| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08424641B2 |
Barrier assembly
A barrier assembly includes an upright frame that supports a barrier including a pair of slidably coupled barrier members that are adjustable in length and are supported by a stirrup as well as the frame. The frame attached to the barrier members to support the barrier members is able to attach to a supporting surface. The frame extends upwardly from the supporting surface to support the barrier members at a position spaced from the supporting surface. The frame has a clamp device that engages the members to prevent sliding movement between the barrier members and thereby removably fixes the barrier members at a desired length and fixes the barrier members to the frame. |
| US08424637B2 |
Systems and methods for providing an asymmetric cellular acoustic diffuser
The present invention relates to providing an acoustic diffuser. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for providing an asymmetric cellular acoustic diffuser adapted to diffuse sound waves that encounter a surface. Further, the present invention relates to providing a system of asymmetric cellular acoustic diffusers adapted to diffuse sound waves that encounter one or more surfaces in an acoustic environment. In some embodiments, an acoustic diffusion device as contemplated herein includes a planer panel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion each having a plurality of cells formed asymmetrically thereon. In such embodiments, the plurality of cells of the first portion is symmetrically oriented in relation to the plurality of cells of the second portion. |
| US08424632B2 |
Input control pattern
A control system for a construction vehicle, such as a motor grader, is provided. The control system includes a plurality of joysticks supported by an operator seat assembly of the motor grader. |
| US08424631B2 |
Motor vehicle front end
A motor vehicle front structure is provided that has at least one first longitudinal girder and at least one first crash box. The first crash box has a deformation section and a fastening section, the fastening section connected to the first longitudinal girder. Moreover, the motor vehicle front structure has an engine mount, the engine mount having a first fastening section, which is connected to the first longitudinal girder. The fastening section of the first crash box and the first fastening section of the engine mount have a common overlap area. |
| US08424630B2 |
Control apparatus and method for a hydrostatically actuated vehicle
A method and apparatus for controlling operation of an engine in a hydrostatically driven vehicle having high and economy modes may include monitoring one or more control inputs. When in the economy mode the engine may be operated: at a fixed propel neutral speed when a propel control input is in a neutral position; at a fixed propel drive speed when the propel control input is in a drive position and a propel pump displacement signal is less than a maximum displacement position of a propel pump; and at a variable drive speed when the propel control input is in the drive position and the propel pump displacement signal indicates a maximum displacement position. The economy mode conserves fuel while ensuring that sufficient engine power is maintained to operate the propel and any implement pumps provided on the vehicle. |
| US08424626B2 |
Vehicle
A technique for enabling reduction of fuel consumption without greatly changing an engine structure and without impairing a feeling of operation of a vehicle as a motorcycle. An engine includes a crankshaft and a primary gear integrated with the crankshaft that is attached such that the power of the engine is transmitted to a wheel. A one-way clutch transmits the power from the crankshaft to the primary gear but does not transmit the power from the primary gear to the crankshaft. The one-way clutch is provided between the crankshaft and the primary gear with a regenerative brake motor being provided on the primary gear. The engine is non-swingable mounted on the vehicle body with a cylinder extending in a substantially horizontal direction and a crankshaft provided to be oriented in a vehicle width direction. An electric motor is located in front of and above the crankshaft of the engine. |
| US08424623B2 |
Hybrid power system and its controlling method
A hybrid power system includes an engine, a clutch, a transmission, a motor and an energy storage device. The motor is connected to the energy storage device and the engine is connected to the input shaft of the transmission by the clutch. The output shaft of the transmission is operatively coupled with the output shaft of the motor to provide a coupled power output. |
| US08424621B2 |
Omni traction wheel system and methods of operating the same
The present invention is an omni traction wheel system, which adopts an integrated differential mechanism to generate longitudinal and lateral traction forces. The omni traction wheel system may include a rotary device that delivers two individually controllable rotational forces, the differential output of which may drive a plurality of peripheral wheels to rotate laterally, and the common output of which may drive a pair of longitudinal plates to rotate longitudinally. Accordingly, the omni traction wheel system may travel in all directions. |
| US08424619B2 |
Drilling fluid
This invention is based upon the finding that certain chlorosulfonated α-olefin copolymers can be beneficially utilized in drilling fluids that are utilized in drilling subterreanean wells. For instance, it has been unexpectedly found that certain chlorosulfonated α-olefin copolymers can be beneficially used as total or partial replacements for organoclays in oil based drilling fluids. The subject invention more specifically reveals a process for drilling a well into a subterranean formation which comprises boring a hole into the earth by rotary drilling, wherein a drilling fluid is circulated down a drilling pipe and returned to the surface of the earth through a pipe hole annulus, wherein the oil-based drilling fluid is comprised of (a) an organic liquid; (b) water; (c) an emulsifier; (d) a weighing material; (e) a fluid loss reducing agent; and (f) a chlorosulfonated α-olefin copolymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from ethylene and an α-olefin that contains from 4 to about 20 carbon atoms. |
| US08424605B1 |
Methods and devices for casing and cementing well bores
A casing string is augmented with one or more variable flow resistance devices or “vibrating tools” to facilitate advancement of the casing and distribution of the cement in the annulus once the casing is properly positioned. The method includes vibrating the casing string while advancing the casing down the wellbore or while the cement is pumped into the annulus, or both. After the cementing operation is completed, the devices may be drilled out to open the casing string for further operations. The casing string assembly may include a vibrating tool at the end in place of a conventional float shoe or float collar. Multiple vibrating tools can be employed in the casing string, and they may be combined with conventional float shoes and collars. Additionally, vibrating tools in the form of plugs can be pumped down and landed inside the casing string. |
| US08424604B2 |
Methods and devices for forming a wellbore with casing
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to fluidly couple to a casing string. The apparatus may include a fill-up and circulating tool having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the fill-up and circulating tool is configured to fluidly couple to an upper end of the casing string, a cementing head assembly having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the flow path of the cementing head assembly is fluidly coupled to the flow path of the fill-up and circulating tool, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the cementing head assembly, in which the releasing mechanism is configured to release a fluid-conveyed sealing device through the cementing head assembly and into the fill-up and circulating tool. |
| US08424601B2 |
System and method for minimizing the negative enviromental impact of the oilsands industry
A method and system for the use of low quality fuel and solids-rich water, like fine tailings or lime sludge, for extracting bitumen from shallow and deep underground oil sand formations. The method includes the steps of combustion fuel and oxidizing gas, mixing hot combustion gas with solids-rich water under controlled pressure, gasifying the liquid water to steam and solids, removing the solids from the gas phase to generate a solid lean gas, recovering the heat and condensing the steam to generate hot water, mixing the hot water with oilsands ore for extracting bitumen. The solid lean gas is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and acid gases and produce saturated steam. The solids-rich saturated water is recycled and gasified by being mixed with the combustion gases, and the saturated steam is condensed to generate heat and condensate for steam generation for use in enhanced oil recovery. |
| US08424600B2 |
Methods and systems for treating subterranean wells
The present invention is directed to a method and system for treating a well having a wellbore extending from a ground surface or subsea surface downhole to an oil producing formation. Oil producing formations are capable of generating formation fluids into a wellbore. Formation fluids are comprised of at least an oil fraction and an aqueous fraction. Emulsions may form during oil production, and such emulsions may be comprised of oil and water. Inhibitor compositions may be employed to break such emulsions. |
| US08424599B2 |
Automated closed loop flowback and separation system
An automated closed loop flowback and separation system that allows automated control and remote operation of a flowback operation from a safe distance without any fluid or gas release to the atmosphere. Four-phase separation tanks allow the transport gas, well bore cuttings, produced oil, and produced water to be automatically separated and transported through process piping for reuse or sale, eliminating the need for auxiliary equipment. Flow measurement instruments, pressure transmitters, and level transmitters work in conjunction with an automated blast choke to send data to a programmable logic controller for use in calculating the erosion status of the choke restriction and adjusting the choke to compensate. The programmable logic controller works with a touch-screen or similar human-machine interface to allow remote monitoring and control or automated control of the system. The automated blast choke can vary the choke restriction opening based on the pressure differential and flow rate conditions. |
| US08424598B2 |
Magnetically controlled delivery of subterranean fluid additives for use in subterranean applications
Methods for providing controlled delivery of subterranean fluid additives to a well bore treatment fluid and/or a surrounding subterranean environment using intelligent materials that respond to a magnetic stimulus to release subterranean fluid additives downhole in a subterranean environment. The methods include releasing a subterranean fluid additive in a subterranean formation including providing a magnetically-sensitive component that includes a subterranean fluid additive; providing a magnetic source; and releasing the subterranean fluid additive in the subterranean formation from the magnetically-sensitive component using a magnetic force generated from the magnetic source. |
| US08424596B2 |
High efficiency fluid pumping apparatus and method
A high efficiency fluid pumping apparatus and methods having of an electronic motor controller controlling at least one electric motor that is directly coupled to the input of a hollow helical mechanism. The output of the hollow helical mechanism is directly coupled to the shaft of a reciprocating piston pump. Each moving component of the apparatus is designed with a hollow central bore, so that the apparatus assembly will accept a continuous, stationary, hollow conduit containing electrical through wiring and or fiber optics for power and communication to devices physically positioned below the apparatus. |
| US08424593B2 |
Pressurized-gas cooler for a compressor
A pressurized-gas cooler has a housing having a cylindrical side wall centered on an axis, an axially open outer end, and an axially closed inner end. A cover fitted to and closing the open outer end carries a bundle of tubes inside the housing between the housing ends. The tubes all extending parallel to one another at an angle of between 2° and 10° to a diametral plane including the housing axis such that the bundle is closer in a direction perpendicular to the plane to the side wall of the housing at one end of the housing than at the opposite end of the housing. Pressurized-gas inlet and outlet fittings open into the housing, with at least the gas inlet fitting opening into the housing to a side of the plane where the tube bundle at the respective end of the housing is more widely spaced. |
| US08424591B2 |
Tube sheet assembly
Disclosed is a tube sheet assembly for a waste heat boiler employed in a chemical process plant and which makes use of metal ferrules for protecting the inlets of the exchange tubes of the tube sheet. The tube sheet assembly includes at least one thermal insulator which is located inside an inlet opening of a tube sheet of the tube sheet assembly, and which covers a portion of a respective ferrule of the tube sheet assembly, thereby providing thermal insulation between the tube sheet and the ferrule. |
| US08424589B2 |
Motorcycle oil cooler
An oil cooler for a motorcycle includes a heat exchanger residing within a primary drive between an engine pulley and a clutch pulley. A fan within the primary drive pushes or pulls air through the heat exchanger. The fan may be electrically or mechanically operated and mounted to one of a base plate or a cover plate of the primary drive. Alternatively, the fan may be formed as a mechanical portion of one of the primary drive components. Vectoring blades may assist in directing an air flow within the primary drive to the heat exchanger, and vents may be formed in the cover plate for air intake and/or exhaust. |
| US08424585B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating a pattern
A method and apparatus for creating a pattern of an item of manufacture, the method and apparatus including the use of a mold frame, mold, mold core, injection frame and injection core to create patterns of items of manufacture for investment casting. |
| US08424580B2 |
Auto lamination cassette apparatus
In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for preparing a cassette spool. The apparatus includes: a supply reel for supplying and unrolling tape material on original backing paper; at least one cutting member for cutting unrolled tape material while on original backing paper; a cutting surface defined in a plane; a pivoting path member adapted to move from a first position aligned in the plane to a second position aligned at least partially out of the plane; at least one removing member for removing uncut unrolled tape material from original backing paper; and a cassette spool for rolling up unrolled cut tape material on original backing paper. In further embodiments, methods are provided for preparing a cassette spool with cut tape material on original backing paper. |
| US08424577B2 |
Finger joint
A finger joint in a joint assembled of at least mainly woody parts (1, 2), such as sawn timber, glued wood, plywood, fiberboard, LVL, LSL, comprises at least one finger. The finger shapes needed complementarily have been milled with a cutting tool, such as a milling curser, to the both parts (1, 2). The height of at least one complementary pair of fingers varies along the length of the interlocking finger pair. |
| US08424575B2 |
Apparatus for bottling viscous media
An apparatus for filling containers with liquid and in particular viscous media, comprising a filling element which can be introduced at least partially into a mouth of the container to be filled, wherein a filling body of this filling element is configured in such a way that the medium is directed at least also onto a wall of the container, comprising a connecting line for conveying the liquid medium from a reservoir for the liquid medium to the container, wherein the filling element is movable relative to the container in a longitudinal direction (L) of the container. According to the invention, the filling element is movable in the longitudinal direction (L) of the container. |
| US08424572B2 |
Method for controlling the transfer of materials
A method for controlling an amount of material transferred in a system having a plurality of material feeds and concurrent material transfer periods. The method comprising steps of: supplying each of a primary material having a target weight and a secondary material, to a receiving vessel; determining a decision threshold; feeding the primary material to the receiving vessel, feeding the secondary material into the receiving vessel as or after the primary material begins feeding and before the decision threshold, determining a feed status of the primary and secondary materials at the decision threshold; changing the feed status of one of the primary or secondary materials at the decision threshold; and feeding only the primary material within a feed alone time period until the target weight amount is fed. |
| US08424571B2 |
Repair system and method
Disclosed herein is a repair apparatus and method for pipe and fittings. In one form, the method relates to utilizing fabric-like material which is intermixed with an adhesive. In one form, the adhesive is a two-part adhesive which hardens to a semi-rigid state to avoid stress fractures through repeated expansion and contraction due to physical movement or temperature variation in the pipe and/or fittings. In one form the method and apparatus are particularly useful in thermoplastic pipes. In other forms, the method is particularly useful in metal pipes and fittings, or in non-pipe structures. |
| US08424570B2 |
Pipe thread protector
A protector for protecting a pipe thread having a thread pitch P1 has a central axis, a first end, second end opposite the first end, and comprises a base at the first end. In addition, the protector comprises an annular connecting member extending axially from the base to the second end. The connecting member has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. The connecting member also includes a helical thread extending radially outward from the radially inner surface or radially inward from the radially outer surface. The helical thread has a thread pitch P2 that is greater than the thread pitch P1 of the pipe thread. |
| US08424564B2 |
Distributor
A distributor 6 includes a distributor body 40 and outlet pathways 42 each formed above the distributor body 40 and along a flow direction of a fluid in the distributor body 40. The distributor body 40 has a liquid pan 40a formed on the lower side, and an outlet 40b on the upper side, and the outlet 40b is internally divided to spaces by a partition plate 45, each of the spaces 45a being associated with the corresponding outlet pathway 42. |
| US08424563B2 |
Compact valve position indicator
A system for indicating the status of a valve may include an encapsulation with electronic circuitry disposed at least partially therein, a communication sub-system, a sensor, an indicator and a power source. The encapsulation may be zero volume, and the indicator may include a color changing skin. A method of indicating the status of a valve may include providing a valve, providing a status indicating system, changing a status of the valve, sensing a status of the valve, and indicating a status of the valve. A method of encapsulating a status indicating system may include providing an encapsulant and coupling at least a portion of the system with the encapsulant. |
| US08424560B2 |
Multi-valve microfluidic devices and methods
Multi-valve autoregulatory microfluidic devices and methods are described. The described devices and methods offer improved performance and new means of tuning autoregulatory effects in microfluidic devices. |
| US08424557B1 |
Downspout water diversion and overflow device and water collection and overflow system employing the same
A downspout water collection and overflow system employs a downspout water diversion and overflow device which includes a body displacing a downspout section, and a plate supported in the body. The body, being hollow, has upper, lower and side portions defining top, bottom and side openings. The plate is inclined to extend laterally across the body between the upper and lower portions and through the side opening of the side portion. The plate blocks flow of water directly from the top to bottom opening of the body, diverting water flow through the side opening to a storage tank. The plate divides the side opening into upper and lower passages which allows inflow of water from the upper body portion through the upper passage above the plate to the tank and overflow of water from the tank through the lower passage below the plate to the lower body portion. |
| US08424554B2 |
Control valve for a reverse osmosis water purification system
An improved control valve for a reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system for supplying relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, wherein the improved control valve positively terminates pure water production and brine outflow to a waste or drain when a pure water reservoir reaches a substantially filled condition. The control valve responds to a predetermined pressure differential between a tap or feed water inflow and produced pure water to close a pure water outflow line when the pure water reservoir reaches a substantially filled condition, thereby positively preventing further production of pure water. Shortly thereafter, the control valve closes a brine outflow line thereby positively preventing further water flow through the system until at least a predetermined volume of the reservoir-stored pure water is dispensed. When this occurs, the control valve re-opens in sequence the brine outflow and the pure water outflow lines. |
| US08424553B2 |
Coolant line clip assemblies for use with fluid delivery systems
The present disclosure provides a fluid clip for use with a coolant system for electrosurgical procedures. The fluid clip includes a clip housing having proximal and distal ends and a channel defined therethrough. The channel is dimensioned to receive tubing for carrying a cooling fluid from a cooling source. The fluid clip includes a luer that includes a passageway defined therethrough. The passageway is dimensioned to securely receive the tubing such that the tubing extends through the luer for reception within the channel defined in the clip housing. The luer includes one or more interface on a surface thereof that matingly engages a corresponding interface on the clip housing. The interface on the luer cooperates with the interface on the clip housing to limit rotation of the tubing. |
| US08424547B1 |
Safety buckle of umbrella runner
A safety buckle of umbrella is mounted in receiving compartments formed in a runner. The safety buckle is generally a U-shaped having two limbs each forming a hook latch. Two pivot pins are respectively mounted to opposite side surfaces of the buckle and torsion springs are respectively fit to the pivot pins to provide the hook latches with spring biasing force for engagement. The pivot pins of the safety buckle are respectively received in pivot holes defined in inside surfaces of the receiving compartments. To open the umbrella, the runner is moved upward along a center post. A user presses down the safety buckle when the runner gets close to positioning pins formed on the center post to allow the hook latches to respectively engage the positioning pins thereby securely fixing the runner in position on the center post. |
| US08424545B2 |
Portable modular washing unit for turboprops of aircraft
A washing unit for turboprops of aircraft is disclosed, which comprises a hydropneumatic accumulator suitable for supplying, at a controlled pressure, a washing fluid contained therein, and a filling member, motorized and manual, for feeding the washing fluid into the accumulator. The accumulator may be connected alternatively to the motorized filling member or to the manual filling member. A manually actuated device is also provided for pressurization of the accumulator, so that the washing unit can be used both in areas equipped for this operation and in areas not so equipped. |
| US08424540B2 |
Smoking article with valved restrictor
A smoking article filter includes a valved flow restrictor and a cavity downstream of the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor includes an orifice or flow channel for directing smoke into the cavity. The filter is attached to the tobacco rod with tipping paper and includes an air-admissible ventilating zone at a location downstream of the restrictor. The valved restrictor can be used to isolate a sorbent bearing component of the filter from a flavor bearing component. |
| US08424539B2 |
Smoking article with single piece restrictor and chamber
A smoking article having a filter segment that establishes both a desired resistance to draw and a mixing of mainstream smoke with ventilation air. The filter segment includes a fluted portion, a frusto-conical portion and axially extending orifices establishing fluid communication between the frusto-conical portion and voids between one or more walls of the fluted portion. |
| US08424538B2 |
Segmented smoking article with shaped insulator
A cigarette includes lighting and mouth ends. It may include a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end. It also includes a mouth-end segment; an aerosol-generation system disposed between the lighting and mouth ends, which includes (i) a heat-generation segment adjacent the smokable segment, including a heat source configured to be activated by combustion of a smokable material and an insulation layer of a non-glass material that is woven, knit, or both, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment with aerosol-forming material disposed between, but physically separate from, each of the heat generation segment and the mouth end; a piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating segment, the heat-generation segment, and at least a portion of the smokable segment; those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; that is connected to the cigarette rod using tipping material. |
| US08424537B2 |
Vaporizer apparatus and methods
A vaporizing device with two concentric tubes for volatizing and inhaling one or more constituents of various vaporizable substances, such as medicines and plant materials. Devices may be successfully operated using the flame from a standard butane cigarette lighter or the like as the sole heat source. Concentric tubes, an inner tube with two open ends and an outer tube with one closed end provide a serpentine pathway for an airflow. An additional embodiment of the device provides a substitute for a standard slider-bowl allowing for the conversion of a standard water pipe into a vaporizing device. Other embodiments allow for vaporization of cigarettes. |
| US08424535B2 |
Circular surgical stapler with mating anvil and shell assembly
A surgical stapler comprising a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, and a head portion disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The anvil assembly has an anvil head and a plurality of projections extending proximally of the anvil head, the projections engageable with a portion of the shell assembly. |
| US08424527B1 |
Unique device for determining airway obstructions
The present invention is related to a device for acoustically monitoring a subject's airway to determine airway obstruction(s) and their location(s). The device is particularly useful when performing sleep analysis and sleep therapy, but is also highly useful in determining airway obstructions of any subject when the subject is sleeping or otherwise unconscious, and can further be used in certain applications when the subject is awake or conscious. The device, in its simplest form, is comprised of a supporting body (e.g. a mask, mouthpiece, or nasal cannula) used to position at least one acoustic generator and at least one acoustic sensor at a location essentially proximal to a subject's airway, the acoustic generator and acoustic sensor generating and/or sensing sound waves useful in determining obstruction(s) and their location(s) within the airway of a subject. |
| US08424526B2 |
Holder for a nasal breathing air filtration device or dilation device
A holder for a nasal air filtration device or dilation device. A holder for a nasal device may be a thin, generally “Z” or “S” shaped device that holds a nasal device in a substantially secure and stable position. Each of a nasal device's nasal bases can be placed or secured on a placement limb of the holder while a connecting member of the nasal device can be secured on the opposite side of the holder from where the nasal bases are positioned along a vertical portion of the holder relative to the placement limbs. There may be securing notches in the holder that help secure a nasal device at generally the point where the bases of the nasal device attach to the connecting member of the nasal device. The notches may allow a nasal device to be securely attached to the holder. |
| US08424523B2 |
Ventilator respiratory gas accumulator with purge valve
This disclosure describes systems and methods for ventilating a patient with a system that includes an accumulator for storing a gas mixture. This disclosure describes systems and methods for ventilating a patient with a system that includes an accumulator located away from the flow path that reduces/eliminates pockets of an undesirable gas mixture from entering the gas flow path and reaching the patient after a gas mixture change by utilizing a purge valve. |
| US08424520B2 |
Safe standby mode for ventilator
A ventilator with a safe standby mode is provided. The safe standby mode allows a user to disconnect a patient from the ventilator, without the ventilator generating alarms and while maintaining previously entered ventilation parameters. In addition, while in the safe standby mode, a patient connection status is monitored, and a ventilation mode is entered automatically if the ventilator determines that a patient is connected to the ventilator while the ventilator is in the safe standby mode. |
| US08424519B2 |
Positive airway pressure apparatus
An apparatus configured to provide positive airway pressure in a respiratory circuit comprises a container configured to be filled to a preselected level with liquids; a drop tube assembly comprising a hollow gas tube rotatably mounted in said container having an upper end extending a static distance outwardly of the container and connected to a respiratory circuit downstream of a user, and a hollow drop tube reciprocally movable upwardly and downwardly in the liquid in response to rotational movement of the gas tube. The container is provided with a gas vent and a liquid fill port. |
| US08424515B1 |
Gas reconditioning systems
Closed system breathable gas regeneration systems comprising temperature swing adsorption (“TSA”) using metabolic regeneration, such systems being useful for EVA in extraterrestrial environments having hostile atmospheres. |
| US08424514B2 |
Flow generator message system
A flow generator for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a processor coupled with operation sensors and a user interface. The processor is programmed to generate at least one of time-based or event-based messages relating to at least one of flow generator operation, flow generator service, flow generator use, patient health, peripheral devices and services, patient treatment, and reminders. Time-based messages are generated at predetermined time intervals based on either time of use or elapsed time. The event-based messages are generated based on signals from the operation sensors. The user interface is configured to deliver the messages to at least one of a display, a flow generator service provider, the patient and a physician. By this system, operation of the flow generator is facilitated and enhanced. |
| US08424510B2 |
Structure of fuel economizer
A fuel economizer includes a housing, at least two magnetic members having sides of the same polarity facing each other, and at least one covering member. The housing forms a primary receiving compartment and has at least one end forming an opening. The two magnetic members are positioned closed to each other with the sides thereof having the same polarity facing each other and are deposited in the primary receiving compartment. The open end of the housing is closed by the covering member to thereby form the economizer. The covering member forms apertures to allow liquid to flow through the primary receiving compartment. The housing may further forms secondary receiving compartments on opposite sides of the primary receiving compartments for receiving therein far infrared particles. When liquid flows through the housing, the liquid is acted upon by both the magnetic members and the far infrared particles. |
| US08424509B1 |
Fuel injector cup rotation limiting structure for an isolated fuel rail system
A fuel injector cup assembly (26) includes a fuel injector cup (10) having an opening (18) to receive fuel from a fuel rail (15). An open end (27) receives an inlet of a fuel injector (10) therein such that an O-ring (16) seals with the injector cup. A mounting portion (20) extends from a body (29) of the cup and mounts the cup with respect to a cylinder head. Rotation limiting structure (26) is associated with the mounting portion such that when the cup is coupled to the cylinder head and when a first moment is created about the mounting portion causing rotation of the cup with respect to the fuel injector, the rotation limiting structure will engage at least the mounting portion of the cup and create a second moment equal and opposite to the first moment, to prevent further rotation of the cup. |
| US08424502B2 |
Intake manifold
The present invention provides an intake manifold that improves the intake performance and has a reduced weight. The intake manifold includes a surge tank and intake pipes. Each intake pipe has an inlet port that is connected to the surge tank. The inlet ports are arranged along a flow direction of air drawn into the surge tank from the opening of the surge tank, and project into the surge tank along direction that intersects the flow direction. Each adjacent pair of the inlet ports are separated only by a single common pipe wall. |
| US08424500B2 |
Harmonic drive camshaft phaser with improved radial stability
Improved stiffening and minimized distortion of a housing for an eVCP achieved by forming a plurality of radial housing stiffeners into the housing around the motor mount end and into the eVCP's hub. A back plate is press fit into the rear of the housing, and a straight axial knurl is applied to the surface of the back plate or housing, which knurl permits a larger tolerance-higher press fit class to be used without resulting in significant deformation of the housing. The knurled back plate is harder than the housing, causing the high points of the knurl to plastically deform or plow the housing material during assembly, resulting in less radial deformation of the bore and the journal bearing. An interface between the housing and the hub provides a journal bearing interface to improve axial stability between the hub and housing. |
| US08424491B2 |
Containment pens for finfish aquaculture
A containment pen for finfish aquaculture, comprising a supporting structure, a net attached to the supporting structure and defining a containment volume for containing finfish, wherein the net comprises a plurality of removable net panels, wherein each of the removable net panels comprises a discrete piece of flexible netting attached along its perimeter to one or more substantially rigid members, and wherein the removable net panels are configured to be removable from the containment pen with the piece of flexible netting remaining attached to the substantially rigid members. |
| US08424486B2 |
Marker detection mechanisms for use in marking devices and methods of using same
Marking devices for dispensing a marking substance on the ground and marking methods are provided. The marking devices and marking methods use one or more detection mechanisms to detect one or more characteristics of the marking substance. In some embodiments, the detection mechanism may be, but is not limited to, an optical sensor, an olfactory sensor, a weight sensor, a switch device, and any combination thereof. The one or more detection mechanisms may provide, for example, the capability to: (1) determine the type of marking substance that is installed in the marking device; (2) determine in advance of or during a marking operation the amount of marking substance within the marking dispenser; and (3) determine when the marking dispenser is becoming empty. |
| US08424485B2 |
Substrate treatment equipment and manufacturing method of substrate
The invention aims to provide substrate treatment equipment that can automatically collect a substrate in a normal condition without needing manual operation. The equipment includes a substrate holder 26 for holding substrates 12 in a multistage manner and a substrate transfer unit 34 for transferring the substrates 12 into the substrate holder 26, wherein a substrate holding condition of the substrate holder 26 is sensed by a sensing section 60. The sensing section 60 has photo-sensors 64a, 64b, and sensing waveforms sensed by the photo-sensors 64a, 64b are compared with a normal waveform. A control section 66 is provided, which controls a substrate transfer unit 34 such that substrates 12 other than at least a substrate 12 that was determined to be abnormal are transferred by the unit. |
| US08424479B1 |
Universal launch and recovery system
A universal launch and recovery system that may be used to launch or recover/receive water vessels. The launch and recovery system includes a deployable ramp having adjustable soft end guides and adjustable tire arrangements for guiding and cushioning vessels of different geometries. |
| US08424476B2 |
Combination boat and travel trailer system
A combination boat and travel trailer system having a main body portion and a bow portion. The bow portion movable between a raised position relative to the main body portion to facilitate towing of the boat and travel trailer and a lowered position to facilitate in-water use as a boat. |
| US08424470B2 |
Unique foldable table having automatic button-latching and button-releasing system, automatic leg-centering system, and automatic collapse-preventing system
A unique foldable table comprises a collapse-preventing tabletop assembly, a plurality of extendable-leg assemblies releasably attached to the tabletop assembly, and a plurality of scissoring-arm assemblies attached to the extendable-leg assemblies, respectively. The collapse-preventing tabletop assembly has an automatic collapse-preventing system of clamps for automatically cross-interlocking the tabletop and the extendable-leg assemblies to prevent the unique foldable table from folding inwards and collapsing. The extendable-leg assemblies have: an automatic button-latching and button-releasing system of spring-loaded latches for automatically latching and automatically releasing the release buttons to simplify the cumbersome, two-handed table operation into an easy, one-handed table operation to eliminate the risk of personal injury; and an automatic leg-centering system of leg-centering clamps for automatically centering and clamping the extendable-leg assemblies to lock them in place. |
| US08424465B2 |
Slant board
A slant board for viewing, reading, or working an object at a convenient angle is provided. The slant board includes a table. The table includes an inner face, an outer face, and a plurality of struts, each strut pivotally coupled to the inner face along respective lateral pivot axes. The slant board also includes a base pivotally coupled to the table to define a tilt angle therebetween. The base includes a plurality of stops for engaging the struts. At least two struts have different lateral pivot axes and/or different lengths. Each of the plurality of struts is engageable with at least one of the plurality of stops to provide a range of tilt angles. |
| US08424462B2 |
Railcar bodyshell and method for manufacturing the same
To adequately maintain recyclability of a railcar bodyshell while improving the appearance, manufacturing accuracy, and producibility of the railcar bodyshell. A railcar bodyshell includes: a metal side outside plate 2 having openings 2b to 2d; a plurality of metal horizontal frame members 3 joined to an inner surface of the side outside plate 2 and extending in a railcar front-rear direction; a plurality of metal vertical frame members 4 joined to the inner surface of the side outside plate 2 and extending in a railcar upper-lower direction; and carbon fiber reinforced resin members 5A to 5D each joined to a predetermined portion on the inner surface of the side outside plate 2, the predetermined portion including a corner portion of each of peripheral portions 2f to 2h respectively defining openings 2b to 2d or a part of a portion between the vertical frame members 4. |
| US08424460B2 |
Trolley for downhill zip line thrill ride
A zip line trolley includes a frame assembled from a pair of spaced-apart parallel side plates and an inner beam, which is partially sandwiched between the side plates. The inner beam has a gallery of block-T-shaped cross section which extends its length. A shackle, from which a rider is suspended, can be pinned anywhere within the gallery. A main pulley, which is installed in an upper middle portion of the frame, rotates on a pair of sealed ball bearing races that are pressed on a hollow keyed shaft which slides into opposed grooves machined into each of the side plates. The keyed shaft is bolted between the side plates with a shoulder bolt passing transversely through both side plates. A water-wiping brake pad is pivotally mounted within the frame in front of the main pulley. A bumper is bolted between front portions of the side plates. |
| US08424453B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting anti-marking jackets
In a printing press a method is provided. The method comprises coupling an adjustment tool to a transfer cylinder substantially parallel to an axis of the transfer cylinder and coupling a first end of a flexible jacket to a first attachment structure coupled to the transfer cylinder, wherein the first attachment structure is proximate to a first edge of the transfer cylinder. The method further comprises placing the jacket around the transfer cylinder and over the adjustment tool and coupling the second end of the jacket to a second attachment structure coupled to the transfer cylinder, wherein the second attachment structure is proximate to a second edge of the transfer cylinder and the jacket is attached without free play to the transfer cylinder. The method further comprises withdrawing the adjustment tool from between the transfer cylinder and the jacket, whereby an amount of free play of the flexible jacket remains. |
| US08424451B2 |
Automatically controlled steam flaking systems and methods
The invention is related to an apparatus and method for controlling a steam flaking operation. In an embodiment, the invention is a steam flaking system including at least one sensor to measure the flow of material in the steam flaking system, a steam chest, a peg feeder, disposed at the bottom of the steam chest, and an automatic control unit, wherein the automatic control unit receives data from the at least one sensor and controls the peg feeder. In an embodiment, the invention is a steam flaking system including a steam chest, at least one sensor to measure the flow of material in the steam chest, a peg feeder, and an automatic control unit, wherein the automatic control unit receives data from the at least one sensor and controls the peg feeder. In an embodiment, the invention is a method for automatically controlling the residence time of a product in a steam chest including the steps of calculating a residence time (Tr) of a product, calculating a desired peg feeder RPM based on a calibration curve relating RPM and residence time, and adjusting the RPM of the peg feeder to the desired amount. |
| US08424449B2 |
Lifting cover type frying-roasting device
A frying-roasting device comprises a bottom base, an oil storing plate, an electric heating frying-roasting plate and an upper cover. There are bosses extending backwards at two sides of a back end of the bottom base. R-shaped orbits are included that have openings from the bosses' back end that extend toward the bosses' front lower parts. Jointed shafts extend outward at a back end of two sides of the upper cover. The jointed shafts are inserted in the r-shaped orbits to form a hinging connection. There are two blocking walls that extend from a back end to an inside of each boss. The height of the two blocking walls is lower than openings of the r-shaped orbits. When the upper cover is opened, the back connecting member is blocked by the frying-roasting plate and the two blocking walls so that the upper cover remains sloped. |
| US08424445B2 |
Connecting rod bore
A linking arm conveying generally linear movement from a piston into generally radial movement of a crankshaft is disclosed. The linking arm includes a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end. The piston pin end defines a piston pin bore. A piston pin bore surface is defined by the piston pin bore, where the piston pin bore includes a non-circular transverse profile having at least two curved surfaces that each include a distinct radius, where the at least two curved surfaces are positioned in different locations around a periphery of the transverse profile. |
| US08424444B2 |
Countermeasure systems including pyrotechnically-gimbaled targeting units and methods for equipping vehicles with the same
Embodiments of a pyrotechnically-gimbaled targeting unit are provided. In one embodiment, the targeting unit includes a targeting unit housing, a countermeasure payload carried by the targeting unit housing, and a plurality of thrusters coupled to the targeting unit housing. The plurality of thrusters is configured to be selectively activated to rotate the targeting unit housing about first and second substantially orthogonal axes to provide controlled pointing of countermeasure payload prior to the deployment thereof. Embodiments of a countermeasure system including a pyrotechnically-gimbaled targeting unit are also provided, as are methods for equipping a vehicle with a countermeasure system of the type that includes at least one pyrotechnically-gimbaled targeting unit. |
| US08424437B2 |
Wheel for triggering mines by pressure
A device for triggering mines by pressure, including a chassis and at least one wheel having a central hub and including: at least one assembly that is movable in translation along a radius of the wheel and comprises a weight block at its peripheral radial end, a device suitable for driving the at least one movable assembly, as the wheel rotates in a determined direction with respect to the chassis, in the direction of the hub over a limited sector of the wheel that is less than 2π radians; wherein the device suitable for driving the at least one movable assembly in the direction of the hub are fixed with respect to the chassis, or in that the assembly that is movable in translation comprises a support that is fixed with respect to the chassis. |
| US08424436B2 |
Cutting knife
A cutting blade for machines for slicing food products, particularly for high-speed slicers, has a sickle-shaped blade rotating about a rotation axis during the slicing operation and has a cutting edge that deviates from a circular shape at the radially outer circumference thereof and revolves about the rotation axis, particularly in the manner of a spiral. The edge is positioned in a cutting plane extending perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the cutting edge forms the radially outer end of a cutting surface, which forms part of the blade back side facing away from a product to be sliced during the slicing operation and includes a blade angle together with the cutting plane. The size of the blade angle varies in the circumferential direction. |
| US08424435B2 |
Sheet trimmer with indicator to display usable life status of blade or blade opposing member
A trimmer that is operable to cut at least one sheet of paper includes a base configured to support the at least one sheet, a rail extending across at least a portion of the base, and a cutting assembly having a carriage slidably coupled to the rail and a blade positioned on the carriage. The trimmer also includes a blade opposing member coupled to the base adjacent to the rail and an indicator operable to display a usable life status of at least one of the blade and the blade opposing member. |
| US08424433B2 |
Support leg devices and cutting tools having the support leg devices
A cutting tool has a table for placing a workpiece thereon. A cutting unit is mounted to the table. A support leg device includes a support leg, an operation member and a motion conversion mechanism. The motion conversion mechanism is coupled between the support leg and the operation member, so that the movement of the operation member is converted into the movement of the support leg. |
| US08424430B2 |
Food product conveyor and handling systems
A conveyor system for assembling and stacking sliced food products is provided. The conveyor system includes an assembly area, wherein groups of a predetermined quantity of sliced food products travel from a slicer on a conveyor and are deposited on discrete carrier sheets on a downstream conveyor. The assembly area is configured to delay advancement of the carrier sheets on the downstream conveyor until a group of the predetermined quantity is formed. The slicer is configured to calculate the number of slices in each group and determine whether a group is complete. A stacking area of the conveyor system includes a nose conveyor that extends and retracts to deposit each carrier sheet onto a pair of initial supports. The initial supports reciprocate away from each other in opposing directions to drop the carrier sheet onto a subsequent level, with the initial supports reciprocating each time a carrier sheet is deposited thereon. |
| US08424428B2 |
Tool head for a pipe cutting machine
The invention concerns a tool head with a housing (11), in which at least one thrusting wedge (31, 32, 33) is provided, able to move back and forth in the longitudinal direction (L) in a first toothed guide, which is coordinated with a support (21, 22, 23) in the housing (11), able to move in a second toothed guide in a transverse direction (R1, R2, R3) transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), and the thrusting wedge (31, 32, 33) and the coordinated support (21, 22, 23) are in sliding contact with each other via a slanted contact surface (51, 52, 53) and a movement of the thrusting wedge (31, 32, 33) in the longitudinal direction (L) brings about a transverse movement of the coordinated support (21, 22, 23) via the slanted contact surface (51, 52, 53) and a cutting tool (161, 162, 163) can be fastened on the support (21, 22, 23) and the support (21, 22, 23) has a support arm (101, 102, 103) extending in the transverse direction (R1, R2, R3). |
| US08424422B2 |
Adjustable socket structure
An adjustable socket structure contains a body including a first groove, a second groove, a first notch, a number of slots; a plurality of paws, each including a sliding block, and the sliding block including a first hole; a number of connecting rods, each being movably fixed in the second groove and including a first axial shank and a second axial shank; a driving shaft including an axial portion and a disk portion, wherein the axial portion includes a square bore, and the disk portion is rotated in the first groove and includes an outer diameter larger that the axial portion and three second holes so that the driving shaft is rotated to actuate the paws to move in the slots respectively by using the connecting rods; a helical retaining ring retained in the first notch to abut against a rear end of the disk portion of the driving shaft. |
| US08424416B2 |
Layshaft generator
An apparatus is provided and includes a rotatable shaft on which a first bevel gearbox is disposed, a layshaft on which a second bevel gearbox is disposed, the first and second bevel gearboxes being coupled to transmit shaft rotation to the layshaft, an accessory gearbox to which the layshaft and one or more accessories are coupled and a generator operably disposed on the layshaft between the second bevel gearbox and the accessory gearbox. |
| US08424415B2 |
Non-rotating clutch and method of installing same
A hybrid transmission includes a transmission housing and a motor/generator stator configured to be attached to the transmission housing. A clutch housing is configured to be attached to the motor/generator stator, such that the clutch housing is not directly attached to the transmission housing but is statically fixed. An axis of rotation defines a coordinate system having axial, radial, and clocking rotations. A first piloting feature may be formed on the clutch housing and a second piloting feature on the transmission housing. The first and second piloting features cooperate to axially and radially orient, but not attach, the clutch housing relative to the transmission housing. Third and fourth piloting features cooperate to orient the clocking rotation of the clutch housing. Stator bolts may permanently locate and attach the motor/generator stator to the transmission housing, and clutch bolts permanently locate and attach the clutch housing to the motor/generator stator. |
| US08424410B2 |
Link mechanism
A first link member 4 is swingably connected to the base member 2 on a forward side, and a second link member 5 is swingably connected to the base member 2 on a backward side. A third link member 6 is swingably connected to the output member 3 on the forward side, and a fourth link member 7 is swingably connected to the output member 3 on the backward side. A swinging end of the third link member 6 is swingably connected to the first link member 4 on a first connecting axis J5, and a swinging end of the fourth link member 7 on the backward side is swingably connected to the first link member 4 on a second connecting axis J6. A swinging end of the second link member 5 is swingably connected to the fourth link member 7 on a third connecting axis J7. |
| US08424408B2 |
Gearing of a gearwheel
The invention relates to the gearing of a gearwheel having a plurality of teeth. The gearwheel has a useful area and a base area of the particular tooth flank form. Viewed in normal section, the tooth base area extends from a base circle up to a useful circle. The tooth flanks of adjacent teeth in normal section are each implemented as symmetrical to one another, the axis of symmetry intersecting the base circle in the base point. According to the invention, the tooth flanks are implemented in the tooth base area as a tangent function from a relevant diameter. The tangent function merges at the relevant diameter in a constant tangent into the tooth flank form of the useful area. The tangent function merges in the tooth base area in a constant tangent into an orbit, which is tangentially applied in the base point to the base circle. Significant increases of the tooth base strength may thus be achieved. |
| US08424405B2 |
Gearbox
A mainshaft assembly for a gearbox includes a mainshaft (44) and drive gears (31, 36) carried for rotation about the mainshaft. First and second hubs (50, 50′) are associated with respective drive gears, each hub being operable to selectively couple or uncouple with the drive gear causing it to rotate with the hub or with respect to the hub. A drive connection mechanism (42, 64, 66) associated with each hub selectively connects the hub to the mainshaft. Upon connection of the hubs to the drive gears, the drive connection operates to connect one or other of the hubs to the mainshaft when torque is applied to the mainshaft in a first direction or an opposite direction. This enables a gear ratio to be selected by reversing the torque being handled by the gearbox. |
| US08424400B2 |
Crank-and-rocker piston machine
The invention relates to mechanical engineering, in particular to piston machines and mechanisms for converting the movement of the pistons thereof into shaft rotation. The technical result of the invention involves increasing the operational reliability, extending the service life, improving the specific mass and dimensional characteristics and enhancing the efficiency of a machine. The essence of the invention is that the piston and the crank of a piston machine are interconnected by means of a hinged joint with at least a flat hinge which enables the piston to self-center along the cylinder surface owing to the movement of the piston with respect to the crank in any direction on a plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. Side bearing elements are mounted on the interacting parts of the body and the crank; furthermore, the connection between the opposite parts of the crank and the coupling elements is designed in such a way that the movement of one part of the crank with respect to the opposite part thereof is limited in the direction away from the axis of rotation of the shaft along the reciprocating motion of the crank in order to ensure a specified distance between the contact surfaces of the working bearing elements of the crank when the machine is in operation. Furthermore, a preliminary load is created between the contacting surfaces of the working bearing elements and rollers. |
| US08424395B2 |
Apparatus for monitoring deposition of a noble metal in a nuclear reactor
In a method of monitoring deposition of a noble metal in an intergranular stress corrosion crack (IGSCC) in a metal reactor shroud wall of a nuclear reactor, a metal sample may be placed at a location within near an inner surface of the metal reactor shroud wall. The sample may be submerged below a water line in the reactor and includes at least one thermal fatigue crack. The sample is maintained at the location for a given duration, and a given amount of the noble metal is added into the reactor water while the sample is maintained at the location. The sample is then removed. In an example, a surface crevice deposition monitor for a reactor includes a flow conditioner arranged between a securing mechanism and an anchor, and at least one sample holder connected between the securing mechanism and flow conditioner. |
| US08424389B2 |
Annular bourdon tube gauge assembly
An annular bourdon tube gauge assembly comprises a bourdon tube member, a first flange element, a second flange element and a pressure level indicator, and is adapted to be mounted externally circumferentially of a portion of a body member that is adapted to confining a pressurized fluid, such as a pressure regulator. The bourdon tube is axially disposed between the first and second flange elements, and has a spiral shape, a radially inner end and a radially outer end. The radially inner end is fixed with respect to the portion of the body member. The radially outer end is free to move circumferentially responsive to changes in the fluid pressure entering a pressure receiving port at the radially inner end. The pressure level indicator is mounted to and moveable with the radially outer end, and is viewable from a position located laterally outward of the first and second flange elements. |
| US08424388B2 |
Implantable capacitive pressure sensor apparatus and methods regarding same
An implantable capacitive pressure sensor apparatus and method for making such an apparatus includes a first pressure sensor portion and a second pressure sensor portion. The first pressure sensor portion includes a diaphragm electrode connectable to ground (e.g., the diaphragm electrode being positioned in close proximity to the body when implanted therein such that the diaphragm electrode is deformable in response to pressure applied thereto by the body). The second pressure sensor portion includes a signal electrode (e.g., wherein the first pressure sensor portion and the second pressure sensor portion are coupled such that a gap is provided between the diaphragm electrode and the signal electrode) and an insulator material. The signal electrode is provided on and in direct contact with the insulator material to electrically isolate the signal electrode such that parasitic capacitance effects on the signal electrode are reduced. |
| US08424382B2 |
Microelectromechanical sensor and operating method for a microelectromechanical sensor
A microelectromechanical sensor and operating method therefor. The sensor has at least one movable electrode. An electrode arrangement is spaced apart from the movable electrode with a plurality of electrodes that can be driven separately and to which corresponding electrode signals can be applied that can be used to electrostatically set/change the application of force, the spring constant and the read-out factor of the movable electrode. An electrode signal generation unit is connected to the electrode arrangement and can be supplied with a force application signal, a spring constant signal and a read-out factor signal, which define the settings/changes to be brought about with regard to the application of force, spring constant and read-out factor of the movable electrode. The electrode signal generation unit generates each electrode signal in a manner dependent on the force application signal, the spring constant signal and the read-out factor signal and matches the electrode signals to one another so that the application of force, the spring constant and the read-out factor of the movable electrode can be set/changed to specific desired values independently of one another. |
| US08424380B2 |
Flow sensors having nanoscale coating for corrosion resistance
A corrosion resistant flow sensor apparatus includes a flow sensor including a micromachinable substrate mounted on a package substrate that includes electrically conductive traces and substrate bond pads. The flow sensor includes a MEMS sensing structure for sensing a mass flow parameter and sensor bond pads coupled to the sensing structure. The sensor bond pads include a top metal layer on a metal diffusion barrier layer including a metal diffusion barrier layer sidewall. Bond wires couple the sensor bond pads to the substrate bond pads. A housing including sides and a top portion is around the flow sensor and includes a flow channel having an inlet and an outlet. A multi-layer corrosion protection coating includes a nm scale adhesion layer and a self assembled monolayer (SAM) is on the adhesion layer. The protection coating covers the sensor bond pads including the metal diffusion barrier layer sidewall. |
| US08424375B2 |
Method for operating a sensor on or in a vehicle tire, and a sensor system
A method for operating a sensor on or in a vehicle tire, in particular an acceleration sensor and in particular for detecting a tire rotation period and/or a tire contact period is provided, the sensor being operated in a first time interval of a tire rotation using a first query rate and in a second time interval of the tire rotation using a second query rate. |
| US08424374B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for tracking a rotatable object
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and apparatus for tracking a rotatable object. A device for tracking a rotatable object comprises a body, the body comprising a tracking portion. A device for tracking a rotatable object further comprises an attachment section connected to the body, for attaching the device to the rotatable object. The body and the attachment section are configured for balanced rotation when the rotatable object rotates. |
| US08424373B2 |
Variator fault detection system
A variator fault detection system for a continuously variable transmission is incorporated into a hydraulic control circuit that controls fluid pressure applied to a variator of the continuously variable transmission. The hydraulic control circuit for the variator includes a number of electrically-controlled shift valves and pressure control valves. Sensing devices are multiplexed to these valves to detect a number of different possible fault states relating to the variator shift valves and the variator pressure control valves. |
| US08424372B2 |
System and method for establishing a mass flow rate of air entering an engine
A method of establishing a mass flow rate of air entering an engine includes establishing an input voltage by an energy supply device to energize a mass-air-flow sensor. The method also includes generating an output frequency via the mass-air-flow sensor in response to the mass flow rate of air entering the engine and determining the flow rate using the generated output frequency. The method additionally includes comparing the generated output frequency with a predetermined threshold output frequency that corresponds to the established input voltage. Additionally, the method includes selecting the determined flow rate as the established flow rate if the generated output frequency is at or below the predetermined threshold output frequency. Furthermore, the method includes selecting a predetermined alternative algorithm to generate the established flow rate if the generated output frequency is above the predetermined threshold output frequency. A system for establishing the mass flow rate is also provided. |
| US08424371B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for analysing a vehicle wheel
A method of analyzing a vehicle wheel comprising a tire of a predetermined configuration and a thixotropic balancing substance, comprising rotating the vehicle wheel with a predetermined number of revolutions for a period of time, wherein a tread surface of the tire is pressed in a first contact area against a rotatable drum with a predetermined force, and a first acceleration in the first contact area is measured with a measuring device; rotating another vehicle wheel comprising another tire of the predetermined configuration with the predetermined number of revolutions for another period of time, the other vehicle wheel being conventionally balanced and having another residual unbalance, wherein another tread surface of the other tire is pressed in a second contact area against the rotatable drum with the predetermined force, and a second acceleration in the second contact area is measured with the measuring device and if the first acceleration is less than or equal to the second acceleration, determining that the vehicle wheel is balanced. An apparatus, and a system, for analysing a vehicle wheel comprising a tire of a predetermined configuration and a thixotropic balancing substance according to the method. |
| US08424370B2 |
Liquid analysis using capacitative micromachined ultrasound transducers
A method for analyzing liquid samples may comprise applying a liquid to a cMUT device having a plurality of sensors, drying the plurality of sensors, electronically detecting an agent bound to each of the plurality of sensors, wherein the electrical circuit provides a sensor output responsive to a mechanical resonance frequency of the sensor, wherein the mechanical resonance frequency of the sensor is responsive to the binding of an agent to the functionalized membrane, and determining the mass of the agent bound to each of the plurality of sensors. |
| US08424368B2 |
Method for estimating proppant transport and suspendability of viscoelastic liquids
A method of determining one or more minimum rheological properties of a particle laden fluid is disclosed. The method includes determining one or more rheological properties of the fluid at a first shear rate, determining the settling velocity of the particles at the first shear rate, and obtaining a transport index for the fluid, the transport index indicating a relationship between the settling velocity and the one or more rheological properties. |
| US08424367B2 |
Systems and methods for measurement of gas permeation through polymer films
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for determining the rate of gas permeation through a film is described. The system comprises a continuous flow permeation cell, a mass spectrometer, a test gas source, and a carrier gas source. The continuous flow permeation cell comprises a supply chamber in communication with the test gas source and a receiving chamber in communication with the carrier gas source and the mass spectrometer. The supply chamber is configured to be separated from the receiving chamber by a test film such that when a test gas stream is fed to the supply chamber from the test gas source and a carrier gas stream is fed to the receiving chamber from the carrier gas source. At least a portion of the test gas stream permeates from the supply chamber through the test film to the receiving chamber and mixes with the carrier gas stream and the mixture flows to the mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer is utilized to determine the rate of permeation of the test gas stream through the film. |
| US08424366B2 |
Semiconductor gas sensor having additional functionalities of the signal-generating electrode
In a method for operating a semiconductor gas sensor, the gas sensor including at least one gas-sensitive electrode, the method may provide for impression of a voltage sequence on the gas-sensitive electrode. The operation may take place in a measuring cycle which is subdivided into at least one initialization phase and at least one subsequent measuring phase, a first voltage sequence being impressed on the gas-sensitive electrode during the initialization phase, a second voltage sequence being impressed on the gas-sensitive electrode during the measuring phase, and the first voltage sequence differing from the second voltage sequence. A semiconductor gas sensor may be provided for implementing the method according to the invention, and a method may relate to the use of such a sensor. |
| US08424364B2 |
Active scanner bow compensator
An active scanner bow compensator for use with a scanner is described. The scanner includes a moveable scanning platform supported within a frame. The active scanner bow compensator supports the scanner and includes a frame of reference, sensors, and an actuator. The sensors detect out-of-plane motion of the scanning platform relative to the frame of reference, and the actuators compensate for the out-of-plane motion by adjusting the orientation of the frame relative to the frame of reference. The active scanner bow compensator may be used in atomic force microscopy applications. |
| US08424363B2 |
Calibration of vibratory gyroscope
A gyroscopic system comprises at least four vibratory gyroscopes capable of changing vibration position. A first measurement is provided by a gyroscope to be calibrated and a second measurement is provided by a combination of the respective measurements from the other gyroscopes of the system, these first and second measurements being carried out along the same measurement axis. The determination (12) of a measurement drift value between the first measurement and the second measurement is followed by a command (13) to change the vibration position of the gyroscope to be calibrated to another vibration position and a drift value is again determined. The vibration position change command and the determination of a drift value are repeated (14) K times, K being a positive integer. Then, a drift model is generated (15) as a function of the vibration position of the gyroscope to be calibrated on the basis of the drift values obtained. |
| US08424361B1 |
Pittsburgh lock opening tool
A hand held Pittsburgh lock opening device is designed to open a longitudinal seam that is used in the fabrication of sheet metal ductwork. The tool has a unitary, longitudinal base having a major plane, an upper surface, and a lower surface. The base tapers from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. A plurality of parallel, longitudinal channels is oriented along the major plane on both upper and lower surfaces of the base. A protrusion is provided at the distal end of the base from its upper surface and extends from the upper surface of the base perpendicularly to the major plane thereof. The protrusion is tapered upwardly to an uppermost end and away from the base. An inverted U-shaped terminus is disposed at the uppermost end of the protrusion and forms a sharp taper for penetrating between coacting duct components. |
| US08424355B2 |
Pre-rounding element on a rounding apparatus
A pre-rounding element (14) is used in a rounding apparatus (4) for rounding can body blanks from sheet metal blanks. The lower element part (22) of the pre-rounding element (14) is displaceable by an actuation element (23). This allows the adjustment of the pre-rounding element even during operation of the rounding apparatus. Preferably a measurement of sheet metal blank properties takes place. The measurement may include a thickness measurement and/or a strength measurement of blanks. The pre-rounding element is controlled in dependency of the measurement result. This allows a constant rounding result even with varying sheet metal properties. |
| US08424354B2 |
Rolling plant
A hot-rolling plant (50) for the production of metal strips comprising a roughing stand (2), a reheating furnace (3) or a maintenance tunnel for maintaining the temperature of the product, a pre-finishing mill train (4), comprising three or four stands, a finishing mill train (5), comprising two or three stands, for finishing the product, in which the work rolls of one stand are provided with their own motor drive, independent one from each other, so as to allow the peripheral speeds of both of said work rolls to be autonomously varied under rolling load. |
| US08424353B2 |
Welder for metal rolling system, metal rolling system, and metal rolling method
A welder for a metal rolling system, which is disposed in the metal rolling system and is configured to perform spot-welding on a product strip, includes a back bar disposed below the pass line and welding guns disposed above the pass line to perform series welding for welding a plurality of points at one time. |
| US08424348B2 |
Steering lock
An actuation device for a steering lock is operable to selectively lock a rotary steering member against rotation. A lockbolt is movable along a first axis between a steering member-locking position and a steering member-unlocking position. A shuttle is movable between a non-blocking position in which the shuttle does not obstruct movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position to the steering member-unlocking position and a blocking position in which the shuttle obstructs movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position to the steering member-unlocking position. An actuator is coupled to the shuttle and operable to move the shuttle from at least one of the non-blocking position and the blocking position to the other of the non-blocking position and the blocking position. The actuator has an output defining a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. |
| US08424346B2 |
Structure of water level sensor for steam generator in drum washing machine
The present invention relates to laundry machines, such as washing machines or dryers, for washing or drying laundry. The steam generator (50) for a laundry machine includes a housing (80) formed to provide a space for holding water, a heater (55) for heating the water to generate steam, a water level sensor (60) for sensing a water level of the water held in the housing, and a stability maintaining member (70) for maintaining a stable state of the water at a portion to be sensed by the water level sensor (60). |
| US08424345B2 |
Washing machine, conductivity sensor in washing machine, and controlling method of the same
There are provided a conductivity sensor of a washing water, an installation construction of the conductivity sensor, and a method for controlling the washing machine, which are capable of controlling the washing machine by calculating a hardness of a washing water from a measured conductivity of the washing water. |
| US08424343B2 |
Laser processing of glass frit for sealing applications
Light-absorbing glass frit material is used to seal an opening in a device or a plurality of devices in a batch process. The glass frit material is applied and then irradiated with light having a wavelength absorbed by the glass frit material so that the glass frit ball undergoes a glassy transition and forms a seal. When sealing an opening in a device, the glass frit material may be applied as a spherical ball such that the spherical ball covers the opening. The volume of the spherical ball may be selected to determine the final shape of the seal. |
| US08424341B2 |
Necklace cover
The invention relates to a necklace cover, or sleeve, which covers jewelry that is worn around the neck. The necklace cover is designed to be worn at the back of a neck and is worn over a piece of jewelry to prevent tangling of hair, hair breakage, and/or damage to a persons clothing (e.g. snags or pulls) that often occurs when a person wears jewelry around the neck. Methods for preventing a wearer's hair from getting tangled in a jewelry composition worn around the neck of a wearer are also provided. |
| US08424339B2 |
Method and system for rotor cooling
A motor coolant method and system is used to cool a compressor motor (36) in a refrigeration system having a multi-stage compressor (38). The compressor includes a first compressor stage (42) and a second compressor stage (44), the first compressor stage providing compressed refrigerant to an input of the second compressor stage. The motor coolant system has a first connection with the refrigerant loop to receive refrigerant into the motor cavity for cooling, the received refrigerant provided from a system component having a high pressure, and a second connection with the refrigerant loop to return refrigerant to an intermediate pressure greater than an evaporator operating pressure. The pressure inside the motor cavity may be approximately the pressure within the first stage discharge and second stage suction to minimized seal leakage between the motor cavity and the internal pressures of the first and second stage compressors. |
| US08424338B2 |
Vapor compression refrigerating cycle apparatus with an ejector and distributor
A vapor compression refrigerating cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a radiator, first and second throttle devices, a flow distributor, an ejector, a suction passage, and first and second evaporators. The flow distributor separates refrigerant decompressed through the first throttle device into a first passage and a second passage. The first passage is in communication with a nozzle portion of the ejector. The second passage is in communication with a suction portion of the ejector through the suction passage. The second throttle device and the second evaporator are disposed on the suction passage. The flow distributor is configured to be capable of adjusting a ratio of a flow rate of refrigerant passing through the second passage to a flow rate of refrigerant passing through the first passage in accordance with a heat load of at least one of the radiator, the first evaporator and the second evaporator. |
| US08424334B2 |
Ice making apparatus for refrigerator
Disclosed is an ice making apparatus for a refrigerator, the apparatus comprising a frame having an accommodating space therein, and at least an ice tray detachably installed in the frame and configured to provide a space for containing water to make ice, whereby the ice making apparatus can be easily cleaned up and ice can be easily handled. |
| US08424326B2 |
Refrigerant vapor compression system and method of transcritical operation
A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a flash tank economizer defining a separation chamber is disposed in the refrigerant circuit intermediate a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger. A primary expansion valve is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit in operative association with and upstream of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger and a secondary expansion valve is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit in operative association and upstream of the flash tank economizer. A refrigerant vapor injection line establishes refrigerant flow communication between an upper portion of the separation chamber and an intermediate pressure stage of the system's compression device and a suction pressure portion of the refrigerant circuit. A refrigerant liquid injection line establishes refrigerant flow communication between a lower portion of said separation chamber and an intermediate pressure stage of the compression device and a suction pressure portion of the refrigerant circuit. |
| US08424324B2 |
Refrigerant evaporators with pulse-electrothermal defrosting
An pulse electro thermal defrost evaporator system has multiple refrigerant tubes formed from an electrically conductive metal and connected in parallel for refrigerant flow. These tubes are, however, connected electrically in series. A controller is capable of detecting ice accumulation and connecting the tubes to a source of electrical power for deicing when it is necessary to deice the tubes. Embodiments having a manifold having multiple conductive sections insulated from each other are disclosed for coupling tubes electrically in series. Alternative embodiments with a single, long, wide-bore, tube are disclosed, as are embodiments having an evaporating pan coupled in series or parallel with the tubes, and embodiments with thermal cutoff and electrical safety interlocks. |
| US08424320B2 |
Air dehumidifier for frequency converter arrangement
An air dehumidifier, and a method for dehumidifying, for a frequency converter arrangement including a surface to be cooled, on which humidity condenses when the surface is being cooled and when, at the same time, the inside of the frequency converter cabinet is possibly being heated. The air dehumidifier is positioned inside the frequency converter cabinet and including at least one air/liquid heat exchanger. |
| US08424319B2 |
Temperature regulation apparatus and method
A temperature regulation apparatus includes a dry ice module that encloses dry ice so that the module's outside surface is not hazardous to touch. Insulation, breathable material, or a combination of insulating and breathable materials, allows dry ice sublimation at a sufficiently slow rate within the attached dry ice module to control the ambient temperature in the area to be cooled. The dry ice module can be attached in a location that maximizes the dry ice cooling properties, typically at or near the top of the area to be cooled. Since sublimated carbon dioxide is heavier than normal air, it falls to the bottom of the area to be cooled and builds up. The venting placement in the dry ice module is based upon the make up of the dry ice module and the breathable materials inside of it. |
| US08424318B2 |
Method and apparatus for refrigerant flow rate control
Method and apparatus for refrigerant flow control are disclosed. One exemplary apparatus for controlling refrigerant flow comprises: at least one refrigerant inlet; at least one refrigerant outlet; a first valve coupled between the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet; and a second valve coupled between the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet; wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is rotatable, and the first valve and the second valve comprise one or more cooperative openings to allow refrigerant to pass from the refrigerant inlet, through the first and second valves, and out of the refrigerant outlet. |
| US08424315B2 |
Thermoelectric device efficiency enhancement using dynamic feedback
A cooling system is disclosed including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a means for regulating a flow of a fluid, and a thermoelectric device for cooling a fluid, wherein a difference in temperature between a hot side and a cold side of the thermoelectric device is minimized and an efficiency of the thermoelectric device is maximized. |
| US08424312B2 |
Exhaust system for gas turbine
The invention relates to an exhaust system (100) for channeling the streams from a by-pass gas turbine, the system comprising a stream channeling nozzle and an exhaust casing (110) for connecting the channeling nozzle to the outlet of the gas turbine, said channeling nozzle comprising a primary nozzle (120) fastened to the exhaust casing (110) and a secondary nozzle (130) placed around the primary nozzle. The exhaust system further comprises means for fastening the secondary nozzle (130) directly to the exhaust casing (110), said secondary nozzle being supported by the exhaust casing independently of the primary nozzle (120). |
| US08424309B2 |
Continuous power source of steam in circulation, and power reinforcement
A first and any further number of pipe steamer devices are provided. Each pipe steamer device may include a ring which has a steam pipe connection opening, a steam pipe, a water pipe, and a heating element. Each steam pipe may have a proximal end which is connected to the appropriate steam pipe connection opening and a distal end which is connected to a proximal end of the appropriate water pipe. Each water pipe may have a distal end which is located closer to the appropriate heating element than its proximal end. Each of the first steam pipe and the first water pipe may have a spiral shape. The apparatus also include a first power reinforcer device which may include a first sack and a second sack. The first power reinforcer device may be connected to a first pipe steamer device and a second pipe steamer device, such that steam from the first pipe steamer device flows into the first sack and flows out of the first sack into the first pipe steamer device, and steam from the second pipe steamer device flows into the second sack and out of the second sack into the second pipe steamer. |
| US08424298B2 |
Pump torque control system for hydraulic construction machine
A pump torque control system is capable of preventing hunting due to interference between speed sensing control and control of an engine speed of a prime mover when the temperature of a hydraulic fluid is low.A maximum absorption torque is set in a regulator 31 that controls displacement volumes of hydraulic pumps 2 and 3 based on a deviation between target and actual engine speeds of a prime mover 1. A second modification factor calculating section 45 and a control gain modifying section 49, which are included in a controller 23 that performs speed sensing control to ensure that the maximum absorption torque of the hydraulic pumps 2 and 3 is reduced, change a control gain of the speed sensing control based on a value detected by the hydraulic temperature sensor 34 to ensure that the control gain is reduced as the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is reduced. |
| US08424296B2 |
Annular heat exchanger
An annular heat exchanger for cooling hot gases comprises an inner shell, an intermediate shell and an outer shell. Where the heat exchanger is integrated with a catalytic converter for treatment of hot exhaust gases in a motor vehicle, the inner shell contains a catalyst for treatment of the exhaust gases. Inner and outer gas flow passages are provided between the shells, and a coolant flow passage is provided, either on the outer surface of the outer shell, or between the intermediate and outer shells. The exhaust gases change direction twice as they pass through the heat exchanger, and the annular structure of the heat exchanger provides a large surface area, and a large flow section, relative to volume, and thereby provides effective heat exchange without significantly increasing space requirements. |
| US08424292B2 |
Systems and apparatus relating to the monitoring and/or controlling of selective catalytic reduction processes
A system for the monitoring and/or controlling emission levels of nitrogen oxide and a reductant from a stream of combustion exhaust, wherein the internal combustion engine includes a SCR unit disposed in the stream of combustion exhaust between an upstream conduit and a downstream conduit, the SCR unit having a catalyst that is configured to catalytically reduce nitrogen oxides contained in the combustion exhaust to elemental nitrogen in the presence of a reductant and oxygen, and wherein the internal combustion engine further includes a reductant injector; the system comprising: a laser absorption spectroscopy unit that is disposed in the downstream conduit and configured to measure the concentration level of at least nitrogen oxide and the reductant in the exhaust; and a control unit. |
| US08424290B2 |
Method and system for controlling an engine during diesel particulate filter regeneration at idle conditions
A method and control system for controlling an engine during diesel particulate filter regeneration includes a diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration request module that generates a DPF regeneration request signal and an idle condition module that generates an idle condition signal when the engine is at an idle condition. A DPF regeneration control module initiates a timer in response to the DPF regeneration request signal and the idle condition signal. The DPF regeneration control module controls the engine oxygen level to a second level less than a first level corresponding to a non-idle speed level, and after a time period, controls the engine to generate oxygen at a third level greater than the second level. |
| US08424289B2 |
Technique for production of ammonia on demand in a three way catalyst for a passive selective catalytic reduction system
A powertrain includes an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders and an aftertreatment system having a selective catalytic reduction device utilizing ammonia as a reductant. An ammonia generation cycle includes operating some portion of the cylinders at an air/fuel ratio conducive to producing molecular hydrogen and some portion of the cylinders at an air/fuel ratio conducive to producing NOx. An ammonia generation catalyst is utilized between the engine and the selective catalytic reduction device to produce ammonia. |
| US08424288B2 |
Detection of leakage in an air system of a motor vehicle
A method is described for operating an internal combustion engine in motor vehicles, in which air is supplied to a combustion chamber via a throttle valve and an air supply channel, and in which exhaust gas is conducted through a particulate filter and is returned at least intermittently and at least partially through an exhaust gas recirculation valve into the air supply channel, and in which an oxygen proportion in the exhaust gas is detected using at least one lambda probe. In this context, in an overrun operation, the throttle valve is controlled to close and the exhaust gas recirculation valve is controlled to open, a variable characterizing the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is compared to a boundary value, and as a function of the result of the comparison, it is concluded that there is a leakage in the air supply channel. |
| US08424280B2 |
Gas turbine engine arrangement
A gas turbine engine arrangement comprises a first gas turbine engine, a second gas turbine engine, a differential gearbox and an electrical generator. The differential gearbox has a first input drive, a second input drive and an output drive. The output drive of the differential gearbox is arranged to drive the electrical generator via an external, accessory, gearbox. The external, accessory, gearbox drives other accessories. The first gas turbine is arranged to drive the first input drive of the differential gearbox and the second gas turbine engine is arranged to drive the second input drive of the differential gearbox. The electrical generator and accessories are driven at a constant frequency speed/frequency. |
| US08424275B2 |
Sealed plastic closure and method for making the same
A sealed plastic container and a method for producing it are provided. The method for producing the sealed plastic container includes the steps of providing a container body having an end, providing a closure member having a skirt, inserting the closure member into the container body, heating the closure member skirt and container body end, and rolling the closure member skirt top and container end inward thereby fusing the closure member to the container body. |
| US08424271B2 |
Process for wrapping loads, in particular palletised loads, and relative system
The process for wrapping loads, in particular palletised loads, comprises the following phases: providing a rotating platform that is suitable for receiving a load to be wrapped and which has advancement means for advancing the load in an advancing direction, and a movement machine for moving a wrapping head along a substantially vertical direction for co-operating with the rotating platform to wrap the load with a covering sheet, the wrapping head having cutting means for cutting the covering sheet to form a cut end, and joining means for connecting the cut end to the load; placing the load to be wrapped on the rotating platform; wrapping the load on the rotating platform with the covering sheet to define a stabilizing wrap; turning the rotating platform so the advancing direction is towards the wrapping head; advancing the wrapped load on the rotating platform in the direction approaching the wrapping head until located in proximity to the head itself; and then cutting the covering sheet to form a cut end; joining the cut end to the wrapped load. |
| US08424270B2 |
Gelatin ribbon printing method and apparatus
The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing pattern or indicia onto a gelatin ribbon. It comprises a transfer station with a print roll and a motor-driven casting roll provided for forming a gelatin ribbon. The transfer station is positioned in relation to the casting roll in such a way that the gelatin ribbon is sandwiched between the casting roll and the transfer station; elastic tackiness of a passing gelatin ribbon causes the rotation of the print roll. The apparatus further comprises an adjustment means, wherein the adjustment means are adapted to provide finely-tuned positioning of the transfer station in relation to the casting drum, and balance pressure exerted by the transfer station on the passing gelatin ribbon thus facilitating on optimal printing result. |
| US08424269B2 |
Tower reinforcement apparatus and method
A method and apparatus for creating a reinforced vertical multi-sided monopole tower for supporting equipment including a multi-sided monopole, a plurality of holes on three equally spaced sides of the multi-sided monopole tower and tower reinforcement apparatus mounted to the holes. The tower reinforcement apparatus includes bolts supporting a first flat bar and a second flat bar on each side of the tower. The upper end of the first flat bar abuts a lower end of the second bar and a plate is bolted over adjacent ends connecting the first and second flat bar such that the first and second flat bars are sandwiched between the plate and a side of the perimeter of the monopole. |
| US08424267B2 |
Protective assembly for in-wall piping, conduit, and wiring
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a protective device for use with a metal stud. This invention protects in-wall piping, conduit and wiring from inadvertent puncturing by drywall screws during the installation of wall boarding. |
| US08424260B2 |
Floor panel and flooring drainage system
The present disclosure is directed generally towards floor panels and flooring drainage systems utilizing two or more interconnected improved floor panels. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes a floor panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first longitudinal surface, a second longitudinal surface, a first transverse surface, and a second transverse surface. One or more drainage assemblies are located on either the first transverse surface and/or the second transverse surface. Each of the drainage assemblies include one or more drainage slots and one or more drainage notches. Further aspects are directed towards flooring drainage systems comprising two or more interconnected floor panels according to embodiments of the disclosure. |
| US08424259B2 |
System and method for installing columns
A column assembly includes a shaft, a capital, an opening formed in the capital, and a retaining member. The capital has a lower surface and a substantially planar upper surface. The opening is sized to receive the shaft therethrough, and extends from the lower surface to the upper surface. A channel is formed in a surrounding wall of the opening. The length of the channel may, for instance, extend at least partially around the perimeter of the opening. Regardless, the retaining member advantageously holds the capital at a fixed vertical position along the shaft by engaging the channel and the shaft. The retaining member may be a resilient member (e.g., foam) that seats within the channel and frictionally engages the outer surface of the shaft. Alternatively, the retaining member may be a spring member that mounts onto the upper end of the shaft and engages the channel. |
| US08424258B2 |
Modular roof, deck and patio apparatus, including modular panels with snap connection features
The present invention relates generally to green roof, deck and patio apparatuses, also known as roof, deck and patio landscaping apparatuses and roof, deck and patio gardens, that are suitable for supporting live plant growth on building decks, rooftop and patio surfaces. |
| US08424257B2 |
Modular tile with controlled deflection
A modular tile configured to interlock with multiple tiles to form a modular floor covering over a floor. The tile includes a top surface having a periphery defining side walls extending downward from the top surface, the side walls having a coupling portion configured to couple with other tiles adjacent thereto to form the modular floor covering. The tile also includes a bottom side, opposite the top surface, having a support grid including an array of downward extending polymeric post structures, at least some of the post structures including at least one resilient end portion with a radial end surface configured to be positioned against the floor to facilitate controlled deflection of the post structures. The post structures may comprise primary and secondary post structures, with the secondary post structures limiting the deflection of the primary post structures. |
| US08424249B2 |
Outdoor wall padding apparatus and method for forming the same
A temperature compensating outdoor wall padding apparatus in one embodiment incorporates a stretch fabric into the edges of a vinyl cover to provide a tension on the vinyl cover minimizing the possibility of wrinkling of the vinyl cover due to a change in temperature. In another embodiment, the temperature compensating outdoor wall padding apparatus may employ a resilient cover, stretchable in 4 directions and pre-tensioned to provide tension on the resilient cover minimizing the possibility of wrinkling of the resilient cover due to a change in temperature. Methods for forming the same are also disclosed. |
| US08424248B2 |
Method of installing a locking balance shoe and system for a pivotable window
A snap lock balance shoe and system to be incorporated in pivotable double hung windows. In one embodiment, the snap lock balance shoe includes a pair of retractable tabs that partially extend through openings within an inverted window balance. Embodiments of methods for installing the system include inserting a frame of the balance shoe within a jamb track of the window jamb, rotating the frame 90 degrees about a first axis, and rotating the frame 90 degrees about a second axis such that the frame is substantially fully disposed within the jamb track. |
| US08424246B2 |
Anti-fall device for a window sash
An anti-fall device for a window sash comprises a window-sash fixing block, a window-frame fixing block, an elastic metal wire and a pipe. The elastic metal wire connects the window-sash fixing block and the window-frame fixing block. The window-sash fixing block is defined with a through hole into which the pipe is inserted. One end of the elastic metal wire is connected to the window-frame fixing block, and the other end of the elastic metal wire penetrates the through hole in the window-sash fixing block and enters the pipe. The end of the elastic metal wire, which penetrates the through hole, is fixed with a limiting block. The diameter of the limiting block is bigger than that of the through hole. The window-sash fixing block is fixed on the window sash, and the window-frame fixing block is fixed on the window frame. |
| US08424241B2 |
Trellising cross arm
A trellis support system comprises a vertical post comprising a front portion and first and second opposing side wall portions, the front portion comprising an aperture, the aperture comprising a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, and a horizontal cross arm perpendicular to the vertical post comprising a front portion and first and second opposing side wall portions dimensioned to match the front and side wall portions of the post, the front portion comprising a tab member dimensioned to engage the first portion of the aperture and a lock member positioned adjacent the tab member and dimensioned to engage the second portion of the aperture. |
| US08424240B2 |
Fumigation of containerized cargo
An apparatus and method for tarpless fumigation of containerized cargo within a shipping container is disclosed. A portable fumigation containment door is installed in covering relation with main rear opening of a standard cargo container. Pneumatic cylinders are actuated to secure the door in place, and an inflatable gasket extending around the perimeter of the containment door and is inflated to create an airtight seal between the cargo container and the containment door. The door is provided with a series of connection ports for receiving fumigant injection and sampling lines necessary for performing the fumigation process. |
| US08424239B1 |
Codling moth trap
A black light trap which will kill codling moths and will prevent strikes in apple and pear orchards. The device includes a solar panel that will charge batteries throughout the day and then a timer will turn on the light at night that will attract the codling moth into the zap screen that will kill them. The unit is mounted on a pole that is long enough to place the unit above the tree line so the moths are attracted away from the trees and has an outer screen that has a mesh size large enough to allow a moth to enter the unit, but small enough to keep them trapped long enough so that the moth will be attracted to a killing screen located in the unit and surrounding the light. |
| US08424236B2 |
Multi-layered grip for use with fishing poles
Disclosed are grips and methods of making grips for use with the handle of an article, and in particular for use with fishing poles. The grip preferably includes an ethylene vinyl acetate sleeve member and a gripping member having an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer of the gripping member is preferably ethylene vinyl acetate and is preferably bonded or adhered to the sleeve member. |
| US08424232B2 |
Convertible hang tag and method for use thereof
I provide a hang tag, preferably used for a saleable item such as clothing, that is convertible into a storage container. The storage container can then be used to store the purchased item. In a method of use, a user can remove the hang tag from a recently purchased saleable item of clothing, and, through a series of folds and interlocking of panels, create the storage containers in which the user could place the item. |
| US08424231B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking clothing usage
Systems and methods for tracking clothing usage are disclosed. A representative method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes selecting an item of clothing and, before or after the item of clothing is worn a first time, removably attaching a first tag to the item of clothing. The first tag has a first fixedly integrated identifier having a characteristic attribute with a first value. After the item of clothing is worn at least one time with the first tag, the first tag can be removed and a second tag is removably attached to the item of clothing, with the second tag having a second fixedly integrated identifier with a second value of the characteristic attribute that is different than the first value. After the item is worn at least one time with the second tag, the item of clothing is designated for cleaning, and the second tag is removed. |
| US08424230B2 |
Channel sign assembly and retaining trim cap
A channel sign assembly is provided having a rear surface for mounting against a raceway, wall, or a structure for supporting the signage, and sheet metal sides which define the figuration of the sign assembly or shape to be depicted. A lighting element is positioned against the rear surface of the enclosure, and a lens is retained to the open front of the enclosure. The lens is retained by a screw-less retainer cap secured to the sign assembly. |
| US08424229B2 |
Display item slide
A slide for attaching to a display item such as a calendar, a poster, document, banner, wall hanging, or workpiece, has a longitudinal channel with a first end and second end and a longitudinal bend extending from the first end to the second end, a first bend portion and a second bend portion joined by the longitudinal bend, the first and second bend portions each having respective interior confronting surfaces adapted to receive an edge of the display item therebetween and respective exterior surfaces, a pair of bulges projecting from the first bend portion, a first bulge being close to the first end and a second bulge being close to the second end; and a hanger generally centrally fast with the second bend portion. The slides are paired in sets, the bulges of a first slide being spaced a different extent from its edges to those of the second set, so that the bulges of the paired slides do not coincide if one is nested in the other. The bulges may be symmetrically or asymmetrically arranged. A number of the sets provide a magazine. |
| US08424220B2 |
Laundry dryer and method for controlling the same
A dryer and a method for controlling the same are provided. The method for controlling a dryer includes supplying steam generated in a steam generator to a drum, and supplying hot air generated in a hot air heater to the drum. The method has an advantageous effect of removing wrinkles efficiently. |
| US08424214B2 |
Plane blade adjustment improvement
A plane that includes a plane body having an opening positioned in a bottom surface of the plane body; an angled support structure carried by the plane body; a blade supported by the angled support structure, the blade having an edge positionable to protrude from the opening; a blade adjuster operatively connected with the blade; and a lateral stabilizer is provided. The lateral stabilizer is selectively adjustable to prevent or permit a lateral movement of the blade and the lateral stabilizer is configured to prevent lateral movement of the blade without preventing longitudinal adjustability of the blade. When the lateral stabilizer is configured to prevent lateral movement of the blade, the lateral stabilizer does not engage the blade. |
| US08424213B2 |
Circular saw having a direct current power supply
A circular saw has a housing, a direct current motor, a battery assembly, a handle having first and second ends, a circular saw blade and a base plate. The motor is located outside of an area defined by the radius of the circular blade and between the first and second ends of the handle and the blade is laterally aligned with the handle. The circular saw also has a center of gravity which lies close to the plane defined by the saw blade, is below the handle and is within the length of the base plate. As a result of this arrangement, the circular saw of the present invention reduces the influence of the torque created during a cutting operation and improves the balance and operation of the circular saw. |
| US08424211B2 |
Separable scissors with elastic stoppers
A pivoting hand tool is provided including handle structures which control the relative angular position of pivotable arms to allow disassembly and reassembly and to prevent accidental disassembly during use. Handle structures includes an elastic interference portion which provides a first interference between the first arm and second arm at the predetermined angle to prevent angular displacement of the arms from exceeding a first predetermined angle until a disassembly pivoting force is applied to the first arm and the second arm. |
| US08424209B2 |
Assembling method of bearing unit
There is provided an assembling method of a bearing unit which has a bearing having an outer ring and a retainer plate having a retainer hole for holding the outer ring. The assembling method has pressing a plurality of portions in a circumferential direction of a circumferential edge of an inner circumferential portion of the retainer hole of the retainer plate in an axial direction so as to form engagement pawls and moving the engagement pawls of the retainer plate from one axial end of the outer ring to a engagement groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the outer ring so as to engage the engagement pawls of the retainer plate with the engagement groove of outer ring. |
| US08424205B2 |
Method for manufacturing a bearing ring member
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a bearing ring member such as an outer ring comprising an installation portion on the outer peripheral surface and a double row of outer-ring raceways on the inner peripheral surface, in which a raw material is processed to obtain a final stage intermediate member through a first upsetting process, a forward-backward extrusion process, a second upsetting process, a burr removing process, and a punching process, wherein a movable die which leaves a stationary die in the final step is used in the second upsetting process, and the excess metal material is moved toward outside in the radial direction to a portion which become the installation section and a burr formation section, exposing a high pure metal material at least in a portion where the load of rolling bodies acts so as to ensure the rolling fatigue life of the both of outer-ring raceways. |
| US08424202B2 |
Process for fabricating a circuit board
A process for fabricating a circuit board is provided. A circuit substrate having a first surface and a first circuit layer is provided. A first dielectric layer having a second surface is formed on the circuit substrate and covers the first surface and the first circuit layer. An antagonistic activation layer is formed on the second surface. The antagonistic activation layer is irradiated by a laser beam to form at least a blind via extended from the antagonistic activation layer to the first circuit layer and an intaglio pattern. A first conductive layer is formed inside the blind via. A second conductive layer is formed in the intaglio pattern and the blind via. The second conductive layer covers the first conductive layer and is electrically connected with the first circuit layer through the first conductive layer. The antagonistic activation layer is removed to expose the second surface. |
| US08424201B2 |
Electronic component for an electronic carrier substrate
Disclosed are an electronic component, an assembly of an electronic component and an electronic carrier substrate, and a method of connecting the electronic component to the carrier substrate. The carrier substrate has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and the electronic component has a second CTE. The assembly further comprises a conductive material on the carrier substrate for connecting the electronic component to the carrier substrate, and the electrical component is connected to the carrier substrate by heating and then cooling this conductive material. The electronic component includes an expansion joint to allow the electronic component to expand and contract relative to the carrier substrate during the heating and cooling of the conductive material. |
| US08424199B1 |
Semiconductor chip mounting system
A circuit chip mounting system incorporates a carrier having a socket for receiving a circuit chip. The socket includes a plurality of contacts for contacting pads on the chip and includes pins extending therefrom for insertion into terminals in a PCB. Secondary spacers each having a configuration corresponding to a portion of the shape of the carrier are provided with holes arranged to receive the pins and permit the pins to pass therethrough for insertion in PCB terminals. The secondary spacers are soluble to be removed in a washing procedure during processing. |
| US08424197B2 |
Automated twist pin assembling method for interconnecting stacked circuit boards in a module
Twist pin z-axis interconnectors are assembled in columns of aligned vias in stacked printed circuit boards of a circuit module in automated assembly cycles. Each assembly cycle involves singulating a single twist pin from a plurality of twist pins, inserting the twist pin into the via column, gripping a leader portion of the twist pin, pulling the gripped leader portion until a connection portion moves into contact with the vias of the column, severing the leader portion from the connection portion, extracting the severed leader portion, and automatically repeating assembly cycles until interconnectors have been assembled into a substantial majority of the via columns of the circuit module. |
| US08424195B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor package for wide lead frame and method of constructing semiconductor package using the same
An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor package includes an index rail transferring a lead frame in forward and backward directions, the lead frame having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, a loader portion connected to an end portion of the index rail and supplying the lead frame to the index rail, a frame driving portion connected to the opposite end portion of the end portion of the index rail and rotating the lead frame around a normal to the first surface, and a die attach portion attaching a semiconductor chip on the lead frame supplied to the index rail. |
| US08424194B2 |
Apparatus for assembly of a press-fit modular work piece
An apparatus for assembling a press-fit modular work piece is described that includes a surface member having a central opening. A hatch member is disposed on one side of the surface member, and is moveable between a first position where it does not cover the opening and a second position covering the opening. A work piece receiving member is disposed proximate the other side of the surface member across from the central opening for receiving components of the press-fit modular work piece. An actuator moves the work piece receiving member toward the opening so components of the work piece press against the hatch member when the hatch member is moved into the second position. The actuator moves the work piece receiving member to a position to receive components of the work piece when the hatch member is in the first position. |
| US08424188B2 |
Method of manufacturing an end ring over pre-formed conductor bars of a rotor for an electric device
A method of manufacturing a rotor assembly includes positioning a laminated stack of electric steel sheets with a plurality of conductor bars positioned within longitudinal grooves defined by the laminated stack in a mold, and casting an end ring in place over ends of the conductor bars. In order to cast the end ring in place, heated liquid aluminum is injected into a cavity defining the end ring, and circulated within the cavity and around the ends of the conductor bars to create relative movement between the liquid aluminum and the ends of the conductor bars to heat the conductor bars and flush oxides away from an outer surface of the conductor bars. |
| US08424187B2 |
Method of terminating the stator winding of an electric motor
Provided is system and method for terminating stator windings to provide a fast, reliable, and convenient connection system. A U-shaped intermediary connection piece comprising individual pieces with cable exits is provided. Stator windings are attached to the individual pieces and the stator and connection piece are encapsulated with resin. The individual pieces are eliminated, thereby electrically isolating the cable exits. |
| US08424186B2 |
Method for manufacturing an electric machine by a lost foam casting process, and electric machine for a hybrid vehicle
A method for manufacturing an electric machine, made up of a housing, a stator accommodated in the housing, which is formed from a stator body and stator windings, a rotor, which is supported in the housing so as to be rotatable about a rotor axis, and a bearing support fastened on the housing, includes a housing foam part manufactured from at least three individual foam parts and a housing cast blank manufactured using the housing foam part in accordance with a lost foam casting method. Individual foam parts are made up of a center disk having an essentially hollow-cylindrical design and forming an intermediate piece of a housing foam part, an annular disk having an essentially hollow-cylindrical design and forming another intermediate piece of the housing foam part, and a bearing support disk having an essentially cup-shaped design and forming an end of the housing foam part. |
| US08424181B2 |
High pressure revamp of low pressure distillate hydrotreating process units
A cost effective method for revamping a low pressure distillate hydrotreating process unit to a high pressure distillate hydrotreating process unit. A high pressure hot-feed pump is added, the furnace is retubed for higher pressures, the low pressure reactor is replaced with a high pressure reactor, a high pressure let-down valve is added at the reactor outlet, and the low pressure recycle compressor is replaced with a high pressure recycle compressor. |
| US08424174B2 |
Fastener for ornaments having a pin
A fastener for ornaments includes a housing 12 having a pin passing hole 16 and an opening portion 19. A guide 22 has a small diameter portion 23a at the pin passing hole 16 side. A movable operating body 32 has a grip member 34 protruded to an exterior from the opening portion 19 at one end 33a of a column portion 33 and having, at another end 33b, a small ball holder portion 35, with which in a latched state, a surface at a small ball 46 side of its outer peripheral surface 37 closely contacts an inner peripheral surface 24 of the guide 22. A coil spring 52 pressingly urges the movable operating body 35 in a pin clamping direction. A plurality of small balls 46 disposed in the movable operating body clamp an inserted pin (P). |
| US08424173B2 |
Spacer clip
A spacer clip includes a flange, a shank extending from the flange that can be inserted into a through in a member being attached to, and legs extending from the end part of the shank, connected by hinges to the shank end part so as that they can pivot from an initial attitude to a clamping attitude wherein they are substantially parallel to the flange. Levers extend from root portions of the legs toward the tip ends of the legs so that they can pivot together with the legs. The legs have leg-side pawls in the portions thereof adjacent to the shank end part, which extend to the flange side when the legs are in the clamping attitude; the flange has flange-side pawls for engaging the leg-side pawls and maintaining the legs in the clamping attitude; and slits are formed on either side of the flange-side pawls. |
| US08424168B2 |
Closure system
By way of example, a cam assembly and strap based closure system using a spiral is configured for bringing two sides of an article together. When the user inserts the strap into the cam assembly and turns a knob, the strap is driven into the cam assembly and the strap pins engage one or more cam spirals. The system is configured such that strap pins are engaged at a constant angle which may be self-locking. The system is infinitely adjustable and the torque felt by the knob is constant. The system is configured to be a quick release system and allows rapid insertion of the strap for faster operation. |
| US08424167B2 |
Hose clamps
Connecting the two band ends 10, 18 of a hose clamp is done by means of a guide hook 16 disposed on an inner band portion and engaging a guide hook receiving means 12 on the outer band end 10, and a support hook 17 also formed on the inner band portion and engaging a support hook receiving means 13 on the outer band portion. The support hook receiving means 13 is an embossment formed from the band material by cold deformation and being continuous with the band material on all sides, the inner surface of the support hook receiving means 13 having a support portion 25 adjacent to the outer band end 10 and extending at right angles with respect to the band surface. The support hook 17 has a nose 26 which faces away from the inner band end 18 and has a cut edge which nicks into the support portion 25 of the support hook receiving means 13 when the hose clamp is tightened. Since the support hook receiving means 13 is entirely continuous with the band material, it has a much higher stability then conventional cut-outs or windows formed in the band. |
| US08424155B2 |
Upright vacuum cleaner with agitator lift feature
A floor cleaning apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes an agitator cavity that receives a rotary agitator. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes an agitator lift assembly. The agitator lift assembly includes a sliding actuator and a fulcrum plate. |
| US08424152B2 |
Electric device having an electric motor and storage battery pack
An electrical appliance including a housing containing an electric motor and a storage battery pack for energizing the electric motor at an operating voltage of more than 42 volts. The storage battery pack includes a plurality of storage battery cells electrically connected so as to form at least two cell groups having a cell voltage of less than 42 volts. A connector assembly includes a bridge circuit configured to electrically connect the cell groups with each other so as to provide the operating voltage of more than 42 volts while establishing electrical connection between the storage battery pack and the electric motor. |
| US08424149B2 |
Wiper blade
The invention is based on a wiper blade (10) comprising a wiper strip (12), in the lateral longitudinal grooves (20) of which two parallel spring rails (24) are inserted as a supporting element in the head strip (16), wherein a spoiler (30) and end caps (32, 48) are provided on the rails. The end caps (32, 48) each connect with a flow profile (34) to the spoiler (30) and extend at the front sides facing the ends of the wiper blade (10) toward a wiper lip (14) over the spring rails (24). It is proposed that at least one end cap (32, 48) comprises a closeable assembly opening (38) in the region overlapping the spring rails (24) and the head strip (16). |
| US08424144B2 |
Illuminated flashing toothbrush and method of use
A toothbrush can include a handle and a head. At least one bristle can be attached to the head. The toothbrush can also have an illumination member, an illumination circuit and an activation device. The activation device can include two contact members fixed in a non-contact position on an outside of the handle. A method can include causing conduction between the contact members to activate the illumination circuit. The toothbrush can be an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush can have an illumination member positioned such that light from the illumination member can be seen by a user in a mirror facing the user. |
| US08424143B2 |
Electric toothbrush
An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush includes a housing; a brush; an electric motor for driving the brush; a power supply for providing the electric power required for operation of the toothbrush; a switch mechanism for turning the drive on and off; and an electronic circuit for adjusting the effective voltage (UMot) applied to the electric motor. In operation, a voltage supplied by the power supply declines with the discharge status of the power supply from a high-voltage range to a low-voltage range. During operation of the toothbrush in the high-voltage range (H), the effective voltage (UMot) applied to the electric motor is lowered to a level at which the electric motor has reached a rotational speed corresponding essentially to the rotational speed of the electric motor in the medium-voltage range. |
| US08424137B1 |
Ribbed gel
Ribbed gel devices for cushioning purposes. |
| US08424133B1 |
Iso-roll table
An improved medical procedure table has motorized elevation, Trendelenburg tilt, floating tabletop with both longitudinal and lateral travel, multi-caster control, and an iso-roll device for the tabletop. The iso-roll device is connected between a roll plate and a cross plate. The iso-roll device includes a pair of iso-roll guide plates, which are mounted laterally to a bottom of the roll plate. Each iso-roll guide plate has an arcuate guide channel therein having an upwards concave shape. A set of cam followers are positioned in both guide channels and travel therein and also fixedly mounted to a base on the cross plate. A center of radius of the arcuate guide channel is approximately 5 inches above the tabletop. Further, mounted between the iso-roll guide plates and to the roll plate is a support guide plate having an arcuate bottom surface. |
| US08424131B2 |
Bassinets and related methods
Bassinet assemblies and related methods are disclosed. An example bassinet assembly includes an upper frame, a first support arm and a second support arm coupled to the upper frame and a floorboard coupled or adjacent to the first support arm and the second support arm. The example bassinet assembly also includes a support liner coupled between the floorboard and the upper frame and a cover disposed over at least a portion of each of the upper frame, the support liner and the floorboard. |
| US08424124B2 |
Seat operated toilet with movable water storage tank
A multifunctional toilet comprises a water storage device having a guide rail, a toilet seat and an arm assembly. The water storage device is provided with a water tank having a water inlet and a water outlet. At the water inlet is provided an inlet valve having a float ball, and at the water outlet is provided an outlet valve. The opening and closing of the inlet valve is controlled by a controller. The opening and closing of the outlet valve is controlled by a rope. When the water tank moves to its lowest position, the controller will close the inlet valve, and the rope will open the outlet valve. At the water outlet outside the water tank is provided an expansion discharge pipe. Such a multifunctional toilet is simple in structure and has the advantage of automatically flushing the toilet without the use of electricity. |
| US08424122B2 |
Dispenser device in particular a WC rinser with fixing means
The application relates to a release device, in particular toilet freshener, for releasing at least one preparation into the interior of a toilet bowl comprising a dispenser, at least one container connected to the dispenser for storing at least one preparation, a release element for releasing preparation, in particular into the interior of a toilet bowl, the release element being connected in communicating manner to the container via a line and the bottom of the container being arranged above the release orifice of the release element in the direction of gravity, such that a difference in level Δh is formed between the bottom of the container and the release orifice of the release element. |
| US08424121B2 |
Odour extraction device for a toilet pan
An odor extraction device (1) for a toilet having a pan (2) and a cistern (4) is disclosed. The extraction device (1) includes an inlet (3) and an outlet (5). The inlet (3) is adapted for gas communication with an interior of the toilet pan (2) above the water level in the pan (2). The outlet (5) is in gas communication with the inlet (3). The outlet (5) is also adapted for gas communication with a sewerage pipe (6). A suction means, in the form of an impeller fan (7), is provided intermediate the inlet (3) and the outlet (5) for drawing gas from within the pan (2) in through the inlet (3) and out through the outlet (5). To prevent backflow of unpleasant odors from the sewerage pipe (6) to the pan (2), a one way valve (8) is provided between the inlet (3) and the outlet (5). |
| US08424120B2 |
Device and process for cooling a safety suit
A cooling device for a safety suit, including an air delivery device (2) and a cooling source (3), has a substance that reacts endothermically with water as the cooling medium. |
| US08424118B2 |
Undergarment
An undergarment includes a lower body portion having a waist opening and a crotch portion. The crotch portion has a skin contact surface and an outer surface and includes a weft knit fabric portion with at least a first predominately cotton yarn and a second predominately cotton yarn. At least one of the first and second yarns have a moisture wicking treatment applied prior to knitting and comprises at least about 40% of the weight of the weft knit fabric. The weft knit fabric includes an antimicrobial treatment. The undergarment has improved moisture management and comfort properties. |
| US08424115B2 |
Wristband with contoured comfort sides
A bending yielding feature for use along an edge of any flexible wristband design provides a cushioning effect to a wearer's wrist or ankle as the wristband is worn, thereby helping to prevent injury to the wearer's wrist or ankle as he flexes his wrist or ankle against the wristband. The bending yielding feature can include many edge designs such as a scalloped edge, a curved edge, an edge with a series of extending flaps, and other such shapes. |
| 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. |