| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08444057B2 |
Security labels with reinforced windows and methods of making the same
Security labels and tags including elements and methods of making them are disclosed. The elements are in the form of an oriented polymer layer, conductive traces clad to the polymer layer to form an open loop forming a window in the interior of the loop and an open support framework extending into the window to support the polymer layer in the window. In some embodiments the open support framework is in the form of parallel, interleaved linear extensions from the conductive traces which extend into the window. In other embodiments the open support framework is in a pattern of intersecting sections (e.g., a fishbone pattern) located in the window. |
| US08444056B2 |
Multi-colored visishot paper target
A target, made of two layers, that has an animal design. The animal design on the bottom layer has at least two zones which correspond to a level of effectiveness of a bullet strike within that zone. Each level of effectiveness is indicated by a color and each animal design has at least two levels of effectiveness. |
| US08444054B2 |
Information access system and method for accessing information in contactless information storage devices
An information access system comprises: antennas arranged at respective different positions and used for communicating with contactless information storage devices that pass through a predetermined region substantially simultaneously; reader devices coupled to the respective antennas and adapted to communicate with the contactless information storage devices; and a control unit for controlling the reader devices and transmitting, to another apparatus, data received from the reader devices. In response to a control signal received from the other apparatus, the control unit controls predetermined one of the reader devices to transmit an RF identification request signal to the predetermined region via the antenna. The reader devices receive RF response signals from the contactless information storage devices via the antennas, then reproduce identifications, and then provide the reproduced identifications to the control unit. The control unit receives the reproduced identifications, and then processes redundant identifications in the received identifications so as to produce distinct identifications having no redundancy. |
| US08444052B2 |
Method and device for merchant authentication
Conducting payment card transactions through a payment network through a card reader with a merchant authentication code attached. A payment is processed in connection with a transaction using a payment card. Prior to approving the transaction, the payment card holder is contacted and requested to provide the merchant authentication code. If the merchant authentication code provided by the payment card holder is consistent with the merchant authentication code affixed to the device, approving the transaction. The merchant authentication code may be text, a bar code, a quick response code, a hologram or other code. The merchant authentication code may include information regarding the merchant such as location, business name and the like. |
| US08444050B2 |
Item-level hold decisioning
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for determining, recommending, and/or placing holds on deposit items. For example, some embodiments provide a method that includes: (a) receiving, from a deposit location during a single deposit transaction, information associated with a first deposit item in the single deposit transaction; (b) receiving, from the deposit location during the single deposit transaction, information associated with a second deposit item in the single deposit transaction; (c) determining, using a processor, during the single deposit transaction, a first hold decision for the first deposit item based at least partially on the information associated with the first deposit item; (d) determining, using a processor, during the single deposit transaction, a second hold decision for the second deposit item based at least partially on the information associated with the second deposit item; (e) communicating, to the deposit location during the single deposit transaction, information associated with the first hold decision; and (f) communicating, to the deposit location during the single deposit transaction, information associated with the second hold decision. |
| US08444043B1 |
Uniform solder reflow fixture
An array of solder balls is attached to solder pads of one of a first substrate and a second substrate. After aligning the array of solder balls relative to solder pads of the other of the first substrate and the second substrate, a thermal-mass-increasing fixture is placed on a surface of the second substrate to form an assembly of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the array of the solder balls therebetween, and the thermal-mass-increasing fixture. The thermal-mass-increasing fixture is in physical contact with at least a surface of a periphery of the second substrate. The thermal-mass-increasing fixture reduces the cool-down rate of peripheral solder balls after a reflow step, thereby increasing time for deformation of peripheral solder balls during the cool-down and reducing the mechanical stress on the solder balls after the cool-down. |
| US08444038B2 |
Tissue stop for surgical instrument
A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongate portion, a pair of opposed jaw members and a tissue stop is disclosed. The elongate portion extends distally from the handle assembly, and the pair of opposed jaw members extend distally from the elongate portion. The pair of opposed jaw members include first and second jaw members. The tissue stop cammingly engaged with the first jaw member and is movable between a first position where at least a portion of a stopping portion of the tissue stop is disposed between a tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a tissue-contacting surface of the second jaw member and a second position where the portion of the stopping portion is between the tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a lower surface of the first jaw member. |
| US08444030B1 |
Tampon holster system
An outer case has a lower portion with front, rear and side faces. The side faces couple the front and rear faces. The lower portion terminates in an open lower end and an upper end. The outer case has an upper portion terminating in a closed upper end. The outer case has a lower end. An inner case has front, rear, and side faces. The side faces couple the front and rear faces. The upper portion terminates in an open upper end and a lower end. The inner case has a lower portion terminating in a closed lower end and an upper end. A pair of parallel slots is formed in the rear face of the inner case. The slots are at a central elevational extent of the rear face of the inner case. |
| US08444027B2 |
One way valve assembly
A one way valve assembly flows a sterile flowable substance from a source to an outlet orifice and prevents any backflow of contaminants through the one way valve assembly when the flowable substance ceases to flow. The valve assembly includes an elastomeric membrane which aids in preventing any backflow of contaminants when dispensing of the flowable substance is stopped. |
| US08444026B2 |
Dual activated actuator cap
A single piece actuator includes first and second actuating members. A dispensing orifice is disposed between the first and second actuating members. A manifold is in fluid communication with the dispensing orifice. The manifold includes a base adapted to impinge a valve stem of a container and place same in fluid communication with the manifold. |
| US08444019B2 |
Wipe and seal product pump
A product dispensing system is provided. The product dispensing system includes a dispensing device and a sealing assembly. The dispensing device is configured and arranged to pass product out of a dispensing orifice in the product dispensing system. The sealing assembly is configured and arranged to wipe and seal the dispensing orifice to prevent exposure of unused product with ambient air when the product dispensing system is not dispensing product. |
| US08444017B2 |
Pump-equipped container and duplex discharge container
A pump-equipped container (10) includes a tubular container body (11) that is made of a sheet material having flexibility and a pump device (13) that includes a pump body (15) and a nozzle portion (14). A one-end section of the container body is closed off, and the pump device (13) is attached to the other-end section of the container body. The pump body (15) has an outer-circumferential-surface section (16) that comes into close contact with an inner circumferential surface of the other-end section (11b) of the container body (11). The pump device (13) is attached to the other-end section (11b) of the container body (11) in such a state that the outer-circumferential-surface section (16) is covered with the container body (11) by being brought into close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the other-end section (11b) of the container body (11). The container body (11) is formed using a sheet material having a gas barrier property. |
| US08444014B2 |
System and method for fraud detection by low flow rate monitoring at a fuel dispenser
A system and method of detecting fuel theft at a fuel dispenser. The system has a fluid flow meter, a pulser operatively coupled to said fluid flow meter, and a control system in electrical communication with the pulser. The control system is configured to calculate a flow rate of fuel being dispensed from a gasoline dispenser during a single dispensing transaction. The flow rate is sampled at predetermined time intervals during the single dispensing transaction. The system then compares the sampled flow rates to a predetermined flow rate pattern indicative of potential fraud. A shutoff signal is then provided to the dispenser to stop fuel flow through the dispenser if the sampled flow rates are substantially similar to the predetermined pattern. |
| US08444012B2 |
Single piece device for storing, metering and mixing a powder with a diluent
A device stores and meters a powder and mixes the powder with a diluent to prepare a food product. The device is able to be connected to a tank containing the diluent and to a source of air. The device includes a multidose container to form a reserve of powder, a powder dosing system, a powder duct integrated in an air chamber that can carry air around the powder duct outlet. The powder duct outlet emerges in a mixing chamber that includes a diluent inlet and a food product outlet, the whole forming a single piece disposable device. |
| US08444010B2 |
Food product dispensing apparatus
A food dispensing device having a frame with first and second sidewalls in spaced parallel relation that house a heating board and a slant board. The slant board is positioned below the heating board and both slope downwardly. Specifically, the heating board has a plurality of slots therein such that juice from a food product flows through the slots and onto the slant board. Adjacent and below the heating board and slant board is a flange that is positioned such that when a food product is placed on the heating board the food product rolls toward the flange and simultaneously juice flows from off the slant board into a juice tray disposed below the flange. |
| US08444006B2 |
Packet dispenser
A dispensing container (12, 212) for housing and sequentially dispensing packets (124) is taught. Also taught are the carton blanks (10, 210) for erecting the respective containers. A length of packets created by severably attaching sequential packets (124) along respective tear lines (129) is rolled or folded then positioned within the container for later dispensing. Child-resistance features that impede removal of each packet (124) include routing the length of packets between opposing panels (16, 24) or between opposing panels and an edge of folded panels (224, 239) that exert a lateral pressure on the packets (124). In some embodiments the panels (16, 24) include apertures (64, 92) that catch or otherwise engage a feature of a packet, such as a blister, to further impede removal of each packet (124). To further impede removal of a packet (124), access notches (56, 256, 290) that allow the user to grasp the packet are narrowly constructed. |
| US08444005B2 |
Lid opening/closing apparatus of electronic device
In a lid opening/closing apparatus of an electronic device according to the present invention, a lid is supported on a housing through a slide type pivot mechanism, and can reciprocate among a fully closed position, a slide position, and a fully open position. The slide type pivot mechanism comprises: an axis part projecting from the base end part of the lid; an arm plate part formed on the housing; an engagement receiving part formed on the arm plate part and to be engaged with the axis part of the lid; a bearing part formed on the arm plate part and supporting the axis part of the lid rotatably; and a holding part formed on the housing, holding the axis part of the lid between the holding part and the arm plate part, and allowing the axis part to slide. The arm plate part is elastically deformable. |
| US08444004B1 |
Fluid baffle device and system
A drink cup baffle device and system are configured to control fluid from a drink cup to a drinker. The baffle device may include a first baffle insertable into the cup making first contact with fluid in the cup. The first baffle forms a seal against the inside wall of the cup and defines a first plurality of openings. The baffle device further includes a channel formed adjacent to the first baffle around the full perimeter of the first baffle to receive fluid from the openings of the first baffle. The baffle device also includes a second baffle configured adjacent to the channel forming a seal against the inside wall of the cup and defining a second plurality of openings having a total area greater than a total area of the first openings to control fluid flow by discharging fluid via a portion of the second openings and preventing spillage. |
| US08443998B2 |
Container with integrated plastic tear away membrane
A container is provided which includes a container body, a cap closure and a plastic membrane. The container body has a receiving area capable of holding a product. An open mouth surrounds the receiving area. A cap closure is arranged over the open mouth. The cap closure includes a fitment engageable around the mouth and a lid hingedly connected to the fitment. The plastic membrane is integrally molded with the cap closure and sealingly prevents leakage from the receiving area. The membrane includes a minor area non-frangibly attached to the fitment having a V-shaped outer border with sections of the border converging to a pivot point, and a major area tangibly attached along its perimeter to the fitment and to the V-shaped outer border. A pull tab is formed on a surface of the membrane at the pivot point. |
| US08443996B2 |
Hanging condiment container holder
A hanging condiment container holder is provided including a clip portion for removably attaching the holder to an upper portion of a food package, a loop portion for receiving a condiment container, and an extension wall extending between the clip portion and the loop portion. The clip portion may be contoured to the shape of the upper edge or lip of a food package such as a cup. Various clip portions may be employed for removably attaching the hanging condiment container holder to a food package such as a cup. |
| US08443992B2 |
Industrial frame rack support assembly
A storage rack system is provided that includes an improved cross bar attachment to create the framing for storage shelves. The cross bars are locked or secured against undesired movement and rolling to create a shelf that properly supports loads. The cross bars extend between the deck beams such that flanges at the ends thereof overlap the top of the deck beams. The flanges include a tab that extends downwardly to engage with an opening on the top of the deck beams. The lateral support further includes a stabilizer that is fastened to the side wall of the deck beams to prevent rolling or dislodgement of either member. |
| US08443991B1 |
Retractable overhead, self-leveling storage assembly
A shelving system attached to an overhead surface that includes a shelving frame pivotally connected to a number of supports that are attached to the overhead surface. A number of hanging shelves are pivotally connected to the shelving frame. One end of the shelving frame can be disconnected from the supports and lowered toward the ground. The other end of the shelving frame rotates with respect to the supports. As the shelving frame is lowered, the hanging shelves rotate with respect to the shelving frame so that the shelves remain horizontal, parallel, and level with the ground. As a result, the storage area provided by the shelves is easily accessible, and the items placed thereon remain on the shelves as the shelving frame is returned to the overhead position. |
| US08443988B2 |
Alarm sounding retail display system
An alarm sounding retail display system is provided. The alarm sounding retail display system is operable to provide an audible tone upon the movement of retail merchandise carried within the retail display system. The audible provides an indication of enhanced security and can alert store employees in proximity to the retail display system that merchandise has been added to or removed from the retail display system. |
| US08443987B2 |
Mounting apparatus for electronic device
A mounting apparatus includes a rack, two positioning members, two retaining members, and two latch members. The rack includes two first supports and two second supports. Each second support defines a plurality of locking holes. The positioning members are configured for attachment to an electronic device and engage with the first supports. The retaining members are configured for attachment to the electronic device and attached to the second supports. Each retaining member defines a through hole. Each latch member includes a first latch component and a second latch component. The first latch component includes two resiliently deformable securing pieces and defines a threaded hole. The securing pieces are received in one of the locking holes to secure the first latch components to the second supports. The second latch components pass through the through holes and are threaded in the threaded holes, to secure the retaining members to the second supports. |
| US08443986B2 |
Reverse osmosis membrane and reverse osmosis membrane apparatus
A reverse osmosis membrane that can maintain high permeability for a longer time, a reverse osmosis membrane apparatus, and a hydrophilic treatment method for a reverse osmosis membrane. A reverse osmosis membrane to which poly(vinyl alcohol) is absorbed, wherein the poly(vinyl alcohol) is an ionic poly(vinyl alcohol). Preferably, adsorption of a cationic PVA to the reverse osmosis membrane is followed by adsorption of an anionic PVA. More preferably, an ionic polymer other than PVA is also absorbed to the reverse osmosis membrane. A reverse osmosis membrane apparatus including the reverse osmosis membrane. A hydrophilic treatment method for a reverse osmosis membrane, involving bringing the reverse osmosis membrane into contact with an ionic poly(vinyl alcohol). |
| US08443985B2 |
Liquid supplying member, negative pressure unit, and liquid discharging apparatus
A deposition of bubbles or foams to an inner wall of a liquid supplying member is prevented, thereby improving ejecting performance of the bubbles or foams. In the liquid supplying member which forms a flow path for supplying a liquid to a liquid discharging apparatus, the inner wall surface has a concave/convex shape in which a mountain portion and a valley portion are repeated at a predetermined spatial frequency. Assuming that an opening diameter of a filter provided for the liquid discharging apparatus is equal to R (μm), one period f (μm)of the spatial frequency lies within a range from R or more to √{square root over (2)}·R or less and a maximum height Ry (μm) of the mountain portion is equal to √{square root over (2)}·R/2 or more. |
| US08443982B2 |
Method for grading water-absorbent polymer particles
A process for classifying water-absorbing polymer beads, wherein the polymer beads are separated into n particle size fractions by means of at least n screens and n is an integer greater than 1. |
| US08443980B2 |
Sorting mined material
A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises allowing sufficient time for heat generated in the particles to be transferred through the particles so that the surface temperature of the particles is a measure of the mass average temperature through the particles. The method further comprises thermally analysing the particles to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate composition differences between the particles; and thereafter sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis. |
| US08443978B2 |
Package for medicament
A package for a medicament, the package comprising a sleeve and a slide, the slide having a medicament region for containing medicament, the sleeve having opposed first and second major surfaces connected and spaced apart by a side wall to define an internal volume, the side wall further defining a slide opening, the slide being movable parallel to a slide axis between a position in which the medicament region is substantially within the internal volume and a position in which at least some of the medicament region extends outside the internal volume through the slide opening, characterized in that the sleeve includes a shoulder and the package includes biasing means, the sleeve and slide being arranged such that the slide is movable within the internal volume between a secured position, in which slide is substantially prevented from moving parallel to the slide axis by contact between a portion of the slide and the shoulder, and an unsecured position, in which the slide portion can move parallel to the slide axis through the slide opening, the biasing means resiliently biasing the slide to the secured position. The invention extends to a blank for fabricating a sleeve for such a medicament package and to a slide or sleeve for use in such a medicament package. |
| US08443977B2 |
Blister package apparatus and methods for tablets
Disclosed are blister package apparatuses and methods for use with tablets such as soft or breakable tablets that cannot be forced through a push-through layer. Specifically, a package for soft tablets can include a pair of blister strips, each blister strip having a plastic sheet, a plurality of recesses formed in the plastic sheet, and a peel-away backing layer for covering the recesses. A plurality of support posts can secure the blister strips together, and a spacer element can extend from one of the blister strips towards the other blister strip, the spacer element extending between two or more of the recesses for maintaining the blister strips in a spaced-apart configuration. The plurality of recesses formed in each blister strip can be offset with respect to the recesses formed in the other blister strip such that the recesses of one blister strip can nest between the recesses of the other. |
| US08443974B2 |
Rolled memory foam bedding article having a plurality of roll portions
A bedding article is compressed and rolled from two side edges to form a rolled bedding article having two rolled portions. The rolled bedding article is fitted into a rectangular prism-shaped container. The container depth is smaller than the container width or height. The depth extends in a depth dimension that is perpendicular to the roll axes of the rolled portions. Multiple containers that contain such rolled bedding articles are placed on a retail-store merchandise shelf. The shelf has a shelf depth that extends in the depth dimension. A first container is disposed on the shelf in front of the second container. The combined depth of the aligned containers is made to be approximately the same as the shelf depth in order to reduce the amount of wasted shelf space in the retail store. |
| US08443973B1 |
Receiving device for tool bits
A receiving device for tool bits includes a receiving body, at least one receiving space defined on one end of the receiving body, each receiving space having a plurality of first protrusions adequately located therein, each of the receiving space having a plurality of position spaces separated by the first protrusions, the position space having two pairs of fourth protrusions abutting against the periphery of the tool bit so that the tool bit is positioned at the position space and would not drop down from the position space. |
| US08443971B1 |
Decorative case
A case for a portable electronic device that includes a first section having a first plurality of apertures, a second section having a second plurality of apertures, and a plurality of decorative pieces that have a base. The second section is slideable in relation to the first section such that the second plurality of apertures overlaps the first plurality of apertures when the first section and the second section are in a first position or in a second position. The base of each decorative piece is sized and configured to pass through a first overlap region when the first and second sections are in a first position and the base is held in a locked engagement in a second overlap region when the first and second sections are in a second position. |
| US08443970B2 |
Dispensing capsule
A dispensing capsule has a diaphragm button, stake and frangible membrane for a system for selectively dispersing the contents of a cup into an attached bottle. A frangible membraned cup has a diaphragm button operably attached to a stake with the stake's sharp point at one end and the diaphragm button on the opposing end. A cavity is disposed in the cup for consumable product defined by side walls and a base plate. Preloaded ingredients contained within the hermetically sealed cup are discharged from the dispensing capsule into a bottle by simply depressing a button disposed on the diaphragm of the cup, thereby actuating the stake to thrust forward and apply concentrated pressure abaxially to the frangible membrane. This concentrated pressure pierces substantially the center of the frangible membrane, causing it to rupture and progressively opening it. The diaphragm button locks in this downward position, holding the stake into the opened frangible membrane to maintain the opening, permitting the contents to flow through the frangible membrane and exit the cavity of the cup. |
| US08443967B2 |
Gift card sleeve
A gift card holder including a sliding panel for holding a gift card, the panel being mounted in a sleeve or box so that when the cover flap of the sleeve is opened the panel may be pulled upward and out of the sleeve to reveal a gift card secured upon the panel. |
| US08443966B2 |
Device for transporting freight
A device for transporting freight, especially freight containers in the cargo compartments of aircraft, especially to a power drive unit (PDU) having a drive roller (5) received in a frame (1) and a lifting unit (6) wherein the lifting unit (6) comprises at least one drive unit (9) for listing the drive roller (5) on both sides. |
| US08443961B2 |
Guide structure for stoppers
The guide structure for stoppers takes the form of a tunnel with a C-shaped section for trapping and guiding the cylindrical part of the stoppers (1c, 1t), which tunnel has opposing edges spaced out at a distance such as to allow the passage of the bulge (3) of the nipple-type stoppers (1t). This structure consists of filamentary rails (5) and of plates (6) with a hole through their central part shaped according to the profile of the stoppers that are to be transferred. |
| US08443960B2 |
System for handling slides
A system for handling slides having a tray moving on a carriage with seats for the slides and with a tray moving mechanism, a slide loading arm, and a slide holding frame having a slide loading arm driving motor. There are outstretched Maltese crosses on the lower side of the tray of the slide feeder and a crank is arranged in the carriage, opposite to and parallel with the crosses. The slide loading arm is arranged movably and tiltably above and a supporting plate is arranged movably and tiltably below the slide holder. The slide holding frame has a lifting means for tilting the slide loading arm and the supporting plate. The lifting means is actuated by a controller arranged on the disk of the crank. |
| US08443958B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for coin exchange
A method for exchanging coins, the method including the acts of receiving in a self-service coin exchange machine a plurality of coins, processing the plurality of coins to determine a total value of the plurality of coins, and dispensing currency to the patron from a currency dispenser, the currency having a value related to the total value. |
| US08443954B2 |
Clutch
The invention relates to a clutch having two clutch parts which can be brought into engagement in form fitted manner for the torque transfer; and a shift member which is movable in a first direction to bring the clutch parts out of engagement and is movable in a second direction to bring the clutch parts into engagement. A motor is provided for the movement of the shift member in the first direction and a spring element is provided for the movement of the shift member in the second direction. |
| US08443952B2 |
Transmission
A transmission having at least one shaft, on which a guide sleeve which has a first external toothing system is arranged fixedly so as to rotate with it and at least one slider sleeve which has an internal toothing system is arranged, it being possible to adjust the slider sleeve between a disengaged position, in which the internal toothing system and a second external toothing system on a clutch element are not operatively connected, and an engaged position, in which the internal toothing system meshes with the second external toothing system. The internal toothing system and/or the first external toothing system are/is configured in such a way that there is merely punctiform contact between them in the engaged position. As a result, in particular, an undesired gear disengagement can be suppressed. |
| US08443950B2 |
Shock absorber for vehicle
[PROBLEMS] An impact absorption body for a vehicle can have desired impact absorption performance, exhibits excellent impact absorption performance particularly immediately after an impact is applied to the body, and can maintain high impact absorption performance. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] The impact absorption body (1) for a vehicle is installed within a vehicle forming member and absorbs impact energy in a collision. The impact absorption body (1) has a first wall (4) placed on the side that receives an impact, a second wall (5) facing the first wall (4) with a hollow section (2) between them, and one or more impact absorption ribs (9) constructed from deep groove sections (15) and shallow groove sections (16). The deep groove sections (15) are formed by depressing the first wall (4) and second wall (5) into groove shapes and integrally joining the top surfaces, which function as fusion bonding surfaces, of the depressions. The shallow groove sections (16) are formed by causing the top surfaces of the depressions to face each other with gaps between them. |
| US08443943B2 |
Controlling operation of an industrial vehicle based on battery weight
Operation of an industrial vehicle, such as one that lifts and transports loads, is controlled based on the weight of a removable battery. A control method involves reading a battery weight value from an electronic memory attached to a battery. That battery weight value is compared to a specified battery weight value for the industrial vehicle. The operation of the industrial vehicle is restricted to less than the normal operating characteristics when the battery weight value is less than the specified battery weight value. For example, the height to which a load can be raised is limited or the speed at which the industrial vehicle is limited when a battery installed on the industrial vehicle weighs less than the specified battery weight for effectively counterbalancing a load. |
| US08443940B2 |
Process and structure for servicing a vehicle over a service pit
A support for a non-automotive vehicle to be placed over a service pit and allow for servicing of the vehicle is disclosed. In addition, a process far servicing the vehicle is also disclosed. The support can include as support surface that has an engine access opening, a rolling mechanism attached to the support surface that affords for the support surface to roll over a surface at a predetermined height and at least one ramp attached to the support surface. The at least one ramp can be movable between a retracted position and an extended position and the support is dimensioned to roll over the service pit and allow for servicing of the non-automotive vehicle engine. In some instances, the support affords for the non-automotive vehicle to have its oil changed. |
| US08443937B2 |
Floating harness with continuous loop
A safety harness and techniques for integrating the safety harness into apparel such as a firefighter's turnout suit. The safety harness may include a waist belt having a fastener (e.g., buckle) for adjustably securing the waist belt around a wearer's waist, first and second leg straps for encircling a wearer's legs, and a continuous support strap fixed to each of the first and second leg straps and slideably attached to the waist belt. The continuous support strap has a front middle portion for coupling to a coupling mechanism (e.g., carabiner, ladder hook, knot, clamp, weld, or a combination thereof) and having sufficient slack so as to not impede access to the waist belt fastener. Under no-load conditions, the front middle portion of the continuous strap may hang down below the waist belt fastener, or may be stowed to one side of the waist belt fastener. |
| US08443935B2 |
Sound absorbing body
A sound-absorbing body having sound-absorbing characteristics suitable for in-home and car audio systems, wherein the indoor echo of sound wave output from a speaker or echo in a speaker enclosure should be reduced. Namely, showing flat sound-absorbing properties while maintaining a high sound-absorbing ratio in the medium tone range, having a simple structure, is easily installed, water-resistant and is decorative. Specifically, a sound-absorbing body having a plurality of porous members provided with air holes therein and a structure composed by three or more layers formed by bonding the individual porous members via an adhesive layer having a preset thickness, wherein one side of said structure is located in the side of a sound source and the other side of said structure has a peak-and-valley pattern that is formed by alternately positioning said porous members and air layers to thereby flatten and improve the sound-absorbing ratio in the medium tone range. |
| US08443932B2 |
Working machine
A working machine is provided with a revolving upperstructure, working equipment, an engine compartment, a counterweight, a muffler, and an exhaust path for releasing exhaust gas, which has been discharged from the muffler, to an outer side of the revolving upperstructure. The exhaust path includes a tailpipe connected to the muffler and an exhaust pipe for releasing exhaust gas, which has been discharged from the tailpipe, to the outer side of the revolving upperstructure. The counterweight is utilized for the formation of the exhaust path. The exhaust path includes a passage formed in the counterweight and accommodating an upper end portion of the tailpipe inserted therein with a predetermined clearance formed around the upper end portion such that the exhaust gas discharged from the tailpipe can be guided to the exhaust pipe. |
| US08443929B2 |
Power steering apparatus
A power steering apparatus includes a worm wheel mounted on the steering shaft, a worm shaft engaged with the worm wheel, a gear housing having a wheel accommodating portion to accommodate the worm wheel and a shaft accommodating portion to accommodate the worm shaft, a bearing mounted on the worm shaft to rotatably support the worm shaft, a holder disposed in the shaft accommodating portion and having a bearing retaining portion to retain the bearing and a resilient element disposed in the shaft accommodating portion and having a resilient body portion formed with a curvature. The resilient body portion is so structured as to become deformed in such a manner as to increase or decrease in diameter when the bearing shifts in a direction that moves the worm shaft away from the worm wheel and bias the bearing in a direction that urges the worm wheel toward the worm wheel. |
| US08443922B2 |
Containment device and method for containing energy storage devices
A containment device including a cover defining an internal volume and an opening into the internal volume, the cover being formed as a layered structure including at least a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a woven ceramic fabric and the second layer comprising oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. |
| US08443921B2 |
System and method for increasing operating efficiency of a powertrain by controlling an aero shutter
A method of increasing operating efficiency of a powertrain includes unrestricting a grille opening by fully opening a shutter at or below a first predetermined vehicle speed, and turning a fan off. The method also includes unrestricting the grille opening by fully opening the shutter above the first predetermined vehicle speed and at or below a second predetermined vehicle speed under a high powertrain cooling load, and turning the fan on. The method additionally includes partially restricting the grille opening above the second predetermined vehicle speed via an intermediate position of the shutter, and turning the fan off. A specific size of the fan together with the selected positions for the shutter at the respective vehicle speeds provides sufficient airflow through the grille opening to cool the powertrain, and provides increased powertrain operating efficiency. A system for increasing operating efficiency of a powertrain and a vehicle are also provided. |
| US08443916B2 |
Hose tensioner for a rock drill system
A rock drill system may include a support arrangement including a feed channel, a rock drill assembly movably associated with the feed channel, and a fluid conductor having a first end connected to the rock drill assembly and a second end associated with the support arrangement. The system may further include a tensioning arm pivotally coupled to the support arrangement, wherein the tensioning arm is engageable with the fluid conductor to tension the fluid conductor. |
| US08443914B2 |
Attachment device-equipped electric tool
A hammer drill is provided with a connector equipped with a female terminal, movably between a connection position where the female terminal is located inside a plug-in port and a non-connection position where the female terminal is in retreat from inside the plug-in port. The hammer drill is also provided with a torsion spring that urges the connector toward the non-connection position. The connector is provided with a shutter portion that is located inside the plug-in port to close the plug-in port at the non-connection position and is in retreat from inside the plug-in port at the connection position. A dust collecting device is provided with a press rail that comes into abutment on the connector to move the connector to the connection position against the urging of the torsion spring as the dust collecting device is mounted. |
| US08443908B2 |
Condensate collector arrangement with anti-trip arrangement for dry pipe sprinkler system
A condensate collector arrangement for a dry pipe sprinkler system comprises a collection chamber and an upstream valve and a downstream valve with an anti-trip arrangement for preventing the upstream valve and the downstream valve to be open at the same time and preferably includes an arrangement to indicate the presence of condensate and a lock for the anti-trip arrangement and an alarm which may be selectively deactivated. |
| US08443899B2 |
Function spool
A production assembly and method for controlling production from production tubing supported by a tubing hanger in a well including a wellhead. The assembly includes a function spool engaged with the wellhead and a tree engaged with the function spool. The tubing hanger is landable in the tree bore such that the production tubing is supported in the well by the tree. A function mandrel separate from the tubing hanger is engaged with the production tubing and positionable inside the function spool bore. The function mandrel includes a passage connected to a line extending into the well that is connectable with a port in the function spool such that communication with a downhole component through the line is allowable from outside the function spool. |
| US08443898B1 |
Wellhead safety device
A wellhead safety device can include a tubular with outer surface portions having different diameters. A first seal groove can be disposed on a first outer diameter. A locking groove can be formed in a first outer surface portion, and can have sloping sides that taper to a center for receiving locking pins of a tubing head. A sloping guide can extend from a first end towards a central bore of the wellhead safety device. A second seal groove can be disposed on a second outer surface portion for containing a second seal. A guide shoulder can be formed on a second end, and can taper from the second outer surface portion to the central bore. A J-latch can be formed in the first end. A landing shoulder can stop the wellhead safety device from slipping into wellbores. |
| US08443897B2 |
Subsea safety system having a protective frangible liner and method of operating same
A subsea safety system (50) for use during a well treatment operation. The subsea safety system (50) includes a tubular string having an inner flow passage (112). At least one valve assembly (116, 134) is positioned within the tubular string. The valve assembly (116, 134) is operable between open and closed positioned to selectively permit and prevent fluid flow therethrough. A frangible liner (134) is disposed within the valve assembly (116, 134). The frangible liner (134) has a close fitting but not fluid tight relationship with the valve assembly (116, 134). The frangible liner (134) is operable to protect the valve assembly (116, 134) from particle flow during the well treatment operation. In addition, the frangible liner (134) is operable to shatter responsive to closure of the valve assembly (116, 134), thereby allowing full operation of the valve assembly (116, 134). |
| US08443890B2 |
Methods of stimulating liquid-sensitive subterranean formations
A method comprising: providing a stimulation fluid that comprises a stimulating gas and a consolidating agent; and injecting the stimulation fluid into a portion of a liquid-sensitive formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance a pathway therein. Suitable consolidating agents include aqueous tackifying agents, curable compositions, and noncurable and nonaqueous consolidating compositions. |
| US08443889B2 |
Telescoping conduits with shape memory foam as a plug and sand control feature
A string with a plurality of telescoping members has the telescoping members initially sealed preferably with a shape memory foam so that the foam is initially impervious when run into a subterranean location. Then, after extension of the telescoping members, using pressure in the string, the foam gets above its transition temperature and grows axially in a passage of the telescoping members, to the point of becoming porous so that it can serve as a sand control or other debris exclusion device. Plates with openings can be deployed at opposed ends to maintain the assembly in position when subjected to differential pressure as flow goes through the foam. Alternative materials are envisioned. |
| US08443881B2 |
Expandable liner hanger and method of use
The present invention generally relates to an expandable liner hanger capable of being expanded into a surrounding casing. In one aspect, an expandable tubular system is provided. The system includes an expandable tubular. The system further includes an expansion swage for expanding the expandable tubular, wherein the expansion swage is deformable from a compliant configuration to a smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. Additionally, the system includes a restriction member disposed on an exterior surface of the expandable tubular, wherein expansion of the expandable tubular in the location of the restriction member deforms the expansion swage from the compliant configuration to the smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a liner hanger using a cone is provided. |
| US08443879B2 |
Blowout preventer with shearing blades
The disclosure provides a blowout preventer (BOP) system with a ram having a shear blade with a shear blade profile to shear a tubular member disposed in the BOP. The shear blade profile can include a stress concentrator and centering shaped surface. The stress concentrator and the centering shaped surface can be laterally offset from a centerline of ram travel and on opposite sides of the centerline. An opposing second shear blade can have a mirror image of the shear blade profile with the stress concentrator and centering shaped surface reversed to the orientation of the first shear blade. Further, the ram can include a mandrel with a mandrel profile for the tubular member to deform around during the shearing process and to reduce an overall lateral width of the sheared tubular member in the BOP through-bore to allow retrieval of the deformed sheared tubular member from the BOP. |
| US08443876B1 |
Top drive with inside blowout preventer
This invention is a top drive having an inside blowout preventer connected with a rotatable stem. The inside blowout preventer includes a hydraulically actuatable arm. An inside blowout preventer with a rotatable stem is connected to the top drive rotatable stem. The inside blowout preventer has a hydraulically actuatable arm, a hydraulic cylinder, a tubular body having a tubular bore, and a valve operator assembly surrounding the tubular body. |
| US08443875B2 |
Down hole tool with adjustable fluid viscosity
A down hole tool includes a tool body, a fluid cavity, a magnetorheological fluid disposed in the fluid cavity, and an electrical control unit in communication with the MR fluid. The electrical control unit is configured to adjust a viscosity of the MR fluid by varying a magnetic field. |
| US08443871B2 |
Temperature control apparatus for heating a side door of a vehicle
A temperature control apparatus, for radiating heat from a side door to a vehicle interior, includes components which are provided inside each of the vehicle body and side door, respectively. A heat source is disposed within a peripheral edge part of an opening in a vehicle body. A heat pipe is provided in the side door. When the door opening is closed by the side door, the heat source and heat pipe come into contact, and are thermally connected by a heat transmission mechanism. |
| US08443862B1 |
Tape dispensing aid
A dispensing aid is disclosed for attachment to an annular roll of tape that has an inside radial surface and an outer radial tape surface, such as a roll of masking tape for example. A pair of side risers each have at a lower end thereof an opposing, inwardly-projecting tab that is configured for sliding along the inside radial surface of the roll of tape. A top platform laterally spans the outer radial tape surface width and is fixed with an upper end of each riser. The distance between each riser may be adjustable to accommodate different tape roll widths. A cutting blade projects away from the top platform at a forward end of the platform. One of the risers may include a central slot wherein the riser is slidably engaged within the slot. The riser may include a pivot mechanism such that the riser may pivot from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position, thereby facilitating the attachment and removal of the aid with the tape roll. |
| US08443856B2 |
Pneumatic tire for motorcycle
The present invention realizes a pneumatic tire for a motorcycle, in which durability in running straight at a relatively high speed and tread surface gripping properties during high-speed cornering are made compatible and, in particular, a pneumatic tire for a motorcycle, which tire is capable of demonstrating appropriate durability and driving stability in accordance with inputs even if these inputs differ between running straight, cornering left and cornering right. The tread portion 3 is constituted of plural types of rubbers 11-13 adjacent to each other in the tire widthwise direction and sectioned into at least a center region A at the center portion of the tire including the tire equatorial plane and two side regions B1, B2 at respective sides of the tire. 300% modulus of rubber 11 constituting the center region is higher than 300% modulus of each of rubbers 12, 13 constituting the side regions, and 300% moduli of the rubbers constituting the side regions differ between one side region and the other side region. |
| US08443850B2 |
Filling device
A filling device for beverages includes a store tank for receiving a beverage supply, and a filling valve for filling packages with the beverage from the store tank. To reduce idle times in this filling device, a heat exchanger is integrated into the store tank and/or into the filling valve. |
| US08443845B2 |
Fluid conveying conduit
A fluid-containing conduit (10,30,40,50) including at least one luminescent marker (14) whereby the fluid-containing conduit is visible in a low light condition. The marker may be in the form of one or more elongate ribs (16) containing luminescent material along interior wall surface (18), or may be elongate luminescent bands (52,54) adjacent the exterior wall (20) of the conduit, or may be indicia containing luminescent material such as ink (42). |
| US08443842B2 |
Flow straightener for a flowmeter, in particular an ultrasonic metering device
Flow straightener for a flowmeter, in particular an ultrasonic metering device, which can be fitted into a flow pipe which is upstream of or in the flowmeter and through which the fluid to be measured flows with a main direction of flow (H), comprising a number of vanes (11, 12, 16, 17), which each have surfaces (13) that are parallel to one another and, in the fitted position, run parallel to the main direction of flow (H) of the fluid to be measured, the vanes (11, 12, 16, 17) being arranged in such a way that, in the fitted position, the flow cross section (Q) of the fluid-carrying flow pipe is subdivided into a number of partial cross sections (TQ1,2,3,4,5), at least some of the partial cross sections (TQ1,2,3,4,5) being of different sizes. |
| US08443830B2 |
Heater built-in valve
A heater built-in valve usable even under a high-temperature condition beyond 200° C. is provided. Piston driving means 7 has an upper compressed-air introducing chamber 24 for moving a piston 6 downward, and a lower compressed-air introducing chamber 25 for moving the piston 6 upward. Piston sealing means 8 has an upper bellows 29 that seals the upper compressed-air introducing chamber 24, and a lower bellows 30 that seals the lower compressed air introducing chamber 25. |
| US08443829B2 |
Lift lock assembly feature for air bypass valve
A solenoid device includes a solenoid assembly (30) including a stator (42, 32, 38), a coil (36) for generating a magnetic field, and first retention structure (64). Armature and seal assembly includes armature structure (14, 16) that moves with respect to the solenoid assembly from a closed position to an open position in response to the magnetic field generated by the coil, seal structure (22) that is coupled with a proximal end of the armature structure and has a sealing edge (28) to seal with a component when the armature structure is in the closed position thereof, and second retention structure (68). A spring (44) biases the armature structure to the closed position. The first and second retention structures engage and retain the armature and seal assembly with respect to the stafor assembly prior to installation of the device. |
| US08443828B2 |
Siphon weir valve for high flow municipal water treatment systems
A device allows a liquid to flow between two open structures with different liquid surface elevations separated by a wall. The device has a conduit with an inlet on one side of the wall and an outlet on the other side of the wall separated by a high point above the expected liquid surface elevation. The conduit also has two valved openings, one connected to a source of suction that can evacuate air from the conduit and the other connected to a vent. In one example, the conduit is formed between a pair of spaced transverse walls attached to an arched cover. The transverse walls each have a slot allowing the device to be placed on top of a dividing wall between two tanks with surfaces of the dividing wall defining part of the conduit. In an example with multiple conduits, one or more interior walls are provided between a pair of end walls and a cover over the interior and end walls may be provided in segments. To initiate flow, a conduit is evacuated of sufficient air to allow a siphon to develop. To stop the flow, sufficient air is allowed to enter the conduit through the vent valve to break the siphon. To control the rate of flow in a device with multiple conduits, flow can be permitted in just some of the conduits. Flowrate through a conduit can also be varied by controlling the volume of air at the top of a conduit. |
| US08443827B2 |
Controlling device for hydraulic consumers
A controlling device for hydraulic consumers (10, 12) has one controlling valve (18) for controlling a supply pipeline (TReg) for the hydraulic consumer (10, 12) and a tank return pipeline (TRO). Because the control valve (18) is connected to an additional supply pipeline (TR) and constructed as a priority valve, the supply pipeline (TReg) receives priority preference of a fluid supply system over the priority of the tank return pipeline (TRO). A sensor circuit is realized which checks whether, in accordance with the load situation at the hydraulic consumer (10, 12), there is any need at all for a supply flow. |
| US08443823B1 |
Flood detection and valve shutoff device
A flood detection and valve shutoff device which comprises a water sensitive sensor. A mechanism is for retaining the water sensitive sensor on a floor near a water heater. Another mechanism is for biasing a valve in a water inlet pipe of the water heater to a closed position. A lanyard in a taut condition extends between the water sensitive sensor and the biasing mechanism, so as to keep the valve in an open position. When the water sensitive sensor detects water on the floor the lanyard will be released from the water sensitive sensor, causing the biasing means to move the valve from the open position to the closed position. |
| US08443820B2 |
Fuel distribution in multi-fuel tank compressed gas fuel systems
A method for distributing fuel in a fuel system of a motor vehicle. The method may be applied in a fuel system having a first fuel tank, where fuel is confined at a first pressure, and a second fuel tank, where fuel is confined at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The method comprises releasing fuel already resident in the second fuel tank to the first fuel tank, and admitting fuel to the first and second fuel tanks simultaneously. |
| US08443817B2 |
Floss dispensing unit
A dental floss dispensing unit comprising a housing and a supply spool coupled to the housing and having a length of floss wound thereabout. The supply spool being adjustable between a locked position, where the supply spool is fixed with respect to the housing, and an unlocked position, where the supply spool is free to rotate with respect to the housing. |
| US08443815B2 |
Flexible level system for a comb
A comb system for creating or replicating a haircut. The comb system has a comb with level attachments and measuring devices that measure different angles of the comb with respect to an object, such as a head. The level attachments and measuring devices are removable and adjustable, allowing for flexibility and customization. In one embodiment, the comb system can measure the comb's roll, pitch, and yaw angles for any given orientation of the comb. |
| US08443813B2 |
Method of packaging tobacco molasses and a relative system
A system (1) for portioning and packaging a tobamel smoking mixture (2) comprises a unit (3) internally of which the mixture (2) is prepared by blending tobacco en masse with agglutinants such as honey or molasses, and an extruder unit (17) by which the mixture (2) is shaped into a continuous rod (20). |
| US08443808B2 |
Methods and apparatus for occlusion of body lumens
The invention describes methods and apparatus for creating permanent occlusion of body lumens such as the fallopian tubes. The methods and apparatus use non-surgical approaches to deliver permanent implants which create acute occlusion of desired body lumens which resolve to permanent occlusions of the lumens. |
| US08443807B2 |
Breathing assistance apparatus
Headgear for use with a respiratory mask is described. The headgear comprises a continuous and substantially curved elongate member extending in use below a user's nose and at least two headgear straps capable of attachment to the ends of the elongate member. A mask attachment on the elongate member is disposed to sit below or on one of said user's nose, mouth, upper lip and an inlet to the mask. The attachment is capable of receiving the mask. |
| US08443805B2 |
Headgear assembly for a respiratory mask assembly
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame. The headgear assembly includes a pair of side portions and a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions. The pair of side portions includes at least one strap. The rear portion has at least one strap constructed of at least two layers of material. One of the layers of material has a more rigid construction than the other of the layers of material to resist compression of the at least one strap of the rear portion in a first direction which resists movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction. |
| US08443801B2 |
System and method for adaptive high frequency flow interrupter control in a patient respiratory ventilator
A method and system for controlling fluid flow settings by receiving a precondition pressure wave function, representative of a precondition frequency, a precondition amplitude and a precondition pressure of the fluid flow in the system, establishing an operating pressure wave function, representative of an operating frequency, an operating amplitude and an operating pressure of the fluid flow desired in the system, determining cycle error between the precondition pressure wave function and the operating pressure wave function, converting the cycle error to flow adjustment, and updating an operating flow with the flow adjustment. |
| US08443796B2 |
Acoustic respiratory therapy apparatus
An active respiratory therapeutic device for clearing breathing passages, loosening and breaking up mucus plugs and phlegm in a patient's sinuses, trachea, bronchial passages and lungs while a patient is breathing normally through the device is disclosed. The apparatus preferably includes a C shaped curved hollow housing having a closed end portion and an open threaded end portion. The open end portion forms at least part of an acoustic coupling chamber. A generally funnel shaped tapered mouthpiece tapers to a small end portion sized to be inserted into a patient's mouth. The mouthpiece forms another part of the acoustic coupling chamber. An acoustic signal generator housed within the hollow housing generates and directs acoustic vibrations into and through the coupling chamber. The mouthpiece preferably includes a valve permitting a patient to breathe through the mouthpiece while at the same time coupling the acoustic coupling chamber into the patient's airways. |
| US08443794B2 |
Systems and methods for operating environmental equipment utilizing energy obtained from manufactured surface coverings
Systems and methods for operating environmental equipment using heat absorbed by manufactured surface coverings from incident solar radiation where fluid in conduits carried in the manufactured surface covering is heated and supplied to a heat exchanger to provide heat for various environmental equipment such as a hot water supply, a turbine-driven electrical generator, a chiller, a water purification system, and/or a distillation system. Efficiencies are maximized by use of thermally conducted aggregates in the manufactured surface covering. |
| US08443789B2 |
Exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust driven turbocharger having a low pressure turbine outlet in fluid communication with an exhaust gas conduit. The turbocharger also includes a low pressure compressor intake and a high pressure compressor outlet in communication with an intake air conduit. An exhaust gas recirculation conduit fluidly communicates with the exhaust gas conduit to divert a portion of exhaust gas to a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation branch extending between the exhaust gas recirculation conduit and an engine intake system for delivery of exhaust gas thereto. A high pressure exhaust gas recirculation branch extends between the exhaust gas recirculation conduit and the compressor intake and delivers exhaust gas to the compressor for mixing with a compressed intake charge for delivery to the intake system. |
| US08443787B2 |
Method for fuel vapor canister purging
A method of controlling fuel vapor purging in a hybrid electric vehicle capable of selectively operating an engine is disclosed. In one example, the method includes initiating purging in response to an amount of liquid fuel residing in a fuel tank of the hybrid electric vehicle and a duration since the previous fuel tank filling event. |
| US08443783B2 |
Internal combustion engine that can be operated with different types of liquid fuel
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated with different types of liquid fuel, which includes a device that can determine the current type of liquid fuel used. The invention further relates to a method for operating such an internal combustion engine. According to the invention, at least two different paths are provided, by which the liquid fuel can reach the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine comprises a control and regulation device, controlling or regulating the use of the different paths as a function of the type of the liquid fuel that was determined. |
| US08443779B2 |
Boosting system failure diagnosis device, boosting circuit controller and vehicle
A boosting converter and a boosting control unit are mounted on a vehicle. A failure diagnosis unit makes a failure diagnosis of an atmospheric pressure sensor based on a detection result of the atmospheric pressure sensor and on a detection result of an intake pressure sensor detecting engine intake pressure that changes in accordance with a change in the atmospheric pressure. Boosting control unit controls an output voltage of the boosting converter based on the detection result of atmospheric pressure sensor and the detection result of intake pressure sensor. |
| US08443777B2 |
Oil pan
An oil pan made of resin includes an oil reservoir. The oil reservoir includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall and having an opening at a top of the oil reservoir. A rib is provided in the oil reservoir. |
| US08443773B2 |
Methods for controlling valves of an internal combustion engine, devices for controlling the valves, and engines employing the methods
Methods for improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine comprises controlling the motion of an exhaust valve associated with a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Camshafts and internal combustion engines configured for performing methods of the instant invention are also disclosed. |
| US08443772B2 |
Electric valve timing control device of internal combustion engine
A drive rotation member is driven by a crankshaft of the engine, and a driven rotation member is rotatable relative to the drive rotation member and secured to a cam shaft of the engine. An electric motor is arranged to rotate together with the drive rotation member and produces a dynamic power when fed with an electric current through brushes. A hollow control shaft is rotatable relative to the drive rotation member and forces the driven rotation member to rotate relative to the drive rotation member when rotated by the power of the electric motor. A bearing device is arranged between the driven rotation member and the hollow control shaft for smoothing a relative rotation therebetween. The bearing device includes a plurality of rollers. A lubrication oil feeding structure is provided for causing the rollers of the bearing device to be submerged in a lubrication oil at least when the engine is in operation. |
| US08443766B2 |
Method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine
A method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine, where, during normal operation in a first controller mode, a charge air temperature controller is set as dominant for a map-controlled thermostatic valve for automatically controlling the charge air temperature (TLL), or, during normal operation in a second controller mode, a coolant temperature limit controller is set as dominant for the map-controlled thermostatic valve for automatically controlling the coolant temperature (TKM). If a charge air temperature sensor fails, the second controller mode is set with the coolant temperature limit controller dominant, and if a coolant temperature sensor fails, the first controller mode is set with the charge air temperature controller dominant. |
| US08443763B2 |
Equine support boot
An equine support boot comprises a base portion, at least one upper strap, a concave portion formed in the base portion, an orthopedic pad disposed in the concave portion, and at least one sling strap connected to the base portion, the sling strap being configured to apply an upward force on the concave portion. |
| US08443759B2 |
Mobile calf care station
A mobile animal care station includes a wheeled chassis with an enclosure supported above the ground for movement to and from a treatment location. The enclosure defines a treatment space therein and presents an opening that permits ingress and egress relative to the treatment space. The enclosure presents an open bottom to permit animals within the enclosure to be supported directly on the ground. The mobile animal care station also includes a doorway restriction mounted along the opening to provide a doorway of the enclosure. |
| US08443753B2 |
Film forming apparatus and method for forming film
A film forming apparatus includes a processing chamber defined by walls, an application preparation room in which an applicator is temporary provided, a first carrier transporting the applicator from the application preparation room to the processing chamber, a stage on which a substrate is disposed and a maintenance part disposed adjacent to the application preparation room. A liquid is applied from the applicator onto the substrate to form a film on the substrate. |
| US08443745B2 |
Seam, seam forming device, and seam forming method
To provide a seam of attractive appearance in which tightening force is increased and raveling are prevented drastically. A seam (1) is formed by two needles (11, 12) juxtaposed in the direction at substantially right angles to the sewing direction (T), and consists of a chain seam (10) formed by a needle thread (12) passed through one needle (11), and a lock seam (20) formed by a needle thread (22) passed through the other needle (21). The loop (13) of a needle thread forming the chain seam (10) is passed through the loop (23) of a needle thread forming the lock seam (20) before tightening of stitch is performed, and a loop of the needle thread forming the chain seam located on a downstream side in the sewing direction is passed through the loop of the needle thread forming the upstream chain seam. |
| US08443743B2 |
System and method for control of yarn feed in a tufting machine
A system and method for controlling the yarn feed for a tufting machine to form tufted patterns having different pattern fields or areas. Predetermined yarn feed amounts can be input for one or more selected yarn feed zones of selected stitches of the pattern to enable different pile heights and/or different tufts of yarns to be formed in the different pattern zones. A yarn feed device for the tufting machine will be controlled to selectively feed varying amounts of yarns for each of the yarn feed zones of the selected stitches of the pattern. |
| US08443742B2 |
Arrangement for recycling air in an agriculture machine
An agricultural machine including a seed metering device to meter seeds for the distribution to the ground across which the agricultural machine moves. The seed metering device embraces a wall that is arranged to rotate. The seed metering device is furthermore arranged to communicate with a pressure actuating appliance for providing a wall pressure difference between a seed reception side, high-pressure side, of the wall and a side, low pressure side, of the wall that is opposite the seed reception side. The wall is provided with a plurality of through retention openings for the reception on the seed reception side of the wall, by the wall pressure difference, of seeds at the retention openings. Then, the seeds are transported, by the rotation of the wall, through a wall transportation distance whereupon they are released from the wall. The pressure actuating appliance includes a pneumatic device connected to an air line, which device provides a main air current through the air line toward the seed reception side of the wall. A return line is connected between the side of the wall that is opposite the seed reception side and the pneumatic device, in which return line a part of the main air current is arranged to be brought back to the air line and/or to an inlet side of the pneumatic device, while a part of the main air current is arranged to be directed down into the ground through a dump line. |
| US08443741B2 |
Waste treatment process and apparatus
A process for the treatment of waste, the process comprising either a gasification step or a pyrolysis step to produce an offgas and a non-airborne, solid char material; followed by a a plasma treatment step. An associated apparatus having a plasma treatment unit which is separate from the gasification unit or pyrolysis unit. |
| US08443740B2 |
Cyclonic incinerator
A cyclonic incinerator includes a cylindrical outer burn chamber having a defining wall, a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a forced air opening extending through the wall between the first end and the second end. A forced air manifold is provided which is adapted to direct forced air into the forced air opening of the outer burn chamber to create a cyclonic air flow about the central axis of the outer burn chamber. A cylindrical inner burn chamber is concentrically disposed within the outer burn chamber. The inner burn chamber has a defining wall, a first end and a second end. The first end of the inner burn chamber has an exhaust gas opening. The second end of the inner burn chamber is in communication with the outer burn chamber. A gas inlet is positioned at the first end of the outer burn chamber. |
| US08443739B2 |
Tertiary air addition to solid waste-fired furnaces for NOx control
Through the addition of tertiary air and a reduction of secondary air, NOx emissions from a waste-to-energy (WTE) boiler may be reduced. The tertiary air is added to the WTE at a distance from the secondary air, in a boiler region of relatively lower temperatures. A secondary NOx reduction system, such as a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system using ammonia or urea, may also be added to the boiler with tertiary air to achieve desirable high levels of NOx reductions. The SNCR additives are introduced to the WTE boiler proximate to the tertiary air. |
| US08443738B2 |
High-security enclosure
A high-security enclosure includes a base, a cover and a lock system. The lock system includes a base portion and a cover portion. The lock system base portion includes one or more fixed lock bars. The lock system cover portion includes one or more movable lock bars. Each movable lock bar is generally perpendicular to, and arranged to engage, one of the fixed lock bars. The lock system cover portion further includes a lock bar retraction assembly coupled to the one or more movable lock bars for retracting the movable lock bar(s) substantially simultaneously out of engagement with the fixed lock bar(s). A security drive mechanism is coupled to the lock bar retraction assembly to drive the lock system. |
| US08443733B2 |
Sensor and apparatus for positioning railroad tie plates along a railroad track and method
A method for positioning a replacement railroad tie plate along a railroad, comprising the steps of positioning a carrier vehicle on a railroad track, positioning a feed conveyor on the railroad track for movement with the carrier vehicle, moving a sensor assembly in a longitudinal direction of the feed conveyor and relative to a release point a first distance based upon a second distance between two adjacent ties, moving the carrier vehicle and the feed conveyor along the railroad track, detecting an in-service tie plate with the sensor assembly and, actuating a gate assembly upon the detection of the in-service tie plate. |
| US08443732B2 |
High angle of attack multi spectral marking projectile/bomb
A high angle-of-attack projectile or bomb comprises separate compartments that, after launch allow for (a) mixing of the chemi-luminescent materials, (b) heating of the materials in the projectile vessel, (c) pressurization of the projectile vessel, and (d) efficient expulsion of a day marker and heated chemi-luminescent mix upon striking the target. The projectile/bomb allows for the marking of targets. The projectile/bomb does not create unexploded ordnance (UXO) and minimizes use of energetic materials such as reactive chemicals and/or pyrotechnics. |
| US08443731B1 |
Reactive material enhanced projectiles, devices for generating reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods
A liner assembly for an explosively formed projectile device may include a reactive material liner and a primary liner configured to form into a projectile responsive to initiation of an explosive material. The reactive material liner may be configured and formulated to increase the velocity of the projectile after formation thereof. An ordnance device for generating an explosively formed projectile may include a case, an explosive material, and a reactive material liner and a primary liner configured, in combination, to form into a projectile. An explosively formed projectile may include a deformed primary liner and a deformed reactive material liner having an ignited portion increasing the velocity of the projectile. Methods of explosively forming a projectile may include explosively expelling a primary liner and a secondary liner and increasing the velocity of the projectile by combusting at least a portion of the secondary liner. |
| US08443727B2 |
Small smart weapon and weapon system employing the same
A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a target sensor configured to guide the weapon to a target. The target sensor includes a front lens configured to provide a cover to protect the target sensor from an environment and a fast fresnel lens behind the front lens to provide a multi-lens focusing system for the target sensor. In a related embodiment, the weapon includes an aft section including a tail fin having a modifiable control surface area thereby changing an aspect ratio thereof. |
| US08443726B2 |
Miniature safe and arm (S and A) mechanisms for fuzing of gravity dropped small weapons
A device for enabling safe/arm functionality in a gravity dropped weapon detachably connected to an airframe where the device includes: an elastic element disposed in a shell of the weapon; a releasable connection between the weapon and the airframe to release one or more of a stored and generated energy in the elastic element; and a piezoelectric member connected to one end of the elastic member for converting the one or more of the stored and generated energy to an electrical energy. The releasable connection can include: a link having a movable connection for movement of the link relative to the shell between a first position constraining the elastic element from movement and a second position releasing the elastic member to generate the electrical energy; and a lanyard for tethering the link to the airframe such that the link is moved to the second position upon the weapon being released from the airframe. |
| US08443723B2 |
Cross-strapping device
A cross-strapping device includes a base, a lateral strapping mechanism, and a longitudinal strapping mechanism. This base has a working surface. The lateral strapping mechanism has a lateral chute, a first strap supplying assembly, and a first sealing/cutting assembly. A first strap is guided by the lateral chute and is strapped around the object to finish a lateral strapping procedure. The longitudinal strapping mechanism has a longitudinal guider, a second strap supplying assembly, and a second sealing/sealing assembly. A second strap is guided by the longitudinal guider and be strapped around the object to finish a longitudinal strapping procedure. So, this object is placed on a fixed working surface without rotation. The lateral strapping procedure and the longitudinal strapping procedure are completed on the same working surface. Hence, both the lateral strapping procedure and the longitudinal strapping procedure can be done in only one machine. In addition, the turn table is not required. |
| US08443718B2 |
Device for preparing a beverage with removable injection member
The invention proposes a device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule provided to the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (22) for inserting a capsule (24) into a receiving chamber (25) of the device, a closing mechanism (21) to selectively enclose said capsule by a relative movement of at least two enclosing members (10, 25b), and at least one injection member (1) comprising a support member (2) and at least one injection element (3), for receiving a liquid, attached to said support member (2) which is arranged to inject liquid into a capsule (24) provided to the device, wherein the injection member (1) is releasably mounted on a support (10) at the injection side of said receiving chamber (25) by means of a releasable connection mechanism (4a, 4b, 12). |
| US08443716B2 |
Method for making a piston with radical producing micro chambers and piston made thereby
A piston head is formed to have a bowl, micro chambers in the piston body adjacent to the bowl, and orifices providing communication between the micro chambers and the bowl. The micro chambers are formed in the piston head by using grooves that in part define the volume of the reaction chambers, and which are completely sealed from above with permanently secured plugs. |
| US08443714B2 |
Vibration/shock resistant stud housing
A brake stud housing assembly and method of construction of such assembly for vehicles that exhibits increased shock resistance and vibration reduction capability, allowing for increased durability of a brake housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a vibration dampening layer having an adhesive material that provides a permanent connection between the housing shell and reinforcing plate, which transfers both tensile and compressive loading forces between the housing shell and reinforcing plate in order to reduce vibration and stress. |
| US08443709B2 |
Vehicle and structure shield hard point
A vehicle and structure shield hard point includes a forward facing base portion defined by a front face, sidewalls extending rearward from the front face including slots therethrough for the cords of a net, and a cavity surrounded by the sidewalls. A plug is sized to be frictionally received in the cavity of the forward facing base portion locking the cords of the net with respect to the forward facing base portion. |
| US08443706B2 |
Triaxial braid fabric architectures for improved soft body armor ballistic impact performance
A fabric comprising a first plurality of yarns, a second plurality of yarns and a third plurality of yarns wherein the first, second and third pluralities of yarns have a yarn orientation that is different from each other. The third plurality of yarns is oriented in an axial direction. The second plurality of yarns is interwoven with the first plurality of yarns. The third plurality of yarns have no crimp. The yarns of the second plurality of yarns have an average linear density greater than or equal to the average linear density of the yarns of the first plurality of yarns and the yarns of the third plurality of yarns have an average linear density greater than the average linear density of the yarns of the second plurality of yarns and less than three times the average linear density of the yarns of the first plurality of yarns. |
| US08443694B2 |
Rotary series elastic actuator
A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint. |
| US08443693B2 |
Rotary series elastic actuator
A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint. |
| US08443689B2 |
Rack shaft support device and torsion amount adjustment method for torsion spring used therein
A rack shaft support device includes: a rack shaft support member that slidably supports a rack shaft; a sealing member fixed to an inlet port of a retention hole formed in a housing; an intermediate member that is interposed between the rack shaft support member and the sealing member; a torsion spring that couples the intermediate member so that torque is transmitted to the intermediate member; a torsion amount adjusting member that is attached to the sealing member in such a manner that a position of the torsion amount adjusting member with respect to the sealing member is adjustable and adjusts a torsion amount of the torsion spring; and a cam mechanism that converts a rotation force of the intermediate member induced by untwisting of the torsion spring into a force by which the intermediate member pushes the rack shaft support member. |
| US08443686B2 |
Seven speed dual clutch transmission
A transmission connectable to an input member and having an output transfer gear, first and second transmission input shaft members, first and second countershaft members, an idler shaft, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the transmission input members and the output member. |
| US08443685B2 |
Linear actuator and safety mechanism for the same
A safety mechanism for an electric linear actuator is disclosed. The linear actuator has a guide screw and a telescopic tube. The safety mechanism includes a nut, a nut sheath, a sleeve, and a torsion spring. The nut connects the guide screw. The nut sheath is fixed on one side of the nut to form an integer and is provided with a plurality of bumps. One end of the sleeve is put around the nut sheath and the other end thereof is connected to the telescopic tube. The sleeve is provided with a plurality of rabbets corresponding to the bumps. The torsion spring is disposed around the nut sheath and the sleeve. When the guide screw is rotated, the nut sheath is engaged with the sleeve by embedding the bumps into the rabbets. When the sleeve stops, the bumps and the rabbets depart from engagement to make the nut sheath and the nut freely rotate against the sleeve. |
| US08443678B2 |
Apparatus for evaluation of coated parts
A bending test fixture for test coupons includes a test region for receiving a test coupon and first and second supports on opposed sides of the test region. One of the first or second supports includes a first pair of spaced-apart support points and the other of the first or second supports includes a second pair of spaced-apart support points that are narrowly spaced relative to the first pair of spaced-apart support points. There is a load shaft for applying a load to the second support and an articulated joint between the load shaft and the second support for uniformly distributing the load to the first support. |
| US08443676B2 |
Pressure sensor for hydraulic media in motor vehicle brake systems
Disclosed is a pressure sensor, especially for measuring pressures exceeding 100 bar, with a diaphragm (1, 1′) that can be deflected and/or deformed as a result of pressurization. It has an enclosed hollow volume (6) that is disposed below the diaphragm and in particular is at least partly filled with a gas or a mixture of gas. A supporting frame (2) for the diaphragm sealingly closes the periphery of the diaphragm relative to a base member (3), and at least one pressure transducer converts the deflection and/or deformation of the diaphragm into at least one electric quantity. It uses a capacitive, piezoresistive or any other principle or at least one strain measuring strip, in which case the pressure sensor is sealingly encapsulated on all sides and has no electric contacts or lines leading to the outside. |
| US08443675B2 |
Dual physical quantity sensor
A pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of a first object to be measured; a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of a second object to be measured; a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the pressure sensor and the pressure sensor; a first correcting portion for executing a correction that eliminates a fluctuation portion, due to a change in temperature, from the detection signal of the pressure sensor, and for outputting the signal, after the correction, as a measurement signal for the first object to be measured; and a second correcting portion for executing a correction that eliminates a fluctuation portion, due to a change in temperature, from the detection signal of the pressure sensor, and for outputting the signal, after the correction, as a measurement signal for the second object to be measured; wherein the temperature sensor is integrated with the pressure sensor and the pressure sensor so as to be in a state of mutual contact. |
| US08443670B2 |
3-axis accelerometer with gap-closing capacitive electrodes
Disclosed is a novel three-axis capacitive-type accelerometer implemented on SOI wafer. The accelerometer consists of four springs, one proof mass, four pairs of gap-closing sensing electrodes (each pair of gap-closing sensing electrode containing one movable electrode and one stationary electrode), and several metal-vias as the electrical interconnections. The movable electrodes are on the proof mass, whereas the stationary electrodes are fixed to the substrate. The three-axis accelerometer has five merits. (1) The sensitivity of the accelerometer is improved since the proof-mass is increased by containing both device and handling silicon layers; (2) The sensitivity is also improved by the gap-closing differential capacitive sensing electrodes design; (3) The parasitic capacitance at bond pad is reduced by the existing of metal-vias between the device Si layer and handling Si layer; (4) The sensing gap thickness is precisely defined by the buried oxide of SOI wafer; (5) The stationary sensing electrodes anchored to the substrate also act as the limit stops to protect the accelerometer. |
| US08443665B2 |
Frequency modulated micro gyro
A micro gyro consisting of a vibrating micro scale structure produces a signal whose characteristic frequency shifts in proportion to the applied angular velocity. The vibrating structure consists of a suspended proof mass resonator supported on springs and connected to at least one detector resonator. The structure can be made with multiple semiconductor materials such as silicon, poly-silicon, silicon dioxide, and silicon nitride, using one of many MEMS fabrication processes. The proof mass resonator is designed to have two closely coupled resonant frequencies, with one resonant mode for the drive motion and the second resonant mode for the sense motion. Detector resonators are connected to the vibrating structure such that when the proof mass resonator oscillates due to the Coriolis force in its sense mode, the connections to the detector resonators are stressed by the proof mass resonator, thus changing the resonant frequency of the detector resonators. By measuring the shift in the resonant frequency of the detectors, the applied angular rate can be determined. |
| US08443661B1 |
High pressure and high temperature linear swell measurement method
A method and apparatus for monitoring swelling changes consists of a cylindrical cell assembly (80) capable of withstanding high pressure and high temperature with a wafer holder (48) containing a wafer (42) of solid sample. A sensor rod (56) moves in response to expansion or contraction of the sample wafer (42) and its movement is measured by either an LVDT sensor (66) or a magnetometer (116). Heat is provided via a heater (30) and pressure is controlled via a pressurization inlet (16) or pressurization fluid (68). |
| US08443659B2 |
Fastener tool for fastening a transmission shaft, and a balancing bench including such a tool
The present invention relates to a fastener tool (101, 102) for fastening a transmission shaft (1), the tool being arranged at a free end (2, 3) of the transmission shaft (1), and also to a balancing bench (B) including the fastener tool (101, 102). The fastener tool is provided with centering elements (110, 110′) for centering the transmission shaft (1), which centering elements are deformable by centrifugal forces so as to come into contact with the transmission shaft as from a determined speed of rotation of the fastener tool (101, 102) about its axis of rotation (AX). |
| US08443658B2 |
Liner inspection tool and method of inspecting a cylinder liner
The invention relates to a method and a device (50) for inspecting a running surface (35) of a cylinder liner (25) of a combustion engine (10) comprising an inspection tool (65), a control device (55) and connection means (60) for power supply and transmission of measuring data and control signals. The inspection tool (65) comprises a bearing rail (70) and mounted thereon a rotary table (80) and tools (90, 96) for measuring the inner diameter (d) and running surface (35) of the cylinder liner (25) and for visual inspection of the surface condition. The inspection tool (65) has a size that allows its introduction into the cylinder liner (25) through an aperture (30) in the cylinder liner (25) to be inspected. The invention is particular suitable for the inspection of a cylinder liner (25) of a reciprocating piston combustion engine (10). |
| US08443657B2 |
Radiator grille tester
A radiator grille tester of the present invention includes two adapters, a transparent tube, and a detector. The transparent tube and the detector are located between the adapters. The adapters, the transparent tube, and the detector are serial connected and define a channel. The adapters can be connected to an engine and a radiator respectively. Therefore, water in the engine and the radiator can flow passing through the transparent tube and the detector via the adapter. User can observe the water flow directly so as to check whether the engine and the radiator are malfunctioned. Observation and examination procedures are simplified. |
| US08443656B2 |
Inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance abnormality detection device for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and abnormality detection method therefor
The invention provides an inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance abnormality detection device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, in which when abnormality detection processing of detecting an inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance abnormality on the basis of revolution speed fluctuations of the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and ignition timing control for controlling the ignition timing so as to restrict revolution speed fluctuations in the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine are implemented, the implementation of the ignition timing control is restricted when the abnormality detection processing is implemented, and an abnormality detection method to be used in such a device. |
| US08443652B2 |
Fluid detector
The present invention relates to a device (1) for sensing a fluid, such as in a ventilation duct, comprising a sensing element (6), a first housing portion (27) adapted to be arranged outside said object and accommodating the sensing element (6), a supply opening (13) and an outlet opening (37), which openings provide communication between the said first housing portion (27) and the object containing the fluid that is to be sensed. The device (1) further comprises a second housing portion (28), adapted to be arranged outside said object and accommodating electrical connection components, wherein said first and second housing portions (27, 28) are arranged and configured such that they may be connected to each other in geometrically different configurations by use of mechanical fastening means (22) and electrical interconnection means (19, 26). |
| US08443649B2 |
Mass flow controller verifying system, verifying method and verifying program
In a mass flow controller verifying system, there are provided a verifying gas line arranged in parallel to influent flow gas lines and joined into a post-confluent flow gas line, a reference volume calculating portion adapted to calculate a reference volume determined for a specified piping of a gas piping system, a verifying parameter calculating portion adapted to calculate a verifying parameter based on time series data of a measurement pressure measured by a pressure measurement unit during a control of a flow rate by a mass flow controller to be verified, and a comparing portion adapted to compare a reference parameter set based on the reference volume and the verifying parameter, whereby the verifying system can be introduced into an existing gas piping system used in a semiconductor manufacturing process and so forth at a low cost and is capable of verifying a mass flow controller quickly and accurately. |
| US08443648B2 |
Controlled humidification calibration checking of continuous emissions monitoring system
A continuous emissions monitoring system is in fluid communication with a flue stack conducting exhaust gas from a combustion source. The continuous emissions monitor system comprises an analyzer for measuring concentrations of an analyte present in the exhaust gas. A probe is in fluid communication with the flue stack to acquire a sample of exhaust gas from the flue stack. The probe is also in fluid communication with and located upstream of the analyzer. The probe tends to remove analyte from the sample. A calibration checking system is in fluid communication with the probe. The calibration checking system includes a source that provides a flow of a known concentration of calibration material to be measured by the analyzer. The calibration material is the same as the analyte. A humidifier is associated with the source to provide moisture to a flow of calibration material. The moisture acts to cleanse removed analyte from the probe and thereby enable an accurate measurement of the concentration of the calibration material. A supply system is operatively connected with the humidifier to provide a desired amount of a liquid to the humidifier. |
| US08443644B2 |
Rotary-draw bending die with eccentric clamping
A rotary-draw bending die with eccentric clamping for bending elongate workpieces such as pipes, wires, profile strands, etc. The die having a twistable bending mandrel, and an associated clamp die. The clamp die can be moved relative to the bending mandrel and brought from an opened position remote from the bending mandrel. A workpiece to be bent can be inserted between the bending mandrel and clamp die to a clamping position on the bending mandrel or vice-versa and is freely twistable about a swivel axis which is offset eccentrically in relation to the rotational axis of the bending mandrel. The swivel axis is disposed on a rotary plate which is rotatable relative to the bending mandrel. The clamp die is freely twistable about the swivel axis and can be moved between its clamping position and its opened position by twisting the rotary plate relative to the bending mandrel. |
| US08443643B2 |
Burr removing method and device
A burr removing method includes: pressing, by using a work pressing device (7), the upper surface of a work (W) around a work edge (WE), along which a burr occurs, so as to be relatively freely movable, the work (W) held on a work table in a plate material processing machine so as to be freely movable in X- and Y-axis directions; when the work (W) relatively moves with respect to the work pressing device (7) in the X- and Y-axis directions, vibrating a striker (35) vertically, the striker (35) provided at a position below the work pressing device (7) so as to be freely vertically movable; and, when the striker (35) moves upward, crushing the burr. A burr removing device includes: a freely vertically movable striker (35) equipped with a burr striking portion (33) at the upper end thereof for striking a burr from the lower side and provided on a base member (29) attachable to and detachable from a work table or a die holder (5) in the plate material processing machine; and a vertical movement actuator being used for vertically moving the striker (35) and provided on the base member (29) or in a burr removing unit (37) equipped with the striker (35). |
| US08443642B2 |
Process for pre-forming cylindrical tubes into tubular members having sharp corners
A method of forming a tubular member with portions having finished corners formed in a hydroforming operation by initially forming a pre-form that includes sharp corners. The pre-form includes bulges of the tube material between the sharp corners that flow toward the intended corner locations as the tubular member is hydroformed. The bulges may be external ribs or internal recesses. |
| US08443641B2 |
Explosion forming system
An explosion forming apparatus (10) that preferably utilizes a shock wave (42) directed along a work piece (12) to progressively conform the work piece to a contour die cavity (44). |
| US08443640B2 |
Deadbolt locking device
Deadbolt locking devices for preventing a deadbolt from being unlocked from the outside are provided. The deadbolt locking devices may include a connecting assembly, for engaging a door knob to provide leverage to resist turning of the handle of the deadbolt, and a housing member for engaging the handle of the deadbolt when in a locked position. The deadbolt locking devices can accommodate various configurations of door hardware without sacrificing convenience of use and without sacrificing confidence in its correct placement. Various configurations of door hardware can include the position of the deadbolt knob in relation to the door knob, the angular position of the handle of the deadbolt when it is in the locked position, whether the door is hinged on the left or right side and whether the deadbolt knob turns clockwise or counter-clockwise to lock the door. |
| US08443636B2 |
Household appliance
Laundry washing machine (1) provided with a casing (2) and with a vibration damper (7) which is fixed to the casing (2) so as to reduce vibrations transmitted to the latter; the vibration damper (7) comprising a supporting frame (8) rigidly fixed to the casing (2), an oscillating mass (9) housed inside the supporting frame (8), and at least one block (10) of viscoelastic polymeric gel interposed between the oscillating mass (9) and the supporting frame (8) to floating support the oscillating mass (9). |
| US08443633B1 |
Apparatus and method for transferring loops from the knitting machine needle
A transfer apparatus for transferring a stocking from a knitting machine to a stitching apparatus to close an open-end of the stocking includes strip and transfer members. The knitting machine includes a needle having a hook for forming a loop at the open-end of the stocking, and a latch to move to or away from the hook. The strip member is movable axially upward and downward and radially towards and away from the needle, and is capable of contacting the loop on the needle to push the loop toward or away from the hook. The transfer member is disposed horizontally above the strip member, is movable axially upward and downward and radially toward and away from the needle, and includes a tip region for receiving the loop from the hook when the strip member pushes the loop to the hook. |
| US08443631B2 |
Method of making a low PMD optical fiber
A method of making an optical fiber includes the steps of: providing an optical fiber preform; heating an end portion of the optical fiber preform so as to obtain a softened preform end portion; drawing the softened preform end portion to form the optical fiber; applying to the optical fiber a substantially sinusoidal spin having a spin amplitude and a spin period, the substantially sinusoidal spin being transmitted to the softened preform end portion, and determining an actual spin amplitude applied to the fiber, wherein the actual spin amplitude is the spin amplitude applied in correspondence to the softened preform end portion. The spin amplitude and spin period of the substantially sinusoidal spin are selected in such a way that a ratio of the actual spin amplitude to the spin period is in the range of approximately 0.8 to approximately 1.4 turns/m2. |
| US08443630B2 |
Internal vapour deposition process
A method for manufacturing a primary preform for optical fibers using an internal vapor deposition process, including the steps of: i) providing a hollow glass substrate tube having a supply side and a discharge side, ii) surrounding at least part of the hollow glass substrate tube by a furnace, iii) supplying a gas flow, doped or undoped, of glass-forming gases to the interior of the hollow glass substrate tube via the supply side thereof, iv) creating a reaction zone in which conditions such that deposition of glass will take place on the interior of the hollow glass tube are created, and v) moving the reaction zone back and forth in longitudinal direction over the hollow glass substrate tube between a reversal point located near the supply side and a reversal point located near the discharge side of the hollow glass substrate tube. |
| US08443629B2 |
Method for manufacturing ultra-thin glass substrate
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an ultra-thin glass substrate, the method including: a feeding step of feeding a preform for a glass substrate to a production line while being held; a heating step of heating the preform fed from the feeding step to a temperature around a softening point thereof; and a drawing step of drawing the preform that has softened in the heating step to form an ultra-thin glass substrate, in which the preform has been wound on a cylindrical first winding roll. |
| US08443626B2 |
Attachment for flesh piercing jewelry
Disclosed are methods and devices for attaching an ornamental feature to flesh plugs, flesh tubes, flesh piecing posts and rings, and other piecing jewelry. |
| US08443623B2 |
Thermally-controlled packaging device and method of making
A phase change device for controlling temperature within a confined environment, comprising a foam material, a phase change material, the phase change material being absorbed into the foam, and a protective covering encasing the foam material/phase change material. A method for making a phase change device for controlling temperature within a confined environment, comprising providing a phase change material, providing a foam material, absorbing the phase change material into the foam material, and sealing the foam material/phase change material within a protective covering. |
| US08443622B2 |
Air conditioner having a moving guide
An air conditioner includes a case provided with openings, a heat exchanger disposed in the case, one or more fans disposed in the case, and a variation unit that is movably disposed around the fans to vary air inlet and outlet directions. |
| US08443619B2 |
Ice making unit and refrigerator having the same
An ice making unit and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator includes an ice making unit to make ice pieces. The ice making unit includes a plurality of ice making trays to form ice pieces, a lever part connected to the ice making trays to simultaneously rotate the ice making trays, and a stopper to prevent one of a pair of rotating shafts of each of the ice making trays from being rotated at a predetermined angle or more so that the ice making trays get twisted when the ice making trays are rotated. Accordingly, ice pieces can be separated from the ice making trays by operation of a single lever. |
| US08443611B2 |
System and method for damping combustor nozzle vibrations
A system for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes an end cover and a combustion chamber downstream from the end cover. First and second sets of nozzles extend axially between the end cover and the combustion chamber. The second set of nozzles is adjacent to the first set of nozzles. The system includes means for damping vibrations between the nozzles with a gap between the means for damping vibrations. A method for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes flowing a working fluid through first and second sets of nozzles, wherein the first set of nozzles includes a damping member attached to and circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the first set of nozzles, and contacting at least one nozzle in the second set of nozzles with the damping member on at least one nozzle in the first set of nozzles. |
| US08443610B2 |
Low emission gas turbine combustor
An annular combustor for a gas turbine has a combustion chamber having an interior volume that, in longitudinal section, includes a forward volume, an intermediate volume and an aft volume. The forward volume represents from about 30% to about 40% of the combustor interior volume, the intermediate volume represents from about 10% to about 20% of the combustor interior volume, and the aft volume represents from about 40% to about 60% of the combustor interior volume. |
| US08443609B2 |
Gas-turbine burner for a gas turbine with purging mechanism for a fuel nozzle
A gas-turbine burner for a gas turbine includes a fuel nozzle 1 having several fuel exit holes 23, which are each connected to a fuel line 5, 7, 29, 30, through which fuel can be passed selectively Between individual fuel exit holes 23, different static pressures of the airflow are provided between fuel lines flown by fuel and fuel lines not flown by fuel. |
| US08443605B2 |
Installation and methods for storing and methods for storing and restoring electrical energy using a piston-type gas compression and expansion unit
An installation and methods for storing and returning electrical energy. First and second lagged enclosures containing porous refractory material are provided through which a gas is caused to flow by causing the gas to flow through first and second compression/expansion groups interposed in the pipe circuit between the top and bottom ends, respectively, of the first and second enclosures, each compression/expansion group having a piston moved in translation in a cylinder, each group operating in a different mode, either in compression mode or in expansion mode, one of the two compression/expansion groups receiving a gas at a temperature that is higher than the other group, such that in compression mode it is driven by an electric motor that consumes electrical energy for storage E1, and in a thermodynamic engine mode it drives an electricity generator enabling the electrical energy ER to be returned. The electrical energy is stored in the form of heat within masses of refractory substances, and the stored potential thermal energy is returned in the form of electrical energy. |
| US08443603B2 |
Intake manifold assembly for dedicated exhaust gas recirculation
An intake manifold assembly for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle includes a plenum, a plurality of lower runners coupled to and in fluid communication with the plenum, and a plurality of upper runners. Each of the upper runners is coupled to and in fluid communication with one of the lower runners. The plurality of upper runners includes a single dedicated upper EGR runner configured for supplying combustion air to at least two dedicated EGR cylinders. A primary throttle body is coupled to the plenum and configured for regulating a flow rate of compressed combustion air through the plenum. An EGR throttle body is coupled to the dedicated upper EGR runner and configured for regulating a flow rate of the compressed combustion air through the dedicated upper EGR runner to control the flow rate of the compressed combustion air to the dedicated EGR cylinders. |
| US08443600B2 |
Actuator comprising elements made of shape memory alloy with broadened range of working temperatures
An actuator is described in which a functional element is made of a shape memory alloy, and the actuator includes means for increasing the load applied onto the functional element when the external temperature increases, thus causing a consequent variation of transition temperatures characterizing the hysteresis cycle of the functional element. |
| US08443597B2 |
Safety device for hydraulic working machine
There are provided: control valves 22-24 that control flow of pressure oil from the hydraulic source 21 to the hydraulic actuators 15-17; electric lever devices 51-53 that output electrical operation signals, which are drive instructions for the hydraulic actuators 15-17, in correspondence to lever operation; and a control unit 25-30 and 50 that controls the control valves 22-24 in correspondence to the operation signals. When the determination unit determines that an operation signal is not within the normal range, the hydraulic actuators 15-17 are allowed to be driven with flow of pressure oil to the hydraulic actuators 15-17 limited more significantly than in a case where it is decided that an operation signal is within the normal range. |
| US08443596B2 |
Hydraulic drive with an independent charge pump
The invention relates to a hydraulic drive (2) having a main pump (8), which can be adjusted in terms of delivery volume and delivery direction, and having a hydraulic motor (9), which main pump (8) and hydraulic motor (9) are connected to one another in a closed circuit via pressure lines (10A, 10B), and having a charge pump (14, 15) for charging into the closed circuit and for supplying pressurized fluid to at least one controlling device (11, 12), wherein the charge pump (15) has a separate drive motor (19) whose power/rotational speed can be specified independently of the rotational speed of the drive (3) of the main pump (8). In this way, the charge pump (15) can be of smaller dimensions than previously conventional, and the power balance of the hydraulic drive can be improved. |
| US08443595B2 |
Additive-agent diffusion plate in exhaust passage, structure of additive-agent diffusion plate, and exhaust system including additive-agent diffusion plate
In a structure of an additive-agent diffusion plate in an exhaust passage, the exhaust passage is an exhaust passage for an engine. The additive-agent diffusion plate includes a plurality of collision portions; and a plurality of communication portions that allow exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust passage to flow from an area upstream of the additive-agent diffusion plate to an area downstream of the additive-agent diffusion plate in an exhaust-gas flow direction. The additive-agent diffusion plate diffuses an additive agent injected into the exhaust passage, at a position upstream of an exhaust gas purification device, which is disposed in the exhaust passage, in the exhaust-gas flow direction. Each of the collision portions protrudes toward an upstream side in the exhaust-gas flow direction, and a cross section of each of the collision portions increases from the upstream side toward a downstream side of the exhaust-gas flow direction. |
| US08443594B2 |
Method of controlling temperature of a thermoelectric generator in an exhaust system
A method of controlling the temperature of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) in an exhaust system of an engine is provided. The method includes determining the temperature of the heated side of the TEG, determining exhaust gas flow rate through the TEG, and determining the exhaust gas temperature through the TEG. A rate of change in temperature of the heated side of the TEG is predicted based on the determined temperature, the determined exhaust gas flow rate, and the determined exhaust gas temperature through the TEG. Using the predicted rate of change of temperature of the heated side, exhaust gas flow rate through the TEG is calculated that will result in a maximum temperature of the heated side of the TEG less than a predetermined critical temperature given the predicted rate of change in temperature of the heated side of the TEG. A corresponding apparatus is provided. |
| US08443584B2 |
Inlet system for an EGR system
An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system. |
| US08443580B2 |
Baler pickup for collecting biomass from a combine harvester
A pickup for a combine-towed baler. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with deflection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor. |
| US08443578B2 |
Apparatus for bag closure and sealing using heated air
A method and apparatus for sealing a bag made of a polymeric material by applying heat activated layers on different portions of the bag, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material; creasing the bag along a fold line, applying heat at a temperature below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material to activate the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to adhesive states after the bag has been filled with contents; and folding the bag to form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the heat activated first adhesive layer and the heat activated second adhesive layer. |
| US08443575B1 |
Composite access door
A door for an aircraft wing fuel tank access opening includes an outer impact resistant composite door panel, and an inner composite door panel. Double seals on the inner door panel prevent fuel leakage, and a chamfered outer edge on the outer door panel transfers a component of impact loads laterally into the wing skin to increase kinetic energy absorption. |
| US08443566B2 |
Building structured material using cell geometry
An improved cellular building block including a middle beam and two legs. The cellular building block having the first leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and a second leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and spaced apart from the first leg, the first leg and the second leg having an inside edge and an outside edge. Having at least one barb located on the inside edge of the first leg and on the inside edge of the second leg and further configured to lock into a recess. The cellular building blocks connect in a two dimensional or three dimensional pattern and a produce a structured material that holds itself together and exhibits beneficial characteristics. |
| US08443563B2 |
Building block having the appearance of wood shake
Various systems are provided for building blocks having the appearance of wood shake. In one embodiment, a building block includes first side body portion including a protrusion, a second side body portion including a recess configured to engage the protrusion of an adjacent building block, and a front body portion including a front exterior surface having vertical striated grooved lines configured to resemble a plurality of wood shakes; and a lower lip extending across the front exterior surface and extending below a lower surface. In another embodiment, a building block includes a front exterior surface having vertical striated grooved lines configured to resemble a plurality of wood shakes and a first side body portion including a side exterior surface having vertical striated grooved lines configured to resemble at least one wood shake and a lower lip extending across the front and side exterior surfaces and extending below a lower surface. |
| US08443562B2 |
Form for a concrete footing
The form for a concrete footing (10) is a mold for receiving concrete for footings on construction projects. The form has a housing (12), and a plurality of horizontal support members (16) that extend across the hollow interior of the housing. The form may be manufactured from plastic, cardboard, concrete or other materials. Vertical tubes (14) extend from the top and bottom and are hollow to allow for in situ soil sampling after the footing has been set in the excavation. |
| US08443553B1 |
Closure assembly with moveable cover and closeout for a retractable handle
A closure assembly includes a panel that defines an opening. A handle includes a grab bar that is moveable from a retracted position through the opening into an extended position. A cover is coupled to and moveable with the handle. The cover is disposed within the opening and flush with the exterior surface of the panel when in a closed position. When the handle moves from the retracted position into the extended position, the cover moves out of the closed position to allow the handle to pass through the opening. When the handle moves from the extended position into the retracted position, the cover moves into the closed position to close the opening. A closeout is coupled to and moveable with the handle. The closeout moves into an exposed position as the handle moves into the extended position to conceal the remainder of the opening not occupied by the handle. |
| US08443550B1 |
Window guard
According to the invention, a window guard having telescoping horizontal bars that have a predetermined minimum overlap of the telescoping bars which cannot be easily overridden by the window guard installer is provided. Such a device can reliably withstand a predetermined pressure when the window guard is extended to its maximum width. |
| US08443547B2 |
Tray for plants
An assembly in use forming a tray for plant material includes a holder; and at least one insert which can be respectively placed in and removed from the holder. The insert includes at least one cell defining a plant position. The cell includes at least a wall and a bottom for accommodating content in the cell during use of the assembly. The at least one wall substantially encloses the plant position. The wall and/or bottom comprises an opening through which access is provided with means for removing the content of the cell, such as a pusher or a ram. |
| US08443543B2 |
Unitary configured bird repellent apparatus
A bird repellent apparatus having an integral base member and a plurality of prongs. The base member, by means of a plurality of tabs having holes for receiving screws or other fasteners, can be affixed to virtually any desired surface. The plurality of prongs with sharp tips presents an impossible barrier to birds that would otherwise land or perch on the surface to which the present invention is affixed. The combined base member and prongs are formed from injection molded plastic structure that also provide the tabs having holes to secure the base member to the underlying surface. |
| US08443540B2 |
Bipod leg mounting body and bipod comprising same
A bipod kit for a firearm has a bipod leg mounting body and a firearm structural component. The bipod leg mounting body has a substantially round central passage defining an interior side surface thereof and has two leg mounting structures on an exterior side surface thereof generally opposite the interior side surface. The firearm structural component is mountable on the firearm at an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) mounting structure thereof. The firearm structural component includes a bipod mounting portion integral therewith. The bipod mounting portion is cylindrical and is rotatably mounted within the central passage of the bipod leg mounting body. The bipod mounting portion is configured such that a barrel of the firearm extends through a central passage thereof when the firearm structural component is mounted on the firearm at the OEM mounting structure thereof. |
| US08443537B2 |
Drop safety for a firing pin of a firearm
A firearm has a firing mechanism that includes a firing pin, a drop safety, a spring mounted to the drop safety and a trigger in mechanical communication with the firing pin and the drop safety. The drop safety includes a roller portion having an outer circumferential surface and an inner opposing wall. When the trigger is actuated, the opposing wall of the drop safety abuts and engages the firing pin in the forward-most axial position thereof, thereby allowing the firing pin to strike a primer of a chambered round of ammunition. In all other configurations, the spring rotationally biases the drop safety so that the outer circumferential surface of the roller portion of the drop safety blocks the forward axial reciprocation of the firing pin, preventing the firing pin from engaging the primer of a chambered round of ammunition. |
| US08443536B1 |
Adjustable dual stage trigger mechanism for semi-automatic weapons
A dual stage trigger assembly for a firearm. The trigger assembly comprises a spring loaded lightweight hammer, a spring loaded trigger, a spring loaded disconnector, a spring follower for the disconnector spring and two adjustment screws that allow the user the ability to adjust the sear face of the trigger that is engaged with the hammer in the cocked position and adjust the force imparted to the disconnector by the disconnector spring. |
| US08443533B2 |
Display and cable management apparatus
An apparatus and method provide for display and cable management includes a base and a display device. The display device removably attaches to the base. When the display device is attached to the base, an aperture is created or reduced in size. The aperture allows a smaller first portion of a cable to pass through, but prevents a larger second portion of the cable from passing through. When the cable is drawn through the aperture and released, the weight of the cable retracts it through the aperture. The display device and base may include features that cooperate to resist detaching the display device when the cable is drawn through the aperture. The display device may include a graphic insert. The base may be shaped to sit on a horizontal surface and present the display device for viewing by a person standing or sitting nearby. |
| US08443528B2 |
Rainproof shoe cover
A bottomless rainproof shoe cover assembly includes a shoe cover and a fixture. The shoe cover is formed into one body by injection molding. One side of the shoe cover is provided with a lateral opening. Fastening tapes are provided on both sides of the lateral opening. The lower periphery of the shoe cover is provided with protrusions. The top surface of the shoe cover is provided with protrusions to form a fixing trough. Both sides of the fixing trough are provided with a positioning hole. The fixture is positioned in the fixing trough for keeping the shoe cover in shape. The present invention provides a greater degree of coverage and convenience in use. Further, the manufacturing process, the amount of materials and the cost are reduced. |
| US08443527B2 |
Fabric temperature estimation for a laundry dryer
A method for estimating the temperature of a laundry load in a treating chamber of a laundry dryer. |
| US08443524B2 |
Multi-purpose utility level
A device for determining level of a surface, the device comprising a plurality of level vials configured to indicate orientation of the device, the plurality of level vials disposed at distinct locations on the device. The device including a radius bottom formed in an object contact surface at substantially the latitudinal center of the contact surface and extending longitudinally the length of the surface. The device further including a joint recess disposed centrally along the longitudinal axis of the device and extending latitudinally across the device. The device also includes one or more user controllable light sources coupled to the plurality of level vials for illuminating the level vials. |
| US08443520B2 |
Device for stripping sheathing on unbonded post-tensioning tendons
A device for helically cutting and automatically removing waste sheathing from the stressing tails of unbonded tendons. The device comprises an elongated body and an attached cutting head. Both the body and the cutting head have a uniform through bore along their longitudinal axis for accepting a post-tensioned tendon. The cutting head comprises an integral blade having a cutting face radially offset from the longitudinal axis and inclined at a pitch angle of between 45 and 85 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. The blade cuts the sheathing while also ejecting the waste sheathing. |
| US08443518B2 |
Blister package opener
An opener for a blister package or for cutting of other planar material is disclosed. A cutter pair is provided adjacent an engagement area. When blister package layers are fed into the engagement area, the cutter pair including a top cutter and bottom cutter rotate to feed the package material through the engagement area. The cutters are closer together than a thickness of the package. At least one of the cutters includes a knife thereon to cause cutting of the material as it is fed between the cutter pair. A handle is provided supporting a head which has the cutter pair thereon. A motor provides power to cause rotation of the cutter pair through a gear set. A hand crank is also provided which can separately deliver power to the gear set to cause the cutters to rotate. |
| US08443511B2 |
Method of forming a MEMS power inductor
A scalable MEMS inductor is formed on the top surface of a semiconductor die. The MEMS inductor includes a plurality of magnetic lower laminations, a circular trace that lies over and spaced apart from the magnetic lower laminations, and a plurality of upper laminations that lie over and spaced apart from the circular trace. |
| US08443506B2 |
Method of forming barbs on a suture
A method is provided for forming a barbed medical device which includes the steps of providing a blank workpiece and forming at least one barb on the blank workpiece by applying vibrational energy to a tool and bringing the tool and the blank workpiece into contact with each other at an angle such that the tool cuts into the surface of the blank workpiece. A barbed medical device formed by this method is also provided. |
| US08443505B2 |
Method of manufacturing a wiper arm assembly having a locking member
A wiper arm assembly and method of assembly thereof includes a mounting head and a wiper arm configured for relative rotation during assembly from a disassembled position to a shipping position, wherein the wiper arm and mounting head are locked against rotation toward the disassembled position once in the shipping position. The mounting head and wiper arm have locking surfaces configured for locked engagement with one another while in the shipping position. The locking surfaces are brought into engagement with one another by a force imparted by a spring while rotating the mounting head relative to the wiper arm from the disassembled position toward the shipping position. When in the shipping position, the locking surfaces confront each other and prevent the mounting head and the wiper arm from rotating back toward the disassembled position from the shipping position. |
| US08443501B2 |
Adjustable prosthetic interfaces and related systems and methods
Prosthesis devices can include sockets having adjustable features. In one example, a socket includes one or more panels that can move outwardly or inwardly relative to a receptacle portion of the socket. The panels can be moved by tightening a tensioning line. |
| US08443495B2 |
Carabiner with anti-cross loading feature
A carabiner with a generally C-shaped body includes a first end and a second end located on opposite sides of an opening. A primary gate is mounted to the second end and is rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to a plane that bisects the C-shaped body between a closed position with the primary gate engaged with the first end and the C-shaped body enclosing an interior region, and an open position with the primary gate located generally in the interior region. A secondary gate is attached to the primary gate and adapted to be displaced in the plane relative to the primary gate between a closed configuration that separates the interior region into a first portion and a second portion, and an open configuration that provides access to the interior region. |
| US08443492B2 |
Clamping collar having a die-stamped fastening stud
The collar is made from a metal strip formed into a loop, and has a fastening stud and an ear that project radially. The ear is provided with an aperture into which a free end portion of the stud can be inserted for the purposes of fastening and of tightening the collar. The collar further has engagement surfaces for engaging with a tightening tool, which surfaces project radially and are situated respectively behind the ear and behind the stud. The stud and the engagement surface that is situated behind the stud are formed in a common projection and have side cheeks that are raised relative to the plane of the strip, and that are common to them. The ear is also formed by a projection. |
| US08443491B2 |
Pivoting assist handle
An assist handle includes a hinge and a bar having a global axis. The bar is rotatable about the global axis between a first position and a second position. A spring biases the bar toward the second position. A sleeve is defined by either the bar or hinge, and is generally aligned with the global axis. A pin is operatively attached to the other of the bar or hinge and is partially disposed within the sleeve. The pin is configured to allow rotation between the hinge and the bar. The pin includes a wide portion and an undercut portion smaller than the wide portion. The undercut portion creates at least one clearance region between the pin and the sleeve. |
| US08443490B2 |
Universal reversible gate hinges and method of assembly
A family of reversible hinges includes a strap hinge, a tee-hinge and a screw hook hinge. Each of the strap hinge, tee-hinge and screw hinge includes a universal strap leaf, a secondary strap leaf, a removable hinge pin and at least one bearing. The universal strap leaf is interchangeable between each of the strap hinge, the tee-hinge and the screw hook hinge, creating commonality amongst the family of reversible hinges, thereby reducing tooling costs and inventory levels associated with the family of reversible hinges. Further, the at least one bearing is manufactured from an acetal material to reduce hinge noise and prevent rust-lock. |
| US08443485B2 |
Outlet box for power tool sense
A vacuum electronic power tool sense system senses the operation of a power tool that is plugged into an auxiliary outlet box and the vacuum source is automatically operated to facilitate user clean-up of debris generated by use of the power tool. The auxiliary outlet box can be removably mounted to the vacuum housing. |
| US08443482B2 |
Windshield wipers and methods for producing windshield wiper materials
Wiper blade materials and methods for forming the same. The wiper blade materials are graphene-polymer composites that have a low coefficient of friction. In forming the grapheme-polymer composites, a relatively small amount of graphene filler is well-dispersed within the polymer and the graphene filler and the polymer favorably interact with one another. |
| US08443478B2 |
Surface debris removal apparatus
This invention relates to a mechanism for use in a device that comprises a system for collecting dirt and debris from a variety of floor and upholstery surfaces. In particular the mechanism lifts and directs unwanted debris particles to a waste reservoir for the purpose of cleaning and grooming floor surfaces. The debris collection mechanism can be, but is not limited to its use in a handle operated cordless motorized floor sweeper to collect and gather unwanted debris and dust. The device includes a head unit that incorporates two easily removable elongate cylindrical rotating cleaning bars that are driven such that they contra rotate, and are positioned close to one another at the forward region of the head unit. A removable debris reservoir, removable rechargeable power source and handle incorporating a device operation switch are also included. |
| US08443476B2 |
Dental cleaning device
An electric toothbrush with a removable brush section having a transponder communicating with a handle portion of the toothbrush via a non-contacting inductive coupling. |
| US08443469B2 |
Toilet and toilet seat mounting system
A mount for a toilet seat includes a first elongate post configured to be secured to a first post holder; a second elongate post configured to be secured to a second post holder; a first hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the first post holder; a second hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the second post holder; a first post receptacle configured to be secured in a first aperture of a toilet bowl flange; and a second post receptacle configured to be secured in a second aperture of the toilet bowl flange. |
| US08443467B2 |
Earmuff assembly
An earmuff assembly includes a headband consisting of two headband elements each having two constraint lugs bilaterally located on one end and a coupling portion located on the opposite end, the coupling portion of one headband element being inserted through a groove on each constraint lug of the other headband element for allowing adjustment of the length of the headband, two ear cups, two connection devices that connect the coupling portions of the headband elements to the ear cups such that the angular positions of the ear cups are adjustable in the X-axis direction as well as in the Y-axis direction relative to the headband, and a soft fabric material covering the ear cups for optimal wearing comfort. |
| US08443465B2 |
Weight training garment system
The training system comprises a shell adapted to conform to a portion of a body of a wearer. The shell includes an exterior surface and an interior body contact surface. The interior body contact surface includes at least one pocket that is positioned and sized so as to correspond to an anatomical muscle group of the wearer. Preferably, the shell includes a plurality of sets of pockets, each set of pockets being shaped and positioned to correspond to different anatomical muscle groups of the wearer. A weight is also provided for each pocket. The weights are shaped substantially similar to their respective pockets and are formed from a combination of a flexible material and a metal. |
| US08443464B2 |
Wader retention system and methodology of use
One possible embodiment of the invention could be a wader retention system comprising of a front leg securing portion and a back leg securing portion, the front leg securing portion attaches to an interior wall of a wader; the back leg securing portion comprises a belt, the belt having two ends, a first end permanently connects to the first leg securing portion while a second end adjustably and reversibly connects to the front leg securing portion to allow the two portions to form a leg channel through which at least a portion of an operator's leg and foot may be reversibly pass though when inserted into the wader; wherein the placement of the belt upon the front leg securing portion adjusts the circumference of the leg channel to allow the portions to reversibly and securely envelope a leg of an operator as located within the leg channel. |
| US08448261B2 |
Mode synthesizing atomic force microscopy and mode-synthesizing sensing
A method of analyzing a sample that includes applying a first set of energies at a first set of frequencies to a sample and applying, simultaneously with the applying the first set of energies, a second set of energies at a second set of frequencies, wherein the first set of energies and the second set of energies form a multi-mode coupling. The method further includes detecting an effect of the multi-mode coupling. |
| US08448258B2 |
Security classification based on user interaction
An embodiment of the invention includes a method and system for content management. More specifically, the system includes a user interface for receiving content from a user and a data repository connected to the user interface for storing the content. The user interface also receives a request to access the content from the user. A program processor is connected to the data repository, wherein the program processor determines whether the content includes a security classification. A communications module is connected to the program processor, wherein the communications module sends an alert to the user interface when the content does not include a security classification. The alert includes a request to assign a security classification to the content. |
| US08448257B2 |
Method and system for controlling context-based wireless access to secured network resources
Information on the identity of each user connecting via a wireless device is obtained using a prior process of authentication and context information and/or the status of the user; a characteristics vector is generated for each user, which comprises the context information and/or the user status and a user profile. Permissions are assigned to each user, determining the type of secured network resources each user is permitted to access, depending on their characteristics vector; and a secured-network-resource access check is performed, enabling the transfer of data only to/from resources permitted for each user, as a function of the permissions assigned. |
| US08448256B2 |
Secure partitioning of programmable devices
According to an embodiment, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks, memory and a logic unit. The logic blocks are grouped into one or more partitions. The memory stores authentication and partition information uploaded to the programmable logic device prior to partition programming. The logic unit authenticates programming access to the one or more partitions based on the authentication information and controls programming of the one or more partitions based on the partition information. |
| US08448255B2 |
Secure file processing
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive requests to securely process files on an untrusted client. Additional activity may include transparently redirecting file management operations associated with applications running on the untrusted client to file content associated with the files, where the file content is located in a sandbox on the untrusted client, where the sandbox is inaccessible to the applications. A data store, shared across the applications, may be used to share information associated with the file content. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08448248B2 |
Apparatus and method for repairing computer system infected by malware
An apparatus and method of diagnosing whether a program executed in a computer system is malware and repairing the computer system infected by malware. The apparatus includes a receiving unit which receives a first behavior vector for the malware from a malware control server; a determination unit which determines whether a diagnostic target program corresponds to malware based on the received first behavior vector and a second behavior vector for the diagnostic target program; and a repair unit which repairs the computer system based on a result of the determination.A behavior of a computer program executed in the computer system may be modeled in real time. |
| US08448246B2 |
Protecting sensitive email
According to one embodiment, a plurality of components are located within an appliance configured to send and receive email. The appliance receives an email and selects one or more policies to apply based on a designation indicating that the email communicates sensitive information. The policies determine whether to allow or block the email according to rules for assuring email. If the email is allowed, the appliance directs the email to one or more recipients. |
| US08448241B1 |
Browser extension for checking website susceptibility to cross site scripting
A system for testing the susceptibility of an Internet website to process cross-site scripting instructions is disclosed. The system includes an Internet web browser, a web server and an extension module embedded within the Internet web browser. The extension module is made up of two distinct components, a sending component and a receiving component. Within the sending component, is a translator object coupled to a first reference source. Within the receiving component is an interceptor object coupled to a second reference source. Together, the sending component and receiving component are used to communicate cross-site scripting test commands and receive responses from the web server hosting the Internet website being targeted for testing. |
| US08448232B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for preventing communication of unwanted network traffic by holding only a last portion of the network traffic
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing communication of unwanted network traffic by holding only a last portion of the network traffic. In use, network traffic associated with a file transfer is received. Additionally, only a last portion of the network traffic associated with the file transfer is held for determining whether the file is unwanted. Further, the last portion of the network traffic associated with the file transfer is conditionally forwarded to a destination device, based on the determination. |
| US08448228B2 |
Separating authorization identity from policy enforcement identity
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for separating authorization identity from policy enforcement identity. Embodiments of the invention extend the consumption phase for protected information. Two identities, an authorization identity and a policy enforcement identity, are used for acquiring, issuing and enforcing usage license instead of one identity certificate. The authorization identity is used to evaluate against usage policy. The authorization identity is similar to identification information in an identity certificate. The policy enforcement identity is used to ensure the confidentiality of granted permissions and content key. The policy enforcement identity enforces a usage license on an authorization principal's (e.g., recipient's) machine. The policy enforcement identity's enforcement of a usage license is similar use of a cryptographic key in an identity certificate. |
| US08448221B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for displaying network events in terms of objects managed by a security appliance and/or a routing device
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for displaying network events in terms of objects managed by at least one of a security appliance and a routing device. In use, network events are received. Furthermore, the network events are displayed in terms of objects being managed by at least one of a security appliance and a routing device. |
| US08448219B2 |
Securely hosting workloads in virtual computing environments
Methods and apparatus involve securely hosting workloads. Broadly, computing workloads are classified according to security concerns and those with common concerns are deployed together on common hardware platforms. In one instance, security tags are bi-modally attached or not to workloads meeting a predetermined security threshold. Those with tags are deployed on a common machine while those without tags are deployed on other machines. Tags may be embedded in meta data of open virtual machine formats (OVF). Considerations for re-booting computing devices are also contemplated as are multiplexing workloads. Computer program products are further disclosed. |
| US08448217B2 |
Computer program, method, and system for access control
A computer program, method, and system for access control, which are capable of keeping and guaranteeing consistency of access control settings. A collector collects access control information and resource information which are set for each unit of processing such as an application and a file system and are transmitted from a transmitter, and stores them in an access control information memory. A combiner combines the collected access control information to create and store combined access control information in a combined access control information memory. A consistency adjuster analyzes the policies defined in the combined access control information stored in the combined access control information memory to detect inconsistency, and if inconsistency is detected, resolves the inconsistency according to an inconsistency measure policy. Thus, consistent filtering master information for the entire system is created and stored in a filtering master information memory. |
| US08448216B2 |
Method and apparatus for orchestrating policies in service model of service-oriented architecture system
Policies are orchestrated in a service model of service-oriented architecture system, wherein the service model includes at least a plurality of service components and dependency relationships among the plurality of service components, and at least one of the plurality of service components is subject to specified policies. Vertical policy orchestration is performed on each of the plurality of service components in the service model to obtain the effective policies of the service component. Horizontal policy orchestration is performed on an application domain basis to obtain the effective policies of the plurality of service components in each application domain. |
| US08448208B2 |
System and method for construction, delivery and display of iTV applications that blend programming information of on-demand and broadcast service offerings
A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface. |
| US08448207B2 |
System, method, mobile terminal and computer program product for providing push-to-talk chat in interactive mobile TV
An apparatus for providing an interactive service during a broadcast service includes a transmitting element and a processing element. The transmitting element is capable of communicating broadcast content of the broadcast service to a plurality of receiving terminals. The processing element is configured to at least partially control the transmitting element. The processing element is configured to communicate with a network device in order to request a program specific group for communication of the interactive service to a receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group. The interactive service is communicated to the receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group with reception of the broadcast service. The content associated with the interactive service originates from the receiving terminals. |
| US08448205B2 |
System and method for providing available-channel user selectivity
Alternative-channel user selectivity is provided when a user tunes to a broadcast channel for which the desired broadcast station corresponding to such broadcast channel has been reassigned. In one embodiment, after tuning to broadcast channel in response to a user input, it may first be determined if in fact the desired broadcast station corresponding to the tuned broadcast channel has been reassigned. If so, one or more alternative broadcast channels corresponding to the desired broadcast station may be identified, and an alternative channel availability indicator may then be displayed to the user to provide alternative-channel user selectivity. |
| US08448200B2 |
Transferred medium
A transferred medium is provided. In one exemplary embodiment a transferred medium includes a projection part projected in a transferring direction of the transferred medium from a front end part of the medium such that the projection part traverses the front end part of the medium. The thickness of a part of the projection part can be configured to be greater than the thickness of the front end part, the width of the projection part in a direction perpendicular to the transferring direction can be narrower than the width of the front part in that same direction, and the urging force by the urging member can act on the projection part and the front end part during transfer of the transferred medium. A recording apparatus system that includes a transferred medium is also provided, as are other embodiments of a transferred medium. |
| US08448195B2 |
Stacking type tray and tray developing mechanism and stacking type tray developing system
To develop optical discs stored while being stacked and to load them to a plurality of recording/reproducing devices simultaneously. Trays for mounting optical discs are stacked to configure an optical disc transportation body, and the portions being exposed without overlapping when the stacked trays are viewed from the stacking direction are utilized as tray operation portions for handling. Supporting portions abutting against the tray operation portions inherent to respective trays in one to one correspondence are fixed with an interval in the vertical direction to the frames configuring a tray distributing/holding portion. The tray operation portion of each tray is held by the supporting portion at each position by moving the optical disc transportation body downward along the frames, and intervals corresponding to the arrangement pitch of recording/reproducing devices are formed between respective trays. |
| US08448194B2 |
Value container propagation in development tools, business process management, and business rules management solutions
Systems and methods consistent with the invention include propagating parameter definitions between computer elements and may include at least one memory device containing computer readable instructions. Also included is a computer processor executing the instructions on the memory device to perform the steps of selecting a sub-routine to be called by a calling unit. The processor may determine whether a definition for a parameter in the selected sub-routine is known to the calling unit using the computer processor, the calling unit also containing a definition for a parameter. The definitions for the parameters that are unknown to the calling unit are incorporated into the selected sub-routine using the computer processor. The process of the calling unit is executed. The computer processor is used to bind the definition for the parameter in the sub-routine to the definition of the parameter contained in the calling unit. |
| US08448192B2 |
Computer readable medium storing a universal driver, method of controlling a device and apparatus
A non-transitory computer readable medium has a universal driver executable on a computer. The universal driver includes instructions for: selecting a device for executing a function from connected devices according to an input from a user; sending a request to the operating system to set a communication port for communication with the selected device as a specified port; storing port identification information of a communication port for communication with the selected device and associated with the user in a memory; determining whether port identification information of the specified communication port matches the port identification information of the communication port associated with the user; sending a control command to the device to execute the function via the specified communication port according to a result of the determination indicating a match; and notifying the user of a different port being set as a specified port according to a result indicating a non-match. |
| US08448190B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for high reliability downloading of background assets using a manifest in a virtual world application
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for predictively downloading background assets with file-not-present tolerance in a virtual world application. According to one aspect for high reliability downloading of background assets using a manifest in a virtual world application, the method includes compiling a manifest of assets potentially needed for execution by a first instance of a virtual world application (VWA), wherein each of the assets is associated with a priority. Using the manifest and while executing the VWA, assets listed in the manifest are downloaded based on the priorities indicated in the manifest. The VWA is executed for displaying a virtual world by loading at least a subset of the assets listed in the manifest. |
| US08448189B2 |
Identifying intrusions into a network data processing system
A method, apparatus and computer instructions for handling intrusions. A tracer packet is sent back to an intruder causing the intrusion in response to receiving notification of an intrusion from a particular node in a network data processing system. Nodes in the network data processing system are notified of the tracer packet. Identification of the node is stored for use in tracing a route of the tracer packet through the data processing system in response to receiving a message from a node indicating receipt of the tracer packet. |
| US08448188B2 |
Web user interface component coordination
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for Web user interface component coordination. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for Web user interface component coordination can include receiving an event indicating a state change in one of many user interface components in a user interface for a Web application and determining whether or not remaining ones of the components are active and able to receive a notification of the event. In the former circumstance, notice of the event can be transmitted to the remaining ones of the components. However, in the latter circumstance, transmission of the notice of the event to the remaining ones of the components can be delayed until the components are determined to have become active and able to receive a notification of the event. |
| US08448186B2 |
Parallel event processing in a database system
Techniques for processing events in parallel are provided. Multiple publishers publish events in parallel to a plurality of channels. Each channel is a queue that maintains a list of events that are awaiting to be processed by one or more slave processes. In one approach, all events that need to be persistent are published to a persistent channel, whereas all events that do not need to be persistent are published to one or more in-memory channels. In another approach, for each event, a publisher determines which channel of the plurality of channel to publish the event. The determination is based, at least in part, on the number of events in each channel and, optionally, the type of each event in each channel. In either approach, each event from a single publisher is published to the same channel. |
| US08448184B2 |
Method and apparatus for signaling transmission code set in data broadcasting
A method of and an apparatus are provided for signaling a transmission code set in data broadcasting. A client using the transmission code set signaling method includes a demultiplexer demultiplexing a packetized elementary stream (PES) packet corresponding to a program selected by a user from the broadcasting stream received by the system interface, an image decoder decoding the demultiplexed PES for images, a sound decoder decoding the demultiplexed PES for sound, and a CPU fetching information about a transmission code set of a character string used in an object carousel message from the demultiplexed message PES and decoding the character string used in the object carousel message based on the fetched information about the transmission code set. |
| US08448182B2 |
System and method for pause and resume message operations on destinations
The present invention enables messaging service users to programmatically and administratively control the system's behavior in the event of an external resource failure. A destination pause/resume feature enables the user to “pause” and “resume” the production and consumption of messages, that are newly produced or produced as a result of “in flight work” completion, on a given destination or all the destinations hosted by a single messaging service server programmatically. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims. |
| US08448181B2 |
Sizing an infrastructure configuration optimized for a workload mix
Sizing an infrastructure configuration optimized for a workload mix includes: a) instructing a virtualized-aware testing service (VATS) test controller to perform a test of an initial infrastructure configuration in a virtualized environment, in which the test provides at least one test result; b) determining whether the at least one test result satisfies a predetermined requirement as identified in the workload mix; c) modifying at least one parameter of the initial infrastructure configuration to create a modified infrastructure configuration in response to the at least one test result failing to satisfy the predetermined requirement; d) instructing the VATS test controller to perform another test on the modified infrastructure configuration to generate another at least one test result; e) repeating steps b)-d) until a final infrastructure configuration that causes the another at least one test result to satisfy the predetermined requirement is identified; and f) outputting the final infrastructure configuration. |
| US08448178B2 |
Prediction based priority scheduling
Systems and methods are provided that schedule task requests within a computing system based upon the history of task requests. The history of task requests can be represented by a historical log that monitors the receipt of high priority task request submissions over time. This historical log in combination with other user defined scheduling rules is used to schedule the task requests. Task requests in the computer system are maintained in a list that can be divided into a hierarchy of queues differentiated by the level of priority associated with the task requests contained within that queue. The user-defined scheduling rules give scheduling priority to the higher priority task requests, and the historical log is used to predict subsequent submissions of high priority task requests so that lower priority task requests that would interfere with the higher priority task requests will be delayed or will not be scheduled for processing. |
| US08448175B2 |
Deadlock detection in a parallel program
A method and system of deadlock detection in a parallel program, the method comprising: recording lock events during the operation of the parallel program and a first order relation among the lock events; converting information relevant to the operation of the parallel program into gate lock events and recording the gate lock events; establishing a second order relation among the gate lock events and lock events associated with the gate lock events and adding the second order relation to the first order relation; constructing a lock graph corresponding to the operation procedure of the parallel program based on the added first order relation; and performing deadlock detection on the constructed lock graph. The deadlock detection method of the invention can improve the accuracy of deadlock detection without depending on the deadlock detection algorithm per se, and can be applied with facility to various development environments and reduce development costs. |
| US08448173B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a transactional store system using a helper thread
A method, apparatus, and computer readable article of manufacture for executing a transaction by a processor apparatus that includes a plurality of hardware threads. The method includes the steps of: creating a main software thread for executing the transaction; creating a helper software thread for executing a barrier function; executing the main software thread and the helper software thread using the plurality of hardware threads; deciding whether the execution of the barrier function is required; executing the barrier function by the helper software thread; and returning to the main software thread. The step of executing the barrier function includes: stalling the main software thread; activating the helper software thread; and exiting the helper software thread in response to completion of the execution. |
| US08448172B2 |
Controlling parallel execution of plural simulation programs
A non-transitory recording medium has a scheduler program embodied therein for controlling parallel execution of plural simulation programs, the scheduler program causing a computer to perform a parallel execution procedure by which the plural simulation programs are performed in parallel during a period in which there is no data exchange between the plural simulation programs, and a sequential execution procedure by which the plural simulation programs are sequentially performed during a period in which there is data exchange between the plural simulation programs. |
| US08448169B2 |
Managing unique electronic identification for kernel extensions in isolated virtual space
Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to detecting a file that a first instance of an operating system is configured to load where the file is configured to extend functionality of a kernel when loaded. In some embodiments, the first instance of the operating system is managed by a second instance of the operating system (e.g., the first instance of the operating system is a virtual operating system and the second instance is a global operating system). The first and second instances of the operating system share the kernel. Some embodiments are further directed to generating a unique electronic identifier based on properties of the file. The unique electronic identifier uniquely identifies the file. Some embodiments are further directed to providing a copy of the file to the first instance of the operating system, and some time later, receiving a request from the first instances of the operating system to load the copy of the file. Some embodiments are further directed to determining, using the unique electronic identifier, that the copy of the file from the first instance of the operating system is equivalent to the file. Some embodiments are further directed to loading the copy of the file in response to determining, using the unique electronic identifier, that the copy of the file is equivalent to the file. The loading extends the functionality of the kernel. |
| US08448167B2 |
Storage system, and remote copy control method therefor
A storage system includes an information apparatus in which a virtualization mechanism is implemented to build a virtual machine, a storage apparatus which is coupled to the information apparatus, which includes a first logical volume proving a storage area to be used by the virtual machine, and which includes a virtual disk area and a virtual disk management area on the first logical volume, the virtual disk area used by the virtual machine to store data, the virtual disk management area storing management data for managing the virtual disk area; and a management computer which is coupled to the information apparatus and the storage apparatus, and which includes a remote copy controller configured to copy the virtual disk area and the virtual disk management area on the first logical volume of the storage apparatus to a storage area on a second logical volume included in a second storage device coupled to the storage apparatus. The remote copy controller determines whether, on the second logical volume, there is the virtual disk management area used by the virtual machine. When determining that there is not, the remote copy controller transmits, to the storage apparatus, an instruction to copy the virtual disk management area and the virtual disk area to the second logical volume. |
| US08448166B2 |
Automated state migration while deploying an operating system
Migration of a user state from a source computing device to a destination computing device using a state migration point (SMP) is disclosed. The destination computing device may be the same as the source computing device but with a different operating system. The user state is securely stored by the SMP until the user state is restored on the destination computing device or a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Additional SMPs can be added without an architectural change. SMPs can be used to simultaneously migrate the states of multiple users of the source computing device to multiple destination computing devices. The SMPs can be restricted to migrate only the user states of computing devices with particular IP subnets. The SMPs can retain user states for a period of time after restoration in order to provide a backup, if necessary. |
| US08448165B1 |
System and method for logging operations of virtual machines
A system and method for logging operations of guest virtual machines are provided. An execution event is triggered, in response to a request to load a software module in a virtual machine. A processor sends an indication to a hypervisor that the software module is loaded in the virtual machine, in response to the triggering of the execution event. A security appliance accesses, using the hypervisor, a first memory location in the virtual machine, in response to the indication. A value is stored in the first memory location. The value identifies the software module. The security appliance returns the value to the hypervisor. |
| US08448160B2 |
Application programming interface for identifying, downloading and installing applicable software updates
An application programming interface (API) provides a set of functions for application developers to build software programs that automatically detect, download, and install desired software updates. |
| US08448158B2 |
Program code generation support device and method, program execution device and method, and program code compression processing device and method and program thereof
To obtain a program code generation support device, method, and the like, capable of generating a new program code, in particular, generating in accordance with an incorporating apparatus, by performing a further optimization on a program code.The device includes storage means 6 for storing as data, an optimization rule that is composed of a conversion condition for converting data of a program code and a conversion content thereof, and code optimization means 4 that includes a code analysis unit 4A for analyzing the program code, a condition search unit 4B for search a part matching the conversion condition in the program code through a collation with the optimization rule stored in the storage means on the basis of the analyzed program code, and an optimization unit 4C for generating data of a new program code by converting the part matching the conversion condition on the basis of the conversion content. |
| US08448156B2 |
Systems and methods for caching compute kernels for an application running on a parallel-processing computer system
A runtime system implemented in accordance with the present invention provides an application platform for parallel-processing computer systems. Such a runtime system enables users to leverage the computational power of parallel-processing computer systems to accelerate/optimize numeric and array-intensive computations in their application programs. This enables greatly increased performance of high-performance computing (HPC) applications. |
| US08448154B2 |
Method, apparatus and software for processing software for use in a multithreaded processing environment
A method, apparatus and software for processing software code for use in a multithreaded processing environment in which lock verification mechanisms are automatically inserted in the software code and arranged to determine whether a respective shared storage element is locked prior to the use of the respective shared storage element by a given processing thread in a multithreaded processing environment. |
| US08448151B2 |
Method for binarizing initial script on operating system and operating method of binary script
A method for binarizing initial script on an operating system includes: calling shell script to be binarized in a secondary memory unit; generating an execution table by translating the called shell script; generating a source program by merging a previously prepared source code template with the execution table; and combining a command sub-routine with the source program and binarizing the shell script by performing compile and building operations. According to the above, it is possible to minimize a booting delay time without using a fork & exec technique by applying the binary script instead of the shell script during performing system initialization while booting. |
| US08448146B2 |
Generation of functional tests for re-hosted applications
A system and method for generating functional tests to verify code migrated from a first host to a second host. In one embodiment, source code is analyzed in order to generate functional tests that can be used for testing the re-hosted application. In particular, user-input scenarios are extracted from the source code and system output responses are determined based on the user-input scenarios. Functional tests can then be generated using the extracted user-input scenarios and output responses to ensure that the re-hosted application responds in a like manner. |
| US08448143B2 |
System and method for message choreographies of services
A computer-implemented method of evaluating interactions between processes. The method includes storing a message choreography meta-model that includes an interaction meta class and a constraint meta-class. A user creates a message choreography model between a first process and a second process. The method further includes executing a verification computer program that performs a verification of the message choreography model. The verification includes verifying absence of an inconsumable message. |
| US08448139B2 |
Automatic correction of application based on runtime behavior
A system and associated method for automatically correcting an application based on runtime behavior of the application. An incident indicates a performance of the application in which a problem object produces an outcome that had not been expected by a user or by a ticketing tool. An incident flow for the problem object is automatically analyzed. Actual run of the application renders a forward data flow and at least one backward data flow is simulated from an expected outcome of the problem object. The forward data flow and the backward data flow(s) are compared to create a candidate fault list for the problem object. A technical specification to correct the candidate fault list and a solution to replace the application are subsequently devised. |
| US08448138B2 |
Recording user-driven events within a computing system
Technologies are described herein for recording user-driven events within a computing system. An interface is established between a recorder application and an input method editor (“IME”) executing on the computer system. Through the use of the interface, the recorder application can obtain and record data identifying user-driven events that are performed within the IME. An interface is also established between the recorder application and a UI control that does not expose data regarding user-driven events through standard system calls. Through the use of the interface, the recorder application can obtain and record data identifying user-driven events detected at the UI control. The recorder application can also provide data identifying the recorded user-driven events directly to a bug tracking application program for inclusion in a bug database. |
| US08448136B2 |
Creating a composite program module in a computing ecosystem
Methods are provided for creating a composite program module within a computing ecosystem. The ecosystem comprises physical and/or virtual computing resources of a company, department or other organization. When a user discovers a grouping of modules that is useful to him, the ecosystem or his workspace allows him to create a composite module that comprises the group of modules. He can then access their combined functionality by activating just the composite module, in which case all the modules are automatically opened, without having to activate each one individually. Further, the ecosystem may suggest complementary program modules to a user based on his pattern of activity with one or more other modules. A composite program module may be created to include a suggested complementary module, or just modules discovered independently by the user. |
| US08448134B1 |
Systems and methods for reliably identifying controls invoked during quality-assurance reviews of user interfaces
A computer-implemented method for reliably identifying controls invoked during quality-assurance reviews of user interfaces may include: 1) identifying at least one user-interface control invoked during an initial quality-assurance review of a user interface, 2) for each identified user-interface control, identifying an object-tree path that is followed when invoking the user-interface control, 3) storing the object-tree path for the user-interface control in a data structure, and then 4) using the object-tree path during a subsequent quality-assurance review to automatically identify and invoke the user-interface control. |
| US08448133B2 |
Software development, deployment and evolution system, method and program product
A method of software evolution, software evolution system and program product therefor. A context specification handler stores context specifications describing requirements on context-adapted software. A Software Part Semantics Specification (SPSS) handler stores software part semantics specifications. A Software Implementation (SI) handler stores SIs. Behavior History handler stores a history of active software behavior analysis results of monitoring previous versions. A software rendering handler combines software behavior history with context specification, software part semantics specifications and SIs and distributes (and optionally deploys) context-adapted software. A software inspector continuously monitors context behavior of deployed versions and selectively identifies active context-adapted software failing to satisfy context specification for reassembly of a new version(s). |
| US08448130B1 |
Auto-generated code validation
A technique for generating an executable document that includes information for validating generated code is provided. The technique can include mapping an assumption to a portion of generated code, the portion containing functional code that is related to implementing the assumption, the mapping allowing at least the portion to be validated with respect to the assumption. The technique can include generating the executable document, where the executable document includes the mapping, and where the generated document validates the at least the portion of the generated code, where validating the at least the portion of the generated code validates the generated code. |
| US08448129B2 |
Work packet delegation in a software factory
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for utilizing the design centers, assembly line and job shops of a global delivery network across multiple software factories are presented. A work packet is examined to determine if it is authorized to be sub-contracted out to a different design center, assembly line or job shop than the design center/assembly line/job shop that have primary responsibility for the work packet. If the work packet is authorized to be sub-contracted out, then the work packet is reassigned to a different pre-qualified design center/assembly line/job shop. |
| US08448128B2 |
Post-merger integration systems
A stand-alone, menu-driven integration system software package is disclosed. The integration system can include a task library, a planning system, a projection system, a comparator system, and a reporting system. The task library can maintain a list of integration tasks for execution after closing of a merger between two or more organizations. Before closing, the planning system receives estimated date related to each task. After closing of the merger, execution of the integration tasks begins. The projection system can receive an action plan for each integration task. The action plans can be updated regularly, such that the projection system can maintain an accurate, current projection of results of the integrations tasks. The comparator system can monitor progression of the integration by comparing planned and desired data, receiving in the planning system, to projected data, received in the projection system. The reporting system can provide reports to monitor the integration. |
| US08448126B2 |
Compliance program assessment tool
This invention provides a compliance assessment system and tool for efficiently assessing compliance programs and managing compliance program assessments across an organization. Compliance activities are measured against a group of Compliance Program Element Requirements (CPR's) that are used to assess LOB compliance programs. The CPR's define the minimum standards for the LOB's documentation and execution of its compliance program. Assessment results are documented and a compliance program assessment data sheet is developed. A rating is also provided for the status of the documentation supporting the compliance program and the effectiveness of the execution of the compliance program. From these inputs the tool of the invention automatically calculates a score representative of the adequacy and effectiveness of the compliance program. The tool also assigns a color code based at least in part on the score. Reports may be generated that can be used to determine compliance trends. |
| US08448122B1 |
Implementing sub-circuits with predictable behavior within a circuit design
A method of implementing a circuit design within a programmable integrated circuit (IC) can include identifying an implementation directive embedded within a register transfer level (RTL) description of the circuit design and determining components of a sub-circuit of the circuit design, wherein the sub-circuit is specified by a portion of the RTL description associated with the implementation directive. The sub-circuit can be placed for the programmable IC and routed for the programmable IC according to the implementation directive. A programmatic description of the sub-circuit specifying placement and routing information can be output. |
| US08448121B2 |
Implementing Z directional macro port assignment
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing an enhanced Z-directional macro port assignment or three-dimensional port creation for random logic macros of heterogeneous hierarchical integrated circuit chips. An initial port placement is provided on a layer for a macro. The initial port placement is expanded to provide a three-dimensional port shape including a plurality of metal layers along a z-axis. Wire routing of each of the macro level and a chip top level is defined within the expanded three-dimensional port shape. Each unnecessary metal layer of the expanded three-dimensional port shape is removed, providing a final three-dimensional port shape. |
| US08448118B2 |
Determining intra-die wirebond pad placement locations in integrated circuit
Solutions for determining intra-die wirebond pad placement locations in an integrated circuit (IC) die are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a dividing band in the IC die, the dividing band dividing the IC die into a first region and a second region; determining a voltage (IR) drop across the first region and the second region; comparing the IR drops across the regions; and in response to the IR drops being substantially unequal, moving the dividing band, determining new IR drops across the regions, and comparing the new IR drops until the IR drops are substantially equal. The dividing band may provide desired locations for intra-die wirebond pads. |
| US08448114B1 |
Method for dual edge clock and buffer tree synthesis
A method for balancing both edges of a signal of an integrated circuit (IC) design includes defining a virtual cell to have the same geometry as that of a port of the IC design. First and second input pins of the virtual cell are defined for detecting rising and falling edges. The first and second input pin geometries are defined to be the same as that of the corresponding pins of the port. The virtual cell is overlapped with the port so the first and second input pins are connected to the corresponding port network. The first and second input pins are configured as sinks for clock and buffer tree synthesis. An EDA tool identifies the first and second input pins as additional parallel sinks on the port network and balances the rising and falling edges of the signal at the port. |
| US08448113B2 |
Efficiently applying a single timing assertion to multiple timing points in a circuit using creating a deffinition
A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product efficiently manage timing parameters in a circuit. Multiple instances of a definition are implemented onto a circuit. A set of related pins from the multiple instances are defined, and a common assertion value is asserted against all pins in the set of related pins. |
| US08448109B1 |
Vector evaluation of assertions
Systems and techniques for evaluating assertions during circuit verification are described. During operation, m semantically equivalent assertions can be identified, wherein each of the m semantically equivalent assertions is evaluated using n logical expressions. Next, a set of vectors based on the m semantically equivalent assertions can be determined, wherein each vector element corresponds to a logical expression that is used for evaluating one of the m semantically equivalent assertions. The m semantically equivalent assertions can then be evaluated, in parallel, using the set of vectors. |
| US08448103B2 |
Manufacturing features of different depth by placement of vias
A methodology for varying the depth of a design feature on a semiconductor wafer. Vias are formed according to design requirements. Nonfunctioning vias may also be placed at a location with respect to a design feature. After vias are formed, the semiconductor wafer is caused to undergo an ashing process followed by the application of an organic planarizing layer. The design features are then formed. If the depth of the design features does not meet design requirements, another semiconductor wafer may be processed to meet design requirements by varying the ashing conditions, choice of organic planarizing layer and/or the nonfunctioning and/or functioning via placement. Design features having various depths on a single semiconductor wafer may be formed with a single lithographic process. |
| US08448096B1 |
Method and system for parallel processing of IC design layouts
Disclosed is a method and system for processing the tasks performed by an IC layout processing tool in parallel. In some approaches, the IC layout is divided into a plurality of layout portions and one or more of the layout portions are processed in parallel, where geometric select operations are performed in which data for different layout portions may be shared between different processing entities. One approach includes the following actions: select phase one operation for performing initial select actions within layout portions; distributed regioning action for local regioning; distributed regioning action for global regioning and binary select; count select aggregation for count-based select operations; and select phase two operations for combining results of selecting of internal shapes and interface shapes. |
| US08448090B2 |
Selective plug-in activation for resource-limited platforms
Presentation of advanced content items is selectively suspended and/or activated so as to manage system resources. In some embodiments, plug-in code is selectively activated based on prioritization schemes and responsive to resource usage, user input, and/or other conditions. For example, plug-in code can be selectively suspended when the advanced content being presented by the plug-in code is not in view (for example, if it has been scrolled off the screen); when the advanced content is brought into view, for example as a result of scrolling, the plug-in code is reactivated as appropriate and the presentation of the advanced content resumes. State information for suspended plug-ins can be stored so that upon reactivation, plug-in code resumes operation substantially where it left off. |
| US08448086B2 |
Display apparatus, display method, and program
There is provided a display apparatus including a display capable of displaying a plurality of windows using a browser, a device such as a touch panel that detects a screen operation on the display performed by a user, a selection unit that selects a first window specified by the user according to a first screen operation detected by the device, and a screen region setting unit that sets the screen region of a second window with respect to the selected first window in an orientation of a browser, according to a second screen operation of the user following the first screen operation, detected by the device, the screen region of the second window corresponding to the second screen operation. |
| US08448084B2 |
User interface mechanics
Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced user interface mechanics are presented. In one arrangement, a scrollable list of content items may be displayed. Input associated with a scroll command may be received. Then, based on the scroll command, a scrollable refresh trigger may be displayed. Subsequently, the scrollable list of content items may be refreshed in response to determining, based on the scroll command, that the scrollable refresh trigger has been activated. In at least one instance, it may be determined that the scrollable refresh trigger has been activated in response to determining that the scroll command was completed while the scrollable refresh trigger was fully displayed. |
| US08448082B2 |
Method of displaying browser and terminal implementing the same
A method of displaying a browser including a text field and a terminal for implementing the same are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes displaying a browser including at least one or more text fields, selecting a specific text field from the at least one or more text fields, and enlarging the selected text field. If a terminal user selects a specific text field, the selected text field is enlarged or a text field input window is generated. Accordingly, the present invention facilitates the terminal user to input prescribed information to the selected text field. |
| US08448080B2 |
Target server identification in a virtualized data center
A method for identifying target server computers for consolidating virtual machines in a virtualized data center includes measuring load constraints for different server computers in a virtualized data center. The method also include rendering in a load graph in a graphical user interface (GUI) for the target identification module different icons, each representative of a corresponding one of the different server computers, each icon in the load graph including a position in the load graph according to measured load constraints for a corresponding one of the different server computers. The method further includes selecting a server computer from amongst the different server computers. Finally, the method includes filtering the load graph in the GUI to exclude icons corresponding to server computers that are over-utilized, so that icons remaining visible in the load graph represent server computers that are suitable as a target server computer for server consolidation of virtual machines executing in the selected server computer. |
| US08448077B2 |
Decision support systems for guideline and knowledge navigation over different levels of abstraction of the guidelines
A system and method are provided for executing an executable clinical practice guideline for providing guidance in treating a patient. A guideline repository stores a plurality of executable clinical practice guidelines. At least one interface receives clinical context data associated with at least one of the patient and the patient's treatment. A system server, upon receipt of said clinical context data, automatically chooses an appropriate guideline and controls a display to display the guideline at its present level of abstraction, and a visual navigator which defines the current level of abstraction. The level of abstraction is changed via a user input between a higher level of abstraction in which fewer more abstract steps of the guidelines are displayed and a lower level of abstraction in which more, detailed steps are displayed. |
| US08448069B2 |
Object set property viewer
A computer system, a method, and a computer application that creates a view of the properties of a set of objects that have a common property adapter. A user may select some or all of the objects and some or all of the properties to include in the view created by the object set property view. Upon selection of an object by a user, the method and application retrieve the children of the object using a preexisting content adapter. The object set property viewer then ascertains if the children have the same property adapter, also preexisting. If so, the property adapter is retrieved, along with the associated property descriptors and functions of the adapter. The object set property viewer creates a new view, preferably in the form of a table wherein the rows (columns) are of the children objects and the columns (rows) are of the properties of interest. Because of inheritance, and functionality associated with the property is also inherited so that the object set property view may permit a user to sort, align, and/or edit the values of the properties. |
| US08448065B2 |
System and method for the editing and accessing real-time OPC data with text-based tags
Systems and methods for object linking and embedding for process control networks are disclosed. The exemplary system may include one or more field devices. The system may also include a process control server for monitoring the field devices, storing field information and one or more parameters for each of the field devices, and associating each of the field devices input/output data with a text-based tag. The system may also include a client computer capable of accessing the one or more parameters of each field device by identifying the field information containing the desired text-based tags. The data may be displayed in real time. |
| US08448062B2 |
System and method for simultaneous display of multiple tables
In a system and method for displaying hierarchically related data, a processor may display in a single display window of a display device respective representations of a plurality of hierarchically related data records in accordance with the hierarchical relationship, where each of at least two of the representations includes a respective table including a plurality of data columns, and where the display of some of the columns of the tables is in accordance with display settings set based on a determination that columns of different tables correspond to each other for alignment. |
| US08448059B1 |
Apparatus and method for providing browser audio control for voice enabled web applications
A unified web-based voice messaging system provides voice application control between a web browser and an application server via an hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) connection on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The web browser receives an HTML page from the application server having an XML element that defines data for an audio operation to be performed by an executable audio resource. The web browser selectively executes the audio operation based on whether the web browser detects the presence of the executable audio resource. If the web browser does not have the executable audio resource, then the web browser ignores the XML element, and merely presents any other recognized HTML tags. However if the web browser has access to an executable audio resource that understands the XML element, then the web browser executes the audio operation based on enhanced audio control specified by the XML element. Hence, a web browser can be used to provide enhanced voice control for voice enabled web applications, merely by possession of an executable audio resource that recognizes the XML element that specifies the enhanced audio control required for the audio operation to be performed. |
| US08448057B1 |
Audience segment selection
A user interface for selecting an audience segment from a pool of tracked entities based on an aggregate similarity of the audience segment to an archetypical audience. The user can display a graphical representation illustrating a relationship between a composite index for the audience segment and an audience segment size and indicate the audience segment through the user interface. The user input indicating the audience segment is received by a system and the composite index and the audience segment size associated with the audience segment, are determined based at least in part on the user input. The composite index and the audience segment size associated with the audience segment are displayed. |
| US08448050B2 |
Memory system and control method for the same
A memory system having a memory card configured to store frame data composed of a plurality of pieces of sector data and a host configured to send and receive the frame data to and from the memory card, the memory card includes: an ECC1 decoder configured to perform BCH decoding processing with a hard decision code on a sector data basis; an ECC2 decoder configured to perform LDPC decoding processing with an LDPC code on a frame data basis; a sector error flag section configured to store information about presence or absence of error data in the BCH decoding processing; and an ECC control section configured to perform, in the LDPC decoding processing, control of increasing a reliability of sector data containing no error data based on the information in the sector error flag section. |
| US08448047B2 |
Storage device, storage control device, data transfer intergrated circuit, and storage control method
A storage device is for restoring the data saved in a nonvolatile memory to a cache memory, even if there is not a read response from the nonvolatile memory. In a data saving operation, parity data of to-be-saved data is generated, and the to-be-saved data and the parity data having CRCs and AIDs added thereto are written into a flash memory. In a data restoring operation, if an operation to read data from the flash memory is not completed within a predetermined period of time, the data reading operation is suspended, and additional data is set. The to-be-saved data having a data error corrected with the parity data is then written into the cache memory. |
| US08448040B2 |
Decoding method and decoding apparatus
A decoding device allowing a high-speed decoding operation. In a decoding section (215), if a degree of a check equation by a check matrix is D and the relationship between the check equation of the j+first row of the check matrix and the cheek equation of the jth row is shifted by n-bit, row processing operation sections (405#1 to 405#3) and column processing operation sections (410#1 to 410#3) perform the operation of a protograph in which the columns of the check matrix are delimited for each “(D+1)×N (N: natural number),” and the rows of the check matrix are delimited for each “(D+1)×N/n,” and formed as the processing unit of the row processing operation and column processing operation. |
| US08448039B2 |
Error-floor mitigation of LDPC codes using targeted bit adjustments
Embodiments of the present invention are methods for breaking one or more trapping sets in a near codeword of a failed graph-based decoder, e.g., an LDPC decoder. The methods determine, from among all bit nodes associated with one or more unsatisfied check nodes in the near codeword, which bit nodes, i.e., the suspicious bit nodes or SBNs, are most likely to be erroneous bit nodes. The methods then perform a trial in which the values of one or more SBNs are altered and decoding is re-performed. If the trial does not converge on the decoded correct codeword (DCCW), then other trials are performed until either (i) the decoder converges on the DCCW or (ii) all permitted combinations of SBNs are exhausted. The starting state of a particular trial, and the set of SBNs available to that trial may change depending on the results of previous trials. |
| US08448036B2 |
Hybrid automatic repeat request round trip time and acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement repetition in discontinuous reception
A method is provided for detecting a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) message. The method comprising setting a round trip time (RTT) based on a time delay associated with acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) repetitions, and receiving a retransmitted HARQ message when the RTT expires. Also provided is a user equipment (UE) comprising a processor configured to set an RTT based on a time delay associated with ACK/NACK repetitions, and receive a retransmitted HARQ message when the RTT expires. |
| US08448035B2 |
Communication system adapting for car, communication apparatus adapting for car, and communication method adapting for car
It is provided about a communication system mountable on a car, communication apparatus mountable on a car and a communication method mountable on a car that can perform data transmission under extensive range from a low speed communication to high speed communication, without generating data delay, data dropout and the like, caused by the data sending collision. A gateway and an ECU are connected to each other, in a one-to-one manner, via a communication line different from another communication line for another connection. When receiving a message, the gateway and the ECU reply a receipt response. When having a message to be sent toward the destination for replying at this replying time, the gateway and the ECU sends the receipt response onto which this message to be sent is added. When a message sending collision is generated, the gateway preferentially performs a message re-sending operation. |
| US08448034B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes semiconductor memory chips in which data requested to be written. The data has one or more pieces of first data in a predetermined unit. The device includes a write controller that writes the first data and redundancy information calculated by using a predetermined number of pieces of the first data and used for correcting an error in the predetermined number of pieces of the first data into different semiconductor memory chips; and a storage unit that stores identification information and region specifying information so as to be associated with each other. The identification information associates the first data and the redundancy information, and the region specifying information specifies a plurality of storage regions in the semiconductor memory chips to which the pieces of the first data and the redundancy information associated with each other are written. |
| US08448033B2 |
Interleaving/de-interleaving method, soft-in/soft-out decoding method and error correction code encoder and decoder utilizing the same
An error correction code encoder is provided. A first encoder encodes input information bits and generates first parity check bits. An interleaver interleaves the input information bits and generates permuted information bits. A second encoder encodes the permuted information bits and generates second parity check bits. The interleaver interleaves the input information bits in a window-wise manner so that the input information bits are divided into input information bit windows before being interleaved, and permuted information bit windows having the permuted information bits are generated thereafter. When the input information bit windows are grouped into groups according to different window index characteristics, the window index of each permuted information bit window has the same characteristic as the corresponding input information bit window interleaved therefrom. |
| US08448028B2 |
System monitoring method and system monitoring device
A model-match-rate evaluating unit of a transaction monitoring device, which monitors a transaction system, evaluates a ratio of the number of transactions that match any models and respective processing times of all layers in the transaction are each within a corresponding normal range to the number of transactions observed per unit time as a model match rate. When the model-match-rate evaluating unit detects an abnormality of the system based on the model match rate, a suspicious-point-in-suspicious-model extracting unit of a transaction detail analyzing device extracts a point where a processing time deviates from the normal range as a suspicious point, a problematical-point evaluating unit evaluates a problem of each suspicious point as a problematical point, and a detail-analysis-result display unit displays an evaluation result of the problematical point and the suspicious point. |
| US08448027B2 |
Energy-efficient failure detection and masking
A method, system, and computer usable program product for energy-efficient soft error failure detection and masking are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A soft error is injected to occur during execution of a set of instructions. If an output of the execution of the set of instructions is incorrect, a record is made of the instruction that was affected by the injected soft error and led to the incorrect result. This identified instruction is designated as vulnerable to the soft error. Several soft errors are injected with different input data sets over several executions of the same set of instructions, and a probability of each instruction in the instruction set is computed, the probability of an instruction accounting for the vulnerability of the execution of the instruction sets to errors that affect the instruction. A report including several probabilities of instruction vulnerabilities is produced. |
| US08448025B2 |
Fault analysis apparatus, fault analysis method, and recording medium
The present invention determines the type of each piece of system information including a plurality of index values indicative of abnormality levels of a monitoring target device, as follows. The system information and identification information for the system information are sequentially received from the monitoring target device configured to sequentially output the system information together with the identification information for the system information. The piece of the received system information is compared with a predetermined determination criterion and thus determined to be of a particular type based on a result of the comparison. The determined type is output in association with the identification information. Input information indicative of a true type is accepted and stored in association with the identification information. The determination criterion is updated based on the piece of the system information and the information indicative of the true type. In the type determination procedure, an index value irrelevant to the abnormality level of the monitoring target device is included in the piece of the system information for comparison with the determination criterion. |
| US08448023B2 |
Approach for data integrity in an embedded device environment
A system for providing data integrity in an embedded device environment. One approach is operating an embedded control engine with non-battery backup power and providing data backup with inexpensive memory. Just data having changes may be provided to a volatile memory such as an SRAM module. After an accumulation of a certain amount of data, the data may be moved onto a relatively larger non-volatile memory, such as an NVRAM module or other type of flash memory. Non-battery backup power may maintain the SRAM module for a period after a power loss, so as to retain data. After restoration of power, data from NVRAM and SRAM modules may be read by the backup service to recreate the last known state of the control engine before the power loss. |
| US08448022B1 |
Fault recovery to a call stack position stored in thread local storage
After execution by a thread of an instruction for invoking a function containing unreliable code, a pointer is stored to thread local storage for the thread in one or more reserved registers. The thread local storage is a portion of memory of the computing device associated with the thread. In the thread local storage, a stack pointer is stored to a position in a call stack associated with the instruction for invoking the function. The function is called, thereby causing the function to execute. In response to a fault occurring in the function, the pointer to thread local storage is used to retrieve the stack pointer in the thread local storage. The position in the call stack is used in a recovery process for the fault. |
| US08448020B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispersed storage memory device selection
A method begins when a dispersed storage (DS) processing unit of a DS unit has at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm to store. The method continues with the DS processing unit encoding at least a portion of the at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function to produce a plurality of data slices. The method continues with the DS processing unit storing at least some of the plurality of data slices in memory devices of the DS unit in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function. |
| US08448018B2 |
Stripe-based memory operation
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for stripe-based memory operation. One method embodiment includes writing data in a first stripe across a storage volume of a plurality of memory devices. A portion of the first stripe is updated by writing updated data in a portion of a second stripe across the storage volume of the plurality of memory devices. The portion of the first stripe is invalidated. The invalid portion of the first stripe and a remainder of the first stripe are maintained until the first stripe is reclaimed. Other methods and devices are also disclosed. |
| US08448017B2 |
Memory apparatus, memory controlling method and program
A memory apparatus includes a memory having a main memory area and a replacement area, and a memory controller having a function of issuing instructions corresponding to commands to carry out transmission and reception of data and reading of status information of the memory. |
| US08448016B2 |
Computing core application access utilizing dispersed storage
A computing core application access method begins by a processing module detecting selection of an application. The method continues with at least one of a memory controller and the processing module addressing a distributed application memory to retrieve a plurality of error coded program data slices and a plurality of error coded configuration data slices. The method continues with the at least one of a memory controller and the processing module reconstructing a data segment of a program from the plurality of error coded program data slices using an error coding dispersal function. The method continues with the at least one of a memory controller and the processing module reconstructing a data segment of a configuration information from the plurality of error coded configuration data slices using a second error coding dispersal function. The method continues with the at least one of a memory controller and the processing module storing the data segment of the program and the data segment of the configuration information in a main memory of the computing core. |
| US08448015B2 |
Remote computer diagnostic system and method
The system enables a call center to manage requests from remote computing clients for service. The system provides a number of software tools that allow technicians to perform routine maintenance and correct problems remotely. At the front-end, the system enables requests to be submitted by customers via various mediums, accesses a calendar to determine technician availability, determines the urgency of the request, and schedules an appropriate technician to address the reported problem. The system further includes tools that enable a technician to access a remote computing client to perform a number computer maintenance and diagnostics. Other tools enable the technician to correct problems that are detected through diagnostics. Calls to the call center are recorded and maintained in order to track pending issues and identify potential areas of improvement. |
| US08448009B2 |
Method and memory device for generating a time estimate
A method and memory device for generating a time estimate are provided. In one embodiment, a memory device generates a time estimate from time stamps in file system metadata for a plurality of files stored in the memory device and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device. In another embodiment, a memory device generates a time estimate from time stamps stored in a plurality of files stored in the memory device and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device. In yet another embodiment, a memory device obtains a plurality of time stamps, selects one or more of the plurality of time stamps based on validity rankings, generates a time estimate from the selected time stamp(s), and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device. |
| US08448006B2 |
Performing virtual and/or physical resource management for power management
A mechanism is provided for directed resource folding for power management. The mechanism receives a set of static platform characteristics and a set of dynamic platform characteristics for a set of resources associated with the data processing system thereby forming characteristic information. The mechanism determines whether one or more conditions have been met for each resource in the set of resources using the characteristic information. Responsive to the one or more conditions being met, the mechanism performs a resource optimization to determine at least one of a first subset of resources in the set of resources to keep active and a second subset of resources in the set of resources to dynamically fold. Based on the resource optimization, the mechanism performs either a virtual resource optimization to optimally schedule the first subset of resources or a physical resource optimization to dynamically fold the second subset of resources. |
| US08448005B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An information processing apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to retain at least one network address from among a plurality of network addresses and transfer other network addresses to other information processing apparatus, a power saving state shifting unit configured to shift to a power saving state, and a return unit configured to return the power saving state to a normal state when the retained network address is accessed. |
| US08448004B2 |
Power savings using dynamic storage cluster membership
A system for controlling power usage in a storage cluster by dynamically controlling membership in the storage cluster is disclosed. The storage cluster includes multiple storage servers that provide access to one or more storage subsystems. The power management system uses a power management policy to set parameters for controlling membership in the storage cluster and monitors the storage cluster based on the policy. Based on the monitoring, the system detects when the number of storage servers in the storage cluster should be reduced or increased. To reduce the number, the system selects a storage server to deactivate and directs the selected storage server to migrate storage resources (e.g. data, metadata) associated with the server to a different storage server. The system then deactivates the selected storage server by directing it to transition to a low power mode. The system may increase the number of servers in the storage cluster by reversing these steps. |
| US08448002B2 |
Clock-gated series-coupled data processing modules
A clock module is coupled in parallel to a number of data processing modules that are coupled in series. The data processing modules can be individually clock-gated. Each of the data processing modules can determine whether or not it can be placed into an idle state. To reduce power consumption, any subset of the data processing modules that are eligible to be placed in an idle state can be clock-gated. The remaining data processing modules can continue to receive clock signals from the clock module and thus can continue to process data. |
| US08447999B2 |
Electrical power saving system
An electrical power saving system that achieves efficient electricity consumption of apparatuses connected via a communication network includes at least first and second apparatuses connected via the communication network. The first and second apparatuses each include: a transmission and reception unit that transmits and receives a control command via the communication network, the control command being a command by which one apparatus controls another apparatus; and an operation state switching unit that switches an operation state according to the control command. The first and second apparatuses each have, as operation states of different electricity consumption, a first OFF operation mode in which the apparatus is in a power-OFF state but a part of the apparatus is supplied with power, and a second OFF operation mode of lower electricity consumption than the first OFF operation mode. The operation state switching unit in the second apparatus switches the operation state of the second apparatus from the first OFF operation mode to the second OFF operation mode in the case where, when the second apparatus is in the first OFF operation mode, the transmission and reception unit in the second apparatus receives a control command instructing to switch the operation state, from the first apparatus. |
| US08447996B2 |
Circuitry and method for monitoring a supply voltage
Embodiments related to comparing of a supply voltage are described and depicted. |
| US08447993B2 |
Integrated energy savings and business operations in data centers
A power control system in a data center has a plurality of physical servers, each server having a local controller, at least one virtual server coupled to at least some of the physical servers, and a central controller to control task loading on the physical servers through the virtual servers. A method of controlling power consumption in a data center includes receiving inputs from local controllers residing on loads, the inputs including data about power consumption on the loads, receiving as an input at least one quality of service requirement, and allocating tasks to at least one server based upon the quality of service and the power consumption on the loads. |
| US08447992B2 |
Method for distributing content to a mobile device with digital rights and mobile device therefor
The invention relates to a method for distributing content to a mobile device using a digital rights management (DRM) scheme, adapted for the case when files are exchanged over an external memory or over a serial connection between a computer (PC) and the mobile device, and a mobile device (ME) adapted therefor. The mobile device creates a request file (RORe-questrop) comprising information necessary for forming a rights object file. On the computer side, the request file is retrieved and a response file is sent back to the mobile device including the encrypted content (Contentdcf) and a rights object file (Content.ro). The mobile device receives the response file and decrypts and stores the content. The files may be exchanged over a DRM folder, arranged in the mobile device and accessible by the computer in mass storage mode, or the DRM folder may be arranged in an external memory (MS) alternately accessible by the mobile device and the computer. |
| US08447989B2 |
Method and apparatus for tamper proof camera logs
A method and apparatus for maintaining a tamper proof device log are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises maintaining an embedded log in the device, the embedded log being a chain of log entries. In one embodiment, the method may also comprise publishing at least one log entry to a location external to the device. |
| US08447982B2 |
System and method for operating end-to-end security channel between server and IC card
The present invention relates to a system and method for operating an end-to-end security channel between an IC card and a server on a communication network. A method for connecting an end-to-end security channel between an IC card and a server on a communication network includes the steps of: generating, by the server, a random number Rs for transmission to the IC card, generating an E(Rs) by encrypting the random number Rs by a user public key, and transmitting the E(Rs) to the IC card through the communication network; receiving, by the IC card, the E(Rs) through the communication network and extracting the random number Rs by decrypting the E(Rs) by a user private key; generating, by the IC card, a random number Rc to be transmitted to the server, generating a session key K′ by the random number Rs and the random number Rc, and generating a first card verifier MAC by encrypting the random number Rs by the session key K′; transmitting, by the IC card, the random number Rc and the first card verifier MAC to the server through the communication network; receiving, by the server, the random number Rc and the first card verifier MAC through the communication network, generating a session key K by the random number Rs and the random number Rc, and generating a first server verifier MAC by encrypting the random number Rs by the session key K; and comparing, by the server, the first card verifier MAC and the first server verifier MAC to certify the session key K. |
| US08447979B2 |
Method and apparatus for binding update between mobile node and correspondent node
A method and apparatus for binding update between a mobile node and a correspondent node is disclosed. The method includes: encrypting, by the correspondent node, a parameter for generating a binding management key with a key, and transmitting the encrypted parameter to the mobile node or a home agent which performs binding update on behalf of the mobile node; obtaining, by the mobile node or the home agent, the parameter via decryption, generating a binding management key with the parameter, generating authentication data with the binding management key, and transmitting a binding update message carrying the authentication data to the correspondent node; and verifying, by the correspondent node, the binding update message based on the authentication data, and returning a binding acknowledgement message to the mobile node or the home agent. With the present invention, the security of the binding update process may be improved. |
| US08447976B2 |
Business to business secure mail
Business to business secure mail may be provided. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, a protected message may be received. The recipient may request a token from a trust broker, submit the token to an authorization server associated with the sender, receive a user license from the authorization server; and decrypt the protected message using the user license. The protected message may restrict actions that may be taken by the recipient, such as forwarding to other users. |
| US08447974B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing access rights to information spaces
An approach is provided for managing access rights of users to information spaces using signatures stored in a memory tag. A signature manager caused reading of a memory tag to initiate a request, from a device, for an initial access to an information space. The request includes an authorization signature associated with the device. The signature manager determines a level of access to the information space by comparing the authorization signature against a lattice of signature primitives associated with the information space. The signature manager then modifies the authorization signature based on the determination and stores the modified authorization signature for validation of subsequent access to the information space by the device. |
| US08447973B2 |
System, server, and device for providing contents
According to an aspect of the invention, a content providing system is provided that includes a client device configured to receive contents and a server connected to the client device that provides contents to the client device. The client device may instruct the server to suspend the providing of contents, instruct the server how to handle unoffered contents after it instructs the server to suspend the providing of contents, and subsequently instruct the server lo restart the providing of contents. When the server is instructed to suspend the providing of contents by the client device, the server may be instructed by the client device to handle the unoffered contents by sequentially accumulating those contents. The server also may be instructed to discard one of the accumulated contents or to provide one of the accumulated contents to the client device. |
| US08447971B2 |
Self-signed implicit certificates
There are disclosed systems and methods for creating a self-signed implicit certificate. In one embodiment, the self-signed implicit certificate is generated and operated upon using transformations of a nature similar to the transformations used in the ECQV protocol. In such a system, a root CA or other computing device avoids having to generate an explicit self-signed certificate by instead generating a self-signed implicit certificate. |
| US08447963B2 |
Method and system for simplifying distributed server management
A method and system for managing a large number of servers and their server components distributed throughout a heterogeneous computing environment is provided. In one embodiment, an authenticated user, such as a IT system administrator, can securely and simultaneously control and configure multiple servers, supporting different operating systems, through a “virtual server.” A virtual server is an abstract model representing a collection of actual target servers. To represent multiple physical servers as one virtual server, abstract system calls that extend execution of operating-system-specific system calls to multiple servers, regardless of their supported operating systems, are used. A virtual server is implemented by a virtual server client and a collection of virtual server agents associated with a collection of actual servers. |
| US08447962B2 |
Gathering and scattering multiple data elements
According to a first aspect, efficient data transfer operations can be achieved by: decoding by a processor device, a single instruction specifying a transfer operation for a plurality of data elements between a first storage location and a second storage location; issuing the single instruction for execution by an execution unit in the processor; detecting an occurrence of an exception during execution of the single instruction; and in response to the exception, delivering pending traps or interrupts to an exception handler prior to delivering the exception. |
| US08447953B2 |
Instruction controller to distribute serial and SIMD instructions to serial and SIMD processors
A microprocessor architecture comprises a plurality of processing elements arranged in a single instruction multiple data SIMD array, wherein each processing element includes a plurality of execution units, each of which is operable to process an instruction of a particular instruction type, a serial processor which includes a plurality of execution units, each of which is operable to process an instruction of a particular instruction type, and an instruction controller operable to receive a plurality of instructions, and to distribute received instructions to the execution units in dependence upon the instruction types of the received instruction. The execution units of the serial processor are operable to process respective instructions in parallel. |
| US08447952B2 |
Method for controlling access to regions of a memory from a plurality of processes and a communication module having a message memory for implementing the method
A method for controlling access to regions of a memory from a plurality of processes. In order to allow a plurality of processes to access the most recent data packets stored in the memory without any loss of data and without a waiting period, according to the present invention a first one of the processes controls part of an address bus using which another one of the processes accesses the memory, the first process influencing which memory region is accessed by the other process by controlling the part of the address bus. |
| US08447951B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing TLB
An apparatus and method for managing a translation look-aside buffer (TLB). The TLB is shared by a plurality of jobs. The method including the steps of: obtaining at least one attribute of each job of the plurality of jobs; assigning a priority level to each job according to at least one attribute of each job; and managing the related TLB entries of each job according to the priority level of each job. The present invention also provides an apparatus for managing TLB corresponding to the above method. The method and apparatus according to the present invention provide an efficient use of the shared TLB. |
| US08447950B1 |
Multidimensional network sorter integrated circuit
A technique to implement an integrated multidimensional sorter is to store data such that it may be retrieved in a sorted fashion. Entries are stored into a memory according to time stamp value, and the time stamp value is divided into multiple portions. The memory is organized as a pointer memory. An integrated multidimensional sorter may be implemented using integrated circuit technology using one or more integrated circuits. These integrated circuits may be used in management of network traffic, and provides quality of service (QoS) control. |
| US08447949B2 |
Detection of zero address events in address formation
One or more registers used to form an address usable in accessing storage are examined to determine if a zero address event has occurred in forming the address. In response to an indication that a zero address event has occurred in address formation, an alert is provided to the program using the address to access storage. |
| US08447945B2 |
Storage apparatus and storage system including storage media having different performances
A storage apparatus maintains a performance even if an unused storage area is not released. The storage apparatus includes a plurality of types of storage media, each having different performances, and moves the unused storage area to the storage medium having a low performance. |
| US08447944B2 |
Information processing device and data shredding method
An object is to enable efficient shredding of recording media in association with migration. An information processing device (a server device 3) receives a data input/output request in a unit of a file transmitted from a client device 2, and performs writing and reading of data to and from a storage system 10 having a recording medium (hard disk drive 171) in which a file entity specified in the received data input/output request is stored in units of data blocks. The information processing device is communicatively coupled to a different storage device which is a migration destination of data. In the case where after the migration of certain data, different data is written in a data block of the certain data in an overlapped manner, the data block is not shredded if the data block is already shredded related to either of the overlapped certain and the different data after the migration. |
| US08447943B2 |
Reduction of I/O latency for writable copy-on-write snapshot function
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of controlling a storage system comprises storing data in a first volume in the storage system which has volumes including the first volume and a plurality of second volumes; prohibiting write I/O (input/output) access against the first volume after storing the data in the first volume; performing subsequent write requests received by the storage system against the second volumes in the storage system after storing the data in the first volume, each write request having a target volume which is one of the second volumes; and in response to each one write request of the write requests, determining whether the target volume of the one write request is write prohibited or not, and performing the one write request only if the target volume is not write prohibited. |
| US08447940B2 |
Backup copy enhancements to reduce primary version access
A method, system, and computer program product for performing a backup operation in a computing environment is provided. A dataset corresponding to a backup copy is examined to determine if the dataset has changed from a previous backup operation. If the dataset has not changed, a backup inventory registry is consulted to determine a current version of a backup copy. The current version is one of a plurality of available versions. The backup operation is performed using the current version of the backup copy. |
| US08447939B2 |
Storage control device and method for managing snapshot
An erasure declaration-related write request is received. In cases where, in response to the erasure declaration-related write request, erasure-corresponding data elements which are data elements corresponding to an erasure target and which are stored in a storage area A in the first logical volume are overwritten with erasure data elements which are data elements signifying erasure at or after the snapshot acquisition time point, the storage area A is associated with a storage area B in which encrypted data elements corresponding to the erasure-corresponding data elements stored in storage area A are stored. |
| US08447931B1 |
Processor with a register file that supports multiple-issue execution
One embodiment of the present invention provides a processor that supports multiple-issue execution. This processor includes a register file, which contains an array of memory cells, wherein the memory cells contain bits for architectural registers of the processor. The register file also includes multiple read ports and multiple write ports to support multiple-issue execution. During operation, if multiple read ports simultaneously read from a given register, the register file is configured to: read each bit of the given register out of the array of memory cells through a single bitline associated with the bit; and to use a driver located outside of the array of memory cells to drive the bit to the multiple read ports. In this way, each memory cell only has to drive a single bitline (instead of multiple bitlines) during a multiple-port read operation, thereby allowing memory cells to use smaller and more power-efficient drivers for read operations. |
| US08447930B2 |
Managing in-line store throughput reduction
Various embodiments of the present invention manage a hierarchical store-through memory cache structure. A store request queue is associated with a processing core in multiple processing cores. At least one blocking condition is determined to have occurred at the store request queue. Multiple non-store requests and a set of store requests associated with a remaining set of processing cores in the multiple processing cores are dynamically blocked from accessing a memory cache in response to the blocking condition having occurred. |
| US08447928B2 |
Electronic apparatus, server, and method for controlling electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus stores therein information that includes a first list, a second list, and a third list. The first list contains a list of memory devices usable with the electronic apparatus, the second list contains a list of memory devices for which it is not certain whether the memory devices are usable with the electronic apparatus, and the third list contains a list of memory devices unusable with the electronic apparatus. A determining unit determines, by using the information, whether a connected memory device is usable or unusable with the electronic apparatus or determines that it is not certain whether the connected memory device is usable with the electronic apparatus. |
| US08447926B2 |
Method of controlling optical disc drive archive system
A method of controlling an ODD archive system comprising three or more ODDs is provided comprising storing information on a parity drive in a memory, and setting a parity drive in which parity data is to be recorded based on the information when data recording is requested in a RAID 3 or 4 manner. The information on the parity drive may include a cumulative value of number of times by which each ODD has been set as the parity drive up to now. Or the information on the parity drive may be managed for each of one or more magazine having optical discs the number of which is equal to or less than the number of ODDs included in the archive system. |
| US08447921B2 |
Recovering failed writes to vital product data devices
A method for maintaining vital product data (VPD) contained in an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) on a field replaceable unit (FRU) of a computer system that has a cache. The method includes maintaining a copy of the VPD in the cache, retrieving the copy of the VPD from the cache upon receiving a read request of the VPD, and, upon receiving a write request to write data to the VPD, writing the data to the copy of the VPD, determining whether the VPD in the EEPROM is in synchronization with the copy of the VPD in the cache, and, if the VPD and the copy of the VPD are in synchronization, writing the data to the EEPROM. |
| US08447920B1 |
System and method for managing data access in non-volatile memory
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for improving access to non-volatile solid-state storage systems. Embodiments described herein provide a physical chunk number (PCN), or a physical page number (PPN), by which a controller can access the next available chunks (or pages) in a programming sequence optimized by concurrency. By incrementing the PCN, the controller can program consecutive chunks in the optimized programming sequence. In one embodiment, the programming sequence is determined at the time of initial configuration and the sequence seeks to synchronize data programming and data sending operations in subcomponents of the storage system to minimize contention and wait time. In one embodiment, the PCN includes an index portion to a superblock table with entries that reference specific blocks within the subcomponents in a sequence that mirrors the optimized programming sequence, and a local address portion that references a particular chunk to be programmed or read. |
| US08447916B2 |
Interfaces that facilitate solid state storage configuration
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to storage configuration. In aspects, an interface is used to discover the existence, capacity, and characteristics of solid state storage. This information may be provided to a user or storage management process which may use the information to configure the solid state storage. When appropriate, bus bandwidth to the solid state storage as well as bandwidth to memory components of the solid state storage may be configured. Configuration and re-configuration may be performed automatically according to one or more policies maintained locally or remotely. |
| US08447915B2 |
Flash memory device for allocating physical blocks to logical blocks based on an erase count
A controller in a flash memory device manages erase count of each physical block and manages the erase frequency of each logical block. The controller allocates a logical block whose erase frequency is high to one or more physical blocks whose erase count is low. |
| US08447913B2 |
Method to monitor read/write status of flash memory devices
A method and flash memory device employing the method includes a flash memory device having a logic routine saved on the flash memory being a computer readable medium. The flash memory device generates a plurality of memory inputs and outputs. The logic routine determines a memory input and/or memory output operation, and incrementally counts memory inputs and memory outputs using a counter function of the logic routine. The logic routine determines the total number of the plurality of memory inputs and outputs using the counter function. Additionally, the logic routine generates an alert signal when the total number of the memory inputs and outputs exceeds a predetermined value programmed in the logic routine. |
| US08447910B1 |
Systems and methods for implementing bluetooth over a virtual USB connection
This disclosure involves methods and systems for providing a host with a Bluetooth transceiver by way of a virtual USB connection to a PCI/PCIe bus in which the virtual USB connection is controlled by a modified OHCI. The Bluetooth transceiver is configured to send a status signal when there is data to be transferred to the host. The modified OHCI is configured to activate a list processor upon receipt of the status signal, such that the list processor controls the transfer of the data to be transferred to the host. After delivery of the data to the host, the modified OHCI is configured to inactivate the list processor. Further, the modified OHCI is configured to be compatible with standard USB software resident on the host. |
| US08447906B2 |
Device of SD® type using a single wire protocol
The invention is a portable electronic device comprising a non volatile memory and a memory controller. The portable electronic device comprises a connector having eight pads able to communicate using a protocol of Secure Digital® type. The connector comprises at least one additional pad intended to be linked to an antenna. The additional pad is able to communicate using a protocol of SWP type. |
| US08447905B2 |
Dynamic multi-level cache including resource access fairness scheme
An apparatus for controlling access to a resource includes a shared pipeline configured to communicate with the resource, a plurality of command queues configured to form instructions for the shared pipeline and an arbiter coupled between the shared pipeline and the plurality of command queues configured to grant access to the shared pipeline to a one of the plurality of command queues based on a first priority scheme in a first operating mode. The apparatus also includes interface logic coupled to the arbiter and configured to determine that contention for access to the resource exists among the plurality of command queues and to cause the arbiter to grant access to the shared pipeline based on a second priority scheme in second operating mode. |
| US08447900B1 |
Adaptive multiple FIFO scheme
A first in, first out (FIFO) buffer system includes memory with a plurality of memory blocks. A first FIFO control module generates and assigns a first random sequence to the memory blocks and stores first data in the memory blocks according to the first random sequence. A second FIFO control module generates and assigns a second random sequence to the memory blocks that is different than the first random sequence and stores second data in the memory blocks according to the second random sequence. |
| US08447899B2 |
System, device, method and program for exclusively controlling resources
A device, which has not obtained a resource, can securely obtain a required resource without degradation in response to resource obtainment, and obtains the resource which is exclusively controlled between the device and another device. The device includes: a status detector which detects a status of the other device; a resource obtainer which includes flag information and obtains the resource based on the flag information, the flag information indicating whether the obtainment of the resource is permitted or prohibited; and a determiner which switches the flag information to indicate whether the obtainment is permitted or prohibited, based on the status of the other device detected by the status detector. The resource obtainer is prohibited from obtaining the resource when the flag information indicates that the obtainment is prohibited. |
| US08447897B2 |
Bandwidth control for a direct memory access unit within a data processing system
A method for controlling bandwidth in a direct memory access (DMA) unit of a computer processing system, the method comprising: assigning a DMA job to a selected DMA engine; starting a source timer; and issuing a request to read a next section of data for the DMA job. If a sufficient amount of the data was not obtained, allowing the DMA engine to wait until the source timer reaches a specified value before continuing to read additional data for the DMA job. |
| US08447896B2 |
Memory system having high data transfer efficiency and host controller
According to one embodiment, the host controller includes a register set to issue command, and a direct memory access (DMA) unit and accesses a system memory and a device. First, second, third and fourth descriptors are stored in the system memory. The first descriptor includes a set of a plurality of pointers indicating a plurality of second descriptors. Each of the second descriptors comprises the third descriptor and fourth descriptor. The third descriptor includes a command number, etc. The fourth descriptor includes information indicating addresses and sizes of a plurality of data arranged in the system memory. The DMA unit sets, in the register set, the contents of the third descriptor forming the second descriptor, from the head of the first descriptor as a start point, and transfers data between the system memory and the host controller in accordance with the contents of the fourth descriptor. |
| US08447882B2 |
Software router facilitating network communications between devices utilizing virtual network connections
A method includes communicating, by a first device, a request to a server to engage in communications with a second device; communicating, by the server, the request received from the first device to the second device; communicating, by the second device, acceptance to the server; communicating information associated with a third device to the first device; using a virtual network connection of the first device, establishing network communications with the third device; communicating information associated with the third device to the second device; using a virtual network connection of the second device, establishing network communications with the third device, wherein the third device is configured to act as a switch and provide cross-connect functionality between the first virtual network connection of the first device and the second virtual network connection of the second device. |
| US08447871B1 |
Simplified method for processing multiple connections from the same client
An apparatus is related to connection management for a communications network. A control component receives a data flow requesting a resource from a client, identifies the client, and determines when the data flow is unassociated with a connection to a requested resource. The control component selects a new content server for an unassociated resource request when either the identified client was previously unknown or the identified client has exceeded a maximum number of connections with a previously selected content server. The control component selects the previously selected content server when the identified client has not exceeded the maximum number of connections. A switch component is employed to maintain a connection between the client and the selected content server such that the client receives the requested resource. Utilizing cached connection information for up to “N” connections enhances the speed of connections between the client and the selected content server. |
| US08447869B2 |
Feature set based content communications systems and methods
An exemplary method includes an access device 1) transmitting a profile request signal to a profile management subsystem over a network, the profile request signal representing a request for profile data representative of a feature set corresponding to an additional access device, 2) receiving the profile data from the profile management subsystem in accordance with the profile request signal, 3) storing the profile data within a data store included within the access device, 4) using the stored profile data to display one or more graphics representing the feature set corresponding to the additional access device, and 5) establishing, based on the stored profile data and after the one or more graphics representing the feature set corresponding to the additional access device are displayed, a communications channel between the access device and the additional access device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08447866B2 |
Network nodes that establish sessions using existing connections identified in a central database
Network nodes can add information to a central database that identifies their connections to other network nodes. The central database can thereby serve as a repository of information indicating connections between network nodes. When a first network node needs to establish a session to a second network node, it can interrogate the central database to learn what existing connections, if any, can be used for the session. When existing connections provide more than one available pathway between the first and second network nodes, the first network node may select among the existing connections in response to quality of service values that are provided by the central database for those connections. |
| US08447865B2 |
Optimal source interface selection
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to selecting a source interface with which to establish a connection. In aspects, a profile for each network location a host has seen is maintained in a data store. The profile includes information about the network interfaces available to a source host at the network location. This information indicates, among other things, the reliability of each interface of the source host. Based on the profile, an interface is selected with which to establish a connection. If the interface is unsuccessful in establishing the connection, the interface is de-prioritized and another interface may be selected. |
| US08447864B2 |
Distributed differential store with non-distributed objects and compression-enhancing data-object routing
One embodiment of the present invention provides a distributed, differential electronic-data storage system that includes client computers, component data-storage systems, and a routing component. Client computers direct data objects to component data-storage systems within the distributed, differential electronic-data storage system. Component data-storage systems provide data storage for the distributed, differential electronic-data storage system. The routing component directs data objects, received from the clients computers, through logical bins to component data-storage systems by a compression-enhancing routing method. |
| US08447862B2 |
Global load balancing on a content delivery network
The invention relates to systems and methods of global load balancing in a content delivery network having a plurality of edge servers which may be distributed across multiple geographic locations. According to one aspect of the invention, a global load balancing system includes a first load balancing server for receiving a packet requesting content to be delivered to a client, selecting one of the plurality of edge servers to deliver the requested content to the client, and forwarding the packet across a network connection to a second load balancing server, which forwards the packet to the selected edge server. The selected edge server, in response to receiving the packet, sends across a network connection the requested content with an address for direct delivery to the client, thereby allowing the requested content to be delivered to the client while bypassing a return path through the first load balancing server. |
| US08447860B2 |
Storage area network with target side recognition and routing table upload
A network of data processors for providing access to a resource, such as implemented a Storage Area Network that uses iSCSI and Microsoft MPIO-based network communication protocols. In preferred embodiments, the system or method uses (a) target-side consideration of MPIO disk structures, such as by having iSCSI initiators in from iSCSI targets via an iSCSI session object that is settable by a service action; and/or (b) uploading of routing tables from iSCSI targets to iSCSI initiator(s), such as to a Device Specific Module (DSM). Implementations may also involve, in a preferred embodiment: (1) requesting that the contents of the routing table be provided from the iSCSI target side storage servers to the iSCSI initiators, and using this as one of the factors influencing path selection as performed in the MPIO DSM on the initiator side; and/or (2) transmitting information from the iSCSI initiator to the iSCSI target storage server identifying connections as belonging to the same MPIO disk, and then receiving back from the iSCSI target storage server, information about the connections that should be created, and further then having a connection load balancer on the storage server handle those connections as related connections that need to be assigned each to a different Network Interface (NIC) on the storage servers. |
| US08447858B1 |
System for improving quality of service for wireless LANS
An access point (AP) includes a control module that defines N basic service set identifiers (BSSID's) each corresponding to a class of service and having M service parameters, where N and M are integers greater than one. The AP includes an AP scheduling module that schedules communication between the AP and a plurality of client stations based on the N BSSID's and that determines a quality of service for the communication based on the N BSSID's and the M service parameters. |
| US08447851B1 |
System for monitoring elastic cloud-based computing systems as a service
Provided is a computing-system monitor configured to monitor a plurality of computing-systems each having a plurality of monitored computing-instances. The computing-system monitor may include a plurality of collectors, each collector executed by one of a plurality of monitored computing-instances, wherein the plurality of monitored computing-instances each are part of one of a plurality of separately monitored computing systems, and wherein each of the collectors is operable to output metrics of a corresponding monitored computing-instance executing that collector. The computing-system monitor may also include an analytics platform, the analytics platform having a plurality of analytic computing-instances, the analytics platform being operable to receive metrics output by the plurality of collectors, calculate statistics with the analytic computing-instances based on the received metrics, and output the calculated statistics. |
| US08447846B2 |
Using unique local unicast addresses in a global domain name server by providing a centralized registry
Mechanisms are provided for assigning addresses for use in communications between computing devices. With these mechanisms, a centralized domain name registrar server assigns a unique global identifier to a domain of a site such that the unique global identifier uniquely identifies the domain. The unique global identifier is received in a data processing system from the centralized domain name registrar server. The site is divided into a plurality of sub-domains and a unique sub-domain identifier is assigned to each sub-domain in the site such that the unique sub-domain identifier uniquely identifies a corresponding sub-domain in the site. The global identifier for the domain of the site and the sub-domain identifiers of the sub-domains in the plurality of sub-domains are provided by the data processing system to routers of the site for use in associating addresses with devices of the site. |
| US08447838B2 |
System and method for providing mobile service
A system for providing mobile service comprises an application executing section for executing an application, a component section for transmitting the result of the execution of the application to a mobile terminal on the basis of the operation data in the mobile terminal and allowing the application to be remotely operated in the mobile terminal, an authentication section for authenticating the user, a service management section for storing the configuration file or data file of the application, providing the file to the mobile terminal and regulating the connection with the component section according to the result of the authentication, and an application operation section for receiving and displaying the result of the execution in the application executing section on the mobile terminal, and transmitting the operation data in response to a user operation. |
| US08447836B2 |
Protocol conversion “Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP)”—TCP/IP for communication between SIM and terminal
The services of an HTTP or HTTPS server, being implemented by or running on a first electronic device that is a portable device, are offered to an application running on a second electronic device by exchanging HTTP messages between the first electronic device and the second electronic device over a local communication channel according to the Bearer Independent Protocol. The application running on the second electronic device may use the TCP/IP protocol for exchanging HTTP messages with the server. A gateway is employed on the second electronic device, which manages the local communication channel and performs protocol conversion, Bearer Independent Protocol—TCP/IP, for messages received from the application running on the second electronic device, and protocol conversion, TCP/IP—Bearer Independent Protocol, for messages being sent to the server, where the second electronic device is a terminal hosting the portable device. |
| US08447835B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing data
The present invention relates to accessing data on computer networks, and more particularly to accessing such data via remote terminals. The present invention provides that unsolicited information is received via a first communications network on a communications device. Based on that information, the user can request further information via a second communications network. |
| US08447832B2 |
System and method for providing a web-based operating system
A system and method for providing a web-based operating system is disclosed. A web-based operating system is downloaded from a server to a network-enabled device. The web-based operating system provides a platform from which to run web-based computer applications. Web-based computer applications are downloaded from the server onto the network-enabled device, and executed in conjunction with the web-based operating system. Those portions of the web-based operating system software and web-based computer application software are downloaded to the network-enabled device as needed. A component-based environment for the development and deployment of a web-based operating system and web-based computer applications is also provided. Components are deployed within library files as part of a component-based development model. The web-based operating system downloads those library files needed to execute the web-based computer applications. |
| US08447830B2 |
Pro-active HTTP content delivery
A method and systems for multicasting web content to users is disclosed. According to the invention, the behavior of Internet users is analyzed for determining user profiles. The data accessed by a user are multicast to all the users sharing the same profile. Optionally, information relative to the number of access to the document is provided to the users to whom data are multicast. |
| US08447828B2 |
System and method for hosting images embedded in external websites
A system and method are provided for hosting digital images embedded in an external website, wherein the digital images are modified to include additional content such as advertisements when served to a guest of the external website. In general, a host website including a web server and an image database operates to host digital images for external websites. When the web server associated with the host website receives a request for a digital image embedded within a webpage of the external website, the web server analyzes metadata associated with the digital image to produce selection criteria and selects additional content to add to the digital image based on the selection criteria. The web server then modifies the digital image to include the additional content, thereby generating a modified image, and provides the modified image to the requesting node. |
| US08447827B2 |
Providing local access to managed content
A method for providing local access to managed content is disclosed. The method comprises receiving from a remote host a request to perform an operation with respect to content associated with a set of managed content and obtaining information required to respond to the request. The method further comprises providing in response to the request a content locator usable to perform the requested operation through direct communication with a local content system associated with the remote host. |
| US08447826B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing highly available storage groups
A method and apparatus for providing highly available storage groups are described. In one embodiment, a method for using one or more processors to provide highly available storage groups in memory, comprising updating persistent information associated with at least one mapping between a node and at least one mailbox of a plurality of mailboxes, wherein the node owns the plurality of mailboxes and the persistent information identifies another node as a failover target for the at least one mailbox of the plurality of nodes, accessing at least one storage group that comprises the at least one mailbox, modifying the at least one mapping between the at least one mailbox and the node to bind the at least one mailbox to the other node and coupling the at least one mailbox with the other node. |
| US08447824B2 |
Environment information providing method, video apparatus and video system using the same
An environment information providing method, a video apparatus and a video system using the same are provided. The environment information is generated and inserted in between packets of a video stream. Accordingly, a user can watch the video in an environment similar to the reproduced video. |
| US08447823B2 |
Instant messaging robot to provide product information
Methods and systems to automatically respond to a request for product information are described. In one embodiment, a data collection module may collect product data over a network, identify that the product data is related to a particular product, and store the product data and an association between the product data and the particular product in a database. An instant messaging engine may receive a request for the product data after the product data is stored in the database and an interpreter module may identify, in response to the request, the request to correspond to the particular product and retrieve the product data based on the association between the particular product and the product data. The instant messaging engine may also transmit, using an instant messaging protocol, a response to the request, the response including the product data. |
| US08447816B2 |
Communication terminal, mail push system and method thereof
A communication system, mail push system and method of pushing mail are disclosed. The communication terminal may comprise a parameter acquisition unit for acquiring at least one parameter related to a user usage state; an information transmission unit for transmitting, to a data processing device at a network side, first information including the at least one parameter related to the user usage state, a mail reception unit for receiving a mail from a mail push device at the network side, wherein the mail is pushed by the mail push device according to a mail push indication message which is related to the first information and second information from a second communication terminal, and the second communication terminal is separated from the communication terminal. The communication terminal, the mail push system and the method thereof may automatically select the communication terminal to which the mail is pushed, according to a parameter related to the current user usage state. |
| US08447814B2 |
Remote control using instant messaging
An instant messaging client may operate on a device and enable various forms of control of the device via instant messaging commands. The instant messaging client may connect to an instant messaging service using a user name and having a list of authorized users. The client may be able to sense that a user is on line and initiate a message session with the user. The user may also be able to initiate a session with the device through the instant messaging client and perform a variety of functions through the instant messaging session. |
| US08447813B2 |
Mobile multi-network communications device
A method of operating a Smartphone or other mobile handheld wireless computerized communications device outside of a normal cellular network. The method can be useful for either reducing cellular phone costs, or alternatively when the cellular phone infrastructure is degraded or absent. In such situations, the Smartphone operates in an alternative peer-to-peer wireless network mode, supplemented by optical network links as needed. The method can utilize standard Smartphone functionality such as Bluetooth or WiFi transceivers, light sources, and video cameras, and may be implemented in the form of a standard Smartphone App. The invention may establish a Gnutella-like peer-to-peer networking protocol between nearby Smartphones, and can extend the length of the peer-to-peer network connections by way of longer distance optical links. In alternative embodiments, various Smartphone peripherals can be added to extend the functionality of the peer-to-peer network still further. |
| US08447806B2 |
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. |
| US08447803B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing network traffic processing on a multiprocessor computer
An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU. A preferred embodiment includes a trio of pipelined processors devoted to transmit, receive and utility processing, providing full duplex communication for four Fast Ethernet nodes. |
| US08447793B2 |
Efficient remembered set for region-based garbage collectors
A method for efficiently implementing a remembered set for a region-based garbage collector includes maintaining, for each region in an object heap, a remembered set card list (RSCL). Each card in the RSCL identifies an area in the object heap that includes at least one object that references an object in the region associated with the RSCL. The method further establishes a collection set identifying a subset of regions in the object heap on which to perform partial garbage collection. Prior to performing the partial garbage collection, the method flushes cards from RSCLs associated with the collection set to the card table, globally discards cards that are about to be rebuilt from all RSCLs, and globally cleans the card table. The method then adds cards to the RSCLs for inter-region references discovered while traversing live objects in the collection set. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also disclosed. |
| US08447789B2 |
Systems and methods for creating structured data
A computer system implemented method of creating and using structured data from a textual input, comprising: providing a table for structured data, receiving at least one textual input, dividing at least a portion of the textual input into paragraphs, for each of the paragraphs, creating a profile by extracting predicative phrases from the paragraph, for each of the predicative phrases, extracting a noun from the predicative phrase, for each extracted noun, receiving a textual definition from the dictionary corresponding to the noun, dividing the textual definition for each noun into definition paragraphs, and creating a profile for each definition paragraph by extracting predicative phrases of the definition paragraph, comparing the profile of the definition paragraphs to the profile of the paragraph containing the noun based upon an algorithm for compatibility; and adding the predicative phrase containing the noun into the table for structured data if the algorithm is satisfied. |
| US08447788B2 |
Generating a service-oriented architecture policy based on a context model
A solution for generating a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) policy based on a context model is provided, which generates an application scope of the SOA policy; generates a context model; generates an action list for the context model based on action semantic modules customized by a user; generates a condition part of the SOA policy according to the context module; generates an action part of the SOA policy according to the action list; and combines the condition part and the action part to generate the SOA policy. |
| US08447786B2 |
Language extensions for creating, accessing, querying and updating RDF data
A method for processing a graph structure includes providing a graph as a set of triples, each triple having a subject node, a predicate, and an object node, the predicate defining a relationship between a respective subject node and an object node. One of more triples in the set of triples are processed according to one or more attributes of each triple in the set of triples to permit accessing, querying, creating, and updating resource description framework (RDF) data structures in at least one of a script language and an object oriented language by providing a set of language extensions. |
| US08447783B2 |
Intelligent agent and manager system
A system having an agent manager and a plurality of agents for assisting a user in reaching a conclusion is provided in at least one embodiment. In at least one embodiment, the system is in communication with at least one database housing information to be analyzed by at least one of the agents. Further embodiments include the operation of the system and its interaction with the at least one database. In at least one further embodiment, the method includes the development and publication of the agents. |
| US08447781B2 |
Content-based file system security
A method for enforcing computer-based file system security, the method comprising generating a content-based file system from files in a physical file system, and enforcing a user access right to any aspect of the content-based file system, where the user access right derives from a user access right to a file in the physical file system. |
| US08447776B2 |
Estimating and managing energy consumption for query processing
Techniques are described for estimating and managing energy consumption for query processing. Embodiments of the invention may generally receive a query to be executed and calculate an initial estimated energy consumption value for the received query. If the initial estimated energy consumption value does not exceed a threshold amount of energy, embodiments of the invention may submit the query for execution. Once execution of the query has begun, embodiments of the invention may calculate an updated estimated energy consumption value for the executing query, and if the updated value exceeds the threshold amount of energy, may halt the execution of the query. |
| US08447772B2 |
Energy monetary cost aware query optimization
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of optimizing a query, including determining an execution plan for use in executing the query, based on a monetary cost of the energy needed to execute the query. A query optimization component may determine a plurality of execution plans for the query. The query optimization component may then select one of the plans to use in executing the query based on the monetary cost calculated for the plan. |
| US08447767B2 |
System and method for multimedia information retrieval
A system and method for information retrieval are disclosed. The method includes querying a multimedia collection with a first component of a multimedia query (e.g., a text-based part of the query) to generate first comparison measures between the first component of the query and respective objects in the collection for a first media type (e.g., text). The multimedia collection is queried with a second component of the multimedia query (e.g., an image-based part of the query) to generate second comparison measures between the second component of the query and respective objects in the collection for a second media type (e.g., visual). An aggregated score for each of a set of objects in the collection is computed, based on the first comparison measure and the second comparison measure for the object. This includes applying an aggregating function to the first and second comparison measures in which a first confidence weighting is applied to the first comparison measure and a second confidence weighting is applied to the second comparison measure. The first confidence weighting is independent of the second comparison measure. The second confidence weighting is dependent on the first comparison measure. Information based on the aggregated scores is output. |
| US08447765B1 |
Height based indexing
Embodiments provide a system and method for height based indexing of data. In an embodiment, the present invention parses indexed data by (1) storing a geo-spatial multi-resolution data structure that represents a three dimensional environment, where at least a portion of the three dimensional environment lies within a view frustum; (2) traversing recursively the geo-spatial multi-resolution data structure, where the traversal is based on a range of coordinates that lie within the view frustum; and (3) extracting the indexed data from at least one vertical slice of at least one node of the geo-spatial multi-resolution data structure, where the extracted indexed data is displayed in the view frustum. |
| US08447760B1 |
Generating a related set of documents for an initial set of documents
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying one or more second documents related to one or more first documents. Strength of relationship scores between candidate documents in a group of candidate documents and each first document are determined by aggregating user selection data for users, the user selection data indicating, for each user, whether the user viewed the candidate document during a window of time after the first document is presented to the user on a search results web page in response to a query. An aggregate strength of relationship score is calculated for each candidate document from the strength of relationship scores for the candidate document. Second documents are selected from the candidate documents according to the aggregate strength of relationship scores for the candidate documents. |
| US08447758B1 |
System and method for identifying documents matching a document metaprint
A system and method for identifying documents matching a document metaprint is provided. A search query comprising one or more search terms is received from a user. One or more metadata keywords matching the one more search terms is identified. A metaprint is retrieved for each of the matching metadata keywords. A metaprint query is generated from the retrieved metadata fingerprints. The metaprint query is executed against a corpus of documents. Search results comprising documents matching the metaprint query are obtained. |
| US08447756B2 |
Information-retrieval device based on a collection of folded sheets and corresponding method
The information retrieval devices of the present invention are composed of two dual hierarchical structures, the first structure containing the premises and the second the consequences/prescriptions arising from the premises. According to a variant embodiment, the information is represented by a collection of nested folded sheets not bound to one another.Advantage: reduction of the space or of the paper required for storing the information and reduction of the processing time. |
| US08447754B2 |
Methods and systems for optimizing queries in a multi-tenant store
Methods and systems for optimizing queries in a multi-tenant store are described. In one embodiment, such a method includes retrieving data from a multi-tenant database system having a relational data store and a non-relational data store, receiving a request specifying data to be retrieved, retrieving one or more locations of the data to be retrieved, generating a database query based on the request, in which the database query specifies a plurality of data elements to be retrieved, the plurality of data elements including one or more data elements residing within the non-relational data store and one or more other data elements residing within the relational data store, generating an optimized database query having an optimized query syntax that is distinct from a query syntax of the database query, and executing the optimized database query against the multi-tenant database system to retrieve the data. |
| US08447751B2 |
Navigable website analysis engine
An optimization engine allows website publishers and other network document publishers to view and navigate statistics and scoring methodologies of a search engine. Publishers may thus gain a better understanding of how their website or network document is scored and how to optimize those documents to increase a search engine score. The user is thus able to navigate the network from the perspective of a search engine, viewing webpages, websites, and links in the same way a search engine would analyze them. Upon making changes to a website or network document, publishers may further request on-demand re-crawling of their website or network document to view changes in the score. Alerts may also be activated by a user to notify the user when certain conditions are met. |
| US08447749B2 |
Local results processor for use in a pattern matching accelerator
A pattern matching accelerator (PMA) for assisting software threads to find the presence and location of strings in an input data stream that match a given pattern. The patterns are defined using regular expressions that are compiled into a data structure comprised of rules subsequently processed by the PMA. The patterns to be searched in the input stream are defined by the user as a set of regular expressions. The patterns to be searched are grouped in pattern context sets. The sets of regular expressions which define the pattern context sets are compiled to generate a rules structure used by the PMA hardware. The rules are compiled before search run time and stored in main memory, in rule cache memory within the PMA or a combination thereof. For each input character, the PMA executes the search and returns the search results. |
| US08447748B2 |
Processing digitally hosted volumes
A content specification containing a data structure describing a digital volume to be incorporated into a digital library is received. A digital volume is a digital representation of human-readable content, such as a digitized book. Volume content of the digital volume is obtained based on references in the content specification to the locations of the volume content. The volume content is indexed based at least in part on information in the content specification, including volume metadata such as the title or author of the volume. The content specification includes markup language elements, each element specifying information about the digital volume. A plurality of tags are associated with the markup language elements. A structural tag specifies structural information associated with the digital volume, including the location of a portion of volume content of the digital volume. A metadata tag specifies metadata describing or identifying the digital volume. |
| US08447741B2 |
System and method for providing data driven de-duplication services
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for removing redundant data from a storage system. In one example, a data delineation process delineates data targeted for de-duplication into regions using a plurality of markers. The de-duplication system determines which of these regions should be subject to further de-duplication processing by comparing metadata representing the regions to metadata representing regions of a reference data set. The de-duplication system identifies an area of data that incorporates the regions that should be subject to further de-duplication processing and de-duplicates this area with reference to a corresponding area within the reference data set. |
| US08447740B1 |
Stream locality delta compression
Stream locality delta compression is disclosed. A previous stream indicated locale of data segments is selected. A first data segment is then determined to be similar to a data segment in the stream indicated locale. |
| US08447739B2 |
Systems and methods to create continuous queries via a semantic layer
A system, method, means, and/or computer program code may be provided to facilitate a presentation of information to a user. According to some embodiments, continuous query definition parameters are created by a user via a graphical user interface. Moreover, semantic layer information associated with an event processing engine may be provided. The event processing engine may, for example, receive an event stream from a data source. According to some embodiments, the semantic layer information is defined by a semantic layer designer via a graphical user interface. At least one event processing language statement may be created based on (i) the continuous query definition parameters and (ii) the semantic layer information. The statement may then be provided to the event processing engine so as to establish a continuous query at the event processing engine, the continuous query providing output data based on events in the event stream. According to some embodiments, a continuous meta-query for a complex event processing engine is initially created. When a connection with a business user is subsequently established, a continuous user-query is initiated based on the continuous meta-query. |
| US08447738B1 |
Computer system and method for de-identification of patient and/or individual health and/or medical related information, such as patient micro-data
A computer-implemented method de-identifies data collected for patients. IN at least one embodiment, the method comprises the sequential, non-sequential and/or sequence independent steps of providing information representative of at least one patient, at least one medical characteristic associated with at least one patient thereto, and a geographic area of the at least one patient, and providing at least one organizational structure for organizing medical characteristics. The method also includes associating the at least one organizational structure with at least one geographical area and at least one medical characteristic, and aggregating, in the at least one organizational structure, said information by medical characteristic and the at least one geographic area therein. Various alternative embodiments are additionally disclosed. |
| US08447736B2 |
Grammar compression
Compression of extensive, rule-based grammars used to facilitate search queries is provided herein. Rule-based grammars include a list of rules that each comprise a sequence of token classes. Each token class is a logical grouping of tokens, and each token is a string of characters. A grammar is parsed to identify rules and token classes. Unimportant token classes are identified and sets of unimportant token classes are merged to generated merged token classes. A compressed grammar is generated by substituting the merged token classes into the grammar for corresponding unimportant token classes used to generate the merged token classes. |
| US08447732B2 |
Deduplication in network storage with data residence compliance
Deduplication in a network storage environment includes, for files stored in a network, determining a location constraint status specified by a compliance agreement for each of the files. Location constraint statuses include a location of persistent residency and no residency restriction. Deduplication also includes selecting a file from the files in the network and identifying corresponding redundant files, the selected file and the corresponding redundant files representing a set. Deduplication further includes determining the location constraint status for each of the files in the set. For the files in the set having a location constraint status specifying a location of persistent residency, the deduplication includes retaining a master copy at the respective location of persistent residency, and removing the corresponding redundant files from the network. |
| US08447726B2 |
Performance improvement of a capacity optimized storage system including a determiner
A system for storing data comprises a performance storage unit and a performance segment storage unit. The system further comprises a determiner. The determiner determines whether a requested data is stored in the performance storage unit. The determiner determines whether the requested data is stored in the performance segment storage unit in the event that the requested data is not stored in the performance storage unit. |
| US08447723B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method thereof to generate a content list from content groups
In an information processing apparatus including a first content group, to which an external device including a second content group is connected, a content list is created from a content group in which the first and second content groups have been integrated. Attribute information of the content is acquired in accordance with the type of the content included in the second content group, a control method for the content list is determined based on the acquired attribute information, and the content list is processes in accordance with the determined control method. |
| US08447722B1 |
System and method for data mining and security policy management
A method is provided in one example and includes generating a query for a database for information stored in the database. The information relates to data discovered through a capture system. The method further includes generating an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) element to represent information received from the query. A rule based on the OLAP element is generated and the rule affects data management for one or more documents that satisfy the rule. In more specific embodiments, the method further includes generating a capture rule that defines items the capture system should capture. The method also includes generating a discovery rule that defines objects the capture system should register. In still other embodiments, the method includes developing a policy based on the rule, where the policy identifies how one or more documents are permitted to traverse a network. |
| US08447721B2 |
Interest-driven business intelligence systems and methods of data analysis using interest-driven data pipelines
Interest-driven Business Intelligence (BI) systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In one embodiment of the invention, a data processing system includes raw data storage containing raw data, metadata storage containing metadata that describes the raw data, and an interest-driven data pipeline that is automatically compiled to generate reporting data using the raw data, wherein the interest-driven data pipeline is compiled based upon reporting data requirements automatically derived from at least one report specification defined using the metadata. |
| US08447714B2 |
System for electronic learning synapse with spike-timing dependent plasticity using phase change memory
A system, method and computer program product for producing spike-dependent plasticity in an artificial synapse is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for producing spike-dependent plasticity in an artificial neuron comprises generating a pre-synaptic spiking event in a first neuron when a total integrated input to the first neuron exceeds a first predetermined threshold. A post-synaptic spiking event is generated in a second neuron when a total integrated input to the second neuron exceeds a second predetermined threshold. After the pre-synaptic spiking event, a first pulse is applied to a pre-synaptic node of a synapse having a phase change memory element. After the post-synaptic spiking event, a second varying pulse is applied to a post-synaptic node of the synapse, wherein current through the synapse is a function of the state of the second varying pulse at the time of the first pulse. |
| US08447712B1 |
Invariant object recognition
A system and method of identifying the computing architecture used by the mammalian visual system and to implement it in simulations and software algorithms, and in hardware components, is described. |
| US08447709B2 |
Information terminal and control method for storing image pickup data of a sales floor, and totaling and displaying sales data
According to one embodiment, an information terminal includes a storing unit configured to store image pickup data picked up in time series by an image pickup apparatus that picks up images of a sales floor and sales data obtained by recording sales of a commodity displayed in the sales floor and date and time of registration of the sales; a list display unit configured to list-display videos of a predetermined sales floor in time series at every predetermined time interval on the basis of the image pickup data; a totalizing unit configured to totalize, at the every time interval, list-displayed sales of the commodity of the sales floor on the basis of the sales data; and a sales display unit configured to display the totalized sales of the commodity at the every time interval. |
| US08447708B2 |
Method and apparatus that carries out self-organizing of internal states of a state transition prediction model, and obtains a maximum likelihood sequence
An information processing device includes a model learning unit that carries out learning for self-organization of internal states of a state transition prediction model which is a learning model having internal states, a transition model of the internal states, and an observation model where observed values are generated from the internal states, by using first time series data, wherein the model learning unit learns the observation model of the state transition prediction model after the learning using the first time series data, by fixing the transition model and using second time series data different from the first time series data, thereby obtaining the state transition prediction model having a first observation model where each sample value of the first time series data is observed and a second observation model where each sample value of the second time series data is observed. |
| US08447703B2 |
Product delivery system
A sensor device for detecting product quality conditions is attached to each product to be delivered, and constant monitoring is performed on quality conditions of stock products in a storage room of a delivery center for quality assurance. For products in a storage room of a delivery truck, constant monitoring is also performed on quality conditions thereof in the same manner. If a quality abnormality is found in a product in the storage room, information regarding product sensing items and information regarding the current location of each delivery truck are processed to select a replacement stock product less susceptible to recurrence of a similar quality abnormality at the time of redelivery. |
| US08447702B2 |
Domain appraisal algorithm
Systems and methods of the present invention provide for the spinning and appraisal of a domain name. A list of keywords may be extracted from a domain name entered into a user interface on a client. These keywords may be compared to potential matches in a database and a result set may be compiled and displayed to the user. The client may also display a certified domain name appraisal using a plurality of logical groupings within a domain name appraisal process. This appraisal process may also include a multiplier derived from comparisons of registration statistics for various top level domains. |
| US08447700B2 |
Transaction authorization service
System and method for authorizing transactions, such as payments or money transfers. A source entity may initiate a transaction with a target entity via a first communications channel. In initiating the transaction, the source entity may indicate that the transaction is to be performed through a transaction authorization service. The target entity may send a transaction initiation message to the transaction authorization service. In response to receiving the transaction initiation message, the service may authorize the transaction with the source entity via a second communications channel. To authorize the transaction, the source entity may provide a PIN number or other identifier via the second communications channel. After receiving and validating the response from the source entity, the transaction authorization service may inform the target entity that the transaction is authorized. The target entity may then complete the transaction with the transaction authorization service and the source entity. |
| US08447698B2 |
Communication system, communication method, distribution apparatus, distribution method and terminal apparatus
A communication system includes a terminal having a first storage section for storing a number of pieces of content information, a second storage section for storing a number of pieces of the content information, a storage control section for placing a content ID stored in the second storage section into purchase information for each terminal and stored in the second storage section, an access control section for controlling access to the content information corresponding to the content ID stored in the second storage section, and an accounting setting section for setting an amount of a fee to be imposed on the terminal in response to the purchase information. |
| US08447696B2 |
System and method for handling peripheral connections to mobile devices
Systems and methods for establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral. The mobile device is configured to determine whether to handle user approval of the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral. Through the mobile device, an input mechanism is provided for the user to provide input. The input is used in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral. |
| US08447693B2 |
Methods and systems for routing payment transactions
Methods and systems for routing payment transactions electronically involve interrogating by computer logic each payment transaction received by a payments interface processor to identify a payment destination and a payment source and to determine, according to pre-defined parameters, whether the payment transaction is eligible for processing via an internal payment transaction processor of the financial institution that minimizes processing costs. Eligible payment transactions may be routed, for example, to an internal debit or credit card processor or ACH processor, and ineligible payment transactions may be routed to external card processing networks. |
| US08447692B2 |
Personal financial network
Apparatus and methods for providing a personal financial network service are provided. The method may use an electronic information processing platform. The method may include storing information relating to a first participant account. The method may also include storing information relating to a second participant account. The systems and methods of the invention may further include storing information relating to a group of accounts containing the first participant and the second participant account, wherein first said account and second said account are stored independently of one another. |
| US08447690B2 |
Business and social media system
A business and social media system is provided for establishing communication services between people in different countries. The system includes a core system module, the core system module including a server for maintaining information regarding a client and a means for establishing communications services between a client and another person. The system further includes external modules in communication with the core system module, the modules including a telephony termination module, a telephone module service module, an SMS module, a contact center module, a mobile application module, a web application module, a retail module, a bank module, and the like. |
| US08447689B2 |
Calculating credit worthiness using transactional data
Aspects of the invention provide for the use of transactional data in determining credit and product offerings. Further aspects of the invention provide for generating financial statements and indices using transactional data for use by users and/or financial institutions. The transactional based financial statements and indices may be used for making underwriting and financial planning decisions. |
| US08447688B1 |
Risk-based reference pool capital reducing systems and methods
Embodiments consistent with the present invention provide a credit enhancement structure for risk allocation between parties that minimizes the regulatory capital reserve requirement impact to an institution subject to capital reserve requirement. A subject pool of assets held by the institution, such as a pool of loans, is rated to determine its risk levels. Based on the rated risk levels, a guarantor party agrees to be responsible for a portion of the risk associated with the pool of assets, which may define the maximum risk exposure of the institution holding the asset pool. The risk-rated capital reserve requirements are applied to the asset pool based on the risk level rating and the guarantor's agreed upon risk responsibility such that the institution holds a reduced amount of reserve capital compared to what it would otherwise be required to hold. |
| US08447681B2 |
System and method for administering a destination fund having an associated guarantee
A system is provided for administering a destination fund having a guarantee wrapper. The guarantee provides an income stream for life to one or more investors. The destination fund has a selected mix of equities and fixed income investments to provide for enhanced returns throughout retirement for the investor. The destination fund additionally provides income stream flexibility throughout the lifetime of the investor. Administration of a destination fund having a guarantee wrapper may include initiating a guarantee payment process if a value of the destination fund falls below a threshold. |
| US08447680B2 |
Business transaction facilitation system
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods, systems and computer program products for facilitating a business relationship between a customer and at least one provider. The methods, systems and computer program products allow for a system for conducting business transactions and/or facilitating business relationships wholly electronically via an e-vault system. The e-vault system provides at least one interface for one or more client systems to upload data to and from an storage system via a network. |
| US08447679B2 |
Derivative products
Systems and methods are described for processing and clearing derivatives products with a binary outcome and having a final settlement based on a triggering event. A computer system configured to process and clear derivative products can accept initial and adjusted performance bonds from buyers and sellers, and adjust the market price of the derivative product at intervals. The market price may be adjusted on a mark-to-market basis and through analysis of other information, e.g., the credit rating of a reference entity. As a result of price adjustments, cash flow may be generated between buyers and sellers. The derivative product may pay a predetermined final settlement amount or percentage upon the triggering of a predetermined event. However, upon expiration of the derivative product, the derivative's market price is settled to zero and the agreement is terminated. |
| US08447676B2 |
Billing support in a media exchange network
A system providing billing support for the exchange of media is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may provide for the authorization of and billing for the delivery of media from a media server to local storage for consumption on a television display. The media may be audio, still pictures, video, or data. Other embodiments may provide for the authorization of and billing for the transfer of media from a media peripheral to a media server for media backup or distribution. A media peripheral may be, for example, a digital camera, digital camcorder, personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), multi-media gateway, and MP3 player. An embodiment may support pre-payment, payment at time of use, and post-use billing for the media exchange. In an embodiment of the present invention, the storing or accessing of media may be performed without identifying the user to the media server. |
| US08447673B1 |
Method and system for efficient funding of gift and reward cards
A system and method that delays or eliminates the initial funding of cards having a stored or redemptive value. A database or other data storage device stores card identifying information until such time that an actual request for use of the card is made, or until the system otherwise determines that the card has expired. If the system determines that the card has expired prior to a redemption request, the card will not be funded, thereby allowing the merchant to avoid paying financing charges associated with the funding of the card. If the card is still valid, the applicable purchase value from the consumer's transaction will be subtracted from the card's value. In one embodiment, if the amount of the purchase exceeds the redemptive value of the card, the card may be used without having to fund the card. If there is value left on the card after the transaction, the card may be funded and the remaining value stored for future use. |
| US08447670B1 |
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. |
| US08447656B2 |
Enhanced network based promotional tracking system
A novel communications network tracks and manages Merchant and Affiliate promotional efforts in a seamless, integrated fashion. Operative characteristics include central control over promotional Java-based presentations or similar to be easily applied across a broad network of connected Affiliate sites. The system accomplishes this, in part, by providing a selective API for use in wrapping the promotional links. In accordance with this protocol, these links may be hosted by the Clearinghouse or Merchant, and sourced from a variety of third-party vendors. |
| US08447655B2 |
Data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus capable of transmitting or receiving file data to or from a server, the apparatus comprises a memory which stores file data, a receiver which receives file name data transmitted from the server, a conversion unit which reads from the memory file data which is indicated by the received file name data, and converts the read file data to file data conforming to a format specified by the file name data, and a transmitter which transmits the converted file data to the server. |
| US08447654B1 |
Determination of customer proximity to a register through use of sound and methods thereof
A method is disclosed for determining a customer's proximity to a checkout register at a store. A mobile electronic device with mobile self-checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer's progress through the checkout line. The mobile self-checkout software may present information to the customer according to the customer's position in the checkout line. The type and nature of the information presented to the customer may be changed according to the customer's distance from the checkout terminal as well as how quickly the customer is approaching the terminal. The software may provide detailed data about the shopping and checkout experience. This information may be correlated to customer satisfaction and used identify particular strengths and weaknesses in the shopping experience offered by a store. |
| US08447648B1 |
Method and system for eliciting consumer data by programming content within various media venues to function cooperatively
Disclosed is an interactive venue individuals. At least one database stores trait information, preference information, and identification information that includes visual and/or audio information. The database also stores advertiser information that includes information representing at least one of goods and services of one or more advertisers. Video media is provided that features at least one participant. The participant is at least one of the plurality of persons. Further, a web site is provided that shows at least part of the video media and at least some of the electronic advertiser information. Some of the electronic advertiser information corresponds to at least one selected from the group consisting of the at least one participant and at least one user of the web site. |
| US08447647B2 |
Discount payment method and system using a temporary card number
Disclosed is a method and system for making payment with discounted prices using temporary card numbers and temporary card number issue information including at least the discount location selected by a user, discount medium and payment medium. The user's mobile terminal transmits the temporary card number issue information to a temporary card number issue device for generating a temporary card number with the temporary card number information and transmitting the selected temporary card number to the mobile terminal for transmitting the generated temporary card number and temporary card number issue information to a credit authorization terminal (CAT) to request transaction authorization to approve payment of the transacted price less a calculated discount based on the temporary card issue information subject to the proviso that the payment authorization is requested within a predetermined time following the issuance of the temporary card as the temporary card is voided. |
| US08447645B2 |
System and method for dynamic product pricing
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for dynamic product pricing. According to one embodiment, sale characteristics for a plurality of products are stored in a database. A user places a sale order including information associated with a product to be listed on a website, and a market price for the product is calculated based on the stored sale characteristics of the product. The sales characteristics include a queue of current list prices of the product as well as recent sale prices, with the queue having the number of the product available for sale at each different price. A suggested list price is displayed to the seller based on the market price. The seller is provided with a means for adjusting the suggested list price or listing the product at the suggested list price. |
| US08447644B2 |
Supply chain demand satisfaction
Systems and methods for supply chain management and identification of feasible plans. Identification of feasible plans includes collecting demands for one or more items having the same level code; and for each of the collected demands, determining a first demand shortage quantity, searching the data storage for available unallocated supply responsive to the first demand shortage quantity, determining a second demand shortage quantity, and creating supply, the creation of supply being responsive to the second demand shortage quantity and the creation of supply including satisfying a dependent demand at a higher level code. Satisfying a dependent demand at a higher level code may include using the system recursively. Using the system recursively may include incrementing a current level code. Satisfying a dependent demand at a higher level code may include performing a feasible plan search relating to items assigned the higher level code. |
| US08447630B2 |
Systems and methods for managing permissions for information ownership in the cloud
The present invention relates to a central (root) directory and the synchronization of unique identifiers associated with a payment addresses and permission preferences at different institutions. In a preferred embodiment, each unique identifier associates an account owner's permissions preference for the release of personal identifying information without the need for transaction-by-transaction explicit permissions or blanket implicit permissions. An asset transfer deposit account (for information and/or monetary assets) may be set up as a deposit only account. In this way, the present invention can be effective in eliminating many privacy concerns of account owners and security requirements of an information asset repository. |
| US08447625B2 |
Systems and methods for technical support sessions
Systems and methods for providing technical support sessions to aid clinicians and other end users employing clinical applications are provided. In accordance with one method in a clinical computing environment for requesting a technical support session between a client device and at least one support device, a command to request the technical support session is received. Clinical context information associated with the client device is accessed. A request for the technical support session is communicated. In addition, the clinical context information associated with the client device is communicated. |
| US08447623B2 |
Systems and methods to provide a product to a customer before a final transaction term value is established
A method for selling a product which allows a customer to comparison search for, and obtain as a part of a purchase transaction, the competitive terms for a product following product acquisition. The method includes conveying the product to the customer prior to at least one transaction term of the sale being finalized, determining a final value of the transaction term, and completing the sale using the final value of the transaction term as a term of the sale. |
| US08447617B2 |
Method and system for speech bandwidth extension
There is provided a method or a device for extending a bandwidth of a first band speech signal to generate a second band speech signal wider than the first band speech signal and including the first band speech signal. The method comprises receiving a segment of the first band speech signal having a low cut off frequency and a high cut off frequency; determining the high cut off frequency of the segment; determining whether the segment is voiced or unvoiced; if the segment is voiced, applying a first bandwidth extension function to the segment to generate a first bandwidth extension in high frequencies; if the segment is unvoiced, applying a second bandwidth extension function to the segment to generate a second bandwidth extension in the high frequencies; using the first bandwidth extension and the second bandwidth extension to extend the first band speech signal beyond the high cut off frequency. |
| US08447616B2 |
Systems and methods for managing multiple grammars in a speech recognition system
Systems and methods are described for a speech system that manages multiple grammars from one or more speech-enabled applications. The speech system includes a speech server that supports different grammars and different types of grammars by exposing several methods to the speech-enabled applications. The speech server supports static grammars that do not change and dynamic grammars that may change after a commit. The speech server provides persistence by supporting persistent grammars that enable a user to issue a command to an application even when the application is not loaded. In such a circumstance, the application is automatically launched and the command is processed. The speech server may enable or disable a grammar in order to limit confusion between grammars. Global and yielding grammars are also supported by the speech server. Global grammars are always active (e.g., “call 9-1-1”) while yielding grammars may be deactivated when an interaction whose grammar requires priority is active. |
| US08447613B2 |
Robot and server with optimized message decoding
A method for optimizing message transmission and decoding comprises: reading data from a memory of an originating device, the data comprising information regarding the originating device; encoding the data by converting the data to a subset of words having a ranked recognition accuracy higher than the remainder of words; transmitting the encoded data from the originating device to a receiving system audibly as words via a telephone connection; utilizing a voice recognition software to recognize the words; decoding the words back to the data; and taking a predetermined action based on the data. |
| US08447608B1 |
Custom language models for audio content
This specification describes technologies relating to generating custom language models for audio content. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method is provided that includes the actions of receiving a collection of source texts; identifying a type from a collection of types for each source text, each source text being associated with a particular type; generating, for each identified type, a type-specific language model using the source texts associated with the respective type; and storing the language models. |
| US08447604B1 |
Method and apparatus for processing scripts and related data
Provided in some embodiments is a method including receiving ordered script words are indicative of dialogue words to be spoken, receiving audio data corresponding to at least a portion of the dialogue words to be spoken and including timecodes associated with dialogue words, generating a matrix of the ordered script words versus the dialogue words, aligning the matrix to determine hard alignment points that include matching consecutive sequences of ordered script words with corresponding sequences of dialogue words, partitioning the matrix of ordered script words into sub-matrices bounded by adjacent hard-alignment points and including corresponding sub-sets the script and dialogue words between the hard-alignment points, and aligning each of the sub-matrices. The alignment of the sub-matrices including: matching script and dialogue words of the sub-subsets, assigning timecodes for matched ordered script words, and interpolating timecodes for the unmatched script words based on the timecodes of the matched script words. |
| US08447603B2 |
Rating speech naturalness of speech utterances based on a plurality of human testers
A method that includes: generating an utterance-specific scoring model for each one of a plurality of obtained speech utterances, each scoring model usable to estimate a level of speech naturalness for a respective one of the obtained speech utterances; presenting a plurality of human-testers with some of the obtained speech utterances; receiving, for each presented speech utterance, a plurality of human tester generated speech utterances being at least one human repetition of the presented speech utterance; updating the scoring model for each presented speech utterance, based on respective human-tester generated speech utterances; and obtaining a speech naturalness score for each presented speech utterance by respectively applying the updated utterance-specific scoring model to each presented speech utterance. |
| US08447602B2 |
System for speech recognition and correction, correction device and method for creating a lexicon of alternatives
In a speech recognition and correction system which comprises at least one speech recognition device (1) to which a spoken text (GT) can be fed, it being possible for said spoken text to be transcribe into a recognized text (ET), and a correction device (3) for correcting the text (ET) recognized by the at least one speech recognition device (1), said correction device being connected to the at least one speech recognition device (1) via a data network (2) for the transmission of the recognized text (ET) and where appropriate of the spoken text (GT), the correction device (3) has a lexicon of alternatives (23) which contains word parts, words and word sequences that can be displayed (22) by the correction device (3) as alternatives to individual word parts, words and word sequences of the recognized text. |
| US08447599B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating, updating and distributing speech recognition models
Techniques for generating, distributing, and using speech recognition models are described. A shared speech processing facility is used to support speech recognition for a wide variety of devices with limited capabilities including business computer systems, personal data assistants, etc., which are coupled to the speech processing facility via a communications channel, e.g., the Internet. Devices with audio capture capability record and transmit to the speech processing facility, via the Internet, digitized speech and receive speech processing services, e.g., speech recognition model generation and/or speech recognition services, in response. The Internet is used to return speech recognition models and/or information identifying recognized words or phrases. Thus, the speech processing facility can be used to provide speech recognition capabilities to devices without such capabilities and/or to augment a device's speech processing capability. Voice dialing, telephone control and/or other services are provided by the speech processing facility in response to speech recognition results. |
| US08447595B2 |
Echo-related decisions on automatic gain control of uplink speech signal in a communications device
A method for performing a call between a near-end user and a far-end user, which includes the following operations performed during the call by the near-end user's communications device. Automatic gain control (AGC) is performed to update a gain applied to an uplink speech signal. A frame is detected in a downlink signal that contains speech; in response, the updating of the gain is frozen. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08447594B2 |
Multicodebook source-dependent coding and decoding
A method for coding data, includes: grouping data into frames; classifying the frames into classes; for each class, transforming the frames belonging to the class into filter parameter vectors, which are extracted from the frames by applying a first mathematical transformation; for each class, computing a filter codebook based on the filter parameter vectors belonging to the class; segmenting each frame into subframes; for each class, transforming the subframes belonging to the class into source parameter vectors, which are extracted from the subframes by applying a second mathematical transformation based on the filter codebook computed for the corresponding class; for each class, computing a source codebook based on the source parameter vectors belonging to the class; and coding the data based on the computed filter and source codebooks. |
| US08447593B2 |
Method for speech coding, method for speech decoding and their apparatuses
A high quality speech is reproduced with a small data amount in speech coding and decoding for performing compression coding and decoding of a speech signal to a digital signal. In speech coding method according to a code-excited linear prediction (CELP) speech coding, a noise level of a speech in a concerning coding period is evaluated by using a code or coding result of at least one of spectrum information, power information, and pitch information, and various excitation codebooks are used based on an evaluation result. |
| US08447590B2 |
Voice emitting and collecting device
A voice emitting and collecting device that is capable of picking up/outputting a voice emitted from a talker at a high S/N ratio by eliminating the influence of a diffracting voice despite a simple configuration is provided. A signal differencing circuit 191 outputs difference signals MS1 to MS4 between voice collecting beam signals MB11 to MB14 and voice collecting beam signals MB21 to MB24. A level comparator 195 selects the difference signal having a maximum level. A signal selecting circuit 196 selects voice collecting beam signals MB1x, MB2x of the difference signal MS that is selected/pointed by the level comparator 195. A subtracter 199 subtracts the voice collecting beam signal MB2x from the voice collecting beam signal MB1x, and output a resultant signal. Accordingly, main components of the diffracting voice can be removed from the voice collecting beam signal. |
| US08447588B2 |
Region-matching transducers for natural language processing
Computer methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture therefor, are disclosed for developing a region-matching transducer for marking language data having delimited strings. The region-matching transducer defines one or more patterns of one or more sequences of delimited strings, with at least one of the patterns defined in the region-matching transducer having an arrangement of a plurality of class-matching networks. The plurality of class-matching networks defines a combination of two or more entity classes from one or both of part-of-speech classes and application-specific classes. The region-matching transducer has, for each of the one or more patterns, an arc that leads from a penultimate state with a transition label that identifies the entity class of the pattern, and shares states between patterns leading to a penultimate state when segments of delimited strings making up two or more patterns overlap. |
| US08447585B2 |
System and method for characterizing, synthesizing, and/or canceling out acoustic signals from inanimate sound sources
A system and method for characterizing, synthesizing, and/or canceling out acoustic signals from inanimate sound sources is disclosed. Propagating wave electromagnetic sensors monitor excitation sources in sound producing systems, such as machines, musical instruments, and various other structures. Acoustical output from these sound producing systems is also monitored. From such information, a transfer function characterizing the sound producing system is generated. From the transfer function, acoustical output from the sound producing system may be synthesized or canceled. The methods disclosed enable accurate calculation of matched transfer functions relating specific excitations to specific acoustical outputs. Knowledge of such signals and functions can be used to effect various sound replication, sound source identification, and sound cancellation applications. |
| US08447583B2 |
Self initialized host cell spatially aware emulation of a computer instruction set
A plurality of Guest cells of Guest instructions are provided with corresponding Host cells for emulating Guest instructions, each Guest instruction having a Guest cell corresponding to a Host cell. Each of the Host cells are initialized with an initialization routine for discovering a corresponding semantic routine for emulating the Guest instruction. When an instruction is to be emulated for the first time, the initialization routine patches itself with the discovered semantic routine such that subsequent emulation of the Guest instruction can be directly performed. |
| US08447577B2 |
Steam-using facility simulation system and method for searching approach for improving steam-using facility
A steam-using facility simulation system for efficiently searching for an approach for improving a steam-using facility that is effective in overall improvement of a steam-using facility and a method for searching for an approach for improving a steam-using facility are provided. The system includes storage means configured to store steam usage state information of the steam-using facility; input means to which facility improving approach information of the steam-using facility is input; simulating means configured to compute predicted steam usage state information of the steam-using facility after implementation of the improving approach based on the steam usage state information of the steam-using facility stored in the storage means and the facility improving approach information input to the input means; and output means configured to output the predicted steam usage state information of the steam-using facility computed by the simulating means. |
| US08447575B2 |
Computer system method for determining an earthquake impact
For determining an impact index which indicates the image or damage caused by an earthquake to a portfolio, an equation is stored for calculating a local earthquake intensity for a geographical location. The portfolio includes geographical locations and individual weighting factors assigned to the geographical locations. Furthermore, for the geographical locations stored are one or more impact ratio tables including impact ratios for different earthquake intensity levels. The impact index is calculated for the geographical locations by determining in each case the impact ratio for the local intensity at the respective geographical location, and adding up the impact ratios weighted in each case by the weighting factor assigned to the respective geographical location. An impact index that reflects the geographical distribution of the portfolio can be determined, without the need for a network of seismological measurement stations associated with the geographical locations. |
| US08447574B2 |
Method for simulating transient heat transfer and temperature distribution of aluminum castings during water quenching
The invention relates to a method for estimating heat transfer during water quench of an aluminum part. The method includes: estimating the heat transfer of the aluminum part when a temperature of the part is greater than 500° C. using q=α(ΔT) (1); estimating the heat transfer of the aluminum part when the temperature of the part is greater than T2 and less than 500° C. using q=k1ΔTk2 (4); estimating the heat transfer of the aluminum part when the temperature of the part is greater than T1 and less than T2 using a critical point function equation selected from: q = q max - q 0 ( T metal - T max T 2 - T 1 ) 2 , ( 3 ) q n = a 0 + a 1 Δ T + a 2 Δ T 2 + a 3 Δ T 3 + … + a n Δ T n , ( 6 ) q = q max - ( 1 - 4 ( ( 1 - φ ) ( T metal - T max T 2 - T 1 ) 2 ) , ( 7 ) q = q max - ( 1 - ( T metal - T max T 2 - T 1 ) 2 ) , or ( 8 ) q ( T 1 ) = q ( T 2 ) = φ q max ; ( 9 ) estimating the heat transfer of the aluminum part when the temperature of the part is less than T1 using q=c1ΔTc2 (5). Systems, methods, and articles to predict transient heat transfer, or temperature distribution, or both of a quenched aluminum casting are also described. |
| US08447571B2 |
Trimming of operative parameters in electronic devices based on corrections mappings
An embodiment of an electronic device having a plurality of operative parameters is provided. The electronic device includes means for applying a plurality of trimming actions to each parameter for causing a corresponding correction of the parameter, for at least one reference parameter, means for measuring the reference parameter responsive to the application of at least part of the trimming actions, and means for forcing the application of the selected trimming action for the reference parameter. For each non-reference parameter different from the at least one reference parameter, the electronic device includes means for selecting one of the trimming actions for the non-reference parameter corresponding to the selected trimming action for the at least one reference parameter, and means for forcing the application of the selected trimming action for each non-reference parameter. |
| US08447568B2 |
System and method for analyzing and reporting machine operating parameters
A system and method for analyzing and providing exception-based reports for machine data. The machine data is relayed to a remote system for automated analysis based on tests and parameters defined by an owner. If any exceptions are detected in the data based on the operator-defined input, output is generated. The output may take the form of exception-based printed or electronic reports, or the exception information may be relayed to a hand held device, preferably maintained by service personnel at the work site. |
| US08447561B2 |
Shape measurement method of synthetically combining partial measurements
Coordinate transformation parameters are adopted at the time of synthetically combining partial measurement data so as to eliminate the setting error that can get in when a workpiece is set in position on a measuring machine. Then, a shape parameter is adopted to estimate the approximate error shape of the entire workpiece and the approximate error shape is removed from the measurement data. As a result, the residuals are reduced if the measurement data are those of three-dimensional sequences of points. Differences are small when small residuals are compared so that the mismatch is reduced. According to the present invention, the entire measurement data can be synthetically combined without using the conventional concept of overlap. |
| US08447560B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying the absolute rotation of a rotating imaging system
A rotating imaging system has a rotating portion, an idler, at least one sensor, a tilt sensor and a processor. The rotating portion has a diameter and rotates about a central axis. The idler rotates about an axis parallel to the central axis, and has a second diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the rotating portion. The rotating portion and the idler engage with each other such that both rotate simultaneously. The at least one sensor detects flags on the idler as the idler rotates. The tilt sensor is mounted to the rotating portion and determines a rotation angle of the rotating portion within a range of one revolution, and the processor determines an absolute rotation of the rotating portion based on at least a signal from the at least one sensor and the rotation angle determined by the tilt sensor. |
| US08447556B2 |
Circuits and methods for generating a self-test of a magnetic field sensor
A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation. |
| US08447553B1 |
Expert system reliability assistance for electronics
Methods and systems using one or more expert systems to increase electronic device reliability. One embodiment is a method to screen an electronic device by one or more expert systems to detect a potential failure of the electronic device, selectively testing the electronic device when the screening indicates a potential failure, and providing one or more outputs if the selective testing of the electronic device indicates a failure. A second embodiment is a system to screen an electronic device by one or more expert systems to detect a potential failure, selectively testing the electronic device when the screening indicates a potential failure and providing one or more outputs if the selective testing of the electronic device indicates the failure. |
| US08447551B1 |
Hard drive assembly tool calibration verification
An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body and a gripper mount slidably mounted to the body with a first actuator. The first actuator is configured to slide the gripper mount from a first position to a second position along an axis. The assembly tool also comprises a gripper assembly slidably mounted to the gripper mount with a second actuator. The second actuator is configured to facilitate displacement of the gripper assembly with respect to the gripper mount along the axis. The assembly tool also comprises an encoder configured to indicate a displacement distance between an expected position and an actual position of the gripper assembly with respect to the gripper mount along the axis when the gripper mount is in the second position. |
| US08447546B2 |
Measurement of Fourier coefficients using integrating photometric detector
Provided is a measurement method of Fourier coefficients using an integrating photometric detector, wherein, when measuring an exposure (Sj) with a predetermined time interval during a predetermined time period using an integrating photometric detector with respect to light of which amplitude varies with the time period, normalized Fourier coefficients (α′2n, β′2n) for a waveform of an intensity of the light is determined by carrying out a discrete Fourier transform with respect to an equation for the measured exposure (Sj). |
| US08447544B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting state of charge of battery
A method for detecting a state of charge (SOC) of a battery is disclosed. The method includes inputting a pulse to the battery for receiving a response curve of the battery associated with the pulse inputted to the battery, determining a set of parameters for preparing a simulated curve, comparing a difference between the response curve and the simulated curve, determining whether the difference between the simulated curve and the response curve is less than a predetermined threshold before further utilizing the parameters to determine the SOC from a corresponding relationship. |
| US08447539B2 |
Electromagnetic field distribution measurement apparatus
An electromagnetic field distribution measurement apparatus (10) according to the present invention includes: an electromagnetic field probe (20) for measuring an electromagnetic field distribution; a scan apparatus (30) for scanning the vicinity of a wiring (120) with the electromagnetic field probe (20); and a data processing apparatus (50) for calculating the offset value (ΔXd) of the coordinate of the electromagnetic field probe (20) from the coordinate of the wiring (120). The data processing apparatus (50) extracts a characteristic point (E1 to E3) of the measured electromagnetic field distribution and calculates the offset value (ΔXd) based on the coordinates of the extracted characteristic point (E1 to E3). |
| US08447537B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining the permeability and diffusivity of a porous solid
An apparatus for measuring the permeability and diffusivity of a porous solid includes a device for measuring permeability of the solid; a device for measuring diffusivity of the solid; a sample chamber for holding a sample of the solid, the arrangement being such that the permeability and diffusivity can be measured without removing the sample from the sample chamber. |
| US08447532B1 |
Metallic constructions integrity assessment and maintenance planning method
A method for metallic structure maintenance is disclosed. The method includes a magneto-graphic/Magnetic Tomography technique to identify stress-related defects. The method is specifically optimized for extended, non-accessible underground and underwater metallic structures in providing quality control, emergency alarms as well as timeline planning for structural repairs and maintenance work. Examples of the method implementation include pipes for oil and gas industry, detection of flaws in rolled products in metallurgical industry, welding quality of heavy duty equipment such as ships reservoirs, etc. It is especially important for loaded constructions, such as pressured pipes, infrastructure maintenance, nuclear power plant monitoring, bridges, corrosion prevention and environment protection. |
| US08447524B2 |
Method for geophysical and geological interpretation of seismic volumes using chronological panning
A computer-implemented method is provided for searching and analyzing a seismic data volume acquired in a seismic survey to determine potential for hydrocarbon accumulations in an associated subsurface region. Surfaces describing the seismic data volume are obtained. The surfaces are enumerated. At least one enumerated surface is selected. The at least one selected surface is augmented when the selected surface does not substantially cover an area associated with the seismic data volume. The augmenting is performed until all selected surfaces substantially cover the area. The at least one selected surface is displayed, with geologic or geophysical data associated therewith, for visual inspection or interpretation, or saving digital representations thereof to computer memory or data storage. |
| US08447523B2 |
High speed data transfer for measuring lithology and monitoring drilling operations
A system for determining at least one of a lithology of a formation traversed by a borehole and an operational condition of a component of a drill string disposed in the borehole is disclosed. The system includes a drill string with a high speed wired pipe telemetry system for transmitting downhole measurements made by a sensor to a computer processing system in real time. The computer processing system is external to the drill string and includes a model that models operation of the drill string and/or a formation that is being drilled. The model receives the downhole measurements and surface measurements of a drilling parameter and provides as output detection of the lithology of the formation and/or the operational condition of the component. |
| US08447522B2 |
Method for estimating the probability of collision between wells
A method for drilling a well, the method including: identifying another well proximate to the well being drilled; collecting spatial information for at least a portion of the another well and the well being drilled; estimating a trajectory for at least a portion of the well being drilled and the another well; estimating an uncertainty in spatial information for each trajectory; estimating a probability of a collision with the another well during the drilling of the well by integrating a probability density function using the uncertainties and the trajectories; and performing the drilling in a manner that limits the probability of collision. A system and another method are provided. |
| US08447511B2 |
Method for controlling a hybrid vehicle and hybrid vehicle
A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having at least two propulsion engines. According to the specification of an operating controller, propulsion is provided via the first propulsion engine, in particular an internal combustion engine, and/or the second propulsion engine, in particular an electric motor. The percentage contribution of the propulsion of the second propulsion engine is controlled as a function of the data pertaining to the travel route communicated to the operating controller, taking into account a charge state of an energy accumulator. An optimized operating strategy is determined by specifying a geographic destination and/or a destination parameter of the operating strategy, the travel route being selected by taking into account the optimized operating strategy when alternate travel routes are available. |
| US08447508B2 |
Stochastic detection of torque converter slip speed and related control
A method for controlling torque converter slip includes operating the torque converter in a controlled slip mode, monitoring slip in the torque converter, statistically analyzing the monitored slip to determine a likely condition of the torque converter, and utilizing the likely condition of the torque converter to control the torque converter slip. |
| US08447507B2 |
Navigation system
A navigation system comprising a receiver module that receives a stream for a broadcast content and a control unit in communication with the receiver module. The control unit determines whether the stream for the broadcast content contains information that matches to a keyword from a stored list of keywords, identifies a landmark that is associated with the keyword, determines whether a position information for the landmark resides with a map area to be displayed by the navigation system according to a detected position for the navigation system, and prompts a map area display of the map area having a landmark display for the landmark that is superimposed within the map area display. |
| US08447506B2 |
Traveling device and its control method
A traveling device 10 includes ground touching detection means to detect a ground touching state in which a ground touching member touches a road surface, and control means to perform inversion control by controlling the driving of a wheel. When a ground touching state of the ground touching member is detected by the ground touching detection means, the control means suspends the inversion control. Further, when the start of braking is detected by the braking detection means and a ground touching state of the ground touching member is detected by the ground touching means, the control means may suspend the inversion control. |
| US08447504B2 |
Vehicle operation diagnostic device, vehicle operation diagnostic method, and computer program
Vehicle operation diagnostic devices, methods, and programs detect an idling stop of a vehicle. The devices, methods, and programs acquire a fuel consumption required for an engine of the vehicle to start, and acquire, if the idling stop is detected, an amount of fuel consumed if idling were to be continued during a period in which the idling stop is performed. The devices, methods, and programs determine whether a fuel consumption reduction effect is obtained based on the engine-start fuel consumption and the fuel consumption if idling were to be continued, and provide guidance based on the determination of whether the fuel consumption reduction effect is obtained. |
| US08447502B2 |
Method and system for pre-ignition control
Methods and systems are provided for mitigating engine pre-ignition based on a feed-forward likelihood of pre-ignition and feedback from a pre-ignition event. In response to an indication of pre-ignition, a cylinder may be enriched while an engine load is limited. The enrichment may be followed by an enleanment to restore exhaust catalyst feed-gas oxygen levels. The mitigating steps may be adjusted based on engine operating conditions, a pre-ignition count, as well as the nature of the pre-ignition. |
| US08447501B2 |
Method for managing the automatic stoppage of an automobile
A method including: a) determining a value representative of temperature of exhaust gases flowing in an exhaust duct of an engine upstream from a turbine; b) comparing the representative value with a predetermined threshold value; c) if the representative value is higher than the threshold value, initiating timing-out of a first time delay during which a) and b) are repeated; d) if the representative value is lower than the threshold value, initiating the timing-out of a second time delay during which a) and b) are repeated; e) if the first time delay has elapsed and the representative value is higher than the threshold value, preventing the automatic stoppage of the engine; f) if the second time delay has elapsed and the representative value is lower than the threshold value, authorizing the automatic stoppage of the engine and resetting the measure of the timing-out of the first time delay. |
| US08447500B2 |
Control method of internal combustion engine
The invention provides a method for preferably controlling an internal combustion engine by precisely estimating a current value of a temperature of an exhaust device of an internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve, an exhaust turbo supercharger and the like, and controlling an affector of a temperature of an exhaust gas on the basis of a difference between a reference value of the exhaust device temperature and the current value of the exhaust device temperature. The method computes a temperature of an exhaust gas on the basis of a rotating speed, a charging efficiency, an ignition timing, an equivalent ratio, an external EGR rate, an exhaust valve opening timing, and a supercharging pressure, estimates a temperature of an exhaust device on the basis of the exhaust gas temperature, an amount of an intake air, a temperature of a fluid around the exhaust device and a flow rate around the exhaust device, and transiently corrects at least one of the ignition timing, the equivalent ratio, the external EGR rate, and the exhaust valve opening timing, on the basis of the estimation value and the reference value. |
| US08447499B2 |
Diesel engine having cams for controlling the intake valves, which have a main lobe and an additional lobe radiused to each other
A supercharged diesel engine is equipped with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for variable actuation of the intake valves of the engine. The cam that controls each intake valve has an additional lobe for causing an additional opening of the intake valve, during the expansion and exhaust strokes, so as to provide an exhaust-gas recirculation directly inside the engine. The aforesaid additional lobe has its descending stretch radiused to the main lobe with a stretch corresponding to a non-zero lift of the valve in such a way that the profile of the lift of the valve has a portion corresponding to a substantially non-zero value of the lift that radiuses the descending stretch of the profile of the additional lift to the ascending stretch of the profile of the main lift. |
| US08447489B2 |
Vehicle driving operation support apparatus/process and inducement control
A vehicle driving operation support apparatus for a vehicle, includes a sensing section to sense a traveling condition of the vehicle including a surrounding condition inclusive of an obstacle around the vehicle, and a control section to calculate a risk potential for the vehicle in accordance with the traveling condition. The control section performs a support control to support the driver in accordance with the risk potential and performs an assist control to produce inducement simulating a condition change (such as a vehicle behavior) attributable to an increase of the risk potential, in accordance with the risk potential. |
| US08447487B2 |
Brake control system
Disclosed is a brake control system including a plurality of control apparatuses using a brake operation amount detection apparatus and one brake operation amount detection apparatus. The brake control system includes: a master-cylinder pressure control apparatus that controls a master-cylinder pressure based on a brake operation amount; a wheel-cylinder pressure control apparatus that controls a wheel-cylinder pressure of each wheel; and a master-cylinder pressure detection apparatus that detects a signal for calculating the master-cylinder pressure, the master-cylinder pressure control apparatus controls the master-cylinder pressure based on a detection result detected by the master-cylinder pressure detection apparatus, and the wheel-cylinder pressure control apparatus controls the wheel-cylinder pressure based on the detection result detected by the master-cylinder pressure detection apparatus. |
| US08447485B2 |
Brake hydraulic pressure controlling apparatus for vehicle
A brake hydraulic pressure controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes a hydraulic pressure block included in a hydraulic pressure unit and including therein a hydraulic circuit, a plurality of electromagnetic valves attached on a surface of the hydraulic pressure block and changing an opening degree of a passage of the hydraulic circuit, and an electronic control unit including an ECU board, which is electrically connected to the electromagnetic valves and on which an electronic control device executing a driving control of each of the electromagnetic valves is provided, and attached on the surface of the hydraulic pressure block so that the ECU board is covered by a case, wherein the ECU board of the electronic control unit is arranged within an area of the surface of the hydraulic pressure block and all of the plurality of the electromagnetic valves are arranged adjacently around the ECU board. |
| US08447475B2 |
Method providing assistance with hill starts
A method providing assistance with hill starts to a vehicle including a power plant connected to the driven wheels by a clutch and an automatic parking brake. The method generates an instruction to store in a memory a characteristic of a gradient which corresponds to a state in which it is estimated that the user and the vehicle are ready to pull away, on the basis of conditions that given physical parameters of the vehicle must satisfy. |
| US08447474B2 |
Exterior airbag deployment techniques
Externally deployed airbag system for a vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags deployable outside of the vehicle, an anticipatory sensor system for assessing the probable severity of an impact involving the vehicle based on data obtained prior to the impact and initiating inflation of the airbag(s) in the event an impact above a threshold severity is assessed, and an inflator coupled to the anticipatory sensor system and the airbag for inflating the airbag when initiated by the anticipatory sensor system. The airbag may be housed in a module mounted along a side of the vehicle, in a side door of the vehicle (both for side impact protection), at a front of the vehicle (for frontal impact protection) or at a rear of the vehicle (for rear impact protection). Also, the externally deployed airbag can be deployed to cushion a pedestrian's impact against the vehicle. |
| US08447473B2 |
Occupant protection apparatus and control method therefor
A vehicular occupant protection apparatus (10) is equipped with a seatbelt (12) including a shoulder belt portion (12A) fitted to a occupant (P) from a shoulder part thereof to a lumbar part thereof, a pretensioner mechanism (24) that is actuated to remove slack in the seatbelt (12), a force limiter mechanism (26) for limiting a restraint load applied to the occupant by the seatbelt (12), an air belt device (44) that supplies an air belt (45) with gas to inflate/deploy the air belt (45) between the occupant (P) and an instrument panel, and a occupant protection ECU (55) that actuates the air belt device (44) such that the air belt (45) starts being supplied with gas upon or after start of actuation of the force limiter mechanism (26) following actuation of the pretensioner mechanism (24) in the event of a head-on collision of a vehicle. |
| US08447459B2 |
Internet-based system for monitoring vehicles
The invention provides a method for monitoring a vehicle that features the steps of: 1) generating a data packet including vehicle data retrieved from the vehicle using a wireless appliance; 2) transmitting the data packet over an airlink with the wireless appliance so that the data packet passes through a network and to a host computer system; 3) processing the data packet with the host computer system to generate a set of data; and 4) displaying the set of data on a web page hosted on the internet. |
| US08447458B2 |
Secondary steering test method
A method to evaluate a secondary steering system including the steps of lowering the first hydraulic fluid pressure, determining the first hydraulic fluid pressure, sensing a second hydraulic fluid pressure, and comparing the first hydraulic fluid pressure to the second hydraulic fluid pressure. The lowering step includes lowering the first hydraulic fluid pressure provided by the primary steering system power source while the vehicle is traveling at a substantially predetermined speed. The sensing step includes sensing the second hydraulic fluid pressure provided by the secondary steering system power source while an operator of the vehicle is steering the vehicle as the vehicle travels at the predetermined speed. The comparing step includes comparing the first hydraulic fluid pressure to the second hydraulic fluid pressure to determine if the second steering system power source provided fluid to steer the ground-engaging device. |
| US08447457B2 |
Method for controlling the air pressure in tires as a function of a driving situation, and device
A method for controlling the air pressure in tires able to be mounted on two powered axles of a motor vehicle, as a function of a driving situation, an engine torque being distributable to the two axles by a distributor clutch, and a plurality of input values being converted in a processing unit into an air pressure value describing the air pressure in each tire, a clutch friction value, which represents the clutch status, being processed into a control value in the processing unit as well. Also, a device which includes means for implementing such a method. |
| US08447456B2 |
Detection of engine intake manifold air-leaks
A method of determining an engine intake air leak may include measuring an air flow rate into an internal combustion engine, comparing the measured air flow rate to a first predetermined air flow limit, calculating an estimated air flow rate into the engine when the measured air flow rate is less than the first predetermined air flow limit, comparing the estimated air flow rate to second and third predetermined air flow limits, and indicating an air leak when the estimated air flow rate is greater than the second predetermined air flow limit and less than the third predetermined air flow limit. |
| US08447453B2 |
Navigation device and navigation system
A navigation device for setting an appropriate navigation route based on a support route while reducing an amount of communicating information, is provided. The navigation server recognizes a departure position and a destination position of a user, and sets a support route connecting the departure position and the destination position, based on communication with the navigation device. The navigation device recognizes multiple links constituting a part of the support route, based on communication with the navigation server. The navigation device sets a navigation route including the links connecting the departure position and the destination position. The navigation device determines whether a deviation between a distance of an adjacent link pairs among the links along the support route and a distance thereof along the navigation route is equal to or less than a threshold value. The navigation route is output via an output device if the determination result is positive. |
| US08447448B2 |
Automated guided vehicle
A vehicle for transporting material along a defined path includes a chassis, a source of electric power mounted on the chassis, a traction system including a traction motor connected to the power source for driving wheels supporting the chassis, a steering system including steering motor connected to the power source for adjusting an angular position of a steerable wheel supporting the chassis, and a controller for adjusting the vehicle's speed and direction by controlling operation of the traction motor and steering motor in response to information regarding the vehicle's location and travel direction relative to the path. |
| US08447441B2 |
Aircraft power management system
A method and associated system for managing power within an aircraft electrical system, the aircraft having a generator driven by a gas turbine engine for the supply of electrical power to the system, wherein the generator and electrical system are connected to a common energy store. The method includes determining predicted electrical energy demands of the system and predicted thrust demands for the gas turbine engine over at least a portion of a flight. A plurality of time periods within at least a portion of the flight are defined and a desired rate of charge of the energy store for each time period is determined based upon the predicted thrust and electrical energy demands over the time period. The rate of charge of the energy store is controlled during the flight in accordance with the determined desired rate of charge for each time period. |
| US08447433B2 |
Elevator door wireless controller
Control systems and methods for operating the doors of an elevator where the control logic is distributed in local car and landing door controllers that communicate wirelessly with one another to eliminate door control signal wiring in the hoistway thereby simplifying installation and diagnostics and affording door motor control that is individualized for each door. |
| US08447428B2 |
Method for editing movements of a robot
The invention relates to a method of editing movements of a robot on the basis of computer equipment able to communicate with the robot, the method comprising steps in which: —a plurality of reference positions of the robot are generated; —at least one time sequence of positions is generated, the time sequence of positions comprising the plurality of reference positions, and transitional movements between two successive reference positions; and the robot is made interdependent with the displacement means included in the computer equipment and causing the displacement of the robot. The robot is a real robot and/or a virtual robot displayed on a screen of the computer equipment. |
| US08447426B2 |
Installation for palleting combined with secure access
An installation includes a machine (2) for packaging products (8) and of a robotic palleting station, both arranged in a same enclosure (1) that is provided with a door (7) that offers access to the palleting station. The installation includes a device which limits the range of movement of the robot (15) in the closed enclosure (1) in order to concentrate the displacements of its gripping head (17) in a restricted space which does not overlap with a safety space, which is defined according to a minimum distance measured from the immaterial barrier located in the enclosure in the vicinity of the door (7). The limiting device includes an electric cam that limits, under the control of the steering control of the robot, the amplitude of the movement of the robot (15) around its main axis and reduces its movement speed. |
| US08447424B2 |
Substrate processing system and group management system
It is intended to provide a substrate processing system and a group management system enabling a more flexible and simplified structure of substrate processing apparatuses. The substrate processing system according to this invention has a plurality of substrate processing apparatuses for processing substrates and the group management system connected to the substrate processing apparatuses, and the group management system includes a structure information memory device (structure management device) for memorizing structure information, a plurality of communication devices (connection management devices) for communicating with at least one of the plural substrate processing apparatuses based on the structure information memorized in the structure information memory device, and an apparatus information storage device (data management device) connected to any of the plural communication devices based on the structure information memorized in the structure information memory device and which stores information relating to the substrate processing apparatus performing communication with the communication device. |
| US08447421B2 |
Traffic-based media selection
Methods and systems for traffic-based media selection are provided. A first media file may be played on a media player. Traffic around the media player is monitored, and various traffic conditions, including speed and density of the traffic, may be detected. A second media file is selected based on a detected traffic condition and provided to the media player. In some embodiments of the present invention, the traffic may occur in a virtual environment. |
| US08447418B2 |
Control system having electronic control units and electronic control unit for the system
A control system has regular ECUs and a recovery ECU. Each regular ECU controls driving of current consumers, respectively, drivable by driving methods and connected through output channels. The recovery ECU has output drivers, respectively, producing driving currents based on the driving methods and channel changing blocks corresponding to the respective driving methods. When receiving information indicating failure of an output channel of one regular ECU, the recovery ECU specifies the driving method of the failed channel, controls the driver of the specified driving method to produce a driving current, and controls the changing block of the specified driving method to select one output channel, through which the current consumer connected with the failed ECU through the failed channel is also connected with the changing unit. The recovery ECU performs substitute driving instead of the failed ECU to supply the current to the consumer. |
| US08447413B2 |
Configuring stimulation therapy using stimulation intensity
Techniques for configuring electrical stimulation therapy utilizing one or more stimulation intensity values are described. In one example, a method includes receiving a stimulation intensity value that corresponds to an equal intensity function; determining a pulse width value and a pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function; and controlling delivery of electrical stimulation pulses with the determined pulse width value and amplitude value to a patient. A stimulation intensity value may correspond to a plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values having substantially the same intensity. For example, the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values may activate a substantially equal volume of tissue when a stimulation pulse with the paired values is delivered. |
| US08447410B2 |
Trans-retinal drug delivery device
Applicant has proposed a combination of the subretinal and epiretinal methods by placing the electronics external to the eye, entering the eye through the pars plana and the piercing the retina (retinotomy) from inside the eye to stimulate subreintally.The present invention is an improved electrode array for subretinal stimulation. A hard polymer such as polyimide is biocompatible and strong for supporting an electrode array and supporting traces in a thin flex circuit array. In the present invention applicant takes advantage of the sharp nature of thin polyimide making a point on the end of the electrode array. This allows the flexible circuit electrode array to be both electrode array and surgical tool to cut the retinal and slide the array under the retina in a single action. |
| US08447405B2 |
Non-regular electrical stimulation patterns for treating neurological disorders
Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue generate stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. Compared to conventional continuous, high rate pulse trains having regular (i.e., constant) inter-pulse intervals, the non-regular (i.e., not constant) pulse patterns or trains that embody features of the invention provide a lower average frequency. |
| US08447398B2 |
Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement methods
A subcutaneous cardiac device includes two electrodes and a stimulator that generates a pulse to the electrodes. The electrodes are implanted between the skin and the rib cage of the patient and are adapted to generate an electric field corresponding to the pulse, the electric field having a substantially uniform voltage gradient as it passes through the heart. The shapes, sizes, positions and structures of the electrodes are selected to optimize the voltage gradient of the electric field, and to minimize the energy dissipated by the electric field outside the heart. More specifically, the electrodes have contact surfaces that contact the patient tissues, said contact surfaces having a total contact area of less than 100 cm2. In one embodiment, one or both electrodes are physically separated from the stimulator. In another embodiment, a unitary housing holds the both electrodes and the stimulator. Sensor circuitry may also include in the stimulator for detecting intrinsic cardiac activity through the same electrodes. |
| US08447395B2 |
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 at particular frequencies with particular filed strengths. 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. |
| US08447394B2 |
Physical conditioning system, device and method
Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulator and a controller. The neural stimulator is adapted to generate a stimulation signal adapted to elicit sympathetic activity at a neural target. The controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator to provide a physical conditioning therapy. The controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator to intermittently elicit sympathetic activity at the neural target. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08447388B2 |
Apparatus and method for biological observation using sound waves and light
A biological observation apparatus according to the present application includes a sound wave radiating unit that radiates a sound wave into an object to be examined in living tissue, a light radiating unit that radiates light into the object, a light interfering unit that makes the light radiated from the light radiating unit interfere with light reflected from an area where the sound wave reaches and radiates interference light, a light detector that detects the interference light radiated from the light interfering unit and outputs an interference signal corresponding to the interference light, and a calculation unit that calculates the amount of frequency modulation of the radiated light based on the interference signal outputted from the light detector and calculates a difference value between the two adjacent amounts of frequency modulation in sequence. |
| US08447387B2 |
Method and apparatus for real-time tumor tracking by detecting annihilation gamma rays from low activity position isotope fiducial markers
Method and apparatus for real-time tracking of a target in a human body. In one embodiment of the invention, positron emission marker may be implanted into a target, the positron emission marker having a low activity positron isotope. In one embodiment, annihilation gamma rays associated with the low activity positron isotope may be detected using a plurality of position-sensitive detectors. In another embodiment, the target may be tracked in real-time based on a position of the positron emission marker. |
| US08447386B2 |
Marker or filler forming fluid
A system for at least partially filling and marking a cavity at a site within a patient's body includes a marker delivery device having a chamber configured to contain a marking substance and having a mechanism configured to expel the marking substance. A quantity of the marking substance is contained within the chamber of the marker delivery device. The marking substance is configured to at least partially fill the cavity and form therein a porous bioabsorbable body. A delivery tube is coupled in fluid communication with the chamber of the marker delivery device. The delivery tube has a distal end with a discharge port through which the marking substance is expelled. A releasable remotely detectable distal tip is coupled to the distal end of the delivery tube and is configured to be released to remain within the porous bioabsorbable body within the cavity upon the formation thereof. |
| US08447381B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a contrast agent injection for magnetic resonance imaging
In a method and magnetic resonance system for controlling a contrast agent injector used with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner of the system, a user interface is displayed at the control panel of the scanner, for configuring the operating parameters of the injector connected to the magnetic resonance imaging scanner and for controlling the injector in accordance with the operating parameters configured on said user interface, from the scanner control panel. |
| US08447379B2 |
Detection, measurement, and imaging of cells such as cancer and other biologic substances using targeted nanoparticles and magnetic properties thereof
The present invention can provide a method of determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of a biological substance, comprising: (a) exposing a sample to a plurality of targeted nanoparticles, where each targeted nanoparticle comprises a paramagnetic nanoparticle conjugated with one or more targeting agents that preferentially bind with the biological substance, under conditions that facilitate binding of the targeting agent to at least one of the one or more biological substances; (b) subjecting the sample to a magnetic field of sufficient strength to induce magnetization of the nanoparticles; (c) measuring a magnetic field of the sample after decreasing the magnetic field applied in step b below a threshold; (d) determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of the one or more biologic substances from the magnetic field measured in step (c). |
| US08447378B2 |
System and method of capturing images
A system and methods for capturing, displaying, and viewing representations of progressions of anatomical structures and associated digital images is disclosed. A processor-based system is used to generate and store digital images of anatomical structures such as teeth of a dental patient. Any one digital image is stored as an image shot within a progression of image shots. The progression of image shots may correspond to a particular region of interest or study being performed by a dental practitioner. The progression of image shots is depicted to the practitioner as a tooth progression chart including pictorial representations of the anatomical structures, in correct anatomical relation to each other, and indicia defining an ordered progression such that the practitioner is able to clearly identify which anatomical structure is associated with a particular image shot. |
| US08447376B2 |
Analyte sensor
Systems and methods of use for continuous analyte measurement of a host's vascular system are provided. In some embodiments, a continuous glucose measurement system includes a vascular access device, a sensor and sensor electronics, the system being configured for insertion into communication with a host's circulatory system. |
| US08447375B2 |
Methods and dressing systems for promoting healing of injured tissue
A dressing system is disclosed which has a sponge and a near infrared spectroscopy sensor positioned adjacent to the sponge for monitoring oxygenation levels of tissue adjacent to the sponge. The dressing system may further include a tube coupled to the sponge for removing fluid from the sponge. The dressing system comprises: a sponge; and a tensioning system coupled to the sponge. The tensioning system further comprises a central longitudinal member coupled to the sponge; and at least one tensioning member coupled to the central longitudinal member. A sequential compression system comprises: an envelope sleeve dressing; and a bladder that is both expandable and retractable. A tissue filler system is also described and includes a plurality of tubes; wherein each of the plurality of tubes further comprises apertures; and a pump coupled to at least one of the tubes which obviates the need for any sponge or wound screen. |
| US08447373B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring a characteristic of a composition reactive to a magnetic field
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a sensor having a pulse oximeter sensor to measure an oxygen saturation level in a liquid, a magnetic source coupled to the pulse oximeter sensor, and a controller to control the pulse oximeter sensor and the magnetic source, and to measure a mechanical effect on the liquid responsive to the magnetic source applying a magnetic field to the liquid. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08447369B2 |
Method and system for recovering from DRX timing de-synchronization in LTE—active
A method for recovering from discontinuous reception (DRX) timing de-synchronization between the UE and the eNB in an LTE_ACTIVE state having the steps of: the eNB detecting DRX timing de-synchronization; transmitting an indicator to a User Equipment (UE) to resume continuous reception; and waiting for an indication from the UE of whether a Continuous Reception Response or Continuous Reception Notification was received. |
| US08447366B2 |
Charging station for mobile devices that allows access to device services
A charging station for mobile devices that allows a user to access mobile device services while a mobile device is contacting a charging pad or is otherwise being charged at the charging station. The charging station includes a charging pad where a mobile device is placed to initiate automatic charging without having to connect the mobile device to a charging cable. The charging station also includes a display and communication components for wirelessly linking the charging station with the mobile device. When the mobile device is within proximity of the charging station, the charging station establishes a connection with the mobile device to allow the services offered by the mobile device to be accessed via the charging station. The display on the charging station may be larger than the display of the mobile device or may be configured with different dimensions than the display on the mobile device. |
| US08447363B2 |
Mobile phone terminal, image display control method, program thereof and program recording medium
Luminance levels of a backlight 3 corresponding to gradations of a display image are registered as reference luminance values to a table 5a, signal levels of a drive signal to an LED driver 4 corresponding to reference luminance values are registered as luminance setting values to a table 6a, and values to correct a drive level of a liquid-crystal panel corresponding to gradations of the display image are registered as gamma correction values to a table 7a. According to the gradation of an image to be displayed, a signal level of the drive signal corresponding to the reference luminance value attained from the table 5a is obtained from the table 6a, to thereby drive the LED driver 4; and an LCD driver 2 is driven by a value obtained through correction by the gamma correction value obtained from the table 7a, to thereby display an image. |
| US08447359B2 |
Electronic transactions
A method of accomplishing a transaction by a user equipment. Transaction information is inserted in at least one data field of an information entity that associates with the transaction based on information available at the user equipment. The information entity is then transmitted from the user equipment over a wireless interface. The insertion may require authorization. The insertion may occur automatically in response to a predefined event. |
| US08447358B2 |
Multi-standby terminal and method of providing tool kit menu thereof
A multi-standby terminal and a method of providing a tool kit menu thereof are provided. The method of providing a tool kit menu of a multi-standby terminal for inserting at least two user identity cards includes: receiving a first tool kit menu list included in a first user identity card; receiving a second tool kit menu list included in a second user identity card; adding an identifier to the second tool kit menu list; and storing the first tool kit menu list and the second tool kit menu list in a storage. |
| US08447350B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for coexistence of plurality of communication technologies in communication device
A method and system for enabling coexistence of a plurality of communication technologies in a communication device is provided. The method includes determining a time offset between a first communication event of a first communication technology of the plurality of communication technologies and a second communication event of a second communication technology of the plurality of communication technologies. The method further includes altering a first communication state of one or more of the first communication technology and the second communication technology to a second communication state based on one or more of the time offset and a plurality of parameters of one or more of the first communication technology and the second communication technology. |
| US08447348B2 |
Configurable antenna structure and applications thereof
A configurable antenna structure includes a plurality of switches, a plurality of antenna components, and a configuration module. The configuration module is operable to configure the plurality of switches and the plurality of antenna components into a first antenna for receiving a MFBMS signal. The configuration module continues processing by identify a signal component of interest of a plurality of signal components of interest within the MFBMS signal. The configuration module continues processing by configuring the plurality of switches and the plurality of antenna components into a second antenna. |
| US08447347B2 |
Transmission of organizational information depending on the direction in a system-wide channel
According to the method for transmission of organizational information to at the least two communication systems in a channel via a radio interface, the channel transmitting in a targeted manner and the transmitted organizational information is chosen depending on the direction of the transmission. |
| US08447346B2 |
SDR terminal and reconfiguration method
A Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-based software-defined radio (SDR) terminal and a reconfiguration method thereof are provided. The SDR terminal includes a software module including first and second hardware modules that are programmable and a memory storing at least one wireless access application; and a software module including a reconfiguration core framework that perform a service mode switch using the wireless access application, wherein, if a service mode switch from a first service mode to a second service mode occurs, the SDR terminal installs a wireless access application corresponding to the second service mode in one of the first and second hardware modules. |
| US08447343B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a mobile telecommunication network
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for assisting a User Equipment (UE) to determine transmit power to be used on a first uplink component carrier y, wherein the base station is configured to communicate with the UE over a plurality of uplink and downlink component carriers x,y. The UE is aware of path loss parameters associated with a second downlink component carrier x. The method in a base station comprises determining cell specific path loss parameters associated with the component carriers of the base station. The cell specific path loss parameters at least comprises path loss parameters associated with the first uplink component carrier y and a second uplink component carrier x which is paired to the second downlink component carrier x, wherein the second uplink component carrier and second downlink component carrier are within one frequency band. The method comprises the further steps of calculating a pathloss offset, deltaPL(y,x), for the first uplink component carrier y, wherein the pathloss offset deltaPL(y,x) is the pathloss power offset for the first uplink component carrier y with respect to the second uplink component carrier x, and sending the calculated pathloss offset, deltaPL(y,x) to the UE. |
| US08447341B2 |
Push-to-talk telecommunications system utilizing a voice-over-IP network
A method and system to provide push-to-talk from one user to another in a wireless packet data telecommunications network is described. The system may include: a wireless communication network including push-to-talk (PTT) functionality, with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Proxy Server; a SIP Registrar and Location Server operable to store contact addresses of active mobile devices; a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP) Media Gateway (PTT Server) operable to function as a call endpoint for each of a plurality of mobile devices wherein the plurality of mobile devices are segmented into membership groups, the PTT Server further operable to multicast a communication from one member of the group to the other members of the group; and an Internet Protocol (IP) network interconnecting the SIP Proxy server, the SIP Registrar and Location Server, and the PTT Server. |
| US08447336B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing link interference by a link between a user equipment component and an access network component
A method and apparatus are described for reducing link interference by a link between a user equipment component and an access network component. The user equipment component and access network component are connected by links over dedicated channels in respective directions, the link channel power in the first direction being controlled by the link channel in the second direction. A component sends in a second direction a link connection release message for a link connection in the first direction, identifies when the link connection in the first direction is released and, when the release is identified, releases the link connection in the second direction. |
| US08447335B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing first delivery attempt service for short message peer-to-peer (SMPP) messages
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a first delivery attempt (FDA) for short message peer-to-peer messages are disclosed. One method includes receiving, in a first network, a short message peer-to-peer protocol (SMPP) message from second communications network external to the first communications network. The SMPP message is converted into a mobile originated SMS message. The method also includes forwarding the mobile originated SMS message to a first delivery attempt (FDA) device, wherein the FDA device converts the mobile originated SMS message into a mobile terminated SMS message. The mobile terminated SMS message is delivered to a device in the local communications network. |
| US08447333B2 |
Selective processing of location-sensitive data streams
A method for processing a first data stream specifying locations of a user at different times and a second data stream specifying values of a monitored attribute at a location of interest at different times includes: receiving a location-centric trigger specifying at least one spatial predicate condition relative to the location of interest and at least one non-spatial predicate condition relevant to the location of interest, calculating a safe region that includes locations whose probability of satisfying the spatial predicate condition falls below a first threshold, calculating a safe value container that includes values whose probability of satisfying the non-spatial predicate condition falls below a second threshold, and processing the first data stream and the second data stream against the location-centric trigger, by considering only those locations that are not contained within the safe region and only those values that are not contained within the safe value container. |
| US08447321B2 |
System and method for locating a wireless local area network
A system and method for finding a wireless local area network, WLAN, when a mobile terminal is connected to a cellular network. A position associated with each WLAN operating within the coverage area of the cellular network is stored in a database. At predefined intervals or conditions, the system determines a current position of the mobile terminal, and determines whether the current position of the mobile terminal is close enough to a stored WLAN position for the mobile terminal to connect to the WLAN corresponding to the stored WLAN position. If so, a notification is sent to the mobile terminal indicating that the mobile terminal is within range of the identified WLAN. The mobile terminal then scans for the identified WLAN. |
| US08447318B1 |
Assigning multiple traffic channels to a wireless communication device based on traffic channel utilization
Multiple traffic channels may be assigned to a wireless communication device (WCD) at the beginning of the call in order to improve initial call quality. However, doing so when traffic channels are scarce can lead to traffic channel overuse. Therefore, methods, devices, and systems for assigning multiple traffic channels to a WCD based on traffic channel utilization are presented. During call establishment, a radio access network (RAN) may assign fewer traffic channels to a WCD when traffic channel utilization is high. On the other hand, the RAN may assign more traffic channels to the WCD when traffic channel utilization is low. |
| US08447315B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating device-to-device communication
An apparatus for providing network assisted local communication offloading to unlicensed bands may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least receiving information indicative of channel conditions associated with primary communication involving at least one primary mobile communication device and a network communication node, and determining, at a secondary mobile communication device, primary communication resources to be utilized for secondary communication by the secondary mobile communication device based on the information indicative of the channel conditions. A corresponding method is also provided. |
| US08447314B2 |
System and method for providing resource management in a network environment
An example method includes receiving data from a femto access point; evaluating resources being used by a macro network in which the femto access point resides; determining whether the femto access point is operating in a constrained bandwidth mode; and reserving particular resources for the femto access point to use for its communications, where the particular resource is allocated from available resources within the macro network. In a more particular embodiment, where those resources refer to spectrum resources, the method includes allocating spectrum resources between femto and macrocellular systems. In other embodiments, the method includes identifying a total throughput associated with the femto access point and one or more macro network cells, where a change in reserving particular frequencies is executed based on determining the total throughput being higher than a current throughput. The data from the femto access point can include path loss data and geolocation data. |