| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08452733B2 |
Data decay management
Embodiments presented herein provide systems and methods for managing data decay. A system is provided for maintaining metadata about data attributes or relationships between data. A data decay engine can read the metadata and perform a decay calculation. The type of decay calculation can be associated with the type of data or be determined from user inputs. The decay engine can provide a score as to the staleness of the data. An update engine can determine specific data attributes that may require updating. The update engine may be able to update the data from external data sources. |
| US08452732B2 |
Identifying modified chunks in a data set for storage
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for identifying modified chunks in a data set for storage. Modifications are received to at least one of the chunks in the data set. A determination is made of at least one range of least one of the chunks including data affected by the modifications determination is made as to whether at least one chunk outside of the at least one range has changed. For each determined at least one chunk outside of the at least one range that has changed, a determination is made of at least one new chunk and a new digest of the at least one new chunk and information is added on the at least one new chunk and information to locate the new chunk in the data set. |
| US08452730B2 |
Archiving method and system
A method of archiving a set of source tables in a database system. Each source table has a plurality of rows. Initially, a consistency point for the set of source tables is established. The database system creates a log record for each change (insert, modify, or delete) effected to a row of the source tables subsequent to the consistency point. Substantially all source table rows are copied to an archive (a data storage object that is external to the database system). Then the accumulated log records for the affected source tables are distilled and appended to the archive. |
| US08452727B2 |
Service for accepting and selectively exposing user-generated lists
An interactive system enables users to generate and submit lists of items (e.g., products) for viewing by other users. The user-generated lists are selectively suggested to users of the system based on their respective behaviors, such as their item viewing activities, searches, and/or item purchases. The system may monitor the behaviors of users who access particular user-generated lists, and based on the monitored behaviors, generate measures of the effectiveness of particular lists (e.g., effectiveness at driving item purchases). The measures of effectiveness may be considered in selecting particular lists to suggest. |
| US08452725B2 |
System and method of ontological subject mapping for knowledge processing applications
The present invention discloses methods, systems, and tools for knowledge processing by building maps of ontological subjects for compositions or the contents accompanying a request for service by a user. In one embodiment of the invention the method assigns and calculates an ontological subject power spectrum to each composition or ontological subject. The resulting power spectrum and the adjacency matrix of the map are used to evaluate the merits of the compositions in the context of reference universes. It is also used as a research guiding tool for knowledge discovery. The invention serves knowledge seekers, knowledge creators, inventors, discoverer, as well as general public by assisting and guiding users to assess their work, identify their unknowns, optimize their research trajectory, and provide higher quality contents. The method and system, thereby, is instrumental in increasing the speed and efficiency of knowledge acquisition, discovery, retrieval, as well as faster learning and problem solving. |
| US08452724B2 |
Techniques for creating reports using cached data
Techniques for generating reports from cached data are provided. When a report is requested, a date and time when data in the report data cache was generated is compared with a date and time when data was collected by each of one or more data collectors that gather data used to generate the report data. If one of the data collectors has collected data since the data for the report in the report data cache has been updated, the data for the requested report will be regenerated from the data collected from each of the data collectors associated with the report and the regenerated data inserted into the report data cache. Subsequent requests for the report can be satisfied by generating the report using the data stored in the report data cache rather than regenerating the report data each time a request for a report is received. |
| US08452722B2 |
Method and system for searching multiple data sources
In a method and system for searching multiple data sources for objects with certain attributes, wherein the data sources potentially have different data formats, the searching is done by first reading the data in the data sources, storing the data, and then searching the stored data. The method and system preferably includes a user interface with a template for displaying data from data sources, for manually supplementing the data, and for defining search criteria. |
| US08452713B2 |
Computerized system and method for matching freight vehicles and loads
A system for matching freight vehicles and loads includes a database receiving location data for various freight vehicles associated with multiple organizations, as well as other vehicle data, such as destination location and times. The database also includes location data from a plurality of loads, as well as other load data, such as origin and destination locations and times. A user operating a computing device receives this data based on organizational permissions. The computing device displays a map on which the various freight vehicles, loads, and associated data may be displayed. As such, the user may quickly and efficiently match available loads to available vehicles or vice-versa. |
| US08452705B2 |
Pre-paid payment instrument processing
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser. |
| US08452703B2 |
Method and system for processing internet payments using the electronic funds transfer network
Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for conducting financial transactions over a payment network. The method may include associating a payment address of an account with an account holder name, the account residing at a financial institution and the associated payment address of the account configured to allow withdrawals by the account holder only and to allow a plurality of deposits to be made at different times. The method further includes freely publishing the payment address and making it available to users of an internet portal or search engine. The method further includes receiving data over a network identifying a deposit to be made to the account, assigning the deposit to the account using the payment address, and notifying the payer of the assignment on a real time basis. At least one directory is used for associating the account holder with the payment address. |
| US08452701B2 |
Methods, devices and bank computers for consumers using communicators to wire funds to sellers and vending machines
Methods for consumers to pay at the point of sale by using a personal communicator to wire transfer funds out of their bank account. The communicator is coupled to, and exchanges signals with a reciprocating communicator of the seller, which in turn is coupled to the seller's bank. This way the money is transferred as an EFT payment code directly from the buyer's bank to the seller's bank, where it may be considered direct deposited, without processing delays. Devices also include vending machines that can receive payment this way. Bank computers are provided with systems and software for enabling the above. The bank computers are accessible by telephone lines, and work with cooperating banks by exchanging signals, for transferring the funds. The seller's bank generates a payment confirmation code that is ultimately transmitted to the seller's satisfaction for releasing the goods at the point of sale. |
| US08452699B2 |
Systems and methods for making structured reference credit decisions
A structured reference credit decision device includes a database configured to store information related to applicants, potential customers, referencers, potential referencers, lenders, and other third parties, a fetch data component coupled with the database, the fetch data component configured to receive input application information, fetch relevant information from the database, based on the application information, related to a subject applicant of the input application information and at least one referencer, and generate a plurality of linked data packages based on the fetched information, and an evaluation device coupled with the fetch data component, the evaluation engine configure to apply credit outcome models to the plurality of linked data packages and generate a recommendation relative to the subject applicant or application. |
| US08452697B2 |
Loan lock options
Computer-implemented options can be negotiated between two parties, addressing a financial term of a transaction, which financial term is subject to change before it becomes a fixed obligation of the parties. Disclosed embodiments implementing the options include a template for associating data indicating a desired price lock with data indicating a customer identity; a data structure; a database recorded on a computer readable medium; a programmed computer system; a self-executing option agreement; a method or machine for establishing a price lock for a future transaction; methods for calculating and hedging risk exposure resulting from accepting a portfolio of such options; and a computer-aided method for producing an asset-backed security backed by a multiplicity of loans. |
| US08452696B1 |
Method and system for the automation of abatement of fine recovery
Municipalities, local authorities and agencies fine property owners for property infractions each year. When these property fines are not collected, they are turned into a lien assessed against the property, which is superior to other liens, title, and claims until paid. These liens are assessed for violations and accumulated on the real estate title. In many cases these liens are never collected, resulting in the loss of revenue to municipalities, local authorities and agencies. The described methodology is a process to improve on the collectability of these liens. Information is analyzed and categorized according to probability of collection. Once the system determines the value of the special assessment lien, upfront funding can be offered to the municipalities, local authorities and agencies. The system manages the debtor information and communications in order for the municipalities, local authorities and agencies to track collection efforts that contribute to the recovery of lost revenues. |
| US08452694B2 |
Fuel offering and purchase management system
The present disclosure is directed to facilitating pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity. In one embodiment, a Fuel Offer Generator facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels. The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. A customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. The Fuel Offer Generator employs a geographical fuel pump location metric as well as consumer purchasing behavior to establish the pricing of fuel offerings. |
| US08452688B1 |
Dynamic demand aggregation
A method and system for dynamic demand aggregation at one or more grouped sites wherein each grouped site includes one or more devices. Within each group, each device is in communication with one of more local controllers which, in turn, are in communication with an aggregator and the demand response repository. The local controller controls and coordinates the operation of the devices based on instructions received from the aggregator. The aggregator dynamically receives information from the demand response repository which is continuously updated with information from the signal handler and the local controllers at the grouped sites. |
| US08452687B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating and monitoring monetary transactions and rewards in a gaming environment
Methods and apparatus for facilitating and monitoring player financial and player tracking/reward transactions, including the tracking of player losses, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one server and a plurality of gaming machines and/or a game generator for transmitting game information to a remote game play location. The server has a memory containing data files corresponding to players. The data files contain information such as credits or monies in an account which belong to the player and which may be used by the player to play games. The data files also contain player tracking information, such as points awarded to a player based upon their game play and/or information regarding player expenditures or deductions, such as amounts wagered by a player. In one embodiment, a player and a casino may manage the player's accounts, such as by placing criteria upon the account(s), tracking a player's gain or loss while playing games, awarding awards such as prizes and credits for free game play or redeemable awards. |
| US08452686B2 |
Method and system for managing interest rate calculations
A data processing method and system for managing interest rate calculations includes a data storage device storing data indicative of an account value of an investment product and a computer configured to determine a current value of an adjustable interest rate, compare the adjustable interest rate to a fixed guaranteed minimum interest rate, and determine whether to apply the adjustable interest rate or the fixed guaranteed minimum interest rate to the investment product account value to determine a value to credit to the account. |
| US08452683B2 |
System and method for making a synthetic cash advance using a purchase payment exchange
System and method provide for making a synthetic cash advance to a credit cardholder via a purchase-payment exchange. A second person selects an item to be purchased by a cardholder for the second person, and in exchange for the cardholder's credit card purchase, the second person pays the cardholder an amount of money that is less than the amount charged to the cardholder's credit card. Using this invention, the second person receives the selected item (or has a payment made) at a discount, and the cardholder is able to transform a credit card purchase into a synthetic cash advance at the credit card's purchase interest rate. Two or more cardholders may bid in an online auction to complete the second person's financial transaction in exchange for the second person's money. A cardholder who submits a conforming bid, that is willing to accept the least amount of money, may be selected as the auction winner. |
| US08452682B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating non-transparent exchange-traded fund share creations and redemptions with optional early cutoff times
A system, method and computer product for providing risk information and cost estimation tools to traders in exchange-traded fund shares. The disclosed processes develop, calculate, and publish supplemental information using confidential fund data to support trading in exchange-traded funds with portfolios that are not totally transparent and that use portfolio composition files that are not identical to the fund portfolios. The supplementary trading information preserves fund portfolio confidentiality while permitting market makers and other traders in these non-transparent exchange-traded funds to estimate the costs and risks associated with fund creation and redemption transactions of various sizes. |
| US08452681B2 |
System and method for improved rating and modeling of asset backed securities
The present invention provides a computer-based system for evaluating risk in asset backed securities (ABS) comprising: a database containing data associated with an asset pool of an ABS; a computer having a processor for executing software and being adapted to establish a communication link with an external provider of electronic data and to receive a first data set associated with an asset pool of an ABS, the first data set including credit score data related to the asset pool; and a migratory pattern predictive model application executed by the processor and adapted to analyze at least a part of the first data set, including the credit score data, and to determine a rating concerning the relative risk associated with the ABS. |
| US08452679B2 |
Financial statement analyzer
Apparatus, methods and media for providing a supply chain link performance change indicator. The apparatus may include, and the methods and media may involve a processor module, a receiver module and an output device. The processor module may provide to a user a vector selection control. The receiver module may receive financial data corresponding to the supply chain link. The financial data may include a plurality of vectors. The receiver may receive via the vector selection control a first vector identifier corresponding to a first vector in the plurality of vectors and a second vector identifier corresponding to a second vector in the plurality of vectors. The output device may provide to the user a first supply chain link performance change indicator corresponding to the first vector and a second supply chain link performance change indicator corresponding to the second vector. |
| US08452677B1 |
Method for estimating the health of the financial market
An apparatus for assessing and predicting the health of a market comprising: a computer having a memory store; wherein the computer is disposed to receive a data stream comprising information that represents the approximate real-time value of assets; and wherein the computer is disposed to apply a data-windowing, multi-state, time-variant Markov process to transform the data stream into a current assessment of the over-all health of the market and a projected over-all health of the market. |
| US08452670B2 |
Computer-enabled method and system for facilitating veterinary pharmaceutical and other animal-related product catalog customization
A computer-enabled method for efficiently displaying automatically generated, customizable views of a master product item catalog of veterinary pharmaceutical and other animal-related product item records provided by a centralized pharmacy to a large number of veterinarians, veterinary hospitals and customers, the views comprising administrator views, hospital staff views and user views, the views being selectively excludable and modifiable by each hospital administrator via an exception-type customization and hospital manageable database, access to which is provided for each hospital on the central pharmacy's server, each hospital being enabled to provide customers and staff of the hospital access to its customized catalog via point-of-sale and e-commerce points of access over the Internet or other network. |
| US08452669B2 |
Purchase request management system
A method and apparatus for communicating a purchase request to a dealer immediately. A Data Center system has a system database accessible to a plurality of dealers. A potential buyer submits a purchase request over a computer network to the Data Center system. The purchase request may include product identification data and buyer location information. The Data Center system identifies at least one appropriate dealer to receive the purchase request. The Data Center creates a purchase request record from the data and information provided in the purchase request. The Data Center then communicates the purchase request to the appropriate dealer by immediately storing the purchase request record into the system database such that the purchase request is accessible only to the at least one identified dealer. The purchase request becomes available to the at least one identified dealer immediately upon the creation of the purchase request record. |
| US08452665B2 |
Commodity sales system, terminal, and method of controlling the terminal
According to one embodiment, a handy terminal includes an information detecting unit, a storing unit, a declaring unit, a selection receiving unit, an input receiving unit, and a cancellation control unit. The information detecting unit detects commodity information. The storing unit stores sales data in which the numbers of sold items of the commodities are added to the commodity information. The declaring unit declares cancellation of the sales data. The selection receiving unit receives selection of a commodity as a cancellation target. The input receiving unit receives the input of the number of items to be cancelled. The cancellation control unit deducts the number of items, the input of which is received by the input receiving unit, from the number of sold items added to the sales data of the commodity as the cancellation target stored in the storing unit. |
| US08452659B2 |
Method and apparatus for connecting consumers with one or more product or service providers
A method and apparatus that for matching consumers with product or service providers is disclosed. The method may include establishing one or more profiles from one or more product or service providers, establishing one or more profiles from one or more consumers, receiving a consumer's subject matter request, matching the consumer with one or more products or service providers based on at least one of the consumer's profile and subject matter request, and providing the consumer's contact information to the matched one or more products or service providers. |
| US08452657B2 |
User-driven data network communication system and method
A system is disclosed for messaging over a data network, such as the Internet and interactive TV, which allows every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals of which the user is willing to view their messages. The messages are displayed inside the space of the webpage where usually banners are shown. The system may provided benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercial value to him. The disclosed messaging system allows an easy and effective communication path between providers and users any time publicly or privately in the banner area of a web site, which does not occupy additional space on the user's browser, and does not require the user to load another application besides his browser. |
| US08452654B1 |
System and method for issuing rewards to card holders
A system and method for issuing variable level rewards to card holders according to expenditures in transaction categories. Card transactions for a specified period of time are classified by codes and are assigned to one of several transaction categories such as entertainment, travel, dining, sporting goods, and electronics. A total amount of expenditures for each transaction category is determined. The transaction category with the largest value of expenditures is determined. The highest available reward is applied to the total amount of expenditures in the transaction category that has the largest value of expenditures. Consumers may take advantage of a high level or more valuable reward in a multi-level reward structure regardless of their spending habits or patterns because the more valuable reward is applied to the expenditures in the largest expenditure transaction category. |
| US08452649B1 |
Computer-based methods and arrangements for consumer-directed marketing program
Computer-based methods and arrangements are implemented using a variety of embodiments. According to one embodiment, a method is implemented for use with a financial institution's computer-managed marketing program. The method provides participation incentives to associations enrolled in the program based upon the program involvement of the enrolled associations. The financial institution enrolls associations in the program by assigning codes to the associations. The financial institution also enrolls a plurality of individuals having accounts with the financial institution in the program by associating each of the account numbers with one of the assigned codes. The assigned codes identify each of the plurality of individuals as a member of one of the enrolled associations. The financial institution determines a rating for each of the enrolled associations based upon the involvement of the enrolled associations in the program and then provides participation incentives to the enrolled associations based upon the ratings. |
| US08452645B2 |
Interface between two reward programs for concurrently redeeming currencies
A system and method, such as an interface, for real time redemption of currency of two or more reward programs. The interface allows a participant to redeem in real time currency of one program in which a participant has an account with currency of one or more other programs in which the participant also has an account. Thus, the participant can selectively use in real time the currencies from two or more programs for redemption via one of the programs. |
| US08452643B2 |
Method for detecting vehicles with trailers
A method for detecting vehicles with trailers in a road toll system, which comprises at least one radio beacon for radio communication with radio OBUs, wherein vehicles and trailers are respectively provided with their own OBUs carried by them, and a vehicle and a trailer are detected as belonging to one another when an evaluation of the radio communications with their OBU indicates that these are moving at a limited and constant distance from one another. |
| US08452638B2 |
Systems and methods for estimating demand for attractions
Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide devices, systems, and methods of using location-based virtual audience feedback to estimate interest in an attraction at one or more venues. Certain embodiments provide devices, systems, and methods of using location-based virtual audience feedback and/or other audience data to estimate interest in a plurality of attractions or other items of interest at a particular venue. |
| US08452637B2 |
Systems and methods of adjusting the order of product manufacturing and rescheduling release dates
Techniques are presented for rescheduling manufacturing releases. A plurality of release information elements are identified based on a first run of a first advanced planning system. The release information elements comprise dates of planned manufacturing release and quantity. The plurality of release information elements are sorted based on associated demand-likelihood factors and a plurality of sorting criteria. Swapping candidates are selected and swaps are performed based on the demand-likelihood factors and at least one swapping constraint. The plurality of release information elements are then fixed and output as results. A second run of an advanced planning system is optionally performed before output and may include stability features. |
| US08452635B2 |
Techniques for estimating sales of items through a particular channel
In one arrangement, a method for estimating sales of a particular type of item by a first entity through a first channel versus sales of the particular type of item by the first entity through a second channel. |
| US08452632B2 |
Location and time sensitive wireless calendaring
A computer-implemented method provides location-sensitive and time-sensitive calendaring to a wireless device, such as a cell phone, pager, PDA, etc. A user's calendar is maintained with a number of appointments, start times and end times for the appointments, meeting place and a list of attendees for the appointments. When the present time reading is within a predetermined minimum of a meeting start time of an appointment of a calendar user, the location of the user is determined based on the location of the wireless device. The location of the meeting place is also determined. Using historical data (of the user or others), the estimated time of arrival of the user at the meeting place is determined. If the estimated time of arrival is after the meeting start time, then a late message may be sent to the user and/or to the other meeting attendees. |
| US08452629B2 |
Work packet enabled active project schedule maintenance
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for maintaining a project schedule of projects being executed within a software factory are presented. A project management tool receives alerts from the software factory as completion statuses, of software packets being used within the software factory, change. These alerts enable a consolidated and coordinated updating of the project schedule. |
| US08452626B2 |
Technology replacement cost estimation using environmental cost considerations
In a method of estimating a replacement cost associated with an existing technology performed by a processor, one or more costs associated with implementing the existing technology are obtained, in which the one or more costs include an environmental cost and a utility cost associated with implementing the existing technology. In addition, an existing net benefit of continuing implementation of the existing technology based upon the obtained one or more costs are calculated. |
| US08452622B1 |
Methods for administering claims in a pension benefit insurance program
A pension insurance plan method involves administering claims made against a pension debt coverage policy provided in the plan. The policy protects an outstanding balance of a defined contribution plan loan secured by participant's plan assets, eliminating adverse tax consequences to the plan beneficiary in the event of the death or disability of the participant and ensuring that the full plan account balance passes intact to beneficiary in such event. |
| US08452619B2 |
Masked data record access
A computer based method and system for masked data record access are presented in which data masks are applied to sensitive personal information so that non-masked portions of that information can be used in the selection of products, services and service providers for a consumer. In one application the method and system are utilized in the selection of healthcare products, services and providers based on pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) and non-pangenetic information associated with the consumer. |
| US08452618B2 |
Systems and methods for providing an inducement to purchase incident to a physician's prescription of medication
Systems and methods for providing targeted content to a patient who has received a prescription for medication. The systems and methods generally provide the content prior to the Point of Sale (POS) of the actual prescription allow patients to review the content and possibly act on it prior to actually obtaining the medication. Depending on embodiment, the content may be provided by a pharmacy at or around the time of dispensing or by a physician at or around the time of prescribing. |
| US08452615B2 |
Method and system for management of operating-room resources
A computer-implemented method for managing operating-room resources in a hospital includes the steps of receiving at least one surgery request, identifying the resources required for surgery associated with the surgery request, capturing initial data on availability of the resources, capturing initial patient data, and establishing a pre-scheduled operating-room plan based on an initial optimization, and the further steps of capturing current data on availability of the resources, capturing current patient data and establishing a current operating-room plan based on a current optimization. A computer-based system for managing operating-room resources in a hospital and a modular computer-based system for managing operating-room related processes in a hospital are also disclosed. |
| US08452612B2 |
Method for evaluating and prognosticating the daily emotive behavior states and psychophysiological activity of a person according to the measures of night hypersympathicotonia syndrome
The invention relates to the field of identifying the results of medical measurements. The use thereof ensures the technical result in the form of a possibility for estimating confidently and prognosticating reliably the emotional-behavioral states and psychophysiological functioning of a human by means of data obtained as a result of studying the cardiac rhythm thereof. This result is achieved owing to the method including step of: a) performing an intraday monitoring of the patient's ECG; b) storing the data of this monitoring in the computer memory; c) carrying out a computer processing of the data stored in the step b) for constructing, in accordance with those data, an intervalogram of the patient's cardiac rhythm variability per 24-hour period; d) determining, in accordance with the intervalogram constructed in the step c), those spans corresponding to the nighttime and having at least the predetermined length, where the cardiac rhythm variability is reduced in comparison with the average daily characteristics at the intervalogram spans having the same length and corresponding to the daytime, herewith said reduction of the cardiac rhythm variability shows that the given patient has a night hypersympathicotonia syndrome; e) comparing the differences determined in the step d) with the values from the preformed correspondence set stored in the computer memory, thus defining a degree of manifestation of the predefined indices of the night hypersympathicotonia syndrome; and f) performing, on the basis of the comparison made in the step e), predictive estimations of the human day emotional-behavioral states and psychophysiological functioning. |
| US08452611B1 |
Method and apparatus for assessing credit for healthcare patients
According to one example embodiment, there is provided a method and an apparatus to evaluate the credit of a healthcare patient. The example embodiment provides methods and computer systems programmed to use multiple variables that are known about a patient prior to a service being rendered to segment the patient population into finer grained groupings. These finer grained groupings allow financial factors, such as a credit score, to be a more accurate predictor. Also, according to another example embodiment, the model is not a generic model for all patients, but the variables and their parameters are specific to a particular healthcare organization's or facility's patient population. This creates a custom model that further enhances its predictiveness. |
| US08452607B1 |
Schedule planning network
Systems and techniques, including computer-implemented techniques, can be used to receive a base schedule that includes multiple rotations that each include one or more segments. A set of itineraries can be generated based upon the segments in the base schedule, and each itinerary can include an origin, a destination, and one or more segments linking the origin and the destination. The set of itineraries can be automatically analyzed to identify one or more valid itineraries within the set of itineraries, such that each valid itinerary complies with one or more constraints. |
| US08452604B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products providing signed visual and/or audio records for digital distribution using patterned recognizable artifacts
Recognizable visual and/or audio artifacts, such as recognizable sounds, are introduced into visual and/or audio content in an identifying pattern to generate a signed visual and/or audio recording for distribution over a digital communications medium. A library of images and/or sounds may be provided, and the image and/or sounds from the library may be selectively inserted to generate the identifying pattern. The images and/or sounds may be inserted responsive to one or more parameters associated with creation of the visual and/or audio content. A representation of the identifying pattern may be generated and stored in a repository, e.g., an independent repository configured to maintain creative rights information. The stored pattern may be retrieved from the repository and compared to an unidentified visual and/or audio recording to determine an identity thereof. |
| US08452602B1 |
Structuring verbal commands to allow concatenation in a voice interface in a mobile device
A spoken utterance includes at least a first level of a multi-level command format, in which the first level identifies an application. The spoken utterance may also include a second level of the multi-level command format, in which the second level identifies an action. In response to receiving the spoken utterance at a computing device, a representation of the application identified by the first level is displayed on a display of the computing device. If the spoken utterance includes the second level of the multi-level command format, the action identified by the second level is initiated. If the spoken utterance does not include the second level of the multi-level command format, the computing device waits for a predetermined period of time and provides at least one of an audible or visual action prompt if the second level is not received within the predetermined period of time. |
| US08452599B2 |
Method and system for extracting messages
The present invention is a method and system for extracting messages from a person using the body features presented by a user. The present invention captures a set of images and extracts a first set of body features, along with a set of contexts, and a set of meanings. From the first set of body features, the set of contexts, and the set of meanings, the present invention generates a set of words corresponding to the message that the person is attempting to convey. The present invention can also use the body features of the person in addition to the voice of the person to further improve the accuracy of extracting the person's message. |
| US08452597B2 |
Systems and methods for continual speech recognition and detection in mobile computing devices
The present application describes systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for continuous speech recognition for mobile computing devices. One embodiment includes determining whether a mobile computing device is receiving operating power from an external power source or a battery power source, and activating a trigger word detection subroutine in response to determining that the mobile computing device is receiving power from the external power source. In some embodiments, the trigger word detection subroutine operates continually while the mobile computing device is receiving power from the external power source. The trigger word detection subroutine includes determining whether a plurality of spoken words received via a microphone includes one or more trigger words, and in response to determining that the plurality of spoken words includes at least one trigger word, launching an application corresponding to the at least one trigger word included in the plurality of spoken words. |
| US08452593B2 |
Projection apparatus with speech indication and control method thereof
A projection apparatus with speech indication and a control method thereof are provided. The projection apparatus comprises a storage unit, a transmission interface, a process unit, and an output unit. The storage unit is configured to store a plurality of speech data. The transmission interface is configured to connect to an external apparatus for accessing the storage unit. The process unit is configured to select at least one of the speech data according to the present state of the projection apparatus. The output unit is configured to output the selected speech datum to broadcast the speech indication. |
| US08452587B2 |
Encoder, decoder, and the methods therefor
Provided is an encoder which can decode a high-quality stereo signal while keeping the amount of information in the bit allocation information to a minimum when a scalable coding technique is used for a stereo signal. In the encoder, a principal component analysis (PCA) converter converts the left signal and the right signal of the stereo signal and generates the main signal of the first layer and the sub-signal of the first layer. In the first layer to the M-th layer (where M is a natural number, 2 or greater), an adaptive residual encoder compares the importance of the main signal of the m-th layer, where m is a natural number from 1 to M, and the importance of the sub-signal of the m-th layer, selects the signal having the higher importance, encodes the selected signal, and generates the encoded data of the m-th layer. From the first layer to the M−1-st layer, the adaptive residual encoder generates the signal obtained by subtracting the decoded signal of the encoded data of the m-th layer from the selected signal as the main signal of the m+1-st layer, and generates the unselected signal as the sub-signal of the m+1-st layer. |
| US08452585B2 |
Discriminative syntactic word order model for machine translation
A discriminatively trained word order model is used to identify a most likely word order from a set of word orders for target words translated from a source sentence. For each set of word orders, the discriminatively trained word order model uses features based on information in a source dependency tree and a target dependency tree and features based on the order of words in the word order. The discriminatively trained statistical model is trained by determining a translation metric for each of a set of N-best word orders for a set of target words. Each of the N-best word orders are projective with respect to a target dependency tree and the N-best word orders are selected using a combination of an n-gram language model and a local tree order model. |
| US08452579B1 |
System and method of simulating a drive-train system
The present application includes a system and method of simulating a drive-train system including: developing a drive-train simulation model, the drive-train simulation model being represented in a tree-type typology, trimming the mathematical drive-train equation to a steady-state condition, and executing a time domain simulation of the drive-train system with a recursive algorithm. The recursive algorithm involves: performing an outward kinematics recursion, performing an inward dynamics recursion, and performing an outward acceleration recursion. |
| US08452572B2 |
Distributed sample survey technique for data flow reduction in sensor networks
In one embodiment, a clustering device may determine one or more sensor clusters having a plurality of sensor devices that report similar data of a same data type in a sensor network. Accordingly, the clustering device may select a subset of the sensor devices in each respective sensor cluster as one or more representative devices, such that a sensor sink obtains data from only the representative devices. |
| US08452571B2 |
Trigger figure-of-merit indicator
A real-time trigger figure-of-merit indicator for test and measurement instruments provides an indication of how close a signal-under-test is to satisfying a relevant trigger condition. The indicator includes a first marker that indicates a real-time trigger figure-of-merit that is calculated based on digital samples that represent the signal-under-test, and a second marker that indicates a level that the figure-of-merit must exceed in order for a trigger event detector to detect a trigger event and generate a trigger signal. Thus, by observing the indicator, a user may easily ascertain how close a signal-under-test is to satisfying the relevant trigger condition without requiring the instrument to actually trigger. |
| US08452569B2 |
Laser targeting system
A simulation system for predicting a likelihood of whether a target object positioned in an environment will be detected by a detection system when illuminated by a laser source. The simulation system may be used for a laser rangefinder application and a laser designator application. The simulation system may provide a detection probability of the target object at a specified range to the detection system or a plurality of detection probabilities as a function of the range to the detection system. The simulation system may provide an indication of an overlap of the beam provided by the laser source on the target object. The simulation system may determine the effect of vibration on the detection of the target object at a specified range. |
| US08452566B2 |
Warranty monitoring and enforcement for integrated circuit and related design structure
An integrated circuit (IC) including a warranty and enforcement system, and a related design structure and HDL design structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes a parameter obtainer for obtaining a value of a parameter of the IC; a warranty data storage system for storing warranty limit data regarding the IC; a comparator for determining whether a warranty limit has been exceeded by comparing the value of the parameter to a corresponding warranty limit; and an action taker for taking a prescribed action in response to the warranty limit being exceeded. |
| US08452561B2 |
Time delay estimation
A time differential is estimated between a plurality of signals by determining a filter response of a first electrical signal with a first filter array, determining a filter response of a second electrical signal with a second filter array, and determining, based at least on the filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal, a time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. A first optical signal is converted into the first electrical signal and a second optical signal is converted into the second electrical signal. The filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal are sampled and the time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is determined based at least on the sampled filter response of the first electrical signal and the sampled filter response of the second electrical signal. |
| US08452559B2 |
Density trace measurement
A “density trace” according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed by measuring the density of each column of a frequency domain bitmap above a user-specified “amplitude threshold.” The density of each column equals the sum of the densities of all of the pixels in the column that are above the amplitude threshold divided by the sum of the densities of all of the pixels in the column. A density trace provides a convenient way to define and represent the occupancy for a large number of columns, and also allows density data to be quickly transmitted from one instrument or computer to another. In some embodiments, a density trace is incorporated into a trigger detector of a test and measurement instrument and used to generate a trigger signal. The trigger detector compares the density trace to a user-specified “density threshold” and generates the trigger signal when the value of any point of the density trace violates the density threshold. |
| US08452555B2 |
Apparatus and methods for multi-channel metering
In one aspect, the invention comprises a device for measuring electricity usage, comprising: means for remote disconnection via power line communication; means for detection of electricity theft; means for tamper detection; and means for reverse voltage detection. In another aspect, the invention comprises an apparatus for multi-channel metering of electricity, comprising: (a) a meter head operable to measure electricity usage for a plurality of electricity consumer lines; (b) a transponder operable to transmit data received from the meter head via power line communication to a remotely located computer, and to transmit data received via power line communication from the remotely located computer to the meter head; and (c) a load control module operable to actuate connection and disconnection of each of a plurality of relays, each relay of the plurality of relays corresponding to one of the plurality of electricity consumer lines. |
| US08452554B2 |
Networked device with power usage estimation
Various methods and apparatus report energy usage status by a networked device. In response to a request, a set of power usage data is retrieved from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device, the power usage data having been previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use. The set of power usage data includes information related to energy usage of the networked device. The networked device calculates a best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device based on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory, without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use. The best estimate of the energy usage status by the networked device is then sent over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request. |
| US08452550B2 |
Method of analyzing load-settlement characteristics of top-base foundation
Disclosed herein is a method of analyzing load-settlement characteristics of a top-base foundation. The method includes the step of inputting properties of a material of a top base, a basic size of footing configuration, and a load of a structure, the step of inputting the kind of ground and a base ground thickness, the step of determining an influential depth and a load dispersion angle depending on the kind of ground, the step of inputting properties of the ground, the step of determining an immediate settlement amount of the ground, and the step of determining a total settlement amount. The method according to the present invention can precisely determine settlement taking into account footing configuration. Furthermore, the method calculates the settlement taking into account consolidation settlement when the ground is cohesive soil ground or top-cohesive-soil and bottom-sandy-soil ground. Thus, the settlement can be precisely determined. |
| US08452549B2 |
Apparatus for detecting erroneous cable stripping
An apparatus for detecting erroneous cable stripping includes an auxiliary bracket having a stripping blade coupled thereto to cut a part of a sheath of a cable to strip the cable, a sensor attached to the auxiliary bracket to sense bending deformation of the auxiliary bracket occurring when tensile force is applied to the cable to strip the cable, and a central processing unit configured to receive a signal sent in response to bending deformation of the auxiliary bracket and determine whether the cable has been stripped erroneously or not. |
| US08452548B2 |
Base oil low temperature property classification model
In one embodiment a method to determine at least one low temperature property of the lubricant oil is disclosed. This method comprises obtaining a base stock, generating a DSC curve of wax versus temperature using a heating curve for the base stock, correlating the heating curve of the base stock with a MRV for a formulated oil, and determining the MRV of the lubricant oil from the correlation of the base stock to the MRV of the corresponding desired base oil. |
| US08452542B2 |
Structure-sequence based analysis for identification of conserved regions in proteins
Disclosed are computational methods, and associated hardware and software products for scoring conservation in a protein structure based on a computationally identified family or cluster of protein structures. A method of computationally identifying a family or cluster of protein structures in also disclosed herein. |
| US08452540B2 |
Earthquake damage spread reducing method and earthquake damage spread reducing system for use in semiconductor manufacturing apparatus
An earthquake damage spread reducing method and an earthquake damage spread reducing system, for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, which can predict occurrence of an earthquake and prevent fall down of a boat, thus minimizing damage by the earthquake. An earthquake damage spread reducing system includes a receiving unit for receiving urgent earthquake information, based on preliminary tremors, distributed via a communication network, or alternatively, includes a preliminary tremors detection unit for directly detecting the preliminary tremors. A control unit performs a first step of stopping operation of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, based on the urgent earthquake information received or on the preliminary tremors detected, as well as performs a second step of holding a boat in order to prevent fall of the boat, in which objects to be processed are loaded in a multistage fashion. |
| US08452539B2 |
Method and apparatus utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance measurements for estimating residual carbon dioxide saturation in aquifiers
Percolation theory is applied to establish a connection between magnetization decay of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements and residual carbon dioxide saturation (Scr). As a result, estimations of Scr are obtained through use of an NMR tool in a formation and appropriate processing. Data may be displayed as a log. |
| US08452538B2 |
Petrophysical evaluation of subterranean formations
Methods and systems are provided for evaluating petrophysical properties of subterranean formations and comprehensively evaluating hydrate presence through a combination of computer-implemented log modeling and analysis. Certain embodiments include the steps of running a number of logging tools in a wellbore to obtain a variety of wellbore data and logs, and evaluating and modeling the log data to ascertain various petrophysical properties. Examples of suitable logging techniques that may be used in combination with the present invention include, but are not limited to, sonic logs, electrical resistivity logs, gamma ray logs, neutron porosity logs, density logs, NRM logs, or any combination or subset thereof. |
| US08452537B2 |
System and method for predicting tornado activity
A system that predicts current tornado activity has been developed. The system includes a processor that receives model data from a meteorological data source that indicates tornadic activity and generates a model data tornado potential index. The processor also receives radar data indicative of tornadic activity and generates a radar data tornado potential index using weighted values assigned to different components of the radar data, where the components of the radar data comprise, a tornado vortex signature (TVS) data value, a mesocyclonic activity (MESO) data value, a precipitation and intensity (dBz) data value, a vertically integrated liquid (VIL) data value, and hail size data value. The processor further generates a composite tornado potential index using weighted values of the model data tornado potential index and the radar data tornado potential index and stores the index in an electronic, data storage media. |
| US08452536B2 |
Method of definition of a navigation system
A method of defining a navigation system comprising at least one inertial platform and involving terrain correlation, the estimations of the state vector of a platform being made by a navigation filter which furthermore accesses the data of an onboard map, allows the definition of the parameters relating to, respectively, the inertial platform and at least one terrain sensor allowing Terrain-Aided-Navigation, the definition of the parameters being carried out on the basis of computations carried out with the help of statistical syntheses not involving a modeling of the navigation filter. |
| US08452535B2 |
Systems and methods for precise sub-lane vehicle positioning
A vehicle having an on-board computer, vehicle sensors, a satellite-positioning unit, a database storing a lane-level map performs a method to determine a new pose of the vehicle using map matching. The method includes the on-board computer of the vehicle receiving new data from at least one of the vehicle sensors and collecting measurements from the vehicle sensors. The method also includes the on-board computer of the vehicle computing propagation of vehicle pose with respect to consecutive time instances and performing a curve-fitting process. The method further includes the on-board computer of the vehicle performing a sub-routine of updating at least one observation model based on results of the curve-fitting process, performing a tracking sub-routine including using a probability distribution to update the vehicle pose in terms of data particles, and performing a particle filtering sub-routine based on the data particles to compute the new vehicle pose. |
| US08452533B2 |
System and method for extracting a destination from voice data originating over a communication network
A navigation system for an automotive vehicle capable of communicating with a remote communication device includes a host communication device connected to the remote communication device over a communication network to transmit voice data. A hands free communication unit having a speaker and a microphone is configured to connect with the host communication device so as to communicate with the remote communication device through the speaker and microphone. The vehicle navigation system also includes a voice recognition engine in communication with the hands free communication unit through a voice data link. A route generation unit is connected to the hands free communication unit and the voice recognition engine. The hands free communication unit is capable of transmitting the voice data originating from the remote communication device to the voice recognition engine over the voice data link. The voice recognition engine processes the voice data to extract a destination which is transferred to the route generation unit to determine a navigation route. |
| US08452526B2 |
Estimation of roadway travel information based on historical travel data
Systems and methods for estimation of roadway travel information based on historical travel data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for estimating travel conditions may comprise, for example, a communication network; an automobile navigation system communicatively coupled to the communication network, the automobile navigation system for specifying a future travel information for travel along the desired route on the desired date; and a processor communicatively coupled to the communication network, the processor estimating travel conditions associated with the desired route on the desired date, and the processor performing said estimation by correlating the future travel information with historical travel information. |
| US08452525B2 |
Weighing system and methods of operating such weighing system
A weighing system for detecting total weight, including optional external loads, and monitoring of center of gravity of a helicopter (2), comprising a fuselage (1), a landing gear (4), mounted to the fuselage (1) by flanges (10-13) and weighing cells (41-44). The weighing cells (41-44) are integral with the flanges (10-13) between the fuselage (1) and the landing gear (4). Attachment means are provided at the landing gear (4) for external loads (39, 40). |
| US08452524B2 |
Method and device for identifying traffic-relevant information
A method is presented for recognizing traffic-related information (I) in a driving motor vehicle, in which sensor data (B) from a sensor and map data (K) from a navigation system are interpreted for recognition purposes, wherein the sensor data (B) is inspected in a first scene interpretation for the presence of traffic-related information (I) and is compacted to relevant sensor data (Br), the map data (K) is inspected in a second scene interpretation for the presence of traffic-related information (I) and is compacted to relevant map data (Kr), and the relevant sensor data (Br) and relevant map data (Kr) is fed to a regulator for interpreting the sensor and map data, wherein the regulator evaluates the sensor data (Br) and the map data (Kr) and then issues an output signal which corresponds to the evaluation. |
| US08452519B2 |
Valve timing control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A valve timing control apparatus includes a phase varying mechanism arranged to vary a relative rotational phase of a cam shaft with respect to a crank shaft; a driving mechanism arranged to provide a driving force to the phase varying mechanism by energization; a control mechanism configured to control a current applied to the driving mechanism; and a phase angle sensing mechanism arranged to sense the relative rotational phase of the cam shaft with respect to the crank shaft, and to have a detection period longer than a control period of the control mechanism in accordance with an engine operating state. The control mechanism is configured to repeat increasing and decreasing of the current applied to the driving mechanism when the phase varying mechanism continuously varies the relative rotational phase of the cam shaft with respect to the crank shaft by a predetermined angle or more. |
| US08452518B2 |
Post-combustion fuel injection control systems and methods
An exhaust control system comprises a total loss determination module and a fuel control module. The total loss determination module determines a total energy loss rate of exhaust upstream of a location in an exhaust system based on a convective energy loss rate upstream of the location, a conductive energy loss rate upstream of the location, and an oxidation energy gain rate upstream of the location. The fuel control module receives a target temperature for the exhaust at the location and determines a target input energy rate based on the target temperature, a temperature of exhaust input to the exhaust system, and the total energy loss rate. The fuel control module controls a rate of fuel injection into the exhaust system upstream of an oxidation catalyst based on the target input energy rate. |
| US08452517B2 |
Air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders determining apparatus for an internal combustion engine
An air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises an air-fuel ratio sensor having a protective cover and an air-fuel ratio detection element accommodated in the protective cover, and imbalance determining means. The imbalance determining means obtains a detected air-fuel ratio abyfs based on an output Vabyfs of the air-fuel ratio sensor every elapse of a constant sampling time ts, and obtains, as an indicating amount of air-fuel ratio change rate, a difference (detected air-fuel ratio change rate ΔAF) between a present detected air-fuel ratio abyfs which is newly detected and a previous air-fuel ratio abyfsold which was detected the sampling time ts ago, an average of the detected air-fuel ratio change rate ΔAF, and the like. The imbalance determining means determines that the air-fuel ratio imbalance among cylinders state is occurring, when a magnitude of the indicating amount of air-fuel ratio change rate is larger than an imbalance determination threshold. |
| US08452516B1 |
Variable vane scheduling based on flight conditions for inclement weather
A method of protecting a gas turbine engine according an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, the steps of determining at least one flight condition of an aircraft and comparing the at least one flight condition to a programmed condition. The method further includes the steps of moving a plurality of inlet vanes of a low pressure compressor from a first position to a second position if the step of comparing the at least one flight condition to the programmed flight condition determines the programmed flight condition are met and deflecting any foreign objects with the plurality of inlet vanes. |
| US08452513B2 |
System and method for validating adaptive cruise control operations
A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module. |
| US08452511B2 |
Motorized wheelchair
A motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, rate-of-turn sensor, first and second speed sensors, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors in a manner that detects drift. Alternatively, the motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, first and second rate-of-turn sensors, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors in a manner that compensates for voltage offset errors. In another arrangement, the motorized wheelchair includes left and right drive wheels, left and right motors, first and second rate-of-turn sensors, input device, and controller arranged to combine signals from the sensors and input device in a manner that controls the motors using an integrated turn rate error. Several methods for controlling each wheelchair configuration are also provided. These methods process signals associated with desired, expected, or actual turn rate to determine if the wheelchair is off course. |
| US08452507B2 |
Actuator device and method for controlling the actuator device
An actuator device for use in a land vehicle, comprising an actuator for actuating a wheel brake of the land vehicle, a control unit for controlling the actuator and a processing unit. The processing unit is connected to the control unit and an external main control unit in order to route signals of the main control unit to the control unit. The actuator device further comprises a memory for storing actuator-specific information. This memory is connected to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit is connected in turn to the control unit and the processing unit. |
| US08452503B2 |
Gear control device and method for a gear control device
In a transmission control device with a control unit, to eliminate a tooth-on-tooth position in a transmission shifting unit, a transmission clutch is adjusted to a nominal clutch value. In at least one operating mode, the control unit is designed to specify a prescribed clutch value, which is independent of any intermediate clutch value setting. |
| US08452502B2 |
Driving recorder
This invention intends to provide a vehicle-mounted driving recorder that can facilitate an after-the-fact analysis on not only situation data at a time of an accident but also situation data at a time of a hiyari-hatto and that can contribute accident prevention. The vehicle-mounted driving recorder comprises a data receiving section that receives situation data indicating behavior, a surrounding situation, and an operating situation of a vehicle and a data administration section that classifies the situation data into one of predetermined multiple categories based on contents of the received situation data and stores the classified situation data in a situation data storage section specified in a predetermined area of a memory. |
| US08452499B2 |
System for allocating transmission clutch wear
A control system for a transmission engages three clutches to create braking within the transmission to slow a machine during a shuttle shifting operation. The control system may apply the clutches so as to allocate wear between the clutches equally or unequally, as desired. |
| US08452496B2 |
Cotton module tracking system and method that eliminates cotton module marking
A system and method for automatically identifying, locating, and tracking a cotton module that eliminates the necessity of physically marking or tagging the cotton module, such system and method using information such a location of the cotton module and a heading of a harvesting vehicle and a transport vehicle. |
| US08452491B2 |
In-vehicle apparatus
An in-vehicle apparatus is disclosed. The in-vehicle apparatus is configured to perform a timer operation, acquire vehicle state information, and control the timer operation of the timer means in such manner that: the in-vehicle apparatus starts the timer operation when determining based on the vehicle state information that a condition for starting the timer operation is satisfied; and the in-vehicle apparatus stops the timer operation when determining based on the vehicle state information that a condition for stopping the timer operation is satisfied. |
| US08452489B2 |
Controlling system for controlling an air handling system
The invention relates to a controlling system for controlling an air handling system that is arranged to handle air in an enclosure such as a cabin of a vehicle. The controlling system comprises a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, and a controller. The first sensing unit is arranged to generate a first output signal based on a measurement of the 5 concentration of certain airborne pollutants at the upstream side of an air cleaning unit that is comprised in the air handling system. The second sensing unit is arranged to generate a second output signal based on a measurement of the concentration of certain airborne pollutants at the downstream side of the air cleaning unit. The first output signal and the second output signal are used for specific purposes in a decision-making process that can be 10 performed by the controller. The controller is arranged to switch the air handling system into recirculation mode when the first output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Furthermore, the controller is arranged to fine-tune settings of the air handling system, such as the mixing ratio of air admitted from outside the enclosure and recirculating air from the enclosure in the total air flow passing through the air handling system when the air handling 15 system operates in an outside-air-inlet mode. The controlling system according to the invent ion has an increased functionality and can maintain an acceptable air quality inside an enclosed space under a large variety of circumstances. |
| US08452488B2 |
Memory readout system for vehicle control device
A memory readout system comprised of a vehicle control device and a readout device to be detachably connected to the vehicle control device. The readout device reads out dialogue information stored in a built-in nonvolatile memory in the vehicle control device when connected to the vehicle control device and a predetermined certification condition is satisfied. The vehicle control device is comprised of the built-in nonvolatile memory and a dialogue information readout unit. In particular, the nonvolatile memory has a un-rewritable area which allows a dialogue information writing, but inhibits a dialogue information deletion. The dialogue information readout unit reads out the dialogue information stored in the un-rewritable area when a password certification judges that the readout device is an authorized one, and then transfers the dialogue information to the readout device. |
| US08452487B2 |
Apparatus for informing destination apparatus of malfunctions occurring in communication with source apparatus and system incorporating the same therein
In a system reporting a malfunction in connection of a first communication line and a desired source apparatus which is due to be connected to the first communication line. In a first memory section, information showing that the source apparatus is due to be present in the system is stored in advance and a malfunction informing apparatus connected to a second communication line. Whether or not the communication is interrupted is checked based on connection information in a second memory section and the information stored in the first memory section. The connection information shows connection history showing that the source apparatus was connected to the first communication line. Through the second communication line, it is informed to a destination apparatus that there is a malfunction in the connection of the source apparatus and the first communication line, when it is checked that the communication is interrupted. |
| US08452486B2 |
Wireless vehicle-monitoring system operating on both terrestrial and satellite networks
Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless appliance for monitoring a vehicle. The wireless appliance includes a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle, and then communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol. The appliance also includes a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, which collects diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol. A GPS module, also in electrical communication with the microprocessor, generates location-based data. For transmitting these data, the appliance includes a first wireless transmitter operating on a terrestrial network and a second wireless transmitter operating on a satellite network. The microprocessor selects the first or second wireless transmitter for transmitting the diagnostic and location-based data. |
| US08452479B2 |
In-car service interval adjustment device
Disclosed is a device and method for providing service interval notifications to a vehicle operator, and to incorporate relevant vehicle operating conditions which most directly impact the longevity of engine lubrication and other wear prone components of vehicles. Wear prone conditions which are determined include city driving, frequency of “cold” starts, frequency of “winter” “cold” starts, and high load high grade travel. The device and method utilize as a primary input a location aware sensor device and as a secondary input a source for the ambient temperature either retrieved from an Internet source or a local ambient temperature sensor. No direct vehicle sensor is utilized for the service interval adjustment performed by the device and method. |
| US08452478B2 |
Automotive scan tool with enhanced audio, video and voice recognition functionality
A diagnostic tool for a vehicle, includes a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input unit for inputting information, a processor controlling a software according to the input information from the input unit and communication with the vehicle from the signal translator, the processor controlling a reception of diagnostic data of the vehicle through the signal translator, an input and output unit receiving and transmitting audio and video signals controlled by the processor, a memory storing a software controlled by the processor, the memory storing audio and video information, and transferring the audio and video information through the input and output unit; and a display unit displaying information according to the received and processed audio and video signals stored in the memory. |
| US08452477B2 |
Method and system for managing data transmission from a plurality of sensor devices included in a tyre
Wireless transmission from sensor devices included in tires is coordinated by a receiving unit associated with the tire, or transmission coordinator. In more detail, every sensor device is made aware of an overall time window available for transmission, and based on at least this information, it calculates a dedicated timeslot for the transmission of its data within such time window. This coordinated transmission makes possible a strong reduction of the probability of collisions and transmission errors, and reduces the number of transmissions, so as to comply with the limited power resources available at each sensor device. |
| US08452474B2 |
Control device for hybrid vehicle and control method therefor
In a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine in conjunction with an electric motor, when one of a process of regenerating the purification capacity of an exhaust gas purifying device and a process of charging a battery is performed, the presence or absence of a request to perform the other process is determined so that the two processes may be performed as simultaneously as possible to reduce deterioration in driveability and in the fuel efficiency as much as possible. |
| US08452472B2 |
Driving control apparatus and method of hybrid vehicle
A driving control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle is provided with: an internal combustion engine, a power dividing mechanism generator; an electric motor capable of outputting power according to electric power supplied from at least one of the generator and a storage battery, to a drive shaft; a changing device capable of changing an operating state of the generator, from one state to the other state out of a first state in which the rotating shaft of the generator can rotate and a second state in which a rotating shaft of the generator is fixed in a stop state; and a controlling device for controlling the changing device to change the operating state of the generator from the one state to the other state in a predetermined period in which the rotating shaft of the generator does not rotate. |
| US08452469B2 |
Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle control apparatus is provided with an engine, an electric motor, a holding element, an automatic transmission, a range position detecting device and a controller. The holding element is arranged between the engine and the electric motor to selectively connect and disconnect the engine and the electric motor to and from each other. The automatic transmission is arranged between the electric motor and a drive wheel. The range position detecting device detects a range position of the automatic transmission selected by a driver. The controller executes a control operation serving to stop the engine while also executing a slip control serving to lower a torque transfer capacity of the holding element upon a determination that a request to stop the engine has occurred while the engine is operating, the holding element is engaged, and the automatic transmission is detected in a non-driving range. |
| US08452463B2 |
Adjusting the thermal behavior of a computing system using indirect information about ambient temperature
A computing system has a thermal manager that changes a power consuming activity limit in the device based on an estimate of temperature of a target location in the system. There are several temperature sensors that are not at the target location. An estimator computes the target location temperature estimate using a thermal model and, as input to the thermal model, data from the sensors. The thermal model produces different estimates of the target location temperature at different ambient temperatures but without computing or measuring the ambient temperatures. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08452462B2 |
System stabilizing device
A control unit of a system stabilizing device uses a fluctuation detecting block 200 for determining current commands from a system current. A fluctuation detecting unit 300 determines, from an active component Isd of the system current, a common current command Irefd0 which is a fluctuation component of the active component Isd. A first current command creating unit 400 receives as an input the current command Irefd0, and outputs a current command Irefd1 whose signal width is as small as T4 and which instantaneously rises and then gradually decreases. A second current command creating unit 500 receives as an input the current command Irefd0, and outputs a current command Irefd2 which gradually increases for a time T4 and then gradually decreases for a time (T3-T4). The system stabilizing device having short charging and discharging times is controlled by the current command Irefd1, while the system stabilizing device having long charging and discharging times is controlled by the current command Irefd2, whereby system stabilizing controls can be exercised without interferences. In this manner, even if system stabilizing devices having different charging and discharging characteristics are provided, system stabilizing controls can be effected without interferences. |
| US08452461B2 |
Control system for photovoltaic power plant
A control system for a photovoltaic (“PV”) power plant that includes a plant-level control system for implementing plant-level control functions at power generation sites of the plant, a supervisory system for supervisory control and data acquisition of the plant, and a communications network connecting the plant-level control system, the supervisory system, and plant devices is described. Methods of controlling a PV plant using the plant-level control system and the supervisory system and methods of regulating power characteristics in power generation sites are also described. |
| US08452451B1 |
Methods and systems for robotic command language
Methods and systems for robotic command and operation are provided. In some examples, a robot may be configured to receive a short-form command input that is comprised of an action verb and an object/target, and to analyze contextual/situational data for event outcomes from which the robot can determine an action of a plurality of possible actions to execute. The determination and analyses functions may be performed, in whole or part, through use of a cloud computing system. |
| US08452449B2 |
Position control method and robot
A position control method for controlling a position of a movable portion, includes: performing control of allowing the movable portion to approach a predetermined position by moving the movable portion; and performing control of moving the movable portion to the predetermined position by moving the movable portion and detecting a relative position of the movable portion with respect to the predetermined position by using an imaging unit. |
| US08452441B2 |
Process quality predicting system and method thereof
The invention discloses a process quality prediction system and a method thereof. When a processing apparatus performs a process on a target, the process is measured by a measurement apparatus to receive a process value. The process value and several previous quality data collected from the measurement apparatus are used to predict the quality of the product which is processing inline. The method is composed of a moving window, a stepwise regression scheme and an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The drift and shift of process are overcome by the moving window. A key variable set is selected by the stepwise regression scheme and a virtual model is identified by the analysis of covariance. |
| US08452440B2 |
Method of forming an article
A method of forming an article in a layer wise manufacturing process from a computer software file representing the article includes dividing the file into sub files in dependence of the size or other characteristics of features of the article to be created, applying a process characteristic selected independence on a characteristic feature to each sub file and manufacturing the article in accordance with the subfiles. |
| US08452439B2 |
Device performance parmeter tuning method and system
A method comprises computing respective regression models for each of a plurality of failure bins based on a plurality of failures identified during wafer electrical tests. Each regression model outputs a wafer yield measure as a function of a plurality of device performance variables. For each failure bin, sensitivity of the wafer yield measure to each of the plurality of device performance variables is determined, and the device performance variables are ranked with respect to sensitivity of the wafer yield measure. A subset of the device performance variables which have highest rankings and which have less than a threshold correlation with each other are selected. The wafer yield measures for each failure bin corresponding to one of the selected subset of device performance variables are combined, to provide a combined wafer yield measure. At least one new process parameter value is selected to effect a change in the one device performance variable, based on the combined wafer yield measure. The at least one new process parameter value is to be used to process at least one additional wafer. |
| US08452434B2 |
Mixing signal processing apparatus and mixing signal processing integrated circuit
User is allowed to designate a desired mode defining the respective numbers of channels and mixing buses, and processing for mixing input signals of the number of channels corresponding to the designated mode is performed repetitively to generate signals for the individual buses. The time of arrival of the last step in the mixing processing for the number of channels, corresponding to the designated mode, is detected to output an accumulation result obtained at the last step, and new accumulation is started with a digital audio signal inputted at a step following the last step. Digital audio signals processed by a first signal processing circuit are stored into a memory and transmitted to a second signal processing circuit via a cascade-connection. The second signal processing circuit adds the audio signal, processed for each of the steps, to audio signals input via the cascade-connection and writes added signal into the memory. |
| US08452433B2 |
Path setting method and apparatus for audio system, and audio system
In a mixing system where a console, engine and I/O devices, each possessing a plurality of supply sources and destinations, are connected to a network, a plurality of transmission channels of the network are allocated to the individual devices. In response to human operator's connection instruction given via the console for instructing a connection between a supply source possessed by one of the devices and a supply destination possessed by another of the devices, the device possessing the supply source transmits an audio signal of the supply source to the network using one of the transmission channels allocated to the device. The device possessing the signal supply destination, for which the connection instruction has been given, receives the audio signal transmitted via the transmission channel and supplies the received audio signal to the supply destination. |
| US08452430B2 |
Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an information receiving unit receiving a downmix signal including and a plurality of preset informations; an external preset information receiving unit receiving a plurality of external preset informations being inputted from external; an external preset applying-determining unit determining whether the plurality of the external preset informations applies to the downmix signal; an external preset information selecting unit selecting one external preset information, if the plurality of external preset informations is selected; and a rendering unit controlling the object by applying the external preset information to the all data regions.Accordingly, an audio signal can be efficiently reconstructed by individually selecting and applying external preset information by a data region unit or by selecting and applying the same external preset information to a whole downmix signal. And, feedback information can be received from a user by displaying an object adjusted by having external preset rendering parameter applied thereto on a screen, according to a characteristic of an audio source. |
| US08452427B2 |
Signal path using general-purpose computer for audio processing and audio-driven graphics
An audio system includes a general-purpose computer in the audio signal path to provide, or to enhance, pre-amplification functions. In one embodiment, in response to audio signals from a pre-amplifier, a programmable multimedia controller including the general-purpose computer generates control commands and passes these control commands via a signal path back to the pre-amplifier. In a second embodiment, rather than control a separate pre-amplifier, the programmable multimedia controller itself implements the pre-amplification functions. In yet another embodiment, a power amplifier includes the general-purpose computer and pre-amplification functions are implemented there. Also, a display screen shows a virtual control panel that is used to control the pre-amplification of audio signals. The virtual control panel provides a graphical user interface that simulates, replicates, or replaces with an alternate arrangement, the physical controls and readouts found on the control panel of a physical device. Audio-interactive graphics, images and/or artwork may also be shown on the display screen. |
| US08452424B2 |
Moving object feed-forward control method
In a case where a position command path for a control position of a load 5 that is equivalent to a moving object is set by issuing a position command Rc(z), a gain for one of a high-frequency component, a specified frequency, and a specified frequency width is constrained. This means that a resonant frequency can be constrained, and that after the position command Rc(z) arrives at a target position, a position detection signal Y(z) can also arrive at the target position in a set number of steps. It is therefore possible to perform positioning at high speed and with high precision by constraining a resonance mode of a mechanism that includes the moving object, and a feed-forward control can be performed that meets target positioning times that are set for various types of operating patterns. |
| US08452421B2 |
Lead insertion tools
An exemplary insertion tool configured to facilitate insertion of a lead into a bodily orifice includes a handle assembly configured to facilitate handling of the insertion tool, an insertion assembly coupled to the handle assembly and comprising a rigid holding tube configured to removably couple to a portion of the lead, and a release assembly disposed at least partially within the handle assembly and comprising a release button. The release assembly is configured to release the lead from the holding tube in response to user actuation of the release button. Corresponding insertion tools, systems, and methods are also described. |
| US08452415B2 |
Electrical and activation field models for programming a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry
The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. A programmer is configured to generate an electrical field model from selected stimulation parameters and patient anatomy data. The electrical field model indicates how the electrical field propagation would occur in the patient during therapy. In addition, the programmer may be configured to generate an activation field model from the electrical field model and a neuron model. The activation field indicates which neurons within the electrical field will be activated during the therapy. Either of these field models may be presented to the user via a user interface that also displays a representation of the lead implanted within the patient. The user interface may allow the user to adjust the stimulation therapy by manipulating displayed field or activation model representations. |
| US08452410B2 |
Method and device for reflex-based functional gait training
A device and method for gait training, such as for rehabilitation of a person after a stroke is provided. In some embodiments, the device comprises a stimulator, preferably electric stimulator, for provoking a spinal cord withdrawal reflex in the person by stimulation on the person's foot in response to a control signal. Hereby, the person's leg will move and initiate a gait swing. A sensor is placed to sense movement of the leg and provide a feedback signal accordingly. A processor unit with a processor runs a control algorithm which calculates the control signal in response to the feedback signal. Thus, the method is based on a closed-loop design, and the control signal is preferably calculated for each walking step, and it is preferably based on the feedback signal obtained from the preceding walking step. Hereby reflex habituation can be accounted for. Preferably, the stimulator has a plurality of stimulator channels with electrodes placed on different sites distributed on the sole of the foot and on the heel. The feedback signal may be based on accelerometer(s), and/or gyroscope(s), and/or goinometer(s) positioned on the leg and/or foot, e.g. partly or fully integrated in an in-sole for a shoe etc. |
| US08452409B2 |
Systems and methods for therapeutic electrical stimulation
In various embodiments, the invention disclosed herein provides systems, devices and methods for providing electrical stimulation to a patient. An electrical mechanical interconnection is provided to facilitate user friendly systems and devices. Exemplary therapeutic electrical stimulation devices include a shoe connected mechanically and electrically to a conductor that provides signals for electrical stimulation. |
| US08452404B1 |
Ischemia detection systems for paced-patients having three different detection modes
A device for detecting cardiac ischemia is disclosed. The device includes a processor that is configured to operate in three different modes according to relative frequency of different beat types. If beats of a first beat type, such as ventricularly paced beats, are predominant, the processor ignores other beat types and performs ischemia detection only on ventricularly paced beats. Conversely, if beats of a second beat type, such as sinus or atrially paced beats, are predominant, the processor ignores ventricularly paced beats and performs ischemia detection only on sinus or atrially paced beats. If there is a mixture of beat types such that neither predominates, the processor performs ischemia detection on both beat types. |
| US08452403B2 |
System and method for recovery from memory errors in a medical device
A system comprising an implantable medical device that comprises a memory circuit, a radiation detector circuit configured to detect a condition correlative to a high-energy radiation level that exceeds a background radiation level, and a controller circuit. The control circuit checks memory locations for errors using a first rate of error checking per time period during a normal operation mode and, in response to the radiation detector circuit indicating a high-energy radiation level, initiates a memory scrubbing mode, wherein the memory scrubbing mode has an increased rate of error checking substantially all memory locations per time period in the memory circuit to check for any errors and correct any such errors. |
| US08452398B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing neural stimulation to cardiac cycles
A neural stimulator senses a reference signal indicative of cardiac cycles each including a predetermined type timing reference event using a sensor external to the heart and blood vessels. The delivery of the neural stimulation pulses are synchronized to that timing reference event. Examples of the timing reference event include a predetermined cardiac event such as a P-wave or an R-wave detected from a subcutaneous ECG signal, a predetermined type heart sound detected from an acoustic signal, and a peak detected from a hemodynamic signal related to blood flow or pressure. |
| US08452393B1 |
Defibrillation paddle structure and its associated method of use
A defibrillation system that utilizes a unique defibrillator paddle assembly. The defibrillator paddle assembly has a handle and a paddle head. The paddle head contains the conductive surface that is used to contact the muscle tissue of the heart during a defibrillation attempt. The paddle head is connected to the handle by a flexible connection. The flexible connection enables the relative orientation between the handle and the paddle head to be selectively adjusted. Accordingly, a physician can selectively change the orientation of the paddle head in relation to the handle in order to more effectively utilize the paddle assembly during a specific circumstance. The flexible connection between the handle and the paddle head can be adjusted either by manual bending or by utilizing adjustment controls that are present on the handle of the paddle assembly. |
| US08452392B2 |
Systems and methods for anesthetizing ear tissue
A system and method for use in iontophoretic anesthesia of a tympanic membrane are disclosed. The system generally includes an earplug and an electrode device. The earplug includes at least one sealing member for sealing the earplug in an ear canal. The method involves using the system on a human or animal subject. |
| US08452391B2 |
Ocular iontophoresis device
The invention relates to a device of ocular iontophoresis for delivering active substances, comprising a reservoir having an outer wall and a hollow body at least partly delimited by the outer wall, wherein the hollow body is capable of receiving an electrical conductive medium and active substances contained in the medium and has an outlet defining a surface, so-called “application surface”, intended to received a determine part of an eyeball surface, the application surface being at least partly limited by an outer line concave towards the optical axis of the eyeball, wherein the outer wall extends from the outer line with a global outwardly with respect to the said optical axis. |
| US08452389B2 |
Criteria for monitoring intrathoracic impedance
An exemplary method includes providing information (e.g., a left atrial pressure, a NYHA class, echocardiographic information, etc.), based at least in part on the information, determining a weight and, based at least in part on the weight, determining a threshold for use in intrathoracic impedance monitoring. Such an exemplary method may include comparing an intrathoracic impedance to the threshold, comparing an intrathoracic impedance change to the threshold, or comparing a product of intrathoracic impedance and time to the threshold. Various exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are disclosed. |
| US08452386B2 |
Event driven ambulatory electrocardiograph
The electrocardiograph (200) of the invention is suitable for capturing a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from signals representative of the cardiac activity of a patient and acquired with the help of at least nine electrodes. The electrocardiograph comprises a body (210) having a front face (211) and at least one arm (212, 213) suitable for being folded beside the body and pivotable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the front face. Each arm is adapted to form a variable dihedral angle with the front face so that the substantially concave surface (214) formed by the front face and the or each arm and having six precordial electrodes (201-206) distributed thereon, is capable of adapting to the patient's morphology so as to enable the precordial electrodes to be properly positioned on the patient's chest. The electrocardiograph also includes means enabling said good positioning of the precordial electrodes on the patient's chest to be maintained. |
| US08452385B2 |
Method and system of auditory evoked heart rate variability analysis
The present invention provides a method and system of auditory evoked heart rate variability analysis having advantage of simply analytical process and portability. The disclosed method mainly includes the following steps of: stimulating the auditory system of a person by a sound through a sound transmission device, capturing an electrocardiogram signal of the person, performing analog-to-digital conversion of the electrocardiogram signal, selecting the peaks of the electrocardiogram signal and transforming the qualified peaks to a consecutive peak signal, and performing spectrum analysis to the peak signal in frequency domain, and obtaining the difference of the spectral parameters before and after the evoked sounds. Moreover, the sound further is selected from the group consisting of noise, short tone burst, click, and any other sound with the intensity of 30 dB to 100 dB. By comparing the heart rate variability analysis before or after sound stimulation in order to get the differences, the disclosed method and system of auditory evoked heart rate variability analysis can evaluate a changing index of stimulated autonomic functions. |
| US08452383B2 |
Temperature profile mapping and guided thermotherapy
Techniques, apparatus and systems that use an optical probe head to deliver light to a target and to collect light from the target for imaging and monitoring a target while a separate radiation is applied to treat the target. |
| US08452382B1 |
Non-contact thermometer sensing a carotid artery
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations a non-contact thermometer determines a temperature of a subject from a carotid source point of the subject. |
| US08452377B2 |
Coil assembly for guiding a magnetic object in a workspace
A coil assembly for guiding a magnetic object, such as an endoscopy capsule, in a workspace, wherein the magnetic object exhibits a magnetic dipole, includes different versions of coil assemblies having a number of individual coils and corresponding activation units for feeding current to the respective coils. The coil arrangement can have exactly eleven individual coils and eight power amplifiers, nine individual coils and seven power amplifiers, eight individual coils with six or seven power amplifiers, six individual coils with five power amplifiers, and five individual coils with five power amplifiers. |
| US08452373B2 |
Diffusion tensor imaging-based alzheimer's diagnosis method
A system and method is provided in which a diffusion tensor image of the gray matter of a subject's brain is recorded. The diffusion tensor image is used to determine the Fractional Anisotropy of that area of the subject's brain. It has been determined that a decrease in Fractional Anisotropy is related to a decrease in dendritic quality and/or quantity in the subject's brain, which is typically caused by the presence of Alzheimer's Disease. Consequently, the Fractional Anisotropy determination is used to diagnosis the presence of Alzheimer's Disease. |
| US08452370B2 |
Single and multi-needle electromyographic (EMG) recording electrode configurations for intraoperative nerve integrity monitoring
Several configurations for single and multi-needle electromyographic (EMG) recording electrodes for intraoperative nerve integrity monitoring are disclosed, one of which may concern a multi-needle electrode including one or more cables that are connected directly or indirectly to a nerve integrity monitor, a single hub connected to the one or more cables, and at least two needle electrodes connected to the single hub each having first and second bends along the line of insertion into a patient, wherein the first bend occurs at the hub connection in a downward direction and the second bend occurs in an upward direction from the first bend creating a proximal needle segment from the hub to the second bend and a terminal needle segment from the second bend to the end of each needle. |
| US08452369B2 |
CMOS compatible microneedle structures
The present invention provides an electronic device for sensing and/or actuating, the electronic device comprising at least one microneedle (10) on a substrate (1), each of the microneedles (10) comprising at least one channel (7, 8) surrounded by an insulating layer (6). The present invention also provides a method for making such an electronic device for sensing and/or actuating. |
| US08452368B2 |
Transcutaneous analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host. |
| US08452367B2 |
Forehead sensor placement
Forehead oximetry sensor devices and methods for determining physiological parameters using forehead oximetry sensors. One method includes placing an oximetry sensor on the forehead of a patient, such that the sensor is placed on the lower forehead region, above the eyebrow with the sensor optics placed lateral of the iris and proximal the temple; and operating the pulse oximeter to obtain the physiological parameter. In one aspect, the method also includes providing and placing a headband over the oximetry sensor, or alternately, the sensor is a headband-integrated sensor. The headband has an elastic segment sized to fit around the patient's head. The headband also includes a non-elastic segment that is smaller than and attached with the elastic segment. The non-elastic segment is sized to span a portion of the elastic segment when the elastic segment is stretched. In addition, the non-elastic segment is larger than the portion of the elastic segment it spans when the elastic segment is not stretched. When the headband or the headband-integrated sensor is sufficiently tight, it delivers a pressure in the range higher than the venous pressure and lower than the capillary pressure to the forehead of the patient. |
| US08452366B2 |
Medical monitoring device with flexible circuitry
Embodiments described herein may include systems and methods for monitoring physiological parameters of a patient. Specifically, embodiments disclose the use of a flexible circuitry in a medical sensor that is small and lightweight and easily bendable, such that it may be comfortably affixed to a patient while also providing added electronic functions, such as digital conversion and wireless capability. |
| US08452361B2 |
Ocular sensor for the detection of an analyte in eye water
An ocular sensor (110) is proposed for verification of at least one analyte in an eye fluid. The ocular sensor (110) is composed of at least one sensor material which is designed to change at least one optical characteristic in the presence of the at least one analyte. Furthermore, the ocular sensor (110) comprises at least one sensor chip which has at least one integrated optical detector (122) for verification of the optical characteristic. A measurement system (166) is also proposed for verification of at least one analyte in an eye fluid, which measurement system (166) comprises an ocular sensor (110) according to the invention as well as an evaluation unit (168) which is designed to interchange information with the sensor chip (118). |
| US08452352B2 |
Systems and methods for predicting battery drain time caused by smartphone applications
Predicting battery drain time that would be caused by a new application being considered for a smartphone. The battery drain time prediction is based on the type of smartphone and type of battery, the battery age, and hardware subunit usage levels. The system may provide a watchdog service for monitoring and storing data of user's smartphone which may then be used to create a user profile. Upon receiving a request for a battery drain time prediction, the system matches the profile of the user's smartphone with an existing profile in the repository having pre-installation and post-installation data for the application being considered. The matching user profile can be used to predict battery drain time that will be caused by the new application. |
| US08452351B2 |
Methods and apparatus for saving battery power in mobile stations
A base station may be configured so that it operates in accordance with certain MAP transmission rules that may enable mobile stations to save battery power in certain situations. Upon receiving a MAP message, a mobile station may determine whether there is a burst allocated for the mobile station in the current frame by determining the value of at least one of the following: an idle users bit in the SUB-MAP pointer information element (IE), and a sleep users bit in the SUB-MAP pointer IE. The mobile station may discontinue processing of the MAP message and power down one or more components of the mobile station if there is not a burst allocated for the mobile station in the current frame. |
| US08452347B2 |
Headset and audio gateway system for execution of voice input driven applications
A system including a headset and an audio gateway, and software applications that may be used with such headsets and gateways. The headset enables a user to discover and interact with applications resident on the headset, gateway, or a network accessible by the gateway. The headset functions as an application platform for the control and execution of the applications. The invention includes a method for providing a service to a user of the headset. The method involves the headset performing service discovery on the audio gateway to determine a method of transferring an application to the audio gateway, where the application provides the service. The headset causes the application to be transferred to the audio gateway using a method based on the service discovery, and the audio gateway executes the application, enabling the user to issue voice commands that are executed by the audio gateway to provide the service. |
| US08452346B1 |
Programmable time-based ringtone setting in a mobile station
To address a time related problem with mobile station ringtones, such as sleep disturbing ringtone generation, a mobile station may be configured to offer the user an option or feature such as might enable programming of ringtone settings as a function of one or more time periods. When the feature is selected, it allows the user to program settings configuring the device to adjust one or more controllable parameters of ringtone for incoming calls and/or incoming messages based on current time in relation to the time program settings. For example, the user might set different ringtone settings for different time slots for each day and/or different time slots on certain days of the week. |
| US08452345B2 |
Portable terminal and driving method of messenger program in portable terminal
A portable terminal is provided to inform a user of status information via vibration pattern. The portable terminal may include a vibration generation unit for vibrating the portable terminal and a controller changing status information of a messenger program or a member relative to the messenger program to a vibration pattern while performing the messenger program, and the controller controlling the operation of the vibration generation unit in response to the vibration pattern such that the portable terminal can perform a messenger service by way of an interface unit using tactile sensation to enhance a user's convenience and satisfaction. |
| US08452344B2 |
Method and device for embedding event notification into multimedia content
Methods and apparatuses for embedding event notification into multimedia content being reproduced on an electronic device are provided herein. The method may include causing reproduction of multimedia content on said electronic device, detecting an event that requires notification of a user of said electronic device and responsive thereto applying a modification to said reproduction of said multimedia content, according to said event, wherein said modification achieves a user-perceivable variation in said reproduced multimedia content. |
| US08452343B2 |
Portable terminal
A portable terminal includes an output device configured to output a ringing tone, a vibrator configured to generate vibration, and a first controller configured to detect a missed call indicating that an incoming call response operation is not performed, and a second controller coupled to the first controller. The second controller is configured, if the first controller detects the missed call, to notify a missed call notification at predetermined time intervals by at least one of the ringing tone output from the output device and the vibration generated by the vibrator, the missed call notification indicating that a response operation for the missed call is not performed. |
| US08452341B2 |
Input processing method of mobile terminal and device for performing the same
An input processing method of a mobile terminal and a device performing the same are disclosed. Information on a user facility performed by a touch event generated at an area of the mobile terminal is compared with voice sensing data collected through a microphone to perform a specific user facility. As a result, erroneous touch event and imprecision generated during the voice sensing are improved. |
| US08452340B2 |
User-selectable headset equalizer for voice calls
A method of providing a user interface on a mobile device for enabling a user to select acoustic equalizer settings for voice call downlink audio signals, the mobile device including an internal microprocessor, a display in communication with the microprocessor, and at least one input means in communication with the microprocessor, the method including receiving a request from the user for displaying the user interface, in response to the request, displaying the user interface on the display, the user interface including a plurality of predetermined acoustic equalizer settings, wherein the user selects one of the equalizer settings using the input means, receiving the selected equalizer setting at the microprocessor, storing the selected equalizer setting at the microprocessor, and processing the voice call downlink audio signals according to the selected equalizer setting. |
| US08452334B2 |
Method of precoding with a codebook for a wireless system
A quantized multi-rank beamforming scheme for multiple-antenna systems such as a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless downlink. User equipment (UE) estimates downlink channel and transmit power and determines rank and power allocations. A quantized beamforming matrix is then determined by the UE using successive beamforming. The UE also determines channel quality indices (CQI) which it feeds-back to the wireless downlink base station along with the index of the quantized beamforming matrix. The base station uses the CQI information to select a UE for scheduling of downlink transmission and the quantized beamforming matrix index received from the selected UE to beamform the downlink transmission to the UE. Base station overhead and is minimized while providing near-optimal performance given the constraints of a limited feed-back channel and computational complexity of the UE. |
| US08452333B2 |
Feeder cable reduction
The present invention facilitates the reduction of cabling required in a base station environment. When receive diversity is employed, main and diversity antennas are used to receive common signals at different locations. The signals received at the main and diversity antennas are combined with one another in the masthead and transmitted over a single feeder cable to a base housing for further processing. Thus, signals that were normally sent over separate feeder cables and combined in the base housing are combined in the masthead and sent over a single feeder cable. The technique can be replicated for each sector provided by the base station environment. |
| US08452328B2 |
Method and system of sharing a controller for a combined cellular phone and satellite radio
A method (300) and system (100) for sharing a controller for a combined cellular phone and satellite radio includes a cellular phone module (102), a satellite radio module (106), and a controller module (108) having a digital signal processor (120) shared by the cellular and satellite modules. A base band processor (118) of the satellite module can provide a digital audio output (107) to a stereo decoder (122) of the controller module and a base band module (112) of the cellular phone module can provide a digital audio output (109) to the stereo decoder. The base band processor of the satellite module can provide compressed audio (111) to the DSP for longer term storage within a memory (129). The DSP can also receive control signaling (113) from the base band processor of the satellite radio module and control signaling (117) from the base band processor of the cellular phone module. |
| US08452326B2 |
Arrangement and method relating to connection of mobile stations
The present invention relates to an arrangement supporting dual mode operation or communication with a core network node using a first and a second mode via a first and a second interface respectively. It comprises parameter handling means adapted to collect or receive first parameters comprising configurable traffic load related parameters and second parameters comprising current network traffic dependent parameters. It also comprises selecting means comprising calculating means adapted to use the configurable parameters and the current parameters of the parameter handling means to select the first or the second mode as operation mode for a connection of a mobile station to the core network. |
| US08452318B2 |
Method and systems for power overload control of the trunking group forward supplemental channel
A higher limit of forward supplemental channel transmitting power of sector trunking group users is reduced or increased correspondingly based on whether sector power is overload, and it is set as a target maximum transmitting power of trunking group forward supplemental channels; the trunking group users are divided into groups based on channel board, and an adjusting step size is determined based on a ratio between trunking group combining transmitting power of the users divided and forward supplemental channel shared transmitting power of the sector trunking group, and a comparison between the forward supplemental channel shared transmitting power of the sector trunking group and target maximum transmitting power of the trunking group forward supplemental channels, and the higher limit of the forward supplemental channel transmitting power of sector trunking group is adjusted based on the adjusting step size. |
| US08452315B1 |
Apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for dispatch group calling across fleets
An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for controlling dispatch voice communications between fleets in a network are provided. The apparatus includes a multi-fleet dispatch console configured to receive a request for a dispatch group call including dispatch stations in a plurality of fleets and to establish the dispatch group call based upon the request. The multi-fleet dispatch console has a higher priority than any other dispatch console in the network. According to the method, the multi-fleet dispatch console may also determine whether a requestor of the dispatch group call is authorized to establish the requested dispatch group call and output an authorization denial message, if the requestor is not authorized to establish the dispatch group call. Additionally, the multi-fleet dispatch console may drop unavailable dispatch stations from existing group calls, if a priority of the request exceeds a priority of the existing group calls. |
| US08452312B1 |
Dynamic paging for hybrid mobile stations
Methods and systems are disclosed herein that may help to improve the paging success rate for hybrid mobile stations, which in turn may help to prevent dropped calls. An exemplary method for paging an access terminal involves an access network: (a) before transmission of a page to an access terminal, determining whether or not the access terminal is a hybrid access terminal; (b) if the access terminal is not a hybrid access terminal, then selecting standard page settings for the page; (c) if the access terminal is a hybrid access terminal, then selecting adjusted page settings for the page, wherein the adjusted page settings increase the probability that the access terminal will successfully receive the page; and (d) applying the selected page settings and transmitting the page. To help increase the probability that the access terminal will successfully receive the page, the adjusted page settings for the page may involve setting that reduces or disables concatenation of the page and/or an increased page-transmission power. |
| US08452311B1 |
Sleep estimator for cellular telephones
A method for waking up user equipment in a cellular network includes waking up a receiver module at a predetermined wakeup time to receive a transmitted paging signal, when awake, determining prevailing conditions for receiving paging signals, and skipping at least a next possible wakeup time if at least one of the prevailing conditions exceeds an associated threshold level. A user equipment for use on a mobile communications network includes a reception quality determiner to determine at least one of a reception quality of a received signal and a radio frequency (RF) level of the signal, a paging indication processor to process received paging signals, a system message handler to determine a level of activity for a cellular network, and a conditional wakeup mechanism that is configured to set a next wakeup for the user equipment time responsively to an input from at least one of the reception quality determiner and the system message handler. |
| US08452310B1 |
Method for generating coverage maps for wireless networks with mobile devices
A coverage map for a wireless network is generated. The network includes a server communicating with clients in a coverage area. The clients are mobile devices. At the server, location and reliability information from each client is received. The server then constructs and maintains the coverage map according to the location and reliability information. The coverage map is used to deliver telematic information from the server to the clients in response to requests by the clients. |
| US08452305B2 |
Regulation of service in restricted telecommunication service area
System(s) and method(s) are provided to regulate telecommunication service in a confined area in which telecommunication is restricted. Regulation includes control of wireless resources and access thereto, and monitoring wireless activity and locating sources thereof within the confined area. Regulation can be accomplished through networked femtocell access points and distributed antenna systems. Control of wireless resources is accomplished through selective jamming within the confined area; selective jamming can be updated based on performance metrics of telecommunication service. Configurable lists that authorize mobile device(s) to consume wireless service within the confined area control access to wireless resources. Access can be granted or denied statically or dynamically. Monitoring of wireless activity within the confined area includes tracking and recordation of signaling or traffic activity. The monitoring of signaling activity can enable location of a source of wireless activity, while monitoring of traffic can lead to identification of a user thereof. |
| US08452303B2 |
Reduction of wireless communication costs in enterprises
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing wireless telecommunication costs for enterprises having a plurality of PBX-equipped sites, connected by either a public network (e.g., the PSTN, the Internet, etc.), a private network (e.g., leased lines, a virtual private network [VPN] over the Internet, etc.), or some combination of public and private networks. In particular, the illustrative embodiments of the present invention attempt to reduce telecommunication costs by advantageously routing calls from an off-premises wireless terminal belonging to the enterprise via one or more of the enterprise's private branch exchanges. The present invention is especially advantageous in that it can reduce telecommunication costs for calls from an off-premises wireless terminal to any type of destination: another cell phone, a wireline terminal, a private branch exchange, etc. |
| US08452302B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth and access management
In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can perform determining that a first demand by a group of mobile devices for a first bandwidth of a first data communication path exceeds the first bandwidth; wirelessly coupling to a second data communication path; receiving, via the first data communication path, first data at or below the first bandwidth of the first data communication path; transmitting the first data to the mobile devices; receiving, via the second data communication path, second data at or below a second bandwidth of the second data communication path; and transmitting the second data to the mobile devices. In one or more embodiments, wirelessly coupling to the second data communication path can include wirelessly coupling to a wireless access point. In one or more embodiments, the wireless access point can be included in a satellite that orbits a planet. |
| US08452300B2 |
Communication system including a FEMTO base station and a communication terminal, and a communication method thereof
Apparatuses and methods of transmitting a signal with reduced interference in a femto base station including a plurality of antennas having different radiation patterns are provided. A method includes transmitting common information through the plurality of antennas having the different radiation patterns; receiving feedback information corresponding to the common information; analyzing the feedback information; temporarily selecting one of the plurality of antennas as a transmission antenna, based on a result of the analyzing; and transmitting user information through the transmission antenna. |
| US08452297B2 |
Method of random access channel optimization and related communication device
A method of random access channel (RACH) optimization for a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a system information message for RACH configuration optimization, from a network of the wireless communication system, and determining whether to send a first RACH measurement report, used for the network to perform the RACH configuration optimization, to the network, according to existence of a field in the system information message. |
| US08452294B2 |
In-band ate indicator methods and apparatus
Downlink traffic channel data rate options and methods of indicating to a wireless terminal a utilized downlink data rate option are described. The downlink traffic channel rate option for a segment is conveyed using an assignment signal and/or a block in the downlink traffic channel segment which is not used for user data. Downlink segment assignment signals in some implementations allocate fewer bits for rate option indication than are required to uniquely identify each option. In some implementations low rate options, e.g., using QPSK, are uniquely identified via assignment signals. Higher rate options, e.g., using QAM16 modulation, are conveyed via the distinct information block in the downlink traffic segment using a first coding/modulation method. Still higher rate options, e.g., using QAM16, QAM64, or QAM256, are conveyed via the information block in the segment using a second coding/modulation method which is applied to the rate option information. |
| US08452289B2 |
Method and system for performing peer-to-peer communication between stations within a basic service set
A method and system for performing peer-to-peer wireless communication between stations (STAs) within a basic service set (BSS) while maintaining connectivity with an access point (AP) in the BSS are disclosed. A source STA, an AP and a destination STA negotiate a direct link setup (DLS) channel for performing peer-to-peer communication between the source STA and the destination STA. The DLS channel may be different from a BSS channel used for communication between the AP and each of the STAs. The source STA and the destination STA then perform peer-to-peer communication on the negotiated DLS channel. |
| US08452288B2 |
Method for handover with consideration of the neighbor base stations' circumstances
A method for a handover with consideration of neighbor base stations' circumstances is disclosed. The method for a handover with consideration of neighbor base stations' circumstances by a mobile station in a wireless communication system includes transmitting a handover request (MOB_MSHO-REQ) message to a serving base station, receiving a handover response (MOB_BSHO-RSP) message including a base stations list made with consideration of the neighbor base station's circumstances from the serving base station, and selecting a base station among neighbor base stations except some base stations of the base stations list and transmitting a handover indicate (MOB_HO_IND) message including a information of the selected base station to the serving base station. |
| US08452287B2 |
Communication system, parameter setting control apparatus and control method
This invention has as its object to implement dynamic processing according to processing loads on access points in a wireless communication local network system including a plurality of independent wireless cells. According to this invention, a communication control method for a communication control apparatus, which controls a wireless communication in a wireless communication local network system including a plurality of independent wireless cells, includes: a step of determining the processing loads of respective APs; a step of selecting an STA, which is to associate with another independent wireless cell built using an AP with a low processing load by switching processing, of STAs, which associate with an independent wireless cell built using an AP with a high processing load; and a step of requesting to transmit parameter information required to associate with the other independent wireless cell. |
| US08452283B2 |
Femtocell base station and method thereof
The present invention relates to a method of a femtocell base station (1), for facilitating communication between a communication terminal (8) and a core network (4). The method comprises the femtocell base station (1) receiving a first message (11) from the communication terminal (8), the message (11) comprising a first message sequence number. The method also comprises the femtocell base station (1) producing a sequence number indicator arranged to indicate to the core network (4) to adjust (22) an expected message sequence number of the core network (4) to be synchronized with a corresponding message sequence number of the communication terminal (8). The method further comprises the femtocell base station (1) sending an update message (19a) to the core network (4), wherein the update message (19a) comprises the sequence number indicator. The invention also relates to a femtocell base station (1). |
| US08452280B2 |
Mobile radio terminal
If a control unit detects that it is located outside the service area, searching for a base station on the basis of information stored in a first list storage area is conducted with a certain cycle by a first searching means and searching for a base station on the basis of information stored in a second list storage area is conducted in a gradually extended cycle, in accordance with the number of times Cs of searching for the base station, by a second searching means. |
| US08452278B2 |
Inter-PLMN roaming
A method for facilitating inter-PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) roaming comprises a plurality of operations. A home PLMN of a caller's wireless communication device performs an operation for determining that the caller's wireless communication device is not located in the home PLMN and, in response to determining that the caller's wireless communication device is not located in the home PLMN, an operation for facilitating a call routing service in a Service Control Point (SCP) of the home PLMN. The call routing service causes a call originated by the caller's wireless communication device while roaming in a visited PLMN to be routed back to a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) of the home PLMN thereby allowing the home PLMN to have control over the roaming caller originated call and to have limited dependency on the visited PLMN. |
| US08452275B2 |
Methods and systems for increasing wireless traffic capacity in the vicinity of an event site
Network entity, method and computer-readable storage medium for use in a network that includes an arrangement of cell sites, each cell site being configured to provide wireless services to users within a respective coverage region. The network entity comprises an input configured to receive position information regarding occurrence of an event at an event site, and a processing entity configured to determine on a basis of the position information regarding occurrence of the event and policy information regarding the network, whether the event warrants coverage region reconfiguration and, if so, to generate a message commanding an adjustment to the coverage region of at least one cell site. An output is configured to release the message towards the at least one cell site, whereby application of the adjustment to the coverage region of the at least one cell site enables an increase in traffic to be accommodated in a vicinity of the event site. |
| US08452274B2 |
Global automatic cellular provisioning
The described method and system provide for the provisioning of a telematics unit on a telematics-equipped vehicle with cellular service information without pre-loading the information during manufacture of the vehicle or telematics unit. A telematics unit may be manufactured without cellular service information (e.g. MIN, MDN, carrier information) pre-loaded. At the vehicle assembly plant where the telematics unit is installed on a vehicle, the assembly plant's programming system may determine the final country destination for the vehicle and program the destination of the vehicle into the telematics unit. The assembly plant may further obtain vehicle attribute data (including a cellular identifier for the telematics unit) and send the data to a TSP. The TSP may then work with the wireless carrier in the destination country to assign the telematics unit a phone number and other cellular service information. After the telematics unit has determined that the vehicle is at the destination, the telematics unit may connect to a network using cellular commands to request an “over-the-air” cellular programming session. The wireless carrier may then push a phone number and other cellular service information into the telematics unit through the over-the-air cellular programming session. |
| US08452273B1 |
Systems and methods for determining mobile thing motion activity (MTMA) using accelerometer of wireless communication device
Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for accurately identifying a moving thing motion activity (MTMA) associated with a mobile thing (MT) using only accelerometer data from a wireless communication device (WCD) transported by the MT so as to enable or initiate a further one or more activity based actions. One such method, among others, comprises: (a) receiving first and second data from an accelerometer associated with a wireless communication device (WCD) transported by a mobile thing (MT), the first and second data indicative of acceleration of the WCD; (b) determining reference data that defines a reference framework in two dimensions (2D) of space from the first data; (c) normalizing the second data with the reference data so that the second data can be analyzed in the 2D space; and (d) identifying a mobile thing motion activity (MTMA) associated with the MT based upon the normalized second data. |
| US08452269B2 |
Process for delivering, to a subscriber of a telecommunications network, content depending on the activity pattern subscribed to by said subscriber
The present invention relates to a process for delivering to a telecommunications network consuming subscriber (1, 1′) content uploaded by a creating subscriber (2) depending on the activity pattern subscribed to by said consuming subscriber, comprising: the consuming subscriber (1, 1′) configures an activity pattern by defining an activity profile related to the creating subscriber who creates said content and a content profile related to said content that he/she is interested in receiving, the creating subscriber (2) uploads content in a telecommunications network, an activity pattern subscriptions manager (50) obtains an activity profile on said creating subscriber, and obtains a content profile on said content uploaded by the creating subscriber, and the activity pattern subscriptions manager (50) compares said activity profile and content profile obtained for the creating subscriber with the activity profile and content profile configured by the consuming subscriber in the activity pattern, and in the event of matching notifies said consuming subscriber of said content. |
| US08452268B2 |
System and method for gathering information related to a geographical location of a callee in a public switched telephone network
In a telecommunication system having at least two communicants (i.e., a caller and a callee), a system and method are presented for collecting information associated with the geographical location of either of the communicants. In one embodiment, the approach entails receiving a geographical location corresponding to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) telephone number, and collecting geographical location information associated with the received geographical location. |
| US08452262B2 |
Terminal device
The present invention is a terminal device for transmitting and receiving mails, comprising: a mail receiving unit; a judging unit operable to judge whether a command declaration is included in a received mail; a command interpreting unit operable to extract and interpret a specific command following the command-declaration if the judgment of the judging unit is affirmative; a creating unit operable to create, if the specific command is interpreted as target list creation, a list of corresponding targets in memory of the terminal device; and a mail transmitting unit operable to create and transmit a mail having the created list as a mail main body and addressed to a requester. |
| US08452260B2 |
Methods and apparatus for unlocking an electronic device
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for unlocking an electronic device. In an embodiment, a process causes a device such as a smartphone to receive a sound input from a fixed position microphone and determine if the device should be unlocked based on a comparison of the sound input with a previously defined sound input. |
| US08452259B2 |
Modular personal network systems and methods
Modular personal networks (MPNs) are disclosed that include multiple devices that may be worn, carried, or used in close proximity to a user. The devices communicate wirelessly. Devices include security circuitry that prevents them from being used in a different MPN once the user has configured them. Devices not designed for use within an MPN can be included in the network using a bridge device. Devices can be integrated into items of jewelry, such as earrings, rings, pendants, and bracelets. One item of jewelry, such as a bracelet, can support multiple replaceable modules with variable functions. Functions of the MPN can include communications, entertainment, medical monitoring, sports monitoring, personal organization, and games. Multiple users each with his or her own MPN can use them to collaborate in creation of music. An MPN can be used for mobile recognition and logging of wildlife. |
| US08452255B2 |
Field device with dynamically adjustable power consumption radio frequency communication
A field device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system includes terminals configured to connect to a two-wire process control loop configured to carry data and to provide power. In one embodiment, RF circuitry in the field device is configured for radio frequency communication having variable power consumption. In another embodiment, the RF circuitry is coupled to the field device through a separate digital communication bus. A method of modulating the power of RF communication based upon a process communication signal is also provided. |
| US08452250B2 |
DC offset compensation method and DC offset compensation device
A DC offset component that occurs in a quadrature modulation system, and that is contained in a modulated transmit signal, is compensated for with good accuracy. In a DC offset compensation method according to the present invention, a DC offset correction value obtained from the transmit signal is weighted in accordance with the signal level of an input signal which is transmit data input to the quadrature modulation system, and the DC offset component contained in the transmit signal is compensated for by using the thus weighted DC offset correction value. |
| US08452248B2 |
Multi-band RF combiner
An RF (radio frequency) combiner utilizes RF filtering cavities and transmission paths incorporated into an RF impervious material. This allows traditional stand-alone multiplexers to be integrated into a single device without using signal loss-inducing cables and connections between the multiplexers. The simplicity of the RF combiner allows for RF filters to be milled out of the same RF impervious material without requiring an external RF connection and avoids a cascading of multiple RF filters. In one instance, the RF combiner is employed with two BTS (base transceiver stations) to allow the sharing of antennas without the power losses associated with traditional cascading duplexers. |
| US08452247B2 |
Automatic gain control
In one example, a Bluetooth enabled navigation device pairs with a mobile phone and then sends a plurality of tuning transmissions, each at a different transmission power gain amount, to a remote server using the mobile phone. These tuning transmissions are encoded using frequency tones that synthesize speech for transmission through the mobile phone and a voice channel of its wireless telecommunications network. The navigation device then tunes transmit power settings according to a received response to the tuning transmissions and uses the tuned transmit power settings for subsequent transmission to the remote server using this particular mobile phone. |
| US08452240B2 |
Radio communication device, radio communication system, and radio communication method
There is provided a radio communication device that includes a plurality of leaky coaxial cables that transmit and receive radio signals, a detection unit that detects a difference in reception timing of a radio signal transmitted from another radio communication device among the plurality of leaky coaxial cables, and a transmission timing adjustment unit that adjusts transmission timing of radio signals to be respectively transmitted from the plurality of leaky coaxial cables based on the difference in the reception timing detected by the detection unit. |
| US08452239B2 |
Radio communication device, program and radio communication method
Provided is a radio communication device for operating in an autonomous distributed manner which includes a compression unit that compresses streaming data, a control unit that controls a compression rate of streaming data of the compression unit according to a distance from other radio communication device, a transmission unit that transmits the streaming data compressed by the compression unit to the other radio communication device. |
| US08452237B2 |
Method and system for automatic frequency control optimization
A method and apparatus for automatic frequency control in a receiver of a wireless device, the method determining a channel estimation for a received signal; calculating a signal to noise ratio for the channel estimation; applying a weighting factor determined based on the calculated signal to noise ratio for the channel estimation to the channel estimation to create a weighted channel estimation; and supplying the weighted channel estimation to a voltage controlled oscillator. |
| US08452236B2 |
Electronic device and a method for transfer of data
A first electronic device includes a radio transceiver for receiving a name request message from a second electronic device and for responding with a name reply message including data in addition to or as an alternative to a name. The second electronic device includes a radio transceiver for transmitting the name request message and for receiving in reply the name reply message; and extraction means for extracting from the received name reply message the data that is included in the name reply message as an addition to or as an alternative to a name. The data may be a URI and the first device may be an advertiser device. |
| US08452235B2 |
Tracking receiver devices with wireless power systems, apparatuses, and methods
Exemplary embodiments are directed to communicating information relating to wireless charging. A power transmitting system includes a host device with a transmit antenna. A communication interface conveys receiver information, which includes unique identifier information, from a receiver device to the host device. A controller on the host device monitors and processes the receiver information to generate notification information, which is presented to a user on a user-perceivable notifier. The transmit antenna generates an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency to create a coupling-mode region within a near-field of the transmit antenna. The system can detect a presence of a receiver device with a receive antenna that is in the coupling-mode region and process a request for power from the receiver device. The system can also notify a user when a host device is leaving a designated region and whether the host device includes expected receiver devices. |
| US08452234B2 |
Communication system and receiver used in communication system
A communication system is provided comprising a living body-side electrode which primarily capacitively couples with a living body, an environment-side electrode which primarily capacitively couples with an external environment, and a circuit board on which a circuit which processes a signal which is output from at least one of the living body-side electrode and the environment-side electrode is mounted, wherein the circuit board is not placed between the living body-side electrode and the environment-side electrode. |
| US08452230B2 |
Multi-metric gain control for wireless repeater
A method for controlling gain in a wireless repeater includes using two or more gain control metrics indicative of stability of the repeater, at least two of the gain control metrics having different integration lengths, where the integration length is the sum of the coherent integration time and the non coherent integration time, and controlling a variable gain value of the repeater based on one or more of the selected gain control metric(s) where the gain control metric(s) to use is selected based on the stability of the repeater. |
| US08452229B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and relay transmission method
Provided is a relay transmission method capable of obtaining the diversity effect even when a relay station has detected an error in a relay signal when performing communication between a base station and a mobile station via a relay station. In the relay station used in this method, a decoding unit (104) performs error-correction-decoding of a systematic bit by performing repeated decoding such as a turbo decoding by using a parity bit and obtains a decoding result formed by a systematic bit after the error-correction-decoding. An error judging unit (105) judges whether the decoded result has an error by using CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check). An encoding unit (106) performs error-correction-encoding of the decoded result and obtains a systematic bit after error-corrected-encoded and a parity bit. A selection unit (107) selects the decoded result inputted from the decoding unit (104) or the bit string inputted from the encoding unit (106) according to the judgment result obtained by the error judging unit (105) and outputs it to a modulation unit (108). |
| US08452227B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting internet radio program break content using mobile device location
Methods and systems for selecting content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet radio stream using mobile device location information. In one aspect, the methods and systems seamlessly select content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet radio stream using mobile device location information and program break markers. In another aspect, the methods and systems select content for outputting on a mobile device during a program break in an Internet radio stream using mobile device trajectory information. |
| US08452223B2 |
Image forming apparatus with sheet transport control timing changed according to length of transported sheet
Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member bearing a toner image formed by an image forming portion; a transfer part transferring the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a sheet; a separation/feeding part separating sheets stacked on a sheet stacking member and feeding the sheet while nipping the sheet; and a transport part transporting the sheet fed by the separation/feeding part to the transfer part, in which a transporting operation of the transport part is changed according to a length of the sheet to be transported in a transport direction of the sheet. |
| US08452222B2 |
Image-bearing member protecting agent, protective layer forming device, image forming method, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
An image-bearing member protecting agent including a fatty acid metal salt, and an inorganic lubricant, wherein the image-bearing member protecting agent is a solid formed by compression molding a particulate or granulated raw material containing the fatty acid metal salt and the inorganic lubricant, and applied or adhered to a surface of an image bearing member, and wherein the image-bearing member protecting agent has a front surface which is a side of the image-bearing member protecting agent to be used at the beginning, and a rear surface which is a side thereof to be left when most of the image-bearing member protecting agent is used up, and the image-bearing member protecting agent has a density decreasing from the front surface toward the rear surface. |
| US08452220B2 |
Laser fixing device
A laser fixing device, which is for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, including: a carrying device for carrying a sheet; and a laser array section which is made up of a plurality of laser sources arrayed in a line, the plurality of laser sources irradiating a non-fixed toner image, which is attached to the sheet that is being carried by the carrying device, with a laser beam so that the non-fixed toner image is fused and fixed to the sheet. In the laser fixing device, an irradiation region length and a sheet carrying speed are set so that tn≧0.259·mt1.5139, where mt is a maximum level of an attached-toner amount per unit area of the sheet (mg/cm2) in the image forming apparatus, and tn is an irradiation region crossing time (msec), which is found by dividing the irradiation region length by the sheet carrying speed, the irradiation region length being a length, in the direction in which the sheet is carried, of a region on the sheet which region is irradiated with the laser beam. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a void from occurring in the laser fixing device. |
| US08452219B2 |
Electrophotographic printer
An electrophotographic printer is configured such that an infrared heater is installed at a position between a plurality of electrophotographic print units installed in of the flow direction of a recording material, and a part (an inter-unit extension part) situated between print units of the recording material is irradiated with infrared light from the infrared heater to perform a partial evaporative removal of a carrier liquid of the recording material and a partial fixing of a toner. |
| US08452213B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, a support frame configured to support a plurality of cartridges each including a photoconductor is allowed to be pulled out from a casing of the apparatus. A plurality of light-emitting parts configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor to light is arranged in each exposure unit which is movable between an exposure position proximate to the corresponding photoconductor and a retreating position away from the photoconductor. A pair of side plates of the support frame, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a main direction in which the light-emitting parts are arranged, has guide slots formed therein, each of which is configured to guide movement of a corresponding exposure unit between its exposure and retreating positions. Each guide slot includes a positioning portion configured to position the exposure unit in position in a subordinate direction perpendicular to the main direction and to an exposure direction. |
| US08452208B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge. The developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus. A cartridge supporting member is movable, while detachably mounting the developing cartridge, between an inside position that is inside of the main assembly of the apparatus to mount the developing cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus, and an outside position that is outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to remove the developing cartridge from the main assembly of the apparatus. When the cartridge supporting member detachably supports a plurality of such developing cartridges, and when the cartridge supporting member is moved from the outside position to the inside position, force receiving portions of the developing cartridges are contacted to force applying portions of the apparatus at different points of time. |
| US08452207B2 |
Preventing damage to a photoconductor
An in situ replacement cartridge (200) for an electrophotographic printer includes a rigid, cylindrical photoreceptive member (206); a housing (233) for retaining and attaching the photoreceptive member to the printer; and a removable shield (231a, 231b) surrounding the photoreceptive member. |
| US08452205B2 |
Image forming apparatus having skeletal structural shaft
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, includes: a pair of panels which constitute a main body skeletal structure of the image forming apparatus and face each other; a main body skeletal structure shaft which connects between the pair of panels and is fixed to each of the pair of panels; and a unit which is installed between the pair of panels and needs positioning based on the main body skeletal structure shaft, wherein an exposed section which is provided on the main body skeletal structure shaft and serves as a measuring reference position for a measuring instrument when a positional relationship between the main body skeletal structure shaft and the unit is measured by use of the measuring instrument after completing assembling of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08452202B2 |
Heating device and image forming apparatus with fixing device switched on/off in response to a zero-cross point of an AC voltage output from an AC power source
A controller outputs a heater control signal in synchronization with a rise in a zero-cross signal. In response to the heater control signal, a switching device of a heater driving circuit switches ON/OFF. However, a noise occurs in an output voltage of an AC power source at the time of switching, and this noise causes a false zero-cross signal. For the purpose of preventing operation of a heater in accordance with the false zero-cross signal, the controller disregards the rise in the zero-cross signal during a set time period after the rise in the heater control signal. |
| US08452197B2 |
Image forming device having sheet reverse running mechanism
An image forming device includes a changeover flap, a cover, a flap displacement mechanism, an inlet end, an outlet end, and a first conveyer passage extending from the outlet end. A second conveyer passage is bifurcated from the first conveyer passage at a bifurcated portion. The changeover flap is provided at the bifurcated portion and is pivotally movable. The flap displacement mechanism includes a pivot arm pivotally movable. The pivot arm includes a free end portion provided with a linking portion to which the changeover flap is pivotally movably connected. The pivot arm and the changeover flap is configured to change an angle therebetween in accordance with a pivotal movement of the changeover flap and the pivot arm in interlocking relation to the pivotal movement of the cover from its closed position to its open position to displace the linking portion toward the cover. |
| US08452196B2 |
Device for measuring length of recording material, image forming apparatus and computer readable medium
A device for measuring a length of a recoding material, includes: a rotating body that rotates in contact with a recording material which is transported; a length measuring unit that measures a length of the recording material based on a rotation of the rotating unit; a detecting unit that detects at least one of a rotation and an oblique advance of the recording material; and a correcting unit that corrects a value measured by the length measuring unit based on an output of the detecting unit. |
| US08452192B2 |
Apparatus and method for monitoring statistical characteristics of phase noises, and coherent optical communication receiver
This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for monitoring statistical characteristics of phase noises, as well as to a coherent optical communication receiver. The apparatus for monitoring statistical characteristics of phase noises comprises an argument calculating unit (203), for obtaining an argument of a signal input thereto; an unwrapping unit (204), for unwrapping the argument obtained by the argument calculating unit (203) to obtain a phase signal (205); a delaying unit (207), for delaying the phase signal; a differentiating unit (209), for obtaining a difference between a phase signal currently obtained by the unwrapping unit (204) and a phase signal delayed by the delaying unit (207); a modulus squaring unit (210), for obtaining a square of the modulus of the difference; and an averaging unit (211), for averaging squares of moduli of a plurality of differences obtained by the modulus squaring unit (210) to obtain a mean-squared differential phase (MSDP) value. |
| US08452191B2 |
Electronic compensation of nonlinear effects of semiconductor optical amplifiers
Systems and methods are disclosed for compensating for impairments caused by a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). One such method comprises receiving an optical signal which has been distorted in the physical domain by an SOA, and propagating the distorted optical signal backward in the electronic domain in a corresponding virtual SOA. |
| US08452190B1 |
Wavelength locked channel select
A signal processing system includes an input for receiving an input signal, a light source for generating an optical carrier signal having a pre-determined wavelength, a modulator for receiving the input signal and the optical carrier signal and modulating the optical carrier signal based upon the input signal, and an optical filter having a plurality of signal channels, wherein at least one of the signal channels is locked by a reinsertion of the optical carrier signal to pass signals having a wavelength substantially the same as the wavelength of the optical carrier signal. |
| US08452188B2 |
Visible light communication method and system
A Visible Light Communication (VLC) method in a VLC terminal, in which the VLC terminal requests initial access to an Access Point (AP) on a selected mini-slot among a plurality of mini-slots constituting a control slot, based on control information in a frame, sends an association request to the AP on an allocated uplink time slot, if the uplink time slot allocated to correspond to the selected mini-slot exists in control information in a next frame, and transmits data at a data rate appointed to the VLC terminal included in control information in the current frame using an association Identifier (ID) included in a response received in reply to the association request and the allocated uplink time slot. |
| US08452187B2 |
Bi-directional, compact, multi-path and free space channel replicator
An apparatus for simulating radio frequency (RF) signal propagation characteristics in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first RF terminal and a second RF terminal. A first optical modulator is in electrical communication with the first RF terminal. An optical delay line is in optical communication with the first optical modulator. A first optical demodulator is in optical communication with the optical delay line and in electrical communication with the first RF terminal. A second optical demodulator is in optical communication with the optical delay line and in electrical communication with the second RF terminal. A second optical modulator is in electrical communication with the second RF terminal and in optical communication with the optical delay line. |
| US08452185B2 |
Polarization insensitive optical circuit
The present invention, in one embodiment contemplates a polarization insensitive optical circuit constructed of an input/output signal separator, such as an optical circulator or a 1×2 or 2×2 coupler or N×M coupler, a polarization sensitive operator, and a polarization rotator reflector. In an alternate embodiment, the invention contemplates a polarization insensitive optical circuit comprising a polarization rotator reflector, and a polarization sensitive operator which may comprise for example a first polarization rotator, an operator/coupler, and a polarization beam combiner. Preferably at least one of the components in the optical circuit is constructed integrally from the substrate upon which the optical circuit is based. For example the polarization rotator and/or polarization sensitive operator of the present invention may be monolithic. |
| US08452183B2 |
Transmitter of multimedia data
Disclosed is a multimedia data transmitter that can transmit multimedia data such as image, voice and control signal whose media are different from each other through an optical transmission medium such as plastic or glass optical cables to a short or long distance area. The multimedia data transmitter includes: a digital signal processing logic, converting multimedia data transmitted in different transmission formats into data of a single transmission format, converting parallel image data into serial image data; an interface control logic, generating a control signal for transmission of the data converted by the digital signal processing logic, interfacing interface data; an optical driver, performing optical transmission of the serial data generated by the digital signal processing logic according to the control signal generated by the interface control logic, processing an optical-to-electrical converted signal. |
| US08452178B2 |
Passive optical network user terminal and method of power supply control and power supply state reporting for the same
The present disclosure discloses a passive optical network (PON) user terminal comprising a passive optical network interface unit (PONIU) having access to a PON system, a service data distribution unit (SDDU) connected to the PONIU for distributing service data, a plurality of service processing units (SPUs) for receiving and accordingly processing the service data distributed by the SDDU, a power source for providing power to the above units, and a power supply control unit (PSCU) for controlling the activating/deactivating of the energy-saving power supply to the SPUs, the SDDU, and the PONIU. The present disclosure further provides a method for controlling the PON power supply and for reporting the power supply state. The present disclosure allows control of the energy usage of the PON user terminal to save power when a service in the PON user terminal is not used or when the user terminal uses a backup power source to supply power. |
| US08452176B2 |
Reachability matrices spanning multiple domains in an optical network
A method of providing routes through heterogeneous subsystems in an optical network is disclosed, which includes generating, using a processing device, a reachability matrix based on subnetwork information; and generating, using the processing device, a topology associated with the optical network using the reachability matrix. The method also includes determining, using the processing device, a shortest path through the optical network using the reachability matrix and a cost model graph; and displaying, using a graphical user interface, subsystems associated with the shortest path, regeneration locations associated with the shortest path, wavelengths associated with the shortest path, the topology, and the shortest path. Corresponding apparatus and computer-readable storage media are also disclosed. |
| US08452172B2 |
Testing an optical network
The present invention relates to testing a passive optical network having a head end and a plurality of terminals, which terminals are connected to the network at a respective plug and socket arrangement located at customer premises. A test device is provided having a standard plug for connection in place of a terminal in the socket of the relevant customer premises. An identification device is provided in the socket. The test device is arranged to (i) read the identity of the identification device and (ii) test the line and transmit a result to the head end together with the identity so that the line to the customer premises can be tested remotely. When the line has been tested, the test device can be removed. Because the test device uses an existing connection, the optical (insertion) loss is reduced. |
| US08452170B2 |
Digital single lens reflex camera
To simplify and miniaturize an interface structure for power supply and signal transmission and reception between a camera body and a lens unit and reduce operation restrictions of the interface structure, a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera includes a camera body and a lens unit which is attached to or detached from the camera body, in which the camera body includes interface pins formed contactable with the lens unit, the interface pins including power pins and signal pins, a pin housing that receives therein the interface pins, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) including a first pattern portion electrically connected with the power pins and a second pattern portion electrically connected with the signal pins, and a lead wire electrically connected with the first pattern portion. |
| US08452169B2 |
Control of artificial lighting of a scene to reduce effects of motion in the scence on an image being acquired
Motion of an image of a scene being captured by a digital image acquisition device is detected and used to control parameters of illumination of the scene by a flash lamp that is typically built into the device. Parameters that may be controlled include the intensity, duration and timing of light emitted by the flash lamp. Such control of the flash illumination is preferably performed in conjunction with adjusting one or more exposure parameters used to capture an image. Such exposure parameters include duration, aperture and sensor gain. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters and flash light characteristics. |
| US08452165B2 |
Recording medium, playback apparatus, method and program
A plurality of video streams and STN_table are recorded in the local storage 200. Each of the plurality of video streams is a secondary video stream to be played together with a primary video stream, and includes picture data representing a child image to be displayed in Picture in Picture that is composed of a parent image and the child image. In the STN_table, entries of secondary video streams that are permitted to be played are described in the order of priority. |
| US08452158B2 |
Recording apparatus, imaging and recording apparatus, recording method, and program
Disclosed herein is a recording apparatus including: an input section configured to input main data and added data attached to the main data; and a recording control section configured such that when the main data and the added data input through the input section have each reached a predetermined data amount, the recording control section temporarily stores the main data and the added data in units of the predetermined data amount; and that when the sum of the amounts of the temporarily stored data has reached a specific data amount, the recording control section transfers the temporarily stored data to recording media for recording thereto in a single file; the recording control section further registering management data about the recorded data to a file system of the recording media in such a manner that the management data is sorted by the data type of the recorded data. |
| US08452157B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US08452154B2 |
Transmitting signals to cause replays to be recorded at a plurality of receivers
A video stream may include portions that are stored while other portions are being displayed. In one embodiment, a portion of the video stream may be stored in digital storage media at one instance while in the next instance another portion of the stream is being read out of the storage media. |
| US08452153B2 |
Associating pre-generated barcodes with temporal events
An information stream (information stream) can be “bookmarked” with event markers to note points in time in the information stream of occurrences of interesting events. Repeat occurrences of an event are noted with the same event marker. The events of interest need not be a priori determined. In fact, unexpected events can be readily noted. |
| US08452147B2 |
Assembly for measuring optical signal power in fiber lasers
A fiber laser system is configured with a power measuring assembly surrounding a splice between two fibers. The power measuring assembly is operative to maintain the splice at a substantially constant splice temperature and shield the spliced fibers from external bending stresses so as to provide for power readings of the laser system at the splice independently from the influence of multiple variable external factors. |
| US08452142B1 |
Railway deployable composite communication cable
A communication cable can comprise twisted pairs of electrical conductors for transmitting electrical signals and bundles of optical fibers for transmitting optical signals. The electrical signals and/or the optical signals can support voice and digital communication or data transmission. The twisted pairs can be encased in a gelatinous material and disposed along a central axis of the communication cable. Each bundle of optical fibers can be disposed in a respective buffer tube. The buffer tubes can be arranged in a ring around the twisted pairs. The communication cable can be configured to manage strain on the optical fibers without subjecting the twisted pairs to deleterious tensile stress. The communication cable can include strength rods embedded in an outer jacket, with the outer jacket sized for insertion in a conduit running along a railway or other transportation line. |
| US08452140B2 |
Optical socket assembly having optical socket with electrical resilent contacts
An socket assembly (100) comprises an optical socket (1) and an IC package (5) assembled to the optical socket (1), the optical socket (1) comprises an insulative housing (4) with a plurality of passageways (4110), a plurality of optic members (3) received in the passageways (4110) and a plurality of electrical contacts (2) received in the insulative housing (1). The optic member (3) comprises a waveguide (31) and a lens (32) at the end of the waveguide (31), the IC package (5) comprises a plurality of lenses (510) located at the bottom portion (51) thereof and a plurality of electrical conducts (512) located at peripheral thereof, the lens (510) are received in the passageway (4110) and the electrical conducts (512) connect with the electrical contacts (2). |
| US08452135B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring fiber twist by polarization tracking
A method of measuring fiber twist in a multi-core optical fiber bearing an FBG with polarization dependent reflectivity. The state of polarization of the launched light is adjusted until the reflected FBG wavelength is maximal, indicating that light reaching the FBG is linearly polarized, and the polarization axis of the light reaching the FBG is aligned with the slow birefringent axis of the FBG; the SOP of launched light is now measured. Bending experienced by the fiber is measured conventionally, and birefringence produced by bending of the multi-core optical fiber is calculated. A candidate amount of twist between the launch location and the FBG is proposed, and the corresponding twist-induced birefringence is calculated. When calculations show that light with the launched SOP becomes linearly polarized and aligned with the FBG after traversing a fiber section with the calculated birefringences and proposed rotation, the amount of twist has been properly identified. |
| US08452130B2 |
Information storage medium storing graphic data and apparatus and method of processing the graphic data
An information storage medium including graphic data and presentation information, and an apparatus and method of processing the graphic data are provided. The information storage medium includes the graphic data, page composition information which defines page composition of the graphic data, and the presentation information indicating when graphic screen data, which is composed with reference to the page composition information of the graphic data, is output to a display screen. Therefore, a graphic object is reusable in graphic data processing, and accordingly, a time taken to process the graphic data is reducible and memory area may be saved. |
| US08452127B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for reducing the effects of noise in image signals
An object is to suppress a false color and moire that occur in a high-frequency region. Color interpolation circuits of a color-difference signal generating circuit separate an image signal obtained from an image pickup device, in which a plurality of color filters are arranged in a predetermined pattern and in which pixels corresponding to the respective color filters are provided, into image signals of the respective color filters (R, G1, G2, and B), and perform an interpolation process on the image signals of the respective color filters. Then, a false color determining circuit determines whether a target region is a high-frequency region on the basis of at least any of slopes of image signals of the G1 filter and the G2 filter and a difference between the image signals of the G1 filter and the G2 filter in the target region. |
| US08452114B2 |
Decoding apparatus and control method thereof
A decoding apparatus for decoding an encoded image signal and its control method. The decoding apparatus decodes the encoded image signal and inverse-quantizes decoded information. The apparatus inverse-orthogonal transform an inverse-quantized information to obtain a decoded image signal. A quantization error estimator estimates a maximum square error of the inverse-quantized information and a second inverse-orthogonal transformer inverse-orthogonal transforms the quantization error from the quantization error estimator. An image-quality enhancing signal generator generates an image-quality enhancing signal based on the quantization maximum error and the decoded image signal, and an image synthesizer generates a high-quality image signal by synthesizing the image-quality enhancing signal with the decoded image signal. |
| US08452107B2 |
Methods and systems for occlusion tolerant face recognition
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for face recognition that is occlusion tolerant and scale/shift invariant based on a combination of hierarchical maximization and adaptive representation technique. |
| US08452104B2 |
Image determination apparatus, computer readable medium storing program, and method
An image determination apparatus includes a first extraction unit, a second extraction unit, a calculation unit, and a correction unit. The first extraction unit extracts a first set from an image including linear components that are line-shaped components. The first set includes a linear component extending along a first direction and a linear component extending along a second direction intersecting the first direction. The second extraction unit extracts a second set including a linear component extending along a direction different from the first and second directions. The calculation unit calculates a likelihood for the first set extracted by the first extraction unit in accordance with a relationship between linear components included in the first set. The likelihood is a likelihood of a table being formed. The correction unit corrects the likelihood calculated by the calculation unit in accordance with a relationship between the first set and the second set. |
| US08452102B2 |
Image management apparatus, control method, and storage medium
The present invention is directed to an image managing apparatus allowing a user to acquire an image shot by other user participated in an event that the user participated in when a user shot images with the user's own camera but there was a period of time in which the user could not shoot due to some reason. The image management apparatus of the present invention is configured to sort a plurality of images shot by the user's camera based on a shooting time, calculate a non-shooting time period, extract an image shot by a camera of other user, which has a shooting time included in the non-shooting time period of the user. Further, the image management apparatus extracts an image having keywords, a shooting position, and object information, which are the same as an image shot by the camera of the user. |
| US08452100B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus including the same, and image processing method
A feature point calculating section binarizes the image data to obtain a centroid of a consecutive component in which pixels are connected as a feature point, reverses the image data, obtains a centroid as a feature point from the reversed image data similarly, and adds them as a feature point of the image data. A features calculating section calculates a predetermined invariant based on the feature point containing the feature point obtained from the reversed image data, and calculates a hash value based on the predetermined invariant. A vote process section retrieves a hash table based on the calculated hash value, votes for a document of an index stored in association with the hash value, and accumulatively adds the vote. A similarity determination process section compares the number of votes calculated by the vote process section with a predetermined threshold value to determine a similarity. |
| US08452097B2 |
Apparatus and method for extracting circumscribed rectangles of characters in transplantable electronic document
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for extracting circumscribed rectangles of one or more characters in a transplantable electronic document. The apparatus comprises a command and resource extraction device for extracting text-segment-related commands and original font resources; a division device for dividing the original font resources into fonts; a font replacement device for seeking fonts, and obtaining font resources after font replacement; a measurement information extraction device for extracting character shape measurement information of the characters; and a calculation device for calculating the circumscribed rectangles of the characters. |
| US08452096B2 |
Identifying descriptor for person or object in an image
A device and method for processing an image to create appearance and shape labeled images of a person or object captured within the image. The appearance and shape labeled images are unique properties of the person or object and can be used to re-identify the person or object in subsequent images. The appearance labeled image is an aggregate of pre-stored appearance labels that are assigned to image segments of the image based on calculated appearance attributes of each image segment. The shape labeled image is an aggregate of pre-stored shape labels that are assigned to image segments of the image based on calculated shape attributes of each image segment. An identifying descriptor of the person or object can be computed based on both the appearance labeled image and the shape labeled image. The descriptor can be compared with other descriptors of later captured images to re-identify a person or object. |
| US08452094B2 |
Real-time image generator
A real-time image generator is disclosed. A real-time image generator may include a first block extracting only a luminance component having a saturation, hue, and value domain from red, green and blue values of an image. A second block outputs a log summation value and pixel count value with respect to a luminance component of an overall image by using the extracted luminance component and a natural log value. A third block calculates a luminance average value of the image by using the natural log summation value and the pixel count value outputted in the second block, the third block generating a tone mapping look up table including a tone mapping operator (Ld) for each luminance range to obtain a final output image using the calculated luminance average value. The third block outputs a tone mapped red, green and blue value by multiplying a corresponding tone mapping operator (Ld) of the tone mapping look up table by a red, green and blue value of the input image. |
| US08452093B2 |
Efficient histogram storage
A histogram has ranges, a value for each range, and a time value. A pattern is generated, having a zero value for each range having a zero value, and a one value for each range having a non-zero value. Any non-zero values of the ranges are compressed into a compressed value. The pattern and the time value match or do not match any given entry of a pattern table having a number of entries, each of which has an index value, a time range, and a pattern. Where the pattern and the time value do not match any given entry of the pattern table, a new entry is added to the pattern table, and is considered the given entry. An entry is then added to a histogram table. This entry has the time value, the index value of the given entry of the pattern table, and the compressed value. |
| US08452091B2 |
Method and apparatus for converting skin color of image
An image-processing method that converts a skin color of an image is provided, the method including detecting a face region of an image, when a face region is detected in the image, verifying whether the face region is a face by analyzing the characteristics of the face region, and when the region is determined to be a face, extracting a skin region in the image, and converting the skin color of the extracted skin region into a desired skin color. |
| US08452088B1 |
Content-based digital-image classification method
A method of classification for a content-based digital-image, including: defining a set of low-level features describing the semantic content of the image, the features being quantities obtainable from the image by means of logico-mathematical expressions that are known beforehand, and the choice of said features depending upon the image classes used for the classification; indexing an image to be classified, with the purpose of extracting therefrom a feature vector, the components of which consist of the values assumed, in the image, by said low-level features; splitting the feature space defined by the low-level features into a plurality of classification regions, to each one of the regions there being associated a respective image class, and each classification region being the locus of the points of the feature space defined by a finite set of conditions laid on at least one component of the feature vector; associating the feature vector to the feature space; identifying, among the classification regions, a specific classification region containing the feature vector extracted from the image to be classified; and identifying the image class associated to the specific classification region identified. |
| US08452086B2 |
System and user interface for machine-assisted human labeling of pixels in an image
A user interface and method is embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer. The user interface is a labeler which labels only foreground pixels of an image stored in a computing environment. The labeler operates in a Region mode/state and Brush mode/state, and includes a Tentative mode that permits an assigned label to be changed after pixels have been selected. Groups of pixels may be selected for labeling at once by a point-and-click command, and a pixel may belong to one or more groups of pixels which are stored in memory as image layers. The groups are formed dynamically by user selection actions, and/or through automatic recognition algorithms. Pixels already labeled with certain labels may be locked to not be altered by additional labeling operations. Unassigned pixels may be highlighted to increase the ease at which they are identified in an image. Comparisons between labeled images are undertaken to indicate differences between different groundtruth labeling. |
| US08452085B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer readable medium for color extraction and deletion
An image processing apparatus is provided, the apparatus including: a color extracting section that extracts colors contained in processing image data as a flat color or a characteristic color; a first evaluation value calculating section that calculates a flat color evaluation value with respect to a combination of flat colors based on a color difference, and that calculates a characteristic color evaluation value with respect to a combination of characteristic colors based on a color difference; a second evaluation value calculating section that calculates a combination evaluation value with respect to a combination of a characteristic color and a flat color based on a color difference; and a deleting section that reduces a number of colors to a preset number by deleting a color extracted by the color extracting section in accordance with the characteristic color evaluation value, flat color evaluation value and the combination evaluation value. |
| US08452084B2 |
Method for compressing elevation maps
A method for compressing an elevation map by means of digital image processing, according to which local and global parameters of an elevation map are calculated for sorting the elevation map into a corresponding category and the elevation map is categorized according to the calculated local and global parameters. Optimal parameters for compressing the elevation map are determined according to the calculated local and global parameters and according to the corresponding category and then the elevation map is compressed by applying on it digital image processing by using the determined optimal compression parameters. |
| US08452078B2 |
System and method for object recognition and classification using a three-dimensional system with adaptive feature detectors
A method including imaging an object in three-dimensions; binning data of the imaged object into three-dimensional regions having a predetermined size; determining a density value p of the data in each bin; inputting the p density values of the bins into a first layer of a computational system including a corresponding processing element for each of the bins; calculating an output O of the processing elements of the computational system while restricting the processing elements to have weights Wc1 connecting the processing elements to the corresponding p density values; and communicating an estimated class of the scanned object based on the calculated system outputs. |
| US08452077B2 |
Method for imaging workpiece surfaces at high robot transfer speeds with correction of motion-induced distortion
A method is provided for imaging a workpiece by capturing successive frames of an elongate stationary field of view transverse to a workpiece transit path of a robot, while the workpiece is transported by the robot. The robot transit path is illuminated with an elongate illumination pattern transverse to the transit path to obtain a workpiece image of successive frames. Motion-induced image distortion is corrected by computing respective correct locations of respective ones of the frames along the transit path. |
| US08452073B2 |
Closed-loop process control for electron beam freeform fabrication and deposition processes
A closed-loop control method for an electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) process includes detecting a feature of interest during the process using a sensor(s), continuously evaluating the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein, and automatically modifying control parameters to control the EBF3 process. An apparatus provides closed-loop control method of the process, and includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam, a wire feeder for feeding a wire toward a substrate, wherein the wire is melted and progressively deposited in layers onto the substrate, a sensor(s), and a host machine. The sensor(s) measure the feature of interest during the process, and the host machine continuously evaluates the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein. The host machine automatically modifies control parameters to the EBF3 apparatus to control the EBF3 process in a closed-loop manner. |
| US08452064B2 |
Apparatus and methods for geometric calibration of positron emission tomography systems
Apparatus and methods for geometric calibration of positron emission tomography (PET) systems are provided. One method includes obtaining scan data for a uniform phantom and generating reference images based on the scan data for the uniform phantom. The method further includes reconstructing images of the uniform phantom using a PET imaging system and determining a geometric calibration for the PET imaging system based on a comparison of the reconstructed images and the reference images. |
| US08452062B2 |
Respiration determination apparatus for determining respiration based on bronchial tree image data
A respiration determination apparatus includes a bronchial tree image data set providing unit which provides a bronchial tree image data set showing a bronchial tree. The apparatus further includes a bronchial tree detection unit for detecting the bronchial tree in the bronchial tree image data set, and a respiratory information determination unit for determining information about the respiration from the detected bronchial tree. |
| US08452061B2 |
Electronic colon cleansing method for virtual colonoscopy
A method for electronically cleansing a virtual object formed from acquired image data converted to a plurality of volume elements is provided. The present method allows individual volume elements, or voxels, to represent more than one material type. The method includes defining a partial volume image model for volume elements representing a plurality of material types based, at least in part, on the measured intensity value of the volume element. The material mixture for each of the volume elements representing a plurality of material types can be estimated using the observed intensity values and the defined partial volume image model. The volume elements representing a plurality of material types can then be classified in accordance with the estimated material mixture. For electronic colon cleansing, the method includes removing at least one classification of volume elements when displaying the virtual object. |
| US08452060B2 |
Fingerprint preview quality and segmentation
A ridge flow based fingerprint image quality determination can be achieved independent of image resolution, can be processed in real-time and includes segmentation, such as fingertip segmentation, therefore providing image quality assessment for individual fingertips within a four finger flat, dual thumb, or whole hand image. A fingerprint quality module receives from one or more scan devices ridge-flow—containing imagery which can then be assessed for one or more of quality, handedness, historical information analysis and the assignment of bounding boxes. |
| US08452057B2 |
Projector and projection control method
A method controls a projection of a projector. The method predetermines hand gestures, and assigns an operation function of an input device to each of the predetermined hand gestures. When an electronic file is projected onto a screen, the projector receives an image of a speaker captured by an image-capturing device connected to the projector. The projector identifies whether a hand gesture of the speaker matches one of the predetermined hand gestures. If the hand gesture matches one of the hand gestures, the projector may execute a corresponding assigned operation function. |
| US08452055B2 |
Collision warning system
A method of estimating a time to collision (TTC) of a vehicle with an object comprising: acquiring a plurality of images of the object; and determining a TTC from the images that is responsive to a relative velocity and relative acceleration between the vehicle and the object. |
| US08452049B2 |
Image analysis by object addition and recovery
The invention described herein is generally directed to methods for analyzing an image. In particular, crowded field images may be analyzed for unidentified, unobserved objects based on an iterative analysis of modified images including artificial objects or removed real objects. The results can provide an estimate of the completeness of analysis of the image, an estimate of the number of objects that are unobserved in the image, and an assessment of the quality of other similar images. |
| US08452048B2 |
Associating an object in an image with an asset in a financial application
The invention relates to a method for associating an object in an image with an asset of a number of assets in a financial application. The method includes receiving the image of the object comprising global positioning system (GPS) data, where the image is captured using an image-taking device with GPS functionality and processing the image to generate processed GPS data. The method further includes determining, using the processed GPS data, a geographic location of the object in the image, and identifying, using the geographic location, the object by performing a recognition analysis of the image. The method further includes associating, based on the recognition analysis, the object in the image with the asset of the assets of an owner in the financial application, and storing, in the financial application, the image of the object associated with the asset of the assets of the owner. |
| US08452046B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic sediment or sludge detection, monitoring, and inspection in oil storage and other facilities
A method includes receiving an image of a storage tank at a processing system, where the storage tank is capable of storing one or more materials. The method also includes processing the image to identify a level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank. Processing the image could include segmenting the image into multiple segments and using the segments to identify a non-linearity in the image. The image could be segmented into segments having different grey levels using grey level values associated with previously-identified sediment or sludge. The identified level or amount of sludge or sediment could be used to automatically schedule maintenance for the storage tank. |
| US08452044B2 |
Printed matter, image processing apparatus, printed matter authenticity determination apparatus, image processing method, printed matter authenticity determination method, and program
A printed matter, wherein a line latent image and a digital watermark are printed in a predetermined region in an overlapping manner, the line latent image becoming visible when a line filter provided with a line pattern formed on a transparent film is superimposed thereon. |
| US08452040B2 |
Speaker-transducer with integral bass-reflex and maximum efficiency cooling
This is a novel speaker design which introduces its own integrated bass-reflex. This design allows for improved cooling for the speaker's voice coil over existing designs and has acoustics that are more natural and of higher quality than known speakers. |
| US08452038B2 |
Multi-throat acoustic horn for acoustic filtering
A horn coupled to multiple acoustic transducers includes first and second throat portions and a mixing area integrally formed with the first and second throat portions. The first throat portion has a first throat opening adjacent to a first transducer, and the second throat portion has a second throat opening adjacent to a second transducer. The mixing area includes a common mouth opening shared by the first and second throat portions for at least one of transmitting or receiving acoustic signals. At least one dimension of the first throat portion is different from a corresponding dimension of the second throat portion, so that a first cutoff frequency corresponding to the first throat portion is different from a second cutoff frequency corresponding to the second throat portion. |
| US08452034B2 |
Entrainment avoidance with a gradient adaptive lattice filter
Method and apparatus for signal processing an input signal in a hearing assistance device to avoid entrainment, the hearing assistance device including a receiver and a microphone, the system comprising using a gradient adaptive lattice filter including one or more reflection coefficients to measure an acoustic feedback path from the receiver to the microphone of the hearing assistance device. |
| US08452029B2 |
Audio system, electronic device and car audio system
An audio system including an inverter, a first amplifier, a first mixer, a main speaker, and a first audio output port is provided. The inverter receives a first audio signal and inverts the first audio signal into an inverted audio signal. The first amplifier receives the inverted audio signal from the inverter and multiplies the inverted audio signal by a first gain to generate a first compensating audio signal. The first mixer receives a second audio signal and mixes the first compensating audio signal with the second audio signal to generate a first low-interference audio signal. The main speaker receives and plays the first audio signal. The first audio output port receives the first low-interference audio signal from the first mixer and transmits the first low-interference audio signal to a first external speaker. An electronic device and a car audio system capable of generating the low-interference audio signal are provided. |
| US08452028B2 |
Dynamic surround channel volume control
A dynamic surround channel volume control applies a variable gain control to the surround channels of a multi-channel system. Thus the levels of the surround channels are related to the main volume control of the system. This maintains a predictable relationship between the surround channels and the main or front channels. |
| US08452022B2 |
Digital filter circuit, digital filter program and noise canceling system
Disclosed herein is a digital filter circuit for producing a noise reduction signal for reducing noise based on a noise signal outputted from a microphone which collects the noise, including: an analog/digital conversion section; a first digital filter section; an arithmetic operation processing section; a second digital filter section; and a digital/analog conversion section. The first digital filter section and/or the second digital filter section are configured such that a predetermined attenuation amount is obtained within a predetermined range in the proximity of a sampling frequency around the sampling frequency. |
| US08452021B2 |
Real ear measurement system using thin tube
An embodiment of a hearing assistance apparatus for performing a Real Ear Measurement (REM), comprises a hearing assistance device housing, a microphone within the housing, an earhook connected to the housing, and a flexible tube. The house has a first opening for guiding sound into the housing to the microphone. The housing and the connected earhook form an interface, where the earhook has a shape to provide a slot near the interface of the housing and the earhook. The tube guides sound, and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the flexible tube and the slot of the earhook cooperate to retain the first end of the flexible tube in the slot of the earhook and flush with the housing to provide a sound-tight connection with the first opening. |
| US08452018B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding multichannel signal using phase information
An apparatus and method for encoding/decoding a multi-channel signal may be provided. The apparatus of encoding a multi-channel signal may insert information about whether to encode a phase parameter indicating phase information of a plurality of channels, included in the multi-channel signal, in a bitstream of the multi-channel signal. The apparatus of decoding a multi-channel signal may determine whether to up-mix a mono signal using the phase parameter based on the information about whether to encode. |
| US08452015B2 |
Propagating keys from servers to clients
A method for key distribution includes steps or acts of: deprecating a first key on a server; receiving a request from a client wherein the client request includes the deprecated key; verifying the client request by using the deprecated key provided in the client request to decrypt the client request; and sending a communication to the client advising that the first key has been updated. An additional step of sending instructions to the client on obtaining the updated key may also be provided. Additionally, instructions on obtaining the updated key may be sent to the client. |
| US08452014B2 |
Group key management for mobile ad-hoc networks
Group key management in a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) may be provided. Each network node associated with the MANET may comprise a group distribution key and a list of authorized member nodes from which a group key manager may be elected. The group key manager may periodically issue a new group key to be used in protecting communications among the network nodes. A compromised node may be excluded from receiving updated group keys and thus isolated from the MANET. |
| US08452013B2 |
Secure message handling on a mobile device
Systems, methods, and software for providing digital security to a child message transmitted from a mobile device to a messaging server, where the mobile device typically does not transmit the parent message with the child message to the messaging server. Whether to apply digital security, such as encryption or a digital signature, or both, is determined, and if the mobile device does not include a complete copy of a parent message for insertion into the child message, the mobile device selectively downloads the parent message from the messaging server prior to the computation of a digital signature or prior to encryption. The systems and methods may also provide a check of the child message size, when the child message includes inserted parent content, to ensure that the child message does not exceed any prescribed limits on message size. |
| US08452012B2 |
Using a trusted-platform-based shared-secret derivation and WWAN infrastructure-based enrollment to establish a secure local channel
A system and method for establishing a connection on a mobile computing device includes generating a secret on a trusted platform of the mobile computing device. The secret is transported to a subscriber identity module (SIM)/Smartcard on the mobile computing device. A secure local communication channel is established between the trusted platform and the SIM/Smartcard using the secret. |
| US08452008B2 |
Content distributing method, apparatus and system
The present invention provides a method of distributing content to a plurality of clients. The method on a server begins with accessing content to be distributed to a plurality of clients and identifying a first type of content to be distributed as crucial content and identifying a second type of content to be distributed as non-crucial content. The crucial content is any content required to properly render, after a decryption process, the content. The non-crucial content is all the other content to be distributed. The crucial content is encrypted with a first encrypting key which is unique to each of the plurality of clients. The crucial content which has been encrypted is transmitted. The non-crucial content is transmitted to the plurality of clients. |
| US08452005B2 |
Unicode-compatible encipherment
Unicode character data is received for transcoding. The Unicode character data is transcoded to an intermediate value. The intermediate value is enciphered. The enciphered intermediate value is transcoded back to Unicode-compatible character data. The transcoding includes assembling character values from the Unicode character data into one or more blocks and representing the assembled character values in a compact form. |
| US08452004B2 |
Multi-piece mobile media device enclosure
A mobile media device case can include: (a) a first portion, the first portion comprising a first back wall and one or more first sidewalls, the first back wall and the one or more first sidewalls at least partially define a first interior of the first portion and a first exterior of the first portion, the first interior is configured to receive and partially cover at least a first part of the back section and the one or more side sections of the mobile media device; and (b) a second portion, the second portion comprising a second back wall and one or more second sidewalls, the second back wall and the one or more second sidewalls at least partially define a second interior of the second portion and a second exterior of the second portion. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein. |
| US08452003B2 |
Power saving technique for telephony access networks
Technique is proposed for managing total power consumption in an access network comprising two or more interface modules serving a plurality of subscriber lines, the technique comprises performing a study of real power consumption of the subscriber lines in the access network on a line-to-line basis, correlating results of the study with inventory information concerning allocation of the subscriber lines to the interface modules and power consumption ensured by said modules to the lines and, based on the correlation, assessing optimality of allocation of the subscriber lines to the interface modules. |
| US08452001B1 |
Class A-B line driver for gigabit Ethernet
A line driver including a first driver circuit, a second driver circuit, and a first summing circuit. The first driver circuit generates a first component signal having a first polarity based on a first transmit signal, the bias signal, and the offset signal. The second driver circuit generates a second component signal having a second polarity based on a second transmit signal, the bias signal, and the offset signal. The first summing circuit sums the first and second component signals to generate a first differential signal. A first average current of the first differential signal for multiple symbols is greater than a second average current of a second differential signal for the symbols. The second differential signal is generated by summing a first biased signal and a second biased signal. |
| US08451999B2 |
Interactive communication session director
A system and method may include processing of a signaling message, that includes a called number, requesting establishment of a communication session to the called number, determining that the called number is associated with an account comprising a member profile having an active forward-to number, and generating signals for producing an announcement associated with the account. The system and method may further include receiving a response to the announcement, and determining whether the response is associated with the member profile having the active forward-to number. |
| US08451998B2 |
System and method for providing location information
A system and method for providing location information is provided. The system may include a communication device. The communication device may include a communication interface to receive a notice of an incoming communication. The communication device may also include a display to display a representation of a present location of a calling party and to display a representation of a location of the communication device. |
| US08451995B2 |
User status management in a voice calling architecture
A mechanism for indicating a specific response message to be played to a caller is provided. A call that comprises an identification of a caller is received in a recipient device. If the recipient device is operating in the phone management mode, a recipient notification of the call is blocked on the recipient device. If the caller is identified as a known caller based on the identification of the caller, a caller specific response message is sent to the known caller. The caller specific response message is at least one of an interactive or a non-interactive caller specific response message. The interactive response message includes a code with which to respond. If the response message is the interactive response message and the caller enters the code associated with the interactive response message, then the recipient notification of the call is activated on the recipient device. |
| US08451994B2 |
Switching cameras during a video conference of a multi-camera mobile device
Some embodiments provide a method for conducting a video conference between a first mobile device and a second device. The first mobile device includes first and second cameras. The method selects the first camera for capturing images. The method transmits images captured by the first camera to the second device. The method receives selections of the second camera for capturing images during the video conference. The method terminates the transmission of images captured by the first camera and transmits images captured by the second camera of the first mobile device to the second device during the video conference. |
| US08451988B2 |
Delivery of text messages to wireline phones through caller ID functionalities
IMS networks, text message systems, and methods are disclosed for delivering text messages to IMS wireline phones. A text message system of an IMS network receives a text message intended for the IMS wireline phone. The text message system identifies capability data for an IMS wireline phone that indicates the capability of the IMS wireline phone for handling text messages. The text message system processes the capability data for the IMS wireline phone to determine if the IMS wireline phone is capable of handling text messages. If the IMS wireline phone is not capable of handling text messages, then the text message system appends the text message to a caller ID header of an IMS signaling message, and forwards the IMS signaling message to the IMS wireline phone to display the text message on a caller ID unit associated with the IMS wireline phone. |
| US08451987B1 |
Detecting 911 service disruptions
Service disruptions in a 911 system are detected by receiving reports from mobile positioning centers that detail certain activities of the 911 system. These reports are compiled into a log. Parts of this log are then searched for conditions that would indicate a service disruption. For example, a certain number of errors appearing in the log in the last six hours may indicate a service disruption. If a condition that would indicate a service disruption is found, a notice is generated so that action may be taken. |
| US08451986B2 |
Method and system for automatically providing alternate network access for telecommunications
A communications unit is provided that can be coupled to a building's telecommunication wiring to provide an automated mechanism for isolating the building's wiring from a PSTN, while also providing a telecommunications connection to an alternative communications network via, for example, broadband or cellular networks. The communications unit can further be configured to be coupled to an alarm controller unit of a security system, thereby permitting the security system to communicate with a remote server system without loss of alarm data. The communications unit can also be configured to permit the legacy security system to provide normal disconnect functionality of building telephones from an outgoing telecommunications line while an alarm condition is present. |
| US08451985B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing alerts
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a cordless phone operating in an establishment with a plurality of cordless phone handsets having a controller adapted to monitor a source for weather alerts, detect a weather alert, determine from the weather alert a weather alert type, retrieve a user profile, identify from the user profile and the weather alert type one or more of the plurality of cordless phone handsets to be notified of the weather alert, select from the user profile a ringtone type for each of the identified cordless phone handsets, wherein the ringtone type identifies the weather alert type, and transmit a message to cause each of the identified cordless phone handsets to assert the ringtone type identified therefor. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08451983B2 |
Dynamic emergency disaster plan
A database and communications server allow for composure of an emergency disaster plan that is tailored to the demographic and geographic information provided by a subscriber to the disclosed system. In the event of an emergency, relevant portions of a family disaster plan are communicated to a subscriber and the family members of the subscriber. Each subscribing family member may communicate with the database, which in turn automatically distributes the message to all family members. After the disaster has ended, insurance information is relayed to the subscriber, and the subscriber's insurance companies are notified. |
| US08451978B2 |
Automated DSL performance adjustment
A method includes selecting a first set of digital subscriber lines (DSLs) supported by a digital subscriber line access multiplexor (DSLAM). The DSLs of the first set exhibit reduced performance based on historical performance data. The method includes sending a request to the DSLAM for a first performance parameter for each of the DSLs of the first set. The method includes receiving the first performance parameters. The method includes removing DSLs from the first set that have suitable performance based on the first performance parameters to create a second set of DSLs. The method includes selecting a line profile to apply to the second set of DSLs. The method also includes sending a second request to the DSLAM to apply the line profile to the DSLs of the second set and then to determine a second performance parameter for each of the DSLs of the second set. |
| US08451976B2 |
Cathode assembly for an X-ray tube
A cathode assembly for an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, a cathode assembly includes a cathode head, a filament, and first and second focusing tabs. The cathode head defines a recess having first and second open ends, a slot within the recess, and first and second tab stops within the recess. The filament is positioned within the slot. The first focusing tab is positioned in the first open end of the recess abutting the first tab stop. The second focusing tab is positioned in the second open end of the recess abutting the second tab stop. |
| US08451965B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit, radio communication device and time to digital converter
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated device includes a digitally controlled oscillator, a counter, a time to digital converter, an adder, and a control signal generator. The time to digital converter includes a frequency-divider, a plurality of impedance elements, and a phase difference detector. The frequency-divider is configured to frequency-divide the oscillation signal to generate a plurality of frequency-divided signals. The plurality of impedance elements is configured to voltage-divide the frequency-divided signals to generate a plurality of delay signals of the oscillation signal. The phase difference detector is configured to output the third digital signal corresponding to the phase difference between the reference signal and the oscillation signal by comparing the reference signal with each of the delay signals. |
| US08451964B2 |
Code block interference cancellation
Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose an interference cancellation method based on the sub-blocks inside a block. For example, in the long term evolution (LTE) standard, the sub-blocks may be code blocks and the blocks may be transport block. |
| US08451961B2 |
Method of reducing interference
Various schemes for reducing effects of interference within communication systems are disclosed. A transmitter transmits a signal in a first time interval and a scrambled version of the signal in a second time interval, which does not overlap with the first time interval. A receiver receives a composite signal including a signal transmitted from the desired transmitter as well as signals from interferers in the first or the second time interval. The receiver determines a dominant interferer and obtains knowledge of signal scrambling done by the interferer as well as the desired transmitter by sensing an identification associated with the interferer or the desired transmitter. This knowledge is employed to determine coefficients for combining the received composite signals received in the first and the second time interval in order to recover the desired signal in a manner that maximizes the SNR associated with the desired signal or completely cancels the dominant interference. |
| US08451960B2 |
Transmitter gain control and calibration
Embodiments provide improved systems and methods of gain control and calibration for wireless transmitters. In particular, embodiments allow linear gain control over the entire transmitter gain control range, independent of temperature/process variations. Embodiments require very low power consumption compared to existing approaches. Embodiments may also be used for gain control calibration during production time, thereby substantially reducing production calibration time and cost. |
| US08451956B2 |
SNR-based blanking scheme for impulsive noise mitigation in wireless networks
A blanking scheme for mitigating impulsive noise in wireless networks is based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of symbols. To fully gain the benefits of the SNR-based blanking scheme, two methods are developed, namely a multi-level thresholding scheme in the time-, spatial- and frequency-domains, and a weighted-input error-correction decoding. The symbols are conditioned as a function of the estimated SNR in time-, frequency-, or spatial-domains or combinations therefore, and the conditioning is applied to an amplitude, phase, or energy level, or combinations thereof. |
| US08451955B2 |
Receiving apparatus, transmitting apparatus, reception method, and transmission method
A reception unit receives data from communication apparatuses. A transmission unit transmits data to the communication apparatuses. A control unit determines, in an adaptive way, which modulation and coding schemes to use to transmit and receive data. At a first stage, a modulation and coding scheme with a low transmission rate or a modulation and coding scheme that minimizes power requirements is selected from among a plurality of candidates therefor. At a second stage, the modulation and coding scheme of at least one of the communication apparatuses is changed to another scheme having a higher transmission rate, when it is impossible to allocate sufficient resources for the modulation and coding schemes selected at the first stage. |
| US08451954B2 |
Chip blanking and processing in SCDMA to mitigate impulse and burst noise and/or distortion
A system for mitigating impairment in a communication system includes a delay block, a signal level block, a moving average window block, an impulse noise detection block, and a combiner. The delay block receives and delays each chip of a plurality of chips in a spreading interval. The signal level block determines a signal level of each chip of the plurality of chips in the spreading interval. The moving average window block determines a composite signal level for a chip window corresponding to the chip. The impulse noise detection block receives the signal level, receives the composite signal level, and produces an erasure indication for each chip of the plurality of chips of the corresponding chip window. The combiner erases chips of the plurality of chips of the spreading interval based upon the erasure indication. |
| US08451953B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting space-time block codes
A method for detecting a space-time block code is provided. The method includes randomly selecting one initial candidate layer (xN) with respect to a signal vector {tilde over (y)}, applying a DF algorithm to first J number of layers (xN−1, xN−2, . . . , xN−J) with respect to all the available candidate symbols within the initial candidate layer (xN) to generate candidate symbols of each of the J number of layers, re-arranging the J number of layers, selecting the lowest layer of the re-arranged J number of layers as a new candidate layer, performing a DF process on the other remaining layers, excluding the new candidate layer, to generate N-dimensional candidate symbol vectors xi, and performing a maximum likelihood detection on the xi to detect an N-dimensional input vector {circumflex over (x)}. |
| US08451952B2 |
Iterative decoding and demodulation with feedback attenuation
An iterative demodulator and decoder uses feedback attenuation to maintain proper balance between the demodulator and decoder. Balance is maintained by attenuating the influence of extrinsic information fed back from the decoder to the demodulator to prevent strong decisions by the decoder from overwhelming the demodulator. |
| US08451951B2 |
Channel classification and rate adaptation for SU-MIMO systems
A method, apparatus and system are disclosed herein for channel classification and adaptation. In one embodiment, the system comprises a base station having a transmitter that is operable to transmit wireless signals using a plurality of transmission options; and a user terminal having a receiver that is operable to receive and decode wireless signals using a plurality of receiver algorithms, where the user terminal is operable to receive communications from the transmitter over a multiple-input, multiple output (MIMO) channel, to select at least one coding mode to be used by the transmitter on the channel based on rates achievable using MIMO transmission, in view of the channel information, using different combinations of one of the plurality of receiver algorithms and one of the plurality of transmission options, and to send information to identify the at least one coding mode to the base station using a feedback channel, each coding mode specifying at least an encoder to be used by the transmitter for the channel. |
| US08451950B2 |
Method and apparatus adapted to demodulate a data signal
The present invention relates to the field of receiving data and/or demodulating a data transmission signal. The present invention provides a method of and/or device for determining a data signal imposed on a phase jitter modulation signal. In one form, the invention relates to the field of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and the transmission of data between a tag and an interrogator. |
| US08451947B2 |
Burst demodulator
A burst demodulator. Implementations may include a first frequency estimating module adapted to remove a first frequency offset from a plurality of data samples. A second frequency estimating module may be coupled with the first frequency estimating module and may be adapted to remove a second frequency offset from the plurality of data samples. A third frequency estimating module may be coupled with the second frequency estimating module and may be adapted to remove a third frequency offset from the plurality of data samples. A clock phase estimating module may be coupled with the third frequency estimating module and may be adapted to calculate a clock phase offset value, select one or more coefficients for a finite impulse response (FIR) filter, and process the plurality of data samples with the FIR filter. A data processing module may be adapted to recover the data included in the plurality of data samples. |
| US08451944B2 |
Tomlinson harashima precoding with additional receiver processing in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output wireless transmission system
A method for processing user symbols with Tomlinson Harashima precoder (THP) in a base station, of a wireless system having K user terminals (UEs) which communicate with the base station via an uplink channel and corresponding downlink (DL) channel, comprises estimating a DL channel matrix Hk; determining receiver processing matrix Vk; computing an effective matrix DL channel Heff; performing QR decomposition of Heff; computing THP matrices; calculating scalar weights for the UEs; processing user symbols by the THP having the THP matrices to produce an output of filtered vector symbols for the UEs; directing output of the THP to the channel represented by the DL channel matrix through which communications occur in the wireless system with the UEs; performing additional receiver processing on the transmitted signals at the UEs based on Vk for each of the K UEs; and using the scalar weights on the transmitted signals at the UEs. |
| US08451943B2 |
Method and device for transmitting signal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for transmitting a signal, and relate to the field of communications. The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention are: the method for transmitting a signal, including: determining a peak clipping threshold of a signal according to f(MCS), where MCS represents a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of the signal, and f(MCS) is a corresponding relationship between the MCS and noise at a receiving end; performing peak clipping on the signal by using the peak clipping threshold to obtain a peak-clipped signal; and transmitting the peak-clipped signal. According to the embodiments of the present invention, different peak clipping thresholds may be selected according to different MCSs, and thus, the reliability of data transmission is improved. |
| US08451936B2 |
Method and system for performing distance measuring and direction finding using ultrawide bandwidth transmissions
A method is provided for enabling a device function at a local device based on distance information, comprising: establishing a communication link with a remote device over a UWB medium using a multiple access protocol; determining a distance between the local device and the remote device; and controlling a device function for the remote device based on the determined distance, wherein the operation of controlling the device function enables the device function when the determined distance is below a set distance threshold, and wherein the operation of controlling the device function disables the device function when the determined distance is above the set distance threshold. |
| US08451932B2 |
Precoding codebook design for single user MIMO
A transmitter is for use with multiple transmit antennas and includes a precoder unit configured to precode data for a transmission using a precoding matrix selected from a codebook, wherein the codebook corresponds to the following three transmission properties for an uplink transmission: 1) all precoding elements from the precoding matrix have a same magnitude, 2) each precoding element from the precoding matrix is taken from a set of finite values and 3) there is only one non-zero element in any row of the precoding matrix. The transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the precoded data. |
| US08451929B2 |
Apparatus for calculating weights associated with a received signal and applying the weights to transmit data
An apparatus for calculating weights associated with a received signal and applying the weights to transmit data is provided. The apparatus comprises: at least two antennas; a multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver in communication with each of the at least two antennas; and processing circuitry capable of causing diversity combining, the processing circuitry in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver. In operation, the processing circuitry is capable of causing the apparatus to: receive a first signal, calculate weights associated with the first signal, and apply the weights to transmit data. Additionally, the apparatus is configured such that the at least two antennas are capable of transmitting a second signal including the transmit data to a multiple-input capable node. |
| US08451928B2 |
Apparatus for calculating weights associated with a first signal and applying the weights to a second signal
An apparatus for calculating weights associated with a first signal and applying the weights to a second signal is provided. The apparatus comprises: at least two antennas; a multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver in communication with each of the at least two antennas; processing circuitry capable of causing diversity combining, the processing circuitry in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver, the processing circuitry capable of causing the apparatus to: receive a first signal, calculate weights associated with the first signal, and apply the weights to transmit data. Additionally, the apparatus is configured such that the at least two antennas are capable of transmitting a second signal including the transmit data to a multiple-input capable node. |
| US08451927B2 |
Multicarrier communication system
Improving channel response characteristics between a transmitter and a receiver, in a Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO)-system without increasing the number of receiving antennas, by using fractional sampling in a receiver, delaying and transmitting part of plural transmitting signals demodulating data of the plural data series. |
| US08451921B2 |
Method and an apparatus for adaptively learning a sparse impulse response of a continuous channel
A method for adaptively learning a sparse impulse response (100) of a continuous channel to which an input signal (x(t)) is applied and which delivers an output signal (y(t)), comprising the following steps: low-pass filtering the input signal and the output signal and obtain a filtered input signal (xF(t)) and a filtered output signal (yF(t)) sampling the filtered input signal and the filtered output signal with a sampling rate below the Nyquist rate and obtaining a sampled input signal (xS(t)) and a sampled output signal (yS(t)) retrieving from the sampled input signal (xS(t)) and the sampled output signal (yS(t)) an estimate (400) of the sparse impulse response (100) of the continuous channel. |
| US08451920B2 |
Apparatus and method for setting pilot subcarrier
An apparatus for setting a pilot subcarrier in an antenna selects candidates of power value variables of a pilot subcarrier existing within a predetermined range, and calculates and extracts pilot subcarriers of a predetermined number on the basis of a nonlinear function among the candidates of the selected power value variables. Next, the apparatus removes pilot subcarriers of a predetermined number from the extracted pilot subcarriers of a predetermined number in accordance with a rule and configures the antenna on the basis of position values of final pilot subcarriers except for a virtual subcarrier among the removal result. Further, the apparatus configures the antenna on the basis of the power value by determining the sum total of the power values corresponding to the position values of the final pilot subcarriers to correspond to the number of pilot subcarriers. |
| US08451918B1 |
System and method for spur estimation and mitigation
A spur detection and spur cancellation apparatus in a multiple sub-carrier digital communication receiver includes a spur detection block that estimates, using one or more Fourier transforms, a frequency location of a narrowband interference spur in a received digital signal that includes a plurality of sub-carriers, and a spur cancellation block that attenuates the estimated narrowband interference spur. The spur detection block may use a fast Fourier transform (FFT) and/or a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to locate a frequency and to measure a discrete power spectra of the narrowband interference spur. A channel state information block in the receiver may adjust a channel state information metric based on the located frequency and/or the measured discrete power spectra of the narrowband interference spur. |
| US08451909B1 |
System and method for dynamically changing quality levels among a plurality of video scenes
A method for operating a video system is provided. The method includes receiving video data of a first scene and a second scene, processing at least a first portion of the video data to generate a first video of the first scene having a first quality level, processing at least a second portion of the video data to generate a second video of the second scene having a second quality level, and processing at least a third portion of the video data to detect an occurrence of an event in the first scene. In response to detecting the occurrence of the event in the first scene, the method continues by processing at least a fourth portion of the video data to generate a third video of the first scene at a third quality level, where the third quality level is different than the first quality level, and transferring the third video for display. |
| US08451907B2 |
Methods and apparatus to detect transport faults in media presentation systems
Example methods and apparatus to detect transport faults in media presentation systems are disclosed. An example method comprises decoding a media stream to form audio data and pixel data, computing a first value representative of the media stream using pixel data associated with a first set of the video frames, computing a second value representative of the media stream using pixel data associated with a second set of the video frames, computing a third value representative of first speech in a first segment of the audio data, computing a fourth value representative of second speech in a second segment of the audio data, determining a fifth value representative of a likelihood that a transport failure has affected the media stream, the fifth value determined using the first, second, third and fourth values, and comparing the fifth value to a threshold to determine whether to generate a transport failure alert. |
| US08451905B1 |
Efficient encoding of video frames in a distributed video coding environment
Systems and methods are presented for processing sequences of video frames in a distributed video coding environment. Video frames chosen as key video frames are encoded in their entirety on a sending device, and the encodings are forwarded to a receiving device. Non-key video frames are partitioned into blocks of pixels which are individually processed at the sending device. Some pixel blocks are designated for reconstruction at the receiving device using a similar corresponding pixel block from a previous video frame, and the sending device does not encode those pixel blocks. Other pixel blocks are compressed at the sending device into representations that are sent to the receiving device to facilitate reconstruction of the other pixel blocks at the receiving device. Exceptional efficiency and accuracy may be achieved by employing spatiograms and singular value decompositions in processing pixel blocks of the non-key video frames at the sending device. |
| US08451903B2 |
Selecting transforms for compressing visual data
Encoding data includes: computing a first set of coefficients based on a plurality of transforms each computed over a different portion of an array of data, and a second set of coefficients based on a transform computed over the array of data; choosing a set of coefficients to represent the array of data from a group of multiple sets of coefficients, the group including the first set of coefficients and the second set of coefficients; and encoding the chosen coefficients and one or more parameters related to the chosen coefficients. |
| US08451898B2 |
Motion vector estimation apparatus
The present invention provides a motion vector estimation apparatus which can decrease circuit size by reducing the amount of computations for detecting a motion vector. The motion vector estimation apparatus in the present invention includes a motion vector estimation unit which estimates a motion vector MV0F for the target block BL0 by searching within a reference picture P1 for a block with an image similar to an image in the target block BL0, which is included in a picture B2; a prediction calculation unit and a prediction range control unit which specify a search range in the reference picture P1 based on the motion vector MV0F and; the motion vector estimation unit estimates the motion vector MV1F for the target block BL1 by searching in the search range for a block with an image similar to an image in the target block BL1, which is included in the picture B3. |
| US08451897B2 |
Highly parallel pipelined hardware architecture for integer and sub-pixel motion estimation
Disclosed is a pipelined motion estimation system and method. The pipelined motion estimation system includes a current frame input storage means for storing contents of a current frame and a previous frame input storage means for storing contents of one or more previous frames. A sum-of-absolute differences calculation module concurrently determines a best fit motion vector from a plurality of potential motion vectors where each of the plurality of potential motion vectors is based upon a pixel-based search pattern. A sum-of-absolute differences (SAD) logic block concurrently determines a minimum residual value from the plurality of motion vectors. The motion vector having the minimum residual value is used as a component in encoding video data. |
| US08451896B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive quantization in digital video coding
The invention relates to adjusting the quantization parameter in digital video coding. A shift value (QP Shift) is used to adjust the quantization parameter. The shift value is determined in a determining step 101. The video nature is determined and compared with a threshold in a comparing step 102 to adjust the shift value adaptively according to the frame type in an adjusting step 103. The shift value shifts the quantization parameter in a shifting step 104. |
| US08451895B2 |
Method and system for decoding multiview videos with prediction dependencies
Multiview videos are acquired of a scene with corresponding cameras arranged at poses, such that there is view overlap between any pair of cameras. V-frames are generated from the multiview videos. The V-frames are encoded using only spatial prediction. Then, the V-frames are inserted periodically in an encoded bit stream to provide random temporal access to the multiview videos. Additional view dependency information enables the decoding of a reduced number of frames prior to accessing randomly a target frame for a specified view and time, and decoding the target frame. The method also decodes multiview videos by maintaining a reference picture list for a current frame of a plurality of multiview videos, and predicting each current frame of the plurality of multiview videos according to reference pictures indexed by the associated reference picture list. |
| US08451894B2 |
Video encoding method and decoding method, apparatuses therefor, programs therefor, and storage media for storing the programs by using parallax compensation
By using parallax compensation which performs prediction by using parallax between video images, the video images are encoded as a single video image. Reference parallax for a target image to be encoded is set, wherein the reference parallax is estimated using a reference image; area division in an image frame is set; parallax displacement for each divided area is set, wherein the parallax displacement is the difference between the reference parallax and parallax for the parallax compensation; data of the area division is encoded; and data for indicating the parallax displacement is encoded. During decoding, reference parallax for a target image to be decoded is set, wherein it is estimated using a reference image; data for indicating area division, which is included in encoded data, is decoded; and data of parallax displacement, which is included in the encoded data, is decoded for each area indicated by the area division data. |
| US08451889B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image by using sub-pixel-based motion prediction
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding an image by using sub-pixel-based motion prediction and a method and apparatus for decoding an image by using sub-pixel-based motion prediction. The method of encoding an image includes determining weights for respective low-precision sub-pixels for interpolation between the low-precision sub-pixels, determining an interpolation direction for the low-precision sub-pixels based on a position of a high-precision sub-pixel between the low-precision sub-pixels, and performing motion prediction in units of high-precision sub-pixels determined by interpolation which applies the interpolation direction and the weights to the low-precision sub-pixels. |
| US08451886B2 |
Apparatus method and computer readable medium for a transmitter
An apparatus comprising a signal generator for generating a polar representation of a signal. The apparatus comprises further a first filtering unit configured to filter a low frequency part of the amplitude component of said signal and a second filtering unit configured to filter a high frequency-part of the amplitude component of said signal. In addition, the apparatus includes a pulse width modulating unit configured to modulate the filtered high frequency part of the amplitude component of said signal together with the phase component of said signal. Finally the apparatus includes a DC-DC converter configured to convert the filtered low frequency part of the amplitude component of said signal. Said DC-DC converter supplies a switching mode power amplifier for amplifying the pulse width modulated signal. |
| US08451885B2 |
Multi-pair gigabit ethernet transceiver having adaptive disabling of circuit elements
Various systems and methods providing high speed decoding, enhanced power reduction and clock domain partitioning for a multi-pair gigabit Ethernet transceiver are disclosed. ISI compensation is partitioned into two stages; a first stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a transmitter's partial response pulse shaping filter in a demodulator, a second stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a multi-pair transmission channel in a Viterbi decoder. High speed decoding is accomplished by reducing the DFE depth by providing an input signal from a multiple decision feedback equalizer to the Viterbi based on a tail value and a subset of coefficient values received from a unit depth decision-feedback equalizer. Power reduction is accomplished by adaptively truncating active taps in the NEXT, FEXT and echo cancellation filters, or by disabling decoder circuitry portions, as channel response characteristics allow. A receive clock signal is generated such that it is synchronous in frequency with analog sampling clock signals and has a particular phase offset with respect to one of the sampling clock signals. This phase offset is adjusted such that system performance degradation due to coupling of switching noise from the digital sections to the analog sections is substantially minimized. |
| US08451881B2 |
System and method for transceiver control of peripheral components
Peripheral components of a wireless radio system can be controlled by a wireless transceiver. The transceiver stores parallel or serial bit patterns in memory, each bit pattern corresponding to a particular control configuration for one or more peripheral components. A further control device, such as baseband controller, issues an address corresponding to the desired functional operation of the peripheral components to the transceiver. A memory sub-system of the transceiver uses the address to output the appropriate bit pattern. The bit pattern can be provided in parallel to statically control individual control lines, or can be converted into a serial bitstream decodable by a command decoder. The command decoder can then decode the bitstream and locally issue the appropriate control signals for the peripheral components. |
| US08451878B2 |
Surface profile inspection device
A surface profile inspection device producing a sheet of light propagating in a linear region forming a plane from a laser beam emitted from a laser light source and irradiating the sheet of light to an object to be measured, and including an image capturing unit capturing an image of the object to be measured and a configuration data generating unit extracting a light section line defined by an irradiation of the sheet of light from image data of the captured image and generating surface profile data of the object to be measured. The laser light source includes a semiconductor laser emitting a laser beam from a light emitting layer formed in a linear direction along a boarder of a p-n junction. An attitude of the semiconductor laser is set to arrange the linear direction to be unparallel to a spread direction of the sheet of light. |
| US08451876B1 |
Method and system for providing bidirectional light sources with broad spectrum
A system and method for providing laser diodes with broad spectrum is described. GaN-based laser diodes with broad or multi-peaked spectral output operating are obtained in various configurations by having a single laser diode device generating multiple-peak spectral outputs, operate in superluminescene mode, or by use of an RF source and/or a feedback signal. In some other embodiments, multi-peak outputs are achieved by having multiple laser devices output different lasers at different wavelengths. |
| US08451869B1 |
8/10 and 64/66 aggregation
A network device includes a substitutor and a transmitter. The substitutor receives input columns of concurrently received input symbols. Each of the input columns includes one input symbol from each of a plurality of parallel input lanes. The substitutor generates output columns corresponding to the input columns, wherein each of the output columns includes one output symbol for each of a plurality of parallel output lanes. The substitutor replaces the output symbols of a selected column of the output columns with alignment symbols. The selected column is immediately followed by a second column, and the second column is immediately followed by a third column. The substitutor replaces the output symbols of the second column with disposable symbols, and replaces the output symbols of the third column with boundary symbols. The transmitter drives data onto a communications medium in response to the output symbols generated by the substitutor module. |
| US08451864B2 |
Passive optical network processor with a programmable data path
A passive optical network (PON) processor comprises a packet processor for processing packets belonging to a certain flow through a plurality of processing stages of a programmable data-path; a microprocessor-data for performing one or more user-defined functions in the programmable data-path on designated packets belonging to the certain flow, wherein packets of respective flows to be processed by the microprocessor-data are designated in a flow table; a microprocessor-control for managing connections handled by the PON processor; a data-path bus for connecting the packet processor and the microprocessor-data, wherein the designated packets are transferred between the packet processor and the microprocessor-data on the data-path bus; and a control-path bus for connecting the packet processor and the microprocessor-control. |
| US08451861B2 |
Method for requesting bandwidth allocation and detecting service flow in communication system
A method for requesting bandwidth allocation by a mobile station in a communication system is provided. The mobile station detects at least one Connection IDentifier (CID), bandwidth allocation for which is to be requested, generates a bandwidth request header when the number of the at least one detected CID equals one, and transmits the bandwidth request header to a base station, wherein the bandwidth request header includes a region for indicating a first CID representing basic information for identification of the mobile station, a region for indicating a ranking of the detected CID, and a region for indicating information about bandwidth requested for the detected CID. |
| US08451856B2 |
Using gathered system activity statistics to determine when to schedule a procedure
Provided are a method, system, and computer program product for using gathered system activity statistics to determine when to schedule a procedure. Activity information is gathered in a computer system during time slots for recurring time periods. A high activity value is an activity amount of a slot having a maximum amount of activity and a low activity value is an activity amount of a slot having a minimum amount of activity. A threshold point is determined as a function of the high activity, the low activity, and a threshold percent comprising a percentage value. A selection is made of at least one lull window having a plurality of consecutive time slots each having an activity value lower than the threshold point and the procedure in the computer system is scheduled to be performed during the time slots in the lull window in a future time period. |
| US08451854B1 |
Method and apparatus for priority-provisioned arbitration scheduling for a switch fabric
An apparatus and method for scheduling within a switch is described. A set of input signals is received from input ports. The set of input signals is associated with a set of packets at the input ports. A request for each packet from the set of packets is generated based on the set of input signals. Each request has an input-port indicator, an output-port indicator and a service-level indicator. The packets are scheduled based on the service-level indicator. |
| US08451853B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting a receiver in an electronic device
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises identifying at least one receiver, selecting said at least one receiver by moving an apparatus according to at least one predetermined movement and sending data to said selected at least one receiver. |
| US08451846B1 |
LSP hierarchy for MPLS networks
A system may define a first region that includes a first colored link of a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, and may define a second region that includes a second colored link of the MPLS network. The system may define a boundary between the first and second regions based on the first colored link and the second colored link. |
| US08451845B2 |
Method of receiving a data packet in an IPv6 domain, an associated device and an associated home gateway
A method of receiving an IPv6 data packet in an IPv6 domain connected to an IPv4 domain, said packet comprising an IPv6 destination address and an IPv6 source address. The method comprises the following steps: identifying an IPv6 destination address constructed by concatenating an operator prefix, an IPv4 destination address, and a destination port number; if necessary, regularizing at least one address of the data packet and modifying the data packet; and routing the modified data packet to its destination. |
| US08451843B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending and receiving ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead
A method and an apparatus for sending an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead, and a method and an apparatus for receiving an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead are disclosed herein. A method for sending an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead includes: adjusting the order of sending a payload block and part of Inter-Packet Gaps (IPGs) in a data stream to be transmitted; and when receiving a request for sending an OAM overhead, substituting the OAM overhead for the part of IPGs, and sending the OAM overhead before sending the payload block. Through the present invention, the order of sending IPGs and payload blocks in an MAC data stream can be adjusted, and the OAM overhead can be sent in time. |
| US08451839B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing route information and forwarding data in access devices
The present invention provides a method for creating routes in access devices of the communication network by using access response messages. With the method provided by the present invention, services can be distinguished and forwarded based on destination IP sub-networks, so that different services can be distributed in access devices. In this way, on the premise that services are distinguished based on layer 3, the requirements for access devices are reduced and layer 2 networks on the user side are not required to carry out route protocols, which decreases administrators' maintenance work and is the important condition for the realization of plug&play and reduces the requirements for marginal routers. |
| US08451830B2 |
System and method for measuring quality of multimedia service
A system and a method for measuring quality of a multimedia service transceived via a VoIP service and notifying a user of a result of the measurement are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention includes a VoIP multimedia server configured to loop back sample multimedia data received from a multimedia terminal providing a VoIP multimedia service, analyze a quality measurement result received from the multimedia terminal, calculate a quality measurement score, convert the quality measurement score into voice data, and transmit the voice data to the multimedia terminal, and a multimedia terminal configured to transmit the sample multimedia data to the VoIP multimedia server via a packet network, measure the quality of loopback sample multimedia data looped back from the VoIP multimedia server, transmit the quality measurement result to the VoIP multimedia server, receive the voice data of the quality measurement score, and output a voice. |
| US08451829B2 |
Routing a VoIP call with contextual information
A method and system for routing a call connection signal and corresponding contextual information to an appropriate destination is provided. A call center and at least one user may exchange signals, and/or contextual information during a call set-up phase. Relevant contextual information and other detailed information may be identified and collected from their corresponding sources. Based on the relevant contextual information and other detailed information, one or more appropriate routed destinations may be determined. In addition, contextual information may be tailored for each of the determined routed destinations. The call connection signal and the tailored contextual information are routed to each routed destination. In this manner, necessary contextual information may be readily available for the routed destination at the time of the call connection and thus the routed destination can provide a faster service. |
| US08451828B2 |
Registering an internet protocol phone in a dual-link architecture
A system and method for registering an internet protocol (IP) phone in a dual-link architecture is disclosed. The method comprises pre-registering the IP phone to establish a client link with a first telephony server and a second telephony server. The pre-registration comprises: identifying the first and second telephony servers designated for the IP phone; sending a registration request to the first and second telephony servers from the IP phone to pre-register the IP phone with the telephony servers; and setting one of the telephony servers as a primary telephony server by sending an in-service request message, with the other server set in a hot-standby mode. |
| US08451827B2 |
Time-slot interchange circuit
A circuit and method are presented for signal processing and routing of digital voice telephony signals, using a specialized high-density integrated circuit voice processor. The voice processor performs several essential functions required for telephony processing, including echo cancellation, protocol conversion, and dynamic range compression/expansion. These functions are traditionally performed by multiple circuits or modules. By combining these capabilities in a single device, power and circuit board area requirements are reduced. The embodiment of the circuit and method disclosed herein include novel implementations of a time-slot interchange circuit and a telephony signaling circuit. Both of these circuits are designed to minimize demands on the signal processing engines incorporated within the voice processor, and account for very little of the on-chip circuitry. |
| US08451823B2 |
Distributed off-line voice services
A voice processing system includes a real-time voice server, which is arranged to process real-time voice processing tasks for clients of the system. A gateway processor is arranged to accept from a client a request to perform an off-line voice processing task, to convert the off-line voice processing task into an equivalent real-time voice processing task, to invoke the voice server to process the equivalent real-time voice processing task, and to output a result of the equivalent real-time voice processing task. |
| US08451820B2 |
System and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services
A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services received at a Private Service Exchange (PSX) defined on the system from a plurality of IP-communication devices. The system further includes a media server (MS) coupled to the PSX and to at least one IP Service Control Point (IP-SCP), which is operative to process the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services. The IP-SCP further selectively directs the requests to the media server, which operates to form a preliminary multi-media communication path with a calling communication device. The MS further operates to play a plurality of announcements to the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path, as well as to collect caller-entered data from the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path. |
| US08451814B2 |
Carrier signals for synchronization
Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help a WiMAX base station function without a GPS signal by providing a high-stability reference signal via a subcarrier of a broadcast signal, such as an FM radio signal. An exemplary broadcast station may therefore be configured to phase-lock a subcarrier signal to a GPS signal, and include this subcarrier in its broadcast signal, thereby providing the subcarrier signal for use by a base station as a high-stability reference signal for local-oscillator stabilization at the base station. The broadcast station may further modulate a timing signal onto the subcarrier signal. An exemplary base station may therefore receive the broadcast signal, decode the broadcast signal to acquire the subcarrier signal, and use the subcarrier signal to stabilize its local oscillator, rather than using a GPS signal. The base station may further demodulate the subcarrier to acquire the timing signal, which the base station may use for frame-start synchronization, instead of a GPS signal. |
| US08451812B2 |
Use of the WLAN standard for a C2C communication by adding new packet types
C2X communication is made possible efficiently via WLAN by apparatuses and a method for filtering data frames received by a vehicle from a receiver via a WLAN connection, wherein a frame type indicated in a received data frame is used to decide that device to which data in the data frame are transmitted. The C2X communication can be used for recognizing pedestrians. It is also possible to use a plurality of transmission paths and/or UDP. |
| US08451803B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing measurement behavior of DRX mode UE
Systems and methods that manage measurement behavior of a UE in connected mode and while in discontinuous operation. The UE is enabled to autonomously (e.g., independent of instructions from network) enter a state of measurement, and generate a measurement report for the network, when quality of serving cell falls below the threshold of S_Intrasearch parameter. Moreover, the UE can perform inter-frequency and/or inter-RAT measurements autonomously by employing the “natural gaps” from its DRX pattern, when such are adequate to perform such measurements. |
| US08451802B2 |
Performing handovers for fixed mobile convergence networks
According to one embodiment, an anchor access gateway receives packets from a home agent. The packets are destined for an access terminal, and the anchor access gateway serves the access terminal. The packets are forwarded to the access terminal. The anchor access gateway receives a handoff request from a target access gateway. The handoff request requests a handover from the anchor access gateway to the target access gateway. The packets are forwarded to the target access gateway in accordance with the handoff request. |
| US08451801B2 |
Wireless communication device and wireless communication system
A wireless communication device configured to perform communication with another wireless communication device which exists outside the wireless communication range by performing communication through a path via a neighboring wireless communication device includes: a communication control unit configured to compute the number of links until a signal from the other wireless communication device is received; a device information holding unit configured to associate the number of computed links with information relating to the other wireless communication device and holding therein; and a display control unit configured to control the information relating to the other wireless communication device associated to the number of links based on the number of links, so as to be displayed. |
| US08451790B2 |
Method and system for transmitting downlink control information
The present invention discloses a method and a system for transmitting downlink control information, wherein when a base station is not configured with a carrier indicator field, the base station transmits a physical downlink control channel bearing the corresponding downlink control information on each downlink component carrier in a user equipment's physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carrier set, and the user equipment detects the corresponding downlink control information on each downlink component carrier in the configured PDSCH carrier set. When a base station is configured with a carrier indicator field, the base station transmits the physical downlink control channel bearing the corresponding downlink control information on each downlink component carrier in the configured physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrier set, and the user equipment detects the corresponding downlink control information on each downlink component carrier in the PDCCH carrier set. |
| US08451787B2 |
Allocation of preamble sequences
A set of specific sequences including a set of root sequences and cyclic shifts thereof is searched, wherein it is started from a root sequence index indicating a root sequence of ordered root sequences, available cyclic shifts of the root sequence are included, and it is continued with a next root sequence if necessary for filling the set, interpreting the ordered root sequences in a cyclic manner. |
| US08451785B2 |
Control signal aggregation in a multi-carrier WCDMA system
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for transmitting data to a remote node via each of two or more transmitted carrier signals, wherein a distinct outbound packet data traffic channel is mapped to each transmitted carrier signal. In an exemplary method, aggregated control channel data is formed by combining control channel data corresponding to each of two or more received carrier signals, simultaneously transmitting traffic channel data to the remote node on each of the two or more outbound packet data traffic channels, and transmitting the aggregated control channel data using one or more physical control channels mapped to a first one of the transmitted carrier signals. In particular, these methods and apparatus may be applied to a multi-carrier High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) system. |
| US08451783B2 |
Method of transmitting scheduling reference signal
A method of transmitting a scheduling reference signal (SRS) for uplink scheduling is provided. The method includes transmitting a SRS on a first partial SRS transmission band in a first transmitting time, and transmitting the SRS on a second partial SRS transmission band in a second transmitting time, wherein the first and the second partial SRS transmission bands are parts of a full SRS transmission band and have exclusive positions with each other in the full SRS transmission band, the full SRS transmission band selected for uplink scheduling, the full SRS transmission band comprising a plurality of partial SRS transmission bands. |
| US08451782B2 |
Wireless network with contention and contention-free periods
A wireless network (1) comprises mesh devices and non-mesh devices. A medium access control architecture incorporates at least a point coordination function as an access method, wherein the point coordination function starts a contention-free period (30) with a beacon (32) so that a non-polled transmission by the non-mesh devices is prevented. Further, the mesh devices are enable to communicate during the contention-free period (30). Hence, communication between the mesh devices is priorisized so that a high reliability is achieved and utilization of the wireless network (1) is optimized. |
| US08451778B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control signal in radio communication system
A method and an apparatus of transmitting a control signal in a wireless communication system is provided. They generate a first-spread sequence by spreading a modulated sequence in the first slot by using a first orthogonal sequence, generate a second-spread sequence by spreading a modulated sequence in the second slot by using a second orthogonal sequence. The first spread sequence and the second spread sequence are transmitted in a subframe. A length of the first orthogonal sequence is shorter than a length of the second orthogonal sequence, the second orthogonal sequence is generated by removing at least one element included in the first orthogonal sequence, and the at least one element to be removed is identical in every index of the first orthogonal sequence. |
| US08451774B2 |
Communication system and gateway apparatus
To control the communication quality on the terminal basis without making the base station more complicated, it is provided a communication system, comprising at least one computer and a gateway that is connected to the at least one computer through a first network. The gateway is connected to at least one terminal through a second network. The at least one terminal performs communications with the at least one computer via the gateway. The gateway estimates quality of the communications between the gateway and the at least one computer in the first network; and determines a priority for the communications between the gateway and the at least one terminal in the second network according to the estimated quality of the communications in the first network. |
| US08451772B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting frequency rearrangement in wireless communication system
A base station includes a center frequency setting unit, a local oscillator, a baseband processor, and an RF processor. In the event of a frequency band change, the center frequency setting unit sets a center frequency of a use frequency channel to have a predetermined offset value with respect to a center frequency before the frequency band change. The local oscillator generates an LO frequency signal according to the center frequency set by the center frequency setting unit. The baseband processor generates a downlink baseband signal. The RF processor uses the LO frequency signal to convert the downlink baseband signal into an RF signal prior to transmission. |
| US08451770B2 |
Multi-media broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) in a wireless communication system
Techniques to implement MBMS services in a wireless communication system. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing data for transmission to a plurality of terminals. Frames of information bits (which may have variable rates) are provided to a buffer implementing a matrix. The matrix is padded with padding bits based on a particular padding scheme to support variable frame rates. The frames are then coded based on a particular block code to provide parity bits. The frame of information bits and the parity bits are then transmitted to the terminals. In another aspect, a method is provided for controlling the transmit power of a data transmission to a plurality of terminals. In accordance with the method, TPC streams are received from the terminals and processed to obtain a stream of joint power control commands used to adjust the transmit power of the data transmission. |
| US08451767B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data via media access control protocol in mobile communication system
A method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving data via a MAC protocol in a mobile communication system. The method includes inputting an SDU including transmission data through a logical channel and generating a first PDU that includes the SDU without including multiplexing information for identification of the logical channel, by a first transmission entity; acquiring the first PDU and generating a second PDU including the first PDU in a payload of the second PDU, by a second transmission entity that operates between the first transmission entity and a physical layer; inserting the multiplexing information for identification of the logical channel corresponding to the first PDU into header information of the second PDU; and transmitting the second PDU through the physical layer. |
| US08451765B2 |
Method, system and base station for transmitting MBMS in single frequency network
A method includes: sending, by an RNC, MBMS data to base stations of the target cells or sectors, distributing the same time and frequency resources, scrambling code and midamble to the cells or sectors to transmit the MBMS data, sending information of the distributed resources, scrambling code and midamble to the base stations and UEs of the target cells or sectors; and rotating, by each of the base stations, the MBMS burst signal to be sent by a random phase, sending the rotated signal to the UE using time and frequency resources distributed by RNC. A system includes an RNC, base stations and a UE, and each of the base stations includes a phase processing module and a signal sending module. |
| US08451764B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting MBMS in system architecture evolution
The present invention discloses a system structure for supporting Evolved Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (Evolved MBMS), comprising: a Broadcast/Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) for initiating control signaling and bearer services for Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS); a System Architecture Evolved Gateway (SAE GW) for receiving MBMS service data and MBMS control signaling or service data from another network, and forwarding the received service data and control signaling; a Broadcast/Multicast Management Entity (BME) for receiving, processing and forwarding the MBMS control signaling, and determining, for each item of the service data for MBMS, an enhanced Node B (eNB) which needs to receive the control signaling; and an multicast User Plane Entity (mUPE) for receiving the MBMS service data, processing the received MBMS service data in Evolved Packet System Architecture Evolution, and forwarding the processed MBMS service data to a downstream node. |
| US08451762B2 |
Method and apparatus for reliably delivering multicast data
A method and apparatus are described including mapping a multicast connection to a unicast uniform resource identifier, establishing a state for a multicast-to-unicast conversion, allocating ports, receiving multicast addressed data packets and converting the multicast addressed data packets to unicast addressed data the packets. |
| US08451756B2 |
Random linear network coding for time division duplexing
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to random linear network coding schemes for reliable communications for time division duplexing channels. In at least one embodiment, a transmitter node transmits M data packets through a half-duplex link using random linear network coding. The transmitter node transmits coded packets back-to-back through the link before stopping to wait for an acknowledgement (ACK) packet. An optimal number of coded packets Ni to be transmitted in a subsequent transmission may then be determined based, at least in part, on a number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) a receiving node needs to decode the M information packets from received coded packets. |
| US08451754B2 |
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to manage routing in networks
Example methods, apparatus and articles to manage routing in networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes obtaining a first interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric associated with a first router and a second interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric associated with a second router communicatively coupled to the first router, detecting whether a mismatch exists between the first and second first interior gateway routing protocol route selection metrics, determining, using a Bellman-Ford algorithm, a target interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric when the mismatch is detected, and transmitting the target interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric to at least one of the first and second routers. |
| US08451752B2 |
Seamless handoff scheme for multi-radio wireless mesh network
A mobile device communicates with a first mesh access point (AP) via a first radio frequency (RF) interface of the mobile device over a first wireless connection, where the first mesh AP is one of mesh APs of a first mesh cell of the wireless mesh network. It is detected that signal quality of the first wireless connection drops below a predetermined threshold as the mobile device moves from the first mesh cell towards a second mesh cell. In response to the detection, it is established via a second RF interface of the mobile device a second wireless connection with a second mesh AP of a second mesh cell of the wireless mesh network, while concurrently maintaining the first wireless connection with the first mesh AP via the first RF interface. |
| US08451750B2 |
Validation of routes advertised by border gateway protocol
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with validation of routes advertised by Border Gateway Protocol. One embodiment validates or invalidates a route received in a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) update message. A route is validated in response to determining that the originating autonomous system specified in the AS_Path attribute for the route in a received BGP update message has authority to advertise the route and/or whether or not multiple autonomous systems identified in the AS_Path attribute of the update message is authorized to advertise the route, possibly in a particular order. |
| US08451749B2 |
Wireless communication device and wireless communication control method
In the case where one set of EDCA access parameters is set, there are problems such as failure in performing QoS when a transmission rate is changed and a deterioration in transmission efficiency. A relay device is a wireless communication device which transmits received data according to a priority level of the data, including: a transmitting unit which transmits received data; a rate measuring unit which measures a rate at which the transmitting unit transmits the data; and a transmission control unit which adaptively controls a transmission waiting time for which the transmitting unit waits until start of the transmission of the data, according to the transmission rate of the transmitting unit which is measured by the rate measuring unit, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the data according to transmission control by the transmission control unit. |
| US08451746B2 |
Concurrency method for forecasting impact of speed tiers on consumption
A forecast model processes performance data from a site, e.g., a cable modem termination system (CMTS), to obtain a set of concurrency equations for existing speed tiers that is based on an observed subscriber bandwidth for the site. A new set of concurrency equations is obtained for new speed tiers so that a new subscriber bandwidth can be predicted for the new speed tiers. Based on the new subscriber bandwidth, expected subscriber growth, and changes in data consumption, the site is reconfigured with additional ports based on the forecast. This process can be repeated for the other sites. Sites may be grouped together based on the observed subscriber bandwidth. A new subscriber bandwidth may be predicted for the group with the new speed tiers so that additional ports can be configured for each of the sites in the group. |
| US08451739B2 |
Method and system for detecting failures of network nodes
Systems and methods for detecting device failures in a network having nodes coupled to a central controller, in which a first of the nodes communicates with the central controller via a second of the nodes. When the second node determines that the first node has not transmitted a predetermined number of messages over a predefined number of time periods, the second node provides a failure alert to the central controller. The central controller records a failure alert received from the second node in a log. Based on a set of failure alerts received from a number of nodes recorded in the log, the central controller determines whether the first node has failed. |
| US08451738B2 |
Signal transmitting apparatus and signal transmitting method
A signal transmitting apparatus includes: a plurality of data transmission lines that transmit output data to a memory; a plurality of delay units that are correspondingly connected to the plurality of data transmission lines, that delay test data according to a delay signal for a predetermined time, and that output the delayed test data to each of the data transmission lines; and a transmitting/receiving controller that compares the stored data in the memory with the test data to adjust the delay signal, and that outputs the adjusted delay signal to each of the plurality of delay units. With this configuration, when data is transmitted to a memory through a data bus, a delay value can be adjusted among a plurality of signal lines constituting a data bus, and thus signal transmission can be performed uniformly. |
| US08451735B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic load balancing in a wireless network
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for dynamic load balancing in a wireless network, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) and the like. Specifically, the present invention periodically provides dynamic load balancing of mobile devices associated with a plurality of wireless access devices. This may include determining an optimum load and instructing wireless access devices that are overloaded to disassociate some mobile devices based upon predefined criteria. This disassociation is performed in a manner to minimize disruption by disassociating mobile devices with low usage, with close proximity to underutilized wireless access devices, and mobile devices not currently operating critical applications, such as voice. |
| US08451734B2 |
Measurement of data loss in a communication network
A method for measuring data loss of a data flow in a communication network is provided. The method includes, at a transmitting node: marking each data unit of the data flow for dividing the data flow in blocks so that: data units of a same block have a feature with a same value, while data units of contiguous blocks have the feature with different values; increasing a first counter when the feature has the first value, and a second counter when the feature has the second value; and transmitting the data flow to a receiving node. The method includes, at the receiving node, for each data unit: checking the feature, increasing a third counter when the feature has the first value, and increasing a second counter when the feature has the second value. The method includes calculating data loss based on detected values of first, second, third and fourth counters. |
| US08451730B2 |
Apparatus and method for implementing multiple high speed switching fabrics in an ethernet ring topology
A network device for implementing a high speed transmission protocol. The network device includes a plurality of high speed modules which are connected by a plurality of high speed links. Each of the plurality of high speed modules implements the high speed transmission protocol and each of the plurality of high speed modules being implemented in an Ethernet ring topology. A medium access control layer in each of the plurality of high speed modules is modified in a manner that is transparent to a switching entity in each of the plurality of high speed modules. The high speed transmission protocol comprises a plurality of aspects including an in-banding messaging mechanism for efficient and responsive traffic management and network operation. |
| US08451728B2 |
Adaptive voice packetization
A method is presented for adapting the packet size for VoIP communications, determined on-the-fly by the total network delay inherent at the time of packet transmission. If network delays are small relative to the maximum permissible latency for VoIP communications, the payload size per packet may be increased to maximize efficiency for the transmitted call. Alternatively, if network delays are large, the payload size per packet may be decreased in order to assure that the perceived quality of the transmitted call is acceptable. |
| US08451726B2 |
Link adaptation in wireless networks
An embodiment of a system for physical link adaptation in a wireless communication network such as e.g., a WLAN, selectively varies the physical mode of operation of the transmission channels serving the mobile stations in the network. The system includes an estimation module to evaluate transmission losses due to collisions as well as transmission losses due to channel errors over the transmission channel, and an adaptation module to select the physical mode of operation of the transmission channel as a function of the transmission losses due to collisions and to channel errors as evaluated by the estimation module. |
| US08451725B1 |
Method and apparatus for distributed compositional control of end-to-end media in IP networks
A method and an apparatus for performing a distributed control of end-to-end media on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. The method first receives a request from a first media endpoint device for opening at least one media channel to a second media endpoint device wherein said request contains a descriptor of said first media endpoint device. The method then updates one or more slot states and link states in response to said request and records the current state of each slot for supporting said media channel. The method also records the most recently received descriptor of said media endpoint device as a most recent descriptor for said slot supporting said media channel. The method executes one or more link objects in response to said request for controlling said at least one media channel. |
| US08451722B2 |
Data transfer apparatus
A data transfer apparatus is provided for monitoring the bandwidth of a first and a second flow, comprises flow detecting means for comparing information in a header field of a packet with the first and second detection conditions to detect a flow to which the packet belongs, compliance/violation determining means for measuring the bandwidth of the packet belonging to the detected flow to determine whether the packet complies with or violates a traffic condition which is set corresponding to each flow detection condition, and packet processing determining means for determining processing for a packet which satisfies both the first and second flow conditions based on the compliance/violation determination results corresponding to both traffic conditions, and determining processing for a packet which satisfies one of the first and second flow conditions based on the compliance/violation result corresponding to the flow detection condition satisfied by the packet. |
| US08451719B2 |
Video stream admission
A video stream admission method including receiving one or more parameters of a video stream, indicative of a required bandwidth for the video stream, in a plurality of different quality levels and determining based on the received one or more parameters, whether a channel can meet a predetermined condition for each of the plurality of quality levels, according to an available bandwidth of the channel. |
| US08451718B2 |
Flow control and congestion control in a data distribution network
Methods, systems, and devices are provided for managing flow of datagram traffic, generally across networks. According to some of these methods, a flow control mechanism is used to avoid over-subscription of some ports without pausing extended areas of a network. According to other methods, a congestion control mechanism is used to minimize datagram traffic between a port sending datagrams to an over-subscribed port and the over-subscribed port itself. |
| US08451709B2 |
Radio communication device
The invention provides precise estimation of a channel response and correct demodulation of an information signal even in the circumstance of being likely suffering interference. The invention includes an error correcting code unit 1, an S/P converting unit 2, a mapping unit 3, an IDFT (Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform) unit (IFFT: Inverse Fast Fourier Transform can be used) 4, a P/S converting unit 5, a GI (Guard Interval) inserting unit 6, preamble (A, B0, B1) storage selecting units 11-a and 11-b, switch units 12-a and 12-b, D/A converting units 13-a and 13-b, radio units 14-a and 14-b and antenna units 15-a and 15-b. |
| US08451704B2 |
Reflection type wavelength plate and optical head device
A phase difference layer 12 and a reflection layer 13 are provided. Then, adjustment is performed such that the phase difference layer 12 and the reflection layer 13 impart a predetermined phase difference to light having a particular wavelength bandwidth or plural kinds of light of different wavelengths that enter in an oblique direction relative to the normal direction of the plane of the phase difference layer 12. By virtue of this, the light 16a that goes forward and backward through the phase difference layer 12 and then exits the layer has an ellipticity κ of 0.7 or greater. Thus, in particular, when this wave plate is employed in an optical head device, the function of reflection and the function of a ¼-wave plate are integrated. Thus, stable recording and reproduction of an optical disk are achieved, and size reduction is achieved in the optical head device. |
| US08451699B2 |
Optical information reproduction device, optical information recording device, optical information reproduction method, and optical information recording method
The present invention accurately operates a tilt servo even if a gap servo is operated with a small gap. A condensing unit (102) generates a near-field light and condenses a laser beam on an optical disk (1), a light quantity detection unit (104) detects light quantity of return light from an area where the near-field light is generated, a gap control unit (105) controls a gap between the condensing unit (102) and the optical disk (1) based on the light quantity of the return light, a tilt calculation unit (106) calculates, in a state of controlling the gap, an inclination amount between the condensing unit (102) and the optical disk (1) based on the light quantity of the return light, a tilt error signal generation unit (107) generates from the inclination amount a tilt error signal, which is a signal from which a fluctuation component of the return light generated due to decentering of the optical disk (1) is removed, and a tilt control unit (108) controls the inclination between the condensing unit (102) and the optical disk (1) based on the tilt error signal. |
| US08451697B1 |
Disk drive centering demodulation windows on spiral tracks during a seek operation
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of spiral tracks. During a seek operation, a demodulation window is opened in response to a window offset during a first revolution of the disk, wherein the demodulation window corresponds to the head approaching a spiral track. A window position error signal (PES) is generated representing a difference between a target framing of the demodulation window around the spiral track crossing and a detected framing of the demodulation window around the spiral track crossing. The window offset is adjusted in response to the first window PES, and the demodulation window is opened in response to the adjusted window offset during a second revolution of the disk. |
| US08451696B2 |
Temperature sensor in a thermally assisted magnetic recording head
A method and apparatus for providing a signal for driving a heating element in a TAR or HAMR enabled disk storage system that includes an optical transducer (or near-field optical source) for further focusing the beamspot of a laser onto a magnetic media, thereby heating the media. The storage system includes a temperature sensor proximate to the near-field transducer which provides a feedback loop to the laser driver to adjust the power of the laser. |
| US08451695B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser with integrated mirror and waveguide
An apparatus includes an extended cavity vertical cavity surface emitting laser producing light and having an active region, a first reflector position adjacent to a first side of the active region, an extended cavity positioned adjacent to a second side of the active region, and a second reflector reflecting a first portion of the light into the extended cavity and transmitting a second portion of the light, a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the extended cavity vertical cavity surface emitting laser, and a horizontal coupler structured to couple the second portion of light from the extended cavity vertical cavity surface emitting laser into the waveguide. |
| US08451694B2 |
Ultrasonic sensor unit and electronic device
An ultrasonic sensor unit includes a transmission base plate and a reception base plate. The transmission base plate includes an ultrasonic transmission sensor configured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves. The reception base plate includes an ultrasonic reception sensor configured and arranged to receive the ultrasonic waves. One of the transmission base plate and the reception base plate define a through-hole at a position corresponding to one of the ultrasonic transmission sensor and the ultrasonic reception sensor provided in the other of the transmission base plate and the reception base plate so that the one of the ultrasonic transmission sensor and the ultrasonic reception sensor is exposed through the through-hole. |
| US08451684B2 |
Surface wave mitigation in spatially inhomogeneous media
Embodiments are directed to systems and methods (200, 300) that enable spatial variability of surface waves to be accounted for in dispersion correction in seismic data processing. This yields superior surface wave noise mitigation, with reduced likelihood of attenuating signal. Embodiments are operative with spatially inhomogeneous media. |
| US08451683B2 |
Method for determining the fluid/pressure distribution of hydrocarbon reservoirs from 4D seismic data
A method including analyzing seismic data relating to a producing hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The seismic data includes first and second sets of seismic data obtained at different times. An interval composed substantially of hard rock is identified in the hydrocarbon reservoir. 4D seismic attributes for the region are calculated. Rock physics relationships are applied to seismic data related to the interval according to the permeability associated therewith. A fluid saturation change or a pressure change of the interval is inferred based on outputs of the first or second sets of rock physics relationships and the calculated 4D attributes for the interval. The inferred fluid saturation change or pressure change of the interval is outputted. |
| US08451682B2 |
Method and apparatus for deghosting seismic data
Apparatus, computer instructions and method for deghosting seismic data related to a subsurface of a body of water. The method includes inputting data recorded by detectors that are towed by a vessel, the data being associated with waves travelling from the subsurface to the detectors; applying a migration procedure to the data to determine a first image of the subsurface; applying a mirror migration procedure to the data to determine a second image of the subsurface; joint deconvoluting the first image and the second image for deghosting a reflectivity of the subsurface; and generating a final image of the subsurface based on the deghosted reflectivity of the joint deconvoluting step. |
| US08451676B2 |
Semiconductor device with signal lines and shield lines
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, a first signal line, a second signal line, and a first shield line. The first signal line is supplied with a first signal. The first signal is smaller in amplitude than a potential difference between a power potential and a reference potential. The second signal line is disposed in a first side of the first signal line. The second signal line is supplied with a second signal. The second signal is smaller in amplitude than the potential difference. The first shield line is disposed in a second side of the first signal line. The second side is opposite to the first side. The first shield line reduces a coupling noise that is applied to the first shield line from the second side. |
| US08451675B2 |
Methods for accessing DRAM cells using separate bit line control
A memory system that includes a first bit line coupled to a first set of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, a second (complementary) bit line coupled to a second set of DRAM cells, and a sense amplifier coupled to the first and second bit lines. The sense amplifier includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters (or a similar latching circuit) coupled between the first and second bit lines, as well as a first select transistor coupling the first bit line to a first global bit line, and a second select transistor coupling the second bit line to a second global bit line. The first and second select transistors are independently controlled, thereby enabling improved read and write access sequences to be implemented, whereby signal loss associated with bit line coupling is eliminated, ‘read bump’ conditions are eliminated, and late write conditions are eliminated. |
| US08451674B2 |
Clock synchronization in a memory system
Synchronization is provided in a memory system. During memory write operations a timing reference signal is transmitted with control signals to a memory device, and a calibration signal is received from the memory device. An internal clock signal is adjusted based on the calibration signal, and a data signal is then transmitted according to the internal clock. In this manner, the data is synchronized such that the data is accurately sampled according to the local clock signal. |
| US08451669B2 |
Multi-power domain design
In some embodiments related to a memory array, a sense amplifier (SA) uses a first power supply, e.g., voltage VDDA, while other circuitry, e.g., signal output logic, uses a second power supply, e.g., voltage VDDB. Various embodiments place the SA and a pair of transferring devices at a local IO row, and a voltage keeper at the main IO section of the same memory array. The SA, the transferring devices, and the voltage keeper, when appropriate, operate together so that the data logic of the circuitry provided by voltage VDDB is the same as the data logic of the circuitry provided by voltage VDDA. |
| US08451667B2 |
Pair bit line programming to improve boost voltage clamping
A non-volatile storage system reduces program disturb in a set of non-volatile storage elements by programming using selected bit line patterns which increase the clamped boosting potential of an inhibited channel to avoid program disturb. Alternate pairs of adjacent bit lines are grouped into first and second sets. Non-volatile storage elements of the first set of pairs are subject to program pulses and verify operations in each of a first number of iterations, after which non-volatile storage elements of the second set of pairs is subject to program pulses and verify operations in each of a second number of iterations. |
| US08451666B2 |
Reading a memory element within a crossbar array
A method for reading a memory element within a crossbar array, the method including selecting a column line connected to a target memory element of the crossbar array by applying a supply voltage to a source follower, a gate terminal of the source follower connected to the column line; applying bias voltages to row lines of the crossbar array; storing an output voltage of the source follower in a storage element; applying a sense voltage to a row line connected to the target memory element; and outputting a difference between the voltage stored in the storage element and an output voltage of the source follower while the sense voltage is applied to the row line. |
| US08451661B2 |
Programming methods and memories
Methods of programming memory cells, and memories incorporating such methods, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, programming is accomplished by applying a set of incrementing program pulses to program a selected cell to a first target threshold voltage, and applying a set of incrementing inhibit pulses to an unselected cell to fine-tune program the selected cell to a second threshold voltage. |
| US08451657B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device using MIS transistor
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes an MIS transistor having nodes, a control circuit configured to apply a first set of potentials to the nodes to cause an irreversible change in transistor characteristics, to apply a second set of potentials to the nodes to cause a first current to flow through the MIS transistor in a first direction, and to apply the second set of potentials to the nodes to cause a second current to flow through the MIS transistor in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a sense circuit configured to produce a signal responsive to a difference between the first current and the second current. |
| US08451655B2 |
MRAM cells and circuit for programming the same
A circuit includes magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell and a control circuit. The control circuit is electrically coupled to the MRAM cell, and includes a current source configured to provide a first writing pulse to write a value into the MRAM cell, and a read circuit configured to measure a status of the MRAM cell. The control circuit is further configured to verify whether a successful writing is achieved through the first writing pulse. |
| US08451653B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having a test function for detecting a defective cell
Flip-flop memory cells are connected to a pair of bit lines and respectively to word lines. A word line driver outputs a word line selection pulse to one of the word lines in a word line selection period. A write circuit gives a potential difference corresponding to input data to the pair of bit lines after a start of the word line selection period. In a first operation mode, the potential difference of the pair of bit lines is reset in the word line selection period, and in the second mode, the potential difference of the pair of bit lines is reset after the word line selection period. |
| US08451648B2 |
Resistance-change memory and method of operating the same
According to one embodiment, a resistance-change memory includes a memory element in which its variable resistance state corresponds to data to be stored therein, a pulse generation circuit which generates a first pulse, a second pulse, a third pulse, and a fourth pulse, the first pulse having a first amplitude which changes the resistance state of the memory element from a high- to a low-resistance state, the third pulse having a third amplitude smaller than the first amplitude to read data in the memory element, the fourth pulse having a fourth amplitude between the first amplitude and the third amplitude, and a control circuit which controls the operations of the memory element and the pulse generation circuit. The control circuit supplies the fourth pulse to the memory element after supplying the first pulse to the memory element. |
| US08451645B2 |
Variable resistance memory devices and methods of programming variable resistance memory devices
A variable resistance memory device includes a variable resistance memory cell, and a by-pass circuit configured to electrically by-pass a programming pulse supplied to the variable resistance memory cell after a resistive state of the variable resistance memory cell has changed in response to the programming pulse. |
| US08451644B2 |
Non-volatile sampler
A non-volatile sampler including a row line for receiving an input signal to be sampled, the row line intersecting a number of column lines, non-volatile storage elements being disposed at intersections between the row line and the column lines; a bias voltage source connected to the column lines, the bias voltage source for selectively applying a bias voltage to at least one of the non-volatile storage elements to cause the at least one of the storage elements to store a sample of the input signal at the instance the bias voltage is applied. |
| US08451643B2 |
Semiconductor memory device rewriting data after execution of multiple read operations
Provided is a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell; a writing driver providing a program current to the memory cell to write data in the memory cell; a sense amplifier processing a read operation reading data written in the memory cell; and a controller providing a rewriting signal for rewriting data read from the sense amplifier in the memory cell to the writing driver after the sense amplifier repeatedly applies a read operation more than a predetermined number of times. |
| US08451639B2 |
Automatic voltage selector control circuit for test sets with tap selectable line input transformers
An input adaptable electrical test set provides for the automatic detection of the power source connected to the test set, as well as automatic configuration of the test set to accommodate the identified power source. Prior to identification of the power source, a circuit breaker isolates a main transformer associated with the test set from receiving power from the power source. The main transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having first, second and third tap positions that allows the transformer to be configured in one of two states depending on the power source connected to the test set. An automatic input voltage detection circuit monitors the input voltage provided by the unidentified power source and identifies the power source based on the monitored voltage. Based on the identification of the power source, the automatic input voltage detection circuit selects the configuration of the main transformer and the circuit breaker is closed to allow power from the power source to be supplied to the main transformer. |
| US08451636B2 |
Static converter and method for starting up the converter
A static converter that includes a power converter circuit having a plurality of interconnected module branches. Each module branch may have one or more electrically series-connected two-pole submodules as switchable voltage sources which each include a capacitor as an energy store and power semiconductors as electronic switching elements. A device for precharging the capacitors is included that has at least one power electronics device for providing an adjustable precharge current. The at least one power electronics device, being supplied with power by an auxiliary supply system and being connected to a converter bridge via a precharge transformer, can be used to achieve a sufficiently high voltage level for the capacitors of the submodules when the converter is started up so as to achieve firstly the minimum voltage for supplying power to the power semiconductors and secondly the minimum voltage for synchronization to the systems. |
| US08451632B2 |
Dual-Switches flyback power converter with self-excited supply to power the high-side driver
An exemplary embodiment of a flyback power converter includes a transformer for power transfer, a high-side transistor, a low-side transistor, two diodes, a control circuit, and a high-side drive circuit. The high-side transistor and the low-side transistor are coupled to switch the transformer. The two diodes are coupled to said transformer to circulate energy of leakage inductance of the transformer to an input power rail of the power converter. The control circuit generates a switching signal coupled to control the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor. The high-side drive circuit is coupled to receive the switching signal for driving the high-side transistor. The transformer has an auxiliary winding generating a floating power to provide power supply for said high-side drive circuit. |
| US08451629B2 |
Integrated circuit for an oscillator structured to drive a control device of a switching resonant converter
A circuit for an oscillator structured to drive a control device of a switching resonant converter; the converter having a switching circuit structured to drive a resonant load provided with at least one transformer with at least a primary winding and at least a secondary winding. The control device structured to drive the switching circuit, and the converter structured to convert an input signal into an output signal, the integrated circuit includes a first circuit structured to charge and discharge a capacitor by a first current signal such that the voltage at the ends of the capacitor is between first and second reference voltages, the current signal having a second current signal indicating the output voltage of the converter; the integrated circuit including a second circuit structured to rectify a signal indicating the current circulating in the primary winding. |
| US08451623B2 |
Mounting apparatus for expansion card
A mounting apparatus includes a chassis, an expansion piece secured to a first end of an expansion card, a carrier and a supporting device configured to support a second end of the expansion card. The chassis includes a bottom plate, and the carrier is mounted on the bottom plate. The supporting device includes a first supporting member secured to the carrier, and a second supporting member secured to the first supporting member. The first supporting member and the second supporting member sandwich the expansion card when the second supporting member is attached on the first supporting member. |
| US08451622B2 |
Circuit board module
A circuit board module includes a circuit board, a plurality of electronic components, a plurality of connectors and a cover. The circuit board includes a heat dissipation unit. The electronic components, the connectors and the heat dissipation unit are disposed on a first surface of the circuit board. The cover has a plurality of openings with the shapes and the sizes corresponding to the connectors and the heat dissipation unit. When the cover covers the circuit board, the openings expose the connectors and the heat dissipation unit. Users can plug and pull the connectors of the circuit board through the openings. The size of the cover is corresponding to the circuit board. The circuit board module is dust-proof and can prevent the users from accidentally touching the electronic components. |
| US08451616B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a wiring pattern, a recess, a pad portion, and an electronic component. The wiring pattern is formed on an inner surface of the housing from an electrically conductive adhesive. The recess is in the inner surface of the housing. The pad portion is formed in the recess from the conductive adhesive and connected to an end portion of the wiring pattern. The electronic component includes a terminal which contacts the pad portion. |
| US08451614B2 |
Module and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a module includes a circuit substrate having a circuit pattern which is formed of a first conductor and which includes a signal circuit, a bonding member formed of a second conductor different from the first conductor, a passive element and an active element bonded to the circuit pattern with the bonding member to implement the circuit substrate, and a detection circuit provided separately from the signal circuit on the circuit substrate. The detection circuit includes a detector having the first conductor and the second conductor which are provided on the circuit substrate and which are electrically connected to each other, a power source configured to supply current to the detector, and a measuring instrument interposed between one of the first and the second conductors in the detector and the power source and configured to measure electrical characteristics between the first and the second conductors. |
| US08451612B2 |
Supply-line management device
A line-management device for use in applications involving hoisting a load, the device having two or more parts, each part being releasably securable to at least one other part and comprising a body portion (1) and engaging means (6) and (7) for securably engaging with at least one other part and being shaped such that, in combination with the other part, a cavity is defined for receiving a load-bearing line, the device comprising attachment means (10) for attachment of a secondary line to be managed and, in use, the device being moveable longitudinally about the load-bearing line. |
| US08451610B2 |
Electrical circuit component carrier
An extruded aluminum electrical circuit component carrier on which at least one electrical circuit component is to be mounted. A first side portion and a second side portion include areas for mounting at least one first electrical circuit component part and at least one second electrical circuit component part. An inlet to which an inlet conduit for a cooling liquid can be connected. An outlet to which an outlet conduit for the cooling liquid can be connected. At least one supply passage for the cooling liquid formed through the first side portion. At least one return passage for the cooling liquid formed through the second side portion. The at least one supply passage is connected to the at least one return passage in series. An area of a cross-section of the at least one return passage is smaller than an area of a cross-section of the at least one supply passage, whereby in use a flow velocity of the at least one return passage exceeds a flow velocity of the at least one supply passage so that an essentially uniform cooling capacity for the first and second electrical circuit component parts is achieved. |
| US08451607B2 |
Keyboard
A keyboard including a case, a first fan, an air deflector and a keycap module is provided. The case includes a first side and a second side. The first side has an opening, the second side is disposed at a side of the first side and has at least one hole. The first fan is disposed at the second side and located between the first side and the second side. The air deflector is disposed between the first side and the second side of the case and corresponding to the hole of the second side and the opening of the first side. The keycap module is disposed at the opening of the first side. |
| US08451606B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes: a chassis for housing an electronic unit; and a hold member capable of holding to a fan unit blowing air toward the electronic unit and attachable to and detachable from a plurality of positions of the chassis. |
| US08451598B2 |
Small form factor desk top computer
An aesthetically pleasing small form factor desktop computer is described. The small form factor desktop computer can be formed of a single piece seamless housing that in the described embodiment is machined from a single billet of aluminum. The single piece seamless housing includes an aesthetically pleasing foot support having at least a portion formed of RF transparent material that provides easy user access to selected internal components as well as offers electromagnetic (EM) shielding. This simplicity of design can accrue many advantages to the small form factor desktop computer besides those related to aesthetic look and feel. Fewer components and less time and effort can be required for assembly of the small form factor desktop computer and the absence of seams in the single piece housing can provide good protection against environmental contamination of internal components as well as EM shielding. |
| US08451592B2 |
Electronic package, display device, and electronic device
Provided is a liquid crystal display device (69) including: a liquid crystal display panel unit (49); a backlight unit (59); and a front bezel (BZ1) and a rear bezel (BZ2) for housing the liquid crystal display panel unit and the backlight unit. The liquid crystal display panel unit includes an FPC board (1) which winds around side walls (WL2) and a bottom surface (31) of the rear bezel so as to cover the side walls (WL2) and the bottom surface (31). Outer claw sections (CW1) projecting inward from the side walls (WL1) of the front bezel and inner claw sections (CW2) projecting outward from the side walls of the rear bezel are engaged with each other through openings (HL) provided in the FPC board, thereby integrating the front bezel and the rear bezel. |
| US08451590B2 |
Modular power distribution system and methods
A modular power distribution system comprises a chassis; and a backplane including a power input, and a plurality of module connection locations. A plurality of modules are mounted in the chassis, each module mounted to one of the module connection locations. Each module includes: (i) an OR-ing diode; (ii) a circuit protection device; (iii) a microprocessor controlling the circuit protection device; and (iv) a power output connection location. A circuit option switch is located on each module for setting the current limits for each module. A control module is provided connected to the backplane. |
| US08451587B2 |
Method for interconnecting anodes and cathodes in a flat capacitor
A method includes connecting together one or more anode connection members of one or more anode foils and one or more cathode connection members of one or more cathode foils and electrically isolating the one or more anode foils from the one or more cathode foils. A capacitor stack includes a plurality of cathode layers having cathode connection members and a plurality of anode layers having anode connection members. The anode connection members are connected to the cathode connection members and configured such that the anode layers can be electrically separated from the cathode layers by cutting only the anode connection members or the cathode connection members. |
| US08451586B2 |
Sealing assembly for a wet electrolytic capacitor
A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode and a fluid electrolyte that are positioned within a casing is provided. The capacitor also contains a sealing assembly that employs a bushing having opposing inwardly facing, tapered surfaces between which an orifice is defined. To help inhibit leakage from the orifice, a liquid sealing member is also employed that contains a protrusion having outwardly facing, tapered surfaces that are configured to mate with the inwardly facing surfaces of the bushing. At least one outwardly facing surface of the sealing member is tapered at an angle greater than a respective inwardly facing surface of the bushing. |
| US08451584B2 |
Solid state energy storage device and method
A solid state energy storage device has two electrodes, a membrane separator and a solid electrolyte having a substantially solid solvent, a salt and a mediator. The energy storage device stores electric charge by both Faradaic and non-Faradaic systems. The energy storage device may include activated carbon mixed with the electrolyte and sonicated to provide connection between the activated carbon and the mediator. The energy storage device is hot pressed to increase conductivity. The two electrodes may be asymmetric in amount of reduced and oxidized species of mediator. |
| US08451582B2 |
Capacitors with high energy storage density and low ESR
Electrostatic capacitors with high capacitance density and high-energy storage are implemented over conventional electrolytic capacitor anode substrates using highly conformal contact layers deposited by atomic layer deposition. Capacitor films that are suitable for energy storage, electrical and electronics circuits, and for integration onto PC boards endure long lifetime and high-temperature operation range. |
| US08451579B2 |
Metalized film capacitor
A metalized film capacitor includes a first dielectric film, a first metal thin-film electrode provided on a surface of the first dielectric film, a second dielectric film provided on the first metal thin-film electrode, and a second metal thin-film electrode provided on the second dielectric film, such that the second metal thin-film electrode faces the first metal thin-film electrode across the second dielectric film. The surface of the first dielectric film has a surface energy ranging from 25 mN/m to 40 mN/m. The metalized film capacitor exhibits high heat resistance and a preferable self-healing effect. |
| US08451576B2 |
SCR circuit for protecting central office end of telephone line
A protection circuit employing a pair of SCR devices connected respectfully from telephone line tip conductor and ring conductors to ground. The SCR devices are of the type providing internal semiconductor resistors between the gate and cathode terminals for sensing overcurrents in the telephone line conductors, and providing voltage sensitive semiconductor regions so that the SCR devices are sensitive to overvoltages on the telephone line conductors. A pair of diodes are connected across the cathode-anode terminals of the SCR devices to provide overvoltage protection for positive polarity overvoltages on the telephone line. |
| US08451572B2 |
Protective device with metering and oscillography
A device, such as an intelligent electronic device (IED), provides a monitoring and protective function for a power system. The protective function uses stimulus acquired from the power system to detect power system conditions and to take one or more protective actions responsive thereto. The device may detect arc flash events in the power system based upon electro-optical and/or current stimulus measurements obtained therefrom. The stimulus measurements may be recorded to use in metering, validation, identifying detector misoperation, and/or event oscillography. |
| US08451568B2 |
Remotely-controllable circuit breaker
The invention relates to a remotely-controllable circuit breaker, including a first circuit breaking unit, remote control unit, and housing. The first circuit breaking unit and the remote control unit are disposed in the housing; the first circuit breaking unit operates to switch on or off loads and electric lines; the remote control unit operates to control the interruption of the remotely-controllable circuit breaker via a remote control signal; and the housing is made of insulating and flame-retardant materials. |
| US08451567B2 |
High resolution magnetic read head using top exchange biasing and/or lateral hand biasing of the free layer
A CPP (Current Perpendicular to Plane) MR (Magnetoresistive) read head and its method of fabrication includes a patterned CPP MR sensor stack having a SAF (Synthetic Antiferromagnetic) free layer structure that is longitudinally biased by the combination of an exchange biasing layer formed over the sensor stack and hard biasing layers that are formed adjacent to the patterned sides of the stack. The combination provides the stack with high resolution reading capabilities without the necessity for a narrow read gap formed by closely spaced top and bottom shields. Sixteen embodiments are described that provide different versions of the exchange biasing layer, different positions of the hard biasing layers and different patternings of the CPP MR sensor stack. |
| US08451565B1 |
Magnetoresistive head having perpendicularly offset anisotropy films and a hard disk drive using the same
In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower shield layer, a sensor stack positioned above the lower shield layer, the sensor stack including a free layer, a layered hard bias magnet positioned above the lower shield layer and on both sides of the sensor stack in a track width direction, and an upper shield layer positioned above the hard bias magnet and the sensor stack. The hard bias magnet includes a perpendicular anisotropy film positioned above the lower shield layer and aligned with both sides of the sensor stack in the track width direction, wherein the perpendicular anisotropy film directs magnetic fields in a direction perpendicular to planes of formation thereof, and an in-plane anisotropy film positioned above the perpendicular anisotropy film, wherein the in-plane anisotropy film directs magnetic fields in a direction of planes of formation thereof. |
| US08451564B2 |
Impact energy dispersing crash stop for a hard disk drive
A hard disk drive including a crash stop is disclosed. The crash stop includes a shaft and a resilient member covering a portion of the shaft. In addition, the resilient member includes a right side protrusion and a left side protrusion. The right and left side protrusions are configured to disperse energy from an impact between a head stack assembly and the crash stop. |
| US08451559B1 |
Disk drive having a base with a protruding peripheral metal flange that is folded over a top cover to enclose helium
A novel disk drive enclosure includes a disk drive base having a bottom portion and four side walls that define a cavity therebetween. At least one disk is mounted in the cavity. The disk drive also includes a top seal that includes a peripheral portion that overlies each of the four side walls and a central portion that spans the cavity. A metal flange protrudes from all four side walls of the disk drive base, and is folded over the peripheral portion of the top seal along all four side walls. The top seal is continuously adhered to the metal flange along an entire length of all four side walls. The disk drive enclosure encloses helium gas. |
| US08451558B2 |
Disk drive device with appropriate number of combinations of magnetic poles and salient poles to reduce thickness of the disk drive device
A disk drive device includes: a base member; a hub on which a recording disk is placed; a bearing unit arranged on the base member for rotatably supporting the hub; and a spindle drive unit for rotationally driving the hub, wherein the spindle drive unit includes a stator core having salient poles, a coil wound around each of the salient poles, and a magnet having a plurality of magnetic poles arranged in a circumferential direction opposed to the salient poles, the hub includes an outer cylindrical portion formed of a magnetic material and engaged with an inner periphery of the recording disk, and an inner cylindrical portion fixing an outer periphery of the magnet, the number of magnetic poles is an even number in a range of 10 to 16, and the number of salient poles is a multiple of 3 in a range of 12 to 24. |
| US08451555B2 |
Recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording
An apparatus includes a waveguide having a core layer and an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles magnetically coupled to each other and positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion toward the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the core layer of the waveguide than the first portion, and a heat sink positioned adjacent to the second portion of the first pole. |
| US08451552B2 |
Lens driving device
A lens driving device which can stably support a lead screw, and furthermore, can reduce driving load while maintaining a centering function for stabilizing a lens stop position. The lens driving device comprises a lens for holding member holding a photographic lens, a lead screw for moving the lens holding member forward and backward in a photographic optical axis direction, and a first support member and a second support member for rotationally supporting the lead screw. The second support member has a support concave portion having an apex for supporting the lead screw, and the lead screw has a support portion that is in point contact with the support concave portion having the apex. |
| US08451551B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus provided therewith
This image reading apparatus, includes: a first retaining member that retains a lens unit; a second retaining member that retains a sensor unit; and a positioning member that sets a relative position between the first retaining member and the second retaining member, wherein the positioning member comprises: a first concave portion that is sagged from a first contact surface to be in contact with the first retaining member; and a second concave portion that is sagged from a second contact surface to be in contact with the second retaining member, and the positioning member is fixed to the first retaining member and the second retaining member by an adhesive filled in the first concave portion and the second concave portion. |
| US08451550B2 |
Projection lens
The projection lens comprises: the first of the components of negative power, facing with its concave surface to the object and cemented of negative and positive menisci, the second component comprising a positive meniscus, having the concave surface facing an object side, the third one being a biconvex lens, the forth one being a positive meniscus, having the concave surfaces facing an image side, the fifth one being negative, faced with its concave surface to the image and being cemented of biconvex and biconcave lenses. The technical objective is that relative aperture (1:1.8) is increased, brightness at the image edge field is enhanced against that in the centre (0.91), in the image, formed by the lens, the required value of negative distortion is provided (−3%), an image quality is enhanced, conditions of lens operating are provided for the object, located at the finite distance. |
| US08451549B2 |
Enhanced variable power zoom lens
The present invention is directed to provide an enhanced variable power zoom lens that is lightweight as a whole, and especially, has its focusing lens optics reduced in weight so as to relieve of a load on a focusing drive system, and that has its anti-vibration lens optics reduced in both diameter and weight so as to relieve of a load on an anti-vibration drive system and downsize the same. The enhanced variable power zoom lens is adapted to have the foremost or first lens group of positive refractivity, the second lens group of negative refractivity, the third lens group of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group arranged in this sequence from a position closer to the object where a distance between each pair of the adjacent lens groups is varied during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, each lens group comes closer to the object at the telephoto end than at the wide-angle end, the third lens group and the fourth lens group separating the farthest apart from each other at the intermediate zooming range, and the fourth lens group is moved closer to the image plane for shifting from infinity focusing to proximity focusing. |
| US08451547B2 |
Wide angle lens
An easily manufacturable wide angle lens with less possibility of distortion even using a small number of lenses has a first lens which is a spherical meniscus lens having negative power and whose convex surface faces an object; the second lens which is an aspherical meniscus lens having negative power along an optical axis and has positive power off the optical axis and whose convex surface faces the object side; the third lens having positive power in order from an object side, and an aperture. The Abbe number of the second lens is 30 or less; the ratio between the diagonal length of an imaging device placed on an image plane and the focal length of the whole lens system is 0.26 or less; and the ratio between the focal length of the third lens and the focal length of the whole lens system is less than 1.5. |
| US08451543B2 |
Magnet holding structure of auto-focus module
A magnet holding structure of auto-focus module includes an outer frame for holding four magnets to four inner wall surfaces of the outer frame; a lens holder for holding a lens thereto and being assembled to the outer frame via at least one spring member; and a winding fitted around the lens holder for driving the lens holder to axially move forward or rearward to focus automatically. The outer frame is provided at each of four inner corners with an inverted L-shaped plate extending downward from a top of the outer frame to locate between the lens holder and the winding, so as to face toward four spaces respectively existing between two adjacent magnets outside the winding. With these arrangements, the electromagnetic field produced by the winding can have enhanced magnetic efficiency and increased driving force at the corners of the winding to achieve the purpose of power saving. |
| US08451542B2 |
Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit having negative optical power, and at least one subsequent lens unit; an interchangeable lens apparatus; and a camera system are provided. |
| US08451541B2 |
Curved vehicle windshield made from laminated glass
Interfering double images that occur with curved windshields made from laminated glass during night driving in transmission and with head-up displays in reflection can be reduced by a wedge-shaped thermoplastic intermediate film. The wedge-angle profile required for compensation of double images is determined locally as a function of pane shape and installation situation. If the vehicle has a head-up display system, the wedge-angle progression can be determined in the HUD field such that double images are prevented there in reflection. However, outside the HUD field, a wedge-angle progression that compensates double images in transmission is selected. The specifically adapted wedge-angle profile enables better compensation of double images than is possible with a film with a constant wedge angle. |
| US08451539B2 |
Optical element having transmitting layers with respective blazed surfaces and Abbe numbers
An optical element including: a first light transmitting layer having a first sawtooth blazed surface, the first light transmitting layer including a plurality of first light-transmitting slopes defining a first blaze angle α; and a second light transmitting layer having a second sawtooth blazed surface including a plurality of second light-transmitting slopes defining a second blaze angle β, the second light transmitting layer being in contact with the first sawtooth blazed surface of the first light transmitting layer. A tilting direction of the first light-transmitting slope and a tilting direction of the second light-transmitting slope are opposite. |
| US08451536B2 |
Irradiation apparatus and manufacturing method for semiconductor device
Disclosed herein is an irradiation apparatus including: laser light source; a polarization splitting section configured to split laser light emitted from the laser light source into first linearly polarized light and second linearly polarized light different in polarization direction; a light beam dividing section configured to divide the first or second linearly polarized light into a plurality of light beams; a quarter-wave plate array composed of a plurality of first quarter-wave plates for converting some of the light beams into right circularly polarized light and a plurality of second quarter-wave plates for converting the other of the light beams into left circularly polarized light, the first quarter-wave plates and the second quarter-wave plates being alternately arranged in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis; and a projection optical system for condensing the right circularly polarized light and the left circularly polarized light toward a work surface to be irradiated. |
| US08451535B2 |
Display apparatus and method
A display apparatus that may generate a high density light field image is provided. The display apparatus may identify an eye position of a user and set a virtual viewing window around the eye of the user. The display apparatus may generate a directional light corresponding to the viewing window and generate a high density light field image. |
| US08451533B2 |
Fluorescence microscope
A fluorescence microscope 100 includes an illumination optical system 120 that illuminates a sample with excitation light, fluorescence detection optical systems 130, 140 and 150 that detect fluorescence from the sample, optical members 8, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 20 that are disposed on an optical path of the illumination optical system and on an optical path of the fluorescence detection optical system, have different wavelength characteristics with each other, and are included in the illumination optical system and in the fluorescence detection optical system, a memory 23 that stores the wavelength characteristic of each of the optical members, and a display 23a that displays each of the wavelength characteristic read out from the memory on the same frame, and displays fluorescence detection wavelength range of a detectable fluorescent dye added to the sample. |
| US08451528B1 |
Method and apparatus for generation of coherent frequency combs
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for phase correlated seeding of parametric mixer and for generating coherent frequency combs. The parametric mixer may use two phase-correlated optical waves with different carrier frequencies to generate new optical waves centered at frequencies differing from the input waves, while retaining the input wave coherent properties. In the case when parametric mixer is used to generate frequency combs with small frequency pitch, the phase correlation of the input (seed) waves can be achieved by electro-optical modulator and a single master laser. In the case when frequency comb possessing a frequency pitch that is larger than frequency modulation that can be affected by electro-optic modulator, the phase correlation of the input (seed) waves is achieved by combined use of an electro-optical modulator and injection locking to a single or multiple slave lasers. |
| US08451525B2 |
Optical apparatus and imaging apparatus
An optical apparatus includes: a sealing case having chambers partitioned by a partition wall; a polar liquid having polarity and a nonpolar liquid having no polarity which are respectively sealed in a predetermined amount in each of the chambers; and electrodes pulling the polar liquid by an electrowetting phenomenon upon application of a driving voltage. One of the polar liquid and the nonpolar liquid is colored with a color having a light-blocking property, and the other has a light-transmitting property, at least a part of the partition wall is positioned in an optically effective area including the optical axis, and when a driving voltage is applied to a predetermined electrode among the electrodes, the polar liquid is moved in the chamber between closed and open positions where the optically effective area is closed and open, respectively. |
| US08451517B2 |
Calibrating and positioning structure of scanning apparatus
A calibrating and positioning structure of a scanning apparatus is provided. The scanning apparatus includes a scanning platform and a scanning window. The scanning window has a wide edge. The calibrating and positioning structure includes a calibrating part and at least one positioning part. The calibrating part is disposed on the scanning platform, and aligned with the wide edge of the scanning window. The at least one positioning part is partially overlapped with the calibrating part, wherein the positioning part is not aligned with the wide edge of the scanning window. |
| US08451512B2 |
Scanner having background assembly
A scanner includes a reference backing member, a scan assembly and a light-obstruction member. The scan assembly, disposed opposite the reference backing member, scans a reference block of the reference backing member and an original block of an original in a scan region. The scan assembly includes a light source for emitting a first light beam in a direction toward the reference block, and emitting a second light beam in a direction toward the original block. The light-obstruction member, disposed between the reference backing member and the scan assembly, includes a light-obstruction part, disposed in a first optical path of the first light beam and outside a second optical path of the second light beam, for blocking a portion of the first light beam from reaching the reference block. |
| US08451511B2 |
Method and device for optically scanning an object and device
A method and device for optically scanning an object is provided. A detection device optically scans a scanning region of the object by displacing the detection device and the object relative to one another into successive scanning positions spaced apart by a scanning step size along a scanning direction in an object plane. An optical imaging device generates a plurality of scanned images by imaging a partial scanning region from the object plane onto a detection surface in an image plane in the scanning positions. The plurality of scanned images are broken down into scanned part images and are combined to generate combined result images. At least one object measurement image is selected from the combined result images in accordance with one or more predetermined selection criteria. |
| US08451509B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
When data of large capacity compared with the capacity of a recording medium used for storing a backup is divided into sections of data and backed up on recording media, a unit configured to divide data and generate sections of the data in order to record the data on recording media, the sections having an order, and a unit configured to generate representative images for each of the recording media, on which the sections of the data are recorded, are provided. Representative images assigned to a certain recording medium include a representative image generated using one of the sections of the data to be recorded on the certain recording medium and a representative image generated using at least one of a previous section and a next section of the data regarding the section of the data, whereby the relationship between the recording media can be easily recognized. |
| US08451506B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method and storage medium
An image processing apparatus which performs processing of applying blur processing to divided image data, and compositing divided images having undergone the blur processing, the apparatus comprises an out of image boundary estimation unit which estimates a pixel out of an image boundary of image data for each of first image data subjected to the blur processing and second image data neighboring the first image data among the divided image data; and a blurring image generation unit which generates blurring image data for the first image data by performing the blur processing using a filter for the first image data while referring to the first image data, the second image data, and an estimation pixel estimated by the out of image boundary estimation unit. |
| US08451505B2 |
Image reading device, image reading method, and image forming apparatus for correcting digital image signal using modulated reference signal
A reference-signal generating unit generates a reference signal for generating a driving signal to drive other units of the image reading device. A frequency modulating unit modulates frequency of the reference signal, thereby generating a frequency-modulated reference signal. A driving-signal generating unit generates the driving signal from the frequency-modulated reference signal. A photoelectric converting unit converts an incident light into an analog image signal using the driving signal. An AD converting unit converts the analog image signal into a digital image signal. A correcting unit corrects the digital image signal by generating a correction signal for eliminating a noise superimposed on the digital image signal using the frequency-modulated reference signal and adding the correction signal to the digital image signal. |
| US08451499B2 |
Multi-level image conversion using error-diffusion with improved speed by processing quadrangular image segments
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit storing an image and a processing unit performing image processing in each segment of the stored image to obtain a value of each pixel in a predetermined order using calculation results for peripheral pixels processed. At least one segment is a quadrangular area. Two sides of the quadrangular area extend from a first vertex of two opposite vertices of the area toward two of subsequent pixels after a first pixel at the first vertex so that the area includes the subsequent pixels whose values are obtained using a calculation result for the first pixel. The other two sides extend from a second vertex of the two vertices toward two of previous pixels before a second pixel at the second vertex so that the area includes the previous pixels for which a value of the second pixel is calculated using calculation results. |
| US08451494B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a carrier; a forming unit that forms a pattern on the carrier; a correcting unit that executes a plurality of correction processes for image formation by measuring the pattern formed on the carrier by the forming unit; and an issuing unit that has issuing conditions corresponding to the correction processes and issues execution requests indicating execution timings of the correction processes satisfying the issuing conditions, wherein the correcting unit executes only one correction process, of which the execution request is issued, when another correction process is not issued at the execution timing of the one correction process, and wherein the correcting unit executes the one correction process and the another correction process in a prescribed order regardless of the execution timings indicated by the execution requests when the another correction process is issued at the execution timing of the one correction process. |
| US08451490B2 |
Printing control method
When multiple print jobs that include banner printing are combined and prescribed manipulation settings are specified, data for banner printing is processed separately of the multiple items of print data and the multiple items of print data are combined into a single item of print data, and newly created data for banner printing and the print data that has been combined is output. As a result, it is possible to avoid problems that arise from the combining of jobs for which banner printing settings and settings for finishing processing or layout processing have been made concurrently, and a user can be provided with the optimum printout by adapting processing in accordance with circumstances. |
| US08451489B1 |
Content-aware method for saving paper and ink while printing a PDF document
A PDF document is repurposed to save paper and ink. Preprocessing is performed on the PDF document. The PDF document has a first quantity of pages of content and a first quantity of ink. Further, complexity analysis is performed on the PDF document. In addition, a document object model based on the PDF document is created. In addition, content re-layout is performed on the PDF document based on the content repurposing such that a printer prints the PDF document with the content in a transformed format that results in a second quantity of pages being printed without falling below a predetermined readability threshold and a second quantity of ink being utilized. The second quantity of pages is less than the first quantity of pages. The second quantity of ink is less than the first quantity of ink. |
| US08451480B2 |
Image communication apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
A CPU of an image forming apparatus executes a program including: the step (S210) of reading address information if a single-touch call number is input (YES at S208); a step (S230, S232) of transmitting image data using a line registered in advance; and a step (S230, S232, S226) of transmitting image data using line (1) if the line (1) is input, using line (2) if the line (2) is input and using a free line otherwise, if the line is not registered in advance. |
| US08451473B2 |
Printer identification and mobile printing
Techniques are provided for displaying encoded data that represent a) features and options currently supported by a printing device, b) a printer identifier for the printing device, and c) network service interface data for a network service, wherein the network service interface data allow a mobile device to send print settings selection data and electronic document identification data to the network service; and processing print data and causing a printed version of an electronic document reflected in the print data to be printed by the printing device. |
| US08451472B2 |
Immediate verification of printed copy
Print verification is done by scanning the printed copies, thereby forming a stream of scanned images of the specific pages. Digitized images from the stream are then spatially aligned page by page, line by line and pixel (pel) by pixel (pel) with corresponding digitized images in a stream of source images. The source and scanned images are compared to find pel sequences that are different. These differences represent defects in the printed copies. |
| US08451469B2 |
Controller for printing device
A controller for a printing device may include a data file selecting unit, an index printing data generating unit, and a providing unit. The data file selecting unit may sequentially select a data file. The index printing data generating unit may generate index printing data by sequentially storing a set of printing data in the memory, wherein the set of printing data defines an image described by the sequentially selected data file. The providing unit may provide the index printing data to a print performing unit. In a case where the index printing data generating unit cannot process a particular data file due to a shortage of remaining capacity in the memory when first index printing data is generated, the index printing data generating unit may postpone processing of the particular data file. The data file selecting unit may select the particular data file when second index printing data is generated. |
| US08451468B2 |
Processor, image forming system and computer readable medium
A processor is provided, the processor including: an obtaining unit that obtains abnormality information related to an abnormality from an image forming device in which the abnormality occurs; an abnormality information storing unit that stores the abnormality information obtained by the obtaining unit as history information; a failure position information storing unit that stores failure position information for each phenomenon related to the abnormality; an extracting unit that extracts the failure position information corresponding to the latest abnormality information and abnormality information similar to the latest abnormality information among the abnormality information stored in the abnormality information storing unit from the failure position information storing unit; and an output unit that outputs an extracted result extracted by the extracting unit as specific deciding information of a cause related to the occurring abnormality. |
| US08451466B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image transferring unit configured to transfer an image to a recording medium; a fusing unit provided downstream of the image transferring unit and configured to fuse the image transferred by the image transferring unit with the recording medium; a recording medium conveying unit provided between the image transferring unit and the fusing unit and configured to convey the recording medium from the image transferring unit to the fusing unit; a conveyance failure detecting unit configured to detect a conveyance failure of the recording medium; and a recording medium evacuation unit to which the recording medium can be evacuated in the event that the conveyance failure detecting unit detects the conveyance failure. Plural recording medium evacuation units are provided and plural recording media can be evacuated to each of the recording medium evacuation units. |
| US08451463B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing method includes the steps of acquiring information for identifying customized drivers; displaying the customized drivers in such a way as to be identifiable based on the information acquired in the acquisition step; selecting a driver to be installed from the customized drivers displayed in the display step; and installing the customized driver selected in the selection step. |
| US08451461B2 |
Information processor, information processing system, and computer readable medium
An information processor includes: a first acquiring unit that acquires image information of a plurality of pages formed by reading copies of a plurality of pages with an image reading unit; a second acquiring unit that acquires image information composed of at least one page formed by reading the copy of at least one page selected from the copies of the plurality of pages by the image reading unit; and an outputting unit that outputs the image information composed of the plurality of pages divided in accordance with the page specified on the basis of the image information of at least one page of the image information of the plurality of pages. |
| US08451460B2 |
Monitoring system for the acquisition of the layer thickness of dust in ventilation ducts
A monitoring system is disclosed, designed to detect the depth of deposition of a substance on a′ surface (12), such as the depth of dust in a ventilation shaft. The monitoring system includes a light source (14) and a sensor (16, 30). The light source is arranged to transmit light across a detection surface and the sensor is on the other side of the detection surface. When a substance, such as dirt or grease, is deposited on the surface it obstructs the light and the amount of light reaching the sensor decreases. A processing means (26) detects the decrease in light and from this the depth of the deposition on the surface can be calculated. Preferably the sensor comprises a CCD array (32), and the substance throws a shadow on the array. The processing means can then determine the depth of the substance from the position on the array of the edge of the shadow. Preferably the monitoring system is placed in a low power ‘sleep’ mode in between intermittent operations for detecting the depth of the substance. In this, way, it can be battery operated and the battery life is preserved. |
| US08451459B2 |
Method and system for inspecting blade tip clearance
A method for use in inspecting a blade tip clearance is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of rotor blades including tips, wherein the plurality of rotor blades are rotatably mounted within a casing such that a blade tip clearance is defined between the rotor blade tips and the casing. The method also includes providing a system for use in inspecting the blade tip clearance by emitting electromagnetic energy toward the tips and detecting electromagnetic energy reflected by the tips. The method further includes positioning the system to facilitate inspection of the blade tip clearance, rotating the plurality of rotor blades within the casing, and simultaneously blending the tips using a blending apparatus and inspecting the blade tip clearance using the system. |
| US08451455B2 |
Method and apparatus incorporating an optical homodyne into a self diffraction densitometer
A method and apparatus incorporating an optical homodyne into a self-diffraction densitometer is disclosed. The method may include splitting a laser beam into four beams by passing the laser beam through a plurality of beam splitters, passing three beams of the four beams through a lens that focuses the three beams to minimum diffraction limited waist diameter and brings them to convergence at a convergence zone containing an analyte, generating a reference beam by passing a fourth beam of the four beams through an optical phase modulator, wherein if a medium within the convergence zone absorbs energy at a wavelength of the laser beam, a thermal representation of an interference pattern forms and spatial modulation of temperature results in a spatial modulation of refractive index, whereby a diffracted beam from energy of the three beams is produced into a propagation path of the reference beam, and passing the reference beam through the lens and the convergence zone such that the reference beam is coincident with the diffracted beam, wherein the reference beam and diffracted beams cyclically go in and out of relative phase and impinge on an optical detector. |
| US08451454B2 |
Stage system, lithographic apparatus including such stage system, and correction method
A position measurement system to measure a position of a movable stage includes a reference plate; a plurality of sensors arranged such that, depending on a position of the movable stage relative to the reference plate, at least a subset of the plurality of sensors is configured to cooperate with the reference plate to provide for each of the sensors in the subset respective sensor signals representative of a position of the respective sensor relative to the reference plate; and a processor arranged to determine from the sensor signals a stage position, the processing device configured so as to, when the stage is in a position where an over-determined number of sensor signals is provided by at least the subset of the sensors that are in operational cooperation with the reference plate, (a) determine the stage position from a subset of the over-determined number of sensor signals, and (b) correct a sensor signal of one or more of the sensors from a discrepancy between the determined stage position and a remainder of the sensors signals. |
| US08451448B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating and positioning micro-scale evanescent fields
Illumination sources are connected to ends of micropipette probes having total internal reflection tips. The total internal reflection produces evanescence at the tips. The evanescence causes fluorescence of dye marked target molecules at tips of the probes. The evanescence is limited to about 100 nm from the tips. The presence of a target molecule at the end of a probe is observed by observing the fluorescence. The limited penetration of the evanescence eliminates noise in the signal and unwanted bleaching of dyes in the cell, so that repeated, multiple and arrays of probes may be applied. |
| US08451442B2 |
Enhanced surface-selective spectroscopy using broad-band heterodyne-detected sum frequency generation
Method and apparatus for performing spectroscopy, include the combining of first and second light beams to form a reference beam, focusing the first and second light beams and the reference beam onto a sample, receiving a reflected light beam from the sample at a monochromator, and viewing a predetermined wavelength band of the reflected light beam from the monochromator. Portions of the first and second light beams, which may be visible and IR forms of electromagnetic energy, are heterodyned through a crystal. A monochromator receives a reflection of the reference beam from the sample, and Fourier transformation is performed on the output of the monochromator. The first and second beams of electromagnetic energy can be split to form first and second component beams and the reference beam, all of which are propagated to the sample. |
| US08451441B2 |
Method for calibrating a device for optical curvature monitoring
A method for calibrating a device for monitoring the curvature of a stiffener (18) of a flexible sea line: A monitoring device has a deformable rod (26) having a central axis (C) and at least three optical sensors (29, 30, 31) maintained pressed against the perimeter of the rod (26). The method includes the steps, for different consecutive orientations of bending planes around the central axis; bending the rod (26) according to the same curvature radius; measuring the deformation of the sensors (29, 30, 31) during the bending; using the measured deformations to extrapolate a sine function of the deformation for each sensor according to the orientation of the bending plane; calculating error-correction coefficients according to the angular shift between the extrapolated sine functions and according to the amplitude of the extrapolated sine curves. |
| US08451438B2 |
Integrating sphere photometer and measuring method of the same
An integrating sphere photometer and a measuring method of the same are provided to precisely measure a directional light source. The integrating sphere photometer includes an integrating sphere having a plurality of through-holes, a plurality of photometers disposed at the through-holes, baffles disposed in front of the photometers to be spaced apart therefrom, an auxiliary light source disposed inside the integrating sphere, an auxiliary baffle disposed in front of the auxiliary light source, and a summing unit of output signals of the photometers under the illumination of a light source to be measured disposed in the central area inside the integrating sphere. |
| US08451437B2 |
Electroluminescent light output sensing for variation detection
An apparatus for detecting variations in light output of an electroluminescent (EL) device is described. The EL device includes a transparent substrate having a first edge extending in a first direction and a plurality of EL emitters disposed over the face of the substrate in the first direction, and some of the light emitted by each EL emitter travels through the substrate and out of the first edge. A light sensor physically separated from the first edge senses the light travelling out of the first edge. A controller stored first sensed light at a first time and second sensed light at a later second time and computes a variation in light output of one or more of the EL emitters in the EL device using the stored first sensed light and second sensed light. |
| US08451434B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring zeta potential of suspended particles
A zeta potential measurement system comprising: a cell having a cell wall and bottom for holding suspended particles; an optical measurement probe having a probe tip comprising a transparent and conducting thin film coating which prevents ionic current from accumulating charge on the probe tip, and wherein the optical measurement probe is inserted through the cell wall such that the probe tip is in fluid communication with the sample; a counter electrode inserted through the cell wall opposite to the optical measurement probe; a laser source which is disposed so as to deliver light to the optical measurement probe via an optical directional coupler and optical waveguide; wherein the optical measurement probe focuses the light onto a front surface of the probe tip, such that the light reflected from the front surface of the optical measurement probe and light backscattered from particles in the sample are collected by the probe tip, and thereafter focused to a optical waveguide and delivered through the coupler to a photodetector; an electrical output of the photodetector is connected to a filtering and amplification module, wherein an analog output of the amplification module is connected to an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converter creates a digital data stream which is stored in a first memory; and a computer or microprocessor which calculates the frequency power spectrum from the stored digital data stream and stores the frequency power spectrum in a second memory, wherein the first and second memories can be either the same or different. |
| US08451433B2 |
Range-finding method and apparatus
Range-finding apparatus comprises a source of pulsed radiation of variable repetition rate and a beam-splitter for dividing the pulsed radiation into two portions which are directed respectively to a local retro-reflector and to a retro-reflector co-located with a remote target the range of which is to be determined. The source, beam-splitter and retro-reflectors are arranged in the form of Michelson interferometer together with a detector. The repetition rate of the source is tuned to frequencies f such that round-trip distance to the remote target is mc/f where m is an integer, this condition being detected by observing a heterodyne signal at the detector. Two such frequencies enable range to be determined. The precision with which range is determined may be increased by carrying out interferometry using the two portions. The accuracy of the method does not depend on absolute range (as with triangulation) and is not limited by the speed of timing electronics, as is the case for time-of-flight techniques. |
| US08451428B2 |
Computer generated hologram, exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
The present invention provides a computer generated hologram including a plurality of anisotropic cells having different refractive indices with respect to linearly polarized light in a first direction and linearly polarized light in a second direction perpendicular to the linearly polarized light in the first direction, wherein the plurality of anisotropic cells are made of an identical material and includes a first anisotropic cell, a second anisotropic cell, a third anisotropic cell, and a fourth anisotropic cell which have different thicknesses, and the plurality of anisotropic cells change phases of linearly polarized light in the first direction and linearly polarized light in the second direction, thereby making a first light intensity distribution formed on a predetermined plane by the linearly polarized light in the first direction different from a second light intensity distribution formed on the predetermined plane by the linearly polarized light in the second direction. |
| US08451425B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, cleaning apparatus, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with exposure light via a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes: an optical member which has an emission surface from which the exposure light is emitted; a movable object which is able to move in a predetermined surface including a position facing the emission surface; and a predetermined component which is able to move between, the optical member and the movable object and which is able to form a space between which and the optical member a liquid is held. |
| US08451420B2 |
Process of producing substrate for liquid crystal display device, substrate for liquid crystal display device, and liquid crystal display device
An easy process of producing a substrate for liquid crystal display device, which contribute to reducing the viewing angle dependence of color of a liquid crystal display device, which comprises the following steps [1] and [2] in this order: [1] subjecting a substrate having at least one optically anisotropic layer and at least one photosensitive polymer layer on a support to light exposure; [2] removing partial or entire part of the optically anisotropic layer and the photosensitive polymer layer by a physical mean. |
| US08451419B2 |
Touch panel and method for manufacturing the same
A touch panel and methods for manufacturing the same is provided. The method for manufacturing a touch panel includes providing a substrate and forming a photospacer layer on the substrate. Subsequently, a single lithography process is performed to the photospacer layer to define a main spacer and a sensor spacer. After forming a conductive layer on the main spacers and sensor spacers, a part of the conductive layer is removed to expose a top part and a part of a upper side of the main spacer. Accordingly, the conductive layer on the top part of the main spacer can be completely removed. In addition, the aperture ratio loss due to over-etching the conductive layer on the color filter can be prevented by the conductive layer remained on a lower side of the main spacer. |
| US08451417B2 |
Color filter display panel and flat panel display including the same
A color filter display plate includes a substrate, a light blocking member on the substrate, a color filter on the substrate, a covering layer covering the light blocking member and the color filter, a common electrode on the covering layer, a plurality of support members on the common electrode at locations corresponding to the light blocking member, and a main column spacer, a middle column spacer, and an auxiliary column spacer, each of which is on a corresponding one of the support members, the column spacers having different heights and area ratios. |
| US08451411B2 |
Display panel having a domain divider
A first slit pattern is formed in a display substrate and a display panel of vertical alignment mode having the display substrate. The first slit pattern includes slits, a pair of projections and a pair of notches. A divergence point where the slits meet each other and an incision portion of the slits have the same function as the pair of projections in the generation of a singular point of liquid crystal. A contact hole exposing a part of an output electrode of a switching element is formed at a protective layer of an array substrate. A step recess is formed at a protective layer corresponding to a storage electrode, a divergence point of the slits is arranged to correspond to the storage electrode. The singular point of the liquid crystal is induced to occur at a regular position, and thus afterimages and spots can be prevented. |
| US08451409B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method for same
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, liquid crystal disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, an electrode formed over the first substrate, and an alignment film disposed between the electrode and the liquid crystal. The electrode has a pad portion that protrudes from at least part of a side of the electrode and electrically leads out onto the first substrate through a conductive material that is located between the second substrate and the first substrate, and a direction in which at least one side of the pad portion which protrudes from the electrode is set to angle of 15° or more and 35° or less relative to a side of the first substrate which crosses the extended line of the at least one side of the pad portion. |
| US08451408B2 |
Electrically tunable liquid crystal lens set with central electrode
A liquid crystal lens cell set includes a plurality of liquid crystal lenses overlapping to each other. Each of the liquid crystal lenses is supported between a pair of flat layers. One of the layers supports a planar electrode made of ITO. The other electrode, also formed of ITO, is supported in the center of the opposing substrate and projects toward the center of the liquid crystal layer. A power supply creates a potential difference between the electrodes and imposes a non-uniform electric field on the liquid crystal modules which aligns them in which a way as to act as a lens. By varying voltage between the electrodes the focal length of the lens may be controlled. A central electrode may be in the form of a beam or of a pointed tip. An electrode having a central hole may be associated with the central electrode or the planar electrode. |
| US08451405B2 |
Multi-color liquid crystal display
A display and methods of driving the display, where the display includes a plurality of pixels, where some colors are present in every pixel, and some colors are only present in less than all of the pixels. |
| US08451399B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a resin frame including a storing space formed of a hole which passes through a first surface and a second surface; a light guide plate disposed in the storing space; and a liquid crystal display panel which is fixed on the first surface of the resin frame so as to overlap the light guide plate. The hole of the resin frame is formed of an inner peripheral surface, which is inclined, so that an opening of the second surface is smaller than an opening of the first surface. The light guide plate includes an outer peripheral surface, which is inclined, and is disposed in the storing space in a manner that the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface are opposed to each other. |
| US08451392B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display having particular liquid crystal film
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; an electrode portion formed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to generate an electric field between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a liquid crystal film positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, and at least one liquid crystal and an associated liquid crystal space in the liquid crystal film. |
| US08451390B2 |
Projection stereoscopic display
A projection stereoscopic display includes: a stereoscopic display optical system receiving linearly polarized light from the light source and displaying a first picture and a second picture both having binocular parallax by linearly polarized light with polarization directions orthogonal to each other, in which the stereoscopic display optical system includes: a reflective liquid crystal panel modulating and reflecting linearly polarized light from the light source in response to a picture signal, a first polarizing device splitting the first picture from reflected light from the reflective liquid crystal panel, a retardation device converting the polarization direction of the first picture into a direction orthogonal thereto, and a second polarizing device splitting the second picture from reflected light from the reflective liquid crystal panel, and superimposing the second picture on the first picture of which the polarization direction is converted by the retardation device. |
| US08451389B2 |
Image processor, image display device, image processing method, image display method, and program
An image processor that corrects image signals corresponding to sub-pixels which form one pixel includes: a shift amount storage section that stores shift amounts of display positions of display sub-pixels corresponding to the sub-pixels which form a display pixel with respect to a predetermined reference position within a display image; and an image signal correcting section that corrects image signals corresponding to sub-pixels, which form each pixel of an input image, on the basis of the shift amounts stored in the shift amount storage section. The image signal correcting section corrects image signals in which dummy image signals corresponding to dummy sub-pixels, which are provided outside sub-pixels in an endmost portion of the input image, are added to input image signals of the sub-pixels. |
| US08451388B2 |
Audio processing apparatus and audio processing method for processing according to detected mode
An audio processing apparatus includes: a transmission signal input/output unit that inputs or outputs a video signal, an audio signal, and a control signal; a reproduction processing unit that reproduces the audio signal inputted to the transmission signal input/output unit or an audio signal inputted to any other audio signal input unit; an output unit that outputs the audio signal, which is processed by the reproduction processing unit, through a loudspeaker; and a control unit that when detecting that a control signal signifying that a predetermined mode concerning the display image quality represented by the video signal should be designated is inputted to the transmission signal input/output unit, instructs the reproduction processing unit to perform predetermined sound-field processing or sound-quality processing during the reproduction. |
| US08451387B2 |
Display
A display is formed such that a control portion reads second channel data corresponding to channels not displayed at start-up from a second storage portion after reading first channel data corresponding to a prescribed channel displayed on a display portion at the start-up from a first storage portion, at the start-up. |
| US08451383B2 |
Image display device, image display method, and image processing device
An image display device includes: an image projecting unit for externally performing enlargement projection of a main-image signal; a basic-property selecting unit for selecting a predetermined basic-gamma property from multiple basic-gamma properties of the main-image signal; a correction-property selecting unit for selecting a predetermined correction-gamma property from multiple correction-gamma properties of the main-image signal; a gamma-property calculating unit for calculating a gamma property for each signal level of the main-image signal based on the selected basic-gamma and correction-gamma properties; a gamma correcting unit for subjecting the main-image signal to gamma correction based on the calculated gamma property; an operating unit for outputting a first signal corresponding to a user's basic-gamma-property selection operation, and a second signal corresponding to a user's correction-gamma-property selection operation; and a control unit for controlling each of the selection operations of the predetermined basic-gamma and correction-gamma properties based on the first and second signals. |
| US08451382B1 |
Systems and methods for cable equalization
Provided herein are methods and systems that provide automatic compensation for frequency attenuation of a video signal transmitted over a cable. In accordance with an embodiment, a system includes an equalizer and a compensation controller. The equalizer receives a video signal that was transmitted over a cable, provides compensation for frequency attenuation that occurred during the transmission over the cable, and outputs a compensated video signal. The compensation controller automatically adjusts the compensation provided by the equalizer based on comparisons of one or more portions of the compensated video signal to one or more reference voltage levels. |
| US08451381B2 |
Excellently operable projection image display apparatus
A image distortion correction unit which corrects a distortion of a projected image includes: a switching unit which operates in response to an operation signal from a Keystone remote controller button to switch correction by a trapezoidal distortion correction process and correction by a corner distortion correction process back and forth; a determination unit which determines whether any one of the correction by the trapezoidal distortion correction process and the correction by the corner distortion correction process has been performed; and a prohibition unit which prohibits switching the trapezoidal distortion correction process and the corner distortion correction process back and forth if the determination unit determines that any one of the correction by the trapezoidal distortion correction process and the correction by the corner distortion correction process has been performed and the operation signal is also received from the Keystone remote controller button. |
| US08451379B2 |
Method and system for toasted video distribution
The systems and methods disclosed transmit a composite channel to a receiver. The composite channel may be a static channel that contains different original channels of content in different locations on a displayed page, or may be a dynamic channel that is processed by the receiver to display a multiple different video streams on a single display device. |
| US08451377B2 |
Image display device, method of controlling the same and home network system
An image display device and a home network system are provided. The image display device transmits a broadcasting signal including at least one of a video data, an audio data, and an additional data according to predetermined transmission conditions. The home network system includes at least one external device connected to the image display unit through a wire or wireless network to output the transmitted broadcasting signal. |
| US08451374B2 |
Picture processing apparatus, picture processing method, picture data storage medium and computer program
In an apparatus and a method for executing generation and reproduction processing of picture data suitable for picture display devices having differing processable frame rates, low frame rate picture data is generated on the basis of a plurality of temporally continuous pictures having a high frame rate to provide picture data having a plurality of layers. Decimated data may be set as the high frame rate layer data. In this manner, the quantity of data to be transmitted or stored is reduced. |
| US08451373B2 |
Frame rate converter and display apparatus equipped therewith
An input unit writes, into a memory unit, frames successively input from the outside. An interpolated frame generating unit reads multiple original frames from the memory unit, generates an interpolated frame between the original frames, and writes the interpolated frame into the memory unit. An output unit retrieves original frames and an interpolated frame from the memory unit and outputs to the outside the frames in the order in which the frames are to be displayed. The input unit, interpolated frame generating unit, and output unit operate in parallel to perform pipeline processing. Operation timing of each of the input unit and the interpolated frame generating unit is determined so that the timing at which the input unit writes an original frame into the memory unit differs from the timing at which the interpolated frame generating unit writes an interpolated frame into the memory unit. |
| US08451364B2 |
Electronic mirror
An Electronic Mirror is described that can capture and display, using a digital/video camera or cameras, the image of a subject as they look when viewing themselves in a mirror. The captured image is displayed on a video monitor or TV set. A widescreen flat panel monitor is utilized, having the ability to physically rotate 90°. In portrait mode the monitor functions as an Electronic Mirror, and in landscape mode is capable of functioning as a conventional TV set or video monitor. Rotation is either manual or motorized. Captured images of a subject may be split such that a portion reflecting one type of outfit may be combined with a portion reflecting a different outfit, thus electronically creating a combination of clothing that may never have been actually worn. Video capture may also be supported enabling a subject to capture and replay a 360 degree view as they turn around. |
| US08451361B2 |
Image pickup device and signal processing method thereof
An image pickup device is provided, capable of complete correction with data of once analog-to-digital conversion, and prevention of excess use of switches and analog devices and/or erroneous correction, including: an image sensor having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters determining conversion results from a digital signal of higher order bit through separate steps of two or more times; a first correction unit which has a correction factor for correcting nonlinear errors of the plurality of analog-to-digital converters so as to adapt to the analog-to-digital converters and corrects a nonlinear error of a digital signal output from respective analog-to-digital converters based on a correction factor corresponding to respective analog-to-digital converters, characterized in that the first correction unit corrects the nonlinear errors after converting the digital signals from the plurality of analog-to-digital converters into a serial output. |
| US08451355B2 |
Image sensor, electronic apparatus, and driving method of electronic apparatus
An image sensor that supplies a control signal together with an address specifying each of a plurality of pixels arrayed in a pixel array with predetermined rows and columns to thereby perform an electronic shutter operation on a pixel corresponding to the address or perform reading of a pixel signal of a pixel corresponding to the address, is disclosed. The sensor includes: address generating means for generating a shutter row address specifying a row of pixels, on which an electronic shutter operation is to be performed within one horizontal period, among the pixels arrayed in the pixel array and a read row address specifying a row of pixels on which reading of a pixel signal is to be performed within the same one horizontal period; first storage means for storing the shutter row address; and second storage means for storing the read row address. |
| US08451354B2 |
TDI image sensor in CMOS technology with high video capture rate
An time-delay-integration image sensor comprises a matrix of photosensitive pixels organized in rows and columns, a first matrix of memory cells associated with control and adding means to store accumulated brightness levels of several rows of pixels in a row of memory cells. The first memory cell matrix is provided with the control and adding means to store in its rows accumulated brightness levels of the rows of a first half of the pixel matrix. The sensor comprises a second memory cell matrix associated with the control and adding means to store accumulated brightness levels of the rows of the second half of the pixel matrix in a row of the second memory cell matrix. Means are provided for adding the levels accumulated in a row of the first memory cell matrix to the levels accumulated in a corresponding row of the second memory cell matrix. |
| US08451347B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image playing method, image pick-up apparatus, and program and storage medium for use in displaying image data
Upon continuously displaying a plurality of image data read from a recording medium, printing setting information including trimming information is set for the image data recorded to the recording medium with a corresponding relation to the image data. The displaying of the image data is controlled based on the determination of whether or not the printing setting information is set for each image data read from the recording medium. |
| US08451342B2 |
Counter circuit, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) including a counter circuit, image sensor including counter circuit and/or ADC, systems associated therewith, and method associated therewith
In one embodiment, the counter circuit is associated with a pixel array and includes a plurality of counting circuits. Each counting circuit is configured to receive an associated input signal, and each input signal is associated with a different column of the pixel array. A first of the plurality of counting circuits is configured to count based on the associated input signal. Each subsequent counting circuit in the plurality of counting circuits is configured to count based on a difference between the associated input signal and the input signal associated with a preceding counting circuit. |
| US08451339B2 |
Digital imaging system for correcting image aberrations
A system is disclosed for the automated correction of optical and digital aberrations in a digital imaging system. The system includes (a) digital filters, (b) hardware modifications and (c) digital system corrections. The system solves numerous problems in still and video photography that are presented in the digital imaging environment. |
| US08451328B2 |
Image processing device, imaging device, computer-readable device, and image processing method for processing a fluorescence image
An image processing device captures a normal light image of an observed region via a plurality of color filters having different spectral characteristics, respectively, generates a uniform image having low contrast by extracting each picture signal corresponding to a picture signal in a wavelength band for which light absorption characteristic of a contrast region in the observed region becomes low, and corrects each picture signal of a fluorescence image of the observed region by using the uniform image. |
| US08451327B2 |
Electronic endoscope, endoscope light unit, endoscope processor, and electronic endoscope system
An endoscope system comprising an imaging device, an input block, and a signal processing block, is provided. The imaging device has first, second, third, and fourth pixels. The first, second, third, and fourth pixels are covered with first, second, third, and fourth color filters, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth color filters can be penetrated by first, second, third, and fourth light components, respectively. The first light component reaches a depth, predetermined according to the location of an object, under an organ. The second light component belongs to an identified color of the first light component. Further, a band of the second light component is different from that of the first light component. The input block detects a user's input for selecting one of a number of predetermined display modes. The signal processing block carries out edge enhancement processing for a pixel signal generated by the first pixel. The edge enhancement processing for the pixel signal is carried out when a narrow band image display mode is selected. |
| US08451319B2 |
Method and system for removing redundancy from among panoramic images, and computer-readable recording medium
The present invention includes a method for removing redundancy of panoramic images. The method includes the steps of: (a) specifying respective locations of multiple panoramic images by referring to respective shooting places of the multiple panoramic images; (b) recognizing a specific object included in each of at least two panoramic images as the identical object by referring to the respective locations of the multiple panoramic images and respective directions of the specific object therein; and (c) determining top n images of the specific object considered to have top n degrees of precision in an image matching process among all the object images which are recognized as the identical object as a reference image(s) for the specific object. |
| US08451314B1 |
Bi-directional communication system
Methods, computer systems, and computer readable media for one way and two way video and audio communications between a clinician at a remote location and a patient located in a patient room that is in a location different from the clinician are provided. |
| US08451309B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning apparatus includes an optical deflector that deflects a light beam at a substantially constant angular velocity and an optical system that condenses the deflected light beam onto a to-be-scanned surface thereby performing optical scanning of the to-be-scanned surface. The to-be-scanned surface is a surface of a latent image carrier having a charge generation layer that generates carriers and a charge transport layer. A driving unit drives the optical deflector at a scanning frequency at which exposure is attained in a state where the carriers generated at the charge generation layer of the latent image carrier substantially stay still. |
| US08451302B2 |
Multi primary color display device
A multi-primary-color display device includes a number of pixels, each of which includes a first subset including red, green and cyan subpixels and a second subset including blue and yellow subpixels. In each pixel, the subpixels included in the first subset are arranged in series in one direction, while the subpixels included in the second subset are arranged in series in the same direction as the subpixels of the first subset. |
| US08451301B2 |
Color display device
A color display device includes a plurality of pixel display elements and a driving circuit. Each of the pixel display elements includes a plurality of sub-pixel display elements. Each of the sub-pixel display elements includes first and second supports, first and second electrodes attached to inner faces of the first and second supports, respectively, a solution disposed between the first and second electrodes, and particles dispersed in the solution. The particles of the sub-pixel display elements of a same one of the pixel display elements are electrically polarizable by voltage signals supplied by the driving circuit, the voltage signals having the same predetermined driving frequency. |
| US08451300B2 |
System and method for modulating backlight
A backlight modulation system includes a light source module, an image mapping unit, a histogram analysis unit, a backlight dimming unit, and an image reconstruction unit. An active display area of a panel is divided into multiple illumination areas. The image mapping unit performs an RGB-to-YUV transformation to acquire an original brightness factor for each pixel. The histogram analysis unit sums up the amount of pixels reaching a preset ratio in each illumination area to acquire reference brightness for each illumination area. The backlight dimming unit calculates out a dimming ratio and a reset brightness model according to the reference brightness. The image reconstruction unit resets original brightness factor of each pixel into an output brightness factor according to the reset brightness model, and outputs an image for an illumination area according to the output brightness factor and input image data. |
| US08451298B2 |
Multi-level stochastic dithering with noise mitigation via sequential template averaging
Displays, and methods of displaying images with the displays, which have quantized display characteristics for each of the pixels are disclosed. The displays and methods relate to both spatially and temporally dithering images so that the effective resolution of the display is higher than the result of the native spatial and intensity resolutions of the display, defined by pixel size, pitch, and number of quantization levels of each of the pixels. |
| US08451296B2 |
Display apparatus
An apparatus includes a display unit, a classification unit configured to classify a plurality of images into a landscape-oriented image and a portrait-oriented image, a detection unit configured to detect whether the apparatus is in the landscape orientation or in the portrait orientation, and a control unit configured to display a plurality of images in one orientation of the landscape-oriented image and the portrait-oriented image on the display unit in response to an instruction, and thereafter display a plurality of images in the other orientation on the display unit. The control unit determines the orientation of the image to be displayed first based on a detection result upon receiving the instruction. |
| US08451292B2 |
Video summarization method based on mining story structure and semantic relations among concept entities thereof
A video summarized method based on mining the story structure and semantic relations among concept entities has steps of processing a video to generate multiple important shots that are annotated with respective keywords: Performing a concept expansion process by using the keywords to create expansion trees for the annotated shots; rearranging the keywords of the expansion trees and classifying to calculate relations thereof; applying a graph entropy algorithm to determine significant shots and edges interconnected with the shots. Based on the determined result of the graph entropy algorithm, a structured relational graph is built to display the significant shots and edges thereof. Consequently, users can more rapidly browse the content of a video and comprehend if different shots are related. |
| US08451291B2 |
Method for displaying information in mobile terminal
Provided is a method for displaying information in a mobile terminal having an Electro-Luminescence (EL) region. The method includes determining whether a request for setting an item to be displayed on the EL region is input in a state in which the mobile terminal is in an EL display mode; if a request is input, setting an item to be displayed on the EL region; and displaying contents corresponding to the set item on the EL region in the EL display mode. The method allows information related to a mobile terminal to be consistently displayed at a preset position while performing a specific function of the mobile terminal, thus enabling simultaneous display of the specific function and of information stored in the mobile terminal. |
| US08451289B2 |
Systems and methods for dither structure creation and application
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for creation, modification and implementation of dither pattern structures. The dither pattern structures may be at least one of spatially interrelated, chromatically interrelated, or temporally interrelated using feedback. |
| US08451286B2 |
Image display method and image display apparatus, as well as printing assisting system
The present invention provides an image display method including the steps of displaying an image printed on a front surface of a first recording medium; generating a transmissive image which represents an image that is printed on a front surface of a second recording medium which is laid under the first recording medium and seen through the first recording medium; and displaying the transmissive image superimposed on the image printed on the front surface of the first recording medium. |