward contract that is priced to reflect the value of the debt obligation in a base currency in relation to the value of a reference currency. In the system, an order book server aggregates bid and offer information for the debt obligations. Best bid and offer information is communicated to one or more trading terminals. The trading terminals are capable of displaying best bid and offer and other information relevant to trading, redeeming, and converting the debt obligations in real time and allow a trader to trade, redeem, and convert C-Notes™ by interacting with the display on the trading terminal. The order book server and issuer calculate and track accrued interest on the debt obligations. |
| US08429056B2 |
Systems and methods for sharing excess profits
Systems and methods for trading commodity, an item or instrument are provided. The market prices and trading may be monitored to detect a spike in the market price or artificially high market price. Excess profits resulting from the sale at an artificially high market price may be distributed to market participants based upon the participant's trading record in the market or upon some other suitable method. |
| US08429053B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program product for fast computation of risk measures and risk contributions
An information processing apparatus includes: a rating threshold calculating unit obtaining a probability psk of transition from a rating s to a rating k stored in the storage device, and calculating a rating threshold θir at which the rating of a obligor i becomes a rating r or lower based on the obtained psk, a conditional probability calculating unit obtaining a constant ai of each obligor i stored in the storage device, and calculating a probability psir(z) that the rating of the obligor i becomes the rating r or lower under a condition that z is fixed based on the obtained ai, z calculated in the z calculating unit, and the θir calculated in the rating threshold calculating unit, and a wir calculating unit calculating a difference wir in exposure value between adjacent ratings of the obligor i based on an exposure value Vir of the obligor i when transition from a current rating to the rating r occurs, which is stored in the storage device. |
| US08429046B2 |
System and methods for servicing electronic transactions
A service transaction provider for administering a plurality of accounts for a client includes a computer having a processor, a data storage medium, and a network port. The storage medium is configured to store the clients' personal information, account information, and transactional information. The processor configured to create a database of client information including the client's personal information, account information corresponding to a plurality of accounts associated with the client, and transactional information corresponding to a plurality of transactions conducted by the client; designate as confidential a predetermined first portion of the database client information; designate as non-confidential a predetermined second portion of the database of client information non-confidential; and provide the client with access to the first and second portions of the database of client information via the network port. |
| US08429045B1 |
System and method to provide an email account
Disclosed are systems and methods to provide an email account. The systems and methods provide techniques wherein an email account is provided by a provider to a member, the system having at least one subsystem to provide a financial account for the member, provide an email account to the member, and integrate the financial account and the email account on an Internet site, thereby allowing the member to have access to the email account and the financial account on the Internet site. |
| US08429044B2 |
Lifting partner groups for allocation of lifted product consistent with production sharing contracts
An embodiment of the invention regards allocating lifted product volumes to specific entities of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) through the use of Lifting Partner Groups (LPG) and an Entitlement Percentage (EP), which is itself calculated, consistent with the terms of the PSC. Through this system, specific PSC members no longer need to be identified for each specific terminal lift to allocate the lift back to the PSC entity. Rather, the EP is used in conjunction with the Lifting Product Groups to split up the portion of each lift attributable to each entity for actual accounting purposes, and further to determine the average sales price(s) to be used in calculating total production revenue. |
| US08429040B2 |
Facilitating compensation arrangements for data brokering
Systems and methods for data brokering, and more specifically, data brokering regarding a data provider's search-related activities, are described. In particular implementations, various aspects of facilitating a compensation arrangement between a data provider and a data consumer regarding one or more data-provider-related search activities are described. |
| US08429034B2 |
Inventory control over pharmaceutical sample distributions software, systems and methodologies
Methods for managing the distribution of samples in support of activities of field representatives which differentiate on-hand and in-storage inventories of samples that have been previously allocated from a master inventory, for example, from the inventory of a pharmaceutical company. Field representatives are assisted in managing an inventory of samples known to a database through an interface including one or more charts or tables that distinguish an on-hand quantity from an in-storage quantity, and a mechanism to identify a quantity of a particular product in the chart or table for distribution, with the database being updated to track changes at least in the on-hand quantity information. The interface can be further configured to capture the signature of a sample recipient over that person's name, presented in a signature block as a watermark in a cursive-font to deter unauthorized sample acceptance. |
| US08429028B2 |
Electronic book having electronic commerce features of recommending products and providing samples
A viewer for displaying an electronic book and providing for electronic commerce. In conjunction with viewing an electronic book, a user can view information about products and services, view an on-line electronic catalog, and receive samples of products available for purchase. By entering a purchase request, the user can purchase products or services. In the case of a digital product, the user can download the purchased product directly into the viewer. The viewer also records statistics concerning purchase and information requests in order to recommend related products or services, or for directing particular types of advertisements to the user. |
| US08429022B2 |
Method and apparatus for authorizing a payment via a remote device
A method of and system for authorizing a transaction remotely is disclosed. A customer uses a computer to browse for a product displayed on the internet. The customer may enter a unique number into the computer. The unique number is authorized and an authorization code is sent to the customer's communication device. The customer enters the authorization code into the computer to complete the transaction. |
| US08429018B2 |
System and method for detecting a possible error in a customer provided product order quantity
Prior ordering history of a product is examined to determine an historical ordering quantity distribution for a product. A customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of a product is then compared against the determined historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution for the product. When the customer specified, to-be-purchased quantity of the product falls below a certain probability threshold determined using the historical ordering-quantity frequency distribution, or is otherwise suspicious, the customer is notified of a suspected error in the provided product order quantity and/or asked to verify if the provided product quantity is correct. |
| US08429015B2 |
Method and apparatus for varying the amount of advertising content
The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for varying the amount of received advertising content. A content editor provides a portion of a plurality of levels of advertising to a user, wherein the portion of the plurality of levels indicates an amount of advertising content to be received by the user. Responsive to receiving a user input selecting the portion of the plurality of levels, the content editor inserts the amount of advertising content into a media content to form a modified media content, wherein the amount of advertising content corresponds to the portion of the plurality of levels selected by the user. The content editor then transmits the modified media content to the user. |
| US08429014B2 |
Method and system for providing advertising through content specific nodes over the internet
Methods and systems for providing advertising content over the Internet through a hierarchical content-specific node structure and pricing advertising delivery over each node independently. Independent delivery and pricing allows an advertiser to pay more for advertisements delivered to a narrowly targeted audience likely to be interested in the goods or services offered by the advertising entity and to pay less for advertisements directed at a more general audience who may or may not have an interest in the goods or services offered. The less content specific the node is, the less targeted the advertisement will be, and therefore, the less valuable the advertisement will be to the advertising entity. Targeted advertising to multiple levels of content specific nodes is enabled. |
| US08429007B1 |
Telecommunications service provisioning and banking of customer credits
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing telecommunication services based on customer groups. A customer group is offered a service plan that provides an incentive to early subscribers in the form of a more attractive pricing plan (i.e., discounts). For example, a particular subscriber may be provided a discount for each customer in the group who becomes a subscriber after the particular subscriber. The discounts and pricing plan may also be based, at least in part, on the total number of customers in the group that become subscribers. Further, in order to reduce customer churn, customer discounts or other incentives may be applied toward the end of a subscription plan period. Further, subscriber discounts and/or credits may be banked in a subscriber account. |
| US08429004B2 |
Method and system for automatically measuring retail store display compliance
Methods and systems for measuring retail store display compliance are provided. One or more images of one or more retail store conditions are captured and associated with related information. The one or more captured images and the related information are transmitted to a processing location for storage and processing. The one or more captured images and the related information are received at the processing location, stored in a repository and processed. The one or more retail store conditions in the one or more captured images are compared with a library to identify them and obtain identification information. The one or more identified captured images and identification information for the one or more retail store conditions are stored in the repository. The one or more retail store conditions in the one or more captured images and identification information are analyzed and one or more summary reports or one or more alerts are generated based upon the analysis. |
| US08429001B2 |
Limited lottery insurance
A system and method for conducting a lottery for at least one item are provided. The method includes, for each of a plurality of buyers, receiving a buyer's declared valuation for each of at least one item being offered in a lottery by a seller, the item having an assigned non-deterministic probability of being allocated to the buyer, providing insured prices for outcomes of the lottery which are a function of the buyer's declared valuation of the at least one item, randomly drawing an allocation of each of the at least one item to a respective one of the buyers, based on its assigned non-deterministic probability, and allocating the insured prices to the buyers based on respective outcomes of the random drawing. |
| US08429000B2 |
Special-ordered-set-based cost minimization
An embodiment of the invention is directed toward determining a solution to an objective function that is to be maximized or minimized. An initial feasible basis is determined. An entering variable is determined to enter the initial feasible basis. It is determined if there is an exiting variable. While there is an exiting variable, the exiting variable is removed from the feasible basis, the entering variable is added to the feasible basis, and a new entering variable is determined. |
| US08428997B2 |
Customer profitability and value analysis system
Systems and methods are provided for analyzing a business's profitability. A system for analyzing customer profitability includes an interface for receiving customer, revenue and cost data from external business operating systems. Customer, revenue, and cost data are stored on a database. A data transformation module operates on the customer data, allocating revenue and costs to individual customers. A customer profitability engine calculates the profitability of customers based on the allocated revenue and cost data. A report module generates reports illustrating the profitability results and other key performance indicators. Optionally, an average customer lifetime value may be calculated based on the customer profitability results. A method for analyzing customer profitability includes identifying sources of revenue, identifying sources of costs, and establishing rules for allocating revenue and costs to individual customers. The method further includes receiving actual customer, revenue and cost data and allocating revenue and costs to individual customers according to the allocation rules. Customer profitability and KPI values are calculated for individual customers and reports are generated illustrating the profitability results and various KPIs for individual customers or groups of customers sharing a common characteristic. |
| US08428996B2 |
Method and system automatically to support multiple transaction types, and to display seller-specific transactions of various transaction types in an integrated, commingled listing
This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the display of items of multiple transaction types in a commingled listing. The display of items of multiple transaction types in a commingled listing may include items which are being offered by a specific Seller at a network based commerce facility. |
| US08428995B2 |
System and method for automating customer-validated statement of work for a data storage environment
Computer systems and methods are disclosed for improving professional services delivery, such as services in a data management environment. In certain examples, computer systems comprise portals for transmitting and receiving information from parties involved in the performance and receipt of professional services. For instance, a first portal can receive data (e.g., from sales personnel) descriptive of a customer's product environment. A manager module populates a record with the data, and a second portal provides the customer with access to the record for review, correction and/or validation prior to the generation of a Statement of Work or other like project description. The second portal can also request additional information from the customer regarding the product environment. The manager module compares the data received through the first portal with the customer-entered information to identify and/or address discrepancies between the sets of data and customize the generation of the Statement of Work. |
| US08428992B2 |
Estimating training development hours
In one aspect, a method to estimate training development hours includes receiving data on factors selected by a user using a user interface and using a computer processor to estimate training development hours based on the data on the factors. The method may further include determining the training development hours based on the data on the factors an assigned base development hours, estimated contact hours and an analysis percentage. |
| US08428991B1 |
System and method for scheduling
A method and system for scheduling is disclosed. A computer generated generic matrix is provided allowing for creation of discrete pairs of discrete elements in combination, permutation, and the like. Applications of the method and system include, but are not limited to, sports scheduling, labor scheduling, manufacturing scheduling, laboratory experiments scheduling, sales performance scheduling. |
| US08428987B2 |
Determining order lead time for a supply chain using a probability distribution of order lead time
A system and method is disclosed for estimating demand of a supply chain including accessing a probability distribution of order lead time of the supply chain. The supply chain has nodes including a starting node and an ending node and a path from the starting node to the ending node. The probability distribution of order lead time describes ending node demand of the ending node versus order lead time. The path is divided into order lead time segments which are associated with the probability distribution of order lead time by associating each order lead time segment with an order lead time range of the probability distribution of order lead time. A demand percentage is estimated for each order lead time segment in accordance with the probability distribution of order lead time, such that each demand percentage describes a percentage of a total ending node demand of an order lead time segment. |
| US08428982B2 |
Monitoring business performance
A performance monitoring system receives data from one or more data sources. It transforms the received data into the performance information relating to predefined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); and stores it into a KPI store. The system also calculates scores based on the received data and the performance information stored in the KPI store. Thus, the system can indicate changes in the KPIs through an information presentation unit. |
| US08428980B2 |
Device and method for reserving travel products
A central computer system for processing user travel requests including an outbound journey and an inbound journey, includes elements for calculating and returning information on travel products to user, including sale prices, the central computer system being accessible from at least one user terminal, and including: A travel solutions search engine that can access at least one travel segment database (FDB) and having elements for determining outbound segments and inbound segments that comply with input criteria; A fare search engine having elements to determine the fare associated with possible travel solutions; A travel products grouping engine that applies grouping criteria which include at least one fare equivalence criterion; Elements for extracting the outbound and inbound segments from each group of travel products; Elements for displaying information on at least one group of travel products on the user terminal, separating the outbound segments and inbound segments. |
| US08428979B1 |
Digital processing machine, article, and method for an entity holding insurance
A digital data processing method, machine, and article for an entity holding insurance. The machine is configured to transform, by digital processing, data into an accounting for an entity and allocations among parties contributing permanent life insurance to the entity in producing digital output which includes the accounting and at least one of the allocations. |
| US08428978B1 |
Systems and methods for providing enhanced service using public records
Systems and methods for providing enhanced service using public records are described. A financial institution may obtain property data from public records regarding a property associated with a customer. The retrieved property data may be compared with existing customer data. The customer may be alerted and financial data associated with the customer may be modified based on the retrieved property data. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08428977B1 |
Method and apparatus for a lifetime security and protection scheme
Method and apparatus to facilitate managing a lifetime security and protection scheme for one or more cooperative members and one or more health care providers; the apparatus controls a computer system with a processor programmed so as to facilitate managing a captive insurer arrangement where each cooperative member retains ownership in a separate and independent captive risk insurance pool from which each owner cooperative member acquires annuity income benefits, health insurance, or other security or protection insurance; where the system facilitates by providing payment calculations to be made from one cooperative member's captive risk insurance pool to another cooperative member's captive risk insurance pool or to the one or more health care providers to meet the value and purpose of the cooperating entity and provide each cooperative member with lifetime security and protection; and some of the output data includes the calculated payments. |
| US08428972B1 |
Systems and methods for providing umbrella insurance policies
A system implemented on one or more computer processors for providing an umbrella insurance policy may comprise at least one subsystem configured for collecting information regarding a customer's household, at least one subsystem configured for automatically accessing existing underlying insurance policy records of the customer, and at least one subsystem configured for automatically deciding a disposition of the customer's umbrella policy application based on the information collected regarding the customer's household and information from the automatically accessing of the customer's existing underlying insurance policy records. |
| US08428967B2 |
Spot check monitor credit system
A spot check credit system advantageously includes various embodiments for obtaining authorization or payment for each measurement, groups of measurements, times of measurement or the like. In an embodiment, the system utilizes a server that communicates web pages over a computer network. In an embodiment, the system utilizes a digital communication device such as a photocommunicative key. |
| US08428957B2 |
Spectral noise shaping in audio coding based on spectral dynamics in frequency sub-bands
A technique of spectral noise shaping in an audio coding system is disclosed. Frequency decomposition of an input audio signal is performed to obtain multiple frequency sub-bands that closely follow critical bands of human auditory system decomposition. The tonality of each sub-band is determined. If a sub-band is tonal, time domain linear prediction (TDLP) processing is applied to the sub-band, yielding a residual signal and linear predictive coding (LPC) coefficients of an all-pole model representing the sub-band signal. The residual signal is further processed using a frequency domain linear prediction (FDLP) method. The FDLP parameters and LPC coefficients are transferred to a decoder. At the decoder, an inverse-FDLP process is applied to the encoded residual signal followed by an inverse TDLP process, which shapes the quantization noise according to the power spectral density of the original sub-band signal. Non-tonal sub-band signals bypass the TDLP process. |
| US08428950B2 |
Recognizer weight learning apparatus, speech recognition apparatus, and system
A speech recognition apparatus (110) selects an optimum recognition result from recognition results output from a set of speech recognizers (s1-sM) based on a majority decision. This decision is implemented with taking into account weight values, as to the set of the speech recognizers, learned by a learning apparatus (100). The learning apparatus includes a unit (103) selecting speech recognizers corresponding to characteristics of speech for learning (101), a unit (104) finding recognition results of the speech for learning by using the selected speech recognizers, a unit (105) unifying the recognition results and generating a word string network, and a unit (106) finding weight values concerning a set of the speech recognizers by implementing learning processing. When finding weight values, the learning apparatus selects a word from each arc set in the word string network based on a majority decision which is taken into account candidates of weight value, and outputs weight value candidates which minimize a recognition error rate of a word string formed of the selected words, as a learning result. |
| US08428948B1 |
Usage based query response
It is possible to provide meaningful responses to queries using systems which consider usage of words in the queries when analyzing those queries and determining what information is possibly relevant. This approach can be applied in online shopping systems by identification of nouns or noun phrases reflecting products available through the system. |
| US08428944B2 |
System and method for performing compensated speech recognition
A speech recognition system prompts a user to provide a first utterance, which is recorded. Speech recognition is performed on the first user utterance to yield a recognition result. The user is prompted to provide a second user utterance, which is recorded, processed and compared to the first utterance to detect a plurality of acoustic differences for each acoustic parameter. The acoustic model used by the speech recognition engine is modified as a function of the acoustic difference. |
| US08428942B2 |
Method and apparatus for re-encoding signals
At the time of encoding audio content, the finally required data rate for delivery to the customer may be unknown. A data format is disclosed that is optimized for serving as Intermediate Format for efficient and fast recoding, to obtain one or more standard complying lossy encoded data streams with flexible data rates. Encoding can be performed in two steps that are inter-coordinated for cooperating, but may be locally and/or temporally separate. Between the partial encoders encoding parameters and/or auxiliary data are transmitted in a separate parameter enhancement layer, which complements a lossy data stream and can be used by the second encoder or transcoder for fast and computationally efficient implementation of the second encoding step. An additional lossless enhancement layer allows lossless reconstruction. |
| US08428941B2 |
Method and apparatus for lossless encoding of a source signal using a lossy encoded data stream and a lossless extension data stream
In lossy based lossless coding a PCM audio signal passes through a lossy encoder to a lossy decoder. The lossy encoder provides a lossy bit stream. The difference signal between the PCM signal and the lossy decoder output is lossless encoded, providing an extension bit stream. The invention facilitates enhancing a lossy perceptual audio encoding/decoding by an extension that enables mathematically exact reproduction of the original waveform using enhanced de-correlation, and provides additional data for reconstructing at decoder site an intermediate-quality audio signal. The lossless extension can be used to extend the widely used mp3 encoding/decoding to lossless encoding/decoding and superior quality mp3 encoding/de-coding. |
| US08428936B2 |
Decoder for audio signal including generic audio and speech frames
A method for decoding audio frames includes producing a first frame of coded audio samples, producing at least a portion of a second frame of coded audio samples, generating audio gap filler samples based on parameters representative of 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, and forming a sequence including the audio gap filler samples and the portion of the second frame of coded audio samples. |
| US08428935B2 |
Neural network for classifying speech and textural data based on agglomerates in a taxonomy table
A speech and textual analysis device and method for forming a search and/or classification catalog. The device is based on a linguistic database and includes a taxonomy table containing variable taxon nodes. The speech and textual analysis device includes a weighting module, a weighting parameter being additionally assigned to each stored taxon node to register recurrence frequency of terms in the linguistic and/or textual data that is to be classified and/or sorted. The speech and/or textual analysis device includes an integration module for determining a predefinable number of agglomerates based on the weighting parameters of the taxon nodes in the taxonomy table and at least one neuronal network module for classifying and/or sorting the speech and/or textual data based on the agglomerates in the taxonomy table. |
| US08428934B2 |
Prose style morphing
This invention is a method for incrementally and multi-dimensionally adjusting prose style in the following steps: creating a database of sets of phrase synonyms; assigning rankings and/or values to phrases in the database for each phrase's ranking and/or value with respect to a selected dimension of prose style, for at least two different dimensions of prose style; receiving input prose from a user; receiving a style adjustment preference from a user for at least one dimension of prose style through a multi-dimensional style-adjusting interface; and making adjustments to the style of the input prose using the database of phrase synonyms and phrase rankings and/or values in order to achieve the style adjustment preference specified by the user. |
| US08428931B2 |
Mainframe data stream proxy and method for caching communication between emulators and mainframes
The present invention concerns a mainframe data stream proxy (MDSP) (1) for caching communication of at least one emulator (2) directed to at least one mainframe (3), wherein the MDSP (1) comprises: a. a runtime application server (10), adapted for receiving (101, 201) at least one emulator action from the at least one emulator (2) and for sending (105, 209) at least one corresponding mainframe action to the at least one emulator (2); b. wherein the runtime application server (10) is further adapted for retrieving (102, 103) the at least one corresponding mainframe action to be sent to the at least one emulator (2) from a cache (20) of the MDSP (1). |
| US08428928B1 |
System and method for dynamically representing repetitive loads of a circuit during simulation
A system for dynamically representing repetitive loads of a circuit during simulation includes a simulator module having one or more computer programs for 1) identifying one or more driver circuits for driving a plurality of repetitive receiver circuits, where each driver circuit has an output port and each repetitive receiver circuit has an input port, 2) creating a branch node driver for connecting the input ports of the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits and the output ports of the one or more driver circuits, 3) creating a shared load for representing aggregated input port loads of the plurality of receiver circuits having a substantially same isomorphic behavior, 4) creating a port connectivity interface for communicating changes of signal conditions between the output ports of the one or more driver circuits and the corresponding input ports of the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits, and 5) simulating the one or more driver circuits and the plurality of repetitive receiver circuits in accordance with the branch node driver, the shared load and the port connectivity interface. |
| US08428927B2 |
Simulation method and simulation apparatus
A simulation method includes obtaining an execution log generated while a predetermined processing is executed by simulating a series of operations in a test model that is a modeled version of a test target device by causing a predetermined processing to be executed in the test model, extracting a processing unit log constituted by a predetermined processing unit from the execution log obtained in the obtaining, and simulating an operation in which processing corresponding to the processing unit log extracted in the extracting is executed in a test model in which a part of function of the test target device is modified, the operation being simulated on the basis of a setting condition set by a user. |
| US08428926B2 |
Virtual simulator method and system for neuromuscular training and certification via a communication network
A virtual simulator method and system via a communication network with possible physics law respect is used to create a virtual skill training environment for dexterity fulfillment of physical activities such as professional work, labor or craft activities, sport or even physical rehabilitation requirements where the skills or neuromuscular ability is required to be performed in a precise environment. All information required insuring a code of conduct, state-of-the-art, physic laws, technical code and technique for physical activities training certification for a member are managed and maintained in a database by an online processor. This database is maintained for continuous neuromuscular training improvement updates. Access to a third party witness in this training program is allowed to ensure code, law and state-of-the-art integrity when certification is required. |
| US08428920B2 |
Methods and systems for dynamic wrinkle prediction
Systems and methods for predicting a dynamic wrinkle property are provided. In one embodiment, a method of predicting a dynamic wrinkle property of a material for incorporation with an upholstered article includes selecting a plurality of material property categories and determining a material property for each selected material property category of a material. A dynamic wrinkle factor is assigned for each material property category based at least in part on the material property associated with the material property category. A dynamic wrinkle weight value is applied to each dynamic wrinkle factor to generate a weighted dynamic wrinkle factor for each material property category. The method further includes determining a predicted dynamic wrinkle score based at least in part on the weighted dynamic wrinkle factors and altering one or more material properties of the material if the predicted dynamic wrinkle score is below a benchmark value. |
| US08428918B2 |
System and method for occupancy estimation
A system generates occupancy estimates based on a Kinetic-Motion (KM)-based model that predicts the movements of occupants through a region divided into a plurality of segments. The system includes a controller for executing an algorithm representing the KM-based model. The KM-based model includes state equations that define each of the plurality of segments as containing congested portions and uncongested portions. The state equations define the movement of occupants based, in part, on the distinctions made between congested and uncongested portions of each segment. |
| US08428917B2 |
Signal processing device and signal processing method
A signal processing device includes a transformer simulator for simulating transfer characteristic of a transformer which changes in frequency characteristic depending on a load connected to the transformer and processing an input signal with the transfer characteristic to output the processed signal, and a load impedance simulator for simulating impedance characteristic of a predetermined load to output the impedance characteristic. The transformer simulator simulates the transfer characteristic of the transformer to which the load having the load impedance which is simulated by the load impedance simulator is connected. |
| US08428914B2 |
Method and simulator for real-time calculation of state variables of a process model
A method for real-time calculation of state variables (xM) of a process model on a process computer with a first calculating unit and a process interface, wherein the computer is designed so that at least one state variable of a physical process can be received by the computer using the interface and/or at least one output variable for controlling the process can be issued by the computer, wherein the model is calculated by the first calculating unit with an explicit integration method for determining the state variables. According to this method, a second calculating unit is provided, the model is carried out with the second calculating unit using an implicit integration method essentially simultaneously with the calculation of the model with the first calculating unit and the state variables (xM,i) calculated with the second calculating unit and the implicit method are used as state variables (xM) of the model. |
| US08428905B2 |
System and method for auto triggering of a data acquisition device
A data acquisition device for an auto triggering thereof includes a movement detector, a distance detector, a processor, and a data acquiring component. The movement detector detects movement data of the data acquisition device. The movement data indicates a state of movement for the data acquisition device. The state of movement is one of static and dynamic. The distance detector detects distance data between the data acquisition device and an object to which data is to be acquired. The processor receives the movement data to determine the state of movement and, when the state of movement is determined to be static, receives the distance data to determine the distance of the object from the data acquisition device. The data acquiring component acquires the data from the object when the processor initially determines that the state of movement is static and subsequently determines the distance is within a predetermined range. |
| US08428902B2 |
System and method for measuring fiber temperatures using OTDR measurements
Described herein are systems and methods for calculating a relative temperature of a fiber-optic cable using bi-directional analysis traces with an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”). Analysis of bi-directional traces along a length of fiber-optic cable yields a scaled local backscatter coefficient of the fiber. Accordingly, an initial set of measurement data is collected at a first time interval and a base scaled local backscatter along a fiber is calculated. A subsequent set of measurement data is collected at a second time interval and a subsequent scaled local backscatter along the fiber is calculated. The exemplary systems and methods described herein determines a change in scaled local backscatter as a function of a difference between the base scaled local backscatter and at least the subsequent scaled local scaled local backscatter along the fiber, and then determines a relative temperature variation of the fiber as a function of the change in scaled local backscatter. |
| US08428896B2 |
Malfunction detecting apparatus
A malfunction detecting apparatus for detecting a malfunction of a voltage detecting device accurately, including a low-voltage-system CPU which controls voltage detecting circuits to detect voltage between both terminals of one unit cell from among unit cells included in blocks corresponding to voltage detecting circuits. When variation of the voltage between both terminals detecting by the low-voltage-system CPU is at least an allowable error determined by a detection accuracy of the voltage detecting circuits, an abnormal condition of the voltage detecting circuits is detected. |
| US08428894B2 |
Measuring and monitoring a power source
Battery testing sensors, and systems and methods for testing batteries, are disclosed. Each battery sensor has a microcontroller programmed to analyze the frequencies of noise or other undesirable signals (“background noise”) present at a battery to be tested, and to determine the duty cycle of a desired pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to be applied to the battery in view of the background noise. Duty cycles of desired PWM signals are selected such that, when applied to the battery, they will at least approximate an AC signal having a frequency that has been determined to provide optimal test results in view of the background noise. The microcontroller analyzes the battery's response from application of the PWM signal thereto. Consequently, measurement errors from background noise present at the battery are minimized. Based on the response, attributes of the battery, such as internal admittance, voltage, current, and temperature, are determined. |
| US08428892B2 |
Viscous fluid flow measurement using a differential pressure measurement and a SONAR measured velocity
A method and apparatus for determining a parameter of fluid flow within a piping system is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining a measured velocity of the fluid flow using a fluid flow meter; determining a measured difference in pressure value within the fluid flow using a differential pressure meter; selecting an estimated Reynolds number of the fluid flow; determining a calculated difference in pressure value using a model which relates the calculated difference in pressure value to the measured velocity and the estimated Reynolds number of the fluid flow; determining a degree of inaccuracy of the estimated Reynolds number using the measured difference in pressure and the calculated difference in pressure; and iteratively adjusting the estimated Reynolds number, determining the calculated difference in pressure, and determining the degree of inaccuracy using the adjusted Reynolds number, until the degree of inaccuracy is within an acceptable range. |
| US08428891B2 |
Systems and methods for apportioning usage of a utility in a multi-unit building
Usage of a utility in a multi-unit building is apportioned to a single unit by measuring the total usage of the utility using a meter unit to produce a total usage measurement, then positioning at least one sensor unit in a single unit of the multi-unit building and monitoring usage of the utility by the single unit using the at least one sensor unit to produce monitoring data. Then a processor unit receives the total usage measurement and the monitoring data and correlates them to generate correlated data. Finally, the processor unit apportions the total usage measurement to the single unit based on the correlated data. |
| US08428883B2 |
Multi-component medicine evaluation method
A method for evaluation of a multi-component medicine by judging the degree of difference of the multi-component medicine to be evaluated from a group of multi-component medicines selected as a reference group by using a Mahalanobis distance obtained by combining the 3D-HPLC fingerprint data of a multi-component medicine with fingerprint data of 3D-HPLC of other multi-component medicines of the same kind forming a reference group, allocating variable axes in the MT method to the number of multi-component medicine and the elution time or detection wavelength of the fingerprint data, obtaining a unit space from the signal strength, and obtaining the Mahalanobis distance of the multi-component medicine from the unit space. |
| US08428880B2 |
Method of processing data obtained from seismic prospecting
A method of processing data obtained from seismic prospecting of an earth formation, comprises obtaining data representing a multicomponent seismic signal from a multicomponent seismic receiver at a receiver location in an earth formation, in response to transmitting seismic waves into the earth formation; performing a wave-equation migration of the multicomponent seismic signal to obtain a seismic image of the earth formation, wherein the polarization of the seismic wave at the receiver location is taken into account and wherein a seismic image value at a point in the earth formation is calculated from a sum of products of a source field component for a particular dimension and a complex conjugated back propagated wave field component for the same dimension, summed over a plurality of dimensions. |
| US08428878B2 |
Lightning strike simulation apparatus, method thereof, and program
A lightning strike simulation apparatus includes a storage device for storing lightning strike data, a setting unit for setting a simulation target in a simulation space, a downward leader advancing unit for advancing a downward leader from a lightning strike start position set by the setting unit, an upward leader advancing unit for advancing upward leaders from lightning strike-receiving candidate points set in the simulation space when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a reference point is within a first threshold value, and a lightning strike point determination unit for, when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a leading edge of any one of the upward leaders is within a second threshold value, determining that the lightning strike-receiving candidate point corresponding to the any one of the upward leaders is a lightning strike point. |
| US08428875B2 |
GPS management system
A method applied to a mobile device having a GPS receiver having access to a network interface is disclosed. When transmitting via the network interface a first command to edit a user location information on the network interface based on a first geo-information from the GPS receiver to update location information displayed on a website, a destination list stored in the mobile device is updated with transmission destination network address and current GPS receiver location information. Stored location information is periodically compared to current GPS receiver locations and when determined that the GPS receiver has moved at least a predetermined distance from the location stored in the destination list, the method transmits via the network interface a second command to edit a user location information on the network interface based on a second geo-information from the GPS receiver to the website to update or invalidate displayed location information. |
| US08428873B2 |
Panoramic images within driving directions
Embodiments of the present invention enable displaying a plurality of driving direction steps that form a driving directions path between a start address and a destination address; receiving input selecting a driving direction step of said plurality of driving direction steps; and displaying a panoramic image of a geographic area where a driving action associated with said selected driving direction step would be performed by a driver. In other embodiments, the panoramic image is replaced and/or complemented with one or more of 3D models, full-motion video, full-motion video of 360 degrees images, and live feeds from video cameras to provide enhanced driving directions. |
| US08428872B2 |
System and method for entry of taxi route on control display unit
A system and method is provided for receiving and displaying a taxiway navigation route on a control display unit having at least one entry field and a plurality of display lines. A plurality of taxi route segments are received from an entry field. The plurality of taxi route segments include at least a first taxi route segment and a second taxi route segment. The taxi route segments are assigned to separate display lines in the order in which the taxi route segments were received to form a taxiway navigation route. The taxi route segments are displayed on the control display unit in the order in which the taxi route segments were received. The display line in which the first taxi route segment is to be assigned can be selected. In addition, navigation data corresponding to the taxi route segments can be identified, retrieved, and assigned to the respective taxi route segment. |
| US08428865B2 |
Navigation system and roadway search method
The present invention provides a navigation system and roadway search method capable of easily searching for a roadway even if a user does not accurately know the name of the roadway. The navigation system includes an icon display unit that displays roadway icons by road type on a screen, and a search key setting unit that specifies a road type corresponding to the icon selected from the icons displayed on the screen, and sets a roadway name corresponding to the icon selected from the icons displayed on the screen as a search key through a user operation. The navigation system displays icons on the screen that are constituted by marks that are similar to marks actually used for roadways in paper maps or road signs. Thus the user is able to search for a roadway without needing to know the complete name of the desired roadway. |
| US08428864B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for testing crash avoidance technologies
A Guided Soft Target (GST) system and method provides a versatile test system and methodology for the evaluation of various crash avoidance technologies. This system and method can be used to replicate the pre-crash motions of the CP in a wide variety of crash scenarios while minimizing physical risk, all while consistently providing radar and other sensor signatures substantially identical to that of the item being simulated. The GST system in various example embodiments may comprise a soft target vehicle or pedestrian form removably attached to a programmable, autonomously guided, self-propelled Dynamic Motion Element (DME), which may be operated in connection with a wireless computer network operating on a plurality of complimentary communication networks. Specific DME geometries are provided to minimize ride disturbance and observability by radar and other sensors. Computer controlled DME braking systems are disclosed as well as break-away and retractable antenna systems. |
| US08428862B2 |
Collision detecting device
An object is to be able to accurately discriminate an object of a collision. A device has a collision detection to which are connected a pressure sensor that detects pressure within a pressure chamber, and a vehicle speed sensor that detects vehicle speed, and the collision detection determines effective mass of a collided object on the basis of an integrated value obtained by integrating, at a predetermined sectional integration width, detection results of the pressure sensor, and a converted vehicle speed signal obtained by subtracting a predetermined value α from a vehicle speed signal of the vehicle speed sensor by using a predetermined vehicle speed converting map or the like. Then, when the determined effective mass exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the collided object is discriminated as a pedestrian. |
| US08428860B2 |
Vehicle driving assistance
A vehicle (2) comprises sensor units (10) for collecting sensor data, and a processing unit (11) for processing the sensor data. A method of providing driving assistance information comprises the steps of: determining the cost (c) of pairs (30, 31, 32) of acceleration values on the basis of the sensor data, each pair of acceleration values representing a longitudinal (a lon) and a lateral (a lat) acceleration of the vehicle, —selecting a pair (32) of least cost acceleration values, and—providing driving assistance information including the pair of least cost acceleration values. The processing unit (10) may be arranged for providing visible, audible and/or haptic driving assistance information to the driver of the vehicle, and/or for providing steering assistance. |
| US08428858B2 |
Traffic-jam state calculation systems, methods, and programs
Systems, methods, and programs obtain probe information, the probe information comprising an average speed of probe cars traveling on each of a plurality of links in a predetermined area. The systems, methods, and programs detect, for each of the plurality of links, a first degree of a traffic jam corresponding to the link for each of a plurality of different thresholds by comparing the average speed with each of the thresholds. The systems, methods, and programs obtain traffic-jam information concerning the plurality of links, the obtained traffic information comprising a second degree of the traffic jam corresponding to each of the plurality of links. The systems, methods, and programs compare, for each of the plurality of links, the second degree of the traffic jam with the first degree of the traffic jam for each of the thresholds. The systems, methods, and programs select, for the predetermined area, a threshold from the plurality of thresholds for which the first degree of the traffic jam most matches the second degree of the traffic jam and utilize the selected threshold to determine a severity of the traffic jam for each of the plurality of links. |
| US08428857B2 |
Method and apparatus matching incoming to outgoing vehicle signatures to estimate arterial vehicular movement
A roadway information system is disclosed with components generating and using vehicle signatures for vehicles passing near sensor pods located on or near lanes. Means and/or processors for matching incoming and outgoing vehicle signatures are disclosed creating an in-out vehicle match table used to generate a vehicle movement estimate or its components including a travel time and/or vehicle count. |
| US08428853B2 |
Malfunction diagnostic apparatus and malfunction diagnostic method for intake air temperature sensors
A malfunction diagnostic apparatus for intake air temperature sensors includes a coolant temperature sensor; a first determination portion that determines that a precondition for performing a malfunction diagnosis is satisfied when a process of starting an engine is started, if a detected coolant temperature is determined to be equal to an intake air temperature detected by an intake air temperature sensor provided at a portion that is likely to be cooled, and a decrease amount, by which the detected coolant temperature decreases, is equal to or larger than a preset value; a second determination portion that makes a tentative determination based on a difference between the detected intake air temperatures, if the precondition is satisfied; and a third determination portion that determines whether the tentative determination is an invalid determination or a valid determination, based on a change in the detected intake air temperatures during a given time period. |
| US08428850B2 |
Fuel injection control apparatus of internal combustion engine
In one embodiment, a total fuel injection amount is calculated from a torque required by an engine. A division ratio of a pre-injection amount that achieves both suppression of ignition delay of fuel from a main injection and suppression of a peak value of a heat production ratio of combustion from the main injection is calculated. Upper and lower limit guards are given to the obtained divided amount, and the divided injection amount is calculated. The injection amount of the main injection is obtained by subtracting the divided injection amount from the total fuel injection amount. |
| US08428844B2 |
Vehicle pneumatic booster system operating method and apparatus
An apparatus and method for improving vehicle performance by application of pneumatic boost to vehicle engines, including diesel engines having at least one turbocharger supplying air to the engine, in a manner which increases engine torque output while minimizing the potential for exceed various operating limits to the maximum practicable extent. The vehicle's pneumatic booster system controller implements strategies for shaping the rate of the air injection during a boost event, tailoring the air injection to obtain maximum engine torque output while respecting the operating limits, by controlling the timing, duration, quantity and/or injection pattern during a boost event to achieve a refined distribution of compressed air injection over the course of the boost event to provide desired engine torque output and fuel efficiency while minimizing the potential for exceeding a wide variety of operation limits, regulatory, engineering and passenger comfort limits. |
| US08428840B2 |
Method for controlling torque at one or more wheels of a vehicle
An exemplary method for controlling torque at one or more wheels of a vehicle, including controlling both positive torque (acceleration) and negative torque (braking) with a single torque command. According to one embodiment, the method interprets the acceleration and braking intent of the driver, takes into consideration certain special conditions (e.g., vehicle dynamic conditions like wheel slip, over- and under-steer, etc.), and generates one or more individual torque commands that are sent to individual wheels or corners of the vehicle. The individual torque commands may address certain chassis and powertrain functions like acceleration and braking, and may provide full-feature torque control (i.e., acceleration, braking, vehicle dynamics, etc.) on an individual wheel basis. It is also possible for the method to be used in a system where a number of the common chassis, powertrain and/or vehicle dynamic modules have been integrated into a single torque control module or the like. |
| US08428836B2 |
Driveline protection systems and methods using measured steering angle
An engine control system comprises a limit determination module and a torque control module. The limit determination module selectively varies a torque limit based on a steering angle. The torque control module selectively limits torque output by an engine to the torque limit. |
| US08428834B2 |
Control system of automatic transmission
A control system of an automatic transmission including a stepwise variable transmission section and a continuously variable transmission section makes a speed change control of the continuously variable transmission section cooperate with a change of an input rotation speed of the stepwise variable transmission section and is configured to judge, during the shift change of the stepwise variable transmission section, whether a delivery of a torque from one of a plurality of disengaging side frictional elements to one of a plurality of engaging side frictional elements is completed, and to start the speed change control of the continuously variable transmission section upon judgment that the delivery of the torque is completed and that an inertial phase has started. |
| US08428833B2 |
Method and device for controlling power output of engine for working machine
An engine control device detects the state of work of a working vehicle such as a construction machine or the like, and controls the power output capacity of an engine automatically. A determination is made as to whether excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, based upon the detection signals from a hydraulic oil pressure detector for a hydraulic cylinder of an arm, detectors for arm and bucket operation commands, a shift operation detector for a transmission, a pitch angle detector for the vehicle body, a traveling acceleration detector, and an accelerator opening degree detector. When the result of this determination is that excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, the engine is controlled to operate at a high power capacity, while at other times it is controlled to operate at a low power output capacity. |
| US08428832B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating payload weight
An apparatus for determining the weight of a payload in a bucket of a machine where the bucket is attached to a chassis of the machine by a linkage. The apparatus comprises an energy storage device for storing potential energy of the bucket, payload, and linkage when the bucket is moved from a first suspended position to a second suspended position. A mechanism provides physical data corresponding to a physical change in the energy storage device caused by storage of the potential energy and a processor calculates the weight of the payload using the physical data. |
| US08428827B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling rotational movement of a vehicle turret
An apparatus for controlling rotational movement of a turret of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a first communication port that is adapted to receive input signals from a first input device for controlling rotation of the turret. A second communication port is adapted to receive input signals from a second input device for controlling rotation of the turret. A controller generates control signals for operational control of the vehicle turret in response to receipt of an input signal from at least one of the first and second input devices. |
| US08428825B2 |
Seatbelt control device
In the case of a severe collision, the severity of the collision exceeds a first threshold value at which a pretensioner mechanism starts to activate, and then exceeds a second threshold value within a collision-discriminating time range T following the start of the activation; therefore, the force limiter mechanism unit is set at a high load. In the case of a gentle collision, the severity of the collision exceeds the first threshold value, at which the pretensioner mechanism starts to activate, but does not exceed the second threshold value within the collision-discriminating time range T following the start of the activation; therefore the force limiter mechanism unit is set at a low load. Therefore, without a determination delay, the switching of the force limiter mechanism can be appropriately selected. |
| US08428822B2 |
Method of determining a steering angle in a motor vehicle
A method for determining a steering angle of a steering shaft in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method uses a rotation sensor associated with an electric motor of a power steering system to determine the relative steering angle of the steering column. The relative steering angle is measured relative to an initial position of the steering column during vehicle startup. The relative steering angle is reset each time the motor vehicle is turned on. |
| US08428819B2 |
Suspension system with optimized damper response for wide range of events
An analytical methodology for the specification of progressive optimal compression damping of a damper of a suspension system to negotiate a multiplicity of severe events, yet provides very acceptable ride quality and handling during routine events. The damping response of the damper is optimized based upon a progressive optimal constrained events damping function derived from a low envelope curve incorporated with a predetermined damper force acting on the wheel center below a predetermined wheel center velocity, u1, based on ride and handling considerations for a given vehicle or vehicle model according to the prior art methodology, whereby the low envelope curve is constructed utilizing a one degree of freedom nonlinear mechanical system model or a quarter car nonlinear mechanical system model. |
| US08428818B2 |
Lubricant oil state warning device for a working vehicle
When the drive of a lubricant pump (46) is stopped to prevent the lubricant pump (46) from assuming an idling state, a determination is made as to whether or not a temperature difference (ΔT) between the temperature (T) of a lubricant oil detected earlier by a temperature sensor (51) and a warning temperature (Toh) is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value (α). When the temperature difference (ΔT) is within the threshold value (α), an “overheat” warning is issued to an operator of a dump truck (1). In consequence, even in a case where a temperature sensor (51) is provided on the output side of the lubricant pump (46) by being located on an outer side of a wheel mounting case (19), planetary gear reduction mechanisms (23), (31) inside the wheel mounting case (19) can be prevented from overheating by warning the operator of the vehicle. |
| US08428817B2 |
Vehicle cooling fan control system and vehicle cooling fan control method
Vehicle cooling fan control system and method which prevent an occupant from hearing peculiar sounds from a cooling fan due to a decrease in rotation speed are provided. The vehicle cooling fan control system according to the present invention is configured not to stop the rotation of a fan motor for a predetermined time even upon satisfaction of an air conditioner stoppage condition as long as a vehicle interior is quiet. |
| US08428812B2 |
Travel trace generation method and travel trace generation device
A running locus generating apparatus 1 for generating a future running locus of a vehicle driven by a hybrid scheme comprises constraint condition computing means 30 for convergently computing a constraint condition including at least a road boundary condition and evaluation function computing means 30 for deriving a running locus by a convergent computation with an evaluation function including at least an evaluation of an electric power balance in a hybrid system when the electric power balance is positive in a state where the constraint condition by the constraint condition computing means 30 is satisfied. |
| US08428809B2 |
Multi-step valve lift failure mode detection
A method of valve lift failure detection may include determining first and second intake air pressures in an engine having intake valve lifters that selectively operate intake valves in first and second lift modes. The first intake air pressure may correspond to an intake stroke of a first piston of the engine when the engine is commanded to operate in the first lift mode and the second intake air pressure may correspond to an intake stroke of a second piston of the engine when the engine is commanded to operate in the first lift mode. The method may further include determining a difference between the first and second intake air pressures and diagnosing an intake valve lifter failure when the difference exceeds a predetermined limit. |
| US08428808B2 |
Engine fuel diagnosis device and control apparatus for automatic transmission having the device
An engine fuel diagnosis device is disclosed that diagnoses whether an unexpected fuel is being used in an internal combustion engine. The fuel diagnosis device includes an inclination detecting section, a first estimating section, an acceleration detecting section, and a diagnosing section. The first estimating section computes a first estimated acceleration, which is a vehicle acceleration obtained when fuel injection is executed in the internal combustion engine while the vehicle is traveling uphill or downhill, based on an engine power, which is estimated based on the engine operation state on the assumption that a previously expected fuel is being used, and the inclination detected by the inclination detecting section. The diagnosing section computes a first deviation degree indicating the degree of deviation between the first estimated acceleration and the actual acceleration detected when the first estimated acceleration is computed. The diagnosing section diagnoses the usage state of the unexpected fuel based on the first deviation degree. |
| US08428807B2 |
Method for determining at least one displacement state of a vehicle body
Process for determining at least one state of motion of a vehicle body (10) of a vehicle (1), which has at least one wheel (2) spring-mounted on the vehicle body (10) via a wheel suspension (6), wherein an inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of a path or angle sensor (21), an inward deflection velocity (żrel) of the wheel (2) is determined by differentiating the inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) over time, a vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of an acceleration sensor (22), a vertical velocity (żwheel) of the wheel (2) is determined by integrating the vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) over time, and a vertical velocity (żbody) of the vehicle body (10) is calculated by forming a difference of the vertical velocity (żwheel) of wheel (2) and the inward deflection velocity (żrel) of wheel (2). |
| US08428801B1 |
Marine vessel propulsion system and marine vessel including the same
A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers relative to each other and set a target travel speed according to amounts of displacement of the first and second operation levers with respect to neutral positions. |
| US08428799B2 |
Automated fuel economy optimization for marine vessel applications
A method and system for operating a marine vessel includes a cruise control module operating the marine vessel at a speed and a trim control module positioning an outdrive into a plurality of trim positions. A fuel economy determination module determines a plurality of fuel economies for each of the trim positions and determines an efficient trim position from the plurality of fuel economies for each of the trim positions. An operation control module operates the marine vessel at the efficient trim position. A trim tab position may also be taken into account for efficient operation. |
| US08428798B2 |
Short headway communications based train control system
A train control system includes a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a first train; and a communication device associated with at least one control unit located on a second train. At least one of the control units of the first train and the second train is configured to receive, at the associated communication device, an authority signal including data sufficient to identify one of the first train and the second train as a lead train and the other of the first train and the second train as a follower train, establish at least one peer-to-peer communication link between the communication devices of the lead train and the follower train, and exchange train data between the lead train and the follower train via the at least one peer-to-peer communication link. An on-board control unit is also disclosed. |
| US08428797B2 |
Method and arrangement for the operation of a railroad line
A method and a configuration for the operation of a railroad line include at least one signal box for providing line-block-section-specific light signal data and a line side system for an intermittent automatic or inductive train control system at line block section ends. In order to dispense with line side light signals and still be able to continue to use a signal box logic concept for light signals, the signal box transfers the line-block-section-specific light signal data over a radio system to a rail vehicle and the intermittent automatic or inductive train control system transfers line-block-section-specific data to the rail vehicle during passage by the rail vehicle. The rail vehicle determines the light signal data assigned to the line block section by comparison of line block section specifics. |
| US08428796B2 |
Rail conveyance system for mining
A rail-based system is disclosed for moving materials and is applicable to a number of industries. The invention describes a system of automated self-powered rail cars operating independently to transport material such as ore from a work face in a mine or cargo from a marine port to a major transportation hub. |
| US08428794B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing instrument missed approaches
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing missed approaches to runways. In one advantageous embodiment, an event requiring missing an approach to a runway by an aircraft is monitored for, while the movement of the aircraft along a route is being controlled by a flight management system. Responsive to detecting the event, a location of the aircraft is identified to form an identified location. The identified location of the aircraft is compared to a plurality of waypoints for a plurality of missed approach routes to identify an active waypoint in the plurality of waypoints closest to the aircraft to form an identified waypoint. A missed approach route from the plurality of missed approach routes associated with the identified waypoint is executed for the aircraft. |
| US08428792B2 |
In-vehicle device control system
In an in-vehicle device control system, a vehicle-side unit mounted in a vehicle controls an in-vehicle device in accordance with a result of checkup about a portable device performed by mutual communications, in which the portable device returns a response signal in response to a request signal transmitted from the vehicle-side unit. An ECU of the vehicle-side unit checks whether it is a regular checkup timing, and performs an exterior checkup if it is determined to be the regular checkup timing. The ECU sets in this case a communication frequency, which is higher in priority order, as a communication frequency to be designated to the portable device. |
| US08428790B2 |
Systems and methods for machine control in designated areas
Systems and methods for controlling a machine comprise receiving information indicative of an occurrence of a prospective event and providing an event initiation signal to one or more machines. The event initiation signal may be configured to cause a controller of the one or more machines to control movement of the one or more machines based at least on a location of the machine relative to a designated area surrounding a location at which the prospective event is to occur. |
| US08428786B2 |
Dynamic resource load reduction
In one embodiment, a method determines an area for a load reduction of resources. Statistics regarding a past history of load reductions for a plurality of consumers in the area is then determined. Load reduction ratings for the plurality of consumers based on the statistics is then determined. The load reduction rating may be used to rank the consumers based on the result of past load reductions. A list of consumers and devices is then determined for the load reduction. For example, consumers and associated devices are selected based on their load reduction rating. The amount of savings is calculated to be equal to an amount of load reduction that is desired. A signal requesting a load reduction is then sent for the determined consumers and devices. |
| US08428785B2 |
Enterprise energy automation
The preferred embodiments described herein relate to enterprise energy automation. In one preferred embodiment, a method for enterprise energy automation is provided. In another preferred embodiment, a method for delivering ancillary services to an energy supply and delivery system by a group of buildings is provided. In yet another preferred embodiment, a method for integrating an energy automation system is provided. Other preferred embodiments are also provided. |
| US08428784B2 |
Rotational speed determination
The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind power plant (11) with a rotor (10) and a rotating apparatus (20, 22, 24) connected with the rotor (10), wherein a rotor speed (nR) and a rotating apparatus speed (n) are interrelated via a specifiable transmission ratio, wherein the rotating apparatus speed (n) is determined, and wherein a rotational speed measurement value (rpmi) is captured for the determination of the rotating apparatus speed (n). The method according to the invention is characterized in that the rotational speed measurement value (rpmi) is corrected with an intermittently variable correction value (rpmi,c) so that the determined rotating apparatus speed (rpmi,f) results, and wherein the determined rotating apparatus speed (rpmi,f) is fed as the actual value into a regulation apparatus (36) of the wind power plant (11). |
| US08428780B2 |
External force target generating device of legged mobile robot
An external force target generating device of a legged mobile robot uses virtual surfaces S3a, S2a, and S2b to approximate a plurality of surfaces to be contacted FL, WL1, and WL2 in an operating environment of a robot 1, and determines provisional values of translational forces (required virtual surface translational forces) to be applied from the virtual surfaces S3a, S2a, and S2b to the robot 1 in order to implement a compensation total translational external force related to a translational motion of the robot 1. Further, in order to implement a compensation total moment external force related to a rotational motion of the robot 1, the external force target generating device determines moment compensation amounts to be combined with the provisional values of the required virtual surface translational forces and then determines the desired external forces to be applied from the surfaces to be contacted to the robot 1 and the desired external force action points on the basis of the combinations of the provisional values of the required virtual surface translational forces and the moment compensation amounts. |
| US08428778B2 |
Navigational control system for a robotic device
An autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a chassis, a drive system disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system. |
| US08428777B1 |
Methods and systems for distributing tasks among robotic devices
Methods and systems for distributing tasks among robotic devices are described. A server may receive from a first device, information associated with an assigned task of the first device. The server may determine whether the assigned task can be executed more efficiently with assistance from additional devices, and may further determine available devices that can assist in executing the assigned task. The determined available devices may be ranked according to an amount of usage of the devices over time, and a second device may be selected from the available devices based on the ranking. A subtask of the assigned task may then be determined from a plurality of subtasks of the assigned task based on capabilities of the selected second device. An instruction may then be sent to the second device, instructing the second device to execute the determined subtask. |
| US08428774B2 |
Apparatus and method for single unit access display
A product display apparatus including a product supply module that includes a support frame and defines a storage area. A door assembly coupled to the support frame is structured to provide bulk access to the storage area in an open position and prevent bulk access to the storage area in the closed position. A return area is defined between the support frame and the top of the door assembly while a retrieval area is defined between the support frame and the bottom of the door assembly. A modular display portion is coupled to the door assembly that extends into the retrieval area to define a single unit retrieval opening. A load block member may be disposed in the retrieval area to permit retrieval of a product, but inhibit return of a product. A retrieval detector may be configured to detect when a product has been withdrawn through the retrieval area and generate an alert upon detection of rapid product removal. |
| US08428773B1 |
Systems and methods of associating individual packages with harvest crates
Clamshells for packaging produce, or other unit packaging, are labeled with unique codes. Harvest crates for transporting filled clamshells from the harvest, or other containers for transporting unit packaging, are also labeled with unique codes. A plurality of labeled un-filled clamshells are nested together and placed into each harvest crate before the harvest, and the codes from the clamshells and the harvest crate are stored in association. In some instances, clamshells are de-nested, labeled with pre-printed labels, and nested again before being placed into the harvest crates. At the harvest the clamshells are removed from the harvest crate, de-nested, filled with produce, packed back into the harvest crate, and moved into the distribution chain. The unique codes are further associated with other information such as harvest data. |
| US08428771B2 |
Picking station and method for picking with a light grid
The invention relates to a commissioning area comprising a buffers for order containers in which items can be commissioned, the buffer comprising a plurality of adjacent buffer regions for receiving order containers. A beam field is provided above the buffer in order to monitor the commissioning of items. |
| US08428770B2 |
Automated transport control system
Each load-carrier of a system is always controlled by one of a series of MCUs (monitoring and control units) that are assigned to contiguous regions along guideways. Each carrier is slowed down to maintain a safe distance behind a carrier ahead, or to avoid collision with another carrier when approaching a merge point of a convergent Y-junction or when otherwise desirable. Distance measurements take into account the lengths of carriers and of assigned regions and the counts of speed pulses sent to MCUs since entry of carriers into their respective regions. For merge control, arrival data are developed that include the times and speeds to and at arrival of two carriers at a merge point. Through repeated comparisons of arrival data developed from one carrier with arrival data previously developed and stored as to the other carrier, the one carrier is gradually slowed down as necessary to avoid a collision. |
| US08428769B2 |
Method for making optical element, and image forming apparatus
A method for injection molding an imaging optical element to be used in an optical scanning apparatus for guiding a light ray in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction. In the imaging optical element, the light ray passes through at least one optical functional surface and does not pass over the meridional line including the optical axis. The imaging optical element is injection-molded through an initial molding step and other various measurement and correction steps. |
| US08428767B2 |
Method for cutting out a panoply of parts
A method for cutting out a panoply of parts. This cutting-out method includes producing data relating to points defining the contour of each part and to the position of each part in a Cartesian frame of reference of the panoply, grouping the parts together into at least one subset, each subset embodied by a box being considered as a single part; grouping the subsets into at least one set, each set embodied by a box being considered as a single part; establishing an order in which to cut out the parts from the subsets and sets defined respectively a cutting-out step in which the cutting-out tool moves from part to part in the cutting-out order. |
| US08428764B2 |
Multi-needle sewing machine
A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars having lower ends to which needles are attached, respectively, a needle bar selecting unit selectively switching one of the needle bars to a needle location, a stitch number obtaining unit and an allotting unit. An embroidery pattern including a plurality of partial patterns is sewn by the use of needle threads of colors differing per partial pattern, while the needle bars are selectively switched. The stitch number obtaining unit obtains the number of stitches necessary for sewing the partial patterns for every partial pattern. The allotting unit allots the needle threads to the needle bars so that the needle bars are prevented from being one-sided in the number of stitches, based on the obtained number of stitches, in order that one of the needle bars to be used for the sewing of each partial pattern may be determined. |
| US08428762B2 |
Spin coating modeling
A method for setting processing parameters for fabricating an integrated circuit, by creating a mathematical model of a spin coated surface of a material over a non-flat substrate surface, where the mathematical model includes, a smoothing algorithm, where the smoothing algorithm uses as inputs only, a nominal thickness of the spin coated surface, a minimum thickness of the spin coated surface, and an interaction length, and a constraint that the spin coated surface cannot intersect the substrate surface, solving the mathematical model to determine the spin coated surface, and using the modeled spin coated surface to set the processing parameters for fabricating the integrated circuit. |
| US08428756B2 |
Data embedding device, data embedding method, data extraction device, and data extraction method
A data embedding device has: a phase adjusting unit for adjusting a phase of an acoustic signal in accordance with a frame unit in which arbitrary transmission data is to be embedded; and a combining unit for embedding the transmission data in the phase-adjusted acoustic signal. A data extraction device has: a removing unit for removing a low frequency component from an acoustic signal in which arbitrary transmission data is embedded, to generate a low-frequency-removed acoustic signal; a synchronizing unit for synchronizing the low-frequency-removed acoustic signal generated by the removing unit, in accordance with a frame unit used when the transmission data was embedded in the acoustic data; and an extraction unit for extracting the transmission data from the low-frequency-removed acoustic signal synchronized by the synchronizing unit. |
| US08428748B2 |
Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods
Selective high-frequency spinal chord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side affects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal chord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side affects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications. |
| US08428747B2 |
Lead locking device and method
A lead locking device has a lead insertion member having a proximal end and a distal end and has a lead engaging assembly. The lead insertion member defines a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end of the lead engaging assembly. A mandrel disposed in the lumen of the lead engaging assembly extends along substantially the entire length of the lumen and protrudes beyond the most proximal end of the lead insertion member. The mandrel includes a distal portion in slidable contact with at least a portion of the lead engaging assembly. The lead engaging assembly has a first configuration while being inserted into a lumen of a lead and a second configuration while engaging the lead from within the lumen of the lead. The lead engaging member has at least two expansion jaws that, in the first configuration, define a substantially cylindrical body. The expansion jaws translate radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis to engage the lumen of the lead when in the second configuration. |
| US08428746B2 |
Moldable charger with shape-sensing means for an implantable pulse generator
Electrical energy is transcutaneously transmitted from an external charger to an implanted medical device. The external charger includes a charging head that is selectively shapeable to conform to the surface of a patient to enhance charge efficiency and patient comfort. An alternating current charging coil is housed in the charging head and configured for transcutaneously transmitting electrical energy to the implanted medical device. The shape of the coil is changeable as the charging head is shaped, and at least one sensor determines changes in the shape of the charging coil and causes the charge of the coil to be adjusted based on the coil shape. |
| US08428744B2 |
Implantable medical device with inductive antenna filter
This disclosure describes techniques for reducing, and possibly eliminating, adverse effects caused by signals induced on an inductive antenna of an implanted medical device by varying magnetic fields from a source of interference, such as the gradient magnetic fields applied during an MRI procedure. For example, the implantable medical device includes an inductive antenna that receives signals via inductive coupling, a filter circuit that attenuates signals induced on the inductive antenna by varying magnetic fields generated from a source of interference and substantially passes signals induced on the inductive antenna by varying magnetic fields generated by an expected source and a telemetry module that processes the signals from the filter circuit. |
| US08428743B2 |
Equal loudness contour with channel specific map laws
A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals. The stimulation event signals are mapped according to independent channel-specific loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels. The electrode stimulation signals are developed into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array. |
| US08428742B2 |
Simultaneous stimulation for low power consumption
A stimulation system including a stimulator having a multi-channel electrode array utilizing a monopolar electrode configuration. A processor is operatively coupled to the stimulator. The processor is configured to determine a channel interaction (CI) sequence using simultaneous, sign-correlated pulses and channel interaction compensation. The CI sequence has a CI pulse rate and a CI mean pulse amplitude, and produces resulting potentials that are substantially equal to desired potentials at given positions relative to the multi-channel array. The CI sequence may include temporal gaps between pulses, wherein the processor may be configured to increase the CI pulse rate, such that the temporal gap between pulses is decreased. Furthermore, the processor may be configured to reduce the pulse amplitude of the CI sequence while increasing pulse phase duration, such that charge per pulse remains substantially unchanged and the temporal gap between pulses is decreased. |
| US08428741B2 |
Video processing methods for improving visual acuity and/or perceived image resolution
A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity. |
| US08428739B2 |
System and method for measuring and fitting spatio-temporal vision
This system gives the experimenter great flexibility to present spatio-temporal stimulation patterns to a subject. A video configuration file (VCF) editor allows the experimenter to determine the electrical stimulation parameters for each electrode. A Pattern Stimulation software program allows direct stimulation of chosen patterns of electrodes, scaled by the subject's VCF, through a Graphical User Interface. The subject then responds by drawing the outline of the phosphene he or she perceives on a touchscreen. The Pattern Stimulation program saves all of the trial parameters and the parameters of an ellipse fit to their drawing, as well as a raw data file containing the input to the touchscreen is saved. After the experiment, offline image analysis can be performed to obtain a detailed quantitative description of the subject's percepts. Image descriptors can assigned to the touchscreen data; these image descriptors can be used to make formalized comparisons between various experimental conditions. Various types of image descriptors can be used, including simple ellipse fitting, projections of the 2-D drawings onto one-dimensional axes, calculations of Hu moments, PCA, and ICA. |
| US08428738B2 |
Coupled neuraxial mesoscopic desynchronization electrostimulation therapy (cNMDET) method
This novel therapeutic (reparative, etiotropic not merely symptomatolytic) electrostimulatory method hereinafter referred to as Coupled Neuraxial Mesoscopic Desynchronization Electrostimulation Therapy (cNMDET) is comprised of a varied combination of progressively sequenced electrode placements and its clinically targeted areas which are comprised of the CNS [regions of the brain and spinal cord including, but not limited to, the underlying clinicopathologic mechanisms of the ANS] and clinically involved components of the PNS variably coupled in such a manner as to apply this therapeutic electrostimulation (reparative modulation) along the coursing path (longitudinally) of the targeted neural pathway over a segment and/or in its entirety, as well as, the utilization of patterned applications for involved joints, muscles, fascia, ligaments, tendons and areas involved in inflammatory processes of clinical significance accomplished through the application of, preferably, but not limited to, Coupled Neuraxial Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (cNTENS) and Coupled Neuraxial Transcranial Direct Stimulation (ctDCSn). |
| US08428737B2 |
Movement assist system
A movement assist system for assisting stably a movement of a creature, particularly a creature whose body part is paralyzed due to neuropathy or the like. According to the movement assist system, walking movement of a human is assisted according to an output from an actuator of a movement assist device. A timing of an electrical stimulation applied to the creature is adjusted by an electrical stimulation device on the basis of a signal representing an arithmetic processing result by a first controller which controls the output of the actuator. According thereto, it is possible to apply an electrical stimulation to the human at an appropriate timing from the viewpoint of maintaining an appropriate posture by considering a periodical movement state of the human even in cases where the body function is degraded, allowing the human assisted by the movement assist device to continue the walking movement. |
| US08428736B2 |
Muscle stimulator and control methods therefor
Apparatus and methods for muscle stimulation and control of muscle stimulators are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an electrical muscle stimulator includes a belt having a plurality of stimulator pads, a pulse width modulator controlled by a feedback loop, the PWM providing output to control voltages of the stimulator pads, and a control unit to control the PWM and feedback loop. In various embodiments, the control unit monitors PWM output values during a rest phase of a cycle of the muscle stimulator, provides a contraction phase, and following a sag after the contraction phase, uses PWM values from the rest phase to set a voltage for a subsequent rest phase of a next cycle. |
| US08428735B2 |
Electrotherapy apparatus
An apparatus for producing analgesia in a patient through electrical signals applied through electrodes to a patient's body, and methods of treating patients using the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a signal generator arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each containing a positive and negative pulse. |
| US08428734B2 |
Device for the electrotherapeutic treatment of tension headaches
A device is for the electrotherapeutic treatment of headaches such as tension headaches and migraines. An electrode support (10) has a shape and is size selected so as to allow, independently from the subject, the excitation of the afferent paths of the supratrochlear (2) and supraorbital (3) nerves of the ophthalmic branch (1) of the trigeminal nerve. An electrical circuit includes a programmable signal generator suitable for creating pulses of a duration of between 150 and 450 microseconds with a maximum increase in intensity of 0 to 20 milliamperes at a rate of less than or equal to 40 microamperes per second and with a step up in intensity not exceeding 50 microamperes. |
| US08428727B2 |
Obstructive sleep apnea treatment devices, systems and methods
In one embodiment, a method for maintaining patency of an upper airway of a patient to treat obstructive sleep apnea may include delivering an electrical stimulation to a portion of a superior laryngeal nerve via a nerve cuff when the nerve cuff is adjacent an external surface of the superior laryngeal nerve, the nerve cuff having a plurality of electrodes, wherein the nerve cuff is configured to be connected to an electrical stimulator via a stimulation lead. |
| US08428725B2 |
Method of stimulating a Hypoglossal nerve for controlling the position of a patient's tongue
A method for controlling a position of a patient's tongue includes attaching at least one electrode to the patient's Hypoglossal nerve and applying an electric signal through the electrode to at least one targeted motor efferent located within the Hypoglossal nerve to stimulate at least one muscle of the tongue. Methods may also include the use of more than one contact to target more than one motor efferent and stimulating more than one muscle. The stimulation load to maintain the position of the tongue may be shared by each muscle. The position of the patient's tongue may be controlled in order to prevent obstructive sleep apnea. |
| US08428724B2 |
Low insertion force electrical connector for implantable medical devices
A low-insertion force electrical connector for implantable medical devices. The electrical contact includes a housing with a pair of opposing sidewalls each with center openings oriented generally concentrically around a center axis. The housing also includes a recess with a recess diameter. An inner coil is located in the recess with a coil axis generally co-linear with the center axis of the center openings. The inner coil includes an outer diameter less than the recess diameter, and an inner diameter greater than a center opening diameter. An outer coil is threaded onto the inner coil to form a generally toroidal-shape. The outer coil has an outer diameter less than the recess diameter, and an inner diameter less than the center opening diameter. The outer coil is radially expanded within the recess in response to engagement with contact rings on the implantable medical device, such that the outer diameter of the outer coil is at least equal to the recess diameter. |
| US08428723B2 |
External coil assembly for a transcutaneous system
An external coil assembly for a transcutaneous system is disclosed. The assembly comprises: a housing having a skin-adjacent surface, an opposing exposed surface and a threaded shaft open to the exposed surface and extending toward the skin-adjacent surface; an external coil secured within the housing; and a magnet with a threaded exterior surface to threadingly engage the threaded shaft, wherein at least one of either the shaft thread or the magnet thread has at least one transverse channel forming discontinuities in the thread. |
| US08428722B2 |
Communication system for medical devices
A communications device facilitates communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network and comprises a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices, and a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network. The communications device also comprises a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device and a processor being in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface. |
| US08428716B2 |
Apparatus and methods for automatic adjustment of AV interval to ensure delivery of cardiac resynchronization therapy
A method of left ventricular pacing including automated adjustment of a atrio-ventricular (AV) pacing delay interval and intrinsic AV nodal conduction testing. It includes—upon expiration or reset of a programmable AV Evaluation Interval (AVEI)—performing the following: temporarily increasing a paced AV interval and a sensed AV interval and testing for adequate AV conduction and measuring an intrinsic atrio-ventricular (PR) interval for a right ventricular (RV) chamber. In the event that the AV conduction test reveals an AV conduction block condition then a pacing mode-switch to a bi-ventricular (Bi-V) pacing mode occurs and the magnitude of the AVEI is increased. |
| US08428712B2 |
Concurrent delivery of treatment therapy with telemetry in an implantable medical device
A system, method and implantable medical for concurrently providing a therapeutic output to a patient while communicating transcutaneously with an external device. The therapeutic output is provided to the patient with an implantable medical device wherein an electromagnetic signal is associated with at least one of recharging of a rechargeable power source and providing the therapeutic output. Bi-directional transcutaneous communication is conducted via via telemetry between the implantable medical device and an external device using a telemetry signal while the telemetry signal and the electromagnetic signal occur simultaneously. |
| US08428711B2 |
Respiratory stimulation for treating periodic breathing
A system and method for treating and/or preventing is described for treating periodic breathing characterized by cyclical hyperventilation and hypoventilation, examples of which include Cheyne-Stokes respiration and central sleep apnea. The system could also be used in the treatment of other conditions involving an impairment of respiratory drive. |
| US08428710B2 |
Endoscopic therapeutic device and double tube for therapeutic device
At least an inner tube and an outer tube of a double tube, which forms an insertion section of an endoscopic injector, are formed of different kinds of plastic materials, and the outer tube is formed of a material with a higher rigidity than a material of the inner tube. Thereby, there are provided an endoscopic therapeutic device such as an endoscopic injector, and a double tube for a therapeutic device, which have a good operability of, for example, an operation of projecting a needle, and can perform a stable operation for a diseased part. |
| US08428707B2 |
Monitoring system
Apparatus for performing impedance measurements on a subject. The apparatus includes a first processing system for determining an impedance measurement procedure and determining instructions corresponding to the measurement procedure. A second processing system is provided for receiving the instructions, using the instructions to generate control signals, with the control signals being used to apply one or more signals to the subject. The second processing system then receives first data indicative of the one or more signals applied to the subject, second data indicative of one or more signals measured across the subject and performs at least preliminary processing of the first and second data to thereby allow impedance values to be determined. |
| US08428705B2 |
Atrial fibrillation detection
Atrial fibrillation is detected in an electrical signal representative of a beating heart by measuring atrial activity over a time window of three or more beats, measuring beat interval variation over the time window and combining the measures of atrial activity and beat interval variation to produce an indication of an atrial fibrillation condition in the electrical signal. |
| US08428703B2 |
Acute ischemia detection based on parameter value range analysis
A heart monitor is disclosed. The monitor computes ST segment deviations and stores the results in heart rate based histograms. Periodically, the monitor analyzes the histogram data to determine a normal range of ST deviation for a particular heart rate range. The monitor computes heart rate dependent ischemia detection thresholds based on the upper and lower boundaries of the normal range. |
| US08428701B2 |
Electrode device and electrocardiographic measurement device
A device for electrocardiogram measurement is provided, which is relatively not easily influenced by electrical activities of muscles, and which can perform electrocardiogram measurement during a measured person's daily life without removing clothes. The device includes a pair of lead electrode sections that are provided on a band section. Each of the pair of lead electrode sections includes a lead electrode that is disposed so that the lead electrode is positioned in the vicinity of a carotid artery of the measured person when the band section surrounds a neck portion of the measured person. The band section is configured to include a flexible band, and the band section detachably holds onto the neck portion of the measured person with nipping force arising from elastic deformation of the flexible band. |
| US08428692B2 |
Systems and methods for bioluminescent computed tomographic reconstruction
An image of an object is synergistically reconstructed using two or multiple imaging modalities. A first reconstructed image, showing structural information of the object is produced using a first imaging modality. The first reconstructed image is segmented, and known optical properties of the object are then mapped to the first reconstructed image. Optical signal emissions from the object are detected and registered with the first reconstructed image. A second reconstructed image volume is then produced using a second imaging modality, based on the mapped optical properties after registration between the first image and the data from the second modality. The second reconstructed image depicts some optical property, such as a bioluminescent source distribution, or optical properties, such as, attenuation and scattering properties, of the object. |
| US08428690B2 |
Intracardiac echocardiography image reconstruction in combination with position tracking system
A system and method to display a four-dimensional (4D) model of an imaged anatomy is provided. The system comprises a controller, and an imaging system including an imaging probe in communication with the controller. The imaging probe can acquire generally real-time, 3D image data relative to a direction of image acquisition along an imaging plane. The system also includes a tracking system in communication with the controller. The tracking system includes at least one tracking element integrated with the imaging probe. The system is operable to process the generally real-time, 3D image data acquired by the imaging probe relative to generally real-time tracking information acquired by the tracking system so as to display the 4D model of the imaged anatomy. |
| US08428686B2 |
Extended optical range system for monitoring motion of a member
A system and method for monitoring a physiological parameter includes a garment that includes a fabric that exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches. A signal processor converts a signal from the detector into a signal representative of at least one predetermined physiological parameter of a wearer of the garment. |
| US08428685B2 |
System and method for magnetically maneuvering an in vivo device
A method for controlling movement of an imaging device in vivo, the method comprising the steps of providing an imaging device having a longitudinal axis and a magnetic component, said device to be inserted into a patient's body; providing a rotating magnetic field outside the patient's body; and advancing the rotating magnetic filed along the patient's body in a desired direction. |
| US08428684B2 |
Medical electrode with self-lifting tabs
A medical electrode includes a backing layer having a top face and a bottom face, and a shrinkable layer covering at least a portion of the top face of the backing layer. Shrinkage of the shrinkable layer results in flexing of a portion of the backing layer to aid placement and attachment of the electrode to the patient. |
| US08428681B2 |
Quick press on EEG electrode with bendable legs
Embodiments relate to methods and systems for monitoring bioelectric potentials. In some instances, an electrode is applied to a patient's skin. The electrode may be at least partly inserted into the patient's skin, such as by inserting at least part of one or more teeth underneath the skin. |
| US08428673B2 |
Medical measuring device
The invention relates to a measuring device (1) for the non-invasive measurement of physiological parameters. The measuring device (1) is suited to detect and localize by way of self diagnosis diseases such as, for example, inflammations, tumors or arteriosclerosis. The invention proposes a measuring device (1) with at least one optical measuring unit (100) for the generation of oximetric and/or plethysmographic measuring signals, an evaluation unit (140) processing the measuring signals, and a unit (120, 130) for the acquisition of local tissue parameters such as fat content, water content and/or blood perfusion, with the evaluation unit (140) being designed such that at least one local metabolic parameter is determined, in particular the local oxygen consumption, from the signals furnished by the optical measuring unit and obtained from tissue parameters. Moreover, the measuring device (1) enables the non-invasive determination of the blood glucose level. |
| US08428671B2 |
Thick oxide film by single coating
An article including a substrate and a layer of a homogeneous metal-oxyfluoride intermediate film disposed on the substrate, the intermediate film containing a rare earth metal, an alkaline earth metal, and a transition metal. The intermediate film has a defect density less than 20 percent and, upon thermal treatment, is capable of converting to a homogeneous rare earth metal-alkaline earth metal-transition metal-oxide superconductor film with a stoichiometric thickness greater than 1 μm and up to 5 μm. Also disclosed is another article including a substrate and the homogeneous superconductor film with a stoichiometric thickness greater than 1 μm and up to 5 μm. Further, methods of making these two articles are described. |
| US08428668B2 |
Sliding mechanism
A sliding mechanism comprises a main plate, a sliding plate, a sliding enabling member and a biasing assembly. The sliding enabling member is coupled between the sliding plate and the main plate so the sliding plate slidably engages with the main plate. The biasing assembly is coupled between the sliding plate and the main plate. When the sliding plate is slid from a closed position to an intermediate position, the biasing assembly is distorted to exert a force on the sliding plate and the main plate, causing the sliding plate to automatically slide toward an open position once the sliding plate passes the intermediate position. |
| US08428665B1 |
Holder for portable communication device
A holder for a mobile phone includes a body having an opening to receive the mobile phone and having a bottom. The holder further includes a latch coupled to the body for holding the holder with the opening up; and an acoustic horn coupled to the body and having a sound receiving end and a sound emitting end. The sound receiving end is configured to be adjacent to a transducer of the mobile phone, and the sound emitting end is configured to direct sound in an upward direction. The holder further includes a set of tactile guides to tactilely guide a user's touch to a set of buttons on the mobile phone so that a user does not need to look at the buttons to activate the buttons. |
| US08428662B2 |
Hand held mobile device containing comfort perches
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for a hand held mobile device that has a front surface, two side surfaces, and a bottom surface wherein the bottom surface partially includes a battery pack having an outer surface that forms an integral relationship with the bottom surface. The first perch and second perch at least partially extend away from the outer surface of the battery pack of the hand held mobile device. The first perch and the second perch are in a spaced-apart arrangement for allowing the finger of a user to be positioned between the first perch and the second perch during use of the hand held mobile device. |
| US08428657B2 |
System and method for making an electronic handheld device more accessible to a disabled person
An electronic handheld device is described having an options module for providing a user with at least one option in the handheld device, each option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device. The device also includes an enabling module for implementing, in response to a particular option being selected by a user, an associated enabling mode of operation. Each enabling mode of operation makes the handheld device more accessible to a person having a corresponding disability. |
| US08428655B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and a method for placing a call
A mobile communication terminal having a phonebook replays a stored message when an entry of the phonebook is selected using a speed dial number and the stored message is associated with the selected phonebook entry. The message may be the spoken name of the person associated with the selected phonebook entry thereby enabling the terminal user to have an audio confirmation of the party being called. The message may be recorded by the terminal microphone or may be captured from a connected call. Alternatively the message may be a text message that is synthesized to a voice message by a text-to-speech function. |
| US08428649B2 |
Memory device upgrade
Technology for replacing a first storage unit operatively coupled to a device is provided. Content of the first storage unit is sent to a new storage unit that serves as the replacement of the first storage unit. In one embodiment, the content is first sent to a trusted third-party server and then transferred from the server to the new storage unit. A portion of the content on the new storage unit is adjusted in one embodiment to maintain content security features that were implemented in the first storage unit. The upgrading can be performed under the control of a software entity that is installed on the device. In various embodiments, the first storage unit may be bound to a third storage unit prior to the upgrade process. In such cases, the process can include measures to bind the new storage unit to the third storage unit. |
| US08428645B2 |
Mobile device capable of sharing SMS messages, email screen display locally with other devices
Using a local sharing client, a first mobile device shares incoming calls, email, SMS messages, pictures, screen display, etc. locally (without employing a cellular wireless network) with a second device. The second device may also have a similar client and be able to share locally with the first mobile device. |
| US08428643B2 |
Sign language recognition system and method
A sign language recognition system includes a menu generating module, an image processing module, and text processing module. The image processing module controls an image capturing unit to capture a gesture image of a target person when an image recognition icon is selected, extracts sign language data from the gesture image, and transmits the sign data packet to a server for analyzing the sign language data to generate sign recognition information. The text processing module packs text data to be sent to a reception device, and a reception language and a phone number of the reception device to generate a text data packet when a text recognition icon is selected, and sends the text data packet to the server for analyzing the text data to generate a sign recognition image recognizable by the reception device. |
| US08428642B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote vehicle communications and control
Long-range remote communication and control of a vehicle is achieved with primary and secondary cellular devices provided by the vehicle user. The primary cellular device is retained by the user, while the secondary cellular device is dedicated to the vehicle and placed in a docking station provided in a vehicle instrument panel or console. The vehicle docking station is equipped with typical cell phone electrical interfaces to supply battery charging current and to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the secondary cellular device and an on-board vehicle computer. The secondary cellular device remains activated, and provides a low-cost remotely accessible communication link between the on-board vehicle computer and the primary cellular device or any other phone, provided that specified security conditions are satisfied. |
| US08428640B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating downlink control channel
A method for allocating a downlink control channel in a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) system, includes: dividing a service frequency band of the system into a plurality of frequency partitions including a first frequency partition corresponding to a first frequency reuse factor, a second frequency partition corresponding Kth frequency reuse factor, and a third frequency partition; setting a transmission power level for each of the plurality of divided frequency partitions; allocating a downlink common control channel including non-user specific (NUS) control information common to every user to a particular frequency partition corresponding to the highest transmission power level among the set transmission power levels; and transmitting the NUS control information through the particular frequency partition. |
| US08428636B2 |
Radio communication system for selecting a subset of available primary stations
A radio communication system comprises a secondary station (110) having a plurality of communication channels (226a,226b,226c) with a plurality of primary stations (100a,100b,100c). Separate closed loop power control is performed for each of the communication channels (226a,226b, 226c). This enables the optimum primary station for transmission of data to the secondary station (110) to be selected. Parameters derived from operation of each power control loop enable optimum setting of channel parameters for each primary station (100a,100b,100c).Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for a high speed downlink data service, where the fast selection of the optimum primary station and/or channel parameters improves link robustness and system throughput. |
| US08428635B2 |
System and method for managing group communications
Provided is a system for managing group communications. The system comprises a communications server accessible by a group of users having a first mobile communication device and a second mobile communication device; a local services network interactively connected to the communications server; a group management application resident on the communications server, the group management application configured to activate a group communication session corresponding to an identification code assigned to the group, to support communications among the first mobile communication device, the second mobile communication device, and the local services network during the group session, and to terminate the group session after a predetermined time interval; the system designed to manage and distribute communications across the members of the group during the group communication session. |
| US08428627B2 |
Method and system for media modification
The present invention discloses a method and system for media modification, which is used for solving the problem that it is not considered during media modification whether the user confirmation or precondition of media modification is required, thereby resulting in technical defects, such as possible bearing resource embezzlement, producing redundancy, etc. The present invention regards the 200OK message of Re-INVITE as the confirmed time point of the media addition and/or modification; in the case that there is a precondition and the user confirmation is not required, the time point when the precondition is satisfied is regarded as the confirmed time point of the media component addition and/or existing media component modification; in the case that there is a precondition and the user confirmation is required, the 200OK response message of the Re-INVITE message is regarded as the confirmed time point of the media component addition and/or existing media component modification. |
| US08428626B2 |
Selective caching of real time messaging threads
A method is provided to process data in a wireless data exchange. The method includes exchanging data between two or more wireless devices in real time and opening a thread of communications between the wireless devices, where the thread includes one or more data exchanges between the wireless devices. When the real time messaging exchange has been established, the method identifies all or portions of the thread as potential data to store. As such data is identified, the method selectively caches the identified portions of the thread for future data retrieval. |
| US08428623B2 |
Geographic position based reward system
A computer-implemented method of rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations is provided. The method includes receiving from a first user and storing an indication of one or more geographic areas. Mobile device location information of a user mobile device associated with a second user is received from the user mobile device or a remote telecommunication carrier server in communication with the user mobile device. The mobile device location information is compared with the indication of the one or more geographic areas. An indication of a reward is transmitted to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the one or more geographic areas. Systems for rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations are also provided. |
| US08428618B2 |
Mobile valet
A system provides location-based services through an enhanced mobile device. The system determines a current location of the mobile device, and determines whether the current location of the mobile device falls within one or more geographic regions defined in a database. If the current location falls within one or more of the geographic regions, the system identifies services available within the one or more geographic regions that the mobile device is determined to be within. The system generates a customized menu based on the identified services and displays the customized menu on the mobile device. |
| US08428616B2 |
Notifications based on device presence
The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate and/or transmit notifications based upon device presence techniques in connection with a wireless communications network. For example, when certain mobile devices register with a particular network entity (e.g., a femtocell) that services a particular target location (e.g., place of residence), then such registration can be leveraged to indicate presence at the target location. Accordingly, notifications can be delivered to custodian devices that indicate the presence information if certain predetermined conditions or criteria are satisfied. |
| US08428612B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for prioritized load balancing
A mobile communication device for prioritized load balancing is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module receives data communication services and a broadcast message from a first service network. Also, a controller determines whether the broadcast message has load balancing information for the first service network and a second service network, and in response to the broadcast message having the load balancing information, generates a random number and determines whether the random number belongs to a restricted priority level according to the load balancing information. The controller further suspends a reselection from the first service network to the second service network, in response to the random number belonging to the restricted priority level. |
| US08428611B2 |
Method and device for controlling multi-path connections in radio access networks
Method and controller device for controlling a plurality of N transport paths in RANs, wherein a primary path is assigned for each type of traffic to allocate voice or data calls, comprising: measuring load of the primary path periodically, when a call is incoming, comparing the measured load with a threshold, if the load of the primary path is less than or equal to the threshold, allocating the call to the primary path otherwise: calculating the available bandwidth of each transport path; comparing the available bandwidth of the primary path to the available bandwidths of the other transport paths and: if the available bandwidth of the primary path is greater than or equal to the available bandwidths of the others, allocating this call to the primary path; otherwise, allocating the call to a secondary path chosen from the remaining N−1 transport paths. |
| US08428606B1 |
Communicating control information including an index
Within a wireless network, a control segment is communicated between a base station and a mobile station, where the control segment is for assigning resources for communication of data in the wireless network. The control segment includes an index that maps to information to enable determination of the assigned resources. |
| US08428601B2 |
Wireless network inter-technology handoffs
In general, a method is described for handing off a communication session associated with a mobile device from a first network running a first technology to a second network running a second technology different from the first technology, the method comprising: establishing a communication channel with the mobile device through the first network; and enabling, through the communication channel, a handoff of the communication session associated with the mobile device from the first network to the second network. |
| US08428600B2 |
Mobile communication method, mobile exchange station, radio base station and mobile station
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes: transmitting, from a mobile station (100) to an access node (200) in a first radio access technology, a connection request signal including a desired call type for communication and a radio access capability of the mobile station (100); determining, at the access node (200) in the first radio access technology, whether or not to perform handover to a second radio access technology on the basis of the desired call type for communication and the radio access capability of the mobile station included in the connection request signal; and transmitting, from the mobile station (100) to an access node in the second radio access technology, a connection request signal, when it is determined that the handover to the second radio access technology is to be performed. |
| US08428599B2 |
System and method for mobility restriction in wireless communications systems
A system and method for mobility restriction in wireless communications systems is provided. A method for base station operations includes receiving a request for service from a terminal, sending a request for authorization of the terminal to a controller, receiving in response to the request for authorization, an indication that the terminal is authorized, and granting access to the terminal. The indication includes a mobility restriction classification associated with the terminal. |
| US08428598B2 |
Proactive handover policy
An exemplary system and method for determining handovers for a mobile device are disclosed. An exemplary system may generally include a handover server in communication with a communication network configured to support initiated communications from a mobile device. The handover server is configured to detect an initiated communication between the mobile device and a first communication link, determine a value for each of a plurality of factors associated with each of a plurality of available communication links, and assign a desired communication link to the mobile device from the plurality of available communication using a generally simultaneous assessment of the plurality of factors. |
| US08428597B2 |
RAN node and method thereof
The present invention relates to a method of a serving Radio Access Network (RAN) node for facilitating communication between a communication terminal and a core network in view of a handover of the communication terminal from said serving RAN node. The method comprises receiving a first message from the communication terminal, the message comprising a first message sequence number. The method also comprises producing a sequence number synchronization indicator (SNSI) arranged to indicate to a second RAN node to adjust a message sequence number of any future message from the communication terminal before forwarding said future message to the core network, such that the message sequence number of said future message is synchronized with a corresponding expected message sequence number of the core network. The method further comprises sending an update message to the second RAN node, wherein the update message comprises the SNSI. |
| US08428596B2 |
Base station device, gateway device, call connecting method, and wireless communication system
A system capable of normally connecting a call without degrading the security level in a mobile terminal network, even in cases when a call addressed to a set of user equipment (UE) arrives via the Internet or a home network. In ST 101, a femto base station (110) receives a packet addressed to a set of UE (100) via the Internet or a home network and, in ST 102, starts a paging procedure. In ST 103, the set of UE (100) establishes an RRC connection to the femto base station (110). In ST 104, the UE (100) transmits, to the femto base station (110), a paging response addressed to the SGSN (150). In ST 105, the femto base station (110) performs NAS verification. If the femto base station (110) detects the paging response to a paging request made by itself, the femto base station (110), in ST 107, changes the service type of the service request received from the UE (100) from the paging response to signaling. |
| US08428592B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a server which should respond to a service request
A method for determining a server which should respond to a service request from a mobile device, said method comprising: Generating a DNS request which comprises a URI to identify a service requested by said mobile device and in addition to the URI of the requested service an indication of the location of the mobile device; inserting into said DNS request a keyword, which identifies said service DNS request as being a service which is enabled for service migration; forwarding said DNS request to a DNS server; determining by said DNS server a most suitable server responding to said service request, said determination being based on the location of the mobile device as indicated by said indication of the location added to said URI; returning the address of said server which has been determined based on said location to said mobile device. |
| US08428590B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying user equipment, and method for transmitting and allocating a temporary identifier
A method and an apparatus for identifying a UE in an SAE network, and an MME are provided herein. The method includes: receiving an SAE-TMSI which is allocated to a UE that accesses an SAE network and includes at least: a pool-ID, an MME-ID, and a UE temporary identifier; using the SAE-TMSI to temporarily identify the UE in the SAE network. The apparatus includes: a receiving unit and a temporary identifying unit. The MME includes a temporary identifier allocating unit. Moreover, a method for transmitting and allocating a temporary identifier, and a method for receiving and transmitting information according to the temporary identifier are disclosed herein. |
| US08428588B2 |
Method for context handling
The invention therefore relates to a method, a first Mobility Control Node and a second Mobility Control Node for context handling when a user equipment, UE, moves from a previous Access Network, AN, to a present AN. The ANs are adapted to communicate with a Core Network, CN, and the UE is adapted to communicate wirelessly with the AN's. The method comprises the steps of: the UE detecting that it has entered a Mobility Area, MA, belonging to the present AN, said MA not being registered with the CN, the UE initiating a Mobility Area Update, MAU, procedure in response to the detection by sending a MAU Request message comprising an UE Temporary ID to a Radio Access Node, RAN, the RAN adding a Mobility Area Identity, MAI, to the Request message and forwarding the message to a first Mobility Control Node, MCN, responsible for the present AN, the first MCN deriving one second MCN from the UE Temporary ID and sending a context request message to said second MCN. |
| US08428586B2 |
System and method for facilitating accelerated network selection in a radio network environment
A scheme for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device. In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless UE device includes means for manipulating a search sequence order relating to a system acquisition database structure that is associated with the wireless UE device, the manipulation based at least in part upon how long the wireless UE device was in power off condition. Also included is means for locating a network via scanning based upon the acquisition database responsive to the manipulation. |
| US08428585B2 |
Method for adaptive scanning in a wireless network and a wireless network
A method for scanning in a wireless network 3 comprises determining attributes for an on-going service of a mobile station, MS 5 and allocating scanning intervals for the MS depending on the determined attributes. The attributes for the ongoing service may include at least one of: type of service; and quality of service requirements. In one method, scanning intervals for the MS are allocated by a base station 4 also depending on the size of the neighbor cell list. The wireless network may, for example, be a WiMAX network. |
| US08428584B2 |
System and method for accelerating network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device
A system and method for accelerating network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device without having to perform a full band scan (FBS). In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless UE device is operable to scan in a network environment for discovering at least one network. Depending upon geographic region information decoded from the discovered network's identity information, a logic structure in the wireless UE device is operable to determine a subset of appropriate frequency data for selective scanning by said wireless UE device. Using the subset of appropriate frequency data, a selective scanning is performed for locating a network by the wireless UE device. |
| US08428581B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting location services for a roaming mobile station
Techniques to support location services for a roaming mobile station are described. The mobile station may communicate with a serving mobile switching center (MSC) in a serving network. A roaming service provider (RSP) network may map an actual MSC identity (MSCID) of the serving MSC to a generic MSCID and may provide the generic MSCID to a home network. A home mobile positioning center (H-MPC) may map the generic MSCID to an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a mapping server within the RSP network and may send a location request message containing a mobile station identity (MSID) to the mapping server. The mapping server may determine a serving mobile positioning center (S-MPC) based on the MSID and may forward the message to the S-MPC. The mapping server may also receive a location response message from the S-MPC and may forward the message to the H-MPC. |
| US08428577B2 |
Data processing apparatus, data processing method, data processing system, storage medium and program
A data processing apparatus is disclosed which includes a reproducing element for reproducing each of a plurality of content data items a reproduction status detecting element for detecting status of each content data item being reproduced by the reproducing element a selecting element for selecting the content data item being reproduced by the reproducing element depending on the reproduction status of the content data item detected by the reproduction status detecting element a content identification data generating element for generating content identification data for identifying the content data item selected by the selecting element from the plurality of content data items and a transmitting element for transmitting to a second data processing apparatus the content identification data generated by the content identification data generating element. |
| US08428576B2 |
Methods, test systems and arrangements for verifying compliance with requirement specifications
A method for verifying compliance of a communication device with one or more requirement specifications is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a link between a test system and the communication device, wherein the establishing comprises configuring one or more bearers and one or more control channels; closing a test loop comprising the test system and the communication device, wherein the closing comprises activating a test loop function of the communication device; sending data in a downlink of the test loop from the test system to the communication device; receiving the data at the communication device; transferring at least some of the data to an uplink transmission arrangement of the communication device after a specific event has occurred; and verifying, at the test system, transmission in an uplink of the test loop from the communication device to the test system. Corresponding test system and test loop function arrangement are also disclosed. |
| US08428574B2 |
Controlled mobile communication as a service
A method of providing controlled mobile communication as a service includes storing, in a memory associated with a data processing device and/or a base station controller, a level of control of wireless communication associated with a mobile device of a customer of the controlled mobile communication as a service. The wireless communication is provided through a mobile network operator. The method also includes identifying, through the base station controller, the mobile device based on an identification data associated therewith when the mobile device is within a controlled area associated with the controlled mobile communication service, and controlling the wireless communication associated with the mobile device of the customer through the base station controller in accordance with the level of control stored in the memory following the identification of the mobile device. |
| US08428573B2 |
Remote control of mobile radio system through portable radio system
A radio communications system (100) includes a portable radio (200) and a mobile radio (300), the portable radio (200) being configured to remotely control the mobile radio (300). The portable radio (200) can operate in a standalone mode, in which the mobile radio (300) communicates with other radio devices using the portable radio's RF interface (285). The portable radio (200) can also operate in a remote mode, in which the portable radio (200) is operative to establish a wireless link between the portable radio (200) and the mobile radio (300) to thereby remotely control the mobile radio (300) and to use the mobile radio's RF interface (385) to communicate with other radio devices. |
| US08428569B2 |
MDN switching between telematics devices
Aspects of the present invention provide for a telematics subscriber and provider to facilitate a wireless carrier to associate a cellular telephone number from a subscriber's previous telematics unit to a subscriber's newly purchased telematics unit. In addition, the telematics provider reconfigures a new telematics device in a newly purchased vehicle to retain the same cellular phone number as the subscriber's previous telematics device. |
| US08428567B2 |
Cordless telephone unit including audible confirmation of called party
A main phone of a cordless telephone unit has i) a cordless communicator for establishing cordless communications with a cordless handset; and ii) a voice generator for converting called-party information received from a cordless handset into voice data. On the other hand, a cordless handset has voice-data output section for reading out the voice data. Called-party information received from the cordless handset is converted into voice data at the voice generator then returned to the cordless handset. Receiving the voice data from the main phone, the cordless handset reads it out prior to placing a call. Sharing the voice generating function of the main phone with the cordless handset can thus provide the handset with a voice-generator-free structure. |
| US08428564B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing updated content data to a mobile terminal
The invention provides a method of providing content to a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving data at the mobile terminal; classifying the content data in accordance with classification data comprised within the content data; storing the content data within the mobile terminal; creating an access object whereby the content data may be accessed; and associating the access object with further access objects having similar classification codes. This method has a significant effect in simplifying the provision of content to mobile terminals. |
| US08428561B1 |
Event notification and organization utilizing a communication network
A user of a telecommunications or other computing device may notify his or her contacts of an event of interest, which event may be modified by the user's contacts without requiring the permission of the originating user to do so. In this regard, an event organizing service receives an event notification request from a user of a telecommunications device (e.g., a mobile telephone), automatically identifies the user's contacts to whom the event notification is to be published, and publishes the event notification to the automatically identified contacts. A contact who receives the event notification may update the event, e.g., by modifying data describing the event, without the permission of the originating user. Accordingly, a contact who has received the event notification may modify the event (e.g., change the date/time, change the location, etc.) and the event organizing service may publish a notification for the updated event to the originating user and his or her contacts informing them of the modification. It will be appreciated that as updates to the event are made by the user's contacts (and in some cases the user herself), the event is ultimately organized by the user's social network or community without requiring the user to organize the details of or manage the event herself. |
| US08428556B2 |
Communication management system, communication management terminal device, communication management method and communication management program
Communication from inadmissible communication parties and communication accesses are excluded from an unspecified number of communication parties and communication accesses. A communication management system is provided with a communication device for communicating with communication parties connected through a communication network, a communication control device for controlling the communication, a communication history information memory device for storing communication history information indicative of communication history of the communication device, and a communication admissible party selecting device for selecting communication admissible parties who are admitted to communication with the communication device in accordance with the communication history information, wherein the communication control device has a communication admission control function to carry out admission control of communication from the selected communication parties. |
| US08428555B2 |
Securing quality of service (QoS) according to type of wireless local area network (WLAN) service
A wireless network system and method to secure Quality of Service (QoS) according to a type of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service in a WLAN communication system based on IEEE 802.11 includes: an authentication server adapted to set a priority for an access category of a wireless network service requested by a user to perform an authentication procedure in response to a user terminal requesting authentication for access to a wireless network; and an Access Point (AP) adapted to receive and store access category information of the user terminal authenticated by the authentication server and to compare access category information contained in a packet received from the user terminal to the previously stored access category information of the user terminal to control access to the wireless network. |
| US08428551B1 |
Contextual video voice message enhancement
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for providing enhanced video voice messages from a first mobile device to a second mobile device. The method comprises providing user preferences from a first mobile device to a video enhancement component. A video voice message is generated at the first mobile device. Additionally, the video voice message is communicated to the video enhancement component. Further, the video voice message is enhanced based on the user preferences from the first mobile device. The enhanced video voice message is then provided to the second mobile device. |
| US08428545B1 |
Filter circuitry
Circuitry for use in a direct conversion transmitting or receiving chains includes mixing circuitry which converts baseband signal to radio frequency or vice versa. A local oscillator to provide a signal having a first component and a second component at a harmonic of the first to the mixing circuitry. The circuitry has a filter circuit which attenuates signals output at a first frequency by an amount which is low relative and which attenuates signals output at a second frequency by an amount which is high, both being relative to the attenuation of signals output at frequencies other than the second frequency. The filter circuit is tunable to vary the frequencies, and configured such that the second frequency is maintained at a predetermined integer multiple of the first frequency. |
| US08428542B2 |
Adaptive cancellation of multi-path interferences
A multi-path signal interference cancellation system cancels multiple time delayed signal components of a multi-path interference signal received by a receive antenna and carried on a receiver transmission line of a radio receiver system. The interference cancellation system includes a plurality of adaptive interference canceller circuits, each of which has a synchronous detector, a signal controller and an integrator as essential parts of closed control loops defined by the canceller circuits. The integrator has gain and bandwidth characteristics associated therewith which are adjustable to adjust the gain and bandwidth of each closed control loop. An intensity profile of the multi-path interference signal is generated and stored in a memory. An intensity profile signal from the memory is provided to the integrator of each adaptive interference canceller circuit to adjust the gain and bandwidth of the integrator and the loop in which it is situated to maximize the error detection residual signal-to-noise ratio of each adaptive interference canceller circuit. Each adaptive interference canceller circuit generates a cancellation signal from which a synthesized cancellation signal is generated and effectively injected onto the receiver transmission line to cancel the multiple time delayed signal components of the multi-path interference signal carried thereon so that the radio receiver of the radio receiver system only receives a desired signal. |
| US08428541B2 |
Method and system for antenna selection diversity with biasing
A method for choosing at least one signal path is disclosed and may include determining a power level characteristic for each of a plurality of signal paths. The determined power level characteristic for each of the plurality of signal paths may be modified. At least one of the plurality of signal paths may be selected for receiving a signal. The selecting may be based on at least one of the modified power level characteristics. The method may also include cycling through at least one of the signal paths. The power level characteristic for each of the plurality of signal paths may be biased. The power level characteristic for each of the plurality of signal paths may be increased by a fixed amount. |
| US08428540B2 |
Communication apparatus, noise canceller, noise canceling method, and noise canceling program
A communication apparatus includes an I and Q digital values table that stores values of I and Q, which are parameters for noise cancellation determined in advance, for each of reception channels. The communication apparatus reads out parameters for noise cancellation corresponding to a reception channel from the I and Q digital values table. Subsequently, the communication apparatus cancels a noise signal from a reception signal using the read-out parameters for noise cancellation. |
| US08428537B2 |
Receiver having adjustable channel estimation bandwidth
A receiver includes an input to receive data of a pilot channel having a carrier frequency associated therewith, and a first unit to obtain a quantity, wherein the quantity depends on a frequency broadening of the received data and a frequency shift of the received data with respect to the carrier frequency. The receiver also includes a second unit to adjust the bandwidth of a channel estimation unit, wherein the adjustment depends on the quantity. |
| US08428532B2 |
High-frequency receiver with multiple-channel digital processing
In the receive subsystem, the analogue-to-digital converter (40) works on the output of the low-noise amplifier (33), at a chosen rate (F), which corresponds to a bandwidth sampling. The processing stages comprise a custom circuit (5), with * an input memory (510) arranged to contain N successive digital samples, renewed at the chosen rate in blocks of M samples, * a complex digital low-pass filtering function (511, 512), of chosen cut-off frequency, operating on the input memory to supply N filtered digital samples (515), * an M-periodic summing function (531) on the N filtered digital samples, supplying M filtered and summed digital samples (533), * an M′M discrete Fourier transform stage (55), operating on these M filtered and summed digital samples, the digital signals on the M outputs (559) of the Fourier transform representing M separate channels, of width defined by the cut-off frequency of the abovementioned low-pass filter. |
| US08428528B2 |
Radio communications system designed for a low-power receiver
The invention relates to methods by which radio signals can be transmitted to, and received by, a radio receiver such that the receiver consumes very little power from a battery or energy source. The invention also relates to methods by which radio signals, modulated with data information, can be produced by a transmitter that consumes very little power. The invention is applicable not only to medical implants, but any application requiring a radio receiver to operate with very low power consumption. |
| US08428526B2 |
System and method for tuning baseband filters in wireless transceivers
A system and method for tuning baseband filters in wireless transceivers. A method comprises coupling a radio frequency (RF) signal generated by the wireless transmitter at an input of a wireless receiver, the RF signal having a desired frequency, measuring a magnitude of the coupled RF signal at an output of an analog-to-digital converter at an output of an analog baseband filter, wherein the magnitude is measured at the desired frequency, and adjusting a corner frequency of the analog baseband filter in response to the determining that the measured magnitude differs from a specified value. |
| US08428522B2 |
Reliability detection of channel quality indicator (CQI) and application to outer loop power control
A method for performing outer loop power control in wireless communications is disclosed. A channel quality indicator (CQI) message is transmitted by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The WTRU receives a power control command, the power control command being derived by: decoding the CQI message; computing a decision metric value for each symbol in the CQI message; determining whether the CQI message is erroneous; and counting a number of erroneous CQI messages, wherein the power control command is based on whether the number of erroneous CQI messages exceeds a threshold. An uplink transmission power of the WTRU is adjusted based on the power control command. |
| US08428517B2 |
Dynamic networking modes method and apparatus
A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device includes a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, a memory coupled to the processor and a program stored in the memory and running on the processor. The program provides automatic transitioning between a wireless infrastructure communication mode to an ad-hoc communication mode. The infrastructure mode is used when a request from a mobile device is received to access a communications network. The ad-hoc mode is used when a request from the mobile device is received to access resources on the portable electronic device. |
| US08428514B2 |
Asymmetric and asynchronous energy conservation protocol for vehicular networks
An asymmetric and asynchronous energy conservation protocol for vehicular networks is provided. In one aspect, an a-quorum may be defined for one or more members for the one or more members to establish asymmetric links to contact the cluster head. An s-quorum for the cluster head to establish symmetric link between the cluster heads and relays may be defined. |
| US08428510B2 |
Automatic gain control configuration for a wideband distributed antenna system
One embodiment is directed to a distributed antenna system in which a setting for automatic gain control functionality in at least one unit included in the system (for example, in a hub unit or a remote unit) is determined by interpolating between two detected levels measured at that unit while the automatic gain control functionality is operating in two respective predetermined configurations and by interpolating between two target levels that are associated with the two respective predetermined configurations. In one example, the intersection of the two resulting interpolations is used to determine the setting for the automatic gain control functionality. |
| US08428509B2 |
System and method for providing a rich media visitor log
Presented is a system for providing a rich media visitor log comprising a communications server accessible by members of a group, a local services network interactively connected to the communications server, a group management application resident on the communications server, and a visitor log host application. The group management application is configured to activate a group session, manage communications among group members and the local services network during the group session, and expire activation of the group session after a predetermined time interval. The visitor log host application is configured to collect communications from the communications managed by the group management application, identify exemplary communications for inclusion in the rich media visitor log, select rich media display assets corresponding to the identified exemplary communications, and produce the rich media visitor log comprising the identified exemplary communications and the selected corresponding rich media display assets. |
| US08428507B2 |
Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus having the same
A sheet feeding device includes a first conveying roller conveying the sheet, a second conveying roller conveying the sheet conveyed from the first conveying roller, a first driving gear having a first number of teeth, and a second driving gear having a second number of teeth. When a first meshing frequency defined by multiplication of the first number of teeth and the number of rotations of the first driving gear is defined as A, and a second meshing frequency defined by multiplication of the second number of teeth and the number of rotations of the second driving gear is defined as B, the first meshing frequency A and the second meshing frequency B are set so as to satisfy the following expression (1):A>B. |
| US08428502B2 |
Belt-type fixing device and image forming apparatus using same
A fixing device includes an endless flexible fixing member, a supporting member having a pipe shape disposed inside a loop formed by the fixing member to support the fixing member, a pressing member disposed opposite the supporting member via the fixing member, and a nip formation member disposed opposite the pressing member via the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member. The fixing member contacts an outer circumferential face of the supporting member at a side opposite a side at which the fixing member contacts the nip formation member at the fixing nip. The fixing member has slack portions formed upstream and downstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of a recording medium. The slack portions extend toward the pressing member over the fixing nip without contacting either the supporting member or the pressing member. |
| US08428490B2 |
Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes cartridge mounting portions for dismountably mounting cartridges and an intermediary transfer member onto which developed images formed on electrophotographic photosensitive drums are transferred. The apparatus also includes an image forming unit comprising the cartridge mounting portions and the intermediary transfer member. The unit is movable between a transfer position for transferring, onto a sheet, the developed images transferred onto the intermediary transfer member from the drums, a cartridge mounting and dismounting position for mounting and dismounting the cartridges relative to the cartridge mounting portions, and an intermediary transfer member mounting and dismounting position for mounting and dismounting the intermediary transfer member relative to a main assembly. |
| US08428488B2 |
Charging device, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and toner
A cleaning roller cleaning a surface of a cleaning component, wherein the cleaning roller is provided in a roller configuration having a cylindrical shape and has a portion in contact with the cleaning component, the portion being made of a melamine resin foam having a continuous foam structure, the melamine resin foam being provided by heating compression from an original configuration in a radial direction, and wherein the portion in contact with the cleaning component has a continuous foam structure and a tensile strength in a range of 1.7±0.5 kg/cm2, and an image forming apparatus incorporating the same. |
| US08428487B2 |
Image forming apparatus featuring a temperature controlled fan
An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing drums; first and second developing devices; an intermediary transfer member; a cleaning device for collecting toner remaining on the intermediary transfer member; a heater for heating a recording material; an executing portion capable of executing an operation in a first mode for forming an image on the intermediary transfer member from the first and second image bearing drums and an operation in a second mode for forming an image on the intermediary transfer member only from the second drum; a temperature detecting portion disposed in the apparatus; a fan for feeding air in the apparatus; a controller for controlling the fan based on an output of the temperature detecting portion; and a setting portion for setting a temperature, wherein the temperature at which an air feed amount is increased in the second mode is lower than in the first mode. |
| US08428486B2 |
Process unit for connecting a photosensitive unit with an image forming apparatus
A process unit and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process unit is slidably moutable on an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The process unit includes plural photosensitive units which include photosensitive members, respectively, and are arranged at an interval, each of the photosensitive units including a unit contact, an electrode unit which electrically connects the photosensitive units to the apparatus main body. The electrode unit includes plural unit-side electrode members which come into contact with the unit contacts of the photosensitive units, respectively, a relay electrode member which comes into contact with the respective unit-side electrode members to electrically connect the respective unit-side electrode members, and a body-side electrode member which comes into contact with an apparatus main body contact provided in the apparatus main body. |
| US08428484B2 |
Methods and systems for peripheral accounting
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for providing external accounting functions for a peripheral device. |
| US08428483B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image density adjustment method
An image forming apparatus including: an image forming section; and a control section allowing the image forming section to form a belt-shaped pattern on sheets in such a way that a formation starting position of the belt-shaped pattern is shifted for a distance, obtained by dividing a measurement-distance by a number of sheets to be used, in a main-scanning direction sheet by sheet; collecting, sheet by sheet, pieces of density information each of which indicates the density of the belt-shaped pattern at a measurement position of measurement positions; creating data in which the pieces of density information respectively correspond to the measurement positions arranged in the main-scanning direction on each of the sheets; and correcting density unevenness of image data in the main-scanning direction based on the created data, wherein the image forming section forms an image based on the image data of which the density unevenness is corrected. |
| US08428482B2 |
Image forming apparatus and computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes a first acquiring unit, a determination unit, a second acquiring unit, and a notifying unit. The first acquiring unit acquires first settable region information on a plane-shaped recording medium in other image forming apparatus. The first settable region information indicates a first settable region on which a registration mark is settable. The determination unit determines a first region based on the first settable region information. The first region is a region on which the registration mark is formable in a cascade printing system including the image forming apparatus and the other image forming apparatus. The second acquiring unit acquires second settable region information on the plane-shaped recording medium. The second settable region information indicates a second settable region on which the registration mark is formable in the plane-shaped recording medium. The notifying unit provides invalidity information indicating the registration mark is possible invalid. |
| US08428478B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a selector for selecting a first mode in which a transparent toner image is partly formed on a surface of a recording material and a second mode in which the transparent toner image is formed so that whole surface of the recording material is coated with a transparent toner; and a controller for controlling execution so that execution of the first and second image forming modes are permitted when information indicates that the recording material has not been subjected to image formation before the recording material is placed to a placing portion and so that execution of the second mode is permitted but execution of the first mode is forbidden when the information indicates that the recording material has already been subjected to image formation before the recording material is placed to the placing portion. |
| US08428472B2 |
High-speed transmission system for optical channels
A method and apparatus for transmission of data on bandwidth limited fiber optic channels. A multilevel signaling alphabet having multiple levels of optical intensity are used to transmit signals on optical channels. In order to counteract the decrease in signal to noise ratio resulting from the use of a multilevel signaling alphabet over a bilevel signaling alphabet trellis encoding of the data to be transmitted is employed. To counteract intersymbol interference due to signaling faster than the Nyquist Rate, equalization methods such as Tomlinson-Harashima preceding and decision feedback equalization are employed. |
| US08428467B2 |
Optical fiber communication method and transmitting device
An optical fiber communication method for communication between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal includes the steps of: providing an optical fiber to be coupled to the transmitting terminal and including a core that is provided with at least one second-order Bragg grating structure and a cladding that surrounds the core; configuring the transmitting terminal to output a data-carrying optical signal to one end of the core of the optical fiber for subsequent wireless transmission of the data-carrying optical signal via radiation through the second-order Bragg grating structure of the optical fiber; and configuring the receiving terminal to receive the signal radiated by the second-order Bragg grating structure of the optical fiber. A transmitting device is also disclosed. |
| US08428457B2 |
Optical passive network system and its operation method
In the configuration of an optical communication system interconnecting a parent station and a plurality of child stations via an optical fiber network equipped with an optical splitter, RE is provided having a measuring unit for measuring a transmission distance or time to a child station, a determining unit for determining a timing when a child station transmits a signal, in accordance with a transmission bandwidth request from the child station, and a signal processing unit for processing a signal received from a child station and transmitting the processed signal to the parent station. When a burst signal is received from each child station at the determined timing, a portion of the header of the burst signal is deleted, and a dummy signal is inserted into the deleted area and a gap area between received burst signals to convert the burst signals into a series of signals to be sent to the parent station. |
| US08428455B2 |
Image pickup unit and image pickup apparatus
An apparatus includes an image sensor unit, a retaining member configured to retain the image sensor unit on a photographer side and to retain an optical member on an object side, a first sealing member configured, when the image sensor unit is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the image sensor unit and the retaining member, the first sealing member being provided on the photographer side of the retaining member, and a second sealing member configured, when the optical member is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the optical member and the retaining member, the second sealing member being provided on the object side. |
| US08428454B2 |
Method and system for imaging high density biochemical arrays with sub-pixel alignment
A method and associated system for imaging high density biochemical arrays comprises one or more imaging channels that share a common objective lens and a corresponding one or more time delay integration-type imaging cameras with optical alignment mechanisms that permit independent inter-channel and intra-channel adjustment of each of four degrees: X, Y, rotation and scale. The imaging channels are configured to independently examine different spectra of the image of the biochemical arrays. |
| US08428453B1 |
Single mode visual media capture
An electronic device includes digital image sensors to capture visual media, a display to present the visual media from the digital image sensors and a touch controller to identify haptic contact engagement, haptic contact persistence and haptic contact release on the display. A visual media capture controller alternately records the visual media as a photograph or a video based upon an evaluation of the time period between the haptic contact engagement and the haptic contact release. |
| US08428442B2 |
Remote control system and method for personal video recorder
A video playback apparatus receives a control signal from a remote control device having a multipurpose key and assigns alternative functions to the received signal depending on the duration of time the control signal is received. For example, the remote may have a combination skip-forward multipurpose key which when pressed for less than a predetermined period such as one second, causes the video playback apparatus to invoke its skip mode, and when pressed for more than the predetermined period causes the video playback apparatus to invoke its forward, fast forward, or super fast forward mode, depending on the duration of time the key is pressed beyond invocation of the forward mode. |
| US08428441B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method therefor
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, comprising: a video recording unit for video recording a received broadcast program; a video recording indicator light for indicating visually whether the video recording is in progress or not; and a video recording indicator light control unit, being furnished as a part of a basic input/output system (BIOS), for controlling a turning on and off of the video recording indicator light. |
| US08428437B2 |
Reproduction device, integrated circuit, reproduction method, program, and computer-readable recording medium
A playback device for updating a character string in synchronization with a moving image displays a gradation character using an available index in a color lookup table. The playback device includes a pre-analysis unit that pre-analyzes character-string display instruction information in a text subtitle stream, thereby recognizing in advance the available index in the color lookup table and displaying the gradation character using the available index. |
| US08428436B2 |
System and method for extended recording
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for enabling a user to configure a media receiving device to auto-extend a recording of a program beyond its scheduled end recording time. For instance, in one embodiment, a computer implemented method for extending recording of a broadcast is disclosed. The method comprises recording a program associated with a broadcast signal until a scheduled ending time; determining whether an end of program indicator within the broadcast signal has been detected in response to reaching the scheduled ending time; and extending the recording of the program associated with the broadcast signal based upon a user selected setting associated with a set of user configurable options for extended recordings. |
| US08428431B2 |
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. |
| US08428429B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, reproducing apparatus, reproducing method, program, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes a controller that sets type information, which represents that an application for executing a process using a dependent view video stream is an application for reproducing a 3-D image, in a clip information file which describes information on a transport stream including the dependent view video stream out of a base view video stream and the dependent view video stream obtained by encoding a plurality of video data according to the a predetermined video coding format. |
| US08428427B2 |
Television program transmission, storage and recovery with audio and video synchronization
An apparatus and methods are described for receiving, storing, and recovering from storage one or more television program while maintaining proper audio to video synchronization or lip sync when the program is displayed. Preferably the audio and video portions are in digital form and may be compressed or uncompressed. The audio and video may be recorded on a physical storage medium such as tape, an optical or magnetic computer disk, or solid state memory or other such device providing user control functions including start, stop, record, play and search, with increased reproduction capability of such stored programs being facilitated by the present invention. Timing information is recovered from the audio and video to be displayed utilized to alter the time duration of a contiguous signal block (the alpha length) of the audio and/or video to correct for any timing errors therebetween. Correction of frequency artifacts such as pitch errors which may be created with the alteration of alpha length is also taught. |
| US08428426B2 |
Digital video recording/playback apparatus
A digital video recording/playback apparatus is provided in which maximum delay can be easily changed in accordance with the bit rate of inputted video data. The digital video recording/playback apparatus includes a memory unit, a playback unit, a synchronization unit, a synchronization signal counter, and a controller. The synchronization signal counter counts a synchronization signal to generate a frame counter value. The controller outputs a reading start instruction for the video data to the memory unit, and a decoding start instruction for the video data to the playback unit. The controller is configured to determine a first process completion time limit represented by the frame counter value as a process completion time limit for the memory unit and to determine a second process completion time limit represented by the frame counter value as a process completion time limit for the playback unit. |
| US08428423B2 |
Reproducing apparatus for video data
A reproducing apparatus arranged to reproduce a moving image signal of a scene from a recording medium, set one of a first reproduction mode for reproducing one scene selected from the moving image signal of a selected one scene and a second reproduction mode for reproducing the moving image signals according to a playlist, convert the moving image signal recorded on the recording medium into a format designated by a transmission destination of the moving image signal, and effect control in response to a conversion instruction such that, in the first reproduction mode, the moving image signal of the one scene is divided on a unit basis of predetermined time related to an upper limit time designated by the transmission destination of the moving image signal and in the second reproduction mode, the moving image signals of the plurality of scenes are combined and the combined moving image signal is divided on the predetermined time basis. |
| US08428422B2 |
Moving picture multiplexing apparatus, audio and video recording apparatus and moving picture multiplexing method
The present invention provides a moving picture multiplexing apparatus generating a seamlessly-reproducible multiplexed stream even in the case where streams are reproduced in a different order. The moving picture multiplexing apparatus includes: a stream end information generating unit generating stream end information including a stream end system clock, using a video end PTS; a start clock calculating unit calculating a multiplex starting system clock, using the stream end information as stream end information on a preceding stream, and a video start PTS; an end clock calculating unit calculating a multiplex ending system clock, using the video start PTS as a video start PTS of a following stream, and the stream end information; and a multiplexed pack generating unit generating the multiplexed stream by starting the multiplexing at the multiplex starting system clock, and ending the multiplexing at the multiplex ending system clock. |
| US08428421B2 |
Playback of damaged video media using downloaded content
A method, system and computer program provide a mechanism for playing damaged digital video media and optionally notifying a service agency of the damage. When a defect is located on media, the DVD player reads the media to determine damaged portions of the video program. Once the damaged portion is identified, the DVD player downloads content from a remote content provider, such as the content producer, a rental agency, or a third party provider. The content may be downloaded during or prior to video playback. Rental agencies or other providers may be notified of damaged media by network message. When a defect is located during playback and content is downloaded, the DVD player transmits user and disc identification data encoded in the DVD player and on the media across the network to the agency. The agency may use the information to flag the media for removal from circulation upon return. |
| US08428420B2 |
Assembly for installing an optical access network
An assembly for installing an optical access network includes at least one in-line optical cable and a drop cable. The assembly includes a duct suitable for housing the at least one in-line optical cable and an optical transition box for snaking an optical connection between the at least one in-line optical cable and the drop cable. The duct has a window. The optical transition box has a base with two sidewalls. Each of the two sidewalls has a first opening allowing the in-line optical cable to enter and exit the base. The base is suitable for being partially inserted in the duct through the window in such a way that, when the base is partially inserted in the duct, the first opening is contained within the duct. |
| US08428411B2 |
Single-mode optical fiber
The present invention embraces a single-mode optical fiber typically having reduced bending losses. The optical fiber includes a central core, an intermediate cladding, a buried trench, and an outer cladding. The optical fiber typically has (i), at a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, a mode field diameter with a nominal value of between about 8.6 microns and 9.5 microns (and a tolerance of ±0.4 micron), (ii) a cable cut-off wavelength of no more than 1260 nanometers, and (iii), for a bending radius of 15 millimeters at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, bending losses of no more than 0.03 dB/turn. |
| US08428409B2 |
Filter fiber for use in Raman lasing applications and techniques for manufacturing same
An optical waveguide has a refractive index variation that is structured to provide the fiber, over a wavelength operating range, with an effective area supporting multiple Stokes shifts and with a negative dispersion value at a target wavelength within the wavelength operating range. The refractive index variation is further structured to provide the fiber with a finite LP01 cutoff at a wavelength longer than the target wavelength, whereby the LP01 cutoff wavelength provides a disparity, for a selected bending diameter, between macrobending losses at the target wavelength and macrobending losses at wavelengths longer than the target wavelength, whereby Raman scattering is frustrated at wavelengths longer than the target wavelength. |
| US08428407B2 |
Fiber optic jumper cable with bend-resistant multimode fiber
A fiber optic jumper cable having a central axis includes a bend-resistant multimode optical fiber generally arranged along the central axis. A tensile-strength layer surrounds the bend-resistant optical fiber. A protective cover surrounds the tensile-strength layer and has an outside diameter DO in the range 1.6 mm≦DO≦4 mm. |
| US08428404B1 |
Optical device on inverted, substrateless chip
A hybrid integrated module includes a semiconductor die mechanically coupled face-to-face to an integrated device in which the substrate has been removed. For example, the integrated circuit may include an optical waveguide that conveys an optical signal, which is fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer in which the back-side silicon substrate or handler has been completely removed. Moreover, an optical device may be disposed on the bottom surface of an oxide layer (such as a buried-oxide layer) in the integrated device, and the geometry and materials in the integrated device may be selected and/or defined so that the optical signal is evanescently coupled between the optical waveguide and the optical device. |
| US08428401B2 |
On-chip optical waveguide
Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for on-chip optical waveguides, methods of making on-chip optical waveguides, and devices including such on-chip optical waveguides. A dielectric layer formed from, e.g., transparent spacer dielectric material, forms a waveguide core and can be surrounded or substantially surrounded by a metal cladding layer. The metal cladding layer can be formed in the chip using backend metallization techniques, e.g., Damascene processing. |
| US08428400B2 |
Fiber-optic extensometer
An extensometer having a loop of a single-mode optical fiber. At least two points of the loop are attached to desired locations on a specimen. Light is transmitted through the loop and the transmitted optical power is measured by a photodetector. The deformation of the specimen causes the size and shape of the loop to change, which changes the transmitted optical power. The change in optical power is related to extension or compression using calibration curves. The sensor works on the principle of transmitted power modulation through the curved section. |
| US08428393B2 |
System and method of non-linear grid fitting and coordinate system mapping
A system and method of non-linear grid fitting and coordinate system mapping may employ data processing techniques for fitting a set of measured fiducial data to an ideal set of fiducials; the fiducials may be arranged in a known (e.g., Cartesian grid) pattern on a substrate imaged by an imaging apparatus. Exemplary embodiments may model the non-linear transformation to and from imaged coordinates (i.e., coordinates derived from acquired image data) and artifact coordinates on the fiducial plate (i.e., actual coordinates of the fiducial relative to a reference point on the fiducial plate). |
| US08428391B2 |
Systems and methods for providing immersive displays of video camera information from a plurality of cameras
A system for providing stitched video from a first camera and a second camera to an electronic display system includes a processing circuit configured to associate a view a first camera with an approximate location. The processing circuit is further configured to build relationship data between the first camera and a second camera using the approximate location. The processing circuit is further configured to transform video from the first camera relative to video from the second camera, the transformation based on the relationship data. The processing circuit is further configured to use the transformed video to cause the stitched video to be provided to the electronic display system. |
| US08428383B2 |
Method of generating a multiscale contrast enhanced image
A digital image signal is decomposed into a multi-scale representation comprising detail images and approximation images. Translation difference images are computed by subtracting an approximation image at scale s and a translated version of that approximation image. The values of the translation difference images are non-linearly modified. An amplification image is computed at least one scale as the ratio of a first image being computed by combining the modified translation difference images at the same or smaller scale and a second image created by combining unenhanced translation difference images at the same or smaller scale. Next, an enhanced multi-scale detail representation is computed by modifying at least one scale the detail image according to the amplification image at that scale. An enhanced image representation is computed by applying a reconstruction algorithm to the enhanced multi-scale detail representation. The non-linear modification of the values of the translation difference image is steered by the values of an orientation map which comprises for each pixel on a specific scale a local direction of interest. |
| US08428378B2 |
Post-beamformer ultrasound compression
Embodiments of the invention compress ultrasound RF data after the receiver beamformer. An efficient compression algorithm is disclosed that incorporates the use of the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and the Discrete Wavelet Packet (DWP) transform, followed by quantization of the wavelet coefficients. The algorithm first processes ultrasound scanlines from the receiver beamformer using a DCT transform. In a low-power configuration, a Hadamard transform may be used instead of the DCT. The output of the DCT processing is DCT coefficients at different frequencies. An optimized wavelet packet transform is then used for each coefficient line. The wavelet filter kernels and the wavelet packet trees can be jointly optimization using a two-step optimization algorithm. |
| US08428371B2 |
Method and system to determine whether an image includes spatial adjustments
The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of identifying spatial image modifications. The method includes receiving a original image and a adjusted image. The method also includes identifying a first subset of pixels comprising pixels in the original image that have a same first color value. The method also includes determining whether a second subset of pixels in the adjusted image all have a same second color value, wherein the second subset of pixels spatially correspond with the first subset of pixels. A spatial adjustment is identified if the second subset of pixels do not all have the same second color value. |
| US08428369B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes a characteristic amount calculating unit calculating a characteristic amount for each of a plurality of n different image patterns, a specifying unit specifying a best-matching image pattern among the plurality of n image patterns for each of frames forming a learning moving picture and having temporal continuity, a computing unit computing a collocation probability Pij indicating a probability that, for a frame located at a position where a temporal distance to a frame for which a first image pattern Xi is specified among the plurality of n image patterns is within a predetermined threshold τ, a second image pattern Xj is specified among the plurality of n image patterns, and a grouping unit grouping the plurality of n image patterns by using the computed collocation probability Pij. |
| US08428368B2 |
Systems and methods for hand gesture control of an electronic device
Systems and methods of generating device commands based upon hand gesture commands are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment generates image information from a series of captured images, generates commands based upon hand gestures made by a user that emulate device commands generated by a remote control device, identifies a hand gesture made by the user from the received image information, determines a hand gesture command based upon the identified hand gesture, compares the determined hand gesture command with the plurality of predefined hand gesture commands to identify a corresponding matching hand gesture command from the plurality of predefined hand gesture commands, generates an emulated remote control device command based upon the identified matching hand gesture command, and controls the media device based upon the generated emulated remote control device command. |
| US08428366B2 |
High performance image identification
A method and apparatus for deriving a representation of an image is described. The method involves processing signals corresponding to the image. A two-dimensional function of the image, such as a Trace transform (T (d, θ)), of the image using at least one functional T, is derived and processed using a mask function (β) to derive an intermediate representation of the image, corresponding to a one-dimensional function. In one embodiment, the mask function defines pairs of image bands of the Trace transform in the Trace domain. The representation of the image may be derived by applying existing techniques to the derived one-dimensional function. |
| US08428364B2 |
Edge enhancement for temporal scaling with metadata
Methods for post-processing of non-key frames of an image are described. According to the methods, reconstructed non-key frames are updated with information of neighboring key frames. Methods to evaluate whether to update or not update the non-key frames are also described. |
| US08428363B2 |
Method for segmenting images using superpixels and entropy rate clustering
An image is segmented into superpixels by constructing a graph with vertices connected by edges, wherein each vertex corresponds to a pixel in the image, and each edge is associated with a weight indicating a similarity of the corresponding pixels, A subset of edges in the graph are selected to segment the graph into subgraphs, wherein the selecting maximizes an objective function based on an entropy rate and a balancing term. The edges with maximum gains are added to the graph until a number of subgraphs is equal to some threshold. |
| US08428360B2 |
System and method for real-time new event detection on video streams
Techniques are disclosed for detecting new events in a video stream that yield improved detection efficiency in real time. For example, a method determines whether a given event is a new event in a video stream. The video stream includes a plurality of events. A first step extracts a first set of features (e.g., text features) from the given event. The first set of features is computationally less expensive to process as compared to a second set of features (e.g., image features) associated with the given event. A second step computes one or more first dissimilarity values between the given event and one or more previous events in the video stream using only the first set of features when one or more first dissimilarity criteria exist. A third step determines whether the given event is a new event based on the one or more computed first dissimilarity values. |
| US08428359B2 |
Text entry for electronic devices
A method of inputting a series of characters into an electronic device comprising a display, the method comprising: detecting a first input associated with a first one of a plurality of discrete areas of the display for entering characters on the display; and recognizing the first input in the first one of the plurality of discrete areas as a first character input while a second one of the plurality of discrete areas is operable to detect a second input for recognition as a second character input, the recognition of the second character input occurring separately to the recognition of the first character input. |
| US08428358B2 |
Radical-base classification of East Asian handwriting
A system and method for labeling radicals in East Asian characters is described. The identity of the radical and the location of the radical in a character may be stored for future reference. |
| US08428355B2 |
Image file processing method
An processing method is used for processing an image file of an image, in which the image is divided into a plurality of image blocks, and at least one row of the minimum coded units sequentially define the image as a plurality of bands. The processing method includes the following steps. An image file of an image is supplied, in which the image file includes a bit stream and exchangeable image file (EXIF) data. A band indicator of the EXIF data is read according to an expanded range. A segment in the bit stream corresponding to a band encompassed by the expanded range is decoded according to the read band indicator corresponding to the band of the expanded range, so as to obtain the band. |
| US08428354B2 |
Image segmentation by hierarchial agglomeration of polygons using ecological statistics
A method for rapid hierarchical image segmentation based on perceptually driven contour completion and scene statistics is disclosed. The method begins with an initial fine-scale segmentation of an image, such as obtained by perceptual completion of partial contours into polygonal regions using region-contour correspondences established by Delaunay triangulation of edge pixels as implemented in VISTA. The resulting polygons are analyzed with respect to their size and color/intensity distributions and the structural properties of their boundaries. Statistical estimates of granularity of size, similarity of color, texture, and saliency of intervening boundaries are computed and formulated into logical (Boolean) predicates. The combined satisfiability of these Boolean predicates by a pair of adjacent polygons at a given segmentation level qualifies them for merging into a larger polygon representing a coarser, larger-scale feature of the pixel image and collectively obtains the next level of polygonal segments in a hierarchy of fine-to-coarse segmentations. The iterative application of this process precipitates textured regions as polygons with highly convolved boundaries and helps distinguish them from objects which typically have more regular boundaries. The method yields a multiscale decomposition of an image into constituent features that enjoy a hierarchical relationship with features at finer and coarser scales. This provides a traversable graph structure from which feature content and context in terms of other features can be derived, aiding in automated image understanding tasks. The method disclosed is highly efficient and can be used to decompose and analyze large images. |
| US08428351B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device may create corrected image data by correcting object image data by utilizing base image data. The image processing device may determine a first polar coordinate value which represents first pixels in the object image data, calculate a first orthogonal coordinate by executing an orthogonal transformation on the first polar coordinate value, determine a second polar coordinate value which represents second pixels in the base image data, calculate a second orthogonal coordinate value by executing an orthogonal transformation on the second polar coordinate value, and create the corrected image data by correcting the object image data such that a coordinate value of each particular pixel in the object image data approaches the second orthogonal coordinate value. The each particular pixel may be included in a surrounding area of the first orthogonal coordinate value. |
| US08428349B2 |
Method and apparatus for DRAM 2D video word formatting
Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for DRAM 2D video word formatting. In one aspect of the invention, words of data in a DRAM may be arranged for optimal DRAM operating efficiency. The data organization may utilize a 2-dimensional array of samples, for example. In one embodiment of the invention, a 128-bit or 16-byte word or GWord of DRAM may include an 8×2 array of luma samples, comprising 8 horizontal samples and 2 vertical samples from one field, for example. In this regard, either both may be even lines or both may be odd lines. Various other 2-dimensional arrangements may be chosen according to the demands of the video format being processed in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. |
| US08428346B2 |
Strategies for processing image information using a color information data structure
Strategies are described for processing image information using a data structure which conveys color information. The color information describes color-related formatting applied to the image information. The data structure can be passed down a video processing pipeline, which includes a video mixing renderer module, a device driver, and a graphics module. Each functional component in the pipeline can draw color information from the data structure to improve the accuracy of its processing. |
| US08428344B2 |
System and method for providing mobile range sensing
The present invention provides an improved method for estimating range of objects in images from various distances comprising receiving a set of images of the scene having multiple objects from at least one camera in motion. Due to the motion of the camera, each of the images are obtained at different camera locations. Then an object visible in multiple images is selected. Data related to approximate camera positions and orientations and the images of the visible object are used to estimate the location of the object relative to a reference coordinate system. Based on the computed data, a projected location of the visible object is computed and the orientation angle of the camera for each image is refined. Additionally, pairs of cameras with various locations can obtain dense stereo for regions of the image at various ranges. |
| US08428343B2 |
VOXEL map generator and method thereof
A volume cell (VOXEL) map generation apparatus includes an inertia measurement unit to calculate inertia information by calculating inertia of a volume cell (VOXEL) map generator, a Time of Flight (TOF) camera to capture an image of an object, thereby generating a depth image of the object and a black-and-white image of the object, an estimation unit to calculate position and posture information of the VOXEL map generator by performing an Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm on the basis of the depth image of the object, and to recursively estimate a position and posture of the VOXEL map generator on the basis of VOXEL map generator inertia information calculated by the inertia measurement unit and VOXEL map generator position and posture information calculated by the ICP algorithm, and a grid map construction unit to configure a grid map based on the recursively estimated VOXEL map generator position and posture. |
| US08428338B1 |
Method of determining solder paste height and device for determining solder paste height
A method of determining a solder paste height of solder paste printed on a circuit board, the method including obtaining a two-dimensional image of the circuit board which is captured from above a solder printed surface, and determining the solder paste height corresponding to a pixel value of each of pixels of the two-dimensional image, based on height information which defines a relationship between the pixel value and the solder paste height, the pixel value being a value representing at least one of luminance of red in a RGB color model, luminance of green in the RGB color model, luminance of blue in the RGB color model, hue in a HSI color model, saturation in the HSI color model, and intensity in the HSI color model. |
| US08428336B2 |
Inspecting method, inspecting system, and method for manufacturing electronic devices
A method for classifying defects, including: calculating feature quantifies of defect image which is obtained by imaging a defect on a sample; classifying the defect image into a classified category by using information on the calculated feature quantities; displaying the classified defect image in a region on a display screen which is defined to the classified category; adding information on the classified category to the displayed defect image; transferring the displayed defect image which is added the information on the classified category to one of the other categories and displaying the transferred defect image in a region on the display screen which is defined to the one of the other categories; and changing information on the category. |