Document Document Title
US08458140B2 Apparatus and method for evaluating data points against cadastral regulations
A system for evaluating data points against cadastral regulations to include a plurality of software modules programmed into a computer system with software and hardware configured to store and update a cadastral rule database containing a plurality of rules for determining the validity of the cadastral data (10). The cadastral database obtained from a data source reference data that is indicative of a plurality of established reference data points wherein the received input data corresponds to a plurality of measured data points with steps to co-process the input data and the referenced data according to the plurality of cadastral rules to determine an indication for the plurality of data points (20).
US08458137B2 Backup and retention monitoring
A system and method of monitoring retention of backups made of various systems, servers, files, and the like is provided. The system and method may include receiving retention data at a retention monitoring system. The retention data may include an actual retention period for one or more systems, servers, files, and the like, and may further include determining whether the actual retention period matches a predefined retention period. If so, the data may be formatted, compiled, and displayed. If the actual retention period does not match the predefined retention period, the retention data may be identified as non-standard and then may be formatted, compiled, and/or displayed. Additional aspects of the system and method may include receiving an actual amount of storage capacity used by the backups of the systems, servers, files, and the like. If the actual amount of storage capacity does not match an allotted amount of capacity, the data may be identified as non-standard.
US08458136B2 Scheduling highly parallel jobs having global interdependencies
A method of scheduling highly parallel jobs with global interdependencies is provided herein. The method includes the following steps: grouping input elements, each group being associated with an interdependency tag reflecting a level of interdependency between data associated with different input elements within a group; clustering the groups into collections of groups, wherein the clustered groups are associated with an interdependency tag reflecting a level of interdependency between groups, above a specified value; applying a conflict check to the collections of groups and to active jobs of a working set, to yield a conflict level between each collection of groups and each active job, by analyzing the interdependency tags of the collections of groups vis à vis interdependency tags associated with the active jobs; and adding collections of groups into the working set, wherein added collections of groups are associated with a conflict level below an acceptable conflict level.
US08458131B2 Opportunistic asynchronous de-duplication in block level backups
A block based backup system may store backed up data from multiple clients by maintaining backup databases for each client, where each backup database may include blocks of data. The backup system may perform a de-duplication process by examining the databases to identify common blocks and moving the common blocks to a common database. The common blocks may be removed from the client backup databases and a pointer substituted for the data, thus compacting the client backup databases. The de-duplication operation may be performed at an opportunistic time, such as after the clients have completed any data transfer to the backup system.
US08458126B2 Methods and systems for updating web pages via a web data instant update utility
A method for updating web pages on a web server without republishing the web pages involves providing a live version on a production database and a quality assurance version on a quality assurance web server. A maker at a business workstation can access the quality assurance database server and enter a change to data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables, and a checker at the business workstation accesses the quality assurance database server to review and approve or reject changes to the data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables, and if the checker approves the changes, the changes to the data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables are replicated from the quality assurance database server to the live version on the production database server.
US08458120B2 Search-based people matching system and method
A people matching system and method matches people in response to a search request. 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, including behavioral information on which the suggested matches are based.
US08458113B2 Decision support system optimizer for a real-time command center
A decision support for real time command center, in one aspect, classifies, using a decision tree, an observed network state of a network into at least one category. A meta-model associated with the classified at least one category may be selected from a plurality of meta-models, the plurality of meta-models having been calibrated using results of simulations of a plurality of scenarios occurring in the network. One or more action plans may be evaluated by running the selected meta-model with data of the observed network state. One or more recommended action plans may be generated for the real time command center, based on the evaluation. Actual network state data resulting from having applied the one or more recommended action plans may be evaluated and used to recalibrate the meta-model and/or the decision tree.
US08458112B2 Affective model device and method for deciding the behavior of an affective model device
An affective model device and a method of deciding the behavior of an affective model device are provided. The affective model device has affective components representing trait, attitude, mood, emotion, and the like. The affective model device updates the emotion at regular time intervals or when a stimulus is received, and decides the behavior based on the updated emotion. The emotion may be updated depending on trait, attitude, and mood.
US08458109B2 Method and apparatus for spatio-temporal compressive sensing
A method and apparatus for spatio-temporal compressive sensing, which allows accurate reconstruction of missing values in any digital information represented in matrix or tensor form, is disclosed. The method of embodiments comprises three main components: (i) a method for finding sparse, low-rank approximations of the data of interest that account for spatial and temporal properties of the data, (ii) a method for finding a refined approximation that better satisfies the measurement constraints while staying close to the low-rank approximations obtained by SRMF, and (iii) a method for combining global and local interpolation. The approach of embodiments also provides methods to perform common data analysis tasks, such as tomography, prediction, and anomaly detection, in a unified fashion.
US08458106B2 Performing constraint compliant crossovers in population-based optimization
An example system and method where some operations include determining constraint compliant values for each of a set of constrained variables of an optimization problem. The constraint compliant values comply with a constraint condition for the optimization problem. The operations can further include generating a population of constraint compliant candidate solutions for a computer-based simulation that implements a population-based optimization algorithm for the optimization problem. The candidate solutions use a subset of the constraint compliant values such that each of the candidate solutions comply with the constraint condition. Further, while running the computer-based simulation with the candidate solutions, determining that a child candidate solution created from two of the candidate solutions fails to comply with the constraint condition; and modifying the child candidate solution to use at least one value randomly selected from the compliant values such that the child candidate solution complies with the constraint condition.
US08458100B1 Method and system for matching civilian employers with candidates having prior military experience
A computer method for matching civilian employers with candidates having prior military experience can include identifying an employer profile whose desired level of military service matches a level of military service of a candidate profile. The employer profile can be stored in a memory if the desired level military service for the employer profile matches the level of military service for the candidate profile. Remaining military fields in the employer profile stored in the memory can be compared against remaining military fields in the candidate profile. Weight values can be assigned to military fields of the candidate profile based on a degree of matching between the military fields of the employer profile and the candidate profile. The weight values can correspond to a preferred status and a non-preferred status for a respective field desired by an employer.
US08458099B2 System and method for online content licensing and distribution
A system and method for online content licensing and distribution is provided. A central website is accessible by content providers and content licensees via the Internet, and allows content providers to upload content to the central website. Licenses can be associated with uploaded content, and one or more licensees for the content can be designated. Royalty distributions can be defined and distributed to one or more recipients, and can be expressed as percentages of collected royalties or dollar amounts. An e-mail is automatically transmitted to a designated licensee which allows the licensee to access the uploaded content, pay for the content, and download the content. Collected payments are automatically distributed to one or more recipients in accordance with the royalty distributions. Suggested license fees for uploaded content can be generated and provided to the content provider, and uploaded content can be published to a third-party publication website or service.
US08458093B1 Systems and methods of transferring credit card charge to line of credit
After a charge has been made with a credit card, the charge may be analyzed to determine if it may be transferred to a line of credit. The credit card may be monitored for purchases that match rules or criteria set by a user and/or an institution system. If the transaction meets the rules and/or criteria, the charge on the credit card may be paid with funds from the line of credit. In an implementation, instead of the user waiting for the credit card bill and then paying the amount of the charge on the bill from the line of credit, the institution system automatically performs the transfer for the user (e.g., pays the charge on the credit card with funds from the line of credit).
US08458092B2 Techniques for transaction adjustment
Techniques are provided for transaction adjustment. A payment device, having an offline balance, is presented to an offline terminal in connection with a putative transaction. If an irregularity with the putative transaction is detected, the offline balance is adjusted responsive to the detection. In one aspect of the invention, such adjustment can be carried out, via offline-terminal interaction, substantially without the use of a security module and cryptographic keys in the offline terminal.
US08458089B1 System, method and program product for administering fund movements using depository institution groups
A method, system and program product, the method comprising: obtaining at or before a first source reception cutoff time, first client account transaction information; obtaining a respective net transfer amount; selecting respective aggregated deposit account in depository institution in a first group based on selection rules, first group having recipient cutoff times in a first time range; generating transfer data; obtaining at or before a second source reception cutoff time, second client account transaction information; selecting an aggregated deposit account in a depository institution in a second group to deposit/transferor withdraw/transfer funds, based on selection rules, the second group having respective cutoff times in a second time range different from the first time range; generating transfer data; allocating funds from multiple of the client accounts to the transfers; and updating databases.
US08458086B2 Allocating partial payment of a transaction amount using an allocation rule
A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts.
US08458085B1 Investor social networking website
A social networking website system for an individual investor to join as a member, to meet online with other investors and discuss investing. The social network facilitates finding and communicating among like-minded individuals by providing the investor with a plurality of searching tools for searching a member profile page, a portfolio, and provides online communication tools such as a chat room, a forum and video posting. The member easily researches important information regarding stocks, commodities, bonds, foreign currency, futures, and other types of financial instruments by entering a ticker symbol that becomes a prefix key linking to an online data synopsis about the investment. The investor social networking system also provides a member a mechanism for placing orders to buy or sell financial instruments through the website.
US08458082B2 Automated loan risk assessment system and method
An automated loan risk assessment system and method are described. The system is adapted to receive information about a loan or an insurance application requesting insurance to cover same. The system calculates a risk score for the loan based on a plurality of risk factors including at least two of a fraud risk factor, a credit risk factor and a property valuation risk factor. The risk score can be used by a loan service provider in deciding whether or not to fund or insure the loan.
US08458081B2 High speed processing of financial information using FPGA devices
A high speed apparatus and method for processing a plurality of financial market data messages are disclosed. With respect to an exemplary embodiment, a reconfigurable logic device is employed to (1) receive the financial market data messages, and (2) process each received financial market data message to update a stored record for the financial instrument associated with that message.
US08458073B2 Enterprise risk assessment manager system
A risk assessment manager is an intranet-based software system that provides enterprise-wide automated risk assessment and portfolio management to help companies reduce bad debt, decrease operational expenses, and increase cash flow. System features include integrating business information associated with unique business identifiers and displaying data in multiple languages and currency.
US08458070B2 System and method for providing customers with seamless entry to a remote server
The present invention provides a seamless entry system that comprises a universal session manager. Users connect to the host service provider with a unique username and password. Then, through a series of data exchanges between the universal session manager, a validation database, and the remote service module, the customer may be transparently logged into remote service providers. Internet banking customers utilize a browser system to connect to a host server providing a range of banking services supported by a remote or distinct server. According to the method, the customer first enters a username and password to gain access to the host service provider. The universal session manager transmits data required for login to the remote service provider. The user is thus able to utilize the remote services with his/her web browser system without having entered a username or password particular to the remote service.
US08458069B2 Systems and methods for adaptive identification of sources of fraud
A fraud detection engine is provided that analyzes transactions for fraudulent transactions. The transactions may include credit card or debit card transactions. The fraud detection engine may identify possible sources of fraud. The fraud detection engine may identify possible phony acceptors that masquerade as genuine merchants. The fraud detection engine may identify compromising points where accounts become compromised and are prone to fraudulent transactions thereafter. The fraud detection engine may receive and analyze transaction data in real-time or in batch mode. The fraud detection engine may use fuzzy logic. The fraud detection engine may use artificial intelligence such as case-based reasoning or business rules.
US08458063B2 System and method for profiling consumers and creating a recommended or custom card
A system, computer product and method for profiling consumers to recommend a financial transaction instrument having benefits tailored to psychographic characteristics of the consumer. A set of questions is presented to a consumer, in order to determine the psychographic characteristics of the consumer. At least one subset of questions is presented, based on answers to the set of questions, the at least one subset of questions relating more specifically to available benefits. A tailored financial transaction instrument is recommended, having benefits which are based on answers to the at least one subset of questions.
US08458060B2 System and method for organizing price modeling data using hierarchically organized portfolios
The present invention presents systems and methods for organizing price modeling data using hierarchically organized portfolios including a collection of transactions in a transaction database representing a first hierarchical level; collections of hierarchically organized portfolios at higher hierarchical levels than a previous hierarchical levels, the hierarchically organized portfolios representing selections from the previous hierarchical level where the hierarchically organized portfolios are arranged to be responsive to an enterprise approval hierarchy.
US08458057B1 Meeting cost accounting and analysis system and method
An automated cost accounting reporting method for interdepartmental data tracking related to the cost of a business meeting, comprising the steps of: identifying individuals attending a business meeting, collecting data about the individual participants at the business meeting from a storage data base and loading the data into a process module, timing the duration of each individuals attendance at the meeting, calculating the cost of the business meeting per business unit based on the number of individuals in attendance, generating one or more currency cost reports from the calculations, transmitting one or more reports to a particular business unit to be displayed, and displaying the reports on a computer screen.
US08458053B1 Click-to buy overlays
Methods and system for displaying a click-to-buy overlay for an item on a video in a video hosting site. The item is matched to the video according to video metadata and/or rules selected by the video rights holder. If the uploader is not the video rights holder, the video rights holder can choose to monetize the video by selecting Click-to-Buy metadata and/or rules. A viewer of the video can choose between multiple retailers for an item offered in the overlay. The viewer can further navigate between multiple overlays associated with the video while the video is playing.
US08458052B2 System and method for automated generation of communications involving products or services
A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds. Communications may be delivered through a variety of means, such as the internet, the mails, by facsimile, on a host communication, etc.
US08458046B2 Social media fact checking method and system
A fact checking system verifies the correctness of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information.
US08458042B1 Methods for selecting a bedding mattress
A method is provided for selecting one of a plurality of different bedding mattresses for a customer. The method includes the steps of receiving a first set of data related to body characteristics and sleeping preferences of the customer and receiving a second set of data related to an evaluation of the customer performed by a medical professional. The method further includes the steps of processing the first and second sets of data to evaluate support needs for a customer and determining which of the plurality of bedding mattresses has support characteristics that closely match the support needs of the customer.
US08458037B2 Electronically maintained community escrow
Coin types of coins with which a user is permitted to pay for a transaction are divided into first and second groups. The coin types of the second group are of lower value than those of the first group. A difference in which a total amount of the transaction is a minuend is determined. Where the difference is positive and can only be exactly paid for by the user using just coins of the coin types of the second group, and where a community escrow has a current balance greater than the difference, the following is performed. In response to the user indicating that the difference should be paid for from the community escrow, the transaction is electronically credited from the community escrow by an amount equal to the difference, and the difference is electronically debited from the community escrow.
US08458036B2 Datacode reading apparatus
When decoding a datacode based on moving image data output from an image sensing device, moving image data output from the image sensing device is input. An image display output unit processes the moving image data and displays it on the display screen of a display as a real-time moving image.
US08458020B2 Billing statement customer acquisition system
Some described embodiments provide for selecting (e.g., by a server computer from a plurality of transaction records), a transaction record associated with a financial account of an account holder. In one example, the transaction record includes an indication of an amount due, by the account holder, for a previous purchase completed by the account holder with a first merchant. Some embodiments provide further for generating a billing statement for the account holder, the billing statement including an indication of the amount due by the account holder for the previous completed purchase and an indication of an acquisition offer, in which the acquisition offer comprises a promise from a second merchant to pay at least a portion of the amount due by the account holder, and transmitting the billing statement to the account holder.
US08458018B1 Electronic trading system and method for marketing products and services
A consumer is provided with a first asset in return for a promise to earn an agreed to number of points over an agreed to redemption period. The consumer subsequently earns the points by purchasing one or more second assets. At least one of the second assets is different than the first asset. Each purchase has an associated point value, at least one of the point values being different than at least one other point value.An electronic trading system includes a first set of web sites where a consumer can select a first asset it wants to obtain in return for a promise to earn points by making future purchases of one or more second assets.The number of points which the consumer must earn varies as a function of which of the first assets is selected by the consumer. The consumer can fulfill its obligation to earn the stated number of points by purchasing one or more second assets at a second set of web sites. Each of the second assets has an associated point value.
US08458015B2 Methods and apparatus for analyzing user information to identify conditions indicating a need for assistance for the user
Systems and techniques for analyzing information relating to a user to determine whether the user requires assistance. Information for a user is received from sources selected to provide information relating to the user's activities and analyzed to determine whether conditions exist indicating a possible need for assistance for the user. User location, motion, and activity information is received and analyzed against expected information stored in the user profile and analyzed to determine if assistance is needed. If a determination is made that the user's behavior indicates that assistance may be needed, communication is initiated to summon appropriate assistance.
US08458011B2 Dynamic pricing of a resource
A method of dynamic pricing of a resource is presented. For example, the method includes determining a set of anticipated demands for one or more users to acquire the resource according to uncertainty of the one or more users in preferring one or more certain time periods of a plurality of time periods for acquiring the resource. Prices for the resource differ between at least two of the plurality of time periods. Each anticipated demand of the set is associated with a different one of the plurality of time periods. The method further includes setting prices for the resource during each of the plurality of time periods according to the determined set of anticipated demands. The determining of the set of anticipated demands and/or the setting of prices are implemented as instruction code executed on a processor device.
US08458008B2 Method and apparatus for outlet location selection using the market region partition and marginal increment assignment algorithm
A system and method of determining at least one location for a retail outlet in a region are described. The system and method use clustering technology for partitioning the region into a fixed number of sub-regions. Then, the system and method compute marginal increments from input data for each sub-region. The system and method choose a sub-region having a maximal marginal increment for a location of a first retail outlet.
US08458000B2 Analysis of multiple assets in view of functionally-related uncertainties
A client-server based system for building and executing flows (i.e., interconnected systems of algorithms). The client allows a user to build a flow specification and send the flow specification to the server. The server assembles the flow from the flow spec and executes the flow. A flow may be configured to analyze the impact (e.g., the financial impact) of a number of uncertainties associated with a plurality of assets. Uncertainty variables are used to characterize the uncertainties associated with the assets. An uncertainty variable associated with one asset may be functionally dependent on an uncertainty variable associated with another asset.
US08457997B2 Optimization of decisions regarding multiple assets in the presence of various underlying uncertainties
A client-server based system for building and executing flows (i.e., interconnected systems of algorithms). The client allows a user to build a flow specification and send the flow specification to the server. The server assembles the flow from the flow spec and executes the flow. A decision flow builder allows the user to build a flow targeted for the analysis/optimization of decisions (modeled by decision variables) regarding a plurality of assets in view of various underlying uncertainties (modeled by uncertainty variables). The user may specify a global objective (as a function of asset level statistics) as well and one or more constraints for the optimization. The flow may account for inter-asset correlations and inter-asset dependencies between uncertainty variables, and, inter-asset constraints between decision variables.
US08457993B1 Insurance for a safe deposit box
A system and method for insuring a safe deposit box is disclosed. The system for insuring a safe deposit box comprises a computer system capable of being assessed over an Internet, the computer system capable of providing various screens and for receiving entered information relating to a safe deposit box to be insured, and determining a premium to be paid for the insurance for a safe deposit box. The method for insuring a safe deposit box comprises the steps of renting a safe deposit box and purchasing insurance for insuring the safe deposit box.
US08457992B1 System, method and computer program product for determining compliance with contracted pharmacy reimbursement rates
A computer-based system, method and computer program product for determining compliance with contracted pharmacy reimbursement rates. The computer-based system, method and computer program product includes storing pharmacy reimbursement contract information comprised of information regarding a plurality of contracts between a payor and a pharmaceutical product provider. A plurality of claims are received via an electronic communications network. One or more of the plurality of received claims are compared to at least one of the plurality of contracts by identifying, via computer processor, one or more of the plurality of contracts having pharmaceutical reimbursement contract information that is common with one or more of the received claims. If only one contract is identified, the one contract is associated with the received claims. An indication of the association of the one identified contract with one or more of the received claims is stored in a computer memory.
US08457991B2 Virtual credit in simulated environments
A method and system provides for the use of credit arrangements in simulated environments. A user can participate in credit transactions involving purchases of virtual products, virtual services, and virtual items of value. Feedback is provided to the user regarding results of the credit transactions. In some embodiments multiple users can make simulated purchases or incur simulated credit obligations that are posted to virtual accounts, and the multiple users can also make simulated compensation against balances due or obligations owed for said virtual accounts. The user is also provided with an opportunity of engaging in real-world financial transactions related to the virtual credit arrangement. In some implementations of the system and method, multiple players at different locations can use virtual charge accounts and/or real world financial accounts in connection with arranging or resolving a virtual credit transaction.
US08457984B2 System for evaluating potential claim outcomes using related historical data
A computer system includes a data storage device. The data storage module receives, stores, and provides access to historical claim data. A categorical aggregation component comprising program instructions stored in a program memory provides categorized and aggregated historical claim data by identifying claim categories based on the historical claim data, each of the one or more claim categories associated with a respective set of claim characteristics, identifying claims of the historical claim data associated with one of the claim categories, assigning each identified claim to one of a plurality of total severity ranges based on the total severity of the identified claim, and determining an average cost per claim year for claims of each total severity range when executed by a computer processor.
US08457981B2 Bridged patient / provider centric method and system
A key organization method and system includes receiving a first access key that grants a patient-defined level of access to a first set of medical records, receiving a second access key that grants a patient-defined level of access to a second set of medical records, and storing the first and second access keys in a centralized key repository.
US08457980B1 Method of administering the delivery of health care services
A method of administering the delivery of health care services comprises identifying a plurality of patient-centric tasks which form at least a portion of a health care delivery process, classifying the tasks as physical and/or virtual tasks, and mapping a patient-centric workflow which incorporates the tasks. In certain embodiments physician-performed and nonphysician-performed tasks are further identified, as are tasks which require the physical presence of both patient and physician or nonphysician at particular locations at particular times. Automated means for facilitating performance of the tasks may also be provided. The method may be applied to an existing health care delivery process, used in the modification of an existing process, or used in the design of a new process.
US08457977B2 Advanced encoding of music files
Example embodiments allow for the creation, distribution, and use of flexible media formats. Example embodiments may allow individual content files to be rendered in multiple formats and versions. In addition, example embodiments may provide for granular rights management, which may allow users to access content files on a feature-by-feature basis.
US08457968B2 System and method for efficient tracking of multiple dialog states with incremental recombination
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for tracking multiple dialog states. A system practicing the method receives an N-best list of speech recognition candidates, a list of current partitions, and a belief for each of the current partitions. A partition is a group of dialog states. In an outer loop, the system iterates over the N-best list of speech recognition candidates. In an inner loop, the system performs a split, update, and recombination process to generate a fixed number of partitions after each speech recognition candidate in the N-best list. The system recognizes speech based on the N-best list and the fixed number of partitions. The split process can perform all possible splits on all partitions. The update process can compute an estimated new belief. The estimated new belief can be a product of ASR reliability, user likelihood to produce this action, and an original belief.
US08457967B2 Automatic evaluation of spoken fluency
A procedure to automatically evaluate the spoken fluency of a speaker by prompting the speaker to talk on a given topic, recording the speaker's speech to get a recorded sample of speech, and then analyzing the patterns of disfluencies in the speech to compute a numerical score to quantify the spoken fluency skills of the speakers. The numerical fluency score accounts for various prosodic and lexical features, including formant-based filled-pause detection, closely-occurring exact and inexact repeat N-grams, normalized average distance between consecutive occurrences of N-grams. The lexical features and prosodic features are combined to classify the speaker with a C-class classification and develop a rating for the speaker.
US08457965B2 Method for the correction of measured values of vowel nasalance
A method is described for correcting and improving the functioning of certain devices for the diagnosis and treatment of speech that dynamically measure the functioning of the velum in the control of nasality during speech. The correction method uses an estimate of the vowel frequency spectrum to greatly reduce the variation of nasalance with the vowel being spoken, so as to result in a corrected value of nasalance that reflects with greater accuracy the degree of velar opening. Correction is also described for reducing the effect on nasalance values of energy from the oral and nasal channels crossing over into the other channel because of imperfect acoustic separation.
US08457964B2 Detecting and communicating biometrics of recorded voice during transcription process
A method and system for determining and communicating biometrics of a recorded speaker in a voice transcription process. An interactive voice response system receives a request from a user for a transcription of a voice file. A profile associated with the requesting user is obtained, wherein the profile comprises biometric parameters and preferences defined by the user. The requested voice file is analyzed for biometric elements according to the parameters specified in the user's profile. Responsive to detecting biometric elements in the voice file that conform to the parameters specified in the user's profile, a transcription output of the voice file is modified according to the preferences specified in the user's profile for the detected biometric elements to form a modified transcription output file. The modified transcription output file may then be provided to the requesting user.
US08457950B1 System and method for coreference resolution
According to one aspect, a method for coreference resolution is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a segment of text that includes mentions corresponding to entities. A first feature vector is generated based on one or more features associated with a first mention, and a second feature vector is generated based on based on one or more features associated with a second mention. A measure of similarity between the first feature vector and second feature vector is computed and, based on the computed measure of similarity, it is determined if the first mention and the second mention both correspond to the same entity.
US08457940B2 Model-consistent structural restoration for geomechanical and petroleum systems modeling
A method for modeling a subterranean formation of a field, including receiving a structural model and restoring geological layers thereof to create boundary conditions each associated with a corresponding geological layer, and iteratively modeling each geological layer by alternatively applying a petroleum system model (PSM) and a geomechanical model (GMM) to a first geological layer while exchanging data between the PSM and GMM for convergence prior to applying the PSM and the GMM to a second geological layer.
US08457939B2 Generating inviscid and viscous fluid-flow simulations over an aircraft surface using a fluid-flow mesh
Fluid-flow simulation over a computer-generated aircraft surface is generated using inviscid and viscous simulations. A fluid-flow mesh of fluid cells is obtained. At least one inviscid fluid property for the fluid cells is determined using an inviscid fluid simulation that does not simulate fluid viscous effects. A set of intersecting fluid cells that intersects the aircraft surface are identified. One surface mesh polygon of the surface mesh is identified for each intersecting fluid cell. A boundary-layer prediction point for each identified surface mesh polygon is determined. At least one boundary-layer fluid property for each boundary-layer prediction point is determined using the at least one inviscid fluid property of the corresponding intersecting fluid cell and a boundary-layer simulation that simulates fluid viscous effects. At least one updated fluid property for at least one fluid cell is determined using the at least one boundary-layer fluid property and the inviscid fluid simulation.
US08457938B2 Apparatus and method for simulating one or more operational characteristics of an electronics rack
Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating simulation of one or more operating characteristics of an electronics rack. The apparatus includes a rack frame, one or more air-moving devices associated with the rack frame, and an adjustable heat source associated with the rack frame. The one or more air-moving devices establish airflow through the rack frame from an air inlet side to an air outlet side thereof, wherein the established airflow through the rack frame is related to airflow through the electronics rack to be simulated. The adjustable heat source heats air passing through the rack frame, with heated air exhausting from the air outlet side of the rack frame simulating heated air exhausting from the electronics rack.
US08457937B2 Method of optimizing volume utilization of an autoclave
A method of optimizing an autoclave volume utilization includes, in an exemplary embodiment, determining process parameters of an autoclave; modeling an autoclave configuration to determine airflow patterns in the autoclave, temperature variation throughout the autoclave, and the distribution of turbulent intensity in the autoclave; and modifying the autoclave configuration with hardware changes to the autoclave to alter the airflow patterns in the autoclave. The method also includes modeling the modified autoclave configuration to determine modified airflow patterns in the autoclave, modified temperature variation throughout the autoclave, and the modified distribution of turbulent intensity in the autoclave; and modeling the modified autoclave configuration with parts to be cured in the modified autoclave configuration to determine an arrangement of parts that maximizes the number of parts in the autoclave that meet predetermined cured properties of the parts.
US08457933B2 Method for predicting cooling load
Disclosed is a method for predicting the cooling load for efficient operation of a heat accumulation system by obtaining a prediction function regarding outdoor air temperature and specific humidity from meteorological office data, predicting the outdoor air temperature and specific humidity by using the prediction function and the highest and lowest temperatures of the weather forecast, and predicting the cooling load based on the sensible heat load coefficient, outdoor air coefficient, sensible heat load constant, and latent heat load constant, which are obtained from the building design data. The cooling load can be predicted without using a complicated mathematical model and with no reference to past operation data regarding the target building, but solely based on four air-conditioning design values of the building and the highest and lowest temperatures of the next day, which can be easily obtained from the weather forecast of the meteorological office.
US08457931B2 Numerical analysis data evaluation apparatus and thermal fluid pressure data evaluation apparatus using the same
A numerical analysis data evaluation apparatus includes: a shell generation model which converts a three-dimensional shape model into a three-dimensional shell model so that a thickness on an analysis model becomes zero; a front surface-side physical quantity projector and a rear surface-side physical quantity projector which interpolate physical quantities of front surface-side elements and physical quantities of rear surface-side elements of the three-dimensional shape model obtained as a result of the numerical analysis in on-shell model element data obtained by spatially discretizing the three-dimensional shell model, and project the physical quantities on front surface-side physical quantities and rear surface-side physical quantities of on-shell elements; an on-shell element front surface-side physical quantity data storage unit; an on-shell element rear surface-side physical quantity data storage unit; and an arithmetic unit which calculates differences between the front surface-side physical quantities and the rear surface-side physical quantities of the on-shell elements.
US08457924B2 Control system and method using an ultrasonic area array
A computer control system and method is disclosed. Such a system may include a processor and an ultrasonic area-array sensor configured to receive a ridged surface, such as one or more digits of a hand. The processor may be configured to: (a) acquire a first information set from the sensor, the first information set representing at least a portion of the ridged surface, (b) acquire a second information set from the sensor, the second information set representing at least a portion of the ridged surface, (c) compare the first information set with the second information set to identify a common feature of the ridged surface that is present in both the first information set and the second information set, (d) determine a first position of the common feature using the first information set, (e) determine a second position of the common feature using the second information set, and (f) calculate a control measurement by comparing the first position and the second position.
US08457922B2 System and method for determining accuracy of an infrared thermometer measurement
A system and method for determining whether a temperature measurement made with an infrared thermometer is accurate is disclosed. An infrared sensor array is used to detect infrared radiation from a target object. By analyzing the relative values of output signals from the individual sensor elements, a determination can be made whether radiation from the target object sufficiently fills the field of view of the detecting element of the instrument. A temperature measurement is considered accurate if this criteria is met.
US08457912B1 Unwrapping angles from phasor measurement units
A method for monitoring a power grid uses power line sensors to measure time-stamped data representing AC current carried by the power grid at a multiple locations on the power grid, communicates the measured data from the power line sensors to a grid analysis device where the data measured by the power line sensors is synchronized and unwrapped to produce absolute phase data. The absolute phase data is then analyzed to generate predictions of instability of the power grid. The resulting unwrapped angle could also be called the “angle distance” from the reference.
US08457907B2 Compensation device for fluidic oscillation flow meter and compensation method using the same
A compensation device for fluidic oscillation flow meters is provided. The compensation device includes a fluid supply unit, a fluidic oscillator, an electronic valve, a reference tank and a computer. The fluid supply unit supplies fluid into a pipe. The fluidic oscillator generates a characteristic oscillation frequency when the fluid supplied from the fluid supply unit passes through the fluidic oscillator. The electronic valve controls a flow rate of the fluid passing through the fluidic oscillator. The reference tank accumulates and stores the fluid passing through the electronic valve. The computer calculates a characteristic linear compensation coefficient using data about the time for which the fluid had passed through the fluidic oscillator, an oscillation frequency of the fluidic oscillator, a preset flow rate of the electronic valve, and a preset fluid accumulation amount of the reference tank. The computer stores the calculated characteristic linear compensation coefficient.
US08457906B2 Corrosion and erosion corrosion type determination from parametric shape representation of surfaces
Different types of localized corrosion, erosion corrosion and other types of corrosion may be detected and identified by examining or viewing a solid surface where corrosion is occurring or has occurred to obtain an image therefrom. The image is then represented as a three-dimensional mathematical surface, which is then fit to a parametric surface composed of one or more curved and/or polygonal surfaces. Representative parameters are determined from the parametric surface. The corrosion type is identified by the best fit of the parameters known to be correlated (or caused by) a particular type of corrosive activity or agent for a given substrate.
US08457903B1 Method and/or apparatus for determining codons
Computer processing methods and/or systems for minimizing and/or optimizing data strings in accordance with rules and options. Minimized data strings can represent data sequences important in certain biologic analyses and/or syntheses. In specific embodiments, a request is generated by a user at a client system and received by a server system. The server system accesses initial data indicated or provided by the client system. The server system then performs an analysis to minimize the data needed for further reactions. In specific embodiments, a server can use proprietary methods or data at the server side while protecting those proprietary methods and data from access by the client system.
US08457902B2 Method for selecting SIRNAs from a plurality of SIRNAs for gene silencing
The present invention provides a method for identifying siRNA target motifs in a transcript using a position-specific score matrix approach. The invention also provides a method for identifying off-target genes of an siRNA using a position-specific score matrix approach. The invention further provides a method for designing siRNAs with higher silencing efficacy and specificity. The invention also provides a library of siRNAs comprising siRNAs with high silencing efficacy and specificity.
US08457901B2 System for optimizing a patient's insulin dosage regimen
A system for optimizing a patient's insulin dosage regimen over time, comprising at least a first memory for storing data inputs corresponding at least to one or more components in a patient's present insulin dosage regimen, and data inputs corresponding at least to the patient's blood-glucose-level measurements determined at a plurality of times, and a processor operatively connected to the at least first memory. The processor is programmed at least to determine from the data inputs corresponding to the patient's blood-glucose-level measurements determined at a plurality of times whether and by how much to vary at least one of the one or more components in the patient's present insulin dosage regimen in order to maintain the patient's future blood-glucose-level measurements within a predefined range.
US08457900B2 Method for identification and sequencing of proteins
Protein samples are processed to create a mixture of modified and unmodified or overlapping peptides which are analyzed using mass spectrometry. Correlations between the MS/MS spectra of peptide pairs allow the noise in individual MS/MS spectra to be greatly reduced. A small number of peptide reconstructions can be generated that are likely to contain the correct one. This allows for the de novo reconstruction of protein sequences and peptide and modification identification through a database search using extremely fast pattern matching, rather than time-consuming matching of spectra against databases.
US08457898B2 System and method for real-time quality control for downhole logging devices
An illustrative embodiment of a method is disclosed for assessing image quality of a down hole formation image, the method comprising collecting acquisition system data from a plurality of sensors down hole; applying a set of rules to the acquisition system data to obtain an acquisition quality indicator; and presenting the acquisition quality indicator at a surface location. A system is disclosed for performing the method.
US08457896B2 Method and apparatus for determining locations of multiple casings within a wellbore conductor
Certain embodiments described herein provide methods, systems and computer-readable media for determining at least one location of at least one wellbore casing within a wellbore conductor. Sensor measurements generated by at least one sensor within the conductor are provided, the measurements indicative of at least one location of the at least one casing within the conductor as a function of position along the conductor. In certain embodiments, a data memory stores the measurements. The at least one location of the at least one casing is calculated using the measurements and at least one geometric constraint. The at least one constraint originates at least in part from at least one physical parameter of the conductor, or at least one physical parameter of the at least one casing, or both. In certain embodiments, a computer system or computer-executable component calculates the at least one location of the at least one casing.
US08457894B2 Navigation device automated mode sensing and adjustment
A navigation device automatically determines a travel mode based on at least one non-user input and configures itself based on the travel mode. The device generates one or more directions or navigation routes based on routing information, a user location, a destination, and the travel mode. The device then displays the one or more directions for the user. The automatic determination may be based on a travel speed, connection to an external power source, connection to an external power source and a travel speed, and/or receipt of one or more signals from a transmitter coupled to a vehicle. The user may be able to override configuration of the device based on the travel mode. The system may be implemented as an integrated device or may be implemented as a server computing device connected to a client computing device.
US08457891B1 Systems and methods for compensating nonlinearities in a navigational model
Systems and methods are provided for compensating nonlinearities in a navigational model. In one embodiment, a system comprises an inertial measurement unit configured to measure inertial motion of a vehicle and an aiding source configured to provide observational measurements of vehicle motion. Further, the system comprises a navigation computer coupled to the inertial measurement unit and the aiding source, wherein the navigation computer is configured to calculate a predicted state and an error covariance data based on the measured inertial motion received from the inertial measurement unit and the observational measurements from the aiding source and calculate variance increments based on attitude uncertainty in the predicted state. Also, the navigation computer is configured to add the variance increments into a process noise covariance matrix for the predicted state and calculate an update for the vehicle motion based on the predicted state, the error covariance data, and the observational measurements.
US08457888B2 Method for reminding users about future appointments while taking into account traveling time to the appointment location
A method of notifying a user of an appointment at a remote location includes receiving an appointment time and an appointment location inputted into a personal navigation device operated by a user, determining the current location of the personal navigation device, and determining the user's routing preferences when traveling to the appointment location. The method also includes estimating a travel time for the user to travel from the current location to the appointment location when traveling according to the user's routing preferences, determining a notification time based on the estimated travel time and the appointment time, and notifying the user of the appointment at the notification time.
US08457887B2 System and method for providing travel-related information associated with a calendar appointment
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing travel-related information associated with a calendar appointment is presented. The method comprises monitoring a calendar application for travel-related appointments. In response to identifying a travel-related appointment, the method retrieves travel-related information associated with a location of the travel-related appointment and provides the travel-related information to a user.
US08457885B2 Computing paths between geographical localities
Technology is generally described for computing paths between geographical localities. The technology can receive a request for a path between two or more geographical localities, and compute a path based at least on a popularity rating of intermediate geographical localities.
US08457884B2 Method for the operation of a navigation system
The present invention relates to a method for operating a navigation system comprising the following method steps: a) calculating a route from a point of departure to a destination, said route being composed of a succession of route segments and junctions between the route segments and being selected by means of a route calculation process from a database in which a geographical region is described by route segments and junctions; b) calculating at least one maneuvering instruction which contains instructions for the user to follow the route starting from the current position; c) optically and/or acoustically outputting the maneuvering instruction in an output device, wherein prior to and/or during the calculation and/or prior to and/or during the output of the maneuvering instruction, a configuration file is read and interpreted by an interpretation module, and wherein configuring preset data for calculating and/or outputting the maneuvering instruction are stored in the configuration file.
US08457882B2 Systems and methods for navigation in a GPS-denied environment
Systems and methods for updating a navigation system are provided. In one implementation, a system includes: a navigation system configured to provide a navigational solution; at least one memory device configured to store a terrain object database, the terrain object database storing information that describes a terrain; a user interface configured to display a terrain model and receive position adjustments from a user; and a processing unit configured to generate displayable information for displaying the terrain model using the information stored on the at least one memory device and the navigational solution, and calculate corrections to the navigational solution from the position adjustments and transmit the corrections to the navigation system.
US08457881B2 Image capturing system for vehicle
An image capturing system for vehicle includes an object-to-be-captured information storage unit (12a) for storing information about an object to be captured on a map, a camera (18) for capturing an image of the object to be captured, an object-to-be-captured position determining unit (27) for determining a distance from the current position to the object to be captured, and the direction of the object to be captured, a camera control unit (28) for controlling the camera to orient the camera toward the determined direction, and to focus the camera on the determined distance, a determining unit (30) for determining whether or not an image captured by the camera is a clearly-captured one, and an information storage unit (17) for, when the determining unit determines that the captured image is a clearly-captured one, storing the image therein.
US08457879B2 Information device, method for informing and/or navigating a person, and computer program
The invention relates to a housing for protecting an electronic device (1) to be fitted to a motor vehicle, the housing comprising a plurality of shells (2, 3) forming a front (2) and a cap (3), these being assembled together to define jointly an enclosure (4) for housing an electronic card (1) provided with remote connectors (13), wherein at least one first shell (3) is formed from at least two elementary shells (18) and said first shell (3) includes, molded into it, at least one mobility means allowing relative movement between the elementary shells. The first shell (3) is formed in one piece, the two elementary shells (18) are situated side by side, each comprising a window for the passage and/or reception of a connector (13), and said mobility means comprises an elastically deformable member (26).
US08457878B2 Method and system for automatically creating POI by identifying geographic information on a screen of a portable navigation device
A method for automatically creating points of interest by identifying geographic information on a screen of a portable navigation device. A first geographic information is retrieved from an information page shown in the screen of the portable navigation device and recognized by comparing with the first geographic information with a geographic information of landmarks stored in a map database of the portable navigation device. It is determined whether the first geographic information is in the map database. If the geographic information is in the map database, a first GPS coordinate corresponding to the first geographic information is obtained and stored as a first POI.
US08457877B2 Devices, systems, and methods for testing crash avoidance technologies
A Guided Soft Target (GST) system and method provides a versatile test system and methodology for the evaluation of various crash avoidance technologies. This system and method can be used to replicate the pre-crash motions of the CP in a wide variety of crash scenarios while minimizing physical risk, all while consistently providing radar and other sensor signatures substantially identical to that of the item being simulated. The GST system in various example embodiments may comprise a soft target vehicle or pedestrian form removably attached to a programmable, autonomously guided, self-propelled Dynamic Motion Element (DME), which may be operated in connection with a wireless computer network operating on a plurality of complimentary communication networks. Specific DME geometries are provided to minimize ride disturbance and observability by radar and other sensors. Computer controlled DME braking systems are disclosed as well as break-away and retractable antenna systems.
US08457876B2 Global positioning tag system and method
A system for determining the location of an object includes an interrogator remote from the object and a transponder located at the object. The interrogator receives GPS signals and transmits pre-positioning data and a tracking signal to the transponder. The pre-positioning data includes pseudorandom noise (PRN) code number, Doppler frequency offset and code phase offset while the tracking signal includes reference time and frequency information. The transponder collects RF samples of at least one of the GPS signals associated with one of the PRN code numbers and correlates the RF samples of the GPS signal against code replicas of the GPS signal based on the Doppler frequency offset, code phase offset and reference time and frequency information for that GPS signal to produce the correlation snapshot. The transponder transmits the correlation snapshot to the interrogator and the interrogator determines the pseudorange associated with the GPS signal using the correlation snapshot.
US08457872B2 Method for managing the flight of an aircraft
The invention relates to a method for managing the flight of an aircraft flying along a trajectory and being subject to an absolute time constraint (on a downstream point) or relative time constraint (spacing with respect to a downstream aircraft), the said aircraft comprising a flight management system calculating a temporal discrepancy to the said time constraint, wherein the said method includes the following steps: the calculation of a distance on the basis of the temporal discrepancy, the modification of the trajectory: if the temporal discrepancy to the time constraint corresponds to an advance, the lengthening of the trajectory by the distance; if the temporal discrepancy to the time constraint corresponds to a delay, the shortening of the trajectory by the distance.
US08457870B2 Method for the operation of a driver assistance system of a vehicle
A method for the operation of a driver assistance system of a vehicle (C1, C2), particularly of a motor vehicle and/or a commercial vehicle is provided. A message produced by a central computer (ZR), the message having traffic data (VD) and a confidence parameter (CL) which represents a measure for the reliability of the traffic data (VD) is received by a computer (R1, R2) of the vehicle (C1, C2). According to the magnitude of the confidence parameter, the transmission of a traffic status message (VZD), having at least one time stamp as well as coordinates of the vehicle (C1, C2), is directed to the central computer.
US08457867B2 Method for operating a vehicle
A vehicle is disclosed, including a startup switch electrically connected to the ECU. Actuation of the startup switch causes a signal to be sent to the ECU indicative of a desired operation of the vehicle. A display device is disposed forwardly of the seat for displaying information to the rider. Actuation of a confirmation switch causes a confirmation signal to be sent to the ECU indicative of a display of information to a rider. Upon actuation of the startup switch, the ECU prevents the vehicle from moving until information is displayed by the display device and the confirmation signal is received by the ECU. A method of operating a vehicle is also disclosed.
US08457861B2 Late lean injection with adjustable air splits
A gas turbine engine is provided and includes a combustor having a first interior in which a first fuel is combustible, a turbine into which products of at least the combustion of the first fuel are receivable, a transition zone, including a second interior in which a second fuel and the products of the combustion of the first fuel are combustible, a plurality of fuel injectors which are configured to supply the second fuel to the second interior in any one of a single axial stage, multiple axial stages, a single axial circumferential stage and multiple axial circumferential stages, a compressor, by which air is supplied to the first and second interiors for the combustion therein, and a control system configured to control relative amounts of the air to the first and second interiors and relative amounts of the first and second fuels supplied to the first and second interiors.
US08457858B2 Vehicle motion control apparatus
A front/rear driving/braking force control unit 30 calculates driving/braking forces of front and rear axles that minimize energy loss realizing a target steering characteristic as first front/rear driving/braking forces Fxfte, Fxrte and calculates driving/braking forces of the front and rear axles that realize the target steering characteristic and maximize the sum of maximum tire lateral forces of the front and rear axles as second front/rear driving/braking forces Fxftp, Fxrtp. Then, the front/rear driving/braking force control unit 30 sets a grip margin Mg based on the tire lateral force Fyf, Fyr of the front and rear shafts which is calculated based on lateral acceleration (d2y/dt2), and road information (road μ), calculates target driving/braking forces Fxft, Fxrt of the front and rear axles according to the grip margin Mg based on the first front/rear driving/braking forces Fxfte, Fxrte and the second front/rear driving/braking forces Fxftp, Fxrtp, and outputs the target driving/braking forces Fxft, Fxrt to a driving/braking force control unit 20.
US08457855B2 Accelerator reaction force control apparatus
An accelerator reaction force control apparatus has an accelerator position detecting device that detects an accelerator position and a reaction force varying device that varies a reaction force of an accelerator. The reaction force varying device increases the accelerator's reaction force beyond a base reaction force in response to the accelerator position being equal to or larger than a reaction force increase threshold, and decreases the accelerator's reaction force toward the base reaction force in response to the accelerator position becoming equal to or smaller than a reaction force increase cancellation threshold after the reaction force has been increased beyond the base reaction force. The reaction force varying device varies a reaction force decrease rate at which the accelerator's reaction force is decreased based on an accelerator position change condition existing at a time when the accelerator position becomes equal to or smaller than the reaction force increase cancellation threshold.
US08457853B2 Circuit configuration for a serial communication with wake up function
A circuit configuration for serial communication includes a first half for receiving and emitting sensing and/or actuating signals; a second half for receiving and emitting sensing and/or actuating signals, a two wire connecting line, which connects bidirectionally the first half and the second half of the circuit configuration; and a wake up switching device for waking up the first and second halves of the circuit configuration out of their standby mode without quiescent current. Independently of the switching state of the wake up switching device, a high level state at the output of a second low pass filter device holds a first switching device in its closing state, and a high level state at the output of a first low pass filter device holds a second switching device in its closing state, as a result of which a self-holding of the supply voltage is guaranteed.
US08457849B2 Controller for automated variable-speed transmission in a motor vehicle with all-wheel drive
A method of controlling an automated variable-speed transmission in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having all-wheel drive in which, during driving operation under difficult ground conditions, measures are provided for suppression of the automatic shift processes. To reliably prevent undesired automatic shift processes when the vehicle is in an all-wheel drive mode on difficult terrain, particularly also in combination with active differential locks, currently active traction-related mechanisms are evaluated by a plausibility check taking into account detection of wheel slippage, and the measures for suppressing automatic shift processes are carried out as a function of the evaluation.
US08457848B2 Work machine with IVT output automatically adjusted dependent upon engine load
A work machine includes an internal combustion (IC) engine, and an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) coupled with the IC engine. At least one sensor provides an output signal representing a real-time load value on the IC engine. At least one electrical processing circuit is configured for controlling an output of the IVT, dependent upon a threshold load value for the IC engine and the real-time load value for the IC engine. In one embodiment, the at least one electrical processing circuit includes an engine control unit (ECU) associated with the IC engine, and a transmission control unit (TCU) associated with the IVT. The ECU provides an output signal to the TCU representing the real-time load value. The TCU controls the output of the IVT dependent upon a comparison between the threshold load value and the real-time load value.
US08457846B2 Modular seat actuation control system and communication method
A seat actuation control system includes at least one seat having a plurality of seat devices and a plurality of control modules interconnected over a communication bus. Each module is associated with a corresponding seat control device and is configured to control its corresponding seat device. Each module includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions therein which include receiving a status packet from each of the other control modules over the communication bus, processing the status packet for updating the overall system status, and actuating the seat device based on the overall system status. The program instructions further include determining status of the corresponding seat device, generating a status packet including the status information, and broadcasting the status packet to the other modules over the communication bus.
US08457844B2 Parallel parking assistant system and method thereof
A parallel parking assistant system integrated with a vehicle and method thereof are provided, the parking assistant system including a first sensor configured to determine a first distance, a second sensor configured to determine a second distance, and a controller configured to provide commands as a function of the first and second determined distances. The commands include a first command configured to command a steering system to be in a clockwise position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a first reversing distance, a second command configured to command the steering system to be in a substantially straight position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a second reversing distance, and a third command configured to command the steering system to be in a counter-clockwise position while the vehicle is a moving in a reverse direction for a third reversing distance.
US08457837B2 Method and system for collection state information of parts in a passenger cabin of a vehicle
A method for collecting defect data of parts in a passenger cabin of a vehicle includes, but is not limited to connecting an electronics device allocated to a user to a central communication device, retrieving a user interface provided by the communication device by the electronics device, dialog-based inquiring of defect data of parts by the communication device by way of the user interface on the electronics device, and storing the requested defect data by the communication device in a central data storage unit. The electronics device can be mobile or permanently installed. Mobile electronics devices can be implemented by personal electronics devices of the passengers, which devices were brought into the passenger cabin.
US08457836B2 Systems for announcing the health of aircraft control elements
A system for announcing failure of a mechanically actuated arrangement employs a first coupler arrangement that couples an actuator to a structural element that is desired to be controlled, and a first force sensor is coupled to the first coupler arrangement. The first coupler arrangement and the first force sensor constitute a primary load path. Similarly, a second coupler arrangement is coupled to the actuator to the structural element and constitutes a secondary load path. Changes in the forces experienced by one or both of first and second force sensors are monitored by a controller/monitor system. A connector has a screw shaft in the primary load path and a preloaded tie rod in the secondary load path. Axial forces are generated by a drive motor, which can include a ball screw arrangement. Operating impulses generated by the ball screw arrangement are monitored during a predetermined interval of operation.
US08457833B2 Apparatus for tracking and recording vital signs and task-related information of a vehicle to identify operating patterns
An apparatus is provided for diagnosing the state of health of a vehicle and for providing the operator of the vehicle with a substantially real-time indication of the efficiency of the vehicle in performing an assigned task with respect to a predetermined goal. A processor on-board the vehicle monitors sensors that provide information regarding the state of health of the vehicle and the amount of work the vehicle has done. In response to anomalies in the data from the sensors, the processor records information that describes events leading up to the occurrence of the anomaly for later analysis that can be used to diagnose the cause of the anomaly. The sensors are also used to prompt the operator of the vehicle to operate the vehicle at optimum efficiency.
US08457831B2 Power door safety locking system
A safety locking system is provided to detect an open fault or a ground fault condition. The safety locking system includes a central processing unit with an input and an output, and a safety switch electrically connected to the input of the central processing unit. The input receives a low signal when the safety switch is in an enabled state and a pulsed signal when the safety switch is in a disabled state. The central processing unit detects an open fault condition when the input receives a high signal for a time period greater than a threshold time period, and a ground fault condition when the input receives the low signal and the safety switch operates as if the safety switch is in the disabled state.
US08457826B2 Support for electronic equipment
A mobile support such as a rack or a platform for a rack housing a server or other electronic equipment is capable of independent movement and automatic connection and disconnection from resources such as network connection, coolant supply and power supply. The coordination of a plurality of such mobile supports is envisaged so as to automatically distribute equipment in a data center in such a way as to optimally use space and resources.
US08457825B2 Method and apparatus for operating a powertrain system in response to accessory load
A powertrain system includes an electric machine mechanically coupled to an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to a transmission. A method for operating the powertrain system includes determining an engine stall threshold rate during engine operation in a low load condition. A time-rate change in an accessory load is controlled by the electric machine operating in an electric power generating mode in response to the engine stall threshold rate during the engine operation in the low load condition.
US08457824B2 Embedded controller frequency inputs re-used for speed sensor diagnostics
A vehicle is provided having an electric machine and a speed detector coupled to the electric machine. A controller is coupled to the speed detector. The controller may analyze the integrity of communication between the speed detector and the controller based on a frequency signal provided with the speed detector.
US08457823B2 Method and device for operating a hybrid vehicle
In a method for operating a hybrid vehicle, an idle first drive unit is started during the driving of the hybrid vehicle by transferring part of a torque from an operating second drive unit to the first drive unit. To minimize effects on the movement characteristics of the hybrid vehicle during starting and/or stopping of the first drive unit, a control unit is provided for influencing the torque of the operating second drive unit by at least one of the variables derived from the longitudinal movement of the hybrid vehicle.
US08457820B1 Marine vessel porpoising control method
A method is provided by controlling the operation of a marine vessel subject to porpoising. The method includes sensing an operational characteristic of the marine vessel which is indicative of porpoising of the marine vessel, and responding to the sensing of the operational characteristic with a response that is representative of the operational characteristic of the marine vessel as being indicative of the porpoising of the marine vessel.
US08457819B2 Computer readable medium for operating a vessel
One or more embodiments of a computer readable medium having computer instructions stored thereon for operating a vessel are provided. The computer readable medium can include computer instructions for monitoring a DC source; computer instructions for determining the most efficient power source to power a vessel; computer instructions for controlling an AC power source to allow transfer of power solely from the DC power source to power the vessel, transfer of power solely from the AC power source to power the vessel; or transfer of power from both the AC power source and the DC power source to power the vessel; computer instructions to determine when the DC power source is at a predetermined level; and computer instructions for controlling auxiliary devices of the vessel.
US08457814B2 Radar monitoring device
When a vehicle moves into a radar prohibited area preset for the neighborhood of a facility that suffers adverse effects from radar waves, emission of radar waves is stopped, and a voice guidance such as “Radar monitoring is stopped” is sent to a speaker via a voice output unit. Moreover, during a period in which a vehicle is located in a radar prohibited area, an icon that indicates that a radar is being stopped, a mark that indicates an institution for which the radar prohibited area is set, and the scope of the radar prohibited area are displayed on a map image.
US08457810B1 Compound steering law for efficient low thrust transfer orbit trajectory
A method and system for application of a compound steering law for efficient low thrust transfer orbit trajectory for a spacecraft are disclosed. The method involves calculating, with at least one processor, a desired orbit for the spacecraft. The method further involves calculating a velocity change required to achieve an orbit eccentricity and a velocity change required to achieve a semi-major axis, both of which correspond to the desired orbit for the spacecraft. Also, the method involves calculating the direction of the vector sum of the velocity change required to achieve the orbit eccentricity and the velocity change required to achieve the semi-major axis. Further, the method involves firing at least one thruster of the spacecraft in the direction of the vector sum in order to change the current orbit of the spacecraft to the desired orbit for the spacecraft, thereby changing the orbit eccentricity and the semi-major axis simultaneously.
US08457805B2 Power distribution considering cooling nodes
A method, system, and computer usable program product for power distribution considering cooling nodes in a data processing environment. A power demand of a data processing environment is determined for a period. The data processing environment includes a set of computing nodes and cooling nodes. A determination is made that the power demand will exceed a limit on electrical power available to the data processing environment for the period if the computing nodes and the cooling nodes in the data processing environment are operated in a first configuration. A first amount of power is redistributed from a cooling node in the data processing environment to a computing node in the data processing environment such that a temperature related performance threshold of a subset of computing nodes is at least met.
US08457802B1 System and method for energy management
Embodiments of the present invention assist customers in managing the four types of energy assets, that is, generation, storage, usage, and controllable load assets. Embodiments of the present invention for the first time develop and predict a customer baseline (“CBL”) usage of electricity, using a predictive model based on simulation of energy assets, based on business as usual (“BAU”) of the customer's facility. The customer is provided with options for operating schedules based on algorithms, which allow the customer to maximize the economic return on its generation assets, its storage assets, and its load control assets. Embodiments of the invention enable the grid to verify that the customer has taken action to control load in response to price. This embodiment of the invention calculates the amount of energy that the customer would have consumed, absent any reduction of use made in response to price. Specifically, the embodiment models the usage of all the customer's electricity consuming devices, based on the customer's usual conditions. This model of the expected consumption can then be compared to actual actions taken by the customer, and the resulting consumption levels, to verify that the customer has reduced consumption and is entitled to payment for the energy that was not consumed.
US08457801B2 Active network management
A method for defining one or more ANM zones in an electricity network that has at least one energy producing/consuming device that has an output that has to be regulated. The method comprises determining the maximum power and/or current transmittable to or from a node or branch in the network at which an energy producing/consuming device that has to be regulated is to be added; determining the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through that node or branch; and defining a zone (zone 1, zone 2) including the node or branch and regulated energy producing/consuming device that requires to be actively managed, in the event that the maximum power and/or current transmittable to the node or branch exceeds the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through it.
US08457795B1 Energy-saving refrigeration through sensor-based prediction to hedge thermal and electromechanical inertia
In one embodiment, the present invention is a retrofit to rapidly transition to existing consumer refrigerator-freezer product lines in order to greatly eliminate wasted energy. This occurs because spurious opening of the system doors allows heat to enter with the deleterious side effect of causing the compressor to cycle on and off. This, in turn, consumes more power than if such duty cycles could be predicted, which would allow for their smoothing. The invention takes advantage of existing sensor technologies and develops a computational framework for their fusion for the prediction of a dependency, which controls operation of the compressor. Instances of a predictive schema are evolved and this approach allows for greater accuracy in less time than would be possible using competing neural network or support vector machine technologies. A novel evolutionary algorithm is included, which is so defined as to allow its execution on a lower-end computer.
US08457793B2 Intelligent lighting management and building control system
A method of controlling and managing a plurality of system managers, a plurality of lights and devices, including human interfaces and building automation devices is disclosed. The method includes a system manager collecting data from the plurality of lights and devices. The system manager uses the collected data to determine an adjacency of lights and devices. The system manager dynamically places the plurality of lights and devices into zones and binding human interface devices to the zones, and a dynamically configures the devices to control the zones. The devices perform self-calibration and self-commissioning. The system manager and devices perform ongoing calibration and commissioning. The system manager and devices operate resiliently in case of failure of the system manager, other devices, or software or hardware failures in the devices. The system manager and the devices operate on the collected data to determine usage patterns, and to efficiently manage the plurality of lights and devices.
US08457792B2 Shape detection system
A shape detection system includes a distance image sensor that detects an image of a plurality of detection objects and distances to the detection objects, the detection objects being randomly arranged in a container, a sensor controller that detects a position and an orientation of each of the detection objects in the container on the basis of the result of the detection performed by the distance image sensor and a preset algorithm, and a user controller that selects the algorithm to be used by the sensor controller and sets the algorithm for the sensor controller.
US08457789B2 Wall-following robot cleaner and method to control the same
A robot cleaner that cleans a cleaning region while traveling the cleaning region and a method to control the same are provided. The robot cleaner can uniformly clean a cleaning region based on a wall-following technique which allows the robot cleaner to travel along the outline of the cleaning region. The method selects, as a reference wall, a wall at a left or right side of the robot cleaner at a start position of the robot cleaner based on a left or right-based travel algorithm, which allows the robot cleaner to travel along a left or right wall, and controls the robot cleaner to travel the cleaning region in a zigzag travel pattern in which the robot cleaner moves a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the reference wall at specific intervals along the selected reference wall while following the selected reference wall.
US08457786B2 Method and an apparatus for calibration of an industrial robot system
An industrial robot system has at least one robot (1) having a robot coordinate system (xr1, yr1, zr1) and a positioner (2) having a positioner coordinate system (xp, yp, zp) and adapted to hold and change orientation of a workpiece by rotating about a rotational axis. Target points for the robot are programmed with respect to an object coordinate system (xo1, yo1, zo1). A robot controller (3), at least three calibration objects (24a-c) arranged on the positioner, and a calibration tool (26) held by the robot are provided. The positions of the calibration objects are determined for at least three different angles of the rotational axis of the positioner, to determine the direction of the rotational axis of the positioner and relation between the object coordinate system and the positioner coordinate system by performing a best fit between known and determined positions of the calibration objects.
US08457785B2 Bag dispensing system
The present invention relates to a system for dispensing bags, particularly plastic bags, one at a time, particularly for use in stores and shopping areas. The system has an actuator for actuating a bag dispenser to dispense a single bag at a time. The actuator is coupled to a controller, which may be the controller of an electronic cash register or a store controller, for two-way communication, permitting control of the total number of bags dispensed to each customer. If desired, the rate at which the bags are dispensed can also be set and controlled. According to one embodiment, the system can also hold advertising material or other informational or aesthetic displays, and may include a media player for displaying advertising material aimed at the specific customer.
US08457784B2 Memory wire terminator with spring contacts
A container for use in a dispensing system is disclosed. The container comprises a body, a linkage element movably attached to the body, a control module, and an actuator comprising a memory wire having a length and a terminator that is attached to the memory wire. The linkage element has a first position and a second position, and the actuator is mechanically coupled to the linkage element. The control module is attached to the body and comprises a contact element. The terminator is attached to the body and electrically coupled to the contact element, wherein the electrical coupling between the memory wire and the contact element is mechanically compliant such that the position of the terminator relative to the body is invariant when the position of the control module relative to the body varies.
US08457780B2 Method and system for enabling automated receiving and retrieving of cargo for storing purposes
The invention relates to a system of enabling automated receiving/retrieving of stocks of cargo for storing purposes. The system uses at least one service level and one or more storage levels. The service level is operated and organized in such a way that it is able to receive, interchange cargo, and extract cargo simultaneously and batch way. The system is redundant and allows continued operation even if some of its components malfunction. The service area comprising (a) a plurality of pallets for conveying said cargo; (b) a matrix of blocks of predetermined shape upon which said cargo and said pallets located; (c) at least one elevator block for transporting said pallet to different areas of said system; (d) at least one box; (e) at least two buffer for allowing transport of said pallets in at least two orthogonal directions in each of said areas.
US08457779B2 Multi-track handling and storage apparatus and method thereof
A multi-track handling and storage apparatus includes at least two main tracks, at least two cranes and an intelligent integrated logic system. The main tracks are arranged separately, and every two adjacent main tracks are connected by at least one switching track. Bottoms of the cranes are slidably disposed on the main tracks. The intelligent integrated logic system includes a command receiving unit, a database unit, an analyzing unit, a crane dispatching unit and a route selection unit which are integrated with each other. The above-mentioned main tracks, switching tracks and cranes are controlled by the units of the intelligent integrated logic system. The present invention further provides a multi-track handling and storage method.
US08457776B2 Method and system for material transport
The invention relates to a method and a system for material transport, whereby at least one mobile transport means is detected by means of a detection device, comprising a radar or laser detecting device. Position coordinates, position angles and speed of the transport means are determined by means of a reference coordinate system and transmitted to a stationary data processing device. A central material tracking with verification of storage location is generated by means of the data processing device, whereby, particularly with use of the positing angle, the storage type for the material can be automatically determined. Operator input for the complete description of the material storage is not necessary.
US08457774B2 Substrate processing apparatus, control method of the substrate processing apparatus, manufacturing method of semiconductor device and apparatus state shifting method
To perform a maintenance work safely by a maintenance engineer, even if the maintenance work is performed with power of a substrate processing apparatus turned-on. A substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a controller that inhibits a shift from an idling state to a standby state, when a generation of a prescribed event is detected; the controller further comprising: a shift indicating part that controls an apparatus state so as to be shifted from the idling state possible to receive an indication of execution of the recipe, being an apparatus state possible to step into the substrate processing apparatus, to the standby state possible to execute a recipe, being an apparatus state impossible to step into the substrate processing apparatus; and an event detection part that detects a generation of the prescribed event for inhibiting a shift from the idling state to the standby state and notifies the shift indicating part of the prescribed event.
US08457773B2 Modular manifold system
A method of manufacturing a manifold assembly (22) in accordance with specifications required by a mold is provided. The method includes selecting a manifold (22) from a predetermined set of manifolds (22) and sub-manifolds (24) selected from a predetermined set of sub-manifolds (24). Both the manifolds (22) and the sub-manifolds (24) are at least partially manufactured to define first and second portions of the melt channels (28). Injection nozzles (26) are also selected for each sub-manifold (24), defining third portions of the melt channels (28). The manifold (22), the at least one sub-manifold (24) and the injection nozzles (26) are arranged and assembled together so that the first portions, the second portions and the third portions of the melt channels (28) cooperatively define the melt channels (28) operable to direct a melt material to gates located in the mold. The invention further includes a manifold assembly manufactured using the methods described herein.
US08457768B2 Crowd noise analysis
The present invention generally provides a way to analyze crowd noise to identify “highlights” or the like. Specifically, an audio stream containing crowd noise from an event (e.g., sporting event, political rally, religious gathering, etc) is captured (e.g., using microphones) and time coded. The audio stream is normalized based on geography and processed to remove undesired artifacts and to identify a set (at least one) of highlights. Based on at least one threshold, at least one highlight is selected from the set of highlights.
US08457767B2 System and method for real-time industrial process modeling
The present invention presents two new model types and a new method for evaluating a model used in the control application. These include a compound model, a hybrid model and a directional change coefficient model. The present invention allows the mixing of models with different inputs and outputs and the switching between these models based criteria for measuring optimization accuracy. The present invention allows switching between these models. The compound model is a model type that allows zooming in on the process to model parts of the data space with higher fidelity or resolution without loosing the capability to model the complete data space. The modeler does not loose any functionally over a regular neural network, but instead gains the ability to define the conditions when the model should use network weights best matched to the defined local conditions. The hybrid model is an extended version of a compound model. A hybrid model allows the combining of one or more models into a single model for purposes of interrogation or optimization. Within the hybrid model may reside a compound model itself. The directional change model (DCC) allows better evaluation of the predictive capability of Compound Models. It may also be used with any other model type.
US08457764B2 Ear implant electrode and method of manufacture
A novel electrode array is described for ear implant systems such as cochlear implants (CI) and vestibular implants (VI). The electrode array includes electrode wires for carrying electrical stimulation signals. At a terminal end of each electrode wire is an electrode stimulation contact for applying the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. An electrode carrier of resilient material encases the electrode wires and has an outer surface with a plurality of contact openings exposing the stimulation contacts. Multiple bend control elements are distributed along the length of the electrode array to control bending flexibility of the electrode array as a function of a bend radius threshold.
US08457755B2 Container for storing an implantable medical device and a method for packaging such a device
An implantable medical device is stored in a container prior to implantation in body tissue. The IMD includes transmitter/receiver circuitry and at least one antenna. The storage container (packaging) includes an impedance altering substance positioned in proximity to the IMD when stored in the container, the substance having electrical material properties that alter the input impedance of the antenna to improve the reception and transmission properties of the antenna when the IMD is stored in the container. A container for storing an IMD having an antenna has a packaging tray for housing the IMD, the packaging tray having a support for supporting the IMD and the container including a substance positioned in proximity to the support that has electrical material properties that after the input impedance of the antenna of the IMD supported by the support, so as to improve the reception and transmission properties of the antenna. A method for packaging an IMD prior to implantation in body tissue includes the step of providing such an impedance altering substance in the pre-implantation IMD packaging, in proximity to the packaged IMD.
US08457754B2 Apparatus and method for electrical stimulation of human neurons
An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and neural perception threshold, and creating a model based on the neural perception thresholds to optimize patterns of neural stimulation.
US08457749B2 Modulation of trigeminal reflex strength
A method includes evoking and recording the response of a trigeminal reflex in the presence and absence of occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) to determine whether, and to what extent, ONS modulates the trigeminal reflex. If the ONS modulates the trigeminal reflex, e.g. to a sufficient degree, the subject may be considered a candidate for ONS for treatment of headache.
US08457748B2 Vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of fibromyalgia
This invention relates to the use of vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of fibromyalgia which comprises applying a therapeutic stimulation signal from a stimulus generator, when activated, to at least some of plural electrodes implanted in stimulating relation of the patient's vagus nerve and activating the stimulus generator to generate the therapeutic stimulation signal to alleviate the pain under treatment.
US08457742B2 Leadless cardiac pacemaker system for usage in combination with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
A cardiac pacing system comprising one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers configured for implantation in electrical contact with a cardiac chamber and configured to perform cardiac pacing functions in combination with a co-implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The leadless cardiac pacemaker comprises at least two leadless electrodes configured for delivering cardiac pacing pulses, sensing evoked and/or natural cardiac electrical signals, and bidirectionally communicating with the co-implanted ICD.
US08457735B2 Field controlling electrode
A therapeutic device for application to a user's body in order to effect transcutaneous nerve and/or muscle stimulation, includes a conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side, a first electrode disposed in the member and connectable with external electrical apparatus for establishing a current distribution through the member and into the user's body, a second electrode disposed in the member and connectable with external electrical apparatus for establishing an electric field within the member in order control the current distribution through the member and into the user's body; and a conductive adhesive disposed on the conductive member bottom side for adhering the device to a the user's body.
US08457731B2 Method for assessing anesthetization
An evaluation of consciousness during the application of anesthetic evaluates causal propagation of neural activity in response to a localized stimulus, for example, by transcranial magnetic stimulation. A longer duration of invoked activity and a greater spatial dispersion of the invoked activity or greater complexity are matched to greater wakefulness comporting with a theory of consciousness as cortical integration of information moderated by intraneural communication.
US08457730B2 Techniques for determining hearing threshold
A computerized method for determining a test subject's (TS) hearing threshold (HT). An acoustic stimulus (AS, 102) is applied the test subject's (TS) ear. The stimulus intensity is increased during a ramp, with a predetermined dependency on time, such that the intensity begins below the hearing threshold and ends above it. The test subject's brain response (104), which includes a transient brain response (TR)1 is non-invasively recorded during the ramp section. The stimulus-response cycle is repeated several times. The recorded brain responses and stored a-priori information on transient brain response to the acoustic stimulus are used to determine a combined time interval between the acoustic stimulus and the transient brain response. The test subject's hearing threshold is determined based on the predetermined dependency on time of the intensity during the ramp and the combined time interval between the acoustic stimulus and the transient brain response.
US08457726B2 Heart failure detecting medical device
An implantable medical device has an event detector that detects a predetermined cardiac event during a heart cycle of a subject. A reference time is assigned to this detected cardiac event. An onset detector detects the onset of ventricular filling of the heart during the heart cycle. The relative time of the detected filling onset is determined based on the assigned time reference. An increased risk of heart failure of the subject is automatically determined based on the determined relative time for the filling onset. Generally, a reduction in the relative time, as determined at different points in time, indicates an increased heart failure risk or the presence of a heart failure condition.
US08457723B2 Heart rate detection in high noise conditions
A method of processing heart monitoring samples is provided that includes computing a folded correlation value for each heart monitoring sample in a plurality of heart monitoring samples and identifying peaks corresponding to heartbeats based on the folded correlation values of the heart monitoring samples.
US08457722B2 Device and method for monitoring body fluid and electrolyte disorders
Devices and methods for measuring body fluid-related metric using spectrophotometry that may be used to facilitate diagnosis and therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring body fluid balance. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device for measuring a body-tissue water content metric as a fraction of the fat-free tissue content of a patient using optical spectrophotometry. The device includes a probe housing configured to be placed near a tissue location which is being monitored; light emission optics connected to the housing and configured to direct radiation at the tissue location; light detection optics connected to the housing and configured to receive radiation from the tissue location; and a processing device configured to process radiation from the light emission optics and the light detection optics to compute the metric where the metric includes a ratio of the water content of a portion of patient's tissue in relation to the lean or fat-free content of a portion of patient's tissue.
US08457720B2 Apparatus for assisting with the positioning of an implant
An apparatus for assisting with positioning of an implant on a specific point in a vessel of a patient is proposed. A first interventional instrument is inserted in a region of the specific point. A series of 2D x-ray recordings of the vessel with the first instrument are obtained by adjusting an x-ray device. Based on markers of the first instrument mapped in the 2D x-ray recordings, at least two reference lines are defined restricting the specific point. A second interventional instrument is inserted in the region of the specific point. Fluoroscopy images of the vessel with the second instrument are obtained by adjusting the x-ray device. The reference lines in the fluoroscopy images are superimposed as localization aid. The specific point in the vessel can also be restricted by a reference region as a localization aid defined based on x-ray recordings of the specific point obtained using contrast agent.
US08457716B2 Time of flight based tracheal tube placement system and method
According to various embodiments, a tracheal tube may employ optical sensing techniques for determining a distance between the inserted tube and an anatomical structure, such as a carina. The distance information may provide an indication as to whether or not the tracheal tube is properly placed within the trachea. The optical techniques may include time of flight techniques.
US08457715B2 System and method for determining placement of a tracheal tube
According to various embodiments, a tracheal tube may employ optical sensing techniques for determining a distance between the inserted tube and an anatomical structure such as a carina. The distance information may provide an indication as to whether or not the tracheal tube is properly placed within the trachea. The optical techniques may include interferometry.
US08457711B2 Magnetic resonance imaging of coronary venous structures
A method and system for magnetic resonance imaging comprises applying at least one radiofrequency magnetization transfer (MT) pulse to a coronary venous region of a subject positioned within a magnetic field, and acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data from the coronary venous region to produce an image of a coronary venous structure. This technique can be utilized as part of a 3D free-breathing, ECG-triggered gradient-echo Cartesian acquisition of the coronary region. One or more magnetization transfer (MT) preparation pulses are used to enhance the contrast between venous blood and myocardium. The MT preparation results in myocardial signal suppression without any significant signal loss in the arterial or venous blood so as to maintain venous blood signal-to-noise ratio while improving contrast between myocardium and veins. The image of a coronary venous structure can be acquired in connection with an interventional cardiovascular procedure, such as a cardiac resynchronization therapy.
US08457709B2 Sensor mounting system
A sensor mounting system includes a rigid main body portion defining a housing within which is mounted a compression element. In use, the compression element provides a predetermined biasing force to force a sensor against the skin of a subject. A secondary support structure provides an adjustable biasing force to retain the main body portion against the subject. Alternatively, the main body portion may be mounted to a rigid pod with one or more secondary compression elements, with the pod itself retained against the subject. An interface layer extending from the main body portion provides a cushion to improve the comfort of the subject. The interface layer and sensor interface elements may be in the form of fingers to increase contact of the sensor with a selected portion of the subject.
US08457704B2 Single use pulse oximeter
A single use, self-contained, self-powered disposable oximeter, in the form of a patch or a bandage strip, has mounted thereto a light emitter and a light sensor that together measure at least the SpO2 of the patient. Mounted to an electronics layer of the patch is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that has electronics integrated thereto that controls the operation of the light emitter and light sensor, and the algorithm for calculating from the data collected by the sensor at least the SpO2 of the patient. Optionally, a display and an alarm may also be mounted or embedded onto the patch for respectively displaying at least the SpO2, and for informing the caregiver/patient that at least the SpO2 is not within an acceptable range, if such is the case. Also provided in the patch is a battery that powers the operation of the ASIC circuit and the emitter, as well as the display and alarm if such optional components are provided on the patch. An attachment mechanism is also provided on the patch. Such mechanism may be in the form of an adhesive layer that can removably attach the patch to the patient in either a transmissive mode or a reflective mode. The patch oximeter may also be equipped with a transceiver, and the appropriate electronics, for wirelessly transceiving information to/from a remote device or another wireless patch oximeter. In place of a self-contained power source, the power for operating a wireless patch oximeter may be retrieved from a remote power source, provided that the patch oximeter is within a given distance from such remote power source.
US08457701B2 Case for portable electronic device
A case for an electronic device protects the electronic device. The case has a lower case portion and an upper case portion, which assemble together to protect the electronic device. A back of the case can include a back opening to expose a camera lens and flash of the electronic device or first and second back openings. The first back opening exposes the camera lens. The second back opening exposes the flash.
US08457696B2 Handheld electronic communication device
A handheld electronic communication device including a body including an input device facing a first direction, and a display device coupled to the body. The display device has a first display screen and a second display screen. The second display screen faces an opposite direction as the first display screen. The display device is rotatable between a first position in which the first display screen faces the first direction, and a second position in which the second display screen faces the first direction, and releasably lockable in a third position, intermediate the first position and the second position.
US08457695B2 Mobile communication terminal having fragrance member
A mobile communication terminal includes a fixed body, and a movable body coupled with the fixed body. At least one of the fixed body and the movable body has a fragrance member at a portion thereof that generates friction when the movable body moves.
US08457693B2 Power consumption control apparatus in PDA phone
A mobile device is configured to control power consumption. The mobile device includes a detector configured to detect at least one of an active input or a passive condition. The passive condition is determined to be present based on a comparison of a device state or a change in the device state to a threshold. A controller is configured to respond to the detected active input or passive condition by causing less than all components in the mobile device, including the display screen of the mobile device, to enter a power saving mode from within in a calling mode, where an amount of power supplied to the display screen is reduced in the power saving mode. Operational modes of the mobile device include the power saving mode and the calling mode. The mobile device consumes more power in the calling mode than in the power saving mode.
US08457690B2 Multi-housing mobile terminal
A mobile terminal having multiple functions allows the user easy operation of a function that they desire. The mobile terminal has first, second, third, and fourth housings. The housings each have front side and back side and have at least an input section or a display section on the front side. The housings are circularly arranged so that the front side of each housing is on the outer side and are connected with each other so that adjacent housings are foldable to each other facing back to back. Preferably, the housings are connected together such that the first and second housings are connected together, the second and third housings are connected together, the third and fourth housings are connected together, and the fourth and first housings are connected together.
US08457682B2 Method and system for integrated satellite assistance services
A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a controller to process a travel assistance request for communication through a satellite and terrestrial mobile communication network. Data related to multiple assistance providers can be received in response to the request. At least one criterion can be processed for the assistance providers based on, for example, historical trip data. The assistance providers can be graphically represented for user selection based on the criterion. Data related to a selected assistance provider can be displayed, including navigation data to and/or from the assistance provider. In another embodiment, the travel assistance request can be communicated to a service center through the network. The service center can communicate data related to an assistance provider, including navigation data to and/or from the assistance provider. A rating of the assistance provider can be communicated to a specified community-of-interest through the network.
US08457672B2 Dynamic real-time tiered client access
Wireless client devices within a wireless network exchange data with other wireless devices during particular time slots determined by the network. More particularly, the system generates and wirelessly broadcasts synchronization information to the client devices, where the synchronization information contains individual masks to be applied to bit fields of individual client devices, where said time slots are determined in accordance with the masked bit fields. In such a manner, client devices can be coordinated to communicate with the system in a dynamic real-time tiered manner.
US08457671B2 Device for aggregating, translating, and disseminating communications within a multiple device environment
Aggregator devices and methods are disclosed for establishing device interaction in an environment containing other electronic devices and the aggregator device. The aggregator device has a transmitter, receiver, memory storing interaction rules, and a processor for implementing the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The methods involve transmitting a message to the aggregator from a first device, referencing rules of device interaction for the environment, and then according to the rules of device interaction, transmitting a message from the aggregator to a second device. The rules of device interaction may include instructions that are to be transmitted from the aggregator in response to the aggregator receiving change of state messages from devices of the environment.
US08457669B2 System and method for acknowledging calendar appointments using a mobile device
A system and method are provided for communicating calendar appointment acknowledgements to a sender from a recipient device, in particular a mobile communication device capable of receiving SMS messages. The sender creates a calendar object comprising calendar event data, designates a recipient, and selects a transport method for delivering the calendar event data. If the transport method is SMS, then a calendar object message in plaintext SMS format is prepared, comprising a unique identifier, and transmitted to the recipient. The recipient's mobile communication device receives the SMS message and parses the message to extract the calendar event data, and transmits an acknowledgement to the sender including the unique identifier.
US08457668B2 Mobile sender initiated SMS message deletion method and system
A method and system are provided for remotely deleting short message service messages stored on the remote mobile communication device, by initiating a delete command, or setting a message lifespan when creating a SMS message, from a sender mobile communication device.
US08457666B2 Interface between web applications for text messaging and packet-switched networks
Systems and methods are disclosed for interfacing SMS/MMS web applications with packet-switched networks. One embodiment comprises a system that handles a Mobile Terminated (MT) text message from a web application to a packet-switched network. The system receives a send command for the MT text message from the web application. The send command is based on a standard used by the web application, such as Parlay X. The system converts the send command for the MT text message to a SIP send request, and transmits the SIP send request for the MT text message to a packet-switched network for delivery to a recipient.
US08457664B2 Terminating SMS messages in LTE
An apparatus for providing communication routing information for a subscriber in a mobile communications network, the subscriber being registered with at least one communication delivery network node, comprising: receiver for receiving a request for communication routing information for a subscriber from a network entity, wherein the communication routing information comprises the network routing address of the communication delivery network nodes which the subscriber is registered with; means for determining the capabilities of the network entity, the capabilities comprising the number of communication delivery network node routing addresses manageable by the network entity; identifier for identifying the at least one communication delivery network node the subscriber is registered with; comparator for comparing the number of communication delivery network node routing addresses manageable by the network entity with the number of communication delivery network nodes with which the subscriber is registered; and transmitter for delivering communication delivery network node routing information for the subscriber to the network entity wherein the number of communication delivery network node routing addresses provided to the network entity does not exceed the routing capabilities of the network entity.
US08457653B2 Method and apparatus for pre-fetching location-based data while maintaining user privacy
An approach is provided for pre-fetching location-based data while maintaining user privacy. A pre-fetching manager determines to segment a geographical area into a plurality of discrete areas. The pre-fetching manager determines to record location information associated with a device operating within the geographical area. The pre-fetching manager processes and/or facilitates a processing of the location information to calculate occurrence information of the device with respect to the discrete areas. The pre-fetching manager processes and/or facilitates a processing of the occurrence information to select location-based data to cache at the device. The pre-fetching manager further determines one or more other devices based, at least in part, on a collaborative filtering process, and retrieves other occurrence information associated with the one or more other devices, wherein the selection of the location-based data to cache is further based, at least in part, on the other occurrence information.
US08457644B2 System and method for planning a wireless network
Systems and methods for planning a wireless network are disclosed. Attributes of the wireless network may be determined from minimal information. For instance, based on a specified coverage area and network usage information, and without operating frequency information, base station equipment models may be determined. An estimated number of base stations to deploy the network also may be determined. Also, a geographic extent of the network for regulatory compliance and acquisition of spectrum use rights may be determined.
US08457643B2 Taking control of subscriber terminal
Taking control of a subscriber terminal is disclosed. An apparatus comprises a processor configured to cause the apparatus: to control a stand-alone base station so that an emulated cell of a cellular radio system is formed by transmitting a control channel with information of a real cell and with such transmission power that a subscriber terminal having an ongoing connection with a serving cell base station is caused to measure reception of the stand-alone base station as being better than reception of the serving cell base station; and to control the stand-alone base station to perform cell reselection with the subscriber terminal so that the ongoing radio connection with the serving cell base station is transferred to continue with the stand-alone base station.
US08457641B2 Mobile communication method, femtocell radio base station, and network apparatus
The disclosed mobile communication method is a mobile communication method in a mobile communication system, wherein at least a part of a macro-cell (#A), with which first broadcast information is transmitted at a first frequency, and a femto cell (#a), in which second broadcast information is transmitted at a second frequency, overlap geographically. The method has step in which a wireless base station (#a) for a femto cell that manages the femto cell (#a) detects the first broadcast information, step in which the wireless base station (#a) for a femto cell transmits guiding broadcast information at a first frequency in response to detection of the first broadcast information, and step (C) in which a mobile station (UE #1) that is communicating in the macrocell (#A) performs handover to the femto cell (#a) when the guiding broadcast information is detected.
US08457638B2 Mobile communication method
In a mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: transmitting, from a handover source radio base station to a swithcing center, a handover request including an NCC, a PCI and a KeNB*; changing, at the swithcing center, the NCC, changing, at the swithcing center, the KeNB* on the basis of the PCI, and transmitting, from the swithcing center to the handover target radio base station, the handover request including the changed NCC and the changed KeNB*; generating, at the handover target radio base station, a first key on the basis of the KeNB*; and generating, at the mobile station, the first key on the basis of the NCC and the PCI included in a handover command.
US08457636B2 Method, apparatus and system for handover
A method, an apparatus and a system for releasing bearers at time of handover are disclosed by the present invention. The method includes: obtaining information about bearers of a local breakout service of a User Equipment (UE) if it is decided to initiate handover of the UE; and triggering the UE to hand over from a source Home NodeB (HNB) to a target base station according to the information about bearers of the local breakout service, where the target base station does not set up any bearer of the local breakout service. According to the present invention, the target base station does not set up any local breakout service bearer of the UE or forward the data of the local breakout service, which saves resources and prevents errors of routing local breakout service packets.
US08457633B1 Selective simultaneous communication with a wireless communication device based on call type
During a call, a radio access network (RAN) may substantially simultaneous communicate with a wireless communication device (WCD) via multiple wireless coverage areas. The number of wireless coverage areas used for this substantially simultaneous communication may vary based on the call type. Thus, for instance, if the call type is a real-time call type, the RAN may use more wireless coverage areas when communicating with the WCD to improve the quality of the call. But, if the call type is a non-real-time call type, the RAN may use fewer wireless coverage areas when communicating with the WCD so that wireless resources are conserved.
US08457631B2 Dispatch network with IMS integration
A wireless communications system includes a radio network facilitating wireless communications with a wireless subscriber unit, a dispatch application server providing dispatch communications services to the subscriber unit via the radio network, and an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) infrastructure including a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) and a Serving-CSCF (S-CSCF). The P-CSCF notifies the dispatch application server of subscriber unit registration events, allowing the dispatch application server to provide dispatch communications services without initiating a separate registration process. Dispatch communications are routed between the wireless subscriber unit and dispatch application server through the P-CSCF, bypassing the S-CSCF of the IMS infrastructure.
US08457622B2 System and method for remote asset management
A remote asset management system comprising a network of programmable wireless modules, each having an antenna and an identification module and configured to communicate via a radio communication protocol. The system further includes a plurality of assets each linked to one of the wireless modules and configured to be managed by the linked wireless module. A remote system server service platform is configured to receive remote asset data from the wireless modules, pass the remote asset data to and from the wireless modules, send messages to at least one of the wireless modules, monitor the wireless modules by requesting and receiving current mode information, and remotely program the wireless modules. A data processing module located within the wireless module(s) and configured to process messages received by the wireless module, authenticate said message, analyze authenticated messages, and carry out asset management instructions included in the message.
US08457612B1 Providing location-based multimedia messages to a mobile device
Systems and methods for providing multimedia content to mobile devices within a geographic area. A services provider may track locations of mobile devices in a location database. Geographically coded information may be received by the services provider from which a lookup may be performed of the location database to determine which mobile devices are in a geographic region associated with the geographically coded information. The geographically coded information may be forwarded as an SMS message to the mobile device, which may then convert the SMS message to a multimedia format for playback on the device, or may request that the services provider convert the SMS message to a multimedia format for playback on the mobile device.
US08457611B2 Audio file edit method and apparatus for mobile terminal
A file edit method and apparatus that allows editing and utilizing various audio files stored in the mobile terminal in an intuitive manner are provided. An audio file edit method for a mobile terminal includes executing an audio file edit application in response to a touch event detected on a touch screen, selecting at least one audio file to be edited by means of the audio file edit application in response to a touch event detected on the touch screen, displaying an oscillation graph representing the at least one audio file within an oscillation window, selecting a part of the oscillation graph in response to a touch event detected on the touch screen, and displaying the selected part of the oscillation graph within an edit window.
US08457601B2 Key responsive record, navigation and marking controls for communications system
The key responsive record, navigate and marking method operates with a communications station networked with telecommunications enabled devices (cell phones with speakers and microphones). Controls are * and # symbol keys (mechanical or virtual). The station includes an IVR and record data stores. The # key controls RECORD ON/OFF and the * control is end-of-comm-session (EOS). The station activates functions based control key detection. Toggle ON/OFF/ON operations are activated. The EOS stops recording and activate post-recording sessional routines. Other keystroke functions are user-assigned or system defaults for numeric keys 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0. Navigation controls are thus activated.
US08457597B2 Method for authenticating a mobile unit attached to a femtocell that operates according to code division multiple access
The present invention provides a method involving a femtocell in communication with an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. In one embodiment, the femtocell operates according to code division multiple access (CDMA) standards. The method includes receiving, from the femtocell and at a first secure entity in the IMS network, first authentication information generated by the mobile unit using a first random number broadcast by the femtocell in a global challenge. The method also includes receiving, from a second secure entity in the secure network, at least one security key formed based on the global challenge and second authentication information for uniquely challenging the mobile unit. In one embodiment, the second secure entity is a CDMA-based authentication server. The method further includes providing the security key(s) to the femtocell in response to authenticating the mobile unit based upon the second authentication information.
US08457596B2 System, method, and device for intelligence gathering and position tracking
A mobile communication device that may be used by an investigator to secretly record a suspect and track the investigator's location includes a microphone for detecting sounds, a communication component for transmitting signals or data representative of the sounds to one of the portable computers via the wireless communication network, a display for displaying information related to operation of the device, a computing device, and a computer program implemented by the computing device. The computer program is operable to place the device in a stealth mode in which the display is turned off or otherwise deactivated to make the entire device appear to be turned off while the microphone continues to detect sounds and the communication component continues to transmit signals or data representative of the sounds to a surveillance or support team operating one of the portable computers. The mobile communication device may also include a location-determining component for determining geographic locations of the device and for transmitting location data to the portable computer.
US08457595B2 Method and system for processing information based on detected biometric event data
A system and method is provided for processing and storing captured data in a wireless communication device based on detected biometric event data. The captured data may be acquired through a data acquisition system with devices or sensors in an integrated or distributed configuration. The captured data may include multimedia data of an event with time, date and/or location stamping, and captured physiological and behavioral biometric event data in response to the event. The captured data may be dynamically stored in a data binding format or as raw data in a local host device or communicated externally to be stored in a remote host or storage. At least one user preference may be specified for linking a biometric event data to the mapped, analyzed, categorized and stored captured data in a database. Captured data may be retrieved by matching biometric event data to at least one user preference from the database.
US08457594B2 Protection against unauthorized wireless access points
A public wireless network has authorized wireless access points through which users connect to the network. Authentication software provided to a user prompts a user to enter a password that is provided over a secure link to an authentication server. The authentication server provides the password to each authorized access point, so that it may be provided to the user when accessing the network through located wireless access point. If the password is not provided to the user by the located access point, the user is alerted that the located access point may be unauthorized.
US08457589B2 Alarm systems having multiple communication alternatives for contacting a monitoring service and methods of operating the same
An alarm system includes a mobile terminal and an alarm controller. The alarm controller is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal, to attempt a call to a monitoring service using a first communication technique responsive to detection of an alarm condition, and to attempt a call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.
US08457588B2 Method and apparatus for discontinuous reception of connected terminal in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for controlling an active time period during a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation in a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system. The method includes starting, in the UE, a first timer to monitor control data via a shared control channel, the control data being associated with user data to be transmitted; and starting, in the UE, a second timer, when the control data indicating a new transmission of associated user data is received via the shared control channel while the first timer is running, or restarting, in the UE, the second timer, when the control data indicating a new transmission of associated user data is received via the shared control channel while the second timer is running.
US08457585B2 Noise reduction system and method
A noise reduction method is disclosed that uses numerical logic to estimate the value of the noise in a receive system and remove the noise. A surrogate probe value is selected and subtracted from an input signal and an iterative process selects a noise probe value for each iteration and the respective noise probe values are summed resulting in a noise estimate that is combined with the input signal.
US08457582B2 Adaptive control apparatus using multiple adaptive control methods
In the adaptive control apparatus, a computation unit computes weighting coefficients, using a first adaptive control method in a proportion α of a first computation amount, where the first adaptive control method has a first convergence rate and a first convergence error. Further, a computation unit computes weighting coefficients from initial values of the weighting coefficients computed by the computation unit, using a second adaptive control method in a proportion (1−α) of a second computation amount, where the second adaptive control method has a second convergence rate slower than the first convergence rate and a second convergence error smaller than the first convergence error. A controller controls determination of a ratio α/(1-α) based on a moving speed of a mobile unit, and controls the computation units to perform computing processes.
US08457576B2 Cellular phone with integrated FM radio and remote low noise amplifier
A cellular phone includes a first wireless transceiver that receives intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The IF signals are based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to an IF by a remote device. An FM processing module that receives the IF signals, that converts the IF signals to baseband signals, and that generates processed FM signals.
US08457575B2 Obtaining and presenting metadata related to a radio broadcast
A system and method for presenting content related to a radio broadcast are provided. The system may include a radio device having a receiver configured to receive a radio signal including an audio component and digitally encoded data associated with the audio component. The radio device may further include a decoder configured to decode the digitally encoded data from the radio signal. The radio device may further include a processor configured to receive the digitally encoded data from the decoder, extract a data parameter from the digitally encoded data, send a search query including the data parameter to a content service, and receive from the content service metadata associated with the data parameter. The system may further include a display configured to display the metadata received from the content service.
US08457572B2 Audio comparison method and apparatus
An audio comparison method and apparatus compares audio streams by measuring the times of volume peaks in the audio streams and identifying correlations between the peaks in the audio streams, subject to possible delay between the streams. The audio comparison allows the identification of audio streams including the same audio content even in the presence of delay and distortion and using low processing power. The audio comparison has particular application in car radios to allow automatic retuning.
US08457570B2 System and method for power control calibration and a wireless communication device
A technique for calibrating the open-loop transmit power of a wireless communication device overcomes the inherent nonlinearities in the gain control input of a variable gain amplifier (VGA). In one embodiment, a feedback circuit generates a signal indicative of the transmit power. This signal is compared with a desired transmit power level, which comprises an open-loop gain component and a closed-loop gain component. The desired transmit power level is compared with the actual transmit power level and an error signal is generated. The error signal is used to alter the gain of the VGA in the transmitter to thereby adjust the actual transmit power level to correspond with the desired transmit power level. In alternative embodiment, the receiver portion, which also contains a VGA, is pre-calibrated in a conventional manner. During a transmitter calibration process, the transmitter is coupled to the receiver input through a mixer and filter. The pre-calibrated receiver determines the actual transmit power level. The difference is used to generate error correction data to adjust for non linearities in the gain control input of the transmitter VGA.
US08457568B2 System and method for processing a received signal
In a method for processing a signal received by a receiver, at a first wireless receiver (20, 62) a first signal (x(t), x1(t)) comprising first and second signal components is received. The first signal component is intended for the first wireless receiver (20, 62) and the second signal component is related to at least one of a sending signal (s(t)) generated by a transmitter (29, 69) or to a second signal (x2(t)) intended for a second wireless receiver (61). To the first wireless receiver (20, 62) a reference signal (r(t), r1(t), r2(t)) which is proportional to the sending signal (s(t)) or to the second signal (x2(t)). At the first wireless receiver (20, 62) and from the reference signal (r(t), r1(t), r2(t)) an estimation signal which estimates the second signal component is generated. A filtered signal (y(t), y1(t)) is generated by subtracting the estimation signal from the first signal (x(t), x1(t)).
US08457567B2 Amplitude modulation controller for polar transmitter
Apparatus for generating a modulation signal for use in modulating the power supply of a power amplifier uses coarse and fine control for controlling the amplitude of the modulation signal, and thereby controlling the output power of the power amplifier. The modulation signal may be generated in the digital domain and converted to the analog domain by a digital-to-analog converter, with the digital-to-analog converter providing the fine control and a variable gain amplifier providing the coarse control of the analog signal.
US08457564B2 Dual-use portable display device
A keyboard extension for a removable, portable display device such as a cellphone that also functions to house the display device. The display device housing is shaped and sized to securely enclose the removable, portable display device. The keyboard extension may have keyboard housing panels that are substantially equal in size to the display device being removably housed. These keyboard housing panels ham be hingeably connected so that in a first configuration, the keyboard extension may function as a portable display device holder, while in a second configuration it may function as a wirelessly connected, split, full size keyboard input to the portable display. The keyboard extension may also include a numeric keypad housing panel that may be hingeably connected to either of the keyboard housing panels.
US08457561B2 Method and system for signal strength measurement
In a radio comprising a transmitter and a receiver, transmission and reception of signals may be controlled based on received signal strength measurements from a signal strength indicator module and transmitted signal strength measurements from the signal strength indicator module. For the transmitted signal strength measurements, the shared signal strength indicator module may measure signal strength of a signal output by a power amplifier. For the received signal strength measurements, the shared signal strength indicator module may measure signal strength of a received signal. A capacitance coupled to an output of the power amplifier may be configured based on a frequency of the signal output by the power amplifier. A gain of the power amplifier may be controlled based on the transmitted signal strength measurements. For the transmitted signal strength measurements, an analog-to-digital converter may process the signal output by the power amplifier.
US08457560B2 Apparatus and method for interference minimization in body area networks using low duty cycle and preamble design
A device is adapted for use in a body area network capable of low power communications wherein a number of piconets can operate within close proximity. The device is configured to couple to a plurality of secondary devices in a piconet. The device uses an interference mitigation technique to enable the devices in the piconet to use the same frequency and same time as a number of adjacent piconets located in close proximity to the piconet. The interference mitigation technique is at least one of a low duty cycling operation; and a preamble sequence designed to operate under interference.
US08457558B2 Information processing apparatus and capture image transmitting method
A method of transmitting a capture image for an information processing apparatus comprising a communication module configured to execute close proximity wireless transfer. The method may include establishing connection between the communication module and an external device. The method may also include generating image data for a screen displayed on a display device and transmitting the generated image data to the external device when a “Get default object” command defined in a push protocol class of an object exchange (OBEX) protocol for requesting acquisition of a default object is received from the external device in a state where connection between the communication module and the external device is established, the “Get default object” command comprising a parameter for indicating an attribute of requested data as images.
US08457557B2 Wireless synchronization mechanism
A media delivery device that can automatically initiate and establish a secure wireless communication channel with an audio output device comprises a proximity module that recognizes a mutual engagement zone proximate to the media delivery device. The proximity module can detect when the audio output device is within the mutual engagement zone. Moreover, the media delivery device further comprises a communication module wherein upon the proximity module detecting the audio output device within the mutual engagement zone, the communication module automatically initiates and establishes a wireless communication channel with the audio output device. The media delivery device can then wirelessly communicate with the audio output device outside of the mutual engagement zone using the wireless communication channel.
US08457554B2 Method and system for a continuing scan in a bluetooth wireless system
Methods and systems for wireless communication are disclosed and may include controlling one or more scans of a received signal detection frequency across a frequency range and storing a magnitude of the received signal at each frequency where the magnitude exceeds a threshold level. A type of one or more signals in the received signal may be determined based on a bandwidth of the signals. A Bluetooth page/inquiry scan may be initiated if the determined type is a page/inquiry signal, and scans may be continued if the determined type may not be a page/inquiry signal. The scans may be repeated on a periodic basis and may be controlled utilizing a voltage controlled oscillator. Each of the scans may include a plurality of discrete frequency steps or a continuous frequency ramp. The controlling may include a start frequency, an end frequency and a frequency step size for the scans.
US08457547B2 Magnetic induction signal repeater
A magnetic induction (MI) repeater includes first and second coils configured to have the same resonance frequency and to be substantially isolated from one another, and an amplifier connected to the first and second coils and configured to receive a signal induced in the first coil by a first magnetic field and output, via the second coil, a second magnetic field based on the signal, wherein the second magnetic field is amplified relative to the first magnetic field.
US08457541B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device to charge a surface of the image carrier, disposed across a predetermined gap from the image carrier, a latent image forming device, a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the image carrier into a toner image, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, a cleaning member to clean the image carrier after the toner image is transferred therefrom, a lubricant application member to lubricate the image carrier, a polarity adjustor to adjust polarities of the toner and lubricant adhering to the image carrier to be identical to a polarity of a charging bias. The polarity adjustor is disposed facing the image carrier, upstream from the charging device and downstream from the transfer unit in a direction in which the image carrier rotates.
US08457539B2 Image forming apparatus with induction heating type fixing unit
A fixing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a coil arranged along an outer surface of the heating member and generating a magnetic field, a first core arranged opposite the heating member with respect to the coil and forming a magnetic path, a second core so fixed between the first core and the heating member with respect to a direction in which the coil generates the magnetic field, as to form the magnetic path together with the first core, a shielding member positioned outward of the second core and shielding the magnetism in the magnetic path, and a magnetism adjusting unit moving the shielding member outward of the second core to switch the position of the shielding member between a shielding position where the shielding member shields the pass of the magnetism and a retracted position where the shielding member permits the pass of the magnetism.
US08457538B2 Image forming apparatus and method of image forming
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatable; a transfer member that is rotatably disposed so as to face the image carrier, the transfer member transferring an image carried by the image carrier to a sheet; a leading end gripping member that is attached to the transfer member, the leading end gripping member gripping a leading end of the sheet in the transport direction on an outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; a trailing end holding member that holds a trailing end of the sheet in the transport direction between the trailing end holding member and the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; and a controller that changes a distance between the leading end gripping member and the trailing end holding member when holding the sheet on the basis of a length of the sheet in the transport direction.
US08457530B2 Plastic optical element, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
A plastic optical element for use in an optical scanning device including light effective portions that focus light, and at least one link portion that connects the light effective portions in the sub-scanning direction, the link portion forming a border arc having a curvature radius R of 2 mm or greater and contacting the light effective portions such that the tangent of the light effective portion at the connection point of the light effective portion and the border arc matches the tangent of the border arc at the connection point.
US08457529B2 Preemptive photoreceptor velocity modulation to minimize transient banding
Described herein is an exemplary method wherein the photoreceptor surface velocity is nominally set at a speed fractionally different than the intermediate belt (ITB) nominal surface speed. The photoreceptor speed can be preemptively altered through a velocity ramp profile whenever an event is scheduled to occur that will result in ITB transient vibration. As a result, the photoreceptor speed is not allowed to cross over or equal the belt speed at any instant during the transient event. This allows the photoreceptor to remain dynamically decoupled from the ITB, since the apparent disturbance torque imposed by the belt remains constant and does not reverse sign.
US08457528B2 Electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic apparatus is provided including an electrophotographic photosensitive member which includes a surface protective layer; and an exposure device which irradiates a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with an exposure beam so as to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the surface protective layer includes a material having no structure to provide charge transporting performance and has a plurality of through holes penetrating from the side of the front surface of the surface protective layer to the side of the charge transport layer, and the thickness of the surface protective layer is from 0.1 μm or more to 1.5 μm or less, and wherein when the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is irradiated with the exposure beam, two or more of the through holes are included in an exposure beam spot.
US08457524B2 Developing cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method of mounting/demounting developing cartridge to/from image forming apparatus
A developing unit usable with an image forming apparatus includes a first frame to support a photoconductive medium, a second frame to support a developing member to apply a developer to the photoconductive medium, the second frame movable between a first position in which the photoconductive medium is at a developing gap from the developing member, and a second position in which the photoconductive medium is away from the developing member by a distance exceeding the developing gap, and a positioning unit to move the second frame from a current position in accordance with mounting and demounting of the developing unit to and from the image forming apparatus.
US08457523B2 Image forming apparatus having toner cartridge with movable shutter
A holder unit is movable between an accommodated position and a pulled out position. A plurality of toner cartridges is detachably attached to the holder unit. A shutter provided on each toner cartridge is movable between a block position where the shutter blocks an opening of a case and an open position where the shutter opens the opening. An operation member of each toner cartridge operates the shutter such that the shutter moves between a first position and a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the operation member is located at the first position. The shutter is located at the block position when the operation member is located at the second position. An interference member is configured such that the operation members abut the interference member to be displaced from the second position to the first position when the holder unit is moved from the pulled out position to the accommodated position.
US08457515B2 Apparatus and method for controlling pressure roll flare in a print apparatus
An apparatus and method that control pressure roll flare in a print apparatus. The apparatus can include a fuser having a fuser surface. The apparatus can include at least one heat source configured to heat the fuser surface. The apparatus can include a pressure roll having a pressure roll surface, the pressure roll having a rotational axis, the pressure roll having an inside paper path portion towards the middle of the pressure roll along the rotational axis and having an outside paper path portion near at least one end of the pressure roll along the rotational axis, the pressure roll coupled to the fuser at a fuser nip, where the fuser nip is configured to fuse marking material on a media sheet. The apparatus can include a pressure roll cooling device configured to cool at least one of the inside paper path portion and the outside paper path portion of the pressure roll to maintain substantially consistent pressure roll flare prior to media sheets entering the fuser nip and while media sheets pass through the fuser nip to provide wrinkle control of media sheets while limiting image smear of the marking material on the media sheets.
US08457514B2 Cylindrical heating element and fixing device
A cylindrical heating element comprising a cylindrical member, a metallic pattern provided on at least one of outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical member, which is capable of generating heat by being electrified, and a resistive pattern for detecting temperature provided on at least one of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical member. A fixing device which passes a recording medium on which an unfixed toner image is held through a nip formed by a rotating member for heating and a rotating member for pressurizing which is pressed against the rotating member for heating to fix the toner image on the recording medium with heating under pressure, the rotating member for heating comprising the cylindrical heating element.
US08457513B2 Selective cooling of a fuser
A controlled fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member and a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the fuser system. Optional external heater rollers have a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surfaces. A mechanism is provided for controlling the heat transfer with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the fuser.
US08457511B2 Image forming method and image forming device
An image forming method includes transferring images carried by an image carrier to a transfer material by a transfer roller coming in contact with the image carrier via the transfer material, the transfer roller having a concaved portion in its circumferential surface and contacting with or being separated from the image carrier due to its rotation, separating the transfer roller from the image carrier by the rotation of the transfer roller after transferring the images to the transfer material, stopping the transfer roller in a state where the transfer roller is separated from the image carrier, and moving the image carrier and cleaning the image carrier using a cleaning member while the transfer roller is stopped.
US08457510B2 Image forming apparatus, image information generation method, and computer program
The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a non-margin image by forming, on an image bearing member, a toner image including an edge portion area (Ae) and an internal area (Ai), transferring the toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transfer material. On the toner image corresponding to the edge portion area, which is formed on the image bearing member, toner amount increase processing is performed, the toner amount increase processing including toner amount gradual increase processing of gradually increasing intensity of the toner amount increase processing from the inner side of the edge portion area toward an outer side thereof. The image forming section forms, on the image bearing member, the toner image subjected to the toner amount increase processing. Accordingly, fixing performance during non-margin printing is enhanced and a high-quality image is formed.
US08457509B2 Image forming apparatus and detecting method of pattern image regarding image quality adjustment
An image forming apparatus includes: an obtaining unit that radiates light from a light-emitting unit onto the image carrier and that obtains an output value of a light-receiving unit having received the light reflected from the image carrier; a light amount setting unit that calculates a required light amount value and that sets a light amount adjusting value; a detecting unit that detects a pattern image on the image carrier and by judging whether an output value obtained by radiating light of the light amount adjusting value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a controller that controls image formation on the image carrier based on a detected result, wherein the detecting unit reduces the threshold when the required light amount value exceeds the limiting value depending on degree of the excess.
US08457508B2 Developing bias setting in an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a developing housing that accommodates a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image into a developer image; a developer carrier, which carries the developer in the developing housing, and which supplies the developer to the image carrier; a developing bias supply part that supplies a developing bias to the developer carrier; a remaining quantity calculation part that calculates a remaining quantity of the developer in the developing housing; a deterioration grade storage part that stores a relationship between the remaining quantity of the developer in the developing housing and a deterioration degree of the developer caused by the developing operation; and a developing bias setting part that sets a value of the developing bias in accordance with the remaining quantity calculated by the remaining quantity calculation part and the relationship stored in the deterioration grade storage part.
US08457504B2 Adaptive equalization in coherent fiber optic communication
An embodiment of the invention is a technique to equalize received samples. A coefficient generator generates filter coefficients using an error vector and input samples. A filter stage generates equalized samples from input samples using the filter coefficients. The received samples are provided by a receiver front end in an optical transmission channel carrying transmitted symbols. Other embodiments are also described.
US08457497B2 Optimized directionless optical add/drop module systems and methods
The present disclosure provides optimized configurations for a directionless reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer application. The present invention includes an add module with improved optical signal-to-noise through placing amplifiers prior to a multi-cast optical switch. The present invention includes various drop module configurations utilizing distributed gain, channel selective filters, and bi-directional configurations to reduce power consumption and complexity. Additionally, the present invention includes an integrated broadcast and select architecture.
US08457491B2 Allocation of transmission power in an optical communication system
Methods and apparatus for determining transmission power of a plurality of optical channels for transmission of the channels along respective paths obtained through an optical transmission system. Information is obtained indicative of the path of each channel through the optical transmission system, and each channel is allocated to a group of channels in dependence upon the obtained information. A quality metric is determined for each group of channels, and a total transmission power for each group is determined in dependence upon the determined quality metric.
US08457484B2 Apparatus, systems and methods for acquiring information from film set devices
Systems and methods are operable to acquire device information from film set devices used to film a media content event. An exemplary film production information acquisition device has at least a sensor device configured to sense an operation characteristic of a film set device, a film production information management system (IMS) communication interface configured to communicatively couple the film production information acquisition device to a film production information management system, and a processor system communicatively coupled to the film production IMS communication interface and the sensor device, and configured to process the sensed operation characteristic of the film set device into information that is communicated to the film production information management system.
US08457471B2 Multimedia home network computer
A home entertainment network has a computer with a multi-DVD changer which holds plural DVDs onto which content from an hard disk drive (HDD) can be transferred for storage. Also, DVD content can be ripped to the HDD, and multiple copies of home videos and photographs on the HDD can be made onto several disks simultaneously.
US08457469B2 Display control device, display control method, and program
The present invention relates to a display control device, a display method, and a program, whereby a new thumbnail method can be provided.A clustering unit 611 subjects each frame of a content to clustering into any cluster of a plurality of clusters, and a scene classifying unit 612 classifies, regarding each of a plurality of clusters, a frame belonging to a cluster into a scene that is a group of one or more frames that temporally continue. A thumbnail creating unit 613 creates the thumbnail of a scene, and a display control unit 614 displays the thumbnail thereof on a display device 603.
US08457468B2 Method for embedding video annotation data into a coded video stream and video recording device
The invention concerns a method for embedding video annotation data into a coded video stream. The method comprises the step of —encapsulating said video annotation data into a unit, so-called video annotation unit, of the coded video data stream which format corresponds to at least one format used for sending the associated video data, —inserting an identifiable synchronizing code enabling the identification of said video annotation unit into the video data stream.
US08457465B1 Optical attenuation system
An optical attenuation system that includes first and second attenuators providing different attenuations of corresponding received optical signals. The first attenuator receives an optical signal emitted by a transmitter of a first transceiver and delivers the received optical signal to a receiver of a second transceiver. The second attenuator receives an optical signal emitted by a transmitter of the second transceiver and delivers the received optical signal to a receiver of the first transceiver. A method may include determining first and second optical attenuations for the first and second attenuators, respectively, and for at least one attenuator, arranging a first fiber optic cable having a first core size in series with a second fiber optic cable having a second core size to provide the determined corresponding optical attenuation.
US08457461B2 Fiber optic cable assembly and method of making the same
A fiber optic cable assembly includes a main fiber optic cable and a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable assembly. Optical fibers of the main fiber optic cable are mass fusion spliced to optical fibers of the pre-connectorized fiber optic cable assembly thereby forming a mass fusion splice. The mass fusion splice is positioned within an outer jacket of the main fiber optic cable. A reinforcing member and a protective transition member are applied to make the fiber optic cable assembly. A method of making the fiber optic cable assembly is also disclosed.
US08457460B2 Single fiber mach-zehnder filter and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a method for producing a Mach-Zehnder filtering device. The method includes the following steps: (a) providing an optical fiber having a jacket and a core containing rare earth element dopants; (b) stripping the jacket of a segment of the optical fiber; and (c) performing a fused-tapering to the stripped segment of the optical fiber to form a first and a second necks simultaneously, wherein the core exists in both the first and the second necks to form a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
US08457459B2 Arrayed-waveguide-grating-type optical multiplexer/demultiplexer
A multiplexer/demultiplexer includes: a waveguide chip including a first chip and a second chip that are divided by a plane and obtained by cutting, together with a substrate, in a direction crossing an optical axis, a first slab waveguide of an AWG including the first slab waveguide and a second slab waveguide that are formed on the substrate; a first base to which the first chip is fixed; a second base separated from the first base and to which the second chip is fixed; and a member that has one end fixed to the first base or chip and another end fixed to the second base or chip, in a state in which cut surfaces of the first and second chips face each other, and that is configured to move the first base and the second base relatively to each other along the plane by expanding/contracting when temperature changes.
US08457457B2 Lens array and optical module having the same
A lens array can have monitor light reliably and can be manufactured easily. With this lens array (2), a reflecting/transmission surface (15) of a first concave part (14) branches laser lights L having been emitted from light emitting elements (7) and having been incident on first lens surfaces (11), toward second lens surfaces (12) and third lens surfaces (13). Monitor lights M branched toward the third lens surfaces (13) are emitted from the third lens surfaces (13) toward first light receiving elements (8) passing through a refracting surface (19) of a second concave part (18). The lens array (2) is formed such that the optical axes on the first lens surfaces (11) and the optical axes on the third lens surfaces (13) are parallel, and the optical axes on the first lens surface (11) and the optical axes on the second lens surfaces (12) are parallel or vertical.
US08457456B2 Optical fiber mode coupling device, having an optimized fiber interface and method of fabrication thereof
An optical fiber mode coupling device, capable of being readily connected to a conventional optical fiber with a high degree of ruggedness, is provided. The inventive mode coupling device only allows transmission of at least one supported fiber mode therethrough, and is preferably configured to maximize the coupling, of at least one desired fiber mode, to the at least one supported fiber mode. Advantageously, the inventive mode coupling device is capable of performing the functions of a mode filter for the signal entering its first end, or serving as a mode conditioner for the signal entering its opposite second end. Thus, in one practical application thereof, the novel mode coupling device functions as a mode filter by maximizing the coupling between at least one desired fiber mode of a multi-mode input signal entering the device's first end, and at least one supported mode of the device, to produce an output signal at the device's second end that comprises at least one predetermined fiber mode, corresponding to at least one desired fiber mode. In another practical application thereof, the novel mode coupling device functions as a mode conditioner by maximizing the coupling between an input signal, comprising at least one predetermined fiber mode, that enters the device's second end, and, and at least one supported mode of the device, to produce an output signal at the device's first end that comprises at least one desired fiber mode, corresponding to a conditioned at least one predetermined fiber mode.
US08457453B2 Passively-thermally-stabilized photonic apparatus, method, and applications
Apparatus and methods that compensate for the thermally-induced drift of the resonance frequency of a closed-loop resonator include, in an exemplary embodiment, a waveguide-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and an overcoupled, waveguide-based microring resonator. The temperature-induced red-shifting ring resonance can be balanced by a spectral blueshift with temperature of the MZI. To stabilize the resonance of the ring at a given wavelength, the change in optical path lengths with temperature of the ring and the MZI should be equal and opposite. The interplay of nonlinear change in phase of ring resonator with temperature and linear change in phase of MZI with temperature, along with matching the period of this phase change, gives rise to perfect oscillation in the combined system resonance with temperature.
US08457450B2 Printed circuit board and manufacturing method thereof
A printed circuit board is disclosed. A printed circuit board, which includes a first board part, a flexible board part which has one side coupled with the first board part and which includes an electrical wiring layer and an optical waveguide to transmit both electrical signals and optical signals, and a second board part coupled with the other side of the flexible board part, where the electrical wiring layer and the optical waveguide are disposed with a gap in-between, can provide greater bendability and reliability, by having the optical waveguide and electrical wiring layer separated with a gap in-between at the flexible portion of the board, and the optical waveguide can be manufactured with greater precision for even higher reliability, by having the optical waveguide manufactured separately and then inserted during the manufacturing process of the board.
US08457443B2 Method for handling static text and logos in stabilized images
To handle static text and logos in stabilized images without destabilizing the static text and logos, a method of handling overlay subpictures in stabilized images includes separating an existing overlay subpicture from an input image to generate a separated overlay subpicture and a separated input image. The separated input image is stabilized to form a stabilized image. The separated overlay subpicture is then merged with the stabilized image to obtain an output image.
US08457438B2 Filtering method for removing block artifacts and/or ringing noise and apparatus therefor
Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data.
US08457435B2 Methods and systems for extended ultrasound imaging
An ultrasound imaging system and method provides for extended imaging.
US08457429B2 Method and system for enhancing image signals and other signals to increase perception of depth
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for processing signals, particularly signals encoding two-dimensional images, such as photographs, video frames, graphics, and other visually displayed information. Rather than attempting 3D-boosting by attempting a global contrast enhancement, method and system embodiments of the present invention generate a soft-segmented image that is separately contrast enhanced, segment-by-segment, to produce an enhanced soft-segmented image. A details image is then computed, and is combined with the enhanced soft-segmented image to produce an intermediate image, the brightness of which is adjusted to produce a 3D-boosted output image. Local contrast enhancement provides for proportional enhancement of homogenous regions, resulting in 3D-boosting without introduction of anomalies, artifacts, and distortion.
US08457428B2 Image coding apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium
Even in a case where there are a plurality of syntax elements, the invention reduces influence of the number of syntax elements and realizes high-speed encoding. An apparatus comprises N number of codes generation units arranged in parallel, which are configured to generate codes, including one or more codes, based on a transform coefficient; N number of first code concatenation units arranged in parallel, each of which is configured to concatenate the codes, respectively generated by the N number of codes generation units, for generating a code stream; N number of storage units arranged in parallel, each of which is configured to store the N number of code streams inputted from the N number of first code concatenation units; and a second code concatenation unit configured to read each of the code streams, which are stored in the N number of storage units, and concatenate the read code streams.
US08457427B2 Digital information extraction
There is provided a method for processing a variable length code encoded image having a plurality of scan lines, wherein each scan line has a number of original code blocks including a differentially encoded parameter. The method includes defining a subarea of the image having parts of a number of the scan lines, extracting the subarea, generating a set of auxiliary code blocks having an auxiliary differentially encoded parameter based on the first differentially encoded parameter of a first code block of a first current scan line in the subarea, and associating the auxiliary code blocks with the subarea. There is also provided an apparatus and a computer program product thereof.
US08457426B1 Method and apparatus for compressing a document using pixel variation information
A method and apparatus for providing document compression. In some embodiments, the method includes converting a document into a grayscale image, for each gradient component of the grayscale image, creating a monochrome image region, determining pixel variation information for the monochrome image region, and selecting the monochrome image region for a binary mask if the pixel variation information satisfies dynamic threshold data and creating a compressed document using the binary mask.
US08457425B2 Embedded graphics coding for images with sparse histograms
Processes for compressing images with sparse histograms are disclosed. The image is divided into blocks, and a bit budget is assigned for each block. The pixels of a block are converted and coded bit-plane by bit-plane, starting from the Most Significant Bit (MSB) and going towards the Least Significant Bit (LSB). The pixels of the block are partitioned into groups. Each group contains pixels that have same value. Moving from the MSB to the LSB, the groups in each bit-plane are processed. When processing a group, the encoder sends a “0” if all group members have same bit value at the current bit-plane being processed, followed by the bit value; otherwise, the encoder sends a “1”, followed by refinement bits for each pixel of the group, and the encoder splits the group.
US08457423B2 Object-based optical character recognition pre-processing algorithm
A method of pre-processing a defocused image of an object includes applying an object-based sharpening filter on the defocused image to produce a sharper image; and quantizing the sharper image using block-wise quantization. A system for generating decoded text data from alphanumeric information printed upon an object includes a camera that obtains image data of the alphanumeric information. The system also includes a pre-processor that (a) performs block-wise quantization of the image data to form conditioned image data, and (b) performs optical character recognition on the conditioned image data to generate the decoded text data.
US08457421B2 System and method for imaging
An imaging device, is provided, comprising: a plurality of compression circuits configured to receive K initial imaging signals and to generate second through Kth modified imaging signals, and a plurality of delay values; and a bit multiplexer configured to generate a compressed bit stream based on a first imaging signal, second through Kth modified imaging signals, and the delay values, each compression circuit including: a delay computer configured to determine a delay value by comparing two adjacent initial imaging signals, a delay circuit configured to delay a first of the two adjacent imaging signals by the delay value to generate a delayed imaging signal; a subtractor configured to subtract the delayed signal from a second of the two adjacent imaging signals to generate a reduced imaging signal; and a quantizer configured to generate a quantized imaging signal corresponding to the second of the two adjacent imaging signals.
US08457419B2 Method of decoding entropy-encoded data
A method of decoding data that is encoded with a set of prefix codes begins by receiving the data at a computing device, and then compiling native machine code from the prefix code set for execution by a processing unit of the computing device. The machine code implements a binary tree of prefix codes that corresponds to the prefix code set. The data is decoded by traversing the prefix code tree, which is effected by executing the machine code with the processing unit.
US08457417B2 Weight based image processing
In an image-encoding scheme, an input image is decomposed into several image blocks (600) comprising multiple image elements (610). The image blocks (600) are encoded into encoded block representations (700). In this encoding, color weights are assigned to the image elements (610) in the block (600) based on their relative positions in the block (600). At least two color codeword (710, 720, 730, 740) are determined, at least partly based on the color weights. These codewords (710, 720, 730, 740) are representations of at least two color values. The original colors of the image elements (610) are represented by color representations derivable from combinations of the at least two color values weighted by the assigned color weights.
US08457415B1 Post-processing a multi-spectral image for enhanced object identification
What is disclosed is a system and method for post-processing a multi-spectral image which has already been processed for pixel classification. A binary image is received which contains pixels that have been classified using a pixel classification method. Each pixel in the image has an associated intensity value and has a pixel value of 1 or 0 depending on whether the pixel has been classified as a material of interest or not. A block of size m×n is defined. Pixel values in a block are changed according to a threshold-based filtering criteria such that pixels in the same block all have the same binary value. The block is then shifted by k pixels and pixel processing repeats until all pixels have been processed. Once all blocks have been processed, contiguous pixels having the same binary value are grouped to form objects. In such a manner, pixel classification errors are reduced.
US08457410B2 Over-parameterized variational optical flow method
An optical flow estimation process based on a spatio-temporal model with varying coefficients multiplying a set of basis functions at each pixel. The benefit of over-parameterization becomes evident in the smoothness term, which instead of directly penalizing for changes in the optic flow, accumulates a cost of deviating from the assumed optic flow model. The optical flow field is represented by a general space-time model comprising a selected set of basis functions. The optical flow parameters are computed at each pixel in terms of coefficients of the basis functions. The model is thus highly over-parameterized, and regularization is applied at the level of the coefficients, rather than the model itself. As a result, the actual optical flow in the group of images is represented more accurately than in methods that are known in the art.
US08457408B2 Method and system of identifying one or more features represented in a plurality of sensor acquired data sets
A method and system for identifying one or more features represented in a plurality of sensor acquired data sets is described. The method and apparatus is particularly useful in automatic license plate recognition applications, where the sensor acquired data sets are data obtained from one or more digital cameras. This is achieved by determining a first probability of the identity of the one or more features (eg alphanumeric characters) from a first one of the data sets; determining a second probability of the identity of the one or more features from a second one of the data sets; and, using data fusion techniques, fusing the determined first and second probabilities to provide a fused probability. This fused probability is used to identify the one or more features from data sets.
US08457407B2 Electronic apparatus and image display method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a text recognition module, a group creation module, a group extraction module, an arrangement module, and a movie generator. The text recognition module recognizes a character string in a plurality of still images. The group creation module creates a plurality of groups by classifying the plurality of still images. The group extraction module extracts, from the plurality of groups, groups including a still image which meets a predetermined condition. The arrangement module arranges still images included in the extracted groups in a predetermined order, and inserts a still image included in the extracted groups and including the character string at a predetermined position of the still images which are arranged. The movie generator generates movie data for successively displaying the arranged still images in the extracted groups.
US08457405B2 Example-based procedural synthesis of element arrangements
Method and apparatus for synthesizing element arrangements from an example. Embodiments may synthesize element arrangement patterns from an example arrangement. Embodiments may combine a texture synthesis technique based on local neighborhood comparison of an example and a target with procedural modeling based on local growth. Given an example, connectivity of elements may be constructed to get neighborhoods information of each element. A synthesis process may start with a single seed and expand the synthesized pattern by placing new elements at seed locations one by one. A reference element may be selected from the example that has neighborhood features that are most similar to neighborhood features of the target seed in the synthesized pattern. A non-rotation mode, a rotation mode, and a flow field mode may be provided. A painting tool, a flow field tool, and a boundary tool may be provided.
US08457404B2 Image processing apparatus, computer readable medium for image processing and computer data signal for image processing
An image processing apparatus includes: a receiver that receives an image including at least a character image; a path calculator that calculates separation paths, which are segments for separating the character images in the image received by the receiver; a feature amount calculator that calculates feature amounts of the separation paths in a plurality of directions calculated by the path calculator; a selector that determines a separation direction of the image and a state of the character image and selects a separation path among the separation paths in the plurality of directions; a separator that separates the image into a plurality of partial images; and a recursive processing determining unit that determines whether or not to perform recursive processing, wherein the path calculator calculates the separation paths, which are the segments for separating the character image in the image separated by the separator.
US08457401B2 Video segmentation using statistical pixel modeling
A method for segmenting video data into foreground and background (324) portions utilizes statistical modeling of the pixels Λ statistical model of the background is built for each pixel, and each pixel in an incoming video frame is compared (326) with the background statistical model for that pixel. Pixels are determined to be foreground or background based on the comparisons. The method for segmenting video data may be further incorporated into a method for implementing an intelligent video surveillance system The method for segmenting video data may be implemented in hardware.
US08457399B2 Histogram-modeling based algorithm for contrast enhancement
A histogram modeling based technique for image contrast enhancement. In some implementations, a histogram of an image is created and then transformed. Using the physics of sound or heat propagation, the technique may develop a spreaded histogram model that may be transformed. A nonlinear mapping may be created to remap an image for contrast enhancement. The technique may be performed without threshold tuning and may be implemented on a variety of display hardware.
US08457398B2 Image enhancement method and apparatuses utilizing the same
An image enhancement apparatus is provided. The image enhancement apparatus includes a global contrast curve generator, a local contrast curve generator and an image generator. The global contrast curve generator generates a global contrast curve for an input image according to a global histogram of the input image. The local contrast curve generator generates a local contrast curve for each image partition within the input image according to the global contrast curve and further a feature of the image partition. The image generator generates an output image by enhancing a contrast of each image partition according to the local contrast curve for the image partition and the input image, and merging the enhanced image partitions.
US08457397B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus for applying a color balance correction to input image data, comprises a holding unit which holds information indicating a locus of a change in highlight color when a color temperature for image data is changed on a color space; a highlight color calculation unit which calculates a highlight color from the image data; a distance calculation unit which calculates a distance between the highlight color and the highlight color locus held in the holding unit on the color space; a reliability calculation unit which calculates a reliability for a value of the highlight color calculated by the highlight color calculation unit in accordance with the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit; and a color balance correction unit which applies the color balance correction to the image data using the highlight color and the reliability.
US08457394B2 Method of detecting skin-colored area using variable skin color model
The present invention relates to a method of detecting a skin-colored area using a variable skin color model. In the method, an initial skin-colored area is extracted from an input image using a skin color model, the initial skin-colored area being repeatedly extracted by adjusting a threshold value, which is a criterion for the selection of a skin-colored area, until a ratio of size of the extracted skin-colored area to size of the entire input image becomes less than a predetermined value. A skin-colored area is extracted by applying the threshold value determined in the first stage to the skin color model, the skin color model being modified by analyzing characteristics of object regions and noise regions of the skin-colored area. The skin-colored area detection method can obtain a high skin-colored object detection rate and a high false alarm rate even under various lighting and background conditions.
US08457391B2 Detecting device for specific subjects and learning device and learning method thereof
The invention discloses a detecting device for specific subjects and a learning device and method thereof. The detecting device for specific subjects includes an input unit, one or more strong classifying units, a storage unit and a judging unit, wherein the input unit is used for inputting images to be detected; the strong classifying units are used for carrying out strong classification to the image, each strong classifying unit includes one or more weak classifying units, and the weak classifying unit carries out weak classification to the image with a weak classifying template; the storage unit stores the weak classifying template used by the weak classifying unit; and the judging unit judges whether or not the image contains specific subjects according to the classification result of the strong classifying unit. The detecting device for specific subjects also includes an incremental sample input unit and a learning unit, wherein the incremental sample input unit is used for inputting data for incremental learning, namely for inputting an incremental learning sample, which is data undetected and wrongly detected by the detecting device or other detecting devices for specific subjects; the learning unit is used for updating the weak classifying template stored in the storage unit according to the incremental learning sample inputted by the incremental sample input unit.
US08457386B2 System and method for generating and regenerating 3D image files based on 2D image media standards
Disclosed are a system and a method for generating and regenerating three-dimensional (3D) images file based on two-dimensional (2D) image media standards, a 3D image file generating device for generating a 3D image file having a data area, which includes first image data and second image data synchronized with the first image data so as to be used for generating a 3D image, a header area including information of the first image data, and a metadata area including information of the second image data, and a 3D image file regenerating device, which parses information of the first and the second image data when a 3D image file is inputted so as to synthesize and regenerate the first and the second image data into a 3D image file.
US08457383B2 Recording device and control method for a recording device
A recording device and a control method for a recording device improve the accuracy of reading MICR information while also shortening the time required for recording media processing. A dot impact printer 10 has a magnetic head 34 that magnetically reads MICR information recorded on a recording medium S, a recording head 18 that is mounted on a different carriage than the magnetic head 34 and records images on the recording medium S, and a back scanner 112 that optically reads MICR information recorded on the recording medium S, disposed sequentially to the transportation path P of the recording medium S. When reading the MICR information by means of the magnetic head 34 does not succeed, the recording medium S is conveyed to the back scanner 112, the MICR information is read by the back scanner 112, the reading results are compared, and the MICR information is identified.
US08457382B2 Marker identification and processing in X-ray images
A mechanism for rapidly detecting and localizing external markers placed on a patient in projection images. Markers can be detected even in the presence of dense surrounding anatomy and extensive patient motion. Once the positions of the marker points on the projection images are extracted, the marker points can be used to perform marker-based patient motion detection. In addition to motion correction, the rapid detection and localization may also be used for scanner calibration, automatic cephalometric measurements, and quality control assessment.
US08457379B2 Method for quantifying organ motion, apparatus therefor, method for estimating organ position, apparatus therefor, method for irradiating radiation, apparatus therefor, and apparatus for detecting abnormal organ
A plurality of CT images of an organ (10) which has undergone a subtle variation or deformation are used as input data, blood vessels and trachea 12 distributed inside the organ are extracted and subjected to thinning, the thus thinned images 14 are used to extract the coordinates of bifurcations 16 and connections, the thus extracted coordinates are used as feature points to track the motion of individual points between a plurality of CT images in a three dimensional space, thereby measuring the movement of the organ (10). Thus, it is possible to realize a local motion tracking at an arbitrary point over an entire region inside an organ, which would be impossible by using a metal marker.
US08457377B2 Method for automated MR imaging and analysis of the neuroaxis
Automated spine localizing, numbering and autoprescription system enhances correct location or diseased or injured tissue, even allow multi-spectral diagnosis. Externally located this tissue is facilitated by an integrated self adhesive spatial reference and skin marking system that is designed for a variety of modalities to include MRI, CT, SPECT, PET, planar nuclear imaging, radiography, XRT, thermography, optical imaging and 3D space tracking. The device ranges from a point localizer to a more multifunctional and complex grid/phantom system. The specially designed spatial reference(s) is affixed to an adhesive strip with corresponding markings so that after applying the unit to the skin/surface and imaging, the reference can be removed leaving the skin appropriately marked. The localizer itself can also directly adhere to the skin after being detached from the underlying strip. A spine autoprescription process performs image analysis that is able to identify vertebrae and discs even in the presence of abnormalities.
US08457376B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes an identification criterion creating unit that creates an identification criterion so as to enable identification of specific regions in a target image to be processed that is selected in chronological order from among images constituting a set of time-series images; includes a feature data calculating unit that calculates the feature data of each segmented region in the target image to be processed; and includes a specific region identifying unit that, based on the feature data of each segmented region, identifies the specific regions in the target image to be processed by using the identification criterion. Moreover, the identification criterion creating unit creates the identification criterion based on the pieces of feature data of the specific regions identified in the images that have been already processed.
US08457375B2 Visualization method and imaging system
A method is provided for visualization of hollow organs of a patient. An x-ray image dataset of the hollow organ is recorded and registered. A number of individual x-ray images are recorded during a movement of an instrument with a data capture unit through the hollow organ, with each individual x-ray image featuring time information. Datasets of a data capture unit of an instrument is recorded during the movement of the instrument, with each dataset featuring time information. Position of the instrument is determined based on the individual x-ray images by an image recognition algorithm. The datasets of the data capture unit and the position of the instrument is spatially assigned based on the time information of the datasets of the data capture unit and the individual x-ray images. The datasets of the data capture unit is jointly displayed with the x-ray image dataset.
US08457362B2 Image inspecting apparatus
An image inspecting apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive the sheet from the image forming section; a reading unit configured to read the image formed on the sheet received by the receiving unit; an inspection unit configured to inspect the image read by the reading unit; and a sheet stack portion configured to temporarily stack the sheet read by the reading unit and to eject the stacked sheet, the sheet stack portion stacking the sheet so as to obtain a time to be used for inspecting the image by the inspection unit.
US08457360B2 Detection of vehicles in an image
The invention concerns a traffic surveillance system that is used to detect and track vehicles in video taken of a road from a low mounted camera. The inventors have discovered that even in heavily occluded scenes, due to traffic density or the angle of low mounted cameras capturing the images, at least one horizontal edge of the windshield is least likely to be occluded for each individual vehicle in the image. Thus, it is an advantage of the invention that the direct detection of a windshield on its own can be used to detect a vehicle in a single image. Multiple models are projected (206) onto an image with reference to different points in the image. The probability of each point forming part of a windshield is determined based on a correlation of the horizontal edges in the image with the horizontal edges of the windshield model referenced at that point (220). This probability of neighboring points is used to possible detect a vehicle in the image (224). Aspects of the invention include a method, software and traffic surveillance system.
US08457358B2 Head pose assessment methods and systems
Improvements are provided to effectively assess a user's face and head pose such that a computer or like device can track the user's attention towards a display device(s). Then the region of the display or graphical user interface that the user is turned towards can be automatically selected without requiring the user to provide further inputs. A frontal face detector is applied to detect the user's frontal face and then key facial points such as left/right eye center, left/right mouth corner, nose tip, etc., are detected by component detectors. The system then tracks the user's head by an image tracker and determines yaw, tilt and roll angle and other pose information of the user's head through a coarse to fine process according to key facial points and/or confidence outputs by pose estimator.
US08457355B2 Incorporating video meta-data in 3D models
A moving object detected and tracked within a field of view environment of a 2D data feed of a calibrated video camera is represented by a 3D model through localizing a centroid of the object and determining an intersection with a ground-plane within the field of view environment. An appropriate 3D mesh-based volumetric model for the object is initialized by using a back-projection of a corresponding 2D image as a function of the centroid and the determined ground-plane intersection. Nonlinear dynamics of a tracked motion path of the object are represented as a collection of different local linear models. A texture of the object is projected onto the 3D model, and 2D tracks of the object are upgraded to 3D motion to drive the 3D model by learning a weighted combination of the different local linear models that minimizes an image re-projection error of model movement.
US08457353B2 Gestures and gesture modifiers for manipulating a user-interface
Gesture modifiers are provided for modifying and enhancing the control of a user-interface such as that provided by an operating system or application of a general computing system or multimedia console. Symbolic gesture movements are performed by a user in mid-air. A capture device generates depth images and a three-dimensional representation of a capture area including a human target. The human target is tracked using skeletal mapping to capture the mid-air motion of the user. Skeletal mapping data is used to identify movements corresponding to pre-defined gestures using gesture filters. Detection of a viable gesture can trigger one or more user-interface actions or controls. Gesture modifiers are provided to modify the user-interface action triggered by detection of a gesture and/or to aid in the identification of gestures.
US08457352B2 Methods and apparatus for estimating point-of-gaze in three dimensions
Methods for determining a point-of-gaze (POG) of a user in three dimensions are disclosed. In particular embodiments, the methods involve: presenting a three-dimensional scene to both eyes of the user; capturing image data including both eyes of the user; estimating first and second line-of-sight (LOS) vectors in a three-dimensional coordinate system for the user's first and second eyes based on the image data; and determining the POG in the three-dimensional coordinate system using the first and second LOS vectors.
US08457351B2 Image object detection using separate ranges from both image detections
Provided are an image processing method, an image processing system, an image processing device and a computer program for detecting a detection object such as nares of the driver with a high degree of accuracy in, for example, a system using an in-vehicle camera which is mounted on a vehicle and takes an image of the face of the driver. A detection object is diversified by a variety of detection methods such as a method for detecting a plurality of locations in the vertical direction as candidates during image pickup of an image, detecting a range to be a candidate of a detection object on the basis of the brightness of a pixel for each of rows of pixels lined up in the horizontal direction corresponding to each detected location and specifying a detection object from candidates of a detection object on the basis of the length of the detected range.
US08457346B2 Digital watermarking image signals on-chip
The disclosure describes methods and apparatus for providing digital watermarks or steganographic indicia in image or video data. One implementation embeds digital watermarks on-chip with respect to a CMOS or CCD image array. Some implementations introduce a watermark component during image capture, the watermark being introduced through variations in physical characteristics of a set of pixels. Other implementations are provided and claimed as well.
US08457339B2 Loudspeaker assembly
A loudspeaker assembly includes a first shell, a second shell, and a loudspeaker embedded in the first shell. Together the first shell and the second shell enclose a sound chamber. At least one of the first shell and the second shell can be folded to adjust the size of the sound chamber.
US08457334B2 Audio apparatus, audio signal transmission method, and audio system
An audio apparatus, an audio signal transmission method, and an audio system are provided. The audio signal transmission method includes: wirelessly receiving an audio signal from a first external device; converting the received audio signal into audio signals of multi-channels; and wirelessly transmitting an audio signal of at least one of the multi-channels to at least one of second external devices. Therefore, the audio apparatus wirelessly communicates with a plurality of external devices, and thus a user can connect an audio device to an external device without using wired cables.
US08457333B2 Electromagnetic interference shields with piezos
Methods and apparatus for improving the acoustical performance associated with a speaker, such as a piezoelectric speaker, are disclosed. According to one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate, a can mounted on the substrate, and a piezoelectric speaker arrangement. The piezoelectric speaker arrangement is at least partially mounted on the can. In one embodiment, the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB) and the can is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding can.
US08457328B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for utilizing spatial information for audio signal enhancement in a distributed network environment
An apparatus for utilizing spatial information for audio signal enhancement in a multiple distributed network may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive representations of a plurality of audio signals including at least one audio signal received at a first device and at least a second audio signal received at a second device. The first and second devices may be part of a common acoustic space network and may be arbitrarily positioned with respect to each other. The processor may be further configured to combine the first and second audio signals to form a composite audio signal, and provide for communication of the composite audio signal along with spatial information relating to a sound source of at least one of the plurality of audio signals to another device.
US08457325B2 Acoustical window assembly for vehicle
An acoustical window assembly for a vehicle includes a window panel and mounting portions for mounting respective perimeter regions of the window panel to a vehicle structure. A first mounting portion substantially fixedly mounts a first perimeter region of the window panel relative to the vehicle structure, while a second mounting portion mounts a second perimeter region of the window panel to the vehicle structure and includes a flexible element to allow for movement of the second perimeter region of the window panel toward and away from the vehicle structure. An actuating assembly is positioned at an actuating region of the window panel and has a substantially rigid interface element that engages the actuating region of the window panel. The actuating assembly is operable to vibrate the window panel via vibration of the substantially rigid interface element relative to the vehicle structure.
US08457322B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
According to the present invention, a parameter adjustment section setting, in accordance with a first parameter indicating a variant factor for playback speed that is input, a second parameter and a third parameter, and a signal processing section adjusting at least one of playback speed and pitch of a sound of an audio signal based on the second parameter and the third parameter are provided, wherein the signal processing section adjusts the playback speed of the audio signal when the variant factor for playback speed that is input is less than a predetermined threshold and adjusts the playback speed and the pitch of a sound of the audio signal when the variant factor for playback speed that is input is above the predetermined threshold.
US08457321B2 Adaptive audio output
Devices, apparatus, methods, circuits and processors are implemented for control of audio signals. Consistent with one such apparatus, a processor circuit is configured and arranged to determine, for a perceived loudness algorithm that outputs audio signal levels, a common point corresponding to a particular background noise level at which the levels of the audio signal levels are independent of a volume setting that corresponds to desired perceived loudness, and to determine an audio signal level from the perceived loudness algorithm in response to a background noise signal, a volume setting signal, and the common point. An audio signal level output circuit is configured and arranged to provide an audio signal at the determined audio signal level.
US08457319B2 Stereo encoding device, stereo decoding device, and stereo encoding method
There is disclosed a stereo encoding device capable of accurately encoding a stereo signal at a low bit rate and suppressing delay in audio communication. The device performs monaural encoding in its first layer (110). In a second layer (120), a filtering unit (103) generates an LPC (Linear Predictive Coding) coefficient and generates a left channel drive sound source signal. A time region evaluation unit (104) and a frequency region evaluation unit (105) perform signal evaluation and prediction in both of their regions. A residual encoding unit (106) encodes a residual signal. A bit distribution control unit (107) adaptively distributes bits to the time region evaluation unit (104), the frequency region evaluation unit (105), and the residual encoding unit (106) according to a condition of the audio signal.
US08457317B2 Method for data privacy in a fixed content distributed data storage
An archival storage cluster of preferably symmetric nodes includes a data privacy scheme that implements key management through secret sharing. In one embodiment, the protection scheme is implemented at install time. At install, an encryption key is generated, split, and the constituent pieces written to respective archive nodes. The key is not written to a drive to ensure that it cannot be stolen or otherwise compromised. Due to the secret sharing scheme, any t of the n nodes must be present before the cluster can mount the drives. Thus, to un-share the secret, a process runs before the cluster comes up. It contacts as many nodes as possible to attempt to reach a sufficient t value. Once it does, the process un-shares the secret and mounts the drives locally. Given bidirectional communication, this mount occurs more or less at the same time on all t nodes. Once the drives are mounted, the cluster can continue to boot as normal.
US08457315B2 Pilot transmission in a wireless communication system
Techniques for transmitting pilot and traffic data are described. In one aspect, a terminal may scramble its pilot with a scrambling sequence generated based on a set of static and dynamic parameters. The static parameter(s) have fixed value for an entire communication session for the terminal. The dynamic parameter(s) have variable value during the communication session. The terminal may generate a scrambling sequence by hashing the set of parameters to obtain a seed and initializing a PN generator with the seed. The terminal may then generate the pilot based on the scrambling sequence. In another aspect, the terminal may use different scrambling sequences for pilot and traffic data. A first scrambling sequence may be generated based on a first set of parameters and used to generate the pilot. A second scrambling sequence may be generated based on a second set of parameters and used to scramble traffic data.
US08457314B2 Wireless video surveillance system and method for self-configuring network
A mesh network surveillance system and method for providing communication between a base system having at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and other ICD(s), wherein the ICD(s) are operable to provide a self-configuring network with each other, including the steps of providing this base system; at least one user accessing the ICDs and inputs remotely via a user interface through a remote server computer and/or electronic device communicating with it, for providing a secure surveillance system with extended inputs range and wireless self-configured networking for smart cross-communication for monitoring a target environment.
US08457313B2 Protocol expansion of a signaling message
A bit sequence, which is contained in a signalling message and which is known to a network unit and to a communications terminal which receives the signalling message from the network unit, informs the communications terminal that a test value is contained in a signalling message. The test value received by the communications terminal is compared with a test value computed by the communications terminal, and the communications terminal defines a signalling message as being unmodified only in the event that the bit sequence contained in a signalling message has been received and the comparison of both test values yields a positive result.
US08457309B2 Private key compression
Apparatus for ciphering, including a non-volatile memory, which stores a number from which a private cryptographic key, having a complementary public cryptographic key, is derivable, wherein the number is shorter than the private cryptographic key, and a processor, which is configured to receive an instruction indicating that the private cryptographic key is to be applied to data and, responsively to the instruction, to compute the private cryptographic key using the stored number and to perform a cryptographic operation on the data using the private cryptographic key. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08457307B2 Method and system for generating implicit certificates and applications to identity-based encryption (IBE)
The invention relates to a method of generating an implicit certificate and a method of generating a private key from a public key. The method involves a method generating an implicit certificate in three phases. The public key may be an entity's identity or derived from an entity's identify. Only the owner of the public key possesses complete information to generate the corresponding private key. No authority is required to nor able to generate an entity's private key.
US08457306B2 Cryptographic module and IC card
A cryptographic module that performs a cryptographic operation is provided with: a register that retains first data related to key data to be used in the cryptographic operation; a register that retains second data without dependency on the first data; a selector that alternately selects and outputs the contents of the register retaining the first data and the register retaining the second data; and a left shift circuit that performs a predetermined shift operation on data outputted from the selector.
US08457303B2 Fault-resistant calculcations on elliptic curves
Means for checking the correctness of a cryptographic operation on an elliptic curve E(Z/pZ), including fault-resistant computation of Q=kP on elliptic curve E(Z/pZ). Elliptic curve E^(Z/pr2Z)≡E(Z/pZ)×E(Z/r2Z) is given by Chinese remaindering and where r is an integer. A point P^=CRT(P (mod p), R (mod r2)) is formed in E^(Z/pr2Z); P^ reduces to P in E(Z/pZ), and to R in E1(Z/r2Z). Q^=kP^ in E^(Z/pr2Z) is computed (130). It is then verified whether Q^≡kR (mod r2) in E1(Z/r2Z), and if so, Q=Q^ mod p is output, whereas “error” is returned if this is not the case. Also provided are an apparatus and a computer program product.
US08457301B2 Multi-frequency tone detector
A tone detector for detecting a tone having a plurality of targeted frequencies comprises a first filter bank providing frequency estimates for an initial indication of a presence of each of the targeted frequencies; a second filter bank being controlled by the frequency estimates and comprising a plurality of filters operating in different frequency bands, each frequency band comprising at least one of the targeted frequencies, each of the filters providing a modified signal; a third filter bank extracting a noise signal from the input signal; a plurality of level control units (LCU) providing normalized modified signals having a constant amplitude; a power estimation module providing a power estimation parameter for each of the modified signals and the noise signal; and a discrimination module controlling a plurality of demodulator modules, each of the demodulator units providing a fine estimate of one of the targeted frequencies.
US08457297B2 Distributing transactions among transaction processing systems
A method and system to distribute transactions among a plurality of transaction processing systems is described herein. The method includes automatically receiving data from a first transaction processing system; identifying scheduled handling resources for each of the transaction processing systems for a first time interval based on the data from each transaction processing system; determining transaction allocations for each of the transaction processing systems based upon generated forecast data; and distributing transactions among the plurality of transaction processing systems by producing routing decisions based upon the determined transaction allocations and the scheduled handling resources.
US08457291B1 Universal target button
In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed which comprises a status sensitive input related to a programmed telephone number for conveying a control signal to a controller of a telephone to initiate a function; a detector for determining a status of the telephone and conveying the status to the controller of the telephone; wherein the function initiated by the controller is chosen from two or more functions dependent upon the status of the telephone as determined by the detector.
US08457279B2 Patient positioning assembly
A patient positioning assembly is described. The patient positioning assembly including a plate member rotatably mounted on a base member, and an arm extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rotatably attached to the plate member. The patient positioning assembly further including a support device rotatably attached to the second end of the arm to support a patient thereon, with the support device is configured to move the patient in at least five degrees of freedom.
US08457276B2 Non-destructive detection method for detecting state of solder ball
A detection method detects cracks with small thickness and solder voids with small volume in a solder ball. The method immerses a washed solder ball into a high absorption material solution for a first predetermined time period. The immersed solder ball is then dried in a vacuum chamber at a fixed temperature for a second predetermined time period. Materials of the high absorption material solution of the solder ball are removed by a low absorption material solution. An X-ray machine then detects the cracks and the solder voids in the solder ball.
US08457275B2 Multiple pass cargo inspection system
The present invention is a cargo inspection system, employing a radiation source, capable of scanning vehicles and/or cargo in a wide range of sizes, including conventional imaging areas as well as taller and bulkier enclosures at sufficiently optimal efficacy and overall throughput. In one embodiment, the present invention is a multiple pass inspection method for inspecting vehicles and their cargo, comprising a first pass scan, wherein said first pass scan includes moving a radiation source at a suitable scanning distance, rotating a radiation source at a suitable scanning angle, and moving said radiation source along an object under inspection.
US08457273B2 Generating a representation of an object of interest
A volumetric image of a space is acquired from an imaging system. The space includes an object of interest and another object, and the volumetric image includes data representing the object of interest and the other object. A two-dimensional radiograph of the space is acquired from the imaging system. The two-dimensional radiograph of the space includes data representing the object of interest and the other object. The two-dimensional radiograph and the volumetric image are compared at the imaging system. A two-dimensional image is generated based on the comparison. The generated two-dimensional image includes the object of interest and excludes the other object.
US08457271B2 Radioactive debris trap
A radioactive debris trap to be installed in a steam generator for removing debris in the primary flow of a nuclear power plant's primary heat transport system. The debris trap includes an outer cylinder and a coaxial inner cylinder both having a top end and a bottom end. A top plate connects the top ends of the outer and inner cylinders. A bottom plate which encloses the trap is connected to the bottom end of the outer cylinder. There is a gap between the bottom end of the inner cylinder and the bottom plate through which primary flow enters a settling chamber located in an annular gap between the outer and inner cylinders. Several small holes are located at the top end of the outer cylinder through which liquid exits the debris trap. A means for fixedly connecting the debris trap to the steam generator is provided on the outer surface of the outer cylinder. Also included is a means for removing the radioactive debris trap from the steam generator without exposing personnel to excessive radiation.
US08457263B2 Methods for estimation and interference suppression for signal processing
A receiver in a CDMA system comprises a front end processor that generates a combined signal per source. A symbol estimator processes the combined signal to produce symbol estimates. An S-Matrix Generation module refines these symbol estimates based on the sub channel symbol estimates. An interference canceller is configured for cancelling interference from at least one of the plurality of received signals for producing at least one interference-cancelled signal.
US08457262B2 Iterative interference suppression using mixed feedback weights and stabilizing step sizes
A receiver is configured for canceling intra-cell and inter-cell interference in coded, multiple-access, spread-spectrum transmissions that propagate through frequency-selective communication channels. The receiver employs iterative symbol-estimate weighting, subtractive cancellation with a stabilizing step-size, and mixed-decision symbol estimate. Receiver embodiments may be implemented explicitly in software of programmed hardware, or implicitly in standard Rake-based hardware either within the Rake (i.e., at the finger level) or outside the Rake (i.e., at the user of subchannel symbol level).
US08457261B1 Automatic gain control techniques for detecting RF saturation
Functionality can be implemented for automatic gain control (AGC) in a wireless network device to determine whether to change the gain of the wireless network device based on determining the strength of an RF signal. At various time instants, the strength of the RF signal can be compared against different thresholds to determine the presence of and severity of the saturation of the RF front end. The gain settings can be adjusted based on comparing the strength of the RF signal with a set of thresholds. This can help the wireless network device receive RF signals with little or no distortion, and can minimize RF saturation, gain compression, false detection and other performance degradation at the wireless network device.
US08457257B2 Frequency domain root CAZAC sequence generator
The present invention provides a method for implementation in a random access channel receiver. One embodiment of the method includes generating at least one frequency domain reference sequence by multiplying a generator function and a first frequency domain root CAZAC sequence. The frequency domain reference sequence(s) is generated in response to receiving a signal at the random access channel receiver. This embodiment of the method also includes correlating the received signal and the frequency domain reference sequence(s).
US08457254B2 Equalization and residual self-interference suppression using serial localization with indecision
A constellation processing module of a receiver groups points of a constellation associated with a transmitted signal into a plurality of subsets. At least two adjacent ones of the subsets have one or more common constellation points so that the at least two adjacent subsets overlap. The constellation processing module also determines a centroid-based value for each of the subsets of constellation points. A non-final equalization stage localizes a search for a final symbol decision using a set of the centroid-based values as constellation points. An interference suppresser suppresses residual self-interference which arises from using the set of centroid-based values as constellation points to localize the search for the final symbol decision instead of the constellation points used to modulate the transmitted signal. A final equalization stage determines the final symbol decision using a subset of the constellation points used to modulate the transmitted signal.
US08457252B2 Method and apparatus for digital signal reception
The present invention relates to a digital signal reception method and apparatus. Said digital signal receiver comprises a Common Phase Error removal unit for eliminating CPE contained in the received signal by using CSI corrected pilot sub-carriers; a channel estimation unit for estimating channel state information of the received signal after removing the CPE and feed the CSI to the CPE removal unit, and a means for generating the CSI corrected pilot sub-carriers by multiplying the CSI with 1 or −1 according to positive or negative sign of the local pilot sub-carriers only in response to continual pilots of the received signal. Said method comprises estimating the CSI of the received digital signal after removing CPE; and eliminating the CPE of the received signal by using the CSI corrected pilot sub-carriers, whereby a low complexity and high accuracy are achieved.
US08457250B2 OFDM pre-equalizing
For example in case of an OFDM multicarrier transmission system the transmission characteristics of subcarriers of a multicarrier transmission system using a plurality of antenna elements (3, 3′) can be adjusted. Particularly the power and the phase of the subcarriers can be adapted. To this object the subcarrier frequency channel (2, 2′) characteristics of the multicarrier transmission are detected (11, 11′) at the side of the transmitter (3). The power of each subcarrier is then distributed by a weighting unit (14, 14′). The subcarriers can be further pre-equalized (1, 1′) by dividing the subcarrier signal respectively by the sum of the squared magnitude of the frequency channel characteristics of all subcarrier signals or a frequency characteristic of the selected antenna element (3, 3′).
US08457249B2 Method and apparatus for crest factor reduction in telecommunications systems
A method and device for reducing Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of a transmitted signal in a wireless telecommunication system utilizing CFR technique, the method including performing peak-windowed clipping of a transmitted signal using at least two cascaded clipping stages and individually configuring parameters for each clipping stage before performing the peak-windowed clipping.
US08457248B2 Apparatus and method for mapping symbols to resources in a mobile communication system
A method for transmitting data information and control information by a transmitter in a communication system is provided. The method includes identifying an amount of resources to be used for control channel transmission within a predetermined maximum amount of resources available for control channel transmission among total resources of a subframe; mapping control information onto the identified amount of resources to be used for the control channel transmission; mapping data information onto all remaining resources of the subframe, other than the identified resources used for the control channel transmission among the total resources; and transmitting information related to the amount of resources to be used for the control channel transmission, through a predetermined control channel; and transmitting the mapped control information, and the mapped data information.
US08457245B2 Method of transmitting precoding information in multiple antenna system
A method of transmitting precoding information in a multiple antenna system includes selecting M subbands from a plurality of subbands constituting a whole frequency band in a descending order of a channel quality indicator (CQI), where M is an integer satisfying M>0, and transmitting a first precoding matrix indicator (PMI) for the M subbands and a second PMI for a remaining band, wherein the first PMI is a PMI of a codebook selected from a first codebook set including a plurality of codebooks and the second PMI is a PMI of a codebook selected from a second codebook set including a part of the plurality of codebooks of the first codebook set. Accordingly, precoding information can be effectively transmitted by separately preparing a codebook for a best band and a codebook for a non-selected band.
US08457243B2 Transmitter comprising a pulse width pulse position modulator and method thereof
A baseband signal generator (102a) provides a polar signal (A, I p) to a processing sub-unit (704p). The processing sub-unit (704p) receives furthermore feedback signals from a down converting unit (704c) which feedback signals are used to determine the magnitude (B) of the amplified output signal and the actual error phase. The magnitude (A) of the polar signal and the determined magnitude (B) are applied to a comparator (710) having its output connected to the input of a predistortion unit (214, 216). The output of the predistortion unit (214, 216) is connected to the input of a pulse width modulating unit (210, 212) which comprises a mapping unit (210) outputting two constant magnitude signals. The actual error phase and the phase component of the polar signal are used to generate a corrected phase component which is applied to a further mapping unit (202) forming part of a phase modulating unit (202, 204). The output signals of this phase modulating unit (202, 204) are applied to the pulse width modulating unit (210, 212) providing finally two pulse width pulse position modulated signals. These signals are applied to the switching amplifier (110).
US08457242B2 Transmitter device and HDMI sender/receiver device including the same
A transmitter includes a resistor, a protection unit, and a transmission unit. The resistor control unit controls a connection of a termination resistor between first and second transmission lines. The protection unit reduces first and second voltages, respectively, from the first and second transmission lines during a power-down mode. The transmission unit receives the dropped first and second voltages during the power-down mode and transmits first and second signals through the protection unit during a power-on mode. The resistor control unit connects the termination resistor to the first and second transmission lines when a transmission rate of the first and second signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The resistor control unit is disconnected from at least one of the first and second transmission lines when the transmission rate is less than the predetermined value.
US08457241B2 Digital communications system
In a base station, after CRC is added to transmission data as a detection code, the transmission data is subjected to error-correcting coding using a convolutional code based on tail biting, divided into four frames of P-BCH and transmitted. For this reason, at a mobile station, even if reception (synthesis) is started from any frame of P-BCH represented as (b-1) to (b-4), a cyclic structure of the transmission signal is maintained due to the tail biting and reception data shifted by unit of frame can be obtained. For this reason, at the mobile station, even if a leading frame is unknown, decoding can be executed by one-time error-correcting decoding. A result of the decoding is subjected to CRC detection in four frame timings, the leading frame is detected and the transmission data is restored.
US08457231B2 Quasi-orthogonal space-time block encoder, decoder and methods for space-time encoding and decoding orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signals in a multiple-input multiple-output system
Embodiments of quasi-orthogonal space-time encoder, decoder and method for space-time encoding and decoding orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals in a multiple-input multiple-output (MDMO) system are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a method of decoding received multicarrier signals comprises deriving objective functions from a received signal matrix, minimizing the objective functions to generate decoded hard bits, and solving a set of linear equations of the objective functions to generate decoded soft bits.
US08457229B2 Radio communication apparatus and error correcting method
A radio communication apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive signals, an obtaining unit configured to obtain a reference amplitude that depends on a modulation scheme for a received signal received by the receiving unit, and on amplitude fluctuations of the received signal in a propagation path, a demodulating unit configured to demodulate the received signal to obtain an in-phase component and a quadrature component of each received symbol included in the received signal, a calculating unit configured to calculate a likelihood ratio for each of bits mapped to each received symbol using the reference amplitude and the in-phase or quadrature component, and a decoding unit configured to perform error correction decoding on the received signal using the calculated likelihood ratios.
US08457228B2 System and method of communication using at least two modulation methods
A device may be capable of communicating using at least two type types of modulation methods. Methods and systems are provided for communication of data according to a communications method in which a master transceiver communicates with one or more slave transceivers according to a master/slave relationship. A first data message may include first information and second information that are modulated according to a first modulation method. The second information may include lower data rate data. A second data message may include third information that may be modulated according to the first modulation method and that may indicate an impending change to a second modulation method. The second modulation method may be used for transmitting fourth information, and the fourth information may be included in the second message. The fourth information may include higher data rate data, for example Internet access data.
US08457223B2 Wireless communication device, wireless communication method, program and wireless communication system
A wireless communication device is provided that includes: a plurality of receiving portions that respectively receive wireless signals that are transmitted based on frequency-use methods set from among a plurality of frequency-use methods; and a setting portion that sets one of the plurality of frequency-use methods on each of the plurality of receiving portions respectively. The setting portion changes the frequency-use method of the plurality of receiving portions, based on a receiving result of a wireless signal in each of the plurality of receiving portions.
US08457220B2 Multi-input multi-output-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transceiving method and apparatus
A multi-input multi-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) transceiving system is provided, in which an MIMO-OFDM receiver feeds back ordering information, such as the order of power intensities of reception signals of a plurality of reception antennas, to an MIMO-OFDM transmitter. The MIMO-OFDM transmitter arranges subcarriers, to which data symbols have been allocated, so that the subcarriers respectively correspond to a plurality of transmission antennas, according to the fed-back information. Thus, a specific substream can be transmitted via a transmission antenna having the greatest channel gain. Consequently, the probability of properly recovering the specific substream is greatly increased.
US08457218B2 Protection of communication systems against repetitive electrical impulse noise
A method limits the effect of repetitive electrical impulse noise in a communication system. The presence of the repetitive electrical impulse noise is detected during communication service. If the repetitive electrical impulse noise is detected, then a message is transmitted which signals that the repetitive electrical impulse noise is present. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
US08457217B2 Method of dynamic control of the focusing of a signal pre-equalized by time reversal
A method is provided for dynamically controlling the focus of a signal pre-equalized by time reversal of an estimated propagation channel between a source antenna of a source communicating entity and a destination antenna of a destination communicating entity at a current instant, said method comprising steps for evaluation by the destination communicating entity of a relative focus quality of the pre-equalized signal sent by the source antenna and received by the destination antenna, compared to a quality at a focal point, and if the evaluated relative focus quality does not satisfy a predetermined criterion, for request, by the destination communicating entity, to modify the focus addressed to the source communicating entity for a subsequent instant.
US08457215B2 Apparatus and method for suppressing noise in receiver
A receiver suppresses noise simultaneously using a noise suppressor and an automatic gain controller (AGC). The receiver divides a received signal into an audio period and a non-audio period, analyzes whether the noise characteristic of the non-audio period corresponds to a non-static noise or a static noise, and if the noise characteristic corresponds to the static noise, analyzes whether the static noise is caused by a network or a transmitter side terminal. In accordance with the analyzed noise characteristic, the noise suppressor firstly suppresses the noise by determining the noise suppressing intensity, and sends a signal, from which the noise has been firstly suppressed, to the AGC. The AGC secondly suppresses the noise included in the signal. In this case, the threshold value of the AGC is controlled in real time in accordance with the noise characteristic. Also, since the noise level is lowered by the first noise suppressing, the threshold value of the AGC can be set to a lower value, and thus a swing phenomenon and a radiotelegraph phenomenon can be reduced.
US08457211B2 System and method for image coding
A system and method for image coding with error feedback are provided, including a method comprising receiving image data containing at least one macro block of pixels, and computing an activity indicator for a macro block. The method further comprising computing prediction error values for pixels in the macro block, and scaling the prediction error values based on the activity indicator.
US08457208B2 Adaptive motion estimation
Optimal error metric function for motion estimation is determined and used for video coding and/or video processing of images. To do so, an initial motion estimation using an initial error metric function can be performed. This can produce motion prediction errors. If the initial error metric function is not the optimal error function, then a final motion estimation is performed using a selected optimal error metric function. In some embodiments, a shape of error distribution can be used to determine the optimal error metric function. Some example systems or devices for this motion estimation can include systems or devices for compression, temporal interpolation, and/or super-resolution processing.
US08457207B2 Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal
The method includes the steps of receiving the multiview video data stream including a random access picture including a random access slice, the random access slice referencing only slice corresponding to a same time and a different view of the random access picture, obtaining identification information representing the multi-view video data stream including initialization information of a reference picture list for the random access slice, obtaining initialization information of a reference picture list for the random access slice based on the identification information, the initialization information representing a reference relation between a plurality of views with view number information and view identification information, initializing the reference picture list using the view number information and the view identification information, obtaining a difference value from the a multi-view video data stream according to the type information, the difference value representing a residual of inter-view reference index in the initialized reference picture list, determining an assignment modification value for modifying the inter-view reference index in the initialized reference picture list according to the difference value, modifying the initialized reference picture list for inter-view prediction using the determined assignment modification value, determining a prediction value of a macroblock in the random access picture based on the modified reference picture list, and decoding the macroblock using the prediction value, wherein the initialization information is obtained from an extension area of a sequence header.
US08457206B2 Method and system for adaptive temporal interpolation filtering for motion compensation
Certain aspects of a method and system for adaptive temporal interpolation filtering for motion compensation may include computing a plurality of weights for adaptively adjusting one or more parameters of a plurality of linear filters utilized for motion compensation. One or more motion compensated output pictures may be generated based on vector median filtering a plurality of linear filtered output pictures generated by the plurality of linear filters. In instances where two frames are utilized for motion estimation of a video sequence, a motion compensated picture of a previous frame and a motion compensated picture of a current frame may be combined to adaptively compute the subsequent weights. In instances where three or more frames are utilized for motion estimation of a video sequence, the generated one or more motion compensated output pictures may be combined with an extracted desired picture from the video sequence to adaptively compute the subsequent weights.
US08457194B2 Processing real-time video
Real-time video processing functionality may be provided using pre-processing and/or post-processing features to provide a video signal. Components of a real-time video processing system may operate to receive a real-time video signal. The real-time video signal may be downscaled based in part on the use of features of a pre-processing component applying a downscale polyphase filter that may be used to compensate for bandwidth constraints associated with a real-time video conferencing environment. The downscaled real-time video may be communicated across a network, such as the Internet. Upon receipt of the downscaled real-time video, the downscaled real-time video may be upscaled based in part on the use of features of a post-processing component applying an upscale polyphase filter.
US08457193B2 No-reference video quality model
Methods and apparatus relating to video analysis are described. In an embodiment, a method comprises determining desirable features of the video content values, determining undesirable features of the video content values, constructing a quality model using the desirable features and the undesirable features, and storing the quality model in a memory module. Other embodiments are also described.
US08457189B2 Receiving apparatus having equalizer, and receiving method
A timing recovery circuit recovers the symbol timing of a modulation signal. A carrier recovery circuit corrects the frequency shifts of output signals of the timing recovery circuit. An FIR equalizer having a plurality of taps, and corrects the distortions of output signals of the carrier recovery circuit. A control circuit dynamically controls the number of taps used in the FIR equalizer.
US08457186B2 Transceiver system and associated methods and systems
In the example embodiments, test signals sent from a transmitting system are received at a receiving system. The receiving system generates a determination signal indicating, in one embodiment, whether received signals have a desired relationship with respect to a clock signal at the receiving system. Timing of the clock signal or timing for transmitting signals may be adjusted based on the determination. In another embodiment, the receiving system generates a determination signal indicating whether the pulse width of a lone pulse signal equals a desired time interval. Equalization or pre-emphasis is controlled based on the determination signal.
US08457184B2 Method and apparatus for performing log-likelihood calculations
A method and apparatus for performing calculations relating to the derivation of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) is provided. Coefficients in the use of deriving LLRs are calculated the calculation being applicable to any one of a plurality of constellation diagrams (PAM, QAM, PSK). The coefficients may be stored in a table of coefficients, the table corresponding to a particular constellation diagram and modulation scheme. A number of tables may be stored, each table corresponding to a particular modulation scheme. The coefficients are related to a symbol estimated to be closest to the received sample and the closest symbol to the estimated symbol having a complementary value for a bit for which the LLR is to be calculated. Certain coefficients or parts of coefficients may be omitted where the corresponding constellation diagram has symmetries.
US08457183B2 Apparatus with tunable filter and related adjusting method
The present invention discloses a method for adjusting a tunable compensation filter within a communication device. The method includes the following steps: generating at least a detecting signal according to at least a pole of the tunable compensation filter; generating a transmitted signal according to the detecting signal; receiving the transmitted signal via a loop switch; generating a filtered signal by filtering the transmitted signal; generating a received signal by compensating the filtered signal; generating at least an indicating signal by comparing the detecting signal with the received signal; and determining whether to adjust at least a coefficient of the tunable compensation filter or not according to the indicating signal.
US08457181B2 Rate agile rate-adaptive digital subscriber line
Methods and apparatus for maintaining the maximum achievable data rate on a DSL line, up to and including a rate to which a user subscribes is described. Performance monitoring is conducted on the DSL line on an ongoing basis to determine noise margins in each direction. Each noise margin is compared against pre-determined decreasing/increasing thresholds to determine whether the line characteristics dictate a data rate change without loss of synchronization. The invention supports dynamic provisioning changes including application driven service level change requests, e.g., new bandwidth-on demand services. In some embodiments, a combination of existing and new embedded operations channel (EOC) messages are used to implement the modem data rate changes. New EOC messages may be implemented using some of the reserved and/or vendor proprietary Opcodes currently permitted. Modem assigned data rate changes are implemented without a disruption of service, e.g., without the need for re-initialization and/or re-synchronization.
US08457175B2 Systems and methods for securing a digital communications link
The frequency of a digital data signal, such as a digital video signal, is intentionally varied or hopped before being sent over a network. This frequency hopping may be performed in accordance with a frequency hopping pattern shared with only intended receivers. The digital data signal may be further intentionally pre-distorted in accordance with a pre-distortion pattern which is also shared with only intended receivers. The frequency hopping and/or the pre-distortion patterns may be used to vary the frequency and modulation, respectively, on a periodic basis, such as a symbol-by-symbol or packet-by-packet basis.
US08457172B2 Bragg grating structure
A Bragg grating has a local reflection strength which varies with position along the length of the grating so as to generate a non-uniform wavelength reflection spectrum, enabling compensation for a non-uniform gain profile of the gain section of a tunable laser. In another aspect, a Bragg comb grating is modulated by an envelope function which can also compensate for a non-uniform gain profile. The comb grating may be a phase change grating, with the envelope function shape being controlled by the length between phase changes and/or size of the phase changes.
US08457168B2 Semiconductor laser, module and optical transmitter
A semiconductor optical waveguide-A having an optical amplification function and a semiconductor optical waveguide-B having a light control function are integrated together on the same substrate. A facet of the semiconductor optical waveguide-A facing an isolation trench and a facet of the semiconductor optical waveguide-B facing the isolation trench are configured as a composite optical reflector/optical connector using an optical interference. The facet of the semiconductor optical waveguide-A achieves an optical reflectivity not higher than the reflectivity corresponding to a cleaved facet and not smaller than several percent, and an optical coupling coefficient of not lower than 50% between the semiconductor optical waveguide-A and the semiconductor optical waveguide-B.
US08457166B2 Method of controlling wavelength-tunable laser
A method of controlling a wavelength-tunable laser selecting an oscillation wavelength with a combination of a plurality of wavelength selection portions of which wavelength peak is different from each other, comprising: a first step of confirming a control direction of the wavelength selection portion in a case where a setting value is changed from a first setting value for achieving the first wavelength to a second setting value for achieving the second wavelength; a second step of setting a setting value that is shifted from the second setting value in a direction that is opposite of a pre-determined changing direction on the wavelength selection portion as a prepared setting value, when the control direction confirmed in the first step is opposite to the pre-determined changing direction; and a third step of changing the prepared setting value set in the second step to the second setting value.
US08457152B2 Multiple modulation schemes in single rate layering wireless communication systems
A MIMO communication system is adapted to encode multiple data streams at the same adaptable rate. Accordingly, the set of all possible modulation/rate combinations to all modulations with common rates is decreased thus resulting in the reduction of the number of possible packet formats carrying the data streams. Rate prediction is made more error-resilient, in part, due to the averaging over all information rates. Furthermore, the signaling overhead of the packets is reduced. Therefore, the tradeoff between the desired transmission rate granularity on the one hand, and robustness/signaling overhead on the other hand, is controlled by adjusting the coding rate.
US08457148B2 Method for maintaining vital guideway operation in high-demand areas
A method for reducing delays in the receipt of high priority information in a transportation system is disclosed.
US08457147B2 Cable modem and connection retaining method
A cable modem in communication with a cable modem termination system (CMTS) scans and tries to lock onto a primary channel, tries to receive a media access control domain description (MDD) message includes subsidiary channels from the CMTS if the primary channel is locked, and tries to lock onto the subsidiary channels in the received MDD message. The cable modem further retains the cable modem to work with the DOCSIS 3.0 standard upon the condition that the primary channel and the subsidiary channels are all locked or retains the cable modem to work with the DOCSIS 2.0 standard upon the condition that the MDD message is not received or the subsidiary channels are not successfully locked.
US08457145B2 Method and apparatus for bandwidth request/grant protocols in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. One embodiment uses a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be “self-correcting”. Another embodiment utilizes an abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol to allocate bandwidth. The abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol system utilizes padding packets to request a reduction in bandwidth allocation to a CPE. A base station modem alerts a base station CPU when the BS modem receives a padding packet from a CPE. After alerting the BS CPU the method can reduce the associated CPE's bandwidth allocation.
US08457142B1 Applying backpressure to a subset of nodes in a deficit weighted round robin scheduler
A scheduler in a network element may include a dequeuer to dequeue packets from a set of scheduling nodes using a deficit weighted round robin process, where the dequeuer is to determine whether a subset of the set of scheduling nodes is being backpressured. The dequeuer may set a root rich most negative credits (MNC) value, associated with a root node, to a root poor MNC value, associated with the root node, and set the root poor MNC value to zero, when the subset is not being backpressured, and may set the rich MNC value to a maximum of the root poor MNC value and a root backpressured rich MNC value, associated with the subset, and set the root poor MNC value to a root backpressured poor MNC value, associated with the subset, when the subset is being backpressured.
US08457139B2 Systems, methods, and computer readable media for loose coupling of multimedia resource function controllers and multimedia resource function processors
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for loose coupling media resource function controllers (MRFCs) and media resource function processors (MRFPs) are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for loose coupling MRFCs and MRFPs. The method includes providing one or more MRFPs having media processing resources simultaneously usable by a plurality of MRFCs, and at one of the MRFPs, allowing a plurality of MRFCs to simultaneously use the media processing resources of the MRFP.
US08457136B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for reducing session setup latency
An apparatus for reducing session setup latency includes a processing element. The processing element is configured to determine a status with respect to a response message made in response to an invite message associated with a communication session, determine a status with respect to media packets being communicated between nodes of a network, make a determination with respect to an acknowledgment message based at least in part on the status determination with respect to the response message and the status determination with respect to media packets, and control setup of a communication session based on the determination with respect to the acknowledgement message.
US08457135B2 Hierarchical network topology
A network including a hierarchical structure of nodes is described. The structure of nodes includes n layers including n−1 layers of switch nodes and 1 layer of computational nodes. Each layer in the structure can include mn-L nodes grouped into units, where m represents a number of nodes in a unit and L represents a layer in the structure, where L=0 represents a lowest layer and L=n−1 represents a highest layer. Each node in a layer other than the computational layer can include a switch node for a unit in a next lower layer. For each unit, each node can be connected to each other node by a point to point link and to a local switch node for the unit by a point to point link. Each node can be connected to each other node and to the local switch node by a local broadcast network for the unit.
US08457134B2 Method for dynamic routing using tunneling
Techniques for routing data from a source to a destination in a wireless network are provided. The techniques include broadcasting one or more messages in a network to identify a set of one or more nodes that can be used to forward data towards a destination, routing data from a source to the destination by way of a sequence of one or more data transmissions involving the one or more identified nodes, wherein each data transmission comprises a node that has data addressed to the destination to trigger a distributed procedure among the one or more identified nodes to select a relaying node, and sending the data to the selected relaying node until the destination is reached.
US08457132B2 Method of relaying traffic from a source to a targeted destination in a communications network and corresponding equipment
The present invention discloses a method of relaying traffic from a source application (46a-46c) to a targeted destination in a communications network (14, 16). The method comprises the steps of providing a first and at least one second network adapter, each providing access to a network (14, 16) having a plurality of destinations. Furthermore, a first routing table, which defines a first default destination associated with the first network adapter, is provided. Traffic from the source (46a-46c) to the targeted destination is relayed using one of the network adapters (20, 22). According to one aspect of the invention, at least one second routing table defining at least one second default destination is provided. Each second network adapter is individually associated with one second default destination. The step of relaying includes the step of selecting one of the first and second routing tables (60, 62).
US08457122B2 Multiport switch for cascaded ethernet AV device networking
A multiport switch for cascaded Ethernet audio/visual (AV) device networking. AV devices are configured with multiple external Ethernet ports and an internal port. These multiple Ethernet ports enable the AV devices to operate as a terminating AV device or as an intermediary switch. With this functionality, a cascading chain of AV devices can be used to support traffic between the connected set of AV devices. Independent links between the sets of devices would not be required as with conventional point-to-point topologies.
US08457121B1 Heterogeneous network switch system
A heterogeneous network switch system includes heterogeneous network switches having a first network switch having a first functionality and a second network switch having a second functionality, where the first functionality differs from the second functionality. In addition, the first network switch and the second network switch are configured to forward data to at least one common server. The system also includes a controller configured to receive data from at least one client and to select one of the first network switch and the second network switch to employ in forwarding the data from the at least one client to the at least one common network equipment.
US08457118B2 Decentralized system and method for voice and video sessions
An audio and video communication system, including a handset including a handset receiver and an audio output component, for receiving audio data via the handset receiver and for playing the received audio data on the handset audio output component, a display device, not physically connected to the handset, including a display receiver and a display screen, for receiving video data via the display receiver and for displaying the received video data on the display screen, and a telephony service, communicatively coupled with the handset and with the display, that receives audio and video data from a transmitter computer during a communication session, and transmits the audio data to the handset and the video data to the display device.
US08457116B2 Mobile technology
Apparatus for enabling interworking of Circuit Switched video calls with video calls using IP multimedia protocols, comprising: a MGW; and a MGCF; wherein the apparatus is arranged to use MONA functionality to accelerate the set-up of video calls.
US08457105B2 Method of propagating IP connectivity information between distinct IP telephony domains, and a corresponding location server and computer program
A method is provided for propagating at least one route for at least one digital stream between a first location server of a first IP telephony domain and a second location server of a second IP telephony domain, the first location server belonging to an autonomous system, and the route for transferring the at least one digital stream. The method includes a stage of propagating at least one identification relating to the autonomous system of the first location server towards the second server.
US08457104B2 Method for synchronizing direct mode time division multiple access (TDMA) transmissions
A method for synchronizing the direct mode TDMA transmission of a set of radios by following a selected radio as the leader includes: receiving, by a radio, a communication from an other radio; identifying, by the radio, a leader according to a leadership election rule using the received communication from the other radio and a current leader information; setting, by the radio, the identified leader as its leader; and synchronizing, by the radio, a time slot boundary with a time slot boundary defined by the leader.
US08457102B2 Mobile wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication apparatus and communication processing method
Both a pre-word (PW) and a sync word (SW) are used to establish a synchronization or only the sync word (SW) is used to establish a synchronization in accordance with an operational status related to the synchronization in a mobile wireless communication apparatus. For example, during an initial synchronization with a control channel (110) being received, both the pre-word (PW) and the sync word (SW) are used to establish a synchronization when a calculation result in a synchronization calculating part exceeds a predetermined threshold value only once. During an initial synchronization with a direct communication channel (112) being received, both the pre-word (PW) and the sync word (SW) are used to establish a synchronization when the calculation result exceeds the predetermined threshold value once; or alternatively, only the sync word (SW) is used to establish a synchronization when the calculation result successively exceeds the predetermined threshold value twice. According to the present invention, the sync word is shortened so as to quickly establish a communication link, and the sync detection can be performed with high precision.
US08457099B2 Methods and apparatus for separating home agent functionality
MIP Home Agent (HA) architectures are described that decompose, e.g., split, packet forwarding control functionality from actual data packet forwarding operations performed by a conventional MIP HA. This places MIP routing control in a node which is distinct from the tunnel end-points which perform packet forwarding operations to direct packets including a mobile's Home Address. Tunneling establishment and control functionality is implemented by what is referred to herein as decomposed HA (DHA) while data packet forwarding and redirection is performed, under the control of the DHA, by a tunneling agent (TA) node. The tunneling agent node serves as the data packet redirection node for a mobile as it moves from one location to another and may be located outside of a firewall used to protect the DHA. Tunnel endpoint nodes (Mobile Nodes and/or Access Nodes) send tunnel packets to the tunnel agent whilst directing control signaling packets to the DHA.
US08457097B2 Communicating with two nodes with overlapping frames
According to an example embodiment, a wireless node may determine that a first reserved retransmission frame overlaps with a second reserved transmission frame and a second reserved retransmission frame and that the second reserved transmission frame overlaps with a first reserved transmission frame and the first reserved retransmission frame. The first reserved transmission frame and the first reserved retransmission frame may be reserved for wireless communication with a first master node, and the second reserved transmission frame and the second reserved retransmission frame are reserved for wireless communication with a second master node. The wireless node may also process and acknowledge data received from the first master node during the first reserved transmission frame based on the determining, ignore data sent by the second master node during the second reserved transmission frame based on the determining, and process and acknowledge data received from the second master node during the second reserved retransmission frame based on the determining.
US08457092B2 Quick paging channel with reduced probability of missed page
A quick paging channel in a random access wireless communication system includes at least one bit in a quick paging frame identifying the presence of a paging message for an access terminal or group of access terminals. The quick paging bits identifying the presence of a paging message for a first access terminal is encoded with one or more quick paging bits corresponding to one or more additional access terminals to produce one or more forward error correction bits. The jointly encoded quick paging bits are broadcast to the access terminals by time division multiplexing the quick paging frame with additional frames of information.
US08457089B2 High-throughput (HT) receiving station and method for determining a rate for control response frames in non-HT format
Embodiments of a high-throughput (HT) receiving station and method for determining a rate for response frames in non-HT format are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. The rate may be a non-HT basic rate that is a highest of a basic rate set that is less than or equal to a non-HT reference rate that is selected based on a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of a received spatial stream.
US08457087B2 Method and apparatus to enable multiple receivers
Briefly, a wireless communication device that includes a processor to enable a determined number of receivers of a MIMO system according to a value provided with a request to enable the receivers is provided. A method for enabling the receivers of MIMO system is also provided.
US08457082B2 System and method for providing integrated voice and data services utilizing wired cordless access with unlicensed/unregulated spectrum
Methods and systems provide integrated voice and data services utilizing wired cordless access with unlicensed/unregulated connectivity sources. A digital cordless telephone operates over unlicensed/unregulated spectrum in conjunction with one or more wireless access points (WAP) that are installed in homes, businesses, entertainment venues, and the like. The WAPs are connected to a communications service provider's broadband packet data network. A user may use the device when they are in range of another wireless access point in a public or private building that also is connected to their communications service provider's broadband packet data network.
US08457078B2 Simultaneous use of multiple phone numbers in mobile device by sharing hardware
Determining and simultaneously using a circuit for a mobile device couple to a base station, the circuit may comprise an identification signal detector for receiving a first identification signal corresponding to a first module and a second identification signal corresponding to a second module in the mobile device. The circuit may comprise a receiver for receiving a plurality of signals from the base station; said plurality of signals is configured to set up communication between the mobile device and the base station. The circuit may comprise a calculator for calculating a plurality of parameters in response to the first identification signal, second identification signal and said plurality of signals received from said base station. The circuit may also comprise a processor for attaching the first and second module to the base station simultaneously in response to a plurality of slots by time multiplexing and the plurality of parameters.
US08457061B2 Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
US08457055B2 Radio base station used in mobile communication system
A disclosed radio base station is used in a mobile communication system employing a single carrier scheme for uplink and includes a scheduler configured to allocate radio resources such that a first control channel accompanying an uplink data channel is transmitted using the same frequency band allocated to the uplink data channel and a second control channel, which is to be transmitted regardless of presence or absence of the uplink data channel, is transmitted using a dedicated frequency band reserved for the second control channel if no frequency band is allocated to the uplink data channel; and a reporting unit configured to report scheduling information indicating the allocation results to a user device. The scheduler is configured not to allocate the radio resources to the uplink data channel of the user device in a unit transmission period reserved for transmission of the second control channel of the user device.
US08457054B2 Apparatus and method for use in paging mode in wireless communications systems
Latency in receiving and detecting paging messages at a wireless terminal is reduced by employing a unique “super” paging time slot format. A paging super time slot includes a plurality of prescribed time slots. Each wireless terminal is associated with cyclically recurring super time slots. A super slot is associated with one or more wireless terminals. A base station always selects the first available time slot in a super time slot to transmit a paging message to a wireless terminal that is associated with the super time slot. Each wireless terminal monitors every time slot in the associated super time slot until either detecting reception of its associated paging message or detecting an empty time slot. In another embodiment of the invention, a unique partially overlapping super time slot format is employed in which a super time slot has at least one time slot common to its adjacent super time slots. This allows wireless terminals associated with adjacent super time slots to share the common at least one time slot. In turn, this results in balanced traffic loads, smoothed traffic fluctuation and reduced congestion.
US08457051B2 Method, device and system for differentiating operators in one network
Methods, devices and apparatus are provided for differentiating operators in a wireless communications network. Information about the frequency occupied by the air interface resource of a service is received, and corresponding operator information is provided from the configured mapping relation between frequency information and operator information according to the received information about the frequency occupied by the air interface resource of the service. A Base Station Controller (BSC)/Packet Control Function (PCF), and a device and system for differentiating operators in a network for performing the above functions is also provided.
US08457046B2 Method for multiple registration of a multimodal communication terminal
For multiple registration of a multimodal communication terminal (MKE) via at least one access network in an IMS-based service communication system in a mobile and/or convergent communication system, where the multimodal communication terminal (MKE) is registered for at least one communication service via a first access network (WIAN) in at least one service control unit in the IMS-based service communication system (S-CSCF), a registration message with an access network identifier (ZK) is produced and is transmitted to the at least one service control unit (S-CSCF) in the IMS-based service communication system. The at least one service control unit evaluates the access network identifier (ZK) and takes it as a basis for performing further registration of the multimodal communication terminal in the IMS-based service communication system (S-CSCF).
US08457045B2 Method for transmitting data using downlink dummy control block and system using the same
A method for transmitting data using a downlink dummy control block and a system using the same. The method includes receiving, by a Base Station, data to be broadcast to Mobile Stations (MSs) from a mobile communication service provider server, and inserting, by the BS, the received data into a padding bit field within a downlink dummy control block and broadcasting the downlink dummy control block to the MSs.
US08457040B2 Method and apparatus for maintaining synchronization in a communication system
A central entity and/or a remote device in a communication system are designed to address the problem of maintaining upstream synchronization in the remote device after loss of the downstream signal. One issue of particular importance is maintaining upstream transmissions from the remote device in an S-CDMA (or perhaps S-TDMA) mode that do not degrade performance of the communication system via poor upstream timing or a need for re-ranging. By providing novel functionality at the central entity for synchronizing first and second downstream signals and/or by providing novel functionality at the remote device for determining a symbol clock offset between a first terminated downstream signal and a second re-acquired downstream signal, embodiments of the present invention facilitate maintenance of synchronization through the loss of the downstream signal, thereby minimizing the need for re-ranging and avoiding poorly timed upstream bursts.
US08457035B2 Mobility across satellite beams using L2 connectivity
Systems and methods for providing mobility across satellite beams, are described. The system includes a first core node, a second core node in communication with the first core node at layer-2 of the OSI model (L2), and a first gateway in communication, at L2, with the first core, the first gateway configured to provide access to a first spot beam at a first location. The system further includes a second gateway in communication, at L2, with the second core node, the second gateway configure to provide access to a second spot beam at a second location, and a mobile device, at the first location, in communication with the first gateway via the first spot beam, wherein the mobile device is assigned an IP address by the first core node. The mobile device moves from the first location to the second location. Further, the first gateway, in response to the mobile device moving from the first location to the second location, notifies the second gateway, through the first core node and the second core node, that the mobile device is moving to the second location, and transmits the session information to the second gateway, and the second gateway, in response to the notification, maintains connectivity with the mobile device using the IP address.
US08457033B2 Method and apparatus for handling MBMS dynamic scheduling information
A method for handling MBMS dynamic scheduling information in a network terminal of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes steps of generating an MAC Control Element for carrying an MBMS dynamic scheduling information; and applying an MCCH specific Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for transmitting the MAC Control Element on a corresponding Physical Multicast Channel (PMCH).
US08457031B2 System and method for reliable multicast
A technique for reliable multicast involves identifying a client as an acknowledger of a wireless multicast packet, and having the acknowledger acknowledge receipt of the multicast packet. An example of a method according to the technique may include receiving a multicast packet, selecting a client associated with a destination of the multicast packet, identifying the client in the multicast packet, forwarding the multicast packet to wireless, and retrying forwarding the multicast packet with the client identified in the multicast packet if no acknowledgement is received from the client. An example of a system according to the technique may include a means for identifying a client, a means for putting the client mac in the header of a multicast packet, a means for sending the multicast packet with the client mac to a wireless multicast destination, and a means for receiving acknowledgement from the client associated with the client mac.
US08457028B2 Optimizing 802.11 power-save for IP multicast groups
A method for providing a superior quality of service for multicast data streams delivered over a wireless local area network. As Internet Protocol multicast data streams are received by an access point, the access point observes Internet Group Multicast Protocol registration messages to determine which of its associated stations subscribe to each multicast data stream. The access point then determines which of the multicast data streams it receives have only active subscribing stations as opposed to those data streams having at least one associated station operating in power-save mode. The access point will automatically transmit each multicast data stream having only active subscribers immediately to the associated active stations, while buffering the multicast data stream for which there is at least one associated station operating in power-save mode.
US08457027B2 System and method for dynamic distributed communication
Growth of a distributed communication system is facilitated through dynamic addition of routing elements. A new routing element may be added to a network of routing elements by first establishing a connection between the new routing element and an existing routing element in the network. The connection may be either wireless or wireline. At least one address is assigned to the new routing element. Each assigned address comes from a pool of addresses maintained at the existing routing element. At least one pool of addresses is issued to the new routing element, permitting the new routing element to dynamically add yet another new routing element to the network of routing elements.
US08457026B1 Enhanced wireless data rates using multiple beams
Enhanced wireless speeds are obtained using multiple transmission beams. In one example, a transmitter has a signal processor to receive a plurality of data streams, a plurality of analog converters each coupled to the signal processor to receive the plurality of data streams from the signal processor and to modulate the data streams onto carrier waves, and a plurality of phase shifters each coupled to an analog converter to each receive a modulated stream. A first antenna is coupled to more than one of the plurality of phase shifters to receive the modulated data stream from each phase shifter and transmit it on its respective carrier wave, and a second antenna is coupled to receive at least one modulated data stream and transmit it on its respective carrier wave.
US08457025B2 Method and network node for selecting a network prefix to be advertised in a communication network
Method and nodes for selecting a network prefix to be advertised in an IP network comprising an access router and a mobile node (MN). From the access router, a first validity period is used to advertise at least a first and a second network prefixes towards the MN. The access router receives a message from the MN indicating an intended address thereof that it intends to use. In the access router, based on the message, only one of the first or second network prefix that the MN needs to use is then determined. The access router afterwards advertises towards the MN the only one network prefix with a second validity period longer than the first validity period. The access router may further acquire a current address and a current network prefix used by the MN and it may use these in the determination of the only one network prefix.
US08457024B2 Information processing device and program
An information processing device includes a plurality of elements that perform processing independently of each other; and a front end that controls the plurality of elements, is shared by the plurality of elements, and performs near-field communication with an external device. The front end gives different time slots for communication to the plurality of elements at the time of activation.
US08457021B2 Repeater system
A repeater system for wireless communication system is disclosed forthwith. The repeater system uses an analog frequency converter and digital down and up converter in order to allow the processing of the repeated signal in a relatively low frequency (in the 30 MHz range) and in a digital form (rather than in analog form). The repeater system also provides a programmable multi-band filter which can identify and suppress out of band noises to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the system.
US08457004B2 System and method for analyzing and testing packet flows to localize problems
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for analyzing packet flows and generating an alarm and for active testing of a network to localize problems. The system analyzes packet flows for bitstreams associated with a network node in order to compute a measure of protection that a queue of the network node gives to a high-priority one of the bitstreams relative to a low-priority one of the bitstreams, and uses the measure of protection to determine whether the network node is a source of a protection error with respect to priority markings for packets flowing through the network node, and generates an alarm upon determining that the network node is a source of a protection error with respect to the priority markings for the packets flowing through the network node.
US08457001B2 Mesh restoration in optical transport networks
The present disclosure provides mesh restoration systems and methods with Optical Transport Network (OTN) links using a signaling and routing protocol, such as Optical Signaling and Routing Protocol (OSRP), Automatically Switched Optical Network (ASON), Generalized Multi Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS), and the like. The present invention includes an optical node, network, and method using the signaling and routing protocol for OTN lines of differing bandwidth granularities. The present invention utilizes OTN overhead for in-band signaling and may include capability for supporting SONET/SDH lines as well as OTN lines in the same system using the signaling and routing protocol.
US08457000B2 Call quality monitoring
A method of monitoring quality of a telephone call transmitted over a network includes obtaining a metric associated with the telephone call, where the metric is based on data packets that are transmitted during the telephone call, and determining whether the metric exceeds a threshold. Plural metrics may be obtained and the method may determine whether the plural metrics exceed corresponding thresholds.
US08456997B2 Wireless communication systems for medical data
A communication method is disclosed, comprising: (i) wirelessly communicating in compliance with an IEEE 802.11 protocol (802.11 QoS) including quality of service extensions between a wireless access point (30) and a station (20) communicating patient data; and (ii) wirelessly communicating in compliance with the 802.11 QoS protocol between a wireless access point (20) and a station (34, 38) communicating content other than patient data. The 802.11 QoS protocol is configured to perform the wireless communicating (i) at a higher priority than the wireless communicating (ii) responsive to an indication (42, 52) that the wireless communicating (i) is communicating patient data, the higher priority providing at least one of faster communication and communication at a lower error rate as compared with the wireless communicating (ii).
US08456994B2 Transmit request management in a distributed shared storage system
If a distributed shared storage system is used to provide high bandwidth real-time media data that is shared by a large number of users, several complexities arise. In such an application, the high bandwidth real-time media data is distributed among multiple storage devices or servers. Multiple client applications or machines may access the data. To access the data, clients and servers communicate among themselves using short control messages that contain queries and responses, and using longer data messages that contain media data. To reduce this variability in latency, short control messages are posted for transmission immediately, whereas long messages are posted for transmission in a controlled fashion. For example, the number of long messages that may be outstanding at any one time may be limited. Thus, a long message is not posted to the transmit queue if the maximum number of long messages has been reached. A long message may be posted when transmission of an outstanding long message has been completed. In this way, the latency for any short message is limited by the amount of time it takes to send a long message and the number of long messages that are permitted to be outstanding at any one time.
US08456991B2 Source and diversity rate less than a first transmission rate
Packets of real-time information are sent with a source rate greater than zero kilobits per second, and a time or path or combined time/path diversity rate initially being zero kilobits per second. This results in a quality of service QoS, optionally measured at the sender or the receiver. When the QoS is on an unacceptable side of a threshold of acceptability, the sender sends diversity packets at an increased rate. Increasing the diversity rate while either reducing or maintaining the overall transmission rate is new. CELP-based multiple-description data partitioning sends the base or important information plus a subset of fixed excitation in one packet and sends the base or important information plus the complementary subset of fixed excitation in another packet. Reconstruction produces acceptable quality when only one of the two packets is received and better quality when both packets are received. Reconstruction provides for single and multiple lost packets.
US08456990B2 Quality of service for iSCSI
An initiator node adapted to provide quality of service (QoS) for an Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) environment is provided. The initiator node including an iSCSI initiator comprising a QoS shaper, the QoS shaper for shaping one or more Protocol Data Units (PDUs) according to QoS policies and providing shaped PDUs, and a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) layer for receiving the shaped PDUs from the iSCSI initiator and comprising a QoS marker for marking the shaped PDUs according to the QoS policies, wherein the PDUs are command PDUs and wherein the shaper shapes the command PDUs before the command PDUs receive command sequence numbers.
US08456989B1 Method and system for using supplemental channels for a communication session
During an initial part of a communication session, a transmitting node transmits digital data over a first air interface channel to a receiving node, using a first data rate and a first level of repetition. A degradation in quality of the communication session is detected. During a subsequent part of the communication session, the transmitting node transmits digital data over the first air interface channel as before but also transmits the digital data over a second air interface channel, using a second data rate and a second level of repetition. The second data rate is higher than the first data rate, and the second level of repetition is higher than the first level of repetition. Thus, during a given transmission period, the transmitting node may transmit a voice frame once over the first air interface channel and N times over the second air interface channel.
US08456987B1 Method and apparatus for route optimization enforcement and verification
A technique dynamically enforces a best exit selection for a controlled prefix based on policies and real-time performance statistics in a computer network. A Master Controller (e.g., an Optimized Edge Routing, OER, Master Controller) of an autonomous system (AS) in the network selects a best exit from the AS for the controlled prefix, and conveys the selection to a border router having the selected exit. In response, the border router performs a parent lookup to determine whether the controlled prefix is reachable via the best exit. If so, the border router influences routing in the AS for the controlled prefix through the best exit by, e.g., injecting routes or modifying metrics of existing routes. The Master Controller (or border router) then verifies that the routes for the controlled prefix traverse the selected best exit. Notably, if a route does not traverse the selected best exit, the border router may try to influence the route again or remove the influence.
US08456985B2 Vehicle crew communications system
The vehicle crew communication system provides up to sixty wireless headsets that can be used with one base station, a range of 1600 feet from the base station for operation of the headsets, full duplex operation communication over digitally encrypted DECT protocol links from one base station to a plurality of headsets, pairing of each headset to a particular base station, use of wireless technology inside and outside of the vehicle, automatic channel and link selection to transparently avoid interfered-with channels and links, removal of the need to manually select a channel on the headset, and the combination of the noise-cancelling microphone with noise threshold, noise attenuation, and line echo cancellation tuned to intercom parameters. The invention may be used with or without a vehicle.
US08456984B2 Virtualized shared protection capacity
The present disclosure relates a network, a network element, a system, and a method providing an efficient allocation of protection capacity for network connections and/or services. These may be for services within a given Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Virtual Machine (VM) instance flow. Network ingress/egress ports are designed to be VM instance aware while transit ports may or may not be depending on network element capability or configuration. A centralized policy management and a distributed control plane are used to discover and allocate resources to and among the VPNs or VM instances. Algorithms for efficient allocation and release of protection capacity may be coordinated between the centralized policy management and the distributed control plane. Additional coupling of attributes such as latency may provide more sophisticated path selection algorithms including efficient sharing of protection capacity.
US08456978B2 Objective lens, optical head apparatus, optical information apparatus and information processing apparatus
The present invention provides an objective lens, an optical head apparatus, an optical information apparatus, and an information processing apparatus that improve focal position detection accuracy. In order to reproduce information from an optical disk (28), an objective lens (25) collects a diffracted ray (15X) having a longer focal length, out of two diffracted rays (15X, 15Y), on an information recording surface (28L) via a base (28S) of the optical disk (28), and a distance (DF3) between the focal positions of the two diffracted rays (15X, 15Y) when the diffracted ray (15X) having a longer focal length is collected on the information recording surface (28S) is longer than double the distance (WD2) between the surface (25A) of the objective lens (25) and the surface (28A) of the base (28S) along the optical axis.
US08456976B2 Method and apparatus for centring a disk on a spindle
There is disclosed herein a method and apparatus for centering a disk on a spindle, a spinstand and a method of testing with a spinstand. The method of centering includes attaching the disk to the spindle with a stick-slip clamp. A vector is determined by which the centre of the disk is displaced from the spindle axis and the vector is aligned with a movably mounted piezo actuator. A voltage is then applied to the piezo actuator to cause the piezo actuator to apply an impulse to the edge of the disk to cause the disk to slip in the clamp and reduce the displacement of the disk.
US08456974B2 Recording adjusting method, information recording and reproducing device, and information recording medium
The present invention achieves tracking servo using a recording signal on a grooveless optical disc. Trial writing signals are written by using multiple recording conditions, and a recommended recording condition having favorable qualities of a reproduction signal and a tracking error signal is determined based on the trial writing signals. Then, recording is performed by using the recommended recording condition. In addition, by using a recording condition determined based on an optimum power control performed prior to the recording, signals are recorded adjacent to each other in at least two tracks. Signals are recorded by using the determined recording condition under which a tracking error signal quality obtained from the recording signal matches a desired value of a tracking error signal quality of the medium.
US08456966B1 Method and system for enhancing optical efficiency for an EAMR head
A method and system for providing an EAMR transducer and a waveguide used therein are described. The EAMR transducer is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The EAMR transducer also has an ABS that resides in proximity to a media during use. The EAMR transducer includes a waveguide, a write pole to write to a region of the media, coil(s) for energizing the write pole, and a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS for focusing the energy onto the media. The waveguide includes a mode shift compensator, first and second cladding layers, and a core between the cladding layers. The core directs energy from the laser toward the ABS and has a core index of refraction. The core is also between the mode shift compensator and the NFT. The mode shift compensator has a mode shift compensator index of refraction less than the core index of refraction.
US08456965B2 Thermally assisted magnetic recording head
A thermally assisted magnetic recording head is formed of a slider and a magnetic head. The magnetic head includes a main pole, a reader, a coil, a near-field transducer, and a waveguide. A metal film with high thermal conductivity is formed at both sides of the near-field transducer in a width direction of the magnetic head. The use of the metal film as a radiator plate ensures to prevent the temperature of the near-field transducer from becoming locally high.
US08456964B1 Energy assisted magnetic recording head having a reflector for improving efficiency of the light beam
A method and system for providing an EAMR transducer is described. The EAMR transducer is coupled with a laser for providing energy and has an ABS that resides near a media during use. The EAMR transducer includes a write pole, coil(s) that energize the pole, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a waveguide, and a reflector. The write pole has a back gap region and writes to a region of the media. The NFT focuses the energy onto the media. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the NFT at an incident angle with respect to the ABS. A first portion of the energy reflects off of the ABS at a reflected angle. The reflector receives the first portion of the energy from the ABS and reflects a second portion of the energy toward the ABS. The NFT resides between the waveguide and the reflector.
US08456963B1 Method and system for an energy assisted magnetic recording head having a suspension-mounted laser
An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive comprises a suspension and a slider having a back side, a laser-facing surface, and an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite the back side. The slider is mounted to the suspension on the back side. The disk drive further comprises an EAMR transducer coupled with the slider, a portion of the EAMR transducer residing in proximity to the ABS and on the laser-facing surface of the slider. The disk drive further comprises a laser coupled with the suspension and having a light emitting surface facing the laser-facing surface of the slider. The laser has an optic axis substantially parallel to the suspension. The laser provides energy substantially along the optic axis and is optically coupled with the EAMR transducer via free space. The EAMR transducer receives the energy from the laser and writes to the media using the energy.
US08456961B1 Systems and methods for mounting and aligning a laser in an electrically assisted magnetic recording assembly
Systems and methods for mounting and aligning a laser in an electrically assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) assembly are described. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a submount assembly for a laser diode of an EAMR head, the submount assembly including a submount including a block shape including a first surface including a plurality of first conductive pads and a second surface including a second conductive pad, a laser including a main emitter and at least one alignment emitter, the laser having a block shape having a first surface including a plurality of first conductive pads attached to the first pads of the submount, and a slider including a top surface having a conductive pad configured to be attached to the second pad of the submount, wherein the at least one alignment emitter is configured to align the laser and the slider for attachment.
US08456956B2 Method of displaying underwater detection image and underwater detection device
A method and device for displaying an underwater detection image is provided, in which an ultrasonic signal having a predetermined beam width is periodically transmitted underwater, receives a signal reflected on a detection target object which moves underwater, generates information on the detection target object based on the received signal, and displays the information on a display module. The method includes periodically detecting the detection target object and a position thereof based on the received signal, coupling the same detection target objects by associating the same based on the detection target object and the position periodically detected, and associating a displacement symbol corresponding to a change in a position of the detection target object with the coupled detection target object, and displaying the displacement symbol at the detected position of the detection target object at least on a two-dimensional position coordinates displayed in the display module.
US08456951B2 Method and apparatus for deghosting seismic data
Apparatus, computer instructions and method for deghosting seismic data related to a subsurface of a body of water. The method includes inputting data recorded by detectors that are towed by a vessel, the data being associated with waves travelling from the subsurface to the detectors; applying a migration procedure to the data to determine a first image of the subsurface; applying a mirror migration procedure to the data to determine a second image of the subsurface; joint deconvoluting the first image and the second image for deghosting a reflectivity of the subsurface; and generating a final image of the subsurface based on the deghosted reflectivity of the joint deconvoluting step.
US08456945B2 10T SRAM for graphics processing
A method, apparatus, computer chip, circuit board, computer and system are provided in which data is stored in a low-voltage, maskable memory. Also provided is a computer readable storage device encoded with data for adapting a manufacturing facility to create an apparatus. The method includes storing a data value in a memory cell in a storage device if a first access parameter associated with the memory cell matches a first pre-determined value and if a second access parameter associated with the memory cell matches a second pre-determined value. The method also includes maintaining a data value in the memory cell in the storage device if the first access parameter differs from the first pre-determined value. The apparatus includes a first and second pair of access parameter ports operatively coupled together and associated with a first and second access parameter respectively. The first and second pair of access parameter ports may be adapted to allow access through the first and second pair of access parameter ports if the first access parameter matches a first pre-determined value, and if the second access parameter matches a second pre-determined value.
US08456942B2 Regulators regulating charge pump and memory circuits thereof
A regulator for regulating a charge pump is provided. The regulator includes a comparator having a first input end capable of receiving a first voltage and a second input end capable of receiving a second voltage for determining enabling or disabling the charge pump. The first voltage is associated with an output voltage of the charge pump. The second voltage is associated with an internal power voltage and a reference voltage Vref.
US08456931B2 Data transmission device
A data transmission device in a semiconductor memory apparatus receives input data via a local data input/output line and output s the input data on a plurality of global data input/output lines. The data transmission device includes a write data generation block configured to receive the input data and test data and output one of input data and test data as write data in response to an activation of a test enable signal, and a loading block configured to apply the write data to one of the plurality of global data input/output lines in response to an enable signal.
US08456929B2 Circuits, systems, and methods for dynamic voltage level shifting
Dynamic voltage level shifting circuits, systems and methods are disclosed. A level shifting circuit comprises an input for accepting a first discrete voltage level to be shifted, a level shifting portion coupled to the input and to a second discrete voltage level, an enable portion having an enable input and coupled to the level shifting portion and an output. The level shifting circuit is configured to translate the data input at the first discrete voltage level into a second discrete voltage level. The enable portion is configured to selectively provide either the second discrete voltage level to the output or decouple at least a portion of the level shifting portion from the output based on the enable input.
US08456927B2 Page buffer circuit
A page buffer circuit includes: a main latch unit configured to have a main latch value which is dependent on a sub latch output signal, and output the main latch value to a first node; a sub latch unit configured to latch a voltage of a second node as a sub latch value in response to a storage enable signal, and generate the sub latch output signal according to the sub latch value when an output enable signal is activated; and a voltage determination unit connected between the first node and the second node, and configured to electrically connect or disconnect the first node to or from the second node in response to the storage enable signal, and determine a voltage level of the second node in response to the storage enable signal.
US08456926B2 Memory write error correction circuit
Memory circuit includes; an array, row decoder, column decoder, addressing circuit to receive an address of the data bit, control logic receiving commands and transmitting control signals to memory system blocks, and sensing and write driver circuits coupled to a selected column. A hidden read compare circuit couples between the sensing circuit and write driver, which couples an error flag to the control logic circuit responsive to a comparison between a data bit in the input latch and a data-out read from the memory array. A write error address tag memory is responsive to the error flag and is coupled to the addressing circuit via a bidirectional bus. A data input output circuit having first and second bidirectional buses to transmit and receive said data bit is provided. Write error address tag memory stores the address if the error flag is set and provides the address during a re-write operation.
US08456925B2 Non-volatile memory device and method for operating the same
A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of input pads, a buffer configured to buffer data inputted through the plurality of the input pads in synchronization with a write enable signal, an even latch configured to store a first buffered data outputted from the buffer in response to an even write enable signal, an odd latch configured to store a second buffered data outputted from the buffer in response to an odd write enable signal, and a transfer unit configured to transfer stored data in the even latch and the odd latch to a selected bank of a plane in response to a bank selection signal.
US08456915B2 Programming non-volatile storage with fast bit detection and verify skip
A set of non-volatile storage elements are subjected to a programming process in order to store data. During the programming process, one or more verification operations are performed to determine whether the non-volatile storage elements have reached their target. Non-volatile storage elements being programmed to a first set of one or more targets are verified to determine whether they have reached their target and are locked out of further programming if it is determined that they have reached their target. Non-volatile storage elements being programmed to the second set of one or more targets are tested to determine the number of fast programming bits. When the number of fast bits for a particular target is greater than a threshold, then programming stops for the non-volatile storage elements being programmed to the particular target.
US08456913B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus and method for controlling programming current pulse
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a write control code generation unit configured to generate a write control code which is updated at each pulsing timing of an external test pulse signal applied through a pad; and a data write unit configured to output a programming current pulse which has a magnitude corresponding to the code value of the write control code.
US08456910B2 Nonvolatile memory cell with well extending under transistor and data storage capacitor of memory cell
One embodiment relates to a memory device. The memory device includes a capacitor having a first capacitor plate and a second capacitor plate, wherein the first and second capacitor plates are separated by an insulating layer and are formed over a first portion of a semiconductor substrate. The memory device also includes a transistor having a source region, a drain region, and a gate region, where the gate region is coupled to the second capacitor plate. The transistor is formed over a second portion of the semiconductor substrate. A well region is disposed in the first and second portions of the semiconductor substrate and has a doping-type that is opposite a doping-type of the semiconductor substrate. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08456902B2 Graphene-based switching elements using a diamond-shaped nano-patch and interconnecting nano-ribbons
The use of diamond-shaped graphene nano-patches as novel non-volatile switching elements exhibiting transitions between high and low conductance states based on changes of magnetic ordering of these states. Non-magnetic reconstructed graphene nano-ribbons are used as non-invasive leads to implement the switching elements as carbon-nanoflake based memories and transistors. Switching of the elements may be implemented by electric-field-induced altering of the magnetic state. Graphene nano-patch shapes of certain geometries provide passive electric-field sources such as to establish initial bits of information saved in graphene-based memories.
US08456899B2 Spin-torque transfer magneto-resistive memory architecture
A method for operating a memory array device, includes initiating a write “0” state in the device, wherein the initiating the write “0” state includes inducing a first voltage in a word line of the device; and inducing a second voltage in a first bit line (BLTE) of the device.
US08456896B2 Magnetoresistance element and storage device using the same
A magnetic memory element having a memory cell of size 4F2 is provided that realizes a crosspoint-type memory. In the magnetic memory element, a first magnetic layer, a third magnetic layer (spin polarization enhancement layer), an intermediate layer, a fourth magnetic layer (spin polarization enhancement layer), and a second magnetic layer are stacked in order. The intermediate layer is made of an insulating material or a nonmagnetic material. The second magnetic layer is composed of a ternary alloy of gadolinium, iron and cobalt, a binary alloy of gadolinium and cobalt, or a binary alloy of terbium and cobalt. Alternatively, the first magnetic layer is composed of a ternary alloy of terbium, iron and cobalt, or a binary alloy of terbium and cobalt.
US08456892B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes first and second resistance change type memory element and first and second switches. The first resistance change type memory element includes a first terminal connected to a first power supply and a second terminal connected to a first node. The second resistance change type memory element includes a third terminal connected to the first node and a fourth terminal connected to a second power supply. The first switch includes one end of a first current path connected to a first program power supply and the other end of the first current path connected to the first node. The second switch includes one end of a second current path connected to the first node and the other end of the second current path connected to a second program power supply.
US08456888B2 Semiconductor memory device including variable resistance elements and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor memory device with a variable resistance element includes a plurality of active areas isolated from one another by an isolation layer formed in a substrate, a plurality of word lines crossing over the plurality of active areas, an auxiliary source line disposed between two selected word lines and commonly connected to at least two active areas among the plurality of active areas between the two selected word lines, and a plurality of contact plugs each connected to a corresponding active area.
US08456885B2 Random access memory circuit
A random access memory circuit includes a plurality of pixels, each having a light sensitive area and a light blocking layer arranged over at least each of the light sensitive areas. In an alternative embodiment, the circuit includes a plurality of memory elements for storing data. Each memory element may comprise a bit node formed between a photodiode, having a light arranged over the photodiode, and a switching element, where data may be stored. The circuit may also include a plurality of reading and writing circuits for reading and writing data to and from the memory cells.
US08456867B1 Start-up procedure for an isolated switched mode power supply
An isolated switched mode power supply (SMPS) is disclosed. The SMPS comprises a switching controller to generate start-up and operational switching control signals. The SMPS further includes a transformer, having a primary winding, and a full-bridge drive circuit to drive the primary winding. The full-bridge drive circuit comprises a first switching element, a boot-strap dnving circuit, and a second switching element. The switching controller is further used to start up isolated SMPS by determining a duty cycle for operational control signals and generating the start-up switching control signals.
US08456865B1 Single stage micro-inverter with H-bridge topology combining flyback and forward operating modes
A microinverter is provided for converting DC energy from a PV panel into a grid-compatible AC signal. A first plurality of switching elements is coupled between a DC energy source and a primary winding of a transformer. A second plurality of switching elements is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. Current sensors sense real time converter parameters including a DC input, an AC output, and a primary current. A digital controller determines an operating mode for the converter based on a DC input signal, with the controller further including a switch signal generator circuit configured to adjust switching states. The switch state adjustments are based on the operating mode, real time converter parameters which include the DC input signal, an AC signal for output to a grid, a primary current, and a desired shape for the AC output signal waveform.
US08456864B2 In cable micro input devices
The present description is directed to small form-factor input devices operative to be coupled to an electronic device using a cable. For example, in some embodiments, an input device is described for providing one or more inputs to an electrical device, wherein the input device comprises a circuit board having first and second sides; a first electrical switch disposed on the first side of the circuit board; a second electrical switch disposed on the first side of the circuit board; a third electrical switch disposed on the second side of the circuit board; a frame defining a periphery, wherein the circuit board is maintained within the periphery of the frame; top and bottom shells that house the circuit board, the top shell placed over the first side of the circuit board, and the bottom shell placed over the second side of the circuit board; and at least one clip coupled to each one of the top shell and the bottom shell, wherein the at least one clip is operative to engage the frame.
US08456852B2 Card assembly and electronic device thereof
A card assembly is used for enabling a first electronic device to be compatible with a card used in a second electronic device. The card assembly defines a first group of specification parameters of the first electronic device to be detachable received in the first electronic device, and further defines a second group of specification parameters of the card. The second group of specification parameters allows the card to be detachable received in the card assembly. When the card assembly, with the card, is received in the first electronic device, the card is directly and electrically connected to the first electronic device.
US08456850B2 Memory cards and electronic machines
Provided is a memory card. The memory card includes interconnection terminals for electric connection with an external electronic machine. The interconnection terminals may be spaced from the front side of the memory card by a distance greater than the lengths of the interconnection terminals. Alternatively, the memory card may include other interconnection terminals between its front side and the former interconnection terminals. The former and latter interconnection terminals may be used for electric connection with different kinds of electronic machines.
US08456845B2 Power module
A power module includes a power source comprising an end defining a socket, an external power line comprising a plug inserted into the socket, a fixing piece fixed at the end of the power source, and a clamping piece. The clamping piece includes a base mounted on the fixing piece, two parallel fixing portions extending from the base and defining a slot therebetween, a hook positioned on one of the fixing portions and extending in the slot, and a clamping band. The clamping band includes a fixed end fixed on the base and a slide end. The slide end includes spaced fixing teeth, a fixing groove is defined between each two of the fixing teeth, the clamping band winds around the external power line, the hook is engaged with one fixing groove to lock the slide end, and the clamping band and the base cooperatively hold the external power line.
US08456843B2 Server rack with baffles
A server rack includes a bracket, a first baffle, a first elastic member, a second baffle, and a second elastic member. The bracket includes a first side plate and a second side plate and defines a receiving space. The receiving space has an entry. An end of the first baffle is pivotally connected to the first side plate close to the entry. The first elastic member is connected to the first side plate and the first baffle and capable of elastically driving the first baffle to move from a first position to a second position. An end of the second baffle is pivotally connected to another end of the first baffle away from the first side plate. A second elastic member is connected to the first baffle and the second baffle and capable of elastically driving the second baffle to move from a third position to a fourth position.
US08456839B2 Cooling structure for housing device
With respect to a housing device having a plurality of slots in which plug-in units are mountable, division plates corresponding to the positions of the openings of the slots are put in the inside of a baffle section for changing the direction of the flow of cooling air released from the slots, and the division plates are used to divide the inside space of the baffle section into a plurality of regions corresponding to the slots, thereby reducing mutual interference of the cooling air from the slots in the baffle section and preventing a further increase in differences in the amount of passing air among the slots. Thereby, even if any difference occurs in the amount of passing air among the slots due to a structural factor, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the cooling capacity of a slot through which relatively less amount of air passes.
US08456837B2 Computer enclosure
A computer enclosure includes a front panel, a switch module attached to the front panel, and a light guide block. The front panel includes a front plate and a top flange connected to the front plate. A holding slot is defined on the top flange for accommodating the light guide block. The switch module includes a mounting bracket and a first light emitting diode (LED) attached to the mounting bracket. The first LED faces one end of the light guide block and generates light that enters the light guide block and emits from the front panel.
US08456836B2 Spring loaded security slot attachment for portable device security
A lock includes an assembly of a slot engaging member insertable in a slot of a piece of equipment being locked, such as a portable or desktop computer, a laptop, notebook or other handheld electronic device, a monitor, a television/video screen, a video game, an electronic instrument such as an oscillator or a medical centrifuge or other analytical device, or the like. A rotatable locking member engages an anchor sub-assembly having a rotatable element, wherein the rotatable element communicates with a spring force urging against the rotatable locking member. The rotatable locking member is alternately movable in and out of the slot in which it is inserted, and the locking element is rotatable by finger force overcoming said spring force against the locking member, wherein the lock is locked without use of a tool.
US08456833B2 Fluid cooling system and associated fitting assembly for electronic component
A fluid cooling system and associated fitting assembly for an electronic component such as a multi-processor computer offer easy and reliable connect and disconnect operations while doing so in a minimum amount of available space without damaging associated components of an electronic device, computer or cooling system. One exemplary fitting assembly includes a manifold mount with a port that is in fluid communication with a manifold tube. A fitting is sized and configured to mate with the port and is in fluid communication with associated cooling tubes of a cold plate. A latch is pivotally mounted to the manifold mount for movement to and between a first position in which the latch secures the fitting to the manifold mount and a second position in which the fitting is capable of being disconnected from the manifold mount.
US08456831B1 Mounting apparatus for hard disk drive
A mounting apparatus for a hard disk drive includes a bracket and a resilient plate. The bracket includes a first and a second side plates each defining two slanted first notches, and two first slots respectively extending from rear ends of the first notches. The resilient plate is slidably mounted to the first side plate. A front end of the resilient plate defines a slanted second notch, and a semicircular second slot extending from a rear end of the second notch. When the resilient plate is at a first position, the second notch and the second slot respectively align with one of the first notches and a corresponding first slot of the first side plate. When the resilient plate is slid to a second position, the second slot aligns with a rear end of said corresponding first slot, and the second notch is staggered from the corresponding first notch.
US08456829B2 All-in-one computer
A computer includes an enclosure and a mainframe module enclosed in the enclosure. The mainframe module includes a base board, a motherboard, a partition panel perpendicularly attached on the base board, and a fan. The motherboard and the fan are attached on the base board at opposite sides of the partition panel. The fan is capable of blowing air to the motherboard to cool heat generating components of the motherboard.
US08456822B2 Support assembly and computer keyboard using the same
A support assembly includes a base, a slidable member, and a pair of positioning shafts. The base includes at least one sliding rail. The slidable member can side along the at least one sliding rail of the base. The slidable member defines a pair of blind holes facing the base. The positioning shafts can slide along the base in a direction perpendicular to the at least one sliding rail. When the slidable member is operated to slide along the at least one rail of the base, one of the positioning shafts can be pressed to slide along the direction perpendicular to the at least one sliding rail, causing one end of the one of the positioning shafts to be received in one of the blind holes.
US08456821B2 Server
A server includes two opposite brackets and a keyboard module. The keyboard module includes a supporting board fixed between the brackets and a keyboard slidably mounted on the supporting board.
US08456818B2 Wireless card module
A wireless card module comprising a bezel assembly comprising at least one bezel member couplable to a wireless card, the bezel member configured to couple the wireless card to an external antenna.
US08456817B2 Housing and method for making the same
A housing includes a bottom housing and a top housing. The bottom housing includes a connecting surface. The top housing includes a bottom surface. The connecting surface is fixed to the bottom surface by welding. A receiving groove is defined in the bottom surface, for receiving the molten slag generated and collected during a welding process.
US08456809B2 Mobile terminal
Disclosed is a mobile terminal in which while a rear case is coupled to or separated from a terminal body, a case is slopingly moved with respect to the terminal body, so a camera hole of the rear case can be freely moved without being restricted by a camera mounting part protruded from the terminal body.
US08456808B2 Display wall mount with elastomeric spring latch and post-installation height adjustment and leveling feature
A mounting system for an electronic display providing enhanced versatility of movement and ease of installation. The mounting system includes a latch and kickstand assembly for latching the display to a support structure mountable to a wall and propping the bottom edge of the display away from the wall to enable connection of wires to the back of the display while the display is mounted on the wall. The mount further includes a vertical position adjustment assembly to enable vertical positioning and leveling of the display after the display is mounted.
US08456803B2 Method for production of electrolyte capacitors
The invention relates to a process for producing electrolytic capacitors with low equivalent series resistance, to electrolytic capacitors produced by this process and to the use of such electrolytic capacitors.
US08456802B2 Conductive adhesive and electrode for electric double layer capacitor and electric double layer capacitor employing it
A conductive adhesive with increased thermoresistant adhesion for connection between a sheet-like collector and a polarizing electrode layer serving as the structural member of an electrode for an electric double layer capacitor, and including a conductive material and a poly-N-vinylacetamide-based binder.
US08456801B2 Cellular honeycomb hybrid capacitors with non-uniform cell geometry
A hybrid capacitor includes an electrically non-conductive rigid or semi-rigid porous honeycomb structure having cells extending along a common direction, the cells having a plurality of cross-sectional shapes. The honeycomb structure is desirably formed of a material that is stable at temperatures of 300° or more, such that high temperature processing can be used to help ensure high purity of the final product. The material of the structure may desirably be an oxide or non-oxide ceramic, such as cordierite, silicon nitride, alumina, aluminum titanate, zircon, glass, or glass-ceramic. The plurality of shapes of the cells includes larger shapes in which cells are disposed non-galvanic electrodes, with galvanic electrodes disposed in cells of other shapes.
US08456798B2 Hexagonal type barium titanate powder, producing method thereof, dielectric ceramic composition and electronic component
Dielectric ceramic composition includes a hexagonal type barium titanate as a main component shown by a generic formula of (Ba1-αMα)A(Ti1-βMnβ)BO3 and having hexagonal structure wherein an effective ionic radius of 12-coordinated “M” is −20% or more to +20% or less with respect to an effective ionic radius of 12-coordinated Ba2+ and the A, B, α and β satisfy relations of 1.000<(A/B)≦1.040, 0≦α<0.003, 0.03≦β≦0.2, and as subcomponents, with respect to the main component, certain contents of alkaline earth oxide such as MgO and the like, Mn3O4 and/or Cr2O3, and CuO and Al2O3 and rare earth element oxide and glass component including SiO2. According to the present invention, it can be provided the hexagonal type barium titanate powder and the dielectric ceramic composition which are preferable for producing electronic components such as a capacitor and the like showing comparatively high specific permittivity, having advantageous insulation property and having sufficient reliability.
US08456794B2 Clock-pulsed safety switch
In accordance with an embodiment, a high-side switch device includes a semiconductor switch, a charge pump operable external clocking signal and an input for an external charge pump activation signal. The charge pump is configured to enable conductivity of the semiconductor switch in response to the external clocking signal and assertion of the external charge pump activation signal.
US08456792B2 Secure non-contact switch
A redundant non-contact switch reports a status as closed or open for a first member and a second member that move relative to each other between an open state and a closed state. In some embodiments, the redundant non-contact switch includes a wireless authentication (WA) pair and a magnetic pair. The WA pair may include a WA responder attached to one of the first member and the second member, and a WA interrogator attached to the other of the first member and the second member. The WA pair may be configured to register a WA status of closed or open, depending on a WA authentication between the WA responder and the WA interrogator. The magnetic pair may include a magnet attached to one of the first member and the second member, and a magnet sensor attached to the other of the first member and the second member. The magnetic pair may be configured to register a magnetic status of closed or open, depending on whether a magnet distance between the magnet and magnet sensor is beyond a threshold magnet distance. In some instances, the redundant non-contact switch reports the status as closed only if both the WA status is registered as closed and the magnetic status is registered as closed.
US08456789B2 Tunable coaxial surge arrestor
A tunable coaxial surge arrestor includes an inner conductor within a bore of an outer body of the coaxial surge arrestor. An inner end of a stub is coupled with the inner conductor. The stub is also coupled with the outer body at a selectable location along the length of the stub.
US08456787B2 Gas insulated switchgear
Bus container 1 of cylindrical shape is filled with insulating gas and main circuit conductor 2 is housed with bus container 1 in taut condition. Bus container 1 has flange 3. Current transformer container 4 is installed adjacently to bus container 1. Current transformer container 4 includes inner cylinder 5 and outer sealing member 6. On the periphery of inner cylinder 5, three current transformers 11 are provided interposing insulative cushioning material 10. Other longitudinal end of inner cylinder 5 and bus container 1 are arranged so that insulation gap 9 is formed in between. Between inner cylinder 5 and outer sealing member 6 on insulation gap 9 side, varistor 15 of which resistance varies depending on a applied voltage is electrically connected through bonding conductor 16. Varistor 15 turns into a conducting state when a surge voltage over a predetermined intensity is applied.
US08456785B2 Semiconductor ESD device and method
An embodiment semiconductor device has a first device region disposed on a second device region within an ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body. Also included is a third device region disposed on the second device region, a fourth device region adjacent to the second device region, a fifth device region disposed within the fourth device region, and a sixth device region adjacent to the fourth device region. The first and fourth regions have a first semiconductor type, and the second, third, fifth and sixth regions have a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. An interface between the fourth device region and the sixth device region forms a diode junction. The first, second, fourth and fifth device regions form a silicon controlled rectifier.
US08456784B2 Overvoltage protection circuit for an integrated circuit
An overvoltage protection circuit may include a reference voltage generator, a trigger circuit, and a clamping device. The reference voltage generator is for providing a reference voltage that is relatively constant during a powered EOS/ESD event. The trigger circuit is coupled to receive the reference voltage and a power supply voltage. The trigger circuit is for comparing the reference voltage to the power supply voltage. In response to detecting that the power supply voltage is above the reference voltage, the trigger circuit provides a trigger signal having a voltage proportional to a voltage level of the overvoltage event. The clamping device is coupled between a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal. The clamping device is for providing a current path between the first and second power supply terminals in response to the trigger signal.
US08456783B2 Integrated circuit, electronic device and ESD protection therefor
An integrated circuit comprises electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuitry arranged to provide ESD protection to one or more external connector(s) of the integrated circuit. The ESD protection circuitry comprises at least one ESD protection component coupled to the one or more external connectors for providing ESD protection thereto. The ESD protection circuitry further comprises an ESD connector coupled to the one or more external connector(s), arranged to couple supplementary ESD protection to the one or more external connector(s).
US08456781B2 TMR device with novel free layer structure
A composite free layer having a FL1/insertion/FL2 configuration where a top surface of FL1 is treated with a weak plasma etch is disclosed for achieving enhanced dR/R while maintaining low RA, and low λ in TMR or GMR sensors. The weak plasma etch removes less than about 0.2 Angstroms of FL1 and is believed to modify surface structure and possibly increase surface energy. FL1 may be CoFe, CoFe/CoFeB, or alloys thereof having a (+) λ value. FL2 may be CoFe, NiFe, or alloys thereof having a (−) λ value. The thin insertion layer includes at least one magnetic element such as Co, Fe, and Ni, and at least one non-magnetic element. When CoFeBTa is selected as insertion layer, the CoFeB:Ta ratio is from 1:1 to 4:1.
US08456779B1 Tape transducer positioning assembly
A tape transducer positioning assembly is provided with a frame with a first rail mounted to the frame. A carriage is mounted to the first rail to translate along the first rail. A transducer is supported by the carriage to cooperate with a tape as the tape is translated relative to the transducer. An actuator is mounted to one of the frame and the carriage and connected to the other of the frame and the carriage to position the carriage, and consequently the transducer relative to the tape. A magnet is mounted to the frame to provide a magnetic field. A second rail is mounted to the carriage generally parallel with the first rail. The second rail is oriented within the magnetic field such that a magnetic force is applied upon the second rail to maintain the second rail within the magnetic field.
US08456778B2 Writer design with enhanced writability
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a main pole and a trailing edge shield having surfaces and interior portions that may include synthetic antiferromagnetic multi-layered superlattices (SAFS) formed on and/or within them respectively. The SAFS, which are multilayers formed as periodic multiples of antiferromagnetically coupled tri-layers, provide a mechanism for enhancing the component of the writing field that is vertical to the magnetic medium by exchange coupling to the magnetization of the pole and shield and constraining the directions of their magnetizations to lie within the film plane of the SAFS.
US08456772B2 Piezoelectric actuator, lens barrel, and camera
Disclosed is a piezoelectric actuator which has an improved driving force or drive efficiency. Specifically disclosed is a piezoelectric actuator which is provided with: a plurality of piezoelectric members which have a first piezoelectric element capable of being displaced in a first direction and a second piezoelectric element capable of being displaced in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and which are divided into a plurality of groups; a relative movement member which has a contact surface that is in contact with the piezoelectric members, and which moves relatively to the piezoelectric members in the first direction; and a drive unit which, when piezoelectric members of one group among the plurality of groups are in contact with the contact surface, drives the first piezoelectric element of the piezoelectric members.
US08456769B2 Lens unit and vehicle-mounted infrared lens unit
Provided are a lens unit and a vehicle-mounted infrared lens unit capable of correcting a focal shift due to a temperature change without increasing the apparatus size, complicating a production process, and increasing the costs. In a vehicle-mounted infrared lens unit 4 configured such that a plurality of infrared lenses are held by a barrel 30 and a spacer 40 is interposed between two infrared lenses, a first infrared lens 10 is held sandwiched between the spacer 40 and a lens holding portion 31 of the barrel 30. The spacer 40 and the barrel 30 are formed of materials having different thermal expansion coefficients. An O-ring 60 is interposed between a lock portion 32 of the lens holding portion 31 and the first infrared lens 10. Thermal expansion of the spacer 40 allows the first infrared lens 10 to move in the axial direction against the elastic force of the O-ring 60. When the spacer 40 is shrunken, the elastic force of the O-ring 60 allows the first infrared lens 10 to move in the opposite direction.
US08456763B2 Imaging optical lens assembly
This invention provides an imaging optical lens assembly, in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a front lens group, an aperture stop and a rear lens group; wherein the front lens group comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power; a third lens element with positive refractive power and a fourth lens element with positive refractive power; wherein the rear lens group comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a fifth lens element with positive refractive power; and a sixth lens element with negative refractive power; wherein the fifth lens element and the sixth lens element are connected to form a doublet. By such arrangement, sufficient field of view is provided, and the aberration of the lens assembly is corrected for obtaining high image resolution.
US08456762B2 Observation optical system
An observation optical system has a negative lens unit placed at the most object-side position; an annular prism placed on the image side of the negative lens, having a reflecting surface on the negative lens side; and an imaging lens unit arranged on the image side of the negative lens and the annular prism.
US08456755B2 Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a fixing frame provided with cam grooves formed in an inner circumferential surface of the fixing frame, and a drive frame provided with cam followers formed on an outer circumferential surface of the drive frame and a plurality of engaging teeth to the outer circumferential surface of the drive frame, located on substantially the same circumference as the cam followers. With the drive frame incorporated in the fixing frame, the cam followers are fitted in the cam grooves, drive force is transmitted via the engaging teeth, and the drive frame can move relative to the fixing frame in the optical axis direction of a lens as the cam followers move along the cam grooves. In this lens barrel, cam followers are less likely to come out of the cam grooves.
US08456750B2 Zoom lens, optical apparatus and zoom lens manufacturing method
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power; a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power; and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power. The first lens group G1 comprises only one negative spherical lens (lens L11) and one plastic positive lens (lens L12) separated by an air gap. The second lens group G2 comprises three or fewer lenses, including a positive lens component (cemented lens comprising a lens L21 and a lens L22), and one plastic negative lens (lens L23). The following conditional expressions are satisfied: 0.50
US08456748B2 Zoom lens system and electronic imaging apparatus using the same
A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a negative third lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group decreases. The third lens group includes a negative lens element having a concave surface on the image side, a positive lens element having a convex surface on the image side, and a negative lens element having convex surface on the image side, in that order from the object side. An electronic imaging apparatus using this zoom lens system is also disclosed.
US08456747B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side, a positive first lens unit without moving for zooming, a negative second lens unit for magnification, a positive third lens unit for magnification, a negative fourth lens unit compensating for image plane variation due to magnification, and a positive fifth lens unit without moving for zooming. When assuming a focal length of the entire system at a wide angle end as fW, and a zoom ratio as Z, a focal length fM at an intermediate zoom position is expressed by the equation: fM=fW×√Z. When assuming an interval between the second and third lens units at the wide angle end as L2W, and a maximum value of the interval between the second and third lens units in a zoom range from the wide angle end to the focal length fM as L2max, the following conditional expression is satisfied: 1.1
US08456743B2 Method for producing wafer lens assembly and method for producing wafer lens
There is provided a method for producing a wafer lens assembly capable of adhering a wafer lens and a spacer surely. The wafer lens assembly includes a first substrate including plural optical members formed of a curable resin on at least one surface, a second substrate joined to the first substrate, and a stop member arranged between the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates are adhered with an adhesive made of a photo-curable resin. The method includes an adhesive applying step of applying the adhesive made of a photo-curable resin on a joining area, a stop-member forming step, and a photo-curing step of irradiating and hardening the adhesive applied in the adhesive applying step with light after the stop-member forming step. The stop member is formed so as not to prevent the light irradiated in the photo-curing step from reaching the adhesive.
US08456740B2 Method and apparatus for pathlength adjustment in an optical system
A method and apparatus involve: routing first radiation and second radiation respectively having first and second wavelengths that are different along respective first and second optical paths; reflecting the first radiation with an optical component as the first radiation is traveling along the first optical path; and reflecting the second radiation with the optical component as the second radiation is traveling along the second optical path, the optical component causing a first optical path length traveled by the first radiation along the first optical path from arrival at to departure from the optical component to be shorter than a second optical path length traveled by the second radiation along the second optical path from arrival at to departure from the optical component.
US08456738B2 Ultrahigh-resolution fiber-optic confocal microscope and method
An ultrahigh-resolution fiber-optic confocal microscope has an illumination system; three single-mode optical fibers, each optically coupled to a fiber coupler; a sample support stage arranged to receive illumination radiation from an end of one of the single-mode optical fibers; a detector arranged to receive output radiation from one of the single-mode optical fibers; and a lock-in amplifier electrically connected to the detector and the illumination system. The illumination system is adapted to provide illumination radiation that has a time-varying strength that is correlated with the detector by the lock-in amplifier.
US08456728B2 Electrowetting display and pixel array substrate thereof and electrowetting display pixel structure thereof
An electrowetting display, a pixel array substrate thereof, and an electrowetting display pixel structure thereof are provided. The electrowetting display pixel structure is disposed on a substrate. The electrowetting display pixel structure includes a pixel electrode, an insulating layer and a hydrophobic layer. The pixel electrode is covered with the insulating layer, and the insulating layer is covered with the hydrophobic layer. The hydrophobic layer has at least one flow guiding area, and a flowing path of a fluid medium is determined by a layout of the flow guiding area.
US08456724B2 Biaxial scanning mirror for image forming apparatus
A biaxial scanning mirror for an image forming apparatus includes a first wafer, a second wafer, and a spacer. The first wafer includes a mirror unit, a rectangular rotating unit, a permanent magnet, and a magnetically permeable layer. The second wafer has at least two cores each surrounded by a planar coil applied with an AC current for switching magnetic polarization of the cores such that the cores are attracted to or repelled from the rotating unit alternatively, thereby driving the rotating unit to rotate.
US08456723B2 Optical box, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus
An optical box for an optical scanner includes an optical housing and a lid. The optical housing has an opening and a side wall surrounding the opening. The side wall includes inward recessed parts, each of which has a protrusion formed on its outer side. The protrusion can engage with the lid. The lid can so engage with the optical housing as to cover the opening of the housing. The lid has a pair of dust guard walls, between which the whole side wall of the optical housing is sandwiched when the lid is in engagement with the housing.
US08456722B2 Forgery prevention medium with a volume hologram layer and information layer in different colors
A forgery prevention medium includes a volume hologram layer on which an interference pattern is recorded after being exposed to an emitted laser beam; a digital watermarking information layer that can be interpreted by emitting a light beam with a predetermined wavelength; and an adherend that has the digital watermarking information layer and is attached to the volume hologram layer, wherein the information layer is of a different color from the volume hologram layer.
US08456714B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a printing section, a flatbed scanner section configured to read an original on a reading surface, and a moving mechanism configured to change the angle of the reading surface relative to an installation plane on which the apparatus is installed. The scanner section is capable of performing reading in each of a first mode where the angle of the reading surface is a first angle (vertical) and a second mode where the angle of the reading surface is a second angle (horizontal) different from the first angle.
US08456712B2 Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing apparatus
In one embodiment, image reading apparatuses 100a and 100b start reading an original image after a reading start time Ta has elapsed since detecting the transport timing of an original G on the upstream side in a transport direction Y1 relative to an original reading position R1, adjust the reading start time Ta based on a reading timing adjustment time T1a from when the transport timing of an adjustment sheet P is detected until when original reading portions 200a and 200b read a position considered to be a leading edge P′ in a first mark Q1 on the adjustment sheet P, and correct the reading start timing of the original G based on a leading edge reading error correction time T2a stored in advance.
US08456698B2 Adaptive illumination independent matching of out of gamut spot colors using various gamut mapping techniques
A methodology is disclosed to achieve adaptive illumination independent matching of out-of-gamut spot colors. In one embodiment, the methodology includes an iterative process to determine a variety device specific recipes for out-of-gamut spot colors across different illumination spectra and gamut mapping techniques, and then automatically choosing and/or recommending the optimal recipe and gamut mapping technique that provides the lowest color dispersion across a variety of illuminants under consideration.
US08456697B2 Adaptive illumination independent matching of spot colors
A methodology is disclosed to achieve adaptive illumination independent matching of spot colors. In one embodiment, the methodology includes an iterative process to determine a variety device specific recipes for spot colors across different illumination spectra, and then automatically choosing and/or recommending the optimal recipe that provides the lowest color dispersion across a variety of illuminants under consideration. This approach may be used with a variety of gamut mapping techniques. According to a further embodiment, the methodology may be used with a ray-based gamut mapping method.
US08456696B2 Printing control method, printing control terminal device and image forming apparatus to selectively convert a portion of an XPS file to PDL data
A printing control method including receiving a command to print an XML paper specification (XPS) file; determining whether the XPS file contains a preset tag; separating a page to which the preset tag is attached from the XPS file, and converting the separated page into page description language (PDL) data; and transmitting the XPS file from which the page has been separated and the PDL data to an image forming apparatus, and a printing control terminal device and an image forming apparatus to execute the printing control method.
US08456695B2 Image processing device for judging whether or not input pixels satisfy an achromatic condition
An image processing device for converting input image data in input color space into output image data in output color space comprises an input unit configured to input a plurality of input pixel signals comprising the input image data, a designation unit configured to designate an achromatic condition for pixels corresponding to the plurality of input pixel signals, and an achromatic judgment unit configured to judge whether or not each of the plurality of input pixel signals input by the input unit satisfies the achromatic condition, wherein the achromatic judgment unit judges that a pixel which corresponds to a particular input pixel signal is an achromatic pixel where the particular input pixel signal satisfies the achromatic condition.
US08456694B2 System and method for proofing a page for color discriminability problems based on color names
An automated method for proofing a page for color discriminability problems includes converting a first color of a first object appearing on the page and a second color of a second object appearing on the page to coordinates of a color naming system. The method includes identifying a first color name of the first color and a second color name of the second color based on the coordinates. The method includes identifying whether the first color and the second color are discriminable based on the first color name and the second color name.
US08456693B2 Image-processing apparatus and image-processing method
The present invention provides an image-processing apparatus, including: a corrected value calculating unit configured to calculate corrected values by adding error values diffused from a pixel neighboring a pixel currently being processed respectively to a plurality of input values corresponding to the pixel currently being processed; a total value calculating unit configured to calculate a total value of all corrected values; a quantizing unit configured to quantize the total value; a distributing unit configured to calculate a plurality of output values corresponding to the plurality of input values by distributing the quantized value according to a ratio between each of the corrected values and the total value; and an adding unit configured to calculate respective difference values between the plurality of output values and the plurality of corrected values, and to add the calculated difference values to corrected values.
US08456692B2 Print controlling apparatus having a direct print function generating inside region printing data when page size and medium size match
A print controlling apparatus is provided having a direct print function for receiving and printing an electronic document on a printing region of a record medium. The apparatus includes a first obtaining section for obtaining page size information indicating the page size of the received electronic document, a second obtaining section for obtaining medium size information indicating the medium size of the record medium, a comparing and judging section for judging whether the page size information matches with the medium size information upon comparing the page size information with the medium size information, and a controlling section for generating inside region printing data corresponding to the printing region from inside region image data corresponding to the printing region of the recording medium among the received image data where the page size information matches with the medium size information, for preventing the electronic document from being unnecessarily reduced.
US08456688B2 Data generating device, scanner and non-transitory computer readable medium
A data generating device may comprise a data identifying unit, a number identifying unit and a hyperlink structuring unit. The data identifying unit may identify the data of the contents table page and/or the index page included in data including a contents table page and/or an index page, and data of a plurality of normal pages, each normal page including a page number. The number identifying unit may identify a number included in the data of the contents table page and/or the index page, and identify a specific position at which the identified number is located. The hyperlink structuring unit may generate data of hyperlink structure from the data by generating a hyperlink, at a position corresponding to the specific position of the number identified by the number identifying unit, that links to data of a normal page coinciding with the page number identified by the number identifying unit.
US08456687B2 Image data processing apparatus, image data processing method, and program
The image rotation apparatus includes a first storage unit adapted to store compressed image data, and a decompression unit adapted to decompress the image data read out from the first storage unit, and segments the image data obtained from the decompression unit into a plurality of areas. The apparatus further includes a second storage unit adapted to sequentially perform a rotation process on the image data of segmented area, and store the rotated image data, a compression unit adapted to compress the image data of each area read out from the second storage unit, and a third storage unit adapted to sequentially store the image data of each area obtained from the compression unit. There is provided the image data processing apparatus having the above configuration, which rotates the image data while reducing the storage capacity of the buffer memory for storing the image data.
US08456670B2 Printing device and printing system for controlling authentication print jobs
A printing device includes a processor, an attribute managing part configured to be activated by the processor to communicate with a host device and to control an authentication printing job received from the host device, a memory configured to store authentication printing job data and user information extracted from the authentication printing job data, and a deleting part configured to delete the authentication printing job data and the user information stored in the memory based on predetermined results of communication between the attribute managing part and the host device. As a result, the user is not required to consider whether the time for which the authentication printing data is stored should be extended.
US08456665B2 Methods and systems for printing error recovery
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for detecting the status of printing devices and recovering from printing errors.
US08456660B2 Information processing device, printing condition setting method, and computer product which display a graphical representation of a sheet including parameters which have been selected
The CPU of a personal computer displays a list of one-click icons, each representing one or a plurality of printing functions, in the icon display area, and selects one one-click icon from the list of the one-click icons displayed in the icon display area, to automatically set a plurality of printing functions corresponding to the selected one-click icons.
US08456659B2 Access control system, apparatus, and program
According to one embodiment, a deriving operation control device obtains derivation control information and a derivation attribute. A deriving operation propriety determination unit extracts the number of times of previously-performed derivation from the derivation attribute. The deriving operation propriety determination unit extracts the upper limit number of times enabling derivation from the derivation control information and determines that a deriving operation is possible when the number of times of previously-performed derivation is equal to or below the upper limit number of times enabling derivation. A deriving operation execution unit executes the deriving operation.
US08456658B2 Image processing system, image processing apparatus, method for controlling display of function setting screen, and recording medium
An image processing system includes an information processing apparatus and one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses that can be connected to the information processing apparatus via a network. A function whose function set value is to be displayed on a function setting screen is identified from identifying information included in screen information made by the information processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes an identifying information storage part in which identifying information of a function is stored, and of the functions whose identifying information is stored, all function set values of the identified function are displayed on a display part in a mode that can be selected by a user.
US08456653B2 Data processing apparatus for producing print job data whose authority is managed by external server, and image processing apparatus for printing a print job whose authority is managed by external server
A data processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store electronic data including first data for identifying policy data that is information indicating an authority for handling the electronic data and is managed by a server apparatus. The data processing apparatus includes a print job data production unit configured to produce print job data based on electronic data to be printed, an acquisition unit configured to acquire the first data included in the electronic data, an adding unit configured to add the first data acquired by the acquisition unit to the print job data, and a sending unit configured to send the print job data having the first data added thereto to an image processing apparatus.
US08456651B2 Focal position detecting method
A focal position detecting apparatus, for detecting a focusing condition and a tilting condition of an object, includes a planar beam generating module, an optical system, an optical sensor and a cylindrical lens. The planar beam generating module generates a planar light beam along a first path. The optical system is disposed on the first path, wherein the planar light beam, reflected by the object, passes through the optical system along a second path. The optical sensor is disposed on the second path. The cylindrical lens is disposed on the second path between the optical system and the optical sensor and an axis of the cylindrical lens is perpendicular to the second path. The planar light beam passes through the optical system and the cylindrical lens along the second path, before it is incident on the optical sensor to form a linear light spot for determining defocusing degree.
US08456645B2 Method and system for fast three-dimensional imaging using defocusing and feature recognition
Described is a method and system for fast three-dimensional imaging using defocusing and feature recognition is disclosed. The method comprises acts of capturing a plurality of defocused images of an object on a sensor, identifying segments of interest in each of the plurality of images using a feature recognition algorithm, and matching the segments with three-dimensional coordinates according to the positions of the images of the segments on the sensor to produce a three-dimensional position of each segment of interest. The disclosed imaging method is “aware” in that it uses a priori knowledge of a small number of object features to reduce computation time as compared with “dumb” methods known in the art which exhaustively calculate positions of a large number of marker points.
US08456642B2 Laser gauge interferometer
There is provided a laser gauge interferometer with high measurement precision, which uses laser beam interference, includes: a measurement interferometer which generates a measurement output corresponding to a displacement of a moving member; and a correction interferometer which generates a measurement output corresponding to a change in refractive index of air at a constant reference interval. An arithmetic processing device computes a measurement target displacement amount for which the influence of the change in refractive index of air is corrected. A correction laser beam from the correction interferometer passes through the measurement interferometer and thus travels on the same optical path as an optical path of a correction laser beam from the measurement interferometer to become interference light corresponding to the change in refractive index of air through which a measurement laser beam passes, and then enters the arithmetic processing device.
US08456641B1 Optical system
An optical system including a light source, optics for directing illumination, thereby producing reflected light, optics for receiving the reflected light, a splitter disposed at a pupil plane for receiving the reflected light and splitting it into a first and second portion, first imaging optics for receiving the first portion and directing it to a first sensor to produce a first image portion, the first sensor delivering the first image portion to a processor, second imaging optics for receiving the second portion and directing it to a second sensor to produce a second image portion, the second sensor delivering the second image portion to the processor, and the processor for combining the first image portion and the second image portion into a single image of the sample.
US08456640B2 Apparatus and method for measuring reflectance of optical laser components
Apparatus and methods for measuring reflectance of optical laser components are disclosed. In one embodiment, when the reflectance of the test optical laser component is higher than 98%, a cavity ring-down (CRD) technique based configuration is employed to measure the reflectance of the test optical laser component. On the other hand, when the reflectance of the test optical laser component is lower than 98% or there is no measurable CRD signal, by removing the output cavity mirror in the CRD apparatus, a photometric configuration is formed to measure the reflectance. The switching between the two techniques can be achieved by removing or inserting the output cavity mirror of the ring-down cavity in the CRD apparatus.
US08456636B2 Device for detecting signs of bacterial infection of the teeth
The invention relates to a device for detecting signs of bacterial infection of teeth, comprising a light source, a receiving unit, an evaluation unit, coupled to the receiving unit, at least one emission fiber, coupled to the light source, and at least one detection fiber, coupled to the receiving unit. The invention is characterized in that both the emission and detection fiber have an acceptance angle of more than 35°.
US08456630B2 Fiber based SERS sensor
Methods and systems for enhanced SERS sensing are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a fiber laser; coupling the radiation to a SERS sensor comprising: a fiber comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the fiber laser and the second end is deposited with one or more metal nanoparticles; an in-line fiber grating integrated into the fiber between the first and the second end; a spectrometer configured to measure a spectrum produced by the in-line fiber grating; and a micro-processor configured to control the fiber laser and the spectrometer; exciting one or more molecules adsorbed on the surface of the one or more metal nanoparticles to generate a Raman signal; coupling the signal into the fiber; separating the signal into its wavelength components with the in-line fiber grating; and measuring the wavelength components with the spectrometer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08456627B2 Structure of measurement window
A measurement window structure is disclosed for an optical process measurement device. The measurement window structure can include a measurement window made of an optical material and having a measurement surface that is arranged to be placed into a process solution, a sealing surface formed to a frame structure of the optical process measurement device and facing the process solution, the measurement window made of an optical material being arranged to press against the sealing surface, and an attaching device or mechanism for pressing the measurement window made of an optical material against the sealing surface and for attaching it to the frame structure. The sealing surface formed to the frame structure can be a rotationally symmetrical surface and the surface pressing against the sealing surface formed to the frame structure of the measurement window made of an optical material can be a rotationally symmetrical surface.
US08456625B2 Methods for real-time contamination, environmental, or physical monitoring of a photomask
Methods for real-time contamination, environmental, or physical monitoring of a photomask. An attribute of a photomask is monitored using a sensor of an electronics package attached to the photomask. The methods further include generating one or more sensor signals relating to the monitored attribute with the sensor and transmitting the one or more sensor signals from the electronics package to a control system.
US08456615B2 Optical system having heat dissipation arrangement
An optical system, such as an illumination system, includes an optical arrangement having at least one optical element and at least one heat dissipation element configured to at least partially dissipate thermal energy generated in the optical element(s) to the outside environment of the optical system. The heat dissipation element(s) is(are) arranged without direct contact with the optical element(s).
US08456611B2 System and method to increase surface tension and contact angle in immersion lithography
A system and method to allow organic fluids to be used in immersion lithographic systems. This is done by providing a showerhead portion of a liquid supply system that is partially coated or made from a TEFLON like material. The TEFLON like material reduces wetness effect, and thus increases containment, when using an organic immersion fluid in a space between the last optic and the substrate.
US08456607B2 Manufacturing method of liquid crystal display device
It is an object of the present invention to suppress light leakage in a dark state which is generated by rubbing treatment. A liquid crystal material containing an ultraviolet curable liquid crystalline monomer at a concentration of more than 0 wt % and not more than 1.0 wt % is used for a liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. By applying such a liquid crystal layer to a liquid crystal display device, light leakage in a dark state can be suppressed, and the black display can be improved. Therefore, a liquid crystal display device with an excellent contrast and high display quality can be obtained.
US08456603B2 Display device and flat display device
The present invention prevents, when a COF which is connected with an external circuit is bent in a flat display device, the disconnection of lines on the COF. At a position where a line of the COF is connected to terminal portions of a TFT, and the line having a large width is branched into lines having a small width T1 to T3 or T4 to T6. By displacing line branching positions from each other as indicated by an arrow A and an arrow B, when the COF is bent or deformed, stress applied to the line branching positions can be dispersed thus preventing the disconnection of lines.
US08456599B2 Display substrate having improved pixel electrode configuration and display device having the same
A display substrate includes a switching element and a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the switching element. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of slit electrodes that are conductive elements respectively disposed in a plurality of domains oriented substantially parallel to each other and extending substantially in a first direction. The slit electrodes each extend in a direction different from the first direction. Each slit electrode is an elongated structure having first and second long sides, and first and second short sides positioned opposite to each other and each extending between the first and second long sides, where the first long side oriented at an angle with respect to the first direction that is different from that of the second long side. Thus, a plurality of domains is formed, so that generation of texture may be decreased and compensating efficiency may be enhanced.
US08456594B2 Cholesteric liquid crystal display devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A cholesteric liquid crystal display device includes: a plurality of pixel units arranged two-dimensionally between two transparent substrates. Each of the plurality of pixel units includes a cholesteric liquid crystal layer having a single-layer structure. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer includes: a liquid crystal molecule; a chiral dopant; and an optically polymerizable polymer. The chiral dopant is mixed with the liquid crystal molecule to form a cholesteric phase and has a solubility that varies with respect to the liquid crystal molecule according to temperature. The optically polymerizable polymer is cured to fix a helix pitch of the cholesteric phase.
US08456593B2 Transparent display device
Disclosed is a transparent display device for enhancing image quality, and the transparent display device may include liquid crystal display panel; a light source disposed at one side of a lower portion of the liquid crystal display panel to emit light; a first polarizing plate to first-polarize the light emitted from the light source; a light guide plate at a lower portion of the liquid crystal display panel to receive the light first-polarized by the first polarizing plate through a lateral surface thereof, a pattern being formed on the upper surface of the light guide plate to output the incident first-polarized light in a lower direction of the light guide plate; a second polarizing plate at an upper portion of the liquid crystal display panel to control the amount of light transmitting the liquid crystal display panel; and a first optical sheet at a lower portion of the light guide plate to reflect the first-polarized light received from the light guide plate, and transmit a second polarization component of natural light received from the lower portion thereof.
US08456588B2 Liquid crystal display backlight and liquid crystal display device using same
An LCD backlight has a light source that emits a laser light, a lens, a mirror, a rotary polygon mirror, a scanning lens and a return mirror constituting a transforming optical system that transforms the laser light from the light source to a linear light. A light guiding plate allows the linear light to enter and emits two-dimensional light in the horizontal direction. An emission end face of the light source is disposed in a rear face side of the light guiding plate so that a surface normal line thereof is in the horizontal direction or is inclined downward from the horizontal direction. The lens, mirror and scanning lens are disposed in the rear face side of the light guiding plate, so that surface normal lines of the light transmission surface and light reflection surface thereof are all in the horizontal direction or are inclined downward from the horizontal direction.
US08456582B2 Active device, pixel structure and display panel
An active device, a pixel structure, and a display panel are provided. The pixel structure includes a scan line, a data line, an active device, a gate insulating layer, a pixel electrode, a capacitor electrode, and a capacitor dielectric layer. The active device includes a gate, a channel, a source, and a drain. The gate is electrically connected to the scan line. The source is electrically connected to the data line. The gate insulating layer is disposed between the gate and the channel. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the drain. The capacitor electrode is located on the gate insulating layer. The capacitor dielectric layer is located between the capacitor electrode and the drain.
US08456580B2 Three-dimensional display and displaying method thereof
A three-dimensional display including a display panel and a phase retardation film is provided. The display panel has a plurality of first pixel regions and a plurality of second pixel regions arranged in arrays. The phase retardation film is configured on a surface of the display panel. Here, the phase retardation film has a plurality of first retardation regions and a plurality of second retardation regions that are arranged alternately. The first retardation regions have the same phase retardation, the second retardation regions have the same phase retardation, and the phase retardation of the first retardation regions is different from that of the second retardation regions. All the regions of the phase retardation film have the same optical transmittance. A displaying method adaptable to the three-dimensional display is also provided.
US08456578B2 Image processing apparatus and control method thereof for correcting image signal gradation using a gradation correction curve
An image processing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit that divides an inputted video image into a plurality of divisions, and acquires a histogram of each of the divisions; a generation unit that generates a gradation conversion curve for each of the divisions; a determination unit that determines whether or not the inputted video image is a multi-screen video image; and a gradation correction unit that performs a smoothing process in accordance with a pixel position, to correct the gradation of the video image in each of the divisions using the gradation conversion curve of each of the divisions, wherein when the inputted video image is the multi-screen video image, the determination unit detects a position of a boundary between the plurality of video image contents, and the gradation correction unit does not perform the smoothing process within a predefined area from the boundary.
US08456577B2 Method and apparatus for chroma key production
The method and apparatus for generating an adaptive chroma key includes taking into consideration foreground object information during the creation of a composite scene. The luminance and chrominance of an area of interest between a foreground key and a background scene are considered and accounted for during the created of the composite scene.
US08456566B2 Optical apparatus with unit for correcting blur of captured image caused by displacement of optical apparatus in optical-axis direction
A focus range is determined on the basis of an object distance, focal distance, and aperture value, after an autofocus operation. When SW2 is operated, an exposure is performed only during a period that a displacement of a blur in an optical-axis direction is within the focus range. If an exposure time for one exposure does not reach an exposure time to obtain an optimum exposure, a plurality of exposures are performed until a total exposure time reaches the exposure time to obtain the optimum exposure. When the plurality of exposures are performed, a plurality of images obtained are combined to generate an image with the optimum exposure.
US08456565B2 Imaging device
Disclosed herein is an imaging device including: an imaging lens configured to have an aperture stop; an imaging element configured to include a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged along a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction and acquire imaging data based on received light; and a microlens array configured to be disposed between the imaging lens and the imaging element and include a plurality of microlenses, a pixel area composed of m×n pixels (m and n denote a number equal to or larger than 2 in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction) in the imaging element being assigned to a respective one of the microlenses, wherein positional displacement smaller than a width of one pixel is set between the microlens and the pixel area.
US08456561B2 Imaging apparatus
Provided is an imaging apparatus capable of obtaining images of an object at high precision even if the intensities of illuminating light temporally varies. The imaging apparatus 1 comprises a lamp unit 10, lens 21, a half mirror 22, a lens 23, a liquid crystal tunable filter 24, a lens 25, a reference mirror 31, a reference mirror 32, an image capturing unit 40, an operation unit 50, and a display unit 60. The reference mirrors 31 and 32 are provided at the positions to which illuminating light led by an optical system for illuminating light is irradiated and which are located at a part of the view of the image capturing unit 40. The operation unit 50 corrects the value of the image part of the object 2 by using the value of the image part of the reference mirrors 31 and 32 out of the images captured by the image capturing unit 40.
US08456558B2 Pixel circuit, a solid-state image sensing device, and a camera system that facilitates charge transfer within a pixel
A pixel circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion device; a source-follower circuit; a transfer transistor that transfers charge generated in the photoelectric conversion device to an input node of the source-follower circuit; and a readout system that reads out a signal in response to the generated charge through the source-follower circuit, wherein the readout system floats the input node of the source-follower circuit and turns on the transfer transistor to transfer the signal charge to the input node, includes a function of turning off the transfer transistor, sensing an output node potential of the source-follower circuit, and reading out an output signal, and further includes an output modulation degree control function unit that temporarily reduces an output modulation degree of the source-follower circuit when the transfer transistor is turned on.
US08456557B2 Dynamic range extension for CMOS image sensors for mobile applications
Aspects of the invention provide dynamic range extension for CMOS image sensors for mobile applications. An embodiment of the invention may comprise setting for each pixel in a pixel array one of a plurality of integration times and one of a plurality of signal gains, wherein the settings may be used to generate corresponding digital data for each pixel in the pixel array. The corresponding digital data for adjacent pixels for the same color plane may then be grouped into a superpixel, where each pixel has associated with it a different combination of integration time and signal gain.
US08456548B2 Using a graphics processing unit to correct video and audio data
Described is a device (e.g., a cell phone incorporating a digital camera) that incorporates a graphics processing unit (GPU) to process image data in order to increase the quality of a rendered image. The processing power provided by a GPU means that, for example, an unacceptable pixel value (e.g., a pixel value associated with a malfunctioning or dead detector element) can be identified and replaced with a new value that is determined by averaging other pixel values. Also, for example, the device can be calibrated against benchmark data to generate correction factors for each detector element. The correction factors can be applied to the image data on a per-pixel basis. If the device is also adapted to record and/or play digital audio files, the audio performance of the device can be calibrated to determine correction factors for a range of audio frequencies.
US08456546B2 Solid-state imaging device, signal processing device and signal processing method for solid-state imaging device, and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix shape and a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals. The signal processing circuit includes judging means that judges whether a pixel of interest in the pixel array unit is a pixel to be saturated during an exposure period, calculating means that sets the pixel of interest as a correction pixel and calculates a correction amount on the basis of a luminance value of the second video signal of a peripheral pixel of the correction pixel, and correcting means that applies the correction amount to a luminance value of the first video signal of the correction pixel to thereby correct a noise signal amount due to photo-charges leaking from the peripheral pixel into the correction pixel.
US08456545B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for generation of reinforcement pattern and systems, methods, and apparatus for artifact evaluation
Descriptions are provided of various implementations of an automated tuning process configured to optimize a procedure for post-processing images captured by a camera sensor.
US08456543B2 Imaging device capable of managing memory areas
An imaging device is provided with an internal memory and a controller. The internal memory includes a first area configured to hold device information about the imaging device and a second area configured to hold other information which can include demo data. At least one of the areas within the first area is capable of being defective. The controller is coupled to the internal memory to operate the internal memory to hold and move updated device information within the first area and/or within the second area according to the size of the non-defective areas within the first area.
US08456541B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing program
A plurality of image signals having different exposure levels is acquired; low-frequency components are extracted from each of the image signals to generate a plurality of low-frequency image signals; and the plurality of low-frequency image signals are combined to generate a combined low-frequency image signal. A first image signal is extracted from the plurality of image signals; and high-frequency components are extracted from the first image signal to generate a high-frequency image signal. Then, a combined image signal is generated by combining the combined low-frequency image signal and the high-frequency image signal.
US08456540B2 Solid-state imaging device
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit, a flicker detecting unit, a flicker-level estimating unit, and a flicker correcting unit. The flicker detecting unit detects, based on a magnitude relation of a signal amount in each of lines formed in the pixel unit, presence or absence of a flicker. The flicker-level estimating unit estimates a flicker level in each of the lines of the next frame. The flicker correcting unit corrects, for each of the lines, a flicker that occurs in a signal of an image picked up by the pixel unit.
US08456538B2 Digital camera with automatic functions
A digital camera can employ logic to delay capturing a still image after a person has operated the control button until such time as predetermined subject criteria are met, e.g., the subject is smiling with eyes open, three or more players are in the field of view to ensure a good action shot, etc.
US08456536B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program with sightline detection
The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that includes a sightline detection unit that detects the line of sight of a subject directed toward an imaging device in a captured image captured by the imaging device and containing at least one subject and a sightline indicating unit that clearly indicates, in correspondence to each subject, whether or not the line of sight of the subject directed toward the imaging device has been detected based upon sightline detection results provided by the sightline detection unit.
US08456530B2 Methods and apparatus for detecting and locating leakage of digital signals
A system for detecting and locating a digital TV leakage signal in an HFC network. The system comprises a headend unit and a leakage detector. The headend unit receives the TV signal at the headend for use as a reference signal. The reference signal is sampled at a rate corresponding to a time reference signal, to produce reference signal samples. The reference signal samples and timestamp are transmitted to the leakage detector. The detector receives the digital TV signal from a leakage source, for detection as a leakage signal. The detector includes a cross-correlation processor. The leakage signal is sampled at a rate corresponding to the time reference signal, to produce leakage signal samples. The cross-correlation processor performs a cross-correlation of the reference signal samples with the leakage signal samples to produce a cross-correlation function having a peak, and the TV leakage signal is detected from this peak.
US08456528B2 System and method for managing the interaction of object detection and tracking systems in video surveillance
A system, method and program product for providing a video surveillance system that enhances object detection by utilizing feedback from a tracking system to an object detection system. A system is provided that includes: a moving object detection system for detecting moving objects in a video input; an object tracking system for tracking a detected moving object in successive time instants; and a tracker feedback system for feeding tracking information from the object tracking system to the moving object detection system to enhance object detection.
US08456525B2 Digital display device for a DVR system that receives a movement image and a method for using such
Provided are an apparatus for controlling a digital image display apparatus having a tuner and a DVR system, and a method thereof. According to the apparatus, a visitor history is selectively stored only when a user is absent or a movement of a visitor is detected using the digital image display apparatus having the DVR system. Accordingly, not only unnecessary images are not stored, but also a function of an image display device is performed and simultaneously images transmitted from a movement shooting unit mounted separately from the digital image display apparatus can be selectively recorded in order to detect a movement of an object. Therefore, the image display apparatus can be more efficiently utilized.
US08456521B2 Triangulation camera device and triangulation imaging method
A triangulation camera device includes a light source device being adapted for generating illumination light to be directed onto an object under investigation and including a light source with an optical pattern generator and a first aperture being arranged along a first optical axis, a detector device being adapted for sensing reflection light reflected by the object and including a detector camera and a second aperture being arranged along a second optical axis, and an imaging optic having imaging lenses being adapted for imaging the illumination light onto the object and for collecting the reflection light, said imaging optic having a third optical axis, wherein the first, second and third optical axes are arranged in parallel and displaced relative to each other and the first and second apertures are arranged with a telecentric configuration relative to the imaging optic such that the illumination light and the reflection light are capable of forming a parallel illumination light bundle and a parallel reflection light bundle, resp., on the object side of the imaging optic, said illumination light bundle and said reflection light bundle having a predetermined projection angle, and the imaging lenses are tilted relative to the third optical axis such that surface reflections of the imaging lenses are directed toward ranges outside the second aperture.
US08456520B2 Method for displaying a three-dimensional image and display apparatus for performing the method
A method for displaying a three-dimensional (“3D”) image, wherein the method includes; sequentially displaying a left frame image corresponding to a left eye and a right frame image corresponding to a right eye on a display panel, blocking a light provided to a display block of the display panel when the display block displays a mixed image which includes a left eye image of the left frame image corresponding to the left eye and a right eye image of the right frame image corresponding to the right eye, and providing the light to the display block of the display panel when the display block displays only one of the left eye image and the right eye image.
US08456513B2 Panoramic camera
A camera is mounted in a sphere-shaped housing. The housing can be rotated within a base that permits the camera to take multiple images covering a panoramic view. Motion of the housing within the base is detected by motion sensors that provide positional information for allowing the images to be stitched together. The motion sensors are optical mice sensors. Processing circuitry and a power supply may be located within the housing.
US08456508B2 Audio processing in a multi-participant conference
Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing multi-participant audio conferences over a computer network. This architecture has a central distributor that receives audio signals from one or more participants. The central distributor mixes the received signals and transmits them back to participants. In some embodiments, the central distributor eliminates echo by removing each participant's audio signal from the mixed signal that the central distributor sends to the particular participant.
US08456507B1 Individual participant control of conference data
A conference call system with a plurality of endpoints, a participant control server, a conference bridge and a switch is described. A first endpoint transmits conference data to the participant control server. The participant control server transmits the conference data to the other endpoints. In response to requests from the endpoint, the participant control server transmits recorded conference data for video, audio and web sessions that are individually controllable to pause, fast-forward and rewind the conference data. The participant control server establishes secondary connections for the endpoints including a ghost hold and a sidebar.
US08456503B2 Method and device for automatic camera control
A method including: obtaining a sequence of pictures from a camera associated with a video conferencing endpoint; determining a presence of a target point coinciding with an optical source within a field of view of the camera, wherein the optical source emits pulses of electromagnetic radiation at a rate that causes the camera to capture some frames with a pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source and some frames without the pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source; determining a location of the target point within one or more of the pictures by comparing a first frame from the camera that includes the pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source and a second frame from the camera that does not include the pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source; moving the camera so that a center of one or more subsequent pictures obtained by the camera coincides with the target point; and zooming the camera until receipt of an instruction to stop zooming is received, or until maximal zoom is achieved.
US08456501B2 Exposure device and image forming apparatus
An exposure device includes a long board, plural light emitting elements arranged along a longitudinal direction of the board on one face of the board, plural inspection electrodes arranged along the longitudinal direction of the board on the other face of the board, and plural electrical wirings each electrically connects between one of the plural light emitting elements and one of the plural inspection electrodes that is not positioned nearest to the one of the plural light emitting elements.
US08456500B2 Printing apparatus and method for controlling printing apparatus
A printing apparatus including a head holding unit movably configured to hold a thermal head so that the thermal head can be in a pressing state pressing against a platen and in a separated state separated from the platen, a conveyance mechanism configured to convey an ink ribbon and a recording sheet which are put on each other to a recording region between the thermal head and the platen, a reflection surface provided on the head holding unit, and a ribbon sensor configured to detect a marker applied on the ink ribbon, the ribbon sensor being provided on an opposite side to the reflection surface across a path of the ink ribbon which has passed through the recording region and been peeled from the recording sheet. The ribbon sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The reflection surface is configured so that light incident from the light emitting element reaches the light receiving element in both the separated state and the pressing state.
US08456499B2 Thermal printer
Accumulation of foreign matter on the surface of a thermal head that can cause printing defects can be reliably prevented. The downstream edge of a surface of the thermal head is substantially flush with the downstream end of a paper nipping area and a platen roller in the thermal printer. The downstream end extending from the downstream edge perpendicular to the back side is connected to a through-hole formed in a heat sink. Foreign matter on a liner-less label paper clings to the downstream end of the thermal head after passing the paper nipping area, and is then fed along the downstream end into the through-hole on the back. Foreign matter does not accumulate on the surface of the thermal head, and problems such as streaking and other printing defects caused by foreign matter on the surface of the thermal head do not occur.
US08456498B2 Printing apparatus
A printing apparatus includes a printing unit for performing printing by pressing a thermal head onto heat sensitive paper to heat the heat sensitive paper. A battery supplies a voltage to the thermal head, and a battery voltage detecting unit detects the voltage. A printing control unit changes, according to the detected voltage, a power-off time in which power supply from the battery to the thermal head is stopped. The printing control unit calculates the power-off time based on the detected voltage and the resistance of the thermal head and shortens the power-off time as the detected voltage becomes lower thereby shortening the overall printing time without shortening the life of the heating resistance elements of the thermal head.