| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08474059B2 |
Apparatus and method for embedding and extracting information in analog signals using distributed signal features and replica modulation
Apparatus and methods are provided for embedding or embedding digital data into an analog host or cover signal. A distributed signal feature of the cover signal in a particular domain (time, frequency or space) is calculated and compared with a set of predefined quantization values corresponding to an information symbol to be encoded. The amount of change required to modify the signal feature to the determined target quantization value is calculated and the cover signal is modified accordingly to so change the feature value over a predefined interval. Information symbols are extracted by the opposite process. In one embodiment, the predefined value is a short term auto correlation value of the cover signal. |
| US08474056B2 |
Method and apparatus for token-based virtual machine recycling
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a virtual machine token associated with a virtual machine running on a particular device and a secure image of the virtual machine. The virtual machine token may include a timestamp indicating when the virtual machine was established. The apparatus may receive a token indicating that the particular device is attempting to access a resource. In response, checking the validity of the virtual machine running on the particular device based at least in part upon the timestamp associated with the virtual machine token and a time threshold associated with the virtual machine. If the virtual machine is invalid, then the apparatus may communicate at least one token to initiate the recycling of the virtual machine by replacing the invalid virtual machine with the stored secure image of the virtual machine. |
| US08474055B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing digital content
A method and apparatus for managing digital content are provided. The apparatus for managing digital content generated by applying digital rights management (DRM) includes: a content execution unit executing digital content; and a control unit confirming whether or not digital content is in a first period in which the digital content can be normally executed, and controlling the content execution unit so that, if the digital content is in the first period, the digital content can be executed normally, and if the digital content is in a second period which is not in the first period, the digital content can be executed in a manner which can be distinguished from that of execution in the first period. According to the apparatus and method, execution of digital content, which is close to expiration, can be controlled, thereby managing the expiration of the digital content for a user. |
| US08474052B2 |
User-administered license state verification
The product keys of software applications that can be utilized to identify, and activate to a higher functional state, legitimate copies of such software applications can be asymmetrically encrypted. Such encrypted product keys can be provided to potential purchasers without fear of theft of the original product keys. The encrypted product keys can be provided to an independent, trusted third-party validation authority that can decrypt such encrypted product keys and can, such as in conjunction with the software application manufacturer, verify the validity of the software applications associated with such product keys. For software applications bundled on a computing device, a tool can be executed by either the seller or potential purchaser to collect and display encrypted product keys for verification purposes. For software applications sold in an online environment, an escrow service can be utilized to keep, and provide when requested, product keys of software applications offered for sale. |
| US08474051B2 |
Information processing system, information processor, image forming apparatus, and information processing method
An information processing system including multiple apparatuses capable of executing one or more applications and an information processor connected to the apparatuses through a first network is disclosed. The information processing system includes a license status information obtaining part configured to obtain the license status information of the applications installed in each of the apparatuses from the corresponding apparatuses through the first network, a license data obtaining part configured to obtain license data authorizing usage of the applications from a computer connected through a second network based on the license status information, and a license data delivery part configured to deliver the license data to each of the apparatuses. |
| US08474047B2 |
Remote collection of computer forensic evidence
The invention is directed to techniques for allowing a user to remotely interrogate a target computing device in order to collect and analyze computer evidence that may be stored on the target computing device. A forensic device receives input from a remote user that identifies computer evidence to acquire from the target computing device. The forensic device acquires the computer evidence from the target computing device and presents a user interface for the forensic device through which the remote user views the computer evidence acquired from the target computing device. In this manner, forensic device allows the user to interrogate the target computing device to acquire the computer evidence without seizing or otherwise “shutting down” the target device. |
| US08474041B2 |
Autonomous diagnosis and mitigation of network anomalies
Autonomous diagnosis and mitigation of network anomalies may include creating a plurality of sketch matrices wherein each sketch matrix corresponds to an individual hashing function and each row in each sketch matrix corresponds to an array of hashed parameters of interest from multiple network devices for a given period of time, the parameters of interest being configurable by an administrator. A principal components analysis (PCA) input matrix is created for each of the sketch matrices by computing an entropy value for each element in the sketch matrices, and principal components analysis (PCA) is performed on each of the PCA input matrices to heuristically detect a network anomaly in real time. |
| US08474040B2 |
Environmental imaging
A method and system for detecting whether a computer program, sent to a first computer having an operating environment including a plurality of files, includes malware is provided. A second computer obtains a plurality of environment details of the operating environment of the first computer. The second computer simulates in the second computer the presence of the plurality of files in the operating environment by exhibiting the plurality of environment details without installing the plurality of files in the second computer. The second computer executes the computer program in the second computer with the simulation and determines whether the computer program attempts to access or utilize the plurality of files in a manner indicative of malware. If not, the second computer records and generates a notification that the computer program is not malware. |
| US08474035B2 |
VPN network client for mobile device having dynamically constructed display for native access to web mail
An integrated, multi-service network client for cellular mobile devices is described. The multi-service network client can be deployed as a single software package on cellular mobile network devices to provide integrated services including secure enterprise virtual private network (VPN) connectivity, acceleration, security management including monitored and enforced endpoint compliance, and collaboration services. The VPN network client is programmed to receive a web-based home page from an enterprise VPN appliance, process the web-based home page to identify a bookmark embedded within the response that corresponds to an enterprise webmail for the user and dynamically construct a user interface to have an input control native to the cellular mobile device for launching a native email client of the cellular mobile device to access the email without launching a web browser. |
| US08474030B2 |
User authentication system using IP address and method thereof
A method for authenticating a user by IP address check includes: receiving a URL and a session cookie from a client; determining whether or not an IP address of the client has been changed based on the session cookie; resetting the session cookie, if the IP address has been changed, by adding the changed IP address as a temporary IP address thereto; determining whether or not the URL is required to perform IP address check; requesting a re-login to the client if it is determined that the URL is required to perform IP address check; and adding the temporary IP address to a valid IP address list for the user if the re-login is successful. |
| US08474025B2 |
Methods and apparatus for credential validation
A secure credential validation compares stored and received modified credentials, e.g., biometric credentials, such that the validating system does not have access to the unmodified credentials. A capture system and a credential validation system are operatively coupled to a network (e.g., the Internet). The credential validation system is configured to store a set of modified stored credentials associated with the principal, receive a set of modified received credentials, and perform a credential validation procedure to validate the modified received credentials, wherein the credential validation procedure performs a one-way consistency test to compare the modified stored credentials and the modified received credentials. The credential validation procedure employs one or more similarity measures, e.g., a weighted quorum of exact matches, a discrete N-ball (or “N-shell”) intersection, or a client-based algorithm with encryption. |
| US08474018B2 |
Role-based attribute based access control (RABAC)
Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving an access request from a user device, the access request including an identity claim for a user; evaluating a risk of access based on matching an attribute of the user device with attributes stored in a user information database; authenticating the access request based on the identity claim and the risk evaluation to determine an authentication confidence level; generating a token based on the confidence level and the attribute matched; producing an authorization response based on inputs from the token, a risk based access control, a role based access control, and an attribute based access control, in which the authorization response determines whether to allow access to a system, deny access to the system, or request additional input from the user device. |
| US08474017B2 |
Identity management and single sign-on in a heterogeneous composite service scenario
A server device that includes a memory to store identity information for a group of users, policy information, and context information for a group user devices. The server device also includes a processor to receive, from another server device, a request for login credentials, associated with a user of a user device, that enable a third party application to access a service provider on behalf of the user, the request including identity information associated with the user and context information associated with the user device; verify the identity of the user based on a determination that particular identity information is stored in the memory; authorize the disclosure of the particular identity information based on a determination that the context information matches particular context information stored in the memory and that the policy information permits the disclosure of the particular identity information; and send the particular identity information, that includes the login credentials, to the other server device based on the verified identity and the authorized disclosure. |
| US08474015B2 |
System and method for managing feature enablement in an information handling system
A system to manage a key license includes an information handling system having non-volatile memory accessible to a processor. The non-volatile memory stores feature enablement information related to a feature that the information handling system is adapted to provide. The non-volatile memory stores instructions that are accessible to the processor and executable by the processor to send the feature enablement information to an external system after the information handling system is deployed, and to request the feature enablement information, or other feature enablement information, from the external system in response to receiving a request for the information handling system to provide the feature. |
| US08474014B2 |
Methods for the secure use of one-time passwords
Methods for authentication over unsecure networks using one-time passwords methods are provided. The methods establish a connection over a first channel between an authentication system and a user's computing system, then the authentication system determines information based on the connection over the first channel, such as the IP address and other information that can be readily found once the IP address is known. The information derived from the connection is then provided to the user over a second channel, and the user is given an opportunity to review the information before deciding whether to continue the login. If the information returned to the user over the second channel is suspicious, this can indicate to the user that the connection over the first channel has been compromised. |
| US08474011B2 |
On-line centralized and local authorization of executable files
A system and system for controlling the execution of executable files. The executables are identified by either a cryptographic digest or a digital certificate. The cryptographic digest is computed from the binary image of the executable. An executable that is attempting to execute is intercepted by a protection module that consults a database of stored rules over a secure channel to determine whether or not the executable can be identified as a permitted executable and whether or not it has permission to execute on a particular computer system under certain specified conditions. If a stored permission is available, it is used to control the execution. Otherwise, the user is consulted for permission. |
| US08474008B2 |
Methods and devices for managing events linked to the security of the computer systems of aircraft
The invention in particular has as an object methods and devices for management of events linked to the security of aircraft computer systems. After having received at least one information item relating to the detection (110) of at least one event, the latter is characterized (125) according to at least one rule of a plurality of predetermined rules, that can be updated, to allow the establishment of a security report according to the said characterization of the said at least one detected event. The said at least one event advantageously is detected according to a set of predetermined events, the said set of predetermined events being updated according to a previously detected event. |
| US08474007B2 |
System and method of controlling identity privacy in a communication session
A system and methods for controlling identity privacy in a communication session include processing, at a communication server, a request from a first participant of the communication session to add a second participant to the communication session. Based on the request, the communication server establishes a set of privacy rules related to the second participant that control sharing of identity information between the second participant and a third participant of the communication session. |
| US08474002B2 |
Method and system for adaptive disk management
Provided herein are at least one embodiment of systems and methods of adaptive disk management for a recording device employing a memory storage device such as hard disk storage so that memory storage device usage is tracked in the recording device and the memory storage device is controlled based on time-based patterns of user behavior. |
| US08473998B1 |
Network coding for multi-resolution multicast
A method, apparatus and computer program product for utilizing network coding for multi-resolution multicast is presented. A network source partitions source content into a base layer and one or more refinement layers. The network source receives a respective one or more push-back messages from one or more network destination receivers, the push-back messages identifying the one or more refinement layers suited for each one of the one or more network destination receivers. The network source computes a network code involving the base layer and the one or more refinement layers for at least one of the one or more network destination receivers, and transmits the network code to the one or more network destination receivers in accordance with the push-back messages. |
| US08473994B2 |
Communication system and method
A media appliance and corresponding method, the media appliance comprising a video signal source such as a TV receiver, and signal processing apparatus for generating a corresponding sequence of frames for output to a screen. The appliance comprises a client application programmed to capture one of the frames and use the captured frame to generate an image to represent a user in relation to bidirectional communications over a packet-based network. |
| US08473992B2 |
Multichannel data transfer apparatus and its method
The multichannel data transfer apparatus is connected to a transmission line in which a plurality of connected nodes have their respective transmission channels and transmit compressed data in a predetermined present embodiment in accordance with bandwidths assigned to the respective channels, and the multichannel data transfer apparatus includes a calculating device that, when there is a request to change the number of transmission channels used to transmit compressed data in the transmission period, calculates a data compression rate and a transmission bandwidth for each of the transmission channels to be used in transmitting the compressed data to the transmission line when the number of the transmission channels is actually changed, and a notifying device that notifies each transmission channel of at least one of the calculated transmission bandwidth and transmission compression rate. |
| US08473988B2 |
Display apparatus and display method
There is provided a display apparatus including display means for displaying images, electronic program guide display means for causing the display means to display an electronic program guide, selection means for draggably & droppably selecting the part of the electronic program guide displayed by the electronic program guide display means, icon display means for, when the part selected by the selection means is dragged, causing icons corresponding to the part to be displayed by being superimposed on the electronic program guide, and execution means for, when the part is dropped onto the icon caused by the icon display means to be displayed by being superimposed on the electronic program guide while the part displayed in the electronic program guide being dragged by the selection means, causing a function associated with the icon to be executed. |
| US08473984B1 |
Dynamically switching between unicast and broadcas on a mobile communications network
A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically switching between unicast and broadcast carriers for delivering content in a mobile network. A first listing of channels is provided to a client mobile device, wherein a first unicast content stream is associated with a first channel. A determination is made to provide an event through a broadcast carrier over the first channel. The first content stream is disassociated with the first channel, and the broadcast event is associated with the first channel. A broadcast alert is communicated to the client mobile device to indicate the change. A second listing of channels is provided to the client mobile device. |
| US08473982B2 |
Interface for watching a stream of videos
A computing device provides a display of a plurality of channel previews for a plurality of channels in a channel control area in a user interface, the display distinguishing a first channel preview of the plurality of channel previews that pertains to a first channel of the plurality of channels. The computing device further provides a display of a first set of video previews for a first set of videos in a video control area in the user interface, the first set of video previews being associated with the first channel preview. Responsive to the computing device receiving an input identifying a second channel preview of the plurality of channel previews that pertains to a second channel of the plurality of channels, the computing device replaces the first set of video previews in the video control area with a second set of video previews associated with the second channel preview. |
| US08473981B1 |
Augmenting metadata of digital media objects using per object classifiers
A metadata augmentation system trains individual classifiers associated with digital objects, such as digital videos. Textual features of the classifiers determined to be significant from the weights of the classifier are chosen to be added to the video as metadata. |
| US08473980B2 |
Method of processing EPG metadata in network device and network device for controlling the same
A method of processing EPG metadata in a network device includes performing a services discovery procedure utilizing multiple service discovery metadata components supplied by a service provider, and requesting specific SGDDs (service guide delivery descriptors) or specific fragments. |
| US08473977B2 |
Dynamic advertisement copy insert
A method of dynamic advertisement insertion is disclosed where an essentially limitless number of non-staged, unbound advertisement advertisements are made available for advertisement insertion. The dynamic advertisement insertion may include the use of stage, bound advertisements so as to permit dynamic insertion of staged and non-staged advertisements. |
| US08473976B2 |
Consumer managed credit based advertisements
A device may include a storage device and a processor. The storage device may be configured to store video programs and advertisements. The processor may be configured to display a graphical user interface that provides a list of video programs and advertisements stored in the storage device, receive a user selection of a video program and advertisement in the list of video programs and advertisements, provide the advertisement to a content presentation device for user viewing, track whether the device plays the advertisement, determine a number of credits for playing the advertisement, and credit the user account based on the number of credits. |
| US08473973B2 |
Recordable optical record carrier
The present invention relates to a recordable optical record carrier for recording information using a radiation beam having wavelength λ and incident on an entrance surface of the optical record carrier comprising, in this order: a protective layer facing the entrance surface; first recording stack (L0), the recording stack comprising a recording layer of an organic dye material and a groove structure; a transparent spacer layer sandwiched between the neighboring recording stacks; and a second recording stack (LN) comprising a recording layer, wherein the groove depth of the recording layer of the first recording stack (L0) is in a range from 0.241*λ/nS to 0.362*λ/nS, where nS is a refractive index of a material in a land between grooves on the groove structure. |
| US08473970B2 |
Framework for integrating applications
A framework for integrating applications using the Workflow Toolkit provides a graphical development environment for developing an Extensible Workflow. The Workflow Toolkit may include a user interface displaying a first list of application programming interface (API) services provided by a first application and a second list of API services provided by a second application. The Workflow Toolkit may then generate an integration component in response to a user selecting both a first API service from the first list and a second API service from the second list. The integration component can then be called from the first API service, and the integration component in turn calls the second API service. In response to the second API service being called, the second API service may return a result. When this result is received by the integration component, the integration component may return an integration result based on the result received from the second API. |
| US08473969B2 |
Method and system for speeding up mutual exclusion
In a multiprocessor computer system, a lock operation is maintained with a thread using non-atomic instructions. Identifiers are assigned to each thread. Flags in conjunction with the thread identifiers are used to determine the continuity of the lock with a thread. However, in the event continuity of the lock with the thread ceases, a compare-and-swap operation is executed to reset the lock with the same thread or another thread. Similarly, in the event there has been a collision between two or more threads requesting the lock, a compare-and-swap operation is executed to assign the lock to one of the requesting threads. Accordingly, prolonged ownership of a lock operation by a thread is encouraged to mitigate use of atomic operations in granting of the lock to a non-owning thread. |
| US08473965B2 |
Net-timer daemon
User space applications can utilize custom network protocol timers. A registration request is received from an application to register a custom timer. Responsive to receiving the registration request, a handle is created. The handle is a pointer to be used by the application to reference the custom timer. The handle is forwarded to the application. When a custom timer is required, a request to use a custom timer is received from an application. The kernel is then requested to start the custom timer. A determination is then made as to whether a receipt confirmation is received from the kernel before expiration of the custom timer. |
| US08473964B2 |
Transparent user mode scheduling on traditional threading systems
Embodiments for performing cooperative user mode scheduling between user mode schedulable (UMS) threads and primary threads are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, an asynchronous procedure call (APC) is received on a kernel portion of a user mode schedulable (UMS) thread. The status of the UMS thread as it is being processed in a multi-processor environment is determined. Based on the determined status, the APC is processed on the UMS thread. |
| US08473955B2 |
Reducing processing overhead and storage cost by batching task records and converting to audit records
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for processing documents for electronic discovery. A request may be received to perform a task on documents, each document having a distinct document identifier. A task record may be generated to represent the requested task. The task record may include information specific to the request task. However, the task record need not include any document identifiers. At least one batch record may be generated that includes the document identifier for each of the documents. The task record may be associated with the at least one batch record. The requested task may be performed according to the task record and the at least one batch record. An audit record may be generated for the performed task. The audit record may be associated with the at least one batch record. |
| US08473954B2 |
Executing operations via asynchronous programming model
A method and a system execute operations, called jobs, via an APM model, in a MES system. The job execution is requested in an application defining an abstract Job class. The abstract Job class includes: an abstract method for job execution, called Execute, wherein a set of jobs to be executed is implemented, at engineering time, within the Execute method, when implementing a set of classes derived from the abstract Job class; a method for executing the job in asynchronous mode, called ExecuteAsync, the ExecuteAsync method runs the Execute method by following APM rules; and a method for executing the job in synchronous mode, called WaitForExecution, the WaitForExecution method runs the ExecuteAsync method waiting for its completion. At run time, by the application, requests the job execution in asynchronous mode by invoking directly the ExecuteAsync method or in synchronous mode by invoking the WaitForExecution method. |
| US08473953B2 |
Batching transactions to apply to a database
Provided are a method, system and program for batching transactions to apply to a database. A transaction manager receives a plurality of transactions to apply to a database and adds the transactions to a work queue. One of a plurality of agents processes a batch of transactions from the work queue. Each agent executes a batch of transactions from the work queue against the database independent of the operations of other of the agents executing batches of transactions. The agent applies the transactions in the batch against the database and commits the transactions in the batch to the database in response to completing all of the transactions. |
| US08473952B2 |
System and method for communication between concurrent transactions using transaction communicator objects
Transactional memory implementations may be extended to include special transaction communicator objects through which concurrent transactions can communicate. Changes by a first transaction to a communicator may be visible to concurrent transactions before the first transaction commits. Although isolation of transactions may be compromised by such communication, the effects of this compromise may be limited by tracking dependencies among transactions, and preventing any transaction from committing unless every transaction whose changes it has observed also commits. For example, mutually dependent or cyclically dependent transactions may commit or abort together. Transactions that do not communicate with each other may remain isolated. The system may provide a communicator-isolating transaction that ensures isolation even for accesses to communicators, which may be implemented using nesting transactions. True (e.g., read-after-write) dependencies, ordering (e.g., write-after-write) dependencies, and/or anti-dependencies (e.g., write-after-read dependencies) may be tracked, and a resulting dependency graph may be perused by the commit protocol. |
| US08473949B2 |
Methods for supporting users with task continuity and completion across devices and time
Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing task continuity and supporting task completion across devices and time. A task management application is configured to monitor one or more interactions between a user and a device. The interactions can include the use of the device, the use of one or more applications, and/or other tasks, subtasks, or other operations. Predictive models constructed from data or logical models can be used to predict the attention resources available or allocated to a task or subtask as well as the attention and affordances available within a context for addressing the task and these inferences can be used to mark or route the task for later reminding and display. In some embodiments, the task management application is configured to remind or execute a follow-up action when a session is resumed. Embodiments include providing users with easy to use gestures and mechanisms for providing input about desired follow up on the same or other devices. |
| US08473948B1 |
Method for synchronizing independent cooperative thread arrays running on a graphics processing unit
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for synchronizing the execution of multiple cooperative thread arrays (CTAs) implementing a parallel algorithm that is mapped onto a graphics processing unit. An array of semaphores provides synchronization status to each CTA, while one designated thread within each CTA provides updated status for the CTA. The designated thread within each participating CTA reports completion of a given computational phase by updating a current semaphore within the array of semaphores. The designated thread then polls the status of the current semaphore until all participating CTAs have reported completion of the current computational phase. After each CTA has completed the current computational phase, all participating CTAs may proceed to the next computational phase. |
| US08473946B2 |
Efficient recording and replaying of non-deterministic instructions in a virtual machine and CPU therefor
The output of a non-deterministic instruction is handled during record and replay in a virtual machine. An output of a non-deterministic instruction is stored to a buffer during record mode and retrieved from a buffer during replay mode without exiting to the hypervisor. At least part of the contents of the buffer can be stored to a log when the buffer is full during record mode, and the buffer can be replenished from a log when the buffer is empty during replay mode. |
| US08473945B2 |
Enabling system management mode in a secure system
Apparatuses, methods, and systems for enabling system management mode in a secure system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes sub-operating-system mode logic, virtual machine logic, and control logic. The sub-operating-system mode logic is to support a sub-operating-system mode. The virtual machine logic is to support virtualization. The control logic is to prevent virtualization from being enabled when the sub-operating-system mode is disabled. |
| US08473942B2 |
Changable deployment conditions
Methods and apparatuses receive a plurality of files including a software package having code to execute a program on a system with specific attributes, the software package to contain a list identifying specific system attributes required to execute the program. An installation process for the software package is initialized on a system with at least one system attribute that is compatible with the program but not identified by the list of system attributes in the software package, the installation process to identify the system attributes and configured to fail if the system attributes differ from the list in the software package. The installation process identifies an external list of system attributes from the plurality of files separate from the software package wherein the external list of attributes identifies the compatible attribute. The installation process is then executed based on the external list of system attributes. |
| US08473941B2 |
Dynamic file system restriction for portable storage devices
A method of installing an application on a portable storage device is disclosed. The method includes receiving file system commands issued by an installer application and selectively intercepting and modifying at least one file system command before the at least one file system command is executed with respect to a destination file system. The method restricts access to a first file system located at a fixed storage memory device and directs access to a second file system located on the portable storage device. |
| US08473940B2 |
Communication apparatus, data processing system, control method for communication apparatus, control method for data processing system, and program therefor
A communication apparatus that, when distributing data to a plurality of apparatuses, enable use of the data distributed to each of the plurality of apparatuses without being bound by a prescribed time as in the prior arts. Control is provided so as not to execute at least one portion of functions among a plurality of functions that are executable by a communication apparatus until it is determined that update processing of control data for controlling the communication apparatus based on an update data is completed and control data that is stored in an another communication apparatus has been updated with the update data. |
| US08473938B1 |
Security patch update processor
A method, system, and program product are provided for updating software deployed on computers in an enterprise computer network wherein each computer has a software update agent installed to enable the computer to receive software patch updates. The method includes determining a required software component and updates based upon a location in a configuration file; determining a version of the agent and updating the agent if required; selecting a server from which required updates are to be downloaded; scanning a plurality of software components on a selected computer and comparing the components with updates available on the server to determine required updates; downloading the required patches from the server; and installing the patches on the selected computer. The system includes components that perform the method steps when operated on a computer in the network. A computer readable medium implements the method for updating software deployed on computers in a network. |
| US08473934B2 |
Method for mapping applications on a multiprocessor platform/system
In one aspect, there is a formalized method for mapping applications on a multiprocessor system. In particular re-use possibilities are explored, e.g. focus on data transfer and memory access issues, with the aim of obtaining low-power and low-energy mappings and/or to overcome memory performance or energy bottlenecks. |
| US08473931B2 |
Method, system and program product for optimizing emulation of a suspected malware
A method, system and program product for optimizing emulation of a suspected malware. The method includes identifying, using an emulation optimizer tool, whether an instruction in a suspected malware being emulated by an emulation engine in a virtual environment signifies a long loop and, if so, generating a first hash for the loop. Further, the method includes ascertaining whether the first hash generated matches any long loop entries in a storage and, if so calculating a second hash for the long loop. Furthermore, the method includes inspecting any long loop entries ascertained to find an entry having a respective second hash matching the second hash calculated. If an entry matching the second hash calculated is found, the method further includes updating one or more states of the emulation engine, such that, execution of the long loop of the suspected malware is skipped, which optimizes emulation of the suspected malware. |
| US08473930B2 |
Handling signals and exceptions in a dynamic translation environment
A method for executing non-native binaries on a host computer architecture comprises receiving the guest executable binary into a computer readable medium. The guest executable binary is executed on the host computer architecture by translating the guest executable binary into a translated executable binary. Each instruction of the translated executed binary is then executed on the host computer architecture. Signals are responded to by placing signal information on a signal queue and deferring signal handling until a safe point is reached. A computer system implementing the method is also provided. |
| US08473928B2 |
Call graph simplification/comparison and automatic initial suspects finding of performance degradations
In one embodiment, a method for call graph analysis is provided. The method includes determining a plurality of nodes in a call graph. The plurality of nodes represent resource consumption of functions of a software program executed in a software system. A simplification factor is determined. A first set of nodes in the plurality of nodes is then eliminated based on exclusive values for the plurality of nodes, inclusive values for the plurality of nodes, and the simplification factor. An inclusive value for a node is a first amount of resources consumed by the node and any descendent nodes of that node. An exclusive value for the node is a second amount of resources consumed by the node. A simplified call graph is output including a second set of nodes in the plurality of nodes. The second set of nodes does not include the eliminated first set of nodes. |
| US08473924B1 |
Enabling efficient use of an endpoint
Application profiles for applications stored on the endpoint are defined. An application profile identifies components on the endpoint associated with an application with which the application profile is associated. Applications on the endpoint accessed by a user to perform a task are monitored. A task profile associated with the task is created and stored, the task profile associated with the application profiles for the applications accessed by the user to perform the task. |
| US08473918B2 |
Method for singleton process control
A method for singleton process control in a computer environment is provided. A process identification (PID) for a background process is stored in a first temporary file. The PID is stored by a parent process and subsequently accessed by the background process. The background process is exited if an active PID is determined to exist in a second, global temporary file. The PID from the first temporary file is stored into the second, global temporary file. A singleton code block is then executed. |
| US08473908B2 |
Administration of differently-versioned configuration files of a medical facility
In a method, system and computer program product for administration of different versions of a configuration file for configuration of medical apparatuses in a clinical system, the configuration file can also be locally changed at the apparatus itself and be made centrally available. Together with one configuration file, a set of versions regarding the configuration file is automatically administered while maintaining consistency of the data. |
| US08473906B2 |
Systems and methods for parallel distributed programming
The present invention relates generally to computer programming, and more particularly to, systems and methods for parallel distributed programming. Generally, a parallel distributed program is configured to operate across multiple processors and multiple memories. In one aspect of the invention, a parallel distributed program includes a distributed shared variable located across the multiple memories and distributed programs capable of operating across multiple processors. |
| US08473904B1 |
Generation of cache architecture from a high-level language description
Generation of cache architecture from a high-level language description is described. A description of an application in a high-level programming language is obtained. A data flow representation is generated from the description suitable for providing an implementation in hardware. The generating includes: identifying accesses to memory associated with the description; determining that at least a portion of the accesses to memory do not have one or more data dependencies for locally cacheable data; and assigning the portion to a distributed cache. |
| US08473901B1 |
Non-literal representation of programming language code
Exemplary embodiments may provide methods, systems and devices for providing non-literal representations of programming language code. The non-literal representation of a portion of code may provide a representation of the semantics of the portion of code that is different from the source code representation. The non-literal representation may change the way the code is output to a user in order to improve readability of the source code, and may not modify the underlying structure or semantics of the code. While improving readability of the code, the non-literal representation may also retain important information about the underlying code associated with the non-literal representation. |
| US08473895B2 |
Providing diverse solutions using design space exploration
A design space exploration (DSE) system automatically discovers viable solutions within a design space. The DSE system operates by creating or receiving a design specification that is described using a design language. The design specification contains a collection of constraints that an acceptable architecture is expected to satisfy. The DSE system then symbolically executes the design specification to provide a logical formula. The DSE system then interacts with a theorem prover module to identify one or more solutions to the formula. Finally, the DSE system converts the solutions into a user-interpretable form (e.g., expressed in the format of the modeling language) for viewing by a user. Each solution pertains to an architecture that satisfies the collection of constraints. The DSE system ensures that the solutions are diverse by disfavoring any solution that is deemed similar to any solution that has been previously encountered. |
| US08473894B2 |
Method and system for monitoring metadata related to software artifacts
Collecting and storing an artifact identifier for one or more artifacts, project identifiers for one or more software projects that use each artifact, and information about the temporal version for the artifacts. Collecting and storing project information related to the software projects, including a project identifier for each project, and contact information for a user of each software project. Collecting Metadata associated with the software artifacts, which includes information identifying the artifact, information about security risks associated with the artifact, information about a license associated with the artifact, or information indicative of a level of use or user rating of the artifact. The metadata is periodically or continually monitored to determine whether there has been any actionable change, and notifying the user about the actionable change. |
| US08473891B1 |
System and method for integrated circuit layout editing using reference frames
An automated system, and method of operating the same, for editing the floorplan, placement, and toplevel wiring routing in a layout of an integrated circuit. Components in the layout of the integrated circuit, such components including functional blocks or subchips, and also wire segments of the toplevel wiring, are associated with horizontal reference frames and vertical reference frames. Each reference frame has its position, in the orthogonal direction, specified by a position of a reference line. The positions of subchips and wire segments within the reference frame are expressed as offsets from the reference line. Movement of components is accomplished by moving the reference frame in the orthogonal direction, and updating the reference line position while maintaining the offset values constant. |
| US08473890B2 |
Timing error sampling generator and a method of timing testing
A timing error sampling generator, a method of performing timing tests and a library of cells are provided. In one embodiment, the timing error sampling generator includes: (1) a hold delay element having an input and an output and configured to provide a hold violation delayed signal at said output by providing a first predetermined delay to a clock signal received at said input, said first predetermined delay corresponding to a hold violation time for a path to be monitored and (2) a hold logic element having a first input coupled to said input of said hold delay element, a second input coupled to said output of said hold delay element and an output at which said hold logic element is configured to respond to said first and second inputs to provide a clock hold signal when logic levels at said first and second inputs are at a same level. |
| US08473889B2 |
Routing storage structure based on directional grid points and routing method thereof
The present invention provides a routing storage structure based on directional grid points and a routing method thereof. The routing storage structure includes a grid matrix having N×M grid points for storing a grid identifier corresponding to each grid point, where both N and M are natural numbers; a grid value acquisition module for acquiring the grid identifier corresponding to the current grid point from the grid matrix during a routing operation; and a grid value setting module for setting the grid points contained by the blocks in the routing plane and/or the grid points that the routing passes through as corresponding grid identifiers in accordance with a predetermined setting rule. |
| US08473888B2 |
Systems and methods of designing integrated circuits
A method of designing an integrated circuit includes defining at least one dummy layer covering at least one of a portion of a first metallic layer and a portion of a second metallic layer of an integrated circuit. The second metallic layer is disposed over the first metallic layer. The first metallic layer, the second metallic layer and a gate electrode of the integrated circuit have a same routing direction. A logical operation is performed to a file corresponding to the at least one of the portion of the first metallic layer and the portion of the second metallic layer covered by the dummy layer so as to size at least one of the portion of the first metallic layer and the portion of the second metallic layer. |
| US08473879B2 |
On-chip leakage current modeling and measurement circuit
At least one N-type transistor and at least one P-type transistor separate from the digital circuit are sized to represent the total area of the corresponding type transistors in the digital circuit. The gates of the N-type transistor and P-type transistors are set to voltages according to the corresponding off-state logic levels of the digital circuit. The N-type and P-type transistors form a portion of corresponding current mirror circuits, which can provide outputs to a leakage current monitor and/or a control circuit such as a comparator that determines when leakage current for the N-type or P-type devices has exceeded a threshold. The output of the measurement/control circuit can be used to determine a temperature of and/or control operation of the digital circuit or the system environment of the integrated circuit. |
| US08473878B2 |
Lithographically enhanced edge determination
During a calculation technique, at least a portion of a target pattern associated with an integrated-circuit design is modified so that polygons in the target pattern, which represent features in the design, result in acceptable accuracy during a photolithographic process that fabricates the target pattern on a semiconductor die. In particular, a set of polygon parameters associated with the polygons are modified, as needed, so that a cost function that corresponds to a difference between a modified target pattern and an estimated target pattern produced during the photolithographic process meets a termination criterion. A mask pattern that can fabricate the modified target pattern on the semiconductor die is calculated using an inverse optical calculation in which the modified target pattern is at an image plane of an optical path associated with the photolithographic process and the mask pattern is at an object plane of the optical path. |
| US08473877B2 |
Striping methodology for maskless lithography
The present disclosure involves a method of performing a maskless lithography process. The method includes receiving a computer layout file for an integrated circuit (IC) device. The layout file contains a plurality of IC sections. The method includes separating the computer layout file into a plurality of sub-files. The method includes striping the plurality of sub-files concurrently using a plurality of computer processors, thereby generating a plurality of striped sub-files. The method includes transferring the plurality of striped sub-files to a maskless lithography system. |
| US08473873B2 |
Multi-patterning method
A method includes receiving data representing a layout of a DPT-layer of an integrated circuit generated by a place and route tool. The layout includes a plurality of polygons to be formed in the DPT-layer by a multi-patterning process. First and second ones of the plurality of polygons to be formed using first and second photomasks, respectively are identified. Any intervening polygons along a first path connecting the first polygon to the second polygon, and separator regions between adjacent polygons along the first path are identified. The separator regions have sizes less than a minimum threshold distance between polygons formed on the first photomask. The separator regions are counted. A multi-patterning conflict is identified, if the count of separator regions is even, prior to assigning all remaining ones of the plurality of polygons to the first or second masks. |
| US08473870B2 |
Multi-screen hold and drag gesture
Embodiments of a multi-screen hold and drag gesture are described. In various embodiments, a hold input is recognized at a first screen of a multi-screen system when the hold input is held in place. A motion input is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system, and the motion input is recognized to select a displayed object while the hold input remains held in place. A hold and drag gesture can then be determined from the recognized hold and motion inputs. |
| US08473868B1 |
System and method for reverse hierarchical navigation within a user interface
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating navigation of a hierarchy including a plurality of categories within a user interface. A method includes displaying a first set of categories in the hierarchy as respective graphical images along a first axis of a user interface. A reverse navigation option is also displayed along the first axis with the first set of categories. The method continues by allowing the first set of categories and the reverse navigation option to be scrolled along the first axis to place the reverse navigation option within a focus area of the user interface. In response to the reverse navigation option being placed within the focus area, the user interface displays one or more ancestor categories of the first categories as respective graphical images along a second axis of the user interface. In response to an ancestor category being selected from the second axis, the user interface replaces the first categories with second categories along the first axis. The second categories include the selected ancestor category and one or more sibling categories of the selected ancestor category. |
| US08473860B2 |
Multi-layer user interface with flexible parallel and orthogonal movement
A user interface (UI) system calculates movements in a multi-layer graphical user interface. The UI system receives user input corresponding to gestures on a touchscreen. The UI system calculates a movement of a first layer in a first direction (e.g., a horizontal direction) at a first movement rate. The UI system calculates a movement of a second layer substantially parallel to the movement of the first layer, at a second movement rate that differs from the first movement rate. The UI system calculates a movement (e.g., a vertical movement) in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, in a UI element of one of the layers. |
| US08473859B2 |
Visualization and interaction models
Visual representations of system objects are associated, and one or more association characteristics of the associated visual representations are identified. Interaction models and/or visualization models are automatically selected from a plurality of interaction and/or visualization models based on the identified one or more association characteristic, and the selected interaction and/or visualization model is applied to the associated visual representations. |
| US08473857B1 |
Link annotation for keyboard navigation
A computer navigation system and method has one or more interactive links displayed on a display connected to a computer appliance, and one or more visual linktags associated with individual ones of the one or more interactive links, the linktags displaying one or more numbers, characters or symbols, the system enabled to initiate an interactive link in the display upon user input of one of the numbers, characters or symbols in a linktag. |
| US08473856B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program
An information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program capable of reducing the workload of a developer and human errors and easily customizing a display menu are disclosed. The method includes the steps of reading the display menu data stored in an HDD based on an instruction received by a CPU of an information processing device via an operations device, extracting each of plural menu elements, writing the extracted menu elements in a CSV file in CSV format to create a CSV file from the display menu data, and creating a location data file and an element definition file from the created CSV file. |
| US08473850B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for displaying and managing content during a collaboration session
Methods and apparatuses share shared content from a presenter device with an attendee device; display the shared content on the attendee device; display an indicator associated with the shared content on the presenter device; and display a control tab configured to change a shared status. |
| US08473846B2 |
Anchor point in media
A computer-implemented method includes displaying, within a user interface in a digital media system, a project pane, displaying video content within the project pane, the video content aligned relative to a time line, adding overlay content to the video content, and anchoring a first position in the overlay content to a second position in the video content such that content corresponding to the first position is synchronized to content corresponding to the second position. |
| US08473839B2 |
Filtering shared content
The application concerns sharing content generated within a system for one or more application displays to be displayed on a first computing device of a first user. A second user is sent a message concerning sharing sharable content wherein the sharable content includes at least a portion of content from the one or more application displays that were generated for the first user. The message includes an access identifier and in response to the second user accepting the message, the system uses the access identifier to share with the second user said sharable content that was generated for the first user. Prior to providing the sharable content to the second user the sharable content can be filtered. Filtering can be performed according to parameters that can be provided by the first user or according to a default values. |
| US08473837B2 |
Method for expanding and collapsing data cells in a spreadsheet report
Data cells in a spreadsheet report are collapsed and expanded without disrupting other spreadsheet data. A user may want to drill down on data corresponding to a parent member of the report to display more detailed information about the parent member. Likewise, a user may want to drill up the displayed information corresponding to the parent member to hide detailed information associated with the parent member. Before expanding or collapsing a report, the spreadsheet is scanned for information to determine whether the display of other data in the spreadsheet would be disrupted by the expansion/collapse. The information may include cross-join information associated with the parent member, the number of child members associated with the parent member, the dimension of the report created by the parent member and the associated child members, and other reports that may be linked to the report that includes the parent member. |
| US08473835B2 |
Distributed scripting for presentations with touch screen displays
A live presentation may be prepared and displayed by providing a primary scripting room for preparing a presentation script and a control computer in the primary scripting computer for use by a control operator to view and/or edit possible contributions to the presentation script and for saving the presentation script being preparing. At least one remote scripting room may be connected to the primary scripting room by network to form a virtual scripting room therewith. A remote computer may provided in the remote scripting room for operation by a contributor to provide possible contributions to the presentation script viewable by the remote operator. At least portions of the saved scripted presentation may be presented on a display computer as the live presentation. |
| US08473833B2 |
Forward error correction method
This invention concerns packet recovery for real-time (live) multi-media communication over packet-switched networks like the Internet. Such communication includes video, audio, data or any combination thereof. The invention comprises forward error correction (FEC) algorithms addressing both random and burst packet loss and errors, and that can be adjusted to tradeoff the recoverability of missing packets and the latency incurred. |
| US08473831B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and data read method of the same
Various embodiments of a semiconductor memory apparatus and a related data read method are disclosed. According to one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor memory apparatus may include a global data bus, an error detection unit, a first data output unit, and a second data output unit. The global data bus transfers first data and second data. The error detection unit performs an error bit detection operation on the first data and the second data and generates a first error detection bit and a second error detection bit. The first data output unit combines the first data and the first error detection bit in series and outputs the combined bits. The second data output unit combines the second data and the second error detection bit in series and outputs the combined bits. |
| US08473830B1 |
Viterbi decoder method and apparatus with RI detector in servo channel
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for decoding data stored on a data storage medium. A disclosed decoding method and decoder include a radial incoherence (RI) detector that increases the probability of detecting RI and improves the decoding performance in terms of the bit error rate of the decoded signal. RI is detected by comparing an input signal to the decoder against a RI threshold value and generating a RI-type signal. The RI detector may include a filter for filtering out noise and error in the RI-type signal, an adaptive threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon the RI-type signal, a transition-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon each transition in the input signal, or a path-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon a best surviving path corresponding to the input signal, in combination or alone. |
| US08473826B1 |
Hybrid soft decision hard decision reed solomon decoding
Embodiments in accordance with the invention utilize Reed Solomon (RS) forward error correction (FEC) coding in conjunction with M-ary Bandwidth Efficient Modulation (BEM) schemes and soft decision decoding to improve the robustness of high spectral efficiency communications links. In one embodiment, information symbols in communication data blocks are encoded utilizing Reed Solomon (RS) forward error correction (FEC) coding and transmitted with either M-ary phase shift keying (MPSK) or M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (MQAM). Using standard Reed Solomon (RS) hard decision decoding, a receiver either correctly decodes the received block or returns a decoding failure. In the event of a decoding failure, soft decision reliability information is used to identify received code symbols with a low probability of being correctly received and to generate new code symbol estimates that are used in the traditional Reed Solomon decoding algorithm. |
| US08473820B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving data
A transmitting apparatus in a transport network, which performs forward error correcting encoding for each virtual lane set, which is a multiple of the number of transmission channels, in order to generate virtual frames including independent parity bytes for each of the virtual lanes. These generated virtual frames are transmitted through at least one transmission channel. A receiving apparatus for detecting the virtual frames for each virtual lane from a signal received through a transmission channel by using a frame assignment sequence, and performing forward error correcting decoding by using the parity bytes included in the virtual frames detected for each virtual lane. |
| US08473815B2 |
Methods and systems of a flash memory controller and an error correction code (ECC) controller using variable-length segmented ECC data
An ECC controller comprises an ECC encoder, an ECC divider, an ECC constructor and an ECC decoder. The ECC encoder is configured to generate ECC data with different lengths in response to information data to be stored into a flash memory. The ECC divider is configured to divide each ECC datum generated by the ECC encoder into one or more ECC segments according to the length of the ECC datum. The ECC constructor is configured to generate an ECC datum by combining one or more ECC segments for each information datum read from the flash memory. The ECC decoder is configured to correct the errors of the information data read from the flash memory device by using the ECC data generated by the ECC constructor. |
| US08473809B2 |
Data coding for improved ECC efficiency
Non-volatile storage devices and techniques for operating non-volatile storage are described herein. One embodiment includes accessing “n” pages of data to be programmed into a group of non-volatile storage elements. The “n” pages are mapped to a data state for each of the non-volatile storage elements based on a coding scheme that evenly distributes read errors across the “n” pages of data. Each of the non-volatile storage elements in the group are programmed to a threshold voltage range based on the data states to which the plurality of pages have been mapped. The programming may include programming the “n” pages simultaneously. In one embodiment, mapping the plurality of pages is based on a coding scheme that distributes a significant failure mode (for example, program disturb errors) to a first of the pages and a significant failure mode (for example, data retention errors) to a second of the pages. |
| US08473806B1 |
Layered quasi-cyclic LDPC decoder with reduced-complexity circular shifter
This disclosure relates generally to data decoding, and more particularly to iterative decoders for data encoded with a low-density parity check (LDPC) encoder. LDPC decoders are disclosed that use reduced-complexity circular shifters that may be used to decode predefined or designed QC-LDPC codes. In addition, methods to design codes which may have particular LDPC code performance capabilities and which may operate with such decoders using reduced-complexity circular shifters are provided. The generation of quasi-cyclic low density parity check codes and the use of circular shifters by LDPC decoders, may be done in such a way as to provide increased computational efficiency, decreased routing congestion, easier timing closure, and improved application performance. |
| US08473802B2 |
Technique for advanced ARQ buffer management in wireless communication system
An Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) transmitter for use in a wireless communication system and method for its operation are provided. The method includes determining unutilized capacity of an ARQ receiver buffer in an ARQ receiver, determining if the ARQ receiver buffer can support an ARQ block to be transmitted based on the determined unutilized capacity of the ARQ receiver buffer, and if it is determined that the ARQ receiver buffer can support the ARQ block to be transmitted, transmitting the ARQ block to the ARQ receiver. |
| US08473796B2 |
Error detection in compressed data
A device under test—DUT—, comprising the steps of receiving a first data sequence from the DUT in response to a first stimulus signal, wherein the data of a plurality of internal data sequences of the DUT is compressed into the first data sequence, comparing the first data sequence with expected data and for detecting errors in the first data sequence, and providing a second stimulus signal to the DUT in order to instruct the DUT to generate a second data sequence that comprises uncompressed data of the plurality of the internal data sequences at the positions where the errors have been detected. |
| US08473795B2 |
IC with wrapper, TAM, TAM controller, and DDR circuitry
A device test architecture and a reduced device test interface are provided to enable efficient testing of embedded cores and other circuits within devices. The reduced device test interface is achieved using a double data rate (DDR) signaling technique between the tester and the device. The DDR test interface allows the tester to interface to test circuits within the device, such as IEEE 1500 and/or IEEE 1149.1 test circuits, to provide high test data bandwidth to the test circuits using a minimum of test interface signals. The test architecture includes compare circuits that allow for comparison of test response data to be performed within the device. The test architecture further includes a memory for storing the results of the test response comparisons. The test architecture includes a programmable test controller to allow for various test control operations by simply inputting an instruction to the programmable test controller from the external tester. Additional features and embodiments of the device test architecture and reduced test interface are also disclosed. |
| US08473791B2 |
Redundant memory to mask DRAM failures
A method comprises detecting a defective area in a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The method further comprises establishing a redundant memory buffer at a per-memory module level. The method still further comprises loading the redundant memory buffer with a copy of data from the defective area. The method additionally comprises substituting data from the redundant memory buffer for data stored in the defective area upon a memory access to the defective area. |
| US08473787B2 |
Intelligent LUN generation and management
A method for generating and managing logical units (LUNs) in a storage network environment is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes determining a type of LUN, identifying one or more servers that will access the LUN, and identifying a storage system that will host the LUN. The method then generates a LUN name that encapsulates the type, the one or more servers, and the storage system. The method then assigns the LUN name to the LUN. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed herein. |
| US08473785B2 |
Computationally efficient tiered inference for multiple fault diagnosis
A computer based method and system for tiered inference multiple fault diagnosis is provided. The method includes using a computer processor to dissect a hypothesis space representing a production system having a plurality of production modules into tiers. Production modules in the current tier are partitioned into a group or a set of sub-groups. A fault diagnosis algorithm is applied to the group of each sub-group to identify an acceptable fault diagnosis. When no acceptable fault diagnosis is found, the process moves to the next tier to perform further investigations. The process continues to move to higher tiers until an acceptable fault diagnosis is obtained or the system instructs the process to end. |
| US08473784B2 |
Storage apparatus and method of data processing
A storage apparatus includes a backup processing unit that stores data stored in a first memory into a second memory as backup data upon occurrence of a power failure, a restore processing unit that upon recovery from the power failure restores the backup data backed up in the second memory to the first memory and erases the backup data, and an erasure processing termination unit that terminates the erasure processing upon a power failure occurring during erasure processing for erasing the backup data stored in the second memory, and a re-backup processing unit that re-backs up data in the first memory corresponding to the backup data erased from the second memory before the erasure processing is terminated by the erasure processing termination unit to a location in the second memory subsequent to a last location that contains the backup data which has not been erased. |
| US08473783B2 |
Fault tolerance in distributed systems
Fault tolerance is provided in a distributed system. The complexity of replicas and rollback requests are avoided; instead, a local failure in a component of a distributed system is tolerated. The local failure is tolerated by storing state related to a requested operation on the component, persisting that stored state in a data store, such as a relational database, asynchronously processing the operation request, and if a failure occurs, restarting the component using the stored state from the data store. |
| US08473780B2 |
Efficient data storage in storage device arrays
A method for data storage includes encoding data with an inter-device Error Correction Code (ECC), and sending the encoded data for storage on two or more storage devices. The data to be stored on each of the storage devices, and which has been encoded with the inter-device ECC, is encoded with an intra-device ECC, and the data encoded with the inter-device and intra-device ECCs is stored on the storage device. After storing the data, at least part of the stored data is retrieved and output by decoding the intra-device and inter-device ECCs, while using information related to one of the intra-device and inter-device ECCs in decoding the other of the intra-device and inter-device ECCs. |
| US08473778B2 |
Erasure coding immutable data
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and computer storage media for erasure coding data in a distributed computing environment. A sealed extent is identified that is comprised of two or more data blocks and two or more index blocks. The sealed extent is optimized for erasure coding by grouping the two or more data blocks within the optimized sealed extent together and grouping the two or more index blocks within the optimized sealed extent together. The optimized extent may also be erasure coded, which includes creating data fragments and coding fragments. The data fragments and the coding fragments may also be stored in the distributed computing environment. Additional embodiments include monitoring statistical information to determine if replication, erasure coding or a hybrid storage plan should be utilized. |
| US08473777B1 |
Method and system for performing recovery in a storage system
Method and system for performing recovery for a replicated copy of a storage space presented as a logical object is provided. An attribute associated with the logical object for enabling the recovery is set and when the storage space is replicated the attribute is stored as metadata for the replicated copy of the storage space. Based on the attribute, a clone of the logical object is presented as a writable option to write to the first replicated copy. After the write operation where information is written to the clone, a second replicated copy with the clone information is created. The clone is deleted after the second copy is generated. |
| US08473774B2 |
Main device redundancy configuration and main device replacing method
A networking system architecture includes a plurality of main devices, one of the main devices acts as a master main device, and the other main devices act as slave main devices. If the master main device malfunctions, one of the slave main devices substitutes for the master main device to act as a new master main device. Priorities are set to the main devices, respectively. If a current master main device malfunctions, the current master main device may be replaced by a new master main device having the highest priority among the other main devices. |
| US08473773B2 |
Method and system to provide a compliance clock service suitable for cloud deployment
A method and system for providing an improved compliance clock service are described. An example method comprises establishing a system compliance clock (SCC) for a storage system that provides a compliant storage service, and establishing, for a volume in the storage system, a volume compliance clock (VCC). A current value of the SCC may be periodically updated based on hardware ticks monitored at the associated storage node. The volume compliance clock is to update its value based on a current value of the SCC. |
| US08473771B2 |
Integrated circuit having frequency dependent noise avoidance
A clock source generates a first clock signal for clocking a first clocked module and a rate adapting module produces an operation dependent clock signal from the first clock signal for clocking a second clocked module that is rate dependent. The first clock signal has a rate such that frequency dependent noise components associated with the first clock signal are outside a given frequency range that causes adverse performance in the first clocked module. |
| US08473769B2 |
Efficient routing of computing tasks
A mechanism is provided for routing a computing task to a computing resource for executing the computing task. A dispatcher receives a timestamp at which execution of the computing task can start on the computing resource and a duration that the execution would take. The computing resource is associated with a power consumption profile. The dispatcher estimates a power efficiency factor as a function of the power consumption profile, the timestamp and the duration thereby forming an estimated power efficiency factor. The dispatcher determines whether the computing resource can execute the computing task as a function of the estimated power efficiency factor. The dispatcher then sends the computing task to the computing resource in responsive to determining that the computing resource can execute the computing task. |
| US08473758B2 |
I/O port power control system and method
An input/output (I/O) power control system comprises an electronic device having at least one I/O port and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to, while the electronic deice is powered off, detect coupling of an external device to the at least one I/O port and, in response to detecting the coupling, provide power to the I/O port. |
| US08473751B2 |
Method for cryptographic data processing, particularly using an S box, and related device and software
A method for data cryptographic processing, that is implemented by an electronic entity and includes the conversion of input data (M′i−1), masked by an input mask (X), into output data, the conversion using a conversion table (S), and the method including the following steps: for at least one plurality of possible values (A) for the input mask (X), transferring the output value of the conversion table (S) corresponding to the masked input data (M′i−1) converted by the application of an unmasking operation using the possible value (A), into a table (T) at a position corresponding to a determined value (0) masked by the input mask (X) and converted by the application of an unmasking operation using the possible value (A); determining the output data using the value located in the table (T) at the position corresponding to the determined value (0). |
| US08473738B2 |
Mode of information transmission and complex protection
The mode is intended for application in simplex and duplex channels of arbitrary including low, quality with implementation of tasks for complex protection of information.The unified signal structure of stochastic q-ary (n, k, q, m)-code is used on the basis of any initial binary (n, k)-code with l-interleaving (q=2l) with m-fold repetition of blocks of the code (m=1, 2, . . . , mmax) with identical values of the data portion. Direct randomization of q-ary characters is performed on the transmitting side before transmission to the channel, on the receiving one—reverse randomization of q-ary characters. The code structure being applied represents ensemble of random codes varying for each block and q-ary character and ensuring transmission of any of all possible 2n signals to a data link on binary sequence of length n as result of change in the strategy in the course of fight against random interferences. |
| US08473734B2 |
Multi-service VPN network client for mobile device having dynamic failover
An integrated, multi-service network client for cellular mobile devices is described. The multi-service network client can be deployed as a single software package on cellular mobile network devices to provide integrated services including secure enterprise virtual private network (VPN) connectivity, acceleration, security management including monitored and enforced endpoint compliance, and collaboration services. Once installed on the cellular mobile device, the multi-service client establishes the VPN connection to concurrently include both a layer three (L3) tunnel that uses a first type of transport layer protocol of the operating system and a layer four (L4) tunnel that uses a second type of transport layer protocol of the operating system. The VPN handler determines whether network ports associated with the L3 tunnel are unblocked by an operating system and, when the network ports are unblocked, automatically transitions from the L4 tunnel to the L3 tunnel without terminating the VPN connection. |
| US08473733B2 |
Method for managing opaque presence indications within a presence access layer
A method for a presentity to provide private presence information for a watcher. The method includes the presentity providing the private presence information in an encrypted form. The method also includes a presence access layer obtaining the private presence information. The method also includes the presence access layer performing one of decrypting the private presence information and sending the decrypted private presence information to the watcher, and leaving the private presence information in the encrypted form and sending the encrypted private presence information to the watcher, wherein the watcher decrypts the private presence information. |
| US08473732B2 |
Method and system for secure block acknowledgment (block ACK) with protected MAC sequence number
Aspects of a method and system for protected MAC sequence numbers, as well as secure block acknowledgment (block ACK) with protected MAC sequence number are presented. In one aspect of the system a communicating station (STA) may protect the sequence number (SN) field portion of transmitted protocol data units (PDUs), for example data MAC layer PDUs (MPDUs), or frames. In another aspect of the system, starting sequence number (SSN) information communicated via control frames, such as block acknowledgment request (BAR) and block acknowledgment (BA) frames, may be protected. In another aspect of the system, communicating STAs may exchange management frames to enable the protection of SN information in data MPDUs and/or the protection of SSN values in control MPDUs. |
| US08473730B2 |
Computer with network detecting module and method for controlling computer when detecting network connection
A computer includes a control module and a basic input and output system (BIOS) storage module. The BIOS storage module stores BIOS programs. The BIOS storage module includes a detection sub-module and a switch sub-module. The detection sub-module is capable of detecting a network connection state. The switch sub-module is capable of controlling an on-off state of the detection sub-module. The control module is capable of executing a control operation to restrict a system function when a connected network state is detected by the detection module. |
| US08473729B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing the privacy and disclosure of location information
An approach for managing the privacy and disclosure of location information associated with a computer system. For one aspect, a request is received from a requestor for a location property associated with a location of a computer system. It is then determined whether a privacy preference associated with the requestor has been specified. If not, a user may be prompted to supply privacy preferences associated with the requester. The privacy preferences are then applied to determine whether or not to provide the requested information. A user setting, such as a basic input-output system memory location setting, may also be implemented to enable and/or disable location-aware computing. |
| US08473727B2 |
History based pipelined branch prediction
Systems and methods for history based pipelined branch prediction. In one example, access to prediction information to predict a plurality of branches within an instruction block is initiated in a same clock cycle of the computer processor as a fetch of the instruction block. The prediction information may be available to the predictor not later than a clock cycle of the computer processor in which the plurality of branches are decoded. |
| US08473726B2 |
Bad branch prediction detection, marking, and accumulation for faster instruction stream processing
An apparatus for extracting instructions from a stream of undifferentiated instruction bytes in a microprocessor having an instruction set architecture in which the instructions are variable length. Decode logic decodes the instruction bytes of the stream to generate for each a corresponding opcode byte indictor and end byte indicator and receives a corresponding taken indicator for each of the instruction bytes. The taken indicator is true if a branch predictor predicted the instruction byte is the opcode byte of a taken branch instruction. The decode logic generates a corresponding bad prediction indicator for each of the instruction bytes. The bad prediction indicator is true if the corresponding taken indicator is true and the corresponding opcode byte indicator is false. The decode logic sets to true the bad prediction indicator for each remaining byte of an instruction whose opcode byte has a true bad prediction indicator. Control logic extracts instructions from the stream and sends the extracted instructions for further processing by the microprocessor. The control logic foregoes sending an instruction having both a true end byte indicator and a true bad prediction indicator. |
| US08473722B2 |
Processor architecture for exact pointer identification
The present invention relates to an object-based processor architecture which allows exact pointer identification by strictly separating pointers and data from one another in the memory and in the processor registers. The access to the memory is performed exclusively via pointers which refer to objects. An object contains separate areas for pointers and data and an attribute field for describing the length of the two areas. Both the pointers in the pointer registers and also the pointers in the pointer areas of the objects directly contain the address of the objects to which they refer. The suggested processor architecture allows the integration of automatic garbage collection, which may be implemented completely or partially in hardware. A real-time capable garbage collection may be implemented especially efficiently through hardware support. |
| US08473720B2 |
Method for providing data to a digital processing means
A method for providing generic formatted data to at least one digital data processor, configured to translate generic formatted data into specific formatted data. The generic formatted data includes data relative to logical blocks, at least one of the logical blocks corresponding to an object to be processed directly or indirectly according to specific formatted data by at least one processing platform with processor(s) and memory(ies), located upstream from the processor or integrated into the processor, the object being made up of elementary information of same type, all information being represented by at least one numerical value. |
| US08473716B2 |
Distributed processing system, information processing apparatus, and distributed processing method
According to an aspect of the embodiment, a user apparatus transmits a parameter on generation of drawing data to each of drawing data generation apparatuses through a network, to assign generation processing of the drawing data to each of drawing data generation apparatuses. The user apparatus receives the drawing data generated based on the parameter by each of the plurality of drawing data generation apparatuses through the network, and displays the received drawing data. The user apparatus changes the parameter corresponding to the displayed drawing data, and displays a new drawing data corresponding to the changed parameter. |
| US08473714B2 |
Pre-fetching data into a memory
Systems and methods for pre-fetching of data in a memory are provided. By pre-fetching stored data from a slower memory into a faster memory, the amount of time required for data retrieval and/or processing may be reduced. First, data is received and pre-scanned to generate a sample fingerprint. Fingerprints stored in a faster memory that are similar to the sample fingerprint are identified. Data stored in the slower memory associated with the identified stored fingerprints is copied into the faster memory. The copied data may be compared to the received data. Various embodiments may be included in a network memory architecture to allow for faster data matching and instruction generation in a central appliance. |
| US08473710B2 |
Multiple partitioned emulated electrically erasable (EEE) memory and method of operation
A method and system wherein a volatile memory is partitioned to have a first percentage of address space dedicated to a first classification of data which is data that is expected to have greater than a predetermined number of times of being modified and a second percentage of address space dedicated to a second classification of data which is data that is expected to have less than the predetermined probability of being modified. Address assignment of data to be stored in the volatile memory is made on a basis of predicted change of the data. Memory addresses of the first and second percentages of address space are respectively assigned to first and second sections of nonvolatile memory. The memory addresses of the first percentage initially consume a smaller percentage of an address map of the first section than the memory addresses of the second percentage of the second section. |
| US08473709B2 |
Virtual volume allocating unit and method which allocate a new virtual volume to adequately-sized unused volume areas
Allocation of virtual disk volumes of a size designated by the computer manager to a virtual computer and accessiblity from the virtual computer to the virtual disk voumes without requiring intervention by a hypervisor are to be achieved. In a computer, at least one virtual computer to be in execution on the computer, and a computer system in which the virtual computer has volumes for holding data, a virtualization mechanism has a virtual volume allocating unit and a virtual volume information supplying unit, and the virtual computer has a virtual volume driver for converting positional information on virtual volumes. Additionally, the virtualization mechanism holds the virtual volume information together with defining information for the virtual computer to which the virtual volumes have been allocated. |
| US08473706B2 |
Data processing circuit with multiplexed memory
A data processing apparatus contains several processing circuits each operating under control of its own periodic clock signal, so that the clock signals may have different frequencies and/or can be autonomous. The several processing circuits each have an output for outputting memory access requests, which remain at the output for a validity duration interval defined by the clock signal of the particular processor. A multiplexing circuit multiplexes the access requests to a memory. The memory needs a minimum memory repetition period before it can accept an access request following acceptance of a preceding access request. The clock periods of the processing circuits are longer than the minimum memory repetition period. A timing circuit selects acceptance time points at which each particular access request from a first data processing circuit is accepted. |
| US08473704B2 |
Storage device and method of controlling storage system
With respect to a storage system in which quick formatting and sequential formatting can be run concurrently, the time it takes to process an access request from a host is prevented from becoming prolonged even when a normal sequential formatting process is executed with respect to a storage volume which frequently incurs I/O penalties. The storage device measures the load from the host per configurational unit (storage medium) of LUs, and divides the LUs into a group of LUs whose load per storage medium is low, and a group of LUs whose load per storage medium is high. Further, the density per unit of LU capacity of I/O penalties incurred in a storage volume for which quick formatting is being executed is calculated. Sequential formatting is then executed, with priority, with respect to the LUs belonging to the group with low loads and in order of descending density of incurred I/O penalties. |
| US08473702B2 |
Information processing apparatus, execution environment transferring method and program thereof
Provided is an information processing device which enables transfer of an execution environment in a short time period without degrading basic performance of an execution environment and without requiring a large amount of memory.The information processing device comprises a basic side CPU 100 for executing basic processing and an addition side CPU 200 for executing additional processing, in which a transfer management unit 300 provided on the basic side CPU 100 transfers execution environment data 1000 including constitution information of an execution environment 30 of the additional processing to be executed on the addition side CPU and data in a memory corresponding to the execution environment to other information processing device and restores the execution environment to re-start the addition side CPU based on the received execution environment data 1000. |
| US08473699B2 |
Facilitating data compression during replication using a compressible configuration bit
A method is provided for facilitating data replication in a storage system. A logical volume of a first storage array of a replicated pair is preconfigured with one or more logical volume attributes, which include a compressible configuration bit that indicates whether data blocks to be stored to that logical volume are compressible during replication. Subsequently, with receipt of a data block at the first storage array to be stored to the logical volume, a check of the compressible configuration bit is made to determine whether the data block is compressible during replication, and if so, the data block is compressed for replication. The compressible configuration bit is placed into the payload region of the data packet being replicated to the second storage array. At the second storage array, the compressible configuration bit is used to determine whether to uncompress the replicated data block. |
| US08473697B1 |
Method and system for volume based snapshot restore
Method and system is provided to perform a plurality of checks before performing a volume based snapshot restore (“VBSR”) operation. The checks may be performed by an application executed at a computing system that interfaces with a storage system. The application may determine if there are any inconsistent LUNS and foreign mapped LUNs. The application may also determine if there are any new LUNs or any new snapshots since the snapshot, which is the basis of the restore operation was created. The application may further determine if there are any backup relationships with respect to a volume that is being restored. The application takes the information and provides a report to a user. The report allows a user to ascertain the consequences of proceeding with the VBSR operation. |
| US08473694B2 |
Memory device and memory system comprising same
A memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory blocks each comprising a plurality of memory cells and a control setting circuit. The control setting circuit divides the memory blocks into at least first and second groups based on whether each of the memory blocks comprises at least one substandard memory cell, and sets individually control parameters of the first and second groups. The substandard memory cells are identified based on test results of the memory cells with respect to at least one of the control parameters. Each memory block in the first group comprises at least one substandard memory cell, and each memory block in the second group comprises no substandard memory cell. |
| US08473692B2 |
Operating system image management
In a data processing system including multiple logical partitions (LPARs), an application executes on a first logical partition (LPAR) of the multiple LPARs, where the application uses a first operation system stored in a first memory partition of a shared pool memory of the data processing system. A virtualization management component (a) initiates an update process that quiesces operations of the first LPAR, (b) pages in, via a virtual input/output server coupled to a first paging device, a first image of a second operating system from the first paging device to the shared pool memory; (c) changes one or more pointers associated with the application to point to one or more portions of the second operating system, such that the application uses the second operating system, when resumed; and (b) resumes execution the application. |
| US08473690B1 |
Using logical block addresses with generation numbers as data fingerprints to provide cache coherency
The technique introduced here involves using a block address and a corresponding generation number as a “fingerprint” to uniquely identify a sequence of data within a given storage domain. Each block address has an associated generation number which indicates the number of times that data at that block address has been modified. This technique can be employed, for example, to maintain cache coherency among multiple storage nodes. It can also be employed to avoid sending the data to a network node over a network if it already has the data. |
| US08473687B2 |
Computer cache system with stratified replacement
Methods for selecting a line to evict from a data storage system are provided. A computer system implementing a method for selecting a line to evict from a data storage system is also provided. The methods include selecting an uncached class line for eviction prior to selecting a cached class line for eviction. |
| US08473674B2 |
Information processing device including a plurality of cells to store data, storage control device that controls a storage section including a plurality of cells to store data, and storage control method of controlling a refresh operation of a storage section including a plurality of cells to store data
An information processing device includes a first storage section 2 that includes a plurality of cells to store data; a second storage section 3 that holds refresh intervals and the states of implementation of refresh operations for each of a plurality of the cells; and a control section that controls the refresh operation of each of the cells on the basis of the refresh intervals and the states of implementation of refresh operations held by the second storage section 3. The information processing device controls the refresh operation of each of the cells at refresh intervals set for respective cells. |
| US08473673B2 |
Memory controller based (DE)compression
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with (de)compressing data at a time and in a location that facilitates increasing memory transfer bandwidth by selectively controlling a burst-mode protocol used to transfer data to and/or from a memory are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a memory controller configured to (de)compress memory, to manipulate size data associated with compressed data, and to selectively manipulate a burst-mode protocol employed in transferring compressed data to and/or from random access memory. |
| US08473669B2 |
Method and system for concurrent background and foreground operations in a non-volatile memory array
A method and system for permitting host write operations in one part of a flash memory concurrently with another operation in a second part of the flash memory is disclosed. The method includes receiving data at a front end of a memory system, selecting at least one of a plurality of subarrays in the memory system for executing a host write operation, and selecting at least one other subarray in which to execute a second operation. The write operation and second operation are then executed substantially concurrently. The memory system includes a plurality of subarrays, each associated with a separate subarray controller, and a front end controller adapted to select and initiate concurrent operations in the subarrays. |
| US08473664B2 |
Safe removal of external device from computing device
In some embodiments a computing device includes a coupler that is able to be coupled to an external device, and an eject button to signal the computing device that a user wishes to safely uncouple the external device from the computing device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08473662B2 |
Interrupt-handling-mode determining method of embedded operating system kernel
Provided is a method capable of providing an improved response property appropriate for the characteristics of a system by automatically choosing an interrupt handling mode used for each device. The method is a method in which the embedded operating system kernel determines a handling mode for all individual interrupts, the method includes: dividing interrupt handling modes into a first interrupt handling mode and a second interrupt handling mode which has a different process speed from the first interrupt handling mode, and variably determining a distribution ratio in which each of the interrupts are distributed to the first interrupt handling mode or to the second interrupt handling mode according to a predetermined process condition during boot-up. |
| US08473653B2 |
Semiconductor device, control method for the semiconductor device and information processing system including the same
The core chips each include a timing control circuit that outputs a timing signal synchronized with the outputting of parallel data to the interface chip. The interface chip includes a data input circuit that captures parallel data in synchronization with the timing signal. With this arrangement, the timing to output the parallel data and the timing to capture the parallel data are both synchronized with the timing signal generated in the core chips. Therefore, even if there is a difference in operation speed between each core chip and the interface chip, the parallel data can be accurately captured on the interface chip side. |
| US08473651B1 |
Isolated protected access device
A computer switching device is disclosed which enables switching between a local computer and a secure computer connected through a network. The device sits like a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) and optionally audio device between the local computer and the local input/output devices, but connects to the secure computer through a network. Access to the secure computer is pre-configured in the switching device through access and security settings for a specific user to the specific secure computer. The switching device specifically prevents access to the secure computer by the local computer, printer, or storage devices such as fixed or removable media drives. Tamper detection is included to disable secure access on any tampering with the switching device. |
| US08473650B1 |
Method and system for collecting device information
Method and system for interfacing with a peripheral device is provided. A microcontroller of the peripheral device is used to respond to a standard request for basic device information from a computing system. When the request for basic device information is received, the microcontroller reads the basic device information from a general purpose memory instead of a dedicated memory. The microcontroller emulates a memory controller by formatting the information and then sending a response to the computing system in a standard, expected format. |
| US08473648B2 |
System and method of I/O path virtualization between a raid controller and an environment service module in a storage area network
A system and method of I/O path virtualization between a RAID controller and an environment service module (ESM) in a storage area network (SAN) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a type of I/O request is identified by an input/output (I/O) control engine upon receiving an I/O request from a host computer via a RAID controller. Further, a priority is assigned to the received I/O request based on the type of I/O request by the I/O control engine. Furthermore, the processing of the prioritized I/O request is interrupted by the I/O control engine. In addition, the prioritized I/O request is separated into a command I/O request or a status request. Also, the separated command I/O request or the status request is sent to an associated queue in a plurality of solid state drive (SSD) buffer queues (SBQ) in the I/O control engine. |
| US08473646B1 |
Balancing latency and throughput for shared resources
Input and output (I/O) operations performed by a data storage device are managed dynamically to balance aspects such as throughput and latency. Sequential read and write requests are sent to a data storage device whereby the corresponding operations are performed without time delay due to extra disk revolutions. In order to minimize latency, particularly for read operations, random read and write requests are held in a queue upstream of an I/O controller of the data storage device until the buffer of the data storage device is empty. The queued requests can be reordered when a higher priority request is received, improving the overall latency for specific requests. An I/O scheduler of a data server is still able to use any appropriate algorithm to order I/O requests, such as by prioritizing reads over writes as long as the writes do not back up in the I/O queue beyond a certain threshold. |
| US08473645B2 |
Varying host interface signaling speeds in a storage array
An apparatus comprising an interface circuit and a controller. The interface circuit may be configured to calculate a speed signal in response to data traffic measured over a network. The controller may be configured to present and receive data from an array in response to (a) the speed signal and (b) one or more input/output requests. The interface circuit may generate the speed signal in response to a plurality of predetermined factors. The controller may present and receive the data at one of a plurality of speeds in response to the speed signal. |
| US08473639B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing non access stratum (NAS) procedure in multi-mode terminal
A method and apparatus for performing a NAS procedure in a NAS module of a multi-mode terminal are disclosed. A method for performing a NAS procedure in a multi mode NAS (mNAS) module of a multi-mode terminal includes receiving a NAS procedure request signal from a user, and selecting a first NAS; transmitting the NAS procedure request signal to a NAS module corresponding to the first NAS; receiving a NAS procedure response signal, that includes an execution result of a NAS procedure between the NAS module corresponding to the first NAS and a network, from the NAS module corresponding to the first NAS; performing synchronization between the NAS module corresponding to the first NAS and a NAS module corresponding to a second NAS according to the NAS procedure execution result; and transmitting a NAS procedure response signal including the NAS procedure execution result to the user. |
| US08473637B2 |
Method and apparatus for extended ordering over a wireless network of collections using priority and dependency levels
A method and system for extended ordering of collections of data for synchronization over a wireless network, each collection having an existing priority level, the method having the steps of: adding, to each collection, a dependency field having a dependency value; exchanging the priority level and dependency value for each collection; and ordering synchronization of the collections based on priority levels and dependency values of the collections. |
| US08473636B2 |
Information processing system and data management method
The server device includes: an allocation unit for allocating a unique identifier to each of first data and second data; a management unit for managing a correspondence between the identifier and a method for accessing the first data or second data identified by the identifier; a presentation unit for presenting the identifier managed by the management unit to the client device; a conversion unit for converting an identifier-specifying request for access to the first data or second data from the client device into a method for accessing the first data or second data corresponding to the identifier using an access method associated by the management unit with the identifier; and a data access unit for requesting access to the first data or second data using the access method converted to by the conversion unit, and sending an access result to the client device. |
| US08473634B2 |
System and method for name resolution
In accordance with various aspects, the present invention relates to accessing and publishing documents between two computer systems or nodes that are connected together in a network environment. The system and method for name resolution stores an identity information document containing a user-friendly handle signifying identity, such as an email address, and a machine location, such as an IP address, for the publishing computer system where the documents are stored. Next, the system and method intercepts an initial request for access to documents when the initial request includes a user-friendly handle and replaces the user-friendly handle with the machine location, so that network users may easily access these documents through knowledge only of the user-friendly handle. |
| US08473632B2 |
Packet receiving apparatus and processing method for the same
A packet receiving apparatus determines whether or not data to be stored in a buffer overlaps previously stored data based on information contained in a header portion of a received packet. If it is determined that the data overlaps, a checksum for the overlapping data is subtracted. If it is determined that the data does not overlap, a checksum for the data to be stored in the buffer is added. |
| US08473631B2 |
Method and system for managing high-bandwidth data sharing
A server arrangement for facilitating the exchange of content between a plurality of user system associated with a common group is provided by employing a centralized server for directing publishing and extracting of content and a plurality of associated servers for facilitating the transmission of content between the user systems. A publisher is directed by the central server to a specific data server where content is to be provided. A consumer is directed by the central server to a specific data server from which content is to be extracted. The system is particularly adept for facilitating the exchange of video data between members of a common group coupled to the Internet. |
| US08473629B2 |
Method and system for enhancing live stream delivery quality using prebursting
A method accelerates the delivery of a portion of a data stream across nodes of a stream transport network. A portion of a live stream is forwarded from a first node to a second node in a transport network at a high bitrate as compared to the stream's encoded bitrate, and thereafter, the stream continues to be forwarded from the first node to the second node at or near the encoded bitrate. This technique provides significant advantages in that it reduces stream startup time, reduces unrecoverable stream packet loss, and reduces stream rebuffers as the stream is viewed by a requesting end user that has been mapped to a media server in a distributed computer network such as a content delivery network. |
| US08473627B2 |
Multitenant hosted virtual machine infrastructure
A multi-tenant virtual machine infrastructure (MTVMI) allows multiple tenants to independently access and use a plurality of virtual computing resources via the Internet. Within the MTVMI, different tenants may define unique configurations of virtual computing resources and unique rules to govern the use of the virtual computing resources. The MTVMI may be configured to provide valuable services for tenants and users associated with the tenants. |
| US08473624B2 |
Method and system for routing text based interactions
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system and method for routing interactions. A method may include receiving a message related to the interaction. Text included in the message may be analyzed. A destination may be selected for the message based on analysis of the text. The message may be routed to the selected destination. |
| US08473622B2 |
Multidevice session establishment for multimodal browsing
Systems, methods, apparatuses and computer program products for establishing a single session for processing a multimodal application with multiple devices and for distributing the multimodal application amongst the multiple devices participating in the single session based on the respective capabilities of each device are provided. A system, method and computer program product for allowing new devices operated by the same user to join in the previously established session for processing the multimodal application where the capabilities of the new device exceed that of all devices currently participating in the session are also provided. |
| US08473617B2 |
Media client architecture for networked communication devices
A media client for a networked communication device includes a user agent to communicate with a multimedia application in the networked communication device. The user agent provides a high-level application interface to the multimedia application. A signaling agent under the control of the user agent performs signaling operations necessary to establish and maintain communication sessions. A media agent under the control of the user agent performs media operations. The media client may be located in a network and remotely accessed by the multimedia application. The user agent, signaling agent and media agent have network interfaces that allow these elements to be distributed within the network and accessed remotely. |
| US08473616B2 |
Locator coding in a communications networks
A method for use in interconnected communications networks, comprising negotiating a locally unique interface identifier between a network entity and a network such that the locally unique interface identifier differs from any interface identifier used by either of the network entity and the network; and using the locally unique interface identifier to identify an egress interface from the network entity to the network, and using the locally unique interface identifier to identify an egress interface from the network to the network entity. By using a common locally unique interface identifier between networks and network entities on a path between a source or destination network entity and a core network, a globally unique locator for the source or destination network entity can be constructed by concatenating elements derived from a plurality of negotiated common local interface identifiers between networks and network entities on the path. |
| US08473606B2 |
Network monitoring system
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention solve the limitations of current monitoring systems by automatically and completely monitoring various networks devices and services. Specifically, a network monitoring system monitors all services and conditions on various networks. Moreover, the network monitoring system may provide an advance warning of potential failures and may diagnose any problems that may surface. |
| US08473605B2 |
Methods and apparatus for fast channel switching between real time content on a device
Methods and apparatus for fast channel switching between real time content on a device. In an aspect, a method includes receiving a channel selection indicator that identifies a channel comprising real time content to be rendered, determining whether the real time content can be rendered using an existing rendering pathway, and inputting the real time content into the existing rendering pathway if it is determined that the real time content can be rendered using the existing rendering pathway. An apparatus includes a user interface to receive a channel selection indicator that identifies a channel comprising real time content to be rendered, processing logic to determine whether the real time content can be rendered using an existing rendering pathway, and a rendering interface to input the real time content into the existing rendering pathway if it is determined that the real time content can be rendered using the existing pathway. |
| US08473596B2 |
Method and apparatus for web based storage on-demand
Rapid demanding for storage capacity at internet era requires a much flexible and powerful storage infrastructure. Present invention disclosed a type of storage system based a model of centrally controlled distributed scalable virtual machine. In this model, one or more service pools including virtual storage service pool and application service pools can be automatically created to meet the demands for more storage capacity from various applications. Specially this model provide a solid foundation for distributing storage volumes for supporting storage on-demand and sharing with exceptional management capabilities. |
| US08473593B1 |
Method for dynamically generating information objects based on a restful subscription request
Techniques disclosed herein describe a client and/or server process for managing Information Technology (IT) assets, such as servers and storage devices. The process dynamically generates customized information objects based on subscription requests. A client generates a request for information. The request specifies information associated with a specific managed entity or IT resource. A server that monitors the specific managed entity does not maintain such information in an existing information object. Information associated with the specific managed entity can be performance information, health information, usage information, and the like. A notification manager receives the request and identifies that existing subscription resources don not contain the requested information. The notification manager generates a new information object that contains the requested information, and notifies the client. |
| US08473592B2 |
Storage system and management method in storage system
An object of the present invention is to recognize the presence of a business-use computer that can be a management target of a management computer, and to register the recognized business-use computer as a management target host.A storage system includes business-use hosts 12 and 14, a management server 16 and a storage subsystem 18; wherein the business-use hosts 12 and 14 are connected via a SAN 22 to the storage subsystem 18, while the management server 16 is connected via a LAN 20 to the business-use hosts 12 and 14 and the storage subsystem 18. The management server 16 for recognizing business-use hosts that can be management objects, sends a communication request to all the IP addresses/ports within a range specified by the user, and registers business-use hosts returning a response in reply to the communication request as management targets. |
| US08473591B2 |
Information processing system, information processor, server, information processing method and program
An information processor (1) comprises: a history packet transmitter (11) for transmitting via a plurality of ports of a communication processor (2) a plurality of history packets; a request packet transmitter (12) for transmitting a request packet requesting transmission of a return packet; a packet transmission controller (13) for controlling transmission of a request packet; a return packet receiver (14) for receiving a return packet transmitted from a server (3); and a port keeping time detector (15) for detecting the port keeping time of the communication processor (2) based on reception of a return packet by the return packet receiver (14). The server (3) includes: a request packet receiver (31) for receiving the request packet; and a return packet transmitter (32) for transmitting the return packet to the history port of the communication processor (2) where a history packet passed when a request packet receiver (31) received a request packet. This configuration provides an information processing system for detecting the port keeping time of the communication processor. |
| US08473590B2 |
System and method for the configuration of network devices
A system and method is disclosed for configuring a network device. The system and method involves a network device that includes an external button for toggling the device between a managed mode and an unmanaged mode. When the device is toggled to a managed mode, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is temporarily assigned to the device and the device may be remotely configured. After configuration, the device can be returned to an unmanaged state, and the IP address assigned to the device is cleared. During the period that the device is in a managed state, an external indicator on the device is turned on to confirm that the device is in a managed state. |
| US08473583B2 |
System and method for transmitting and receiving a call on a home network
A system and method for transmitting/receiving a call on a home network. When a request for call transmission/reception is made, a CP selects a target electronic device to/from which to transmit/receive a call from among at least one electronic device, establishes a connection for call transmission/reception between a terminal and the selected target electronic device, and controls the call transmission/reception between the terminal and the selected target electronic device. |
| US08473582B2 |
Disconnected file operations in a scalable multi-node file system cache for a remote cluster file system
Facilitating access to data in a network, is provided. One implementation involves maintaining a scalable multi-node file system cache in a local cluster file system, and caching file data in a cache by fetching file data on demand from a remote cluster file system into the local cached file system over the network. The local file data corresponds to file data in the remote cluster file system. Upon disconnection from the remote cluster file system, all file operations are supported at the cache. Then, upon reconnection to the remote cluster file system over the network, the remote cluster file system is synchronized with the information cached in the cache during the disconnection even in the presence of failures. |
| US08473575B2 |
Methods and apparatus for remote activation of an application
An application activation method includes interfacing a vehicle computing system with a remote device using an interface protocol. The method also includes sending a query from the vehicle computing system to the remote device to determine applications and/or services available on the remote device that are capable of interaction with the vehicle computing system. Once the applications have been determined, the method includes selecting, at the vehicle computing system, an application or service from the determined available applications and/or services for interaction. The method also includes sending an instruction from the vehicle computing system to an agent on the remote device, the instruction including an indication that the selected application or service is to be activated. Finally, the method includes receiving confirmation, at the vehicle computing system, that the application or service has been activated. |
| US08473571B2 |
Synchronizing presentation states between multiple applications
A presentation state is received from the presenting application. The presentation state may represent a current state of the local presentation. A request for the presentation state is received from the viewing application. In response to receiving the request for the presentation state, the presentation state is provided to the viewing application. A request for presentation data synchronized to the presentation state is received from the viewing application. In response to receiving the request for presentation data synchronized to the presentation state, the presentation file is transformed into the presentation data synchronized to the presentation state. The presentation data synchronized to the presentation state is provided to the viewing application. The viewing application may be operative to read the presentation data and to display a remote presentation in response to reading the presentation data. |
| US08473570B2 |
Methods and apparatus for simultaneously hosting multiple service providers on a network
Methods and apparatus simultaneously hosting multiple service providers on a network. A method is provided for hosting multiple service providers in a data network. The method includes controlling access to services offered by one or more service providers, and discovering affiliation provisions associated with a device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers. The method also includes filtering the services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers, and transmitting the package database to the device. |
| US08473566B1 |
Methods systems, and computer program products for managing quality-of-service associated with storage shared by computing grids and clusters with a plurality of nodes
Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing quality of service for shared storage accessed by a plurality of nodes are disclosed. According to one method, at a node of a plurality of nodes sharing access to a first disk array, quality-of-service (QoS) metadata associated with a portion of the disk array are requested from a server, wherein the QoS metadata includes at least one performance criterion for the portion of the disk array. I/O performance is monitored for the portion of the disk array in response to receiving the QoS metadata. The monitored I/O performance is compared with the QoS metadata. Based upon the comparison of the monitored I/O performance with the QoS metadata, it is determined whether a QoS violation has occurred. In response to determining that a QoS violation has occurred, the server is requested to migrate data associated with the portion of the disk array. |
| US08473562B2 |
Personal directory services with directed communication
Included are systems and methods for directing data. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a listing for a data provider, the listing including a plurality of criteria related to the data provider and receiving an indication to add at least a portion of the listing to a personal directory. Other embodiments include adding at least a portion of the listing to the personal directory and receiving an indication from the data provider to send data to the personal directory. |
| US08473561B2 |
System and method for handling electronic mail mismatches
A system and method for handling e-mail address mismatches between the address contained within a user's certificate or certificate chain, and the account address actually being used is disclosed. In order to resolve address mismatches a canonical or generic domain name or user name may, for example, be used as a lifelong address of a user that is contained in the user's certificate. Upon detection of an address mismatch, the system and method disclosed herein may automatically re-check the certificate or search for a certificate containing the canonical or generic domain name and/or user name to attempt to resolve the mismatch. |
| US08473559B2 |
Conference-enhancing announcements and information
A conference participant attempting to log into a conference that has been rescheduled is informed that the conference has been rescheduled to such-and-such date and/or time. If the login attempt is before or during the conference, the participant is offered information pertaining to the conference. If the login attempt is after the conference has ended, the participant is offered the information plus a recording of the conference. An identifier is associated with the conference and used by the host and the participants to uniquely identify the conference. |
| US08473558B2 |
Progressive registration for mobile media sharing
A media sharing system accommodates passively registered users, who receive information from the system but do not provide content media to the system, and actively registered users, who provide content to the system and then share it with others. The system collects and stores information about a user as the information is needed to accomplish a function, shielding the user from burdensome data entry. |
| US08473554B2 |
Information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive, from at least one other information processing apparatus, an electronic mail for which a notification time at which notification of receipt of the electronic mail is to be provided is specified; a storage unit configured to store the electronic mail received by the receiving unit; a clock unit configured to provide time information; a notification-time determining unit configured to determine whether a current time obtained by the clock unit has passed the notification time specified for the electronic mail; and a reception notification unit configured to read out, if the notification-time determining unit determines that the specified notification time has been passed, the electronic mail stored in the storage unit and provide notification of receipt of the electronic mail. |
| US08473546B2 |
Minimizing PCC rule instantiation latency
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, policy and charging rules node (PCRN) and machine-readable storage medium for creating policy and control charging rules with minimal rule instantiation latency. Embodiments may include one or more of the following: receiving at a PCRN from an application node a first service request message, determining whether the PCRN should wait for a mate message for the service flow, if the PCRN should not wait for a mate message, immediately generating at least one PCC rule, and immediately pushing the first PCC rule to at least one gateway. Various exemplary embodiments may further include using subscriber preferences and/or a record of previous decisions to determine whether the PCRN should wait for a mage message. In various embodiments, the PCRN may disable a timer when it determines it should not wait for a mate message. |
| US08473541B2 |
M-bit race delay adder and method of operation
There is disclosed an M-bit adder capable of receiving a first M-bit argument, a second M-bit argument, and a carry-in (CI) bit. The M-bit adder comprises M adder cells arranged in R rows, wherein a least significant adder cell in a first one of the rows of adder cells receives a first data bit, AX, from the first M-bit argument and a first data bit, BX, from the second M-bit argument, and generates a first conditional carry-out bit, CX(1), and a second conditional carry-out bit, CX(0), wherein the CX(1) bit is calculated assuming a row carry-out bit from a second row of adder cells preceding the first row is a 1 and the CX(0) bit is calculated assuming the row carry-out bit from the second row is a 0. |
| US08473538B2 |
N-dimensional coordinates conversion
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to converting between polar and rectangular coordinates. In aspects, the Nth polar angle is measured upward from the sine-projection of the Nth component in the (N−1)th dimension. The last polar coordinate is zero if and only if the corresponding last rectangular coordinate is zero. The conversion may be applied in any number of dimensions without re-writing the conversion logic. |
| US08473533B1 |
Method and apparatus for harmonic balance using direct solution of HB jacobian
A system, computer-readable storage medium, and method directly solves non-linear systems that have the HB Jacobian as the coefficient matrix. The direct solve method can be used to efficiently simulate non-linear circuits in RF or microwave applications. Additionally, the direct solve method can be applied to Fourier envelope applications. Furthermore, the direct solve method can be used together with preconditioners to provide a more efficient iterative solve technique. |
| US08473530B1 |
Field objects
A data structure defining a field in an electronic file is described, the field including updateable text. The data structure can be included, for example, in a computer-aided design drawing. In one implementation, the data structure includes: an evaluator identifier; a field code; a child field quantity; if the child field quantity is greater than zero, then one or more child field identifiers; an object reference quantity; if the object reference quantity is greater than zero, then one or more object reference identifiers; a field format; a field filing option; a field state; an evaluation status; an evaluation error; an evaluation error message; an evaluated field value; a formatted field value; a formatted field value length; an extended data quantity; and, if the extended data quantity is greater then zero, than one or more extended data. |
| US08473529B2 |
Single pass marking of finalizable objects
An illustrative embodiment of a computer-implemented process for single pass marking of finalizable objects marks strong roots, marks finalizable roots and determines whether a strong work stack is empty. Responsive to a determination the strong work stack is empty the computer-implemented process determines whether a finalizable work stack is empty. Responsive to a determination the finalizable work stack is empty, synchronize threads, the computer-implemented process finalizes finalizable roots and merges mark maps to finish parallel marking. |
| US08473528B2 |
Delivery enablement workforce utilization tool integration
Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses support data entry and aggregate work entries for an account. Different work codes are mapped to different categories for an account. Work entries are aggregated for the different categories in a report or in an invoice for the account. A worker may be mapped to client, which may further include a client region, when aggregating work entries to different categories for an account. A data structure is formed to include account information. The data structure can assume different structure types, including a data cube having three or more dimensions. A spreadsheet file may be linked to the data structure, and the contents a database may be synchronized to the spreadsheet file. The contents of the database may be categorized, analyzed, and aggregated, in which the contents are exported to provide a report on a worker and/or account. |
| US08473527B2 |
Automatic generation of where-used information
To enable automated updating of a where-used list for data elements in a software solution, an unindexed data element of a plurality of data elements included in the software solution can be detected. The unindexed data element can have a non-current or non-existent where-used listing in the current where-used list. A set of rules that can include a predefined dependency condition defining a unidirectional dependency relationship condition existing between instances of a first type of data structure and a second type of data structure in the software solution can be applied to the unindexed data element. The applying can include identifying the unindexed data element as including the second type of data structure and at least one other data element in the plurality of data elements as including the first type of data structure and therefore having at least one dependency on the unindexed data element. The current where-used list can be updated to create an updated where-used list that includes a listing of the at least one dependency for the unindexed data element. |
| US08473526B2 |
System, method and computer program product for managing a group of copies of a data entity
A method for managing a group of targets is provided. The method includes: receiving a request to update a x'th generation copy of a data entity, where x is a positive integer. Then applying an update function responsive to x such as to update a first sub-group of targets. Then receiving a request to read a y'th generation copy of the data entity and (iv) applying a retrieve function responsive to y such as to search for the y'th generation copy of the data entity in a second sub-group of targets. The first and second sub-groups intersect only once and only if y does not exceed x. |
| US08473524B2 |
Method and system for updating object data with respect to object specifications in a product life cycle management system
The invention is directed to a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) update process for updating objects with respect to specifications. The process invokes dependence relations between objects. It relies on building a directed graph, wherein objects are the nodes of the graph. An arc (also called “edge”) is directed from a second object to a first object, the latter depending on the second object according to dependence relations of the PLM system. Thus, the update can be carried by browsing the graph along the direction of the arcs in the graph. Owing to the reversion of the graph with respect to the dependence of objects, the simple solution of the invention guarantees that the update of an object occurs only when the ancestor object it depends on is up to date, and so on. This drastically reduces failures at update in practice. |
| US08473523B2 |
Deterministic finite automata graph traversal with nodal bit mapping
An apparatus, and corresponding method, for generating a graph used in performing a search for a match of at least one expression in an input stream is presented. The graph includes a number of interconnected nodes connected solely by valid arcs. A valid arc may also include a nodal bit map including structural information of a node to which the valid arc points to. A walker process may utilize the nodal bit map to determine if a memory access is necessary. The nodal bit map reduces the number of external memory access and therefore reduces system run time. |
| US08473521B2 |
Ontology guided reference data discovery
Mapping and translating reference data from multiple databases using an enterprise ontology. This is achieved by various means, including mapping values of a first database to corresponding fields within the ontology, mapping values of a second database to corresponding fields within the ontology, and determining relationships between the values of the first database and the values of the second database based on their respective mappings to common fields within the ontology. |
| US08473520B1 |
Delta measures
A system may include reception of a selection of a set of one or more elements of a data visualization, the set associated with a measure and each of the one or more elements associated with a value of the measure for a respective combination of one or more dimension members, reception of an instruction to create a second set of one or more elements associated with a calculated measure, where a value of the calculated measure for a respective combination is based on two values of the measure for the respective combination, and where a first value of the two values of the measure is associated with a first time and a second value of the two values of the measure is associated with a second time, and automatic generation of a query to produce the value of the calculated measure for each of the combinations. |
| US08473513B2 |
Efficient multiple tuple generation over streaming XML data
Methods and arrangements for extracting tuples from a streaming XML document. A query twig is applied to the XML document stream, tuples are extracted from the XML document stream based on the query twig, and a quantity of extracted tuples is limited via foregoing extraction of duplicate tuples extraction of tuples that do not satisfy query twig criteria. |
| US08473511B2 |
Methods and systems for managing data
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described. |
| US08473508B2 |
Dynamic rule creation and caching
A condensed version of a plurality of rules for one or more forms being used by a user is loaded from a database. The condensed version of the plurality of rules is stored in cache memory of a computing device. When an event occurs, a rules engine determines if a condensed version of the rule is stored in cache memory. If a rule is not applicable, the rules engine does not query the database. If a rule is applicable, the rules engine determines if an action should be taken for the event. If no action is to be taken, the database is not queried for the rule. If an action is to be taken, the database may be queried for information for the rule to allow performing of the action or if the action is included in the condensed version, the action is performed without querying the database. |
| US08473506B2 |
Type system for building extensible business applications
A platform (referred to herein as Extensible Application Platform, or XAP) for developing extensible business applications. In one set of embodiments, XAP can include an Extensible Markup Language (XML) based application model that is designed to support a high degree of application extensibility. For example, the XAP application model can support declarative definition of application semantics, separation of application data and metadata, and a flexible type system that allows constraints and calculations (e.g., XQuery constraints and calculations) for a data object instance (e.g., an XML document) to change over time. In certain embodiments, the XAP application model can be implemented via a server-side database/application engine that is configured to interoperate with a spreadsheet-like, client-side user interface. Using the spreadsheet-like UI, a non-programmer can build, customize, and run an application workflow that operates on top of a shared database like a traditional business application. |
| US08473505B2 |
System and method for providing delegation assistance
The embodiments described herein provide various techniques for providing delegation assistance. Upon a request for delegation assistance, data from information sources are retrieved. Relationships are automatically identified relative to a requesting user based on the data from the information sources. The relationships are automatically ranked, and results of the ranking are provided to the requesting user. The user may then trigger delegation resolution based in part on the results of the ranking. |
| US08473502B2 |
Interassociating data of a medical device
Methods, a medical device, and a computing system configured to interassociate data of the medical device are provided. The medical device uses a processor to collect data and include a respective event set identifier with data developed in connection with activity starting with a respective identifiable event of the medical device. The data may thus be parsed based on the event set identifier to access data for an identifiable event. |
| US08473501B2 |
Methods, computer systems, software and storage media for handling many data elements for search and annotation
The invention refers to a method creating a data structure including many data elements comprising the steps of receiving multiple data elements to be stored from an input data structure, providing a continuous array in memory, allocating memory space within the continuous array for the data elements and storing the data elements in the allocated memory space.In particular, the invention refers to a method for creating a tree based dictionary from data elements received from an input structure. Moreover, it refers to a method for searching data structures including tokens by means of a tree based dictionary and a method for annotating tokens in a data structure. The invention does also refer to corresponding computer systems, software and storage media. |
| US08473499B2 |
Question and answer forum techniques
Techniques for unsupervised management of a question and answer (QA) forum include labeling of answers for quality purposes, and identification of experts. In a QA thread, a ranking of answers may include an initial labeling of the longest answer in each thread as the best answer. Such a labeling provides an initial point of reference. Then, in an iterative manner answerers are ranked using the labeling. The ranking of answerers allows selection of experts and poor or inexpert answerers. A label update is performed using the experts (and perhaps inexpert answerers) as input. The label update may be used to train a model, which may describe quality of answers in one or more QA threads and an indication of expert and inexpert answerers. The iterative process may be ended upon convergence or upon a maximum number of iterations. |
| US08473498B2 |
Natural language text analytics
A method of text analytics includes filtering a plurality of unfiltered records having unstructured data into at least a first group and a second group. The first group and said second group each include at least two records and the first group is different than the second group. The method includes determining a first proportion of occurrence for a term by comparing a first number of records having at least one occurrence of the term in the first group to a first total number of records in the first group, determining a second proportion of occurrence for the term by comparing a second number of records having at least one occurrence of the term in said second group to a second total number of records in the second group, and comparing the first proportion of occurrence to the second proportion of occurrence to yield a resultant comparison occurrence. |
| US08473497B2 |
Method and system for limiting share of voice of individual users
Example systems and method enable limiting shares of voice of individual users in a result set. In example embodiments, a listing user providing each listing in a result set of a search is identified. Sorting criteria indicating a number of listings a same listing user is allowed within a number of consecutive listings of the result set are reviewed. Using the sorting criteria, a sorted result set is generated by sorting the plurality of listings in accordance with the sorting criteria. The sorted result set is provided to a searching user. |
| US08473496B2 |
Utilizing density metadata to process multi-dimensional data
A computer readable storage medium includes a data analyzer to build population sets for dimensions of a multi-dimensional data source and to identify intersections of population sets so as to form density metadata. A query processor accesses the density metadata while processing a query. |
| US08473495B2 |
Centralized web-based software solution for search engine optimization
A system and method for modifying a parameter of a website in order to optimize an organic listing of the website at one or more search engines is described. Several embodiments include methods and systems for generating scored representations based upon different portions of data associated with a website, and then combining the scored representations to achieve a result. The result indicates a feature of the website that may be modified in order to optimize the organic ranking of the website at one or more search engines. |
| US08473491B1 |
Systems and methods of detecting keyword-stuffed business titles
The present invention relates generally to identifying fraudulent businesses and business listings. More specifically, the invention relates to determining a “surprisingness” value for a particular combination of words in a business title based on the likelihood that the combination has appeared in legitimate business titles. The value may be used to determine whether the business or business listing is legitimate or fraudulent. For example, third party hijackers may “keyword-stuff” business titles or attempt to include words associated with prominent businesses in a title of a less prominent business associated with the third party in order to have the less prominent business displayed more often in search results for the prominent business. For example, if a business title has too many surprising word combinations or a particular combination is highly unlikely, the business listing is likely to be fraudulent or “keyword-stuffed” and may be withheld, excluded, removed from search results. |
| US08473489B1 |
Identifying entities using search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying entities using search results. One of the methods includes the actions of determining that a first search query includes a respective text reference to each of one or more predetermined attributes, wherein each attribute is associated with a first entity type; generating a second search query including the first search query and one or more terms that refer to the first entity type; and evaluating search results obtained for the second search query to select one or more names of entities of the first entity type to include in a response to the first search query. |
| US08473488B2 |
Voice operated, matrix-connected, artificially intelligent address book system
An online address book system having sufficient hardware and software to operate an address book user interface and to perform intelligent interpretations of voice and text inputs from users. The system includes at least one server software module that includes software to perform a plurality of functions. These include the ability to receive voice input data and separate user voice queries, wherein the software can arrange the data so as to create a data base that includes at least three access dimensions, including contact access, contact-relationship access and contact-time frame access, and so as to create a connectivity matrix based on a plurality of contact pair relationships applying connective recognition logic. The system provides a voice operated user interface that permits access to address book stored data based on user input selected from the group consisting of contact, a contact-relationship pair, a contact-time frame pair, and combinations thereof. |
| US08473487B1 |
Document search in affiliated libraries
An online search system generates an index of documents using index information received from a library. Some documents have restricted access; some documents may not be available online. The search system provides links to documents in the library as well as other sites based on a search, and may include link resolvers received from the library. The search system provides access links to the link resolvers if an identifier, such as a user identification or IP address, matches an affiliation list from the library. |
| US08473484B2 |
Identifying impact of installing a database patch
Techniques are disclosed for identifying impact of a patch. One embodiment of the invention provides a DBMS that is configured to manage one or more databases. The DBMS may receive a request to evaluate a patch for the DBMS. The DBMS provides a first execution environment that is not based on the patch and a second execution environment that is based on the patch. For each query, the DBMS compares a first access plan with a second access plan, where the first access plan is generated from the first execution environment and the second access plan is generated from the second execution environment. The DBMS identifies one or more queries having differing access plans, based on the comparisons. |
| US08473476B2 |
Efficient database search for unique indentifiers
The invention is directed to providing an improved method of determining available identifiers (IDs) in a database, especially in the context of using available IDs for provisioning services in a telecommunications system. The method performs a database query for a range of IDs and stores candidate IDs in a local pre-fetch ID set. |
| US08473475B2 |
Information storage medium for storing metadata supporting multiple languages, and systems and methods of processing metadata
An information storage medium for storing metadata supporting multiple languages and a method of processing the metadata are provided. The information storage medium is provided to store contents, and at least one metadata file in which information regarding the contents is recorded in at least one language. The metadata file comprises a plurality of language files in which a plurality of versions of the information regarding the contents written in a plurality of languages are provided, and the languages are identified by the names of the respective language files. The names of the language files may include a language identifier according to an ISO 639-2 standard. The information may also include download information regarding a plurality of downloadable metadata files that are downloadable from other storage media. |
| US08473473B2 |
Object oriented data and metadata based search
An object oriented search mechanism extracts structural metadata and data based on type of document contents and data sources connected to the documents. Relationships between textual and non-textual elements within documents as well as metadata associated with the elements and data sources are utilized to generate a unified object model with the addition of semantic information derived from metadata and taxonomy, which are used to enhance search indexing, ranking of search results, and dynamic adjustment of result rendering user interface with fine tuned relevancy. Additional data from data sources connected to the documents may also be used to unlock hidden data such as data that has been filtered out in an original document. |
| US08473470B1 |
System for providing collaborative communications environment for manufacturers and potential customers
A software program and associated web-based portal is provided for industry-specific product comparison. The program and an associated web portal allows the user the ability to search multiple manufacturers' catalogs and to enter a query based upon customized search criteria. Query results are returned of products that satisfy the user's search criteria. The query is made available to manufacturers whose products are identified in the query results and a communication link is provided whereby such manufacturers can contact the user to discuss the product identified in the search. The user can respond using the message board associated with the web portal. The program and portal can also integrate updates to pump manufacturers' catalogs and can also produce best-fit solutions for users' design criteria. |
| US08473469B1 |
Techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant on-demand database system
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system. These techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system may enable embodiments to provide great flexibility to a tenant of the architecture to perform desired functions on content of the database while allowing the owner of the architecture schedule the processing of the functions on the content. |
| US08473466B1 |
Systems and methods for storing data, such as storing data based on storage classes
Systems and methods are described that create storage classes for data and store the data using storage resources based on the created storage classes. In some examples, the system stores data using storage resources having characteristics that satisfy the requirements of a storage class associated with the data. In some examples, the system stores data using storage resources that meet the minimum requirements for a storage class. |
| US08473462B1 |
Change tracking for shared disks
Various systems and methods for tracking changes in a storage device. For example, one method can involve receiving a request to perform an incremental backup of a storage device and backing up locations in the storage device that are identified as having been changed. The method also involves receiving information from each of the nodes, where the information identifies locations that have been changed by the nodes. The locations that have been changed include both data and metadata. |
| US08473461B1 |
File infection removal by differential copy
Recoverable file information and file content are maintained for a plurality of files. Responsive to detecting a damaged file on a computer system, the recoverable file information is used to identify a specific instantiation of the file to be restored. The computer is searched for a non-damaged, local copy of the file. If a non-damaged, local copy is found, it is used to replace the damaged file. Otherwise, a difference file is created which identifies the sections of the damaged file that differ from a non-damaged specific instantiation thereof. Using the difference file and appropriate maintained file content, the relevant sections of the damaged file are rebuilt, thereby restoring it to its original condition. |
| US08473457B2 |
Method of distributing contact and calendar records
A method of distributing contact and calendar information in a multi-component environment includes maintaining a plurality of contact or calendar records and the records contain a plurality of fields and directives. The records are designated and distributed to at least one component based on the directives. |
| US08473445B2 |
Real-time story generation
Systems, methods and computer-readable media are disclosed for providing a framework for generating problem situations in a computer game. In one embodiment, the framework includes a data structure representing solution candidates, fact patterns, and a solution designator. The data structure also includes a chain of inference between the solution designator and each candidate. The computer game may generate a problem situation from the data structure and present the problem situation to a user playing the computer game. |
| US08473443B2 |
Inappropriate content detection method for senders
Content detection for senders reviews and compares content for sending to one or more profile parameters of a recipient. The one or more profile parameters describe the characteristics of the recipient. Portions of the content determined to be inappropriate or offensive to the recipient based on the recipient's profile parameters are tagged and the sender is alerted. Alternative suggestions to replace those portions in the content may be provided. |
| US08473442B1 |
System and method for intelligent state management
A method is provided in one example embodiment and it includes receiving a state request and determining whether a state exists in a translation dictionary for the state request. The method further includes reproducing the state if it is not in the dictionary and adding a new state to the dictionary. In more specific embodiments, the method includes compiling a rule, based on the state, into a given state table. The rule affects data management for one or more documents that satisfy the rule. In yet other embodiments, the method includes determining that the state represents a final state such that a descriptor is added to the state. In one example, if the state is not referenced in the algorithm, then the state is released. If the state is referenced in the algorithm, then the state is replaced with the new state. |
| US08473440B2 |
Observation-based user profiling and profile matching
Observation-based user profiling and profile matching are provided. The network behavior of users of a computer-implemented social network are observed and used for user profiling. By observing network behavior instead of necessarily relying on user self-reported data, accurate and objective user profiles can be formed; user profiling is accomplished based on the observed network behaviors with or without the knowledge of the user being profiled. The observed network behaviors can include the customization of a visual graphic, a media preference, a communication preference, or a selection of words from a word list. The user profiles can be with respect to a domain and two or more users can be matched based on their profiles with respect to the same domain. User ratings and profile updating based on the ratings are also provided. |
| US08473438B2 |
Combined-model data compression
Data compression technology (“the technology”) is disclosed that can employ two or more prediction models contemporaneously. The technology receives data from one or more sources; shifts or re-sample one of more corresponding signals; creates a prediction model of uncompressed samples using at least two different individual or composite models; selects a subset of the models for prediction of samples; determines an order in which signals will be compressed; formulates a combined predictions model using the selected subset of models; predicts a future value for the data using the combined compression model; defines a function that has as parameters at least the predicted future values for the data and actual values; selects a compression method for the values of the function; and compresses the data using at least the predicted value of the function. |
| US08473429B2 |
Managing personal digital assets over multiple devices
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing digital assets of a user over multiple home network-enabled devices is provided. In this method, information is received from a plurality of home network-enabled personal devices within a user's personal cloud. The information includes usage information regarding the user's use of digital assets on those home network-enabled personal devices. Later, digital assets from the personal cloud, including assets located on non-personal devices outside a user's control (but still in the personal cloud) can be accessed using the gathered usage information. |
| US08473428B2 |
Generation and use of specific probability tables for arithmetic coding in data compression systems
In one embodiment, when executing data compression or decompression for a data set, a particular compression category of the data set is determined, and a corresponding probability table specific to the particular compression category of the data set is accessed. Then, one of either arithmetic coding (e.g., an encoder device) or decoding (e.g., a decoder device) may be performed on the data set based on the specific probability table. Specifically, in one or more other embodiments, techniques may statistically generate probability tables specific to particular compression categories. |
| US08473427B2 |
Block allocation times in a computer system
A method and apparatus improves the block allocation time in a parallel computer system. A pre-load controller pre-loads blocks of hardware in a supercomputer cluster in anticipation of demand from a user application. In the preferred embodiments the pre-load controller determines when to pre-load the compute nodes and the block size to allocate the nodes based on pre-set parameters and previous use of the computer system. Further, in preferred embodiments each block of compute nodes in the parallel computer system has a stored hardware status to indicate whether the block is being pre-loaded, or already has been pre-loaded. In preferred embodiments, the hardware status is stored in a database connected to the computer's control system. In other embodiments, the compute nodes are remote computers in a distributed computer system. |
| US08473425B1 |
Predictive drop shipping
Systems and methods for predictive drop shipping are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include maintaining inventory of an item that is offered for sale to customers via a webpage. A ratio may be calculated between a number of views of the webpage and a number of units of the item purchased over a first time period when a fast shipping or delivery option is available, and over a second time period when such option is not available. The method may identify the item as a candidate for drop shipping in response to the ratio being larger during the first time period than during the second time period. Upon receipt of an order, the received order may be fulfilled via drop shipping, in some cases, despite the inventory being sufficient to fulfill the order, and despite a cost of fulfillment via drop shipping being higher than fulfillment from inventory. |
| US08473424B2 |
Electronic business transaction system
An electronic business transaction system is provided for a product purchaser to purchase a product from a product supplier, and for a product delivery service provider to deliver the product to an address of the product purchaser or a product receiver. The product purchaser instructs an identification code and the product to the product supplier without disclosing a name and the address of the product purchaser or the product receiver. A terminal of an information administrator identifies the name and the address of the product purchaser or the product receiver according to the identification code of the product purchaser or the product receiver. The terminal of the information administrator instructs the name and the address of the product purchaser or the product receiver to the product delivery service provider without disclosing the identification code of the product purchaser or the product receiver, so that the product delivery service provider delivers the product. |
| US08473422B2 |
Method and system for social network analysis
Methods and system for social commerce network analysis are described. In one embodiment, a strongly connected component value, an in-component value, an out-component value, a disconnected component value, a tendril value, and a tube value of a social network for a time period may be accessed. A social strength of the social network for the time period may be calculated by combining the strongly connected component value, the in-component value, the out-component value, the disconnected component value, the tendril value, and the tube value. The social strength of the social network for the time period may be utilized for analysis of the social network. The strongly connected component value may have a greatest weight and the disconnected component value may have the lowest weight in the combining. |
| US08473421B2 |
Systems and methods for fundraising via mobile applications
The present application is directed to methods and systems of facilitating a transfer of donation money from individuals to charitable organizations. The transfer of money occurs through a first transfer of money from at least one mobile phone carrier to a facilitating organization and through a second transfer of money from the facilitating organization to the charitable organization. The facilitating organization enables the money transfer by transmitting web-based and mobile phone communications regarding donations on behalf of charitable organizations and enabling individuals to respond to such communications and communicate donation solicitations to other individuals. |
| US08473417B2 |
Signing program data payload sequence in program loading
Communicating program data between a first device and a second device comprises disassembling a first program file comprising program data into at least one logical data unit, partitioning each of the at least one logical data unit into at least one protocol data unit and computing a first fingerprint over the payload portion of the at least one protocol data unit of the at least one logical data unit. The format of the at least one protocol data unit is defined by a communication protocol and includes a payload portion. |
| US08473416B2 |
Jukebox with customizable avatar
A digital downloading jukebox system including a mechanism for delivering custom services to a recognized user is provided. For example, information specific to a recognized user may be stored and optionally may include a recognized user avatar representative of the recognized user. The user avatar may be an image, video, and/or animation, which may be displayed on and/or played through the jukebox. The user avatar may be associated with transactions associated with the user. For example, an avatar may be displayed when a playlist of the recognized user is played, when a message is sent, etc. In other examples, the avatar may introduce instances of media by playing an audio and/or video message, and the avatar may sing, dance, etc. while an instance of media is playing. |
| US08473413B2 |
Methods and systems for managing government issued entitlements
A method for designating accounts for funds from a check to be deposited is described. The method includes receiving, at a processing center having a processor, a direct deposit government entitlement check from a government entity to be deposited. The check may include an identifier. The method further includes comparing the identifier with a customer database to determine that funds from the check have been designated to be divided into sub-amounts and deposited into a plurality of accounts. Each of the plurality of accounts has account type and an associated expenditure designation. The method then receives a report of a total amount deposited from the check for each type of associated expenditure designation and each account type. |
| US08473409B2 |
Method and system for loan closing
A method and system for electronically facilitating loan closing transactions that include sub-transactions involving third parties. The method and system provide functionality to quickly and easily order a sub-transaction and bill the respective party, or pay for the sub-transaction directly from various payment systems. An interactive closing document updates automatically as different services and sub-transactions are ordered. Designated parties to the transaction make and approve changes and updates to the interactive document as sub-transactions are completed and billed. The interactive document receives information from the earlier stages of the loan or mortgage transaction, and incorporates the information into the interactive closing document. Upon approval by all parties, at the closing of the transaction, the interactive closing document is generated as a hard copy for signature. |
| US08473406B2 |
Foreign currency index
Systems and methods are provided for trading and calculating the composition of foreign currencies indexed financial instruments. The compositions of the financial instruments are determined by calculating a geometric average of the exchange rates of foreign currencies with corresponding competitive weights. The competitive weights for each of the foreign currencies reflects competition between the goods of the United States and a country corresponding to the foreign currency in the markets of third countries. |
| US08473401B2 |
System and method for processing and settling payment instructions relating to various financial instruments
A system for facilitating settlement of payments relating to transactions involving financial instruments among multiple participants is provided. An interface receives from participants first and second instructions associated with a financial instrument of a first form, and first and second instructions associated with a financial instrument of a second form. A first processor establishes an association between, and applies a first set of pre-settlement rules to, the first and second instructions associated with the financial instrument of the first form. A second processor establishes an association between, and applies a second set of pre-settlement rules to, the first and second instructions associated with the financial instrument of the second form. |
| US08473399B2 |
Invoice data object for a common data object format
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and data structures for the effective and efficient synchronization or inter-exchange of invoice information between business applications employing disparate DOFs. For one embodiment, a DOF is provided that allows for relationships between entities, also referred to as invoices, to be modeled as attributes of an entity and for customization of the DOF in a manner that facilitates upgrading of the DOF. For one embodiment, the invoice DOF is provided in a common software language such as XML. For one embodiment, invoice information from each of several business applications is translated to a common DOF. The invoice information, in the common DOF, is then inter-exchanged among the several business applications. Each application has only to translate the invoice information from the common DOF to the application-specific DOF of the respective business application. |
| US08473398B1 |
Methods and systems for building and managing portfolios based on ordinal ranks of securities
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are provided for managing a portfolio using financial instrument rankings. A processor determines portfolio weights for financial instruments based on a ranking associated with each instrument, a cutoff rank, and a risk multiplier. |
| US08473396B2 |
Distribution and mapping of financial records from data stream
Improved systems, methods, and programs for customized distribution of data, particularly financial data. Individual users of networked computer systems have the capability to select and receive data from data streams produced by sources and made available simultaneously and in standardized format to numbers of client terminals. Selected data is mapped according to individual user specifications and may be used in client applications such as databases or spreadsheets, and stored in caches until users are ready to receive it. Data may be formatted and sent back to the stream source for use in applications operated at the source. The system also facilitates checking of data integrity, in particular by comparing sequences of records sent by the source and received by the client system. |
| US08473393B2 |
Financial market wagering
A method for providing a wager in a financial market environment is provided that includes presenting an opportunity to make a wager that is based on a moving market line associated with a financial market. An end user is given an opportunity to bet on whether a financial market value will be above or below the moving market line at a designated time. The wager may be accepted from the end user. The wager may be monitored in order to determine whether the financial market value was above or below the moving market line at the designated time. |
| US08473383B2 |
Diversatives
A method and system is disclosed for creating and managing Diversative Financial Instruments. Diversative Financial Instruments are designed to increase the risk-adjusted return of investment portfolios and other collections of assets and/or liabilities. The method and system also addresses the problem of the Regime Switching Effect, which tends to destroy the benefits of investment diversification when it is most needed, i.e., during a financial crisis. By creating Diversative Financial Instruments that are designed to counteract the Regime Switching Effect, diversification benefits may be tailored to the requirements of investors. |
| US08473381B2 |
Method and apparatus for deploying high-volume listings in a network trading platform
A method and system for managing listings within a network-based trading environment is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a first profile relating to a first aspect of a listing is identified, a second profile relating to a second aspect of a listing is identified, the first and second profiles are stored, and the listing is automatically generated using the first and second profiles. |
| US08473379B2 |
Dynamic centralized unit determination in a credit control charging system
A charging system includes a rating engine, a session control module, and a charging unit determination module. The session control module receives a request for service units, associated with a charging session, from a client or service element, and obtains one or more input parameters from the request for service units. The charging unit determination module obtains account data associated with the request for service units, determines at least one charging session related parameter based on the one or more input parameters and/or the account data, and pass the at least one charging session related parameter to the rating engine. The rating engine grants service units based on the at least one charging session related parameter, and forwards an indication of the granted service units to the session control module for return to the client or service element. |
| US08473377B2 |
Data management system
A data management system may include computer code to receive data that may include financial data and related data. The computer code may store the data in a database. The financial data may include data not tracked by a general ledger, such as contractual commitments, operating leases, head count, environmental incidents, lost time, disposal of operations, etc. The financial data may be applicable to different business units. The computer code may be configured to permit access to, entry of, and sign-off on the data only by users granted authority to do so. The financial data may include different data categories, and the data management system may be configured to use a different workflow to manage the data based on the data category of the financial data. The computer code may generate reports from the data retrieved from the database. |
| US08473376B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for byte-based utility computing pricing
A system, method, and computer program product for byte-based utility computing pricing. A method for accounting for data processing system service usage includes metering network usage and integrating network usage over a billing period to determine a total network usage. The method includes metering storage usage and integrating storage usage over the billing period to determine a total storage usage. The method includes metering processor usage and integrating processor usage over the billing period to determine a total processor usage. The method includes summing the total network usage, total storage usage, and total processor usage to determine a total customer usage, and determining a total customer bill according to the total customer usage and a billing rate. |
| US08473374B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring inventory
A method for monitoring inventory on a self-adjusting shelf and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes a method for determining the number of packages on a shelf or hanger of a self-adjusting shelf. The number of packages on a shelf or hanger are determined by measuring the distance from the back end of a shelf to the package closest to the shelf with a sensor, ascertaining the thickness of the product, and by calculating the amount of space occupied on a shelf or hanger and consequently the number of packages on a shelf. In another embodiment, the product is identified by a product identifying means such as an SKU reader. Thus, the quantity and type of product located on a shelf or hanger is known. Such information allows a store to know the type and quantity of packages needed to restock a specific hanger. |
| US08473372B2 |
Mortgage and real estate data integration and presentation system
A method of presenting real estate data is provided. A plurality of property listings can be presented, and a selection of one of the presented property listings may be received from a user. The user may be associated with a financial profile, which may be specified via user input. In response to receiving the selection by the user, at least one loan offer corresponding to the property listing may be automatically presented, for example, together with the property listing. The loan offer may be at least partially based on the financial profile, and may also be based on a property corresponding to the selected property listing. For example, the property listing and the financial profile may be automatically transmitted to one or more loan providers in response to receiving the selection by the user of the property listing, and in response loan offers may be received from some of the loan providers. |
| US08473371B2 |
Transactions via a user device in the proximity of a seller
Embodiments of methods and systems are provided that allow a user to upload inventories, view inventories in the proximity of the user, and/or facilitate transactions over a user device in a simple manner. In an embodiment, a method for transactions comprises loading, by a server at a remote location, an application on a user device of a user, wherein the application allows the user to upload an inventory comprising one or more items and/or services offered for sale by the user, as well as to view on the user device other inventory offered for sale by one or more other users as the user comes into proximity of the one or more other users, and wherein an inventory list maintained at the user device is constantly updated with the other inventory viewed by the user device. The method also comprises receiving, by the server at the remote location, transaction information associated with conducting a transaction in connection with the inventory list over the user device. The method further comprises facilitating, by the server at the remote location, the transaction between the user via the user device and the one or more other users. |
| US08473369B2 |
Behavioral filter for personalized recommendations
This disclosure describes systems and associated methods that can selectively filter seed behavior, e.g., user activity used to generate item recommendations. In some embodiments, seed behaviors and catalog items are associated with categories in an electronic catalog, and a particular seed behavior is used to generate user recommendations if it is more recent than a user's last purchase in the category of the seed behavior. For example, a user's activity in the TV category, e.g., viewing various TV models, may not be used to generate recommendations if the activity occurred prior to the user's purchase of a TV. As a result, in certain embodiments, additional TVs may not appear in the user's recommendations following her purchase, reflecting that the user has fulfilled her desire to purchase a TV. |
| US08473368B2 |
Method, system and controller for providing goods and /or services to consumers
A method, system and controller is provided for a selection service recommending or providing access to goods or service items to a consumer, comprising the steps of: identifying a set of available items at least some of which require payment to item providers for access (1201); predicting a measure of likely enjoyment of each available item by the consumer (1202)/calculating a measure of value for money of each available item for the consumer (1203); and recommending or providing access to items to the consumer that will represent good value for money (1204). |
| US08473367B2 |
Computer based media access method and system
The disclosed system and method includes a global computer network facility which provides a platform allowing artists to quickly and easily promote their music. A method and system of uploading songs establishes unique characteristics of each song with audio-analytical tools, and stores the analyzed songs on an online cloud computing storage facility. The artist-users can efficiently promote their music directly to the right suited audience in a fair fashion, providing a platform for all artists, including lesser known and popular artists. Simultaneously, the system allows listeners to readily access their entire music library from any mobile device via syncing music to devices with the invention's client application. At the same time, listener-users are automatically prompted with new or recommended music based on audio/acoustical characteristics of the song that they are currently listening to. |
| US08473364B2 |
Network reputation and payment service
This document discusses, among other things, example embodiments of a transaction system that may receive, over a network, a first set of transaction data associated with a transaction for an item. In an example embodiment, a reputation application may adjust a rating associated with the transaction when the first set of transaction data indicates a purchase or a return of the item. |
| US08473363B1 |
Systems and methods for price searching and customer self-checkout using a mobile device
Price searching and customer self-checkout on a mobile device is provided. A system for purchasing products comprises at least one subsystem that receives from a mobile device at least price and seller identification data of a product, (at least the price of said product having been electronically read by the mobile device), and at least one subsystem that charges a user for the product based upon the received price and identification data. |
| US08473362B2 |
Item model based on descriptor and images
A model generation machine may form all or part of a network-based system. The model generation machine may generate an item model (e.g., a 3D model of the item) based on a set of images of an item and based on a product model (e.g., a 3D model of a product of which the item is a specimen). The item may be available for purchase from a seller. The model generation machine may access the set of images, as well as a descriptor of the item. Based on the descriptor, the model generation machine may identify the product model. Accordingly, the model generation machine may generate the item model from the identified product model and the accessed set of images. |
| US08473359B2 |
Methods and system of conducting business-to-business operations by registered sellers and buyers using an internet accessible platform
A method for using an internet accessible computer system to conduct business to business operations among a plurality of buyer companies and a plurality of seller companies. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of registering each of the plurality of seller companies with an internet accessible computer system, wherein each of the plurality of seller companies sells goods to a corresponding one of the plurality of buyer companies, and the corresponding one buyer company makes payment for the goods sold by that seller company; and registering each of the plurality of buyer companies with the internet accessible computer system, wherein the registration of each of the plurality of buyer companies depends on the registration of its corresponding seller company. |
| US08473353B2 |
Conducting commerce between individuals
Receiving payment includes the establishment, at a first server, a transaction record including information identifying a payment amount, a first account to be credited by the payment amount, and a second account to be debited by a debit amount. A financial authorization network performs an authorization analysis on at least the second account. The second account is debited if the authorization analysis is successfully completed, and the first account is directly credited by the payment amount to conclude the transaction. Risk analysis may be performed for each individual. Payment is integrated with shipping. |
| US08473352B2 |
Consumer due diligence for money transfer systems and methods
A method of transferring money from a sender to a recipient using a third party money transfer service a point of sale device receiving transaction details for a requested money transfer; determining whether the requested transaction is an allowable transaction; and either aborting the transaction; attempting to identify the sender as an existing customer using the transaction details; using the sender's transaction history and the transaction details to determine whether to allow the requested transaction to proceed. If the requested transaction is allowed to proceed, the method includes creating a money transfer record for the requested transaction; associating a money transfer control number to the money transfer record; and using the transaction details to determine whether to monitor the requested transaction. |
| US08473351B1 |
Systems and methods for verifying authorization
Authorization verification systems and methods are described that store a record of an authorization determination performed at a point of sale or other point of control. The system receives authorization information for an individual indicative of the individual's authorization to purchase a product or service, to enter a location, to attend an event, or to otherwise participate in an encounter whose access is limited to authorized individuals. In one embodiment, the authorization verification system receives information relating to the individual's age via an electronic scanning of a driver's license or other identification card, or by other methods, and uses the birth date information to calculate the customer's current age. The current age can be displayed on an existing display of a point-of-sale device or other display. A record of the authorization can be stored as part of a transaction record that can subsequently be retrieved to verify that an authorization determination for the encounter was carried out. |
| US08473349B1 |
Ad server and syndication system
An ad server and syndication system provides a browsable hierarchy of categories, such as topical ad categories and/or product categories, with which specific ads may be explicitly associated. A first user interface provides functionality for advertisers to browse the hierarchy, and to post ads in association with specific ad categories. A second user interface provides functionality for web site operators wishing to host ads on their web sites to select or exclude specific categories of ads to host. In one embodiment, a web site operator that sells a particular category of products can locate that product category within the hierarchy, and then select from a corresponding list of product-related-services that may be advertised on web pages associated with such products. |
| US08473348B2 |
Paid media online cooperative method
The paid media online cooperative method is a multi-user method having computer-automated steps that provide price negotiation more effectively than a single buyer of media alone can. The digital cooperative includes organizations associated with the co-op, the organizations retaining the same variables as they would normally have outside of the co-op. The co-op method allows users to manage cost in the form of cost per visitor or per impression, thereby reducing advertising cost while upholding impression and visitor counts among all members. Software applications of the method may be centralized or distributed. The method provides a democratically controlled enterprise that is autonomous and independent of any of its members, and based on a lowest cost pricing model. Member participation in the co-op is voluntary. Each member accesses data fields to manage media buys, except the pricing field is unavailable to the member, and is instead managed by the software application. |
| US08473343B2 |
Tracking responses to promotions
A computer implemented method for response tracking is described. The method includes obtaining one or more responses to one or more promotions, attributing the one or more responses to one or more treatment instances, with the one or more treatment instances correspond to a promotion version assigned to a group of contact entities at an execution of a computer implemented marketing campaign, and generating a response table, the response table including one or more entries, the entries in the response table being in accordance with attribution of the one or more responses to one or more treatment instances. |
| US08473339B1 |
Automatically switching between pricing models for services
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, that can include receiving from an advertiser a request for billing based on a first measure of services, determining from quality data related to the advertiser whether the first measure of services can be converted with sufficient confidence to a second measure of services, providing services according to the first measure of services, monitoring stability data indicative of the stability of the relationship between the first measure of services and the second measure of services, and automatically switching from one to another mode of determining a price to be charged the customer for services provided. |
| US08473337B2 |
Auctioning segmented avails
Various embodiments enable auctioning of segmented advertisement insertion opportunities, e.g., segmented avails, associated with distributed content. In at least some embodiments, bids from advertisers to place advertisements in conjunction with a segmented avail are obtained. The bids that are obtained can have different durations (e.g., 60, 30, 15 seconds) that can be selectively enabled by a segmented avail in various combinations to fill a total duration of the segmented avail. Ranking criteria and/or logic can be applied to rank the bids one to another. In at least some embodiments, the bids are ranked within groups corresponding to different time durations. Bids can be allocated to the segmented avail by testing one or more combinations of the bids and selecting a winning combination based at least in part upon a sum of the ranks associated with bids in the combination. |
| US08473330B2 |
Software-centric methodology for verification and validation of fault models
A method for verifying and improving a vehicle fault model is disclosed. The method includes analyzing the available field failure data that includes vehicle symptoms and failures for many vehicles. The method performs an analysis using the field failure data that includes using subject matter expert knowledge to determine the most significant failure modes and the most significant symptoms. The method also includes learning simulation parameters from the field failure data and simulating faults using the learned simulation parameters. The method further includes verifying and validating the fault model based on the most significant failure modes and the most significant symptoms from the what-if analysis and the faults identifies by the simulation, and using a diagnostic reasoner to analyze the revised fault model to generate estimated faults. The method then compares the estimated faults to the simulated faults to determine true detection and false alarm rates for a benefit analysis. |
| US08473328B2 |
System and method for strategizing interactions with a client base
The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods that can be utilized to evaluate and/or direct an interaction with a consumer database and/or evaluate a consumer database, where the consumer database contains information about consumers and particular products and/or services held or used by the consumers. The interactions may be, for example, determining a strategy for sales, marketing, cross-selling, and/or retaining one or more of the consumers. The evaluations may include, for example, hierarchically ranking the consumers and/or determining a clustering of the consumers. |
| US08473325B2 |
System and method for automatic configuration and management of home network devices using a hierarchical index model
A system for automatically installing and managing devices in a home network implements automated configuration and maintenance of devices and peripherals. A service platform facilitates automated discovery and deployment of home networks and devices that interact with the network. The system includes a monitoring and learning processes for automatic issue detection and alerting. Activity of users and devices within the home are monitored, usage patterns are learned and applied back to the system to improve the digital performance of the home. This system leverages data center, service node, and agent software in the devices to access a knowledge base storing data regarding home entities. A hierarchical index model is used to assign intelligence levels to these entities based on certain parameters. The indices are used to direct alert messages, take an action, and implement a targeted facility for providing communications from network managers or service providers. |
| US08473322B1 |
System for translating dates for taking action from positions relative to a reference date to calendar dates
A computer network-implemented system for aiding users in a first jurisdiction, having a first set of day-types and a second jurisdiction having a second set of day-types, in translating to calendar dates action-dates of differing action-date-types, that are set in relation to a reference date. The system includes a computer network, having an input unit by which a reference date, and action-dates, and a jurisdiction, may be entered. The system also includes a memory in which the first jurisdiction and second jurisdiction day-types are stored. A calendar day determination mechanism counts number of days to the action-dates and determines the first day to satisfy the day count and that is eligible for scheduling the action-date-type, and determines and stores the action-dates in a calendar. Finally, a display mechanism displays the calendar to a user. |
| US08473321B2 |
Method and apparatus for associating privileges with people in an organization
A technique for associating privileges to people within an organization involves: maintaining for each of a plurality of objects an identification of an owner; maintaining for each of the objects an identification of at least one privilege associated therewith; and defining a role associated with a selected owner, the role identifying a privilege set containing at least one of the privileges, and the role having a criteria that defines which of a plurality of subjects are eligible to enjoy the privilege set, each privilege in the privilege set being associated with one of the objects associated with the selected owner. |
| US08473319B2 |
System for providing goal-triggered feedback
A system and method for encouraging the exchange of feedback in an enterprise. An example method includes providing one or more user interface controls for configuring a feedback reminder to automatically include predetermined insight pertaining to a potential participant in a future feedback exchange; sending the feedback reminder to a messaging system or application; providing a user option to view content of the feedback reminder; and displaying the feedback reminder in response to user selection of the first user option. Another user option enables selection of particular insight, derived from a talent management system, for inclusion in the feedback reminder. The messaging system may include an email application or an application for displaying a worklist. |
| US08473318B2 |
Risk score determination
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for determining a risk score for an agent associated with an entity. In some embodiments, a method includes: (a) receiving first information associated with an agent's action related to an account and/or an agent's actions over a predetermined period of time related to one or more applications, and (b) determining a first risk score based at least partially on the first information. In some embodiments, the method further includes: (c) receiving, from a data system, second information associated with the agent, where the second information comprises one or more entitlements granted to the agent by the entity, and (d) determining a second risk score based at least partially on both the first information and the second information. Embodiments of the invention allow an entity to monitor an agent's actions and determine whether the agent's actions, either singly or cumulatively, pose a risk to the customer's account and/or other information provided by the customer. |
| US08473314B2 |
Method and system for determining precursors of health abnormalities from processing medical records
Medical reports are converted to document vectors in computing apparatus and sampled by applying a maximum variation sampling function including a fitness function to the document vectors to reduce a number of medical records being processed and to increase the diversity of the medical records being processed. Linguistic phrases are extracted from the medical records and converted to s-grams. A Haar wavelet function is applied to the s-grams over the preselected time interval; and the coefficient results of the Haar wavelet function are examined for patterns representing the likelihood of health abnormalities. This confirms certain s-grams as precursors of the health abnormality and a parameter can be calculated in relation to the occurrence of such a health abnormality. |
| US08473312B2 |
Diagnostic image security system
A method for restricting unauthorised access to a patient's diagnostic images. Patient identification data is stored in a first database and diagnostic images associated with the patient are stored in a remote second database. The patient is issued with an access code which is provided to a user who is authorized by the patient to access the patient's diagnostic image. Use of the access code permits an authorized user to match the patient identification data retrieved from the first database with the associated diagnostic image stored in the second database. |
| US08473306B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring physiological parameter variability over time for one or more organs
A system is provided for leveraging the power of the analysis of variability over time, and which uses an underlying framework that can handle variability analyses across a distributed system in a consistent manner, in part by constructing a standard variability data file that includes several manifestations of the underlying data acquired using variability monitoring. The consistent and standard data files, along with the underlying framework enables a user to make use of a set of convenient display tools, while a central entity can provide connectivity to the distributed environment and provide a way to update the equipment and software to ensure consistent and relevant analyses. The system can be extended into many environments, including in-patient, out-patient and completely mobile/stand-alone users. |
| US08473303B2 |
System and method for establishing electronic business systems for supporting communications services commerce
A comprehensive electronic business support system comprises three layers: (1) the business layer, including various smart components which unify data and business processes across all customer interactions; (2) the integration layer, including various communications messaging interfaces and enterprise application integration adapters, which provide a flexible, automated, and process driven solution for integrating across business applications and operations support systems; and (3) the presentation layer, including various customer views, which are presented via particular business portals. A smart component server provides the core services and comprehensive business process logic required to successfully conduct business online. The communications messaging interfaces integrate with back-office systems for functions such as billing, provisioning, and interconnection. |
| US08473302B2 |
Parametric audio encoding and decoding apparatus and method thereof having selective phase encoding for birth sine wave
Provided are parametric audio encoding and decoding apparatuses and methods thereof. In the parametric audio encoding method, an audio signal is segmented into a plurality of segments. At least one sine wave is extracted from each of the segments, and the extracted sine waves are connected. It is determined whether an extracted sine wave is a birth sine wave. If the extracted sine wave is a birth sine wave, a bit stream is generated by encoding the phase of the birth sine wave on the basis of the frequency of the birth sine wave, wherein the number of bits allocated to encode the phase of the birth sine wave is adjusted according to the frequency of the birth sine wave. |
| US08473301B2 |
Method and apparatus for audio decoding
A method for decoding an audio signal includes: obtaining a lower-band signal component of an audio signal corresponding to a received code stream when the audio signal switches from a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth which is narrower than the first bandwidth; extending the lower-band signal component to obtain higher-band information; performing a time-varying fadeout process on the higher-band information to obtain a processed higher-band signal component; and synthesizing the processed higher-band signal component and the obtained lower-band signal component. With the methods provided in the embodiments of the invention, when an audio signal has a switch from broadband to narrowband, a series of processes such as bandwidth detection, artificial band extension, time-varying fadeout process, and bandwidth synthesis, may be performed to make the switch to have a smooth transition from a broadband signal to a narrowband signal so that a comfortable listening experience may be achieved. |
| US08473300B1 |
Log mining to modify grammar-based text processing
Methods and systems for log mining for grammar-based text processing are provided. A method may comprise receiving, from a device, an activity log. The activity log may comprise one or more of an input instruction, a determined function based at least in part on a match of the input instruction to a grammar-based textual pattern including associations of a given function based on one or more grammars, and a response determination based on an acknowledgement of the determined function. The method may also comprise comparing at least a portion of the activity log with stored activity logs in order to determine a correlation between the activity log and the stored activity logs. The method may also comprise modifying the grammar-based textual pattern based on the determined correlation and providing information indicative of the modification to the device so as to update the grammar-based textual pattern. |
| US08473299B2 |
System and dialog manager developed using modular spoken-dialog components
A dialog manager and spoken dialog service having a dialog manager generated according to a method comprising selecting a top level flow controller based on application type, selecting available reusable subdialogs for each application part, developing a subdialog for each application part not having an available subdialog and testing and deploying the spoken dialog service using the selected top level flow controller, selected reusable subdialogs and developed subdialogs. The dialog manager capable of handling context shifts in a spoken dialog with a user. Application dependencies are established in the top level flow controller thus enabling the subdialogs to be reusable and to be capable of managing context shifts and mixed initiative dialogs. |
| US08473296B2 |
Method and system for dynamic creation of contexts
A method and a system for a speech recognition system (1), comprising an electronic document, which is a speech based document comprising one or more sections of text recognized or transcribed from sections of speech, wherein said sections of speech are dictated by an author and processed by a speech recognizer (4) in the speech recognition system (1) into corresponding sections of text of said speech based document. The method comprises the steps of dynamically creating and adapting sub contexts by said speech recognizer and associating said sub context to said sections of text. |
| US08473294B2 |
Skipping radio/television program segments
Techniques for notifying at least one entity of an occurrence of an event in an audio signal are provided. At least one preference is obtained from the at least one entity. An occurrence of an event in the audio signal is determined. The event is related to at least one of at least one speaker and at least one topic. The at least one entity is notified of the occurrence of the event in the audio signal, in accordance with the at least one preference. |
| US08473289B2 |
Disambiguating input based on context
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a mobile computing device, ambiguous user input that indicates more than one of a plurality of commands; and determining a current context associated with the mobile computing device that indicates where the mobile computing device is currently located. The method can further include disambiguating the ambiguous user input by selecting a command from the plurality of commands based on the current context associated with the mobile computing device; and causing output associated with performance of the selected command to be provided by the mobile computing device. |
| US08473288B2 |
Quantizer, encoder, and the methods thereof
Disclosed are a quantizer, encoder, and the methods thereof, wherein the computational load is reduced when the values related to the transform coefficients of the principal component analysis transform are quantized when a principal component analysis transform is applied to code stereo. A quantizer includes a power correlation calculator which calculates the power of the left channel signal, the power of the right channel signal, and the correlation between the left channel signal and the right channel signal; an intermediate value calculator which calculates the intermediate value which is the difference between left channel signal the power and the right channel signal power; a codebook which holds a plurality of sets of the coefficients related to the transform coefficients of the principal component analysis transform and the code; and a quantizer which calculates the sum of the first multiplication result obtained by multiplying the coefficient by the correlation value and the second multiplication result obtained by multiplying the coefficient by the intermediate value as the cost function E, selects the coefficients where the cost function E becomes the maximum, and fetches the code related to the selected coefficients as the quantized code. |
| US08473281B2 |
Net moderator
A method and an apparatus for moderating an inappropriate relationship between two parties by analyzing a dialog between the two parties. The method and apparatus creates an alert depending upon the nature of the dialog between the two parties. The alert is sent to a third party who can moderate the relationship between the two parties. The third party can ban or block the dialog between the two parties based upon the inappropriate relationship between the two parties. A banning or block of the dialog between the two parties can also be automated. |
| US08473274B1 |
Providing component connection information
Techniques and mechanisms provide design information in a scalable representation. A design includes multiple master components and slave components. The master components and slave components include ports allowing interconnection. Techniques and mechanisms are described for selectively providing a subset of the interconnections between the master components and the slave components. |
| US08473269B1 |
System-level hardware and software development and co-simulation system
Various approaches for co-simulating an electronic system design are described. In one approach, a hardware design function block in the design is instantiated, along with a specification of a software execution platform including external ports and software to execute on the platform. In response to a user instruction to import the software execution platform into the design, a software execution platform interface block is automatically instantiated. A first simulation model is generated from the hardware design function block and the software execution platform interface block and a second simulation model is generated from the software execution platform. The design is co-simulated using the first and second simulation models. Data is communicated between the first simulation model and the second simulation model via the interface block. |
| US08473259B2 |
Object interface in computer-aided design of an assembly of objects
In one embodiment, a method for designing an assembly of objects in a system of computer-aided design includes selecting a first object and a second object of the assembly. The method can further include computing a set of relative positions between the first object and the second object of the assembly, ranking the relative positions of the set between the first object and the second object according to at least one criterion, and providing the best of the relative positions between the first object and the second object according to the ranking step. |
| US08473253B2 |
Digital event timing
Methods, computer-readable mediums, and a circuit are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided which obtains a digital sample. The method calculates a second derivative of the digital sample and thereafter determines when the second derivative passed through a zero crossing point. A master clock value and the second derivative value before and after the second derivate passes through zero are used to calculate a clock fraction and add the clock fraction to the master clock value. Thereafter, an event start signal is triggered to initiates signal processing. |
| US08473248B2 |
Test apparatus and test method
A first transform unit transforms clock change point information which indicates the change timing of a clock signal into information with respect to the frequency domain thereof so as to generate first clock change point frequency information. A digital filter performs filtering of the first clock change point frequency information so as to generate second clock change point frequency information. A second transform unit inverse-transforms the second clock change point frequency information into information with respect to the time domain so as to generate second clock change point information. A judgment unit evaluates a DUT based upon difference data between the change timing represented by the data change point information and the change timing represented by the second clock change point information in increments of phases. |
| US08473247B2 |
Methods for monitoring processing equipment
Methods for monitoring processing equipment are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for monitoring processing equipment when in an idle state for a period of idle time may include selecting a test from a list of a plurality of tests to perform on the processing equipment when the processing equipment is in the idle state, wherein the test has a total run time; starting the selected test; comparing a remaining idle time of the period of idle time to a remaining run time of the total run time as the selected test is performed; and determining whether to end the selected test prior to completing the total run time in response to the comparison. |
| US08473246B1 |
Cable measurement device
A length of a cable may be measured. First, a wave may be transmitted in a cable. Then, the transmitted wave may be received. Next, a length of the cable between a first end of the cable and a second end of the cable may be calculated based upon a time the transmitted wave took to travel in the cable. |
| US08473242B1 |
System and method for race participant tracking and reporting of associated data
A system and method are provided for tracking race participants via a Global Positioning System, providing feedback in substantially real time to the race participant, and optionally to other remote individuals via web publication at the user's preference. The feedback includes graphical and tabular presentation of such information as geographic position, race route, current race performance metrics, projection of future milestone and final race performance, projected position at a given time, projected time to a given position, relative performance to historical participants, to personal historical performance and to other members of the current race that are being tracked in aggregate or by demographic or otherwise subdivided. |
| US08473241B2 |
Navigation trajectory matching
Among other things, first data is received from an inertial tracking device worn by a first person, the first data approximating locations along a first path that was traversed by the first person. Second data is received from an inertial tracking device worn by a second person, the second data approximating locations along a second path, similar to the first path, that is being traversed by the second person. A determination is made about how to guide the second person to reach the first person by using the first data and the second data to correlate locations along the first path and corresponding locations along the second path. |
| US08473239B2 |
Multiple aperture ultrasound array alignment fixture
Increasing the effective aperture of an ultrasound imaging probe by including more than one probe head and using the elements of all of the probes to render an image can greatly improve the lateral resolution of the generated image. In order to render an image, the relative positions of all of the elements must be known precisely. A calibration fixture is described in which the probe assembly to be calibrated is placed above a test block and transmits ultrasonic pulses through the test block to an ultrasonic sensor. As the ultrasonic pulses are transmitted though some or all of the elements in the probe to be tested, the differential transit times of arrival of the waveform are measured precisely. From these measurements the relative positions of the probe elements can be computed and the probe can be aligned. |
| US08473234B2 |
Method and detection assembly for the detection of changes in a building structure of a wind turbine
A method for detecting changes in a building structure of a first wind turbine is provided. A reference value representing the eigenfrequency of the first wind turbine is monitored over time, whereby substantial changes in the reference value are used as an indication of changes in the building structure. Further, a detection assembly for such detections is provided. |
| US08473231B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring deterioration of a rechargeable battery
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the deterioration of a rechargeable battery. A battery monitoring system may be used to store charging information, discharge information and storage information for a rechargeable battery to a data store. The charging information may include a number of charge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The discharge information may include a number discharge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The storage information may include information relating to periods when the rechargeable battery is not being actively charged or discharged. The battery monitoring system may be further used to determine an amount of deterioration of a battery performance characteristic based on the stored charging information, discharge information and storage information. |
| US08473227B2 |
Method and system for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern
A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern generally comprises the steps of: establishing a volume function for a brine pond associated with the underground cavern; acquiring an image of the brine pond; transmitting the acquired image to a central processing facility; analyzing the acquired image to calculate a depth of the brine in the brine pond; estimating the volume of the brine in the brine pond based on the calculated depth and using the volume function; determining the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage in the underground cavern associated with the brine pond based on the estimated volume of the brine in the brine pond; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage to a third-party market participant. |
| US08473222B2 |
Measurement devices and methods for measuring analyte concentration incorporating temperature and pH correction
Disclosed herein are methods of estimating an analyte concentration which include generating a signal indicative of the analyte concentration, generating a signal indicative of a temperature, generating a signal indicative of a pH, and transforming the signal indicative of the analyte concentration utilizing an equation of the form of a modified Michaelis-Menten equation depending on Michaelis-Menten parameters, wherein values of the Michaelis-Menten parameters are set based upon data which includes temperature and pH calibration parameters, the signal indicative of a temperature, and the signal indicative of a pH. Also disclosed herein are measurement devices which employ the aforementioned methods. |
| US08473221B2 |
Process, software arrangement and computer-accessible medium for obtaining information associated with a haplotype
The present invention relates to a method, system and software arrangement for determining the co-associations of allele types across consecutive loci and hence for reconstructing two haplotypes of a diploid individual from genotype data generated by mapping experiments with single molecules, families or populations. The haplotype reconstruction system, method and software arrangement of the present invention can utilize a procedure that is nearly linear in the number of polymorphic markers examined, and is therefore quicker, more accurate, and more efficient than other population-based approaches. The system, method, and software arrangement of the present invention may be useful to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of any disease, which has a genetic component. |
| US08473220B2 |
Method and device for early signal attenuation detection using blood glucose measurements
Methods and devices to detect analyte in body fluid are provided. Embodiments include receiving one or more analyte sensor data, receiving a reference measurement value associated with an analyte level, determining a sensitivity parameter based on the received one or more analyte sensor data and the reference measurement value, performing a probability analysis based on prior analyte sensor data to determine presence of signal attenuation, and generating an output value based on the probability analysis. |
| US08473219B2 |
Computational method for generating a feeding score for an individual infant
A computational method for generating a feeding score for an individual infant based upon a comparison of feeding factor measurements obtained from the individual infant, values associated with the feeding factor measurements, and feeding parameter metrics from a population of infants having a similar gestational age as the individual infant. |
| US08473217B1 |
Method and system for standardization of microarray data
The present invention relates to a method and system for standardizing a test microarray dataset. The method requires obtaining a test microarray dataset comprising abundance values for a first plurality of cellular constituents, providing a standardization data structure associated with values of central tendency and identifies, and applying the standardization data structure to the test microarray dataset using a mathematical transformation in order to produce a standardized test microarray dataset.This change has been made for purposes of compact prosecution and to better embrace the allowable subject matter. |
| US08473212B2 |
Log processing in highly deviated wellbores
A method for processing well logging data includes method dividing the well logging data into a number of constant dimensional effect segments, where each constant dimensional effect segment defines an interval having a similar dimensional effect on the log response. The well logging data is taken from a highly deviated well. The method further includes dividing the constant dimensional effect segments into a number of constant property intervals, each constant dimensional effect segment including at least one corresponding constant property interval, and each constant property interval defining a wellbore distance over which a formation property is substantially constant that results in a log response having a low variance. The method further includes providing the constant property intervals to an output device. The method further includes determining constant property intervals in 3D volume space projected them into true stratigraphic thickness, and providing the resulting log-squared data to the output device. |
| US08473211B2 |
Methods of correcting accelerometer and magnetometer measurements
A method of correcting accelerometer and magnetometer measurements made in a well is provided. The method includes making a series of triaxial measurements with magnetometers and accelerometers in an interval of the well to derive measured values of gravitational acceleration g, magnetic filed intensity B, and the sine of the magnetic inclination sin I. The method also includes obtaining known values of g, B and sin I for the interval and determining values of a correction to be applied to the measured values by simultaneously minimizing the difference between the measured values and the known values of g, B and sin I for the interval. The method also includes applying the correction to the measured values to obtain in situ corrected values for g, B and sin I. |
| US08473210B2 |
Method for the transmission of additional data along with navigation messages in a satellite navigation system
A method for transmitting additional information in a satellite navigation system includes providing a navigation message having a plurality of parameters, selecting at least one parameter from the plurality of parameters for the transmitting of the additional information, replacing the at least one parameter, at least partially, by the additional information so as to form a changed navigation message, and sending the changed navigation message. |
| US08473207B2 |
Tightly-coupled GNSS/IMU integration filter having calibration features
Embodiments of the invention provide a blending filter based on extended Kalman filter (EKF), which optimally integrates the IMU navigation data with all other satellite measurements (tightly-coupled integration filter). Two more states in the EKF for estimating/compensating the speed bias and the heading bias in the INS measurement are added. The integration filter has no feedback loop for INS calibration, and can estimate/compensate the navigation error in the INS measurement within the integration filter. |
| US08473206B2 |
Apparatus and method for executing telecommand on geostationary satellite, and apparatus and method for verifying telecommand execution status on geostationary satellite ground control system
Provided are an apparatus and method for executing a telecommand on a geostationary satellite, and an apparatus and method for verifying a telecommand execution status on a geostationary satellite ground control system. When a telecommand on a satellite is executed, the satellite generates command execution verification words for the executed telecommand and adds the generated command execution verification words to a telemetry transfer frame, and thus a satellite ground control system can easily verify the telecommand execution. In addition, when telecommand execution result is verified by a satellite ground control system, since an execution result of a time-tag telecommand can be verified without a time delay through command execution verification words provided by a satellite, and a telecommand image DB, a telecommand verifier DB, and a telecommand verifier provided by the satellite ground control system, a series of processes from transmission to verification of a telecommand, in particular a time-tag telecommand, can be automatically processed in real-time without intervention of an operator. |
| US08473200B1 |
Displaying location-specific images on a mobile device
A system is provided for providing location-specific images to a mobile device for display. The system generally comprises three components: a mobile device having a screen, a position identification system (e.g., a GPS receiver) that determines the position of the mobile device, and a database containing location-specific images taken at various locations. Each location-specific image is associated with geographic coordinates of the location at which the image was taken. Based on the position of the mobile device as determined by the position identification system, a location-specific image is selected from the database and displayed on the screen of the mobile device. For example, when a user is using the mobile device as a car navigation system, a location-specific image of the user's destination location can be selected and displayed when the determined position of the mobile device comes within a certain distance from the geographic coordinates of the destination location. |
| US08473197B2 |
Computation of travel routes, durations, and plans over multiple contexts
A route planning system comprises a receiver component that receives a request for directions between a beginning point and a destination point. An analysis component analyzes a traffic system representation that varies as context varies and outputs expected amounts of travel time between the beginning point and the destination point for multiple contexts based at least in part upon the analysis. A method is described herein that includes techniques for searching over routes and trip start times simultaneously so as to identity start times and routes associated with maximal expected value, or equivalently minimum expected cost, given preferences encoded about one or more of the leaving time, the travel time, and the arrival time. |
| US08473193B2 |
Method and device for utilizing selectable location marker for relational display of point of interest entries
A method and device are disclosed for utilizing a selectable location marker for relational display of point of interest entries. In one embodiment, the method includes prompting selection of a point of interest location marker on a navigation device, and displaying selectable point of interest entries on the navigation device in an order based upon a location related to a selected point of interest location marker and a relative location of each of the selectable point of interest entries. |
| US08473188B2 |
Vehicle collision detecting system
A collision detecting system includes a bumper reinforcement member, a crush box disposed between the bumper reinforcement member and a fixing member of the vehicle, a strain inducing member fixed to the crush box so as to distort in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the crush box is compressed between the reinforcement member and the fixing member and a strain measuring element fixed to the strain inducing member 5. The strain inducing member has a strain measuring portion having such a shape that stress of the strain inducing member concentrates into the strain measuring portion. The strain measuring element is fixed to the strain measuring portion to measure a component of the strain of the strain measuring portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The strain measuring portion has an asymmetrical cross-section in a vertical direction of the vehicle. |
| US08473187B2 |
Method and apparatus for combining three-dimensional position and two-dimensional intensity mapping for localization
A mapping method includes using a first mobile unit to map two-dimensional features while the first mobile unit traverses a surface. Three-dimensional positions of the features are sensed during the mapping. A three-dimensional map is created including associations between the three-dimensional positions of the features and the map of the two-dimensional features. The three-dimensional map is provided from the first mobile unit to a second mobile unit. The second mobile unit is used to map the two-dimensional features while the second mobile unit traverses the surface. Three-dimensional positions of the two-dimensional features mapped by the second mobile unit are determined within the second mobile unit and by using the three-dimensional map. |
| US08473184B2 |
Control method for deceleration of vehicle including continuous valve lift apparatus and system for the same
A control method and a control system for deceleration of a vehicle including a continuous valve lift apparatus (CVVL) may include determining whether fuel cutting condition is satisfied, determining whether brake pedal input signal is detected and controlling deceleration according to brake pedal input signal by at least one of controlling throttle opening angle and controlling valve lift of the CVVL. |
| US08473182B2 |
Internal combustion engine control device
An internal combustion engine control device is provided which can accurately estimate intake pipe temperature behavior during transient time even in an internal combustion engine embedded with a variable valve or a turbocharger. The internal combustion engine control device estimates transient behavior of the intake pipe temperature, on the basis of a flow rate (dGafs/dt) of gas flowing into the intake pipe, a flow rate (dGcyl/dt) of gas flowing from the intake pipe, an intake pipe pressure Pin, and a temporal changing rate (dPin/dt) of the intake pipe pressure. The device performs knocking control during transient time, on the basis of the estimated transient behavior of the intake pipe temperature. |
| US08473180B2 |
On-board fuel property detection using pattern recognition and power spectral analysis of cylinder pressure signal
Combustion pressure in a diesel combustion chamber is monitored to determine a combustion parameter as a function of the monitored pressure. A cetane number of the fuel combusted is determined as a function of a predetermined correlation between the combustion parameter and the cetane number. |
| US08473173B1 |
Motion sensor braking system and associated method
An automatic vehicle braking system prohibits vehicle propulsion upon detection of a triggering event, and includes sensors that detect the triggering event, a processor. A logic gate and a vehicle gear sensor cooperate with the processor to automatically activate and deactivate a vehicle braking system, which includes a solenoid switch responsive to an output signal from the logic gate. An air valve is activates the vehicle braking system by permitting air to pass downstream of the air valve and to existing vehicle brake pads. An outlet port is situated downstream from the inlet port of the air valve casing. A piston is linearly reciprocated within the casing such that the inlet port is in fluid communication with the existing air tank of the vehicle. In this manner, the outlet port may be adapted to be in fluid communication with an existing brake pad of the vehicle braking system. |
| US08473169B2 |
Vehicle transmission control apparatus
A vehicle transmission control apparatus includes an expected-acceleration calculator configured to calculate an expected acceleration of a vehicle based on at least an engine load and a vehicle speed. An actual-acceleration calculator is configured to calculate an actual acceleration of the vehicle. An uphill determination device is configured to calculate an uphill determination value based on a difference between the expected acceleration and the actual acceleration and configured to calculate a corrected uphill determination value by subjecting the uphill determination value to moderating calculation using a moderating coefficient and to update the corrected uphill determination value in accordance with the moderating coefficient. A transmission-characteristic selecting device is configured to select one of transmission characteristics based on the corrected uphill determination value. A transmission controller is configured to perform transmission control based on the transmission characteristic selected by the transmission-characteristic selecting device. |
| US08473166B2 |
Semiautomatic control of earthmoving machine based on attitude measurement
The blade on an earthmoving machine is controlled by a semiautomatic method comprising a combination of a manual operational mode and an automatic operational mode. An operator first enters the manual operational mode and manually sets the height of the blade. The operator then enters the automatic mode and sets a reference pitch angle and an initial control point. The height of the blade is automatically controlled based on pitch angle measurements received from pitch angle sensors. Automatic control is effective over a particular range of soil conditions. When the automatic control range is exceeded, the operator manually shifts the control point, and automatic control resumes about the new control point. Blade slope is automatically controlled based on roll angle measurements received from roll angle sensors. |
| US08473162B2 |
Force limiting unit for a motor vehicle
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a force limiting device for a motor vehicle is provided. The force limiting device is adopted for adjusting the absorption of a force between two parts moving relative to one another during a dangerous situation in the motor vehicle. The force limiting device comprises a kinematic energy absorption device configured such that for a predefined profile of a speed difference between the two parts moving relative to one another different force limiting levels are produced as a function of mass and momentum of the two moving parts. |
| US08473160B2 |
Device for detecting steering operation force
A steering operation force detection device for a steering wheel including a steering wheel rim having a right-side rim section and a left-side rim section. The device includes load cells that detect six component forces of the steering operation force acting on the right-side rim section and the left-side rim section consisting of forces in three axial directions and moments about three axes. The device includes a steering angle detection sensor that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel, and an inertial force component correcting unit that derives an inertial force component acting on the right-side rim section and the left-side rim section due to rotation of the steering wheel, based on an amount of displacement of the steering angle detected by the steering angle detection sensor, and that corrects the component force detected by the load cells to eliminate an effect of the derived inertial force component. |
| US08473158B2 |
Stability-based steering control methods and systems
A control system for controlling a steering system to maintain stability of the steering system is provided. The control system includes an operating conditions module that estimates at least one operating gain based on an operating condition of the steering system. A blend module estimates a blend value based on the at least one operating gain. A steering assist module generates a steering assist command based on the blend value. |
| US08473157B2 |
Control of a suspension system of a vehicle provided with four semi-active suspensions
A method for controlling four semi-active suspensions of a vehicle comprising the steps of: determining, for each semi-active suspension, a first and a second signal representative of the acceleration and speed of the sprung mass; determining, for a pair of semi-active suspensions arranged on one side of the vehicle a third and a four signal representative of the acceleration and pitch speed; calculating for each semi-active suspension, a first damping coefficient as a function of the difference between the first and second signal squared; calculating for each semi-active suspension, a second damping coefficient as a function of the difference between the third and the four signal squared; for each semi-active suspension, comparing the first and the second damping coefficient for determining the higher coefficient; applying to each force generator device, an electronic control signal indicative of the respective high damping coefficient. |
| US08473156B2 |
Driving dynamics control system for vehicles
A driving dynamics control system for vehicles. The control system including at least one driving dynamics controller that is fed setpoint specifications and driving state variables as input data. The control system also includes a plurality of actuators that can be controlled and/or regulated to modify the dynamics of the vehicle, such as steering, adjustable independently of the driver, on a front and/or rear axle of the vehicle, a chassis adjustable independently of the driver, a brake adjustable independently of the driver, and a drive train adjustable independently of the driver. The driving dynamics controller determines a central control specification from the setpoint specifications and the driving state variables and sends it to a distribution algorithm that distributes the control specification into manipulated variables for driving the actuators. |
| US08473150B2 |
Method of unlocking an engine control computer
A method of unlocking the anti-starting system of a computer (ECM) controlling the operation of an engine of a motor vehicle, includes: each time the computer is powered up generating therewith a first random value and writing the value into a first zone of a volatile memory of the computer, downloading an unlocking program from a downloading tool to the volatile memory, the execution of which generates the calculation of a second value from the first random value and from a determined relation stored in the unlocking program, and writing the second value into a second zone of the volatile memory of the computer, reinitializing the software of the computer without erasing the first and second zones of the volatile memory of the computer, comparing the values stored in the first and second zones, unlocking the anti-starting system of the computer, if the comparison is successful. |
| US08473149B2 |
Event logging method and device
A method of logging information about events for an internal combustion engine having an ignition circuit, and an event logging device arranged to implement the method. The method comprises incrementing a current value of a counter (50) at a predetermined rate when the ignition circuit is turned on, detecting that an event has occurred (53), creating a new event record (54) having at least two fields, populating the fields within the new event record with information about the event (55), including at least an event type and the current value of the counter; and storing the new event record (57). |
| US08473148B2 |
Fleet management systems and methods for complex event processing of vehicle-related information via local and remote complex event processing engines
A fleet management complex event processing (CEP) engine executes on at least one hardware computer processor. The CEP engine receives at least a first input stream onto which first vehicle information related to a first vehicle is published, and a second input stream onto which second vehicle information related to a second vehicle is published. The CEP engine applies at least one query to the first input stream and the second input stream, and assesses if a fleet-related complex event has occurred. If it is determined in that the fleet-related complex event has occurred, the CEP engine publishes an indication of occurrence of the fleet-related complex event on at least one output stream. |
| US08473147B2 |
State of health indicator for a vehicle fuel delivery system
A method for determining a state of health (SOH) value for a fuel delivery system in a vehicle includes estimating speeds of a calibrated fuel pump and an actual fuel pump using an extended state observer, calculating a deviation between the estimated speeds, and determining the progress of the deviation over a calibrated interval. The method further includes calculating the SOH value using the progress of the deviation, and automatically executing a control action corresponding to the SOH value. The system may be an Electronic Returnless Fuel System, and the pump may be controlled using pulse width modulation. A fuel delivery system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump operable for supplying fuel to the engine, a fuel tank containing the fuel pump, and a controller having the state observer noted above. A vehicle includes the fuel system, engine, and controller noted above. |
| US08473145B2 |
Code evaluator tool with urgency indicator
A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool includes indicators to indicate the condition of the vehicle using a database and the DTCs present in the vehicle. The tool indicates for each DTC retrieved from the vehicle, the level of repair urgency. The tool also can indicate if the vehicle can be driven without damaging the vehicle. |
| US08473142B2 |
Method and arrangement for calculating a conformity between an estimated representation of an environment and the actual environment
The present invention concerns a method for determining a conformity between a representation of an environment and said environment, wherein said representation of the environment constitutes a representation in at least two dimensions, where a distance between two points in the representation has a known relation to the corresponding distance in said environment, characterized in that said determination involves the step of determining a first set of parameter values for a first position in said representation of the environment, comparing said first determined set of expected parameter values with a second set of parameter values, where said second set of parameter values has been determined for a second position, where said second position constitutes a position in said environment that essentially corresponds to said first position, and using said comparison to determine a measure of conformity between said environment and said representation of the environment. The invention also concerns an arrangement and the mining and/or construction machine. |
| US08473139B1 |
Hybrid vehicle driving apparatus
A hybrid vehicle driving apparatus includes a clutch control device and an automatic transmission control device that are connected to mutually communicate. The clutch control device sends a request to wait gear shift to the automatic transmission control device while front clutch operation is in preparation. The automatic transmission control device that receives the request to wait gear shift determines whether priority is given to engaging or disengaging the front clutch or to shifting gears of the automatic transmission. The automatic transmission control device that is determined to give priority to the front clutch operation sends out a gear shift in stand-by state signal to the clutch control device while maintaining the automatic transmission in a gear shift prepared state. The clutch control device that receives the gear shift in progress signal restrains the front clutch from engaging or disengaging while maintaining the front clutch in an operation prepared state. |
| US08473138B2 |
Driving control device
A driving control device for a vehicle in which one of a front-wheel side and a rear-wheel side is driven by an engine and an other of them is driven by a motor, reduces a driving force by the motor to recover a grip and estimates a road friction coefficient. The driving control device further transmits an engine driving force to drive wheels, and temporary increases the motor driving force in accordance with the engine driving force and the motor drive wheel grip limit line according to an estimated road friction coefficient. |
| US08473128B2 |
Optimizing rail track performance
A method for optimizing track performance is provided. The method involves measuring one or more track status data at one or more measurement sites of the track during a train pass through the one or more measurement sites. Followed by analyzing the one or more track status data against one or more baseline reference values to obtain a track status profile, and adjusting an operating parameter, a track parameter, or both the operating and track parameters, based on the track status profile, to optimize the track's performance. |
| US08473125B2 |
Method of piloting a multiple rotor rotary-wing drone to follow a curvilinear turn
The respective motors of the drone (10) can be controlled to rotate at different speeds in order to pilot the drone both in attitude and speed. A remote control appliance produces a command to turn along a curvilinear path, this command comprising a left or right turning direction parameter and a parameter that defines the radius of curvature of the turn. The drone receives said command and acquires instantaneous measurements of linear velocity components, of angles of inclination, and of angular speeds of the drone. On the basis of the received command and the acquired measurements, setpoint values are generated for a control loop for controlling motors of the drone, these setpoint values controlling horizontal linear speed and inclination of the drone relative to a frame of reference associated with the ground so as to cause the drone to follow curvilinear path (C) at predetermined tangential speed (u). |
| US08473124B2 |
Flight control system having a three control loop design
A flight control system is configured for controlling the flight of an aircraft utilizing a three control loop design to robustly increase system performance. An inner loop comprises an improved linear quadratic regulator (LQR) search method, and an outer loop comprises a classic feedback summary gain design. A third loop comprises a steady state trim search method. |
| US08473119B2 |
Optimal guidance blender for a hovering/flying vehicle
For a vehicle having thrusters and control surfaces or other types of effectors having different cost of use and/or effectiveness as a function of vehicle speed, errors in position relative to an asserted control command are apportioned between errors of translational rate and pointing error as a function of speed in the vertical and/or horizontal planes and guidance commands are adjusted accordingly to produce commands that provide an optimal attitude for guidance of the vehicle through an arbitrary maneuver. The commands thus generated are then preferably apportioned between various available effectors to execute the maneuver most efficiently. |
| US08473115B2 |
On-vehicle apparatus and content providing method
The present invention is applied to, for example, a multimedia terminal having a function of navigation equipment and a function of playing back video and switches a display from a map display to a source display also with source switching operators 13P, 13R. In addition, menus of upper and lower hierarchies are simultaneously displayed to accept operations through a touch panel and a remote commander. In addition to a press-operable main rotary operator, a press-operable sub rotary operator is provided on a side surface. Among operations accepted through the main rotary operator, only a specific operation relating to content processing is accepted through the sub rotary operator. |
| US08473113B2 |
On-line compensation apparatus for feedback positions of encoder and method for operating the same
An on-line compensation apparatus for feedback positions of an encoder and method for operating the same are applied to a motor driven to rotate at a constant speed by a driver, thus compensating the errors of feedback positions of the encoder. First, a compensation quantity calculation unit is used to calculate the compensation quantity of feedback positions of the encoder. Afterward, a position interval judgment unit is used to determine the position interval of the compensation quantity. Finally, a compensation quantity modification unit is used to modify the compensation quantity by using different weightings. Therefore, the compensation quantity is modified by an iteration calculation to achieve that an error between the feedback position and an ideal position is in an acceptable region, thus increasing accuracy of the feedback position compensation of the encoder. |
| US08473112B2 |
Battery pack, electronic equipment, equipment system, method for controlling battery pack cooling unit, and program
A battery pack includes a battery cell, a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the battery cell, a cooling unit configured to cool down the battery cell, an information reception unit configured to receive first information whether electronic equipment is compatible with the cooling unit from the electronic equipment that is supplied with power from the battery cell, and a cooling function control unit configured to switch ON and OFF of the cooling unit depending on the temperature that is detected in a case where the electronic equipment is compatible with the cooling unit, and keep a drive of the cooling unit OFF in a case where the electronic equipment is incompatible with the cooling unit, based on the first information. |
| US08473111B1 |
Interconnected premises equipment for energy management
Energy commodities in the form of electricity and combustible fuel (e.g. natural gas, propane) are used by appliances in a fashion which is monitored and controlled through a Premises Energy Management System (PEMS). The system facilitates direct monitoring and control of energy-consuming appliances, in real time, utilizing automated programmatic control and a plurality of human interfaces including local display and control, email, web browser, text messaging, and integrated voice response (IVR). A Monitoring and Control Coordinator (MCC) provides centralized coordination of functions and one or more Communicating Appliance Interfaces (CAI) interacting with energy consuming appliances are interconnected via wired and wireless communication networks and protocols. The system may retrieve information from third parties, such as weather services, for optimizing energy usage. An interface may be provided to the energy provider/purveyor to enhance the provision of energy by providing additional real-time services such as demand management and service outage management. |
| US08473110B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling operation of a motor
A method for editing a motor profile is described. The method includes receiving a stored motor profile selection via a user interface, and receiving user inputs via the user interface. The user inputs include instructions relating to an edit of the selected motor profile. The method also includes storing the edited motor profile. |
| US08473109B1 |
Apparatus and method for altering an operating window of a device
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller configured to detect a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detect a location of a mobile device associated with a site and alter the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location. Correspondingly, a method includes detecting a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site and altering the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location. |
| US08473104B2 |
Methods and systems for control of microfluidic devices
The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion which is reflected in the preferred structure of the provided methods and systems. In particular, the methods are structured into low-level device component control functions, middle-level actuator control functions, and high-level micro-droplet control functions. Advantageously, a microfluidic device may thereby be instructed to perform an intended reaction or analysis by invoking micro-droplet control function that perform intuitive tasks like measuring, mixing, heating, and so forth. The systems are preferably programmable and capable of accommodating microfluidic devices controlled by low voltages and constructed in standardized configurations. Advantageously, a single control system can thereby control numerous different reactions in numerous different microfluidic devices simply by loading different easily understood micro-droplet programs. |
| US08473098B2 |
Apparatus for dispensing and/or vending a bulk product
An apparatus for dispensing and/or vending a bulk product. The apparatus comprises one or more bins for holding a bulk product, a dispensing mechanism operatively coupled to each of the bins, a controller operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanisms, and an interface for receiving a request for one of the bulk products. The controller is operatively coupled to the interface and configured to generate one or more control signals in response to a request for controlling the dispensing mechanism to dispense one of the bulk products. |
| US08473097B2 |
Pass-through wall-mounted medications cabinet with UV sterilization
A self-sterilizing pass-through medications cabinet is built into a wall of a hospital room and can be accessed from the room interior or from the hallway. A frame mounted in the wall supports a rack or box containing patient drawers or bins, arranged in a vertical stack parallel to the wall or in a horizontal row. A hall-side door can be opened by pharmacy staff to place pre-loaded bins into respective compartments, and one or more room-side doors or drawers are opened by nurse staff for administering the medications to patients. The hallway door and room doors interlock to prevent their being opened at the same time to safeguard patient privacy. An ultraviolet germicidal illumination system bathes each bin in sterilizing radiation to destroy pathogens that may be present from handling or transport of the bins. |
| US08473095B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, method of displaying error of substrate processing apparatus and transfer control method
A substrate processing apparatus capable of easily checking a state of a transfer mechanism when an error occurs and readily determining a cause of the error is provided. The substrate processing apparatus includes at least one sensor provided in a transfer mechanism for transferring a substrate, a transfer control module for receiving sensing data transmitted by the at least one sensor, a transfer system controller for controlling the transfer control module, and a manipulation unit at least including a display unit for displaying a state of the transfer mechanism based on the sensed data. Therefore, when an error occurs, at least the sensed data transmitted by the at least one sensor is displayed on the display unit. |
| US08473088B2 |
System and method for generating instructions for customization
A method of creating a triangulated surfaces for generating machine readable instructions for customization is provided. The method comprises selecting text or symbols. The text or symbols are spaced. The text or symbols are mapped between first and second curves. Triangulated surfaces are generated from the mapped text or symbols. The triangulated surfaces are converted to machine readable instructions. |
| US08473087B2 |
Version control for objects in a process plant configuration system
A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item. |
| US08473086B2 |
Substrate reworking by liquid drop ejection means
A substrate reworking system (1) improves rework tact time and eliminates unnecessary reworking to perform efficient reworking. The system (1) includes: a defect information acquisition unit (2) for acquiring defect information for an entire region on the target substrate (9); a reworking unit (3) having at least one liquid drop discharge unit (6) for dispensing a liquid drop to a defective part on the target substrate (9) based on the defect information acquired by the defect information acquisition unit (2); and a rework determining unit (4) for determining, for each target substrate (9) and based on the defect information acquired by the defect information acquisition unit (2), whether the reworking unit (3) needs to perform reworking. |
| US08473085B2 |
Mutex-mediated control of spatial access by appliances moveable over a common physical space
A configurable mutual exclusion function oversees movement of appliances mobile over a common physical space in an automated laboratory workstation. A configurable mutex is allotted for each moveable appliance and is configurable to protect a task site when obtained for the respective appliance. |
| US08473082B2 |
Portable media playback device including user interface event passthrough to non-media-playback processing
A method of operating a portable electronics device can include integrated operation of media playback processing and non-media-playback processing (such as, for example, a game). The method can include receiving an event corresponding to operation of a user interface item by a user of the portable electronics device. The received event can be provided to the non-media-playback processing. The non-media-playback processing can determine whether to cause an action corresponding to the provided received event with respect to the non-media-playback processing. For an event determined by the non-media-playback processing to not cause an action corresponding to the provided received event with respect to the non-media-playback processing, the provided received event can be provided to the media playback processing. Typically, the operating performed by the media playback processing based on the event can be the processing that would otherwise be performed by the media playback processing if the non-media-playback processing was not even occurring. |
| US08473081B2 |
Method and system for event reminder using an earpiece
A method for administering an audio message to a user of an earpiece can include receiving event information from a paired communication device, updating a personal event calendar by ordering event information to generate a first event list, generating a modified event list by grouping events in the first event list according to acceptance criteria based on event priority of event types, and generating an audio token for collective events in the modified event list for audible delivery to the ear canal. Events can be ordered by event name, event location, event data, event importance, event invitees, or event category. |
| US08473080B2 |
Control of cooling towers for chilled fluid systems
A system for controlling a cooling tower that cools condenser fluid for a condenser of a chiller includes a cooling tower fan system that controllably varies a speed of at least one fan motor. The system further includes an extremum seeking controller that receives inputs of power expended by the cooling tower fan system and of power expended by the chiller. The extremum seeking controller provides an output to the cooling tower fan system that controls the speed of the at least one fan motor. The extremum seeking controller determines the output by searching for a speed of the at least one fan motor that minimizes the sum of the power expended by the cooling tower fan system and the power expended by the chiller. |
| US08473072B2 |
Customizable medical electrode
A medical electrode includes a conductive member having a top and a bottom side and a plurality of cutouts establishing a pattern of islands interconnected by conductive member bridges. A plurality of island electrodes are provided with each island electrode disposed on a corresponding island. A conductive adhesive is disposed on the conductive member bottom side for adhering the medical electrode to a patient's skin. |
| US08473065B2 |
Implantable medical device which may be controlled from central station
An implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from a patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a medical expert (a human medical professional and/or a computerized expert system) at a remote location; an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to control signals applied thereto; and a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing sensor circuit output signal(s) representing medical data sensed from the patient. The IMD also includes logic device which analyzes the sensor circuit output signal(s) to detect a medical abnormality and either sends a notification signal as well as signal(s) representing a medical state of said patient to the medical expert at the remote location or sends a local treatment device control signal to the medical treatment device, or does both. |
| US08473064B2 |
Electrical stimulation method for reduction of joint compression
An electrical stimulation method for the reduction of joint compression utilizes an electrical stimulation device that includes a plurality of channels of electrodes each of which includes at least a first and second electrode positioned in electrical contact with tissue of at least two muscles crossing a joint. Agonist/antagonist muscles involved in abduction/adduction, flexion/extension, supination/pronation, protraction/retraction, and/or eversion/inversion of body regions via joint movement are stimulated with a patterned series of electrical pulses through channels of electrodes in accordance with a procedure for reducing joint compression. The patterned series of electrical pulses may comprise: a plurality of cycles of a biphasic sequential pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a biphasic overlapping pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a triphasic sequential pulse train pattern; and a plurality of cycles of a triphasic overlapping pulse train pattern. |
| US08473061B2 |
Deep brain stimulation current steering with split electrodes
A device for brain stimulation includes a lead having a longitudinal surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a lead body. The device also includes a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead. The plurality of electrodes includes a first set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a first longitudinal position along the lead; and a second set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a second longitudinal position along the lead. The device further includes one or more conductors that electrically couple together all of the segmented electrodes of the first set of segmented electrodes. |
| US08473060B2 |
Apparatus and method for modulating neurochemical levels in the brain
A treatment for Parkinson's Disease uses a stimulus electrode implanted in a subthalamic nucleus with a chemosensor implanted in a globus pallidus pars interna (GPi) of the subject. A level of a neurochemical is sensed with the chemosensor, and compared to a desired level. When the level of the neurochemical is less than desired, an electrical stimulation is provided to the stimulus electrode. In alternative embodiments, the neurochemical sensed is glutamate or dopamine. An alternative system uses a chemosensor implanted in the striatum instead of the GPi. An alternative system for treating benign essential tremor uses a stimulus electrode implanted in the thalamus with feedback taken from a chemosensor in the striatum. |
| US08473051B1 |
Low-energy atrial cardioversion therapy with controllable pulse-shaped waveforms
An implantable therapy generator that includes sensing circuitry that senses cardiac signals representative of atrial activity and ventricular activity; detection circuitry connected to the sensing circuitry; control circuitry that controls generation and selective delivery of a multi-stage atrial cardioversion therapy to implanted electrodes, each stage of the therapy including multiple pulses, each pulse including multiple high-frequency sub-pulses; and therapy circuitry. The therapy circuitry includes a high-voltage charging circuit charging a storage capacitor to a predetermined voltage; a delivery capacitor connectable to the storage capacitor; and a control circuit adapted to selectively cause the storage capacitor to be electrically connected to the delivery capacitor so as to charge the delivery capacitor to a predetermined delivery voltage, and to cause a delivery switching circuit to be repeatedly opened and closed at a predetermined rate, thereby causing the sub-pulses to be transmitted to the electrodes. |
| US08473048B2 |
Package for an implantable neural stimulation device
The present invention is an improved hermetic package for implantation in the human body. The implantable device of the present invention includes an eclectically non-conductive bass including electrically conductive vias through the substrate. A circuit is flip-chip bonded to a subset of the vias. A second circuit is wire bonded to another subset of the vias. Finally, a cover is bonded to the substrate such that the cover, substrate and vias form a hermetic package. |
| US08473047B2 |
Multifrequency bioimpedence device and related methods
Embodiments relate to a device and a method of monitoring and analyzing physiological parameters of a patient. The method includes electrically connecting one or more electrodes with a measurement site of a patient, generating a stimulation signal or signals sufficient to provide multiple stimulation frequencies, multiple waveforms or a combination thereof, measuring a one or more bioimpedance values from the generated signals and analyzing at least one of a fluid bioimpedance contribution, fat bioimpedance contribution or ion bioimpedance contribution within the one or more bioimpedance values sufficient to generate a physiological report. |
| US08473045B2 |
Method for controlling device by using brain wave and brain wave interface system
The control method for a device includes steps of: presenting a visual stimulation concerning a manipulation menu for a device; measuring event-related potentials after the visual stimulation is presented, where event-related potentials based on a timing of presenting the visual stimulation as a starting point are measured from a potential difference between each of electrodes and at least one reference electrode respectively worn on a face and in an ear periphery of a user; from each of the measured event-related potentials, extracting electroencephalogram data which is at 5 Hz or less and contains a predetermined time section, and combining the extracted electroencephalogram data into electroencephalogram characteristic data; comparing the electroencephalogram characteristic data against reference data prepared in advance for determining a desire to select an item in the manipulation menu; and, based on a comparison result, executing a manipulation of the device corresponding to the item. |
| US08473037B2 |
Optical cable and optical coherence imaging diagnostic apparatus using this cable
An optical fiber is positioned in a lumen of a sheath so a gap exists between the sheath and optical fiber. A filling member fills part of the longitudinal extent of the gap and fixes the optical fiber. The gap is devoid of the filling member over a part of the longitudinal extent of the of the optical fiber so that an air gap exists between the optical fiber and the sheath. In the event bending, expansion and/or contraction are applied to the sheath, the stress is inhibited from being transmitted to the optical fiber. If the sheath is expanded and contracted, one end of the optical fiber is open and so the optical fiber is not expanded/contracted like the sheath expansion and contraction. Consequently, stress is not likely to be transmitted to the optical fiber and so it is possible to maintain a constant length of the optical fiber. |
| US08473036B2 |
In vivo measurement of mitochondrial function
Disclosed herein are devices for assessing mitochondrial function in a living subject comprising a catheter comprising a sheath defining a lumen, a distal end, and a proximal end comprising a light guide for radiating light onto a target within the subject and for receiving a fluorescence signal from the target; a light source, wherein the catheter is adapted for transmitting light from the light source to the light guide; and, a detector for receiving the fluorescence signal from the light guide and for correlating the fluorescence signal to the mitochondrial function of the target. Also disclosed are methods for assessing mitochondrial function in a living subject comprising placing a catheter proximate to a site of interest within the subject; using the catheter to acquire fluorescence signals from cells at the site of interest; and, correlating the fluorescence signals to the mitochondrial function of the cells. |
| US08473035B2 |
Medical imaging systems
A medical imaging system provides simultaneous rendering of visible light and diagnostic or functional images. The system may be portable, and may include adapters for connecting various light sources and cameras in open surgical environments or laparascopic or endoscopic environments. A user interface provides control over the functionality of the integrated imaging system. In one embodiment, the system provides a tool for surgical pathology. |
| US08473027B2 |
Process for draping breast MRI imaging coils
A draping provides at least partial and preferably complete coverage of MRI coils, an MRI table and an MRI support system thereby protecting a patient and the equipment. Draping notch fold down flaps may be pushed into shaped apertures of an MRI apparatus by the patient's breast due to the design of the draping. This offers a barrier between the patient and the equipment pad providing the patient with warmth, comfort and protection from infectious diseases such as Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The draping reduces the clean up and improves the procedure turnaround time for the technologist. |
| US08473021B2 |
Analyte monitoring device and methods of use
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor. |
| US08473018B2 |
Mobile device cradle having an integrated antenna or amplifier
Disclosed is a mobile device cradle, having a body and one or more docking members attached to the body for removably receiving a mobile device capable of sending and receiving communications via a communication network in the form of signals, an integrated antenna capable of communicating signals to and from the mobile device; and an integrated bidirectional amplifier in the body having a first and a second amplifier; a connection to a power adapter. Optionally, embodiments include a means for charging a battery of the mobile device. The mobile device cradle can be mounted inside a vehicle and used to improve the signal between the mobile device and the communication network. |
| US08473017B2 |
Adjustable antenna and methods
An adjustable monopole antenna especially intended for the mobile terminals. The adjusting circuit (930) of the antenna is located between the radiator (920) and the antenna port of a radio device and forms, together with the antenna feed conductor (901), a feed circuit. This circuit comprises an adjustable reactance between the feed conductor and the ground in series with the feed conductor or in both of those places. For example, the feed conductor can be connected by a multi-way switch to one of alternative transmission lines, which are typically short-circuited or open at their tail end and shorter than the quarter wave, each line acting for a certain reactance. The antenna operating band covers at a time only a part of the frequency range used by one or two radio systems, in which case the antenna matching is easier to arrange than of a real broadband antenna. The space required for both the radiator and the adjusting circuit is relatively small. There is no need to arrange a coupling to the radiator for the antenna adjusting, which means a simpler antenna structure and thus savings in production costs. |
| US08473013B2 |
Multi-level duty cycling
A duty cycle scheme for wireless communication employs three or more duty cycle levels. In some aspects, a wireless device may continually scan for signals in an active state associated with a first duty cycle, periodically scan for signals during a periodic state associated with a second duty cycle, and periodically scan for signals during a standby state associated with a third duty cycle. Here, the second duty cycle may be lower than the first duty cycle and the third duty cycle may be lower than the second duty cycle. In some aspects the timing of different states may be correlated. In some aspects each wireless device in a system may independently control its duty cycle states. |
| US08473012B2 |
Architecture of a multimedia and hands-free phone equipment for a motor vehicle
The equipment comprises a pilot box (10) mounted on the dashboard, an offset box (12) and a link (14) for coupling these boxes. The pilot box comprises a signal processing and equipment control digital processor (18) and, coupled to this processor, an information display screen (20), means for applying user commands, and means (26) of wireless coupling with a remote phone (28). The offset box (12) comprises an audio amplifier (52) and a power supply (46) linked to the vehicle electrical network (48). The coupling link is consisted of a bidirectional digital bus adapted to convey concurrently digital signals and power supply currents. The offset box comprises an audio codec (56) coupling the digital bus to the audio amplifier, and an interconnection arrangement (38, 50, 58, 60, 64) for the wire connection to a plurality of peripheral devices (40, 42, 44, 62, 68, 72) of the equipment. |
| US08473009B2 |
Communication terminal and computer readable medium
A CPU of mobile a terminal causes, if to-do data is selected on a to-do review screen, a liquid crystal display to display a to-do data confirmation screen of the to-do data. In the to-do data confirmation screen, if the to-do data contains a character string that is an index of a telephone number or an email address in a phonebook data storage area, the character string is linked to the telephone number or the email address. |
| US08473006B1 |
Method and apparatus for frequency management
Disclosed is a method and apparatus and system for managing frequency use in a system where multiple air interface protocols are in use. When a wireless communication device (WCD) is operating under a particular air interface protocol on a particular frequency channel, the WCD detects a threshold signal under another air interface protocol, and the WCD responsively transitions from operating under the particular air interface protocol on the particular frequency channel to operating under the particular air interface protocol on a different frequency channel. The method may thereby help to reduce likelihood of interference. |
| US08473004B2 |
Eyeglasses with electronic components
A microphone, transmitter, speaker, receiver, and power source, all mounted to an eyeglasses frame, for sending and receiving signals wirelessly to and from a remote cell phone or other electronic device. The microphone and the transmitter can be mounted to extension arms that can be extended, pivoted, or otherwise moved to a position for use, and then moved to a stored position when not in use. Alternatively, the microphone, transmitter, speaker, receiver, and power source, can be mounted onto a clip-on or other attachment member that mounts onto a conventional eyeglasses frame, or to a hat or other article worn on the head. |
| US08472996B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating an initial transmission power in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment
A method and apparatus for calculating an initial transmission power in a mobile telecommunications system is disclosed, the system comprising a network of a plurality of cells and at least one user equipment device. The user equipment device receives broadcast system information, and measures a signal power. An initial transmission power is calculated in a lowest logical layer of the system defined as a protocol stack, using the received information and measured power. |
| US08472995B2 |
System and method for reducing power consumed by a wireless communication device
A system and method are provided for facilitating reduced power consumption when communicating between a wireless communication device and a wireless communication controller. A power management controller comprising a power saving detection unit and a power level controller is provided. The power savings detector detects when power savings can be applied in accordance with whether or data loss between the base state controller and the wireless communication device can be tolerated. The power level controller selects a reduced transmission power level at which to transmit data if a data loss can be tolerated. |
| US08472993B2 |
Downlink and uplink pathloss estimation gap adjustment scheme for wireless systems
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a pathloss gap between a downlink pathloss from a base station to a mobile station and an uplink pathloss from the mobile station to the base station is estimated. An initial offset value for uplink power control of the estimated pathloss gap is calculated based at least in part on said estimating. An offset value for an uplink data channel or an uplink control channel, or combinations thereof, is set based at least in part on the initial offset value. The pathloss gap for uplink power control is compensated using the set offset value. |
| US08472991B2 |
Method and a base station for detecting loss of synchronization
The present invention relates to a method for detecting loss in DRX synchronization in a telecommunications system. The present invention further relates to a base station configured to perform the method for detecting the loss in DRX synchronization. The method comprises the steps of assigning radio resources to a UE for enabling the UE to send uplink information to the base station. The method further comprises the step of detecting loss in DRX synchronization when information that is expected by the base station is absent on the assigned resource(s). |
| US08472990B2 |
Apparatus using interrupts for controlling a processor for radio isolation and associated method
A method of operating a radio-frequency (RF) circuitry and a signal-processing circuitry in a mobile telephone apparatus includes at least partially disabling the signal-processing circuitry while transmitting or receiving signals. In one example, a processor is efficiently disabled by generating and servicing an interrupt of relatively high priority. One advantage of this example is that preexisting, legacy code can be maintained, while still achieving the desired objectives. The processor can be enabled by generating and servicing a second high priority interrupt. |
| US08472986B2 |
Method and system of optimizing context-data acquisition by a mobile device
Disclosed are a system, method, and article of manufacture for optimization of context-data acquisition by a mobile device. A term of a short message generated with a mobile device is identified. A list is populated with at least one sensor of the mobile device. The list is sorted according to a specified metric. A physical quantity of an environmental attribute of the mobile device is measured with a first listed sensor. The measurement is converted into a context data. |
| US08472985B2 |
Incentive marketing with a context-enriched message
Disclosed are a system, method, and article of manufacture of incentive marketing with a context-enriched message. In one embodiment, a message is generated with a computing device. A context of the computing device pertaining to a message component is determined. A context data derived from the context is linked with the message component. An ad message related to at least one of the context of the computing device and the message component is provided. The ad message may be associated with the message. The message and the ad message may be communicated to a recipient computing device. The ad message and the message may be rendered with a user interface. |
| US08472984B2 |
Ambient telecommunication system, a method for operating such system, and a computer readable medium
An ambient telecommunication system (10) is provided. The system (10) comprises a set of transmitters (11) and a corresponding set of receivers (12) for transmitting and receiving electronically or digitally encoded sound between two or more conversing parties. The ambient telecommunication system further comprises at least one light emitting unit (14) connected to a transmitter or receiver, and is configured to emit light when its corresponding transmitter (11) or receiver (12) is in an active mode. A method for operating the system, and a computer readable medium carrying code segments for carrying out the method is also provided. |
| US08472977B2 |
Method and system for use of a trusted server to facilitate location determination
Disclosed is a method and system for use of a trusted server such as an over-the-air provisioning server to facilitate mobile location determination. If a mobile location server (MLS) sends a location-determination message to a mobile station and does not receive a response back from the mobile station, there is a chance that the mobile station is not provisioned with a correct address of the MLS and that the mobile station therefore did not respond. To help jump start the location-determination process, the MLS may respond to that situation by instead causing a trusted server such as an over-the-air-service-provisioning (OTASP) server to send a location-determination message to the mobile station, triggering a response from the mobile station. |
| US08472975B2 |
Positioning support device and positioning support method
Highly-accurate approximate positional information is transmitted to a communication terminal. An approximate positional information database of a server included in a positioning support system includes approximate positional information used for positioning calculation at the communication terminal and which indicates a position of a cell in which the communication terminal is located and a cell identifier identifying the cell, with approximate positional information and the cell being associated with each other. Based on a positioning information transmission request which includes a cell and which is transmitted from the communication terminal, approximate positional information stored in the approximate positional information database is acquired and transmitted from a communication unit to the communication terminal. Positioning result information indicating a result of the positioning calculation transmitted from the communication terminal is received and, based on this information, approximate positional information stored in the approximate positional information database is updated by a control unit. The accuracy of approximate positional information is enhanced due to the approximate positional information stored in the approximate positional information database being updated based on positioning result information. |
| US08472974B2 |
Location continuity service for locating mobile devices using multiple access networks including wireless telecommunication networks
A location continuity service having a location continuity application server (“LCAS”) that utilizes location data generated by multiple networks to determine the location of a mobile device is disclosed. The LCAS specifies a suitable reconciliation process that identifies two or more location estimation techniques that are implemented by different access networks and indicates how to utilize the location data produced by the identified estimation techniques. The LCAS interacts with various access networks identified by the reconciliation process in order to receive location data (e.g., positioning measurements and/or estimated locations) generated by the access networks and analyzes the received data to determine the location of a mobile device and provide the determined location to a location-based service. In some examples, an LCAS also provides location continuity when a mobile device moves between a home communications system and a visited communications system. |
| US08472972B2 |
Device, system, and method of physical context based wireless communication
Device, system and method of physical context based wireless communication. For example, a method for physical context based wireless communication includes: determining an association between a spatial location of a wireless communication device and location context information related to said spatial location; determining an identity of a user of said wireless communication device; and determining an association between said user of the wireless communication device and said location context information. |
| US08472971B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining whether a mobile terminal has moved outside a given locale
To determine whether a mobile terminal of a communications system has moved outside a locale, the terminal measures relative time offsets of signals received by the terminal from transmitters of the network, relative to each other or a reference. At a first time when the terminal is within a given locale, the time of receipt of signals received by the terminal from a plurality of the transmitters relative to a reference or each other are measured to create a first set of receive time offsets. At a second time, a second set of receive time offsets is measured. Change(s) in receive time offsets is/are calculated, and change(s) between the first and second times in transmission time offsets of the signals transmitted by at least one transmitter is/are obtained to determine movement indicators that are compared with threshold valuets to determine whether the mobile terminal has moved outside the locale. |
| US08472969B1 |
Method and system for selecting a coverage area in which a mobile station should operate
A method and system for selecting a coverage area in which a given mobile station should operate. The system will receive user ratings of call quality per coverage area. The system will then use the received user ratings as a basis to select a coverage area in which the given mobile station should operate. The system will then cause the given mobile station to operate in the selected coverage area. By using these user ratings as a basis to select a coverage area in which the given mobile station should operate, the system can help improve call quality overall for users, thus increasing user satisfaction with wireless performance. |
| US08472967B2 |
Allocating transmit power among two or more carriers assigned to a wireless communication device
Allocating transmit power among two or more carriers assigned to a wireless communication device is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of allocating transmit power includes determining a total amount of data transmit power available at the wireless communication device for data transmission over the carriers. An efficiency metric is determined for each carrier based on the carrier's transmission characteristics and a portion of the total data transmit power is allocated to each carrier based on each carrier's efficiency metric. |
| US08472965B2 |
Mobility in multi-carrier high speed packet access
A method for wireless communications is provided. The method includes generating two or more uplink carrier signals across a wireless network and generating at least one active signal set for the wireless network. The method also includes generating one or more secondary active signal sets in accordance with the two or more uplink carrier signals to facilitate communications across the wireless network. |
| US08472964B2 |
Combined base transceiver station and base station controller call origination and termination
A system, method, and computer readable medium for a mobile origination comprises receiving an origination request message by a main call control (MCC) from a radio call control (RCC), receiving an assignment request message by the RCC from the MCC, receiving a traffic channel assign message by a channel element control (CEC) and by the MCC from the RCC, receiving a call setup message by a selector distribution unit (SDU) from the MCC, and receiving a link active message by the CEC from the SDU. |
| US08472961B2 |
Method and system for performing a handoff in a wireless communication system
A system for maintaining wireless communication with a plurality of base stations in a communication network is disclosed. A portable terminal having a communication unit is configured to measure signal strength of a transmission signal for neighboring base stations in a frequency band being used by the communication unit, and create a first handoff candidate list in which one or more handoff candidates in a same frequency band are recorded. A handoff using the first handoff candidate list is performed by the portable terminal. Thereafter, the portable terminal measures signal strength of one or more base stations included in a second handoff candidate list. The result of the signal strength measurements are reported to the currently communicating base station, and a handoff is performed based on a response to the report at the portable terminal. |
| US08472960B2 |
Wireless communication terminal and wireless communication method for controlling handover based on handover history
A wireless communication terminal performs normal handover by selecting one among a plurality of base stations to connect to based on a predetermined condition in relation to a received power level of a signal received has a measuring unit for measuring received power levels of signals from the plurality of base stations at every first predetermined time, a handover history memory unit for storing a history of the handover, and a control unit, if it is determined that handover is repeated between a first base station and a second base station within a second predetermined time, for controlling to connect to a base station with a smaller variation of the received power level between the first base station and the second base station if the predetermined condition is satisfied between the received power level from the first base station and the received power level from the second base station. |
| US08472954B2 |
Base station device, mobile station device, communication system, and communication method
A communication system which performs communication between a base station device configuring at least one cell and a mobile station device, wherein: the base station device includes: a synchronization signal generation unit which generates a synchronization signal corresponding to a cell identity for identifying a cell; and a transmission unit which generates a first transmission signal including the synchronization signal using a first parameter obtained from the cell identity, generates a second transmission signal excluding the synchronization signal using a second parameter obtained from a virtual cell identity different from the cell identity, transmits the first transmission signal using a first frequency band, and transmits the second transmission signal via a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The mobile station device includes: a reception unit which receives a first reception signal including the synchronization signal using the first parameter obtained from the cell identity via the first frequency band and receives a second reception signal using the second parameter obtained from the virtual cell identity via the second frequency band. |
| US08472952B1 |
Discovering a frequency of a wireless access point
A dual-mode wireless communication device (WCD), capable of communicating via both Wifi and cellular technologies, registers with a Wifi access point. As part of the registration process, or at some point thereafter, the Wifi access point transmits a frequency at which a femtocell access point operates. Upon receiving this frequency, the WCD registers for cellular service with the femtocell access point. As a result, the WCD may be able to communicate simultaneously via both the Wifi access point and the femtocell access point. |
| US08472950B2 |
Location-based microcell search
A network device may store information identifying a coverage area associated with each of one or more cells that are associated with the network device. The network device may receive information identifying a geographic location of a user device. The network device may compare the geographic location of the user device to one or more of the stored coverage areas. The network device may also determine, based on the comparing, that the user device is within a particular coverage area of a particular cell, of the one or more cells. The network device may further send, to the user device, and based on determining that the user device is located within the particular coverage area of the particular cell, an instruction for the user device to connect to the particular cell, where the user device is to attempt to connect to the particular cell in response to the instruction. |
| US08472949B2 |
Semiconductor assembly
A semiconductor assembly is disclosed. One embodiment provides a first semiconductor and a second semiconductor, each having a first main connection and a second main connection arranged on opposite sides, and a carrier having a patterned metallization with a first section spaced apart from a second section. The first semiconductor is electrically connected to the first section by its second main connection, and the second semiconductor electrically connected to the second section by its second main connection. The first semiconductor chip first main connection and the second semiconductor chip first main connection are electrically connected to one another and for the connection of an external load or of an external supply voltage. |
| US08472948B2 |
Method and device for improving network discovery and selection
The present invention provides a method for improving Network Discovery and Selection suitable for a UE which is moving into a new TA, which comprises: receiving, by a MMF, a TAU request including the new TA from the UE; allocating, by the MMF, a new TA List according to the new TA in the TAU request; sending, by the MMF, the new TA List to the UE; sending, by the MMF, a TA information to a Mobility Policy Function, MPF, for updating mobility policy of the UE if the new TA is a special TA covered by different networks. |
| US08472947B2 |
Call processing system for mobile and method thereof
Disclosed herein is a call processing system and method for mobile communication terminals. The call processing system for mobile communication terminals according to the present invention includes a gateway location register (130) for generating a Database (DB) for an international roaming service subscriber. A roaming control unit (120) registers a location of a mobile communication terminal (101), determines whether a call originates using a primary number or a secondary number in the international roaming service on a basis of originating service provider information and a called number, included in a call origination signal from the mobile communication terminal, and sends a signal corresponding to a result of the determination to a mobile switching center of a network in which the mobile communication terminal is located. The international roaming service assigns a primary number in a home network and assigns a secondary number in a partner network. |
| US08472942B2 |
System and method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a mobile conveyance
A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a control networks on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with the control network. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network may have user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network may also include a wide area network interface, allowing diagnostic information for the control network to be retrieved or parts to be ordered from remote vendor sites. The system may also include wireless handheld, portable equipment for allowing service personnel to perform diagnostic analysis, maintenance, and testing of the mobile conveyance control network. |
| US08472939B2 |
Communication method and control apparatus, base station apparatuses and terminal apparatus using the communication method
A first interface unit receives an incoming signal notification addressed to a terminal apparatus. A generator generates a first message used to have the received incoming signal notification in a paging channel. A second interface unit outputs the generated first message to a base station apparatus corresponding to a paging area of the terminal apparatus. The first interface unit receives, from the base station apparatus, connection information indicating that a communication channel for data communication is established between the terminal apparatus and the base station apparatus. When the connection information is received, the generator generates a second message used to have the incoming signal notification included in the communication channel. The second interface unit outputs the generated second message to the base station apparatus that has established the communication channel with the terminal. |
| US08472936B1 |
Dynamically configurable IP based wireless devices and wireless networks
A wireless communication and control system including a wireless device. There is a central server for storing communication protocols and control protocols and communicating the communication protocols and selectively communicating the control protocols between the wireless device and the central server. A communication protocol configures the system for communication and control protocols configure the system as one of a selection of intelligent appliance controllers. Alternately the control protocols configure the system as one of a selection of Internet terminals. The wireless device is any hand-held communication device, such as a hand-held computing device, wireless telephone, or cellular phone. |
| US08472925B2 |
On-demand, real-time interpretation system and method
A system and method for on-demand, real-time interpretation services. The system includes a mobile hands-free communicator that cooperates with a two-way radio frequency communication device. The hands-free communicator includes a unique identifier that is operably associated with the user. An initiation protocol enables the user to request interpretation services using the hands-free communicator. |
| US08472923B2 |
Monitoring mobile phone communications
The specification describes systems, and operation of systems, that allows a parent or other responsible party to monitor the mobile device activities of a child. In addition, it optionally allows the parent to dynamically control the mobile device activities of the child. It relies on software, or a network adjunct, that links a mobile device to a station set or mobile phone under the control of the parent. Calling traffic to and from the mobile device may be routed to a receiver at a location monitored by the parent. In preferred embodiments, software is designed to allow the parent to intervene in the communications of the child. The intervention may take a variety of forms, such as interrupting a call in progress, terminating all call activity, interrupting or terminating Internet access. Where the mobile device is provided with pre-programmed restraining software, the intervention may be to modify the restraining software to add new restraints. |
| US08472920B2 |
System and method for providing wireless networks as a service
A wireless network system is provided. The system comprises a wireless network controller and a plurality of access points and/or femtocells. The wireless network controller is in communication with each of the plurality of access points and/or femtocells via an access data network, and is configured to perform one or more network control functions for the benefit of the plurality of access points and/or femtocells. The network control functions may be selected from management and operation, client authentication, mobility, and per-user administration. The wireless network controller is remotely located and operated with respect to the plurality of access points and/or femtocells. |
| US08472919B1 |
Network based technique for obtaining operator identifier for mobile devices
Efficient network based techniques can be implemented in the equipment of an operator of a mobile communication network to automatically obtain an operator or billing identifier associated with a mobile device of a user or subscriber associated with the network. Such techniques can be utilized even when a client application program on the device is restricted by the device manufacturer from providing the operator's billing identifier in communications through the mobile network with an associated application server. The operator identifier associated with the user's mobile device can be obtained without significantly impacting system resources, performance, or user experience. |
| US08472917B1 |
Position determination for emergency call from multi-mode mobile station
In the examples, at the start of an emergency call, a mobile station determines one or more types of wireless access technologies available from the mobile communication network, from among wireless access technologies supported by the mobile station. Based on a hierarchy regarding ability to determine location of the mobile station using each of the supported wireless access technologies, the mobile station selects an available wireless access technology of the mobile communication network offering the best ability to determine location of the mobile station and initiates a determination of the location of the mobile station for purposes of the emergency call via the mobile communication network using the selected wireless access technology. |
| US08472916B2 |
Preformatted emergency text message
A wireless communications device and method for generating and communicating an emergency text message includes in response to receiving a request to communicate an emergency text message, accessing stored personal data for use in generating content of the emergency text message. A determination may be made if current location coordinates are available. The emergency text message may be populated with the accessed stored personal data and current location coordinates, if available. The populated emergency text message may be communicated over a communications network. |
| US08472911B2 |
Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system includes: a filter; and a semiconductor chip including a signal processing integrated circuit having an amplifier, wherein a main surface of the semiconductor chip is provided with a plurality of electrode terminals along an edge portion thereof; wherein the amplifier has a transistor including a control electrode, a first electrode through which a signal is outputted, and a second electrode to which a voltage is applied; wherein the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode of the transistor are connected to the electrode terminals, respectively; and wherein none of wirings are arranged between the electrode terminals and placements of the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode, making space between the electrodes and the electrode terminals narrow. |
| US08472906B1 |
Systems and methods for recovery of a sub-carrier signal from a stereophonic multiplexed signal
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for recovering a sub-carrier signal from a multiplexed signal having an embedded pilot tone signal. The recovery system includes circuitry for recovering a pilot signal from the received multiplexed signal, for generating a frequency-doubled signal from the recovered pilot signal, and for phase-shifting the frequency-doubled signal by a pre-determined phase difference from the embedded pilot tone signal. Another recovery system includes circuitry for recovering a pilot signal from the received multiplexed signal, for phase-shifting the pilot signal by a pre-determined phase difference from the embedded pilot tone signal, and for generating a frequency-doubled signal from the phase-shifted signal. |
| US08472905B2 |
Method and system for tuning an antenna using injection
A method for wireless communication includes adding a received DVB-H signal with a reference oscillator signal to generate an added DVB-H signal. The reference oscillator signal may be added at an input of a matching load. The matching load may be used to tune a wireless antenna that receives the received DVB-H signal based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with the added DVB-H signal. The reference oscillator signal may be generated, and the generated reference oscillator signal may be amplified. The added DVB-H signal may be amplified subsequent to the adding. The RSSI associated with the added DVB-H signal may be determined. The tuning may occur during receiving of a preamble of a packet for the received DVB-H signal. |
| US08472901B2 |
Gain control in a multiple RF transceiver integrated circuit
A radio frequency (RF) transceiver integrated circuit (IC) includes a plurality of baseband Tx sections, a plurality of RF Tx sections, a plurality of RF Rx sections, and a plurality of baseband Rx sections. The RF transceiver IC further includes a static digital interface, a dynamic digital interface, and gain control, distribution, and buffering circuitry. Static digital interfaces are operable to receive static gain control commands from a coupled baseband processor. The dynamic digital interface is also operable to receive dynamic gain control commands from the coupled baseband processor. The gain control, distribution, and buffering circuitry is operable to apply the static gain control commands and dynamic gain control commands to at least some of the plurality of baseband Tx sections, the plurality of RF Tx sections, the plurality of RF Rx sections, and the plurality of baseband Rx sections. |
| US08472895B2 |
Method for controlling an EER power amplifier for digital transmission
A method for controlling power amplifiers for digital transmission includes converting a digital modulation signal according to envelope elimination and restoration into an amplitude signal and into a phase-modulated carrier signal. The amplitude signal and the phase-modulated carrier signal are combined in a final stage so as to provide a transmit signal. The amplitude signal is automatically monitored by a module that employs a distribution-density function of the amplitude signal in order to determine a direct component error of the amplitude signal. The distribution-density function of the amplitude signal corresponds to a Rayleigh function if the energy of the complex modulation signal is distributed approximately uniformly within a bandwidth being used. If the spectral power density has an approximately rectangular form, the Rayleigh function is used to determine the direct component error. The direct component error is determined from the amplitude signal. |
| US08472893B2 |
System for controlling antenna diversity in a home area network
A system, in one embodiment, includes an energy services interface having first and second antennas configured to communicate with a home area network (HAN) to receive information related to energy, communication circuitry configured to communicate data using the first and second antennas, and control logic configured to assign the first HAN device to either the first or second antenna as a first assigned antenna based at least partially upon which of the first or second antennas receives a stronger signal when communicating with first HAN device. In addition, the energy services interface is configured to communicate with the first HAN device via the first assigned antenna based on an antenna diversity schedule. |
| US08472892B2 |
Reverse link mobile transmit diversity
An access network is wirelessly coupled to an access terminal. The access network comprises a plurality of communication modules, a transmitter and a channel estimator. The plurality of communication modules coupled to the access terminal and configured to transmit a plurality of signals. The transmitter coupled to the access terminal and configured to send an index which indicates number of the plurality of signals. The channel estimator, configured to adjust and modulate a channel state information into the plurality of signals. |
| US08472889B2 |
Radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit floor plan applicable to MIMO
A Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver Integrated Circuit (IC) includes a first RF transceiver group, a first baseband section, a second RF transceiver group, a second baseband section, local oscillation circuitry, and local oscillation distribution circuitry. The first baseband section communicatively couples to the first RF transceiver group. The second RF transceiver group resides in substantial symmetry with the first RF transceiver group about a center line of symmetry of the RF transceiver IC. The second baseband section communicatively coupled to the second RF transceiver group. The local oscillation distribution circuitry operably couples to the local oscillation generation circuitry, to the first RF transceiver group, and to the second RF transceiver group. The second baseband section may reside in substantial symmetry with the first baseband section about the center line of symmetry of the RF transceiver IC. |
| US08472888B2 |
Method and apparatus for calibrating a communication device
A system that incorporates the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to perform actual measurements of one or more performance parameters of a communication device according to a subset of tuning states of a tunable matching network operable in a communication device, determine estimated measurements of the one or more performance parameters of the communication device for a portion of the tuning states not included in the subset of tuning states according to the actual measurements, identify a data set for each of the one or more performance parameters from at least portions of the tuning states and the actual and estimated measurements, and determine from at least a portion of the data sets one or more tuning states that achieve at least one desirable performance characteristic of the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08472885B2 |
Information presenting apparatus, information presenting method, and the like, for performing communication with a plurality of devices
The present invention provides an information presenting apparatus, an information presenting method, and the like enabling a plural users to log in and capable of improving convenience (usability) and the like for users. The information presenting apparatus capable of performing radio communication with a plural radio communication devices includes a storage which stores setting information that specifies content or format of information to be presented to users of the radio communication devices so that the setting information for the plural radio communication devices can be distinguished from each other, a registration unit which registers the radio communication device with which radio communication is established and a presentation unit which presents the information on the basis of the setting information for the registered radio communication device. |
| US08472880B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and indicating method
A wireless communication apparatus includes: a first unit which is connected in wireless to a base station by radio wave, and which includes: a measuring unit which measures a reception electric field strength of the radio wave in the first unit transmitted from the base station to the first unit; and a transmitter which transmits information of the reception electric field strength measured by the measuring unit; and a second unit which is connected to the first unit, and which includes: a receiver which receives the information of the reception electric field strength transmitted by the transmitter; and a first indicator which indicates on the second unit the information of the reception electric field strength received by the receiver. |
| US08472878B2 |
System and method to deterministically and dynamically prevent interference to the operation of safety-of-life radio equipment
A system to deterministically and dynamically prevent interference to the operation of safety-of-life radio equipment in a vehicle is provided. The system includes a radio management system and a wireless network frequency controller communicatively coupled to the radio management system. The wireless network frequency controller is operable to restrict the operational frequency of any one or more of internal wireless communication devices and any one or more of wireless sensors that are communicatively coupled to the wireless network frequency controller. The restriction of the operational frequency is based on input from the radio management system. The restriction of the operational frequency ensures that all the safety-of-life radio equipment has interference-free operation with the internal wireless communication devices and the wireless sensors that are communicatively coupled to the wireless network frequency controller. |
| US08472875B2 |
Wireless mobile communication system for vehicle and method of use
The present invention relates to technology which performs wireless communications of a vehicle by selectively operating a wireless communications module of a vehicle connected to an AP (Access Point) which collects vehicle information according to the state of the vehicle. The present invention includes a vehicle information storage unit that stores vehicle information collected from each electronic control unit of a vehicle; a wireless communications module that performs wireless communications with an AP (Access Point); and a wireless communications controller that controls a connection state of the AP with the wireless communications module by selectively operating the wireless communications module according to the state of the vehicle, and sends the vehicle information to the AP through the wireless communications module. |
| US08472872B2 |
On-channel repeating apparatus and method
An on-channel repeating apparatus and method is provided. The method includes subtracting a replica of a feedback signal from a signal received from a main transmitter or another repeating apparatus; demodulating and equalizing the signal to remove noise, a multipath signal, and the remaining feedback signal from the signal; inserting identification signal having good correlation properties into the signal; modulating the signal; and transmitting the modulated signal. |
| US08472861B2 |
Automatic essay scoring system
Systems and methods for building a model for use in grading an essay are provided. A plurality of human graded essays are evaluated using a processor to generate a set of features. A score category is determined for each of the plurality of human graded essays. A weight is produced using a processor for each feature based on the score category for each of the plurality of human graded essays and the set of features. A model is generated using a processor based on the weights for the set of features for evaluating an essay. The set of features includes n features, where the first k features have optimized weights, and the last n−k features have fixed predetermined weights. |
| US08472852B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a foam fixer generator unit generating a foam fixer containing a softener softening toner by dissolving or swelling part of resin of the toner, an application roller carrying and transferring the foam fixer onto a recording sheet, a pressure roller applying pressure to a toner image on the recording sheet via the foam fixer on the application roller to fix the toner image on the recording sheet, a cleaning device removing residual components remaining on the application roller, a recording sheet detector unit detecting presence or absence of the recording sheet, a remover unit being in contact with and separated from the application roller to remove the foam fixer on the application roller, and a control unit controlling the contact-separation operation of the remover unit based on a detected result of a front end and/or a rear end of the recording sheet. |
| US08472850B2 |
Image forming device and developing device
A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that forms a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching a developer on the electrostatic latent image; a supplying member that supplies the developer to the developer carrier by contacting the developer carrier, and that scrapes the developer remaining on the surface of the developer carrier from the developer carrier, and a deformation amount between the developer carrier and the supplying member is individually configured corresponding to a location where the developing device is provided in the image forming device. |
| US08472849B2 |
Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus having toner cartridge
A toner cartridge has first and second toner housing portions configured to house toner. The first toner housing portion has a first bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second toner housing portion has a second bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second bottom part is next to the first bottom part and is situated at a position lower than the first bottom part. A third bottom part is provided between the first bottom part and the second bottom part. The third bottom part has a toner discharge port. |
| US08472848B2 |
Developer supply container including a portion for regulating mounting attitude thereof
A developer supply container is mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a driving gear, wherein the container mounted to the apparatus is settable to a set position by a rotating operation of the container in a setting direction by an operator, and includes a substantially cylindrical portion; a developer discharging opening provided on a surface of the cylindrical portion; a developer feeding member provided in the cylindrical portion; a drive receiving member to engage with the driving gear for rotating the developer feeding member; and a regulating portion for regulating a mounting attitude of the cylindrical portion so as to prevent engagement between the drive receiving member and the driving gear. A rotating operation of the cylindrical portion toward a set position about a center of the cylindrical portion in a setting direction engages the drive receiving member with the driving gear. |
| US08472844B2 |
Drive mechanism and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A drive mechanism of the present invention includes: a housing part composed of a first resin cover and a second resin cover; a first sheet metal member housed in the housing part; a first rotation transmission wheel group disposed on the first sheet metal member on a side directed to the first resin cover; a second rotation transmission wheel group disposed on the first sheet metal member on a side directed to the second resin cover; a positioning part rotatably supporting a first rotation transmission wheel of the first rotation transmission wheel group; and a pin member positioned by inserting into the positioning part via the first resin cover. |
| US08472842B2 |
Image forming device including process unit provided with handle
An image forming device includes a main casing, a support member, a plurality of developing cartridges, a handle provided to the support member, and a pair of interfering parts provided at both ends of the support member. Each developing cartridge includes a casing and a developing member supported by the casing. A gap between the pair of interfering parts is narrower than a length of the developing member, and the pair of interfering parts is located between the handle and one of the developing cartridges. Each of the interfering parts has a higher height than the handle. |
| US08472834B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device that forms a toner image on the surface of the image carrier, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer material such as paper, a neutralizing unit that neutralizes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier by light radiation, a cleaning unit that cleans toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred. The image carrier, the developing device, the transfer unit, the neutralizing unit, and the cleaning unit are provided to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further includes a withdrawal mechanism that withdraws at least the image carrier, the cleaning unit, and the neutralizing unit integrally from the main body of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08472830B2 |
Serial duplex image forming system for duplex printing and display of assignment of logical pages
An image forming device including a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit, an assignment unit and a reporting unit is provided. The first image forming unit forms images on one face of a recording paper. The second image forming unit receives the recording paper from the first image forming unit and forms images on the other face of the received recording paper, and performs image formation of a type that differs from the image formation performed by the first image forming unit. The assignment unit assigns logical pages of image data of a printing target to the first image forming unit or the second image forming unit. The reporting unit reports image forming information indicating what type of image formation is to be performed on each of the assigned logical pages of the image data. |
| US08472828B2 |
Developer fixing device and image forming apparatus having a plurality of heating units
An invented fixing device having a fixing roller for fixing developer to a recording medium and plural fixing heaters for heating the fixing roller includes a temperature detection unit as well as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller, a RAM storing the switching temperature for switching drive of the fixing heaters, a heater selection unit for selecting some of the fixing heaters to be driven based on the switching temperature and the detected temperature of the fixing member detected through the temperature detection unit, and a heat control unit for selectively driving the fixing heater selected by the heater selection unit. |
| US08472825B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is configured to control the timing to switch a development unit by a development rotary after forming an image, based on the size of the image to be formed. Accordingly, if the switching of the development unit is completed within a time period corresponding to a trailing edge margin of an image area, a subsequent color image can be formed without idling an intermediate transfer member, so that the image forming apparatus can suppress or reduce degradation of the throughput. |
| US08472823B2 |
Image forming apparatus featuring a control device for controlling a developer discharge operation in first and second modes
An image forming apparatus includes first and second developer carrying members and a control device. The apparatus is operable in a first mode where an image of a single color is formed using the first developer carrying member and is operable in a second mode, wherein an image of a plurality of colors is formed using the first and second developer carrying members. The control device controls a first discharging operation for discharging developer from the first developer carrying member and a second discharging operation for discharging developer from each of the first and second developer carrying members. When the apparatus executes only the first mode, the control device performs more image formations, in a period between completion of the second discharging operation and start of the first discharging operation, compared to a period between completion of the first discharging operation and start of a subsequent first discharging operation. |
| US08472820B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, comprises an image forming section, a transfer section to transfer the toner image onto a recording material; and a fixing device to fix the toner image onto the recording material; wherein the image forming section includes a plurality of color image forming sections and a transparent image forming section, and the plurality of color image forming sections and the transparent image forming section are arranged such that the transparent image is transferred so as to form a transparent image layer on an outer surface of the color image on the recording material at a fixing time by the fixing device, and wherein an amount of wax contained in the transparent toner is larger than an amount of wax contained in each color toner of the plurality of color toners and smaller than an amount of base resin contained in the transparent toner. |
| US08472818B2 |
Image carrier deterioration degree evaluating device, image carrier failure predicting device, and image forming apparatus
An image carrier deterioration degree evaluating apparatus for evaluating a degree of deterioration of an image carrier of an image forming apparatus, the image carrier deterioration degree evaluating apparatus including: an image deletion detecting unit that detects image deletion by obtaining latent image information written on the image carrier; an image deletion reducing unit that performs a process of reducing image deletion when the image deletion detecting unit detects image deletion, and an image carrier deterioration degree evaluating unit that drives the image deletion detecting unit and the image deletion reducing unit alternately one or more times each, and evaluates a degree of deterioration of the image carrier by using the latent image information obtained one or more times by the image deletion detecting unit. |
| US08472816B2 |
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus and includes an image bearing member, a developing device having a developer carrier, a transmitter transmitting a driving force received from the main assembly to the developer carrier, a charger movable toward and away from the image bearing member, for charging the image bearing member while contacting the image bearing member, a spacer, detachably mountable relative to the cartridge, for holding the charger at a position away from the image bearing member when the spacer is mounted and for permitting the charger to charge the image bearing member when the spacer is dismounted, and a drive controller for disengaging the driving connection between the transmitter and the developer carrier when the spacer is mounted, and for establishing the driving connection between the transmitter and the developer carrying member when the spacer is dismounted. |
| US08472814B2 |
Apparatus and method for equalizing chromatic dispersion and digital coherent optical receiver
This application relates to an apparatus and a method for equalizing chromatic dispersion and a digital coherent optical receiver. The apparatus for equalizing chromatic dispersion comprising: a chromatic dispersion equalizing unit, for compensating chromatic dispersion of an input signal; and an additional time delay removing unit, for removing, in accordance with frequency offset of the input signal, chromatic dispersion equalization time delay generated by the chromatic dispersion equalizing unit. |
| US08472813B2 |
Computationally-efficient MIMO equalization algorithm for high-speed, real-time, adaptive polarization multiplexed (POLMUX) OFDM transmission with direct detection
A polarization-multiplexed (POLMUX) optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system with direct detection includes an adaptive dual POLMUX carrier OFDM transmitter; and a block symmetric (B-S) MIMO equalizer coupled to the adaptive dual POLMUX carrier OFDM transmitter through a standard single-mode-fiber (SSMF) feedback path. |
| US08472812B2 |
Optical communication system, optical communication method and optical communication apparatus
Transmission-side communication apparatus 100 using a DQPSK (differential quadrature phase-shift keying) scheme is provided with: optical carrier generation section 102 which generates an optical carrier the frequency of which switches among a plurality of different frequencies within one symbol period; and modulation section 103 with which DQPSK-modulates the optical carrier generated by the optical carrier generation means in accordance with a modulation signal at an interval of the symbol period. There are provided: single delay interference section 121 which receives an optical signal obtained by DQPSK-modulating an optical carrier the frequency of which switches among a plurality of different frequencies within one symbol period and outputs an output light obtained by causing the optical signal 104 and a delay optical signal thereof to interfere with each other; and photoelectric conversion section 124 which converts the output light outputted by the delay interference means to an electric signal. |
| US08472809B2 |
Adaptive cross-polarization modulation cancellers for coherent optical communication systems
For coherent fiber optic communications, the nonlinear XPolM impairment is the most important issue to realize over-100 Gbps high-speed transmissions. A method provides a way to cancel time-varying XPolM crosstalk by introducing multi-stage adaptive mechanism. In the method, a low-complexity adaptive filtering based on recursive least-squares (RLS) first tracks the time-varying crosstalk along with the per-survivor trellis-state decoding. The estimated channel and the decoded data are then used to calculate the empirical covariance, which is in turn exploited to obtain more accurate channel estimates by means of optimal-weighted least-squares. This is performed with a low-complexity processing over frequency domain with fast Fourier transform. The performance is significantly improved with turbo principle decoding, more specifically, iterative decoding and iterative estimation over a block. |
| US08472802B2 |
Two-phase optical communication methods and optical bus systems for implementing the same
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for transmitting optical signals from a source to a plurality of receiving devices. In one method embodiment, an optical enablement signal is transmitted (401) from the source to the plurality of receiving devices. The target receiving device responds to receiving the optical enablement signal by preparing to receive one or more optical data signals. The source transmits the one or more optical data signals to the target receiving device. The remaining receiving devices do not receive the one or more optical data signals. |
| US08472801B2 |
Upgraded bandwidth map for ten gigabit passive optical network
An apparatus comprising an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to transmit a bandwidth map (BWmap) for a plurality of burst signals to be transmitted by a plurality of optical network units (ONUs), wherein the BWmap comprises a plurality of allocations, and wherein each allocation comprises a start time for the allocation, a grant size for the allocation, and a header error correction (HEC) for the allocation. |
| US08472800B2 |
Light amount adjusting device, and photographing apparatus and method
A light amount adjusting device including a support plate comprising a first through hole through which light passes; a first slider that comprises a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole, and linearly moves with respect to the support plate along a first direction; a first driver for generating a driving force for moving the first slider with respect to the supporting plate; and a light amount adjuster installed on the first slider and for adjusting an amount of light passing through the light amount adjuster. By using such a simple and compact light amount adjusting device, a two-dimensional (2D) photographing or a three-dimensional photographing is conveniently selected and performed. |
| US08472798B2 |
Method for focusing
A camera and a method for selecting a focus region in a camera view have a plurality of focus regions that are defined in the camera view. A focus distance of the camera is repeatedly set to focus at different distances by setting a lens distance of the camera to different lens distance values. A focus value is determined for each focus region at the set lens distance value. A function for a plurality of focus regions is estimated based on a plurality of determined focus value and lens distance value pairs. A local maximum point of the function is calculated for each focus region for which a function has been estimated, where the local maximum point has a lens distance value. Focus regions are grouped, rated and selected based on the lens distance value of the local maximum point of the focus regions and spatial distances between the focus regions. |
| US08472796B2 |
Photographing device equipped with geomagnetic sensor
A photographing device includes a geomagnetic sensor which detects an intensity of geomagnetism, an image capture unit which captures an image, and a lens tube including a part that exerts magnetic influence on the geomagnetic sensor, wherein a position of the part is shiftable. In addition, the photographing device includes a detection unit which detects a current shifted position of the part in the lens tube, an obtaining unit which obtains a magnetic field that exerts magnetic influence on the geomagnetic sensor from the lens tube corresponding to the current shifted position detected by the detection unit, and an orientation calculation unit which calculates an orientation by correcting an output of the geomagnetic sensor based on the magnetic field obtained by the obtaining unit. |
| US08472793B2 |
Playback apparatus and playback method
The present invention provides a technique for easily achieving a resume function for moving image content stored in one file in a removable recording medium.According to the present invention, a removable disc (Di1) in which moving image content stored in one file and another content are stored is played back, and, when playback of MPEG4 moving image file in the disc (Di1) that is played back is stopped and the disc (Di1) is removed, the file size, the file name, and the address of the MPEG4 moving image file are stored in a RAM 8. When the disc (Di1) is loaded again and the MPEG4 moving image file is played back, if it is determined that the disc (Di1) is identical to the removed disc by reading the file size and the file name stored in the RAM 8, playback of the MPEG4 moving image file is resumed on the basis of the address stored in the RAM 8. |
| US08472790B2 |
Digital cinema management device and digital cinema management method
A digital cinema management device includes a control unit that supplies data of contents stored in a storage device to a playback device, in which the control unit refers to the contents stored in the storage device, contents stored in a content storage unit of the playback device, and an exhibition schedule, selects contents which are scheduled to be exhibited by the playback device, and which are not stored in the content storage unit, from the storage device, and supplies data of the selected contents to the playback device. |
| US08472789B2 |
Image editing apparatus, image editing method, and image editing program
The present invention provides an image editing apparatus which decreases a CPU load required for previewing a group of finished images used for continuous presentation, such as a photo movie, and reduces a processing time. The image editing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit obtaining material images; a converting unit carrying out conversion on an image, included in the material images, of which load required for playback is greater than a predetermined load reference, the conversion additionally creating a proxy image corresponding to the image and having a smaller load required for the playback; and a preview playback unit playing back, as a preview, the proxy image and material images which are included in the material images and are other than the image corresponding to the proxy image in a predetermined order. |
| US08472783B2 |
Systems and methods for digital video high accuracy fast forward, rewind and skip
In various embodiments, a recording and playback manager of a digital video recorder (DVR), set top box, receiver or other device stores and accesses statistics in a statistics file related to average distances between reference frames (e.g., intra frames or I-frames) within blocks of the video data of the recording. Accessing these statistics during playback enables the system to more accurately locate reference frames to display while executing the playback in a trick mode such as fast forward, rewind or skip. The average distance between reference frames for a particular block of video data may be used to jump from one reference frame to the next reference frame in that block during playback in trick mode. |
| US08472782B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus that correctly handles moving image files recorded for a period straddling midnight. Moving image files recorded for a period straddling midnight are processed as having the day on which recording of those moving image files began and the next day as their recorded date. When conducting a search by date, for example, in addition to the actual recorded day, the next day is also included in the search results of a designated search, thus enabling the user to search for the moving image files without having to recall whether or not they were recorded for a period straddling midnight. |
| US08472771B2 |
Surface-PlasmonoDielectric-polaritonic devices and systems
There is provided a structure for supporting propagation of surface plasmon polaritons. The structure includes a plasmonic material region and a dielectric material region, disposed adjacent to a selected surface of the plasmonic material region. At least one of the plasmonic material region and the dielectric material region have a dielectric permittivity distribution that is specified as a function of depth through the corresponding material region. This dielectric permittivity distribution is selected to impose prespecified group velocities, vgj, on a dispersion relation for a surface polaritonic mode of the structure for at least one of a corresponding set of prespecified frequencies, ωj, and corresponding set of prespecified wavevectors, where j=1 to N. |
| US08472766B2 |
Waveguide coupler having continuous three-dimensional tapering
A solid state waveguide coupler is provided including a first coupler end disposed on a solid state material substrate for connection to a first solid state waveguide located on the substrate and a second coupler end disposed on the substrate for connection to a second waveguide located on the substrate. A coupling span, comprising a waveguide material layer on the substrate, is disposed between the first and second coupler ends and tapers between a height of the first waveguide and a height of the second waveguide, tapers between a width of the first waveguide and a width of the second waveguide, and includes curved sidewalls along at least a portion of the tapered coupling span. In a method for fabricating the waveguide coupler, material is isotropically removed from a waveguide material layer on the substrate to produce tapered surfaces between the first waveguide and the second waveguide. |
| US08472763B1 |
Spectral beam combination of laser beams
A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i.e., polygamy), and of mode hopping (i.e., promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i.e., lasers in the one-megawatt or more range). By using multiple small waveguides in parallel, large amounts of energy can be passed through a laser, but with better control such that the aforementioned problems can be reduced. An additional advantage is that the polarization of the light can be maintained better than by using a single fiber core. |
| US08472762B2 |
Biomimetic compound eye optical sensor and fabricating method thereof
Provided is an optical sensor and an optical sensor fabricating method. The optical sensor includes: a substrate; and an ommatidia located on or inside the substrate, the ommatidia comprising a microlens which receives light, an optical waveguide which transfers the light received through the microlens, and a cone structure comprising a first end connected to the microlens and a second end connected to the optical waveguide, the cone structure having a diameter or a width decreasing in a direction from the first end to the second end. |
| US08472754B1 |
Image artifact prevention
Systems and methods are provided for processing images (or other such instances of content) to detect which of the images exhibit artifacts when modified, such as by applying standard transformation algorithms to modify the images. Such techniques enable transformation algorithms to be applied to the detected images to minimize or prevent artifacts. In some embodiments, the headers of the detected images can be tagged with transformative instructions that indicate which transformation algorithms to apply. Responsive to a request from a web client to modify and render one of the detected images, embodiments obtain the requested image, read the transformative instructions in the header, apply the transformation algorithm specified in the header to modify the image so as to minimize or prevent artifacts, and render the modified image. |
| US08472752B1 |
Method of detecting cancer in a single cell using mitochondrial correlation microscopy
A method for distinguishing a normal cell from an abnormal cell, such as, for example a cancer cell or diseased cell, of the same tissue type using mitochondrial correlation microscopy. |
| US08472743B2 |
Method for estimating of direction of motion blur in an image
A method for estimating a blur direction (20) of motion blur (16) in a blurred image (14) includes the steps of blurring the blurred image (14) in a number of different test directions (360A) (362A) (364A), and finding the test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) for which the blurred image (14) changes the least by the additional blurring (366). With this design, when more blur (366) is applied to the blurred image (14) in a test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) that is similar to the blur direction (20), the difference in the image appearance is relatively small. However, when more blur (366) is applied to the blurred image (14) in a test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) that is very different to the blur direction (20), the difference in the image appearance is relatively large. In one embodiment, a blur difference is determined for each test direction (360A) (362A) (364A). Subsequently, the test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) with the smallest blur difference is selected as the blur direction (20). Alternatively, the estimated blur direction (20) can be perpendicular to the test direction (360A) (362A) (364A) with the largest blur difference. |
| US08472741B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive image data of program content and genre information relating to the program content, a selection unit configured to select a size selection parameter for causing the genre information received by the receiving unit to be reflected in a block size, a determination unit configured to determine a block size in accordance with the size selection parameter selected by the selection unit, the block size being used for orthogonal transformation, and an orthogonal transformation unit configured to perform orthogonal transformation on the image data received by the receiving unit at the block size determined by the determination unit. |
| US08472734B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image
An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding an image are provided. The image decoding method includes decoding luma blocks according to a predetermined decoding mode of each of the luma blocks, and decoding chroma blocks according to the predetermined decoding mode of each of the luma blocks. |
| US08472732B2 |
Low-latency remote display rendering using tile-based rendering systems
Apparatus, systems and methods for low latency remote display rendering using tile-based rendering systems are disclosed. In one implementation, a system includes a network interface and a content source coupled to the network interface. The content source being capable of rendering at least one tile of a tiled image, encoding the at least one tile, and providing the at least one encoded tile to the network interface before all tiles of the tiled image are rendered. |
| US08472722B2 |
Methods, systems, and media for swapping faces in images
Methods, systems, and media for swapping faces in images are provided. In some embodiments, a detected face and face data corresponding to an input image is received. A pose bin associated with the detected face is then identified based on the face data. Next, the detected face is aligned to a generic face associated with the pose bin. At least a portion of a candidate face associated with the pose bin is selected. The at least a portion of the candidate face is then copied to a copy of the input image that is aligned with the generic image to form a swapped-face image. The swapped-face image is next aligned to the input image to form an output image, and then the output image is outputted to a display. |
| US08472721B2 |
Pattern identification unit generation method, information processing apparatus, computer program, and storage medium
A pattern identification unit generation method of generating a pattern identification unit in which a weak discriminator array obtained by cascade-connecting a plurality of weak discriminators branches, and weak discriminator arrays are connected to respective arms after branching, evaluates based on a processing result obtained by inputting a set of evaluation data to the weak discriminator array whether or not a weak discriminator array after branching reaches the number of stages to be connected. The number of stages of weak discriminators to be connected without branching as the weak discriminator array is determined based on this evaluation result. |
| US08472717B2 |
Foreground image separation method
A foreground image separation method is disclosed to separate dynamic foreground and static background in a sequence of input images which have been processed either with automatic white balance or brightness control by the camera. First, an input image is received from the camera, and then a white balance or brightness compensation is performed to the input image according to a reference image to generate a compensated image with background color and background brightness which are approximately similar to that of the reference image. Finally, a background subtraction algorithm is performed to the compensated image to generate a background separation result. The background subtraction algorithm could be a Gaussian Mixture Model based algorithm. The method could process successive images received from the camera to continuously generate background separation results and update the reference image accordingly, such that video surveillance system could adapt to the change of illumination. |
| US08472713B2 |
Image processor, image processing method, and computer-readable medium
There is provided an image processor for processing input image data having a luminance component and other components, which are defined in a prescribed color space. The image processor includes: a first emphasis processor configured to process first image data so as to emphasize the contrast of the first image data in accordance with a first emphasis amount, wherein the first image data correspond to the luminance component of the input image data; a second emphasis processor configured to process second image data so as to emphasize the chroma of the second image data in accordance with the first emphasis amount, wherein the second image data correspond to said other components of the input image data; and an image data generator configured to generate new image data by combining the contrast-emphasized first image data and the chroma-emphasized second image data. |
| US08472710B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding image based on segments
Encoding and decoding an image may be performed by setting a plurality of segments of a second color component block based on pixel values of a first color component block. The plurality of segments may be predicted by using different context pixels, and the second color component block may be encoded and decoded based on the predicted plurality of segments. |
| US08472705B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for selecting one or more representative images
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with one or more representative images are disclosed. |
| US08472702B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing three-dimensional images
A three-dimensional sense adjusting unit displays three-dimensional images to a user. If a displayed reaches a limit of parallax, the user responds to the three-dimensional sense adjusting unit. According to acquired appropriate parallax information, a parallax control unit generates parallax images to realize the appropriate parallax in the subsequent stereo display. The control of parallaxes is realized by optimally setting camera parameters by going back to three-dimensional data. Functions to realize the appropriate parallax are made into and presented by a library. |
| US08472698B2 |
System and method for determining poses of objects
During pre-processing, a 3D model of the object is rendered for various poses by arranging virtual point light sources around the lens of a virtual camera. The shadows are used to obtain oriented depth edges of the object illuminated from multiple directions. The oriented depth edges are stored in a database. A camera acquires images of the scene by casting shadows onto the scene from different directions. The scene can include one or more objects arranged in arbitrary poses with respect to each other. The poses of the objects are determined by comparing the oriented depth edges obtained from the acquired images to the oriented depth edges stored in the database. The comparing evaluates, at each pixel, a cost function based on chamfer matching, which can be speed up using downhill simplex optimization. |
| US08472697B2 |
Method and apparatus for visual inspection
In the case of die-to-die comparison, threshold processing units process the differential image between the image of a sample chip and the images of left and right adjacent chips using a second threshold value lower than a first threshold value thereby to determine a defect candidate for the sample chip. Further, threshold processing units process the differential image using the first threshold value. The defect candidates which develops a signal not smaller than the first threshold is detected as a defect. Also in the cell-to-cell comparison, the differential image is first processed by the second threshold value to determine a defect candidate, and the differential image is further processed by the first threshold value. The defect candidates which develops a signal not smaller than the first threshold value is detected as a defect. |
| US08472695B2 |
Method and apparatus for failure analysis of semiconductor integrated circuit devices
A method of analyzing of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes inspecting a physical defect in a semiconductor wafer, subjecting the semiconductor integrated circuit chip to a logic test and extracting a malfunctioning chip, analyzing a detected signal observed from the malfunctioning chip by an analyzer, obtaining the layer and coordinates of a circuit related the detected signal, collating the physical defect with the circuit, and identifying the physical defect associated with the circuit. The layer and coordinates of the circuit is extracted using design data. An inspection step identifying information is collated with the layer of the circuit, and an in-chip coordinates of the physical defect is collated with the coordinated of the circuit. |
| US08472688B2 |
Method for image reconstruction employing sparsity-constrained iterative correction
An image reconstruction method applicable to a number of different imaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is disclosed. A sparsifying image is reconstructed from a series of acquired undersampled data to provide a priori knowledge of a subject being imaged. An iterative reconstruction process is further employed to iteratively determine a correction image for a given image frame that, when subtracted from the sparsifying image, produces a quality image for the image frame. |
| US08472687B2 |
Electronic cleansing of digital data sets
A method of processing a 3-dimensional Computed Tomography Colonography data set to remove tagged material is disclosed. The method involves the preliminary processing step of classifying voxels in the data set as corresponding to air, tagged material or colon tissue. Methods of overcoming erroneous classification of Partial Volume air/tagged material interface voxels are disclosed. The present invention also provides for methods of circumventing problems resulting from removal of tagged material from a CTC data set, which can result in the erosion of soft-tissue structures partially covered by tagged colonic fluid. |
| US08472686B2 |
Method and apparatus for orienting image representative data
A method for processing a three-dimensional image file captured directly from a live subject, the file including the cranium of the subject, comprises: providing a vertex point cloud for the three-dimensional image file; determining a median point for the vertex point cloud; determining a point on the cranium; and utilizing the median point and the cranium point to define a z-axis for the three-dimensional image file. |
| US08472679B2 |
Biometric information processing apparatus, biometric information processing method, and biometric information processing computer program
A biometric information processing apparatus includes: a biometric information acquiring unit which acquires a user's biometric information and generates a biometric input image representing the biometric information; and a processing unit. The processing unit implements: generating a first intermediate image by applying first image processing to the biometric input image; generating a second intermediate image by applying second image processing to the biometric input image; detecting, from each of the first and second intermediate images, a singular point candidate; calculating a distance between the singular point candidates detected from each of the first and second intermediate images for the same singular point contained in the biometric information; calculating a quality metric for the biometric input image based on the distance; and if the quality metric is not higher than a predefined threshold value, then prompting the user to have the user's biometric information reacquired by the biometric information acquiring unit. |
| US08472676B2 |
Apparatus and method for analysing a security document
We provide an apparatus and method for analysing a security document. An x-ray source is adapted to illuminate at least one inspection region of the security document when located at an inspection position. An x-ray detector adapted to receive x-rays from the at least one inspection region of the document and to generate a corresponding detector response. A processor analysis the detector response and generates an output signal indicative of the structure of the document in the at least one inspection region. |
| US08472674B2 |
Method of surface seismic imaging using both reflected and transmitted waves
Reflected-transmitted non-converted and converted seismic waves as used for seismic imaging which is not limited by the angle of inclination of the seismic interfaces. These wave signals are recorded at the surface and are later used to obtain seismic imaging of geological discontinuities and the physical properties of the medium. Known duplex waves are used with transmitted waves for obtaining seismic images from much wider angles, ranging from horizontal to vertical. Two types of migration procedures are used: the first one being based on migration of transmitted compressional and converted duplex waves, and the second one being based on the joint migration of two interrelated fields, such as interferometric principles; for example, the first field of primary waves corresponding to the one time reflected monotypic compressional (non-converted) type of waves and a second wavefield corresponding to secondary waves of more complex origin, such as reflected waves and converted waves. |
| US08472668B2 |
Image analyzing apparatus, image analyzing method, and computer readable medium
Provided is an image analyzing apparatus for efficiently performing detection of an object and tracking of a specified object, including a feature value recording section that records a plurality of reference feature values different in type from each other; a feature value extracting section that extracts a plurality of feature values different in type from each other, from each of a plurality of moving image constituent images included in a moving image; an object extracting section that extracts an object from the moving image constituent images, based on a degree of matching of the plurality of extracted feature values with respect to the plurality of reference feature values recorded in the feature value recording section; a reference feature value calculating section that calculates, from the plurality of reference feature values recorded in the feature value recording section, a plurality of reference feature values adjusted to the feature values of the extracted object, to a predetermined degree corresponding to the type; and a feature value updating section that updates the plurality of reference feature values recorded in the feature value recording section, with the plurality of reference feature values calculated by the reference feature value calculating section. |
| US08472667B2 |
Editing apparatus and method
An apparatus for editing an image to be displayed on a display apparatus inputs a shot image. The apparatus detects a change in the input image, and edits the shot image so that a region corresponding to the detected change is not displayed on the display apparatus. |
| US08472666B2 |
Electronic apparatus with angle-adjustable operation panel
An electronic apparatus may include an operation panel, a driving device, an image pickup device, a face detection unit, and a control unit. The operation panel may be configured to move. The driving device may be configured to move the operation panel. The image pickup device may be configured to be installed proximate the operation panel, and/or to capture an image of a user. The face detection unit may be configured to detect a position of a facial image of the user within the image captured by the image pickup device. The control unit may be configured to control the driving device such that the operation panel and an optical axis of the image pickup device move according to the position of the facial image detected by the face detecting unit. |
| US08472665B2 |
Camera-based user input for compact devices
A camera is used to detect a position and/or orientation of an object such as a user's finger as an approach for providing user input, for example to scroll through data, control a cursor position, and provide input to control a video game based on a position of a user's finger. Input may be provided to a handheld device, including, for example, cell phones, video games systems, portable music (MP3) players, portable video players, personal data assistants (PDAs), audio/video equipment remote controls, and consumer digital cameras, or other types of devices. |
| US08472659B2 |
Multimode audio reproduction device
A multimode audio reproduction device is disclosed that comprises first and second audio reproduction modules coupled by a support structure. The first and second audio reproduction modules are movable between two configurations. In the first configuration the audio reproduction device serves as a loudspeaker while in the second configuration the audio reproduction device serves as a headphone. |
| US08472652B2 |
Audio reproduction system comprising narrow and wide directivity loudspeakers
An audio reproduction system includes an arrangement of audio speakers of a first kind having a first degree of directivity in combination with at least one audio speaker of a second kind having a second degree of directivity. In order to create a virtual sound source at a desired distance to a listener's position, the second degree of directivity is substantially larger than the first degree of directivity. |
| US08472651B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer for parametric array
An ultrasonic transducer having a reduced cost of manufacture. The ultrasonic transducer includes a first insulative retaining layer, a second insulative retaining layer, and a vibrator film layer sandwiched between the first and second retaining layers. The first retaining layer includes a first plurality of apertures formed therethrough, and the second retaining layer includes a second plurality of apertures formed therethrough, in which the second apertures are substantially in registration with the first apertures. The ultrasonic transducer further includes a first cover portion having a plurality of spring/backplate assemblies connected thereto, and a second cover portion. The combination of the first retaining layer, the vibrator film layer, and the second retaining layer is sandwiched between the first and second cover portions of the ultrasonic transducer. The laminated construction of the ultrasonic transducer allows the formation of an array of ultrasonic film transducers using a single piece of ultrasonic vibrator film. |
| US08472650B2 |
Electro-acoustic transducer
An electro-acoustic transducer is disclosed. The electro-acoustic transducer includes an electret diaphragm, an orifice plate and a plurality of dividing structures. Each of the dividing structures, disposed between the electret diaphragm and the orifice plate, includes at least one main portion, and the number of the main portion is a positive integer. When the number of the main portion is larger than one, the main portions are respectively connected to a center and extended radially from the center. |
| US08472647B2 |
Package for micro-electro-mechanical acoustic transducer with improved double side mountable electrodes
A surface mountable package includes a base and a cover with a cavity defined thereby, and an acoustic transducer unit received in the cavity. The cover includes a first metal ring to enclose the acoustic transducer unit. The base includes a second metal ring to press against the first metal ring in order to form a metal shielding area. First and second metal connecting paths are formed electrically connected to the metal shielding area and the acoustic transducer unit, respectively. Besides, two pairs of first and second surface mountable metal electrodes are electrically connected to the first and the second metal connecting paths, respectively. As a result, the package can be selectively double surface mountable to a user's circuit board via the metal electrodes of the base or the metal electrodes of the cover. |
| US08472644B2 |
High efficiency audio amplifier and method thereof
A high efficiency audio amplifier is disclosed. The high efficiency audio amplifier includes an input end for receiving an input audio signal, an output end for outputting an output audio signal, a signal generator coupled to the input end for determining a frequency of an oscillating signal according to the distribution of the input audio signal and a reference voltage, and generating the oscillating signal accordingly, a waveform transformer coupled to the input end and the signal generator for comparing the input audio signal with the oscillating signal to generate a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a pre-drive circuit for generating a pre-drive signal according to the PWM signal, an output stage coupled to the pre-drive circuit for generating an output signal, and a filter coupled to the output stage for filtering the output signal to generate the output audio signal to the output end. |
| US08472642B2 |
Processing of an audio signal for presentation in a high noise environment
In accordance with the invention, audio signals are specially processed for sound presentation in a high noise environment. The electrical signal representative of the sound is first subjected to equalization to preferentially reduce the magnitude of bass signals while increasing the magnitude of treble signals. The equalized signal is then compressed, and the compressed signal is subjected to “mirror image” equalization which increases the magnitude of bass signals while reducing the magnitude of treble signals. The resulting signal fed to the speakers provides a sound presentation of compressed volume range and a bass-rich sound spectrum. It is particularly useful for providing quality sound presentation in a high noise environment. |
| US08472641B2 |
Ambient noise cancellation for voice communications device
A system and method for reducing or entirely canceling background or ambient noise from a voice transmission from a communications device. A communications device, such as a mobile telephone, is configured with an ambient noise compensation signal generator that is connected between a microphone and a mixer. The original output of the microphone and a compensation signal generated by the ambient noise compensation signal generator are mixed together prior to being passed to a transmitter. In one embodiment a buffer is provided between the microphone and the mixer to help synchronize the timing of the signals to be mixed. In another embodiment a second microphone is employed to detect ambient noise. |
| US08472639B2 |
Microphone arrangement having more than one pressure gradient transducer
A microphone arrangement includes multiple pressure gradient transducers having an acoustic center, a first sound inlet opening leading to a front of a diaphragm, and a second sound inlet opening leading the back of the diaphragm. A directional characteristic of the pressure gradient transducers includes an omni portion and a figure-eight portion. The pressure gradient transducers have a direction of maximum sensitivity in a main direction. Each main direction of the pressure gradient transducers is inclined. The acoustic center of a pressure transducer and the pressure gradient transducers are positioned within an imaginary sphere having a radius that corresponds to double the largest dimension of the diaphragm of one of the transducers. |
| US08472638B2 |
Sound processing system for configuration of audio signals in a vehicle
A sound processing system for a vehicle includes a sound processor that is configured to mix at least one real audio input signal to form at least one virtual output signal. At least one audio signal that is available to drive at least one loudspeaker may be formed using the combination of the virtual output signal and the real audio input signal. The virtual output signal may be post processed to form a predetermined frequency range of the audio signal prior to being combined with the real audio input signal. The audio signal may be created by mixing the real audio input signal with the post processed virtual output signal. Alternatively, the audio signal may be formed by mixing the real audio input signal to form a real audio output signal, and then summing the real audio output signal with the post processed virtual output signal. Mixing may be performed with a crossbar mixer included in the sound processor. |
| US08472632B2 |
Dynamic sweet spot tracking
An audio system with a dynamic sound field adaptation to follow a listeners position. The audio system includes a relative location determination mechanism for determining the relative positions of at least all sound emitting components of the audio system with respect to each other, a personal device detector for detecting a personal device belonging to a user, a personal device position tracking mechanism for tracking the position of the personal device, and a re-calibration mechanism for re-calibrating the sound field such that the sweet spot of the sound field is placed at the current position of the personal device. |
| US08472630B2 |
Method and system for establishing cryptographic communications between a remote device and a medical device
A method and system establishing cryptographic communications between a remote device and a medical device, with the medical device having less processing power than the remote device are disclosed. The method may comprise establishing unencrypted communication between the remote device and the medical device, generating an asymmetric key pair by the remote device comprising a public key and a private key, generating a key request message and sending of the key request message together with the public key to the medical device, generating a pre-master key and encryption of the pre-master key with the received public key by the medical device, generating a key response message and sending of the key response message together with the encrypted pre-master key from the medical device to the remote device, decrypting the encrypted pre-master key with the private key by the remote device, and deriving a master key as a symmetric key from the pre-master key. |
| US08472628B2 |
Method of handling security key change and related communication device
A method of handling security key change for a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes applying a radio resource control procedure to activate key change, where the radio resource control procedure covers two conditions where the key change is accompanied with an authentication and key agreement run and without an authentication and key agreement run. |
| US08472622B2 |
Wireless communication method, information access method, and virtual antenna radiation pattern forming method
A wireless communication method for transmitting information to the designated region with the boundary defined by the sharp cutoff is provided. Receivers outside the designated region are excluded from retrieving the encoded information. The boundary of designated region is adjustable. The wireless communication method can be applied to clearly defining the accepted region and rejection region in satellite communications. The wireless communication method includes steps of providing an information; encoding the information into an encoded data regarding a designated bit-energy-to-noise-ratio; transmitting the encoded data to form a virtual antenna radiation pattern covering a designated region with boundary defined by the sharp cutoff based on the designated bit-energy-to-noise-ratio; receiving the encoded data; and decoding the encoded data into the original information only when receivers within the designated region with bit-energy-to-noise-ratio no less than the designated bit-energy-to-noise-ratio. The critical feature of the method is clarified by experiments on the communication satellite ST-1. |
| US08472621B2 |
Protection of a prime number generation for an RSA algorithm
A method for protecting a generation, by an electronic circuit, of at least one prime number by testing the prime character of successive candidate numbers, including: for each candidate number: the calculation of a reference number involving at least one first random number, and at least one primality test based on modular exponentiation calculations; and for a candidate number having successfully passed the primality test: a test of consistency between the candidate number and its reference number. |
| US08472618B2 |
Network switching device
Network switching arrangements including: setting an operation mode of a target switching block to a operation mode that is different from an operation mode of a first switching block while the first switching block is handling a switching process, the target switching block being one switching block selected from second switching blocks; performing a switchover process including starting the switching process using the target switching block instead of the first switching block, after completion of setting the operation mode of the target switching block; and copying the switching information held by the first switching block to the target switching block, prior to starting the switching process using the target switching block, after completion of setting the operation mode of the target switching block. |
| US08472616B1 |
Self calibration of envelope-based acoustic echo cancellation
Systems and methods for envelope-based acoustic echo cancellation in a communication device are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a primary acoustic signal is received via a microphone of the communication device, and a far-end signal is received via a receiver. Frequency analysis is performed on the primary acoustic signal and the far-end acoustic signal to obtain frequency sub-bands. An echo mask based on magnitude envelopes of the primary and far-end acoustic signals for each frequency sub-band is generated. A noise mask based on at least the primary acoustic signal for each frequency sub-band may also be generated. A combination of the echo mask and noise mask may then be applied to the primary acoustic signal to generate a masked signal. The masked signal is then output. |
| US08472614B2 |
Attenuation and termination circuit using impedance synthesis
The present invention discloses circuits for isolating and attenuating signals generated by a telephone network. In disclosed embodiments, a metering pulse signal is isolated from the terminals of the connecting device, and then attenuated with an impedance that is synthesized with a programmable digital signal processor. Embodiments also utilize the digital signal processor to synthesize a termination impedance for the connecting device. The termination impedance matches closely the characteristic impedance of the network, so as to minimize wave reflections and the like. |
| US08472613B1 |
Intelligent and automatic calling process
Ways for facilitating an automated calling process are described. An embodiment includes receiving a start indication to start recording events associated with a call process, starting a timing reference, receiving data provided by a user, storing information suitable to reproduce the received data based on the timing reference, and repeating the receiving step and the storing step until a stop indication to stop recording events is received. Redialing can occur without user intervention by retrieving a first indication of an information-providing event associated with a dialing process, providing data to satisfy the information-providing event, determining whether a subsequent information-providing event is to be expected, waiting for a correct time or for a prompt to provide additional data to satisfy the subsequent information-providing event, providing additional data to satisfy the subsequent information-providing event, and without user interaction, repeating the determining, waiting, and providing steps until the call is connected or until there is no additional data to provide. |
| US08472609B1 |
Method and computer readable medium for geographic agent routing
A method and computer readable medium for routing a call to geographically dispersed agents based on agent skill-set, agent location and caller location that results in the call being delivered to the best available agent. The computer readable medium and method are utilized with a system comprised of a call center application module coupled to a database module with a communications network being used to couple incoming calls from customers with the best available agent. A database contains a ranking of available agents, based on a dataset including information regarding skill-set, previous interaction with the customer, proximity to the customer, language capability, current availability, and the like. The method chooses the best available agent to service a customer call based on the agent rankings. In the case where the customer has a preference for proximity of the agent to the customer, the system adjusts the agent rankings according to the agent's distance from the customer prior to making a selection. |
| US08472608B2 |
Method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous telephone calls
A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement, directory assistance information and derived information including caller demographics information. |
| US08472607B2 |
Method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous telephone calls
A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement, directory assistance information and a variety of other information and services to the callers based on a highest expected revenue value of the advertisement or directory assistance services provided. |
| US08472605B2 |
Easy call abandon
A technique for managing simultaneous incoming and outgoing calls between the same far-end called terminal and far-end calling terminal and/or same user associated with a far-end called terminal and user associated with the far-end calling terminal includes an easy call abandon facility on a near-end terminal configured to compare information associated with an outgoing call to information associated with an incoming call. The easy call abandon facility is configured to initiate an audible or visible indicator when the terminal and/or user of the far-end called party is the same as that of the far-end calling party. In response to an easy call abandon indication received from a near-end terminal user, the easy call abandon facility disconnects the call from the near-end and connects the call received from the far-end terminal. |
| US08472603B2 |
Remote monitoring of phone calls
A communication system includes a plurality of endpoints associated with predetermined groups of endpoints; a server adapted to store for each group of endpoints a list of the endpoints, among the plurality of endpoints, associated therewith; and a communication network adapted to allow the server and the plurality of endpoints to communicate with each other, wherein, for an incoming phone call from a calling endpoint, each endpoint of the plurality of endpoints includes modules adapted to: 1) receive from the calling endpoint a request to establish the incoming phone call; 2) send a message to the server reporting about the incoming phone call from the calling endpoint, and wherein the server includes modules adapted to: a) receive the message sent in 2); b) identify, based on the received message, a group of endpoints associated with the endpoint sending the message in 2); c) identify at least one monitoring endpoint associated with the group of endpoints identified in b); and d) send to the at least one monitoring endpoint identified in c) a message notifying of the incoming phone call. |
| US08472595B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing a wireless portable communication device with the ability to selectively display picture and video images
Unwanted picture or video images are inhibited from being displayed by wireless communication devices based on the identity of the message originator, be that identity a phone number, an e-mail address, a website, a blocked message originator identification signal, the absence of a message originator identifier associated with the wireless picture message, or an electronic serial number of the message originator's device. |
| US08472593B2 |
Telephone outlet with packet telephony adaptor, and a network using same
An outlet for a Local Area Network (LAN), containing an integrated adapter that converts VoIP to and from analog telephony, and a standard telephone jack (e.g. RJ-11 in North America) for connecting an ordinary analog (POTS) telephone set. Such an outlet allows using analog telephone sets in a VoIP environment, eliminating the need for an IP telephone set or external adapter. The outlet may also include a hub that allows connecting both an analog telephone set via an adapter, as well as retaining the data network connection, which may be accessed by a network jack. The invention may also be applied to a telephone line-based data networking system. In such an environment, the data networking circuitry as well as the VoIP/POTS adapters are integrated into a telephone outlet, providing for regular analog service, VoIP telephony service using an analog telephone set, and data networking as well. In such a configuration, the outlet requires two standard telephone jacks and a data-networking jack. Outlets according to the invention can be used to retrofit existing LAN and in-building telephone wiring, as well as original equipment in new installation. |
| US08472587B2 |
Collimator with an adjustable focal length
The invention relates to a collimator with adjustable focal length, especially for use in X-ray testing devices whose operating principle is based on diffraction phenomena in an object. Fixed focal length collimators used in such X-ray testing devices have to be displaced over a large range. The aim of the invention is to reduce the range of displacement. For this purpose, the collimator has at least two diaphragms having respective substantially circular slots arranged about a common center axis, wherein at least one diaphragm can be displaced along the center axis. |
| US08472584B2 |
Apparatus and method for killing pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms using low-energy X-rays
An apparatus and method for killing pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms using low-energy x-rays including a shielding assembly that maximizes internal deflections preventing x-rays from escaping the apparatus enclosing an irradiation zone having a passageway between inlet and outlet portions along a conveyor having either a two-level inline or non-linear geometry that continuously moves the articles to be irradiated through the irradiation zone at a first velocity; and an irradiation chamber housing at least one x-ray having a first power level capable of emitting x-rays for a period of time sufficient to provide at least a predetermined dose of radiation to an article and capable of a maximum continuous power output at 100% duty cycle that is selected from within range of from approximately 16 kW to approximately 20 kW to thereby continuously emit low-energy x-rays having energies of from approximately 10 KeV and up to a maximum of approximately 440 KeV. |
| US08472580B2 |
Clock recovery
A clock and data recovery circuit injects a noise waveform into the control loop to offset the data sampling point artificially in order to induce errors. The amplitude of the injected waveform can be varied to ascertain the effect on the bit error rate (BER) so as to be able to evaluate the temporal noise margin. |
| US08472578B2 |
Radio apparatus, radio apparatus controller, and synchronization establishing method
A radio apparatus includes: first and second reception units to receive first and second signals from first and second radio apparatus controllers, respectively; first and second synchronous clock generation units to generate first and second recovery clocks from clock components included in the first and second signals received by the reception units, respectively; a clock synchronization detection unit to detect whether or not the second recovery clock is synchronous with the first recovery clock; a code selection unit to select a code indicating the synchronous state according to a detection result of the synchronization detection unit; a signal processing unit of generate a third signal to which the code selected by the code selection unit is added and which is synchronous with the first recovery clock; and a transmission unit to transmit the third signal generated by the signal processing unit to the second radio apparatus controller. |
| US08472577B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting reception signal symbol synchronization in wireless communication system
Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting reception signal symbol synchronization in a wireless communication system. The method, includes: calculating a channel power value in each of multiple antennas; selecting and averaging at least 2 channel power values; compensating carrier frequency offset for an average value; and determining a symbol boundary of a reception signal according to the size of the average value compensating the carrier frequency offset. |
| US08472575B2 |
Signal evaluation and adjustment
A method of assessing a received signal acquired through a physical channel and comprising a pilot channel, the method comprising estimating from an oversampled version of the received signal an oversampled response for the physical channel and quantifying noise in the received signal using the oversampled received signal and the oversampled channel response. |
| US08472568B1 |
Scaling and quantization of soft decoding metrics
A method for communication includes receiving a communication signal conveying multiple encoded bits of an Error Correction Code (ECC). Respective N-bit soft decoding metrics are computed with respect to the bits of the ECC. A scaling factor is computed based on at least one characteristic of the N-bit soft decoding metrics and on at least one property of the received communication signal. The N-bit soft decoding metrics are scaled by the scaling factor. The scaled N-bit soft decoding metrics are quantized to produce respective K-bit metrics, K |
| US08472567B2 |
Detecting the number of transmit antennas in a base station
Data is scrambled at a transmitter according to one of a number of predetermined scrambling sequences which are associated with a particular one of a number of predetermined transmit antenna diversity schemes (i.e., a specific number of transmit antenna ports). Received data is decoded using one or more of the known transmit antenna diversity schemes and the scrambled data is descrambled according to a corresponding descrambling sequence (related to the scrambling sequence). Based on the descrambled data, the receiver determines which transmit antenna diversity scheme (i.e., the number of antenna ports) is used by the transmitter. In one specific embodiment, CRC parity data is scrambled in the transmitter and the receiver descrambles the recovered CRC parity data according to a descrambling sequence, computes CRC parity data from the received data, and compares the descrambled CRC parity data to the newly computed CRC parity data. |