| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08443700B2 |
Tong assemblies
A tong assembly is disclosed, comprising: a frame having at least a pair of posts spaced laterally from each other to receive a tong between the posts, each post extending vertically and having a lateral stabilizing surface on a side facing inward or outward; and a tong stabilized in relation to the frame by the lateral stabilizing surfaces and by each post being received by respective openings in the tong that have a cross lateral dimension sufficient to permit cross lateral movement of the tong in relation to the frame by at least one half of the cross lateral length of the lateral stabilizing surface. |
| US08443699B2 |
Torque control wrench for both left-hand thread and right-hand thread
A torque control wrench for both a left-hand thread and a right-hand thread is disclosed. The torque control wrench includes a wrench unit having a transmission unit, a movable shaft engaged with the transmission unit, for rotating the transmission unit with external force, and a socket for receiving rotational force at a rotation speed changed by the transmission unit and tightening or loosening a bolt with the received rotational force, a handle for generating the rotational force with which the socket tightens or loosens the bolt, and a torque controller between the wrench unit and the handle, for controlling a torque applied from the handle to the socket, including a clutch for rotating along with rotation of the handle and thus rotating the movable shaft and, if a torque equal to or greater than a preset torque value is applied, rotating idly, and a clutch torque controller for controlling the torque applied from the handle to the clutch. |
| US08443698B2 |
Rotary indexing table
A rotary indexing table having a plate which has drivers engaging into a driving groove of a barrel cam is provided. The plate is drivable via a barrel cam to make a rotary movement about an axis of rotation which is in turn drivable by a motor to make a first rotary movement about its longitudinal axis. An additional drive element connected drive-wise to the barrel cam is provided which is coupled to the plate via at least one coupling element. |
| US08443696B2 |
Steering column with crash device
The invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle, having a device for absorbing energy in the case of a crash. Such a steering column should be disclosed which is built in a structurally simple manner, produced with few individual components, and requiring no more space in the radial direction than does a steering column which does not have an energy absorption device. Therefore, an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle is suggested, comprising a) a steering shaft which is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis thereof in an operating element, said operating element having at least one first resistance element; b) a holding element having at least one wall surface, wherein the operating element in the assembled state of the steering column is arranged to be axially guided and displaceable, at least in the case of a crash, inside the holding element, and the first resistance element of the operating element is associated with the wall surface; c) wherein the at least one wall surface of the holding element comprises a crash element which projects in the direction of the operating element, and said crash element can itself be deformed by the operating element and the relative displacement during a crash between the operating element and the holding element, while dissipating energy, and/or the wall surface of the holding element deforms while dissipating energy. |
| US08443690B2 |
Speed reduction device for power seat
A speed reduction device for a power seat includes a worm gear, a helical gear, a casing including a casing body and a casing cover, and a motor fixation device. The motor fixation device includes a first fitting portion provided at a housing, a first engagement portion formed at the first fitting portion, a second fitting portion formed at the casing body and to which the first fitting portion is fitted, a second engagement portion formed at the second fitting portion and arranged to overlap the first engagement portion in a direction perpendicular to the output shaft of the motor in a case where the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting portion, and an engagement projection formed at the casing cover and engaging with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion in a case where the casing cover is tightened to the casing body. |
| US08443688B1 |
Method of learning an initial capacity point of a clutch in a dual clutch transmission
A method of learning an initial capacity point of a clutch in a dual clutch transmission includes identifying when the dual clutch transmission is operating in a steady state gear condition with a first clutch continuously transmitting torque to a first shaft. When the dual clutch transmission is operating in a steady state gear condition, a second clutch is sequentially positioned in each of a plurality of application positions (Pn, Pn+1, Pn+2, . . . , Pn+i). The second clutch is configured to transmit torque to a second shaft. The second shaft is positioned in a geared state in each of the plurality of application positions. The first application position (Pn+i) in the sequence of application positions in which the second shaft is not successfully positioned in the geared state is defined as the initial capacity point of the second clutch. |
| US08443681B2 |
Method and apparatus for visualizing contraction stress from curable materials
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and a method to use such an apparatus for visualizing the contraction stress from curable materials. Particularly, a simple test device has been designed and fabricated and a method of using such a device, which allows a user to easily distinguish the curable materials that can generate contraction stress in different magnitudes. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a simple and effective way to make the complicated contraction stress due to polymerization (curing or setting) visualizable and audible. |
| US08443680B2 |
Pipe reel load simulator
An arrangement of elements which are used to restrain and deflect a pipe specimen to a prescribed form with precisely controlled loads. A rigid frame includes a movable pipe bending form to which one end of a pipe specimen is connected and a rotating table to which the second end of the pipe specimen is connected. Means for assessing the drive torque used to draw the pipe specimen over the pipe bending form is provided in the form of a load cell. The rotating table is used in combination with a travelling pipe end truck foundation to generate a bending moment in the pipe specimen in the same plane as the pipe specimen is being bent by the pipe bending form. By the use of precise loads on the pipe specimen, computer analysis of the simulated reeling of the given pipe construction will produce predictions of the reeling tension, shear, and bending moment in the pipe at the point of the travelling pipe end as this point on the pipe approaches contact with the reel. |
| US08443679B2 |
Testing device with a drive, which converts rotational movement into a reciprocating movement of variable amplitude
The invention relates to a testing device for the static and dynamic testing of workpieces, comprising a first clamping device and a second clamping device for the workpiece, and a drive for the cyclical displacement of the second clamping device, wherein the drive has a rocker arm on which the second clamping device is pivotably mounted and the two ends of the rocker arm are connected in each case to a pivotably mounted link, and the free ends of the links are coupled in each case to a crank drive, wherein the links protrude from the ends of the rocker arm in the same direction in the basic position of the testing device. |
| US08443677B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing load-bearing capacity
In an embodiment, a hydraulic jack is provided having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion attached to a first section of a structure and the second portion attached to a second section of the structure. When a pressurized fluid is forced between the first portion and the second portion, a load is transferred to the first section and the second section by the pressure of the fluid on the first portion and the second portion. The first section and the second section are forced apart by the load, thus creating or enlarging at least one void in the structure. The pressurized fluid fills or partially fills one or more of the at least one void, thereby increasing the surface area effectively normal to the direction of the load in contact with the pressurized fluid. |
| US08443674B2 |
Ultrasound test device with cluster housing
The invention relates to an ultrasound inspection device for the inspection of tubular workpieces, where the ultrasound inspection device can be coupled to the workpiece by means of a fluid medium, the workpiece and the ultrasound inspection device can be moved relative to each other, a transducer unit substantially disposed in a cluster housing is provided, where the cluster housing includes a wear sole which is adapted to the respective diameter of the workpiece and which can be placed on an outer lateral surface of the workpiece and is configured such that a chamber forms between the workpiece and the transducer unit, at least one fluid inlet channel, which, with a fluid inlet opening, opens into the chamber, at least one fluid outlet channel for venting and draining the chamber, which opens into the chamber where the mouth of the fluid outlet channel and the fluid outlet channel are configured and disposed such that a filling process of the chamber and of the fluid outlet channel can be carried out starting on the outer lateral surface of the workpiece, and then in a rising manner. |
| US08443673B2 |
High sensitivity geophone
A geophone including a plurality of ferromagnetic masses (e.g., magnets) disposed to oscillate on one or more compliant elements (e.g., springs) in a manner that produces a steep flux gradient at one or more conductive coils is disclosed. The magnetic masses are positioned with like poles facing each other so as to compress the magnetic field gradient. The coils may be positioned in the flux gap either between the magnets, in close proximity to the magnets, or surrounding the magnets. Vibration measurements may then be detected from the movement of at least one of the magnetic masses. |
| US08443672B2 |
Low-power shock and vibration sensors and methods of making sensors
Sensors for monitoring shock or vibration of an object are provided. The sensors include a proof mass, at least piezoelectric device, and an electronic circuit connected to the piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device generates a current when the proof mass imparts a force on the piezoelectric device in response to the proof mass being subjected to a transient acceleration when the object is subjected to a shock or vibration. The electronic circuit is at least partially controlled in response to the current generated from the piezoelectric device due to the shock or vibration. Embodiments of the sensor provide multi-axis sensing capabilities. Methods of making the sensors and flexible circuits are also provided. |
| US08443669B2 |
Servo accelerometer
A servo accelerometer has a pair of housings having a tubular part, one end opened and the other end closed with a closing part. A frame that supports a pendulum is held between the housings. A permanent magnet is attached to each of the closing parts with a bottom pole piece interposed therebetween. Coils arranged in annular magnetic gaps are attached to the pendulum. The closing part has a recess, and the bottom pole piece is disposed in the recess. The outer circumference of the bottom pole piece faces the inner circumference of the recess with a predetermined gap interposed therebetween. |
| US08443667B2 |
Temperature-robust MEMS gyroscope with 2-DOF sense-mode addressing the tradeoff between bandwith and gain
The current invention is a novel gyroscope design, which yields devices robust to fabrication and environmental variations, allows flexible selection of operational parameters, and provides increased bandwidth with minimized sacrifice in gain regardless of the selected frequency of operation. The gyroscope has a single degree-of-freedom (DOF) drive-mode and a 2-DOF sense-mode. The drive-mode operational frequency and the sense-mode bandwidth can be selected arbitrarily in the proposed design, relaxing the tradeoff between the gain, die size, and detection capacitance. The symmetry of the structure ensures the optimal location of the drive-mode resonance relative to the sense-mode operational region, even in presence of fabrication imperfections. |
| US08443666B2 |
Rate-of-rotation sensor and method for operating a rate-of-rotation sensor
A rate-of-rotation sensor having a substrate and a first Coriolis element are provided, an excitation arrangement being provided for the excitation of vibrations of the first Coriolis element in a first direction, a first detection arrangement being provided for detecting a first deflection of the first Coriolis element in a third direction running generally perpendicular to the first direction; characterized by the first Coriolis element being developed as balancing rocker. |
| US08443660B2 |
Device for determining a contact surface length of a vehicle tire
An apparatus ascertains a contact area length of a vehicle tire. The apparatus has a transmission unit which has a resonator and which is set up to transmit a sensor signal at a defined frequency. A change in the frequency of the sensor signal on the basis of mechanical excitation of the resonator is indicative of a contact area length for the vehicle tire. Furthermore, the apparatus has a contact area length ascertainment unit which is set up to receive the sensor signal and to take the change in the frequency of the sensor signal as a basis for ascertaining the contact area length of the vehicle tire. |
| US08443655B2 |
Method of controlling fuel composition learning
A method of controlling fuel composition learning includes steps of monitoring changes in airflow within an engine to determine steady state conditions. The method further includes steps of initiating a fuel composition learning process during steady state conditions. A current fuel component concentration factor is updated using a temporary fuel component concentration factor. The temporary fuel component concentration factor is calculated as the average of an air/fuel correction factor. Once the current fuel component concentration factor is updated, the temporary fuel component concentration factor is reset. The air/fuel correction factor is reset to reflect any difference that existed between the temporary fuel component concentration factor and the air/fuel correction factor at the update time. |
| US08443650B2 |
Temperature compensated pressure switch (TCPS)
A temperature compensated pressure switch (“TCPS”) with thermal lag compensation, trend indication, and forecast analysis. The TCPS has a first control unit, a pressure sensor connected to the first control unit outputting a first pressure data, a temperature sensor connected to the first control unit outputting a first temperature data, and a first storage unit connected to the first control unit storing: minimum and maximum pressure data corresponding to temperature data and rate of temperature change values. The first control unit can substitute a second temperature data, for the first temperature data for a period of time. The first control unit also outputs a first signal indicating the amount of material is acceptable when the first pressure data is above the minimum pressure data and outputs a second signal indicating the amount of material is unacceptable when the first pressure data is not above the minimum pressure data. |
| US08443647B1 |
Analyte multi-sensor for the detection and identification of analyte and a method of using the same
A multi-sensor as disclosed herein can include a substrate and at least three sensing elements disposed on the substrate. Each sensing element includes two electrodes separated by a distance and a nanowire mat adjacent to and in contact with the electrodes. The nanowire mats include nanowires which define a percolation network. The density of the nanowires in the nanowire mat of one sensing element is different than the density of the nanowires in the nanowire mat of either of the other at least two sensing elements. |
| US08443645B2 |
Bending method and bending apparatus for medical suturing needle
A bending method and a bending apparatus are provided for bending a medical suturing needle into different curved shapes by using one bending roller. The bending apparatus comprises a reciprocally rotatable bending roller, and a belt having such a flexibility as can be wound on the outer circumference of the bending roller. The bending method curves a medical suturing needle by sandwiching and constricting a material for the medical suturing needle between the bending roller and the belt and by rotating the bending roller reciprocally in the winding direction and in the rewinding direction. In the bending method, the curved shape of the material is changed by changing the winding angle of the belt to be wound on the outer circumference of the bending top thereby to change the area for constricting the material. |
| US08443639B2 |
Resistant mechanical combination lock and improvements thereto
A resistant mechanical combination lock and improvements thereto are described herein to include one or more of the following features: an improved combination change/set feature that includes a tumbler interlocking lever with digitated micro-fingers suitable for interdigitating with digitated micro-fingers on the peripheral edge of a combination tumbler ring, the tumbler interlocking lever and the combination tumbler ring sandwiched between a pair of outer gate rings to form a tumbler wheel assembly; a key stabilization feature in which an internal boss and a pivot recess together help stabilize the change key when changing the combination of a lock to help prevent “lock out”; an improved duress feature that includes a duress tumbler wheel assembly (that includes a duress lever) and an interchangeable microswitch; and/or a fence control feature that preferably includes an overcenter spring and trigger plate for controlling fence contact with the drive cam. |
| US08443638B2 |
Method and mechanism for attaching a locking mechanism to a pick-up truck tailgate
A method of mounting a lock to a pick-up truck tailgate latching mechanism including the steps of locating targets for holes to be formed in a plastic bezel, the bezel carrying a handle for the tailgate, forming the holes in the plastic bezel, and securing the locking mechanism to the bezel via the formed holes. |
| US08443637B2 |
Internal rotatable lock cylinder
There is provided a locking system having a lock bar and a lock cylinder, where the lock cylinder comprises an outer tube, an inner tube and securing means. The inner tube is placed inside the outer tube and has an opening for receiving a part of the lock bar, and the inner tube can rotate between a first and a second position relative to the outer tube corresponding to open and locked position of the locking system. The outer tube, the inner tube, the securing means and the lock bar are dimensioned so that when the inner tube is in the first position relative to the outer tube, then the securing means are in engagement with the outer tube and the inner tube, and the lock bar can be brought in and out of the inner tube, and when the inner tube is in the second position relative to the outer tube, then the securing means are in engagement with the inner tube and the lock bar, whereby the lock bar is securely locked to the inner tube, while at the same time the lock bar and the inner tube can rotate relative to each other. It is preferred that the securing means is made up of a number of locking balls. |
| US08443634B2 |
Textile-based electrodes incorporating graduated patterns
Textile-based electrodes incorporating graduated patterns include a fabric portion having non-conductive yarns and an electrically conductive region having electrically conductive yarn filaments. The electrodes can further include float yarns and can be configured in a textured or ribbed construction. When incorporated into a garment, the electrodes can be used to monitor biophysical characteristics, such as the garment wearer's heart rate. |
| US08443632B2 |
Transverse row bushing support
According to the invention, a system for forming glass fiber from molten glass is disclosed. The system may include a tip plate, a plurality of tips, and a plurality of support members. The plurality of tips may include a plurality of rows of tips. Each of the plurality of support members may support the tip plate. Each of the plurality of support members may be located between two of the plurality of rows of tips. |
| US08443627B2 |
Method of making heat treated coated article using diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating and protective film
There is provided a method of making a heat treated (HT) coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, or any other suitable applications where transparent coated articles are desired. For example, certain embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article including a step of heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least a layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) and an overlying protective film thereon. In certain example embodiments, the protective film may be of or include both (a) an oxygen blocking or barrier layer, and (b) a release layer. Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be removed. Other embodiments of this invention relate to the pre-HT coated article, or the post-HT coated article. |
| US08443625B2 |
Krypton and xenon recovery method
A method of separating air in which a superheated air stream is introduced into a mass transfer contacting zone associated with a higher pressure column of an air separation unit. Krypton and xenon is washed from a superheated air stream introduced into the mass transfer contacting zone, thereby to form a krypton and xenon-rich liquid. The krypton and xenon-rich liquid is stripped within a stripping column to produce a krypton-xenon-rich bottoms liquid. A krypton-xenon-rich stream composed of the krypton-xenon-rich bottoms liquid from the stripping column is produced for purposes of further refinement. |
| US08443624B2 |
Non-Azeotropic refrigerant mixture and refrigeration cycle apparatus
Disclosed is a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture containing tetrafluoropropane as a high-boiling refrigerant and a refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture containing tetrafluoropropane as a high-boiling refrigerant circulates through a refrigeration cycle so as to avoid occurrence of negative pressure in a low-pressure circuit.The non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture is characterized in that a mixing ratio of a high-boiling refrigerant and a low-boiling refrigerant is determined so that a saturated vapor line where pressure is 0.00 MPa is not higher than −45° C. in a low-pressure circuit formed between the decompressor to the compressor. |
| US08443621B2 |
Ice maker and method for making ice
The present invention relates to an ice maker and a method for making ice, and more particularly, to an ice maker provided in a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator and an ice making method. According to an ice maker and an ice making method, there is no need for forming an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker in order to make ice, whereby it is possible to simplify a manufacturing process of a refrigerator and to reduce manufacturing costs of a refrigerator. In addition, since a portion of refrigerant used in a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is used for making ice, no additional energy is required for making ice, thereby reducing energy consumption. |
| US08443620B2 |
Ice tray assembly and refrigerator having same
An ice tray assembly for a refrigerator is provided. The ice tray assembly is installed in a door of a refrigerator. The ice tray assembly allows water to be supplied from a water container to an ice tray only when the door is closed. To this end, the ice tray assembly includes a valve for opening and closing a channel through which the water is supplied from the water container to the ice tray which is operated in cooperation with the operation of the door. An inner space of a refrigerator main body and corresponding storage space is increased since the ice tray assembly is installed in the door. Further, because water fed from the water container to the ice tray is controlled according to the operation of the door, water is not spilt from the ice tray when the door is operated. |
| US08443618B2 |
Refrigerating and/or freezing appliance
A cooling and/or freezing device, in particular a refrigerator, upright freezer or chest freezer, includes an evaporator for cooling air, a blower for supplying the cooled air into the interior of the cooling and/or freezing device, and a first heater for de-icing the evaporator. The device also includes, a second heater, arranged such that during operation of the second heater, the temperature of the blower surface lies above the dew point of the air present in the vicinity of the blower, at least in certain regions. |
| US08443615B2 |
Systems and methods of dry cooling
A dry cooling assembly is provided comprising a supporting body of liquid having a temperature higher than ambient temperature, and an inflatable elongated tube at least partially submerged in the supporting body of liquid. The inflatable elongated tube has an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. The lower ballast portion defines a reservoir containing liquid facilitating ballast. The liquid facilitating ballast is warmed by heat from the supporting body of liquid such that the temperature of the support body of liquid is reduced. |
| US08443614B2 |
Refrigerator and method for controlling the same
Provided is a refrigerator with a dispenser assembly capable of sensing the height of a vessel and water level using a remote sensor by employing changes in electrostatic capacitance, in order to enable a user to automatically dispense water to a desired level regardless of the material or size of a vessel. |
| US08443613B2 |
Vehicle air comfort system and method
Systems and methods are provided for conditioning air inside an enclosure. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the enclosure. |
| US08443608B2 |
Feed arm for a multiple circuit fuel injector
A feed arm for a multiple circuit fuel injector of a gas turbine engine. The feed arm includes an elongated tubular sleeve having a central bore with an interior wall defining an inner diameter, and an elongated fuel tube positioned within the bore of the tubular sleeve. The fuel tube includes a tubular wall defining an outer diameter, which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the central bore. A primary fuel flow passage is formed within the tubular wall of the fuel tube and bounded by the interior wall of the tubular sleeve, and the primary fuel flow passage circumferentially extends around the fuel tube at least once along the axial length of the fuel tube. A secondary fuel flow passage extends through a central portion of the fuel tube, and the fuel tube is configured to facilitate heat transfer by conduction and/or convection. |
| US08443607B2 |
Coaxial fuel and air premixer for a gas turbine combustor
An air/fuel premixer comprising a peripheral wall defining a mixing chamber, a nozzle disposed at least partially within the peripheral wall comprising an outer annular wall spaced from the peripheral wall so as to define an outer air passage between the peripheral wall and the outer annular wall, an inner annular wall disposed at least partially within and spaced from the outer annular wall, so as to define an inner air passage, and at least one fuel gas annulus between the outer annular wall and the inner annular wall, the at least one fuel gas annulus defining at least one fuel gas passage, at least one air inlet for introducing air through the inner air passage and the outer air passage to the mixing chamber, and at least one fuel inlet for injecting fuel through the fuel gas passage to the mixing chamber to form an air/fuel mixture. |
| US08443606B2 |
Enhanced steam cycle utilizing a dual pressure recovery boiler with reheat
An enhanced steam cycle utilizing a dual pressure recovery boiler with reheat. A dual pressure designed recovery boiler furnace is provided with a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace is operated at a lower temperature to prevent or reduce corrosion of the lower furnace wall tubes. The lower furnace can be either a low pressure natural circulation steam generating (drum) system or economizer. The upper furnace operates as a high pressure natural circulation steam generating (drum) system, or as a once-through supercritical steam generating system at higher temperatures and pressures permitting implementation of higher efficiency reheat steam cycles. |
| US08443599B2 |
Thermoacoustic apparatus
A thermoacoustic apparatus capable of reducing the time elapsed until an acoustic wave is generated and improving the energy conversion efficiency significantly is provided. In order to solve the above-described issues, in a thermoacoustic apparatus 1 including a pair of heat exchangers 41 and 43 separately set on the high temperature side and on the low temperature side, a second stack 42 which is sandwiched between the heat exchangers 41 and 43 and which has a plurality of transmission paths in the inside, and a loop tube 2 provided with the heat exchangers 41 and 43 and the stack 42, the thermoacoustic apparatus converting acoustic energy generated in the loop tube 2 with an acoustic wave generator 3 to thermal energy by using the heat exchangers 41 and 43 and the stack 42, a narrow portion 21 in which the inner diameter is relatively reduced is disposed at a position at which the particle velocity of a standing wave generated in the loop tube 2 is in the vicinity of a maximum. Furthermore, in order to reduce the particle velocity, a branch tube 2e is connected at a position at which the particle velocity of a standing wave generated in the loop tube 2 is in the vicinity of a minimum. |
| US08443598B1 |
Zero turn drive apparatus
A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a pair of pumps mounted in a common housing and having coaxial input shafts and an input shaft mounted in the common housing perpendicular to the two pump shafts. A pair of center sections or end caps including hydraulic porting are mounted to opposite ends of the common housing, and each center section has a hydraulic motor mounted thereon external to the common housing. |
| US08443593B2 |
Liquid-cooled exhaust valve assembly
A valve assembly may include a valve body, a valve member, and a valve shaft. The valve body may include an inlet, an outlet, and first and second fluid paths in fluid communication with the inlet. The first fluid path may extend axially through at least a portion of the valve body. The second fluid path may be defined by first and second annular walls and may at least partially surround the first fluid path. The valve member is disposed in the valve body and may be movable between a first position preventing fluid flow through the first fluid path and a second position allowing fluid flow through the first fluid path. The valve shaft may be fixed to the valve member and mounted to the valve body for rotation relative to the valve body. |
| US08443590B2 |
Reduced volume electrically heated particulate filter
A control system comprises an exhaust treatment system, an electric heating module, and an exhaust heating module. The exhaust treatment system comprises a particulate matter (PM) filter and an electric heater. The PM filter includes M zones that receive exhaust gas of an engine and filter PM from the exhaust gas. The electric heater heats exhaust gas input to N of the M zones, wherein M is an integer greater than one and N is an integer less than M. The electric heating module activates the electric heater to heat exhaust gas input to the N zones to regenerate the N zones. The exhaust heating module heats exhaust gas input to the M zones by controlling an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas after the N zones regenerate. |
| US08443588B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
There is provided a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can favorably reduce a load necessary for cranking at the time of the next start, while preventing the fresh air inflow to a catalyst at the time of the stop of the internal combustion engine. A valve stop command is issued to an electrically-driven actuator so that the operational states of intake and exhaust valves becomes a valve closed/stopped state when fuel supply is stopped in response to an establishment of a predetermined stop condition of the internal combustion engine. Then, to return the operational states of the intake and exhaust valves to a valve operating state after the completion of the stopping operation of the internal combustion engine, a valve return command is issued to the actuator, and a crankshaft is rotationally driven by a predetermined angle required to return the operational states of the intake and exhaust valves to the valve operating state. |
| US08443582B1 |
Gas turbine engine with geared turbofan and oil thermal management system
A lubricant supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant lube pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear for an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed. |
| US08443579B2 |
Storage device for elongated articles
An apparatus and method for storing an elongated article, such as a light string or the like. The apparatus includes a hollow tube and an elongated sock. The elongated sock is fed onto the hollow tube such that end of said sock is in proximity to the end of the tube. In use, one end of the elongated article is inserted through the hollow tube and is pulled through the tube along with the sock. As the length of the elongated article is pulled through the tube along with the sock, the length of the elongated article is disposed within the length of the sock. |
| US08443577B2 |
Method and device for safe handling and removal of bodily remains
A portable device that can be taken to the site of biological remains is provided. The device includes means for holding and dispensing one or more types of sealable shielding elements within which to seal remains. The device also includes means to temporarily hold the remains while the sealable shielding elements are placed about the remains and sealed. The device includes means to hold one or more rolls of one or more types of sealable shielding materials to first protect the user and the shielding elements from sharps and then seal, including heat sealing, the body and/or toxic or caustic elements from the population before disposal. |
| US08443574B2 |
Intumescent thermal barrier from hub to tire
A door assembly has a door header mounted on a frame defining a doorway, a door movably supported on the frame, and a track including at least one supporting surface along at least one side of the track. The track is secured to the door header. The assembly has at least one roller that is adapted to roll along the track. The roller has a rim portion adjacent a hub portion, and a tire material surrounding the rim portion that contacts the track. The roller is at least partially covered with a thermal barrier between the tire material and at least one of the rim portion and the hub portion to prevent heat transfer to the tire material. |
| US08443573B1 |
Blast-resistant foundations
Blast-resistant foundations are presented that can be used to support a tower, a building, a building supporting a tower, and a tower supporting a building. These foundations can be transported to an installation site and rapidly deployed. They are comprised of one or more precast foundation blocks that do not penetrate the ground beneath them, do not require adjacent foundation blocks to be bound to one-another at their sides with interconnecting steel, and do not require the buildings and/or towers they support to use guy-wires. They can include protected cavities that contain utility equipment and supplies, and they can include conduits from these cavities that can be extended upward through one or more legs of a tower. |
| US08443571B2 |
Wind power equipment and assembly
In one example, we describe a method of construction and assembly for a very large wind power generator (or windmill or wind turbine unit), for sea, coast line, or in-land installment. In other examples, we describe the improvements on components of a wind power generator (or windmill or wind turbine unit). In one example, we describe a method of avoiding or minimizing problems with the weather forecasts or military radar interferences, for large wind mills or wind farms. |
| US08443568B2 |
Adjustable hip-end purlin
A structural connection between the upper outer edges of multiple structural members with one or more elongate connectors that span from edge to edge between pairs of structural members. |
| US08443565B2 |
Internal structural mullion for standing seam panel system
A standing seam panel system includes an internal structural mullion. A pair of panels meet at a joint and have standing flanges and detents. The mullion includes a main extrusion and a secondary extrusion, the main extrusion having an innermost portion, and a main hooked portion opposite the innermost portion. A secondary extrusion is attached to the main extrusion and has a leg hooked portion opposite the main hooked portion to form a pair of hooked portions, the hooked portions engaging the detents of the panels. Slotted holes are defined within said main extrusion, and screw fasteners pass through the slotted holes of the main extrusion and into a building substrate, wherein the innermost portion of the main extrusion is attached to a building substrate such that the mullion is adapted to move vertically along the building substrate to accommodate expansion or contraction of the panels. |
| US08443560B2 |
Concrete form block and form block structure
A concrete form block for construction of a building includes first and second panel devices, each having inner and outer faces separated by ribs. Projecting connectors are disposed on the inner faces and each has a pin-receiving aperture. U-shaped couplers are used to connect the two panel devices together so that their inner faces are parallel. Each connector has first and second connecting pins and these are received in the apertures of the connectors of the panel devices, with each pin being pivotable in its aperture after insertion. The panel devices can be moved from a collapsed configuration having at least a reduced space between the inner faces and an in-use configuration with more space between these faces. There is also disclosed a panel structure having upper and lower channel forming frames connected to an outer wall portion thereof. These form a channel for receiving equipment for utilities. |
| US08443558B2 |
Support system for solar energy generator panels
A support system for a solar panel comprises a plurality of legs configured to receive multiple solar panels. The legs each comprise a base, a plurality of shafts, and a support precipice. The support precipice is divided into two sides by a t-bar. The first side comprises a guiding wing to effectuate modular assembly of the support system. The second side comprises a beveled edge to effectuate secure coupling of a solar panel. The system is able to be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools or implements. The system is also movable. |
| US08443557B2 |
Tower base section of a wind turbine, a wind turbine and a system for mounting a tower
A tower base section, a tower adapter and a wind turbine having the tower base section and the tower adapter are provided. The tower base section includes a tubular side wall and a flange portion. The flange portion has an inner radius and an outer radius and is configured as a T-flange. The tubular side wall is located closer to the outer radius than to the inner radius. The adapter is arranged outside the tubular side wall and includes a bottom surface pressing from above on the flange portion. |
| US08443556B2 |
Wall clip and shim adapted for insulating concrete walls and similar materials
A stackable shim system. A first shim includes a receiving feature, an attachment feature, and a main portion having a first thickness. A second shim also includes a receiving feature, an attachment feature, and a main portion having a second thickness. The receiving feature of each shim is configured to engage with the attachment feature of the other shim such that either shim can be removably attached to the other to create a stacked shim having a main portion having a thickness that is the sum of the first and second thicknesses. The shims may be conveniently used for taking up space and/or accommodating for irregularities in construction materials. |
| US08443555B2 |
Roofing element of the type used in particular as a low swimming pool shelter element
A roofing assembly includes a panel configured to define a major surface, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; and a frame including a first transverse profile attached to the first end of the panel, and a second transverse profile attached to the second end of the panel. A force-applicator is located between the first transverse profile and the second transverse profile. The force-applicator is configured to apply a force between the first transverse profile and the second transverse profile, thereby applying a tension force to the panel. The force-applicator defines a longitudinal axis displaced from the major surface of the panel, the force-applicator including two parts capable of being moved, one with respect to the other, connected to one another by a sliding connection controlled by a spring. |
| US08443541B2 |
Optical sight
An optical sight is provided and may include a housing having a base, a first post extending from the base, and a second post extending from the base. The optical sight may additionally include an optical element supported by the housing between the first post and the second post, a reticle displayed on the optical element, and an illumination system generating the reticle. A first actuation member may be disposed on one of the first post and the second post and may selectively control an intensity of the reticle by controlling an output of the illumination system. |
| US08443539B2 |
Rail contacts for accessories mounted on the powered rail of a weapon
A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided to encircle the barrel of the weapon, to provide a point of mechanical and electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories to provide quick connect mounting and dismounting of the power-consuming accessory, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The Weapon Accessory Rail Contacts provide the mechanism to electrically interconnect the power-consuming accessory with the powered rail. |
| US08443535B2 |
Emergency exit indicator
An emergency exit indicator includes a housing and a light source received in the housing. The housing includes two first connecting arms at top and bottom thereof and two second connecting arms at lateral sides thereof. The first and second connecting arms are connected with each other by four connecting units located respectively at four corners of the housing. Each connecting unit includes a seat and two engaging tabs extending from the seat. One engaging tab is engaged with a corresponding first connecting arm, and the other is engaged with a neighboring second connecting arm. |
| US08443534B2 |
Two-position tab
A tabbing apparatus is provided that includes a pocket and a tab element disposed within the pocket in a retracted position. The tab element includes an indexing segment configured for protruding from the pocket in an extended position as a tab and for being received within the pocket in the retracted position, an anchor portion attached to the pocket, and an intermediate portion connecting the anchor portion and indexing segment and configured for folding to allow the indexing segment to move between the retracted position and the extended position. The indexing segment is configured for displaying writing thereon for indexing a file. |
| US08443526B2 |
Robot compliance device
A robot compliance device includes first and second discs (12, 30) spaced along a first axis (X). A column (24) is interconnected between the first disc (12) and a beam (14) intermediate the first and second discs (12, 30). A compliance member (40) is mounted around the column (24) between the first disc (12) and the beam (14). First and second canted resilient plates (50) are interconnected between the compliance member (40) and the beam (14) and spaced from each other along a second axis (Y) perpendicular to the first axis (X) and are at a first acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X). Third and fourth canted resilient plates (52) are interconnected between the second disc (30) and the compliance member (40) and spaced from each other along a third axis (Z) perpendicular to the first and second axes (X, Y) and are at a second acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X). |
| US08443523B2 |
Door lock locating tool kit
A door lock locator configured to attach to a door having a latch edge and to locate the door lock in relation to a strike plate. The door lock locator includes an edge wall having an edge hole locator, a first wall extending from the edge wall and including a bore hole locator, a second wall extending from the edge wall and cooperating with the first wall to attach the door lock locator to the door. The door lock locator also includes a strike plate locator coupled to one of the edge wall, the first wall, and the second wall. The strike plate locator has a protrusion that selectively engages the strike plate to locate the edge hole locator and the bore hole locator. |
| US08443521B2 |
Lockable folding knife
A folding lock back knife apparatus includes a blade having a tip and a tang portion pivotally connecting to a handle of unitary construction formed from a continuous piece of metal having an integral locking mechanism and integral locking end portion, the locking end portion proximal to the pivot hole positioned to stop the blade from pivoting past the open position and the locking mechanism having a locking bar integral with a support arm continuously formed between a locking end portion and a pressure pad end constructed and arranged to lock the blade in relation to the handle when the locking end portion engages the at least one tang notch and unlocks the blade in relation to the handle when force is applied to the pressure pad end in the direction of the handle flexing the support arm, thereby disengaging the locking end portion from the tang notch. |
| US08443516B2 |
Process for refurbishing cylinder rolls and bases for printing machines
The present invention relates to a refurbished cylinder roller and a process for refurbishing cylinder rollers for use in printing machines. More particularly, the present invention also relates to a process for refurbishing metallic gravure cylinder rollers by replacing the worn outer plating layers with an extruded and thermally cured electrically conductive polymer material, and thereafter electroplating new outer plating layers thereon, the new plating layers including a new printing image formed therein. The present invention also relates to a refurbished gravure cylinder roller which includes a core member extending along an axial length, an image-carrying layer having a printing image formed therein and arranged circumferentially about the core member, and an electrically conductive intermediate polymer layer arranged between the core member and the image-carrying layer, where the intermediate polymer material has a conductivity selected to permit electro-plating of the image-carrying layer directly thereon. |
| US08443513B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus which can achieve an improvement in throughput and suppress the reduction in the operation rate of the entire apparatus even when a problem occurs. In the disclosed apparatus, at the rear end of a substrate loading block including a loading/unloading arm for transferring a wafer to a carrier, a first, a second, and a third processing blocks are disposed in that order. In the substrate loading block, transfer stages are provide for transferring a wafer from the loading/unloading arm to the first processing block, for transferring a wafer to the second processing block, and for transferring a wafer to the third processing block so that the wafer on the transfer stage is directly carried to the second processing block by a first direct carrying mechanism, and to the third processing block by a second direct carrying mechanism. |
| US08443512B2 |
Electric blind rivet setting device
The present invention provides a small electric blind rivet setting device that is capable of being driven by a battery and that does not require a pathway for recovering the broken mandrels to be provided in the motor shaft. A recovery container 10 is provided in a tool housing 27 forward of an electric motor 13 in the axial direction, and a spindle 14, which rotates because of the rotation of a drive shaft 18 connected to the electric motor circumventing the recovery container, is connected so as to move a pulling head (30) in the axial direction. The positive rotation, stopping of rotation and reverse rotation of the electric motor are controlled by a pulling operation on a trigger and detecting the position of the pulling head in the axial direction. |
| US08443510B1 |
Method for utilizing an electronic lapping guide for a beveled pole in a magnetic recording transducer
A method for providing at least one transducer including magnetic structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) are described. The method includes providing a lapping electronic lapping guide (lapping ELG) and a targeting ELG. The lapping ELG and targeting ELG each are coplanar with the desired thickness of the magnetic structure and have a back edge at the distance from the ABS such that the ELG back edges are substantially aligned with the flare point. The targeting ELG has a front edge at a front edge distance from the ABS corresponding to an intersection of the bevel and the desired thickness. The method further includes lapping the transducer and terminating the lapping based on a first resistance of the lapping ELG and a second resistance of the targeting ELG. |
| US08443508B2 |
Compound tool with screwdriver attachment
A punch down tool, a receiver for a punch down tool, and a work end adapter for a punch down tool, for terminating electrical conductors and turning fasteners, are disclosed. The work end adapter is adapted to receive standard tool bits and standard finned shaft tips. The punch down tool is adapted to receive standard blades and to receive the work end adapter. When installed in the punch down tool, the work end adapter rotates only with the punch down tool, and will not rotate independently of the punch down tool. The punch down tool has an impact mechanism and a lock-out button to prevent the tool's impact mechanism from operating. |
| US08443507B2 |
Method for forming a reinforced toolbox
A method for forming a reinforced toolbox includes the step of: injection molding step: injection molding a toolbox with plastic material; extruding step: extruding a protector strip with aluminum; cutting step: cutting the protector strip into a plurality of protectors; assembling step: assembling the protector with the toolbox. |
| US08443503B2 |
Automated toe adjustment apparatus using floating mechanism
The present invention provides an automated toe adjustment apparatus and method that includes a power nut runner, a vision machine, a robot, and a floating mechanism. More particularly, the power nut runner adjusts a toe by adjusting an adjusting bolt of the tie-rod assembly. The vision machine photographs the power nut runner to verify position information of the power nut runner. The robot engages the power nut runner with the adjusting bolt of the tie-rod assembly and rotates the power nut runner. The floating mechanism absorbs a shock between the power nut runner and the robot as the vehicle is shaken by the overall process. |
| US08443499B2 |
Concentric camshaft and method of assembly
A method of assembling a camshaft may include locating a first lobe member of the camshaft on a first shaft and inserting a locking pin into a first bore in the first lobe member and into a second bore in the first shaft. The locking pin may include a first recess extending into a first end thereof defining a first annular wall. A first retaining member may be forced into a first recess. The forcing may displace the annular wall in an outward radial direction and into a frictional engagement with the first bore. |
| US08443497B2 |
Transformation of a cremation container for display
A kit for transforming a cremation container into a casket for display comprises a frame and a canopy. The frame includes a head end section, a right side section, and a left side section. Moreover, each section has a top surface, a bottom surface and a continuous channel along the bottom surface. The frame seats over the cremation container such that the channel of the head end section receives a rim of an end panel of the cremation container, the channel of the right side section receives a rim of a right side panel of the cremation container and the channel of the left side section receives a rim of a left side panel of the cremation container. The canopy temporarily overlies at least a portion of the cremation container. |
| US08443496B2 |
Injection molded modular casket
A modular casket that is easy to assemble and can be assembled with few or no tools is disclosed. The casket comprises a number of injection molded plastic pieces that can be snap-fit together. The casket is relatively compact and lightweight and is conducive to shipping and storage, yet has sufficient strength for its intended purpose. |
| US08443487B2 |
Door closer with a braking mechanism
A door closer for doors, particularly glass doors, which are supported by a stationary support structure (S) and are movable between an open door position and a closed door position. The door closer comprises a box-like body (10) and a pin (20) reciprocally rotatably coupled to rotate around a first axis (x) between the open door position and the closed door position. Closing means are provided (30) to automatically return the door, as well as a braking means (40) acting thereon to counteract their action. First and second cam elements (31, 41) unitary with the pin (20) and interposed between a first and second plunger elements (32, 42) are provided. |
| US08443483B2 |
Wiper blade for vehicle window wiper
A wiper blade for use on a vehicle window comprises a blade hinge made of a hydrophobic, elastomeric material, a wiping lip and a blade body. The wiping lip has a tip that contacts the vehicle window, a wiping lip base adjoining the blade hinge, and a tapered portion extending between the tip and the wiping lip base. The wiping lip base is made of a hydrophobic, elastomeric material and a majority of the tapered portion is made of an elastomeric material that is not hydrophobic. The blade body includes a main body portion configured to secure a wiper arm thereto, and a base portion adjoining the main body portion and the blade hinge. The base portion is made of a hydrophobic, elastomeric material and the main body portion is made of an elastomeric material that is not hydrophobic. |
| US08443479B2 |
Multi-positionable manual toothbrush
A multi-positionable manual toothbrush includes a toothbrush body, a toothbrush head, and a spring capable of engaging the toothbrush head at a plurality of angles with respect to the toothbrush body. |
| US08443477B2 |
Autonomous cleaning machine
Disclosed herein is an autonomous cleaning machine with a brush cleaning unit to clean a brush unit. The autonomous cleaning machine includes a main body, the brush unit rotatably provided on the main body, first brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to move foreign substances wound on the brush unit in a lengthwise direction of the brush unit, and second brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to remove the foreign substances wound on the brush unit from the brush unit. |
| US08443475B2 |
Method and device for cleaning teeth
The invention is directed to a method and a device for cleaning teeth wherein a variety of cleaning tools are coupled to a common handle section for the individual cleaning of teeth. It relates in particular to a handle section of an electric dental cleaning device, with a coupling section for coupling various cleaning tools thereto, as well as said cleaning tools. According to the invention the handle section detects a coding provided on the respective cleaning tool attached. In dependence upon the respective coding detected, various functions of the dental cleaning device are controlled. |
| US08443470B2 |
Bathtub safety gate
The bathtub safety gate is a two-piece door fabricated from molded plastic and positioned to cover the front or entry of the bathtub. The door parts are mounted for hinged or swinging movement on the end walls of the tub. Overlapping members are provided at the mating ends of the doors to permit a degree of adjustability. Pins or other fastening devices are contemplated for locking the doors in closed position when not in use. |
| US08443466B2 |
Ear protection device
Various embodiments of ear protection devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ear protection device can include a band and ear frame portions. The ear frame portions can include several components, some of which are configured to move relative to each other. The ear frame portions are coupled to the band portion. The band portion is configured to be disposed around the back of a user's head and/or neck. In other embodiments, the frame and fabric components can vary. |
| US08448254B2 |
Digital content management system and apparatus
There are provided a digital content management apparatus which further embodies a digital content management apparatus used with a user terminal, and a system which protects the secrets of a digital content. The system and the apparatus are a real time operating system using a micro-kernel, which is incorporated in the digital content management apparatus as an interruption process having high priority. When a user uses the digital content, whether there is an illegitimate usage or not, is watched by interrupting the usage process. In the case where illegitimate usage is carried out, a warning is given or the usage is stopped. The decryption/re-encryption functions of the digital content management apparatus having the decryption/re-encryption functions are not restricted to the inside of the user apparatus. By providing the decryption/re-encryption functions between the networks, the exchange of secret information between different networks is secured. By using this apparatus for converting a crypt algorithm, information exchange is made possible between systems which adopt different algorithms. |
| US08448253B2 |
Program licence management technique in an audio signal processing system
CPU of a console accepts a full application activation instruction generated via an activation instruction switch. The CPU searches through all of apparatus of a mixing system, which the console belongs to, to detect any apparatus having connected thereto a USB dongle that has recorded therein an access key corresponding to an application program to be fully activated. If such an apparatus has been detected within the mixing system, the CPU places the application program in a fully activated state. If, on the other hand, no such apparatus has been detected, the CPU terminates a full application activation process. Such arrangements allows the application program, which requires authentication of the access key, to be executed with simple operation, while preventing unauthorized use of the application program. |
| US08448251B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing and displaying secure and non-secure data
A data processing apparatus is disclosed that comprises: at least one processor; a display for displaying data processed by said at least one processor; at least one display buffer for storing an array of display elements for subsequent output to said display, said display elements being secure display elements for displaying secure data and non-secure display elements; and a user interface; wherein said at least one processor is operable to execute at least one untrusted process and at least one secure process, said at least one secure process having access to secure data; said data processing apparatus further comprising: a secure user input for receiving a user input, said received user input not being accessible to said at least one untrusted process; and said data processing apparatus being responsive to an input received at said secure user input to transform data to be displayed on said display such that said secure display elements and said non-secure display elements are transformed differently to each other. |
| US08448249B1 |
Methods and systems for using lambda transitions for processing regular expressions in intrusion-prevention systems
Methods and systems are provided for using lambda transitions for processing regular expressions in intrusion-prevention systems. In an embodiment, a state-transition table is provided, said table being representative of a predetermined data pattern, and including states having egress events defining transitions to other states. A subject is received for evaluation for the presence of the predetermined data pattern. While using the state-transition table for said evaluation, a first state is transitioned into, the first state having an egress event defining a transition to a second state, a state count corresponding to a number of times the first state has been transitioned into, a state-count threshold, and a state-count condition. After transitioning into the first state, the state count is incremented. Responsive to determining that the state-count condition is satisfied by comparing the incremented state count with the state-count threshold, the transition to the second state is taken. |
| US08448247B2 |
Adaptive behavioral intrusion detection systems and methods
Systems and methods for analyzing historical network traffic and determining which traffic does not belong in a network are disclosed. Intrusion detection is performed over a period of time, looking for behavioral patterns within networks or information systems and generating alerts when these patterns change. The intrusion detection system intelligently forms correlations between disparate sources to find traffic anomalies. Over time, behaviors are predictive, and the intrusion detection system attempts to predict outcomes, becoming proactive instead of just reactive. Intrusions occur throughout whole information systems, including both network infrastructure and application servers. By treating the information system as a whole and performing intrusion detection across it, the chances of detection are increased significantly. |
| US08448243B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting unknown malware in an executable file
A computer-implemented method may include generating a first region-of-interest identifier that represents a region of interest within an executable file at a first time. The computer-implemented method may also include receiving, at a second time, a request to scan the executable file for malware and generating a second region-of-interest identifier that represents the region of interest within the executable file at the second time. The computer-implemented method may further include comparing the first and second region-of-interest identifiers to determine that the region of interest at the second time is different than the region of interest at the first time. In addition, the computer-implemented method may include using the difference between the region of interest at the first and second times to determine whether the executable file comprises malware. Various other systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08448242B2 |
Systems, methods, and media for outputting data based upon anomaly detection
Systems, methods, and media for outputting data based on anomaly detection are provided. In some embodiments, methods for outputting data based on anomaly detection include: receiving a known-good dataset; storing distinct n-grams from the known-good dataset to form a binary anomaly detection model; receiving known-good new n-grams; computing a rate of receipt of distinct n-grams in the new n-grams; determining whether further training of the anomaly detection model is necessary based on the rate of receipt on distinct n-grams; using the binary anomaly detection model to determine whether an input dataset contains an anomaly; and outputting the input dataset based on whether the input dataset contains an anomaly. |
| US08448239B2 |
Secure controller for block oriented storage
A storage controller includes a command pointer register. The command pointer register points to a chain of commands in memory, and also includes a security status field to indicate a security status of the first command in the command chain. Each command in the command chain may also include a security status field that indicates the security status of the following command in the chain. |
| US08448238B1 |
Network security as a service using virtual secure channels
Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems to provide an end-to-end secure transaction over a software defined network (SDN). In one embodiment, a machine-implemented method comprises opening an in-band virtual secure channel (VSC) or an out-of-band VSC over the SDN; authenticating, through the control plane of a switch managing the SDN, a user of a resource over the in-band VSC or the out-of-band VSC; authorizing the user, through the control plane, access to the resource over the in-band VSC or the out-of-band VSC; and accounting for a transaction conducted by the user accessing the resource, through the control plane, over the in-band VSC or the out-of-band VSC. In another embodiment, a switch to manage the SDN and to implement the method described herein is disclosed. |
| US08448237B2 |
Virtual private internet
A virtual private internet may include various network components, including an enhanced service domain name server (DNS), an enhanced service router, and an enhanced service gateway, which all access service policy information stored in an enhanced service repository. The network components in the virtual private internet perform common service processing tasks for routing service requests across firewalls and other network boundaries. The network components also execute other service policies, such as logging, message format translation, and protocol bridging for each service request processed by the network. Updates to services may be implemented in the virtual private internet via changes to service policy information stored in the enhanced service repository. |
| US08448230B2 |
System and method for real world biometric analytics through the use of a multimodal biometric analytic wallet
A system and method for real world biometric analytics through the use of a multimodal analytic wallet. The system includes a biometric wallet comprising a pervasive repository for storing biometric data, the pervasive repository including at least one of a biometric layer, a genomic layer, a health layer, a privacy layer, and a processing layer. The biometric wallet further comprises a biometric analytic interface configured to communicate the biometric data to one or more devices. |
| US08448229B2 |
Methods and systems for providing website hosting security
A method for registering user identification data in an application service provider data repository is provided, where the application service provider provides web services for a plurality of customers, each customer having a plurality of users with respective user identification data. The method includes receiving user identification data from one of the users through a website associated with one of the plurality of customers, retrieving customer identification data based on a uniform resource locator assigned to the website, concatenating the user identification data and customer identification data to create a user key, and registering a user account within the data repository based on the created user key. |
| US08448227B2 |
System and method for making a content item, resident or accessible on one resource, available through another
Systems and methods are provided to make content items, already available on one resource, also available through another, such as through a new location or resource. The content items may be, e.g., videos uploaded by a user or other content. The systems and methods employ a streamlined interface for convenience to the user. In one example, a user of a computer system views a video segment through a first website and re-posts the video segment to a second website by entering a single command or clicking a single button. The websites coordinate the re-posting using credentials previously or contemporaneously entered by the user. Moreover, a content item may be automatically prepared for re-posting on the target website using previously-entered user selections. Playback software from a source website may be posted to a target website to allow access of the content item at the source website. |
| US08448226B2 |
Coordinate based computer authentication system and methods
A coordinate-based computer authentication system (1) and methods have been disclosed. A method comprises providing instructions to present a graphical interface (1, 121) on a display, wherein the graphical interface includes a plurality of graphical images. Selection information is received that corresponds to the selection of one or more of the plurality of graphical images. The selection information is authenticated (1, 110). |
| US08448223B2 |
Security management program, security management method, and portable terminal device
A security management program stored in a computer-readable recording medium causes a computer to perform the following steps (1) to (4). (1) A security manager authenticates an authentication target with a prepared authentication method in response to a login request from the authentication target. (2) An application execution unit outputs an authentication request in response to an application execution request which is output from the security manager after the authentication succeeds. (3) A database access unit authenticates the authentication target with the authentication method in response to the authentication request. (4) In response to a database access request from the application execution unit, the database access unit accesses a database in a portable terminal device depending on the authentication performed by the database access unit. |
| US08448222B2 |
Method and apparatus for registering agents onto a virtual machine monitor
A method for managing an agent includes verifying an integrity of the agent in response to a registration request. Memory protection is provided for the agent dining integrity verification. An indication is generated when registration of the agent has been completed. According to one aspect of the present invention, providing memory protection includes having a virtual machine monitor limit access to the agent. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08448220B2 |
Merge rule wizard
Various embodiments include a system comprising an interface coupled to a computer network, the interface operable to provide a merge rule wizard operable to generate one or more displayable dialog boxes that include selectable criteria for merging a plurality of sets of security rules into a single security rule base. |
| US08448215B2 |
Electronic program guide with digital storage
An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments. |
| US08448214B2 |
Method and system for providing complete internet anywhere with partial server processing
A method and/or system are described for providing complete Internet anywhere with partial server processing in which a request may be sent from a set-top-box (STB) to a server communicatively coupled with the STB to process a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser running on the STB. The STB may receive a data stream from the server, wherein the server generates the data stream by processing the unsupported portion of the web page. The web page may be composited in the web browser based on the received data stream. The server may be located in a server computing cloud or may be a local server. The unsupported portion of the web page may comprise a binary plug-in. A supported portion of the web page may be rendered before or concurrently with the overlaying of the data stream during compositing. |
| US08448210B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for rich media electronic program guides
Electronic program guide (EPG) systems and methods are operable to incorporate image information into an EPG generated at a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives an image associated with a program, processes the received image into a rich media EPG image, receives program presentation schedule information that specifies a presentation schedule of a plurality of programs, wherein the program is one of the plurality of programs scheduled for presentation, associates an identifier with the rich media EPG image and the program, and generates a rich media EPG schedule based upon the received program presentation schedule information and the identifier. |
| US08448206B2 |
Augmenting interactive television content utilizing a dynamic cloud activity guide
A server device configured to store settings information, the settings information indicating which type of operations are permitted by a user of a video client; receive a request to perform an operation associated with television content; perform a first operation to obtain program information associated with the television content when the settings information permits the first operation, the program information being a measure of popularity regarding the television content; perform the second operation to obtain performer information associated with the television content when the settings information permits the second operation, the performer information being a measure of popularity regarding the performer; perform the third operation to obtain review information associated with the television content when the settings information permits the third operation, the review information including reviews associated with the television content; and present, to the video client, the program information, the performer information, or the review information for display. |
| US08448203B2 |
Disk device
A disk device includes a disk rotation driving unit 7 provided movably in the direction of the Y axis to a chassis 10 and immovably in the direction of the X axis thereto, a guide rail 1 supported parallel to the X axis by the chassis, and an optical pickup 2 supported by the guide rail 1 and reciprocating in a radial direction of a disk which is rotation-driven by the disk rotation driving unit 7, wherein a positioning part 8 performing the positioning of a rotation center of the disk rotation driving unit 7 by making contact with a rotor unit 7a of the disk rotation driving unit 7 is provided on the optical pickup 2. |
| US08448202B2 |
Motor having a disk support member and a disk drive device having the same
There is provided a motor including: a rotor case having a chucking device, on which a disk is mounted, press-fitted and coupled thereto; and disk support members mounted on an upper surface of the rotor case to support a bottom surface of the disk, and having each of flow path portions therebetween allowing for airflow in a space between the disk and the rotor case, wherein a push portion is disposed in at least one of the rotor case and the disk support members to accelerate the airflow through the flow path portions when the rotor case rotates. |
| US08448201B2 |
Integrated disk driving module
An integrated disk driving module is disclosed, the module including a base unit including an opening-formed upper plate, a lateral surface plate bent from an edge of the upper plate to form an accommodation space, and a stepping motor fixture bent from the upper plate toward the accommodation space, wherein the stepping motor fixture is integrally formed with the upper plate; and a stepping motor including a lead screw and a pivot member arranged at a distal end of the lead screw and coupled to the stepping motor fixture, and wherein the stepping motor fixture is formed with an insertion groove into which the pivot member is secured, where width of the insertion groove is larger than a diameter of the pivot member. |
| US08448199B2 |
Player and spindle motor with skirt section having resin lead-in features
A spindle motor includes a rotor made of metal including a substantially circular top surface section and a tubular skirt section arranged at a predetermined space from an outer periphery of the top surface section and a disk table of synthetic resin outsert-molded in the rotor and including a table main body section located on an outer surface side of the rotor and a rotor-inner-surface superimposing section located on an inner surface side of the rotor. First resin lead-in holes are provided in the tubular skirt section and an inner surface of the table main body section located on the outer surface side of the rotor is connected to the rotor-inner-surface superimposing section located on the inner surface side of the rotor through the first resin lead-in holes. |
| US08448198B2 |
Traverse module and optical disc drive utilizing the same
A traverse module of an optical disc drive includes a base and a cover connected to the base that includes at least one spring tab integrally formed therewith. A pair of guide bars is connected to the base. A pickup head module is slidably connected to the guide bars. At least one adjusting member is movably connected to the base. The at least one adjusting member supports at least one of the guide bars and the at least one spring tab presses against the at least one of the guide bars, the at least one adjusting member is able to urge the at least one of the guide bars to move. |
| US08448193B2 |
Image forming device, information processing method, and information processing program
In an image forming device which is capable of executing an application program, a plurality of interface providing units are arranged each providing the application program with an interface which enables the application program to use a function of the image forming device. A selecting unit selects at least one of the plurality of interface providing units as an object of use for the application program based on a result of comparison of information stored in a storage device and indicating an execution environment of each of the plurality of interface providing units with information stored in the storage device and indicating an execution environment of the image forming device. |
| US08448191B2 |
Device driver installer and installation method
This invention lightens a burden in development by using a generic device driver and also lightens a burden on a user by automatically performing customization suitable for a model to be installed. A client PC acquires AA from an image forming apparatus as its type ID. A generic device driver to be used is determined by extracting, from the type ID, a series ID determined by the interface. In addition, based on the value of a group ID representing a function group, the generic device driver is reconfigured and installed in accordance with the functions of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08448187B2 |
Conflict resolution apparatus
A conflict resolution apparatus automatically updates an application conflict rule specifying a conflict condition among applications when a device is installed or uninstalled. An application conflict rule storage section stores the application conflict rule. An application executing section determines, based on the application conflict rule, conflicts among a plurality of applications and executes at least one application in accordance with a result of the determination. An application conflict rule updating section updates the application conflict rule in accordance with a change of the conflict condition among the plurality of applications when a resource of the conflict resolution apparatus is changed. |
| US08448183B2 |
Presentation layer application integration
A system for interfacing data between at least a first and a second software program, the system hosting the execution of the software programs and each software program respectively executing computer instruction code, the system including: a computing device operable by a user and with which the user submits authentication data, the computing device indicating the grant of access to the user of the first and second software programs upon independent verification of the user's credentials by the first and second software programs where verification is required; a first selector operable by the user to select data available to the first software program; a second selector operable by the user to initiate a first browser and causing the first browser to post the selected data; a receiver enabling the second software program to receive and process the posted selected data; and transmitter enabling the second software program to return the processed data to a second browser in a form readily receivable by the second browser. |
| US08448180B2 |
Distributed task system and distributed task management method
A distributed task system has a task transaction server and at least one task server. Instead of being merely passively called by the task transaction server for executing a task, the task server performs self-balancing according to task execution conditions and operation conditions of the task server. The task transaction server receives task requests from the task server, records the execution conditions, and provides feedback to the task server, and the task server executes the task according to the received feedback and the operation conditions of the task server. The task transaction server may determine if the task server can execute the task according to the execution conditions of the task, and feedback to the task server. A self-balancing unit of the task server may further determine whether the task server is busy, and if not busy, trigger a task execution unit of the task server to execute the task. |
| US08448177B1 |
Task prioritization based on users' interest
Systems, methods and computer readable media can include prioritizing tasks associated with a group of users based on number of times the users have monitored the status of a task. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for task prioritizing, the tasks may be prioritized based on the number of users associated with a task, the importance of each user associated with a task, and the way the task was identified. |
| US08448176B2 |
Execution of work units in a heterogeneous computing environment
Work units are transparently offloaded from a main processor to offload processing systems for execution. For a particular work unit, a suitable offload processing system is selected to execute the work unit. This includes determining the requirements of the work unit, including, for instance, the hardware and software requirements; matching those requirements against a set of offload processing systems with an arbitrary set of available resources; and determining if a suitable offload processing system is available. If a suitable offload processing system is available, the work unit is scheduled to execute on that offload processing system with no changes to the work unit itself. Otherwise, the work unit may execute on the main processor or wait to be executed on an offload processing system. |
| US08448171B2 |
Communications between virtual machines that have been migrated
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing communications between a plurality of applications are presented. A determination is made as to whether an address in a message is a prior address for a second application in the plurality of applications in response to receiving a message from a first application in the plurality of applications. The message is sent onto a virtual network configured to handle prior addresses for the plurality of applications in response to the address in the message being the prior address for the second application being located on another virtual machine from the first application. |
| US08448164B2 |
SOA-registry, method and platform manager for automatic SOA application deployment
A computing system includes a service-oriented architecture (SOA) registry that includes an SOA-application description, an abstract component description, a concrete component description, and a platform description. The SOA-application description is related to the abstract component description of a component of the SOA-application. The concrete component description includes a requirement of a respective component for a target platform. The platform descriptor describes a property of the target platform. The computing system is configured to deploy the SOA-application and its respective components to the target platform in accordance with the concrete descriptions. |
| US08448163B2 |
Deploying J2EE web applications in an OSGI environment
Web applications are deployed for execution within the existing framework of Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) when they are written in the commonly-employed Java™ (trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc) 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) language. The intended deployment of J2EE web applications is detected and the J2EE application contents are converted into appropriate OSGi bundles using a provisioner. The provisioner employs its list of available provision providers to create the OSGi bundles that correspond to the J2EE application contents. |
| US08448161B2 |
Application tracking for application execution environment
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for managing an application execution environment on a computer. One or more aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in one or more methods of managing an application execution environment comprising a cross-platform application program interface to provide services to applications that run in the application execution environment, the one or more methods including: maintaining associations between the applications and different versions of the application execution environment installed on a computer, where the associations indicate in which of the different versions of the application execution environment the applications run; and managing the different versions of the application execution environment on the computer based on the associations between the applications and the different versions of the application execution environment in which the applications run. |
| US08448157B2 |
Eliminating redundant operations for common properties using shared real registers
One embodiment of a method for eliminating redundant operations establishing common properties includes identifying a first virtual register storing a first value having a common property. The method may assign the first virtual register to use a real register. The method may further identify a second virtual register storing a second value also having the common property. The method may assign the second virtual register to use the same real register after the first value is no longer live. As a result of assigning the second virtual register to the first real register, the method may eliminate an operation configured to establish the common property for the second virtual register since this operation is redundant and is no longer needed. |
| US08448155B2 |
Automatically creating parallel iterative program code in a graphical data flow program
System and method for automatically parallelizing iterative functionality in a data flow program. A data flow program is stored that includes a first data flow program portion, where the first data flow program portion is iterative. Program code implementing a plurality of second data flow program portions is automatically generated based on the first data flow program portion, where each of the second data flow program portions is configured to execute a respective one or more iterations. The plurality of second data flow program portions are configured to execute at least a portion of iterations concurrently during execution of the data flow program. Execution of the plurality of second data flow program portions is functionally equivalent to sequential execution of the iterations of the first data flow program portion. |
| US08448153B1 |
Encoding data and metadata for run-time checking of computer code and data serialization
A method and system encodes data objects and their metadata. An implementation provides a method and system for rewriting a program to encode metadata in the run-time environment of the program and to add run-time checks to the program. An implementation provides a method for serializing a data object according to the encoding method and a method for deserializing a bit sequence that is generated by the serialization method. |
| US08448149B2 |
Method for the conversion of ladder diagrams
A method for converting traditional ladder diagrams for programmable controllers according to model 984, for example, the traditional ladder diagrams being read and executed column by column, into ladder diagrams for IEC 61131-oriented controllers, for example, with the ladder diagrams being read and executed in a data flow-oriented manner. In order to carry out the method, it is determined, in the ladder diagrams that are traditionally read and executed column by column, whether variables are provided on coils as well as on contacts within the network, and it is determined whether the contact is processed according to model 984 in front of the associated coil and according to the IEC model behind the associated coil. If so, an additional variable is generated for each such variable, and the additional variable is fed to the respective contact instead of the original variable. Furthermore, a contact including the original variable is connected to a power supply simulation at the end of the network, followed by a coil encompassing the generated variable. |
| US08448148B1 |
Detection of deadlocks or race conditions in physical systems using load testing
A method and system for testing a physical system including a number of input channels for receiving physical inputs, using load testing, comprising: intercepting at least a portion of the input channels; replacing at least a portion of the physical inputs of the intercepted input channels with one or more emulation programs, wherein the emulation programs include parameters which allow to control outputs of the one or more emulation programs to the intercepted input channels; configuring a functional test in a load testing software tool to drive execution of the one or more emulation programs; randomly generating outputs simulating the physical inputs, from the one or more emulation programs, by executing the load testing software tool; collecting data from the execution of the one or more emulation programs as the load testing software tool executes; and analyzing the collected data for presence or absence of deadlocks or race conditions. |
| US08448141B2 |
Evaluation of software based on change history
A method for software processing includes obtaining change information, which records changes that have been performed in respective locations in software code. The change information is processed so as to assign to at least some of the locations respective priorities, which are indicative of respective likelihoods that the locations contain program faults. The at least some of the locations are presented to a user in accordance with the assigned priorities. |
| US08448137B2 |
Software model integration scenarios
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to realize a business scenario are described. A plurality of process components and context independent interactions among the process components are defined. Each of the process components characterizes software implementing a respective and distinct process. In addition, each of the process components defines at least one respective service interface for interacting with business objects associated with other process components, and all communication and interaction between process components taking place through the respective interfaces of the process components. |
| US08448135B2 |
Race structure for a graphical program
System and method for executing a graphical program. A first structure in a graphical program is displayed on a display. The first structure includes two or more frames, each configured to contain a respective portion of the graphical program. The respective portions of the graphical program are included in the two or more frames. During execution of the graphical program, the first structure executes the respective portions of the graphical program in the two or more frames in parallel via respective execution processes. When a first portion of the respective portions completes execution prior to all others of the portions, execution of the other portions is terminated. |
| US08448132B2 |
Systems and methods for modifying code generation templates
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for template reverse engineering. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-implemented method for code generation comprising receiving a template for generating code, receiving a model for generating code, processing the template and the model in a code generator, and in accordance therewith, generating code based on the model and the template, and automatically identifying a common program code construct in two or more of the generated code files. The common code may be automatically extracted from the generated code and embedded in a framework, and the templates may be modified to reference the framework. |
| US08448131B2 |
Test data creation and execution system for service oriented architecture
A test data creation and execution system provides an efficient way to dramatically improve testing of web service based applications. The test data creation and execution system assists testers in identifying and executing various combinations of unit tests, as well as integration and regression testing of web services and methods of web services. The test data creation and execution system provides testers the functionality to rapidly produce high quality web services based applications. |
| US08448125B2 |
Method and apparatus for checking current density limitation
A method of checking a current density limitation includes checking the current density limitation of a power supply wiring based on an allowable current value, the allowable current value depending on the number of vias connected to the power supply wiring. |
| US08448120B2 |
RC extraction for single patterning spacer technique
A method includes performing a place and route operation using an electronic design automation tool to generate a preliminary layout for a photomask to be used to form a circuit pattern of a semiconductor device. The place and route operation is constrained by a plurality of single patterning spacer technique (SPST) routing rules. Dummy conductive fill patterns are emulated within the EDA tool using an RC extraction tool to predict locations and sizes of dummy conductive fill patterns to be added to the preliminary layout of the photomask. An RC timing analysis of the circuit pattern is performed within the EDA tool, based on the preliminary layout and the emulated dummy conductive fill patterns. |
| US08448119B1 |
Method and system for design and modeling of vertical interconnects for 3DI applications
A system and method for design and modeling of vertical interconnects for 3DI applications. A design and modeling methodology of vertical interconnects for 3DI applications includes models that represent the frequency dependent behavior of vertical interconnects by means of multi-segment RLC scalable filter networks. The networks allow for accuracy versus computation efficiency tradeoffs, while maintaining correct asymptotic behavior at both high and low frequency limits. In the framework of the model it is shown that a major effect is pronounced frequency dependent silicon substrate induced dispersion and loss effects, which is considered in through silicon via (TSV) parallel Y-element parameters, including capacitance and conductance. |
| US08448117B2 |
Adaptive mesh resolution in electric circuit simulation and analysis
An adaptive mesh of virtual nodes is provided to analyze the performance of a power/ground plane pair having an irregular shape. Plane transmission line characteristics and regional modal resonances can be modeled accurately, and with a significant decrease in simulation time as compared to traditional methods. A variable-sized cell structure is constructed with smaller cells in irregular regions and with larger cells in uniform regions. Grid nodes may thus stay aligned along length and width to allow parameters of equivalent circuit models to be scaled appropriate to the cell size. |
| US08448115B1 |
Through silicon via impedance extraction
Aspects of the invention relate to techniques for extracting impedance values associated with through-silicon vias in an integrated circuit system. A function fitting process is performed to generate parameters of a representation for magneto-quasi-static dyadic vector potential Green's functions at a plurality of frequencies of interest based on integrated circuit manufacturing process information. Based on the generated parameters, a set of electric current basis functions and the layout information for a layout design of interest, matrix elements of a matrix for each frequency in the plurality of frequencies of interest may be computed. The matrix is a part of a linear system that formulates a relationship of electric current and electric potential difference in various regions associated with the through-silicon vias in the layout design. Based on the matrix, impedance values associated with the through-silicon vias are computed. |
| US08448112B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for automatic power management verification
The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for automatically generating a power management verification component. The method may include receiving one or more inputs including a power intent definition. The method may further include automatically generating a power management verification environment based upon, at least in part, the power intent definition, the power management verification environment including at least one of a driver and a monitor. |
| US08448111B2 |
System and method for metastability verification of circuits of an integrated circuit
A method and system for metastability verification of an integrated circuit design are provided. An IC design is received and the source-to-destination paths of the IC design are determined. For each of the determined source-to-destination paths, it is determined whether the corresponding source is synchronized. For each source its respective synchronized or unsynchronized result is stored and a report is generated for each source describing whether it is synchronized or unsynchronized. |
| US08448110B2 |
Method to reduce delay variation by sensitivity cancellation
A method receives an initial circuit design. The circuit design includes at least one path having at least one beginning point comprising a source, at least one ending point comprising a sink, and one or more circuit elements between the source and the sink. The method evaluates timing performance parameter sensitivities to manufacturing variations of each of the elements to identify how much each element will increase or decrease the timing performance parameter of the path for each change in each manufacturing variable associated with manufacturing the elements. Further, the method alters the elements within the path until elements that produce positive changes to the timing performance parameter for a given manufacturing variable change approximately equals (in magnitude) elements that produce negative changes to the timing performance parameter for the given manufacturing variable change, to produce an altered circuit design. |
| US08448108B2 |
Matching systems with power and thermal domains
A system, and computer program product for matching systems with power and thermal domains are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A subset of the set of systems is sorted according to size to form a sorted list of systems. The smallest remaining system in the sorted list of systems is selected. The smallest remaining system is allocated to a domain responsive to a determination that the domain can service the smallest remaining system. A system from a second subset is allocated to a plurality of domains such that the plurality of domains includes a smallest number of domains from the set of domains. |
| US08448101B2 |
Layout method for vertical power transistors having a variable channel width
The invention relates to a simulation and/or layout process for vertical power transistors as DMOS or IGBT with variable channel width and variable gate drain capacity which can be drawn and/or designed by the designer with the respectively desired parameters of channel width and gate drain capacity and the parameters of volume resistance and circuit speed, which are correlated therewith, and whose electrical parameters can be described as a function of the geometrical gate electrode design. Here, both discrete and integrated vertical transistors may be concerned. |
| US08448099B2 |
Multivariable solver for optical proximity correction
The method of the invention tracks how the collective movement of edge segments in a mask layout alters the resist image values at control points in the layout and simultaneously determines a correction amount for each edge segment in the layout. A multisolver matrix that represents the collective effect of movements of each edge segment in the mask layout is used to simultaneously determine the correction amount for each edge segment in the mask layout. |
| US08448098B2 |
Fracturing continuous photolithography masks
A method, system, and computer usable program product for fracturing a continuous mask usable in photolithography are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A first origin point is selected from a set of points on an edge in the continuous mask. A first end point is identified on the edge such that a separation metric between the first origin point and the first end point is at least equal to a threshold value. Several alternatives are determined for fracturing using the first origin point and the first end point. A cost associated with each of the several alternatives is computed and one of the alternatives is selected as a preferred fracturing. Several pairs of origin points and end points are formed from the set of points. Each pair has a cost of a preferred fracturing between the pair. The continuous mask is fractured using a subset of the several pairs. |
| US08448097B2 |
High performance DRC checking algorithm for derived layer based rules
Roughly described, a design rule data set includes rules on derived layers. The rules are checked by traversing the corners of physical shapes, and for each corner, populating a layout topology database with values gleaned from that corner location, including values involving derived layers. After the layout topology database is populated, the values are compared to values in the design rule data set to detect any design rule violations, including violations of design rules defined on derived layers. Violations are reported in real time during manual editing of the layout. Preferably corner traversal is performed using scan lines oriented perpendicularly to edge orientations, scanning in the direction of the edge orientations. Scans stop only at corner positions on physical layers, and populate the layout topology database with what information can be gleaned based on the current scan line, including information about derived layers. The scans need not reach corners simultaneously. |
| US08448094B2 |
Mapping a natural input device to a legacy system
Systems and methods for mapping natural input devices to legacy system inputs are disclosed. One example system may include a computing device having an algorithmic preprocessing module configured to receive input data containing a natural user input and to identify the natural user input in the input data. The computing device may further include a gesture module coupled to the algorithmic preprocessing module, the gesture module being configured to associate the natural user input to a gesture in a gesture library. The computing device may also include a mapping module to map the gesture to a legacy controller input, and to send the legacy controller input to a legacy system in response to the natural user input. |
| US08448093B2 |
Hierarchical organization chart for mobile applications
According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for creating and displaying a hierarchical organization chart in a mobile application is provided. The method includes obtaining information from a database. The information represents a first node, second node, and, optionally, at least one third node. The nodes are related to each other according to a hierarchy. The method also includes displaying the information representing the first, second, and third nodes, if any, in a graphical user interface of a mobile device. The graphical user interface may include, for example, a three-level row-based chart. The information representing the first node is displayed in a first level of the chart, the information representing the second node is displayed in a second level of the chart, and the information representing the at least one third node is displayed in a third level of the chart. |
| US08448087B2 |
Method for navigating between sections on a display space
A computer-implemented method for navigating between sections in a display space is furnished. The sections in the display space are each assigned to a particular location of the display space, and representatives are provided which are each assigned to a particular section in the display space using an unambiguous relation. The method for navigating includes the following steps: selecting at least one representative that is assigned to a particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation; and navigating to the particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation with the particular section in the display space. |
| US08448085B2 |
Portable electronic device and method of controlling same for rendering calendar information
A method includes rendering a representation of a day in a calendar day view on a display of an electronic device, retrieving calendar event records that satisfy constraints, identifying a first all-day event record and a second all-day event record of the calendar event records, and in response to identifying the first all-day event record and the second all-day event record, maintaining display of an all-day event indicator in the day view during scrolling within the representation of the day by alternately displaying an indicator of the first all-day event record and an indicator of the second all-day event record. |
| US08448083B1 |
Gesture control of multimedia editing applications
A multimedia editing application includes a plurality of gestures that are used to control transport and playback, timing, editing, view management, and other functions of the application. The gestures have shapes or characteristics that are visually mnemonic of their associated functions or the objects on which the functions operate, but which themselves are not linguistic forms such as letters or numbers which are derived from the names of the associated functions. The visual mnemonics may connote the motion or shape of a part of the human body. |
| US08448081B2 |
Information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes: a reception module configured to receive an operation input by a user; and a display module configured to display key images for receiving the operation, wherein the display module is configured to operate to: display a first key image group comprising one or more key images, a second key image group comprising one or more key images in a first display mode, and a first display switching key image; and display the second key image group in a second display mode which is larger in size than the second key image group in the first display mode, without displaying the first key image group, when the operation on the first display switching key image is received by the reception module. |
| US08448079B2 |
Combining multiple images from different display areas using a plurality of reference positions
An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes: a display unit which displays an image; a detection unit which detects a position on the display unit designated from an outside; an original image display unit which displays an original image based on original image data in a first display area on the display unit; a specifying unit which, when a position within the first display area is designated from the outside, specifies a designated region corresponding to the designated position in the first display area based on a detection result of the detection unit; and a combining unit which displays at least a part of an additional image in the designated region in the first display area to display a combined image, in which the original image and the additional image are combined, on the display unit. |
| US08448078B2 |
Method and apparatus for selection of default media based on media size in an image production device
A method and apparatus for selection of default media based on media size in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to display a printer user interface, displaying the printer user interface, the printer user interface having selections to enable a user to select a default media type for each default media size, receiving one or more default media selections from the user using the printer user interface, receiving a request to print a print job, and printing the print job with media designated by at least one of the one or more default media selections. |
| US08448076B2 |
Configuring animations and events for operator interface displays in a process control system
A graphical editor for creating operator displays and configuring control strategies in a process control plant or system may present a coherent view for the multiple graphical or control strategy items depicted within or associated with the display and strategy. For each graphical item, the view may hierarchically show default and modified values, animation expressions, and event handler scripts. The view may allow a configuration engineer to group, order, and filter various graphical or control strategy items within a single display to present a cohesive view of how the multiple items within the display are capable of being configured for events, animations, and control strategies within the operator display. Providing this cohesive view may allow the user to view and configure graphical items and control strategies without having to open and dismiss dialogs for each configuration task. |
| US08448068B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes recording means for recording content, playback controlling means for controlling playback of the recorded content, and viewing history generating means for generating viewing history data used for displaying a viewing history of the content that is played back. Information concerning the content, a title identifying the content, and an image relating to the content are displayed in the viewing history. |
| US08448067B2 |
Graphics command management tool and methods for analyzing performance for command changes before application modification
Methods, systems, graphical computer interfaces, and computer readable media are disclosed to enable optimizing video frame rendering characteristics for an application. The method includes rendering a video frame and capturing push buffer settings representing the rendering of the video frame. The method also includes modifying an aspect of the push buffer settings while bypassing the application, and re-rendering the frame with the modified aspect. The method further enables comparing the rendering with the re-rendering, and presenting comparison results. Graphical user interfaces are provided to enable the functionality, without having to modify code of the application to appreciate what potential changes to the application can present in terms of performance rendering and processing efficiencies. |
| US08448066B2 |
Document editing device, document editing method and computer readable medium
A document editing device includes: a storage section that stores document information partitioned in plural pages and page designating information which designates a page to be used of the plural pages of the document information so as to be correlated with the document information and a purpose; a page designating information selecting section that selects the page to be used from the page designating information according to the document information and purpose designated; and a document editing section that extracts document information of the page to be used from the document information designated according to the page to be used selected. Further, the document editing section edits the document information as edited document information. |
| US08448063B2 |
Web media asset ID system and method
Methods of dynamically identifying a server provided media asset on a client device are provided herein. |
| US08448061B1 |
User interfaces and methods to create electronic documents with forms implementing content input fields
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to implementing content input fields in forms to create electronic documents, among other things. |
| US08448058B1 |
Multiple application and selective annotation content presentation service
Methods and apparatuses are provided which may be implemented to in various computing devices to provide a presentation service through which content from two or more applications running on one or more computing devices may be shared along with selective annotation content. |
| US08448056B2 |
Validation analysis of human target
Technology for testing a target recognition, analysis, and tracking system is provided. A searchable repository of recorded and synthesized depth clips and associated ground truth tracking data is provided. Data in the repository is used by one or more processing devices each including at least one instance of a target recognition, analysis, and tracking pipeline to analyze performance of the tracking pipeline. An analysis engine provides at least a subset of the searchable set responsive to a request to test the pipeline and receives tracking data output from the pipeline on the at least subset of the searchable set. A report generator outputs an analysis of the tracking data relative to the ground truth in the at least subset to provide an output of the error relative to the ground truth. |
| US08448051B2 |
Memory system and method of data writing and reading in memory systems
A memory system according to the embodiment comprises a p-adic number converter unit operative to convert δ-digit, h-bit symbols to a k-digit, p-adic data word (p is a prime of 3 or more); an encoder unit operative to generate, from the p-adic data word, a code C composed of a residual field Zp of the prime p; a memory unit operative to store the code C as write data; an error correcting unit operative to apply an operation using a syndrome S generated from read data Y for error correcting the read data Y to regenerate the code C; a decoder unit operative to reverse-convert the code C to regenerate the p-adic data word; and a binary converter unit operative to convert the data word to a binary number to regenerate the binary data D. |
| US08448046B2 |
Memory access method capable of reducing usage rate of problematic memory blocks
Methods and devices capable of erasing a flash memory evenly are provided, in which a flash memory comprises a data region with a plurality of data blocks and a spare region with a plurality of spare blocks, and a controller retrieves a corresponding data with a check code from a first data block of the flash memory according to a read command from a host, performs a predetermined check to the corresponding data by the check code, determines whether an error is correctable when a check result of the predetermined check represents that the error has occurred, and increases an erase count of the first data block by a predetermined value when the error is correctable. |
| US08448044B2 |
Retrieving data from a dispersed storage network in accordance with a retrieval threshold
A method begins by a processing module determining a retrieval threshold for retrieving a set of encoded data slices from a dispersed storage network (DSN), wherein the set of encoded data slices represents data encoded using a dispersed storage error encoding function having a pillar width of “n”, a decode threshold of “k”, and an encoding ratio of n−k>k and wherein the retrieval threshold is in accordance with the encoding ratio. The method continues with the processing module issuing data retrieval requests to the DSN for the set of encoded data slices and receiving encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices to produce received encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module decoding the received encoded data slices to recapture the data when a number of received encoded data slices compares favorably to the retrieval threshold. |
| US08448043B2 |
Overwritable nonvolatile memory device and related data write method
A nonvolatile memory device comprises overwritable memory cells. In an overwrite operation, data is read from a selected region of the nonvolatile memory device and combined with overwrite data to produce combined data. An error correction code is then generated for the combined data and the overwrite data and the error correction code are stored in the selected region. |
| US08448042B2 |
Data processing device and a method for error detection and error correction
A data processing device and a method for error detection and error correction. The data processing device includes an error detection arrangement and an error correction arrangement. The error detection arrangement is able to detect correctable error and uncorrectable error in the data stored in a memory cell of the memory. The error detection arrangement then determines the neighboring memory cells or memory cells that are physically adjacent to the memory cell for which the correctable error was detected and generates a signal indicating a fault depending on the correctable errors detected in the neighboring physically adjacent memory cells. If a signal indicating a fault is not generated, then an error correction arrangement is used to correct the correctable error detected by the error detection arrangement. |
| US08448032B2 |
Performance of signature-based diagnosis for logic BIST
Techniques are disclosed for reducing the set of initial candidates in signature based diagnosis methodology. These techniques are based on a unique way of making optimum use of information from logic back-cone tracing along with equations that describe the test response compactor. |
| US08448031B2 |
Computer product and apparatus for failure diagnosis support
A recording medium stores a program causing a computer to execute determining, for each test pattern measuring operation frequency of a circuit and based on a predicted delay of each path in the circuit, a path candidate determining a measured value obtained via the test pattern and activated by the test pattern; building, for each test pattern yielding a measured value determined by a given path candidate determined at the determining, a model equation expressing discrepancy between the measured value obtained via the test pattern and the predicted delay of the given path candidate, the model equation including parameters representing effects of each path activated by the test pattern on the discrepancy; calculating values of the parameters by using the model equations; determining based on the calculated values, a path determining the measured value obtained via the test pattern and activated by the test pattern; and outputting the determined path. |
| US08448030B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing address generation for simultaneously running proximity-based BIST algorithms
The invention discloses a method and a system for optimizing address generation for simultaneously running proximity-based Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) algorithms. The method also describes simultaneously testing proximity-based faults for different memories having column multiplexers of different sizes using the BIST algorithms. The system described above may be embodied in the form of a Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) controller. Further, the method includes selecting a memory having the largest size of column multiplexer (CMmax). After selecting the memory, size of an address-width register is extended to form an extended address-width register. Thereafter, an extended width address is generated using the extended address-width register and the extended width address is used to generate addresses for the memories. After generating the addresses, read and write operations are performed on the memories based on pre-defined rules, wherein the read and write operations provide testing of the memories. |
| US08448029B2 |
Multiprocessor system having multiple watchdog timers and method of operation
A multiprocessor system with multiple watchdog timers, the timers causing all the processors in the system to concurrently process a common interrupt signal asserted by any of the watchdog timers timing out. The processors, in response to the common interrupt signal, store data residing in their local memories into a memory common to all the processors. The stored data is then stored in a permanent storage device for later analysis. Thereafter, all of the processors are reset. |
| US08448026B2 |
Selective logging based on set parameter
Logging for a transaction is coordinated when provided by applications implemented on multiple nodes. An indicator is set, prior to activity occurring related to a transaction, to log information for a transaction based on specified criteria. A first application implemented on a first node generates, based on the set indicator, a first detailed log for activity occurring related to the transaction. A transaction identifier and the indicator are passed to a downstream second application implemented on a second node. A second detailed log for activity occurring related to the transaction is generated by the downstream second application based on the set indicator. The first detailed log is correlated with the second detailed log. |
| US08448019B2 |
Processor, information processing apparatus, and method of controlling processor
A processor includes an accumulator, a storage that outputs data to the accumulator, an error detector that outputs a first error detection signal upon detecting an error in the data, an error identifier that outputs an error identification signal indicating that an error occurs in the storage, an error identification signal holder that outputs the error identification signal as a second error detection signal, an error detection signal holder that holds the first error detection signal and outputs a cancellation signal to stop the accumulation processing of the accumulator, a first calculator that starts making a first calculation based on the second error detection signal and the cancellation signal, and outputs a correction start signal after a lapse of a calculation period, and an error corrector that corrects the error of the data upon receiving the correction start signal. |
| US08448013B2 |
Failure-specific data collection and recovery for enterprise storage controllers
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for handling a failure condition in a storage controller is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method may include initially detecting a failure condition in a storage controller. The failure condition may be associated with a specific host and a specific storage device connected to the storage controller. The method may further include determining a failure ID associated with the failure condition. Using the failure ID, en entry may be located in a data collection and recovery table. This entry may indicate one or more data collection and/or recovery processes to execute in response to the failure condition. The method may then execute the data collection and/or recovery processes indicated in the entry. While executing the data collection and/or recovery processes, connectivity may be maintained between hosts and storage devices not associated with the failure condition. |
| US08448012B2 |
Network fault manager
The network fault manager described herein may include one or more processors configured to detect alarms. For example, the one or more processors may periodically sample rates at which similar events that relate to occurrences on a network arrive, compare the periodically sampled rates to a first threshold, and determine whether a preexisting alarm exists. In response to a number of the periodically sampled rates that exceeded the first threshold within a preceding time window exceeding a second threshold and the preexisting alarm not existing, the one or more processors may assert a first alarm. Otherwise, if the number of periodically sampled rates that exceeded the first threshold within the preceding time window exceeds the second threshold but the preexisting alarm does exist, the one or more processors may maintain the preexisting alarm for a predetermined time period. |
| US08448008B2 |
High speed clock control
On-chip high speed clock control techniques for testing circuits with multiple clock systems are disclosed. The techniques allow certain (e.g. compatible) high speed clocks to be activated with predefined waveforms during a capture period of a logic test, based on a clock control signal. The clock control signal may be supplied via a JTAG control port or via a scan chain load port. The clock control signal may also be generated by a BIST controller. The techniques may ensure glitch-free transitions from slow speed clocks during a shift period to fast speed clocks during a capture period. |
| US08448003B1 |
Method and apparatus for activating sleep mode
An integrated circuit includes a circuit including a plurality of functional blocks, a sensor associated with one of the plurality of functional blocks for sensing a state of activity thereof, and a sleep switch receiving an output from the sensor and placing the associated functional block in a sleep state in response to the sensed state of activity. |
| US08448001B1 |
System having a first device and second device in which the main power management module is configured to selectively supply a power and clock signal to change the power state of each device independently of the other device
A system includes a first device, a second device, and a main power management module. The first device is configured to communicate with a system bus. The second device is configured to communicate with the system bus. The second device includes a device power management module configured to manage power states of the second device. The main power management module is configured to manage power consumption of the second device independently of the first device by selectively supplying power and clock signals to the second device based on the power states of the second device. The main power management module and the device power management module each comprise a power handshake interface. The main power management module communicates with the device power management module via a power management bus using the power handshake interface. |
| US08448000B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for operating a data processing system
Methods and apparatuses to manage working states of a data processing system. At least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data processing system with one or more sensors (e.g., physical sensors such as tachometer and thermistors, and logical sensors such as CPU load) for fine grain control of one or more components (e.g., processor, fan, hard drive, optical drive) of the system for working conditions that balance various goals (e.g., user preferences, performance, power consumption, thermal constraints, acoustic noise). In one example, the clock frequency and core voltage for a processor are actively managed to balance performance and power consumption (heat generation) without a significant latency. In one example, the speed of a cooling fan is actively managed to balance cooling effort and noise (and/or power consumption). |
| US08447998B2 |
Reducing current draw of a plurality of solid state drives at computer startup
Reducing current draw of solid state drives from a shared power supply of a computer at computer startup, each SSD including computer memory, a capacitor, a disk controller, and a charge controller, the disk controller configured to enable the charge controller to charge the capacitor upon receiving a charge command, the SSDs organized into startup groups characterized by a position in a predefined startup order. Upon startup of the computer, beginning with a first startup group in the predefined startup order and until the last startup group in the predefined startup order has received a charge command, embodiments include, sending, by a storage device initiator, a charge command to a startup group to initiate charging of the capacitor of each solid state drive in the startup group and waiting a predefined period of time before sending another charge command to a next startup group in the predefined startup order. |
| US08447997B2 |
Method for managing storage, program and system for the same
A system including plural storage devices provides a technique for controlling storage devices in which files are located by a file system, and turning on or off the storage devices based on prediction of the start or end of access to the files. A program that manages power to the storage devices and data access to the storage devices via the files includes means or functions for allocating a storage device as an area in which a file is located, for selecting a storage device in which a file is located, for predicting that access to a file is started for commanding turning on power to a storage device based on the prediction that access to a file is started, for predicting that access to a file terminates, and for commanding turning off power to a storage device based on the prediction that access to a file terminates. |
| US08447995B2 |
Bidirectional inline power port
A method and apparatus for bidirectional provision of inline power over data telecommunications cabling permits power to be received at a local powered device (PD) from remote power sourcing equipment (PSE) via at least one conductor at a first time and power to be provided by the local device to a remote device or another device at a second different time. |
| US08447987B1 |
Authentication of brand name product ownership using public key cryptography
Disclosed is a method of using public key cryptography to determine the authenticity of a brand name product. The brand name product has a unique message personal to the owner of the brand name product and a digital signature which includes at least the encrypted unique personal message. The unique message and digital signature are authenticated using a public key. |
| US08447985B2 |
Watermarking apparatus, software enabling an implementation of an electronic circuit comprising a watermark, method for detecting a watermark and apparatus for detecting a watermark
A watermarking apparatus for an electronic circuit is described, which comprises the following features: a watermark memory operative to store a watermark characterizing said electronic circuit, and a watermarking signal generator operative to generate based on said watermark a watermarking signal on a power supply line of said electronic circuit, wherein said watermarking signal is detectable for a recognition of said watermark. |
| US08447981B2 |
Method and system for generating and distributing mobile IP security key after re-authentication
A method for generating and distributing MIP security key after Re-Authentication, including: an AAA Server generates an EMSK during a Re-Authentication process; the MS generate a new first MIP security key for the MS according to the EMSK, and replaces the corresponding old first MIP security key with the new first MIP security key; and a HA receives new second MIP security key information for the HA which is sent by the AAA Server actively, or requests from the AAA Server the new second MIP security key information for the HA, and replaces the corresponding old second MIP security key that is locally stored with the new second MIP security key that is sent by the AAA Server actively or requested from the AAA Server. The present invention ensures execution of MIP Registration process after Re-Authentication. |
| US08447977B2 |
Authenticating a device with a server over a network
The authentication of a device with a server over a network includes authenticating, by the device, the server so as to establish a secure connection with the server. The device communicates identification information of the device to the server, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the device to the server. The server determines the credibility of the device using the identification information communicated by the device. In a case where the server determines that the device is credible, the server creates a first authentication token for the device, stores the first authentication token, and transfers the first authentication token to the device using the secure connection, and the device stores the first authentication token. The server authenticates the device using the first authentication token. |
| US08447972B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and control program
An information processing apparatus storing information having an expiration date. If the expiration date of the stored information has passed, the information processing apparatus obtains new information having a different expiration date and updates the stored information with the newly obtained information. In addition, the information processing apparatus transmits the newly obtained information having the different expiration date to another information processing apparatus. |
| US08447970B2 |
Securing out-of-band messages
Securing an out-of-band message from a server to a mobile computing device. After requesting a service ticket from a trusted third party (e.g., via a pre-existing ticketing infrastructure), the requested service ticket and a shared secret are obtained from the trusted third party via a first channel. The mobile computing device thereafter sends the service ticket with the shared secret to a server via a second channel. The server encrypts a message (e.g., an SMS message) using the shared secret. The mobile computing device receives the encrypted message from the server via a third channel that is out-of-band relative to the first channel. The encrypted message is decrypted via the shared secret and the decrypted message is provided to a user of the mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the message includes commands for controlling the mobile computing device. |
| US08447969B2 |
Transfer device for sensitive material such as a cryptographic key
Mechanisms are provided for transferring sensitive information, such as cryptographic keys, between entities. Particularly, a device is provided with a user input connected directly to a secure element. The device enables a user to enter sensitive information in the user input which is then passed directly to the secure element without traversing any other element such that the secure element can encode and/or encrypt the sensitive information. Once the sensitive information has been encoded and/or encrypted by the secure element, the now secure sensitive information can be shared with other entities using familiar and popular, yet relatively unsecure, transfer methods. |
| US08447968B2 |
Air-interface application layer security for wireless networks
The present invention provides a method for encrypting data for transmission over a wireless link. The method includes encrypting at least one block of data, at an air-interface application layer, using an encryption algorithm that receives a cryptosynch as input. The value of the cryptosynch is based on an order of the at least one block of data relative to other blocks of data. The value of the cryptosynch is recoverable by a receiver based on the ordering of the ordering of the blocks of data. The at least one encrypted block of data is transmitted to a receiver that is operable to preserve the order of the at least one block of data relative to the other blocks of data. |
| US08447967B1 |
Controlled message distribution
A system for the secure transmission of messages that may be included with existing automated message handling software applications. The secure transmission system includes a user interface tool that appears with the user interface of the conventional automated message handling system. A digital key generator and encryption engine is responsive to the user interface tool. Upon creating an addressed message using the conventional user interface of the automated message handling application, the user can select the user interface tool to activate the digital key generator and encryption engine that in turn generates a secure file containing the message content and address. The system further includes a message generator that generates a message to a secure message-handling server. The secure message includes the secure file and the digital signature of the secure file. The secure email, when received by the secure message-handling server, is prepared for secure delivery to the addressee of the message. |
| US08447964B2 |
File update system and boot management system of mobile communication terminal, method of updating file in mobile communication terminal, and method of booting mobile communication terminal
Disclosed are a file update system of a mobile communication terminal which is capable of recovering Same Owner ID Error caused by damage of a file header in an EFS (Embedded File System) area of the mobile communication terminal, a boot management system of a mobile communication terminal which is capable of preventing a fatal error caused by damage of a file header in an EFS area of the mobile communication terminal, a method of updating a file in the mobile communication terminal, and a method of booting the mobile communication terminal which is capable of preventing a fatal error caused by damage of a file header in an EFS area of the mobile communication terminal. |
| US08447961B2 |
Mechanism for efficient implementation of software pipelined loops in VLIW processors
A system to implement a zero overhead software pipelined (SFP) loop includes a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processor having an N number of execution slots. The VLIW processor executes a plurality of instructions in parallel without any limitation of an instruction buffer size. A program memory receives a Program Memory address to fetch an instruction packet. The program memory is closely coupled with the instruction buffer size to implement the zero overhead software pipelined (SFP) loop. The size of the zero overhead software pipelined (SFP) loop can exceed the instruction buffer size. A CPU control register includes a block count and an iteration count. The block count is loaded into a block counter and counts the plurality of instructions executed in the SFP loop, and the iteration count is loaded into an iteration counter and counts a number of iterations of the SFP loop based on the block count. |
| US08447958B2 |
Substituting portion of template instruction parameter with selected virtual instruction parameter
A configurable instruction set architecture is provided whereby a single virtual instruction may be used to generate a sequence of instructions. Dynamic parameter substitution may be used to substitute parameters specified by a virtual instruction into instructions within a virtual instruction sequence. |
| US08447955B2 |
Efficient memory update process for well behaved applications executing on a weakly-ordered processor
A multiprocessor data processing system (MDPS) with a weakly-ordered architecture providing processing logic for substantially eliminating issuing sync instructions after every store instruction of a well-behaved application. Instructions of a well-behaved application are translated and executed by a weakly-ordered processor. The processing logic includes a lock address tracking utility (LATU), which provides an algorithm and a table of lock addresses, within which each lock address is stored when the lock is acquired by the weakly-ordered processor. When a store instruction is encountered in the instruction stream, the LATU compares the target address of the store instruction against the table of lock addresses. If the target address matches one of the lock addresses, indicating that the store instruction is the corresponding unlock instruction (or lock release instruction), a sync instruction is issued ahead of the store operation. The sync causes all values updated by the intermediate store operations to be flushed out to the point of coherency and be visible to all processors. |
| US08447954B2 |
Parallel pipelined vector reduction in a data processing system
A parallel processing data processing system builds at least one data structure indicating a communication schedule for a plurality of processes each having a respective one of a plurality of equal length vectors formed of multiple equal size chunks. The data processing system, based upon the at least one data structure, communicates chunks of the plurality of vectors among the plurality of processes and performs partial reduction operations on chunks in accordance with the communication schedule. The data processing system then stores a result vector representing reduction of the plurality of vectors. |
| US08447948B1 |
Dynamic selective cache compression
Management of a data cache having a compressed portion and an uncompressed portion by adaptively and dynamically allocating the relative amount space each portion receives. The relative sizes are defined based on one or more cost metrics and benefit metrics. The metrics are selected based on the performance of an application utilizing the cache. An optimized benefit relative to the cost is defined. Application operations on the cache are sampled and the relative cost and benefit is determined for different ratios of uncompressed to compressed cache sizes. The size of the uncompressed portion relative to the compressed portion is then re-adjusted based on an optimal cost-to-benefit ratio for the application. |
| US08447947B2 |
Method and interface for allocating storage capacities to plural pools
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide protocols and interfaces for avoiding waste capacity allocation from the storage apparatus to plural pools. In one embodiment, a storage system comprises a processor; a memory; and a storage controller. The storage controller is configured to: receive a declare chunk size command with a pool identifier for a pool among a plurality of pools, the declare chunk size command specifying a desired chunk size at the pool; receive an allocate chunk command with a pool identifier for allocating a chunk to a logical volume; and provide chunks of different chunk sizes to different pools with different pool identifiers, according to the desired chunk sizes of different declare chunk size commands and in response to different allocate chunk commands. |
| US08447946B2 |
Storage apparatus and hierarchical data management method for storage apparatus
Proposed are a storage apparatus and hierarchical data management method for promoting the effective usage of memory apparatuses while suppressing maintenance-related costs and work. The storage apparatus comprises a plurality of memory apparatuses of a plurality of types, and a control unit for executing required data migration by monitoring an access frequency to each of the unit areas of the virtual volume and by controlling the corresponding memory apparatuses so that the storage area provided by the memory apparatus with a superior response performance is allocated to unit areas for which the access frequency is higher. The control unit controls the corresponding memory apparatuses so that when data is migrated from a first storage area, provided by a first memory apparatus which can be rewritten a limited number of times, to a second storage area provided by another second memory apparatus, the data is migrated to the second storage area without being deleted from the first storage area, manages updated parts of the data migrated from the first storage area to the second storage area after the data is migrated to the second storage area, and controls the corresponding memory apparatuses so that, when data which has been migrated from the first storage area to the second storage area is restored from the second storage area to the first storage area, the corresponding data still remaining in the first storage area is overwritten with the updated parts of the data which are updated after being migrated to the second storage area. |
| US08447942B2 |
Content storage using quotas
Content storage using quotas as described. In an implementation, an apparatus comprises memory to store content obtained via a network connection and one or more modules to manage storage of the content using one or more quotas. A first one of the quotas specifies a maximum amount of the memory that is permitted to be used to store the content for a first user and a second one of the quotas specifies a maximum amount of the memory that is permitted to be used to store the content for a second user. |
| US08447938B2 |
Backing up a deduplicated filesystem to disjoint media
The present invention provides a method and system of backing up a de-duplicated computer file-system of a computer system. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include (1) dividing the file-system into partitions and (2) storing each of the partitions on a separate storage medium. |
| US08447935B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating communication between virtual machines
A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and virtual machine for facilitating the communication between VMs. The method of facilitating the communication between a first VM and a second VM includes: allocating a shared memory segment from within the memory of the physical machine; mapping the requested memory space addresses to the shared memory segments in response to the memory space requests from the VMs; and providing the requested memory space addresses. A method of communication from a first VM to a second VM includes: requesting a memory space in response to a notification that a shared memory segment has been allocated; obtaining the requested memory space address, which has been mapped to the allocated shared memory segment; and accessing communication data in the shared memory segment according to the address. The apparatus and virtual machine executes the steps of the methods. |
| US08447932B2 |
Recover store data merging
Various embodiments of the present invention merge data in a cache memory. In one embodiment a set of store data is received from a processing core. A store merge command and a merge mask from are also received from the processing core. A portion of the store data to perform a merging operation thereon is identified based on the store merge command. A sub-portion of the portion of the store data to be merged with a corresponding set of data from a cache memory is identified based on the merge mask. The sub-portion is merged with the corresponding set of data from the cache memory. |
| US08447929B2 |
Demand based partitioning of microprocessor caches
Associativity of a multi-core processor cache memory to a logical partition is managed and controlled by receiving a plurality of unique logical processing partition identifiers into registration of a multi-core processor, each identifier being associated with a logical processing partition on one or more cores of the multi-core processor; responsive to a shared cache memory miss, identifying a position in a cache directory for data associated with the address, the shared cache memory being multi-way set associative; associating a new cache line entry with the data and one of the registered unique logical processing partition identifiers; modifying the cache directory to reflect the association; and caching the data at the new cache line entry, wherein said shared cache memory is effectively shared on a line-by-line basis among said plurality of logical processing partitions of said multi-core processor. |
| US08447925B2 |
Home storage device and software including management and monitoring modules
In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a home storage system. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, the home storage system includes a graphical user interface for graphically accessing features of the home storage system; an internal storage management and monitoring module for managing and monitoring a set of semiconductor storage device (SSD) memory units and a set of hard disk drive (HDD) memory units within the home storage system; an external interface management and monitoring module for managing and monitoring network connectivity of the home storage system; and a portable storage management and monitoring module for managing and monitoring at least one type of external memory coupled to the home storage system. |
| US08447924B2 |
Computer system having an expansion device for virtualizing a migration source wherein the operation mode of the computer is set to a cache through or write after mode
A migration destination storage creates an expansion device for virtualizing a migration source logical unit. A host computer accesses an external volume by way of an access path of a migration destination logical unit, a migration destination storage, a migration source storage, and an external volume. After destaging all dirty data accumulated in the disk cache of the migration source storage to the external volume, an expansion device for virtualizing the external volume is mapped to the migration destination logical unit. |
| US08447923B2 |
Write interceptor for tracking changes to a disk image
Changes are tracked by tracking a change request which when performed by a disk driver changes a portion of disk storage. The change request is allowed to pass to the disk driver to be performed by the disk driver. Information associated with the change request is stored in an operating system's persistent storage. A differential backup is performed using the information associated with the change request stored in the operating system's persistent storage after a system, which includes the disk driver and the disk storage, has shut down and restarted. |
| US08447918B2 |
Garbage collection for failure prediction and repartitioning
A method of formatting a data storage device that includes a plurality of flash memory chips includes monitoring a failure rate of memory blocks of one or more flash memory chips of a storage device that has a first usable size for user space applications, estimating a future usable size of the data storage device based on the monitored failure rate, and defining, via a host coupled to the data storage device, a second usable size of the data storage device for user space applications based on the monitored failure rate. |
| US08447917B2 |
Flash memory devices and methods for controlling a flash memory device
A flash memory device includes a memory array and a memory control circuit. The memory array includes memory modules. Each memory module is located in a memory channel and includes a predetermined number of memory cells. The memory control circuit is coupled to the memory array via an address latch enable (ALE) pin and a command latch enable (CLE) pin. The ALE pin and the CLE pin are coupled to all of the memory cells and shared by all of the memory cells in the memory array. |
| US08447914B2 |
Memory system managing the number of times of erasing
A memory system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a memory amount required for management table creation is reduced by adopting a nonvolatile semiconductor memory including a plurality of parallel operation elements respectively having a plurality of physical blocks as units of data erasing and a controller that can drive the parallel operation elements in parallel and has a number-of-times-of-erasing managing unit that manages the number of times of erasing in logical block units associated with a plurality of physical blocks driven in parallel. |
| US08447911B2 |
Unordered load/store queue
A method and processor for providing full load/store queue functionality to an unordered load/store queue for a processor with out-of-order execution. Load and store instructions are inserted in a load/store queue in execution order. Each entry in the load/store queue includes an identification corresponding to a program order. Conflict detection in such an unordered load/store queue may be performed by searching a first CAM for all addresses that are the same or overlap with the address of the load or store instruction to be executed. A further search may be performed in a second CAM to identify those entries that are associated with younger or older instructions with respect to the sequence number of the load or store instruction to be executed. The output results of the Address CAM and Age CAM are logically ANDed. |
| US08447907B2 |
Constituting a control system with virtual and physical backplanes and modules as building blocks
A custom control system created based on combinations of software applications and hardware control and communication modules overlaid in a virtual backplane. The user can select the modules of interest and map them together without the loss of communications between the modules while the control system is configured and overlaid. The user can then archive the system design and implement the system with a greater level of confidence in the ability of the design to meet the requirements of the application while reducing the costs of the implementation. |
| US08447904B2 |
Virtualised interface functions
Roughly described, a data processing system comprises a memory addressable by a range of physical memory addresses; a plurality of non-privileged software domains each having a virtual memory address space; a privileged software domain; a memory management unit operable to perform virtual address translation of a virtual memory address into a physical memory address; and an I/O device supporting virtualised interfaces each associated with a respective non-privileged software domain, the I/O device comprising an operation management unit operable to perform virtual address translation in one or more of the virtual memory address spaces; wherein, for I/O operations requested by a virtualised interface, the I/O device invokes the operation management unit to perform virtual address translation for those I/O operations meeting first criteria and to invoke the memory management unit to perform virtual address translation for those I/O operations which do not meet the first criteria. |
| US08447903B2 |
Electronic device and method for automatically controlling operation of the electronic device
An electronic device is adapted to be connected to a plurality of peripheral devices, and includes a storage unit and a control circuit. The storage unit records a preset time and a control list. The control list lists at least a selected one of the electronic device and the peripheral devices, and an operation mode therefor. The control circuit detects whether the preset time matches a reference time, and if so, controls operation of the selected one of the electronic device and the peripheral devices according to settings in the control list. |
| US08447901B2 |
Managing buffer conditions through sorting
Systems and techniques include, in some implementations, a computer implemented method storing a portion of data elements present in a first buffer in a second buffer in response to detecting an overflow condition of the first buffer, wherein the data elements in the first buffer are sorted according to a predetermined order, and inserting a proxy data element in the first buffer to represent the portion of data elements stored to the second buffer. |
| US08447895B2 |
Methods and apparatus for decreasing power consumption and bus activity
Methods and apparatus for enhancing efficiency (e.g., reducing power consumption and bus activity) in a data bus. In an exemplary embodiment, methods and apparatus for intelligently trimming (and adding or re-adding) queue heads resident in a host device associated with various client device processes are disclosed. By selectively trimming inactive or dormant queue heads, the host expends less resources and time polling the queue heads during routine operations. Similarly, queue heads which are newly active, or acquired are intelligently added to ensure proper bus operation. Inactive queue heads are brought back into the polling process only when requested, thereby keeping the list of queue heads to be polled or examined as short as possible at all times. |
| US08447894B2 |
Upgrading an elastic computing cloud system
A server of an elastic computing cloud system includes a block device driver apparatus and at least a block device service apparatus. The server implements a hot deployment for a storage service, such that an upgrade of the storage service may be performed without interrupting the storage service. The block device driver apparatus maintains a waiting queue and a pending queue for each storage service. In response to determining a storage service will perform an upgrade, the block device driver apparatus stops processing data write/read requests that are maintained in the pending queue for the service, and puts the data write/read requests that are currently processed in the pending queue back to the waiting queue for re-dispatching, thus realizing completion of processing the upgrade of the storage service in the elastic computing cloud system without interrupting the storage service. |
| US08447893B2 |
USB peripheral device comprising limited function USB host controller
A USB peripheral device comprising a limited function Universal Serial Bus (USB) host controller configured to control HID compliant USB peripheral devices on a downstream facing USB port is disclosed. The port is also capable of dynamically interfacing to any USB compliant peripheral device. |
| US08447892B1 |
PCI-E extended reach with receive detect circuitry
A type one protocol device transmitter performs a detection function to detect attached type one protocol receivers. The detection function operates such that receivers having type two termination are not detected as type one protocol receivers. A type two protocol device receiver has type two termination. Logic is coupled between the type two protocol device receiver and the type one protocol device transmitter so that the type one protocol device transmitter detection function detects the type two protocol device receiver as a type one protocol receiver. The type one protocol device can be a PCI-E device, and the type two protocol device can be a SAS/SATA device. |
| US08447886B2 |
Collaborative online spreadsheet application
A distributed spreadsheet application executes at a server and a client in a network. The networked spreadsheet application can generally be used without requiring a user to install any specific spreadsheet software prior to using the application. In one implementation, the spreadsheet application may include a client engine that executes within browser programs of a plurality of client computing devices and server logic. The server logic may be configured to distribute the client engines to the plurality of client computing devices of the spreadsheet application when requested through the browser programs of each of the plurality of client computing devices. The server logic synchronizes a single spreadsheet document that is simultaneously open at the plurality of client computing devices. |
| US08447884B1 |
Methods for mapping virtual addresses to physical addresses in a network device and systems thereof
A method, computer readable medium, and system for handling network packets at an application delivery controller includes receiving a packet from a communication network at a network interface controller within the application delivery controller and associating the received packet with a logical interface selected from a plurality of logical interfaces in at least one processing system using a mapping engine at the network interface controller, where each of the plurality of logical interfaces associated with a different physical address. At the network interface controller a physical address is assigned to the received packet corresponding to the selected logical interface to which data in the received packet is to be sent and a virtual address associated with the physical address in the network interface controller is retrieved. Data in the received packet and the retrieved virtual address is transmitted to the at least one processing system. |
| US08447883B1 |
Reducing energy consumption of servers
A load balancer, comprising a network interface, a power conservation unit, and a routing module configured to route client requests received through the network interface to a plurality of servers. The power conservation unit is characterized by having a learning mode and a routing mode. In the learning mode one or more operation parameters of the servers are determined for a plurality of different external conditions and for a plurality of different values of one or more operation parameters of the routing module, and to generate a correlation table between the operation parameters of the routing module and the external conditions. In the routing mode the power conservation unit adjusts the operation parameters of the routing module responsive to the external conditions, using the correlation table. |
| US08447879B2 |
Secure in-band signaling method for mobility management crossing firewalls
An in-band signaling method that enables secure updates of a care-of-IP address for a mobile host that roams between access networks. In the illustrative embodiment described herein, a mobile host includes an intelligent interface that handles IP networking functions and tunnels IP packets between the mobile host and the mobile host's home agent/remote access server (HA/RAS) transparently, as if the mobile host established a connection to a communicating or destination host (DST) from the home network (where the HA/RAS resides). In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an in-band signaling method that employs encrypted three-way handshake signaling messages that are embedded in encapsulated IP packets to enable care-of IP address updates. This method can effectively protect mobile hosts from denial-of-service attacks and is transparent to NAT/NAPT firewalls. The signaling messages are communicated between the home agent and the mobile host, in a manner transparent to any NAT/NAPT firewall in the network. |
| US08447878B2 |
Receiving apparatus, transmitting apparatus, communication system, and method of detecting buffer setting of relay server
A receiving apparatus of the present invention includes: a relayed dummy data receiving unit for receiving relayed dummy data including dummy data of n bytes (n≧1) and/or dummy data of N bytes (N≧n) sequentially and repetitively transmitted from a transmitting apparatus to a relay server from the relay server; and a buffer setting detecting unit for detecting a buffer setting of the relay server based on a first size value indicative of data size of relayed dummy data received for the first time by the relayed dummy data receiving unit and a second size value indicative of not larger data size of relayed dummy data received for the second time and relayed dummy data received for the third time. |
| US08447875B2 |
Unified cache and peer-to-peer method and apparatus for streaming media in wireless mesh networks
A method and apparatus are described including receiving a route request message to establish a streaming route, determining a cost of a reverse route and traffic load introduced by the requested streaming route, discarding the route request message if one of wireless interference constraints for the requested streaming route cannot be satisfied and quality of service requirements for the requested streaming route cannot be satisfied, pre-admitting the route request message if wireless interference constraints for the requested streaming route can be satisfied and if quality of service requirements for the requested streaming route can be satisfied, adding a routing table entry responsive to the pre-admission, admitting the requested streaming route, updating the routing table and transmitting a route reply message to an originator if requested content is cached, updating the route request message and forwarding the updated route request message if the requested content is not cached, receiving a route reply message and deleting the pre-admitted routing table entry if a time has expired. |
| US08447868B2 |
Method for extending business systems to a mobile workforce
Systems, software, and methods for reliable wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, a computer program control device, called a node, is configured to be transmitted from a first device for receipt and processing on a second, disparate device. The node comprises a collection of managed objects or managed object representations that is effective to control said disparate device. In one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, the node is configured to control the processing of multiple data types. A session manager component within a task management component provides for intermittent connection to a disparate remote device. |
| US08447863B1 |
Systems and methods for object recognition
Examples disclose systems and methods for recognizing objects. A method may be executable to receive a query from a robot. The query may include identification data associated with an object and contextual data associated with the object. The query may also include situational data. The method may also be executable to identify the object based at least in part on the data in the query received from the robot. Further, the method may be executable to send data associated with the identified object to the robot in response to the query. |
| US08447857B2 |
Transforming HTTP requests into web services trust messages for security processing
An approach is provided where an HTTP request is received and a Request for Security Token (RST) is created. Parameters are selected from the request and mappings are retrieved corresponding to the parameters. Context attributes are created in the RST corresponding to the parameters. A context attribute type value is set based on an HTTP section where the parameter is located within the HTTP request. The RST is sent to a security token service for processing. In another approach, a Request Security Token Response (RSTR) is received and an HTTP response is created. RSTR parameters are selected and parameter mappings are retrieved corresponding to the selected RSTR parameters from a mapping table with a TYPE value being identified based on the retrieved parameter mapping. Context attributes are added to the HTTP response based on the identified TYPE values. The HTTP response is transmitted to a remote computer system. |
| US08447855B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for preventing SIP attacks
A method for preventing session initiation protocol (SIP) attacks is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of SIP response messages comprising at least one pre-defined SIP response code, and extracting at least one user identifier from the plurality of SIP response messages. The method further includes computing at least one of a frequency of the plurality of SIP response messages and a count of the plurality of SIP response messages corresponding to each user identifier of the at least one user identifier. The method further includes calculating a degree of attack corresponding to each user identifier using at least one of the frequency and the count. The method further includes determining a monitoring interval for each user identifier based upon the degree of attack for monitoring the plurality of SIP response messages. An apparatus and a computer program product for preventing SIP attacks are also provided. |
| US08447852B1 |
System and method for brand management using social networks
A system for brand management using social networks comprising an application server, social network crawler software modules, third party service integration software modules, an analytics server, a report generator, a search engine, a behavioral analysis engine, a recommendation engine, and a database. A user registers and provides data pertaining to a brand. Upon retrieving content from a plurality of social networks pertaining to the brand, the analytics server module analyzes the content to a content value specific to the brand among members of the social networks. The behavioral analysis engine obtains content elements generated by a first member a social network and analyzes the first member's behavior to compute an audience value of the first member. The report generator prepares reports specific to the brand, the reports comprising at least indicia of content value, indicia of audience value, and recommendations for improving member engagement with the brand. |
| US08447850B2 |
Management computer and computer system management method
A management computer 3 configures a coordinate plane from a first axis, which denotes a performance value of a virtual machine 1, and a second axis, which denotes a performance value of a volume 2, and partitions this coordinate plane into multiple areas in accordance with a prescribed criterion. The management server computes to which area of the areas a pair configuration of a virtual machine and a logical volume belongs, and stores the result. At a prescribed time, the management server 3 re-evaluates a coordinate of the pair configuration, and determines whether or not an initial area and a latest area match. The management server creates a migration plan so that the latest area matches the initial area. |
| US08447849B2 |
Negotiated parent joining in directed acyclic graphs (DAGS)
In one embodiment, a node may request to join a parent node in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) in a computer network, and may notify the parent node of a load associated with the request, and whether the node has any other parent node options. The response received from the parent node may be either an acceptance or a denial (based on the load and other parent node options), where in the case of an acceptance, the node may join the parent node in the DAG. Alternatively, in response to a denial, in one embodiment, the node may perform load shedding to become acceptable to the parent node. In another embodiment, a node receiving a join request from a child node may determine an impact associated with allowing the child node (and its load) to join the receiving node in the DAG prior to returning an acceptance or denial, accordingly. |
| US08447848B2 |
Preparing execution of systems management tasks of endpoints
A mechanism is provided for automatically defining on a computer data for execution of systems management tasks on endpoints by a systems manager management said endpoints. The mechanism reads connection/disconnection information related to the endpoints collected by the systems management server during a same period of time for all the endpoints, computes the availability trends with the connection/disconnection information for said same period of time classifying endpoints according to the predefined classes of availability trends for endpoints and the computer availability trends, applies rules to create data defining execution of systems management tasks on endpoints according to the result of the classifying step, and makes these data available to the systems management server. |
| US08447844B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A storage unit stores therein setting information and history information on a communication established by the setting information. When an information receiving unit receives new setting information, a judging unit judges whether the setting information stored in the storage unit reached a predetermined value. A determining unit compares the history information corresponding to the setting information, and determines a priority for each setting information based on a result of comparison. A deleting unit deletes setting information having the lowest priority from the storage unit, and a storing unit stores the new setting information in the storage unit. |
| US08447842B2 |
Scalable, high performance and highly available distributed storage system for internet content
A method for content storage on behalf of participating content providers begins by having a given content provider identify content for storage. The content provider then uploads the content to a given storage site selected from a set of storage sites. Following upload, the content is replicated from the given storage site to at least one other storage site in the set. Upon request from a given entity, a given storage site from which the given entity may retrieve the content is then identified. The content is then downloaded from the identified given storage site to the given entity. In an illustrative embodiment, the given entity is an edge server of a content delivery network (CDN). |
| US08447841B2 |
System and method for upgrading the remote control functionality of a device
A system and method for upgrading remote control application resident on a device. To this end, a markup language file is created. The markup language file has a representation of information used to setup the remote control application to communicate with an appliance. The markup language file may be executed, on the device or an intermediate client with which the device is synchronized, to upload the representation of the information to a remote server. At the remote server, the uploaded information is used to automatically display user-selectable, downloadable data files relevant to the control of the appliance. Downloaded data files, which may include command codes and/or graphical user interface elements, may be used within the device to upgrade the ability of the remote control application to communicate with the appliance. The information uploaded to the server may also be used to generate demographic data regarding consumer preferences. |
| US08447840B1 |
Method and system for transferring control of a user interface of a content distribution system
A method and system for controlling a user interface displayed at a client device includes a client device and a server device that communicates a first remote user interface from the server device to the client device. The client device displays the first remote user interface and communicates key signals to the server device. The server device communicates a first transfer control signal to the client device. The client device displays a client native interface and communicates a second transfer control signal to the server device. The server device communicates the second remote user interface to the client device. The client device displays a second remote user interface at the client device. |
| US08447834B1 |
Wireless content loading
A method, system, and medium are provided for a computer system for downloading an application from a computing client onto a mobile information device through wireless telecommunications. An application is located from a multitude of resources available on the World Wide Web through the Internet. After an application is selected from a particular resource, it is uploaded onto the computing client. A web server receives this uploaded application by means of the Internet. Another server is used as an intermediate communications device to receive notification from the web server of the available uploaded application. This intermediate communications server notifies the mobile device by way of wireless telecommunications of a pending application that is ready for downloading onto the mobile device. The mobile device user downloads the application, which is also accomplished via wireless telecommunications. |
| US08447833B2 |
Reading and writing during cluster growth phase
A client device configured to write to both a growth server and a live server replica that the growth server is replacing during a growth phase is described herein. The client device first determines the growth server designated to replace a corresponding live server replica of a set of server replicas associated with a storage index. The client device then transmits a write request associated with the storage index to the set of server replicas and to the growth server. The client device may perform the determining based on storage assignment mappings. The storage assignment mappings are provided to the client device by a metadata server while the growth server retrieves data associated with the storage index from the live server replica. |
| US08447831B1 |
Incentive driven content delivery
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests are provided. A content delivery network service provider receives a DNS query from a client computing device corresponding to a requested resource from the client computing device. The content delivery network service provider associates the requested content into a set of content segments. For each content segment, the content delivery network service provider identifies the network address of a registered content provider, such as peer computing device, and a cache component of the content delivery service provider. The content delivery network service provider also provides tokens for requesting the content from a registered content provider. The client computing device obtains the content from the registered content providers and/or the cache component of the content delivery network service provider. Thereafter, the content delivery network service provider reconciles with the registered content providers for content provided to client computing devices. |
| US08447829B1 |
System and method for controlling access to web services resources
A system and method for controlling access to web services resources. A system may include a storage medium configured to store instructions and one or more processors configured to access the storage medium. The instructions may be executable by at least one of the processors to implement a web services access control system (ACS) configured to receive requests. Each request specifies an access operation to be performed with respect to a corresponding resource. Each of the requests is associated with a corresponding principal. For each received request, the ACS may be further configured to determine whether an access control entry exists that is associated with both the resource and principal associated with the request and that specifies an access type sufficient to perform the access operation. If no such entry exists, the ACS may deny the request. |
| US08447825B2 |
File sharing system and file sharing method
A system includes a client device to which mount information representing a server device associated with the client is set; a first server corresponding to the mount information set to the client device; a second server communicably connected to the first server; a first disk device controlled by the first server; and a second disk device controlled by the second server. When the client device sends a request to register a data file to the first server, the first server stores the data file in the first disk device and sends a command to make a tag file including information on a location of the data file to the second server. When receiving the command to make the tag file from the first server, the second server makes the tag file and stores it in the second disk device. |
| US08447822B2 |
Method and system for enhanced messaging
Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones. |
| US08447820B1 |
Data and event synchronization across distributed user interface modules
A computer includes, among other things, local modules contained within a module container of a same application; a message producer unit to communicate with a data server over the i/o interface; a message consumer unit configured to communicate with the data server over the i/o interface; and a local event manager unit. There is a pre-defined sequence of processing events between the local event manager unit, the local modules within the same application of the same module container, remote modules, the message producer unit, and the message consumer unit. |
| US08447818B2 |
Partially and completely duplicative messages handling
A first queue stores messages to be consumed. A second queue temporarily stores completely duplicative messages that have message identifiers equal to message identifiers of messages currently being processed s and that have times equal to times of the messages being processed; processing of the completely duplicative messages never occurs. By comparison, a partially duplicative message has its processing delayed until the message of which it is partially duplicative has been finished being processed. A partially duplicative message has a message identifier equal to a message identifier of a message referenced within the non-persistent store and has a time unequal to a time of the message referenced within the non-persistent store is moved from the first to the second queue. A non-persistent store stores references to the messages currently being processed. Once the messages are finished being processed, the references to them are removed from the non-persistent store. |
| US08447815B2 |
System and method for instant message transmission in mobile communication terminal
Provided is a system for delivering an instant message in which instant messaging systems of different types interwork. The system includes a transmitter mobile communication terminal and an interworking server. The transmitter mobile communication terminal connected to a first instant messaging system transmits a request for an instant message receipt report to a receiver mobile communication terminal connected to a second instant messaging system. The interworking server converts the delivery format of the instant message into another suitable for the second instant messaging system and transmits the instant message to the receiver mobile communication terminal. The interworking server also converts the delivery format of the instant message receipt report generated according to the receipt result of the instant message by the receiver mobile communication terminal after completion of the delivery of the instant message to the receiver mobile communication terminal into another suitable for the delivery format of the first instant messaging system to which the transmitter mobile communication terminal is connected, and transmits the instant message receipt report to the transmitter mobile communication terminal. |
| US08447808B2 |
Virtual presence server
Techniques are disclosed for generating and managing presentities in accordance with a virtual presence server. By way of example, a method for requesting information from at least one server comprises the following steps. A client request, which expresses a request that can not be satisfied by a single existing presentity, is obtained at an intermediate server, wherein the intermediate server operates as a virtual presence server. The virtual presence server (i.e., intermediate server) creates a set of software objects for a virtual presentity, the set of objects embodying logic to combine presence information from one or more of existing presentities and external information sources, in accordance with at least one existing presence server. The virtual presence server creates an association between the request of the client and the created virtual presentity that allows the presence information to be propagated back to the client. |
| US08447807B2 |
Method and apparatus for updating and synchronizing information between a client and a server
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for integrating applets running on a client with the application logic for applications running on a server. Instead of using the FORM element available in HTML, individual active applets are available and may be created that obtain user input (e.g. a checkbox, textbox, button, etc.). A hidden applet called the Applet Group Controller is created which handles communication between the applets on the browser and the application logic on the server. |
| US08447805B2 |
Distributed operation of a local positioning system
Presented is a system and method for distributed operation of Local Positioning Systems (LPS). A method includes establishing a network connection with a local controller and providing a user interface for sending device commands to an LPS associated with the local controller, and may include requesting a network address of a server for streaming video. The user interface can control a plurality of LPS units and the local controller can accept device commands from a plurality of user interfaces. A system includes a local system with interfaces to an LPS and a network that directs device control messages to the LPS from one or more remote systems, and a remote system that establishes network connections with one or more local systems and provides a user interface for sending device control messages to the one or more LPS units. |
| US08447802B2 |
Address manipulation to provide for the use of network tools even when transaction acceleration is in use over a network
In address-manipulation enabled transaction accelerators, the transaction accelerators include outer-connection addressing information in packets emitted over an inner connection between transaction accelerators and inner-connection addressing information is added in packets sent over the inner connection. The inner-connection addressing information can be carried in TCP option fields, directly in other fields, or indirectly through data structures maintained by the endpoints processing the connection. Address information can be encoded into header fields originally intended for other purposes but that are unused or encoded into used fields, overlaid in combination with other data that is being carried in those used fields. The existence of inner-connection addressing information in a packet can be signaled by a flag in the packet, by a bit or other designated encoding. The flag can be in an unused header field or overlaid. Where replacement and option addition is needed, swappers and unswappers might be used. |
| US08447801B1 |
Content sharing with limited cloud storage
Apparatus and methods for sharing electronically rendered information between a plurality of devices over a data communications network with limited used of network data storage is described. Content may be shared automatically between members of a share group, without interactive content-sharing operations being executed by users. The embodiments include content tagging, commenting, searching, and syncing of content. Action metadata messages, that are not viewed by a user of a device, may be sent separately from content portions to notify share-group members of content to be shared. Sharing of content can be accomplished via peer-to-peer links as well as intermediary links, which may execute concurrently. |
| US08447798B2 |
Look up table (LUT) structure supporting exclusive or (XOR) circuitry configured to allow for generation of a result using quaternary adders
A lookup table structure having multiple lookup tables is configured to include a quaternary adder. In particular examples, an adaptive logic module (ALM) including a fracturable lookup table (LUT) is configured to include a quaternary (4-1) adder. In some examples, only an XOR gate, an AND gate, two single bit 2-1 multiplexers, and minor connectivity changes to a LUT structure supporting a ternary (3-1) adder are needed to support 4-1 adders. Binary (2-1) and ternary adders are still supported using the original signal flows, as the ternary adder feature can be easily multiplexed out. |
| US08447792B2 |
System and method for presenting user generated geo-located objects
A system and method for generating a virtual tour on a display device is described. The method comprises providing at least one map. The method further comprises providing a plurality of sequenced images, wherein each of the images is associated with at least one location by a geo-coding module configured to generate a geo-location object data sheet that associates sequential images with a corresponding location. The sequenced images are organized based on the location of each of the sequenced images and displayed on the map. The method is implemented by the system. |
| US08447791B1 |
Systems and methods for altering limit key values
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for generating commands used to modify a plurality of limit key values includes determining a current value for each of the plurality of limit keys, determining a new value for each of the plurality of limit keys, and generating a normalized internal key for the current values and the new values of each of the limit keys. The method further includes iteratively determining a sequence order for each limit key using the current normalized internal keys and the new normalized limit keys and using the sequence order of each limit key to generate commands used to change the value of each limit key from the current value to the new value. The method may also include generating data used to indicate that a sequence order could not be determined. |
| US08447785B2 |
Providing context aware search adaptively
A method, computing device, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided for facilitating a context-aware search on documents stored in an unstructured database column. The database server determines whether a document stored in an unstructured database object is marked up according to a recognized markup language. Documents that conform to the markup language are indexed with value-to-node mappings and node-to-physical-location mappings to provide a context-aware search of marked up nodes within the documents. Documents that do not conform to the markup language are indexed with value-to-document mappings to provide a full-text search of the documents. The database server evaluates a context-aware search against documents that conform to the markup language within the unstructured column without requiring the user identify the documents as XML documents and store the documents in an XMLType structured column. |
| US08447784B1 |
Context subsystems for system configurations
Embodiments of the present invention utilize context subsystems to logically group resources according to context. Such context subsystems can be nested (i.e. hierarchical), and thus further simplify the complex configuration relationships encountered with complex systems. Higher level (i.e. parent) context subsystems contain at least one resource that is utilized by a lower level (i.e. child) component, subsystem, or context subsystem. Context subsystems can be hierarchically arranged in single- and multi-parent arrangements and single- and multi-child arrangements. The number of context subsystem hierarchical levels is virtually unlimited and is generally dictated by the complexity of the system and the corresponding simplification needs of the configuration technology being utilized to configure the system. Context subsystems are applicable and useful in a configuration environment for virtually any configurable system amenable to contextual groupings of resources. |
| US08447782B1 |
Data access layer having a mapping module for transformation of data into common information model compliant objects
In a storage processor having a provider framework, one embodiment is directed to a method for providing an object. The method includes receiving, by a data access layer of the provider framework, an object request from a client device, the object request identifying at least one object. The method includes applying, by the data access layer, a mapping module to the object request to access object data associated with the object request. The method includes generating, by the data access layer, the at least one object identified in the object request. The method includes forwarding, by the data access layer, the at least one object to the client device. |
| US08447780B1 |
Unified user identification with automatic mapping and database absence handling
An identification system that may be used in heterogeneous computing environments provides a fail-free path to providing identifiers from a single canonical namespace. Objects or gateways requiring an identifier for access are accessed using an identifier for the canonical namespace. If an entity requests access using an identifier from another namespace, an external database is consulted to determine if a mapping exists for the identifier to another identifier the canonical namespace. If no mapping exists, or the external database is unavailable, then an identifier is automatically generated in the canonical namespace and is used for the access. An internal database is updated with the automatically generated identifier, providing a mechanism to add mappings without administrative intervention. To access resources requiring an identifier from another particular namespace, a canonical namespace identifier may be mapped to another identifier in the particular namespace, or a generic identifier may be used. |
| US08447779B2 |
On-demand database service system, method and computer program product for conditionally allowing an application of an entity access to data of another entity
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for conditionally allowing an application of an entity access to data of another entity in an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for conditionally allowing an application of an entity access to data of another entity in an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to limit such access to the data, as desired. Furthermore, embodiments of such mechanisms and methods may provide additional security when sharing data among different subscribers to an on-demand database service. |
| US08447773B2 |
Accessing a database
For accessing a database, a request attribute module constructs a request attribute list for a data value name received in a request block. The request attribute list associates the data value name with an attribute name and with a schema name. A schema name module adds the schema name from the request attribute list to a schema names list in response to the schema name not being included in the schema names list. An attribute name module adds the attribute name from the request attribute list to an attribute names list in response to the attribute name not being included in the attribute names list. A query build module builds a query statement directed to a target database from the schema names list and the attribute names list. |
| US08447771B2 |
Query generation
A query generator is operable to generate a query for retrieving data that satisfy a conditional expression from a database, and/or perform an arbitrary calculation on at least part of the retrieved data. The query generator can receive an input query and analyze the query to ascertain whether it contains a replaceable token. If the query contains a replaceable token, the query generator can replace that token with user input specifying a parameter of the conditional expression and/or the arbitrary calculation, thereby generating an output query for retrieving the data that satisfy the conditional expression and/or performing the arbitrary calculation on the retrieved data. |
| US08447769B1 |
System and method for real-time image collection and sharing
Various embodiments of a system and methods for real-time image collection and sharing are described. A group of geographically co-located mobile device users may capture images on the mobile devices during a session. The devices may send the images, during the same session, to a database where the images may be stored as a real-time image collection. The image collection may be shared, during the same session, among the mobile device users. The users may receive notification of new images in the image collection based on user preferences. The users may request, from the image collection, images containing particular content by identifying the content on an image and sending a search request which includes the identified content. A computation server may maintain a data set which associates similar images in the image collection. The data set may be updated for each new image that is added to the image collection. |
| US08447768B2 |
Techniques for generically accessing data
Techniques for generic data access are provided. A middle-tier server agent uses data providers that can communicate with backend resources. A request received in a first format is used to identify a specific data provider by the middle-tier server agent; the data provider uses the first format to communicate with a specific backend resource in a second format. Results from the specific backend resource are returned from the data provider in the first format and passed to a client that initially made the request. |
| US08447762B2 |
Storing lossy hashes of file names and parent handles rather than full names using a compact table for network-attached-storage (NAS)
Multiple Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliances are pooled together by a virtual NAS translator, forming one common name space visible to clients. Clients send messages to the virtual NAS translator with a file name and a virtual handle of the parent directory that are concatenated to a full file-path name and compressed by a cryptographic hash function to generate a hashed-name key. The hashed-name key is matched to a storage key in a table. The full file-path name is not stored, reducing the table size. A unique entry number is returned to the client as the virtual file handle that is also stored in another table with one or more native file handles, allowing virtual handles to be translated to native handles that the NAS appliance servers use to retrieve files. File movement among NAS servers alters native file handles but not virtual handles, hiding NAS details from clients. |
| US08447761B2 |
Lifestyle collecting apparatus, user interface device, and lifestyle collecting method
Provided is a lifestyle collecting apparatus that collects information for determining a lifestyle of a user, and includes: an object information detecting unit configured to detect object information representing an object around the user; a relevance degree calculating unit configured to calculate a relevance degree of the user to the object, using the object information; an appearance information extracting unit configured to extract appearance information from the object information, and add the relevance degree to the extracted appearance information, the appearance information representing an appearance of the object; and a lifestyle database which stores the appearance information to which the relevance degree has been added, as the information for determining the lifestyle of the user. |
| US08447759B2 |
Assets suggestion across applications
Suggesting to a user most likely search assets that address a searched topic in each of a number of different software applications is provided. In response to a search for help or general information content associated with a given application, suggested help or general information content associated with a number of different applications or different versions of a given application is provided. |
| US08447757B1 |
Latency reduction techniques for partitioned processing
Overall latency is reduced when processing tasks such as search queries by determining which tasks are “expensive,” or likely to exceed desired latency thresholds. For expensive queries processed according to partitions, the segments for each partition can be divided among various sub-queries, which allow each partition to be processed in parallel by multiple devices without the need for repartitioning. Further, the responses to the sub-queries can be monitored, and if one or more responses are not received within a specified amount of time then each sub-query for which a response is missing can be resent. The first response received will be consolidated with the results from the other queries, and the result returned. |
| US08447755B1 |
Systems and methods of analyzing changes and data between hierarchies
There is disclosed various embodiments of computer systems and methods for analyzing multi-dimensional trends from two dimensional hierarchical data by comparing and analyzing two hierarchies and their associated attributes. Certain embodiments may comprise: providing a database of previous time slice data, receiving new time slice data, comparing the new time slice data to the database of previous time slice data, generating additional attributes, incorporating the additional attributes and the new time slice data into the database so that analysis may be performed between the two hierarchies. |
| US08447753B2 |
Semantic verification of multidimensional data sources
An illustrative embodiment provides a computer-implemented process for semantic verification of multidimensional data sources that receives a trusted output from a trusted multidimensional expression engine, receives an un-trusted output from an un-trusted data source and determines whether a query produces a correct semantic result, wherein the correct semantic result is within a predetermined tolerance. Responsive to a determination that the query does not produce a semantically correct result, identifies queries having semantically incorrect results to form a local subset, notifies a query planner of semantically incorrect queries and determines whether to process queries locally. Responsive to a determination to not process queries locally, creates a set of simplified multidimensional expression queries for remote execution. |
| US08447752B2 |
Image search by interactive sketching and tagging
Sketch and tagging based image search may include receiving a sketch query input and identifying an object in a desired image. The object or objects of the sketch query may be tagged with a text, and searching performed based on the objects. Certain implementations include indexing patches of the images, where the patches represent the objects. Relevant images can be returned based on the index of the patches. |
| US08447750B2 |
Rating system and spatial searching therein
Techniques for a rating system are described, including presenting a visual field including two or more axes, each axis representing a criterion associated with an asset, receiving a user rating associated with the asset, the user rating including a point on the visual field, and updating a presentation of the visual field to include the user rating. Further, techniques for spatial searching within the rating system are described, including presenting a visual field including two or more axes, each axis representing a criterion, receiving a search inquiry including a shape input on the visual field, searching assets in response to the search inquiry, and displaying a subset of the assets determined from the searching. |
| US08447747B1 |
System for generating behavior-based associations for multiple domain-specific applications
Systems and processes are described for generating a generic relationship dataset that can be adapted for use by multiple domain-specific applications. Such applications can include recommendation applications, search applications, optimization applications, and/or other applications. These systems and processes can analyze some or all actions of users with respect to a network application, such as a web application. Data representing user actions occurring in a time window can be paired together in the relationship dataset, together with one or more metrics related to the user actions. These metrics can represent general measurements that in certain embodiments are not customized for an individual application. As a result, separate domain-specific applications can independently analyze the relationship data according to different criteria without maintaining separate sets of the relationship data. |
| US08447745B2 |
Synchronizing field values in an on-demand database prior to committing a change
Methods and systems are provided for synchronizing field values in transient data objects, such as JAVA® objects, before saving a transaction to a database. A dependency from one data object to another data object is detected, and changes which affect the second data object's fields through the dependency are flowed through to the second data object. This is performed between each step of a multistep save process, such between triggers, validation rules, workflows, and the final committing of data to the database. |
| US08447744B2 |
Extensibility platform using data cartridges
A framework for extending the capabilities of an event processing system using one or more plug-in components referred to herein as data cartridges. Generally speaking, a data cartridge is a self-contained unit of data that can be registered with an event processing system and can store information pertaining to one or more objects (referred to herein as extensible objects) that are not natively supported by the system. Examples of such extensible objects can include data types, functions, indexes, data sources, and others. By interacting with a data cartridge, an event processing system can compile and execute queries that reference extensible objects defined in the data cartridge, thereby extending the system beyond its native capabilities. |
| US08447743B2 |
Techniques for processing database queries including user-defined functions
A method, system and article of manufacture for query execution management in a data processing system and, more particularly, for managing execution of queries including user-defined functions. One embodiment includes an operation for managing execution of a query against data of a database. The operation includes receiving a query against the data of the database, the query having at least one query condition including a user-defined function. It is determined whether the user-defined function satisfies a predefined index applicability criterion. If the user-defined function satisfies the predefined index applicability criterion, an index over relevant data of the database is created for the user-defined function. The index is suitable for use in execution of the query against the data of the database to determine a corresponding query result. |
| US08447734B2 |
HDAG backup system with variable retention
A storage system efficiently allocates storage space for data backup. An illustrative storage system comprises a storage and backup logic that manages data backup in the storage and converts a file to a hash-based directed acyclic graph (HDAG) so that a hierarchy of nodes of the HDAGs contain a hash of child nodes. The backup logic creates multiple HDAGs for one or more of a plurality of retention policies and represents directories by a first node containing a payload of metadata and weak references to roots of child nodes, and a second node containing references to the first node and to any HDAGs corresponding to files and/or directories governed by an active policy of the plurality of retention policies. |
| US08447733B2 |
Techniques for versioning file systems
Techniques are presented for versioning file systems. Files and directories are versioned in a manner that permits the versions to be mounted on a device of a user. The original security restrictions that existed with the versions when they were versioned are retained with the mount. Moreover, the user can browse and access the versions via the mount using an existing file system of the user's device. Further, names for each of the versions include detailed information that reveals the relationship of each particular version to its parent version. |
| US08447731B1 |
Method and system for information management
A system and method is described for managing litigation services, such as the designation of exhibits, deponents and other information for one or more cases. The method including the steps of receiving trial information and populating a database with the trial information. The method next includes the step of designating portions of the trial information for later use, followed by receiving confirmation of acceptance of the designated portions. Finally, the method includes the step of managing the designation and use of the trial information. |
| US08447730B1 |
Probe system for replication monitoring
A ProbeSystem for one or more Replicas is disclosed. For each replica, the Probe System includes a ProbeHead that updates a Head field in a Target Record pertaining to the Replica and a ProbeEcho that updates an Echo field in the TargetRecord. The Head field includes a time stamp and an epoch value. The Echo field includes a latency value and an epoch value. The fields are such that, during reporting, the ProbeHead can analyze the TargetRecord for the replica to determine the latency between one or more paths between the Replica and other Replicas. The ProbeSystem has a peer-to-peer shared nothing architecture and applies to a large class of high-replica, distributed and high-scale cloud storage systems and services. |
| US08447729B1 |
Techniques for performing indication management
Described are techniques for performing indication management. Registration criteria is received including information identifying a first set of data elements of a first data model about which a subscriber is registered to receive notifications. Operations are performed to a second set of data elements stored in a data store in accordance with a second data model. The second set of data elements in accordance with the second data model is mapped to a third set of data elements in accordance with the first data model. Using the first set and the third set, a first portion of the third set is determined which is identified in the first set. First processing is performed in accordance with the registration criteria and the first portion of the third set to determine notifications for a subscriber regarding data elements of the first set. |
| US08447728B2 |
System and method for storage operation access security
A method and system for controlling access to stored data is provided. The storage access control system leverages a preexisting security infrastructure of a system to inform the proper access control that should be applied to data stored outside of its original location, such as a data backup. The storage access control system may place similar access control restrictions on the backup files that existed on the original files. In this way, the backed up data is given similar protection as that of the original data. |
| US08447725B2 |
Journaling database changes using minimized journal entries that may be output in human-readable form
A minimized journaling mechanism stores minimized journal data in a format that allows for display and outputting the journal data in human-readable form. When a change to a record occurs, instead of writing only the changed bytes, all of the bytes in each field that changed are written to the journal, along with all of the bytes in each field selected to be always journaled. A default object is created with default data in all of the fields. When the journal entry needs to be output in human-readable form, the default object is read, and the minimized journal entry is then overlaid on the default object. The result is an object that contains default data in all non-selected fields that were not changed, with the journal data in all fields and that did change and in all fields that were selected to always be journaled. |
| US08447724B2 |
Managing metadata for graph-based computations
Determining metadata associated with a graph-based computation includes functionally transforming metadata associated with a first portion of a graph to generate transformed metadata associated with a second portion of the graph; determining a third portion of the graph related to the second portion of the graph; and propagating the transformed metadata from the second portion of the graph to the third portion of the graph. |
| US08447720B1 |
Adaptive case-based reasoning system using dynamic method for knowledge acquisition
A method includes receiving a user-specified context comprising one or more natural language contextual antecedents. Then, for each contextual antecedent, a modified contextual antecedent is created by converting each contextual antecedent to a sequence of integers using a word base. Each modified contextual antecedent is compared to each of a plurality of cases stored in a case base, where each case includes one or more case antecedents and one or more case consequents. The case antecedents and case consequents are stored in the case base as sequences of integers representing the respective case antecedents and case consequents. The case having the case antecedents that best match the contextual antecedents is then selected and the case consequents of the selected case are displayed to a user. The user then provides feedback regarding the displayed case consequents. The feedback may be integrated into the contextual antecedent for a new search of the case base. The method is computer-implementable and may be efficiently performed by a distributed processing system. |
| US08447717B2 |
Policy and charging rules node expired message handling
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node and machine-readable storage medium including a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) receiving a plurality of related service requests from different devices. The PCRN may proceed to generate a policy and charging control (PCC) rule based on at least one service request and other information stored in the PCRN if a mate service request does not arrive during the duration of a waiting timer. If the mate service request arrives subsequent to the expiry of the waiting timer, the PCRN may then generate a subsequent PCC rule to replace the previously generated rule, with the new PCC rule incorporating information from both of the mate service requests. |
| US08447716B2 |
Dynamic constraint satisfaction problem solver with inferred problem association removal
A constraint solver for solving a constraint satisfaction problem network that comprises a plurality of nodes and a plurality of constraints. The solver receives a request to remove an inferred problem association and determines one or more user decisions that triggered the inferred problem association. |
| US08447715B2 |
Apparatus and associated methods in relation to carbon nanotube networks
In one or more embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus comprising a substrate, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes (semiconducting nano-elements) disposed and fixed with said substrate. The nanotubes are disposed and fixed on said substrate such that they define a carbon nanotube network substantially at the percolation threshold of the network. As the network is at the percolation threshold, this provides for one or more signal paths extending from an input region to an output region. The apparatus is configured to, upon receiving particular input signalling via the input region, provide particular predefined output signalling at the output via the one or more signal paths, the particular output signalling being predefined according to the one or more one signal paths. |
| US08447713B1 |
Automated legal evaluation using a neural network over a communications network
A method for legal knowledge modeling and automated legal evaluation, such as for online, questionnaire-based legal analysis, is provided. Information, such as facts and characteristics of a legal situation, as it relates to a legal conclusion, are modeled in an artificial neural network. The artificial neural network may comprise a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is associated with one or more weights and a function that calculates a legal conclusion based on one or more input values and the weights. The artificial neural network is automatically updated on a periodic basis to reflect new legislation or court decisions. Using the artificial neural network, a legal conclusion based on the user's answers to a questionnaire may be determined. The legal conclusion is modified upon the input of evidence, which is in the form of answers to a set of questions designed to identify a legal conclusion. |
| US08447711B2 |
Architecture of a hierarchical temporal memory based system
A hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) based system may be provided as a software platform. The software platform includes: a runtime engine arranged to run an HTM network; a first interface accessible by a set of tools to configure, design, modify, train, debug, and/or deploy the HTM network; and a second interface accessible to extend a functionality of the runtime engine. |
| US08447710B1 |
Method and system for reducing links in a Bayesian network
A method and system for reducing a number of links in a Bayesian network. A first modified Bayesian network based on a primary Bayesian network that has a plurality of links is generated, wherein the first modified Bayesian network does not include a first subset of the plurality of links. A second modified Bayesian network based on the primary Bayesian network is generated, wherein the second modified Bayesian network does not include a second subset of the plurality of links. The first modified Bayesian network and the second modified Bayesian network are validated using a first data set to generate a first validation result and a second validation result. The primary Bayesian network is substituted with the first modified Bayesian network or the second modified Bayesian network based on the first validation result and the second validation result. |
| US08447707B2 |
Automated control of a power network using metadata and automated creation of predictive process models
Automated control of a power network is provided by: providing multiple intelligent power controllers (IPCs) associated with multiple components of the power network, each IPC being associated with a different component; obtaining at least one raw data stream representative of at least one operational aspect of at least one component of the multiple components; and automatically associating, by at least one intelligent power controller associated with at least one component, metadata with the at least one raw data stream to produce at least one self-identifying data stream. The associated metadata describes one or more characteristics of the at least one raw data stream, and the at least one self-identifying data stream facilitates automated creation of predictive process models to assist in automated control of the power network by an IPC manager of the power network. |
| US08447699B2 |
Global secure service provider directory
Systems and methods enable members of a secure transaction network to readily identify the appropriate trusted service manager (TSM) to support a particular transaction. A global directory of TSM providers is provided that a secure service provider can use for determining which TSM provider is the authorized manager of a security domain for the particular transaction. In aspect the directory of TSM providers may be stored within a mobile device secure element. In another aspect, the directory of TSM providers may be stored in a central TSM repository. In a further aspect, the directory of TSM providers may be distributed among a number of secondary TSM repositories. The appropriate TSM may be identified based upon a secure element identifier and an application identifier provided by a secure element as part of the transaction. Communication of the identifiers from mobile devices may be via cellular or near field communication links. |
| US08447697B2 |
Rights offering and granting
Processes and systems for offering and granting digital rights that govern distribution and usage of content, services and resources. The processes and systems provide a basis for flexible business models and negotiation transactions between content providers and users. The concept of meta-rights, which permit digital rights to be derived, permits upstream parties in a content distribution chain to dictate rights granted and received by downstream parties. Therefore, each transaction can be considered as a two party transaction between a rights supplier and a rights consumer. |
| US08447695B2 |
System and method for processing feedback entries received from software
A method and system for processing feedback entries received from software provided by a vendor to an end user machine. The end user machine includes the software, a feedback module, and a database. The feedback module: generates a secret key k(0) and makes the key k(0) known to both the vendor and a user of the software; generates a secret key n(0) and makes the key n0) known to the vendor but not to but not to the user; generates a secret key s(0) and makes the key s(0) known to the user but not to the vendor; generates an encryption Ek0 of an identification tag using the key (k(0); generates a parameter Hn0 such that Hn0=Hash(n(0)∥Ek0); generates a parameter Hs0 such that Hs0=Hash(s(0)∥Ek0); sends Ek0, Hn0, and Hs0 to the database; and sends Ek0 and Hs0 to the vendor. |
| US08447685B2 |
Method and system for displaying and trading spreads
A trading application can receive price and quantity information for tradable objects. The trading application can compute implied price and quantity information for spreads of the tradable objects. Direct and indirect price and quantity information for the spreads can be displayed in a manner that shows the relationship with each other and with the price and quantity information for the tradable objects. |
| US08447684B2 |
Method and system for optimal pricing and allocation for a set of contractual rights to be offered with canceling/modifying of indications of interest
A method and system for the determination of optimal pricing and allocation of securities in an open, competitive environment. The method and system may also be used in developing pre-markets of other items that are difficult to price and allocate in a competitive manner, such as the underwriting/securitization of contracts for property; future revenue/earning streams from an asset and/or group of assets; underwritten insurance portfolios, intellectual property and other goods and services. The system of price optimization and allocation is accomplished by interactive feedback of information using a display and including competitive participation of individual members of the public (and/or their agents) or institutional buyers over a data network e.g., the Internet, uncovering the nature and identification of demand in a self-organizing fashion. Demand emerges through participants' interaction with the system and with each other, via a graphically-supported, interactive reservation process. |
| US08447683B2 |
Hedging risks associated with variable priced orders for derivative financial products
Systems and methods are provided for executing a hedge transaction in connection with the execution of a derivative product order in which the price of the derivative product is defined by one or more variables. The hedge transaction may be executed at an exchange or match engine that is different from the exchange or match engine executing the derivative product order. The execution of derivative product transaction may be contingent on the existence of an appropriate hedge transaction. Alternatively, a best efforts approach may be used to fill the hedge transaction order after executing the derivative product transaction. |
| US08447672B2 |
Universal payment protection
A system for and method of providing payment protection upon the occurrence of trigger events. The system and method include an account, which may be associated with a credit card or other financial product. An accountholder may select trigger events and associated benefits. Upon the occurrence of a trigger event, the issuing entity will evaluate whether the accountholder is entitled to receive an associated benefit. Each benefit is intended to address at least one payment obligation. For example, an account may include payment protection in the form of automatic payment of minimum monthly credit card fees should the accountholder involuntarily become unemployed. |
| US08447671B1 |
System and method for provider evaluation and claimant direction
A method and system for evaluating medical service providers, and before or after an initial medical service provider visit by a claimant, determining whether to direct that claimant on subsequent medical service provider visits to a different medical service provider to optimize efficiency of care and minimize cost at the claim level. |
| US08447664B1 |
Method and system for managing inventory by expected profitability
A method and system for managing inventory by expected profitability. In one embodiment, a method may include individually evaluating a respective expected profitability for each of a number of inventory items, and individually determining a disposition of each of the number of items dependent upon its respective expected profitability. In one particular implementation of the method, individually evaluating the respective expected profitability of a given item may include forecasting an estimated date of transaction corresponding to the given item, forecasting an estimated revenue corresponding to the given item as of the estimated date of transaction, estimating accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction, and comparing a total cost of the given item against the estimated revenue, where the total cost may include the accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction. |
| US08447662B2 |
System and method for an efficient dynamic multi-unit auction
The present invention implements an auction in which multiple types of goods may be auctioned in a dynamic process. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a system and method for computer implemented dynamic multi-unit auction in which the price paid or received by bidders tends to be independent of their own bids, in which participants may be provided with information concerning their competitors' bids as the auction progresses, and in which the confidentiality of high values may be maintained. Participants' quantities bid at a given time may be restricted to be less than or equal to the quantities bid at an earlier time. These features provide the advantage of improving economic efficiency of the auction design over the prior art. |
| US08447661B2 |
Query analysis for geographic-based listing service
A unique system and method facilitates analyzes searches or queries that are geographic based. In particular, a user can submit a geo-tag based search for items posted on a listing service according to the item's location or geo-tag information. The geo-tag information for each item can be approximate such as the city, state, or zip code or more specific such as the street address where the item is located. The amount of geo-tag information disclosed to any other user can depend on the type of item being offered. Geo-tag information is analyzed to facilitate determining item matches. In addition, users that post items can employ query results to analyze the quality of their items such as from the buyer's perspective. |
| US08447660B2 |
Article sales data processing apparatus and sales data editing method
According to one embodiment, an article sales data processing apparatus includes a list display control unit, a selection unit, an editing acceptance unit, and an update unit. The list display control unit causes a list of articles sold in one transaction to be displayed in the details area. The selection unit accepts selection of an article, of the articles displayed in the details area. The editing acceptance unit causes the display unit to display an editing screen for the sales data of the article selected by the selection unit, and accepts editing of the sales data. When the sales data displayed in the editing screen is edited, the update unit updates the sales data of the article selected by the selection unit, of the sales data of each article stored in the transaction storage unit, to the edited data. |
| US08447659B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a media plan
A method and apparatus for generating a media campaign from information about available units stored in a central database, including a set of first characteristic data and associated behavior information and a set of media formats for the available units and associated behavior information. Selective criteria is entered based on the first characteristic data at a remote computer coupled to the central computer database via a network and web server for a search of the information stored in the database, and a search is generated based upon the selective criteria, the search identifying the certain behavior information corresponding to the first characteristic data and media format information associated with that certain behavior information. Results of the search are displayed at the remote computer, the results constituting matching media format information and associated information. The user then selects among the media formats from the search results to constitute the media campaign. |
| US08447653B2 |
Automated price maintenance for use with a system in which advertisements are rendered with relative preferences
A cost maintenance scheme useful with an advertising system which orders ads in a manner that maximizes both their relevance and their economic value, and which provides a fair bidding process in which a winning bidder is assured of not having paid too much. Ordering may be done based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or ad performance information. For example, this information may be used to determine a position value. Cost may be determined based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or performance information. Billing the determined cost may be subject to a condition precedent. |
| US08447652B2 |
System and method for targeting advertising to a device based on installed applications
A system and method for targeting advertising to devices based on the applications installed on the device are provided. The system and method comprise retrieving data pertaining to the applications a user has installed on a device and assigning the applications weights based on their patterns of usage. The applications are categorized according to their genre and/or the time of day during which they are typically used, and each category is assigned a priority value based on the patterns of usage of the applications therein. An advertisement corresponding to the highest priority category is delivered to the device. |
| US08447650B2 |
System and method for designating accounts from which to trade rewards
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access. |
| US08447646B2 |
System and method for rapid generation of minimum length pilot training schedules
A system for rapidly generating minimum length pilot training schedules which uses a branch and bound, and a mixed integer programming model with constraints to produce student and resource schedules at a device period level for all pilots of an airline. |
| US08447643B2 |
System and method for collecting and distributing reviews and ratings
A system and method for providing ratings related to a plurality of websites is provided. One embodiment of the system may include program code adapted to execute as a browser toolbar to implement a method comprising retrieving an identifier from the end user computing device, transmitting a request to a remote computer system for a rating value in response to a web page being loaded into the browser, receiving a rating value from the remote computer system, displaying the rating value in the toolbar, receiving a first user rating of the user from the remote computer system, displaying the first user rating in the toolbar, receiving a user input comprising a second user rating from the end user, transmitting the second user rating to the remote computer system, and displaying the second user rating in the toolbar. The remote computer system may store user ratings and reviews and transmit user ratings, an average rating, and a review count. The remote computer system may also parse URLs to determine whether the domain of the URL comprises a domain for which content may be rated. By parsing out an identifier of the URL for such domains, the system can be used to rate profiles of people on social networks and dating websites. |
| US08447642B2 |
Local content management and distribution system
A method and system for the publishing, management and distribution of local content via a plurality of Internet media types. The method and system provides for single entry of local content and automated mass distribution via the Internet. A key component of the method and system is the categorizing and organizing of local content at the point of publishing by the system and/or author of the local content which allows for delivery and/or placement of the local content to a more relevant reader across the plurality of Internet media types. |
| US08447641B1 |
System and method for automatically enrolling buyers into a network
The present invention is a system and computer-implemented method for automatically enrolling and upgrading a buyer into a pre-existing network in order to conduct business with one or more sellers with minimum efforts and consistent quality. The method includes providing to the buyer, via a programmable computer, multiple business models for selection. The method also includes retrieving and sending to the buyer a set of pre-configured business processes to select based on the model chosen by the buyer. The method further includes generating required test cases to validate the selected best business process and tracking and certifying the test cases followed by deploying a live version of the selected best business process. |
| US08447636B2 |
Method and system for processing data relating to investment products having a payment guarantee
A computer system for processing data relating to an investment arrangement having an account value dependent on investment performance and available for withdrawal by an account owner includes a data storage device storing data indicative of a present account value, a withdrawal factor value, a present payment base value, and a guarantee of payments available periodically for a term without reduction of the payment base value; and a processor. The processor is configured to, for periods after a first withdrawal, determine the present payment base value by comparing a present account value to a prior period account value, a periodic increase in the payment base value being limited to a maximum percentage; and determine an available maximum withdrawal without reduction of the payment base value based on the withdrawal factor value and a greater of the present account value and the present payment base value. |
| US08447628B2 |
Method for competitive prescription drug and/or bidding service provider selection
Unfilled prescriptions are submitted to a registry comprising pre-qualified pharmacies for a “reverse auction” in which the pharmacies bid for the opportunity to fill the prescription. The pharmacies are allowed to bid based on price and/or offering ancillary services. The auction may also be used to bid on supplying specified pharmaceutical cognitive services. The method may also include obtaining cost comparisons with generic substitutes or similar alternative pharmaceutical products. The system may further comprise automatically requesting a review by the prescriber for a list of similar substitutes or prior-authorization for third-party payers. The winner of the reverse auction is selected by the customer. A prescription benefits manager may offer options of a reverse auction, or non-auction fulfillment of the unfilled prescription in accordance with a benefit plan design. |
| US08447622B2 |
Decoding method and device
A decoding method and device are provided. The spectrum parameter of a current bad data frame is determined. Specifically, a number of continuous bad frames that occur currently is determined. A spectrum parameter of a good data frame before the current bad data frame is determined. And a constant mean value of a spectrum parameter is determined. Then, the spectrum parameter of the good data frame is adaptively shifted towards the constant mean value of the spectrum parameter according to the number of the continuous bad data frames to calculate and obtain spectrum parameter information of the current bad frame. When the continuous bad data frames occur, the relevance between the spectrum parameter of the nearest good frame and the spectrum parameter of the current bad frame is gradually reduced, so that more accurate spectrum parameter of the current bad data frame can be obtained, thereby obtaining a better speech quality under a same code rate and a same frame error rate. |
| US08447620B2 |
Multi-resolution switched audio encoding/decoding scheme
An audio encoder for encoding an audio signal has a first coding branch, the first coding branch comprising a first converter for converting a signal from a time domain into a frequency domain. Furthermore, the audio encoder has a second coding branch comprising a second time/frequency converter. Additionally, a signal analyzer for analyzing the audio signal is provided. The signal analyzer, on the hand, determines whether an audio portion is effective in the encoder output signal as a first encoded signal from the first encoding branch or as a second encoded signal from a second encoding branch. On the other hand, the signal analyzer determines a time/frequency resolution to be applied by the converters when generating the encoded signals. An output interface includes, in addition to the first encoded signal and the second encoded signal, a resolution information identifying the resolution used by the first time/frequency converter and used by the second time/frequency converter. |
| US08447619B2 |
User attribute distribution for network/peer assisted speech coding
Systems, methods and apparatuses are described herein for distributing user attribute information about users of a communications system to communication terminals, which use the user attribute information to configure a speech codec to operate in a speaker-dependent manner during a communication session, thereby improving speech coding efficiency. In a network-assisted model, the user attribute information is stored on the communications network and selectively transmitted to the communication terminals while in a peer-assisted model, the user attribute information is derived by and transferred between communication terminals. |
| US08447618B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding residual signal
A residual signal decoding method including dividing a signal into a plurality of sub-bands in a frequency domain, wherein the signal is in a residual signal and is encoded with respect to an effective residual signal exceeding a masking curve that is generated with respect to a multi-channel audio signal, transforming the frequency domain into a time domain, and restoring the signal as an effective residual signal by synthesizing signals of the domain-transformed sub-bands. |
| US08447615B2 |
System and method for identifying and/or authenticating a source of received electronic data by digital signal processing and/or voice authentication
A system and method for at least one of identifying and authenticating a source of received electronic data, the system comprising: an electronic device configured for receiving a first signal from a source and configured for transmitting a second signal, wherein the source is configured to transmit at least one audio and ultrasonic signals; and a remote server configured for receiving the second signal from said electronic device and configured for transmitting a third signal to said electronic device; the remote server configured for generating an indication of at least one of the identification of the source of the received first signal and the authenticity of the source of the received first signal; wherein the generating an indication includes analyzing at the remote server the second signal received from the electronic device, the analyzing including at least one of digital signal processing, voice recognition, and voice verification. |
| US08447612B2 |
Computerized information presentation apparatus
A computerized readable apparatus for presentation of information, including contextually related secondary content. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to facilitate ad hoc communication with a personal electronic device of a user, and provide the user with requested information (such as for example direction to a desired business or other entity). At least a portion of the information is obtained via a wireless link with a remote server. |
| US08447611B2 |
Pen-type voice computer and method thereof
A pen-type voice computer generating a voice index table and the method thereof. The method comprises recording voice data by a microphone, generating a handwriting index of the voice data by inputting drawing data using a handwriting input device, and associating the handwriting index with the corresponding voice data to generate the voice index table. |
| US08447600B2 |
Automatic language model update
A method for generating a speech recognition model includes accessing a baseline speech recognition model, obtaining information related to recent language usage from search queries, and modifying the speech recognition model to revise probabilities of a portion of a sound occurrence based on the information. The portion of a sound may include a word. Also, a method for generating a speech recognition model, includes receiving at a search engine from a remote device an audio recording and a transcript that substantially represents at least a portion of the audio recording, synchronizing the transcript with the audio recording, extracting one or more letters from the transcript and extracting the associated pronunciation of the one or more letters from the audio recording, and generating a dictionary entry in a pronunciation dictionary. |
| US08447598B2 |
Vehicle user interface systems and methods
A control system for mounting in a vehicle and for providing information to a portable electronic device for processing by the portable electronic device is shown and described. The control system includes a first interface for communicating with the portable electronic device and a memory device. The control system also includes a processing circuit communicably coupled to the first interface and the memory device, the processing circuit configured to extract information from the memory device and to provide the information to the first interface so that the first interface communicates the information to the portable electronic device. The processing circuit is further configured to determine the capabilities of the portable electronic device based on data received from the portable electronic device via the first interface and to determine whether or not to communicate the information to the portable electronic device based on the determined capabilities. |
| US08447597B2 |
Audio encoding device, audio decoding device, audio encoding method, and audio decoding method
In an encoding process, a CPU transforms an audio signal from the real-time domain to the frequency domain, and transforms the signal into spectra consisting of MDCT coefficients. The CPU separates the audio signal into several frequency bands, and performs bit shifting in each band such that the MDCT coefficients can be expressed with pre-configured numbers of bits. The CPU re-quantizes the MDCT coefficients at a precision differing for each band, and transmits the values acquired thereby and shift bit numbers as encoded data. Meanwhile, in a decoding process, a CPU receives encoded data and inverse re-quantizes and inverse bit shifts the data, thereby restoring the MDCT coefficients. Furthermore, the CPU transforms the data from frequency domain to the real-time domain by using the inverse MDCT, and restores and outputs the audio signal. |
| US08447586B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting verification of software internationalization
In a verification support apparatus, a content analysis section analyzes a content to divide the content into paragraphs, extract region/culture-specific data, and store the analysis results in an analysis result storage section. A first verification section verifies, based on the analysis results, the consistency between the content and locale of a paragraph and the consistency between the paragraph and locale of the region/culture-specific data. A second verification section verifies, based on the analysis results, the correspondence between a paragraph of language A and a paragraph of language B and the consistency between the region/culture-specific data of language A and the region/culture-specific data of language B. A content update section updates the content so that the results of verification by the first verification section or the second verification section can be displayed in a way a person in charge of verification can easily understand. |
| US08447582B2 |
Variation distribution simulation apparatus and method, and recording medium
A circuit simulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention calculates a set value of a SPICE parameter of a MOSFET to carry out a variation analysis on a semiconductor circuit including the MOSFET. The apparatus includes a storage part configured to store an intermediate model expression that includes a variable related to a manufacture condition or device structure of the MOSFET as a variable affecting variation characteristics of the MOSFET, the intermediate model expression being formed with a universal function having a physical correlation between a physical amount defined by the variable and the SPICE parameter, a setting part configured to set information about the variable included in the intermediate model expression, a calculation part configured to calculate the set value of the SPICE parameter by using the information set in the setting part and the intermediate model expression stored in the storage part, and an output part configured to output process variation dependency of the semiconductor circuit. |
| US08447581B1 |
Generating simulation code from a specification of a circuit design
During the elaboration and synthesis of a circuit design, a parse tree generally must be fully expanded to access memory resources and data of individual module instances in order to perform optimizations that will result in better runtime performance of generated simulation code. The present invention reduces memory requirements in generating simulation or emulation executable code by implementing a collapsed parse tree, where multiple instances of a module in a HDL design are represented by a single representative node in the parse tree. |
| US08447580B2 |
Modeling of a multiprocessor system
Methods and systems for modeling a multiprocessor system in a graphical modeling environment are disclosed. The multiprocessor system may include multiple processing units that carry out one or more processes, such as programs and sets of instructions. Each of the processing units may be represented as a node at the top level of the model for the multiprocessor system. The nodes representing the processing units of the multiprocessor system may be interconnected to each other via a communication channel. The nodes may include at least one read element for reading data from the communication channel into the nodes. The node may also include at least one write element for writing data from the nodes into the communication channel. Each of the processing unit can communicate with other processing unit via the communication channel using the read and write elements. |
| US08447572B2 |
Assembling manipulability evaluation apparatus, method, and program
An analysis model control unit disposes at least two component models, which are to be used in assembly of a product to be evaluated, in virtual space displayed on a screen. A virtual glove controller moves and operates component models, which are disposed in virtual space, in accordance with an input operation signal of a user by a virtual glove. When the two component models are brought into contact with each other, a model conversion unit converts them into component analysis models. A deformed structure analysis unit executes structure analysis calculations with respect to the relative movement caused along with assembly of the two component analysis models after contact so as to calculate deformation and deformation stresses. An evaluation processing unit compares the deformation stress with a threshold stress of the material so as to evaluate whether assembly can be performed without breaking the components. |
| US08447569B1 |
Determining sustainability of a data center
Determining a sustainability impact for available data center architectures. A data center is accessed by a computer. Two or more functional parameters of the data center are then evaluated by the computer. Then, the computer combines the two or more evaluated functional parameters into a quantified judgment to determine a sustainability impact of available architectures of the data center. |
| US08447566B2 |
Mounting condition determining method
A mounting condition determining method including: obtaining mounting information including information related to component mounting operations scheduled to be performed by a mounter (S1); judging, using the mounting information obtained in the obtaining: which production mode between a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode is suitable for the scheduled component mounting operations; or which production mode between an alternating mode and an independent mode is suitable for the scheduled component mounting operations (S2, S3); and selecting the production mode indicated by a result of the judgment in the judging, as the production mode to be executed by the mounter (S5, S6). |
| US08447565B2 |
Approximate error conjugation gradient minimization methods
In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a subset of rays from a set of all rays to use in an error calculation for a constrained conjugate gradient minimization problem, calculating an approximate error using the subset of rays, and calculating a minimum in a conjugate gradient direction based on the approximate error. In another embodiment, a system includes a processor for executing logic, logic for selecting a subset of rays from a set of all rays to use in an error calculation for a constrained conjugate gradient minimization problem, logic for calculating an approximate error using the subset of rays, and logic for calculating a minimum in a conjugate gradient direction based on the approximate error. In other embodiments, computer program products, methods, and systems are described capable of using approximate error in constrained conjugate gradient minimization problems. |
| US08447564B2 |
Systems and method for power plant performance reconciliation
A method and system for determining the overall performance of a power plant are provided. The system includes a plurality of components including a processor configured to generate a first reference model of the power plant and generate a first measured model of the power plant. The processor is further configured to determine the performance impact of the at least one of the plurality of components of the power plant on the overall thermal performance of the power plant, normalize the performance impact to design conditions, and output at least one of the normalized performance impact on overall plant performance. |
| US08447563B2 |
Method and system for determination of detection probability or a target object based on a range
A simulation system for predicting a likelihood of whether a target object positioned in an environment will be detected by a detection system when illuminated by a laser source. The simulation system may be used for a laser rangefinder application and a laser designator application. The simulation system may provide a detection probability of the target object at a specified range to the detection system or a plurality of detection probabilities as a function of the range to the detection system. The simulation system may provide an indication of an overlap of the beam provided by the laser source on the target object. The simulation system may determine the effect of vibration on the detection of the target object at a specified range. |
| US08447562B2 |
Inspection apparatus and method using penetrating radiation
A method of determining a parameter of an object using penetrating radiation such as X-rays. The parameter of the object could be weight or mass or volume. The method comprises the step of passing the penetrating radiation through the object; determining a first value derived from the total energy of penetrating radiation absorbed by the object; determining a second value related to the mean energy per unit area of penetrating radiation absorbed by the object and determining the parameter from the first and second values. An algorithm representing a proportionality relationship is derived from the first and second value. The parameter is determined by establishing an exponential relationship to an amount derived from the algorithm. |
| US08447558B2 |
Information processor and cooling performance determination method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus, includes a heat generator on the printed-circuit board in the housing, a heat radiator in the housing configured to radiate heat of the heat generator to the outside of the housing, a first thermometer configure to sense a first temperature at a first position on the board, a second thermometer on the board configured to sense a second temperature at a second position away from the heat generator than the first position, a cooling performance determination module configured to monitor whether a temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is above a threshold, and to determine whether performance of the heat radiator is deteriorated based on a result of the monitoring. |
| US08447555B2 |
Method for increasing the availability of displacement/position measuring systems on the basis of potentiometers with a slider tap
The disclosure relates to a method for increasing the availability of displacement/position measuring systems on the basis of potentiometers with a slider tap in a closed control loop, the controller of which is formed by a microcontroller which is supplied with the position of the slider via an analog/digital converter. At least part of the sensor range of the potentiometer is scanned on request by presetting a sequence of manipulated variables and an available control loop variable which represents the position value at a high sampling rate outside process tasks is recorded, to determine the exact position of a defective slider position of the potentiometer by evaluating the variable. The reference variable of the control loop is overloaded in a defined manner within the process task such that the defective slider position is passed over during the displacement/position measurement and an intact slider position is reached. |
| US08447550B1 |
Compact fixed-source array test station for calibration of a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker
A fixed-source array test station provides a compact cost-effective high-throughput test bed for testing optical sensors that require stimulus at fixed angular positions. An array of fixed collimated sources at different angular positions in the sensor's FOV are positioned on a surface of a focal sphere at the effective focal length of a spherical lens and aligned along respective radial lines to the center of the spherical lens so that each said divergent optical beam is collimated by the spherical lens to form a collimated optical beam that overlaps the entire entrance pupil of the optical seeker. The sources are activated in accordance with an activation profile in order to calibrate or otherwise test the sensor. |
| US08447549B2 |
Tolerance evaluation with reduced measured points
A method of determining whether a part satisfies tolerance criteria includes making a multiplicity of measurements of the part, reducing the number of measured points to a number of boundary points that define a boundary within which all measured points are encompassed and comparing the boundary to a tolerance limit of a normal surface to determine whether the part conforms to the tolerance. |
| US08447548B2 |
Method using time to digital converter for direct measurement of set pulse widths
The disclosure provides for a method for identifying and measuring a signal pulse induced in a microcircuit due to ionizing radiation. The method comprises locating an ionizing radiation induced pulse across a microcircuit using a plurality of sensors on the microcircuit. The method further comprises radiating a radiation through the microcircuit to produce a pulse width. The method further comprises using a time to digital converter (TDC) to measure a duration of the pulse width to create a measured pulse width. The method further comprises using the TDC to convert the measured pulse width into a digital signal. |
| US08447547B2 |
Static noise margin estimation
In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that estimates a total static noise margin of a bit cell of a memory. The method includes determining a correlation coefficient of a left static noise margin of the bit cell as compared to a right static noise margin of the bit cell and estimating a total static noise margin of the bit cell by evaluating an analytical function based on the correlation coefficient. |
| US08447542B2 |
Method and device for measuring the electric power of a universal electric motor powered by sinusoidal alternating voltage
A method measures the electric power of a universal electric motor (4) connected to an electric power mains (6) by a Triac (7) and supplied by sinusoidal alternating voltage (V(t)). The method determines a first (ton) and a second (toff) instant at which the current (I(t)) supplied to the motor (4) passes from a zero value to a value other than zero. The current supplied to the motor (4) at a third instant between the first (ton) and second (toff) instant is measured. A fitting current time pattern (f(t)) approximating the real time pattern of the current (I(t)), and which has a zero current value at the first (ton) and second (toff) instant, and a current value equal to a sampled current at the third instant (tin), is determined. The mean electric power is calculated on the basis of the fitting current time pattern (f(t)). |
| US08447541B2 |
Energy usage monitoring with remote display and automatic detection of appliance including graphical user interface
Devices and methods for identifying an electrical device, and its state, in a network of electrical devices are disclosed. An energy monitoring device is programmed to identify an electrical device coupled to a power supply, and a state of the electrical device, from a change in successive measurements of the power supply. Algorithms for determining a load signature for an electrical device and its state are disclosed. A stored table of load signatures for states is used to identify devices, and states. Energy monitoring information is collected and presented to the user on a display, a remote display, or is transmitted over a network to a remote device such as a personal computer, personal digital assistant, an iPhone, a cell phone, voice mail, email, or text message. |
| US08447540B2 |
Method for detecting, identifying and locating partial discharges occurring in a discharge site along an electric apparatus
A method for detecting, identifying and locating partial discharges occurring in a discharge site along an electric apparatus comprises the following steps: detecting (1) electrical signals in a detection station; attributing (2) to each detected signal a value of a phase parameter; deriving (3) for each signal at least one shape parameter and one amplitude parameter; separating (4) the set of signals detected into sub sets that are homogeneous relative to the shape parameter; identifying (5) sub-sets related to partial discharges and cataloguing them; repeating the above steps in a plurality of detection stations positioned along the apparatus; correlating (7) the sub-sets of signals detected in different detection stations and catalogued similarly; selecting (8) as a function of the amplitude and shape parameters of a sub-set among the correlated ones and locating (9) the partial discharges related to said sub-sets at the detection station of the selected sub-set. Known methods have poor effectiveness and/or reliability, especially for cables whose length exceeds 1-2 km or, alternatively, they require an excessively complex and costly field implementation. |
| US08447535B2 |
Wet gas measurement
A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value. |
| US08447533B1 |
Method of wastewater flow measurement, system analysis, and improvement
A method of reducing rainwater and/or groundwater inflow and infiltration into a wastewater treatment collection grid. The method preferably involves the steps of (a) dividing the grid into a plurality of major subsystems, (b) determining flow depth levels in each major subsystem under dry and wet conditions, (c) using these wet weather and dry weather flow depth measurements to determine a volume flow ratio for wet versus dry conditions, (d) using these flow ratios to identify the particular major subsystem(s) in which the greatest amount of inflow or infiltration is occurring, and then (e) further dividing the highest ranking major subsystem(s) into smaller subsystems in which the same dry and wet weather level measurement and ranking analysis is preferably conducted to further isolate problem locations for surveillance, maintenance, and/or repair. |
| US08447528B2 |
Remote vehicle emissions sensing system and method for differentiating water from hydrocarbons
Water droplets in exhaust gas that is, or was, analyzed by a remote emissions sensing system are detected. The detection may be made using measurements generally captured by the remote emissions sensing system during typical operation. As such, the detection may be applied “on site” as remote emissions sensing analysis is ongoing, or may be applied post hoc from data previously acquired by a remote emissions sensing system. The detection may be implemented without requiring additional sensors, more sophisticated sensors, and/or other additional or more sophisticated equipment being included in the remote emissions sensing system. |
| US08447514B2 |
Mobile communication terminal
A mobile communication terminal 10 has a navigation function to perform a route guidance from a present location to a destination by utilizing a network 100 and a GPS signal. A geomagnetism sensor 46, a direction detecting circuit 44 and a gyro sensor 48 detects a traveling direction of the mobile communication terminal 10 (user). The CPU 20 determines whether or not the traveling direction and a direction of the route designated by the navigation function are coincident with each other by the processing in a step S7. Then, if the traveling direction and the direction of the route designated by the navigation function are not coincident with each other, the LED 38 notifies what direction the user has to go by emitting light in any one of red, yellow and orange. |
| US08447509B2 |
System and method 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 a sensor signature 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. Specific geometries for the DME have been discovered that minimize the risk of the DME flipping up and hitting or otherwise damaging or disrupting the ride of typical test vehicles during impact of the test vehicles with the GST, all while minimizing the effect of the DME on the sensor signature of the GST. |
| US08447503B2 |
Control strategy for operating a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition engine subsequent to a fuel cutoff event
A multi-cylinder spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine is re-fired subsequent to a fuel cutoff event wherein fuel to all cylinders is cutoff. Re-firing the engine includes selectively firing individual cylinders during re-firing engine cycles exclusively at a predetermined fixed fuel mass until all cylinders have been fired at least once, whereafter subsequent firing of individual cylinders is not limited to the predetermined fixed fuel mass. |
| US08447494B2 |
Plug-in hybrid EVAP valve management to reduce valve cycling
A control module for an engine of a vehicle includes a mode determination module that determines whether the vehicle is in a fuel-saving mode based on an acceleration of the vehicle. A diurnal control valve (DCV) control module selectively closes a DCV a predetermined time after at least one of determining that the vehicle is in the fuel-saving mode and determining that the engine is stopped. |
| US08447493B2 |
Ignition timing controller of internal combustion engine
The apparatus of the present invention corrects a control target value of ignition timing using a multipoint learned value AGdp(n) for compensating for a change amount of the ignition timing caused by time-dependent change of the engine and a basic learned value AG(i) for compensating for a change amount of the ignition timing caused by a factor other than the aforementioned time-dependent change of the engine. In a multipoint learning range n in which the time-dependent change of the engine influences the ignition timing to a great extent, the control target is corrected using the multipoint learned value AGdp(n) and the basic learned value AG(i). In ranges other than the multipoint learning range n, the control target is corrected using only the basic learned value AG(i). Normally, only the learning of the multipoint learned value AGdp(n) is permitted in the multipoint learning range n, and only the learning of the basic learned value AG(i) is permitted in the ranges other than the multipoint learning range n. When it is determined that there is a possibility that fuel has been fed to a fuel tank, the learning of the multipoint learned value AGdp(n) is prohibited for a subsequent predetermined period (if NO in step S103 or step S104). |
| US08447492B2 |
Engine characteristic estimation method, and computer readable medium
A method for estimating steady state values of engine operating characteristics is provided so that engine control can later be based on the estimated values. An amount of change in a specific engine characteristic (for which the steady state values are to be estimated) is set as a product of an unknown value and a dimensionless known value for predetermined times from when a specific engine control parameter is changed. A value of the specific engine characteristic at a given time is calculated as a sum of the products at the given time, with the products respectively corresponding to plural prior changes in the specific engine control parameter. Unknown values are calculated multiple times based on values of the specific engine characteristic measured in a conformance test, and the steady state values of the specific engine characteristic are estimated. |
| US08447490B2 |
Vehicle power transmission apparatus
A control unit (200) executes fail-safe control that forcibly releases a lockup clutch (15) by activating a fail-safe valve (112), abnormality diagnosis control that determines whether a solenoid valve (DSU) is suffering from a solenoid ON abnormality when the vehicle has started with the fail-safe control executed, and reproduction control that simulatively reproduces, when the vehicle has started without the fail-safe control executed, a condition coinciding with the condition for allowing execution of the abnormality diagnosis control. |
| US08447488B2 |
Device for longitudinally guiding a motor vehicle
A device is described for longitudinally guiding a motor vehicle, including a sensor system for locating preceding vehicles, a controller that regulates the speed of the vehicle to a setpoint speed, either in a following driving mode as a function of the distance from a preceding vehicle or in a free driving mode, an interface to a navigation system which provides information about the traveled route, and a limiting device for limiting the setpoint speed based on the provided information. The limiting device is designed for calculating a limiting value for the setpoint speed for each possible route when the travel route is recognized as being ambiguous and for selecting the greatest of these limiting values for limiting the setpoint speed. |
| US08447486B2 |
Brake control apparatus and control method for the brake control apparatus
In a brake control apparatus that controls braking forces which are applied to wheels based on the pressure of the hydraulic fluid, when the pressure detected by a control pressure sensor (73) is equal to or higher than a predetermined value while a partition valve (60) is closed, a master cut valve (64) is closed to suppress an increase in the pressure in a first passage (45) in a first hydraulic circuit (37), to which the control pressure sensor (73) is connected. Alternatively, the control pressure sensor (73) is protected against overpressure by opening the outlet valve (56,57) or the pressure-decreasing valve (67). |
| US08447482B2 |
Shift control device and vehicle
A shift control device includes a clutch for performing a connection/disconnection of power transmitted to a drive wheel from an engine based on an operation input to a shift operator, an actuator for performing a drive control of the clutch, and a controller for controlling the driving of the actuator. The controller includes an operation quantity detector for detecting an operation quantity of a shift operator, a shift starter performing a control toward the disengagement of the clutch by driving the actuator at a stage in which an operation quantity detected by the operation quantity detector exceeds a first threshold value, and a shift starter for performing a disengagement control of the clutch by driving the actuator at a stage wherein an operation quantity detected by the operation quantity detector exceeds a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value. |
| US08447476B2 |
Lubricating oil supply control device for construction machine
A lubricating oil supply control device controls a lubricating oil supply amount to a transmission in a construction machine including a torque converter with a lock-up clutch. The lubricating oil supply control device includes a clutch state determining section, a lubricating oil amount detecting section and a lock-up clutch controlling section. The clutch state determining section determines whether or not the lock-up clutch is being coupled. The lubricating oil amount detecting section detects whether or not the lubricating oil supply amount to the transmission is short of a preliminarily set supply amount. The lock-up clutch controlling section decouples the lock-up clutch when the lock-up clutch is being coupled and the lubricating oil supply amount is short of the preliminarily set supply amount. |
| US08447472B2 |
Method and system for impact time and velocity prediction
A collision detection system includes at least one sensor. The data from the sensor is input to a recursive filter which selectively uses the input to predict the motion of a target object relative to a host vehicle. The recursive filter continues to use the data from the sensor until the target object is within a threshold distance of the host vehicle. Within the threshold distance, the sensor does not reliably provide accurate data. Accordingly, the recursive filter omits the sensor input from motion estimates when the target object is within the threshold distance, which leads to significant improvement in target motion prediction. |
| US08447470B2 |
Method for determining, in real time, the grip on a steering wheel of an electric power-assisted steering system for automobile
The invention concerns a method which includes: filtering the torque signal using a low-pass filter of the first order at a variable cut-off frequency which takes on, respectively, a minimum value or a maximum value depending on whether the amplitude of the torque signal is, respectively, lower or higher than a predetermined threshold; then in producing a signal indicating, respectively, a steering wheel release or a steering wheel grip depending on whether the amplitude of the filtered torque signal is, respectively, lower or higher than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08447469B2 |
Electric power steering system control methods
An electric power steering system of a vehicle includes a controller for controlling an electric motor connected to a steering column or other steering mechanism. The velocity of the motor must be determined to maintain the proper current to the motor. A method of estimating the velocity includes obtaining a first and second velocity signals from one or more sensors monitoring the motor. The first and second signals have different characteristics, e.g., the first signal may have a higher resolution than the second signal. An acceleration (or deceleration) of the velocity of the electric motor is computed based on the different representations of the velocity supplied by the different signals. An estimate of the velocity of the motor is then determined based on the acceleration/deceleration and the different representations of the velocity. The electric current provided to the electric motor is then adjusted based on the estimated velocity to meet the desired motor output (i.e., motor torque and velocity). |
| US08447468B2 |
Electrically-powered actuator driving control apparatus and driving control method and vehicle having electrically-powered actuator driving control apparatus
It is a task of the invention to obtain a favorable thrust force characteristic with respect to a stroke of an actuator even if the actuator is used in a thrust force control. To solve the task, in the present invention, a linear motor type electrically-powered actuator AC with a linear motor 3 as a drive section is drivingly controlled. With a basic thrust force variation with respect to the stroke in a non-excitation state as a basis, a thrust force command Fc is used to correct a phase of the basic thrust force variation and a magnitude thereof to determine a compensation quantity which corresponds to the thrust force variation with respect to the stroke. |
| US08447467B2 |
Method and system for automatically locking doors of vehicle
An automatic locking system for vehicles includes an electronic control unit. If it is determined that an electronic key is not located in a communication area of an inside-cabin transmitter, the control unit determines whether or not the electronic key is located nearby. As a result, if the electronic key is determined as being located nearby, followed later by a determination that the electronic key is not located nearby, comparison history is stored in a memory. If it is determined that comparison history is stored in the memory and four entry-and-exit doors are closed, the four entry-and-exit doors are locked. |
| US08447466B2 |
Method for controlling pressure in a compressed-air accumulator of a vehicle level-control system
A method for controlling the pressure in a compressed-air accumulator of a level-control system of a motor vehicle utilizing a pressure-control apparatus constructed and arranged to adjust the accumulator pressure according to a predetermined index pressure value. The index pressure value is automatically determined by a computing device based on the relative level and/or the load of the vehicle. |
| US08447465B2 |
Method of activating a telematics device
A method of registering a vehicle with a call center of a telematics system may entail turning a key within a vehicle ignition to begin a call from a telematics control module within the vehicle to a server at a telematics call center, connecting the telematics control module within the vehicle to the server at the telematics service center, sending a health check request from the telematics control module within the vehicle to the server at the telematics service center; and receiving a health check confirmation in the telematics control module within the vehicle from the server at the telematics service center. The method may further entail inquiring if such a health check request request-confirmation was successful. The method may also include a call fail counter and a message fail counter to automatically re-initiate a health check request and a successful answer to such a request. |
| US08447463B1 |
Tracking vehicle locations in a parking lot for definitive display on a GUI
A computer implemented method for displaying on a map a definitive image of precise locations of multiple mobile objects such as vehicles in a lot. The lot is mapped digitally to display precise locations of sub-areas of different types, such as parking and movement slots and their raw, approximate distances from vehicles are determined from approximate coordinates of vehicles obtained remotely. A data base of vehicle and sub-area types is established and a vehicle placement matrix is determined providing probabilities of respective sub-areas being occupiable by respective vehicles derived from business environment rules based on compatibilities of respective vehicle types with respect sub-area types. Raw, approximate distances of vehicles from sub-areas are divided by the probabilities to provided adjusted distances, sub-areas ranked by least adjusted distances and the respective vehicles placed in their top ranked sub-areas for more accurate display of location on a GUI. |
| US08447462B2 |
Diagnosis management system and diagnosis management method for a valve-controlled hydrostatic displacement unit
A diagnosis management system for a hydrostatic displacement unit, including a control unit for controlling a drive motor, a hybrid control unit for controlling the motor control unit on the basis of at least one desired acceleration signal and one desired deceleration signal for the drive motor, a gear control unit for controlling the motor control unit on the basis of at least signals derived from a continuously variable gear, and a control unit for a digital displacement unit, for controlling at least one pump motor as the digital displacement unit is disclosed. The control unit for a digital displacement unit has at least one diagnostic interface, which detects operating values and/or operating states in order to detect system errors in the pump motor, a sensor unit portion associated with the pump motor, and/or a power electronics portion associated with the pump motor; and at least one calculation portion, which preprocesses the operating values and/or operating states detected by the diagnostic interface. The at least one diagnostic interface and the at least one calculation portion are disposed for operating in a first system direction for diagnosis and for determining a correction of incident system errors, and in a second system direction for diagnosis and/or for performing the correction of incident system errors. A diagnosis management method can be performed by the diagnosis management system. |
| US08447461B2 |
Particulate filter ash loading prediction method and vehicle with same
A particulate filter (PF) ash loading prediction method includes the steps of: regenerating the PF using a first soot loading prediction model or a second soot loading prediction model; determining whether the regeneration of the PF was initiated by the first soot loading prediction model or the second soot loading prediction model; incrementing a first counter associated with the first soot loading prediction model or a second counter associated with the second soot loading prediction model, dependent on the determining step; comparing a ratio of the first counter and the second counter; and establishing whether the PF requires servicing, dependent on the ratio. |
| US08447460B2 |
Vehicle operation method presentation device and method, and vehicle control device
A control state of the vehicle is switched upon operation of a control switch. Besides, a mode of travel for a travel of a vehicle is selected by operation of a travel mode selection portion. Then, it is determined whether the recommended control state recommended for the selected mode of travel and the actual control state are the same. If it is determined that they are not the same, that is, that there is a deviation between the recommended control state and the actual control state, an operation method for a control switch for realizing the control state recommended for the selected mode of travel is presented to a driver. |
| US08447454B2 |
Control method for a robot vehicle, and robot vehicle
A method and apparatus for controlling driving means which are designed to steer and move a robot vehicle (3) that is designed as a lawn mowing vehicle. The driving means are controlled so that the robot vehicle (3) travels through several sections (2) of a working area (8) in a specific movement pattern according to a section travel strategy with the help of dead reckoning such that two adjoining course sections (5) overlap with a predefined probability transversely to the direction of travel of the robot vehicle (3). |
| US08447446B2 |
Method and device for detecting an erroneous speed generated by an air data inertial reference system
Method and device for detecting an erroneous speed generated by an air data inertial reference system. The device can be configured to detect an erroneous speed provided by an air data and inertial data system and to generate a substitution speed. |
| US08447445B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of wing surfaces for variable camber
The movable surfaces affecting the camber of a wing are dynamically adjusted to optimize wing camber for optimum lift/drag ratios under changing conditions during a given flight phase. In a preferred embodiment, an add-on dynamic adjustment control module provides command signals for optimum positioning of trailing edge movable surfaces, i.e., inboard flaps, outboard flaps, ailerons, and flaperons, which are used in place of the predetermined positions of the standard flight control system. The dynamic adjustment control module utilizes inputs of changing aircraft conditions such as altitude, Mach number, weight, center of gravity (CG), vertical speed and flight phase. The dynamic adjustment control module's commands for repositioning the movable surfaces of the wing are transmitted through the standard flight control system to actuators for moving the flight control surfaces. |
| US08447443B1 |
Systems and methods for peak-seeking control
A computerized system and method for peak-seeking-control that uses a unique Kalman filter design to optimize a control loop, in real time, to either maximize or minimize a performance function of a physical object (“plant”). The system and method achieves more accurate and efficient peak-seeking-control by using a time-varying Kalman filter to estimate both the performance function gradient (slope) and Hessian (curvature) based on direct position measurements of the plant, and does not rely upon modeling the plant response to persistent excitation. The system and method can be naturally applied in various applications in which plant performance functions have multiple independent parameters, and it does not depend upon frequency separation to distinguish between system dimensions. |
| US08447442B2 |
Method for assisting in rejoining a vertical descent trajectory and associated device
A method is provided for assisting in rejoining a vertical descent trajectory that an aircraft is assumed to have to follow, using a flight management system FMS embedded onboard the aircraft, and includes the following steps: calculation of a vertical deviation VDEV, in the vertical plane, between the aircraft and the vertical descent trajectory, and comparison between the vertical deviation VDEV and a predetermined deviation threshold SVDEV; when the vertical deviation VDEV reaches the deviation threshold SVDEV, a step during which the activation of an optimized mode for catching up on the vertical descent trajectory is authorized; if the optimized mode for catching up on the vertical descent trajectory is activated, piloting of the aircraft by the flight management system FMS in optimized catch-up mode, that is to say at minimum thrust with a target rejoining speed in level VCRP and a target rejoining speed in downward trajectory, the target rejoining speed in level VCRP being equal to the maximum L/D ratio speed of the aircraft uprated by a first value V1 of between 5 and 15 knots, and the target rejoining speed in downward trajectory VCRD being equal to the maximum operating speed VMO with which the aircraft is allowed to fly downrated by a second value V2 of between 3 and 10 knots, a knot being equal to 0.514 ms−1. |
| US08447438B1 |
Real-time flexible vehicle control apparatus
An apparatus on an integrated circuit provides a real-time flexible interface between inputs from a vehicle components and outputs to the vehicle control components. The functions comprises of a programmable interconnection matrix, engine sensors and a control interface. Both engine sensors and control functions comprise of fixed hardwired functions and a customization hardware area. The apparatus therefore provides means for flexible powertrain events control target for the next generation of low-polluting power trains of vehicles. |
| US08447437B2 |
Assistant driving system with video recognition
An assistant driving system with video recognition includes a camera array capturing environment images for the environment around the vehicle, an image recognition unit identifying environment objects and their image, location, color, speed and direction from the environment images, an environment monitor and control unit receiving the information generated by the image recognition unit and creating the rebuild environment information for the vicinity of the vehicle as well as judging the space relationship between the vehicle and the environment objects to generate the warning information, a video recognition display unit showing a single image for the rebuild environment information, a vehicle warning unit performing the processes corresponding to the warning information, a vehicle driving unit generating the driving control command based on the rebuild environment information, and a vehicle controlling unit receiving the driving control command to control the throttle, brake or steering wheel of the vehicle. |
| US08447436B2 |
Handlebar control system
A handlebar control system for a motorcycle. The system includes a controller, a network interface, a plurality of user actuated devices coupled to the controller, an electronic switch coupled to the controller, a first connector having terminals linking to motorcycle power and a network bus, and a second connector coupled to a device external to the control system. |
| US08447432B2 |
Refrigerator and control method for the same
A refrigerator and a control method for the same are disclosed. Precise temperature control for plural cooling compartments can be achieved so that the cooling compartments can be respectively cooled down in various temperature zones, the temperature in the cooling compartments can be efficiently controlled, and a refrigerant does not remain in the system. Accordingly, the overall performance of the system is enhanced. |
| US08447431B2 |
Method for sootblowing optimization
A controller determines and adjusts system parameters, including cleanliness levels or sootblower operating settings, that are useful for maintaining the cleanliness of a fossil fuel boiler at an efficient level. Some embodiments use a direct controller to determine cleanliness levels and/or sootblower operating settings. Some embodiments use an indirect controller, with a system model, to determine cleanliness levels and/or sootblower settings. The controller may use a model that is, for example, a neural network, or a mass energy balance, or a genetically programmed model. The controller uses input about the actual performance or state of the boiler for adaptation. The controller may operate in conjunction with a sootblower optimization system that controls the actual settings of the sootblowers. The controller may coordinate cleanliness settings for multiple sootblowers and/or across a plurality of heat zones in the boiler. |
| US08447430B1 |
Systems and methods for assembly tool calibration verification
An assembly tool calibration verification system includes a hard drive component gauge (HDCG), a vision system, a controller, and a gripper assembly. The HDCG includes a first vision detection feature. The vision system is configured to capture an image of the HDCG. The controller is configured to determine a position of the HDCG based on the first vision detection feature in the captured image of the HDCG. The gripper assembly is configured to pick the HDCG from a tray and is positioned for picking the HDCG from the tray based on the determined position of the HDCG. The controller is further configured to generate a calibration verification signal based on at least one of determining the position of the HDCG by the controller and picking the HDCG from the tray by the gripper assembly. |
| US08447423B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing a performance index of a bulk product blending and packaging plant
A method of generating capacity, production and inventory plans, over a designated planning horizon, which will optimize, with respect to a designated performance index, the operations of one or more bulk product blending and packaging plants and a specified number, ranging from zero to a certain count, of distribution centers while meeting key operating constraints. Also decision making tools and computer implemented programs for performing the method. |
| US08447422B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method, and storage medium
Disclosed are a substrate processing apparatus, a substrate processing method, and a storage medium, which can process a normal substrate according to a normal schedule in parallel with a substrate to be processed in preference to other substrates. Processing block performs the same types of processes for substrates, carried therein from FOUP placing unit, by using process arms. When a priority substrate having a priority over other substrates are carried, control unit carries and processes the priority substrate in priority processing unit that can receive a next substrate among priority processing units to which a plurality of processing units are partially or wholly assigned, in preference to other substrates. |
| US08447415B2 |
Capsular device for esthetic and therapeutic body treatment
A capsular device for esthetic and therapeutic treatment of a patient with emission of infrared together with negative ions, allowing easy elimination of toxins, heavy metals, preventive control of diseases and postsurgical therapeutic treatment. |
| US08447414B2 |
Switched safety protection circuit for an AIMD system during exposure to high power electromagnetic fields
An energy management system that facilitates the transfer of high frequency energy induced on an implanted lead or a leadwire includes an energy dissipating surface associated with the implanted lead or the leadwire, a diversion or diverter circuit associated with the energy dissipating surface, and at least one switch disposed between the diversion circuit and the AIMD electronics for diverting energy in the implanted lead or the leadwire through the diversion circuit to the energy dissipating surface. The switch may comprise a single or multi-pole double or single throw switch. The diversion circuit may be either a high pass filter or a low pass filter. |
| US08447411B2 |
Patient interaction with posture-responsive therapy
In general, the disclosure relates to the delivery of therapy according to a detected posture state of a patient. The disclosure contemplates a variety of techniques for managing therapy delivered to a patent, including patient and clinician interaction with a medical device configured to deliver therapy according to posture state. In one example, the disclosure relates to a technique including obtaining an operational status of a therapy group from a medical device, wherein the medical device is configured to deliver therapy to a patient according to a detected posture state of the patient; and presenting the operational status of the therapy group via an external device, wherein presenting the operational status of the therapy group comprises presenting whether the therapy group is active for delivery of therapy. |
| US08447408B2 |
Neurostimulation therapy manipulation
A user, such as a clinician or the patient, uses a control device to manipulate at least one neurostimulation parameter. A mapping system uses a calibrated map to map the directional output of the control device to values of at least one stimulation parameter to allow the user to intuitively control the value of the parameter. In some embodiments, where a stimulation device is used to deliver spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy for example, the user manipulates a parameter to effect the location and/or strength of paresthesia experienced by the patient. In exemplary embodiments, the parameter values are combinations of electrodes, and the mapping system selects electrode combinations based on the output of the control device such that a direction of movement of paresthesia experienced by the patient corresponds to a direction of manipulation of a directional controller of the control device. The mapping system may calibrate the map based on patient paresthesia information received from a user. |
| US08447406B2 |
Medical method and device for monitoring a neural brain network
Bioelectrical signals may be sensed within the brain by two or more electrodes to determine characteristics of a function of the brain. The signals obtained by the electrodes may be plotted over time to determine whether the brain function exhibits a normal or an abnormal pattern. If the brain function exhibits an abnormal pattern, an implantable medical device may dynamically determine based on the abnormal pattern and a previously-obtained plot associated with normal brain function, an appropriate electrical stimulation therapy. Application of the appropriate electrical stimulation therapy causes the brain function to shift from the abnormal pattern to the normal pattern. |
| US08447403B2 |
Device and implantation system for electrical stimulation of biological systems
The present specification discloses devices and methodologies for the treatment of nocturnal GERD. Individuals with nocturnal GERD may be treated by implanting a stimulation device within the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. The presently disclosed devices have a simplified design because they do not require sensing systems capable of sensing when a person is engaged in a wet swallow and have improved energy storage requirements. |
| US08447402B1 |
Zirconia to platinum assembly using a titanium connector
The invention is a component assembly and method of hermetically bonding a ceramic part to a metal part by welding and brazing a component assembly comprised of metal parts, a ceramic part, and an intermediate metal ferrule. The ceramic part is preferably a hollow tube of partially-stabilized zirconia that is brazed to an alignment ferrule that is preferably titanium or a titanium alloy, such as Ti-6Al-4V. On one end the component assembly is brazed to an end cap for closure. On the other end the alignment ferrule is preferably brazed to a ring that is preferably comprised of a noble metal, such as platinum, iridium, or alloys of platinum and iridium. The ring is then laser welded to an eyelet that is preferably comprised of a noble metal. |
| US08447401B2 |
Collecting posture information to evaluate therapy
A medical device delivers a therapy to a patient. Posture events are identified, e.g., a posture of the patient is periodically determined and/or posture transitions by the patient are identified, and each determined posture event is associated with a current therapy parameter set. A value of at least one posture metric is determined for each of a plurality of therapy parameter sets based on the posture events associated with that therapy parameter set. A list of the therapy parameter sets is presented to a user, such as a clinician, for evaluation of the relative efficacy of the therapy parameter sets. The list may be ordered according to the one or more posture metric values to aid in evaluation of the therapy parameter sets. Where values are determined for a plurality of posture metrics, the list may be ordered according to the one of the posture metrics selected by the user. |
| US08447400B2 |
Systems and methods for use by an implantable medical device for controlling multi-site CRT pacing in the presence of atrial tachycardia
Systems and methods are provided for use by implantable medical devices equipped to deliver multi-site left ventricular (MSLV) pacing. MSLV is associated with a relatively long post-ventricular atrial blanking (PVAB) period that might limit the detection of pathologic rapid organized atrial tachycardias (OAT). In one example, MSLV cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacing is delivered within a tracking mode. A possible atrial tachycardia is detected based on the atrial rate exceeding an atrial tachycardia assessment rate (ATAR) threshold. The device then switches to single-site LV pacing, thereby effectively shortening the PVAB to detect additional atrial events that might otherwise be obscured, and thereby permitting the device to more reliably distinguish organized atrial tachycardias (such as atrial flutter) from sinus tachycardia. The device may also employ an automatic mode switch (AMS) threshold that is set higher than the ATAR threshold for use in switching from tracking modes to nontracking modes. |
| US08447399B2 |
System and method for managing detrimental cardiac remodeling
A system and method for managing and inhibiting cardiac remodeling in MI patients. Bi-ventricular stimulation is constantly provided with and without sensing to encourage normal pumping of the heart on a consistent basis. Pulses are administered using an anodal pulse followed by a cathodal pulse to stimulate cardiac muscle contraction. Stem cells are administered to MI areas to encourage regeneration of cardiac tissue in the damaged area. Stimulation may be provided to both healthy and compromised cardiac tissue. |
| US08447397B2 |
Systems, devices and methods used in verifying neural stimulation capture
Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulator, a premature ventricular contraction (PVC) event detector, a heart rate detector, an analyzer, and a controller. The neural stimulator is adapted to generate a stimulation signal adapted to stimulate an autonomic neural target. The analyzer is adapted to, in response to a PVC event signal from the PVC event detector, generate an autonomic balance indicator (ABI) as a function of pre-PVC heart rate data and post-PVC heart rate data. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08447396B2 |
Treating bacteria with electric fields
Cells that are in the process division are vulnerable to damage by AC electric fields that have specific frequency and field strength characteristics. The selective destruction of rapidly dividing cells can therefore be accomplished by imposing an AC electric field in a target region for extended periods of time. Some of the cells that divide while the field is applied will be damaged, but the cells that do not divide will not be harmed. This selectively damages rapidly dividing cells like bacteria, but does not harm normal cells that are not dividing. Since the vulnerability of the dividing cells is strongly related to the alignment between the long axis of the dividing cells and the lines of force of the electric field, improved results can be obtained when the field is sequentially imposed in different directions. |
| US08447393B2 |
Iontophoretic electrode
An electrode for an iontophoretic drug delivery system includes a retainer having a malleable characteristic. The retainer and a conductor are connected to a platform. The conductor and a dose controller are electrically coupled to the iontophoretic drug delivery system. A drug delivery matrix is operably connected to the platform and proximate the conductor wherein the conductor, the drug delivery matrix, and the dose controller cooperate to deliver a drug to a user when the electrode is affixed to the user and operably connected to the iontophoretic drug delivery system. |
| US08447392B2 |
Brain-machine interface systems and methods
A system and method for interfacing a brain with a machine. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention employs a vascular approach in which one or more nano-electrodes are deployed in vasculature having a close geometric relationship with proximal innervation. Each nano-electrode is preferably deployed in a blood vessel so that its sensing end is at or near a nerve passing close to or intersecting the blood vessel. The sensing end of each nano-electrode is adapted so as to be carried along in the blood stream so as to position the sensing end at a desired point within the blood vessel. An array of nano-electrodes of varying lengths can be used to monitor multiple nerves or neurons along a blood vessel. |
| US08447390B2 |
Detecting hemodynamic stability during arrhythmia using the changes in atrial activation
Detected changes in atrial activation can be used to discriminate between hemodynamically stable and hemodynamically unstable tachyarrhythmias. |
| US08447384B2 |
Method and system for performing biopsies
A method and system for performing biopsies can include an imaging system for obtaining diagnostic images of a target region; a tracking system; a probe having a deployable biopsy needle for performing a biopsy procedure where the tracking system generates tracking information for at least one of the probe and the biopsy needle; an ultrasound imaging system for obtaining ultrasound imaging of the target region; and a computer in communication with the tracking system, the imaging system and the ultrasound imaging system. The computer can register the tracking system with the imaging system. The computer transfers a marking of a biopsy site associated with the biopsy procedure from the ultrasound imaging to the diagnostic images based on the tracking information and the registration of the tracking system with the diagnostic images. |
| US08447380B2 |
Method for diagnosis of functional lung illnesses
In a method for diagnosing functional lung illnesses, image exposures of the lungs are obtained at various phase points in time of the respiration of a subject, such as at maximum inhalation and maximum expiration, and the image exposures are segmented and at least two of the image exposures are compared on a segment-by-segment basis to identify a change in tissue density between the compared segments, as an indicator of lung functioning. |
| US08447372B2 |
Monitoring a vital parameter of a patient with “in-situ” modulation scheme to avoid interference
The invention relates to a method of monitoring a vital parameter of a patient by measuring attenuation of light emitted onto tissue of the patient, comprising the following steps: modulating the light with a modulation frequency or/and a modulation code; emitting the modulated light onto the tissue of the patient; collecting light which is transmitted through the tissue or/and which is reflected from the tissue; demodulating the collected light; analyzing the demodulated collected light with regard to interference with ambient light; determining a modulation frequency or/and a modulation code for which interference with the ambient light is minimized or falls under a predefined threshold; and setting the modulation frequency or/and the modulation code for modulating the light according to the determined modulation frequency or/and a modulation code for which interference with the ambient light is minimized or falls under a predefined threshold. In this way a versatile and reliable possibility of monitoring a vital parameter of a patient with a high signal-to-interference ratio is provided. |
| US08447368B2 |
Base station, method of operating a base station and wireless communication system
A base station for wireless communication comprises a receiver and a processor. The receiver has a first operating state and a second operating state with different power consumption levels. In the first operating state, the receiver is configured to receive a signal. The processor is coupled to the receiver to switch the receiver between the first and second operating states. |
| US08447361B1 |
Dynamic interactive skin
A system and method is described for providing a dynamic interactive skin to at least one communications device. The dynamic interactive skin can be used to select one or more items. The items may be selected to send a message to at least one contact, send a vote for at least one contestant in a media program, send a vote for at least one ending of a media program, purchase an item in a store, preorder a product such as a meal or preorder a service such as a movie ticket, and perform various other wireless commerce functions. |
| US08447360B2 |
Setting the radiation pattern of an antenna
The invention refers to a method for dynamically setting the radiation pattern of an antenna of a base station connected to User Equipments in a cellular telecommunications network by obtaining data of the positions of User Equipments located under coverage of the base station during a predetermined period of time; statistically treating said data of the positions of User Equipments to obtain at least one statistical parameter of said data, and changing the radiation pattern of the antenna depending on the result of comparing said at least one statistical parameter with a pre-established value. |
| US08447354B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communication implementer, a stereo audio data output implementer, a photo quality setting implementer, a multiple language implementer, and a remote control implementer. |
| US08447353B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communication implementer, a bold formatting implementer, an italic formatting implementer, a multiple language implementer, and a remote control implementer. |
| US08447351B2 |
System and method for sequencing radio items for a multi downlink multi carrier receiver
A system and method are provided for sequencing radio events in a mobile device with a multi downlink multi carrier receiver. In the mobile device, there is a processor in communication with a timing control unit (TCU), whereby the TCU is in communication with two or more radios. The processor collects one or more radio events corresponding to the two or more radios and then sorts the radio events from highest priority to lowest priority to form a sorted list. The processor then loads the sorted list, beginning with a highest priority radio event, onto the TCU. |
| US08447349B2 |
Method and apparatus for inter-technology handoff of a multi-mode mobile station
A communication system reduces set up time for an inter-technology handoff of a multi-mode mobile station (MS) from a source network associated with a first radio frequency (RF) technology to a target network associated with a second RF technology by pre-establishing, prior to a determination to handoff the MS, a registration state of the MS and an authentication of the MS in association with the target network and second RF technology. In order to pre-establish the registration state and authentication, the MS exchanges messaging of the second RF technology with the second network via the first network and first RF technology. To facilitate the exchange, the MS includes shims in a second protocol stack associated with the second technology, which shims intercept second protocol stack signaling and redirect the intercepted signaling to a first protocol stack of the MS, associated with the first technology, for tunneling to the source network. |
| US08447340B2 |
Multicast push to talk groups, apparatus, and methods
A terminal (such as that belonging to or carried by an emergency first responder, for example) participates in a push to talk multicast group in either of two modes or levels. In a first mode or first level of participation, the terminal can join a multicast address for the push to talk multicast group as a passive recipient of transmissions and can thereby listen to the multicast address. In a second mode or second level of participation, the terminal becomes an active participant in the push to talk session. As an active participant in the push to talk session, the terminal can, e.g., receive sender identification (e.g., identification of other participants who may be talking in the push to talk multicast group) and send media bursts to the multicast group. |
| US08447339B2 |
Long-term-CSI-aided MU-MIMO scheduling method, base station and user equipment
The present invention proposes a multiuser multi-input multi-output scheduling method, which comprises steps of: a multiuser scheduling step of performing multiuser scheduling by using mean channel matrixes of respective user equipments; and a multiuser precoding step of performing multiuser precoding by using instantaneous channel matrixes of respective user equipments selected in the multiuser scheduling. The present invention also proposes a base station and a user equipment which will be used to implement the inventive multiuser multi-input multi-output scheduling method. |
| US08447337B2 |
Wireless communications device with waveform configuration and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include an antenna, a transceiver coupled to the antenna, and a controller coupled to the transceiver. The controller may be configured to determine a received signal characteristic, and to configure parameters of a waveform for adjacent forward transmission blocks to be transmitted as sequential forward transmission blocks and based upon the received signal characteristic. Each forward transmission block may have a preamble portion and an associated body portion. The controller may be further configured to set the preamble portion of each forward transmission block to communicate the parameters of the configured waveform. |
| US08447334B2 |
Network control device and network control method
As a network control device which controls a call connection between a calling party terminal and a called party terminal, a network control device determines whether the own network control device is in a congestion state when a handover request is acquired from another network control device which is in the congestion state, and stops transmitting a busy tone to a mobile terminal which is the calling party terminal and transmits a ring back tone to the mobile terminal when it is determined that the own network control device is not in the congestion state. |
| US08447332B2 |
Location-based services platform
A platform for providing location-based services is disclosed. A location data collection client running on a mobile device periodically obtains data allowing determination of the geographic location of the mobile device (e.g., GPS, cell tower, or WiFi data) and transmits that data and mobile device-specific information to a location-based services (LBS) platform server. The LBS platform server determines geographic location of the mobile device from the received data. For example, the LBS platform server accesses databases associating latitude and longitude coordinates with cell tower data or WiFi data and updates mobile device location to maintain current location information for the mobile device, which can be used as a proxy for the location of a mobile device user. The LBS platform server further includes a set of APIs allowing third-party services providers to access to the location data. |
| US08447331B2 |
Systems and methods to deliver digital location-based content to a visitor at a physical business location
In general, the invention relates to methods and systems that record the location of a user and transmit targeted content to a user based upon their current and past location information. A network includes a server programmed with a database of location information, a database of user information, and a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the user's mobile device. The location of the mobile device is ascertained and recorded. The system determines the businesses visited by the user. Managers of physical business locations provide content relating to their physical business locations to the system. The content is caused to be transmitted to the mobile devices on behalf of the managers when it is reported that the mobile device is located at the physical business location. |
| US08447327B2 |
Method and apparatus for a buffering scheme for OTDOA based location positioning
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises receiving a plurality of reference signals (RS) from a plurality of nearby cells over a positioning time window comprising a plurality of positioning occasions; grouping the received reference signals into a set of RS groups based on a time difference between a minimum expected RS time difference (RSTD) and a maximum expected RS time difference of the received signals; buffering a subset of the set of RS groups of the received reference signals in a RS buffer whose size is based at least in part on a buffering margin and is smaller than a maximum possible time difference; measuring the buffered reference signals; and generating an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) report based on the buffered subset of the set of RS groups of the received reference signals. |
| US08447325B2 |
Mobile device communication system and method
A computer-implemented mobile device calling method is provided. The method includes detecting initiation of a communication between a first mobile device and a second mobile device and determining a current location of the first mobile device in response to initiation of the communication between the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The method further includes transmitting the current location of the first mobile device to the second mobile device in response to initiation of the communication between the first mobile device and the second mobile device. A system for managing distribution of location information between mobile devices is further provided. |
| US08447324B2 |
System for multimedia tagging by a mobile user
A system, method, and wireless communication device that provide a mobile user with selective access to information based on a predefined trigger such as a user's vicinity. In an embodiment, selected information from a first wireless communication device of a communication group may be associated with a geographic location and stored. A portion of the information may be selectively transmitted to a second wireless communication device of the communication group when the second wireless communication device is determined to be proximate to the geographic location associated with the information. In one embodiment, the second wireless communication device may receive the information automatically based on trigger settings. |
| US08447322B2 |
System and method for providing multi-carrier tracking of wireless devices during an emergency
A system and method for tracking a wireless communications device of a user may include, in response to receiving a request to track the wireless communications device, notifying a plurality of wireless networks of different communications carriers to collect geographic coordinates at which a wireless communications device is located. Geographic coordinates of the wireless communications device may be collected from at least one of the wireless networks and communicated to a requestor for tracking the wireless communications device. |
| US08447320B2 |
Location tracking framework
A computer-implemented location tracking system includes an index comprising separate organizations of a) entity information and location based notifications for the entities, and b) independent location based notifications, and the index further comprising a spatial organization of references to the entity information, location based notifications for the entities, and independent location based notifications. |
| US08447319B2 |
System and method for locating UMTS user equipment using measurement reports
A system and method for estimating a location of a wireless device receiving signals from a plurality of nodes of a communication system. A first value may be determined based on a network timing characteristic for one of the nodes, and a second value may be determined based on a network measurement report characteristic. An observed time difference of arrival (“OTDOA”) hyperbola may then be calculated based on the first and second values, and a location of the wireless device estimated as a function of the OTDOA hyperbola. |
| US08447317B2 |
Method and arrangement in a wireless communication system
Method and arrangement in a user equipment (120) for selecting a radio channel out of a plurality of candidate radio channels. The selected radio channel is to be utilized for receiving control information from a base station (110). The user equipment (120) and the base station (110) are comprised in a wireless communication system (100). The method comprises determining (302) a physical entity of a signal received from the base station (110) over a candidate radio channel, out of the plurality of candidate radio channels. If the determined physical entity fulfills a criterion, the associated candidate radio channel is prioritized (303) for a check sum check. The check sum check is performed (304) on data received over the prioritized candidate radio channel. If the check sum check is successful, the prioritized candidate radio channel is selected (305). |
| US08447316B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating hidden common enhanced dedicated channel resources
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for communicating hidden common channel resources to a communication device(s). In this regard, a method is provided that includes sending a message, to a device of a cell, including data indicating items of system information relating to a number of communication channel resources of a first type of resource and receiving a response message from the device indicating that the device supports communication channel resources of a second type of resource. The method may further include determining a set of communication channel resources associated with the second type supportable by a network device to send the set of resources to the device in a reply message responsive to the indication that the device supports the communication channel resources of the second type. The method may also include receiving a selection, by the device, of a communication channel resource(s) of the set. |
| US08447313B2 |
Method of determining an access mode of cell in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and UE providing wireless communication services, and a method of determining the operation mode of a base station, that is, the connection mode (access mode) of a cell, based on which UE's connection is allowed by a base station in an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) that has evolved from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, and it may be an object of the present invention to provide a process of determining the connection mode of a cell by checking the existence of a subscriber group identity if it is determined that the connection mode of a cell is not allowed for one or more UEs belonging to a particular subscriber group. |
| US08447312B2 |
Method for connecting mobile station to base station, mobile station, base station, multi-carrier mobile communication system, and random access channel mapping method
In a mobile station, correction information is obtained from a base station for correcting a transmission timing shift in an uplink line of the mobile station, and the transmission timing shift is corrected in accordance with the correction information. Within a period in which the correction information is valid, the mobile station requests communication resource allocation information from the base station, using a random access channel having guard time. In an alternate embodiment, if a communication resource for transmitting a control channel in the uplink line is assigned to the mobile station within a period during which the correction information is valid, the mobile station instead requests the communication resource allocation information from the base station using the control channel in an uplink line from the mobile station to the base station. |
| US08447304B2 |
Mobile communication system and access gateway having plural user plane AGWs
In an access gateway (AGW) comprising a C-AGW for handling control messages and a plurality of U-AGWs for handling data packets, when a tunnel setup request is issued from one of base stations to hand over a mobile station, the C-AGW selects a new U-AGW being in the lowest load status out of the U-AGWs, estimates the load status of the new U-AGW in the case of changing the tunnel endpoint for the mobile station from a current U-AGW to the new U-AGW. The C-AGW designates the new U-AGW as the tunnel endpoint for the mobile station if the estimated load status satisfies a predetermined condition, but designates the current U-AGW as the tunnel endpoint if the estimated load status does not satisfy the predetermined condition. |
| US08447303B2 |
Method and system for automatic seamless mobility
A telecommunication system and method for automatically and seamlessly switching voice calls on a wireless mobile device between different wireless network services during the same conversation without user interaction and without being noticeable to the parties on the call. For example, a voice call at a mobile device using the services of a wireless wide area network (e.g., GSM/GPRS cellular network) may be switched over to a wireless local area network (e.g., 802.11 wireless network), and vice versa, while the call is in progress and without any input from the parties on the call. The system and method also provide a mechanism for maintaining a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call while the mobile device moves between wireless access points (AP) and has automatic reconnection in case there is a dropped call. |
| US08447302B2 |
Network initiated mobility management for mobile terminals
The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method wherein the network initiates a PDP context activation for a second PDP context using a new IP address that can be used for new transport sessions whenever one or more operator configured criteria apply. For example, the present invention can be used to: (1) route ongoing and new communication sessions from the old network device associated with the old IP address through a new network device associated with the new IP address using the old IP address; (2) route ongoing communication sessions from the old network device through the new network device using the old IP address, and new communication sessions directly through the new network device; or (3) route ongoing communication sessions from the old network device through the new network device without using the new IP address, and new communication sessions directly through the new network device. |
| US08447299B1 |
Handset mode selection based on user preferences
A multi-mode wireless device is provided to communicate with a plurality of networks, at least some of the networks having different modes of communication. The multi-mode wireless device has a network selection component to monitor at least some of networks and switch the multi-mode wireless device to communicate with different networks based on a network selection criterion. The user interface allows a user of the multi-mode wireless device to edit the network selection criterion based on a user preference related to the network used by the multi-mode wireless device. A method for communicating on one or more networks using a multi-mode wireless device is also provided. |
| US08447296B2 |
Methods for testing multibeam satellite systems using input power telemetry and output noise power
Methods that test multibeam satellite communication systems, including its antennas and transponders. The methods use input power telemetry and output noise power to test satellite transponders and antennas while the satellite is in orbit. One method that tests a satellite receive antenna employs at least two earth stations, one for RF testing and one for telemetry and commanding, with each providing a backup for the other. Other methods may use one or more earth stations to perform testing. Methods are disclosed that generate receive antenna pattern measurements, transmit pattern measurements, input chain frequency response curves, input chain transfer curves, and output chain frequency response curves. |
| US08447294B2 |
Method and system for implementing cell self-healing of base station in long term evolution system
A method and system for implementing self-healing of base station cells in long term evolution system, and the method comprises: when a base station detects that there is one baseband board abnormal, it judges whether there are redundant baseband resources in the base station that satisfy the minimum bandwidth demand of cells in the abnormal baseband board or not, and if yes, a cell establishment process is initiated to reestablish the cells in the abnormal baseband board; otherwise, redundant bandwidth of the cells from a normal baseband board is acquired as available baseband resources to reestablish the cells in the abnormal baseband board. Said system comprises: a detection unit, a judgment unit, a cell establishment unit and an available baseband resources acquisition unit. |
| US08447291B2 |
Selective state transitions of a user equipment within a wireless communications system
In an embodiment, a user equipment (UE) determines that a client application has entered a period of transmission inactivity whereby the UE will not be required to transmit data on behalf of the client application. The UE selectively transmits a transmission inactivity notification to an access network (AN) to notify the AN of the transmission inactivity period. The AN receives the transmission inactivity notification and determines to transition the UE from a first state to a second state based at least in part on the received transmission inactivity notification, the second state associated with lower-power consumption of the UE than the first state. The AN sends instructions to the UE to facilitate the transition of the UE from the first state to the second state. In another embodiment, the AN can send instructions to the UE to prohibit the UE from sending transmission inactivity notifications. |
| US08447290B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for programming user-defined information into electronic devices
A device for programming user-defined information into an electronic device is provided. The programmer allows a user to program customized information, such as user-selected audio, video, or Internet access information into his or her programmable device. Such electronic devices include wireless telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The programmer allows a user to, among other things, customize the device to suit his or her particular taste. |
| US08447288B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically updating an address book when a mobile device roams from one network to another
A method and apparatus is disclosed for dynamically switching an operating address book upon registering a migrating radio with a visited network. Prior to migrating, the radio uses a first address book in a home network to identify calling radios in the home network, wherein the first address book includes information associated with radios in the home network. Upon roaming to a visited network, the radio registers with the visited network and the radio retrieves an additional network specific address book for the visited network. The radio automatically switches to the additional network specific address book, upon registering with the visited network. Subsequent calls received by the radio are thereafter identified according to information stored in the additional network specific address book. |
| US08447287B2 |
System and method for reducing RF radiation exposure for a user of a mobile communication device by saving transmission containing non time-sensitive media until the user of the mobile communication device is a safe distance away from the user
A mobile communication device and method for reducing exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy during outgoing and incoming transmissions. During outgoing transmissions, media is stored in a local storage element on the mobile communication device as the media is being created. When the device is positioned a safe distance away from the user, the media is transmitted out of storage over the network to the recipient. Alternatively for incoming transmissions, media is stored on the network as it is created. While the wireless communication device is a safe distance away from the user, the media stored on the network is transmitted to the mobile communication device, where it is locally stored. The user of the mobile communication device can then review the incoming media at an arbitrary later time out of storage. As a result, the exposure of the user of the mobile communication device to RF energy for both outgoing and incoming transmissions is either substantially reduced or eliminated altogether. |
| US08447286B2 |
Multi-interface user terminal
In a communication system at least one operational criterion is applied for a group of one or more users. On the basis of such operational criterion, one or more interface rules are generated. An interface rule includes information that identifies an application that is capable of utilizing two or more communication interfaces, and also a function for determining a communication interface to be applied by that application in communications of the group of one or more users. A profile that includes interface rules generated on the basis of operational criteria to be applied for a user is created and stored in a user terminal of the user. Use of applications can be matched with operational requirements posed on or by the user, without substantial need to change the applications and/or the configuration of the terminal due to the matching. |
| US08447283B2 |
System and method for optimisation of media objects
A system and method for optimization of media objects for delivery to one of a plurality of mobile communication devices of different types and rendering thereon. In particular, the media objects are optimized according to the mobile device's characteristics to ensure efficient delivery and optimal rendering thereon. For this purpose, an optimized output of the media object is determined at a first stage. At a subsequent stage, based on the mobile device type, the characteristics of the object to be delivered are then adjusted to conform to those of the predetermined optimized output, thus ensuring that the rendering of the optimized media object on the mobile device output is of high quality. |
| US08447281B2 |
Apparatus and methods for incentivized superdistribution of content
Apparatus and methods for providing an incentive-based system for the superdistribution of content, which include one or more communications devices transmitting one or more referral messages relating to the content. Further, the apparatus and methods include the communications devices ordering content from across the network based on the referral messages, where a reward is generated for one or more referring devices based on the one or more referral messages. Additionally, the application of privacy and authentication mechanisms protects the privacy and verifies the identities of the parties involved in the transaction. |
| US08447279B1 |
Selection of wireless devices and service plans
Disclosed are various embodiments for selection of wireless devices and service plans. A geographic location and a plurality of wireless preferences are obtained from a user at a client. A plurality of wireless service plans that meet the wireless preferences and are offered by a plurality of wireless carriers that provide service to the geographic location are determined. A network page is generated that presents the wireless service plans in a ranked order that is based at least in part on the wireless preferences. |
| US08447271B2 |
Mobile communication system, network device and mobile communication method
A mobile communication system 100 has a specific cell configured to use a user line. The mobile communication system 100 includes a line determination unit 22 configured to determine whether or not a communication call uses the user line, by using a line identifier configured to identify a user installed a radio base station managing the specific cell, and a calculation unit 24 configured to calculate a reduction fee to be discounted from a usage fee for the communication call using the user line for the user installed a radio base station managing the specific cell. |
| US08447270B2 |
Providing information pertaining usage of a mobile wireless communications
When a device, such as a cellular phone, enters into a region, usage information pertaining to usage of devices in the region is provided to the device. For example, restrictions pertaining to usage of cellular phones while driving can be provided. Usage information also can be provided upon request or in accordance with various factors, such as subscriber preferences, elapsed time since the last time usage information was sent to the device, elapsed time since usage regulations have been enacted or updated, and/or the frequency of which the device is in the region. A region can include a geographic region, a political boundary, a country, a state, a municipality, a county, a parish, a township, a building (e.g., school, library, movie theatre, court house, local, state, or federal government building), a public place (e.g., restaurant, bus, train, taxi), a zip code, a telephone area code, or the like. |
| US08447267B2 |
System and method for providing location information to a public safety answering point during an emergency 911 call from a WiFi handset
A system and method for providing location information to a public safety answering point may include receiving, at a network access point, an emergency 911 call signal including GPS location information and mobile directory number of a wireless device. The GPS location information and mobile directory information may be communicated to a selective muter associated with a public safety access point servicing an area including the network access point. The network access point may be a WiFi access point. The access point address information may be communicated using a type II caller ID data packet after the public safety answering point goes off-hook. By communicating both the access point address information and GPS location information, both PSAPs that are configured as E911 Phase I and E911 Phase II may display address location information of an emergency 911 caller. |
| US08447265B2 |
Proximity based emergency communication system
A system for 2-way data and voice communication with a user A base station in communicates with a response center. A portable device has a cellular transceiver module, a GPS module and an emergency call button, and is in two-way communication with a response center for communicating the location of the portable device to the response center in response to activation of the emergency call button. A wearable pendant has a panic button, and outputs a signal in response to activation of the panic button. The portable device receives the signal and contacts the response center in response to the signal when the portable device is not in proximity to the base station; and the base station receives the signal and the base station communicates with the response center when the portable device is in proximity of the base station. |
| US08447262B2 |
Emergency call code information acquiring system
A mobile communication base station transmits broadcast information containing emergency call code information to a mobile terminal with the status “Camped on any cell” defined in the 3GPP specification “TS25.304”. Upon receiving the broadcast information, the mobile terminal acquires emergency call code information from the broadcast information. The status “Camped on any cell” means that a status in which an IC card is uninserted and the mobile terminal is communicable with the mobile communication base station from the perspective of radio wave strength or a status in which an IC card is inserted, the mobile terminal is communicable with the mobile communication base station from the perspective of radio wave strength, and an Attach or location registration to an MSC via the mobile communication base station and an RNC fails. |
| US08447260B2 |
Method and system for on-demand receiver supply voltage and current
Aspects of a method and system for on-demand receiver supply voltage and current are provided. In this regard, strength of a signal received by one or more antennas may be measured and a voltage and/or current supplied to one or more of a LNA, a filter, a mixer and/or a data converter within said receiver may be varied based on the measured signal strength. The voltage and/or current may be varied based on signal strength of in-band and/or out-of-band signals. In this regard, the voltage and/or current may be increased when measured signal strength is above a threshold and decreased when the signal strength is below a threshold. The voltage and/or current may be controlled via a bias voltage determined based on the measurement. Similarly, the voltage and/or current may be controlled via a periodic signal with frequency and/or duty cycle determined based on the measurement. |
| US08447259B2 |
Mode-switching low-noise amplifier and wide-band RF receiver
A mode-switching LNA generally includes an input unit, an output unit and a bias voltage generator. The input unit amplifies an input signal to generate an amplified signal. The output unit receives the amplified signal from the input unit and operates either in an oscillation mode or in an amplification mode in response to a control signal to generate an output signal having a center frequency equal to a target frequency. The control signal indicates whether the center frequency of the output signal is the same as the target frequency. The bias voltage generator provides an input bias voltage to the input unit in response to the control signal, where the input bias voltage includes a first bias voltage in the amplification mode and a second bias voltage in the oscillation mode. |
| US08447253B2 |
Radio communication system
In a radio communication system in which multiple bands or a plurality of different radio frequencies are used, a different radio transmission method is used in each band or at each radio frequency. For example, by transmitting data using radio formats which are different in each band or at each radio frequency, the radio transmission method is made different in each band or at each radio frequency. In order to vary the radio format, (1) the pilot length is varied at each radio frequency; or (2) the pilot interval is varied at each radio frequency; or (3) the guard interval length is varied in each band or at each radio frequency; or (4) when multicarrier modulation is used for radio communication in each band, the subcarrier interval for multicarrier transmission is varied in each band. |
| US08447252B2 |
Adaptive channel scanning for detection and classification of RF signals
An approach and apparatus for adaptive scanning for detection and classification of an RF signal. Time-domain and frequency-domain information are acquired and processed over a broad band of frequencies segmented into channels to produce signal features. The signal features are classified using a signal classifier into signal discriminants, from which a signal of interest is located and identified. Subsequent channel scans then place an increased relative or absolute dwell time on the channel believed to contain the signal of interest. |
| US08447248B2 |
RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including power control of multiple input single output (MISO) amplifiers
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion. |
| US08447246B2 |
System and method for a multi-band transmitter
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a multi-band transmitter comprises a plurality of band paths with each band path configured for a different frequency range. Each band path comprises a modulator configured to modulate a data signal onto a carrier signal associated with the frequency range of the band path to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with the band path and frequency range of the band path. Each band path also comprises a step-down balun that includes an input coil configured to receive the RF signal from the modulator. Each band path further comprises a tuner configured to tune the input coil to the frequency range of the band path. The tuner is also configured to compensate for off-state conduction of switches of the tuner to reduce non-linear tuning effects of the balun associated with the off-state conduction. |
| US08447243B2 |
Power management unit for configurable receiver and transmitter and methods for use therewith
A configurable transceiver includes an RF receiver that generates a stream of inbound data from at least one received RF signal, wherein the RF receiver is configurable in response to a control signal. An RF transmitter generates at least one RF signal from a stream of outbound data, wherein the RF transmitter section is configurable in response to the control signal. A configuration controller generates the control signal based on channel data. A power management unit generates at least one receiver supply signal and at least on transmitter supply signal in accordance with a plurality of power consumption parameters, and wherein the power management unit adjusts at least one of the plurality of power consumption parameters based on the control signal. |
| US08447236B2 |
Spatial interference mitigation schemes for wireless communication
Techniques for transmitting and receiving data with spatial interference mitigation in a wireless communication network are described. In one design, a cell may receive precoding information from a first user equipment (UE) communicating with the cell and spatial feedback information (SFI) from a second UE not communicating with the cell. The cell may select a precoding matrix based on the precoding information and the SFI. The precoding matrix may steer a transmission toward the first UE and away from the second UE. The cell may send a reference signal based on the precoding matrix, send a resource quality information (RQI) request to the first UE, receive RQI determined by the first UE based on the reference signal, and determine a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) based on the RQI. The cell may then send a data transmission to the first UE with the precoding matrix and in accordance with the MCS. |
| US08447235B2 |
Arbitration between multiple wireless protocols in a wireless device
Arbitration between two wireless protocols in a wireless device. The wireless device may include first wireless protocol circuitry, configured to receive and process first signals according to a first wireless protocol and second wireless protocol circuitry, configured to receive and process second signals according to a second wireless protocol. The wireless device may also include coexistence circuitry. The coexistence circuitry may be configured to receive a request from the first wireless protocol circuitry to perform transmission or reception and arbitrate the requested transmission or reception between the first wireless protocol circuitry and the second wireless protocol circuitry. The decision may be based on current or future priority information, current configuration, or other factors. The coexistence circuitry (or other circuitry) may be configured to determine position of switches controlling antennas or transmission using shared or unshared antennas (or chains). The two wireless protocols may be WLAN and Bluetooth. |
| US08447222B2 |
Image forming unit with developer collector contacting image carrier at predetermined contact pressure, and image forming device
An image forming device includes a plurality of image forming units each including a developer carrier that carries developer; an image carrier that forms a developer image on a surface layer with the developer supplied from the developer carrier; and a developer collector that is positioned to contact the surface layer of the image carrier and that removes residual developer after transferring the developer image formed on the surface layer onto a recording sheet. Wherein the developer collector in a first image forming unit has a higher linear contact pressure against the surface layer of the image carrier than that of other image forming units, and a thickness of the surface layer of the image carrier of the first image forming unit is greater than a thickness of the image carrier of the other image forming units. |
| US08447220B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
A fixing device includes a contact member provided inside a fixing member and pressed against a pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing atoner image passes. A sheet heat generator provided in the fixing member includes a flexible heat generation sheet contactable against the fixing member to heat the fixing member. A contact adjuster provided in the fixing member adjusts an area of contact of the heat generation sheet and the fixing member in the axial direction, supports the heat generation sheet at a first position at which the heat generation sheet contacts the fixing member, and bends a portion of the heat generation sheet at a second position to separate the heat generation sheet from the fixing member. |
| US08447218B2 |
Fixing apparatus
A fixing roller 3 is provided with a regulating member 40 that moves in an axis direction in contact with a fixing belt 5 that meanders. A heating roller 6 that comes close to/departs from the fixing roller 3 is provided with an adjustable member 41 that causes the heating roller 6 to move in the direction orthogonal to the axis direction in linkage with movement of the regulating member 40. The adjustable member 41 does not move in the axis direction and moves freely in the direction orthogonal to the axis direction. The meandered fixing belt 5 is displaced to one side of the axis direction to collide with the regulating member 40. The regulating member 40 is pushed by the fixing belt 5 to move toward one side. The adjustable member 41 is pushed by the regulating member 40 to move in the direction orthogonal to the axis direction, and the heating roller 6 moves so as to depart from the fixing roller 3. A center distance of axes between the fixing roller 3 and the heating roller 6 on one side enlarges, and the fixing belt 5 moves toward the other side. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the meandering without applying force directly to the fixing belt 5 that meanders. |
| US08447216B2 |
Development unit, image forming apparatus, and gap adjusting method
A development unit includes: a developing vessel in which a developing agent is received; a developing member as defined herein; a supply member which is supported in the developing vessel and disposed to be opposed to the developing member, the supply member rotating the developing agent in the developing vessel while holding the developing agent on a surface of the supply member to thereby supply the developing agent held on the surface to the developing member; and a thickness limiting member as defined herein, and the supply member is supported movably in a direction to expand or reduce a gap between the thickness limiting member and the supply member so that the gap between the thickness limiting member and the supply member can be adjusted. |
| US08447213B2 |
Image forming apparatus and printing method usable with the same
A printing method usable with an image forming apparatus includes initiating driving of a plurality of photosensitive bodies and a transfer belt, printing an image by transferring toner images formed on the plurality of photosensitive bodies to the transfer belt and finally transferring the toner images, which are transferred to the transfer belt, to paper, and stopping the driving of the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt after the printing is completed. The initiating of the driving of the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt includes applying drive initiating signals with a time interval to a first driving unit and a second driving unit to respectively drive the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt to enable the plurality of photosensitive bodies and the transfer belt to simultaneously begin rotating/moving. |
| US08447211B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image fixing device and image forming system equipped therewith
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section which transfers a toner image in accordance with image data onto a recording sheet; a first fixing device having a first fixing roller, which fixes the toner image onto the recording sheet with heat; a second fixing device having a second fixing roller, which further applies heat to the recording sheet that has been fixed by the first fixing device; a second fixing roller surface roughness prevention mechanism which prevents a roughness on a surface of the second fixing roller that has been generated due to side ends of the recording sheet being brought into contact with the surface of the second fixing roller; and a controller which controls the image forming section, the first and second fixing devices and the second fixing roller surface roughness prevention mechanism. |
| US08447210B2 |
Reusable transfer assist blade assembly for electro-photographic marking devices
As set forth herein, a reusable transfer assist blade (TAB) assembly includes a replaceable blade assembly that is locked into position between a clamp assembly and an extruded portion of the TAB assembly. When the blade assembly requires replacement, spring tables on the clam assembly are biased upward to release the clamp assembly from the extruded portion, and the clamp assembly is rotated about a clamp tab-clamp pocket interface at the top of the TAB assembly. The blade assembly is removed and replaced, the clamp assembly is rotated back into position against the extruded portion, and the spring tabs re-engage interlocking features on the extruded portion to lock the replacement blade in position. The expensive extruded portion and clamp assembly are thus reused and the inexpensive blade assembly is discarded or recycled. |
| US08447208B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a cartridge for forming a toner image on a sheet material; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the sheet material; and an opening for exposing an inside of the main assembly. The fixing unit and the cartridge are mountable into the main assembly and are disposed side by side. When the fixing unit and the cartridge are mounted or demounted, the fixing unit passes through the opening, and the cartridge passes through a space in which the fixing unit is to be mounted and passes through the opening. When the fixing unit and the cartridge at the time of passing through the opening are projected onto a surface perpendicular to a mounting and demounting direction, a contour of a projected area of the cartridge is at least partly inside a contour of a projected area of the fixing device, and the cartridge passes through the inside of the contour of the projected area of the fixing device when passing through the opening. |
| US08447207B2 |
Protective sheet, image forming unit and image forming apparatus
An aspect of the present invention is a protective sheet including: a protective portion that can be inserted between a charging member which is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of a latent image carrier and the latent image carrier, and that can cover an image forming area formed on the outer peripheral surface of the latent image carrier; and a high friction portion that is connected to an end portion of the protective portion, that can be inserted between a pressing portion for being pressed against a background area formed on the outer peripheral surface of the latent image carrier and the background area of the latent image carrier, and whose dynamic frictional force when pulled out from the latent image carrier is higher than that of the protective portion. |
| US08447203B2 |
Reducing toner cracking with screening patterns
Toner is applied to a receiver having an area to be folded and a separate area not to be folded. Non-fold and fold-area screening patterns are selected. The non-fold screening pattern has a toner coverage greater than 50% and the fold-area screening pattern has a toner coverage less than 50%. Image data to be applied to the receiver in the area to be folded and the area not to be folded are received. The image data in the area not to be folded are processed using the non-fold screening pattern and the image data in the area to be folded are processed using the fold-area screening pattern to provide screened data. Toner corresponding to the screened data is applied to the receiver. The applied toner is fused to the receiver, so that the area to be folded includes fused toner. |
| US08447199B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a sheet guide, and a pressure adjusting mechanism. The fixing member heats the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The pressure member is disposed opposite the fixing member and presses against the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image passes to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The position of the fixing nip is changeable. The sheet guide disposed adjacent to the pressure member guides the recording medium to the fixing nip and moves in conjunction with movement of the pressure member. The pressure adjusting mechanism operatively connected to the pressure member adjusts an amount of engagement of the pressure member relative to the fixing member. An image forming apparatus includes the fixing device. |
| US08447198B2 |
Detector and roller arrangement for an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an endless intermediate transfer belt rotatably stretched over a plurality of rollers, and a detector to read a pattern on the intermediate transfer belt. One of the rollers includes a first portion disposed opposite an area on the intermediate transfer belt including a pattern passing position, and a second portion not including a pattern passing position. The first portion has a diameter smaller than that of the second portion thereof, and an elastic material is superimposed on the second portion only. The detector is disposed between a second roller disposed upstream of the first roller and a third roller disposed downstream of the first roller, and opposite the intermediate transfer belt. |
| US08447197B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, which appropriately performs a banding correction even if similar banding does not always occur at a same position of a recording medium, detects reflected light from a test patch image and obtains information on a density change caused by a periodically-uneven rotation of a rotation member, and performs a density correction at an arbitrary position of a print image based on the acquired information on the density change. |
| US08447196B2 |
Recording material determination apparatus and image forming apparatus having a determining unit that determines an attribute of a recording material
An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit and a feeding unit for feeding a recording material at a predetermined speed to the image forming unit. A reflective type sensor reads irradiated light reflected off of the recording material and an image reading unit reads the light so as to obtain a surface image of the recording material so that a feed control unit can control the feeding of the recording medium so that a moving distance is shorter and in the case of feeding it at a predetermined speed while the recording material is read by the image reading unit. In the image forming apparatus a reflective type determination unit determines a predetermined attribute of the recording material using the surface image of the recording material read by the image reading unit so that the image forming apparatus can determine a kind of recording material based on the attribute obtain so as to form the image on the recording material. |
| US08447194B2 |
Image forming apparatus for controlling disposal of developer
An image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing body for supplying developer to a surface of the image bearing body, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by a latent image forming unit; a driving unit for rotating the developer bearing body; a speed control unit for determining a rotation speed of the developer bearing body; a drive control unit for controlling the driving unit so that the developer bearing body rotates at the determined rotation speed; and a control unit for determining the amount of developer to be disposed of on the basis of the determined rotation speed and controlling disposal of the determined amount of developer on the surface of the developer bearing body. |
| US08447191B2 |
Compensation of optical transmission impairments using digital backward propagation
Systems and method of compensating for transmission impairment are disclosed. One such method comprises receiving a wavelength-division multiplexed optical signal. The received optical signal has been distorted in the physical domain by an optical transmission channel. The method further comprises propagating the distorted optical signal backward in the electronic domain in a corresponding virtual optical transmission channel. The backward propagation fully compensates for fiber dispersion, self-phase modulation, and cross-phase modulation (XPM) and partially compensates for four-wave mixing (FWM). |
| US08447189B2 |
Transmitter, receiver for visible light communication and method using the same
A visible light wireless communication receiver includes: a source code recognizing unit that receives a source bit stream and recognizes the source bit stream as source codes of a unit of a first number of bits; and a line coding unit that encodes each of the source codes into an encoding code of a unit of a second number of bits, the second number being larger than the first number. In particular, in the encoding code, the number of bits corresponding to 1 is the same as the number of bits corresponding to 0. Therefore, the change in brightness of lighting may be minimized in the visible light wireless communication. |
| US08447185B2 |
Optical transmitter, optical receiver, and optically coupled insulating device
According to one embodiment, an optically coupled insulating device includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The optical transmitter includes an analog-to-digital converter, an encoder, a transmitting controller, and an electrooptical transducer. The encoder is configured to generate a transmitting signal by superimposing an output of the analog-to-digital converter onto a signal based on a clock signal. The transmitting signal is encoded to have an average duty ratio of more than zero and less than one. The transmitting controller is configured to output one of the transmitting signal and the output of the analog-to-digital converter depending on an input level of the analog signal. The electrooptical transducer is configured to convert an output of the transmitting controller into an optical signal. The optical receiver includes an optoelectrical transducer, a decoder, and a receiving controller. |
| US08447184B2 |
Method for the raman amplification of optical signals and transmission system
A system and method for Raman amplification of optical signals in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical transmission system includes transmitting optical signals within a transmission band via an optical waveguide between a transmitter and a receiver, Raman-amplifying the optical signals with at least one pump so as to distort an amplification profile of the Raman amplification within the transmission band, and rectifying the distorted amplification profile so as to compensate for the distortion. |
| US08447182B2 |
Multi-wavelength transponder with wavelength division multiplexing modules
According to one embodiment, a system for transmitting an optical signal comprises a traffic distribution circuit configured to distribute traffic to a plurality of wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) modules. The system further comprises a first WDM module and a second WDM module. The first and second WDM modules each comprise a plurality of tunable optical transmitters, with each transmitter associated with a different wavelength band of a plurality of wavelength bands. Each transmitter in the first and second WDM modules is also tuned to transmit optical signals in channels included within the associated wavelength band of the transmitter. The first and second WDM modules each comprise a multiplexer configured to combine the optical signals transmitted from the plurality of transmitters into optical signals. The system further comprises a cyclic multiplexer configured to combine the optical signals from the first and second WDM modules into an optical output signal. |
| US08447178B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and method for controlling image pickup apparatus
The image pickup apparatus includes an image production unit producing an image by using an output signal from an image pickup unit, a size detection unit detecting a size of a specific object in the image, a zoom control unit performing auto zoom control that automatically provides a specific zoom operation to make the size of the specific object equal or closer to a target value, and a focus control unit performing focus control of an image taking optical system based on a contrast evaluation value obtained from the image. The zoom control unit is configured to restrict the specific zoom operation in the auto zoom control until a determination is made that an in-focus state of the image taking optical system has been obtained by the focus control. |
| US08447176B2 |
Dual chimney flat panel convection air space heater
A space heater and a method for generating a convection flow of air through chimneys of the space heater for heating an area adjoining the space heater is provided. The space heater includes a first panel, a second panel, and an element having one or more heatable surfaces. The second panel is coupled to the first panel and the element is located therebetween to define the chimneys between the first panel and the second panel. The element has the one or more heatable surfaces located within the chimneys. When activated, the one or more heatable surfaces create thermal energy for generating heated air within the chimneys, the heated air flowing by convection substantially upwardly through the chimneys to provide the heated air to the area adjoining the space heater. |
| US08447169B2 |
Process for editing and producing videos
A process for creating an edited video media, utilizing a computer software system, which comprises the steps of, (a) obtaining some raw video footage, and uploading the footage into the computer software system, if necessary converting the raw video into digital form; (b) cataloguing the raw video footage in a database on the computer; (c) having an operator edit the raw video footage, following a predetermined and standard procedure to create a plurality of video clips; (d) having an operator edit the video clips, following a predetermined and standard procedure to create a plurality of selected shorter segments showing the highlights from at least some of the clips from step (c), and combined as another clip; (e) having an operator add a musical sound track, to the clips of steps (c) and (d); and (f) assembling the clips into a movie, adding standard titles before each clip, and a possibly a standard menu that indexes each clip. |
| US08447168B2 |
Recording/reproducing device
A recording and playback apparatus capable of recording and playing back a content downloaded from a server, includes a recording unit configured to download the content with a playback time limit, stored in a server and record the content to a recording medium, an instruction receiver configured to receive an instruction for starting playback of the content, a playback unit configured to play back the content recorded in the recording medium in accordance with the instruction received by the instruction receiver, and a warning output unit configured to output warning information related to the playback time limit of the content before the playback unit stars playback of the content, when the instruction receiver receives the instruction for starting playback of the content during download of the content. |
| US08447167B2 |
Recording/reproduction device and method for digital broadcasting
A recording/reproduction device is provided wherein service content having interactivity can be restored even when recorded. In recording mode, a transport stream from a receiving device 34 is received and a conversion device 36 converts this to a packet-multiplexed stream in a condition suitable for recording, which is then output as a converted stream. The conversion device 36 selects packets relating to a desired service from the transport stream and, of these packets, selects only packets needed for reproduction and uses these to generate a converted stream. A recording device 38 records this converted stream on a recording medium 44. In reproduction mode, the converted stream from recording medium 44 is read by means of a reading device 42 and supplied to a restoration device 40. Restoration device 40, in accordance with the content of this converted stream, restores and outputs a service content signal (for example a composite signal such as NTSC). A video/image output device 46 receives this service content signal and outputs video/images. These are recorded, still in packetized condition. Consequently, since recording can be achieved including the control data, recording/reproduction can be formed without impairing the functionality of the satellite broadcast provided by the control data. |
| US08447162B2 |
Saving and restoring control settings for multimedia content receivers
A settings controller for a multimedia content receiver is responsive to a control settings command. The settings controller saves a first set of control settings and loads a second set of control settings associated with the control settings command after saving the first set of control settings. It then reloads the first set of control settings when the control settings command is no longer valid. This allows for viewer settings to be automatically restored after an interruption. |
| US08447161B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a setting unit and a display controller configured to control the display unit. A plurality of recording modes include a first recording mode which generates heat so that the temperature in the case reaches a predetermined temperature, and a second recording mode which generates heat so that the temperature in the case cannot reach the predetermined temperature. The display controller determines the remaining recording time based on the temperature of a case, and determines whether the set-up recording mode is the first recording mode, and determines, based on a result of the determination, whether to display a remaining recording time which is determined based on the temperature in the case, on the display unit. |
| US08447160B2 |
Information recording apparatus
An information recording apparatus has a stop mode in which only recording means comprised of a rotatable drum on which a recording head is mounted and recording medium driving means comprised of a capstan/pinch roller are stopped, which stop mode can be changed from a record temporary stop mode. During the stop mode of the recording means and the recording medium driving means, a video signal photo-taken by a camera of the information recording apparatus can be outputted externally, and, change to the stop mode is made effective by a combination of user's selection and/or presence/absence of an external connection device. |
| US08447159B2 |
Stream recording apparatus
A stream recording apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive a transport stream containing TS packets which include PCRs and PTSs, a first storage unit configured to store the transport stream, an analysis unit configured to analyze the PCRs and the PTSs, a counter configured to count a STC on the basis of one of the PCRs, a calculation unit configured to calculate a reproduction time corresponding to a PTS if the PTS is on a same time base with reference to a STC obtained upon reception of the TS packet having the PTS, and to stop calculating the reproduction time corresponding to the PTSs if the PTSs is on a different timebase, and a second storage unit configured to store the reproduction time in association with the one of the PTSs. |
| US08447158B2 |
Repeater device
A repeater device comprises a determining section for determining whether the authentication with the sink device fails continuously for a predetermined time or more; a repeater information rewriting section for, when the determination is made that the authentication with the sink device has failed continuously for the predetermined time or more, rewriting the repeater information stored in the storage section into information indicating the sink device; and a second authenticating section for causing the source device to obtain the repeater information rewritten into the information indicating the sink device, and causing the source device to authenticate the repeater device. |
| US08447155B1 |
Methods and apparatus for power-equalized optical frequency comb generation
An optical device for generating a frequency comb includes an optical source and a first waveguide comprising a nonlinear optical medium operable to mix at least two input optical waves to generate a plurality of first optical waves. The optical device also includes a second waveguide concatenated to the first waveguide and characterized by a first dispersion characteristics and operable to compress the waveforms of the plurality of first optical waves and to reduce a frequency chirp introduced by the first waveguide. The optical device additionally includes a third waveguide concatenated to the second waveguide. The third waveguide comprises a nonlinear optical medium and is operable to mix the plurality of first optical waves to generate a plurality of second optical waves and to increase a total number of second optical waves with respect to a total number of first optical waves. |
| US08447151B2 |
Triplexer for an optical fiber, package including the same, and associated methods
A triplexer including an optics block including a first port configured to receive a first light beam at a first wavelength and a second light beam at a second wavelength, and a second port configured to receive a third light beam at a third wavelength, a bounce cavity between the first and second ports, the bounce cavity being formed by opposing reflective elements adjacent respective surfaces of the optics block, a first grating opposite the first port, the first grating receiving all three light beams at substantially a same location thereon, the first grating configured to provide the first and second light beams to the bounce cavity and the third light beam to the first port, and a second grating opposite the second port, the second grating receiving the first and second light beams at spatially separated portions thereon. |
| US08447150B2 |
Structure and method for aligning an optical fiber and a submicronic waveguide
An integrated optical circuit including an operational submicronic waveguide associated with an operational grating intended for the coupling with an optical fiber, further including an alignment grating, identical to the operational grating, associated with a blind waveguide and arranged at a known distance from the operational grating. |
| US08447149B2 |
Optoelectronic transmission device
An optoelectronic transmission device includes a base, an optical signal source positioned on the base, a light detector positioned on the base, a carrier covering the optical signal source and the light detector, a first lensed optical fiber and a second lensed optical fiber. The carrier has a first through hole, a second through hole and a reflective surface. The first lensed optical fiber is received in the first through hole. The first lensed optical fiber has a first lens opposing the reflective surface for directing first light reflected by the reflective surface into the first lensed optical fiber. The second lensed optical fiber is received in the second through hole. The second lensed optical fiber has a second lens opposing the reflective surface for directing a second light transmitted by the second lensed optical fiber to the reflective surface. |
| US08447146B2 |
Photonic interconnect method
A photonic interconnect method avoids high capacitance electric interconnects by using optical signals to communicate data between devices. The method can provide massively parallel information output by mapping logical addresses to frequency bands, so that modulation of a selected frequency band can encode information for a specific location corresponding to the logical address. Wavelength-specific directional couplers, modulators, and detectors, which can be fabricated at defects in a photonic bandgap crystal, can be employed for the photonic interconnect method. The interconnect method can be used for both classical and quantum information processing. |
| US08447142B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
Depth-of-field information is obtained from an image signal input from an external image source according to a predetermined acquisition timing. An image signal processing unit performs an image quality adjustment such that an edge enhancement level in an edge enhancement processing is increased adaptively with increasing depth of field of an image whereby the total quality of the image displayed is improved. |
| US08447139B2 |
Object recognition using Haar features and histograms of oriented gradients
A system and method to detect objects in a digital image. At least one image representing at least one frame of a video sequence is received. A sliding window of different window sizes at different locations is placed in the image. A cascaded classifier including a plurality of increasingly accurate layers is applied to each window size and each location. Each layer includes a plurality of classifiers. An area of the image within a current sliding window is evaluated using one or more weak classifiers in the plurality of classifiers based on at least one of Haar features and Histograms of Oriented Gradients features. An output of each weak classifier is a weak decision as to whether the area of the image includes an instance of an object of a desired object type. A location of the zero or more images associated with the desired object type is identified. |
| US08447136B2 |
Viewing media in the context of street-level images
A system for displaying hybrid image data produced by embedding additional media objects within street-level panoramic images includes a user interface through which a user may view, search for, and/or navigate through additional media objects in the context of browsing a virtual environment of a location at street level. In response to user input indicating a request to view a geographic location and/or an additional media object, street-level panoramic image data associated with the geographic location, in which one or more additional media objects also associated with the geographic location have been embedded, may be provided for display through the user interface. The user interface may be provided by a client device including one or more processors that receive hybrid image data produced by one or more processors of a server and display the image data to the user. |
| US08447135B2 |
Methods and systems for generating enhanced images using Euler's Elastica model
A process is proposed for using a degraded first image to generate a visually pleasing second image, which is a stationary point of an Euler's Elastica energy. The Euler's Elastica problem is converted into a well-designed constrained minimization which an Augmented Lagrangian method can be applied. The invention has applications to variational image denoising, repairing image inpainting, and image zooming. Certain embodiments of the invention have been found to be fast to converge and simple to implement. |
| US08447130B2 |
History-based spatio-temporal noise reduction
Implementations of a history-based temporal motion noise filtering technique that considers the temporal smooth among multiple pictures as well as the block-based technique to estimate the noise/motion history to better reflect the spatial/temporal smoothness in the local neighborhood are provided. In particular, implementations of the per-pixel blending technique in the block-based noise measurement may be used to better manipulate pixels in both the spatial and temporal domains. A global noise detection technique may be used to estimate the occurrence and/or strength of the noise. A content adaptive spatial filtering content adaptive spatial filter based on a local edge measurement may be used to reduce picture noise as well as preserve edge sharpness. Implementations may be configured for various applications. In particular, programmability options allow users to specify the filter parameters for singularity detection, spatial-only, temporal-only and spatial-temporal filters to achieve user desirable viewing experience. |
| US08447123B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting a scan path for the elements of a block in spatial domain picture encoding and decoding
International image or video coding standards uses hybrid coding, wherein a picture is separated into pixel blocks on which predictive coding, transform coding and entropy coding is employed. The transform coding is effective because the prediction error samples are correlated in the frequency domain. However, when the prediction quality is getting better and better, spatial domain coding becomes more effective than transform coding. According to the invention, it is first determined in which corner of a current block the first non-zero amplitude value is located. Based on the related zeros run length value in that block, a pre-defined scan path is selected, i.e. a context-based adaptive scan mode is used. |
| US08447122B2 |
Animated image code, apparatus for generating/decoding animated image code, and method thereof
An apparatus for generating/decoding an animated image code, and a method thereof. The animated image code frame includes an image code frame which is divided into code cells expressing minimum unit data, and in which the minimum unit data is expressed in an area located inside the code cells and is formed by combining one or more color, gradation, and patterns; and a design layer which is formed by combining color or gradation used in the image code frame and color or gradation distinguishable on the basis of a threshold value, and which is displayed by overlapping the frame image. By utilizing changes in respective animated frames, an animated image code can be generated and decoded in which motion can be expressed by using a display medium. |
| US08447114B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating pixel features of image data
A feature extracting apparatus includes a pixel feature calculator that calculates a pixel feature for each pixel of image data; an area setting unit configured to set a plurality of areas in the image data; a coordinate mapping unit configured to map a first coordinate in one of the plurality of areas onto a second coordinate in at least one of the other plurality of areas; and a co-occurrence matrix calculator configured to calculate a co-occurrence matrix for each of the plurality of areas, the co-occurrence matrix being frequency of combinations of the pixel features at the first coordinate and the pixel feature at the second coordinates. |
| US08447111B2 |
Triggering actions in response to optically or acoustically capturing keywords from a rendered document
A system for processing text captured from rendered documents is described. The system receives a sequence of one or more words optically or acoustically captured from a rendered document by a user. The system identifies among words of the sequence a word with which an action has been associated. The system then performs the associated action with respect to the user. |
| US08447107B1 |
Processing and comparing images
Systems and methods are provided for calculating and using histogram descriptors to compare images and to identify visually similar content. According to at least one embodiment, multiple histograms descriptors are calculated for individual images of a collection of content. These histogram descriptors may be used to identify two or more visually similar images in the collection of content. For example, if a user identifies an image of an item of interest, then embodiments search across the collection of content to identify other images of items that are visually similar to the selected item of interest. To do so, embodiments search across the histogram descriptors of the images in the collection of content to identify one or more images that have histograms descriptors that are similar to the histograms descriptors of the image of the selected item of interest. |
| US08447105B2 |
Data driven interpolation using geodesic affinity
Often, information regarding images and/or other data may be incomplete. For example, an image may have depth information associated with a portion of the image, but not the entire image. It may be advantageous to extrapolate the values from the known points to the entire image. Accordingly, a dimensional array representing an image (or other data) may be traversed one or more times to generate an interpolated table. The interpolated table may comprise pixels of unknown value, where a pixel of unknown value may be associated with a number of pixels with known values. In this way, values for pixels may be specified based upon values of pixels having known values. |
| US08447104B2 |
Method, medium and system adjusting predicted values based on similarities between color values for image compressing/recovering
A method, medium, and system compressing an image, and a method, medium, and system recovering an image. Values of colors of a pixel from among pixels making up an image are predicted from values of colors of a reference pixel corresponding to the pixel, and the predicted values of the colors of the pixel are corrected based on similarities in variations in color values in the image. |
| US08447098B1 |
Model-based stereo matching
Model-based stereo matching from a stereo pair of images of a given object, such as a human face, may result in a high quality depth map. Integrated modeling may combine coarse stereo matching of an object with details from a known 3D model of a different object to create a smooth, high quality depth map that captures the characteristics of the object. A semi-automated process may align the features of the object and the 3D model. A fusion technique may employ a stereo matching confidence measure to assist in combining the stereo results and the roughly aligned 3D model. A normal map and a light direction may be computed. In one embodiment, the normal values and light direction may be used to iteratively perform the fusion technique. A shape-from-shading technique may be employed to refine the normals implied by the fusion output depth map and to bring out fine details. The normals may be used to re-light the object from different light positions. |
| US08447094B2 |
Enhanced note processing
Techniques and systems are disclosed to perform, in some examples, the steps of receiving a note or an image of a note, imaging at least a portion of the note, determining a value of at least one field indicated by a predetermined identifier of the note through character and mark recognition, and storing information regarding the note in a memory. The information regarding the note that may be stored in a memory may be forwarded to a regulatory agency or an external entity for reporting or record-keeping. |
| US08447090B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus and medical image diagnosis apparatus
A medical image processing apparatus comprises: an acquiring part configured to acquire a morphological image that is formed by a first apparatus and shows the morphology of an organ of an object, and a functional image that is formed by a second apparatus different from the first apparatus and shows the state of the organ; a display; and a processor configured to cause the display to display a synthetic image based on the morphological image and the functional image. |
| US08447088B2 |
X-ray imaging system, x-ray imaging method, and computer-readable medium storing x-ray imaging program
An X-ray imaging system comprises: an imaging unit for irradiating a subject with X ray at different angles while moving an X-ray source in one direction in tomosynthesis imaging, detecting the X ray with which the subject has been irradiated with a flat panel detector to acquire projection data of X-ray images taken at different angles; and an image processor for reconstructing a first X-ray tomographic image using projection data acquired by the imaging unit, the image processor including: a correction decision unit for selecting, according to a given selection condition, one of previously provided different corrections to be performed on the projection data; a first image correction unit for performing correction based upon the correction selected by the correction decision unit on the projection data; and a first image reconstruction unit for reconstructing the first X-ray tomographic image using the corrected projection data. |
| US08447085B2 |
Method for segmenting an organ in volume data records from magnetic resonance imaging
A method is disclosed for segmenting an organ, more particularly the liver, in n-channel volume data records from magnetic resonance imaging. In at least one embodiment of the method, probability distributions are generated on the basis of segmentation results from n-channel training data records, which probability distributions specify probabilities of positions of voxels and intensity values, which have been reduced from n-dimensions to one dimension with the aid of discriminant reduction, of voxels in the training data records belonging to the organ. At least one 3D probability data record is then generated from the n-channel volume data records on the basis of the probability distributions, in which 3D probability data record each voxel is assigned a probability of belonging to the organ. A maximum value of the 3D probability data record is set as the start point for the segmentation, and the organ is subsequently segmented on the basis of the 3D probability data record using a region-growing technique. The method allows very reliable fully-automatic segmentation of the organ. |
| US08447084B2 |
Chromatography inspection apparatus and method for judging degradation of chromatography specimen
By measuring a luminance difference between predetermined two points or a luminance variation in a predetermined region in a state in which a liquid sample is developed in a chromatography specimen 1, and comparing the luminance difference or the luminance variation with a preset reference value, it is possible to automatically detect degradation such as a decrease in hydrophilicity in the lower portion of a liquid-impermeable sheet material 8 during a chromatography inspection, thereby enabling an accurate inspection. |
| US08447083B2 |
Method for detection of caries
A method for forming an enhanced image of tooth tissue for caries detection obtains fluorescence and reflectance image data from a tooth. Each pixel in the fluorescence image data is combined with its corresponding pixel in the reflectance image data by subtracting an offset to the reflectance image data value to generate an offset reflectance image data value, and then computing an enhanced image data value according to the difference between the fluorescence image data value and the offset reflectance image data value, whereby the enhanced image is formed from the resulting pixel array of enhanced image data values. |
| US08447080B2 |
Surface extraction method, surface extraction device, and program
A surface extraction method capable of improving accuracy of extraction of surfaces of an object, a surface extraction device, and a program are proposed. A voxel space that is divided into voxels having a lattice shape, and whether or not object constituting voxels that constitute an object which is shown in the voxel space is investigated in units of voxel rows of the voxels. Ends of the continuous object constituting voxels in the voxel rows are extracted as surfaces of the object. Straight-line rows are used as units, and intermediate portions of continuous constituting regions in the straight-line rows are ignored. Thus, even when a region that does not constitute the object exists inside the object, the region that does not constitute the object can be prevented from being falsely extracted as a surface of the object without investigation of the same region two times or more. |
| US08447079B2 |
Linearly polarized light imaging method and device
A device includes an incident arm, a detection arm, a sample stage, and an image processing computer. The incident arm includes a light source and a first polarizing element, and is disposed on one side of the sample stage. The detection arm includes a second polarizing element and a photoelectric detector, and is disposed on a light-detection path. The photoelectric detector is connected to the computer. The device further includes a device for adjusting polarization angles of the first and second polarizing elements. A method includes: illuminating a sample surface using linearly polarized light with a certain polarization angle; detecting outgoing polarized light by a photoelectric detector; adjusting polarization angles of the incident and detected polarized light, and repeating the above two steps to obtain a series of polarized images, each image corresponding to incident and detected polarization angles; and computer processing the obtained images to obtain sample information. |