| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08453638B2 |
One-piece pneumostoma management system and methods for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
A flexible pneumostoma management device maintains the patency of a pneumostoma while controlling the flow of material through the pneumostoma. The pneumostoma management device includes a pneumostoma vent having a tube which enters the pneumostoma to allow gases to escape the lung, a flange and a filter/valve to control flow of materials through the tube. The flange is a thin flexible patch which conforms and attaches to the chest of the patient. The flange secures the tube in position in the pneumostoma. The flange is formed in one piece with the tube. |
| US08453634B2 |
Initial velocity accelerating tube
An initial velocity accelerating tube includes an outer pipe. Two ends of the outer pipe are connected with a stop member and a connection member, respectively. An inner pipe is provided in the outer pipe. Two ends of the inner pipe are inserted in the stop member and the connection member, respectively. When the initial velocity accelerating tube is mounted on a toy gun, one end of the inner pipe is against the front end of the barrel of the toy gun by the elastic force of the elastic member so as to tightly connect the barrel, providing an airtight effect. The barrel can be lengthened. To have a shoot with the long-barreled gun, the bullet can have a longer route to accelerate for getting a higher initial velocity. |
| US08453633B2 |
Spring-piston airsoft gun
A spring-piston airsoft gun includes a cylinder-and-piston assembly disposed in a barrel to force air through a muzzle end to make a shooting action, and a coil spring disposed to exert a biasing action to drive a piston head of the cylinder-and-piston assembly when changed from a compressed state to a released state. Front and rear anchor shanks are disposed for respectively mounting front and rear coil segments of the coil spring. A major shell and a minor ring are sleeved on the rear anchor shank to permit the coil spring to be sleeved thereon. The minor ring is in frictional contact with and angularly moveable relative to the major shell such that, when the coil spring is released to expand to the released state, the rear coil segment is tensed to drag the minor ring to angularly move therewith so as to minimize the frictional force therebetween. |
| US08453625B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes providing at least one gas exchange valve that is used by at least one of the working cylinders of the internal combustion engine as an exhaust-gas recirculation valve. In a predetermined operating state of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust-gas recirculation valve is opened at least twice within a working cycle of 720 degrees of the crankshaft, wherein an opening duration of the first opening of the exhaust-gas recirculation valve at least overlaps in time with an opening of the outlet valve during the exhaust stroke and wherein an opening duration of the second opening of the exhaust-gas recirculation valve at least overlaps in time with an opening duration of the inlet valve during the intake stroke, wherein the exhaust-gas recirculation valve is closed between the first opening and the second opening. |
| US08453623B2 |
Gas circulation engine
A gas circulation engine includes a combustion chamber to which high-pressure fuel in a first high-pressure fuel supply passage, an oxidant and working gas are supplied; a circulation path that connects an intake-side portion and an exhaust-side portion of the combustion chamber to each other; a fuel bleed-off tank into which the high-pressure fuel in the first high-pressure fuel supply passage is bled off; a fuel bleed-off valve that permits or shuts off communication between the first high-pressure fuel supply passage and the fuel bleed-off tank; and a fuel bleed-off control unit that permits communication between the first high-pressure fuel supply passage and the fuel bleed-off tank by opening the fuel bleed-off valve when the engine is stopped, the communication between the first high-pressure fuel supply passage and the fuel bleed-off tank being shut off during operation of the engine. |
| US08453622B2 |
Fuel supply system
A fuel supply system includes a plurality of fuel pumps, and one suction filter. The suction filter includes connection portions that are connected to pump inlets of the fuel pumps, and an interval adjusting member that adjusts the interval between the connection portions in accordance with the interval between the fuel pumps. Thus, it is possible to fit the suction filter to the fuel pumps without changing the interval between the fuel pumps. Because the interval between pump outlets is not changed, it is possible to minimize the problems that are likely to occur when the suction filter is fitted to the fuel pumps. |
| US08453621B2 |
Integrated throttle body for electronic fuel injection system and method of manufacture
An integrated throttle body for an electronic fuel injection (“EFI”) system and its method of manufacture. The integrated throttle body of the invention comprises a molded throttle body housing in which the throttle valve, shaft, bore and motor housing are all molded in a single shot from a suitable thermosetting resin or thixomolded from magnesium. |
| US08453616B2 |
Vane-type motor cam phaser with a friction disc and mounting method
The invention relates to a vane-type motor cam phaser with a rotor and a camshaft. Between this rotor and the camshaft, a friction disc is braced axially by means of a central screw. Accordingly, this friction disc transmits a drive torque in a frictionally engaged manner. For pivoting the rotor in two oppositely lying directions of rotation, at least two oil channels (A, B) run through the camshaft and a hub of the rotor. At least the one oil channel (A or B) is sealed hydraulically radially inward by an inner ring part of the friction disc and radially outward by an outer ring part of the friction disc. The inner ring part and the outer ring part are joined to each other by means of a crossarm. |
| US08453614B2 |
Variable valve timing device for internal combustion engine and manufacturing method therefor
A variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a phase limiting mechanism that locks a rotational phase between a housing rotor and a vane rotor at an intermediate phase. The phase limiting mechanism engages a first limiting pin with a first engaging groove and engages a second limiting pin with a second engaging groove to lock the housing rotor to the vane rotor. A retard-side side surface of an engaging hole is configured so as to be able to adjust a clearance between the second limiting pin and the retard-side side surface when the first limiting pin is engaged with a first advance end portion. |
| US08453607B2 |
Collapsible mesh bird cage
Embodiments include a mesh bird cage having a fabric collapsibly forming an enclosed volume, the fabric being a screen-like mesh with holes to enable air to circulate through the fabric. The fabric may be equipped with extendible rods to adjust the volume enclosed by the fabric. |
| US08453606B2 |
Sliding animal enclosure latch
Devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods related to animal enclosure latches. Specifically, the disclosed devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods relate to animal enclosure latches having a slide bolt and a pendant, where the operation of the slide bolt and pendant require separate movements, thus decreasing the likelihood that an animal may open the latch. |
| US08453604B2 |
Animal litter
Animal litter is provided that causes little damage to the legs or the like of animals using a litter box and generates a small amount of ammonia. The animal litter includes a plurality of particulate matter, in which the plurality of respective particulate matter includes a group of particles configured with an inorganic porous material and an inorganic binder which binds the group of particles together, and the inorganic binder includes a non-cement solidifying agent. |
| US08453602B2 |
Combination storage, dispensing and feeding device for domestic animals
A feeding device that is comprised of an outer containment module and inner compression device, so configured that a multiplicity of disposable liners can be nested within the device and then be individually dispensed as required for each new feeding. The disposable liners are held inside the bowl without need for mechanical hinges, moving rims or retaining devices, but rather by a very careful cooperation between the size of the liners and an inwardly extending retaining flange or lip on the top inner edge of the containment module. This unique design allows the user to simply press liners into the device or peel them out, whenever the circumstances require it. The compression device in the bottom of the containment module supports the liners and continuously keeps the supply of disposable liners conveniently staged at the top edge of the module, as well as keeps them from moving during feedings. |
| US08453599B2 |
Resist solution supply apparatus, resist solution supply method, and computer storage medium
A resist solution supply apparatus of the present invention includes: a resist solution supply source storing a resist solution therein; a supply tube for supplying the resist solution from the resist solution supply source to a coating nozzle; a filter provided in the supply tube for removing foreign matter in the resist solution; and a heating unit provided along the supply tube at a position closer to the resist solution supply source than the filter, for heating the resist solution in the supply tube to a predetermined temperature higher than room temperature to make a resist gel to aggregate to become coarse so that the coarse resist gel can be collected and removed by the filter. |
| US08453598B2 |
Stent holding fixtures
Disclosed are stent holding devices having a support mandrel and one or more stent retaining fixtures disposed on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may include a character identifier to facilitate tracking a stent mounted on the holding device. The retaining fixture may include a conical protrusion and a conical recess to allow any number of retaining fixtures to engage each other and be stacked on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may include a tubular member having a spiral cut that enables the diameter of the tubular member to be adjusted to allow for a frictional fit on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may have a Z-shaped or T-shaped structure configured to retain a stent. The stent retaining fixture may also have a filament for retaining a stent. |
| US08453593B1 |
Emission attenuated lining apparatus and methods for structures
The invention provides an improved method and robotic apparatus for preparing and applying a structural member while significantly mitigating hazardous emissions. The remotely controlled robot comprised a series of expandable and interchangeable chambers that allow of site-specific customization. The chambers are linked together by means of flexible interface that allow for the apparatus to conform to the tank radius. A set of synchronized steerable tractor drives are at each end of the apparatus and provide motion across the surface. The chambers have a flexible vacuum seal for the mitigation of harmful emissions. A detachable umbilical with product delivery lines, pneumatic lines, electrical power and signal and video lines contained within remains attached to the robot during the lining operation. The system is suspended from the surface by means of a support structure and center trunnion. |
| US08453591B2 |
Marine vessel with extendable and retractable surface effect wings
A mono boat hull power boat with extendable and retractable surface effects wings. The boat hull has wing cavities housing the wings inside the hull. At the front of wing cavity wing pivots are located, and at the rear of the wing cavities extending mechanisms are located, allowing for the pivotal extension and retraction of the wings in to the hull cavities. |
| US08453589B2 |
Hatch with cover for boats
A novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, and cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch. |
| US08453588B2 |
Float structure for storing liquids
The float structure is constructed with a bottom structure providing buoyancy to the float structure, an upper deck and a number of support columns that connect the bottom structure and the equipment deck which is to be positioned above the surface of the water in which the float is arranged to operate. The float structure is characterized in that at least one of said support columns comprises a liquid storage column which is placed in the middle section of the float structure with the remaining support columns are positioned in the outer sections of the float structure. Active ballast tanks are disposed in the middle section of the bottom structure adjacent the liquid storage column and secondary ballast tanks are disposed in the outer part of the bottom structure. |
| US08453583B2 |
High-efficiency combustors with reduced environmental impact and processes for power generation derivable therefrom
A process for combusting solid liquid or gaseous fuels in a high temperature refractory-lined reactor with the aim of generating electric power comprises mixing at least one fuel with steam. The refactory material of the reactor and the opaque gases of the reaction environment bring about high power infrared radiation which substantially instantaneously preheats the reactants on input including said reactants being intrinsically transparent to infrared radiation (N2/O2) but rendered opaque and thus absorbers of energy from infrared radiation thanks to dilution with steam. A high efficiency combustor is provided for carrying out the above-stated process. |
| US08453582B2 |
Workstation with position memory
A workstation with position memory includes a stationary flat mounting, a plate translatably mounted relative to the stationary flat mounting and a locking system secured to the plate. The workstation also includes a fastener secured to the stationary flat mounting, a strap including a first end, an intermediate portion and a second end, the first end being attached to the fastener and the second end being free from any strain. The locking system has a first open position in which the locking system can slide along the intermediate portion and a second closed position in which the locking system is retained in a locked position along the intermediate portion. The invention has a direct application in the field of military vehicles. |
| US08453580B2 |
Magnetic suspension system with integrable propulsion
A method and system for magnetically levitating a load is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is a system for magnetically levitating a load, the system comprising at least two lift generators, each comprising a source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a rail via a leg on either side of the rail, at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the lift generators, and control circuitry configured to generate and modulate a magnetic current flux through the crossbeam so as to maintain gaps between the legs and rail, wherein the gaps defined by the legs on either side of the rail are of unequal size. |
| US08453575B2 |
Pyrotechnical method for dual-mode gas generation and related pyrotechnical generator
The subject of the present invention is a pyrotechnic method for generating gas at two successive flow rates—a first flow rate then a second flow rate, said first flow rate being higher than said second flow rate—which comprises: the combustion of a first pyrotechnic charge (10) in a first combustion chamber (1) discharging into a second combustion chamber (2) via at least one nozzle (3); and the combustion of a second pyrotechnic charge (20) in said second combustion chamber (2) discharging to the outside via at least one vent (21). Characteristically, said first chamber (1) operates at high pressure and said second chamber (2) operates at low pressure. Another subject of the invention is a pyrotechnic gas generator suitable for the implementation of said method.The invention is most particularly applicable in the context of side protection airbags (“curtain airbags”), used in automobile safety. |
| US08453572B2 |
Gun fired propellant support assemblies and methods for same
A gun fired projectile includes a rocket motor housing including a pressure chamber and an exhaust nozzle. A plurality of propellant cells are positioned within the pressure chamber. The rocket motor propellant is mechanically supported during the severe gun fire event. This support may take several forms, each of which is discussed herein. The projectile further includes a support structure including one or more supports: wherein each of the one or more supports is engaged with the rocket motor housing. Each of the one or more supports is engaged with one propellant cell of the plurality of propellant cells, and each of the one or more supports suspends an individual propellant cell from the remainder of the plurality of propellant cells. All of these approaches provide the opportunity to tailor the performance of the rocket motor by combining a combination of propellant formulations and geometries to optimize the projectile performance. |
| US08453568B2 |
Method of moving printing tables in screen printing apparatus, and printing table driving unit therefor
In a screen printing apparatus, a first printing table and a second printing table are alternately driven to move horizontally between a workpiece introducing section and a workpiece printing section by a table driving unit. The table driving unit is constituted so that the first printing table is vertically moved from a first level to a second level during the horizontal movement of the first printing table, and so that the second printing table is maintained at the first level during the horizontal movement of the second printing table, whereby the first printing table can pass by the second printing table without interference therebetween when these tables meet each other. In either of the workpiece introducing section and the workpiece printing section, each of the first and second printing tables is always located at the same first level, and thus an unprocessed workpiece (W) loaded onto each of the first and second tables can be subjected to a screen printing process in the same control manner. |
| US08453566B2 |
Screen-printing frame
A system for attaching mesh to a frame and applying tension to the mesh is described. The system includes a locking strip slot in a movable frame member that permits mesh and an attached locking strip to be inserted into the slot from the top. The locking strip may be asymmetric. The system further includes a rigid frame that can hold the movable frame member under tension. The system also includes gripping the movable frame member at the locking strip slot to apply tension to the mesh. A simple hand tool may be used for engaging the locking strip slot and leveraging against the rigid portion of the frame to apply the tension. A simple hand tool may be used for separating the movable frame member from the rigid frame to remove the mesh. |
| US08453564B1 |
Container crusher
An apparatus that crushes beverage cans and similar containers to reduce waste volume in recycling bins comprises two (2) metal platens held when closed by a hinging mechanism that allows one (1) of the platens to be moved away from the other. The surfaces of the platens which face each other are provided with a textured or ribbed surface to prevent the object to be crushed from slipping out from between the closing platens. A first platen is mounted onto a pair of mounting brackets and a second platen is attached onto a pair of moving links. A pair of parallel operating arms is interconnected by a handle and operates the connected hinging mechanism. The hinging mechanism provides a toggle action which generates an adequate force between the platens to crush the containers. When the handle and the hinging mechanism are returned to the starting position, the opening between the platens allows the crushed object to fall out into the recycling bin. |
| US08453562B2 |
Apparatus for infant formula and beverage preparation
An apparatus for quickly preparing infant formula and beverage comprising: a powder container for storing dry formula or beverage powder, a powder dispenser for dispensing controllable amount of formula or beverage powder into a milk bottle or a cup, a water container for storing water, a heat-exchanging reservoir for heating up or cooling down water to an ideal temperature, a water delivery system for delivering controllable amount of water from the water container to the heat-exchanging reservoir and then from the heat-exchanging reservoir to the milk bottle once the water is adjusted to the ideal temperature. The device has a main setting and controlling system to set up parameters of powder dispensing amount, water dispensing temperature and water dispensing volume prior to a formula or beverage preparation, so that the apparatus can prepare infant formula or beverage with ideal volume, concentration and temperature. The apparatus in present invention can also include an external mixing system which apply shaking or vibration (can be ultrasonic) to the bottle or cup for mixing and dissolving powder with water inside it and a remote controlling system so that a user can start the formula or beverage preparation process from a distance. |
| US08453560B2 |
Coffee machine with thermally regulated dispenser
A coffee machine for producing and dispensing coffee-based beverages, comprising: a water supply pipe (11); at least one dispensing device (13) comprising an infusion unit (15) apt to contain coffee powder, wherein said dispensing device (13) includes an infusion body (14) apt to admit water into said infusion unit (15) when said infusion unit is engaged with said dispensing device (13), a heating chamber (12) in fluid communication with the supply pipe (11), the heating chamber (12) comprising heating means (20) and being provided with an outlet (24) for permitting the admission of water at a dispensing temperature (T2) into a connecting pipe (23) in fluid communication with the infusion body (14) via a shut-off valve (26). The water supply pipe (11) is in fluid communication with a source of water (7) at a feed temperature (T1) and thermally coupled to a heat source (5), the feed temperature (T1) being less than said dispensing temperature (T2). |
| US08453557B2 |
Piston actuator assembly
A piston actuator assembly having includes a piston liner slidably disposed within a housing. A piston is slidably disposed within the piston liner and partially slidably disposed in the valve body. A plurality of pressurized fluid passages communicate with the piston actuator assembly and provide a first flow of hydraulic fluid and a second flow of hydraulic fluid. A plurality of seals maintains separate fluid pressure chambers selectively pressurized to achieve a plurality of actuator positions. A plurality of exhaust passages communicate with the piston actuator assembly providing pressure relief to allow for predictive movement of the piston and piston liner. |
| US08453555B1 |
Pistol having a barrel with synchronized cams
A semi-automatic pistol is provided having a barrel, a frame and a slide. The slide is adapted for linear motion along the frame during a firing sequence and has a forward end and a block end. The forward end has an upper cam follower surface and a lower cam follower surface on the inside surface adjacent to the barrel. The barrel has a ramp cam surface adjacent to the chamber end of the barrel to effect locking and unlocking of the barrel relative to the slide during the firing sequence, a bottom cam surface and a top cam surface. The bottom cam surface and the top cam surface extend from the front end toward the chamber end of the barrel and each have undulating surfaces that moves against the lower cam follower surfaces of the slide to cause oscillation of the barrel while the slide moves during the firing sequence. |
| US08453547B2 |
Method and device for trimming at least one side edge of a bound printed product
A device for trimming at least one side edge of a bound printed product including a trimming table to receive the printed product and a press die arranged to press the printed product against the trimming table. The press die is operative to rise and fall with respect to the trimming table and the press die includes an elastic surface in a region approximately near the side edge of the print product. The elastic surface is operable to expand in a direction approximately transverse to the pressing direction. The device also includes a trimming knife positioned to trim the side edge. The trimming knife is operable to move between a starting position away from the trimming table and an ending position at the trimming table. The device also includes counter blade or a cutting bar mounted to limit a cutting stroke of the trimming knife. |
| US08453545B2 |
Machine tool and machining method thereof
A machine tool includes a bed, a main spindle, a first tool rest, a first tool, a first driving mechanism, a second tool rest, a second tool, a second driving mechanism and a control device. The main spindle is located over the bed. The first tool is mounted on the first tool rest. The second tool is mounted on the second tool rest. The control device controls the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism to drive the first tool rest and the second tool rest, respectively, such that the first tool and the second tool move along the same direction, and machine a processing surface of a workpiece in order. |
| US08453543B2 |
Tool
A tool includes a driving member with a protrusion. A shaft is removably connectable to the protrusion. The shaft includes a bit driving segment for retention of a bit therein. A handle includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion, both of which are pivotally connected to the driving member such that the first and second handle portions at least partially encompass the shaft when in a closed position. A bit retention member is disposed in at least one of the handle portions to retain the bit therein. The bit is insertable into the bit driving segment. At least one notch is fashioned into at least one of the handle portions. The notch is in register with the at least one bit retention member, permitting a user to access the at least one bit retained therein. |
| US08453540B2 |
Bulb changing system
A bulb changing system for elevated light bulbs is presented. The system has an elongate tube, a drive shaft with a drive handle, a drive gear, a driven gear, and a light receptacle configured to engage an exterior portion of the light bulb. In one aspect, the drive housing houses the drive gear and the driven gear therein a drive cavity and rotation of the drive handle causes the drive gear to rotate substantially along the longitudinal axis of the elongate tube, which in turn, causes the driven gear to rotate, which in turn, causes the light receptacle to rotate. As such, the light bulb is rotated into or out of engagement with a socket, depending upon the direction of rotation. |
| US08453539B2 |
Gearbox apparatus and method of manufacture
In one version of this invention, a gear box has mounting means such as a pair of facing walls for mounting the bearings for the axles carrying the gears. Each mounting means supports its bearing with a different stiffness to compensate for different loads imposed by gears that are closer to one of the bearings supporting the axle than the other. The different stiffness of each bearing mounting equalizes load-induced shifts of the position of the bearings holding the axle. Such a mounting equalizes such shifts, allowing the axles to remain substantially parallel and the gears in alignment. Aligned gears better maintain line contact between individual gear teeth, thereby reducing wear and breakage of the teeth. |
| US08453537B2 |
Fatigue relieving support for steering wheels and the like
A system and method for relieving and preventing fatigue caused by extended gripping of a vehicle/vessel steering wheel. The system includes a first section that attaches to the rim of the steering wheel at a predetermined location and a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible second section that connects to, and extends outwardly from, the first section. The second section supports a portion of the body such as wrists, hands, and forearms. |
| US08453535B2 |
Selector lever arrangement for automatic transmissions of motor vehicles
Selector lever arrangement for automatic transmissions of motor vehicles, having a manual shift facility and a selector lever, which in a shifting gate can be moved forwards or backwards in only one plane into the positions P, R, N and D, all positions being situated in series in one plane and the selector lever having a hand rest together with a release mechanism, the hand rest being pivotally guided relative to the selector lever by way of a four-bar linkage, in such a way that its angle in relation to the selector lever varies according to the position of the selector lever. |
| US08453533B2 |
Four degree of freedom (4-DOF) single modular robot unit or joint
A module of a center link pivotably connected to two outer links has continuously rotatable faceplates rotatably disposed on the two outer links, thereby creating four degrees of freedom (4-DOF). Modules may be connected via faceplates to produce a “snake” assembly. A single module may move forward in a straight line through simultaneous rotation of the two faceplates. By reversing the rotation of the faceplates, the module may turn in its own length. By sequentially pivoting the outer links relative to the center link, an “inch worm” movement may be used to move the module. Interconnections of two or more modules increase the number of available degrees of freedom, and increase the flexibility of the resultant assembly. Apertures in the faceplates and the outer links allow for interconnection of modules and allow for electrical power and signal connections. A battery housed in the center link provides power for each module. |
| US08453531B2 |
Dual clutch transmission
A double clutch transmission with two clutches connected to a drive shaft and to one of two transmission input shafts. Fixed gears are coupled to the input shafts and engage idler gears. Several coupling devices connect the idler gears to either first or second countershafts which each have an output gear that couple gears of an output shaft such that forward and reverse gears can be shifted. A shifting device couples gears to engage power shift forward and reverse gears. Two dual gear planes each comprising one fixed gear and two idler gears which are supported by a respective countershaft. In each dual gear plane, at least one idler gear wheel can be used for at least two gears. Two single gear planes each comprise an idler and fixed gear such that at least one power shift winding-gear is engaged by a shifting device. |
| US08453526B2 |
Method of inspecting mount state of component
A mount state of components is inspected in a mounting apparatus 1b at total two divisions of a component mounting division b where the mounting apparatus 1b performs mounting and a component mounting division a where a mounting apparatus 1a disposed on an upstream side performs the mounting; the mount state of components is inspected in a mounting apparatus 1c at total three divisions of a component mounting division c where the mounting apparatus 1c performs the mounting and the component mounting divisions a and b where the mounting apparatus 1a and 1b disposed on the upstream side perform the mounting; and the mount state of components is inspected in a mounting apparatus 1d at total four divisions of a component mounting division d where the mounting apparatus 1d performs the mounting and the component mounting divisions a, b, and c where the mounting apparatus 1a, 1b, and 1c disposed on the upstream side perform the mounting. In this way, since a step in which abnormal mounting occurs can be easily specified and an effective solution can be established at a predetermined location or item, the abnormality can be easily solved. |
| US08453522B2 |
Wind turbine drive train test assembly
One aspect of the invention is a test assembly comprising a prime mover, an actuator assembly and a torque transfer coupling. The actuator assembly has an end configured to be attached to a shaft of a portion of a test specimen such as a wind turbine assembly. The actuator assembly has a shaft supported for rotation by hydraulic bearings. The torque transfer coupling connects the primer mover to the actuator assembly. |
| US08453520B2 |
Hinge durability testing device
A hinge durability testing device for testing the durability of a hinge hinging a cover with a main body, includes a main body holder holding the main body, a cover holder holding the cover, the cover holder hinged to the main body holder, the cover holder comprising two support rods and a connecting rod; each support rod comprising a first surface facing the other support rod, and a second surface adjacent to the first surface; each first surface defining a first sliding groove, and each second surface defining a second sliding groove comminuting with corresponding first sliding groove; two connecting elements, each connecting element located on one end of the connecting rod and slidably mounted in one of the first sliding grooves; a plurality of locking elements, each locking element retained on one of the connecting elements and slidably mounted in one of the second sliding grooves. |
| US08453518B2 |
Inductive torque sensor
An inductive torque sensor for a motor vehicle is provided that has an excitation coil, an oscillator circuit which is coupled with the excitation coil and which generates a periodic alternating voltage signal and couples it with the excitation coil during operation, a stator circuit board with first receiver means and second receiver means with each having a number of periodically repeated receiver structures, at least two rotors which can be rotated relative to one another and relative to the stator circuit board and which influence the strength of the inductive coupling between the excitation coil and the receiver means, and evaluation means suitable for evaluation of the signals induced in the receiver means. |
| US08453517B2 |
Pressure guiding tube blockage diagnosing device and blockage diagnosing method
A differential pressure transmitting device detects, through two pressure guiding tubes, a differential pressure that is generated when that which is to be measured, such as a liquid, a slurry, or a gas, that has fluctuation in the pressure thereof, passes through a differential pressure generating mechanism. A pressure guiding tube blockage diagnosing device comprises: a rising/falling frequency detecting portion for segmenting the differential pressure values detected by the differential pressure transmitting device into a plurality of intervals, and for detecting, for each interval, the rising/falling frequency of the fluctuation of the differential pressure; and an evaluating portion for comparing the rising/falling frequency of the fluctuation to a specific threshold value to evaluate the state of blockage of the pressure guiding tubes. |
| US08453516B2 |
Electromagnetic flowmeter with automatic span correction
An electromagnetic flowmeter comprises a measuring pipe through which fluid to be measured flows, an electrode provided therein, an exciting unit, a signal line, a signal conversion unit that extracts a ∂A/∂t component that results from a change in the magnetic field from a resultant electromotive force of an electromotive force of the ∂A/∂t component; and an electromotive force of a v×B component that results from a flow speed of the fluid, wherein the resultant electromotive force is detected by the electrode and the signal line; and a flow rate output unit that eliminates, based on the extracted ∂A/∂t component, a variation factor as to a span that is a coefficient applied to a magnitude V of a flow speed of the v×B component in the resultant electromotive force so as to calculate a flow rate of the fluid. |
| US08453515B2 |
Apparatus and method for fatigue testing of a material specimen in a high-pressure fluid environment
The invention provides fatigue testing of a material specimen while the specimen is disposed in a high pressure fluid environment. A specimen is placed between receivers in an end cap of a vessel and a piston that is moveable within the vessel. Pressurized fluid is provided to compression and tension chambers defined between the piston and the vessel. When the pressure in the compression chamber is greater than the pressure in the tension chamber, the specimen is subjected to a compression force. When the pressure in the tension chamber is greater than the pressure in the compression chamber, the specimen is subjected to a tension force. While the specimen is subjected to either force, it is also surrounded by the pressurized fluid in the tension chamber. In some examples, the specimen is surrounded by hydrogen. |
| US08453514B2 |
Method and device for ascertaining the deformation of a fuel assembly in a pressurized-water reactor
A method and a device measure for a deformation of a fuel element of a pressurized water reactor having a plurality of control rod guide tubes. A probe displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the control rod guide tube is inserted in the interior of at least one control rod guide tube having at least one reference axis, and supported in at least one section of the control rod guide tube on the interior wall thereof, such that the orientation of the at least one reference axis is unambiguously a function of the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the control rod guide tube in the section. The orientation of the at least one reference axis in the section of the control rod guide tube is determined relative to the orientation of the or a further reference axis of the probe in a different section. |
| US08453511B2 |
Ultrasonic probe support device
A mounting unit (16) is aligned by using a mounting unit frame (58) touching the thigh and a knee-contacting portion (62) touching the knee, with the knee being bent. The mounting unit is also equipped with a probe support frame (60) used for moving an ultrasonic probe along the knee cap. The probe support frame moves rotationally about the mechanical center of the knee joint, thereby allowing the ultrasonic probe (78) to move along the knee cap while facing toward the mechanical center of the knee joint and to perform scanning of an ultrasonic beam. |
| US08453509B2 |
Method for the non-destructive testing of a test object by way of ultrasound and apparatus therefor
A method for the non-destructive testing of a test specimen by means of ultrasound and a corresponding device, the method including insonification of directed ultrasonic pulses into the test specimen 100 at an insonification angle β, wherein the insonification angle β is adjusted electronically, a. recording echo signals that result from the ultrasonic pulses insonified into the test specimen 100, b. calculation of an ERS value of a flaw 102 in the volume of the test specimen from echo signals that can be assigned to the flaw 102 for a plurality of insonification angles β, and c. generation of a graphic representation of the flaw 102, from which the dependence of the calculated ERS values of the flaw on the insonification value βcan be read off at least qualitatively. |
| US08453508B2 |
Testing of swing type check valves using phased array sequence scanning
A computer with a proper program generates a phased array sequence of signals. In a pulser with delays, the signals are fed through a multiplexor into a water wedge that is attached to a valve being tested. For a sequential operation of the valves from the open to the closed position, ultrasonic signals are transmitted through the fluid contained in the valve and reflected back through piezo-electric crystals to the multiplexor. By summation and merger of the signals, an image can be developed of the operation of the valve to determine if the valve is operating properly. By use of the water wedge, the top plate of the valve appears to disappear because the water wedge has the same refractive angle as the fluid contained in the valve. |
| US08453505B2 |
Acceleration sensor and/or tilt sensor
Acceleration and/or tilt sensor having a ferromagnetic fluid that is located in a receptacle, and the receptacle constitutes a neutral position for the fluid, and the fluid is permanently magnetized, and a magnetic field detector arrangement is located at the receptacle to detect a displacement of the fluid, wherein a portion of the fluid can be displaced relative to the receptacle from the neutral position to an operating position by an external force while maintaining a continuous surface with the portion of the fluid remaining in the neutral position, and the fluid returns to the neutral position after removal of the external force. |
| US08453500B2 |
Tire system
A system for measuring physical parameters of a tire, according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a sensor layer and a circuit layer. The sensor layer is communicatively coupled to the circuit layer. The sensor layer is configured as a first thin film and embedded in the tire. The sensor layer provides a signal related to a physical parameter of the tire. The circuit layer is configured as a second thin film and embedded in the tire. The circuit layer processes the signal provided by the sensor layer. |
| US08453498B2 |
Actuatable capacitive transducer for quantitative nanoindentation combined with transmission electron microscopy
An actuatable capacitive transducer including a transducer body, a first capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as an electrostatic actuator, and a second capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as a capacitive displacement sensor, wherein the second capacitor comprises a multi-plate capacitor. The actuatable capacitive transducer further includes a coupling shaft configured to mechanically couple the displaceable electrode of the first capacitor to the displaceable electrode of the second capacitor to form a displaceable electrode unit which is displaceable relative to the transducer body, and an electrically-conductive indenter mechanically coupled to the coupling shaft so as to be displaceable in unison with the displaceable electrode unit. |
| US08453494B2 |
Gas detector that utilizes an electric field to assist in the collection and removal of gas molecules
A semiconductor-based gas detector enhances the collection of gas molecules and also provides a self-contained means for removing collected gas molecules by utilizing one or more electric fields to transport the gas molecules to and away from a metallic material that has a high permeability to the gas molecules. |
| US08453489B2 |
Method and system for conducting crash tests
The invention relates to a method for conducting crash tests in which an object, in particular a motor vehicle or part of a motor vehicle, is typically mounted on a test slide which is accelerated, the acceleration force being generated by means of a pressurized-gas reservoir and specifically applied to the acceleration object via a piston and a push rod, while for reducing the cycle times, the desired gas pressure in the pressurized-gas reservoir is generated by moving a piston, itself exposed to a hydraulic fluid, so as to apply pressure on the gas. The invention also relates to a correspondingly implemented system. |
| US08453488B2 |
Apparatus for bending resilient tab
An apparatus for bending a resilient tab, includes a chassis to support the tab, a securing element to hold the tab and a sliding element for pressing the tab. The securing element has a clamping portion pressing against a base of the tab and a blocking portion extending towards the sliding element. The sliding element includes a base, a pressing element and a bending element slidably connected to the base. The pressing element is pivotably connected to the bending element. The sliding element can move towards the securing element. As the sliding element moves towards the securing element, the pressing element is pressed by the blocking portion to move relative to the bending element. The bending element is driven by the pressing element to raise and presses the free distal end of the tab at a required angle. |
| US08453485B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling flare in roll-forming processes
Methods and apparatus for controlling flare in roll-forming processes are disclosed. An example method involves predefining a plurality of position values to adjust a tilt angle of a flange roller and adjusting the tilt angle of the flange roller based on one of the pre-defined position values to change an amount of flare in a zone of a component. The one of the pre-defined position values is associated with the zone of the component. |
| US08453484B2 |
Manufacture of a shaft/hub connection
A method for manufacturing a toothing on a component of a shaft/hub connection is disclosed. The component may be held permanently in a chucking while it receives an at least two-stage toothing in this chucking. A special draw die for carrying out the method is also proposed, a first toothing-forming region with a first height and at least one following second toothing-forming region with at least one second height being arranged between a first and a second end face, and the first height being designed to be lower than the second height. |
| US08453483B1 |
Magnetic pulse forming device for roll forming system and control method for the same
A magnetic pulse forming device for a roll forming system includes forward and rearward guide rolling means, a guiding means including guiding rails disposed on the base between the forward and rearward guide rolling means and guide frames movably disposed on the guiding rails, a magnetic forming means including an upper plate connecting the guide frames corresponding to an upper surface of the forming beam, a coil housing assembled to the upper plate and a coil disposed within the coil housing and electrically connected to a pulse generator to generate a magnetic pulse by input current, a movement detector, a synchronizing motor connected to the lead screw to rotate the lead screw and a screw housing engaged with the lead screw and moving the guide frames with the forming beam in the process direction by rotation of the lead screw, and a forming mold. |
| US08453482B2 |
Plated steel sheet and method of hot-stamping plated steel sheet
In a plated steel sheet having an aluminum-plating layer comprising at least Al formed on one side or both sides of the steel sheet, there is provided a plated steel sheet which, owing to the presence of a surface coating layer containing a compound having wurtzite crystal structure on the aluminum-plating layer, has excellent lubricity, prevents the plating thickness from becoming uneven during heating, and can improve formability and productivity in hot stamping, and a method of hot-stamping the plated steel sheet. |
| US08453477B2 |
Packaging systems and methods for cold chain shipments
A packaging system for cold chain shipment may include a container having interior surface portions, a plurality of cellulose sheets disposed along the interior surface portions and defining a space configured to receive an item for cold chain shipment, and a cold source disposed within the space and configured to cool the container for cold chain shipment. The packaging system may further include a plurality of cellulose sheets, wherein adjacent sheets of the plurality of cellulose sheets define a plurality of pockets configured to trap air, and wherein the plurality of cellulose sheets are configured to insulate the space. |
| US08453475B2 |
System and method for making ice
A system and method for making ice is provided. The system may include a tray for containing a water to be used for making ice, and a refrigerant pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the refrigerant pipe to cause ice to be formed on surfaces thereof. A heater may be provided on the refrigerant pipe and operated during an ice-releasing process. This system and method may eliminate the need for an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker, thus simplifying a manufacturing process and reducing manufacturing costs. |
| US08453474B2 |
Vehicle air handling system
A vehicle air handling system includes an air handler, a desiccant assembly and a regeneration mechanism. The air handler has an air inlet configured to receive airflow into the air handler and an air outlet configured to direct the airflow from the air handler to a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The desiccant assembly is installed in a fixed non-movable orientation within the air handler. The desiccant assembly is configured to absorb moisture from the airflow and is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. The desiccant assembly includes a first flow path and a second flow path separated from one another such that the airflow passes through the first flow path. The regeneration mechanism is in fluid communication with the second air flow path of the desiccant assembly and is configured to remove moisture from the airflow passing through the desiccant assembly. |
| US08453470B2 |
Method and system for heating and dehumidifying
A method of controlling the conditions of air in an interior of an enclosure is disclosed. The method comprises collecting air from a lower part of the interior, dehumidifying the collected air, and releasing the dehumidified air in an upper part of the interior, thereby controlling the conditions of the air in the interior of the enclosure. |
| US08453469B1 |
Changing data center cooling modes
A method of providing utilities to a computer data center is discussed. The method includes initially connecting one or more non-evaporative cooling units to a data center as primary cooling plants, obtaining a government-issued water permit, and after obtaining the government-issued water permit, transitioning primary cooling for the data center to one or more evaporative cooling towers. |
| US08453465B2 |
Device for optimizing cooling in gas turbines
A device (30) for optimizing the cooling in a gas turbine of the type comprising at least one compressor, equipped with a combustion chamber (10) and an outer casing (16) and inner casing (32), at least one turbine wheel (14), equipped with a series of blades 12), and at least one high-pressure rotor (38), equipped with one or more supporting bearings (34), the compressor being capable of generating cooling air sent to the turbine wheel (14) through a suitable channel (20). On the outer surface of the device (30), there are one or more grooves (26) which allow the passage of additional flow-rates of air from the compressor towards the channel (20), in order to increase the overall cooling air flow towards said turbine wheel (14). The device (30) can be easily installed without the necessity of dismantling the outer casing (16), and is assembled on pre-existing machines in substitution of the vent tube (22) of the seals (36) of the supporting bearings (34). |
| US08453463B2 |
Anti-vortex device for a gas turbine engine compressor
An anti-vortex device for use in a compressor rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine is described. Spaced-apart radial passageways extend from an axially extending passage provided in a central area of the device to an outer peripheral rim surface thereof. The radial passageways channel air from the primary gaspath about the rotor assembly to the axially extending passage where the air is directed into a central axial passage of the rotor assembly. |
| US08453461B2 |
Power plant and method of operation
A main air compressor delivers a compressed ambient gas flow with a compressed ambient gas flow rate to a turbine combustor. A fuel stream with a flow rate is delivered to the turbine combustor and mixed with the compressed ambient gas flow and an exhaust gas flow and burned with substantially stoichiometric combustion to form the exhaust gas flow and drive a turbine, thus operating the power plant at a first load. A portion of the exhaust gas flow is recirculated from the turbine to the turbine compressor and a portion is delivered to an exhaust path. The fuel stream flow rate and the compressed ambient gas flow rate are reduced, and substantially stoichiometric combustion is maintained and the power plant is operated at a second load. The fuel stream flow rate is further reduced and lean combustion is achieved and the power plant is operated at a third load. |
| US08453457B2 |
Nozzle plasma flow control utilizing dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators
Dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators are used to manipulate exhaust flow within and behind a jet engine nozzle. The dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators may be used to direct cooling airflow near the surface of the nozzle to reduce heating of the nozzle, create thrust vectoring, and reduce noise associated with the exhaust flow exiting the nozzle. |
| US08453456B2 |
Fuel-cooled flexible heat exchanger with thermoelectric device compression
An apparatus includes a thermoelectric (TE) device, a gas flow conduit proximate to one side of the thermoelectric device, a plurality of flexible tubes proximate to a second side of the thermoelectric device, and a spring to control contact force between the flexible tubes and the thermoelectric device. The spring comprises a coil spring at least partially circumscribing the gas flow conduit. The thermoelectric device converts a temperature differential between the flexible tubes and the gas flow conduit into electrical energy. |
| US08453453B2 |
Heat pump
A heat pump includes an evaporator 10 evaporating water; a steam compressor 1 compressing the vapor generated by the evaporator 10; a vapor supply duct 31 adapted to supply the vapor 30 compressed by the compressor 1 to steam-utilizing facility 2; a measuring device 91 for measuring a state of vapor between the evaporator 10 and the compressor 1; and a valve 81 adjusting an amount of vapor flowing in the compressor 1 based on information from the measuring device 91. |
| US08453448B2 |
Axial turbine
A turbocharger including a turbine wheel having a hub-to-tip ratio of no more than 60% and blades with a high turning angle, a turbine housing forming an inwardly spiraling primary-scroll passageway that significantly converges to produce highly accelerated airflow into the turbine at high circumferential angles, and a two-sided parallel compressor. The compressor and turbine each produce substantially no axial force, allowing the use of minimal axial thrust bearings. |
| US08453444B2 |
Power plant using compressed or liquefied air for energy storage
Apparatus (100) comprising a power plant or air motor utilizing compressed air or liquid air for energy storage. The apparatus includes an electrical plant (200), a mechanical plant (300), and a pneumatic plant (400). When operating as a compressor, the plant receives electrical and/or direct mechanical power as an input to drive the plant, compress air, and store its output in the form of compressed or liquefied air. When operating as an engine, the plant consumes the compressed or liquid air to drive a mechanism of the engine and deliver mechanical power and/or electrical power as an output. |
| US08453442B1 |
Underwater air power generator
A power generator which generates power using the force of air rising in water. A plurality of containers are connected to a chain which in turn is connected to two gears. An air compressor produces air bubbles to be released into the containers which rotate to the surface of the water around the chain. The rotating containers cause the chain to rotate two gears which transforms rotational energy into electrical energy by a generator. |
| US08453441B2 |
System and method for pump-controlled cylinder cushioning
A system and method for controlling the movement of an implement of an earthmoving machine. The system includes a hydraulic actuator adapted to move the implement. A variable displacement pump is coupled to the actuator for delivering a pressurized fluid to and receiving pressurized fluid from chambers within the actuator. A sensor generates an output based on the position of the actuator's piston or piston rod, and a controller controls the displacement of the variable displacement pump in response to the output of the sensor by executing an algorithm to reduce the flow rate of the fluid to and from the actuator's chambers and thereby reduce the velocity of the piston as it approaches an end of a piston stroke thereof and prevent the piston from impacting the actuator at the end of the piston stroke. |
| US08453440B2 |
Drive device for a vehicle
A drive device for a vehicle having an automatic transmission, which has a hydrodynamic torque converter. The transmission oil of the automatic transmission is used as the operating medium for the hydrodynamic torque converter. In addition, the drive device has a heat exchanger for cooling the operating medium. It is provided that additional apparatuses (heat exchangers) are provided for the direct cooling of the hydrodynamic torque converter using a cooling medium. |
| US08453438B2 |
Exhaust control device for vehicle engine
An exhaust control device for a vehicle engine wherein an exhaust pipe forms an exhaust passage along with an exhaust port is connected to a cylinder head via the exhaust port. A rotary valve is capable of changing the opening area of the exhaust passage. The rotary valve being disposed in approximately the middle of the exhaust passage. The opening area of the exhaust passage is made controllable by the rotary valve while avoiding an increase in the number of component parts. A rotary valve having a turning axis located at a position offset from the center of the exhaust port is housed in a valve housing provided integrally with a cylinder head. |
| US08453435B2 |
Method for controlling exhaust gas purification device
Disclosed is a method for controlling an exhaust gas purification device, wherein the regeneration operation includes main regeneration operation for detaching the nitrogen oxides adsorbed onto the nitrogen oxide adsorbing material, the method comprising: operating the first combustion device and the second combustion device while the exhaust gas is prevented from flowing into the branch exhaust passage subjected to the regeneration operation by the switching of a changeover valve during the regeneration operation; and decreasing the flow rate of the first mixture gas as the stage of the main regeneration operation advances. |
| US08453430B2 |
Configuration and method for cleaning an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine by separating particles and motor vehicle having the configuration
A configuration for purifying or cleaning an exhaust-gas flow of an internal combustion engine includes at least an ionization device, an agglomeration device, and a (catalytically active) radial honeycomb body around a duct. The exhaust-gas is diverted from the duct into the radial honeycomb body, while the agglomerated particles are caught in a particle separator of the duct. A method for purifying or cleaning an exhaust-gas flow of an internal combustion engine and a motor vehicle including an exhaust system having the configuration, are also provided. |
| US08453425B2 |
Soot reduction by combustor conditioning
A method of affecting soot particulate size in an internal combustion engine exhaust by selectively providing a phosphorous based additive to the engine during combustion. Soot particulate size can be increased or decreased depending on the particular additive provided. Also disclosed in a conditioning effect experienced by using a phosphorous based additive for a period of time. A conditioned engine can also have its exhaust properties affected during the life of its conditioned state. Manipulating particle size during engine operation can employ an oligomeric phosphorous compound. Engine conditioning can employ a monomeric phosphorous containing compound, an oligomeric phosphorous containing compound, a polymeric phosphorous containing compound, or combinations thereof. |
| US08453423B2 |
Manual round hay bale wrapper
This is a machine to allow a single individual to manually wrap round hay bales with any type of film or net wrap. It allows the operator to position a round bale suspended on a bale spear and centered within the bale wrap ring to turn the ring which contains the wrap material clockwise or counterclockwise about the bale as the wrap covers the bale about its circumference. The ring can also be moved left and right to ensure full coverage of the bale in spite of widths and the ring is large enough to accommodate bales of any diameter up to six foot and can be easily adapted to bales of even larger diameter if round balers are produced in excess of six foot in diameter. |
| US08453420B2 |
Film dispensing and wrapping apparatus or system using smart technology
A film wrapping machine or apparatus wherein various operational conditions and data can be detected, determined, and subsequently utilized for diagnostic, operational performance, and safety characteristics, as well as for implementing improvements in operational performance so as to not only achieve optimal or predetermined performance characteristics but to also achieve economical usage of the wrapping or packaging film. |
| US08453417B2 |
Envelope filling apparatus
An envelope filling apparatus inserts a sheet of paper into an envelope having a flap, and includes an envelope feed device, an air nozzle for blowing air into the envelope fed by the envelope feed device from an open end of the envelope to open the open end, and a sensing device for detecting that the open end of the envelope is opened. The apparatus further includes an insertion device for inserting the sheet of paper into the envelope from the open end, if the sensing device detects that the open end of the envelope is opened after the air nozzle is actuated, and a removal device for removing the envelope from a transport route, if the sensing device does not detect that the open end of the envelope is opened after the air nozzle is actuated and the insertion device is not actuated. |
| US08453414B2 |
Quick-set, full-moment-lock, column and beam building frame system and method
A method, and associated apparatus, for assembling a structural frame from elongate, tubular columns having plural sides, and a selected style of elongate beams, with respect to which, the method includes the steps of (a) pre-fitting the sides of such columns and the ends of such beams with attached, gravity-set, complementary interconnect structures (either collar-form or non-collar form in nature), including column-side-fitted interconnect structures and beam-end-fitted interconnect structures, (b) utilizing gravity, bringing interconnect-structure pre-fitted beams and columns into correct, predetermined, relative design dispositions relative to one another, and (c) through the performing of the bringing step alone, and on the resulting occurrence of the achievement of the mentioned correct, predetermined, relative design dispositions between a beam and a column, simultaneously and immediately thereby establishing (1) a full-moment load-bearing connection, and (2) a relatively positionally gravity-set-and-stabilized condition, between that beam and column. |
| US08453413B2 |
Reinforced construction element
A construction element of reinforced-concrete panel (1) in which is embedded a reinforcement framework includes at least one main framework layer extending along a tensioned outer face (11) of the element (1) and to which an inner framework (3) is attached for securing to the concrete, extending to the thickness of the element (1), the latter being produced, after the placement of the reinforcement framework, by pouring concrete onto a thin continuous wall (2) forming a sacrificial formwork. The thin wall (2) forming the sacrificial formwork extends along the tensioned face (11) of the element (1) and at the same time forms the main framework layer of the element (1), the nature and thickness of the thin wall (2) being determined so as to withstand the tensile stresses generated by the forces applied to the element (1) without the risk of separation from the concrete. |
| US08453412B2 |
Spring bolt hanger
A spring bolt hanger comprising a barrel, a bolt positioned within the barrel, a retainer associated with the bolt, and a spring positioned in the barrel between the retainer and a first end of the barrel, said spring configured to bias the bolt away from the first end of the barrel. The spring bolt hanger has two distinct operative configurations. In the retracted configuration the spring bolt hanger has the bolt retracted into the barrel. In the extended configuration the bolt is extended from the barrel and is accessible outside of the concrete surface for use as an attachment point. The spring bolt hanger may be selectively moved between operative configurations. Also disclosed are methods of using a spring bolt hanger to attach an object to a concrete surface. |
| US08453411B2 |
Method for coating an element with glue
The invention relates to a method for producing a glue-coated element, to the glue-coated element, to an adhesive compound and to a method for producing glue-coated derived timber panels, as well as to panels produced according to the method. The method for producing a glue-coated element that can be glued with other similarly glue-coated elements, comprises the steps of applying a one-component adhesive to at least one surface section of the element and drying the applied one-component adhesive. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, draw-out resistance elements are provided on the glue-covered element. |
| US08453408B2 |
Pre-assembled hip, ridge or rake shingle
A hip, ridge or rake shingle is provided, in which a pair of substantially rigid panel portions are connected by a hinge portion, and wherein the shingle is pre-assembled, but can conform to a variety of different angles to accommodate different angular relationships between surfaces of a hip, ridge or rake of a roof. |
| US08453404B2 |
Composite building panel and method
A composite building panel and method employs a foam core member which has custom excised cutout sections which are specially configured to be bonded to a panel framework made up of light gauge steel framing members. The panel framework is positioned on the inner surface of the base section of the foam core member and surrounds internal sections of the foam core member. Foam pieces which have been excised from the foam core member are positioned within gaps between the framing members and the foam core member. The framing members, foam core member, and foam pieces are bonded together to form an integral panel component. An external seal coating is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the foam core member. Expandable foam can be injected into the gaps between the framing members and the foam core member, in lieu of the foam pieces, to form the bond between the framing members and the foam core member. A void may be provided in the space over the foam core member and between the framing members for running electrical wiring, plumbing lines, etc. The panel can be used for custom designed walls, roofs and similar structural members. |
| US08453401B2 |
Prestressed, strong foam glass tiles
A prestressed, strong foam glass tile for use in construction. The prestressed, strong foam glass tiles of the present invention are capable of withstanding relatively large prestressing as a result of their relatively high compression strength. These prestressed, foam glass tiles will absorb and/or withstand more energy from an explosion, withstand higher heat and wind loading and other mechanical forces than traditional foam glass tiles. The foam glass tile of the present invention is strong enough that it can be prestressed over 1000 psi (lb./sq. in.), and more preferably over 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 and even more preferably over 5,000 psi. The prestressed, strong foam glass tiles of the present invention may be included as part of a prestressed assembly. Said prestressed assembly may be comprised of two metal members, one or more prestressed foam glass tiles, and a tension member such as a tension bolt and/or wires. |
| US08453397B2 |
Methods and systems of interior window framing
An interior window framing system comprising a standardized frame having predetermined dimensions proportionate to a standard window. |
| US08453396B2 |
Water-resist means for aircraft windows
The subject matter of the disclosed embodiments is a device for mounting a window glass including a seal covering a peripheral edge of the window glass and provided with a strip bearing against a peripheral flat of a frame of the window. The seal includes a flange engaging in the recess of the window and is provided with a squeegee lip bearing against the edge of the frame. |
| US08453392B1 |
System for positioning and holding ceiling panels
An overhead panel installation system consisting of three components that hold drywall or other panels onto ceiling joists thereby allowing workers to place the panels and let go while they nail or screw the panels to the joists. Component “A” is placed over two top plates of a wall whereby a bent portion of component “A” extends away from the wall and creates a first ledge for a first panel to be held in place. Component “B” is subsequently placed over the end of the secured first panel opposite the wall and creates a second ledge for a second panel to be placed and held. Lastly, component “C” is fitted under a ceiling joist, turned, and locked in place to create a third ledge to further support the second panel. Each of the three components can be simply removed with a twist of the handle. |
| US08453391B2 |
Apparatus for establishing a paver over a subsurface
Disclosed is an improved component for apparatus for facilitating the elevated and leveled placement of a paver surface. Also disclosed are apparatus composed of the disclosed component. Yet further disclosed are related methods of use for the component and the apparatus composed of the same. |
| US08453389B2 |
Roof boot
A flashing for sealing around a pipe or conduit includes a dome portion with an opening with an inwardly extending lip, and a replaceable seal sized to fit in the dome opening so as to seal around a vent pipe. The seal includes a downwardly extending locking member to grip and lock the inwardly extending lip of the dome portion. The flashing may include a flange portion to facilitate installing the flashing on a roof. Once installed, the replaceable seal may be replaced without replacing the entire flashing, yet securely grips to the base of the flashing. |
| US08453388B2 |
Wall lining
A wall lining is described, comprising wall panels (1) and holding profiles (2) which respectively comprise a downwardly open receiving groove (4) for a bottom wall panel (1), an upwardly open receiving groove (3) for an upper wall panel (1) and a suspension groove (5) for fixing hooks between the two receiving grooves (3, 4). In order to enable the insertion of wall panels (1) of different thickness it is proposed that the two receiving grooves (3, 4) of the holding profiles (2) which can be fixed to the wall, which grooves form a stop surface (9) for the outside of the wall panels (1) on the side facing away from the wall (6), form at least two sections (11) in the direction of the groove depth with different widths for holding wall panels (1) of different thickness. |
| US08453383B2 |
Adjustable glass clamp for cable drive window regulators
A window clip for connecting a window to a window lift includes a clip body having a generally U-shaped profile and a window lift connector attached to the clip body. The clip body includes a pair of generally opposed side walls connected at a closed bottom portion with an opening opposite therefrom, each opposed side wall having an inner face and having a single concave curvilinear surface on the inner face. An isolator is adapted to fit into a clip body. The isolator has a convex curvilinear portions adapted to fit and nest within the concave curvilinear surfaces on each inner face. |
| US08453382B2 |
Entrance control system
An entry control apparatus includes a pair of spaced barriers forming a pathway therebetween. The barriers are positioned adjacent a doorway to control ingress into and egress from a building or the like. An arm is pivotally mounted and extends across the pathway and permits free movement of people in one direction and selectively restricts movement in the other direction. A motion sensor is provided and a motion control system is associated with the sensor. The sensor and motion control system cooperate to selectively allow the arm to move to a normally open position for normal traffic in an approved direction. In the event a person approaches the apparatus, as if to exit, or move in the wrong direction through the pathway, the sensor detects the movement and effects operation of the motion control system that locks the arm against movement to prevent movement through the passageway. An alarm system can be provided to alert personnel that an unauthorized movement through the pathway may be underway. |
| US08453381B2 |
Self-watering plant container and related methods
A plant container includes a container body having a conduit extending between an inlet connection and an outlet connection. A float valve assembly is in communication with the conduit within the container body for automatically controlling fluid entry into the container body from the conduit. A soil retention element is arranged in the container body above the float valve assembly. A method of using the self-watering plant container includes adding soil to an interior volume of the container body above the soil retention element, planting at least one seed in the soil, and connecting a water supply to an inlet connection of the conduit. |
| US08453377B2 |
Playing-field, soil treatment apparatus and method
A material and method for maintaining a suitably dry sporting surface in natural soils may include a substrate treated with a layer of hydrating particles thereto. Various materials can serve as a hydrating, particulate coating. Polyacrylamide has been found to serve well and provide absorption to remove moisture that normally accumulates from a storms passing over a playing field. Soil treatment makes the soil surface ready to play on almost immediately. An amount of the amendment may be added to soil, mixed in, and watered before use, to provide more consistent properties such as natural bounce, reduced compaction, and reduced dust. The polymer may be embedded in mats to soak up standing water after storms, after which the amendment can be mixed into the soil to effectively tie up water that may otherwise create mud with the soil. Rain remediation may be done, whether or not the amendment was used for field preparation. |
| US08453374B2 |
Cushion for butt-end of fishing rod
An elastic cushion for enveloping the butt-end of a fishing rod. The cushion includes a unitary body having a cylindrical section at one end and a bulbous section at the opposite end. A central bore extends through the cushion. The central bore tapers from a large adjacent the one end to a second diameter located within the bulbous section to removably retain the rod in the central bore. An exterior surface of the bulbous section has a plurality of separate flutes for enhancing a frictional gripping of the bulbous section of the cushion body with the fisher-person's body and at least one of the flutes transitioning onto an exterior surface of the cylindrical section to enhance the frictional gripping of at least one hand of the fisher-person with the exterior surface of the cylindrical section. |
| US08453371B1 |
Powered jigging device for fishing
A powered jigging device for fishing includes a base section secured to an upright support section. A pole holder assembly pivotally attached to the upright support section includes a plate portion parallel to the upright support section and pivotally attached at a pivot point thereto, and a pole attachment portion secured to the plate portion above the pivot point thereof. A fishing pole is mounted in the pole attachment portion. A motor member rigidly secured to the upright support section is operatively attached to a rotor member positioned below the pivot point of the plate portion. A multipivot point linkage is pivotally secured at one end to the rotor member and at an opposite end to the plate portion of the pole holder assembly below the pivot point thereof. Rotation of the rotor member by the motor member causes pivoting movement of the pole holder assembly through the multipivot point linkage there between. |
| US08453370B2 |
Shroud for a firearm and a method of configuring the same
A shroud is provided for a firearm having a longitudinal barrel. The shroud is configured to co-operate with formations provided on the firearm barrel such as to provide axial alignment therebetween. The shroud further comprises means for mounting one or more devices to the shroud. The alignment between the barrel and the shroud provides for alignment between the device(s) and the barrel. A firearm comprising such a shroud, and a method of configuring a firearm comprising the shroud are also provided. |
| US08453367B2 |
Maintenance kit incorporated into sub caliber action device
A maintenance kit incorporated into operable components of a sub caliber action device installable within an upper receiver of an AR-15 type firearm for facilitating disassembly, maintenance and reassembly of a bolt and forward chamber adaptor with a receiver plate. The kit includes at least one gauge dimension defined in a barrel of the forward chamber adaptor for establishing a correct spacing between lengthwise extending and interior notch defining arms associated with the receiver plate. A modified guide rod facilitates at least one of disassembly of the bolt firing pin/extractor and cleaning of the chamber adaptor interior prior to reassembly of the bolt and chamber adaptor. |
| US08453361B2 |
Quilt fabrication and display device
A quilt fabrication and display device and kit of parts for producing the display device. The device includes upper and lower stretcher rails separated from one another by use of a pair of rail support members, the upper stretcher rails and lower stretcher rails being substantially parallel to one another and the rail support members being substantially parallel to one another and substantially orthogonal to the upper and lower stretcher rails. The upper and lower stretcher rails and the rail support members are of two subparts and the kit includes fasteners for selectively connecting the subparts for assembly and disassembly of the device. A set of four butterfly wing extenders are provided each extender selectively attachable to the upper stretcher rails and lower stretcher rails such that when assembled, two of the butterfly wing extenders extend above the upper stretcher rails and two of the butterfly wing extenders extend below the lower stretcher rails. Further included within the kit is a substrate cable joining each of the butterfly wing extenders providing a cable perimeter having sections between the butterfly wing extenders parallel to the upper and lower stretcher rails and rail support members. |
| US08453360B2 |
Steam generating device provided with a hydrophilic coating
A steam generating device includes a steam chamber provided with a hydrophilic coating. The hydrophilic coating includes an alkali metal silicate compound and boron, preferably a salt of boron with a metallic element. The coating promotes steaming and is resistant to flaking. |
| US08453359B2 |
Air-feed device of boiler iron and boiler iron
An air-feed device and boiler iron has a three-station guiding valve. The body contains an air inlet linking boiler and two air outlets located in two sides of a guiding valve. The first outlet links wet vapor snoot of iron and the second links heating plate of boiler. One end of a valve rod of the guiding valve is in the valve body and links to a fixed valve plug. The other end is led outside through an opening in the top of body. When the valve rod rests at any one of the stations, the valve plug blocks a desired combination of air outlets and/or inlets. |
| US08453354B2 |
Rigid cantilevered stud
Articles of footwear may include selectively engageable traction elements that engage with a surface or the ground during certain activities and do not engage with the surface or the ground during other activities. The selectively engageable traction elements are caused to engage with the ground or surface when a portion of the footwear is flexed. When the footwear is in its unflexed position, the selectively engageable traction elements may not engage with the ground or surface. Selectively engageable traction elements may be desired or may be useful during particular, targeted movements such as sharp turns, pivoting, sudden or abrupt starting and stopping motions, and the like and in changing environmental conditions, such as on various surfaces having different characteristics. Wearers of such footwear may benefit from the extra traction provided by the selectively engageable traction elements when performing the targeted movements and/or when wearing the footwear on surfaces with varying conditions. |
| US08453352B2 |
Supportive sport boot made of rigid materials
A sport boot, such as a snow ski boot, that includes a shell having a rigid foot portion. The foot portion includes a heel pocket and an instep region that is largely immovable relative to the heel pocket due to the rigidity of the foot portion. The boot also includes a highback support region that snugly engages the leg of a user during use. A heel-track is located on the dorsal side of the boot between the highback support region and the heel pocket. The heel-track provides a concave space that receives the user's heel when the user is putting-on and taking-off the boot to counter the relative immovability of the instep region of the boot against the engaging action of the user's foot. The sport boot can also include a special boot liner having an expandable dorsal region, and, optionally, other features that compliment the heel-track of the shell. |
| US08453350B2 |
Combination structure for shoe shell
A combination structure for a shoe shell has a shoe body, a toecap mounted on a front end of the shoe body and at least one connecting part disposed between the shoe body and the toecap. Each of the at least one connecting part has a female connector and a male connector formed respectively on the shoe body and the toecap and is mounted with each other. Connecting the toecap to the shoe body through the at least one connecting part is an improved quick and time saving process. Furthermore, the toecap is attached securely to the shoe body and not easily detached from the shoe body. |
| US08453349B2 |
Traction elements
Traction elements for an article of footwear can include stabilizer elements. An extendable traction element for an article of footwear can include an elongatable extender attached to another portion of a sole structure. An actuator can rest within the extender and cause elongation of the extender in response to a force from the foot of a wearer. |
| US08453345B2 |
Removable heel pad for foot-receiving device
Foot-receiving devices, such as articles of footwear (e.g., athletic footwear, etc.), include a foot-covering member (such as an upper member) and a foot-supporting member (such as a sole member, optionally including insole, midsole, and/or outsole portions) engaged with the foot-covering member. The foot-supporting member may include or define a cavity or void in the heel portion of the foot-receiving device. The foot-receiving device further may include a removable heel pad detachably engaged within the cavity or void. |
| US08453342B2 |
Method of manufacturing fences
A post sleeve installation device is used to install post sleeves at selected positions and orientations to support the fence posts of a fence. Data, such as relative spacing, orientation, and elevation of the post sleeves is collected for off-site manufacture of fence panels. A consumer views a rendering of the fence and selects a fence design on a web site or at a retail location. A manufacturer obtains the collected data and the consumer-selected design, and fabricates the fence panels accordingly. The panels are then transported to the fence location and installed on the fence posts. Additionally, a repository is provided, to which the data is transmitted for retention, and from which the data can be retrieved for manufacture of replacement fence panels. |
| US08453341B2 |
Device for measuring and cutting roofing shingles
This invention relates to a portable and easy to use device for measuring and cutting a starter course set for shingling a roof. |
| US08453337B2 |
System and method for workpiece coordinate measurements
A system and method for accurately positioning workpieces to permit uninterrupted coordinate measurements using a CMM is disclosed. The system comprises at least one movable platform adapted for moving on a stationary platform, fixtures for affixing workpieces to the movable platform, and locator stops and locators for affixing the movable platform in a predetermined measurement area on the stationary platform. An air jet injected into the bottom of the movable platform facilitates conveying the platform to the measurement area. The method comprises mounting one or more workpieces in a predetermined position on the movable platform fixture and positioning the movable platform against locator stops on the stationary platform. A second workpiece may be mounted on the fixtures of a second movable platform while the CMM measurements are in progress. This procedure may be repeated for successive workpieces and enables a near assembly line process for measuring workpiece coordinates. |
| US08453333B2 |
Electric hand-held hair cutting appliance with blade clamping device
A blade head assembly for a hand-held hair cutting appliance includes a blade clamping device urging a cutting edge margin of a second blade in sliding engagement with a cutting edge margin of a first blade. The blade clamping device includes a clamping head operable for pivoting generally toward and generally away from the second blade about a pivot axis. The clamping head is resiliently biased generally toward the second cutting blade about the pivot axis into sliding engagement with the second blade. The second blade is slidable relative to the clamping head during reciprocating movement of the second blade relative to the first blade. |
| US08453331B2 |
Scrubbing razor
The scrubbing razor includes a housing and one or more cutting blades with a rounded cutting edge. The housing includes a top cover, a tubular outer safety ring mounted to the top cover, and one or more tubular anchor rings disposed within the tubular outer safety ring and mounted to the top cover. The one or more cutting blades are mounted to the one or more tubular anchor rings. |
| US08453329B2 |
Method of fabricating inkjet printhead having low-loss contact for thermal actuators
A method of fabricating an inkjet printhead is provided in which a supporting substrate is provided, a conductive layer is deposited and patterned on one side of the supporting substrate, an insulating layer is deposited on the conductive layer, holes are etched through the insulating layer to the conductive layer, metal is deposited in the holes to form metallic vias, an outer surface of the insulating layer and one end of each of the metallic vias are planarized, and a layer of heater material is deposited and patterned on the outer surface to form a heater with a resistive element extending between a pair of contacts. The metallic vias electrically connect the contacts to the conductive layer. |
| US08453328B2 |
Methods and devices for assembling a terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array
Methods and devices for assembling a terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array. The methods may include securing a torque tube to an alignment fixture by positioning a flange at an end of the torque tube over a shelf on the alignment fixture and positioning a section of the torque tube inward from the flange into a receptacle on the shelf of the alignment fixture. The method may include aligning and mounting a mount to the torque tube at a point along the torque tube inward from the end of the torque tube. The method may include aligning and mounting a solar cell module to the mount with the solar cell module including an array of lenses positioned over a set of corresponding receivers that include one or more III-V compound semiconductor solar cells. The method may include removing the torque tube from the alignment fixture after the solar cell module is mounted to the mount. The method may include aligning and mounting the torque tube to an end of a longitudinal support with the torque tube being coaxial with the longitudinal support and the solar cell module being able to rotate with the torque tube about a first axis that extends through the torque tube and the longitudinal support and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. |
| US08453327B2 |
Sprayed skin turbine component
Fabricating a turbine component (50) by casting a core structure (30), forming an array of pits (24) in an outer surface (32) of the core structure, depositing a transient liquid phase (TLP) material (40) on the outer surface of the core structure, the TLP containing a melting-point depressant, depositing a skin (42) on the outer surface of the core structure over the TLP material, and heating the assembly, thus forming both a diffusion bond and a mechanical interlock between the skin and the core structure. The heating diffuses the melting-point depressant away from the interface. Subsurface cooling channels (35) may be formed by forming grooves (34) in the outer surface of the core structure, filling the grooves with a fugitive filler (36), depositing and bonding the skin (42), then removing the fugitive material. |
| US08453325B2 |
Method of repair on nickel based HPT shrouds
A method of repairing an abradable, nickel single crystal material having an abraded surface area by applying a diffusion layer to the abraded surface area comprising a nickel-based alloy having a quantity of an additional element selected from silicon and boron; and also applying an abradable layer to the material comprising a cobalt-based alloy to restore the abraded surface area. |
| US08453321B2 |
Method for manufacturing multilayer flexible printed circuit board
A method for manufacturing a multilayer FPCB which includes providing a first substrate, a second substrate and a binder layer; defining an opening on the binder layer; defining a first slit in the dielectric layer of the first substrate; laminating the first substrate, the binder layer and the second substrate; forming a second slit in the conductive layer of the first substrate, the second slit being created so as to align with the first slit, cutting the first substrate, the binder layer and the second substrate thereby forming a multilayer flexible printed circuit board having different numbers of layers in different areas. |
| US08453319B2 |
Process for forming a hexagonal array
The present invention relates to nanopillar arrays that may have relatively large dimensions and relatively large interpillar distances. The present invention also relates to methods of forming the same. In some embodiments of the invention, methods of forming hexagonal nanopillar arrays include forming a base comprising aluminum; forming a hexagonal pattern of pits in the aluminum; anodizing the aluminum to form aluminum oxide comprising a primary hexagonal nanopore array at the positions of the pits in the aluminum; depositing a conductive material into the nanopores of the primary hexagonal nanopore array; and removing the mask and the aluminum oxide to provide the hexagonal nanopillar array. |
| US08453318B2 |
Method for making a planar coil
A method of making a planar coil is disclosed in the present invention. First, a substrate having a trench is provided. Then, a barrier and a seed layer are formed on the substrate in sequence. An isolative layer is used for guiding a conductive material to flow into a lower portion of the trench such that accumulation of the conductive material at opening of the trench is prevented before the lower portion of the trench is completely filled up, thereby avoiding gap formation in the trench. |
| US08453317B2 |
Magnetic write head fabrication with integrated electrical lapping guides
Methods of fabricating magnetic write heads and electrical lapping guides (ELG's) using a split gap deposition process is described. A removal process is performed on a magnetic material to define a main write pole and to define a corresponding ELG for the main write pole. A first non-magnetic gap layer is deposited. A mask and liftoff process is performed to deposit an electrically conductive material on the first gap layer disposed along a front edge of the ELG. A second non-magnetic gap layer is then deposited and a shield is fabricated for the write pole. |
| US08453314B2 |
Process for forming channels in a flexible circuit substrate using an elongated wedge and a channel shaped receptacle
A process for fabricating an origami formed antenna radiating structure is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for precisely fabricating a radio frequency (RF) antenna structure, the process including providing a flexible circuit substrate, forming a plurality of parallel channels in the flexible circuit substrate in a first direction, mounting the flexible substrate to a precision die, pressing the flexible substrate into the precision die using an elastomeric material thereby sandwiching the flexible substrate between the elastomeric material and the precision die, and applying heat to the flexible substrate sandwiched between the elastomeric material and the precision die. |
| US08453313B2 |
Table for permanent magnet rotor and method for manufacturing permanent magnet rotor
A method for assembling rotors which is applicable to a large axial gap type permanent magnet rotating machine is provided.A permanent magnet rotating machine comprising: a rotating shaft; at least two rotors comprising a table-like structure and permanent magnets attached thereto, the table-like structures being connected to the rotating shaft and being disposed in an axial direction of the rotating shaft; and a stator comprising a table-like structure and stator coils around which a copper wire is wound, said stator being disposed in a gap formed by the rotors so that the stator being separated from the rotating shaft, is manufactured by the following steps of assembling the two rotors such that a predetermined gap is formed therebetween; and mounting the magnets on the table-like structures by inserting the magnet from the radially outer side of the table-like structures towards the center of the rotation with the assembled state being maintained. |
| US08453312B2 |
Method of manufacturing vibrating micromechanical structures
A method for fabrication of single crystal silicon micromechanical resonators using a two-wafer process, including either a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) or insulating base and resonator wafers, wherein resonator anchors, a capacitive air gap, isolation trenches, and alignment marks are micromachined in an active layer of the base wafer; the active layer of the resonator wafer is bonded directly to the active layer of the base wafer; the handle and dielectric layers of the resonator wafer are removed; viewing windows are opened in the active layer of the resonator wafer; masking the single crystal silicon semiconductor material active layer of the resonator wafer with photoresist material; a single crystal silicon resonator is machined in the active layer of the resonator wafer using silicon dry etch micromachining technology; and the photoresist material is subsequently dry stripped. |
| US08453308B2 |
Trunnion painting fixture
A painting tool for painting a vehicle wheel is disclosed. The tool includes a base and a plurality of idler wheels rotatably coupled to the base. The wheels are disposed about the base to rotatably support a workpiece. A motor is coupled to the base and includes a motor output disposed to engage the workpiece and to rotate the workpiece on the plurality of idler wheels about a workpiece axis. A mask is operatively coupled to the base. The mask is movable between an engaged position wherein the mask obscures a portion of the workpiece and a disengaged position wherein the mask is disposed away from the workpiece. A method of painting a vehicle wheel is also disclosed. |
| US08453306B2 |
Method for upholstering box springs
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method used to upholster a box-spring frame. A textile tape with a portion encapsulating a draw cord is sewn to the inner perimeter of a border material. The other edge of the border material is sewn to a top cover material. The box-spring frame is placed within this assembly, with the top side of the frame abutting the top cover. This assembly is placed in the attachment apparatus. The attachment apparatus optionally compresses the box-spring frame and is equipped with a pair of tension applicators. Once in place, each of the two draw cord ends are secured to a corresponding tension applicator, and tension is applied to the draw cord. This tension tightens the border assembly edge around the frame. With the proper tension applied, the draw cord is secured to the box-spring frame. The bottom cover is then attached in the conventional manner with a series of staples. |
| US08453303B1 |
Heart pet burial vault
Through experience of extended travels it is quite apparent that there is a need to solve the perplexing question of what should a person do when a family pet dies while on vacation. The Heart Pet Burial Vault solves this problem for owners of small to medium pets who die while miles from home and wish to return their pets home for burial. The burial vault is a strong, solid enclosure that protects the pet carcass inside an encasement that seals itself through a easy closing of an end cap by the simple turning of two screws. The unique seal allows the pet owner to retain the pet carcass for an extended period of time to store, transport and bury all in the same container without the fear of odor or liquid seepage. |
| US08453300B1 |
On demand handling apparatus
A handling apparatus comprising an object, at least one band, and at least one detachable handle. A desired number of the handles can be put on any of the bands, and positions of the handles may be adjusted within the bands. The handles put on each of the bands are secured to the object simultaneously and without user intervention when user secures the band to the object. The handles may comprise detachable gripping members which can be oriented differently about the object after the handles are secured to the objects by the bands. The handles and the bands may be reused with differently configured objects. As the result, the device is economic, ergonomic, and easy to use. |
| US08453299B2 |
Connecting module and sliding mechanism for electronic device
A connecting module includes a mounting portion, a pin and a washer. The mounting portion defines a receiving groove and two latching grooves positioned at opposite sides of the receiving groove. The pin extends through the mounting portion. The washer includes a washer body and two extending arms protruding from opposite sides of the washer body, each extending arm having an arcuate portion. The washer body is received in the receiving groove and is fitted around the pin, the extending arms are received in the latching grooves, and each arcuate portion is latched in a corresponding latching groove. |
| US08453297B2 |
Electronic device and handle structure thereof
An electronic device includes a handle structure and a housing. The housing has an opening. The handle structure is retractably disposed in the housing and includes an engaging module and a handle module. The engaging module includes a first engaging portion disposed on the housing. The handle module is movably connected to the housing and includes a main body, an elastic element and a second engaging portion. The elastic element provides an elastic force for the main body to move toward the opening. When the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are disposed at an engaging portion, at least a portion of the main body is disposed in the housing. When the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are disposed at a separating position, the main body protrudes from the housing. |
| US08453292B2 |
Connecting device for connecting wiper blade to wiper arm
A connecting device for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm. The connecting device includes a hinge unit formed at one side of the wiper arm and an adapter provided at an upper end of the wiper blade so that the adapter is coupled to the hinge unit. The hinge unit includes retainers disposed opposite to each other about an opening formed at one side of the wiper arm. A pin is transversely disposed between the retainers. The adapter includes a guide for guiding the pin and a coupling hole connected to the guide so that the pin is hingedly coupled into the coupling hole. Connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade is achieved by sliding a projecting jaw projecting downward from the coupling hole of the adapter along an inclined plane formed at the pin of the hinge unit and rotating the wiper blade so that one side of the adapter coincides with the inside of the opening. |
| US08453291B2 |
Wiper lifter
A wiper lifter assembly includes a wiper ramp that lifts a wiper away from a wiper surface on a vehicle and a wiper contact member that is attached to an upper surface of the wiper ramp. The wiper contact member may act as a sound damper to greatly reduce the undesirable noise otherwise caused when the wiper contacts the wiper lifter assembly. The assembly may also include an isolation pad for attaching the assembly to the vehicle. |
| US08453284B2 |
Swimming pool cleaner
A suction powered swimming pool cleaner connected to the filtration pump by a hose of varying length according to the size of the pool that need be cleaned. Unit comprises of a interruption type valve member moving forward in a stepwise manner thereby cleaning the pool surface. Valve oscillation and debris controlled by means of a flow-control-debris-diverter with aided waterbuffer technology for quiet operation. |
| US08453281B2 |
Patient support systems for use with radiation therapy systems and other applications
An apparatus for supporting a patient in radiation therapy and other applications. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure and a panel carried by the support structure. The support structure can have first and second support members, such as rigid girders or other structures comprising substantially dielectric materials. The panel is also a rigid structure comprising substantially dielectric materials. The panel can further include a pass-through zone or other type of zone that is compatible with an ionizing radiation beam. For example, the panel can have a grid or solid low-density structure that mitigates beam contamination. The support structure and the panel together are configured to position a magnetic marker implanted in the patient in a navigational zone in which a magnetic field transmitted from the marker is not affected by conductive components or loops of conductive material in the pedestals or cantilevered support structures of conventional patient support systems. |
| US08453277B2 |
Baby carrier with an adjustable back plate
A baby carrier with an adjustable back plate comprises a main body, a back plate, a belt and a belt adjustment mechanism. The main body has a bottom wall, two long side walls and two short side walls. The back plate is pivoted on the bottom wall for support baby-occupant in a selected inclination. The belt has a distal end affixed to one side of the main body and an adjustable length for passing across underneath the back plate for retaining the back plate in the selected inclination angle. The belt adjustment mechanism is mounted on the opposite side of the main body for adjusting the adjustable length of the belt by pulling the free end thereof and pressing the back plate downwardly just under the instinct of the care-giver. |
| US08453276B2 |
Patient positioning device
A patient positioning device for restoring a patient to a desired position in a hospital bed. An example patient positioning device may include a flexible track positioned along each of the lateral edges of a sleep surface and extending substantially the entire length of the sleep surface, a sheet including beaded edges for slidably engaging the tracks such that the sheet spans between the first track and the second track on the sleep surface, and/or a drive mechanism located proximate a head end of the sleep surface and configured to pull the sheet towards the head end of the bed. |
| US08453273B1 |
Scent impregnated attachment apparatus affixed to the flexible connecting belt of a rimmed cage retaining a deodorant block
A molded object made out of resin, plastic or other suitable scent absorbing material which is impregnated with an odor absorbing scent. The scent impregnated object which be in any shape such as the shape of an animal, a celestial body (star, moon, etc) or any other shape is retained onto the flexible retaining belt by which a rimmed cage retaining a deodorant block is retained onto the upper exterior rim of a toilet bowl. The rimmed cage retaining the deodorant block extends into the toilet bowl and the present invention odor absorbing object rests just above the rimed cage and provides a continuous source of scent to absorb fowl odors and mask fowl odors from the toilet bowl. |
| US08453272B2 |
Automatic cleaning assembly for a toilet bowl
An automatic cleaning assembly having an outer body and an inner lid which, when attached to each other, may define an inner chamber and an outer chamber. Refill water may enter the inner chamber through a fluid flow path of an inlet. A cleaning agent disposed within the inner chamber may be partially dissolved upon contact with the water. The water with the dissolved cleaning agent begins to fill the outer chamber and exit out of the outlet of the automatic cleaning assembly. The outlet of the automatic cleaning assembly is positioned above the inlet of the automatic cleaning assembly such that water is retained within the outer chamber to prevent gas caused by the cleaning agent from escaping into the environment. Moreover, the automatic cleaning assembly may have a check valve to prevent water from back flowing into a ball cock of the toilet. |
| US08453267B1 |
Decorative apparel system
A nether garment has upper and lower sections and seams. Primary fasteners are attached to the lower section forwardly between the seams. Removable patches have inner and outer surfaces. Complementary fasteners attached to the inner surface of each removable patch are adjacent to and coupleable with the primary fasteners. |
| US08453266B2 |
Ergonomic curved athletic glove
An ergonomic curved athletic glove is provided. The glove comprises palm and back portions as well as four finger sheaths and a thumb sheath, each sheath having a front and back finger portion and one or more gussets. The thumb, pinky, and index finger sheaths may incorporate a “seamless” design that avoids seams where the glove comes in contact with a sporting implement and reduces potential gripping interference. The palm portion of the glove may comprise multiple sections connected with a stretchable palm gusset to minimize bunching when a sporting implement is gripped. The length of each front finger portion is shorter than the length of the corresponding back finger portion to provide the glove with a gripping curve. Providing the glove with a gripping curve minimizes bunching of the front finger portions, front thumb portion, and palm portion while a received hand grips the sporting implement. |
| US08458809B2 |
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating secure operations of a wireless device
An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates security relating to installation of, such as downloading of, and application at a wireless device. When selection is made to install the application, a security decision is required of a trusted, third-party to install the application. A request is made of a trusted, third-party entity for the security decision. Responsive to the security decision, the application is either allowed to be downloaded to the wireless device or prohibited from being downloaded to the wireless device. |
| US08458806B2 |
System and method for secure pin exchange
Systems and methods for wirelessly exchanging an encryption key between a first device and a second device are disclosed herein. |
| US08458802B2 |
Method and device for managing digital usage rights of documents
A method, device, and system for managing digital usage rights of documents includes a mobile computing device having a digital rights management (DRM) enforcement engine included therein. The mobile computing device may communicate with a server, such as an enterprise digital rights management (EDRM) server, to retrieve a secured document and an associated document usage rights policy. The document and usage rights policy are stored in a secured storage of the mobile computing device. The DRM enforcement engine of the mobile computing device provides access to the requested document while locally enforcing the associated document usage rights policy. In some embodiments, the mobile computing device may act as a proxy for other computing devices communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device and/or act as a local EDRM to such computing devices. |
| US08458792B2 |
Secure method and system for computer protection
Attacks by computer viruses, worm programs, and other hostile software (‘malware’), have become very serious problems for computer systems connected to large communication networks such as the Internet. One potential defense against such attacks is to employ diversity—that is, making each copy of the attacked software different. However, existing diversity techniques do not offer sufficient levels of protection. The invention provides an effective diversity solution by applying tamper resistant software (TRS) encoding techniques, to the communications that take place between software components, with corresponding changes to the code handling those communications. These communications may include, for example, data passed between software routines via parameters or mutually accessible variables, light-weight messages, signals and semaphores passed between threads, and messages passed between software processes. Effective TRS encoding techniques include data-flow encoding and mass-data encoding techniques. |
| US08458785B2 |
Information security protection host
An information security protection host is provided. The information security protection host comprises a network interface and a virtual machine monitor (VMM) device. The network interface is connected to a computer network and is configured to receive a first packet. The VMM device is configured to run a first operating system, wherein the first operating system provides a first network service. The VMM device is further configured to provide a first operating system information of the first operating system and a first network service information of the first network service instantaneously so as to determine the security of the first packet. |
| US08458781B2 |
Method and apparatus for token-based attribute aggregation
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a plurality of tokens. The apparatus may receive a subject token indicating an attempt to authenticate a user. The apparatus may determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon a token in the plurality of tokens and the subject token. The at least one token-based rule may indicate a plurality of attributes required to access a resource. The apparatus may determine a second plurality of attributes represented by the plurality of tokens and the subject token. The apparatus may determine at least one missing attribute, which may be in the plurality of attributes but not in the second plurality of attributes. The apparatus may then request the at least one missing attribute, and in response, receive at least one token representing the at least one missing attribute. |
| US08458779B2 |
System and method for handling personal identification information
A system, method, and client registration and verification device for handling personal identification information. The client device collects from an individual, a sufficient amount of biometric information to uniquely identify the individual, as well as historical mobility information providing a history of locations where the individual has lived. A caching manager stores the collected biometric information at a selected cache node in a hierarchical database having a plurality of cache nodes at multiple levels of the database. The caching manager selects the cache node based on the historical mobility information collected from the individual. The client device sends subsequent requests to verify the identity of the individual to a local cache node where newly input biometric information is compared with the cached information. When the individual's biometric information is not stored in the local cache node, the request is forwarded upward in the database until the cached information is found and compared. |
| US08458778B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for on-demand limited security credentials in wireless and other communication networks
A method includes storing a security credential associated with a communication network on a portable storage device. The method also includes detecting removal of the portable storage device from a specified location. The method further includes allowing at least one communication device to communicate over the communication network using the security credential. In addition, the method includes revoking the security credential after a specified time period has elapsed. The portable storage device could represent a card, and the specified location could represent a card reader/writer. Also, the communication network could represent a wireless network, and the security credential could represent a cryptographic key. |
| US08458773B2 |
Method, device, and system for authentication
A method for authentication includes: a Gateway Mobile Station (G-MS) receives an authentication trigger message from a host, and sends the authentication trigger message to an authentication server through an Ethernet Convergence Sublayer (Eth-CS) to trigger authentication. A network system includes a G-MS, which is connected to a host and an authentication server in communicable mode. The G-MS is configured to: receive an authentication trigger message from the host and send the authentication trigger message to the authentication server through the Eth-CS. The authentication server is configured to: receive the authentication trigger message that the G-MS sends through the Eth-CS, and authenticate the host. A G-MS includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive an authentication trigger message from the host; and a sending unit, configured to send the authentication trigger message received by the receiving unit to the authentication server through the Eth-CS. |
| US08458766B2 |
Method and system for management of security rule set
There are provided a method of automated managing an ordered set of security rules implemented at one or more security gateways and a system thereof. The method comprises a) obtaining data characterizing a connectivity request which may become allowable only upon changes of an initial rule-set, thus giving rise to an unfitting connectivity request; b) automated searching for a rule within said ordered set of security rules, said rule best matching to be amended in order to facilitate allowance of the unfitting connectivity request, wherein best matching is defined in accordance with one or more predefined criteria; c) automated generating amendment of the best matching rule, said amendment capable to facilitate allowance of the unfitting connectivity request; and d) automated implementing the generated amendment at one or more relevant security gateways among said one or more security gateways. At least one predefined criterion may be related to extra allowed traffic resulting from the amendment and/or to requested traffic restricted after amendment because of shadowing by one or more rules above the amended rule. |
| US08458761B2 |
Receiver
A receiver for receiving a data stream comprises a filtering arrangement for filtering said received data stream and a processor. The filtering arrangement is arranged to load at least a part of said data stream, to filter at least part of said data stream and to read at least part of said data stream. The filtering arrangement has a first mode in which said steps are carried out and a second mode in which said processor is arranged to interrupt the steps carried out by said filtering arrangement. |
| US08458758B1 |
Method and system for controlling closed captioning at a content distribution system
A system and method for controlling closed-captioning at a client device includes a client device and a server device that communicates content to the client device. The server device determines a content type corresponding to the content communicated from the server device to the client device, generates a closed-captioning disable signal and communicates the content type disable signal to the client device. The client device disables the closed-captioning in response to the closed-captioning disable signal. |
| US08458754B2 |
Method and system for providing instant start multimedia content
A system and method for providing multimedia content through a cable, satellite television or other content server system. A server facility which provides multimedia content divides formatted multimedia content into data chunks (e.g., collections of data corresponding to one minute lengths) prior to transmission to a user/subscriber receptor unit, and sends the divided data chunks according to a schedule which permits instantaneous starting and viewing of the multimedia content, such as movies, upon user/subscriber request. The user/subscriber receptor unit includes a cable box, video game device, or the like having a digital video recording capability and at least a memory capacity or disk space sufficient to store a complete unit of media content, such as full-length feature film. The invention does not require intensive interaction between the server facility and the receptor unit, but rather, only requires sending of content signals in the form of an interleaved media stream from the server facility to the receptor unit. Further, the invention requires the use of no more than six times the bandwidth of the original signal for operation. |
| US08458752B2 |
Method for receiving broadcasting signal and broadcasting receiver
A method for receiving a broadcasting signal and a broadcasting signal receiver are disclosed. Even when a cell is changed while an emergency alert is output, the emergency alert can be continuously output using emergency alert table information included in the broadcasting signal and channel information of the cell. The emergency alert table information may include a cell identifier and the channel information of the cell may include virtual channel information of the cell. |
| US08458751B2 |
Systems and methods for accessing selected packetized programming streams
Programming stream communication systems and methods are operable to communicate programming streams to a media transmit facility. An exemplary embodiment receives at the media transmit facility a first packetized programming stream (PPS), the first PPS including a first programming stream (PS) generated by a first local programming provider (LPP); receives at the media transmit facility a second PPS, the second PPS including a second PS generated by a second LPP; multiplexes the first PS and the second PS into a transport channel; and communicates the transport channel from the media transmit facility. |
| US08458739B2 |
Method for processing conditional access contents by a user unit
A method allows a broadcasted conditional access content accessible at the time of transmission to be also accessible at a later time thanks to intermediate storage on a hard disk of a user unit. The processing method includes the steps of receiving at the user unit a data stream encrypted by at least one control word, at least one control message stream containing the control words, forming an index file, each index comprising an identifier of a control message formed by the extraction of data associated to the control messages and an identifier of the part of the content to which the control message is applied; and, at the time of the deferred processing of the content, extracting at least one part of the control messages and resynchronizing the content with the control messages by the use of the index file, the identifier of the control message allowing the selection of the current control message from a set of control messages at the time of the exploitation of the content identified by the identifier of the part of the content related to this control message. |
| US08458730B2 |
Multi-level driver configuration
A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided in which the Operating System (OS) driver is divided into two parts, viz. an upper level OS driver and a lower level OS driver. The lower level OS driver sets up the adapter hardware and any adapter hardware work-around. The upper level OS driver is interfaced to the OS communication stack and each can be compiled separately. The upper OS driver is compiled and shipped with the OS to make sure it is compatible with the OS communication stack. The lower OS driver, in an exemplary embodiment, is compiled and stored in an adapter flash memory. The OS dynamically combines the upper and lower OS drivers together during the load time. |
| US08458729B2 |
Managing and optimizing workflows among computer applications
A middleware system, method and program product for managing workflows among computer applications. The middleware system includes: a common construct unit and a workflow export unit. The common construct unit (i) retrieves a mapping between a component of a macro workflow of the middleware system and a micro workflow component of a first computer application and (ii) executes the macro workflow which orchestrates micro workflows of the first computer application and a second computer application. The workflow export unit generates an output that enables the second computer application to execute a workflow that corresponds to the workflow of the first computer application. |
| US08458725B2 |
Computer implemented method for removing an event registration within an event notification infrastructure
A computer implemented method and system for automatically removing an event registration within an event notification infrastructure of a database system is disclosed. The method includes removing an event registration from an event queue automatically if a specified active period of time has elapsed. Further, the method includes removing an event registration from an event queue automatically if the event occurred N times where N can be specified at event registration. Also, the method includes removing an event registration from an event queue automatically if either the event occurred N times where N can be specified at event registration or a specified active period of time has elapsed. Moreover, the method includes removing an event registration from an event queue if a client explicitly requests removal of said event registration. |
| US08458724B2 |
Automatic mutual exclusion
An automatic mutual exclusion computer programming system is disclosed which allows a programmer to produce concurrent programming code that is synchronized by default without the need to write any synchronization code. The programmer creates asynchronous methods which are not permitted make changes to shared memory that they cannot reverse, and can execute concurrently with other asynchronous methods. Changes to shared memory are committed if no other thread has accessed shared memory while the asynchronous method executed. Changes are reversed and the asynchronous method is re-executed if another thread has made changes to shared memory. The resulting program executes in a serialized order. A blocking system method is disclosed which causes the asynchronous method to re-execute until the blocking method's predicate results in an appropriate value. A yield system call is disclosed which divides asynchronous methods into atomic fragments. When a yield method call is made, shared memory changes are committed if possible or reversed and the atomic fragment is re-executed. |
| US08458720B2 |
Methods and systems for assigning non-continual jobs to candidate processing nodes in a stream-oriented computer system
A system and method for choosing non-continual jobs to run in a stream-based distributed computer system includes determining a total amount of resources to be consumed by non-continual jobs. A priority threshold is determined above which jobs will be accepted, below which jobs will be rejected. Overall penalties are minimized relative to the priority threshold based on estimated completion times of the jobs. System constraints are applied to ensure that jobs meet set criteria such that a plurality of non-continual jobs are scheduled which consider the system constraints and minimize overall penalties using available resources. |
| US08458713B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for allocating resources to a software configurable computing environment
A unit for defining resources for a software configurable computing environment. The unit can include an entity configured to be software associated with at least one asset. Each asset can be a physical asset that provides at least one resource. The software configurable computing environment can include the entity. The inclusion of the entity in the software configurable computing environment can cause at least one resource to be allocated to said software configurable computing environment. |
| US08458712B2 |
System and method for multi-level preemption scheduling in high performance processing
A computing system configured to handle preemption events in an environment having jobs with high and low priorities. The system includes a job queue configured to receive job requests from users, the job queue storing the jobs in an order based on the priority of the jobs, and indicating whether a job is a high priority job or a low priority job. The system also includes a plurality of node clusters, each node cluster including a plurality of nodes and a scheduler coupled to the job queue and to the plurality of node clusters and configured to assign jobs from the job queue to the plurality of node clusters. The scheduler is configured to preempt a first low priority job running in a first node cluster with a high priority job that appears in the job queue after the low priority job has started and, in the event that a second low priority job from the job queue may run on a portion of the plurality of nodes in the first node cluster during a remaining processing time for the high priority job, backfill the second low priority job into the portion of the plurality of nodes and, in the event a second high priority job is received in the job queue and may run on the portion of the plurality of nodes, return the second low priority job to the job queue. |
| US08458708B2 |
Alleviating denial-of-service conditions on a server
Processing data in a multithreaded application to alleviate impaired or substandard performance conditions is provided. Work items that are pending processing by the multithreaded application are placed into a data structure. The work items are processed by a plurality of threads within the multithreaded application in accordance with a first algorithm, e.g., first-in first-out (FIFO). A thread within the multithreaded application is configured apart from the plurality of threads such that it processes work items in accordance with a second algorithm that differs from the first algorithm, thereby avoiding the impairing condition. For example, the thread may process a pending work item only if it has a particular characteristic. The thread restricts its own processing of work items by intermittently evaluating workflow conditions for the plurality of threads; if the workflow conditions improve or are unimpaired, then the thread does not process any work items. |
| US08458707B2 |
Task switching based on a shared memory condition associated with a data request and detecting lock line reservation lost events
An approach that uses a handler to detect asynchronous lock line reservation lost events, and switching tasks based upon whether a condition is true or a mutex lock is acquired is presented. A synergistic processing unit (SPU) invokes a first thread and, during execution, the first thread requests external data that is shared with other threads or processors in the system. This shared data may be protected with a mutex lock or other shared memory synchronization constructs. When requested data is not available, the SPU switches to a second thread and monitors lock line reservation lost events in order to check when the data is available. When the data is available, the SPU switches back to the first thread and processes the first thread's request. |
| US08458706B2 |
Methods and apparatus for parallel pipelining and width processing and configured to process a multiple task processes apportioned a different section of memory
A computer apparatus is provided for use with a database management system. The computer apparatus is instructed to carry out a first task and a second task in series on a section of data, by: (a) instructing the first task process to begin the first task on a first part of the section of data in the database, and (b) after the first task process on the first part of the section of the data is complete, instructing the first task process to carry out the second task on the first part of the section of data on which the first task has already been carried out, or carry out the first task on the second part of the data, or pipeline the second task to a third task process, or carry out the first task on a second part of the section of data. |
| US08458705B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing the omission and repeated execution of schedule information due to a time change
Provided is a method and apparatus for managing a schedule of a terminal based on a local time. It is possible to prevent schedule information from a schedule of a terminal from being repeatedly processed or from being missed, when the local time changes due to the movement of the terminal into another time zone or due to daylight saving time. It is also possible to manage a schedule by determining if the schedule has changed during a period between a time before the change and the changed time. |
| US08458702B1 |
Method for implementing user space up-calls on java virtual machine before/after garbage collection
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for reporting garbage collection operations. A virtual machine that is executable on a computing device can receive a request to be informed prior to execution of garbage collection software on the computing device via a prior up-call. The virtual machine can receive a request to be informed upon completion of execution of the garbage collection software on the computing device via a post up-call. Prior to the execution of the garbage collection software, the virtual machine can initiate execution of the prior up-call to indicate the garbage collection software is to be executed. After the garbage collection software has completed execution, the virtual machine can initiate execution of the post up-call to indicate the garbage collection software has completed execution. |
| US08458690B2 |
Automated software deployment triggered by state differences in distributed systems
An automated arrangement for deploying software updates to a distributed system based on state differences is provided in which a manifest defines a target snapshot of the desired state of the system after it is updated. A snapshot of the current distributed system state is taken and a state difference between the current state and the target state is calculated. A rule-based engine applies pre-defined rules to generate a sequence of actions that when performed will bring the distributed system to the target state. Accordingly, rather than have to focus on how to change the distributed system, software developers and system administrators may instead specify the target distributed system state in the manifest and the present automated deployment arrangement will perform the required actions to deploy the updates and achieve the desired state. |
| US08458687B1 |
Assisting a basic input/output system
In one or more embodiments, system(s), method(s), integrated circuit(s), physical layer(s), apparatus(es), System-on-Chip (SoC), various other hardware, computer-readable and/or executable instructions, and/or technique(s) are described that assist a host BIOS, such as by offloading operations from the host BIOS to a remote entity. By so doing, a BIOS's resources may be conserved or more complex or resource-intensive tasks may be performed than may otherwise be possible for some traditional BIOS. |
| US08458685B2 |
Vector atomic memory operation vector update system and method
A system and method of compiling program code, wherein the program code includes an operation on an array of data elements stored in memory of a computer system. The program code is scanned for an equation which may have recurring data points. The equation is then replaced with vectorized machine executable code, wherein the machine executable code comprises a nested loop and wherein the nested loop comprises an exterior loop and a virtual interior loop. The exterior loop decomposes the equation into a plurality of loops of length N, wherein N is an integer greater than one. The virtual interior loop executes vector operations corresponding to the N length loop to form a result vector resident in memory, wherein the virtual interior loop includes a vector atomic memory operation (AMO) instruction. |
| US08458679B2 |
May-constant propagation
May-constant propagation is a technique used to propagate a constant through the call graph and control flow graph by ignoring possible kills and re-definitions with low probability. Variables associated with constants in program code are determined. Execution flow probabilities are executed for code segments of the program code that comprise the variables. The execution flow probabilities are calculated based on flow data for the program code. At least a first of the code segments is determined to have a high execution flow probability. The first of the constants associated with the first variable are propagated through the flow data to generate modified flow data. |
| US08458678B2 |
Compiler supporting programs as data objects
A compiler supporting a language in which selected semantic objects are represented as data objects. The data objects may be used in multiple ways to expand the capabilities of the programming language. Data objects may be passed to applications and used to create executable instructions for that application. In this way, instructions written in the native language of the compiler may be used to control applications that accept programs in a language inconsistent with the native language of the compiler. The syntax checking and variable binding capabilities of the compiler may be used for those instructions that will be executed by an application separate from the object code generated by the compiler. The semantic objects represented as data objects may be selected based on express operations included in the source code or may be based on implicit type conversion. |
| US08458670B2 |
Automatically adding bytecode to a software application to determine network communication information
A system and method for automatically analyzing virtual machine bytecode of a software application and adding additional bytecode operable to determine information regarding network communication performed by the software application are described. According to one embodiment of the method, program code of a software application may be received, wherein the program code includes bytecode for a virtual machine. The bytecode may be automatically analyzed to detect network communication functionality. The method may operate to automatically add additional bytecode to the bytecode of the software application, where the added bytecode is operable to determine information regarding the network communication. |
| US08458668B1 |
Ignoring output arguments of functions in programming environments
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for ignoring one or more output arguments of a function in a programming environment. Users or programmers may designate one or more output arguments that are not desired by the users. The called function determines which output arguments are designated by the users. The one or more output arguments designated by the users are ignored by the function. The called function may reclaim memory space for the output arguments designated by the users. The called function may also avoid operations for generating values for the output arguments designated by the users. The called function does not need to return values for the output arguments designated by the users. |
| US08458665B2 |
Debugger with audiation
A method and computer program product are provided for audiating the occurrence of debugger events within a software debugger. The method begins by assigning a sound characteristic to a debugger event occurring within a software program under debug. Next, the audiation of the sound characteristic associated with the event is optimized to maximize performance of the debugger. Finally, the optimized sound characteristic associated with the event is played upon the occurrence of the event. |
| US08458661B2 |
Distributed parallel build system
This document describes, among other things, systems and methods for managing distributed parallel builds. A computer-implemented method to manage parallel builds, comprises identifying one or more software components in a software project, wherein each software component includes an executable binary file; determining a build configuration for each software component, wherein the build configuration includes a mapping from each software component to one or more build servers; and building each software component using the mapped one or more build servers in the corresponding build configuration, wherein the building includes compiling one or more source files associated with each software component to one or more object files, by distributing the one or more source files to one or more compilation machines. |
| US08458660B1 |
Semantic-based, service-oriented system and method of developing, programming and managing software modules and software solutions
Methods, systems, frameworks, and software products are disclosed for building well-defined software modules through the optionally nested, aggregation of other similar modules at any depth. The invention provides visual methods of aggregation and nesting of software interfaces within composite software services with an automated runtime platform. Other aspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, innovative methods for routing the flow of invocation, inter-service communication, and exception handling. Industry standards are leveraged to integrate the methods discussed in this invention to any computer system, programming language or software platform. The semantic-based and visual nature of the inventions discussed can significantly reduce the complexity of building, maintaining and deploying computer systems and software products. |
| US08458644B2 |
RF circuit, circuit evaluation method, algorithm and recording medium
An RF circuit on a circuit simulator to be used in a microwave or millimeter wave range or a high-frequency range includes a function for being inserted by a first port and a second port thereof in a circuit to be observed, at an arbitrary cross-sectional point of the circuit, and evaluating a reflection coefficient (or a characteristic impedance) in the cross-section. The insertion loss between the first port and the second port is zero or approximately zero and is ignorable also for any finite system impedance other than zero. |
| US08458641B2 |
Method, system, and design structure for making voltage environment consistent for reused sub modules in chip design
The present invention discloses a method, system, and design structure for making voltage environment consistent for reused sub modules in chip design, wherein each reused sub module is connected to a power grid of the chip through power connection points on a power ring of the sub module, the method including: adjusting numbers and locations of power connection points of a plurality of reused sub modules, such that the numbers of the power connection points and locations of the corresponding power connection points are identical for the plurality of reused sub modules; adjusting power wires of the plurality of reused sub modules on the power grid which are connected the power connection points, such that voltages at the corresponding power connection points are consistent for the plurality of reused sub modules. The present invention may reduce timing variation of reused sub modules in chip design and finally achieve an objective of reducing design complexity and work load and shortening the design period. |
| US08458636B1 |
Filling vacant areas of an integrated circuit design
Vacant areas of a layer of an integrated circuit design are filled with shapes connected to the appropriate nets. |
| US08458635B2 |
Convolution computation for many-core processor architectures
A convolution of the kernel over a layout in a multi-core processor system includes identifying a sector, called a dynamic band, of the layout including a plurality of evaluation points. Layout data specifying the sector of the layout is loaded in shared memory, which is shared by a plurality of processor cores. A convolution operation of the kernel and the evaluation points in the sector is executed. The convolution operation includes iteratively loading parts of the basis data set, called a stride, into space available in shared memory given the size of the layout data specifying the sector. A plurality of threads is executed concurrently using the layout data for the sector and the currently loaded part of the basis data set. The iteration for the loading basis data set proceeds through the entire data set until the convolution operation is completed. |
| US08458632B2 |
Efficient slack projection for truncated distributions
Aspects of the present invention provide solutions for projecting slack in an integrated circuit. A statistical static timing analysis (SSTA) is computed to get a set of Gaussian distributions over a plurality of variation sources in the integrated circuit. Based on the Gaussian distributions, a truncated subset and a remainder subset of the Gaussian distributions are identified. Then data factors that represent a ratio between the remainder subset and the truncated subset are obtained. These data factors are applied to the SSTA to root sum square (RSS) project the slack for the integrated circuit that takes into account the absence of the truncated subset. |
| US08458625B2 |
Yield enhancement by multiplicate-layer-handling optical correction
Potential lithographic hot spots associated with a lithographic level are marked by a marker layer identifying a marked region. Multiplicate layers are generated for each design shape in that lithographic level in each marked region. Each multiplicate layer includes a different type of variant for each design shape in the lithographic level. The different types of variants correspond to different design environments. Lithographic simulation is performed with each type of variants under the constraint of long range effects, such as pattern density, provided by adjacent shapes in the lithographic level. In each marked region, the results of lithographic simulations are evaluated to determine an optimal type among the variants. The optimal type is retained for the lithographic level in each marked region, thereby providing a chip design layout in which various marked regions can include different types of variant shapes to provide local lithographic optimization. |
| US08458615B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing folders
A multifunction device displays a plurality of selectable user interface objects on the display. In response to detecting the first input, the device moves a first object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects across the display to a location on the display that is proximate to a second object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects. In response to detecting that the first input meets predefined folder-creation criteria while the first object is proximate to the second object, the device creates a folder that contains the first object and the second object. |
| US08458614B1 |
Rendition-based graphical layout management
Systems and methods which implement rendition-based graphical layout management techniques are shown. According to an embodiment, desired resizing of items within a program's user interface is managed through a developer graphically describing a plurality of different sized renditions of a desired user interface and other different sized renditions of the user interface being dynamically interpolated and/or extrapolated through operation of the program. According to embodiments, linear interpolation and/or extrapolation is provided with respect to windows sized differently than constraint images provided by a developer. In embodiments where more than 2 constraint images are provided, piece-wise liner interpolation and/or extrapolation may be provided. Non-linear interpolation and/or extrapolation may be implemented. |
| US08458608B2 |
Focus state themeing
Focus state themeing is accomplished by separating the processing of the focus state from the processing of an operative state of a control element. The operative states of the control element are entered or exited based upon the detection of input from a user or the detection of control availability by the operating system or by an application running on the operating system. Once an operative state is determined for a control element, the focus state of the control element is detected and merged with the operative state to generate a theme state for the control element. The theme state is a combination of the operative state and the focus state. There is one combined theme state for each operative-focus combination. Various display configurations may be used to represent a control element with a combined operative-focus state. The control element is then rendered on a display based on the operative state theme and the focus state theme. |
| US08458606B2 |
Displaying relatedness of media items
In a method in a computer system for displaying on a display device a plurality of media items as selectable media tiles, a focus media item and a plurality of related media items are received. The plurality of related media items are related to the focus media item. Relatedness information pertaining to the plurality of related media items is received. The relatedness information identifies a relationship strength between at least one of the plurality of related media items and the focus media item. A spatially oriented relatedness arrangement of selectable media tiles physically positioned to indicate said relationship strength between the focus media item and the at least one of the plurality of related media items is displayed on the display device. The selectable media tiles represent the focus media item and at least one of the plurality of related media items. |
| US08458601B2 |
System and method for item inquiry and information presentation via standard communication paths
A method and system is provided for item inquiry and information presentation via standard communication paths. More particularly, the method and system detects an item associated with an avatar of a virtual universe (VU) user in a VU and determine information associated with the item. Additionally, the method and system are operable to display the information in the VU in a high-resolution component of the VU. |
| US08458599B2 |
Multi-user interactive web-based searches
A method for multiple users to jointly interact with web-based search results is provided. Selections of the search results by a user are immediately communicated to other users. Viewing options may be customized on a per-user basis for greater individual control over viewing the results. Results may be further acted upon to complete transactions. Individual results are easily referenced in chat windows. Status of query and transactions are communicated to all users. |
| US08458595B1 |
Video editing including simultaneously displaying timelines and storyboards
Video editing including simultaneously displaying timelines and storyboards is described, including displaying a timeline of a video presentation, displaying a storyboard of the video presentation including scenes of the video presentation simultaneously to the displaying the timeline, and navigating the timeline in response to receiving an input to select a individual scene of the video presentation. |
| US08458590B2 |
Computer readable medium for creating data, data creating apparatus, printing apparatus and printing system
A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for creating a data, the process includes: receiving first data described in a print language format for printing; converting a part of the first data, which corresponds to an electronic document format for display, received in the receiving into second data described in the electronic document format; and adding third data, which does not correspond to the electronic document format, of the first data received in the receiving to the second data. |
| US08458586B2 |
X/HTML support for silverlight applications
A method for creating a web application adapted to run in a Silverlight® run time environment from an X/HTML source file. The visual elements of the X/HTML source are converted to a corresponding Silverlight® custom control with a comparable visual presentation. The X/HTML source file is first converted to XAML which is then combined with the Silverlight custom controls into a web application. |
| US08458584B1 |
Extraction and analysis of user-generated content
A page splitter may be configured to split a first page of a site into first boilerplate and first posts, and a second page of the site into second boilerplate and second posts. An aggregator may be configured to associate the first page with the second page, based on a similarity of the first boilerplate and the second boilerplate, and configured to associate at least one of the first posts and at least one of the second posts with a first post-type, and at least one of the second posts with a second post-type. A merger may be configured to merge the first boilerplate and the second boilerplate into a boilerplate template, posts of the first post-type from the first page and from the second page into a first post-type template, and posts of the second post-type from the second page into a second post-type template, and further configured to merge the boilerplate template, the first post-type template, and the second post-type template into a site template associated with the site. |
| US08458583B2 |
Document image generating apparatus, document image generating method and computer program
It is expected to provide a document image generating apparatus, a document image generating method and a computer program that can keep a layout of original text present in the original text image and then can improve the readability of original text and the readability annotation corresponding to the original text (e.g., translation).A translation 421 of original text 411 is aligned at the interline space between the original text 411 at the first line and the original text 412 at the second line. When the interline space is narrow as shown in FIG. 4B, the original text 411 overlays the translation 421. At that time, the color regarding the original text 411 is changed to be a low visibility color, and the color regarding the translation 421 is changed to be a high visibility color. |
| US08458580B2 |
Magnetic disc controller and method
A magnetic disk controller includes an error check code generating unit that generates error check codes associated with the encoded pieces of writing data; a first buffer that stores a first encoded piece of writing data and a first error check code associated with the first encoded piece; a second buffer that stores a second encoded piece of writing data and a second error check code associated with the second encoded piece; and a buffer control unit that, in a first period, substantially concurrently with a writing of the first encoded piece and the first error check code from the first buffer into a first sector of the magnetic disk, stores the second encoded piece and the second error check code into the second buffer. |
| US08458575B2 |
High speed syndrome-based FEC encoder and system using same
A decoder, encoder and corresponding system are disclosed for providing fast Forward Error Correcting (FEC) decoding and encoding of syndrome-based error correcting codes. Three-parallel processing is performed by elements of the system. More particularly, in an illustrative embodiment, a decoder performs three-parallel syndrome generation and error determination and calculations, and an encoder performs three-parallel encoding. Low power and complexity techniques are used to save cost and power yet provide relatively high speed encoding and decoding. |
| US08458569B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving error correction capability using stuffing byte
A decoding circuit and method for improving error correction capability using a stuffing byte, in which in the decoding method, an input data packet is decoded. When it is determined that error correction is impossible based on a decoding result, a stuffing byte section is detected in the input data packet. A level value of data in the stuffing byte section is converted into a stuffing byte level value. A data packet having the converted level value is decoded and output. The decoding circuit includes a decoder decoding an input data packet and a control block detecting a stuffing byte section in the input data packet, converting the input data packet, and decoding a converted data packet when the decoder fails in error correction of the input data packet. |
| US08458562B1 |
Secondary memory element for non-volatile memory
Embodiments for providing improved reliability or extended life for a non-volatile memory component may comprise a secondary non-volatile memory component to store error correction information, for example. |
| US08458561B2 |
Pruning methods for the generation of S-random interleavers, and interleaver performing the methods
The method allows to obtain, starting from an initial S-random interleaver permutation stored in memory devices and having a size N, a final S-random permutation having a smaller size K |
| US08458558B2 |
Multi-antenna configuration signaling in wireless communication system
A wireless communication infrastructure entity (200) having a communication configuration is configured to generate parity bits based on an information word and to encode the parity bits based on the communication configuration of the wireless communication infrastructure entity, wherein the encoded parity bits are combined with the information word. A wireless communication user terminal is configured to identify a set of configuration indicator bits used to encode parity bits combined with an information word and to determine a communication configuration of the wireless communication entity from which the combination of the information word and the encoded parity bits were received based on the set of configuration indicator bits used to encode the parity bits. |
| US08458557B1 |
Interleaved error correction coding for channels with non-uniform signal-to-noise ratios
Generation of code words for error correction coding (ECC) of a channel with a non-uniform signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is provided. A channel SNR profile is accessed, which can also include determining the channel profile. The channel profile characterizes sections of the channel having like SNR values. Each section of the channel is partitioned into a number of partitions. The number of partitions of each section equals a number of code words for the channel. The code words are generated by interleaving the partitions from each section such that an average SNR of each code word is made substantially the same as an average SNR of the channel. |
| US08458548B2 |
Adaptive H-ARQ using outage capacity optimization
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a data packet comprising a first number of bits encoded over a first number of symbols is transmitted to a receiver. If the receiver did not successfully decode the data packet, a negative acknowledgment message is received along with metric information for the transmission. The data packet encoded with a varying number of symbols and transmitted to the receiver, wherein the varying number of symbols is a function of the metric information for the first transmission. |
| US08458546B2 |
Oversampled clock and data recovery with extended rate acquisition
In described embodiments, a transceiver supports two or more rates using an oversampling clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit sampling high rate data with a predetermined CDR sampling clock. A timing recovery circuit detects and accounts for extra or missing samples when oversampling lower rate data. An edge detector detects each actual data symbol edge and provides for an edge decision offset in a current instant's block of samples. An edge error is generated from the previous instant's actual and calculated edges; and an edge distance between actual edges of the current and previous instants is generated. Filtered edge distance and error are combined to generate a calculated edge position for the data symbol edge for the current instant. The edge decision offset is applied to the current calculated edge position to identify a sample value to generate a decision for the data symbol to detect the current data value. |
| US08458544B2 |
Multiple-capture DFT system to reduce peak capture power during self-test or scan test
A method for providing ordered capture clocks to detect or locate faults within N clock domains and faults crossing any two clock domains in an integrated circuit or circuit assembly in scan-test or self-test mode, where N>1, includes the steps of: (a) generating and shifting-in N test stimuli to all scan cells within the N clock domains during a shift-in operation; (b) applying an ordered sequence of capture clocks to all scan cells within the N clock domains, the ordered sequence of capture clocks including a plurality of capture clock pulses from two or more selected capture clocks placed in a sequential order such that all clock domains are never triggered simultaneously during a capture operation; and (c) analyzing output responses of all scan cells to locate any faults therein. |
| US08458541B2 |
System and method for debugging scan chains
Scan chains are used to detect faults in integrated circuits but with the size of today's circuits, it is difficult to detect and locate scan chain faults, especially when the scan data in and scan data out have been compressed. A method for debugging scan chains includes selecting a scan chain for debugging using a scan chain selection block and then providing scan test vectors to the selected scan chain. The scan test vectors undergo various scan test stages to generate scan response vectors. The scan response vectors are compared with ideal response vectors to identify a failing scan chain. |
| US08458540B2 |
Integrated circuit and diagnosis circuit
A integrated circuit include: a first selection circuit selecting first data from input-data or scan-data, scan-data being for performing a diagnosis of a combinational circuit, input-data being received from a combinational circuit; a first latch circuit holding first data as first output-data in accordance with a first signal; a second latch circuit holding first output-data as second output-data in accordance with which of the first signal and a second signal, the second signal being used to force the second latch circuit to hold first output-data; a third latch circuit holding first output-data as third output-data in accordance with which of the first signal and a third signal, the third signal being used to force the third latch circuit to hold first output-data; and a second selection circuit selecting second data from among the data which include second output-data and third output-data. |
| US08458539B2 |
G-ODLAT on-die logic analyzer trigger with parallel vector finite state machine
An apparatus for debugging internal signals of integrated circuits is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a number of vector registers associated with states of a state machine. A group of registers, associated with a state of the state machine, comprises a mask register an arm register. A comparator compares debug data with contents of the mask register and the arm register to determine a comparison result to be stored in one or more bit positions of the vector register. The apparatus further comprises a triggering logic unit to determine whether or not to trigger a fire event based on the vector registers. |
| US08458537B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array, a write control circuit, a latch circuit, an address control circuit, a scan control circuit, and an address latch circuit. The write control circuit executes write and verify for each page of the memory cell array. The latch circuit holds data of the verify result. The address control circuit divides the page into zones and sequentially selects the address of each of the zones. The scan control circuit executes scan so as to count the number of fail bits in zone selected by the address control circuit and determine whether the number of fail bits is not more than the number of allowable bits. The address latch circuit holds the address of a no fail zone, out of the plurality of zones, in which the number of fail bits is 0. |
| US08458535B2 |
Packet interleaving method
The packet interleaving method includes selecting successive input sets of consecutive input packets (X1 . . . XNin) received from a forward correction module (14), each input packet (Xj) being a vector of constellation points of a predetermined constellation diagram. For each input set, it further includes generating an output set of output packets (O1 . . . ONout), each output packet (Om) being a vector of constellation points, by distributing the constellation points of each input packet (Xj) of the input set, and sending the output packets (O1 . . . ONout) of the output set to a modulator (18). The input set including Nin input packets (X1 . . . XNin) and each of the Nin input packets (X1 . . . XNin) including a same number Lin of constellation points, the number Nout of output packets in the output set is related to Lin by the relation Lin=A×Nout, where A is a fixed whole number. |
| US08458533B2 |
Watch dog timer and counter with multiple timeout periods
A time-out period is established for a watchdog timer. The time-out period is restarted each time a designated key value is received when each key value is received in a proper sequence. An error is indicated if set of key values is received in an incorrect sequence. A time-out is indicated if a correct sequence of key values is not received within the time-out period. |
| US08458524B2 |
Firmware recovery system and method
A firmware recovery system includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) module, a south bridge, a basic input and output system (BIOS) module, a multiplexer and a storage module. The BIOS module is connected to the BMC module by the south bridge and determines whether a firmware file of the BMC module is corrupt. The multiplexer selectively connects the BIOS module or the BMC module to the south bridge. The storage module stores a new firmware file. When the firmware file of the BMC module is corrupt, the BIOS module controls the multiplexer to select the BMC module to connect to the south bridge. The BIOS module reads the new firmware file from the storage module to recover the corrupt firmware file from the BMC module. |
| US08458523B2 |
Meta attributes in functional coverage models
A meta attribute useful for functional coverage is computed based on values comprised by two or more matching fields in a trace. The two or more matching fields may be comprised by a single entry of the trace or by a plurality of entries of the trace. A definition of the meta attribute may define which fields of the entries comprise values useful for computation of the meta attributes. The matching entries may be identified based on identifying values within the entries. |
| US08458518B2 |
Method and a device for improved retransmissions
The invention discloses a method (200) for use in a cellular system (100) with an RBS (120) which controls traffic to and from a cell (110), with one User Equipment, UE (130, 140), in the cell. The RBS and the UE receive and transmit information between each other, one of them being a sending party and the other one is a receiving party, and errors in messages (BSN 1, BSN 4) which are received can be detected by the receiving party by a first error detection method and if errors are detected in received messages, the receiving party can request a retransmission from the transmitting party. The receiving party stores the order in which retransmissions are requested, so that erroneous retransmissions may be detected by the receiving party without the first error detection method. |
| US08458517B1 |
System and method for checkpointing state in a distributed system
A system and method is disclosed for recording checkpoints in a distributed system. A distributed system comprises one or more computers implementing a plurality of nodes coordinating with one another to maintain a shared state of the distributed system. The system chooses a given one of the plurality of nodes to record a checkpoint of the shared state. In response, the given node records the checkpoint by isolating itself from communication with the other nodes, storing the checkpoint, restarting, and attempting to reinitialize its state from the stored checkpoint. Restarting may include deliberately causing a runtime error in the node. If the reinitialization is successful, the node restores communication with the other nodes and indicates to them that the newly stored checkpoint is valid. |
| US08458514B2 |
Memory management to accommodate non-maskable failures
Methods of memory management are described which can accommodate non-maskable failures in pages of physical memory. In an embodiment, when an impending non-maskable failure in a page of memory is identified, a pristine page of physical memory is used to replace the page containing the impending failure and memory mappings are updated to remap virtual pages from the failed page to the pristine page. When a new page of virtual memory is then allocated by a process, the failed page may be reused if the process identifies that it can accommodate failures and the process is provided with location information for impending failures. In another embodiment, a process may expose information on failure-tolerant regions of virtual address space such that a physical page of memory containing failures only in failure-tolerant regions may be used to store the data instead of using a pristine page. |
| US08458511B2 |
Fault isolation using code paths
Techniques are provided for isolating faults in a software program by providing at least two code paths that are capable of performing the same operation. When a fault occurs while the one of the code paths is being used to perform an operation, data that indicates the circumstances under which the fault occurred is stored. For example, a fault-recording mechanism may store data that indicates the entities that were involved in the failed operation. Because they were involved in an operation that experienced a fault, one or more of those entities may be “quarantined”. When subsequent requests arrive to perform the operation, a check may be performed to determine whether the requested operation involves any of the quarantined entities. If the requested operation involves a quarantined entity, a different code path is used to perform the operation, rather than the code path from which the entity is quarantined. |
| US08458504B2 |
Peer-to-peer group owner enhanced power management
A device includes a peer-to-peer group owner processor. The device also includes a memory coupled to the peer-to-peer group owner processor. At least one client associated with the device is a legacy client, and the peer-to-peer group owner processor enters a listening state after a dozing state. The device consumes less power in the listening state than in an awake state. |
| US08458499B2 |
Method for reducing power state in a computer system out-of-band when a request for reducing the power state is not immediately serviceable in band according to a priority of the request
One embodiment provides a method of managing power in a computer system. A device of the computer system is operated at a selected power-state. The power consumption of the computer system is monitored. If the power consumption of the computer system is approaching or has exceeded a power cap selected for the computer system, then a request to reduce the power-state for the device is generated in response. The operating system is used to service the request to reduce the power-state according to the priority of the request. The reduced power state is forced out-of-band following the request to reduce the power-state if the request is not immediately serviceable by the operating system. Different approaches can be taken to force the reduced power state, using, for example, system management mode or a platform environment control interface. |
| US08458494B1 |
Systems and methods for secure third-party data storage
A computer-implemented method for secure third-party data storage may include 1) identifying, at a server-side computing device, a request from a client system to access an encrypted file stored under a user account, 2) identifying, in response to the request, an asymmetric key pair designated for the user account that includes an encryption key and a decryption key that has been encrypted with a client-side key, 3) receiving, from the client system, the client-side key, 4) decrypting the decryption key with the client-side key, and 5) using the decryption key to access an unencrypted version of the encrypted file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08458492B2 |
Crypto-engine for cryptographic processing of data
A crypto-engine for cryptographic processing has an arithmetic unit and an interface controller for managing communications between the arithmetic unit and a host processor. The arithmetic unit has a memory unit for storing and loading data and arithmetic units for performing arithmetic operations on the data. The memory and arithmetic units are controlled by an arithmetic controller. |
| US08458489B2 |
Differential uncloneable variability-based cryptography
Differential uncloneable variability-based cryptography techniques are provided. The differential cryptography includes a hardware based public physically uncloneable function (PPUF) to perform the cryptography. The PPUF includes a first physically uncloneable function (PUF) and a second physically uncloneable function. An arbiter determines the output of the circuit using the outputs of the first and second PUFs. Cryptography can be performed by simulating the PPUF with selected input. The output of the simulation, along with timing information about a set of inputs from where the corresponding input is randomly selected for simulation, is used by the communicating party that has the integrated circuit with the PPUF to search for an input that produces the output. The input can be configured to be the secret key or a part of the secret key. |
| US08458483B1 |
Techniques for message-passing using shared memory of an RF tag
A technique of message-passing using shared memory of an RF tag involves storing a message in the shared memory while a security processor of the RF tag is in a sleep mode, the security processor being constructed and arranged to access the shared memory when the security processor is in a wakened mode. The technique further involves transitioning the security processor from the sleep mode to the wakened mode, and processing the message from the shared memory using the security processor after the security processor has transitioned from the sleep mode to the wakened mode. If the security processor is awakened only as needed (rather than remain in the wakened mode), lifetime of a battery which powers the security processor can be maximized. |
| US08458480B2 |
Method and apparatus for binding TPM keys to execution entities
A method and apparatus for binding trusted platform module (TPM) keys to execution entities are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the receipt of an authorization request issued by an execution entity for authorization data. According to the authorization request, the execution entity may be measured to generate an entity digest value. Once the entity digest value is generated, a platform reference module may grant the authorization request if the entity digest value verifies that the execution entity is an owner of the key held by the TPM. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a platform reference module, rather than an execution entity, holds the authorization data required by a TPM to use a key owned by the execution entity and held within sealed storage by the TPM. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08458476B2 |
Watermarking computer program code
A method of embedding information in a computer program code, including a plurality of program statements. The method comprises: inserting a conditional program statement in the computer program code, the conditional program statement including a condition and a plurality of alternative program statements, the conditional program statement being adapted to cause a data processing system to evaluate said condition and, responsive to a result of said evaluating step, to selectively execute one of said plurality of alternative program statements; wherein said condition is indicative of at least a part of said information; and wherein the plurality of alternative program statements are adapted to cause the computer program code to produce the same program output irrespective of which of said alternative program statements is executed. |
| US08458472B2 |
Authentication method and communications system used for authentication
An authentication method authenticates between subscribers of a communications system using an asymmetric elliptic curve encryption algorithm. The method involves providing a first and at least one second subscriber having a first or second secret key known only to the respective subscriber and a public key; authenticating an inquiry transmitted by the first subscriber with respect to the validity of the first certificate contained therein and associated with the first subscriber; calculating the response of the second subscriber associated with the inquiry; randomized encryption of the calculated response and a second certificate associated with the second subscriber using the public key; decryption and authentication of the response transmitted by the second subscriber with respect to the validity of the second certificate contained therein. |
| US08458468B2 |
Method and system for protecting information exchanged during communication between users
A system includes a sending terminal and at least one receiving terminal, the terminals capable of being connected to a communication network for transmitting an information item from the sending terminal to the at least one receiving terminal. The sending terminal is linked via a secure channel to a unit adapted to encrypt sensitive data using a first encryption/decryption mechanism, the sensitive data being used to protect the information item, and the at least one receiving terminal capable of interacting with a SIM module storing a second encryption/decryption mechanism identical to the first encryption/decryption mechanism, for decrypting the sensitive data. |
| US08458464B2 |
Mechanism to handle events in a machine with isolated execution
A platform and method for secure handling of events in an isolated environment. A processor executing in isolated execution “IsoX” mode may leak data when an event occurs as a result of the event being handled in a traditional manner based on the exception vector. By defining a class of events to be handled in IsoX mode, and switching between a normal memory map and an IsoX memory map dynamically in response to receipt of an event of the class, data security may be maintained in the face of such events. |
| US08458463B2 |
Method for safe operation and a system thereof
The present invention relating to computer security field provides a method for safe operation and a system thereof. The method includes: loading the compressed kernel of a safe operating system to a memory of a computer, decompressing the driver of a security device to the memory of the computer; a security master process inquiring the security device and determining whether the security device is legitimate, and if so, the safe operating system creates a security sub-process with which the safe operating system performing information interaction with the security device; verifying whether a user is legitimate, if so, permitting the safe operating system to run properly; otherwise, performing exception handling. The system includes an operating system storage device, a security device and a computer. The presented invention provides a solution that a kernel program of a safe operating system is cooperated with a security device by starting the safe operating system. In the whole process of the computer operation, the kernel of the safe operating system works with the security device, and the security device completes the verification of the user ID and the processing of file data encryption/decryption, which assures the security of the computer operation. |
| US08458460B2 |
Digest generation from instruction op-codes
In general, in one aspect, a computer-implemented method includes determining a digest value based on hash operations on values of, at least, a set op-codes of multiple instructions of a program during execution of the program by a processor. |
| US08458455B2 |
Techniques for handling SSL certificate expiration and renewal
A method for replacing a current security certificate includes producing a security certificate request at a first device that includes a request for a replacement security certificate. The method additionally includes sending the security certificate request to a security certificate vendor and receiving a replacement security certificate from the security certificate vendor. The method further includes installing the replacement security certificate within a verification layer of the client device and transmitting the replacement security certificate to the server. The method additionally includes verifying that the server has installed the replacement security certificate, wherein the verification further verifies that the replacement security certificate enables encrypted communication between the client device and the server. The method additionally includes archiving the current security certificate upon completion of the verification, and activating the replacement security certificate for use in encrypting communications between the client device and the server. |
| US08458450B2 |
Configuring a computing machine to use a component driver to directly control at least one of initialized hardware components of another computing machine
A method including initializing at least one component of another computing machine in response to the other computing machine coupling to a computing machine, loading a component driver onto the computing machine for at least one of the initialized components, and configuring the computing machine to use the component driver to control at least one of the initialized components of the other computing machine. |
| US08458438B2 |
System, method and computer program product for providing quiesce filtering for shared memory
A system, method and computer program product for providing quiesce filtering for shared memory. The method includes receiving a shared-memory quiesce request at a processor. The request includes a donor zone. The processor includes translation look aside buffer one (TLB1). It is determined that the shared-memory request can be filtered by the processor if there not any shared memory entries in the TLB1 and the donor zone is not equal to a current zone of the processor and the processor is not running in host mode. The shared-memory quiesce request is filtered in response to the determining. |
| US08458433B2 |
Management of persistent memory in a multi-node computer system
A method and apparatus creates and manages persistent memory (PM) in a multi-node computing system. A PM Manager in the service node creates and manages pools of nodes with various sizes of PM. A node manager uses the pools of nodes to load applications to the nodes according to the size of the available PM. The PM Manager can dynamically adjust the size of the PM according to the needs of the applications based on historical use or as determined by a system administrator. The PM Manager works with an operating system kernel on the nodes to provide persistent memory for application data and system metadata. The PM Manager uses the persistent memory to load applications to preserve data from one application to the next. Also, the data preserved in persistent memory may be system metadata such as file system data that will be available to subsequent applications. |
| US08458431B2 |
Expanding memory size
A system, and computer usable program product for expanding memory size are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A desired size of an expanded memory and a first information about a workload in the data processing system are received. A size of a compressed memory pool to use with the memory to make the desired size of the expanded memory available is computed. A representation of the memory is configured, the representation of the memory appearing to be of a size larger than the size of the memory, the representation of the memory being the expanded memory, and the size of the representation being the size of the expanded memory. The expanded memory is made available such that the memory in the data processing system is usable by addressing the expanded memory. |
| US08458430B2 |
Configurable and scalable storage system
The system utilizes a plurality of layers to provide a robust storage solution. One layer is the RAID engine that provides parity RAID protection, disk management and striping for the RAID sets. The second layer is called the virtualization layer and it separates the physical disks and storage capacity into virtual disks that mirror the drives that a target system requires. A third layer is a LUN (logical unit number) layer that is disposed between the virtual disks and the host. By using this approach, the system can be used to represent any number, size, or capacity of disks that a host system requires while using any configuration of physical RAID storage. |
| US08458426B2 |
Transceiver with latency alignment circuitry
In a transceiver system a first interface receives data from a first channel using a first clock signal and transmits data to the first channel using a second clock signal. A second interface receives data from a second channel using a third clock signal and transmits data to the second channel using a fourth clock signal. A re-timer re-times data received from the first channel using the first clock signal and retransmits the data to the second channel using the fourth clock signal. |
| US08458424B2 |
Storage system for reallocating data in virtual volumes and methods of the same
A storage system comprises a virtual volume configured of multiple virtual areas and a pool configured of multiple actual area groups of different performances. The controller of the storage system manages which actual areas are assigned to which virtual areas and the access load on the actual areas assigned to the virtual areas. The controller, if the access load of a first actual area assigned to a first virtual area is inappropriate for a first actual area group comprising the first actual area, migrates data to a second actual area in a second actual area group which is appropriate for the access load of the first actual area from the first actual area. The controller performs data migration between actual areas for achieving data allocation at a certain point of time based on history information which is the information related to a virtual area at a point of time in the past and an actual area assigned to the virtual area. Data allocation is the allocation of data in a virtual area to an actual area in an actual area group. |
| US08458420B2 |
Executing host data transfer operations during setup of copy services operations
Host input/output (I/O) operations are performed via a file stored in a non-volatile storage coupled to a storage controller while data structures are being generated in the storage controller to copy data from source logical volumes to target logical volumes. The source logical volumes and the target logical volumes are logical representations of physical storage maintained in a plurality of direct access storage devices. The contents of the file are transferred from the non-volatile storage to one or more of the plurality of direct access storage devices, after the data structures have been generated, wherein the host I/O operations are performed via the file while the contents of the file are being transferred to the one or more of the plurality of direct access storage devices. The host I/O operations to the plurality of direct access storage devices are resumed, in response to transferring entire contents of the file to the one or more of the plurality of direct access storage devices. |
| US08458418B1 |
Replication of deduplicated data between multi-controller systems
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing information are disclosed. In some embodiments, this includes mapping a target multi-controller system, determining a target controller to send a data chunk to based on the mapping, determining if the target controller is missing any portion of the data chunk, and sending the missing portions of the data chunk to the target controller. In some embodiments, sending the missing portions of the data chunk to the target controller includes sending the missing portions of the data chunk from a source multi-controller system to the target. The source multi-controller system may have a first number of controllers and the target multi-controller system may have a second number of controllers. |
| US08458417B2 |
Garbage collection in a storage device
In general, this disclosure relates to garbage collection in a storage device. Aspects of this disclosure describe techniques to identify one or more candidate memory storage blocks that should be recycled during garbage collection. The one or more candidate memory storage blocks may be identified based at least on monitored soft metrics of the candidate memory storage blocks. During garbage collection, the identified one or more candidate memory storage blocks may be recycled to free up storage space. |
| US08458414B2 |
Accessing memory with identical instruction types and central processing unit thereof
A memory accessing method including the following steps is provided. Firstly, two instructions are fetched. Next, the two instructions are respectively decoded to obtain two operation fields and two address fields. The two operation fields indicate the type of operation in accessing the memory. One of the address fields includes a first upper address corresponding to the first memory block and a first lower address corresponding to a first memory unit of the first memory block. The other one of the two address fields includes a second upper address corresponding to the second memory block and a second lower address corresponding to a second memory unit of the second memory block. Then, whether two instructions are performing the same type of operation on the same memory block is determined. If yes, the type of operation indicated by the two operation fields is performed on the corresponding memory block parallelly. |
| US08458413B2 |
Supporting virtual input/output (I/O) server (VIOS) active memory sharing in a cluster environment
A method, system, and computer program product provide a shared virtual memory space via a cluster-aware virtual input/output (I/O) server (VIOS). The VIOS receives a paging file request from a first LPAR and thin-provisions a logical unit (LU) within the virtual memory space as a shared paging file of the same storage amount as the minimum required capacity. The VIOS also autonomously maintains a logical redundancy LU (redundant LU) as a real-time copy of the provisioned/allocated LU, where the redundant LU is a dynamic copy of the allocated LU that is autonomously updated responsive to any changes within the allocated LU. Responsive to a second VIOS attempting to read a LU currently utilized by a first VIOS, the read request is autonomously redirected to the logical redundancy LU. The redundant LU can be utilized to facilitate migration of a client LPAR to a different computing electronic complex (CEC). |
| US08458406B2 |
Multiple critical word bypassing in a memory controller
In one embodiment, a memory controller may be configured to transmit two or more critical words (or beats) corresponding to two or more different read requests prior to returning the remaining beats of the read requests. Such an embodiment may reduce latency to the sources of the memory requests, which may be stalled awaiting the critical words. The remaining words may fill a cache block or other buffer, but may not be required by the sources as quickly as the critical words in order to support higher performance. In some embodiments, once a remaining beat of a block is transmitted, all of the remaining beats may be transmitted contiguously. In other embodiments, additional critical words may be forwarded between remaining beats of a block. |
| US08458404B1 |
Programmable cache access protocol to optimize power consumption and performance
A programmable cache and cache access protocol that can be dynamically optimized with respect to either power consumption or performance based on a monitored performance of the cache. A monitoring unit monitors cache misses, load use penalty, and/or other performance parameter, and compares the monitored values against a set of one or more predetermined thresholds. Based on the comparison results, a cache controller configures the programmable cache to operate in a parallel mode, to increase cache performance at the cost of greater power consumption, or in a serial mode, to conserve power at the cost of unnecessary performance. A banked cache memory that supports aligned and unaligned instruction fetches using a banked access strategy, and a cache access controller that includes a prefetch capability are also described. |
| US08458403B2 |
Architecture and method for cache-based checkpointing and rollback
A cache system to compare memory transactions while facilitating checkpointing and rollback is provided. The system includes at least one processor core including at least one cache operating in write-through mode, at least two checkpoint caches operating in write-back mode, a comparison/checkpoint logic, and a main memory. The at least two checkpoint caches are communicatively coupled to the at least one cache operating in write-through mode. The comparison/checkpoint logic is communicatively coupled to the at least two checkpoint caches. The comparison/checkpoint logic compares memory transactions stored in the at least two checkpoint caches responsive to an initiation of a checkpointing. The main memory is communicatively coupled to at least one of the at least two checkpoint caches. |
| US08458401B2 |
Demand based partitioning of microprocessor caches
Associativity of a multi-core processor cache memory to a logical partition is managed and controlled by receiving a plurality of unique logical processing partition identifiers into registration of a multi-core processor, each identifier being associated with a logical processing partition on one or more cores of the multi-core processor; responsive to a shared cache memory miss, identifying a position in a cache directory for data associated with the address, the shared cache memory being multi-way set associative; associating a new cache line entry with the data and one of the registered unique logical processing partition identifiers; modifying the cache directory to reflect the association; and caching the data at the new cache line entry, wherein the shared cache memory is effectively shared on a line-by-line basis among the plurality of logical processing partitions of the multi-core processor. |
| US08458398B2 |
Computer-readable medium storing data management program, computer-readable medium storing storage diagnosis program, and multinode storage system
A computer-readable medium storing a data management program makes a computer manage data redundantly stored in storage devices having storage areas split into slices for data management. The data management program realizes the following functions in the computer. A first function receives irregularity information indicating that each of one or more of the storage devices may be possibly faulty, and stores the irregularity information in a storage; and a second function determines, by reference to the irregularity information, whether or not a first storage device containing a slice to be accessed is possibly faulty, on receipt of access information indicating occurrence of a request to access the slice. When yes is determined, the second function instructs an external device to recover data stored in the slice, where the external device controls a second storage device storing redundant data identical to the data stored in the slice. |
| US08458396B2 |
Sharing resources within a robotic media library amongst a plurality of connected servers
The present invention provides an apparatus, method, and computer program product for sharing resources within a robotic media library having multiple media types and multiple device types amongst a plurality of connected servers. |
| US08458393B2 |
Flash memory and operating system kernel
A memory system is provided. The system includes an operating system kernel that regulates read and write access to one or more FLASH memory devices that are employed for random access memory applications. A buffer component operates in conjunction with the kernel to regulate read and write access to the one or more FLASH devices. |
| US08458391B2 |
Library apparatus and method for controlling the same
A library apparatus includes a medium name storage unit that stores medium name conversion information in which a virtual medium name specifying a storage medium in a read/write request from a host is related to a real medium name specifying the storage medium in the library apparatus, a conveying mechanism unit that conveys the storage medium, a drive that reads/writes data from/to the storage medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism unit in response to the received read/write request, a conversion unit that converts the virtual medium name included in the received read/write request to the real medium name on the basis of the medium name conversion information stored in the medium name storage unit, and a conveying mechanism control unit that controls the conveying mechanism unit to convey the storage medium having the real medium name converted by the conversion unit to the drive. |
| US08458390B2 |
Methods and systems for handling inter-process and inter-module communications in servers and server clusters
Pluggable modules communicate via a switch fabric dataplane accessible via a backplane. Various embodiments are comprised of varying numbers and arrangements of the pluggable modules in accordance with a system architecture that provides for provisioning virtual servers and clusters of servers from underlying hardware and software resources. The system architecture is a unifying solution for applications requiring a combination of computation and networking performance. Resources may be pooled, scaled, and reclaimed dynamically for new purposes as requirements change, using dynamic reconfiguration of virtual computing and communication hardware and software. |
| US08458389B2 |
Apparatus and method for converting protocol interface
An apparatus and method for converting a protocol interface are provided. A protocol converter may analyze a protocol of protocol data, and may sequentially output a plurality of sub-data of the input protocol data according to types of the plurality of sub-data and a plurality of phase information representing the types of the plurality of sub-data. A phase channel line may transmit phase information received from the protocol converter among the plurality of phase information. A data channel line may simultaneously transmit the received phase information and a sub-data corresponding to the received phase information. |
| US08458388B2 |
Method for data communication between a programmable controller and a data processing device and interface driver program and interface hereto
A method for data communication between a programmable controller (2) and a data processing device (12) via a universal data interface (11b) of the data processing device (12) is described. In the method, at least one communication interface implemented by means of software drivers and selected in dependence on the availability is allocated to a programmable controller (2) connected to a hardware connection in a wire-connected manner or wirelessly. The method has the following steps: reading at least one identification of the programmable controller (2) out of at least one data memory of the programmable controller (2); selecting at least one further communication interface in dependence on the at least one identification read out; and allocating the at least one selected communication interface to the hardware connection in such a manner that the data communication takes place both via the at least one communication interface selected in dependence on the availability and via the at least one communication interface selected in dependence on the identification. |
| US08458384B2 |
Automatically launching a measurement application in response to measurement device connection
Automatically launching a measurement program in response to measurement device connection. The measurement device may be connected to a host device. The measurement device may store a measurement program. The host device may automatically detect the measurement device. However, a measurement device specific driver may not be required for communication between the host device and the measurement device. The host device may automatically execute the measurement program stored on the measurement device in response to the connecting. During execution, the measurement device may acquire data and provide the acquired data to the host device. |
| US08458382B2 |
Smart card set protocol optimization
A method of facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card, the computer device including a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader, the method comprising: receiving from the smart card resource manager a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card; and responding, prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, to the smart card resource manager with a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command. |
| US08458381B2 |
Processing host transfer requests for direct block access storage devices
Described embodiments provide a host subsystem that generates a host context corresponding to a received host data transfer request. A programmable sequencer generates one or more sequencer contexts based on the host context. Each of the sequencer contexts corresponds to at least part of the host data transfer request. The sequencer contexts are provided to a buffer subsystem of the media controller. For host read requests, the buffer subsystem retrieves the data associated with the sequencer contexts of the read request from a corresponding buffer or a storage media and transmits the data associated with the sequencer contexts to the host device. For host write requests, the buffer subsystem receives the data associated with the host context from the host device and stores the data associated with the sequencer contexts of the write request to a corresponding buffer or the storage media. |
| US08458379B2 |
Information processing program, method, and transfer processing device
An information processing method includes calculating a reception estimated time when the data are received based on a last reception time of the data and a reception time interval of the data for transfer source devices; calculating a shift completion estimated time based on a shift time period necessary to shift an assignment of a data transfer process of a transfer source device of the plurality of the transfer source devices from the transfer processing device to another transfer processing device; and transferring the assignment of the data transfer process from the transfer processing device to the another transfer processing device, the assignment of the data transfer process being relevant to a transfer source device having the calculated reception estimated time later than the shift completion estimated time and closer to the shift completion estimated time than any other transfer source devices. |
| US08458378B2 |
Cable
According to one embodiment, a cable includes a first plug and a second plug, a voltage application line which is formed by a metal wire connected between the first plug and the second plug, and to which a voltage is applied from one of the first plug and the second plug, a plurality of optical fibers which are connected between the first plug and the second plug, and transmit a video signal, and a controller connected to the voltage application line, and configured to detect a transmission direction of the video signal between the first plug and the second plug by sensing a change in voltage of the voltage application line and perform processing in accordance with the detected transmission direction. |
| US08458374B1 |
Method and arrangement for position-dependent configuration of a mobile appliance
A method and an arrangement for configuration of a mobile appliance in a communication arrangement, with a communication address that is linked to its location in each case being assigned to the mobile appliance are provided. For this purpose, the location of the mobile appliance is determined in a first step, a configuration which is linked to the determined location is checked in a second step from a database, and this determined configuration is assigned to the mobile appliance in a third step. |
| US08458373B2 |
Power supply unit, processing system, and ID assignment method
A power supply unit includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit is capable of performing communication with a first processing unit group constituted of a plurality of processing units connected thereto. The control unit controls powers to the plurality of processing units through the communication so that the powers are turned on in an order corresponding to an order of connection and assigns, to the plurality of processing units, respectively, IDs of numbers corresponding to the order of turning-on of the powers each time the power is turned on. |
| US08458372B2 |
Master-slave device communication system based on current
A master-slave communication system includes a master device, a plurality of slave devices, and a bus providing communication channels therebetween. The master device includes a first micro control unit (MCU), a first power supply module, and an address setting module. Each slave device includes a second MCU and a second power supply module connected to the first power supply module through the address setting module. The address setting module detects a current output from the first power supply module, and outputs an ID address setting signal which is directly proportional with the current to the first MCU and the second MCU of a new slave device, the second MCU of the new slave device sets an ID address according to the ID address setting signal, the first MCU records the ID address as the ID address of the new slave device according to the ID address setting signal. |
| US08458368B2 |
System and method for discovering and protecting shared allocated resources in a shared virtualized I/O device
A system includes a virtualized I/O device coupled to one or more processing units. The virtualized I/O device includes programmed I/O (PIO) configuration registers corresponding to hardware resources, and a storage for storing a resource table that includes a plurality of entries. Each entry corresponds to a respective hardware resource. A system processor may allocate the hardware resources to functions that may include physical and virtual functions, and may program each entry of the resource discovery table for each function with an encoded value that indicates whether a requested hardware resource has been allocated to a requesting process, and whether the requested hardware resource is shared with another function. Processing units may execute a device driver instance associated with a given process to discover allocated resources by requesting access to the resource discovery table. The virtualized I/O device protects the resources by checking access requests against the resource discovery table. |
| US08458365B2 |
Synchronization of side information caches
In order to improve interactive compression using compression state information, the side information caches of communicating parties must be updated, or synchronized. The present invention is directed to a method of synchronizing side information databases within an interactive compression system comprising two communicating parties comprising the steps of transmitting, from the a first communicating party to the second communicating party, a device hierarchical node index; comparing the device hierarchical node index with a server hierarchical node index and then determining a shared hierarchical node index based on common entries in the two hierarchical node indexes. |
| US08458364B2 |
Method for receiving and processing frames and a device having frame receiving and processing capabilities
A device having frame receiving and processing capabilities and a method for receiving and processing frames. The method includes: receiving a frame; associating a frame timestamp with the frame; storing the frame and the associated timestamp at a certain buffer out of a group of buffers; generating a valid timing information frame indicator if the received frame is a valid timing information frame; and storing the valid timing information frame indicator at a certain buffer descriptor associated with the certain buffer. |
| US08458360B2 |
Request routing utilizing client location information
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for request routing based on client location information are provided. A content delivery network service provider receives a DNS query from a client computing device. The DNS query corresponds to a resource identifier for requested content from the client computing device. The content delivery network service provider transmits an alternative resource identifier in response to the client computing device DNS query. The alternative resource identifier is selected as a function of client location information. The client location information is obtained from information corresponding to a mapping of at least partial IP addresses to known locations. The client computing device then issues a second DNS query to the same content delivery network service provider. The content delivery network service provider can then either resolve the second DNS query or transmit another alternative resource identifier. |
| US08458359B2 |
System for the internet connections, and server for routing connection to a client machine
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an Internet connection system which is capable of benefiting from the IPv6 by relatively easy manner and in which manufacturers of client-side devices can create added values for users. IPv6 packets are transmitted by a tunneling connection between a home network and a server on the Internet. Also terminal devices present in the home network can be uniquely recognized and controlled from outside via the server. Since all communications are performed via the server on the Internet regardless of the carrier and the ISP, the terminal device and all connections to the terminal device can be freely configured and controlled by the owner or the manufacturer of the server on the Internet. |
| US08458356B2 |
System and method for sharing playlists
A system for sharing playlists utilizes a network, such as the Internet. A player device other than a general purpose computer, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server over the network. The player device is configured to receive a playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to identify playlists that are likely to contain selections of interest to the user. |
| US08458355B1 |
Dynamic media bit rates based on enterprise data transfer policies
In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies. |
| US08458352B2 |
Creating a virtual universe data feed and distributing the data feed beyond the virtual universe
Business transactions are becoming more prevalent in virtual universes. Functionality can be implemented within a VU to allow syndication of data feeds to subscribers outside the VU. Feeds collect and serve data from one or more VU objects and locations based on changes made to the VU either by the VU itself, or by avatars in the VU. A location in a virtual universe can be an area defined by at least three coordinates, as an example. Data feeds from a VU can be used to create a VU application with and/or using the data feeds, to derive data from the data feeds, to monitor use of objects or space and billing for such use based on the data feeds, etc. |
| US08458348B2 |
Multiprocessing of data sets
Various arrangements for processing data sets using multiple processors are presented. A plurality of constraints may be received by a computer system. Each constraint may identify a data relationship that requires a subset of records of one or more data sets to be processed by a same processing device. A plurality of final constraints may be calculated. Each final constraint of the plurality of final constraints may be linked with a record. Each final constraint of the plurality of final constraints may be at least partially based on the plurality of constraints. Final constraints of the plurality of final constraints having a same value may be linked with records that are to be processed by the same processing device. At least partially based on the final constraint, the set of records may be distributed to a plurality of processing devices for processing. |
| US08458344B2 |
Establishing tunnels between selective endpoint devices along communication paths
In one embodiment, an intermediary device situated along a communication path between two endpoint devices may receive communication packets sent along the communication path. If the intermediary device receives a connection-initiating packet having a customization indicator and a connection-acknowledgement packet having a customization indicator, then the intermediary device may install a bypass rule. |
| US08458340B2 |
Distributed cache for state transfer operations
A network arrangement that employs a cache having copies distributed among a plurality of different locations. The cache stores state information for a session with any of the server devices so that it is accessible to at least one other server device. Using this arrangement, when a client device switches from a connection with a first server device to a connection with a second server device, the second server device can retrieve state information from the cache corresponding to the session between the client device and the first server device. The second server device can then use the retrieved state information to accept a session with the client device. |
| US08458336B2 |
State machine event restoration
An interactive system, such as a webserver, is described of the type wherein responses to a user are associated with states of a state machine, the responses being generated as a result of a transition into a state associated with the response, the system comprising a state machine controller arranged to change states of the state machine according to the processing of user-initiated events. To provide for handling of concurrent events, the state machine controller is arranged, during processing of a current event, to determine whether the current event was initiated at an earlier time than another event and, if so, (i) restore the state machine to a condition consistent with that immediately prior to processing of the current event, and then (ii) carry out a state transition according the other event. |
| US08458335B2 |
Method and apparatus for relationship management
A method and apparatus for relationship management of devices utilizing a network are described. A service aggregator receives information from a device and sends information to the device directing the device to communicate with a service provider. |
| US08458334B2 |
Optimized capacity planning
A computer implemented method, system and/or program product determine capacity planning of resources by utilizing a stochastic analysis of application workloads. Average workloads, which describe past resource utilization, of each of multiple applications are computed. A random sequence of the multiple applications is encoded into a first generation chromosome. The first generation chromosome is executed using a set of computing resources in a resource cloud. In response to execution of the first generation chromosome on the set of computing resources meeting a predetermined service level agreement (SLA) for the first generation chromosome, the first generation chromosome is scored in accordance with how many computing resources within the set of computing resources are utilized in order to meet the predetermined SLA. Next generation chromosomes, derived from the first generation chromosome, are executed and scored until an optimal chromosome, which utilizes the fewest computing resources, is identified and deployed. |
| US08458332B2 |
Multiplexing several individual application sessions over a pre-allocated reservation protocol session
Apparatus and methods are provided for multiplexing application flows. According to one embodiment, a predetermined portion of available bandwidth is reserved over a path through a network communicatively coupling a first network device associated with a first set of terminals and a second network device associated with a second set of terminals for real-time communication sessions among multiple applications running on the first set of terminals and the second set of terminals as a real-time bandwidth pool. The real-time bandwidth pool is thereafter shared among multiple real-time communication sessions involving one or more terminals in the first set of terminals and one or more terminals in the second set of terminals by selectively admitting application sessions involving the one or more terminals in the first set of terminals and the one or more terminals in the second set of terminals based upon currently available resources in the real-time bandwidth pool. |
| US08458331B2 |
Systems and methods for connection management for asynchronous messaging over HTTP
Described are methods and systems for managing the connections between a client, an intermediary appliance and a server, so that asynchronous messages can be transmitted over HTTP from the server to a client. When a connection is established between a client and an intermediary, and the intermediary and a server to establish a logical client-server connection, that logical client-server connection is labeled and not maintained, while the connection between the client and the intermediary is maintained. Messages generated by the server and destined for the client are transmitted to the intermediary along with the connection label. The intermediary can then use the connection label to determine which client should receive the message. |
| US08458326B2 |
Sampling from distributed streams of data
The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for sampling from distributed data streams. Data elements are received at site servers configured to collect and report data to a coordinator device. The site servers assign a binary string to each of the data elements. Each bit of the binary strings can be independently set to a 0 or a 1 with a probability of one half. The binary string is used to sample from the received data elements, and the data elements and/or the sampled data elements can be transmitted to a coordinator device. The coordinator device can examine one or more bits of the binary string to draw samples of the received data elements in accordance with desired probabilities. |
| US08458324B2 |
Dynamically balancing resources in a server farm
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for dynamically balancing resources in a server farm, the server farm comprising a plurality of servers organized in functional server groups with the servers in each functional server group assigned a same type of data processing task, the servers operatively coupled to data storage through a packet switching fabric, the servers operatively coupled to a system management server, the methods, apparatus, and products including: monitoring, by a resource balancing module of the system management server, CPU utilization in at least one of the functional server groups; identifying, by the resource balancing module in dependence upon the monitored CPU utilization, an overburdened functional server group, the overburdened functional server group's CPU utilization exceeding a CPU overburden threshold; and increasing, by the resource balancing module, CPU resources of the overburdened functional server group, including moving a transfer server from a source functional server group into the overburdened functional server group. |
| US08458323B1 |
Associating problem tickets based on an integrated network and customer database
A system associates problem tickets based on an integrated network and customer database. A data retriever retrieves router configurations from data stores for routers in a service provider network. A data analysis tool parses the router configurations to create port data for each port on each router in the service provider network and integrates the port data with customer data to create an integrated database. The data analysis tool assigns ports to groups in the integrated database based on applying user defined rules. The data analysis tool accesses a problem management system to identify problem tickets that lack an association in the problem management system, and identifies ports associated with the problem tickets. The data analysis tool creates an association between the problem tickets if one of the groups includes the ports associated with the problem tickets. A user interface displays the created association between the problem tickets to troubleshoot associated tickets. |
| US08458320B2 |
Alerting a user to an occurrence of a specified event
A user inputs event information into a data processing system which is stored in an application memory of an application. Message information contained in each incoming message received by a messaging service is compared to the event information. In the event that the message information corresponds to the event information a notification of the event is sent to a short-range wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter transmits notification of the event to a remote receiver. Upon receipt of the wireless signal, the remote receiver triggers an alert notification notifying the user that data processing system has received the specified event. |
| US08458317B2 |
Separating attachments received from a mobile device
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a message from a mobile device over a wireless network, the message including several attachments, wherein the several attachments include one or more mobile device attachments corresponding to content captured using the mobile device, identifying the one or more mobile device attachments; and separating the one or more mobile device attachments from the plurality of attachments. |
| US08458310B1 |
Low bandwidth streaming of application upgrades
A system and method for reducing the amount of data transferred during streaming of an application upgrade. The system includes a server that streams application upgrades to a client. The client determines that an application upgrade is available and receives a first map from the server that corresponds to an upgraded version of the application. The client generates a second map of the currently installed application. The client compares the first map to a second map that corresponds to the application currently installed on the client to determine that one or more data blocks corresponding to the upgraded version of the application are not present in the application currently installed on the client. The client requests the one or more data blocks from the server. Both maps include entries that include data describing a size, a location, and a hash value of a corresponding data block. |
| US08458305B2 |
Method and system for matching and repairing network configuration
Aspects of a method and system for matching and repairing network configuration are provided. In this regard, one or more circuits and/or processors may be operable to determine a configuration of one or more parameters in a plurality of devices along a network path, and detect whether any of the one or more parameters are configured such that communication between the plurality of devices is disabled and/or suboptimal. The devices may comprise at least one server and one or more of a network switch, a network bridge, and a router. In instances that one or more parameters are incompatibly or sub-optimally configured, a notification of the incompatibility may be communicated to a network management entity and/or one or more messages may be generated to reconfigure the one or more parameters in one or more of the plurality of devices. The determining and/or detecting may be performed automatically in response to various events. |
| US08458302B2 |
Auto-configuration of network parameters for multimedia traffic using session description protocol
In an example embodiment, a wireless distribution system obtains data for advertised data flows, such as multimedia traffic flows, by snooping attribute details of session description protocol (SDP) announcements. The wireless distribution system can use the data for functions such as admissions control, load balancing, and/or multicast to unicast conversion decisions. |
| US08458300B2 |
Method and system to manage services for multiple managed computer systems
A method to facilitate provision of services to a managed system (e.g., a PC, PDA, cell phone) includes causing installation of an agent application on the managed system, the agent application including an install component to install at least one of a plurality of service applications on the managed system. Each of the plurality of service applications is to facilitate provision of a service provided by a respective service provider of a number of service providers to the managed system. A service input (e.g., from an IT administrator) is received at the management system. The service input identifies a subset of a number of service applications to be installed on the managed system. The subset of service applications is distributed to the managed system for installation by the agent application on the managed system. |
| US08458296B2 |
Computer system with simplified server access and corresponding process
A computer system includes a host environment for the server, equipped with a port for communicating over an extended network and a network server to which is assigned a first network address or URL pathway. The computer system includes server applications and an access manager capable of receiving a call expression from the port. A call expression is a request from a user that includes the first network address or URL pathway. The access manager includes a discriminator that can be activated to check whether a call expression comprises a second URL-type segment that is different from the first network address or URL pathway; and a shunting device which activates the discriminator when the call expression is received from a registered user and if the discriminator determines that a call expression contains a second URL-type segment different from the first network address or URL pathway the shunting device activates a predefined application that isolates or rewrites the second URL-type segment. |
| US08458292B2 |
Aggregation system
A computerized aggregation system, the system including: a master server system programmed to receive data from a user computer, to store the received data, and to process the received data to produce information including credentials, and to provide the information to a client-side application piece at the user computer system, the user computer system adapted to receive said provided information and to communicate said credentials received from the master server system respectively to each of a plurality of third party server systems to facilitate obtaining information from the third party server systems, whereby the user computer system is enabled to aggregate at least some information from the third party server systems on an aggregation template. |
| US08458290B2 |
Multicast mapped look-up on content delivery networks
A method and system for flexibly processing content objects is disclosed. A content object is stored on one of a plurality of storage devices. A request is received for the content object. Information corresponding to the requested object (e.g., a unique identifier) is transmitted to one or more content directories. A response is received from a first content directory indicating a location of the content object. The content object is requested from the first location, and at least part of the content object is received. |
| US08458282B2 |
Extended write combining using a write continuation hint flag
A computing apparatus for reducing the amount of processing in a network computing system which includes a network system device of a receiving node for receiving electronic messages comprising data. The electronic messages are transmitted from a sending node. The network system device determines when more data of a specific electronic message is being transmitted. A memory device stores the electronic message data and communicating with the network system device. A memory subsystem communicates with the memory device. The memory subsystem stores a portion of the electronic message when more data of the specific message will be received, and the buffer combines the portion with later received data and moves the data to the memory device for accessible storage. |
| US08458278B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying information during an instant messaging session
A method and an apparatus are provided for controlling a graphical user interface to display information related to a communication session. Information relating to data produced by a first participant to the communication session is displayed on a first display unit, wherein the information produced by the first participant is displayed at a first position on the first display unit. Data is received from a second participant to the communication session, and information relating to the data received from the second participant is displayed on the first display unit, wherein the information received from the second participant is displayed at a second position on the first display unit. The first and second positions are horizontally spaced apart. |
| US08458276B2 |
Social network site recommender system and method
Particular embodiments evaluate a plurality of messages. Each message may be associated with an author. Information may be logged for each message, such as information associated with the author, information associated with one or more designated recipients of the message, and time information. Correlation values may be determined for one or more sets of designated recipients based on at least a portion of the logged information. Particular embodiments may determine an association amongst a plurality of users over time. The determination may be based on the correlation values. At least one of the plurality of users may comprise at least one of the designated recipients. |
| US08458269B2 |
Selection of email attachment storage location
When an email server has a message from a sender to multiple recipients with an attachment file, an attachment application is activated. The attachment application stores preferences of email users for online storage locations. The method carried out extracts details of an email sender and recipients for the email message to be sent with an attachment file and compares the email sender and recipients with the stored preferences for online storage locations to select a common online storage location for the sender and recipients. A directory is created at the common online storage location for uploading the attachment file to the selected online storage location and the address of the attachment file at the selected online storage location is added to the email message. If a common online storage location is not available, a new account can be generated for the recipients at an online storage location. |
| US08458265B1 |
Method and computer-readable medium for social network audio exchange with push-to-talk
A method and computer-readable medium for posting push-to-talk voice messages on a social networking web page of a user are provided. According to the method, a messaging platform receives a push-to-talk voice message that is addressed to a social networking message service from a mobile station of the user. The messaging platform determines whether an association exists between the mobile station and the social networking web page. When the association exists, the push-to-talk voice message is posted on the social networking web page of the user. The user can listen to the PTT voice messages on his or her social networking web page via the internet. |
| US08458262B2 |
Filtering spam messages across a communication network
Methods and systems of filtering spam messages for cellular network subscribers are provided that may include receiving a message from a decoy subscriber number. The method and systems may further be adapted to determine whether the message at the decoy subscriber number may be spam. If the message at the decoy number tends to be spam, the message may be output to a filtering service for further analysis. In the final analysis if a message is determined to be spam, then new rules may be created and distributed to front end spam and/or virus engines to restrict such traffic from reaching subscribers. |
| US08458261B1 |
Determination of valid email addresses in a private computer network
In one embodiment, a method of generating a listing of valid email addresses in a private computer network includes monitoring of inbound emails and outbound delivery failure notification emails. Recipient email addresses of inbound emails may be indicated in the listing as valid email addresses. The delivery failure notification emails may be indicative of receipt in the private computer network of an undeliverable email. The recipient email address of the undeliverable email may be identified in the listing as an invalid email address. Comparing the recipient email addresses of undeliverable emails and inbound emails advantageously allows generation of the listing of valid email addresses in the private computer network without having to ask an email server for such a listing. |
| US08458256B2 |
Television Aggregator
An aggregation system, process, article, and necessary intermediates, illustratively the system includes: a device capable of both networking and executing software programs, the device programmed from memory so that the aggregation apparatus: connects to a plurality of servers via the Internet, and authenticates itself with each of the plurality of servers, and retrieves information from each of the plurality of servers, and parses the information from each of the plurality of servers so as to produce an aggregation of parsed information, and renders the aggregation as output. |
| US08458253B1 |
Enterprise conferencing with dual mixing
A system, method, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for establishing a conference call comprising sending a first SIP INVITE message from a Media Gateway to an Application Server, sending a second SIP INVITE message to a first Media Server, establishing a session between the Media Gateway and the first Media Server, sending a third SIP INVITE message from the Application Server to a Conference Controller, allocating resources related to the conference call by the Conference Controller on a second Media Server, requesting by the Conference Controller for the Application Server to move data related to establishing the conference call from the first Media Server to the second Media Server, sending a fourth SIP INVITE message by the Application Server to the second Media Server and sending a SIP RE-INVITE message by the Application Server to the Media Gateway, and establishing an RTP session between the Media Gateway and the second Media Server thereby establishing the conference call. |
| US08458249B2 |
Method and system for the protected storage of downloaded media content via a virtualized platform
A method and system for the protected storage of downloaded media content via a virtualized platform. A method comprises downloading content to a special purpose virtual machine and then storing the downloaded content at a location, where the location is only accessible via the special purpose virtual machine. The stored content is then streamed over a virtual network to a general purpose virtual machine, where the special purpose virtual machine and the general purpose virtual machine exist on the same personal computer (PC). |
| US08458248B2 |
System and method for enabling VPN tunnel status checking
A method and apparatus for virtual private network (‘VPN’) liveness checking, the method, upon expiration of a timer, sending, over a VPN tunnel, a request to a server located behind a terminator of the VPN; checking whether a response to the request is received within a time interval; if a response to the request is received, resetting the timer; and if a response to the request is not received within the time interval, resending the request if a request count is less than a set number of requests; or providing an inactive tunnel indication to a VPN client manager if the request count equals the set number of requests. |
| US08458246B2 |
Web application framework method enabling the creation of applications that provide an interface with clients that is independent of scripting capability
An improved web application framework methodology enables the creation of web applications which can respond to client requests in a fashion that results in rendering which appears on the client to be independent of scripting capability. |
| US08458241B2 |
Memory address generating method and twiddle factor generator using the same
The present invention relates to a memory address generating method and a twiddle factor generator using the memory address generating method in a fast Fourier transform (FFT) system. In the memory address generating method for generating a memory address of a twiddle factor in a fast Fourier transform (FFT) system according to an embodiment of the present invention: a) a temporary address value of a second twiddle factor is induced and generated based on a first twiddle factor; b) a control signal for controlling the system is generated based on the generated temporary address value; and c) a memory address value of the second twiddle factor is generated from the temporary address value. |
| US08458239B2 |
Directory traversal in a scalable multi-node file system cache for a remote cluster file system
Directory traversal in a scalable multi-node file system cache for a remote cluster file system, is provided. One implementation involves maintaining a scalable multi-node file system cache in a local cluster file system, and caching local file data in the cache by fetching file data on demand from a remote cluster file system into the cache over the network. The local file data corresponds to file data in the remote cluster file system. The local namespace emulates the remote namespace and is created on demand. Access to data further involves performing directory traversal for the cache for the remote cluster file system by creating a directory structure on demand. |
| US08458238B2 |
Method and system for efficient write journal entry management for a distributed file system
The present invention is directed to a method and system for efficient write journal entry management maintaining minimum write journal information stored in a nonvolatile memory through utilizing an additional structure in a fast volatile memory. The method and system may manage write journaling of a file volume including multiple fixed sized regions and assign a persistent 1-bit synchronization status (the write journal information) to each data region. In addition, a non-persistent I/O counter (the additional structure) for each region to manage the persistent 1-bit synchronization status during run-time. The present invention may provide a mechanism to determine when write I/O operations have not successfully completed to a specific region of the file volume. |
| US08458232B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying data files based on community data
Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer-readable media for using community data to automatically generate rules for distinguishing data files from other file types are disclosed. In one example, an exemplary method for performing such a task may comprise: 1) receiving file metadata from a plurality of computing systems within a community, 2) establishing, based on the file metadata received from the plurality of computing systems within the community, criteria for distinguishing data files from other file types, and then 3) automatically generating a rule that comprises at least one of the criteria for distinguishing data files from other file types. Corresponding methods for identifying data files by applying such rules are also disclosed. |
| US08458230B2 |
System and method for flexible security access management in an enterprise
Some embodiments provide a method and system for flexibly managing access to enterprise resources. To flexibly manage security, some embodiments secure the enterprise resources and provide a security access manager (SAM) to control access to the secured resources. The SAM controls access to the enterprise and the secure resources through one or more configurable management modules of the SAM. Each management module of the SAM is configurable to facilitate control over different security services of an enterprise security hierarchy (e.g., authentication, authorization, role mapping, etc.). Specifically, each management module is configurable to leverage security services that are provided by different security systems. In some embodiments, the management module is configured to interface with one or more adapters in order to establish the interfaces, logic, and protocols necessary to leverage the security functionality of such security systems. |
| US08458228B2 |
Occurrence management in product data management systems
Methods for product data management and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes maintaining a data structure for a complex item. The data structure includes a root node representing the complex item, at least one assembly node associated with the root node, and a plurality of part nodes each associated with the assembly node. The method includes defining at least two absolute occurrences associated with the root node and corresponding to at least the root node and the assembly node. The method includes defining at least one managed occurrence that includes a plurality of the absolute occurrences. The method includes using the managed occurrence as a central control authority for the plurality of absolute occurrences. |
| US08458227B1 |
URL rescue by identifying information related to an item referenced in an invalid URL
A server system is disclosed that is capable of providing responsive content to a user when a request for an invalid URL is received. In a preferred embodiment, the server system implements multiple rescue strategies for attempting to rescue the invalid URL. One such rescue strategy involves repairing the URL by correcting for encoding errors, such as errors introduced by some web clients. Another rescue strategy involves determining that the URL contains an obsolete or outdated item identifier (e.g., product identifier) that renders the URL invalid, and returning information regarding one or more related items to the user. Another rescue strategy involves mining the invalid URL for one or more text strings reflective of the type of content desired, and then using the one or more text strings to execute a keyword search to identify content to provide to the user. The various rescue strategies may be attempted in sequence according to a hierarchy. |
| US08458218B2 |
Incremental data transfer in a database management system
System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for incremental data transfer in a database management system (DBMS) are provided. In an embodiment, a database table enabled for partial export from a database management system is identified. Data within the database table to be exported is also identified, and the identified data is transferred in a chosen format from the database table to an export location. |
| US08458213B2 |
Method and system for classifying queries to improve relevance of search results
Described herein are methods and systems for promoting item listings that satisfy a query based on the item listings being assigned to certain categories. A query to identify a set of item listings is processed where each item listing associated with an item or service being offered for sale and assigned to a leaf-level category. The scope of the query is determined based on a dictionary of queries or a length of the query when the query is not found in the dictionary. One or more categories are identified based on the scope of the query. A search results page is presented with the item listings from the identified one or more categories. |
| US08458212B2 |
Media plan managing
Apparatus, system and methods for a media plan managing interface are disclosed. A data hierarchy for a media plan is defined. The multilevel data hierarchy includes different levels for orders and placements. An input form is provided to receive modifications to the values in the different levels of the hierarchy. Any modifications of data are compared against the permitted inputs provided through a conditional input field. If the modifications are permitted inputs, then they are accepted and conditional input fields are set up for any subsequent data input. The data hierarchy is stored as a media plan. |
| US08458204B2 |
System and method for customized file comparison
A method and related data processing system and computer readable medium. A method includes receiving, in a data processing system, a first file and a second file, and receiving comparison rules. This method includes comparing the first file and the second file, by the data processing system, according to the comparison rules, and producing an output report corresponding to the comparison. |
| US08458202B2 |
Methods and systems for consolidating medical information
Methods and systems for enabling data communication from an image archiving system and a data storage/index/retrieving system. |
| US08458197B1 |
System and method for determining similar topics
A method and system for determining similar topics may include receiving user information for one or more users, the information including at least one topic and a user value for each topic, where the user value represents how strongly the user is associated with that topic. Topic information for a source topic may be generated based on the user information, the topic information including at least one user and a topic value for each user, where the topic value represents how strongly the topic is associated with that user. Similarity scores may be generated based on a topic value for each user for the source topic and a topic value for the same user for each topic in a set of topics, where each topic in the set of topics is associated with a topic value for each user. Similar topics may be selected and output. |
| US08458192B1 |
System and method for determining topic interest
A method and system for determining topical interest may include receiving signal information for a user of a document, the information including at least one signal value representing the user's activity with or relationship to the document. A document interest value based on the signal information for the user may be computed. Topic information for the document may be received, the information including at least one topic and a weight for each topic, where the topic relates to content of the document, and the weight represents how strongly the topic is associated with the document. An interest signature value of a first topic for the user may be updated by adding the product of the computed document interest value for the user for the document and the weight of the first topic for the document. |
| US08458191B2 |
Method and system to store RDF data in a relational store
A method (and structure) of storing schema-less data of a dataset in a relational database, includes constructing a hash table for the schema-less data, using a processor on a computer. Data in the dataset is stored in a tuple format including a subject along with at least one other entity associated to the subject. Each row of the hashtable will be dedicated to a subject of the dataset, and at least one of the at least one other entity associated with the subject in the row is to be stored in a pair-wise manner in that row of the hashtable. In an exemplary embodiment, RDF data that uses triples (subject, predicate, object) is stored with the predicate/object stored in the pair-wise manner in its associated subject row. |
| US08458190B2 |
Systems, methods and software for researching statutory information
With conventional print and electronic tools, researching statutory material is difficult and time-consuming. So, to facilitate this type of research, the present inventors devised systems, methods, and software that promise to improve the ability of researchers to find, verify, read, and/or interpret statutory information. One exemplary system provides options for users to access statutory information by citation, by table of contents, by index, and/or by popular name; presents specific statutory information in combination with visual indicators, such as red or yellow flags, that indicate the validity or status of the information; and provides requested statutory information in context of links to related information, such as tables of contents, other versions of a statute, case law, scholarly materials, legislative history, cross-referenced statutes, and administrative-law materials. |
| US08458188B2 |
Voxel approach to terrain repositories for modeling and simulation
A set of sensors can capture raw data that geospatially corresponds to a real world volumetric space. The raw data can include point cloud data encoded in a light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) information format, imagery and video data, and elevation data encoded in a digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) format. The real-world volumetric space can be segmented into a set of volumetric units, wherein datum of the raw data is indexed against the volumetric units. Each of the volumetric units of the real-world volumetric space can be mapped to a voxel in a storage volumetric space of a voxel database. The raw data can then be stored and fused in the voxel database such that each voxel in the voxel database represents a combination of volumetrically stored data for all source products that includes providing point cloud data, imagery data, and elevation data. |
| US08458187B2 |
Methods and systems for visualizing topic location in a document redundancy graph
Methods, systems, and computer program products can visualize topic location in a document redundancy graph. Document subcomponents such as, for example, document paragraphs of a document or document set can be searched for user interface specified search data and a determination can be made as to which document subcomponents contain information relating to the search data. Based on the redundancy graph data, a determination can then be made as to which particular user selectable node(s) of the graph contain the particular document subcomponent(s). Data for identifying the determined particular user selectable node(s) on a user interface can be generated and rendered to allow a user to quickly locate the particular user selectable node(s) on the redundancy graph. The particular user selectable nodes themselves can for example be visually highlighted on the graph. Keyword indexing can be used to assure chosen keywords are keywords relating to particular topics contained in the document set. |
| US08458184B2 |
Tagging media assets, locations, and advertisements
An accessory communicates with a PMD to store tags associated with broadcasts in a file maintained in a storage medium of the accessory. In one embodiment, the accessory sends a command to the PMD to create or open a tag file that resides on the PMD. Once opened, the tag file is held open by the PMD until the accessory closes it (or disconnects), allowing multiple tags to be written to one file. Each time the user requests a new tag, the accessory generates a tag containing information descriptive of the broadcast material (e.g., song title, artist, radio station identifier, time of tagging, etc.) and writes the tag to the tag file using a write command to the PMD. |
| US08458183B2 |
System and method for identifying unique and duplicate messages
A system and method for identifying unique and duplicate messages is provided. Messages are maintained, and a header and message body are extracted from each of the messages. A hash code is calculated for each message over at least part of the header and the body of that message. The messages with matching hash codes are grouped. One message in each group with two or more messages is randomly selected as a unique message. The remaining messages in the group are marked as exact duplicate messages. |
| US08458182B2 |
Method and system for clustering data arising from a database
A method for clustering data or objects in an array, each element of the array corresponding to a similarity between the objects implemented within a computer linked with a database containing the data or objects The method includes determining a number of classes of objects based on values of the relationships computed between an object and a previously established class, for each class found, determining the value of each of the relationships between a class and the other classes, and merging certain classes, and taking each object of each class one by one, determining the value of the relationship of each object with each of the classes other than the class into which the object was initially classed, if the value of the relationship is greater then transferring the object to the new class, this is continued until all the values of the relationships are negative. |
| US08458180B2 |
Information exploration
Information exploration is described. For example, a user provides gathering terms to an information exploration system which uses those terms to generate many composite items formed from content of different media types obtained from a web search engine. For example, the composite items are displayed simultaneously on a user interface and provide a user with a partial map of information “territory” accessible through the system. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in the same direction by generating more composite items using related gathering terms. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in a manner indirectly related to the selected composite item. In examples the composite items may be saved in scrap books, sent to other users or used to access content. |
| US08458178B2 |
Dimensional data explorer
A dimensional data explorer for an enterprise system is disclosed. Dimensional data exploration includes providing a list of dimensions by which aggregated data in a report can be disaggregated and reaggregated. Aggregated data comprises a set of measures that have been aggregated for each object of a set of objects. Dimensional data exploration further includes providing the aggregated data disaggregated and reaggregated using a dimension from the list of dimensions. |
| US08458176B2 |
Method and system for providing a directory overlay
According to one embodiment, a method for providing an enhanced directory service includes providing a supplemental layer between a user and a reference layer, the supplemental layer providing the user with any directory functionality provided by the reference layer as well as additional directory functionality. |
| US08458175B2 |
Multi-epoch method for saving and exporting file system events
As things happen on a volume, the file system forwards events to an event list manager. The event list manager stores the events and associates them with epochs that were active at the time the event occurred. Event consumers can independently declare epochs at any time. When event consumers end an epoch, they can request events that occurred during the epoch, which are reported to the event consumer using the event list manager. |
| US08458174B1 |
Semantic image label synthesis
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting confidence scores of image labels for images. In one aspect, a method includes accessing images stored in an image data store, the images being associated with respective sets of labels, the labels describing content depicted in the image and having a respective confidence score that is a measure of confidence that the label accurately describes the content depicted in the image; selecting a first image from the images and determining for each of the other images and independent of the labels, a proximity score that is a measure of a relatedness of the other image to the first image; and adjusting the set of labels associated with the first image based on the respective proximity scores of the other images and the confidence scores of the labels of the other images. |
| US08458171B2 |
Identifying query aspects
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating aspects associated with entities. In some implementations, a method includes receiving data identifying an entity; generating a group of candidate aspects for the entity; modifying the group of candidate aspects to generate a group of modified candidate aspects comprising combining similar candidate aspects and grouping candidate aspects using one or more aspect classes each associated with one or more candidate aspects; ranking one or more modified candidate aspects in the group of modified candidate aspects based on a diversity score and a popularity score; and storing an association between one or more highest ranked modified candidate aspects and the entity. The aspects can be used to organize and present search results in response to queries for the entity. |
| US08458170B2 |
Prefetching data for document ranking
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to prefetching data for use in ranking of electronic documents via a document ranking component. |
| US08458169B2 |
Mini-form view for data records
Methods, program products, and systems for mini-form view of data records are described. Each data records can be formatted according to a layout. The layout can define an arrangement of various data fields for display. To display multiple data records, an image can be created for each formatted data record. Each image can be a snapshot of the formatted data record. The image can have a size that is smaller than the size of the layout. The arrangement of the data fields can be preserved in the image. Multiple images of formatted data records can be displayed in a single window. By displaying formatted data records in images, the “look and feel” in the layout of each data record can be preserved, even when multiple records are displayed. The mini-form view can display data records from multiple shared databases. |
| US08458165B2 |
System and method for applying ranking SVM in query relaxation
An enterprise-wide query relaxative support vector machine ranking algorithm approach provides enhanced functionality for query execution in a heterogeneous enterprise environment. Improved query results are obtained by adjusting ranking functions using machine learning methods to automatically train ranking functions. The improved query results are obtained using a list of document-query pairs that are modeled as a binary classification training problem, combination function which requires ranking and learning functions to be implemented representing document attributes and metadata utilizing query relaxation techniques and adjusted ranking functions. Machine learning methods implement user feedback to automatically train ranking functions. |
| US08458159B2 |
Automatic role determination for search configuration
A mechanism for automatically laying out a search topology and assisting administration of the system in a shared services environment is provided. A search configuration wizard user interface may prompt an administrator to specify a number of items to be supported by the search system on initial search application topology configuration, as well as selections between high-availability or high throughput options. A topology manager managing the search configuration wizard may determine how many servers are needed upon receiving configuration options and create specific search components on available servers to optimize query and crawl performance for the system. |
| US08458156B1 |
Learning common spelling errors through content matching
This disclosure relates to learning common spelling errors of metadata terms associated with content through content matching, such as content matching using fingerprints. |
| US08458149B2 |
Small footprint medical information transfer protocol stack
A method of communicating information includes receiving a data stream from the host computer, the data stream including a plurality of bytes, one or more bytes of the plurality of bytes being associated with obtaining medical related information, and parsing one or more bytes in the data stream at the sensor device. As a result of parsing the one or more bytes, the method includes identifying a type of medical related information, obtaining the medical related information from the sensor device, and sending the medical related information to the host computer. The parsing of the one or more bytes in the data stream is performed using a single pass through the data stream, one or more data validity checks being performed during the single pass, the medical related information being obtained after the data stream is parsed in the single pass through the data stream. |
| US08458147B2 |
Techniques for the association, customization and automation of content from multiple sources on a single display
Techniques for the association, customization and automation of content from multiple sources on a single display device are described. A method includes storing an association rule as defined by a user, where the association rule defines a main content source and an associated content source. When the user accesses the main content source, automatically receiving content from the main content source and content from the associated content source as defined by the association rule. Then, causing the display of the associated content overlayed on the main content via a user interface on a display device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08458145B2 |
System and method of storage optimization
A method and system are disclosed for storage optimization. Data parts and metadata within a source data unit are identified and the data parts are compared with data which is already stored in the physical storage space. In case identical data parts are found within the physical storage, the data parts from the source data unit are linked to the identified data, while the data parts can be discarded, thereby reducing the required storage capacity. The metadata parts can be separately stored in a designated storage area. |
| US08458144B2 |
Data deduplication method using file system constructs
A data deduplication method providing direct look up and storage in an instance repository (IR). The method includes receiving a data object and processing the data object to generate a fingerprint that includes a location component, which defines a file location within the IR such as by first using a hash function to create a hash for the data object and parsing the hash value into sub-strings defining sub-directories of the IR. The method includes determining whether the data object is a duplicate by verifying the presence of a file in the IR at the file location. Determining if the data is unique involves performing a system call on the IR providing the location component as the file path. The method includes, when a file is not in the IR, updating the IR to store the data object as a file at the file location defined by the location component. |
| US08458139B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus is provided that reduces a data size of a composite file without affecting output when generating a composite file by merging multiple files containing objects. To accomplish this, in merging multiple files, the image processing apparatus determines whether or not objects (images or the like) contained in the multiple files are hidden behind another object. Further still, the image processing apparatus merges objects that are hidden behind another object as link information in the composite file, and image data corresponding to the objects is stored in a separate file. |
| US08458138B1 |
Dynamic discovery of storage resource topology
In one aspect, dynamic determination generates a storage resource graph corresponding to a storage topology. The generating may comprise iterating through storage resources in the storage topology and using a discovery handler to generate a node in the storage resource graph corresponding to each of the iterated storage resources. Dynamic determination generates an operation graph by iterating through nodes in the storage resource graph and using an operating handler to generate operation-specific metadata corresponding to each iterated node of the storage resource graph. Dynamic generating executes the operation graph in a way specific to the operation. |
| US08458132B2 |
Method and system for deduplicating data
For deduplicating data in a computing environment, a sequence of data is received. The sequence of data is formatted for back-up such that an order of the sequence of data is different than the order of an input sequence of the data. The sequence of data is stored in the same order as the input sequence of the data. |
| US08458130B2 |
Indexing for limited search server availability
Documents are replicated among servers comprising a search engine based on the value of each document by approximating its value as one of the top search results for one or more exemplary queries. Documents are allocated among servers comprising a search engine by calculating a relevance value for each document and then distributing the documents evenly to the servers. A subset of servers are selected from among a plurality of servers comprising a search engine using term-based, server-specific histograms reflecting the number of instances of the term in each document allocated to each server, and then selecting servers to service a query based on the documents on those servers. |
| US08458127B1 |
Application data synchronization
In a particular implementation, providing a virtual cached network drive, on a client, for PST-type (Personal STore) file operations, during a non-optimal connection. In one implementation, during the non-optimal connection, changes to objects, in a local PST file, are saved in a local cache (the virtual network drive) and logged. At certain intervals, the changes are compiled, compared with entries in a synchronization database and a list of changes, to be performed on the objects, is generated which is used to update a remote PST. If the connection remains non-optimal, a temporary PST file is created, based on the list of changes, and transferred to a remote agent that performs the changes on the remote PST. If the connection improves, the changes are instead performed directly on the remote PST. |
| US08458125B1 |
Dynamic creation of replicas of streaming data from a storage device without added load
A method, and corresponding system, is provided for generating replicas or copies of data objects that are used to serve data streams. The method includes determining one of the storage devices is operating at a load above a predetermined overload value. The method continues with identifying the data objects being served by data streams from the near overload storage device and then, selecting one of these served data objects for replication. To create a replica, the method includes writing data from the selected data object to another less busy one of the data storage devices, with the writing being done using data from one or more of the streams being served from the selected data object on the near-overload storage device. During replica creation, one or more streams from the selected data object provide data concurrently to a stream consumer or client device and to the replica. |
| US08458124B2 |
Automatic enforcement of relationships in a database schema
A technique for enforcing a database relationship is disclosed. The technique includes specifying within a database schema a reference type that associates two structures and specifies the relationship between the two structures, and automatically generating code that checks the relationship between the two structures based on the specified reference in the database schema. |
| US08458119B2 |
People matching in subscription-based communities
A people matching system and method matches people in computer-implemented communities in which users subscribe to information generated by other users. The computer-generated suggested matches may be based on inferences of mutual interests, as well as on factors such as proximity and environmental conditions. The inferences of mutual interest may be based on behaviors such as subscriptions and physiological responses. Explanations for the suggested matches may be delivered to users. |
| US08458117B2 |
System and method for dependency and root cause discovery
The embodiments described herein describe a computerized system and method for retrieving and processing data to provide dependency and root cause information for a process. The computerized system and method include receiving historic data of the process, detecting temporal dependency or precedence tasks in the process from the historic data, generating a historic dependency graph, aggregating the historic dependency graph into a probabilistic precedence network (PPN), pruning the PPN, and presenting results to a user. |
| US08458111B2 |
Runtime interpretation of declarative programs
Embodiments are directed to interpreting declarative program types at runtime without compiling and mapping between a declarative type and a dynamic runtime type. A computer system accesses a portion of a declarative program, where the declarative program includes fully modeled activity types. The computer system dynamically constructs a dynamic activity type based on one of the fully modeled activity types of the declarative program, where the dynamic activity type is configured for interpretive execution without compilation. The computer system also interpretively executes the dynamically constructed dynamic activity type such that the dynamic activity is executed without compilation. |
| US08458108B2 |
Modifying constraint-compliant populations in population-based optimization
An example system and process with operations that include determining, for constrained variables of an optimization problem, compliant values that comply with a constraint condition that mutually constrains the constrained variables. The operations further include generating a population of candidate solutions for the optimization problem. The candidate solutions use a subset of the compliant values such that each of the candidate solutions comply with the constraint condition. The operations further include, while running a computer-based simulation with the population of candidate solutions, determining that a mutated candidate solution, created from mutating one of the candidate solutions, fails to comply with the constraint condition. The operations further include modifying the mutated candidate solution to use at least one value randomly selected from the compliant values for a corresponding one of the constrained variables resulting in a constraint compliant mutated candidate solution that complies with the constraint condition. |
| US08458107B2 |
Generating constraint-compliant populations in population-based optimization
An example system and process where some operations include determining variables of an optimization problem, which include one or more constrained variables (“constrained variables”) constrained by one or more constraint conditions for the optimization problem and one or more non-constrained variables (“non-constrained variables”). The operations further include determining values for the constrained variables that comply with the one or more constraint conditions (“constraint compliant values”) and generating values for the non-constrained variables (“non-constrained values”). The operations further include, prior to running a computer based simulation that implements a population-based optimization algorithm, randomly combining ones of the constraint compliant values with ones of the non-constrained values into candidate solutions, where each of the candidate solutions includes at least one of the constraint compliant values to satisfy the one or more constraint conditions. The operations further include running the computer based simulation with the candidate solutions input as a population. |
| US08458103B2 |
System and method for concurrently conducting cause-and-effect experiments on content effectiveness and adjusting content distribution to optimize business objectives
The present invention is directed to systems, articles, and computer-implemented methods for assessing effectiveness of communication content and optimizing content distribution to enhance business objectives. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to computer-implemented methods for a computer-implemented method, comprising conducting an experiment using experimental content to determine effectiveness of communication content and executing, while conducting the experiment, a machine learning routine (MLR) using MLR content to enhance an effectiveness metric. |
| US08458098B1 |
Methods of tracking remote software installations and registrations and related systems and computer program products
Methods of tracking remote software installations at a central server may include receiving an installation message over a network from a user device wherein the installation message indicates an installation of the software at the user device. After receiving the installation message from the user device, an installation code may be created responsive to receiving the installation message, and the installation code may uniquely identify installation of the software at the user device. The installation code may be transmitted over the network to the user device, and the installation code may be stored at the central server. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed. |
| US08458097B2 |
System, method and software for healthcare selection based on pangenetic data
A system, method and software for healthcare selection are presented in which a user can authorize the comparison of their pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) data with data profiles corresponding to health care products, services, and service providers to determine which are the most appropriate for a particular consumer. Data masks can be applied to limit the amount of pangenetic data transmitted for analysis. |
| US08458096B2 |
System and method of cashing a check
A system and method of cashing a check which reduces wait times and automates a very manual process. An example method includes capturing an image of the check, sending a request including an image file containing the image of the check to a check approval system, receiving an approval to cash the check from the check approval system, and submitting the image file and the approval during a check cashing transaction at a self-service terminal. |
| US08458094B2 |
Secured charge card
According to one or more aspects, financial transactions may be conducted using a financial card product, such as a charge card secured through a security interest in an asset. The asset may be the available balance in an interest-bearing checking account (e.g., a DDA account), a brokerage account, or other type of account that may hold funds/assets. The available balance may be monitored in real-time (or near real-time) such that the available spending limit on the secured charge card may be floating (e.g., dynamic). In one example, backend systems may be configured to monitor in real-time an available balance in security accounts in order to prevent spending over the amount of secured funds. In addition, in some examples, more than one account may be associated with a secured charge card such that the total spending limit on the card is greater. The total spending limit may be calculated through arithmetic (e.g., sum) of the available balance of each of the associated accounts. |
| US08458087B2 |
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. |
| US08458079B2 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining liquidity cycle for tradable financial products and for determining flow-weighted average pricing for same
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining a “liquidity cycle” for a tradable financial product. The liquidity cycle has a liquidity cycle time period that is made up of multiple discrete time intervals, and the liquidity cycle indicates an expected distribution of order flow at each discrete time interval over the liquidity cycle time period. The liquidity cycle is determined based on tick data for the financial product. The tick data can comprise time-stamped indicative price quotes for the financial product and/or time-stamped price data for completed transactions involving the financial product. The liquidity cycle can be used to compute a Flow-Weighted Average Price (FWAP) for the financial product over a specified FWAP trade time window. An investor may agree with the trader to buy or sell (depending on the side of the transaction) the financial product at the FWAP. |
| US08458078B1 |
Method and system for quantity entry
A trading screen may include a plurality of next trade quantity regions that comprise a plurality of locations, each location being associated a price on a price axis. The quantities can be entered into the various locations in the next trade quantity regions and the entered quantities can be used as a parameter of a future trade order at the associated price level. The trading screen may also include a plurality of quantity entry regions that are displayed with respect to the price axis. The quantity entry columns may each include plurality of sub-regions or locations corresponding to different price levels in the price axis. The quantity entry columns may be used to specify next traded quantities that may be used in placing orders for tradeable objects. |
| US08458077B2 |
Method and system for facilitating a context-based electronic communication regarding a financial transaction
Method and system providing context-based electronic communication regarding a financial transaction. One system includes a database configured to store data pertaining to a financial transaction involving an investment fund. The system further includes a display application configured to create a display for displaying the financial transaction and one or more transaction parameters. The transaction parameters are based on data pertaining to the financial transaction stored in the database. The system further includes a communication application configured to create a communication interface. The communication interface enables a first user to initiate a communication with a second user regarding the financial transaction. The communication interface further automatically embeds at least a portion of the transaction parameters in the communication displayed to the second user. |
| US08458076B1 |
System and method for calibrating a surface that requires smoothness
Computer-based systems and methods for calibrating a surface. The surface may be a 1-D or multi-D surface, such as a volatility grid used to price financial instruments whose price depends on volatility. The computer system may comprise: a database that stores calibration input data; a processor in communication with the database; and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory stores instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to calculate entries for a vector representing the surface based on the calibration input data. The entries for the vector representing the surface are calculated based on a product of a matrix of a set of basis functions and a vector of coefficients for the set of basis functions, where entries for the vector of coefficients are determined based on the calibration input data. In various implementations, the set of basis functions comprises a set of b-spline basis functions. |
| US08458074B2 |
Data analytics models for loan treatment
Data analytics are provided in loan treatment. Various sources of data may be used to optimize or predict value for a loan. Using machine-learning and/or statistical analysis, loans or treatment best suited for a particular borrower may be determined. Due to the large amounts of data available, borrower behavior may be learned from previous behavior of others and mapped to a predictive model. Machine-learning indicates the most relevant factors in loan treatment, providing a matrix for predicting loan value or treatment success. A given borrower may be classified into one of many classes of borrower based on credit information, property information, desired loan information, real estate market information, and/or other data. Tens, hundreds, or even thousands of variables may be used to predict the optimum treatment. |
| US08458072B1 |
System and method for providing a common data and analytic framework for valuating financial instruments and portfolios
A system for determining the capacity of a geographic area to support a specific product by identifying an index of variables associated with potential buyers in the geographic area. The system includes a data gathering component and a processing component. The data gathering component obtains a profile about the product and additional information about similar products from several of sources. The additional information includes identified characteristics of potential buyers. The processing component processes the data by identifying variables that characterize potential buyer, assigns a score to each variable, assigns the variables to the index, determines a formula for the index, executes the formula against information associated with the geographic area, divides the geographic area into sub-groups and analyzes each sub-group to determine the capacity of the geographic area to support the product. |
| US08458071B2 |
Instantaneous merchant information retrieval for financial transactions
A solution to disambiguate ambiguous merchant data in connection with processing a cashless transaction request in a real-time manner. Provided according to the present disclosure are a system and method including a binary-searchable non-transitory computer-readable medium is configure to store a first set of unambiguous merchant identification data having plural data entries therein, each entry corresponding to a merchant. A binary search of the first set of unambiguous merchant identification data is carried out using search keys based upon the ambiguous merchant identification data to determine whether one or more entries of the first set satisfies at least one of a hierarchical second set of partial match criteria for comparing the ambiguous merchant identification data with the first set of unambiguous merchant identification data. An entry of the first set of unambiguous merchant identification data is assigned to correspond with the ambiguous merchant identification data where at least a predetermined number of the second set of partial match criteria are met. |
| US08458066B2 |
Method and system to re-create lost cash letters
A method and system to re-create lost cash letters are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention can be used to re-create a paper-based cash letter or an electronic cash letter file that is inadvertently lost due a system failure, theft, natural disaster, or the like. The items represented in the cash letter are identified and a file corresponding to a data set describing the plurality of items is created. Images representing the plurality of items are stored within a recovery check image management system (CIMS). The file corresponding to the data set can then be reformatted using the images in order to re-create the cash letter. Finally, the cash letter can be presented with at least one of an image and an image replacement document (IRD) for each item of the plurality of items in the recovery CIMS. |
| US08458065B1 |
System and methods for content-based financial database indexing, searching, analysis, and processing
Robust content-based financial data processing is enabled by software with a customizable knowledge base. The software indexes a publicly or privately available financial database based on the content of the database records. Utilizing proprietary information contained within a knowledge base, the software enables users to search the indexed database by feature, example firm, or pattern. The information contained in the knowledge base enables results to be ranked by relevance. Moreover, users provide feedback about search results to enhance the knowledge base. Software analyzes data by using adaptive signal processing to remove market trends or noise and enable complicated market research. |
| US08458059B2 |
Apparatus and method for assessing market conditions
An apparatus and method for assessing market conditions, or for analyzing of other parameters that appear to fluctuate randomly, compare the changing conditions to the changes that would be predicted by Brownian Motion. When the changes exceed those predicted by Brownian Motion, a trend is considered to exist and can be expected to continue, and when the changes are less than those predicted by Brownian Motion, then a congestion condition exists. When enough measurements are taken, the length of the trend or congestion can be predicted. In one embodiment, the computation necessary to analyze the data on the condition being monitored is distributed among computers of subscribers to a monitoring service based on the method. |
| US08458056B1 |
Determining criteria for selecting a donor vehicle containing a non-indexed auto part
An apparatus, program product and method to determine criteria for selecting a donor vehicle containing a non-indexed auto part are provided. An index of interchangeable auto parts is utilized to determine the criteria by relying on the interchangeability of indexed auto parts. Once determined, donor vehicles matching the determined criteria may have a higher probability of containing a non-indexed auto part sought by a customer. |
| US08458055B2 |
Internet-based method of and system for managing and delivering consumer product information at points along the world wide web using consumer product information (CPI) requesting and graphical user interface (GUI) displaying subsystems driven by server-side objects and managed by consumer product manufacturers and/or authorized parties
Method of and system for delivering consumer product related information to consumers over the Internet. The system and method involves creating a Consumer Product Information (CPIR) enabling object for each consumer service registered within a service-provider managed database management system. The HTML tag associated with each CPIR-enabling object is encapsulated within an executable file and then stored in the database management system. Each CPIR-enabling object is searchable and its HTML tag downloadable and then embedded within an HTML-encoded document. Upon encountering the HTML document, the underlying CPIR-enabling object is automatically executed on an object-oriented server, causing a service-directed search to be performed against the database management system, and the results thereof, from one or more Web-based product information servers, displayed in an independent GUI, without disturbing the consumer's point of presence on the WWW. |
| US08458048B2 |
Points redemption program carried out via an on-line auction
An incentives points-based on-line auction method is presented that is based upon an on-line system including a catalog of potential auction items and a database of participants that are eligible to take part in the auction and the participants' associated eligible points. The method includes designating a set of auction items from the catalog of potential auction items. Thereafter, participants submit bids via on-line access for the set of auction items. The auction facilities initially prompt a participant to logon to gain access to the auction. Authorized, logged on participants are then provided access to a database describing the auction items and current bid information.A participant may bid upon an auction item. In response, to receiving a bid from a participant, the auction facilities determine whether the participant has sufficient points in a point bank to submit the bid. Proper new high bids are registered by the auction facilities. At the close of a period for an auction, the auction facilities notify the high bidders of their successful bids for particular auction items. |
| US08458044B2 |
Dynamic group offer process for direct sales system employing networked mobile computing devices
A method on a server for managing discount offers for a plurality of users over a communications network. The method includes receiving a discount offer, wherein a discount offer comprises at least a product or service description, an initial price, a discount price less than the initial price, a minimum number of acceptances and a time deadline, and transmitting the discount offer to the plurality of users. The method further includes receiving acceptances of the discount offer, and detecting attainment of a predefined time before the time deadline. The method further includes decreasing the minimum number of acceptances by a numerical decrement, if the number of acceptances is less than the minimum number of acceptances at the predefined time before the time deadline, and re-transmitting the discount offer with a decreased minimum number of acceptances to the mobile computers of the plurality of users. |
| US08458040B2 |
Systems and methods for managing rights to broadband content
Systems and methods for managing rights to broadband content are provided. A request for broadband content may be received by a server. The received request may include a client identifier associated with a customer device from which the request is received and a content identifier associated with the requested broadband content. Based at least in part upon the client identifier, a billing account associated with the customer device may be identified, and one or more users associated with the billing account may be identified. A set of access rights for the one or more users may be determined and, based upon an analysis of the set of access rights, a determination may be made as to whether access to the broadband content is authorized. |
| US08458039B1 |
Inclusion of items in a data feed
This document relates to the re-inclusion of items in a data feed. For example, a feed of items is sent to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. The referral network site refers a plurality of customers to the electronic commerce network site. One of the items excluded from the feed is identified and a forecast of sales through the electronic commerce network site is generated therefor. The forecast of sales specifies a number of the one of the items projected to be sold that are subject to a referral from the referral network site. A determination is made as to whether to include the one of the items in the feed based at least in part upon the forecast of sales. |
| US08458034B2 |
Selecting advertisements and presentations to present based on known audience profiles
In one embodiment, a method includes determining a group identity for an audience associated with an event, accessing a plurality of announcements, identifying at least one announcement of the plurality of announcements based on the group identity, and providing the identified announcement to the audience at the event. The group identity is indicative of at least one characteristic of the audience. The plurality of announcements are processed to identify at least one announcement that approximately matches the group identity. |
| US08458033B2 |
Determining the relevance of offers
Offers are targeted to consumers by comparing offer profiles and consumer profiles. Offer profiles are created by analyzing the cumulative content of communications associated with consumers who respond to the offers. Consumer profiles are created by analyzing the cumulative content of communications associated with a user of an electronic communications system. An offer may be selected to be sent to a user based on the relative similarity between the user's consumer profile and the offer profile. |
| US08458032B2 |
System for selectively communicating promotional information to a person
A system for selectively communicating promotional information to a person, includes a sensing system, a storage device, a controller, and a projection device. The sensing system measures a detectable feature associated with the person sensed by the sensing system and the storage device stores a plurality of promotional segments. The controller uses the measured detectable feature associated with the person for selecting one of the stored promotional segments and causing the projection device to project to the person at the predetermined location the selected promotional segment. |
| US08458028B2 |
System and method for integrating business-related content into an electronic game
A method of integrating business-related content into the execution of a game application is disclosed. A player of the game application is exposed to the business-related content within the context of the game. User actions within the game cause the game application to transparently re-direct the user to a customized corporate web site containing selected information from a business sponsor. Game-related user actions performed while the player is at the customized corporate web site cause the player to be exposed to additional business-related content from the business sponsor. The player may earn benefits while at the customized corporate web site. Some of the player benefits are real-life benefits external to the game application which may be utilized by the player after finishing the game. A record of external benefits is kept by the business sponsor. Other benefits may be immediately available to the player by pausing the game, thereby allowing the player to access the sponsor's reward program. Following the occurrence of a pre-determined event, the game application transparently re-directs the player back to the original game site. |
| US08458027B2 |
System and method for offering multiple products
A system and method for a supplier to offer multiple new products to a first person and multiple pre-owned products to a second person are disclosed. The invention includes a method wherein the supplier receives a request from the first person for a first new product. After accepting the first new product, the supplier stores data identifying the first person and data relating to the first new product in a memory of a computer. Thereafter, the second person queries the supplier about a pre-owned product. The supplier searches the memory of the computer to determine whether the data relating to the first new product satisfies the second person's inquiry for the pre-owned product. If so, the supplier transmits an offer for a second new product to the first person based on the data identifying the first person. If the offer is acceptable to the first person, the supplier provides the second new product to the first person and the pre-owned product to the second person. |
| US08458023B2 |
System and method for conducting sales
Disclosed are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable storage media for conducting sales. The method embodiment receives a time agnostic inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item, identifies one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry, identifies comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data, presents one or more comparable groups, each comparable group including one discount item and the respective comparable items, and furthers the sales process based on user input responding to the presented one or more comparable groups. Also disclosed is a method further including receiving a request from the user for multiple sub-items associated with the item, and engaging in a dialog with the user to enable payment for each of the sub-items with one of multiple payment types. The user can indicate a set of personalized comparable items. |
| US08458022B2 |
System and method for conducting sales
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for conducting sales. The method embodiment comprises receiving an inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item, identifying one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry, identifying comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data, presenting one or more comparable groups to the user, each comparable group comprising one discount item and the respective comparable items, and furthering the sales process based on user input responding to the presented one or more comparable groups. Also disclosed is a method further comprising receiving a request from the user for multiple sub-items associated with the item, and engaging in a dialog with the user to enable payment for each of the multiple sub-items with one of a multiple payment types. |
| US08458021B1 |
System and method for conducting sales
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for conducting sales. A system configured to practice the method receives an inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item. The system identifies one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry and filters the one or more discount items based on a time-sensitive sales opacity scale. The system identifies comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data and presents one or more comparable groups to the user, each comparable group including one filtered discount item and respective comparable items. Then the system advances the sale of the discount item based on user acceptance of one of the presented one or more comparable groups. |
| US08458019B2 |
Method and system for displaying discount information
A system and method for using a discount display system are provided in which a plurality of purchase option screens are displayed to a user. For each discount-eligible item identifier selected by the user, the price of the item is added to the user's total, the current discount available to the user is re-calculated and the updated discount is displayed to the user. |
| US08458016B1 |
Systems and methods for associating credit cards and pooling reward points
Disparate account holders may form a group or buying club within which points or rewards for credit or debit card use are allocated into a pool for the account holders. At the end of a billing cycle, transaction totals may be weighted based on the type or number of items purchased by members of the group to making point or reward allocations into the pool. Account holders may be added to the group by invitation as members of a group operate to solicit friends having similar interests and character to join the group. Merchants may market products to like-minded account holders in the group through one or a few members in a manner consistent with social networks or viral marketing approaches. |
| US08458010B1 |
Monitoring and enforcing price parity
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and enforcing price parity. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method monitors price parity. The method includes generating, by a server, a task related to pricing of an item. The server receives, in response to the task, a first price and a second price of the item. The first price corresponds to an offering price of the item by a third-party seller via a sales channel of a retailer and the second price corresponds to an offering price of the item by the third-party seller via a sales channel of the third-party seller. The server evaluates whether the second price violates a price parity rule, based on at least a comparison of the first price and the second price. |
| US08458009B1 |
Method and system for estimating costs for a complex project
A method and system for estimating complex projects including one or more tasks. The estimating system includes a user interface, an analyzer, and an estimator. The system determines characteristics for a basic task, and receives an assigned cost for the basic task. Then task information for the complex project is analyzed based on the characteristics of the basic task. The system then determines costs for one or more additional tasks, complexity, input timing, and input quality, and estimates the total project cost based on these costs. |
| US08458004B2 |
Dynamically pooling unused capacities across an organization to execute atomic tasks
In the context of a work container which includes a set of atomic tasks to be executed in some order, along with a specification of the role/skill needed for each task, the estimated effort and due date, methods and arrangements for pooling unutilized capacities of multiple resources whenever possible, and making adjustments to the estimated effort to take transactional costs into account. More particularly, preferred embodiments of the invention operate on a principle that if resources do not individually have the available bandwidth needed to execute and complete an atomic task during a given period then, collectively, the time available on their calendars, when pooled together and aggregated in sequence, may well be more than sufficient for the task, even after making adjustments to account for transaction costs. |
| US08457999B2 |
One view integrated project management system
Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner. The present invention provides an one view software program that would be able to provide an organized control and viewing of all documents regardless which software programs they are generated under. |
| US08457998B2 |
Computer implemented method for analyzing service based systems using similarity estimates, inference and business models
The invention provides a method, system and computer program product for analyzing a service based system. Business model data including one or more activities is received. A plurality of service characteristics is determined from the business model data for each activity group. The plurality of service characteristics are used to determine inferences regarding candidate service identification, service portfolio evaluation, service impact analysis, and so forth corresponding to the service based system. |
| US08457990B1 |
Smart placement rules
A smart placement module determines components of received medial data, such as medical reports and image montages, to forward to one or more secondary location, such as an EMR system, based on smart placement rules that are established by a user that receives the medical data, such as a referring doctor. Thus, the smart placement module decreases or removes the need for the receiving user to manually select and transfer certain medical data for storage at the EMR system. Accordingly, the receiving user, and other authorized EMR system users, may have prompt access to the medical data via their respective connections to the EMR system. In one embodiment, the smart placement module transmits a patient identification file that is usable by the receiving EMR system to allow the EMR system to associate received medical data with other data regarding a respective patient. |
| US08457987B2 |
Satori integrated health and financial benefits system and method
A shared medical savings system and method are provided that allow a patient to participate in the savings generated by selecting to have a medical procedure performed overseas. The system has one or more computing devices, a link that is capable of connecting the one or more computing devices to a medical shared savings unit that is capable of interacting with the computing devices. An employer uses the computing device to elect to participate in a medical savings plan using a Health Reimbursement Account, a patient using the computing device to select an overseas medical procedure that is part of the medical savings plan so that the savings for the overseas medical procedure is divided between the employer and the patient utilizing a medical savings plan. |
| US08457986B2 |
Satori integrated health and financial benefits system and method
A shared medical savings system and method are provided that allow a patient to participate in the savings generated by selecting to have a medical procedure performed overseas. The system has one or more computing devices, a link that is capable of connecting the one or more computing devices to a medical shared savings unit that is capable of interacting with the computing devices. An employer uses the computing device to elect to participate in a medical savings plan using a Health Reimbursement Account, a patient using the computing device to select an overseas medical procedure that is part of the medical savings plan so that the savings for the overseas medical procedure is divided between the employer and the patient utilizing a medical savings plan. |
| US08457982B1 |
Method of limiting insurer exposure to renal dialysis claims liability
Systems and methods are provided to limit exposure of medical Plans to high liabilities for renal dialysis without exposing the insured patient to out-of-pocket liability while still allowing the patient to receive dialysis as they need it. In one embodiment, this goal is achieved by providing an ERISA medical insurance Plan structure that limits Plan responsibility to 125% of the Medicare approved amount for the services provided, and simultaneously supplements coverage of the patient under Medicare Part B. Because Medicare regulations prohibit providers from balance-billing patients subsequent to billing Medicare, the patient cannot be billed for amounts in excess of the Plan limits. |
| US08457979B2 |
Method and apparatus for expert verification
In exemplary embodiments, an apparatus and method for verifying experts on a consultation system is provided. Identity and credential information is received at a web server from a potential expert. A selection of a category that the potential expert wants to be admitted is also received. The identity information and at least a portion of the credential information may be verified. The potential expert is accepted as an expert based in part on a result of the verifying of the identity and credential information. Once accepted, an account associated with the potential expert is activated to allow the potential expert to become an expert and to allow the expert to provide answers on the consultation system when the potential expert is accepted. |
| US08457975B2 |
Audio decoder, audio encoder, methods for decoding and encoding an audio signal and computer program
An audio decoder for providing a decoded representation of an audio content on the basis of an encoded representation of the audio content comprises a linear-prediction-domain decoder core configured to provide a time-domain representation of an audio frame on the basis of a set of linear-prediction domain parameters associated with the audio frame and a frequency-domain decoder core configured to provide a time-domain representation of an audio frame on the basis of a set of frequency-domain parameters, taking into account a transform window out of a set comprising a plurality of different transform windows. The audio decoder comprises a signal combiner configured to overlap-and-add-time-domain representations of subsequent audio frames encoded in different domains, in order to smoothen a transition between the time-domain representations of the subsequent frames. The set of transform windows comprises one or more windows specifically adapted for a transition between a frequency-domain core mode and a linear-prediction-domain core mode. |
| US08457973B2 |
Menu hierarchy skipping dialog for directed dialog speech recognition
A method and a processing device for managing an interactive speech recognition system is provided. Whether a voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a group of menus different from a current menu is determined. If the voice input relates to the expected input, at least partially, of any one of the group of menus different from the current menu, skipping to the one of the group of menus is performed. The group of menus different from the current menu include menus at multiple hierarchical levels. |
| US08457971B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing discussion regarding media programs
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device including a controller to detect a plurality of users engaging in a voice conference related to a presentation of a media program, convert speech dialog detected in the voice conference to textual dialog, detect from the textual dialog a behavioral profile of at least one of the plurality of users, and identify at least one of advertisement content and marketable media content based on the behavioral profile of the at least one user. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08457969B2 |
Audio pitch changing device
An effect device may be configured such that when an input audio signal switches from a consonant to a vowel and an input level of the switched vowel is greater than a threshold value Lc (and a variable t is greater than time Ts), an audio effect signal A may be generated. Such an effect device may allow for increasing the occurrences when portamento is simulated, while still sounding natural. In general, a detecting module detects whether an audio signal is a vowel sound or a consonant sound and whether the audio signal changed from a consonant sound to a vowel sound; and a pitch change module changes a pitch of the audio signal and changes, based on a prescribed function, an amount the pitch is changed to produce a modified audio signal, when the audio signal changed from a consonant sound to a vowel sound. |
| US08457961B2 |
System for detecting speech with background voice estimates and noise estimates
A system detects a speech segment that may include unvoiced, fully voiced, or mixed voice content. The system includes a window function that passes signals within a programmed aural frequency range while substantially blocking signals above and below the programmed aural frequency range. A frequency converter converts the signals passing within the programmed aural frequency range into a plurality of frequency bins. A background voice detector estimates the strength of a background speech segment relative to the noise of selected portions of the aural spectrum. A noise estimator estimates a maximum distribution of noise to an average of an acoustic noise power of some of the plurality of frequency bins. A voice detector compares the strength of a desired speech segment to a maximum of an output of the background voice detector and an output of the noise estimator. |
| US08457957B2 |
Optimization of MP3 audio encoding by scale factors and global quantization step size
An iterative rate-distortion optimization algorithm for MPEG I/II Layer-3 (MP3) encoding based on the method of Lagrangian multipliers. Generally, an iterative method is performed such that a global quantization step size is determined while scale factors are fixed, and thereafter the scale factors are determined while the global quantization step size is fixed. This is repeated until a calculated rate-distortion cost is within a predetermined threshold. The methods are demonstrated to be computationally efficient and the resulting bit stream is fully standard compatible. |
| US08457953B2 |
Method and arrangement for smoothing of stationary background noise
In a method of smoothing background noise in a telecommunication speech session; receiving and decoding S1O a signal representative of a speech session, the signal comprising both a speech component and a background noise component. Subsequently, determining LPC parameters S20 and an excitation signal S30 for the received signal. Thereafter, synthesizing and outputting (S40) an output signal based on the determined LPC parameters and excitation signal. In addition, modifying S35 the determined excitation signal by reducing power and spectral fluctuations of the excitation signal to provide a smoothed output signal. |
| US08457948B2 |
Systems and methods for automated content generation
A content generation service is described that generates content for electronic documents in different languages based upon templates. The templates may include paragraph templates composed of sentence types including sentence templates. The sentence templates may further include variables having corresponding attributes. Each of the paragraph templates, sentence templates, and attributes may be hierarchically organized. The content generation service may obtain data describing an item of interest, such as a travel item. The obtained data may further specify a document language, section and paragraph for which content is to be generated. Content is generated for variables in hierarchical order, with higher ranked paragraphs considered first. Within the highest ranked paragraph, a sentence type is selected and the variables within the highest ranked sentence template of the sentence type are considered. Sentence templates which contain attributes matched by the data obtained for the item of interest are added to the generated document. |
| US08457945B1 |
Processor-in-the-loop co-simulation of a model
A model may be constructed and simulated using processor-in-the-loop co-simulation at a target device. In one implementation, a host environment may provide a graphical environment that facilitates construction of the model defined as a plurality of functional blocks. The host environment may receive, via graphical selection menus associated with the blocks of the model, an indication of which blocks of the model are to simulated at an external target device and which blocks of the model are to be simulated at the host environment. Further, the host environment may receive a command, that may be entered interactively by a user, to start simulation of the model and execute, in response to the command, co-simulation of the model at the host environment and the external target device. |
| US08457944B2 |
Method and device for determining requirement parameters of at least one physical hardware unit
In a method and a device for determining requirement parameters of at least one physical hardware unit, the operating parameters of simulated, virtual hardware units are varied during the execution of a program flow on the virtual hardware units, for example via an interface device of a simulation device, in such a manner that requirement parameters of the execution of a program flow of at least one physical hardware unit can be identified. A method and a device are used for determining requirement parameters of at least one physical hardware unit. The method and the device are used to determine requirement parameters of software products of hardware components to be used. Requirement parameters are allowed to be identified systematically, using an operating system and eliminates the need for expensive, physical hardware components and for modifications to a physical computer system. |
| US08457942B1 |
Exercise monitoring unit for executable architectures
Systems and methods for parallel, discrete, simulations include functional capabilities to incorporate one or more human operators or actors into the simulation process. Such individuals can be presented situations where one or more decisions are necessary with respect to ongoing events. Entered decisions are incorporated into simulated events and activities being simulated. These in turn influence the behavior of those entities and also initiate the occurrence of other time-based processes. An architecture artifact or product can be automatically created or updated by recording how a sequence of events took place. The creation of sections of the DoDAF OV-6C Operational Event Trace architectural diagram, for the executable architecture model, can be automatically performed to dynamically provide event traces in response to a live exercise. |
| US08457936B2 |
Apparatus and methods for simulating a system steady state devoid of performing full transient operating conditions
Apparatus and methods for simulating a steady state condition for an unknown variable in a system are provided. One apparatus includes a processor and memory configured to store a model of the system, and first and second predictions modules. The model is configured to receive a plurality of fixed inputs representing known variables for the model, the first prediction module is configured to generate an open loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the fixed inputs, and the second prediction module is configured to generate a closed loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the open loop prediction. A method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of fixed inputs in the system model, generating an open loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the plurality of fixed inputs, and generating a closed loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the open loop prediction. |
| US08457932B2 |
Method for assembling the finite element discretization of arbitrary weak equations involving local or non-local multiphysics couplings
Disclosed are techniques for representing and modeling systems in which each system corresponds to an application mode. This may be done for one or more geometries using local and/or non-local couplings. For each application mode, physical quantities are modeled and may be defined using a graphical user interface. Physical properties may be used to model the physical quantities of each system. The physical properties may be defined in terms of numerical values or constants, and mathematical expressions that may include numerical values, space coordinates, time coordinates, and actual physical quantities. Physical quantities and any associated variables may apply to some or all of a geometric domain, and may also be disabled in other parts of a geometrical domain. Partial differential equations describe the physical quantities. One or more application modes may be combined using an automated technique into a combined system of partial differential equations as a multiphysics model. |
| US08457929B2 |
Oilfield equipment identification method and apparatus
A system comprising a piece of oilfield equipment, an identifier assembly and a reader. The piece of oilfield equipment has an exterior surface. The identifier assembly comprises an identification tag storing a unique identifier. The identification tag is capable of outputting a signal indicative of the unique identifier. The identification tag is mounted to the exterior surface of the piece of oilfield equipment beyond an external surface perimeter of the piece of oilfield equipment such that the identification tag is isolated from the exterior surface of the piece of oilfield equipment. The reader has an antenna receiving the signal indicative of the unique identifier from the identification tag. |
| US08457925B1 |
Method and apparatus for automation of vehicle wheel alignment measurements
Methods and apparatus for automating various preliminary and non-vehicle specific steps during a vehicle wheel alignment service procedure by automatically imparting a rolling movement to a supported vehicle and automatically rotationally driving a pair of vehicle steered wheels through a range of steering movement. |
| US08457923B2 |
Velocity calculating apparatus, velocity calculating method, navigation apparatus, and mobile phone with navigation function
Provided is a velocity calculating apparatus including: a horizontal-angular-velocity-detecting portion disposed to a main-body portion attached to a movable object moving along a movement plane to detect a horizontal-axis angular velocity around a horizontal axis perpendicular to a moving direction generated according to an inclination angle of the movement plane; a vertical-acceleration-detecting portion disposed to the main-body portion to detect a vertical acceleration generated according to a shape of the movement plane; a time-difference-calculating portion configured to calculate a time difference between characteristic components occurring in the horizontal-axis angular velocity and the vertical acceleration due to a position of the movement plane; and a velocity-calculating portion configured to calculate a time-differential velocity based on a ratio between an installation distance from a position to which the horizontal angular velocity is exerted in the overall movable object to an installation position of the main body portion and the time difference. |
| US08457921B2 |
Electronic device tester and testing method
An electronic device tester is connected to an electronic device needed to be tested. A test program is stored in a data storage of the tester. The test program includes a number of test instructions. The tester encapsulates the test instructions of the test program to a number of script files, stores the script files to the data storage, and records a name of each script file to the test program. After the test instruction is encapsulated, the tester selects desired script files of the test program and calls the selected script files according to the names of the script files to implement the test program to test the electronic device. |
| US08457918B2 |
Method and device for estimating the temperature sensed upon contact with a surface
A method and apparatus for estimating the temperature sensed upon contact with a surface. The method includes contactless heating of the surface, contactless measurement of a time change in temperature of the surface, and estimation of the temperature sensed upon contact with the surface on the basis of this time change in temperature. |
| US08457917B2 |
Device and method for setting out contours, points or works and a guiding device for use therewith
A device, a method and a guiding device for setting out contours, points or works, including a computer-controlled measuring device provided with a movable measuring probe and a portable base unit provided with a rotatably supported elongate arm. The measuring probe is connected to the measuring device by means of a cord or a wire via the elongate arm, and the measuring device is provided with sensors for measuring a length or a change in the length of the cord or the wire and rotation of the arm in at least one degree of freedom for providing position data of the measuring probe. |
| US08457913B2 |
Computer system with integrated electromagnetic-interference detectors
Embodiments of a system that determines a condition associated with an integrated circuit disposed on a circuit board are described. During operation, the system receives electromagnetic-interference (EMI) signals from one or more antennas while the integrated circuit is operating, where the one or more antennas are disposed on the circuit board. Then, the system analyzes the received EMI signals to determine the condition. |
| US08457911B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for indexing and predicting wind power output from virtual wind farms
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for predicting electrical power output from wind farms using statistical methods and measured wind speeds near boundaries of control volumes that encompass the wind turbines of interest. These systems, methods, and apparatus can provide electrical power output predictions of up to 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours in advance of actual power reaching the grid. |
| US08457910B2 |
Electrical power system event detection and anticipation
A method for analyzing an electrical power system includes analyzing data representing a signal of interest of the power system, the data containing at least one power system event; and based on the analysis, associating the power system event with a root cause. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method. |
| US08457908B2 |
Sensing events affecting liquid flow in a liquid distribution system
By monitoring pressure transients in a liquid within a liquid distribution system using only a single sensor, events such as the opening and closing of valves at specific fixtures are readily detected. The sensor, which can readily be coupled to a faucet bib, transmits an output signal to a computing device. Each such event can be identified by the device based by comparing characteristic features of the pressure transient waveform with previously observed characteristic features for events in the system. These characteristic features, which can include the varying pressure, derivative, and real Cepstrum of the pressure transient waveform, can be used to select a specific fixture where a valve open or close event has occurred. Flow to each fixture and leaks in the system can also be determined from the pressure transient signal. A second sensor disposed at a point disparate from the first sensor provides further event information. |
| US08457904B2 |
Seafood physical characteristic estimation system and method
Systems and methods for estimating a physical characteristic of a seafood product are provided. In one system, the estimate is based on a slope defined by a ratio of changes in peak resonant amplitude and frequency of an electromagnetic resonant circuit in loaded and unloaded states. In another system, a first probe of a plurality of probes is driven with a test signal when the plurality of probes is loaded by a seafood product and the estimate is based on received test signals at one or more of the other probes. In another system, the estimate is based on the loading effect of a seafood product on an electromagnetic resonant circuit, which is also used to read an ID from an RFID associated with the seafood product. The systems and methods may be used for individual specimens, or to determine an average estimate for multiple specimens at one time. |
| US08457899B2 |
Method of processing data obtained from seismic prospecting
A method of calculating a seismic noise image for a formation comprises the steps of: a) obtaining data representing a multicomponent seismic signal from at least one receiver, in response to transmitting seismic waves into the formation; b) obtaining a velocity model of the earth formation; c) determining a plurality of wave field components; d) obtaining a set of second components; e) obtaining, for each subsurface point, at least two products, each product comprising the product of a selected wave field component and a different second component; and f) and generating a noise image by calculating at least one difference between different products for at least one image point. |
| US08457897B2 |
Methods and systems to estimate wellbore events
A method and system for estimating the status of a production well using a probability calculator and for developing such a probability calculator. The method includes developing a probability calculator, which may be a Bayesian network, utilizing the Bayesian network in a production well event detection system, which may include real-time well measurements, historical measurements, engineering judgment, and facilities data. The system also includes a display to show possible events in descending priority and/or may trigger an alarm in certain cases. |
| US08457893B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating an electronic record of a marking operation including service-related information and/or ticket information
Methods and apparatus for generating electronic records of marking operations for underground facilities/utilities. Electronic records of marking information may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted in whole or in part to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, service-related information and/or ticket information is collected and logged into an electronic record of a marking operation. Such information may in some cases be logged together with actuation data based on one or more actuations of a marking device (e.g., a trigger-pull to dispense marking material). |
| US08457886B2 |
Method for operating a navigation system
A device and a method for operating a navigation system having a data receiving device and a memory, map data of a map being stored in the memory, and when updated map data are received, these are entered, the map data being hierarchically organized and information being assigned to the map data regarding the update version of the map data. |
| US08457880B1 |
Telematics using personal mobile devices
An approach to telematics using mobile devices provides battery-efficient trajectory and mileage inference from inaccurate and intermittent location data. Accurate trajectories of how users or vehicles move in the physical world are formed by processing raw position estimates obtained from noisy, inaccurate, and error-prone position sensors on mobile devices, where the position data may also arrive intermittently with long time gaps. The trajectory is formed using the process of map matching, which determines the trajectory on a map that best explains the sequence of position observations. |
| US08457875B2 |
Circumference search method for setting path and navigation system
The present invention relates to a navigation system and vicinity search method for route setting to retrieve a facility around a route and set an intermediate point through a vicinity search. The vicinity search method for route setting, the vicinity search method including: retrieving a route between a start point and a destination; retrieving a facility with respect to at least one category based on the retrieved route according to a command of a user; and displaying the retrieved facility for each category on the retrieved route. |
| US08457874B2 |
Fuel and vehicle monitoring methods and systems
The invention, in one aspect, features a fuel and vehicle monitoring method. The method includes receiving, via a first processor, a first odometer value and a first fuel acquisition value for a vehicle at a first instance. The method also includes determining, with a second processor, whether the first odometer value satisfies a predetermined criterion. The method also includes forecasting a first future fuel economy value for the vehicle based on the first odometer value and the first fuel acquisition value and a plurality of previously received odometer values and fuel acquisition values if the predetermined criterion is satisfied, or the plurality of previously received odometer values and fuel acquisition values if the predetermined criterion is not satisfied. |
| US08457873B2 |
Promotional incentives based on hybrid vehicle qualification
Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that may be subject to an administrative standard. In some instances a qualified person or entity may attain a possible consequential result related to a user-selected vehicle operation mode that may involve a vehicle operation paradigm and/or a vehicle travel route and/or a vehicle travel destination. In some embodiments, implementation of the selected vehicle operation mode may modify a conformity status of the vehicle relative to the administrative standard. Various accessible records may be maintained regarding certification of preferable consequential results available to qualified recipients based on a correlated vehicle operational mode. A further aspect may provide correlation between a selective operation mode of an electric/combustion hybrid vehicle during an applicable travel period and a preferred consequential result available to a qualified recipient associated with the hybrid vehicle. |
| US08457871B2 |
Real-time traffic condition measurement and presentation of sponsored content
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for identifying a plurality of locations for each of a plurality of automobiles using cell phone tower triangulation to locate a cell phone within the plurality of automobiles, calculating a vehicle speed for each of the plurality of automobiles using the first and second locations already identified, and creating a traffic condition measure for a route in proximity to the first and second locations. The computer program product may repeat this process in real-time to calculate a real-time traffic condition measure that may be a traffic density measure the computer program product may use to predict a travel time, and may display the real-time traffic condition measure on the user's cell phone along with product availability data from a store or stores in proximity to the route and can include where such stores are located with the roadway presentation. |
| US08457865B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine (1) has a control arrangement (18) which regulates at least one control parameter for operating the engine (1). The control arrangement (18) includes a non-volatile memory (20) and a main memory (21). During operation of the engine (1), an operating value (xOperating) for the control parameter is continually stored in the non-volatile memory (20). When starting the engine (1), an initial value for the control parameter is determined. According to at least one criterion, a determination is made as to whether the operating value (xOperating) stored in the non-volatile memory (20) or a standard value (xStandard) is used as the initial value for the control parameter. |
| US08457864B2 |
Variable valve timing control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A variable valve timing control apparatus for an engine includes a hydraulic variable valve timing unit and an oil pressure control device. The variable valve timing unit has a plurality of control ranges and an ambiguity range. The apparatus learns a hold control amount for each of the plurality of control ranges when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the hold control amount is required to control the oil pressure control device to maintain the actual VCT phase. When the target VCT phase is positioned in the ambiguity range, if a difference between the actual and target VCT phases is stably greater than a predetermined value, the apparatus switches the presently-used hold control amount learning value of one control range into the learning value for the other control range in order to compute the VCT control amount. |
| US08457863B2 |
Method of adjusting injection, combustion and/or post-treatment parameters of an internal combustion engine with auto-ignition
The invention relates to a method for adjusting injection, combustion and/or post-treatment parameters of an internal combustion engine with auto-ignition, characterized in that it comprises a step of determining the content and the type of biofuel present in the fuel feeding the injection system. The invention also relates to a motorization system and equipment for implementing this method, implementing a sensor for determining the content and the type of biofuel present in the fuel feeding the injection system. |
| US08457862B2 |
Method for controlling and diagnosing a vane-type cam phaser having intermediate position pin locking
An improved control and diagnostic algorithm for coordinating the operation and checking reliability of oil control valves for a vane-type camshaft phaser in an internal combustion engine. A first oil control valve governs the rotational position of the phaser rotor within the stator, and a second oil control valve controls the locking and unlocking of a locking pin operable between the rotor and the stator. The algorithm determines when a change is needed in the position of the locking pin, commands the rotor to a predetermined angular position to permit the position change to be carried out, determines whether the commanded change was carried out successfully, and reports instances wherein the commanded locking pin position change was unsuccessful. |
| US08457854B2 |
Method and device for limiting the output signal of a sensor to reduce noise
An algorithm for limiting the output of a master cylinder pressure sensor in an electronic brake control system to a value that is a function of the master cylinder pressure and the travel of the brake pedal. |
| US08457843B2 |
Device and method for controlling an automatic steering system of a vehicle, and device and method for checking the ability to implement a predefined setpoint travel direction variable for a vehicle
A device for controlling an automatic steering system of a vehicle includes a signal input which receives a setpoint travel direction variable, a memory device on which a correction factor is stored, a control unit which ascertains a corrected setpoint travel direction variable on the basis of the correction factor and the predefined setpoint travel direction variable, and an evaluation device which compares an actual travel direction variable ascertained by a sensor of the vehicle to the predefined setpoint travel direction variable, and if the actual travel direction variable deviates from the predefined setpoint travel direction variable by at least a minimum difference, redefines the correction factor according to the comparison. |
| US08457841B2 |
Suspension system with optimized damping response
An analytical methodology for the specification of progressive optimal compression damping of a suspension system to negotiate severe events, yet provides very acceptable ride quality and handling during routine events. In a broad aspect, the method provides a progressive optimal unconstrained damping response of the wheel assembly with respect to the body. In a preferred aspect, the method provides a progressive optimal constrained damping response of the wheel assembly with respect to the body, wherein below a predetermined velocity a conventional damper force is retained. |
| US08457840B2 |
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle has at least one drive unit for generating a drive torque, and has an accelerator pedal which is acted on with a restoring force and which can be adjusted by an actuating travel in order to predefine a setpoint torque. The motor vehicle also has a control device which actuates the drive unit on the basis of the setpoint torque. The control device additionally determines a presently available drive torque, and as a function of the presently available drive torque, varies the characteristic curve of the accelerator pedal, which expresses the restoring force versus the actuating travel of the accelerator pedal. |
| US08457839B2 |
Multi-display vehicle information system and method
Embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle human machine interface (HMI) for control by a vehicle occupant. The HMI may include a first graphical display, a second graphical display, a plurality of input controls, and a vehicle computer communicating with the first and second graphical displays. The vehicle computer may be configured to receive user input defining user instructions for controlling one or more functions of the vehicle. In response to the input, the computer may be configured to present on the first and second graphical displays a vehicle function identifier color associated with the vehicle function. |
| US08457838B1 |
System and method for safe operation of a vehicle based electronic device while the vehicle is in motion
Embodiments of the present invention include a computer-controlled method for safely operating a vehicle based electronic system. The method includes receiving a first signal from a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is for identifying the presence of a passenger located in a passenger seat of the vehicle. This may be the configuration of a seat belt associated with the passenger seat. The method further includes receiving a second signal from a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is for determining a weight of the passenger in the passenger seat. Provided the passenger is located in the passenger seat and the weight of the passenger in the passenger seat is above or equal to a threshold value, the method further includes allowing programming functionality of the electronic system while the vehicle is in motion. In one embodiment, the electronic system is a vehicle based navigation system. |
| US08457835B2 |
System and method for use in evaluating an operation of a combustion machine
A method for use in evaluating an operation of a combustion machine. A plurality of current average intensities is calculated by a computing device based on a series of intensity readings from a flame sensor. Each current average intensity corresponds to a current time interval. The computing device selects a plurality of past average intensities, each of which corresponds to a past time interval equal in duration to the current time interval corresponding to a current average intensity. The computing device calculates a plurality of decay rates indicating a change in intensity readings over a current time interval based on the current average intensities and the past average intensities. The computing device estimates a predicted flame sensor malfunction time based on the plurality of decay rates. |
| US08457829B2 |
System and method for determining characteristics of a physical environment with simple motion patterns
A system and method for determining characteristics of a physical environment with simple motion patterns are provided. A plurality of raw orientation readings are received from a simple motion pattern. A distribution of possible wall orientations upon each raw reading is determined. Wall direction is determined as the mean value of the distribution. |
| US08457828B2 |
Remote control machine with partial or total autonomous control
A system for controlling a tool carrier and work tool from either a first remote control or a second remote control. The first remote control and the second remote control both transmit respective first and second control signals to a controller system supported on the tool carrier. The controller system is programmed to select either the first control signal or the second control signal to control operation of the tool carrier. The system may include programming to allow autonomous movement of the tool carrier between a first work zone and a second work zone. Further, the controller system may be programmed to avoid obstacles within its path and to reroute its path between the first work zone and the second work zone to avoid such obstacles. |
| US08457827B1 |
Modifying behavior of autonomous vehicle based on predicted behavior of other vehicles
A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode could determine a current state of the vehicle and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. The environment of the vehicle includes at least one other vehicle. A predicted behavior of the at least one other vehicle could be determined based on the current state of the vehicle and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. A confidence level could also be determined based on the predicted behavior, the current state of the vehicle, and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the confidence level may be related to the likelihood of the at least one other vehicle to perform the predicted behavior. The vehicle in the autonomous mode could be controlled based on the predicted behavior, the confidence level, and the current state of the vehicle and its environment. |
| US08457822B2 |
Method and system for controlling a power unit with power bypass
A method for controlling a hybrid power unit with power bypass for an automobile including at least two driving wheels, wherein the power unit includes a thermal engine, at least two electric machines, and an infinitely variable transmission mechanically connecting the thermal engine, the two electric machines, and the driving wheels. In the method, an initially stopped thermal engine is brought, in an independent manner and in plural operation phases, to a rotation speed that is sufficient for participating in propulsion of the vehicle, the vehicle moving under action of the electric machines. |
| US08457818B2 |
Train slide control device and train slide control method
A train slide control device and a train slide control method capable of further improving the precision of slide control are achieved. The train slide control device comprises: an electromagnetic valve unit; a relay valve that outputs a pressure of the brake cylinder; and a slide controller that includes: a velocity-difference detecting unit that detects a velocity difference of each wheel based on a velocity signal; a deceleration calculating unit that calculates a deceleration of a train based on the velocity signal; a sliding-amount determining unit that determines a sliding-amount of each wheel based on the velocity difference and deceleration; and a brake-cylinder-pressure calculating unit that calculates a pressure control signal for controlling a pressure of the brake cylinder based on:the sliding-amount; a brake command for obtaining a predetermined deceleration; and a signal that indicates the pressure of the compressed air and a pressure of the brake cylinder. |
| US08457817B2 |
Distributed train intelligence system and method
A system and method which may include on each locomotive a propulsion system and a braking system; a transceiver for communication between the locomotives; and sensors for sensing operational conditions on the locomotive. A processor receives the sensed operation conditions, communicates information including the sensed operational conditions to the other locomotive, determines a propulsion or braking value or command based on the sensed operational conditions, pre-selected criteria and the information received from the other locomotive, and outputs the propulsion or braking value or command. The present system may include on each locomotive a location determining device and a storage of track topology; and the processor determines and communicates to the other locomotive as information an initial propulsion or braking value using the topology of the present and projected location of the locomotive and pre-selected criteria, determines a final propulsion or braking value or command based on the initial value and the information received from the other locomotive, and outputs the final propulsion or braking value. |
| US08457813B2 |
Measuring of a landing platform of a ship
A system for predicting the movement of a surface for autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles thereon. At least two beam emitters are each movable to measure along at least one line on the surface. The lines measured by the two beam emitters are crossed so that they have at least one point of intersection in common. A control module. A detector is configured to detect reflected beams. A processor is configured to process measurements including estimating continuously a plane to the surface by measurements during a time interval. A storage module is configured to store the processed measurements. |
| US08457812B2 |
Method and system for resolving traffic conflicts in take-off and landing
A method and system for resolving existing and potential traffic conflicts that may occur during take-off and landing in aviation that includes means of monitoring movements on the runway, its approaches and environs to determine whether a conflict or potential conflict exists, means to resolve a conflict and to generate an output pertaining to this resolution. |
| US08457811B2 |
Device for system diagnosis
The invention relates to a device for system diagnosis of an aircraft. The device includes: means for the monitoring of equipment of the system, the means for emitting messages of observations on the basis of effects produced by equipment; means for the determination of a set of observations on the basis of the messages of observations arising from the monitoring of a log of the messages of observations and of a model representing a current state of the system; means for the determination of indictments on the basis of observations of the set of observations and of a behavioral model of the system, the indictments being logical relations between operating modes of equipment having produced effects; and means for the determination of maintenance operations on the basis of the indictments. |
| US08457809B2 |
Electronic device and method for controlling unmanned aerial vehicle using the same
A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using an electronic device determines a designated relay station of the UAV using the electronic device, and creates a new flight path for the UAV according to the designated relay station. The method further directs the UAV to fly to the designated relay station upon the condition that the UAV can arrive at the designated relay station, and directs the UAV to fly to a subsequent relay station along the new flight path upon the condition that the UAV has not arrived at an endpoint of the new flight path. |
| US08457808B2 |
Automated infrastructure delivery system
An automatic delivery system for an infrastructure comprising passenger transportation, freight delivery, electrical grid, oil, gas, water pipelines, communication, sewer removal, etc. The automation at the current state of technology is mostly achieved by enclosing the delivery system inside of an enclosure for achieving automatic weather independent transportation and eliminating costs related to protecting the aforementioned infrastructure components from outside elements. In addition, the system is simple enough to avoid traffic and collisions automatically by processing in real time just a single piece of information: a location of each vehicle; as the result, the system is inexpensive since no hardware is necessary for between-vehicles communications, for road condition detection, for GPS, etc. Plus every person will be able to use transportation on-demand with or without sharing a commute and at a desired comfort level including but not limited to entertainment, exercise, working on the go, etc. |
| US08457806B2 |
Managing an infrastructure having a 3D package and cooling resource actuators
An apparatus for managing an infrastructure having one or more three-dimensional (3D) packages and a plurality of cooling resource actuators, each of the 3D packages including a plurality of heat sources, includes a heat source manager configured to determine heat load profiles of the heat sources. The apparatus also includes a cooling resource manager configured to determine capabilities of the plurality of cooling resource actuators to meet heat load demands of the plurality of heat sources based on the heat load profiles of the plurality of heat sources and an integrated thermal manager configured to match the capabilities of the plurality of cooling resource actuators to the heat load profiles of the plurality of heat sources. |
| US08457804B2 |
System stabilizing device
A control unit of a system stabilizing device uses a fluctuation detecting block (70A) to determine fluctuation components included in the active component and reactive component currents of a system current. The fluctuation detecting block (70A) is composed of a low-pass filter (71) for noise removal having first order lag characteristics with a time constant of T1, a low-pass filter (72) for setting a fluctuation detection time having first order lag characteristics with a time constant of T2, a subtracter (73) which performs subtraction between the output signals of the filter (71) and the filter (72) and outputs the difference, an amplifier (74) for amplifying the output of the subtracter (73), a rating limiter (75) for limiting the output of the amplifier, and an overcompensation inhibiting unit (200) which changes T4 to a smaller value when the rating limiter (75) performs a limiter action. |
| US08457803B2 |
Apparatus and method for demand coordination network
An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a resource. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices and a plurality of control nodes. Each of the plurality of devices consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and the each are capable of performing a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. Each of the plurality of control nodes is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of devices, where the plurality of control nodes is coupled together via a demand coordination network, and where the plurality of control nodes coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to reduce the peak demand of the resource, and where one or more of the run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments, but which still operate within the acceptable operating margin for the corresponding local environments. |
| US08457800B2 |
System and method for conserving energy resources through storage and delivery of renewable energy
A system for encouraging the use of renewable energy sources and suitable for the conservation of energy resources through the efficient management of energy storage and delivery includes connections to a power source, an energy storage subsystem, and a power grid. The system includes a power routing subsystem coupled to the source and grid, and adapted to operate in a bypass mode, in which energy is transferred from the source to the grid. The system includes a conversion subsystem coupled to the routing and storage subsystems, and switchable in substantially real-time between a storage mode, in which energy is transferred from the routing to the storage subsystem, and a generation mode, in which energy is transferred from the storage to the routing subsystem for delivery to the grid. The system also includes a controller for directing the modes based at least in part on a market factor. |
| US08457799B2 |
Automatic gated pipe actuator
An automatic gated-pipe actuator for controlling flow of an irrigation material to an agricultural region through an irrigation gate in a gated-irrigation pipe. The automatic gated-pipe actuator includes a gate valve for coupling to the gated-irrigation pipe, a gate actuator removably coupled to the gate valve and for actuating the gate valve and an automatic gated pipe gate control unit for controlling actuation of the gate valve. The control unit has a processor unit communicatively coupled to the gate actuator. Upon instruction from the gate control unit, the gate actuator will actuate and alter the disposition of the gate valve thereby altering the flow of irrigation material through the irrigation gate and to a portion of the agricultural region adjacent the irrigation gate. |
| US08457798B2 |
Long-range radio frequency receiver-controller module and wireless control system comprising same
A long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver-controller module configured to transmit and receive RF signals in one or more of the 433, 868, 915 MHz, and 2.4 and 5.8 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency bands is provided that is capable of consistently transmitting such signals over a range of 100 meters or more without line of sight, including underground. A wireless control system that comprises a plurality of the long-range RF transceiver-controller modules arranged in a distributed, ad hoc networking topography is also provided. The wireless control system has utility in a wide range of medical, industrial, agricultural, military and commercial applications, including, for example, the management of irrigation systems, manufacturing processes, security systems, sewage treatment and handling systems, hospital management systems. |
| US08457796B2 |
Predictive conditioning in occupancy zones
A method and system for predictively controlling environmental conditions of multiple occupancy zones in an occupancy space are provided. Occupancy and environmental conditions of each of the occupancy zones are detected and identified. The detected occupancy is stored in an occupancy database. Patterns of occupancy of each of the occupancy zones are determined using the occupancy database. Future occupancy of the occupancy zones is predicted based on the occupancy patterns of the occupancy zones. The environmental conditions of the occupancy zones are controlled based on the detected occupancy and/or the predicted future occupancy. The environmental conditions of the occupancy zones in the occupancy space are thereby predictively controlled by simultaneously incorporating an occupant's desired settings, existing and historical temperature data within the occupancy space, and weather data. The predicted occupancy can be combined with demand response signal and energy tier rates to make optimal conditioning decisions. |
| US08457794B2 |
Multi-segment linearization of micro-actuator transfer functions
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved accuracy of displacement control by using a multi-segment transformation of an actuator's non-linear response. The present invention may set intermediate points to effectively divide the actuator response into multiple segments. Each segment may be assigned a transform function that represents the actuator's response in that particular segment. The present invention may operate in two modes, a calibration mode and a normal operations mode. During calibration mode, the intermediate points and the segment transforms may be set. During normal operations mode, a drive signal may be generated according to the calibrated set values. |
| US08457771B2 |
Automated detection and filtering of audio advertisements
A data stream is filtered to produce a filtered data stream. The data stream is analyzed based on an acoustic parameter to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. At least one extraneous portion of the data stream, in which the predetermined condition is satisfied, is determined. Thereafter, the at least one extraneous portion is deleted from the data stream to produce the filtered data stream. |
| US08457770B1 |
Ratings-based digital media distribution and reproduction for a wireless network
A digital media distribution system has a wireless network serving a plurality of wireless subscribers wherein the wireless network supports digital media file transfer. A content server is coupled to the wireless network for distributing media items to wireless subscribers upon request. The media items each comprises a plurality of rated versions, wherein the rated versions of each particular media item depict the same media content customized to meet a respective rating from a plurality of ratings. The content server offers each media item for downloading as a single unit containing the plurality of rated versions. A subscriber terminal selects and downloads selected media items as respective single units to be stored in the subscriber terminal. The subscriber terminal includes a trigger stored in the subscriber terminal. The trigger has a value for identifying one of the plurality of ratings to be used by the subscriber terminal for accessing the downloaded media items. A media application on the subscriber terminal activates a downloaded media item according to the rated version specified by the trigger value for the subscriber terminal and ignoring the other rated versions. |
| US08457769B2 |
Interactive audio recording and manipulation system
A system for interactive audio recording and manipulation may include a controller having at least one two-axis analog control and plurality of control buttons. The controller may be coupled to a computing device including a processor, a memory, and an audio interface including at least one audio input port to accept an input audio signal and at least one audio output port to provide an output audio signal. The system may perform actions in response to inputs from the controller. The actions may include recording the audio input signal as a recorded track, playing the recorded track to provide an audio output signal, scrubbing the recorded track in response to activation of the two-axis analog control along a first axis, and pitch-shifting one of the input audio signal and the output audio signal in response to activation of the two axis analog control along a second axis. |
| US08457765B2 |
Ear clip with pole
An ear clip electrode used to conduct a minute amount of electricity from a stimulator to the ear lobes of a patient. The ear clip electrode is provided with an inner and outer plastic piece onto which separate metallic plates are placed. Both the metallic plate as well as the plastic pieces are provided with a circular end onto which a metallic pole is placed. Electrode pads are placed upon these metallic poles and electricity is conducted from each of the plates to the electrode pad and then to the patient's ear lobe. A plastic shroud is placed over a substantial length of each of the metallic plates. Plastic material also covers the end surface of each of the metallic poles. The ear clip electrode is connected to a source of minute electrical energy. |
| US08457762B2 |
Electrode bundle
An electrode bundle for implantation in soft tissue comprises two or more electrodes aligned in parallel. Each electrode comprises an electrode element, an anchoring element joined to the electrode element at a portion intermediate between the front end and the rear end thereof and a means bundling the electrodes disposed between the anchoring element and the rear end. The anchoring element forms an angle α from 0° to 6° with the electrode element and extends in the direction of the rear end thereof. Also disclosed is a stack of electrode bundles, methods for insertion of the bundle and the stack into soft tissue, and their uses. |
| US08457761B2 |
System and method for promoting diuresis and natriuresis by the application of electric fields to the kidney
A system and method of applying an electric field to the kidney of a subject can reduce renal salt and water retention through the process of electrophoresis. The system includes a first and a second electrode, at least of which is implantably associated with the kidney. The electric field can be controlled to affect the removal of a first constituent (e.g. sodium) from the kidney while the level of a second constituent (e.g. potassium) is maintained within normal physiological range. |
| US08457759B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes
System and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient. The electrical signal is delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value. Using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device is detected. Based at least in part on the detected impedance change, the method can further include automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different from the first, without human intervention. |
| US08457758B2 |
Alignment indication for transcutaneous energy transfer
System for transcutaneous energy transfer. An implantable medical device, adapted to be implanted in a patient, has componentry for providing a therapeutic output. The implantable medical device has an internal power source and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the internal power source. An external power source, having a primary coil, provides energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device and thereby generates a current in the internal power source. An alignment indicator reports the alignment as a function of the current generated in the internal power source with a predetermined value associated with an expected alignment between the primary coil and secondary coil. |
| US08457757B2 |
Implantable transponder systems and methods
A method and system for providing electrical stimulation to tissue includes implanting one or more battery-free microtransponders having spiral antennas into tissue. Energy is provided wirelessly to the plurality of microtransponders. Tissue is stimulated using the energy. |
| US08457756B2 |
Using the case of an implantable medical device to broaden communication bandwidth
An improved implantable pulse generator (IPG) containing improved telemetry circuitry is disclosed. The IPG includes a telemetry coil within the conductive IPG case, not in the non-conductive header as is typical, which simplifies IPG design. The improved resonant circuit of which the coil is a part does not include a discrete tuning resistor with the coil, which tuning resistor was traditionally used to increase communication bandwidth of the coil to render it suitable for FSK telemetry. In lieu of the tuning resistor, the coil is intentionally inductively coupled to the case by positioning the coil a certain distance away from the case. Such coupling decreases the effective inductance and increases the effective series resistance in the improved resonant circuit, both of which increase the communication bandwidth. As such, suitable FSK telemetry can be achieved, even though the improved resonant circuit without the case would not on its own have suitable bandwidth. |
| US08457753B2 |
Neural stimulation for increased contrast
The present invention is a method of improving the contrast of electrical neural stimulation and expanding the dynamic range for brightness, and specifically a method of improving the contrast of an image supplied to the retina, or visual cortex, through a visual prosthesis. The background brightness for a blind subject is often not perfectly black, but a dark gray or brown. When stimulating visual neurons in the retina, low current stimulation tends to create a dark percept, the perception of a phosphene darker than the background brightness level perceived in the un-stimulated state. The human retina contains neurons that signal light increments (“on” cells) and neurons that signal light decrements (“off” cells). In a healthy retina, the on cells tend to fire in response to an increase in light above the background level, while the off cells tend to fire in response to a decrease in light below the background level. |
| US08457751B2 |
Device for treating skin ageing
A device for carrying out a cosmetic method or treating skin ageing and the method comprising the following steps: a) connecting an electronic device, able to generate high frequency electric current waves having a distorted sinusoidal wave form by the presence of harmonics, to one or more electrodes of essentially laminar shape; b) applying said one or more electrodes on the skin surface in the area to be treated; c) activating said electronic device in order to transfer said current waves to said one or more electrodes and to maintain said device activated for a predetermined time; d) deactivating said device and removing the electrodes from the contact with the treated area. |
| US08457746B2 |
Implantable systems and devices for providing cardiac defibrillation and apnea therapy
An aspect relates to a system for providing baroreflex stimulation. An embodiment of the system comprises a cardiac activity monitor to sense cardiac activity and provide a signal indicative of the cardiac activity, and a baroreflex stimulator. The stimulator includes a pulse generator and a modulator. The pulse generator provides a baroreflex stimulation signal adapted to provide a baroreflex therapy. The modulator receives the signal indicative of the cardiac activity and modulates the baroreflex stimulation signal based on the signal indicative of the cardiac activity to change the baroreflex therapy from a first baroreflex therapy to a second baroreflex therapy. |
| US08457745B1 |
Method, system and apparatus for control of pancreatic beta cell function to improve glucose homeostatis and insulin production
A therapeutic waveform for neurophysiologic treatment of conditions associated with function of ionic channels of beta cells of the pancreas includes a positive part having a pulse width of 40 to 60 milliseconds having a positively pointing segment, and includes a negative part dropping sharply negatively following the positive part. The negative drop is 75 to 90 percent of the peak-to-peak voltage of the waveform at about 10 to 100 volts AC. A negative spike-like first aspect of the negative part exhibits a pulse width of 40 to 60 milliseconds but afterwards gradually approaches a neutral voltage level of the waveform. The first aspect of the negative part of the waveform is followed by a second aspect which more slowly approaches the neutral level over a period of 100 to 200 milliseconds, before the next waveform. The current of the waveform is 300 to 1000 micro-amperes. |
| US08457744B2 |
Low-profile implantable medical device
Components of an implantable medical device are arranged to facilitate a low-profile housing. A circuit board within the housing carries integrated circuits and discrete components. In some embodiments, the integrated circuits and discrete components are located on first and second opposing surfaces of the circuit board, respectively. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device is implanted on a cranium of a patient and the housing is concave such that it substantially conforms to the cranium. In such embodiments, the integrated circuits and/or discrete components can be arranged on the circuit board according to height to better conform to the concavity of the housing. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device includes a telemetry coil that is positioned within the housing such that it occupies space that cannot be practically occupied by the circuit board. |
| US08457741B2 |
Estimation of dedicated bipolar pacing vector threshold
Methods and devices are described that allow estimation of an electrostimulation capture threshold, such as a dedicated bipolar pacing vector threshold. In an example, an equal-energy assumption between first and second pacing vectors can be used to estimate an electrostimulation capture threshold of a second pacing vector from a measured electrostimulation capture threshold of the first pacing vector and impedances of the first and second pacing vectors. In an example, a relationship between first and second pacing vectors can be determined from measured data, and a parameter of the relationship can be used with a measurement of an electrostimulation capture threshold of the first pacing vector to estimate an electrostimulation capture threshold of the second pacing vector. |
| US08457740B2 |
Device for determining an aftercare appointment for the supply of an implantable medical device
The invention relates to a service unit (30) having an interface (54) for receiving data from a personal medical device, an analysis unit (52) connected to the interface (54) for analyzing data received from the personal medical device (10), and an aftercare appointment determination unit (54) for determining a particular next aftercare appointment at least on the basis of data received from a particular personal medical device (10). |
| US08457739B2 |
Automatic enabling of post long pause overdrive pacing
A method and apparatus for controlling an atrial overdrive pacing therapy include detecting an atrial arrhythmia episode and determining if the atrial arrhythmia episode is an early recurring episode. Delivery of the atrial overdrive pacing therapy is enabled in response to the early recurring episode and commences upon detection of an atrial arrhythmia episode or a long pause. |
| US08457737B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying atrial arrhythmia by far-field sensing
In a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter/defibrillator, cardiac arrhythmias are detected to determine necessary therapeutic action. Cardiac signal information is sensed from far field electrodes implanted in a patient. The sensed cardiac signal information is then amplified and filtered. Parameters such as rate, QRS pulse width, cardiac QRS slew rate, amplitude and stability measures of these parameters from the filtered cardiac signal information are measured, processed and integrated to determine if the cardioverter/defibrillator needs to initiate therapeutic action. |
| US08457736B2 |
Anti-tachyarrhythmia system with unified atrial tachyarrhythmia rate threshold
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an external system. The ICD includes a plurality of functional modules performing tachyarrhythmia classification and therapy control functions using atrial tachyarrhythmia rate thresholds that are set to a unified value. In one embodiment, the CRM system allows a user to activate and deactivate each of the functional modules and program the unified value using the external system. |
| US08457734B2 |
System and method for neural stimulation
Various aspects provide an implantable device. In various embodiments, the device comprises at least one port, where each port is adapted to connect a lead with an electrode to the device. The device further includes a stimulation platform, including a sensing circuit connected to the at least one port to sense an intrinsic cardiac signal and a stimulation circuit connected to the at least one port via a stimulation channel to deliver a stimulation signal through the stimulation channel to the electrode. The stimulation circuit is adapted to deliver stimulation signals through the stimulation channel for both neural stimulation therapy and CRM therapy. The sensing and stimulation circuits are adapted to perform CRM functions. The device further includes a controller connected to the sensing circuit and the stimulation circuit to control the neural stimulation therapy and the CRM therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08457733B2 |
Monitoring and controlling hydrocephalus
Systems and methods for monitoring cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) based on electrical impedance measurements are disclosed. The systems can include an excitation source of alternating current (202), at least two sensor electrodes (212,214) adapted for disposition within CSF in a ventricle of a subject's brain, and an impedance measuring device (204) electrically connected to the sensor electrodes (212,214) to measure impedance of CSF. Methods for controlling hydrocephalus are also disclosed and such methods can include the steps of disposing an impedance sensor (902) within CSF in a ventricle of a subject's brain, measuring impedance of the CSF with the sensor (902), and withdrawing CSF when the impedance measurement is less than a threshold value. |
| US08457732B2 |
Biometric apparatus
The invention provides a biometric apparatus having a display which allows a measured person to recognize biometric data easily and reliably irrespective of whether the measured person is on a platform or not. The biometric apparatus for measuring biometric data of the measured person includes the platform on which the measured person gets on, a sensor unit for acquiring the biometric data of the measured person; a display for displaying the biometric data acquired by the sensor unit; and a control unit for determining whether the measured person is on the platform or not on the basis of a signal from the sensor unit and changes the display mode to display the biometric data on the display according to the determination thereof. |
| US08457728B2 |
Automatic detection of premature ventricular complexes for heart rate turbulence measurements
A medical device system and method for monitoring a cardiac signal in a patient senses ventricular R-waves and computes a morphology metric of an R-wave and a corresponding preceding morphology metric of a preceding R-wave. One of a difference and a ratio of the R-wave morphology metric and the preceding R-wave morphology metric is compared to an established detection threshold for discriminating premature ventricular contractions from premature atrial contractions. A cardiac signal measurement is computed from the sensed R-waves in response to detecting a premature ventricular comparison based on the comparison. |
| US08457725B1 |
Alarm testing and backup for implanted medical devices with vibration alerts
An implanted device which includes a vibrator having a drive motor and a drive circuit. An accelerometer is connected to the vibrator and senses alarm test data related to the displacement of the vibrator. A power source provides electricity to the implanted device and a processor is configured for bi-directional wireless communication. The processor is configured for receiving a command from an external device for performance of an alarm test and the processor analyzes the alarm test data for generating test results. |
| US08457724B2 |
System for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection
A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection, includes an acquisition device for acquiring an electrophysiological signal representing a heart beat cycle of a patient heart. A detector detects multiple parameters of the electrophysiological signal comprising at least one of, (a) amplitude, (b) time duration, (c) frequency and (d) time-frequency, representative parameters. A signal analyzer calculates at least one ratio of the detected parameters from ratios including, (i) ratio of T wave amplitude to P wave amplitude, (ii) ratio of time duration of ST wave to time duration of PR wave, (iii) ratio of a frequency of a PR wave to a frequency of a RT wave and (iv) ratio of a time-frequency measure of a PR wave to a time-frequency measure of a RT wave. A comparator determines whether a calculated ratio exceeds a predetermined upper limit threshold or a predetermined lower limit threshold. An output processor generates data representing an alert message in response to the calculated ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold. |
| US08457721B2 |
Apparatus and method for cardiac ablation
Cardiac mapping and ablation include a multi-electrode catheter introduced percutaneously into a subject's heart and deployable adjacent to various endocardial sites. The electrodes are connectable to a mapping unit, an ablation power unit a pacing unit, all of which are under computer control. Intracardiac electrogram signals emanated from a tachycardia site of origin are detectable by the electrodes. Their arrival times are processed to generate various visual maps to provide real-time guidance for steering the catheter to the tachycardia site of origin. In another aspect, the system also includes a physical imaging system which is capable of providing different imaged physical views of the catheter and the heart. These physical views are incorporated into the various visual maps to provide a more physical representation. Once the electrodes are on top of the tachycardia site of origin, electrical energy is supplied by the ablation power unit to effect ablation. |
| US08457712B2 |
Multi-mode medical device system and methods of manufacturing and using same
A multi-mode medical device system and method of performing an interventional procedure. The multi-mode medical device system can be capable of MR internal imaging and of being tracked using an MRI system. The multi-mode medical device system can include a medical device, and an electrical circuit coupled to the medical device and electrically coupled to the MRI system. The electrical circuit can include a tracking device configured to transmit a signal to the MRI system indicative of the position of the tracking device relative to a roadmap image, and an imaging device electrically coupled to the tracking device and configured to internally image anatomical structures from the point of view of the medical device. The imaging device can be further configured to be visualized using MR imaging. Tracking the tracking device and internally imaging with the imaging device can be performed in a single pass of the multi-mode medical device system. |
| US08457708B2 |
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. |
| US08457707B2 |
Congenital heart disease monitor
A congenital heart disease monitor utilizes a sensor capable of emitting multiple wavelengths of optical radiation into a tissue site and detecting the optical radiation after attenuation by pulsatile blood flowing within the tissue site. A patient monitor is capable of receiving a sensor signal corresponding to the detected optical radiation and calculating at least one physiological parameter in response. The physiological parameter is measured at a baseline site and a comparison site and a difference in these measurements is calculated. A potential congenital heart disease condition in indicated according to the measured physiological parameter at each of the sites or the calculated difference in the measured physiological parameter between the sites or both. |
| US08457706B2 |
Estimation of a physiological parameter using a neural network
A neural network is used to combine one or more estimates of a physiologic parameter with one or more associated signal quality metrics, creating a more accurate estimate of said physiologic parameter, as well as a second estimate of the accuracy of said physiologic parameter estimate. |
| US08457699B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device having an antenna assembly with corner coupled rectangular base conductor portions and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a substrate carried by the portable housing, and wireless communications circuitry carried by the substrate. The mobile wireless communications device may also include at least one an antenna assembly carried by the substrate and coupled to the wireless communications circuitry. The at least one antenna assembly may include an electrically conductive base conductor having a first rectangular base portion and a second rectangular base portion offset therefrom. The first and second base portions may be coupled at respective diagonally opposing corners thereof and having an antenna feed defined along an outer portion of one of the first and second rectangular base portions. The at least one antenna assembly may include at least one electrically conductive arm extending along at least one side of one of the first and second rectangular base portions and spaced apart therefrom. |
| US08457698B2 |
Antenna array for supporting multiple beam architectures
The present invention relates to an antenna array for supporting multiple beam architectures. For example, a transceiver may include an antenna array. The antenna array includes a plurality of antenna elements, where the plurality of antenna elements is configured to support at least two beam architectures in a cell site. Each beam architecture is associated with a different configuration of sectors and beamforming signals. According to one embodiment, each beam architecture is associated with a different wireless standard. According to another embodiment, each beam architecture is associated with a different carrier within one wireless standard. The antenna elements may be arranged as a circular array. |
| US08457694B2 |
Side key flexible circuit board for mobile telecommunication terminal
The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a function key of a mobile communication terminal. The apparatus includes a flexible printed circuit for electrically connecting a plurality of function keys to the mobile communication terminal, wherein the flexible printed circuit is conformable to a shape of a mounting space the plurality of function keys are mounted in, and a plurality of supporting members, wherein each supporting member corresponds to at least one of the plurality of function keys for supporting the at least one of the plurality of function keys within the mounting space, wherein the flexible printed circuit connects the plurality of supporting members to each other by attaching to a surface of the supporting members. |
| US08457692B2 |
Method and system for preventing device operation when driving
A method and system are presented for restricting the use of a portable electronic device by a driver who is operating a vehicle. A body area network (BAN) signal is sent from a vehicle device in the vehicle in close proximity to the driver. The BAN signal is transmitted using the driver's biological body as a signal transmission path. The portable electronic device includes a receiver configured to detect the BAN signal when the device is in close proximity to the driver. The portable electronic device is further configured to disable or restrict at least one function in response to detection of the BAN signal, thereby preventing or restricting use of the portable electronic device when the driver is seated in and operating the vehicle. |
| US08457691B2 |
Scrollable computing device display
The display of a scrollable list of items is described. In one disclosed embodiment, a list of items may be displayed on a scrollable computing device display in such a manner that, upon receiving an input requesting movement of a select indicator to a different list item, the select indicator is moved on the display toward the different list item and the list is scrolled on the display in an opposing direction. |
| US08457689B2 |
Handheld electronic device with dedicated standby key
A handheld electronic device comprises a dedicated standby key for initiating a standby mode in the handheld electronic device. The handheld electronic device further comprises means for disabling at least a portion of a keyboard and any navigation actuator of the handheld electronic device upon entry into the standby mode. The dedicated standby key is embedded along a first edge of the handheld electronic device. |
| US08457687B2 |
Radio communication device, radio communication system, method for radio communication and program thereof
A radio communication device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention which communicates in a form of multi data streams can reduce antennas which become useless in communication with a radio communication device which communicates in a form of one data stream, and can improve transmission characteristic in communication with a radio communication device which communicates in the form of one data stream. Therefore, an antenna which is not used is used for selective diversity receiving. Moreover, an antenna which is not used is moved near an antenna which is used for communication, to keep a transmission state stable. |
| US08457684B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the location of a femtocell
A system and method of determining the geographical location of a femtocell (640A) of an asynchronous cellular wireless communication system (600) are provided. Timing data is obtained from communication signals received by a first group of mobile communication units (450) from a femtocell (640A), and from at least two macro cells (410A, 420A, 670A). A difference (D12) in path distance from two macro cells to the femtocell (640A) is estimated using the timing data. A correction is made to remove timing offsets of the base stations of the macro cells. This provides an estimate of the geographical location of the femtocell (640A), when combined with either a similar estimate derived from signals received from a third macrocell, or an estimate derived from signal propagation data. |
| US08457680B1 |
High-accuracy transmit power control with high-efficiency operation amplifier operation
A method in a transmitter including a transmission chain and a Power Amplifier (PA), includes storing calibration data relating a plurality of specified output power levels of the transmitter to respective PA control voltages for application to the PA and respective gain levels for application to the transmission chain that cause the transmitter to output signals at the specified output power levels. A target output power level is specified, and an actual control voltage is applied to the PA. The actual control voltage is derived from a specified target control voltage depending on the target output power. A modified gain level which, when applied to the transmission chain while the PA is controlled with the actual control voltage, causes the transmitter to output the signals at the target output power level, is computed based on the calibration data. The modified gain level is applied to the transmission chain. |